Florida Creative Living Magazine by Florida Creative Living Magazine

January - February 2012

Florida Creative Living | For All Ages!

Creative Living Florida

January - February 2012 3rd ISSUE

Sections

17 37 Front Cover Topics

15-16 I Think My Friend May Have an Eating Disorder : What Should I Do?

Transformation : Biggest Loser Amy Parham

Featured Business : Kristaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Kupcakery and Kakes

Keeping the Romance Alive Within Family Relationship : Tips on Rekindling Love

We Can Do Better!: Alarming Facts About Veterans

In Every Issue

Artist Corner Artwork created by artist - pg 54 Band Directory List of Florida Bands - pg 54 Business Directory List of Florida Businesses - pg 55 Chefâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Delight Low-fat, Gluten Free, Diabetic, easy to make friendly recipes - pgs 56 Community Spotlight Florida businesses news - pg 56 Va Memoirs Featured stories of Veterans - pg 65 Cover Photo Provided By Krista Butcher

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January - February 2012

Florida Creative Living | For All Ages!

Kids & Teens January - February 2012 3rd ISSUE

News Am I In A Healthy Relationship? Realtionship Qualities | pgs 12-14

Taking the Pressure Off Sports Competition Advice On Easing the Pressure | pgs 25-26

Why Do I Fight With My Parents So Much? Expressing Your Opinions The Right Way | pgs 14-15

Dealing With Sports Injuries Preventing Injuries | pgs 26-28

Coping With An Alcholic Parent Alcoholism Affecting Families | pgs 15-17

Techno & Science Electronic Health Records The Benefits of EHRs | pgs 29-30

I Think My Friend May Have An Eating Disorder What Should I Do? | pgs 17-19 Healthy Habits Is Dieting OK for Kids? Tips On Being Healthy | pgs 19-20

Doodle Corner Word Ladder, Connect-The-Dots, and More... Activity Center | pgs 31-33

Ready Set, Breakfast! Why It’s Important | pg 21

Comic Corner The Adventures of Foxy The Fox and Croaky! Will be in March/April issue

5 Reasons to Pack Your Lunch Taking Control of Your Health | pg 22 5 Ways to Deal With Anxiety Tips to Managing Your Emotions | pg 23 Sports What If I Don’t Like Sports? Keeping Fit and Having Fun | pgs 24-25 6

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Staying Safe 911 Emergencies When to Call | pgs 30-31

January - February 2012

Florida Creative Living | For All Ages!

Adult Living January - February 2012 3rd ISSUE

49 62

News Transformation Biggest Loser Amy Parham | pg 37

Quite Smoking and Make It a Healthy Start to the New Year Be Determined! | pg 48

Krista’s Kupcakery and Kakes Making Beautiful Taste Delicious | pg 38

What Can Music Do For You? Music for Your Health | pg 49

Saving Manatees at the South Florida Museum Caring for Florida’s Endangered Gentle Giants | pg 39

Sports Sport Fish Restoration in a Fish Tank A Fisherman’s Dream | pg 50

Keeping the Romance Alive Within Family Relationship Tips on Rekindling Love| pg 40 Marton Art Distinctive Multi-Purpose Art | pg 41

Crossword & Sudoku Fun Time for a Break! | pgs 52-53 Technology Technology of Tomorrow | pgs 58-59

Home Software Architecture Symposiums International Start Planning Retirement Today So That You Can Transform your IT Career | pgs 60-61 Profit Later On Guide to Saving Money | pg 42 Entertainment Zoo Miami How to Reduce Your Mortgage by 10 Years or More? Miami, Florida| pg 62 Tips | pg 44 Solomon’s Castle 6 Little Spending Mistakes That Can Cost You Your Ona, Florida| pg 64 Financial Freedom The Way Out | pgs 45-46 VA Memoirs Health We Can Do Better! Stacy’s Gluten Free Goodies Alarming Facts About Veterans | pg 65 Allergies to Foods | pg 47 8

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January - February 2012

Florida Creative Living | For All Ages!

Creative Living Florida

A BRIEF WORD FROM THE PUBLISHER

ick Tock, Tick Tock, HAPPY NEW YEAR!

The New Year is full of promise, though you may also get a fair share of tough times. With each progressing year, you find yourself growing confident, experienced, and wise. That’s the gift of the New Year. Raise a toast to the year that holds many promises.

Are you tired of making New Year Resolutions and not sticking with them? Get a fresh start this year by listening to a Podcast on pg 37 with Amy Parham, who appeared on the Biggest Loser Season Six give advice on how to become a healthier you. Do you love music? Did you know there are health benefits in listening to music? View on page 49, “What Can Music Do For You?” We at Florida Creative Living wish all our readers a Healthy, and Prosper New Year!

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

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s d i K

& Teens Section

Kids & Teens | NEWS

a n i I m A

y h t l a e H ? p i h s n o i t l a e R hip ions

Realt

ities

Qual

Reviewed by: D’Arcy Lyness, PhD

boyfriend walks by. Does he completely lose his cool or keep walking because he knows you’d never cheat on him? It’s OK to get a little jealous sometimes — jealousy is Sometimes it feels impossible to find someone who’s a natural emotion. But how a person reacts when feeling right for you — and who thinks you’re right for him or jealous is what matters. There’s no way you can have a her! So when it happens, you’re usually so psyched healthy relationship if you don’t trust each other. that you don’t even mind when your little brother finishes all the ice cream or your English teacher chooses the •Honesty. This one goes hand-in-hand with trust because one day when you didn’t do your reading to give you a pop it’s tough to trust someone when one of you isn’t being quiz. honest. Have you ever caught your girlfriend in a major lie? Like she told you that she had to work on Friday night It’s totally normal to look at the world through rose-colored but it turned out she was at the movies with her friends? glasses in the early stages of a relationship. But for some The next time she says she has to work, you’ll have a lot people, those rose-colored glasses turn into blinders that more trouble believing her and the trust will be on shaky keep them from seeing that a relationship isn’t as healthy as ground. it should be.

t Feels Like Love - But Is It?

What Makes a Healthy Relationship?

Hopefully, you and your significant other are treating each other well. Not sure if that’s the case? Take a step back from the dizzying sensation of being swept off your feet and think about whether your relationship has these seven qualities: •Mutual respect. Does he or she get how cool you are and why? (Watch out if the answer to the first part is yes but only because you’re acting like someone you’re not!) The key is that your BF or GF is into you for who you are — for your great sense of humor, your love of reality TV, etc. Does your partner listen when you say you’re not comfortable doing something and then back off right away? Respect in a relationship means that each person values who the other is and understands — and would never challenge — the other person’s boundaries. •Trust. You’re talking with a guy from French class and your

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January - February 2012

•Support. It’s not just in bad times that your partner should support you. Some people are great when your whole world is falling apart but can’t take being there when things are going right (and vice versa). In a healthy relationship, your significant other is there with a shoulder to cry on when you find out your parents are getting divorced and to celebrate with you when you get the lead in a play. •Fairness/equality. You need to have give-and-take in your relationship, too. Do you take turns choosing which new movie to see? As a couple, do you hang out with your partner’s friends as often as you hang out with yours? It’s not like you have to keep a running count and make sure CONTINUE TO NEXT PAGE

things are exactly even, of course. But you’ll know if it isn’t a pretty fair balance. Things get bad really fast when a relationship turns into a power struggle, with one person fighting to get or feel for someone who’s been mistreated, you need to take care of yourself — it’s not healthy to stay in a relationship that involves abusive his or her way all the time. behavior of any kind. •Separate identities. In a healthy relationship, everyone needs to make compromises. But that Warning Signs doesn’t mean you should feel like you’re losing When a boyfriend or girlfriend uses verbal insults, mean language, nasty out on being yourself. When you started going putdowns, gets physical by hitting or slapping, or forces someone into out, you both had your own lives (families, sexual activity, it’s an important warning sign of verbal, emotional, or friends, interests, hobbies, etc.) and that physical abuse. shouldn’t change. Neither of you should have to pretend to like something you don’t, or give Ask yourself, does my boyfriend or girlfriend: up seeing your friends, or drop out of activities you love. And you also should feel free to keep •get angry when I don’t drop everything for him or her? developing new talents or interests, making •criticize the way I look or dress, and say I’ll never be able to find anyone else who would date me? new friends, and moving forward. •keep me from seeing friends or from talking to any other guys or girls? •Good communication. You’ve probably heard •want me to quit an activity, even though I love it? lots of stuff about how men and women don’t •ever raise a hand when angry, like he or she is about to hit me? seem to speak the same language. We all know •try to force me to go further sexually than I want to? how many different meanings the little phrase These aren’t the only questions you can ask yourself. If you can think “no, nothing’s wrong” can have, depending of any way in which your boyfriend or girlfriend is trying to control you, on who’s saying it! But what’s important is to make you feel bad about yourself, isolate you from the rest of your world, ask if you’re not sure what he or she means, or — this is a big one — harm you physically or sexually, then it’s time to and speak honestly and openly so that the get out, fast. Let a trusted friend or family member know what’s going on miscommunication is avoided in the first place. and make sure you’re safe. Never keep a feeling bottled up because you’re afraid it’s not what your BF or GF wants to hear It can be tempting to make excuses or misinterpret violence, or because you worry about sounding silly. possessiveness, or anger as an expression of love. But even if you know And if you need some time to think something that the person hurting you loves you, it is not healthy. No one deserves through before you’re ready to talk about it, to be hit, shoved, or forced into anything he or she doesn’t want to do. the right person will give you some space to do Why Are Some Relationships So Difficult? that if you ask for it. Ever heard about how it’s hard for someone to love you when you don’t What’s an Unhealthy Relationship? love yourself? It’s a big relationship roadblock when one or both people A relationship is unhealthy when it involves struggle with self-esteem problems. Your girlfriend or boyfriend isn’t there mean, disrespectful, controlling, or abusive to make you feel good about yourself if you can’t do that on your own. behavior. Some people live in homes with Focus on being happy with yourself, and don’t take on the responsibility parents who fight a lot or abuse each other — of worrying about someone else’s happiness. emotionally, verbally, or physically. For some people who have grown up around this kind What if you feel that your girlfriend or boyfriend needs too much from of behavior it can almost seem normal or OK. you? If the relationship feels like a burden or a drag instead of a joy, it It’s not! Many of us learn from watching and might be time to think about whether it’s a healthy match for you. imitating the people close to us. So someone Someone who’s not happy or secure may have trouble being a healthy who has lived around violent or disrespectful relationship partner. behavior may not have learned how to treat others with kindness and respect or how to Also, intense relationships can be hard for some teenagers. Some are so focused on their own developing feelings and responsibilities that they expect the same treatment. don’t have the emotional energy it takes to respond to someone else’s Qualities like kindness and respect are absolute feelings and needs in a close relationship. Don’t worry if you’re just not requirements for a healthy relationship. ready yet. You will be, and you can take all the time you need. Someone who doesn’t yet have this part down may need to work on it with a trained therapist CONTINUE TO NEXT PAGE before he or she is ready for a relationship. Meanwhile, even though you might feel bad

Kids & Teens | NEWS

January - February 2012

Florida Creative Living | For All Ages!

Kids & Teens | NEWS Ever notice that some teen relationships don’t last very long? It’s no wonder — you’re still growing and changing every day, and it can be tough to put two people together whose identities are both still in the process of forming. You two might seem perfect for each other at first, but that can change. If you try to hold on to the relationship anyway, there’s a good chance it will turn sour. Better to part as

friends than to stay in something that you’ve outgrown or that no longer feels right for one or both of you. And before you go looking for amour from that hottie from French class, respect your current beau by breaking things off before you make your move. Relationships can be one of the best — and most challenging — parts of your world. They can be full of fun, romance, excitement, intense feelings, and occasional heartache, too. Whether you’re single or in a relationship, remember that it’s good to be choosy about who you get close to. If you’re still waiting, take your time and get to know plenty of people. Think about the qualities you value in a friendship and see how they match up with the ingredients of a healthy relationship. Work on developing those good qualities in yourself — they make you a lot more attractive to others. And if you’re already part of a pair, make sure the relationship you’re in brings out the best in both of you. ©1995-2012. The Nemours Foundation/KidsHealth®. Reprinted with permission

Why Do I Fight With My Parents So Much? Values for life Reviewed by: D’Arcy Lyness, PhD

he clothes you wear. The food you eat. The color of your bedroom walls. Where you go and how you get there. The people you hang with. What time you go to bed.

What do these things have in common, you’re asking? They’re just a few examples of the many hundreds of things that your parents controlled for you when you were a child. As a kid, you didn’t have a say in very much that went on; your parents made decisions about everything from the cereal you ate in the morning to the pajamas you wore at night. And it’s a good thing, too — kids need this kind of protection and assistance because they aren’t mature enough to take care of themselves and make careful decisions on their own.

prepares them for adulthood. But as you change and grow into this new person who makes his or her own decisions, your parents may have a difficult time adjusting. They aren’t used to the new you yet — they only know you as the kid who had everything decided for you and didn’t mind. In most families, it’s this adjustment that can cause a lot of fighting between teens and parents. You want to cover your walls with posters; they don’t understand why you don’t like your kiddie wallpaper anymore. You think it’s OK to hang at the mall every day after school; they would rather that you play a sport. Clashes like these are very common between teens and parents — teens get angry because they feel parents don’t respect them and aren’t giving them space to do what they like, and parents get angry because they aren’t used to not being in control or they disagree with the teens’ decisions.

But eventually, kids grow up and become teens. And part of being a teen is developing your own It’s easy for feelings to get very hurt when there are conflicts like identity — one that is separate from your parents’. these. And more complicated issues — like the types of friends you It’s totally normal for teens to create their own CONTINUE TO NEXT PAGE opinions, thoughts, and values about life; it’s what

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January - February 2012

have or your attitudes about sex and partying — can cause even bigger arguments, because your parents will always be intent on protecting you and keeping you safe, no matter how old you are.

Kids & Teens | NEWS

happy. For example, if you are willing to clean your room in The Upside The good news about fighting with your parents is that in many families the arguing order to stay out an hour later, will lessen as parents get more comfortable with the idea that their teen has a right to both you and your parents walk away with a good deal. certain opinions and an identity that may be different from theirs. It can take several years for parents and teens to adjust to their new roles, though. In Keep in mind, too, that your parents were teens once and that, the meantime, concentrate on communicating with your parents as best you can. in most cases, they can relate to Sometimes this can feel impossible — like they just don’t see your point of view and what you’re going through. never will. But talking and expressing your opinions can help you gain more respect ©1995-2012. The Nemours Foundation/ from your parents, and you may be able to reach compromises that make everyone KidsHealth®. Reprinted with permission

Coping With An

Alcoholic Parent Alcoholism Affecting Families Reviewed by: Michelle J. New, PhD

nthony is in bed when he hears the front door slam. He covers his head with his pillow so he doesn’t have to listen to the sound of his parents arguing. Anthony knows that his mother has been drinking again. He starts worrying about getting to school on time and realizes he will probably have to help get his younger sister ready too.

Alcohol can affect people’s health and also how they act. People who are drunk might be more aggressive or have mood swings. They may act in a way that is embarrassing to them or other people. Alcoholism is a disease. Like any disease, it needs to be treated. Without professional help, a person with alcoholism will probably continue to drink and may even become worse over time. Diseases like alcoholism are no one’s fault. Some people are more susceptible to wanting to drink too much. Scientists think it has to do with genetics, as well as things like family history, and life events. Sometimes what starts as a bad habit can become a very big problem. For example, people may drink to cope with problems like boredom, stress, or money troubles. Maybe there’s an illness in the family, or parents are having marriage problems.

Why Do People Drink Too Much? Lots of people live with a parent or caregiver who is an alcoholic or who No matter what anyone says, people don’t drink because of someone else’s drinks too much. Alcoholism has been behavior. So if you live with someone who has a drinking problem, don’t blame around for centuries, yet no one has yourself. discovered an easy way to prevent it. CONTINUE TO NEXT PAGE

January - February 2012 Florida Creative Living | For All Ages!

Kids & Teens | NEWS How Does Alcoholism Affect Families?

If you live with a parent who drinks, you may feel embarrassed, angry, sad, hurt, or any number of emotions. You may feel helpless: When parents promise to stop drinking, for example, it can end in frustration when they don’t keep their promises. Problem drinking can change how families function. A parent may have trouble keeping a job and problems paying the bills. Older kids may have to take care of younger siblings. Some parents with alcohol problems might mistreat or abuse their children emotionally or physically. Others may neglect their kids by not providing sufficient care and guidance. Parents with alcohol problems might also use other drugs. Despite what happens, most children of alcoholics love their parents and worry about something bad happening to them. Kids who live with problem drinkers often try all kinds of ways to prevent them from drinking. But, just as family members don’t cause the addiction, they can’t stop it either. The person with the drinking problem has to take charge. Someone who has a bad habit or an addiction to alcohol needs to get help from a treatment center. Alcoholism affects family members just as much as it affects the person drinking. Because of this, there are lots of support groups to help children of alcoholics cope with the problem. What If a Parent Doesn’t See a Problem? Drinking too much can be a problem that nobody likes to talk about. In fact, lots of parents may become enraged at the slightest suggestion that they are drinking too much. Sometimes, parents deny that they have a problem. A person in denial refuses to believe the truth about a situation. So problem drinkers may try to blame someone else because it is easier than taking responsibility for their own drinking. Some parents make their families feel bad by saying stuff like, “You’re driving me

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accident. Worrying about a parent just adds to all the other emotions you may be feeling. Are you lying awake waiting for mom or dad to get home safely? Do you feel it’s not fair that you have to be the grown up and take care of things around the house? Some parents do acknowledge their These are all normal reactions. drinking, but deny that it’s a problem. They may say stuff like, “I can stop Although each family is different, anytime I want to,” “Everyone drinks to people who grow up with alcoholic unwind sometimes,” or “My drinking is parents often feel alone, unloved, depressed, or burdened by the secret not a problem.” life they lead at home. Lots of people fall into the trap of thinking that a parent’s drinking is You know it’s not possible to cause only temporary. They tell themselves or stop the behavior of an alcoholic. that, when a particular problem So what can you do to feel better (or is over, like having a rough time at help a friend feel better)? work, the drinking will stop. But even if a parent who drinks too much has What Can I Do? other problems, drinking is a separate Acknowledge the problem. Many problem. And that problem won’t go kids of parents who drink too much try to protect their parents or hide away unless the drinker gets help. the problem. Admitting that your Why Do I Feel So Bad? parent has a problem — even if he or If you’re like most teens, your life is she won’t — is the first step in taking probably filled with emotional ups and control. Start by talking to a friend, downs, regardless of what’s happening teacher, counselor, or coach. If you at home. Add a parent with a drinking can’t face telling someone you know, problem to the mix, and it can all seem call an organization like Al-Anon/ like too much. Alateen (they have a 24-hour hotline at 1-800-344-2666) or go online for There are many reasons why a parent’s help. drinking can contribute to feelings of anger, frustration, disappointment, Be informed. Being aware of how sadness, embarrassment, worry, your parent’s drinking affects you can loneliness, and helplessness. For help put things in perspective. For example: example, some teens who live with alcoholic adults become afraid to •You might be subjected to a parent’s speak out or show any normal anger changing moods. People who drink can or emotion because they worry it may behave unpredictably. Kids who grow trigger a parent’s drinking. Remind up around them may spend a lot of yourself that you are not responsible energy trying to figure out a parent’s for your parent drinking too much, mood or guess what that parent wants. and that you cannot cause it or stop One day you might walk on eggshells to it. avoid an outburst because the dishes aren’t done or the lawn isn’t mowed. Be aware of your emotions.When you The next day, you may find yourself feel things like anger or resentment, comforting a parent who promises that try to identify those feelings. Talk things will be better. to a close friend or write down how •It may be hard to do things with you are feeling. Recognizing how a friends or other people. For some parent’s problem drinking makes people, it feels like too much trouble you feel can help you from burying to have a friend over or do the things your feelings and pretending that that everyone else does. You just never everything’s OK. know how your parent will act. Will your mom or dad show up drunk for Learn healthy coping strategies. When school events or drive you (and your we grow up around people who turn friends) home drunk? to alcohol or other unhealthy ways of •You might be stressed or worried. It can be scary to listen to adults in the CONTINUE TO NEXT PAGE house yell, fight, or break things by crazy!” or “I can’t take this anymore.” That can be harmful, especially to kids: Most young children don’t know that the problem has nothing to do with their actions and that it’s all in the drinker’s mind.

January - February 2012

dealing with problems, they become our example. Watching new role models can help people learn healthy coping mechanisms and ways of making good decisions. Coaches, aunts, uncles, parents of friends, or teachers all have to deal with things like frustration or disappointment. Watch how they do it. School counselors can be a great resource here. Next time you have a problem, ask someone you trust for help. Find support.It’s good to share your feelings with a friend, but it’s equally important to talk to an adult you trust. A school counselor, favorite teacher, or coach may be able to help. Some teens turn to their school D.A.R.E. (Drug and Alcohol Resistance Education) officer. Others prefer to talk to a family member or parents of a close friend. Because alcoholism is such a widespread problem, several organizations offer confidential support groups and meetings for people living with alcoholics. Alateen is a group specifically geared to young people living with adults who have drinking problems. Alateen can also help teens whose parents may already be in treatment or recovery. The group Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) also offers resources for people living with alcoholics. Find a safe environment.Do you find yourself avoiding your house as much as possible? Are you thinking about running away? If you feel that the situation at home is becoming dangerous, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at (800) 799-SAFE. And don’t hesitate to dial 911 if you think you or another family member is in immediate danger.

Kids & Teens | NEWS Stop the cycle.Teenage children of alcoholics are at higher risk of becoming alcoholics themselves. Scientists think this is because of genetics and the environment that kids grow up in. For example, people might learn to drink as a way to avoid fear, boredom, anxiety, sadness, or other unpleasant feelings. Understanding that there could be a problem and finding adults and peers to help you can be the most important thing you do to reduce the risk of problem drinking. Alcoholism is a disease. You can show your love and support, but you won’t be able to stop someone from drinking. Talking about the problem, finding support, and choosing healthy ways to cope are choices you can make to feel more in control of the situation. Above all, don’t give up!

What Should I Do? Reviewed by: D’Arcy Lyness, PhD

bout Eating Disorders Every year, thousands of teens (and adults, too) develop eating disorders and eating disordered behaviors.

In our image-obsessed culture, it can be

easy to become critical of our bodies. Everyday concerns about healthy eating and weight management can cross the line and become eating disorders. This happens when someone starts to do things that are physically and emotionally unsafe — things that could have long-term

January - February 2012

health consequences. Some people go on extreme diets and can develop anorexia. Others may go on eating binges (overeat to excess, known as “binge eating”). CONTINUE TO NEXT PAGE

Florida Creative Living | For All Ages!

Kids & Teens | NEWS

friend vomiting after eating.

•Always talks about how fat he or she is, despite losing a lot of weight, and sometimes focuses on body parts he or she doesn’t like (hair, skin, arms, And others may purge their bodies of the stomach) to the point of excess. food they’ve just eaten through forced compulsive exercise, inducing vomiting, •Appears to be gaining a lot of weight even though you never see him or her taking laxatives, or a combination of these eat much. (known as bulimia). •Is very defensive or sensitive about his or her weight loss or eating habits. Although eating disorders are much more common in girls, guys can get them, too. •Buys or takes laxatives, steroids, herbal supplements to lose weight, or diet pills.

Signs of Eating Disorders

So how do you know if a friend has an •Has a tendency to faint, bruises easily, is very pale, or starts complaining eating disorder? It can be hard to tell — of being cold more than usual (cold intolerance can be a symptom of being after all, someone who has lost a lot of underweight). weight or feels constantly tired may have another type of health condition. What’s Going On? Eating disorders can be caused by — and lead But certain signs can to — complicated physical and psychological be an indication of a illnesses. Your friend’s body image and behavior problem, such as if a may be a symptom of something that’s going on friend: emotionally. •Has an obsession with weight and food. It might seem like all your friend thinks (and talks) about is food, calories, fat grams, weight, and being thin.

Many people feel successful and in control when they become thin, but people with eating disorders can become seriously ill and even die. They might start out dieting successfully and be happy with their weight loss, but then they find they can’t stop.

•Feels the need to exercise all the time, even when sick or exhausted, and might talk about compensating for eating too much by exercising.

•Start by talking to your friend privately about what you’ve noticed.Explain that you’re worried. Be as gentle as possible, and try to really listen to and be supportive about what your friend is going through.

What to Do

•If your friend opens up about what’s going on, ask how you can help.Tell your friend you want to help him or her get healthy again. Try not to make statements like “If you’d just eat (or stop working out •Avoids hanging out with you and other so much), you’ll get better.” Instead, asking simple questions like “How can I friends during meals. help?” shows you can listen and be supportive without judging. •Starts to wear big or baggy clothes as a •Find out as much as you can about eating disorders from reliable sources. way to hide his or her body and shape. Many organizations, books, websites, hotlines, or other resources are devoted to helping people who are battling eating disorders. Learning more can help •Goes on extreme or highly restrictive you better understand what your friend is going through. Share what you learn diets (for example, eating only clear soup with your friend if he or she is open to it, but don’t preach or campaign. or only raw veggies), cuts food into tiny pieces, moves food around on the plate •Try not to be too watchful of your friend’s eating habits, food amounts, instead of eating it, and is very precise and choices.It can be tempting to try to get a friend to eat more, but eating about how food is arranged on the plate. disorders are complicated so it often does no good (and it may push a friend away if he or she thinks you are judging or lecturing). •Seems to compete with others about how little he or she eats. If a friend •Know your limits.Being concerned and trying to help is part of a good proudly tells you she only had a diet soda friendship. But don’t take it on yourself to fix things. This is one time where for breakfast and four chips for lunch, it’s telling a friend what to do or how to act probably won’t work. a red flag that she could be developing a problem. •Focus on inner qualities.Try not to talk about food, weight, diets, or body shape (yours, your friend’s, or even a popular celebrity’s). Focus instead on •Goes to the bathroom a lot, especially CONTINUE TO NEXT PAGE right after meals, or you’ve heard your

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January - February 2012

people’s strengths — like how someone has a great smile, helpful nature, or talents in something like math or art.

Kids & Teens | NEWS

•Offer to go with your friend to a support Sometimes you’d be surprised how asking simple questions like “What group or be there when your friend talks to would make you feel better?” can lead to a great conversation about how you can help your friend heal. a counselor. •If your friend isn’t getting better and isn’t getting help, it might be time to talk to someone else.Try talking to your parents, the school guidance counselor or nurse, athletic coach, or even your friend’s parents. This isn’t easy to do because it can feel like betraying a friend. But part of being a good friend is doing everything you can to help.

People with eating disorders often have trouble admitting that they have a problem — even to themselves. They may feel guarded and private. It can be hard trying to help someone who isn’t ready or doesn’t think help is needed. Try not to get angry or frustrated. Remind your friend that you care. If your friend tells you it’s none of your business or that there is no problem, you might have to talk to someone else about it. ©1995-2012. The Nemours Foundation/KidsHealth®. Reprinted with permission

Kids & Teens | HEALTHY HABITS

•Remind your friend that you’re there no matter what.Listen and be supportive.

Is Dieting OK for Kids? Tips On Being Healthy

Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD

veryone has been on a diet. Does that sound strange? Well, it’s true. A diet is simply the collection of the foods you regularly eat. But the word “diet” also can mean an attempt to lose weight by limiting calories or types of food.

You may know some adults and kids who worry about their weight and say they’re going on a diet. You might wonder if you

should be on a diet, too. But the majority of kids do not need to — and should not — diet this way. Why? Let’s find out.

Dieting to Lose Weight

All foods and many drinks contains calories, a kind of energy. When someone diets to lose weight, the person is trying to eat fewer calories than the body uses. By doing this, the person may lose body fat and decrease his or her weight. Likewise, if a person eats more calories than the body uses, the person may gain weight. CONTINUE TO NEXT PAGE

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Kids & Teens | HEALTHY HABITS

to be thinner could have an eating disorder. These include anorexia nervosa (starving oneself) or bulimia nervosa (eating and then deliberately throwing up). They are serious conditions that need a doctor’s attention.

Kids usually do not need to diet in this way. Unlike adults, kids are still growing and developing. During this time, kids need a variety of healthy foods to keep their bodies growing properly. Some kids are overweight, but even overweight kids often can improve their health simply by eating nutritious foods and being more active.

Help for a Dangerous Dieter

Being overweight can cause health problems, but kids may hurt their health even more by doing something drastic, like skipping meals or deciding to eat only lettuce.

If you know a friend or sibling who’s following a dangerous diet, you need to tell an adult. You could turn to a parent, a teacher, or another adult you trust. You could also tell the person yourself that their eating habits are unhealthy, but you probably will need to get an adult involved, too. It’s not unusual for kids — or adults — to wish they were taller, or thinner, or that they could change something about their appearance. If you feel this way, talk to a parent or an adult you trust. You may need someone to help you understand these feelings and get a handle on whether your weight is a health concern.

Who Needs to Diet?

The body changes that happen to kids during puberty include weight gain. This is normal, but it’s a good idea to talk with your doctor about Though some people may feel they weigh too it if you or your parents have questions. much or too little, there is no perfect body shape. Some people have larger frames (bigger bones) What Kids Can Do and will always look bigger and heavier than So if kids don’t need to diet, how can they stay a healthy weight? All people with smaller frames. kids can benefit from eating a balanced diet and getting plenty of physical activity. Talk to your doctor if you have questions about your weight. Your doctor can examine you and Kids have a lot of choices when it comes to activity and exercise. Some check your body mass index (BMI). That’s a way like to play on sports teams or dance in troupes. Others may prefer of estimating how much body fat you have. If the to be more casual, riding their bikes or shooting hoops at the park. doctor is concerned about your weight, he or she Just helping your parents rake leaves or clean the house is a kind of can recommend a couple of goals: physical activity, though not as much fun as something like swimming! And it’s a good idea to cut down on pastimes that aren’t very active — •for you to gain weight at a slower pace such as watching TV or playing computer games. •for you to maintain your current weight For some kids, the doctor may recommend losing Kids can also try to eat a variety of healthy foods. A balanced diet some weight, but this should be done with the means that you don’t eat the same thing every day and that you eat a doctor’s help. Kids who need to lose weight may mix of foods from different food groups. These include: visit with a dietitian who can explain how to reduce calories safely while still getting all the •fruits and vegetables necessary nutrients. •milk and dairy products •meat, nuts, and other protein-rich foods Dangerous Diets •grains, especially whole-grain foods, such as whole-grain breads and Diets that don’t include a variety of nutritious cereals foods, or have too few calories, can be dangerous for kids. Some type of dangerous diets are called This kind of diet helps your body by giving it the right nutrients. For “fad diets,” because a fad means something instance, protein helps build your muscles and other body structures. that’s popular for a short while. Fad diets usually Calcium helps your growing bones. And you need vitamins and other promise quick weight loss and require the person nutrients to keep your body working as it should. Fiber prevents to follow a strict set of guidelines. constipation and carbohydrates give you energy, just to name a few. Some dangerous diets cut out entire categories of Now that you understand more about diets, you can tell people you’re foods or require the person to eat just one thing, on a very special one — a balanced, healthy diet just right for a kid! such as cabbage soup — yuck! The truth is there is no quick fix when it comes to weight loss. So pills, special drinks, all-liquid diets, and other gimmicks are poor choices, especially for kids. If someone offers you a diet pill or suggests you start having ©1995-2012. The Nemours Foundation/KidsHealth®. a magic milkshake that can make you thinner, tell Reprinted with permission. them no! These diets can make people sick. They also usually end with the person regaining any weight that was lost. Someone who is willing to take extreme steps

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Ready Set, Breakfast!

Kids & Teens | HEALTHY HABITS

Why It's Important

Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD

at your breakfast. It’s the most •fruit smoothie, such as a strawberry smoothie important meal of the day!” Why And now some weird (but yummy) ones: are parents always saying that? •banana dog (peanut butter, a banana, and raisins in a long whole-grain Well, imagine you’re a car. After bun) a long night of sleeping, your fuel •breakfast taco (shredded cheese on a tortilla, folded in half and tank is empty. Breakfast is the fuel microwaved; top with salsa) •country cottage cheese (apple butter mixed with cottage cheese) that gets you going so you can hit the road. •fruit and cream cheese sandwich (use strawberries or other fresh fruit) •sandwich — grilled cheese, peanut butter and jelly, or another favorite What Should You Eat? Any breakfast is better than no breakfast, but •leftovers (they’re not just for dinner anymore!) try not to have doughnuts or pastries all the time. They’re high in calories, sugar, and fat. Skipping Breakfast They also don’t contain the nutrientsa kid Some kids skip breakfast because they sleep too late or because they think really needs. And if you have a doughnut for it’s a way to stay thin. But skipping breakfast doesn’t help people maintain a healthy weight. In fact, someone who skips breakfast tends to eat more breakfast, you won’t feel full for long. calories throughout the day. Just like with other meals, try to eat a variety If you find yourself skipping breakfast because you’re too rushed, try these of foods, including: quick breakfasts. They’re easy to grab on the way out the door or can be prepared the night before: •fruit •vegetables •grains ( make at least half your grains whole •single servings of whole-grain, low-sugar cereal •yogurt grains) •protein (meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dry beans, •fresh fruit •whole-grain muffin nuts, and seeds) •dairy products ( lowfat or fat-free milk, •trail mix of nuts, dried fruits, pretzels, crackers, and dry cereal Need More Convincing? cheese, and yogurt) Just in case you need more evidence that eating breakfast is the way to go, kids who don’t eat breakfast are less able to learn at school, get less iron Breakfast Ideas (an important nutrient) in their diets, and are more likely to have a higher First, the traditional ones: body mass index (BMI), which is a sign they may be overweight. •eggs •French toast, waffles, or pancakes (try wheat On the other hand, kids who eat breakfast do better in school, are more or whole-grain varieties) likely to participate in physical activities, and tend to eat healthier overall. •cold cereal and milk •hot cereal, such as oatmeal or cream of wheat So tomorrow morning, don’t run out the door on an empty stomach. Fuel up with a healthy breakfast! (try some dried fruit or nuts on top) •whole-grain toast, bagel, or English muffin ©1995-2012. The Nemours Foundation/KidsHealth®. Reprinted with permission. with cheese •yogurt with fruit or nuts

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Kids & Teens | HEATHLY HABITS

5 Reason to Pack Your Lunch Taking Control Of Your Health

Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD

ost schools are trying hard to upgrade their lunch programs and offer the best food they can. But not every school cafeteria provides appealing, healthy lunch choices. Educate yourself when it comes to what your cafeteria has to offer. For example, did you know chicken nuggets have more fat and calories than a plain burger?

Even if your school provides healthy options, it can be too easy to give in to temptation and pick a less healthy choice when you’re feeling really hungry. How do you take control? Take a packed lunch to school! Here are the top 5 reasons to pack your lunch — and snacks — at least twice a week: 1. Control. Do you ever wait in the lunch line only to find when you get to the front that you don’t like what they’re serving? So you reach for pizza again. A healthy packed lunch lets you avoid the lunch line (and any 22

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temptations). Bringing your own lunch also lets you control exactly what goes into the food you eat. 2. Variety. It doesn’t hurt to cave in and enjoy the occasional serving of pizza and hot dogs. But if you’re eating these foods all the time, your body probably feels ready for a change. A packed lunch a couple of times a week means you can enjoy some favorites that you might not find at every school — like a piping hot thermos of your mom’s chicken soup; hummus and pita bread; or some crisp, farm-stand apples. 3. Energy. If you have a big game or activity after school, plan a lunch and snacks that combine lean proteins with carbohydrates to give you lasting energy and keep you going through the late afternoon. Some ideas: your own “trail” mix of dried fruit and nuts or sunflower seeds, whole-grain pretzels and low-fat cheese, or a bagful of baby carrots and yogurt dip. 4. Cold hard cash. Pack healthy snacks so you don’t feel tempted

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to step off campus for a fastfood lunch, or hit the vending machine or corner store for chocolate and a soda! Put the money you save on such snacks aside. 5. That warm and fuzzy feeling. Remember when your mom or dad used to pack your lunch? Pack yourself a retro lunch featuring healthy versions of your old faves — such as PB&J on whole-wheat bread. Whether you pack or eat in the cafeteria, what’s important is that you make healthy choices. If you’re concerned that your cafeteria doesn’t offer enough healthy choices, get involved in trying to make changes. Ask a teacher or someone in food service for advice on how to get started ©1995-2012. The Nemours Foundation/ KidsHealth®. Reprinted with permission.

Kids & Teens | HEALTHY HABITS

5 Ways to Deal With

Anxiety Tips TO Managing Your emotions Reviewed by: D’Arcy Lyness, PhD

veryone has feelings of anxiety, nervousness, out works too. Doing things with those we feel close to deepens tension, and stress from time to time. Here are our bonds, allowing us to feel supported and secure. And the fun 5 ways to help manage them: and sharing that go with it allow us to feel happier and less upset about things. If you feel worried or nervous about something, 1.Become a relaxation expert. We all think talking about it with someone who listens and cares can help we know how to relax. But chilling out in front you feel more understood and better able to cope. You’ll be of the TV or computer isn’t true relaxation. reminded that everyone has these feelings sometimes. You’re (Depending on what you’re watching or doing, it could not alone. even make you more tense.) The same is true for alcohol, drugs, or tobacco. They may seem to relieve anxiety 4.Connect with nature.Heading out for a walk in the park or a or stress, but it’s a false state of relaxation that’s only hike in the woods can help anyone feel peaceful and grounded. temporary. What the body really needs is a relaxation (Choose somewhere you feel safe so you can relax and enjoy technique — like deep breathing, tai chi, or yoga — that your surroundings.) Walking, hiking, trail biking, or snowshoeing has a physical effect on the mind. For example, deep offer the additional benefit of exercise. Invite a friend or two breathing helps to relax a major nerve that runs from — or a family member — along and enjoy feeling connected to the diaphragm to the brain, sending a message to the people as well. entire body to let go and loosen up. 5.Think positive. A great way to keep our minds off the worry 2.Get enough sleep, nourishment, and exercise. Want track is to focus our thoughts on things that are good, beautiful, your mind and body to feel peaceful and strong enough and positive. Allow yourself to dream, wish, and imagine the to handle life’s ups and downs? Get the right amount best that could happen. of sleep for your needs — not too much or too little. Note: When anxiety or worry feels extreme, it may be a sign of Eat well: Choose fruit, vegetables, lean proteins, and an anxiety disorder. For someone who has an anxiety disorder, whole grains for long-term energy (instead of the short getting proper care from a heath professional is important. bursts that come from too much sugar or caffeine). And These tips can help too, of course. But professional treatment is exercise to send oxygen to every cell in the body so your the only way to shake an anxiety disorder. brain and body can operate at their best. ©1995-2012. The Nemours Foundation/KidsHealth®. 3.Connect with others. Spend time with friends or Reprinted with permission. family. Organized activities are great, but just hanging

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Kids & Teens | SPORTS

What If I Don’t Like Sports? Keeping Fit And Having FUn Reviewed by: D’Arcy Lyness, PhD

ot everyone likes organized sports or team sports. If this sounds like you, don’t sweat it.

We’re going to talk about what keeps some kids from liking sports. With a few changes, you might find out that there is a sport out there that you could like. But if not, we’ll suggest other fun ways to stay active.

about a sport is to watch instructional videos or DVDs or check out library books that explain the rules and offer suggestions for kids learning to play them.

If you have an older friend or family member who’s good at a sport, you might ask him or her to help you practice. Some sports are just good to understand, even if you never want to play on a competitive team. For Learning About Sports instance, you might play softball or Sometimes, kids feel that they don’t like volleyball, just for fun, at a summer sports because they might not understand picnic. how to play them or they haven’t had much practice doing them. A Bad Sports Experience Some kids don’t like organized sports Sports can seem complicated because of because they were once on a team all the rules and special equipment. Even and they didn’t have fun. Maybe all the fields and courts they’re played on of the other kids seemed to know come in different shapes and sizes and have what they were doing and you felt confusing-looking lines drawn on them. unsure. Or maybe you didn’t like the pressure of competing against other People spend many years learning about teams, where you know one team is favorite sports and practicing how to do going to win and the other is going to them well. So don’t feel bad if you don’t lose. Competition can bring out some know the difference between a “corner intense emotions. kick” and a “goal kick” in soccer. If you want to learn more about a sport, you might ask Sometimes, kids on a team get so your mom or dad about camps or programs fired up about winning that they that introduce kids to new sports. These may yell or get upset at a player who may be better than just joining a team that makes a mistake. This can be stressful starts playing games right away without — especially if it’s you who made a much explaining first. mistake! But everybody makes mistakes Gym class and intramural programs at sometimes and no one should tease school also can be a way to try new sports you for it. If they do, it’s a good idea with a mix of kids. Another way to learn to talk with the coach or your mom

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or dad. Sometimes kids need to be reminded about being understanding and respectful to each other. Parents and coaches also can get upset about a game situation and put too much pressure on kids. Kids might feel confused and stressed out during games if they’re not quite sure what they should be doing. But team sports also can be a great experience. Kids get to improve their skills and feel that team spirit as they work together toward a common goal. If you’ve had a bad experience with a team, maybe it’s time to try a new sport or a new league. Some leagues and programs emphasize skill building over competition — and some leagues don’t even keep score!

The Right Sport

There are dozens of sports, so you might not have found the one for you yet. Lots of kids try soccer and baseball. But what if your best sport is going to be volleyball, cheerleading, or gymnastics? You’ll have to try it and find out. Some kids are naturally graceful. Others are strong. And still others have great aim. Different sports CONTINUE TO NEXT PAGE

require different skills, so you’ll want to try different sports to find one that suits you. Some activities you might not think of as sports, such as karate or cheerleading, but they are great for staying active. sports and be active. There’s a good reason: Playing sports is a great form of exercise and exercise keeps your body healthy. If you don’t like being on a team that much, you might consider individual sports. An individual We’ve already talked about the many sports to choose from, but there’s sport means a kid does the sport on his or her even more good news — many other nonsport activities can provide own. You can do these sports competitively or exercise and keep you active, including: just for the fun of doing them. •playing at a playground Here’s a list of some individual sports: •raking leaves •jumping rope •swimming •dancing around your bedroom •diving •walking your dog •running •working in the garden •ice skating •washing the car •wrestling •making a snowman •gymnastics You also might find that by limiting your use of electronics — TV, •golf computer, and cell phone — you’ll just naturally be more active. •tennis •skateboarding So, no, you don’t have to play a sport, but you might still find one you •in-line skating like. The most important thing is to be an active kid. •biking •martial arts And you have a world of activities to choose from. Somewhere out •bowling there is a special one that’s just right for you!

Kids & Teens | SPORTS

What’s the Big Deal About Sports? You might wonder why grownups want you to try

Advice On Easing the Pressure Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD ports are a great way to have fun and stay active. Kids have lots of choices about which sports to do and whether to compete in sports or just play them for fun. One kid might be happy to shoot baskets at the park, whereas another kid may prefer being on a basketball team that competes against other teams.

Does your mom or dad yell from the sidelines? Does your coach want you to practice every day instead of a couple of times a week? What if you thought you’d like being on the hockey team, but now you want to quit? Read on to learn more about sports pressure.

What Is Competition?

There are different kinds of competition in sports. You may compete by yourself, as part of a team, or both. For instance, a swimmer or a wrestler might compete individually, but the person’s score may also contribute to the team score. If baseball or soccer is your sport, you Competition can make sports more exciting. But might be the lucky one to score a goal or a run, but it usually takes a because somebody wins and somebody loses, team effort to win the game. competition also can make kids feel pressure. A CONTINUE TO NEXT PAGE little pressure can be OK. Too much pressure is bad news.

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Kids & Teens | SPORTS

What Can I Do to Ease Pressure?

When you’re competing in sports, you need a lot of energy. One secret to having lots of energy is to get plenty of sleep. Be sure to get to bed on time or even a little early the night before a big game. And don’t forget to eat well on game day.

What all sports competitions have in common is that all of the competitors One way to chase the butterflies away is by being ready to play. Try to attend all of want to win. But usually only one your team’s practices. By practicing, you’ll improve your playing skills and your team person or team does. will learn how to work together. In some ways, playing a sport is like learning a part in a school play or how to play the piano — the more prepared you are, the better you’ll Why Do I Feel Pressure? feel and the more fun you’ll have. Do you ever have “butterflies” in your stomach? It’s that nervous feeling Try to find a way to relax right before the game. You might take a few slow, deep some people get when starting a new breaths or do some gentle stretches to warm up your body. Some teams have a group school, taking a first airplane ride, or cheer or huddle before heading onto the field. Let any tension you feel melt into the gearing up for a big soccer match. excitement of the first play Time for a Change? In sports, almost everyone worries If these steps don’t help, and you feel sick or sadabout your sport more than you feel about playing well and doesn’t want happy, you should talk with your parents or coach. Too much pressure can come from to make a mistake. Believe it or not, your coach, your parents, your teammates, or even from yourself. If your coach or the best player on your team and the parents are making you nervous, talk to them about what would make you feel more teenagers who play on high school confident during practice and games. teams get nervous before a big game. Even professional players feel A grownup also may be able to help you cope with pressure you’re putting on yourself. nervous sometimes! Some kids want to be experts at a sport, right from the start. But becoming skilled at a sport often takes a lot of work over many seasons. Feeling a little excited or nervous is OK, though. This helps your body If the pressure is too much, it’s OK to decide that you want to take a break from sports and mind get ready to compete. Your competition. You might decide to return to the team next season. Or you might keep body makes adrenaline (say: uh- doing your sport, but without being part of a team. dre-nul-in), which is a hormone that gives you extra energy. But if you’re If neither one of those solutions seems right, it could be time to try something new. getting so nervous that you aren’t There are dozens of sports and activities that kids can do. Your job is to find the ones having much fun, it’s time to figure that you like best and do them regularly. With or without a team, you’ll win by being an out why. active kid! ® ©1995-2012. The Nemours Foundation/KidsHealth . Reprinted with permission.

Preventing Injuries Reviewed by: Alfred Atanda Jr., MD

revention First

one that keeps you from getting hurt. That’s because the best way to deal with sports injuries is to prevent them. Prevention includes knowing the rules of the game you’re playing, using the proper equipment, and playing it safe.

Worried about sports injuries? Don’t sweat it. Think of avoiding injury as just another part of playing by the rules — only this rulebook is the But you’ve practiced with your team, played

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it safe on the field, and still sustained an injury. Don’t worry, it’s not the end of the world — just the beginning of a healing process. Read on to find out what this process is and how you can deal with a sports injury. CONTINUE TO NEXT PAGE

Kids & Teens | SPORTS

What Are Sports Injuries?

Sports injuries are injuries that typically occur while participating in organized sports, competitions, training sessions, or organized fitness activities. These injuries may occur in teens for a variety of reasons, including improper training, lack of appropriate footwear Always wear helmets for contact sports and when doing activities like biking and in-line skating to or safety equipment, and rapid growth during puberty. prevent head injuries. There are two general types. The first type is an acute traumatic injury. Acute traumatic injuries usually involve a single blow from Neck injuries are among the most dangerous. You a single application of force — like getting a cross-body block in can hurt your neck through a sudden traumatic injury in sports like mountain climbing, skydiving, football. horseback riding, gymnastics, diving, rugby, judo, or boxing. Acute traumatic injuries include: •a fracture — a crack, break, or shattering of a bone •a bruise, known medically as a contusion — caused by a direct blow, which may cause swelling and bleeding in muscles and other body tissues •a strain — a stretch or tear of a muscle or tendon, the tough and narrow end of a muscle that connects it to a bone •a sprain — a stretch or tear of a ligament, the tissue that supports and strengthens joints by connecting bones and cartilage •an abrasion — a scrape •a laceration — a cut in the skin that is usually deep enough to require stitches The second type of sports injury is an overuse or chronic injury. Chronic injuries are those that happen over a period of time. Chronic injuries are usually the result of repetitive training, such as running, overhand throwing, or serving a ball in tennis.

Neck injuries include strains, fractures, contusions, and sprains. Another very common sports-related neck injury is a stinger or burner from stretched nerves in the neck. Most neck injuries are caused by impact to the head or neck sustained during a fall or a blow. Your neck can also be injured a little at a time. Too much strain on your neck can cause increasing pain, sometimes only on one side of your neck. Sometimes you may feel only a slight pain when you move a certain way.

Often overuse injuries seem less important than acute injuries. You may be tempted to ignore that aching in your wrist or that soreness in your knees, but always remember that just because an injury isn’t dramatic doesn’t mean it’s unimportant or will go away on its own. If left untreated, a chronic injury will probably get worse over time.

Back Injuries

If the injury is severe and there is a chance that the neck might be injured, it’s very important to keep the injured person still with the head held straight while someone calls for emergency medical help. If the person is lying on the ground, do not try to move him or her. Never try to move someone who may These include: have a neck injury — a mishandled neck fracture •stress fractures — tiny cracks in the bone’s surface often caused by could lead to permanent paralysis or even death. repetitive overloading (such as in the feet of a basketball player who How do these injuries happen? Serious head and is continuously jumping on the court) •tendinitis — inflammation of the tendon caused by repetitive neck injuries occur most often in athletes who participate in contact sports (like football or rugby) stretching •epiphysitis or apophysitis — growth plate overload injuries such as or sports with the potential for falling accidents, such as horseback riding. Osgood-Schlatter disease Back injuries include sprains, fractures, contusions, stress fractures, and strains and are caused by twists or overexertion of back muscles during bending or lifting movements. These injuries can occur in contact sports like football and ice hockey or in weight lifting, figure skating, gymnastics, dancing, What Can Be Injured? You may think of your back or your arms and legs as the only places baseball, and basketball. where you could get hurt while playing, but you can get a sports injury anywhere on your body, including your face, neck, head, back, Sex Organs When it comes to injuries to the sex organs, guys sex organs, hands, and feet. usually suffer more trauma than girls because the penis and testicles are outside the body and lack Head and Neck Injuries Head injuries include concussions, contusions, fractures, and natural protection during contact sports. Guys hematomas. A concussion is a violent jarring or shock to the should always wear athletic supporters, or in some head that causes a temporary jolt to the brain. If severe enough, sports a cup, to protect the genitals from serious or recurrent, concussions can cause brain damage but fortunately injury. this is not common in teens. A hematoma is a bleeding or pooling of blood between the tissue layers covering the brain or inside the Injuries to the uterus or ovaries are rare, but breast brain. All of these injuries can be caused by impact to the head from injuries are common complaints among teen girls. a fall, forceful shaking of the head, a blow to the head, or whiplash. Whiplash is an injury to the neck caused by an abrupt jerking motion CONTINUE TO NEXT PAGE of the head.

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Kids & Teens | SPORTS

The doctor will examine your injury and use diagnostic tools such as X-rays and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to determine the extent of your injury. MRI allows doctors to see soft tissues more clearly than X-rays or As the breasts develop, they can often be sore, CT scans do. and a blow from a softball or a jab from an elbow, for example, can be painful. Girls should Once the full extent of your injury is known, the doctor usually will start wear supportive sports bras while playing with conservative treatment techniques such as rest and ice to help decrease swelling. Pain relief and anti-inflammatory medicines such as sports or exercising. ibuprofen (like Advil or Motrin) may be prescribed. Splints, casts, and surgery also might be needed, depending on the injury. Hand and Wrist Injuries Hand, finger, and wrist injuries include fractures, dislocations, and sprains and often occur in One of three things will happen next. Your doctor may: contact sports such as football, lacrosse, and hockey. Hand injuries can result from a fall that 1.recommend that you not play while you heal forces the hand or fingers backward, a forceful 2.that you play and use a protective device (a knee brace or wrist guard, for example) impact to the hands, or a direct blow. 3.that you undergo rehabilitation (physical therapy) Sports medicine doctors won’t let you play if you are at risk for getting Foot Injuries Foot injuries can include ligament strains, stress another injury or aggravating an injury you are recovering from. fractures, heel bruises, and swollen growth Getting Back in the Game plates. Because your feet support all of your If your doctor has asked you to stop playing, your #1 question is probably weight and must absorb a lot of force over and “When can I play sports again?” This depends on your specific injury, so over again, they can be particularly susceptible make sure you discuss this with your doctor. You can do other things while to injury. Another reason some teens may suffer injured to stay fit without making your injury worse — but make sure you foot injuries is because of differences in their check with your doctor first. These activities are known as cross training, feet. For example, some people have flat feet and they include using stationary cycles, swimming, water therapy, and or high arches. These differences don’t mean rowing machines. that sports should be avoided, but it does mean that precautions, such as a special shoe insert, Your rehabilitation program will also help you stay fit as you recover. Rehabilitation, or rehab, is the process that gets you back in shape and may be needed. ready for action again. Rehab may be part of your treatment program and can include exercise, manual therapy from a physical therapist (a Taking Care of Sports Injuries If your pain progressively increases with activity specialist who is trained to help you recover from a sports injury), and (what sports medicine doctors call an “upward technology such as ultrasound. Ultrasound equipment is used to heat crescendo”) and causes swelling, limping, the injured area. This heat relieves pain, promotes healing, and increases or loss of range of motion, you need to see a your range of motion. doctor as soon as possible.

Playing Safe

What kinds of pain should you be on the What can you do to protect yourself from getting hurt again? Use lookout for? Any injury that results in swelling, protective gear — such as helmets for contact sports like football — that numbness, intense pain or tenderness, stiffness, is appropriate to the specific sport. or loss of flexibility should be taken seriously. When you return to play, you might need some new protective gear, You should also know the difference between including modified shoes (such as those with inserts or arch supports or soreness and chronic pain. Soreness is those designed for use in a particular sport), tapings (tape used to wrap temporary, but chronic pain continues over a knee, for example, to provide extra support), knee and elbow braces, a greater length of time. For example, it’s not and mouthguards. These devices help support and protect your body part always necessary to see a doctor right away if from strains, direct blows, and possible reinjury. your shoulder is sore, but you should schedule an appointment if the pain is worsening at any To help prevent reinjury, be sure to warm up adequately before practice time or if it persists for a week or more. You and games. Remember to take it slow when you first get back into your should also see a doctor if your pain progresses sport and gradually build back up to your preinjury level. from happening only after playing to happening during sports or if you notice it when you wake Also, know your limits. If the previously injured part (or any body part) begins to hurt, stop immediately and rest. Don’t delay in seeking medical up or are doing daily activities. attention if the pain persists. It’s your body’s way of telling you something The most important thing to do when you is not right. suspect you are injured is to stop doing whatever sport has caused the injury right away and go So play, but play safe. Try to learn from your experience and do the things see a doctor. For more severe or complicated that can help you avoid getting hurt again. injuries, it may be best to see a doctor who specializes in sports medicine.

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Kids & Teens | TECHNO & SCIENCE

c i n o r t c Ele ds r o c e R h t l a e H

The Benefits of EHRs Reviewed by: Elana Pearl Ben-Joseph, MD

n an age of iPads, smartphones, and minute-by-minute Facebook updates, does a visit to your doctor’s office sometimes seem like a trip back in time? Does your doc scribble notes onto sheets of paper and then slide them into an ever-expanding folder that gets stored in a huge file case?

Although many doctors still keep notes in files, more and more patients are seeing laptops instead of clipboards in the exam room. Doctors and hospitals are turning to new health information technology, and while these changes won’t happen overnight, they are coming.

your various health care providers. So, for example, if you see a dermatologist and an asthma specialist in addition to your primary care doctor, all these doctors (and their nurses and other caregivers) will see the same records. If one doctor orders a lab test, they all see the results. If one doctor puts you on a new medication, the others get to see what it is — which is good for you, because there’s less chance of one doctor prescribing a medication that could adversely interact with another medication and cause problems.

The Benefits of EHRs

Because EHRs improve how well your doctors talk to each other and coordinate Understanding EHRs your treatment, they can enhance your Electronic health records (EHR) — also overall care. Here are some of the ways called electronic medical records (EMR) — they can help: help patients as well as health professionals. That’s because they make it easier for you •Access by multiple health providers. (and your parents, depending on your age) Because it can be accessed by logging to see your health records. onto a computer, your EHR “travels” with you from doctor’s office to doctor’s An EHR is a computerized collection of office. This can be helpful in an urgent a patient’s health records. EHRs include setting. If someone’s unconscious and information like your age, gender, ethnicity, cannot tell an emergency room doctor health history, medications, allergies, about an allergy to penicillin, the ER doc immunization status, lab test results, will know from looking at that person’s hospital discharge instructions, and billing EHR. EHRs also make it easier for your information. primary doctor to coordinate with any specialists he or she might refer you to. Because electronic health records are Everything they need to know about digital, they can be shared easily among you and your health is right at their

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fingertips. •No more handwriting mishaps. There are lots of jokes about doctors’ handwriting. But the drawbacks to handwritten charts go beyond hard-to-read handwriting. When doctors and nurses takes notes, they’re more likely to abbreviate to save time, and there’s always a risk they’ll forget what they meant or that someone else looking at the chart won’t understand the abbreviation and have to find out what it means. EHR software helps clinicians be both detailed and fast by providing a series of prompts and dropdown menus to click through. •Efficiency. When information is kept together in one central file, it helps doctors avoid ordering tests that another doctor has already ordered. Let’s say you go to your primary doctor because your knee hurts. If he or she orders an X-ray and then refers you to an orthopedic expert for treatment, that expert can also see the same X-ray. Then, if you need physical therapy, the therapist can see it too — along with both your doctor’s notes and the specialist’s notes. CONTINUE TO NEXT PAGE

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nosy neighbor happens to work in the same hospital where you receive treatment. HIPAA bars that person from snooping into your records. In fact, if Nosy Neighbor attempts to poke around in your classified information, it would likely trip an alarm within the •Education. Being able to see your medical files lets hospital’s computer system and start a trace on who tried to look you take part in your own health care. You can view at that information. test results, keep track of things like glucose if you have diabetes or lung function if you have asthma, review Part of HIPAA called the Security Rulelays out standards protecting your medical team’s instructions, and even check for the way electronic health records are stored or transferred. So if your doctor’s office or hospital transmits health information errors. •Security. There’s always the chance that paper electronically, they are required by law to have safeguards in place records can get lost or misfiled or somehow damaged. to limit access to only those who are permitted to see it. For example, paper medical records for thousands of patients were destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Doctors encourage teens to get involved in making health care There’s less chance of this happening with electronic decisions, and understanding EHRs are a great way to do that. records — and most are password protected, so if they Looking at yours can help you get an idea of what’s involved in managing your own medical care. do get lost other people won’t have access to them.

Kids & Teens | TECHNO & SCIENCE

Can Everybody See My Records?

Some systems may even let you interact with your doctor or nurse No. A federal law called the Health Insurance Portability online (providing a way to ask questions through the system, and Accountability Act (HIPAA) specifies who is allowed for example) and might even allow you to set up and manage appointments. If your doctor’s office uses EMRs, ask how you can to see your medical records. participate! So you shouldn’t worry, for example, if your ©1995-2012. The Nemours Foundation/KidsHealth®.

Kids & Teens | STAYING SAFE

Reprinted with permission.

When to Call? Reviewed by: Kate M. Cronan, MD

mergencies happen when we least expect them, and they require fast thinking and action. But different emergencies call for different approaches. Here are some things to know so you’ll be prepared.

When to Call 911 A 911 emergency is a situation in which someone needs immediate help because he or she is injured or in immediate danger. Call 911 if: •there’s a fire

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•someone is unconscious after an accident, drinking too much, or an overdose of pills or drugs •someone has trouble breathing, like during an asthma attack or seizure •someone is choking •you see a crime being committed, like a break-in, mugging, etc.

What to Say

live?” •”Who needs help?” or “Who is with you?” You may feel panicky, but try to stay in control. The operator needs the answers to these questions to decide what type of emergency workers should be sent and where to send them.

Give the operator all the information you can about what the emergency is and how it happened. If someone is unconscious or has stopped breathing, the 911 operator may give •”What is the emergency?” or “What you instructions for immediate help happened?” •”Where are you?” or “Where do you CONTINUE TO NEXT PAGE When you call 911, the emergency dispatch operator will probably ask what, where, and who questions such as:

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that you can provide, such as administering CPR or relieving choking if you’ve been trained.

Other Things to Know About 911

You know to stay calm and speak slowly and clearly so that the 911 operator can understand you. But you also need to stay on the phone and not hang up until the operator says it’s OK. That way, you can be sure that the operator has all the information needed to get help to you fast. TV and the movies make it seem like operators can trace where a call is coming from, but that’s not always the case. Emergency dispatchers stress that you should never call 911 for your pets, for information, or to do routine stuff like pay a traffic ticket. Rules about 911 are strict because whenever an operator has to take a nonemergency call, it could delay getting emergency services to someone who really needs them (that’s why dialing 911 as a prank is considered a crime in many places).

Kids & Teens | STAYING SAFE Don’t rush to help someone if you have to put yourself in danger — like if the victim is in the middle of a road, for example. Make sure it’s safe before you try to get to the person and help. Even if someone who’s been injured is conscious, he or she may still be at risk of internal injury. In some emergencies, people seem fine at first but end up having problems later on. So it’s a good idea to call 911 or take the person to the emergency department to get checked out. Someone who is disoriented, feels sick, or has a headache might have a concussion or other head injury.

If you’re ever in doubt and no one is around to ask, it’s better to call 911 and let the operator decide if it’s a real emergency than to take the Dealing with an emergency can be scary for chance that someone who needs help doesn’t get it quickly. anyone. You can take away some of the fear factor by being prepared and knowing what to do if an When Someone’s Been Hurt emergency does come up Don’t try to move a person who is unconscious after having an accident. He or she may have a neck or other spine injury. Call 911 or get help. If the person is not breathing and you know CPR, have someone else get ©1995-2012. The Nemours Foundation/KidsHealth®. help while you take care of the injured person. Reprinted with permission. If the person is bleeding, put pressure on the wound with a cloth or piece of clothing to slow the blood flow. Don’t try to clean the wound, though, as it may do more damage. Wait with the person until help arrives.

Directions: Change one letter in the first word to make the 2nd word. Then change one letter in the 2nd word to make the 3rd word, all the way to the bottom.

Kids & Teens | DOODLE CORNER

D E A __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ L O V January - February 2012

R __ __ __ __ __ __ E

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Kids & Teens | DOODLE CORNER

Holidays Connect-The-Dots

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Doodle Pad

Kids & Teens | DOODLE CORNER

Winter Memories!

Even though, here in Florida we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have snow, some parts do experience freezing tempatures. To ring in the New Year draw us a picture of what your Florida Winter Memory is. Email your pictures to doodlepad@floridacreativeliving. com to be featured in our website Kids & Teens section.

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n o i t a m r o f s n Tra

Adult Living |NEWS

Set Goals This Year, and follow through!

Think I Can, I Think I Can! How many of you remember the classic story called, “The Little Engine Who Could”?

As a child, I can vividly remember sitting with my mother as she read the book to me, and I felt a sense of happiness once the little Engine made it to the top of the hill.

Need tips or motivation to lose weight this year? Please join me below in viewing a podcast interview with Amy Parham who appeared in the Biggest Loser Season Six.

“A little steam engine had a long train of cars to pull. She went along very well till she came to a steep hill. But then, no matter how hard she tried, she could not move the long train of cars. She pulled and she pulled. She puffed and she puffed. She backed and started off again. Choo! Choo! But no! The cars would not go up the hill.” Like in the story, people today are filled with “I Think I Can” attitude, but never follow through. With so many people feeling frustrated with life’s failures they tend to settle for less. Feeling frustrated? Don’t be! God has a plan for all of us. Our failures are really successes in learning. God doesn’t want us to settle for less, He wants us to take our failures and turn them into positive actions that build strong characters. With the New Year, January is a time to reflected on our future, and not a time to dwell on our past failures. If you have dreams that you haven’t seen fulfilled then make them happen today. Imagine your mind as a blank canvas and start making your new positive goals. Make 2012, the year that you make changes for a healthier body, mind, and that you grow spiritually.

January - February 2012

By Susan Gulash

Florida Creative Living | For All Ages!

Adult Living |NEWS

Krista’s Kupcakery and Kakes | Estero, Florida

Contact: Krista Butcher | Email: kristaskupcakery@yahoo.com | Phone: 239.821.0722 | Website: www.kristas-kupcakery.com

aking beautiful taste delicious” – it’s not just my motto, it’s my passion. My name is Krista Hund Butcher and I own Krista’s Kupcakery & Kakes. We mix the best, freshest ingredients with oodles of imagination to create the perfect individualized sweet treats for birthdays, weddings, family & corporate events. The best parts about me are my kids, Samantha and Gabe, and my wonderful husband Chris. I’m an Interior Designer turned kake and kupcake baker - A Florida girl, born on the East coast. I spent 5 years in Tallahassee, attending Florida State University where I earned my bachelors in Art and Science in the school of Interior Design. After college, I moved to Naples, where I worked as an Interior Designer for seven years. I currently reside in Ft. Myers.

slow down a little, focus on my kids and my passions. I love baking. I love creating. And I love that my family has encouraged me to combine the two! I am now part of the Cottage Food Industry and proud to have been the first to apply for the license in Lee County. The Cottage Food Law became effective July 1st, 2011. This allowed individuals to manufacture, sell and store certain types of food products in an unlicensed home kitchen. What a blessing for bakers, like myself, and other foodie entrepreneurs! My kupcakes and kakes are an extension of me and my keen eye gained from years of being an interior designer. It has given me the ability to really hone in on my clients visions they have bouncing around in their mind. There’s no greater pleasure then bringing that vision to life. I’ve even created my own themed kupcakes, inspired by my children. They’ve become my standard flavor offerings – “The Queen of Hearts”, “Willy’s Wonky”, “The Eloise Kupcake”, “The Charlie’s Brown Kupcake”, “The Wicked Witch”, “Fairy Godmother”, “The Pinkalicious Kupcake”, “Prince Charming ”, “The George’s Curious Kupcake”, “White Rabbit”, “Nancy’s Fancy”, “Silly Ole Bear”, “The Velveteen Rabbit”, “The Rabbit’s Harvest”, and “The Weasley’s Kitchen Kupcake”. All our kupcakes and kakes are made to order, so I can customize them with whatever decoration and flavors my client’s desire. I offer local delivery, as well, to help make the client’s surprise, event, and/or gift that much more special. There aren’t many people that can say they’re passionate for their work… that they’re living their dream. I’m of the fortunate few. And I’d love to help you make beautiful taste delicious. View pg 5 for Krista’s Kupcakery & Kakes ad.

Now that I have a family, it’s time to

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By Krista Butcher

January - February 2012

Saving Manatees at

Adult Living |NEWS

the South Florida Museum

Photos Provided by Marc M. Ellis | H20pictures.com

About the South Florida Museum | The South Florida Museum is located at 201 10th Street West in downtown Bradenton. Current operating hours are Monday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Sundays, noon – 5 p.m. (Closed Mondays seasonally.) General admission is $15.95 for adults, $13.95 for seniors (65 and over), $11.95 for children (ages 4-12). Children ages 3 and younger are admitted free when accompanied by a paying adult. The Museum is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, the 1st Saturday in November and 2nd Monday in March each year. For more information, please call 941-746-4131 or visit www.southfloridamuseum.org

he South Florida Museum tells Florida’s story from the prehistoric to the present. The downtown Bradenton facility includes a multitude of galleries about archeology, paleontology and local history, but general admission also includes access to shows in the all-digital Bishop Planetarium and the opportunity to enjoy the Museum’s Parker Manatee Aquarium. It’s there where you’ll meet a truly amazing creature making history each day: Snooty.

Snooty™ is a male manatee, known as Manatee County’s most famous resident and the world’s oldest manatee. Born on July 21, 1948, at the old Miami Aquarium and Tackle Company, Snooty’s birth was one of the first recorded births of a manatee in captivity. Originally known as “Baby Snoots,” he was brought to Bradenton as part of the 1949 Desoto Celebration. Since then, he has greeted more than one million visitors and become a true ambassador for the Florida manatee species. A large community celebration is held each summer in honor of Snooty’s birthday and in July 2011, he celebrated his 63rd birthday! Based on his most recent annual exam in 2011, Snooty weighs 1275 pounds and measures 9 feet 8 inches. Manatees are herbivores with Snooty’s current diet including 70-80 lbs. of restaurant quality romaine lettuce each day as

well as additional vitamins from cabbage, broccoli, and kale, with small amounts of carrot, sweet potato and apples. That’s a lot of lettuce! Snooty is a permanent resident of the South Florida Museum’s Parker Manatee Aquarium, but he also provides companionship to manatees in recovery. Caring for Florida’s Endangered Gentle Giants orking closely with U.S. Fish and Wildlife W Service and critical care hospitals for manatees, the facility is a second stage rehabilitation facility, which means manatees are transferred to the Museum’s Parker Manatee Aquarium from a critical care hospital once their condition is stable. The Aquarium’s staff works 365 days a year to feed, monitor their condition and care for them until their release. Typically a “visiting” manatee stays for many months while recovering from cold stress (similar to frostbite), illness, injury or having been orphaned. Since joining the manatee rehabilitation network in 1998, the Museum has cared for 23 manatees. (The facility is not eligible for funding from the state or federal government directly for manatee care, so this program requires significant private support.) At the time of publication, Brandee and Charlie are Snooty’s current companions. Brandee was rescued in February 2010 from the Warner West Bayou in Bradenton after suffering from cold stress during the cool winter of 2010, and arrived at the Museum in August 2010. She is expected

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to be released in early 2012. A dependent calf at the time, Charlie was originally rescued from the Gasparilla Sound, part of the greater Charlotte Harbor watershed, with his mother who sustained injuries from a watercraft and subsequently did not survive. Charlie arrived at the Museum in May 2011 and once a combination of size, weight and behavior requirements are met, his release is expected in early 2013. The Museum’s Parker Manatee Aquarium is designed to house three adult manatees and holds 60,000 gallons of water, including a medical pool. The facility offers both deep and shallow water (3 ½ - 9 feet), allowing the manatees to maintain natural feeding behaviors and provides Museum visitors with above and below water viewing opportunities. Exhibits and daily presentations help to educate the public about manatee anatomy, habitat, nutrition and physiology. Virtual Visits e hope you’ll have a chance to meet W Snooty and his manatee companions in recovery soon. However, you can virtually visit the manatees being cared for at the Museum online! Check out the “Snooty Cam” at www.southfloridamuseum.org, 8 a.m.-5p.m. Monday-Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday. View pg 5 for South Florida Museum ad.

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Adult Living | NEWS

Keeping the Romance Alive Within Family Relationship

Tips on Rekindling Love

re you married or do you currently live with you partner? For many couples, marriage or cohabitation, often spells trouble for many relationships. While there are a number of different reasons for the cause of this common issue, it’s often attributed to a lack of romance. To help you keep your relationship with your live-in partner or your husband going strong, it is important to keep the romance in your relationship alive.

you do not let your relationship progress to this point, as it often spells trouble. As often as possible, you’ll want to express your love and appreciation for your live-in partner or spouse, both in action and in words. It’s also important to go out of your house. As with showing affection, many couples, after a period of time, stop getting out on dates. Whenever you get a free evening, you may want to consider going along a date. What is nice about dates is that just close to any activity can be considered a date. For instance, you can go away to dinner, see a movie, or go have a couple of drinks at a local bar. All of these activities can be considered as a date. Social interaction, both with one another and with other couples, is important to the health of a relationship. For that reason, you and your partner should get around and socialize. As previously stated, a relationship is all about compromise. Compromise is also aside to keep the romance alive in your relationship. As compatible as you and you partner or spouse may be, you may still have a few differences. Often, these differences show on date nights. When it comes to keeping a date or just doing a simple activity with your partner, it’s advised that you comprise as often as possible. This may include having alternate date nights. For case, if your husband wanted to attend a baseball game, you can agree to do so, as long as he agrees to go the movies with you next time.

As nice as it’s to hear that you should keep the romance alive in your relationship, you possibly wondering exactly how you should go just about doing so. When creating romance in your relationship, it’s important to know that not all couples are the same. For that reason, you may want to keep your partner’s wants, needs, or interests in mind. This is another As outlined above, there are a number of different ways that you can approach key to having a happy and healthy keeping the romance alive in your relationship. As difficult as love and romance may seem, it’s important that you put forth the extra effort. Not feeling relationship, compromise. enough support is an issue that the two of you can resolve, but divorce One of the best ways to keep romance may not be. That’s why it’s important to not let it begin to that point. alive in a relationship is actually quite simple concept. That concept is About the Author affection. Unfortunately, many couples Maya Hendriani Managed few websites about women issues, like http://womenlife. put on a groove where they just net which offered a lot information about women lifestyle, fashion, career, children, become comfortable with their daily mother things, etc. come visit and share ! life. This often leads many couples not to hold hands anymore, kiss, or even discuss their day. It’s important that

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t r A n o t r a M

Adult Living |NEWS

Contact: Charles Marton | Email: contact@martonart.com | Website: www.martonart.weebly.com

harles Marton was born born in Budapest, Hungary where he graduated from the Institute of Fine & Applied Arts as a graphic artist. He worked for “Mafilm” the Hungarian film studio. Later he created advertising graphics for a major publishing house where his illustrations were published in many newspapers and magazines throughout Hungary. In 1984 he moved to Upstate New York and since 1993 he resides in Florida.

elegant look of traditional art and cutting-edge digital art, my artworks are more versatile than simple photos, drawings or paintings. They can be reduced or enlarged to any size. From postage stamp size to banner size! I provide a CD of art images that can be incorporated into a wide variety of uses such as: T-shirts, menus, gift certificates, note cards, letterheads, coffee mugs, newsletters, web sites etc. which with their memorable qualities will help your customers or friends remember you and associate you with quality, care and distinction. Nothing is more individualistic than art. A personalized art image cannot be duplicated and can become a valuable marketing tool to generate extra income for you.

In 1998 an architectural rendering of his, featuring Stetson University’s new library building in Gulfport, Florida was presented as a gift to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg by the law school’s dean. The framed picture now hangs in the Justice Department in Washington D.C. A number of his illustrations also appeared in National Traveler All art images on this website were commissioned by magazine. His artworks are in collections all over the world individuals, businesses and organizations. They are including Hungary, Ireland, Australia and the USA. custom designed artworks created from scratch. This is the nature of personalized art images therefore my rate Charles Marton has developed an instantly recognizable is based on the complexity of the project(s). Send me personal style by combining intricate detail with elegance and photos of your home, business building, pet(s), favorite clarity. landscape, objects, flowers, still life etc. Let me know what atmosphere you have in mind, what image you hold close to your heart. Imagine the possibilities and let me do the magic! I will be glad to send you a quote for the project About the creative process: without obligation. My focus is to create functional works of art for both residential and commercial projects. My clients are restaurants, bed and I have decades of experience in my field. Creating art is my breakfasts, hotels, gift shops, home owners etc. I offer value profession as well as my passion. and variety that you won’t find anywhere else. Blending the

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Adult Living |HOME

lanning retirement is best done many years before you actually retire. Preferably, fifteen to twenty years before retirement. This will give you the foresight required to be able to live comfortably when you do actually retire. Many people don’t often realize all of the little things that will affect them financially in their future, not the least of which is what kind of lifestyle they wish to live. For example, would you like to take a vacation once a year, or twice? This is just one simple question that, for a lot of people, they don’t know the answer to which means they’re not effectively saving their money for retirement. Retirement planning is best done earlier for one simple reason: You’ll be able to comfortably save more money. Comfortably being the key word there. For most people, putting two hundred dollars per month into a retirement savings fund for 20 years is much more comfortable than putting one thousand dollars per month in for 4 years. Either way banks you the same amount of money, but you’d feel the financial strain of missing one thousand dollars a month much more than a measly two hundred.

value. One thing you can do however, is find out from a financial planner what the average cost of health care is, and base that part of your retirement budget on that figure. An important factor in planning retirement is deciding where you’ll live. Will you stay in the house you’re in now, or would you not be able to afford it. Keep in mind that when you’re 75 years old, you’re not likely going to want to climb up a ladder and clean the leaves out of your gutters. Because of these kinds of factors, many people planning retirement choose to live in a retirement village. These areas are much like any other neighborhood, except that you will have better access to in-home support services, just in case ailments, like a sore back, get to the point where you’d really rather not attempt to pick up a dime off of the floor. A great option for planning retirement and one that’s been steadily growing in popularity is purchasing a mobile home as soon as you retire. If you’ve spend your younger years working hard and not getting a chance to travel as much as you’d have liked, a mobile might be right for you. With one of these, you’ll be able to catch up on all of those vacations you missed.

As you’re planning retirement you may run into some unanswerable financial questions. For example, you know you’ll probably need some sort of medical attention after you retire, but how much, and how much will it cost? Questions like these present stumbling blocks while planning retirement All in all, planning retirement may because they represent a true unknown seem like a bit of a chore now, but

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you’ll thank yourself when you turn 70 years old and find yourself exactly where you want to be. Summary: When you retire, would you like to take a vacation once a year, or twice? This is just one simple question that, for a lot of people, they don’t know the answer to. Planning retirement early is essential in working out the details of your golden years so that you’ll be able to live comfortably. About the Author Brooke Hayles Check Out More Helpful Information About Planning Retirement For FREE! Visit www.vaultfinancial.net/VAULT_ SITE/Retirement_Income_Planning. html Now!

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big rise in home ownership over the past 20 years means that people are in debt because of mortgage borrowing. Invariably, a mortgage is a huge and life long commitment and can go into ones retirement. There is evidence that a mortgage loan can run into couple of generations in some countries. For example, father buys a home for himself and the grand children finish paying for it. Luckily, it is not as bad as that in the western society yet. Good news is that there are ways to reduce your monthly instalments in respect of your mortgage. Lower monthly outgoings can mean an increase in your disposable income. Bigger disposable income helps to improve the quality of your life. Better and improved quality of life does not stop there, below are two strategies to help you get rid of the burden of mortgage debt:Switch your mortgage between lenders. In the absence of switching lenders on a daily basis, you can switch your mortgage between different lenders and each time taking advantage of the best deal. For example, Bank of America is offering a discounted deal at the introductory rate of 2.99% fixed for 3 years. The normal arrangement with discounted deals is that the interest rate reverts back to the standard variable rate at the end of that initial 3 year discounted period. If the saving you make via this special deal translates into say $3,000 per year. You have the option of reducing you total mortgage by $3,000 by making a lump sum payment

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$3,000 to your lender at the end of the year and reduce your total borrowing. Over three years, you can reduce your borrowing by $9,000. At the end of that three year special deal, look for some other lender with a similar or better deal and just switch your mortgage. But, it will cost me money to switch lenders? Not at all. Most lenders will cover all your switching costs. Taking advantage of another three year discounted deal will result in another $9,000 saving. You can switch and save money for the life of your mortgage and make yearly lump sum payments until your mortgage is paid in full. How much money have I saved & how many years can I shave off my mortgage from these savings? The money you save by the discounted deal over 4 years is equal to two yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mortgage payment. Therefore, over 20 years of switching between lenders you will shaved 10 years off your mortgage. For example, you will have reduced your 30 years mortgage to 20 years in a straight line. Opt for a daily interest rate mortgage and not for an APR (Annual percentage rate) one. Deals like one account offer you the chance to pay interest on your mortgage on a daily basis. The distinct advantage of one accounts is the total flexibility. It is a life style mortgage because it gives you payments holidays if you so desire. Smaller payments due to change in financial circumstances is also possible. Total flexibility in the way you want to pay your mortgage also allows you to make higher payments towards your mortgage debt. An extra payment of $10, $20 or $40 per month, it is estimated, can reduce your total mortgage by as much as 10 years. Flexible mortgage does not need to be switched between lenders every three years. So, you can save yourself the hassle of switching between lenders. You can choose to make lower payments but if you want to pay your mortgage off early then pay a bigger instalment than required and you would have paid your mortgage ten or so years before time. Finally, we have outlined two methods of reducing your mortgage payments. I am sure there are other equally valid methods and products on the market. We recommend a thorough search of the market and products before making a commitment. About the Author Pay off your mortgage early and live life. This is possible. For more information on mortgage products visit http://www.4mortgagessite.com and take action.

January - February 2012

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an’t seem to get ahead financially? Debts piling up? Maybe you’re making some of these mistake unknowingly. These mistakes listed below will help you understand where you may be going wrong and how to get back on track quickly. You can be debt free.

than buying it? Commit to only buying the necessities. Mistake 2. Paying Off Less Than the Full

Credit Card Balance Each Month Get this debt under control and your life will be much easier. If you are like many others and only pay the minimum balance each month, the interest on Mistake 1. Living Beyond Your the interest makes those purchases oh so expensive. Means

The way out a)Find your latest credit card statements. Write down all the unpaid balances. b)Are there any other unpaid debts (not home or car) then include these balances as well. c)List out your (or family) monthly income. Only the amounts “brought home”. Include all types of income. d) Work out your monthly spending. List out where all the money goes. Don’t leave anything out. e) Minus the monthly spending total from the monthly income total and review the answer. This will give you an initial idea as to whether you are living within your means or on borrowed money.

The way out - Find ways to put aside more money to apply to the credit cards. It will take time to reach this goal. However, if you don’t make a start now you may never pay them off. This situation did not occur overnight Mistake 4. Continually Adding to Your and neither will the solution. But, by Debt The way out - Make a Commitment diligence and commitment you’ll get If debt has got you into this situation it to yourself only to spend within there. is critically important not to add to the your income limits. Maybe you could increase your income (or cash in) by Mistake 3. Not Really Knowing Your state of affairs and thus make it worse. applying for more skilled positions, Financial Situation The way out - cut up the credit cards, selling some of your unused articles or assets. Is the second car really a Before you can set meaningful goals keeping only 1 for emergencies. Don’t necessity? What about working out and develop savings strategies you buy on impulse. Ask yourself twice or ways to make your hobby pay for need to know your financial situation three times before you buy anything “Do now. The best, proven and tested I really need this?” before you hand over itself? method by far, is by developing your your hard-earned money. Don’t buy at Why not find ways to reduce your own personal budget. This is not hard the height of the fashion or fad. Commit spending? How much would you save to do. Please don’t give up now. Just to never paying full retail for anything. Get it on sale or negotiate a lower price. each year if you decided not to have follow these simple steps: the daily coffee shop coffee? Why not make your work lunch each day rather This is the real cause of your worry and stress. If you are spending more than you are earning, whose money are you spending? It’s the credit card provider’s or the bank’s. The cost of this money is interest.

January - February 2012

Florida Creative Living | For All Ages!

Unless you are planning for your future and financial security, you cannot be really happy. There are always worries lurking in your mind about how you would survive in a financial emergency if you have no savings. It can be very rewarding to see how quickly your savings multiply over time with only a small investment each payday.

Adult Living |HOME Mistake 5. Spending All Your Income It may sound OK to spend any money you earn but there are risks attached to this strategy. How are you going to pay for emergency items? What about major car repairs. What about major electrical appliance replacement? Are you going to pay for these on credit? Bad idea! How are you going to save for a substantial deposit on the next car?

The way out - Take stock of your life and realize that tomorrow won’t look after itself. It needs your attention. Keep some funds aside to put away for your retirement, children’s college costs, emergencies, holidays and major purchases. Avoid these 6 spending mistakes and you’ll be well on your way to financial freedom. Guaranteed. About the Author Bruce Hokin has designed a simple budget tool called “5 Steps to Freedom Personal Budget.” It based on his extensive background as a qualified, experienced accountant, manager, consultant and financial adviser. You can download this powerful budget assistant today and be on your way to financial freedom within the hour. You can also click here for your FREE Mini-Budget.

The way out - Once you’ve prepared your budget you will clearly see what you need to do to put some income aside for other needs such are emergencies and repairs. Mistake 6. Spending Without Caring About Your Future

For All Ages! |

Florida Creative Living

January - February 2012

Stacy’s Gluten Free Goodies | Tampa, Florida

Adult Living |HEALTH

View pg 5 for Stacy’s Gluten Free Goodies ad.

Contact: Stacy Hiles | Email: gfgoodies@verizon.net | Phone: 813.477.4247 | Website: www.gluten-free-goodies.com

t 2 years old, my son Zachary had developmental delays which resembled autism. As he got closer to 3 years old, the delays became more obvious. He was not making good eye contact, his speech was not developing appropriately and he did not want to play with other children.

He began speech therapy and it helped him to improve, but I did not see the results that I hoped for. His doctor suggested that we test him for food sensitivities. We discovered that he was sensitive to gluten, wheat, dairy and eggs. I immediately changed his diet. Slowly but surely, my little boy began to talk, make eye contact and socialize. This was everything I hoped for and more! Once I realized what a huge difference these dietary changes made in Zachary, I wanted to help other families that also had a need for allergen free baked goods. Stacy’s Gluten Free Goodies was created. My son is now 5 years old and he no longer has any developmental delays! I hope to help other families with food challenges by providing delicious, allergen free goodies.

Visit me at the Fresh Market at the Shops of Wiregrass on Paseo Drive in Wesley Chapel on the FIRST Saturday of every month! FREE samples!

January - February 2012

Florida Creative Living | For All Ages!

Adult Living |HEALTH

he New Year is around the corner and many of us will be making resolutions. Every year, the top three New Years resolutions are to quit smoking, lose weight and handle finances better.

Believe me, it was not easy. The withdrawal symptoms where bad, but worth it in the end. I had a dry mouth and sore throat for days. But, I kept remembering my goal to see my little boy grow up. So I was even more determined to quit. Eventually, I did it and have been smoke free for 3 years now.

Most smokers will not keep their New Years Resolutions Really wanting to quit smoking will determine how successful to quit smoking. How many times have you put give you are in quitting. up smoking on your New Year resolutions list? *Set yourself a goal and keep remembering that goal. I put quit smoking on my New Years Resolution list every year for 10 years. My husband and I had a *Find people who support your decision and know your pain. ritual every New Years Eve. I would smoke my last cigarette just before the clock struck midnight and on *Break the habit. the stroke of midnight he would crush any left over cigarettes that I had. However, when I woke up in the *Be determined. morning I had this incredible longing for a cigarette. As the day progressed I got more and more bad Even if you do gain weight, the health risks of smoking are far tempered because I could not light up one of those greater and you can tackle that issue when you have cleared the little white sticks that had taken over my life. After smoking addiction. The best way to quit smoking is to combine a few days I gave in to temptation and bought some a smoking cessation medication with a behavior modification more cigarettes. And boy, did it feel good. Does it program. The health risks of smoking decreases immediately once you stop smoking for good. The health risks of smoking are not sound familiar? confined to smokers. Make this year the year you make good on But then, I caught my little boy with one of my your resolution for the New Year. cigarettes. It then dawned on me that this little angel that I brought into this world may never see his Mum grow old. I was slowly killing myself and it had to stop. About the Author I did not want to miss out on his first day at school, Dawn Robertshaw has written numerous articles and ebooks on his first nativity play and his graduation. So, I decided coping with life in the 21st century. to quit.

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January - February 2012

Adult Living |HEALTH

For more information about music programs at Allegro Music Academy, call (941) 358-8511, visit in person at 241 Whitfield Ave, Sarasota, or on the web at www.allegromusicacademy.com usic is an essential part of every culture on the planet; however, the benefits of music and the study of it are often overlooked. Music is a phenomenon that is always being researched and something that can even improve your health. Music also has many other effects on people of all ages. Music has been used in religious ceremony since the dawn of time, and music creates a sense of unity and community among listeners. It is also fun way to entertain yourself and can help you to relax.

For children, the benefits of music are profound. Children learn to use music to express emotions without the use of words. The complex system of symbols and characters used in musical notation can help children to learn to read the written word as well. Music teaches children to listen, builds memory, and engages many different types of learning. Aural skills are combined with coordination for the complex movements needed to play an instrument. Children who study music from an early age score higher on aptitude tests and in schoolwork. Music lessons also help children with ADD and ADHD and other disorders.

View pg 7 forAllegro Music Academy ad.

themselves and express frustrations. Alzheimer’s patients may have an automatic emotional response to a favorite song. Playing an instrument and listening to music also provide social opportunities. Music helps with job skills such as creative thinking, collaboration, expressive communication, and confidence. Allegro Music Academy has programs for people of all ages and skill levels. Introduction to Music (for ages 4 to 7), Music Appreciation Club, private and group lessons, and free concerts and lecture series are a few of the ways that music can help benefit you. Allegro’s University Trained Teachers guide every student on a musical path that is right for them. Each student is taught according to his/her musical goals and abilities. Allegro’s dance and etiquette programs readily lend themselves to the balance of the whole person. Allegro is the area’s largest one-stop school of music, Etiquette, and Dance. Lessons at Allegro are available in English, Spanish, Russian, German and French. Click on image below to learn more about Allegro Music Academy.

In adults, the effects of music are as varied and unique as the participant. Music can calm nerves and soothe emotions. Health benefits in adults include actually slowing down the onset of Alzheimer’s disease, lowering blood pressure, and relieving stress. The study of music helps fight depression and metal disorders in adults. Music affords adults the opportunity to explore the creative side of

January - February 2012

Florida Creative Living | For All Ages!

Adult Living |SPORTS

View pg 10 for St. Pier Aquarium ad.

ou don’t have to be a fishing enthusiast to be interested in The Pier Aquarium’s Counting on Fish and Focus on Fish exhibits. Fish are very important to us. Not only do they add to the natural beauty of our ocean environment, fish are an important economic industry.

Many who live in the Tampa Bay region rely on the abundance of fish to make their living in one way or another. Many who live here do research to keep our fish stocks healthy and abundant. Many of us who live here enjoy fishing and boating activities. Living here would not be the same without out fish. Counting on Fish tells the story behind the importance of sport and commercial fish, how their existence serves as an economic and scientific driver for the region and state and how research ensures the sustainability and stability of this industry and can lead to the development of new products. The exhibit features a 350 gallon/1,325 liter tank with a replicated hard bottom, oyster bed and mangrove habitats and fish that support much of our commercial and recreational fisheries: Red Drum (Sciaenops ocellatus), Common Snook (Centropomus undecimalis), Spotted Seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus), Mangrove Snapper (Lutjanus griseus), Gulf Flounder (Paralichthys albigutta), sheepshead (Archosargus probatocephalus) and catfish. The display

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Florida Creative Living

offers an easy way to learn fish identification. One of the tank inhabitants, Red Drum, is an interesting sport fish. They have a life span of 40+ years and can weigh up to 51 lbs. at an impressive length of 45 inches, which makes it a fun sport fish to land and brag about. Some of our Red Drum might be “missing” the spot on its tail. Spotless tails occasionally occur with fish reproduced through hatchery programs. The Common Snook has a very distinct lateral line that many people describe as a racing stripe. It’s a fish that has the capability of traveling at blazing speeds. The record for a Florida Snook is 44 lbs. 3 oz. However, most catches are usually much smaller, between 5-8 lbs. Snook cannot tolerate water below 60 degrees and they are euryhaline, which means they can tolerate a wide range of salinities. In fact, Snook will even be found in a completely freshwater environment. Visitors can point at the Counting on Fish large Smart Pad touch screen to read more than 60 interactive pages that include video links. They can read about the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Sport Fish Restoration Program and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) projects that will improve fishing and boating activities around the state and maintain healthy fish population. They can learn and better understand the different regulations for various species, such as size and bag limits. Child-friendly components include a “Discovery Cube” that has a fishmeasuring table, fun, fish ID panels and a bait hooking station. Framed illustrations by nationally-known St. Petersburg wildlife artist Diane Rome Peebles round out the exhibit. Named Artist of the Year by the American Fisheries Society in 1995, Ms. Peebles’ s artwork has appeared on the covers of sport fishing magazines, marine conservation stamps and prints and educational publications produced by several state governments. Counting on Fish is made possible by grants from Sport Fish Restoration, NOAA Fisheries, Fish Florida Foundations and JMC Communities. By Emily Stehle, APR PR/Marketing Director, The Pier Aquarium

January - February 2012

Florida Creative Living | For All Ages!

Adult Living | CROSSWORD & SUDOKU FUN

Across

Crossword Puzzle

1. Actress, ______Berry 6. Prod 10. Golf club 13. Movie starring Sigourney Weaver 14. Nocturnal creature 15. Ambit 16. Wanderer 17. Body of water 18. Relative 19. Push down 21. Wrongdoing 23. Forty winks 24. Used as fuel 25. Man or boy 28. Small stream 30. Nuance 35. Part of the eye 37. Burden 39. Oddity 40. Solitary 41. Coherent 43. Secret agent, James 44. Remedy 46. Used to calculate net weight 47. Rim 48. Consortium 50. Rip 52. Long fish 53. Peel 55. Be seated 57. Monolithic 61. Enchant 65. Obviate 66. Fish eggs 68. Empower 69. Circumvent 70. By way of 71. Rhonchus 72. Actor, _____McGregor 73. Tree 74. Surname of actress who played Arwen in The Lord of the Rings

Down

1. Part of a clock 2. Succulent,____vera 3. Hobble 4. Gain knowledge 5. Make attractive or lovable 6. Chinese god 7. Wonder 8. Incrimination 9. Magicianâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s baton 10. One time only 11. Stare at 12. Action 15. Pastoral 20. Tumble

22. First name of actor who played Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings 24. Notice 25. Fragrant plant 26. Perfume 27. Buffet car 29. Oaf 31. Regular hexahedron 32. Wear away 33. Undertone 34. Alpine call 36. Transported 38. Desperate 42. Impenetrable 45. Mock

49. First name of actress in 74 across 51. Compilation 54. Effrontery 56. Large marine food 57. Manufactured 58. Affirm 59. Soft drink 60. Part of the zodiac 61. Ray 62. Object of worship 63. Traditional knowledge 64. Pitcher 67. Fuel

View our next issue for the correct answers to this Crossword puzzle. 52

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January - February 2012

Sudoku

Adult Living | CROSSWORD & SUDOKU FUN 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 Nov. - Dec. Issue

Crossword Puzzle

Sudoku

January - February 2012

Florida Creative Living | For All Ages!

Adult Living | ARTIST CORNER Charles Marton

Sessie Welzien

Artwork Title: Butterflies Price: $15

Artwork Title: Round Coin Purses Price: $15

To purchase, please visit: http://www.zazzle.com/ butterflies_horizontal_ mug-168318472425751880

Contact: Sessie by email at sewfast321@aol.com to purchase your customized purse.

Location: Key West, FL

Location: Gulfport, Florida

Sessie Welzien

Artwork Title: Purses Price: $20

Artwork Title: Purses Price: $40

Contact: Sessie by email at sewfast321@aol.com to purchase your customized purse.

Abigail White

Artwork Title: Yellow Habitat Home Large Giclee size 26x39 Price: $500.00 Small Giclee 12” x18” Price: $149.00

Artwork Title: Purple Habitat Home Large Giclee size 26x39 Price: $500.00 Small Giclee 12” x18” Price: $149.00

View more sizes and prices at www.ColorsOfWhite.com/prints

Location: Key West, FL

Abigail White

Adult Living |BAND DIRECTORY

Location: Key West, FL

Artwork Title: Habitat’s Bayside Landing Large Giclee size 26x39 Price: $500.00 Small Giclee 12” x18” Price: $149.00

Tampa’s Arlington Road Band Classic Rock & Roll Blues Country

View more sizes and prices at www.ColorsOfWhite.com/prints All proceeds from Abigail White prints, benefit Habitat for Humanity of Key West & Lower FL Keys. Please contact opsdirector@ habitatlowerkeys.org to order.

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Florida Creative Living

January - February 2012

Location: Land O’ Lakes, FL Manager: Chuck Johnson Email: branchwoodvideo@hotmail.com

Phone: 813.948.6814

Adult Living | BUSINESS DIRECTORY Bradenton, Florida Bankers Life & Casualty Company Bradenton, FL Insurance

O: 941.730.8243

South Florida Museum

Bradenton, FL Museum/Art Gallery

Saint Pete., Florida

Motorhead Mobile Mechanic

The Pier Aquarium

Lutz, FL Mechanic

O: 813.458.0334

www.motorheadmechanic.com

MJ Real Estate

Lutz, FL Real Estate Agency

O: 813.948.6814 C: 813.376.8646

gatica6@hotmail.com

O: 941.746.4131 www.southfloridamuseum.org

Fort Myers, Florida Krista’s Kupcakery and Kakes, LLC Fort Myers., FL Bakery

O: 239.821.0722 www.kristas-kupcakery.com/

Land O’ Lakes, Florida

Software Architecture Symposiums International Lutz, FL Computers/Technology

www.asaicentral.com

Lutz, FL Design Firm

O: 813.994.5110 C: 813.458.1098

www.gulashgraphics.com

Allegro Music Academy O: 941.358.85.11

www.allegromusicacademy.com

Tampa, FL

Bakery

O: 813.477.4247 www.gluten-free-goodies.com

Zoo Miami Miami, FL

Music

Stacy’s Gluten Free Goodies

Miami, Florida Zoo

O: 305. 251.0400 www.miamimetrozoo.com

Ona, Florida

VSA Arts of Florida

Tampa, FL Non-Profit Organization

Solomon’s Castle Ona, FL

O: 813.974.0712 www.vsafl.org

Gallery/Restaurant

O: 863.494.6077 www.solomonscastle.com

Gulash Graphics

Sarasota, Florida

Tampa, Florida

O: 813.690.9739

Land O’ Lakes, FL Custom Pendants

Lutz, Florida

O: 727.803.9799 ext. 207 www.pieraquarium.org

Sarasota, FL

Sweet Whimsy

O: 813.244.3582 www.oursweetwhimsy.com

St. Pete., FL Non-Profit Organization

Port St. Lucie, Florida

Wellington, Florida

Simply Saltsational

W4CY Radio

O: 772.475.7408 www.simplysaltsational.com

O: 561.506.4031 www.w4cy.com

Port Saint Lucie, FL Spa/Beauty

January - February 2012

Wellington, FL Internet Radio

Florida Creative Living | For All Ages!

Adult Living | Chefâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Delight Ingredients 4 oz Swiss cheese, cubed 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, coarsely chooped 2 links apple chicken sausage (6oz) 4 oz cooked ham cubes 1 (6.9-oz) box chicken-flavor rice mix 1/2 teaspoon Complete seasoning 2 1/2 cups water, divided 1/4 cup dill relish 1 teaspoon mustard Instructions 1. Preheat large saute pan on medium-high 2-3 minutes. Place oil in pan, then add sausage and ham; cook 2-3 minutes or until lightly browned. 2. Stir in rice seasoning (from mix), Complete seasoning, and 1/2 cup water; cook and stir 1-2 minutes. 3. Stir in rice, relish, mustard, 1 tablespoon cilantro, and remaining 2 cups water, then cover; reduce heat to low and simmer 20-22 minutes (without removing cover) or until rice is tender and water is absorbed. 4. Stir in cheese then sprinkle with remaining 1 tablespoon cilantro. SServe.

Adult Living | COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT Florida Creative Living is raffling, 3 Circus Sarasota pendants and one signed T-shirt from Legendary Aerialist Dolly Jacobs to help with their Big Top Education and Laughter Unlimited programs. Tickets are sold online for $5 dollars each.* Florida Creative Living goal is to reach $3,000. Pendant designed by Jan Ward. Owner and Creator of Sweet Whimsy

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Florida Creative Living

* Once you purchase your tickets via the Paypal Donate button, you will receive your raffle ticket number(s) shortly after via email â&#x20AC;&#x201C; within a few hours. Raffle ends February 1, 2012 . Winners will be notified by email by February 2, 2012. If you have any questions, or comments please contact us at raffle@floridacreativeliving.com

January - February 2012

Florida Creative Living | For All Ages!

Adult Living |TECHNOLOGY

The Technology Of TOMORROW All-Terrain Electric Beast

The menacing-looking Misha all-terrain vehicle was designed specifically as a family car for use in the harsh Siberian climate. The slightly asymmetric body exists so the driver has a little more room to operate comfortably and so passengers can have a unique riding experience from seat-to-seat. Powered by four independent electric motors located in each wheel, Misha also features tires inspired by bear claws that have been adapted to grip the most treacherous of terrain. Designer: Alekseev Andrey

Learning Tool for Deaf Children The W-Talker is a device designed for deaf children to help them overcome their problem in speaking effectively. If you can’t hear the sounds you make, it’s diffecult to know if you’re pronouncing it correctly. The device has a screen attached to a wand. Sounds are associated with vibrations. As the child speaks, the device provides feedback on accuracy and teaches the child to speak with the correct “vocal vibrations” to achieve the correct modulation. Brills! Designer: Cul Chen, Wang Qi, Shi Kalyuan, Geng Kun, Juang Jianbo, Wang Zhi, Qiu Shuang & Chen Zhen

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January - February 2012

Sounds Good to Me

Adult Living | TECHNOLOGY

Sounds Good is a hearing aid for women specifically designed to look like a classy earring. The device works in a very interesting way; depending upon the voice pitch of the speaker the earring displays graphic sound waves in colored signals. Different colors intuitively indicate if you are speaking too shrill, soft or appropriately for the user. I love the way technology is woven into an everyday object, so that the lady using the device is comfortable wearing the aid. Designer: Tang Pelqi

Bottle O’ Shavings Designers, parents and anyone with a creative mind will love this Bottle Cap Sharpener. It’s a simple contraption, a sharpener fixed into a bottle cap so that is screws on top of an empty bottle. Sharpen your pencils and collect the shavings. Great way to reuse a plastic bottle. Designers and creative minds will love for the artistic value this raw material will create. I can already picture myself using colorful shavings for my little girl’s next art project. Designers: Yuchen Liu

January - February 2012

Florida Creative Living | For All Ages!

Adult Living |TECHNOLOGY

The Cloud Architecture Without the Hype Symposium Visit www.sasicentral.com for further Information on SASI.

love software architecture. I believe software architecture is the most fun job in the world. When I wanted to become a software architect I couldn’t find anyone to tell me how to do it, so once I became an architect I vowed to help others become software architects too. The future needs more software architects. Software architects are people who know software development in and out but they also have communication, leadership and end to end vision for a software system. They are the linchpin in the creation of complex systems which run our world. I am starting a new organization called Software Architecture Symposiums International. This organization will create experiences for developers who also believe that software architecture is the most fun and creative job and want to get better at it. The symposiums will share the best practices and passion from dynamic experts with the developers who crave the knowledge to continue to be the guru in their organizations.

ABOUT THE ORGANIZER Elizabeth Correa is an enterprise architect on several premiere solutions at Verizon. She is passionate about teaching and mentoring up and coming software architects. After starting the Architects club at Verizon, she realized the need for a software symposium, specifically focused on cloud architecture in the Tampa Bay Area. Bett Correa holds a Bachelors in Computer Science from USF and is studying at Carnegie Mellon’s Software Engineering Institute on Architecture. She is a professional public speaker and author of the soon to be Division C of Tampa. In this role she responsible for sharpening the public speaking and leadership skills of over 700 of Tampa’s Leaders.

I am so excited about this new organization I dream about it. I want to share it with everyone I know.

Click on the image to the right to view a video on Software Architecture Smposiums International. 60

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Florida Creative Living | For All Ages!

Adult Living | ENTERTAINMENT

Miami, FL

View pg 10 for Zoo Miami ad.

oo Miami is the ideal destination for kids and adults alike. Rated one of the top ten zoos in the U.S. by Tripadvisor. com in 2008, and accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, it houses more than 2,000 animals in natural habitats and provides visitors the feel of a safari. Large open air exhibits, a children’s zoo, tram rides, family cycles, a monorail and interactive exhibits make Zoo Miami, also named one of America’s Best Zoos and the number one Zoo for Pachyderms in 2008 by The Intrepid Traveler, a unique experience for visitors of all ages. As you stroll our 340 acres, you will marvel at the closeness and beauty of our animals and plants. You can feed pelicans at Pelican Cove, hand-feed the giraffes at the Samburu Giraffe Feeding Station, feed a Greater one-horned rhino at the Kaziranga Camp Rhino Encounter, ride a camel, attend zookeeper talks, ride the monorail or take a guided tram tour, pet the animals at the Children’s Zoo’s new Wacky Barn, ride the beautiful hand-carved carousel, rent a safari cycle or walk our lush walkways which are surrounded by gorgeous animals and thousands of trees and flowers. See koalas, kangaroos, Asian and African elephants, camels, lions, tigers, tapirs, and many more animals. Experience close animal encounters. Our American Bankers Family Aviary – Wings of Asia – houses hundreds of birds numbering approximately 85 species and is the largest

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Asian-themed aviary in the Western hemisphere. Visit Dr. Wilde’s World, with its diverse and educational traveling exhibits. And don’t miss Amazon and Beyond, 27 acres of tropical American flora and fauna, which features three diverse regions – the Cloud, Amazon, and Atlantic forests – with more than 600 animals, including jaguars, an anaconda, harpy eagles, giant river otters, crocodiles, venomous snakes, frogs, a 48,000-gallon aquarium, and thousands of tropical plants and flowers. There are numerous places where you can eat, and water splash areas and misters where the entire family can cool off. And on your way out, you can visit our gift shop where you can purchase a memorable souvenir. Zoo Miami offers rental facilities for indoor or outdoor, day or evening events such as weddings, receptions, birthday parties, family reunions, corporate teambuilding, and picnics. For information on renting a facility, contact Group Sales at 305-251-0400. We also offer catering services for your special event. Zoo Miami also holds special events for the entire family throughout the year, such as Feast with the Beasts, Great Egg Safari, Zoo Boo, Party for the Planet, Music of the Americas, Zoo Lights, and many more. Zoo Miami is open 365 days a year and is located at 12400 SW 152 Street, Miami, FL 33177. General zoo admission is $15.95 per adult and $11.95 per child (3-12), plus tax. Children under two enter free. Hours are 9:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.; ticket booths close at 4 p.m. Parking is free. For complete details on what you can experience at Zoo Miami, please visit www.zoomiami.org or call (305) 251-0400. Click On The Links Below To View Zoo Miami’s Events:

January - February 2012

January 2012

February 2012

January - February 2012

Florida Creative Living | For All Ages!

Adult Living | ENTERTAINMENT Ona, FL

View pg 5 for Solomon’s Castle ad.

olomons Castle is a tourist attraction in Ona, Florida built and run by internationally known sculptor and artist Howard Solomon. Solomons Castle certainly has a unique shiny look and contains artwork by Solomon and others. Howard started building the castle in 1974 out of aluminum printing plates thrown out by local newspaper. Years later, the ever-evolving, gleaming three-story-high castle covers 12,000 sq. feet, including the courtyard filled with sculptures made from discarded automotive parts and a 60-foot replica of a 16th century Portuguese galleon that serves as the Moat restaurant.

The Boat in the Moat is also available for private parties, weddings and company gatherings. Offer Solomon’s Castle and The Boat in The Moat as an evening experience. The stained glass windows are spectacular at night. The grounds are adorned with Tiki lamps, the sounds of the Florida Swamp come alive and whole ambience changes! The castle is open for tours, run as a hotel with overnight lodging available and also has numerous gardens. Solomons Castle is located in the middle of central Florida at 4533 Solomons Castle Road in Ona about 22 miles southwest of Wauchula and 22 miles northwest of Arcadia, Florida. For more info call 863-494-6077. 64

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January - February 2012

Hours: 11am-4pm

Closed Mondays and the MONTHS of July through September

Tickets: Adults: $10.00 Children under 12: $4.00 Sorry, Solomon’s Castle doesn’t accept credit cards. They are approximately 90% handicap accessible.

N A C WE R E T T E B DO

ecently I became aware of some alarming facts.

While many of us turn out the lights tonight and make sure the doors are locked , I discovered that some 67,000 veterans are on the street tonight, homeless. That is correct , homeless. When you check the figures they are somewhat confusing. Some figures reflect 135,000 veterans as of 2011. That is not good news. However it is down from 400,000 in 2004, which is a positive refection. I think the most recent statistics, which show every night we have some 67, 495 vets homeless in the United States is more accurate. Of those, 43% are not in a shelter but in some wooded lot or park. That is unacceptable for our country and especially for someone who has served our country. Some simply want employment to allow them to provide for themselves. Many others have spent years attempting to overcome alcoholism or some other problem which has prevented them from reentering the mainstream of life.

Adult Living | VA Memoirs

Many will ask how can anyone experience depression from a tour of military service and serving in a war zone. For many the experiences were different and some more difficult then others. In Vietnam every step in the bush was an experience and caused many who did not always pay attention to suffer injury or the loss of a comrade. In Iraq driving an armored vehicle or walking down a pathway while awaiting an IED to explode can be mentally unsettling as well. And let us not forget that many of these military personnel have served three and four tours of duty in such area. Such experiences have most likely led some to turn to use of alcohol or some other vice to relieve the pain, however in the end lets not forget many have not turned to such items and simply need assistance. Each one of them deserve our assistance to recover regardless of their situation. This is the bottom line. Regardless of the conflict and situation, when any veteran returns to the United States they deserve an opportunity to have a location to safely reside like many of us who are more fortunate. The VA is working towards that goal and numbers reflect the amount of homeless veterans is down 12% in 2011. This is great news , and is in line with the VA program of eliminating the veterans homeless situation by 2015. So this is my wish for 2012. That our country locate and place each homeless veteran in a warm secure location combined with a hot meal this year. . As is often said in the military, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;just give me three hots and a cotâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. And employment would be good as well. by Chuck Johnson .. U.S.Army/ MSG (Ret)

January - February 2012 Florida Creative Living | For All Ages!