Homemade gifts with a sprinkle of fun
As the holidays approach, your kids may be looking for gifts to give friends and family. We know it can be hard to buy presents for everyone — and sometimes a homemade gift means much more. We put together our top three ideas for homemade presents!
Homemade snow globe
- Start with a baby food jar (Make sure it has been cleaned out and the label has been removed).
- Glue a winter-themed item to the inside of the lid. This could be a foam star, a tree or a small ornament.
- Fill the jar with water and about one teaspoon of glitter, whatever color you choose.
- Glue the lid shut and let it dry for approximately two hours.
- Once the glue has dried, shake the jar and enjoy the snow globe.
- Start with plain puzzle pieces (you can buy these or used the back of old puzzles that you have laying around).
- Pick out your favorite paint colors.
- Paint your puzzle pieces.
- Allow them to dry (the time will depend on the type of paint you use).
- Create a frame out of popsicles sticks.
- Glue your puzzle pieces on the popsicle sticks.
- Insert your favorite holiday picture!
Reindeer
- Using construction paper, trace your footprint vertically (toes toward the top of your paper, heel toward the bottom) for the reindeer head.
- Trace two hand prints for the antlers.
- Glue the pieces together.
- Add some googly eyes and a button for the nose.
- Go crazy coloring or painting the rest of your reindeer.
What are some of your favorite holiday crafts and activities?
Thanksgiving Festivities
Who says celebrating Thanksgiving has to only be one day? There is so much to do in Columbia that you and your family can spend the whole week celebrating!
The 31st Annual Columbia Holiday Parade will take place on Sunday, November 21 at 3 p.m. in downtown Columbia. It’s free, and this year, the Boy Scouts of America will be honored for all their hard work. Bring the family and come enjoy the theme of “Celebrating Traditions.”
On Sunday, November 21 at 4 p.m., the Columbia Interfaith Council will be sponsoring a night of music, food, dancing and poetry. Members of various Columbia religious communities will give short presentations and have cultural food.
The Missouri Contemporary Ballet will be performing Over the Edge, a ballet that showcases four original pieces. It will be held November 20 and 21 at the Blue Note. Tickets range from $10-$20.
What events are you most excited about?
Sources:
Vox Magazine
Columbia Missourian
Are your bones at risk?
Osteoporosis is a condition where bone density decreases, making bones fragile and easier to break. It’s dangerous because there are no symptoms until a bone fracture occurs. This is usually when an incident (such as a fall) that would not necessarily cause a serious injury, does. With the streets and sidewalks getting icy soon, it’s important for everyone to know the dangers that come with osteoporosis. Talk with your friends and family members to see if they know the risks of osteoporosis and how they can prevent injuries.
Am I at Risk?
You are at a higher risk for osteoporosis if you are:
- Female
- Of white or Asian descent
- Thin or have a small frame
- Have a low calcium intake
- Smoke
- Have suffered from an eating disorder
- Are not active
- Have excessive alcohol consumption
What Can I Do to Prevent Osteoporosis?
You can prevent osteoporosis by:
- Increasing your calcium and vitamin D intake
- Exercising
- Not smoking
- Avoiding excessive alcohol
You can learn more about vitamin D with our blog post from this summer.
What do you do to keep your bones healthy?
Sources:
http://www.medicinenet.com/osteoporosis/article.htm
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/osteoporosis/DS00128
Related articles
- What is Osteoporosis? (brighthub.com)
- Bone health needs more than just calcium (theglobeandmail.com)
- Osteoporosis Treatment Now (generalmedicine.suite101.com)
Prepare for the party season
It’s 46 degrees today, mid-Missouri! This means it’s time to get ready for the holiday festivities. With the holidays comes mindless munching and rich desserts. This year, enjoy your holidays without any post-December weight-gain blues by eating a light healthy snack to curb your hunger before you go to holiday parties, or bring a healthy appetizer to share.
Ron Robertson, the OTC manager at the Broadway Pharmacy, enjoys making guacamole for gatherings. Here is his recipe:
Guacamole
- ½ small white onion
- 1 firm medium, ripe tomato
- 1 medium or 2 small jalapenos
- 3 medium, ripe avocados
- 2 T. fresh cilantro, finely chopped
- 1 T. fresh lime juice
Mince the onion and tomato. Remove the jalapeno’s stem, seeds and spines, then finely mince and combine in a mixing bowl with the onion and tomato.
Remove the skin and pits from the avocados, and then thoroughly mix them with the onion-tomato-jalapeno mixture using a potato masher or a sturdy fork.
Stir in cilantro and the lime juice.
Garnish with a couple of while sprigs of cilantro and serve with whole wheat tortilla chips and/or fresh vegetables.
Tips:
- Choose avocados that are uniformly dark and slightly tender.
- If you want some spice, leave the seeds and inner spines in the jalapenos, and choose the darkest peppers.
Once prepared, the guacamole will not keep its green color for long. If you must wait before serving, cover completely with plastic wrap, smoothing the wrap directly onto the surface of the guacamole and refrigerate.
Fall for seasonal markets
The hot summer has been replaced with a crisp, beautiful fall. With that seasonal change, don’t hold the common misconception that The Farmers Market season is over. There are actually still winter markets available in the area!
Yes, some fruits are no longer available, but we still have the cool season crops. Broccoli, cauliflower and lettuce are perfect this time of year. And don’t forget the tomatoes, eggplant, cut herbs and beautiful flowers!
The Farmers Market at Forum Christian Church on Forum Blvd is open until October 28! Hurry over on a Thursday between 3 p.m. – 6 p.m. to get your fresh produce and meat. Don’t forget to pick up a pumpkin for Halloween!
It’s also never too early to start thinking about the holiday turkey! You can get one at the winter market, located at 1701 W. Ash Street, in the parking lot behind the Activities & Recreation Center (ARC). The hours of operation are:
Saturdays (March 20-December 18)
Excluding Thanksgiving weekend
8 a.m. – 12 p. m.
Mondays & Wednesdays (May-October)
4 p.m. – 6 p.m.
There’s also a new winter market location at Rockbridge Christian Church, which opens November 6.
So get on out there and support our local farmers…maybe we’ll see you there!
For more information, visit http://www.columbiafarmersmarket.org/index.shtml.
Read MoreFun fall activities for all
It’s fall, and time to get outside before the cold weather sets in. Here are some great activities for adults and kids!
Biking and hiking
You can enjoy this alone or with a group. Watch the time fly as you admire the crisp air and beautiful fall colors. We have some great trails right here in Columbia.
Outdoor games
Have fun with friends by inviting them over to play a group game like volleyball, baseball or touch football. This is a great way to get your heart pumping and enjoy an afternoon with friends. Take a break from the competition and drink some apple cider or autumn brews.
Local sports
College games can get expensive, but there are always high school football games. Sit back, start cheering and enjoy being outdoors. You can even have a healthy tailgate!
Apple picking
Fall is the season for apples. There are multiple apple orchards in Missouri and close to us! Find out more at All about Apples.
Make leaf rubbings and even bring a bag to keep your fall treasures for craft materials. Pack a picnic and you can make a day out of it.
Enjoy the backyard
You can play fun games, make crafts or even preserve a leaf. For a full list of leaf fun visit family fun.com.
All you need is a jacket to enjoy these activities. Who knew fall activities could be fun yet inexpensive? So get up and enjoy the changing colors and pleasant weather.
Vitamin A to the Rescue!
Vitamin A comes in two different forms. They are retinol and carotene. Retinol is the purest form of vitamin A, and carotene is converted into retinol and stored in the liver.
How does it help?
Vision Support:
- Vitamin A is best known for its aid in vision support. Our eye’s retina holds four photopigments with vitamin A compounds. Rhodopsin (one of the pigments) allows the rod cells to detect light. This allows our eye to turn light into sight, making foods rich in vitamin A very helpful for eye sight! For a full list of yummy foods visit the World’s Healthiest Foods.
Immune Support:
- Vitamin A strengthens our immune system by promoting the growth of the thymus gland. It also enhances the function of white blood cells, increases the response of antibodies to antigens and has anti-viral activity. This helps fight off those nasty fall allergies!
Cell Growth Support:
- Vitamin A is important for the normal growth of cells and development. The retinoic acid helps cellular adhesion, which is the ability to attach cells to each other. This helps in cell formation and cellular longevity.
Sources:
National Institute of Health
Britannica
Encyclopedia
Related articles by Zemanta
- Crucial Vitamins and Minerals in Daily Diet and Nutrition (justslimming.com)
