The Dana Point Turkey Trot is pleased to roll out a youth running program leading up to and in conjunction with this year’s Thanksgiving Day race! 

Let’s get our kids moving, motivated and ready for the America’s Turkey Trot ®.  For 34 years the Dana Point Turkey Trot has become a family tradition and the kids race is one of the highlights of the event.  This year we are adding a program for kids of all ages to take part in!  Each child that registers for the Junior Turkey Trotter program will receive a special training t-shirt at the kick-off party, the official race t-shirt and goodie bag on race day, and a special medal upon completion of the program. 

WHO:           Children ages 5 – 12

WHAT:        Junior Turkey Trotters Program, Kids’ Gobble Wobble at the Dana Point Turkey Trot

WHEN:        The program kicks off at the end of September and continues through 11/24/11 (race day)

WHERE:      Children will accumulate mileage on their own, through school or through organized sports practices, totaling 25.2 miles.  The final mile of the program will be run at the Kids’ Gobble Wobble, part of the Dana Point Turkey Trot, 11/24/11.  They’ll be accumulating a total of 26.2 miles – that’s a marathon!

WHY:            Because it’s fun…  Because it’s healthy…  Because there’s extra swag for the kids! The Dana Point Turkey Trot helps raise money for Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County.  For each dollar we give they can serve three meals!  Run knowing you are helping feed the hungry in Orange County.

HOW:             Register on line at www.turkeytrot.com.

• Registration will open for the Junior Turkey Trotter program in August and the cut-off date will be October 14, 2011. 
• Each participant will be responsible for charting their mileage on a special log created just for the Junior Turkey Trotter.  This log will need to be signed off by a parent, coach, and/or teacher
• In order to complete the program, each participant must accumulate 25.2 miles.  The final mile will be run at the Kids’ Gobble Wobble at the Dana Point Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day, 11/24/11.
• There will be a kick-off party at Vivos Fitness in Dana Point to welcome all the participants, hand out running logs, give running tips and training advice, pass out special Junior Turkey Trotter training t-shirts, and sign the all important waivers!
• Each participant will also receive the official Dana Point Turkey Trot t-shirt and goodie bag at packet pick-up. 
• All participants that complete the program will receive a special Junior Turkey Trotter medal. 
• Each participant that completes the program will be invited to a race day VIP hospitality at Vivos Fitness. 

 For more information about the Dana Point Turkey Trot, please visit www.turkeytrot.com.

For more information about Vivos Fitness, located at 24941 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, CA 92629, please visit www.vivosfitness.com or call 949.388.7000.

Need quick access to information about Orange County–all in one convenient location? Take a look at Orange County Resource Guide.

Signing up to run a 5K (or even a 10K) run is the perfect way to kick-start a fitness routine and/or shed those unwanted pounds. For many beginning runners, the initial training routine can seem daunting. However, there are a few tips to follow that will not only make training manageable, but also fun.

Many beginning runners chose to enter the race world by participating in a recreational run, such as a Thanksgiving Day race. If you sign up to run a Thanksgiving Day race, like the Dana Point Turkey Trot (www.turkeytrot.com), start your training program in September to ensure that you are fit and trim for the beginning of the holiday season!  By beginning with a structured and realistic training routine, you will begin to create a healthy and active lifestyle for yourself that you can carry through the holiday season and into the new year, continuing the hard work you put in for three months.

Here’s a list of five essential tips to get you hitting the pavement and ready for the starting line, healthy and injury free. 

1. Sign up for the race. I know, I know, you don’t want to sign up until you know how you are going to feel or what your plans might be or if you will even want to run, but don’t wait! Without making the commitment to yourself and registering for the race, it is too easy to give up if the going gets tough or procrastinate until it’s too late. There is no time like the present; sign up before you lace up! It will be the motivation you need to complete your goal.
2. Set a realistic goal.  It doesn’t matter how fast or slow you are to anyone but you. Set three goals per race: your big goal, your moderate goal and your minimum goal.  The big goal is the time that may not possible to attain, but the one you’re aiming for. The moderate goal is a time you know will require an all-out effort to achieve, but it can be done. The minimum goal is the time that you must hit.  For example, if my average pace is 8:30 on a typical training day, my 5K big goal may be 23 minutes (sub 7:30 pace), my moderate goal may be 24 minutes(sub 7:45 pace), and my minimum goal may be 25 minutes (about an 8:00 minute mile pace).
3. Create your program. 5K and 10K training plans are available online and can be obtained through a personal trainer, or located in fitness or running magazines.  There are many training plans to choose from, so the trick is to find one that is simple, easy to understand and works for your lifestyle.  The basic training premise should be at least three days of running per week, with additional days of strength and/or cross training.  Once you have your program, write it on a calendar and stick to it!  Training is a matter of commitment. If you are committed, you will achieve your goal. Be committed!
4. Get the proper running shoes.  I cannot stress enough the importance of this.  Go to a specialty running store and get your feet and gait analyzed.  Treat your feet right and they’ll protect the rest of your body.  Running in the wrong shoes or worn out shoes could lead to injury and won’t bring you to the start line, let alone the finish line.
5. Finally, start running!  Your training program should include at least one day of speed work, a day of moderate to easy running, and a day with a long run (working up to the full distance). Rest is important as you train and you have to let your body heal after each of your workouts.  To keep your focus and motivation, make sure to mix it up.  Don’t run the same route every time, download a new podcast or album, or try some fartleks (speed plays).

By Laura Ouimet, Dana Point Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, and a marathon/ triathlon coach and trainer. To learn more about the Dana Point Turkey Trot and to sign up, visit www.turkeytrot.com.

Another great race to get in shape for is the Relay for Life.  Find one near you!

Can you imagine what your childhood would have been like, if you had grown up in today‘s noisy, fast-paced environment, a world in which your only visit to a peaceful countryside was in the glare of a computer screen? When would your mind have quieted long enough to think a peaceful, constructive thought?

At the Promised Land Foundation we know first hand the value and power of communing with nature and fellowshipping with others in a beautiful setting. Over the past 7 years, we have performed a considerable amount of research. This due diligence has led to the development of a nature retreat called “The Promised Land”.
 
The Lake
The lake will be stocked with as many fish as it can hold. The fish will be fed on a schedule; this will guarantee everyone will catch a fish, unlike large public lakes or mountain streams. This peaceful and tranquil environment, will allow a person to unwind from the fast pace world we live in, and allow peaceful constructive thoughts to thrive.
 
The Wagon Ride
Pulled by a team of horses, while traveling through a forest of trees, this ride will consist of song and story telling. The songs will be inspiring and fun. The stories will be motivational, used to motivate and make each guest feel a sense of importance. The ride will continue until everyone has ridden.
 
The Petting Zoo
When you bring animals and humans together, something wonderful happens. The petting zoo will consist of small animals, like rabbits, ducks, chickens and pigeons. There will be a little something for everyone to touch and pet. Most guests will want to take home one of  these animals. This is a great motivational tool. A guest fills out a promissory note, requesting one of the small  animals. They in turn will promise to improve in one or more areas in their life where they feel they can use some improvement, i.e. school, relationships, anger management, church etc… The Promised Land Foundation will contact each applicant, after a 30 day period, we will call to see if the applicants reached their goal. If their goals were reached, the applicant will make an appointment to come by and pick up their little love offering reward. The Promised Land Foundation believes by monitoring and holding applicants accountable, we will make an impact in a person’s home life, school or even employment.
 
The Forest
Place the lake, the wagon rides and the petting zoo in the midst of mature trees, and you have just created the best of four worlds, locally. The trees give one the allusion that they are far away, far from the rest of the world. This creates a place of tranquility and allows inner peace, a place where creative thought will thrive.
                               
We are accepting a wide range of support, from cash donations, Trade Dollars, skills and services, volunteers to pray.  It takes all the above to create the synergy that will bring this project to fruition.
                    
Thank you for your interest in The Promised Land, please join us, be apart of something that will truly make you proud.

1191 Magnolia Ave. D149 Corona Ca 92879   | 
DannyO@thePromisedLandfoundation.org  |   
Phone: 949.274.4926 
www.ThePromisedLandFoundation.org 

For more great opportunites near you click Charitable Organizations

Have you traveled down that well-worn path of good intentions? Hmmm, how many of these resolutions have you actually kept longer than a few weeks?  So how can this year be different?  How can you make a resolution, keep it, and be a better person for it?  Get off to a successful start with these tips:

Create a Plan: Determine what is your goal.  Be realistic, but don’t sell yourself short.  Goals are something to reach for, not something easily within your grasp. Now write down your plan in a notebook or journal in ink.  It is wishful thinking that you can accomplish your goals without a plan.

Be committed: Experts say it takes about 21 days for a new activity, such as exercising, to become a habit, and 6 months for it to become part of your personality.   Each day of perseverance brings you closer to your dream.

Connect with others with similar goals: Form a support group of same-minded people.  Hold them to their choices and expect them to do the same with you.  Receiving an enthusiastic phone call or email may be just the encouragement you need to stay the course.

Track your progress – Give yourself a high five as you maintain steady progress.  Reward yourself in healthy ways as you meet mini-goals. 

Be prepared for setbacks – Remember the saying that Rome wasn’t conquered in a day?  Realize that you are human and that there will be days where you slip up.  Don’t let it be an excuse to give up.  Go back and review your plan, ask for encouragement from family or friends and get started again. Remember that while it may have only taken a moment or two to choose a resolution, it is going to take much more time to be successful.

Lastly, remain flexible.  Life is a joyous experience and every day is not scripted from beginning to end.  Circumstances may arise where you need to take a step back from your resolution (provided that it won’t cause harm to your health, of course).  Staying flexible will help you to feel that you do have options and that step away from your resolution is not necessarily a step away from meeting your goals.

There is an expression about the road paved with good intentions.  But recognize that self-change is one of the most difficult things we can do.  Each day is a fresh start to pick up again and travel down the road less traveled; the road that leads to the fulfillment of your goals.  Success breeds success, not just for the New Year but all year.

Receive the help and motivation needed to reach the goals you set on January 1st.  Find anything from closet organizers to fitness centers. Get started today with just one click!

To regift or not to regift, this is becoming an increasingly popular question especially at this time of year.  For many regifting (to give a gift to someone after it has already been given to you) comes into play when you have received a gift for which you have absolutely no use.  Practically speaking, why keep something when you know it would be perfect for someone else.  That would just be selfish, right?  Perhaps.  Or maybe you tried regifting the first time when a friend dropped by unexpectantly with a gift and you were caught with your hands empty.  Quick, what do you have that you could put into a gift bag with some fresh tissue and voila, look like Martha Stewart?   

But when regifting, keep in mind that there are some guidelines.  Make sure the gift is not dirty, torn, stained or otherwise in poor condition.  Look for hidden gift tags or cards that identify you as the original recipient. Don’t pass on a gift to someone who is friends with the original giver.  And of course, don’t regift anything used unless you are honest about being the first recipient.

Although there very well may be perfect occasions for which regifting is appropriate, remembering friends and family with the perfect gift can be accomplished with shopping early and keeping a list.  Check out this comprehensive shopping guide.  Perhaps the issue of regifting can be avoided by making great shopping decisions the first time around.

Moving is hard work, both physically and emotionally.  And for children, moving can be particularly difficult.  They will have many questions and concerns. Why do they have to move? Will they be able make new friends? Will their new house have room for all their toys?  Can they keep their pets?  So before the packing begins, parents should start preparing their child for the big day.

Parents can begin to help their child by being as open and honest as appropriate for the child’s age.  Discuss the reasons behind the move.  Schedule a family meeting or a special dinner out to spend time with your child.  Patience is going to be paramount, as your child will likely have many ups and downs as the moving day approaches.  Whenever possible, you should involve your child in decisions regarding the move.  Help to give them back a little of the control they feel like they have lost.  Above all, affirm their feelings, fears, and concern.

There are also some concrete ways to help with the move.  To help your child feel more comfortable, begin by researching the area to which you are moving.  What activities are available?  If your child is in scouts, 4H, music, or sports, it will be comforting to know that they can continue these activities post move.  If your child is old enough, let them help in the research.  What is the weather like where you are moving?  How about the schools?  If feasible, arrange a visit to your new location.  The more your child knows about their new neighborhood, the sooner they will be comfortable and ready to engage in new activities.

Enlist your child’s help in designing the look of their new room.  And there is no better way to start than to take a look at their current room.  What do they like about it?  What would they like to change? Talk about color schemes and wallpaper borders.   Your excitement will be contagious!  This is also a perfect chance to declutter and decide what should be moved and what shouldn’t. Help your child pack a special box that will travel with them.  For the young child, this box might contain their favorite storybook, stuffed animal, and blanket.  For the older child, it might contain their Game Boy with their favorite games, extra batteries, a chapter book, and their music. As a fringe benefit, the time that you spend with your child will provide more opportunities to talk about how they are feeling. 

As the moving date nears, make sure your child has ample opportunities to say goodbye.  Give your child a disposable camera and let them take pictures of friends, their school, and activities in which they are involved.  Encourage them to take pictures of their bedroom, their house, and anything else they are worried that they might forget.  Develop the pictures, slide them into a photo album and you will have created a memorable book for your child to enjoy for years to come.  Throw a good bye party for your child.  Have an address book at the party to collect addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses.  Assure your child that you will help them to stay in contact with their friends.

Lastly when preparing your child to move, understand that the adjustment will take time.  It’s going to take time for you as well.  Settling into a new home, neighborhood, school, and activities can be challenging.  Be patient and available to your child.  Acknowledge their feelings and help them to look upon the move as the start of a wonderful new adventure.

For valuable resources to help with the challenging task of moving, click here.

OC residents know that reducing their carbon footprint is paramount to the future of their world and are actively researching solar energy businesses. 

 Our environment’s resources are not limitless and we should always be looking for ways to be good caretakers of Mother Earth.  Using the sun to turn your roof into a miniature electrical power plant for your home makes sense on two fronts.  One, solar electricity is a clean power source.  It generates electricity that is free of harmful CO2 emissions and other greenhouse gases.  Two, many state and local government programs offer incentives and rebates to subsidize the cost of equipment and installation so it makes good financial sense to go solar.  Solar electricity converts sunlight directly into electricity, which can help reduce your electricity bills by as much as 60 percent.  What a great savings!

So how does it work?  Solar electric systems, also known as photovoltaic (PV) systems, convert sunlight into electricity.  The building blocks of a PV system consist of solar cells.  When sunlight is absorbed by the semiconductor materials, the solar energy knocks electrons loose from their atoms.  This “photoelectric effect” causes the free electrons to travel into a circuit built into the solar cell to form a current.  PV systems produce more electricity on sunny days, but will still work on cloudy days.  To produce more power, the solar cell must be interconnected to form panels or modules.  Then if more power is needed, several modules can be installed on a building. Modules come in different sizes and range from about 10 to 300 watts in power output. About 10–20 PV arrays can provide enough power for a household.  A well-designed and maintained PV system will operate for more than 20 years and the PV module, with no moving parts, has an expected lifetime exceeding 30 years. A PV system generates more than $10,000 worth of electricity over 30 years. Now that is a staggering figure.

Just like buying a car or making any other long-term investment, it is important to do your research before making a purchase. Mail-order companies, large discount warehouses, small mom-and pop businesses, and large corporations all sell and install renewable energy (RE) systems.  You want to be sure that the person or company that is designing and installing your new solar system has the expertise to install an efficient, safe, and reliable system.  You will want to check their professional credentials and be sure they have an electrical license.  If they don’t have the electrical license, you need to sure that either the installer does or you hire a licensed electrician to obtain the permit, supervise the job, and do the final AC hookups.  It’s a good idea to hire an installer who is bonded and insured, although this generally means that they will cost a little more.  Making sure the products are UL, ETL, or CSA approved is one way to ensure the safety and reliabiltiy of the product.  Ask about service agreements and performance guarantees.  Lastly, ask for references.

Don’t delay.  Make a difference today.  Visit OCRG and get a listing of companies in Orange County to help you plan your conversion to solar energy.

It’s time to put down the brightly colored grocery store ads and head to your local farmers’ market for a delightful day of shopping in the refreshing outdoors.  There you will find a plethora of fresh picked, vine and tree-ripen fruits and vegetables, grown by local farmers. Most is harvested within a day of its arrival at the market, a claim that grocery stores are unable to make.  And an increasing amount of the produce is organically grown which means that the farmers don’t use fertilizers or pesticides, a benefit for the health conscious consumer.   As you stroll through the aisles, most vendors will offer you sample of their wares. Nothing beats actually tasting that juicy nectarine or trying a pluot for the first time.  You may notice that while the taste is unparalleled, the produce may not look picture perfect. Since the produce is vine and tree-ripened, it is available only from the grower and cannot be shipped to the wholesale stores. It is coming directly from the fields.  The taste is the true test and you won’t be disappointed. 

Happily, the shopping doesn’t stop with the fabulous produce.  Most farmers’ markets also offer a variety of other items to make your meal a complete experience.  Bring home some vivid colored fresh flowers to brighten up your dinner table.  Start out with an appetizer of hummus and pita bread.  Sample from the many flavors such as tomato basil, avocado cilantro, or roasted pepper.  Or perhaps a selection of nuts including pistachio, peanut, and cashews would whet your appetite.   Don’t have a main course yet?  Take a look at the fresh pasta available at many of the farmers’ markets.  No, you’re still not done with the shopping yet.  Dessert still needs to be selected.  A selection of pastries including cakes, cookies, and specialty items are often available.

As you plan your trip to the farmers’ market, keep in mind that they are held outdoors.  You will have a more comfortable and fruitful visit if you are dressed for the weather and have chosen your comfortable walking shoes.  Take a stroll through the entire market before settling down to make your purchases.  Different farmers have different prices so comparison shopping is a must.  But if you are purchasing produce, please don’t try to bargain for a better price.  The farmers have worked hard to bring you their crops fresh from the fields and do not appreciate bartering. Bringing your own bags and perhaps a small hand held cart is a helpful hint to avoid taking trips back and forth to the car.  Small bills are helpful as well as it is not always possible to make change for larger bills.   Overall, keep in mind that a trip to the farmers’ market is an opportunity to take a break from the everyday hustle and bustle, save money, support our local economy, and learn about your community in your own backyard.  

Click here for a list of all the Farmers’ Markets in OC.

Thanks for visiting our new blog.  Web construction can be like home-remodeling–always falls a bit behind schedule.  We have many exciting things to share with you during the coming months about Orange County events, businesses, shopping, dining, demographics, news, entertainment, and more!  So you won’t leave empty handed, please visit our other OC blog at the Orange County Resource Guide online.

Welcome to OC is the official Orange County Welcome Blog. 

Part of the growing “Welcome Express FAMILY OF PRODUCTS” this site points you to a great source of OC information –

Orange County Resource Guide.com

This site is a great tool for exploring “Life in OC.”  Whether you’re relaxing on a comfy chair in front of your ‘puter or on the run with your smartphone in “gotta know it now” mode–we can help.  OCRG removes a lot of the guesswork from daily life.

 In an age of information overload, where and how you find that information is – in a way – just as important as the information itself. OCRG targets local information for local people with local need to know”—quickly.

 As the leading Orange County, CA Directory & Resource Guide, we provide newcomers and established residents with essential OC information at the city and county level.  Explore details on “Everything OC” — With more than 130,000 registered Business Listings, www.OrangeCountyResourceGuide.com is rapidly becoming Orange County’s #1 choice for Local Search  Here is a sampling of some of the things you will find there:

Find a Business – product or service – no matter where you live or what you need, if it’s in OC, we’ll help you find it.

 City Info – for when you need to reach out and find that “special someone” to help you navigate the bureaucratic maze. This is especially useful for newcomers.

 OC Traffic – need we say more? We’ve got real-time traffic feeds that let you know what to expect and where – 24 / 7.

 OC Weather – sometimes it actually changes! Usually, a quick look out the door or window works most of the time, but for longer term plans a forecast might come in handy

 OC Shopping – Search for stores from antiques to zippers

 OC Dining – Search for restaurants by type of dining.

OC News – The latest breaking OC news. 

 OC Best Gas Prices – Find the best gas prices close to where you live and work

 OC Essential Services for:

• Kidz Korner
• Savvy Seniors
• Pampered Pets 
• Going Green in the OC

 Quick Links to: