Emerald Coast Parent Magazine March+Arpril 2017 by Rob Williams

parent Emerald Coast Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Your MagazineTM

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to say

goodbye to winter and

welcome in all the

opportunities Spring has to offer.

Spring It On!

March+April 2017

contents

32 10 INSIDE THIS ISSUE

FAMILY BUILDERS

Family Chatter..................................................................... 26 That’s Good to Know!....................................................... 28 Show Her You Care, Show Him You Care........ 29-30 Teach Your Kids Something New!................................32 Snacks—Recipes for Tasty Get-togethers................ 37 Crafts—Get Creative with Your Kids........................... 39

One Day at a Time The Busy Parent’s Guide to a Clean, Organized Home

Enjoy the Spring Thaw Together! 18 Ways to Welcome Spring with Your Man

YOUR FAMILY’S HEALTH

Spring Break Staycation (with Tweens and Teens) How to plan a fun and relaxing week at home with a different theme for each day

Inspired & Informed Choosing the Perfect Camp for Each Child in the Family

FAMILY FUN GUIDE

Teen Talk Helpful Advice from One Teen to Another

Spark up some lively conversation with your kids. Take the FamilyChatter Challenge.

Living life to its fullest begins with staying healthy, fit and safe. Health on the Run...............................................................20 What a Pain! Kids and Growing Pains......................... 22

Get to know the people, places and things that make this coast special! Seasonal Events..................................................................44 The Arts...................................................................................44 Runs, Walks & More...........................................................45 Sounds Fun........................................................................... 46 Reoccurring Local.............................................................. 46

26 FamilyChatter

parent Emerald Coast

Editorial Director Tasha Williams info@itsyourmagazine.com Subject Line: Editorial Snacks & Crafts Coordinator Carol Eide info@itsyourmagazine.com Subject Line: Snacks and Crafts Contributing Authors Gayla Grace Christa Melnyk Hines Christina Katz Pam Molnar Calendar of Events info@itsyourmagazine.com Subject Line: Calendar Proofreader Jennifer Cullis

In everything we do, we believe in inspiring families to live, laugh, love and enjoy life—TOGETHER! Director of Sales Nathan Wilson nathanwilson@itsyourmagazine.com Phone: 503-710-1720 Sales Manager Lexi Cruz lexycruz@itsyourmagazine.com Phone: 850-716-2893 Creative Director Rob Williams robwilliams@itsyourmagazine.com Webmaster Brent Nims nimsmedia.com Would you like to write for Emerald Coast Parent? Please contact our editorial director with your request. A submission does note guarantee publication. We reserve the right to edit all submissions. © 2015 It’s Your Magazine. All rights reserved. Emerald Coast Parent content may not be used or reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopy, without the express written permission of the publisher. Emerald Coast Parent is not responsible for the loss of or damage to unsolicited manuscripts, unsolicited artwork or any other unsolicited material. Unsolicited material will not be returned. It’s Your Magazine and its affiliates, contributors, writers, editors, publisher and designers accept no responsibility for errors or omissions with information and/or advertisements contained herein. It’s Your Magazine’s liability in the event of an error is limited to a printed correction. It’s Your Magazine does not assume liability for products or services advertised herein and assumes no responsibility for claims made by the advertisers.

4 • March+April 2017 • EC Parent Magazine

One Day at a Time

The Busy Parent’s Guide to a Clean, Organized Home By Pam Molnar

Every year when spring rolls around, I dream of a house where every closet, cabinet and corner is clean and free of clutter. Yet every year, finding the time to deep clean the house is impossible. This year, I decided to break the list down into more manageable daily tasks, allowing me to spring clean my house without taking a week off from life. By the end of the month, I had a house so clean that even my mother-in-law would approve! Here is what I did:

Day 1: Bathrooms— Wipe down

cabinets and shelves under sink. Throw out old cosmetics, and safely dispose of old prescriptions. Pull the hair out of the drain.

Day 2: Linen Closet— Remove or repair linens that have seen better days. Wipe down all shelves. Vacuum floor and wipe baseboards.

Day 4: Bedrooms— Clean under

Day 3: Bedroom Closets— Donate clothes and shoes that you don’t use. Remove and recycle the dry-cleaning bags and hangers. Make a list of new things needed. Wipe down all shelves. Vacuum floor and wipe baseboards. Repeat for all bedrooms.

Day 5: Hallways and Coat Closets— Remove and donate all

the bed. Remove unwanted clothes from bureaus and donate. Clean out the nightstand. Wipe out drawers and vacuum under bed. Repeat for all bedrooms.

items that you no longer use. Wipe down all shelves. Vacuum floor and wipe baseboards.

Day 6: Family Room— Look over your DVD and CD collections. Anything that you are not in love with should be donated to the local library. Refill batteries in game controllers and remotes. Day 7: Knickknacks— Go through the house and take down the things that you are tired of: knickknacks, dusty

Continued on page 6

Continued from page 5

scrub the cooking grates, wipe down the microwave, scrub out the sink, re-seal the granite, and empty the toaster crumbs.

frames. Wash the outside of the windows or call to make an appointment for someone to finish the job.

any “projects” from the table. Clean out the china cabinet and take stock of things that you need for the next holiday.

Day 14: Office, Part 1— Purge old

Day 9: Kitchen, Part 1— Clean out all the cabinets. Remove damaged utensils and take broken appliances to an electronics-recycling location. Wipe down shelves.

Day 15: Office, Part 2— Back up the computer, update anti-virus software, change passwords, run maintenance software, purge cookies and Internet files.

Day 21: Bedding— Wash all bedding items, including bed skirts and pillow shams. Take comforter to dry cleaner. Make note of anything that needs replacing or repair.

Day 10: Kitchen, Part 2— Clean the outside of the cabinets. Tighten any loose knobs or handles.

Day 16: Playroom— Gather old toys for donation or sale. Toss broken toys or those with missing pieces. Purchase

Day 23: Cobwebs— Wipe down all corners of the house to clear them of any cobwebs and dust.

Day 11: Kitchen, Part 3— T he

stackable bins and fill with Legos, plastic food, and dress-up clothes.

Day 24: Blankets— Wash any blankets that are used for day-to-day lounging in front of the TV.

planters, wall hangings. Make note of any family pictures that need to be updated.

Day 8: Dining Room— Remove

pantry: Go through all food and check for expired dates. Wipe down shelves and sweep floor.

Day 12: Kitchen, Part 4— The refrigerator: Check for dates, wipe shelves, change filters. Repeat for a garage or basement refrigerator. Day 13: Kitchen, Part 5— What’s left? Run a cleaning agent

in the dishwasher, clean out the oven,

documents and shred. Clean out the desk drawers and refill supplies.

Day 17: Walls— Spackle holes and touch up paint where it has chipped. (Or at least make a note of the areas that need repair for someone else to fix.) Day 18: Books and Magazines— Gather all old books and maga-

zines from around the house. Donate, sell, recycle or share with friends.

Day 19: Baseboards— Vacuum

all baseboards with a hand tool and then wipe down with wet cloth. Do the same to molding around door frames.

Day 20: Windows— Clean the

insides of all windows and wipe down the

6 • March+April 2017 • EC Parent Magazine • ItsYourMagazine.com

Day 22: Window Treatments— ake down window treatments to be cleaned. T Wipe down all rods and window blinds.

Day 25: Laundry Room— Wipe down all shelves and appliances, dust walls, and vacuum behind the appliances.

Day 26: Floor Vents and Cold-air Returns— Remove all vent

covers and thoroughly vacuum the inside. Wipe down and clean vent covers—with cleaning spay and a damp rag if necessary. Make note to replace any damaged covers.

Day 27: Interior Doors— Wipe

down both sides of the door with a damp rag to remove any dust, dirt or greasy fingerprints. Tighten knobs and hinges that may be loose. Continued on page 8

Continued from page 6

Day 28: Light Bulbs— Change all the bulbs that have burned out and refill the batteries in the flashlights.

Day 29: Garbage Cans— Scrub out the garbage cans from every room to remove spills and stuck-on items.

Day 30: Pet Items— Wash all bowls and bedding. Clean out litter box and wipe down mats. Remove broken toys. Day 31: Take today to do the regular cleaning— dust, vacuum, wash the floors, and clean the bathrooms and kitchen. v

A clean, organized house begins with teamwork.

Live, Laugh, Love and Clean—TOGETHER!

Pam Molnar spent 31 days organizing her house. With three teenagers at home, she hopes it will last for longer than a week. 8 • March+April 2017 • EC Parent Magazine

By Pam Molnar

Enjoy the Spring Thaw Together! 18 Ways to Welcome Spring with Your Man

Spring is a time for new, fresh beginnings. You vow, yearly it seems, to make more time for your spouse, and the warmer weather of spring is beckoning you to keep your promise. Not sure what to do beyond dinner out and a movie? You’ll find something new for every couple in this list of spring time activities. FOR THE ROMANTIC: Rent a tandem bike and explore the nearby parks and trails. Take time to observe the wildlife, look for spring flowers, or simply take advantage of the quiet time together. If it’s raining outside, make the most of it. Grab your umbrellas and take a leisurely walk together. Dance under the clouds or stomp in the puddles like children, with no repercussions. Continued on page 15

ItsYourMagazine.com • EC Parent Magazine • March+April 2017 • 9

By Pam Molnar

SPRING BREAK

STAYCATION (with Tweens and Teens)

HOW TO PLAN A FUN AND RELAXING WEEK AT HOME WITH A DIFFERENT THEME FOR EACH DAY My 12-year-old daughter came home from school and announced that she was the only one staying home for spring break this year. She went on to tell me how bored she would be, how lucky her friends were, and how she would be stuck at home doing nothing. Poor girl! Contrary to what your teens and tweens think, not everyone goes on a spring break vacation. Finances, parents’ vacation time, and recent holiday travel are some of the reasons that a second vacation is not possible. In order to keep your teen or tween from driving you crazy, plan a week’s worth of activities that you can do around your own town. Enjoy a fun and relaxing week at home with a different theme for each day. Pajama Day: Most teens are exhausted by their constant onthe-go lifestyle. What they really need is a day off. Homework, Continued on page 14

10 • March+April 2017 • EC Parent Magazine • ItsYourMagazine.com

E T I R O V A F S â&#x20AC;&#x2122; N DESTI CE FOR PLA ! N U F FAMILY

c ab a n as . e t a iv r P . s ea 4 kiddie ar . s n io t c a r tt ac k age s . a p d p n u a o s r e g id d an Over 40 r hd ay p a r t y t ir B RES ERVE y! . ls o o love to pla Great p s ie il m YO U R a f e er This is wh P RI VATE C AB A N A TODA Y! FOR DISCOUNT TICKETS USE PROMO CODE: ECPAR2016 AT BIGKAHUNAS.COM

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presented by HarborWalk Marina is a month-long event that attracts hundreds of anglers to HarborWalk Village in Destin, Florida. With the nickname â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Luckiest Fishing Village,â&#x20AC;? great fishing tournaments and Destin naturally go hand in hand. Enter the ultimate Cobia competition for a

chance to win big, or kick back, relax and watch the weigh-ins on the docks. Have a front-row seat to the fishing excitement along the Destin Harbor. The tournament begins when the first Cobia is caught after March 1st and ends at 8:00 PM on April 30th. Follow Destin Cobia Tournament on Facebook for updates and information. v

Tournament Begins

When the First Cobia Is Caught! S tarts M arch 1 st and ends 8:00 PM on A pril 30 th

E M E R A L D G R A N D E .CO M / H A R B O R WA L K-V I L L AG E

Go Green and “Sham-Rock” for a Cause! Travel through HarborWalk Village, Friday March 17, from 6:00 pm until 11:59 pm, in the largest Grogg March this side of the Blarney Stone! Experience a variety of cold brews, craft beers, green beers, food and drink specials at each waterfront pub crawl stop on the Destin Harbor Boardwalk. Pub Crawl passes are $10.00—proceeds benefit the Emerald Coast Fitness

Foundation. Emerald Coast Fitness Foundation is a public charity formed to develop physical fitness and water safety among youth and adults of Okaloosa County by providing facilities and programs that will deliver opportunities for instruction, training and competitive excellence, primarily in the sports of swimming, running and cycling. v

, Destin, Jackacuda’s eads, Margaritaville hh Fis s: op St rch Ma Grogg r Mardi Gras Daiquiris T’s Lighthouse, Jeste rry Ha i, sh Su & od Seafo Ugly Saloon- Destin. Cantina and Coyote nd Isla ab Cr , alk orW - Harb

tbrite.com awl pass at www.even Purchase your pub cr llage on March 17th or at HarborWalk Vi

E M E R A L D G R A N D E .CO M / H A R B O R WA L K-V I L L AG E

SOCIALIZING WITH OTHER PARENTS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO GET TO KNOW YOUR CHILDREN’S FRIENDS BETTER. Continued from page 10

extracurricular activities, social plans and family obligations leave little time to just hang out. Reserve a day with no agenda. Let your child sleep in. Encourage a day of lounging on the couch in pajamas. Buy easy self-serve meals and use disposable plates. Spend the day recharging for the week ahead.

out your local sports complex to try a new sport, go rock climbing, or take diving lessons. For less sporty teens, try a theater camp, cooking class or sing at an open mic night. Encourage your kids to try something new—even if it scares them a little. You are building their confidence for the next adventures in their lives.

Volunteer Day: Now that your teen or tween is well rested, start your staycation by helping others. Plan a day of volunteerism and spend the day with those in need. Start with a morning at the homeless shelter preparing breakfast or cleaning up from overnight. Move on to walking dogs at the animal shelter in the afternoon or play board games with the residents at an assisted living home. Your choice of volunteering does not have to be limited to an organization. Plan to help an older neighbor clean out their garage or babysit for a new mom who could use another pair of hands.

Party Day: Have an Unbirthday Party like the Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland. Invite all your teen’s friends who are home for spring break. Plan something as simple as a gathering place for multiple friends to hang out. Order pizza, plug in the iPod and shut the basement door. Consider inviting some of the parents to stay and have a drink with you. Socializing with other parents is a great opportunity for you to get to know your children’s friends better.

Adventure Day: Plan to do something you have never done before. Enroll your teen in an adventure day camp in your area to try surfing, kayaking or scuba diving. Looking for an indoor activity? Check

See the Local Sights Day: There are probably a few spots in your hometown that you have never been to before. Get suggestions from your friends and neighbors. Visit your town’s website for tourist attractions as if you were visiting for the first time. Check out your local historical society, museum or a store that you have

never gone into. Take your camera along and snap silly pictures of your family visiting the sights. Share with friends on Instagram. Today’s the Day: How many times has your tween asked if he could do something and your answer was “Maybe another time”? Well, today’s the day! Go to the pet store and take out a puppy to play with. Take your teen to the mall to get her ears double pierced. Stop for ice cream before dinner and spoil your appetites. Let your kids have a sleepover and stay up as late as they want. Show your kids that they cannot always predict what their parents’ answer will be. Ticket Day: End your week on a good note. Get tickets to an event your tween or teen would love. Whether it is a concert, theatre performance or a sporting event, you can find something to do that your child will always remember. Better yet, he will have something to share at the lunch table when the vacationers ask what he did over spring break. v

K E E P CALM AND

STAYC AT I O N Pam Molnar is a freelance writer and the mother of two teens and a tween. Much to their disappointment, they are all staying home for spring break this year. 14 • March+April 2017 • EC Parent Magazine • ItsYourMagazine.com

Continued from page 9

A man and woman in a rowboat are often used to symbolize romance. Head out to the lake and let your man show off his inner Noah Calhoun (The Notebook). Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget to bring bread for the ducks.

FOR THE HANDY COUPLE: Fashion a fire pit out of brick pavers and stone. Bring in chairs for a gathering area for friends or pillows for a cozy spot to cuddle under the stars.

Tackle a small remodeling job together. Repaint the bedroom, add a backsplash in the kitchen, or replace the outdated hardware on the cabinets. Enjoy the peaceful sound of running water by installing a backyard pond. Include plants, bright-colored koi, and a fountain. Complete the area with natural grasses and flowers that attract butterflies, such as daisies, lavender and zinnias.

FOR THE COUPLE THAT LIKES TO PLAY: Get outside and fly a kite, throw a Frisbee, or play catch. Enjoy the warmer weather by practicing your golf swing or playing a round of tennis. Check out geocaching.com for treasure hunting in your hometown. This is a great opportunity to hike and explore nature close to home. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget to sign the log book and bring a treasure to leave for the next person. You are never too old for classic backyard games. Try bocce ball, bean-bag toss, croquet, tetherball, volleyball or badminton.

FOR COUPLES THAT LIKE TO GET DIRTY: Choose a place in the yard to plant a vegetable garden. Enjoy the sun, fresh air, and the fruits of your labor as your garden grows. Mud has been used for its healing properties since ancient times. Whether you are Continued on page 16

Continued from page 15

looking to detox, relieve tension, or rehydrate the dry skin of winter, head to the spa for a mud facial, wrap or a couple’s mud massage. Up for a messy challenge? Athletes of all levels will enjoy competing together in a mud run or obstacle course. Find mud runs in your area by visiting mudrunguide.com.

IF IT’S WARM OUT: When spring arrives, we want to be outside as much as possible. What better way to enjoy the spring weather than to dine al fresco? Find an outdoor café for lunch or dust off the grill and have dinner on the patio. Work together on the chores outdoors. Wash away all signs of winter from your cars. Sweep out the leaves and road dirt from the garage. Paint the front porch swing or prepare the yard for the summer ahead. Head out to buy some peanuts and Cracker Jacks (or hot dogs and beer) and root for the home team. If you can’t make it to see a major-league game, gather a group of friends and head to the local park for your own opening day.

IF THE WEATHER WON’T COOPERATE: Visit a botanical garden. No matter what Mother Nature is doing, you can enjoy the warm temperatures and beautiful flowers in this indoor wonderland.

Get out of the cold and learn something new. Try classes in cooking, art, fencing, dancing or whatever else strikes your fancy. Lace up your skates and head to the indoor rinks. Hold hands with your man as you glide around the cool atmosphere of an ice rink or in the glow of the disco lights at the roller rink. v

Pam Molnar is freelance writer and mother of three. She looks forward to shaking off the cold days of winter and spending some time outdoors with her husband and family.

& Choosing the Perfect Camp for Each Child in the Family By Christina Katz

A mistake parents can make when choosing a camp is confusing their child’s needs with their own needs. If you want your child to be happy at camp, focus on who he or she is rather than on who you were as a camper. Your goal is to create a harmonious relationship between each of your children and the camp experience, not for your child to follow in your well-worn hiking boots. Going to camp should be a choice for every child. Don’t force camp on a child who is terrified by the idea. At the same time, feel free to plant the seed in your children’s minds from an early age that camp is a fun, life-enhancing adventure for those willing to try it. If older siblings have gone to camp and liked it, then younger siblings may already be eager to go themselves. But if your child is not enthusiastic, don’t push camp on him without learning more.

Camp Considerations Feel free to present your camp experiences and what you got out of them to your kids, and invite others in the family to do the same. At the same time, however, communicate clearly your understanding that your child is not you or anyone else, and that you like and respect the person your child is already. Sending a child to camp to correct or fix things about her is backward. The person who needs to change his or her

attitude in this scenario is the parent, not the child. If you have worries or concerns about your child, don’t send your child to camp to address those feelings. Find someone you can talk to so that you can learn to accept your children for who they are and meet their range of individual needs. Kids who are secure and comfortable in their own skin thrive at camp, whereas kids who are insecure and anxious may flounder. Continued on page 18

ItsYourMagazine.com • EC Parent Magazine • March+April 2017 • 17

Continued from page 17

A Range of Choices Sending kids to camp may have been your idea, but in order for kids to feel good about the adventure, they need to buy into the idea, as well. Here are some questions to consider: Which types of camp are best suited to your child’s physical, emotional, and mental needs? Would day camp or overnight camp be the better choice at this developmental stage? If choosing overnight camp, would your child prefer to be close or far from home? Also consider the mission and style of the camp. Would your child prefer to rough it for a week in the White Mountains or stay in a cozy, family-style camp with modern amenities closer to home?

Parents may need to let go of the idea that what was good for them as children is good for their kids. Parents may need to let go of the idea that what was good for them as children is good for their kids. What was good for you as a child may traumatize a sensitive child or a child with special needs. Strive to meet your kids where they are. Parents may experience some grieving in letting go of preconceived notions of sharing childhood experiences with their children. But try to leave the past in the past so that you can make the healthiest choices for your family in the present. For example, if you were a rugged and athletic child, these traits may have been widely admired, as they usually are. If your family of origin had a bias against sensitive or artsy kids, you will want to be aware of a possible subconscious tendency in yourself. You may also need to steel your mind against what others think about who your child is. You are not taking a poll. This is not the 1950s or even

the 1980s. Try to view the camp landscape through the eyes of each of your children instead of through the eyes of others or tradition. What if you are different from your child in even more profound ways than personality? What if the two of you have very little in common at all? Would you both crave the same types of camp experiences? Would you even be likely to choose the same camps?

Be Respectful Children know intuitively when they are liked and accepted. They also know when parts of them are disliked and rejected. To look at a child and compare her to your childhood self or to siblings or peers is disrespectful and hurtful. To really see your child and accept her for who she is means loving and respecting your child as she is. Each child is an individual with so much to offer the world, whether you can see and accept this or not. If you choose the best camp for your child, you can relax knowing the folks in charge will see the value in your child. When you can see the value in your child, others see it, too. Trying to force a child to be more like you, when the child is not you, may seem harmless and common in our society, but there is a cost. A child can feel when he is being criticized, so even if you are trying to bring the two of you closer together by putting your child through paces you were put through as a kid, your child may feel unseen and unknown. You can’t send a child who is not like you to camp and get a version of yourself back. Not only does camp not work this way, but also life doesn’t work this way. Take a good, long look at each of your children. Resist the urge to see them as a version of yourself. None of them are you. There will never be another you in all the world. Once you see, understand, and accept each of your children, then you can work together to choose the perfect camp. v

Types of Camps This list breaks down types of camps to the most basic types. Camps can become much more specialized as you explore within categories, so this list is just to help you get started considering all your options. Day Overnight Sports Education Leadership Technology Arts Wilderness

Girls Boys Co-ed Family Religious Traditional Specialized School

Individuation Workbooks for Parents Do your kids a favor and see them for who they truly are. Love each of them to the best of your ability. If you struggle with any of this, admit it, and get some help. Often, parents are so busy taking care of everyone else that they neglect themselves. Individuation is an ongoing process that begins in childhood and continues for a lifetime. Parents can benefit by finding self-expression practices that help them keep up with their own needs. When parents take care of their own emotional needs, the need to project their needs onto their children diminishes and healthy boundaries can be restored. These workbooks are a good place to start for any parent who is feeling out of touch: The Artist’s Way Workbook by Julia Cameron The Creative Journal by Lucia Capacchione Journal to the Self by Kathleen Adams Start Where You Are by Meera Lee Patel

Author, journalist, and writing coach Christina Katz has learned that seeing kids as the individuals they truly are always pays off in the long run. She also knows it’s always a mistake to do what everyone else is doing, even if that’s what the child thinks is best in the short run. 18 • March+April 2017 • EC Parent Magazine • ItsYourMagazine.com

The Secret Me by Shane Windham The Inner Child Workbook by Cathryn L. Taylor

YOUR FAMILYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S

Live l

ife its fullest evteo ry day! Stay health fit and safey, .

Take care of the ones you love. People who are both physically and mentally fit are less prone to medical conditions and are more likely to enjoy life and all it has to offer.

Celebrate life dailyâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;LIVE IT!

HEALTH ON THE RUN • Start with a warm-up. Never run or stretch with cold Your morning runs aren’t just part of your routine— muscles. A gentle walk is a great way to warm up they’re part of who you are. However, if you don’t take muscles and prevent injury. certain safety precautions, they can do your body Choosing Shoes to Help You Shine harm as well as good.

Running too much, too hard and with too little preparation can be hard on your bones, muscles, ligaments and tendons. Use these tips to avoid orthopedic pitfalls due to running: • Branch out. Cross training can make you a stronger and safer runner. Add some different activities, such as strength training, swimming and yoga, to your exercise regimen. • Don’t pound the pavement (unless you have to). Running on concrete sidewalks can cause shin splints as well as stress fractures in the feet and lower legs. Choose more forgiving surfaces, such as a dirt trail or synthetic track. Even asphalt can be slightly better for the body than concrete. • Keep on an even keel. If you’re a novice runner, stick to flat surfaces to build strength before tackling hills. • Listen to your body. Never run through injury, or something that could affect your mechanics, such as a bunion. Doing so could lead to a more serious issue. • Phase in change gradually. Sudden variations in your running regimen, such as switching from a treadmill to an outdoor track or from running two miles a day to four, can increase your risk for a variety of injuries, including stress fractures, plantar fasciitis and runner’s knee. Give your body time to adjust. Introduce a new running surface slowly over a period of weeks. Follow the American Academy of Family Physicians’ recommendation and only increase your mileage by 10 percent or less each week.

20 • March+April 2017 • EC Parent Magazine • ItsYourMagazine.com

Finding the perfect pair of running shoes can be tough. Start your shopping at a specialty running store to learn from the experts. The perfect shoe should feature: • Consistent cushioning: For optimal support, look for shoes that have little heel-to-toe drop—the difference in cushioning between the back and front of the shoe. The American College of Sports Medicine recommends a drop of 6 millimeters or less. • Natural movement: Your body should guide the shoes, not the other way around. Running shoes should allow pronation—natural inward motion of the foot during running. Shoes built to control movement and stop pronation could lead to injury. • Toe room: If you can place your thumb between your big toe and the end of the shoe and can comfortably wiggle your toes inside, your toes have enough breathing space.

When planning your weekly runs, consider capping your mileage at 45. Running more than 45 miles per week increases your injury risk, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. v

P R OV I D E D BY

Sports medicine that’s close. So you can go far.

If you think you need to leave Crestview for sports medicine and orthopaedic care, think again. At North Okaloosa Physician Group, we provide a comprehensive range of care, including treatment for shoulder, wrist, knee and ankle injuries, as well as total joint replacements right here in our community. We also offer pediatric orthopaedic services. Whether you’re a skilled athlete, a weekend warrior or someone suffering from chronic joint pain, our orthopaedic specialists will help you get back in your game! David Dean, D.O. Board-Certified in Orthopaedic Surgery

David Lalli, D.O. Sports Medicine, Board-Certified in Orthopaedic Surgery

Now accepting new patients. To request your appointment, visit NorthOkaloosaPhysicianGroup.com/Ortho or call 850-682-2209.

550 W. Redstone Avenue, Suite 370 • Crestview, FL • NorthOkaloosaPhysicianGroup.com/Ortho Members of the Medical Staff at North Okaloosa Medical Center. North Okaloosa Medical Center is owned in part by physicians.

YOUR FAMILY’S

WHAT A PAIN!

Kids and Growing Pains If you can read this on your own, you can probably turn on the faucet to brush your teeth. And if you can reach the faucet, it’s a good bet you can get your own drinking glass from a kitchen cabinet.

muscles. For this reason, some doctors believe that kids might get growing pains because they’ve tired out their muscles. When you run, climb, or jump a lot during the day, you might have aches and pains in your legs at night.

These are all signs that you’re getting bigger and growing up. But for some kids, growing up comes with something doctors call growing pains.

What Can I Do to Feel Better?

What Are Growing Pains? Growing pains aren’t a disease. You probably won’t have to go to the doctor for them. But they can hurt. Usually they happen when kids are between the ages of 3 and 5 or 8 and 12. Doctors don’t believe that growing actually causes pain, but growing pains stop when kids stop growing. By the teen years, most kids don’t get growing pains anymore. Kids get growing pains in their legs. Most of the time they hurt in the front of the thighs (the upper part of your legs), in the calves (the back part of your legs below your knees), or behind the knees. Usually, both legs hurt. Growing pains often start to ache right before bedtime. Sometimes you go to bed without any pain, but you might wake up in the middle of the night with your legs hurting. The best news about growing pains is that they go away by morning.

Your parent can help your growing pains feel better by giving you an over-the-counter pain medicine like acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Kids should not take aspirin because it can cause a rare but serious illness called Reye syndrome. Here are three other things that might help you feel better: 1. Put a heating pad on the spot where your legs hurt. 2. Stretch your legs like you do in gym class. 3. Have your parent massage your legs.

When to Go to the Doctor

If you have a fever, are limping when you walk, or your leg looks red or is swollen (puffed up), your parent should take you to the doctor. Growing pains should not keep you from running, playing, and doing what you normally do. If the pain is bothering you during the day, talk to your parent about it. v

What Causes Growing Pains? Growing pains don’t hurt around the bones or joints (the flexible parts that connect bones and let them move) — only in the 22 • March+April 2017 • EC Parent Magazine • ItsYourMagazine.com

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FAMILY BUILDERS Strong Family Relationships Don’t Just Happen

Spend a little time talking to each other every day—take our Family Chatter challenge. Have some messy fun in the kitchen or at a craft table making some of our featured Snacks & Crafts. Help your children develop healthy habits in life with our Teach Your Kids Something New. Start preparing for summer camp—check out That’s Good to Know.

Enjoy life—TOGETHER!

FamilyChatter

Live, Laugh, Love and TALK TOGETHER!

Eating dinner around the family table and long family conversations are timehonored traditions. If your family is like ours, however, you’ll agree that it’s not always simple. Our FamilyChatter challenge is simple—just do your best. Here are some simple questions that will hopefully inspire your family to enjoy great conversations whenever and however you can. o Do you find it easy or difficult to apologize? When someone apologizes, are you quick to forgive them?

o What type of things do you do to help improve or give back to your community?

Kids: What are some things you really enjoy doing with your mom or dad?

o What summertime activities are you looking forward to the most? Explain why.

o What’s the best life lesson you’ve ever learned from a failure (big or small) in your life? How has learning this made you a better person?

are some good and bad decisions you’ve made when it comes to money?

Kids: What are four things you’d like to know how to cook on your own?

o Kids: What do you think Mom and Dad do all day while you’re at school? Try explaining their jobs to them.

Does going to summer camp worry you? What about going worries you the most? o

o If you divided up all of the housekeeping chores, what chore would you like to be assigned?

Here are a few suggestions for how to use these questions to spur on great conversation: At the kitchen table • In the family

room during commercials • In the backyard • On road trips in the car • Yell them out loud—out of the blue— just for fun! 26 • March+April 2017 • EC Parent Magazine • ItsYourMagazine.com

o What

summer camp do you look forward to the most each summer? o If you could be invisible for a day, where would you go and what would you do?

o What are a few things your mother or father say to you that make you smile, laugh, or try harder? o What

do you wish you made more time for in your life? Explain. o What in-town, tourist attractions do you enjoy doing most with your friends and family? What do you enjoy the most about these?

That’s Good to Know!

Information You Can Use!

SUMMER 1 0 1 P M A C ra c e B y G a y la G

Making the Most of Summer Summer camp offers all kinds of fun and character-building experiences for kids of any age. Whether you’re looking for a few hours of entertainment or weeks of intentional skill-building for your child, you can find it at camp.

Ages 0 to 5 Day camps offer the perfect opportunity for young kids to experience time away from Mom and Dad and to explore new activities. Camp for preschool children focuses on free play, sharing with others, group games (inside and outside), and simple arts and crafts. If you’re sending your child to camp for the first time, make sure the schedule matches her personality and routine to prevent a

stressful experience. Does there need to be naptime? Should your child be potty trained to attend? Would your child adjust more easily by starting with a half-day camp instead of a full-day camp? Are there appropriate breaks for snacks and changes in activity?

It’s important to find out what the counselor-to-camper ratio is for children this age. You want to ensure your child will be adequately cared for with a friendly, wellstaffed team. You also want to determine if the counselors are trained to help with

issues common to preschoolers, including separation anxiety, potty training, and temper tantrums. The best place to find camps for young children is through day cares, churches, nursery schools, and local elementary schools. Specialty camps also abound through gymnastic centers, music schools, and sporting centers. Consider your child’s interests and find a camp that fits to give your preschool child a chance to make new friends and explore new experiences.

Ages 6 to 11 Elementary-aged children thrive at camp, whether it’s day camp or stay-away camp. It’s the perfect solution to sibling squabbles and long summer days. But it pays to do your research and find the right fit for your child. Continued on page 31

28 • March+April 2017 • EC Parent Magazine • ItsYourMagazine.com

Cut out this page. Then, cut it down the middle. He takes his half, she takes hers. Keep it simple. Don’t keep score. Just enjoy life and each other— as often as you remember!

Let’s face it, most of us could use a little jump-start now and then when it comes to relationships. That’s why we’ve included this section. Simple acts of kindness are a great way to say “I care about you.” Date nights are great, but when life gets busy, sometimes all that’s necessary are little reminders!

10 WAYS to sh w

R E H y u care Re-create your first date the best you can. What was it—dinner, a movie? Buy something for her that you know that she specifically wants. Spend time (being present) with her. Speak positively and highly of her in front of friends and family. Call or text her to let her know you are thinking about her. Be her cheerleader in all she does. Ask her how you can be supportive. Change the oil and wash the windows of her car. Take her shopping and buy her a new outfit.

Challenge yourself to complete all 10 ideas in each issue. Don’t just focus on the easy ones!

Help her with the laundry without being asked—washing, folding— surprise her. Rub her feet or back after a long day of taking care of the kids.

ItsYourMagazine.com • EC Parent Magazine • March+April 2017 • 29

Cut out this page. Then, cut it down the middle. He takes his half, she takes hers. Keep it simple. Don’t keep score. Just enjoy life and each other— as often as you remember!

10 WAYS to sh w

M I H y u care Re-create your first date the best you can. What was it—dinner, a movie? Take him out to dinner and enjoy spending time talking together. Help your children make him something special—something that lets him know how much he’s loved. Give him small picture frames filled with pictures of his children for his office. Buy him something that shows you listen—like a tool he’s been wanting. Pop some popcorn and watch a movie with him that he’s been looking forward to watching. Work on a small home-improvement project with him.

Challenge yourself to complete all 10 ideas in each issue. Don’t just focus on the easy ones!

Do something out of the ordinary with him—like playing a two-person game on your phones! Go out to a karaoke bar together. Do something that is normally his responsibility, like washing the car or family dog. 30 • March+April 2017 • EC Parent Magazine

Continued from page 28

Camps for this age range from sports camps to music camps to academic camps to church camps. Don’t let the variety intimidate you as you research; start with the interests of your child and ask friends and neighbors to give opinions on camps their kids have attended.

An ideal way for kids to enjoy activities not available at home, camps offer zip lining, archery, rock-wall climbing, swimming, arts and crafts, and campfire sing-alongs with friends. Kids gain independence as they make decisions and meet new friends outside of the comforts of home. They gain self-confidence in trying new activities. And they learn to appreciate the beauty of nature as they unplug from technology. Although they may experience periods of homesickness, they will learn to forge through their feelings with caring camp counselors and new friends. Specialty camps close to home also help kids explore new hobbies or create opportunities for parents and kids to enjoy camp together. A mother-daughter sewing camp or father-son golfing camp allows great bonding time while developing a skill enjoyed by both. If your child has never experienced camp, start with a day camp or send a friend along for an away camp. It’s important that their first camp experience be a good one. If you find it wasn’t a perfect fit, try a different one next year. But don’t give up on the beauty and benefits of camp for elementary-aged children.

Ages 12 to 15 Tweens and teens have better focus than younger children and benefit from camps that more closely match their interests and personalities. Sports and music camps are great for this age and help kids advance athletic skills and enhance musical talent. Academic camps offer

youth advanced-learning opportunities in subjects they might want to explore for long-term focus. And church camps offer character-building and self-awareness experiences not learned in school. Camps provide a safe place for teens and tweens to hang out while parents work during summer break. Not yet able to drive or find a summer job, kids this age too often allow technology to rule, or they walk into unsupervised trouble unless parents intentionally seek out creative options. Junior high and high schools provide information for local camps worth investigating as the school year draws to a close. It’s also easy to scour the Internet for camps that match your child’s interests. Some camps provide certification, such as lifeguard training or first-aid certification, that can enable your youth to successfully find a job upon completion. Encourage your youth to research camps with you to find one that fits. When kids attend camp, they develop resilience and flexibility that will benefit them later in life. An article by Steve Baskin in Psychology Today, entitled “Creating Advantage in College,” parallels the experiences of summer camp and the adjustment of college. He cites that kids work through similar adjustments at camp and college, such as “Being away from home and your traditional support system (family, friends, familiar places), and dealing with large amounts of uncertainty (what will classes require, how will I fit in socially, can I deal with this new roommate).” Baskin proposes that kids who find success working through these challenges at camp adjust easier when presented with the transition to college. Summer camp offers unique experiences and character-building opportunities for every child. Whether your child is 2 or 15, camp is the perfect place to find adventure and make lifelong memories in the process. Don’t delay—find a camp your child will enjoy today! v Gayla Grace, freelance writer and mom to five, has sent her kids to camp every summer and continues to find new camps for her one child still at home.

ItsYourMagazine.com • EC Parent Magazine • March+April 2017 • 31

Teach Your Kids Something New!

ING Z I G O L O P A s e ln y k H in e : C h ri s ta M y b d e w ie Rev

Teaching Kids to Say Sorry At first blush, teaching kids to apologize seems simple. You instruct them to say sorry to whomever they wronged and you move on. But did your child only say sorry to appease you? Does she really understand what she did wrong? Teaching kids to apologize with sincerity helps them learn lessons in empathy, nurturing and forgiveness. And given the messiness of life, those moments requiring apologies tend to be plentiful for practice.

Establish house rules. From an early age, clarify behaviors that are okay and those that are not to help youngsters hone their sense of right from wrong and develop strong social skills. “It’s really important to praise the behavior you want to see more of, like ‘thank you for asking before taking that toy from your brother,’” says Dr. Jane Sosland, child psychologist. “Then enforce consequences if they break the rules.” And often that means an apology is necessary. Role model. Consider this common scenario: Junior grabs a toy from the hands of another tot at a play date. Embarrassed in front of other parents, your first inclination might be to jump in, demand he give the toy back and apologize. “By immediately scolding him in front of other people, that embarrasses and shames the child without giving him time to reflect about the situation,” says Dr. Stephanie Mihalas, child psychologist. 32 • March+April 2017 • EC Parent Magazine • ItsYourMagazine.com

Instead, model an empathetic apology. Mihalas suggests the following formula: (1) apology statement: “Johnny, I’m really sorry that got taken out of your hand.” (2) feeling statement: “You must feel really bad because you were playing with it.” (3) corrective response: “I’m going to give it back to you because I know that it shouldn’t have been taken away from you.” “Eventually, what you hope happens is your child picks up implicitly based on how you behave with other people,” Mihalas says.

Practice skills. Rather than lecturing your tyke about what he did wrong, role play when you get home by asking him questions such as, “I know you really wanted to play with that new toy that Bobby had, but what could you have done differently that wouldn’t have made him cry?” “By doing that you are teaching him positive tactics and skills,” Mihalas says.

Show remorse for your mistakes. When you apologize to your children for mistakes you make (and who isn’t guilty of the occasional bad parenting moment?), you show them that no one is above culpability. In turn, they have the opportunity to express forgiveness. Then work to correct your behavior. “The whole point about teaching kids to say sorry is so they can learn from their mistakes,” Sosland says. “If we are repeatedly saying sorry (for the same thing), we demonstrate that we are not learning.” But only apologize if you are truly at fault. Instead of saying “I’m sorry” for a disappointment you had no control over, show understanding by saying something like this: “I know. I’m sad that happened too.” Continued on page 34

Continued from page 32

Cool off first. A hasty “I’m sorry” in the heat of anger is rarely meaningful. Give your child time to calm down in her room and set a time limit for an apology, says parent coach Laura Murphy; for instance, “You are welcome to rejoin us once you apologize.” Then, give her age-appropriate choices for how she would like to apologize: “Would you like to apologize with a hug or with your words?” or “Would you like to draw a picture or write a letter saying you are sorry?”

Problem solve ways to handle the situation better in the future. And discuss if there is any part of the incident for which your child should be held accountable. For example, even if her anger was justified, hitting her playmate wasn’t the right way to handle it. In this case, she could say, “I’m sorry that I hit you.” “It would solve most of the world’s problems if we took care of what we are responsible for instead of rubbing each others’ noses in what we think the other person should be responsible for,” Murphy says.

Reinforce words with nurturing, corrective action. As part of the apology, help your child find actionable

Teaching forgiveness. As kids learn to say they’re sorry, they also learn forgiveness. “Apologizing is humbling and part of what builds character is being able to humble yourself when you’ve been wrong,” Murphy says. “On the flip side of that is humbling yourself to forgive somebody when you’ve been wronged.” The famous English poet Alexander Pope once wrote, “To err is human; to forgive, divine.”

ways to make amends. For example, Murphy says, “‘If you are going to call your sister names, I want you to say three nice things to her.’ Or, ‘You hurt your brother. Let’s get him an ice pack to help him feel better.’”

“But I’m not sorry!” As every parent knows, there are two sides to every story and understanding what happened isn’t always obvious. Once emotions have simmered down, talk to your child and find out why she doesn’t feel like she should apologize. “We really don’t want to insist they say sorry when they aren’t sorry,” Sosland says. “Maybe they are right not to feel sorry. Maybe they reacted in a situation where the other child is badgering them and making fun of them, and finally they couldn’t stand it any longer. It’s important to validate their feelings and not to try and convince them to feel differently. There are no right or wrong feelings.”

We all make mistakes. By learning to give and accept apologies with empathy and grace, we develop integrity in ourselves and trust in each other. In return, we are rewarded with friendships that last a lifetime. v

Freelance journalist Christa Melnyk Hines and her husband are the parents of two boys. Christa’s latest book is Happy, Healthy & Hyperconnected: Raise a Thoughtful Communicator in a Digital World.

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Cookie Pizza YOU NEED ¾ cup butter ¾ cup brown sugar ¼ cup sugar 1 egg 2 tsp. vanilla 2 cups white flour 2 tsp. cornstarch 1 tsp. baking soda

• • • • • • • •

Did someone say pizza? Here’s sweet alternative to your standard cheese and pepperoni pizza—great for parties.

• ½ tsp. salt • 1 cup mini chocolate chips • ½ cup mini colored marshmallows • (1) 2 oz. Wilton Light Cocoa Drizzle Pouch

• ¼ cup mini M&Ms • 2 Tbsp. sprinkles • Mixing bowl • 12-inch pizza pan • Cooking spray • Knife

DIRECTIONS In the mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar. Add egg and vanilla to butter mixture and stir well. Add flour, cornstarch, soda, and salt to mixture—stir well. Stir in chocolate chips. Coat pan with cooking spray and spread dough evenly into pan. Bake cookie pizza in preheated 350 degree oven for 22-25 min. While the pizza is still warm, scatter and press mini M&Ms on the top. Let cool in pan completely. Sprinkle the cookie with sprinkles and colored marshmallows. Follow package directions to melt chocolate in Drizzle Pouch and drizzle over marshmallows and sprinkles. Let cool.

• • • • • • • • •

Banana Split Stackers YOU NEED 3.4 oz. instant vanilla pudding 1 ½ cups cold milk 8 oz. tub whipped topping 4 medium bananas 24 graham cracker squares 16 strawberries Chocolate syrup

• • • • • • •

• Rainbow sprinkles • 4 cup measuring cup • Whisk • Large spoon • Knife • Sandwich size Ziploc® bag • Scissors

DIRECTIONS In the measuring cup whisk instant vanilla pudding with 1 ½ cups cold milk. Chill for at least 5 minutes. Slice strawberries lengthwise (see tip). Slice bananas into 1/8-inch rounds—12 for each stacker. Stir 1 cup of whipped topping into pudding. Scoop about 1 cup of pudding mixture into Ziploc bag. (Each stacker needs about ½ cup of the mixture.) Seal the bag closed, removing any air. Snip off about ¼ inch of one corner of the bag. Place four banana circles on a graham cracker square. Squeeze the bag of pudding to pipe a circle of the pudding mixture on top of the bananas. Repeat the layers until you have three layers. Freeze immediately. This recipe makes about 8 stackers (Tip: Three stackers can be assembled in a 4.5 x 8.5-inch metal loaf pan—this will help them hold their shape and make freezing easier). Remove the stackers from the freezer. Spoon a dollop of whipped topping on the top, poke 3-4 strawberry slices into the topping, drizzle with chocolate syrup and decorate with rainbow sprinkles. Eat immediately.

• • • • • •

Tip: Use a hard-boiled egg slicer to cut strawberries into even slices.

•

ItsYourMagazine.com • EC Parent Magazine • March+April 2017 • 37

Sunflower Cookies INGREDIENTS 16.5 oz. sugar cookie dough Flour Rolling pin Pizza cutter 3-inch round cookie cutter Cookie sheet

• • • • • •

• Prepared vanilla frosting • Prepared chocolate frosting • Mini chocolate chips • Yellow food coloring

DIRECTIONS Roll out cookie dough on a floured surface to about ¼-inch thickness. Use round cookie cutter to cut 3 rounds for each sunflower. Place rounds on cookie sheet. Use pizza cutter to cut 2 of each set of 3 rounds into four wedges. Bake following package directions. Add yellow food coloring to white frosting. When cookie pieces are cooled, use chocolate frosting to frost tops of round cookies. Use yellow frosting to frost the tops of the cookie wedges. Arrange wedges around edge of circle cookies to make flower petals. Fill the center of the flower with mini chocolate chips.

• • • • • • • • •

These sunflower cookies are a delicious way for you and your children to welcome Spring!

Fruity Face YOU NEED Colorful round plates Fruit by the Foot™ snacks Jelly beans; gummy bears; banana, strawberry, and/or apple slices; raisins; shoestring licorice or other candies and fruit pieces. Scissors Ruler

• • • • •

DIRECTIONS Use clean scissors to cut Fruit by the Foot™ in half to make two 16-18-inch lengths. Cut a 3-inch length from each of these pieces. Shape each long length into a bow by forming 2 loops where the ends cross each other. Fold the short piece in half lengthwise and wrap it around the center of the bow where the ends cross and pinch to hold it together (see photo). Make a second bow out of the remaining pieces if desired. Using the plate as the outline for a head, arrange the candies and fruit slices to create a face. The bow can be used as a bow tie or as a bow in the hair. The possible combinations of pieces is limitless! An apple slice can be a mouth, shoestring licorice can be made into hair, gummy bears can be teeth, jelly beans can be eyes. Rearrange pieces to see how many faces you can make—then eat!

• • •

38 • March+April 2017 • EC Parent Magazine • ItsYourMagazine.com

Have small children? These fruity face plates are a fun way to get your kids to not only play with their food, but also a great way to get your kids to enjoy eating fruit.

Seed-Packet Friend MATERIALS Wooden spoon Seed packet 2-foot length colorful ribbon Yarn for hair Fabric paint writers in desired colors to make faces

• • • • •

• Hot glue gun and glue sticks • Pencil • Scissors • Ruler • Optional: doll accessories such as hats or glasses

INSTRUCTIONS Use the pencil to sketch facial features on the back of the spoon. Use paint writers to paint. Let dry. Make hair out of yarn—you can braid six 1-foot lengths to make hair for a girl. Tying the center of 2-inch lengths of yarn can make bangs for a girl or hair for a boy. Hot glue the yarn to the top edge of the spoon. Trim as needed. Cut a notch in the center top and center bottom of the seed packet that is just large enough for the handle of your wooden spoon (remove the seeds for planting in your garden). Slide the handle of the spoon into the notches of the seed packet and slide up to the neck of the spoon—the packet will be the body of your friend. Use a spot of hot glue at each notch to secure the packet to the spoon handle. Use the ribbon to tie a bow just above the top to the packet. Plant the seeds in your garden and insert your Seed-Packet Friend at the planting site.

• • • •

Tip: Use fine-point permanent pens instead of paint.

• •

Cup-and-Saucer Bird Feeder MATERIALS Ceramic or china cup and saucer 18-inch length of ribbon, cord or fabric

• •

• Super glue gel • Bird seed • Ruler

INSTRUCTIONS Use super glue gel to glue the side of the cup opposite the handle to the center of the saucer. Hold in place as needed and let dry. (Follow the package instructions for applying and letting the glue dry.) Thread the length of ribbon, cord, or fabric through the handle of the cup. Knot the ends together about 2 inches from the ends to form a loop. Hang the birdfeeder on a branch within view of a window and sprinkle birdseed on the saucer and inside the cup.

• • •

This cup-and-saucer bird feeder is not only a fun craft to make with your children, but it’s also a great snack for the birds that come visit your home.

ItsYourMagazine.com • EC Parent Magazine • March+April 2017 • 39

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Garden Buddy MATERIALS 1 pr. canvas gardening gloves 2 paint stirring sticks Fiberfill stuffing Small silk flowers Scissors

• • • • •

• 2 yds. of 1-inch wide ribbon or strip of colorful fabric • Pink and black fabric paint writer • Hot glue gun and glue sticks

INSTRUCTIONS Push the thumb, first finger and pinky finger of each glove inside so that only the 2 middle fingers are extended. Use hot glue to pinch shut the openings of the first finger and the pinky finger of each glove—leave the thumb pocket open. Use the pencil to sketch faces on the palm of each glove. Stuff the palm and middle fingers of the glove with fiberfill. Insert the handle of the stick into the wrist of the glove. Use the ribbon or fabric to tie and knot the wrist of each glove to the stirring stick and finish with a bow. Cut a sprig of silk flowers, insert the stem into the thumb pocket and hot glue the pocket closed. Use the paint writers to paint the facial features you have drawn with pencil. Let dry. Place sticks in your garden, flowerbed or flower pot.

• • • • •

Suggestion: We chose to paint our stirring stick white. You could also leave it natural or paint it any other complementary color.

• • •

Easter Candy Cones MATERIALS Colorful cardstock Small Easter candies Colorful Easter grass Yarn in a variety of colors Wiggle eyes (6-10 mm) Hot glue gun and glue sticks

• • • • • •

• Glue sticks • Hole punch • Scissors • Compass or other means to draw a 4-inch radius circle • Ruler

INSTRUCTIONS Using a compass, draw a 4-inch radius half circle on the cardstock. Cut out the half circle and mark the center of the circle. Gently bend the half circle into a cone and mark on the curved edge where the face will be located. Unbend the half circle and lay it flat. Use scissors, paper, yarn, wiggle eyes, glue stick and hot glue gun to make and apply the face to the half circle. The base of the ears can be hot glued to the inside of the cone above the eyes. Form the half circle into a cone again and hot glue the seam to hold the cone together. Punch two holes about ¼ inch from the top edge of the cone on opposite sides of the face. Cut a 12-inch length of yarn and tie one end to each hole. Use this length of yarn as a hanger. Loosely fill the cone with Easter grass or shredded colored paper. Fill with candy or plastic egg filled with candy. Cones can be hung on a doorknob or from low branches in a tree or bush.

• • • •

Tip: The hot glue gun works best for the wiggle eyes and yarn. The glue stick works best on the paper features.

• • • •

ItsYourMagazine.com • EC Parent Magazine • March+April 2017 • 41

TEEN Helpful Advice from One Teen to Another!

TALK

MOVING AWAY TO COLLEGE! It is getting closer and closer to graduation time, and the freedom summer offers weighs expectantly on most teens’ minds. However, many seniors are also anxiously looking forward to walking across the stage in their gowns and throwing their caps into the night sky before moving on to what seems like a whole new world—the next chapter of our lives. While this can seem like an extremely special, all-consuming and life-changing event, it’s important to focus, as much as you’re able, on preparing thoroughly for the next chapter. Do your best not to wait until the last second before committing to an initial plan. Planning for major life changes often takes great amounts of time and involves many decisions and alterations to your plan. In the end, you want a plan than fits your personal needs, timeframe and budget Assuming you’ve already selected your school, your next step should include deciding where you’ll be living. In making your decision between a student dorm or an apartment off campus, you’ll want to compare the benefits and costs of both possibilities. You’ll also need to come up with a list of furniture and other items you will need to get before or shortly after making the move. Knowing what you’ll need ahead of time will keep you from

having to make choices at the last second and will minimize stress. A simplified example of my list is seen below to help those just beginning this process: • Plates

• TV

• Bowls

• Pots, plants

• Silverware

• Towels

• Kitchen

• Toiletries

supplies

• Laundry

• Couch

basket and

• Chairs

detergent

• Rug

• Mattress

• Coffee table

• Bedding

• Lamps

• Bed Frame

• Blankets

• Night Stand

After making a more detailed list that includes smaller items, such as hangers and cleaning supplies, you’ll need to then make a decision on what you will be bringing from home so that you’ll know what you still need to collect. What you bring will often depend on how you plan to make the move. If you want to avoid renting a moving van, I suggest leaving most of your things behind and simply focusing on items such as your clothes and personal hygiene items. If you wish to save money and bring as many of these items as possible, a moving van might be the right choice. With your moving lists

42 • March+April 2017 • EC Parent Magazine • ItsYourMagazine.com

made and your plan more developed, you’ll need to choose a moving date. In my case, I am moving 3,000 miles away this summer, across the country to California. I’ll be attending a fashion institute in Los Angeles. My boyfriend and close friend are also coming along and will be attending a different college in LA. We’ve made lists upon lists of what we believe we’ll need and have decided what to leave behind in order to make the drive out, in one moving van, more feasible. Before making these decisions we did a great amount of research—and we still have a couple areas that need more defining and that we’ll have to make decisions on soon. Fortunately, we’re journeying out to California during spring break this year to get a better sense of what this move will entail. Planning is definitely necessary in preparing for college and the adult world. Even if you’re only moving a short distance away, a well-defined plan is vital. I hope everyone accomplishes their goals this semester and feels proud as they walk across the stage at graduation. v

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FUN GUIDE CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Making the Most of Life on the Coast! We live on a beautiful coast that has so much to offer, and we’re here to make sure you know what’s going on in your own backyard. Enjoy!

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Harbor in the HarborView Room, then hop on down to HarborWalk Village and visit with the Easter Bunny on the main stage. For more information, please call 850-424-0600.

event provides students with the opportunity to practice art professionalism by having their work juried and displayed in a gallery. For more information, please visit www. mattiekellyartscenter.org.

Northwest Florida Ballet Presents From Russia with Love Sat, April 1 – Sun, April 2 – McIlroy Gallery

From Russia with Love pays tribute to the famous ballet company Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo by celebrating three of Russia’s most prolific composers. The show will also feature live musical accompaniment by the NFB Symphony Orchestra under the direction of NFB Music Director David Ott. For more information, please visit www. mattiekellyartscenter.org.

Soundsations Showchoir – Friends & Family Show Thurs, April 6 – Mattie Kelly Arts Center

The Arts The Servant of Two Masters and Agnes of God Tues, March 7 – Sun, March 12 – Mattie Kelly Arts Center

Seasonal St. Patty’s Day Delight

Fri, March 17 – Baytowne Wharf (6:00p.m.) Celebrate the luck of the Irish! Baytowne Wharf will be bringing in the sounds of Ireland with traditional Celtic music. This event is free. For more information, visit www. baytownewharf.com.

St. Patrick’s Day Grogg March

Fri, March 17 – HarborWalk Village (6:00p.m.) Go Green and “Sham-Rock” for a cause! Travel throughout HarborWalk Village for the largest Grogg March this side of the Blarney Stone. Pub-crawl passes are $10, and proceeds will benefit a local charity. For more information, please call 850-424-0600.

The classic comedy The Servant of Two Masters, and the riveting drama Agnes of God, will be presented by the Theater Department of Northwest Florida State College to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the college’s Mattie Kelly Arts Center. This will be the first time in the history of the center that a repertory experience, with two different theatrical plays presented on alternating nights, will be produced in the venue’s Sprint Theater. For more information, please visit www. mattiekellyartscenter.org.

Arnie Hart Juried Student and NWF State College Exhibits

Fri, March 31 – Sun, April 30 – McIlroy Gallery Head to the McIlroy Gallery for the annual Northwest Florida State College Arnie Hart Juried Student Exhibition. It will be showcasing Northwest Florida State College students. This

Easter Explosion

Sat, April 15 – Baytowne Wharf (12:00p.m.) Bounce over to the Village of Baytowne Wharf for an Easter Explosion! Enjoy family-friendly entertainment, lawn games, face painting, and even race over an inflatable obstacle course! Last but not least, there will be a photo opportunity with the Easter Bunny. This event is free. For more information, visit www. baytownewharf.com.

Easter Bunny Brunch and Visit with the Easter Bunny

Sun, April 16 – HarborWalk Village (10:00a.m.) Celebrate Easter on the Destin Harbor. Enjoy an Easter brunch overlooking the Destin

The Soundsations Showchoir of Northwest Florida State College presents its annual musical variety and dance event. Proceeds from this event support student scholarships. For more information, please visit www. mattiekellyartscenter.org.

NWF State College Jazz Ensemble

Tues, April 11 – Mattie Kelly Arts Center The Northwest Florida State College Jazz Ensemble is having its Spring Concert. This event is free of charge. For more information, please visit www.mattiekellyartscenter.org.

One Night of Queen – Gary Mullen & The Works – National Tour Thurs, April 13 – Mattie Kelly Arts Center

This stunning concert re-creates and celebrates the music of Queen. The show has toured nonstop around the world and has sold out across Europe and New Zealand. Tickets are $35 each. For more information, please visit www.mattiekellyartscenter.org.

NWF Reads Guest Author Reading: Andre Dubus, III

Mon, April 17 – Mattie Kelly Arts Center Andre Dubus is the 2017 Guest Author appearing as part of the NWF READS program. He will present a Guest Author Reading of his work in the Sprint Center of the Mattie Kelly Arts Center. This event is free. For more information, please visit www. mattiekellyartscenter.org.

German Masters Concert with Tobias Steymans

Sat, April 22nd, 2017 – Mattie Kelly Arts Center

Don’t See Your Event? Send calendar events to us at info@itsyourmagazine.com

44 • March+April 2017 • EC Parent Magazine • ItsYourMagazine.com

The Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra’s 30th Season continues with a magnificent German Masters concert in the Mainstage Theater of the Mattie Kelly Arts Center. German violin virtuoso Tobias Steymans returns to perform Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto, and the Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra will perform Beethoven’s iconic Symphony No. 5. For more information, please visit www.mattiekellyartscenter.org.

Madrigal Singers & Belle Voci – Spring Concert

Sun, April 23 – Mattie Kelly Arts Center The Madrigal Singers and Belle Voci vocal ensembles of Northwest Florida State College will present their Spring Concert in the Tyler Recital Hall of the Mattie Kelly Arts Center. For more information, please visit www. mattiekellyartscenter.org.

Dance Facets 2017

Fri, April 28 – Sat, April 29 – Mattie Kelly Arts Center The renowned Northwest Florida State College Dance program, students and faculty join forces with Fred Astaire Dance Studio to present two spectacular nights of dance in the Mainstage Theater. Proceeds from the event benefit the college’s Frances Smith Herron Dance Studio Endowment and student scholarships. For more information, please visit www.mattiekellyartscenter.org.

will benefit the White Wilson Community Foundation. For more information, please visit www.destinchamber.com.

Bark for Life’s Canine Carnival Sat, April 1 – Destin (10:00a.m.)

Bark for Life of the Emerald Coast presents Canine Carnival. Head to the Destin City Complex and enjoy a pet costume contest, pet photos, food, fun, games and a survivor walk. For more information, please visit www. destinchamber.com.

6th Annual Food for Thought Golf Tournament

Thurs, April 6 – Santa Rosa Beach (12:45p.m.) Head to the Santa Rosa Golf Club for the 6th Annual Food for Thought Golf Tournament. Be prepared for a 12:45p.m. shotgun start and a great time! For more information, please visit www.destinchamber.com.

14th Annual Village Resurrection Run Sat, April 8 – Destin (8:00a.m.)

The Village Baptist Church is hosting the Resurrection Run, a 10k/5k run or 5k walk. The 14th Annual Run proceeds benefit Village North Africa water projects and other mission outreaches. For more information, please visit www.destinchamber.com.

$25 per person. For more information, please visit www.destinchamber.com.

Cobia Kick-off Party

Wed, March 8 – HarborWalk Village (6:00p.m.) Head to the Destin Harbor and kick off the Destin Cobia Tournament! This tournament is a monthlong event that attracts hundreds of anglers from Northwest Florida. For more information, please visit www.emeraldgrande.com.

4th Annual Tequila and Tacos

Sat, March 11 – HarborWalk Village (1:00p.m.) Enjoy a flavorful afternoon on the Destin Harbor full of tequila tastings, live music and tacos of all kind! Proceeds benefit The Salvation Army and is sponsored by Crab Island Cantina and Sauza Tequila. For more information, please call 850-424-0600.

Garden Party

Sat, March 18 – Crestview (10:00a.m.) The Crestview Community Garden is hosting a fundraiser event. Enjoy lunch, crafts and activities, gardening tips and tours, and story telling by Mr. McGregor of Peter Rabbit. All proceeds will pay for the garden’s water bill, maintenance and improvement, and community outreach programs. For tickets and more information, please call 850-758-8481.

13th Annual Triple B Festival

Sat, March 25 – Crestview (10:00a.m.) Get ready for a day full of delicious barbecue, international foods, music and family fun! With vendors from all over Okaloosa County, and local bands that will provide fabulous entertainment, you are in for a real treat. For more information, please visit www. crestviewchamber.com/tripleb.

Vettes at the Village

Runs, Walks & More

Sat, April 1 – Baytowne Wharf (10:00a.m.) Vettes at the Village is returning to the Village of Baytowne Wharf. Enjoy the Village while area corvette clubs bring “America’s Sports Car” to the Events Plaza. These automotive icons will be shined to the max as they zoom into the Village streets! Be a part of the show and vote for your favorite style and model. This event is free. For more information, please visit www.baytownewharf.com.

Emerald Coast Autism Center’s 5th Annual Hole in One Golf Tournament Fri, March 10 – Defuniak Springs (12:00p.m.)

The Blackstone Golf Course in Defuniak Springs is hosting the Emerald Coast Autism Center’s 5th Annual Hole in One Golf Tournament. Teams of four will enjoy a scramble-style tournament with raffle prizes, complimentary food, cocktails and live music. All proceeds from this event will benefit the ECAC Capital Campaign. For more information, please visit www.destinchamber.com.

11th Annual Children in Crisis Charity Golf Tournament

Fri, March 17 – Fort Walton Beach (11:00a.m.) Held at the Fort Walton Beach Golf Club. Lunch will be served at 11:00a.m., followed by a shotgun start at noon. For more information, please visit www.crestviewchamber.com.

Run for the Health of It 5k/8k

Sat, March 25 – Fort Walton Beach (9:00a.m.) Meet at AJ’s Oyster Shanty on Okaloosa Island for the Run for the Health of It 5k/8k. Proceeds

Sounds Fun STOKED: A Musical Comedy Hypnosis Show

Wed, March 1 – Sun, May 28 – HarborWalk Village This hypnotic comedy, along with hilarious impersonations and toe-tapping sing-along hits, is hitting the Destin Harbor this spring! The Stoked Show stars the legendary comedy hypnotist Terry Stokes, singer Paul Brevard and special guest hypnotist, Terry Stokes Jr., at the Bart Rockett Theater at HarborWalk Village. For show times and more information, please visit www.destinchamber.org.

Cooking with the Chef at Emerald Grande

Tues, March 7 – HarborWalk Village (12:00p.m.) Enjoy an intimate dining room setting for a detailed and entertaining afternoon with Chef Jimmy McManus. Seating is limited and costs

World War II 75th Anniversary Remembrance Banquet

Fri, April 7 – Fort Walton Beach (5:30p.m.) The Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce is hosting a banquet honoring local WWII veterans, along with special WWII vets who will be visiting from around the country for this special evening. For more information, please visit www.fwbchamber.org.

Military Family & Veterans Appreciation Day Sat, April 8 – Fort Walton Beach

Head down to the Fort Walton Beach Landing and celebrate as ZT Motors presents Military Family and Veterans Appreciation Day. For more information, please visit www. fwbchamber.org, or call 850-244-8191.

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Boomin’ Tuesday

Every Tuesday – Baytowne Wharf (6:00p.m.) Enjoy lawn games and inflatables in the Events Plaza, and then watch as Baytowne lights up the sky with a breathtaking fireworks show over the Lagoon at 8:30p.m. This event is free. For more information, please visit www. baytownewharf.com.

Poetry & Music Jam

Every second Tuesday – Crestview (6:00p.m.) Poets and musicians are invited to bring their work and instruments to a free-form, openmic poetry reading and jam session. For more information, please call 850-682-4432.

31st Annual Sandestin Wine Festival

Thurs, April 20 – Sun, April 23 – Baytowne Wharf Four days of unique events provide a wide range of experiences: from attending wine dinners with celebrity chefs to taking part in wine tastings that showcase hundreds of wines. For more information, please visit www. baytownewharf.com.

Laurel Hill Arts & Heritage Festival Sat, April 29 – Laurel Hill (11:00a.m.)

Head to Laurel Hill for a celebration of arts and heritage. Enjoy live music, home crafted foods, and more. Admission is free, and there is no charge to exhibit. For more information, please visit www.crestviewchamber.com.

Teen Night 2017

Every Thursday and Friday through April – Destin Fudpucker’s Teen Night is a safe and fun event where teens 13 to 17 can dance the night away in a fully supervised environment. For more information, please visit www.fudpucker.com.

Bubbly Baytowne

March 16 and April 27 – Baytowne Wharf (5:00p.m.) Sip and shop through the Village streets, and enjoy an evening of champagne, live music and shopping. This event is free. For more information, please visit www.baytownewharf.com

GulfWind Paddle & Surf Wednesday Night BOTE Board Demo Event Every Wednesday of each month – Santa Rosa Beach (6:00p.m.)

Socialize with other paddleboard enthusiasts every Wednesday evening and demo ride the entire fleet of BOTE boards. For more information, call Steve with GulfWind Paddle & Surf at 850-200-8375.

Wednesday Night Concert Series

Every Wednesday – Baytowne Wharf (7:00p.m.) The Wednesday Night Concert Series is back at Baytowne! Enjoy the great weather and live entertainment. The concert series features local and regional talent on the Events Plaza Stage. For more information, please visit www. baytownewharf.com.

Magical Thursday

Every Thursday – Baytowne Wharf Watch as featured pirate Captain Davy takes you on an adventure with two magic shows on stage. For show times and more information, please visit www.baytownewharf.com.

Volunteer Opportunity Place

Contact CC Fearson at 850-659-3190.

Socks

Contact Nikole Wood at 850-863-8999.

PAWS

Contact Alicia Sikes at 850-243-1525.

Salvation Army

Contact Lisa Martinez at 850-243-4531.

Habitat for Humanity

Contact Mark McEnaney at 850-685-0686.

Florosa Fire Department

Contact Tom Peele at 850-581-2900.

VFW

Reoccurring Local

Contact Harvey Eckoff at 850-244-3834.

Goodwill

Sunday Cinema

Contact John at 850-837-8516.

Every Sunday – Baytowne Wharf (7:15p.m.)

Destin Community Center

Grab a lawn chair or a blanket and head to the Events Plaza Lawn at Baytowne Wharf to enjoy a movie! This event is free. For more information and movie listings, please visit www.baytownewharf.com.

Hydroflight Mondays

Every Monday – Baytowne Wharf Enjoy shows from fly-board extraordinaire Ben Merrell over the lagoon! Watch as he soars to the sky and makes waves at Baytowne Wharf. For more information and show times, please visit www.baytownewharf.com.

Contact Lisa Firth at 850-654-5184.

Waterfront Rescue Mission

Contact Tina or Sharron at 850-244-2726.

Destin History & Fishing Museum

Don’t See Your Event? Send calendar events to us at info@itsyourmagazine.com

46 • March+April 2017 • EC Parent Magazine • ItsYourMagazine.com

Contact Kathy Blue at 850-837-6611.

Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge

Contact Susan Leivelle at 850-650-1880.

Boys & Girls Club

Contact Rita Cummins at 850-862-1332.

ATE EXPLORE ENCOUNTER EDUCATE EXPLORE ENCOUNTER ED RE ENCOUNTER EDUCATE EXPLORE ENCOUNTER EDUCATE EX NTER EDUCATE EXPLORE ENCOUNTER EDUCATE EXPLORE ENC ATE EXPLORE ENCOUNTER EDUCATE EXPLORE ENCOUNTER ED RE ENCOUNTER EDUCATE EXPLORE ENCOUNTER EDUCATE EX NTER EDUCATE EXPLORE ENCOUNTER EDUCATE EXPLORE ENC ATE EXPLORE ENCOUNTER EDUCATE EXPLORE ENCOUNTER ED RE ENCOUNTER EDUCATE EXPLORE ENCOUNTER EDUCATE EX ENCOUNTER For more information about these programs and more, call or visit our website. Discover the difference a hands on encounter 850.664.1261 • www.ECScience.org with science can make! Seasonal Hours: Tue.-Sat.: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Find touchable, workable exhibits that teach about natural phenomena and basic scientific principles for children and families. • Robotics Exhibits • Live Reptile & Amphibian Room • Live Birds • Brain Games • Field Trips • Planetarium Nights • “Science of...”(Monthly event series geared towards adults)

31 SW Memorial Pkwy. Fort Walton Beach

Have Your Party at the Science Center! Choose from one of our four themes: Dino Dig • Animal Safari • Mad Scientist • Space Party Packages Available Saturdays from 11am-1pm or 1:30pm-3:30pm

Party includes admission for 12 children and two adults, a science activity, use of the private party room, a party host to assist with party details, party favors for each child, set up/clean up, decorations, use of fridge and microwave, paper products and drinks. Call today to plan your party!

First Saturday of the month 10 am-2 pm • Ages 9-14 Our Robotics Workshops will cover a range of robotics skills and concepts to help introduce students to robotics and give them the skills needed to compete in Lego League.