Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Tips

Desk Organizer for Free~
I hate to throw away the clear medicine bottles we all get from the pharmacy. Arrange the different sizes to design a desk organizer that either stands up or lies on its side. Use a glue gun and carefully glue the bottles together. You could paint on them or spruce them up however you desire. It won't cost you a dime and you'll help the environment.

Stain Removers~
I put a little Oxy-clean on a stain, let it sit, then gently scrub with a toothbrush and a little water. Wash as usual after you treat the stain. The stains come out every time!

Great tip
Striped Popsicles~
Pour watermelon juice into popsicle containers until they are half full. Fill them to the top with unsweetened pineapple juice, then freeze. These are a sweet, low-sugar popsicle that will add a cooling and delicious juicy treat to your children's summer fun.

I love this idea!
Keeping Track of Passwords~
I like to store all my favorite website user names and passwords on a Rolodex wheel. It is a quick reminder. Let your fingers do the walking!

Monday, April 27, 2009

Hunter's Closet - Consignment is All the Rage!

GRAND OPENING
HUNTER’S CLOSET
Kids Consignment Store
Opening Sat. May 2, 2009
1236 Hwy 16 N, Denver NC
(beside Captain’s Cap Restaurant)
Doors open 9:30 am – 3:00 pm
Brand Name Clothes & Accessories
Refreshments & Door Prizes
704.770.5829
hunterscloset@gmail.com

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Lake Norman Divas

are on a mission to make a difference in their community. They just finished a book drive and donated them to the Ada Jenkins Center. They were very happy to receive the books! The adult books are for people to take, read and keep and the kids books are going into the after school area.
It is amazing---what a difference 1 group of Divas can make!

Join a chapter or start your own! It is simple and lots of fun to do with your girlfriends!

"Together we are making a difference."

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

thrifty tips

Food Friendly
Brown bagging isn't just for your child any more. We as adults can pack a lunch. It is cost efficient and healthy to boot! Don't buy a prepackaged lunch they are rather expensive and not very nutritious.

Kids eat FREE!!
Many places offer a childs plate if buying a regular entree. A great way to save some money and not have to cook.

Clip a few coupons
You can either get the Sunday paper or join a coupon website. Check the local paper ads for the grocery store that you use and try using the coupons you have to buy whats in the ad.

Bulk up
Buy in bulk. Buying in bulk is agreat idea. You can save time and energy by doing this. Less time at the store, less gas and milage on your car. But be careful not to over buy because you think you getting a good deal!

Cards
Those wonderful store cards. Everybody has them. You carry about 15 or more of them on your key ring. You have one for every store you shop at! You could always just use your phone number. That is what my husband does.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Earth Day 2009

Happy Earth Day 2009!
Earth Day is a day to recognize our Earth.
It is up to us to make some changes to help
preserve it!

What have you done for our earth?

What will you do for our earth?

"Together we are making a difference!"

Thursday, April 16, 2009

March For Babies


The March of Dimes is hosting it's annual March for Babies in downtown Charlotte on Saturday, April 25th. The walk begins at 10 am and is just under 4 miles.

Proceeds raised through the efforts of the walkers and corporate sponsors go to help the March of Dimes research many issues that effect babies today, including premature birth and low birth weight.

LakeNormanMommies.com is participating in the event for the second year. Last year, LakeNormanMommies.com raised just over $4,000. This year, we have raised $740 to date toward our $3,000 goal. If you would like to walk with our team, or make a donation towards our fundrasing efforts, please visit www.marchforbabies.org/lakenormanmommies.

"Together we are making a difference."

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Ten Tips to Reduce Your Risk of Cancer

Facts:
In 2008, an estimated 1.5 million people in the United States were diagnosed with cancer, including over 700,000 new cases in men and nearly the same number of new cases in women.

There were also over 650,000 cancer deaths last year, which ranks cancer second only to heart disease as a leading cause of death.

What is Cancer?
Cancer is caused by changes in genes that control the growth and death of cells. The disease develops when cells continue to grow and divide instead of dying off when they get older as they would normally do. As cancer cells multiply, they can damage nearby tissues and can also spread to other parts of the body and develop into new tumors.


While improvements in detection, diagnosis, and treatment have increased the survival rate for many types of cancer, we also encourage doing all you can do to prevent the disease as a core strategy of your prescription for optimal health.

Prevention: 10 things we can all do to reduce the risk of developing cancer:

1. Avoid tobacco products and second-hand smoke
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States for both men and women. Ironically, it’s also the most preventable type of cancer. Some 87-percent of lung cancer deaths are attributable to exposure to tobacco smoke including roughly 3,000 deaths each year in non-smokers due to second-hand smoke. Of the 45 million Americans who still smoke in 2007, 30-percent of male and 21-percent of female high school students reported using some form of tobacco in the prior month. If you smoke, take the necessary steps to quit for the health of you and your loved ones.


2. Achieve and maintain a healthy weight
Being overweight increases your chance of developing certain types of cancer, including cancer of the esophagus, colon and rectum, and pancreas. Obesity also increases the risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women by roughly 50-percent, and endometrial cancer by about three fold. And carrying too much extra body weight is believed to account for up to 30-percent of kidney cancers in both men and women. Make smart food choices, control portion sizes, and fill up on fruits and vegetables to help manage your healthy weight and reduce your risk of cancer.


3. Get moving
The American Cancer Society recommends regular exercise as a way to prevent cancer. Regular exercise burns calories and can help you reach and maintain a healthy weight. Pick something that gets and keeps you moving like walking, hiking, cycling, swimming, team sports, and even dancing. Consider biking or walking to work, or take a walk during your lunch break. Be sure to gradually work up to 30-45 minutes of exercise a day for five or more days per week.


4. Eat more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains
Fruits and vegetables are naturally rich in dietary antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin E, and a whole family of carotenoids that may help to protect your healthy genes from oxidative damage. Recent research suggests that eating tomatoes may help to protect against developing prostate cancer, while eating cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, and brussels sprouts may help to protect against bladder cancer. Fruits and vegetables are also rich in fiber which can speed the transit of food through the digestive system and may reduce the absorption of cancer-causing chemicals. So eating a wide variety of fruits and vegetables may be the best way to ensure broad spectrum protection.


5. Fresh is best
Until about 20 years ago, stomach cancer was the most common cancer worldwide, perhaps due to cultural preferences for eating large amounts of salt-preserved foods such as cured meats and pickled vegetables. This finding underscores the point that when it comes to eating most foods, it’s generally best to eat fresh rather than salted, cured, or pickled. In general, the less processed the food, the healthier it will be for you.


6. Limit alcohol intake
Excess alcohol consumption is associated with increased risks of cancers of the oral cavity, throat, voice box, esophagus, liver, breast, and possibly the colon and rectum. Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer diagnosed in women, and aside from carrying too much body weight, alcohol intake is the only other established risk factor for this disease. It’s recommended that men who drink alcohol should limit their intake to no more than 2 drinks per day, while women should limit their intake to no more than 1 drink daily.


7. Practice sun safety and check for changes in your skin
Ultraviolet radiation from the sun is damaging to your skin. The genetic damage it can cause to skin cells can lead to skin cancer, a disease that is increasingly common, especially among young people. Be aware that the sun’s peak time is between 10 am and 3 pm and that sunlight exposure can be intensified by up to 50-percent when reflected from sand, water, snow, ice, and concrete. When outdoors, cover up exposed areas and wear sun screen with an SPF of 15 or more. Know your skin and be aware of the location, size, and shape of moles and skin spots, and report any changes promptly to your physician.


8. Reduce your exposure to potential carcinogens
There are many substances in the environment with the potential to put you at higher risk for developing cancer. On the job, minimize your exposure to fumes, dust, solvents, and chemicals. Try to reduce your everyday exposure to potentially-toxic environmental chemicals in the home and…
Dust and vacuum regularly to rid your home of toxins attracted to dust
Open windows and use fresh air to freshen and minimize indoor pollution
Filter your drinking water to remove pollutants
Switch to green cleaning products that are safe but still powerful


9. Know your family history and get screened
Some 5-10-percent of cancers are due to a genetic predisposition to cancer. Family history is a risk factor for common types of cancer including breast, ovarian, colon, and prostate cancer. If you have a family history of cancer your physician may recommend genetic testing to see if you have the type of gene that can increase your chance of developing cancer. For individuals with an average risk of cancer, the following cancer screening guidelines are recommended:
Breast cancer: Women should begin yearly mammograms at age 40 and conduct regular breast self exams starting in the 20’s.
Colon and rectal cancer: Men and women should have one or more screening tests including a colonoscopy starting at age 50.
Cervical cancer: All women should begin cervical cancer screening no later than 21 years of age.
Prostate cancer: Men should have the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test and digital rectal examination annually beginning at age 50.


10. Choose your dietary supplements wisely
Whether it’s vitamin D, folic acid, calcium, the antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin E, and the carotenoids, fiber, or emerging phytochemicals, nutrition surveys have made it clear that your diet is unlikely to be providing all the essential nutrients and other dietary factors you need to be at your healthiest. And dietary supplement studies have yielded compelling evidence that supplements can help to reduce the chance of developing cancer in undernourished individuals.

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

EGGSELLENT EVENTS!

Underwater Egg Hunt
Rays Splash Planet April 2
10 a.m. til 1230 p.m. OR 5 p.m. til 7 p.m.
Children will be hunting for Easter eggs in Splash Park. Photos with the Easter Bunny will be taken and prizes given away!
The cost is $10 per child.

Bunny Trail Train Ride and Egg Hunt
521 Rec Center at Elon Park April 11
10 a.m. til 1 p.m.
Come join Peter Cotton Tail in a tour of his home on his Choo-Choo Train while hunting for eggs!
The cost is $5 per child.

Egg Hunt
Mallard Creek Recreation Center April 9
9 a.m. til 10 a.m.
Bunny hop while searching for eggs! Some filled with prizes. Plus eat a healthy snack that is provided.
The cost is $3 member/ $6 nonmember.




Easy Chicken Pasta

Easy Chicken Pasta

What's For Supper Ya'll?

White Beans, Pasta and Chicken
8 ounces dried cavatappi, fusilli, rotini, ditaloni, or other short pasta tubes
1 15- to 19-ounce can cannellini (white kidney) beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup chicken broth
3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon olive oil
6 plum tomatoes, coarsely chopped (about 2 cups)
12 ounces cooked chicken, shredded
1/4 cup snipped fresh Italian flat-leaf parsley
1/2 to 1 teaspoon cracked black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
Fresh Italian flat-leaf parsley sprigs (optional - I usually skip it)
Olive oil (optional - but I recommend at least a little for moisture)
Directions
1. In a large saucepan, cook pasta according to package directions; drain well and set aside.
2. In a blender or food processor, combine 3/4 cup of the beans and the chicken broth. Cover and blend or process until smooth. Place bean puree in pan used for cooking the pasta; bring to boiling. Return pasta to pan.
3. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook garlic in 1 tablespoon hot olive oil for 1 minute. Add tomatoes; cook for 1 minute. Add the remaining beans, shredded chicken, snipped parsley, pepper and salt. Heat through.
4. Add the tomato mixture to hot pasta; toss to cost. Top with parsley sprigs and additional olive oil. Serve immediately. Makes 4 servings.
Posted by Stacy Nelson, Easy Dinner Recipes.blogspot.com

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