surfside magazine - spring 2010
DESCRIPTION
Surfside South Carolina's number one online magazine.TRANSCRIPT
A vAcAtion home
AwAy from home
best time to resdiscover destinAtions
spring breAk for grown ups
$ Priceless $
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buy LocAL 5
mAke your home cLeAn & green 10
chArLeston’s new Arts website 13
A vAcAtion home AwAy from home 15
smArt tips for bAby boomer retirement pLAnning 18
the best time to rediscover A destinAtion shouLder seAson 22
fAmiLy cookbook keep memeries ALive 25
About north myrtLe beAch 28
how ice on your ceLL phone cAn heLp sAve your Life 30
switching schooLs midyeAr? 33
10 reAsons to pLAnt trees 38
kids eAt free 41
prepAring for A domestic AttAck 44
how to Add touches of gLAmorous green to your home decor 48
don’t Let Aches & pAins sLow you down 52
top 5 spring ALLergy mistAkes to Avoid this seAson 56
time to refinAce or buy? 60
spring breAk for grownups 63
powerfuL Advice for mothers 38
whoLesome cooking At home 72
signAture goLf 75
Buy LocaLPromoting local business is as simple as having other company’s business cards or brochures posted on a board in your store. In an effort to promote your area, we are distributing decals that say “Check us out at www.Surfside.sc,” in hopes that local shoppers will visit the site to find local restaurants, clothing, specials, coupons and more. We are doing our part, so please join us, and promote your local merchants, and everyone will benefit!
Top Ten reasons To Think LocaLBuy LocaL - Be LocaL – heLp LocaL Businesses
1. Buy LocaL -- Support yourself and Surfside. Many studies have revealed when you buy from an independent, locally owned business in the your own area, rather than a nationally owned businesses, considerably more of your money is used to make purchases from other local businesses. Local businesses continue to strengthen the economic base of the local community. These include case studies showing that local local owned businesses generate a premium in enhanced economic impact to the community and our tax base.
2.supporT LocaL area communiTy Groups: Non-profit organizations receive an average 250% more support from smaller Surfside area business owners than they do from large companies.
3. keep your area unique: Where we shop, where we eat and have fun -- all of it makes our community home. Our one-of-a-kind local businesses are an integral part of the distinctive character. Local tourism businesses also benefit. “When people go on vacation they generally seek out destinations that offer them the sense of being someplace, not just anyplace.” ~ Richard Moe, President, National Historic Preservation Trust.
4. reduce environmenTaL impacT: Locally owned businesses in your area can make more local purchases requiring less transportation. This generally means contributing less to sprawl, congestion, habitat loss and pollution.
5. creaTe addiTionaL JoBs: Small local businesses are the largest employer nationally and in the community, provide the most jobs to local residents.
6. receive BeTTer service: Local businesses often hire people with a better understanding of the products and services they offer, and take more time to get to know customers.
Cont. next page
From The ediTor
www.Surfside.sc Online Magazine | 2009 5
7.invesT in your communiTy: Local businesses are owned by people who live in this community, and they are less likely to leave, and are more invested in the community’s future.
8. puT your Taxes To Good use: Lo-cal businesses require a relatively little infra-structure investment and make more efficient use of public services as compared to nationally owned stores entering your area.
9. Buy WhaT you WanT, noT WhaT BiG adverTisinG BudGeTs WanT you To Buy: A South Carolina marketplace com-prised of tens of thousands of small businesses is the best way to ensure innovation and low prices over the long-term. A multitude of small businesses, each selecting products and ser-vices based not on a national sales plan but on their own interests and the needs of their local customers, promises a much broader range of product choices.
10. promoTe LocaL prosperiTy: An escalating body of economic research shows that in an increasingly homogenized world, en-trepreneurs and skilled workers are more likely to invest and settle in communities that preserve their one-of-a-kind businesses and distinctive character.
Carl Carolina, Editor in Chief
www.Surfside.sc Online Magazine | 2009 6
www.LocalTraffic.scSouth Carolina’s #1 Live Local Traffic Website
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www.Radio.scwww.Classifieds.scwww.Barter.scwww.News.sc
www.Weather.scContact your www.Only.sc Representative today to be a part of www.LocalTraffic.sc.
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ceo Dennis Stewart
editor in chiefCarl Carolina
Art directorAmy Coats
web deveLoperMatthew Coats
AdministrAtion & mArketingShaun Stacey
www.surfside.sc onLine mAgAZineCopyright © 2009Carolina Media Services. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts or photographs.
3290 Ashley Phosphate Road Charleston, SC 29418Toll Free: (800)530-7083Fax: (843)[email protected] www.Surfside.sc
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Make your house clean & green
(ARA) - When you clean your house in the spring, you really want it to be clean. Dirt, dust and germs are banned, and all appliances, floors and walls are scrubbed clean. But is your house really clean, or have you traded dirt and germs for caustic and toxic chemicals found in most conventional cleaning products?
Even some so-called natural cleansers can contain these same or similar nasty ingredients. And you would know this only if the manufacturer practices full disclosure of ingredients on their labels, which is not required on home care products. Think about it - when was the last time you saw a full ingredient listing on your spray cleaner?
The best way to make sure your living space is clean and healthy is to use safe, natural cleaning products you create yourself, using natural and inexpensive ingredients you can pick up at any natural grocery store. It’s cost-effective, not difficult and, like the task of spring cleaning itself, it’s satisfying and rewarding. You can craft your own, home-spun versions of everything from carpet cleaner to furniture dusting polish - and have the satisfying assurance that you really are keeping your home clean and green.
Whether you’re shopping for prepared natural
cleaning solutions or making your own, keep in mind that the word “aromatherapy” is now being applied to everything scented - from dishwashing liquid to laundry detergent. The true practice of aromatherapy relies on using pure essential oils extracted from plants. These natural plant essences nurture us on mental, emotional, physical and even spiritual levels. House cleaning isn’t exactly a spiritual exercise, but adding the effects and properties of essential oils to your homemade household products can enhance the experience and the effectiveness of your task.
Essential oils have potent antimicrobial effects along with their clean, pleasant natural aromas. Here are a few “classic” homecare essential oils suggested by the experts at the leading aromatherapy company, Aura Cacia: lemon (clean, sweet, uplifting scent; deodorizing), peppermint (minty, fresh; air purifier; mild pest repellent), eucalyptus and tea tree (air and surface sanitizers; fresh, therapeutic aromas).
here’s a shopping list of key ingredients for Making your own hoMecare products:
* Baking soda (Sodium Bicarbonate) - Gently abrasive scouring powder, odor absorber and an excellent base for making your own cleaning preparations.
* Washing soda (Sodium Carbonate)
* Borax (Sodium Borate) - Natural mineral compound, laundry booster, multipurpose cleanser, fungicide/insecticide.
* White distilled vinegar (Acetic Acid)
* Liquid soap (Sodium Hydroxide) - hoose from vegetable oil-based soaps such as olive oil or sweet almond.
* Distilled water - Clean, distilled water acts as a better carrier and dirt solvent. Tap water will often contain salts and minerals that can lead to spotting and build-up.
* Essential oils
* Spray bottles
* Natural bristle scrubbing brushes
* Squeeze bottles
* Cotton dusting cloth
* Hemp or jute fiber scrubbing cloth
* Tote to put it all in
follow these siMple recipes for Making your own basic hoMecare products:
Basic Spray Cleaner2 cups water1/2 teaspoon sodium borate1/4 teaspoon liquid soap36 drops essential oil*
*Cleansing and purifying essential oils: lemon, tea tree, eucalyptus, spike lavender.
Gentle Scouring Cream1/2 cup baking sodaLiquid soap18 drops essential oil*
*Oils that brighten: lemon, lemongrass, grapefruit.
Add essential oils to baking soda and blend. Next, incorporate the liquid soap, several drops at a time, until a creamy paste forms.
Window Cleaner2 cups water3 tablespoons vinegar1/4 teaspoon liquid soap36 drops essential oil
Wooden Furniture Polishing Oil3 tablespoons vinegar1/2 teaspoon jojoba oil10 drops lemon essential oil
Carpet Deodorizing Powder1 cup baking soda18 drops essential oil*
*Deodorizing essential oils: bergamot, coriander seed, lavandin.
Carpet Cleaner1 cup baking soda1 teaspoon liquid soap18 drops essential oil
For more information and eco-friendly cleaning tips, visit www.auracacia.com.
charLesTon’s oFFice oF cuLTuraL aFFairsLaunches WWW.charLesTonarTs.sc, as Thier neW arTs WeB siTeFrom: Charleston Currents
The City of Charleston’s Office of Cultural Affairs has launched http://www.CharlestonArts.sc, a companion Web site to the OCA’s primary page at the city’s official site. CharlestonArts.sc will be updated daily with information and features, including an arts calendar that users can search by date, artist, presenting group or venue; social networking widgets; and a directory of local arts and cultural organizations and venues.
“We are hopeful that CharlestonArts.sc will be a major benefit to local artists and arts organizations by disseminating information about their events with the most up-to-date information to a broader public,” said Ellen Dressler Moryl, director of the Office of Cultural Affairs.
Other options for users at CharlestonArts.sc include the following:
• Arts organizations can download forms from the Office of Cultural Affairs, submit events, update contact information and compare performance dates with other area organizations.
• The Tools for Professional section of the Web site features job listings for arts professionals, including full time and part time work as well as internships and volunteer opportunities with arts and cultural organizations in the tri-county area.
• Updated grant opportunities for arts organizations, with detailed information, including deadlines, application and contact information.
• Call for Submissions and Call for Auditions pages with details about the location, deadlines, fees and additional requirements.
The new Web site also hosts connecting pages for general information on the Office of Cultural Affairs and its projects: the Charleston Farmers Market, the City Gallery at Waterfront Park, Holiday Magic, Happy New Year Charleston!, the Holiday Parade of Boats, the Lowcountry Quarterly Arts Grant Program, Piccolo Spo-leto and the MOJA Arts Festival.
The Web Site was developed and is being hosted by Carolina Media Services ( www.ONLY.sc) .
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e (ARA) - Getting away during the spring months is popular for many families, especially families with children in school looking for a break from the spring semester. Visiting relatives, traveling from one sightseeing opportunity to another and cramming the whole crew into a hotel room with tight sleeping quarters and one bathroom is all par for the course, right? Well, it doesn’t have to be.
Travelers are jumping on the vacation home rental bandwagon, where they’re finding comfortable spaces, just-like-home amenities and a more relaxing experience - all for about what it costs to book a hotel room. In this tough economy, owners of second homes are increasingly renting out their properties for some extra cash, according to HomeAway, a collection of vacation-rental Web sites. And as the market floods, prices drop to lure renters.
A recent online search of hotels in La Jolla, Calif., a beautiful seaside commu-nity that’s technically part of San Diego, revealed some hotel rooms starting around $150 a night. A search for vacation homes returned two bedroom, two bathroom options starting at just over $100 a night.
Not only do you get more space, you get the luxuries of home, such as a full kitchen, washer/dryer and parking, all of which are further money-savers. Plus, standard hotel rooms can be pretty boring, rarely lending insight into the destination’s character. Vacation rentals are an actual person’s home, albeit a second home. And some are even pet-friendly.
Here’s how to find a vacation rental that suits your needs:
where to startAway.com, a research and travel-planning Web site, offers a comprehensive listing of vacation rentals, including houses and condos, from all over the Web. Find it at away.com/vacationrentals.
be comfortableIf the thought of renting a vacation home “sight unseen” and directly from the owner is daunting, work with a property management company. Such companies, particularly ones with local offices, know the market well and might even be able to move you to another property if a problem arises.
Do your homeworkCheck out online photos and read all property reviews. If you’re renting directly from an owner, reach out to them with questions and put a face to the transaction. And the golden rule: Clarify all costs and payment methods upfront. Time invested in the beginning will yield a more enjoyable experience in the end.
Whatever you decide is right for your spring vacation, book it now. As usual, the early bird will get the worm.
Smart tips for baby boomer retirement planning
(ARA) - If you are one of America’s 78.2 million baby boomers, you are likely considering what ideal retirement will look like, and the steps re-quired achieving it. With the current economic downturn, many boomers are finding it necessary to revisit their initial retirement goals.
According to the Social Security Administration, today’s retirees count on
corporate pensions and Social Security for
56 percent of
their retirement income. With a few minor adjustments, some careful planning and a positive attitude, the other 44 percent is attainable.
“It’s never too late to start planning for retirement and it’s crucial that life insurance is considered as the foundation of your plan.” says Vikki Pryor, president and CEO at SBLI USA Mutual Life Insurance Company, Inc. “Determine your needs by deciding how much money surviving family or loved ones will need to maintain their standard of living if you are no longer around to protect them. Women need to pay particular attention to their retirement planning options.” To learn more about the educational tools and insurance products designed with baby boomers in mind visit www.sbliusa.com.
Consider the following tips for smart retirement planning:
1. Assess your financial plan and budget.
* Begin to assess your basic retirement income sources such as a 401(k) plan, IRA, and life insurance plans.
* How much will you need to retire? Determine this by creating a budget that will enable you to pay your monthly expenses such as food, heat, rent and transportation. Consider expenses that may increase such as health insurance and
prescription medicines. At the same time, consider those that may decrease,
such as work-related and educational spending.
* Health care coverage is necessary in supplementing your financial foundation and these costs can add up fast. It’s important to have an adequate plan both before and after retirement. After age 65 you are eligible for Medicare coverage. But what if you want to retire before then? Your employer may offer a plan for retiring employees, or you may have to look into private coverage, so be sure to consider this.
* Take into account variable expenses such as tax liabilities on your home, illness or the care of elderly parents. Other, often underestimated, variables include gifts, clothing, recreational expenses, and increases in costs of living. For valuable retirement planning resources and projected trends in costs of living visit www.usa.gov.
2. Begin to explore other retirement income options.
* Determine the amount of guaranteed retirement income you already have. Examples of these are cash savings, corporate pension plans, home equity, or annuity-type investments.
* Are you married? If so, how will that affect your retirement budget?
“It’s never too late to start planning for retirement and it’s crucial that life insurance is considered as the foundation of your plan.” says Vikki Pryor, president and CEO at SBLI USA Mutual Life Insurance Company, Inc. “Determine your needs by deciding how much money surviving family or loved ones will need to maintain their standard of living if you are no longer around to protect them. Women need to pay particular attention to their retirement planning options.” To learn more about the educational tools and insurance products designed with baby boomers in mind visit www.sbliusa.com.
Consider the following tips for smart retirement planning:
1. Assess your financial plan and budget.
* Begin to assess your basic retirement income sources such as a 401(k) plan, IRA, and life insurance plans.
* How much will you need to retire? Determine this by creating a budget that will enable you to pay your monthly expenses such as food, heat, rent and transportation. Consider expenses that may increase such as health insurance and
prescription medicines. At the same time, consider those that may decrease,
such as work-related and educational spending.
* Health care coverage is necessary in supplementing your financial foundation and these costs can add up fast. It’s important to have an adequate plan both before and after retirement. After age 65 you are eligible for Medicare coverage. But what if you want to retire before then? Your employer may offer a plan for retiring employees, or you may have to look into private coverage, so be sure to consider this.
* Take into account variable expenses such as tax liabilities on your home, illness or the care of elderly parents. Other, often underestimated, variables include gifts, clothing, recreational expenses, and increases in costs of living. For valuable retirement planning resources and projected trends in costs of living visit www.usa.gov.
2. Begin to explore other retirement income options.
* Determine the amount of guaranteed retirement income you already have. Examples of these are cash savings, corporate pension plans, home equity, or annuity-type investments.
* Are you married? If so, how will that affect your retirement budget?
* Pay attention to how your retirement funds are earning money. Are they structured for maximum returns? It’s crucial that you continually assess these funds.
* Decide when to begin Social Security benefits. According to AARP, for each year you put off collecting your benefits between ages 62 and 70, you increase your payments by 8 percent.
* Calculate your potential monthly retirement budget based on your estimated income weighed against your expenses. At minimum, you need enough retirement income to cover basic living expenses for your lifetime.
* If your initial assessment requires additional income, consider part-time work during retire-ment, or perhaps selling your larger home for a more comfortable, carefree condo.
3. Consider life insurance - the foundation of a solid retirement plan.
* If you don’t have a life insurance policy, get one. Life insurance not only helps to leave a legacy for generations to come, it will protect your loved ones and help provide them with financial security once you’re gone.
* Consult an expert in order to find the right life insurance for you. For example, BoomerLife by SBLI USA lets you apply for up to $25,000 of whole life insurance with no hassle. Acceptance is guaranteed for anyone ages 50 to 75. Selected benefits remain fixed for life and the premium you pay will not go up. Additionally, the policy builds cash value that grows each year tax-deferred. Call (866) 331-3078 to speak with an SBLI USA representative. Or go to our Web site at www.sbliusa.com and complete the entire application process - from quoting, to paying - online today!
Start planning your retirement today. With a little strategy and the right attitude, you can build the financial security you need to live a successful, happy retirement. Visit www.sbliusa.com today - completing your application is just clicks away!
the best time to reDiscover a Destination
shoulDer season
(ARA) - The first few months of the year when many Americans are spending time at home trying to recu-perate from the hustle and bustle of the holidays may not seem like an ideal time to plan a vacation. How-ever, planning for a time known as “shoulder season,” the time between peak season and low season, is a fantastic time for savvy travelers to find great deals on airfare, hotels and attractions while simultaneously experiencing top destinations in a whole new way.
“Many travelers don’t think to travel in the weeks and months following the holidays,” says Brad Dean, President and CEO for the Myrtle Beach Area Convention and Visitor’s Bureau. “However, a shoulder season trip can be the best way for travelers to relax after a busy holiday season. Destinations offer their lowest rates and best deals of the year at this time and consumers can get away for a fraction of the high-season cost.”
So when is “shoulder season?” It will vary slightly depending on your destination. Figuring out a region’s shoulder season could be as easy as checking out rates at a few area hotels to determine when the rates are at their lowest.
Consider these convincing facts about shoulder season travel and what a great value it can be for your vacation dollars:
* hotel rates, airfare and attraction fees are often significantly lower during the shoulder season than any other time of year. Hotels especially are eager for business during this season and respond with deeply discounted rates and incentives to entice travelers.
* last minute deals. You can plan and implement a very budget-friendly travel itinerary in a relatively short time - sometimes just a day or two as opposed to weeks or months of planning ahead that’s needed during busier seasons.
* shoulder season travel presents the opportunity to view and experience a popular destination, one you may have visited before during peak season, in a whole new way. For example, destinations like Myrtle Beach, S.C. that bustle and buzz with activity in the peak season can take on a more laid-back, relaxed atmosphere in shoulder season. You’ll have access to the same major attractions,
shows, dining and shopping that peak season travelers enjoy, but at a less frantic pace.
* and in that vein, you’ll enjoy free access to popular attractions. Lines for popular attractions - most of which will stay open year round - will be shorter in shoulder seasons than any other time of year. For example, in Myrtle Beach, top entertainment venues and attractions as well as multiple live entertainment theaters are all open for business but with shorter (if any) lines and less crowds.
* because you’ll be getting a great deal, there’s also the opportunity to extend your vacation by a day or two and take some exciting trips to surround-ing areas. The more relaxed attitude of shoulder season travel means you will feel more open to the idea of exploring the surrounding area. Visitors to the
Myrtle Beach area, for example, can enjoy side trips to Huntington Beach State Park, the nearby pictur-esque community of Conway, and the Lowcountry gem of Pawley’s Island.
Finally, shoulder season is a great time to travel to a drive destination, like Myrtle Beach. You’ll find less traffic and a more relaxed commute to a location considered one of the top driving destinations for leisure travelers along the eastern seaboard and Midwest.
To learn more about shoulder season travel opportunities in Myrtle Beach, log on to www.visitmyrtlebeach.com.
Family cookbooks keep cooking memories alive
(ARA) - When Kathy Paul heard all the laughter coming from her kitchen during the Paul family reunion, she knew compiling a family cookbook was the perfect way to record such joyful moments.
“As we were preparing the dishes, my nieces were laughing and having a great time remembering stories about their childhoods at Grandma and Grandpa’s house,” says Paul, who lives with her husband, Don, on a farmstead that has been in his family for more than a century.
She wanted a tangible way to preserve for younger family members all the memories and recipes that have been so important to her family. “I was sitting at home making notes for the reunion and trying to think of a way to make it really special. I thought a cookbook would be a really great thing for every
family member to have, and, hopefully, pass on to future generations.”
First, Paul sent out letters and e-mails and called relatives, asking them to bring special recipes and memories to the reunion. Then, she started collecting family photos dating back to the mid-1800s, plus photos of the original farm house, barn and the still-blooming rose bush that has been part of the farmstead since it was transplanted from Pennsylvania by Don’s great-grandparents around 1865, when they first came to Iowa.
“I put the photos on display for the reunion and it got everyone talking about the things they remember,” says Paul. With about 50 family members in attendance at the reunion, she was also able to snap a group photo that day to include in the cookbook.
Once gathered, Paul was able to send the recipes and photos to G&R Publishing. The custom cookbook company then typed and formatted her information to create “The Paul Family Cookbook, From Pennsylvania to Illinois to Laurel, Iowa.” G&R Publishing’s expertise in creating family cookbooks, as well as cookbooks for fundraisers, churches and schools, made theproject simple to complete and gave it the professional touch that Paul was looking for. She explains, “My son-in-law created our custom cover and the people at G;R brought it all together, adding the special touches I wanted.”
From start to finish, cookbooks can be in your hands in less than eight weeks. After Paul received her shipment of cookbooks, she could hardly wait to distribute them to her family. “I use my mother’s recipes and Don’s mother’s recipes all the time. I like to think that future generations can go back to this cookbook and remember the recipes their mother and grandmother used to make.”
Whether it’s a family cookbook or one for a local church, custom cookbooks make a great keepsake with recipes that can be shared and enjoyed by many. For more information, call (800) 383-1679 or visit www.GandRPublishing.com.
About North Myrtle beAchSouth Carolina
The North Myrtle Beach area has a variety of activities and amusements for the entire family to enjoy. Choose from unique activities such as the local aquarium and themed amusement parks to all time favorites such as miniature golf courses and race tracks. Whether you want rollercoaster rides and horseback riding or family golf and fishing excursions, there are plenty of activities for everyone. And new is the world’s largest inflatable waterslide, located on the oceanfront in North Myrtle Beach! Also, bring your family to enjoy the brand new O.D. Pavilion & Amusement Park! Enjoy a fun-filled experience with exciting rides, fun-filled games, great food, delicious snacks, and much more overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Enjoy the thrill of exciting rides for all ages. This is one of the most scenic amusement parks along the Grand Strand located directly on the beach overlook-ing the ocean.
No matter the season, there are many family friendly activities to keep you busy during your family vacation in North Myrtle Beach. Now, the hardest part of your planning is deciding which fun-filled activity you’d like to experience first!
HOW ICE ON YOUR CELL PHONE CAN HELP SAVE YOUR LIFE
- AND POSSIBLY SOMEONE ELSE’S
(ARA) - When a debilitating crisis occurs like an accident or illness, emergency teams who respond to the scene will want to have as much information as possible about your health - and who to contact to make decisions on your behalf.
If you have your cell phone with you, and can’t communicate with responders, emergency personnel will look in your phone for numbers and information designated with the acronym “ICE” - which stands for “In Case of Emergency.” They’ll use that information to help you and to get in touch with someone who can make urgent decisions on your behalf.
If you’re among the 50 million Americans who own an iPhone or iPod Touch, compiling emergency information is even easier and more comprehensive. Created by online legal service LegalZoom and Donate Life America, the ICE App allows emergency responders to access information about you, including your name, a photograph, birth date, height and weight, medical conditions, blood type, allergies, medications, emergency contacts and your organ donation status.
To get the free ICE App, visit the iPhone Apps Store and search for “ice-app” or visit www.ice-app.net.
Switching schools midyear? More parents going virtual to ease transition
(ARA) - Every year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, roughly 2 million American families with children move - and their children switch schools. While many families move over the summer, so their kids can start new schools in the fall, others make the school switch midyear, often because of parent job changes or family economic challenges.
In addition, as more school options are becoming available to parents, a growing number of families who aren’t moving their homes are nonetheless changing their children’s schools midyear. Parents who do so are often seeking to give their child a “fresh start” for a variety of reasons: a student who’s bored, or one who’s not getting the individualized attention he needs. Student health or social issues can also be factors.
Educators say many families switching their kids’ school midyear are turning to virtual schools like Connections Academy. The reason istwo-fold. First, more families than ever have embraced virtual education in
general - roughly 2 million American K-12 students now get some or all of their education virtually, according to research firm Ambient Insight. And second, the very format of virtual schools eases the student’s adjustment period - and physical transitions for both student and family.
At these schools, learning takes place at home, with a parent or “learning coach” on site, withinstruction directed by certified teachers, with whom student and parents communicate frequently by phone and e-mail. Connections Academy enrollment counselors - who oversee enrollments across a national network of 15 schools -- report that their midyear student enrollments have increased 200 percent over the past four years.
School counselors say that with a little advance planning, a smooth transition to a virtual public school can be easy, and the student can soon achieve both academic and emotional success in his new school.
Here are the Connections Academy counselors’ tips for parents to ensure a seamless transition for their child to a virtual school in 2010.
1. Insist on quality: Not all virtual schools are created equal. Many states have virtual public schools; check www.ConnectionsAcademy.com to see if there’s one in your state. Like all public schools, these schools are tuition-free to families. In states where virtual public schools are not available, there are many fee-based virtual private school options. Do your homework to be sure you’re picking a high-quality virtual school. High-quality virtual schools employ professional and certified teachers. Make sure the school offers an accredited program with a wide range of courses, and a
proven curriculum developed by professional educators. Talk to parents with students currently enrolled in the school.
2. Plan ahead: Think about the best time to make the school switch. For high school (and some middle school) students, it’s ideal to finish out the quarter or semester, and then start the new period in the new school. The student gets a fresh start in his new courses, and will have completed coursework from his semester in his previous school. Parents should find out when finals and/or the next upcoming grading period ends in their current school, and when the new one starts, and use this as the target start date for the new school. Of course, sometimes life throws you a curve ball - unexpected job changes or other sudden family matters seldom come with advance warning. In that case, parents should reach out to the virtual school’s guidance and enrollment officials as early as they can, and work with them to make the school switch as smooth as possible.
3. Get your paperwork in order: It can take a while to complete the enrollment process at a virtual school, so parents should start sooner rather than later gathering together all the necessary paperwork they’ll need toenroll their child in the new virtual school - transcripts, birth certificates, immunization records, and the like. Check, of course, with enrollment officials at the new school to get a list of required documents, and what, if any, admission deadlines might apply.
4. Transfer credits: Many schools don’t mail home fall semester or 2nd quarter report cards until well into the spring semester, making it tricky for some parents to show proof of course completion, and to get all the student’s course credits transferred to the new school. Parents facing this situation should check with their new school’s enrollment counselors to find out what other alternative paperwork they can supply, and then request it from the previous school.
5. Maintain an open dialogue: The parents’ role in ensuring a smooth midyear transition doesn’t end when their child is enrolled in his new virtual public school, has all his books and academic supplies and has started classes. “The key to a smooth transition - to any school, not just a virtual public school -- is for parents to maintain an open dial
If you want to know
how much I love you, count the
waves.
www.Surfside.sc Online Magazine | 2009 38
Get Your Carolina
Girl Gear!
Want to grow your business?
Join the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce!
As the unified voice of business, the South Carolina Chamber is working to grow wealth for South Carolinians and businesses in order to improve economic development and quality of life.
We help your business and you by:
• GettingyourvoiceheardbyourstatelegislatorsthroughourGrassrootsNetwork• Workingtopassbusiness-friendlylegislation• Keepingyouinformedonissuesandprovidingsolutionsforgrowingyour business through our monthly magazine, South Carolina Business • Providingnetworkingopportunitieswithlegislatorsandotherbusinessowners• Trainingyouremployeesonhumanresources,qualityandmanagementissues• Publishingalegalreferenceseries
Join the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce! Contactustodayat800-799-4601.Learnmoreatwww.scchamber.net.
kids eat freeApplebee’sKids meals are .99 with adult purchase.Tuesday’s after 5 pm(843) 678-9406
CiCi’s PizzaChildren under 3 eat free with adult purchaseEvery Night(843) 413-0600
Fazoli’sKids eat free every weekend in August. One free kids meal per adult entree purchase.Saturday & SundayFlorence: (843) 664-3062North Myrtle Beach: (843) 249-6901Surfside: (843) 477-1801
IHOPGood thru Sept. 13: Kids 12 and under get a free kids meal with purchase of adult meal.Daily 4pm-10pmNorth Myrtle Beach (843) 249-9742Florence (843) 629-9999Myrtle Beach (843) 626-0136
Moe’s Southwest GrillKids under 12 with Adult purchase of entrée or 2 ta-cos. Same offer on Sunday if you present your church bulletin.Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday from 5pm-10pm(803) 743-9663
Western SizzlinChildren 4 and under eat Buffet for freeDaily(843) 665-5965
When anxious, uneasy and bad thoughts come,
I go to the sea, and the sea drowns them
out with its great wide sounds, cleanses me
with its noise and imposes a rhythm upon everything in me that is
bewildered and confused.
preparing for a doMestic attack what faMilies can do today
(ARA) - With more arrests in suspected domestic terrorism plots and almost daily news reports of international terrorism incidents, Americans need to remain vigilant and prepared for the unknown.
But according to a recent survey conducted by Kelton Research, almost two in three Americans (66 percent) admit they would not know what to do in the event of a terrorist attack in their hometown.
Homeland security professionals charged with protecting the homefront are even less convinced of the average citizen’s preparedness. More than nine in 10 professionals (94 percent) surveyed feel that Americans wouldn’t know what to do in the event of an attack, even though a majority (75 percent) believes the U.S. will experience one similar to Sept. 11, 2001, in the next five years.
The surveys were commissioned by the National Homeland Defense Foundation and Colorado Technical University, which offers master’s and doctoral degrees with a concentration in homeland security.
“The fact that homeland security professionals expect another terrorist attack similar to 9/11 within the next five years while at the same time believing most Americans are unprepared is a dangerous combination,” says Capt. W. Andy Cain, USN (Ret.), a Homeland Security Advisory Board member at Colorado Technical University.
“The good news is there are things we can all do to be prepared and take responsibility for the safety and security of ourselves and our families. Seconds count in an emergency, so preparation can make all the difference in the world,” he says.
While law enforcement and government officials are on the front lines of responding to terrorist threats, here are five steps that all Americans can take to feel more secure and prepared.
Create a family emergency planKnow who to call and what to do in case of an emergency such as a terrorist attack. Make a plan that includes each family member’s contact information, as well as an out-of-town contact who may be in a better position to communicate among separated family members and may live far enough away not to be directly impacted by the same event. Online tools, like a family emergency kit featuring easy-to-use forms, are available for download at Ready.gov.
Determine a meeting placeFamily members may be in different locations when a terrorist attack strikes. Establish an agreed-upon location for everyone to meet to help save time and reduce stress.
Get an emergency supply kitTo prepare for a possible emergency situation, in-cluding a terrorist attack, it’s important to focus
on survival basics - fresh water, food, clean air and warmth. Put together an emergency supply kit that includes items like bottled water, non-perishable food, a first-aid kit, dust masks and blankets. Other essentials could include a flashlight with extra batteries, cell phone with chargers and a battery-powered radio to stay abreast of the news. FEMA.gov, among other Web sites, offers a disaster kit checklist.
Have a communication back-up planSome terrorist attacks may cause communication network interruptions, preventing a person from getting through to family, friends or emergency personnel. If phone lines are down, have e-mail addresses available. In addition, text messaging may still work despite phone service disruptions. The American Red Cross also has a “Safe and Well” Web site available through RedCross.org, where families can register to let others know about their welfare.
Sign up for alert servicesMany communities have systems that will send instant text alerts or e-mails about emergencies and
related action steps. Sign up by visiting the local office of emergency management Web site.
Ready.gov features more information to empower and educate Americans
on what they can do today to be prepared should a
terrorist attack or disaster strike.
For whatever we lose
(like a you or a me)
it’s always ourselves we
find in the sea.
www.Surfside.sc Online Magazine | 2009 46
how to add touches of
Glamorous Green
to your hoMe decor
(ARA) - Going glam and being green don’t need to be mutually exclusive, especially when it comes to decorating your home. Makers of furniture and home decor items have started incorporating environmentally friendly practices and materials into their products, allowing consumers to have greener households without compromising their personal style.
It’s possible to incorporate greener choices in almost all home decor projects. Because so many companies are recognizing that their customers want eco-friendly products, it’s possible to find green products at all price ranges. Even the highest-end design firms now source items like couches made from sustainable wood and organic fabrics - but you can also find them at retail stores, too.
Home accessories are a quick and easy place to start if you’re just looking to add some small revitalizing touches to your rooms. Pillows made from antique linen grain sacks that were once common in Europe add rustic-chic texture without being uncomfortable. To add a pop of color to your couch, drape it with a throw made from a natural material and eco-friendly dyes. To add a touch of social consciousness, choose from a multitude of throws made by indigenous communities in developing countries, like luxurious alpaca blankets from Peru or mohair from Swaziland.
Decorative bowls made from reclaimed wood add a touch of natural beauty, as do driftwood or Manzanita branches. Be cautious about adding some natural touches, though - coral, for instance, is often harvested in ways that are unsustainable and threatening to natural environments.
Don’t count out wall decor as a way to express your eco savvy, either. More and more paint companies are trotting out low-VOC (volatile organic compound) paints that are safer to breathe. But if you want to add extra dimension to your walls and make a bolder statement, add wall murals printed on earth-friendly canvas. Sites like MuralsYourWay.com bring beautiful nature scenes right into your home. Not only are their canvas murals made of an ecologically friendly fabric material, there are over 5,000 options to choose from. You can choose everything from a jungle scene to the Mona Lisa or you can print a photo of your own on their fabric wallpaper.
Greening your furniture can be done in multiple ways. If you’re ready to buy new pieces, consult an interior designer, who can weed out items that don’t match your standards. But you can re-use and recycle when it comes to furniture, too - just make sure you revitalize first. Consider re-upholstering items like dining chairs with exotic fabrics that are hand-made or antique. Suzanis,
brightly-colored Central Asian textiles in graphic patterns make a great statement fabric, as do boldly embroidered Otomi textiles from Mexico. Ask a designer to help seek them out, or check out exotic import shops - sometimes you can find large examples of these textiles that can be repurposed on your furniture.
You can also add new life to pieces already in your home by painting them in one, or a coordinated couple, of the year’s color trends. For 2010, turquoise promises to be big, as do coral, cobalt blue and eucalyptus green - all colors inspired by natural materials.
My soul is full of longingFor the secret of the sea,
And the heart of the great oceanSends a thrilling pulse through me.
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www.Surfside.sc Online Magazine | 2009 51
don’t let aches & pains
slow you down (ARA) - We all know the feeling that comes with the
first great day of spring. When the sun is shining, the air smells sweet and fresh and the temperatures are warm, we all feel the urge to get outside and throw off
the confinement of the winter months. Whether you’re an avid athlete, a dedicated gardener or some-one who’s been meaning to get started on an exercise program, the arrival of spring is one sure way to get you moving.
No one is immune from the desire to get outdoors and do something active while enjoying the weather - and that includes people with chronic pain issues. Whether you’re dealing with arthritis or trying to treat carpal tunnel syndrome, the threat of pain is one of the most challenging obstacles to overcome for those who want to live an active lifestyle, because no one wants to take the risk of aggravating their health problems.
But even if you’re living with pain, it’s essential to heed the call of the outdoors this spring and be
active. There are plenty of ways to mitigate pain issues and avoid further injury. The important thing
is to consult your doctor and to work out a plan together that will let you get the exercise you want and need without worsening your pain. And, in fact,
exercising can be an important part of overcoming some of those issues - as long as it’s done in
the right way.
There are a lot of activities that we all love to do that require a lot of repetitive motion. Tennis is a popular sport for all ages, and a game that can be played over a lifetime, but for people suffering from joint pain and carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), the repeated swinging motions required for a good volley can drive them off the court.
Similarly, gardeners eager to get their hands in the dirt can be limited by pain that crops up with the repetitious motion involved in tilling, preparing beds, digging and planting. For people suffering from CTS, whether they are gardeners, tennis players or otherwise, supportive gloves can provide the relief they need. One example, IMAK’s SmartGlove, features a comfortably flexible support splint that keeps hands in a good position without being stiff, and helps to relieve or prevent carpal tunnel syndrome. It’s ideal for active lifestyles because it is breathable and washable, and it’s an effective non-surgical treatment of car-pal tunnel syndrome.
According to the Mayo Clinic, exercise is an important part of dealing with back pain. Not only does it strengthen the muscles and joints, but it can stretch contracted muscles, improve posture and even help protect against injury by improving your overall fitness.
Another health problem that exercise can positively affect is arthritis. When you go outside and start being active this spring, you can help your arthritis with activities like tai chi, strengthening exercises and cardio exercise that get your heart working. It’s recommended that you protect your joints by warming them up prior to exercise, and by being gentle on your body - starting out too hard and fast can cause problems. Support products like IMAK’s SmartGlove can also help you stay in good alignment as you work out.
Don’t resist the urge to soak in the sunshine because of pain and discomfort this spring. Not only is getting outside easier than ever with supportive therapies, but it’s an essential part of living a healthier, pain-free life.
My life is like a stroll upon the beach,
As near the ocean’s edge as
I can go.
Top 5
Spring Allergy Mistakes to avoid this season
(ARA) - Do you sneeze and wheeze all spring long? If so, you may be making common mistakes that keep you from preventing spring allergies. The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) alerts allergy sufferers to avoid these five common mistakes:
1. TreaTing sympToms wiThouT knowing whaT you’re allergic To.
You may think you know what’s causing your spring allergy symptoms, but more than two-thirds of spring allergy sufferers actually have year-round allergies. An allergist, a doctor who is an expert in treating allergies and asthma, can perform tests to pinpoint the cause of your suffering and then find the right treatment to stop it.
2. Spending blindly on over-the-counter medications.
There are tons of allergy medications available at the store, some of which can be very effective. But if you’re buying new products all the time, spend-ing a bundle and not feeling better, consult with an allergist who can discuss which options might be
best for you. Your allergist may suggest nasal spray or
allergy shots, also called immunotherapy.
Immunotherapy can actually cure your allergies and keep you out of the drug store aisles for good.
3. Waiting too long to take allergy meds.
Don’t wait until symptoms kick in and you’re already feeling bad to take allergy medication. Instead, prepare by taking medication that has worked for you in the past just before the allergy season starts. Pay attention to the weather: When winter weather turns warm, pollens and molds are released into the air. Start treatment prior to the warm up.
4. Not steering clear of your allergy triggers.
Finding the right treatment is important, but it’s also critical to start avoiding what you are allergic to. For example, if you have a pollen allergy, make sure you keep your windows shut, take a shower when you come inside and stay indoors during mid-day when pollen counts are highest. All of these things can make a big difference in how you feel.
5. Eating produce and other foods that might aggravate sniffles and sneezing.
If your mouth, lips and throat get itchy and you sniffle and sneeze after eating certain raw or fresh fruits or other foods, you may have “oral allergy syndrome.” The condition, which affects about one third of seasonal allergy sufferers, occurs in people who are already allergic to pollen. Their immune system sees a similarity between the proteins of pollen and those of the food, and triggers a reaction. If you are allergic to tree pollen, for example, foods like apples, cherries, pears, apricots, kiwis, oranges, plums, almonds, hazelnuts and walnuts may bother you. Cooking or peeling the food may help, but you should talk to an allergist.
To myself I am only a child playing on the
beach, while vast oceans of
truth lie undiscovered
before me.
www.Surfside.sc Online Magazine | 2009 58
Visit www.Weather.scTo Get your Local & State Weather
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wwwSurfside.sc Online Magazine | 2009 59
Time To reFinance or Buy !?Right now, mortgage rates are at their lowest level since 1971. Think about that. Twenty-five years ago, homeowners were paying as much as 18% on a 30-year fixed. Today it’s just a little over 5%.Combine that
rate with the tax advantages of a mortgage, and you have an incredibly cheap way to build wealth, but you better act now.
Real estate guru Barbara Corcoran has already seen a tremendous surge in refinance applications – more than triple the average – and the number of people getting approved is astronomically higher as well, she says. But that doesn’t mean the low rates are a panacea for the ills of the housing market. It is only once home prices start to go up that we will finally see a light at the end of tunnel, Corcoran says. Until that happens, we are still going to have to crawl out of this mess. “[Low interest rates are] a not a lifesaver,” Corcoran says. “This is just a helping hand.”
David Kittle, chairman of the Mortgage Bankers Association, has this advice to homeowners looking to refinance: Do it. Don’t get greedy searching for another quarter-point. Lock in rates now. He is seeing applications soar over 125% just since Thanksgiving due to the low rates.
Of course, you should only refinance if it saves you at least 3/8 on the rate and if you plan on staying in your home for at least four years, Kittle says. Along with good credit, proof of income and money by means of a down payment or equity in the home, there are certain things every homeowner needs regardless of interest rate levels.
www.Surfside.sc Online Magazine | 2009 60
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Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has courage to lose sight of the shore
Spring break for grownups
(ARA) - Remember when your spring break was a hedonistic ritual that focused on excesses of sun, wild parties and alcohol? Now that you’ve outgrown that, you don’t have to give up the spring ritual of getting away from it all. Whether you are able to travel to a warm, sunny location for a vacation, or simply need a stay-at-home break to escape from work, school or daily stress, there’s a physically and mentally healthy alternative. Some indulgent applications of aromatherapy provide a natural way to transport yourself healthfully and affordably to a well-earned place of springtime renewal.
According to Tom Havran, aromatherapy formulator at Aura Cacia, essential oils are the key elements that not only transport the senses, but act physically on the body’s systems to enhance well-being. “Always make sure that aromatherapy products contain 100-percent pure and natural essential oils, which are distilled from plants,” Havran advises. “The cheaper, synthetic fragrance chemicals in many so-called ‘aromatherapy’ productsdo not have the same effect on the body and mind that real essential oils provide.”
Which essential oils are best for crafting your personal spring break getaway? The cheerful, fresh aromas of citrus oils, such as lemon, lime, sweet orange, tangerine, grapefruit, bergamot orange and mandarin orange, evoke sunshine and warm southern breezes. Two precious flower oils also associated with sunny subtropical climates are jasmine and neroli (orange blossom) essences. Jasmine is exotic and sensual while neroli has the power to ease anxiety.
Whether you are traveling to a sunny beach for your spring break vacation or just trying to create a little sunshine during a stay-at-home version, essential oils and aromatherapy will help you make the most of your escape. Here are some fun and easy spring break skin care aromatherapy treatments you can easily make at home for either an at-home escape or to take along on your spring trip to the
beach. For more aromatherapy recipes, ideas and products, check out www.auracacia.com.
FloaT-on-The-ocean aromaTherapy BaTh This recipe is great for reproducing the therapeutic effect of bobbing in the waves, right in your own tub. If you are traveling to the beach, this is a wonderful treatment to nourish and soothe the skin after a day spent in sun and surf.
Ingredients:½ cup sea salt½ cup baking soda¼ cup jojoba or
grapeseed oil2-3 bags of green tea
20 drops lavender essential oil10 drops grapefruit essential oil10 drops sweet orange essential oil
Directions: In a glass or porcelain container, mix salt, baking soda, jojoba or grapeseed and essential oils, then pour in bath. Float tea bags in bath and soak away your worries.
Toes-in-the-Sand Foot Scrub Beach sand and ocean water combine naturally to smooth and renew feet and toes. This scrub replicates the effect of wet sand. Use it to get your feet looking their best before you don the flip-flops for your spring break beach debut.
Ingredients:½ cup granulated sugar 1 tablespoon sweet almond oil15 drops tangerine essential oil5 drops peppermint essential oil
Directions: In a glass or porcelain container, combine sugar, sweet almond and essential oils. Mix thoroughly and massage into feet, concentrating on toes, heels and soles. Rinse with warm water and massage feet until the oil is fully
absorbed. Tip: Do the foot scrub after a long soak in the bath to enhance exfoliation.
Coconut and Jasmine Body Butter Here’s a great after-sun body treatment to give your skin a healthy, nourishing glow. Apply just before a night on the town to look and smell your best.
Ingredients:1 cup coconut oil1 tablespoon jojoba oil35 drops mandarin orange essential oil5 drops jasmine absolute oil
Directions: In a glass or porcelain container, use a table fork to beat together all four oils until creamy in texture. Apply as a massage in gentle circular motions over entire body.
Citrus and Orange Blossom Breeze Invoke the heady aroma of an evening breeze wafting through a flowering grove of citrus trees with this delightful diffusion.
Ingredients:4 drops lemon essential oil5 drops bergamot orange essential oil1 drop neroli essential oil1/4 cup water1 aromatherapy candle lamp
Directions: Place water in candle lamp bowl, add essential oils, light candle and allow diffusion for 15 to 20 minutes.
Just another day in
paradise!
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Love To Barter
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Powerful advice for mothers:
Help girls accept themselves through your example(ARA) - No force exerts more power on how girls perceive their bodies and their relationship with food than the examples set by their own mothers, research and countless examples show.
Some of you are mothers; all of you had one. What did you learn about food, eating and weight from your own mother and what is your daughter learning from you? How and why do you eat the way you do and how can you prevent your daughter from repeating your mistakes?
Eating disorder treatment specialist Carolyn Costin, clinical director and founder of the Monte Nido Treatment Center, says that modern culture
may send some women and girls the message to feed and nurture others, but not themselves.
“Because of the undue emphasis placed on appearance, females come to view their bodies as instruments to be used in the pursuit of approval from others and as sources of personal pride,” Costin says. “This can, however, lead to them experiencing their bodies as a source of disapproval, failure and psychological pain.”
Food may become a medium through which females communicate many feelings. Women use food to demonstrate love and caring, to get approval, as a way of being creative, as a way of distracting from other issues, as a source of
comfort, as a means of apology, and there are many more. In her book, Your Dieting Daughter, Costin challenges women to ask themselves, “What has food come to represent in your life and in your messages to your own children?”
Costin offers some advice for helping mothers become healthy examples of self-acceptance to their daughters, and for dealing with eating disorder issues.
MeSSageS that baCkfire
Mothers send messages every day that their daughters pick up on - from lessons of kindness to others, to the tendency to judge one’s self-worth based on physical appearance. Be aware of messages that can backfire, even when you have the best intentions:
Compliments - You may do or say things that send the wrong message to your daughter. The focus on appearance, even when giving a compliment, can backfire in many ways. For example, to compliment someone on her weight loss may be construed to mean that she was not attractive before. Excessive praise for appearance can reinforce the notion that external qualities are more important than internal ones, regardless of the cost it takes to maintain it.
Food as reward and punishment - No matter how many experts have warned against it, parents - especially mothers - often use food as a reward and punishment. Children learn that certain foods belong in special categories, like “good” and “bad.” This kind of thinking sets the stage for someone to restrict, sneak eat, rebel by eating, comfort themselves with, or overly indulge in, the forbidden “bad foods.” Costin teaches her eating disorder clients at Monte Nido something that is important for everyone to understand: “There are no bad foods; there are only bad eating habits.”
Food as love - People learn a variety of ways to associate food with being nurtured, cared for and loved. Food, early on in the mother-daughter relationship, is connected to love - getting one means having the other. A girl may use food as love if she feels, consciously or unconsciously, that she is not getting love somewhere else. Where emptiness exists in any way, food can mask it and be a substitute filler, at least temporarily. Swallowing feelings/stuffing anger - People stuff down or swallow their feelings with food. People who use food in this way describe it as having a numbing effect on them, Costin says.Starving is also a way of avoiding feelings or demonstrating in some way that, “I don’t have any feelings or needs.” To heal people from using food in this way clinics like Monte Nido teach their clients that all feelings are acceptable; it is their behaviors they need to learn to monitor and control.
Mothers who want to set a good example for their daughters, should consider this, Costin says: “Is what you are doing to yourself what you would also do to your own daughter? If you don’t want her to skip meals in order to fit in a dress, or binge because she’s having a bad day, then you shouldn’t do it either.” To learn more about eating disorders and treatment, visit www.MonteNido.com.
Feb. 21 through 27 is National Eating Disorder Week. Watch for events in your community to observe these important dates.
Don’t grow up too quickly, lest you forget how much
you love the beach
Wholesome cooking at home(ARA) - We all want to eat a nutritious diet that helps reduce the risk of chronic diseases and manage cholesterol levels. The same holds true for diabetics; in fact, many of the guidelines for a balanced diabetic diet are useful for anyone who wants to stick to a healthful diet.
With all the refined sugars and processed carbohydrates found in today’s grocery aisles and neighborhood markets, it’s easy to see why anyone who is concerned about his or her health is intimidated by the idea of whipping up a healthy
meal at home. Even though you have countless, long-forgotten cookbooks on your shelves and have visited various cooking Web sites, there aren’t many recipes there that can offer you a healthful meal that won’t send your blood sugar through the roof.
The American Diabetes Association recommends choosing whole grain, high-fiber foods and plenty of vegetables and fruits - the same foods that most people eat when they decide to follow a nutritious meal plan. Additionally, the ADA encourages
diabetics to include “good” fats in appropriateportion sizes to reap the benefits of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, and omega-3 fatty acids. While many recipes might appear incompatible with nutritious diabetic eating, it’s easier than you think to make them friendlier to a flavorful carbohydrate-controlled diet. Here are some tips:
Have a recipe that calls for a cup of sugar? Try cutting the amount in half and increasing the amount of spices in the recipe to amp up the natural sweetness.
Trying a recipe that asks for half a cup of butter or cream? Puree a medium-sized avocado in a blender or food processor and add more liquid to your mixture until you get the same creamy consistency.
The American Diabetes Association recommends avocados as a source of monounsaturated fat. Avocados have only 50 calories and less than 3 grams of carbohydrates per three-slice serving (or 1 ounce). The fat in avocados is two-thirds monounsaturated fat. According to the American Heart Association, mono- and polyunsaturated fats may actually help reduce cholesterol when consumed in moderation and substituted for saturated fat or trans fat in your diet.
Try incorporating avocados into your everyday meals to reap the benefits of nearly 20 vitamins and minerals and 1 gram of fiber per serving. By using
appropriate amounts in pasta sauce, dips and garnishes for your favorite soups and salads, you can include avocados from Mexico year-round in your favorite dishes to add smooth texture and rich taste without putting your cholesterol levels at risk.
To get the best taste out of your avocado, buy avocados from Mexico ripe for immediate use, or firm for creating nutritious meals later in the week. Firm avocados will ripen to perfection when held at room temperature for one to three days. When they yield to gentle pressure, they’re ready for the cooking to begin.
This holiday season, what better way to use your turkey leftovers than in a healthy, delicious sandwich? Try this recipe for a turkey sandwich with spicy avocado spread. For more recipes and ideas on how to incorporate avocados into your diet, visit www.theamazingavocado.com.
turkey SandwiCh with SpiCy avoCado Spread
Makes: Four servings (1 cup of avocado spread)
Ingredients:2 fully ripened avocados from Mexico,
halved, pitted and peeled1 ½ tablespoons lime juice½ teaspoon salt¼ to ½ teaspoon chipotle hot sauce8 slices whole grain bread, toasted8 ounces sliced cooked turkey1 large ripe tomato, sliced1 cup alfalfa sprouts
Directions:In large bowl, mash together avocados, lime
juice, salt and chipotle sauce. Spread on each bread slice. Top four of the bread
slices with turkey, tomato and sprouts, dividing equally;
cover with remaining bread slices. Garnish with sliced
avocado, if desired.
fin
al
wo
rD
s I dropped a tear in the ocean, and whenever they find it
I’ll stop loving you, only then.
Anonymous