ALACHUA

COUNTY’S

PREMIER

PARENTING

MAGAZINE

10 lebrating ce

years

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019 • Volume 11 • Issue 5 gigglemagazine.com

8 NO-SEW

s u l p

YOUR LOCAL FALL FESTIVAL GUIDE! PG. 43

HALLOWEEN COSTUMES ARE YOUR KIDDOS READY FOR HORROR MOVIES? THE SCARY TRUTH ABOUT MOLD MUST-HAVE DIY THANKSGIVING PLACE CARDS

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PUBLISHER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Nicole Irving GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Megan Sapelak, Grace Downey VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES Shane Irving ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE April Tisher EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT Sayeh Farah, Isabella Sorresso

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publisher's letter

trick - or - let's not? MEET OUR

In the last 15 years I have had the most fun getting my kiddos all dolled up for Halloween parties and trick-or-treating. I have bought costumes, made costumes and threw something together last minute from whatever was clean, creative and on-hand (I might have even raided the Giggle craft closet a time or two!). And, on the rare occasion, my husband and I have even dressed up and joined in the fun.

COVER CUTIE!

But, as the kids have gotten older, it has been harder to lure them into fun and creative costumes. For instance, last year my 10-year-old went as, you guessed it, himself. Dressed in head-to-toe basketball gear, he started off saying he was dressed as former Celtics star Kyrie Irving, however, he ended the night as just Josh, since that would have been the same outfit he wore on any other given night. And, after five houses, he was totally done with the trick-ortreating part and went to play video games.

How old are you? 3

Sigh…

Favorite book: Pumpkin (It’s Pumpkin Day, Mouse!)

I think you know the answer as well as I do, but don’t want to admit it. Times are changing. Kids start to grow up. And the holidays, even silly ones like Halloween, will change, as our children get older. So, as much as it breaks my heart to say it, I may have experienced my last trick or treating with my kids (although I am holding strong for this year!). And, like you, I know that all good things must come to an end, but that doesn’t mean the fun of the season has to go -- it just has to change. While decorating the house for fall, I asked my oldest how he wanted to decorate. I had him help and he did without complaint. He even helped me put up the scarecrow, which he promptly removed when it scared him the next night while walking the dog. However, he helped! If dressing up and no trick-ortreating are in store, we will find new ways to celebrate the season, because there is always a good reason to buy Nicole Irving, Publisher pumpkins and candy… right? nbirving@irvingpublications.com Like us on Facebook /GIGGLEMAGAZINE

GIGGLEMAGAZINE.COM | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

Favorite treat: Chips What are you going to be for Halloween: Spiderman If you could be any superhero for the day, who would it be? Batman!

Visit us on Pinterest /GIGGLEMAGAZINE

Cutie photo by Jimmy Ho Photography

W esl ey

So, that leads me to the almighty question of, when do you let them bow out of the traditions of dressing up and collecting candy? As parents, are we holding onto the fun and tradition that has been a part of our lives for so many years because deep down we want them to be those cute little pumpkins and superheroes bouncing down the street, grinning ear to ear for candy and the moment to scream… “TRICK OR TREAT?”

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From Our Family to Yours, Have a Wonderful Thanksgiving!

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OCT NOV 2019

happy family • happy community™

●

conception 2 college™ 74 EXPECTING

"A Little Pumpkin is on The Way" Baby Shower 76 INFANT

How to Conquer the Dreaded First Nail Trim

78 TODDLER

The No Talk Back Zone

80 EARLY YEARS

Music Matters 82 KIDS

Spark Your Kiddo's Curiosity With STEM/STEAM Toys

84 TWEENS

Have No Shame

86 TEENS

18 #BOSSMOM Kristen Thompson

forks & spoons 20 DELISH Grandma's Apple Turnovers 22 DELISH Sweeter the Second Time: 15 Ways to Use Leftover Halloween Candy 24 DELISH Jazz It Up! Your Boring Mashed Potatoes Just Got a Face Lift!

48 GET HEALTHY Healthy Habits Start at Home 50 GET PRETTY Golden Delicious

happy home 54 2 CENTS

16 Black Friday Shopping Tips From a PRO! 56 MAKE IT

Gather Round: DIY Thanksgiving Place Cards 58 FIX IT

Duct Tape With a Twist

fe a tu res 31 43 52

Have a Sew-Free Halloween Local Fall Festivals Back to the Classics

PREMIER

PARENTING

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years

• Volume 11 • Issue 5 OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019 gigglemagazine.com

60 CLEAN IT

The Scary Truth About Mold

learn 64 FAMILY LEARNING

Scary Timing: The Ins & Outs of Introducing Horror Movies to Your Child 66 HOMESCHOOL CORNER Season's Greetings 68 FEATURED TEACHER Stephanie Anderson 70 YOUR SCHOOLS

Five Letters That May Save Your Child's Life

happy community 92 CALENDAR

October/November

• Volume 11 • Issue 5 OCTOBER/NOVEMB ER 2019

16 MOM HACKS Thanksgiving Hacks

46 GET HEALTHY How Social Anxiety Can Hinder Our Children

COUNTY’S

FESTIVAL GUIDE

13 A DAY IN MOM'S LIFE Alisha Mitchell-Roberts

health

ALACHUA

HALLOWEEN COSTUMES | FALL

mom's corner

R E! N E W F E AT U

What's App With That?

lebrating ce

GIGGLE MAGAZINE

Halloween photo by Jimmy Ho Photography, Turnover photo by Giggle Magazine.

8 NO-SEW

s plu

YOUR LOCAL FALL FESTIVAL GUIDE! PG. 43

HALLOWEEN COSTUMES ARE YOUR KIDDOS READY FOR HORROR MOVIES? THE SCARY TRUTH ABOUT MOLD MUST-HAVE DIY THANKSGIVING PLACE CARDS

On the Cover: 8 No-Sew Halloween Costumes PAGE 31 Your Local Fall Festival Guide PAGE 43 Must Have DIY Thanksgiving Place Cards PAGE 56 The Scary Truth About Mold PAGE 60 Are Your Kiddos Ready For Horror Movies? PAGE 64

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mom's corner | a day in a mom's life

NEW FEATURE!

Photo by Shannon Austin Photography

A D AY I N T H E L I F E O F :

Alisha Mitchell-Roberts MORNING 5:45 a.m. My alarm goes off. I struggle to get out of bed because I Alisha Mitchell-Roberts is an Associate Director for Research Administration at the University of Florida. She manages a fee for service metabolomics center and a National Institute of Health (NIH) funded coordinating center. She is also an Adjunct Professor of Chemistry at Santa Fe College. She has 2 daughters, Leila (10) and Lani (8).

am not a morning person. I head to the kitchen where I prepare breakfast and lunch for the girls and myself, and I pack our lunchboxes.

6 a.m. The girlsâ€™ alarm goes off. Lani wakes up right away. Leila is not

a morning person like myself, so she struggles to get out of bed. They get dressed and brush their teeth.

6:15 a.m. I am a little bit OCD, so by this time I am making the beds and straightening up the house a little.

6:35 a.m. The girls come out to the kitchen to have breakfast. I head into my room to shower and get dressed for work. They usually talk to their dad on Facetime during this time.

GIGGLEMAGAZINE.COM | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

mom's corner | a day in a mom's life

NEW FEATURE! 7:05 a.m. We pile into the car and

rush to get to the school by 7:15 a.m. Leila is a safety patrol, so I want to get her to her post on time.

7:15 a.m. I drop Leila off at the front,

park and sit in the car for 10 minutes with Lani to kill some time. School starts at 7:45 a.m. 7:15 a.m. is a little early for her to be getting to school, so I try to spend some alone time with her. We listen to music, we talk a little and then I walk her to her class.

8 a.m. I get to work and start my day by checking and answering the most urgent emails while I sip on my coffee. Then I write down what tasks I want to accomplish for the day.

9 a.m. I eat my breakfast at my desk

and begin working on my task list. I email caterers for an upcoming event, organize meeting spaces, work on budgets and resolve a few conflicts.

11 a.m. I take a conference call with a

client for the service center that I manage. It goes well, and he decides to use us for his project needs. I send him follow up new-client information and forms.

12 p.m. I have a recurring conference

also respond to any that need my immediate attention.

4 p.m. I leave the office to head across town to pick up the girls. They have cheer practice today. We live on the northwest side of town and cheer is on the southwest side of town. It takes me an hour to get them and drop them off to practice.

5 p.m. I head to Santa Fe College. My

class starts at 5:30 p.m. I teach college chemistry, and I have a class of 24 students. I really enjoy teaching, and I love it when I see the “ah ha” moment on my students’ faces.

EVENING 6:45 p.m. Class is over. I speak for

a few minutes with some students, and then I head to pick up the girls from cheer practice. Practice ends at 7:15 p.m. so I get to see the last 15 minutes. Their faces light up when they see me, and they love it when I watch them in practice.

7:50 p.m. We make it home. Usually, I prepare a couple of meals for the week on Sundays, so I heat up some dinner for the girls. I had a smoothie during my

class, so I am not hungry. As the girls eat, I stand in the kitchen listening to them talk excitedly about their cheer practice and all the new stunts they are learning. I ask about their day, ask if they completed their homework and have them show me when they are done eating.

8:45 p.m. The girls have showered

and head to bed. I start cleaning up the dinner dishes. I cannot go to sleep with dishes in my sink. I check the girls’ homework, pick out clothes for the next day, refill water bottles and head to the shower.

9:30 p.m. I am finally sitting down in

my living room to decompress and enjoy some quiet time. I am a little hungry, so I make myself a small plate of crackers, cheese, coppa and salami. I pour myself a half glass of red wine and catch up on one of my TV shows. This is usually how I wind down.

10:30 p.m. My eyes are getting

heavy, so I head to the bathroom to brush my teeth and head to bed. Tomorrow is a gym day. I love gym days!

AFTERNOON 1 p.m. I have a coordinating center

operations meeting with my team. In this meeting, we prepare for our upcoming NIH meeting, discuss plans for our upcoming event and our plans for promotion and outreach for the year.

2:05 p.m. I eat lunch at my desk

and continue working on my task list, my follow-up and action items from my meetings. My emails have piled up since I last checked them at 11:30 a.m., so I

Want to submit a friend (or yourself!) to be featured in A Day in a Mom's Life? Visit Gigglemagazine.com to submit now! 14

GIGGLEMAGAZINE.COM | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

Photo by Shannon Austin Photography

call with a group that is part of the coordinating center that I manage. I only listen in and take notes, but they talk about the progress they are making as part of the consortium. I note any follow-up items.

mom's corner | mom hacks

NEW FEATURE!

# momhacks

We all know that the hardest job you can have is being a mom! The days are definitely long and the years are astonishingly short and some days you might feel like you’re going through the struggles alone. But, we are here! To share in the good, the bad, and the moments when all you need is another cup of coffee and your Mom Tribe! So, have no fear, #momhacks is here to help you along your journey in motherhood!

Thanksgiving Hacks Cooking a Thanksgiving meal can be an all day event. Between the sides, turkey, pies and dressing one could just about run themselves into a frenzy even before the turkey timer pops! This year, take some cues from our Mom Tribe and their Thanksgiving day hacks!

Make big batches of

CRANBERRY MARGARITAS!

"Take a cruise~ It makes the week even more thankful, fun and relaxing for all. We’ve done it for several years now. Not sure we will ever give it up." - MICHELLE WAGLEY

Skip on passing the food around the table, set it up buffet style in the kitchen and let people help themselves!

“Buy pretty paper plates and napkins. Put the pretty plates over Chinet‰ plates for stability and loading up Turkey and dressing, save your dishwashing time for family time!” -ELAINE ATWOOD

Cook the turkey upside down to keep it nice and juicy.

Premade mashed potatoes. Peeling 10 pounds of potatoes is for the birds!

POTLUCK STYLE for the win this year!

Skip the traditional turkey and make Mexican or Italian!

Have kids help with a special dessert or dish.

GIGGLEMAGAZINE.COM | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

Cook as little as possible and consume as much FOOTBALL as you can!

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# bossmom

mom's corner | #bossmom

NEW FEATURE!

As a mom, you quite literally do it all! Between working and making sure your kiddo gets to school with a matching pair of shoes, it proves to be the toughest job anyone could do. Our Giggle moms have shared with us what makes them a #BossMom, and we are all for it!

Kristen Thompson Shine prom and a board member for Xtraordinary Joy. “Over the last 5 ½ years I have seen how much the special needs community gets forgotten… Being able to make a positive change in the life of families keeps me going.”

As a relator for the last 7 years, Thompson has found herself immersed in the special moments of her client’s lives. From new babies and new jobs, these life changes bring on the need to sell or purchase a home. “I love being a part of special moments with my customers” says Thompson.

Kristen' s FAVORITE S

When Thompson is not looking for the perfect home for her clients, she is relishing in the sweet moments with her children. Bailey, who just turned one, is full of personality! “When I come home and she immediately runs to me yelling in excitement, it fills my heart!” Payton, almost 6, has a genetic condition called Trisomy 18, which comes with a set of medically complex needs. “I love seeing all the new skills that she gains through her incredibly hard work with her therapist. Watching her surpass all expectation is amazing and inspiring.” As the mom of a child with special needs, Thompson has seen first hand how important having support and resources is. In addition to advocating with legislators to help make positive changes, she is also the co-chair for the Tim Tebow Foundation Night to

FAVORITE GAINESVILLE RESTAURANT Piesanoes, Chuy’s & Volcanic Sushi + Sake FAVORITE MOVIE Slumdog Millionaire FAVORITE THING TO COLLECT? I am more of a Marie Kondo Fan. FAVORITE TYPE OF WINE? Moscato FAVORITE THING TO EAT? Mexican SOUNDTRACK PLAYING IN YOUR HOME? Katy Perry - Firework

Are you a #BossMom or do you know one? Visit Gigglemagazine.com to submit your #BossMom for a chance to be featured in one of our upcoming issues.

GIGGLEMAGAZINE.COM | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

Headshot photo by Kevin Fitzz. Family photo by Sweet Serendipity Photography.

Kristen Thompson, Relator at Thomas Group Realty and mom to two young girls, Payton and Bailey, finds pleasure in the simple things like splash parks and playing at home with her children after a day of work and tending to her philanthropic duties. Being a #bossmom keeps Thompson busy and fulfilled!

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GIGGLEMAGAZINE.COM | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

forks and spoons | delish

Grandma's

Apple Turnovers BY AMANDA ROLAND | PHOTO BY GIGGLE MAGAZINE

Fall is such a sweet time for families to gather and share all of their favorite recipes. This is the first fall that my family is spending without my greatgrandma, and even though she isn’t here anymore to share her recipes with me, my Mema, her daughter, knows them well enough to pass them down to me. This turnover recipe is one of my great-grandma’s signature dishes, and they are great for bringing the family together and creating new memories.

Ingredients: For the dough: • 2 cups of self-rising flour • 1 tablespoon of sugar • 1/2 teaspoon salt • 1/3 cup shortening • 1/2 cup buttermilk For the filling: • 1 package of dried apples (4 oz) • 1 tablespoon of sugar • 2 tablespoons of brown sugar • 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon • Pinch of salt •

Vegetable oil for frying

Directions:

1. For the dough, combine the flour, sugar and salt together. Cut the shortening into the flour mixture with a fork until mixture is crumbly. Stir in buttermilk just until the mixture is moistened, and don’t over mix. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and chill for at least 3 hours. 2. To start the filling, put dried apples in a large saucepan, cover with water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer the apples until soft, stirring occasionally. Let the apples cool completely. 3. Drain off the excess liquid from the apples, transfer the apples to a bowl, and add in the sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt. Gently mash the apples to combine all the ingredients together, cover and chill. 4. Pour 2 inches of vegetable oil into a Dutch oven or skillet, heat the oil to 350°F. 5. Take your dough and section it into 18 portions. Roll out each portion to be a 5-inch flat circle. Make one turnover at a time by spooning a heaping tablespoon of apple filling into a circle of dough. Brush water on the edges of the circle so that the dough will stick to itself. Fold the dough over filling and press down the edges with a fork to make crimp marks. 6. Fry the turnovers in batches for 3-4 minutes. The turnovers should be a lovely golden color when they are done. Lay the turnovers on a cooling rack lined with a paper towel to absorb excess oil. 7. Enjoy warm!

GIGGLEMAGAZINE.COM | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

Try with different kinds of fruit, like dried peaches or pears, or sprinkle with cinnamon, sugar or powdered sugar!

GIGGLEMAGAZINE.COM | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

Second

l forks and spoons | delish

Sweeter the Time:

15 Ways to Use Leftover Halloween Candy

When you have three kids, multiple Halloween parties to attend and an all-nighter filled with trick-or-treating, the piles of sweet treats do just that. Pile up! So, after I do my duty of safety checking and separating the piles of 'you eat that,' 'I eat this,' and our sweet tooth’s have been satisfied until next year, there is still lots of candy! I ask myself, what to do with it all? Repurpose it of course! With a little culinary creativity, regular ole’ candy becomes a new sweet delight!

BUTTERFINGER®

Sprinkle into chocolate cake batter and on top of vanilla frosting Crumble and mix in with cheesecake mixture before chilling

M&M’S® Mix into pancakes mix Add to chocolate chip cookie batter Top an ice cream sundae

SNICKERS® Cut up and add to trifle layers Dice into small pieces and add to creamy cheesecake dip

REESE'S PEANUT BUTTER CUPS® Blend with vanilla or chocolate ice cream for a yummy milkshake Add to brownie mix

KIT KAT®

Cut in tiny pieces and roll freshly made caramel apples in them Add to sugar cookie batter

MINI HERSHEY® CHOCOLATE Add to graham crackers and marshmallows for bite sized s’mores Add to ice coffee and mix in blender for a frosted café mocha

CANDY CORN® Add to Chex® mix and mini marshmallows for a festive party mix Dice into small pieces and add to Rice Krispy mix

or...

Freeze then defrost for midnight snacks or donate to collection sites!

GIGGLEMAGAZINE.COM | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

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forks and spoons | delish

Basic Mashed Potatoes: (Quantity will vary based on serving quantity)

Giggle Tips:

You Need: Potatoes, milk, butter, salt and pepper

Instructions:

Jazz It Up!

1. Peel and quarter potatoes 2. Bring water to a boil. Add Potatoes. 3. Boil potatoes for 15-20 minutes or until soft 4. Strain water. Place in bowl; add milk, butter, salt and pepper to taste. 5. Mash to consistency you enjoy

Your Boring Mashed Potatoes Just Got a Face Lift! BY NICOLE IRVING

Donâ€™t settle for boring mashed potatoes this holiday season. Spice them up with flavors, textures and yummy add-ins to jazz up your holiday meal staple! After using the base mashed potato instructions at the top right, add in the following to create new and yummy recipes.

ZESTY MASHED

CRANBERRY CRUNCH MASHED

Add-ins:

Fresh juice of one small lemon Lemon zest of one lemon Garlic powder Salt and pepper to taste Fresh parsley

Fresh goat cheese Dried cranberries Chopped walnuts Salt and pepper to taste

*Mix together with large spoon and top with fresh parsley and lemon zest for pop of color.

SWIRLED MASHED Add-ins: Sweet potatoes (follow basic mashed potato recipe above)

Diced green onion *Place mashed potatoes neatly in 1/2 of the bowl and then add in mashed sweet potatoes to other side. Take a knife and swirl them around. Top with green onions, salt and pepper to taste.

*Mix together with large spoon and top with additional whole walnuts and some dried cranberries for color.

GARDEN MASHED

HEARTY MASHED Add-ins: Thick sliced ham, cut in small, bite-sized pieces Fully cooked bacon, crumbled. Sharp cheddar cheese, shredded Sour cream Salt and pepper to taste *Mix together with large spoon and top with an additional spoonful of sour cream and more shredded cheese.

BUFFALO MASHED Add-ins: Buffalo chicken fingers Buffalo sauce Cream cheese Blue cheese crumbles Salt and pepper to taste *Mix together with large spoon and top with an additional spoonful of cream cheese and more blue cheese crumbles.

Add-ins:

CHEESY MASHED

Frozen chopped spinach, thawed and dried out Fresh sour cream Onion powder Diced green onions Salt and pepper to taste

Add-ins: Broccoli florets: cooked, drained and cut up Shredded sharp cheddar cheese Garlic powder Diced green onions Salt and pepper to taste

*Mix together with large spoon and top with green onions for color.

*Mix together with large spoon and top with green onions and additional shredded cheddar cheese.

GIGGLEMAGAZINE.COM | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

LOCAL EATS GATOR BTW

8181 NW 39th Ave, Gainesville, FL Hours: Sun-Thurs: 11:00am-10:30pm Fri. & Sat: 11:00am-11:30pm (352) 240-6564 Gatorbtw.com Burgers, Tacos, Wings- Gator BTW is Gainesville’s hottest new fast-casual dining experience. Specializing in the best burgers, tacos and wings in town, they also serve up mouthwatering tenders, fresh salads and delicious milkshakes. And don’t forget their amazing specials, including $3 Burger Mondays, new Taco Tuesdays and kids eat free all weekend long! BTW regulars are obsessed with their huge sauce bar, allowing you to fully customize your meal for that perfect explosion of flavor! Whether you’re just passing through and need a quick bite, or if you’re looking for a place to grab an ice-cold slushie with the kids, BTW is the spot for you. Now with 2 locations! Get ready to Fuel Your Flavor!

GATOR'S DOCKSIDE

3842 W. Newberry Road, Gainesville, FL Hours: 11:00am-Midnight (352) 338-4445 Gatorsdockside.com Family Friendly- Gator’s Dockside is a sports-themed restaurant that offers a fun atmosphere for the entire family! We’re known for our big-screen TVs, great food and friendly service. Our signature wings are flavored with our tasty wings sauces that have made us famous, especially our award-winning Scooter sauce. We use only the freshest, highest quality ingredients in all our menu selections, including burgers, hearty sandwiches, made-from-scratch ribs, entree salads, and desserts. We also have some of the best meal deals in town, like all-you-can-eat wings on Mondays from 5:00pm-11:00pm and 2-for-1 on select house wines and liquors all day, every day. Don't forget kids eat free every Tuesday from 5:30pm-8:30pm. We can’t wait to see you at Gator’s!

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Morning Meeting students also participate in a two minute focus moment. This helps students improve their concentration and ability to focus, reduces any anxieties that they may be having and promotes an overall sense of calm. Students look forward to a time in their day when all they have to do is stop,be still and listen to all the beautiful sounds around them.

Finding the Pieces

TO THE PUZZLE H E ALTHY LE AR N I N G ACAD E MY Education is like a jigsaw puzzle. There are so many pieces necessary to achieving a complete picture — history and health, fitness and fractions, mindfulness and music — that it can be difficult to see how they could ever fit all together in one cohesive way. But at Healthy Learning Academy, they are putting all the pieces together in a way that truly sets them apart from other schools and helps encourage their children to not only love learning, but to become good stewards of the earth as well. With small classroom sizes due to a maximum 18 students per grade level, HLA can actively practice their mission to, “provide excellence in education with a focus on lifelong health, nutrition and fitness for the creative mind and healthy body.” To achieve this mission, in addition to keeping class sizes small and intimate, teachers are encouraged to differentiate their classrooms to better meet the needs of all levels of learners in a variety of subjects from hands-on, project based learning for STEM fields to literacy stations to math stations.

Healthy Learning Academy continues its many educational traditions with second

year Principal, Suzanne Borganelli at the helm. Mrs. Borganelli has been an educator for over 29 years and worked as a teacher at HLA for two years before being appointed the position of principal. Many new and exciting activities have been added to HLA over the past year including weekly Spanish classes and an enhanced mindfulness initiative.

An active and engaged start

Getting the wiggles out takes on a fun and healthy start at Healthy Learning Academy, located in Newberry, Florida. Before classes even begin, the students start their day with Morning Mile, a running/ walking program that gives those students who choose to participate a fun way to get active. Parents are welcome to join in the fun and reap the benefits of the early morning exercise program available to their children. The students' day starts with a 15 minute "Morning Meeting" in which all children participate. Students do "balloon breaths" to get them ready for their day. These balloon breaths are a simple breathing exercise that has proven to calm children down and help them to relieve all stresses and worries that they might have. During

GIGGLEMAGAZINE.COM | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

Students in grades K-5 participate in yoga daily. The students roll out their yoga mats, teachers dim the lights and play music softly to set the mood for this teacher-led activity. Borganelli states that there are many health benefits to doing yoga daily. Not only is yoga helping children with flexibility, strength and coordination, but also helps children learn about the benefits of relaxation and calmness. Doing yoga daily helps students in the classroom with their classroom behavior, memory, self esteem and confidence. All of this activity is in addition to the regularly scheduled P.E. classes and recess time that all students enjoy every day, which may leave some wondering how the teachers at HLA have time to get to the curriculum. But the increased activity means that students are often more focused when it comes time to sit down and learn.

Merging healthy habits and traditional studies

The public charter school, which opened 14 years ago and currently teaches students in kindergarten through fifth grade, is also home to a lush and vibrant herb and vegetable garden, which the children tend to with support from the staff, parent volunteers, and under the guidance of Master Gardener, Jennifer Sacket. Along with herbs like chocolate mint and rosemary, the students are also growing broccoli, pineapples, pumpkins and carrots, most of which they will harvest themselves and eat! As they are guided through harvesting and preparing their homegrown produce, the students also receive valuable lessons in science and math, measuring their plants as they grow and learn about centrifugal force as they use salad spinners.

It’s all about parent involvement Research has proven that parent involvement is the key to student success and Mrs. Borganelli recognizes how important it is for parents, grandparents and to teachers to come together in the school to promote unity and a sense of community. Therefore, HLA ensures

their students are marker for success with numerous parent involvement opportunities. Every parent is required to volunteer a minimum of twenty hours every school year, and five of those hours must be spent in the classroom. There are also numerous activities throughout the school year for parents. There are Parent Involvement Nights that occur once a month and the teachers meet with the parents and review classroom expectations, standards and curriculum and help the parents understand what their children are about to learn. Additionally, there are family and community nights where the families at the school come together and enjoy different theme nights such as a movie night, family fitness night and a parent potluck dinner (with one family winning the taste contest). All of this is done because, “it takes a village and we are only one part of the village,” Borganelli says and through Healthy Learning Academy’s parent involvement, that part of the village becomes stronger which promotes happy and healthy homes and learning.

Curriculum and Beyond!

In addition to a heavy focus on fitness and health, Healthy Learning Academy sets itself apart by focusing on a differentiated instruction program, an innovative teaching style, which has proved beneficial for their students. Before starting a new lesson, teachers will give their students a pre-test to determine who needs a more intensive review of the lesson and who understands the subject and may benefit from a more project-based approach to learning. Students may be assigned

a project requiring them to plan for a playground or build a roller coaster. Providing a diversified environment that assesses and teaches according to student needs and filled with real life teaching moments is key in the success of the Healthy Learning Academy student body. While testing is important, it is not the emphasis of the curriculum. Rather, they teach their students the strategies they need to learn, such as showing their work and justifying their answers. They can then take what they are learning and practice them in their new “Club Days” that have begun. Students will have the opportunity to sign-up for a variety of clubs, both of personal interest and academic applications, which will meet on select Friday afternoons for the last hour of the day. Just a sampling of clubs that students can sign-up for are chess, drama, book, running, woodshop, robotics, cooking, art, singing and guitar! This isn’t just an opportunity for students to combine their personal interests and academic achievements, teachers and parents get involved in these clubs with many of the clubs being led by teacher-parent teams who want to show kids how to explore their passions and interests in a fun, exciting academic setting. "Healthy Learning Academy has been a blessing to our entire family. We moved our son to HL A in third grade when we felt that the large public school wasn't meeting his needs for ongoing struggles with reading. HL A provided interventions, ongoing support and ideas, as well as a ‘soft spot’ to land when we felt defeated. It's a small school with staff that truly cares about the children. Moving our son, and then our daughter, to HL A, has been nothing but a positive impact on our entire family." — T H E R E E D FA M I LY

352.372.2279

www.healthylearningacademy.com

13505 W Newberry Rd. • Jonesville, FL 32669 Located Inside The Jockey Club GIGGLEMAGAZINE.COM | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019 29

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GIGGLEMAGAZINE.COM | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

HAVE A

SEW-FREE HALLOWEEN PHOTOS BY JIMMY HO PHOTOGRAPHY

Have you always wanted to make your kiddo's Halloween costume but the thought of having to sew it together stopped you in your tracks? Have no fear! We have your Sew-Free Halloween costumes here! These simple and fun costumes can be made from items out of your craft closet, old clothes and some creativityâ€¦ oh yes and a hot glue gun! No sewing skills needed! You got this Mom, and we are here to help!

All you need is Hot glue! GIGGLEMAGAZINE.COM | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

~going wild~ super SHARK

For our treat bags, we used a paint pen on a canvas bag to add a fun element to the costume!

WHAT YOU NEED: Grey hoodie Grey sweatpants Grey felt (for back fin) Black felt Red felt White felt

Magical Unicorn WHAT YOU NEED: White hoodie White sweatpants Pink sparkle felt White felt Gold sparkle foam paper Pink boa

+ See page 38 for instructions on how to make the costumes!

YOU MIGHT ALREADY HAVE...

Hoodie sweatshir t

Sweatpants

Super cool sneakers

~For the foodies~

Peppy Pineapple WHAT YOU NEED: Oversized yellow T-shirt Brown leggings Brown felt Green felt Green construction paper Thick headband Green foam paper Toilet paper roll

Sweet sushi WHAT YOU NEED: Oversized white T-shirt Black leggings Orange pillow case White felt Thick headband Green foam paper Lime green felt Light pink felt Black sash Chopsticks

+ See page 38 for instructions on how to make the accessories!

YOU MIGHT ALREADY HAVE...

Oversized T-shir t

Colored leg gings

Thick headband

~Occupation Station~ Lil' Builder WHAT YOU NEED: White T-shirt Jeans Tan boots Yellow construction paper Cardboard Black spray paint Hazard vest Plastic yellow hard hat

Bubbly Barista WHAT YOU NEED: The construction Front End Loader can also be made for strollers and wagons!

Black T-shirt Khaki pants Green apron White felt Black visor Coffee cup Black paint White paint

+ See page 38 for instructions on how to make the construction costume!

YOU MIGHT ALREADY HAVE...

Plain T-shir t

Khaki pants

Pair of jeans

GIGGLEMAGAZINE.COM | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

~trend Alert!~ T.V. Personality BOB ROSS WHAT YOU NEED:

Curly wig Blue button-down Jeans Belt Paintbrush Cardboard Paint Loafers

Internet Sensation YODEL BOY WHAT YOU NEED: Cowboy hat White button-down Red bow tie Jeans Belt Cardboard square Aluminum foil Fishing line

+ See page 38 for

Cowboy boots

instructions on how to make the belt buckle!

YOU MIGHT ALREADY HAVE...

Button-down shir t

Pair of jeans

Brown belt

GIGGLEMAGAZINE.COM | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

~ How to Make It! ~ SUSHI "FISH" PILLOW

PINEAPPLE HEADBAND

YODEL BOY BELT BUCKLE

Create a pillow out of two identical rectangles of orange fabric. Lining up the pieces, hot glue three edges together, fill with stuffing and glue the remaining edge shut. Trace and cut out three large arrow shapes from the white felt and hot glue to one side of the orange pillow. Attach the pillow using black fabric or ribbon around the stomach to complete your sushi!

Trace out a leaf shape on your construction paper and cut out five leaves. Repeat two more times, making two shorter sets. Hot glue the longer leaves to the base of the toilet paper roll, rotating the roll and overlapping the leaves as you glue. Continue gluing as you decrease in size. Cut the green foam paper to the width of the headband and hot glue to the top. Finish the look by gluing the toilet paper roll to the top of the headband, and bend the leaves to desired look.

Cut out a rounded rectangle from a cardboard box. Hot glue your desired design onto the cardboard, building up multiple layers of glue. Once dried, cover in aluminum foil and attach to a belt with fishing line.

UNICORN HOODIE

SUSHI HEADBAND Cut out a large circle from the light pink felt and a slightly smaller circle from the lime green felt. Gluing as you go, pinch a small section of the circle together and glue the pinch together until the whole circle is in a wavy bunch. Repeat with the lime green felt. Cut a small grass pattern out of the green foam paper and glue to the top of the headband. Glue the pink and green foam bunches in front of the foam paper. Add chopsticks in the hair for an added flare!

SHARK HOODIE Taking your white felt, trace out a repeating triangle strip and glue to the inside edge of the hood. Hot glue red felt to the entire inside of the hood, covering the inside edge of the white teeth. Next, cut an oval out of the white felt for the stomach area, cut two circles out of the black felt for eyes, and glue down on the hood. Lastly, cut out two triangles from the grey felt for the back fin. Glue the two triangles together, and then glue securely in between the shoulder blade area.

LIL' BUILDER CONSTRUCTION FRONT END LOADER

Grab your pink sparkle felt, cut an oval for the stomach area and glue down. Using the gold sparkle foam paper, roll the paper into a cone shape and hot glue the edge down. Make sure to cut the bottom of the cone into a flat shape before gluing it to the top of the hoodie! Cut out two small "bunny ear" shapes out of the white felt and repeat with two slightly smaller shapes out of the pink sparkle felt. Glue the pink ear on top of the white ear, pinch the base and then glue down next to the unicorn horn on top of the hood. To make the unicorn tail, simply hot glue a pink boa around the horn and down the back of the spine. Be sure to leave some of the boa hanging down to make the "tail"!

Thoroughly measure the wheelchair. Using the measurements, cover a small cardboard box lid with yellow construction paper. Roll up construction paper into a tall tube, glue into place and spray paint entire tube black. Repeat for second tube. Hot glue both tubes to the bottom of the cardboard box lid and attach to wheelchair with fishing line. Visit gigglemagazine.com for how to make the wheels and scoop!

GIGGLEMAGAZINE.COM | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

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Fall Festivals BY ISABELA ROSA, AMANDA ROLAND & ISABELLA SORRESSO

Coon Hollo Farm Fall Festival

Haile Village Center Oktoberfest

WHEN: Weekends from October 4 to November 3 WHERE: 22480 N Hwy 441, Micanopy FL COST: $10, FREE: Kids 3 & Under

WHEN: Friday, October 4 (5 p.m. – 10 p.m.) WHERE: Haile Village Center SW 91st Terrace Gainesville, FL COST: FREE

The Coon Hollo festival has so many activities for kids and adults! Enjoy hayrides, pony rides, hay jumping and so much more. Bring your family out on the weekends for some fall fun!

Rogers Farm Fall Festival

Graphics from Freepik.com

Rogers Farm Fall Festival is the perfect place to take the family on the weekend in the fall! The festival will have a corn maze, hayrides, spooky trails and more! There will also be food trucks if you and the family get hungry. The corn maze turns spooky at 8 p.m., so use discretion with children. WHEN: Weekends from September 27 to October 27 WHERE: 3831 NW 156th Ave, Gainesville, FL COST: $15 Adults, $10 Kids FREE: Kids 2 & Under

Micanopy Fall Festival

The historic town of Micanopy is celebrated at the Micanopy Fall Festival! Come and enjoy local crafters, artists and great food. Also, participate in auctions that benefit charity. WHEN: Saturday, November 2 (9 a.m. – 5 p.m.) Sunday, November 3 (9 a.m. – 4 p.m.) WHERE: Micanopy, FL COST: FREE

Newberry’s Cornfield Maze

Head out to Haile Village for their spectacular Oktoberfest! This is a celebration for the whole family to enjoy a night full of drinks, food and great entertainment.

5K Pumpkin Run

Buy a Pumpkin Feed a Child pumpkin patch is hosting their 5K Pumpkin Run! All proceeds will be donated to feed hungry children in the Alachua County area. When you register for the race, you will receive a t-shirt, a coupon for a free pumpkin from the pumpkin patch and homemade pumpkin bread! The whole family is welcome at this event! WHEN: Saturday, October 12 (8 a.m.) WHERE: Westside Park 3100-3346 NW 8th Ave Gainesville, FL COST: $30 per runner + 2.50 sign-up fee

O2B Kids Spooktakular

Go to O2B Kids for a night of trick-ortreating, costume contests, a haunted house and more! The whole family is welcome! WHEN: October 26 (6 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.) WHERE: O2B Kids Super Center COST: FREE for members $15 non-members

The Newberry Cornfield Maze is a fun place for the whole family! On the weekends, take hayrides in the daytime and come back at night for the spooky corn maze and a kid-friendly play area. The corn maze is frightening, so use discretion with your children when allowing them in the maze. WHEN: September 20 to October 26 (Fridays and Saturdays) WHERE: 20015 West Newberry Road Newberry, FL COST: $15 Adults (price includes corn maze and haunted house) $10 Kids 4-10 FREE: Kids 3 & Under $5 Hayride $5 Mechanical Bull $5 Human Hamster Ball

Peanut Patch and Corn Maze You can enjoy everything from haunted houses and s’mores by the fire to hayrides at the Peanut Patch and Corn Maze. Bring the family for a wonderful evening, and stay till nightfall for the spooky ghouls and ghosts. WHEN: Weekends from September 27 to October 27 WHERE: 8656 SW 75th St. Gainesville, FL COST: $15 Adults $10 Kids 4-10 FREE: Kids 3 & Under

For more family fun, visit our calendar + on page 92 or at Gigglemagazine.com.

GIGGLEMAGAZINE.COM | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

31st Annual Central Florida Peanut Festival Come to Williston to celebrate a successful peanut harvest! You will enjoy music, arts, crafts, games and so much more at this festival. Bring the whole family out for a relaxing and funfilled fall day! WHEN: Saturday, October 5 (9 a.m. – 3 p.m.) WHERE: NW 1st Ave Williston, FL COST: FREE

Florida Bat Festival

Enjoy the 14th Annual Florida Bat Festival at the Lubee Bat Conservancy! Get up close and personal with the fruit bats, and learn about some popular bat myths. To make it even better, there will also be craft beer, great food and games at the festival! WHEN: Sunday, October 26 (10 a.m. – 5 p.m.) WHERE: Lubee Bat Conservancy 1309 NW 192nd Ave. Gainesville, FL COST: $8 Adults $5 Kids 5-12 FREE: Kids 4 & Under

50th Annual Cedar Key Seafood Festival

Enjoy a great weekend in Cedar Key at the Annual Cedar Key Seafood Festival! With arts and craft vendors, delicious food, amazing live music and a Saturday morning parade, the whole family will have a great time.

Newberry Fall Festival

Spend an autumn day outside enjoying a bounce house, face painting, music, dance, food trucks, arts & crafts, and a petting-zoo! WHEN: Saturday, November 23 (9 a.m. – 6 p.m.) WHERE: S Seaboard Dr Newberry, FL COST: FREE

Come out to Swallowtail Farms to celebrate a successful fall harvest and the local community. The festival will include food, drinks, music, homesteading and gardening skills, art activities and even farming! WHEN: Sunday, November 9 (Noon – 10 p.m.) WHERE: Swallowtail Farm 17603 NW 276th Lane Alachua, FL COST: $20 Adults FREE: Kids 12 & Under

Fall Plant Sale and Orchid Show

Kanapaha Botanical Gardens’ birthday celebration! Visit over 50 booths with plants to buy, judges from The American Orchid Society and more. (Bringing cash is advised.) WHEN: October 12 to 13 (9 a.m. – 5 p.m.) WHERE: 4700 SW 58th Dr Gainesville, FL COST: FREE

Sugar Camp Harvest Festival

This year, the harvest fest offers activities for all ages including hayrides, a corn maze, critter corral, rope obstacles, ziplining, slides, cow milking station and many more. WHEN: Saturdays, September 28 to November 23 WHERE: 387 SW Cumorah Hill St Fort White, FL COST: $12 + Free parking FREE: Kids 2 & Under

Boo at the Zoo

Watch as the zoo is turned into a spooky but safe trick- or-treating event for all ages. Entertainment will be provided in the form of an interactive kids zone and the Danscompany of Gainesville will perform "Thriller." There will also be refreshments and pizza for a small fee. WHEN: Sunday, October 31 (3 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.) WHERE: 3000 Northwest 83rd Street Gainesville, FL COST: One can of food per person to be donated to local food banks

McIntosh 1890s Art Festival

Enjoy live entertainment of all different genres, food vendors, arts, crafts, plants and antiques at this iconic, free festival. The beauty of the city and its history will add to an amazing experience. WHEN: October 26 (8 a.m. – 5 p.m.) WHERE: McIntosh, FL COST: FREE

Trinity UMC Fall Harvest and Trunk & Treat

This family fall event will have everything from games to hayrides to petting zoos! Enjoy music, food and so much more! All you need to bring is a suggested $1 donation or a canned food item that will be donated to filling Thanksgiving baskets! WHEN: Sunday, October 27 (3:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.) WHERE: Trinity United Methodist Church 4000 NW 53rd Ave. Gainesville, FL COST: $1 per child or food donation

Howl-A-Palooza

Come and enjoy a day of free food, prizes, crafts and so much more at Howl-A-Palooza! Parents and kiddos can come dressed in their family-friendly costumes for the costume parade — making it fun for the whole family! WHEN: October 20 (3 p.m. – 6 p.m.) WHERE: 333 S.W. 140th Terrace Jonesville, FL COST: $20 in advance $25 the day of

GIGGLEMAGAZINE.COM | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

Boo at the Roo

Wear your costume to the Rooterville Animal Sanctuary and trick-or-treat with rescue animals! Tickets are free, but don’t forget to RSVP. WHEN: Saturday, October 26 (2 - 4 p.m.) WHERE: Rooterville Animal Sanctuary 5579 Darwood Street Melrose, FL COST: FREE

Graphics from Freepik.com

WHEN: October 19 to 20 (10 a.m. – 4 p.m.) WHERE: Historic 2nd Street in Downtown Cedar Key, FL COST: FREE

Swallowtail Farm Fall Festival

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How Social Anxiety Can Hinder Our Children BY TRACY WRIGHT

Around the stage of prepubescence and teenage years, some children can also experience various social and mental health conditions. Social anxiety disorder is one such condition and is described as an intense fear of social situations that may cause a child to be analyzed by others. Children suffering from social anxiety disorder feel intense anxiety when triggered by different situations such as public speaking, fear of embarrassment or the unknown. The onset of social anxiety disorder usually occurs between 8 and 15 with the median age of 13 years old. The cause is not fully understood, but it is typically caused by either a history of poor social interaction and shyness or a traumatic experience like bullying. Social anxiety disorder can have many adverse effects besides the mental and physical symptoms. It negatively impacts academic performance, friendships, self-confidence and other areas of life. Avoiding activities mean that children will choose not to engage in outside activities like sports or special interest clubs for fear of embarrassment. Unfortunately, increased use of smartphones and technology do little to help children with social anxiety and in some cases may be the main or contributing culprit. A 2016 study found that there is a correlation among smartphone usage with social anxiety and loneliness. With more smartphone use, our children are relying more on faceless communication. Behind screens, children feel more emboldened to not filter their words which could lead to increased rates of cyberbullying. A major problem associated with this is the psychological syndrome of moral disengagement, said Holly T. Moses, Ph.D., Lecturer in the Department of Health Education and Behavior at the University of Florida. “Moral disengagement is the process by which a person who would normally not take an action because considered immoral

GIGGLEMAGAZINE.COM | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

disengages that impulse. With cyberbullying, adolescents and teens do not see someone’s reaction to their online comment so that moral compass is temporarily lost,” Moses said. Cyberbullying can instantly trigger social anxiety. The use of smartphones also disconnects familial relationships and can fracture the parent-child connection. With teenage children averaging nine hours a day on their devices, this equals more time alone and less time to communicate with parents over dinner, in the car or on family trips. This means parents are losing valuable time to positively encourage their children and help ward off mental health situations like social anxiety. So what can parents do if their children suffer from social anxiety? The first is to identify the condition and be open and honest with your child. Help them understand that the condition is common and normal and that you are on their team to help them through it. Be sensitive to your child’s needs and wants, and educate them about the effects of anxiety. This may help them understand their triggers and ways to work through them. Parents can help children work through anxiety with certain coping strategies such as deep breathing. Teach your child to do relaxed breathing which

A 2016 study found that there is a correlation among

smartphone usage and social anxiety and loneliness.

PARENTS SHOULD LOOK OUT FOR THE FOLLOWING SYMPTOMS: • Crippling anxiety in social situations which can come quickly or manifest itself over time.

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• A child fears negative feedback of behavior by peers or others. • Social situations always cause fear which can lead to tantrums, crying or freezing up. • Children avoid social situations altogether, and this can last for 6 months or more.

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• Shifting blame to others (peers, teachers, parents) for social failures. • Physical symptoms like racing heart, blushing, trembling, nausea, shortness of breath or failure to speak.

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has been clinically shown to calm symptoms of anxiety. (Breathe in for four seconds, hold for four and breathe out for four). Closing their eyes and practicing guided imagery is another coping mechanism (the child imagines they are in a safe and desired space while breathing deeply). Finally, muscle relaxation can help a child to soothe stiff muscles that tense up with anxiety. Work with your child to help them relax tense muscles. Work with your child on problem-solving skills such as helping to tackle their fears head on. If a child fears public speaking, avoiding that situation can actually make the problem worse. Help them to practice speech skills in front of a mirror. Set rules when it comes to smartphone time and apply them for the whole family. Build in quality face time with your child and make it count. Finally, work with your child to reframe negative thoughts contributing to anxiety. Help them to recognize negativity and reframe it in reality. Instead of “I’m no good at sports,” help them to understand that everybody has their strengths and emphasize their particular skills. Teach your child to recognize negative thoughts and replace them with positive ones. In addition, coach your child through certain social situations that may arise. If at-home strategies do not help, it may mean you need a visit to the pediatrician or psychologist to assess symptoms. Professionals may be able to tell you whether your child’s condition is worthy of future professional assistance or if the condition can be worked through at home.

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health | get healthy

Healthy Habits Start at Home BY TRACY WRIGHT

As parents, we are responsible for our children’s healthy growth and development. We know a main way that children learn is from modeling their parents. So, in what way can parents pass the healthiest habits onto their children?

REGULAR HAND WA SHING Keeps germs at bay!

The secret is to START YOUNG. Modeling healthy habits from a young age helps children from developing bad habits for life.

NUTRITION Practicing healthy eating habits starts at a young age. Many parents focus on feeding their infants and toddlers healthy foods, only to model unhealthy practices later on. What are some of the best ways to ensure good lifelong nutrition? Eat a nutritious breakfast daily A healthy breakfast can kick-start our children’s brains, keep them strong and reinforce immunity. In a hurry? Premix smoothies the night before or make ahead breakfasts like fruit parfaits or overnight oatmeal. Choose water and milk instead of sugared drinks. It may be difficult for parents to pass on the daily coffee, but try to at least curb the amount of caffeinated or sugary drinks consumed and always say yes to water and milk. For those who think plain water is boring, look to healthy sweeteners to “spice” things up. Creative ingredients like lemon, cucumber, orange or other fruits can make water consumption more delicious. Parents can combine low-fat milk and fat-free chocolate syrup for a better milk experience. Moderation is key! While giving your kids sweet and salty snacks may not be ideal, experts agree that moderation is a good way to keep unhealthy habits at bay. Keep a variety of healthy snacks

on hand for your children to snack on— fruit, nuts, veggies and yogurts are good for everyday snacking. But allow your children to have some “treats” like ice cream, candy and chips every once in a while, so they are not likely to fill up on these when they find them as they get older.

GET MOVING! Make activity a part of your children’s daily routine! Whether it’s a daily walk, a weekend swim or regular sports activities or dance classes, encourage your kids to be active on a regular basis. Even a “nature walk” to explore the outdoors helps your child boost his or her physical activity. Physical fitness also boosts mental health.

POSITIVE ATTITUDE Be your child’s cheerleader (and your own!) Your child will mimic the behavior you choose for your own life. If you are your own harshest critic, your child will learn from your own self-worth. Teaching your kids how to stay positive and deal with problems in a better way could go a

GIGGLEMAGAZINE.COM | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

long way in helping them live a happy and successful life.

FAMILY TIME Enjoy regular family time. Whether it's family dinners or game nights, research has shown that regular time with the family greatly improves children’s well-being and self-esteem. According to a University of Florida IFAS study, sharing a family meal means that family bonds get stronger, kids are more welladjusted, kids are less likely to be obese or overweight, and to abuse drugs or alcohol.

KEEP GERMS AT BAY A healthy household starts with good hygiene habits! Ensure that your child keeps his or her germs to themselves. Regular handwashing should be practiced at home, especially after using the bathroom or handling anything dirty or that may contain germs. Your child should wash their hands when they get home from school or public place. When a child has a cough or has to sneeze, the best habit is to sneeze into their elbow. Use tissues when needed and dispose of them once used.

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health | get pretty

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BACK TO THE

Classics:

Must-Reads for National Book Month BY ISABELLA SORRESSO | PHOTO BY GIGGLE MAGAZINE

October is National Book Month! It’s a time to sit down with your favorite novel or crack open a new read and remember why reading is so important. For our kiddos, it’s a way to become strong readers and understand the world around them as they begin to navigate it themselves. For us, it’s a way to escape the normalcy of everyday life, appreciate the arts and pry us away from our constant screen-time, even if only for a few minutes! If you’re not sure what to read this month, we’ve listed a few books that are classics for each age group so we can all celebrate national book month together!

AGES 3-6 The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson The Nutcracker by Jennifer Adams A Christmas Carol by Jennifer Adams

AGES 7-10 The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White Beezus and Ramona by Beverly Cleary Nancy Drew by Carolyn Keene

PRE-TEENS Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling The Giver by Lois Lowry A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

TEENS/ADULTS The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens Lord of the Flies by William Golding Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Anthem by Ayn Rand The Crucible by Arthur Miller To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

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happy home | 2 cents

16 Black Friday Shopping Tips From a BY NICOLE IRVING

Now that you can find just about anything you want or need on the mighty web, one might think to themselves, why should I bother venturing out to shop anymore, and oh goodness, why on earth would I want to venture out on BLACK FRIDAY? Because my dear… it’s fun! No, I am not crazy. It is fun and effective when organized and planned strategically and with girlfriends of course! note where they are on sale and create a strategy of where to go first and move on from there. Remember, stick to the plan!

Did we find good deals? You betcha! Was it worth it? You betcha! Were we tired? You betcha! So after years of experience on the topic, I wanted to share our tips for getting those great deals and how to maneuver through the shopping maze that leads you to the register!

7. Wipe off ALL cart handles

PRO TIPS:

1. Go with friends!

This is a MUST! Shopping with friends make it so much fun, but make sure to utilize each other!

2. Share your gift list with friends

This is also not the day to worry about being fashionable as you walk around the mall. You will need comfy shoes and clothes and a purse you can carry easily that can hold your wallet and a bottle of water!

6. Bring hand-sanitizer Germs. Germs. Germs.

Germs. Germs. Germs (I won’t mention this is where I got pink eye one year… EEK!)

8. Make sure your car will hold all your purchases!

One year, we bought bikes and TVs. Thank goodness we all had big momma SUV’s or we would be still carrying the TV on the back of a trike!

9. Make sure you double check you put your credit card back in your wallet!

This is so you can separate if needed and the store is packed. They can help grab that must have item for you!

You don’t want to leave it at a store and have to go back and get it. Door Buster sales wait for no one.

3. Station a friend in the line

10. Leave kids at home if you can

This is important! They can begin the waiting process in line with a cart and move along with it. When you are done shopping, put items in the cart and switch!

4. Go with a plan!

This is NOT the day for windowshopping. Before you go, create a list,

5. Wear comfortable clothes

Even if you aren’t shopping for them, Black Friday is not the day for a casual shopping moment with your kids. Trust me… you will want to do this solo! They also will see lots of toys and goodies on sale. Having them beg for an item on their list that day may not save you pennies in the long run!

GIGGLEMAGAZINE.COM | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

11. Pack Patience

I am not a patient person. But, this is the one day of the year I know I need to dig deep to find it in me to be patient. Lines will be long, people will be all over the place and items will be out. So, if you are going to go Black Friday shopping, dig deep for that pocket of patience and it will sever you well.

12. Know when to stop

Everyone has different breaking points of how much they can stand of a certain stimulus. This will be stimulus overload. So, know your stopping point and stop. There is always Cyber Monday for last minute sales!

13. Hydrate and Eat

Shopping is great cardio, especially when you are rushing around! Don’t forget to eat! Pack snacks and a reusable water bottle to save money!

14. Charge phones and bring charger

Many stores may have digital coupons. You will WANT those! And, you don’t want to cut into your shopping fund to buy a new charger!

15. Shop Local!

Many of our locally owned stores will also be having sales! Check in with them before you plan your trip to know what they will be offering.

16. Go with a budget and stick to it!

This is a big one. One can get carried away with deal after deal. And, the dollar signs add up pretty quickly. Black Friday is known for saving you a buck or two, but it is only a savings if you were already going to buy that item.

Bag graphics from Freepik.com

For a number of years, a few friends and I would go Black Friday shopping. We would get up super early, Starbucks in hand, our largest SUV’s emptied of all the booster and car seats, and head to our first destination, dressed in our finest sweat pants outfit and ready with wish lists galore. We laughed, yawned and stood in line like we were professional shoppers (Yes, I realize professional shoppers probably don’t stand in line Lol!). Then, we moved to the next location, and then the next… eventually ending the day at the best fast food joint we could find.

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happy home | make it

Gather Round:

DIY Thanksgiving Place Cards BY GRACE DOWNEY PHOTOS BY GIGGLE MAGAZINE

Thanksgiving is coming up and you know what that means... all the family is in town. You need to keep Uncle John away from Aunt Lisa (because they are still in a fight from summer vacation), and your two sons can't sit next to each other or else the mashed potatoes will start flying. You worked like a horse in the kitchen so that everyone could have a happy meal and give thanks for all their blessings. So, how do you keep the family chaos under control?! Pull out your fine dishes and make some quick, easy and, even more importantly, super cute place cards so you can decide who sits where. These place cards will transform your table and your dinner conversation!

SUPPLIES Leaf (real or fake) Gold Spray Paint Brown Paper Bag Twine Fake Berries Black Marker Pinecone

Fold and tuck your napkins over your plates to spice up your table

STEP 3

STEP 1 Take a leaf (fake or real) and cover it with gold paint. To make it go faster, lay out all of the leaves and spray with gold spray paint!

GIGGLEMAGAZINE.COM | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

Place, glue or tie on a pinecone to complete the look!

STEP 2 Stencil out "tag" shapes onto a brown paper bag, cut them out and hole punch. Use twine to tie some fake berries to the tag. Finish it by writing the names in marker!

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happy home | fix it

GONE CREATIVE!

Duct Tape With a Twist BY NICOLE IRVING PHOTOS BY GIGGLE MAGAZINE

Duct tape. How many of us actually use it to tape our ducts? I can’t think of a single time I ever said, “Where is that duct that needs taping.” Rather, I see it as the hidden gem of the mom and crafters “craft” box. Now that it comes in a wide variety of colors and patterns, the sky is the limit for creating and crating with duct tape!

Pretty Pencils Use colorful and vibrant shades of duct tape and cover plain wooden pencils to dress up study time.

Jazzy Clipboard Jazz up your clipboard for school, home or the office by applying your favorite duct tape color or pattern around the outside of a simple clipboard. Personalize it with stickers!

Bookmarks Cut a 1”x 6” piece of card stock and cover with favorite colored duct tape.

Pencil Pouch

Protecting Book Corners

Add some duct tape to the outside of a gallon Ziplock bag that you have cut about an inch off the bottom of. Wrap duct tape around edges and cover all sides. For the top, leave some to hang over the closure part. Fold tape over to make a non-sticky edge.

Does your kiddo have workbooks that need protecting? Just take a piece of duct tape and fold over the corner!

GIGGLEMAGAZINE.COM | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

Frame-Cycle Have an old picture frame that lost its glam? Use your favorite pattern of duct tape to jazz it up to match new décor.

Tape graphics from Freepik.com

More Duck tape fun!

GIGGLEMAGAZINE.COM | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

happy home | clean it

The Scary Truth About Mold:

Where To Find It In Your Home BY TAYLOR MCLAMB

Having a mold problem is like having a roommate overrunning and wreaking havoc on your home. No one likes mold, and unfortunately, it can sometimes even be hard to detect. It’s important that you know where to look, how to prevent the growth, and when to call a professional so that you can kick this conniving fungi out for good.

WHAT IS MOLD?

First, it’s important to know exactly what you’re up against. Mold is a type of fungi, which often is attracted to damp environments, producing spores that travel airborne. Inhaling these spores can negatively impact your health, as they can cause respiratory problems. In 2004, the Institute of Medicine found that there was sufficient evidence to link indoor exposure to mold with upper respiratory tract symptoms, cough and wheezing in otherwise healthy people.

HOW TO TELL IF YOU HAVE MOLD?

Mold is the ‘Where’s Waldo?’ of fungi, because it can often be hard to identify. It’s not always as simple as relying on sight alone. It’s important to trust our sense of smell, as mold is usually accompanied by a poignant, musty scent. Check around the areas listed in the orange box and if you can see signs of discolored dark spots, you’ve found your culprit. If you have a common mold problem, you can easily clean the mold

yourself by using gloves, and a cleaning concoction of 1:9 ratio of bleach-to-water. While you might have cleaned the mold, it’s also necessary to fix any water damage or ventilation issue that might have started the growth to begin with.

WHEN TO CALL IN A PROFESSIONAL?

There’s no shame in asking for help, especially if the severity of your mold problem is more than a one-person job. The Environmental Protection Agency says that if there has been a lot of water damage and the mold growth covers more than 10 square feet, it would be beneficial to hire a contractor or professional service provider who is experienced in mold clean-up. If you have a mold problem, it’s important to act quickly, so that the mold doesn’t cause further damage. The EPA also recommends that if you are hesitant about cleaning an item that has sentimental value, it’s important to contact a professional skilled in restoration and conservation, as mold can cause more damage the longer it goes untreated.

GIGGLEMAGAZINE.COM | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

WHERE TO LOOK? Mold flourishes in damp environments, which is why it’s important to look in places that suffer from poor ventilation. Inspect your bathroom, as mold tends to love the humidity from hot showers as much as you do. If the grout of your bathroom tile contains a blackish coating, it most likely is a sign of mold. Your kitchen may become a mold breeding ground as well, due to possible ruminants of spoiled food and humidity from cooking. Mold is a frequent hitchhiker and can enter our homes by simply clinging itself to clothing, so even if your house is thoroughly cleaned, mold can still find a way to enter our premises. Here are a few other common places mold loves to grow:

Pantry Mattress Air conditioning Heating vents Couch Refrigerator drip pans Front-loading washing machines Fireplace Chimney Ventilation ducts Under carpet that has undergone carpet cleaning Behind drywall that has been effected by flooding Around leaks in your roof Hot water heaters Sump pumps Any area that contains standing water

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learn | family learning stay away from any movie with gore or one that involves physical harm. Some movies to try are Frankenweenie, A Nightmare Before Christmas or Monster House. For children in middle school, you should still be aware of movies with blood and gore. At this age, they will want to push their boundaries a little, but can still be affected by movies that represent too much gore, reality and horror. Movies with more unrealistic genres can tend to be more digestible for this age, such as movies with monsters, aliens or skeletons. Of course, every child is different and their scare tolerance may not be as high as their friends. Let your children know it’s OK to be scared and they can always tell their friends if they would rather watch something else. Movies such as Hocus Pocus and Coraline may be good introduction Halloween movies if they are ready.

Scary Timing:

The Ins & Outs of Introducing Horror Movies to Your Child BY JENNIFER JENSEN

When to introduce scary movies to your child can be a complicated question. How will they cope if they get scared? Will they understand it isn’t real? According to nonprofit Common Sense Media, it is best to wait until children are at least 7 years old to show them a scary movie. This is because children at this age “can’t easily distinguish between fantasy and reality.” So even if you tell your child what they are seeing isn’t real and they have nothing to fear, they may not fully understand the difference. Movies with scary images, loud noises, danger and gore can cause anxiety, sleep disruption and fear. Studies have also shown that introducing this genre to a child at too young of an age can affect them for years. The best thing you can do as a parent is to know what your child is watching and make sure it is appropriate for them. For children under 7 years old, stick to animated movies to help them determine fantasy from reality. You should also choose a movie that isn’t more startling than a simple “boo!”

You also need to remember that a child will look to you for your reaction. If you seem scared while watching a movie, they might get scared as well. If your child does become scared, make sure to give them physical comfort or try distracting them. For younger children, you can also try a magical remedy like cleaning the monsters out of the closet. As your child gets older, you may notice they seem to like more scary stuff. Children older than 7 can usually handle being scared for longer periods of times. Just make sure you stick to monsters and

GIGGLEMAGAZINE.COM | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

Once your child reaches high school and has a bit more understanding of reality and make believe they may try to venture to more scary and intense movies. Be mindful of horror movies that also have a sexual component. Be sure to talk to your child about the content and any messages it may convey. Common Sense Media also suggests saving the “slasher” movies for children who are at least 16 years old, especially ones that feature children in danger and have an intense amount of gore. If your older child is into horror films, you can always introduce them to some of the classic horror movies and watch them together. At the end of the day, it is important to remember that each child’s tolerance for scary things is different. You need to know your child’s limits and stay within those limits. Never push them to watch something that makes them uncomfortable or scared and encourage them to speak their opinion when it comes to watching moves with friends. If they do show signs of being afraid or scared after the movie, talk to them and reassure their fears and have an open line of communication at all times.

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learn | homeschool corner

Season's Greetings:

How to Incorporate the Holidays Into Your Homeschool Curriculum BY CRYSTAL LADWIG

We’ve all been there. We have guests coming over, a house yet to be decorated, and meals and goodies that still need to be cooked. Oh, that’s right, we’re also supposed to homeschool our kids! The holidays are a wonderful, heartwarming time of year for most, but we all know they can also be stressful. So, how can you incorporate the holidays into your homeschool curriculum and still get everything else done? Two of the greatest benefits of homeschooling are the flexibility we have and the ability to teach our children through everyday activities. These are no less beneficial during the holidays. In fact, they’re even greater benefits during this time of year. Enjoy the flexibility you have with your schedule, time and curriculum. The fall and winter holidays offer a wealth of learning opportunities. Research holidays around the world. Chart them on your maps. Track Santa’s travels, too!

Two of the

If you want to keep a more typical classroom schedule, consider doing a seasonal or unit study. Take a break from your usual curriculum to try something different. Local homeschooling mom, Anita Zachary, loves to incorporate new books into her holiday curriculum. “I try to find one book that is super special to read like Papa Panov’s Special Christmas,” she said.

Homeschooling mom, Christi Bower, stresses having fun with your kids over the holidays. “In addition to typical holidays we incorporate some off the wall days into our celebrations and tie them to a lesson,” Christi said. Who wouldn’t enjoy celebrating chocolate chip cookie day or celebrating birthdays of famous authors and maybe even Tim Tebow? It is football season after all. Watch some football and some videos of his encouraging speeches!

Many people tend to think about reading holiday books only for young children, but there are so many great holiday books available for all ages. The Alachua County Library system is very supportive of homeschoolers, and staff often go out of their way to help find new and exciting books. Just let them know that you’re looking for a holiday book and the age level you want!

Don’t forget to involve your children in your holiday plans, too. The organization and life skills required in planning for the holidays are critical skills that most children don’t learn. Get your calendar out and sit down with your children. Look at the upcoming holidays and events and brainstorm a list of things that need to be done to be ready for each event. Plan with your children when you’ll

GIGGLEMAGAZINE.COM | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

greatest benefits of homeschooling are the flexibility we have and the ability to teach our children through everyday activities.

do each one. Then do those together throughout the holiday season. You’ll be amazed at how much your children will learn just by joining you as you plan for the season. Of course, we also have to remember the reason for the season. Take time to be thankful for all you’ve been blessed with. Volunteer and give back so that you can be a blessing to others. Just think of the compassion and experiences your children will have as they reach out to serve others!

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learn | featured teacher

Stephanie Anderson What subject do you teach? All of them- math, language arts, social studies, science, and a program unique to our school called Leader In Me, which is based off "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People," by Steven Covey

Why were you inspired to teach?

AT WHAT SCHOOL DO YOU CURRENTLY WORK? Stephen Foster Elementary School WHAT GRADE/AGE DO YOU TEACH? Third grade magnet HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A TEACHER? This is my 4th year teaching

Do you know a teacher who goes above and beyond for his students? An administrator who is truly devoted to making her school a better place? Giggle Magazine wants to know! Visit Gigglemagazine.com to submit your favorite educator for a chance for him or her to be featured in one of our upcoming issues.

What is your favorite part of the school day? My favorite part of the school day actually is not a subject; I love the morning when kids are arriving. Greeting each student and hearing about their morning or how they are doing is such fun time and builds great relationships. If I had to pick a subject, I would say math. Watching the kids figure it out is so fun! The joy when it clicks is like nothing else.

Do you have a favorite assignment/ project that you typically assign your students? Hmmm… my favorite assignment that I assign my students is during our medieval unit! Each student is required to make a 'Coat of Arms' that they feels represents them. They really get into this assignment and their personalities definitely shine through. They also get to do a lot of fun research with the project and find out what different things mean. The products are awesome!

How do you wind down from a long day of teaching? My favorite way to end a long day is actually by going to the gym. I love the gym; it is definitely my happy place. After that, I enjoy going home and either hanging out with my boyfriend, friends or family while eating pizza.

GIGGLEMAGAZINE.COM | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

Go to the gym, go to the movies, go out to eat, bake, play with my dog, swim, outdoors activities and go bowling.

Share a funny teaching moment/day. Oh, my goodness there are so many moments where I just laugh in my head.

If you were a superhero, who would you be? I would be Wonder Woman or Spiderman easily.

What is something fun you plan on doing over Thanksgiving break? Thanksgiving Break? I haven’t even planned dinner yet!

What is your favorite Thanksgiving side? Anything that involves GRAVY- so mashed potatoes or stuffing!

Photos courtesy of Stephanie Anderson

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE BOOK? Oh! That is a hard question! Recently my favorite book was “The Program” and I love reading "Frindle" with the kids.

I was inspired to teach by former teachers of mine. When I looked back in my life and who really impacted me there were 2 specific teachers (aside from family) that came to my mind. I knew I wanted to make a difference in kids’ lives and I thought that there was no better way then becoming an educator.

What do you like to do outside of the classroom?

Get Connected The doors at The Rock of Gainesville are wide open to people from all backgrounds, regardless of where they are on their spiritual journey. It won’t take you long to discover that we’re more than just a Sunday church. In fact, we’re actually a network of Connect Groups. And, if you’d like to develop authentic and enduring relationships with others, you’ll be glad to know there are opportunities to join a group at any time.

9818 Southwest 24th Avenue,

www.therockonline.org

Gainesville, FL, 32607

GIGGLEMAGAZINE.COM | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

learn | your schools

A Five Letters That May Save Your Child's Life

ALERT - Recognizing the signs of danger, receiving the notification and information from others. LOCKDOWN - If evacuation is not a safe option, barricade entry points.

BY APRIL TISHER

A year ago I found myself lying on the floor in my son’s high school auditorium trying to hide under the seats. There were a few hundred others there with me; parents, teachers, administrators all huddled together waiting to see if we had hidden well enough. We hadn’t. All the people on my row felt the sting of a NERF bullet. We were still lucky. This was only part of a presentation of the ALICE training. We would go on to learn what we should have done first instead; just like our children are being taught in their schools. In response to recent school shootings and in an attempt to better prepare our schools in the event of a worst-case scenario like the one in Parkland, Florida, the Alachua County Public School District has adopted the ALICE program. The ALICE training institute describes the program as one that empowers individuals to participate in their own survival using proactive response strategies in the face of violence. It was developed so that anyone can learn to use these strategies whether they are young, old, male, female and whether or not they have any police or military training. The disclaimer is, of course, that there are no guarantees for anyone in an emergency situation such as an active shooter, but the more one is prepared, the better chances of survival. If you have children in public schools you may have heard about the required monthly ALICE drills. Texts, e-mails and written information is sent regularly

to notify parents that their child’s school will participate. Some of your children may even have experienced fear about these drills and you may still have questions about what exactly the program is teaching your children to do in the face of a worst-case scenario. Corporal Logan Mosher, SRO (School Resource Officer) with the Gainesville Police Department and certified ALICE Instructor explains that the ALICE program is a “Fluid, nonlinear process, meaning it isn’t necessarily step-by-step.” School personnel are trained on the ALICE process, but aren’t told exactly what they must do in any given situation. This is because active shooter situations are always varied. For example a teacher on the playground will have a different response than one in the cafeteria or in their classroom based on the information they have at the moment about where the threat is. This is why it is important for students as well as staff to practice regularly. Officer Mosher assures parents that he and all administrators are trained and assigned specific responsibilities to oversee their campus during an emergency. Officer Mosher stresses that information is the most important part. “Concise and clear descriptions and location can increase the survivability for everyone,'' Mosher says. “The first person to see something and say something allows others to react quickly and appropriately.” He cautions that the role of the SRO will change in these situations. “My role will be to find the threat and stop it, Mosher

GIGGLEMAGAZINE.COM | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

I C E

INFORM - Communicate real time information on the shooter’s location

COUNTER - As a last resort use a counter attack; create noise, movement, distance and distraction to reduce the shooter’s ability to shoot accurately.

EVACUATE - When it is safe, run from danger using nontraditional exits if necessary. Rally points should be predetermined.

emphasizes, “I won’t be the same person the students are used to interacting with everyday. That’s why it’s crucial for school personnel to practice; so that they are ready to make decisions about what is the best response in a variety of scenarios.” According to information from the School Board, by law, all students must receive age-appropriate ALICE training. Mosher reiterates “ALICE isn't something that just works in schools, this is training that can be used in any active shooter situation; movie theaters, malls, etc.” And while it may be unsettling for us as parents to think about, this is a new reality.

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GIGGLEMAGAZINE.COM | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

conception2collegeâ„¢

EXPECTING "A Little Pumpkin Is On The Way" Baby Shower

INFANT | 0-1 How to Conquer the Dreaded First Nail Trim

TODDLER | 2-3 The No Talk Back Zone

EARLY YEARS | 4-5 Photo from Freepik.com

Music Matters

KIDS | 6-9 Spark Your Kiddo's Curiosity with STEM/STEAM Toys

TWEENS | 10-13 Have No Shame

TEENS | 14-18 What's App With That?

GIGGLEMAGAZINE.COM | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

c2c | expecting {PREGNANCY}

“A Little Pumpkin Is On The Way” Baby Shower PHOTOS AND STORY BY AMANDA ROLAND

Hosting a baby shower this month and want to incorporate all the colors of the season? Then a pumpkin-themed baby shower is the perfect way to add fall into the celebration! Craft stores are already full of fall decor and local pumpkin patches are popping up, so why not take advantage of it! Whether you are celebrating the arrival of a boy or a girl, or even if the gender is a surprise, this sweet pumpkin themed baby shower is the perfect way to shower any momma to be and their new little one.

Food To stay on theme, incorporate light, fall-inspired dishes into your menu. SAVORY SELECTIONS Ham salad on croissants

Harvest salad with walnuts, apples, dried cranberries and feta cheese with honey Dijon dressing Spinach dip with pretzels and crackers for dipping Potato salad made with both red potatoes and sweet potatoes SWEET SELECTIONS Mini Pumpkin Pies Spiced Apple Cake Apple Turnovers (See page 20 for the recipe!) DRINKS Apple Cider Punch Sweet and Unsweet Tea

Decor PUMPKIN WREATH Making a themed wreath is easy, especially if you already have a basic wreath to work with! Staying within your color scheme, just add a variety of fake florals and mini pumpkins to your wreath by simply sticking them in the wreath or using floral wire or hot glue to attach them securely. Once done, hang the wreath up on your front door with a wreath hanger or ribbon to wow your guests. PUMPKINS OF ALL SHAPES AND SIZES Your local craft store is the perfect place to find plastic pumpkins in a variety of sizes to incorporate into your table runners or centerpieces. Finding soft colored pumpkins like white, cream, soft orange, soft blue or blush will allow you to mix and match different colored pumpkins together based on your color scheme. You can also paint some pumpkins in an accent color to mix into your decorations, or you can make your own fabric pumpkins using colorful fabric. Incorporate fresh pumpkins and gourds from your local pumpkin patch to complete the look. Larger pumpkins, real or fake, decorated with bows look great around the food table or clustered at the bottom of your front door. GREENERY Use greenery like ivy or eucalyptus to mix into the table decor to fill out the centerpieces and add an organic touch.

GIGGLEMAGAZINE.COM | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

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c2c | infant { 0 -1 Y E A R }

How to Conquer the Dreaded First Nail Trim BY JENNIFER JENSEN

Trimming baby’s nails is important because although they may be softer and more pliable than ours, they can also be very sharp. And those sharp little nails can lead to scratches. “A newborn has little control over his flailing limbs and can easily end up scratching his own face or yours,” Dr. Luis Scaccabarrozzi, pediatrician at Kids Doc Pediatrics, says. Parents may think a good solution is to use baby mittens or gloves, but Dr. Scaccabarrozzi recommends against using them. “Don’t forget that a baby’s hands are how they interact with their environment,” he says. Touch is key for babies and is how they develop their senses and recognize their mother, he adds. Baby nails grow very quickly and may need a cut or trim twice a week during those first few weeks or months. Parents can wait a little longer for toenails.

“If you do nick a tiny fingertip, don't be too hard on yourself — it happens to lots of parents,” he says. And the bleeding usually stops in a few minutes. Just be sure to not use any type of bandage or liquid bandage product, he adds. If the bleeding doesn’t stop, it is best to call your doctor.

Clippers 101 There are four different types of clippers for babies: • STANDARD NAIL CLIPPERS The First Years Deluxe Nail Clipper with Magnifier. This one has a built-in magnifying glass so you can really zoom in on baby’s little fingers and toes. • NAIL SCISSORS Piyo Piyo Baby Nail Scissors. These scissors have even handle loops so they work with both left- and right-handed users. And they have rounded tips, so you don’t have to worry about your little one getting hurt if they try to grab them. • ELECTRONIC NAIL FILES BBLÜV Trimo Electric Nail Trimmer This is a battery operated emery board that allows you to file your baby’s nails using a circular pad that spins. • NAIL FILES Baby Blue Giraffe Baby Nail File. It is made of glass and is the perfect small size for infants. It can also be washed so it is easy to keep it clean.

You may want to wait a little bit before giving baby their first trim to allow the nails to harden a little, which will make them easier to cut, Scaccabarrozzi says. Most parents usually wait about three to four weeks after baby is born, but should keep an eye on their length, he adds. The ideal time to cut baby’s nails is while they are asleep or right after a bath when the nails are the softest. Make sure to always use nail clippers designed specifically for babies. You can also use a special baby nail file instead of clippers. Cut fingernails along the curve and straight across. You can also use a file to smooth rough edges so they do not snag on clothing, Scaccabarrozzi says. One way parents may try to keep their baby’s nails shorter is by biting or chewing them down. However, Scaccabarrozzi recommends against using this technique. “Some parents bite their baby's nails into shape, but doing it this way could introduce germs from your mouth into any little cut your baby may have on her finger,” he adds. This could lead to an infection and it is difficult to be able to see what you are doing.

GIGGLEMAGAZINE.COM | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

BBLÜV TRIMÖ ELECTRIC NAIL TRIMMER $32.99, Bbluvgroup.com

Photos courtesy of manufacturer.

One of the first daunting tasks for a new parent is to give baby their first nail trim. Those small fingers and toes can be quite scary to cut for the first time. The fear is that you could potentially harm your little one by cutting too close. But like most things you experience on your parenting journey, it becomes easier each time you do it. And the anxiety and fear start to dissipate.

If you do end up nicking your little one’s finger, don’t freak out. Remember, babies are tough and resilient. Simply run it under cool water, then wrap a tissue around it and apply pressure to stop the bleeding, Scaccabarrozzi says.

NewboRN Home Visiting is a free program available to Alachua County women. After your baby is born, a registered nurse (RN) or licensed midwife will visit you at home to see how you and baby are doing, share information and connect you to resources.

Participating agencies: Healthy Start of North Central Florida, Florida School of Traditional Midwifery, UF Health, UF Health Shands HomeCare, North Florida Regional Medical Center, NurseCore, New Beginnings.

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Funded by: The Alachua County Board of County Commissioners as recommended by the Childrenâ€™s Services Advisory Board.

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c2c | toddler {2-3 YEARS}

The No Talk Back Zone BY APRIL TISHER

We have all seen them. Teens talking back to their parents with rolling eyes and a rude disposition and think to ourselves, “I would never allow my child to behave that way." It’s hard to imagine our sweet little babies with their cherub cheeks ever giving us back talk like that, now or when they get older. They are so eager to please when they first begin to communicate; until they aren’t. Two year olds are notoriously known for their terribleness; still we are often shocked the first time they talk back to us. It can be a simple request previously complied with no hesitation that changes the game. “Let’s go put on our shoes” or “Come sit at the table for lunch” that is met with the first “No." We may even laugh at first; it is kind of funny and cute coming from this precious little human. I can remember being completely caught off guard by my blonde hair blue eyed chubby cheeked little boy when he said “No, I not” the first time. He was always opinionated; maybe he was just learning to speak up for himself. However, it was talk back non-the less. So, how should we handle the back talk? Education.com explains that “Children are not intentionally being mean or trying to hurt your feelings, but they are trying to determine which of their behaviors provokes a reaction from you.” Toddlers are constantly trying to test the waters to see what they can do and what they cannot get away with. Control is key to toddlers; they are just beginning to have some autonomy in their lives and will push the limits on just about everything. Much like other unwanted behaviors, the key to stopping back talk in its tracks is to stop it right away, before it becomes a habit. Once they’ve gotten away with it, or worse, gotten some sort of positive attention for it, you can be assured you will see more talking back in the future. Back talk is the number one complaint Amy McCready, author of "Positive Parenting Solutions", says she has from parents, if you are experiencing it, have no fear. You are far from alone. Still it is an unwanted behavior that once established will become much worse over time. Like most struggles with raising children it boils down to a power struggle. You don’t have to yell or get upset to keep talking back at bay. Just try to remain calm and stick to your rules. Complacency in enforcing your expectations or being unreliable in doing so will only allow the back talk to get out of hand fast!

GIGGLEMAGAZINE.COM | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

"Positive Parenting Solutions" 5-STEP PROCESS in dealing with back talk:

GIVE KIDS POWER Allow them to have some control over the things they can; give them choices about what to eat for a snack or let them choose their clothes for the day.

DON’T PLAY A ROLE Resist the urge to react in anger. If there is no one to argue with, it's over.

PAY ATTENTION Pay child driven, non-distracted, engaged attention.

REFER TO THE RULES Have clear expectations and stick to them.

KEEP YOUR COOL Just getting upset gives the unwanted behavior attention.

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GIGGLEMAGAZINE.COM | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

c2c | early years {4-5 YEARS}

Music Matters: Playing an Instrument Yields Many Benefits BY TRACY WRIGHT

Parents who are considering a first activity for their children should strongly think about starting with a musical instrument. Not only is it fun to make music, but science has shown that even small amounts of music education could produce major benefits to a child’s development. A 2014 study from the University of Vermont followed more than 200 children over a number of years and found that children who had undergone musical training had an increase in cortical thickness in the areas of the brain that dictate functions such as memory, organizational skills and attention span.

Musical education cannot be passive—children should be engaged in musical activity and learning an instrument. Beyond just the science, experts and parents have found some other tangible benefits. SELF-ESTEEM As children learn an instrument, they listen to constructive feedback to improve and refine their skills and technique, and positive growth can greatly boost self-confidence. PATIENCE We’ve all heard the joke—“How do you get to Carnegie Hall? PRACTICE!” When children are dedicated to learning and perfecting an instrument, they have to go through many hours and days of practice. This can give your child a serious dose of patience, which is never a bad thing.

RESPONSIBILITY Learning an instrument teaches a child to protect and be responsible for their instrument, carrying case and sheet music. MEMORY Children who play instruments boost memorization skills because music enhances ways for kids to effectively create, store and retrieve memories, similar to a workout for the brain. BOOST SELF-EXPRESSION AND SOCIAL SKILLS Learning to play an instrument allows an outlet for creativity which can allow children to express possibly suppressed emotions.

IMPROVED READING AND MATH SKILLS Researchers at Northwestern University found that children who not only regularly attended music classes, but also actively participated in the class, showed larger improvements in how the brain processes speech and reading scores than their less-involved peers.

“There are many benefits of playing a musical instrument. As a music teacher, I love it when my students achieve their goals— learning a new song or doing well during a performance,” said Prentiss Ladkani, a music teacher who holds a bachelor’s degree in music-violin. “It shows them that their hard work and patience has paid off. Plus, playing instruments with others is fun!”

COORDINATION There are many elements involved in playing an instrument. Children have to figure out how to hold their instrument while learning to read sheet music and eventually balance all of these actions.

If your child seems to enjoy music, remember to follow your child’s lead when it comes to the instrument they may enjoy and do not push them into an instrument or activity they do not enjoy. More than anything, playing an instrument is about your child’s healthy self-expression. So, sit back and enjoy the music!

GIGGLEMAGAZINE.COM | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

Musical notes from Freepik.com

Furthermore, when students learn to play instruments, the stimulations in the brain of distinguishing between different sounds can contribute to further academic success.

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GIGGLEMAGAZINE.COM | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

c2c | kids {6-9 YEARS}

NATIONAL STEM/STEAM DAY IS NOV 9TH

Spark Your Kiddo's Curiosity with STEM/STEAM Toys

BY NICOLE IRVING

The inquisitive minds of children are a magical thing. They ask questions and lots of them. Like, “what are clouds made of?” and “how is silly string, well, really silly?” Their minds are sponges at this age and what better way to encourage their natural curiosity and love of learning than with STEM/STEAM toys. Specifically designed with Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math at the center, these toys keep learning fun and engaging!

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1. Air-Walker We all know robots are our future, and what better way to prepare our youth than having them build their own four-legged bot, Air-Walker, and learn in the process. [AGES 8+] $39.95, Thamesandkosmos.com

[AGES 5+] $14.99, Amazon.com

Photos courtesy of manufacturers.

2. STEM Explorers™ Geomakers Kiddos will use geometry, critical thinking and fine motor skills while engaging and building their own 2-D and 3-D shapes.

3. Gumball Machine Maker With lessons in physics, construction, gravity, motion and more, the Gumball Machine Maker is the perfect balance of STEM lessons and sweet fun! [AGES 6+] $39.95, Thamesandkosmos.com

4. Moving Creations with k’nex® Learn to apply STEM principles just like an engineer! The stepby-step illustrated guide contains nine different builds and a travel case for on the go fun.

[AGES 8+] $39.99, Hand2mind.com

5. Kanoodle Gravity™ Like a good challenge? Take your puzzle powers to the next level. Perfect for solo play or an epic battle with a friend. [AGES 7+] $19.99, Educationalinsights.com

6. Artie 3000™ Get Creative! Your kids will learn left-brain skills like basic programming, and geometry while engaging the right side of their brains to create cool and colorful designs as they program Artie on their own for a new level of arts and crafts! [AGES 7+] $69.99, Amazon.com

GIGGLEMAGAZINE.COM | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

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GIGGLEMAGAZINE.COM | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

c2c | tweens { 1 0 -1 3 Y E A R S }

Have No Shame: Teaching Our Tweens to Love Their Bodies BY TRACY WRIGHT

So how can parents prevent this horrible type of bullying? It starts at home. Don’t emphasize appearance to your child. This can extend to how you talk about your own and other’s bodies including those you see in public or in the media. Our children are always listening and will model our own behavior. Instead, experts suggest talking about what incredible things your child’s body can do—play sports, dance, run, play instruments or even jump around all day in the pool. If you are concerned about the health of your child’s body or weight, talk first to their pediatrician or a nutritionist separately about some healthy habits your whole family can adopt. It’s important for parents to talk with their kids early and often about things like eating disorders, body shaming, food policing and dieting. Whether we like it or not, they will likely be exposed to these issues at school or in the media. We can offer education and support as they navigate the culture in which we live. For parents, listen to your children to recognize if your daughter or son is body shaming themselves or others. If a child begins to take extra long to get ready or regularly complains above the norm about their clothing or appearance, they may be having insecurity issues with their body. Similarly, if your child begins to comment negatively and often on people’s appearances, whether it be those in the media, friends, siblings or others, there may be a cause for concern. Again, reiterate those important discussions aboutGiggle how this Tip: is a time of change for them and their friends, both in physical and emotional development. Emphasize that our bodies are an agent for our physical and mental health.

GIGGLEMAGAZINE.COM | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

Arm your child with ways to deal with body shaming from others. Show them strong examples of confident and successful people who live with all different body types, yet have achieved great success. If children are strong enough to walk away from a body shaming bully with their head held high, they should do so. Body shamers and bullies are looking for a reaction. In addition, teach them ways to respond to body shamers. Some good examples include: “If I wanted your opinion, I would have asked.” “Does body shaming make you feel better about yourself?” Monitor your child’s electronic devices and social media to ensure they are not body shaming themselves or others. In your conversations with your child, encourage them to share any challenges they may have encountered at school with you or a trusted adult who can offer them support and advice. Always repeat the mantra: “Remember that other people’s words do not define who you are as a person.” As with all kinds of bullying, parents need to closely monitor the situation and assess whether they need to step in and address the problem with the administration and school counselor. To specifically try and boost a child’s self-confidence, look into programs or classes where a child can thrive in a physical activity such as yoga, rock climbing or youth weight training.

To Learn More...

Parents can turn to resources like “Health at Every Size” which celebrates body diversity and encourages methods of self-acceptance. Visit haescommunity.com

Graphic from Freepik.com

As our children grown into tweens, they become more aware of their bodies, and so do others. Body shaming is an awful side effect of the tween years. By definition, body shaming is “the action or practice of humiliating someone by making mocking or critical comments about their body shape or size.” This can take many forms and is not limited by gender or size. It’s not just fat or thin—tweens may be shamed for their height, their body development (whether advanced or more immature), acne, facial hair, characteristics, skin color or even feet size.

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GIGGLEMAGAZINE.COM | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

c2c | teens { 1 4 -1 8 Y E A R S }

What's App With that?

Mobile Apps Parents Should Be Aware Of BY APRIL TISHER

MISLEADING NAMES

Unfortunately there are those out there who are trying to do harm to our children and apps are an easy way for nefarious people to obtain access to them. As caregivers we do our due diligence to monitor what apps we allow our children to have access to, but what if the app appears to be safe, but is disguised as something else? For Example: You may have heard about the “Calculator%” app which is a front for a secret app that can be used to hide photos, videos and files.

MESSAGING APPS

Some apps are not intentionally misleading in title or have “fake” fronts, but still can be very dangerous for children. Messaging apps such as Snapchat, Kik, Holla, Whatsapp just to name a few are all intended to allow users to message each other, video chat, and send photos or videos to one another. Many have the capability for the messages to disappear after being sent which can lead to a false sense of privacy for the users.

DATING APPS

One of the major concerns with apps intended to meet people or so-called dating apps is the ability for the users location to be used. These apps have users create profiles describing their likes or dislikes and match them to others with similar interests. The location is shared with others so that local people can meet up. This is one of the most dangerous features for minors; predators and those with bad intentions can easily use fake profiles or lie about who they are in order to obtain access to anyone using the app. Skout, Grindr, MeetMe, Tinder, Bumble and Badoo are all examples of these types of apps you may see downloaded on your child’s device that you should be very wary of. Whisper also uses GPS, however is billed as an anonymous way to share secrets with strangers.

RATING APPS

Hot or Not is a literal rating app that allows users to rate each other in a sense of attractiveness and chat with each other. The ways this can damage one’s self-confidence are endless with this format. The main thing to remember with any of these social applications is that they expose your children to potentially harmful people and material. The potential of their privacy being violated and for bullying to occur is much higher when it can be done via social media. Consider putting password protection on their phones for downloading so they cannot download any apps to their devices without putting in a password only you know. That allows you the opportunity to research the app and its purpose to try to vet out something potentially harmful.

GIGGLEMAGAZINE.COM | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

App icons courtesy of manufacturers.

This generation of parents are foraging new ground with technology. Most of us did not grow up with cell phones or tablets with Internet and a host of apps at our fingertips. The digital world changes so rapidly that even when we think we know what the latest thing is, it's probably already changed. If you are like most, you are concerned about what your child is exposed to within these apps; even the ones that are seemingly harmless.

TikTok is a locally popular app with somewhat younger kids. The title doesn’t give any indication about what it actually does...hint, it doesn’t tell time. You may not even know your child even has it. If you ever allowed your child to download and use the Musical.ly app; which was a kind of fun new age karaoke app that users used to record lip-syncing and dance videos to share, then you should know it changed to TikTok. The main concern with this app is that there are not many options for parental controls. The possibility of explicit material is there as well as your child’s own material being public.

Forgot the physical? Problem solved.

Back To School & Sports Physicals Vaccinations & Immunizations Colds & Flu Sprains & Strains Children Aged 3 & Older

First Care Urgent Care

Walk Ins & Appointments Welcome Calvin Martin, MD GatorCare Tier 1 Providers Board Certified Family Medicine

4343 Newberry Road, Suite 10 Gainesville, FL 32607 (352) 373-2340 Scott Wilson, MD Board Certified Family Medicine

Monday - Friday 7:00am - 6:00pm SIMEDHealth.com

GIGGLEMAGAZINE.COM | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

Right now, 83 local children in foster care are searching for their

These children are

all ages

Superhero

Some have

They are

diverse and unique

siblings

All of them need a

foreverfamily SAVE THE DATE!

This November, we will celebrate NATIONAL ADOPTION MONTH with our Annual Superhero 5K race on November 17 at 8:00 a.m. in Westside Park. Funds raised from this event will go toward finding forever families for these children awaiting their permanent homes.

For more information on the race, contact Patricia Braitsch at Patricia.Braitsch or 352-244-1604. 88

GIGGLEMAGAZINE.COM | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

Knowledge, highly concentrated Children absorb so much information, so early, so fast, it seems like a miracle. Kiddie Academy ® helps you make the most of every moment your child has to observe, interact and grow. From motor skills to social skills, we recognize it's never too early to nurture every learning opportunity.

INFANTS • TODDLERS • PRESCHOOL • PRE-K • BEFORE & AFTER CARE • SUMMER CAMP

Enroll NOW! kiddieacademy.com/gainesville (352) 264-7724

Kiddie Academy of Gainesville-FL 6476 SW 75th Street, Gainesville, FL 32608 GIGGLEMAGAZINE.COM | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

November 25, 2019 – January 5, 2020 Make unforgettable holiday memories this season at Gaylord Palms Resort. Enjoy heartwarming visits with Santa, Snow Tubing, Cirque Dreams Unwrapped stage show, Mrs. Claus’ Christmas Traditions, and our signature 9-degree attraction ICE! featuring THE POLAR EXPRESS™.

Stay overnight to experience it all! Tickets and Packages on Sale Now.

ChristmasAtGaylordPalms.com | (407) 586-2000 90

THE POLAR EXPRESS and all related characters and elements © & ™ Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (s19). PEPSI, PEPSI-COLA and the Pepsi Globe are registered trademarks of PepsiCo, Inc.

GIGGLEMAGAZINE.COM | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

KISSIMMEE, FL

VOTED ONE OF THE

TOP 10

ART FAIRS IN AMERICA!

Cedar Key, Florida (60 miles SW of Gainesville on SR24)

Saturday, APRIL 4, 2020 (10am-5pm) Sunday, April 5, 2020 (10am - 4pm)

[

• Juried show welcoming 120 fine artists and craftsmen •Artist demonstrations both afternoons 1-4 pm •Live music, good food & kids activities in beachfront city park •Free, family & pet friendly

Benefits the Cedar Key Arts Center

352.543.5400 cedarkeyartsfestival.com | cedarkeyartsfestival@gmail.com

NOW OPEN

THE ORIGINAL GATOR NATION See LIVE alligators, caimans and crocodiles.

3215 Hull Road, Gainesville, FL 32611 • 352-846-2000 • www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu GIGGLEMAGAZINE.COM | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

community | calendar

OCTOBER 4

OCTOBER 4-5

Gym Jam

UF Homecoming Events

5-7 p.m. Sun Country Sports – West Suncountrysports.com

OCTOBER 4

Children 5 years and older will participate in a coach-led warm-up, receive instruction on each gym apparatus and have open workout time during this two hour program. Prices range from $19 for members to $21 for non-members. Repeats every Friday. OCTOBER 4

Gym Jam Jr. 5-6 p.m. Sun Country Sports – West Suncountrysports.com Children 3 1/2 - 5 years old will participate in a coach-led warm-up, receive instruction on each gym apparatus and have open workout time during this one hour program. Prices range from $13 for members to $16 for non-members. Repeats every first Friday. OCTOBER 4

The Lemon Ball 7 p.m. – 12 a.m. Cade Museum for Creativity & Invention Eventbrite.com Join in raising funds for Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) and their efforts to fund 570 childhood cancer research projects nationwide. You can buy tickets for the Lemon Ball online at eventbrite.com.

Gator Gallop 11:15 p.m. James G. Pressly Stadium at Percy Beard Track The University of Florida’s annual 2-mile Homecoming fun-run! OCTOBER 4

free Homecoming Parade 12 - 2 p.m. University Avenue The University of Florida’s annual parade to cheer on the Gators! OCTOBER 4

Gator Growl 6-10 p.m. Flavet Field Consists of musical guests, Gator athletics and performances by UF’s Cheerleaders, Dazzlers and Pride of the Sunshine Marching Band! OCTOBER 5

Florida VS Auburn Time: 3:30 Ben Hill Griffin Stadium

GIGGLEMAGAZINE.COM | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

OCTOBER

Breast Cancer Awareness Month OCTOBER 4

free Oktoberfest 5-10 p.m. Haile Village Center Hvcoa.com Family-friendly fun with vendors, bounce houses and much more at the annual Oktoberfest! OCTOBER 5

DanceAlive Great Costume Sale 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Pofahl Studios Facebook.com/dancealiveballet Need costumes for playgroups? Need a great Halloween costume? Head out to Dance Alive’s costume sell where everything from hip-hop to ballet to tap costumes will be available at a low price. OCTOBER 5

free Central Florida Peanut Festival 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Heritage Park “GO NUTS” at the Central Florida Peanut Festival in Williston. A day of family fun will include music, crafts, children’s games and, of course, lots of food.

Apple photo from Freepik.com | Event photo from UF Homecoming & Gator Growl

october | november

#WeLeadWith

INSPIRING WOMEN LEADERS March 8 - 10, 2020 Align your brand with an event that empowers women to unlock their potential as leaders at the 3rd annual Inspiring Women Leaders Conference 2020 in Gainesville, FL

SPONSOR IWL 2020 • Provide access to high quality leadership training at an affordable price • Strengthen your workforce • Reach hundreds of talented professionals at one time • Attend networking events with business influencers

https://engage.aa.ufl.edu/community-relations/inspiring-women-leaders/ GIGGLEMAGAZINE.COM | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

community | calendar OCTOBER 10

OCTOBER 13-14

free Harn Museum Nights: Art in Engineering

free 35th Annual Art Festival at Thornebrook

6 - 9 pm Harn.ufl.edu

10 a.m.–5 p.m. Thornebrook Village Artfestivalthornebrook.com

Experience an evening of art and innovation! Watch performances by Engineering students and faculty at the Harn, and have fun taking on artistic challenges!

Head to the Thornebrook Village for their annual festival with vendors, artists and fun! OCTOBER 17

OCTOBER 11-13

ButterflyFest Plant Sale Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m Florida Museum of Natural History Floridamuseum.ufl.edu This three-day plant sale will include all kinds of hard-to-find plants, and all proceeds benefit the Museum’s Butterfly Rainforest and museum events! OCTOBER 12

Pumpkin Run 5k 8:00 a.m. Westside Park Runsignup.com Every participant will get a shirt, runner's medallion (while supplies last) and a coupon for a free pumpkin. This event is for all ages, so bring the whole family! OCTOBER 12

Oktoberfest Noon-11 p.m. First Magnitude Fmbrewing.com Head out to First Magnitude to celebrate their biggest Oktoberfest to date! OCTOBER 12

free 14th Annual ButterflyFest 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Florida Museum Floridamuseum.ufl.edu Explore the lives of bats, bees, birds and butterflies at the Florida Museum of Natural History’s 14th Annual ButterflyFest. OCTOBER 12-13

Fall Plant and Orchid Show 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Kanapaha Botanical Gardens Kanapaha.org Kanapaha Botanical Gardens’ birthday celebration! Enjoy over 50 booths with plants to buy, judges from The American Orchid Society and more. (Bring cash)

free The 5th Annual TradePMR Oktoberfest 5:30-7 p.m. TradePMR Tradepmr.com Come out to TradePMR's Oktoberfest in support of Lyrics for Life! This event is free for all attendees! OCTOBER 17-20

OCTOBER 19

7th Annual Kickin’ It Martial Arts Tournament 8 a.m. Gainesville Health and Fitness (Newberry Road) Kickinitgainesville.com Calling all ninjas and karate warriors 16 years or younger! Demonstrate your martial arts skills in the 7th Annual Kickin’ Martial Arts Tournament where proceeds benefit the Stop Children’s Cancer Foundation. General admission is $5 or $15 for family or group with four people or more. OCTOBER 19

3rd Annual Blocktoberfest 4-10 p.m. Blackadder Brewing Company Blackadderbrewing.com Live Bavarian music, traditional food, prize drawings and of course BIER!

Just Between Friends Consignment Sale

OCTOBER 19-20

10 a.m. – 7 p.m. Easton-Newberry Sports Complex Gainesville.jbfsale.com

5-11 p.m. Depot Park

Shop for Florida appropriate fall and winter clothing at 50 to 90 percent below retail cost on everything for your family from toys to bedding to clothing. OCTOBER 18

Rosé Gala 7-10 p.m. Valley View, Alachua, FL Acsflnr.ejoinme.org Save the date for the first ever Rosé Gala! The event is supporting breast cancer research and programs. OCTOBER 19

The 19th Annual Miracles Gala 6 p.m. Sawgrass Marriott, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL Jdrf.org Join the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation for the 19th Annual Miracles Gala in their efforts to fight against type 1 diabetes. OCTOBER 19

free Family Fishing Day: Spooky Candy Day 8 a.m.- Noon UF/IFAS Fishing Ponds Sfrc.ufl.edu Come for a morning of fun, family-oriented, fresh-water fishing.

GIGGLEMAGAZINE.COM | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

free Tom Petty Birthday Bash A free music festival celebrating the life and legacy of Tom Petty. OCTOBER 19-20

free Cedar Key Seafood Festival 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Cedar Key, FL Cedarkey.org This festival features art, food, crafts, music and so much more! OCTOBER 19-23

Fall Book Sale Friends of the Library Folacld.org Bring your own boxes and head to the fall book sale where you will be able to purchase books at low prices! OCTOBER 20

Howl-A-Palooza 3- 6 p.m. Sun Country Sports - West Suncountrysports.com Sun Country Sports Center hosts an afternoon of Halloween fun, tickets include food and prizes, exclusive access to the facility, a variety of themed activities, silent auction, chance drawing and more.

Alachua County Parents, check out your best resource for kids! Each Alachua County Public School student will receive a letter this fall with their own Student Library Card number. With this resource, kids can:



Borrow 3 print books or audiobook items at a time.



Borrow electronic books, magazines and more.



Log on to eSources for homework help anywhere.

www.aclib.us/studentcards @alachualibrary

Fine, Farkash & Parlapiano presents THE 4 TH ANNUAL BENEFIT EVENT FOR THE

HUMAN E SOCIET Y OF NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA

Thursday, November 7th, 2019 | 6 PM – 10 PM nd SantA Fe River Ranch, 29220 NW 122 St, Alachua

November 7, 2019

Get tickets today!

T HA N K Y O U TO OUR E ARLY SPONSORS!

For sponsorship information and further details, please call Margot DeConna at 352-415-2460 | woofstock2019.com GIGGLEMAGAZINE.COM | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019 95

community | calendar OCTOBER 24

OCTOBER 26

OCTOBER 27

Gainesville Gone Memphis

free 15 Annual Florida Bat Festival

free Trinity UMC Fall Harvest

6-10 p.m. Santa Fe River Ranch Childadvocacycentergainesville.org Gainesville Gone Memphis is the annual signature fundraising event benefiting the Child Advocacy Center, a local nonprofit dedicated to serving abused, neglected, or trafficked children throughout Alachua County. OCTOBER 24

GCM Food Fest 5-9 p.m. Celebration Pointe Facebook.com/giftcertificatesandmore/ Head to Celebration Pointe for a night of good food from Gainesville’s best restaurants. Meal and drink tickets will be sold for $2 each, and there will be activities for the whole family!

10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Lubee Bat Conservancy Lubee.org Visit with Lubee Bat Conservancy to help spread bat conservation awareness at this family-friendly event! OCTOBER 26

Saint Francis Catholic Academy's Casino Night 6-10 p.m. Saint Francis Catholic Academy Sfcawolves.org This is an adult evening out that supports Catholic Education. You can purchase tickets at sfcawolves.org! OCTOBER 27

OCTOBER 25

free Outdoor Movie Night: Hotel Transylvania 7:30-9:30 p.m. Tioga Town Center Tiogatowncenter.com Get your lawn chairs and blankets for Tioga Town Center’s showing of Hotel Transylvania just in time for Halloween! OCTOBER 25

free Artwalk Gainesville 7–10 p.m. Downtown Gainesville Artwalk Gainesville is a free monthly selfguided tour that combines exciting visual art, live performance, and events in downtown Gainesville, Florida. OCTOBER 26

Light the Lantern 7-11 p.m. The Blues Farm Lightthelanterngnv.org It will be an evening under the stars celebrating on five beautiful acres to benefit Life for the Innocent. OCTOBER 26

free McIntosh 1890s Art Festival 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. McIntosh Historic District This is the 1890s arts, crafts and antiques festival in historic McIntosh with 280 vendors.

O2B Kids Spooktakular 6-9:30 p.m. O2B Kids Supercenter The whole family is welcome for O2B Kid's Spooktakular! All members are free, and non-members are only $15! All parents are free! OCTOBER 26-27

3:30 - 6:30 p.m. Trinity United Methodist Church An annual family fall festival, featuring trunk & treat, games, hayrides, a petting zoo, food, music, a photo booth, maze, and more! There is a suggested donation of either $1 or a canned food item for Thanksgiving baskets per child. OCTOBER 31

free Halloween Spooktacular 7:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. University Auditorium Arts.ufl.edu UF School of Music is putting on a Halloween concert featuring UF Organ and Carillon Studios. OCTOBER 31

Boo at the Zoo 3 – 7:30 p.m. Santa Fe Teaching Zoo Sfcollege.edu The zoo is transformed into a spooky but safe trick or treating event for the whole family. Admission to the event is one canned food per person.

NOVEMBER

Diabetes Awareness Month

Gardens and Ghouls 4 – 8:30 p.m. Cedar Lakes Woods and Gardens Cedarlakeswoodsandgarden.com Walk through the trails of the botanical gardens... with a spooky twist. There will be food and goodies, info booths, face painting, a scavenger hunt, and more! OCTOBER 26-27

Hawthorne Chamber of Horrors 7:30–9 p.m. Facebook.com/HawthorneChamberOfHorrors Hawthorne Chamber of Commerce Head to the Hawthorne Recreation Center for a spooktastic time with their Chamber of Horrors event. OCTOBER 27-28

free 45th Micanopy Fall Festival Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Cholokka Boulevard, Micanopy, FL Micanopyfallfestival.org Scenic location for a fall arts and crafts festival, this quiet little town bustles with activity as the vendors pour into town and fill Cholokka Boulevard.

GIGGLEMAGAZINE.COM | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

NOVEMBER 2

NAMIWalks Gainesville 8 a.m Westwood Middle School Namiwalks.org Join the National Alliance on Mental Illness and their walk towards recovery for individuals who struggle with mental illness. NOVEMBER 2

Family Bird Series 9 – 11 a.m. Paynes Prairie Preserve Prairiefriends.org Go to Paynes Prairie to enjoy beautiful wildlife with the whole family! NOVEMBER 2

Harry Potter Tea Party 3 – 5 p.m. Haile Village Bistro Calling all wizards and witches! Enjoy high tea Hogwarts style! All Muggles welcome.

GIGGLEMAGAZINE.COM | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

community | calendar NOVEMBER 20 Fine, Farkash & Parlapiano presents

NOVEMBER 7

NOVEMBER 11

Woofstock

EVENT FOR THE BENEFIT THE 4 ANNUAL free National Parks: Free Y OF SOCIET E HUMAN Admission CENTRAL FLORID A

6 - 10 p.m. Santa Fe River Ranch Alachuahumane.org Get groovy with live music, delicious food and drinks, and a live and silent auction all to benefit the Alachua County Humane Society’s mission to end the needless euthanasia of companion animals in our community. NOVEMBER 8

Starry ThursNight day,

NORTH

All Day

All National Park Service sites that charge an entrance fee will offer free admission to everyone.

NOVEMBER 14

free Harn Museum Nights: Creative Vibes 6-9 p.m. Harn.ufl.edu

Observe the night sky and explore the world beyond! Gaze at the stars through highperformance telescopes and see a portable planetarium show. NOVEMBER 9

Swallowtail Farm Fall Festival Noon – 10 p.m. Swallowtail Farms Swallowtail Farm's annual celebration of the fall

Symphony T H A N K YOU T O O UR Orchestra Concert

2:15 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Sun Country Sports Suncountrysports.com Designed for the boys and girls between the ages of 3 and 3, this class includes 30 minutes of mixed group instruction and 45 minutes of open ninja time. This event repeats every third Wednesday of the month. NOVEMBER 22

free TrashFormations 6-8 p.m. Florida Museum of Natural History

November 7, 2019

Head to the Harn Museum for an enjoyable evening of exploring the work of UF Studio faculty!

November 7th, 2019 | 6 PM – 10 PM NOVEMBER 14 nd St, Alachua 122UF SantA Fe River Ranch, 29220 NW free 6-10 p.m. Florida Museum of Natural History Floridamuseum.ufl.edu

Ninja Jam

See how Alachua County middle school, high school and college students transform “waste” into creative works of art!

Get tickets today!

EARLY SPO NSO RS!

7:30 p.m. University Auditorium Come to see the UF Symphony Orchestra perform.

NOVEMBER 23

free Newberry Fall Festival 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Downtown Newberry, FL

Organized by Newberry Main Street Organization, the annual Newberry Fall Festival will have arts, crafts, music, dancers, FREE bounce house for the kids, face painting, pony rides/petting zoo.

NOVEMBER 25-29

For sponsorship information further details, please call Margot DeConna at 352-415-2460 woofstock2019.com harvest and everything green and and good on the Thanksgiving |BreakSchools Closed farm, our brilliant local community and beyond! NOVEMBER 9

Jazz on the Green 7 – 9 p.m. Celebration Pointe Facebook.com/celebrationpointeFL Spread a blanket under the setting sun and listen to amazing music while the kids play games on the lawn. This event repeats on the second Saturday of every month. NOVEMBER 10

free Final Family Fishing Day 8 a.m.–Noon UF/IFAS Fishing Ponds Sfrc.ufl.edu Come for a morning of fun, family-oriented, fresh-water fishing.

NOVEMBER 11 Veteran's Day- Schools Closed

NOVEMBER 16-17

38th Annual Downtown Festival and Arts show Downtown Gainesville 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. GainesvilledowntownArtFest.org Fun for the whole family! There will be 240 artists, entertainment and children activities. NOVEMBER 16

Turkey Trot 5k and 10k 8:30 a.m. Tacachale This is a friendly, off-road course through the beautiful turkey-filled forest surrounding Tacachale as well as the running trail encircling the entire perimeter of the UF campus.

Ninja Jam 9:30 a.m.-10:45 p.m. Sun Country Sports Suncountrysports.com Designed for the boys and girls between the ages of 3 and 3, this class includes 30 minutes of mixed group instruction and 45 minutes of open ninja time. This event repeats every third Saturday of the month. NOVEMBER 19

Straight No Chaser 7:30 p.m. Phillips Center This talented group has become very popular over the years with a very large fan base. Go see them perform when they come to Gainesville.

NOVEMBER 28

GIGGLEMAGAZINE.COM | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

NOVEMBER 28 Happy Thanksgiving! NOVEMBER 30

free Cane Boil and Fiddle Fest 11 a.m. Morningside Nature Center Cityofgainesville.org This event is held each year the Saturday after Thanksgiving and combines the traditions of giving thanks and fall harvest with live fiddle, banjo and string band music.

GIGGLEMAGAZINE.COM | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

100 GIGGLEMAGAZINE.COM

| OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

Irving Publications, LLC

Published on Oct 7, 2019

Giggle Magazine October/November Issue 2019

The Fall Issue, No-Sew Halloween Costumes, Local Fall Festivities, 15 Ways to Use Leftover Halloween Candy and so much more!!!

Giggle Magazine October/November Issue 2019

Published on Oct 7, 2019

The Fall Issue, No-Sew Halloween Costumes, Local Fall Festivities, 15 Ways to Use Leftover Halloween Candy and so much more!!!

gigglemagazine

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