Well, Summer is now in full swing! Are you making the
most of these warm wonderful days and nights? It's easy to get lost in
the Summertime fun and forget all about those pressing items on your
to-do list. If you're looking to maximize your beach time and minimize
your errand running, don't forget that we're here for you all Summer
long.
We hope you enjoy this month's newsletter. As ever, it
is our goal to provide useful information and tips to help you keep
your life in balance, and to be on call for you when you need help.
We'd love to hear what you would like to see in upcoming issues.
Stars and Stripes Forever,
Ellen Lovelace, Founder and President
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July Calendar
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1
Canada Day
(Dominion Day)
Canada Day is
a celebration of nationalism and pride, commemorating the date (July 1,
1867) when Canada became self-governing. Did you know that Canada and
the US share the largest un-defended border in the world? Eh?
4
Independence Day
Independence
Day, the birthday of our country, celebrates the freedoms and liberties
for which our forefathers fought and died. Today we commemorate the
signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, with
hotdogs, fireworks, apple pie, and water balloon fights. Happy
Birthday, America!
14
Bastille Day
Bastille Day
is a French national holiday, commemorating the storming of the
Bastille prison by revolutionaries on July 14, 1789, and the start of
the French Revolution. The Bastille had become a symbol of the King's
dominance over his suffering subjects, and the storming marked the end
of the monarchy and the beginning of the new Republic. Celebrate in
style this year, with a wedge of triple- creme Brie and a great bottle
of Sancerre!
Have other
dates this month that are important to you: birthdays, anniversaries,
etc.? Visit our Forget Me Not page on our
website to learn how QCS can make sure no important date ever goes
forgotten again.
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Take a Hike!
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Summer is here! Let's hit the trail!! Hiking is a wonderful form of
exercise for people of all fitness levels. There is a bit more to "being
prepared" than packing a protein bar and a bottle of water,
however.
Pick your destination in
advance and obtain a trail map.
Some can be found online and some at the actual trail site. Avoiding a wrong turn can save you
hours of needless wandering.
A well-packed backpack should
contain the following:
- A lightweight windbreaker - this can double as a picnic
blanket if needed and offer protection from the sun
- Sunblock - don't forget the back of your neck
- Hat - even on an overcast day, a hat will save your eyes
from strain and protect your scalp from sunburn
- Water - a stainless canteen will keep your water tasting
plastic-free
- Leatherman Utility knife - tweezers, knife, bottle opener;
you never know what this can assist with.
- Small First Aid kit - from blisters to splinters, this may
come in handy
- Nuts, dried fruit or protein bars can help ward off hunger
and give you energy when needed.
- Don't forget your cell phone! You can keep the ringer off for
peace and quiet, but should you need it, it's nice to be able to
call for help.
Be sure to tell someone where
you are going and when you plan to be back. It's always a good idea to
bring a friend.
Consider asking Quicksilver
Concierge to find the appropriate trails for your next excursion. We can find out about costs, obtain
your trail map and even pack your bag.
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You've heard
it all before: drinking soda is empty calories. But you love that
sugary treat combined with that caffeine rush. Did you know though that
the latest research shows soda is worse for you than we ever
thought?
The average
American drinks 2 full glasses of sugar-sweetened beverage daily (and
sports-drinks fall in this category as well), adding up to almost 7000
extra calories monthly--a potential 24 pound weight gain annually!
Drinking the
sweet stuff stresses your body's ability to process sugars, straining
your pancreas to produce more and more insulin. The soda habit leaves
your pancreas unable to effectively work, leading to a pre-disposition
for type 2 (adult-onset) diabetes.
Soda eats up
and dissolves tooth enamel. Dentists say it's like bathing your mouth
in corrosive acid! Soda's acidity combined with its sugar makes your
enamel erode quickly, allows bacteria to enter, and promotes tooth
decay.
That same soda
acidity is thought to also be weakening bones and causing calcium loss,
leading to increasing rates of osteoporosis. (The acid in diet sodas
wreaks the same havoc on bones and teeth as in sugary versions.)
If you must have something sweet, go for 100% fruit
juice instead. The sugars in fruit juice (fructose) are processed by
your body differently than the high-fructose corn syrup in sodas, and
don't lead to all of the same bad effects. Fruit juice still has a lot
of calories though, so try diluting it with half a glass of spring or
sparkling water.
If it's the carbonation you crave, try one of the new
no-sugar-added sparkling water/fruit juice mixtures on the market.
Go ahead and have your caffeine, but try it in tea
(filled with antioxidants), or an unsweetened nonfat latte (get
your calcium at the same time!)
Keep water in the fridge, and add sliced lemons, limes,
oranges, or cucumbers to it. You'll be more likely to reach for it when
it's already made up and icy cold.
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Check Out Our Changes!
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We're thrilled
to announce the unveiling of our new website!
www.quicksilverconcierge.com
still has all
the same great information about how we can help you reclaim your
leisure time and rebalance your life.
Now, thanks to
our fabulous graphic designer, Nikki Brown (nikkiink@comcast.net), and the wonderful web design team
at ePC Services (www.epcservices.com), we have a
great new look, feel and color scheme.
Take a look
and let us know what you think!
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