Ellie Wilson
MS, RDN Manager, Lifestyles and Wellness
Not getting adequate sleep can greatly interfere with everyday life. It is so important, improving sleep habits and quality have been added to the Life’s Essential 8 lifestyle factor list by the American Heart Association, a roadmap to protecting heart health. Sleep is fundamental to overall capacity to function properly, and depending on your age, the amount of sleep you need may differ. According to the CDC, adults ages 18-60 need 7+ of sleep a night. On the other hand, adults 61-64 need 7-9 hours a night and adults 65+ should be getting 7-8 hours.
The quality of your sleep is just as important as the quantity. Waking up multiple times a night will affect how you feel the next day. Data shows that lack of sleep can undermine mood, alertness, short-term memory, and focus. Long-term chronic sleep issues can negatively impact heart health, metabolism, and weight.
Luckily, there are many ways we can prepare for a better night’s sleep throughout our days. Ensure that you are staying physically active but be cautious of the timing of your exercise. Physical activity gives us energy, so if you work out close to bedtime, you may have more of a challenge falling asleep. Other factors that can undermine sleep health include blue light exposure from smart phones and computers, and shift work. Try limiting screen time before getting ready for bed. Not only does blue light stimulate your brain, but it also slows the production of the sleep hormone melatonin.
While there are many ways to try and develop healthy sleep habits, we sometimes need extra assistance. If you or someone you know is struggling to obtain a steady sleep schedule, see your healthcare provider to have an evaluation for conditions like sleep apnea and insomnia. These require treatment as well. All medications and supplements should be evaluated by a healthcare provider and/or pharmacist for interactions. Melatonin or any sleep aids should be cleared with pediatricians, so children should never be given supplements without prior consultation.
We carry several sleep aids that may meet your needs, and some other items that can contribute to relaxation and sleep hygiene, such as chamomile and other teas, aromatic lotions, and bath salts. Look at our Sleep Aids Collection by clicking on the “Shop Sleep Aids” green tab below. We wish you sweet dreams!
Mia Teal
Marketing Coordinator, Paid Media
‘Tis the season to sip and savor! As the holidays approach, there’s no better time to elevate your festive gatherings with festive drink recipes. Whether you’re hosting a cozy family get-together, a spirited office party, or simply looking to add a touch of merriment to your evenings by the fire, Price Chopper and Market 32 have you covered! From hot chocolate to cocktails and everything in between, we have everything you need to craft the perfect drink. Cheers to making this holiday season the most spirited one yet!
Warm Drink Recipes (non-alcoholic):
Curl up by the fireplace with a delicious warm beverage in hand! Try one of these delicious drinks below.
Cold Drink Recipes (non-alcoholic):
Price Chopper and Market 32 offer a variety of non-alcoholic beverages on our website! Be sure to check them out.
Spiced Pomegranate Mulled Cider with Cinnamon-Ginger Stirring Spoons
Cold Drink Recipes (alcoholic):
Enjoy all the holidays have to offer with these delicious alcholic drinks!
Getting the party started early? Check out these mimosa recipes!
Haleigh Eustis
Floral Intern
Chanukah is a holiday that lasts for eight days in which people celebrate with traditions, foods, games, and family. Even though flowers aren’t technically a staple to this holiday, they certainly could be! If you’re planning on having a family gathering after lighting the menorah, but you want decorations that are fitting for the time of year, I’ve got you covered. Let’s make a Chanukah themed bouquet! .
What you will need:
- One small vase (this will be your inner layer)
- One medium sized vase (This will be your outer layer. Make sure your outer layer is taller than your inner layer and that there is wiggle room when you place the small vase into the medium vase.)
- One bunch of baby’s breath
- One bunch of white roses
- One bunch of blue crazy daisies
- Greenery (optional)
- Chocolate coins or “gelts”
- Blue ribbon (optional)
How to make this bouquet:
Take your inner layer (which is a small vase) and assemble your bouquet. If you’ve never made an arrangement before, don’t fear, I can help!
- Every arrangement has specific flowers that you can utilize to create the most attractive bundle of flowers. The arrangement is going to focus on your focal flower(s) which is—typically—the most beautiful, or eye-catching flower. In this case, your focal flower will be the rose. Normally, we use between one to three focal flowers and build from there.
- After we have our focal flowers, we start utilizing our focal fillers (which in this case will be the blue daisies!)
- Once you’ve created an arrangement of focal and focal fillers, we can start adding regular fillers. For this arrangement I’ve chosen baby’s breath and greenery. Filler flowers are used to fill in odd or awkward gaps. It’s easy to get taken away by fillers, so use them sparingly!
- And voila! You’ve created a beautiful arrangement, and it wasn’t even hard, was it? Let’s continue!
- Once you’ve created your arrangement, place your inner layer into your outer layer. After you’ve assembled shell for your flowers, this is where the fun comes in!
- Take your chocolate coins and place them in the gap between the inner and outer layer (this is the importance of having wiggle room)! When you place the coins in the space, they will stand upright. Repeat this until all the space is filled and you’re going to end up with an eye-catching arrangement that is beautiful on its own or . . . you can adorn the arrangement with a ribbon!
- And there you have it, a beautiful and easy Chanukah arrangement that is sure to impress with its beauty and uniqueness!
Shop all of your Chanukah and Holiday needs at Price Chopper/Market 32!
The Salvation Army Bell Ringer
When 72-year-old Ed Evans read in a newspaper article that his local Salvation Army wasn’t going to be able to put out all their Red Kettles for the annual fundraiser because of a shortage of Bell Ringers, he knew what he had to do.
“I had previously volunteered in a Salvation Army shelter helping to serve lunch and I really enjoyed my experience there,” Evans said. “With no golf matches, garden or lawn work to do in the winters of upstate New York, I knew I had the time to volunteer my services as a Bell Ringer.”
The Red Kettle fundraiser helps The Salvation Army provide local families and individuals in need with food, clothing, and other resources throughout the year, as well as presents under the Christmas tree for local children. And, as the need for Salvation Army assistance has continued to increase due to current economic hardships, so has the need for volunteers.
Whether it’s ringing bells at a Red Kettle for a couple of hours, sorting donations of toys and clothing, or helping parents pick out that perfect Christmas present for their child at a Salvation Army toy shop, volunteers are the backbone of The Salvation Army.
During his multiple shifts as a Bell Ringer, Evans said he was heartened by the many shoppers who not only donated to the Red Kettle, but who also thanked him for volunteering.
“When kids asked about the Bell and Kettle, parents would explain about helping the less fortunate and would give them a dollar to put in the Kettle,” Evans said. “It felt great to be a part of this enlightening experience and to see the immediate reaction of a child’s contribution.”
Evans added that he had a lot of fun and met many interesting people during his multiple shifts as a volunteer Bell Ringer.
“A dollar here, five dollars there…one man put in a twenty,” Evans said. “A few even wrote checks or ran out to their cars to be able to contribute. At the end of each of my volunteer shifts I felt as if I had given $1,000 myself. I knew that the money I had help to raise would go on to help those in need in my community.”
To enquire about Salvation Army volunteer opportunities, call your local Salvation Army, or text “TSAVolunteer” to 31333
Looking for an irresistibly soft toilet paper? Charmin has got you covered. Charmin Ultra Soft Mega Roll is the same great softness you love!
More convenient, more value and all in our long-lasting roll, so you can change the roll even less often! And with our wavy edge, you’ll get a smoother tear for an even better ‘go’! Charmin Ultra Soft is our softest toilet paper ever so it is harder than ever to resist! It is 2X more absorbent so you can use less than the leading bargain brand. It is also clog-safe and septic safe too.
The holidays are in full swing, and we could not be more excited! This time of year calls for charcuterie boards, cheese and cracker appetizers, and cheese and wine pairings, which make us even more thrilled to announce our December Cheese of the Month: Wensleydale with Cranberries. Crafted from natural ingredients, this white cheese without a rind boasts a unique acidity and crumbly texture, while the cranberries contribute a juicy sweetness. Join us as we explore various ways to savor this delicious cheese.
Wensleydale cheese pairs well with fruits like apples and apricots, and is great for a charcuterie board or crumbled on a salad. Fruity ales or wines would also be delicious with this cheese. While this cheese is dry and crumbly, it is good for melting on a sub or sandwich.
To further solidify its presence in the Capital Region, Price Chopper/Market 32 announced today that it has just finalized the purchase of the leases, store equipment and fixtures of the five former ShopRite stores in the Capital Region with a desire to expand its local fleet of Market 32 stores.
“Our Market 32 brand has been extremely well received and this gives us an excellent opportunity to expand our footprint in the Capital Region, provide our customers with the shopping experience they are looking for and our teammates with career growth opportunities right here in our hometown,” said Blaine Bringhurst, Price Chopper/Market 32 president, who celebrated the grand re-openings of the chain’s 39th and 40th Market 32s in Rutland and W. Rutland, Vermont last month.
While the company is still evaluating all its options, the plan is to convert the current ShopRite stores in Niskayuna and North Greenbush into Market 32s. The Slingerlands location, which sits directly across the street from an award-winning Market 32, will be marketed for sublease. As discussions with landlords in Albany and Colonie continue, decisions will be made about the future of those properties and the current Price Chopper/Market 32 stores which are located nearby in Westgate and Colonie Plazas. Current teammates will be prioritized in staffing whichever of the locations are ultimately occupied.
All told, the new Market 32 stores would create more options for customers, provide existing teammates with an opportunity to transfer to a more convenient location, and may create new opportunities once the stores open. Price Chopper/Market 32 does not intend to operate the gas stations.
“Price Chopper/Market 32 is excited at the prospect of growing scale right here in New York’s Capital Region, where we’ve been serving customers for more than 90 years. We have always been and will remain an employer of choice for our valued teammates. We are here to stay and will continue to invest in modernizing our stores, providing opportunities to our workforce, delivering an exceptional shopping experience to our customers, and supporting the community around us,” said Bringhurst.
The holidays are a beautiful time of year. While it is important to give thanks for all we have, the holidays are also a wonderful reminder to give back. Price Chopper and Market 32 are proud to participate in Giving Tuesday, which takes place on November 28th this year. All teammates received a nomination form for a charity they feel should be recognized if they chose. A committee member was selected to evaluate all nominations and pick a winner from each state where our stores are located (New York, Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania). Each charity that was chosen received a $1,000 grant by the company!
Giving Tuesday was created in 2012 and is recognized as a global day of generosity. Giving Tuesday has grown into a global movement that encourages people to give back, volunteer, donate, and do good.
“It’s a simple idea: whether it’s making someone smile, helping a neighbor or stranger out, showing up for an issue or people we care about, or giving some of what we have to those who need our help, every act of generosity counts and everyone has something to contribute toward building the better world we all want to live in (Giving Tuesday).”
2023 Winners:
Veterans Miracle: Albany, NY
The Veterans Miracle Center mission is to “offer Veterans and Active-Duty Military Personnel real solutions that will enhance their lives. We seek to provide clothing, personal care and hygiene products, houseware items, ambulatory equipment, toys for their children and much more — and all goods and services are available free-of-charge to Veterans and their immediate household.”
Learn more here!
Project Just Because: Hopkinton, Massachusetts
Project Just Because “helps struggling families in their times of greatest need by supplying basic necessities including warm clothing, food and school supplies. We are dedicated to serving as many men, women and children as possible in a caring and dignified environment. As a conduit between those who want to give and those in need, Project Just Because fosters a stronger, more empathetic community.”
Learn more here!
COTS: Burlington, Vermont
The COTS organization “advocates for long-term solutions to end homelessness and provide emergency shelter, services, and long-term housing for people who are experiencing homelessness or are marginally housed.”
Learn more here!
Bread for Life: Southington, Connecticut
“The mission of Bread For Life is to provide food, fellowship and a sense of dignity to those in need.Our vision is accomplished by providing meals served daily in our kitchen, delivered within our senior community and also to our home-bound citizens, and to children in the summer.”
Learn more here!
Visions for Creative Housing Solutions: Enfield, New Hampshire
“Visions for Creative Housing Solutions, a 501c3 nonprofit, is the recognized leader in providing permanent, secure homes for Upper Valley adults with developmental and similar disabilities. With two existing locations, and a third under development, Visions’ model has proven to promote self-determination, autonomy, and independence by providing tailored support that helps residents grow and thrive.”
Learn more here!
Blue Chip Farm Animal Refuge: Dallas, Pennsylvania
“We work every day to provide the very best care to the animals at our shelter. We happily take them in and care for them until they find a forever home, or for as long as they need us to. We work to understand the animals first: by learning their personalities and dispositions, and determining what makes them anxious or scared, we are able to effectively place them in environments that make them happiest.”
Learn more here!
We would like to thank all teammates who submitted an organization, and a huge congratulations to our six winners!
Mia Teal
Marketing Coordinator, Paid Media
Thanksgiving came and went in the blink of an eye. Our bellies are stuffed, and so are our refrigerators! What do you do now with all this leftover turkey? Whatever you do, don’t toss those leftovers! We have a few ideas up our sleeves to help you out. Let’s take a look…
Soup Ideas:
Turkey Chili: Warm and hearty turkey chili is a perfect leftover meal!
Instant Pot Tortellini & Vegetable Soup: Add in chopped leftover turkey as well as leftover veggies!
Salad Ideas:
Turkey Spinach Salad with Grilled Jalapeño-Lime Dressing: Nothing says a salad has to be boring! Spice it up with these delicious ingredients.
Spinach, Black Bean & Corn Salad with Chipotle-Cocoa Vinaigrette: Add your leftover turkey and corn to this salad for a nice, flavorful meal.
Sandwich Ideas:
Leftover Turkey Sliders: The name says it all! Use your leftover turkey, stuffing, rolls, and cranberries for this meal.
Open-Faced Turkey Melt: This turkey melt has sliced apples on the bottom which makes for a perfect sweet & salty combo!
Entrée Ideas:
Mac & Cheese with Turkey & Cheddar: This is a great lunch or dinner idea for the day after Thanksgiving!
Turkey Mole Fajita Bowls: This combination of food is sure to keep you full! An option here is to swap the rice with stuffing.
Mia Teal
Marketing Coordinator, Paid Media
Apple cider and apple cider donuts are a staple this time of year. The warm smell of apples fills the air and overloads our hearts with joy. Apple cider products are so well loved, that it has its own day – November 18th! Naturally, we are super excited about this day for many reasons, but one of the biggest reasons we are celebrating is because our M32 cider is produced from Northeast-grown apples. We partner with a variety of local cider mills in our region, like Vermont’s Cold Hollow Cider Mill, Beak and Skiff in Lafayette NY and more! Let’s check out these two below.
Cold Hollow Cider Mill, Waterbury Center VT
From apple cider to desserts to a full food menu, this cider mill has it all! During their peak autumn season, roughly 15,000 donuts and 4,000 gallons of apple cider will be made each day. Yes, you read that correctly!
Beak and Skiff, Lafayette NY
It all began in 1911 when Andrew Beak, a dairy farmer, and George Skiff, an onion farmer, teamed up to establish the very popular Beak and Skiff Apple Orchards. While many harsh weather conditions challenged their business over the years, the two men never stopped doing what they loved. Today, five generations have passed and Beak and Skiff is a booming business. Here you can find apple picking, cider tasting, a very large gift shop, and a café for apple cider donuts and many lunch items. Beak and Skiff Apple Orchard has something for the whole family!
We are proud to partner with these two local cider mills! Take a look at this delicious recipe below made with our Market 32 Apple Cider!