Well-Equipped - Green Tip

Before the cold weather hits, take stock of your wooly socks. Locate your hats, mittens, gloves and sweaters. Wash anything that didn't get cleaned before it was put away. Inspect your boots so you know all is in order.

Being well-equipped and knowing what you already have on hand will help you save from buying any unnecessary items this winter season.

This is also a great time to organize an office-wide holiday drive for coats and blankets for the less fortunate while giving co-workers an opportunity to clean out closets and preventing items from going to the landfill. - CT

Can It Delicious– Green Tip

What's sweet...spiced...absolutely delicious, and perfect for this time of year? Why Apple Butter of course! With so many ways you can eat it...on fresh baked bread or toast, braised meats and/or vegetables...it's perfect served warm or cold. Consider preserving some of the bounty of your harvest this fall. Whether you grew it or someone else did you can still eat local during the cooler months by canning it to preserve your foods.

Proper canning requires carefully selecting and washing fresh foods. Make sure you use the appropriate processing jars and self-sealing lids as growth of undesirable microorganisms-bacteria, molds and yeasts can spoil the food. Use good vacuums tight seals to keep liquids in and air out.

Make sure you keep your canned foods stored in a cool, dry place to retain optimum eating quality. Properly canned food can be retained for a least 1 year, but canned food stored in a warm place or indirect sunlight may lose some of its eating quality in just a few weeks or months, depending on the temperature. Dampness can also corrode cans or metal lids to spoil foods.

Check out The National Center for Home Food Preservation for more tips and recipes. The Center offers a wide source of research-based recommendations for most methods of home food preservation addressing food processing and food safety concerns.- CT

Once Is Not Enough

Next month is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM). Since the program began in 1985, mammography rates have more than doubled for women age 50 and older and breast cancer deaths have declined.

This is exciting progress, but there are still women who do not take advantage of early detection at all and others who do not get screening mammograms and clinical breast exams at regular intervals.

-Women age 65 and older are less likely to get mammograms than younger women, even though breast cancer risk increases with age.

-Hispanic women have fewer mammograms than Caucasian women and African American women.

-Women below poverty level are less likely than women at higher incomes to have had a mammogram within the past two years.

-Mammography use has increased for all groups except American Indians and Alaska Natives.

“If all women age 40 and older took advantage of early detection methods – mammography plus clinical breast exam – breast cancer death rates would drop much further, up to 30 percent”.

“The key to mammography screening is that it be done routinely – once is not enough.” Schedule your appointment today with your healthcare provider!

For more information about NBCAM, please visit www.nbcam.org. For additional information, please call one of the following toll-free numbers: American Cancer Society, (800) 227-2345, National Cancer Institute (NCI), (800) 4-CANCER, Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization, (800) 221-2141.

The National Breast Cancer Awareness Month program is dedicated to increasing public knowledge about the importance of early detection of breast cancer. Fifteen national public service organizations, professional associations, and government agencies comprise the Board of Sponsors, who work together to ensure that the NBCAM message is heard by thousands of women and their families.

Show Your Support For Breast Cancer Research
During the months of September and October 2009, CT Jewelry Design.com will donate a portion of the proceeds from the sale of any sterling silver ribbon charm jewelry or accessories to the American Cancer Society.

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