Flourish His Side February 2015

Flourish NORTH FLORIDA FEBRUARY 2015 VOLUME 1 ISSUE 23 WWW.MYFLOURISHMAGAZINE.COM

M A G A Z I N E

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Gators Football Starts a New Chapter

Valentine Cut-Out Treats To Do With Kids

Roses, Shmoses!

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5 Unique Bouquets Gainesville

Teens

Gain Keys to Independence

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Football season may be winding down… …but life in Gainesville is warming up!

From spring sports, charity launches and large-scale renovation projects, to the next era in Gator football, we’re racing to keep you up-to-speed. This February, there’s even more to celebrate with Valentine’s Day, President’s Day, Black History Month and, everyone’s favorite time of year, tax season! With activities, tributes and tips for survival, we’re here to help with every festivity.

As we wait it out for sunny days, we hope your family will stay healthy, happy and safe as we all keep striding into the New Year!

Lauren Douglass 2013

Publishers Lauren Douglass Marc Douglass

Managing Editor Sarah Mason

Copy Editor Daniel Sutphin

Assistant Editor Mike Capshaw

Art Director Daniel Tidbury

Graphic Design Daniel Tidbury Jane Dominguez Patrice Kelly

Promotions Amanda Liles Karen Jones Hilah Driggers Annmarie Defeo

Accounting Lynsey Parrish

Circulation Adam Simmons

Special Projects Lauren Kolansky Daniel Sutphin

Advertising Director Shane Howell (Shane@Whpinc.Com)

Advertising & Sales Shane Howell

Writers Debora Dyess Ginger Henderson Kevin Kage Heather Aulisio Kristy Wyatt Tyler Stevenson Connie Holubar Danielle Boudreau Kat Freestone Lauren Kolansky Katie Moss Katelyn Vilardel Truman Carter Kelly Herman

2013

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Steffanie Crockett

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we love hearing from you.

So send us a note at mail@whpinc.com

FROM THE

FROM THE

What’s Inside…

6 8 10 12 14

The Union Academy Coach TailGator Oak Hammock Breaks Ground Get Taxes Under Your Thumb The Trials and Tribulations of starting a career as an agent 16 Cost vs. Value: Which Remodeling Projects are Worth the Investment?

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Flourish Magazine | February/2015

18 20 21 22 26

Real Estate: December Valentine’s Day Gifts Valentine Cut-Out Treats Fire & Ice Inexpensive Ideas for Valentine’s Day 27 It’s Time for a Unique Banquet 28 How to Raise a Happy Athlete 29 How to Fill the Football Void

30 Giving Teens in Foster Care their Keys to Independence 31 Making the Most of ParentTeacher Relationships 32 Old Drug Has New Tricks Against Depressoin 33 Stretch

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Magazine subscriptions are available at www.whpinc.com For subsciption related questions or concerns, please call 352-371-5881.

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Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it. Henry David Thoreau

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A symbol of pride, progress for 19th Century Alachua County Nothing marks progress quite like the success of a school. Once located on what’s now the corner of NW 1st St. and NW 6th Ave, the Union Academy for black students fostered hope and achievement in the Gainesville community following the Civil War. The Freedman’s bureau commissioned a school for black children to be opened in Gainesville in 1866. White teachers moved down from the North to teach reading, writing and mathematics, with hopes that their brightest pupils would soon take over the leadership of classrooms around the state.

Union Academy teachers soon wrote back with favorable reports about their students’ aptitude and progress, peppered with some complaints about local harassment. White teenagers made a habit of attempting to distract students, going so far as to fire missiles into the classrooms directed at the teacher. Early resistance was partially supported by the white community, as many battle-sore former Confederates viewed the school as a leftist Republican haven geared toward influencing the black vote.

Yet the pupils’ efforts soon outstripped their combatants’ assaults, and in 1867 the Union Academy acquired a 4,000 square foot lot whereon to build a schoolhouse. Records indicate that the building measured 70 by 30 feet and boasted a 50 foot piazza that was 12 feet wide.

Volunteer black artisans completed the construction under the advisement architect Reuben Alley, who added a 17 foot belfry whose bell could be heard for two miles around.

The

Union Academy federal funding, the school continued to drum up their own support, functioning as the intellectual center of black community. The school operated with an all-black staff following 1873 and hosted everything from political rallies to holiday parties on their well-kempt grounds.

By 1922, the Union Academy had grown to capacity. Over 500 students packed into the prestigious black schoolhouse every morning. When a new bond was passed to construct two new high schools – one for blacks, one for whites – the brick structures were built as near mirrors of one another, breaking with the regional tradition of allocating more funds to the school for whites.

According to A. Quinn Jones, Union Academy’s last principle and the first headmaster of the new high school, the quality of construction gave testament to the lasting accomplishments of Union Academy – a symbol of pride and freedom for the black community in the still-segregated post-war South.

For more on The Union Academy, see The Florida Historical Quarterly, Vol. 65, No. 2 (Oct. 1986), pp. 163-174, available on Jstor.

The school continued to prosper, earning an award of $300 from the George Peabody Fund in 1868. As greater segregation led to decreased

6

Flourish Magazine | February/2015

While we are postponing, life speeds by. Seneca

By Mike Capshaw Photos courtesy Tim Casey/UAA Communications

Coach TailGator McElwain Surprises Florida Football Fans Before Birmingham Bowl Jim McElwain apparently wasn’t kidding when he joked about tailgating before the Birmingham Bowl.

He actually did, wooing and winning over dozens of Florida fans in the process.

“He’s going to be fun,’’ fan Josh Woods told GatorZone.com’s Scott Carter. “We’re happy he’s here.

We just want to win. I’ve never seen a coach come and tailgate and take pictures with you.”

The 52-year-old Florida football coach then stuck around to watch his new Gators team hang on for a 28-20 win against East Carolina at Legion Field.

All-American cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III intercepted a pass on second-and-goal from the Florida 5-yard line to seal the victory and clinch a winning season with a 7-5 record. Defensive coordinator DJ Durkin served as interim head coach in place of Will Muschamp, who accepted Auburn’s defensive coordinator gig after spending the past four years at UF. 8

Flourish Magazine | February/2015

God, please save me from your followers! Bumper Sticker

“We came together as a team,” Hargreaves told reporters after the game. “It’s easy to quit. It’s easy to leave, but Durk stayed, all the coaches stayed, and we got the win.

We’re family. I played my heart out for them.”

Defensive end Dante Fowler Jr. set a career high with three sacks in his final collegiate game while seldom-used running back Adam Lane rushed for 109 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries to earn Birmingham Bowl MVP honors. With eight carries in his previous 11 games combined, he entered the game because starter Matt Jones sat out with a sore shoulder and backup Kelvin Taylor barely played.

Defensive back Brian Poole returned an interception 29 yards for a touchdown to go along with a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and five tackles. Safety Marcus Maye had eight tackles and two pass break-ups.

True freshman quarterback Treon Harris passed for 123 yards and a pair of touchdowns before exiting with an injury.

He hit freshman running back Brandon Powell on a 13-yard strike and then sophomore Ahmad Fulwood with a short pass that Fulwood turned into an 86-yard touchdown, UF’s longest play of the season.

McElwain evaluated it all from a private press box booth, which was much cozier than the cold, muddy parking lots he spent a half-hour perusing prior to kickoff.

“I did not expect to just see Coach McElwain show up here,’’ fan Andrew Hannan told Carter “I love it. He’s a 100 percent Gator.

He’s meeting the fans; he’s hitting the recruiting trail. I like him. He’s the future.”

Mac Fills Staff Offensive line coach Mike Summers was the only coach McElwain retained from Muschamp’s staff. Summers joined UF prior to the 2014 season.

On offense, Doug Nussmeier was named coordinator. He followed McElwain as offensive coordinator at both Fresno State and Alabama. His first task will be deciding who will run the offense between Harris, who started the second half of the 2014 season, and Will Grier, a much-ballyhooed recruit who redshirted as a freshman this past season.

Greg Nord was named the tight ends/special teams coach and Tim Skipper will coach

running backs.

Nord, who spent 2014 at Western Kentucky, coached at Louisville for 15 seasons and at Kentucky for nearly 15 years.

Skipper served as McElwain’s running backs coach and Assistant Head Coach at Colorado State. He helped develop current San Diego Chargers running back Ryan Matthews while at Fresno State.

Perhaps the biggest splash of the new staff was when McElwain named former Miami head coach Randy Shannon as CoDefensive Coordinator/Associate Head Coach and linebackers coach. Shannon is joined by Geoff Collins, who served as defensive coordinator at Mississippi State last season. In 17 years as both head coach and defensive coordinator at Miami, Shannon coached 14 defensive players that became first rounders in the NFL Draft. He also started at line back for the Hurricanes 1987 National Championship team. Shannon spent the past two seasons as Senior Associate Head Coach at Arkansas, where he also coached linebackers.

Terrell Williams will coach the defensive line.

Williams spent the past three seasons as defensive line coach for the Oakland Raiders.

NFL Dreams Weeks before the bowl, Fowler announced on his Twitter page of his intention to forgo his senior season by entering the NFL Draft.

“I came in with champ. I’m leaving with Him. Simple as that.” he tweeted.

The 6-foot-2, 261-pounder is projected as a mid first-round selection by most draft pundits, some of which list him as an outside linebacker instead of a defensive end.

DJ Humphries, a junior tackle, also will skip his senior season. Injuries prevented Humphries from living up to his five-star potential, so he’ll try to improve his stock with NFL teams during workouts leading up to the April draft.

Where are we going, and why am I in this handbasket? Bumper Sticker

Junior tailback Matt Jones (6-2, 235) has decided to enter the draft as well. Two offseason knee surgeries as well as a young daughter is what reportedly helped cement Jones’ decision. He rushed for a team-high 817 yards and six touchdowns this season.

For his career, Jones finished with 1,431 yards and 11 touchdowns in three seasons.

Junior offensive lineman Tyler Moore, a former transfer from Nebraska, also declared for the draft. He made six starts at offensive tackle as a sophomore transfer from Nebraska and started six of 10 games at guard this past season. He’s ranked the 26th best offensive tackle/guard prospect in the 2015 class, according to Walter Football.

Driskel Departs Running for the game-clinching first down in closing minutes of the Birmingham Bowl will go down as Jeff Driskel’s last big play for the Gators. He has announced he’s transferring to Louisiana Tech to play his final year of college. He’ll be eligible to play immediately after graduating early and being granted a release by McElwain.

“I have nothing but good things to say about the University of Florida and the football program there,” Driskel said in a UF release.

“Although things did not play out on the field as I would have liked, I have no regrets on the choice I made to attend UF.” Driskel, who was Rivals.com’s No. 1 pro-style quarterback out of Hagerty High in Oveido (Fla.), passed for 1,140 yards, nine touchdowns and 10 interceptions this season. He led the Gators to an 11-2 record as a sophomore in 2012 before suffering a broken leg in the third game of the 2013 season. That medical redshirt season gives Driskel a fifth year of eligibility.

Flourish Magazine | February/2015

9

e ock is a Lif m m a H k a O mmunity Fulfilling co in 136 acres n o d e t a c lo Gainesville downtown

10 Flourish Magazine | February/2015

Fill what’s empty, empty what’s full, and scratch where it itches. Duchess of Windsor

By Elizabeth Putfark

Oak Hammock

Breaks Ground on $10.2 Million Expansion Corbin said. “There are a lot of aspects that come into play that make Gainesville an appealing place for someone to retire.”

Oak Hammock at the University of Florida is growing, and it’s good news for Gainesville.

The community broke ground on an expansion and renovation of the center’s Health Pavilion on Jan. 6, kicking off an 18-month project that includes assisted living expansion, skilled nursing expansion, enlarged dining and a new courtyard. The skilled nursing expansion will add 31 private units and enlarge amenities and service areas – adding 14,865 square feet of living space. In addition, an assisted living expansion will grow the current space by 5,800 square feet and create nine new residences, along with enlarging the dining area and creating a new courtyard.

After the first phase of expansion, residents will be moved to the new facilities while the 10-year-old current facilities are updated and improved. New technology, including a new emergency call system and kiosks for accessing electronic medical records, will be installed throughout the building.

Oak Hammock is a Life Fulfilling Community

located on 136 acres in downtown Gainesville. To its residence it offers the options of a maintenance-free lifestyle, assisted living, memory care and rehabilitation, as well as apartment residences, multiple dining venues, a theater, art studio and Fitness Center.

The $10.2 million, multi-phase project will create 33 new jobs at Oak Hammock.

Since opening in 2004, Oak Hammock has seen remarkable growth, which Jon Corbin feels is largely due to Gainesville’s desirability as a location.

For the most part, the project has had a smooth start-up with plenty of neighborhood support. “It’s a long processes that’s creating a fair number of construction jobs in the immediate present, and 33 Oak Hammock jobs upon completion,” said Florida native Corbin, who has worked for Praexis and its predecessors for 24 years.

Other than higher than anticipated construction costs, (leveed by the recent building boom around Gainesville) the process has thus far gone as-planned.

“With Shands nearby, there is world-class healthcare in the area,” said Corbin, Executive Vice President of Praxeis, the community’s management and development company. “There’s also the attractiveness of coming back to a college town with all it has to offer – culture, arts and the amenities that the university brings.

Of course, the long term impact of Oak Hammock’s expansion stretches far beyond the community’s walls. “Historically, Oak Hammock has attracted about one third of its members from the Gainesville area,” Corbin said, “and two-thirds from other places around the county.” An influx of retirees means a broader customer base for local businesses and attractions, and in time could offer a boost to the overall market.

“The whole aspect of lifelong learning and being able to continue to grow in that regard is a big attraction for the retiree market,”

New construction is expected to be completed by November 2015, with renovations completed by June 2016.

Everyone is a genius at least once a year; a real genius has his original ideas closer together. Georg Lichtenberg

Flourish Magazine | February/2015 11

Some miscellaneous deductible costs include: • Expenses incurred as part of the job search within your current field (56 cents a mile for driving your own car, food and lodging expenses, cab fares, career counseling, employment agency fees and printing costs for resume materials) • Subscriptions to work-related magazines and publications • Costs of required uniforms or protective work clothing • Tuition for classes related to your current professional field • Safe deposit box rental fees (only if used to store investment-related documents) • Work-related travel expenses if self-employed • Home office expenses (including wireless internet, cell phone plan and home depreciation) • Fees for tax services, whether by professional or through preparation software.

First Job Move

By Elizabeth Putfark

Your guide to key deductions you won’t want to miss this tax season

Get Taxes

Under Your Thumb Prepping for tax time isn’t easy, and it can easily become overwhelming if you don’t have all the facts.

Whether you choose to go standard or itemized, it’s important to talk with your tax advisor or software specialist to see if you’re making the most out of your deductions this year.

12 Flourish Magazine | February/2015

Based on recommendations from Kiplinger. com, we’ve compiled a list of oft forgotten deductions that can make a difference in the amount of taxes you pay, or the size of your return.

Miscellaneous Especially if you’re self-employed or work from home, be sure and check out all available miscellaneous write-offs. To determine if you’ll qualify, calculate your total miscellaneous costs, then compare that number to your income. You can receive a deduction based on the extent to which your miscellaneous investments exceed two percent of your Adjusted Gross income.

If you have to move more than 50 miles for your first job, you can deduct 23 cents per mile off your moving expenses for getting you and your household to the new location (including parking fees and tolls). This deductible only applies to first job and to those using their own vehicle.

Parent-Paid Student Loans When parents pay back a student loan, the IRS now treats their investment as though it had been given directly to their child, leaving that student to pay back the interest and the debt. As a result, a person who is not claimed as a dependent can qualify to deduct up to $2,500 of student loan interest even though the payments are being made

by Mom and Dad.

Reinvested Dividends Not a deductible exactly, but this commonly missed subtraction can save you serious money. If your mutual fund dividends are automatically reinvested in additional shares, each reinvestment adds to your “tax basis” in the fund (thereby reducing the taxable capital gain). Avoid overpaying on your investments by remembering to include all reinvested dividends in your cost basis.

For a full list of miscellaneous items and other deductibles, visit www.irs.gov/publications

First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win. Mahatma Gandhi

DON’T FORGET

352.472.3699 | THEGREENHOUSENURSERYFL.COM 15207 WEST NEWBERRY ROAD | NEWBERRY FL 32669

By Greg Nino

An open letter to anyone wanting to get their real estate license

Trials And Tribulations of starting a career as an agent the

Several times a year I am approached by people who want to become a Realtor. Many of them think it’s a great way to supplement their income while they keep their day job. A lot of others are interested in a career change. I decided to type this blog post to save myself time. Each time I’m asked I’ll simply send the inquiring person a link back to this post. So, with that said, grab your favorite beverage and read below, because you’re about to get a heavy dosage of what it’s like to start a real estate career.

1. Passing the exam is easy. Creating a business with real income is a different story.

2. Now that you have your license, be prepared to lose friends and get your feelings hurt. Most, if not all, of your friends and family will avoid using you the first year or two that you’re licensed. Simply put, you don’t know what the hell you’re doing. Earn your battle 14 Flourish Magazine | February/2015

scars. Even after you’ve gained experience, you’ll have friends and family who will not work with you because you’re a friend or because you are family. It happens every day to realtors across the country.

3. If you don’t spend money, you won’t make money. You need to spend THOUSANDS of dollars to create a business.

Most of what you are thinking is a cute and new idea has already been tried a thousand times. You will do what every new agent does: Spend money (A LOT OF IT) on the wrong things. Over and over again. There’s a famous saying in this business: “If you want to get rich in real estate, sell stuff to Realtors.”

4. You and your smartphone will become inseparable. You will have to get up from eating, watching a movie and sleeping to take calls, return emails and respond to text

messages. Of course, you don’t have to do this, but you also don’t have to make any real money in this business. You’ll get out of it what you put into it. Ignoring a call could be a $20,000 mistake. Or more.

5. Be prepared to be second-guessed, doubted, questioned, accused and lied to repeatedly. Buyers and sellers have the propensity to lie just like you and the guy next to you at the grocery store. People have perceptions about lawyers, mechanics and police officers. They have them about us, too. Even after years of experience there will be clients who will second-guess your every move. This will never go away.

6. You will show thousands of houses.

Showing a house isn’t just about unlocking a door. Sometimes you get rained on while showing. Sometimes the house says active on the market when it’s already under contract with another buyer. Sometimes you are late to the appointment because of traffic. Maybe your buyer will be late. The number of things that can go wrong are practically endless.

7. Almost nobody will respect your time.

Almost everyone thinks you are overpaid.

8. Expect people to ask for kickbacks both legally and illegally. Buyers and sellers will often want to haggle with your commission.

9. You will pay taxes. A lot of taxes. Expect to pay for the gizmo you use to unlock doors.

You will pay for this yearly along with dues Luck is the residue of design. Branch Rickey

to three different associations. You’ll pay for signs, lockboxes, tools, equipment, cameras, advertising for both you and your listings, leads, websites, and on and on and on.

10. You will pay for your own health and life insurance. There is no 401(k) matching in real estate. You are an independent contractor. In fact, YOU will pay to be at your local real estate office! The broker will take money from you. You will also pay for an office if you want one. Your phone is your cost. Your Internet is also your cost. So are your paper, pens and everything else imaginable. You’re running a small business. It’s ALL your costs.

You’ll also pay for errors and omissions insurance. The list is really long. Yay! 11. You will get screwed in this business. It’s not for the naive, lighthearted, ignorant or thin-skinned. You will work your rear end off and sometimes not make a dime.

12. You will deal with a certain number of psychopaths each year.

13. You will meet criminals, convicts and felons, especially if you work in the leasing industry.

14. Strange men and women will ask you to meet them at houses RIGHT NOW. 15. You might get a gun pointed at you while showing a house or two. Sometimes rabid pit bulls will chase you down.

16. Expect to get towed at least once.

17. Eventually you’ll get in a wreck while showing. You better hope your clients aren’t with you. Is your auto insurance updated correctly?

18. There is no disability insurance. So, if you break a leg while playing softball, you’re screwed. It’s going to hurt your business.

19. You might get sued even when you aren’t at fault.

20. When you become successful, your competitors might file complaints on you because they are jealous. You won’t like this.

21. As you show houses you’ll be in questionable neighborhoods from time to time. You need to learn self-defense, and carry a gun or a can of mace. Everyone should be concerned about their safety.

22. Be prepared to leave a social event early to run and show a house or to get yelled at by one of your clients for something you did not do. It doesn’t matter, you are the chew toy sometimes.

23. It’s likely you’ll get audited by the IRS. You have too many write-offs and, once again, you make too much money.

24. Lawyers are annoyed by realtors.

25. Expect to list homes and never sell them.

No agent sells every home they list. You will waste time, money, energy and resources.

36. You have to have a nice car. You must wear nice clothes.

37. When you first get started everyone will know you don’t know what you’re talking about. It’s a fact. This sucks. But if you stick it out, you’ll be OK. Seventy-five percent of the new agents don’t make it.

38. You get to work with agents! Not all of them are put together correctly. A lot of your problems in this business will be because of the other agent. You will get upset, angry, pissed and offended. Egos are here, too.

26. Your signs will be stolen, spray-painted and eventually played with by the local kids.

39. Wait for it: Friends, neighbors and family will ask you for real estate advice while they are involved in a real estate transaction YOU aren’t.

27. Your flier box will always be empty because kids, passersby and neighbors will take too many. Sometimes they’ll take all of them in one day. Then you’ll be chastised for not having fliers in the flier box.

40. Other realtors will give your client advice when they aren’t supposed to. Every buyer and every seller knows an agent somewhere.

28. Did I mention you’ll deal with at least two crazy people each year?

41. Each market is different. Very different sometimes, but that won’t stop friends and family from influencing your client. Your client will become confused at times.

29. EACH real estate transaction you work means you are likely dealing with at least eight different people. You’re responsible for 15-20 things. Right now I am trying to close 11 contracts. I am a little stressed.

Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night thinking about my paperwork, my clients and my business.

30. You will become an unlicensed therapist, divorced lawyer and counselor.

You aren’t allowed to give legal advice, and you shouldn’t. You aren’t a doctor, but everyone will unload their personal lives with you. You will sometimes live their life.

31. Your spouse will at times hate what you do for a living.

32. Your wife or husband will despise the fact that you are always on your phone.

33. When you’re sick, you still work. There are no floating holidays.

34. While on vacation, you still work. You can get an agent to cover your business, but NOBODY will care for your business the way you do.

35. Sometimes when you make mistakes it costs people money. You can’t just apologize.

tragedy is when I cut my finger. comedy is when you walk into an open sewer and die. Mel Brooks

42. You have a better chance of meeting E.T. than you do working real estate part time and being successful. It takes time, effort and money to be a part-time Realtor. In fact, being a part-time agent can be even more difficult.

SO WHY DO AGENTS DO THIS? You’ll have the amazing opportunity to reap what you sow. You can work when you want. no matter how bad your boss (client) is, you are working for them for only a certain period of time. You get new bosses all the time. You can make a real difference in a lot of people’s lives. You literally help shape dreams.

YOU can be the difference in someone’s life as they look to sell and buy a home. and not all clients, buyers and sellers are bad. Most of them get it. It’s awesome when everything works out. and sometimes the money is really good. this article by Greg nino, real estate agent at Re/Max compass in Houston, was originally published on activeRain.

Flourish Magazine | February/2015 15

By Elizabeth Putfark

Cost vs. Value Which

Remodeling

projects are worth the

Investment?

How to prioritize and complete your home improvement projects based on recent market data .

According to the 2014 Cost and Value Report from Remodeling, the value of home renovations is on the rise. On average, cost-value ratios on home improvement projects have gone up more than 9 percent in the last year, signaling renewed hope and value placed in home upgrades and renovations.

Although 91 percent of home improvement projects still ring in less than the total cost of their completion, the following projects offer a higher than average return on investment (ROI) in a resale market experts anticipate will continue to climb.

Entry Door Replacement Nothing beats curb appeal. Replacement entry doors rank highest in terms of ROI year after year at an average return of 96.6 percent. Choose a steel constructed door for highest resale value, but don’t discount 16 Flourish Magazine | February/2015

aesthetics. Current trends include everything from bright bold colors and glass detail to wooden overlay and rustic iron. While you’re at it, invest in similarly styled garage door replacements, ranked fifth (midrange) and sixth (upscale) on this year’s highest ROI home projects.

Deck Addition Adding a deck increases your living space without bumping up your monthly bills.

Even better, in 25 U.S. cities adding a wooden deck promises a ROI greater than 100 percent. To avoid extra expenses, keep your deck low and leave off the handrails.

Make sure to dot with extra-large umbrellas prior to showing in order to add shade and interest to the outdoor space.

Attic Bedroom Remodel If you’re aiming high with renovations, start in the attic. Attic bedroom remodels ranked fourth in home improvement cost-to-value ratio at 84.3 percent, a 15.6 percent gain since 2013. Although you can expect to invest an average of $49,000 to achieve your

finished project, the rising ROI might make building that extra bedroom a smarter choice than moving to get it.

Minor Kitchen Remodel Giving your kitchen a facelift takes serious efforts but offers a friendly entry point for new renovators. Kitchen projects tend to outperform bathroom makeovers in resale value, and they’re a room you won’t mind lingering in to show off all your handiwork.

Take an appliance inventory first and replace outdated models, then take on countertops, cabinets and drawers armed with matching materials of your choice. Stay simple, and always keep openness and convenience (not necessarily luxury!) as your primary concerns. If at all possible, spring for the low-end granite counter tops.

Backup Power Generator Although still relatively low in overall ROI (67.5 percent), backup power generators increased their cost-to-value ratio by 28 percent just this year. Particularly in at-risk areas for high-intensity storms, backup power generators offer a low hassle investment opportunity to the practical home renovator.

Generators offer security for your family while still in the home, and soaring resale value in the market for the future.

For more region-specific information on estimated cost-to-value ratios and ROI’s for home improvement projects, visit www.remodeling.hw.net/cost-vs-value/2014/

Most people would sooner die than think; in fact, they do so. Bertrand Russell

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across markets of different sizes, we recommend using the year-over-year percent changes rather than the absolute counts. Realtors® and their clients !"#$#%&'(') $#(*beN wary O,#='$ 5.,'= ."' #?' comparisons #B 89' simplest—yet >#=8 should also of month-to-month of Closed Sales because of potential seasonal effects. important—indicators B#" 89' "'=-$'?8-., "'., '=8.8' >."P'8A Q9'?

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F:;1>A<F:11 Economists’ note: Closed Sales are one of the simplest—yet most important— :;1>A<F:11 indicators for the residential real estate market. When comparing Closed Sales

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#)&* ,-.-/0-%'()*+ 01 21 314131 01 01 41 51 61 71 81 01 21 314131 01 01 41 51 61 71 81 01 21 314131 01 01 41 51 61 71 81 01 21 314131 01 01 41 51 !+$(%,,, 61 71 81 01 21 314131 01 01 41 51 61 71 81 the month (i.e.

50% of sales were !+,%$&&& ('#) ?=@-/0-%'()*+ :;0<;=>?@0A?B;0CD>E;0D;CFDG;=0HFD0G:;0<F@G:0I>';'0#&)0 $%#%%%1 9:;0<;=>?@0A?B;0CD>E;0D;CFDG;=0HFD0G:;0<F@G:0I>';'0#&)0 above and 50% of sales were below) !+,,$&&& *'%) <.8=0-%'()*+ FH0A?B;A0J;D;0?KFL;0?@=0#&)0FH0A?B;A0J;D;0K;BFJM0 H0A?B;A0J;D;0?KFL;0?@=0#&)0FH0A?B;A0J;D;0K;BFJM0 Economists’ note: Median Sale Price is our preferred summary statistic for

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5$6$78'()*+ !+-#$&&& ('%) !$9&'()*+ !+-#$&&& #'") !$#-'()*+ !"#$#%&'(') $#(* N C'$-.? 5.,' !"-&' -= #%" :"'B'""'$ =%>>."* !+-&$&&& *'() 2"&'()*+ =8.8-=8-& B#" :"-&' .&8-;-8* )'&.%='G %?,-Q' 1;'".@' 5.,' !"-&'G C'$-.? !+,#$&&& %'+) 5:%;9'()*+ 5.,' !"-&' -= ?#8 ='?=-8-;' 8# 9-@9 =.,' :"-&'= B#" =>.,, ?%>)'"= #B !+,*$&&& ,',) 2"%.3'()*+ 9#>'=(89.8(>.*(?#8()'(&9.".&8'"-=8-&(#B(89'(>."Q'8(."'.A !+%#$&&& +&'&) 4-0%$"%&'()*+ !+%($&&& +"'*) !"#$"%&'()*+ !+,($&&& ++',) ,-.-/0-%'()*1

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price activity because, unlike Average Sale Price, Median Sale Price is not !+-&$&&& "'.)

5$6$78'()*+ sensitive to high sale prices for small numbers of homes that may not be !+-#$&&& ('%) !$9&'()*+ !%#%%%1 characteristic of the market area.

01 21 314131 01 01 41 51 61 71 81 01 21 314131 01 01 41 51 61 71 81 01 21 314131 01 01 41 51 61 71 81 01 21 314131 01 01 41 51 61 71 81 01 21 314131 01 01 41 51 61 71 81 !+-#$&&& #'") !$#-'()*+

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18GFG?B0A?B;A0>@0=FBB?DA0=>L>=;=0KO0G:;0@P<K;D0FH0A?B;AM00 Flourish Magazine | February/2015

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A-%.-#8'B3"#6-'' Average Sale Price – the average sale price 5@-%"6-'>"9-'A%;.2=#83 -,.0,56%17*58,%% C-"%D=@-%DC-"% )*+,%-./0, 1+23,4%)*+,3 5@-%"6-'>"9-'A%;.-' 9,*.&2:,.&9,*. reported for the month (i.e. total sales in dollars 1+23,4%)*+,3%EA%)*+,%-./0,% !"#$%&&' ()&* ,-.-/0-%'()*+ 2567+A%?*.B,6%@,6*/+%&%@,0,CE,.%=#"'% 5@-%"6-'>"9-'A%;.-' #"%)* +$&,( ;,33%67*5%!<#$### divided by the number of sales) !"#&$((( ('() >41/6?:=19/8@/25A12/395625<3B862/C4B<4/<A821D/D?9B6E/ :;0?L;D?N;0A?B;0CD>E;0D;CFDG;=0HFD0G:;0<F@G:0I>';'0 ?=@-/0-%'()*+ 9:;0?L;D?N;0A?B;0CD>E;0D;CFDG;=0HFD0G:;0<F@G:0I>';'0 -&!( <.8=0-%'()*+ !<#$###%&%!(($((( !"#%$&-, %",'# %'+) 58+,%F*C/+A%G2C,3% GFG?B0A?B;A0>@0=FBB?DA0=>L>=;=0KO0G:;0@P<K;D0FH0A?B;AM00 341/:8634/ FG?B0A?B;A0>@0=FBB?DA0=>L>=;=0KO0G:;0@P<K;D0FH0A?B;AM00 Economists’ note : As noted above, we prefer Median Sale Price over !+(&/0 !++&/0

10 20 304030 10 10 40 50 60 70 80 10 20 304030 10 10 40 50 60 70 80 10 20 304030 10 10 40 50 60 70 80 10 20 304030 10 10 40 50 60 70 80 10 20 304030 10 10 40 50 60 70 80

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89' !"%%$#++ 5:%;9'()*+ 41/6?:=19/8@/25A12/395625<3B862/C4B<4/<A821D/D?9B6E/ "&+&0 "&++0 "&+"0 "&+(0 "&+*0 .,#?@=-$' +#" #?'G 89' "',.8-;' $-BB'"'?&' !(&&/0 89' C'$-.? 5.,' !"-&'A .)=#,%8' &#%?8=A /'.,8#"=6 .?$ 89'-" &,-'?8= =9#%,$ .,=# )' 7."* #B %",'# !<#$###%&%!(($((( !"%+$+,# 2"%.3'()*+ !"-&/0 !'##$###%&%!<(($((( 41/:8634/ )'87''?

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simplest—yet ;1<1:=19/%-#)/ ;1<1:=19/%-#!/>#=8 %"''$ !=##$###%&%!='($((( !"#$%&'$()*(+,#"-$.(/01234/56(7-89($.8.(:"#;-$'$()*(+,#"-$.<=(>%,8-:,'(,-=8-?@(='";-&'=A(58.8-=8-&=(B#"('.&9(>#?89(&#>:-,'$(B"#>(C25(B''$=(#?(89'(DE89($.*(#B(89'(B#,,#7-?@(>#?89A !"$--/ ?2567+A%?*.B,6%@,6*/+%&%@,0,CE,.%=#"'% important—indicators B#" 89' "'=-$'?8-., "'., '=8.8' >."P'8A Q9'?

F.8.("','.='$(#?(+"-$.*G(H.?%."*(IJG(IKDEA(L'M8($.8.("','.='(-=(C#?$.*G(+')"%."*(IJG(IKDEA !"---/ "&+&0 "&++0 "&+"0 "&+(0 %"-$' !=<#$###%&%!=(($((( )/58+,%F*C/+A%G2C,3% &#>:."-?@ O,#='$ 5.,'= >."P'8= #B number $-BB'"'?8 of =-R'=G 7' )"$--/ !(&&/0 Closed Sales by.&"#== Sale Price – the sales F+2./4*% )*+,%-./0, 1+23,4%)*+,3 )"---/ ?2567+A%?*.B,6%@,6*/+%&%@,0,CE,.%=#"'% %").% !D##$###%&%!D(($((( "'&#>>'?$ %=-?@ 89' *'."S#;'"S*'." :'"&'?8 &9.?@'= ".89'" 89.? 89' !"-&/0 transactions which closed during the month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conomists’ note: Closed Sales are one of the simplest—yet most .%$ !>##$###%&%!((($((( -,.0,56%17*58,%% 341/:8634/

2./4*%

Average Sale Price as a summary statistic for home prices. However,

!"#$#%&'(') N 1=Price ?#8'$ .)#;'G 7' have :"'B'" C'$-.?

5.,' !"-&' #;'" Average$#(* Sale does its uses—particularly when it is analyzed 1;'".@' 5.,' !"-&' .= . =%>>."* =8.8-=8-& B#" 9#>' :"-&'=A O#7';'"G alongside the Sale Price.79'?

For-8 -=one, the relative difference between 1;'".@' 5.,' !"-&' $#'=Median 9.;' -8= uses—particularly .?.,*P'$ .,#?@=-$' 89' C'$-.? 5.,' !"-&'A +#" #?'G 89' "',.8-;' $-BB'"'?&' the two statistics can provide some insight into the market for higher-end )'87''? 89' 87# =8.8-=8-&= &.? :"#;-$' =#>' -?=-@98 -?8# 89' >."Q'8 B#" 9-@9'"R'?$(9#>'=(-?(.?(."'.A homes in an area.

1+23,4%)*+,3%EA%)*+,%-./0,%

!"#$%&'()"%$'

-./012/3415/3 6078/3

2567+A%?*.B,6%@,6*/+%&%@,0,CE,.%=#"'% 58+,%F*C/+A%G2C,3% 2./4*%

1+23,4%)*+,3%EA%)*+,%-./0,%

41/:8634/ ='.=#?.,('BB'&8=A $--/ !""&/0 important—indicators for the residential real estate market. When 1+23,4%)*+,3%EA%)*+,%-./0,% )*+,%-./0, !"##$###%&%!"'($(((

-/

1+23,4%)*+,3 !"#$#

9,*.&2:,.&9,*. #%&'(

#"%)*

+$&,(

!"#$# *'&)

#%&'( .%$ ++'() "&'() $#% #'&,( ('() )%&,(

%)&,( #*&,(

"&+*0 #,&-(

-,.0,56%17*58,%% #.&%( 9,*.&2:,.&9,*.

+$&,( )'&)( -&!( %)&,(

!"#$#

!"##$###%&%!"'($(((

#%&'(

)"'*' *'+) #'&,( *'+) %"''$ -,.0,56%17*58,%%)%&,( *'") 9,*.&2:,.&9,*. #,&-( %"-$' -'.) %").% +$&,( #.&%( ('-) -&!( #"'). %',) )'&)(

#%&'(

!"$--/ !"---/ )"$--/ )"---/ %"$--/ %"---/ #"$--/ #"---/ $--/ -/

)"'*' #'&,( !"<#$###%&%!"(($((( $#% #*&,( !"$###$###%2.%C2., >41/6?:=19/8@/25A12/395625<3B862/C4B<4/<A821D/D?9B6E/ comparing Closed0122/3456/ Sales across simplest—yet markets of different sizes, we recommend !"&&/0 !"#$#%&'(') $#(* N O,#='$ 5.,'= ."' #?' #B 89'7$-"---/+/ >#=8 7#--"---/+/ 7#$-"---/+/ 7%--"---/+/ 7)--"---/+/ 7!--"---/+/ 7*--"---/+/ 7#"---"---/89/ %",'# -&!( 7%$-"---/+/ !<#$###%&%!(($((( %"''$ )%&,( !=##$###%&%!='($((( 341/:8634/ important—indicators B#" 89' "'=-$'?8-., "'., '=8.8'changes >."P'8A Q9'? using the year-over-year percent rather than the absolute counts. ;1<1:=19/%-#)/ ;1<1:=19/%-#!/ )"'*' #'&,( !"<#$###%&%!"(($((( 7$-"---/ 7,,",,,/ 7#!,",,,/ 7#,,",,,/ %"-$' 7%,,",,,/ 7),,",,,/ 7$,,",,,/ 7,,,",,,/ :891/ !"#$#7%!,",,,/ #%&'( !"##$###%&%!"'($((( !+-&/0 &#>:."-?@ O,#='$ 5.,'= .&"#== #,&-( !=<#$###%&%!=(($((( >."P'8= #B $-BB'"'?8 =-R'=G 7' !"$--/ Realtors® and their clients !"$--/ should also be wary of month-to-month )"'*' #'&,( %").% #.&%( !"<#$###%&%!"(($((( !D##$###%&%!D(($((( "'&#>>'?$ %=-?@ 89' :'"&'?8 ".89'" 89.?

10 20 304030 10 N*'."S#;'"S*'."

10 O,#='$ 40 50 60 70 80 10&9.?@'= 20 304030 10 1089' 40 50 60 70simplest—yet 80 10 20 304030 10 >#=8 10 40 50 60 70 80 10 20 304030 10 10 40 50 60 70 80 10 20 304030 10 10 40 50 60 70 80 !"#$#%&'(') $#(* 5.,'= ."' #?' #B 89' !"---/ !"#$#%&'(') !"---/ %"''$ )%&,( !=##$###%&%!='($((( $#(* N O,#='$ 5.,'= ."' #?' #B 89' simplest—yet >#=8 .)=#,%8' &#%?8=A /'.,8#"=6 .?$ 89'-" &,-'?8= =9#%,$ .,=# )' 7."* #B comparisons of Closed Sales because of potential seasonal effects. #"'). %"''$ )%&,( !=##$###%&%!='($((( )"$--/ important—indicators >#?89S8#S>#?89 &#>:."-=#?= #B O,#='$ 5.,'= )'&.%=' #B :#8'?8-., important—indicators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

;,33%67*5%!<#$###

?,4/*5%@*A3%25%?*.B,6%EA%)*+,%-./0,%

!"#$%&'()"%$'

!"#$%&'()"%$'

>41/:1DB56/6?:=19/8@/D5F2/3453/G98G193B12/28AD/D?9B6E/ 341/:8634/C191/86/341/:59H13/

#"---/

;1<1:=19/%-#)/

;1<1:=19/%-#!/

#"---/

$.

!=##$###%&%!='($(((

%.&,(

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

89' .;'".@' Economists’ note: Median Days on Market is the !D##$###%&%!D(($((( amount of time the “middle” $!&%( !"<#$###%&%!"(($((( $--/ )'&.%=' 89' >'$-.? -= ?#8 :."8-&%,.",* ='?=-8-;' 8# =.,'= #B 9#>'= 89.8 $--/ #!- +%&%( '&'( !"$###$###%2.%C2., !$ !"##$###%&%!"'($((( *$&)( !'##$###%&%!<(($((( $#(*+ C'$-.?

F.*= #?

-= 89' .>#%?8 #B 89' property selling this month was on the market.

That is, 50% of homes selling 8##P .? %?%=%.,,* ,."@' .>#%?8 #BC."P'8 8->' 8# =',, "',.8-;' 8# 8->' 89' ;.=8 $. %.&,( !=##$###%&%!='($((( -/!"#$#%&'(') -/ '. +)&'( !>##$###%&%!((($((( T>-$$,'T :"#:'"8* =',,-?@ 89-= >#?89 7.= #?

89' >."P'8A 39.8 -=G EKU >.V#"-8*(#B(9#>'=(-?(89'(>."P'8A ;1<1:=19/%-#!/ this month took less time ;1<1:=19/%-#)/ to sell, and 50%7#$-"---/+/ of homes took more time $* to sell.#*&'( 7)--"---/+/ !=<#$###%&%!=(($((( $- 7#"---"---/89/!&%( !"<#$###%&%!"(($((( 0122/3456/ 7$-"---/+/ 7%--"---/+/ 7!--"---/+/ 7*--"---/+/ #B 9#>'= =',,-?@ 89-= >#?89 8##P ,'== 8->' 8#7#--"---/+/ =',,G .?$ EKU #B 9#>'= #!-7%$-"---/+/ '&'( !"$###$###%2.%C2., #*-/ #*-/ $'not %#&)( !D##$###%&%!D(($((( 8##P >#"' 8->'the 8# =',,A Q' %=' rather 89' >'$-.? ".89'"the 89.?average 89' .;'".@' We use median than because the median is ;1<1:=19/%-#)/ ;1<1:=19/%-#!/ 7$-"---/ 7,,",,,/ 7#!,",,,/ 7#,,",,,/ 7%!,",,,/ 7%,,",,,/ 7),,",,,/ 7$,,",,,/ 7,,,",,,/ :891/ !"#$#%&'(') $#(*+ C'$-.?

F.*= #?

C."P'8 -= 89' .>#%?8 #B 8->' 89' #!-/ #!-/ #*-/ #*-/ )'&.%=' 89' >'$-.? -= ?#8 :."8-&%,.",* ='?=-8-;' 8# =.,'= #B 9#>'= 89.8 $. %.&,( !=##$###%&%!='($((( *$&)( !'##$###%&%!<(($((( #!-/ #!-/ particularly sensitive to8->' sales of "',.8-;' homes that 8##P .? %?%=%.,,* #%-/ ,."@' .>#%?8 #B 8# =',, 8# 89' ;.=8took an unusually large amount#%-/ #%-/ #%-/ T>-$$,'T :"#:'"8* =',,-?@ 89-= >#?89 7.= #?

89' >."P'8A 39.8 -=G EKU +)&'( !>##$###%&%!((($((( >.V#"-8*(#B(9#>'=(-?(89'(>."P'8A #--/ of#--/time to sell in the market.'. #--/relative to the vast majority of homes #--/ $* #*&'( !=<#$###%&%!=(($((( .-/ #!'&'( !"$###$###%2.%C2., #B 9#>'=.-/ =',,-?@ 89-= >#?89 8##P ,'== 8->' 8# =',,G .?$ EKU #B 9#>'= ?,4/*5%@*A3%25% -,.0,56%17*58,%% .-/ *-/ *-/ .-/ ;1<1:=19/%-#)/ ;1<1:=19/%-#!/ )*+,%-./0, !-/ #*-/!-/ ?*.B,6 9,*.&2:,.&9,*. $' %#&)( !D##$###%&%!D(($((( 8##P >#"' *-/ =',,A Q' %=' 89' >'$-.? ".89'" 89.? 89' .;'".@' %-/#*-/ *-/ %-/ 8->' 8# #!-/ #!-/

*%&+),'-).$' #,'*)/0%1'

*%&+),'-).$' #,'*)/0%1' *%&+),'-).$' #,'*)/0%1'

Median Days on Market by Sale Price – ?,4/*5%@*A3%25%?*.B,6%EA%)*+,%-./0,% the median number of days that properties sold during the month were on the market 41/:1DB56/6?:=19/8@/D5F2/3453/G98G193B12/28AD/D?9B6E/ 41/:8634/C191/86/341/:59H13/

?,4/*5%@*A3%25%?*.B,6%EA%)*+,%-./0,% )'&.%=' 89' >'$-.? -= ?#8 :."8-&%,.",* ='?=-8-;' 8# =.,'= #B 9#>'= 89.8

-/ -/ #%-/ #%-/ 0122/3456/ 7$-"---/+/ 7#--"---/+/ 7#$-"---/+/ 7%--"---/+/ 7%$-"---/+/ 7)--"---/+/ 7!--"---/+/ 7*--"---/+/ 7#"---"---/89/ #--/ #--/ 7$-"---/ 7,,",,,/ 7#!,",,,/ 7#,,",,,/ 7%!,",,,/ 7%,,",,,/ 7),,",,,/ 7$,,",,,/ 7,,,",,,/ :891/ .-/ .-/ *-/ *-/ !"#$%&'$()*(+,#"-$.(/01234/56(7-89($.8.(:"#;-$'$()*(+,#"-$.<=(>%,8-:,'(,-=8-?@(='";-&'=A(58.8-=8-&=(B#"('.&9(>#?89(&#>:-,'$(B"#>(C25(B''$=(#?(89'(DE89($.*(#B(89'(B#,,#7-?@(>#?89A !-/ !-/ F.8.("','.='$(#?(+"-$.*G(H.?%."*(IJG(IKDEA(L'M8($.8.("','.='(-=(C#?$.*G(+')"%."*(IJG(IKDEA %-/ %-/ -/ -/ 0122/3456/ 7$-"---/+/ 7#--"---/+/ 7#$-"---/+/ 7%--"---/+/ 7%$-"---/+/ 7)--"---/+/ 7!--"---/+/ 7*--"---/+/ 7#"---"---/89/ 7$-"---/ 7,,",,,/ 7#!,",,,/ 7#,,",,,/ 7%!,",,,/ 7%,,",,,/ 7),,",,,/ 7$,,",,,/ 7,,,",,,/ :891/

!-/

41/:1DB56/6?:=19/8@/D5F2/3453/G98G193B12/28AD/D?9B6E/ %-/ 8##P .? %?%=%.,,*-/ ,."@' .>#%?8 #B 8->' 8# =',, "',.8-;' 8# 89' ;.=8 41/:8634/C191/86/341/:59H13/ >.V#"-8*(#B(9#>'=(-?(89'(>."P'8A 0122/3456/ 7$-"---/+/ 7#--"---/+/ 7#$-"---/+/ 7%--"---/+/ 7$-"---/

;1<1:=19/%-#)/

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As the ultimate in smartphone management systems, the Renny HOME makes it easier than ever to answer every call and text, while also featuring voice command capabilities, Bluetooth music streaming, a USB port for charging smartphones and many more innovative uses.

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20 Flourish Magazine | February/2015

Show me a woman who doesn’t feel guilty and I’ll show you a man. Erica Jong

Valentine

Cut-Out tREatS Ingredients

• 3 Tbsp butter (or margarine) • 10 oz marshmallows (regular) • food coloring (optional) • 6 cups rice krispies cereal • frosting (canned, or decorating gel) • candy (assorted)

Directions In a large saucepan melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted.

Stir in food coloring (if

desired). Remove from heat.Add rice krispies cereal. Stir until well coated.

Using buttered spatula or wax paper, evenly press mixture into 13x9x2-inch pan coated with cooking spray. Cool slightly. Using cookie cutters coated with cooking spray, cut into desired shapes.

Decorate with frosting and/or candies.

Courtesy of Yummly.com

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13820 W. NEWBERRY RD, SUITE 100, JONESVILLE, FL 32669 | 352-371-3200 Egotist: a person more interested in himself than in me. Ambrose Bierce

Flourish Magazine | February/2015 21

PROUDLY PRESENTS THE 2ND ANNUAL

From the opening blast of the confetti cannon, it was all fun and games at the Flourish Children’s Foundation’s 2014 Fire and Ice event.

Over 4,000 guests meandered through twin baseball fields filled with family-friendly attractions, from Human Hamster Balls and pony rides to face painting, rock climbing and a bungee trampoline. Gainesville Ice brought a frosty blast of excitement with their awesome ice slides and snow pits, while kids went wild for appearances by Magic Mike and by Princesses Elsa and Anna from Disney’s Frozen.

Entertainment even came from above, descending with an ASO Helicopter landing and sky divers who arrived around sunset. After a day filled with good food, great friends and lasting memories, all stood in awe of the spectacular firework finale ushered in by fire jugglers at center field. What a way to welcome in 2015!

Fire and Ice was created by Marc and Lauren Douglass of the Flourish Children’s Foundation to give back to Gainesville children in a lasting and meaningful way. Approximately one in four children in our community are considered to be food insecure, and proceeds from the Fire and Ice event go directly towards programs that help disadvantaged youth. This year, Marc and Lauren chose to work with The Weekend BackPack Program of Catholic Charities and The YMCA in their efforts to combat childhood hunger in Gainesville.

Flourish Children’s Foundation would like to thank everyone who came out for their donations and participation, as well as all the sponsors, vendors and volunteers who made this year’s event outstanding. See you all next year!

For more pics and video, please go to www.NewYearsForKids.org

22 Flourish Magazine | February/2015

a narcissist is someone better looking than you are. Gore Vidal

Wise men make proverbs, but fools repeat them. Samuel Palmer

Flourish Magazine | February/2015 23

24 Flourish Magazine | February/2015

the secret of success is to know something nobody else knows. Aristotle Onassis

It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity. Albert Einstein

Flourish Magazine | February/2015 25

By Kirsten Nielsen

Inexpensive Ideas FOR

Valentine’s day

Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to mean red roses and a fancy dinner out; in fact, that romantic dinner often turns sour when you’re crammed into a busy restaurant with 100 other couples with the same idea!

If you’re looking for something different this year, try one of our inexpensive ideas for a romantic night with your loved one.

Recreate your first date.

Bring back that first date giddiness by recreating the first night you went out together.

Cook at home.

Ask aboutedouwr ings! new smok 26 Flourish Magazine | February/2015

Instead of feeling stifled at a restaurant, laugh and flirt your way through a meal at home.

Since no one has to drive, you can break out that nice bottle of wine you’ve been saving!

Exchange Handmade Vouchers.

A chance to be personal and creative, these handmade vouchers can be anything from a massage, a chore your partner hates to do or a one-time free reign over the movie choice.

Game Night.

Stay at home and break out some board games; winner gets a massage or something sweet!

Bar Excursion.

Rather than sitting down at one expensive restaurant, bar hop your way through the city sampling appetizers and drinks.

Along with being cheaper, this lets you experience many spots you’ve probably never had the chance to go to before!

Romantic Movie at Home.

Snuggle up on the couch, make some popcorn and pop in a classic romantic movie (or one that has some special meaning to you two).

Go Outdoors.

Pack a dinner, build a fire by the lake and enjoy the serenity and the breathtaking stars.

Celebrate After.

If you’re dying to have that fancy dinner, push your plans to the weekend after Valentine’s Day to enjoy a cheaper and less hectic night out.

When you have to kill a man, it costs nothing to be polite. Sir Winston Churchill

Roses, Shmoses It’S tIME FOR a

Unique

Bouquet

If you’re sending flowers this Valentine’s Day, break free from the rose brigade. Select a bouquet from your local florist filled with eye-catching heart-felt blooms that are sure to stand out in a crowd!

Tulips.

Nothing boosts the spirits quite like a colorful collection of tulips, with smooth petals that offer elegant appeal. Let the color you choose convey your message: pink for young love, red for eternal, white for a contrite heart and yellow for cheerful affection.

or opt for Red Peruvian Lilies, whose heart-shaped petals have just a hint of charming yellow.

White daisies.

Purple lilacs.

Never underestimate the humble daisy, whose perky white petals symbolize the purity of love. Stick to the delicate and youthful white daisy, or choose a bouquet of Gerber Daises for a bolder, brighter look.

Lilies.

Primrose flowers.

These open blooms suggest an open heart, while their sweeping petals bring elegant beauty to every vase they grace. Choose an arrangement of Mini Cala Lilies, which blend beauty and innocence in their petite form,

If you want to stay in the rose family, try the primrose for a sweet twist on tradition.

Primroses indicate the innocence of a first love – the kind that says, “I can’t live without you.”

Choose from white, pink, purple, yellow or red.

Lilacs carry a scent as lovely as their appearance, which in purple shades symbolizes the first emotions of falling in love. Choose white lilacs for Valentine gifts for daughters and granddaughters, as they represent innocence and purity.

Whatever buds you choose, look for the freshest flowers you can find at local florists and nurseries. And get your order in early – the best blooms are sure to go quick!

Every Day is Gameday

In Gainesville every day is Gameday, only the venues change! So whether you love going outdoors or simply going out to eat, we’ve got just what you’re looking for. Paddle the Santa Fe River, dine at one of our delicious local restaurants or search for treasures at local boutiques and vintage shops downtown. Gainesville, where nature and culture meet.

VisitGainesville.com

Sometimes when reading Goethe I have the paralyzing suspicion that he is trying to be funny. Guy Davenport

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Flourish Magazine | February/2015 27

the benefits of childhood athletics are overwhelming – almost as overwhelming as the potential hiccups.

How to

Raise

Know the dangers of “toughness” The “No pain, no gain” philosophy might keep you going in your spin class, but it can send the wrong message to immature athletes, encouraging them to ignore pain for the sake of praise. A 2014 survey of youth pitchers published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine revealed a strong correlation between playing through pain and fatigue and increasing odds of injury.

Be sure that your child understands the difference between toughing it out and risking damage to themselves. Keep them well informed on the symptoms of concussions and sprains, and encourage them to listen to the limits of their body over the wants of their pride.

Give, don’t invest Your child might just earn that athletic scholarship, but it shouldn’t be your motivating factor when you gift them a new set of cleats.

Sports psychologists at Utah State University found that athlete enjoyment and motivation actually go down when parental spending goes up, largely due to the pressure young players feel because of their parents’ monetary investment.

Keep a gauge on your child’s level of interest in their chosen sport, and make sure that your financial backing doesn’t become disproportionate to their actual desires. Whether you give time, money or both, know that you are giving to your child’s individual development, not necessarily to their scholarship fund.

28 Flourish Magazine | February/2015

By Elizabeth Putfark

a

Happy Athlete Research, Research, Research Your child’s coach and team will have a huge impact on their experience with the sport, so choose them wisely. Consider school, league and club options, and be realistic about you and your child’s time and commitment capabilities. Once you find a team, ask around your local community about their reputation and legacy, and if possible attend a couple practices with your child before signing up.

Talk with the coach about his or her teaching philosophy, and consider how that style will mix with your child’s character. Remember to privilege creating a positive experience over furthering an adolescent career – if your child is happy, you will be, too!

We all agree that your theory is crazy, but is it crazy enough? Niels Bohr

How do you fill the football void??

I’ve been asking myself that question for weeks, ever since my fantasy league closed out for the season and the final cards of the playoffs fell. What do I watch? Where do I turn? Since I know I’m not alone facing the post-season slump, I thought I’d share a few ideas for the others out there wasting away with weekend boredom.

Scratch the itch

How to Fill the

By Elizabeth Putfark

Football Void It’s Thursday morning and you’re feeling antsy. You check your email once, twice, then hit up social media sites. Your weekend plans are set, but still one glaring question remains.

Although nothing compares to football in America, sometimes you just have to scratch the itch.

March Madness is right around the corner, and baseball offers a mild distraction all the way through early summer. If you can’t imagine caring about alternative sports, redefine how you imagine competition: for instance, my friends and I are in our second year of BachDrafting (that is, running a fantasy-style league around ABC’s The Bachelor).

Those who can’t watch…

Do. Softball leagues usually start in the spring, and indoor soccer clubs often run year round. It may be harder to find an adult flag-football team, but not impossible. Visit sportsvite.com to get connecting with others in the Gainesville area interested in forming, joining or spreading the word about a league.

Never hurts to prepare Finally, if nothing sooths the pain of a departed season, give up the fight and break out the game tapes. Take notes on rising stars, host a draft party at the end of April and ready your fantasy pick list for next season. The Gator’s host five open practices in the spring, each of which will give you the jump on early season predictions.

If all else fails, just remember you’re not alone – we’re all battling the winter, spring and summer blues of waiting for football to come around again!

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" /" , ° " ÊUÊÈ ääÊ-7Ê , ,Ê, ]Ê -6 ÊUÊÎxÓ°ÎÎn°ÇÓÈÓ the mistakes are all waiting to be made. Savielly Grigorievitch Tartakower

Flourish Magazine | February/2015 29

a driver’s license is more than just a rite of passage – it’s the means by which we transition into the adult world. currently only three percent of the 2,000 16 to 17-year-olds in Florida foster care have a license, which leaves them behind their peers as they enter college and the job market.

tfark

By Elizabeth Pu

New program helps Florida teens in foster care earn driver’s licenses

tEEnS

Giving

in Foster care their keys to

Independence The Goal

Putting a young adult in the driver’s seat grants her access to opportunities that social psychologists consistently laud as essential to positive growth and development. According to Gerry Glynn, CBCCFL’s chief legal officer, after-school clubs, athletics and activities build more than strong character – they build a critical skillset.

licenses. First they have to find someone willing to take responsibility for them by signing off on a learners permit, which many case managers and home providers are actually restricted from doing. Next, they need an adult that’s willing to ride with them while they log 50 hours behind the wheel.

The final and most significant obstacle comes after earning the license itself: paying for insurance.

“Most of us learn workforce soft skills while we’re still in high school,” Glynn explains, “but we mostly learn them in clubs and teams. You learn how to respond to a boss by listening to a coach. You learn how to work with others by being part of a team.

Many, if not most, of those activities require access to after school events, and that means driving.”

“Foster teens have to find someone who is willing to add them to their insurance policy,” Glynn explains, “which costs anywhere from $250 to $400 per month.

For most foster parents that would exceed the entire amount of money they have allocated to each kid.”

Driving opens up many part-time and summer work possibilities for foster youth as well. Public transportation is rarely a viable option in non-metropolitan areas, and even if it were most employers in tourism (Florida’s leading industry) want workers who are authorized to drive golf carts and shuttles.

The Obstacles Unfortunately, many obstacles stand between foster teens and their driver’s 30 Flourish Magazine | February/2015

The Solution The Keys to Independence program offers to help and fund teens as young as 15 while they attain their learner’s permit and complete the required courses for earning their license.

CBCCFL will also reimburse costs for each qualified teenager’s monthly insurance.

“This year legislature has allocated $800,000 to overcoming the barriers foster kids face,” says attorney Glynn, who began advocating for what became the Keys to Independence

But that’s about to change. keys to Independence, a new program effected by recent legislation and managed by one of Florida’s leading nonprofits, community Based care of central Florida (cBccFL), promises to get more teenagers in foster care behind the wheel and on their way to a more empowered youth. program after years representing foster teens who were held back by their lack of licensure. “That sounds like a lot of money, but in truth we’re only able to fund 200 students with that – 10 percent of those who qualify.”

How you can help Now in its first year, the Keys to Independence program hopes to garner more and more community support as it improves the lives of Florida’s foster youth.

“A lot of these youth will need access to an adult that’s just willing to ride with them,” Glynn explains. “We need volunteers to step up and say, I’m willing to put in the 50 hours this teen needs to help them learn to drive.”

The CBCCFL also hopes that Driver’s Education courses and insurance companies will reach out with special deals for foster teens.

“Foster youth want to be like every other youth. Whether that’s being able to go out on a date, spend the night, or participate in a sports team. If they can access driving, that’s one less barrier to feeling like every other kid.”

Any child over the age of 15 living in a foster care home or facility is invited to apply online at keystoindependence.org.

Click on “Contact Us” to volunteer your time and/or resources for the betterment of Gainesville area teens who have been removed from their birth families due to abuse or neglect.

I would have made a good Pope. Richard M. Nixon

What to do when you hate them too?

So, your child hates his or her teacher, and after your meeting, you know why. How do you handle things when you realize that you’re not fond of the teacher?

Making the Most of

By Ginger Henderson

Parent-Teacher Relationships

By now the back to school rush is behind you, and you and your child have settled into a daily school routine. Now that you have a moment to breathe, it’s time to think about cultivating a meaningful relationship with your child’s teacher. Like any relationship, this is one that requires both effort and sensitivity. With a little attention to detail, you can achieve a vital connection with the individual responsible for your child’s school success.

When things are good: It’s easy to grow a bit lax when things are going well for your child. He or she is acing tests, finishing homework and projects, and bounces off each morning with a smile. But don’t be lulled into thinking that a parentteacher relationship isn’t necessary when things are rolling along well. Your child’s teacher is a wealth of information, and in order to receive that information, you must first make a connection. Request a meeting to discuss your child’s progress, even if things seem okay. You may discover after meeting with the teacher that there are areas for concern. Even if that’s not the case, the teacher can share information on how you can better challenge your young learner or expand upon lessons taught in the classroom. Your child’s teacher can also help you learn more about how your child is

developing socially – skills that often aren’t noted on progress reports or report cards.

When things are not so good: Every relationship has its rocky times, and parent-teacher relationships are no different.

It may be difficult to reach out to your child’s teacher, especially if your child is struggling with the material or with maintaining proper classroom behavior.

No parent enjoys hearing negative things about their child, but don’t let fear hold you back. Request a meeting with your child’s teacher to discuss ways you can work together to improve his or her performance.

You may be surprised to learn that your child is thriving in other areas of school life, and the teacher can point you toward resources that can help him or her work toward correcting deficits. By opening the lines of communication, you’re setting up a system that will help you best monitor and attend to your child’s growth.

Your child’s teacher is an important member of his or her world. The teacher is the person your child will look to for education, life lessons, support and understanding for the next eight months. It’s important that you lay the groundwork now to ensure a connected, meaningful relationship.

In any contest between power and patience, bet on patience. W.B. Prescott

Validate, but don’t excuse Let your child know that you understand his or her frustrations with the teacher, but never excuse poor behavior as a result. “I met with your teacher today, and I understand why you think he’s boring.

I thought he was a little boring, too. That doesn’t mean it’s okay to pass notes in class, though. You still have to behave and be respectful, or there will be consequences.”

Create a life lesson Remind your child (and yourself) that everyone has a distinct personality, and sometimes personalities just don’t mesh that well. Use this experience to teach your child important life lessons about learning to deal with people who you don’t hit it off well with.

“I know you think Mrs. A’s rules are harsh, but she has reasons for the rules in her classroom. Everyone you meet in life isn’t always going to share your views. You’re going to have to learn how to adapt because one day it might be your boss that you’re butting heads with.”

Know when there’s a problem It’s up to you to determine if it’s time to step in and take action. If you notice a marked difference in your child’s actions or behaviors, consider visiting the school to check up on things. If your child says he or she is being treated unfairly by the teacher, it’s time to discuss these issues directly with the teacher in question. If you’re not pleased with the teacher’s response or if you don’t feel the teacher is being truthful, schedule a meeting with the school’s principal or superintendent of education to discuss the matter further.

Flourish Magazine | February/2015 31

Old Drug Has

the

People’ s Pharmacy

By Joe Gra ed a n d Teresa on , M.S., Graedon , P h .D.

New Tricks

Against

Depression made ketamine appealing as a club drug. Known as “Special K,” ketamine is used around the world during raves or dance parties.

When someone is severely depressed, immediate action is essential. That’s because without help or hope, a suicidal person may do himself irreversible harm.

The trouble is that most antidepressant treatments do not act quickly. It can take up to six weeks for medication to kick in. That may not be soon enough for someone with overwhelming depression.

In such situations, patients may be admitted to a psychiatric ward (voluntarily or involuntarily), where they can be observed and protected. Many such facilities are overwhelmed, however, and may not offer a healing environment.

An old medicine in new form may offer unexpected hope for such patients.

Ketamine has been used as an anesthetic during surgery since the early 1970s. During the Vietnam War, it was called the “buddy drug,” since it could be administered on the battlefront by another soldier.

Ketamine continues to be prescribed for surgery on children and in veterinary medicine. The problem keeping it from being used more widely as a surgical anesthetic is that ketamine creates “dissociation.” Users may feel disconnected from their environment and may experience distorted perceptions or even hallucinations.

While the dissociative experience posed problems in surgical recovery rooms, it

32 Flourish Magazine | February/2015

Researchers are rediscovering the fascinating pharmacology of this medication. Unlike conventional antidepressants such as fluoxetine (Prozac) and venlafaxine (Effexor), ketamine impacts the brain in a completely different way. Some small studies have uncovered remarkable effects against hard-to-treat depression. ketamine’s dissociative side effects. The company is working on an oral version that could be used for treatment-resistant depression. These new drugs are likely to be submitted for Food and Drug Administration approval within the next several years.

Instead of taking weeks to change brain chemistry and relieve suicidal thoughts, ketamine goes to work rapidly. One pilot study compared a ketamine injection to placebo. The active drug produced a “robust and rapid antidepressant effect” within two hours that lasted nearly a week (Archives of General Psychiatry, August 2006).

In the meantime, however, some psychiatrists are already using ketamine injections for selected patients. Doctors can do this legally because ketamine is an FDA-approved anesthetic drug.

A disadvantage of such therapy, however, is the intravenous administration. It is inconvenient for many depressed patients to return to the doctor frequently for injections.

That is why there is such interest in a new formulation called esketamine, developed by the Johnson & Johnson pharmaceutical company. This medication can be used as a nose spray. Preliminary results are promising.

Other companies also are pursuing compounds that work on the same brain chemicals. GLYX-13 is being developed by Naurex. A study published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology (April 2013) found antidepressant activity without

Such off-label prescribing has unknown drawbacks. We don’t know how long-term use will affect brain function, but in a suicidal emergency, the short-term benefit might outweigh the risks.

Joe Graedon is a pharmacologist. Teresa Graedon holds a doctorate in medical anthropology and is a nutrition expert.

Their syndicated radio show can be heard on public radio. In their column, Joe and Teresa Graedon answer letters from readers. Write to them in care of this newspaper or email them via their Web site: www.PeoplesPharmacy.com.

It is unbecoming for young men to utter maxims. Aristotle

r o f e c r u o s Your ! e s i d n a h c r logo me

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PART OF

Stretch

By Sarah G. Mason

for Your Health

Stretching isn’t just for pro athletes and fitness buffs. If you want to increase your flexibility, decrease your risk of injury and reduce chronic pain or stress, consider adding stretching to your daily routine. When done properly, this versatile exercise can impact both your body and your mind.

Warm Up with a Walk Never stretch when your muscles are cold, warns orthopaedic surgeon William Levine, MD. Instead, Dr. Levine recommends starting with a mild aerobic warm-up, like a brisk 5-minute walk. This will increase blood flow to the muscles, making them more fit for stretching.

Dynamic Over Static After your warm-up, do dynamic – not static – stretches. Static stretches are those that you hold in place (think of the splits), while dynamic stretches are those that move in a slow, controlled way.

Do a few arm circles, hip rotation or practice a bit of yoga for dynamic movement.

Speaking of Yoga…

If you’re familiar with yoga basics, you know that it can improve your strength and flexibility, reduce pain and put your body back in balance. Yoga expert Mary Pullig Schatz, MD, suggests using yoga movements as a form of dynamic stretching before say, a long bike ride. Try a few minutes of sun salutations to stretch different parts of your body.

Static Stretching Has Its Place After your workout, practice holding static stretches for about 30 seconds to lengthen muscles and improve flexibility. Keep in mind that you should never stretch to the point of pain.

Stretching should be a gentle process where you only move to the point of slight discomfort.

Dynamic Stretches

We all know about static stretches, but what about the dynamic ones?

Here are a few simple dynamic stretches to get you started. do several repetitions of 30 seconds each at your own pace:

Goose Step: To stretch your hamstrings, slowly lift your leg directly out in front of you, alternating legs as you walk forward.

34 Flourish Magazine | February/2015

Knee Lifts:

Take a step forward, bend your leg, grab your knee and pull it towards your chest.

Butt Kick: This is a classic quadriceps stretch. As you jog slowly forward, bend one knee and kick yourself in the glutes. Alternate legs as you move forward.

Grove giveth and Gates taketh away. Bob Metcalfe

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What’s happening:

Events February FEBRUARY 3RD 7:30PM Chicago @ University of Florida’s Phillips Center (Additional dates available) 9PM Men’s Basketball @ Vanderbilt Men’s Golf @ Sea Best Invitational

FEBRUARY 6TH 2PM Articulate @ UF Health Shands Cancer Hospital 4PM Softball @ Hampton 5PM Men’s Tennis @ Florida State 9PM Gymnastics @ Arkansas Track & Field @ Virginia Tech Elite

NOVEMBER 7TH 11:30PM Lacrosse North Carolina 1:30PM Softball @ Michigan 3PM Monet and American Impressionism @ Harn Museum of Art 3:45PM Softball @ Illinois State 9PM Men’s Basketball Kentucky Track & Field @ Virginia Tech Elite

FEBRUARY 8TH Women’s Golf @ Northrup Grumman Regional Challenge (Add. Dates) 1:30PM Softball @ Jacksonville 2PM Women’s Basketball Tennessee 4PM Softball @ USF

FEBRUARY 10TH 6:30PM Raised Bed Vegetable Gardening @ UF/IFAS Extension Alachua County Office Women’s Golf @ Northrup Grumman Regional Challenge

FEBRUARY 11TH 6PM Softball @ Jacksonville 7PM Lacrosse @ Jacksonville 7:30PM Across the River @ The Salt (Additional dates available)

FEBRUARY 12TH 7PM Men’s Basketball Ole Miss Arts

FEBRUARY 13TH 3PM Spring Observership: Mr. Burns, a Post-Electric Play @ Hippodrome Theatre 6PM Softball NC State 6:45PM Gymnastics Missouri 44 Flourish Magazine | February/2015

7PM Baseball Rhode Island 7:30PM Across the River @ The Salt Track & Field @ Tyson Invitational Track & Field @ Iowa State Classic

NOVEMBER 14TH 1PM Lacrosse Michigan 1:30PM Softball NC State 2PM Across the River @ The Salt 4PM Softball Iowa 4PM Baseball Rhode Island 6:30PM Softball @ NC State vs. Iowa 6:30PM Men’s Basketball @ Texas A&M 6:30PM Caribbean Legacy Dinner & Gala @ Albert Massey (Westside) Recreation Center 7:30PM A Midsummer Night’s Dream @ Curtis M Phillips Center for Performing Arts 7:30PM Across the River @ The Salt Track & Field @ Tyson Invitational Track & Field @ Iowa State Classic Men’s Golf SunTrust Gator Invitational

FEBRUARY 15TH 12PM Softball Iowa 1PM Baseball Rhode Island 2:30PM Softball NC State 4PM Women’s Basketball @ Mississippi State, Men’s Golf SunTrust Gator Invitational

FEBRUARY 17TH 7PM Baseball Florida A&M Women’s Swimming & Diving @ SEC Championships Men’s Swimming & Diving @ SEC Championships

FEBRUARY 18TH 4PM Women’s Tennis @ Florida State 6:30PM Baseball @ USF 7PM Men’s Basketball Vanderbilt Women’s Swimming & Diving @ SEC Championships Men’s Swimming & Diving @ SEC Championships

FEBRUARY 19TH 7PM Women’s Basketball Vanderbilt Women’s Swimming & Diving @

SEC Championships Men’s Swimming & Diving @ SEC Championships

FEBRUARY 20TH 9AM Softball @ Illinois State vs. Mercer 11:15AM Softball @ Kansas vs. Mercer 1:30PM Softball @ Liberty vs. Illinois State 2PM Articulate @ UF Health Shands Cancer Hospital 3PM Women’s Tennis Duke 4PM Softball Kansas 6:15PM Softball Liberty 6:30PM Lacrosse San Diego State 7PM Baseball Miami (FL) 7:30PM Mummenschanz: Musicians of Silence @ University of Florida’s Phillips Center 8:30PM Gymnastics @ LSU Women’s Swimming & Diving @ SEC Championships Men’s Swimming & Diving @ SEC Championships

FEBRUARY 21ST

9:30AM Softball @ Illinois State vs. Mercer 12PM Softball @ Liberty vs. Mercer 1PM Women’s Tennis Duke vs. Stanford 1PM Men’s Basketball @ LSU 2PM Across the River @ The Salt 2:15PM Softball Illinois State 4:30PM Softball Kansas 6:45 PM Softball @ Liberty vs. Kansas 7:30PM Baseball Miami (FL) Women’s Swimming & Diving @ SEC Championships Men’s Swimming & Diving @ SEC Championships

FEBRUARY 22ND 9AM Softball @ Kansas vs.

Illinois State 12PM Softball Mercer 12PM Women’s Tennis Stanford 12:15PM Gainesville Woman’s Club Dinner and Matinee Theatre @ Gainesville Woman’s Club

1PM Baseball Miami (FL) 4PM Women’s Basketball @ Texas A&M 6:15PM Chasers @ Gainesville Woman’s Club Women’s Golf @ Allstate Sugar Bowl Intercollegiate Golf Championship (Add. Dates)

FEBRUARY 24TH 5:30PM Jersey Boys @ Curtis M Phillips Center for Performing Arts 6:30PM Baseball @ Florida Atlantic 9PM Men’s Basketball @ Missouri

FEBRUARY 25TH 6PM Softball UCF

FEBRUARY 26TH 5:30PM Men’s Tennis Georgia 7PM Women’s Basketball @ Alabama

FEBRUARY 27TH Track & Field @ SEC Indoor Championships 2:30PM Softball @ Oregon 5PM Softball @ Cal Poly San Luis Obispo 5PM Women’s Tennis Alabama 6:45PM Gymnastics Gators Link to Pink versus Kentucky 7PM Baseball Stony Brook Women’s Swimming & Diving Last Chance Meet Men’s Swimming & Diving Last Chance Meet

FEBRUARY 28TH 12PM Softball @ UC Davis 1PM Men’s Tennis South Carolina 1PM Lacrosse Dartmouth 4PM Baseball Stony Brook 5PM Softball @ San Diego Women’s Swimming & Diving Last Chance Meet Men’s Basketball Tennessee Track & Field @ SEC Indoor Championships Men’s Swimming & Diving Last Chance Meet

Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler. Albert Einstein

Not all that’s fleeting fades Buyer’s remorse, doers rejoice

In a capitalistic economy, being “priceless” isn’t always a good thing. Studies show that most Americans choose to invest in the quantifiable value of goods over the unquantifiable worth of experience, despite knowledge that the experiences will make them happier.

What is

By elizabeth putfark

Happiness WOrTh TO YOu?

Scholars from San Francisco State University surveyed consumers before and after making major purchases. Prior to investing, participants attributed greater value to material goods than life experiences, despite simultaneously admitting that experiences would bring them greater joy.

Yet after the deal was closed, experience suddenly accrued greater worth. Whether participants chose the material items or the lived experience, they came away from their purchases believing that the experience held more value than the tangible good.

Get Out and About!

Winter is an exciting time to be in Gainesville. Between UF sports, concerts and art festivals, there’s always something to do. So take a break from campus and get out and about in Gainesville. For more information and a complete listing of events visit our website.

We tend to reason our way out of experiences because of their ephemerality, when in fact their very fleetingness is what makes them so precious. Investing in events extends the satisfaction of our purchase well beyond the point of sale, adding anticipation and nostalgia to the list of bagged merchandise. Material items, by contrast, lose their zest almost as soon as we pull their tags.

So the next time you find some wiggle room in your family budget, make your spending worthwhile. Go to that festival with a cover charge, or to see the band you love that’s even expensive from the nose-bleed section. The memories you make and the relationships you build will outlast all the material stuff you miss.

Events in Gainesville Feb. 1: Hoggetowne Medieval Faire “Phantom of the Opera” at the University Auditorium Feb. 3-4: “Chicago” at the Phillips Center Feb. 5: UF Symphony Orchestra Concert Feb. 9: “Florida’s Got the Blues” opens at The Matheson Museum Feb. 12-15: Cinema Verde Environmental Film Festival Feb. 14: “Be My Valentine” by Dance Alive Feb. 18: “Mr. Burns, a Post Electric Play” opens at The Hipp Feb. 21: Florida Invitational Step Show at the O’Dome Feb. 24: “Jersey Boys” opens at the Phillips Center Feb. 27: Gainesville Artwalk March 6-8: Tioga Winter Fine Arts Fair

www.visitgainesville.com 352.374.5260

VisitGainesvilleFlorida There are people in the world so hungry, that God cannot appear to them except in the form of bread. Mahatma Gandhi

@ Gainesville

Flourish Magazine | February/2015 45

By Kat Freestone

FIGHT

Inflammation isn’t all bad – without it, our bodies couldn’t heal. however, when inflammation gets out of control it can damage our internal day-to-day functions and – if allowed to persist over time – is thought to play a role in obesity, heart disease and cancer.

Inflammation with Food Foods high in saturated fats and sugar (think hamburgers and ice cream) can spur inflammation because they cause overactivity in the immune system. Luckily, you have the power to take control of your health through your diet. Here are a few foods that can help curb inflammation.

grabbing a pre-packaged snack pack, reach instead for nuts like almonds and fresh berries.

Almonds contain healthy fats and are rich in fiber, calcium, vitamin E and inflammationfighting antioxidants. Berries, too, can help fight inflammation because they’re low in fat and calories and high in antioxidants.

Replace milk with homemade almond milk.

Replace margarine with olive oil when cooking.

It’s certainly more work to make your own, but it’s your best bet if you want to commit to an anti-inflammatory diet. Dairy products such as yogurt, ice cream, cottage cheese, butter and cheese are packed with hormones, antibiotics and other ingredients that cause inflammation. Store-bought almond milk, too, often contains preservatives and additives.

Hydrogenated and trans fats found in margarine, shortening and lard (including foods cooked with them!) are highly inflammatory. Olive oil, on the other hand, is not. According to Natural Arthritis Treatment, foods like olive oil that are heart healthy are often also good for inflammation. Though olive oil can’t always replace margarine when making things like cookies and pies, it’s a better option for sautéed or roasted foods.

Replace processed snacks with nuts and berries.

Processed, packaged and prepared products top the list of harmful foods because of ingredients like oils, sugar, sodium, food additives and artificial sweeteners. Instead of 42 Flourish Magazine | February/2015

sucralose, aspartame and saccharin are highly inflammatory, but so is real sugar. If you had to pick one over the other, doctors such as dietician Dr. Elizabeth Bomen recommend sticking to natural sugars (in moderation!) because they’re more digestible than artificial sweeteners. If you’re looking for a sweet fix, try a piece of dark chocolate alongside a bowl of fresh strawberries.

Replace meat and poultry with oily fish.

A plant-based diet tends to be much lower in inflammatory substances than a diet full of foods like ground beef and chicken breast.

But you don’t have to become a vegetarian to stick to a low-inflammatory diet. Oily fish like salmon, tuna and sardines are high in omega-3 fatty acids, which can help reduce inflammation.

Replace synthetic sweeteners with real sugar or better yet, fruit. By making little changes in your day-to-day In the battle of artificial sweeteners vs. real sugar, it’s a lose-lose. “Fake” sugars like

diet, you can reduce inflammation and ensure that your body stays happy and healthy.

When you gaze long into the abyss, the abyss also gazes into you. Friedrich Nietzsche

! ff o p o r d & � u k c

Free pi

By elizabeth putfark

Sculpt hOW TO

YOur

lower Abs

Well sculpted lower abs might be the unicorns of the fitness world, but don’t give up hope. That enviable v-cut is well within your reach – if you’re willing to work for it!

Why can I only get a “four-pack”?

Our bodies shed fat from top-to-bottom, and so the stubborn fat cells in our lower core are the last to go and the first to reappear. That means that unless your BMI is in single digits, you won’t see noticeable lower ab muscles no matter how many exercises you try.

The first step to a chiseled core is to reduce your overall body fat through sustainable lifestyle changes that will keep you trim while you tone.

Diet and cardio, check.

Then what?

First, try incorporating a few sets of reverse crunches into your routine. Lie flat on the floor and lift your knees as though you were about to do normal crunches. Instead of curling up

352.332.4186 1005 NW 76TH BLVD, GAINESVILLE FL

towards your legs, bring your knees towards your body by tightening your core and rolling your pelvis upward.

While you’re lying flat, add in a couple rounds of pulse-ups.

Point your legs straight up to form a 90 degree angle with your body. Placing your hands under your pelvis, slowly push your feet towards the ceiling, keeping your legs straight and arms relaxed. Hold for five seconds at the top, then lower and repeat.

Ugh, that sounds hard!

No doubt! If you need a distraction, substitute an abintensive sport instead. Rock climbing requires you to engage your entire core as you scale up and down, while sailing offers the breeziest way to feel your lower abdominals burn. If you’d rather not ride the waves, mount up on a favorite steed to get that flat-belly look – staying in the saddle will motivate you to keep those lower stomach muscles tight!

Bonnie Valenzuela p h o t o g r a p h y

"

Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal. Henry Ford

Love, Passion & Dedication

6

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You study your face in the bathroom mirror, watch yourself dress through a full length one, catch a glimpse of your figure in the reflection of your car door, and touch up your makeup using your pocket applicator. each time you look at your face, your hair, your body, what do you see?

A beautiful, charming woman? A heavy, unhappy one? “I’m having a fat day,” you joke to your co-workers. Inside, it doesn’t feel so funny.

Fat isn’t a feeling. There are always underlying emotions subconsciously associated with feeling fat, and nearly none of them have to do with how much you weigh. Are you feeling alone?

Tense? Guilty? Inadequate? It’s important to recognize that these feelings are separate from your body. Instead of saying, “I’m having a fat day,” think to yourself, “What inner issues are bothering me?

What feelings are hurting my self-esteem?”

You wouldn’t tell a friend to skip lunch to compensate for those pancakes she had for breakfast or to stay home because she didn’t like the way she looked in her new little black dress, so why tell yourself these things? Negative self-talk is difficult to stop once it starts, so break the cycle and get into the habit of thinking positively.

Talk to yourself as you would talk to a friend – you deserve the kindness and love you give to others.

If you catch yourself body-shaming, stop, take a deep breath and say, “I am more than my body.” Your pant size doesn’t define your worth.

Imagine how you’d feel if the world was blind. What would you 40 Flourish Magazine | February/2015

Fat Day By sarah G. mason

spend your time thinking about? What would your goals be? You are as great as your strengths, talents and passions and you should work to pursue your dreams. In the end, it’s your dedication to the things you love – not a number on the scale – that defines you.

Who inspires you? What have they done to deserve your admiration? Whether it’s your favorite author, a leader in your field or a teacher in your life, find encouragement in the success of those you respect. Look for inspiration in other people – don’t compare yourself to them. Notice that it’s not always a person’s appearance that matters; the people who inspire you have true talent, vision and the will to pursue their passions. Aim to find that same passion in your own life. Make a list of all the things – non-body related – that define your character. Are you a nurturing mother? Do you enjoy volunteering? Are you successfully growing your business?

Most importantly, banish the words “fat day” from your vocabulary.

Your body is a beautiful, incredible force. You’re lucky to have two arms, two legs and a healthy heart to engage in life. Your body allows you to experience the world, so learn to appreciate it.

Challenge your negative thoughts, care for yourself and above all be kind. You may not be able to change your self-image in a day, but you can always choose to treat yourself with compassion.

I’ll sleep when I’m dead. Warren Zevon

Barley.

Toss some barely into that winter stew or soup your making to increase your fiber and selenium intake, which help regulate appetite and reduce free-radical damage.

Winter Squash.

Pie pumpkins, butternut, acorn and spaghetti squashes all come packed with vitamin A, which is good for eye health.

Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re also low-calorie and fiber-filled, helping you to feel fuller, longer.

Winter Power-Foods The season of farm fresh fruits and vegetables is still on the distant horizon, but that doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mean your diet has to suffer.

Get off the carb-a-load wagon with these power foods for winter that will keep you energized until the start of spring.

Onions and Garlic.

By elizabeth putfark Improve your foodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s flavor and your health Slow-Cooked Stews.

Lean beef, carrots and potatoes make for a hearty, healthy meal on chilly nights. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re also an excellent source of iron, which aids in red blood cell production, and packed with protein to power you through your next day.

by seasoning you meals with plenty of onions and garlic, which contain antimicrobial properties to help prevent you from getting sick.

Baked Potatoes.

Canned Tuna.

Okay, so not exactly carb free, but winter spuds are worth the calories for the high levels of disease-fighting antioxidants they contain.

On a bagel, a sandwich or a cracker, tuna offers an abundance of vitamin D, which most of us are sorely lacking during cooler winter months. Tuna also contains healthy Omega-3 fats, which are good for skin.

Prepare your winter superfoods with minimal butter and salt, and keep only whole wheat breads in the house, since youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll likely be craving them no matter what!

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It was the experience of mystery â&#x20AC;&#x201C; even if mixed with fear â&#x20AC;&#x201C; that engendered religion. Albert Einstein

7

By Elizabeth Putfark

Whether you favor herbal healing or overthe-counter cures, knowing how to treat common ailments at home empowers you to fight pain when and wherever it strikes.

Migraine + Peppermint

Migraine ranks among the top 20 most disabling medical conditions in the world according to the Migraine Research Foundation, and can condemn sufferers to dark rooms and throbbing pain for up to 72 hours.

Ease the pain of migraines with peppermint oil, whose active ingredient is menthol.

Healthline.com recommends diluting the oil in a 10 percent solution and applying it to the forehead and temples in order to ease nausea and mitigate migraine pain.

Nausea + Ginger Uneasy stomachs can distract us from our daily activities and special events. Overcome nausea with ginger, a healing root that’s been treating stomachaches and diarrhea for thousands of years. Utilize raw ginger in your cooking to forestall adverse stomach conditions, or chew a piece of candied ginger to relieve symptoms already in effect.

Sore Throat + Honey A sore throat can arise as a symptom to many common colds and flus, but it doesn’t always find relief from medicinal treatment.

Honey, mixed with tea or taken straight-up, can provide sweet relief from the itchy scratchy feeling that keeps you up at night.

Natural Cures

YOu NeeD TO kNOW

According to a 2007 study published by the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, honey proves more effective at suppressing coughs and discomfort than over-the-counter options, particularly in children.

Mood swings + Magnesium One of the brain chemicals that effects our mood and energy level most is serotonin, a natural chemical which can be produced and supported by the element magnesium.

Magnesium was once in ready supply in the human diet, but now is often depleted in our food’s soil supply, and gets removed from most drinking water during routine treatment.

Fight mood deficiency by ingesting more magnesium on a daily basis through foods like almonds, sunflower seeds, avocados, spinach, salmon, oysters and grains. Over time, increasing you and your family’s daily magnesium intake can lead to lower risk of depression, moodiness and energy imbalance.

Insomnia + Cherry Juice Getting enough sleep has been proven to boost health, happiness and weight loss, but doesn’t always come easily after a stressful day. Cherry juice, which is high in melatonin, can help you drift away faster according to a recent study published in the Journal of Medicinal Food. Study participants fell asleep sooner on days when they drank tart cherry juice than when they consumed a placebo beverage.

If everything seems under control, you’re just not going fast enough. Mario Andretti

how to remedy everyday illnesses with materials you already have on hand

Muscle Soreness + Watermelon You might relish the long-term effects of working out, however the short-term soreness carries little appeal. A 2013 study published in the Journal of Food Chemistry suggests that you can avoid post-workout pain by indulging in watermelon before and after your athletic routine.

Watermelon contains I-citrulline, an amino acid some suggest protects against muscle pain, and lycopene, an antioxidant that blocks the inflammation-causing enzyme cyclooxygenase in a similar way to active ingredients in aspirin and ibuprofen.

Sunburn + Cornstarch We know that overexposure to the sun can cause lasting damage to our bodies, but the short term effects aren’t so fun, either. If you or someone you love suffers a sunburn, check your cupboards for cornstarch before rushing to the store.

Cornstarch can be mixed into a paste with water and applied directly to sunburns to sooth irritated skin. For whole-body burns, sprinkle cornstarch onto the bed sheets to prevent overnight chaffing.

While all severe and chronic health problems should be discussed with your family doctor, these at-home natural remedies may provide temporary relief from common symptoms, and spare you at least a couple late night trips to the pharmacy.

Flourish Magazine | February/2015 39

How to

Prep

for the week

in one afternoon Learn how to plan your week for better eating (and less time in the kitchen!)

By Laura Fuentes, MOMables.com

36 Flourish Magazine | February/2015

I have often regretted my speech, never my silence. Xenocrates

Want to know how I prep for the week in one afternoon?

This is how I do it.

It is no secret that I am not a big fan of the bewitching hours (5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.) at my house.

With 3 young kids, homework to be finished, a house that needs to be picked up, mouths that need to be fed, and dinner that needs to be made (oh, you know… motherhood/life!) late afternoon isn’t always a pretty sight.

I can’t stress enough that the ONLY reason I am still sane by the end of the night is because I have a good plan for the week (and the promise of a bed waiting for me hours later).

Keep reading to see how I organize my food prep over the weekend to keep my family dining on homemade fare seven days a week.

Plan around lunch.

Why plan around lunch? This is the one meal where we are away from each other so packing nutrition and variety is important. I pack five lunches every day: that’s three kids and two adults. We all eat the same in different portions and I make changes for gluten and dairy allergies.

By now, you probably thinking one of the following:

Set aside time.

Prep your grains.

Sunday is our “family day.” We have a fun family breakfast (like my easy overnight cinnamon rolls), head to church and come home. While everyone is eating lunch and the baby is napping, I head to the grocery (um, groceries), come home and get started.

Just so you know, while I am doing all of this the kids are playing, bugging me, jumping on the trampoline and bugging me some more – they are kids after all!

There is nothing wrong with cooking rice and pasta a few days ahead of time (like 3).

My rice cooker cooked the rice while I boiled the pasta. That same night (we’re still on Sunday!) I made our easy fried rice and a made-ahead dairy free mac and cheese sauce. It was amazing and my non-vegan/ dairy-free kids devoured it. Leftover fried rice is Tuesday’s warm lunch :).

Wash and prep all fruits and vegetables.

I made tomato basil sauce and walnut pesto, which can be stored in a jar and refrigerated.

I went ahead and made a few DIY frozen pizzas while I was at it and sent those to the freezer. By the way, this is one thing my kids love helping out with. They play “pizzeria!”

I get the kids to do most of the washing and putting away (we call it playing grocery store). Apples, pears, etc. get washed and stashed in the fridge or fruit bowl. Berries get washed and the ripe pineapple get cut up and stored in a container. Any leftover fruit from last week that was very ripe get minimally cooked and pureed then packed in a re-usable pouch for an after-school snack. Oh yeah, the celery gets washed and prepped to fit in our lunch boxes

Get your oven busy!

Once I turn on the oven, that’s it – everything gets baked. This week we are having a breakfast quiche (which can be made from leftover deli meats or just a few slices of turkey and ham plus cheese). I also prepped zucchinis to be roasted the next night (in olive oil and seasoning) and stored them directly in an oven ready dish. The quiche recipe is in one of our menus. I also bake any cookies or baked goods while the oven is on.

“You’ve got hired help” Yes, if by hired help you are referring to the MOMables meal plan. You can hire help for $6 or less per month.

“NO WAY I can do that” Yes, you can! All you need is a little preparation and a plan.

“I don’t have that much time” I spend about 4 hours every Sunday getting organized for the week. If I don’t, it’s chaos. We eat the same routine foods, and I feel like I just don’t have it together by mid-week.

“I’m not that organized” I’m not either. Just ask my husband.

I use a plan, sit for 10 minutes to add the rest of the meals and go to the stores.

“This is overwhelming” I’m sure it is, but not so much if you have a plan you can implement.

5pm-7:30pm every night is overwhelming enough for me.

Make sauces ahead of time.

Take care of your proteins.

Some weeks we have bean salads, hummus etc., so I cook my beans in the slow cooker the night before and they are ready for me for my Sunday meal prep-a-thon. This week, I made tuna salad for lunch (mostly for my husband), grilled 1 lb. of chicken and I’m using our birthday party’s leftover slow cooked bbq pork. The other protein we are eating this week is grilled fish so that everything gets made that same night.

Pack, label and refrigerate.

If you look inside my fridge, you see that it’s FULL of prepped-ahead, labeled items and lunches for Monday-Wednesday. By labeling, I mean I take a dry erase pen and mark anything that needs to be warmed or grilled in the morning. As I take items out Monday morning I free up room for more, and Wednesday night I make Thursday’s and Friday’s menu items.

“I don’t have the right containers” Check out all the containers I have on my blog. There worth the initial cost for the peace of mind they offer later.

“Well…I just sorta wing it” I used to, too. Now, I can feed all 5 of us for $150 per week 7 days/3+ meals per day (we may eat out once a month, if that). You can check out how I feed my family on a budget.

Winging-it means wasting a lot more than $6 per month on food – guaranteed.

The nice thing about being a celebrity is that if you bore people they think it’s their fault. Henry Kissinger

I know this looks like a lot of work, but now that you’ve seen exactly how I do it you’re ready to make your own plan-ahead program for the week. Sure, it’s work, but the feeling I get when I finally close my fridge and my kitchen is cleaned – that, my friends, is priceless.

Find these tips and more guidelines and recipes at MOMables.com Flourish Magazine | February/2015 37

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Looks We Love

By Sarah G. Mason

For the Home!

The Inspiration: Chic yet classy, this elegant guest bedroom is a stylish way to make your visitors feel right at home.

The Colors: Look for gentle grey and neutral hues with pops of bright purple.

Choose colorful accent pieces that will complement the look like a flashy throw blanket, a vase of vibrant flowers and pillows with a big, bold design.

brightly painted flower vase.

Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll need a bottle of bright purple or pink glass paint and a clear glass vase. Simply pour a few tablespoons of paint inside the vase, then rotate the vase to create funky designs. Let dry, add flowers and voilĂ !

Photo source (below): decorativebedroom.com

Stand-Outs: All it takes is one or two stand-out pieces to really make a room shine. Here, bamboo roman shades offer an earthy feeling, while a beaded chandelier adds a touch of charm.

DIY: Want to give your guest bedroom a unique flare without a hefty price tag? Do it yourself with a Sleep is an excellent way of listening to an opera. James Stephens

honey Nut

Valentine’s Day COOkIeS

(Gluten-Free)

Ingredients

• Place a heart-shaped cookie cutter (or any shape you like) onto the Silpat or parchment paper and fill it halfway with the nut and seed mixture. Use your hand Directions to pack the mixture into • Preheat oven to 350 F. the cookie cutter.

• In a medium-sized, bowl, Carefully lift the cookie whisk together the eggs cutter. The mixture whites and honey. should retain the shape • Coarsely chop the nuts of the cookie cutter. and seeds.

• Repeat until you have • Mix the nuts and seeds used all of the nut and into the egg whites seed mixture. and honey until • Bake for 15 minutes well-combined. or until the cookies just • Line a baking sheet start to brown with a Silpat or on the edges. parchment paper. (from Yummly.com) • 2 egg whites • ¼ cup honey • 2 cups nuts (assorted, and seeds)

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35

’ s i v a r T e home i b Deb se to hou

Get

personaLIZeD DIspLaY BoarDs From “hanDmaDe WaLLs” enerGIZe a room anD create a Warm, homeY atmosphere.

Framed I'm no carpenter, but years ago I learned how to handle a few simple tools that allowed me to make my own frames, and this new skill has opened up a whole world of imaginative projects and designs. Once you can cut and assemble a frame, you have the ability to personalize the size, shape and finish. It's very satisfying and great fun!

Designers Jamin and Ashley Mills had the same eureka moment when searching for ways to personalize their family home. Their new book, "Handmade Walls: 22 Inspiring Ideas to Bring Your Walls to Life," showcases the whimsical beauty and simplicity with which they have layered their home. It is a step-by-step guide to making frames and one-of-a-kind pieces of art that grace the walls of any and every room. All that's required is wood or fiberboard, a Skil saw (circular saw), a jigsaw, a drill, some stain and paint. Directions are clear and include tips on using the tools as well as how to hang small and large frames.

A witty saying proves nothing. Voltaire

By Debbie travis

To begin with the simplest frame design in the book, choose a piece of wood or medium density fiberboard. Decide on the size of your frame by adding the border measurement you would like showing around your picture.

Mark the outer measurements with a ruler or chalk line. Use the Skil saw to cut out the square or rectangle. Decorate the block with stain or paint. Cut a piece of Plexiglas to cover the photo. Place the photo in the center of the block, cover with the Plexiglas and attach the Plexiglas with screws at the four corners. The picture can be changed easily by unscrewing the corner screws.

Once you have completed one frame you will be hooked on the freedom and enchantment now open to you. The Mills show many different frame styles with tips on staining and painting techniques and favorite colors. Shown here are two featured projects that hang in their dining room. The Imogen mirror is a compilation of frames reviewed in the book painted a heritage

I am often frustrated when shopping for the perfect picture frame. There’s plenty to choose from, but the ones I find are either all alike, or too ordinary, or too expensive. blue. Instead of a solid mirror, they used 4-inch-by-4-inch mirror tiles, which make an intriguing, glittery effect. On the right is a gargantuan frame designed to display 18 photographs. A 4-foot-by-8-foot piece of MDF was used, but this project can be custom made to any size. Squares were cut out and edges sanded, and the background painted. Cork tiles were cut to cover the picture holes and adhered to the back with hot glue and wood glue. Photos are affi xed to the front with double-sided tape and can be easily interchanged.

Utilize the same frame-making skills to create display cases and other functional pieces of art. Individual letters and monograms are very popular today, and can be positioned on the wood using an overhead projector or by copying and tracing. The Claire display seen here has been hung with two picturehanging kits, but if you decide to hang heavier items from the hooks, bolt the display board to the wall at a stud and use an anchor.

Flourish Magazine | February/2015 33

NO MOre

Bedtime Battles

Bedtime and toddlers mix about as well as oil and vinegar most nights. Bedtime can be a time of frustration for many parents as toddlers escape their bed and sneak out of their rooms multiple times.

Below you’ll find some helpful tips to get your child to sleep in their own bed without waging World War III.

Create a Routine.

Kids feel safe with routines. Having a schedule they are familiar with lets them know what they can expect on a daily basis.

Don’t rush the bedtime process as it is important to help them wind down and relax. After dinner have active play time to burn off excess energy. Consider using an egg timer to ring when it is time to head to the bath. Use bath time to transition them to a calmer state and prepare them for bed.

Allow each child to select a book to read and gather together on a bed to snuggle and read. Include their favorite stuffed toy or blanket to be part of the bedtime ritual. After story time give kisses and hugs before tucking them in and turning out the light.

Be Strong.

Toddlers will find a myriad of excuses to get out of bed. It’s important to be strong and not give in to their wishes. Each time they wander into the hallway, escort them back to bed and firmly say goodnight and tuck them in. It is important to continue the process with a firm calm voice until they stay in bed for the night.

Confront their fears.

Children will sometimes get out of bed due to being afraid. Fear of the dark usually starts when kids are old enough to conjure up 30 Flourish Magazine | February/2015

their own imagination. Normally, this fear will hit kids between the ages of two or three. At this age, they can imagine things but they don’t yet have the cognitive ability to distinguish between fantasy and reality; it’s easy for a shadow of tree branches blowing in the wind to turn into a scary monster! When the lights go out, a child’s imagination can start to run wild. To help alleviate their fear of the dark, talk through what they are feeling and help them process what they actually see. Redirect their focus with a happy song or story.

Reduce Stimulation.

Too much television can be over stimulating for small children, especially before bedtime.

Limit the amount of time kids spend watching television as well as the types of programs they tune into. Shut off the TV early and focus on family time. Leave them with happy thoughts to ponder as they relax and fall asleep.

Review Sleep Schedules.

If you’re having a continuous problem with getting your child to sleep at bedtime, review their sleep schedule. Your child might not be tired enough to sleep. Try setting a regular time to rise each day between 6:00 and 7:00 AM; schedule naps from 10:00 – 11:00 and

again from 3:00 – 4:00. Set bedtime at 8:00 PM; and see if consistency makes a difference. If your child has a high energy level, you may need to plan for more activity throughout the day to wear them out.

Bedtime shouldn’t be just one more check on your daily “To-Do” list. Make this time special by creating your own bedtime rituals that help your kids feel safe and secure and ready to fall asleep. Dress them in comfy pajamas, let them sleep with their favorite toy or blanket and reduce stimulation before bedtime. Sleep training with a toddler is a like a marathon: be ready to endure multiple false starts before they finally make it to the finish line!

About Vivienne Van Eijkelenborg & Difrax:

Vivienne Van Eijkelenborg offers her tips to expectant and new parents. Vivienne is the owner of Difrax, a Dutch baby products company that pioneered a pacifier system designed to accommodate each stage of baby’s development as well as the smart s-bottle designed to reduce colic when feeding. Difrax offers innovative, stylish, and trendy products that make the lives of babies and their parents as convenient and as pleasant as possible. See the complete Difrax pacifier system at www.difraxusa.com.

It is much more comfortable to be mad and know it, than to be sane and have one’s doubts. G. B. Burgin

The Future of Children’s Dentistry is now at Martin Kids Dental Health Team!

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month and the focus is on how your child can have a lifetime of good dental health.

When is going to the dentist fun?

Every time you walk through the door at Martin Kids!

From the moment you walk through the door and are greeted by their whimsical “team” of characters, you know this is a very different type of dental office. They believe that kids learn the best if they are having fun so they have created a “swamp” theme with friendly frogs, turtles and alligators and all their friends to welcome you and your child.

Their friendly staff, with over 100 years of combined pediatric dental experience, will invite you take a tour of the office. We welcome parents to come back and be part of the dental experience.

Dr. Bill Martin, Martin Orthodontics and Dr. Charlotte Hill have created the first Children’s Dental Health Center in North Florida, where children can get the benefit of having their dental and orthodontic needs taken care of in an office that has been created to be warm, friendly and fun. They work with kids from age 1 to 21. Martin Kids is focused on the total health of your child not just their teeth. They are the only children’s dental office in the USA that provides the latest technology in 3D imaging, at half the radiation of other offices and 1,000 times

more information. They are the only children’s office in North Florida to offer the Waterlase Dental Laser (no shots, no drills), Dexis CariVu, no x-ray cavity detection and Dental Vibe for painless injections. Their mission is to prevent disease, and to provide an enjoyable experience for kids. They have invested in the latest technology so your child can have a fun and safe dental experience and establish life long habits of good health.

Your child’s first dental visit should be within 6 months of their first tooth coming into their mouth and no later that age 1. Dr. Hill will examine your child and assess their risk for tooth decay, discuss good nutrition, lifestyle habits and devise a plan for life as a “cavity free kid”. To encourage parents to become “team members” they offer their unique “Free Until Three” Infant Exam Program. They see infants for their first visit for free to welcome them to their Health Team and let them see that going to the dentist can be “big fun”. This includes an exam, fluoride, nutritional counseling and instruction on caring for an infant’s teeth

Argue for your limitations, and sure enough they’re yours. Richard Bach

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plus a goodie bag with some cool stuff for taking care of teeth.

Dr. Martin is one of the countries leading experts on early childhood development and how it affects growth of the face and overall health of a child. They are the experts in not only treating orthodontic problems, but in preventing problems we often see in adolescents and adults. They start seeing children at age 1 to evaluate how they breathe. Early diagnosis of breathing disorders can prevent facial growth problems and many other health issues such as ADHD, sleep apnea, poor athletic performance, poor academic performance and type 2 diabetes. They have a great network of MDs they work with to help your child achieve optimal health.

At Martin Kids, your child is able to have two highly trained professionals and their team that are committed to your child having a great and healthy life. They look at the total health of your child not just their teeth.

One Team, One Goal: Your Child Healthy and Happy Flourish Magazine | February/2015 31

Children’s

Toiletries

By Jenna Herman

Raw Shea Chamomile & Argan Oil Baby Eczema Bar Soap

This nutrient-rich bar soap, packed with chamomile for its anti-inflammatory properties, is designed to relieve symptoms of eczema. $4.99 sheamoisture.com

Fragrance

Free Gluten Free Baby Wash & Shampoo – This hypo-allergenic wash/shampoo moisturizes baby's sensitive skin without the risk of irritation that comes with synthetic colors or fragrances. $9.99 sheamoisture.com

Mango & Carrot Kids ExtraNourishing Conditioner Conditioner that softens and smooths hair, making it easy to detangle and work out knots. Helps nourish and strengthen hair while protecting against breakage. $9.99 sheamoisture.com

Pink Fun Bath time just got sweeter! Pink Fun provides a delicious scent reminiscent of your favorite childhood treats.

Crumble it under running water to create a sea of candy fragranced bubbles or break off small pieces to use as soap. $6.95 lushusa.com

Mango & Carrot Extra-Nourishing Shampoo Soothe a sensitive scalp, prevent breakage and keep hair silky with the nourishment of mango and carrot. This gentle shampoo cleanses and detangles children’s fine and delicate hair. $9.99 sheamoisture.com

Ickle Baby Bot A bath bomb designed to mesmerize the senses with ray guns of lavender, chamomile and sandalwood – three sleep-inducing essential oils that are nature’s cure for insomnia and calming restless babes. $3.95 lushusa.com

Red-Tea and Babassu Baby Head-to-Toe Wash & Shampoo This wash and shampoo duo cleanses while protecting your child’s tender skin. Gentle enough for everyday use! $9.99 sheamoisture.com

28 Flourish Magazine | February/2015

Coconut & Hibiscus Kids ExtraMoisturizing Detangler A gentle detangler, perfect for taming children’s unruly, thick, or wavy hair without greasiness. Made with natural and certified organic ingredients which hydrate and protect hair while maintaining volume. $9.99 sheamoisture.com

Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens. Jimi Hendrix

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By Elizabeth Putfark

     

        

               

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  

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                                      

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



                     

    

       

  

 

     

         

Baby Wants to Hear a 

      

 Bestseller 



                          

                      





                                     Every wonder how soon is too soon            to introduce your baby to books? the style and cadence of              According to the American literature in a profoundly                Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), productive way, expanding their         the answer is never.  vocabulary and preparing them    

  

       future readers. to become                                  A word, is a word,             is a word              begin reading aloud to their Don’t break out the picture books                  Smart from the start   In June of 2014, the AAP issued a statement advising  parents to

 

  

newborns on the first day they yet. Because babies respond      enter the world. They based much more to voice and pitch         their recommendation on than to the actual plot of a story,   research that shows infants who you can use your baby’s literacy       are exposed to a wide needs as an excuse to catch up      vocabulary daily have  a distinct on your own reading list! After           advantage as adolescents going three or four months, your baby      into kindergarten and pre-k will be ready to switch to more               classrooms. interactive reading that includes        pictures, colors and textures.

 





While talking to your baby is great, the language and tone you use is limited based on your in-home routine. By adding a daily reading regiment to your infant’s life, you expose them to

So give yourself a mental break and your baby a brainy boost by reading aloud daily from whatever literature you most enjoy!

A clever man commits no minor blunders. Goethe

            

 

     

    

 

 

  Flourish Magazine | February/2015 29

The

Break-Up

By Elizabeth Putfark

When a friend goes through a breakup, the last thing we want is for them to feel alone. We ready Unfortunately, our empathy can have serious consequences. In fact, the ice cream, ballads and beer research from Brown University now suggests that when someone in your close circle of friends and family gets divorced, your odds of and prepare to re-hash every a split increase by 75 percent. detail of what went wrong, Don’t get dragged down Relationship unrest can become what Brown researchers termed a sometimes for days on end. “social contagion” among intimate groups of people, where our

Bug

individual influence on one another is the highest. As a result, your friend’s bitterness can quickly have you feeling down on love, too.

To avoid negativity, encourage recent singles to focus on the positive. Redirect conversation toward the outstanding qualities about your friend that are going to make her new life richer than before. Rather than dredging up the past, ask about actionable plans for the future that foster hope and excitement instead of resentment and unrest.

Don’t compare If you allow your friend to vent, you might feel tempted to prove your understanding by sharing similar stories of your own. Before long, you’re tearing down your own relationship right alongside your friend’s.

26 Flourish Magazine | February/2015

Nip that thinking in the bud by putting your current relationship off-limits. Instead, practice your ability to be a true consoler by focusing entirely on your friend’s former romance and staunchly refusing to bring up your own.

Don’t lose track of time Your friend might get lost in her suffering, but you don’t have to. The three-decade study from Brown found that the broader a person’s social circle, the less likely she is to succumb to the break-up virus. Set aside definitive amounts of time to help your friend back to her feet, but counter that time with socializing among other friends who aren’t in such a love-hating mood.

Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. Three times is enemy action. Auric Goldfinger

Avid

Reader As you stare mindlessly into the TV, you start to feel guilty about the time you’re wasting there. Sure, a little TV time is fine, but lately it seems like your only hobby. You look over to the novels gathering dust on your bookshelf. Boring, you think before turning back to the tube.

You aren’t alone. The average American spends more than 34 hours a week watching television and another six hours a week watching taped programs, according to a recent Nielsen report. This, despite knowing that too much TV can increase your risk of obesity, waste your time and “soften” your mind. Maybe that bookshelf deserves a second glance.

But reading is hard, you say. I can’t ever find a book I like. I don’t have the money to spend on novels. I work all day – I just want to unwind!

All valid complaints. Especially if you don’t do it often, reading can seem like hard work. And yet, if you’re one of the countless people who don’t make reading a habit, you’re missing out. Reading is mentally stimulating, it reduces stress, garners knowledge, expands your vocabulary, boosts self-esteem, increases awareness, improves memory, strengthens analytical thinking skills, improves focus and concentration, betters your writing skills and brings about tranquility.

By Sarah G. Mason

How Can I

Become One So how can you kindle a love for reading?

Start Small Don’t quit your other hobbies cold turkey; you’ll only miss them more. Instead, start by reading a mere 15 minutes each night.

Slowly, increase that time to 20 and then 30 minutes. Little by little, reading will weasel its way into your schedule (and your heart!).

Give Every Book a 50 Page Chance It’s easy to flip open a new book, skim the first 10 pages and give up. Don’t. Pick a book that interests you and commit to the first 50 pages. Give the author an opportunity to hook you.

Don’t Force Your Way Through Bad Books If you still aren’t hooked after the 50 page mark, it’s OK to stop. This isn’t about forcing yourself to read boring material; it’s about finding books that interest you enough to keep going and to develop a true passion for the experience.

If you want to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first create the universe. Carl Sagan

Use the Library to Your Advantage All this reading might start to get costly, so use your local library to your advantage.

Alternatively, buy used books online to save money.

Set Goals Aim to read one book per month, 60 pages a week, five books this year – whatever! No matter what your goals are, write them down and keep at it!

Join a Book Club When trying to finish a book, it’s hard to hold yourself accountable, so let others do it for you! Joining a book club is a great way to spark interest in new books, to meet people who are passionate readers and to feel inspired to keep going.

Don’t give up.

Being an avid reader isn’t something that will happen overnight, but with patience and persistence, you’ll look back and feel glad at the changes you’ve made.

Flourish Magazine | February/2015 27

Military

How to accept the challenges of wedding a life of service The key is in being flexibly firm. You may

Matrimony 101 There’s a reason they’re called “military families,” and if you’ve tied the knot with a member of the armed forces or know someone who has, you know why. Being a military spouse is a job in and of itself.

As a Navy wife, I know first-hand about all the sacrifices that you and your partner both have to make. While my sailor goes on missions abroad, I face challenges on the home front that are just as crucial to our happiness together. While they may seem impossible at first, accepting these three fundamental challenges as part of your own civic duties will make your family stronger, and your years of service more manageable.

Challenge #1: Give up Normal At first it’s easy to compare military jobs to other demanding professions, and for a while you might find it comforting to pretend there’s no difference. Let me tell you: there is. In most military jobs, your spouse is not treated like a normal employee. Normal employees can quit, they can complain, they can unionize.

They can accept or decline

transfers, they can negotiate time off and benefits, and on a day to day basis, they can rightly demand and expect respect.

Next time you see a uniformed service man or woman, ask if they have any of those luxuries! Giving up those freedoms is why military jobs are called “service.”

As a military spouse, it’s crucial to keep in mind that your uniformed partner is under greater obligations than any other working professional, and as such, your lives together will not look like the lives of your nonmilitary friends. In fact, the next two challenges stem from this first critical truth about being wed to the Armed Forces.

Challenge #2: Commit to Staying You You can’t keep normal, but you absolutely can and must keep your own identity. And I’m here to tell you, it’s not easy. You’ll move all around the globe, have no control over your own schedule, rely on base housing and food allowances, and for the better part of the year expect to be the sole manager of your kids, animals and family home. To accept all that and still keep your own goals and pursuits is a challenge to say the least!

not be able to pursue your career as fervently as you wanted, but that’s a sacrifice military spouses all make. Instead of begrudging your decision, the military, or worse yet, your spouse, find a way to modify your goals to fit the term of your spouse’s military career.

Think long term – where do you want to be in fifteen years, or twenty? Chances are your goals are still in reach if you’re patient enough to wait, and willing to take a less-than-direct route to get there. In the meantime, embrace the hobbies and interests that make you who you are, and be committed to keeping them up. Your spouse’s life already revolves around what happens on base – they don’t want yours to center there, too.

Challenge #3: Find a Balance (Don’t force it) In case it isn’t clear already, maintaining a balance in home responsibilities is nearly impossible in military monogamy.

Your spouse’s life on base is filled with regimentation and routine, so slapping a chore calendar on the fridge may not meet with favorable results. Still, balance is crucial for any happy marriage, so how do you meet in the middle?

Two words: understanding and communication. It isn’t your partner’s choice to work late, or miss dinners, or leave unexpectedly during your busiest month at work, so be understanding when duty calls.

Similarly, ask your spouse to understand the strain their career puts on you. Make it clear that you don’t blame them or expect things necessarily to change, but that you need them to recognize and appreciate all the things you do to keep the house, family and life at home in working order. Compassion and fairness should be as natural as breathing in the way the two of you deal with military obligations.

When I asked my Navy husband for help on this article (over the phone – I’ll see him when I see him), he said that from his perspective, the number one imperative for military couples was simple: communication. Both partners have to be willing to hear each other out, even when they’re tired, or frustrated, or know that the expectations put on them are not fair.

It’s not a normal, easy or balanced life, but if you accept the challenges of military matrimony from the start, you may find your marriage even stronger at the end of your contract than it was before.

24 Flourish Magazine | February/2015

life is pleasant. Death is peaceful. It’s the transition that’s troublesome. Isaac Asimov

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By elizabeth putfark

Long Distance If you’ve ever been in a long distance relationship, you’ve already heard all the arguments against it. Friends, coworkers and even parents might have told you that it would never work, you’d grow apart and make yourselves miserable in the meantime.

is for lovers

Social scientists are now ready to refute some of those claims.

With over 3 million spouses living apart (not separated), and over 50 percent of college couples commuting to be together, it’s clear that the old adages about long distance relationships may be out-of-date in the technological age.

“It’ll never work” According to a Queen’s University study, relationship satisfaction was nearly identical among proximate and long distant couples. Analysis of survey answers, journal materials and daily reports of time spent together (talking, texting, video chatting and in-person) revealed that the long distance couples experienced the same benefits as proximate pairs, even on matters of sexual satisfaction.

“You’ll grow distant” Contrary to expectations, researchers at Cornell University found that long distance couples

actually maintain higher levels of intimacy and honesty than people with nearby partners.

Their conversations in general exhibited greater depth and feeling, as well as more effort on each person’s part to communicate compliments and meaningful information.

Conversely, proximate couples tended to sustain more shallow conversations and reported feelings of emotional distance or estrangement more frequently.

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“You’ll be miserable all the time” Having your own interests and activities is crucial to maintaining a healthy relationship, and long distance love makes independence unavoidable. Even though you miss your significant other, you’re also able to carefully manage how much time you allocate to your relationship and how much you give to other parts of your life. And, the more dynamic your days, the more you have to talk about with your partner that night!

Long distance brings plenty of its own challenges, but don’t let the advice of others deter you from pursuing an out-of-town relationship. You might grow closer from living far apart!

To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance. Oscar Wilde

Flourish Magazine | February/2015 25

Top Pregnancy

Myths Debunked

22 Flourish Magazine | February/2015

Many a manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s reputation would not know his character if they met on the street. Elbert Hubbard

The minute you announce you’re pregnant, well-meaning friends, family and even strangers feel the urge to share their pregnancy stories and an array of pregnancy myths that you never asked for, or really wanted to hear! You may find some of the stories amusing, while others may send you into a state of unnecessary neuroses. While I can’t run interference on all the pregnancy and birth stories, I can debunk many of the popular pregnancy myths (according to pediatricians and pregnancy experts) you’ll be exposed to during your nine months of pregnancy.

Spicy foods trigger pre-term labor – False If this were true, there would be entire countries where pregnant women would have a hard time finding food. There is no evidence that supports that spiciness speeds along labor (so crank of the cayenne if that’s your thing!).

Pregnant women should eat for two – False Your baby bump might seem like the perfect ticket to ride the dessert train (twice, no less), but the sad truth is that being pregnant only requires an extra 300 calories per day. So unless you want your baby to have obesity issues, switch out the gelato for grapes.

Cocoa Butter prevents stretch marks – False Tempting as it might be to slather your growing belly with a lotion that smells like chocolate, the last thing it does is prevent stretch marks. In fact, it might even make skin more sensitive. Looking for a way to beautify your bump, try a solution with vitamin E, which has been proven to smooth skin, but be aware that nothing prevents stretch marks.

Walking brings on labor – False While it’s a healthy way to stay active that’s easy on pregnant joints (and burns off the extra pint of Ben & Jerry’s you scarfed last night), walking hasn’t been proven to bring on labor. Walking will, however, help move along labor that is already in progress.

Sleep only on your left side while pregnant – False Unless there are serious complications, like diabetes, feel free to sleep any way you like.

After all, the chances of getting a full night’s sleep once the baby arrives are slim.

Pregnancy heartburn predicts a hairy baby – False As much as your heartburn might make you envision a velvety-skinned baby with loads of lustrous locks, it’s just not true. Though a study at Johns Hopkins in 2007 seemed to support rather than disprove the old wives’ tale, many women who had heartburn ended up with babies with little to no hair.

Listen, your organs are pretty crowded, especially as your baby nears birth, and your reflux is due directly to your stomach having nowhere to expand, forcing acid up the esophagus.

Don’t fly in your first or last trimester – False If you really hate traveling for business, you might think Junior is doing you a huge favor.

But the truth is flying is completely safe in any month of pregnancy. Most airlines hesitate to fly women in advanced stages of pregnancy (think emergency landing liability), and your own healthcare provider might want you to stick around as your due date looms.

Raising your hands above your head is dangerous – False Mom’s upward salute pose will definitely not be at fault if your baby emerges with the umbilical cord wrapped around his head.

There’s a little prenatal acrobat in there and the length of the cord and his movements – not yours – determines if the cord will be wrapped around the neck.

No coffee while pregnant – False Luckily for pregnant moms, and everyone around them, it’s perfectly safe to drink one cup of joe a day. Just don’t overdo it: more than 200 milligrams of caffeine a day might put you at risk for preterm labor or miscarriage.

No sushi while pregnant – False

Your face looks so different, it must be a girl – False

Except for rolls that contain mackerel, tilefish, shark and swordfish, sushi is really just kind of rice, seaweed and veggies. You can have other fish (like salmon—which is high in Omega-3 acids and very good for brain development—or cooked shrimp), but don’t overdo it on the tuna. Keep it under 12 ounces (about 2 maki or rolls) per week.

This about tops the list of worst things you say to a pregnant mom. No one wants to be told their face looks “different” (read: fat, blotchy, splotchy), even as an explanation for an unsolicited gender prediction. Your best bet is to smile and buy a gender neutral gift, because your chances of being right are 50/50 anyway.

There is more stupidity than hydrogen in the universe, and it has a longer shelf life. Frank Zappa

Don’t go on a really bumpy car ride – False It’s a valid concern, especially when commuting (read: bouncing) down the post-winter pothole ridden streets, but a regular car ride isn’t dangerous for pregnant moms. Your baby has plenty of cushioning between the amniotic fluid and the uterus, so just buckle up and enjoy the ride.

Severe morning sickness definitely means it’s a girl – False Even among those with the worst morning sickness, the male and female offspring were nearly 50/50. Whether this applies to milder cases is unknown.

While there are definitely things you should avoid during pregnancy, worrying too much will only cause unnecessary stress – most things in moderation are just fine. Focus on a healthy and stress-free pregnancy and ask your doctor any questions you may have.

Do not rely on information offered by the person behind you in the check-out lane!

Have a happy & healthy pregnancy!

About Julie McCaffrey Parenting expert Julie McCaffrey is a proud mommy to three kids and owns BabyNav Baby Planners where she offers personalized consultation to new and expecting parents, along with working as the Chief Brand Officer at PishPoshBaby. com – the high-quality baby store that supplies the facts and advice, along with the right choice, to parents lost in the whirlwind of baby gear. She loves to help moms and dads navigate everything from baby gear, preparing for multiples, getting back to work and getting the whole family on a routine.

Flourish Magazine | February/2015 23

Laugh Away the V-Day Blues

By elizabeth putfark

“The One with the Candy Hearts,” Friends. Join Monica, Rachel and Phoebe in a “bad luck in love” bonfire that will give any single sister the solidarity she needs. Plus, when you watch Chandler wander back into Janice’s arms, you’ll remember exactly why you shouldn’t be texting with your ex!

If you call February 14th “Single’s Awareness Day,” you might be in search of alternative ways to celebrate this year.

Find new ideas for future revelry (and unbeatable on-screen company in the meantime) by tuning into these Valentine’s Day episodes from your favorite TV comedies. They’re guaranteed to be filled with more fun and fewer calories than a giant heart-shaped box of chocolates!

“Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown.” Share the woes of single life with Charlie Brown, who doesn’t get any Valentines at all in this holiday special. But hey, who can stay down in the dumps with Snoopy around?

“Galentine’s Day,” Parks and Recreation.

Leslie Knope takes the sting out of Valentine’s Day by upstaging it the day before with a holiday of her own.

“Galentine’s Day” is a day devoted to ladies celebrating other ladies, regardless of relationship status.

“Anna Howard Shaw Day,” 30 Rock. You may know February 14th as Valentine’s Day, but why not celebrate like Liz Lemon by honoring famed American suff ragette, Anna Howard Shaw? Of course, you might want to skip the rest of Lemon’s anti-Valentine’s Day festivities (which include a root canal and hallucinations of Jon Bon Jovi).

“Ruskie Business,” Veronica Mars.

Enjoy a throwback within a throwback in this classic episode, where Veronica works on three cases simultaneously all against the backdrop of an 80s-themed Valentine’s Day dance.

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Valentine’s Day Though Valentine’s Day is beloved by couples around the globe, the day can also be fun for single ladies! There are plenty of reasons to celebrate being an independent woman this Valentine’s Day. Here are a few ways to get started:

It’s Your Call Detest watching sports or Star Wars marathons? Without a man in your life, you don’t have to!

This Valentine’s Day, why not grab your favorite girls and have a marathon of your own? Pick the mushiest chick flicks you can find and grab the popcorn!

Flirt the Day Away One of the great things about being single on Valentine’s Day is that there are plenty of other singletons who can share in the fun. Flirting with that cute bartender or guy at the gym is just a little more exciting when it’s the official day for love.

Focus on Yourself When it comes down to it, Valentine’s Day is a celebration

of the love you have for not just others, but for yourself too. Stop and think about how much you have to offer the world. Accept yourself and the decisions you’ve made, and focus on how to better yourself in the year to come.

You Don’t Have to be Disappointed For many people, Valentine’s Day is a lot of hype that ends in disappointment, or a fight.

Fortunately, you don’t have to worry. Be your own perfect date this February 14th.

We wish you a very Happy Valentine’s Day with friends and family!

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It is far better to grasp the universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring. Carl Sagan

Flourish Magazine | February/2015 21

Beauty

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18 Flourish Magazine | February/2015

The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good. Samuel Johnson

Picking out your wedding dress can seem like a daunting task – after all, it’s the most important dress you’ll ever own! With all the choices out there, narrowing down your options to a specific silhouette can help tremendously.

Whether you’re just beginning to shop around or are already envisioning your perfect dress for the future, use our guide to narrow your search the perfect wedding dress to flatter your figure.

If You’re Busty:

Picking a

Wedding

By Kirsten nielsen

Dress

Look for a scooped neckline to flatter your décolletage and open up your face.

If You’re Straight-lined: Look for a sheath dress with a curving side seam, or a full ball gown that will lend you curves.

If You’re SmallChested: Look for a ruched bodice or a

dress with extra fabric on top to create volume.

If You’re Pear-Shaped: Look for a skirt that cinches at your natural waist, then flares out in a classic A-line.

If You’re Apple-Shaped: Look for a dress that cinches at the smallest part of your waist, then flares out in the skirt.

If You’re Plus Sized: Look for an empire dress that has a seam right under the bust, then flows out in an A-line.

If You’re Petite: Look for trumpet or sheath dresses, or another style that doesn’t have mountains of fabric to overwhelm your frame.

If You’re Tall: Look for a simple silhouette that highlights your longer proportions.

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Flourish Magazine | February/2015 19

Style Interview by Lauren Douglass

On-the-Go

Find out more about Christie’s style and the Fashion Fix Van at FashionFixNJ.com

with Christie Maruka and Fashion Fix Fashionista founder of New Jersey’s first boutique-on-wheels, Christie Maruka has been practicing style since she was 15 years-old. After decades working in traditional retail, Maruka decided to break the mold of how men, women and teens shop for fashion by serving her busy clients from the mobile dressing room of her Fashion Fix van. Now she transports her wares and expertise all along the east coast, offering up high quality designer fashion on-the-go.

Can you tell me a little bit about your background?

I have been in the fashion industry for 30 years. I started as a teenager, dressing people, working and managing for different stores.

Then I worked for Calvin Kline in New York City as an account executive selling to 20 some department stores. After that, I opened a trendy women’s boutique on the Jersey Shore. Almost 10 years later I sold it and started Fashion Fix, which has been going on since 2007. I really wanted to take my show 16 Flourish Magazine | February/2015

on the road as far as styling and being mobile. I started out in New Jersey, where I bought a Mercedes sprinter truck and transformed it into a showroom.

This is a relatively unique idea.

What kind of challenges have you faced getting it off the ground?

Learning how to use the van has been tricky. You need commercial plates, and when you go into a town you’re not allowed to just park and sell. That’s soliciting, and not

what I do. That said, the reaction to the van has been huge. People have stopped me everywhere, and are constantly calling the number on the side of the van. My business is by appointment only, but through it I’ve gotten involved in television, Style Network, and even dressing news reporters. It’s been on talk shows and news channels.

Everybody just loved the idea.

Driving the van lets me keep all sizes on board – from dresses to shorts, yoga wear to

All are lunatics, but he who can analyze his delusion is called a philosopher. Ambrose Bierce

black tie affairs, I really can dress you anywhere and for anything out of this van. And if I don’t have it, I can go get it from my vendors. We even do live fashion forecasts right out of the van.

What are some of the common mistakes women make when trying to shop for themselves?

The mistakes I see most often are wearing outdated fashions, choosing clothes that don’t flatter your figure and wearing the same old things again and again.

Most people I see have gotten stuck wearing just one style. For instance, they’ll think that a certain style of pant looks good on them and when I go in their closet, they own them in like 20 different colors. They wear those pants every day with the same shirt because they don’t know how to put anything else together and maybe they don’t want to step out of their comfort zone. Part of my job is to go to their house and do a wardrobe complication where I rework their existing wardrobe. Without them spending a dime, they have 20 new outfits! They just need to know how to put their items together into different looks – a different pair of shoes or a change up with accessories can usually do the trick. Of course, if what they’re wearing doesn’t flatter them or feels too outdated, they may decide to give those things to charity and go for a whole new look.

and colors work best for you.

As far as classic pieces, make sure you have something as simple as a pencil skirt and a white cotton button-down—there are so many different variations you can create with that one combination. Definitely keep a leather jacket, which can take you from day to night easily, and a basic sheath dress. You can wear your dress to work with a pretty blouse under it, then change it up with your leather jacket and booties at night for a completely different, sexy look.

Leggings are a great investment as long as they’re the right quality and thickness. One of my pet peeves that I see every day is women wearing seethrough leggings. I just can’t believe people leave the house like this! If you’re going to wear leggings, you should have a tunic, longer sweater or something that covers you, because leggings are NOT pants!

Unless they have pockets on the back, they’re meant to be worn with something over them.

What are some personal goals for the future, or things that you want to accomplish?

Right now I’m doing a lot of mother/daughter makeovers that have gotten me involved in helping teens. I’d like to do more with that. I love doing makeovers with teens who suffer from low self-esteem. I also hope to one day have more vans on the road, and maybe one styling studio in New Jersey that could be a “home-base” for everyone. Then we could have makeup artists, hair stylists and fashion advisors all in one place.

For someone on a budget who can’t afford a personal stylist, can you give some tips for how to update your wardrobe, or advice on some classic I am also currently signed pieces to purchase? with a producer in California If you can’t afford a stylist, just look online or get inspiration from what’s on TV. There are so many resources out there, there’s definitely a way to educate yourself on what looks good, and find out what styles

and we are working on a reality show that would feature myself traveling around doing makeovers. As for now, I’m excited to keep expanding my business and see where it takes me!

Be nice to people on your way up because you meet them on your way down. Jimmy Durante

Flourish Magazine | February/2015 17

Whether you see business travel as a privilege or a chore, it can be riddled with anxieties if you don’t leave well-prepared.

From attire to transport, luggage to shared meals, courting clients, colleagues and superiors in unfamiliar territory requires more than tact – it requires a plan!

Business Trip

Etiquette By elizabeth putfark

Before you go The moment you learn about your trip, get online and find out as much as you can about your soon-to-be host and their company. Take notes on their educational and professional background, and look around for any kind of personal mission statement that might clue you into their general attitude and demeanor. Even if you never share the information you’ve gleaned, you’ll have a better idea about the company’s context and feel more comfortable from the first introduction.

About a week before you go, start preparing office mates for your absence. Activate auto-response on your email and record an out-of-office message on your voicemail.

Give a trusted colleague shared access to any documents or files that might require attention while you’re away, and make sure that you have someone on-point for all issues that typically fall within your wheelhouse. The last thing you want while you’re gone is to field a steady stream of phone calls from home.

14 Flourish Magazine | February/2015

En Route

Remember that everywhere you go, you send a message about your company’s values and standards. That means that if you take up all the elbow room, shout into your phone and dress for a personal vacation, you send a negative message about the brand you represent. Keep work en route to a minimum, and dress professionally for the duration of the trip – even the plane ride, hotel breakfast and dinner out.

While you’re there As you wade into a new business space, make sensitivity and accommodation your two-prong goal. First, be attentive to the general code of conduct around you. Look for unfamiliar social cues and modes of communication, and be sensitive to how your voice, tone and attitude might clash with the people you’re visiting.

Second, respect the routines of those you visit by making yourself as non-disruptive as possible. Stick to schedules and agendas with rigor, and strive for unobtrusive meeting habits like hand writing notes and waiting for direction on where to be seated.

As you transition into meals and less formal meet-ups, observe the same professional etiquette as in the office. Even if you think they’re outdated, obey those old-timey rules your mother must have taught you: elbows off the table, don’t scarf your food and chew with your mouth closed. Most importantly, go easy on alcohol to avoid any embarrassing personal anecdotes.

Upon Departure Don’t forget to tip appropriately before you leave. Have extra cash ready to leave for hotel concierges and housekeeping staff, as well as baggage handlers along the way. Tipping subtlety and appropriately will demonstrate tact to your coworkers and leave a positive impression of your company with the travel attendants you meet along the way.

Finally, the best way to secure a lasting impression is to settle down with pen and paper the moment you get home. You want your thank-you card to arrive long before your host forgets your face, and to convey a personal message that relates directly to the time you spent away. Also consider sending notes to other associates you met on the trip, new clients, and of course any colleagues or bosses at home that made the trip possible for you.

With a little planning and attention to detail, you’re sure to make the most of every out-of-office business venture that fortune throws your way!

A friendship founded on business is better than a business founded on friendship. John D. Rockefeller

COlleGe

Savings By elizabeth putfark

Made Simple

Your comprehensible overview of the latest and greatest college saving plans available Even if your child is still in diapers, chances are you’re already worried about how to save for their college years. The costs of a university education currently rival the price of a new home, and experts expect admission rates to continue to rise by approximately five percent a year. How can any parent expect to pay for that?!

However dear, the benefits of higher education are difficult to deny. Based on information from the U.S. Census Bureau, a college degree means 85 percent greater earnings for men and 111 percent greater for women than working with only a high school diploma or GED. While traditional college savings options exist (such as savings accounts, annuities and U.S. Savings Bonds), other investment opportunities have become available in the past fifteen years. For help understanding each program’s benefits, we turned to SavingforCollege.com to learn about the most popular and growing investment vehicles modern parents are choosing to pursue.

Qualified Tuition Programs (529 Plan) Started in 1996, these plans offer taxdeferred earnings that can be removed tax-free when applied to qualified postsecondary education costs (including tuition, fees, books, supplies, equipment, special needs and room and board).

Plans differ by state in terms of taxes and fees, but investors are not restricted to enrolling in their home state, nor are their recipients bound to attend school there.

Instead, you can pick and choose from any program nationwide and apply funds to any qualified college in the nation. Even better, you maintain complete control over the account at all times – withdrawing as needed and when needed, no questions asked (though taxes may be applied) – while maintaining the option of a completely hands-off investment approach.

Coverdell Education Savings Accounts Like 529s, assets in Coverdell Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) grow tax-deferred and can be distributed tax-free to qualified colleges and universities. However, ESAs may also be applied tax-free to primary and secondary educational costs, including expenses unique to the K-12 experience.

included among expenses covered. Options vary for different financial circumstances, and more information on each different kind of account can be found on the US Treasury’s Saving Bonds for Education website.

Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) IRAs are a great option for families who want to invest in long-term savings with only the option of applying assets to colleges. Early withdrawals from Roth IRAs and traditional IRAs are penalty free when applied to post-secondary education costs for yourself, spouse, children or grandchildren. Thus you receive all the benefits of traditional longterm investing, while still building a potential college fund for the future. However, depending on the state and institution, income tax may still be due upon making early withdrawals.

U.S. Savings Bonds

As you investigate your options for saving for your child’s future, remember not to neglect your retirement savings too much in favor of college funds. Most advisers suggest managing your retirement and education investments simultaneously, or always with the other in mind.

Savings Bonds offer low-risk investments with modest returns that are a great option for conservative investors. Assets applied to qualified universities may be removed tax-free, however room and board are not

With careful planning and a trusted financial advisor, you can be well on your way to securing your child’s future with less headache and hassle than ever before.

ESAs have some restrictions. Annual contributions cannot exceed $2,000 per beneficiary per year and must be completed prior to the beneficiary’s 18th birthday.

You can only find truth with logic if you have already found truth without it. Gilbert Keith Chesterton

Flourish Magazine | February/2015 15

Techno

Etiquette: how to email, text and tweet like a modern-day Crawley

One at a time Make a good impression by firmly setting aside all electronic devices when you’re engaged with someone face-to-face. If you must answer an email or text, excuse yourself first, then quickly return to the conversation.

By elizabeth putfark

Mixing manners with modern technology is no easy feat. While many social niceties remain unclear, the following tips can keep you away from the biggest blunders of the information age.

Emote, don’t emoticon Emoticons are fun with friends, but sharpen your verbs and adjectives instead of inserting them into a business text. You’ll immediately sound more professional and increase your eloquence over time.

Beware the black and white The printed word can be a crass instrument for delivering sensitive information – think bad news, apologies, objections and requests. If you find yourself typing and erasing again and again, consider substituting a phone call for the email or text.

Don’t type what you wouldn’t say Sending a snide text might feel good in the moment, but it comes across as cowardly if it doesn’t jive with our live personae.

12 Flourish Magazine | February/2015

Set boundaries, and keep them If a friend keeps texting you while you work or spend time with family, excuse yourself to quickly explain why you’re unavailable, then stay that way. Set your phone on silent and respond to texts only when you’re ready.

Leave a valuable message If you elect to call someone, always leave them a message that lets them know the content and urgency of what you want to discuss. Do not, however, leave negative information in a mailbox. Make your message brief and direct, informing the recipient that you have a matter that you would like to discuss with them at their earliest convenience.

We didn’t lose the game; we just ran out of time. Vince Lombardi

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Singer and songwriter Natalia Safran has seen her songs in multiple forms: on the charts, on the big screen, and now, with her newest remix, in all the hottest clubs. No matter what shape each song takes, the Polish-born star knows one thing: it’ll always be an authentic creation.

Along with brother, Mikolaj “Mick” Jaroszyk, Natalia writes, records, produces and promotes each and every one of her tracks. Now, with self-produced songs featured in films such as I Hate Valentine’s Day and New in Town, and music slated to appear in four current films, this music mogul isn’t slowing down.

Here, she shares glimpses of her creative life, as well as poignant details from her friendship with Paul Walker, and the song that became his tribute.

Tell me a little about your background and how you got started.

I was born and raised in Poland, loved music and listened to it passionately. As a kid I sang in every choir that would have me, then studied opera as a teenager. It wasn’t until my younger brother, Mikolaj, got involved that I started to think seriously about music as a life mission and a profession. I sang in a few bands, did some demos and then one day we started writing together, just for fun. It was so natural, so amazing. From then on we started performing whatever we wrote together, and there was no turning back.

For years before that I modeled, sort of by default. I wanted to travel, and for a young girl in Poland that was not easy to do. Modeling gave me a way to see the world and meet exciting people. But fashion was never my passion or my calling; it was just a way to get around.

So what is a typical day for you like?

There is no such thing as a typical day for me!

(Laughs.) It depends on what we’re working on at the moment. If we’re working on an album, Mick and I pretty much lock ourselves up and work through the night. We write everything together from conception: we brainstorm together, we arrange together, produce together, do vocals, lay all the tracks.

It’s all self-made and self-generated for us, which is incredibly rewarding.

Then there’s promoting, too, so we travel between Europe and the United States a lot. I also dabble in film production.

So no, there’s no such thing as a set schedule for us.

Walk me through the genesis of a song. What’s your inspiration?

I draw from all over. I never know where it’s going to hit me. Mick sometimes will get up in the middle of the night to get the melody down! I’m not quite so bad, but I will stop sometimes mid 10 Flourish Magazine | February/2015

I’ve had a wonderful time, but this wasn’t it. Groucho Marx

True

Passion Interview by Lauren Douglass

conversation to record a melody that’s rattling around in my brain. It might come from a beautiful view, two people interacting in the street, or a line from an old movie – you never know! Then we just say OK, let’s sit down and work this over – usually really late at night. We are most creative when it’s quiet and dark around.

So do you start out ready to write for a movie, or do you create first, then approach the movie?

It’s worked both ways. I’m writing a song from scratch for a movie right now, so I need to know the story to put my mind to how I want it to sound. But then there are other times when songs are taken straight off our album. Any time your song travels onto a soundtrack, or a remix, or someone takes it and repurposes it, it’s incredibly rewarding. It sort of has a different life breathed into it.

What has surprised you about the music industry?

Everything! We got into it without much calculation; we just had to do it because we’re both music obsessed. Mick talked me into opening a profile on a crowd-funding site called Sellaband. It sounded like a terrible idea to me, but I agreed. That same day people were writing us notes about how much they loved our music and how they wanted to contribute to a professional album. From over ten thousand artists on that site, we rose to number one in record time and pretty soon had $50,000 to start our new album. It was amazing for us to see an immediate need for our music.

The humbling experience was that these were not particularly affluent people; they just wanted to share their heart and money with these artists whose music was making their day better.

Once the album was all finished, we looked to possibly pair up with a label to distribute it. We met with a bunch of the top labels, It’s kind of fun to do the impossible. Walt Disney

Natalia Safran on Music, Industry and Trusting Your Gut

and the passion was just not there. They weren’t sure what direction to take and we realized we could just do this all ourselves if we just had access to all the distributors. So we decided not to go with a label and we’ve never looked back.

That’s pretty intimidating as well!

Just to put it out there solely responsible for it.

I trust it. This is my gut, my soul out there: what you hear is the artist, pure and true.

And I do realize at this point in life that you will not please everyone and that’s okay.

Music, and what’s beautiful about it, is that it hits everyone a different way. I know that for every person who doesn’t like it, there’s someone else who will be hit in the gut. And that’s the best part about music – it goes straight to the core.

Tell me a little about your relationship to Paul Walker and what he was like to be around.

Paul was this incredible individual. We got to work on the film Hours together. He wasn’t just charismatic and fun to be around; he was also an incredible dad, and in his spare time would fly out with his first responders’ organization to destinations around the world.

And he was great on the set to everyone – actors, producers, nannies, the crew. It was difficult not to be smitten with him.

The director wanted the song All I feel is you, to be the closing of the movie, long before we knew it was going to turn into a tribute.

We worked on a video for the single and were going to release it a couple weeks before the movie, sort of as a sneak peak into the film and into Paul’s incredible part in it.

The day I finished the last edit of the video I got the news about the accident. We were all devastated to say the least, so we waited to put the song out with the movie. People immediately started calling it a tribute to Paul Walker, and the outpouring of appreciation was so huge. It was never meant to be a tribute, but sadly it became one.

We decided to donate all the proceeds of that single to his charity, Reach Out Worldwide.

What do you miss the most about him?

Those big blue eyes – he was so kind, he could see right through you. He would remember something you told him weeks before. And he had those big hugs. He was just all goodness wrapped up in this gorgeous package. His beautiful daughter, he so wanted to be there for her. It’s just the biggest loss.

I know he had so many fans. I’m sure hearing from someone who knew him personally will touch people as well.

So what is up next for you?

I can’t divulge what it is yet, but it’s going to be great! I can say I’m working on a song for the soundtrack of upcoming film The Choice, so I’m pretty excited about that. Also, I have to tell you about my new All I feel is you remix.

We just remixed it into a dance song with DJ Cajjmere Wray, and it’s so good it’s going to make your feet want to dance! I cannot wait for everyone to hear it. It’s a totally different thing than we’ve ever done before. I heard it for the first time just before you called, so I’m sorry if I’m over enthusiastic!

Natalia’s recent remix single, All I Feel Is You’ Cajjmere Wray Remix landed #3 on Billboards Breakouts for Dance Club Songs beating out Pitbull & Ne-Yo and is currently No. 36 (up from 9 positions from last week) on the Billboard Dance Club Songs Chart.

11

Treat Cold and Flu Symptoms from Your Home Kitchen

By Dr. han, natural rhythm acupuncture

8

Flourish Magazine | February/2015

ADVERTISEMENT

Dr. Han AP OMD • 4001 West Newberry Road, Gainesville FL 32607 • 352-378-4667 • naturalrhythmtcm.com

As the seasons change, our bodies become extra susceptible to cold and flus. If you find yourself constantly running to the doctor’s office, take pause at the door: these simple at-home remedies from Traditional Chinese Medicine may offer just the relief you’re looking for. With just a few ingredients, you’ll soon be on your way to better health, fewer sick days and less time in the waiting room!

How to Treat Cold and Flu Symptoms with Tea 1. FEVER/CHILL Main remedy: Cane sugar and ginger tea Additional symptoms Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea: Orange Peel and Ginger tea Sore throat: Lemon Honey Tea or Daikon Radish Honey Tea + gargle sea salt water Inability to sweat: Lemon Honey Tea or Daikon Radish + 5 pieces white part of scallion Cold/Flu AND menstrual cycle: Cane Sugar Ginger Tea + 5 slices of lemon 2. COUGHING (may or may not have fever/chill) White phlegm: Garlic Ginger Daikon Radish Tea Yellow phlegm or dry cough: Lemon Honey Tea

Recipes ORANGE PEEL AND GINGER TEA Ingredients: organic orange, organic ginger Directions: 1. Remove the orange skin (keep the white part). Chop into small pieces.

2. Cut 10 slices of ginger.

3. Add 3 cups of water, orange peels and ginger. Boil from 3 to 1 cup.

4. Drink half cup before breakfast and dinner.

Note: 1. Orange peels only, no fruit. 2. This is tea is also good for morning sickness.

DAIKON RADISH AND HONEY TEA Ingredients: organic daikon, organic honey Directions: 1. Use blender to grind 50g daikon radish with peels and mix with honey.

2. Let it sit for 30 minutes. Then add hot water to make tea.

3. Drink half before breakfast and dinner.

3. SINUS CONGESTION / RUNNING NOSE (may or may not have fever/chill) White nasal mucus: Cook half teaspoon of white pepper and 5 pieces of scallion white, 3 to 1 cup.

Yellow nasal mucus: Cook 5 slices of lemon with peels and 5 pieces of scallion white, 3 to 1 cup.

GARLIC, GINGER AND DAIKON RADISH TEA Ingredients: organic daikon radish, organic ginger and garlic Directions: 1. Slice 50g daikon radish with peels 2. Add 3 cups of water, 5 slices of ginger and 5 pieces of garlic, boil from 3 to 1 3. Drink half cup before breakfast and dinner

In general, when there is a flu going around, put one thin slice of fresh ginger in the mouth before you go out. It will keep your immunities high as you brave the elements – including the symptoms of others!

LEMON AND HONEY TEA Ingredients: organic lemon, organic honey Directions: 1. Cut 5 slices of lemon (keep peels) 2. Add 3 cups of hot water and honey to lemon, boil to 1 cup.

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CANE SUGAR AND GINGER TEA Ingredients: organic cane sugar or sucanat, organic ginger Directions: 1. Cut 5 to 10 slices of ginger 2. Add 3 cups of water and 5 teaspoons of sugar. Boil from 3 to 1 cup.

3. Drink half cup before breakfast and dinner Note: 1. For children who do not like ginger, use 5 pieces of white part of scallions instead. 2. use onion if scallions not available.

To learn more about natural healing, or to schedule a consultation, contact Dr. Han and other specialists at: Natural Rhythm Acupuncture, (352) 378-4667, 4001 W Newberry Road, Gainesville, FL 32607.

Flourish Magazine | February/2015

9

hOW TO

Celebrate

Helicopter ride and a pre-nup

Valentine’s Day Independently Wealthy

Helicopter ride and chocolates

Individual helicopter rides

Helicopter ride and cab fare home

Dinner and dancing downtown

CeO

Don’t talk about money

Money Status

Champagne and hors d’oeuvre

low level Manager

Romantic restaurant, special order dessert

Casual dinner followed by a foreign film

Coffee and Dessert at Starbucks

entry level

Shared ice cream carton and people watching

Flowers, take-out and Casablanca

Handmade card, string cheese and a scenic overlook

PB & J’s and a walk in the park

unemployed

Just met online

Your friends know, your family doesn’t

You’ve met the parents

Hire a babysitter and just drive around

Back massage and early to bed

“I do’s” are did

Love Status 6

Flourish Magazine | February/2015

Maybe this world is another planet’s hell. Aldous Huxley

Could your

goals

be holding you back?

We’ve been told that setting goals makes us more likely to succeed, but does it really? Some researchers suggest that goal setting could lead to unanticipated side effects that thwart our progress.

The ugly side of ambition The past few decades have seen an onslaught of self-help literature advising us to verbalize our future goals in order to maximize motivation and odds for success.

In Goals Gone Wild, a report from Harvard Business School, scholars refute such claims, arguing that aiming at too many and too great of targets can lead to dissatisfaction, unethical behavior and loss of interest.

Focusing on large-scale goals can discount the value of small successes and modest gains.

Furthermore, being excessively goal-oriented casts a pall over our current lives, leading to a surplus of negative emotions.

Motivation matters In another study performed by Yale’s School of Management, researchers considered two categories of motivation in pursuing goals: intrinsic, which involves a deep-seated desire to do something; and extrinsic, which means doing something for an external gain.

Contrary to expectations, research proved that going after multiple goals for both intrinsic and extrinsic reasons can actually led to less success. The most productive participants in the study were those who had only a few select goals with isolated, well-defined reasons for pursuing them.

Edit, don’t abandon • Don’t tear up your goal list yet – having a vision for the immediate and long term future can keep us on-track. Take the following tips for trimming the fat on your developmental to-do list and make your striving more successful and satisfying.

• Don’t use a telescope. Let your long-term goals stay broad and general, and make your short-term ones specific.

• Question you prerogative. Make sure that you’re the one who wants to achieve each item on your list (not your mom, spouse or former self). If it’s not your goal, ditch it.

• Be Realistic. Make sure your goals fit together into a cohesive life picture, and be reasonable about what you expect to achieve and when.

how wrong it is for a woman to expect the man to build the world she wants, rather than to create it herself. Anais Nin

Flourish Magazine | February/2015

7

The holidays are long gone… …schools are back in full swing, and our resolutions are wearing thin. Never fear! We’ve got all the inspiration you need to keep your spirits high this month. With life lessons from singer-songwriter Natalia Safran, fashion tips from Christie Maruka, and practical planning guides from mom extraordinaire Laura Fuentes, you’ll be ready to take each week by storm. And don’t forget: Valentine’s Day is just around the corner! We’ve shared our best ideas for creative celebrations and wowing gifts, as well as tips for Gainesville singles to still feel the love.

So forget the stigmas – this February there’s plenty of joy to go around!

Lauren Douglass 8 FS 2013

"XBSE PG &YDFMMFODF FROM THE

As always, we love hearing 2013from you.

So send us a note at mail@whpinc.com "XBSE PG &YDFMMFODF

PUBLISHERS Lauren Douglass Marc Douglass MANAGING EDITOR Elizabeth Putfark COPY EDITOR Daniel Sutphin ASSISTANT EDITOR Mike Capshaw ART DIRECTOR Daniel Tidbury GRAPHIC DESIGN

Jane Dominguez Teresa Gresh Patrice Kelly Becky Snowden Daniel Tidbury PROMOTIONS Amanda Liles Karen Jones AnnMarie DeFeo Anita Knittel ACCOUNTING Lynsey Parrish CIRCULATION Adam Simmons SPECIAL PROJECTS Lauren Kolansky Daniel Sutphin ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Shane Howell (shane@whpinc.com) ADVERTISING & SALES Shane Howell Mike Capshaw Susan Noddle WRITERS Ginger Henderson Kat Freestone Kelly Herman Amy Smith Mike Capshaw Sarah G. Mason Kelly Stamps Kristi Story Vivienne Van Eijkelenborg Susan T. Spencer Debbie Travis Syliana Resvanis Joe Graedan, MS Teresa Graedon, PhD

FROM THE

What’s Inside…

6 7 10 12 14 15 16 18 19 20 4

How to Celebrate Valentine’s Day Could Your Goals be Holding You Back True Passion: Natalie Safran Techno Etiquette Business Trip Etiquette College Savings Made Simple Style On-The-Go with Christie Maruka and Fashion Fix Beauty Reviews Picking a Wedding Dress Laugh Away the V-Day Blues

Flourish Magazine | February/2015

21 Single-Lady’s Guide to Valentine’s Day 22 Top-Pregnancy Myths Debunked 24 Military Matrimony 101 25 Long Distance is for Lovers 26 The Break-Up Bug 28 Children’s Toiletries 29 Baby Wants to Hear a Bestseller 30 No More Bedtime Battles 33 Get Framed 34 Looks We Love For the Home!

35 Valentine’s Day Cookies

36 How to Prep for the Week in One Afternoon 37 Winter Power-Foods 38 7 Natural Cures You Need to Know 40 Fat Day 42 Fight Inflammation with Food 43 How to Sculpt Your Lower Abs 44 Events 45 What is Happiness Worth to You?

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I’m all in favor of keeping dangerous weapons out of the hands of fools. let’s start with typewriters. Frank Lloyd Wright

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7 Natural Cures You Need To Know

M A G A Z I N E

Pregnancy

Myths

Debunked

Natalia

Safran

on Living the Creative Life

Lunch Prepping for Your Week with Laura Fuentes

FLIP FOR MOR E FLOURISH

north FLorIDa FEBRUARY 2015 VoLume 1 ISSUE 30 WWW.mYFLourIshmaGaZIne.com