Green Cleaning

If you are like most people, then there's no doubt that you use cleaning products everyday. We use it to clean our bodies, homes, offices, dishes, countertops, clothes, furniture, cars, windows, Many of the cleaners sold out there have harsh chemicals that can affect our health and environment. Here are a few ways that you can go green with the cleaning:

• Mix vinegar, water, and baking soda as an all-purpose cleaner



• Open windows to allow fresh air in and keep the toxins from building up in your home



• It's not necessary to use antibacterial soap, this may one day breed a new strand of bacteria



• Use baking soda to keep your fridge from smelling strange



• Sprinkle baking soda on your carpet before vacuuming to keep it smelling fresh



• Instead of using air-fresheners, boil some cinammon, cloves, or other herbs to freshen the air inside your home



• Choose your dry cleaner carefully. Be aware of the chemicals they use by asking if they use Perchloroethylne, a chemical that is toxic to humans and creates smog.

Here is a book that you can check-out at the library about cleaning the green way:

Green goes with everything : simple steps to a healthier life and a cleaner planet / by Sloan Barnett.

June Gardening

You might not have had enough to get your garden started this spring and have given up on the idea of a garden, but it's not too late!!! June is a great month to start or add plants, flowers and trees to your garden. If you enjoy homegrown fruit, try planting sub-tropical or tropical fruits such as: avocados, bananas, citrus, guava, or papaya. These plants do well once the soil has warmed up a bit. Check out all of our books on gardening to help you get started!

Counting Sheep

In today's busy world, it's often difficult to stop our mind from racing at night. We are often preoccupied with thoughts of the days events, the future, work, school, relationships, our family, and more than likely financial hardships. Making sure we get enough sleep will help keep us from being crabby, feeling tired throughout the day, and overeating.

It would be nice to have control over all aspects of our lives and be able to fall asleep with the snap of a finger, but since we can't, the best thing to do is to work on our habits. Here are a few tips to help us get the sleep we need:

• Be consistent. Going to bed and waking up at the same time everyday, will ensure that your body has a consistent cycle and will make it easier for you to fall asleep.
• Avoid food and drink before bedtime. Eating fatty or spicy foods can cause heartburn and make you restless. Drinking before bed might make you wake up several times during the night for trips to the bathroom.
• Avoid stimulants. Stimulants like caffeine should be avoided for 8 hours before you go to bed, as it takes your body several hours to get rid itself of the stimulant.
• Get some exercise. Getting in the routine of regular physical activity can help with falling alseep faster and making your sleep more restful. If you like to exercise in the evening, try to do it three hours before your planned bedtime.
• Keep your sleeping room comfortable. It should be cool, quiet, and dark. Extra blankets should be brought in during the winter to keep you warm. If you are using a heater in the house, make sure that you also bring in a humidifier to avoid dryness. Earplugs can help block out distractions such as barking dogs. Use thick curtains that keep the light out.
• Avoid distractions. Avoid having a TV, a computer, or other items which can distract you from sleep in your bedroom.
• Avoid long naps. If you need to take a nap throughout the day, limit yourself to only a half-hour nap. Make sure you take your nap in the early afternoon. If you take your nap too late and for too long, you will disrupt your body's internal clock.
• If you have trouble waking up after a night of restful sleep, leave your window coverings open so that the sunlight can help adjust your body's internal clock.
• Pick-up a nightly routine to help you relax. Reading, listening to music, bathing or showering are all great activities to help put you in the mood for sleep.

What are some nightly routines that help you fall asleep?

Let's Get Moving!

The weather is starting to warm up -- what a great time to go outside and get some exercise! But, we all know how hard that can be to start. Consider trying one of these motivators, and make exercise fun!

• Take your dog for a walk
  It's good for you, and for your furry friend. And while you can say "I'm feeling too tired to go for a walk", your dog never will. No matter how tired you are, it's hard to deny that eagerly wagging tail and happy face! A great book to help you out is Fitness unleashed! : a dog and owner's guide to losing weight and gaining health together, by Marty Becker and Robert Kushner.
  


• Enlist an "exercise buddy"
  Did you sign up for a gym membership as a New Year's resolution, but have yet to use it? Bring along a friend! Studies show that people are much more likely to stick to an exercise plan if they have a partner -- a friend gives you someone to socialize with while working out, someone with whom to compare fitness goals and progress, and a great motivator to just get up and out the door. And you don't have to go to the gym -- just taking a walk with a friend is great exercise!
  


• Mix it up
  Exercise doesn't have to be boring. Play tag with your kids, turn on some music you like and dance around, rent an exercise DVD at the library and learn to belly dance or salsa. Anything that gets your heart pumping or makes you use your muscles is exercise, and you'll be more willing to commit to some physical activity if you know you won't be doing the same thing every day.


• Give yourself a distraction
  Pop in a DVD of your favorite sitcom or movie, or find something engrossing or funny to watch on TV while you're riding on an exercise bike or running or walking on the treadmill. You'll be surprised how fast the time goes by!
  

Every little bit helps, so get up and move!

Give from the Heart

If you are looking for an easy and rewarding way to give back to the community, don't forget your local library!!! There are currently only 14 days left until we kickoff our Telethon. The Library Telethon is not just an effort at raising funds for the Rancho Cucamonga Public Library, but it is also an opportunity to watch great performances and watch all the fun and rewarding things the libraries have done throughout the past two years.

Following are just the highlights of what we will have at this years Telethon!!!

Attention all future stars!: There are still a few performance spots left! Contact the Library if you are interested in being on stage of the Lewis Family Playhouse as part of the Telethon 2009.

BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS*

Friday, March 13, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. • 6 p.m. - Tune in Friday at 6 p.m. for a terrific opening performance by the Inland Empire Harmony Carousel. • 7 p.m. - The Circus is coming to town! The Great Redlands YMCA Circus this is! Come see these amazing performers live on stage!

Saturday, March 14, 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. • 2 p.m. - Check out opening act Reno Jones. Nothing but the blues, baby! • 3-5 p.m. - Lots of great music from our local schools, including the Terra Vista Elementary Choir, the Etiwanda High School Chamber Singers, the Vineyard Junior High School Stage and Concert Choir, and the Solorio Elementary School Show Stoppers! • 5 p.m. - Once again, we revive the great Adult Trivia Challenge! • 7 p.m. - Rod Gilfry, international singing star, takes the stage to perform numbers from his cabaret show. • 8 p.m. - Time for "Spotlight on the RC!", showcasing the best talent from the Inland Empire.

Sunday, March 15, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. • 1 p.m. Join host Frances Howdyshell as we open with the Golden Elementary School Choir. • 2 p.m. Party with the "California Jammin" band! • 3 p.m. Catch a special performance by the Rancho Cucamonga Adult Chorale. • 4:30 p.m. As is our tradition, the Caryn Elementary Cougar Choir will close the show. After their performance, see if we reach our goal!

Pledge your donation during “Magic Word” call in times and earn great gifts, including books and DVDs, gift cards and more!

*All times approximate and performances subject to change.

Sponsored by:

Fast Food

I’m in a hurry! Quick pull up to the window….

It is so much easier to pull up to the window make a food wish drive up to the next window and” POOF” I get what I want. I fondly refer to fast food as “the fine dining for those on the run”. Rather than patronize you with information about how harmful fast food is for a person’s health I would rather spend it helping you to get food on the go without pulling through a drive thru.

Twas the night before work…

*Make your own smoothies the night before and pour them in a reusable coffee cup. I usually make enough smoothies for two days and I leave them in coffee cups in the fridge.

*Make your own lunch and pack it in your lunch pail, keep in the fridge so that you can grab and go in the morning.

The looming “Break Room Snack Table”

*Bring your own snacks to work.

As you walk in the door you hear:

“Hey Mom! What’s for dinner?”

*I have one word for you….crock-pot. I love the Fix it and Forget it Lightly cookbook. Literally you dump all the ingredients in the crock-pot in the morning and leave it and when you come home “presto” it’s done.

So there you go three easy meal ideas that can help both you and your family be healthier.

By the way….if you can’t resist the urge to go fast food we recently added a new book to our collection at the library called:

Eat this not that! : thousands of simple food swaps that can save you 10, 20, 30 pounds--or more! by David Zinczenko with Matt Goulding

Eat this, not that, for kids: be the leanest, fittest family on the block!

David Zinczenko with Matt Goulding.

New Year

The New Year brings with it many wonderful ways to turn a new leaf. Many people are trying to be more environment friendly in the coming year. By being friendly to earth you are actually being friendly to yourself. As a person who has tried to use less and enjoy what I have, I have come to find that it pays to be kind to the earth. Here are a couple of ways that I have tried:

*Use the library for all my entertainment needs

Video Games- $4.00 for seven days

Books on CD- prices vary

Books-FREE

CD’s: Prices Vary

DVD: 1.00 for seven days

*Bring my own bags when I go shopping.

I have even started decorating my old ugly plain bags with patches and paint. It is fun and allows me to be creative.

*Grow your own vegetables

*EAT YOUR VEGGIES- I always hated to eat vegetables so this was a challenging thing for me to do, but through time (a long time) I have come to enjoy snacking on carrots and snow peas.

*Take the time to find healthy meals for my friends and family.

http://www.foodfit.com/

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/healthy-recipes/RE99999

As a motivator, check out this video about loving the world:

Good luck and have fun!