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Its expansion will offer multiple spa and beauty services for both women and men. This fabulous addition to the South Shore with its specialty menu of affordable indulgences will include Spa Services such as Anti-Aging skin care, massage, bridal hair and makeup, studio for cut and color, even makeup artistry classes and a Brow and Eyelash Bar all under one roof.

Susan Halbert, founder and owner of Beauty Mark spa has an impressive background, growing herself a fine reputation as a beauty expert in skin care, laser aesthetics and bridal and makeup artistry. Starting in the business over 30 years ago, Sue’s passion for beauty and makeup led her to work side by side with some of the most renowned experts in the industry. A winner of numerous awards, makeup artistry will always be her true passion. For twelve years Beautymark Spa has been the exclusive hair and makeup team for brides of the Lessing’s catering family.

As an established aesthetician, Susan’s work ethics and constant advancement in obtaining knowledge in skin care and laser progression has resulted in recommendations and a booming clientele. When asked what her philosophy is and what helped her succeed Halbert responded, “I treat every customer special and believe

in going the extra mile to get the best results for the client. It keeps my customers coming back and wanting more. I also have always aligned myself with other experts that share the same mindset.”

It is other well–admired professionals, like Dr. Ilene Gerwitz, whom Susan Halbert teamed up with for the last eight years, together launching A Woman’s Way MediSpa. When Susan’s list of male clientele expanded, she changed the name to Beauty Mark.

Expanding with the medical industry and working closely with several plastic surgeons, Halbert learned about skin and medically invasive treatments from the best.

A natural progression with her vast beauty background and listening to her client’s needs, led this dynamic entrepreneur to take her business to the next level. The architecturally designed space to the new home of Beauty Mark Spa and Bridal Studio will provide its clients a team of professionals who excel in their individual area of expertise. These professionals share the same passion and philosophy as Susan Halbert. You will feel confident about having a place to go for your beauty needs and your well-being, knowing it’s affordable, reputable and simply the best.

• Botox/Fillers

• Massage

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• Skin Tightening

• On Location Travel Team (From Montauk to Manhattan)

SPA

• Photo Facials

• Dermaplaning

• Skincare

• Facial Treatments

BRIDAL

• Bridal Hair Design with Extensions

• Bridal Party Services

• Bridal Air Brush Makeup Artistry

• Color, Cut, Style, Straighten & Blow

• Air Brush Bronzing

• Threading

• Bridal Spa Pampering Parties

STUDIO

• Makeup Artistry Classes (individual, group or with a friend)

BROW BAR

• ReShape Specialists

• Wax/Tweeze

• Face/Body

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Start

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PUBLISHER

Joanne Lifavi

ART DIRECTOR

Jennie Alberto

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Patrica Thomas

Dr. Mary O’Shaughnessy, NPP, Psy.D

Melanie Zerah

Peggy Nenos

Matthew Ambrosio

Michaela Connors

Steve Interrante

John T. McLoughlin

Michelle Meyers

INTERN

Melanie Zerah

SPECIAL THANKS TO Andrew Hart and friends of The List Magazine

TO ADVERTISE

Call: 917.559.7821 or email joanne@thelistmagazine.com

4 COVER STORY

Beauty Mark Spa MUST KNOW

14 MAN-ual, #TheBeard

26 Good Reads

10 AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE

14 TALKING BACK

From LI Teens & Young Adults, The Non-Date Generation

HEALTH MATTERS

16 FitList, Love Your Body

17 Mind Over Matter, Benefits of Meditation

18 Food for Thought, Two Super Hero Foods to Love

19 Dental Hygeine Tips

Kissable Breath to Love

20 WISE WORDS BY REAL PEOPLE What is Love?

24 TALKIN’ BOUT LOVE

The Changing Face of Love

25 LOVE LIST

Seven Ways to Inspire Love in Your Life

28 OUR DOG STARS & COMPANY Love is a Four Legged Word

29 ABOUT TOWN

Social Page, 2015 Couples Choice Awards ALSO IN THIS ISSUE...

LIST PICKS

AUTO 2, 7, 30, 31

PET CARE 28

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

10, 24, 26

TECHNOLOGY 30

HEALTH & WELLNESS

18, 19, 21

HOME & GARDEN

5, 10, 11, 12, BC

HAIR & BEAUTY 4, 15, 17, 21

REAL ESTATE 8

RESTAURANTS/NIGHTLIFE 15, 16, 23, 25

TRAVEL 13

SHOPPING & GIFTS 21, 23, 25, 26, 27

WELCOME TO OUR LOVE ISSUE. Valentine’s Day may spark thoughts of your loved ones but in our Love issue, we’ve extended the love way past just one day. In fact, we take the topic of love to other levels because there are so many facets of love.

What makes our hyper local life style magazine so enjoyable is that our editorials are informative and our contributing writers bring to light topics we all can relate to. Take some time to read them and I am sure they will make you chuckle, be informed or even bring a tear to your eye.

I love our columnists, Pat Thomas with her sense of humor on the subject of gratitude and Mary O’Shaughnessy, who has a beautiful way with words. This issue she writes a touching article, The Changing Face of Love, where she expresses the way many of us feel as our parent’s age. A must read. Look for our article about the new generation of “non” dating in Talking Back, from LI teens and young adults, written by Melanie Zerah.

Our magazine is created for both women and men to enjoy. Our MANual page features an article by fashion stylist Matthew Ambrosio, if facial hair on a male hasn’t interested you as of yet, it just might after reading his words on the insurgence of a bearded lifestyle. Take a look at the contents there is something for everyone.

For the couples recently engaged during the holidays or this Valentine’s Day, flip through the pages and you will find wedding professionals we’d love to introduce you to.

And right about this time of year, many of us are starting to think about the home improvement project we want to start or like myself, getting ready to put our homes on the market. I feel confident you will love the home professionals and contractors we selected and of course one of our favorite realtors. All our advertisers are in the List because we feel they are businesses worthy to recommend, give them a call, they would be happy to accommodate you.

If you are reading this now do take your time and enjoy our beautiful magazine we are proud of. We created it especially for people like you.

Talk about Love, read on! xo

an Attitude of Gratitude

February brings us St. Valentine’s Day and thoughts of love. I always think of my aunt and uncle. They were married for 62 years and loved one another into eternity. My Aunt Flo was a tough cookie, shoot from the hip kind of lady. My Uncle Abe on the other hand, was a soft-spoken, gentle man. Opposites attract they say. If you asked them the secret to their longevity of marriage, both of them would tell you they never went to bed angry at one another. Communication was key, and they made decisions together. Also, Uncle Abe would say, “Florence is always right!” It was a blessed union and they never took one another for granted.

Unfortunately, even with Abe and Flo as role models, my marriage only lasted about 23 years and then we parted ways. We did communicate with one another, but it was usually so loud the neighbors would complain. I was not always right, but I was not always wrong. What we did agree on was that we could no longer live together. We get along much better these days.

After the marriage ended, I gave little thought to starting a new relationship. I was thinking about myself. Selfish thoughts about being a new, fabulous me. How would I go about doing that? I had to change my thought patterns. I began to realize that I needed to take care of myself and be happy. My attitude about little things began to change. I stopped worrying about what other people thought about me, and started concentrating on what I thought of me. I changed my way of thinking to include an attitude of gratitude. Gratitude for my two healthy, intelligent children, my family and friends, my home and my job. As my attitude changed, I became more positive and more receptive to the people that brought me joy and happiness. As I became happier, I became more loving and open…and that’s when

by Patricia Thomas

Ray came into my life. I was on social media one day, commenting on a friend’s status. This guy named Ray was also commenting on the same status, and his comments made me laugh. We went back and forth on the site, on my friend’s “wall” until I finally asked Ray to “friend request” me. His response was, “I already did and I’m waiting for you to confirm it.” I confirmed it. We started to “chat” and found out we had a lot of commonality. After a few weeks of chatting, we met for coffee and our friendship began on a new level. Ray was funny and made me laugh uncontrollably. He still makes me laugh, usually at the most inappropriate times. He plays the piano and sings. The first time he sang to me, I actually got weak in the knees. I still “swoon” when I hear him sing, even four years later. We talk about everything and anything. Our connection is so strong, sometimes I only have to say a word or two and Ray will know exactly what I mean, finishing my sentence. We call or text each other…usually at the same time. Sometimes eerily at the exact same moment. Of course there are times when we have disagreements, but the communication between us in open and adult in content. There is no belittling, name calling or finger pointing. Our relationship is one of love. Love for one’s self and for one another. We have forged a bond so strong, it makes us unequivocally happy. I know we bring out the best in each other, and that radiates out in everything we do. The love I was not looking for, but knew I would like to have one day, I found in Ray and for that I am grateful. Happy St. Valentine’s Day to one and all! Wishing you all happiness, health, lots of love and an attitude of gratitude!

Pat has been a resident of Brightwaters for over 25 years. She is the mother of 2 adult children and works full time with adults with special needs. Her daughter graduated from a local culinary school and is a baker by trade. Her son is a sophomore in college in Ohio.

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Between each generation exists a social gap in which miscommunication thrives. Many young adults today feel that the older generation simply doesn’t understand just how vastly different our social lives are and how they function. In a time where most of our communications are documented through the words we text to one another, social interactions are more carefully calculated than ever before. Our word choice and punctuation can mean the difference between a negative interpretation of a text and positive interpretation of a text. The difference between the dictation of “going on a date” and “hanging out”, can change the vibe of a social situation completely if not used correctly. When receiving a text from a potential love interest, there is always a moment of intense scrutinizing over what words they used, the same goes for sending a text. An example of this can be seen in a situation where two people are confused as to what level their relationship is on. During their texting conversations and even in-person exchanges, the use of the phrase “going on a date” when planning to see one another will be more affirmative on the continuation of their relationship than the very

THE NON-DATE GENERATION

In this age of technology, cyber-dating, text messaging and face-timing has made it easier and more convenient than ever for the younger generation to have a relationship…or has it?

open ended “hanging out”.

To the parents of current young adults, the date which may have consisted of dinner, a movie, and a hopeful follow up phone call, does not necessarily fit the criteria of today’s dating scene. The “dating scene” for many college students especially, has been described as an extremely “hook-up orientated” situation. Labels are more important than they seem to college students. Calling something a “hook-up” is actually a label whether it is realized or not. This label is used by most young adults, as it is a non-commitment situation where both parties are aware of what’s going on. In addition to dating sites that have been in existence

for a good part of the internet’s popularity, such as match.com and eHarmony, dating apps are now the popular cyber dating method among young adults. Apps such as Tinder give users access to the bios of singles all around their area, giving them the ability to swipe through as many possible dates as they want as if they were online shopping. While this can be useful and exciting, it has shown to be affecting our generation in a way that makes us lazy in the pursuit of actually going out and meeting someone new. When hundreds of single’s bios and pictures are right there at your fingertips to peruse and browse the thought of going out to a bar or a party in order to

find a potential date seems unnecessary.

However, many young adults wish to combat this bad habit. Miscommunication is shown to be a large issue in dating among young adults despite the many different modes of communication we possess. Some have even shown dismay with the accessibility of reaching their partner through text, it seems that alone time is never really alone time with one’s phone in reach. Therefore, many young adults are starting to suppress the natural rolling of the eyes when their parents lecture them on what dating used to be like, and how much easier it was. Perhaps it wouldn’t be a shame to revert back to the dating style our parents are familiar with in order to try and expand our horizons past the flickering screen of a smartphone.

Written by Melanie Zerah, a Freshman and Journalism major at Suny New Paltz

We feel it is important to hear what our Long Island teens and young adults have to say. We welcome you to Talk Back by sending your input to connecting@thelistmagazine.com

#TheBeard

ROMANCING THE FACIAL HAIR OF A MODERN GENERATION.

Written by Matthew Ambrosio

Men grow beards because they can, and whether it’s intentional or not, the bearded look is developing a reputation as something more documented. The facial hair exhibition does not discriminate. Everyday gents are sporting the beard all over the world to boost attraction, while famous men are wearing it to create a new persona. Fueled by a mix of technology, mass media, and a generation of men’s need to frame their faces for the world to see, the modern insurgence of the bearded lifestyle has become nothing short of a phenomena.

#BeardAdmiration

Thanks to the single character “#,” the abundance of technology in hand, and the capacity to share, there is no shortage of outlets to boaster or admire a man’s beard. Is it something recent, or is it getting more attention because of social online utilities like Instagram and Facebook? Unless your head has been buried in a hole for a while, it’s no secret facial hair is hotthat’s not what this is about. Men of all ages and origins are growing them, and it’s not specific to any culture or group. It truly is a manly social trend everyone is following. Are you online savvy and proud of your growth as well? Join in as well by employing hashtags like #beardlife, #beardgang, #beardlove, and #bearded when posting photos on Instagram. You will be incredibly amazed and shocked with the amount of groups, posts, and images that are just for the #beard (5,905,454) posts and counting - IG.

BEARD QUALITIES

So with all this attention, it would be a good idea for all men to do a beard check. The actions that you take when you decide not to shave will keep you looking good. Having a beard exhibits virility, so wouldn’t you want it to be at its best and show it off?

Arguments between men exists that the beard is becoming more about fashion and less about rugged laziness. Either way, you feel it’s a matter of confidence. Why can’t having a beard be about good looks and still be masculine? If you agree with my view, there’s a good chance you have a men’s hair stylist and know more than the average guy, because some of their professional skill has rubbed off on you. Your local barber’s chair is in high demand these days, armed with individuals who know more about the subject than anyone else. I understand that as men we tend to prefer low maintenance, but that doesn’t mean we have to look like we are in the dark about grooming either.

plex science. Shaping however is something we need help with. I met with barber and owner of Tomasos Barbershop, Tiara Tomaso and asked her one question. What are the top shaping mistakes you see at the shop?

Her answer? The Jawline.

The jawline is either too low or too high, or a combination of both. The beard line under the jaw is not a straight line. It’s a curved line that marks the end of the jaw and the beginning of the neck. A professional barber will be able to demonstrate where that is and create a shape for you to maintain on your own in-between visits.

Where the jaw bone meets the ear is another problem area. Many times it’s over shaved and what I mean by that is that men don’t grow it enough and shave too high up above the jaw line instead of below, giving it an unnaturally high appearance. Grow it out and move the line to the correct place, problem is solved.

The key to self-grooming is having a barber. We can all agree that shaving the beard is not a com-

The mustache area is also often over grown. If the hair begins to curl over your lips, it’s time for a trim but keep it touching the lips and keep it thinner than the rest of your beard. If the mustache area is not groomed well it could possibly be a turn off. Food and whatever else goes near your mouth can easily be caught in the stache and that’s not a good look.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JACKIE GALANTE AND DANIEL PARKER

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LOVE your BODY

Winter. A time for reflection, comfort, and warmth. A time for love. Cozying up at home with those we love has replaced the endless social outings that we enjoy as part of celebrating the Holidays. With the pace of the day shifted from rush to hibernate, winter has also become the season for evaluation.

For many of us, the first thing on the eval list is our body. With critical eyes, the list of all that needs changing in order to be more desirable, more beautiful, grows longer. Somewhere in the top 3 New Year’s Resolutions is “lose weight” or “firm up”. Maybe those 10lbs. that were supposed to come off last year actually look more like 15lbs. this year (those chocolate peppermint Christmas cookies were sooo good!). Maybe you didn’t swear off cheese, or do walking lunges from your front curb to your backyard fence six times a day like you resolved to do last year. I’m not much of a resolution gal myself. I gave up making resolutions back in the 90’s after failing miserably at just about all of them. I love cheese

and I hate lunges. As I have spent a sizeable amount of time at the gym over the last 20 years, I have heard a lot of “if only I could lose those last 10lbs.”; “I hate my flabby arms!”; “I need my stomach to look more like a 6 pack and less like a keg…”. I’m a firm believer in subtle changes over time can add up to significant differences in the long run. Start small, be consistent. Change will come. There is a wonderful truth that has piggybacked on the increasing candles atop my birthday cake. Many beautiful women already embrace this truth. It’s quite simple, really. Beauty, real outer beauty, stems from a happy, healthy inside. It comes from love. Loving yourself; loving your body. Treating your body like you love it. Making good choices about what you put in it as well as what you put on it (ever read what’s in your Night Time Wrinkle Repair

“Beauty, real outer beauty, stems from a happy, healthy inside. It comes from love. Loving yourself; loving your body. Treating your body like you love it.”

Written by Michaela Connors

Super Hydrating Collagen Boosting Anti-Aging Moisturizer??). Before you eat something, what if you asked yourself “what will this food do for my body? How will my body use this food? Will it help my heart? Or my skin and hair? Will it get stored as fat or toxins in my organs?” Would you still eat it if you didn’t like the answers? Why is it we feed our pets very expensive, natural, organic, gourmet food but for ourselves the nearest drive-through will do just fine? We change the oil in our cars on a regular basis and schedule tune-ups and inspections annually. When was your last inspection? It sure would be fun to trade our body in for the latest suped-up, sleek model every 2 years. It doesn’t work that way for us; all the more reason to treat your body like the sensitive, high-performance model that it is. We only get one body to

nourish and cherish every day. Deleting just a few disease-supporting foods from your diet and replacing them with better, healthier foods can make a big difference when it comes to heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and perhaps even cancer. When you treat your body with the love it so deserves, it shows. Your body will function better. You will feel more energized. Your skin and hair will look healthier. You will feel good. Now that’s beautiful!

So with regards to this issue’s theme, ‘The Love Issue’ put yourself at the top of your list of Those to Shower with Love. Change your perspective from what you see outside to what’s going on inside. Love all of you, every beautiful inch of you, every single day that you are blessed to be here. Life is a beautiful gift. Take good care of yours.

Michaela Connors is a fitness instructor at World Gym in Bay Shore and lives on the south shore with her husband and two boys, 7 and 9.

Treat Yourself to This Wonderful New You!

WRITTEN BY STEVE INTERRANTE

Do you sometimes feel overly stressed, experience anxiety and tension about life situations? You’re not alone. Many of us deal with these energy draining issues every day.

Rather than resort to temporary and potentially harmful counter-productive stimulants such as alcohol, drugs, food, TV and others, learn and experience the NEW (old) ‘Over the Counter’ remedy for all that ails you: MEDITATION.

You’re probably saying to yourself, “I can’t, I’ve tried I just can’t stop thinking”, “I don’t have enough time”, “ I can’t sit still for too long”, “I have bad knees and can’t do the positions”, “ It’s something foreign, it’s not for me”. Do any of these sound familiar? Did you say/think any of these to yourself before? If so, take a few moments to continue reading , it could help change your life.

As MEDITATION becomes more mainstream, corporations like Google, P&G, Aetna and many more are encouraging MEDITATION for their employees to help increase awareness, focus, energy and production. Scientific research conducted on those who practice meditation revealed there are many benefits, including:

Lowering blood pressure, helping to reduce heart disease

Reducing feelings of depression and anxiety and providing a sense of peace, calm and balance

Helping to control negative thoughts and becoming more alert and productive

So how do you begin?

Here are some of the basics:

THERE ARE NO RULES TO MEDITATION. Most of us aren’t monks living in the Himalayas meditating all day, we have busy, hectic lives and are simply looking to find more BALANCE within ourselves.

NO TIME LIMITS, CHANTING OR SPECIFIC POSTURES REQUIRED. However, sitting comfortably with your spine straight is most recommended. It allows your natural breath and energy fields to be efficient.

BREATHING DEEPLY in through your nose, holding for a few seconds and exhaling deeply through your mouth for a short period of time (reps) oxygenates your internal organs and releases any tension you may have.

INTENTION IS KEY! Have the intention of allowing yourself to slow down and enjoy the experience of finding peace and stillness within.

FIND YOUR HEARTBEAT AND NATURAL BREATH as you relax and allow yourself to be in the PRESENT, as you begin to feel the stillness and peace, you may realize that you’re NOT thinking. You’ve successfully turned off your mind! In the beginning, this may only last a few seconds/ minutes and you will invariably (as we ALL do) lose the focus. The MIND CHATTER returns with incessant meaningless thoughts like: “Why did she wear that ugly blouse today! It looked horrible”, “ The dog pooped in the kitchen again uggghh”, Should I finally get a Nutri-Bullet, but I do still look pretty good”, “I still can’t believe how Dances of the Wolves beat out Good Fellas for best picture”.

No worries, this is totally natural as our MIND (our EGO) controls everything. When this happens, simply return back to the breathing techniques of INHALING, HOLDING, and RELEASING deeply a few more times. Rediscover your heartbeat and natural breath (your 2 vital energy life source centers) and distance yourself from your thinking mind.

What will happen eventually - and hopefully more often- is a wonderful state of peace and stillness within. This is your TRUE self, your SOUL. At this stage, there will be thoughts, feelings of euphoric energy, and maybe some colorful visions. Now the thoughts are meaningful LIFE thoughts, not the non-stop crazy mind static that your ego mind plays like a broken record over and over again.

When you are able to TREAT yourself to this wonderful *NEW YOU* more often, you exercise your Mind/Soul as if going to the gym for Cardio and Weight Training. You become more alert. You become aware of your TRUE SELF. You gain more control of your EGO self; creating a happier lifestyle for you and those around you.

Steve Interrante is a Meditation Instructor and Certified Advanced Integrated Energy Therapist using Soul Coaching to help you find balance in life.

You can join in Small Group Meditation sessions at: The Center for Soulful Living 340 Veterans Memorial Highway, Ste 12, Commack Saturday & Sunday: 10am, 11:30am, and 1:30pm Tuesday: 6pm and 7:15pm

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Two Super Hero Foods to Love

almonds

Almonds are the Holy Grail of the nut world. They have more fiber and vitamin E than any other nut. These nutrients are proven to lower cholesterol and promote heart health. Not to mention they do wonders for your hair and skin. One teeny ounce of almonds contains 12 percent of your daily allowance of protein. And absolutely no cholesterol, of course. You’ll also get 35 percent of your daily allowance of vitamin E, that valuable antioxidant with so many cancer-fighting qualities. And most of the fat in almonds is monounsaturated, also known as the “good” fat.

How to eat?

First of all, you have to make sure you’re getting the right kind of nut. Look for chemical-free, raw, and organic products. Specifically soaked or sprouted almonds, they are easier to digest and soaking unlocks their hidden nutrient value. These brands may be a little more pricey, but nothing compares to raw and unprocessed.

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chia seeds

Chia Seeds have a nutty taste and are the perfect source of fiber, calcium and heart-healthy omega-3s. One benefit to this tiny superfood is that they can absorb up to 10 times their weight in liquid, promoting hydration. Once they absorb liquid, they have a heavier, gelatin-like texture. For this reason, chia seeds help curb hunger. Some studies have also discovered the ability of chia seeds to “positively influence the thyroid gland” (ie.Chia Seeds for Thyroid Disorders) and are an excellent source of energy, especially if eaten on an empty stomach in the morning or before a workout.

How to eat?

Although you can eat the seeds raw, like almonds, soaking them in water or juice will make them easier to digest, giving your body the full benefit of their nutrient benefits. Once gelatinous, they are not only in their healthiest form, but also easy to put into shakes, mixes, and more. Also try using them to thicken puddings and stir-fries.

Chia Pudding with Blueberries and Toasted Almonds

TOTAL TIME: 40 MIN • PREP: 40 MIN • YIELD: 4 SERVINGS • LEVEL: EASY

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup vanilla-flavored unsweetened almond milk

• 1 cup plain low-fat (2 percent) Greek yogurt

• 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup, plus 4 teaspoons for serving

• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

• Kosher salt

• 1/4 cup chia seeds

• 1 pint blueberries (you can substitute strawberries or bananas, hulled and chopped)

• 1/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted

DIRECTIONS

In a medium bowl, gently whisk the almond milk, yogurt, 2 tablespoons maple syrup, the vanilla and 1/8 teaspoon salt until just blended. Whisk in the chia seeds; let stand 30 minutes. Stir to distribute the seeds if they have settled. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

The next day, in a medium bowl, toss the berries with the remaining 4 teaspoons maple syrup. Mix in the almonds.

Spoon the pudding into 4 bowls or glasses; mound the berry mixture on top and serve.

Recipe Courtesy Giada De Laurentiis, Food Network Magazine

Kissable Breath to love

by John T. McLoughlin DDS

Brush your tongue (& teeth) twice a day

This can reduce bad breath by up to 70%.

Inexpensive tongue “scrappers” are helpful too.

Floss your teeth twice a day

Bacteria hide in the dark, moist recesses between your teeth and can only be removed by flossing.

Gargle

with Peroxide (H2O2)

Bad breath bacteria hate oxygen and peroxide bubbles oxygen throughout the mouth to eliminate them.

Keep your mouth well hydrated

A dry mouth (xerostomia) allows bad breath bacteria to flourish.

Chew gum with Xyitol

To ensure a well-hydrated mouth, chewing gum causes an increase in saliva that washes away bacteria.

Use Flouride mouth rinse

Decayed teeth stink and a fluoride rinse (along with proper home care) helps prevent tooth decay.

Get checked for sinus infections

Post-nasal drip is often the result of sinus infections and can cause persistent bad breath. If the other amazing tips are not effective, have your sinuses checked.

Quell stomach upset

A “sour” stomach lactose intolerance and other GI problems can lead to bad breath as gases exit through the mouth. Try an antacid or lactase tablets if appropriate.

Eliminate Bad Habits

Smoking and chewing tobacco. Need I say more?

Common Sense

Eliminate pungent foods that linger, even after brushing and flossing. You know the ones: fish, onions, garlic, etc.

There is no doubt that un-healthy mouth and bad breath is offensive. Follow these tips so you can get closer with confidence. …and remember see your dentist regularly to prevent tooth decay and gum disease that really stink.

what isLove?

Written by Michelle Meyers Hoitis

Love is one thing I truly learned and am still learning at age 47. In life I never knew how to define true love. We hear the words I love you at a very young age from people that are close to us. As we grow into adulthood, we sometimes think familiarity is true love. I’ve learned that love is more than just a word, in anyone or anything, love is also in our actions. It is a strong undeniable feeling that is overwhelming. It can lift you to higher places or break you down where you feel so lost.

When I learned the true meaning of self-love, my life truly changed and so did my choices in the things I wanted, needed or accepted from people who were close to me. I established a love within myself that is and was indescribable. Almost a peace beyond compare. When I started to truly love who I was inside and understand myself, I started to take things for what they were, not what I wanted them to be. I learned to allow people to be who they are and not try to control or fix anyone to my standards. If someone did something that hurt me, I realized it said everything

about them and not me. I learned the meaning of the word forgiveness. I learned to see that my opinion isn’t the only one that matters and I learned that if I love you, I love you for who you are and how you make me feel when I am around you. The inner peace that came with that, simplified my life. It made me so grateful and appreciative for all the negative experiences I went through because they helped propel me to change. Most of all, it helped me treasure the amazing experiences and the people who gave them to me. Love is a strong four letter word. It means different

things to me: LOYALTY, OPULENCE, VICTORY, and ETERNAL. When you find true love in life, in your goals and establish passion you then become complete. When we learn to say what we want, self-love becomes radiant and radiates out of us and then instantly people will see it. I live to Love my life. I love to be loved and I love to give love. So when I say the words, “I LOVE YOU” it is very special to me and has true meaning. That one word, LOVE, has a million meanings but the truest love of all is the love you give yourself.

Once you love who you are, you

can then truly love others and live a life of happiness.

You cannot give true unconditional love until you yourself know the magnitude of what true love is. To like something is a totally different feeling than loving something; it excites our world so differently. Never underestimate or take love lightly. I compare true love to the birth of my daughter, who is now 16. I knew the moment I found out I was pregnant, as nervous as I was, I would love her and be there for her forever and that is a feeling you cannot pretend. It fills you up so much. It is almost like a switch goes on inside you as soon as you become a parent. You can’t figure out how this little person who just showed up could have such an impact on your life and how you feel. You want to protect this person with all you have. You cherish, cuddle, hold and give that baby everything so that nothing can hurt them. The same is how we need to treat ourselves. We need to protect ourselves, shield ourselves from things or toxic people who could harm us emotionally and honor ourselves to

be the best we can be. We should live to our fullest potential always and never settle for less. Love changes reactions into actions and makes things in our lives less complicated. It soothes over the negative aspects as long as the love we are giving is genuine, selfless and unconditional. Relationships become more valuable, intense and satisfying.

True happiness is created because you are done trying to figure everyone out or understanding love itself. The one thing we all want is happiness because the reality is, nobody wants to be miserable. Give others the dignity to be who they are even if we may not agree. We are all individuals with our own hearts, mind, body and soul. Love doesn’t judge, it lets you accept people for who they are not who you want them to be. So learn to love yourself and be true to your wants and needs and your life truly becomes fulfilling. I will close with a quote I read about love. “There is no soul mate or best friend out there who will solve every one of your problems.

There is no love at first sight that

lasts without work and commitment. But there are, however, people out there worth fighting for.

Not because they’re perfect but because they’re imperfect in all ways that are right for you. You complement each other’s flaws in a way that allows your souls to unite and operate more efficiently as one. You will know when you meet one of these people, because through them you meet the very best in yourself.” Remember the love you give yourself will be felt and displayed by others and by your example you may help someone else to find their own true love.

Michelle Meyers

Hiotis is a former Bayshore resident who currently lives in Boca Raton Florida with her husband and daughter. Many people from the Great south Bay area know her for her loving personality, friendship and as the former owner of Lexilu’s Personal Shopping and Design Boutiques. This wise woman has a book in her, watch for it. To keep in touch with her, friend request her on Facebook.

second annual HEALTH SYMPOSIUM

FOOD • MOOD • DIET • DISEASE

With a special screening of

SUNDAY APRIL 26 TH 2 - 5:30 pm

YMCA BOULTON CENTER for the arts

Come join the discussion on how nutrition can be an extremely powerful tool in the prevention of disease and learn how eating right can help in ghting the ght. e idea that food is medicine is put to the test in the documentary "Forks Over Knives", a lm that empowers people to live healthier lives. Together with local cancer coalitions, health care providers, Monday's clients and special guests, we aim to discover ways to better equip our communities with knowledge, awareness and support.

Q&A PANEL DISCUSSION WITH SPECIAL GUESTS LIGHT BITES & REFRESHMENTS

for more information and sponsorship opportunities FORKS OVER KNIVES

Written By Mary O’Shaughnessy, NPP, Psy.D

The Changing Face of Love

My Father, at the age of 94, sits in his blue reclining chair surrounded by pictures, rosary beads and baseball caps. These symbols will give any visitor a hint of the meaning of his life and loves.

Prominently placed on the mantel across from his chair is a picture of a handsome young man in an Army uniform who looks to be around 24 years of age. Next to him is a framed photograph of a tall slender young woman in Navy regalia. Both are the picture of health and strength as they served in the military during World War II. My mother was a WAVE and served in a classified mission to crack the Japanese codes. My Father landed on Normandy Beach and marched with the infantry for four years throughout Europe. Both of them fought for a better life that they enjoyed for more than 60 years together.

The face of my father has changed, now frail and dependent. He has gradually had to relinquish his role as protector to his adult children and we, in turn, have had to assume his role as guardian.

I must admit that over the years I would often grow weary of hearing him tell the same stories over and over again. After all, I was extremely busy. My time was limited…so many things to do. Now, somehow these precious reflections have become more important to savor and remember. I have taken to taping his words in his own voice so they will not fade into nothingness. And I will cherish listening to them over and over again.

Don’t be fooled, no one lives for 94 years without frustrations, feelings of helplessness and loss. Taking care of an elderly parent is not always easy. Adult children taking care of elderly parents are often Senior Citizens themselves with responsibility to their own children and grandchildren. However, my Father has often reminded me to be patient. After all, he said, “you will be here one day”.

Still, day after day his simple routines remain the same. As he wakes each morning

he almost ceremoniously places his stick pin of the American Flag on his Irish sweater. He says, “This is to remember and give thanks for all the men and women who never got the chance to live the life that I lived”. Very often tears will well up in his eyes. Placed carefully on his side table are rosary beads, prayer books, gloves and a cell phone. They are meticulously placed in the same order because he can feel them but he cannot see them. He puts his gloves on to keep his hands warm because of “poor circulation”. They are red, white and blue and when he holds them up they read. “Go USA”.

His phone is close by in case one of his 5 children, 15 grandchildren, or 3 great grandchildren call. On the side of his recliner is a large basket filled with baseball caps that represent high schools, colleges, medical schools, and dental schools (and the Army) that his children and grandchildren attended. Whoever goes to visit him can be sure that he will be wearing your baseball hat that somehow connects him to you.

If it is Sunday he will put on his Sunday best, settle in his chair and watch Mass on Telecare. At the end of the day as he walks to his room, he stops and gazes at the picture of a beautiful youthful Bride and Groom as if to kiss his love goodnight.

Now, when I enter my Father’s room, I take in the picture of the young handsome soldier and all of symbols that surround him. They speak to me of the many faces of his life and loves…

Love of God…Love of Country…Love of Family…and baseball…

I asked him to be my Valentine…

He said, yes.

Bridal Showers, Small Intimate Weddings, Bachelor, Bachelorette&Rehearsal Dinners, Next Day Brunches, Buffets orSit Down Dinners. Three Private Party Rooms

goodreads

Are you feeling the winter doldrums? Snuggle up to a fire or light a candle and curl up with one of these books we selected for Our Love issue. Whether your preference is a romance novel, a self-help book to find happiness or finding out how to make your marriage better, it doesn’t matter, as long as you take some time to relax and unwind.

Flirting with Felicity by Gerri Russell Felicity Wright never expected to inherit the hotel where she works as head chef. But now, she’ll do anything to keep the Bancroft Hotel operating—even if that means mixing it up with the late owner’s handsome nephew, Blake Bancroft. He’s here to challenge her unexpected inheritance of the Bancroft Hotel, and there’s no way either of them are walking away without a fight. When his uncle wills away his family’s oldest property, Blake Bancroft cooks up a plan to get it back. To check out his competition, he’ll need to check in. Too bad his first encounter with Felicity proves to be anything but smooth. As their battle over ownership begins, things begin to heat up between them— and not just in the kitchen. Their attraction may be a recipe for disaster. Yet with the right ingredients, it could turn into a recipe for love… In her debut contemporary romance, award-winning historical romance author Gerri Russell whips up a sweet, passionate, and unforgettably delectable story.

Why I Love You: A Journal of Us by

Suzanne Zenkel

With prompts and questions, and places for photos and notes, Why I Love You: A Journal of Us helps you express on paper how well you and your partner go together. Designed to be filled out by one partner and given to the other, or to be explored as a couple, this guided journal offers up insight and fun as you write your own love story in your own words!

The Secrets of Sir Richard Kenworthy by Julia Quinn

Sir Richard Kenworthy has less than a month to find a bride. He knows he can’t be too picky, but when he sees Iris Smythe-Smith hiding behind her cello at her family’s infamous musicale, he thinks he might have struck gold. She’s the type of girl you don’t notice until the second—or third—look, but there’s something about her, something simmering under the surface, and he knows she’s the one. Iris Smythe–Smith is used to being underestimated. With her pale hair and quiet, sly wit she tends to blend into the background, and she likes it that way. So when Richard Kenworthy demands an introduction, she is suspicious. He flirts, he charms, he gives every impression of a man falling in love, but she can’t quite believe it’s all true. When his proposal of marriage turns into a compromising position that forces the issue, she can’t help thinking that he’s hiding something . . . even as her heart tells her to say yes.

In the Garden of Happiness by

Dodinsky

As an emerging leader in positive thinking, New York Times bestselling author Dodinsky weaves the words of contentment and self-empowerment. In his second book, Dodinsky takes his readers on a journey to the garden of happiness. Within this garden, Dodinsky gives his readers the wisdom and support to find power within themselves to lead a happy life. Words from Dodinsky: You get angry. You get depressed. You worry. But never let these feelings consume your life. You owe it to yourself not to burden your soul with sorrows. You have to leave the past behind and STRIVE TOWARD HAPPINESS