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Estrella Publishing - Fish Hawk Living magazine

February 2019

2 Estrella Publishing - Fish Hawk Living magazine

February 2019

Published by Estrella Publishing LLC, PO Box 6962, Goodyear AZ 85338. Additional copies and article reproductions can be obtained for a fee by contacting info@EstrellaPublishing.com Catherine Uretsky, Publisher and Editor 623.594.9283 info@EstrellaPublishing.com Al Uretsky, Publisher and Sales Executive 623.594.9283 info@EstrellaPublishing.com All contents ÂŠ 2010-present day Estrella Publishing LLC. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in any form, in whole or part, without written permission from Estrella Publishing LLC is prohibited. Estrella Publishing accepts freelance contributions, there is no guarantee that materials will be used or returned. Some content is provided by Brandpointe and Family Features. Estrella Publishing is not responsible for the views of contributing writers and assumes no responsibility for errors appearing within. Opinions expressed are those of the writers and not necessarily those of the Publisher or Advertisers. Estrella Publishing reserves the right to restrict all advertisement to their proper classification and to edit or reject any copy at its sole discretion. Neither this publication nor Estrella Publishing is an agent of or in any way affiliated with the associated Developer nor Homeowners Association, or any of their respective affiliates. This publication has not been approved by, sponsored by, or endorsed by the associated Developer nor Homeowners Association in any way.

Catherine Uretsky Publisher & Editor

Lisa Aber Assistant Editor

Al Uretsky Publisher & Sales Exec

Estrella Publishing - Fish Hawk Living magazine

February 2019

From Me To You... I have a very unusual dog. On the surface he looks like many other large mixed breed dogs, fuzzy and floppy with an adorable face. But he is not like other dogs.

To start with we chose this breed because one of our children has allergies. The side benefit of this is a dog that rarely sheds. Except for Hank. He sheds, boy does he shed. Five minutes after vacuuming the house there are blonde tumbleweeds rolling across the kitchen floor. He also has allergies. Any cats make him sneeze convulsively. Aerosol sprays do that too. His nose runs all the time. I am often found in front of the dog, tissue in hand yelling “Blow Hank!” Doesn’t help. His allergies also give him red ‘hot spots’ on his belly. So we give him allergy pills that seem to help - and cost a small fortune. He is a sweet boy, however he has issues on top of the allergies. I think he has FOMO - fear of missing out. He has to be the first up the stairs and into rooms, like he is worried he will miss something if he doesn’t see it before us. I quite often fake him out and send him crashing up the stairs while I wander quietly into the kitchen.

overdrive. He barks like a lunatic from the edge, seeming to say “Get out! Get out! Get out!” As long as no-one goes underwater he is fine yelling from the side. Once a head goes underwater he turns into Hank the Lifesaving Lifeguard. He catapults himself into the water still barking which is comical because he ends up swallowing so much water he starts to choke. Not deterred by the water rushing into his mouth he bravely paddles over to the person in need of rescue and proceeds to try and grab them with his paws. This results in scratches and yelling and everyone leaving the pool. All kidding aside, Hank is my loyal companion, lying by my feet as I work and loving us all fiercely, and I wouldn’t trade him for any other dog in the world.

Catherine Uretsky

Editor, Fish Hawk Living magazine info@estrellapublishing.com 623.594.9283

Hank has two speeds; relaxed, calm companion and hyper, neurotic dervish. We have a retired service animal in the family and we often joke that Hank could do with his own Emotional Support dog. My sister met him for the first time and commented that he was ‘Rather Special’ and I will admit that he is at his best when Mickey (the aforementioned service dog) is by his side. One of his more ‘endearing characteristics’ is his love for his family. Unfortunately this means we can never use the pool until Hank is safely tucked away out of sight and earshot. You see he firmly believes that we can’t swim. He can swim and is very good at it but when we get in the pool Hank’s protective instincts go into 4 Estrella Publishing - Fish Hawk Living magazine

February 2019

On Our Cover

#bringyourmess

What began as a simple hashtag I used to try and convey the sort of community God had burdened me to begin back in fall of 2016, has turned into our Agape Moms mantra, a simple saying that has given many mamas the courage to come for the first time. To come out from behind their screens, from the pseudo-connection of their social media worlds, from the sudden loneliness that cripples many moms transitioning from working to mom-ing, and having to have some serious identity checks. “Does my worth come from what I do? What about when no one sees what I do, and the amount of butts I wipe and messes I clean, Every. Single. Day?” Things get messy real fast in the mom world, and it’s easy to hide behind our Instagram reels of happy moments, that are likely sandwiched between messy moments before and after the perfect snap. We are a family network of mama tribes who are seeking after jesus as we navigate motherhood together. In our family, you’ll be encouraged, not

Estrella Publishing - Fish Hawk Living magazine

in competition, empowered, not just getting by, and embraced, regardless of your performance. We welcome moms into our tribe who don’t yet know Jesus, we care for each other like family in the highs and lows of life, and we continually experience the gospel bearing fruit in and through us, together on mission for Jesus. Beyond the comedy and relatability of #bringyourmess is our shared desperate need for Jesus as our only fix to both the surfacey messes, like Cheerio infested minivans and spit up in our unshowered hair, as well as our messes of the soul. We all carry things, maybe it’s deep hurts from our childhood, mistakes we’ve made, or wrongs that have been done to us- our sin, others sin- and the mess it makes, especially when it collides with motherhood. You can bring that giant mess to Agape Moms, we all do, and you will be met with open arms. We don’t put on churchy faces or try to shame you into try-harder religion, and we won’t pretend we are perfect either, but we will keep pointing you to Jesus, His word and the power of His spirit to live as moms who are rescued and empowered by Jesus. Submitted by Katie Bell, Fishhawk Ranch resident. Visit the Agape Moms website @ www.agapemoms.online for more information

February 2019

Culture Club

So much to love about The Florida Orchestra With Valentine’s Day smack in the middle, February gives us an excuse to savor all the things we love. And there’s so much to love with The Florida Orchestra: If you love beauty with breakfast … Beautiful Bohemia (Feb. 6 & 7): This morning Coffee concert serves up Bohemian classics including Dvorak’s Symphony No. 7 and Brahms’ Hungarian Dance No. 10, along with free coffee and doughnuts. Music Director Michael Francis conducts. If you love to sing … Sing Out! Tampa Bay (Feb. 7): Belt one out with the rest of Tampa Bay at this casual community sing-along with the orchestra, led by Maestro Francis. This year includes This is Me from The Greatest Showman, Over the Rainbow, The Pirate Song and many more. Admission is pay what you can at the Mahaffey Theater.

and Juliet. Stuart Malina conducts. Free coffee and doughnuts. Both concerts are part of the Celebration of the Arts. The Florida Orchestra: Performs regularly at the Straz Center in Tampa, Mahaffey in St. Petersburg and Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater. The orchestra offers affordably priced tickets to a variety of concerts; prices vary. See FloridaOrchestra.org. Submitted by Kelly Smith

THE FLORIDA ORCHESTRA

If you love space … The Planets (Feb. 1517): The Planets align with NASA video on the big screen for the 100th anniversary of Holst’s supersonic trip through the galaxy. Featuring the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay. Michael Francis conducts. Free tickets for kids and teens in advance. If you love Shakespeare … A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Feb. 22-24) Michael Francis leads a rare performance of the full work, featuring the Lumina Youth Choir, soloists, a narrator and more. Also, Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 27 with Anne-Marie McDermott, in the Tampa Bay Times Masterworks series. The orchestra also will perform a Symphonic Shakespeare Coffee concert (Feb. 27 & 28), with music inspired by The Bard, including Porter’s Brush Up Your Shakespeare and Prokofiev’s Romeo

Tampa Bay Times Masterworks

The Planets Feb 15 - 17

A Midsummer Night’s Dream Feb 22 -24

Free Tickets for Kids in Advance

Raymond James Pops

Women Rock Mar 2 & 3

Broadway Tonight Mar 16 & 17

LISTEN LOCAL | Concerts in Tampa, St. Pete & Clearwater FloridaOrchestra.org | 727.892.3337 or 1.800.662.7286

6 Estrella Publishing - Fish Hawk Living magazineFish Hawk Living Feb.indd

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Estrella Publishing - Fish Hawk Living magazine

February 2019

Things Brenda 1. Beautiful homes 2. Finding our buyers the perfect house 3. Working with our team 4. Getting top dollar for our sellers Choose the BEST, Choose Brenda.

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February 2019

HomesÂ we LOVE Active Fishhawk Ranch Listings

5701 Ternwater Pl

15963 Fishhawk View Dr

16901 Harrierridge Pl

15743 Fishhawk Falls Dr

13919 Kingfisher Glen Dr

15920 Sorawater Dr

15209 Merlinglen Pl

5716 Tanagerside Rd

14206 Quintessa Ln

15907 Sorawater

5711 Ternwater Pl

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5907 Anna Leigh Pl

You will LOVE working with The Brenda Wade Team to get your SOLD sign! Office 813-655-5333 Direct 813-924-8677 Brenda@BrendaWade.com www.BrendaWade.com

Estrella Publishing - Fish Hawk Living magazine

February 2019

School Zone How to make online learning work for you

Many students juggle work and family, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, which found that 62 percent of students work full- or part-time, and 29 percent have at least one dependent. Today’s college students are just as likely to be moms and dads themselves, full-time and part-time employees or members of the U.S. armed forces. Needing flexibility and variety in course offerings, more students are turning to online learning to design a path that fits their lifestyle. As a result, online learning is seeing significant growth. A recent study found more than 6 million students take online courses across the U.S., and that number continues to rise. The following are some things you might not know about online learning: 1. Each learner is unique “We work diligently to lay the right groundwork for each student at a personal and individual level because we know there is no silver bullet to student success,” said Leah Lommel, chief operating officer of ASU Online. “Each learner is unique - what works for one may not work for another. This reality requires a tireless commitment to innovation on the part of higher education.”

2. Higher education leads to career success Access to higher education remains the best pathway to career success, directly impacting employment opportunities and wages. The Center on Education and the Workforce found that bachelor’s degree holders earn 31 percent more than workers with an associate’s degree and 74 percent more than those with a high school diploma. Further, emerging technologies and the changing nature of industries have created a demand for new types of skilled workers. 3. Flexibility is key Higher ed programs need to be flexible and adaptable, allowing students to study during the hours - or minutes - that fit their schedules. With online programs, students can gain practical knowledge throughout their program that can be immediately applied on the job, making them even more valuable in their current roles. As online programs continue to expand, students are more closely able to map coursework to their desired field of work. 4. Support structure is essential Universities are discovering that online learning can be just as effective as face-to-face learning. However, support and guidance are essential to success. From strong faculty support to success coaches and career advisors, universities providing high-touch student services throughout a student’s journey see the best outcomes. For students stepping back into school after many years, support and encouragement are key. Coaches are a lifeline as students juggle life with studying and coursework. Coaches offer support, help students overcome obstacles and connect them to other campus resources. Online learning allows universities to meet students where they are, academically and personally. Today’s student is approaching education from a new standpoint, with different requirements and needs. The power of innovation in online learning means that each student can complete a degree in a way that was simply not possible before.

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February 2019

Cookies!

Cool cookies before applying toppings so they won’t melt or run. * Use high-quality ingredients. Make sure your flour and raising agents haven’t sat in your cupboard too long, losing their effectiveness.

Experienced bakers know how to achieve perfect cookies every time. But don’t worry! There’s no need to buy high-priced equipment or enroll in culinary school. Here are a few simple tips for delectable cookies. * Invest in a food scale. This is important when measuring flour, which settles and varies in density if scooped. * Chill the dough. After mixing ingredients, chilling cookie dough prevents cookies from overspreading while baking. * Use parchment paper. Parchment paper on cookie sheets does wonders for preventing overdone cookie bottoms. * Hone your decorating strategy. Use a variety of cookie cutters to achieve perfect shapes.

Here is a classic recipe to delight your family and guests. Deluxe Sugar Cookies: 1 cup butter or margarine, softened 1 cup sugar 1 egg, beaten 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract 1/2 teaspoon Pure Almond Extract

2 tablespoons milk 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder Frosting:

4 cups powdered sugar 1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened 3 to 4 tablespoons milk 1 to 2 teaspoons Orange, Lemon or Peppermint Extract, to taste Assorted Food Coloring Cookies: Combine butter, sugar, egg, extracts and milk in large bowl. Stir in flour and baking powder; mix well. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm. Heat oven to 400 F. On lightly floured surface, roll dough one third at a time to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut with floured cookie cutter. Place 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 6 to 9 minutes or until edges are light brown. Immediately remove to cool on wire rack. Frosting: Combine all ingredients; beat until smooth.

Estrella Publishing - Fish Hawk Living magazine

February 2019

Where’s My Flying Car?

Do you remember being a child, sitting in front of a glowing television? Eyes wide, legs crossed and a little bowl of marshmallow-filled breakfast cereal in front of you? The familiar theme song would play, and there they’d be - that futuristic family in a flying cartoon car. It was an incredible sight, one that filled us with wonder and excitement, and the hope of having our very own airborne automobile by 2020. While we wait for that innovation to come to mass-market fruition, the reality of putting your car on autopilot from A to B is right around the corner.

Nearly half of Americans would love to see their cars equipped with self-maintenance capabilities. In reality, today’s maintenance technology can predict things like how far you can go until your next oil change. Now just imagine ... how easy would it be if your car couldn’t just tell you it’s time to take it in, but get the job done for you? 4. Expectation: Driverless vehicles for everyone. Autonomous vehicle technology is certainly speeding forward, and there are some who argue it will help create a safer drive down the road. The survey found that men are nearly twice as likely to opt for self-driving capabilities as women. There’s no telling how long it will take to get us to a flying future, or even a fully self-driving one but we can expect some fascinating futuristic tech to come.

Here are four more futuristic expectations drivers have set as they look down the road: 1. Expectation: Tires that never go flat. Americans consider the run-flat tire to be the biggest tire technology achievement in recent history. 44 percent are looking to see selfrepairing tires as an imminent innovation. 2. Expectation: A distraction-less drive. There has been plenty of advancement in tools to downplay distracted driving - think Bluetooth, “Do Not Disturb” and similar functions for our mobile devices. It’s too bad there hasn’t been a way to keep our eyes off the other drivers. More than half say that other people’s bad driving is their top distraction on the road. 3. Expectation: Cars that can take care of themselves. 12 Estrella Publishing - Fish Hawk Living magazine

February 2019

Infant Formula

Whether you’re expecting your first child or you’ve been around the baby block a few times before, there are always a lot of questions when preparing for parenthood. Feeding often tops the list, leaving moms puzzled at which are the best ways to nourish their little ones.

Infant formula is used for a variety of reasons, including by mothers who have trouble breastfeeding, limited milk supply or opt to by personal choice. There are a wide variety of formulas available, but that doesn’t make formula feeding intuitive. The survey results uncovered common mistakes and misconceptions moms of babies and toddlers have about formula feeding. Bottle preparation often causes confusion for moms. When warming infant formula, half of moms said they always or sometimes use the

microwave to make a bottle. The problem is microwaving formula bottles can affect ingredients and cause hot spots that might burn a baby’s mouth. What many parents don’t realize is formula does not need to be warmed before it is given to baby. If your child happens to prefer a warm bottle, place it under warm running water and make sure that water isn’t getting into the bottle, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Before feeding, test the temperature of the bottle by putting a few drops on the back of your hand to ensure it’s not too hot. If baby doesn’t finish a bottle, it’s tempting to put it in the fridge for later, but this can be a mistake. The survey found 51 percent of moms have thrown a partially used infant formula bottle back in the fridge to use for the next feeding time. This is dangerous because bacteria can grow and the nutritional profile of the formula can diminish. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), formula not fed to baby can be stored in the refrigerator for 24 hours if you are making it ahead of time. However, once you feed a bottle to baby, you must discard the remaining contents after one hour from the start of that feeding. Babies can be expensive, but one way to stretch budgets without sacrificing quality is to use store-brand formulas that meet the same FDA standards as nationally advertised brands. All formula brands - including store brands - offer complete nutrition for infants. Learn more at www. storebrandformula.com.

Estrella Publishing - Fish Hawk Living magazine

February 2019

Money Matters Are You Prepared for a Natural Disaster? The year ahead offers new opportunities and experiences. But as you make plans throughout 2019, be mindful of the things that can derail those plans – such as the natural disasters that affected so many families in 2018. Every area around the country is subject to natural disasters, whether they’re wildfires, hurricanes or tornadoes. How can you prepare for them? Here are a few suggestions:

Maintain adequate insurance. It’s a good idea to review your homeowners insurance at least annually to ensure it’s still providing the protection you need. And make sure you know exactly what your policy covers in terms of natural disasters. You’ll also want to review your life and disability insurance regularly. And, of course, you’ll want to stay current on your premiums for all your policies. Keep a record of your possessions. The insurance claims process will be much easier if you take the time, before a natural disaster occurs, to photograph or videotape the contents of your home. You also might want to list the brands and serial numbers of appliances and electronics. Know your passwords. It’s important to have ready access to the passwords for your financial accounts. You may be able to memorize them, but, if not, keep them somewhere – perhaps in your smartphone – that you can access anywhere. It’s always possible that a natural disaster will strike so quickly that you can’t even grab your phone, so, to be extra cautious, you might want to share your passwords with a trusted family member or friend

living, such as food and shelter. Keeping a lot of cash in your home may not be such a great plan, especially if you have to evacuate quickly. Consequently, you might want to create an emergency fund containing three to six months’ worth of living expenses, with the money kept in a lowrisk, liquid and highly accessible account at a local bank or with your financial services provider. Protect your documents. These days, many of your important financial materials, such as your investment statements, are available online, so they’re likely safe from any disaster. But you may still have some items, such as checkbooks, birth certificates, passports, Social Security cards, insurance policies and estate planning documents on paper. Even if some or all of these things could eventually be replaced, it would take time and effort. You’re better off protecting them beforehand, possibly by keeping them in a safety deposit box at a local bank. Save your receipts. You’ll want to save receipts for repairs and temporary lodging to submit to your insurance company. If you are not fully reimbursed for these expenses, they may be tax deductible, though you’ll need to consult with your tax advisor to be certain. If you’re fortunate, you’ll never have to face a natural disaster that threatens your home and possessions. But it never hurts to be ready – just in case. Submitted by Michael Seipp, of Edward Jones

Build an emergency fund. During or following a natural disaster, you may need ready access to cash to cover some of the essentials of daily 14 Estrella Publishing - Fish Hawk Living magazine

February 2019

Puzzles & Games 2 Sudokus for February - Easy & Hard

Numbers from 1-9 must appear only once in each row, column and box. Good Luck! Solutions are on our website www.EstrellaPublishing.com

Easy

Hard

2 3

8 4 1 9

4 9

6 1

4 6

9 2

9 8

1 6

4 3 5 1

1 6

9 7

3 4

Estrella Publishing - Fish Hawk Living magazine

February 2019

MS sat me down.

I will

dance

at my daughtersâ€™ weddings. Jim

Dad. Podcaster. Diagnosed in 1998. Explore powerful stories of people doing whatever it takes at nationalMSsociety.org/jim

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February 2019