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Kids and Families Are Invited to Celebrate YMCA Healthy Kids Day Saturday, April 12 Sponsored by Kaiser Permanente and Overaa Construction
PLEASANT HILL, Calif., April 11 /PRNewswire/ -- The Mt. Diablo Region YMCA will join more than 1,700 YMCAs nationwide in the 17th annual YMCA Healthy Kids Day on Saturday, April 12 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Concord Clayton YMCA, Delta Family YMCA, and Irvin Deutscher Family YMCA. An opportunity for kids and families to "Put Play in Their Day," this special event uses free, fun, engaging and creative activities to encourage children and families to adopt behaviors that support a healthy lifestyle. YMCA Healthy Kids Day is part of YMCA Activate America, a national initiative designed to help children and adults discover and sustain healthier ways to live. Locally, Healthy Kids Day is sponsored by Kaiser Permanente and Overaa Construction.
Unhealthy eating and physical inactivity are associated with an increased risk of a number of chronic health conditions, including overweight and obesity. In fact, the percentage of young people who are overweight has tripled over the last 25 years. In 2005, a panel of experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that school-age children participate in moderate to vigorous activity for a minimum of 60 minutes a day. Studies have shown that children who develop healthy exercise and eating habits while they are young are more likely to maintain healthy lifestyles through adulthood.
"The challenge is that many families see healthy living as an all-or-nothing proposition. Through this lens, achieving a healthier lifestyle can seem overwhelming or out of reach," said Adrienne Carew, vice president of strategic marketing for the Mt. Diablo Region YMCA. "YMCA Healthy Kids Day shows families and kids that making healthy choices can be easy, fun and accessible to everyone. And through our new Healthy Family Home resources, we're giving families take-home tools to help them assess the foundation of how they play, eat and connect together as a family."
Activities taking place during YMCA Healthy Kids Day vary from branch to branch but includes health screenings, arts and crafts, interactive games, cooking demonstrations, health and safety seminars, health and fitness classes designed for kids, and more. Parents are encouraged to participate in these healthy and engaging activities with their kids. Registration for summer programs and camps will also take place at the event.
A free YMCA giveaway with tips on raising healthy, active kids will available, as will prizes for all children who participate in the day's activities. Additional resources will be available to help kids and families achieve their greatest potential from strengthening their financial health to building better bonds together to improving their physical health and nutritional well-being.
"So many families and individuals desire a healthier and happier life but struggle to sustain it," said Carew. "Whether they are in our YMCA facilities, out in the community, or in their own homes, we want families to know that we are here to help them find a way to start establishing new, healthy habits, and that we also offer a supportive community to help them along the way."
YMCA Healthy Kids Day reminds Americans that as individuals and families they can be a part of improving their community as well as themselves -- strengthening bonds, building positive values, spending time together, improving the health and well-being of their family, and making friends for life.
YMCA Healthy Kids Day is generously sponsored nationally by companies dedicated to improving the health and wellness of American kids and families, including the Disney Channel, Eli Lilly and Company, Northwestern Mutual Foundation, and Tropicana. In addition, Kaiser Permanente and Overaa Construction are local co-sponsors of this free family event.
For more information about YMCA Healthy Kids Day, please call Adrienne Carew at 925.887.4648 or visit http://mdrymca.org/.
About the Mt. Diablo Region YMCA
The Mt. Diablo Region YMCA has served the greater Contra Costa County area for 50 years. With four branches, 23 school-age child-care sites at local elementary schools, and four preschools, the organization is continuing to grow and expand its network to meet the ever-changing needs of the local community. The Mt. Diablo Region YMCA provides program services for all age groups, from toddlers to seniors, to more than 38,000 households. The organization is dedicated to enriching the lives of all people through programs that strengthen spirit, mind and body. Financial assistance is available to all individuals who demonstrate proven need. For more information, visit http://mdrymca.org/.
Source: Mt. Diablo Region YMCA
Web site: http://mdrymca.org/
Tart Is Smart tart cherry juice adds a sweet-tart kick to sauces such as Cherry Chipotle Sauce, perfect on salmon, chicken, duck and pork. (Beth McGovern/E.B. McGovern Photography) 3/6/06
Holidays and Special Occasions
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Let's talk for a few minutes about "waffling." You know what "waffling" is, don't you? It begins one day, when you decide to get rid of that old waffle iron you never use. As you put it in the donation bag, you think to yourself, "But what if someone wants waffles?" You take it back out. Then you think, "That’s silly. No one has wanted waffles in 5 years." You stick it back in the bag. This goes on for another 15 minutes until you finally think the unthinkable – "But I might need it someday." You put the waffle iron back in the cabinet, where it continues to collect dust for another 5 years. Why do you do this? It’s not because you are an evil and indecisive person. You have simply never had a solid set of CRITERIA for determining an item’s worth. No longer! WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU USED IT?If you haven’t touched something in the past 12 months, chances are that you’re not going to use it in the next 12. Clothes and sporting goods seem to be some of the worst offenders! It’s natural for people to have a hard time letting go of the past. And if an old outfit or a bowling ball really means that much to you, then put it away with your keepsakes. If you feel like you need to hang onto ancient financial paperwork, send it to offsite document storage. Just don’t take up valuable space in your ACTIVE storage areas with items you don’t use. WILL I EVER NEED THIS AGAIN?Be honest and realistic about this one! At what point will a green shag toilet-seat cover be crucial to your survival? If you can picture a specific, concrete instance when you will need it in the foreseeable future, then by all means keep it. "I might need it someday" isn’t a good enough rationale. CAN I ANSWER THE 5 W's?If you can’t conjure up at least one plausible scenario requiring the use of that green shag toilet-seat cover or dot-matrix printer from 1988, you may want to ask yourself if it is worth hanging on to. Try to provide solid answers to each of these questions: - WHY WOULD I NEED IT? Try to come up with one specific concrete occasion when you would need that exact particular item again -- not just "I might need it someday." - WHERE WOULD I NEED IT? If the item in question is only useful up north and you now live in Miami -- or only useful in a corporate environment and you're now self-employed, why keep it? - WHAT WOULD I NEED IT FOR? What purpose does this item serve? Are you still involved with that activity? No reason to keep letterhead from an old job or tap shoes if you gave up dancing. - WHO WOULD ASK ME FOR IT? People seem to hang onto stuff because they are afraid someone will ask them for it someday. If it's the IRS or the police, keep it. If not, think twice. - WHEN WOULD I NEED IT? Okay, you might need it "someday" -- but when is will that day arrive? Three months or 35 years from now? Is it worth hanging onto that long? IS IT EASILY REPLACEABLE?Okay –- so let’s say you do get rid of something, and then decide that you need it 6 months later (my mother claims this always happens to her, as a justification for postponing cleaning out!) This isn’t always a problem. Ask yourself what would be required for you to replace this lost treasure. If we are talking about an expensive or hard-to-find item, you are certainly justified in thinking twice before tossing it. You have to consider cost versus benefit –- it may cost you more (in time, space, energy, or money) to keep the item than to replace it IF and WHEN you ever need it. WHAT IS THE WORST THING THAT WOULD HAPPEN IF I GOT RID OF IT?When my clients are anxious about discarding an item, they are really saying, "I’m afraid of what might happen if I got rid of it." This is simply fear of the UNKNOWN -– uncertainty about the consequences of their actions. So I ask my clients to let their apprehensions run wild, and to imagine the absolute worst-case scenario. Quite often, the worst-case scenario is not that bad. Will the world end if you toss out that ring binder you haven’t used since college? Probably not. This knowledge helps dissipate the fear and makes letting go a little easier. Ramona Creel may be contacted at http://www.onlineorganizing.com ramona@onlineorganizing.com. Click here to view more of their articles. Ramona Creel is a Professional Organizer and the founder of OnlineOrganizing.com -- a web-based one-stop shop offering everything that you need to get organized at home or at work. At OnlineOrganizing.com, you may get a referral to an organizer near you, shop for the latest organizing products, get tons of free tips, and even learn how to become a professional organizer or build your existing organizing business. And if you would like to read more articles about organizing your life or building your business, get a free subscription to the "Get Organized" and "Organized For A Living" newsletters. Please visit www.onlineorganizing.com or contact Ramona directly at ramona@onlineorganizing.com for more information. 10 Tips to Rev Up Your Energy & Feel Great |
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Recently I found myself off track feeling overcommitted and drained. Here are the steps that help me get back on track every time. Step 1- Monitor the Symptoms and Determine the Solution- Notice when you are feeling drained. Listen to what your body is telling you and make the necessary adjustments. What is causing you to feel drained? What is the solution? Step 2- Honor Your Body with Healthy Intake and Plenty of Sleep- Let’s face it eating healthy is a challenge for most of us. How about shifting your thinking to what you can do. What healthy food or drinks can you add to your day that would give you more energy? In addition, you will be more productive if you get the best rest for your mind and body. Step 3- Exercise- This is another challenging area. Again shift your attitude to what you can do. What activity would you enjoy? Commit a small block of time in order to develop a daily habit. Start with15 minutes per day if that's what it takes to help you develop a consistent long term healthy lifestyle. Step 4- Drink Lots of Water- There are so many health benefits to drinking water in addition to gaining energy. Some say drink 8 glasses of water a day while others say half your body weight in ounces of water. In any event, keeping your body hydrated is a simple step towards keeping you feeling great. Step 5- Eliminate Clutter- Recently I helped a friend declutter. It was amazing to see the immediate increase in her energy level. Discover how you look at a project. Do you look at a task and think how hard it will be or do you picture the end result? Imagine the end result. Now what can you do to make it easier and fun? You can declutter for 15 minutes a day, set the timer and have a race, turn on some upbeat music, get a bag and throw out 25 items. Be creative. What small area can you declutter that would make the biggest difference in how you feel? Step 6- Handle Aggravations- Procrastination drains energy. Make the repair, file your taxes, have that talk with your mate or in-law or boss or whoever, take drastic measures to have finances not be an issue. Often the thing we procrastinate on turns out much better than we anticipated. Eliminate one at a time. Step 7- Under Commit- Know your top priorities. If an offer arises give yourself 24+ hours. Does it fit into your priorities right now? Is there time in your schedule to add the commitment? Remember, when you add a commitment you take away from another area of your life. How will that effect you and your family? Weigh your options. Under commit and have reserves of space and energy to enjoy life. Step 8- Add Fun to Your Life Regularly- What can you schedule for yourself that would put the biggest smile on your face? What do you love to do? What time can you commit to one of your dreams? Add that to your life and zestfully zip your way through the day. Step 9- Take Time for Spiritual Development- Spiritual development on a daily basis helps you become centered and clear throughout each day, and lifts the weight of burden off your shoulders. Without taking time to grow spiritually you can get lost in the day-to-day tasks of linear thinking which is exhausting. Spiritual growth brings the ultimate fulfillment. Begin with a small block of time and build on that. Step 10- Accept Your Life as it is with Gratitude- Take responsibility for your life. It can be invigorating. Suddenly you have choices. Taking responsibility for your past and current situation gives you the power to shape your future. Jump into building your energy and feeling great... Starting Now! Please send your comments and tell me what you want to read. I would love to hear from you! Copyright 2003, Beth A. Tabak, All rights reserved. Beth Tabak may be contacted at http://www.startingnowcoaching.com startingnow@houston.rr.com. Click here to view more of their articles. Beth Tabak is a Business & Life Coach and owner of Starting Now. She coaches busy business people to achieve more with less stress and struggle. Contact Beth to set up a free “Try It Out” session to see what coaching can do for you. |
Just a Touch of Autumn
by Arleen Kaptur
The calendar pages drop so quickly and Summer is over - the fun, get-togethers, vacations, outings, family, etc. Absolutely not - the most colorful, exhilerating and exciting season is about ready to arrive. Autumn-Fall - Harvest Time - whatever name you attach to this time of year - it is a tribute to the world around you as the Holiday Season is fast approaching and great times are just ahead.
Fall gets the "baking" instinct in you up and about - whether you do the baking or a quick trip to a neighborhood bakery. Warm, fresh and succulent apple offerings - pie, doughnuts with cinnamon and sugar, and caramel iced sticky buns to name a few. Hay stacks, wagon rides, Indian corn, corn stalks, colorful mums (yellow, white, burnt orange, vibrant purple) and pumpkins - tiny orange globes and even white ghosty ones to the biggest, brightest Jack-o-Lantern you can find on a cool Autumn afternoon. There are gourds and straw bales and garden decorating and soon assorted night-time creatures will be lurking around corners and doorways. Fall is Fun - Autumn is absolutely tantalizing. Whether you are sipping on a warm glass of apple cider or working your way through a corn maze - just make sure that you and your family or friends venture out and take advantage of each and every Fall day - and don't forget that true sign of Autumn - a campfire or bonfire in your back yard or in a woodsy campground. The scents of Fall fill the air and the breezes bring adventure anew. Jump in that leave pile like you were a kid again and toast those marshmallows. You are never too old or young to enjoy Fall - so ENJOY!
©Arleen M. Kaptur 2003 September
About the Author
Arleen Kaptur,
akaptur@centurytel.net
http://www.arleenssite.com
Author of books and articles on living a simple, rustic lifestyle - and getting the most from each and every day. Websites: http://www.arleenssite.com
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Summer memories are lingering in the back of our minds, but Fall or Autumn (whichever you prefer) is, in its own right, beginning to show off - with bright colors, harvest aromas, and that wonderfully exhilerating chill in the morning hours and that quilt-hugging breeze in the evening. Apples are the ambassadors for Fall: Quick Fall Dip: 1 pkg. (8 ozs.) cream cheese, room temperature, 3/4 cup brown sugar, 1 tsp. vanilla, 1 cup salted peanuts, chopped, red/golden delicious apples, orange juice Blend together all ingredients except apples and orange juice. Wash and slice apples leaving the skin on. Dip in orange juice. Drain well. Arrange in a circle around your bowl of apple dip. Refrigerate any leftovers. *** Quilts are not just to be used as bed covers. Enjoy them in other rooms in your home as well. Use a light padded one as a table covering or on the back of a rocking chair or occasional chair. Place them within easy reach near a fireplace or sofa, so family or guests can curl up and enjoy a crisp evening. Use them where your bookcases are as a good book, comfortable chair, and a cozy quilt go hand in hand. Fleece throws and blankets work well too. *** Use raffia or fall ribbon as curtain tie-backs or to add a bit of color at the end of curtain or drapery rods. Scatter felt or silk autumn leaves in all the wonderful colors on tables, or shelves. Cut out a pattern from some leaves you find in your back yard and then transfer to felt or colorful fall material. Sew or glue onto potholders and placemats. Add some flannel between two leaves, sew together and use as hot pads or coasters for drinks. *** Near entryways and especially back doors that everyone uses - place some colorful fleece scarves in orange, yellow, and purple. Cut from a piece of fleece and cut a fringe at the ends - remember fleece does not ravel so don't be afraid to cut. Everyone walking out will have a great scarp for a bit of added warmth. Place in a basket or box that you have decorated with fall foliage/colors, and designs. *** Have fun this Fall and let your imagination, creativity, and enthusiasm create wonderful accents for home and the great outdoors. ENJOY! ©Arleen M. Kaptur 2003 September Arleen has written numerous books and articles on the simple/rustic lifestyle. For a free newsletter visit: http://www.arleenssite.com or e-mail akaptur@centurytel.net Arleen Kaptur may be contacted at http://www.arleenssite.com akaptur@centurytel.net. Click here to view more of their articles. |
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Are you ready for the holidays? Who’s holidays are you ready for? If you’ve got global and multicultural clients and friends as I do, here’s a list to help you get it organized. 1. Eid al-Fitr (Muslim) – lunar, when new moon is sighted, so around November 25 depending upon locationEid Al-Fitr, or the Celebration of Breaking the Fast, marks the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting. Money is given to the poor, and to children, and everyone gets a new set of clothing. 2. Saint Nicholas Day (Christian) -- December 6Popular for centuries esp. in Northern Europe, celebrating Saint Nicholas, a 4th century bishop of the city of Myra (in what is now Turkey), who was known for his kindness and generosity. Good children receive candies, cookies, apples and nuts, while naughty children receive switches or lumps of coal in their shoes. 3. Bodhi Day (Buddhists) – December 8aka Rohatsu, celebrates the day in 596 BC when the Buddha achieved enlightenment. 4. Fiesta of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Mexican) -- December 12One of the most important dates on the Mexican calendar, dedicated to the Mother of all Mexicans. 5. St. Lucia Day (Swedish) -- December 13Each family awakens a young girl who dresses in a white robe with red ribbon around the waist, and wears a crown of candles on her head. She then brings breakfast to the family -- sweet buns flavored with saffron. The boys (called star boys) wear long white shirts and pointed hats and help carry the sweets. What do you say? God Jul! 6. Hanukkah (Jewish) -- begins December 19Known also as Festival of Lights, this 8-day, 2,000-year-old holiday celebrates God's glory, an ancient victory of the Jews over their enemies, and the freedom Jews enjoy today. Colors are blue and white. 7. Winter Solstice (Various) - December 22Long before Christmas, people celebrated the Winter Solstice on the eve of the shortest day of the year. They burned a Yule log in a great bonfire, danced, sang, hung mistletoe from doorways of their home, and decorated with evergreens. In Iran, the celebration is called Shabe-Yalda. The Chinese call it Dong Shi. 8. Kwanzaa (African American) -- begins December 26Habari Gani? That's Swahili "What's the News?", the Kwanzaa greeting. Kwanzaa's seven days of celebration focus on seven principles: unity (umoja), self-determination (kujichagulia), collective work and responsibility (ujima), cooperative economics (ujamaa), purpose (nia), creativity (kuumba), and faith (imani). Kwanzaa is Swahili for "first fruits of the harvest." 9. Boxing Day (Australian, Canadian, English, Irish, Scottish) -- December 26Way back when, servants had to work on Christmas, but were given the 26th off to visit their families. Their Landlords gave each servant a box with gifts and bonuses, and churches opened their alms boxes for the poor. Nowadays most people have the day off, and visit, go shopping and celebrate. 10. Omisoka (Japanese) -- December 31The family gathers to get ready to celebrate the new year. They clean house (susu harai), put things in order and decorate. In the evening they have toshikoshi soba (buckwheat noodles) and then go to temple to make wishes known to buddhist or shintô divinities. At midnight, in all buddhist temples, the bell (bonshô) is rung 108 times to announce the new year. Susan Dunn may be contacted at http://www.susandunn.cc sdunn@susandunn.cc. Click here to view more of their articles. |
by Arleen Kaptur |
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