Thursday, February 19, 2009

Save a Sweet Heart at ACAC

Valentine’s day is behind us for another year, but February Heart Month isn’t quite over. As Joe Schwar, a Membership Coordinator and CPR instructor at ACAC, reminds us, “Every 26 seconds someone suffers a coronary event, and every minute, someone dies from one. Everyone should learn CPR. You never know when a loved one might need your help.“

Mark your calendar for ACAC’s Save a Sweet Heart workshops at the Albemarle Square location, free and open to the public. Participants will learn to recognize the symptoms of a heart attack and receive an overview of CPR/AED techniques. The classes won’t provide full certification in these techniques, but they’re a great opportunity for parents and couples to learn how to respond do a loved one’s emergency.

ACAC Fitness & Wellness Centers were early adopters of the AED, a device that detects abnormal heart rhythms. “If someone goes into cardiac arrest, AED use greatly improves the patient’s chances for survival,“ Schwar says. “If CPR is started right away and the rescue squad arrives within four to six minutes, survival rate is about 17 percent. With an AED, the chance for survival jumps to 70 percent.“ Members can appreciate ACAC’s excellent track record for emergency response, which includes the successful resuscitation of three individuals over the past eight years. Schwar attributes ACAC’s preparedness to company-wide CPR/AED training.

The Save a Sweet Heart CPR/AED classes are February 25 from 10 - 11:30 a.m. and again on February 28 from 1 - 2:30 p.m. at ACAC Albemarle Square. Advance registration is required. To reserve your space in a class, call 434.978.3800.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

water and chocolate

I got a lot of great birthday cards last week. But my secret favorite features a turn-of-the -century photo of a woman in a dark pointy hat and tiered a-line frock and reads “Gail’s chocaholism led her to dress more and more like a chocolate chip.“ Well played, especially considering my annual pre-Valentine’s birthday candy-fest.

One birthday present, however, offers sweet salvation from the heart-shaped, super-processed, super-sweet confections that always find their way into my mouth no matter how well I’m doing with my resolution to swear off refined carbs for the new year (I mean you, Necco Sweethearts). I’ve been wary of chocolate teas since the late 90s when my mother had me try some sickening abomination from Stash that smelled amazing and tasted like hot water plus a tablespoon of Hershey’s syrup. So I was skeptical when my mother gifted me with a tin of dessert teas in wee pyramid-shaped silk diffusers from Tea Forte,  (it’s been called “the Lamborghini of tea bags,“ Oprah loves it), with a Coco Truffle bag front and center. I thought about re-gifting the offender, but figured I could give it a shot. After steeping for three minutes the brew was a rich amber and smelled like sweet spices layered over rich dark cocoa powder. Surprisingly, the taste was even better - bitter cocoa with hints of sweet cardamom, ginger, and liccorice peeping through. Don’t take a swig of this expecting hot cocoa; savor the refined flavor of cocoa beans at their purest. This almost zero calorie and caffeine-free tea is my new go-to for quenching sugar cravings, a sensible choice for those looking to replace a mid-afternoon mocha latte.

It’s expensive at $24 for a box of 20, or sometimes available for around $2 a bag at specialty shops, but considering the price of a moment on the lips…

Tea Forte is available locally at the Origins store and The Mole Hole. Photo courtesy of Tea Forte.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

stress relief 2.0

We here at The Magazine spend a lot of time discussing the finer points of aromatherapy. Bethany is obsessed with Bath & Body Works stress relief lotion in Tranquil Mint, but cannot tolerate Eucalyptus Spearmint. Adrianne is a die-hard lavender fanatic, whether it’s blended with a splash of citrus or served straight-up. I refer to Aquolina Pink Sugar perfume as my “thinking juice,“ my go-to for tough writing assignments. After deadline, all of us would be happy to drench ourselves in a beachy scent - creamy coconut, with a hint of sunscreen or driftwood or warm sand. A margarita wouldn’t hurt either.

Whatever scent gets you through the day, this clever little USB Aromatherapy Oil Burner makes it that much easier to bring your bliss to work. Just make sure your co-workers don’t mind (foody scents make us eat too much candy, no spicy vanilla for us). Available at thinkgeek.com, $5.99. Photo courtesy of thinkgeek.