Write everything down. Seems like an obvious solution, but it’s simple and it works. Be consistent with your methods. If you write lists, keep them in the same place. If you use a personal data assistant or other electronic device, be sure it’s always within reach. If you use calendars, transfer all information to one master calendar.

To keep track of important information or tasks that come up throughout your day, keep paper or a small notebook with you. Write down what you need to remember, then deal with the information at the end of the day by transferring it to your master calendar, updating your cell phone alarms, or doing other tasks like making necessary phone calls.

Despite meticulous list-writing, there may be certain things you frequently forget.

If you always lose keys: Hide an extra set or give them to a trusted family member or neighbor.

If you often misplace your wallet or other items: Tracking products are available that allow you to “tag” a number of items to locate with the press of a button.

Always forgetting appointments? Set alarms on your cell phone or computer, or keep a small appointment book with you and update it daily.

Know when to ask for help: Talk to your doctor, family members, and friends to get help. This publication from the National Institute on Aging offers more information about memory loss and when to seek help.

I think the day that I had to hand over the keys to the new owner was the most draining. Now that I think about it, I really am proud of myself for doing it all on my own! My parents were a big help throughout the whole process, but they left for vacation the day after the movers came. There was a lot of cleaning that needed to be done before I could say that I was officially moved out. My body ached for days!

From the moment I accepted that offer, my hands shot up and the roller coaster ride began! I had devoted the last few months of my time and energy to it, and I was getting really grumpy. I needed to create something, so I set out for the craft store. It was like a weight had been lifted when I finally stepped through the doors! I could have spent hours just scanning through the aisles. By the time I was finished shopping, my mood had been lifted, and I couldn’t wait to get back home.

I had to set up a makeshift craft table. I took an old art table top and set it on top of two boxes. It’s actually quite a cozy set up! The project I am working on now won’t be finished until next week, so you will have to stay tuned. Let me just tell you that a lot of “create-ivity” was involved!

One of the first things I did on the first night in my new home was transform my fireplace. It is the centerpiece of the common area and it divides the living room and dining room. I thought of a way that I could use it year-round by putting candles in it instead of wood, and then surrounding the candles with river rock. It has turned the space into a calming sanctuary, and the whole project cost me only $50! I shopped around for the cheapest pilar candles. Micheals craft store had the best selection and price. I bought ten candles of three different sizes for about $30. They also sell a variety of polished stones or river rock, but I found that it was a lot cheaper at Lowe’s. I bought three bags at $6 a piece. You can find them in the greenhouse area with all the house plants. Having all the candles burning does generate a lot of heat, so I kept the glass doors closed and the chimney flue open. I will probably use this in the winter also, so I don’t have to worry about buying wood or making a mess! I love it!

It’s over! I did it! I am finally moved into my new condo! After a long week of sweaty manual labor—and being on my feet for 4 days—I treated myself to a pedicure. What made the outting even better was going along with a friend! With the Fourth of July coming up, it was fun to do something patriotic! Hopefully this will inspire you to go out and get your little piggies painted also! Happy Fourth of July!

No, I haven’t lost my mind.

This is the final part of my strawberry project, and I saved the best for last. Bacon is the new “it” food; companies and chefs are pairing it with everything from ice cream to chocolate. So it’s got to go with strawberries, right?

Well, I set off today to find out. I tried several techniques, from wrapping fresh strawberries in prosciutto to stuffing strawberries with chocolate chips and wrapping them in a cooked piece of bacon. The prosciutto was a definite no, but I knew I was on to something with the bacon. It just needed one adjustment…

The oven! Again, I tried a few techniques, including broiling the bacon-wrapped berries, but I really only ended up filling my house with smoke. Finally, I stuffed three berries with chevre, three with chocolate chips, and three with nothing, wrapped them each in a strip of low sodium bacon, and roasted them in a 450F oven for roughly 10 minutes — 7 on one side, 3 on the other.

They were all wonderful, but I liked the chevre-filled ones the best. They were even better drizzled with aged balsamic vinegar. Okay, so maybe I also drizzled a tad of chocolate sauce on the plate. But I swear it was just for the visual effects.

Ohhh, but it was good.

Now, normally I wouldn’t eat nine pieces of bacon unless I was serving these little piggies as an appetizer to guests. Instead, I might do something like this and eat three or four pieces with a salad for lunch or dinner:

The good thing about strawberries is that you can eat them plain, use them in baking, or eat them any of the various ways I’ve been testing out. And bacon is sliced, so you can use just a few pieces at a time. I honestly have never tried freezing bacon, but I don’t see why you couldn’t if you used a freezer bag. Either way, paired with a salad, this makes a great lunch or dinner and a perfect appetizer for friends. Plus, they’re so easy!

Recipe: Berries in a blanket
Serves one

4 fresh strawberries, washed and capped (stem removed)
4 strips reduced sodium or turkey bacon
1 tsp chevre, divided into 1/4 tsps (optional)
1 tsp aged balsamic vinegar (optional)

Preheat oven to 450F. If you’re going to use the chevre, make a shallow slit in the side of each strawberry, just big enough to fit a 1/4 tsp of the soft cheese. Filling the strawberries from the side instead of the top helps keep the cheese from melting out while roasting.

Wrap each berry horizontally (to cover the chevre and hold it in) with one strip of bacon and secure with a toothpick. Place on a baking sheet and put in the oven for about 7 minutes. Check after 5, and if the bacon is browned, turn each piece with tongs. Roast for another 2 — 3 minutes until all sides of the bacon are cooked and brown.

Remove from the oven and immediately place each piece on a plate covered with two layers of paper towels to drain the grease. Cool slightly, then plate and drizzle with the 1 tsp of aged balsamic vinegar. Enjoy with a salad or as a snack.

I’ve been writing some stuff about a Memory Fitness Program developed at UCLA and tested at Erickson Retirement Communities. The class teaches stress management, a brain-healthy diet, physical activity, and mental aerobics—and it does seem to work! Surveys completed by Erickson residents show people remember names better after meeting new people, make better food choices, and remember a grocery list without having to write it down. And participants’ confidence improved too.

Then a study published in the Psychological Science in the Public Interest  on May 20, 2009, looked at all the research that’s been done so far about preserving and enhancing cognitive function (learning and memory). It found you can promote successful cognitive aging by being both intellectually engaged and physically active. It also pointed out that stress and chronic psychological distress can take away from cognitive health.

Generally, what is good for our body is good for our mind—and vice versa. Even if brain games aren’t a fix-all, combine them with a good diet, exercise, and stress management to get a healthy lifestyle that delivers results from head to toe. For seniors living at Erickson Retirement Communities, all these things are already built into the community. Check it out here.

A very good friend of mine, Gerry Fey, senior graphic designer for the Erickson Tribune and I were talking in great length about whether Roger Federer and Tiger Woods were really the best there ever was in their respective sports.

Well, believe it or not, Gerry had an answer and backed it up with facts and stats. His take on the whole subject was fascinating, so I asked him to put it down to share with you all.

Here is his take. Enjoy:

Woods vs. Nicklaus

 Previously, we took a look at Pete Sampras and Roger Federer, trying to determine which tennis player performed best against the strongest competition. Based on our analysis, I think Sampras wins, hands down.

Now to a much more difficult analysis, Tiger Woods vs. Jack Nicklaus. First of all, Nicklaus’ career still outshines Woods’. However, the comparison should chart an equal amount of time, so we’re going to look at Nicklaus’ first 12 years of professional golf, which will equal Woods’ career thus far.

An initial look puts these players neck and neck. Nicklaus ended with 18 majors, but in his first 12 years, he had 12. Tiger, before the U.S. Open in two weeks (which he surely must be considered the favorite), sits at 14 major titles.

But the key is their competition. As we showed with Sampras and Federer, Sampras was winning against Hall of Famers, while Federer is beating Rafael Nadal and that’s about it.

Looking at Tiger’s career so far, from 1997 to 2009, 25 players besides him have won majors, 7 with multiple wins. In the same time frame for Jack, there were 26 other players who won majors, with 6 multiple winners. To me this shows that both eras have a pretty good depth of talent.

Here are the multiple winners in Woods’ era:

Angel Cabrera (2), Padraig Harrington (3), Phil Mickelson (3), Ratief Goosen (2), Vijay Singh (3), Ernie Els (2) and Mark O’Meara (2).

 Here’s Nicklaus’ comparable list:

Arnold Palmer (3)*, Gary Player (6)*, Julius Boros(2)*, Billy Casper (2)*, Lee Trevino (5)* and Tony Jacklin (2)*.

* members of World Golf Hall of Fame

Obviously, from a Hall of Fame standpoint, Jack’s list dominates. However, in my opinion, the World Golf Hall of Fame is a little loose with its inductees and, given time, I would say Harrington, Mickelson, Singh and Els will all end up in the Hall of Fame. Therefore, I’d give a slight nod to Nicklaus, but not by much.

Coming soon:

Part 4- Who did they play?

With help from the good folks at the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works, I pulled together some conservation tips that might help.

Books

• Books require a cool, dry environment. Extremes in moisture and temperature can promote mold growth and cause the books to expand and contract, damaging the pages and their binding.
• Avoid prolonged exposure to ultraviolet light sources like sunshine and fluorescent bulbs.
• Books displayed on shelves should stand vertically, supported on both sides by an adjacent volume or bookend (but not too tightly). Leaning them diagonally against opposing surfaces can distort the spine and damage the cover.
• When packing your books for storage, use acid-free corrugated cardboard boxes available through conservator supply shops and specialty book stores.

Photographs

• Always keep photographs in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated place. High temperatures and moisture levels can accelerate deterioration and the growth of damaging molds.
• Protect photos from dust and light damage by storing them in plastic or paper containers that are chemically stable and free of acids, sulfur, and peroxides. When using photo albums, avoid those with magnetic or sticky pages, and store them in custom-fitted, acid-free boxes.
• Avoid prolonged exposure to light. Whenever possible, display a duplicate in place of the original, and frame it with acid-free materials and ultraviolet-filtering glass.

Documents, Letters, and Paper-based Artwork

• Keep paper products like letters, drawings, and newspapers cool and dry.
• Limit exposure to ultraviolet light. Use incandescent or tungsten bulbs when viewing the documents or lighting them for display.
• Whether you’re storing or displaying paper materials, make sure you do it using chemically stable folders, boxes, and matboards strong enough to prevent bending and distortion.

For more information on protecting your keepsakes, visit the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works.

Source: The AIC’s online guides to “Caring for Your Treasures.”

Every year we struggle with what to get those special men in our lives for Father’s Day. Coming up with something handmade and manly is normally a tricky combination that sometimes requires a lot of thought. I’m lucky that two new baby’s were born into the family in March, so there are an overabundence of cute photos circulating through Facebook and my email account.

For Mother’s Day, I took my favorite photos of the new babies and my two year old nephew and made them into paper beads (click here to see Mother’s Day jewelry blog). This time for Father’s Day, I thought I would use the same technique.

Instead of cutting out each face to make a single bead, I grouped them all close together and wrapped them around a pen. It was so easy and fun. It may take a few tries to get the perfect circumference, but don’t get frustrated.

I added the names of all the babies at the bottom of the photos and stretched them out so that they matched the width of the photos.

Tips: Use the glue sparingly. Too much causes the paper to slide around. I also learned that if you apply it to the entire strip of paper first, it causes the paper to wrinkle and crease as you roll it around the pen. To avoid this, apply glue to the paper that makes contact with the pen, roll it up until it is secure, and then apply glue as you roll it.

After the glue has dried, use a few coats of sealer, like Mod Podge. Even when glaze completey dries, it can be a bit sticky. Add a few coats of varnish or clear nail polish as your final layer. This way, sweaty hands won’t cause the surface of the pen to get sticky.

For more Father’s Day craft ideas, check out what my fellow craft bloggers have been up to! Tip Junkie has found a bunch that you must check out!

Happy crafting and Happy Father’s Day!

This cross section diagram shows the various components that make up the new encasements. (Graphic by Ray Ruskin)

In the last week, I’ve received several emails from readers inquiring about the Charters of Freedom story running in the Tribune’s June issue. In 2003, the National Archives embarked on a massive restoration effort that included repairing minor signs of wear on the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, and the Constitution, then reencasing the documents in state-of-the-art containers.

While the main article contains a detailed description of the encasements themselves, sometimes words alone cannot compete with the visual specificity of a good diagram. I think this is one of those instances, which is why I’m including a cross-section graphic of the different components that make up the new encasements.

The construction of these containers was a feat of scientific collaboration in which the fields of conservation, engineer, optics, and metallurgy came together to produce cases that will enable the Charters to outlast anyone alive today. Each parchment’s encasement consists of an aluminum base, covered with a 3/8-inch-thick piece of high-grade, non-reflective glass, bolted and gasketed to a frame of commercially pure, gold-plated titanium.

Conservators assembling one of the new encasements. Once sealed, these containers are filled with inert argon gas to create and maintain a stable environment that should preserve the Charters for centuries. (Photo courtesy of the National Archives and Records Administration)

The parchment rests on an aluminum platform covered in a special paper that absorbs and releases moisture. After sealing the encasements, conservators fill them with inert argon gas that provides a constant level of humidity.

As noted in the diagram, designers have also included small compartments beneath the document platform that house optical monitoring devices, which conservators can use to track the humidity, temperature, and oxygen levels within each encasement. These levels should remain around 40% relative humidity at 67 degrees Fahrenheit.

And though National Archives represenatives decline to discuss the various security measures employed to protect the Charters, they assure us that the precious documents are quite safe.

A very good frind of mine, the senior Graphic Designer for the Erickson Tribune, Gerry Fey and I were talking in great length about the weekend’s sporting events and we got into the discussion of whether Roger Federer and Tiger Woods were really the best there ever was in their respective sports.

Well, believe it or not, Gerry had an answer, and backed it up with facts and stats. His take on the whole subject was fascinating, so I asked him to put it down to share with the you all.

Here is his take. Enjoy:

In the list of repeated players, guys who crossed over Sampras and Federer’s careers, here’s how the two faired, record-wise:

Lets’ look at who Federer has beaten to win his grand slams compared to Sampras:

FEDERER

I don’t know about you, but take out Nadal, and you’re looking at a pretty sorry list of competition: Agassi at the end of his career in 2005, Roddick (who many consider to be overrated) and Lleyton Hewitt are about it.

SAMPRAS

If your counting, that’s four Hall of Famers (Rafter, Chang, Becker and Courier) and one future Hall of Famer (Agassi).

I’m going with Sampras over Federer for now. It’s one thing to be great, it’s quite another to dominate the competition when the competition is at its best. And that’s what Sampras did.

Oh, and in case you’re wondering what happened when the two faced each other, it happened only once. Here is a link to it on Youtube. It happened in the 2001 Wimbledon round of 16, a 221-minute thriller that ended with Federer winning 7-6(7), 5-7, 6-4, 6-7(2), 7-5. Knowing what we know now about Federer, wouldn’t you love to go back in time and watch that match again?

If you have any feelings on the subject of who’s the best tennis player, or the comparison between Federer and Sampras, please drop us a note!

Coming soon: Tiger Vs. Jack.