Giggle Magazine October/November 2013 by Irving Publications, LLC

ALACHUA

COUNTY’S

PREMIER

PARENTING

MAGAZINE

happy family • happy communityTM OCT/NOV 2013 • Volume 5 • Issue 5

»STOP THE FRIDGE TETRIS GAME

“He called me Mommy...and we never looked back”

FUN WITH FELT! pg. 43

THE PETIONS' ADOPTION STORY

WHERE

ARE GERMS REALLY

HIDING?

IT’S A

P lus

FAVORITE FALL GOODIES THANK YOU GIFTS FLAVORS OF THE SEASON

PUMPKIN PARTY!

p. 23

www.gigglemag.com

GIGGLEMAG.COM | OCT/NOV

2013

GIGGLEMAG.COM | OCT/NOV

2013

PUBLISHER Nicole Irving ART DIRECTOR Allison Raber COPY EDITOR Dana Kamp CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Melissa Cere, Wendy Eckhardt, Selena Garrison, Julia Glum, Kelly Goede, Tara Griffin, Sarah Guliani, Dana Kamp, Helen Kornblum, Danielle Michels, Haley Ponnock, Mike Powell, Mary Velasco CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Shandon Smith with Lifeprints Photography, Patricia Bishop Photography, Christina Blitch Photography, Christy Prowant Photography INTERNS Julia Glum, Tyler Jarrett, Haley Ponnock, Mary Velasco Mission Statement Giggle Magazine is a modern and refreshing magazine for the families and communities of Alachua County, Florida. With our sole purpose of keeping families and communities connected, Giggle Magazine will keep readers intrigued, informed and inspired, with up to date information and heartwarming stories. Irving Publications, LLC reserves the right to edit and/or reject any advertising. Irving Publications, LLC is not responsible for the validity of any claims made by its advertisers. Nothing that appears in Giggle Magazine may be reproduced in any way, without written permission. Opinions expressed by Giggle Magazine writers are their own and do not necessarily reflect the publisherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s opinion. Giggle Magazine will consider all never before published outside editorial submissions. Irving Publications, LLC reserves the right to edit and/ or reject all outside editorial submissions and makes no guarantees regarding publication dates.

irvingpublications MAILING ADDRESS

PHYSICAL ADDRESS

5745 SW 75th Street 101 SW 140th Terrace Unit 286 Suite C Gainesville, FL 32608 Jonesville, FL 32669 p. 352.505.5821 f. 352.240.6499

gigglemag.com giggle@irvingpublications.com Giggle Magazine is a registered trademark property of Irving Publications, LLC. All rights reserved. Giggle Magazine is published by Irving Publications, LLC. ÂŠ 2013

GIGGLEMAG.COM | OCT/NOV

2013

Oct * Nov 2013 happy family â&#x20AC;¢ happy community

features

14 Breast Cancer Awareness Month 23 It's A Pumpkin Party! 30 Healthy Babies Are Worth the Wait

Family photo by Lifeprints Photography. Treat bucket photo by Patricia Bishop Photography.

43 Fun With Felt 48 Our Forever Family: The Petion Adoption Story

48 43

conception to college 74 EXPECTING

Debunking Fertility Myths

78 INFANTS & TODDLERS

Are You Spoiling Your Toddler?

82 THE EARLY YEARS

Introvert vs. Extrovert

84 TWEENS

When Puberty Strikes!

86 TEENS

10 Ways to Help Your High School Athlete

Adorable Fall Crafts!

Be Recruited

GIGGLEMAG.COM | OCT/NOV

2013

from the publisher “I am so very thankful...…”

S T A Y

C O N N E C T E D

Like Us on

facebook

hen I was growing up in New York, my family and I would attend a pumpkin carving party every year in New Jersey. Here my father’s plethora of uber-talented Manhattan designers would whip out their knives and sketches and create the most perfect works of art on their pumpkins. After the carvings, one of the moms would toast all the pumpkin seeds, my godfather would take me out for a caramel apple and then we would return to the ritualistic ghost walk, which would of course send me into pure panic and I’d run back crying. I once even tried to beat up said ghost who turned out to be my uncle. Ahhh…the memories. Now, all grown up, I still love the traditions that the fall season brings. Our Halloween traditions include packing up our little team of characters, plastic pumpkins in hand, and heading to our good friend’s house for pizza and trick-or-treating. This will be our sixth year. I just love this special time, and love watching my kiddos and their friends grow up together, having fun and creating memories. For this, I am so thankful! This is what the fall season brings. It is a time to build new memories, create traditions and celebrate all the year’s blessings…oh yeah, and eat a pail full of Almond Joys and Kit Kats. I am so very thankful for a year of wonderful experiences, a team of amazing people, a family of love and craziness, and a life full of treats! Happy Fall!

Go to facebook.com/ gigglemagazine and like our page to talk to us and other parents, see Tweets! behind the scenes of photo shoots and become eligible for giveaways!

Gigglers'

CONNECT WITH US ON PINTEREST Visit pinterest.com/ gigglemagazine and follow our pins. Get to know our staff and get DIY activity ideas for your family. Our boards include: Cool Crafts, Gifting Ideas, Products We Love and many more.

If you love our articles in the magazine, then you will love our blog. Head to gigglemag.com and see all the family activity ideas, Giggle fun spots and the musings of our Giggle Magazine staff. It's everything you need for laughs and family-related info.

Publisher

MY FAVORITE THINGS

• Gulejo coffee • Clarisonic Mia • Owl wreaths • Scarves • Pinterest (I'm addicted!)

GIGGLEMAG.COM | OCT/NOV

2013

Congratulations

[KELLY WARM]

Mrs. Kelly Warm, our first Back-to-School Supply winner, is a second grade teacher at Lawton Chiles Elementary School. What is your favorite thing about teaching? Making a connection with the kids and watching them get new concepts.

[RIGHT NOW]

GIGGLEMAG.COM | OCT/NOV

2013

Oct * Nov 2013 happy family • happy community

life

forks & spoons 27 DELISH Celebrating the Flavors of the Season

9 LIFESAVERS

Great Thank You Gifts

28 IN THE FRIDGE

10 THE PARENT LIFE A Rested Parent=A Happy Parent

11 No-Fridge Foods

16 2 CENTS

Avoid Last Minute Travel Stress

18 HAPPY FAMILY

The Bertrand Family

21 JUST THE TWO OF US

The Couple's Bucket List

happy home 53 MAKE IT. FIX IT. CLEAN IT.

Deep Clean Those Forgotten Areas of Your Home

54 ORGANIZED CHAOS

The Yin and Yang of Organizing Styles

health 33 GET MOVING

learn 58 THE CLASSROOM

64 GROW WITH MEDIA

BB & CC Creams: What Are They?

PREMIER

PARENTING

MAGAZINE

happy family • happy communityTM OCT/NOV 2013 • Volume 5 • Issue 5

»STOP THE FRIDGE

“He called me Mommy...and we never looked back” THE PETIONS' ADOPTION STORY

TETRIS GAME

FUN WITH FELT! pg. 43

WHERE

ARE GERMS

68 HOMESCHOOL CORNER

Homeschooling High School with the Williams Family

COUNTY’S

40 GET PRETTY

46 9

OCT/NOV 2013 • Volume 5 • Issue 5

The Benefits of Digital Classrooms

ALACHUA

Germs, Where Are You?

FALL ISSUE

Early Education and the Success of Our Community

Conquering Running Pain 36 GET HEALTHY

REALLY

HIDING?

IT’S A

P lus

FAVORITE FALL GOODIES THANK YOU GIFTS

PUMPKIN PARTY!

FLAVORS OF THE SEASON

p. 23

www.gigglemag.com

Photo by Lifeprints Photography

GIGGLEMAG.COM | OCT/NOV

2013

life

L I FES AVERS

Great Thank You Gifts BY DANA KAMP

Whether you want to show your appreciation to a hard-working employee, your child’s teacher or a wonderful hostess, finding the perfect thank you gift can be a challenge. We know saying the words “thank you” in person mean a lot, and sending a handwritten note is always good etiquette. But for those times when you want to do something a little special for that person, keep our Thank You Lifesavers on hand!

STATIONERY

Beautiful note cards are a sweet and practical gift. Take the time to choose cards with her initials on them, or one of her favorite flowers, places or pastimes, to show that you thought about her when making your purchase.

PHOTOGRAPH

WINE

Choose one of your favorite wines or ask for a recommendation. Make sure you know if she prefers red or white wine before making your purchase. Decorative wine stoppers and wine glass charms are also fun, unique gifts for wine lovers.

PERSONALIZED GIFT

A picture of the two of you together or a favorite photo from a memory the two of you made is always a treasured gift. Frame it or have it put on a canvas or glass block for a ready-to-display gift.

A monogrammed tea towel, an embroidered overnight bag, or a painted mug shows that you chose something specifically for that person. Personalized jewelry like birthstones, zodiac signs and monogram charms are other ways to show you went the extra step in choosing her gift.

BAKED GOODIES

GIFT CARD

A batch of your famous fudge brownies can warm her tummy and her heart. Wrap it up in a reusable basket or pretty container for a bonus gift.

The choices are endless for a great gift card to say thank you. Restaurants, theaters, salons, retail shops, spas, and activity centers like bowling alleys and painting studios are just a few suggestions for a wonderful thank you treat.

PET GIFT

If the four-legged creature in her house is considered to be one of the family members, a sweet gift for her favorite pooch is sure to make her smile.

TICKETS

Give her a fun night (or day) out with tickets to a favorite play, concert or sporting event. If she has children, offer to babysit at no charge so she can enjoy the event without stress.

HOME DÉCOR

From a gorgeous potted plant to a yummy scented candle, select a gift for her home that will last, and remind her of you each time she sees it.

SOAPS/ESSENTIAL OIL

A gift of relaxation is always appreciated. A luxurious bath soap or bottle of calming essential oil may be just what she needs to feel refreshed and rejuvenated. 

GIGGLEMAG.COM | OCT/NOV

2013

life

T HE PARENT LI F E

A Rested Parent = A Happy Parent

Tips for

a Restful

Night's Sleep Give yourself a bed time. Make it the same time every night.

BY WENDY ECKHARDT

If there is one sound that I dread hearing every day, it is my alarm clock. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy waking up; heck, I look forward to waking up every day. It’s just having to wake up early that is the problem! I have always been like that. I stay up late every night, spending the quiet evening hours around the house finishing all of the things that I wanted to do during the day, while the kids and my husband are asleep. I get five-six hours of sleep each night. But it hits me hard in the morning. I must hit the snooze button at least three times every day!

According to the National Sleep Foundation, every person has his or her own sleep requirement. The amount of sleep we need depends on our genetics, health, age, sex, previous sleep patterns and activity we may be encountering. Research has shown that over the last 30

Avoid caffeine right before bed. Stay away from sugary foods after 8 p.m. Keep your bedroom at a lower air temp. years, the average amount of sleep for a middle-age American has decreased by an hour. This could most likely be because of external environmental factors (over-time, computers, television and social activities) rather than the need for less sleep for each individual. When all of these factors contribute to you not getting a sufficient amount of sleep, it is called “sleep restriction.” On average, today’s adult should get between seven-eight hours of sleep a night. An adult’s mental awareness and alertness is negatively impacted when you receive less than that. Your health can also be negatively impacted. Lack of sleep can be a factor in increased mortality rates, and short sleep durations have been linked to hypertension, diabetes and obesity. There are a few things that can alert you to knowing when you need to get more sleep: the need for caffeine or stimulants in the

GIGGLEMAG.COM | OCT/NOV

2013

morning to get you moving, the inability to focus on a task, being grumpy and having a poor memory.

Have a clean, organized and neat room.

The best way to tell if you have had enough sleep is if you feel refreshed and alert when you wake. This will help your mood, increase your performance, better your health and lengthen your mortality. This can be six hours for one adult and nine hours for another. Only you can tell if you are getting enough sleep or not. If there are times when you have not been able to get a good night’s rest, a nap is the perfect opportunity to reenergize yourself!

Spray a lavender scent on your pillow.

The moral of the story is make time for yourself and get some rest! Turn off the computer, put down the smart phone, turn off the television, stop reading and get to bed! Good night! 

Wear socks to bed.

Give yourself a bedtime routine. Turn off all electronics one hour before bed. Add an exercise routine to your day. Wear a sleep mask. Meditate. Use a white noise machine. Count backward from 100. Put flannel sheets on your bed.

I know I am not the only one out there who stays up late every night and burns the midnight oil. There are a lot of people that do. Still, while we work extra hard making sure our children get to sleep at a reasonable time and get their 10-11 hours of sleep each night, it makes one think. How much sleep should we as parents be getting ourselves? The answer is not as simple as you may think. Yet, it makes complete sense.

Sleep in the dark.

parent

! site

Ever wake up feeling completely exhausted or surprisingly, rested and alert?

During the night, you go in and out of light and deep sleep and cycles of dream sleep, your REM sleep. If this is off balance, your state of feeling rested can be altered, leaving you feeling groggy and still sleepy the next morning.

So, how do we get that rested and alert feeling in the morning? Enter the Sleep Cycle alarm clock available for your iPhone. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Sleep Cycle alarm clock is able to use the accelerometer in your iPhone to monitor your movement and determine which sleep phase you are in. Sleep Cycle then uses a 30 minute alarm window that ends at your set alarm time and wakes you in your lightest sleep phase.â&#x20AC;? Sleepcycle.com.

What would you do if... [you caught your child stealing?] "I would make him/her return the item and question why he did it. Depending on his answer, I would decide if he needed to be punished or not." -Shae Mondul, parent of 3 "It depends on the age of the child, but for elementary/ middle school age, we would make him/her return the item(s) and verbally apologize to the person (or manager/ owner if from a store). If it happened in a store, he would also perform free labor for the store that equals the amount of whatever was stolen. And then he'd be doing free labor for us for a long time to come." - Karianne and Steve Wilkins, parents of 3

5 Things to Save Your Marriage 1.

Keep your spouse & kids as your top priority. Selfishness ends many marriages. Reconnect with ‘date nights’ or weekend getaways for just the two of you.

Be appreciative, kind, and spontaneous. Frequently give hugs and compliments. Also, try a simple ‘Thank you for all that you do’ or even a card or small gift of appreciation.

Never argue in front of your kids. If a discussion seems like it may become heated, take it behind closed doors, or continue it later. Little ears are always listening.

Don’t flirt, (except with your spouse), and don’t cheat. Cheaters always regret their mistake, and your whole family will suffer.

Show respect and love for each other, especially in front of the children, even if your spouse is not reciprocating. If you are nice long enough, even during tough times, your spouse will likely eventually come around. Remember: love is patient, love is kind…

5 Divorce/Custody Ways to Protect Yourself in a Matter

If You Have Tried to Save Your Marriage and Are Certain that You Cannot:

Retain an experienced attorney to protect your rights before discussing anything with spouse, or taking any significant action.

2. 3.

Never sign any document before your attorney reviews it

Do not post ANYTHING about your situation on social media. It may very well come back to haunt you.

If violence occurs, contact law enforcement immediately and obtain a Domestic Violence Injunction if necessary.

Be cordial to your spouse at all times, especially around the kids.

GET YOUR

FREE CONSULTATION

Call (352) 244-0581 to receive your free telephone consultation and learn how the Law Offices of Stephen K. Miller can preserve and protect your family’s future. Mention Giggle Magazine to receive a discount on legal services. For more information visit www.ForYourLaw.com 101 NW 75th Street Suite 1, Gainesville, Florida 32607

Stephen K. Miller

IN HONOR OF SURVIVORS AND THOSE LOST, OCTOBER IS

BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

BY HALEY PONNOCK

he entire month of October is dedicated to Breast Cancer Awareness, and it is so for good reason.

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women, affecting one in every eight during their lifetime, according to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. It is so serious that actress Angelina Jolie went as far as having her breasts removed, otherwise known as a mastectomy, when she discovered she had a chance of getting breast cancer because of a genetic mutation.

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women, affecting one in every eight during their lifetime.

a tumor forms, the infected cells will break off and create more tumors, spreading them throughout the body. In breast cancer, these tumors form inside the breasts. Luckily for women all over the world, there are doctors and different organizations working tirelessly to raise money and do research to find a cure. But in the meantime, it is vital for women to take charge of their health and take the necessary precautions. Such precautions may include getting a yearly breast exam or eating healthy and exercising regularly. Taking care of your body and being proactive about your health is the best defense against breast cancer. uu Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death among women.

According to the NBCF, each year more than 40,000 women die from breast cancer because it is discovered too late. This is why organizations like American Cancer Society and Susan G. Komen for the Cure work year-round to ensure that women everywhere have the knowledge and understanding of breast cancer and know how to prevent it.

uu Each year it is estimated that over 220,000 women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer and more than 40,000 will die.

For such a destructive disease, how breast cancer forms is actually quite simple. It all has to do with our cells, or the building blocks of our body, as doctors like to call them. Cells that function correctly grow when the body deems necessary and they die when they are supposed to. But sometimes, as in the case of cancer, this does not happen. According to the National Cancer Institute, when a woman or man is diagnosed with cancer it is because new cells are forming when they shouldn’t be, and old ones are not dying like they should. The build-up of these extra cells forms a tumor in your body. Once

uu Death rates from breast cancer have been declining since about 1990, in part due to better screening and early detection, increased awareness and continually improving treatment options.

uu Although breast cancer in men is rare, an estimated 2,150 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer and approximately 410 will die each year.

uu In the U.S. today, there are more than 2.9 million breast cancer survivors — the largest group of all cancer survivors.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT BREAST CANCER, CHECK OUT THE NATIONAL BREAST CANCER WEBSITE AT NATIONALBREASTCANCER.ORG.

If you are in the Gainesville area and are interested in getting involved in Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk is Saturday, October 26 at 9:00 a.m. in downtown Gainesville.

GIGGLEMAG.COM | OCT/NOV

2013

uu Approximately 95 percent of all breast cancers in the U.S. occur in women age 40 and older.

life

T WO CENT S

Avoid Last-Minute Travel Stress: Plan Your Holiday Trips Now BY SELENA GARRISON

Whether you are planning a quick weekend home for Thanksgiving or a weeklong visit with the family for Christmas, figuring out the most cost-effective way to travel during the holidays can be pretty confusing – and stressful! Giggle is here to help with five tips for traveling during the holidays.

» Decide on driving vs. flying

You will want to compare the cost of flying (plane tickets, baggage fees, airport parking fees) versus the cost of

driving (gas, food, wear and tear on your car), as well as the difference in time it will take you to get to your destination.

» Avoid peak travel dates

Whether you drive or fly, avoid traveling on the day before and the several days after any major holiday. When driving, this will help you to avoid holiday traffic, and when flying, this will help you save money on plane tickets.

» Book early

If you are flying, book your flights early! The longer you wait, the higher prices will get. If you are holding out hope for last minute deals, you might end up paying way more than you ever planned.

» Shop around

There are so many websites out there offering the best deals on airline tickets, rental cars, hotels, and a combination of the three. Make sure to check sites like Travelocity, Kayak, Expedia, and Priceline, but also check directly with the airline(s) you are considering using. For even bigger savings, be flexible about travel dates and airports.

» Pack wisely

As checked baggage fees soar, and as some airlines even charge for carry-ons, you will want to pack efficiently, while still taking everything you need. Check with your airline on baggage restrictions, especially if you are traveling with children, so that you don’t get hit with high unexpected fees. 

• Plan flights around baby’s naptime. • Give yourself extra time for With any luck, she’ll sleep most of the surprises! The last thing you time! need is for a lost pacifier or last- minute diaper blow-out to turn • Bring the sturdiest, most compact into a full-scale crisis, so get to the stroller you have and practice airport early! loading it, and yourself, with baby, diaper bag and luggage to make • Remember that you will need a car sure you can run across the airport for seat to travel with your baby once you a last minute flight change. get to your destination!

GIGGLEMAG.COM | OCT/NOV

2013

The Snack-Trap is the perfect container for your little one's treats when you're on-the-go! $4.99, snacktrap.com

GREAT FOR TRAVELING!

TRAVELING WITH BABIES

GIGGLEMAG.COM | OCT/NOV

2013 17

life

HAPPY FAMI LY

The

Bertrands Abijah, Staci, Alijah (7), Ethan (5), Aaron (20 months)

Photos by Lifeprints Photography San Felasco Hammock State Park

• Occupation(s): Staci is the business opportunities manager (business consultant) at the Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce and Abijah is a special education teacher at Buchholz High. • Favorite meal: Blackened mahi mahi and Latin beans and rice. • Favorite date spot: Downtown Gainesville—Harry’s Restaurant and fro-yo from Mochi. • Movie in our DVD player: "Despicable Me." • Our family is most like: Little busy bees always working hard and on-the-go!

• Favorite sports to watch: Basketball. • Pets: Pee Wee the Chihuahua and Hermy the Hermit Crab. • Favorite vacation: Going on a cruise to the Caribbean. • Favorite family activity: Bicycle riding. • Favorite picnic spot: Kanapaha Park. • Favorite day trip/family activity: A trip to a theme park such as Wild Waters, Busch Gardens or LEGOLAND®.

• The kids' favorite books: All Dr. Seuss books including “The Cat in the Hat” and “Green Eggs and Ham.”

• What makes my children laugh: Mean Tiger—a game where my husband chases them around the house making roaring noises like a tiger. Also, I have three boys…odd body functions that create noises always make them laugh too!

• Mommy’s and Daddy's favorite TV show: “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition."

• Must-have item: A book in my purse for my kids to read.

• Websites we love: craigslist.org, fun4gatorkids.com, ebay.com.

• Why we love living in Gainesville: Gainesville is filled with kind and genuine people. The community is very familyoriented with great places to enjoy the outdoors, sports, and lots of yummy places to eat.

• Favorite sports to play: Basketball, soccer, and starting football this season.

GIGGLEMAG.COM | OCT/NOV

2013

Gainesville is filled with kind and genuine people. • Something we would want our children to have that we didn't have growing up: Staci—It’s really great to give my children a two-parent family. I grew up with a very devoted and committed mother as a single parent. It was very stressful for her at times, so having a wonderful husband and father in the house is really special for my children. • First word you think of when we say "family": Love. • Three words that describe our family: Girl Out-Numbered or Loving, Helpful and Hardworking.

GIGGLEMAG.COM | OCT/NOV

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life

JUS T T HE T W O OF US

Cultivating a relationship in this crazy journey we call parenthood Love is the greatest refreshment in life. -PABLO PICASSO

Big Screen Romance! Take some cues from your favorite movies for some romantic and sweet couple moments to create your own memories.

The Couple's Bucket List BY NICOLE IRVING

Do you and your hubby ever catch yourself saying, “I can’t wait to do________ when the kids grow up and move out,” or “If we only had a weekend ALONE, we could do_______”? Instead of just wishing and dreaming about those things, write them down in a journal. Create your own personalized Couple's Bucket List. This can be a list of all the things you and your significant other are looking forward to doing…together! Take it out each time you go on vacation or when you send your kids off to Grandma’s and see if you can cross off anything on the list. Or save it for when you are retired, the kids move out or when you’re planning that great romantic getaway! Most importantly, use it to create memories and reconnect!

Here are some fun ideas you may want to add to your Couple's Bucket List:

Take a drive on the Pacific Coast Highway in a convertible.

2 3

Vacation in Italy. Ride a bicycle all around Napa Valley.

10 11 12 13 14

SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE Go to the top of the Empire State Building on Valentine's Day and share a kiss!

Learn how to play chess. Visit Alaska. Attend every home Gator game one season.

Build your dream retirement/vacation home.

Buy a convertible car, with only TWO seats!

4 Visit Las Vegas! 5 6 7 8 9

Go horseback riding on the beach. Take a hot air balloon ride.

Take a Caribbean cruise. (No, Disney cruises do not count!) Learn how to salsa dance. Go snow skiing.

Backpack part of the Appalachian Trail.

16 17 18

Run a marathon together. Go deep sea fishing. Take a RV trip across country and find the biggest ball of twine!

YOU'VE GOT MAIL Give her a bouquet of daisies to make her smile when she is sick. They are the “happy flowers.” JERRY MAGUIRE Send him a card with the words “You complete me.” UP Start a scrapbook of all your little keepsakes and mementos from your trips and adventures. FORREST GUMP Leave a box of chocolates on the counter after a long day with the note "Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get." DIRTY DANCING Take a dance class together. (Extra points if you say "Nobody puts Baby in a corner!") AMÉLIE Map out an imaginative scavenger hunt for your significant other.

GIGGLEMAG.COM | OCT/NOV

2013 21

GIGGLEMAG.COM | OCT/NOV

2013

BY NICOLE IRVING | PHOTOS BY LIFEPRINTS PHOTOGRAPHY A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THE REMBERT FAMILY

Each year, the pumpkin patches are overflowing with round, oval, lumpy and bumpy pumpkins ready for the pickinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. This year, celebrate the season with friends and family by hosting a pumpkin party. GIGGLEMAG.COM | OCT/NOV

2013 23

osting a pumpkin party is simple, easy and so much fun. Plan for simple treats and snacks. Incorporate the flavors and colors of the season like apple cider, candy corn and pumpkin seeds.

Fest ive Mix! - Chex cereal - Marshmallows - Candy Corn - Chocolate Goldfish crackers

1 2

Simple uTouches

Bring in the flavors of the season. Fresh apples, caramel, apple cider and freshly roasted pumpkin seeds are always a huge hit.

Using your decorated pumpkins, some hay and seasonal flowers, you can create the perfect backdrop for a fall photo opportunity. Perfect for a quick family portrait or just some cute shots of the kids!

3 24

GIGGLEMAG.COM | OCT/NOV

2013

These signs from Lauren McKinsey are a nice added touch to your table. Find more at laurenmckinsey.com

Be Creative! Your pumpkin is the perfect surface for being creative. Use paint, stickers or even glue on buttons to give it that one-of-akind look.

Spider Family Pumpkin For our spider pumpkin, we used spider rings and one larger “momma” spider. We cut the ring part off and used glue to set the baby spiders on. Next we used glue to place the momma spider on top. Hold to set.

Ribbon Pumpkin For the simple ribbon pumpkin, we cut pieces of ribbon and glued the top and bottoms of the ribbon to the pumpkin.

Twine Pumpkin If you would like to keep your pumpkin inside and have it last, try tying twine bows on the top stalk. This gives it a rustic and simple feel, while keeping it fresh.

uCarving

Your Pumpkin Parental supervision is always important.

2 3 4

Use designated “pumpkin carving tools.” Use your imagination and make it fun!

Use a battery operated candle to light your pumpkin for safety.

forks & spoons Celebrating the Flavors of the

Pumpkin Chocolate Chunk Pound Cake Source: Wilton Products

SEASON

Cake Ingredients:

Pumpkin Chocolate Pound

D E LI S H

Cake

3 cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened 1 ¾ cups firmly packed light brown sugar 4 eggs 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 1 ¼ cups 100 percent pure pumpkin ¾ cup dark cocoa Candy Melts Candy, roughly chopped

Glaze

Ingredients:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Prepare a pan, such as Wilton’s Dimensions Cascade Pan, with vegetable pan spray with flour. In large bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt and nutmeg. In separate large bowl, beat butter and brown sugar with electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition; beat in vanilla. Add flour mixture in three additions, alternating with pumpkin. Stir in chopped candy; mix until just combined. Pour into prepared pan. Bake 55-65 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 15 minutes; invert onto cooling grid and cool completely.

½ cup confectioners’ sugar For glaze, stir together ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional) confectioners’ sugar, cinnamon 2 teaspoons milk and milk in small bowl. Drizzle over cooled cake.

Mini Baked Pumpkin Pie Spiced Doughnuts with Vanilla Glaze Doughnuts Ingredients :

2 cups all-purpose flour ¼ cup granulated sugar ⅔ cup milk 1 egg, lightly beaten 1 tablespoon McCormick Pure Vanilla Extract 1 teaspoon McCormick Pumpkin Pie Spice

Vanilla Glaze Ingredients:

4 cups confectioners’ sugar ½ cup milk 1 ½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract For more recipe ideas to try this fall visit McCormick.com

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. For doughnuts, spray mini doughnut pan with no-stick cooking spray. (If you do not have a mini doughnut pan, use a mini cupcake pan to make doughnut holes. You may also use an electric doughnut maker. Prepare as directed.) Set aside. Mix all ingredients in medium bowl until well blended. Spoon batter into prepared pan, using 1 tablespoon batter for each doughnut. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Meanwhile, for glaze, mix all ingredients in large bowl until smooth. Remove doughnuts from pan. Immediately coat in glaze. Place doughnuts on wire rack set over baking sheet or waxed paper to cool.

Pumpkin Pie Dough n u ts

forks & spoons

OUT OF

I N T HE F RI D GE

11 No-Fridge Foods! BY MARY VELASCO

Stop playing Tetris in your refrigerator. If space is looking tight, don’t throw it out—take it out. Contrary to popular practice, there are foods that do not actually have to be kept in the fridge to keep them from going bad. Certain goods have natural ingredients or preservatives that slow down the time-to-trash clock. Here is a list of foods that are safe for room temperature, even if it is hard to believe.

» Tomatoes

When it comes to produce, the common urge is to toss it in the fridge until needed. But when tomatoes are in the fridge, they actually lose their flavor in a mushy mess. According to the Huffington Post, tomatoes are so delicate that the cold damages the membranes inside fruit walls and ruins their texture. Store them outside of plastic bags and sideby-side to avoid bruising. Placing them on the counter near a sunny window will help keep them ripe and rich, as tomatoes continue to develop even after being picked.

» Potatoes

Tomayto, tomahto, potayto, potahto. Potatoes suffer the same flavor-adverse fate as tomatoes when kept in the fridge. The starches are turned into sugars, causing potatoes to darken prematurely and their taste to become distastefully sweet. For storage, paper bags are a better bet than plastic bags, which speed up decay due to trapped moisture. Follow these rules and most kinds can last up to three weeks in the pantry.

» Mayonnaise

Did I hear a disgusted gasp? Stop your choking and put away that horrified face. Mayonnaise is often vinegar-based and does not need to be refrigerated like a dairy product would. The eggs used in mayonnaise are pasteurized to remove harmful bacteria, and the mayo itself contains preservatives and acids that extend its shelf life. As long as it is not contaminated with dirty silverware that is speckled with bits of other food, your mayo is good-to-go. Opt for the squeeze bottles! They’re much easier to keep clean and more space-efficient than jars.

» Onions

Onions lose their crisp, crunchy bite and become soft when refrigerated. Wrap them in a loose bag that lets in air. They can survive in the pantry, but must be kept away from potatoes, which release onionrot-inducing moisture and gases. However, once cut, onions should be covered and kept in the fridge.

» Garlic

Just like onions, garlic can be stored in the pantry if it is aired out. Garlic can keep cozy for two months. Maybe you can throw them around the house during Halloween to ward off the vampires?

» Eggs

Let me guess—was this suggestion too soon after mentioning the mayo? No need to cringe. The ideal temperature for storing eggs is between 12 to 20 degrees celsius, or about

GIGGLEMAG.COM | OCT/NOV

2013

room temperature. Eggs that are refrigerated in the store can last at least 10 days on the counter, but they need to be turned over every day to prevent the yolk from settling. Eggs that weren’t refrigerated in stores last even longer. No worries! If salmonella is still a huge fear, you can keep them in the fridge, but if you’re desperate for space, keep in mind that this hatched-up idea won’t kill you.

» Salad Dressing

Balsamic will be your best friend. Actually, any oil-based dressing can be your new favorite pantry pal. No need for them to take up fridge shelf space.

» Ketchup

Ketchup at restaurants doesn’t need to be refrigerated and neither does ketchup at home. Due to their high acid contents, most condiments can last for months without being cold. But if you’re like me and enjoy your ketchup cold, go for it!

» Peanut Butter

I’m not sure why people refrigerate peanut butter. As it is high in sugar content and

preservatives, it is not a good growing place for mold or bacteria. Also, doesn’t keeping it cold make it impossible to spread, while at the same time ripping your bread? Speaking of bread, why do people refrigerate that, too?

» Jam and Jelly

You can’t mention peanut butter without mentioning jelly. In this context, as well! Even after opening, it doesn’t need to be refrigerated, although the temptation is huge. The sugar content in jelly and jam is high enough where if bacteria were to get in, they would not be able to survive because they lose the water in their cells.

» Pepperoni

Pepperoni, being an aircured, dry meat, can live to tell the tale outside of the refrigerator. The salt it is made with pulls out moisture and certain bacteria stop it from rotting. Once it is open and cut, refrigerate if you want to play it safe, but it can last longer than you think. 

GIGGLEMAG.COM | OCT/NOV

2013 29

Healthy Babies are Worth the Wait BY DANIELLE MICHELS

It’s no secret that pregnancy is a physically uncomfortable process. Your body is being pushed to an extreme, not to mention the sweltering heat of Florida feels magnified times a thousand. However, over the past 20 years there has been an increasing trend in women having elective early deliveries at the 37- and 38-week marks, rather than waiting to reach 39 weeks, for the sake of being more comfortable and less anxious for their baby’s arrival. A recently-coined phrase “too posh to push,” which refers to women who choose to have an elective cesarean section because it’s seemingly less painful and more convenient, exemplifies the mindset that is causing babies to be born before they are ready. In an effort to combat urgency and convenience, March of Dimes is changing the new-mama-to-be motto to “Healthy Babies are Worth the Wait.” While scheduled cesarean sections and inductions will still be necessary in some cases, March of Dimes is working with hospitals and health care providers to urge patients to wait until labor naturally occurs and make it as far to 39 weeks of pregnancy as possible. Pregnancies that are considered full-term range from 37 to 41 weeks, however this is only in the case of naturally occurring spontaneous childbirth, said Dr. Karen Harris, a board-certified physician with North Florida Women’s Physicians.

During the final weeks of pregnancy, from the crucial weeks of 39 to 41, many of a baby’s vital organs such as the brain, lungs and liver, are still developing. Continual brain growth to maximum development and maturity while in utero is one of the key features of why the wait is worth it, Dr. Harris said.

In 2010, 1

in 8 babies was born preterm in Florida.

Births that are scheduled before 39 weeks are considered early-term and could be putting a baby at increased risk of serious health issues such as respiratory distress syndrome and cerebral palsy, as well as contribute to learning and behavioral problems. Babies delivered earlyterm are also at an increased risk of death in their first year of life.

For approVal onlY — 10.12.12

At 35 weeks a baby’s brain weighs just two-thirds of what it does at 39 weeks. Additionally, babies born even a few weeks early may have complications with breathing, feeding, bonding with Mom and keeping warm. These are factors that can become serious issues requiring care in the NICU.

I’m READY to have th s baby !

Whats the b g deal? babies need at least 39 weeks to grow before they are born.

Sometimes inductions are medically necessary. but many births are being scheduled early for non-medical reasons. In the last 2 decades, the number of inductions has more than doubled.

2012 1990

Women who have one c-section have an increased risk of needing to have another c-section with another baby, which leads to increased risks for hemorrhage, infection, hysterectomy and bowel and bladder injury.

If you and your baby are healthy Wa t for

Jodi Bennett Hunt, a March of Dimes board member for three years and first-time mom, experienced pre-labor symptoms with her baby, due July 20, 2013, and quickly heeded her doctor’s advice to slow down. “Having a baby before 39 weeks was not an option for me,” Hunt said. “As a March of Dimes board member I’ve been educated on the reality that babies are truly worth the wait. Part of being an advocate for the organization is understanding the risks that come with having a pre-term baby.” According to Hunt, while she was pregnant she was shocked to find out how many pregnant women tried to do things to selfinduce labor long before 39 weeks. “Unfortunately the lack of education about the risks of pre-term labor and anxiety to be done with the pregnancy can influence their decision,” Hunt said. The gap between lack of education and maternity health providers following early-delivery practices is precisely why March of Dimes stepped in with the “Healthy Babies are Worth the Wait” initiative.

Image courtesy of March of Dimes.

In a group of 25 participating hospitals, including Lee Memorial Health System in Fort Myers, South Miami Hospital in Miami, Santa Rosa Medical Center in Milton, Broward Health Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale and St. Joseph Women’s Hospital in Tampa, the rate of elective early term deliveries without a medical reason fell from 27.8 percent to 4.8 percent during the one-year project period. This decline was due to the “Healthy Babies Are Worth the Wait” initiative, partially funded by the March of Dimes Florida Chapter, that provided maternity care hospitals with toolkits and other resources to adopt new policies that work to reduce elective early deliveries and help more babies get a healthy start in life. “The best kind of labor for an uncomplicated pregnancy is spontaneous; it’s at no harm to the mother to wait longer, and it’s at the complete benefit of the baby,” Dr. Harris said. “Mother Nature knows best.”  For more information about why healthy babies are worth the wait and how you can make the best decision for the health of your baby, visit marchofdimes.com/florida.

labor to beg n on ts own. Here’s why...

Your due date may NOT be exactly r ght ! It could be off by as much as

2 weeks.

babies aren’t fully developed until 39 completed weeks of pregnancy. brain

lungs

liver

At 35 weeks, baby’s brain weighs just two-thirds of what it does at 39 weeks.

Bab es born even a fEW WEEks early can have ser ous health problems. they may need help breathing, feeding and keeping warm and can have serious problems that require care in a nICu.

Induction of labor may cause problemS. stronger, more painful contractions infection in mom or baby changes in baby’s heart rate uterine rupture, in rare cases

Inducing your labor may not work. It can double your chance of needing a c-section. C-section after labor starts on its own:

C-section after induction:

12%

24%

a c-section is major SurgerY. It takes 4 to 6 weeks to fully recover.

Talk to your health care prov der. Be INfORmED. Ask quest ons. For more information, go to: marchofdimes.com/39weeks

Exceptions for Early Delivery and Scheduled C-Sections Women with preeclampsia or diabetes and are encouraged by their doctor to deliver early to prevent lifethreatening complications Bleeding during pregnancy and placenta membrane ruptures prior to labor.

GIGGLEMAG.COM | OCT/NOV

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2013

health

GE T M OV I NG

Avoiding

Injury

Conquering Running Pain BY MELISSA CERE, PT, DPT

As the weather starts to cool off in the fall, the race season for many runners starts to heat up. From big city marathons, such as ones held in Minneapolis, Chicago and New York City, for the avid long distance runner, to the extensive array of local 5k races for the runner seeking a challenge closer to home, you can be sure to find a race to fit your interest. Even recreational runners may start to increase the intensity of their running schedule as the weather becomes a little more tolerable for outdoor exercise. As their training regime changes, many runners may also

find themselves dealing with more aches and pains, especially in the knees, ankles and feet.

to change in adaptation to the pain, adjacent joints may begin to develop pain as well.

A GOOD RULE OF THUMB to prevent injuries with running, or really any form of exercise, is to avoid too much too soon—such as changes in intensity, footwear and mileage—whether you are a veteran long distance runner or just starting to introduce running to your exercise program. Your body will better adapt to an appropriate dosage of exercise with gradual changes over time. PROPER FOOTWEAR can also play a key role in injury prevention, providing suitable support for your body from the ground up.

Who can help with this pain?

A physical therapist is a licensed So when do you need to health care professional specially seek treatment for running trained in evaluating pain related pain? to movement and exercise. Pain is Sharp, localized pain that is usually the manifesting symptom consistently felt with repetitive resulting from underlying problems movements is usually a yellow or related to muscle weakness, muscle red flag for pain that needs to be endurance, flexibility and lack of evaluated. Also, any pain symptoms core strength and endurance. A that last for more than a couple days physical therapist is able to expertly should be checked out, as pain that evaluate these factors, as well as results from delayed onset muscle running mechanics, footwear and soreness (DOMS) after exercise training schedules to recommend usually peaks 24-48 hours following appropriate changes. Due to the the instigating activity and then repetitive nature of running, a improves. Typically, the longer the good rehab program for any lower pain and inflammation has been extremity pain should always present, the harder the injury is include an emphasis on improving to rehab and the longer it takes to muscle endurance, particularly with return to normal function. As a the stabilizing muscles of the back, runner’s running mechanics start abdominals and hips. 

Try these!

Reebok Zigtech running shoe, reebok.com

Melissa Cere, PT, DPT, is the owner of Kinetix Physical Therapy

Visit roadracerunner.com to find running events in your area! GIGGLEMAG.COM | OCT/NOV

2013 33

GIGGLEMAG.COM | OCT/NOV

2013

health

GE T HE A LT HY

Germs, Where Are You?

BY JULIA GLUM

Spills and dirt are easy to clean and simple to see, but what about invisible germs? Disease-causing micro-organisms can be found almost everywhere – in your bathroom, at restaurants, on the bottom of your purse – but identifying sneaky places bacteria live is half the battle. Make sure you’re educated on the strange items where germs thrive.

Contacts

Cell Phones

Cell phones save more than just text messages. A 2011 University of London study found that 82 percent

Lemons

Be careful when ordering lemon wedges in your ice water when eating out. In 2007, a study in New Jersey found 25 kinds of micro-organisms on its tested lemons – 70 percent of the lemon wedges produced some kind of growth. Although the origins of the bacteria weren’t investigated, the study’s author speculated the germs could’ve come from employees’

Computer Keyboards

Purses

A test on cyberclean.net estimated there were 2,381,820 germs living on my computer keyboard. Granted, it’s a website selling keyboard cleaner, but the point remains: Your fingers aren’t just touching keys. It makes sense, given everything we do with and near our keyboards – eating, working, sneezing, to name a few examples. Luckily, according to a 2006 study from the University of North Carolina, cleaning can really help. Wiping keyboards down with products like Clorox wipes, sterile water and alcohol removed more than 95 percent of test bacteria. Just make sure to clean often – the effects from wipe-downs don’t last more than 48 hours.

Earlier this year, a British hygiene company found purses – specifically their handles – are covered in bacteria. Leather purses were the worst, according to the study, because their spongy texture makes it easy for germs to breed. Even the contents were unsafe: items inside had more bacteria than the average toilet seat. But don’t give up on your handbag just yet. The researchers recommended using sanitary wipes to keep the handles and bottom of your purse clean. Also, be conscious of where you set it down. Putting your purse on the bathroom floor and then your dining table is not a good idea.  TRUE or FALSE?

The 5 Second Rule Is A Rule to Live By

False: Bacteria can attach to your food as soon as it hits the floor! Source: kidshealth.org

GIGGLEMAG.COM | OCT/NOV

2013

Contact lenses are one of the worst offenders. Not only does dirt build up on the lenses themselves, but bacteria and fungi can also collect in the case. Plus, if you rinse them with water, you’re subjecting the lenses – and your eyes – to anything living in it. The Environmental Protection Agency has an entire webpage devoted to the tinybut-can-still-blind-you Acanthamoeba parasite, which lives in tap water, sticks to contact lenses and can infect your eyes. To keep your contacts clean, the EPA recommends cleaning your lenses and cases with commercially made sterile solutions.

of smartphones showed some type of contamination, and one in six phones had fecal matter. Although you may regularly wash your hands, how often do you wash your phone? Even though Apple and Blackberry’s manuals discourage using household cleaners on its products, researchers from Indiana found alcohol to remove most of the bacteria on phones. (Water, for the record, was the least effective method tested.)

fingertips or cutting boards. In response, the Alliance for Food and Farming released a report saying the found organisms were not uncommon in the environment. The report recommended anyone using lemons keep them cold and handle them with clean hands and utensils to prevent contamination from pathogens.

WHICH ONE IS CLEANER? A 2007 Hygiene Council study swabbed 32 places in 35 U.S. homes and ranked the results. Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a sample of what researchers found:

The TV remote (70 bacteria/square inch)

IS CLEANER THAN the kitchen cutting board (194 bacteria/square inch)

The child-training potty (191 bacteria/square inch)

IS CLEANER THAN the bathroom countertop (452 bacteria/square inch)

The microwave buttons (214 bacteria/square inch)

ARE CLEANER THAN the refrigerator door (319 bacteria/square inch)

The trash can (411 bacteria/square inch)

IS CLEANER THAN the dish sponge (134,640 bacteria/square inch)

The pet food dish (2,110 bacteria/square inch)

IS CLEANER THAN the bathtub

(119,468 bacteria/square inch)

GIGGLEMAG.COM | OCT/NOV

2013 37

health

GE T P RE T T Y

BB & CC Creams: What Are They? BY DANA KAMP

Beauty Balms and Color Correction creams, known in the skincare world as BB and CC creams, are the biggest beauty trend right now. Every skincare line has at least one of them in their collection. The BB cream was created first as an all-in-one sheer moisturizer, primer, sunscreen and illuminator. The CC cream is allBYthat theKAMP BB cream is, but DANA gives more foundation-like coverage. We gave Giggle staff members one of these magical creams to test-drive and find out what the buzz is all about!

Five giggle staff members test some of our favorite brands!

1 Cargo_HD Picture Perfect CC Cream “I don’t feel like I need to use as much foundation, if any, when I have this yummy cream on my skin.” -Dana, Giggle Copy Editor The new go-to for picture perfect skin. A multi-purpose, oil-free complexion cream that works with breakthrough color adapting pigments and color correcting technology for a soft, even, naturallooking finish. Hydra-Extend, a plant-derived carbohydrate complex, provides up to 72 hours of skin hydration, vitamins C and E promote collagen synthesis for smoother texture, and green tea and chamomile extracts have antiinflammatory properties. Price: $39. Available at CargoCosmetics.com, Ulta.com, Beauty.com and Nordstrom.com.

“The cream has a light texture with no greasy after effects and conceals without looking like a heavy foundation.” -Wendy, Giggle Writer With five age-correcting actions, this multi-action product reduces the look of dark spots, evens and corrects tone, brightens complexion, firms skin and protects against UVA and UVB rays with SPF 20 without feeling heavy or greasy. Vitamin C and calcium provide antioxidant protection. Price: $12.95. Available at lorealparisusa.com and chain drug, food and mass market retailers.

GIGGLEMAG.COM | OCT/NOV

“As a mom, I love simplifying my morning routine so anything that allows me to skip a step and still feel put together is a win in my book.”-Kelly, Giggle Writer This fragrance-free and paraben-free cream with 12hour staying power is a primer, foundation and concealer all in one tube – the ultimate multi-tasker! Drew Barrymore’s new line, FLOWER, gives us a cream to soften skin, prevent dullness, eliminate unwanted shine and cover imperfections, pores and discolorations. Price: $12.98. Available at Wal-Mart.

4 Alba Botanica® Even Advanced CC Cream

"I love that this cream is 95% natural and it smells like oranges and cream!" -Allison, Giggle Art Director Free of parabens, sodium lauryl/ laureth sulfate, petrolatum, artificial colors and phthalates, it instantly delivers six skin benefits and is made with 95 percent natural ingredients. This formula is packed with algae extracts and vitamin C to even tone, brighten complexion, correct

2013

areas of discoloration, hydrate skin and smooth away roughness as well as protect skin with broad spectrum SPF 15. Price: $14.49. Available at Whole Foods Market, Target, Wal-Mart, natural food stores, grocery stores and on the web at AlbaBotanica.com.

5 Urban Decay Naked Skin Beauty Balm

“This BB cream goes on so smooth. It feels like silk on my face and has a fresh smell.”-Nicole, Giggle Publisher A lightweight, allin-one beauty balm that hydrates, primes, protects, perfects and treats skin – all while giving it a luminous, demi-matte, “blownout” finish. It perfects skin instantly while fighting the signs of aging over time. Pepha®-Protect , which is derived from watermelon extract, inhibits DNA damage and protects the cellular barrier against daily stress caused by UV rays. Price: $34. Available at Sephora, ULTA, select Macy’s, Sephora.com, Ulta. com, Macys.com, Beauty.com and UrbanDecay.com.

2 L'Oreal® Visible Lift® CC Cream

3 Flower BB Cream

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FUN WITH FELT! Photos by Patricia Bishop Photography

Tisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; the season to be creative. Felt is so easy to work with, comes in a plethora of colors and can be molded, cut and pasted into so many wonderful things. Here, we use it to create some adorable fall crafts. Enjoy! STYLED BY GIGGLE MAGAZINE

PHOTOGRAPHED BY PATRICIA BISHOP PHOTOGRAPHY

Safety Tip! Use an initial tag instead of your child's full name to personalize her treat bucket.

Little Owl & "Frankie" Treat Buckets

Treat Box

What You'll Need: • Galvanized metal pail • Assorted sheets of felt in your chosen colors • Permanent marker • Scissors • Glue gun • Patterns (available for download at gigglemag.com)

What You'll Need: • Medium-sized wooden box (we bought ours pre painted black) • Pre-cut wooden letters • Assorted sheets of felt in your chosen colors • Paintbrushes • Orange paint • Various sized circular objects to use as a pattern • Permanent marker • Scissors • Glue gun

These adorable candy-carriers are perfect for trick-or-treating! These no-sew felt decorations are easy to make and attach to your treat pail with glue!

Download, print and cut out your chosen pattern. Select which colors you'd like for your design and trace the patterns on the felt accordingly using a permanent marker. Cut out your felt pieces and arrange them on a flat surface. Once you have everything laid out, you can start gluing. Its best to start with the larger pieces and work up to the smaller pieces. Once your pieces are all glued together, allow time to dry and then use your glue gun to place a generous amount of glue on the back of your felt design, immediately attaching to your pail. Firmly press design down and let dry. You can also make an initial tag for your pail using the leftover felt and glue and attach it to your pail with twine!

GIGGLEMAG.COM | OCT/NOV

2013

Why give out candy in a bowl when you can fill up your own decorative treat box?

If your box is not pre painted, you can use black paint to quickly give it a new coat. While it dries, you can use your orange paint to decorate your wooden letters. We used two coats of paint on ours; make sure to get the inside and outside edges! Set aside to dry. You can use different sizes of circle shaped objects to make a pattern for your dots. We used a quarter, the base of a candle and a bottle cap! Use your marker and scissors to draw your circles and cut them out. Arrange your circles individually or in groups on your box, along with your new orange letters. Once you have everything in place, you can begin gluing everything down. Remember to press firmly on each piece as you glue it!

Happy 'Owl'oween! Wreath

This felt rose owl wreath is perfect for the entire season! What You'll Need: • 18" pre made grapevine wreath (available at Michael's and Hobby Lobby) • Assorted sheets of felt in your chosen colors • Permanent marker • Scissors • Glue gun • Pre made owl decoration with wire base (available at Michael's) Using a CD as a pattern, trace circles on your chosen colors of felt. You will need approximately 50-55 circles (Tip: Stack several pieces of felt together to make cutting faster). Starting on the outside of each circle, begin cutting in a spiral pattern until you reach the center of the circle. Starting at the center, begin carefully rolling each spiral into a rose shape. Some will be bigger/ shorter/wider/smaller than others; variety is okay! Use a dot of glue to secure the end edge to the rose. Attach your owl to your wreath by pushing the wire base into the vine. You can use additional floral wire to secure. Arrange your roses on your wreath and then glue each one down. Remember to press firmly when placing on wreath.

Happy Halloween

from

Giggle

Magazine! giggle@irvingpublications.com

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BY KELLY GOEDE PHOTOS BY LIFEPRINTS PHOTOGRAPHY

little boy goes bounding across the playground, eyes sparkling, flashing a huge grin and waving to his mommy. No one there would suspect that only a year ago, he was meeting his mommy and daddy for the first time. For Jenn and Max Petion, watching Markus, their 3 ½-year-old little boy, play brings them immense joy as they reflect on the journey that brought them to their sweet son. The Petions had always wanted a family, and after they had been married for a year they set about pursuing that dream. Jenn, who works for Partnership for Strong Families, knew the benefits of adoption, but had always envisioned that she would have biological children first. As discussions ensued between she and husband Max, they opened themselves up to adoption, even if it predated their biological children.

Our

Forever Family

GIGGLEMAG.COM OCT/NOV 2013 THE PETION |ADOPTION STORY

In January 2012, they began the adoption process in earnest, starting classes and their homestudy, and hoping for a match. In a short time, children became available and the Petions would wait and pray over each one, only to find door after door closing, the children going to other homes. Confident that they were called to adopt, they soldiered on and one day in June, a coworker emailed a picture to Jenn that would change the Petions’ lives. The picture was that of Markus, and Jenn wanted to know if there was a catch. After experiencing several possible children slipping through their fingers, the Petions were naturally reticent about getting their hopes up. As it turned out, Markus was meant to become part of their family. Described as “high-energy,” Markus

needed a two-parent home, and Jenn and Max continued through the process, all doors staying open this time. What followed was an unexpected sequence of events that sped up the process by which they met Markus, further confirming this case was special and he was meant to be their son. What should have been a gradual visitation ended up being a weekend visit. When they picked him up from daycare, Jenn reports that, “I kneeled down, they brought him out and he gave me a hug and we left. The next morning, he called me ‘Mommy,’ and we never looked back.” Both Max and Jenn had prayed from the beginning of the process that “God would write on his heart that we were Mom and Dad from day one.” As Markus moved in, the Petions became overnight parents. Jenn laughed that they skipped midnight feedings and jumped right into potty training! Although the daily trials of parenting a toddler “were not a cakewalk,” as Max attests, the Petions are ever mindful of where Markus could have ended up. He is truly their blessing. His adoption was finalized before Christmas and his third birthday. Even though he is too young to remember much about the process, Jenn and Max plan to celebrate Markus’ adoption with him as he grows up. “He knows he’s special because he’s adopted−it’s an exciting thing, a privilege,” shares Jenn.

Personal photos provided by the Petion family.

And this precious boy, who “knows no stranger and makes friends everywhere,” is most solid in knowing the most important thing−he is loved. He asks Jenn, “Mommy, I’m your boy forever?” Even though he already knows the answer, she always replies, “Yes.” 

Considering ADOPTION? Aside from the obvious benefit of welcoming a child into your family, adopting through the foster system provides additional perks. Free health coverage until the child is 18 (and it could be changing to age 26), Free college tuition for the adopted child, A monthly subsidy until the child is 18, and Many adoptions are at no cost to adopting families. To find out more about fostering and adoption, visit Partnership for Strong families at pfsf.org.

q THE PICTURE THAT STARTED IT ALL

FAMILY ALBUM

"This one still brings me to tears," says Jenn. "It was the first picture we ever saw of him, sent to me by a colleague." A well-loved Elmo, one of the few items the Petions have from Markus' early years.

A trip to Miami to visit Markus' new extended family.

As Mommy and Daddy's little superhero for Halloween

An exciting weekend First Christmas with his for graduations and adoption finalizations! new family

Easter Sunday at church

Surprise Mother's Day photoshoot!

"He looks so full of life," says Jenn.

With "possibly his favorite person in the world"...Gram.

GIGGLEMAG.COM | OCT/NOV

2013 49

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s Brandi Catalanotte walks through your office, you know she is thinking, “If we moved that there and brought some color here, and a rug there…it would be perfect!” And she is right. At her cue, her team is on-the-move and, after those design elements are in place, it is perfect! Brandi’s talent as a decorator lies in the ability to multitask and balance her career with her most important role as mom to 16-month-old Caydance Bella. As a working mother, she is attuned to how important balance and time management is. Being a designer to Brandi means balancing a number of different roles while listening to her client’s every need. “I can design a space, shop for the space, have meetings with a client, order and receive all products, be my clients’ marriage counselor and financial planner, while coordinating all subcontractors and installing everything by hand with a 16-month-old little design assistant with me.” Brandi came to Gainesville from Perry, Florida, to pursue a degree from the University of Florida. After graduating in 1999, she married her college sweetheart, Greg, and took an adventure, which would eventually lead them back to Gainesville in 2006. After purchasing her first home at age 23, she found her love of design. “That love then became my passion once I realized it was my God-given talent,” says Brandi. Today she is owner of La Notte Design, a design company established in 2006 that specializes in interior decoration for residential and commercial property. La Notte Design creates spaces using an array of design palettes and specializes in the design themes of Contemporary, Coastal, Mediterranean, Tuscan, Ranch/Rustic, Transitional and Traditional. The entire team at La Notte Design prides themselves on building and maintaining relationships, going the extra mile, listening to their clients and always doing the right thing. Brandi’s natural talent for seeing beyond the bare walls and mix-matched furniture to what the space can be is what keeps Brandi and La Notte Design passionate about design and making the “ordinary look extraordinary.” PHOTOS BY CHRISTY PROWANT PHOTOGRPAHY

of A day in the life , Caydance! er gn si Assistant De

I like to sleep in. I then eat, play, watch “VocabuLarry” and read books. My mom takes a call or two and several text messages. We leave and go to all Mom’s jobs and sometimes shopping. I see all kinds of colors and I always get to feel different types of textures. I love to see the people on Mom’s jobs and in the shops we go to. They always hold me and give me high fives. I show them all my new tricks. I go to sleep sometime during the day but I hate to miss anything.

Brandi Shaw Catalanotte, Owner & Designer of La Notte Design GIGGLEMAG.COM | OCT/NOV 2013 352-682-5540 • brandi@lanottedesign.com • lanottedesign.com

GIGGLEMAG.COM | OCT/NOV

2013

happy home

MAKE IT. FIX IT. CLEAN IT.

Deep Clean Those Forgotten Areas of Your Home Common household items can suffer from the wear and tear of everyday use, but a few simple cleaning tricks will help keep them in good condition and extend their lifespan, saving you money and angst in the long run. Here are a few ideas to help you get started:

E PLAN

AIN THE UTILITY ROOM

DRYER Make sure to empty the dryer’s lint trap on a regular basis. Keeping this often forgotten area lint-free will increase the efficiency of a standard tumble dryer by allowing warm, moist air to flow freely out of the appliance as clothing dries. Additionally, keep in mind that some brands of dryer sheets can leave an invisible film on the lint trap. To test yours, run water through it—if it holds water, it’s suffering from buildup. If this is the case, scrub it with a stiff brush and soapy water every six months.

AIN THE LIVING ROOM

CARPET Vacuum at least once a week to remove the dust and debris that settles in carpet fibers. If you have shedding pets, or family members who suffer from allergies, you may need to vacuum more frequently.

BISSELL, the floor care experts, recommends you deep clean your carpet at least twice per year to remove the dirt, stains and allergens vacuums can leave behind. AIN THE BATHROOM

SHOWER HEAD If the water pressure in your shower is less than ideal, chances are your shower head is suffering from mineral deposits that inevitably accumulate over time. To promote better water flow, remove the shower head from the wall, if possible, and soak in white vinegar for 15 to 20 minutes. Rinse thoroughly in the sink, reattach to wall and turn on the water to observe your shower head working at its best again. If you can’t remove the shower head from the wall, bring the solution directly to the problem: slip a rubber band tightly over the shower head, fill a plastic bag with white vinegar and submerge the shower head until all holes are covered. Secure in place with the rubber band and soak 15 to 20 minutes before removing.

AIN THE KITCHEN

REFRIGERATOR Commonly overlooked, the refrigerator’s condenser coils—often located in the back on older units and beneath the doors on newer

models—are instrumental in allowing the appliance to cool properly. Since dust, grime and pet hair can build up on the coils, it’s important to clean them twice a year to ensure your refrigerator is running as efficiently as possible. To do this, unplug the unit for safety, then locate the condenser coils. Vacuum them with the wand attachment of your vacuum, going back over any stubborn areas with a stiff brush if needed. If there’s still grime left, you can use a rag and warm, soapy water, but make sure to let the coils dry completely before plugging the unit in again. Once they’re on your radar, these simple cleaning tips are easy to incorporate into your routine. With a little time and upkeep, you’ll find the items you use on a daily basis are in better shape than ever before.  A After the electric iron, the vacuum cleaner was the most popular electric appliance in the home from 1920-1960. A In 1938, 27 percent of homes with electricity owned a vacuum cleaner. Source: The Carpet and Rug Institute, 2001

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ORGA NI ZE D CHAOS

The Yin and Yang of Organizing Styles BY HELEN KORNBLUM

Many a honeymoon ends when a couple realizes that they have radically different organizing styles. If you’re familiar with this scenario, take heart! The relationship can be saved with honest communication and conscious adjustments in the space-time continuum.

 Use your strengths Forget about social stereotypes when you evaluate your roles. If your partner uses the garage as command central for crafting amazing things for the house or on the grounds, leave that equipment alone. Maybe you can reorganize the storage boxes that have gotten out of hand. If dealing with paper isn’t your strength, renegotiate the secretarial position. Sometimes poorly used space or time is explained by our intuitive dislike of the task or by having inadequate tools. This explains the popularity of professional organizers!  Private: Keep out! If you have carved out private space for each of you—workshop, craft room, garage—respect your partner’s territory. We each need a place to call home for our interests. Unless the place has become a fire trap, close the door or close your eyes. Is it possible for couples to achieve organizational harmony in their space and schedules despite their different organizing styles? Sure...with focused effort. 

 Yes, you need to compromise Let’s use the kitchen as an example. Who does most of the cooking? Are you willing to have that person take

 Helen Kornblum is a life coach and organizer in Gainesville, FL. She owns naturalorderorganizing.com. Her specialty is coaching teens and young adults who have ADHD or ADD.

GIGGLEMAG.COM | OCT/NOV

2013

 First, stop squabbling Practice what you teach the children and play nice. Although both of you may feel terribly frustrated by the demands of the other to change thinking and behavior patterns, cool your emotions first. You won’t make any progress using threats or negative judgments. Criticism doesn’t foster change.

 Identify the priorities No matter how long you have been together, it’s never too soon or too late to talk about your expectations for the common areas of the house. Create a shared vision to find out just how far apart you might be when it comes to the kitchen, the entryway, the family room or the shared office. One of you may be consumed with how things look; the other, with how the space functions. You may ask “where?” and your partner may think “wherever.” You may ask “when” and your partner may think “whenever.” Make time to discuss aesthetics and efficiency.

the lead in setting up the organizational plan? What are your priorities in this area? Is it possible to keep the counters clear when you have three children to feed and both of you work outside the home? Are there papers strewn over the counters where you need space for food preparation? Can you agree to containing or moving the piles so they don’t get in the cook’s way? What does “containment” mean to each of you?

organize witH

Style.

“

My mission is to create personalized wardrobe and storage spaces that are balanced with beauty and function. As a designer, I can envision the hidden potential in this underutilized, often out-of-control yet very important space and how, with organization and design, these spaces can add value to your home and to calm the chaos of everyday life.” ~ Amanda Davis Carreon

Born and raised in Gainesville, Amanda Davis Carreon is the fourth generation in her family to be in the furniture and design industry. Her mother, Mrs. Jerome Davis, owned The Glen Addie Collection, a wonderful furniture store that Amanda enjoyed spending time in during most of her childhood, setting up the vignettes and organizing the warehouse. It was while in the store with her mother and amongst the beautiful furniture that Amanda realized she had a passion for working with people, making gorgeous spaces and improving the functionality of every space in which she worked.

and talent to help make this community a better and more beautiful place.

Amanda’s love for the arts and music has always been at the center of her life. She was awarded a full tuition scholarship to attend Louisiana State University where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education. In college and after graduating from LSU, Amanda worked for Chico’s FAS (a high end women’s clothing company) as the assistant store manager and found her love of fashion, yet another way of artistic expression. Today she works as an enrichment teacher at Ft. Clarke Middle School and Buchholz High School. In addition, Amanda is the director of the Gainesville Flute Ensemble, which has been recognized at both the state and national level for its talent. Amanda’s music background instilled in her great attention to detail and a dedication to perfection, hard work and excellence. AmAndA dAvis CArreon

Her family’s business in the furniture and design industry, combined with her own experience in the fashion industry and her passion for functional and beautiful spaces, led her to start her custom closet business, A Divine Closet. Simply put, Amanda creates and designs wardrobe and storage spaces that meet the needs of her clients with a balance of style and function. Her passion as a designer stems from the need to create spaces that are not only beautiful but highly functional for her clients’ many needs. Her goal is to not only organize their life, but add value to their home and everyday world. Above all else, Amanda believes that connecting with her clients is the number one key in building a working relationship. Her attention to customer service is what makes her shine in this industry. She gives her time

Amanda is very active in her community as well. She is the current president of the Children’s Home Society – Mid Florida Division Auxiliary, an organization that helps abused and neglected children within Gainesville and the surrounding counties. In 2014, Amanda will be the co-chair for the Puttin’ on the Ritz silent auction, the Children’s Home Society’s largest fundraiser. She is also a member of LinkedIn Women of Gainesville, a local group for women in business in Gainesville, and is a member of the Builders Association.

Your Home. Your stYle. Your custom closet! (352) 318-0818 amanda@adivinecloset.com adivinecloset.com visit me on Houzz.com

visit me on Facebook

Photos courtesy of Gainesville 360/aaron Bailey

a divine closet’s design Features: • Free estimate and measurements at your home, • A collaborative and educational design process based on personal needs, • Choice of multiple closet cabinet lines, • Custom cabinets available upon request, • 100% satisfaction guaranteed, and • Lifetime Warranty on all cabinets

learn

T HE CLA S S ROOM

Fun Teaching Facts! • Employment of kindergarten, elementary, middle, and secondary school teachers is expected to grow by 13 percent between 2008 and 2018. (Bureau of Labor Statistics)

• Florida’s public schools reported a total of 324,683 full-time employees in the fall of 2010. (Florida Education Association)

Early Education And the Success of Our Community

Franklin D. Roosevelt once said, “We may not be able to prepare the future for our children, but we can at least prepare our children for the future.” This simple quote could conjure up a number of unrelenting emotions for a parent. As a former classroom teacher, this quote reminds me of the young children I taught. I was charged with creating lifelong learners in just 10 months. As an informed

The first four years of a child’s life are the most influential in the development of the brain. In fact, by age 4, 90 percent of the brain is developed. This creates an opportunity every five years to change the mindset of an entire generation. Many people do not realize that the achievement gap occurs at a very young age. It does not begin in high school or

even elementary school. The achievement gap begins at birth.

per hour. This means that in a single year children in professional families heard an average of 11 Researchers Hart and Risley million words, while examined language children in working class development in young children families heard an average and the effects of home of 6 million words and experiences on children’s children in welfare families language development. What heard an average of 3 they found was startling! In million words. By age 4, professional families, children a child from a welfareheard an average of 2,153 recipient family could have

The achievement gap begins at birth. words per hour, while children in working class families heard an average of 1,251 words per hour and children in welfare-recipient families heard an average of 616 words

heard 32 million words less than a classmate from a professional family. The fact is that a child’s vocabulary ability upon entering school is a prime

Of Florida’s 2,547 graded elementary, middle and non-high-school combination public schools, 1,481 earned an “A” in 2011. source: 2011 Florida Education Association

GIGGLEMAG.COM | OCT/NOV

2013

BY SARAH GULIANI

parent, it overwhelms me to think about what the future holds for my own children, if they will be prepared, and how I can affect them each day. This is especially important not just because their livelihood might depend on it, but because our communities will thrive on the successes of our children.

predictor for later academic success. Without a solid language base a child is likely to have difficulty learning to read, which will affect the child’s ability to demonstrate success in any academic area.

 HOW IT CAN IMPACT OUR COMMUNITY AND ECONOMY

According to a research study by James Heckman, a Nobel Prize winning economist, investments in high-quality early childhood education —the most critical developmental period of a person’s life—are among the rare social policies that face no tradeoff in economic efficiency. Investing in early childhood education generates both short term and long term economic development. In the short term, it supports the creation of jobs, the purchase of goods and services, and creates a more efficient workforce. According to a research out of MIT, licensed early education and childcare businesses employ millions of providers and teachers nationwide. This industry pays billions of dollars in wages while purchasing billions more in goods and services and generating even more in gross receipts. However, it also has long term effects as well. In the end, quality early education builds an employable, educated workforce out of children who received early intervention and support. Children who receive quality early education arrive at school ready to learn, they perform better in school and are more likely to graduate from high school and to hold jobs. They are significantly less likely to be on welfare or to wind up in the courts and in the jails—and costing taxpayers a fortune. Research has demonstrated that for every $1 invested in back-up child care, employers can expect a return of $3-$4 in increased productivity and reduced turnover of employees. When children are attending high quality childcare, their caregivers demonstrate increased productivity at work with less absenteeism.

 WHAT CAN WE DO AS A COMMUNITY?

As a community, we should invest in early childhood education and early intervention. Experts agree and research proves that early intervention and prevention can mean the difference between graduating from high school or not. Early childhood education programs help to develop the child’s cognitive (academic), social and emotional development. Many K-12 school districts have How Can I volunteer and business partnership programs that funnel a great deal Get Involved? of support to local schools through Contact the Early Learning financial means and volunteer Coalition of Alachua County support.  (elcalachua.org) to find out what you can do in your local community to support early childhood education. Also, contact the Children’s Movement of Florida (childrensmovementflorida. org) for ways to get involved within our state. Both of these groups have a number of volunteer opportunities waiting for you!

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Your Child’s Brain on Special

Musical Frequencies Forty sessions of auditory brain training - that’s all it took for Sherry to move from failing the FCAT to being on the Honor Roll. Thirty-one sessions of auditory brain training - that’s all it took for Alex to move out of special education and later make straight A’s. Since 2001, Diane Daniels, MA, Ed.S, the director of Brain Works, a brain training center, has had these successes and more with children, teens and adults. Musical Frequencies Some parents know that classical music helps children focus while they study. What is generally not known, however, is that listening to specific, isolated musical frequencies prompts brain cells to grow new pathways. That’s where Brain Works comes in as a provider of clinic and home auditory brain training programs that take advantage of brain plasticity, the ability of the brain to change itself. Academic, Sensory and Attention Improvements The following frequencies help children overcome academic, sensory and attention problems: Low frequencies–Coordination, sensitivity to food/sound/ touch, hyperactivity, sleep, anxiety and math Middle frequencies–Attention, memory, auditory processing, speaking fluency, reading and writing. High frequencies–Complex thinking, problem solving, organization, processing speed and motivation. How Does It Work? Nerves in the ears are constantly sending sound energy to the brain. At Brain Works, selected beneficial frequencies within classical music are played through headphones to stimulate brain cell dendrites (branches) to grow and connect with each other. For example, children who cannot make eye contact while they listen to someone talk benefit from hearing frequencies that stimulate the growth of pathways between the auditory and visual regions of the brain.

Using assessments, Brain Works determines which sound frequencies are most needed. Children listen to filtered classical music with headphones while they do fun, visualmotor activities. In just a few sessions, grateful parents see less frustration, fewer sensory problems and easier learning. Success After 3 Concussions Eboni Harris, a 2013 AAU Girl’s Junior National Volleyball Championship Age 14 Open All-American, suffered three concussions by seventh grade. The aftereffects left her with sound sensitivity, poor auditory processing, fatigue and lower school performance. At Brain Works, Eboni overcame those disabling symptoms, and her school performance rocketed back. Her sports skills took a leap forward as well! Eboni’s recovery is very significant because currently doctors only know to prescribe rest for concussions. Help Is Available EBONI HARRIS Would you like your child to do homework more quickly, stay focused, be a good listener, get better grades or respond normally to food, sound or touch? A better life for your child is available at Brain Works, where they help the brain change itself with musical frequencies.

Diane Daniels, MA, Ed.S

n. 420 and get a free phone consultatio Call Brain Works today at 352-332-2 y Tips and e-newsletter. Ask for a copy of Brain Works’ Stud

listenez.com

learn

GROW WI T H M E D I A

The Benefits of Digital Classrooms BY DANIELLE MICHELS

» PODCASTS

Podcasts are a great way to facilitate learning for both children and parents through easy downloads that can be accessed anywhere. Many teachers are incorporating podcasts as an option for viewing lectures or review sessions as well as using them as supplementary learning tools. NPR podcasts are a popular choice for additional material when discussing current events and varying social perspectives in a classroom environment. Podcasts have also soared in popularity for people who like a productive way to pass the time during the commute to work, completing chores and exercising. Podcast topics range from best business strategies to entertainment and political news.

» VIRTUAL SCHOOLS

Taking the classroom setting online has become one of the most common trends of today’s educational options. Many K-12 schools now assign homework and additional readings that can be found in an online classroom that accompanies a traditional course that meets in school, or there are classes solely conducted online. Virtual schools are the key for parents wishing to further their education while balancing family and a full-time work schedule without ever having to trek to a campus. Many virtual school advanced degree programs are now being offered by leading universities including University of Florida.

how to work with a variety of different software programs in addition to how to properly use elements of technology in design and photography work. Other sites such as eHow.com are great for tutorials on a range of subjects that appeal to both school-aged children and adults alike including food, money, health and crafts.

» SOFTWARE PROGRAMS

From basic math and spelling skills for pre-K learners to new language suites

ner Explore Cor

» TUTORIALS

For people who don’t necessarily want to obtain an advanced degree or receive formal classroom training, online tutorials have become one of the best tools for doit-yourself learners. Tutorial sites such as Lynda.com have tutorials to teach users

GIGGLEMAG.COM | OCT/NOV

WITH THE CADE MUSEUM

Welcome to the Cade Way of inspiring creativity with your students at home. With a few simple household ingredients the learning will never stop. Our videos were developed to demonstrate that you CAN do this at home.

 Creativity is easy! Our highlighted video this month is Cade Glitter Putty. This simple demonstration can unleash a discussion about molecules: how they form and how they become stuck together or crosslinked. Only your imagination will limit where this activity will lead. Remember, always wear your safety goggles, and we will see YOU in the lab!

2013

such as Rosetta Stone, software programs are an additional way of taking learning outside of the typical school environment. Software programs are by no means the most recent technological learning tool, but as technology has improved so have the methods of learning through software programs. More options are available now than ever before, so parents and students can find precisely what they need for their curriculum. 

YOU WILL NEED: • ½ cup clear school glue • Room temperature tap water (1000ml) • 1 Heaping tablespoon 20 Mule Team Borax • Glitter or Glitter Glue (as much as you like) Want to see how these ingredients turn into glitter bouncing putty? Visit this video! vimeo.com/70806507

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learn

HOM E S CHOOL CORNE R

Homeschooling High School with the Williams Family BY TARA GRIFFIN PHOTOS BY PATRICIA BISHOP PHOTOGRAPHY

My friend Callie and her husband Tim have rock-starred their way through the world of homeschool. They’ve raised a smart, friendly, sporty, well-adjusted teenager within the (limitless) boundaries of home education. He’s off to college now, so I sat down with Callie to pick up some pointers. Enjoy!

Tara: What does Grey want to be when he grows up? Callie: Since Grey was very young he wanted to be a paleontologist. Recently he’s talked of majoring in history, archaeology or anthropology. I joke that he wants to major in ‘origin’ology. He sees himself one day being head of the Smithsonian. T: What is your education background? C: I went to public school and I have a BFA in Creative Photography from UF. T: How long have you been homeschooling? C: 12 years.

GIGGLEMAG.COM | OCT/NOV

T: Describe your overall homeschool philosophy:

stalwart, and then we flipped. After that year we were both 100 percent into it.

C: I’ve only recently come to this, but I’m a rabid unschooler. I read John Holt and John Taylor Gatto early on and embraced their ideas, but I didn’t have the guts to put them into practice. If I had it to do over again, it would be unschooling all the way.

T: And homeschooling at 16?

T: How was homeschooling Grey at 8 years old different than homeschooling him at 16 years old? C: Homeschooling at 8 was a little more difficult, but only because I was worried about doing the right thing, or doing enough. There was a time, maybe about a year long, where I would have doubt and Tim was

2013

C: He’s really been doing it himself for many years now. I’m just here for support. T: How is Grey’s day different than that of his traditionally schooled friends? C: He always has enough sleep and we never have to rush to school. There is never homework, so his evenings and weekends are free. He probably has more household chores than his schooled friends. I’ve looked at household chores as part of his education. T: Describe a typical high school homeschool day: C: Well, all of this has changed this fall (now that he’s at Santa Fe), but for the past two years, Continued on page 71

Continued from page 68

Grey would wake, eat, do chores, and then log on to FLVS (Florida Virtual School). He would do his work until he was done, usually around lunch time. After free time, he would go to baseball practice at GHS where he would have practice or games almost year-round. T: Do you feel that Grey is missing out on anything?

clothing, scheduling and entertaining. I guess you could say that I was Grey’s enrichment teacher.

Callie's Tips

T: What about extracurriculars? C: Lots of baseball. And in his free time, he likes to read, and like any good nerd, he prefers science fiction and fantasy.

Callie’s suggestions for families who are homeschooling or considering homeschooling a high schooler:

C: If Grey missed out on anything it was because of baseball and not because of homeschooling. Grey always wanted to play baseball so it took precedent over things like art and music.

C: I would have been a lot less didactic, let him spend more time exploring his interests, and been stricter in regards to media.

Let them read, relax and poke around. Do not allow them to fall into a media coma. It is time spent with their own thoughts that will lead them to their path.

T: Explain how you’ve approached SAT’s, ACT’s, high school diploma, GED, or something else that you’ve done to get to college:

Recognize that it’s more important to do it right than to get it done quickly.

C: Grey has taken the PSAT and the ACT. He scored well enough to dual enroll at UF (which is why I had him take it). He’ll take the SAT when it’s time, and I plan for him to take the GED*. He also had to take a PERT test. It’s a test administered by Santa Fe in order to place students in the appropriate classes.

There are options for homeschooling. If one thing isn’t working, look for something that does. Fortunately with the E-school, Coursera and FLVS there are more options than before.

Personal photos provided by the Williams family.

T: Looking back, what would you have done differently?

Studying at his desk during a typical school day

*My reason for him taking the GED has to do with a call I got from a homeschool mom of a grown man that was applying to be a city police officer. He was already a sheriff's deputy, but GPD wanted him to have a diploma or equivalent. Most employers will overlook this if you’re highly educated, but an employer can require anything. Having Grey take this test is just to cover this base. T: What do you do when you don’t feel comfortable teaching a subject? C: I get Tim to do it! (Or I remind Grey to check YouTube or Kahn Academy when stuck on a concept. You can pretty much learn anything off the internet these days.) I don’t want to sell myself short, though. All of the daily work was still on my plate, plus feeding,

In costume at the Hoggetowne Medieval Faire

Playing base

ball

T: Does Grey have time for part-time work?

Great advice, Callie. Thank You! Until next time...

Tara

C: He’s done odd jobs for friends and neighbors, mostly yard work. He just finished a summer stint with Student Maid. He’s a certified lifeguard and next summer he plans to be a Counselor In Training (CIT) at Camp Crystal. He’s also been volunteering for four years at the Florida Museum of Natural History. T: What about friends? C: Grey is very gregarious and loyal. He has many friends dear to him, and makes sure that he spends as much time as possible with them. This sometimes gets in the way of classes I’d like him to take. 

FOR EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW TO BEGIN HOMESCHOOLING IN ALACHUA COUNTY, VISIT:

sbac.edu

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Everything MoM WANTS. Everything ChildreN loVe. Life Essentials® Life Essentials ® is Kiddie Academy’s proprietary curriculum, supporting programs, methods, activities and techniques that help better prepare children for school and for life. Life Essentials is based on four pillars of education: developmentally appropriate curriculum, technology, health and fitness and character education, giving your child a happier, healthier, more well-rounded foundation for the future.

Curriculum

Technology

• Developmentally appropriate curriculum in every classroom • Music & More by Kindermusik in the classroom and at home

• Health and Fitness incorporate Let's Move! standards • Convenient hours, Monday-Friday, 6:30 am - 6:30 pm • Technology in the classroom • Hot, nutritious meals served family style

Developmentally Appropriate Curriculum

Health and Fitness

Technology

Character Education

Health and Fitness

• Secured webcams

Character Education

Kiddie Academy of Gainesville 6476 Southwest 75th Street Gainesville, FL 32608

352.264.7724

kiddieacademy.com/gainesville 72

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INFANTS • TODDLERS • BEFORE & AFTER SCHOOL • SUMMER CAMP GIGGLEMAG.COM | OCT/NOV

conception2college  EXPECTING Debunking Fertility Myths

 INFANT | 0-2 Are You Spoiling Your Toddler?

 EARLY YEARS | 3-7 Introvert vs. Extrovert

 TWEENS | 8-12 When Puberty Strikes!

 TEENS | 13-18

Photo by Christina Blitch Photography

10 Ways to Help Your High School Athlete Be Recruited

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P RE GNA NCY

Debunking Fertility MythsKnow the Facts About Getting Pregnant Getting pregnant isn’t easy for a lot of people. According to RESOLVE, the National Infertility Association, 7.3 million people in the U.S. suffer from infertility. days of your cycle when you’re most fertile and more likely to conceive, Dr. Minkin suggests tracking your ovulation with a product such as the First Response Digital Ovulation Test. This test is the only one available that tracks your unique hormone levels to determine your personal LH surge, which indicates the 24 to 36 hour period of ovulation.

Dr. Mary Jane Minkin, clinical professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Yale University School of Medicine, debunks some common myths about infertility.

» FERTILITY PROBLEMS ONLY

» HAVING SEX AS MUCH AS

» GETTING PREGNANT WILL

POSSIBLE WILL INCREASE CHANCES OF CONCEPTION Chances of conception are highest during ovulation. To ensure you know the two

HAPPEN RIGHT AWAY ONCE YOU STOP TAKING THE PILL Your body needs time to adjust to new hormone levels and return to your natural cycle. You can get pregnant quickly; however your body will most likely need a period of readjustment. For more information, visit www. firstresponse.com.

Fertility drugs can increase the incidence of twins because they often cause the release of more than one egg during ovulation. Source: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

GIGGLEMAG.COM | OCT/NOV

2013

Myth: Drinking Robitussin before you ovulate will make you fertile. The chemical in Robitussin, guaifensesin, is said to help thin your cervical mucus. This is not true. Myth: Nonorganic bananas can make a man sterile. There is no clinical proof that the chemical used in growing bananas has any link to this. Myth: Green tea boosts fertility. Some research agrees with this, however, some research shows that large amounts of green tea decreases effectiveness of folic acid. Myth: You can control your baby’s sex. You have a 50-50 chance of either a girl or a boy. True story.

OCCUR AFTER AGE 35 While age is a factor in your chances of getting pregnant, it’s not the only one. Endometriosis, irregular periods and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome may limit your chances of becoming pregnant. If you’re in your twenties and have been trying to get pregnant for over a year, or are in your thirties and have been trying for more than six months, see your doctor for evaluation.

MYTH OR FACT?

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infant|toddler

AGE S 0- 2

Are You Spoiling Your Toddler? BY KELLY GOEDE

Who rules the roost at your house? Is it a pint-sized tyrant? Parenting a toddler requires a delicate balance of give and take, choosing your battles and setting boundaries. Satisfying every need and desire without providing necessary discipline and limits will turn your little sweetie into a tiny dictator, making life with her rather unpleasant. So how do you know if you’ve spoiled your toddler? A quick glance at your schedule will offer clues about who is running your house. Are bedtimes all over the map? Are large portions of your day spent battling over food and clothing choices? Are your trips to Target fraught with indulging his requests, just to keep the peace? Toddlers are looking to you as the parent to set and enforce boundaries, and in the absence of your leadership they will act out and attempt to assume control. And many times, parents end up trading in a long-term well-adjusted child for a peaceful child in the moment. When Junior fusses and cries, demanding a toy or a treat, parents can easily fall into the trap of giving in, ultimately rendering themselves powerless for future parenting battles.

after every meal and during every outing to the grocery store. Toddlers thrive with routines and predictable schedules, and their behavior will be the best barometer for how satisfied they feel with their environment.

act out and attempt to assume control. As painful as it may be in the moment, providing consistent structure and limits will yield a much happier toddler in the long run. Treats and indulgences should be occasional occurrences--not

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Of course even unspoiled toddlers have their “moments,” but our job as parents is to soldier on, knowing that we are in it for the long-haul. Temporary setbacks are not an indicator of the overall success of our parenting. 

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We all have kids who have those “I am going to act like a spoiled brat” trigger points. At times, toddlers will be toddlers. So, here are some tips to help you avoid those temper tantrum moments when out and about. Sometimes, it’s about survival! AVOID areas of temptations with your kids. Sometimes it is unavoidable, but if you can catch a free 30 minutes to do it yourself, alone with a latte, do it. GIVE them their own money and let them spend it and teach them the value of a dollar. You will be so surprised that their attitude will change when they have to spend their hard earned money. SHARE with the grandparents and aunts and uncles that they can’t give gifts every time they see them. There are great times to do so, such as birthdays, milestones and holidays, but not every visit. This will make them EXPECT it and can cause for a very ungrateful meltdown.

Without consistency in your parenting, your toddler will become anxious or overly emotional, which may manifest itself in the form of crankiness and anger. The old adage “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” is especially true for parenting your toddler. Talking with them before potentially difficult situations (like shopping or bedtime) and empathizing with them will prepare them for impending boundaries. Saying, “I know it’s hard to stop playing and take your nap” lets Junior know you can see things from his point of view. Prepping your princess before the trek into Target with, “Today is a looking day, Toddlers are looking to you as the parent not a buying one,” and to set and enforce boundaries, and in the then following through will set the tone for the absence of your leadership they will whole shopping trip.

{ Spoil Trap!}

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early years Introvert vs. Extrovert: When You and Your Child Are Opposites

AGE S 3- 7

BY KELLY GOEDE

Although extroversion and introversion seem like opposites, “the authors of Myers-Briggs provide a different

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perspective and suggest that everyone has both an extroverted side and an introverted side, with one being more dominant than the other,” according to Wikipedia. With that in mind, it’s easy to understand how a child who can seem exuberant during certain situations can also hide behind her mother’s back when in a new environment. Even though our children’s temperaments may not be the exact opposite of our own, the difference may be enough to tax our emotional reserves. Mother of three girls, Jill Burgett knows firsthand the joys and challenges of parenting her extroverted daughter, as she (and her two other daughters) are more introverted. “Emma exhausts me,” says Jill, adding, “She has such energy, which tends to peak at times of the day when I think we need more peace.”

also edge our kids out of their comfort zone to grow as well. Jill shares that Emma challenges her, yet she adds, “Being around others brings her such joy that it excites me to see that in her.” 

 WHAT KIND OF

PARENT ARE YOU?

Extroverted parents need to give their introverted child downtime, allowing him to draw energy from his own thought-life. Schedule one-onone time with your child as he will savor being able to have an in-depth conversation with just you. Allow your child ample time to process questions before expecting an answer. Set up playdates with just one or two friends for a less overwhelming playtime.

I contend that the same is true for my daughter, who seems exhausted by the pace of life I set for her, as she would prefer a few quiet hours to unwind and process her day.

Introverted parents need to embrace their extroverted child’s need for time with other people, spending time with them or placing them in group settings where they can interact and socialize. Allow your child to talk freely, letting her choose the topic. Find an outlet for your child, encouraging her to express herself artistically or physically through sports or performing arts.

Parenting your “opposite” doesn’t necessarily always mean tension, as our children stretch us and force us to grow and adapt. And as we are growing, we

Bottom-line for all parents, help your children understand their own temperaments and be open about what makes you tick.

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I have four children. Each one is obviously different, in gender and personality and in temperament. Three of the four are fairly extroverted (as am I), meaning they are gregarious and are energized from being around other people. And one, even though she loves people and being social, draws her energy from time alone, reading, drawing and thinking. The world might label her an introvert, even though she’s not always shy and quiet. This difference in our temperaments has led to some tense moments in our relationship, but it has also led to growth for us both. Other parents I know have experienced similar tension with their children, as they attempt to parent their “opposite.”

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tweens

AGE S 8- 12

When Puberty Strikes!

How to Deal With the "Change" BY KELLY GOEDE

IS IT REALLY Thankfully, in our information-age THAT BAD? with vast social media outlets and numerous ways to connect with others, parents are more equipped than ever to deal with our precious little children turned hormonal. Ironically, the best advice is no different than many years ago. For starters, preparation is key. Start talking about what’s about to take place long before it actually

happens. As much as it may pain you to recall them, share your own stories of how you felt as you were changing. My good friend Lisa (a puberty warveteran) encourages other moms to read up on it, and, “find good stuff that is age-appropriate for your kid to read as well.” On a more practical note, she adds that the best thing for her daughter was “getting her settled with great hygiene habits before it was necessary.” You parents know what this means, right? The TALK. You know the one I’m talking about. The one we’ve put off...it needs to happen BEFORE your child begins to change. It’s up to you to decide how and when, although experts will tell you that several small “talks” are better than a

big one, and opening yourself up to being questioned by your child (without judgment) will assist in dulling the pain of the process. And this is not limited to your same-gendered child--so moms, talk to your son. And dads, your daughter needs you to be the guy in her life who will actually talk with her and answer her honestly (because, as we all know, the answers coming from friends at school are not exactly accurate). While puberty may take its toll on us as parents, Lisa reminds us to be patient because “it doesn’t last forever.” 

Books to Help Your Tween Although our puberty-stricken children may not be the cuddle-bugs they once were, still schedule one-on-one time with them to process what’s going on in their bodies and their minds. Reassure them that these changes are all normal. The more they understand and see they are not alone, the less anxious they will feel as new changes happen.

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 The Care and Keeping of You (The Body Book for Younger Girls) by Valorie Schaefer The What’s Happening to My Body? Book for Boys by Lynda Madaras 

Puberty. A mere mention of the word strikes fear into the hearts of tweens and parents alike. Those who have passed through its gates remember all the angst, hair growth and strange smells that accompany this especially awkward time in adolescence. I mean the word itself just sounds awkward. And those waiting in line for the raging hormone roller-coaster can only imagine what wonders and terrors await once they, too, exit childhood. Parents whose children have already been through puberty are like war heroes in my book. Battle-worn and scarred, they have planted their flag on the other side as a beacon to those of us staring down an uncertain journey and bracing ourselves for the worst our kids can throw at us.

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teens 10 Ways To Help Your High School Athlete Be Recruited AGES 13-1 8

BY MIKE POWELL

The first thing you must know is: This is NOT your father’s athletic recruiting process. So before we get started, let’s test your knowledge of the new college recruitment process. Is each of the following statements true or false? Answers at bottom. ÂÂ The best players (on a team or in the area) will be recruited. ÂÂ Parents in the Booster Club or those who are friends with the coach have improved recruiting chances. ÂÂ Kids have a better shot at being recruited if parents put pressure on coaches to play them more. ÂÂ It is your coach’s job to get you recruited or a college scholarship.

for some and may place others in varying states of depression. We must emphasize that this is a new era, time and place where the old rules don’t necessarily apply. The coach is NOT responsible for getting your athlete a scholarship, or even looks from recruiters. Being the best on your team, tops in the area, or even having a well-connected name doesn’t guarantee it either. What follows are a few time-tested recommendations for anyone who aspires to compete on the collegiate level.

ÂÂ If you are good enough, college programs will find you. ÂÂ You have really good grades, so surely you will be recruited. ÂÂ I am being recruited now because I have multiple letters from college coaches.

Prepare, prepare, prepare! A A) Academically excel and do your best, B) physically train, rest and recover, C) mentally understand your sport, position and team philosophy.

ÂÂ Having a well-known and connected pedigree will guarantee getting recruited.

Be coachable A Have a great work ethic and a great attitude (even while conditioning).

Surprised by the answers? Don't let the myths intimidate you. The recruiting process is exciting! It can be filled with anticipation, great experiences, visits and fun! On the flip side, it can be scary, sobering and cold, as well as heartbreaking

Videotape A Record yourself competing and create at least one highlight tape.

Attend A a few (specifically targeted) camps, combines, coach’s clinics, etc.

Keep statistical info and awards on profile A Verify and don’t inflate numbers.

Contact A coaches to build a relationship or name recognition with them.

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Get real A Acquire an evaluation of your ability and the skill level in which you can compete on. Study recent recruitment history of local athletes of similar size, ability and accolades.

Use social media A to market yourself, but at the same time, be very careful to eliminate negative exposures of you on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Flickr, etc. If all else fails, or if you are uncomfortable handling this process on your own, consider utilizing the skills of a reputable professional with a proven track record of providing exposure for local athletes to be recruited and earn college scholarships. On a final note, treat this process as a game: prepare, play hard, have fun…and most of all, GOOD LUCK! 

Coach Mike Powell, Founder of Mike Powell & Associates – Athletic, Academic & Scholarship Consulting. MikePowellConsulting.com GIGGLEMAG.COM | OCT/NOV

2013

(Answers: F, F, F, F, F, F, F, F, F)

ÂÂ Being highlighted regularly on local TV sports segments will get me recruited.

Start early A There is NO SUBSTITUTE for getting an early start on this process and your future. Many experts recommend that you start as early as 9th-10th grade.

happy community October @ BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH @ APPLEJACK MONTH SEPTEMBER 27-OCTOBER 26

Newberry Cornfield Maze Fridays: 5 – 11 p.m. Saturdays: 3 – 11 p.m. Sundays: 2 – 5 p.m. newberrycornfieldmaze.com OCTOBER 3

Ladies Night Out with LinkedIn Women

Best Western Gateway Grand 5 – 8 p.m. linkedinwomen.com OCTOBER 4-NOVEMBER 5

Rogers Farm Fall Festival Fridays: 5 p.m. – Midnight Saturdays: 10 a.m. – Midnight Sundays: 1– 7p.m. rogersfarm.webplus.net OCTOBER 4

United Way Paint Downtown Orange & Blue 6 – 10 p.m. Downtown SE 1st Street 352.331.2800

OCTOBER 4-NOVEMBER 3RD

Coon Hollo Corn Maze Fridays: 4 – 9 p.m. Saturdays: Noon – 9 p.m. Sundays: 2 – 7 p.m. coonhollocornmaze.com

OCTOBER 10

OCTOBER 19

Unity Day - Rally and March Against Bullying

4th Annual Gainesville Kids Triathlon

4 p.m. Bo Diddley Community Plaza centerforpeacebuilding.org OCTOBER 11

March of Dimes Baby & Kids Consignment Sale 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Abiding Savior Lutheran Church on Newberry Road Contact: elainealmond@yahoo.com OCTOBER 11

Gators vs Arkansas Ben Hill Griffin Stadium

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OCTOBER 19

McIntosh Fall 1890’s Festival 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. townofmcintosh.org OCTOBER 19

Gators at Missouri Columbia, MO

OCTOBER 19-20

Butterflyfest at Florida Museum of Natural History

ParaNorman tiogatowncenter.com

10 a.m. – 5 p.m. flmnh.ufl.edu/butterflyfest

OCTOBER 12

OCTOBER 20

GFAA Art Festival at Thornebrook Village

Titletown Hoedown

Thornebrook Village Shopping Center 352.377.0996

4 – 8:00 p.m. Benefitting the Early Learning Coalition Rembert Farm titletownhoedown.org

OCTOBER 12

32nd Annual Dog Days Run 8 – 11 a.m. Westside Park 352.334.2186 OCTOBER 12

Gators at LSU Baton Rouge, LA OCTOBER 17-20

Just Between Friends Sale

2340 North Main Street (Former Big Lots) gainesville.jbfsale.com OCTOBER 18

OCTOBER 24

UF Panhellenic Ghouls, Goblins and Greeks Time: TBA UF Sorority Row OCTOBER 26

Noche de Gala

7 p.m. – Midnight Besilu Collection, Micanopy, FL 6th Annual Noche de Gala in support of the Shands Hospital for Children at the University of Florida nochedegala.org

Haile Oktoberfest

OCTOBER 26

OCTOBER 18-26

9 a.m. Rembert Farm colormerad.com

Alachua County Fair

Alachua County Fairgrounds alachuacountyfair.com

Citizen’s Field 352.637.2475

Tioga Town Center’s Movies on the Square

5 – 10:00 p.m.

OCTOBER 5

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2013

Color Me Rad

OCTOBER 26

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 9 a.m. Downtown Gainesville makingstrides.acsevents.org OCTOBER 26

O2BKids Spooktacular 6 – 10 p.m. O2BKids Supercenter o2bkids.com OCTOBER 26

Lubee Bat Festival 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Lubee Bat Conservancy FREE ADMISSION batconservancy.org OCTOBER 26-27

39th Annual Micanopy Fall Harvest Festival

November @ CHILD SAFETY PROTECTION MONTH @ NATIONAL ADOPTION AWARENESS MONTH NOVEMBER 2

Gators vs Georgia 3:30 p.m. Jacksonville, FL NOVEMBER 7

5th Annual Gainesville Gone Austin

6 p.m. Hitchcock Farm at Santa Fe River Ranch gainesvillegoneaustin.org NOVEMBER 8

Saturday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sunday 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. micanopyfallfestival.org

UF Homecoming Parade

OCTOBER 27

NOVEMBER 8

Sunny’s Howl-A-Palooza 3 – 6 p.m. Sun Country Sports Center Jonesville Benefitting the March of Dimes suncountrysports.com OCTOBER 31

Happy Halloween!

NOVEMBER 22

United Downtown 6 – 10 p.m. Downtown SE 1st Street 352.331.2800

NOVEMBER 22 – DECEMBER 22

A Tuna Christmas

The Hippodrome State Theatre thehipp.org NOVEMBER 23 – DECEMBER 22

A Christmas Carol

The Hippodrome State Theatre thehipp.org NOVEMBER 28

Happy Thanksgiving!

Trick or Treat on Main Street in Alachua 6 p.m.

OCTOBER 31

Boo at the Zoo

3 – 7:30 p.m. Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo sfcollege.edu/zoo

TIPS

Black Friday

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Noon gatorgrowl.com

Tioga Town Center’s Movies on the Square Hook tiogatowncenter.com NOVEMBER 9

Gators vs Vanderbilt (Homecoming Game)

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Alachua Harvest Festival 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

OCTOBER 31

SEE OUR

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NOVEMBER 11

Happy Veterans Day!

NOVEMBER SUN

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Downtown Festival and Art Show 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. gvlculturalaffairs.org

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s! but not idea

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Visit gigglemag.com to see everything else we have up our sleeve!

BLACK FRIDAY! BY NICOLE IRVING

lack Friday shopping actually begins on Thursday now. Stores are open and sale fliers are posted in time for you to scurry out of the house as the men clean up the kitchen from that wonderful Thanksgiving feast. For the last two years, the ladies of Giggle Magazine, with their tummies full of turkey and yams, have braved the crowds to tackle the Black Friday shopping craze in search of all things on sale. Here are some of their tips for a successful Black Friday shopping experience!

Wear sneakers, layers and carry a light purse you can put over your shoulder, back, or messenger style.

Make a list and collect sale fliers before go time. Plan what you want to buy and where to go before you head out.

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Stop and eat. Shopping can work up an appetite. Our favorite tradition: Steak ‘N Shake at 3 a.m. It’s a party in there!

Make copies of your lists and share: if you split up in the store, someone can help you look for your top items. Last year, I had all the girls looking for an outdoor fireplace in every store we went into. It was my must-have item!

Have someone stand in line and wait. This way, standing in line to check out won’t take up precious shopping time, and you can trade off so that everyone can do their shopping.

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Patience is key. Bring lots.

Pack hand sanitizer and a small container of baby wipes. Remember that it is cold season.

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on Twitter! Follow me mag azine @giggle

meet

ALLISON Meet Allison Raber. She is our wonderful art director, graphic designer, lover of all kinds of cake and just as huge of a Harry Potter fan as our publisher! She is the creator of all things "artsy" at Giggle Magazine! Allison joined Giggle Magazine in July and we are so happy to have her with us! Favorite book I have so many, its hard to pick just one. I am currently rereading the "Anne of Green Gables" series and imagining myself on Prince Edward Island. Favorite tea I'm from Mayo, Florida, so sweet for sure! I also like the Celestial Seasonings line for hot tea. Favorite Color Green. Lime, olive, hunter, I love 'em all! Harry Potter or Twilight? Harry Potter every time...I even have a wand in my office! Last movie you saw in the theater "The World's End." Can't turn down an all-English cast. Favorite type of cake Birthday cake! Vanilla with homemade marshmallow frosting. I really love cake. What do you love about working at Giggle magazine? Every day is like hanging out with your friends and I get to make pretty things! Want to see what inspires Allison? Follow Allison's Pinterest board on the Giggle Magazine Pinterest feed!

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miss our Dec * Jan ISSUE

LAST MINUTE GIFTS,CELEBRATING A NEW YEAR, HOLIDAY FESTIVITIES, YUMMY COOKIES AND TREATS AND MUCH MORE Subscribe now online!

Take multiple cars. This way, if someone wants to leave early or go to another spot and start shopping there, they can.

CLICK!

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