Written By, Erica Brooke Fajge

PHILADELPHIA, PA [OnlyInPhiladelphia.com] – Calling all Bachelor fans! If you’d like to support a great cause while meeting some of your favorite reality TV stars, then come out to Philadelphia Blood Donation Center, 700 Spring Garden Street, Saturday, January 15, from 7am – 2pm.

At the event will be Gwen Gioia (The Bachelor and Bachelor Pad), Gia Allemand (The Bachelor and Bachelor Pad), Reid Rosenthal (The Bachelorette), and Craig Robinson (The Bachelorette). Gioia, Rosenthal, and Robinson are all Philly natives, while Allemand hails from New York.

This specific Red Cross blood drive is just one of many taking place in cities all over the country during the month of January for National Blood Donor Month. This season’s Bachelor, Brad Womack, along with other former stars of The Bachelor and Bachelorette are visiting blood donor centers in Los Angeles, Dallas, and Chicago, as well as Philadelphia, in order to encourage people to donate blood, to raise awareness for this need, and to thank donors.

On the January 10th episode of ABC’s The Bachelor, Brad and the women vying for his affection filmed public service announcements to raise awareness for the Red Cross and National Blood Donor Month.

Not everyone, however, is eligible to be a blood donor. Check out the eligibility requirements for blood donations at www.redcrossblood.org/bachelor.

Whether you’re a fan of the show or you just want to contribute to a great cause, either make an appointment by calling 215-451-4000, or stop by the Center, 700 Spring Garden Street, between 7am – 2pm.

Written By, Erica Brooke Fajge

PHILADELPHIA, PA [OnlyInPhiladelphia.com] – New York did it. Now, Philly is, too – that is, holding a contest to design the package of the city’s own condom.

New York City already had its own condom, so that contest was for participants to design a new package wrapper. However, Philadelphia has never had its own official condom before, so this contest is aimed at designing the winning limited-edition packaging. The winner will be awarded $250, with restrictions being that the work must be original, and the winner must reside in Philly.

Philadelphia typically distributes approximately 1.5 million condoms per year; among them, 60,000 are female condoms. The city hopes to increase this number, as New York City plans to distribute 41 million free condoms this year. NYC’s winning design was the image of the electronic power button.

In fact, Philadelphia’s rate of sexually transmitted diseases is currently one of the highest in the nation. Fortunately, there has been a decline in gonorrhea over the past ten years, but others are still on the rise, as reports for the first nine months of 2010 show an increase compared to the same time period just last year.

Although the contest and the campaign itself are not solely directed at teens and young adults, statistics do show increasing numbers of STDs affecting this population. This contest is just serving as one way to increase awareness and create change.

An $85,000 federal grant for the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases is paying for the cost of the distribution of the actual condoms themselves. The promotion of the campaign, however, will come out of the city’s not-so-large budget.

With the new packaging design, the city hopes to expand the number distributed and make condoms available with various types of retail establishments, as well as, but not limited to, community organizations and health centers.

City officials in both New York and Philly said that reactions to the contest have been positive.

So, what do you think the winning design will look like? Then take out those art supplies and get to work.

Happiness is something that we choose to have within our emotions, because it comes from within.  We choose happiness similar to the way we choose what to wear or what kind of lifestyle we have, not by any outside force.

If you want to go tanning, then you are telling your mind that you will feel happy with a tan.  If you go to a car wash, you are telling your mind that you will be happy with a clean car.

Now that you know you hold the happiness within your own mind and spirit, how do you battle opposition and maintain these thoughts?

A great quote that I have always lived by is, “Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.”

A great spirit is someone who decided to be happy, and always looking at the brighter side of life.  A great spirit is happy within themselves and they are the cause of happiness in others.

The opposition comes due to several emotions.  Emotions of anger, grieve and jealousy are developed as they experience happiness in others.  These emotions were put here to balance the arrogant happy, but the emotion has no judge to separate humble from arrogance.  So unfortunately we need to take the good with the bad.

What about those who irritate us or make us mad? We have the power of choice but most times we react out of anger. Instead of taking a mental time out and knowing that what that person said is about them we unconsciously choose to react. The reaction is usually out of anger or fear. It’s a re-action, not an action.

Stay happy and humble, understanding the opposition since a majority of the mass is unhappy.

For more motivation and finding life’s path to success click here.

Treat yourself to a signature pedicure. Melt away stress with a luxurious deep tissue massage. Tickle your taste buds with a selection from our spa menu. Ettore’ superior salon and spa services are guaranteed to delight every customer.

Ettore’ is located in the Philadelphia Marriott Hotel in the heart of Center City. They are a full service salon and spa with hair styling, facials, massages, body wraps, waxing, and manicures and pedicures performed by licensed technicians on staff.

Around Philadelphia, Ettore’ is recognized as the most sought after salon for bridal groups and packages.  Taking care of more brides preparing for their big day than any other salon in the city. Their services have been featured on TLC’s “A Wedding Story,” Lifetime’s “Follow the Bride,” and Modern Bride and Philadelphia magazines.

They have been featured on TLC’s “A Makeover Story,” FOX’s “Ambush Makeover,” and NBC’s “The Morning Show.”

They are also the official salon and spa for Philadelphia’s hottest seasonal fashion event, Fashion Up.

Their staff stays abreast of the latest in hairstyling techniques by following popular European trends and bringing them to the United States two years in advance.

Ettore’ co-owners Ettore’ Mastroddi and Gary Mastroddi are twin brothers of Italian descent. Ettore’ has 22 years of experience as a stylist in the salon and spa field, mostly in fashionable European destinations like Paris, France, and Milan, Italy. Gary has a degree in marketing and finance and has been in the salon and spa industry for over 10 years.

They believe that their guests are the highest priority at Ettore’.  Offering a personal assurance in fulfilling all of your beauty needs and providing the quality of service you deserve. Your happiness makes Ettore’ Salon and Spa a success.  Making their service commitment of total satisfaction their reward.

For more details visit their website www.ettorespa.com or for appointments call 215.928.9010.  Located at 1201 Market Street.

1. Walking is not as effective as running.
Sure, you’ll burn about twice as many calories running for 30 minutes than walking for 30 minutes. But if a runner and a walker cover the same distance, they burn about the same number of calories. So if you’re willing to take the ‘slow route,’ you’ll likely lose just as much weight. In fact, studies have proved that how long you exercise matters more than how hard you exercise.

2. Exercise increases hunger
It’s a common misconception: If you burn hundreds of calories during a workout, you’ll end up eating more. But research shows that exercise has no effect on a person’s food needs, with the exception of endurance athletes who exercise for two hours a day or more. In fact, research shows that exercise often suppresses hunger during and after the workout.

Plus: 12 Ways to Jump-Start Your Metabolism

3. It doesn’t matter where your calories come from
Calories are not created equal. First, some foods (in particular, proteins) take more energy to chew, digest, metabolize, and store than others. Others (such as fats and carbohydrates) require fewer calories to digest and store. Second, different food types have different effects on your blood sugar. Refined carbohydrates (think white bread, cookies, and fruit drinks) raise blood sugar levels dramatically, which encourages fat storage, weight gain, and hunger. Fibrous foods like apples, as well as proteins, raise blood sugar less, making them friendlier to your waistline. Finally, foods that contain a lot of water, such as vegetables and soup, tend to fill the belly on fewer calories, so you’ll stop eating them way before you stop eating more calorie-dense foods.

Download our Life IQ trivia game for your iPhone.

4. Diet alone is enough for sustained weight loss
You’ll lose weight in the short term by slashing calories, but experts say exercise is what keeps pounds off for good. Exercise burns calories, of course. It also builds muscle, which takes up less space than fat. Muscle tissue also requires more calories to sustain it than fat tissue does. In other words, the more muscle tissue you have, the more calories you’ll burn at rest. In fact, some studies suggest that over the long term, if you had a choice of eating consistently less or exercising consistently more, exercise would be the better weight-loss choice.

Plus: 11 Healthy Ways to Load Up on Lean Protein

5. There is no best time for exercise
If you’re simply walking to get healthy or take off some weight, it doesn’t matter when you do it, as long as you do it. But if you’re an athlete looking for the best-quality workout, choose the late afternoon, when body temperature is highest. Muscles are warm, reaction time is quick, and strength is at its peak. If you push yourself harder as a result, you will burn more calories.

(courtesy of Reader’s Digest Magazine)

Highlighting everything from sewing buttons to buying second hand to purchasing a sustainable, wardrobe, this year’s theme is fashion. Featuring a fashion show and clothing swap, GreenFest Philly will emphasize the importance of supporting our local thrift stores, buying organic fabrics, and recycling your closet. Find out how easy it is to remove that nasty stain without using harsh chemicals and how to turn a torn T-shirt into a fabulous scarf, and learn how simple it is to be fashionably eco-conscious.

Highlights of this year’s GreenFest Philly include:
• Eco Exchange Fashion Show featuring local sustainable designers and resale boutiques
o Noon: Kids Fashion Show
o 1:30 p.m. Street Wear
o 3 p.m. High Fashion
o Shows will feature local, sustainable designers Daughter Earth, Denise Shardlow Designs, SewKind, the Cohoquinoque Crew artists collective, and more; resale and consignment boutiques including Philly AIDS Thrift and The Wardrobe Boutique. Hair and makeup by juju salon & organics.
• Interactive Learning Booth featuring a sewing workshop with Nan Ides, author of Hand Mending for Beginners
• Clothing Swap for Recessionista Fashionistas

• Eco-Poetry contest held at Jon’s Bar and Grill at 3rd and South Sts. at 3:30 p.m. The winners will read their poems and be presented with prizes on the main stage at 5:15 p.m.

• Kid’s Activities Including:

o All Around This World Music with Jay Sand (12-12:30 p.m.)
Local musician and teacher Jay Sand leads children in a rousing half-hour of world music and movement. Sand’s All Around This World program is an interactive weekly music class encouraging kids to explore the world by enjoying international children’s music, games, and stories.

• Kivka Potters allow guests to create their own pottery ware using locally dug and recycled clay

• Live Music

• Recycling and Compost Stations

• Water-Filling Stations

• See the growing list of exhibitors here: http://www.greenfestphilly.org/features/exhibits.php

Urban Green Partnership (UGP) was founded to educate consumers about making easy, affordable green choices. Through initiatives like GreenFest Philly, they help residents and businesses through education, example, and motivation to better understand what it means to be “green.” A volunteer-based nonprofit organization, UGP works with local and national organizations to develop community outreach initiatives that raise Philly’s “ecological intelligence.”
Sponsors of GreenFest Philly include The Sustainable Business Network of Philadelphia, SCA, Yelp.com, and Grid Magazine.
For more information, please visit www.greenfestphilly.org.

Join Team Philly Race Training this Saturday from 9-11am at Lloyd Hall and sign up for the Philadelphia Half Marathon and Marathon (Sunday Nov 21^st)

Get the best running coach and premiere race training program in the Philadelphia area with Team Philly Race Training. Affiliated and endorsed by the City of Philadelphia’s marathon organization, Team Philly was created to support more Philadelphia area runners of all levels, including beginner to intermediate runners in their aspirations of living healthy and becoming good runners.  The training program is powered by its 3 founding local Philly companies: Fusion Cross-training, Excel Physical Therapy and Fitness and Philadelphia Runner. Each organization brings their special expertise, resources and services to this comprehensive and unparalleled program including: running coaching/apparel, fitness cross-training and strength conditioning, and injury prevention and treatment.

Join Team Philly to get all of the following benefits in service of a safe and satisfying Marathon experience:

• Complete Training Manual
• Kickoff Workshop
• Saturday Coached Long Runs
• Weekly Short Run Meetups
• Weekly Emails with Running Program and Tips
• Guaranteed Race Registration
• Discounts to Philadelphia Runner
• Free Week of Fusion Cross-training + 30% Off
• Free Sports Medicine Workshops with top local physicians and Excel’s sport therapists
• Quality Dri-Fit “Team Philly” Jersey
• and much more…

Kickoff workshop for both races will be Saturday July 31^st from 9-11am. Meet outside of Lloyd Hall (#1 Boat House Row / Kelly Drive) for Team Philly Race Training‘s marathon and half marathon training program- a key element to starting off on the right foot! The kickoff meeting will be followed by the first short distance run.

The kickoff meeting will also include:

• Explanation of the program training schedules
• Learning the dynamic warm-up done before each run
• Getting to know your pace group
• Fitness and nutrition elements of marathon training
• Injury prevention and care workshop

The cost for the 16 week Full Marathon program is $150 and $100 for the Half Marathon which is 12 weeks with an optional 4 weeks early start.  NOTE: your payment covers our group training program but not the race registration itself, however you will have access to our guaranteed race registration block, so you don’t have to worry about getting locked out, however the online registration through Philadelphia Marathon is quick, easy and the same price so we recommend doing it now.  Both races are extremely popular and well on their way to selling out.  For more information or to sign up, visit the official Team Philly Meetup.com page.

Jefferson University Hospital

The process inserts high dosages of Vitamin C directly into their veins through IV.  The Vitamin C turns into a form of Hydrogen Peroxide in the body.  The process has no major side affects, since the vitamin does not kill healthy cells, unlike other treatments which cause hair loss, pain or nausea.  “Some people are doing extremely well, they’re feeling better; feeling more energized and they’re just doing better”, said Dr. Daniel Monti.

This is great news for Philadelphia, Dr. Daniel Monti and patients with these cancers!   Let’s hope that this study continues to prove that Vitamin C is truly a good medicine in the battle against cancer.

The study is ongoing and patients with Pancreatic or Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma may be eligible in the cancer study.  For more information click here.

Watch video on NBC.com

Attitude is a decision

Here are some great attitude questions that we should ask ourselves daily, weekly or monthly:

1.  How do you handle yourself when you feel the world is against you?

2. Would you describe yourself as an optimist or a pessimist?

3. How do you react when asked to do something beyond your capabilities?

4. What is your general attitude towards life?

5. When was the last time you had a project that really energized you?

6. How would your mother describe your attitude towards life?

7. Do you attempt to predict how others will react to a given situation or a suggestion?

8. Do you get envious when you see someone else happy?

9. Have you recently lied to get something that you really wanted?

10. How do you act when you’re under pressure?

How did you answer?

There are several more questions, but this is a good start with keeping your mental health, healthy.  Having a healthy mind will ensure that we have a righteous character.  Life is what YOU make it, keep things on the brighter side!

PHILADELPHIA – May 12th, 2010 – Smoothie King, the originator of the nutritional fruit smoothie, is pleased to announce the second Pennsylvania store opening in Philadelphia early this summer. The new location is underway and will be opening soon inside Market East Terminal between the Philadelphia Convention Center and the Gallery Mall.

National Lifestyle Center

“I’m thrilled to be opening the second Smoothie King in Pennsylvania, and delighted to continue to introduce the Smoothie King concept in Philadelphia,” said Whitaker. “I’m excited to bring the health and nutrition of Smoothie King to the Philadelphia area.”

Chris Whitaker, who relocated to Philadelphia from Tampa, Florida, has a personal passion for living a healthy lifestyle. He became a Smoothie King franchisee because he wanted a business opportunity that would not only provide a fun environment, but one that would also promote healthy living.

“Our mission is to relentlessly influence more and more people to achieve a healthier lifestyle,” said Steve Kuhnau, Smoothie King’s co-founder and CEO. “We are excited to extend our mission in Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love, by offering healthy, great-tasting smoothies for people on the go.”

The Shops at Liberty Place is an upscale retail complex located between the Liberty One and Liberty Two office towers. Located in the heart of the Center City business district, The Shops at Liberty Place is one of the finest urban retail centers in the country and has been a great success for Smoothie King thus far.  The decision of the new location came from Chris, due to the demand of the products from Philly locals.

The Philadelphia Smoothie King will be handing out complimentary smoothies at the upcoming Fashion Up event located at Octo Waterfront & Grille located at 221 N. Columbus Blvd.  “Please join us for a fantastic opportunity to meet the staff and learn more about Smoothie King,” says Chris Whitaker owner of Philadelphia’s Smoothie King franchises.

About Smoothie King Franchises Inc.

Smoothie King is a privately held, New Orleans-area-based franchise company and the premier Smoothie Bar and Nutritional Lifestyle Center in the industry. Smoothie King offers guests the original nutritional fresh-blended smoothie and healthy retail products, including sports beverages, energy bars, healthy snacks, vitamin supplements, herbs, minerals and other sports nutrition products. Smoothie King opened its first store in 1973 and started as the first franchised smoothie bar/health food store in the United States in 1989, and currently has more than 600 units operating in 32 states and the Republic of Korea. For more information, visit www.smoothieking.com.

Please print coupon to redeem at location.