Orange Blossom Society, Redmond WA

Entrepreneurs are passionate, hard-working, good for the economy, and sometimes a bit crazed by the time and energy it takes to follow your dream.  It really is the original American dream - you can be anything you want to be.  It just takes drive, perseverance, resourcefulness and insanity(!?).  However the risk and sleepless nights are all worth it when someone walks through your door and says “Thank you for doing what you do”. 

Did you know that for every $100 spent in locally owned independent stores  $68.00 returns to the community through payroll, taxes, and other expenditures? 

Think about what our communities would be without the small businesses that support them? 

Which independently owned stores would you miss of they weren’t there tomorrow?  These are the people who care about your community and work hard to ensure that the local economy stays a float.  Stop in, say hello and show your support. 

Small businesses don’t need millions of customers (it would be way too hard to remember all of those names!) we just need the ones who appreciate the personal touch by a member of their community.  You can make a difference by following these steps: Pick 3 - Spend $50 - Save your local economy.  For more information visit http://www.the350project.net/home.html

We are really excited about our newest partnership with The Bar Method in Redmond Town Center.  What does this mean to you?  It means a fabulous Bar Method workout for you while your child gets to participate in enrichment activities at Orange Blossom Society.  The two complement each other so well - everyone’s happy, everyone’s healthy!  It’s so important for parents and caregivers to take care of their body and spirit - taking time for yourself is like giving a gift to your family. 

What is The Bar Method?  Well I can tell you it is an amazing workout - trust me I have quite a history in the fitness arena and this workout had my legs quivering!  Here’s an excerpt from their web site:

The Bar Method™ workout creates a uniquely lean, firm, sculpted body by combining the muscle-shaping principles of isometrics, the body-elongating practice of dance conditioning, the science of physical therapy and the intense pace of interval training into a powerful exercise format that quickly and safely reshapes and elongates muscles.

The result is a noticeable “Bar Method” sculpted body featuring:

·         Firm, elongated muscles

·         Reduced body fat

·         High muscle definition in the chest, upper arms and upper legs

·         Improved posture

·         Long, narrow thighs

·         A lifted seat and defined hamstrings

·         Strong, flat abdominals

·         Increased stamina and energy

·         Extended youthfulness

Make yourself and your family a priority this summer and join us for fitness and fun for the whole family!

Let the guilt, pressure, to-do list, emails, house work and all of the built up angst GO!  Take the time to be in the moment with your child.  Ask them questions, make eye contact, listen to their stories and just BE with them.  Make the time you spend with them quality time even if it’s in between all of the chores and errands.  These small moments will be the ones your child remembers.

Along that same path, take time for yourself without the guilt.  If this means finding a great camp or class for your child while you use that time to recharge - great!  Or, what about trying something completely new like an Art Class or Dance Class?  Get out of your comfort zone to discover what children do everyday - learn & grow! 

It’s difficult to not get bogged down with everyday life, so treasure the small moments that make everything worthwhile.

Miss Dana wanted to chare this article with you all from the Chicago Yoga ExaminerAlison Curtis

Why today’s children need yoga

1. Academic Performance

• A study led by cardiologist Herbert Benson in 2000 found that students who experienced one year of a relaxation curriculum achieved a higher GPA along with higher marks in work habits and cooperation than students without exposure to the curriculum.  Teachers embedded relaxation exercises and self-care strategies into students’ education.  The researchers found that students maintained the social and academic improvements for a minimum of two years.
• The Accelerated School (TAS) in Los Angeles proved that integrating yoga with education increases students’ academic abilities; TAS students’ Stanford Achievement Test scores increase by 93% between 1997 and 2001.  Additionally, Time named TAS the Elementary School of the Year in 2001.
• Yoga not only teaches children techniques to sharpen their focus by quieting the mind, but it also creates a subtle motivation to learn.

2. Self-Esteem and Behavior

•  The YogaEd® program, in a 2003 study at TAS, improved self-esteem and behavior.  The amount of children “earning” referrals throughout the year significantly decreased.
• Yoga fosters self-acceptance, which is increasingly significant as children approach the peer-pressured, teenage years.  As children transition through postures and try new poses, the relationship between their mind and body evolves, allowing them to trust their own instincts.

3. Physical Fitness

• Your kids reap the physical benefits that you also gain from yoga: improved posture, coordination, balance, strength, and flexibility through yoga.
• Namaste Charter School, founded in a high-crime, low-income neighborhood in Chicago, show a decrease in obesity in the students, who all practice yoga.
• The YogaEd® program also showed improvements physically, as students participating in the yoga classes exceeded physical fitness standards by over 23%, compared to peer in the district.

4. Emotional Balance, Reducing Fears

• In a 2003 study of 48 fifth grade students, Stueck and Gloeckner studied the effects of yoga on fifth grade students in 2003 and discovered that the fifth graders became more emotionally balanced and experienced less fear, aggression, and feelings of helplessness.  The study showed that students utilized the breathing techniques to their lives outside of school.
• The breathing techniques children learn through yoga increase and channel energy, when necessary, and decrease anxiety.
• Studies performed by Jensen and Kenny, researchers of yoga integration in schools, have found that yoga may be an excellent alternative or supplement for ADHD care. As medications wear off, yoga has been increasingly effective.

With so many choices for classes & camps for kids it can be mind boggling to sort it all out and feel confident about your choice.  Here are some tips I’ve learned as a parent of two and owner of child focused businesses for the past eight years:

1.  Watch & listen to your child to find thier natural interests- It’s easy to steer our kids towards our own interests and hobbies, but often times that can create a frustrating (not to mention money & time wasting) experience for all involved.  How does your child spend their free time? Drawing, singing, building, reading?  If they love to read how about a Creative Writing & Illustration class?  Find an activity that will build upon what they are naturally drawn to.

2.  Start asking questions- Ask your child about topics they would like to learn more about.  Once you have some ideas start asking friends, teachers & coaches if they can recommend a good organization.  You can also search online and read reviews for the inside scoop - feel free to try a camp outside of your local neighborhood.  It’s good to get out and meet new people and experiences! 

3.  Is this place right for us?  Once you have narrowed down your search, visit the facilities (or call), talk to the instructor, sample a class.  Do you and your child feel comfortable there?  Is the facility clean?  Are the staff friendly and accommodating?  Go with your gut reaction.

4.  Check that off the list!  Feel good about your choice and talk to your child about the camp or class they will attend.  Allow plenty of time arriving on your first day and be sure to ask questions when you pick them up. 

Congratulations - you and your child have just had a great new experience with many more to come!

Have you ever wondered what to do with all those broken crayons? Well. Here’s a project that is fun and recycles crayons that then can be used for leaf texture rubbings.

Have the kids peel of the paper wrappers off the old crayons and group them by colors into an old muffin tin. The colors can be grouped into combinations, too, like red and orange, or blue and purple, etc… Make sure the muffin tin is old or replaceable because once you use it for this crayon project it becomes an art muffin tin. Now preheat the oven to 275 open some windows for ventilation. Put the crayon filled muffin tins into the oven and let them melt. Once the surface of the crayons becomes flat (about ten minutes) very carefully remove the muffin tin from the oven and place them in the refrigerator. Be careful not to jiggle the colors, because part of the cool effect is to have the crayon colors melted together but not mixed into one color.

While the crayons are cooling gather some interesting fall leaves from outside. This could even be a trip to the park.  Then get some white paper, construction paper or printer paper is great. Then mix some oil paint to spread over the paper after the crayon leaf rubbings are done. Use two tablespoons of vegetable oil and six to eight drops of food coloring. Mix until the food color evenly disperses in the oil. Have fun mixing colors too. Try mixing red and blue or blue and yellow to see what colors you can make.

Once the crayons are cool and hard pop them out of the muffin tin. Place the leaves under the paper on a hard surface and holding the paper still rub the big round crayons over the paper. Look at the leaf vein textures and the colors the crayons make. Next with a paint brush, spread the oil paint over the paper. Then rub it in with hands or paper towel. Do this on top of newspaper/butcher paper or an old table. The oil will saturate the paper creating a vellum look. These are beautiful hung in the window or can be mounted on colored paper. Use them to make fall cards by cutting them down and pasting them to premade blank greeting cards.

It’s all about the fun! Please enjoy!
Miss Tina