Giggle Magazine-Gainesville-October/November 2017

alachua

county’s

PREMIER

p a re n t i n g

M AGA Z I N E

OCT/NOV 2017 • Volume 9 • Issue 5

s

u pl

Get Creative!

“After almost two years

DIY Halloween Party Guide

of waiting, we received the answer ...”

The Youmans family's story of unlocking their child's illness

meet our heroes!

Celebrating our local veterans

7 must-have sweaters for fall!

in his words: from uncle to dad in 24 hours

say goodbye to adult acne for good

www.gigglemagazine.com gigglemagazine.com | October/november 2017 1

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PUBLISHER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Nicole Irving CREATIVE DIRECTOR Allison Raber ASSOCIATE DEPUTY EDITOR Colleen McTiernan GRAPHIC DESIGNERs Emily Purvis, Claire Stortz Vice president of sales Shane Irving PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Alison Walker ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE April Tisher executive assistant Sayeh Farah ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Ashleigh Braun DISTRIBUTION COORDINATOR Patty Skelton Contributing Writers Nick DeConna, Edwin Exaus, Trace Ferguson, Nicole Irving, Colleen McTiernan, Olivia Pitkethly, MA, LMHC, Allison Raber, Danielle Spano, April Tisher, Lizzie Vasquez, Leslie Youmans EVENT PHOTOGRAPHER Kara Winslow Contributing Photographers Sincerely Gone Photography, Shandon Smith with Lifeprints Photography

SHANNON SNELL GATOR GREATS SHERRY KITCHENS CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER

Mailing address

KYLE NEWELL GATOR GREATS CRAIG WILBURN TEAM DYNAMO

headquarters address

5745 SW 75th Street 101 SW 140th Terrace Unit 286 Suite C Gainesville, FL 32608 Jonesville, FL 32669 Gainesville Office: p. 352.505.5821 Tallahassee Office: p. 850.254.9704 Fax: 877.857.5140

gigglemagazine.com giggle@irvingpublications.com Giggle Magazine is a registered trademark property of Irving Publications, LLC. All rights reserved.

Giggle Magazine is published by Irving Publications, LLC. © 2017

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2017 WING BOWL CHOMPIONS

TEAM GATOR GREATS!

THANK YOU TO OUR 2017 SPONSORS! BENEFITING

AMERIS BANK • HAILE TITLE • SALTER FEIBER HOLDEN, CARPENTER & ROSCOW, PL DECONNA ICE CREAM • GIGGLE MAGAZINE @GAINESVILLEWINGBOWL INSTY-PRINTS • 3G MEDIA • GREY DAHLIA GAINESVILLEWINGBOWL.ORG gigglemagazine.com | october/november 2017

SEE YOU IN 2018!

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Irving Publications, LLC reserves the right to edit and/or reject any advertising.

Irving Publications, LLC is not responsible for the validity of any claims made by its advertisers. Nothing that appears in Giggle Magazine may be reproduced in any way, without written permission. Opinions expressed by Giggle Magazine writers are their own and do not necessarily reflect the publisher’s opinion. Giggle Magazine will consider all never before published outside editorial submissions.

Irving Publications, LLC reserves the right to edit and/or reject all outside editorial submissions and makes no guarantees regarding publication dates.

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publisher's letter

after the storm In the aftermath of what I like to call “Irmageddon,” our lives are finally beginning to settle back into normalcy. Power is coming back on, school is in session and the water is receding, but the wake of her power and destruction is still evident here. Trees are down, chainsaws are still running, and some are either fixing the damage to their property or are trying to move on after losing their home. Sadly, Mother Nature took its toll on our gorgeous state and town, and hurricane season is still in full bloom.

But, as with all dark days, there is a silver lining. Our community rallied together and supported each other. From UF president Kent Fuchs helping students with hands full of luggage get to a shelter, to our local schools opening up their doors to people from all around the state and filling the gyms with blankets, cots and food, we came together — one town, one state.

MEET OUR

COVER FAMILY

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follow us on Twitter @GIGGLEMAGAZINE

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Visit us on Pinterest /GIGGLEMAGAZINE

The Youmans Family

The Youmans family (Emmett, 2, Harper, 4, Hayden, 7, and Leslie, pictured) shares their journey of love and hope while coming to terms with Harper's diagnosis of Rett Syndrome and how it has affected their family.

Follow us on Instagram @GIGGLEMAGAZINE

Photo by Shandon Smith of Lifeprints Photography.

Hurricane season is far from over, with storms brewing in each direction. Irma was a visible reminder of the destruction that our weather can cause, but also a wakeup call to us all to be prepared and vigilant in our planning. You can never be too ready for what might come. Thank you to all the first responders, emergency workers, power companies and most of all this wonderful Nicole Irving, Publisher community for coming together nicole@irvingpublications.com to support one another during this time!

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Math Help

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Tower Square next to Publix 5835 SW 75th St., Gainesville, FL

Oct ● nov 2017

happy family • happy community™

conception 2 college™ 72 expecting

Don't Eat That!

74 infant

Cough It Up

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76 TODDLER

Decisions, Decisions

78 early years

Tell Me A Story 80 kids

Help Me Help You

82 tweens

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Trick Or Treat?

84 teens

More Than Just The Blues ALACHUA

COUNTY’S

PREMIER

PARENTING

MAGAZINE

Issue 5 OCT/NOV 2017 • Volume 9 •

us

pl

GET CREATIVE!

“After almost two yearsthe

life

56

happy home

10 the parent life Dad in a Day

16 our unique family

The Almond Family

forks & spoons Family and cupcake photos by Sincerely Gone Photography.

20 delish Frightfully Delicious!

22 in the kitchen Cran-tastic!

giggle stamp

learn 64 family learning

Finding the Right Fit

48 get pretty Appealing AtHome Peels

IN HIS WORDS: FROM UNCLE TO DAD IN 24 HOURS GIGGLEMAGAZINE.C OM

SAY GOODBYE TO ADULT ACNE FOR GOOD 2017 www.gigglemagazine.c | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER

om1

The Youmans family's story of unlocking their child's illness PAGE 68

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Meet Our Heroes!

Celebrating Our Local Veterans PAGE 58

68 parents share Harper's Story

happy community 86 community Back to School 90 calendar October/November

fe a t u res 25 50 58

7 MUST-HAVE SWEATERS FOR FALL!

Find our cover stories!

56 Sweater Weather

Thu-Thuy Rogers 46 get healthy How to Break Out of Adult Acne

The Youmans family's story of unlocking their child's illness

MEET OUR HEROES! CELEBRATING OUR LOCAL VETERANS

66 FEATURED TEACHER

health

of waiting, we received answer ...”

52 fix it DIY Chair Change-Up

12 a day in the life

Kristen Cooper

DIY Halloween Party Guide

This is Halloween!

Turkey Pickin' Tips Home of the Brave: Celebrating Those Who Serve

7 Must-Have Sweaters for Fall!

PAGE 56 In His Words: From Uncle to Dad in 24 Hours PAGE 10 Say Goodbye to Adult Acne For Good PAGE 46 Get Creative! DIY Halloween Party Guide PAGE 25

gigglemagazine.com | October/november 2017

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life | the parent life back porch. Today, give me 30 free minutes at home and I won’t waste a second of the opportunity to get caught up on chores.

Dad in a Day

BY NICK DECONNA | PHOTOS BY SINCERELY GONE PHOTOGRAPHY

On the afternoon of Jan. 28, my wife and I got an unexpected phone call from the Florida Department of Children and Families. My 6-month-old nephew had been removed from his home with his parents in Delray Beach and placed in a foster facility. As his closest blood relatives, they asked us if we would be willing to shelter him, and without hesitation we responded, “Yes.” That Saturday we had about five hours to get our house inspected by DCF and get the things we needed for him. Thankfully, we have some amazing friends who came over and set us up with everything we needed — even a trash can for diapers!

The first week was intense. My wife and I both have very busy schedules (who doesn’t?) and throwing a baby into the mix really threw us a curveball. There were a few nights around 3 a.m. when the baby was crying and nothing would get him to go back to sleep when we wondered, “What are we doing?” Most parents have nine months to get ready for a baby. We had 18 hours and no instruction book.

We quickly learned a few important things.

Days are not always going to go as planned, and you should make the best of any situation.

My wife and I had to understand that each of us was trying our best. A little patience, perspective and understanding goes a long way. We also learned the importance of making sure our needs were met. That first week there were times we went without

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eating, and those days did not go so well. Now, nine months in, we think ahead and make sure we plan our meals and budget time for other things we need to get done for ourselves.

The most important lesson? Routine, routine, routine! After about a month of caring for him, we finally settled into a routine that works, and we stick to it as best we can.

On a personal level, I found a new appreciation for time. Pre-baby Saturday morning would find me on the couch watching a Denzel Washington movie for the 15th time, wasting away two hours. On post-baby Saturday mornings, I know that when he goes down for a nap I have between 30 minutes to an hour to myself. That is so much free time! I can do all the dishes, clean the kitchen, start my laundry and clean the

As foster parents, we also had to adjust to giving up some up the freedoms we took for granted. We are subject to home inspections and drug tests. There are no more Saturday mornings sleeping in or running over to our friend’s house on Friday night for drinks around the fire. Before we had the baby, my toughest decision after work was whether to go the gym or meet up with friends for happy hour. Now I need to be at day care on time to get the baby to bed on schedule.

Before the baby, we kept a very busy social schedule and never turned down an opportunity for a night on the town. Now our social circle has tightened. We rely on a group of close friends that we know we can call at any time, and we hang out with our friends who also have kids. Before the baby, I never knew people had birthday parties at 10 a.m. That seemed crazy until I started thinking about routines and nap times.

Family and friends often say to us, “You’re doing an amazing thing taking care of your nephew.” For a long a time I did not know how to react when people said this to us, and it took me a while to figure out why it seemed strange to me. It is because when we got that phone call, there was never a question as to whether we should take the baby in and whether, if given the chance, we should keep him. The only answer in our minds was “yes.”

We will take care of him and give him all the love and support we can for as long as we can.

This whole experience has made me truly grateful for the wonderful people in our lives. So many friends have offered to babysit for us without knowing that all babysitters of foster children must have a background check. The Junior League of Gainesville provided home-cooked meals most nights during our first few weeks of figuring things out. Most importantly, I am amazed every day at the amount of energy and love my wife puts into making sure our nephew is taken care of in every way possible, from being dressed and ready for day care to having all his medical records up to date. This fostering experience has been a true team effort.

“ Days are not always going to go as planned, and you should make the best of any situation.” gigglemagazine.com | october/november 2017

5th Annual Kickin’ It Martial Arts Tournament & Expo Saturday, October 21 at Gainesville Health & Fitness Center BENEFITING STOP CHILDREN’S CANCER Karate and Jiu Jitsu Competitions for ages 16 and under Learn more and register at kickinitgainesville.com. gigglemagazine.com | October/november 2017

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life | a day in the life

a d ay in the life of

kristen Cooper Kristen Cooper is co-owner of Spain & Cooper Homes.

She and her husband, Mike, have one son, Colton (4 ½).

Morning leaving for work and pretend to keep sleeping, knowing that I need to enjoy these last few minutes of peace and quiet before the chaos of the day begins.

6:20 a.m. I check my texts that I have

missed from overnight since I have a 24/7 text conversation going on with my best friends. They are my moral support throughout the day and have been braver than I in producing more than one child, so I miss some middle of the night messages on a nightly basis.

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6:45 a.m. Coffee for me, scrambled eggs for Colton, despite his requests for chocolate. I feed the dogs in between scrambling eggs.

6:55 a.m. Respond to work emails and get sidetracked by Facebook until I feel my horses’ hungry stares from the fence line waiting for their own breakfast.

gigglemagazine.com | october/november 2017

7:45 a.m. Go inside and send selfies

with the chickens to scare my husband into thinking another animal, or three, have made their home with us. He does not find it funny.

7:50 a.m. I shower and get ready for

the day. Colton’s version of a shower is getting his feet hosed off outside and hands washed once we get inside. The life of a farm kid. Guaranteed he’ll be dirty again by noon!

8:30 a.m. I make myself a smoothie for breakfast and pick the house up a little.

photo by caryn ruano at B Original Art and photography

6:15 a.m. Hear my husband, Mike,

6:30 a.m. No such luck on that “just a little later” thing — Colton is up. My son’s natural alarm clock never fails him.

He climbs into bed with me right as both giant dogs leap into bed and step all over me. All of them are way more excited and energetic than I am this early.

7:10 a.m. I walk into the barn to feed the horses to realize we have had stray chickens show up. Yes, you just read STRAY chickens. They seem friendly, so Colton runs inside and gets something to feed them. I immediately text my chicken fanatic friend to ask her if goldfish crackers will hurt chickens as I watch Colton throwing them out into the yard. (They are still in my yard, so they can in fact survive off of kid snacks.)

gigglemagazine.com | October/november 2017

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9 a.m. Play cars and trucks with Colton and get him into playing independently in his sandbox outside.

not a posted speed limit might get us somewhere just a little quicker.

9:30 a.m. Drink a second cup of coffee

Country for the afternoon and make the mad dash to our office for a meeting.

and then sit down on my porch to check emails and phone calls. The construction world starts early — typically Mike has about five emails and a couple of phone calls in to me before I have polished off my first cup of coffee. I start responding when my second cup is setting in.

10 a.m. Time to do some driving around town to pick up auction items for a fundraiser I have been working on. I also stop by a few of our houses currently under construction to take progress pictures for our Facebook and Instagram accounts. Thankfully Colton is happy to be my back-seat driver as long as we have some music playing.

11:30 a.m. Stop by the office to visit

with my husband and take him lunch from Panera. We joke that I am the lunch wagon because he would not stop to eat if I did not deliver lunch.

1:35 p.m. I drop Colton off at Sun

2 p.m. Meet with a new client who is building a house with us about her upcoming selections for her new home.

My favorite part of this job is helping clients make selections, so this meeting is very enjoyable.

3 p.m. Spend some time brainstorming

home decor in my still undecorated office.

It currently looks more like a kid’s play room than a business office.

4:30 p.m. Barre class at Barre Forte.

5:45 p.m. Pick up Colton from Sun

Country and spend five minutes explaining to him why he cannot have ice cream every day. Usually he wins, but today I stand my ground, making it a less than fun drive home.

12 p.m. Drive back home to do some cleaning and respond to more emails and phone calls while Colton has some down time watching TV. 1 p.m. Get Colton dressed and packed

up for Sun Country and give him a snack for the road. He asks, “Why are we always in such a rush?” If only he knew it is because he is learning to get himself in the car and strap himself in, and after 10 minutes of it, I finally must start hurrying him along to make sure he is secured safely in his seat without us being late. I am also drenched in sweat at this point because I have been standing in a hot garage watching him slowly put each strap into its place, refusing help.

1:20 p.m. We finally fly out of our driveway with me feeling like that half mile of our driveway where there is

8 p.m. Shower and comfy clothes for

me, just in time to go lie with Colton for a few while he falls asleep. During that time, the tiredness hits me and I always wonder how moms of multiple children do it.

8:30 p.m. Unwind with a glass of

wine on the porch with my husband while catching up with each other about our day and discussing what he needs me to do workwise tomorrow.

9 p.m. I feel more creative after that

glass of wine, so I plan and organize for work and brainstorm for our upcoming Parade house — until I get sidetracked by messaging with my friends. I do all of this while trying to catch up on “Game of Thrones” with my husband (and he always wonders why I don’t remember every detail of these shows and constantly ask “What just happened?”).

10 p.m. I notice “Real Housewives of

evening afternoon

three more nonhuman mouths to feed. The next house he will be building will probably be a chicken coop.

6 p.m. Get home and figure out who to feed first. I’ve got dogs jumping at me, horses whinnying at me, my husband asking “What’s for dinner?” and Colton still asking for that ice cream. Dogs win that battle after a few body slams between the two while I am trying to just get in the door.

6:45 p.m. Dinner. Tonight is taco

lasagna that (shockingly!) my little picky eater devoured (thank you, Chef Ami).

If only every dinner involved solely one entrée for the family. Most nights I am not so lucky.

7:15 p.m. Clean up the kitchen and have my husband get Colton in the bath while I head out to do barn chores again and feed the horses. I obviously must stop and observe that the chickens are still hanging out. Guess it is time to make a post on Gainesville Pet Finder, research chicken food and start prepping my husband for

Orange County” is recorded and Mike, while half asleep, agrees to it. Hey, what can I say? I warned my husband on our first date that I had bad taste in TV.

10:10 p.m. Mike realizes he cannot listen to these housewives anymore, so he is off to bed.

11 p.m. Bed for me, knowing that 6:30 a.m. is going to come quickly!

12 a.m.

After lots of tossing and turning and thinking about random thoughts, I finally fall asleep.

Want to submit a friend (or yourself!) to be featured in A Day in the Life? Send your information to Colleen@irvingpublications.com!

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gigglemagazine.com | october/november 2017

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life | our unique family

The Almond Family

Elaine and Chris Almond have taken their three children Carter (11), Drew (9) and Julia (7) on a two-week RV trip exploring National Parks and other fun stops for the past two summers.

Our

Road Tripping Family

On the Road Again!

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This past summer, the Almond family started in Los Angeles, California before traveling to Yosemite National Park, Glacier National Park in Montana and finally Seattle, Washington. During their travels, they also made stops to tour Hearst Castle, pan for gold at a gold mine and have a snowball fight at Crater Lake National Park in Oregon.

The family favorite this year was Glacier National park, where they hiked 3.8 miles up Grinnell Glacier.

Next year the Almonds are planning for another trip — either another RV trip around Canada starting at Niagara Falls or a houseboat on Lake Powell or the Sheepscot and Kennebec rivers in Maine. Either way, their family is ready for another adventure!

gigglemagazine.com | october/november 2017

Interested in taking your own family on a road trip?

Here are some of Elaine's recommendations!

1. Bring lots of activities and snacks.

2. Have a water bottle for each kid.

3. Travel with wristbands for motion sickness in case one of your kids gets carsick.

4. Download two apps: Road Tripper, which helps you plan your route, and Gas Buddy, which helps to find the best gas prices around you.

5. If you have a movie system, bring a variety of movies.

6. Bring a pair of headphones for each child so parents can listen to something else up front.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF ALMOND FAMILY

After taking two road trips in their mini-van (including one week-long trip all the way up to Hershey Park in Pennsylvania) Elaine Almond realized that her kids were at an age where road trips would be more doable. In 2016, they started their first RV adventure in Las Vegas, Nevada. They traveled all the way up to Mount Rushmore in South Dakota, down to the Grand Canyon, then back to Las Vegas with pit stops to visit Utah’s Olympic Park, Four Corners Monument, the University of Colorado and Epic Discovery park in Vail, Colorado. Of their many stops, the most memorable for the family was their visit to the Grand Canyon. “We woke up in the morning to a herd of elk roaming around our campground,” said Elaine. “We were so close to them, we could almost touch them!”

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Getting to know the Almonds!

What is your family’s favorite meal?

Our family's favorite meal on the road is walking tacos. We put taco meat and fillings inside a Fritos bag.

Yum yum!

What are three words to describe your family?

Adventurous, caring and competitive.

What is your family’s favorite activity (aside from road trips!)?

Friday family movie nights!

What is your family’s favorite movie?

All “Star Wars” movies!!

What are some of your kids’ favorite books?

“Harry Potter,” “Little House in the Big Woods” and “Charlotte's Web.” What is your family’s favorite place Gainesville?

Jonesville Park. We play sports and Pokémon there, and we also like to go geocaching there.

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gigglemagazine.com | august/sep tember 2017

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forks and spoons | delish

Frightfully Delicious!

BY COLLEEN MCTIERNAN | PHOTOS BY SINCERELY GONE PHOTOGRAPHY

Get your kiddos into the spirit of this fun holiday by creating some creepy, yet tasty, cupcakes together. Put on your favorite Halloween movie (“Hocus Pocus” anyone?) and get to decorating!

The Eyeball

The Graveyard

The Spider

• Cupcake (we used vanilla)

• Cupcake (we used vanilla)

• Cupcake (we used chocolate)

• Cupcake (we used vanilla)

• Vanilla frosting

• Vanilla frosting (we dyed ours bright green!)

• Chocolate frosting

• Vanilla frosting

• Black decorating icing

• Oreos

• Oreos

• Black decorating icing

• Milano cookies

• Mini candy eyeballs

Frost your cupcake with chocolate frosting.

Separate the Oreos and crush up just the cookie part. Sprinkle the crumbs over your frosted cupcake; they will serve as your grave dirt. Use the black decorating icing to decorate your Milano so that it resembles a tombstone, then stick the Milano into the cupcake so that just the top half of it is visible.

Frost your cupcake with vanilla frosting. Separate an Oreo and place the side with no cream in the center of your cupcake (you can go ahead and snack on the other side!).

Use the black decorating icing to create four legs on each side of the Oreo for a total of eight legs, like a spider. Use the remaining icing to secure two candy eyeballs (or eight if you want a more lifelike spider!) onto the Oreo.

• Red decorating gel • Life Savers Gummies • Black decorating icing Frost your cupcake with vanilla frosting. Place one Life Savers in the middle of the cupcake, then place a dot of black decorating icing in the center of the Life Savers. Use the red decorating gel to make lines coming from the Life Savers to resemble a bloodshot eyeball.

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The Witch’s Hat

• Oreos • Orange decorating icing • Hershey’s Kisses Frost your cupcake with your dyed vanilla frosting.

Separate an Oreo and reserve the side with no cream (you can eat the other side!). Use the decorating icing to secure one unwrapped Hershey’s Kiss to the center of your remaining Oreo half, then decorate your newly constructed witch hat as you like before placing it on your cupcake.

gigglemagazine.com | october/november 2017

Giggle Tip: Make

these treats easy for kiddos of all ages to decorate by setting out pre-frosted cupcakes for them to embellish!

gigglemagazine.com | October/november 2017

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forks and spoons | in the kitchen

Cran-tastic!

A quick and easy recipe for homemade cranberry relishv

BY COLLEEN MCTIERNAN

Just like turkey and stuffing, cranberry sauce (also called relish or jelly) has proven itself a true Thanksgiving staple. In fact, of the 400 million pounds of cranberries that Americans consume annually, 20 percent are eaten during Thanksgiving week alone, according to Ocean Spray. Instead of serving up the jellied version that comes in a can, why not try making your own cranberry sauce this year? Made with fresh cranberries and a little zing of citrus, this relish is sure to tickle your taste buds and serve as a delicious accompaniment to your Thanksgiving meal.

Cranberry Relish

Recipe courtesy of Christina Maribona

• • • • •

One 12-ounce package fresh cranberries, rinsed 1 cup sugar 1 cup orange marmalade ½ lemon, juiced 1 teaspoon cinnamon

1. Place the rinsed cranberries in a pot and cover with water. Add the sugar and set the mixture to boil until the cranberries begin to burst open, about 10 minutes.

2. Once the cranberries start bursting, add the marmalade, cinnamon and lemon juice. Mix together and continue to cook until all of the berries have opened.

3. Remove the pot from the heat and allow to cool to room temperature. Once cooled, pour your relish into a mold or bowl and refrigerate until firm, about 3 hours.

Giggle Tip: If you are looking for a bit of crunch, add chopped pecans to the pot along with the marmalade, cinnamon and lemon juice. For a sweeter sauce, try mixing in raisins or currants.

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gigglemagazine.com | october/november 2017

This is

Halloween!

The weather is getting cooler, the days are getting shorter, and soon enough we will be breaking out spooky decorations and costumes for the most frightful day of the year — Halloween!

Learn more about the creatures associated with this fun holiday (black cats and bats) and plan the perfect Halloween party, for any age range.

Happy haunting!

gigglemagazine.com | October/november 2017

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d e bu n

kin

g t he m y th

In Defense of the

Black Cat

BY TRACE FERGUSON

Black cats have gotten a bad rap. Often associated with bad luck or evil, these kitties have some of the highest euthanasia rates of all the different color cats in shelters, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Black cats are also two-thirds less likely to get adopted than white cats, and it is said that black cats can take two to three times longer to get adopted. Despite the myths surrounding them, black cats need "furever" homes just as much as the next cat!

The myth that cats are bad luck stems from European medieval times. Black cats became associated with evil because they roamed around at night and were believed to be conspiring with witches.

It was even believed that black cats were witches in disguise, and some Europeans began exterminating cats (and alleged witches). This did not quite work out as well as they hoped, though. It is believed that the scarcity of cats led to a rapid increase in the rodent population, which in turn led to the spread of the plague (or black death). Once people learned that rats and fleas were the cause of the disease, the cat population began to thrive again.

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However, before all this negative press, cats were worshipped in ancient Egypt.

They were respected and treated like members of the family because they kept rodents out of homes and away from food. They were thought to bring good luck to the household and were considered magical creatures. When a cat died, they were mummified and the owners would shave off their eyebrows to show that they were mourning.

There are still some cultures that regard black cats as good luck. The Japanese call them “maneki neko,” which means “lucky cat.” Lucky cat toys and trinkets can be found in many Asian gift shops,

gigglemagazine.com | october/november 2017

restaurants or salons. You have probably seen them before by the register!

If you are in the market for a new fur-baby, consider adopting a mystical black cat. Margot DeConna, the director of development for the Alachua County Humane Society, and Danielle Cummings, the development coordinator at Gainesville Pet Rescue, said that black kittens and older cats are often the last pets left in the shelter.

Black cats are just as likely to love you as any other cat, and their hair will not show up on all your black clothes!

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3 Ways to Throw the Perfect

Halloween

Party! by colleen mctiernan | photos by sincerely gone photography

Thinking about throwing a Halloween party this year? Whether you are planning on a scary soiree for tweens and teens or something a little more subdued for tiny tots, one of these three themes (and the accompanying costume ideas) is sure to help inspire you with this year’s Halloween festivities. gigglemagazine.com | October/november 2017

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pa rt y # 1

Gothic Halloween

PARTY SETUP/COSTUMES

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gigglemagazine.com | october/november 2017

CREATE THE ATMOSPHERE For this gothic setup, we used fake spider webs, lace and skeletons to create a spooky atmosphere!

SWEET TREATS We placed red vines in a spider-themed vase for a sweet treat that still adds to the gothic theme of the party. Attach candy eyes to peppermints with gel icing for perfect peepers!

FINGER FOODS We made these creepy spider pizzas using flatbread rounds, pre-made pizza sauce and mozzarella cheese. Then we cut up black olives to create our spiders.

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WICKED AWESOME WOLFMAN

NOT-SOVILLAINOUS VAMPIRE

MATERIALS NEEDED • Plaid button-down shirt

MATERIALS NEEDED • Burgundy- or maroon-colored dress

• Jeans

• Black leather jacket or black

• White T-shirt • Faux brown fur • Black cotton work gloves • Faux plastic nails • Black nail polish • Brown costume makeup • Hair gel • Costume teeth • Hot glue gun

cardigan

• Black tights • Black boots • Headband (we found this great bat one at H&M)

• Victorian choker • Black netting • Small alligator hair clip • Bobby pins • Hot glue gun • Red lipstick

Outfit Cut the faux fur into a variety of shapes, then glue it to the jeans and around the wrists of the shirt. Glue a large, v-shaped piece of fur to the front of the white T-shirt. gloves Use a hot glue gun to attach plastic nails to the fingers of the cotton work gloves. Once dry, paint the nails black. Cut out additional pieces of fur to glue to the backs of the gloves.

Makeup Use a sponge to apply sweeping strokes of the brown costume makeup on the forehead, chin and cheeks. Use a brown eyeliner to create thick eyebrows and to draw on the nose. Use a quarter-sized amount of hair gel to spike up the hair; it is OK to go a little crazy here!

For the costume teeth, look for a pair that are made from flexible plastic that will not be uncomfortable.

IT MAK E !

SE L F YOUR

• White eyeliner • White face powder

OUtfit For a cooler night of trick-or-treating, a leather jacket and black leggings will help keep your child warm and stylish.

In warmer weather, a light cardigan and thin tights are the way to go. Add a matching choker to complete the look; we found ours at Hot Topic.

Headpiece Cut a 7-inch circle from the black netting. Pinch one side of the netting and glue to the hair clip. Clip the netting on the top of the head and then place the headband just in front it. The headband will hide the clip behind it and the remaining netting will stick out in the front. Use bobby pins to secure the remaining netting.

Makeup Use a white or pale face powder over the entire face and neck to give your child a vampire-like pallor. Dark lipstick and drawn on "fangs" finish the look.

Use the white eyeliner to draw simple white triangles below the bottom lip, eliminating the need for those uncomfortable plastic teeth!

Did you make any of our costumes for your kiddos this year? Send the picture to Allison@irvingpublications.com for a chance to be featured on our social media pages!

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pa rt y #2 fun fall festival

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gigglemagazine.com | october/november 2017

SWEET TREAT We used yellow, orange, red and brown candies to create these ornamental corn-inspired cupcakes. Save time by purchasing pre-frosted cupcakes and adding the candies yourself!

CREATE THE ATMOSPHERE Fake leaves, hay and pumpkins create the perfect autumn feel for this party.

Tissue paper fans and pom poms keep it fresh!

FINGER FOODS Slice up grilled cheese "dippers" and add small plastic containers of tomato soup to make a quick and easy snack that is also fun to eat!

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SWEET SCARECROW

FALL BLOOMS FLOWER POT

MATERIALS NEEDED • Denim overalls

MATERIALS NEEDED • Brown leggings

• Plaid button-down shirt

• Yellow T-shirt

• Straw hat

• Large thin basket (we purchased

• Faux leaves • Straw or raffia • Hot glue gun • Plaid fabric • Boots • Orange costume makeup

ours from Hobby Lobby) • Hand saw • Burlap • Faux flowers • Hot glue gun • Tan webbing • Wire cutters • Burlap headband

OUtfit Cut up your plaid fabric into several rectangles of varying sizes. Using the glue gun, attach the cut fabric to the overalls.

Place them sporadically; do not be afraid to be creative! Tuck the faux leaves and straw into the overall pockets and secure them with the hot glue. Glue extra pieces of straw on the inside of the top of the overalls and in the wrists of the button-down shirt so that the straw just peeks out.

This gives the illusion that your little one is made of straw, just like a real scarecrow!

Hat Create a band for the straw hat by cutting a long strip from your remaining plaid fabric. Wrap the fabric around the base of the hat and secure with hot glue. Then glue on a few more faux leaves and some loose straw.

Makeup Use orange costume makeup to color the nose.

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Basket Remove the bottom from the basket using a hand saw. Glue pieces of the burlap around the bottom to cover any sharp edges.

Lay the basket on its side and start gluing the flower stems along the inside rim. Be sure to vary the height at which the flowers stick out from the basket to give the flower pot a more natural feel.

After you finish gluing the flowers down, glue a large piece of burlap down over the stems to help keep them secure.

Cut two lengths of tan webbing to create the straps. Glue one end of one strap to the front left of the basket, then glue the other end to the back left. Repeat with the other length of webbing for the right side of the basket.

Headband Use the wire cutters to remove the stems from two to three of your remaining faux flowers, then use the hot glue gun to attach them to the side of the burlap headband.

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pa rt y #3

not-so-scary halloween

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SWEET TREAT Cover Blow Pops with tissues and secure them with twine. Color in eyes with black marker for a ghostly finish!

CREATE THE ATMOSPHERE Brightly colored toy spiders, black accessories and decorated pumpkins lend a distinctive Halloween feel to the party without making it seem too spooky for little ones!

FINGER FOODS We made these witch fingers by dipping pretzel rods in green-colored candy melts and using slivered almonds as the nails.

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MAGICAL MERMAID MATERIALS NEEDED • Light blue leggings

RADICAL ROBOT

• Purple tank top

MATERIALS NEEDED • Gray pants

• Wide purple elastic headband ribbon

• Gray shoes

• Blue headband

• Gray T-shirt

• Light blue felt

• Large cardboard box

• Teal elastic headband ribbon

• Smaller cardboard box

• Four 6-inch rolls of tulle in varying shades of purple, green and blue

• Two dryer hoses, cut in half

• Variety of shells

• Scissors and wire cutters

• Hot glue gun

• Gold pipe cleaner

• Blue construction paper

• Styrofoam heart TOP Cut a piece of the wide purple elastic headband ribbon to wrap around your child's torso. Use a piece of tulle to secure the two sides together at the back. If one piece is not long enough, use a strip of tulle to attach two pieces together.

Headpiece Cut two 3-inch circles from the light blue felt and glue together with the headband in the middle. This will be your base. Using a length of tulle from each of the four tubes, fold each piece into a triangle and glue them around the top felt circle. Glue shells on top to finish.

Fins Measure out enough of the elastic ribbon to encircle your child’s calf comfortably.

Cut another length for her other leg. Elastic ribbon is very stretchy, so you may not need as much as you think!

Cut several 4-inch wide strips of the four varieties of tulle. How many you will need will depend on how long your elastic ribbon is.

Use a thin strip of tulle to secure the two ends of each length of elastic ribbon.

Wrap your elastic around a wide cup or small bucket. Starting at one end of the elastic, fold your tulle in half and pull the folded end through the first gap in the elastic. Pull the end of the tulle through itself to form a lark’s head knot. Repeat around the bottom row of the elastic, rotating through your four colors of tulle. Once the bottom row is complete, you will repeat the same step for the second and third rows of the elastic to create a full looking fin. Repeat for the second fin.

40

When the fins are complete, slide them around your daughter’s calves to complete her mermaid look.

• Silver spray paint • Various household items; pie plates, mason jar rings, door stoppers, drain hair catcher • Hot glue gun • Silver eyeshadow

Outfit Cut two armholes in the sides of your large box, and then cut a large rectangle out from the front of the smaller one. Use hot glue to secure the two boxes together, then spray paint the entire box silver. Once the boxes are dry, use the hot glue to attach additional decorations to the box. Be creative; almost anything can work! We used door stoppers as antennae and finished the look with a pie plate, a drain hair catcher and mason jar rings. Bend a gold pipe cleaner to resemble the line of a heart monitor and glue it to the blue paper, then attach the paper to the box.

Cut the dryer hoses to the length of your child’s arms and legs. Then, once he is ready to wear his costume, slide the dryer vent hoses over his arms and legs.

Makeup Use silver eyeshadow to add a metallic shine to the nose!

“For it is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas.”

- Charles Dickens, “A Christmas Carol”

We know your heart smiles at the Hipp's beautifully produced family favorites, like our annual production of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" or this season’s “A Year with Frog and Toad.” We want to share magic of this downtown theatre with you.

Our ex passes are the best way to get the full Hipp experience. We give you a set number of tickets that you can use throughout the season -- any show, any time, with any group. Use them on date nights, after-dinner shows with friends, or use them all at once with your entire family. The tickets and the exibility are yours!

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FLEXIBILITY COME TO ANY SHOW!

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Going to Bat for

Bats

BY DANIELLE SPANO

While Gainesville is best associated with the Gators, a certain mammal has a much larger population here than the famed reptile.

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Florida is home to 13 species of bats!

I

t all began in 1987 when a fire on campus left a large bat colony that had been residing in the original Johnson hall’s attic homeless. While the bats showed their Gator pride by relocating to the stadiums, Gator fans did not seem to care for sharing them. The first bat house on campus was constructed in 1991 and another, the bat barn, was built in 2010.

Today, it is estimated nearly 400,000 bats live in the UF bat houses. So many that the University gives away almost 250 gallons of bat droppings (guano) a month to Gainesville residents. And while guano makes an excellent fertilizer, it has irreparably rotted the wood on the original, 26-year-old house. In April, UF erected a third structure modeled after the barn that allows the guano to fall to the ground and alleviate the rotting wood issue. The new structure is still unoccupied. “It took us three years before we could get bats to occupy the (original) structure,” Bill Properzio, director of University of Florida Environmental Health and Safety, the department responsible for maintaining the houses, said. “It’s easy to build the structure; it is difficult to figure out how to populate them.” The Lubee Bat Conservancy (LBC), a center dedicated to saving bats and their habitats, has helped to build bat houses across the city. You can find one at Swamp Head Brewery, another in Haile Plantation and more in residential areas.

In all, Florida is home to 13 species of bat.

Depending on the species, Florida bats prefer to roost in dead trees, Spanish moss,

dead palm fronds, caves and, of course, in bat houses. Thanks to Gainesville’s density of trees and caves, the area has some strong bat populations. Nine species live in Gainesville, of which the eastern red bat, northern yellow bat, tricolored bat, evening bat, southeastern myotis and the free-tailed bat are most often found locally. The free-tailed bat makes up most of the UF bat house population. Florida’s bat population is threatened by destruction of their roost sites from construction and deforestation. As bats seek shelter in urban areas, they are often abused and harassed, as people misunderstand and fear the timid creatures. “There is a critically endangered species found nowhere else in the world, called the Florida bonneted bat, which lives in just a few counties in South Florida,” Brian Pope, director of LBC, said. “This is one of the world’s most endangered mammals and it lives right here in Florida.” Never throw rocks at a bat to get it to leave a building or residential area. Bats will not attack humans. They are wild animals, however, so do not handle them with bare hands. If you find one in your home or building, it is most likely lost or looking for shelter. Turn on the lights so it can find its way and open a window or door so it has a path out. You do not want it to take harbor in your residence, as they can have a musky smell to them, and their guano contains microorganisms that should not be touched. Because bats give birth in spring, the State of Florida has a wildlife law prohibiting the disturbance of any bat colony between mid-April and

Bats feed on fruit, nectar and insects.

Just one bat can dine on up to 3,000 insects every night.

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gigglemagazine.com | october/november 2017

mid-August. The bats are caring for their new pups and cannot be moved, so if you find bats in your home during this time, they will be your temporary roommates until such time that they may be removed.

With all this being said, they are not a nuisance, are not rabies ridden (it occurs in only 1/2 percent of the population) and are rather beneficial to the environment.

Bats feed on fruit, nectar and insects. In fact, 70 percent of the world’s bats are insect-eating. In 2011, the U.S. Geological Survey determined native United States bats save the national agricultural industry upward of $3 billion each year by consuming agricultural pests. Pest control from bats reduces the need for pesticide applications. Just one bat dines on up to 3,000 insects every night! Fruit-eating bats are also helpful, dispersing seeds for many tropical plants. In searching for nectar, it is estimated that bats pollinate more than 300 plant species and are integral to the ecosystem. In some tropical areas, bats are responsible for nearly all of the rainforest’s regrowth. Over 186 plants that are used or consumed by humans are reliant on

70 percent

of the world’s bats are insect-eating.

Tips on Ensuring a Successful Bat House Per University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences

bats for pollination or seed dispersal. Any threat to the bat population is a threat to our economy and agriculture.

As bats lose their natural habitats, their population declines. Bat houses provide a great alternative habitat for our pestcontrolling and pollinating friends.

“We try and keep things as natural as possible at the brewery,” Brandon Nappy, marketing director of Swamp Head Brewery, said. “Working with Lubee on a bat house to keep the mosquitos under control in our outside area seemed like the perfect fit." You can put a bat house in your backyard or have one erected in your neighborhood. Make sure to check with your homeowners’ association regarding any rules or regulations that may require approval before putting one up, if applicable. Not only will you provide a safe place for the bats to take residence, but your new tenants will control mosquitoes, moths, beetles and other insects in your area. The Lubee Bat Conservancy conducts acoustic surveys that record and analyze echolocation calls (the sound waves bats use to navigate in the dark) to determine what species, if any, are present and if it is a good location for a bat house. The Florida Bat Conservancy recommends watching the flight patterns of your area bats to determine a location where the bats will see the house or find it with their sonar.

Once the bat house is up, be patient, as it can take anywhere from weeks to years for them to move in.

1 2 3 4 5 6

Mount it 12 to 15 feet above ground in an open location, away from bright lights and human interaction.

Place the house in an open location to protect bats from predators.

Choose a color that regulates the internal temperature of the house; pick a light color for houses in direct sunlight and a darker shade for limited sunlight.

Larger bat houses with multiple chambers allow for varying temperatures in different areas of the house, which increases the success of habitation (with chambers at least 14 inches wide and at least two feet tall).

Put up new houses in the winter, as bats are most likely to look for new habitats in early spring.

Remove any insect nests and re-caulk regularly to prevent leaks and drafts inside the house.

Attend the 13th Annual Florida Bat Festival at Lubee Bat Conservancy on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017 to view giant fruit bats, tour the conservancy grounds and enjoy the great outdoors while learning about how fruit bats benefit environments and ecosystems worldwide! gigglemagazine.com | October/november 2017

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l health | get healthy

How to Break Out of Adult Acne

BY DANIELLE SPANO

Have you ever looked in the mirror and thought your teenage self must be looking back at you? You can thank adult acne for that. Unfortunately, acne, an inflammatory skin condition, is not just for kids! And even if you did not experience the teenage angst of a breakout, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, you can still experience acne as an adult.

TYPES AND CAUSES OF ADULT ACNE

A study in India defined two types of adult acne; persistent (acne that persists beyond the age of 25) and late-onset (acne appearing for the first time after the age of 25). The study also confirmed that both types are more often found in women, with adult-onset most common in women going through menopause.

Many of the causes of adult acne relate more to women, which explains its gender predominance. Fluctuating hormone levels from menstruation, pregnancy and several birth control methods can lead to acne breakouts. Additionally, hair and skin products such as moisturizer, makeup and sunscreen can clog pores and produce acne. Stress, something we can all relate to, also triggers the body to create androgens, a hormone that can cause acne.

Other members of your family having adult acne can suggest you have a genetic

predisposition to the affliction. A reaction to a medication or undiagnosed medical condition is also a cause, whereas the acne may clear once the medication is changed or the condition treated. Foods high in carbohydrates, such as white grains and sweets, have been linked to acne, but are not a main cause in adults. Overall, eating a balanced diet does benefit your skin.

HOW SHOULD YOU TREAT ADULT ACNE?

According to Consumer Reports, Americans spend over $400 million a year on over-the-counter acne treatments.

A good rule of thumb is to wash with a mild cleanser a few times each day. Use facial products that will not clog pores, such as mineral-based makeup and oilfree creams. Do not irritate or squeeze the pimples and avoid overusing acne products. Your dermatologist can help you determine a regimen that may include retinoids (topical products made with

Vitamin A) or antibiotics that will work best on your skin type to clear up the type of acne from which you suffer. Also note that medications that work well on teens may dry out the skin and even accelerate skin aging in adults, so it is always best to consult with your dermatologist before trying a new product. With a little time and the right regimen of products, you can take care of your skin to keep it looking young — but without the acne!

Teenage vs. adult acne

ADULT ACNE

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TEENAGE ACNE

All this talk about breakouts may sound like déjà vu, but there really is a difference between the acne of your adolescence and adulthood. “Young adolescents typically have acne that involves the forehead, nose, chin, in addition to the chest and back,” Dr. Kiran Motaparthi, assistant professor of the department of dermatology at the University of Florida College of Medicine, said. “In contrast, adult women often complain of acne involving the lower face and neck.” Additionally, skin is typically excessively oily in teenage years with a more constant presence of blackheads, whiteheads and pimples. Adults with acne often also suffer from dry skin with breakouts that are more intermittent. While adult-onset acne is defined as occurring after the age of 25, it can happen anytime from your 30s to your 50s. Life is just full of little surprises, right?

gigglemagazine.com | october/november 2017

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gigglemagazine.com | October/november 2017

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health | get pretty

Appealing At-Home Peels

BY LIZZIE VASQUEZ AND NICOLE IRVING

Looking for a way to quickly exfoliate your face without using microbeads or getting a professional peel? These easy to use at-home facial peels will remove dulling dead skin cells and leave you feeling fresh and radiant.

❶

1

bliss that’s incredi-‘peel’! glycolic resur facing pads

2

Nia Sunday Detox™ Whipped Clay Peel- Of f Mask

3

❷

❹ ❸

5

7 8

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$48, Peterthomasroth.com Massage this peeling gel onto skin and watch dead skin cells get visibly rolled, lifted and swept away. Multi-action enzymes effectively peel and help uncover a smooth, new complexion and remove impurities without drying, irritating or causing undue stress to skin.

Urban Decay Rehab Makeup Prep Pore Redefining Peel

❼

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Peter Thomas Roth FIRMx™ Peeling Gel

4

6 ❽

$36, Ulta and Ulta.com This purifying foam-to-peel mask draws out dirt and debris from pores to reduce the appearance of blackheads, then dries to a peel-off mask to lift away dead skin cells for smooth, radiant skin.

Peter Thomas Roth Un-Wrinkle Peel Pads

❻ ❺

$49 for 30 pads, Blissworld.com, Ulta and Ulta.com These peel pads re-texturize and soothe all skin types for an over-night facial effect. Use these spa-powered peel pads to reduce wrinkles and dark spots in just one step.

$45, Peterthomasroth.com and Sephora This gentle, yet effective daily peel helps to minimize pores, clarify skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The pads are filled with moisturizing properties to help protect skin as it is being exfoliated, leaving it with the glow of a professional facial peel.

$26, Sephora, Ulta, Urbandecay.com and select Macy’s stores Like a vacuum for your pores, this peel-off mask immediately draws out impurities, leaving pores visibly cleaner and more refined. It is gentle enough for sensitive skin and works on all complexion types to get your skin ready for makeup.

Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Extra Streng th Daily Peel

$16, Sephora and Sephora.com Step one of this two-step daily peel gently exfoliates the skin, while step two combats signs of aging by diminishing fine lines to keep skin looking smooth and radiant.

The Body Shop Vitamin C Liquid Peel

$23, The Body Shop and Thebodyshop-usa.com Whatever your skin type, this new gel-to-peel technology works as a gentle alternative to traditional exfoliators. Simply peel away tired cells to reveal soft, glowing skin without abrasive particles or enzymes.

The Body Shop Drops of YouthTM Youth Liquid Peel

$25, The Body Shop and Thebodyshop-usa.com This liquid peel will leave skin feeling clean by exfoliating and gently peeling off impurities and lifting dead skin cells.

Continued use will leave you with a smoother and more youthful-looking complexion.

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Turkey Pickin’' Tips

BY TRACE FERGUSON

There is a plethora of options when choosing a turkey for Thanksgiving dinner. Not only do you have to decide how you will cook it, you have to consider the size, freshness, ingredients and how the turkey was raised in order to serve up a truly delicious Thanksgiving meal. To help you decide what to buy, we cooked up this turkey guide for both budding and experienced turkey chefs alike!

Size

It can be hard to gauge how large of a turkey to get for the amount of people you are feeding. A good rule of thumb is to have a pound of turkey (with the bones still in) for every person being fed. If you desire leftovers, up the weight to the equivalent of one and a half pounds per person. If you

50

cannot find a turkey large enough, you can always buy two turkeys, cook them both, and have one for Thanksgiving dinner and the other for leftovers. Two separate turkeys will be quicker to thaw (if you buy frozen) than one large one and easier to maneuver when cooking.

Fresh or frozen

A fresh turkey is one that has never been frozen under 26 degrees. These turkeys should be bought one to two days before cooking. Bill Finnegan, a local butcher at the Williston Plaza Publix, said that fresh turkeys can be more expensive by $1.50/per pound, but they are often characterized as having a richer flavor. However, it can be a mad dash to get a fresh turkey a few days before your Thanksgiving feast. If you want a fresh turkey, call your local supermarket several weeks in advance to reserve your turkey. Or,

gigglemagazine.com | october/november 2017

you can save yourself some stress and get a frozen turkey a few weeks (or months) in advance of Thanksgiving. Frozen turkeys can last in your freezer for up to an entire year, but cooking them within two to three months will yield the best results. Bill said that he personally buys a frozen turkey and cooks it in an oven bag to ensure that the turkey stays moist throughout the cooking process.

Defrosting

A frozen turkey should be defrosted in the refrigerator before roasting. Leave it in its original packaging, put it in the fridge (preferably on a tray to limit the mess as it defrosts) and keep the turkey in the fridge for 24 hours per every four to five pounds of turkey, according to Foodsafety.gov. So, for example, if you have a 20-pound turkey, you should leave it in the fridge for a total of four days to defrost.

Types of turkey Free-Range

The USDA definition of “free-range” means that the birds have access to the outdoors. This label does not necessarily mean that the birds can roam freely. They can still be caged with minimal access to the outdoors.

Pastured

Pastured turkeys are like the upgraded version of free-range turkey. These turkeys are allowed outdoors for most of their lives and are able to roam about and forage for food. They are free of antibiotics and hormones, and their flavor is regarded as better than turkey that was raised indoors.

Self-Basted

These turkeys have been injected with either broth, butter, a saline solution, chicken fat, or a mixture of all four. The texture of these turkeys is often spongy and moist. However, due to the other flavors inside, some say that the actual turkey flavor is minimal.

Organic

An organic turkey, by USDA standard, has to be raised on organic feed alone, given access to the outdoors (making them free-range as well) and are not allowed any antibiotics.

Natural

A natural turkey contains no artificial ingredients or color. It is also minimally processed, but the “natural” label does not make reference to how it was raised.

Kosher

Kosher turkeys are raised and processed with rabbinical supervision and in alignment with Jewish dietary laws.

Heritage

These turkeys are directly descended from the first domesticated turkeys in America. They are the most expensive of all the varieties of turkey and have to be special ordered. They are typically smaller and leaner, since they are not commercialized like the majority of turkeys.

They also have more dark meat than their commercial counterparts.

Now that you have a better understanding of your turkey options, go out and make something delicious this year for your family!

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happy home | fix it

DIY Chair Change-Up by allison raber | photos by allison raber

Do you have an old upholstered chair you are looking to replace? Instead of hunting for a new one, consider giving the one you have a face-lift with this DIY!

materials needed • • • • •

Chair with upholstered seat Drop cloth Upholstery fabric Heavy duty staple gun Upholstery staple remover

• • • • •

Scissors Screwdriver 1 quart interior latex paint Spray primer Paintbrush

getting started

1. After giving your chair a good wipe down with a damp cloth, use a screwdriver to remove the screws from underneath the seat.

Remove the seat and set aside. Make sure to put the screws somewhere safe; you will need them later.

2. In a well-ventilated area, place your chair on a drop cloth and

spray a coat of primer all over the chair frame. Be sure to get underneath the armrests and in the corners. You can also use a liquid primer, but we found the spray to be easiest.

3. Once the primer is fully dry, stir your paint. Working from

the top down, paint a first layer all over the chair frame.

Remember to get in the corners and hidden areas. Repeat with a second coat.

4. While your chair frame dries, use the staple remover to remove

the fabric from the chair seat. You will use this as a template to cut out your new fabric. Trace around the template with a fabric pencil, leaving some extra space for error. Cut out the fabric and lay it face down on a firm surface. Place your seat upside down on the new fabric. Starting with the corners, begin pulling the fabric up and around the seat and stapling it in place. It is a good idea to start with less staples until you are happy with the placement of everything. Once you are happy with your placement, add some additional staples all around the edges to secure. Cut off any excess fabric.

5. Place your seat back on to your dry chair frame. Using your screwdriver, replace the screws to secure the seat.

6. Find the perfect spot in your home for your chair to live!

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lights and set out flameless candles to set the mood for their lesson. “It helps you find your inner peace and stretch out,” said Nehyssa, a fourth-grader at Healthy Learning Academy. And while teachers may lead the younger students through their yoga lessons, the fourth and fifth grade session is student-led, with interested students taking the initiative to write up their own lesson plans.

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.

“We have a lot less issues in the classrooms because they’re getting that movement and that focus … there’s a lot more time on task once they get in the classrooms and time spent learning instead of time spent redirecting,” said principal Anni Egan.

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.

An active and engaged start Getting the wiggles out takes on a fun and healthy start at Healthy Learning Academy, located in Jonesville, Florida.

Before classes even begin, the students start their day with Morning Mile, a

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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.

Keeping parents and children in the know is key to the staff. HLA starts the day with Morning Meeting, a time that allows the whole school to gather and discuss current events, learn new languages and character education, sing songs, and most importantly, spend a few moments working on breathing, focusing and self-affirmation.

After the meeting, the students’ day starts with a 20-minute yoga lesson, a favorite among some of the students. The students roll out their yoga mats, teachers dim the

gigglemagazine.com | october/november 2017

Merging healthy habits and traditional studies The public charter school, which opened 12 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, Mary Ann Harris.

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.

“When you think about cooking, they’re working together, they’re reading, they’re following the directions of the recipe and learning fractions in an actual, real-life way,” said Egan.

It’s all about parent involvement Parents are an integral part of the children’s education at Healthy Learning academy, so much so that all parents of students at Healthy Learning Academy are required to volunteer 20 hours per school year, with five of those hours being spent in the classroom.

“The benefit of the parents being involved is that they are more invested in their

children’s education,” said Egan. “They see what is happening at the school and they want to be involved.” Parents can help in the garden, come in and listen to students read, help cook, or even inspire the children by coming in to talk about their careers. “Kids’ education is a three-legged stool, and the education is the top of the stool,” Egan said.

“We know that the kids are giving more than 100 percent … we know that we’re going to give 100 percent … so we need to make sure the parents are 100 percent dedicated too, because if any one of those three legs isn’t there, then the stool collapses and the children don’t get all the benefits of a high-quality education.”

Counting on curriculum In addition to a heavy focus on fitness and health, Health 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 projectbased approach to learning. Students may be assigned a project requiring them plan for a playground or build a rollercoaster. “They do so much better with [real-life experiences] than just taking stuff from the book,” Egan said. Healthy Learning Academy is also working on integrating curriculum. Social studies and science have been incorporated into reading to allow for more time for students to do projects and experiments.

Providing a diversified environment, 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. “What really makes me know that we are successful is when my fifth-graders still like coming to school,” said Egan. “That’s success!”

"Healthy Learning Academy has been a blessing to our entire family. We moved our son to HLA in third grade when we felt that the large public school wasn't meeting his needs for ongoing struggles with reading. HLA provided interventions, ongoing support and ideas, as well as a ‘soft spot’ to land when we felt defeated. The principal, Mrs. Egan, is there every morning encouraging the kids to have a positive outlook. It's a small school with staff that truly cares about the children. Moving our son, and then our daughter, to HLA, 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 gigglemagazine.com | October/november 2017 55 Located Inside The Jockey Club

giggle stamp | products we love

Sweater Weather 7 Cute and Cozy Sweaters for Fall

BY COLLEEN MCTIERNAN & EDWIN EXAUS

This cozy closet staple has made its way back into our hearts — and our wardrobes. Best known for colorful patterns and unusual textures, sweaters are easy to throw on or style with any look, making them go-to items for the cooler months.

With tons of options to choose from (cable knit, cashmere, wool) there is no excuse to be wearing the same pullover from your college years. We are sharing some of our top picks for this upcoming autumn season.

Women’s Merino-Cotton Peacoat Sweater $99, Landsend.com

Fair Isle Crewneck $89.50, Talbots.com

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Simple Solids These cotton sweaters may not be adorned with colorful patterns, but their knit texture gives them a flair of their own.

Signature Cotton Fisherman Tunic Sweater

Textured Wrap Belt Cardigan

Relaxed Boatneck Sweater

$59.95, Gap.com

$59.50, Jcrew.com

$99.99, Llbean.com

Delicate Details From subtle side buttons to lace-up backs, the beauty is truly in the details with these sweaters!

Marled Lace-Up Back Circle Hem Sweater $59.90, Express.com

Women’s Chaps Marled Striped Sweater $69, Kohls.com

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Home

of the

Brave Celebrating THOSE WHO SERVE

By Colleen mctiernan Photos by sincerely gone photography

Joining the military is a very personal decision, but one that affects loved ones, especially children and spouses of those who have served or are still serving our country. As Veterans Day approaches, we wanted to honor some of our very own servicemen and women, both veterans and those currently serving, from all different branches of the United States Armed Forces.

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CA

TURN TISHA

ER

Branch of the military: Navy Title: Surface Warfare Officer Catisha Turner joined the U.S. Navy in 1999 after learning through her ROTC program at Duke University that she could have her education paid for.

She was stationed in Norfolk, Virginia, but during her time in the Navy she was deployed to the Mediterranean and the Middle East. “That was definitely one of the benefits of the military, just being able to experience different cultures,” said Catisha.

She left the Navy in 2005 before marrying her husband, Philip, because she wanted a more stable life before starting a family. “I wanted to be a mom that could be home,” she said. Her daughters, Ava (10) and Nadia (8) have definitely inherited their mom’s love of the water and have been taught the importance of service through both Catisha’s time in the Navy and the family’s faith.

“I want them to know that that’s sort of part of our DNA and what we should be doing is serving and serving others,” said Catisha.

After deciding to leave the military, she went to a Junior Military Officer Hiring Conference and got a job with RTI Surgical in Alachua, where she still works. Now, after 18 years (six and a half of which were active duty) Catisha is using the Post-9/11 GI Bill to start school again, coming full circle with her original goal.

“I just think I come away from the military with a great sense of gratitude,” she said. “I do recognize it as a privilege and something I’m really grateful to say that I did.”

INE JERMA

H AY E S

Branch of the military: Air National Guard Title: Electrician Jermaine Hayes joined the Air Force in 2000 with the aim to do something different from his friends. “Everybody else was going to college or getting jobs,” he said. “I wanted to get away, just travel and ride around a little bit.” Then after spending three years in each Germany and Japan, Jermaine decided to join the Air National Guard in 2008. Now he works at Graybar Electric and goes to Camp Blanding in Starke, the primary military reservation training base for the Florida National Guard, one weekend each month.

With the Guard, Jermaine has been deployed twice, once to Afghanistan and once to Iraq.

The first deployment came right after his wife Kavasia found out she was pregnant with their now 5-year-old son, Jayden. “Luckily, he was able to come home right before our son was born,” she said. Although it was tough for her, Kavasia said that the second deployment was even more trying for their family.

“Having our son here and him wanting his daddy every day, it was pretty hard on him,” she said. The two were reunited in a surprise homecoming for Jayden at the 2016 Ghouls, Goblins, and Greeks event.

Although it can be difficult when Jermaine is away, both Kavasia and Jayden are very proud of what he does.

“The biggest perk is that I’m married to someone who serves this country, doing what he loves to do for this country,” she said.

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gigglemagazine.com | October/november 2017

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BA L L CHRIS

ARD

Branch of the military: Florida Army National Guard Title: Federal Technician Eighteen years ago, Chris Ballard decided to join the military because he wanted to try something new. “I was really just looking for something different to do, something maybe a little adventurous,” he said. Today, Chris is the federal technician at Camp Blanding in Starke (the primary military reservation training

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base for the Florida National Guard), where he works full time.

definitely kind of hard because sometimes he can’t be there,” said Allison.

Since joining, Chris and his wife Amy have had three children, Matthew (13), Allison (12) and Mallory (8). Being in the National Guard while having a family has definitely been challenging at times for Chris. He has been deployed three times, each for about a year, which means that he misses important family moments, like birthdays. “Him being in the army is

But despite the long deployments, the Ballards are proud of Chris for his service.

“Amy is extremely supportive, very patient and the kids are really proud of me for being in it and they’re glad that I’m serving,” said Chris. “It definitely makes you appreciate who you got at home on a deployment.”

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learn | family learning

Finding the Right Fit

An Insider's Guide to Local High School Magnets

BY APRIL TISHER

We have explored the local options for middle school magnet programs (See What’s In A Middle School Magnet? from the Giggle Oct/Nov 2016 issue), but did you know that there are options for high schoolers, as well? Gone are the days where everyone just goes to the high school they are zoned for. That is certainly still a viable option that the majority of students in Alachua County choose, but if your student is looking for something different, there are options to consider!

Magnets While there are many choices for high school students there are only two official high school academic magnet programs in the Alachua County Public School District.

There is the International Baccalaureate Program (or IB as it is commonly referred to) at Eastside High School and the Cambridge Program at Gainesville High School. Coordinators for the magnet programs begin to recruit students during their eighth-grade year. Students who are enrolled in a middle school magnet program are most likely to be recruited, but high school magnets are open to any students who meet the criteria and are interested in applying. Open houses usually occur in January with the application process and shadowing days following shortly after. Dustin Adams, the curriculum area specialist for magnet programs in Alachua County warned parents and students not to “buy into the reputation you may have heard about for a certain program.” He encourages them to attend the open houses and allow students to shadow at the programs they are interested in. “Sometimes what you’ve heard isn’t necessarily true,” he said. He also stressed that competition is high for high school magnets, so be sure to turn the applications and required documents in on time.

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The International Baccalaureate (IB) program at EHS is the oldest magnet in Alachua County and one of over 2,300 IB schools worldwide. The requirements to be accepted into the IB program are high and competitive: a 3.2 or higher GPA, high marks on standardized tests, no disciplinary issues, etc. Students who graduate with an IB Diploma qualify for Florida Bright Futures Scholarships and can earn university credits.

Up to 150 students can be accepted into the IB program at EHS each year.

The Cambridge Program or Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) offered at GHS is a highly-selective program for academically advanced students.

The program is an innovative and accelerated method of academic study offered solely through the University of Cambridge International Examinations (CIE), a division of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England. This program accepts up to 125 students each year.

Both magnets attract academically motivated students with a willingness to be involved in their school through classwork and extracurricular activities.

There is an application process for both and acceptance is based on rankings.

These programs both involve specialized testing in order to receive the full credits both for high school and college.

Career and Technical Education Opportunities Although there are only two academic magnets to choose from, there are many other options in the form of Career and Technical Education Opportunities. CTEs or what used to be referred to as vocational education, offer many specialized areas of educational opportunities at all area high schools. From culinary arts, finance and health occupations to biotech, emergency services and agriscience, there is something for every student. For details on the programs and how to apply, please visit the career academies page on Sbac.edu.

gigglemagazine.com | october/november 2017

BUCHHOLZ HIGH SCHOOL • Academy of Entrepreneurship • Academy of Finance • Drafting • Digital Design EASTSIDE HIGH SCHOOL • Institute of Culinary Arts • Digital Design This nationally acclaimed program is accredited by the American Culinary Federation, allowing students to earn college credits.

Aside from learning skills necessary to be a chef, the program also teaches management and dining room operations.

GAINESVILLE HIGH SCHOOL • Academy of Future Teachers • Academy of Health Professions • Digital Media/Multimedia Design • Digital Video Production • Lodging Operations HAWTHORNE HIGH SCHOOL • Digital Design NEWBERRY HIGH SCHOOL • Academy of Criminal Justice • Animal Sciences & Services • Culinary Arts • Digital Design PROFESSIONAL ACADEMIES MAGNET@ LOFTEN HIGH SCHOOL • Academy of Automotive Technology • Academy of Fire & Emergency Medical Services • Academy of Gaming and Mobile Apps • Academy of Robotics and Engineering • Institute of Graphic Art and Design SANTA FE HIGH SCHOOL • Academy of Agriscience (Vet Assisting, Horticulture, Animal Sciences & Services, Agritechnology) • Institute of Biotechnology • Digital Design • Cabinet Making

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learn | featured teacher

Thu-Thuy Rogers Why were you inspired to teach?

I had many teachers I loved growing up who made me love school. My mom was also a teacher. And I love kids!

WHAT SCHOOL DO YOU CURRENTLY WORK AT?

Queen of Peace Catholic Academy WHAT GRADE/AGE DO YOU TEACH?

Pre-Kindergarten HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A TEACHER?

15 years

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 activity to do with your students?

I love painting and doing other crafts with them. I find it relaxing! I also love singing and dancing with the kids.

What advice would you give to parents of students starting in your class?

Pre-K is an exciting but also anxious time for both parents and the children because it is the first "real" school for the kids. Know that we love your kids as our own, and we really do want what is best for them. It is important for parents and teachers to work together so that our kids can succeed. I am grateful to the many parents over the years who have trusted me to play such an important role in their children's lives.

What is your favorite part of the school day?

Centers time. It is when the kids get to do free play, which is always fun to listen to and watch. My assistant, a parent volunteer and I also call the children to do a brief one-on-one or small group activity. This is a great time to really get to know the kids and form a nice relationship with them.

How do you wind down from a long day of teaching?

Being with my husband and our two young daughters.

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What do you like to do outside of the classroom?

Anything with my family, whether it is going to a park or the pool. I also love anything crafty.

What has been your funniest interaction with a student?

Being with 4-year-olds every day means a LOT of laughs, but the most memorable one would probably be from my first year of teaching. My principal came in for a visit while the kids were looking through books and visiting with each other during a transition time. We were sitting by two other children and talking, when a little boy leaned over and kissed a little girl on her lips.

What is your favorite book?

The “Harry Potter� series!

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I am proud to be a teacher. I have been teaching for many years and at the same school, so I have gotten to know lots of families over the years. Many of them have become like family to me.

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learn | parents share

Harper's Story

Life with Rett Syndrome

BY LESLIE YOUMANS | PHOTOS BY SHANDON SMITH WITH LIFEPRINTS PHOTOGRAPHY

O

n Aug. 16, 2013 we welcomed our Harper Jean into the world. At just 5 pounds, 10 ounces and 18 inches long, she was tiny, but perfect! She quickly earned the nickname “Harper Bean” or just “The Bean” for her small size. She was welcomed into our combined family that now consists of four children, my husband, Jeff, and myself. We have my 16-yearold stepson Jeffrey, my 7-year-old spunky Hayden Grace, our Harper (who is now 4) and our 2-year-old baby boy, Emmett.

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We were able to go home just 24 hours after Harper's birth. She was an easy baby.

She rolled over on time, laughed and cooed and was such a joy. Life was good.

The start of symptoms At 6–7 months old, I started noticing some alarming things with Harper. Her eyes started crossing, she lost the ability to sit up well on her own, and she had many bouts of reflux, ear infections and pneumonia. Her muscles were weakening.

Our baby was no longer strong and happy.

Around 9 months of age I reached out to her pediatrician and he ordered some tests, which all came back normal. By

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12 months she still was not crawling or walking and she did not sleep well.

She was, however, able to clap and feed herself her birthday cake. Due to all of the delays she was experiencing she started physical and occupational therapy in hopes of helping her catch up to normal development for her age. We were elated when she started crawling around 13 months old.

Emmett was born when Harper was 15 months old. Although she was fussy, still not sleeping through the night and continuing to lose muscle tone, she was intrigued by him and would say "Em...

mettttt." It was precious! She also said "Hay…den," "bye," "mommy," "daddy" and "baaaaaby." She even tried to copy me when I told her I loved her.

Then, around 18 months Harper became miserable and inconsolable. She would cry hours, sometimes days, at a time. This meant no sleep — for any of us. There were many trips to the emergency room where we returned home feeling helpless as the doctors could not determine the source of her crying. She stopped talking and became increasingly lethargic. She started not being able to control her hands well and began mouthing them nonstop. This was the hardest phase.

Not being able to console her for days at a time and being afraid of what I would find when I peeked into her crib was terrifying. It took a toll on all of us.

According to Rett Syndrome Research Trust, Rett Syndrome is a serious lifelong neurological disorder diagnosed almost exclusively in girls. Many children with Rett are unable to speak, walk or use their hands, and they often need feeding tubes. Common issues associated with Rett Syndrome are seizures, anxiety, and gastrointestinal, breathing and orthopedic problems.

Currently, Harper does not walk without the use of a gait trainer. She occasionally says a few words, but she is unable to express her wants and needs effectively.

We have been working diligently to obtain a device that will allow her to communicate with us by using only her eyes. She crawls very slowly and has very little purposeful use of her hands as it is hard for her to control them. She requires

We saw countless doctors and specialists.

We were exhausted and distraught. A basic chromosome test turned up nothing.

Fragile X (a genetic condition that causes intellectual disability as well as behavioral and learning issues) testing was negative.

All of the doctors remained clueless.

Reaching a diagnosis Finally, on Oct. 30, 2016, after almost two years of waiting, we received the answer to the mystery surrounding Harper's health problems — it was devastating. She was diagnosed with a genetic mutation of the MECP2 gene.

Harper has Rett Syndrome.

Imagine the symptoms of Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Parkinson’s, Epilepsy and Anxiety Disorder … all in one little girl.

– Rett Syndrome Research Trust CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Harper loves spending time with her dad, Jeff. Harper uses her gait trainer to walk. Harper wears special arm splints to help control her hands. gigglemagazine.com | October/november 2017

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the use of custom arm splints to keep her from mouthing her hands.

There really is no major body system that Rett does not affect. Harper sees many different specialists with UF Health, including specialists in gastroenterology, cardiology, ophthalmology, orthopedics and most recently neurology. She also has a rigorous therapy schedule, to which we hope to add equine and aqua therapy as it benefits so many children with Rett.

Harper loves attending school at Newberry Elementary, but we often have to pick her up early for therapy appointments or visits to her specialists.

She has been sick with upper respiratory symptoms more often than not.

Looking toward the future In January of 2017 we traveled to Atlanta to meet neurologist and Rett Syndrome specialist Dr. Daniel Tarquinio.

Currently, there are no Rett specialists in Florida. Dr. Tarquinio was able to provide

us with a better picture of Harper’s specific gene mutation. He informed us that Harper’s specific mutation has NEVER been recorded and is completely unique to her. There truly is no one in the world who compares to her and he nicknamed her “his unicorn.”

Harper appears to no longer be in the destructive phase of “regression.” We are hopeful that the disease stops ravaging her body and robbing her of her abilities.

Going forward we will continue to follow up with her team of specialists to make sure she does not develop more trademarks of Rett.

We hope to inspire other families to remain positive even when the situations in life you have been given seem so unfair.

We choose happiness and joy. We choose to live life to the fullest and provide Harper with all the opportunities we can.

Our sweet Harper “Bean” has the sweetest smile, the most adorable evil-ish laugh and is feisty and sassy as all get out. She is a serious fan of “Toy Story” and those little yellow Minions make her giggle like nothing else. She is a fighter. She is tiny, but she most certainly is fierce.

Meet Harper's Siblings!

Emmett Since Harper was diagnosed last year, our youngest, Emmett, has been seen by the Early Steps program as well as a developmental specialist. He is developmentally delayed in many areas, including speech. The specialist is concerned that Emmett may be on the autism spectrum. We will return to the specialist after Emmett has had six months of therapy as well as time in preschool. He will join his sister in the ESE program at Newberry Elementary when he turns 3 in November. Emmett, as of August, has begun speech and occupational therapy, bringing our total therapy visits to 10 per week.

The Youmans are an Ambassador Family for the Children's Miracle Network and participate in Dance Marathon. Harper is sponsored by the Pre-Legal Honor Society — Team Harper.

HAYDEN Hayden, our 7-year-old, has had a lot of growing up to do at a young age. She has been exposed to many things that most children of her age do not experience. However, we feel that she has gained personality traits that many individuals never acquire.

She is one of the most strong and empathetic people (adults included!)

I have ever known. We work hard on giving her one on one time. Her teacher last year participated in a “buddy reading” program in which Hayden’s first-grade class would pair up with a child from Harper’s pre-K class and read to them. Both of the girls loved it. She currently participates in gymnastics and has also recently joined Girl Scouts.

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conception2college™

expecting Don't Eat That!

infant | 0-1 Photo by Shandon Smith with Lifeprints Photography

Cough It Up

toddler | 2-3 Decisions, Decisions

early years | 4-5 Tell Me A Story

kids | 6-9 Help Me Help You

tweens | 10-1 3 Trick Or Treat?

Teens | 14-18 More Than Just The Blues

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c2c | expecting { PR E G N A N C Y }

Don't Eat That!

Foods to avoid during pregnancy

BY colleen mctiernan and lizzie vasquez

You just found out you are pregnant! Congratulations! But put down that celebratory glass of champagne, and stow away the sushi. For the next nine months, there are some food restrictions you need to be aware of to maintain a healthy pregnancy.

What should I stay away from?

Raw meat and fish Undercooked or rare beef and poultry should be avoided due to risk of salmonella, toxoplasmosis and coliform bacteria. Sushi containing raw fish should also be avoided. However, you can still satisfy your sushi craving with a veggie roll, and tempura rolls are also safer because they are cooked, said Dr. Nicole Scogin of All About Women Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Deli meat According to the American Pregnancy Association, deli meats have been known to be contaminated with listeria, which can cause miscarriage. Listeria can penetrate the placenta and infect the baby, possibly leading to blood-poisoning, and it may be life-threatening.

“It’s also oftentimes a difficult diagnosis to make because it’s not something we see very often,” said Dr. Scogin.

Fish containing mercury Pregnant women should avoid fish with high levels of mercury. This can cause developmental delays and brain damage. Fish at the top of the food chain such as shark, swordfish and mackerel should not be consumed during pregnancy. However, you do not need to avoid all fish. “There’s good oils and fats in those that can be good for baby’s developing brain,” said Dr. Scogin. She recommends eating moderate amounts of shrimp, tilapia, salmon, freshwater trout, cod, crab, or canned light tuna.

Raw shellfish Many seafood-borne illness is caused by undercooked shellfish, which includes oysters, clams and mussels. These foods are potentially dangerous for everyone and should definitely be avoided during pregnancy.

Raw eggs Raw eggs and foods containing raw eggs should be avoided due to the risk of salmonella. Some homemade recipes for Caesar dressings, mayonnaise, homemade ice cream and Hollandaise sauces may be made with raw eggs. If the recipe is cooked at some point or made with pasteurized eggs, risk of salmonella is reduced.

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Unpasteurized foods Unpasteurized milk and cheeses may contain listeria. Ensure all dairy products and juices you consume are pasteurized.

Soft cheeses Soft cheese may need to be avoided for the risk of listeria. Cheeses such as brie, Camembert, Roquefort, feta, Gorgonzola and Mexicanstyle cheeses (including queso blanco and queso fresco) should not be consumed during pregnancy unless they clearly state they are made from pasteurized milk.

Caffeine We know all you future mommies need your morning coffee, but it is important to resist this temptation. Caffeine is a diuretic, which means it helps eliminate fluids from the body. It should be avoided during the first trimester to reduce the likelihood of a miscarriage.

After that, caffeine intake should be limited to fewer than 200 mg per day, but is best if not consumed at all.

Alcohol This should go without saying — do not consume alcohol during pregnancy. Alcohol consumption can lead to Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and many other developmental disorders.

What can I eat?

Dr. Scogin encourages her patients to eat a generally well-rounded and healthy diet. “I tell them to usually focus on vegetables over fruits, lean meats, low-fat dairy and limit their sugar, especially processed sugar,” she said. If you experience nausea early in your pregnancy, be sure to stay hydrated. Dr. Scogin also recommends that any woman who could become pregnant take a prenatal vitamin to decrease neural tube defects. “Maintaining those good health habits and teaching them to your new little ones will help them to grow healthy and strong,” she said. *This article is for informational purposes only and does not replace medical advice from a physician. Please consult your doctor with any and all questions regarding your pregnancy and diet.

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c2c | infant { 0 -1 y e a r }

Cough It Up What to do when your baby has a cough

BY DANIELLE SPANO

Coughing is a natural reflex the body uses to clear the lungs and airways. But when a newborn coughs a parent’s first instinct is often to worry. Sometimes a cough is just a cough, and other times it calls for a trip to the doctor. Understanding what causes coughing and the different types of coughs will help you to determine how to help your little one.

Common causes of coughing

Coughing is symptomatic of many afflictions. The common cold, flu and other infections can all instigate coughing. While infants can have several colds in their first year, you should always consult your pediatrician, particularly when a baby under 3 months becomes ill as it can quickly develop into something more serious.

The most common cause of chronic coughing in babies is asthma, which can be difficult to diagnose due to varying symptoms.

Allergies from pollen, animals, dust and more can cause a cough associated with a runny nose and watery eyes. Some babies suffer from acid reflux and the irritation can lead to coughing spells.

Even teething can trigger coughing. Serious causes include whooping cough, pneumonia and airway restriction from a foreign body.

Wet vs. Dry

The American Academy of Pediatrics distinguishes coughs by wet (with mucous) or dry (no mucous). Dry coughs are most common, with even healthy babies sporadically having dry coughs throughout the day to clear their airways. A persistent dry cough, however, could be a sign of illness or a condition, and should be observed by a doctor. A wet cough can be a sign of illness or infection and is often accompanied by other symptoms such as a runny nose and sore throat. Again, even simple colds can progress quickly in infants, so a trip to the doctor is recommended.

How to help

Sound

Coughs can also be distinguished by the sound they make. “One of the best ways to diagnose a cough is by listening,” Dr. Luis E. Scaccabarrozzi of Kids Doc Pediatrics said. “Knowing what the cough sounds like will help your doctor decide how to treat your child.”

A barking cough, which sounds like a seal barking, is typically associated with the croup, a viral infection that tends to have worse symptoms at night. In infants, a barking cough could also be a sign of an abnormal airway. A barking cough could be a sign your baby is sick as a dog, and a doctor visit is necessary.

Wheezing coughs — associated with a whistling sound — can be a sign of asthma, choking on a foreign object or bronchiolitis (an infection in the small airways in the lungs), and will require a physical exam. In premature babies, a wheezing cough can be a symptom of a chronic lung disease.

If your baby has been sick over a week and has coughing fits, she may have pertussis, commonly called Whooping Cough. In infants, the signature whooping noise is not prevalent, so do not dismiss this serious possibility for lack of the sound. Whooping cough is highly contagious, and babies under 6 months require hospitalization.

The American College of Chest Physicians recommends you have any chronic cough investigated to ensure it is not symptomatic of something more serious, like asthma or a respiratory issue.

There are a few dos and don’ts for giving your infant some coughing relief.

•Do use a cool mist humidifier in their bedroom when they sleep.

•Do sit with your baby in the bathroom with a hot shower running so that the steam can help them breathe easier.

•Do give your little one lots of love — nature’s best medicine.

•Do not give any honey or honey-based products to any child under 1 year old for risk of infantile botulism.

•Do not give your baby or toddler over-the-counter cold or cough medicine. These products are not approved by the Federal Drug Administration for babies and are not recommended for children under 6. Many cold medications contain multiple medicines (more than would be necessary to treat just a cough) and have greater side effects in children than adults. Additionally, it has not been proven that cough medicines effectively treat young children. *Remember to always consult your doctor/pediatrician first.

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䴀伀一吀䔀匀匀伀刀䤀 䴀伀一吀䔀匀匀伀刀䤀 吀䠀䔀 䴀䤀䰀䰀䠀伀倀倀䔀刀 圀䄀夀

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䄀最攀 ㈀ⴀ㠀琀栀 䜀爀愀搀攀 ㌀㔀㈀⸀㌀㜀㔀⸀㘀㜀㜀㌀ 㠀㔀 㔀㈀ⴀ㠀琀栀 一圀 ㌀㤀琀栀 䄀瘀攀⸀Grade 洀椀氀氀栀漀瀀瀀攀爀⸀挀漀洀 䄀最攀 䜀爀愀搀攀 ㌀㔀㈀⸀㌀㜀㔀⸀㘀㜀㜀㌀ Age 2-8th 㠀㔀 㔀 一圀 ㌀㤀琀栀 䄀瘀攀⸀

洀椀氀氀栀漀瀀瀀攀爀⸀挀漀洀

352-375-6773 • 8505 NW 39th Ave, Gainesville • millhopper.com

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c2c | toddler {2-3 years}

Decisions, Decisions The importance of giving your toddler a choice

BY OLIVIA K PITKETHLY, MA, LMHC

I remember being a kid and going to Toys ‘R’ Us, gripping a gift certificate in my little hand. I felt like I was holding a lottery ticket as I walked down every aisle, amazed at how many toys were available at my chubby fingertips. But I also felt overwhelmed and anxious because I just did not know what to pick. To this day, I cannot remember which precious object came home with me, but I do remember the conflict between joy and confusion.

You are probably already noticing your toddler’s desire for independence. He may be pushing boundaries (and your buttons!) when he refuses to eat breakfast or put on his shoes.

Parents can promote this newfound independence within acceptable boundaries by providing their child with a choice between two food types or two pairs of shoes.

While giving your child a choice can be an empowering exercise, having too many choices can be confusing and scary, especially for a tiny tot. Erin Leyba, author of “Joy Fixes for Weary Parents” said that giving your child the opportunity to

use his voice and make decisions can build respect, improve the parent-child bond and can capitalize on the child’s natural need for power and control.

Leyba suggested giving your toddler no more than two choices.

So, instead of asking which park he wants to go to, offer just two parks to choose from. This way, the parent provides structure and allows the child freedom with preapproved options.

Melissa Larena is a mother of two girls, ages 2 and 3. While she encourages her daughters to discover and play on their own, she notes her younger daughter tends to take her sister’s toys away from her. That is when she steps in to diffuse the situation.

“I give her two other toys as options, and she seems to like having a choice,” said Larena. “She smiles and grabs what she wants and she is happy with herself.”

Empowering your toddler with decision-making goes beyond the playroom and into the kitchen. Larena said that although her older daughter is more easy-going, she tends to be a picky eater, so she gives her choices. “If she doesn’t like what is for dinner and she hasn’t eaten much in the day, I ask if she would like eggs or grilled cheese,” she said. “But not always because I don’t want her to think she does the menu. I think two choices are better and easier for both of us.”

Leyba recommended maintaining consistency with your children. “If you give children choices once, but not the next time, they naturally get frustrated and protest,” she wrote. For example, if your child gets to choose her breakfast one morning, but not the next, she will be confused by the incongruence.

Leyba also suggested creating a ritual around the choice. Pick out two movies for your child to choose from for family movie night. Hang up two shirts every morning and allow your toddler to pick one to wear to school that day. And do not forget to praise and thank him for his choice. “You picked a really funny movie!” or “That shirt looks very cute on you!” can go a long way to building your child’s confidence and self-esteem.

Empowering your toddler with decisionmaking goes beyond the playroom 76

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c2c | early years {4-5 years}

Tell Me A Story A guide to crafting the perfect bedtime story

BY OLIVIA K PITKETHLY, MA, LMHC

“Tell me a story.” These four words coming from my children gets my creative juices flowing. I love to engage in the silly, describing a real-life Candy Land, and changing my voice with each character. My husband?

Not so much. He says he is the least creative person in our family, though he is more creative than he thinks.

Nevertheless, the storytelling usually falls under my list of parental duties, and I am always happy to oblige.

Many parents, though, feel stuck when their child asks them for an original bedtime story. Lucky for you, we have got a story rubric to help you build the perfect story for your little one!

Truth or fiction?

Kids love to hear stories about when their parents were little.

It is hard for them to imagine their parents being little people, and if you have an especially funny story to share from your own childhood, they will be delighted to hear it.

If you would rather not give your child any ideas from your mischievous past, you can opt for an imaginative story, maybe putting a new spin on a classic fairytale.

Characters

Choose who is going to be the main star of your story. Your child? You? Will your story have a hero or a villain? The characters can be anything you choose — people, animals, even a talking tree. Be careful not to overwhelm your child with too many characters. More than three are a lot for your child (and you!) to keep track of.

Setting

Where does your story take place? A sandy beach on a bright day? On a cold planet in the middle of a star-filled sky? Describe the setting, using colors, smells and sounds.

Be careful to avoid a setting that your child might deem scary or beyond their understanding. A dark forest may keep your little one up at night, and the depths of the ocean may leave your child with more questions than you can answer.

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Event

The story should build up to a main event. Does the main character discover a new jewel? Do two enemies become friends? Consider your child’s interests — dinosaurs, princesses, sports — and incorporate them into the story to capture her imagination. If there is something your child is struggling with, like a family change, being honest, or sharing toys, you may want to add a moral component to your story. Children learn through play, and storytelling can be a powerful tool in teaching a lesson.

Let your child lead

Children who are older or have an expanded vocabulary may want to be storytellers, too. It is always fun when my child takes over the story. It is a window into her imagination. Before you start a story, ask your child what she wants to hear. Halfway through, ask your child what happens next. And how do they want the story to end? You will know the story is a good one if she never wants it to end!

Children learn through play, and storytelling can be a powerful tool in teaching a lesson.

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c2c | kids {6-9 years}

Help Me Help You Teaching your child to self-advocate

BY APRIL TISHER

We are all unique in one way or another, from our preferences and dislikes to allergies and other medical conditions. As adults, we do not think twice to ask for non-fat milk in our coffee. We learn to speak up when ordering food with any special requests; “no onions, please.” Our children all have characteristics and preferences that are special to them as well.

I have a child with a life-threatening food allergy and one with special educational needs. Their whole lives I have been the one advocating for them in the classroom and with caregivers, ensuring that others were made aware of the special considerations they needed. As parents, we make sure the school nurse has the EpiPen and that his teachers know about his educational plan. However, as our children get older, they are not always in our control. They go on field trips we cannot get off work to chaperone, they spend the day with their friend’s family and they go to camp. When my son was going on the safety patrol trip to D.C. and neither my husband nor I were chosen as chaperones, I panicked. Who was going to be responsible for making sure my child was safe? Who would carry an EpiPen around D.C. and make sure to ask if peanuts were present in foods at the restaurants they would eat at for three days? The answer was him. He needed to learn to be his own advocate.

It is never too early to start teaching kids to self-advocate.

To self-advocate essentially means to speak up for what you need. According to Understood.org, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting parents of children with learning and attention issues, there are three key elements to teaching self-advocacy to our children.

1 2 3 80

Your child understands his/her needs.

(This is part of self-awareness.)

Your child knows what help or support will address those needs, like tutoring or a classroom accommodation.

Your child can communicate his/her needs to teachers and others.

gigglemagazine.com | october/november 2017

“If your children don’t learn how to advocate for themselves, no one else is going to,” Shauna Edwards, mother of two elementary-age boys, said. They have to learn to not be afraid to speak up. She said there is often a stigma attached with being different or needing something that is out of what is perceived as the norm. Often though, once a child speaks up for himself others feel empowered to do the same. She wants her boys to “not be ashamed to be different and to know that it’s OK.” One way to do this is to find a mentor who shares similar issues with your child that he can look up to. An athlete or other successful adult that has overcome similar struggles can serve as a great role model for your child and provide him with the support and tools he needs to feel confident.

The way children communicate their needs also matters. Make sure your child is well-educated on his needs so that he can speak factually when asking for something. He should not use his needs as a means to abuse the system. Make sure he uses his manners when advocating for himself. He should be respectful in body language, tone of voice and word choice. Children often feel badly, different or even guilty about speaking up for themselves. Teach your child that there is no reason for him to feel defensive. Remind him of his strengths and of his rights (in some cases even legal rights). Empower him by allowing him to be a part of the processes. If it is a medical condition that is of concern, allow him to be a part of the conversation with his doctor. If it is an educational plan, have him attend the meetings where accommodations are discussed.

Teaching self-advocacy is a vital part of raising confident children, ones who are not afraid to speak up not only for themselves, but for others. It makes all the difference for lifelong success!

I think I can

I think I can I think I can . . . and at Oak Hall he will.

Giving your child the tools to Accepting students 3 years old - grade 12

8009 SW 14th Avenue • Gainesville, FL 32607 •gigglemagazine.com 352.332.3609 •| October/november www.oakhall.org 2017 81

c2c | tweens { 1 0 -1 3 y e a r s }

Trick Or Treat?

Letting your child go out on Halloween without you

BY TRACE FERGUSON

Halloween can be a spooky and exciting time for children and parents alike. As kiddies grow into adolescents, it is almost a guarantee that they will want more independence than ever before. When they reach those prime tween-age years, they may get choosier with their costume or no longer want to go trick-or-treating with mom, dad and younger siblings. But, as a parent, how do you know when it is safe for them to trick-or-treat without you?

Even though Halloween night is a holiday full of planned frights, we all know that the world can be scary 365 days a year. There is no reason Halloween should not be fun and exciting for all, but there are some measures that you can take to make sure your children stay safe when venturing out without you this year.

Background check

With a simple online search, you can see the exact addresses of all convicted felons and sexual offenders in your neighborhood.

With this information, you can forewarn your tween and his friends to avoid these houses.

Plan their route

Make sure that you and your tween are on the same page with the trick-or-treating route he is going to take. Get a map of your neighborhood and sit down with him before he leaves. Trace the path that he needs to take and emphasize the importance of sticking to it. This way, if anything happens, you know where he should be.

Check in regularly

Most tweens can hardly be separated from their cellphones for even a minute. This becomes especially useful on nights like Halloween. Set a scheduled check-in time for every 20–30 minutes to see how he is doing and where he is in the neighborhood. Make sure to get the phone numbers of the children that he will be with.

Use your judgment

Ultimately, you know your child better than anyone else. You know how mature he is and how much trouble he can get himself into. You also know how safe your neighborhood is on any given day. If you feel that your child is old enough to be responsible and make smart choices, then he should be fine. Do not forget to remind him to never go inside a stranger’s home and always use the buddy system. Also encourage him to not eat ANY candy until he is home safe and you can check every piece to make sure it has not been tampered with.

Giggle Tip: If your child is not the best about texting back, all iPhones have an app called “Find

Friends.” With this app, your child can go to his text message feed that he has with you and click the “I” in the upper right-hand corner. Then he can click “share my location” and select the time period for which he wants to share his location with you. Then you can just go to your “Find Friends” app and see his real-time location in your neighborhood. This is a sure way to give you some peace of mind.

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c2c | teens { 1 4 -1 8 y e a r s }

More Than Just The Blues Talking to your teen about depression

BY OLIVIA K. PITKETHLY, MA, LMHC

Imagine getting a phone call from the high school guidance counselor, informing you that your son or daughter was taken to the hospital. You take a breath.

Your heart skips a beat. Your mind swirls with questions — was it something she ate? Did she get hurt? Is anything broken?

Obtaining professional help from a psychiatrist or a counselor can be beneficial, but the parent-child relationship also has its benefits, especially with healthy communication. Alexandra Martinez, licensed marriage and family therapist and director of the Alachua County Crisis Center, encourages parents to talk openly about depression and ask children directly about their feelings. “Everyone, especially youth, needs a safe space to discuss their feelings, process life changes and events, and ask questions in a safe and open environment,” she said. “Everyone handles stress differently. What is just a little stressful for one may be devastating to another and their coping for those experiences then may be very different. Learn how they see the world and it will help you help them.”

Martinez notes that children also model their parents. So, if they see their parent getting help and expressing emotions, they will be more comfortable doing the same.

“I’m still not sure I’m doing the right thing,” said Gonzalez. “I wish no one would have to go through half of it.” *Name changed to protect privacy

Then the counselor says, “No, your child was sent to a psychiatric hospital. She was having thoughts of suicide.”

Suicide is the second leading cause of death among teenagers.

Fourteen percent of Florida high schoolers seriously considered suicide in 2015, according to a survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A child’s death is a parent’s worst nightmare. When a child dies by suicide, a parent is left with so many questions, most notably, how could I have prevented this?

Four out of five teens who attempted suicide showed warning signs of depression, including talking about death, taking unnecessary risks or exhibiting self-destructive behavior, loss of interest and giving away prized possessions. Other symptoms of depression include poor sleep and appetite, isolation, increased tearfulness or sad demeanor.

“I asked myself a million times, what did I miss?” said Jane Gonzalez*, mother of three boys, ages 24, 20 and 16. Her oldest son was placed under a Baker Act (involuntary hospitalization for being a threat to self or others) when he was younger. “I didn’t know better. For me, he was just my son being my son. For the most part, he seemed normal to me.

Little did I know adulthood was going to be so difficult.”

Gonzalez said within the course of a year, her son became involved in a toxic relationship, attempted suicide twice, was placed under a Marchman Act (involuntarily commitment for substance abuse), had a child and moved away from family.

While Gonzalez is unsure she could have done anything different, she did have her two younger boys tested for depression and anxiety and started on medication.

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Warning Signs for Depression Per The Jason Foundation website • •

• • •

Talking about suicide Making statements about feeling hopeless, helpless, or worthless A deepening depression Preoccupation with death Taking unnecessary risks or exhibiting self-destructive behavior

• •

•

•

•

Out of character behavior A loss of interest in the things one cares about Visiting or calling people one cares about Making arrangements; setting one’s affairs in order Giving prized possessions away

Risk Factors Per The Jason Foundation website • • • • •

Perfectionist personalities Gay and lesbian youth Learning-disabled youth Loners Youth with low self- esteem

•

• •

Abused, molested or neglected youth Genetic predisposition Parental history of violence, substance abuse, or divorce

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community | back to school

Alachua County goes

BACK TO CLASS Thank you to our Giggle readers who shared their first-day-of-school photos with us! We hope you all have a great school year!

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Zechariah, 7th Grade

Alex, arty & andy, 10th Grade

lily, 8th Grade Ty, 6th Grade

bella & james, 4th Grade

amozya, 3rd Grade

alexis, Pre-K hayleigh, kindergarten

ashley, 5th Grade matthew, 3rd Grade zachary, kindergarten

rachel, 2nd Grade samantha, 4th Grade

carter, 6th Grade

emily, 6th Grade caitlin, 3rd Grade

Miles, 8th Grade carson, 6th Grade

sawyer, 1st Grade finley, pre-k

Micah, Pre-K

delaney, Kindergarten

ChÉ, Jr, 6th Grade; Chloe, 3rd Grade; micah, 5th Grade; mason, kindergarten

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Madison, 3rd Grade aaron, kindergarten makenzie, 3rd Grade

dinah, 3rd Grade esther, 1st Grade

Millie, pre-k

emma, 2nd Grade lily, kindergarten

Luke, kindergarten

Grace, 4th Grade Michael, kindergarten

sabrina, kindergarten johnny, 3rd Grade

faith, 2nd Grade

Kaitlyn, 5th grade Brayden, 2nd grade

liam, Kindergarten

jane, 2nd Grade luke, kindergarten

kiele, kindergarten

Desmond, 2nd grade isabella, 5th grade

payslee, 3's Class payten, 3rd Grade

Leila, 3rd Grade Lani, 1st Grade

kate, 1st Grade

tyler, 7th Grade nicholas, 6th Grade joshua, 4th Grade

samiya, 9th Grade amariya, 4th Grade

Samantha, 1st Grade Nicholas, 5th Grade

Andrew, 8th Grade

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community | calendar

october | november Sep t e mber 29 – Oct ober 29

Peanut Patch & Corn Maze Halloween Festival Fridays: 5–11 p.m.

Saturdays: 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.

Sunday: 2–6 p.m.

Peanut Patch & Corn Maze Peanutpatchandcornmaze.com Bring your family to the Peanut Patch & Corn Maze for hayrides, a pumpkin patch, corn hole and of course, a corn maze!

Oct ober 3

Stay and Play

Oct ober 4

Gym Jam 1:30–3:30 p.m.

Children 5 years and older will participate in a coach-led warmup, receive instruction on each gym apparatus and have open workout time during this two hour

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october 6

Public Schools Closed for UF Homecoming Oct ober 6

Stay and Play 9–11 a.m.

Sun Country Sports – West Suncountrysports.com Kiddos 5 years and younger will develop basic motor skills as they participate in obstacle courses and bounce around in the Bounce Room before ending with Circle Time and a snack. Prices range from $11 for members to $13.25 for non-members. Repeats every Friday.

OCT OBER 6

Homecoming Festival 10 a.m. – Noon Plaza of the Americas Gatorgrowl.org This family-friendly carnival style event will feature live music, bounce houses and more.

gigglemagazine.com | october/november 2017

october 6

Homecoming Parade University Avenue to Main Street Downtown Gatorgrowl.org With over 150 floats from hundreds of organizations, both on campus and throughout Florida, UF’s Homecoming Parade is one you and family won’t want to miss.

SunTrust Gator Gallop 11:15 a.m.

James G. Pressly Stadium Gatorgrowl.org This family-friendly two-mile run starts at James G. Pressly Stadium and ends at the Plaza of the Americas, where the Homecoming Festival will be taking place.

Prices range from $15 for pre-registration to $20 for day of registration.

Gym Jam Jr. 5–6 p.m.

Sun Country Sports – West Suncountrysports.com Children between the ages of 3 ½ and 5 will participate in a coach-led warmup, receive instruction on each gym apparatus and have open workout time during this one-hour program. Prices range from $12 for members to $15 for non-members.

Repeats every Friday.

Gym Jam photo courtesy of Sun Country.

9–11 a.m.

Sun Country Sports – West Suncountrysports.com Kiddos 5 years and younger will develop basic motor skills as they participate in obstacle courses and bounce around in the Bounce Room before ending with Circle Time and a snack. Prices range from $11 for members to $13.25 for nonmembers. Repeats every Tuesday.

program. Prices range from $18 for members to $20 for non-members.

Repeats every Wednesday.

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Oct ober 6

Splash Jam 5–6 p.m.

Sun Country Sports – West Suncountrysports.com Swimmers of all skill levels can join in for 30 minutes of mixed group instructional time, followed by 30 minutes of open swim time. Prices range from $15.75 for members to $19 for non-members.

Repeats every Friday.

Oct ober 6

Gym Jam 5–7 p.m.

Sun Country Sports – West Suncountrysports.com Children 5 years and older will participate in a coach-led warmup, receive instruction on each gym apparatus and have open workout time during this two hour program. Prices range from $18 for members to $20 for non-members. Repeats every Friday.

October 7

Splash Jam 12–1 p.m.

Sun Country Sports – West Suncountrysports.com Swimmers of all skill levels can join in for 30 minutes of mixed group instructional time, followed by 30 minutes of open swim time. Prices range from $15.75 for members to $19 for non-members. Repeats every Saturday.

Oct ober 7

Community Capoeira Class 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Bo Diddley Plaza Capoeiraacademyofgainesville.weebly.com Capoeira Academy of Gainesville offers this free Afro-Brazilian martial arts class for all ages. Event repeats every Saturday.

Oct ober 8

Oct ober 6

Parent Night Out 6–10 p.m. o2b Kids! Gainesville Supercenter O2bkids.com Five to 13 year olds will enjoy group games, obstacle courses and other fun activities as well as a pizza dinner. Prices range from $10 for O2B members and $15 for non-members.

Repeats every Friday.

Oct ober 6 – Nov e mber 5

Coon Hollo Fall Festival

11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Florida Museum of Natural History Floridamuseum.ufl.edu With two scheduled native Florida butterfly releases and a Pollinator Parade, your kiddos will have fun while learning about the butterflies in their own backyard.

Oct ober 11

Pregnancy and Postpartum Support Group

Fridays: 4 p.m. – Dusk Saturdays: 10 a.m. – Dusk Sundays: Noon – Dusk Coon Hollo Coonhollocornmaze.com From a 3.5-acre crop maze and hay jumping to pony rides and a burlap sack slide, there is something for everyone in the family to enjoy! Admission is $10 per person, and children under 3 are free.

5–6:30 p.m.

Postpartum Wellness and Family Counseling Pwandfc.com If you are pregnant or recently gave birth and feel guilt, depression or anxiety, you may benefit from attending this free support group. Learn from other mothers who have been in the same place as you, and develop the tools you need to start feeling better. Repeats the second Wednesday of every month.

Oct ober 7

Oct ober 13

Florida Gators vs. LSU Tigers

Oktoberfest

Ben Hill Griffin Stadium Floridagators.com Bring the family out to The Swamp to cheer on the Gators against LSU in their homecoming game.

5–10 p.m.

Haile Village Center Hvcoa.com Fun for all ages, this Oktoberfest celebration will feature food, drinks, live music and games for the kids!

gigglemagazine.com | october/november 2017

Woofstock 6–10 p.m.

The Barn at Rembert Farms Alachuahumane.org Head out to the Barn at Rembert Farms for live music, food, drinks and both a live and silent auction. This event benefits the Alachua County Humane Society.

Oct ober 13

Family Fun Night 6:30–8:30 p.m.

Sun Country Sports – West Suncountrysports.com The whole family is invited to Sun Country Sports for a night of rock climbing, gymnastics, obstacle courses and other games! Prices range from $16 per child for members and $19 per child for nonmembers when paid in advance to $21 per child the day of the event. Repeats the second and fourth Friday of every month.

Oct ober 13

Movie Night: “Hotel Transylvania 2” 8:30–10 p.m.

The Square at Tioga Town Center Tiogatowncenter.com Bring the kiddos out to Tioga Town Center for a free, family-friendly movie under the stars.

Be sure to pack lawn chairs or a blanket!

October 14

UF Health Shands Breastfeeding Class 2–4 p.m.

UF Health Shands Hospital Room 2147 Ufhealth.org Perfect for expecting mothers, this class teaches you the benefits of breastfeeding, optimal latch positions, how to store pumped milk and more. The class costs $15 to attend. Repeats the second Saturday of every month.

October 14

Florida Gators vs. Texas A&M Aggies Ben Hill Griffin Stadium Floridagators.com Bring the family out to The Swamp to cheer on the Gators against the Aggies in this SEC faceoff!

image courtesy of alachua county humane society

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ButterflyFest

Oct ober 13

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October 17

UF Health Shands Newborn Care Class 7–9:30 p.m.

UF Health Shands Room 2147 Ufhealth.org This class is designed to help new parents learn to care for their newborn and covers topics such as diapering, soothing and infant safety. The class is $15 to attend. Repeats the third Tuesday of every month.

october 20

Public Schools Closed

Oct ober 21

13th Annual Florida Bat Festival 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Lubee Bat Conservancy Lubee.org Bring the whole family out to tour the conservancy, view bats with wingspans of up to 6 feet across, create bat-themed crafts, and more. Admission is $8 for adults, $5 for children 5–12 and free for children under 4.

Oct ober 21–22

Fall Plant Sale & Orchid Show 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Kanapaha Botanical Gardens Kanapaha.org Tour the botanical gardens admission free and explore the approximately 50 vendor booths selling a variety of plants.

October 21

UF Health Shands Childbirth Education Class 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

UF Health Shands Hospital Ufhealth.org This expansive course covers the birthing process, pain management options, and postpartum care. It includes a tour of the labor and delivery and mother/baby units. The class costs $50.

October 21

Ninja Jam 9:30 – 10:45 a.m.

Sun Country Sports – West Suncountrysports.com Designed for boys and girls between the ages of 3 and 13, this class includes 30 minutes of mixed group instruction and 45 minutes of open ninja time.

Prices range from $15.75 for members to $19 for non-members. Repeats the third Saturday of every month.

Family Fishing Day 8 a.m. – Noon UF/IFAS Fishing Ponds Sfrc.ufl.edu Take the kiddos fishing in one of the six UF/ IFAS catching ponds.

You can bring your own gear or use the provided loaner poles and bait. The event is free and open to the public.

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33rd Annual Art Festival at Thornebrook 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Thornebrook Village Artfestivalthornebrook.com This two-day fine arts and crafts festival features live entertainment and activities for children along with about 125 artist booths.

October 22

Sunny’s Howl-A-Palooza 3–6 p.m.

Sun Country Sports – West Suncountrysports.com Bring your kiddos out to this Halloween carnival for an afternoon of games, haunted houses, rock climbing, hay rides and more.

Ticket prices are $6 in advance or $8 the day of the event for adults, and $15 in advance or $20 the day of the event for children.

October 23

Pregnancy and Postpartum Support Group 10–11:30 a.m.

Postpartum Wellness and Family Counseling Pwandfc.com If you are pregnant or recently gave birth and feel guilt, depression or anxiety, you may benefit from attending this free

gigglemagazine.com | october/november 2017

October 24

UF Health Shands Breastfeeding Class 7–9 p.m.

UF Health Shands Hospital Room 2147 Ufhealth.org Perfect for expecting mothers, this class teaches you the benefits of breastfeeding, optimal latch positions, how to store pumped milk and more. The class costs $15 to attend.

October 26

Gainesville Gone Austin 6–10 p.m.

Santa Fe River Ranch Gainesvillegoneaustin.org Support the Child Advocacy Center while enjoying a night of food, music and both live and silent auctions.

October 27

Oak Hall School Spooktacular Carnival Oak Hall School Oakhall.org Take your children out for a day of fun carnival games at this spooky event benefitting Oak Hall School's new STEM building.

October 27

ACORN Clinic’s Haunted Trail FUNraiser Scary Trail 7–11 p.m.

23320 North SR 235 Brooker, FL 32622 Acornclinic.org Enjoy a night of haunted trails and food at this Halloween event benefiting ACORN Clinic. Donations accepted.

October 28

Florida Gators vs. Georgia Bulldogs 3:30 p.m.

EverBank Field Floridagators.com Come out to The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party and cheer on the Gators against the Bulldogs in this rivalry game.

Costume photo courtesy of Sun Country.

Oct ober 21

Oct ober 21–22

support group. Learn from other mothers who have been in the same place as you, and develop the tools you need to start feeling better. Repeats the fourth Monday of every month.

Fine, Farkash & Parlapiano presents TH E 2 N D A NNUA L BE N E F I T E VE N T FOR TH E A LACH UA COU N TY H U MA N E SO C I E T Y

October 13, 2017 Get your ticket s to day! e Costumst!!

Conte

Friday, October 13th, 2017 | 6 PM – 10 PM The Barn at Rembert Farms in Alachua, Florida P R E S E N T E D BY:

For sponsorship information and further details, please call Margot DeConna at 352-415-2460. www.alachuahumane.org | 4205 NW 6th Street | Gainesville, Florida 32609 gigglemagazine.com | October/november 2017

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October 28

ACORN Clinic’s Haunted Trail FUNraiser Kiddie Trail 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

23320 North SR 235 Brooker, FL 32622 Acornclinic.org Bring the kids out for games, crafts and food at this Halloween event benefiting ACORN Clinic. Donations accepted.

October 28–29

43rd Micanopy Fall Festival Saturday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Sunday: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Cholokka Boulevard, Micanopy, Florida Micanopyfallfestival.org With 200 displays of arts and crafts, live music and an old-time auction, this festival is fun way to spend a fall day with the family.

October 31

Halloween October 31

Tot Time: Monster Art Treats 3:30 p.m.

Harn Museum of Art Harn.ufl.edu Tour the Harn with your little ones with this program designed for children ages 2–5. Space is limited, so arrive 15 minutes early to register. Costumes are welcome!

November 3

Tot Time: Monster Art Treats 11 a.m.

Harn Museum of Art Harn.ufl.edu Tour the Harn with your little ones with this program designed for children ages 2–5. Space is limited, so arrive 15 minutes early to register. Costumes are welcome!

Nov e mber 3 –5

Just Between Friends Fall/ Winter Children’s Consignment Sale Friday & Saturday: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Sunday: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Gainesville.jbfsale.com

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Shop new and gently used items (kids’ clothing, books, games, etc.) at 50–90 percent off retail price. Admission is $3 per person on Friday and free on Saturday and Sunday.

November 5

Alachua Main Street Fall Harvest Festival 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Main Street, Alachua, Florida Alachuabusiness.com Take the family out to historic downtown Alachua for an afternoon of food, music and free activities for kids.

Nov e mber 18

UF Health Shands Childbirth Education Class 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

UF Health Shands Hospital Ufhealth.org This expansive course covers the birthing process, pain management options, and postpartum care. It includes a tour of the labor and delivery and mother/baby units.

The class costs $50.

Nov e mber 18

Back Handspring and Tuck Boot Camp

Veterans Day

1–4 p.m.

Sun Country Sports – West Suncountrysports.com Send your aspiring tumbler to this boot camp to help him/her finally master the back handspring and back tuck. Prices range from $26.25 for members and $29 for non-members when paid in advance to $40 the day of the event.

Nov e mber 11

Nov e mber 23

november 10

Public Schools Closed for Veterans Day Nov e mber 11

Family Fishing Day 8 a.m. – Noon UF/IFAS Fishing Ponds Sfrc.ufl.edu Take the kiddos fishing in one of the six UF/ IFAS catching ponds. You can bring your own gear or use the provided loaner poles and bait.

The event is free and open to the public.

Nov e mber 11–12

Downtown Festival & Art Show Saturday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Sunday: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Downtown Gainesville Gainesvilledowntownartfest.org Take your family downtown to see original paintings, sculpture, jewelry and photography from 240 local and national artists.

Nov e mber 18

Florida Gators vs. UAB Blazers Ben Hill Griffin Stadium Floridagators.com Bring the family out to The Swamp to cheer on the Gators against the Blazers!

gigglemagazine.com | october/november 2017

Thanksgiving Nov e mber 24 – Dece mber 17

A Year with Frog and Toad Hippodrome Theatre Thehipp.org Based on the children’s book series by Arnold Lobel, this whimsical musical is great for families.

Nov e mber 25 – Dece mber 25

A Christmas Carol Hippodrome Theatre Thehipp.org Take your loved ones out to see the Hippodrome’s production of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” to get into the holiday spirit.

Nov e mber 25

Florida Gators vs. Florida State Seminoles 3:30 p.m.

Ben Hill Griffin Stadium Floridagators.com Come out to The Swamp and cheer on the Gators against the Seminoles in this rivalry game.

PLEASE JOIN US! 9TH ANNUAL SIGNATURE FUNDRAISER TO BENEFIT THE CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2017 | 6:00 - 10:00 PM | SANTA FE RIVER RANCH GAINESVILLEGONEAUSTIN.ORG | 352.376.9161 | AMBER@CACGAINESVILLE.ORG

GUEST SPEAKER: MATTHEW SANDUSKY Matthew Sandusky, Founder and Executive Director of Peaceful Hearts Foundation, was a victim of childhood sexual abuse from the age of 8 to 17 at the hands of his adopted father, Jerry Sandusky. Matthew is working to turn his traumatic personal experience into a mechanism to prevent childhood sexual abuse and help other survivors heal.

LIVE MUSIC | LIVE AUCTION SILENT AUCTION | FOOD FELLOWSHIP & MORE!

Wiggins Family

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North Florida Women’s Physicians provides comprehensive healthcare that compassionately supports women through every stage of their lives.

We’re here for you, every step of the way.

DOCTORS: Tracy Botha, M.D. Richard Brazzel, M.D. Kelly Chamberlain, M.D. Sheyna Carroccio, M.D. Jill Delker, M.D. Karen Harris, M.D. Ann Hatfield, M.D. Eduardo Marichal, M.D. Amy Million, M.D. Erin Werner, M.D. MIDWIVES: Julie Gaona, CNM Amanda Husband, CNM Monique McAfee, CNM Erin Smith, CNM MID LEVELS: Kelly Cynkar, ARNP Stephanie Davis, PA-C

OBSTETRICS | GYNECOLOGY | GYNECOLOGIC SURGERY INFERTILITY | WELL-WOMAN CARE

6440 W. Newberry Road, Suite 508, Gainesville, FL 32605 Located at the Women’s Center at North Florida Regional Medical Center

(352) 332-7222 www.mynfwp.com

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