Balance Newsletter - September 2008

Welcome to THE NEW Balanceaustin.com!

If you have received our newsletter in the past, surely you are looking at this and saying, “something is different… but I can’t quite put my finger on it.”  Well, we’re happy to announce that we are re-launching the balanceaustin.com website, and it’s taking on a whole new look and feel, loaded with better content to help YOU create a better life of balance. 

New features to the site are guest bloggers, including Kim Stewart, Morning Drive host on Austin’s biggest female audience radio station, Majic 95.5.  Also blogging is Allison Allen, owner and operator of www.womenbloom.com, a website with the goal of inspiring and supporting women to ‘bloom’ in mid-life, not to mention life coaches, career coaches, and authors.   We’ve also enhanced other parts of the website for you to find the latest in news and information to help you create a better life of balance. 

If you’ve been with us from the beginning, enjoy the new site. If this is your first newsletter and you’re just becoming familiar with balanceaustin.com, we thank you for your interest and support – go ahead, tell a friend!   www.balanceaustin.com. 

The Balance Expo for Women – THANK YOU!

On Saturday, August 9th, Majic 95.5, Mix 94.7, and Talk Radio 1370am partnered up with Scott & White Health Plan to bring the women of Central Texas a full day of everything women; an early morning 5k benefitting the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition, and a full day Expo at the Palmer Events center showcasing products and services from hundreds of vendors catering to women. You all came in droves to see Jackie Warner, host of Bravo TV’s Work Out, not to mention Brad Womack from ABC’s The Bachelor, who was certainly peppered with questions about DeAnna! From all of us at balanceaustin.com, thank you so much for joining us, we’ll look forward to seeing you next year. Check out the new www.balanceaustin.com for a recap of photos and information regarding the event.

Balance 5k benefitting the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition – DOUBLE THANK YOU!!

Without a doubt, we were amazed at the turnout and support for this first time event benefitting the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition. Thanks to you and the generous support of Scott & White Health Plan, we raised thousands of dollars for the N.O.C.C. and will look to replicate the effort in 2009. Check here for photos of the Balance 5k.

Saving for the Future

Does your pocket book feel just a little lighter after the back-to-school spending frenzy?  Between the uniforms, school supplies, designer jeans and athletic shoes, parents across the country are feeling a collective sigh of relief that the spending can come to a slow crawl.  Now is a great time to begin thinking about the years to come.  Why not take this month to begin looking at how your family is balancing everyday expenses while trying to save for the future.  September is College Saving Month and we have found a variety of resources to begin your family on the path to savings!

According to the College Board, the average cost for tuition and fees at four-year public institutions has increased nearly 51% over the last 10 years (after adjusting for inflation), and these costs will almost certainly continue to rise. Saving for college can help with the increasing cost of a college education and help you be financially prepared when your children are ready for college.  Remember, no matter how much you save, even a little can make a difference.

Texas 529 Plan – A 529 plan is a tax-advantaged investment plan designed to encourage saving for the future higher education expenses.  All withdrawals from 529 plans for qualified education expenses will remain free from federal income tax! Texas has three 529 plans that parents/guardians can choose from.  Click here to learn more and compare to find the plan that best matches your family’s savings goals. 

National Women’s Health & Fitness Day

How are you staying fit?  Are you staying fit?  Many of you are in the process of getting yourself and your family in a fall routine.  Don’t you tell yourself each year that this is the year I’m going to get moving?  Why not now?  It only takes 30 minutes.  The folks at Scott & White Health Plan have put together a resourceful list of how to begin a workout and finding the right workout for you. 

Beginning a Work Out – click here.
Finding the Right Work Out – click here.

Wednesday, September 24th marks National Women’s Health & Fitness Day.  Austin is fitness lover’s dream!  Between the hike and bike trail, the multitude of personal park boot camps and the beautiful streets that make up our neighborhoods, there is no reason to become a couch potato this season! 

Mix 94.7’s own Bridget Taylor is taking the challenge with her Balance Buddies.  Paul Carozza, owner of Runtex, has helped her put together a program that is going to be incredibly beneficial to women of all ages.  And best of all  it’s free!  One day a week, Thursday mornings from 9:30am to 11am on Auditorium Shores.  Click here for more information on Bridget’s Balance Buddies! 

Prostate Cancer Awareness Week

Prostate cancer affects millions of men, with one in six being diagnosed with the disease during his life. But, thanks to early detection and sophisticated therapy, only one in 35 will die from it. Awareness of prostate cancer has risen dramatically in the last decade, and more than ever before, men are taking steps to detect the disease. September 15th - 21st is Prostate Cancer Awareness Week and because of this we are highlighting a site that will help the men in your life aware of the screening options and health factors associated with the disease.

The www.fightprostatecancer.org website is a nationally recognized site aimed at education, awareness, prevention and treatment options. For more information, click here.

Sunday Morning Balance Breakfast Hour

Sunday mornings at 8am on Majic 95.5 have become the home of the Sunday Morning Balance Breakfast music feature, and it continues to generate playlists, from you, our loyal balance audience – thanks for sending them in!  In August, special thanks to Maribeth Vogelman for programming the August 17th edition.  For your efforts, Maribeth, we're going to send you a Balance recyclable grocery bag loaded with goodies, including a summer first aid kit!

If you have a playlist that sets your tone every Sunday morning, click here and submit five songs.  This is your chance to program a radio station, even if it’s only 15 minutes!  The next Sunday Morning Balance Breakfast Hour will be at 8am on September 21st on Majic 95.5.

Balance Favorites

This month, as kids across the country begin to lay the groundwork for book reports, research papers, class presentations and more, there is no better time to sign your child up for a library card.  While we do live in the information age, there is no substitute for taking your child to the library for the first time. 

The Internet provides access to many wonderful resources, all just a few clicks away. So why would we still need the library?  Think of the Internet not as a substitute for the library, but as an additional tool.  As your children begin their research for a myriad of projects, keep in mind the following:

Library Pros:

• Uses universal cataloging systems that classify and organize all resources
• Houses professional books, newspapers, magazines, and other resources that have been edited and reviewed prior to their publication
• Provides free access to journals, magazines, newspapers, encyclopedias, and other print reference works
• Often has archived materials—newspapers and magazines—that date back many years
• Offers a free Internet connection and other electronic resources, such as reference CD-ROMs

Internet Cons:

• Has no system that catalogs and organizes all resources
• Anyone with an Internet connection can publish a Web site
• Reliability of information is not guaranteed
• Archived materials might only date back several years
• Some electronic resources are only available through a subscription

Balance Favorites, Part II

Every so often we come across a book that we think could help our readers create some balance in their lives.  In this case, we recommend the book Some Assembly Required: A Networking Guide for Women.  The basic premise of the book ‘is to initiate discussions that help women understand and embrace their networking differences.’ This is a great book on networking and can help you achieve balance on a number of different levels, whether in your personal or professional life.  If you sign up for our database at www.balanceaustin.com, then drop us a line as to how you could use some networking help, we’d be happy to forward you a signed copy of the book while they last!   

Featured Health Tip

Back to School can be a stressful time, but you can learn to manage stress and lead happier, healthier lives.  Here are some tips to help you keep stress at bay.

• Keep a positive attitude.
• Accept that there are events that you cannot control.
• Be assertive instead of aggressive. Assert your feelings, opinions, or beliefs instead of becoming angry, defensive, or passive.
• Learn and practice relaxation techniques; try meditation, yoga, or tai-chi.
• Exercise regularly. Your body can fight stress better when it is fit.
• Eat healthy, well-balanced meals.
• Learn to manage your time more effectively.
• Set limits appropriately and say no to requests that would create excessive stress in your life.
• Make time for hobbies and interests.
• Get enough rest and sleep. Your body needs time to recover from stressful events.
• Don't rely on alcohol, drugs, or compulsive behaviors to reduce stress.
• Seek out social support. Spend enough time with those you love.
• Seek treatment with a psychologist or other mental health professional trained in stress management or biofeedback techniques to learn more healthy ways of dealing with the stress in your life.

From all of us at Scott & White Health Plan, we hope your kids enjoy a healthy and productive school year.

Scott & White Health Plan.  We’re Texas friendly.

This Month’s Featured Podcast

Monica F. Alas is the Texas Regional Community Manager for Lululemon Athletica, a yoga-inspired athletic apparel company. Over the past year, she has collaborated with the seven stores located in Texas to plan community events, in-store yoga and fitness classes, and programs that touch, move and inspire guests to elevate their lives and the world.  Her previous marketing and advertising experience was gained working in Corporate Marketing for AT&T for seven years after completing her B.S. in Advertising at the University of Texas at Austin.

Monica enjoys finding peace and balance through running, biking, yoga and spending time with her husband and their miniature dachshund. The first addition to the Alas family is expected to arrive in early January.  Click here to listen to Monica’s podcast.

Balance Event's This Month

This month, the Balance street team will be out and about with inspiring new Balance goodies including our Go Green Balance Canvas Shopping Bag and more!

• September 11th & 25th - Cool River Ladies Night 6:30pm-8:30pm
• September 20th & 21st - Pecan Street Festival

Feedback

From everyone at balanceaustin.com, thank you for your support! Help us grow this community by providing feedback on how to improve the website content or if you have stories or tips to share.