Author: madisonsnows

Who Needs More Sleep?

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Sleep. Nice healthy sleep. If you’re like me, you could use more of it! According to the CDC – the Centers for Disease Control – 35% of US adults aren’t getting enough! The recommended amount of sleep per night is 7-8 hours. What happens to our bodies when we don’t get that recommended amount? I know with finals coming up, this might be good to know in the event that you find yourself awake at night, stressing over your next exam.

  1. You get sick! Losing sleep can target your body’s ability to fight off illnesses. sick
  2. Your heart pays. Getting too little sleep (less than 5 hours) and getting too much (more than 9 hours) have been shown to have a negative impact on heart health. Your chances of developing coronary heart disease or having a stroke are greatly increased with less sleep.
  3. Risk for cancer increases. Too little sleep is welcoming to different types of cancers such as breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and also prostate cancer.
  4. You forget stuff and can’t think properly. Even missing just one night of sleep can mess with your cognitive function. Not only can it damage your thinking, it can also make your memory impaired as well. In other words, we need adequate sleep to lock in new information and commit it to memory.
  5. You pack on the pounds! Research shows that people who don’t get enough sleep are at a larger risk for obesity.
  6. Your appearance suffers. If all of these effects don’t do it and make you want to change for the better, then perhaps this one will! Having not enough sleep can cause premature wrinkles and dark circles. It can also cause uneven skin tone.

So, with all of this information, you must be ready and willing to make a change. How – do you ask? Here is a list of things you can do to get more sleep, in case you’re having trouble.

  1. Avoid caffeine at night time and also limit yourself during the day. Caffeine is only used to help people stay awake, therefore, if consumed at night, it’ll only worsen your ability to fall asleep at a decent time.
  2. No alcohol before bed! Yes, alcohol is a downer. However, it also keeps your mind going in an opposite direction as opposed to winding down before bed.
  3. Don’t sleep in on the weekends or when you have late class. Wake up close to the same time everyday so that your body and mind get used to the schedule.
  4. Try different decaf coffees or teas to help nurture yourself into sleeping. I know that when I drink something hot or warm at night, it instantly gives me all the warm and fuzzies and makes me feel comforted and ready for bed.
  5. Try working out during the day to wear yourself out! Being tired is half the battle, after all 🙂
  6. Put books and homework away at least 30 minutes before bedtime. When you’re stuck thinking about tomorrow’s exam that’s in store, it’s probably extremely hard to get sleepy!
  7. Listen to a meditation video on Youtube! Just go to Youtube.com and type in “meditation video” in the search bar, press play, close your eyes, and do what they say. You’ll be relaxed in no time!

 

Now that you have these tools, you should be good to go and able to catch up on your z’s! Good luck!

Making the Change to Clean Eating

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clean eatingEveryone wants to feel good; that’s no surprise. What if your fatigue and sub-par moods are being caused by the food you’re eating? Have you ever thought of the grease and fats from fast food being the cause of your discomfort? If so, I’m here to help.

Clean eating is defined as eating whole foods or “real foods” – those that are un- or minimally processed, refined, and handled, making them as close to their natural form as possible. This is important to know so that you can base your diet around clean foods. For example, instead of going to Subway to get a turkey sub with turkey that’s been processed with salt and other unnatural flavors, consider making your own sub at home from a turkey you made in the oven. It costs sway less and its super good for you!

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Other ways you can make the transition are as follows; when you’re grocery shopping, stock up on fruits and vegetables! When it comes to eating them, most of us aren’t getting enough. fruits and veggies

Another way to eat clean is to eat whole grains. The cleanest whole grains are those that have been touched the least by processing. Think whole grains that look most like their just-harvested state- quinoa, wild rice, oats,… just to name a few. If you opt for cereal, look at the ingredients list! Whole grains should be the first on the list. When you swap out refined carbs (like white pasta, sugar, and white bread) for whole grains, you’ll get more fiber, anti-oxidants, and anti inflammatory phytonutrients.

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Eating less meat can help your diet as well! Al the fat that’s in meat is NOT good for you and can really take a toll on your heart. Instead of getting your protein from meat, try beans, yogurt, and plant based proteins instead.

Watch out for processed foods! I’ll be the first to admit that my happiness can be found in a box of au-gratin potatoes, but I feel so guilty afterwards! All the sodium and powders they use to make it sustainable for storing for long periods of time just make it not worth putting into my body.

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So there you have it folks! IF you’re concerned about how your next 50 years are going to go, take this advice, bite the bullet, and change your habits! I’ll be doing it right along with you, so this will be exciting. Good luck!

Horror Films to Watch on Halloween

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So, everyone knows you’re supposed to watch horror films on Halloween. That’s no secret! Have you gotten your dose of spooky in for the season yet? If not, check out this list of my favorite horror films to watch.

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Saw – These movies are so creepy!! The main character, Jigsaw, puts people into ridiculous situations that they can either get out of, or die trying.

It – We all know about the creepy clown. You won’t want to go near one for quite some time after this.

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Poltergeist – This movie is creepy, but not gory or bloody. Thank goodness – But don’t look into the light!

The Cabin in the Woods

The Devils Rejects – Not particularly spooky but there’s some killing and crime being done.

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Trick r Treat – Always check your candy!

The Amityville Horror

The Ring

Hokus Pocus – Those witches can’t get me! Everyone remembers this oldie but goodie!

Come one, come all! Housing Survey!

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housing batavia

Hey y’all! It’s time to participate in something. Let your voice be heard in this online survey. Basically, it’s a survey given by Genesee County and they’re trying to decide what type of housing and additions to add to Batavia!

If you or someone you know would like to participate in helping the town of Batavia develop and grow, please fill out this short 11 answer questionnaire given in the link below. It has to be in by the 17th of November.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XZBVSXP

Thanks and have a great day!

How to Travel on a Budget

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Everyone wants to get out and about every now and then. There’s nothing wrong with that! Somehow, getting out of your humble home to travel and experience new things makes you feel more at home when you finally get back. Stronger social skills, feeling more at peace, and becoming more creative are all linked to people who travel. With that being said, if you have the time, do it! Go see some stuff and come back feeling fresh and rejuvenated.

If money is an issue, take my blog as a survival guide to traveling on a budget. Lodging, food, and transportation can all be calculated to make an affordable trip.

First – Place to stay…

Try www.airbnb.com to find someone who is renting out their home for the duration of your trip! It’s definitely better than staying in a hotel and cheaper too! Since it’s someone’s home, you’ll be able to use their kitchen! – which goes into my next topic.

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Food – what to eat and how

Since you’re getting to live in a home you found on Airbnb, try cooking most nights! To learn how to cook like the people of the place you’re visiting, consider taking a local cooking class to buff up your skills.

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Transportation

This is a little tricky. If you’re in the US, try either renting a car, bringing your own, or taking the public transit! When I lived in Vegas, I didn’t have a car, so I used the bus. It was only $5 to ride all day! Many cities have this option, you just have to do a little research.

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Shopping

When you’re out on the town shopping, I suggest buying goods from stores that you don’t have back home. The point of traveling is to see new places, so the material you accumulate should reflect the uniqueness of the place you visited.

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If you’re ready to get out and about, you should! There’s no reason you can’t do something like travel. Our planet is home to all of us, so we should feel like we can visit it whenever we want!

Anyone like art?? Fugue State – Tricia Butski

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Hey there! So, does anyone like art? Just FYI, there’s a fab art display at the Rosalie “Roz” Steiner Art Gallery right now until November 2nd, 2017. The art is both “alluring and grotesque” – perfect for this spooky Halloween season.

 

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You may or may not know, but this exhibit can be viewed Monday – Friday from 10am til 2 pm. The drawings are large scale and done in charcoal. It’s called Fugue State by Tricia Butski and she uses elements of distortion and fragmentation to take on images of human beings.

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If you haven’t checked it out yet, I thoroughly suggest you do so as soon as possible. You’re absolutely in for a treat… No tricks here! – unless they’re up this artist’s sleeve 🙂

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The Benefits of Taking Walks

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If you’ve ever felt cramped from being inside too long, I feel your pain. Going outside is so relaxing and it’s a good way to take a break from everyday duties of studying and taking care of our responsibilities. I mean, lets face it! We all need to get out more instead of being under the same old fluorescent lighting we find ourselves in everyday. Although going on walks outside is a good way to stretch our bodies and minds, there are also a ton of other benefits to it!

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Just walking for 30 minutes everyday can strengthen the cardiovascular system and prevent diseases. Walking greatly reduces the risk of stroke, as well. This exercise is ideal for lowering blood pressure, it improves blood circulation (so no more pesky cold feet), it reduces bad cholesterol, and helps increase good cholesterol.

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Don’t just dismiss this as health mumbo jumbo! There are real benefits to going on walks everyday. Another good benefit is that your mood will improve. Research shows that regular walking modifies your nervous system so much that you’ll experience a decrease in anger and hostility.

Anyone worried about losing weight? This may seem obvious, but doing a little cardio (something like WALKING 🙂 or running) can help those jeans to fit a little better!

I know it seems a little redundant, however, it’s time go get some walking shoes and start taking care of the only body you have. Why don’t you go do it in our new gym? That place is AWESOME! They have treadmills that look out over the campus and state of the art equipment ready for you to get some use out of. Best thing is that it’s free!

Exciting new Public Speaking workshop on Wednesdays!

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Do you or someone you know have trouble speaking in front of an audience? I know I do! We are now in luck! Come get over your public speaking anxiety in the Student Success Center (G200) and finally get a handle on presenting. 

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What to bring :

  • Bring your presentations/notes in electronic or paper based projects.

 

What to expect :

  • Expect to share your presentation as a group or talk one-on-one.
  • Get free and friendly feedback
  • Polish your public speaking, interview skills, “elevator speeches”, and project presentations
  • No sign ups needed!
  • Open dialogue format

 

DSC_8402[1]When :

  • Wednesdays (3-5PM)
  • October 18, 25
  • November 8, 22, 29

 

 

 

 

If you have further questions please feel free to contact the lady in charge. 

  • Kate Trombley
  • Email: kbtrombley@genesee.edu
  • Phone: 585-343-0055 ext 6285

 

With this workshop available, there’s no reason you should have trouble presenting in front of your class. Take advantage of the resources given to you and watch your own garden begin to flourish!

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Nutrition 101: Fruit smoothies

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It’s no secret that fruits and veggies are good for your overall health. Packed with nutrients and flavor, they add a bold freshness to our lives that is a feeling that is hard to mimic. Since we oftentimes look past the abundance of variety, we are stuck eating the same Granny Smith apples or naval oranges all the time! Just like we enjoy different types of music, our bodies enjoy different types of food. To make this a tad bit simple, I’ve constructed this blog to be about smoothies to get you through Summer break.

Smoothies are delicious, colorful, and easy to make. You’d be surprised about the enormous variation of different foods that can go into a smoothie. Yogurt, seeds and nuts are just a few of the optional ingredients to mix in with some fresh or frozen fruits and/or veggies.fruit-veg-rainbow

When making a smoothie, it’s a good idea to pack it full of nutritious ingredients. To make your smoothies, you’ll need a blender. Hamilton Beach makes a good one! It’s just the right size; not too big, and small enough to keep out on your counter for impromptu smoothie nights!blender

When choosing your ingredients, do it in parts. Juice, thickener, fruit, extras. Choosing your juice shouldn’t be too difficult. Just choose one you like and buy a bottle of it to keep in the fridge. I like pomegranate juice because I like the antioxidants. Plus, it gives a nice flavor to the smoothie…almost like cranberry juice. Another juice I like a lot is aloe vera juice. It aids your digestive system… which is good for this because fruit has pulp that is hard for your body to break down. I feel like I’m doing my body a favor. Coconut milk or water is good to as well as orange, apple and pineapple.

greek-yogurt-should-you-be-eating-full-fat-yogurtA thickener is important to have in your smoothie too. It adds a heavier texture than would be if you had not used it. Greek yogurt is my favorite. It also provides a good amount of protein to make you feel full. If you don’t like the flavor of yogurt, you really won’t even be able to tell it’s in there. The fruit masks the flavor. If you’re still reluctant, try ricotta cheese! Bananas are also really good, as well as peanut butter.

Fruit is the star when it comes to making a great smoothie. Choose what you like and don’t be afraid to get creative! Whatever is in season is perfect. Peaches, mangos, blueberries and strawberries are all good… you name it! Get colorful and see what tastes good together.

980xNuts and seeds are considered to be extras. As well as different oils and powders. Even supplements! Sunflower and pumpkin seeds grind up nicely when mixed with everything else and the texture is nice too. A little crunchy, so just add a small handful. Chia seeds are packed with nutrients and don’t really have a taste. They expand in liquid though… So your small handful will turn into a bigger handful when added to the smoothie. Try putting some oils into your smoothies as well. Coconut and avocado oils are great. So are flax seeds or just the oil!

Below are some recipes to get you started:

Strawberry Banana Smoothiestrawberry banana

½ C strawberries

1 Banana

½ C Pomegranate juice

½ C Aloe juice

1 C Greek yogurt, plain or vanilla

1 Tbsp chia seeds

Directions:

Blend until smooth.

 

Mango Blueberry smoothieblueberries-and-mangoes

1 mango

½ C blueberries

½ C Orange juice

½ C coconut water

1 C Greek yogurt

1 Tbsp avocado/coconut oil

 

 

Pineapple Strawberry Grapefruit smoothie

1 C pineapple

½ C strawberries

½ of a grapefruit

½ C pineapple juice

½ C coconut milk

Small handful of unsalted sunflower seeds

Directions:

Blend until smooth.

 

So everybody, stay on track this Summer and cool down with a fruit smoothie! You ‘ll wish you had started this sooner, but that’s okay. Better late than never! J

Come be GCC’s Top Chef!

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top chef logoWhat: GCC Top Chef

When: April 24, 2017

Where: The Root at College Village

If you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen! This event is sizzling with flavor to get us ready for the end of semester. On Monday, April 24th, there will be a Top Chef competition between GCC Alumni and current students where the top 3 winning teams will earn bragging rights and $20 added to their dining account. Stop by the Root at College Village for your chance to judge the six teams’ hard work as they strive to take home the victory. Anybody can be a judge. In fact, a goal for this event is to have Alumni attend as well as current students. Becoming a judge takes a little extra effort, but it’s not something you want to miss out on! To be come a judge, all you need to do is register with Purple Briefcase.Purple-Briefcase

How to Sign-up with Purple Briefcase:

  • Go to genesee.edu/career
  • Click on the Purple Briefcase banner
  • Select New Student (this includes Alumni, Community members and faculty/staff)
  • Fill out fields and click Submit

If you find yourself with any questions, stop by the Career Services room at B201. The staff over there is very friendly and will surely guide you to the right place.

Good luck, and mmm! – I’m getting hungry!chef hat 1