Do you know what consignment is all about and why Denton-area families are embracing the concept with unabashed enthusiasm? How are so many area parents spending less to raise their families and making more on their growing children than ever before? How are many families decorating their homes and buying quality furniture?  Consigning your families’ outgrown, no longer needed items may be the answer to finding cash … all from a good sweep through your closets and garage.

“Consignment is the act of consigning, which is placing an item in the hand of another, but retaining ownership until the goods are sold.” ~Wikipedia.  In short, consignors (sellers) prepare and tag outgrown and unused, even new, items at home and then drop them off at a central location in the community to be sold.  Consignment events are typically held twice each year to accommodate warm and cool weather clothes and equipment.  Consignment stores have a year-round storefront.  Consignment events have the advantage of the “flash” inherent in a special event and bring in thousands of shoppers to peruse your items in a single week. Consignors typically receive 65%-70% on each of their sold items.  Consignment stores offer people a year-round presence for those “need now” items and for those who want to cash in their items quickly.  Consignors typically receive 45%-50% for their items.

Just Between Friends offers Denton County a twice annual community consignment sales event to recoup a family’s investment in children’s clothes, toys, books, videos, furniture, and much more, including maternity and nursery items.  Anyone can participate as a consignor, shopper, and/or volunteer by registering online at denton.JBFSale.com.

“Today’s shopper is savvy and knowledgeable of where and when to shop for the best bargains on the things they want and need,” said Laura Valerius, event coordinator for the JBF sales event in Denton. “Consignment is quickly becoming the method of choice for individuals of all income levels to generate cash, particularly in these tough economic times.”

Families want a fair return on their investment in quality, name brand items.  Boutique brands, Gymboree and Little Tikes may cost more than other brands, but smart shoppers know they will find excellent value for their dollar when they shop consignment. In fact, local moms are able to afford boutique and department store quality, but pay only discount store prices (up to 90% off retail).  Don’t have time to tag your items for a consignment sales event? Many events offer a stress-free tagging option for busy parents. With a little spring cleaning, you too can find cash in your closets!

How do I know I have picked the right installer for my home improvement project?

As an Energy Expert, I am often asked what to look for when a homeowner is about to start a project. My standard answer: do your homework.

With so many resources readily available for consumers, learning the basics about the improvements you are going to do is easier than ever. No matter the project, you can read about the basics of different options for your home. Even if you don’t understand everything you read, it will give you a base of knowledge to interact with the contractor.  It will also help you to choose the right contractor for your project.

Once you know which type of contractor your project requires, make appointments with at least three contractors to get quotes. Observe how each approaches your project and their general attitude toward doing the work needed.  A good, caring contractor will take the time to explain what they can do, what they cannot do, and why. They will take their time to answer your questions and not try to rush you. Before you make the final decision on whom to use for your project, do an online search for any customer complaints and check with the Better Business Bureau. You may also ask for references from prior customers to ensure that you are choosing the right contractor.

It is important to feel comfortable with your decision. This means that you may pay a little more to get the level of service your project requires. Professionalism is very important. You don’t  want to pay less and end up not being satisfied with the finished product.

Glance at any of the magazine stands and you will know that we are obsessed with losing weight, cutting cardiac risks and improving our odds against cancer. All of these are duly noted as needed focus but one more area needs to be added – Brain Health.

The brain always has been mysterious and too easy to discount as if little should be done to keep it sharp or to even reduce its risk of injury and disease. Too many of us think it’s a matter of our genes or happenstance as to what occurs with memory loss, brain tumors, strokes and other disorders of the brain.  While there may be family predispositions, this doesn’t diminish the need to take steps to improve health and reduce risk.

Keith L. Black, M.D., chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center says Americans can do more to keep their minds sharp and brains healthy. His suggestions include: the simple and obvious (wear a helmet for sports); the simple and less obvious (eat certain foods to properly fuel the brain); and the simple and more obscure.

The “simple” theme can be worked into our everyday lives. Examples include:

Find a puzzle and solve it
The brain appears to respond to “exercise” challenges that help keep it nimble. Whether games and puzzles help delay onset of dementia is the subject of much research and debate. But people who keep busy with activities they enjoy knitting, learning languages, reading seem to have less memory impairment in later years. Hard scientific evidence may yet come; keeping your mind active through “play” and activity certainly won’t hurt in the meantime.

Eat a nutrient-rich diet
Deficiencies in certain vitamins have been shown to decrease memory skills. B vitamins appear to be key for concentration and memory.

Avoid sugar spikes
Your brain cells need a steady supply of glucose (sugar) for fuel; the sugar from simple carbohydrates causes a spike and rapid decline in blood sugar levels. Instead of fast foods and simple sugars, choose fruits, whole grains and vegetables along with a high-quality protein to keep brain cells evenly fueled for a greater time.

Don’t jump on every food fad
No single miracle food will prevent or reverse brain disorders. There appear to be many health benefits in extracts of fruits and vegetables, particularly berries. The best long-term brain diet includes a variety of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, seeds and foods containing omega-3 fatty acids.

Drink in moderation
Over time, too much of an OK thing, like alcohol consumption, can shrink brain mass and disrupt signaling chemicals in the brain, reducing memory and cognitive functions.

Stop smoking
Some studies find a link between cigarette smoking and brain cell damage, so to be on the safe side, don’t smoke. Marijuana use, meantime, has been linked to cognitive impairment and memory deficits; it’s still hotly debated whether these changes become permanent.

Cell Phones?
Yes we agree that there is no specific evidence to indicate a link in brain tumors but why wait for evidence when you can play it safe. Take a cautious approach: Keep your cell phone away from your head, using the speaker function or a wired headset instead.

Information provided by Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

by Carli Trest

The daylight hours are starting to creep just a bit longer, the weather is warming up and the natural yearn for the outdoors is starting to be felt.  There are fun activities to take part in as the weather changes, activities that burn calories and tone up our muscles. Cycling, hiking, running, tennis, golf, basketball, softball, volleyball, canoeing…the list is endless!

But many of us fall into a rut, especially during the long winter months. We often find ourselves a bit afraid to try something new and get stuck doing the same old thing.  Way too many of us will not stick to the typical exercise regiment no matter how sincere our intent is in the beginning.

One thing we do know is that variety is essential to healthy movement. So perhaps this Spring we can change the pattern and choose movement and activity as a way of life, not a life chore.  If you are one of the many people who find you are too busy to stick to a “gym routine,” maybe you need to start a “Me Routine.”  With the objective of simply increasing your activity level, keep in mind that doing that does not totally have to include tenuous lengthy blocks of time for those activities.  Why not plan to burn those calories with small spurts of activities all day long?  Maybe we could change our key to finding activities for our lives that we enjoy so that we’ll keep moving.

When you plan that summer vacation, make sure to add walking tours and bike tours to the agenda.  It will not only get you a little burst of exercise, you’ll see the area from a much better viewpoint than a car or bus would provide.  Also, think about including National Parks in your venue, they always provide open space, a variety of terrain and breathtaking scenery.

Walk the dog!  Remember that big brown lump of fur lying near the door?  He will love it and the time spent will be good for both of you. You may just find you look forward to the mind resting, body invigorating daily experience as much as old Fido.

Park farther away from the grocery store door, the mall and in the church lot. Always, always, take the stairs.  Whether you’re at work, visiting a doctors building or stopping by the local courthouse, use the stairs.

The fact is movement and activity is contagious. The more you do it, the easier it becomes, and the more you will seek. Embrace the change of seasons to find more ways to fit activity in your life and get your own Me Routine going.

Muenster GermanFest

Friday – Sunday,  April 27th thru 29th
Wilkommen (Welcome) to the 37th annual Germanfest, sponsored by the Muenster Chamber of Commerce. This community of common heritage and faith, throws one of the biggest parties in Texas. This three-day festival attracts thousands to mouthwatering German sausage, scrumptious apple strudel, hearty cheeses and homemade bread, cakes and pies. So, come to Muenster and let us be your host for food, fun and frolic. Be sure to bring a “guten apetit.”

Located on U.S. Highway 82, 14 miles west of I-35, about 70 miles north of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, Muenster is waiting to welcome you to their community and entertain you at Germanfest.  For more info, visit germanfest.net.

Fest Hours are Friday noon – midnight, Saturday 10:00 am – midnight, and Sunday 10:00 am – 8:00 pm. The cost is $6.00 for Friday and Sunday and $10.00 for Saturday.

Argyle Bluegrass Festival

March 2nd and 3rd
Cross Timbers Community Church, 1119 HWY 377 S, in Argyle
Single Day Reserved and Single Day General Admission Tickets are on sale, and may be purchased online 24/7 or by phone Monday – Friday from 10 am- 5 pm.

Some of this year’s performers include:
Stetson and Cia, Monroeville, Blue Highway, Lou Reid and Carolina, The Gibson Brothers, The Boxcars, and The Grascals.

For more info and performance lineup, visit argylebluegrassfestival.com

The 27th Annual Texas Storytelling Festival

March 8th thru 11th
Denton Civic Center, 321 E. McKinney Street, in Denton
Some of the storytellers being highlighted include:  Patrick Ball, Mary Ann Blue, Kevin Kling and Kim Lehman. Dozen of helpful workshops, master classes, family concert, youth activities, Story Swap lunch on Friday and Saturday, and Talespinner Dinner on Saturday night.

For more info, visit  tejasstorytelling.com/festival.

Easter Eggstravaganza

April 7th at 9:30 am
Denton Civic Center, 321 E. McKinney St. in Denton
The cost is FREE for ages toddler to 5 years old.  The fun begins in the Civic Center with a bounce house and crafts. Then at 10 am, participants will be entertained by a free magic show. During the event, we will sell low-priced concessions.

Following the magic show, participants will be led to Quakertown Park for a free egg hunt. The park will be divided by age groups, and signs will guide participants to the designated areas. Prior to the egg hunt, the designated areas will be closed for set-up.

For more information, call 940-349-PARK.

Hairdressers are such fortunate people.  Every work day we are greeted by clients that want to come
see us.  They choose to come spend their time in our chairs so we can make them look their best.
A great number of these clients become our friends.  We talk about school, life, children, marriage,
divorce, you name it we hear it.  We often laugh with our clients and have even cried with them.
What rewarding job we have!  A recent client visited our salon for the first time.  When she left she had
tears in her eyes and proclaimed she felt so beautiful, “like a new person inside and out.” We have the
ability to transform someone’s look as well as lift their spirit.  That feeling to a hairdresser is the ultimate
compliment.   It didn’t take long for that story to spread across the salon and remind each hairdresser
exactly why we come to work each day.  One idea lead to another as we talked about the feeling of
giving someone a transformation and a the seed of giving back was planted.  To keep the spirit of
giving alive, HeadRush the Salon will hold a contest for 10 hair makeovers.  Anyone can write
to our salon or private message us on facebook and nominate someone who is deserving of a
makover during the month of January.  Each of our stylists will choose one nominee and give
them a hair makeover on February 6, 2012 from 6 pm to 9 pm.  It will be a night dedicated solely
to giving back and lifting spirits.

Denton, we ask you to nominate someone deserving of a complimentary makeover.  Mail us or
facebook private message us a 200 word or less summary of why they deserve the makeover along
with a picture of the nominee. Please include your name, address and phone number and the same
information of the nominee.   This contest is open to anyone 18 or over and does not have to be a
client of our salon. The winning names will be posted on our facebook HeadRush the Salon on
February 1, 2012 and each winner will be contacted by their stylist that same day.  Thank you Denton,
for making our jobs so much fun and allowing us to keep giving even after the holiday season is over!