florida creative living magazine - #8 issue

3November - December 2012 Florida Creative Living | For All Ages!

For All Ages! | Florida Creative Living November - December 2012

November - December 2012 8th ISSUE

Creative LivingFlorida

Sections

In Every Issue

4

38 49

65

38-39

47

49-50

Featured Business: DeeShee’s Scandic Catering

Celebrating the Holidays Can Be Difficult: When You Are the Primary Caregiver

Home Remedies: Acne, Arthritis, Backache, Cold, Constipation, & Obesity

Boogie Woogie With Jerry Lee Lewis: A John Guthrie StoryVeterans Suicide’s: What Is the Solution?

Front Cover Topics

62

Artist Corner Artwork created by artist - pg 54Band Directory List of Florida Bands - pg 54Business Directory List of Florida Businesses - pg 55Chef’s Delight Low-fat, Gluten Free, Diabetic, easy to make friendly recipes - pg 56Community Spotlight Florida businesses news - pg 57Va Memoirs Featured stories of Veterans - pg 65

65

62

47


SportsWhat Happens If You Keep Playing Sports When You’re Injured?Expert Advice | pgs 25-26

Techno & ScienceMeingitisBacterial & Viral Infections | pgs 26-27

Staying SafeWhat If a Parent Won’t Stop Texting While Driving?Voicing Your Mind | pgs 28-29

Doodle CornerWord Ladder, Crossword Puzzle, and More...Activity Center | pgs 29-32

NewsSeasonal Affective DisorderTips for Beating the Blues| pg 12-14

Priceless Holiday GiftsMore Than Presents | pgs 15-17

Gift GivingGift Ideas | pgs 17-19

A Teenage Mother’s StoryA Story of Not Giving Up! | pgs 19-20

Healthy HabitsChilling Out With ColdsBeing Good to My Body | pgs 20-21

5 Ways to Shake ShynessTips for Life | pg 22

The 5-Second RuleHealth Basics | pg 23

Hand WashingDefense Against Germs | pgs 24-25


Kids & Teens

19

12

6

24

November - December 2012 Florida Creative Living | For All Ages! 7


SportsHow to Get Nice Muscle ToneBuilding An Attractive Muscular Body | pg 51

Crossword & Sudoku FunTime for a Break! | pgs 52-53

Community SpotlightSet SailWith Majical Miniatures | pg 57

TechnologyStart Up Weekend of TampaTampa to Host Third Startup Weekend | pg 58

Technology of Tomorrow | pg 60

EntertainmentBoogie Woogie with Jerry Lee LewisA John Guthrie Story| pg 62

VA MemoirsVeteran Suicide’sWhat Is the Solutionn? | pg 64

NewsFind Love, Happiness, and Even Find Your Soulmate!Using an Online Dating Coach| pg 37

DeeShee’s Scandic CateringCatering Scandinavian Cuisine | pg 38

AccessoreezClassy, Stylish, Art-to-wear | pgs 40, 42-43

HomeAfter The Great RecessionRebuilding America | pg 44

Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2012 | pg 45

Easy Dinner IdeasFor Thanksgiving | pg 46

Celebrating the Holidays Can Be DifficultWhen You Are the Primary Caregiver | pg 47

Christmas DecorationsEasy and Simple Ideas | pg 48

HealthHome RemediesAcne, Arthritis, Backache, Cold, Constipation, Obesity | pgs 49-50


Adult Living

45

58

8

40


re you ready for the Holidays? Like many the answer would be no. It was just yesterday that it was the beginning of

summer, but in the blink of an eye the holiday season is upon us.

It is normal to feel overwhelmed during the holiday season. The pressure to have the perfect holiday can be extraordinary, please view pages 46 & 48 for

some holiday ideas. Stress from the ailing economy and the increasing costs of gas, housing and healthcare can leave you especially vulnerable to increased anxiety during the holidays. It is important to put things in perspective and realize that the materialism of the holidays isn’t the real spirit of the season. The holidays are about family and togetherness, not tinsel and presents.

Please join Florida Creative Living in donating money for the Hurricane Sandy Relief Efforts. Here’s how you can help those in need: Donate to the organizations that are mobilizing relief efforts in the region, American Red Cross, The Salvation Army USA, ASPCA, HSUS.

Wishing all our readers a safe and Happy Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, and a Merry Christmas.

AA BRIEF WORD FROM THE PUBLISHER

Susan Gulash | [email protected]

10

Florida Creative LivingPO Box 2735, Lutz, FL 33548

O: 813.994.5110 C: 813.458.1098F: 813.200.1002

[email protected]

Florida Creative Living is a full-size, full-color, bi-monthly, online interactive magazine published six times a year by Gulash Graphics. It is distributed free of charge and no content is allowed to be reproduced in whole or part without written permission from Florida Creative Living. This publication is not responsible for statements made by advertisers or writers and is not necessarily the opinion of Florida Creative Living. Typographical errors, and the accuracy of information supplied by advertisers, or the action of the advertisers are not the publication and its publisher responsibility. Editorial submissions are welcome. Publisher reserves the right to reject or edit for length and clarity all submissions.

Creative LivingFlorida

TEAMTerry Foster | Advertising Sales [email protected]

Charles Johnson | Contributing WriterVA Memoir, Entertainment, & Community Spotlight [email protected]

Lisa Burns | Contributing WriterHome & Garden [email protected]

Issues DeadlinesJanuary-February Dec 1, 2012March-April Feb 1, 2013May-June April 1, 2013July-August June 1,2013September-October Aug 1, 2013November-December Oct 1, 2013

& Kids

SectionSection

Kids

TeensTeens


Kids & Teens | NEWS

12

aggie started off her junior year of high school with great energy. She had no trouble keeping up with her schoolwork and was involved in

several after-school activities. But after the Thanksgiving break, she began to have difficulty getting through her assigned reading and had to work harder to apply herself. She couldn’t concentrate in class, and after school all she wanted to do was sleep.

Maggie’s grades began to drop and she rarely felt like socializing. Even though Maggie was always punctual before, she began to have trouble getting up on time and was absent or late from school many days during the winter.

At first, Maggie’s parents thought she was slacking off. They were upset with her, but figured it was just a phase — especially since her energy finally seemed to return in the spring. But when the same thing happened the following November, they took Maggie to the doctor, who diagnosed her with a type of depression called seasonal affective disorder.

What Is Seasonal Affective Disorder?Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a form of depression that appears at the same time each year. With SAD, a

person typically has symptoms of depression and unexplained fatigue as winter approaches and daylight hours become shorter. When spring returns and days become longer again, people with SAD experience relief from their symptoms, returning to their usual mood and energy level.

What Causes SAD?Experts believe that, with SAD, depression is somehow triggered by the brain’s response to decreased daylight exposure. No one really understands how and why this happens. Current theories about what causes SAD focus on the role that sunlight might play in the brain’s production of key chemicals.

Experts think that two specific chemicals in the brain, melatonin and serotonin may be involved in SAD. These two chemicals help regulate a person’s sleep-wake cycles, energy, and mood. Shorter days and longer hours of darkness in fall and winter may cause increased levels of melatonin and decreased levels of serotonin, creating the biological conditions for depression.

Melatonin is linked to sleep. The body produces it in greater quantities when it’s dark or when days are shorter. This increased production of melatonin can cause a person to feel sleepy and lethargic.

With serotonin, it’s the reverse — serotonin production goes up when a person is exposed to sunlight, so it’s likely that a person will have lower levels of serotonin during the winter when the days are shorter. Low levels of serotonin are associated with depression, whereas increasing the availability of serotonin helps to combat depression.

What Are the Symptoms of SAD?Someone with SAD will show several particular changes from the way he or she normally feels and acts. These changes occur in a predictable seasonal pattern. The symptoms of SAD are the same as symptoms of depression, and a person with SAD may notice several or all of these symptoms:

Changes in mood.• A person may feel sad or be in an irritable mood most of the time for at least 2 weeks during a specific time of year. During that

M

Seasonal AffectiveDisorder

Tips for beating the blues

Reviewed by: D’Arcy Lyness, PhD

CONTINUE TO NEXT PAGE


Kids & Teens | NEWS


time, a guy or girl may feel a sense of hopelessness or worthlessness. As part of the mood change that goes with SAD, people can be self-critical; they may also be more sensitive than usual to criticism and cry or get upset more often or more easily.

Lack of enjoyment.• Someone with SAD may lose interest in things he or she normally likes to do and may seem unable to enjoy things as before. People with SAD can also feel like they no longer do certain tasks as well as they used to, and they may have feelings of dissatisfaction or guilt. A person with SAD may seem to lose interest in friends and may stop participating in social activities.

Low energy.• Unusual tiredness or unexplained fatigue is also part of SAD and can cause people to feel low on energy.

Changes in sleep.• A person may sleep much more than usual. Excessive sleeping can make it impossible for a student to get up and get ready for school in the morning.

Changes in eating. • Changes in eating and appetite related to SAD may include cravings for simple carbohydrates (think comfort foods and sugary foods) and the tendency to overeat. Because of this change in eating, SAD can result in weight gain during the winter months.

Difficulty concentrating.• SAD can affect concentration, too, interfering with a person’s school performance and grades. A student may have more trouble than usual completing assignments on time or seem to lack his or her usual motivation. Someone with SAD may notice that his or her grades may drop, and teachers may comment that the student seems less motivated or is making less effort in school.

Less time socializing.• People with SAD may spend less time with friends, in social activities, or in extracurricular activities.

• The problems caused by SAD, such as lower-than-usual grades or less energy for socializing with friends, can affect self-esteem and leave a person feeling disappointed, isolated, and lonely — especially if he or she doesn’t realize what’s causing the changes in energy, mood, and motivation.

Like other forms of depression, the symptoms of SAD can be mild, severe, or anywhere in between. Milder symptoms interfere less with someone’s ability to participate in everyday activities, but stronger symptoms can interfere much more. It’s the seasonal pattern of SAD — the fact that symptoms occur only for a few months each winter (for at least 2 years in a row) but not during other seasons — that distinguishes SAD from other forms of depression.

Who Gets SAD?SAD can affect adults, teens, and children. It’s estimated that about 6 in every 100 people (6%) experience SAD.

The number of people with SAD varies from region to region. One study of SAD in the United States found the rates of SAD were seven times higher among people in New Hampshire than in Florida, suggesting that the farther people live from the equator, the more likely they are to develop SAD.

Interestingly, when people who get SAD travel to areas far south of the equator that have longer daylight hours during winter months, they do not get their seasonal symptoms. This supports the theory that SAD is related to light exposure.

Most people don’t get seasonal depression, even if they live in areas where days are shorter during winter months. Experts don’t fully understand why certain people are more likely to experience SAD than others. It may be that they’re more

sensitive than others to variations in light, and therefore may experience more dramatic shifts in hormone p r o d u c t i o n according to their exposure to light.

Like other forms of depression, females are about four times more likely than males to develop SAD.

People with relatives who have experienced depression are also more likely to develop it. Individual biology, brain chemistry, family history, environment, and life experiences may also make certain individuals more prone to SAD and other forms of depression.

Researchers are continuing to investigate what leads to SAD, as well as why some people are more likely than others to experience it.

How Is SAD Diagnosed and Treated?Doctors and mental health professionals make a diagnosis of SAD after a careful evaluation. A medical checkup is also important to make sure that symptoms aren’t due to a medical condition that needs treatment. Tiredness, fatigue, and low energy could be a sign of another medical condition such as hypothyroidism, hypoglycemia, or mononucleosis. Other medical conditions can cause appetite changes, sleep changes, or extreme fatigue.

Once a person’s been diagnosed with SAD, doctors may recommend one of several treatments:


Kids & Teens | NEWS

14

Increased Light Exposure. Because the symptoms of SAD are triggered by lack of exposure to light, and they tend to go away on their own when available light increases, treatment for SAD often involves increased exposure to light during winter months. For someone with mild symptoms, it may be enough to spend more time outside during the daylight hours, perhaps by exercising outdoors or taking a daily walk. Full spectrum (daylight) lightbulbs that fit in regular lamps can help bring a bit more daylight into your home in winter months and might help with mild symptoms.

Light Therapy. Stronger symptoms of SAD may be treated with light therapy (also called phototherapy). Light therapy involves the use of a special light that simulates daylight. A special light box or panel is placed on a tabletop or desk, and the person sits in front of the light for a short period of time every day (45 minutes a day or so, usually in the

morning). The person should occasionally glance at the light (the light has to be absorbed through the retinas in order to work), but not stare into it for long periods. Symptoms tend to improve within a few days in some cases or within a few weeks in others. Generally, doctors recommend the use of light therapy until enough sunlight is available outdoors.

Like any medical treatment, light treatment should only be used under the supervision of a doctor. People who have another type of depressive disorder, skin that’s sensitive to light, or medical conditions that may make the eyes vulnerable to light damage should

use light therapy with caution. The lights that are used for SAD phototherapy must filter out harmful UV rays. Tanning beds or booths should not be used to alleviate symptoms of SAD. Some mild side effects of phototherapy might include headache or eyestrain.

Talk Therapy. Talk therapy (psychotherapy) is also used to treat people with SAD. Talk therapy focuses on revising the negative thoughts and feelings associated with depression and helps ease the sense of isolation or loneliness that people with depression often feel. The support and guidance of a professional therapist can be helpful for someone experiencing SAD. Talk therapy can also help someone to learn about and understand their condition as well as learn what to do to prevent or minimize future bouts of seasonal depression.

Medication. Doctors may also prescribe medications for teens with SAD. Antidepressant medications help to regulate the balance of serotonin and other neurotransmitters in the brain that affect mood and energy. Medications need to be prescribed and monitored by a doctor. If your doctor prescribes medication for SAD or another form of depression, be sure to let him or her know about any other medications or remedies you may be taking, including over-the-counter or herbal medicines. These can interfere with prescription medications.

Dealing With SADWhen symptoms of SAD first develop, it can be confusing, both for the person with SAD and family and friends. Some parents or teachers may mistakenly think that teens with SAD are slacking off or not trying their best. If you think you’re experiencing some of the symptoms of SAD, talk to a parent, guidance counselor, or other trusted adult about what you’re feeling.

If you’ve been diagnosed with SAD, there are a few things you can do to help:

Follow your doctor’s recommendations for treatment.•

Learn all you can about SAD and explain the condition to others so they • can work with you.

Get plenty of exercise, especially outdoors. Exercise can be a mood • lifter.

Spend time with friends and loved ones who understand what you’re • going through — they can help provide you with personal contact and a sense of connection.

Be patient. Don’t expect your symptoms to go away immediately.•

Ask for help with homework and other assignments if you need it. If • you feel you can’t concentrate on things, remember that it’s part of the disorder and that things will get better again. Talk to your teachers and work out a plan to get your assignments done.

Eat right. It may be hard, but avoiding simple carbohydrates and sugary • snacks and concentrating on plenty of whole grains, vegetables, and fruits can help you feel better in the long term.

Develop a sleep routine. Regular bedtimes can help you reap the mental • health benefits of daytime light.

Depression in any form can be serious. If you think you have symptoms of any type of depression, talk to someone who can help you get treatment.

©1995-2012. The Nemours Foundation/KidsHealth®. Reprinted with permission

f you had to guess what kids love most about the holidays, what would it be? Lots of people - kids and grownups alike - would probably say getting presents. Just look at those crowded shopping malls

and all those catalogs that come in the mail! As the winter holidays draw near, kids are thinking only about what they will get, right?

Wrong.

More Than PresentsBased on some research we did last holiday season, we happily report that kids look forward to a lot more than just presents. About 300 kids answered our 2004 email survey about the holidays. Here’s what they told us:

Nine-year-old Preshious said: “You celebrate family and friends and it is NOT just about presents!”

Jordan, 10, likes to sing and help with the Christmas tree.

Fourteen-year-old Peter said his favorite part of the holidays is that

15

Kids & Teens | NEWS

November - Decemember 2012 Florida Creative Living | For All Ages!


“we’re all together.”

Christmas may be the first holiday that comes to mind this time of year, but kids are celebrating other special days, too. Ten-year-old Hallie celebrates Hanukkah, a Jewish holiday. She said she likes when her family reads a prayer from the Torah. Harley, 11, celebrates Hanukkah, too. She likes lighting the candles on the menorah.

Others kids are celebrating Eid, which marks the end of Ramadan, a month of daytime fasting for those who are Muslim. Hiba, 12, said she likes celebrating Eid by going on family trips to far-off places like the United Arab Emirates. For the holiday, Hiba likes to wear traditional clothes and put henna (a kind of dye) on her hands and legs. “I like wearing traditional clothes because everyone says I look so much like a nice village girl living in my country.”

Families RuleNo matter which holiday kids were celebrating, many said spending time with family was special to them.

Jolene, 12, likes having dinner, opening presents, and going snowboarding with her family.

Nine-year-old Michelle likes singing “Holy One” in Spanish. And being around the Christmas tree “gives me time to tell my family I love them.”

Georgia, 10, likes just being with family, especially her dad. “My dad works day and night working his bum off and in the holidays we get to see him.”

Erika, 8, likes going to her grandparents’ house. Lindsay, 8, also likes visiting her grandma, who she describes as “really fun!”

I

Priceless Holiday

More Than Presents

Gifts


Kids & Teens | NEWS


Shakara, 14, likes “sitting with family and talking about the good old days” at holiday time.

Fabulous FoodWhen you get families together, good food often follows. And lots of kids told us they have fun making holiday foods and eating them.

Eleven-year-old Alexa and her mom make chocolate-covered spoons and pretzels. Alanna, 9, likes to eat flaming Christmas cake.

At Sara’s house, they have a party with lobster, but her mom won’t let her see the lobster until it’s cooked. “She doesn’t want me to treat it like a pet. I won’t eat it then!”

All this food isn’t just delicious. It’s another chance to spend time with family. Lizzie, 9, said she loves building a gingerbread house and baking cookies because “it’s fun to cook with my mom.”

And at Analyse’s house, they bring food and family together in an unusual way: with a mashed potato-eating contest! To us, that sounds like a recipe for a stomachache, but Analyse disagrees. “It is fun and competitive ... and the potatoes are tasty!”

Playing TogetherBesides eating, what else are kids doing at holiday time? Decorating the house, of course. Ryan, 9, likes setting up the Christmas tree because “it’s fun and you can’t really get into trouble.”

Molly, 11, likes decorating and putting up the lights outside. In those well-decorated houses, families are singing and dancing. Yurat, 13, sent his comments to us in Spanish. Translated, we learned that his family does Mexican dances at holiday time.

Marianne, 13, likes doing Christmas karaoke with her family. (Karaoke is when people sing into a microphone along with the music - and they don’t always sound good!)

At Abbie’s house, they dance to Irish music because her family is part Irish. “The Irish songs are jolly and bouncy.”

Nikki, 10, said she likes visiting a family friend’s farm. They ride through the fields on a tractor to see dozens of decorated Christmas trees.

Lots of kids said they liked being out in the snow, throwing snowballs, skiing, snowboarding, or snowmobiling. Grace, 11, said her family has a splashing way to warm up after playing in the

snow: They jump into the hot tub. “You get all cold and wet and then you warm up your whole body from head to toe. It’s really fun!”

Giving Feels GoodSpeaking of warm holiday feelings, many kids also told us how they help others at holiday time. They help by supporting food banks, soup kitchens, shelters, and groups such as the Salvation Army, Toys for Tots, and Operation Christmas Child. Kids said giving was the right thing to do, but many also told us how it made them feel. In a word, it makes them feel good.

Gina, 13, gives traditional holiday foods to the elderly. Morgan, 13, donates food to the food pantry at her church. The food goes into baskets that are delivered to needy people. Morgan said, “I like to see the joy on their faces.”

Nine-year-old Kari said her family donates toys and presents to needy children. “I always feel great when I get presents. So when I give them, I am almost sure that the person who received it is very happy.”

Sammy, 13, helps others by feeding the homeless and spending time with them. “It might sound creepy, but it’s really not that bad. It’s nice to see them smile.”

So kids are donating money, toys, clothes, and food, but they’re also sharing something that doesn’t cost any money. What is it? Their kindness and good cheer.

Eight-year-old Deena visits relatives “so they won’t feel lonely.” Valerie, 12, also visits the elderly at the holidays.

And Jary, 11, helps others by sending letters to a soldier serving in Iraq. “It makes his days in Iraq a little more better.”

Marissa, 7, said she helps others this way: “I have a good prayer for everyone in the world so I know they’re OK and safe as can be.”

Kids Can Lead the WayYou might not know it, but a lot of grownups are wondering how to celebrate the holidays in a more meaningful way. To grownups, more meaningful means slowing down, spending less money, and worrying less about buying tons of expensive gifts for everyone. To kids, this might sound like bad news. Does that mean you might get fewer computer games, clothes, and other cool stuff?

It might. But by the sound of it, a ton of presents isn’t as important as the great family times and holiday traditions kids love sharing with the people they care about. And we’re not talking about no presents at all. That would be awful - for kids and adults alike!

The good news is that families can start small. Here are some ideas that you might want to share with your parents. The goal is to slow down and enjoy the holidays together.

Start putting names in a hatMaybe you’ve done this at school before? You put everyone’s name on a little piece of paper and put all the slips in a hat or a shoebox. Then each person pulls out a name and buys a gift for just this person. Using this method, everyone gets a present, but each person only has to buy one gift. You can set a spending limit, too, to make it easier to decide what you should buy.

ou’ve probably seen the TV commercials about holiday gifts: Mom loves that diamond necklace and Dad flips for the sports car in the driveway with a big bow on top. But wait a minute! Kids can’t afford to buy such expensive gifts. Most kids don’t

Make presents instead of buying themLots of grownups like receiving homemade gifts. Here are some ideas:

Decorate a photo frame and include • a special photo. You also might frame some tickets from a special occasion, like a great football game or a concert you attended with the person.

Learn to knit or do a needle craft, • such as cross-stitching. Make small gifts showing off your new talent.

Bake cookies or other holiday treats • and package them in pretty holiday boxes or baskets. You also can put dry cookie ingredients in a glass jar as a gift. You layer the ingredients (such as sugar, oats, chocolate chips) like sand art. It looks pretty and the person can whip up a batch of delicious cookies. Don’t put eggs or butter in the jar, though, and be sure to include the recipe!

Write a poem, letter, or song to the • person, explaining why he or she is special to you. You could also draw a picture or do a painting, if you like that better. Framing it would add a special touch.

Plant flowers that will start • blooming around the holidays. You



©1995-2012. The Nemours Foundation/KidsHealth®.

Reprinted with permission

Reviewed by: Larissa Hirsch, MD

Kids & Teens | NEWScan plant “paper whites,” which are tall, white flowers. Decorate the pot for the plant or wrap a bow around it.

Give the person a packet of • homemade coupons for stuff he or she likes. You might give your little brother a free pass to borrow one of your toys or a coupon that would “buy” your willingness to play a game of his choice with him.

Give gifts that benefit charitiesAnother twist on gift-giving is to give a gift in someone’s name to a charity. For instance, you might donate money to your grandmother’s favorite charity. Maybe she loves animals and would be thrilled if you donated money to the local animal shelter. Hey, animals need a little holiday cheer, too!

Sometimes groups have fund-raisers, where they sell bricks or stepping stones as part of a project. If your Aunt Lilly loves reading, wouldn’t she love a brick that says her name in front of the new library?

Give gifts of timeSome families decide to give their time by serving people who eat at soup kitchens or live in homeless shelters. It’s a good way to learn, up close and personal, about people who are needy. Sammy, whose family serves food at

the homeless shelter, says they even play cards with the people who come to eat. That’s really spreading holiday cheer!

How to BeginIf you’re interested in trying some of these new family traditions, the first step is to have a family talk to see what everyone thinks. If you can’t get everyone to agree on one idea, look for other ideas that might have more support. It may be too late to make changes this year. If so, maybe start early next year.

As a first step, you might want to tell your mom and dad what is most important to you about the holidays. We certainly liked hearing what kids had to say about the holidays. Your comments were the best kind of holiday gift. They didn’t cost a thing, they were from the heart, and they made us feel warm and happy inside, like a cup of hot cocoa on a snowy winter’s night.

Happy Holidays!

Yeven have jobs. So what do you do if you want to give gifts to the important people in your life?

The good news is that kids shouldn’t feel pressure to spend a lot

Gift Giving

Gift Ideas

For All Ages! | Florida Creative Living November - December 201218CONTINUE TO NEXT PAGE

Kids & Teens | NEWSof money on holiday gifts. The best gifts show the person that you know them well and like them a lot. Thankfully, there are many low-cost ways to do that.

Mom, Dad, and GrandparentsLet’s start with Mom and Dad. Here are two people who will love homemade gifts. The only people who might like them more are grandparents.

Here are some make-it-yourself gift ideas to try:

Decorate a photo frame and include • a special photo. You also might frame some tickets from a special occasion, like a great football game or a concert you attended with the person.

Learn to knit or do a needle craft, • such as cross-stitching. Nothing too complex — you don’t have much time! Make small gifts showing off your new talent.

With help from an adult, bake cookies • or other holiday treats and package them in pretty holiday boxes or baskets. You also can put dry cookie ingredients in a glass jar as a gift. You layer the ingredients (such as sugar, oats, chocolate chips) like sand art. It looks pretty and the person can whip up a batch of delicious cookies. Don’t put eggs or butter in the jar, though, and be sure to include the recipe!

Write a poem, letter, or song to the • person, explaining why he or she is special to you. You could also draw a picture or do a painting, if you like that better. Framing it adds a special touch.

Plant flowers that will start blooming • around the holidays. You can try “paperwhites,” which are tall, white flowers that don’t even need dirt! Decorate the pot for the plant or wrap a bow around it.

Brothers, Sisters, and FriendsIt can be expensive and time-consuming to buy gifts for a bunch of friends or siblings.

Here are some strategies to simplify gift-giving:

Put names in a hat: Put everyone’s name on a little piece of paper and put • all the slips in a hat or a shoebox. Then each person pulls out a name and buys a gift for just this person. You can set a spending limit, too, to make it easier to decide what you should buy. It’s sometimes fun to be a Secret Santa and keep it a secret who will be buying gifts for whom.

Give together: Instead of buying gifts for each other, you could decide to • pool your money with your friends or siblings and make a donation to a charity. From animals to needy kids, there are thousands of organizations that would love to receive a donation from you. If you don’t have much money, you might donate clothing, food, or other basics that charity groups distribute.

Do lunch, or any other meal: Sharing a meal is a fun holiday tradition. You • could go to an inexpensive restaurant with friends and split the bill. Or you could decide to make a big pancake brunch at your house for friends or family. Either way, it won’t cost too much and you’ll share good times and good food.

Your Crush?Girls and guys have been asking themselves this question for years and years: Should I buy a gift for my crush? You kind of want to, but there are so many what ifs: What if your crush doesn’t get you anything? What if he or she doesn’t like the gift? What if your crush doesn’t know who you are?

Personal gifts like jewelry, teddy bears, clothes, or perfume can seem romantic, so you might want to avoid those. Non-mushy cards are pretty safe. So are small gifts like cookies or other sweets. If someone gives you a few cookies or a candy cane, you’re thinking “Yum!” not “Hey, that boy/girl wants to be my boyfriend/girlfriend.”

Your TeacherSometimes, students put their money together and buy the teacher a holiday gift. Some kids give individual gifts, too. But you can show you appreciate your teacher with a simple card that has a note of thanks inside. You might even mention the favorite thing you’ve learned in the teacher’s class so far this year. It makes teachers feel good to know that some of the important stuff they teach is sinking in!

The Kid Who Needs a FriendThe holidays are a good time to think about people who are lonely. Maybe there is someone in your class or school who doesn’t seem to have many friends. The person might get teased or have troubles, such as a mental or physical handicap.

Consider doing one small kindness for this person. It could be giving a Christmas card or just having a small conversation. You could say, “Hey, I like your Santa hat” or “Would you like a cookie? My mom made them.” Even inviting someone who’s lonely to join your lunch table can make them feel better. Such a small, small thing, but it could mean a lot to someone who feels a little shy or sad at school.

Easy Printable Gifts!If you’re still in need of a gift idea, we have a few for you. We’ve created coupons and bookmarks you can personalize and give to family or friends. If you already have a gift, these are great little add-on presents to attach to the package.

With the coupons, you can give your little brother something he really wants — like some of your time to play a board game. Or you can give your mom or dad something really priceless: a coupon redeemable for one clean room — yours!

Let’s see ...what’s the No. 1 reason we like you? You’re such a thoughtful gift-giver that you read all the way to the end of this article!

Print the Christmas Coupons on page 30.


ccording to a survey seven hundred and fifty thousand teen girls get pregnant each year and thirty one percent young women get pregnant before 20. Of those seven

hundred and fifty thousand teenage pregnancy’s more then half don’t finish High School or plan on going to College.

I recently had the opportunity to interview Naomi Raymond, a young teenage mother of an 18 month old little girl name, “Hope”. Even though the statics are high in not finishing High School, Naomi put all her odds aside and finished and now is on her way to becoming a Medical Assistant.

To read about Naomi, please view below:

What decisions did you have to make before Hope was born and after?

Naomi: Because I was only 16 I was still attending school so my schooling schedule had to change and my graduation too. I went into a home schooling program to finish school half year early to take kind of my daughter. Many other things weren’t very hard for me because I was so liking forward to having my daughter that other things weren’t important to me anymore. My daughter Hope was my most important thing.

How have your friends treated you since you had Hope?

Naomi: My friends have been supportive of me with my pregnancy and now that Hope is born. I had very little at the end of my pregnancy and at the last minute all my friends jumped in and bought a lot for her and helped me emotionally and all the things I had going on.

What sacrifices did you to make before and after Hope was born?

Naomi: I wouldn’t call them sacrifices. I didn’t give up much because I was very mature already so the thing I would of been normally doing at my age was not what my main choice now or then.


A

©1995-2012. The Nemours Foundation/KidsHealth®. Reprinted with permission.

Kids & Teens | NEWSBut our favorites are bookmarks you can personalize. On one of the bookmarks, you can write down what you like best about the holidays. A few years ago, we asked kids to answer that question and hardly anyone said presents. Instead, kids told us how much they love seeing relatives (especially cousins) and sharing special family times cooking, singing, and even having mashed potato-eating contests! Your mom, dad, or grandparents would love to know what you like about the holidays, especially if it involves family fun and holiday traditions.

The other bookmarks also make good gifts because you can write in the top 3 reasons you like or love the person who you’re giving it to. So for your dad, you might say it’s the way he makes up silly songs, cooks cheesy eggs for breakfast, and taught you how to rollerblade. Now, that’s a present he can enjoy every time he opens his book.

Because I was only 16 I was still attending school so my schooling schedule had to change and my graduation too. I went into a home schooling

Because I was only 16 I was still attending school so my schooling Because I was only 16 I was still attending school so my schooling

A Teenage Mother’s Story

A Story Of Not Giving Up!

By Susan Gulash


How has being a mother at a young age changed your perspective on life?

Naomi: Being a mother at such a young age, I had to change my lifestyle and plans for my future. I had to make my life very flexible with work and schooling. I now work as a IHSS nurse for my finance’s father. Making these choices for myself and our family pulled us together and made us very close. All of these things have made a big impacted on our lives. Having a child at a young age is hard, but “with a big heart and loving arms you will be and are already an amazing parent.” My Mother-in- law told me that right before I had my beautiful daughter as words to encourage me. I told those to heart and every remind myself everything how blessed I am.

If you could give any advice to teenagers that are thinking of becoming pregnant what would you tell them?

Naomi: Becoming a teen parent is a lot responsibility. I give advice to teens a lot in that spot in their lives where they start wanting babies, and families. My best advice to give them is, “Finish with yourself first. Get your diploma!! Once you finish that you will go far and know that you can build on that forever with or without kids.” Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t. I went through good and bad times like everyone else. I did it! You can too! Just focus and remember you made that little one and they rely on you. So be the best you can be.

I always say, “When life hands you lemons, make the best of it”. Regardless of why, the important thing is what you do next. And no amount of clichéd phrases and ambiguous advice will help you. It could take days, weeks, or months. But you will do something about it. Because life goes on. Because lemons on their own are bitter. Life has a way of figuring things out, and as long as you’re in touch with reality (for the most part) and honest with yourself and others, you can overcome your confusing lemon predicament. Your lemonade may even taste completely different than you predicted. Clearly that is what Naomi is doing, living life and not giving up.

20

Is your boyfriend helping you with the baby, and has it brought you closer together since having Hope?

Naomi: We were very close to start off with but now we all as a family are as close as ever. With everything he of all my friends and family was the most supportive of us.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Naomi: I will be happily married and with two children. This was just the start of my life. Though it was a early start I would do it differently if I was giving an other chance.

What would you like wish for your daughter in life?

Naomi: To always be happy! Truly Happy!!! To know that her family will always be there for her through thick and thin. That she will always been our little angel!

Have you applied to go to college, and what do you plan on studying?

Naomi: I start College Monday actually at Ultimate Medical Academy to become Medical Assistant. I choose to do online because I do have Hope, and seeing how she is only 19 months I’m not ready to put her in daycare.

Kids & Teens | NEWS


Being Good to My Body

Reviewed by: Kevin P. Sheahan, MD

Kids & Teens | HEALTHY HABITS

You wake up in a cranky mood. Your head hurts. You don’t have the energy to even get out of bed. And you can’t breathe out of your nose. What’s wrong? You have a cold!

Having a cold is the #1 reason kids visit the doctor and stay home from school. Kids get up to eight colds per year with

each cold lasting an average of 5 to 7 days. Let’s find out more about them.

Out With Colds




What Is a Cold?A cold is an infection of the upper respiratory system. This just means it affects the nose, throat, and ears. A cold virus gets inside your body and makes you sick. The rhinovirus (say: rye-no-vye-rus) is the most common cold virus, but more than 200 viruses can cause colds. Because there are so many, there isn’t a vaccination, or shot, to prevent you from getting colds.

Fortunately, your body already has the best cold cure — your immune system. The immune system defends your body against illness. White blood cells are the immune system’s main warriors. They’re your own private army working to help you feel better. Take that, cold viruses!

How Kids Catch ColdsMucus (say: myoo-kus) is the wet, slimy stuff inside the nose. When someone sneezes or coughs, mucus drops float in the air. Breathing in these droplets can spread a cold from one person to another.

You also can catch a cold if you touch your eyes or nose after handling something with cold viruses on it. Video games, the doors at the mall, and your school desk are all hot spots for viruses. So be sure to wash your hands regularly.

Getting a cold works like space travel: The virus actually has docking points that stick to the inside of your nose — just like a small spaceship attaching to a mother ship! The virus takes over the cells lining the nose and begins creating more viruses.

White blood cells charge to the nose’s rescue and cause cold symptoms, while also killing the virus that caused the cold. Runny noses and sneezing actually help to prevent viruses from invading other parts of your body.

You sneeze because your nerves detect the irritation in your nose and get the lungs to push a blast of air out through your nose and mouth. A sneeze can travel at more than 100 miles (161 kilometers) an hour — faster than a car travels on the road, unless you’re at a racetrack!

Cold CluesSymptoms (say: simp-tumz) are signs or clues that tell doctors you’re sick. Once you’ve been in contact with a cold virus, it takes 2 to 3 days for cold symptoms to begin. If you have some of the following symptoms, you probably have a cold:

low fever (100-101° F or 37.2-37.8° • C)body chills• itchy or sore throat• sneezing, runny nose, and watery • eyescoughing• feeling tired and not hungry• congestion (when your nose is • stuffy and it’s hard to breathe)

• Helping Kids Feel BetterHere are some feel-better tips:

Bring on the heat.• Hot drinks soothe coughs and sore throats while also clearing mucus. So eat (or drink) your chicken soup!

Get steamed up.• A steamy shower helps stuffy or irritated noses. Or run a humidifier (a small, quiet machine that sprays fine cool mist in the air) to relieve your scratchy throat, stuffy nose, and itchy eyes. Humidifiers make room air moist, which loosens mucus.

Practice healthy habits. • Your immune system will be ready to fight colds if you eat a balanced diet, get plenty of sleep, and keep your body fit through regular exercise.

Blow your horn.• Blowing your nose is the best way to get rid of mucus.

Rest. • Take a nap or go to bed a little earlier for a few nights.

De-stress.• Kids who are stressed out feel worse when they have colds. Relax and use the time to read, listen to music, or watch a movie. In other words, chill out and you might prevent a cold!




tips for life

aving a shy style isn’t necessarily a problem. It’s perfectly OK to take time to warm up to new people and situations. But shyness blocks some people from being as comfortable or

sociable as they’d like to be.

Some people want to feel less shy so they can have more fun socializing and being themselves around others. Here are some tips for overcoming shy feelings:

Start small with people you know. 1. Practice social behaviors like eye contact, confident body language, introductions, small talk, asking questions, and invitations with the people you feel most comfortable around. Smile. Build your confidence this way. Then branch out to do this with new friends, too.

Think of some conversation starters. 2. Often, the hardest part of talking to someone new is getting started. Think of conversation openers, like introducing yourself (“Hi, I’m Chris, we’re in the same English class”), giving a compliment (“That jacket looks great on you”), or asking a question (“Do you know when our report is due?”). Being ready

with a conversation starter (or a few) makes it easier to approach someone.

Rehearse what to say. When you’re 3. ready to try something you’ve been avoiding because of shyness — like a phone call or a conversation — write down what you want to say beforehand. Rehearse it out loud, maybe even in front of the mirror. Then just do it. Don’t worry if it’s not exactly like you practiced or if it’s not perfect. Few of the things more confident-seeming people do are perfect either. Be proud that you gave it a go. Next time, it’ll be even better because it will be easier.

Give yourself a chance. Find group 4. activities where you can be with people who share your interests. Give yourself a chance to practice socializing with these new people, and get to know them slowly. People who are shy often worry about failing or how others will judge them. Worries and feelings like these can keep you from trying. If self-criticism plays a role for you, ask yourself whether you’d be this critical of your best friend. Chances are you’d be much more accepting.

So treat yourself like your own best friend. Encourage yourself instead of expecting to fail.

Develop your assertiveness. 5. Because shy people can be overly concerned with other peoples’ reactions, they don’t want to rock the boat. That doesn’t mean they’re wimpy or cowardly. But it can mean they are less likely to be assertive. Being assertive means speaking up for yourself when you should, asking for what you want or need, or telling other people when they’re stepping on your toes.

Most of all, be yourself. It’s OK to try out different conversational approaches you see others using. But say and do what fits your style. Being the real you — and daring to let yourself be noticed — is what attracts friends.

HReviewed by: D’Arcy Lyness, PhD

5 Ways to Shake Shyness



lmost everyone has dropped food on the floor and still wanted to eat it. Some people apply the “5-second rule” — that random saying about how food won’t become contaminated with bacteria if you pick it up off the

floor in 5 seconds or less.

The 5-second rule has become such a part of our culture that scientists actually tested it. As you can probably guess, they found that the “rule” is mostly myth: Bacteria can attach to food even if you pick it up super fast. So, depending on which types of bacteria happen to climb on board, you could still get sick.

Here are two facts to consider whenever you feel tempted by the 5-second rule:

A clean-looking floor isn’t necessarily clean1. . A shiny linoleum floor is probably cleaner than a 1970s-era carpet. But even clean, dry floors can harbor bacteria. Newly washed floors are only as clean as the tools used to wash them (picture eating food off the mop

in the cafeteria if you need a visual). Even with a brand-new mop or sponge, stubborn germs can still remain on the floor after cleaning.

Fast is better — but it may not be fast enough.2. Although a piece of food does pick up more bacteria the longer it’s on the floor, bacteria can attach to it instantly. So any food that makes contact with the floor can get contaminated if conditions are right. And foods with wet surfaces, like an apple slice, pick up bacteria easily.

When in Doubt, Toss It OutSome bacteria are not harmful. But others can torture you with miserable stuff like diarrhea. Even if there’s no visible dirt on your food, you can still get sick. You just can’t tell what kinds of bacteria may be lurking on the floor.

So what are you to do with the piece of watermelon that just slipped from your grip? The safest choice is to throw it out. Or let the dog have it. (And there’s another thing to consider — even the 5-second rule can’t get around the fact that your food may have landed right in a spot where Fido parked his butt.)

A


Reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD

Health Basics

The 5-Second Rule

The 5-Second Rule




ash your hands!" How many times have you heard that from your parents? You might think they're just nagging you, but actually the most important thing you can do to keep from getting sick is to wash your hands.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), if you don’t wash your hands frequently, you can pick up germs from other sources and then infect yourself. You’re at risk every time you touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. In fact, one of the most common ways people catch colds is by rubbing their nose or their eyes after the cold virus has gotten on their hands.

If people don’t wash their hands frequently (especially when they’re sick), they can spread germs directly to other people or onto surfaces that others touch. And before you know it, every-one around you is coming down with something!

The First Line of Defense Against GermsThink about all of the things that you touched today — from the telephone to the toilet. Maybe you blew your nose and played with your dog. Whatever you did, you came into contact with germs. So it’s easy for germs on your hand to end up in your mouth (maybe when you scarfed that handful of popcorn with your teammates right after soccer practice).

By frequently washing your hands the right way, you’ll wash away germs — such as bacteria and viruses — that you have picked up from other people, through contaminated water and food, from tainted surfaces, or from animals and animal waste.

Defensive Hand WashingDid you know that an estimated 1 out of 5 people don’t wash their hands after using the restroom? In 2005 the American Society for Microbiology did a survey of hand washing. They asked people questions about their hand-washing habits and also watched peo-ple in public restrooms.

The results were kind of gross. For example:

W People don’t always wash their hands after using • the bathroom — 91% of adults say they always wash their hands after using public restrooms, but just 83% were seen doing so.

People wash their hands less at home — 83% say • they wash their hands after using the bathroom at home. Germs are germs, and a bathroom is a bathroom.

Only 32% of people in the survey said they wash • their hands after coughing or sneezing. So it’s nice that you protect the people around you by cover-ing your mouth with your hand when you cough. But if you then reach for your friend’s pizza, you might as well not have bothered.

Just 21% wash their hands after handling money.•

Only 42% of the people in the survey washed up • after petting a dog or cat. You’ve seen your dog roll in that mystery smell in the park or your cat rub against you after using the litter pan. Fido and Fluffy are dirtier than you think.

And even if you’re a good hand-washer, your friends may be harboring some dirty little secrets: Students don’t wash their hands often or well. In one study, only 58% of female and 48% of male middle- and high-school students washed their hands after using the bathroom. Yuck!

How to Wash Your Hands CorrectlyThere’s a right way to wash your hands. Follow these simple steps to keep your hands clean:

Reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD

Hand WashingDefense Against Germs



Kids & Teens | SPORTS



What if you keep playing when you have a sports injury? What are the effects?- Ryan*

When it comes to sports injuries, the old days of “just suck it up” or “play through

the pain” are over. Doctors, trainers, and most coaches now know that playing through a sports injury can cause damage that keeps you on the bench longer. Playing through an injury may even end your sports career entirely.

Expert advice

Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD

Use warm water (not cold or hot).•

Use whatever soap you like. Antibacterial soaps are popular but • regular soap works fine. If you suspect that your hands have come into contact with someone with an infection, think about using an alcohol hand sanitizer.

Rub your hands togeth-• er vigorously and scrub all surfaces: Lather up on both sides of your hands, your wrists, between your fingers, and around your nails. Wash for 15 seconds — about how long it takes to sing “Happy Birthday.”

Rinse well under warm • running water and pat dry with a clean towel.

In public restrooms, • consider using a paper towel to flush the toi-let and open the door because toilet and door handles harbor germs. Throw the towel away after you leave.

To prevent chapping or dry skin, use a mild soap with warm water, pat rather than rub hands dry, and apply a moisturizing lotion liberally after-

ward.

When there is no soap or water available, waterless hand soaps or scrubs are a good alternative. They’re usually available as a liquid, wipes, or towelettes, and of-ten come in small travel sizes that are perfect for keeping in your book bag, car, locker, purse, or sports bag.

Remember, proper and frequent hand washing is the key to preventing the spread of many common infections. So hum a few verses of “Happy Birthday” and lather up!

What Happens If You Keep Playing Sports When You're

Injured?


So what should athletes do?

First, stop playing as soon as you notice an injury and talk to your coach or doctor. Then keep resting until you are fully healed and your doctor gives the go ahead (even if you feel sort of OK and there’s a big game coming up, don’t play unless your doctor says you can).

Second, condition your body. Sports medicine experts recommend training and conditioning as a way to prevent injuries from happening in the first place. Talk to your coach, trainer, or visit a sports medicine center for an evaluation of your strengths and weaknesses. Everyone has different strengths and weaknesses, and some of them are things you might not be aware of or expect.

A good athletic trainer or coach can evaluate you and then give you workouts and conditioning exercises that are targeted to your individual needs. These help you build up the weaker areas of your body so there’s less risk of overall injury.

Sports medicine centers in children’s hospitals are a good bet. Trainers and therapists who work with young athletes know more about developing bodies and the kinds of injuries teens can get than trainers who work with adults. If you already have an injury, these experts can give you conditioning exercises targeted to your body so that it both heals and grows stronger.

Kids & Teens | SPORTS

26


Continuing to play if you have an injury can make that injury worse. A small stress fracture that might have healed quickly can grow into a more serious, more painful fracture that will take longer to heal. Returning to play too soon after a concussion increases your risk of serious brain injury.

But, in addition to worsening an existing injury, playing when you’re already injured means you also can get hurt someplace else. That’s because you may be playing in a way that’s not natural for your body — it protects the injured area but puts other areas at risk.

Kids & Teens | TECHNO & SCIENCE

bacterial & viral infections

Reviewed by: Joel Klein, MD

eningitis can be a serious infection, and it can be contagious — which is why outbreaks make the news. However, it’s also pretty rare.

What Is Meningitis?Meningitis means inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord called the

meninges (pronounced: muh-nin-jeez). It often occurs when an infection elsewhere in the body spreads through the blood and into the cerebrospinal fluid (the fluid that circulates in the spaces

in and around the brain and spinal cord). People can get meningitis at any age.

There are several types of meningitis, and their severity and treatment can vary depending on which type a person has. Most cases of meningitis are caused by viruses (viral meningitis) or bacteria (bacterial meningitis), but fungi and other organisms can also

MCONTINUE TO NEXT PAGE


Kids & Teens | TECHNO & SCIENCEcause infectious meningitis. Some cases of meningitis result from head injuries, certain cancers or other diseases, or reactions to medications.

Viral meningitis is caused by such viruses as enteroviruses, which are very common in summer and early fall. These viruses can spread through contact with saliva, mucus, or feces (poop). That doesn’t mean that people need to kiss or share a sandwich to catch the virus, though. People can spread the infection when they touch surfaces that others will touch or when they sneeze without covering their mouths. Enteroviruses begin to multiply in the digestive tract and can spread through the body to cause meningitis.

Bacterial meningitis is a more severe form of the infection. If it isn’t treated promptly, it can cause brain damage and, in some circumstances, even death. The most common bacteria that cause bacterial meningitis in teens are Streptococcus pneumoniae and Neisseria meningitidis. People can spread them through throat and respiratory secretions — for example, by coughing or kissing. After a person is started on antibiotic treatment for meningitis, the infection can still be spread to others for at least 24 hours.

One form of bacterial meningitis is related to Lyme disease. Lyme meningitis is generally less severe than other forms of bacterial meningitis and is not fatal.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms?Viral and bacterial meningitis can cause similar symptoms. Although it may be difficult to identify which type a person has, a doctor can often find out by doing tests.

Some symptoms of both viral and bacterial meningitis are:

fever• stiff neck• severe headache• sensitivity to light• vomiting• nausea• extreme sleepiness• confusion• seizure•

If you or someone you know has these symptoms — especially if you’ve been around someone with meningitis — be sure to talk to a doctor. Treating the infection early is very important.

Can It Be Prevented?Washing your hands really well and often is one way to defend against meningitis and other infections.

Although bacterial meningitis can seem scary, the chance of getting it is quite low. However, because it can be so serious, doctors now recommend that all teens get vaccinated against meningococcal meningitis (the type caused by Neisseria meningitides bacteria). Many colleges actually require their students to get meningitis vaccines.

There are also vaccines for some other types of meningitis. If you have a medical condition that affects your immune system, for example, a doctor may also recommend a vaccination against the S. pneumoniae type of bacteria. But vaccines don’t exist for all types of bacterial meningitis.

When to Call the DoctorIf you have meningitis symptoms, call your doctor right away. Early detection and treatment of meningitis are very important to avoid serious health problems.

If you’ve been in close contact with someone who has bacterial meningitis, see your doctor, even if you have no symptoms. The doctor might prescribe antibiotics to help prevent you from getting the infection. A fast diagnosis can also keep the infection from spreading to others.

What Do Doctors Do?To diagnose meningitis, a doctor may do a spinal tap, in which a small amount of the cerebrospinal fluid is removed and tested in a lab. If the meningitis is bacterial, this can help the doctor decide which type of antibiotic to prescribe. To find out more about the infection, sometimes the doctor will also do a brain scan (called a CT scan).

Bacterial meningitis is treated in the hospital with intravenous antibiotics (through an IV — a drip that delivers the medication directly into a person’s vein). Antibiotic treatment for bacterial meningitis may last for a couple of weeks, although a person may not need to spend the full time in a hospital. Lyme meningitis is also treated with IV antibiotics.

Doctors may also prescribe corticosteroids to protect a person from hearing damage as a result of bacterial meningitis. If there are problems caused by the infection, the doctor will need to treat those problems, too. Sometimes people can have permanent brain damage from the disease — especially if it is not diagnosed and treated quickly — so if you have symptoms, it’s important to get checked out and treated right away.

If the meningitis is viral, it usually goes away on its own (antibiotics are not effective in treating this type of meningitis because it’s not caused by bacteria). The doctor will recommend as much rest as possible to help the recovery, and also may also recommend medication to help relieve any headaches or body aches.


For All Ages! | Florida Creative Living November - December 201228CONTINUE TO NEXT PAGE

hat can I do if I’ve asked my mom to stop texting and driving and made it clear that it makes my friends and me feel uncomfortable and that I worry about her even when I’m not in the car — and she insists it’s no big deal and blows it off?- Giselle*

We’re so sorry you’re in this situation. But well done for thinking about your safety, your friends’ safety — and your mom’s. You’re doing the right thing. Texting while driving is a big deal, no matter who does it (dads text and drive too!).

You’ve probably already made comments to your mom in the car about her texting (like, “C’mon, Mom, put that thing down. The light’s green!”). Now it’s time for a really serious, sit-down heart-to-heart. Pick a time when you know your mom isn’t rushing off somewhere and will have time to talk — that way she can’t wriggle out of the conversation by saying she needs to go do something!

Start by letting your mom know you need her full attention.• Say: “Mom, I need to talk to you about something important to me, and I need you to hear me out without interrupting, OK?”

Deliver the message calmly and kindly.• For example, you might say: “It’s about your texting and driving. I’ve mentioned it to you in the car about five times now, and each time I feel

like you blow me off. It makes me sad and scared that you still text and drive, even though I’ve told you how I feel. I am afraid in the car with you, and I am afraid for your safety when I’m not in the car. I love you too much to lose you.”

Say that others have noticed it too.• “My friends are uncomfortable riding with you. If their parents knew that you text and drive, they wouldn’t let them in the car with you. Some of them already turn down rides with me because of it, and I think they’re right. Just like with drinking and driving, we’re all being told not to drive with friends who text while driving.”

Say what you’ve learned about texting and driving• . If you have articles or research about it, mention that. You could say: “I learn every day that texting and driving is risky, dangerous, and causes accidents, but it’s like you don’t think all the information about safety applies to you. I’ve also learned that distracted drivers never think they’re distracted — everyone thinks they’re able to multitask. But it just takes a second for something awful to happen. Not only can people get hurt, but we’ve learned how police will use texting records to see who is at fault, since texting while driving is against the law in most

W

Kids & Teens | STAYING SAFE

Reviewed by: D’Arcy Lyness, PhD

Voicing Your Mind

What If a Parent Won’t Stop Texting

While Driving?

Parents,



Kids & Teens | STAYING SAFEplaces. So I’m scared you could get fined or sued.”

Mention that you look to her as a role model. Say: “Mom, how can you • expect me not to do things you tell me are risky when you do them? I need you to set a good example. It hurts me that you won’t stop texting in the car for me. What text is so important that it’s worth risking your life or mine?”

Say what you want her to do:• “I love you, Mom, so here’s what I’m asking. I’m asking you to think about what I just said without getting mad and defending yourself, and without blowing me off and ignoring the problem. I’m asking that from now on, you zip your phone into your purse — or better yet, turn it off when you get in the car. A habit, just like buckling your seat belt. If you must keep your phone on, I want you to keep it out of reach. If you hear the tone that says you got a message or if your phone rings, I want you to ignore it. If I’m with you, you can give your phone to me — I’ll do whatever I can to help. I want you to check your messages and voicemail only when you’re parked. That’s what I’m asking you to do. And I’m asking because I love you and I care about your safety and mine.”

Give your mom time to think and get back to you.•

A conversation like this isn’t easy, and it will call on all your skills in being

assertive and mature. You need to manage your emotions and stay calm if you want your mom to hear what you think, feel, and want.

But what if your mom doesn’t hear you out or doesn’t change her behavior? Try again, this time writing it in a letter. If she doesn’t change her mind, ask a relative or adult friend to help you convince her. And, until she changes her habits, try to get rides with friends’ parents (or other responsible drivers) whenever you can.

Directions: Make your way from GIFT to TREE by changing just one letter on each step to make a new word!

G I F TG I __ ____ I S __ F I __ __ F __ A __ F R __ __F R __ __

T R E E

The main point of an argument.

A clenched hand.

A decree.

Slang for “fraternity”.

To worry.

A special package.

Kids & Teens | DOODLE CORNER

Gift to Tree Word Ladder

If it costs nothing, it’s_____.

We decorate these at Christmas.


Kids & Teens | DOODLE CORNER Christmas Coupons


Kids & Teens | DOODLE CORNERThanksgivingCrossword Puzzle

ACROSS

1. People who have migrated to a different land from where they were born5. Reddish growth that covers the throat and neck of a turkey6. A Thanksgiving time of year7. Fills up the bird and then fills up the people10. Main course at Thanksgiving supper

Down

2. Another word for family members3. Another name for Corn4. A celebration including large quanities of food8. People we visit on Thanksgiving9. Yummy sauce to pour over turkey

Word List: Autumn, Family, Feast, Gravy, Maize, Relatives, Settlers, Stuffing, Turkey, Wattle

10

87 9

6

21

3

5

4


Kids & Teens | DOODLE CORNERDoodle Pad

Draw your favorite part of winter in Florida. Email your pictures to [email protected] to be featured in our website Kids & Teens section.

Winter Memories!


Adult LivingSection


n this age of technology, where you find yourself faced with more time-saving devices than ever - and are simultaneously busier than

ever - it is gratifying to know that you have new resources available to help you find love... happiness... and even find your Soulmate.

Internet Dating is gaining in popularity and no longer holds the stigma it did even five years ago. Online dating and matchmaking services have become highly regarded as reliable ways to take the guesswork out of dating. For those who have concentrated heavily on their careers - only to find that with success comes less time for dating - online dating services have become an invaluable tool in helping singles meet like-minded others.

Want to Find your Soulmate? The Online Dating Coach to the Rescue!As an added benefit to the convenience of online dating, clients can also receive the services of an Online Dating Coach or “Love Coach” as we’re sometimes referred to by our clients. As a professional guide and consultant, a Dating Coach is now in demand by singles who are looking for guidance.

Many professionals understand how important it is to describe the best parts of their personalities in writing - and this is where a Dating Coach can really help you shine!

An Online Dating Coach is an expert and will create an outstanding Online Dating Profile for you. There aren’t many Online Dating Coaches in the world, but those who choose this profession are often talented - and even masterful - at creating a dating profile. The coach’s talent will be crucial to the client who has a lot to offer in a relationship, but who just isn’t skillful at putting his or her ideas down on paper.An Online Dating Coach will typically conduct an initial telephone interview with you, asking you lots of very interesting questions. During the first coaching session, your dating coach will take a look at your personality. By asking you a series of personal and revealing questions and paying attention to how you reply, your coach will use this information to create a dating strategy just for you.

Be honest with your dating coach in expressing what you’re looking for. In addition to describing your personality in your dating profile, your coach will help you be realistic in your search for a relationship. If you’re an average-looking guy collecting unemployment benefits with three young kids at home, it’s

unlikely you’ll be dating a world-famous supermodel - no matter how much you think you might want to.

But on the other hand, your coach will also help you achieve the best results possible. Often an average-looking man or woman can be made to look and sound much better than they might sound on their own, just by highlighting and accentuating their best qualities. Your coach will also help you write Letters of Introduction. This will benefit you in several ways - for one, your response rate to your dating matches will almost certainly increase, and you’ll have access to more attractive partners.

As an emerging new category of personal coaching, the role of the Online Dating Coach will almost certainly expand over the next five to ten years. As Online Dating grows in popularity, so will the role of the Dating Coach in serving the needs of clients worldwide who flock to dating sites in search of their Soulmates!

AuthorJay Reiss is an Online Dating Coach who has worked with more than two thousand clients worldwide! He’ll help you design your Online Dating Profile and show you how to succeed with Online Dating! He offers a free telephone coaching session (a $100.00 value - free!) and has Free Online Dating Advice on his website www.online-dating-coach.com

I

Adult Living |NEWS

Find Love, Happiness,and Even Find Your

Soulmate!

Using an Online Dating Coach


wners, Dena Gebelius and Rochelle Benjamin met in 2008 at the University of Tampa while pursuing their degrees. Unaware at that moment in time, the two would later give life to the idea of DeeShee’s Scandic

Catering – Tampa Bay’s very own Scandinavian catering company.

The “Dee” of DeeShee’sDena can still remember growing up as a child in Sweden embracing nature as she and her friends played in the forest amongst the trees. Fluent in the Swedish language, she has a deep, profound love and respect for Sweden, the place that she refers to as her second home. Even though she is now many miles away, Dena found that going back to Sweden in 2011 still put a child-like smile on her face as she reflected upon her rich and cultured Swedish upbringing. This experience gave birth to a burning desire to thank the country of Sweden and those who played their individual part in helping her fulfill her dream: DeeShee’s Scandic Catering.

The “Shee” of DeeShee’sRochelle was born and raised on the island of St. Croix, the

Olargest island of the U.S. Virgin Islands – which were once a royal Danish colony in 1754. The historical Danish mark still resonates on the island today, from the islands’ street names to Danish influenced historical buildings. On her 2011 visit to

Sweden, she has found a new appreciation for the country and its people. During her stay in the outskirts of Norrtälje, she was surrounded by unscathed nature and serenity and, most importantly, she gained a deeper insight of the culture by enjoying the cuisine the country had to offer. Rochelle’s newfound passion for the Scandinavian culture and her ever developing creativity further adds to the birth and life of DeeShee’s.

So when your taste buds desire a zest, a thrill, a break from the monotony; then take a plunge into the best Scandinavian experience this side of the Atlantic. We are DeeShee’s Scandic Catering, where we not only cater to you, but to your taste buds too.

wners, Dena Gebelius and Rochelle Benjamin met in 2008 at the University of Tampa while pursuing their degrees. Unaware at that moment

largest island of the U.S. Virgin Islands – which were once a royal Danish colony in 1754. The historical Danish mark still resonates on the island today, from the islands’ street names

Contact: Dean Gebelius or Rochelle Benjamin| Email: [email protected]: 813.340.6330| Website: www.deesheescatering.com

Adult Living |NEWS

View pg 39 for DeeShee’s Scandic Catering ad.

DeeShee’s Scandic Catering | Tampa, Florida


Adult Living | NEWS

40

eslie Belcher and her sister, Shelley Harper turned adversity into prosperity and inspiration. When life dealt them a series of

events beyond their control they came together to start anew and recreate careers in which they could thrive.

At 45 and 47 respectively at the time, the girls had to reinvent themselves in order to move forward and begin again. Out of the ashes, they are now following their passion and playing to their strengths with a dream business that taps their creativity and touches the lives of many in a positive way.

Dear John Letter

Let’s start with Leslie’s journey from the corporate world where she had a seemingly secure career as a Regional Manager in the merchandising industry. With high profile clients like American Express and Home Depot, Leslie also had the luxury of working from home most of the time managing 120 employees

and traveling when needed to roll out customized promotional campaigns for her clients. With a background in display and merchandizing, she was very deadline oriented and took pride in the excellent service she provided for her accounts.

Then one day, the wake-up call came in the form of a Dear John letter. Her bosses didn’t even have the courage to call and share the difficult news that she was being let go – they put it in a letter! Leslie always had great rapport with her clients and eventually pieced together that her lay-off was due to the fact that her company wanted her to be more loyal to them than the customers. They were threatened by her professional relationships with all the account reps and cut her out of the picture suddenly and without warning.

No Time to Waste

A mild panic set in since Leslie did not have the financial wherewithal to take her time figuring out her next career move. Her husband shed some refreshing light on the picture and said:

“OK, don’t tell me what you don’t want to do – tell me what you do want to do and let’s make ithappen!”

This directive gave Leslie the courage to not get caught up in the past and to have the clarity to think about what she really wanted in order to move forward in her career. She always envisioned a family business and since her sister, Shelley was dealing with her own personal tragedy – what better time than the present to join forces.

Sister Act

The girl’s lost their mom in 1989 which was a transformative experience and brought the sisters even closer together. They are just 2 years apart in age and Leslie describes them as “Two bodies with one mind.” since the girls finish each other’s sentences, and serve as a support system for each other.

LContact: Leslie Belcher | Email:[email protected]| Phone: 727.823.8885| Website: www.accessoreez.com

Accessoreez | St. Petersburg, Florida

CONTINUE TO PAGE 42


Shelley’s life was turned upside down when her husband, a high profile dentist took his own life. Dealing with the emotional tragedy of losing a spouse was hard enough but she also had to sell the dental practice to stay afloat financially even though she had a career of her own with an insurance company. She was at a breaking point and moved to a small mountain town in New Mexico to find solace and anonymity.

While both sisters were dealing with their own tragic scenarios it was clear they both needed a change for the better. From the darkest place of despair came an opportunity to join forces and start over with a business that tapped their creative skills.

According to Shelley - “It is never too late to go after your dreams. If you can create them in your mind, the universe will do the rest. But you have to put it out into the universe first. Working with my sister is so much fun. We offer each other support both emotionally and creatively. This makes our business union even stronger.”

Dynamic Duo

Shelley and Leslie both have art backgrounds in weaving, fiber art, glass art, and fashion respectively. They wanted to use their artistic talents but also wanted to create a solvent business that would be sustainable financially.

Taking a quantum leap forward, no baby steps for these women – they decided upon a jewelry business capitalizing in Shelley’s training in glass blowing. Their mom collected Depression glass and the girls were surrounded by the stuff growing up so it seemed fitting to begin their new jewelry line using glass to create wearable art.

Keep in mind the sisters don’t live in the same city, let alone the same state. Shelley is still in New Mexico and Leslie is in Florida so with one by the desert and one by the sea, they give their own distinctive mark to the unique adornments created by flame and hammer. Shelley is the metal smith and glass artist and Leslie is also a glass artist and the

two bring a strong business sense to the operation.

Shelley reflected fondly about their mom:

“Our mother would be so proud of us that we are able to create together and be successful in business. When we would fight as kids, she always told us to kiss and make up. We always begrudgingly did this, but I can see that she just wanted us to always remain friends. What I particularly enjoy working with my sister collaboratively is that we live insuch diverse areas from which we draw inspiration for our designs. Les gets all the great blues from the oceans and I bring in the earth tones from my surroundings in the Southwest. That is why I love working in copper. I can bring in all the colors of a sunset by

just adding some heat to the metal.”

Their business is called Accessoreez and features contemporary torch worked borosilicate glass focal

elements, utilizing semi-precious gemstones, freshwater pearls, sterling silver and other fine material for each unique jewelry piece.

Play to Your Passion

The duo first began selling their unique jewelry on EBay and later expanded into the wholesale

industry. But Leslie recalls the early days of “hemorrhaging cash” when they were trying to find

their niche. Eventually they found their footing and solvency in the retail market and began selling at art shows

and via their website. In the days before collecting email from your customers to establish a marketing campaign was a given, the girls used Constant Contact tocommunicate with their customers. This technique still serves them well today in addition to Facebook, Twitter, and their company website.

While often they took the throw the spaghetti at the wall and let’s see what sticks approach, the sisters now have a solid business plan that includes a future in international sales and celebrity clients. The celebrities are already lining up to purchase their wares and the website showcases a myriad of high profile clients wearing Accessoreez creations including Natalie Cole and Vail Bloom to name a few.

Leslie shared: “When your passion allows you to make a difference that is when you are operating on all cylinders. While selling a piece to a celebrity gives you an instant rush, it’s the everyday customer who owns her self confidence and walks a little taller wearing an Accessoreez creation that really makes it all worthwhile.”

Adult Living | NEWS

42


Values Shift

As entrepreneurs, life has changed from the rigid corporate culture to being totally authentic in their choices and decision making for both sisters. When you deal with tragedy it really makes you look at what is important in your life. “If you are in the workforce and unhappy – don’t think about a change - do something about it or you will remain unhappy. Get clear about your alternatives because you always have options.”- Solid advice from Leslie who never imagined that she would be so happy and fulfilled in her new career.

Both sisters shared that they feel liberated in their new careers and empowered at middle age to be who they really are and comfortable in their own skin. Living an authentic life is fabulous but it is a process. “When tragedy happens, the first thing you lose is the belief in yourself.” according to Leslie. So this new business

and these new lives continue to be a journey for these women but their priorities and values have shifted to reflect what is most important in their lives right now. The joy is evident in the creations they make but the sisterly bond is something that we can all learn from. Their reinventions are truly inspiring!


Leslie & Shelley’s Advice and Action Steps:

Put money aside now regularly to plan for a change • you might want in the future.

Lead an authentic life.•

Someday will become never if you don’t act on • something you want – make it happen.

No amount of money or success can fill your life. Do • what makes you happy.

It’s never too late to go after your dreams.•

Quote:

“After a tragedy, it takes time to gain your SELF back but it will happen. Have courage.”

-Leslie Belcher

“It is never too late to go after your dreams. If you can create them in your mind, the universewill do the rest. But you have to put it out into the universe first.”

-Shelley Harper

Adult Living | NEWS

Photo Provided by Mary Ann Halpin Photography


Adult Living |NEWS

echnically it was said that the recent economic downturn have been announced dead in the summer of 2009. Recession is described as two consecutive quarters of negative data. And although we’ve

been out of the red for almost three years now, the country is still experiencing the presence of the economic disaster. We’re actually just starting out to rise from the disarray.

In 2007, about nine million people have become out of work. Three million have lost their homes to foreclosure. Informally, this latest financial crisis is called The Great Recession, also the Lesser Depression as a nod to the 1929 Great Depression, along with the Long Recession, which started late in 2007 and peaked in September 2008 when it began having an effect on global financial systems. Not only did it impact the lower class but also the upper stratums of society especially those who depend their income on real estate and, as the recession began escalating, stock market.

Selling Jewelry The very first thing people do during a tough economy is to fasten their belts by economizing. Way of life changed and luxuries both basic and grand were done away with. Additionally, people start selling their jewelry- their gold, their diamonds, and their pearls. They loan out their cars and their yachts. For the upper class, this is to be liquid as far as possible. For those in the lower strata, they use this money for basic expenses like food, rent, home loan payments etc.

During this period stores that sell and buy jewelry are the only guaranteed businesses to thrive. Lending

institutions like pawnshops and the like are the first thing people go to when in dire need of cash. During this Great Recession, because the banks had been very free-wheeling with their loan approvals for houses before, they have begun to become very careful.

After The Great Recession But even with the death of this damaging economic collapse, with the amount of casualties it left in its wake, there is still a great deal to restore before America can return to its old form. Although employment is beginning to perk up, most have jobs below their skills or former paycheck.

Additionally, since losing a job is one of the top most tragic things people may go through in their life, much like losing someone to death, there is a grieving method to it. As of this moment everyone is shell-shocked by what had taken place and the level of confidence of most people is low. Not only are they not generating what they have been earning, but there is anxiousness of going through the process of losing their job again.

Coming Back Up One of the ways to enhance the economy again is by boosting up the GDP. Meaning, buying local is enormously urged these days when a nation is trying to rise from a depression. “When people feel good, they see the future positively, and they invest, spend and take risks,” Bardwick wrote in The Psychological Recession. “In contrast, when they’re frightened, and the future feels foreboding, they develop a siege mentality and hoard what they have rather than spend or invest.”

There’s a long way to go before America can fully restore itself. As one of its pet names imply, it has been a long recession and it has been a great one. Restore the gleam in the country’s cheeks- buy back those jewelries you sold for cash, start investing again. Nourish the economy since it’s a cycle and it’ll nourish you back.

T

By Garrett Tarbell

Peter Ferguson

echnically it was said that the recent economic downturn have been announced

institutions like pawnshops and the like are the first thing people go to when in dire need of cash. During this Great Recession, because T

Peter FergusonPeter Ferguson

After The Great RecessionRebuilding America

November - December 2012 Florida Creative Living | For All Ages! 45

Adult Living |HOME

he US Department of Agriculture released he 2012 Plant Hardiness Zone Map, it is the first update provided by the USDA since 1990. According to the USDA website, “The 2012 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map is the standard by which gardeners

and growers can determine which plants are most likely to thrive at a location. The map is based on the average annual minimum winter temperature, divided into 10-degree F zones.”

Developed together with the Oregon State University, the new map has several changes including two new zones for Hawaii and Puerto Rico and many zone boundaries have shifted. There is a switch in temperature as well, with many zones reportedly 5 degrees warmer than the previous map.

What is the cause for the change? No, global warming is not the cause. The new map was created using data collected from a 30 year period that spanned from 1976 to 2005. The previous map contained data from 1974-1986, a thirteen year period. Newer, more sophisticated methods of data collection were used, taking into consideration, nearness to bodies of water, position on the terrain & change in elevation. In addition, data was collected from many

more weather stations than before helping to increase the accuracy of the map.

For the first time, no posters of the PHZM will be printed; instead, the map is available as an interactive GIS-based map. State, regional, and national maps can be downloaded and printed in a variety of sizes and resolutions from the USDA website. http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov . The interactive map is easy to use, enter your zip code then click on the map to view your hardiness zone.

What does this mean for gardeners? If your zone has changed, it does not mean you have to remove plants from your garden. If a specific plant is doing well in your garden, it should continue to do well. As a gardener, you should refer to the new hardiness zone when selecting new plants, shrubs and trees for their gardens. You should also keep in mind that many factors such as soil type, moisture, humidity, light, pollution and heat could all play a factor in the well-being of your garden plants.

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, 2012. Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. Accessed from http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.

By Lisa Burns, Backyard Getaway

TContact:Lisa Burns| Email: [email protected] | Phone: 941.752.7663 | Website: www.backyardgetaway.net


Adult Living |HOME

46

hanksgiving is one of the best holidays with the family every year. It’s a great time to count your blessings, spend time with the people who matter most and

relax over delicious Thanksgiving dishes. It’s a special day for most—but can be stressful for the cook! If you’re looking for easy holiday dinner ideas this Thanksgiving, Buca di Beppo can help. After all, we open at 11:00 a.m. for Thanksgiving again this year, and we’ve been preparing scrumptious family dinners for years!

In charge of the Thanksgiving feast this year?Take a lesson from the original Pilgrims and Native Americans ― you don’t have to make every single item you serve! Trust family and friends sharing your table to bring a dish. For those Thanksgiving recipes you want to make (Thanksgiving just wouldn’t feel right without Aunt Pauline’s pomegranate punch) prepare as much as possible a day or two ahead. You can always dice veggies and put together casseroles before the big day—they taste better anyway after flavors have a chance to blend. Look for easy Thanksgiving recipes that don’t require dozens of ingredients to make shopping, storage and preparation easier.

We open at 11:00 a.m. Thanksgiving day for your takeout or dine-in convenience!You can order unique, delicious holiday fare by the dish or let us provide your entire spread. All of our restaurants have

party planners who can help you with Thanksgiving ideas, and many provide Thanksgiving catering that includes delivery to your door. You can always pick up your takeout order at the restaurant and bring it home for your guests. Order online to line up catering for Thanksgiving or to arrange for takeout. Send a non-cooking guest to pick up your takeout food, and one of our servers will bring your large pans to go to them curbside, where special takeout parking is available up front.

If you’re a guest contributing to the Thanksgiving feast at someone else’s home, it’s always nice to take something everyone will be genuinely thankful for. Personally, I suggest the takeout pumpkin canolli from Buca. It’s a spectacular dessert friends will remember and ask you to bring next year too!

Consider restaurants for Thanksgiving to ensure your own Thanksgiving fun!It’s important to have Thanksgiving traditions, but it’s nice to change things up too. Otherwise, your Thanksgiving dinners all run together in the memories of loved ones. Choose an eat-in Thanksgiving feast at Buca di Beppo, and we’ll help you host a warm, happy Thanksgiving dinner your gang will talk about and remember fondly for years. We offer a Thanksgiving menu featuring Thanksgiving recipes with a unique twist family and friends are sure to get a kick out of. Make your reservation at Buca, online or by phone, anytime after 11:00 a.m. this Thanksgiving. Our atmosphere is always festive (especially for food-oriented holidays!) and we have rooms for gatherings of every size and kind. Our party planners have an endless supply of great ideas for Thanksgiving, and they can help you set up a meal as traditional or one-of-a-kind as you like.

Whether you want to go to great lengths to plan your own Thanksgiving activities and Thanksgiving decorating ideas, or you just want to have an easy, relaxing meal where you can enjoy your dinner companions, Buca di Beppo is family friendly and offers delicious, truly special food made and served with you and yours in mind. Let our experienced staff help you plan a fabulous Thanksgiving day for your friends and family so you can relax and forget about washing the dishes!

T

Easy Dinner Ideas for Thanksgiving

Adult Living |Home


olidays are typically taxing in the best of circumstances, and coupled with being accountable for your elderly’s care at home, they have a tendency to add to the pressures. As an alternative to looking at it like a challenge

to be collared, consider a brand new perspective and center the celebration round the elder who is homebound, or that is perhaps residing in an assisted living facility. By casting a confident light on your senior’s health care during the times when they are at home, you can ease the demands of caregiving while at the same time enjoying the real essence of the winter holidays.

Frequently, whenever an elderly parent is in your primary care at home, the holiday seasons can become a stressful, challenging season. With presents to shop for and gift wrap, destinations to travel, and people to go to see, the patient as well as the caregiver can soon become worn-out to the point that health issues will arise and the caregiver will begin to count the days until the season is over. By casting a whole new look on the prospects a family holiday can offer, both the elderly and their primary caregiver can sit back and enjoy the real meaning of the holiday season. The key is to enlist additional family members in the planning, and hold the family gathering in the parent’s home or assisted living residence.

Have a solid plan. Call siblings and family members a few weeks beforehand and then discuss with them the advantages and disadvantages of planning the get-together at your parent’s home. Ask for volunteers that can turn up seven days ahead of time to help with the house cleaning, and other necessities, such as your parent’s need for store shopping or gift-wrapping.

Keep it uncomplicated. Contemplate making the most of the meal a potluck, or alternatively request every relative to bring a specific dish to share. Make sure there’s an area for small kids to play a game in without the fear of breaking a valuable treasured

Hgift, and afterwards remember that your mother or father will in all probability have a need of at least one nap, or as a minimum the customary rest time he or she benefits from while residing in the home. If your parent resides in an assisted living facility, check with those in charge to ensure you know precisely what is and isn’t allowed.

Don’t hesitate to tell your family members exactly what will or simply is not going to work. In the event that you’re the primary caregiver, you know from practical knowledge what’s good for mom or dad and can gently illustrate the pros and cons of each plan in order to make the day proceed smoothly. Considering that those in a home frequently have few material needs, it is best if you make a list of things that would truly be treasured, whether it is a large print paperback, an exciting new bathrobe, or a pack of treats. Include practical items to the list, for example gift cards from a favorite restaurant or alternatively one from a favorite supermarket, or maybe even consider a contribution to your parent’s energy or prescription drug monthly bill as a gift.

In conclusion, rather than dreading the stress that many times is associated with special events and other family get-togethers, in 2012 plan your family celebrations around your parent’s home or independent living facility. By throwing the party at home, and with contributions from other family members, you can all enjoy a stress-free affair, and both the parent, together with their caregiver, will certainly emerge unscathed by the usual holiday hassles.

About the AuthorPublished author with a degree in healthcare and over 15 years’ experience in the healthcare field. Radio show co-host for the Women are Talking show on Radio WMEL-1300 in Melbourne, FL. Columnist for the Spring Lake News and a contributing writer for The Miami Herald and El Nuevo Herald. Experience working in Hospice, Oncology and with the elderly. I’m an advocate for the elderly and disabled and feel they should be treated with respect and dignity, and senior abuse should never be tolerated, and should always be reported. I’m a three-time cancer survivor, and I have raised a wonderful son with Cerebral Palsy, and one with Epilepsy. I write mostly about my experiences in the healthcare field. Comfort Hands in Melbourne, FL provides professional care with a personal touch in the comfort of your loved one’s home. Call us today for your free assessment! http://www.comforthands.net

Celebrating the

Holidays Can

Be Difficult

When You Are thePrimary Caregiver


Adult Living |Home

hristmas decorations are one inseparable part of the Christmas holidays, without which Christmas would lose all its color, spirit, warmth and charm. And it’s also great to get together with all in the family or the whole gang of friends for the

Christmas decorations. Isn’t it a joy untold to watch the hand-crafted stars or bells hung up on the Christmas tree or on the wreaths ? Don’t you feel the festive tickle to see Christmas-themed table-spreads, curtains, napkin-holders, or carpets ? Ideas for Christmas decorations are plenty to satiate the festive craving of all and sundry. And the stores dish out a huge array of Christmas decorations too. You can either buy them home or decorate your home yourself with your own ideas and designs. Here’s enlisted a few for you to get started with your Christmas decorations and Christmas planning.

The easiest and simplest of all Christmas decorations—get empty boxes or cartons and wrap them up in red, green, blue colored papers or colorful Christmas wrappers. Tie ribbons around some and leave them sporadically around the base of your Christmas evergreen or on the mantle. Hanging cute Christmas stockings make good decorations too for your Christmas decor. You can cut out papers or fabrics in shapes of stockings or candy canes, have them colored by the kids and stick them all around the room to add that festive touch on Christmas.

Umpteen stores sell battery-operated candles especially for this holiday and these look radiant in and around your home as also on your Christmas tree. Anyone would like to go for these hassle-free Christmas decorations and give their interiors a total face-lift for the occasion. A fetching idea for your Christmas decorations would be to deck up your house plants with little stars and bells and to place them on window sills.

Get holly boughs and mistletoes home. Hang them around and watch the magic of Christmas unfold before you. These Christmas decorations are traditionally passed down through ages and never fall out of the hall of fame.

CHow about this ? Take a pin-up board and pin Christmas-related images or messages on them. You can also fix Christmas cards that you get for the year. This Christmas decoration would be best for your office cubicle or room. So bring your colleagues in the spirit of the holidays instantly as they step into your holiday ‘den’. Now here’s another to rev up your Christmas decorations—take a white table-spread and stick little paper or fabric pieces in shapes of stars, bells, candy canes, gift-boxes, Santa hats and more.

Deck up your halls in Christmas streamers (bought or homemade) or in Christmas wreaths. You can hang a bunch of bells on the doorway too. Won’t it be sweet to hear the jingles every time anyone enters during the Christmas season ?

Decorate white slender candles with red and green ribbons. Tie them into a bow or just spiral it around. They would swell for sure if placed in a cluster on your Christmas dinner table or over the mantle. Don’t forget to leave a bell carelessly at the base. Your friends, folks or sweetie pie would surely love the shine and shimmer of the bell in the candlelight and you may collect few kudos for such thoughtful Christmas decorations.For outside decorations, get some Christmas lights home. Glowing bulbs or lighted candles that run on battery would just suit fine outdoors. You can place a big cutout of Santa to welcome your dear ones too. Or you can let loose your own festive ideas.

Play Christmas numbers for the background scores to complement the tree, table and hall decorations. Well chosen Christmas songs are just the right fill for the holiday ambience.Create cute bows for the special day and have them stitched to curtains or tied to door-knobs or around the glasses on the Christmas table. These Christmas decorations won’t take much time and would be fun to do too. So get on with these. Well then, welcome the season of joy and brace up to make merry with friends and family—it’s Christmastime folks ! The merriest time of the year is here. So leave your worries behind, deck the halls with wonderful Christmas decorations and share the warmth and joy of the season with all far and near.

About the AuthorSean Carter writes on holidays, christmas and celebrations around the world. He also writes on family, relationships,womens issues birthdays, inspiration, religion, love and friendship. He is a writer with special interest in ecard industry. He writes for 123greetings.com

Christmas Decorations

Easy and Simple Ideas

Adult Living |HEALTH


ed up from the side effects of the drugs, people are now shifting towards alternative therapies for the cure and treatment of common problems. Home remedies are

one of the alternative methods that have been proven inexpensive and can be easily made at home without many efforts. Since ages our ancestors were using these home remedies for the treatment of diseases but the latest inventions and discoveries in the field of medicines darkened the benefits of these home made treatments. In the recent times the people have again shifted towards these home remedies.

Home Remedies for Acne, Arthritis, Asthma, Anaemia, Backache, Common Cold, Constipation, Eczema, Hair Loss, High Blood Pressure, Indigestion, Obesity, Sore Throat, Stress

Home remedies for some of the most common diseases and problems are:

Home Remedies for Acne

Application of cucumber leaves or • grated pieces of cucumber to the affected areas.

Paste of fenugreek leaves applied •

Fovernight on the affected area and washed off next morning is also effective.

Mix one tablespoon of besan flour and one teaspoon of lemon • juice till a smooth paste is formed. Apply on neck and face and wash off when it gets dry.

Home Remedies for Acidity

Drink a glass of cold milk to get quick relief from acidity. •

Drink a glass of water with a teaspoon of baking soda for • immediate relief.

Chewing bubble gum will also provide relief from acidity in few • minutes.

Home Remedies for Arthritis

With an empty stomach take 3-4 walnuts (akhrot) or 1 fresh • coconut.

Spread warm mustard oil on a madar leaf and apply to the affected • area for a few hours .

Drink some radish juice with sugar added to it. •

Home Remedies for Asthma

Drink a cup of black coffee, the warmth will break up the flem • and the caffeine will help to remove tightness from the chest and throat.

Dr John Anne

Home Remedies

Acne, Arthritis, Backache, Cold, Constipation, Obesity


Add 30-40 leaves of tulsi in one liter of • water, strain the leaves and drink the water throughout the day.

Home Remedies for Anaemia

Eat 2-3 apples daily without peeling to • increase the iron stores in the body.

Intake of beet juice is highly beneficial for • the anemic person’s.

Home Remedies for Backache

Drink some hot milk or water with powdered • sonth, meetha soda, and salt.

Massage the back with turpentine oil. •

For temporary and quick relief heat can be • applied at the back with hot water bottle.

Home Remedies for Common cold •

Drink a cup of water with a few drops of • garlic oil and a teaspoonful of onion juice.

Rub the chest and throat with camphor • water or oil.

Drink honey and lemon juice in hot water • to get relief from sore throat.

Home Remedies for Constipation

Drink a tablespoon of corn syrup in a cup • of water.

Drink a glass of prune juice to facilitate • bowel movement.

Drinking a cup of coffee will also provide • relief from constipation.

Home Remedies for Eczema

Mix one teaspoon of camphor and one • teaspoon of sandalwood to form a paste and apply on the affected e areas.

Drinking Aloe Vera juice will help cleanse • the system.

Home Remedies for Hair loss •

Wash hair with peppermint or spearmint • tea to prevent hair loss and to promote hair growth .

Adult Living |HEALTHWash hair with white vinegar periodically to prevent falling • of hair.

Home Remedies for High blood pressure

Mix half onion juice and half honey. Take 2 tablespoons once a day for 1-2 weeks.

Eat two cloves of garlic every early morning.

Eat one Papaya on an empty stomach daily for a month.

Home Remedies for High blood cholesterol

Drinking onion juice daily for a week will lower the blood • cholesterol.

Eat a few garlic cloves every day to reduce blood • cholesterol.

Home Remedies for Indigestion •

Drink aloe vera juice, papaya juice, or chamomile, comfrey, • red raspberry, or peppermint tea.

Drinking a glass of water with a tablespoon of baking soda • will provide immediate relief.

Home Remedies for Obesity •

Eat 10 fresh curry leaves in the early morning for three or • four months.

Drink a cup of water with 3 teaspoons limejuice, one-• fourth teaspoon powdered black pepper, and a teaspoon of honey every day for three months.

Eat freshly sliced tomatoes with onion and lemon juice. •

Drink lemon juice with honey and warm water every • morning.

Home Remedies for Sore throat

Gargle every hour with vinegar water or salt water. •

Drink hot milk with honey at bedtime for immediate relief • from sore throat.

A teaspoon of honey will provide relief from sore throat. •

Home Remedies for Stress

Chewing 12 tulsi leaves twice a day, morning and evening • is the highly beneficial treatment of stress.

Various seeds such as alfalfa, sunflower and pumpkin are • highly beneficial in the treatment of stress.

The use of these home remedies is highly effective and • causes no side effects on one’s physical body.


Adult Living |SPORTS

ost people know that they need to lift weight build muscles. However many just want to have nice muscle tone and an attractive but not too muscular body as they do

not want big muscles. So they just lift light weights with high repetitions. Well, it is not going to work. To have nice muscle tone, you will have to build some muscles right? So you will have to lift heavy to force your muscles to grow. Once you are satisfied with the size of your muscles, you will then need to cut your body fats for your muscles to show up well and that means nice muscle tone. You need to have a solid commitment and knowledge to get nice muscle tone and build an attractive muscular body. Here are some muscle building tips. Before you commence weight training, remember to warm up and as well as doing some stretching exercises.

•Train Muscle With Free WeightsMachines will have its uses, but for a start, concentrate on free weights. That means work almost exclusively with barbells and dumb bells. Free weights recruit many stabilizing muscles for balance and control. That means you will work a lot more muscle parts other than the intended ones. That will give rise to little bumps, striations and definitions all over your body instead of one huge lump of muscle on your intended muscle. Because of the extra stimulant created, your muscles grow faster too. Why else do you think all professional body builders almost exclusively use free weights?

•Train With Compound ExercisesIncorporate as many compound exercises as possible to your routines. Compound exercises are exercises that involve 2 or more joint movements. Because they utilize more joints, which means greater muscle

Mmass are involved. Greater muscle mass means heavier weights. Heavier weights mean encouragement of greater muscle growth. More muscle growth means more tone to your muscles.Some excellent compound exercises are the Squat, Deadlift, Chin ups, Dips, Bench press, Barbell Press, Lunges, Bent-Over Barbell Row...etc.

•Train Intensively But Do Not Over train You must train intensively for your muscle to grow. Try to do more reps or add more weight than the previous session or else your muscles will think (actually muscles don’t think, they adapt), “Ah... we’ve done that. Nothing new, so no need to grow bigger and stronger.” That being the case, you will wreck your chances of attaining an attractive muscular body.

Because of this, it is important that every time you train hard, you give your body time to recover as it has suffered strains and actually sustained many small scarring. Contrary to popular belief, your muscles grow when you rest, especially when you sleep and not in the gym. So sleep at least 8 hours a day. Also, do not train everyday or work the same muscle group more than once or twice a week. If your training was vigorous enough, do no more than an hour per session.

Try not to do cardio work on the same day as your weight lifting work. In fact, during the muscle building phase, you should do less cardio work as aerobic exercises burn muscles. You can increase your cardio work at cutting body fat phase, so as to lose body fat in order for your muscle tone to show up nicely.

•Technique And FormThis is the most neglected fundamental of bodybuilding. Everywhere, everyday, you will see people using wrong forms and techniques. This not only compromises your growth, it will also make you susceptible to injuries... sometimes even permanently putting you out of the gym.

Wrong form occurs usually when people try to lift weights that are too heavy, whether out of vanity or ignorance. As a guide, always lift with strict focus on the muscle you intend to build for that exercise. Feel it contract and extend. Lift the weights deliberately and slowly. Never ever swing your weights up especially when doing bicep curls or the military press.

•To Build Muscles Fast You Must Perform Lower Body Exercises!This is what most people don’t realize. Your lower body makes up 60-70% of your musculature. If you don’t train them, not only will you look spider-legged, your entire body will not grow as quickly and as large. Don’t think that you can hide those skinny limbs in pants! Most people do not train their legs because squats, dead lifts and lunges can be very grueling exercises. But it is precisely because of such intensity that you will produce more growth hormones when you sleep and overall muscular development is stimulated. Your body shape will also be more balanced and therefore more attractive.

Do read up more to understand how your muscles work and then work on it so that in no time you will be a proud owner of a well tone attractive muscular body.

About the AuthorChris Chew is a fitness personal trainer of fashion models, actors and male pageant winners.

How To Get Nice Muscle Tone

Building An Attractive Muscular Body


Adult Living | CROSSWORD & SUDOKU FUN

Across1. Spear6. Misplaced10. Unwanted email14. Fruit of the oak tree15. Part of a foot16. Adjutant17. Yell18. Cat sound19. Secret plan20. Advanced in years22. Spoken24. Mineral25. Mixture of smoke and fog27. Large serving dish29. Motley32. Prevarication33. Unsatisfactory34. Piece of metal money36. Smooth fabric40. Away from home41. Mayhem43. Poem44. Preliminary version47. Large and scholarly book48. Rod49. Anger51. Larval frog or toad53. Trap57. Move rapidly and lightly58. Floor covering59. Baby carriage, in short61. Reuse65. Prejudice67. Matured69. Large artery70. Malevolent71. Rend72. Percipient73. Abnegate74. Showily imitative75. Muscular organ

Down1. Young girl2. Dull pain3. Midday4. Naval vessel5. Inter6. Part of the mouth7. Burden8. Remnant9. Exhilaration10. Deplete11. Fly a plane12. Worship13. Measuring instrument21. European freshwaterfish

23. Rostrum26. Dwell on with satisfaction28. Beverage29. Rain down30. Scintilla31. Turf33. Seed case35. Wanderer37. Implement38. Not in active use39. Indicating maiden name42. Aromatic wood45. Swimming shoe46. Ambush48. Road surface hazard

50. Misprint52. Deliver a sermon53. Implant54. Inexperienced55. Dye56. Avid60. Animal flesh62. Region63. Celestial body64. Male red deer66. Crafty68. Ironic

Crossword Puzzle

View our next issue for the correct answers to this Crossword puzzle.

52

A sudoku puzzle is a logic puzzle which is solved using logic and reasoning. Though the number of squares in the grid may vary, a standard Sudoku puzzle is a 9x9 grid divided into nine 3x3 blocks in which some of the numbers are given. The object of the puzzle is to fill in the rest of the grid using only the numbers 1 through 9 so that no number repeats in any block, row or column. The difficulty is determined by how many and which numbers are given and where they are placed in the grid and can range from very easy to extremely challenging.

Though sudoku puzzles generally use numbers as symbols, no mathematical skills are required to solve the puzzle.

View our next issue for the correct answers to this Sudoku puzzle.

Sudoku Adult Living | CROSSWORD & SUDOKU FUN

Answer Guide Crossword Puzzle Sept - Oct Issue

Sudoku


Adult Living | ARTIST CORNER

Terry PivinskyLocation: St. Pete., Florida

Artwork Title: Dali MuseumSize: 11” X 14”, framedPrice: $75

To purchase, please contactTerry at: 727.481.1196 Email : [email protected]


Artwork Title: Deco TrainSize: 11” X 14”, framedPrice: $75



Artwork Title: FrankensteinSize: 11” X 14”, framedPrice: $75



Artwork Title: MarilynSize: 11” X 14”, framedPrice: $75


Adult Living |BAND DIRECTORY

Gulash GraphicsLutz, FL Design FirmO: 813.994.5110 C: 813.458.1098www.gulashgraphics.com

MJ Real EstateLutz, FL Real Estate AgencyO: 813.948.6814 C: [email protected]

Sweet WhimsyLand O’ Lakes, FL Custom PendantsO: 813.244.3582 www.oursweetwhimsy.com

Bankers Life & Casualty CompanyBradenton, FL InsuranceO: 941.730.8243

Bradenton, Florida

Land O’ Lakes, Florida

Lutz, Florida

New Port Richey, Florida

Motorhead MobileMechanicLutz, FL MechanicO: 813.458.0334www.motorheadmechanic.com

Gulf Port, Florida

Adult Living | BUSINESS DIRECTORY

Myakka, Florida

AccessoreezSt. Pete., FL Shopping/RetailO: 727.823.8885www.accessoreez.com/Facebook page

Sea Breeze Manor Bed and Breakfast InnGulfport, FL HotelO: 727343.4445www.seabreezemanor.com

Backyward GetawayMyakka, FL LandscapingO: 941.752.7663www.backyardgetaway.net

Viktoria Richards ChocolatesNew Port Richey, FL FoodO: 727.845.1531www.vrchocolates.com

Riverview, Florida

Saint Pete., Florida

Your Travel & Cruise Concierger, LLCRiverview., FL Travel/LeisureO: 813.444.3238www.facebook.com/YTACC


Main House Antique CenterSt. Pete., FL Shopping/RetailO: 727.552.2492www.mainhouseantiques.com

The Yellow HouseSt. Pete., FL Event VenueO: 727.251.5493Facebook Page

Kara Lee for Arbonne InternationalTampa, FL Health/BeautyO: 813. 850.4816www.karalee.myarbonne.com

Tampa, Florida

Lindt Chocolate R.S.V.P. - Lindy LongTampa, FL FoodO: 727.637.1815www.mylindtchocolatersvp.comLindyLong/

Touchstone CrytalTampa, Florida JewelryO:813.728.3051www.mytouchstonecrystal.com/pws/tampa/tabs/home.aspx

And The Wiener IsTampa, FL FoodO: 813.781.4246www.andthewieneris.comFacebook Page

WESLEY CHAPEL, Florida

Fashion Outlet CenterWesley Chapel, FL JewerlyO: 813.404.3104www.shopfashionoutlet.comwww.facebook.com/ShopFashionOutlet/info

W4CY RadioWellington, FL Internet Radio O: 561.506.4031www.w4cy.com

Wellington, Florida


Ingredients3/4 cup all purpose flour1/2 teaspoon baking powder1/2 teaspoon baking soda1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon1/2 teaspoon ground cloves1/4 teaspoon salt3 large eggs1 cup granulated sugar2/3 cup Libby’s Pure Pumpkin (not pie mix)1 cup walnuts or pecans, chopped (optional)1 8 oz. pkg cream cheese, at room temperature1 cup powdered sugar, sifted6 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened1 teaspoon vanilla extractPowdered sugar (optional)

TOOLSMedium Perforated Baking SheetDeep Flexipat®Mixing BowlMagnetic Measuring Trio

InstructionsFor the Cake:Preheat oven to 375 degrees F and place oven rack in center position. Place Flexipat® on Perforated Baking Sheet.Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves and salt in a small bowl. Beat eggs and granulated sugar into Mixing Bowl until thick. Beat in pumpkin. Stir in flour mixture. Spread evenly onto the Flexipat®. Sprinkle with nuts if desired.Bake for 13 to 15 minutes or until the top of the cake springs back when touched. Before rolling up sprinkle powdered sugar on top of cake. Roll up cake on the Flexipat® and lay it so that the end is on the bottom (so it doesn’t unroll). Place on a cooling rack.

For the Filling:Beat the cream cheese, 1 cup of powdered sugar, butter and vanilla extract in a small bowl until smooth. Carefully, unroll the cake. Spread the cream cheese mixture over the cake, but not all the way to the ends as it will be squeezed out when you roll it. Reroll the cake. Wrap it in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least one hour. Sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving.

Adult Living | Chef’s Delight

November - December 2012 Florida Creative Living | For All Ages!

Adult Living | COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

et sail with Majical Miniatures on the Norwegian Sky. Majical Miniatures Animal Care & Education Center, a 501c3 non-profit, has collaborated with Your Travel & Cruise Concierge to offer an exciting new fundraising experience. Majical Miniatures’ group cruise offers a relaxing getaway on Norwegian Sky, while helping raise funds for the animals at

Majical Miniatures. The cruise will take place March 15-18 and will visit Nassau and Norwegian’s own private Island, Great Stirrup Cay. Majical Miniatures will be hosting an open house cruise night on November 10 1-4pm at 16506 Golf Course Rd. Parrish, FL. Susan Leonidas, owner of Your Travel & Cruise Concierge will be on hand to share information on Norwegian and the fundraising cruise as well as to take reservations. Enjoy refreshments including gourmet cupcakes from Tukie’s Cakery. Meet some of the furred, feathered & shelled residents of Majical Miniatures and start your holiday shopping early. Gift items will be available for purchase with 100% of proceeds to benefit the animals.

Majical Miniatures, a 501c3 not for profit animal care and education center, is a place where second chances begin and magic and miracles are a way of life! Animals arrive at Majical Miniatures for many reasons and in all kinds of conditions. Injured, orphaned, neglected or just unwanted exotic, farm & wild animals are taken in and treated. Their bodies heal with the best care we can give them, but as important, their will & spirit heal as they learn to trust the love & respect that surrounds them. Majical Miniatures is not open to the public but is always in need of volunteers. They are located at 16502 Golf Course Rd. Parrish, Fl 34219. To learn more about Majical Miniatures visit

www.majicalminiatures.org. For more information on this fundraiser and the cruise nights, contact Lisa at [email protected].

Your Travel & Cruise Concierge can eliminate hassle and save money when planning a cruise. Finding the ideal ship for your next cruise is similar to finding the perfect love match. There are a multitude of options, and without help, you can make mistakes that lead of lots of frustration and wasted time. This is a key reason why working with a travel agent who is experienced in the art of cruising is a wise decision. And it is why Susan Leonidas created Your Travel & Cruise Concierge, LLC in 2011. Leonidas and her husband, Cary (who is a veteran flight attendant) took their first cruise in 2008 and have been immersed in the cruising culture since. They have been on every class of ship and have toured with all the primary cruise lines, so Leonidas became a self-made expert on planning a smooth and pleasant cruise vacation through extensive personal experience.

Norwegian Cruise Line, the first cruise line to offer “Freestyle Cruising” - open seating at dinner, a casual dress code, and their own private island in the Bahamas, Great Stirrup Cay. They also offers two main dining rooms, a buffet, and three private dining rooms. Guest can enjoy many amenities including 2 pools, 5 whirlpools, fitness center, spa, casino, 8 lounges/bars, coffee shop, basketball/volleyball court, 2 golf driving nets, jogging/walking track, on board shopping, library, main showroom lounge, on board DJ, comedy shows, cruise director activities, and “The White Hot Party”. For more information about Your Travel & Cruise Concierge, call Leonidas at 813-444-3238 or visit www.yourtravelandcruiseconcierge.com.

S



Adult Living | TECHNOLOGY

AMPA, FL – Startup Weekend Tampa will connect local entrepreneurs, developers, designers and startup enthusiasts with mentors and resources at its third event November 16-18 at Keiser University. Throughout the course of this 54-hour event,

attendees will share ideas, form teams, and launch startups.

“A lot of people dream of starting their own business, but many do not know how or they simply lack assistance. Startup Weekend provides a platform that empowers individuals to take a serious look at entrepreneurship. In one weekend our attendees build a venture from the ground up, they start by validating and developing the idea to sometimes even building a fully functional prototype by Sunday afternoon. We want every single person in the Tampa Bay area to know that entrepreneurship is possible and we are here to encourage, support and foster them and their ideas.” - Susie Steiner, Organizer of Startup Weekend Tampa.

Here’s how it works: Attendees gather on Friday November 16 at Keiser University to pitch business and web application concepts. Teams will be formed around the top voted on ideas and businesses begin to take shape. Saturday the teams will hack, design and strategize their startup in preparation for Sunday’s final pitch in front of a talented panel of judges with the winning team to compete in the Global Startup Battle (globalstartupbattle.org). Meals, snacks and drinks are provided to attendees.

Startup veterans and mentors will be on hand throughout the weekend to provide expertise and give talks on their experiences in the fast-paced world of technology startups.

Startup Weekend Tampa is organized locally by Susie Steiner, Ryan Sullivan and Kim Randall. Mailchimp, Freshbooks and Absolute Mobile Systems are a few of the events many sponsors.

Startup Weekend Tampa will be November 16-18 at Keiser

University. Registration is required in advance online at tampa.startupweekend.org. Tickets are limited.

Stay tuned to facebook.com/startupweekendtampa for announcements on future Startup weekend events in Tampa.

Media contact:Kim RandallCo-organizer(813) [email protected]

T

Tampa to Host Third Startup Weekend This MonthStartup Weekend Tampa will connect local entrepreneurs

and startup enthusiasts to share ideas and launch companies


If you’ve got a Galaxy S III in your pocket, you’re already aware the the folks at Samsung made a lovely nature-themed user interface for you to work – now the green cases come flowing in. Designer Cho Yeong Jae brings on both the Icy Series and the Buddy Rooty case for you lovers of kawaii and the not-oft-seen headphone jack plug – make it mini seal!

Look at these little guys, would you? Both case combos are meant to remind you that we live on a fragile planet while they protect you Android smartphone in style. Both case combos protect the bulk of your device with cushiony materials that both pad and create a relaxing feeling for your hand. And the sprout and little animals for your headphone jack are simply cute as can be!

These designs are currently in their conceptual stages of life, so you won’t be able to buy them – yet! Let us know if you’d love such cuties for yourself!

60

The Technology Of TOMORROW

Samsung Glaxy S III keeps nature theme with

penguins and sprouts!

Read more at YankoDesigns.com

Adult Living | TECHNOLOGY

Designer: Cho Yeong Jae

This creative modular fence concept takes from the classic archetypical backyard fence shape, reducing it to a metal lattice framework that’s perfect for your favorite climbing vine. Each partition can be “planted” directly in the soil or in pots, making it easy to install to unique specifications. With a little water and patience, you can watch your fence come to life!

Plant Your Fence!

Designer: Andrea Rekalidis

Read more at YankoDesigns.com


Adult Living | ENTERTAINMENT John Guthrie | Orlando, Florida

ack in 1955 In Middleboro, Kentucky when John Guthrie was told by his mother that he was to receive piano lesson the idea did not really appeal

to him however who would realize that this act would place him in a location where Rock and Roll was recorded by some of the biggest artists in the business.

However when you speak with this soft spoken southern gentleman you quickly realize that music has been his life since the late 50’s and still is today.

“I had no idea that learning piano would benefit me later on” John explained. But it did and soon as he entered high school he found an interest with other musicians his age. Like many he formed a small group that attempted to play in the Kentucky area however clubs were scarce and it was a dry county. “It was hard to find a club to perform in back then as alcohol was not allowed” he related.

Not giving up on his hopes to please an audience John and his group traveled to Lexington, KY and Knoxville TN to showcase their talents. Within a short time they were recognized and “The Four UpSetters” as they were called, found an agent in New York and they were on the road.

Like many musicians will tell you, being talented and being discovered are two different things. However when Judd Phillips brother to Sam Phillips, owner of Sun Records in Memphis TN called and informed the group Jerry Lee Lewis a new and upcoming recording star was

Blooking for a group to take on tour they agreed.

“Meeting and working with Jerry Lee was a true experience” John related. “Jerry Lee was a true gentleman and if he liked you, he always stood up for you no matter what.” John hesitates and relates an experience in Las Vegas in the early 60’s when he and other band members had obtained some motorcycles to race about on and ended up at the door of the Thunderbird Lounge which he appropriately struck. Later that evening when confronted by a member of the underworld who was active at that time spoke harshly to John about the incident Jerry Lee who was headlining at the time came to his defense, “that was the type of person he was” John related.

Earlier on tour John played drums in the band and quickly learned the ‘boogie woogie’ style of piano playing which Jerry Lee was famous for. He still plays that style today.

Entering the studios where many famous rock and roll music was recorded was a real treat for John however he recalls it was not a fancy endeavor. “The room was small and lacking any of the high tech equipment you would see at RCA or other studios. Sam Phillips had two track recorders and he played one at a regular speed and the second at a slower speed making the ‘echo’ that the label was so famous for John related. No one really knew what they were doing. We showed up around midnight and they locked the doors

and we just played till dawn. If it sounded right we put it on tape and we left it alone.”

Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley and others all got their start in this small recording studio and all just played it like they felt it. The rest is history.

In 1964 at the height of his musical career the United States Army called and John served his country. While attempting to gain entry to the Army band he was unable to and served as a Military Policeman returning to the music scene after his discharge from military service.

Asked what famous person stood out in his mind after all these years John paused for a moment and related that he remembers Charlie Rich from Arkansas who gained fame as a recording artist during that era.

“Charlie was really a blues, Jazz pianist but a great song writer” John related. “He learned a lot from Jerry Lee, changed his style and ended up a star. He was a lot like Johnny Cash who always could write a great song. Simple chords and great lyrics”

John Guthrie now resides in Orland Florida now and still plays the piano appearing at various clubs. Asked about the new music of today he simply replied he preferred the music of the past which recalled happy times. “I think that is why everyone likes it so much; it reminds them of happier times”.

Asked when he will hang up music John paused for a moment and slowly replied, “Most likely never- I’ll play till I die”.

That is what they say about musicians...they never die, they just slowly fade away.

Email: [email protected] | Website: www.facebook.com/john.guthrie3

Boogie Woogie with Jerry Lee Lewis

A John Guthrie Storyby Chuck Johnson


ere is an alarming fact. A veteran of a branch of our military service takes their life every 80 minutes. And to make it even harder to imagine, the number of suicides among active duty personnel is on

the rise.

The fact that we as Americans must face is that more of our fighting men and women are dying from then from combat deaths or accidents.

It is time that we faced the fact that our fighting force, while strong in numbers and able to hold their own in any combat situation is experiencing an internal problem which they need some assistance.

In July thirty eight suicides were reported in the United States Army. That is reported to be the largest one month total since the Army has maintained records on such an event. It has resulted in a total of 187 for this year alone. July of 2012 was apparently the hardest hit month but lets face it, if we have one month or one week where our military members react to such a decision. It should send up a red flag that something is amiss and we should move rapidly to correct it which I am sure our leaders are attempting to accomplish.

The Marine Corp has not escaped this problem as well. While they are looking for a ‘few good men’ in the first seven months of 2012, they lost thirty two of their force. The Navy has lost thirty nine and the Air Force reported they lost fifty five.

What is happening here that so many of our men and women have elected to reach such a terrible decision? It is clear to me that we have missed something along the way. Can we blame it on extreme combat conditions? If so, how do we explain the numbers which surround the Air Force and Navy?

Adult Living | VA Memoirs

by Chuck Johnson .. U.S.Army/ MSG (Ret)

HThere are those government leaders who recognize the problem and are taking steps to identify the problem. One such solution is expanding mandatory health screening tests of all military personnel who return from a combat tour. While that is one answer, perhaps the reduction of repeated tours of duty to combat areas should be examined. Too often we read of those on active duty returning to a second, third or even fourth tour of duty in a combat area.

Doing two or three tours of walking in a potential minefield every day is sure to have a mental tasking of any individual. We in the military have been taught on how to identify, confront and destroy an enemy we are engaged against. In these conflicts it is difficult to identify the enemy in many cases and the fear of what is buried in the roadway on which you walk daily, is always going to be a contributing factor to mental stress.

Sgt. Maj. Raymond Chandler our top enlisted soldier in the Army recently spoke out on the issue and admitted that “Suicide is an enemy we have yet to defeat”.Even SGM Chandler admits to struggling with PTSD after a rocket attack some years ago. Therefore it is clear that this mental disorder can have a direct impact on even the most hardened soldier.

However within the military there still exists the stigma that you would be considered weak if you complained of such mental stress or any weakness.

I say hogwash.

It is time we all realized that it is a sign of strength and common sense to realize that you have a medical condition that requires assistance. The days are gone when it was gung ho to ‘suck it up’ and move out. We as a public, our Congress, our elected leaders all have to realize that suicide is a serious continuing problem in the military and move quickly to correct it.

One way was mentioned earlier.

There should be a mandatory mental health screening for all troops that are returning from a combat tour. Yes it may take time and be costly however it appears that this examination could be handled by our own medical personnel within the appropriate service branch.

It seems appropriate to try something, as time is running short.

So if a veteran or active duty member reads this column and suspects he or she is in need of mental assistance, please call the suicide hot line in your area or go immediately to a VA Hospital or other medical authority and seek help as soon as possible.

It’s OK to ask for help. You earned it.

What Is The Solution?

Veteran Suicide’s

Veteran

florida creative living magazine - #8 issue

Documents