April, 2010
Earth Week Events
Starting this Saturday there are lots of eco-friendly events taking place around West Michigan. If you have anything happening in your community, feel free to comment below the post and add it to the list!
Party for the Planet
Saturday, April 17 from 10am-3pm
John Ball Zoo – Grand Rapids
www.johnballzoosociety.org
Over 20 organizations will be on-hand with Earth friendly demonstrations and exhibits. Plus, the Zoo will have giveaways, games entertainment and of course the animals!
Free Admission Day
Saturday, April 17 from 10am-5pm
Kalamazoo Nature Center
www.naturecenter.org
Free admission to celebration Earth Day! Explore exhibits and hike on the 14 trails around the facility.
Earth Day Community Clean-Up
Saturday, April 17
Grand Rapids Community College
www.grcc.edu
Students and community members will meet to learn a little more about sustainability and how our clean-up will affect our planet for future generations. Then, you’ll head out into downtown for a clean-up.
Tri-Cities Earth Day Celebration
Saturday, April 17 starting at Noon
Central Park – Grand Haven
www.wetland-watch.org
There is a full day of activities starting with a Green Parade at Noon. After the parade enjoy an Earth Day fair and a cook-out and concert in the evening.
Earth Week Festival
Sunday, April 18 from 9am-3pm
Howard Christensen Nature Center – Kent City
www.kentconservation.org/hcnc
Enjoy a pancake breakfast and explore the interpretive center.
Get Your Family To Go Green!
Living a more eco-friendly lifestyle is what it’s all about. Each of us doing small things to make a big difference! This week on “Where You Live” we’ll give you all kinds of simple solutions to make living a greener life easy and affordable. Our energy experts at Touchstone Energy Cooperative will show you how to save hundreds of dollars on your energy bills. We’ll walk the aisles of Meijer to see all the EcoWise ways you can save money and help save the planet! See how Goodwill is giving you a chance to recycle and reuse clothing, toys and household goods and visit a recycling center to see how you can recycle up to 60% of your trash every week! Get Green with us this weekend on “Where You Live” Saturday at 7:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. on WOTV 4 and Saturday at 6:30 p.m. on WOOD TV 8.
What is EcoTrek fitness?
This weekend Where You Live is all about ways that West Michigan families are going green. As our team was brainstorming segment ideas we came across an advertisement in Natural Awakenings magazine for Eco Trek Fitness. It’s a green workout that takes place outdoors and combines cardio and strength training using elements found in nature.
I called to set up the shoot and hung up the phone pumped about checking out this class. I planned to go and flip-cam the class and the instructor told me to bring my tennis shoes and feel free to join in. Although I don’t consider myself a real outdoorsy girl, I was curious to see what this new craze was all about and thought I’d give it a try!
I woke last Thursday to the sound of rain on my windows and thought, “oh great.” The instructor told me that the class takes place rain or shine, so I knew I was in for an interesting morning. I headed out to Townsend Park in Rockford where the NE Grand Rapids session was meeting. There were about seven people in the class and everyone was very friendly and excited to talk about why they love coming to Eco Trek. After hiding under my umbrella for most of the interviews, I realized I had to suck it up and embrace the elements like the rest of the group. So, I ditched the umbrella and headed up the trail to flip-cam the experience.
Summer Jobs for Students
Have a student looking for a summer job? I spoke with a friend of mine, Jeff Gebhart who hires over 400 summer employees each year. I asked for his best insights to help kids land summer employement. He replied with a letter to a prospective student employees. I think you and your student will find this information helpful!
Dear Student Employee,
It is going to be a tough job market for you this summer no doubt! Even in this market I am amazed at the lack of effort by some applying and interviewing with us that I feel compelled to give you the “inside track”. Let’s be honest, your experience is very minimal at best. Five years ago we were hiring summer help and you were probably playing T ball (not really resume material). There are some tricks to filling out an application (like don’t get any pizza sauce on it) but there really isn’t much you can put on it that will seal the deal for you. If you want the job, here is the #1 thing you can do. Dress for success! The first impression is so powerful that if done right it will almost land you the job. Hey it’s cool to be an individual and “express yourself”. If you do this when you pick up/drop off an application or at the interview (if you get one) then have fun being an “individual” this summer while your buddy that dressed for success got the job. Remember that companies hire people that match their image NOT YOUR IMAGE! That means if they don’t allow you to wear your hat backwards (or a hat at all) and your ear ring then don’t wear them when applying for the job. If you don’t see the underwear sticking out from the waist of their employee’s jeans you had better pull your pants up. In fact if you wear jeans and your buddy wears khakis maybe your buddy will loan you some money this summer because he’s going to get the job.
There’s that word again!
I was part of a very familiar conversation the other day. I was talking with an acquaintance who was describing to me her attempts to meet expectations at her job and also effectively parent her two children. “I feel like I can’t give 100% in either area,” she said. She went on, “I always feel like I’m short-changing someone. It seems like what gets neglected in my attempts to balance everything is…me.”
I’ve heard these types of comments again and again, from friends who are full time workers or full time stay at home parents, from family members at various stages of life, and frequently from my clients, who are often trying to make healthy life choices amidst multiple responsibilities.
Balance…such an elusive word, isn’t it? What does it mean? Is it possible? Does it change over time? How do we know when we’ve achieved this? These are difficult questions to answer. It seems much easier to identify signs of imbalance. Signs of imbalance include irritability or anger, resentment towards work or family, general fatigue, and even physical symptoms of stress such as headaches and a weakened immune system. If you find yourself experiencing any of these signs, it may be a signal that this issue needs some revisiting in your own life.
Maranda’s Family Fun Update
Spring break’s not over quite yet. Here are a few fun events going on this weekend….Where You Live!
Flick’s Family Film Festival
Now through April 22
Various Celebration Cinema Locations
www.celebrationcinema.com
Flick’s Family Film Festival continues with Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs! Kids 12 and under get in for free and parents are just $3.50.
Small Wonders: Beautiful Birds
Saturday, April 10 from 10-11:30am
Kalamazoo Nature Center
www.naturecenter.org
This fun event gives families a great opportunity to explore nature together and look for the signs of spring!
Indoor Spring Petting Zoo
Saturday, April 10 from 10am-2pm
Coopersville Farm Museum
www.coopersvillefarmmusuem.org
Hosted by the local 4H group, this is a chance for kids to get up-close and personal with fun farm animals. Kids will learn the basics on holding animals and animal safety.
Native American Super Saturday
Saturday, April 10 from 10am-3pm
Muskegon Museum of Art
www.muskegonartmuseum.org
Catch the film Pocahontas; participate in activity stations and more. Best of all admission is FREE!
Opening Day at Fifth Third Ball Park
Sunday, April 11 at 2pm
Fifth Third Ballpark – Comstock Park
www.whitecapsbaseball.com
Bring the family out to cheer on the West Michigan Whitecaps at their home opener. The first 1,000 fans will receive a snuggie and the first 1,000 kids eat free!
Dress Up a Potato for Dinner
Who doesn’t love a baked potato? It’s a simple food that is super versatile! I always keep a bag of spuds on hand because they make such an easy meal when “dressed up” just a bit. As a bonus, they are full of healthy nutrients and are quite low in cost. Many people are surprised to learn that one medium potato with the skin contains 45% of daily vitamin C; more potassium (620 mg) than a banana along with vitamin B6, 2 g of fiber and other trace nutrients.
Here are 10 ways to top your tater and each is a satisfying meal that the whole family will enjoy. These ideas make a really quick and inexpensive meal for a busy weekday and they are also a great way to use up leftovers. Enjoy!
The Skinny on Real Beauty
Did you know that seven out of ten girls don’t feel they’re good enough or measure up to their peers? And that 71% of girls feel they aren’t pretty enough or skinny enough? The first time I remember being concerned about my appearance was probably in middle school. That was when I entered the “awkward phase.” I was way taller than all the boys, started seeing physical changes in my body and begin to ask myself “am I pretty?”
18 years later times have certainly changed. In today’s society girls are growing up faster, and girls as young as first grade are reportedly struggling with body image and a distorted perception of beauty. In my opinion a large part of this is due to what they see in the media. I want you to take a look at this attached video from Dove’s Campaign for Real Beauty.
What is the Passport Program?
The Kent Conservation District has a unique program that encourages families to get outside and connect with nature. The have six cool sites that offer simple ways that families can get outside and play. For more information on the program and all of the sites visit www.kentconservation.org/families
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Maranda's Blog
Keep in step with Maranda as she explores issues affecting your family.
Maranda's Go-To Gal
Insights from the mom who helps Maranda get it all done.
Whitecaps Blog
Whitecaps mascot Crash takes you inside the ballpark.
Cruiser's Blog
Cruiser has the inside track for Craig's Cruisers.
Health & Wellness
Make health and wellness a priority.
Fifth Third River Bank Run
On pace with the Fifth Third River Bank Run.
Healthy Living
Simple solutions for healthy living.
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