2011 Fall Issue by GoodLiving® Magazines

The Good Stuﬀ 8&9 10

Good News

Good Events

12 - 14 Good Products 18 & 19 Good Adventures Dunedin to Tarpon Springs on the Jolley Trolley

20 & 21 TM

Join Us Online! Be sure to visit our website often to see what’s going on with: Hot Topics Good Events Good Causes Good Eating… and more Like us on Facebook for good stuff updates and new contests. Sign up for the E-GoodNewsletter. Contact us with your story ideas or event information.

TampaBayGoodLiving.com

Good People

Calvary Baptist Church adopts Eisenhower Elementary

Good Business

Chia Bia USA and Equusolutions

24 & 25

Good Eating

Choosing the right eggs, honey banana bread and Genesis drinks

Features 16 & 17

Staying Healthy to Build Your Immune System by David Foreman

Good Gardening with Jai

Master Organic Gardener Jai Hambly on winter planting

28 & 29 Survival Tips for the Work-at-Home Mom by Aliza Sherman and Danielle Smith

Calm Your Networking Nerves About the Cover In recognition of National Adoption Month, James and Ryane Shields are being honored for work that has resulted in foster children finding forever families. Story on page 34. Photo courtesy of the Tampa Bay Rays.

by Jessica Rivelli

10 Things Every Woman Entrepreneur Must Know by Cheryl Pullins

James and Ryane Shields

Bring Joy to Foster Children by April Putzulu

My Story

GoodLiving / Volume II, Issue 5

by Kim Linder

Publisher Light Shine Media Group, LLC

Editor-in-Chief Pamela Settle

As we approach Veteran’s Day on 11-11-11, we send our most heartfelt thanks to veterans who have fought to protect this great country. God bless you for your service!

Contributing Writers David Foreman Jai Hambly Kim Linder Cheryl Pullins April Putzulu Jessica Rivelli Aliza Sherman Danielle Smith

Design and Layout Marcie Frieling

Advertising Sales Tom Eckert Rebecca Taylor Website WP by Design

GoodLiving™ Magazine & TampaBayGoodLiving.com P.O. Box 1795 Oldsmar, Florida 34677 (727) 776-3656 info@goodlivingmag.com

FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION advertising@goodlivingmag.com GoodLiving™ magazine is a publication of Light Shine Media Group, LLC and is distributed to readers at no charge to targeted locations in Pinellas, Hillsborough and southern Pasco Counties. It is available as a digital publication at TampaBayGooodLiving.com. All photographs, artwork, design and editorial are the sole property of GoodLiving™ magazine and Light Shine Media Group, LLC. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written permission.

GoodLiving™ magazine and Light Shine Media Group, LLC are not responsible for statements made by advertisers and writers for any consequences arising from omissions or errors. Readers should verify the advertising information of the advertisers and all specials are valid to the expiration date set by the advertiser. GoodLiving™ magazine and Light Shine Media Group, LLC reserve the right to refuse any advertising for any reason. The views expressed in the publication are not necessarily those of the publisher. All rights reserved.

...from the Editor I get the privilege of going to meetings and events all over town to network and generally see what’s going on. My journeys are always learning experiences, but the highlight is getting to know some extraordinary people. The part I love most about putting GoodLiving together is the knowledge that these extraordinary people have a place to shine on our pages. This magazine is about people living a good life. Stepping out with courage, spirit and determination to dig a little deeper, do a little more and leave the world in a little better shape than it was before. It’s also about people wanting to make better decisions, live more balanced and take care of their families and their homes. Some people want us to be healthier and so they dedicate their lives to something related to fitness, nutrition, wellness or medicine. Some seek to improve the current and future lives of children: their educational opportunities; their safety; their cultural experiences or just plain wholesome fun. We have advocates for the environment, veterans’ affairs, the homeless, victims of violence, animals and much, much more. Last but not least, we have thousands of people of faith who are led to serve their fellow man in a wide variety of capacities, and often go unsung. These people come from all walks of life. The entrepreneur and the stay-at-home mom. The executive and the college student. The celebrity and the non-profit volunteer. The politician and the citizen advocate. The adoptive parent of multiple children and the caregiver who tends to a failing spouse. Male, female, young, old, rich or poor, we are a community full of extraordinary daily heroes. This issue, we are saluting women in small business. And as a part of that salute are launching GoodLiving Women of Action to call special attention to daily heroes of the female variety in the following categories: entrepreneur, community, ministry, children and advocacy. We will give this designation to women featured in GoodLiving who meet the criteria, and they will hold a place of honor on our website as a way to inspire others. Readers can always submit story ideas through our website and now you can submit nominations for GoodLiving Women of Action. Until next time, be good!

Pamela Settle GoodLiving /Volume II, Issue 5

news Attention Disabled Veterans The Abilities Foundation was awarded a $25,000 grant from The Home Depot Foundation to make improvements to the homes of disabled veterans. The goal is to make them handicapped-accessible, safe, and secure. All supplies are funded by the grant and the work will be performed by Home Depot employees who volunteer their time. Veterans can apply for the assistance by sending an email with their name, address, phone number, e-mail address; nature of disability; handicapped modiﬁcations requested; and an explanation of the inability to fund improvements. Send direct inquiries to Frank Delucia at fdelucia@abilities.org.

Activities for Moms Entrepreneur Amy Lundy Lusthaus has launched the Small Fry Society and Bun in the Oven Bunch to offer distinctively-themed socials for moms, babies and moms-to-be. Topics covered are food, fitness, fashion, photos, friends, freebies and more. The first term of Bun in the Oven Bunch begins Tuesday, October 11. Registration is now open for weekend socials that begin in November. Girls’ Night Out, a moms and moms-to-be only event, takes place on October 25, 6:30 - 8:30pm at Neiman Marcus and includes a cosmetics presentation, styling discussion, mini-makeovers, a photo booth, music, food, drinks, friends and more. For more information, SmallFrySociety.com.

Campaign Against BPA in Cans The Breast Cancer Fund released a report that tested six diﬀerent canned foods marketed to and consumed by children for their levels of BPA. Every food sample tested positive for BPA, with Campbell’s Disney Princess and Toy Story soups testing the highest. Others included ConAgra (maker of Chef Boyardee), Annie’s Homegrown and Hain Celestial (maker of Earth’s Best). The organization is concerned that children may be vulnerable to the eﬀects of hormone-disrupting chemicals like BPA. Because of its link to breast cancer, they are also working to have BPA eliminated from canned goods and other sources in general. They need advocates to go to their website and be a part of their campaigns. BreastCancerFund.org

Somebody Cares Tampa Bay Daniel and Kathy Bernard have led this ministry for 16 years and on September 24, they coordinated a staggering 5,000 volunteers in three counties, 30 cities and across 300+ projects during their Carefest Day. They work with cities and churches to identify projects that will help elderly and disabled improve their homes and in some cases, bring the home up to code. Each year Tampa and St. Petersburg compete for the Care Cup, awarded to the city with the most projects. The award will remain in St. Petersburg’s trophy case for another year! The Bernards encourage people to “Bee Caretageous” throughout the year. For more information on how to be a volunteer, visit their website at SCTB.org.

GoodLiving / Volume II, Issue 5

Calvary Chapel and FCE pack food Feeding Children Everywhere held a food packing event at Calvary Chapel. Volunteers spend their Sunday afternoon packing 40,000 meals bound for India!

Advocacy Alert Regarding Supplements The Federal Drug Administration is currently in a comment period for The New Dietary Ingredient guidance they are considering. The comment period is open until December 2, 2011. If you or your loved ones take vitamins and nutritional supplements, you need to learn more about what this means and the consequences. The natural health community is concerned that this will hurt the consumer and all the legitimate businesses that sell safe and eﬀective products. It could outlaw products that people have been relying on for their health; the high cost of the process could drive companies out of business; and supplements will cost much more for the consumer. Critics see this as a move to shift supplement sales to pharmaceutical companies to boost their earnings. Search New Dietary Ingredients Guidance and read for yourself. Many sites give information on how to contact your federal representatives and the FDA.

news Share your good news. Send stories to news@goodlivingmag.com

Florida School Children Needed to Feed Kids in Haiti

Treats for Troops Treats for Troops volunteers package and send homemade goodies and other treats to U.S. troops in the war zones. This year again, they are collecting leftover individually wrapped Halloween candy to use as ﬁller in the boxes. Candy tastes better than packing peanuts and is environmentally friendlier. Our Troops enjoy receiving anything from home and it shows that WE THE PEOPLE have not forgotten about them. They often share their sweets with the children where they are deployed and these same grateful children become allies and even tattle tales about where bombs are placed. So a higher calling for the bags of candy you’d rather your kids not eat anyway. There is no limitation as to what kind of candy to contribute as chocolate is acceptable at this time of year. Get your school, church, friends or neighborhood together and put together a collection. Then contact Karin King at Karin_King@yahoo.com to coordinate the donation.

Feeding Children Everywhere is looking for schools across Central Florida to help feed children in Haiti. Any school can raise money and hold a meal packing event at their school. Each student is asked to raise $10, which buys 40 meals. Classes compete for the chance to be part of the packing event and have a pizza party. The goal is to package and send over 1,000,000 meals per year to our approved feeding centers, schools and orphanages in Haiti and to involve every classroom and every student across Central Florida. School registration begins on January 12 for the spring semester. FeedingChildrenEverywhere.com for more information.

What is a Turtle-Hurdle? It’s Tough Mudder for kids! Being held on October 23rd in Dunedin’s Highlander Park. Sponsored by TriKidsRock.com, this is a ¼ mile closed track with child-friendly (and muddy) obstacles for children ages 4 to 14. Their website has registration information. TriKidsRock.com is a brand new organization based in Dunedin, and started by Eve “Ironman” Barrett, a mom who wants to do something about childhood obesity. The group is bringing the joy of triathlon to area youth with the goal of getting families outside training and competing together. They hold ﬁtness events and their site even has a commerce page to help recycle wetsuits and other ﬁtness gear that kids outgrow. Very sustainable!

GoodLiving /Volume II, Issue 5

events 27 October

3rd Annual NOPE Candlelight Vigil

27 OCTOBER

Tenth Annual Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast in St. Petersburg

Thursday, October 27th at 7 p.m. at Largo Central Park, parents, friends and concerned community members will come together to remember those who have been lost to drug and alcohol addiction. Speakers and performers will also bring attention to the current ﬁght against prescription drug abuse that is killing someone every nine hours in Pinellas County. NopeTaskForce.org.

5 NOVEMBER

This year, Lorraine Yaslowitz, wife of fallen oﬃcer Jeﬀ Yaslowitz, will share her story of faith as part of the event held at The Coliseum in St. Petersburg. Mayor Bill Foster will also be in attendance. Presented by the YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg. Tickets $18 in advance, $20 at the door. StPeteYMCA.org

29 October

29 OCTOBER

Healthy Family Fun Fest

5 NOVEMBER

In honor of Red Ribbon Week, bring the kids to the Healthy Family Fun Fest and have them sign the pledge to be drug free. Saturday, October 29 in Vinoy Park from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Participate in a One-Mile Walk for Health, a Red Wagon Parade for toddlers, crafts, rock climbing wall, live music, inﬂatables and more.

Little Hearts Car, Truck, Bike and Vintage Boat Show Enjoy the vehicles and help the Cardiac Kids Foundation. Held at Edgewater Park in Dunedin on Saturday, October 29 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Contact them at CardiacKidsFL.com to enter the competition or for more information.

Helping those with ALS Andrea Tedone Lorry and Chiara Tedone are raising money to help their 34-year old sister who has ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), and 30,000 others aﬄicted with the disease. They started a charity called Winning the Fight and on Saturday, November 5, they are holding their ﬁrst all-day music fest as a fundraiser. The all-volunteer organization is bringing homegrown national recording artist Damon Fowler, The Gregg Billings Band, Amanda Drake and more to Town Square Plaza Park in Pinellas Park for a day of fun and music that starts at 11 a.m. Information at MusicFestForALS.com

Sun Country Cleaners Helps PARC On Saturday, November 5th the PARC Thrift Store will be selling clothes donated to them by Sun Country Cleaners for $5 each. Freshly cleaned, the clothes have been abandoned at all 28 locations and will be looking for new owners. Last year, they had more than 6,000 items, many of them high quality professional clothing. Sun Country Cleaners pays for the needed support for the entire event and the two owners, Barbara and Susan McCarty personally work the registers at the event. The event earned $8,000 in the one day last year for PARC.

9 NOVEMBER Honoring Good Businesses that Support the Arts

The Tampa Bay Businesses for Culture and the Arts will pay tribute to the Bay Area’s big band era at its 17th Annual Awards Gala and Save the Arts Benefit on Nov. 9, at The Coliseum in St. Petersburg. The benefit will raise funds for the organization’s Save the Arts initiatives and celebrate local businesses and professionals who have made a significant impact on Tampa Bay’s arts and cultural scene. Attendees of the gala will experience live music from a local 16-piece orchestra as well as photography, film and art from the big band era. Art-themed auctions that will benefit art scholarships. Open to the public. For tickets visit tbbca.org.

products

Fall Fan Fest Collegiate Fashionista Local businesswoman, Diane Dal Lago opened her first retail store, Collegiate Fashionista in Westshore Plaza, to sell her popular licensed apparel found on her website to local shoppers. Her quality designs have high crystal counts; the FSU Osceola head mascot has more than 2,000 crystals. They are machine washable and she chooses only better quality shirts, hats and scarves for the embellishments. Fans of the Gators, Seminoles, Bulls, Knights and 44 other schools can find fashionable fan wear to show their spirit with style. Plus size women don’t need feel left out either. Diane made sure she offered shirts up to 3X for women who often have a difficult time finding stylish fan wear. Shop the store or online at CollegiateFashionista.com. Additionally, there is a line of NASCAR shirts at RacewayFashionista.com and pink shirts with crystal ribbons available at the store. Custom orders of 100 or more are handled from her Tampa-based company, Diane Dal Lago Ltd.

Blacktop 360 Party Hub Grill Fryer™ This brand new, one-of-a-kind, versatile cooker lets a tailgater grill, fry, griddle, warm, steam, stir fry, boil, sauté and fondue anytime, anywhere. Cook with 30,000 BTU’s and an infrared burner capable of 450-650 degrees, independent fry, grill and griddle controls, and generous 16oz. capacity deep fryer. Easy to clean porcelain coated cooking surface. Designed speciﬁcally to be the center of the party, the Blacktop 360 Party Hub Grill Fryer is available nationwide at sporting good stores, home centers and mass retailers, the Blacktop 360 Party Hub Grill Fryer retails for $249.

Enjoying The Hot Seat

Another new product for the fall sports fan is the Chaheati, an all-seasons heated chair, that is similar to many of the lightweight, collapsible canvas chairs out there. But this one has four temperature settings ranging from 98° up to 145°F and rapidly heats up in less than 20 seconds to keep backsides warm. Its safe low-voltage heating technology sports digital circuit protection and a high eﬃciency, lithium-ion rechargeable battery for up to six hours of heat per charge for over 500 uses. The warmth of the soft, ﬂexible ultra-thin heating element in the chair can even help relieve tight and aching muscles and joints. Oversized to accommodate any body type up to 280 lbs. $89.99 at Chaheati.com GoodLiving / Volume II, Issue 5

products

Teagan Collection Not that you’d head to a hardware store for jewelry, but Hammerheads Hardware on West Bay Drive in Largo has an impressive selection of gifts including this quality line of college jewelry for Gator, Seminole, Bulls and Knights fans. The company is called Teagan and they sell enamel-coated and crystal beads on 925 marked silver that bump fan wear to a level that any woman will feel good wearing. This Winter Park based company is selling nationally through its website TeaganCo.com where shoppers can ﬁnd additional colleges, initials, sports, team colors in crystal and more.

Shade Wagon Whether it’s a parade, ballgame or other outdoor event, the Shade Wagon can make the day easier with its all-in-one solution. It was invented by two moms who were tired of not ﬁnding a seat in the shade at events. Who hasn’t been there?! No more back-and-forth trips to the car either. All wagons come with a serious umbrella plus you can add custom seats, cooler and other accessories for easy transport. The inventors wanted something that would last years of wear and tear, so the wagons are made from 5/8” Baltic Birch Plywood and the carriages are heavy duty metal. The wheel support is rated for up to 800 lbs. It has auto steering, large pneumatic tires and a 6.5 foot wind vented beach umbrella. The design also makes it easy to break down and haul in the back of the SUV. Package shown is on special for $964 at Theshadewagonstore.com.

Rollors This new lawn game combines the skills of Bocce, Horseshoes & Bowling into one fun game for the whole family. Players roll wooden disks, similar to oversized hockey pucks, toward a color-coded goal 25 feet away. Points are awarded to the player/team that positions their disks closest to the goal. Inventor Matt Butler conceived the game while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. His company is based in Destin. Purchase the game for $26 at Rollors.net.

GoodLiving /Volume II, Issue 5

products

skincare

Hugo Naturals Mango & Guava

Eﬀervescent Bath Salts is a bubbling blend of minerals, such as magnesium, potassium and calcium. As they ﬁzz and foam in your tub, the mixture of Dead Sea Salt and Himalayan Pink Salt can help reduce tension, ease muscle discomfort, help circulation and soften skin – and smell like an amazing tropical cocktail. See their whole line of organic skin care for adults and babies at HugoNaturals.com.

Wrinkle MD from University Medical is a home device that uses under-eye patches and advanced ion based technology to infuse the skin with Hyaluronic acid. This renews and moisturizes the delicate and wrinkle-prone skin around the eyes without the use of injections. Use twice a week for 40 minutes to smooth skin. Delivery system has ten treatments. $179 at Universitymedical.com.

Eye Candy are candy-colored, reusable, soft gel rounds that you chill brieﬂy in a fridge, a hotel mini bar or a glass of ice water and then place over closed eyelids. Immediately, the area around the eye starts to feel tighter and soothed. Can also be used on little ones’ boo boos, too. $12 per set at eyecandycoolers.com.

Boo Boo Cream is a concealer that doesn’t make blemishes worse. It’s a lightweight healing concealer to use on body and face that contains aloe, chamomile, green tea, tea tree oil and vitamin E - all known to help heal common “boo-boos.” It retails at $19.99 and is available at Amazon.com.

Lily Organics Farm Fresh Skin Care offers a full line of cleansers, toners and moisturizers made from ingredients grown fresh on their USDA Certified Organic farm in Colorado. They are the only USDA Certified Organic grower/ skin care company, and to maintain the highest stands, they handle everything from seed to shelf. They carry natural skin care specially formulated for sensitive, dry/mature, normal, oily, combination and acne-prone skin. lilyorganics.com

Suntegrity Skincare is a non-toxic mineral sun care line. Products work synergistically using a blend of antioxidants and natural moisturizers to help protect the skin and rejuvenate its appearance. The Daily Face and Body Moisturizing SPF 30 sunscreens both use 20% non-nano size zinc oxide as the active ingredient and both received a #1 rating by the Environmental Working Group’s cosmetic safety database. Prices vary. Suntegrityskincare.com.

NeoCell produces natural supplements with collagen to improve skin, hair and nails. It’s also great for joints, tendons and ligaments. Collagen is one of those things that the body doesn’t produce enough of as we age. The NeoCell supplements step in and help make up for what the body can’t produce on its own. Products come in tablet, liquid and powder versions. Prices vary. Neocell.com.

GoodLiving / Volume II, Issue 5

STEP 1: Using the right combination of dietary supplements

Staying Healthy to Build Your Immune System by DAVID FOREMAN, RPh, ND

This time of year is notorious for allergies and colds. It’s also when we get the ﬂu shot, so people are basically expecting to get sick. Our bodies have natural defenses, but we need to do our part to make sure it is working at full capacity. Follow these simple steps to good health and you will strengthen your immunity. Oh, and there’s no need to limit these steps to cold and ﬂu season, but it’s certainly reason enough to get started now.

The big question is “What is the right combination of supplements?” You may be wasting your money so I have created this system to get you on the right path to designing your own supplement program.

Level One: Special Need(s) Your special needs are the most important area to address when building your supplement program such as immune health, high cholesterol, arthritis or acid reﬂux. Look for combination products designed to address your special need/s to get something called Synergy – when the sum of the parts is greater than the components used. Just look around the vitamin store and you will see combination formulas for just about all of the major health issues. If you have more than one special need then you will most likely have to purchase multiple products.

Level Two: Antioxidants Antioxidants are of major importance at reducing our body’s risk for disease caused by free radical (not a hippie from the 60’s) damage. Free radicals come from many sources including toxins in our food, air and water, diet and other lifestyle choices. Free radical damage is now linked to most of the major health challenges we face. Free radicals can have a negative impact on any cell in your body: heart, lung, eye, skin, liver, bone and more. We use antioxidants to help the body neutralize free radicals and hopefully keep us from developing these health challenges. With regards to picking your antioxidant, I like to use the same technique as above, ﬁnd an antioxidant combination. You need to ﬁnd which antioxidants are good for your special need. For example: for osteoarthritis look for turmeric, ginger, cayenne, E, and zinc in a combination blend.

David Foreman’s new book, 4-Pillars of Health: Heart Disease is available at HerbalPharmicist.com. David Foreman shares his theory that in order to treat or prevent any disease, you need to first understand why you have it. Once this understanding is achieved, you will be taken down the path to better handling your heart disease concerns. With the increase in harmful medication use and invasive surgery, it is time to get back to nature and handle your health the way God intended -- naturally! David’s 4-Pillars of Health was created years ago and will guide you toward foundational and fundamental change. Being healthy doesn’t have to be diﬃcult or hard to understand. If it sounds to complicated, it isn’t in this book.

Information provided should not be construed as a health-care diagnosis, treatment, regimen or any other prescribed health care advice. Readers should consult with their medical practitioner about changes to supplements, diet or exercise.

GoodLiving / Volume II, Issue 5

Level Three: Omega-3s (From Fish) Omega-3s are also referred to as EFAs (Essential Fatty Acids). They are called essential because your body cannot make them and therefore they need to come from the diet. Fish oil is high in both EPA and DHA which science has shown have therapeutic beneﬁts in areas including: rheumatoid arthritis, high blood triglycerides, high blood pressure, cardiac arrhythmia, infant brain development, cancer and much more.

Level Four: Probiotics Probiotics are friendly life promoting bacteria naturally found in the digestive system to aid digestion and support the immune system. Without an abundance of these good bacteria, you may expose yourself to diseases caused by parasites, yeast, fungus or pathogenic bacteria. Even worse (hard to believe anything worse than those), you may become nutrient deficient which over time can lead to very serious health challenges. There are children’s formulas for probiotics which can be effective in fighting off the viruses that can lead to chronic ear infections and coughs.

Level Five: Multivitamin/mineral The reasons are endless as to why we need a multivitamin and mineral: foods are depleted, foods picked before they are ripe, pesticides, over farming and it’s often impractical to get medicinal value from the diet alone. Multivitamins are not designed to rid your body of any health issue, but it can help prevent issues from ever forming. I prefer cultured/whole food vitamins.

STEP 2: Cleansing & Detoxification If you are sick and tired of being sick and tired or you are looking to take your health to the next level, cleansing gets your body ready for a fresh start. Your body is like a high performance automobile and over time won’t run the way it should. Even if you are eating the best foods and using the best supplements, your body is aﬀected by exposure to toxins that can cause cancer, autoimmune diseases and heart diseases. So your body’s ﬁlters (liver, kidneys, etc.) need to be serviced regularly in order to get the best function. I recommend using a multi-system cleanse that will work on the majority of systems we need to cleanse. My favorite examples CleanseSmart, Whole Body Cleanse and Flor*Essence tea (Flor*Essence can also be used long-term for those who think they need extended cleansing). Except for the Flor*Essence tea, these multi-system cleanses are intended to be used for up to 4 weeks. They usually work quickly. I recommend you consult with your store’s health enthusiast to determine which cleanse is right for you. Another way to cleanse/detoxify long-term is to utilize Green Superfood products on a daily basis. Not only do these Superfood products help to remove toxins, but they also provide added nutrients to support the body’s repair and recovery. Green Vibrance, Perfect Food, and Berry Green (my personal favorite) are great examples.

STEP 3: Super Foods for Super People Superfoods are those foods which are so nutrientrich that they can help prevent or “treat” disease. They are full of phytochemicals (plant chemical compounds that provide huge benefits to health) that have been shown to reduce the risk of certain forms of cancer, reduce inflammation, strengthen the immune system, improve heart health and basically make you a much healthier individual. They are also full of phytonutrients (plant-based nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, protein, fat and complex carbohydrates). A healthy diet incorporating a variety of superfoods will help you maintain your weight, fight disease and live longer. Here are some examples of superfruits: blueberries, cranberries, red grapes, mangos, mangosteen, papaya, tomatoes, apples, noni and bananas. Superveggie examples would be: alfalfa sprouts, spinach, blue green algae, chlorella, quinoa, soy, chia and grasses. There are also a few other superfoods that fall out of the fruit and vegetable categories such as yogurt (probiotics), bee pollen (enzymes, vitamins, minerals, etc.) and turkey (Selenium and L-Tryptophan). For most of us though, getting enough superfoods in our diet is a challenge. They can be expensive, difficult to prepare or just not taste good. Since we have this issue, I recommend the utilization of Superfood supplements that can be used as part of your everyday diet. Health food stores are loaded with options for getting these superfruits and supervegies. Be creative and mix a greens powder into a superfruit juice.

Why Superfoods? Besides the benefits listed above, here are some of the other common health benefits you will realize from your superfood supplement(s): • Increased Energy • Balancing of your system pH • Strengthen Immune System • Detoxify and cleanse the body • Great source of fiber (digestive, cardiovascular and blood sugar support) • Food source nutrients are better digested, absorbed and retained by the body This is just the tip of the health iceberg when it comes to the benefits of incorporating superfoods into your everyday diet. Most experts now say we should be getting nine servings of fruits and vegetables in our diet on a daily basis which isn’t always reasonable for us to do with diet alone. These are my basic steps for attaining health and balance with supplements, which will go a long way to help you and your family stay healthier this cold season. Beyond supplements are my other Pillars of Health, which include eating right, exercising and taking care of your spirit through prayer. Join me every day from noon to 1 p.m. for the Herbal Pharmacist radio show, as I discuss natural health and chat live with callers on WHNZ AM 1250. Or read more at HerbalPharmacist.com.

GoodLiving /Volume II, Issue 5

adventures A Jolley Good Time! Fall is the perfect time for a day trip to Dunedin and Tarpon Springs. Taking the Jolley Trolley route between the two towns adds fun and convenience. Start your adventure in downtown Dunedin where parking is a little easier. Everything mentioned here is in walking distance, so park it and leave it. Stroll through shops like Dragon Fly Gardens to buy something gorgeous for your garden, Palm Latitudes for gifts uniquely Florida and Awaken Organic Skincare and Boutique for products that will love your skin the natural way. If crafts are your thing, be sure to visit Art from the Heart Cafe to paint your own pottery, stock up on beads at Dunedin Beads or be dazzled at Lead Lines Stained Glass Studios, all located at Stirling Commons on Broadway. Dunedin has the reputation of being an artist’s colony for a reason. Check out Painted Fish Gallery, Stirling Art Studios and Gallery and Clay and Paper for a sampling of local art. Notice the oranges painted throughout downtown that pay homage to the town’s citrus past.

from Dunedin..... For lunch, Casa Tina’s Mexican and Vegetarian Cuisine is always delicious. To eat outdoors overlooking the water, grab one of the few tables at the small but oh-so-good Dunedin Fish Market Café for their ﬁsh tacos or salad. Splurge on dessert at Strachan’s Homemade Ice Cream shop where the ice cream is heavenly and the chocolate dipped, frozen key-lime-pie-on-a-stick is truly decadent. To burn oﬀ some of the calories, romp at the city park adjacent to the marina. The trees that shade the park are a real blessing on a sunny day. Or take a walk or bring your bikes to enjoy the Pinellas Trail that runs through Dunedin. You can follow the trail all the way to Tarpon Springs (and beyond), but if you’re not up the exercise, ride the Jolley Trolley 30 minutes to the heart of the historic Sponge Docks of Tarpon Springs.

Riding the Jolley Trolley

Friday, Saturday and Sundays only Each trip is $2.00 for adults and $1.00 for kids Day passes available for $4.50 You’ll need exact change Runs from 10 a.m. to midnight Leaves Downtown Dunedin on the hour Leaves the Sponge Docks on the half hour The one-way trip is 30 minutes Connects to Clearwater Beach, too Great for families because kids love trolleys!

GoodLiving / Volume II, Issue 5

adventures Editor ’s Pick Tarpon Springs store owner Cathy Paul can teach you things about spices and teas you never knew! Cooking healthy at home can be a flavorful adventure if you know how to combine the spices. There is another location at John’s Pass with the same great selection.

...to Tarpon Springs If you’re a shopper you can spend some serious time going through all the stores. You can find Pandora, Vera Bradley, Brighton and Fresh Produce, but you can also find at least 20 stores that sell sponges and souvenirs. Be sure you go into at least one and purchase their high quality bathing and facial sponges. Nothing processed here; these are plucked from the ocean floor and ideal for scrubbing what you’ve got. They resist mildew and will keep for months. Plus, they feel good and are easy for little hands learning to how bathe. Healthy cooking need not be bland. Stop by The Spice and Tea Exchange, but beware, you could spend the rest of your night smelling their custom spice blends and daydreaming about all the wonderful dishes you could create. Chances are good you won’t go back to mass produced spices because fresh is clearly superior. Their Applewood Smoked Sea Salt will have you thinking you’ve never eaten a boneless chicken breast before. Delish! For entertainment, you have the Tarpon Springs Aquarium, a boat ride with a sponge diving demonstration and flaming cheese. To bring out your inner Greek, order Saganaki, or flaming casseri cheese, at Costas where everyone just loves to say, “Opa!” The sponge docks area is full of Greek restaurants with authentic dishes, some with romantic outdoor dining. There’s nothing else like it in the Tampa area, so grab the family or bring your out-of-town company for a change of flavor. For more information DelightfulDunedin.com SpongeDocks.net

Upcoming Dunedin Events Dunedin Green Market starts October 29, Saturdays, 9 am - 2 pm Clearwater/Dunedin Junior League’s Art Harvest November 5 - 6, 10 am - 5 pm 20th Annual Wines the Blues November 12, 5 pm Arts & Crafts Festival November 19 - 20, 10 am to 5 pm

GoodLiving /Volume II, Issue 5

people When Church and School Come Together Down the road from Calvary Baptist Church in Clearwater is Eisenhower Elementary School, where 87 percent of the students receive free or reduced lunches. Teachers here use their own money on a regular basis to buy supplies for students in need because that’s what teachers do. Principal Sandy Downs says the students’ families work three or four jobs just to survive and often times don’t have extra time for homework help. The partnership started after Pat Marder, director of Ministries and Missions for Calvary Baptist Church, was inspired to mentor students at the nearby elementary school. Before she knew it she had gone through the school district’s volunteer mentor training (about two hours) and was making friends with a young girl who was six at the time. “It took her a while to trust me, but she grew to understand that I cared about her future.” They ate lunch together, they played board games in the multi-media center and they just talked about life for one hour per week.

Pat Marder (pictured on left) stands with Principal Sandy Downs and Willy Rice, Senior Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church.

Showing how one rock can start an avalanche, Pat’s single act eventually led to a full-fledge partnership between the big church on the corner and the school down the road. Volunteers were recruited to read to the classes on a regular basis. Church members and life groups have adopted all 40 classes, donating $150 per class to help the teacher buy supplies. In the true nature of a long-term partnership, some groups have stayed with the same teacher and also pitch in for class parties and field trips. “These sponsors make it possible for the teachers to do more for the children than ever before,” said Downs. “The children reap the benefit and that’s what this is all about.” As part of their work with Somebody Cares Tampa Bay, Calvary has done several improvement projects for the school on Carefest days, including the construction of garden beds for a vegetable garden. They’ve even held block parties with a cookout and games. But that wasn’t enough. The church partnered with the Warren Backpack Program and then brought the students at Calvary Christian High School into the mix, who hold fundraisers to contribute toward the food bill. Each Friday, students pack groceries that go home in the backpacks of 100+ students to be sure there is something to eat over the weekend.

Volunteers build garden boxes for students to grow vegetables.

Going a little farther down the road Drive past Eisenhower heading west on Drew to ﬁnd Clearwater Intermediate School, a dropout prevention school where kids have had issues with attendance, grades and behavior. Principal Phillip Wirth is such a strong believer in the power of mentoring that he will allow a student out of class to meet with a mentor, if he can get any.

GoodLiving / Volume II, Issue 5

Celebrating a good day’s work with fun and food.

people Enter the people of Calvary Baptist Church who now come on a regular basis to mentor middle school students with the hopes of getting them on the right track. “An hour a week with an adult who gives them undivided attention can make the diﬀerence,” said Marder. Calvary added this school to their Carefest schedule and has done improvement projects and block parties there, too.

LOKEY EMPLOYEES BUILD FOR HABITAT FOR HUMANITY

“The Eisenhower partnership is a great way for our people to express the ideals of compassion and service outside the walls of our church. It has helped move our people outside the circle of church and into the needs of our community” says Senior Pastor Willy Rice. “We could not ﬁnd anyone else who to be a better partner than Calvary Baptist Church. What they have done has meant more to us than anything else that could have happened to our school,” added Downs. She wasn’t aware of any other public school in Pinellas County having this extensive of a relationship with a neighborhood church. She noted that during a church service before the school year started, that Senior Pastor Willy Rice honored the teachers and asked the congregation to pray for them and the coming school year. He then addressed the congregation, telling them their job is to serve the community. “Our volunteers doubled.” “This is a great way for churches to connect and serve their community. Churches really do want to connect but often don’t know how. Some view public schools as a closed opportunity but we’ve learned when you go to serve and meet needs the doors are open and then you’ll naturally build relationships that create other opportunities as well,” added Rice. Downs suggests that any church interested in adopting a school contact the principal to start the discussion and determine the needs.

Students and faculty presented this picture to Pat Marder as a thank you.

Employees from Lokey Automotive are providing the manpower on a “quick build” with Habitat for Humanity in the Stevens Creek community in Clearwater. If the weather cooperates, the quick build for the Whites, a mom and her four children, will be dedicated by Thanksgiving. As part of an ongoing commitment to volunteerism, Lokey employees worked this past summer in the same neighborhood. Christine Horn, Human Resources, and her husband Ray, Lokey Kia Parts Department, volunteer together. “The experience is very rewarding and it’s satisfying to know we’re helping someone build their future,” said Christine. “We believe in paying it forward. It enriches our life and teaches us skills we can apply to our own home. What a wonderful experience!” Lokey gives employees paid time oﬀ to do volunteer work so they can experience of the joy of helping others. They also make ﬁnancial contributions to several charities including the Homeless Emergency Project, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Pinellas County, Suncoast YMCA and Families First as part of Lokey Charities.

The mission of Lokey Charities, Inc. is to help children and youth reach their full potential by providing for basic needs such as food, shelter, access to medical care and positive mentoring. For more information, check out lokeycharities.com or 21 GoodLiving /Volume II, Issue 5 email questions to Jane at jwilliams@lokey.com.

business Equine Therapist Helps Female Veterans with PTSD Dr. Darlene Williams, Ph.D., a licensed psychologist and owner of Equusolutions spends her volunteer time helping female veterans cope with and recover from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Military Sexual Trauma (MST). Once a month, she gives her time to female veterans who need her help. Trained and certified in Equine Assisted Psychotherapy, Williams develops a plan that uses the “majestic power” of horses to help break down barriers. “People who suffer with PTSD have a loss of connection with self and with others. With this type of therapy, they connect with the horse, their environment and the other veterans. They also rediscover the lost part of themselves and the zest for living comes back.” The sheer size of the horse means their electromagnetic field is more powerful than a human. So just by being near the animal and brushing it, the human’s blood pressure will lower to be in sync with the horse. “This unique connection between horse and man has a strong history.” Her company, Equusolutions offers this same type of therapy to individuals, couples and groups who are looking for team building. Williams says this therapy is highly effective for teens with substance abuse issues or anyone who has difficulty talking about what’s inside.

Dr. Williams would like female veterans to know about her program. They can call her at (727) 467-4213. Her website is Equusolutions.com.

business Chia seeds are harvested from a plant that is in the sage/mint family. Their tiny little seeds, when mature, contain enough nutrients to give it a superfoods classification. According to Boughton, her milled seeds can be hidden in foods, dips and smoothies to get nutrients to kids in their favorite foods. “Put them in ranch dressing; kids eat ranch with everything.” For ancient Mayans and Aztecs, chia was a staple in their diet and known as the “running food,” a high-energy endurance food that was mixed with water, honey and lime. Today we know it as the highest rated plant source of Omega-3 (alpha-linolenic acid), a nutrient that is lacking in the typical American diet. Chia is also rich in antioxidants; has five times more calcium than milk; is a complete protein that is gluten free; holds about ten times its weight in water to prolong hydration; and is a good source of fiber.

Planting Seeds of Good Health Theresa Boughton, owner of Chia Bia USA, knows the value of living healthy and so when given the opportunity to sell chia seeds and food products that contain chia seeds, she jumped on it. “Our seeds are milled to reduce the crunch and we use the ﬁnest seeds available.” An entrepreneur to the core, Boughton purchased the rights to sell Chia Bia in the US and runs her company from Clearwater.

Chia Bia USA sells bags of seeds that can be mixed in water or added to any number of foods to increase nutrition. The company’s website also sells three ﬂavors of nutrient bars and a chia and blueberry powder mix that is great for smoothies. “Everything old is new again,” said Boughton of the rediscovery of chia and its rising popularity. So when you see it featured on the Dr. Oz show, remember to support a local businesswoman and buy them from her at Chiabiausa.com.

eating

The Good Egg Things to Consider When Choosing the Right Egg for You Nutritional Benefit The nutritional quality of an egg depends on what the chicken is fed. The ideal diet is higher in Omega-3 and lower in Omega-6. Lower-priced eggs from factory-farmed chickens do not meet this standard. Their corn and soy diets load the eggs with Omega-6, which may be a health concern. Today’s modern diet of processed foods has caused an unhealthy imbalance between Omega-6 and Omega-3. Having a chronically high level of Omega-6 and low level of Omega-3 are being linked to an increase in heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and ADHD. Instead look for Omega-3 eggs to make sure your family is getting the right kind of nutrients from eggs. The packaging will say “Omega-3” and ideally will say how much ALA and DHA is in each egg. Omega-3 eggs are also low in other saturated and trans fats, which makes the good news even better.

Does the chicken live in a factory or does it roam free in a pasture? Eggs not marked otherwise are generally factory farmed (as are most chickens we buy). Chickens raised in conventional commercial “cage and ﬂoor operations” have some of the most depressing living conditions. Crowded into cages, many are “force molted” – starved for up to 14 days – to encourage egg production. If you are concerned about living conditions, don’t confuse free range eggs with pastured eggs because free range eggs are the same unhealthy eggs as regular eggs, except these chickens have the freedom to wander about and may get some sunshine. By USDA regulation, “allowed access to the outside” is considered “free range.” So while “Organic Free Range” may sound healthy and humane, it may not be the case.

The unfortunate paradox A chicken fed the superior Omega-3 diet can, and probably does, still live in a cage. A typical free range chicken eats the same bad diet as a factory chicken. So the only way to get an egg from a happy and healthy chicken is to buy pastured eggs, which are really hard to ﬁnd. Locally, you can buy them from The Dancing Goat. See page 15.

GoodLiving / Volume II, Issue 5

eating Easy Honey Banana Bread Preheat oven to 325 degrees. In separate bowl lightly mash bananas. Cream together butter and honey until smooth and then add eggs (one at a time). Blend until smooth. Add the mashed bananas, vanilla and beat well. Mix in ﬂour gradually. Beat until well blended. If you like nuts fold them in at this point. Walnuts, pecans, or almonds add an extra texture and ﬂavor.

Ingredients: 1½ cups whole wheat ﬂour 1 TBL baking powder 2 eggs 1 tsp vanilla 1 tsp cinnamon 3 large bananas well ripened ½ stick of soften butter 1 cup Honey

Use a lower temperature when cooking with honey. To avoid the edges getting done faster than the middle, use a square muﬃn pan, smaller loaf pans or double-loaf pans. Spray pan with non stick spray. Bake for approximately 45 minutes on 325 degrees then check with a toothpick to see if they are done. Let cool a couple of minutes in the pan then put on to wire cooling racks until completely cooled. Top with creamed honey or eat alone, either way this is a great crowd pleaser for breakfast to bed time snack. contributed by Jodi Fisher of Fisher Honey

Jodi Fisher is co-owner of Fisher Honey. She and her husband Jonathon raise their own bees locally, harvest the honey and sell their products at local green markets and through their website, Fisherhoneybees.com. Their liquid honey and creamed honey can be used as a sweetener in cooking and baking, which is much healthier than processed white sugar. Jodi is graciously sharing one of

her favorite recipes for banana bread made with honey. If you don’t want to make it, you can buy it at one of their events, but you need to come early. It’s also a favorite when they volunteer to feed the hungry through their church ministry in Land O’Lakes.

Former nutrition expert to the stars, Dr. Lindsey Duncan, grew frustrated by the lack of nutrition broadly available to the general public. After starting his own company to mass market his formulations, he met with the retailer that could get his products to the masses better than anyone else – Walmart. They were already looking to bring more nutritional products into the store, but after tasting his products, were so impressed they asked him develop a line of nutrient and vitamin-packed juices for their stores.

juice is also fortiﬁed with 1,000% of the daily value of vitamin B12, to provide natural energy and to support beautiful hair, skin and nails.

Pomegranate and Berries with Resveratrol – This juice not only contains the superfruit pomegranate, but features 25 mgs of resveratrol, the compound found in red wine that is believed to be the reason for the “French paradox.” In fact, the juice contains the same amount of resveratrol that is found in 50 glasses of red wine! It also features 50 mgs of an antioxiThat’s how Genesis Today juices and juice/tea blends dant blend to ﬁght free radicals and 1,000% of the daily value came to be. And they can be found in the refrigerated of vitamin B12 and 200% of the daily value of vitamin C. section of Walmart and Sam’s Club. Acai Berry Juice - The acai berry has long been known as See their full line of products at GenesisToday.com the “beauty berry” because of its reputation to bring the Brazilian people their natural beauty. Genesis Today’s Editor’s note: See David Foreman’s article on page 16 that Acai Berry Juice features 16,000 mgs of pure acai berry, suggests mixing powdered greens into acai juice for a double which is more than any other juice on the market. The dose of antioxidants and vitamins.

GoodLiving /Volume II, Issue 5

Good Gardening

with Jai

One of the things I love about Florida is that except for a few cold days in January or February, we can garden all year long. And even then the winter crops don’t mind the cold. Those cool days are the perfect temperature to work outside and not overheat. Winter Crops include greens like lettuce, kale, collards, mustard greens, snow peas, onions, radishes, Elephant Garlic and the broccoli family.

How to get started I prefer to start with seedlings, although some things do best starting out as seeds such as snow peas, carrots, beets, radishes, lettuce, kale, and onions. Before you plant you need to identify where you will plant your garden or choose your containers. Then amend the soil with homemade or purchased compost, cow manure and/or potting soil. Mix it with a small amount of the existing sand. Nutrients are also important because the healthier your plant, the healthier your dinner. We eat foods for their nutritional value and that starts at the source – the soil. If the soil lacks minerals, the food won’t be beneficial to you. We have our own brand of products we use in our organic garden and of course, we love them! First, we mix our Garden Magic #1 which contains 91 minerals mined from an ancient seabed into the soil and then put the seeds in the soil. To plant seedling, I dig a hole in the soil, put a handful of Garden Magic #1 in the hole, place the plant on top and fill in the hole, adding a little more around the top. After watering or a good rainfall add Garden Magic #2, which is a liquid that contains microorganisms that should be in the soil to help the plants absorb the minerals and keep them healthy. Go ahead and start small but grow a few plants that you really love and see how rewarding it can be to eat fresh organic food out of your own back yard. The flavors will amaze you and satisfy you. Come and tour my gardens and see what you can create in a small space. Enjoy!

Jai Hambly is a master organic gardener and the owner of Organic Living in Clearwater. Find more information about gardening, her custom services and workshops at OrganicLivingForAll.com

GoodLiving / Volume II, Issue 5

A FEW EASY PLANTS TO TRY Bright Lights Swiss Chard Highly ornamental and colorful, Swiss chard is also extremely nutritious. Swiss chard leaves are often cooked like mustard or collard greens, but can also make a cool snack: chard chips. Dry the leaves and remove the stems. Chop into chip size pieces and toss with a little olive oil and seasonings of your choice. Bake at 400 for 5 minutes or so and you’ll have a crispy little snack. Kids will like them. Bok Choy Probably one of the easiest vegetables to grow. It grows quickly and its leaves can be continuously harvested from September until almost April or May. Even better, Bok Choy is extremely low in calories but contains tons of great nutrients and antioxidants. Stir-fry in a little olive oil, garlic and soy sauce for a delicious side dish. Snow Peas There is nothing like eating fresh snow peas right oﬀ the vine. They are sugary and delicious. You can add them to salads, or cook them up in a stir-fry for a nice crunch. They taste so good they don’t usually make it to the kitchen. Herbs There are many herbs that don’t mind the cool weather: parsley, mints, lemon balm, Rosemary, chives, African Basil, tarragon, oregano, fennel and more. Fruit trees are a great thing to plant in fall also. Many trees and shrubs can produce food in as little as 6-9 months such as Peaches, Apples, Pears, Plums, blackberries, blueberries, Strawberry Tree, Mulberry, figs, grapes and more.

Survival Tips for the Work-at-Home Mom by ALIZA SHERMAN AND DANIELLE SMITH

::Cheat Sheet:: 7 Steps Toward More Peace 1. Stop apologizing. Why is it that we say “I’m sorry” so often? We challenge you to first hear yourself saying it. And then to stop saying it. It doesn’t make sense to say “I’m sorry” as the opener to any sentence. You don’t have to apologize unless you’ve done something genuinely grievous. 2. Eliminate guilt. The default for many of us is to feel guilty that we aren’t doing enough or aren’t doing something right. We feel guilty because we aren’t spending enough time with our children. We feel guilty that we aren’t working hard enough for our clients. If you know you are doing the best you can, then that really is good enough. You are a mother. And you work. Maybe you work out of your home. Maybe you’re dreaming of starting your own business and running it from home. Maybe you’re already doing it - a Mom, Incorporated, a Power Mom. And you are seeking “balance.” As in the ‘balance’ between motherhood and work. The word “balance” - the very idea makes you cringe just thinking about it, doesn’t it? It is an elusive fairy-dust idea of “balance” that we moms have been led to believe exists. We believe we should somehow be able to smile beautifully while rocking our babies, taking a call, helping with homework, answering emails, making dinner, finishing that project, dropping off the kids at soccer practice, getting in a little exercise for ourselves.....oh, and don’t forget a full eight hours of sleep! We’re here to admit to you: it doesn’t work that way. And it is OKAY. Say it with us, “It is OKAY.” Breathe in. Breathe out. “Balance” is a myth. Like unicorns. And the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. And getting eight hours of sleep while starting and running your own business and maintaining your role as CEO of your family. The sooner you can embrace this, the better off you will be. We’re here to help.

Putting Power Into Your Juggle Instead of ‘balance’, we suggest you think of managing work and family as a juggle. You certainly know how much work it takes to keep all of those balls in the air. Especially if you are walking the path we have chosen - that of a home-based entrepreneur and an in-home mom. You simply must be able to move swiftly from one scenario to the next. We have a few suggestions that might make your juggle just a bit more peaceful.

GoodLiving / Volume II, Issue 5

3. Ask for help. We’re constantly trying to do it all, but the reality is that even though we might be great at multitasking, we are only human. Put away the Super Woman cape and stretch out of your comfort zone. Ask others to help you. Ah, relief! 4. Delegate. You may think that you are the only one who can do something “exactly the way” you want it done. Well, maybe that is true, but that doesn’t mean that someone else can’t do a good job for you. Hire people with talents and skills that you don’t possess and let them do their jobs so you can do yours. 5. Say no. You’d be surprised at how freeing saying “no” can be. We say “yes” so often that we overload ourselves in every aspect of our life. Draw some boundaries. Put your foot down. Just say no and see how much more peace you have in your life and work. 6. Celebrate wins. You’re working hard, but how often do you stop and pat yourself on the back? Reward yourself for those small wins. Get that massage you’ve been saying for months that you’re going to get. Spend a day out of the house by your self just to get out (yes, get a babysitter). You’re worth it. 7. Breathe. Stop and take a deep breath. Let it out slowly. You need that oxygen because you’re working overtime on so many levels. Take those moments to just sit and breathe. Your body and brain - will thank you.

Now, for those of you who have already taken that leap of faith and have decided to start something of your very own, we applaud you. It takes courage. A ton of planning. And a whole lot of support on the home front. Which makes our next topic of conversation crucial.

Having “The Talk” With Your Family If you are working from home, or thinking about working from home, you have to talk about your passions and your plans with your family. They have to know what to expect from you. What hours will you keep? What can your small people expect from you? Will you still be making their lunches and tucking them into bed at night? Will they see you at all? If you already work from home and you haven’t taken the time to talk with your spouse and kids, now is the time to do it. Before someone gets frustrated or disappointed or worse. Here’s a cheat sheet full of suggestions to help guide you through the conversation with those close to you.

Know this: You are doing the hard part. And you are doing the best you can. It is impossible for you to be stellar at your job and Mother-of-the-Year on the same day as both require your full attention. Communicate your needs with your family, make sure you understand theirs, and give yourself a break. After all, you ARE Mom, Incorporated.

::Cheat Sheet:: Holding the conversation about work and your workspace with your family 1. Family first. Your family needs to know they come first in this equation. Make sure you remind them. “You are the most important people in my life.” 2. Show mutual respect. You respect family time and require that your family respects your work time. “Together, we can make this work.” 3. Make promises you can keep. If you say you’re going to stop working at 5:00 p.m. and won’t start again until the kiddos are in bed, do that. If you need to work on Saturdays but make a commitment to not work on Monday nights during softball practice, keep your word. “I promise not to bring my phone to the table during meals. That’s my commitment to you – to give you my full attention during those times.” Say it. Mean it. Do it. 4. Manage expectations. Make it clear what you can and cannot do and when you cannot do it. “Mommy can’t play with you until after lunch time. Enjoy your lunch, and when you’re done, we can play for a little while.” 5. Ask for input. You can’t unilaterally set all the rules in this new situation. What does your partner need? What do your kids need? You’re pretty much at the mercy of what your baby needs, but we’ll tackle childcare in Chapter 6 “What’s important to you? When do you need me to be available?” 6. Look for happy compromises. Not every compromise will make everyone happy, but as you give in a little and your family gives in a little, you can find workable solutions so in the end, you create a way to run a business in your home. “I’m willing to stop work at 5:00 p.m. if you can do your homework as soon as you get home so we can all have dinner together.”

Special to GoodLiving magazine by authors Aliza Sherman and Danielle Smith who wrote Mom, Incorporated: A Guide to Business +Baby (978-14162-0651-4; Sellers Publishing; $16.95).

GoodLiving /Volume II, Issue 5

Starting a New Business? Calm Your Networking Nerves!

You’ve started a new business and so now is the time get out there and connect with your target audience. Social media is important, but you can’t hide behind Facebook forever! Networking can be anxiety-inducing; especially if you’re a new business owner or shy about talking to strangers.

Some tips for being prepared to calm your nerves: Dress Professionally: Select clothes, makeup and a hairstyle that help you feel confident in your appearance.First impressions are valuable.

Your elevator speech. Prepare and rehearse a 30-second introduction that clearly explains what you do and how your goods or services effectively serve your clients.

Have plenty of current business cards geared for that particular audience. (Don’t hand out your dog-walking business cards because you left your web design ones in the car!) Get your entrepreneur on and target your market for the connections that will drive the business.

Pre-schedule time in your calendar for the day after the event to follow-up with those you met.You can even draft a few different email messages in advance and then just customize them. (If possible, send a personal note with your business card!)

While at the event, be genuine. Don’t monopolize the conversation by making it all about you. Show interest.When you build good relationships, the sales will follow.

Use the voice recorder on your smart phone to remind you of a particular conversation or a promise you made to someone; it’s easier than fumbling for a pen and better than forgetting!

If you really want to alleviate your apprehensions you can always check out the venue the day before so you know the layout. If the networking event is a recurring one, ask colleagues about the format and dress code. By giving yourself the home field advantage you’ll perform at your best.

Don’t forget to have fun! You’re attending a professional party full of people who want to do business with you. So be prepared, come relaxed and make connections that will grow your business.

Workingwomenoftampabay.com

This information provided by Jessica Rivelli, Founder of Working Women of Tampa Bay

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JAMES AND RYANE SHIELDS

BRING JOY TO FOSTER CHILDREN by APRIL PUTZULU There are many words used to describe Tampa Bay Rays Pitcher James Shields. 2011 Tampa Bay Rays Most Valuable Player. 2011 American League All-Star. Roberto Clemente Award Nominee in 2009, 2010 and 2011. But, Eckerd foster children and families have another word to describe James Shields – HERO! James and his wife Ryane have supported numerous foster care and adoption initiatives since 2007 with projects that have benefited hundreds of local foster children. In 2010, James and Ryane wanted to do something more to support foster care and adoptions… and that something is The Big Game James Club. A suite donated by the Rays and the Shields at Tropicana Field has been named The Big Game James Club. Kids refer to it as the “clubhouse” because it has been outfitted especially for them. Foster children who become members can attend a series of Rays’ home games, and throughout the season are treated to special on-field team days where they meet the players, get surprise visits from Raymond and hold birthday parties. Kids even have supplies to make their own scrapbook pages and at the end of the season, they receive an exclusive Big Game James Club jersey to go along with the pages of special memories. Children in foster care are there through no fault of their own. They didn’t ask to be abused or neglected, and often are robbed of a normal childhood. The club experience gives these children a sense of belonging and normalcy. More importantly, it gives them something to look forward to that makes them feel special.

A Success Story Beyond the warm and fuzzy fun, real outcomes happen here. One of club members, a foster boy described as reserved, quiet and extremely withdrawn has experienced dramatic behavior changes because of his involvement. His foster mother attributes his success to the club. He is doing much better in school, looks forward to Little League baseball season and even helps coach his younger foster brothers! “Kids in foster care have so many bad memories. The Big Game James Club is a godsend, as it gives foster kids some really good memories to replace the not-so-good ones,” said his foster mother Amy Bartles.

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Leveraging the Resource When The Big Game James Club kids aren’t using the suite, Eckerd uses it to host match events. These events give Eckerd foster children available and ready for adoption an opportunity to spend time with prospective adoptive families in a relaxed and fun environment. They have an opportunity to bond over baseball, hotdogs and popcorn. Everyone knows baseball is a family sport, but who would guess that new families are being made in a very special suite, donated by a very special and caring couple. James and Ryane Shields genuinely care about disadvantaged children. Their passion for giving foster kids a much-needed second chance goes well beyond their names written on the wall of the clubhouse. Their passion and spirit are permanently imprinted on the hearts of the hundreds of Eckerd foster and adoptive children whose futures are now brighter. Thank you Big Game James and Ryane Shields!

About Eckerd:

Eckerd is a national nonprofit youth and family service organization headquartered in Clearwater, Florida, and a national leader that has given much-needed second chances to more than 100,000 children since 1968. Eckerd provides a full continuum of life-changing behavioral health and child welfare services to 11,000+ children and families annually. For more information visit Eckerd.org.

About National Adoption Month:

November is recognized as National Adoption Month, a time to raise awareness about the adoption of children and teens from foster care. Across Tampa Bay, activities are being planned to celebrate families who have adopted children from foster care and pay tribute to the hundreds of foster children in our community who still await permanent, committed adoptive homes. For more information please call Eckerd’s Foster and Adoptive Parent Recruitment Line at 1-866-233-0790 or visit heartgallerykids.org to view local children available for adoption. photos courtesy of Tampa Bay Rays

My Story by KIM LINDER

During my time as a caregiver to my in-laws, I noticed myself being extremely tired, overweight, and losing my hair. I felt this tremendous sense of responsibility to be in charge of their care and to make them happy and content. It got to a point where I needed to review my own care plan. How was I going to take care of my loved ones without taking care of myself? Slowly, I began to make some shifts that are worth sharing:

Tip #1: Listen to your inner voice. In the beginning I was too busy to listen to myself, but came across an article on meditation that inspired me to make a commitment to myself, to ﬁnd a quiet place, sit still and close my eyes. During the silence I asked myself the questions and listened for the wisest answers. My inner voice was guiding me rather than reacting to everyone’s requests. This resulted in me ﬁnding solutions which lowered my stress – something my family and friends appreciated.

I was the youngest of three children when my father died. Almost immediately my mother began committing a slow suicide. She would hang on for 16 years drinking her way to the grave. My brother and sister had as diﬃcult a time coping with her depression. This is when I learned that caregiving knows no age boundaries. Nor does it reserve its duties for the eldest in a family. In our case, I was clearly the strongest. My older sister ran 3,000 miles away when she was 16. My troubled brother was sent to boarding school by relatives and he would later join a cult. It was no job for a 10 year old, but I stayed with my mother because I cared and no one else wanted to. We formed a caregiving partnership. When she came home drunk, I would tend to her. When she got out of control, I would hide the booze. When an irate boyfriend would come looking for her, I would call the police. Years later when she collapsed in my arms, I would call the ambulance and to try to keep her alive en route to the hospital. Some people say you are born with the qualities needed to be a good caregiver. If that is true, one’s environment brings them out. Five years after my mother’s passing I met the love of my life. When we married 33 years ago, he had four young children from a previous marriage and then we had one of our own. During that time, while in my early 20’s, I used the caregiver strengths that I depended upon in my childhood to care for ﬁve children. But everything happens for a reason. Fast forward 30 years. My in-laws, who had been living 1,200 miles away, moved into a nearby assisted living facility. Shortly after the illnesses began, my father-in-law passed away and my mother-in-law seemed to take the same course of action my mother took 40 years earlier. She didn’t drink – but she did lose her will to live and 11 months later we lost her too.

GoodLiving / Volume II, Issue 5

Tip #2 Keeping a journal even if you aren’t a writer. My private thoughts and feelings became great indicators of what I as truly going through as a caregiver. Writing them down allowed me to still own them, but not have to share them. It gave me the freedom to keep track of situations, conversations and perceptions. These written entries can become a road map of my journey as a caregiver; which was beneficial for reflection and planning my next steps. Today’s caregivers lead very complicated lives. They frequently care for multiple generations and have numerous other responsibilities. The role becomes even more exaggerated when you add in the economic strife, the need for resources and the tremendous need for support. But help is out there and caregivers should not let themselves become isolated and fatigued. Caregiving does not have to be a mindless duty; it can, in fact, be a mindful opportunity for the caregiver’s own growth. Know and honor your own needs and find your center amid the challenges and joys. Be authentic and trust yourself to make the best decisions. For the past ten years, I have worked professionally with caregivers. First as marketing director and executive director at assisted living communities and now as a professional caregiver coach, certified senior advisor and host of a radio program dedicated to giving information and moral support to caregivers. My mission in life has been about caring for others and now helping other caregivers is now my passion. Kim Linder’s Caregiver Hour can be heard on WHNZ AM 1250 from 11 a.m. to noon on Mondays. Learn more about Kim at SeniorHolisticLiving.com.