Whether it is yoga, weightlifting or just a walk around the block, all exercise has multiple benefits for your mental health. Increases energy levels Combats depression & anxiety Improves sleep Sharpens memory & cognition Improves social well-being Boosts confidence Happier moods Increased self-esteem Reduces stress levels

An emerging color trend in the 2024 home décor realm is the color peach. Pantone announced the 2024 Color of the Year as Peach Fuzz, marking the 25th year of the program. Peach is a subtle yet versatile hue that is the perfect balance of softness and warmth. A statement color, peach is a stylish choice that adds a touch of sophistication and contemporary elegance. It suits different home décor styles, such as eclectic bohemian, which is a carefree design style that mixes colors and patterns, and neo-traditional, which is a contemporary take on traditional design. Introducing peach into your home can be tricky, but we’ve created a guide to help you freshen up your space in a variety of ways. 1. Peachy Paints If you’re looking to make a splash with Pantone’s 2024 Color of the Year, dive right in with peach paint! Consider painting entire rooms, bookcases or even kitchen cabinets to bring this warm hue to life in your home. If you’re lacking inspiration, try using an online color palette generator to give you some ideas on what colors work best with Peach Fuzz. 2. Woven Warmth Easily elevate the comfort and charm of your space with peachy textiles. Peach is inherently a warm tone, so rugs, pillow covers or tapestries of the same color will naturally create a soft and welcoming atmosphere. Plus, it’s a quick and cost-effective way to add style to your home. Peach tones lend a subtle playfulness and vibrancy to a room, which makes it the perfect color to introduce for spring. 3. Fuzzy Finishes A fun and unexpected way to add Peach Fuzz to your home is through art. Search for paintings with your desired level of peach tones present and show them off in your living room or entryway. Neutral colors pair well with peach, which makes it an easy color to design around. If art is too big of a commitment, think smaller items, such as vases or candles, that reflect the 2024 Color of the Year. You can’t go wrong with a candle that is on trend and emits a fresh, inviting scent!

Ingredients Dough 1½ cups water 1 tablespoon kosher salt 3 tablespoons unsalted butter or lard 2 teaspoons sweet smoked paprika (pimentón de la Vera) 3¾ cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting on dough Filling 10 ounces spinach, stemmed ½ cup shelled fava beans or thawed frozen lima beans ¼ pound green beans 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1 medium onion, thinly sliced 2 garlic cloves, minced 1 cup frozen peas, thawed 2 tablespoons chopped mint 1 tablespoon chopped thyme Salt and freshly ground pepper Time Active time: 1 hour Total time: 2 hours 30 minutes Yield: 32 servings Directions In a small saucepan, combine the water, salt, butter and paprika and bring to a boil. Pour the mix into a large bowl; let cool to room temperature. Stir in the 3¾ cups of flour until the dough forms. On a lightly floured work surface, knead the dough until smooth; wrap the dough in plastic and refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour. In a saucepan of boiling, salted water, cook the spinach for 1 minute. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the spinach to a colander. Add the fava beans to the boiling water and cook until bright green, around 1 minute. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the fava beans to a plate. Add the green beans to the boiling water and cook until tender, around 4 minutes; drain and finely chop the green beans. Peel the outer skins from the fava beans. Squeeze the excess water from the spinach, then coarsely chop it. In a large skillet, melt the butter in the olive oil. Add the onion and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally until softened, around 10 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, around 3 minutes. Stir in the spinach, fava beans, green beans and peas and cook, stirring, until heated through, around 2 minutes. Stir in the mint and thyme and season with salt and pepper. Preheat the oven to 350° F. Lightly oil 2 large baking sheets. On a floured work surface, roll out the dough ⅛-inch thick. Using a 3½-inch round biscuit cutter, cut out 32 rounds from the dough. Moisten the edge of 1 dough round with water. Mound 1 tablespoon of the vegetable filling on half of the round and fold the other side over. Press to seal the dough; pinch at intervals to make pleats. Repeat with the remaining dough rounds and filling. Arrange the empanadas on the prepared baking sheets and bake in the upper and lower thirds of the oven for about 30 minutes, until browned. Serve the empanadas warm or at room temperature.

According to the Pew Research Center, in 2021, many stay-at-home moms (79%) and dads (23%) said they took care of the home or family, otherwise known as caregiving. Anyone who has found themselves in a comparable situation knows that leaving corporate America for a life of housekeeping and caregiving is no walk in the park. Maintaining a “stay-at-home” designation, whether for your kids or for other loved ones, is just as tiresome as a “corporate” position—if not more so. So, what are some tips to help stay-at-home caregivers focus on “employee benefits” like salary, life insurance and retirement (social security and 401[k]s) like those of their office counterparts? In this article, we will dive into all three benefit areas. A common concern for those considering entering a stay-at-home position is the loss of salary. For example, a two-adult household where one partner decides to stay at home goes from a two-income to a single-income family. Not to mention the unique mental burdens placed on both the “working” and the stay-at-home parent. Because there is plenty of work to match the hectic work schedule of a full-time job, sites like TaxSlayer say, “There are several potential credits associated with having dependents – the biggest being the Child Tax Credit,” which recognizes stay-at-home status and may help soften the blow of a loss of income. Also, according to job sites like Indeed.com, a search performed on Google from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on January 25, 2024, showed 513 available jobs for stay-at-home parents (i.e., jobs that can be done during naptime or periods where someone else can take over). All this shows that there are options for those who still need to generate an income while performing their caregiving duties. In my experience, life insurance is an income benefit offered by many employers but not commonly thought about in the younger demographic or during the decision to “stay at home.” My wife, mother of two and former stay-at-home mom, looked at the life insurance benefit offered by my former company, which covered one year’s salary and realized how quickly that would be depleted should something ever happen to me. It had her considering additional coverage for both me and her. Because she hadn’t ruled out pursuing her career later down the road, a Select Choice Term Life1 insurance policy with a spousal rider from GBU could have given us the additional coverage needed to supplement my benefit from work. This policy could have also cost-effectively covered her should something have happened to her during that time. Lastly, another important factor in the decision to stay at home is retirement. Did you know that, according to a 2023 survey by the Employee Benefit Research Institute, 26% of caregivers in the upper-income group are less confident in their retirement prospects than non-caregivers? In a standard office position, a portion of employees’ salaries are deducted and sent towards their social security and are oftentimes elected for building up a 401(k). But are families factoring that in when deciding to go to full-time “stay at home”? It’s especially important to consider if the “stay-at-home” status is temporary and that person wants to get back into the workforce later on. There are companies like APB Retirement to help you facilitate a 401k plan that works for you/your role as a stay-at-home caregiver. Alternatively, rolling money over from a previous 401(k) to a GBU Future Flex Fixed Index Annuity2 will allow your retirement savings to continue to grow, while protecting against the loss of principal. You can add additional funds to this annuity at any time as you are able.

Embracing sustainability in your home is a great way to revitalize your space while keeping the environment in mind. By incorporating these sustainable items into your home this spring, you’ll bring authenticity, style and responsibly sourced materials to the forefront of your space. These items will not only refresh your home this season but also create a commitment to a greener, more sustainable future for you and your family.

Flexibility is important, no matter one’s age, but flexibility is especially important to the overall health of older adults.

To Follow at Home, On the Road, and Outside!

If you are an Optimity user, it is safe to say that health and wellness are top priorities for you. Optimity helps motivate different activities like stretching and drinking water, earning you gift cards to your favorite retailers and brands.