Emerald Coast Parent Magazine November+December 2014 by Rob Williams

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November+December 2014

contents

7 10 Column

19 Teen Talk

What your kids wish you knew!

Articles Are the Holidays Too Materialistic?

Family Fun Guide Calendar of Events

Get to know the people, places and things that make this coast special!

Seasonal Events �� 40 Runs, Walks & More ��41 Sounds Fun ��42 The Arts ��43 Recurring Local �� 44 Volunteer �� 44

7 Give Your Family the Gift of Time! 8 Resource Directory Helping Reluctant Readers 10 45 Discover how to “make” the season of giving more about giving than buying! Four keys to creating more time for your family through better time management

Simple ways to help your child become an eager reader

Community resources offer a wide range of information and services for you and your family!

Listings �� 45

Family Builders

Families are important. Spend time enjoying life together at home and on the go.

The Family Chatter Challenge �� 22 That’s Good to Know!—Information you can use �� 24 Show Her You Care, Show Him You Care ��25-26 Snacks—Recipes for tasty get-togethers �� 29-30 Crafts—Get creative with your kids ��32-33 Teach Your Kids Something New �� 34

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Emerald Coast

parent It’s Your MagazineTM

This is your magazine! Welcome to Emerald Coast Parent magazine. We like to consider this your magazine. We look forward to hearing from local readers like you on a regular basis. Let us know how we might be able to participate in the continued improvement of this beautiful area where we all live and work. As busy parents ourselves, we place a high value on spending quality time with our children and are always looking for fun crafts, recipes, events and outing opportunities to add to our family calendars. If you have fun, easy and cost-effective ideas that you'd like to share with our community of readers, please feel free to email them to us at info@itsyourmagazine.com. Your ideas might just end up being featured in an upcoming issue! Here's a list of things we'd love to receive from you: • Personal stories and pictures of you and your family out and about, enjoying a favorite local attraction, restaurant or event • Recommendations and endorsements of local stores, services and restaurants • Ideas for fun crafts • Your family’s favorite recipes Let’s make this a great local magazine, together! Thanks, The EC Parent Team To advertise in Emerald Coast Parent, contact Nathan Wilson: nathanwilson@itsyourmagazine.com Phone: 503-710-1720 Publisher Nathan Wilson Creative Director Rob Williams Snacks & Crafts Editor Tasha Williams Contributing Writer Heidi Smith Luedtke Contributing Writer Kim Seidel Contributing Writer Joanna Nesbit Contributing Writer Jan Udlock Contributing Writer Kara Martinez Bachman © 2014 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 and publisher 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 • EC Parent Magazine • ItsYourMagazine.com

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ItsYourMagazine.com • EC Parent Magazine • 5

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Are the Holidays

Too Materialistic? It’s the day after Thanksgiving, and Emily is in the mall stressing out about finding the perfect gift for her best friend, Sam. She and Sam set aside a day every holiday season to exchange presents. But this year Emily can't find anything affordable that she thinks Sam would like. So this year Emily decides she'll make her own gifts.

Lots of people feel stressed out about buying and giving gifts around the holidays. Even before the economy took a nosedive, lots of teens thought the holidays were too materialistic and too much about the gifts than the feelings behind them.

The Tradition of Holiday Gifts Why do people give gifts in the first place? Throughout the world, many cultures mark special holidays with gifts and food. Holiday traditions bring people together and allow us to feel a part of family and community. The gifts and food that we share are all about expressing a sense of gratitude, joy and abundance. Continued on page 11

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By Kim Seidel

Give Your Family the Gift of Time: Four keys to creating more time for your family through better time management Each year around the holidays, polls conducted consistently show that more than 50 percent of Americans vow to appreciate loved ones and spend more time with family and friends in the coming year. The good news is that with advice from time management experts and some personal motivation, it’s not as difficult as you may imagine.

Most time management experts offer many of the same suggestions but build their advice around different models. The suggestions typically include determining priorities, making lists, maintaining calendars and setting goals. Here are a few of the practices I’ve found most helpful from a variety of authors and professional organizers. Browse through these ideas and consult books and websites to discern which style best matches your current situation. Sometimes, it’s a combination of strategies that you will find works best for you and your family.

Keys to successful time management

1. Determine priorities

Although responsibilities and commitments vary, everyone works with the same 24 hours each day. Rather than running out of the gate each day like a race horse, make your plan, work your plan and pace yourself, experts say. To accomplish this way of living, efficiently and effectively, you need to take time to plan.

Organizing from the Inside Out by Julie Morgenstern (2004, Henry Holt and Company) What I like best about Morgenstern’s famous work is that she counsels people, first, to reflect on their unique personalities and situations, and second, to tackle organization and time management.

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Sometimes as busy parents, we need to take it one day at a time, hour by hour, or even minute by minute on more challenging days. Yet most parents learn having a routine is good for their family life.

Take it one day at a time, hour by hour, or even minute by minute. One of the biggest causes of a scattered schedule is not being sure of your goals and priorities, Morgenstern says. If one of your priorities is to spend more time with your family on week nights, for example, you may reconsider a volunteer request or another sports activity for your child. Morgenstern’s strategy for time management involves scheduling core activities that enable you to accomplish your goals and to set your priorities. Some typical areas for a married, working mother to

add on her calendar include time for self, family, work, relationships, finances and community. Morgenstern recommends creating a “time map,” beginning when you wake and ending when you go to sleep. Typically hour by hour, this kind of schedule allots specific spaces in your day for tending to core areas. It serves as a foundation; it forces you to keep your life in balance; and, it gives you time to accomplish your goals.

2. Make lists Make Every Second Count: Time Management Tips and Techniques for More Success and Less Stress by Robert W. Bly (2010, Career Press) Bly is a strong advocate for making lists. He credits his productivity to a series of lists he keeps on his computer. If you’re like me, preferring to write lists in a notebook or as part of your planner, that works too. Bly maintains that his most critical lists are daily to-dos and current and long-term projects. Continued on page 17

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Helping Reluctant Readers : ) For many kids, reading just doesn’t come easily. Some kids have difficulty connecting letters and their corresponding sounds. Others have yet to discover a special story that sparks their imagination and shows just how fun reading can be. For all kids, though, being at ease with letters, their sounds and words is an important foundation for learning throughout life. Read to and with your kids as often as possible, and try these other simple ways to help them become eager readers:

Start with Your Child’s Picks. Comics or joke books may not be your first choice to boost literacy, but the reality is they can be very motivating. Kids will often amaze you with their ability to read something that they really want to read. Don’t worry that these texts may not be substantial enough. They can help kids understand some fundamentals, like how events take place in a sequence and how stories are laid out. They also help build vocabulary and show that books can be visually appealing. Once your child is comfortable with the experience of reading, you can encourage other literature selections with a variety of challenging content. Sometimes electronic books (e-books) can help get reluctant readers reading. When your son or daughter becomes interested in a book, regardless of the format, help make connections between the

story and your child’s own life. Start conversations that will build a love of reading and learning.

Read and Reread. Many kids reach for the same books over and over again. That’s not only OK, it’s a good thing! Through repetition, kids learn the text and eventually read it with ease and confidence. Each new reading of the book also may help them notice something new and understand the story a little better. And that positive experience can inspire kids to give new books a try.

Read Aloud. Reading aloud to your kids helps them build their vocabularies and introduces new concepts, facts and ideas. You also show that you enjoy reading for fun, and help them connect sounds with letters on the page. Reading aloud provides together time that you’ll all enjoy. And it doesn’t have to end once kids get older—the comfort of a parent’s voice and undivided attention is something kids never outgrow.

Create Opportunities to Read and Write Beyond the Pages. Provide kids with many chances to read every day. Write notes and leave them on your child’s pillow, in a lunchbox or in a pocket. Ask friends and relatives to send postcards, letters, e-mails or text Continued on page 15

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Traditions that center on family or friends can be a great way to knock those presents out of their starring role and put meaning back into the holidays.

Continued from page 7

The gifts of a few generations ago were probably more humble and homemade. Even the people who could afford extravagant presents probably didn't do as much buying and spending as we do today. Our culture has grown more commercial, and gift giving has become a booming industry. Sometimes the original meaning behind the tradition gets lost, and the gift giving takes on a life of its own. Not only is the pressure on to spend money on the right present, but many people also find that when gifts become the focal point of a holiday, it puts too much emphasis on receiving, too. It's all too easy to have high expectations of what's in that beautifully wrapped box — and that can set anyone up for disappointment. When the materialistic aspects of the holiday overshadow its meaning, that can leave people feeling empty and wishing for something more. It's no wonder that we often hear about people having the “holiday blues”—feeling sad or empty instead of happy and fulfilled. The advertisements we see around the holidays also can help foster unrealistic expectations. With all the pressure to buy the perfect gifts, get the perfect outfit, have the perfect party and get along perfectly with our perfect families and friends, it's hard for reality to measure up. Not all people think the holidays are too materialistic, of course. Most appreciate the traditional aspects of the holidays, like getting together and celebrating with friends and family. And some love shopping and are just fine with all the giving and receiving. But if you're feeling a little hollow about the holidays, what can you do? One way to take back the holiday spirit is to focus on traditions and service—and on putting real meaning into your giving.

The Gift of Holiday Tradition Many families have traditions they look forward to each year. Katie and her family attend their Christmas Eve church service and then head to her aunt's house to enjoy the rest of the evening with hot chocolate, eggnog and stories. Katie says they tell stories in the den with the Christmas tree lights twinkling to put them in the cheery

Christmas spirit. On Christmas morning, the family gathers at Katie's grandmother's house and opens presents. “Our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day family tradition is the one thing I can't wait for all year!” Katie says. “I must admit, though, that it's the presents that make me excited.” Although Katie loves giving and receiving gifts, the family traditions help her keep a healthy perspective on presents. Traditions that center on family or friends can be a great way to knock those presents out of their starring role and put meaning back into the holidays. Here are a couple of ideas: • Decide which family traditions you love the most.

What can you do to put more emphasis on them? If you love the tradition of lighting the menorah, get together as a group to make your own candles. If you enjoy the family trip to pick out a tree, make it an all-day event where you head to a tree farm to choose your own. • Find out what the holidays mean to others. Talk to a grandparent, parent, uncle or aunt about how he or she spent the holidays growing up. Some holiday traditions that used to be strong—such as neighborhood caroling—are all but lost today. Maybe you'd like to revive some of these as a way to share some holiday spirit with your family, friends or community. • Build some new traditions. If you don't have any family traditions, it's never too late to start. Get together around activities that you all enjoy, such as cooking or ice skating.

Serving Others For lots of people, the holidays are about helping the less fortunate. Rather than buying presents for each other, friends in a Vermont snowboard squad like to go to their local homeless shelter and give the homeless a day to remember. They begin preparing at the start of the snow season by asking people who come to the mountain to bring old winter gear like jackets, boots, gloves and hats. Then the group visits the shelter to distribute the gear—along with a little Continued on page 13

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extra. Says Jay, 18, one of the organizers, “We tell them, 'Now you guys are coming with us and we're going to teach you how to ski or snowboard all day for free.' It's awesome to know that we are able to take their minds off the stress in their lives for one day.” For these friends, working together to help the homeless makes their bonds stronger. They feel like a part of each other's lives in a meaningful way. It may sound trite until you try it, but doing somea One key to d thing for charity can really n help you feel better about relaxing a ay lid o h l fu the whole experience of givg in mean t a h ing. That's because it benw is finding efits the giver as well as the r fo st works be recipient: you're left with in terms th o b , a feeling of belonging and u o y nd a g in iv being connected. g t if of g y a Choose to help an orgalid o other h nization or group that fits . traditions with your values and the things you believe in. If you love children, buy a present for a child in need. If animals are your thing, talk to your local animal shelter—many distribute staples like pet food to low-income pet owners over the holidays and need volunteers to help. If you miss a grandparent and would like to spend time with the elderly, help out at a nursing home over the holidays. Or share a special skill. If you're good with your hands, you can help build or refurbish housing for people in need.

family and friends care about. Others offer actual gifts that are made by people with special needs. • Give gifts that have special significance. Your dad may be thrilled when you present him with a carefully researched and beautifully drawn family tree. Your grandmother may really welcome the gift of your time to help her learn how to use a computer. Or your little sister may really want to learn how to knit. These days, when everyone's so stretched, a gift of time can actually be more meaningful than one that costs big bucks. Not all store-bought gifts are bad, of course. Shopping can be stressful for some, but for others, it's all about convenience. For Jay, spending money means saving time: “I find it easy buying a gift because once I see something I think the guys will like, I can buy one for each of them,” he says. This approach wouldn't work for Melissa, who likes creating unique gifts, but it shows how everyone is different when it comes to gift giving. One key to a relaxing and meaningful holiday is finding what works best for you, both in terms of gift giving and other holiday traditions. Putting some thought into what the holidays mean to you and then focusing your energies on those aspects that leave you feeling most fulfilled can help you let go of the stuff that may be stressing you out. v

Gifts with Meaning Melissa likes to make individual photo albums for each of her friends. “I know this takes a lot of time, but I do it because I love to sit with my friends and watch them smiling and laughing over the fun times we've had together,” Melissa says. Amy, one of Melissa's friends, received one of these scrapbooks during the holiday season last year. She says the scrapbook was really touching. “I thought it was so cool how Melissa sat down for hours and put thought into making my present.” Do you feel like the surprise and excitement of gift giving that you remember from childhood is missing now that you're older? If you're among the many people who feel they're buying their holiday spirit, what can you do to take back the real enjoyment of the season? Here are some ideas for putting meaning back into giving: • Get creative. It's a great way to express yourself and feel fulfilled. Design your own holiday cards (or your family's cards), decorate your home, or bake something delicious to share (baked goods make great gifts, too). Make a pact to give homemade gifts and create original presents. Not feeling too creative? These days, a gift of time is often more precious and meaningful than a store-bought item: coupons for babysitting or car washing can be big hits with parents. • Shop at an alternative gift fair. Lots of communities hold fairs where you can make, as a gift, a donation to causes your

Reviewed by Steven Dowshen, MD. Date reviewed: December 2013 This information was provided by KidsHealth®, one of the largest resources online for medically reviewed health information written for parents, kids and teens. For more articles like this, visit KidsHealth.org or TeensHealth.org. © 1995–2014 . The Nemours Foundation/KidsHealth®. All rights reserved.

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Continued from page 10

messages. Leave magnetic letters and words on the refrigerator, and you may find your child spontaneously creating words, sentences and stories. On road trips or errands, play word games that strengthen language skills. You might try “I Spy” (“I spy something that starts with an ‘a’...”) or games where you pick a category (like “food”) and everyone has to name things in the category that begin with a certain letter. Kids often enjoy reading the signs they see while on the road (like those on restaurants and stores, plus road signs and billboards).

Get Help if You’re Worried. If you’re concerned about your child’s ability or willingness to read, don’t wait to get help. Consult with your child’s doctor or teacher. He or she may be able to suggest additional resources to help your child become an eager reader. v

Reviewed by Steven Dowshen, MD. Date reviewed: December 2013. This information was provided by KidsHealth®, one of the largest resources online for medically reviewed health information written for parents, kids and teens. For more articles like this, visit KidsHealth.org or TeensHealth.org. © 1995–2014 . The Nemours Foundation/KidsHealth®. All rights reserved.

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He types his daily to-do lists and then posts on his wall the list of activities that he wants to accomplish. From that, he creates an hour-by-hour schedule. He revises his list daily. Bly’s current list of projects includes the deadlines, and he also uses this to plan his daily to-dos. He updates this list several times a week. Bly checks out his long-term projects about once a week. He usually puts in a few hours each week on one of the schemes that interests him. These aren’t urgent but help him reach his goals.

3. Keep a calendar Confessions of an Organized Homemaker by Deniece Schofield (1994, Betterway Publications) This is a classic source. Schofield was writing about organization long before it became an industry. She remains known as “America’s leading home management expert.” Schofield offers a common-sense approach to time management. Her advice is simple and doesn’t require a lot of money.

The easiest way to organize your time is with your paper, online or phone planner. Choose the system that works best for you. She’s a proponent of keeping a calendar. The easiest way to organize your time is with your paper, online or phone planner. Choose the system that works best for you. The most important action is to use your system every day. For your personal calendar, use pages that give you plenty of space to write, including monthly and daily sections. Add in personalized sections, such as items you need to purchase, books you want to read, dinner menus and birthdays. Always take your planner with you so you can add in important dates and reminders as they come up. Along with keeping a personal calendar, Schofield advises using a family calendar, one that is large and hung in a central location at your home. To keep the entire family well coordinated, mark down music lessons, game times, business trips and other activities that affect family members.

4. Set goals Wishcraft: How to Get What You Really Want by Barbara Sher (2009, Radom House Inc.) First self-published in 1979, “Wishcraft” is considered a classic in selfhelp manuals. Similar to Schofield, Sher advocates always planning for tomorrow. By taking that action, you can focus on the actions needed to be taken for the next day and ensure you’re prepared for it. Sher is most encouraging about considering your “larger-thanlife plan.” Don’t give up on your big dreams. It’s never too late to start. Put the next five years into a real time frame that you can see.

Of course, you don’t know what will happen in reality. “But all of the forces that will be operating on your life over those years— chance and love and loss and luck, health and economics and history—your wish and will, your own unfolding, should be one of the strongest. And it can be,” Sher writes. Keep a simple sketch of the next five years on your “planning wall.” (Do you have a planning wall? It’s one of my goals for the New Year. On it you can include your personal flow chart of daily activities, weekly calendar, the next five years and so on.) Writing your daily goals can give you that extra nudge to meet your deadlines because your long-range goals will remind you of all the adventures waiting for you—in the next year and beyond. v Kim Seidel enjoys reading and writing about organization and time management techniques that have worked well for her family. ItsYourMagazine.com • EC Parent Magazine • 17

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ay break, Walking through the poster-filled halls, there’s talk of holid the tall doors games and dreams. Teenagers walk, some hand in hand, out excited for what the next two months might bring. d by an ice-cold breeze. November conjures up images of pumpkin-colored leaves kisse your closest friends. Eyes sparkle as you laugh at those dumb holiday films with erry sauce, airports and It’s full of candy apples and family members, turkey and cranb for leggings and comfy sweaters, road trips to be close to the ones you love. This is the season It’s the lovely sound of for drinking pumpkin spice lattes and going on long walks. les. November is for coffee brewing and the smell of those autumn scented cand . adoring how the soft, dark colors make a cold room feel so warm grass. Cold skin that December means crystallized ice, wrapped around withered og and Christmas movies, longs for the warm touch of the one you love. It’s full of eggn ies with little ones. bright lights and apple pie, wrapping paper and baking cook Year’s resolutions This is the season for wishing on stars and making stupid New ing peppermint mocha lattes that we will never follow through on. December is for drink underneath your boots and and playing in the snow. It’s for the sound of ice crunching th of giving, the smell of sweets right out of the oven. December is the mon about. the time of year when you’re there for the people you truly care

shailey

15 years old - Sophomore

Te e n Ta l k

What Your Kids

Wish You Knew! ItsYourMagazine.com • EC Parent Magazine • 19

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FAMILY BUILDERS It’s beginning to look a lot like the holidays—my favorite time of year! I love all the smells of Thanksgiving and how everything around us seems to transform into a magical, winter wonderland as we transition into Christmas! The holidays are a great time to gather together and experience a little joy that the busyness of the rest of the year seems to crowd out of our lives. This year as you’re sitting around the dinner table, take our Family Chatter Challenge—get to really know some of those famiy members you only see once a year! Have some fun making tasty treats with Grandma in the kitchen, or do a little crafting with the cousins! Enjoy life TOGETHER!

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The

FamilyChatter Your Family Give f Conversation . Gift o e h T

Challenge

What is yo ur most memorab le C mas outfi hristt ever?

What family ion do holiday tradit ard you look forw to the most?

What was your favorite gift of all time?

chool Do you miss s y break? during holida Why?

Which a do you nimals a with th ssociate eh season oliday ? Why?

Do you like to sleep in or wake up early on Christmas Day? make Who can tter be you feel sad or u’re when yo How? angry?

What are the ing benefits of sav and spending money wisely?

Where would vel you like to tra days during the holi if you could go anywhere?

What a re of your some fa scents vorite d the ho uring lidays?

Where would you like to volunteer during school break?

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Use these questions to spur on great conversations: • At the Kitchen Table • In the Family Room • On Road Trips • By yelling them out loud—out of the blue—just for fun!

How do y ou show peo p you care a le bout them dur ing the holidays?

Which do you enjoy the most— giving presents or receiving them?

Which sto r your favo es are rite to vis it during th e holiday season. W hy?

Do you prefer white meat or s or dark? Potatoe yams?

If you cou ld for anythin ask g Christmas this , wh would it b at e?

What’s your favorite Christmas song? Why?

What is your y favorite holida food? Why? Who makes it?

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What is yo u Christmas r favorite decoratio n? What is yo ur fa tree ornam vorite ent?

Do you prefer a snowy Christmas or sunny Christmas?

Live Laugh Love and Talk Together Who do you look forward to seeing during the holidays?

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That’s Good to Know! Information You Can Use!

This Edition:

Bonding with Children Bonding with their children comes naturally to some fathers. The majority of dads, however, often have a difficult time connecting with their children on a day-to-day basis. This is especially true if their interests don’t naturally align. I wasn’t very athletic growing up, but my father was, so finding things to do together was difficult at times. We had to find ways to let our hobbies and interests bridge the gap whenever possible. Playing catch for instance was something my father and I both enjoyed. We had fun throwing the ball around, but dad never expected me to join a baseball team. Dad just wanted to play a little catch, and I was just looking to spend some time with my father. Needless to say, when dad bought me my first glove, it was very memorable!

We had to find ways to let our hobbies and interests bridge the gap whenever possible. These days, I’d have a hard time telling you when baseball season starts or ends—I am still somewhat of an egghead. I love math, chess and video games. As a matter of fact, on any given day, I’m more likely to play a baseball video game than play catch. Nonetheless,

there is one thing about my baseball glove that makes it so valuable to me that words just can’t capture: the connection it gives me to my father. You see, playing catch is something that fathers and sons have been doing in this country for generations, and it is something that they will continue to do for many more years. A baseball glove is a way for a young kid to bond with his father. My dad was a pretty typical American dad. He was kind of quiet and stern, and he had a really hard time expressing his feelings. When we went outside together and played catch with our baseball gloves, however, I knew how much I meant to him. Baseball mitts—and baseball in general—are good for that sort of thing. It bring people together who would not normally be comfortable with talking so freely otherwise. Continued on page 37

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Cut out this page. Then, cut it down the middle. He takes his half, she takes her half; Now it’s time for you both to do your part. 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 Surprise her—cook her dinner. Send flowers to her after a busy day. Buy some stationery and write her a love letter. Then mail it to her. Rent a movie she wants to see and have a date night at home. Be a good listener. Show her you value what she says. Rub her back or feet after a hard day. Encourage her to relax in some way while you clean up after dinner. Take her out to breakfast or make her breakfast.

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

Encourage her to spend some fun one-on-one time with her children. Be an involved partner in helping with the children and spending time together.

E-mail us your ideas! Let us know how you go out of your way to SHOW HER YOU CARE! info@itsyourmagazine.com

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10 WAYS to sh w

M I H y u care Leave him an “I Love You” post or message on Facebook. Focus on the positive; focus on what you have already. Cook his favorite dish. That old saying about the way to a man’s heart is true! Buy something nice and useful for his hobby. Talk to him about fond childhood memories. Follow your dreams and involve him. Ask for his help or opinion. Thank him for just being himself. Kiss and hug him for no reason.

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

Start a hobby together. Hobbies can be a great bonding experience. Praise his good decisions; minimize your criticism of the bad ones. E-mail us your ideas! Let us know how you go out of your way to SHOW HIM YOU CARE! info@itsyourmagazine.com

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SNACKS & CRAFTS Set a little time aside for some good, old-fashioned fun. Snacks and crafts are a great way to connect with your children. Enjoy!

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Oreo Cookie Turkeys YOU NEED • Double Stuf Oreo® Cookies • Brown Frosting • Whoppers® • Yellow Frosting • Miniature Peanut Butter Cups • Red Frosting • Candy Corn

These Oreo Cookie Turkeys would make great place holders at your Thanksgiving table!

DIRECTIONS • Squeeze some brown frosting into the top portion of an Oreo cookie. • Push 5 candy corn pieces into the brown frosting. • Squeeze a generous amount of brown frosting onto the bottom of this cookie, and secure it to the bottom cookie. It is helpful to place your cookie against a vertical surface as it dries and you decorate. • Unwrap a peanut butter cup. Slice off one side using a sharp knife and a sawing motion. • Dab a bit of frosting onto the cut portion of the peanut butter cup and attach it to the bottom Oreo. • Dab a bit of frosting on the Whopper and attach the head to your turkey. • Break the white portion off a candy corn and attach this beak to your turkey using yellow frosting. • Continue decorating with frosting, adding eyes, a wattle and feet.

Pumpkin Cheese Ball YOU NEED • Nacho Cheese Flavored Chips • 16 Ounces Cream Cheese • 1 ½ Cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese • 2 Teaspoons Ground Cumin • 2 Tablespoons Salsa • 3 Tablespoons Minced Onion • 1 Teaspoon Minced Jalapeno • Bell Pepper • Tortilla Chips

For those with whimpy palates, we suggest you think about leaving out the minced jalapenos.

DIRECTIONS • In a large bowl, mix the cream cheese, cheddar cheese, cumin, salsa, onion and jalapeno. • Scoop your mixture onto plastic wrap, seal the wrap, and form the ball into a pumpkin shape with your hands. • Chill the cheese ball in the refrigerator for 2 hours. • Place the nacho chips in a large bowl and crush them. • To serve, remove the ball from the plastic wrap, and roll it in the crushed nacho chips. • Place the pumpkin on a plate and press a bell pepper stem into the top. Add chips.

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Christmas Tree Treats YOU NEED • 3 Tablespoons Butter or Margarine • 4 Cups Miniature Marshmallows • Green Food Coloring • 6 Cups Rice Krispies®

• Christmas Tree Cookie Cutter or Sharp Knife • Lollipop Sticks • White Chocolate Chips • Red & Green M&Ms®

DIRECTIONS • Place marshmallows and butter into a microwave-safe bowl. • Microwave for 1 minute intervals, stir, and repeat until mixture is completely melted. Approximately 3 minutes. • Add green food coloring until desired color is achieved. • Pour in 6 cups of Rice Krispies and mix thoroughly. • Spray 8”x8” pan with nonstick spray. Evenly press mixture into pan. • Place treats in the refrigerator to cool. • Cut into Christmas tree shapes using a cookie cutter or sharp knife. • Place white chocolate chips in a Ziploc® bag and microwave slowly. Snip the corner of bag to squeeze chocolate out. • Add M&Ms with white frosting. Then add extra decorations across the top. • Press a lollipop stick into the bottom of each pop.

Tip: Spray your fingertips with nonstick cooking spray to keep the treats from sticking to your fingers.

Peanut Butter Christmas Trees YOU NEED • 2 Miniature Reese’s® Peanut Butter Cups • 1 Snack Size Reese’s® Peanut Butter Cup

• 1 Hershey’s Kiss® • Green Melting Chocolate • Sprinkles

DIRECTIONS • Unwrap your chocolate. • Place the melting chocolate in a Ziploc® bag and heat according to the directions on the package. Snip the corner of the bag. • Turn all of your peanut butter cups upside down. • Building from the bottom up, attach the snack size peanut butter cup to the bottom miniature peanut butter cup. • Next attach a miniature peanut butter cup on top of the snack size peanut butter cup. • Finally, attach a Hershey’s Kiss on top of the miniature peanut butter cup • Repeat as many times as you’d like to build your forest of Christmas trees. • Place the trees in the refrigerator for a bit, to make them a bit sturdier for when you decorate. • Drizzle the melting chocolate around the trees in fun patterns and add your favorite sprinkles.

Work fast and try not to handle the peanut butter cups too much or the heat from fingers will distort them.

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Mason Jar Candles MATERIALS • Mason Jar • Oil - Olive, Paraffin or Almond Oil • Essential Oil • 100% Cotton Wick • Wick-Holder Insert • Decorative Items • Hammer & Nail • Drill INSTRUCTIONS • Place the decorative items in the mason jar. Mason jar lid can be spray-painted if desired. • Punch a hole in the center of the lid with the hammer and nail. • Drill a hole in the lid the same size as the wick-holder insert. • Place wick and wick-holder insert in the hole. • Fill the jar with your choice of oil and essential oil. Tip: Always be careful with fire around children.

Christmas Photo Keepsake MATERIALS • Piece of 2x4 Wood • Eyehook • White Spray Paint • Sandpaper

• Favorite Photo • Mini Clothespin • Christmas Garland • Nameplate Sticker • Christmas • Glue Embellishments

INSTRUCTIONS • Cut your 2x4 into a house shape. Sand all the edges. • Spray-paint the wood with white paint. Allow to dry. Sand the edges to give it a rustic look. • Attach an eyehook to the top left diagonal. • Attach the clothespin with glue. • Attach the photo to the clothespin. If you want the photo to be more permanent, you can attach the photo directly to the block with glue or double-sided tape. • Attach the nameplate sticker at the bottom of the keepsake and add the child’s name. • String the garland through the eyehook and drape over the front of the photo. • Attach embellishments with glue.

These make great holiday decorations—make one for each family member, and line photos up on your mantel.

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Snowman Handprint Ornament MATERIALS • Red Plastic Ornament • Acrylic Paint in White, Black and Orange • Foam Brush • Fine-Tip Paintbrush INSTRUCTIONS • Apply white paint generously to a child’s hand using a foam brush. • Carefully place the bottom of the red ornament in the palm of the child’s hand. • Slowly have the child grasp the ornament. • Have an adult press each finger firmly against the ornament. • Slowly have the child release the ornament. • Allow it to dry, hanging if possible. • Once the paint is dry, add arms, face, buttons and a hat to personalize each snowman. Make these for all your children and you’ll be amazed over the years how fast their hands grow!

Homemade Body Butter MATERIALS • 12 Ounces Coconut Oil • 4 Ounces Cocoa Butter

• Peppermint Essential Oil • Red Colorant

INSTRUCTIONS • Using a double boiler, melt the cocoa butter and coconut oil. • Place these oils in the refrigerator until they appear opaque. • Remove the oil from the refrigerator and place in a mixing bowl. Whip until the oils become creamy. • Place the oils back in the refrigerator for 5 minutes. • Remove and whip again. Add essential oils. Whip, whip, whip. You should get stiff peaks. • Remove half of the mixture and place it into a Ziploc® bag. • Add red colorant to the second half of the mixture. Place it into a separate Ziploc bag. • Snip the corners of the bags. • Pipe the body butter into a container of your choice. You can alternate red and white mixtures until the container is full. Whip up a fun Christmas gift to give away to all the women in your family. Don’t forget to make one for yourself!

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Mistakes are always forgivable, if one has the courage to admit them.

What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything? Vincent Van Gogh

Bruce Lee

This Edition:

Teach Your Kids

COURAGE Share a personal story or two with your child about how you overcame fear in your life and are better off for it today! Then discuss the meaning of some of these great quotes about courage.

Something New!

We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face . . . we must do that which we think we cannot.

Success is never final, failure is never fatal. It’s courage that counts. John Wooden

Eleanor Roosevelt

Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.

Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear. Mark Twain

Winston Churchill

The greatest test of courage on earth is to bear defeat without losing heart. Robert Green Ingersoll

I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear. Nelson Mandela

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alls Chocolate Peanut Butter B

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Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls Back by popular demand! These peanut butter balls are a tasty way to begin and continue a family tradition of your own. Enjoy making these together in the kitchen and giving them away to friends and family!

ars ago other many ye recipe to my m yone who asks. is th ve ga n Adeline Melvi share it with an est—that she with one requ

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YO U NE ED • 6 Cups Crispy Rice Cereal ky Peanut Butter • 40 Ounces or 5 Cups Chun • 2 Pounds Powdered Sugar • 1 Cup Melted Butter t • 4 Teaspoons Vanilla Extrac ips Ch late oco • 60 Ounces Ch x (food grade) • 1 Cup Grated Paraffin Wa • Plastic Tablecloth • Tongs

DI RE CT IO NS er, t chocolate and wax) togeth • Mix all ingredients (excep balls. ed siz ong g-P Pin roll into with hands if necessary, and the in ts duc pro g nin near the can • Shred paraffin Wax (sold d. han by cessor or grocer y store) in a food pro vex together in a large microwa wa and ps • Mix chocolate chi at a tes nu mi 2 or 1 y onl wave for safe bowl. Melt in the micro not to roughly melted. Be careful time, mixing often until tho will clump and burn. overheat the chocolate or it them melted chocolate and place • With tongs, dip balls into . on a plastic tablecloth to dry too thick to work with. es om bec it if • Reheat chocolate dling. for several hours before han • Let the balls cool and dry e-out in a plain white Chinese tak Tip: Place about 10 balls a fun holiday gift. box with a bow on top for count to 10 as they put the Tip: Preschoolers love to balls in the boxes.

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Continued from page 24

My dad knew that I did not want to be on any baseball team, and to his credit, he never pressured me to join. All I wanted to do was to play catch with him and run around, as well as occasionally shoot hoops with my friends. My own kid is a lot different than I was at that age. He loves anything and everything that has to do with sports. When I got him his very first baseball glove, he looked at me with the same look of joy that I gave my father when he got me one. At that point, I knew that he was really and truly my son, and I was his dad.

To his credit, Dad never expected me to join a baseball team. We enjoy playing catch on warm, sunny days—him with his new shiny glove and me with my old, worn-down glove. It’s usually a quiet time, but it’s always a lot of fun. So, to you fathers all around the world—look for the little moments you can spend with your children. Find something to do that you can both enjoy. It’s not always easy, but just pick something. Remember, it’s not so much about what you do; it’s the time you spend together doing it. Life flies by faster than you may ever expect, so grab those one-on-one moments as often as possible! v

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FUN GUIDE CALENDAR OF EVENTS Enjoy the Holidays Together! For some people, the time between Thanksgiving and New Year’s is the highlight of their year. On the Emerald Coast, we have so much to look forward to. Be sure you don’t miss out on life—mark up your calendars and enojoy life to the fullest—together!

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Thank You to Playground Music Center for bringing such a spectacular holiday show to Baytowne Wharf! The Tuba Christmas Concert (5:00 PM) will take place right before the 5th Annual Baytowne Holiday Lantern Parade (6:00 PM). For more information, visit www. baytownewharf.com or call 850-267-4164.

4th Annual Holiday Lantern Parade

Sat., Dec. 13th, (6:00 p.m.) - The Village of Baytowne Wharf This community event will feature commissioned paper lanterns in the shapes of iconic symbols of the holiday season. We invite all individuals and groups to participate by making their own paper lanterns! For more information, visit www.baytownewharf.com or call 850-267-4164.

Lunch with Santa

Sat., Dec. 13th, (1–3:00 PM) - AJ’s Seafood & Oyster Bar

Destin’s 8th Annual Holiday Craft Show

Fri., Nov. 14th (11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.) and Sat., Nov. 15th (9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.) - Destin Community Center There will be hand-crafted jewelry, woodcarvings, watercolor paintings and much more from over 70 vendors! Vendor booths are available for $40/Destin residents and $50/ non-residents plus $10 for a corner booth (if available). This includes an 8ft X 10ft space and one 6ft table. Register early as space is limited. Admission is free to the public. For more information please call 850-654-5184.

Santa’s Arrival to HarborWalk Village

Fri., Nov. 28th, (12–4 p.m.) - HarborWalk Village Santa makes his grand entrance to the Destin Harbor as this Christmas season kick off! Kids will enjoy free activities and can visit with Santa Claus! The event is free and open to the public. This day and evening is sure to get you into the holiday spirit! For more information, visit www. harborwalkdestin.com or call 850-424-0600.

Here Comes Santa Claus

Sat., Nov. 29th - The Village of Baytowne Wharf Bring in the holidays at Baytowne! Join us for our Here Comes Santa Claus Weekend- complete with the annual Village tree lighting, carriage rides, a holiday movie and, of course, a visit from Santa Claus! For more information, visit www. baytownewharf.com or call 850-267-4164.

Festival of Trees

Tues., Nov. 25th - Mon., Dec. 15th Grand Boulevard Grand Boulevard’s fifth annual “Festival of Trees” will showcase 12 uniquely decorated Christmas trees from area non-profit organizations, Nov. 25 - Dec. 15 in Grand Park. The non-profit organizations are competing to win cash prizes totaling $5,000, including Best of Show and People’s Choice. The public is invited to attend the kick-off on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 4 p.m.–6 p.m. as the trees are lighted, judged on their decorations and winners are announced at 6 p.m. For the People’s Choice Award, the public will be able to vote for their favorite tree at Grand Park and the tree with the most votes will win the People’s Choice award. The trees will be on display through Christmas and open to the public to enjoy at no cost.

City of Fort Walton Beach Christmas Parade Mon., Dec. 1st, (6:30 p.m.) - Eglin Parkway between 1st Street and Hughes Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548

Join your neighbors for the Festive Fort Walton Beach Christmas Parade. Always a highlight of the Christmas season!

Tuba Christmas Concert

Sat., Dec. 13th, (5 p.m.) - The Village of Baytowne Wharf Tuba Christmas is a free music concert held in cities worldwide that brings together musicians that play instruments in the tuba family. A BIG

Join us at AJ’s after the Destin Christmas Parade for “Lunch with Santa”! This is a FREE family event for everyone. We’ll have live music with Cheryl Jones, arts & crafts with Build-A-Bear, cookie decorating, games & fun, a Home Depot Workshop, Face Painting, a Bouncy House and so much more! You can even take a turn on Santa’s lap to share your holiday wish list. For more information, call 850-499-8942.

28th Annual Destin Harbor Boat Parade Sun., Dec. 14th - HarborWalk Village

Come enjoy live music, children’s arts and crafts, and hot chocolate! Visit with Santa Claus from 12-4 PM. Boat Parade begins at 6:00 PM. Immediately following the parade will be a spectacular fireworks display over the Destin Harbor! For more information, visit www. harborwalkdestin.com or call 850-424-0600.

New Year’s Eve | Baytowne Countdown

Wed., Dec. 31st - The Village of Baytowne Wharf Come dance the night away and enjoy breathtaking fireworks as they light up the sky over the lagoon at midnight! For more information, visit www.baytownewharf.com or call 850-267-4164.

HarborWalk Village’s Street Party Countdown Wed., Dec. 31st, (7 p.m.–12 a.m.) - HarborWalk Village

Family friendly and free to the public! Live concerts, 2 fireworks shows and the 7th Annual Ball Drop! Come party and ring in the New Year with hundreds of your closest friends! For more information, visit www.harborwalkdestin.com or call 850-424-0600.

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RUNS, WALKS & MORE the festivities. All runners will receive a complimentary custom-designed 30A 10K T-shirt and post-race refreshments.

4th Annual Luminaria Run to End Domestic & Sexual Violence Sat., Dec. 6th - Bubba Gump Shrimp

The 42nd Annual Doolittle Scholarship Open Golf Tournament Thur., Nov. 6th - Eglin Golf Course

The 42nd annual Doolittle Scholarship Open golf tournament will be held on Thursday, November 6, 2014, at the Eglin Golf Course in Niceville. Both Eglin’s Eagle and Falcon courses will be used with tee times set for 8:00 a.m. The tournament is open to the public and cost is $50 for active duty military, $75 for Eglin Golf Course members and $100 for all others, which includes green fee and cart, range balls, lunch, refreshments on the course and an awards party. Registration forms are available on the Eglin AFA website: www.eglin. afaflorida.org and via the NDIA Air Armament Symposium website: www.regonline. com/ndia2014. For more information, call Ron Johnson at 850-651-0534 or e-mail, ronjon1122@cox.net, or Bret Berryhill 850882-5548 or visit www.eglin.afaflorida.org.

Miles of Memories 5k Run/Walk for Covenant Alzheimer’s Services

Sat., Nov. 8th, (7–11:00 a.m.) -Bluewater Fitness Center Covenant Hospice, along with Superior Residences and Covenant Alzheimer’s Services, will be hosting a 5k Run/Walk on Nov. 8th to raise money for their Alzheimer’s Family Services affiliate. 100% of the funds stay local to help families dealing with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Money goes to help run support groups, offer respite services for families, furnish wander guards, host caregiver seminars and so much more.

BMRG Golf Tournament to Benefit Taylor Haugen Foundation

Fri., Nov. 14th -Regatta Bay Golf & Country Club The 2nd Annual Blue Marlin Realty Group Charity Golf Tournament has chosen the Taylor Haugen Foundation to receive this year’s proceeds. The event will take place on Friday, Nov. 14 at Regatta Bay Golf Course in Destin. All tournament players will receive a free lunch courtesy of Lenny’s Sub Shop. Following the tournament there will be an after-party sponsored by Beaches, Resorts and Parks and Henderson Park Inn held at the Regatta Bay Clubhouse with food donated by Landshark’s Pizza, a silent auction and live entertainment. Let’s help make this tournament a huge success.

Emerald Coast Out of the Darkness Emerald Coast Walk

Sat., Nov. 15th, (12- 2:00 p.m.) - Beasley Park Okaloosa Island, FL The Out of the Darkness Community Walks are the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s (AFSP) signature fund-raising campaign, bringing together family, friends, colleagues and supporters at 3-mile walks in hundreds of communities across the country. When you walk in the Out of the Darkness Community Walks, you join the effort with thousands of people to raise funds and awareness for AFSP’s vision to create a world without suicide.

30A 10K & One-Mile Run

Thur., Nov. 27th - Rosemary Beach As one of the benefiting charities of this year’s 30A 10K, Shelter House must provide volunteers for the run. That’s where you come in! The 30A 10K takes place on Thanksgiving Day in Rosemary Beach. What better way and what better day to give back! We will need helpers the morning of the race, Nov. 27, as well as a few volunteers to help with packet pickup the day before the run. If you want to sign up or get more information about volunteering, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Carrie Tabor, at 850-243-1201 or info@shelterhousenwfl.org. Hosted by Hammer Down Multisport, the race begins at 7:30 a.m. An awards ceremony will conclude

This twilight race encourages runners to glow. Shelter House, the domestic and sexual violence center serving Okaloosa and Walton counties, will present a unique twilight run designed to shine the light on abuse in our community. Runners will start at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. in Destin and follow a course lined with more than 2,000 luminarias lighting their path. The race includes 5k and 9k courses winding throughout the Indian Bayou neighborhood. Children are encouraged to participate in the run, and walkers are welcome. This family-friendly event will have a “sweet finish” at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Early bird registration is available through September 30. Packet pickup begins on Friday, Dec. 5 at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. in Destin from 4pm to 7pm. To register, please go to www.shelterhousenwfl. org. For more information on the race, sponsorships or luminary bags, call Shelter House at 850-243-1201.

36th Jingle Bell Jog by the SFA7

Sat., Dec. 13th, (8–11:00 a.m.) - Uptown Station This year marks the 36th Annual Jingle Bell Jog hosted by the Special Forces Association Chapter 7 to support the families of the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), with particular emphasis on providing support to our fallen soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Tee Off for Toys

Sat., Dec. 13th - Sun., Dec. 14th - Sandestin Golf Courses People are asked to donate new, unwrapped toys or gift cards with a value of $15 or more, and in exchange guests can play Sandestin’s golf courses for just the green and golf car fee ($20). Sandestin will offer golf at all three of its public courses, Raven Golf Club, Baytowne Golf Club and The Links Golf Club. All toys and donations will be given to Harvest House’s “Hope for Holidays” and Children in Crisis programs, both benefiting children and families in need this holiday season. Local residents, guests and visitors are welcome to participate. Tee times are available all day and can be made by calling 850-267-8155. For more information, visit www.sandestin.com/ events.

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27th Annual Thunderbird Intertribal Powwow Fri., Nov. 7th - Sun., Nov. 9th - Mullet Festival Grounds

Spend the day with craft makers, singers, dancers, flute players, storytellers and exhibits. ADMISSION: Powwow $5; $3 Age 12 and younger. Children’s Day: $3. Event includes contest dancing, intertribal dancing, storytelling, traditional drums and singers, handcrafted items, authentic native crafters from all over the United States, exhibits, demonstrations and something for everyone. VA Mobile Counseling Center will be on site to provide non-medical readjustment counseling. Everyone welcome. For more information, call 850-678-8077 or Fax: 850-729-1254.

The Dream Players Present Murder in the Roaring ‘20s Sat., Nov. 15th, (6:00–8:00 p.m.)

An Interactive Murder Mystery Dinner Show Hosted by Poppy’s Seafood Factory. A THREECOURSE DINNER AND SHOW ONLY $55 + TX & GRATUITY. HURRY, LIMITED SEATING TO 50. Frederick has crashed the stock market and believes the world is coming to an end. He can’t take the pressure & plummets to his death 19 stories . . . or does he? You’ll meet Ruth and Ethel, sisters who believe they are in love with Frederick, but who hide a dark secret that can be a cause for murder; Walter, the middle-class Club President, believes he has made something of his life, but he learns of Frederick’s actions and has a score to settle; Jasper, the disgruntled out of work actor, turned waiter, hates everything; and O’Malley the corrupt Irish police officer drunk...on power! Someone will meet their demise and it will be up to you to play detective, figure out Who-Dun-It and why and win awesome prizes! A Hilarious Twist on Food, Fun and….MURDER! For more information or reservations call: 850-225-8892 or visit www.squareup.com/ market/dream-players-theatre/poppy-s.

Blues, Brews and BBQ

Sat, Nov. 8th (11–4 p.m.) - HarborWalk Village Local restaurants will be firing up the grills for a good time and a good cause at HarborWalk Village. Area restaurants will again compete in a spirited and fun BBQ competition. They will offer samples of creative BBQ styles and signature coastal food. Prizes will be awarded to the top winners in each category, including “Best Traditional BBQ,” “Best Seafood BBQ” and “Most Original BBQ.” For more information, visit www.harborwalkdestin.com or call 850-424-0600.

Flutterby Festival

Sat, Nov. 8th - Sun, Nov. 9th - Rosemary Beach’s South Barrett Square, Main Street & Western Green Free and open to the public. 10:00am–4:00pm each day. Some activities require $1 tickets; One of South Walton’s most popular fall events, the annual Flutterby Festival is returning to Rosemary Beach, Nov. 8-9, celebrating the arts and the migration of the Monarch Butterfly along Scenic Highway 30A. Hosted by the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County (CAA), this year’s event will feature interactive adventures by the Seaside Repertory Theatre. Also, for the first time ever, Children’s Volunteer Health Network’s “Cottages for Kids” will debut the 2014 collection of designer cottages at the Flutterby Festival, promising a magical weekend in Rosemary Beach for kids of all ages. For more information, call the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County (CAA).

USS Massachusetts: History and Archeology of the Nation’s Oldest Battleship Fri., Dec. 12th, (6 -7:00 p.m.) - Indian Temple Mound Museum

Heritage Park is hosting a speaker series on World War I this fall. The Keep the Home Fires Burning series will run through Dec. and feature WWI topics from air power to archeology. In the Dec. presentation, USS Massachusetts’ Dr. Della Scott-Ireton will

present the story of the battleship USS Massachusetts (BB-2). The Massachusetts was launched in the 1890s as a brand-new and ultra-modern battleship for the United States Navy. It saw service through World War I. After it was decommissioned, it was used as target practice off Pensacola. The sunken ship was made property of the state of Florida in the 1950s and was incorporated into Florida’s Underwater Archaeological Preserve in 1993. Dr. Scott-Ireton is the Associate Director of the Florida Public Archaeology Network. She graduated from the University of West Florida with a bachelor’s degree in anthropology and a baster’s degree in historical archaeology. She also has a Ph.D. in Anthropology from Florida State University. She worked with the Pensacola Shipwreck Survey, West Florida Historic Preservation, Inc., and the Florida Bureau of Archaeological Research before joining FPAN.

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

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“Czech It Out!” Symphony Concert

Sat., Nov. 15th - Mattie Kelly Arts Center, Main stage The 2014-15 season of the Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra (NFSO) is a “A Musical Voyage,” that reflects a broad spectrum of artists, events and music from around the globe. Now in its 28th season, the NFSO is the Emerald Coast’s premier, fully professional orchestra. The orchestra performs in residence at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center at Northwest Florida State College in Niceville. To purchase NFSO concert tickets, contact the Mattie Kelly Arts Center Box Office by phone at 850-7296000 or web: www.MattieKellyArtsCenter.org. NFSO concert tickets are $25 for each adult and $18 for Active Duty Military and their guests. Youth age 18 and younger are also $18 each. NWFSC students may request one free ticket per student ID in person from the Box Office, space permitting.

NWFL Ballet - The Nutcracker

Sat., Nov. 22nd - Sun., Nov. 23rd - Mattie Kelly Arts Center, Main stage Advance tickets will be available for purchase from the NWF Ballet. For more information, visit www.nfballet.org or www. mattiekellyartscenter.org, or call 850-664-7787 or 850-729-6000.

A Christmas Carol

Fri., Dec. 5th - Sat., Dec. 6th - Mattie Kelly Arts Center, Main stage The classic Charles Dickens tale, “A Christmas Carol,” takes a delightful twist Dec. 5 and 6, 2014. A customized adaption by NWF State College combines lively music and song along with acting, period costumes, narration, set design and more to bring to life the story of Tiny Tim, Scrooge, Bob Cratchit and the spirits of Christmas.

T H E A RT S

Included in the ticket price of $25 each will be Victorian style desserts and beverages. The event will have three performances in the Sprint Theater of the Mattie Kelly Arts Center at 7:30 pm on Friday, Dec. 5 and Saturday, Dec. 6, and an additional show on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. For more information, visit www.mattiekellyartscenter.org, or call 850-729-6000.

A Peter White Christmas featuring Rick Braun & Mindi Abair Sat., Dec. 13th - Mattie Kelly Arts Center

Smooth jazz and jingle bells return to the Emerald Coast in this unique blend of contemporary jazz and holiday music on Saturday, Dec. 13 in the main stage theater. This wildly popular annual holiday event is presented by Seabreeze 106.3 FM. Tickets are $80 for the main floor front section and $40 reserved (all other seating). Purchase early as this event often sells out! For more information or to purchase tickets, call 850-729-6000 or visit www.MattieKellyArtsCenter.org.

Sounds of the Season

Fri., Dec. 5th - Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation 18th Annual Holiday Music Spectacular at Village Baptist Church 6 pm.

Performance of “Yes, Virginia The Musical” Sat., Dec. 6th - Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation

This holiday season, ECTC will stage a performance of “Yes, Virginia The Musical,” an original production based on a true story of 8-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon, who wrote a letter to the New York Sun newspaper in 1897, inquiring about the existence of Santa Claus. 4th graders through high schoolers are welcome to participate. Destin Community Center: Saturdays 9:00 to 10:30a.m. Rehearsals start Sept. 6 and run through Dec. 6 (skipping Nov. 29). Final performance is Dec. 6 at 11:00 am.

NFSO - “Holiday Pops!” Concert w/ Symphony & Chorale

Fri., Dec. 12th - Mattie Kelly Arts Center The 2014-15 season of the Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra (NFSO) is a “A Musical Voyage,” which reflects a broad spectrum of artists, events and music from around the globe. Now in its 28th season, the NFSO is the Emerald Coast’s premier, fully professional orchestra. The NFSO performs in residence at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center at Northwest Florida State College in Niceville. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 850-729-6000 or visit www.MattieKellyArtsCenter.org.

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

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RECURRING LOCAL

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Public Library from 6:30 to 8 p.m. every third Tuesday to answer astronomy questions and help beginners get started stargazing. For more information, visit www.nwfastro.org.

Wednesday Night Concert Series Holiday Edition Every Wed., (7–9 p.m.) - The Village of Baytowne Wharf

Free event. Enjoy the continuation of the Wednesday Night Concert Series through the holidays. We’ll be tantalizing your musical taste buds with musicians to entertain all of our homeowners and locals, and guests!! For more information, visit www.baytownewharf. com or call 850-267-4164.

Uptown Station Family Movie Night Series Every other Sat. of each month, (7:30 p.m.) Uptown Station

ARTwalk on the Harbor

Every 3rd Sun. of each month, (11 a.m.–4 p.m.) Destin Boardwalk Art event along the Destin Boardwalk from HarborWalk Village to AJ’s features local and regional artists and vendors. This event is free to the public and will take place on the 3rd Sunday of every month from 11am to 4pm. For information, visit www.ArtWalkontheHarbor. com. You can also visit www.harborwalkdestin. com or call 850-424-0600.

Featuring: Amazing Spiderman 2. Join us every other Saturday night at Central Park for our family movies series in the park! All movies begin at dusk (approximately 7:30 pm) and are FREE and open to the public! For more information, check the Uptown Station Facebook page for the most current updates at www.facebook.com/UptownStation.

Twin Hills Drum Circle

1st & 3rd Sun. of each month, (4–6 p.m.) Twin Hills Park on Hwy 90, Crestview

Baytowne on Ice

Fri., October 31st–Sun., February 1st - Apex Skating Pavilion - The Village of Baytowne Wharf For those visitors who miss the cold and ice, the ice skating rink at The Village of Baytowne Wharf is the perfect opportunity to get into the winter spirit. The seasonal ice skating rink has become a local holiday favorite. For more information, visit www.baytownewharf.com or call 850-267-4164.

This is a fun, music-filled group for the community out at the park every 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month. It is a great chance to break out the drums and feel the beat or sit and relax and take a load off your feet! All our welcome, including the kids. For more information call Tiffany at 772-323-6029.

Poetry & Music Jam

Every 2nd Tues. of each month, (6–7:45 p.m.) Crestview Public Library

Fort Walton Beach Library Programs Thur. & Sat.. - FWB Library

Poets and musicians are invited to bring their work and instruments to a free-form session. For more information call Esther at 850-682-4432 or Rick at 850-585-6399.

Stargazing Basics

Every 3rd Tues. of each month, (6:30-8 p.m.) Crestview Public Library Tom Haugh with the Northwest Florida Astronomy Association will be at the Crestview

Lapsit: Ages: 0-3, every Thurs. at 10:30 a.m. READ Program: Ages 0-12, every 2nd Sat. from 10 a.m.–12 p.m., registration is required Early Release: Ages 3 and up, every 1st Thurs. at 12:30. For information, call 850-833-9590 option 4, or visit www.fwb.org/library.

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

Contact Harvey Eckoff at 850-244-3834.

Goodwill

Contact John at 850-837-8516.

Destin Community Center

Contact Lisa Firth at 850-654-5184.

Waterfront Rescue Mission

Contact Tina or Sharron at 850-244-2726.

Destin History & Fishing Museum 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.

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RESOURCE

DIRECTORY Planes, trains & automobiles . . . and everything else in between! The Emerald Coast has a wealth of attractions for all those who visit or call the coast home. It's amazing just how much there is to do if you embrace your adventurous spirit and simply explore your own backyard. Whether you're looking to plan a field trip or just a fun family outing, there's always something to look forward to on the Emerald Coast. Here are just a few ideas for places to visit. And don’t forget to send us your favorites! info@itsyourmagazine.com

Wesley Mansion Welcome to Eden Gardens State Park The focal point of this 161-acre park is the beautifully renovated, two-story Wesley house with its elegant white columns and wrap-around porch. The moss-draped live oaks and ornamental gardens inspire visions of hoop skirts and landed gentry. Named after a wealthy Florida timber family, the park is part of the family's estate. The house holds the second largest known collection of Louis XVI furniture in the United States. Visitors can also take a stroll along the grounds and enjoy the picnic area. 181 Eden Gardens Road Santa Rosa Beach, Florida 32459 850-267-8320 www.floridastateparks.org/ EdenGardens/

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EMERGENCY NUMBERS Sheriff & Police Okaloosa County Sheriff �� 850-651-7400

Libraries Destin ��850-837-8572 www.readokaloosa.org/details_destin.html

Ft. Walton Beach �� 850-833-9590 www.readokaloosa.org/details_destin.html

www.sheriff-okaloosa.org

Walton County Sheriff �� 850-892-8186

Walton ��850-267-2809 www.focbl.com or www1.youseemore.com/ walton/about.asp?p=22

www.waltonso.org

Bay County Sheriff ��850-747-4700 www.bayso.org

Escambia County Sheriff �� 850-436-9580 www.escambiaso.com

Santa Rosa County Sheriff �� 850-983-1100 www.santarosasheriff.org

Navarre �� 850-981-7323 www.santarosa.fl.gov/libraries

Crestview �� 850-682-4432 www.cityofcrestview.org/library.htm

Niceville �� 850-279-4863 www.cityofniceville.org/library.html

Ft. Walton Beach Police �� 850-833-9546 www.fwb.org

Panama City Beach Police �� 850-233-5000 www.beachpolice.org

Florida HWY Patrol �� 800-665-2794 www.flhsmv.gov/fhp

Florida Poison Control �� 800-222-1222 www.fpicn.org

US Coast Guard ��850-244-7147 www.uscg.mil/d8/stadestin

Fire Department Destin ��850-837-8413 www.destinfire.com

Ft. Walton Beach �� 850-833-9565 www.fwb.org/fire

South Walton ��850-267-1298 www.swfd.org

Navarre �� 850-939-5236 www.hnfd.org

Niceville ��850-897-3689 www.northbayfd.org

Chambers of Commerce Destin ��850-837-6241 www.destinchamber.com

Navarre ��850-939-3267 www.navarrechamber.com

Ft. Walton Beach �� 850-244-8191 www.fwbchamber.org

Walton County ��850-267-0683 www.waltonareachamber.com

Niceville �� 850-678-2323 www.nicevillechamber.com

Crestview �� 850-682-3212 www.crestviewchamber.com

Pensacola �� 850-438-4081 www.pensacolachamber.com

Panama City Beach �� 850-235-1159 www.pcbeach.org

Museums Air Force Armament �� 850-651-1808

Crestview �� 850-682-6121 www.crestviewfl.org

www.afarmamentmuseum.com

Destin History & Fishing ��850-837-6611

Panama City Beach �� 850-872-3053 www.pcbfire.com

Medical Centers & Hospitals Destin Emergency Care ��850-837-9194 www.fwbmc.com/our-services/destinemergency-care-center.dot

www.destinhistoryandfishingmuseum.org

Indian Temple Mound Museum �� 850-833-9595 www.trailoffloridasindianheritage.org

Heritage Museum of NW FL �� 850-678-2615 www.heritage-museum.org

Walton County Heritage ��850-951-2127

Ft. Walton Beach Medical �� 850-863-7610 www.fwbmc.com

N. Okaloosa Medical Center �� 850-689-8100 www.northokaloosa.com

www.waltoncountyheritage.org

Wesley Mansion �� 850-231-4214

White Wilson Medical-Destin ��850-837-3848 White Wilson Medical-Ft. Walton �� 850-863-8100

Post Offices

www.sacredheartemerald.org

Emerald Coast Urgent Care �� 850-654-8878 www.emeraldcoasturgentcare.com

Niceville Twin Cities �� 850-678-4131 tchospital.com

Navarre Baptist �� 850-939-4888 www.ebaptisthealthcare.org/BMPNavarre

View a large collection of antique fishing rods and reels. The most unique is constructed of split bamboo with an original Penn Reel that belonged to Ernest Hemingway. Enjoy vintage photographs of early Destin settlers, boat captains and much more. Tues. 10:00 am–4:00 pm Wed. 10:00 am–4:00 pm Thurs. 10:00 am–4:00 pm Fri. 10:00 am–4:00 pm Sat. 10:00 am–4:00 pm Admission Fees: Adults $5 Seniors & Military $4 Children $3; Children under 6 are Free Destin History & Fishing Museum 108 Stahlman Ave. Destin, FL 32541 850-837-6611 www.destinhistoryand fishingmuseum.org

www.ecscience.org

white-wilson.com white-wilson.com

Experience the feeling of swimming in the Gulf of Mexico with an awardwinning exhibit of fish caught in Destin.

www.floridastateparks.org/EdenGardens

Emerald Coast Science Center �� 850-644-1261

Sacred Heart �� 850-278-3000

Destin History & Fishing

www.usps.com

Destin ��850-837-6312 Ft. Walton Beach �� 850-244-2625 South Walton �� 850-269-1186 Navarre �� 850-939-0381 Niceville �� 850-678-2021 Crestview �� 850-682-2634

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Public Transportation

Delta �� 800-221-1212

Okaloosa County Transit ��850-833-9168 www.rideoct.org

Mid Bay Bridge ��850-833-7562 www.mid-bay.com

United Airlines �� 800-864-8331

Movie Theaters

AMC Destin Commons 14 ��850-650-4579 At the Destin Commons Mall

Cinema Plus ��850-302-0129 Downtown FWB

Lively 10 ��850-654-2992 Off of Hwy 98 in Destin

Regal Sun Plaza ��850-244-4252

Air Force Armament Experience the aviation warfare armament from the early days of World War I right through to today's high tech planes and bombs. Inside, you'll find an extensive collection of weaponry and interactive displays that will amaze and intrigue. Outside displays include vintage military aircraft including the fastest plane ever built - the SR-71 Blackbird! Admission is FREE and all are welcome! Mon. 9:30 am - 4:30 pm Tues. 9:30 am - 4:30 pm Wed. 9:30 am - 4:30 pm Thurs. 9:30 am - 4:30 pm Fri. 9:30 am - 4:30 pm Sat. 9:30 am - 4:30 pm Sun. Closed Air Force Armament Museum 100 Museum Dr. Eglin AFB, FL 32542 850-651-1808 www.afarmamentmuseum.com

www.delta.com Service may be provided by Delta or a Delta Connection carrier. Provides nonstop service daily to Atlanta, GA (ATL).

Mary Esther Cutoff

UA Santa Rosa 10 ��850-243-5260 At the Santa Rosa Mall in FWB

Radio Stations

www.united.com Express Jet provides nonstop service to Houston, TX (IAH).

US Airways �� 800-428-4322 www.usairways.com Provides non-stop daily service to Charlotte, NC (CLT) and Washington, DC (DCA).

Southwest �� 1-800-I-FLY-SWA / 800-435-9792 www.southwest.com Provides non-stop flights daily to and from Baltimore, MD (BWI), Houston, TX (HOU), Nashville, TN (BNA), and Orlando, FL (MCO) with connecting service to international destinations.

AirTran ��800-Air-Tran / 800-247-8726

1120 AM – Progressive Talk 1260 AM – Fox News Talk 1340 AM – ESPN Sports 91.1 FM – Contemporary Christian 92.1 FM – Oldies 93.3 FM – Adult Contemporary 95.3 FM – Talk Radio–Local Crestview 98.1 FM – Country 99.5 FM – Rock 102.1 FM – Classic Rock 103.1 FM – Adult Contemporary 105.5 FM – Country 106.3 FM – Smooth Jazz 107.3 FM – Classic Rock

www.airtran.com 3 Daily Flights to Atlanta with 351 seats.

Rental Cars

Avis ��800-331-1212 Enterprise ��800-261-7331 National �� 877-222-9058 Budget �� 800-527-0700 Hertz ��800-654-3131

Airports NW Florida Regional Airport - VPS ��850-651-7160 www.flyvps.com

Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport–Panama City Beach ��850-763-6751 www.iflybeaches.com

Pensacola Gulf Coast Regional ��850-436-5000 www.flypensacola.com

Destin Airport ��850-651-7160 www.flydts.com

Crestview Airport - Bob Sikes ��850-651-7160 www.flycew.com

Airlines American Eagle ��800-433-7300 www.aa.com Provides non-stop service to Dallas, TX (DFW).

It’s our goal to make this guide as useful and complete as possible. If we have omitted any resource you feel could be useful to our community of readers, please feel free to send us your recommendations at: info@itsyourmagazine.com

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