Just wanted to take a moment to introduce my jewelry and accessory line called Beloved Bijou.  You can see more at www.etsy.com/shop/myriamandell or at www.belovedbijou.com

Be sure to become a fan on Facebook

Thank you!

My dad, “Jerry,” took most of his photos during the late 60’s, 70’s and early 80’s.  He was, in my opinion, a wonderful photographer; however, he refused to show his work to anyone - anywhere…even when I volunteered to do all the work for him! 

 Gerald Mandell was a Spanish Colonial Historian and writer.  His articles were published in several issues of the New Mexico Historical Review, as well as a few other Historical Journals around the world.  He won article of the year for the NMHR two years in a row.   He was also a research consultant for the Don Diego De Vargas Project at University of New Mexico.

You can view more of his photos at http://geraldmandellphotos.com.

“Water is so seemingly abundant; it’s easy to take for granted. So easy, in fact, that demand in this country has more than tripled since 1950. The average family of 4 in the US uses about 400 gallons of water a day (that’s 6,400 8 oz glasses) with indoor uses like showering accounting for up to 70% of it. And our thirst is still growing. By 2013 at least 36 states anticipate water shortages; a little more than a decade after that, 1/3 of the world’s population will likely face severe and chronic shortages. As aquifer and groundwater reservoir levels drop, pollutant concentration goes up, so toxins pose even greater threats to our health and the environment.

But with a few basic changes we can collectively save as much as 3 trillion gallons and $17 billion a year. If your family tends to be on the wasteful side, a boost of water wisdom can mean a BIG drop in your yearly bills. Here are 10 ways to start saving today.

1. Fix leaks – to test for general leaks, turn off all fixtures; note your water meter reading. Keep water off for 1 hour, then check again. If the reading changes, you have a leak. For toilets, put a few drops of food coloring in the tank; wait 10 minutes. If color appears in the bowl, it’s time for repairs.

Potential Annual Savings = 104,000 Gallons + $1,010.88

2. Replace Old Toilets – toilets sold before 1994 use 3.5+ gallons per flush, as compared to new ultra-low-flush toilets which use 1.5 gallons or less. The latter, now federally mandated for all new installations, can pay off within 1 year (prices start around $100)

Potential Annual Savings = 14,800 Gallons + $143.86

3. Turn off the Faucet – Running the bathroom tap for just two minutes while brushing your teeth wastes more than 2 gallons or water. If you family does that morning and night (and longer when shaving), waste adds up. Keep a reminder near the sink until you’re all in the habit or turning water off.

Potential Annual Savings = 8,540 Gallons + $83.01

4. Tame Your Sprinklers – Sensors that trigger sprinklers to shut off when it rains can cut outdoor water use by about 15%. Rain sensors are available at home and garden stores for less than $30 and install easily on sprinkler clocks.

Potential Annual Savings = 1,640 Gallons + $15.94

5. Start Chilling – keep a pitcher of water in the fridge so you don’t waste water waiting for the tap to run cold. Kitchen faucets flow at an average rate of more than 1 gallon per minute.

Potential Annual Savings = 1,400 Gallons + $13.61

6. Do a Full Load – Combine 4 half-loads of laundry into 2 full loads every week to save work and water. Buying a new washer? Opt for an Energy Star or WaterSense model. Most use only 18 to 25 gallons of water per load, about 38% less than standard machines.

Potential Annual Savings = 6,450 Galloons + $62.69

7. Sweep – Don’t Hose – If you usually rely on water pressure to clean your driveway, sidewalk, or yard then switch over to elbow grease and a broom.

Potential Annual Savings = 1,200 Gallons + $11.66

8. Go Low Flow – Replace pre-1992 showerheads with low-flow models (2.5 gallons per minute or less). If a 1-gallon bucket in the shower fills in 24 seconds or less, get a lower-flow model. Aerated ones give the feel of higher pressure. To do more, shave a few minutes off shower times. Also, many people like to use the shower head or flowing water to pleasure themselves…buy a Vibrator/Adult Toy!

Potential Annual Savings = 45,990 Gallons + $447.02

9. Go To The Car Wash – Washing your car with a running hose wastes up to 10 gallons a minute. Many commercial car washes recycle water, so taking family cars in once a month uses less water than washing at home. Prefer to DIY? Use a bucket of water and a hose with an automatic shutoff.

Potential Annual Savings = 1,800 Gallons + $17.50

10. Install a Hot Water Re-circulating Pump - One of these devices will deliver instant hot water to all fixtures in the home with one installation. A built-in temperature sensor automatically turns the pump on when the temperature of the hot water line drops below 85 degrees. The pump begins drawing warm water from the water heater, pumping the cold water in the hot water supply (the water you normally pour down the drain) into the cold supply line and back to the water heater. The pump automatically turns off when the water temperature reaches 95 degrees ensuring that shower warm water is available instantly with maximum temperature water only seconds behind. Instant hot water will be available at all fixtures between the water heater and the pump. This device costs about $200 but will pay off within about 5 years.

Potential Annual Savings = 4,270 Gallons + $41.50

Total Potential Annual Savings if you do all of these: 194,360 Gallons + $1,847.67 !!!

**Note – Savings based on Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Bill”

As thousands of Americans rely on trendy (and expensive) hybrid cars to alleviate pain at the pump (not to mention affect on the environment), the forget that some of the relief  lies in their own hands.  From basic car maintenance to smart use of  right turns, there are numerous cost-saving routines for women motorists driving to visit clients or shuttling kids in the carpool. 

Here are some easy solutions:

Get the right gas.  Your owner’s manual specifies what grade of
octane to use.  “If your car runs best on premium you’ll worsen
gas mileage if you fill up with regular,” says Jody DeVere,
president and CEO of AskPatty.com.

Always trun right.  Waiting to turn left against oncoming traffic
wastes gas as your car idles.  Instead, try mostly right turns.
UPS plans routes without left turns and saves more than 3 million
gallons of gas a year.

Ashley Sanders

Dear members and friends of SWOP,

This winter, we will be continuing our SWOP yoga class for beginners. We will have yoga class every Wednesday in December and January. It is NOT too late to join, and is THE best deal in town. For $5 a class, you will be on your way to a healthier and stronger life.

When:Wednesdays; 5-6pm

Where:1002a Park St (around the corner from the main office, next to the beauty salon…look for the blue yoga sign in the window!)

How Much:$5/class

What Else?:Bring your own yoga mat; Walk-ins Welcome!

FMI:Call or email Marisol— Marisol@swop.net; 247-8832 ext. 126

About the instructor:

Aparna Levine has been practicing, studying and teaching yoga and the healing arts for over a decade. She has taught classes and retreats all over India, New York and Albuquerque. She currently teaches at different locations around town including UNM and works with people of all ages including kids and teenagers .Her approach is both gentle and encouraging, about being present and being powerful in your practice and your life.

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*All poses are offered with modifications to suit individual bodies and needs.*

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SO,WHAT IS YOGA?

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On its SURFACE LEVEL, yoga is a fun discipline that keeps the body fit through using physical poses and postures. It regulates the internal organs and balances the circulatory, respiratory, and hormonal systems. Yoga alleviates stress, aids in the healing of physical injuries and illness, and helps us to reclaim our emotional well-being.

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And…the BEST thing is…it is completely ADAPTABLE to each individual. Yoga meets you, right where you are.

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On a DEEPER LEVEL, yoga is an ancient art based on an extremely subtle science: one of the body ,mind and soul. The prolonged practice of yoga will in time, lead the student to a sense of inner peace and relaxation. It is in its essence transformational.

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THE REWARDS you reap from practicing yoga will surprise you, far surpassing your most optimistic dreams for physical well-being, joy and inner peace. Health will replace injury, gratitude will replace worry, self-confidence will replace fear. Your “joie de vivre” will multiply many fold. All aspects of your life will transform.

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I wholeheartedly invite you to take this journey and discover yourself. For answers to your questions and queries please, call me at 242-4181 or email me at aparnalevine@yahoo.com.

40 WAYS YOGA HEALS

1. Increases flexibility

2. Strengthens muscles

3. improves balance

4. Improves immune function

5.improves posture

6. Improves lung function

7.leads to slower and deeper breathing

8. Discourages mouth breathing

9. Increases oxygenation of tissues

10.improves joint health

11. Nourishes inter-vertebral disks

12. Improves return of venous blood

13. Improves circulation of lymph

14.increases range of motion

15. Increases control of bodily functions

16. Strengthens bones

17. Conditions the cardiovascular system

18. Promotes weight loss

19. Relaxes the nervous system

20. Improves function of nervous system

21. Improves brain function

22.activates the left prefrontal cortex

23. Changes neurotransmitter levels

24. Lowers levels of stress

25. Improves the relaxation response

26. Balances blood sugar

27. Balances blood pressure

28. Thins the blood

29. Improves levels of cholesterol

30. Improves bowel function

31. Releases unconscious muscular gripping

32. Relieves pain

33. Lowers need for medication

34. Improves sleep

35. Fosters healing relationships

36. Improves psychological health

37. Leads to healthier habits

38. Fosters spiritual growth

39. Elicits the placebo effect

40. Encourages involvement in your own healing.

Colleen O’Neill is not only a stunning woman but also a beautiful person.  In addition to being beautiful inside and out she is also a very talented painter.  She is truly a fine artist.

You can view some of her paintings here:  http://trendbenderz.com/Paintings.aspx

So, we’ve been carrying the absolutely amazing cards of Stephanie Quoshena at Black Starr Creations.  She cuts the images out and uses a layering technique, combined with stickers and other bling to make the cards truly unique and full of depth and texture.

Her themes include:  Bettie Paige, the art of Daniel Merriam, Valentine’s, Skulls, Halloween, Ed Hardy, etc.

Check them out!

So, I sell these adorable scrabble tile necklaces in my Boutique and they are one of the most popular items in our shop.  In addition to that the couple that makes them are really nice and very interesting people.

Bio:  “Albu Design is a wife/husband team of artists living in the high desert of Albuquerque, New Mexico.
We were trained in New York City and have worked in several media over the past 15 years.

We specialize in creating modern jewelry that incorporates our original illustration, design and photography.
We love making jewelry that our fans love— fashionable, hip designs that mix sweet with funky.

Strongly committed to helping animals, we volunteer and donate a percentage of sales to various local rescue organizations.”

This is a subject that really worries me, not only for my sake but also for future generations.

I’ve been reading “Nostradamus 2003-2025 A History Of The Future” and he has written that “Society and religion want to fuel growth, while people themselves are overwhelmed by the crowded streets in cities like London, New York, and Tokyo, where it is already impossible to find quiet spaces, and private and public transportation have become a nightmare.  When disasters occur, a shift in population caused by fleeing refugees overwhelms surrounding nations and their ability to absorb large numbers of people suddenly.” Not to mention natural our resources.  I live in a place where our city doesn’t have enough water so they started re-directing the water from the San Juan river.  So, what happens to the wildlife in and along the San Juan River Valley?

Human beings need to be more conscientious and live in harmony with nature and the earth, instead of trying to combat it.  We need to learn to preserve our earth’s natural resources, walk and bicycle more, RECYCLE, use fewer pesticides, and yes have fewer children.  That’s right have less kids.  There I said it!