Heads or Tails?
Heads or tails? Small decisions can chronic disease clients make be challenging, but big decisions difficult decisions. When a client can ruin your sleep for a week! can’t ‘see’ their way to a healthy decision, she calls Marcey Walsh. When Carole was deciding whether Ms. Walsh is a Decision Support to make a career move cross Specialist who trains professionals country or to stay put with the risk like Dr. Longstreet to work with of being downsized in three years, clients facing ‘High Impact’ she gathered friends for help and decisions. Organizations such support. Unfortunately, all she as Raymond James Financial, had at the end of the evening was National Dropout Prevention three empty wine bottles and a list Network, and the American of pros and cons! Another night of Association of Diabetes Educators tossing and turning lay ahead. have benefited from her work, based on the premise: ‘Everything When important decisions keep begins with a decision.’ them awake at night, who do professional decision makers call? Ms. Walsh works exclusively Registered Dietitian, Dr. Diane with the client decision process. Longstreet, is trained to help Advisors use her step-by-step
process to help their clients make medical and financial decisions they can live with. Citing a recent Stanford University study, she explains, “When a participant thinks about himself in 30 years, his brain reacts as if that was a stranger! The study also revealed that people who develop an emotional connection with their futureself make better decisions today because they care about that future person.” Walsh’s hands-on decision support tools create that neurological connection.
The following activity helped Carole make her decision. Try it for yourself! Place both index fingers on the Process Line below at your current age. This is TODAY–now.
PROCESS LINE 0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
85
90
95
100…
1. Holding both fingers at your age, slide the left index finger down to the zero and then back. That is your past. Now, slide your right index finger down to the 100 and then back. That is your future. That is how long today’s decision may impact you and your family. 2. Keeping your left finger in place, slide the right finger ‘down the line’ 5 years and ask yourself: a. How old am I now? Where am I living now? How old are my children? My parents? b. Repeat the process moving 5 or 10 years at a time. Add questions about possible outcomes of one choice you are considering. Always answer in the present tense “I am…” c. When finished, repeat to explore an alternate choice. Ask yourself, “How did each answer feel?” After Carole completed this exercise, she decided to skip the move and explore job options here, near her extended family. She reported, “I hadn’t thought about the long term impact of not living near my family as my kids grow. Once I saw that, my decision was easy.” If you or your clients face High Impact Decisions, and need something better than flipping a coin, check out more decision support techniques at www.StrategicBrilliance.com.
Contact: E W P
Marcey Walsh, Owner marcey@strategicbrilliance.com www.strategicbrilliance.com 813-667-6224
December 2013 - February 2014
Florida Creative Living | For All Ages!
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Creative Living Sections Florida
December 2013 - February 2014
20
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52 Hot Topics
Cindy’s Pets Helping Seniors and Their Pets | pgs 20-21 Art For A Cause Blooms - Handmade Wreaths | pgs 44-45 Jean Lanoue - The Social Jeanie Word of Mouth Advertising Tips | pg 52 Hero Mail You Can Make a Difference | pgs 56-57
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For All Ages! |
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13th
In Every Issue
What Bugs You? pg 11 Crossword & Sudoku Fun pgs 38-39 Artist Corner pg 42 Band Directory pg 43 Business Directory pgs 46-47 Chef’s Delight pg 48-51 Community Spotlight pgs 44-45 Technology pg 55 Va Memoirs pgs 56-57
Front Cover Provided by JOHN BAYALIS
December 2013 - February 2014
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Creative Living Adult Living Florida
December 2013 - February 2014
News
14
13th ISSUE
22
16
Pia’s Trattoria Viva “La Dolce Vita”! | pgs 14-15 A Year-End Checklist for Five Areas of Your Business | pg 16 How Not to Become a Victim of Crime This Season Holiday Guide to keeping you safe! pgs 18-19 Artist John Bayalis Featured Artist | pgs 22-23
Home
Re-purposing and Re-using From the Kitchen to the Garden | pgs 24-25 A Christmas of Yesterday Memories | pgs 26-27 Organic Cleaning Recipes Simple to Make | pgs 28-29 6
For All Ages! |
www.FloridaCreativeLiving.com
30 Fashion
Dressing for Winter Florida Style | pgs 30-31
Travel Guide
Travels In Italy - Part Two Site Seeing In Paestum, Pompei, & Naples | pgs 34-37
December 2013 - February 2014
Florida Creative Living | For All Ages!
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Creative Living Kids & Teens Florida
December 2013 - February 2014
13th ISSUE
60 65 68 59 News
Dealing with Bullying What Can You Do? | pgs 60-64 When Can I Get a Cell Phone? What is the Right Age? | pg 65
Healthy Habits
What Can I Say to a Friend Who’s Having Unprotected Sex? | pg 66
Science & Techno
What It’s Like to be Color Blind? Understanding Color Blindness | pg 67 8
For All Ages! |
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Staying Safe
Being Safe in the Kitchen Cooking Lessons | pgs 68-69
Doodle Corner
Crossword Puzzle & Unscramble Activity Center | pgs 70-71
Featured Artist
The True Meaning of Christmas | pg 59
Four Great Products in 1 Complete System
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Plexus Slim is an all-natural, healthy
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solution to help you lose weight and inches by burning fat, not muscle. Slim also helps keep blood sugar, cholesterol and lipids at healthy levels.
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features five extra strength probiotics that support the breaking down of hostile organisms that negatively impact your health. “When I started taking the Plexus products I ProBio5 helps relieve sugar cravings, inexplicable weighed 185 pounds and was wearing a size 14. I used Plexus for five months and lost a fatigue or bloating, anxiety, and “brain fog.” whopping 52 pounds. I am in a size 5 now. I feel great thanks to Plexus Slim. And the best #4: Bio Cleanse oxygenates the entire part is that I haven’t gained a single pound back. body, helps detoxify and cleanse, energizes, What an amazing product. I would recommend enhances weight loss, and relieves constipation. this to anyone.” - Rochelle D. December 2013 - February 2014
Florida Creative Living | For All Ages!
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Creative Living Florida
A BRIEF WORD FROM THE PUBLISHER
I
t began in the month of September, when shopping in stores they already had displays depicting the holidays. Like many, including myself are wondering where did the time go. As we approach Christmas, I pray that many will take this time to reflect on what is important in life, and not so much on materialistic items. Would you like to make a difference in a families life this Christmas? Read on pages 44-45 how one local artist, Kim Cass is donating a portion of her wreath sales to a family in need. At Florida Creative Living we wish our readers a Safe Merry Christmas and blessings of health, happiness & success in this coming New Year. Events Susan Gulash | susan@floridacreativeliving.com
Florida Creative Living
PO Box 2735, Lutz, FL 33548
O: 813.994.5110 C: 813.458.1098 F: 813.200.1002
susan@FloridaCreativeLiving.com
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For All Ages! |
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Florida Creative Living is a full-size, full-color, quarterly, online interactive magazine published four 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.
Is there something in your life that bugs you? Maybe it's a construction project that never seems to end, a pothole everyone swerves to avoid, or an unaddressed safety concern. It could just be something such as a coworker chewing with their mouth wide open at lunch time. We want to hear about it! To share your concern, please fill out our form at floridacreativeliving.wufoo.com/forms/what-bugs-you/
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oud chewers. Kim S. - Tampa, Florida
hose youtube videos where something is all quiet and you’re paying attention closely and then a scary face pops up really loudly. Lyn T. - St. Pete, Florida
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oisy neighbors that talk loud outside until the early morning hours. Shasha A - Clearwater, FL
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hen I have to repeat something, because the person wasn’t paying attention. Ed J. - Gulfport, FL
eople without a sense of humor. Nicole G. - Sarasota, FL December 2013 - February 2014
Florida Creative Living | For All Ages!
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Adult Living
Section
Picture Provided By John Bayalis
Adult Living |NEWS
Viva “La Dolce V ita”!
Viva “La Dolce Vita”!
Piato’rsia
Trat
2 1 0 2 n i t s e Voted IB urant talian Resta for Top ay Area. B a p m a T in REILEY By LAURA s Food Critic e St. Pete Tim
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Ages! | www.FloridaCreativeLiving.com For For All All Ages! | www.FloridaCreativeLiving.com
P
ia’s a neighborhood find located in picturesque Gulfport Florida. Pia’s captures the intimate scale and no-fuss charms of so many Italian Trattorias. Offering Daily specials and homemade desserts baked in house, every day. Trattoria is an Italian word, and means “eating house”, which is exactly what Pia’s Trattoria embodies!
Pia has one goal – she wants to spoil you with fresh natural foods, prepared with lots of love, in a romantic, cozy Old Italy atmosphere. No “High Cuisine”, just simple, fresh and original food. Stay with us as long as you wish. Live the Italian lifestyle – this means you having not to hurry, enjoy your espresso after a good meal, and taste our carefully chosen Italian wines & German beer. Try our cakes and desserts, made from scratch with fresh ingredients and no preservatives. Just come and don’t be embarrassed when our staff probably greets you with a “Ciao Bella” or “Come va mi amore”! We cook to order, which probably adds a few more minutes, to your waiting time and gives you a chance to settle down and relax from the world outside.
Pia and her staff love to throw a party!
Special Events
Wedding Receptions, Wedding Rehearsals, Baby Showers, Birthday Parties, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, Holiday Parties, Corporate Events, Private Wine Tastings, Anniversaries. Special Events can be held inside our Tuscan Style Restaurant with (2) Private Dining Rooms, our inside Bar, and Charming Courtyard to hold your party. We can also assist you with coordinating your whole event! From simple table set up to stunning room decorations and menu options customized for your needs and budget.
Pia’s Trattoria
3054 Beach Blvd. S. Gulfport, FL 33707 (727) 327-2190
Hours of Operation
Sunday Brunch – 9am to 2pm
(Incudes choice of a FREE Mimosa or Bloody Mary)
Lunch – Monday through Saturday 11am to 4pm Sunday 2pm to 4pm Dinner – Monday through Thursday 4pm to 9pm Friday through Saturday 4pm to 10pm Sunday 4pm to 9pm 15 December 20132013 - February 2014 Creative Living | For| All 15 December - February 2014 Florida Florida Creative Living For Ages! All Ages!
Adult Living |NEWS
A Year-End Checklist for
Five Areas of your Business By Tonya Seay, Tax Accountant
love working with business owners! I enjoy both large and small business involvement, public and private companies, domestic and international. My focus though, is on that one person or those few who had the dream, drive and un-stoppable spirit to make thoughts and ideas reality. They are the kind of people who generally have taken a passion and found a way to call it a business. These entrepreneurs work hard, smart and are dedicated to quality products and services. They like innovation or taking something old and making it relevant again but in a new way. They see beyond the obvious. Why do I love working with them? I know that when these kinds of people produce a product or service the consumer wins. It’s not all about the business owner or the company bottom line for them. It’s often about fulfilling a destiny, creating a legacy or contributing to community.
I
There is something else about these kinds of passionate people. They usually wear many hats. Even when they have employees and appointed officers in the company, those visionaries are compelled to oversee it all. Things have to be just right. Sadly, what may be neglected, mostly because of a lack of time, is financial and strategic planning. This is where I like to help. This is my professional passion. Tax planning and preparation, accounting and financial statement preparation as well as business management and consulting have been a life-long vocation for me. As we celebrate holidays and begin a New Year, here are ways to make sure that you as a business owner have prepared for 2013 reporting, record safe-guarding and tax preparation.
Contact: Tonya Seay, Tax Accountant www.StrategicSuccessBuilders.com Facebook.com/StrategicSuccessBuilders L Linkedin.com/in/TonyaSeay M Meetup.com/Engage 16 For All Ages! | www.FloridaCreativeLiving.com W F
• Accounting Records – Bank statements and business credit cards need to be reconciled to the general ledger. If you have outstanding receivables and/or payables, also reconcile these aging reports. If you have product, do a physical inventory. Have a good filing system and supporting documents for all expenses and records of your sales. Backup your system as of your fiscal year-end. • Payroll and Human Resources – There are deadlines for supplying tax documents to employees, independent contractors and the government. Know the dates, file on time and make sure the numbers are accurate and reconciled. If you have employees, consider evaluations, raises and bonuses. Consider retirement planning and contributions for qualified employees and don’t neglect yourself! • Your Online Presence – Consider and review your online presence for targeted reach. Review your site for accuracy and make sure links still work. Consider new social media sites and claim your name! Set up Google alerts to monitor your reputation. • Taxes – Gather records your Accountant will need to prepare tax returns. This will include the Accounting reconciled statements, financial reports, a list of capital purchases as well any changes to your business. Review the benefits of changing your business structure. • Plan for the New Year – Set up recordkeeping files. File state annual reports and submit any Articles amendments. Prepare budgets. Enjoy your passion!
Tonya Seay is a graduate of the University of South Florida’s College of Business, Bachelor of Science Accounting Program. Continuing education courses also through the University of South Florida include Not-for-Profit Development and Fundraising; The Financial Planner Certificate Programs Fundamentals, Insurance Planning, Income Tax Planning, Investment Planning, Retirement Planning, and Estate Planning. Tonya has held positions in the management of accounting and finance at both private and public companies, small and large, non-accounting industries and accounting/tax firms. Her firm Strategic Success Builders, LLC focuses on Tax planning and preparation for businesses and their owners. Tonya was honored this year as a nominee for the Tampa Bay Business Journal Woman of the Year. She is the founder of ENGAGE, a Network for Evolving Entrepreneurs and board member of Unthink.
December 2013 - February 2014
Florida Creative Living | For All Ages!
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Adult Living |NEWS
HOW NOT TO BECOME A VICTIM OF CRIME THIS
SEASON
Holiday Guide to keeping you safe! ummer has quickly passed. Now as the temperatures cool, students return to school. People who experience the cold in the northeast start to travel south. Others also come who are ready to attempt to rid us of our valuables and money. This is not to say that, unfortunately, we have some who live here locally who have the same idea as well.
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How could this occur you ask? We are much too smart to fall for these false statements and tricks which these individuals will use. Think again. While many 18
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suspect they are too smart to fall for such tricks, remember these are experienced con artists who make a living at separating you from your money. And they are very good at it! Let’s take a look at a few of the con games which you may be subject to this fall. First, with Florida and hurricanes as a combination you may experience a storm which may cause damage to your home or property, or perhaps you have an obvious repair situation on your home visible from the street which may draw a persons attention. A knock on the front door, and a person could have out of state plates on their vehicle but not always; will tell you they have some ‘left over material’ or can do the work at a cheap price.They will
www.FloridaCreativeLiving.com
by Chuck Johnson, Retired Police Officer
then ask for a portion of the cost up front. Don’t do it! There is a very good chance that person would leave with your money, never to return to finish the task. Checking the credentials of the person is very important. If they are not licensed, that should be a red flag and make you exercise caution. The State of Florida requires such repair companies to be licensed. Remember, once the person has your money and has departed, the police will be hard CONTINUE TO NEXT PAGE
pressed to find them without names, an address, license plate numbers, etc. Do not be afraid to ask to see the occupational license and copy down the information. And, now to an area which really drives a police department crazy. It is called “burglary to a conveyance”. Simply put, it means someone got into your vehicle and in most cases stole something. This does not have to happen. You would be amazed at how many drivers leave a wallet, purse, a weapon, extra cash, etc. in their vehicle which they left unlocked. You are simply making it too easy for a thief to help themselves to your property. The solution? It is very sImple. Lock the vehicle and never leave expensive desirable property in plain view within the vehicle. To do so is an invitation to a broken window, and never leave a firearm in the vehicle. You would be amazed at how many people wander the streets at night trying to find out how many of us leave our vehicle unlocked. Who would want to learn that a weapon which was left in a vehicle was stolen, and used in a terrible crime. The simple method is. “lock it or lose it.”
and those attempting such a seat of your vehicle while fraud. you gas up the car with the passengers side door And last, remember that unlocked? Do you leave identification theft is one of it in a shopping cart when the leading crimes in the your attention is on the United States today. Protect clothes rack and not your your social security numbers, purse? Check to see who bank accounts, dates of birth, is on the other side of etc. A credit check at least your front door is a good once a year is recommended idea before you open it. to insure someone is not Obviously, the doors to the buying something using your home should be locked. name. If you start getting It only takes a moment calls or mail notices as to a to unlock them and could specific purchase you have make a difference. This is no knowledge of, that should the time of year you truly send up the red flag have to be aware. and you need to contact that company. With Christmas season here, stacking up Remember, you do not have expensive gifts under a to make it easy to become a tree in a lighted window of victim of a crime. Using some a home is a great way to forethought and caution you invite a burglary. Perhaps will be able to sleep well at placing the gifts under the night knowing that you have tree the day before would taken the measures necessary be a better idea. Lets not to prevent such an occurrence. tempt fate. And last, if your property was stolen could you identify it Till next time, stay safe later for police? Those rolex and remember support watches expensive cameras your local law enforcement laptops, guitars and rings may agency who work 24/7 be difficult to describe as they to make sure you live in all look the same. May we a safe environment. You suggest take a photo or video may contact the Crime now of those items and keep it Prevention Bureau of your in a safe location. Write down local law enforcement the serial numbers that exist on agency and they will be the items and those who do not pleased to give you more have a serial number you can advice and answer any inscribe one of the last four of questions you may have. your social security number or any other identification which is Have a safe easy to remember. It will assist the police greatly as they work and Happy closely with the pawn shops in your area where the items will Holiday Season. usually end up.
And let’s not forget the old ‘bag’ game, where someone will approach you in a public place who appears to be a concerned citizen and states that they have found a certain amount of cash in a bag and wants to share it with you after a period of time. They will ask for a good faith deposit and even drive you to your bank to get your money. Do not be a fool. This is a scam. Get away from them as soon as possible And ladies, how many of you and notify police of the location leave your purse on the front
December 20132013 - February 20142014 Florida Creative Living | For| All December - February Florida Creative Living For Ages! All Ages!
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Adult Living |NEWS
Cindy’s Pets
Assists the seniors in our community by making sure their pets are well-fed.
Volunteers deliver over
2,000 lbs of pet food each month.
Photos Provided by Missy Nurrenbrock 38 20 For For All All Ages! Ages! | www.FloridaCreativeLiving.com | www.FloridaCreativeLiving.com
“Helping seniors and their pets.” t has been noted that many seniors, while participating in the “Meals on Wheels” program in Pasco County, often give a portion of their delivered meals to their beloved pets. These companion pets are frequently a homebound senior’s only “family” member, and the pet’s wellbeing is naturally very important to them. Our goal is to provide good nutritional food for the animals, thereby enabling the elderly to enjoy their own meals with the knowledge that their pet is also being taken care of. Genesis School and interested parents and friends came together in 2010 to create a program which provides needed pet food for the animals of Senior citizens in our area. Called Cindy’s Pets, our organization works in conjunction with Pasco County’s Elderly Nutrition “Meals on Wheels” program. Currently, Cindy’s Pets volunteers deliver over 2,000 pounds of pet food each month to the homes of 93 homebound seniors in West and East Pasco County to feed 315 cherished dogs, cats, birds, and the occasional bunny.
I
Can you help, Cindy’s Pets? Contact
Missy Nurrenbrock, West Pasco
E cindys.pets@aol.com
Sharon Smith, East Pasco
E cindys.pets@aol.com W cindyspets.org
F facebook.com/pages/Cindys-Pets/ 163262303706516
(727) 372-9333
December 2013 - February 2014
Florida Creative Living | For All Ages!
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Adult Living |FEATURED ARTIST
22
For For All All Ages! Ages! | www.FloridaCreativeLiving.com | www.FloridaCreativeLiving.com
John Bayalis Watercolor Artist Front Cover Winter Issue Winner
J
ohn Bayalis is noted for his distinct, realist style and skill at handling contemporary themes and subject matter. His work has earned him acclaim from art critics and collectors throughout the United States. He has been the recipient of numerous awards in both national juried art shows and Fine Arts Festivals including Gaspirilla and Mainsail in St Petersburg, where he was also selected as the poster Artist. In addition his honors include an award of an individual artist’s fellowship grant and the selection for The Watercolor Page in American Artist magazine. The artist’s works are included in private and corporate collections throughout the United States. John and his wife Margaret, also an artist, work out of a studio in St. Petersburg.
Contact: E W F
P
December 2013 - February 2014
John Bayalis, Artist john@bayalistudio.com www.bayalistudio.com facebook.com/john.bayalis 727.864.3233 Florida Creative Living | For All Ages!
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Adult Living |HOME
By Lisa Burns, Co-Owner of Backyard Getaway
Re-purposing and Re-using Photos Provided By Judith e, Metal Photography
from the Kitchen to the Garden
here is a growing trend today in organic gardening. The use of manure, compost and mineral supplements to enhance the soil will help reduce the amount of garden pests and fungal issues but not completely eliminate the problem. Adding mulch to control weeds and conserve water is also helpful, but sometimes finding a way to control garden pests and insects as well as fertilizing your garden without the use of chemicals is not always easy.
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Did you know there are numerous kitchen and household staples that can be used in your garden to kill insects and pests? For example Listerine sprayed on your lawn will kill mosquitoes and biting gnats and uncooked grits sprinkled on a fire ant hill will kill the ants. To repel pests such as flea beetles, mites and thrips you can use an insecticidal soap or make your own concoction by chopping 1/2 cup of chives and garlic blended into a pint of water and spraying on the leaves. Aphids 24
For All Ages! |
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are a problem in many gardens that can be easily controlled using a hot pepper spray made from fresh ground hot peppers in water. Hollowed Citrus Shell: use hollowed or squeezed halved citrus fruits upsidedown in the garden to attract snails and slugs away from your plants. Not sure why it works but they are attracted to the citrus, it’s up to you what to do with them next. Many items that you would toss into your trash or compost pile can be used to fertilize your garden including peels, rinds, cores, skins, egg shells and peanut shells. Epsom salt is a wonderful fertilizer for flowering plants like roses, vegetable plants like tomatoes and your lawn. How about a little caffeine? Used coffee grinds will help your rose bushes produce more flowers as will CONTINUE TO NEXT PAGE
banana peels. Peanut shells, the unsalted variety, work as soil aerators when mixed in your potting soil. Use egg shells if you need to add calcium to your soil; this is helpful for growing tomatoes. An easy way to remove or stop fungus from growing on your plants is to spray them with a mix of 1/2 tsp baking soda, a few drops of Dawn and a quart of water. Tired of pulling weeds from your mulch bed? In Florida, installing weed cloth under mulch that is 2” or thicker is not recommended because the mulch will grow mold. Try using newspaper or paper bags as a biodegradable weed barrier instead.
Lisa, co-owner of Backyard Getaway, a local pond & water garden service & retail business, has had articles published in RFD-TV Magazine, LS1 Magazine and is a contributing writer for Sarasota Pet Magazine. Her articles can also be found on various online magazines including bradenton.patch.com and examiner. com Backyard Getaway’s water features have been spotlighted in Better Homes & Garden’s Water Gardening Magazine and twice in the designer showcase section of Water Garden News. Lisa and her husband/ business partner, Dave, are proud recipients of the Manatee Chamber’s 2011 Business/Education Partnership award for their donated water feature & wildlife habitat at Haile Middle School. Her interest in writing and gardening started as a child. Her interest in water gardening started over 15 years ago as a hobby that grew into a passion.
Here are a few more tips and tricks using ordinary household items in your garden: • Toilet paper or paper towel rolls: use for planting seedlings • Toilet paper rolls: filled with dryer lint as starters for your campfire • Coffee filters: place in the bottom of a pot with holes to keep dirt in • Plastic water bottle: cut out bottom, poke holes in sides, place upside down in potted plants with lid on for easy watering • Milk jug: Cut holes in the cap and you have an instant watering can • Styrofoam mushroom trays: good for starter seeds • Glass wine or beer bottles: plant upside down in the ground as a border • Wine corks: place on the end of a stick or fork as plant markers
Contact: Lisa Burns
Co-Owner of Backyard Getaway W F E P
www.backyardgetaway.net
Facebook.com/backyardgetawayponds lisa@backyardgetaway.net (941) 752-7663
December 2013 - February 2014
Florida Creative Living | For All Ages!
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Adult Living |HOME Adult Living |HOME
A Christmas of Yesterday by Charles Johnson
26 26
For ForAll AllAges! Ages!| |www.FloridaCreativeLiving.com www.FloridaCreativeLiving.com
H
ow many times have we paused in our daily lives to recall the happy Christmas’ of years ago. Growing up on a farm in the State of Maine, I remember the holiday season which started with Thanksgiving, which was really just the true start or countdown to Christmas. I was fortunate. I didn’t have to accompany my parents to a tree stand to pick out a tree we simply went into the woods, found one and brought it home. We did not require a can of pine scent spray for the ‘outdoor’ aroma, as it came with the tree. Putting up the Christmas tree was perhaps the highlight of the holiday season. While my parents worked, it was the children’s task to decorate the tree which required bringing down the box from the attic which held all the decorations. As we placed the items on the tree we would talk about how the decoration was obtained and from whom.
Memories are made from such events. Christmas was a happy time. Everyone was full of excitement. My sisters were constantly attempting to guess what ‘St Nick’ would leave under the tree, and sleeping at night became a challenge as we grew closer to Christmas day. Our mother and father who worked such long hours somehow found the extra funds to make sure that our favorite action hero or race car or doll was going to be available for us that special day. Parents understood that Christmas for any child was a special day and called for some sacrifice.
word. You went to sleep and did not worry about locking your front door and keys were always in the car ignition. Times were simply more gentle then. Mom and Dad worked long hours and extra during the holidays to make sure the family had a good Christmas and there was something under the tree. I remember my grandmother knitting us warm mittens and socks, baking a homemade apple pie on a wood burning stove. Hands down, it would win any pie competition today. I recall struggling through the deep snow in the early morning hours to feed the livestock and clear a path so that neighbors could reach the front porch.
Yes, I remember Christmas. I remember looking out the window on Christmas eve and making a wish that it would snow. Everyone wanted a white Christmas in Maine and we seldom went without one. I remember the old sled we used to speed down the hill in the back of the farm. I remember the snowshoes which were required to walk through the deep snow drifts, the snow ball fights with my sisters and most of all my grandfather, an honest hard working man. As we approach another Christmas this year, I still look forward to it. Things have not changed. Children still look forward to receiving a gift under the tree. Parents will still work hard to make sure that their children have what they ask for. However, I have to ask myself what will the children of today remember about Christmas? Was it getting an item, or gift that they desired or will they remember how hard their parents worked to make that gift possible.
Merry Christmas.
Reflecting back, our country did not have problems during that time. World War II and Korea during my era of growing up caused our country grief and many homes lost their fathers, sons and even daughters in those wars. However, things seemed different back then. Neighbors were always available to help one another. Everyone greeted one another with a smile and a kind December 2013 - February 2014
Florida Creative Living | For All Ages!
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Adult Living |HOME
Organic Cleaning Recipes By Terry Foster
Window Cleaner White Vinegar and Newspaper! Vinegar cuts through soap build up in the bathroom, grease on the inside of the kitchen window, even bug residue on outside of windows. Newspaper (black & white section only) is economical to use and leaves windows streak free. Fill one quart spray bottle with vinegar, add a few drop of lemon oil if you desire and use full strength for best results.
Dish Soap Ingredients 1. 1 1/4 cups boiling water 2. 1/4 cup (tightly packed) castile bar soap, grated 3. 1 tablespoon washing soda (use a little more for a thicker soap) 4. 1/4 cup liquid castile soap 5. 10-30 drops essential oils (optional; I use 20 drops orange and 10 drops tea tree) Instructions • Add grated castile soap to boiling water and stir until dissolved. • Add washing soda and stir. • Add liquid castile soap and stir. • Let mixture cool, then add essential oils. • Transfer to repurposed soap dispenser and use as regular dish soap. • Soap mixture will harden as it sets. If it’s too thick to pour, just add a tiny bit of warm water and give it a good shake to loosen it up. The amount of washing soda you use will dictate how thick the soap gets, so adjust accordingly. The temperature of your kitchen is also a factor. 28
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Powder Laundry Soap Making your own laundry soap is one of the easiest parts of a transition to natural living. It is also a great way to save money on laundry detergent and is incredibly easy to make. Ingredients: 1. Washing Soda 2. Borax 3. Bar Soap - Natural, unscented bar soap) Grate the bar soap or mix in food processor until finely ground. Use the soap of your choice. In a large bowl, mix 2 parts washing soda, 2 parts Borax and 1 part grated soap. (Add a few teaspoons of baking soda if desired). Store in closed container, Quart or half gallon mason jars that have lids. Use 1/8 to 1/4 cup per load of laundry.
Liquid Laundry Soap Grate one bar of soap with cheese grater or food processor. Put grated soap in pan with 2 quarts water and gradually heat, stirring constantly until soap is completely dissolved. Put 4.5 gallons of really hot tap water in a 5-gallon bucket (available for free in bakeries at grocery stores, just ask them) and stir in 1 cup of borax and 1 cup of Washing Soda until completely dissolved. Pour soap mixture from pan into 5-gallon bucket. Stir well. Cover and leave overnight. Shake or stir until smooth and pour into gallon jugs or other containers. Use 1/2 to 1 cup per load. $ saved on the Powdered recipe: One 55 ounce box Washing Soda- $3.49, One 76 ounce box of Borax – $4.99 , One Bar Natural Soap - $2.99 With the amount this mixture using (1/4 cup) per load of laundry, this recipe works out to $0.09 cents per load of laundry. This saves almost $0.15 per load over using a commercial brand. With the liquid recipe, the saving is even more. A Five-Gallon batch costs $4.30 and washes at least 80 loads, costing about $0.05 per load! December December2013 2013- -February February2014 2014 Florida FloridaCreative CreativeLiving Living| For| ForAllAllAges! Ages!
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Dressing for Winter Florida Style
Show off your own personal sense of style! Written by Aimee Stratford
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W
inter is upon us, even in sunny Florida. Although our fashion trends don’t follow the rest of the country, which is already feeling dipping temperatures, we have a style of our own.
Whether the style is super glam in Miami or surfer vibe in St. Augustine, you can be sure that the weather will dictate one’s fashion selection. Florida tends to stay warm most of the year and temperatures can be unpredictable. The best way to transition into Winter in Florida is to play up color, texture and layers. So, I can hear you asking, “where do I start”? For almost any occasion in Florida, a stylish tank top and jeans is a great start to any outfit. For daytime, throw on a lightweight scarf in a fun color and a pair of cute sandals. To transition to the evening, wear a colored cardigan, sparkling accessories and strappy heels. And if it just happens to be a cool evening, break out the boots and leather jackets. We have to take advantage of the few times we can actually show them off. In the rest of the fashion world, the big colors for Winter 2013 are emerald, teal, deep red, charcoal gray and of course, black. Let’s face it though, in Florida we are still going to the beach in October and sometimes wearing shorts in December. We Floridians still like to wear soft, beachy maxi dresses and that’s perfectly acceptable too. For me personally, I can’t live without my cropped jean jacket. It’s my Fall/Winter staple that I wear over my colorful maxi dresses.
Adult Living |FASHION Aimee is a Florida native and has lived in Sarasota for 7 years. She is owner of an on-line boutique named Moxie Girl Boutique which focuses on contemporary Florida style for women. Outside of her business life, she is a Mom and is active within her community. Volunteering is where her heart is and she desires to get more involved in opportunities to empower, encourage and inspire young women. A portion of her boutique profits are donated to a local non-profit that benefits girls at risk. She is also the branch President of the Socialites Sarasota, which is a business and social women’s networking group. They focus on establishing relationships among women so that they can support each other in life and have fun while doing it!
When it comes down to it though, the most important element of fashion is to show off your own personal sense of style, whether it’s boho chic, classic, glam or trendy. Mix it up and wear what shows who you are. Boots with shorts? Sassy, but I’ll leave that for the younger set.
Contact: Aimee Stratford
Owner of Moxie Girl Boutique W www.moxiegirlboutique.com E aimee@moxiegirlboutique.com F facebook.com/MoxieGirlBoutique December 2013 - February 2014
Florida Creative Living | For All Ages!
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Adult Living |HEALTH & BEAUTY
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December 2013 - February 2014
Florida Creative Living | For All Ages!
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Adult Living |TRAVEL You can see Vesuvius from the Crowne Plaza hotel grounds
Travel Guide Part 2 Travels in Italy
Site Seeing in Paestum, Pompei, and Naples
Written & Photos Provided by Erin Starr fter we left Venice, Mom and I rented a car in Naples and drove to our hotel in Castellammare di Stabia. We stayed here for one night because it was near Paestum and also, because I wanted to stay at the Crowne Plaza there. It was directly on the Bay of Naples and our room had a view of Vesuvius.
A
We checked our bags, ate dinner in the hotel restaurant and went to bed. The next morning we woke up and packed the car before leaving to see Paestum. Paestum was first inhabited by the Greeks around the 7th century BC. Later the Romans settled there. Both cultures left a ton of archeological evidence to support long periods of habitation. Also (for you WWII buffs,) On September 9, 1943, Paestum was where the U.S. 36th Infantry Division landed during the
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Allied invasion of Italy. German forces resisted the landings and there was heavy fighting for nine days before the Germans withdrew.
Paestum
Paestum is off the beaten path of most tourists in Italy. Because of that it was pleasantly uncrowded and the cafes were quiet and reasonably priced. I recommend that you buy your souvenirs in Pasteum since they are much less expensive than Pompei. We started at the café and had a light lunch. Then we purchased our tickets at the museum (it includes walking through the ruins too,) and got started. I think Paestum was the most pleasant museum we visited. It was only one floor (unless you needed to use the “facilities,”) CONTINUE TO NEXT PAGE
and it was laid out chronologically so that as you walked through you saw the Greek items first and then moved onto the Roman antiquities. You end up in a few rooms filled with sarcophagi and tomb frescoes that are so well preserved the scientists were able to date them easily. We learned so much about the culture and religions of the ancient world here. The one thing that struck me as I walked through the Greek section was the use of the swastika on one of the busts displayed there. Mom explained to me that the NAZI’s took that symbol from the ancient Greeks as part of their propaganda campaign.
are easy to see from the street, walking or riding a bike along the edge of the site. You can also easily walk amongst the ruins and explore at your leisure without throngs of people bumping into you and getting in the way of your photos. I know this sounds petty (of course, I am a tourist here too,) but it is nice to get away from the crowds when travelling in Italy. There are three large temples still standing and mostly intact on this site. It is amazing to see considering how little is left of temples in other parts of Italy.
The cool thing about the Paestum ruins is that they
Pompei
We left Paestum to find our hotel in Pompei. Once found, we checked in and dressed for dinner. We went into Pompei proper (the new city,) and looked for our contact for our tour of the ruins the next day. Mom had scheduled a private tour for us. It was very expensive but I am so grateful that she did. It allowed us to drive right up to the ruins and park close enough that Mom didn’t have to do more walking that day than was necessary. The ruins were going to be plenty of walking and we knew that up front. Our hotel (The Pompei Resort, great hotel and very reasonably priced,) also had
shuttle service to the ruins which would have accomplished the same thing. But there were other wonderful benefits to the private tour that can’t be replaced. First of all, our tour guide lived and worked in Pompei in the ruins. He was an expert on all things Pompei. He was also able to show us a wagon cart with all of the original metal implements. This is not part of the ruins that other tourists see. Our guy had to have a maintenance guy come and lead us through a bunch of far off ancient alleys and open locked doors for this. It was very, very cool! CONTINUE TO NEXT PAGE
All of the metal pieces are original Pompei wagon parts. Everything was art in ancient times. Even the metal work that held two horses to a wagon! Original metal wagon wheel of a Pompei wagon. The wood of course is not original. It would have burned up entirely from the eruption of Vesuvius. December 2013 - February 2014
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Adult Living |TRAVEL
A mozzarella soufflé with grilled Veggies. Yum city!
Cheesecake made the way they ate it in ancient Pompei. No Sugar! Just honey, at least that’s what they told me.
The most interesting thing I found in Pompei was when we discovered that the men’s bath house had been plundered by the surrounding population later on in the centuries but, the women’s bath house had been largely left intact. Maybe ancient plunderers still had some honor for a woman’s modesty. But, after seeing the cubby holes in the whorehouse there, I pretty much rejected that notion. In the whorehouse a man would place his clothes in the cubby hole with the picture of the position he wanted. I guess that is one way around having to ask out loud! That can be embarrassing for some. I am not going to show my pictures of
Naples
We stayed two nights in Pompei (at the Pompei Resort,) and then drove back to Naples (where we had rented the car) and checked into our hotel (Hotel Bellini.) The hotel parking garage was 7 blocks away so we parked on the street. That was a mistake. The car was stolen overnight. Always, park in the hotel parking garage! We had just enough time to go to the Archaeological museum in Naples before it closed at 7:00. This museum is a must see if you are into archaeology. They have
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the whorehouse here. You can find them on the internet if you like. We had amazing food in a restaurant called Il Principe, or the Prince, while we stayed in Pompeii. What a wonderful restaurant. The proprietor Marco Carli was gracious and inviting. He insisted on ordering for us since “he knew what is best here.” His son is the chef but maybe we can convince him to come to America and open a restaurant. The food was five stars! Above are a couple of pictures just to sharpen your appetite. taken the best frescos and other antiquities from Pompei here to keep them safe from the elements and plunderers. CONTINUE TO NEXT PAGE
In the barrel with Mom and the vineyard foreman.
Our tour guide Mattia and me at the vineyard. I don’t like having my picture taken. Observations: 1. I think that Pompei would be very difficult to manage with a wheelchair. 2. The Naples museum would be ok with a wheelchair provided you can find the elevators. We did not find them until after we had climbed up and down three long flights of marble stairs. Mom was exhausted. Things I wish I had done differently in the south of Italy: 1. I think that 4 nights in this area of Italy isn’t enough time to do it justice. I would probably book my next trips to stay mostly in one region of Italy and stay for a full week in this area. 2. I missed the Isle of Capri and Herculaneum and Sorrento. We just didn’t have enough time here. 3. I would like to have made better use of the trains rather than renting a car. I think we could have wasted less time travelling by train in this part of Italy. 4. I would have had a driver or taxi take us to the wine tasting so that I could have indulged more. Things I enjoyed the most: 1. Paestum 2. The Villa Arianna
3. The museum in Paestum had some stairs to navigate too. I didn’t see any ramps outside to navigate the stairs with a wheelchair. 4. The Villa Arianna is virtually inaccessible to the handicapped. 5. All of Italy could benefit from better signage both inside and out. 6. Pompei is where things started to get really expensive. The private guide was very pricey. I think we could have spent less money on this but we are pretty easy marks in a foreign country. 7. Be careful when you are told that a vineyard will ship wine to the United States. I went into the wine tasting thinking I would buy one or two bottles and ship them home but then, it turned out they would only ship a case. So, “Easy Mark Erin” purchased a case for shipping and spent more than 500 US dollars on wine that day. Then I was told that I should tip them. There goes another 20 euros! Oh well, easy come, easy go.
December 2013 - February 2014
Florida Creative Living | For All Ages!
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Adult Living | CROSSWORD & SUDOKU FUN
Across
Crossword Puzzle
1. At that time 5. Slide without control 9. Singing voice 13. An actor’s portrayal 14. Internal 16. Prevaricator 17. Translucent mineral 18. Female relative 19. Edible flatfish 20. Taut or rigid 22. Brass instrument 24. Peculiar 26. Group of three singers 27. Amiable 30. Male feline 35. Mongrel 36. Delicacy 39. Flashlight 40. Charter 42. Religious doctrine 44. Whittle 45. Embellish 47. Commence 49. Liveliness 50. Panic 52. Sent via the postal service 54. Bird shelter 57. An argument in favor of 58. Selecting what seems best of various styles or ideas 62. Bird of prey 66. Certain 67. Excluded from use or mention 69. Stomped heavily 70. Region 71. Edible bulb 72. Female red deer 73. Garment 74. A meeting arranged in advance 75. Jittery
Down
1. A slow pace of running 2. Be optimistic 3. Zeal 4. Wrestling hold, can be half or full 5. Transgression 6. Create with needles and wool 7. Torpid 8. Interior layout and furnishings 9. In addition 10. Large predatory feline 11. Story 12. Metal-bearing mineral 15. Send money in payment 21. Redact
23. Item of footwear 25. Move with sudden speed 27. Usher 28. Mistake 29. Fermentation sediment of an alcoholic beverage 31. Swab 32. Have a great desire for 33. Strong and sharp 34. Those people 35. Informal conversation 37. Colony insect 38. Squad 41. Wander from a direct course 43. Snare 46. Not any
48. Become fatigued 51. Right-hand page 53. Abhor 55. Support or foundation 56. Shinbone 58. Monetary unit 59. Ship’s company 60. Containing little excess 61. Water hen 63. Power system 64. Yearn 65. Miniature whirlpool 66. Droop 68. Single person or thing
View our next issue for the correct answers to this Crossword puzzle. 38
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Adult Living | CROSSWORD & SUDOKU FUN
Sudoku
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.
Answer Guide Sept - Nov Issue
Crossword Puzzle
Sudoku
December 2013 - February 2014
Florida Creative Living | For All Ages!
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December 2013 - February 2014
Florida Creative Living | For All Ages!
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Adult Living | ARTIST CORNER Blooms Wreaths
Blooms Wreaths
Location: Tampa, FL
Location: Tampa, FL
Artwork: Cranberry Spray
Artwork: Blackberry Jam
Price: $45.00
Price: $65.00
Either contact Kim at bloomswreaths@gmail.com Or visit my shop to purchase: www.BloomsWreaths.com
Either contact Kim at bloomswreaths@gmail.com Or visit my shop to purchase: www.BloomsWreaths.com
By Kim Cass
By Kim Cass
Blooms Wreaths
Blooms Wreaths
Location: Tampa, FL
Location: Tampa, FL
By Kim Cass
By Kim Cass
Artwork: Enchanted Holiday
Artwork: Elegant Winter
Price: $60.00
Price: $75.00
Either contact Kim at bloomswreaths@gmail.com Or visit my shop to purchase: www.BloomsWreaths.com
Either contact Kim at bloomswreaths@gmail.com Or visit my shop to purchase: www.BloomsWreaths.com
Blooms Wreaths
Blooms Wreaths
Location: Tampa, FL
Location: Tampa, FL
Artwork: Silver Sparkle
Artwork: Monogram
Price: $60.00
Price: $45.00
Either contact Kim at bloomswreaths@gmail.com Or visit my shop to purchase: www.BloomsWreaths.com
Either contact Kim at bloomswreaths@gmail.com Or visit my shop to purchase: www.BloomsWreaths.com
By Kim Cass
By Kim Cass
Help a Local Needy Family by purchasing one of the wreaths above. 42
Ages! | www.FloridaCreativeLiving.com For For All All Ages! | www.FloridaCreativeLiving.com
Adult Living |BAND DIRECTORY
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
December 20132013 - February 20142014 Florida Creative Living | For| All December - February Florida Creative Living For Ages! All Ages!
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HELP
Kim Cass by purchasing a wreath. Portions of the proceeds will be donated to a local family in need. Visit our Artist Corner on page 42 to view a few of Kim’s wreaths that you can purchase.
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Ages! | www.FloridaCreativeLiving.com For For All All Ages! | www.FloridaCreativeLiving.com
Adult Living | COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
By Kim Cass
was always into the arts, I have dabbled in virtually every medium. Making wreaths was always enjoyable to me, so I started making them again for the upcoming holiday season. But my wreaths are more than just wall art. I donate a portion of my proceeds to a local family in need. The mother has been fighting cancer for a number of years. They have a teenager at home and recently had their water shut off. When I visited, they had virtually no food in their cabinets. I started a fundraiser for them and thanks to the help of generous people, we were able to get the water back on! I’ll continue to save funds over the holidays to help with food and living expenses. Part of my way of doing that is donating a portion of my Blooms proceeds to the family.
I
you see on the wreaths, with the exception of the hydrangeas. I customize colors and also do monogram letters. I will be unveiling many more styles in the coming months.
Contact: E
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Kim Cass, Wreath Designer BloomsWreaths@gmail.com www.BloomsWreaths.com
Creating these wreaths is a source of happiness for me. I scour vintage shops in search of antique brooches and pins to adorn some of the wreaths with, I pick fresh lavender (when I can) to add the wreaths and I hand make most of the flowers that December 2013 - February 2014
Florida Creative Living | For All Ages!
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Adult Living | BUSINESS DIRECTORY Family Computer Services Clearwater, FL Computer Services
O: 727. 510.1113 familycomputerservices.net facebook.com/ clearwaterfamilycomputer
Pia’s Trattoria Gulfport, FL
O: 727.327.2190
www.piastrattoria.com facebook.com/Pias-Trattoria
Trim Nutrition Clearwater, FL
Health
O: 727. 230.1438 info@metabolixwellness.com www.metabolixwellness.com facebook.com/ metabolixwellnesscenter
Gulash Graphics
Lutz, FL Design Firm
O: 813.994.5110 C: 813.458.1098
www.gulashgraphics.com facebook.com/gulashgraphics twitter.com/GulashGraphics
Gyspy Thread Dunedin, FL
Etsy Store
www.gypsythread.com facebook.com/GypsyThread twitter.com/gypsythreadco
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Italian Restaurant
MJ Real Estate Lutz, FL Real Estate Agency
O: 813.948.6814 C: 813.376.8646
gatica6@hotmail.com facebook.com/ maryjohnsonrealestate
www.FloridaCreativeLiving.com
Lutz, FL
Tampa’s Arlington Road Band
Musician/Band
O: 813.376.8256 facebook.com/ tampasarlingtonroad
Social Jeanie
Orlando, FL Social Media Services
O: 407.273.7788 jean@socialjeanie.com www.socialjeanie.com facebook.com/SocialJeanie twitter.com/SocialJeanie
Blooms Wreaths
Palm Harbor, FL Art/Wreaths
O: 727.237.8714 bloomswreaths@gmail.com www.BloomsWreaths.com
doterra
St. Pete, FL Health/Beauty
O: 727.424.0236 mydoterra.com/tanyasharkey tanyasharkey@gmail.com
Mermaid Minerals St Pete, FL
Plexus Slim
Vero Beach, FL Health/Weight Loss
Crystal Mazzoli 772-918-4948 Mandy Shepherd 772-713-4043
facebook.com/toanewyou www.plexusslim.com/cmazzoli
Talk 4 Media Wellington, FL Internet Radio
Health/Beauty
O: 727.637.4615
patti@mermaidminerals.com www.mermaidminerals.com facebook.com/mermaidminerals twitter/mermaidminerals.com
Working Women Of Tampa Bay Tampa, FL Community Organization
O: 888.998.6483
workingwomenoftampabay@gmail.com www.workingwomenoftampabay.com
facebook.com/WWOTB
O: 561.506.4031 www.talk4media.com facebook.com/talk4media twitter.com/talk4media
Cherished Forever Sherbon, MA Jewelry
O: 508.651.0153 cherishedsints.etsy.com cherishedsaints.blogspot.com shellrobin@gmail.com
December2013 2013- February - February2014 2014 Florida FloridaCreative CreativeLiving Living | For Ages! December | For All All Ages!
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Adult Living | Chef’s Delight
Cookie Recipes By Lily Edwards
Traditional Holiday Cookies 48
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Around the World
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France
Elephant Ears Cookies
INGREDIENTS • • • • •
1/3 cup granulated sugar 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 3 tablespoons butter, melted 1/2 lb puff pastry (1 sheet store bought) 1 egg, beaten
PREPARATION Preheat an oven to 400F.
YieldThis cinnamon palmiers recipe makes 30 cookies.
Stir together the sugar, cinnamon, and melted butter until it forms a paste. Roll the pastry dough into a large rectangle, about 15-inches by 12-inches. Using a pastry brush or spoon, spread the cinnamon sugar paste in a thin, even layer over the dough. Starting at the long ends of the rectangle, loosely roll each side inward until they meet in the middle. To hold difficult pastry together, brush it with the egg, if needed. Slice the pastry crosswise into 1/4-inch palmiers – they’ll look like little scrolls - and arrange them on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake them for 12-15 minutes, until they puff and turn golden brown. Remove them from the baking sheet and serve warm or at room temperature.
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Germany
Pfeffern체sse Cookies INGREDIENTS For the spiced sugar: 1 cup powdered sugar 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon ground ginger 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice For the cookies: 3 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1/2 teaspoon fine salt 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1/2 cup sliced almonds, toasted 8 DOZEN 8 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 stick), at room temperature 2 teaspoons packed finely grated lemon zest (from about 2 medium lemons) 2 teaspoons packed finely grated orange zest (from 1 medium orange) 1 cup packed dark brown sugar 1 large egg 3/4 cup honey 1/4 cup finely chopped candied lemon or orange peel (or a combination)
(1-1/2-INCH) COOKIES
INSTRUCTIONS For the spiced sugar: 1. Sift all ingredients together into a large bowl; set aside. For the cookies: 1. Sift together flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, ginger, nutmeg, salt, allspice, and pepper into a large bowl; set aside. 2. Place the almonds in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a blade attachment and process until finely ground, about 25 to 30 seconds. Add the almonds to the flour mixture and stir to combine; set aside. 3. Place the butter, lemon zest, and orange zest in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment and beat on medium speed until fluffy and combined, about 1 minute. Add the brown sugar and beat until incorporated and lightened in color, about 1 minute. Add the egg and beat until incorporated, about 30 seconds more. Add the honey and candied lemon or orange peel (or mixture thereof) and beat until just incorporated, about 1 minute. Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl and the paddle with a rubber spatula. 4. With the mixer on low, add the flour mixture in three additions, mixing until just combined, about 1 1/2 minutes total. (Do not overmix.) Cover and refrigerate the dough until firm, at least 1 hour. 5. Heat the oven to 350째F and arrange 2 racks to divide the oven into thirds. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper; set aside. 6. Roll the chilled dough into 24 (3/4-inch) balls and space them 1 1/2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets. Bake the cookies for 8 minutes, then rotate the sheets from front to back and top to bottom. Continue baking until the cookies are very lightly browned around the edges, about 5 to 6 minutes more. (The tops will be soft, but they will firm up as the cookies stand.) Transfer the baking sheets to 2 wire racks and let the cookies sit until cool enough to handle but still warm, about 3 minutes. 7. Drop the warm cookies into the spiced sugar, making sure to coat them all over, then shake off any excess sugar and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. 8. Repeat baking and sugarcoating with the remaining dough. Store the cookies in an airtight container, layered between pieces of waxed paper, for up to 3 weeks. 9. You can bake the cookies ahead of time and freeze them for up to 2 months. When ready to serve, bring them to room temperature and roll in the spiced sugar.
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Italy
Flag Cookies INGREDIENTS
7 oz 3/4 c 1/2 tsp 3/4 c 3 1c 1/4 tsp 15 15 2/3 c 2/3 c 3 oz 1 tsp
almond paste sugar almond extract butter at room temperature eggs all purpose flour, sifted salt drops of green food coloring drops of red food coloring apricot preserves raspberry preserves semi sweet chocolate butter flavored shortening
YIELD 36 COOKIES
DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat Oven to 350 degrees. 2. Grease 3 8”x8” metal baking pans. After greasing, line the bottoms of the pans with wax paper, smoothing the paper down onto the pan. Grease the tops of the wax paper and then flour the pans. Put aside. 3. In a large mixing bowl, beat together on medium-high speed the Almond Paste, Sugar, Almond Extract and butter until well blended. (There might be some small lumps of Almond Paste remaining and that’s fine). Reduce speed to medium and beat in the eggs one at a time until blended. Reduce speed to low and then add the flour and salt slowly to the mixture until combined 4. Take two small bowls and add 1 rounded cup of batter into each bowl. (There should be another rounded cup of batter still in the original mixing bowl.). Add 15 drops of red food color to one bowl, 15 drops of green food color to another and no drops of food coloring to the last. Stir each bowl until evenly blended with color. 5. Spoon the plain colored batter into one pan. With metal spatula spread batter evenly (layer will be about 1/4 inch thick). Repeat with red batter in second pan and green batter in remaining pan. Bake until set and toothpick inserted in center of layers comes out clean. 10-12 minutes. Cool in pans on wire rack about 1/2 hour. Cake should be cool to the touch. Run tip of knife around side of pans to loosen layers. 6. Lay a piece of wax paper on a flat surface that will be able to fit in refrigerator. Take the red layer and flip over pan onto wax paper. Gently pull off the wax paper. Spread 1/3 cup of apricot preserves onto the red layer. Take the plain colored layer and remove from pan. Place it onto the red layer with the wax paper side up. Press down gently and then remove the wax paper. 7. Spread remaining 1/3 cup of Apricot preserves onto the plain colored layer. Take the remaining green layer and remove from pan and place upon the plain colored layer again with the wax paper side up. Press down gently and remove the wax paper. 8. In a 1 quart saucepan, heat chocolate and butter flavored crisco over low heat, stirring frequently, until melted. Spread melted chocolate mixture on top of the green layer evenly. 9. Refrigerate until chocolate is firm, at least 1 hour. (at this point, if you want, you can cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days before serving). 10. To serve, with a large sharp knife, trim about 1/4 inch from the edges. Cut the stacked layers into 6 strips. Cut each strip crosswise into 6 pieces. You will get 36 square cookies from this. 11. Place the cookies in a single layer in a waxed paper lined container. They can be refrigerated for up to one week or freeze up to 3 months. These cookies must be kept in the fridge.
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Adult Living |FEATURED BUSINESS
Jean Lanoue
The Social Jeanie
Taking “Word of Mouth”advertising to the next level.
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raditional marketing is broken. Buyers are taking control. They’re tuning out old-school marketing that’s impersonal and interrupts and turning to social media. The true power of social media emerges from your ability to create a community based around your company, medical practice or restaurant and engage in digital conversations with your customers, clients or patients. Social media marketing is especially powerful when combined with inbound marketing, which focuses on creating quality content that pulls people toward your company and product. When used effectively, social bookmarking sites and social networks are both great tools to use to help spread your message and increase your revenue potential. Online marketing does take time, however; something that’s frequently in short supply for many small business owners, medical professionals and restaurants. That’s where The Social Jeanie can help. They will manage your online presence for you, to help your business grow by providing quality content, relevant and engaging over the social media networks and your blog; so you can spend your time managing your business, medical practice or restaurant. Most people understand the value of using a
reputable online marketing agency to grow their business. When it comes to social media and website marketing, business owners either don’t know how to do it, don’t want to know how, or simply do not have the time to spare. When you hire The Social Jeanie, they customize their strategies based on your needs and objectives, after a thorough evaluation. Very few social media marketing agencies have the capability to create a truly customized winning strategy based on your unique business objectives. They learn about you and your business first. Then, find your potential customer on the best online channels. Jean Lanoue, founder of The Social Jeanie, is a business professional with 20+ years of experience in the corporate world doing marketing, training, accounting and management. She thrives on helping other businesses grow. Her personal passion is cooking, which is why in addition to small business owners and doctors she enjoys working with professionals in the hospitality and leisure industries. Her experience as the author of the Cooking Queen, an E-Commerce/blog site about cooking, has enabled her to connect with small business owners, and provide them the help they need with social media. As the Cooking Queen, she learned how to use online marketing through online classes and in person classes, reading and learning every day, even hiring a personal coach. As
E jean@socialjeanie.com F facebook.com/SocialJeanie W www.socialjeanie.com T twitter.com/SocialJeanie 52 For All Ages! | www.FloridaCreativeLiving.com
the news of the Cooking Queen’s success grew, more and more small businesses came looking for help. Jean has been helping medical practices, restaurants and small businesses use social media sites to market their message and brand since 2007. She was using social media to generate leads and create trust and loyalty, before social media was cool. Jean and her team will work together with you to build a powerful social media campaign for your company that is focused on ROI. Using quality content such as blogs, podcasts, video, eBooks, eNewsletters, whitepapers, and social media posts that pull people toward your company and product, where they naturally want to be, is the focus of Inbound Marketing. By aligning the content we publish with your customer’s interests and needs, you naturally attract inbound traffic that you can convert through effective landing pages, close and delight over time. At its core, social media builds relationships. When you give people what they want, they will instinctively want to work with you. Everything is hard until it is easy. Jean will make it easy right from the beginning.
L linkedin.com/in/socialjeanie P pinterest.com/socialjeanie/
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Adult Living | TECHNOLOGY
The Technology Of TOMORROW Hands-Free Hairdryer
The modern woman’s life is a tough one- raising kids, working, taking care of the house… all while staying attractive and beautiful, of course! The Yuca hairdryer is here to help make that part a little easier. The design is ergonomically adapted to be held in the variety of positions required for getting your hairdo just right. Better yet, it can rest flat on any surface, leaving your hands free to comb, brush your teeth, or even use your cellphone. The result is mind-blowing freedom! Read more at YankoDesigns.com
Designer: Fanni Csernátony
Life Saving Tool Blood type testing is a vital but often overlooked necessity in emergency medical situations. Unfortunately, anyone requiring a transfusion must wait for type results from the lab before one can be given. What if we could test at the location of the emergency, or even on the way to the hospital? Designed for natural disaster situations, the Emertest offers a solution that saves valuable time easily and conveniently. And what better animal to base the design on than…. the leech. Not as gross as it sounds – check it out! Designers: Efe Erinç Erdoğdu, Rasim Ispirgil, & Mehrafza Mirzazad Barijugh Read more at YankoDesigns.com
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Adult Living | VA Memoirs
HERO MAIL
You Can Make A Difference By Chuck Johnson MSG(ret) U.S. Army
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n this issue of Florida Creative Living, I struggled to find an appropriate topic to write about which concerns our fighting men and women who have served our country in the past and do
Reed or other medical facilities, recuperating from their war wounds.
It is difficult to describe the feeling of any war veteran who has given their all for our country, injured, transported in a Med-A -Vac so today. to a field hospital and then on to a larger medical facility. They ultimately end up in One topic which comes back to me time and the United States or CONUS as we used to time again is the large number of injured men refer to it; and now the long haul to recovery. and women who are recuperating from injuries at medical facilities across the United States. In How many of us have viewed the television doing a bit of research, I discovered a program commercial for the ‘Wounded Warrior handled by the American Red Cross, entitled Project’? How many of us have actually ‘Holiday Mail for Heroes”. given and how many of us feel that we wish that we could do more for all these heros? This program has a central location where Well now you can. It is simple and will cost Christmas cards can be sent and later distributed you the price of a stamp. to those who will spend the holidays at Walter CONTINUE TO NEXT PAGE
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Each year the American Red Cross provides assistance to more than 2 million service members and many of our nation’s 24 million veterans. They support military families, military and veterans hospitals and provide emergency communications across the globe. And once a year, we get the joy of delivering holiday cards to veterans, military families and activeduty service members at hospitals and installations around the world. The cards and personal messages, sent by tens of thousands of Americans, provide a welcome “touch of home” for our troops during the holiday season. Each year they collect cards between October and early December and then distribute them at military installations, veterans hospitals, and in other locations. There are several ways to be part of the Holiday Mail for Heroes program. In addition to sending cards on your own, you may want to start making plans to host card signing parties or card making parties. Here is what I learned and a few guidelines to help you on your way:
Card Guidelines: Like any large program of this nature certain guidelines have to be followed but they are simple. Every card received will be screened for hazardous materials by Pitney Bowes and then reviewed by Red Cross volunteers working around the country. Please observe the following guidelines to ensure a quick reviewing process: • Ensure that all cards are signed. • Use generic salutations such as “Dear Service Member.” Cards addressed to specific individuals can not be delivered through this program. • Only cards are being accepted. Do not send or include letters. • Do not include email or home addresses on the cards: the program is not meant to foster pen pal relationships. • Do not include inserts of any kind, including photos: these items will be removed during the reviewing process. • Please refrain from choosing cards with glitter or using loose glitter as it can aggravate health issues of ill and injured warriors.
All holiday greetings should be addressed and sent to: Holiday Mail for Heroes P.O. Box 5456 Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456 The deadline for having cards to the P.O. Box is December 6th. Holiday cards received after this date cannot be guaranteed delivery. Let’s take a moment and do our part to make sure that each service member trying to put their life back together knows that we support them. Oh yes, Merry Christmas to all of you out there who have served and to the families who supported you while you did.
• If you are mailing a large quantity of cards, please bundle them and place them in large mailing envelopes or flat rate postal shipping boxes. Each card does not need its own envelope, as envelopes will be removed from all cards before distribution.
December 2013 - February 2014
Merry
Christmas
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Kids & Teens
Section
Picture Provided By John Bayalis
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Kids & Teens |FEATURED ARTIST
The True Meaning of Christmas
Age 9
Artist Madison
Tampa, Florida
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Reviewed by: D’Arcy Lyness, PhD
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Dealing with Bullying What Can You Do?
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ullying Is a Big Problem!
Every day thousands of teens wake up afraid to go to school. Bullying is a problem that affects millions of students, and it has everyone worried, not just the kids on its receiving end. Yet because parents, teachers, and other adults don’t always see it, they may not understand how extreme bullying can get. Bullying is when a person is picked on over and over again by an individual or group with more power, either in terms of physical strength or social standing. Two of the main reasons people are bullied are because of appearance and social status. Bullies pick on the people they think don’t fit in, maybe because of how they look, how they act (for example, kids who are shy and withdrawn), their race or religion, or because the bullies think their target may be gay or lesbian. Some bullies attack their targets physically, which can mean anything from shoving or tripping to punching or hitting, or even sexual assault. Others use psychological control or verbal insults to put themselves in charge. For example, people in popular groups or cliques often bully people they categorize as different by excluding them or gossiping about them (psychological bullying). They may also taunt or tease their targets (verbal bullying). Verbal bullying can also involve cyberbullying — sending cruel texts, messages, or posting
Kids & Teens | NEWS insults about a person on Facebook or other social sites. How Does Bullying Make People Feel? One of the most painful aspects of bullying is that it is relentless. Most people can take one episode of teasing or name calling or being shunned at the mall. However, when it goes on and on, bullying can put a person in a state of constant fear. Guys and girls who are bullied may find their schoolwork and health suffering. Amber began having stomach pains and diarrhea and was diagnosed with a digestive condition called irritable bowel syndrome as a result of the stress that came from being bullied throughout ninth grade. Mahfooz spent his afternoons hungry and unable to concentrate in class because he was too afraid to go to the school cafeteria at lunchtime. Studies show that people who are abused by their peers are at risk for mental health problems, such as low self-esteem, stress, depression, or anxiety. They may also think about suicide more. Bullies are at risk for problems, too. Bullying is violence, and it often leads to more violent behavior as the bully grows up. It’s estimated that 1 out of 4 elementaryschool bullies will have a criminal record by the time they are 30. Some teen bullies end up being rejected by their peers and lose friendships as they grow older. Bullies may also fail in school and not have the career or relationship success that other people enjoy. Who Bullies? Both guys and girls can be bullies. Bullies may be outgoing and aggressive. Or a bully can appear reserved on the surface, but may try to manipulate people in subtle, deceptive ways, like anonymously starting a damaging rumor just to see what happens. Many bullies share some common characteristics. They like to dominate others and are generally focused on themselves. They often have poor social skills and poor social judgment. Sometimes they have no feelings of empathy or caring toward other people. Although most bullies think they’re hot stuff and have the right to push people around, others are actually insecure. They put other people down to make themselves feel more interesting or powerful. And some bullies act the way they do because they’ve been hurt by bullies in the past — maybe even a bullying figure in their own family, like a parent or other adult.
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Kids & Teens | NEWS Some bullies actually have personality disorders that don’t allow them to understand normal social emotions like guilt, empathy, compassion, or remorse. These people need help from a mental health professional like a counselor, social worker, psychiatrist, or psychologist. What Can You Do? For younger kids, the best way to solve a bullying problem is to tell a trusted adult. For teens, though, the tell-an-adult approach depends on the bullying situation. One situation in which it is vital to report bullying is if it threatens to lead to physical danger and harm. Numerous high school students have died when stalking, threats, and attacks went unreported and the silence gave the bully license to become more and more violent. Sometimes the victim of repeated bullying cannot control the need for revenge and the situation becomes dangerous for everyone.
Adults in positions of authority — parents, teachers, or coaches — often can find ways to resolve dangerous bullying problems without the bully ever learning how they found out about it. If you’re in a bullying situation that you think may escalate into physical violence, try to avoid being alone (and if you have a friend in this situation, spend as much time together as you can). Try to remain part of a group by walking home at the same time as other people or by sticking close to friends or classmates during the times that the bullying takes place. Bullying Survival Tips Here are some things you can do to combat psychological and verbal bullying. They’re also good tips to share with a friend as a way to show your support: • Ignore the bully and walk away. It’s definitely not a coward’s response — sometimes it can be harder than losing your temper. Bullies thrive on the reaction they get, and if you walk away or ignore hurtful emails or instant messages, you’re telling the bully that you just don’t care. Sooner CONTINUE TO NEXT PAGE
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or later the bully will probably get bored with trying to bother you. Walk tall and hold your head high. Using this type of body language sends a message that you’re not vulnerable. • Hold the anger. Who doesn’t want to get really upset with a bully? But that’s exactly the response he or she is trying to get. Bullies want to know they have control over your emotions. If you’re in a situation where you have to deal with a bully and you can’t walk away with poise, use humor — it can throw the bully off guard. Work out your anger in another way, such as through exercise or writing it down (make sure you tear up any letters or notes you write in anger). • Don’t get physical. However you choose to deal with a bully, don’t use physical force (like kicking, hitting, or pushing). Not only are you showing your anger, you can never be sure what the bully will do in response. You are more likely to be hurt and get into trouble if you use violence against a bully. You can stand up for yourself in other ways, such as gaining control of the situation by walking away or by being assertive in your actions. • Some adults believe that bullying is part of growing up, that it builds character, and that hitting back is the only way to tackle the problem. But that’s not the case. Aggressive responses tend to lead to more violence and more bullying for the victims. • Practice confidence. Practice ways to respond to the bully verbally or through your behavior. Practice feeling good about yourself (even if you have to fake it at first).
The confidence you gain will help you ignore the mean kids. • Talk about it. It may help to talk to a guidance counselor, teacher, or friend — anyone who can give you the support you need. Talking can be a good outlet for the fears and frustrations that can build when you’re being bullied. • Find your (true) friends. If you’ve been bullied with rumors or gossip, all of these tips (especially ignoring and not reacting) can apply. But take it one step further to help ease feelings of hurt and isolation. Find one or two true friends and confide how the gossip has hurt your feelings. Set the record straight by telling your friends quietly and confidently what’s true and not true about you. Hearing a friend say, “I know the rumor’s not true. I didn’t pay attention to it,” can help you realize that most of the time people see gossip for what it is — petty, rude, and immature. What If You’re the Bully? All of us have to deal with a lot of difficult situations and emotions. When some people feel stressed, angry, or frustrated, picking on someone else can be a quick escape — it takes the attention away from them and their problems. Some bullies learn from firsthand experience. Perhaps name-calling, put-downs, or physical force are the norms in their families. Whatever the reason, though, it’s no excuse for being the bully.
• Take charge of your life. You can’t control other people’s actions, but you can stay true to yourself. Think about ways to feel your best — and your strongest. Exercise is one way to If you find it hard to resist the temptation to bully, you feel strong and powerful. (It’s a great might want to talk with someone you look up to. Try mood lifter, too!) Learn a martial art or to think about how others feel when you tease or hurt take a class like yoga. Another way to them. If you have trouble figuring this out (many people gain confidence is to hone your skills who bully do), you might ask someone else to help you in something like chess, art, music, computers, or writing. Joining a class, CONTINUE TO NEXT PAGE club, or gym is a great way to make new friends and feel good about yourself. December 2013 - February 2014 Florida Creative Living | For All Ages! 63
think of the other person’s side. Bullying behavior backfires and makes everyone feel miserable — even the bullies. People might feel intimidated by bullies, but they don’t respect them. If you would rather that people see your strength and character — even look up to you as a leader — find a way to use your power for something positive rather than to put others down. Do you really want people to think of you as unkind, abusive, and mean? It’s never too late to change, although changing a pattern of bullying might seem difficult at first. Ask an adult you respect for some mentoring or coaching on how you could change. Steps to Stop Bullying in Schools If the environment at your school supports bullying, working to change it can help. For example, there might be areas where bullies harass people, such as in stairwells or courtyards that are unobserved by staff. Because a lot of bullying takes part in the presence of peers 64
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(the bully wants to be recognized and feel powerful, after all), enlisting the help of friends or a group is a good way to change the culture and stand up to bullies. You can try to talk to the bully. If you don’t feel comfortable in a face-to-face discussion, leave a note in the bully’s locker. Try to point out that his or her behavior is serious and harmful. This can work well in group situations, such as if you notice that a member of your group has started to pick on or shun another member. Most people hesitate to speak out because it can be hard. It takes confidence to stand up to a bully — especially if he or she is one of the established group leaders. But chances are that other students witnessing the bullying behavior feel as uncomfortable as you do — they just don’t speak up. Perhaps they feel that they’re not popular enough to take a stand or worry that they’re vulnerable and the bully will turn on them. Staying quiet (even though they don’t like
the bully’s behavior) is a way to distance themselves from the person who is the target. When a group of people keeps quiet like this, the bully’s reach is extending beyond just one person. He or she is managing to intimidate lots of people. But when one person speaks out against a bully, the reverse happens. It gives others license to add their support and take a stand, too. Another way to combat bullying is to join your school’s anti-violence program or, if your school doesn’t have one, to start one of your own.
©1995-2013. The Nemours Foundation/KidsHealth®. Reprinted with permission
When can I get
Kids & Teens | NEWS
a cell phone? Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD
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he answer is when your parents think you need one, though many kids seem to be getting them around age 11 or 12. Some younger kids may have them because their parents see it as an issue of safety and convenience. For instance, a kid can call or text mom and dad when sports practice is over. And a cell phone can give kids almost instant access to their parents if something goes wrong or they need help. Likewise, it can give parents quick access to their kids so they can check on them and make sure they’re OK.
If you do get a cell phone, work out some rules with your parents. Some plans charge you extra if you send too many texts or talk too long. Also hammer out some other details: When can you use your phone? When must the phone be turned off? And what will you do if someone calls you too often or leaves a mean message for you? You’ll also want to make sure you take care of this new item in your life. Have a routine for keeping it charged and storing it in the same place so it doesn’t get lost. And whatever you do, don’t use it in the bathroom. We know someone who dropped her phone in ©1995-2013. The Nemours Foundation/KidsHealth®. Reprinted with permission
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Kids & Teens | HEALTHY HABITS
What Can I Say to a Friend Who's Having Unprotected Sex?
Reviewed by: Larissa Hirsch, MD
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close friend — we've been friends for a long time — told me she's been having sex a lot and that she doesn't use protection. What should I do? - JJ*
First, it’s obvious you’re a caring friend. No one wants to see a friend get a sexually transmitted disease (STD) or have her life put on hold by an unplanned pregnancy. Both of these are possible when a person has unprotected sex.
*Names have been changed to protect user privacy.
Sometimes people don’t realize they have an STD. They may tell partners they are OK because they honestly don’t know otherwise. But they can still pass the infection on. Protection from STDs is one reason why even people who use birth control But sex is a topic that can be tough methods like the Pill need to use to talk about, even with friends a condom as well. we’ve known a long time. So where do you start? When someone with an STD doesn’t get treatment, the Tell your friend that you want to talk disease can get worse or cause about something personal. Find a other health problems. It’s private place to chat. Mention that tempting to put off finding out you were visiting our site and you about STDs. But that approach came across information about can cause bigger problems STDs, like herpes and HIV. Say — like not being able to have that some of the stuff you read children — later on. caused you to feel worried about her. For example, it’s not always Tell your friend you’re not trying possible to tell if a partner has an to lecture or play mom. You just STD. really care about her. Encourage her to make an appointment with
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her health care provider to talk about how to prevent STDs and pregnancy. Or your friend can visit a local clinic like Planned Parenthood. Health clinics often provide low-cost birth control and testing for STDs and pregnancy without any need for insurance. You can even go with your friend if she’d like some support. Good luck! You can’t make your friend use protection — although she may be reaching out to you because she realizes she should. No matter what she decides, though, congratulate yourself for speaking up, knowing what’s smart, and being a caring friend. ©1995-2013. The Nemours Foundation/KidsHealth®. Reprinted with permission
Kids & Teens | SCIENCE & TECHNO
What It’s Like to be Understanding Color Blindness Reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD
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f your clothes don’t match, You have “red,” “blue,” and “green” cones, which are someone might have teased you sensitive to those colors and combinations of them. about being color blind. But some You need all three types to see colors properly. people really are color blind. When your cones don’t work properly, or you don’t It doesn’t mean they can’t see any have the right combination, your brain doesn’t get the color at all, like a black and white movie. right message about which colors you’re seeing. To It means that they have trouble seeing someone who’s color blind, a green leaf might look the difference between certain colors. tan or gray. Being color blind can make it tricky to match your shirt and pants, but it’s not a serious problem. People who are color blind can do normal stuff, even drive. Most color-blind people can’t tell the difference between red or green, but they can learn to respond to the way the traffic signal lights up — the red light is generally on top and green is on the bottom.
Color Blindness Is Passed Down Color blindness is almost always an inherited (say: in-her-ut-ed) trait, which means you get it from your parents. You get inherited traits through genes (say: jeenz), which determine everything about your body, including how tall you’ll be and whether your hair will be straight or curly.
Eye doctors (and some school nurses) test for color blindness by showing a picture made up of different colored dots, like the one above. Someone who can’t Cones and Color see the picture or number within the dots may be To understand what causes color color blind. blindness, you need to know about the cones in your eyes. Cones in your eyes? Boys are far more likely to be color blind. In fact, if Yes, but they’re very small. These cones you know 12 boys, one of them is probably at least are cells on your retina, an area the size a little color blind. So, girls, the next time a boy asks of a postage stamp that’s at the back of you if something matches, you’d better lend him a your eye. hand! ©1995-2013. The Nemours Foundation/KidsHealth®. Reprinted with permission
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Kids & Teens | STAYING SAFE
Being Safe in the Kitchen
Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD
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o you like putting on an apron and making a delicious snack for your family? How about helping out at the stove, stirring and sniffing the sweet smells? Or making cookies by cutting out your favorite shapes?
help them out. If you’re a kid, an adult assistant can come in handy to make cooking easier and keep you safe.
Before beginning any recipe, get an adult’s permission to work in the kitchen. If your recipe uses knives, the stove, or other kitchen appliances, you must have some adult help. Some things that adults use in the kitchen may seem simple to operate, but once you use them yourself, you might be surprised by how difficult they actually are. By having your assistant around, you can avoid surprises, stay Although making food is fun, it’s safe, and have fun while you cook. important to know how to be safe. This means knowing when to get What Should You Wear? the help of an adult assistant, Wearing an apron will keep your clothes clean. If you don’t how to keep things clean, and have an apron, an old shirt will do. But don’t wear anything how to use the kitchen safely. that’s big and loose. Baggy sleeves or clothes could catch Let’s get cookin’! fire or get caught in mixer beaters or other equipment. Your Adult Assistant If you’ve ever seen a cooking show on TV, you know that all the best chefs have an assistant to
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Keep Germs Out of Your Food A big part of safe cooking is keeping the chef and the kitchen clean. The idea is to keep germs, which can make you sick, out of your food. Always wash your hands with soap and water immediately before you begin any recipe. This is especially important for recipes that involve touching the food directly, like kneading dough or mixing ingredients with your hands. Also be sure to wash your hands before and after handling raw meat, poultry, egg, and fish products because these foods can contain bacteria. You don’t want that bacteria getting on your hands because then they could end up in your mouth — yuck! You also can fight germs by keeping your working surfaces (like countertops and cutting boards) clean and dry. Wash them with soap and warm water after you’re done cooking. Leftovers are great, but you don’t want germs in them either. Ask your adult assistant for help in storing any leftovers. Food may be refrigerated or frozen to keep it fresh. Eat refrigerated leftovers within 3 to 5 days and frozen leftovers within 2 months. Using the Kitchen Safely You have your ingredients neatly lined up, your hands washed, and your measuring spoons out. But before you start, it’s a good idea to learn a few rules of the kitchen. It’s easy to get injured in the kitchen if you’re not careful, and a cut or burn will put an end to your fun cooking session. Always ask your adult assistant if you can use blenders, food processors, knives, or other sharp kitchen tools. If you’re allowed to use a knife, point the blade away from yourself and keep your fingers away from the blade when you’re cutting. Give the job your full attention — no looking at the TV for a quick second or yelling to your sister. Your adult assistant should be nearby to keep an eye on what you’re doing. The same goes for the stove or oven: Get permission first and be sure your adult assistant is nearby to watch you. Here are some ways to keep from getting burned: • Use potholders or oven mitts (no dish towels) when handling hot pots, pans, or baking trays. • Turn pot and pan handles toward the back of the stove so you won’t knock them over by accident. • Get help from an adult when using a gas stove. Never try to relight the pilot light on a gas stove. Only an adult should do this. • Use only microwave-safe cookware in the microwave — never tinfoil or anything metal. If you’re not sure if something is safe for use in the microwave, ask an adult first. Cooking Lessons Did you know there are special schools where grownups go to learn how to cook? That’s because cooking is an art and it takes time and practice to learn how to do it. If you’re just starting out, it can take a while before you learn how to crack an egg or cook the pasta until it’s just right. You’ll figure it out — with a little help from your adult assistant! ©1995-2013. The Nemours Foundation/KidsHealth®. Reprinted with permission
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Kids & Teens | DOODLE CORNER
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