Happy Presidents’ Day

Remembering the courage and vision of past and present leaders, we honor and share the spirit of Presidents' Day together as a nation.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Wishing everyone a day filled with fun and happy memories!

Tips for Healthy Snacking

Your little ones love sugary cookies, while you just can’t resist a savory snack every now and then. If you’re looking for healthier snacks for the whole family that still tasty and satisfying, these tips from the NIH can help you find them.

  • Create healthier versions of your favorite snacks. Instead of your usual cheese and crackers, substitute low-fat cheese and whole-grain crackers. Instead of buttery, salty movie theater popcorn, make some fat-free or low-fat popcorn.
  • Make healthier dessert choices. Instead of your usual homemade milkshake, blend a banana, ice and low-fat chocolate milk for a chocolate smoothie that’s still delicious.
  • Choose smarter condiments. Sauces and other toppings can add fat and empty calories to an otherwise healthy snack. Instead of cheese, choose salsa, and instead of regular ranch dressing opt for a fat-free variety.

For more healthy snacking tips, visit the NIH website.

Our New Facebook Sweepstakes Has Started! Enter to Win an iPad Mini!

To enter the Sweepstakes, Like our Facebook Page and then look for the Sweepstakes tab (image shown below) located on our Facebook Page to enter. Sweepstakes ends February 28th, 2014.

For mobile users ONLY, like our Facebook Page, and then click here to enter!

Keep Track of the Foods You Eat with The USDA SuperTracker

Beginning dieters always start off with the best intentions, but it can be difficult to stay on track with your meal plan when you’re unsure of what to eat. The USDA website’s SuperTracker tool allows you to create a personalized nutrition plan, keep track of the foods you eat, and even get tips for making healthier choices in the future.

Look Up Nutrition Facts with the Food-A-Pedia
This helpful tool allows you to search for a food that you’re planning on eating from categories like vegetables, pasta and rice, and desserts, and it will tell you the number of calories, saturated fats, added sugars, and more.

Track the Foods You Eat
Keeping track of the foods you eat throughout the day keeps you honest and ensures that you don’t overdo it in one food group and miss out on another. With graphs, daily limits, and food group targets, this tool does all the work to analyze your foods so all you have to do is eat.

Track Your Activity
The amount of exercise you get is just as important as the foods you eat, and this part of the SuperTracker compares your physical activity to the foods you’ve eaten. You may be nearing your calorie limit for the day, but that hour of cardio can cut your calories down to size.

If you want to lose a few pounds but you’re nervous about the process, the SuperTracker will make things easy, convenient, and personalized just for you.

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Simplify Job Searching with These Three Websites

Are you a recent college graduate looking for that elusive first job? Are you an adult looking to switch careers? No matter your station in life or your level of experience, these easy-to-navigate websites can help simplify your job search.

Indeed
One of the most popular job search sites for both employers and potential employees, Indeed is a great resource for your job search because of its large number of users. By asking only the most basic “What?” and “Where?” questions, Indeed presents you with an impressive number of job prospects that you may not have considered. You can even post your resume to Indeed’s resume database in case a company has an opening that needs filled quickly – who knows, maybe that perfect job is looking for you, too!

LinkedIn
The focal social media website for the business world, LinkedIn operates like an online networking event. Create your personal profile, add your most professional headshot, upload your resume and you’ll have online profile tailored for business. LinkedIn also features job postings and company profiles to help you browse potential jobs as you extend your circle of connections.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook
Don’t let the long name fool you – the Occupational Outlook Handbook is a simple, straightforward tool designed to give people insights into their careers of choice. On it you’ll find hundreds of occupations listed with information on salaries, responsibilities, and required skills and education.

Trip Idea: New York City

New York City is New York City — it contains a lifetime's worth of treasures. Here are a few highlights.

Central Park
This iconic 843-acre park is full of nature and fun. See the Conservatory, the Alice in Wonderland sculpture, Belvedere Castle atop Vista Rock, and the Bow Bridge. Rent a bike so you can cover more ground quickly. Guided bike tours are also available. 

Empire State Building
Take in a breathtaking view of the city from the 86th floor observation deck. The view of the New York City skyline is definitely worth the price of admission. The deck does get crowded so be prepared to stand in line. 

Metropolitan Museum of Art
One of the world's great art museums, over two million works of arts from are housed here. Explore the 21 structures that make up the museum as you go through the different exhibits. Guided tours are available or you can see the museum at your own pace. 

Basic Money Management Tips from MyMoney.gov

It can be a little headspinning at times to manage your personal finances, with details like bills, pay stubs, W-2s, 401(k)s, and the like making it hard at times to see the big picture. Even so, managing your money doesn't have to be overwhelming, and MyMoney.gov aims to help you see the big picture.

The site's a creation of the Federal Financial Literacy and Education Commission, and works to help further the mission of helping people understand their personal finances. To make the process a little easier, MyMoney.gov breaks its advice down into five basic elements, the "MyMoney Five." Here are the basics:

  1. Earn: Know the details about your pay and benefits, including any withholdings, deductions, taxes, and non-monetary compensation.
  2. Save: Make saving a habit, so you can plan for future expenditures and be prepared for unanticipated expenses.
  3. Protect: Protect yourself by monitoring your credit report, purchasing adequate insurance (including renters' insurance), keeping an emergency fund, and maintaining proper records of your finances.
  4. Spend: Shop wisely! Make a budget, be a comparison shopper, and work to live within your means.
  5. Borrow: Be wise about borrowing, too. Understand details like interest rates, keep track of what you've borrowed, and pay your bills on time.

You can learn much more about the MyMoney Five at mymoney.gov.

Tips for Finding an Internship

In many cases, internships are a now an expected staple for college grads to have on their resumes. Though it may seem like drudgery, internships are a great opportunity to explore possible careers, get much needed on-the-job experience, make valuable contacts, and possibly snag your first job.  For finding (and getting) a great internship in the vast sea of competition, here are some tips:

Use your college’s career center
That’s what it’s there for. Many students overlook the career center as a resource, but their help can be invaluable. Talk to a counselor, tell them what you’re looking for, and look through whatever books and resources they have available. As you describe what you're looking for, they can help you hone in on who to contact, how to contact them, and when to apply.

Talk to alumni and other professionals
Ask your career counselor about the college’s alumni network and reach out to alums with careers that interest you or individuals who live in the area where you’re looking to move after college. Also, don't overlook your parents, family, or friends – talk to anyone who may have an “in” at a company you’re interested in. People are surprisingly willing to help out college students with jobs and internships, so capitalize on their willingness and generosity.

Check company websites
Before hitting up generic search engines, check specific, desired companies’ websites for internship listings. Even if they don’t specify having internships, write a professional inquiry to human resources or a particular division to express your interest. Once you've submitted your inquiry or resume, follow up with a phone call to confirm they received your information.

The Awesome Fest: Ten Week Celebration of the 1980s

Starting June 14th, The Awesome Fest will kick off a ten-week celebration of the 1980s. The festival will feature 50 outdoor movies, special guests, and popular musical acts from the decade. Parx Casino and Citypaper are sponsoring the event. 

Stop by for opening night, June 14th, to see The Psychedelic Furs perform live at The Trocadero Theater. Tickets are just $20 for the show. On Saturday, June 15th Pretty in Pink will be shown at 8 p.m. followed by an 80's themed prom

Many classic movies will be shown during the festival. Classics like Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, Revenge of the Nerds, E.T., and a ten film retrospective of John Hughes' films will be shown outdoors at various venues around the city like Drexel Park in University City on Thursday nights, Liberty Lands in the Northern Liberties on Fridays, and Parx Casino on Saturday nights for a double feature. On Mondays the movies will move indoors to the Trocadero. All outdoor movies are free. 

Newer movies will also be premiered like V/H/S/2 on Thursday May 23rd, The Kings of Summer on Wednesday May 29th, and Rewind This! on Monday June 17th. 

Visit the website for more information and a schedule of events. 

The Awesome Fest

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