Chelsea-Area Wellness Foundation

Winter Wonderland?

Written on January 9, 2012 at 11:45 am, by Amy Heydlauff

What a weekend – warm & sunny. Did you walk, ride your bike or play touch football in the yard over the weekend? Maybe you shot baskets in the driveway with the kids? It’s not even muddy so we can take advantage of places like Waterloo Recreation paths, Hudson Mills, the Lakeland trail, the new Grass Lake Township trails & other local trails. The forecast is for several more days of unseasonably happy weather.

On top warm days, the nights have been cold enough, without snow, so our lakes are making smooth ice. We may get a good skating season this year! New skates are sooo much more comfortable than the ones we all have in a closet somewhere. And, they are on sale through L.L. Bean (www.llbean.com). There used to be a skate exchange in Ann Arbor. Is it still there? Of course, you should wait until the ice is more than 4 inches deep. It’s too soon & too warm to take chances.

Enjoy. It’s Michigan so we know it’s temporary!

Our Gift To You

Written on December 14, 2011 at 3:00 pm, by Amy Heydlauff

Our gift to you is a 4, short sentence blog.
And we’re blogging just so we can use this picture!
Tell the kids this is Santa in the off season.
Healthy Holidays, everyone.

Billboards

Written on December 1, 2011 at 12:04 pm, by Amy Heydlauff

In December those of you in Grass Lake, Manchester, Stockbridge & Chelsea will see bright, colorful & easy to read billboards promoting 5H. Dexter will see their billboard in January.

The billboard says 5H; the brand (name, catchy logo, eye-catching graphic…) for comprehensive wellness plans being developed in your town. Your community’s ‘Wellness Coalition’ is developing the plan. They are the volunteers from your town who are doing the hard work of figuring out how to create a culture of wellness that allows everyone – not just the volunteers – to have opportunities to improve their health. They are serving the rest of us.

It’s never too late to join the Coalition in your town. They are doing great things & we’re excited to see their plans so we can begin funding the projects & programs. If you want more information call us or nose around our website. If you want to help, call us & we’ll get you connected (in a healthy way!). 734.433.4599.

956 and Counting

Written on November 28, 2011 at 5:13 pm, by Amy Heydlauff

Welcome!! Over the Thanksgiving weekend over 100 people joined us on facebook.

Woo-Whooo!

We’d like to think the desire to learn about our 5 healthy towns motivated you. We suspect it’s the lure of the random drawing for either the 1) 6 month membership to the Chelsea or Manchester Wellness Centers or 2) A winter sports package. The drawing occurs when we hit 1000 likers.

Whatever it is that brought you to us, we hope you’ll stay & learn about the 5H plan for your town (Click this link to find out more: www.5healthytowns.org).

In Chelsea, Dexter, Grass Lake, Manchester & Stockbridge there are community members planning a communitywide wellness plan with a goal of making our 5 healthy towns the healthiest in the Midwest. The 5H plan will offer everyone the opportunity to find a wellness related activity they care about. Really, who doesn’t want to be healthy?

It’s great to have you with us.

Attitude of Gratitude

Written on November 21, 2011 at 1:08 pm, by Amy Heydlauff

Most of us are not going to abandon Thanksgiving stuffing because it has too much fat. We won’t forgo the whipping cream with the only pumpkin pie we’ll eat all year.

Instead, here are a couple tidbits we hope will help you through the long Thanksgiving weekend.

1. Go for walks – every day of the long weekend. Short ones, long ones, but particularly walks with family members & friends. Let everyone know before you get together so they have the right shoes and outer wear.
2. Eat reasonably the rest of the weekend. Add lots of crunchy lettuce to that turkey sandwich and use a bit less mayonnaise.
3. Don’t indulge in guilt. Every now & then we can be hedonistic without the world coming to an end.
4. Focus on giving thanks. Being grateful is good for us, too.

Footloose

Written on November 14, 2011 at 2:33 pm, by Amy Heydlauff

Dancing is great exercise. And anyone can do it (really – anyone!). Many a parent has danced around the living room with a baby or toddler in their arms.

In the Winter 2011 Community Observer there were opportunities to engage in or learn all kinds of dances.

Ballroom dancing
Ice skating to the top 40s music
Contra dancing (traditional folk dancing – no partner required)
Polka Jam session
‘sassy’ dancing (includes a boa!)
Contra & square dancing for the whole family
Skate with Santa (not exactly dancing)

We’ll hang onto the Observer for a few weeks. If you want information on any of these opportunities & don’t have an Observer of your own, give us a call. 433.4599

Making the Best of It

Written on November 9, 2011 at 5:18 pm, by Amy Heydlauff

Making the Best of It

Winter is just around the corner. Sure, right now it’s a balmy 55 degrees, but the gray clouds are a sign of things to come.

Many of you may think I’m nuts, but I’m a winter person. I grew up in northern Michigan and get that flip-floppy, happy feeling in my stomach whenever I wake, pull back the curtains & see fresh snow.

The CWF is in cahoots with me in a quest to convert as many of you as possible to ‘move more’ status during our Michigan winter. As soon as we reach 1000 members on our facebook page, we’re going to do a random drawing of all our service-area facebook members for a winter give-away. The prize options are:

1. A 6 month membership at either the Chelsea or Manchester Wellness Center OR
2. A family winter sports package worth up to $1000 that will include snow shoes (up to 4 pair), boot cleats for safe winter walking & a sled for the kids.

Join us on facebook or send in a postcard – http://www.facebook.com/5healthytowns
Once we reach 1000 entries (likers + postcard submissions) we’ll do the drawing.

Everyone Talks About the Weather but No One Does Anything About It!

Written on September 22, 2011 at 10:00 am, by Amy Heydlauff

Everyone Talks About the Weather but No One Does Anything About It!

Imagine our chagrin as we watched the weather forecast for Sunday (the date of the Big 5H Party) change from 68 & sunny to 62 with a chance of rain.

We are undaunted!! Here’s why.

1. Much of the Party will be held inside Chelsea High School. The speakers (Joy from the Today Show, John from Fit by Nature & Mike from Andy’s Angels), the Healthy Chef competition, the kids games in the gym, all the Community Wellness Coalition & other booths… there’s too much to mention it all. It’s all inside.
2. It’s just a 30% chance of rain & who believes the weather man, anyway?
3. The Farmer’s Market vendors are well-prepared for all kinds of weather. They’re farmers, for heaven’s sake!
4. We’re from Michigan & so are you. If we let weather ruin our plans we wouldn’t do much of anything. Right?

No matter the weather, we hope you & yours will join us for the 5H Party. It’s this Sunday from noon until 4:00, 740 N. Freer Road. There’s something for everyone.

What Not to Wear

Written on September 12, 2011 at 3:25 pm, by Amy Heydlauff

Cocktail Dress – the only cocktails will be fresh Michigan cider and clear, refreshing water.
Sport coat, suit or tuxedo – if you join national fitness training expert, John Colver, you won’t want to risk pit stains.
Tight waist band – we’ll have fun, healthy snack options. Tight clothing may hamper taste testing.
Cute shoes with heals – in case you join the Ultimate Frisbee game or pinch hit for your town’s softball team, you sure don’t want to break a heel (or look silly).
‘Business Casual’ – you’ll be overdressed for this family friendly, relaxed and playful day.

Best bets for the 5H party on September 25th:
Athletic shoes
T & sweatshirts
Comfortable jeans or slacks
Baseball caps, pony tails or any other comfortable hair management system
Logo wear representing your school district or the Lions
Bike helmets (especially if you come by bike) – bring the family’s bikes if you can. There will be bike & helmet safety checks on site.
Pockets to stash recipe cards and other goodies you may pick up at the event

The party happens, rain or shine. We’re taking over the entire Chelsea High School campus so there’s plenty of room inside if the weather doesn’t cooperate.

Shoo Fly, Shoo

Written on August 23, 2011 at 1:59 pm, by Amy Heydlauff

There is no better time or place for preparing meals than August in Michigan. No better time or place in the entire world!
This week at the Farmer’s markets you have your pick of fresh blueberries, raspberries or peaches. There were even some apples.

Heirloom potatoes and summer squash from the tiny, cute petit pan to some as long as your arm (they are the ones to use for zucchini bread or cut length-wise, hollowed out & stuffed with something you can bake).

The tomatoes range from yellow to orange to red in shapes little, big, pear shaped & bumpy.

The corn on the cob comes in white & yellow & multi-colored.

There are purple & red & yellow & green peppers of every shape & level of heat.

Here’s a farmer’s market benefit I’ve enjoyed for over a decade. When you buy at the local farmer’s market you won’t have fruit flies!

Bon Appétit, everyone.