Desert Sun Retreats 10/7/22

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Carla Coulson-Prieto Joins Bennion Deville Homes Palm Desert San Pablo

Bennion Deville Homes welcomes REALTOR® Carla Coulson-Prieto to the Palm Desert San Pablo office, located at 44-530 San Pablo Avenue, Suite 101, along the newly updated main artery through the heart of Palm Desert. Carla earned her real estate sales license in 2014 and works with clients across the desert, specializing in the cities of Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage, La Quinta, and Indian Wells. In addition to her real estate sales license, Carla holds a degree from British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) and completed her real estate courses at the University of British Columbia (UBC) Sauder School of Business.

Growing up Carla was surrounded by the business of real estate. Originally from British Columbia, her family was a prominent player in residential development. “I come from a golf course and residential development family, so I spent years watching the real estate industry with fascination,” Carla says. “I could see what a benefit there is in making the right real estate decisions, and I wanted to be a part of that process with clients. Plus, my personality and strengths fit with the industry. I am resourceful and always up for a challenge.”

Prior to entering the real estate industry full-time, Carla enjoyed a fruitful career in hospitality, holding roles in hotel management and sales management, even completing Hilton’s famously rigorous customer service and business training. “My time in hospitality set me up for a successful real estate career because I developed a strong sales history and learned how to consistently deliver excellent customer service. I combine this background with my love for homes and design, and passion for helping others, to create a unique experience for my clients,” continues Carla.

As a seasoned real estate veteran, Carla understands the root of client satisfaction and how to deliver outstanding outcomes. “I enjoy the combination of helping my clients and seeing the unmatched variety of home styles the desert offers. It is fun to click with others and help them buy a property they truly love. This business goes beyond getting someone into ‘any house.’ You must be patient with clients to make sure that they are

completely happy with a potential property purchase. Is this the right fi t for this person or family? You have to look out for their best interests, not just take the quickest, easiest path,” Carla adds.

The Coachella Valley has always been special to Carla. She has visited the Southern California desert since she was a child, before becoming a parttime resident as an adult and transitioning to living here full-time. “The weather in the desert is a huge draw. My family enjoys spending time being active outside, exploring the desert via its numerous hiking trails, and playing pickleball. Having made the move from Canada, I am uniquely qualified to understand what it’s like buying or selling a home and making that change. I also know what to look for in a seasonal home, including understanding the needs of someone who wants to be a part-time resident as well as the tax implications that come with the purchase of a foreign property.”

Bennion Deville Homes is the perfect place for Carla to call home because of the company’s robust agent support and prominence throughout the Coachella Valley. “Bennion Deville Homes is prevalent throughout the desert and a professional, well-branded brokerage. The marketing support and ongoing agent education opportunities offered are invaluable to my business. I also liked Tish [Herwig, Managing Broker] and had a good feeling about her,” Carla concludes.

Adds Tish Herwig, “We are pleased to welcome Carla to our Palm Desert San Pablo office. She possesses the qualities to be a true asset for her clients, including her positive attitude, passion for helping others, and a love for real estate. We look forward to supporting Carla and providing her with the tools to help her business flourish.”

About Bennion Deville Homes

Founded in Palm Spring in 2001 by veteran real estate professionals Bob Bennion and Bob Deville, Bennion Deville Homes serves home buyers and sellers throughout Southern California. Bennion Deville Homes, the #1 real estate brokerage in the Coachella Valley, is a wholly owned subsidiary of HomeServices of America, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate.

Visit BDHomes.com for the location of the Bennion Deville Homes office nearest you. Follow us on major social media platforms @BDHSoCal for the latest real estate and lifestyle news. We will unlock possibilities for you.

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PALM SPRINGS

• PALM DESERT •

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3BD/3.5BA Indian Ridge Country Club 141 Rain Bird Circle $949,000 DW & Associates 760-776-7070 Sat 1-3

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Devilish decor

Get your home ready for tricks and treats

TODAY NETWORK

Show your friends and neighbors that you’re the scare master with these frightfully fun Halloween decorations.

Giant skeletons are so yesterday. Stand out and scare with a giant 9.5-foot werewolf. The head, eyes and jaw move for extra fright. $399 at Home Depot.

A skull pedestal stand adds a touch of gothic horror to your home. Available topped with a crow or crown. $63.60 at grandinroad.com.

Party guests will love this chill skeleton coffin drink bucket made of aluminum. $129 at potterybarn.com.

Don’t get caught in this 5-foot lighted spider web from Haunted Living. $109 at Lowe’s.

At 29 inches tall, this quartet of creepy clowns by Joyin should sufficiently terrify everyone in the neighborhood. $29.99 at amazon.com.

Get the creepy-crawlies with 70-inch incandescent spider web Halloween novelty lights from Hyde & Eek! Boutique. $15 at Target.

This Halloween skull 35-inch-by-35-inch canvas by Trademark Fine Art can decorate your home any time of year. $101 at houzz.com.

Regrow vegetables from kitchen scraps on a sunny windowsill

Jessica Damiano ASSOCIATED

Gardening naturally lends itself to reusing and recycling – just think about compost and last year’s seed trays. So if there’s a way to reduce trash while saving money on produce, you can count me in. And one of my favorite ways to do both is to regrow vegetables from kitchen scraps.

Instead of throwing away or composting the bottoms (or tops) of vegetables when preparing them, you can grow them into leafy greens and other tasty tidbits right on your windowsill.

Before I go any further, it’s important to point out that these methods aren’t likely to produce plants that will grow well in your garden, so I don’t recommend replacing your seedlings in this manner. But they are likely to yield a side dish or two, and you can never underestimate the value of a fun project.

General tips: Scraps will grow best in a sunny spot. Use lukewarm water, and replace it every day or two to avoid the growth of bacteria. Don’t worry if the submerged portion of your cuttings becomes a bit slimy, but if the whole thing starts to turn brown, toss it in the compost pile and start over.

Beets

My favorite thing about beets is that one plant provides two sides dishes –the tuberous root and the tasty greens. Although you can’t regrow a beetroot indoors from a cutting, you can certainly generate more leafy greens: Cut off the top 11 2 inches from a beetroot and place it cut-side down in a dish that contains just enough water to keep the sliced end submerged. New leaves will sprout from the top within a few days, and you can start harvesting them in a couple of weeks. (This method also works with parsnips and turnips).

Celery

Cut 3 inches off the bottom of a head of celery, then slice a sliver off the very bottom of the 3-inch segment. Place it right-side up in a shallow container and pour in 2 inches of water. New growth will sprout from the center in just a few days.

Scallions and leeks

Trim the entire white portion off the bottom of a leek or scallion stalk, then place it root-side-down in a jar or glass holding an inch of water. If the stalk outgrows the jar, move it to a larger one. New growth will be harvestable in a couple of weeks.

Romaine lettuce

Cut 3 inches off the bottom of a head of romaine lettuce, then remove its outermost leaves. Place the 3-inch “heart” in a shallow container to which you’ve added one-half inch of water. Within a week, a sprout will emerge from its center. As it grows, it’s normal for some of the heart’s outer leaves to turn brown. Remove them. When the center growth is large enough for a salad (or sandwich), trim it off and enjoy – then wait for more to grow.

These beet greens, left, and Romaine lettuce grew indoors from kitchen scraps.

JESSICA DAMIANO VIA AP

New stalks sprout from a head of celery.

JESSICA DAMIANO VIA AP

Essential home exercise products for seniors

Sharon Brandwein

Surveys and studies have shown that approximately 67% of seniors were sedentary for more than 8.5 hours out of their day. And while the golden years are certainly prime time for catching up on reading lists and slowing down the pace for many, research has made it abundantly clear that a sedentary lifestyle is ill-advised and anything but healthy.

While physical activity is important at any age, it’s crucial for healthy aging. Study after study has shown that physical activity can prevent chronic health conditions like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension. But the health benefits of regular exercise don’t stop there. Beyond keeping chronic illness at bay, regular physical activity can do much to improve balance and stability, ultimately ensuring independence for seniors, not to mention a better quality of life overall.

While seniors may have more time to invest in their health, accessibility and limitations on mobility are often a determining factor in how much physical activity a person can do. For seniors who have trouble meeting their daily activity requirements, a home gym can be an excellent investment. The right home exercise equipment for seniors can keep them be active and healthy on their schedule, in the comfort of their own home, and perhaps most importantly, on their terms.

Based on positive consumer reviews and a few personally tested items, here’s a recap of some of the best exercise equipment for seniors at home.

1. Vaunn Under Desk Bike Pedal Exerciser

Under desk bikes are a great way for seniors to get their daily dose of exercise while sitting comfortably on a couch or chair. Not only are these machines a lowimpact way to improve leg strength, but they’re also an excellent method to increase range of motion at the hips. Moreover, cycling may also improve your heart health, and, because the peddling is done in a seated position, there is very little risk of injury.

This bike pedal exerciser by Vaunn fits comfortably under desks and tables, so it’s a good pick for those with limited space. Seniors can easily pedal their way to better health while watching a movie, talking on the phone, or even reading a

book. This pedal exerciser is equipped with an adjustable tension knob so users can control the level of resistance and their workout intensity. There’s also a large LCD screen that displays workout stats like cycle count, time, and calories burned.

$50 at Amazon

2. Concept2 Model D Indoor Rowing Machine

As far as low-impact, high-reward exercises go, rowing is a top-tier piece of exercise equipment. Rowing is a resistancebased exercise, so it’s great for building stamina and building bone mineral density—something every senior should be concerned about. And while it’s tempting to think rowing is only for the young, it’s not.

As with many other types of exercise equipment, seniors can easily change the resistance level on a rower to suit their fitness level, or they can row slower to control the resistance.

For seniors interested in rowing to get their daily dose of exercise, the Concept2 Model D rowing machine would be an excellent addition to their home gym. This rower uses an air flywheel to create resistance, so the rower completely controls the intensity. Rowing slowly yields little resistance, and when you’re ready to give the resistance a little bump, just row faster.

$1,188 at Amazon

3. Healthy Seniors Chair Exercise Program

Developed by a physical therapist specifically for the needs of the elderly, this exercise program comes with everything seniors need to stay fit and active. The Healthy Seniors Chair Exercise program includes a printed, 18-page exercise guide, complete with detailed instructions and low and medium resistance bands to accommodate users at varying fitness levels.

Within its pages, users will find targeted exercises that can improve flexibility, stability, and strength for every major muscle group.

$26 at Amazon

4. Sunny Health & Fitness Walking Treadmill

Walking outdoors is an excellent lowimpact exercise, but for seniors who find it difficult to navigate sidewalks and streets, a treadmill might be the next best thing.

This treadmill by Sunny Health & Fitness features multi-grip rails for those with lim-

ited mobility or poor balance.

It’s also equipped with shock absorption technology in the running deck that reduces the impact on your joints when walking. Plus, the speed on this treadmill maxes out at 5 mph, so there’s relatively little risk of injury. If you’re in need of a senior-friendly cardio workout, this treadmill offers a safe way to do it that still gets your heart rate pumping.

$491 at Amazon

5. LuxFit Foam Roller

Exercise equipment is not limited to machinery; it’s all the things that help improve your flexibility and range of motion. To that end, a foam roller can be infinitely helpful for relieving tight muscles, soreness, and inflammation. This lightweight, high-density foam roller from LuxFit is made using customized polypropylene to maintain firmness, and it’s available in three different sizes. It’s also our favorite foam roller of 2022.

$14 at Amazon

6. Sunny Health & Fitness Essential Recumbent Exercise Bike

Recumbent exercise bikes allow seniors to sit while cycling in a reclined position. Beyond the benefit of a comfortable seat, these bikes also sit closer to the ground, so users feel less strain while exercising, not to mention that the low profile makes it easier to get on and off the bike.

Just like under-desk pedal exercisers or walking, recumbent bikes offer low-impact cardio exercise with minimal risk of injury. But make no mistake, they can still do their part to potentially improve your heart health and leg strength.

This recumbent bike by Sunny Health & Fitness features eight levels of adjustable magnetic tension, a digital monitor that tracks your time, speed, and distance, and a large seat and back cushion that make for a comfortable workout.

$198 at Amazon

7. Portzon Dumbbells

While it’s tempting to think strength training may be off limits to seniors, research shows that such exercise can go a long way towards building muscle strength, preserving bone density, and improving balance and stability. Of course, we’re not talking about bench pressing hundreds of pounds, but small dumbbells ranging from 5-10 lbs. will easily allow

most seniors to do an upper-body or strength-training workout from the comfort of their home.

This highly rated set of dumbbells by Portzon features a non-slip neoprene coating, an anti-roll hex shape, and they’re available in a range of weights.

$16 at Amazon

8. BalanceFrom Exercise Ball

While they’re typically lightweight, stability balls can provide a strengthtraining workout that emphasizes balance. Plus, they’re a great way to strengthen your core – the muscles you use to perform everyday activities.

This stability ball by BalanceFrom is made with thick and durable materials, plus it’s anti-slip and comes with a free foot pump.

$7 at Amazon

9. Topesct Adjustable Wrist Weights

If strength and resistance training are on your to-do list, but dumbbells are not an option due to a weaker handgrip or decreased hand function, wrist weights are an excellent alternative for building light muscle mass. With an elastic band and ultra-strong Velcro, this set of wearable wrist weights by Topesct features oneand two-pound weights, plus they’re fully adjustable and can also be worn on your ankles.

$50 at Amazon

10. Gaiam Essentials Premium Yoga Mat

For seniors looking to lean into their downward dog, yoga mats are a musthave piece of gym equipment. Also known as sticky mats, this yoga essential provides traction and cushioning so you can safely and comfortably complete your regular routine.

This yoga mat by Gaiam is durable yet lightweight, and it’s extra thick (1 4-inch), so it offers exceptional cushioning for your joints. It comes with its own carrier sling, and it’s available in a variety of colors.

$24 at Best Buy

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Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change.

Which is the best robot vacuum? Our expert weighs in

Jonathan Chan

Robot vacuums have come a long way since we started testing them about a decade ago. Based on the results coming out of our testing labs – and I’ve been testing robot vacuums for more than 10 yearswe’re reaching the point where robot vacuums will be on par with manual vacuum cleaners.

The problem is that there are so many robot vacuums to choose from, it can be confusing which ones are worth checking out. To help separate the wheat from the chaff, we’re going to go over three of our top picks.

1. iRobot Roomba j7+

Who is it for?: The iRobot Roomba j7+ is for a family with a pet and relatively open floor plans.

iRobot is the most well-known of the

robot vacuum brands. The reason being is that the company has put out quality products for years and years. The iRobot Roomba j7+ is the latest example of what the company has to offer.

The j7+ is the generalist of the highend robot vacuum world, offering excellent cleaning, the ability to self-empty and is up-to-date on many of the latest developments in software.

It also comes with a promise to never run over pet excrement. And, don’t worry, we did put that claim to the test and the j7+ passed with flying colors.

$770 at Amazon

2. Eufy 11S

Who is this for?: Anyone looking for a bare-bones and affordable robot vacuum

When it comes to value, it’s hard to top the Eufy 11S. Whether you’re getting the vanilla version or the Max model, the Eufy 11S can be had for under $250.

During testing on our robot vacuum obstacle course, the 11S proved its value. It picked up around 11 grams of dirt per run, which means the 11S can help maintain floors over the course of a week.

One of the reasons this Eufy is such a great cleaner is its size. It stands 2.85 inches tall, making it 10% to15% shorter than the average robot vacuum. The end result is that the 11S can get at the dust bunnies under shelves and furniture just that much better.

That 11S doesn’t have any smart features, but that can be a feature in itself and not a bug.

$200 at Amazon

3. Ecovacs Deebot X1 Omni

Who is this for?: Anyone who wants a robot vacuum, mop, and security camera in one device.

If you’d rather keep up with ”The Jetsons” over ”The Joneses,” then check out the Ecovacs Deebot X1 Omni. This

vacuum-mop hybrid has all the cuttingedge features. It can self-empty its dustbin and self-clean its mop pads.

Further, you can control it remotely while it streams video to your phone, turning it into a mobile security camera.

In vacuum mode, the X1 picked up 10 grams of crumbs per run. When we commanded it to mop, it removed chocolate syrup and baby powder off our linoleum and hardwood testing platforms.

$1,549 at Amazon

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Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.

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