We were at Will Rogers Park in Los Angeles last Friday for a work retreat.  We did a little SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunites, threats); discussed our strategy; ate salad pizza for lunch (no, not oxymoron); and did a yoga session led by Ted McDonald, Maha Yoga instructor and owner of Adventure Yoga Retreats (www.ayretreats.com).  Good times!  For more pics, click here http://www.flickr.com/photos/livinghomes/sets/72157621755863555/

Florian took up the hobby after finishing college and it quickly became an important part of his life. He can juggle three balls or clubs, but he is practicing to reach five! He loves teaching it too, which is how the rest of us caught the bug.

Juggling Facts

• Typical juggling, with three objects, is known as “cascade” juggling, but there are many different patterns and tricks.
• Juggling is very old; the ancient Egyptian, Chinese, Indian, Greek, Roman, Norse, Aztec, and Polynesian civilizations all juggled.
• According to JISCON (Juggling Information Service Committee On Numbers Juggling), the longest qualifying run is 10 rings thrown for 64 catches by Anthony Gatto in 2005.

Positive Juggling Effects

• Increases your heart rate and respiration.
• Improves concentration, endurance, and reflexes.
• Is fun and relaxing.
• Enhances one’s sense of space, hand-eye coordination, and balance.
• Is a great conversation starter.
• Adds to one’s self confidence.
• Is a meditative break from work or school.

For some extra healthy exercise, try joggling.

A broken iPod spurred a recent discussion in the LivingHomes office about electronics recycling. Almost everyone has that pile of old cell phones, mp3 players, and miscellaneous gadgets lying around. We certainly do! So I’ve gathered these items from the entire staff to recycle them all in one swoop.

It is important to recycle as much of our waste as possible, but it is extra important to recycle your computers, cell phones, and mp3 players in responsible ways. Toxins from these electronics can seep into the soil and groundwater, which is both unsustainable and unhealthy! The good news? Many of the precious metals, copper, and high-end plastics can be reused using less energy than it requires to make them, which results in lower emissions and greenhouse gases. According to the EPA, the energy saved by recycling a million cell phones could power more than 19,000 US households for a year!

Unfortunately, there is no city-run roadside electronics recycling in most places, but there are plenty of local programs that accept them. If your electronics are still working, it is even better to donate them than to recycle them. The EPA also hosts a list of nonprofits, retailers, and manufacturers that will accept your used, functioning electronics.

So collect all those old gadgets and join LivingHomes at your local e-cycling center!

Biking saves money on gas and car expenses, prevents emissions, and lessens traffic congestion. Besides that, it’s healthy, fun, and depending on your commute, faster!

Here are a few comfort and safety tips from our team for biking to work in an urban area:

1. Check to see if your city has a map of bike paths and designated bike routes to make your commute safer and less stressful.
2. Layer, since it can be cold, windy, and wet. Keep an extra change of clothes at work.
3. If you think it might rain and you are parked outside, tie a plastic bag over your seat.
4. Make sure your bike has fenders to prevent your tire from slinging mud onto your clothes and face.
5. Wear a helmet to protect your head, and attach lights and reflectors to your bike if you plan on riding after dark.
6. Always makes sure to lock your bike tires and frame to something secure.
7. Get one of those squeaky horns with the tassles. They’re fun, old school, and can warn peds that you’re coming!