Adelante Newsletter - January 2009

RIBBON CUTTINGS & AFTER 5 MIXERS

One Unique Boutique!  A grand opening and ribbon cutting celebration was held for Mel's Boutique on December 11, 2008.  The Hispanic Chamber Embajadores conducted the ribbon cutting ceremony along with boutique owner, Melissa Hinojosa, family and friends.  An After 5 Mixer was also held after the ribbon cutting with food, margaritas, door prizes and plenty of shopping.  Mel's Boutique has everything from shoes to jewelry to women's clothing and fashion accessories.  The boutique has styles and brands you cannot find anywhere else.  Mel's Boutique is located at 1006 S. 77 Sunshine Strip, across from Dick Office Supply in Harlingen.  Stop by and visit Mel's Boutique...where you enter a customer and leave a friend.

 

The Harlingen Hispanic Chamber celebrated the Holiday Season with an open house.  Chamber members and guests enjoyed tamales, refreshments, and networking.  Thank you to Frank Puente, Jr., Brenda Amaya, Paula Gonzales, Julie Parra, and Guillermo Chapa, Jr., for making our Holiday Open House a grand success.

 

TOP 10 NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS

New Year's Eve has always been a time for looking back to the past, and more importantly, forward to the coming year.  It's a time to reflect on the changes we want (or need) to make and resolve to follow through on those changes.  Did your New Year's resolutions make the top 10 list?

  1. Spend More Time with Family & Friends - Recent polls conducted by General Nutrition Centers, Quicken, and others show that more than 50% of Americans vow to appreciate loved ones and spend more time with family and friends this year.  Make plans to meet up with friends for an evening of comaradarie at a favorite restaurant or take the family to the movies or the zoo.  Work shouldn't always come first!
  2. Fit in Fitness - The evidence is in for fitness.  Regular exercise has been associated with more healty benefits than anything else known to man.  Studies show that it reduces the risk of some cancers, increases longevity, helps achieve and maintain weight loss, enhances mood, lowers blood pressure, and even improves arthritis.  In short, exercise keeps you healthy and makes you look and feel better.
  3. Tame the Bulge - Over 66% of adult Americans are considered overweight or obese by recent studies, so it is not surprising to find that weight loss is one of the most popular New Year's resolutions.  Setting reasonable goals and staying focused are the two most important factors in sticking with a weight loss program, and the key to success for those millions of Americans who made a New Year's commitment to shed extra pounds.
  4. Quit Smoking - If you have resolved to make this the year that you stamp out your smoking habit, over-the-counter availability of nicotine replacement therapy now provides easier access to proven quit-smoking aids.  Even if you've tried to quit before and failed, don't let that get you down.  On average, smokers try about four times before they quit for good.  Start enjoying the rest of your smoke-free life!
  5. Enjoy Life More - Given the hectic, stressful lifestyles of millions of Americans, it is no wonder that "enjoying life more" has become a populare resolution in recent years.  It's an important step to a happier and healthier you!  Get out and try something new! Take up a new hobby or try your hand at a sport.  Go to a theater performance, or head to the local spa.
  6. Quit Drinking - While many people us the New Year as an incentive to finally stop drinking, more are not equipped to make such a drastic lifestyle change all at once.  Many heavy drinkers fail to quit cold turkey but do much better when the taper gradually, or even learn to moderate their drinking.  If you have decided that you want to stop drinking, there is a world of help and support available.  There are also a number of treatment-based programs, as well as support groups for families of alcoholics.
  7. Get Out of Debt - Was money a big source of stress in your life last year?  Join the millions of Americans who have resolved to spend this year getting a handle on their finances.  It's a promise that will repay itself many times over in the year ahead.
  8. Learn Something New - Have you vowed to make this year the year to learn something new?  Perhaps you are considering a career change, want to learn a new language, or just how to fix your computer?  Whether you take a course or read a book, you'll find education to be one of the easiest, most motivating New Year's resolutions to keep.
  9. Help Others - A popular, non-selfish New Year's resolution, volunteerism can take many forms.  Whether you choose to spend time helping out at your local library, mentoring a child, or building a house, there are many nonprofit volunteer organizations that could really use your help.  Or if your time is really in short supply, maybe you can at least find it in you to donate the furniture, clothing, and other household items that you no longer need, rather than leaving them out by the curb to fill up our landfills.
  10. Get Organized - On just about every New Year resolution top ten list, organization can be a very reasonable goal.  Whether you want your home organized enought that you can invite someone over on a whim, or your office organized enough that you can find the stapler when you need it, these tips and resources get you started on the way to a more organized life.


LAS PASTORELAS

THe Harlingen community gathered to attend a traditional Mexican Christmas play, "Las Pastorelas".  Las Pastorelas is a musical comedy which tells the story of a group of shepards trying to reach Bethlehem while they fend off the obstacles placed before them by the savvy devils.  The play was held at the Harlingen Arts & Heritage Museum on December 8, 2008.  The play was performed by a Mexican theatrical group, Grupo Misiva.  La Pastorela was sponsored by the Mexican Consulate, Harlingen Hispanic Chamber of Commerc,e RGV Museum Association, Harlingen Area Chamber and Vamonos Travel.

 

TECHVAULT - FITNESS STATE OF THE ART = HEALTHY

Use your iPod Nano or iPod Touch to get a better workout.  The Nike iPod kit transforms your shoe into a pedometer and, when linked up with you iPod, helps transform your running routine.  You choose a playlist, a "PowerSong" and the voice of your "coach".  As you run, your "coach" keeps you informed about how long you've been going.  And should your legs lag, quickly switch to your "PowerSong" for a boost of energy.  Afterward, track your vital workout stats on Nikeplus.com.  See how far you've gone, how many calories you've burned, and how long it took you.  Compare it to every other run you've taken using the kit.  $29.  iPod required.  Source: HispanicBusiness Magazine Dec. 2008

 

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