The 425 Show

We all strive to live a more sustainable lifestyle – but we don’t always know where to start. Aline Bloch founder of Out Of The Box Eco Store created a ‘refill store on wheels’, delivering home essential products right to your front door. Serving the Eastside, and Snoqualmie Valley Aline’s mission is to make it convenient to ‘help people reduce single use plastic Eco living’ – a Refill Revolution. Out of the box takes all the stress out of how to start your eco friendly lifestyle by setting up an in home house call to go over what your refill revolution journey looks like – and how she can help you to reach that goal. With her trusty van ‘Phil’ she will come to your home and go over step by step what type of refill service you’d like to achieve, and make a plan to get you on your way to a better sustainable lifestyle. The best part is refillable products are sold by the ounce, so you can shop the quantity you need (From 2oz to 32oz). Aline has always been passionate about reusing, and recycling for over 10 years, and is known to many as an ‘Eco artist’ – even making her own furniture out of shipping boxes! Everyone’s journey is different when you are interested in making the switch to living a more sustainable lifestyle and Aline recommends you start with a small goal, and small changes and not compare yourself to anyone else’s lifestyle. Working with vendors from the Pacific Northwest she does all the research for you, sourcing the best natural, vegan, and eco friendly products from everything from dish soap, laundry detergent, to personal products like shampoo and conditioner. You save your jars, shop online, and Aline shows up for a no contact refill service – doesn’t get much easier than that! Another fun way to get your friends or coworkers on board with the eco friendly lifestyle is hosting a Refill Pop Up Party. Invite at least 5 friends willing to shop, and the refill van will arrive at your location give a quick presentation and give your friends the opportunity to ask any questions, and shop directly from the van. Aline also provides tips on what jars you can use, how to clean your jars, products, starter kits and more! If you’re ready to get on board with the ‘refill revolution’, and start your journey to reducing the single use plastic eco living book a house call with Aline today! For real estate agents Aline can help you put together welcome home buyer gift baskets specifically customized for you and your clients, with information on refill service. Follow her on Facebook for upcoming events, and eco living tips. Cheers! Nicole

If you’re a business owner marketing, and networking is crucial – but not everyone knows how to go about that, or has the time. That’s where Tracey Warren, Business Coach/Consultant, and Author of Ignite Your Champions comes in, she is committed to “helping you create community online and off, so that you can build your business with greater ease”. Social media today plays a huge role in the way we market ourselves, and our business. Content and strategy isn’t always enough to succeed, you need to be faithful fans, nurture your network, and find your ‘Champions’ so you can surround yourselves with people that have been here for you all along, and continue to cheer you on, and want you to succeed. Ignite Your Champions is about “Building Your Business By Connection, and Community”. Being  on every social media platforms isn’t always enough to get your message out there. Tracey’s consulting tips helps her clients learn how to first find out who your champions are, which are your fans that already support you, and return the ‘engagement’ favor by acknowledging their messages and posts – which could be something as simple as a quick comment, or like. One way to make your marketing easier is to stop trying to make everything perfect.  Through Tracey’s consulting program she will help customize a marketing program that works best for you, and teach you to market your business with joy and ease. Marketing should be fun, not something you dread – building your community is the key to success in life and business. Ignite Your Champions consulting starts with two 45-minute calls per month, where Tracey will: Identify your content buckets.  Build a sustainable content calendar. Decide the most profitable marketing activities  Determine how to use metrics and analytics to drive your content distribution decisions. Identify your current and potential Champions and develop a plan for keeping them engaged. Discover how to best share about who you are and what you do. Identify and develop customer stories for sharing. Tracey can help you create 10-15 pieces of content, and templates per month for you to use – saving you time and energy! If you’re ready to take the next step to marketing your business, and building your community with ease schedule a free 30 minute consultation with Tracey on her website! You can join her Marketing Matters Membership, a monthly membership to discover how to simplify your marketing, messaging and memorability, increase and sustain engagement, and more. Follow Tracey on Facebook, for news of when her book will be available to purchase, and more consulting tips. Cheers! Nicole

It’s been great to see some favorite local events coming back. Phil Megenhardt, Creative Director, and Ross Holtrop, Beverage Extraordinaire from Kirkland Uncorked joined the show today. Uncorked runs from Friday, August 27th – Sunday August 29th and features many local wineries, a street fair, live music, food trucks, and more! The best part it’s all for a good cause to help raise money for Homeward Pet Adoption Center, one of Washington State’s leading non-profit, no-kill animal shelters Located at the Kirkland Marina Park it’s the perfect spot to take in the picturesque view, relax on the beach, or lawn and experience 75 + of some of the very best Washington Wines. Partnering with HPAC to raise money for their organization this three day event is full of fun activities for all ages, family, and your dogs too! The festival is free to attend, with the option to purchase tickets for their wine garden. Pro-tip on purchasing tickets – if you stop by any local QFC and purchase a $30.00 ticket from them you get 4 extra tastings for free! You don’t have to be a wine expert to enjoy this three day event, Kirkland Uncorked has something for everyone. For the beer and cocktail enthusiast you can check out their beer and cocktail garden, this year featuring their signature cocktails a refreshing Gin & Tonic made with Monkey 47 Schwarzwald Dry Gin. You won’t go away hungry with their Saturday Food Truck Feast bringing the unique creations of 15 of the tastiest mobile kitchens to the Kirkland Uncorked Street Fair, from BBQ, Asian, American and more. Don’t miss their grilling competition on Saturday, August 28, at 2:00pm, as two chefs face off in a ‘Chopped-style’ grilling competition inside the Tasting Garden on the QFC Main Stage. The festival is split into two parts, a 21+ Tasting Garden and an all ages Street Fair. The Tasting Garden features wine tasting, live music, and a Saturday Grill-Off. The street fair is open to all ages, with the Uncorked Market, Saturday Food Trucks. Don’t miss their City Dog Modeling Contest! “Unleash your dog’s inner super model at their CityDog Cover Dog Model Search taking place at 1pm on Sunday, August 29th.” Registration opens at 11 A.M. at the CityDog Magazine booth in the Kirkland Uncorked Market. The $10 registration fee goes to Homeward Pet Adoption Center. Grab some friends and check out Kirkland Uncorked next weekend! Check out the full list of event hours below, and follow them on Facebook for fun posts from the event and upcoming events. For more information on Homeward Pet Adoption Center you can visit their website. Kirkland Uncorked Tasting Garden Hours*: Friday, August 27: 5pm-9pm | Saturday, August 28: 12pm-9pm | Sunday, August 29: 11am-5pm *Must be 21+ with valid ID Kirkland Uncorked All-Ages Street Fair Hours: Friday, August 27: 2pm-7pm | Saturday, August 28: 11am-7pm | Sunday, August 29: 11am-5pm Cheers! Nicole

Branding and Lifestyle photography are 2 big buzz words right now. As business owners, how do we stand out? We know it’s about more than a logo, but breaking it down and implementing in a meaningful way can be tricky. It’s best not to go it alone. Kelsey Kurtis, Branding Educator is the perfect person to help you with that. Specializing in Branding, Lifestyle Branding Photography, and Author of “The Connection Method“, she is passionate about helping her clients connect with their audience to build their brand and their business. I’ve worked with Kelsey, and I can tell you first hand – she’s amazing! Kelsey breaks it down better than anyone else I’ve ever worked with before. She makes it easy to understand AND implement. When people think of brand management they often think they need to own a business to need this type of service – Kelsey says that’s not true! The whole concept around Connection-Based Branding is “about connecting with yourself first so you can best connect with others”.⁣ Having a defined foundation of who you are will help you stand out with confidence, and act out of  intentionality, not impulsivity – think of her as your ‘unapologetic cheerleader’ for you! As far back as age 11 Kelsey started her first business as a jewelry importer, and was hooked on the idea of being her own boss. Some of the greatest lessons she learned from her Grandfather was- “focus on genuinely connecting with your customers, it’s not about what you are selling but about the story, YOUR story”. This sparked her idea for the concept and book The Connection Method – introducing a new perspective on branding through a 360 degree lens, that focuses on bringing humanity back to business. You are a brand, even if you don’t own a business. The Connection Method gives you simple and actionable steps to help you build a Connection-Based Brand. With the internet at our fingertips most people do more research than they used to on choosing everything from a Doctor, lawyer, house cleaner, or real estate agent. What holds people back from choosing the right person is the fear of the unknown – not knowing much about that person. Having a great website, or the perfect logo isn’t enough today to make you stand out from the rest. Kelsey helps you really connect with yourself, by digging deep on what makes you, you. Defining your ‘branding words’, 3 – 5 words or phrases of what defines you is the start to making you more ‘real’, and inspires a genuine connection with others. For a copy of Kelsey’s book The Connection Method you can shop on Kelsey’s website or Amazon! If you or someone you know is looking for a boost in re-branding their image give Kelsey a call. Follow her on Facebook, and Instagram for some inspiring quotes, advice, and upcoming speaking events. Cheers! Nicole  

Health and Wellness has become a collaboration between many different modalities. I love exploring the options and finding out the impact they can have. For the past seven years Amy McKinley with Happier Healthy Living has been living her dream job helping other’s be healthier, through natural remedies, and essential oils. There’s so much information online about healthier living that it can feel overwhelming to know which tools to use. Amy is incredibly knowledgable and passionate about providing inspiration and helpful resources to help you live happier, and healthier. Growing up in a fairly conservative home with regards to medicine, alternative medicine approaches wasn’t something Amy believed in, until she had her son. Born prematurely they were in and out of the doctor’s office for basic colds or minor illnesses that would affect his already weak immune system. Determined to find alternative options to help her son strengthen his immunity and find less stress she came across doTERRA, which dramatically changed her sons lifestyle, and has been antibiotic free for over six years! During the process of falling in love with the oils for her and her family, she wanted to share her success with friends and family and created Happier and Healthier Living where she works with clients either one on one, or in class settings. Founded in 2008 doTERRA’s mission was to share only the purest, highest-grade essential oils with the world. With Amy’s guidance she helps you lower your daily toxic load, through aromatic non toxic products –  it’s the perfect place to start incorporating them into your daily routine. Amy recommends you start small, by trying some basic oils to get you started. Combing oils such as peppermint and wild orange is a great way to add a boost to your daily workout. Those struggling with allergies you can combine lemon, lavender, and peppermint to water or on your skin to help relieve the dreaded allergy season. Helpful tips from Amy on using your oils is keeping your oils out and handy.  For sleeping oils, keep them by your bed, if you use an oil in your morning tea or water keep those by the sink for best reminders to incorporate your daily oils. If you’ve been looking for some healthier lifestyle options, whether you’re looking to reduce stress, have a better nights sleep, or just need that extra daily boost of energy give Amy a call! Amy is passionate about educating you on how essential oils can make an impact on happier and healthier living. You can follow her on Facebook, and Instagram for more healthy living inspirations and upcoming courses. Cheers! Nicole  

Have you ever watched those picnic scenes in a movie and thought – that would be fun? And then realized recreating it isn’t so easy? Well, a movie perfect, insta worth picnic is just a phone call away thanks to Christine Brown, owner of Rainy Day Picnics. Rain or shine Christine puts together an amazing outdoor picnic experience providing everything you need for a special day, set in a clear tent to keep you warm, and out of the PNW elements. What started as an idea to combine her creativity, hospitality, and passion for bringing people together turned into something larger than she could have ever imagined! Christine works with some of the best vendors in the area to put together a special picnic in some of the most beautiful settings. They are perfect for bachelorette parties, birthdays, anniversary celebrations, family fun nights, or really just about any reason you can come up with. Christine has special picnic packages for everyone, and every occasion! Their “Classic Picnic” offers plush pillows, blankets, in a setting of your choice, or one of their private locations. The “Pamper Me Picnic” is perfect for anniversaries, or date night as you sit back, relax, and let RDP and Spa Vibes Concierge transform you backyard into a private peaceful retreat. As Rainy Day Picnic grew, Christine has partnered with some pretty amazing vendors around the area! Spend the day up in wine country in Woodinville at Matthews Winery and sample some of their amazing wines, while enjoying your private picnic, and food boards. Explore Lake Washington by boat in Kirkland as Christine and her team set up a floating picnic paradise on Duffy Electric Boats. During the holidays, chop down your Christmas tree, then relax in your warm, and cozy picnic at Crystal Creek Tree Farm, in Maple Valley. All of Rainy Day Picnic setups come with your tent, and all the cozy plush pillows you could ask for. Christine makes it super easy to have add-ons to your experience by providing food boards, or special menu items from a local chef. Christine will take care of everything your heart desires for a special occasion or you can always bring your own food and drinks as well. For a full list of RDP special add-ons visit her website. Whether you are looking for a super fun way to celebrate with friends, in need of a special way for a wedding proposal, or just want a fun way to enjoy these warm Summer nights and go ‘glamping’ in your backyard Christine has you covered! If you would like a special ‘themed’ picnic Christine will work with you on all your needs and requests. To capture your special occasion ask Christine about her photographer package too! Follow RDP on Facebook, and Instagram for upcoming events and new locations. Cheers! Nicole

For parents with Neuro Diverse children on the spectrum, finding a place where they can play and feel comfortable in their own skin can be challenging. Owners Sumathi, and Aruna have created the perfect space at We Rock The Spectrum – the first indoor sensory facility, catering to  all children with all abilities. Located in Bellevue WRTS, is a 6,000 square foot kids gym that specializes in working with kids on the spectrum, and all kids that benefit from sensory type play, working with onsite Occupational, and Physical Therapists. Their goal is providing a safe space where you can be who you are, and “You never have to say I’m sorry”. We Rock the Spectrum Kids Gyms was founded to provide a place for children of all ability levels to play and grow together. Specifically designed to help children with sensory processing disorders, Sumathi and Aruna believe all children can benefit greatly from their equipment, allowing children of all ability levels to play together. Long time friends for over 20 years Sumathi and Aruna have shared a bond over the years supporting each other with Aruna’s son being diagnosed with Autism at a young age, and Sumathi having family members on the spectrum.  With their backgrounds in education and in the hospital industry they were both passionate about finding a place to provide mentorship or training programs for kids on the spectrum. The opportunity to open WRTS, sort of ‘fell into their lap’, and they knew this was the perfect outlet to express Aruna’s passion for autism, and education and for Sumathi to provide a wonderful and safe environment to help children learn, grow, and have fun. WRTS truly offers something for every child of all ages! Their gym is packed with  sensory play stations from their popular zip line, which helps kids with upper body, and core strength to their rock wall encouraging kids to go out of the comfort zone and climb high. Check out their full list of options below: Open Play – Can be pre-booked online or phone, and welcomes children to come in and enjoy the same activities that are offered as private parties, and sessions, including full use of the gym, and arts and crafts area. Classes – Sign up for their learning pods, Monday – Thursday 9:00 am – 12:00 pm sign up for The Banyan Preschool taught by an experienced educator who believes in making learning a joyful journey through educational materials that teach children through a hands-on approach. Summer Camps –  Camp programs designed to foster your child’s growth and development through fun themes, sensory time, activities, and much more. Birthday Parties and Special Events – Celebrate your child in a place where ALL kids have a place to play, create, and use their imagination. Their expert staff will guide you through your party planning experience with every detail. Movie Night, and Story Time- Visit their website for more information on their weekly movie and story time events. If you or someone you know have been struggling with the challenges of finding a great environment for your kids, check out WRTS today! You can follow them on Facebook for upcoming events, and new classes. Cheers! Nicole

We could all use some form of calm in our life, and what better way than having a one of a kind piece of art from Jen Chambers Art in your home- creating unique, peaceful and tranquil, modern art pieces that make you smile. Inspired by textures that are found in the natural landscape in the Northwest Jen draws from her inspiration by creating textures from images of water, textures around the city, and is passionate to bring joy and serenity to her clients homes. Jen’s pieces are modern abstract, with acrylic mixed medias as well as encaustics – a super fun way of incorporating bees wax, and damar resin together.  Her style, “although always highly textural, ranges greatly, allowing her freedom in artistic experimentation, resulting in constant evolution”. Born and raised in the Northwest Jen obtained her degree in interior design which she pursued for over 10 years. Buying her first home with her husband they were on the hunt for some art for their home and not finding anything they liked, with some art training as a child she took a stab at making a few pieces. After hosting a gathering a friend asked where she could get those pieces – Jen sold her very first painting and was hooked on the idea of creating more. In 2005 she made the leap to become a mixed media artists and couldn’t be happier. Jen has many pieces in stock and available to purchase online, although her true passion is doing commission pieces for her clients. Jen works with her clients through an in person/virtual viewing of your space you want the piece to go, and the feeling they are looking for. Whether you’re looking for something in your entry, bedroom, or office space Jen puts her heart in soul into each piece – and is overwhelmed with joy when her clients are thrilled with their piece. Jen’s art can be found in numerous places on the Eastside and in some galleries in Seattle. Check out the full list below to buy her art, or set up a appointment to view her pieces through the galleries. B-Bar in Bellevue – Grab a drink and take in her beautiful pieces on the wall. Sorella Salon and Spa, Issaquah – A great time to relax and get inspired by a calming piece. 6 Walls Interior Design, Mercer Island – Helpful interior designers on hand to pick out the perfect home items. Grey Sky Gallery, Seattle – By appointment only a beautiful selection of artists. Willa, Queen Anne – Super cute boutique, shop and search for all her pieces. BG Homes, Seattle – Fantastic new modern home decor store. If you would like to set up a time to chat with Jen about a one of a kind piece you can contact her today! There’s no obligation to move forward with a piece. To view upcoming events and her latest pieces you can follow her on Instagram, and Facebook. Cheers! Nicole  

If you’ve been thinking about doing a home remodel my guest Jamie Hsu, owner of Lakeville Homes is the perfect person to help you through what can be an overwhelming process. Voted best remodeler numerous times in The 425 Magazine, Jamie and her team of experts offers a high level ‘Nordstrom’ vs ‘Walmart’ experience, educating you, and helping you navigate through the process to create your dream space. Recognized as one of the top woman owned companies, since 1985 Lakeville Homes has been a trusted builder, and remodeler, providing high-quality product, support through top quality customer service, and bringing value to each home improvement project.  Growing up in a home of architecture’s Jamie’s Mom was one of the first women that paved the way for female builders on the Eastside, and opened Lakeville Homes in 1985. Recognized as one of the first female builders to enter the Street Of Dreams, Jamie had a passion to follow her Mom’s path. Obtaining her architecture degree, and working on commercial projects Jamie wanted to get back to her roots of visiting home sites and started working side by side with her Mom 14 years ago. With her Mom retiring Jamie took the plunge to take over as owner 10 years ago. Having gone through a remodel myself, I can confirm finding someone you can trust, not only with your project, or being in your home, but finding someone that can educate you through the process – and most importantly setting realistic expectations is crucial. Jamie and her team pride themselves on educating their clients from start to finish from major to small project decisions. For images of their remodel projects you visit their website. Along with their extensive remodel projects Lakeville also has some of the most beautiful modern new construction floor plans. Their Kirkland – West Of Market home was featured in The 425 Magazine brings a big “Wow Factor” and mixes “art and architecture, culminating in a show stopper of a home.”  Their Mercer Island – First Hill is a contemporary and stylish floorplan that “combines clean lines and the warmth that bringing the outside in.” If you or someone you know is looking into a remodel I highly recommend you contact Jamie today! Her expertise has clients referring friends and family year after year. Follow them on Facebook for more before and after images, and new construction homes available. Cheers! Nicole

We all have our own idea of sustainability, and the need to help minimize a ‘plastic-free’ living. Stephanie Lentz CEO and founder of Scoop Market Place has done all the plastic free research for you and recently opened a ‘zero waste’ grocery store in the Juanita Village area in Kirkland. Scoops mission is to “normalize zero waste grocery shopping and are passionate about teaching people how to improve the quality of their lives – while learning to walk more gently on the planet”. Customers can bring in their reusable containers to scoop as much or as little as they want from their package-free food, home goods and personal care products. Stephanie and her husband started a journey of living a plant based life, which led her into researching the negative impacts of plastics, and microplastics, and other forms of disposable waste on the environment. Having two young children they wanted to make significant lifestyle changes, changing their daily routine of minimizing a ‘plastic-free’ lifestyle, and zero waste movement. After searching stores in the area she wasn’t finding what she wanted so with the nudge from her husband she opened Scoop Market in Seattle in 2019 and quickly grew out of her 200 square foot space and landed a larger space in Kirkland. With the larger space Stephanie is able to offer a larger variety of products – some locally sourced from the area.   Often when shopping you want to try a tea, spice, or different laundry soap but aren’t committed to purchasing in fear you won’t like it. Scoop has all the bulk items, with teaspoons, and measuring cups to take as little or as much as you want. Some of their unique items are their toothpaste tabs – eliminate the large tube when traveling and carry the tabs in your travel bag! Current in store shopping hours for bulk (non-food) items are Thursday -Friday 12-4, and Saturday and Sunday 11-4. They’ve also made it super easy to order bulk items online and for either pickup or delivery. You can join their membership plans which offers a one-year membership, annual membership price locked in for life, 5% discount on all Scoop purchases, access to digital sustainability downloads. Mention the425show in store or online and receive a discount! Visit Scoop today and check out all of Stephanie’s amazing products! You can learn more about the ‘green’ lifestyle and Stephanie’s journey and tips through her Green Stuff Podcast, with tips of achievable steps towards more eco-friendly habits. Follow them on Facebook for upcoming events, blog posts, recipes, and more. Cheers! Nicole  

The weather is warming up, and one of the best ways to enjoy it is being out on the water. Tanner and Samantha, owners of Duffy Electric Boats have a fleet of 21′ electric boats for rent, creating a memorable cruising experience on Lake Washington – rain or shine. Located in the marina in downtown Kirkland, July 4th marks their one year anniversary. Their easy to operate, cruising boats -basically a floating living room on the water, is perfect for families, bridal showers, wedding proposal’s, Birthday’s, and even corporate events! Duffy boats have been around since the 1950’s, starting in California, and is the most celebrated electric boat in the world. Tanner and Samantha took their background in the hospitality industry, and decided to make the shift utilizing their attention to detail, and providing excellence experiences for their customer’s – on the water. Their mission – “It’s not about going fast or far – it’s about spending time with your friends and family while you cruise and connect along the magnificent shores of Lake Washington”. Whether you are an experienced boater, or have never been on a boat Tanner guarantees their boats are quite manageable for anyone. With their motor’s similar to a golf cart the top speed is 4 to 7 miles per hour, with no loud motor offers a relaxing experience. You can operate a boat on your own, or have your own personal Duffy caption cruise your around. Duffy has partnered with numerous companies such as Rainy Day Picnics that can set up a dream date, or ladies brunch providing everything from chandeliers, to carpet, and gourmet meals. Hire their top notch photographer Taira Maria to capture your proposal, or special Birthday celebration. Elevate your Duffy boat experience by jumping on a seaplane from Kenmore Air picking you up right next to your boat and fly you over Lake Washington, and Lake Union returning you back to your boat! Duffy Boat Prices start at $125 an hour with a two hour minimum, and four hour maximum rental. Each boat holds 10 comfortably, up to 12 maximum. You can bring your own food and drinks, and connect your playlist to a great stereo. For more information on prices, and packages you can visit their website. If you’re looking for a unique group experience, have company coming into town, or want to explore Lake Washington with your family check out Duffy Boats! Follow them on Instagram for some amazing photo’s of boating fun, and check out their Facebook page for seasonal events. Duffy Boats is always looking for new people to join their Summer crew so contact Tanner today 425-588-1716 if you’re looking for a fun job! Cheers! Nicole

Self awareness – social skills – empathy. All of these are important, the question is how do you teach them to children? Marcelle Waldman, the creator My FeelLinks to the rescue! She created an amazing journal and set of stuffies to help. The Feellinks journal encourages growth by helping children identify, understand, and manage their feelings. The journal includes four brightly colored feeling dolls, each double-sided to represent eight core feelings, which include Happy/Sad, Proud/Embarrassed, Calm/Excited, and Angry/Scared. They help children with labeling, expressing and regulating their feelings – “If you can name it, you can tame it”. *Photo Credit Genevieve Kathleen Photography* Growing up on Mercer Island and after attending the University of Arizona, Marcelle became a teacher here on the Eastside. While working  in one on one programs to help kids with special needs such as autism, she realized a lot of things she was learning and teaching could apply to all children. Gathering as many resources as she could find, she realized she needed a stronger curriculum for her students, so she brought in journals for her kids to write in, and other resources that allowed her students express how they were feeling that they could use in school and at home. Realizing there wasn’t a lot out there she developed her own journal, with her feelings dolls, designed specifically to help articulate kids feelings better. *Photo Credit Genevieve Kathleen Photography* Feellinks dolls are designed to help children identify – manage – and understand what they are really feeling, so they can articulate it out loud, and in their journal. Check out the eight dolls moods below: Happy – I feel great pleasure and joy. I have a friendly, infectious smile that is inviting to others. Sad –  I feel grief and unhappiness. I show my emotions by frowning or crying. Proud – I display self-esteem and self-respect. I have a positive sense of value and accomplishment. Embarrassed – I feel self-consciously confused and distressed. Sometimes my body temperature feels warm and my cheeks turn pink. Calm – I feel free from excitement and disturbance. I feel a lightness in my body and mind. Excited – I feel a strong energized feeling. I am often smiling and wide eyed. Angry – I feel great annoyance, pain, trouble and displeasure Scared – I feel a state of fear, fright and panic. My emotions can show in many ways including, crying, shaking, frowning, wide eyes, fast heart rate, sweaty hands, and running away from something. *Photo Credit Genevieve Kathleen Photography* If you or someone you know would like a copy of Marcelle’s Feellinks journal you can visit her website to purchase. Once the journal is full you can purchase and additional journal. Follow her on Facebook for new items and helpful parenting tips. Cheers! Nicole

With everyone starting to get out more, it feels like one big coming out party. And nothing beats a piece of statement jewelry when you are ready to celebrate. Camisha Jackson, owner of Lunaversoul Jewelry creates some of the most amazing, one of a kind, pieces from everyday jewelry to pieces of wearable art – and how she got there even surprises herself. Camisha is a self-taught jewelry designer and calls her pieces “modern, authentic, unique, boldly fierce, and empowers others to see themselves as the shinning star of their story”.  What started as creating a bracelet for her birthday has grown into being featured in top magazines, such as The 425 Magazine, Forbes, and her jewelry was used for Seattle’s metropolitan fashion week, at Museum of Flight. Working as a 3D graphic designer for a video company, Camisha wanted to buy herself a piece of jewelry for her birthday, but wasn’t finding anything that fit her style. Buying some beads, and items at her craft store she made a unique bracelet for herself. Returning to the store for some more items she was stopped by another shopper who asked where she got her bracelet – and that turned into selling it right off her arm! This happened a second time with a pair of earrings, and she thought this could be something she good do on the side. Creating some pieces and posting them on Etsy, about a month into making items a representative from the Smithsonian Institute of National Museum of African American History and Culture contacted her to create 4000 pieces of jewelry – Camisha thought this had to be a joke. It was no joke, the Smithsonian wanted to sell her jewelry at their  National Museum of African American History and Culture. Taking the leap she agreed to make the pieces and made the decision to give up her job as a graphic designer and started Lunaversoul in 2007. Camisha’s passion for creating her pieces are often inspired by a certain mood she’s feeling. This can come from seeing someone’s outfit on the street and creating something with similar colors, an angle of a building, or even a song. To say Camisha’s jewelry making business grew over the years is an understatement! Lunaversoul has become one of the most unique brands for innovative handmade pieces in the area. Recently featured on The King Five News, her pieces have been used in high fashion magazine’s, on the runway’s of fashion week in New York, the show The Biggest Loser, and she created a custom piece for Grammy Award-winning artist Erykah Badu. If you would like purchase some of Camisha’s amazine pieces, you can shop online, or set up an appointment to view her shop in Renton. I highly recommend you follow her on Instagram to see some of her stunning pieces! Check out her Facebook account and follow her Youtube Channel to see the process of her jewelry making. Cheers! Nicole

Do you ever walk through the farmers market and wonder what to do with everything? I love buying beautiful, locally grown produce, but I’m always at a loss when I get back home. Acme Farms and Kitchen Boxes to the rescue! They have the perfect meal kits to impress your family, and guests as we work our way back into entertaining, and they can accommodate virtually any style of eating – vegetarian, vegan, or full on carnivore. Acme Farm Boxes set themselves apart by all the other meal delivery companies by sourcing the absolute best and local ingredients, with minimal packaging, delivered fresh to your front door.  Celebrating ten years, they make it simple to shop, cook, and eat local, saving you the dreaded nightly question – “what’s for dinner”? Local ingredients produced by their local farmers, makers, and bakers are paired with quick and delicious recipes, created by their chef and change weekly. Joy started Acme when her daughter was young and her husband was in the midst of staring a blueberry farm. She found it difficult to visit famers markets gathering local, fresh ingredients. They came up with the idea to create boxes of food they would like to eat, while helping local producers, farmers, fishers, and bakers in the region. From their curated ‘Family Boxes” – 3 to 4 quick family dinners, to their ‘Vegetarian Boxes‘ they have something for everyone.  30% to 40 % of food is wasted before it even gets to your home. What makes Acme Farm Boxes unique is they offer their customers to place their order a week in advance allowing the producers to sell them only the items needed for each box. When you open a farm box you’ll see all the fresh vegetables on top, minimal packaging, and you’ll feel like you picked these items up yourself at the market.  Jeff and Joy are passionate about working with their chef to create fun, and seasonal recipes for their customers. This month they have a double date night box, invite some friends over for a Thai-themed Double Date Night – cooking two delicious meals together. Get the kids into cooking with their super fun kids boxes, that are loaded with simple and fun favorites to enjoy for breakfast, lunch/dinner, snacks, and sometimes dessert. Most kids include 3 to 4 dinners that can be purchased one time, or you can subscribe to their meal plans and gain Acme Awards! Along with their meal kits you can shop their local marketplace and add on locally sourced items like farm fresh eggs, breakfast items, and desserts.  If you would like a few nights off of planning the perfect meal order an Acme Box today! For a limited time Acme Farms was generous to offer $20.00 off your order using the code “The425show”. Send a kit to a family member, or gather some friends and have a fun night with drinks and cooking together. Follow them on Facebook for special offers, and Instagram for their weekly recipes.  Cheers!  Nicole 

Most us have gone through some type of physical or occupational therapy, What better way to start healing than doing it on the back of a horse? Paula Del Giudice, Executive Director with Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center, –  joined me on the show today to talk about the amazing work they do. Their mission is to “transform the bodies, minds, and spirits of people with disabilities”. Little Bit was founded in 1976 by Margaret Dunlap, who had Multiple Sclerosis found that being on the back of a horse slowed the advance of her disease. Margaret was determined to offer similar support to her community with therapeutic horsemanship, through Adaptive Riding, and Hippotherapy. It is now the largest riding association in the state of Washington, and one of the largest in the country. Named after Margaret’s horse at the time, Little Bit. Young Reflections Photography Paula and her team help over 260 riders and patients each week with 29 horses and the help of more than 350 volunteers. Working with certified Physical Therapists, Speech and Language Pathologists, and Occupational Therapists they help people with disabilities from ages 2 up to 90 years in age. Just 45 minutes sitting on a horse can help with core muscle strength, and sensory work to help them function in daily life. Little Bit offers several services for their clients such as Adaptive Riding  which is a “recreational horseback riding lessons for individuals with special needs”. Riders learn horsemanship and riding skills in an environment tailored to their individual needs and learning styles. Their new Equine-Facilitated Psychotherapy (EFP) program offers tools in “mental health therapy, specifically targets people with mental and emotional health issues, stemming from traumatic life events, chemical imbalances”. Donations and the help from the community is crucial for Little Bit’s success. For the last 15 years Windermere Bellevue Commons has helped Little Bit help prepare for their annual horse show at the end of June – it is honestly a highlight of my year. This year they will continue their show, with some restrictions, and are also doing a golf tournament, September 9th to help raise money. You can visit their events page for upcoming dates. Little Bit offers several ways you can get involved. If you would like to become a patient, you can fill out their online application, or if you’re looking to volunteer you can visit their get involved page for more information. Don’t miss out on their awesome Summer camps for people with or without disabilities. Donations are also always welcome! If you’d like to make a donation you can visit their donation page. If you are someone you know is going through physical therapy and are looking for a different approach I highly recommend you visiting Little Bit! For more information, and to contact them you can visit their virtual tour. Follow them on Facebook for upcoming events. Check out their inspirational, and success videos on YouTube. Cheers! Nicole      

Domestic violence is a topic a lot of people often don’t know how to talk about – or where to turn when they need help. It can occur in many different ways and can affect people regardless of income, religion, ethnicity, educational level, or race. My guests Rachel Krinsky, LifeWire Executive Director and Liz Mangini, Board Member joined me and shared their passion with their amazing organization LifeWire – offering support to help survivors, and young adults of domestic violence. LifeWire “is on a mission to end domestic violence and create a world where every person lives in a safe environment, free from oppression and with the opportunity to thrive.”  They offer support, resources, professional services, shelter and housing to develop a healthy foundation. More than1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have experienced physical violence from an intimate partner. Most people associate domestic violence primarily with physical abuse but it can show up in other ways as well such as emotional, financial and other forms of control. Not everyone experiences domestic violence in the same way, but there are warning signs. Some may seem subtle, while others may seem obvious. Subtle signs can include controlling your ability to have a job, not allowing access to finances or personal documents. Criticizing your friends and family, and not allowing to see them. Their teen program offers help young adults learn the signs of a unhealthy relationship, including jealously and controlling behavior.   None of this would be possible without the help, of volunteers, and donations through their events from the community. This year LifeWire has put together a virtual breakfast “Hope Grows Here“, on May 13th at 7:30 am. Joining is free and you will learn more about their organization, hear from Board Members and successful survivor stories. Funds raised will ensure that LifeWire continues to provide compassionate services, safe housing and hope to domestic violence survivors, children and families when they need it most. If you are unable to attend you can Make a donation today. If you are experiencing signs of abuse or suspect a friend, or loved one is you can contact them through their helpful resources online, to learn more about signs of abuse, along with their 24 hour hotline, and safe, private message center. Follow them on Facebook for updates on upcoming events, other ways to help, and helpful tips of recognizing domestic violence. . Cheers! Nicole          

Wow! The 425 Show is officially 3 years old! Supporting local businesses and sharing what makes this such a great place to live has always been a passion of mine. I’m grateful that the show gives me a chance to do that every week. We thought it was only fitting to celebrate with Vanessa Rimkus Loan Officer of Fairway Mortgage.She was the very first guest we had on the show and joined us again to celebrate our milestone.\r\n\nSince 1999 Vanessa has been passionate about helping her clients get into their dream home, and help lower their payments through refinancing their current loan.\r\n\nFinding the right loan officer and mortgage team is crucial when it comes to buying a home or refinancing. Vanessa and her team at Fairway Mortgage offers a variety of loan options that can help you achieve homeownership – with a speedy process. With current interest rates at a historic low at 3.2%, it offers more home affordability, in a competitive market.\r\n\n\r\n\nWorking with my clients, I strongly encourage them to get fully approved, which puts them in a better position when making an offer on a home. In this competitive market we are seeing buyers waive their financing contingency. There is definite risk in doing that, so it’s crucial that they work with a lender who can “get it done” and talk through all of the possible scenarios so that they aren’t surprised later on.\r\n\n \r\n\n\r\n\nVanessa and her team educate their clients from start to finish, through their home buyers guide and are truly passionate about being on your side as your own personal cheerleader to set you up for success in your loan process. Their loan process below is different from a lot of lenders as they speed up the process putting you in the best position to make an offer – or lower your current rate.\r\n\nLoan Process Steps:\r\n\n\nLoan Application – Start by filling out a loan application online to start the process, once received Vanessa will set up a time for an in person or phone conversation about your loan.\r\n\nIncome Factor – Vanessa will determine if you have factored in things like adding all your qualified income – some people don’t know other sources of income qualify.\r\n\nDebt To Income – Once Vanessa has all of your accurate information, W2’s, job, and debt she will calculate your debt to income ratio and determine what loan amount you qualify for.\r\n\nPre-Underwriting – This is what sets Fairway Mortgage apart from other lenders. Vanessa will submit your loan through qualified underwriters, which is their loan ‘blessing’ you are fully pre-approved and put in a higher position in purchasing your home.\r\n\n\n\r\n\nWhether you are looking to purchase a home or want some options I highly recommend Vanessa! You can visit their helpful resources online, and visit their loan options page to see what loan fits your needs. To set up a consultation with Vanessa visit her contact page, and follow Fairway on Facebook for the latest rate updates and loan resources.\r\n\nCheers!\r\n\nNicole\r\n\n \r\n\n \r\n\n \r\n\n \r\n\n \r\n

Stephanie Reitz, author of “My Rain Coat Has a Silver Lining” joined me on the show today as part of her much anticipated book launch. Her first book, My Raincoat Has a Silver Lining “is a collection of whimsical poems for the young and young at heart. It recalls the experiences of childhood and the wonders that the imagination creates”. \r\n\nStephanie’s book has been 10 years in the making. She would randomly wake up in the middle of the night with poem stanzas running through her mind. She began writing them down on a pad of paper she kept at her bedside. From there, she started working on the poems during the day to create the book. Newly released, it’s perfect for kids ages 5 to 10 – and even some adults appreciate them!\r\n\n\r\n\nStephanie found that with some time on her hands this last year, she was able to really sit down and compile her numerous rhymes she had been collecting for years. Not sure what to do with them, with the help of her Sister encouraging her to publish them she took the plunge and published her very first book! Promoting on Facebook she already had pre-orders coming in and were recently shipped out, and available to purchase on Amazon, and Target.\r\n\n\r\n\nFor a copy of Stephanie’s book you can purchase in on Amazon for $12.95, it’s the perfect time to sit down with your kids and share some fun rhymes and poems. You can follow Stephanie on Facebook for updates on new releases, and sales.\r\n\nCheers!\r\n\nNicole\r\n\n \r\n

When COVID hit last year it presented some big challenges – including a steep rise in the number of people experiencing food insecurity. Katherine Kehril, founder of Community Loaves jumped into action and created an amazing network of volunteer bakers. Twice a month they bake nutritious, homemade honey oat sandwich breads and donate them to local food pantries such as Hopelink across the Eastside, and even into Oregon.\r\n\nApril 27th will mark the one year anniversary of Community Loaves, when Katherine donated 19 loaves of bread. The need for food was much larger than expected so she started adding more bread baking volunteers to her network and within one year they have hundreds of bakers and have donated over 20,800 loaves of bread – starting a ‘bread movement’. Starting the delivery from her garage the bread movement took off so quickly it was featured on The Today Show–  “We’re Breader Together”!\r\n\n\r\n\nCommunity Loaves offers not only freshly baked bread delivered to their food pantries, it’s given many at home a sense of purpose and a way to connect.\r\n\nFor those that would like to join, Community Loaves provides the recipe and the ingredients at a discounted cost. Bread is baked on the first and third Saturday of the month and then delivered to geographic hubs so that they can be delivered to local food banks on Sunday. Katherine encourages her bakers to make 4 loaves, donate 3 and keep one to enjoy at home!\r\n\n\r\n\nHow do you get started as a bread baker? Community Loaves makes it super easy to get on the bread baking train by following these steps below:\r\n\n\nHead to Community Loaves website\r\n\nAttend Information Session sign up\r\n\nAttend a Zoom call on how the program works, and if it’s a right fit for you\r\n\nDownload the recipe\r\n\nStart baking\r\n\nDeliver loaves\r\n\n\n\r\n\nIf bread baking isn’t your thing there are several ways you can help in your community. You can start your own hub – Help expand their reach by starting a hub in your own community. Donate – Each loaf of bread makes a difference and your financial contributions do too. For a full list of ways to donate check out their support page. Follow their Facebook page, and Instagram account on more ways to help the community.\r\n\nCheers!\r\n\nNicole\r\n\n \r\n\n \r\n\n \r\n\nFeatured on The Today Show\r\n

\n\nIf you’ve taken time off from the gym and are ready for a reset, my guest, and friend Jessie Cleofe with OWL High Performance is the perfect person to help you get motivated, and stay accountable. His training programs are designed for both professionals and athletes looking to perform at their best in all aspects of life.\r\n\n\n\n\n\nJessie’s goal is to help you achieve sustainable strength, speed, mobility and a high-performance lifestyle. More than a gym membership Jessie’s training program combines in-person training sessions with online accountability and strength and mobility homework.\r\n\n\n\n\n\r\n\n\n\n\nJessie has a Strength And Conditioning degree through NSCA. What started as a way to help professional athletes perform better turned into personal one on one tactile coaching – focusing on wellness and performance. Tactile coaching is geared towards training for people in the military, firefighters, first responders and more – by helping yourself first you can help others.\r\n\n\n\n\nNot all of Jessie’s training programs are at high level military workouts, he designs programs that are unique to each of his clients. From one on one training, to boxing lessons Jessie will get you there by using his SANE Priorities System to help you develop an Optimum Wellness Lifestyle.\r\n\n\n\n\nS = Sleep – Getting enough sleep is key to your overall health and wellness\nA = Attitude – If you believe you can do something then you will accomplish it\nN = Nutrition – Eating the right things is not only good for physically but mentally too\n\nE = Exercise – Getting out there and moving at least once a day will improve your health\r\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n\n\n\n\n\nIf you’re ready to get back in the gym and need a little extra boost give Jessie a call! You can work with Jessie through his private (1-person) or his squad-based (2-4 people) training. Follow his Facebook page, and Instagram account for upcoming events and special offers. Contact Jessie at jessie@owlhighperformance.com to get started on your path to health and wellness!\r\n\n\nCheers!\n\nNicole\n\n\n\n\n\n\n