The Good Stuff 8&9
Good News
12 - 14
Good Products
Make Every Day Earth Day!
16 & 17
Good People
Lisa Kanos co-owner of Magnolia Grille Eric Mabie owner of Bodies by Design
18 & 19
Good Adventures
Carnival Cruises for families and Global Day of Prayer in Jacksonville TM
Join Us Online! Be sure to visit our website often to see what’s going on with: Hot Topics Good Events Good Causes Good Eating… and more Like us on Facebook for good stuff updates and new contests. Sign up for the E-GoodNewsletter. Contact us with your story ideas or event information. TampaBayGoodLiving.com
24 & 25
Good Eating
Cooking Faster and Healthier Meals
Features Springtime Crafts
22 & 23
Jessica Sykes creates simple and special projects for Mother’s Day gifts
Good Gardening with Jai
26 & 27
Master Organic Gardener Jai Hambly of Clearwater dishes about organic foods and growing fruit.
30 & 31 Are Your Kids Home Alone on the Internet? Linda Rodante covers the dangers of unsupervised internet usage and provides tips for parents.
Happy Earth Day
32 & 33
GoodLiving’s top five recycling stories About the Cover
On this issue’s cover is The Hutchinson family from Wesley Chapel, Tony, Debbie, Brittany and Mark. Daughter Brittany’s essay is our featured “My Story.”
Unexpected Poisons
36 & 37
Parents of young children need to look for the less obvious ways a child may accidentally get poisoned
38
My Story by Brittany Hutchison Wanting to inspire other teens who face hardship, 17-year old Brittany shares her kidney transplant story.
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Publisher Light Shine Media Group, LLC
Editor-in-Chief Pamela Ray
This issue is dedicated to my mom, Darlene, who fights the ravages of MS everyday with a quiet strength. And to my dad, Mike, who cares for her every need. Thank you for loving my mother so much.
Contributing Writers Linda Rodante Jessica Sykes Jai Hambly Brittany Hutchinson
Associate Publisher for Sales and Marketing Jennifer Harvey
Design and Layout Marcie Frieling
Cover Art Greg Harvey Website WP by Design Distribution Lee Shiflett DistribuTech
GoodLiving™ Magazine & TampaBayGoodLiving.com P.O. Box 1795 Oldsmar, Florida 34677 (727) 776-3656 info@goodlivingmag.com
FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION advertising@goodlivingmag.com or (727) 373-8486 GoodLiving™ magazine is a publication of Light Shine Media Group, LLC and is distributed to readers at no charge to targeted locations in Pinellas, Hillsborough and southern Pasco Counties. It is available as a digital publication at TampaBayGooodLiving.com. All photographs, artwork, design and editorial are the sole property of GoodLiving™ magazine and Light Shine Media Group, LLC. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written permission. GoodLiving™ magazine and Light Shine Media Group, LLC are not responsible for statements made by advertisers and writers for any consequences arising from omissions or errors. Readers should verify the advertising information of the advertisers and all specials are valid to the expiration date set by the advertiser. GoodLiving™ magazine and Light Shine Media Group, LLC reserve the right to refuse any advertising for any reason. The views expressed in the publication are not necessarily those of the publisher. All rights reserved.
...from the Editor Welcome to our Spring Issue! Inside we are celebrating Earth Day with a roundup of eco-friendly products that demonstrate just how much greener we are becoming. Most exciting is the increasing number of concerned citizens who are turning their passions into products and new companies. Many of these entrepreneurs are moms who have stepped out in faith to make the world a cleaner and safer place for their children. Notice the three companies featured in Good Products that were started by women who developed their own line of products. These three women alone have given us solutions that weren’t here before and we owe it to them to at least learn why their healthier or greener alternatives are better for us. Mother’s Day is also approaching and Jessica Sykes has created some thoughtful and feminine gift ideas that are just right for moms and grandmas this Mother’s Day. We can look at both Earth Day and Mother’s Day as celebrations of giving, nurturing, feeding and sustaining life. Where would we be without the life-giving gifts we get from God’s Earth? We’re already seeing what happens if we are not responsible stewards of this gift. Where would we be without mothers? It’s obvious there would be no human life to enjoy the planet if not for the wombs of women. So I believe it’s completely natural that women are making such a strong impact when it comes to protecting the earth’s resources and keeping it clean for future generations. Who better than a woman, who is designed to birth and nurture life, to understand the importance of protecting the earth, the other giver of life? On behalf of everyone with GoodLiving magazine, I say “thank you” to all the moms out there for being such fierce protectors of your children and for taking actions that are making your families, and our communities, stronger and healthier. GoodLiving is proud to feature editorial content that supports you in that important work and we welcome your story ideas. We also thank our advertisers who bring additional value to the publication by sharing their good products and services with our readers. Happy Earth Day and Happy Mother’s Day!
Pamela Ray GoodLiving /Volume II, Issue 2
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news Pool Safety Month Attend the H20 Expo at the USF St. Petersburg swimming pool, Saturday, May 7th from 10 am to 2 pm. Activities include in-pool swim evaluations, water fitness for teens, water games for all ages, refreshments, healthy cooking demos and information about pool safety and swim lessons. Special appearance by Olympic gold Treats for Troops medal winner, Brooke Bennett. Since May is National Pool Safety Month, it’s also good time to double check your pool’s layers of protection, even if you don’t have small children. Those layers are You, Inside the Home, Outside the Home and the Pool Area. To learn more about those layers, visit FloridaSafePools.com. Pinellas County residents can find a form on that site to request a free pool check conducted by local fire departments. And you may qualify for a free door alarm.
Treats for Troops from Tampa In five years, volunteers have shipped an impressive 4.5 million homemade cookies to the troops as part of the Treats for Troops initiative headquartered in Tampa. Donations of cookies, other treats, hygiene items and more come from all 50 states and every penny of donated money is spent on supplies or postage, which runs about $60,000 a month. Right now donations are down and they need groups to do plastic bag drives. Simply hand out zip top bags and get people to fill them with toiletry items to be sent directly to servicemen and women who do not have access to these products while serving in remote locations. Cookies are always welcome, so they’re asking those who like to bake to fire up their ovens and help make someone’s day. To get baking guidelines send an email to Karin_King@yahoo.com. Personal letters and cards are special treats for our lonely soldiers, too.
Florida Green School Awards Program
The best place to connect is on their Treats for Troops Facebook page.
Deadline to apply for an award as part of the Florida Green School Awards Program is June 21, 2011. The awards recognize and document the achievement of students, teachers and school administrators to enhance learning through the implementation of Green School initiatives in Florida. The Florida Green School Awards Program is designed for public, private and home school students in Florida only. The awards program only recognizes projects that have been completed between the period of June 1, 2010 and May 31, 2011. Apply at CanopySoftware.com/greenschools.
Jems Natural Living Opens A new retail store that carries a wide selection of natural and organic items has recently opened, offering skin care items, vitamins, supplements, mattresses, clothing, baby items, kitchen items, garden items, organic food, pet products and more. Support sustainable living by buying local. Find Jems in Citrus Falls Commons Plaza, 11909 Sheldon Road in Tampa. You can also find them on Facebook to see a longer list of what they carry to help you live more naturally.
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news Operation Medicine Cabinet Properly dispose of your expired and unused medications during Operation Medicine Cabinet. Sponsored by the Pinellas County Diversion Task Force Coalition, in partnership with the LiveFree! Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Pinellas County, Event is Saturday, April 30, 2011 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at select Sweetbay and Walgreens stores. To find the closest location to you, enter your zip code at Justice.gov/dea.
Share your good news. Send stories to news@goodlivingmag.com
Every Child Makes a Difference Winners Two local young people received awards at a red carpet gala at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, as part of the Every Child Makes a Difference promotion sponsored by After Hours Pediatrics. Adults in the community were asked to nominate amazing kids that have reached out help others and made a difference. Tampa area winners were Aiden Hawk (8) and Grace Hasha (17), taking home a price package valued at $2,500 in addition to a crystal star trophy, an actual star in the sky named in their honor and prizes from Radio Disney. Aiden was recognized for his demonstrated bravery in dealing with many health struggles throughout his entire life, while continually showing compassion for other sick children. He recently dedicated himself to raising money for All Children’s Hospital, a very familiar place to him. Aiden asked all of his friends, family, neighbors and schoolmates to donate their loose change, and he successfully raised $828. In a live radio interview, Aiden said, “I am only 8 years old and I raised $828 and I challenge you to give and care about the sick kids as much as I do.” Grace was recognized for her service-oriented heart. During her 9th and 10th grade years, Grace volunteered 100 hours tutoring children at a home for abused women, and then recruited her friends to help out too. Starting in 8th grade, she began helping with Sunday School at Heartland Church East Campus, which set in motion a desire to reach out to the area’s poorest children. Last year, she raised $3,000 for nursery items for the church. She does all this despite suffering from a rare neurological pain disorder. Her success with dance to transcend the pain has led to her decision to pursue a career as a dance/movement therapist to continue serving others.
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products Make Every Day Earth Day Product Guide
Make a statement with these 100% organic cotton eco-totes that boldly proclaim that GREEN IS GOOD. Two interior slit pockets keep your keys and cell phone within reach. $27 at Haydenharnett.com (1) Replace energy hungry 60-watt incandescent bulbs with the Sylvania Ultra A-Line LED bulbs. As 12 watt LED bulbs, they are the brightest LED replacement, while giving off a warmer light that is preferred in a home setting. Uses 80% less energy and lasts 25 times longer than the 60-watt incandescent. It is also dimmable and mercury free. $40 retail at Lowe’s. (2) Eco-friendly BioBag products include tall kitchen bags, food waste bags, lawn bags and dog waste bags. BioBag is the world’s largest brand of certified compostable bags and films made with GMO free starch, compostable polymer and other renewable resources. No polyethylene is used because they guarantee their products will never compromise our earth. Prices vary. Biobagusa.com (3)
Solar outdoor lighting by Allsop Home & Garden in a yard is convenient, hassle free, “green” and beautiful. Their selection includes large single lanterns, strings of smaller lanterns, glass balls and other decorative lighting options. Enjoy mood lighting without power cords. Allsopgarden.com
Just in time for Earth Day and to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Magic Tape, Scotch brand is launching their Scotch Magic Eco-Friendly Tape. Same great stick but now made from more than 75% renewable or recycled materials. Under $4 for a refillable dispenser and a roll of tape where you buy tape. (4) April is Water Conservation Month and you can do your part by purchasing a FloWise® showerhead. Patented turbine technology creates a powerful, invigorating spray, while using 40% less water. Replacing an older showerhead can save a family of four approximately 11,000 gallons of water annually. Manufactured by American Standard, they meet or exceed the EPA’s WaterSense® program requirements for high performance and water efficiency. Multiple styles. Search online to find the best price. (5) It’s easy to be green everyday when you carry any of Zebra Pen’s eco-friendly pen products. Each product in Zebra Pen’s Eco line is made from over 70% of post-consumer waste using, car headlights, CD’s, cellular phones, plastic shopping bags and car battery encasements. The Sarasa Eco-Clip Gel Retractable Pen for $1.99 is sold at office supply stores. Zebrapen.com. (6)
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products
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4
5 6
Women-owned companies changing our world The mission of The Willow Store is to sell products that are reusable and not disposable, saving the earth and saving money at the same time. Shop for feminine pads that maximize absorption, while minimizing bulk and a reversible, one-size diaper system that provides fit and ultra-thin absorbency. Made from all-natural, certified organic cotton and hemp fabric. Training pants, wipes, blankets and nursing pads also at Willowpads.com.
Original Sprout products are bio-degradable, vegan, nanoparticle-free hair and skin care products. Invented by a master hair stylist and mom, they free of phthalates, phytoestrogens, soy, gluten, animal products, parabens, and propylene glycol with no added dioxanes or formaldehydes. Free of skin penetrators & photosensitizers (plasticizers & nanoparticles). Extracts are certified organic. All products are E.U. Directive Compliant with full label disclosure of ingredients. Purchase online at Originalsprout.com. The Happy Gardener online store offers an exclusive line of organic, eco-friendly products for indoor plants, container gardening, outdoor gardening and lawns. Shop for plant foods, pest control, soil amendments to keep them all healthy. Plus garden tools, composters and rain barrels. Their planters can be seen at Disneyworld and Busch Gardens. Visit Thehappygardener.info and see the full line of products or order a catalog.
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products A GoodLiving Mystery Shopper went to Costco in Clearwater to see what organic foods can be purchased at a warehouse store. It’s quite a list of options and a good sign that more people are asking for healthy options and retailers are listening. The lesson here is if you don’t see something you want, ask for it!
Organic Meat Ground beef Boneless/skinless thighs Boneless/skinless breasts Whole chickens
4.33 lb 3.76 lb 5.99 lb 2.29 lb
Organic Produce Carrots Spinach Spring mix Sliced apples
5.99 for 5 lbs 4.29 lb 3.49 lb 7.99 for (8) 6 oz. bags
Organic Frozen Supersweet Corn Green Beans 4 Mixed Vegetables
5.59 for 5 lbs 6.19 for 5 lbs 5.99 for 5 lbs
Organic Cold Foods Butter Acai Juice Carrot Juice Orange Juice Silk Soy Milk Whole Milk 1% Milk Heavy Cream Half and Half
6.99 for 2 lbs 9.99 for (2) 32 oz bottles 7.29 for (3) 32 oz bottles 6.99 gallon 6.99 for (3) half gallons 9.99 (3) half gallons 8.99 for (3) half gallons 3.35 qt 1.69 qt
Organic Dry Foods (partial list) Chocolate Milk Animal Crackers Peanut Butter Agave Nectar Tomato Sauce Diced Tomatoes Chicken Stock Instant oatmeal Annie’s Cheddar Bunnies
Growing Up with a Bucket Full of Happiness: Three Rules for a Happier Life by Carol McCloud If parents or teachers take a few hours to read and discuss the contents of this book, a child’s life may be changed forever. This remarkable book takes a step in the right direction by giving parents and educators a simple, effective teaching tool to help prevent some significant societal problems like teen suicide and bullying. The book covers a number of difficult subjects with colorfullyillustrated chapters, thought-provoking questions, and relevant examples of real-life situations. The basic concept is that we are each responsible for our own bucket and we will all live happier lives when our buckets are full. To get there: • Be a bucket filler through kindness, doing your best and surrounding yourself with other bucket fillers • Don’t be a bucket dipper by being mean, thoughtless, neglectful, cheating or copying the dippers seen on TV • Use your lid to protect yourself from meanness and hurt, along with how to deal with situations that dip into your bucket, and how to protect other people’s buckets • What do when your bucket tips over from a tragic loss like death or divorce McCloud’s goal is clear: she wants people of all ages to learn and experience, through daily practice, the value of understanding, kindness, resiliency, and courage in a world that isn’t always kind. A companion journal is also available.
11.88 for (18) 8 oz boxes 8.49 for 64 oz 8.69 for 56 oz 7.89 for 47 oz. 7.15 for 12 cans 7.69 for 8 cans 10.89 for (6) 32 oz cartons 9.99 for 55 packets 9.99 for 28 packs
This list was compiled based on availability, visibility and prices on the day the store was visited, and is meant only as a rough guide. GoodLiving is not responsible for any omissions or incorrect representations.
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McCloud’s first book, “Have You Filled a Bucket Today?” has the same concept, but is appropriate for ages 4 and up. A winner of eight awards, every preschool and kindergarten class needs at least one. All of Carol McCloud’s books are available at Shop.BucketFillers101.com Buy some for the young people in your life or buy them to donate to a local school or youth organization.
people Lisa Kanos The entire family is part of the transition when a foster child leaves, which often times involves helping the biological parents prepare for the child’s arrival. “One time the kids helped us put together the crib and we celebrated the reunion.” Lisa tries to maintain her relationship with other moms so she can continue to be a support. “For some it’s just updates on Facebook, but we have also been invited to birthday parties.” Lisa credits Eckerd Community Alternatives for this new approach to foster parenting. As if eight kids weren’t enough work, Jaime and Lisa also wanted to do something about hunger. They already do a great job of this for customers seven days a week at their family-owned restaurant, the Magnolia Grille in Palm Harbor. But there’s always more. Lisa learned of an organization called “Change This World” and now the Magnolia Grille is raising money to purchase 50,000 meal packets to be delivered to Haiti.
She’s not sure where it came from; it’s just always been there. It was the same with her husband. So when they began their lives together, it was a given they would spend that life helping children. During their 14 years of marriage, Jaime and Lisa Kanos, created two beautiful children, Caroline and Alex, adopted two more beautiful children, Lauren and Eli, fostered eight other children and helped countless others as advocates with the Guardian Ad Litem program. Right now their house is overflowing with love and eight precious children. “What I like about being a foster parent is working alongside the biological parents, encouraging them and giving them a support system to draw from,” said Lisa. “From my experience, the parents are good people who want to be good parents, but haven’t been given the tools. Many of them were foster children themselves and never had a support system.” Sending a child back to the biological parents is both the goal and a joy for Lisa. “I want to use my experience to help them be successful, rather than taking their child away and leaving them to fend for themselves. As a society, isn’t that what we should be doing for each other anyway?”
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“Once we raise the money, we will need about 150 volunteers to pack dehydrated food into the individual packets and then put loaded pallets onto trucks.” She says she likes knowing that something she touched with love and a prayer will go to help another human being. The fundraiser is called Feed3: Our family feeding your family feeding their family. To participate, just head to Magnolia Grille on a Sunday for a delicious meal of southern favorites that is served family style. The restaurant will donate 25 percent of the proceeds to the Feed3 fund. This special will continue until the money is raised. Lisa says the next fundraiser will support a local charity. If Palm Harbor is too far to drive for a meal, go to Magnoliagrille.net for links to donate cash or buy a t-shirt to support the cause. The site also has online volunteer registration and groups are encouraged to sign up.
people
Eric Mabie
Eric Mabie, personal trainer, business owner and non-profit president, has just added inventor to his long list of accomplishments. A lifelong student of health and fitness, Eric developed his Bodies by Design training system that is shared with clients at his studio of the same name in Palm Harbor. On a recent trip to Kaui, he was inspired to fulfill his vision of creating an organic, whole food nutrition bar. Shortly after that trip, the Kawaii® Bar was born. According to Eric, he wants to help people achieve optimal health and wellbeing, so he used his knowledge to come up with a formula that uses cold-processed, raw superfoods, 100% certified organic ingredients and plant-based proteins such as brown rice and hemp. The bars contain no soy, which can cause digestive issues. They are USDA certified organic, gluten free and produced with solar energy. The Kawaii® Bar tastes like a brownie and can be purchased at Kawaiibar.com. A percentage of the proceeds will go to New World of Hope, a charity Eric started to raise money for his friends Molly and Joe Bail who built and now run a hospital and orphanage in AIDs-ravaged Kenya. To learn about their mission, go to SpringsofHopeKenya.org.
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adventures This Year, Set Sail for Summer Camp
Looking for a summer camp idea that includes the whole family and maybe a bunch of friends and family too? Then take a cruise with Carnival right out of our own Port of Tampa. All ships out of Tampa offer a secure on-board camp that entertains and occupies children while their parents get some quiet vacation time to hit the spa, swim, read a book or have an uninterrupted adult conversation. Camp Carnival has three age groups, 2 – 5, 6 – 8 and 9 – 11. They also offer Circle C for ages 12 – 14 and Club O2 for ages 15 – 17. For Camp Carnival, activities vary for each group and include supervised time at the pool or waterslide, plus age appropriate games, dance parties, talent shows, story time and movies inside Camp Carnival. The camp is staffed by trained professionals whose sole purpose is to entertain your child for no extra cost – and keep him safe. Children are issued identification wristbands at a mandatory emergency procedures training session for parents. Parents also get a dedicated cell phone to have direct access to the camp. But once the formalities are through, the fun starts and kids have virtually non-stop activities for the length of the cruise. Day time hours match with the activities of the cruise,
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with extended camp time while in port, allowing parents time in places like Grand Cayman or Cozumel without the little ones if they so desire. Camp Carnival also has pizza parties and movie nights so parents can have romantic couple time at dinner or take in a show. For night owls, babysitting services are available from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. at an extra cost. The amount of time the kids spend at camp is up to the parents; use it as much or as little as wanted. Camp Carnival is way more than babysitting; it is a planned vacation experience for the littlest cruisers and they are serious about showing them a good time and making memories. Cruising is a great vacation for everyone, but parents of toddlers, preschoolers and younger elementary ages will especially benefit from Camp Carnival. Plan the trip with several other families and take advantage of the structured time for the kids and the guilt-free time to build your adult friendships. Carnival Cruises are easy on the budget too since most of the entertainment and dining options are included in the ticket price. So if gas prices are holding you close to home this summer, drive no further than downtown Tampa and get all the way to Mexico and back.
adventures More e Reasons to Visit Jacksonville a acksonville Stay at the recently n renovated and expanded ntly d Omni Amelia Island I Plantation, a destination destinatioon island resort that h harmonizes with nature on hat n 1,350 acres surrounded r rrounded by the Atlantic Ocean Ocean, n, green marshlands n and the Intracoastal Waterway.. nds The world will be looking at Jacksonville, Florida Saturday, June 11 as it becomes the worldwide anchor city for the Global Day of Prayer. An appropriate choice because of its rich history, Jacksonville’s status as the “spiritual gateway” to North America was earned in 1564 when French Huguenots erected a cross at Fort Caroline. This sparked the first Christian celebration in the new world. In 2011, tens of thousands of Christians from around the world will join together at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Stadium to lead the global event from Florida’s River City. An estimated 300 million Christians around the world will be gathering in large and small events to watch the broadcast and pray for all the nations. The God Channel will stream the event live. Learn more at Globaldayofprayer.com. This “experience of a lifetime” is easily accessible from Tampa Bay and since it’s during summer break, can be combined with a mini vacation that also includes Jacksonville Beach and St. Augustine.
Celebrate the 4th 4 of July at the Independence Day celebration with its majestic i fireworks show over the St. Johns Riverr in ic Downtown Jacksonville ckksonville or at the Liberty Celebration at Jacksonville Be Beach each which also has fireworks, live music and family activities. Do some fishing July 17 – 23 as part of The Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament presented by Southern Ford Dealers, which is the largest kingfish tournament in the country. Also includes a Junior Angler tournament. Experience nature at the Tree Hill Nature Center, an interactive and natural experience with 50 acres of trails, a natural history museum, butterfly and hummingbird gardens and live animal displays. Explore the largest urban parks system in the country which offers outdoor experiences for every level of adventure from bird watching to kayaking the creeks and hiking trails. Stroll along the Riverwalk at the St. Johns River for great views and stop by The Jacksonville Landing for a familyfriendly festival, concert or meal. Continue along the Riverwalk to experience Riverside Arts Market, Florida’ largest weekly, free arts festival. More details about events and accommodations can be found at VisitJacksonville.com.
Isebel Spangenberg
Photo courtesy of Visit Jacksonville. Jacksonville’s signature waterfall fireworks close the annual Light Parade held on the St. Johns River.
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SPRINGTIME CRAFTS There seems to be nothing like the beginning of Spring for me. It’s a time when all things become new again. My perspective changes and I gain a spring (get it, get it?) in my step as the weather draws me outside and flowers begin to peek out in bloom. The sky seems bluer, the grass and trees a more vibrant green. So it becomes inevitable that this newness instills an urge to create, appealing to my girly, crafty side. As I pondered these crafts for this issue, I wanted to appeal to the freshness of Spring with soft colors and a floral motif. But I also wanted to consider crafts that are both lovely and useful as we anticipate both Easter and Mother’s Day. The following three projects would make the perfect gift for the special grandmother, mother, or woman in your life.
No Sew Eyeglasses Case Materials: potholder fabric glue clothes pins 1. Buy a pot holder (preferably square shaped) 2. Cut off the loop 3. Using fabric glue, run a line of glue on the top and left side of the potholder. 4. Fold it up and press firmly. 5. Secure edges with clothespins until completely dry. It should be illegal that this is so fast and easy!
Chiffon Flower Corsage 1.Cut 20-25 circles using a round object like a drinking glass as a template. 2.Taking one circle, fold in half, and then fold in half again. 3.Do step #2 with 3-5 circles at a time and secure them with a few stitches with needle and thread. 4.Continue adding the bunches until you have used all your circles. 5.Once you have a ball shape, stitch the flower to a generous length of 1-1.5 inch width of satin ribbon. You have made a beautiful corsage! Other ideas: A headband, napkin, rings, or wrap a gift!
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Kid Craft: Paper & Button Flowers Materials: paper flowers and leaves coordinating buttons floral wire 1. Using a straight pin or pencil point, poke 2 holes in the center of the flower to line up with your button. (Adult assistance might be needed for this step). 2. Poke floral stem through back of flower through one hole while guiding it through one hole of your button. 3. Bring the same end piece down through the other buttonhole and out through the back of the flower. Twist wire to secure, 4. Fold and bend paper leaves to look more realistic and glue them to the stems with craft glue. Arrange in a vase for a beautiful bouquet that will last longer and hold more meaning then the real thing!
If you would like a complete photo tutorial that photographs each step on all three of these projects, please visit www.twoshadesofpink.com. Each project can be found in Archives.
Jessica is happily married and mom of two ridiculously cute daughters. A writer, versatile crafter, and amateur sewer, she writes a fun blog over at TwoShadesofPink.com sharing about her family, creativity, and her faith.
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eating Cooking Faster and Healthier Meals You can do it with these new kitchen tools
The beginning of fast food for busy families was the Swanson TV Dinner.
The war was over and life in suburbia was underway in America- when along came Gerry Thomas in 1954. His invention of the Swanson’s TV Dinner provided a quick and cheap meal option that went along with the era’s fascination with television. Fast food restaurants, supermarkets and processed food quickly became the norm as more mothers went into the workforce, but still needed to feed their families. So here we sit, some 50 years later inundated with the battle cry of “stop childhood obesity” and a lineup of food options that leaves us empty of nutrients and fills us with chemicals we don’t need. Looking back we can see where things went wrong, but now that we’re busier than ever, who has time to learn to cook all that good stuff from scratch? It may be easier than you think with these three kitchen tools that cut food preparation time, while encouraging the use of whole, fresh foods.
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The Modern Pressure Cooker The first product to be discussed is actually a popular item with our grandmothers and great grandmothers: the pressure cooker. An unofficial poll (unscientifically administered on Facebook) found that generally women didn’t know about pressure cookers, but some had vague memories of grandma using one. The idea of cooking with sealed-in steam pre-dates the TV dinner by 295 years. French physicist Denis Papin realized his invention cooked food rapidly, required less fuel and tenderized tough meat. The tool evolved and debuted at the New York World’s Fair in 1939. Today, pressure cooking is the same; it’s the cookers that have improved. For this article, a six quart, stainless steel Ecomatic from Kuhn Rikon was used. (At the time of writing, KuhnRikon.com will direct buyers to a site that has it on special for $99.99.) The first recipe tried was beef bourguignon In an hour, there was an affordable meal fit for company with the most tender stew meat ever cooked. Second try was split pea soup, a favorite that takes four to six hours in a soup pot. It took only a few minutes to throw in all the ingredients, seal it and wait. In about 30 minutes, smooth and nutritious soup was being served and all the veggie goodness got locked inside with the steam. It does potatoes, brown rice, lentils, green beans and carrots in a snap, but here’s when I became a believer. I made a delicious pot roast that fell apart, complete with potatoes and carrots in less than an hour using a slow cooker flavor packet. The thought of having high pressure on the stove was a little scary, but turns out it wasn’t a big deal. Once the food is loaded you bring up the temperature, seal the lid and watch for the pressure valve to pop up. The valve has two red lines to monitor low and high pressure that you control by adjusting the heat, depending on the recipe. Once time is up, remove from heat, grab a wooden spoon and press the valve down to release all pressure before releasing the lid. The pressure cooker is my new BKF, best kitchen friend, and it can be yours too for home cooked meals that cook tender, fast and nutritious.
eating
Nuwave Infrared Oven Next on the list is the Nuwave Infrared Oven. I have to admit that I was skeptical at first because it didn’t look like much – a bottom tray, a clear dome and a burner at the top with a timer. I put it to work, and wow, Nuwave performed some amazing feats. One night, faced with no dinner plans and no desire to eat out, I popped in some frozen chicken thighs and baked them to perfection in about 30 minutes. Much of the fat dripped into the pan below to be discarded. Lean pork chops were tender and delicious with only some barbecue rub and a little sauce in 20 minutes. I love the Nuwave and the pressure cooker for their ability to cook cheaper cuts of meat better than other methods. For vegetables, they both give me more variety at a time savings. Roasting vegetables in the Nuwave is convenient and fast, plus you can bake apples, sweet potato fries and stuffed bell peppers among others. Their cookbook is full of recipes and they have a cooking club to exchange recipes at Nuwavecookingclub.com. Nuwave is so portable you can take it in the camper or even tailgating. It is energy efficient and creates much less heat in the kitchen than an oven. It’s fast and can cook frozen food when you’re pressed for time. Catch the wave and enjoy home cooked meals in half the time of your oven. Visit Mynuwave.com to see their video. Nuwave retails for around $120, but shop around for the best price.
Vitamix Blender Who says a blender is a blender? Someone who hasn’t used a Vitamix, that’s who! This powerhouse kitchen tool can whip up smoothies, juices, soups and protein shakes like nobody’s business. But it can also make almond butter, hummus, sorbets, baby food and hundreds of other things using fresh ingredients. My top reason for loving this appliance is because it opens up new nutritional doors. I’ll be honest here, many of the products at the health food stores are a mystery to me. However, with the Vitamix, I can find new ways to pack nutrition into soups or smoothies along with familiar flavors. If you’re serious about reducing artificial colors, flavors and preservatives in your diet, then you’ll love their recipe library and Vita-Village website. Both are rich sources of ideas for preparing healthy meals quickly using whole and fresh foods. The Vitamix 5200 was used for this article and available at Vitamix.com for $449. Consider it an investment in healthy eating for the entire family.
Beef Bourguignon by Cookin’ Under Pressure
Ingredients 2 T olive oil 2 large onions, diced 4 pounds beef stew meat, cubed 1 T sugar 1 T red wine vinegar 3/4 cup dry red wine 1-1/4 cups beef broth
1-1/2 tsp salt Pepper to taste 1/4 cup butter 2 pounds mushrooms, quartered 12 small fresh or frozen pearl onions, peeled 1 teaspoon lemon juice
Saute onions in olive oil in skillet. Heat oil and brown meat evenly in the pressure. Move beef to one side and add sugar. When it carmelizes, add red wine vinegar and stir. Add wine, beef broth, and salt and pepper. Stir in diced onions. Lock lid and bring to full pressure. Adjust heat to maintain pressure and cook for 40 minutes. In the skillet, saute mushrooms, pearl onions, and lemon juice in butter. When meat is done cooking, release pressure and remove lid. Add mushroom mixture. Lock lid and bring to full pressure for 5 minutes. Release pressure and serve over cooked noodles or rice. GoodLiving /Volume II, Issue 2
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Good Gardening
with Jai
In Florida, we have the joy to grow and eat food out of home gardens all year round. With some planning and basic education, you can reap the many rewards of harvesting some of your own food. If you lack space, container gardening is a viable option. Community gardening is another great way to get healthy produce. But in case you need more convincing… As an organic gardener, people often ask me about how to get more organic food into their diets. Not everyone can grow a garden, and safe food goes beyond organic produce to include meats, dairy, eggs, grains and legumes. The biggest question is “How can I afford to eat safer foods?” I encourage people to buy organic food whenever possible to avoid toxic pesticides and chemicals. You can prioritize your produce by going organic where it makes the most difference: peaches, apples, bell peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, lettuce, imported grapes, pears, spinach and potatoes. If you must choose conventionally grown crops to consume, the safest choices are broccoli, eggplant, cabbage, banana, kiwi, asparagus, sweet peas, mango, avocado, onion, pineapple and mushrooms. I love my organic produce, but you need to look at your meat choices if you really want to cut out pesticides. Non-organic meats have far higher concentrations of pesticides than all of the fruits and vegetables. Even more surprising is butter. Non-organic butter has the highest concentration of pesticides. For produce, bear in mind that locally-grown organics are your absolute BEST bet. That is why I encourage everyone to grow some of their own food in their yards. Simply growing some herbs on the balcony will add fresh and healthy greens to your diet.
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Genetically Modified Foods Discussions about safer food options must include information about foods that are genetically modified (GM). If you are concerned about avoiding GM foods then here’s a tip: you can find out how produce is grown, by looking at its PLU code. If you see a fourdigit number, the produce is grown conventionally. A five-digit number beginning with 9 means it’s organic. And a five-digit number beginning with 8 means it’s genetically modified. However, since there are no laws requiring food labeling with regards to GM food, no one is obligated to actually tell you if you are eating a GM food product. So, which foods are most likely to be GM and how can you avoid them? Unfortunately, nearly all soybean oil, corn oil, cottonseed oil and canola oil are GM, so it wise to limit products made from these above ingredients, as well as maltodextrin and high-fructose corn syrup. In fact, because corn and soy are so widely used in processed foods, at least 70 percent of the processed foods at your supermarket contain GM ingredients.
Other GM products include: • Some varieties of zucchini, crookneck squash, and papayas from Hawaii • All dairy products because they contain genetically modified hormones given to force them to produce more milk • Rennet used to make hard cheeses contains genetically modified enzymes • Aspartame (NutraSweet) Avoiding all of the products listed above, unless they are certified organic, is one way to cut down on your intake of GM foods. Buying products that are certified organic or that say non-GMO are other ways you can limit your family’s risk from GM foods, as organic foods are not allowed to contain GM ingredients.
Celebrate Spring by Planting Fruit As we approach the warmer days of late Spring, you should be preparing to plant beans, cucumbers, watermelon, squash and other plants that love the heat in your garden. But it’s also time to plant apples, plums, peaches and other varieties of fruit trees. Some trees need a year or so to produce, but you can get fruit this year if plant blueberries and blackberries now. 1. Once you have chosen the correct site and made sure that there is plenty of room for the plant to grow to its natural height and width, start by digging a hole. The size of the hole will depend on if it’s a tree or a bush. A tree needs more root area, so dig a hole 2-3 feet deep and 2-3 feet wide. Put lots of organic matter (composted matter from cow or horse manure or kitchen scraps) in the hole and mix with the existing soil. The ratio should be at least 3 parts organic matter to 1 part sand. Sprinkle about 1 cup Organic Living Minerals in the hole at the bottom (be generous) and put the tree in the hole so that the top of the root ball is about 1 inch lower than the top of the soil in the yard. Start filling the hole with the organic matter, adding a couple of handfuls of minerals around the tree as you fill the hole. Finish off with some minerals around on top of the soil. Mulch and water well. Mix Earth Essence per the directions and pour about ½ cup around the tree to get the microorganisms into the soil. Do the same with bushes and vines only the holes only need to be 1 ½ -2 feet deep and wide. 2. Water the plants daily for the first few months (unless it rains). The hotter it is the more water they need. Pay close attention to how the plants look; are they happy with the amount of water they are receiving?
For more information, go to OrganicLivingForAll.com. I invite you to come tour our gardens and attend one of our workshops. We will teach you everything you need to know to grow your food. You can be eating fresh food within months if you begin now. What are you waiting for?
Good Books
30 Ways in 30 Days to Save Your Family A new book by Rebecca Hagelin offers much needed common sense advice for parents to help them tackle everyday dilemmas, including:
Be a Part of the Solution! Attend a National Day of Prayer Event “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV)
How to fight back against manipulative marketing campaigns that target your child, The three most important (and easy) things you can do to keep your child safe on online social networks How to fight the culture - not your child - when it comes to negative images, violent videogames, offensive music and more from today’s toxic environment Parent tested and teen approved, 30 Ways in 30 Days to Save Your Family will help you (and every hard-working parent you know)succeed in the most important job you have—raising happy, responsible and well-adjusted kids. Sign up on her website to receive a tip from the book every week. Howtosaveyourfamily.com
- May 5, 2011 Pinellas County National Day of Prayer Event Brighthouse Networks Field 601 Old Coachman Road, Clearwater, FL 33765 7 to 9 PM Join pastors and fellow Christians from all over the county to pray for our nation, state, county, cities, schools and families. Everyone is welcome! Tampa National Day of Prayer Outdoor Event Lykes Gaslight Park 411 N. Franklin St. Tampa, FL 33602 11 AM to 1 PM 19th Annual First Ladies Prayer Brunch Keynote Speaker: Robyn Morris founder of Wilmington House of Prayer Tampa Convention Center 333 S. Franklin Street, Tampa, FL 33602 11 AM to 1 PM Tickets are $30 at Tampaprayerbrunch.com
Fashioned by Faith
a new book by Rachel Lee Carter is a must read for teenage girls and young women. Do you know what your clothes say about who you are on the inside? Do you know what the right kind of guys really think about how girls dress?
- May 10, 2011 Tampa Bay Leadership Prayer Breakfast Tampa Convention Center 333 S. Franklin St, Tampa, FL, 33602 6:30 to 8:15 AM Coach Joe Gibbs presents his Game Plan for Life Tickets are $31.50 at Tampabayprayerbreakfast.com
Do you want to keep up with the latest style trends but still maintain your true beauty? International model Rachel Lee Carter shares her insights about how the fashion industry affects girls and women, in particular, weight problems, eating disorders, acne, self esteem and modesty. Buy it May 1st at Amazon.com
Internet Safety Are Your Kids “Home Alone” With Their Computers? By Linda Rodante The movie i “Home “H Alone” Al ” gives i us an amusing i look l k att what h t our children might face if we forgot them while going on vacation or left by themselves. Only Hollywood could make what would be a devastating situation into a comedy. And it was funny. But what if this scenario played itself out with one of your own children? Would it be funny then, or would you, like the mother in the movie, be frantic to get home? Yet, this situation happens every day on the Internet, especially during breaks from school and when parents are working. If unsupervised, children find themselves home alone with the bad guys trying to break in. Sexual predators, pornography, cyber bullies, even friends with too much time on their hands thinking of “interesting” ways to pass the time. Kids will be kids, yes; but that is exactly why we don’t leave them home alone if we can help it, especially home alone with a computer, cell phone, and TV without any idea of how to defend themselves against the bad guys. It is why they need parents to give them good advice about dangerous situations. Do we really need to be so diligent today? YES, in caps. Police are posing as adolescent girls and boys online to catch sexual predators because they are out there. These predators are looking for open or unlocked doors, and in today’s tech-savvy culture that includes digital doors. Statistics from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children state that one in five children are inappropriately or sexually solicited on the Internet (go to www.missingkids.com for further information).
The character in “Home Alone” had an arsenal of stuff to use against the bad guys, and he used it. We need to give our children the know-how and the weapons to use, too. This list of Internet safety practices can be implemented before school is out. You’ll feel better about your child’s safety and knowing and using these techniques will empower your children, too.
What to Tell Your Children: 1. The number one safety Internet tool is the parent. Educate yourself and talk with your kids about the dangers of the Internet. Let them know you care and want them safe. Establish rules for use when they go online. Rules may include time frames (when and how long), not answering chats from people they don’t know, not clicking on links in e-mails, not giving out personal information, i.e. their date of birth, their address, their last name, where they go to school, or whether they are home alone or not. Write them down. Some parents even make a contract with their children and have them sign it. Explain that these rules are the same for all social networking sites and any other site on the Internet. Remind them that not everything they say or read on the Internet is true. People can and do lie. Let them know that most advertisements offering free stuff are tricks of some kind. Make sure they know that some sites, such as celebrity news sites, are more likely to have malware than others.
2. Tell your children they are never to have a face-toface meeting with someone from the Internet, and that they are never to accept gifts or send pictures to a stranger online.
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What a Parent Can Do: 1. Monitor your children while they’re online; and, if you’re away, monitor their sites when you come home. (Take time to learn how if you don’t know. Your child is worth it. Ask a friend, go to the library and get a book, search online.)
8. Keeping track of your credit card transactions can help if your child purchases an item without permission.
9. You have the authority to close your child online accounts. You can contact the networking sites and request
2. Establish and enforce Internet rules (see above).
that the account be closed.
3. Enable the parental controls on your/their computer, cell phones, and child’s game systems. Your children can
10. Familiarize yourself with chat and text abbreviations. Warn your teens about responding to these: ASL(age,
get Internet access from their game consoles, cell phones, smart phones, and iPods.
sex, location), WITW (where in the world), WUF (where are you from). You might want to know that “pal” means “parents are listening.”
4. Block all websites that have pornographic material. You can contact your Internet service provider to do this.
11. Do not post pictures of your children with their full name and their date of birth or any other personal information. Surprisingly, parents often do
5. Update your virus protection, firewalls, and widely used applications such as Adobe reader and Microsoft Windows. You can enable the automatic updates to make this easier. exactly this after the birth of a child. Relatives do this, too. Caution them about using your child’s picture along with
6. Make sure your privacy settings and your children’s his or her name. If they post pictures, ask them not to use privacy settings are checked on Facebook or other social media. the name. Predators can use the name of the relative when 7. Keep your passwords and your child’s/teen’s passwords secure, change them frequently. Make sure they are strong. Teach them to use different passwords for each online account or site. They can use a word they’re familiar with but make some letters capitals and change some to numbers. Know your child’s password.
approaching your child online to build trust and convince them that they’re not really a stranger.
12. Lock up your router or check it frequently. If a router is reset, most revert to an easily googled factory set password. Also, most security settings will be disabled. Yes, your teen knows this or their friend does. 13. Check unsecured wireless (Wi-Fi) in your area. If there are any, you might ask your neighbors to secure them. Your teen can circumvent parental controls by using an unsecured wireless access point.
3. They are not to disclose the fact that you are on vacation or away from home when posting online.
14. Put their/the family computer in area where you frequently go. Make sure that you can see the screen if you
If so, they have just let everyone know that your house is empty and you are away.
walk by. If they want to do something that they don’t want you to see, you probably don’t want them doing it.
4. Tell them to block anyone who sends sexual, insulting, or mean emails, chats, or instant messages.
15. Consider purchasing monitoring software. There are
Learn how to do this yourself and show them how. Tell them to close out all such messages immediately and inform you.
5. Make sure they know to never leave the “automatic log-in” feature on when using a public computer at the school or library, etc., and never save their password or use the “Remember Me” option.
6. They need to keep all passwords secure and secret (from anyone but you).
numerous software systems out there. Check the web, ask at your local computer store, or check some of the ones listed below. www.CleanInternet.com www.cyberdefender.com www.kidswatch.com www.Christianbroadband.com www.truecare.net www.PCPandora.com www.kidsmail.org www.newchildsafety.net
7. Always shut down the computer after use. Do not leave the computer idle for long periods of time. This gives hackers a chance to find you.
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from In celebration of Earth Day 2011, GoodLiving hopes to inspire everyone to live a more sustainable lifestyle. When it comes to taking care of trash, the actions to reduce, reuse and recycle exemplify the philosophy of sustainability: conscious and deliberate thought about how the actions of today will impact the future, and then making the most responsible decision possible. So in that spirit, we have selected some of our favorite recycling stories to share with our readers.
Recycle GoodLiving magazine.
Pass it on to a friend.
#1
The best local source to learn how to dispose of just about anything is the How do I Get Rid of It A to Z Guide for Recycling & Disposal in Pinellas County created by Pinellas County Utilities. Before you get rid of anything, and we mean anything, visit their website, open the online guide and learn how to sell, trade, reuse, donate, recycle, drop off or dispose of hundreds of items from adhesive to zinc.
The guide gives specific information about how and where you can dispose of hazardous items that cannot be hauled to the landfill with your other trash. Also included are unique partnerships to recycle or reuse specialty items.
Watch for notices when the Haz-to-Go trailer is in your neighborhood.
Did you know… • Staples will accept your cell phones and rechargeable batteries? • Office Depot will accept your printer cartridges? • Best Buy will accept your cameras, stereos, DVD players, fax machines and VCRs? • Target will accept your cell phones and MP3 players? • Publix will accept your foam produce trays and plastic egg cartons? • Sweetbay pharmacies will accept empty prescription bottles and over-the-counter bottles with the triangle symbol on the bottom? The guide has local resource lists that provide organization name, location, and specific instructions.
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Did you know… • local flag stores will take your tattered flags to lawfully dispose of them? • the area has metal recyclers that will purchase your metal items? • local pack & ship retail stores will take your packing peanuts and bubble wrap? • there are local stores that will trade or buy DVDs and VHS tapes? • certain hospitals will take used needles in sharps containers? You can find the names of these businesses in the guide, along with much, much more.
#2
You can actually send your retired blue jeans into environmental service as a cleaner, healthier alternative to traditional insulation. A company called Ultra Touch™ in Arizona developed a manufacturing process that turns denim into a natural fiber insulation that has no formaldehyde or harmful irritants. Locally, you can contact Service Partners of Florida through their website Service-Partners.com to purchase some fluffy, blue insulation for your home or buildings. In this case blue is definitely better than pink.
#3
While it’s not against the law to dump alkaline batteries in the trash can, it’s still better to recycle them along with the button and rechargeable batteries that cannot be put in the trash. Waste Management has made it easy with their Battery Recycling Kit. For $16.95 anyone can purchase a box that holds four pounds of batteries including NiCad, NiMH and alkaline AAA, AA, C, D, 6V and 9V. The box comes with a pre-paid return shipping label, so when it’s full, just set by the mail box. Find it at ThinkGreenFromHome.com
#4
An organization that hits for the cycle when it comes to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle is the Habitat for Humanity Restore. First, anyone who is doing remodeling can donate their used building materials, including toilets, doors, appliances, counter tops – just about anything that could be used to build another home. This reduces waste to the landfills. Second, buyers come to the Restore and purchase these items for their own remodeling projects generating revenue for Habitat for Humanity. Then third, all this recycled money goes to build new homes for deserving families. If you love bargain hunting, you can find Habitat Pinellas on Facebook where they post new items to the store. Visit Restore at 3071 118th Ave. No. in St. Petersburg.
#5
Last, but certainly not least is a group of wood workers who use donated scrap wood to make hand-made toys for children. Who knew we had the southern branch of the North Pole right here in Hudson? The volunteers who call themselves Toymakers work out of a shop in Hudson to produce thousands of toys each year that get delivered to Ronald McDonald Houses, hospitals and other charities. Since 1982, they have shaped 240,000 wooden toys out of scrap wood to bring smiles to sick and needy children. Learn more at Thetoymakers.org
Saves
Recycling One Ton of Paper 17 mature trees 7,000 gallons of water 3 cubic yards of landfill space 2 barrels of oil 4,100 kilowatt hours of electricity (enough to power the average home for 5 months)
Not-so-Fun-Facts About Our Consumption and Trash
We throw away enough aluminum each year that we could rebuild our entire commercial air fleet every 3 months. We throw away enough office paper each year to build a 12-foot high wall of paper from New York to Los Angeles. We throw away enough plastic soda bottles each year to circle the earth four times. We throw away enough motor oil each year to fill 120 supertankers. We throw away 20 million tons of grass clippings, dead leaves and branches a year. Source: City of Tampa’s Solid Waste Department Website
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Unexpected Poisons By Pamela Ray
On the pre-natal to-do list, along with choosing a name and picking out nursery furniture, is the important task of child proofing the home. Parents buy cabinet latches, baby gates and outlet plugs. Poisons are locked up or moved up and all seems fine until baby becomes a super sleuth from around two years of age until six. According to JoAnn Chambers-Emerson, RN, BSN, of the Florida Poison Information Center, most poisonings occur under the age of six. Additionally, 70 percent of accidental poisonings can be treated at home under the advice of the Poison Center so a trip to the emergency room isn’t always necessary. And while less than one percent of accidental poisonings result in death, parents need to always be aware of the unexpected.
Diaper bag dangers
Grandparents
Look-alikes
You wouldn’t carry bleach in your diaper bag, but it is still likely to contain items that are dangerous if ingested or inhaled – baby oil, baby power with talc, hand sanitizer gel, toothache gel with benzocaine and infant cold medicine. A parent’s bag may contain mouthwash, cigarettes, nicotine patches and perfume. All of these items pose great risk. For instance, sanitizer gel is 67 percent alcohol and just two sips can cause baby’s blood sugar to plummet. And choking on oils can cause droplets to enter the lungs resulting in chemical pneumonia. To read more about diaper bag dangers, go to ParentGuide.com.
About 20 percent of the time an accidental incident happens in the presence of a grandparent and the primary culprit is prescription medicine stored in non-child resistant containers, such as portable pill containers and plastic bags. It only takes a split second for a young child to find the container and eat the “candy.” Chambers-Emerson says that many elderly patients do not know the name or dosage of the drugs they take and that makes it harder for emergency personnel to treat the child. Many common medications taken by older patients can be deadly to children in small doses.
A change from routine
Rx drugs and teens
Other people can cause an unexpected situation. How many times have you conducted your own hazard search when you visit someone else’s home? Have you ever asked a guest in your home about the contents of the handbag? Seems that most parents do a good job of controlling access at home under normal circumstances, but it’s the parties, reunions, trips, guests and distractions that catch supervising adults off guard. Because as most parents know, if there’s an inch of opportunity those little super sleuths will find anything and everything they shouldn’t have.
Access to prescription drugs is an issue for older children in the home, too, as teenage drug abuse is growing at an alarming rate. Teens are stealing drugs from their parents’ friends, grandparents and anywhere else they get their hands on prescription drugs. Dangerous drug cocktails are killing teens and parents need to be sure all medicines are locked up and disposed of properly. “People are even touring homes for sale to steal medicines,” said Chambers-Emerson. “That’s how bad it is.”
Another type of accidental poisoning is due to the look-alike nature of many liquids and pills. “Raspberry Powerade and Windex look the same. Apple juice and Pine Sol look the same. If someone transfers a cleaner to a smaller container like a used water bottle, a child will not know the difference.” It’s the same with pills. Some look like Skittles, M&M’s or mints” said Chambers-Emerson. “Mistaken identity is common. I met a woman whose young son ate a candy from the Tic Tac box in her purse. Turned out she kept her Xanax in there so no one would know. Fortunately he only ate one. And there was the woman who went out of town and left a note for her dog sitter. But the note wasn’t read and the sitter proceeded to eat a bowl of cheese cubes laced with thyroid medicine for a Chihuahua.”
Learning to see the world from a child’s perspective will help to identify dangers that may not seem obvious to adults. The Florida Poison Information Center and GoodLiving magazine encourage parents to know the poisons in and out of their homes and take all necessary precautions to stop accidental poisonings. When in doubt, call the Poison Center at (800) 222-1222.
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First Aid for Poisonings Poison in the eye
Rinse with a gentle stream of water.
Inhaled poison Get in fresh air.
Poison on the skin
Rinse with water. Use a mild liquid soap to remove poison if needed.
Swallowed poison
Do NOT try to make the victim vomit. Offer some sips of water.
Call the poison center at 1-800-222-1222 immediately to see what needs to be done next. www.Poisoncentertampa.org
Poison Myths Myth #1
Putting products up high will prevent poisonings. Children learn to climb.
Myth #2
Use of “natural” products prevents poisonings. Plants are natural and can be poisonous. Natural home remedies and health food products may be hazardous to children or to adults in certain situations.
Myth #3
My child won’t eat bad-tasting things. Some children are more likely to be adventurous than others, but many children eat yucky things like feces, batteries, coins, mothballs, spit tobacco, roaches, etc
Myth #4
All dangerous products are behind latched cabinets. Latches and locks are a great way to reduce access to hazards. But some poisons might be out: perfume, plants, potpourri, lamp oil, cigarettes and mixed drinks.
things you can do Child-proof the houses of elderly relatives if they will be caring for children. Avoid leaving any medication (nutritional supplement, overthe-counter products, prescription, or vitamin) unattended or within easy reach of children. Avoid leaving medications in non–child-resistant containers. Don’t leave pocketbooks, purses, tote bags, or jackets containing medication on the floor or within easy reach of children—even if the medications are in child-resistant containers. Anticipate that children are natural explorers and will tastetest everything. To a child, pills look like candy. Be aware that children will get into places they shouldn’t go. When traveling, bring only the amount of medication necessary for the duration of the visit. Keep a list of the names and doses of each medication with an accurate pill count. These precautions ensure that if a child does get into the medications, ingestion will be kept to a minimum and pertinent information will be available to emergency personnel.
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A Miracle from God My Story
by Brittany Hutchinson
I am seventeen years old and a senior at Wiregrass Ranch High School in Wesley Chapel. In August 2010, I had a kidney transplant at Tampa General Hospital. Having the kidney transplant is truly a miracle and a gift of life. I feel as if God has given me a new chance and lease on life. Beginning at age eight I was treated for high blood pressure and was prescribed blood pressure medicine. Then without warning, in August 2009, I began feeling very weak, retaining fluid and gaining weight. My doctor thought it was stress, but when I began getting chest pains and weak muscles, I was sent for blood tests. That day in October 2009, my parents were told to rush me to the Pediatric ICU immediately because my electrolyte levels were severely imbalanced and I was pretty much a dead person walking. After a few days in the hospital, I was diagnosed with renal failure. It was a complete shock to me and my family. I had to go on dialysis every night for nine hours, which drastically changed my life. It was a struggle for me because I love to have fun with my family and friends. The dialysis made me physically tired and I had to miss school. I was not able to hang out with friends or travel. There were many days I felt like giving up, but I knew God had a purpose for me, and that purpose was to live!
I was placed on the transplant list in June 2010. Doctors told me that because of my age it would take longer for me to receive a kidney than a younger patient. This never weakened my faith in God. My family, friends, and I continued to believe a miracle would take place in my life. Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) is a scripture that kept me going strong and believing in God’s Word. It says: “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” On August 25, 2010, my family and I got a call that they had a kidney for me. It felt like a dream. People on the transplant list can wait for as long as five years and I only had to wait three months. While waiting though, I remember praying to God constantly asking Him to help provide me with a blessing and complete healing. My desire was to receive a kidney before attending college. God always has a plan, and His plan is truly perfect. I received the kidney transplant and am getting ready to attend college in fall 2011. My patience and faith have truly helped me through this process. The transplant has been nothing but a blessing. I wake up thanking God every day for my donor, doctors, nurses, family, friends, and for my life. The support and prayers of my family, friends, and pastors has helped me significantly throughout this whole journey. I am free from the dialysis machine and am able to do all that I was able to do before. If it weren’t for my donor and her choice to donate her organs, I wouldn’t be here today living such a wonderful life. This gift of life is truly remembered and forever appreciated. I don’t think people are aware of how many individuals are in need of an organ and/or tissue transplant. I have become an advocate for LifeLink and speak at events to share my story. Going through this whole experience has inspired me to change my career goal from becoming a lawyer to a transplant pharmacologist. When I wake up in the morning as well as throughout the day I say, “The healing power of God is working in me right now.’’ I also recite this inspirational verse for each day: “This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24, NIV). Each morning when I open my eyes I am reminded of how great my God is. More information about LifeLink is at lifelinkfound.org. If you are interested in becoming a registered donor, please call LifeLink at (800)262-5775 or visit Donate Life Florida’s website at www.donatelifeflorida.org. Organ and tissue donors save many lives by giving the ultimate gift of life!
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