New Year’s Resolutions

According to goalsguy.com, the top two New Year’s resolutions are to lose weight and stick to your budget. Every year on New Year’s Day millions of people make New Year’s resolutions but very few are able to stick to them for more than two weeks. If you are like most people, then you have made a New Year’s resolution at one time. But you probably are not familiar with the history of New Year’s resolutions. Where did they originate from? What are some global New Year’s traditions? Read on and find out more.
New Year’s resolutions date all the way back to 153 B.C. when Janus, the mythical king of Rome was placed at the beginning of the Roman calendar. Janus became the symbol for resolutions. People looked to him for forgiveness from enemies. They also had a gift exchange before the beginning of each New Year.
The tradition of exchanging gifts on New Year’s Eve was begun by the Romans. They gave each other branches from scared trees for good luck. Later nuts or coins became common gifts.
Many countries have their own traditions for good luck in the New Year. In the U.S, we watch a ball drop and kiss their significant other. In Spain, the Spanish eat twelve grapes one for every clock toll for good luck in the coming year. Peru takes the Spanish tradition one step further. Thirteen grapes are eaten including one for good luck. In Norway, they make rice pudding and hide a whole almond in the pudding. Wealth is guaranteed to the person who eats the almond.
Well, that is the history of New Year’s resolutions in a nutshell. You also learned about some cool global traditions. For more information, visit
http://ezinearticles.com/?The-History-of-New-Years-Resolutions&id=245213
And
http://www.goalsguy.com/events/n_top-ten-resolutions.html
Until next time, Happy Resolution making!

The Story of Christmas

What do you think of when you hear the word Christmas? My mind immediately fills with images of Christmas trees lit up with pretty lights, presents, family and holiday treats. But what does Christmas mean? Why do we celebrate it? Today we examine the official story behind Christmas.
Christmas is celebrated on December 25 to mark the birth of Jesus. Legend has it he was born to the Virgin Mary. She was engaged to be married to Joseph who was a Jewish carpenter. One day, Mary became pregnant by the Holy Spirit. This upset Joseph and his first reaction was to break their engagement. But he had a dream that getting married to Mary was God’s will. The angel in the dream told him that she was not unfaithful and baby came from the Holy Spirit.
Mary and Joseph were required to travel to Bethlehem to be counted in the census. The inn was very crowded and Mary ended up giving birth in a crude stable surrounded by farm animals. She wrapped baby Jesus in clothes and put him in a manger. Soon after the birth, an angel appeared to announce that the savior was born. Shepherds and Magi (astrologers) came to see Jesus bringing gifts such as gold. They found him by following the Star of Bethlehem. Jesus was known as the King of the Jews.
Another important point is that we do not know Jesus’ exacted birthdates so December 25 was selected to represent nine months after Jesus was conceived. For more information, please visit:
http://christianity.about.com/od/biblestorysummaries/p/christmasstory.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Can Holiday Treats be Hazardous to Your Health?

Pecan pie, sugar cookies, frosted cakes and chocolate are just a sample of the variety of delicious treats that are staples of the holiday season. These treats have one thing in common. They are loaded with simple sugars. It’s pretty obvious that simple sugars can cause you to gain weight but did you know they can affect your overall health? Read on to find out about the dangers of too many holiday treats!!
According to healingdaily.com, the average American eats 2-3 lbs of sugar per week! When you eat foods that contain a large amount of sugar, your pancreas secrete insulin to help drop your blood sugar levels. An elevated insulin level suppresses your immune system and therefore prevents your body from fighting diseases. Too much sugar can also worsen medical conditions such as asthma, cause diabetes and arthritis.
What can a person do to prevent simple sugar from causing weight gain and other problems? Well you can consume simple sugars in moderation. This can be pretty challenging with delicious treats. It’s hard to stop at just one. This can also create a bad habit causing you to crave them all of the time. It’s important to avoid skipping meals. This tends to create binging later on in the day due to excessive hunger. Be sure to eat healthy snacks such as fruit or nuts to keep hunger levels in check. You also want to read labels (if they are available) to help you find hidden sugars in processed foods.
For more information, visit http://www.caloriesperhour.com/tutorial_sugar.php and healingdaily.com. Until next time enjoy your sugary treats, in moderation!!!

Paying for Holiday Gifts: The Benefits of Plastic

By now, you have probably adjusted to being bombarded with holiday commercials, decorations and plans for gathering. You might just be thinking about holiday gifts that you want to purchase for yourself and other family members. But there is also the question of how you will be able to pay for them. Credit cards are always an option. They tend to be even better during the holidays since the card companies tend to offer some special deals. Read on to find out more.
Department stores such as Belks and JC Pennys always give you the option to sign up for a credit card and receive an additional 15 to 20% off your purchase if you are approved. This is a good way to save some extra money but be aware of high interest rates. It’s a good idea to pay off your credit cards right away so you don’t end up paying more than the original discount.
Citibank is offering customers with a Dividend credit card the opportunity to earn 5% cash back at all department, clothing and electronic stores. Cash back is limited to $300 per year.
Citicard offers 0% APR on balance transfers for up to 24 months.
Discover card offers the same deal as Citibank but you can also earn rewards from restaurants as well.
The Chase Freedom credit card is offering 5 percent cash back on up to $1,500 spent at department stores, grocery stores and movie theaters through Dec. 31.
Discover has a 5 percent to 20 percent cash-back bonus through retailers in its Shop Discover program. There is also the opportunity to earn 10 percent cash back when you shop online.
This is just the beginning. There are lots of great deals out there. You just need to look. Start with http://www.bankrate.com/financing/credit-cards/cashing-in-on-credit-card-holiday-shopping-deals/.
Happy Fun Spending!!

Avoid the “Seasonal Seven”: Ten Tips to Avoid Holiday Weight Gain

The holiday season is a great time to relax and spend time with your family and friends. But it’s also a time when we are surrounded by high calorie foods that put our willpower to the ultimate test. Most of us will indulge in some holiday treats but too much of a good thing can contribute to weight gain. According to centralhome.com, the average adult will gain seven pounds during the holiday season. To avoid this holiday weight gain, you might find some of these tips helpful. Read on and find out how to save yourself from buying a new wardrobe in January!
1. Create a plan- If you have a holiday survival plan, then you will be indulge in a few holiday treats and still be slim. Daily exercise, healthy foods and reducing temptation are three key components of the plan.
2. Daily fitness- Exercise every day. If you exercise each day for 45 minutes, then you can increase that to an hour. Taking a morning walk or always using the stairs are good examples of how you can fit exercise into your busy lifestyle.
3. Seven servings- Eat seven servings of fruits and vegetables each day. This will help you to feel fuller and be less tempted to eat holiday treats.
4. Never go to a Party Hungry- Make sure that you have a healthy snack before you go to a party. This will help to prevent you from binging on unhealthy treats.
5. Make Socializing a Top Priority- The holidays are supposed to be about talking to people and making up for lost time. So stand around with your friends not at the food table.
6. Limit Yourself to One a Day- Cookies, candy and other high fat treats can be hard to resist. If you limit yourself to one a day, then you will not feel deprived and can exercise more to burn off the extra calories.
Well, I hope these tips will help prevent you from unwanted holiday weight gain. Be sure to check out, http://my.clevelandclinic.org/heart/prevention/nutrition/holidayeating12_01.aspx
http://www.centralhome.com/how_to_avoid_holiday_weight_gain.htm
Happy Holiday Eating!!

Free Stuff on Your Birthday

Thanksgiving marks the start of the holiday season. After that, it’s all about Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. Lots of food, drink and gathering with families and friends. But there are other special occasions during this time of year like birthdays. Although birthdays are celebrated year-round, I thought this would be a nice time to take a break from the holidays and look at stuff you can get for your birthday. There is a lot of free stuff out there available that people might not think to take advantage of. Read on to find out about some birthday freebies.
Free Meals/ Desserts/Beverages
Everyone likes the opportunity to get a free meal. Did you know that there are a lot of opportunities out there to eat for free on your birthday? Well let’s take a look at some of these offers.
1. Denny’s- On your birthday, Denny’s offers a free grand slam breakfast. Enjoy a combination of four items such as bacon, buttermilk biscuits, pancakes, hash browns, egg whites, or chicken sausage. This meal is so big that you might need a to-go box!!
2. Ruby Tuesday- If you like red meat, then head on over to Ruby Tuesday where you can get a free handcrafted hamburger on your birthday! Need I say more!
3. Dunkin Donuts and Barnies- If you just want a free coffee or hot chocolate, head on over to Barnies or Dunkin Donuts where you can enjoy a free beverage.
4. Baskin Robbins and Coldstone creamery- For those of you who want dessert, be sure to join the Birthday club at Baskin Robbins and the Coldstone creamery. Baskin Robbins offers you a free scoop of ice-cream and the Coldstone gives you a free special ice-cream dish.
More Free Stuff
Well that is just the tip of the iceberg. Most stores such as Victoria’s Secret and Macys have special offers for their card holders. Victoria Secret offers $10 off for your birthday to angel card members and Macys does free shipping.
For more information on free stuff on your birthday, visit http://www.freebirthdaystuff.com/news.php
Enjoy your special day and all of the great stuff out there!

Hanukkah: Eight Days of Traditions

Retailers and the media spend a great deal of time advertising Christmas. During the holiday season, commercials and programs often feature Christmas themes. When you go shopping, rarely will you find a store without some type of Christmas decoration. What about Hanukkah? Over time Hanukkah has became more like Christmas. Read on to find out about the 8 days of lights!
Hanukkah is celebrated sometime in the period during late November and late December based on the Jewish calendar. Parents try to make Hanukkah extra special so their children will not feel left out because of all the Christmas stuff going on around them. Hanukkah lasts eight nights. Each night people light the hankukkiyah. The hankukkiyah lighting represents the miracle of oil. According to history, once Jewish revolutionaries took the temple from the Syrians they wanted to rededicate it to God. They lit the hanukkiyah but only had enough oil for one night but surprisingly it lasted for eight nights.
Another Hanukkah tradition is spinning the dredel. It has four sides with a Hebrew letter on each side. If you put the Hebrew letters together, it means a great miracle happened in Israel. This refers to the oil. Children usually spin the dredel for chocolate coins, candy, raisins or nuts.
Last but not least, there is lots of great Hanukkah food. Hanukkah celebrates the miracle of oil so it makes sense that there are a lot of fried foods for this holiday. Traditional Hanukkah foods include latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot ( jelly filled donuts which are covered with confectioner’s sugar).
Well, I hope you learned a little bit about Hanukkah. If you want more information, visit http://judaism.about.com/od/holidays/a/hanukkah.htm. Hanukkah has some great traditions. My favorite so far is the sutganiyot!
Happy Hanukkah!

Black Friday: The Ultimate Shopping Tradition

It’s estimated that this year 200 million people will get up way before the crack of dawn to go shopping on Black Friday. Black Friday is one of the busiest shopping days of the year. Retailers use this holiday as an opportunity to offer good deals which are supposed to jump start the holiday shopping season. Websites such as http://www.blackfriday2010.com/ offer sneak peeks at black Friday ads weeks before the big day. So what types of items are popular this year? Who has the best Black Friday deals? Should you bother to get out of bed to shop? Read on, get informed and you be the judge.
Before we talk about Black Friday deals, here is the history of Black Friday. The term “Black Friday” was used by the police in the 1960’s in Philadelphia to illustrate the heavy traffic on that day. The term also means the first day had sold through enough inventory and turned a profit for the year, putting them "in the black" according to the old by-hand accounting system of using black ink to indicate a profit and red ink to indicate a loss.
Now what are the best deals? According to Blackfriday2010.com, Target has Chefmate appliances for $3. Kohls have a $250 Kitchen maid mixer for $120. If technology is more your thing, then head over to Wal-Mart. They have the Ipod touch for $225 with a $50 ITunes gift card included and a 15.6 inch laptop for $198. If you are a jewelry lover, then visit Kohls for a 2 karat diamond bracelet costing only $99. But you will have to get up early for these deals. Kohls is opening at 3 am!
So are you ready for Black Friday? If these deals sound too good to be true, then fill up on turkey and get to bed early. Check out http://www.blackfriday2010.com for more ads and information. But if you can’t get out of bed, there will be some terrific online deals starting Thanksgiving Day and don’t forget Cyber Monday.
Happy Shopping!!

The History of Thanksgiving

What comes into your mind when you think of Thanksgiving? Most people think of the traditional turkey with stuffing all of the trimmings. Others think about getting together with friends and family and many associate Thanksgiving with watching football. But what is the purpose of Thanksgiving. Why do we celebrate this holiday? Well this blog will give you a brief history of thanksgiving. Get ready to feel full with lots of information.
In 1620, the Mayflower left Plymouth, England with 120 passengers. They wanted to come to the new world for religious freedom. It was a 66 day journey and they arrived at Massachusetts Bay and became known as Pilgrims. Many of the colonists remained on the ship and suffered diseases such as scurvy and only have of them lived to see the next spring.
The survivors met a nice Indian named Squanto. He taught them how to grow corn, catch fish, extract sap from maple trees and avoid poisonous plants. In November, they had a successful harvest. Governor William Bradford decided to organize a feast which would be a celebration of the pilgrim’s first successful harvest. This became known as Thanksgiving but the term was not used by the pilgrims. In fact, their feast did not have many of traditional foods that we have today. Historians think they might have eaten deer at the feast and food made with traditional Indian seasonings. They also did not have any cakes or pies because they did not have an oven and their sugar supply had dwindled.
. New York was one of the first states to observe Thanksgiving before it became a national holiday. There was actually a campaign called “Mary had a little lamb” which was launched to encourage the government to make Thanksgiving a national holiday. Thanksgiving did not become a national holiday until 1863 when Abraham Lincoln established a proclamation during the Civil War.
So now as you go back for that second helping of turkey and pie. Think of the pilgrims who did not have turkey or pie and made your Thanksgiving possible. For more information, visit http://www.history.com/topics/thanksgiving
Happy Turkey Day!!!

Dealing with Holiday Stress

The holidays can be a time of great joy. They give us the opportunity to get together with family and friends to share good food and make new memories. But they can also cause a lot of stress. Holiday stress usually comes from trying to live up to unrealistic images that are depicted on television or in the movies. How can you deal with holiday stress? Read on to find out some ways to avoid making the holidays a miserable experience.
Before we begin, I just wanted to mention that the tips to avoid holiday stress were adapted from the Mayo clinic’s web site. If you need more information, visit www.mayoclinic.com/health/stress/MH00030. They suggest identifying potential triggers of holiday stress. There are relationships, money and physical demands.
Let’s start with relationships. Relationships can become more stressful during the holidays because there is more pressure to visit your or your spouse’s parents or family, buy presents and even separation anxiety. You can become lonely if you loved one decides to visit their own family and you are left behind. Lack of money can be a challenge because it makes it hard to buy gifts for yourself or your loved ones. Physical demands often involves lots more shopping and traveling which can be very tiring.
If you feel depressed or lonely during the holidays, then you might want to get involved in community or social events. It can also help to talk to family members about your feelings. Plan ahead so you can have some activities with friends or family. Keep your daily routine and stick to healthy habits. Eating too much holiday sweets can just cause guilt and make your depression worse. Keep your portions under control and you will feel better about it later on.
Happy Holidays! Hopefully, they will be stress free!

Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes

According to sparklepeople.com, the average American consumes 4,500 calories and 229 grams of fat on Thanksgiving Day! Most of are not able to burn this off with exercise and excess calories are converted to fat. One pound of fat equals 3,500 calories. So how can you prevent Thanksgiving from turning into a diet disaster? Keep reading to find out some tips.
One of the main things you can do is plan ahead. Sparkle.com offers some helpful tips in their Thanksgiving survival guide. Some examples of these tips are replacing sugar with Splenda or another no calorie sweetener. This can save over 750 calories. You can also use whole wheat flour, skim milk and egg substitute in your cooking to save calories as well.
The Mayoclinic.com features some great low fat recipes that you might want to try. All of the recipes include nutritional information which makes it easy to keep track of your calorie and fat intake. Some examples of low calorie soups are pumpkin, chick pea and carrot. For side dishes, there is honey glazed potatoes, garlic mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes and roasted bananas. For the main dish, you can try cranberry stuffing or make a brown sugar sauce for the turkey. Don’t forget warm chocolate soufflé and caramelized pear bread pudding for dessert.
It’s hard to avoid giving into some type of temptation, but as long as you don’t go overboard you should be fine. Here are some tips for surviving thanksgiving at someone else’s house:
1. Load up on raw vegetables and lean protein like turkey before heading for the cornbread dressing or sweet potato casserole.
2. Drink lots of water which will fill you up and help you avoid going back for a second helping.
3. If you can’t resist dessert, have a small piece of your favorite treat. This will help you to not feel deprived and not destroy your diet.
For more information, visit http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/nutrition_articles.asp?id=324
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/thanksgiving-recipes/NU00643
Happy Thanksgiving!!

Holiday Travel Tips

With the holidays around the corner, you might be thinking about holiday travel. Maybe you will be going home for the first time this semester or just taking a trip to see your significant other’s family. Holiday travel can be stressful if you do not take the time to plan ahead. Today we will discuss some simple tips so you can have more time for fun and less time to worry.
The first one of these tips is to avoid peak travel times. The Wednesday before Thanksgiving is the worst time to travel. It’s the most crowded and you will experience the most travel delays. But you can get some pretty good deals on Thanksgiving Day and the day after Thanksgiving is a good time to return home. You also want to book your flight early. It’s not a good idea to wait for the absolute last minute to book a flight. This might you cause you to get locked out of a flight or even have to pay more money. Shopping around is another good strategy. Visit more than one travel web site before you book to make sure that you are getting the best deal.
Leave for the airport early. This will give you enough time to get through security and make sure that you are not late for your flight. Pack accordingly. Do not bring unnecessary stuff. It will just make the security check take longer and weigh you down. Check your connecting flight. Be sure that you are aware of any bad weather or other possible travel delays.
Last but not least, have fun! The holidays are for family to get together and have a good time. So relax and enjoy your time off from work or school! You earned it!
For more information visit http://www.independenttraveler.com/resources/article.cfm?AID=625&category=13&page=2

Look and Feel Your Best This Holiday Season on a Budget

Holiday sales, Christmas trees, and Black Friday ads, are just a few of the signs that the holidays are quickly approaching. With Thanksgiving and Christmas so close, you are very likely to have a holiday gathering to attend. You always want to look your best but would like to do it on a budget. Look no further, your guide to saving money on services lies in taking advantage of students who are learning their craft. Read on and find out more.
The UF dental school and Salon Professional Academy are two examples of locations that train students and can provide you with excellent services at a fraction of the cost. There are so many benefits to visiting anyone of these places. Firstly, you get good service. The students are fresh out of the classroom so they are very familiar with the material and more likely to do a good job. They also want to get a good grade and impress their teachers who supervise any hands on activity. So expect to receive special attention.
If you need to fix your teeth, you might want to check out the UF dental clinic. In order to become a patient, you need to fill out a form on their website and attend a screening appointment. The cost is only $106 which includes x-rays. Then you will be assigned a student dentist who will work together with you to create a treatment plan to assess all of your needs. . The only thing to keep in mind is that it can take up to 2 months to get an appointment with your student dentist. If you need immediate attention such as a tooth extraction, there is a lottery for the oral surgery clinic every morning at 7 a.m.
Do you need to have your hair colored for a special occasion? How about getting a fresh coat of polish for that office Christmas party? Well visit the Salon Professional Academy. It’s near the City College location by the Oaks mall. They offer many services at affordable prices. For example, for only $9 you can get a classic manicure or a haircut. Perms or highlights are only $29. You can get professional results at a fractional of the cost and friendly service. They even sell gift certificates so you can give the gift of pampering to a friend.
Well now you know two of the best keep secrets in Gainesville for looking your best on a budget. For more information please visit
http://www.dental.ufl.edu/Patients/StudentDentalClinic.php
http://www.thesalonprofessionalacademy.com/gainesville/services.html
Happy Holiday Pampering!

Gator March for Babies

One out of every eight babies is born too soon that can lead to a lot of problems. A quarter of them will have lifelong health problems. This information comes from the March of Dimes. Every year, the March of Dimes holds an annual walk in order to raise money for research to help prevent premature birth. The Gator March for Babies is a shorter version of this walk. It’s an annual event that takes place on the UF campus. Read on to find out more about it and how you can get involved.
This year the walk takes place on November 14th at 1 p.m. on Turlington Plaza. In past years, Gator March for Babies has raised over $300,000. There have already been several fundraising events. One of the highlights was the first annual Wing Bowl. It took place at Gator Dockside on September 28 and basically was just a wing eating contest for the Greek student organizations on the UF campus. Students had the opportunity to enjoy wings and enter to win a free scooter. But don’t worry, there is still plenty of time to raise money and enter to win the ultimate grand prize which is a free apartment. The Boardwalk is giving away a year lease for a three bedroom apartment to the top fundraiser. This is worth over $2,000. On the day of the walk, there will be lots of free food from gelato, flying biscuit, dominos pizza and planet smoothie.
Do you want to get involved but don’t know how. It’s simple visit http://gatorsmarchforbabies.org/register.htm and create an online profile. Then get out your cell phone or other technical device and contact everyone you know. Send out Facebook messages and ask for donations. Get together with other friends and have your own fundraising event. Baby’s lives are at stake! So get out there and raise money to help fight the war against premature births!

Cheap Halloween Costumes

With Halloween only a few days away, you probably fall within one of two categories. You planned your costume for weeks and can’t wait to show it off. Or else, you have waited till the last minute and have no idea for a costume. Luckily, you came to the right place. Read onto find out about cheap costume ideas that you can pull off in a manner of hours.
Before we begin, I need to give credit to the following website for the great costume ideas that I will use in this blog: http://www.robinsfyi.com/holidays/halloween/costumes.htm. First there is the traditional white ghost costume. All you need to do is to get a white sheet and cut holes it in for the eyes and nose. Add a little bit of lipstick and even an accessory around your neck. A trendy ghost has been born!
If you don’t like the ghost costume, then how about a clown. All you need is some oversize clothing and an inexpensive wig. Don’t forget to decorate the clothing using markers or fabric paint. You can use tissues to stuff any extra space in the clothing. The old clothing idea also can be perfect for a scarecrow costume. A pair of old jeans and a large flannel shirt are all you need. Let some straw hang out of your clothing, get a big hat and you are all set.
An American tourist is also a great idea. Women can wear a cute floral dress with lots of color and guys can wear a bright Hawaiian shirt in a bold print. Don’t forget to carry around lots of maps and a camera. You will definitely get lots of attention in this costume.
The last two ideas are a hippy or Miss America. For the hippie costume, you just need some clothing with fringes or tie dye and a pair of light colored sun glasses. For the Miss America costume, all you need is an old formal dress and homemade glittery sash. Put it all together with a $.99 crown and you are all ready to be the life of the party.
Well those are just a sample of some cheap costume ideas that you can create at home. Find more at the website listed above. Until next time, Happy Halloween!!

Safe Alternatives to Trick or Treating

Previously in blog land, we gave you advice on how to decorate your home for Halloween on a budget and pick out a cool homemade costume. But where can you go to trick or treat. You might live in a neighborhood where you feel uncomfortable walking around at night. Well there a lot of safe alternatives to traditional trick or treating. Read on to find out more information.
Gainesville is full of great places for young kids and kids at heart. All you need is a costume and a smile. Get ready to have a good time at these events.
1. Ghouls, Goblins and Greeks- This event is on Thursday night from 5 to 8 p.m. It’s organized by the Panhellenic council and allows kids and college students to have fun trick or treating at the sorority and fraternity houses. Lots of candy and games will be available. There will also be a costume contest for children and adults.
2. Trunk or Treat and Halloween Celebration - Thursday, October 28th 6-8PM – This is another free event. Kids can wear a costume and get candy from cool decorated trunks. Don’t forget about the costume contest. This will take place at UMC 9501 SW Archer Road.
3. Historic Halloween Haunt- Friday, October 29 The children’s tour begins at 6 p.m. and adult tour begins at 7. Matheson Museum will host a reception of food, drink, and Halloween-themed fun with the Halloween Haunted Homes Tour through historic Gainesville to discover the murky and mired past of our quaint southern town. Two tours, one for children and one for young adults and adults, will include costumed docents to enlighten our guests with scary stories from the past of north central Florida.
4. Publix Supermarkets will hold trick or treating events from 4 to 7 p.m. on Saturday night. Kids under 12 will have the opportunity to get in costume and get free candy from all of the different departments.
5. Boo at the Zoo- 3:30- 7:00 p.m. on Halloween Day- This is a great annual event for kids of all ages. Admission is free with the donation of one canned good. The whole zoo is decorated with spooky themes and lots of lights. Student zookeepers will hand out about 92,000 pieces of candy at 12 different candy stations located throughout the zoo. The only modification is that the event will be moved outside because of a newborn baby gibbon.
Well that is just a sample of the safe Halloween events taking place in Gainesville. For more information check out the following Websites:
http://events.gainesville.com/gainesville-fl/events/trick+or+treating+in+gainesville
http://www.examiner.com/family-entertainment-in-gainesville/trick-or-treating-around-gainesville?render=print
Happy Halloween!!

Cheap Halloween Decorating Ideas

Halloween is just around the corner. You have probably been bombarded by your friends with questions about your costume idea or invitations to Halloween parties. But if you are like most college students, you are on a budget and can’t afford to spend of ton of money on Halloween. That is ok because this two part series will provide you advice on how to enjoy Halloween on a budget. Don’t be scared! Read on!
The first piece of advice is to keep it simple. Next use your creativity to make simple into your own unique creations. Then sit back and allow people to admire your work. Let’s start with the traditional Halloween pumpkin. A good sized pumpkin costs under $20 and there are hundreds of ways to make it into your own design. Websites such as pumpkin carving.com teach you about carving tools and basically have lots of designs for your pumpkin which is now a Jack O’ Lantern. This will most likely be the centerpiece of your Halloween set up.
Now let’s make your Jack O Lantern even more elaborate by adding some lights. Try buying some inexpensive dark colored candles with some Halloween themed candle holders. They make great table decorations as well.
Crepe paper is a great investment to make lots of spooky designs. Fake blood is also inexpensive and easy to obtain at local discount stores. You also might want to purchase some spider webs and scary music CD’s to create a scary atmosphere. For those who want to go the extra mile, you can use wood to build your own coffin and buy a dummy to put inside there. Don’t forget to make your own tombstones and use black for all table decorations to create a scary effect.
Well now that you are ready to create a scary Halloween house or party, you might be still searching for the perfect costume. Come back next week and find out how to choose and design the perfect Halloween outfit. For more information on today’s topic, visit www.halloween-website.com/decorating.htm. Until next time, happy costume hunting!

Volunteer Series Part 1: Shands at UF

Previously in blog land, we took an in depth look at volunteering, its benefits and opportunities in Gainesville. This week we will expand on that by taking an in depth look at some of the opportunities available. Our first stop will be Shands at UF. Read on to find out how easy it is to get involved and some great departments that need help.
First you need to visit Shands website and fill out an online application. Next, take the online quiz. After that, make sure you have a copy of your immunization records and TB test. Lastly, just fill out the form with a date and time that works for your placement interview. College students are placed at the beginning of each semester or three times a year. Adults are placed at anytime throughout the year.
Opportunities
There are a wide range of opportunities in the Children’s hospital ranging from a playroom volunteer to a childbirth lactation class helper. One of the volunteer opportunities that stood out in my mind is the NICU cuddlers. NICU cuddlers hold premature babies and help with other nursery duties. Being a new mom, I understand how important close contact is for newborns so this is a very special and important volunteer opportunity.
If kids are not your thing, then you might find your calling helping adult patients. You can devote your time to the brain tumor team, cardiovascular unit and liver transplant unit. These opportunities give you a behind the scenes look at different medical specialties. Most of the volunteers perform administrative functions and get an inside view of the ongoing research and clinical trials in these fields.
Other opportunities include lab work, direct patient care, nursing, pharmacy and radiology. You can test drive a career as a nurse or work as a Heart mender providing emotional support to patients and their families with heart disease. Another volunteer position that stood out in my mind was the No one dies alone program. Volunteers can provide emotional support while sitting with a dying patient.
Last but not least, you can volunteer in other areas at Shands like the gift shop. There are also separate opportunities at the Shands cancer hospital.
Well, that was a lot of information. If you are interested in medicine, I am sure that you will be filling out the Shands volunteer application today. But if medicine does not interest you, wait till next week and we will look at educational volunteer opportunities. Stay tuned!!

Holiday Gift Cards: One Size Really Does Fit All

Believe it or not, the holiday season is just around the corner. The holidays bring lots of parties, delicious food, family gatherings and of course presents. But the worst part of the holidays is figuring out the best presents to give. It can be a big challenge because people don’t want to receive a tie or a toaster. You might be surprised to find out that there is a very simple solution to the holiday dilemma: the gift card! Read onto find out more about the power of the gift card and universal happiness among recipients.
Gift cards are perfect because it allows your recipient to get what they want. There are many different options for gift cards. Let’s look at a few of them.
1. Traditional Store Bought Gift Card-
For any of us who are not tech savvy or just don’t want to bother with the internet, you can purchase gift cards at virtually any store out there. Some good options are Wal-Mart, Walgreens, JC Penny and Target. Gift cards for restaurants like Applebee’s and the Olive Garden are perfect for students who can’t afford to take their significant other out to dinner. Don’t forget movie gift cards as well! Locations such as Wal-Mart and Publix make it super easy to purchase them for a wide variety of locations like Macys and Chills.
2. Online Gift Cards- For those of you, who love the internet, check out www.giftcertificates.com. You can purchase wide range of gift cards with a simple mouse click. You can even get a person an e-gift card so they never have to leave the house. One of my favorite e gift cards is amazon.com which comes right to your inbox and can even have a personalized message.
Well now you know all about gift cards, I am happy to have alleviated some of your holiday stress. Now it’s time to figure out what you want. Let me think, how about a gift card!

Make a Difference in Your Community and Get a New Lease on Life: Volunteer-

If you are like the majority of college students, then when you have some free time, you probably feel bored. With the responsibilities of marriage, children and a career far off in the future, you might be wondering what I can do to pass this free time which will benefit me in the future. Well it’s called volunteerism. It helps you make a difference in your community and your own life. Want to get started? Read on to find out more.
Before we talk about the wide range of different volunteer opportunities in Gainesville, let’s take a brief look at the reasons why people volunteer. The most common reason is to give back to your community. Other reasons include developing new skills, obtain career experience, building self esteem or just expanding your horizons. Volunteering puts you in contact with lots of different people from all walks of life which can help you to develop a new set of friends.
Now let’s look at some local opportunities where you can get involved today.
1. Shands at UF- Are you interested in a career in medicine or would you just like to spend some time helping sick children or adults? Then volunteering at Shands might be the perfect opportunity for you. Shands has a wide range of volunteer opportunities available depending on your area of interest. Some of the current opportunities include being a cuddler in the NICU, assisting with childbirth classes and working with cancer patients.
2. Alachua County Public Schools- If education is your thing, then you might want to volunteer at an Alachua county public school. There are opportunities for classroom assistants, tutors and preschool readers.
3. Alachua County Library- Calling all bookworms out there! If you love reading, then volunteering at the library might be a good idea for you. There are opportunities to help reshelf books, be a homework helper and assist with special event planning/services.
4. Gainesville Pet Rescue- Animal lovers might enjoy working with this organization. Opportunities include cat cuddling, dog walking and adoption counseling.
5. Harn Museum of Art- If you have an appreciation for art or just like hanging out at a museum, check out these opportunities. Volunteers are needed to be docents or tour guides, translators, customer service, event hosting, family services and much more.
Well we have only scratched the surface when it comes to volunteer opportunities in Gainesville. Be sure to visit http://gainesvillevolunteer.com for a more comprehensive list. Stay tuned because next time we will take a more in depth look at the volunteer application process and specific opportunities that are available. Our volunteer journey will continue at Shands. Until next time, get out and make a difference in your community, volunteer today!

The Generation Gap:Different Times Different Trends

Recently on the smokinggun.com, a Memphis man shot a teenager because he refused to pull his pants up. The man was irritated that the teen and his friend insisted on walking around dressed in an inappropriate manner. But is this improper dress just a trend that is followed by today’s teenagers? What if it were the other way around and this 45 year old were dressed in a denim jacket and acid washed jeans. These items are not popular articles of clothing in today’s society so a young teenager could have attacked him for the same reason. Now let’s take a trip down memory lane and look at some of the trends of the decades.
We will begin our journey in the 1950’s. During the 50’s, rock and roll music was popular. Elvis Presley was one of the leading rocking and roll stars. Jazz music was also part of the 1950’s music trends. Girls wore poodle and pencil skirts. The leather jacket was the most have fashion trend of this decade for guys. Fast forward ahead to the 1960’s and we have the mini skirt. Other fashion trends included bell bottom pants and platform shoes. Many women abandoned pantyhose in order to make their miniskirts look more attractive. Music during the 1960’s was part of the psychedelic era. Bands such as the Byrds and Bob Dylan believed in the “freedom to create”. They used drugs to empower them to write better songs.
The 1970’s was a time that soft and pop rock became popular. Bands such as The Carpenters and The Eagles. There was also progressive rock, punk rock, hard rock and heavy metal. Fashion trends of the 70’s were the bell bottom pants, turtleneck shirts and sideburns for men. In the 1980’s, heavy metal continued to be popular. There was also the beginning of music videos on MTV. Famous artists including Michael Jackson and Madonna. Leggings, pastel colors and jean jackets were some of the fashion trends.
Moving right along, the 90s was dominated by teen pop. Popular artists included Britney Spears, NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys. Bleached blonde hair, the wonder bra and hair styles from the set of Friends were in vogue. The new Millennium brought the rise of VHI and more teen pop stars from American Idol. Fashion trends included baggy jeans, flannel tops and stonewashed jeans. Let’s not forget the cell phone which has also become a major fashion accessory.
So what lies ahead for this decade? Will guys return to the days of sideburns or leather or jackets or will pants falling down still be popular among teens? Only time will tell, but history usually repeats itself so hang onto that leather coat for now!

Going Organic: What you need to know

Walk into any supermarket and you are sure to find an all natural or organic section. Mother Earth is the ultimate all natural and organic supermarket. It’s located within walking distance of the University of Florida. There are also some great organic and all natural options on campus and in the Reitz Union. But what does organic mean? Is it necessary to go totally organic or do just certain foods and products need to be organic? Read on to find out more.
Organic means free from pesticides. Pesticides can not only harm you but they also do damage to the environment. It also supports local farmers who are growing organic produce and is healthier for you. Unfortunately, organic food is more expensive. For a college student on a budget, it would not always be your first choice. But if you want to be healthier, you can buy organic varieties of the following twelve fruits and vegetables: celery, pears, nectarines, apples, peaches, cherries, strawberries, potatoes, imported grapes, bell peppers and red raspberries. Over 65% of the non organic varieties that were tested contain pesticides.
On the other hand, it’s perfectly fine to purchases non organic asparagus, broccoli, calflour, bananas, avocado, corn, kiwi, mangos, sweet peas, pineapple and papaya. These fruits and vegetables tend to have a thicker skin and do not absorb pesticides as well as the others on the other list. If you want to be extra careful about pesticides, you can purchase organic dairy products like milk.
Well now that you have all of the information about organic products, your homework assignment is to come visit me at Mother Earth! Happy pesticide free shopping! See you there! For more information on organic foods, visit about.com/gourmet foods and the dailygreen.com

Breast Cancer Awareness Month: What you need to know

According to the CDC, breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women and the number one killer in Hispanic women. It’s usually more common in older women but can affect women of any age. Men can get breast cancer as well. So you might be wondering why we are covering this topic. Well October happens to be breast cancer awareness month and there is a lot you need to know about preventing breast cancer and helping others.
Every year in October the American Cancer Society holds a walk called Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. This event helps to raise money for cancer research to help find a cure for breast cancer and educate others about prevention. This year’s walk will take place at the Hippodrome on Saturday October 23, 2010. There are many opportunities for individuals to get involved in fundraising activities. On October 1st, there was a campaign started in Gainesville called paint the town pink which kicked off the series events leading up to the breast cancer walk. Some other upcoming fundraising events are a Ben and Jerry’s fundraiser, Bank Day at Sun Trust and a fashion show at the Salon Academy.
The best way to get involved is just by making a simple donation to the American cancer society. By donating as little as five dollars, you are helping to fund breast cancer research and support a walker. There is also a cool contest for a 64 gallon pink trash can from the city which you can enter simply by donating $5.
Now onto another topic, prevention. The best way to prevent breast or any other cancer is through early detection. It is important that women perform monthly self exams and visit their doctors for a yearly breast exam. Mammograms are recommended for a women over age 40 but earlier for those with a history of breast cancer.
Another informative day in blogland. Until next time, keep helping the fight against breast cancer! Every little bit helps toward the cure!

Behind the Success: The History of Facebook

According to Facebook statistics, there were 500 million active users in July of 2010. A recent study by Compete.com, ranked Facebook as the most used social network beating out MySpace. Whether you are a college student, business owner or just a stay at home mom, chances are you are part of the Facebook phenomenon. But you might be wondering, how Facebook get started and what are all of the available features. Keep reading to find out the answers to these questions.
Facebook was created by Mark Zuckerberg as a sophomore at Harvard University. Mark created a social networking site which enabled users to rate the attractiveness of fellow students. But in order to get this information, he needed to hack into the University’s computer system to get private dorm images. Mark got in trouble with the University for hacking into their computer system. But the charges were dropped and he was able to finish up the creation of this social networking site which happened to be part of a class project.
Soon, the Facebook phenomenon was born. Originally, only Harvard University students were allowed to join. In the first month, more than half of the undergraduate students were members. Soon Facebook expanded to all Ivy League schools like New York University. In September 2005, a version was created for high school students and in 2006 membership on Facebook was open to anyone 13 years of age or older who had a valid email address. The success of Facebook became blatant when Microsoft purchased shares for $240 million making it worth $15 billion dollars.
Now that our history lesson is over, let’s talk about some of Facebook features. Facebook provides users with the opportunity to make friends. You can share photos, personal information, and communicate through private and public messages. Public messages are written on a person’s wall while private messages can go directly to the person or take place through the chat features. You can also share certain likes which can be anything from a person’s photo album to a favorite retail store.
Wow! That was a lot of information that I jammed into this short blog. More information on this topic can be found on Wikipedia.com. Its time for me to take a break and change my own Facebook status. Until next time, see you on Facebook!

Your Money’s Best Friend: Electronic Banking

Put yourself in the following situation: Its Friday night and you have a hot date. You want to take her out to dinner and a late night film. Its 5 p.m. and you already spent most of your paycheck on the latest online game. You are curious about your account balance but the bank is closed and you left their phone number in your other jeans. What can you do? Well don’t fear because electronic banking can save the day. Now I am talking way beyond ATM’s. Your computer or mobile phone are about to become money managing devices. Read on to find out more.
Although many banks and credit unions have electronic capabilities, we will use Bank of America as an example for two reasons. I am most familiar with their services and they have a good comprehensive list of electronic services. Firstly, it takes only a few short minutes to sign up at their website. After, you have created an account, your checking and saving account balances will be visible to you with the click of a mouse key or by a few keystrokes on your cell phone. You will also be able to set it up so you can view your Bank of America credit card statement and available credit.
Now that you set up an account, let’s look at some other types of services that are available. There is online bill pay. This allows you to set up automatic electronic payments, receive electronic bills and review payments all from your computer or mobile device. You can even have your rent paid automatically every month. Save time and a stamp! Text banking is another convenient way to keep track of your money. A simple text message can provide you with your account balance and recent activity. Finally, there is a transfer feature. You can transfer money from one bank of America account in a matter of minutes to another Bank of America account or other financial institution. This service is great because its quick and free of charge.
Basically we have only scratched the surface in educating you about all of the great electronic banking services that are available. Be sure to check them out for yourself! Happy banking!

Up Close and Personal with Online Gamer Ron Germany

Online gaming is a popular way for college students to spend their free time. Many students spend hours playing these games. Gaming has become so popular that some experienced players are in major league gaming tournaments and they can be sponsored by major companies such as Pepsi. But what types of games are popular? On line Gamer, Ron Germany gives us an up close and personal look behind the scenes of online games.
Ron Germany (an online gamer who wants to be identified by his screen name) played Sim City and Wolfenson online. Now he plays games on his console. His current favorites are Madden and Halo. All it took for Ron to get involved in online gaming was his stepdad bringing home a game. He liked it and enjoyed the ability to play with multiple players. Lots of online games have story lines which enables the player to get intimately involved with the characters. Ron says, “ Online gamers find a lot of good people out there and you end up with a whole new set of friends which adds a whole new aspect to the game.”
Ron also talked about the ability for online gamers to make videos which can be uploaded to Youtube or liveplay.com. On these sites, anyone from friends to family can watch you play. You can edit your moves and make a nice video.
Online gaming also has a dark side. It can be very addictive. Ron Germany said that the World of Warcraft (WOW) has ruined peoples lives causing them to lose families over their addiction since they would just sit in front of the computer playing the game 24/7.
Currently, Ron Germany has switched to playing on a Console or X box. He finds matchmaking to be better for his game. Using a computer can effect the quality of your game. Some factors that can effect this quality are internet connection and type of computer. Playing offline can help you to focus more on playing your best game possible.
Ron Germany enjoys online gaming but he wanted to make sure to clear up a major misconception about it. “There is a misconception about online gaming. People assume that you just sit in a dark room all day and play games. You have no life.” According to Ron, this is not true. He attends school and has two jobs. So gaming is not his whole life just a fun pastime.
Hope you enjoyed this look at online gaming. Until next time, happy gaming!

The Student Health Center Uncovered

Whether you are a freshman or graduating senior, you have probably become sick at least once and wondered about on campus medical services. Maybe, you went to the student health center and used some of their services. Either way, today you will learn about the vast array of services that are available for UF students and even some for parents!
First let’s start with parents. The Student Health Center has a new email system that parents can subscribe to and receive information about services and any health outbreaks. UF also collects a health fee as part of student tuition. This enables students to visit the doctor at no charge. But there is a small fee for x-rays, lab work and prescriptions. They also offer health insurance that can be purchased.
Now let’s move onto explore some of the services available at the health center. The Student Health Center actually has three locations. The main clinic is located near the Florida Gym across from Weimer hall. Some of the services they provide are an allergy clinic, women’s health, dermatology, sports medicine and massage therapy. One nice part about the student health center is the continuity of care. Students are assigned to a particular team who provides their care throughout their stay at UF.
The second location is at Shands. They offer similar services like a women’s clinic and primary care. They also offer occupational medicine which features a smoking cessation and a needle stick education program.
The last location is across from Lake Alice. They offer limited services like massage therapy, stress reduction and spa treatments.
That’s a lot of information! If you need additional information about the student health center visit http://www.shcc.ufl.edu. Until next time, stay well!

Is Protest Effective in Producing Change

Recently, Reverend Terry Jones, of Gainesville, threatened to burn the Quran to demonstrate his feelings of hatred toward Muslims. Although, Jones never went through with his plans, he created an uproar among people throughout the nation and became the main subject of discussion among people. Jones’ plan to burn the Quran is also a good example of protesting. Protests have been used throughout history to create change, But how do we define protesting and has it been effective in producing change. Read on and find out more.
According to Wikipedia, a protest is defined as something that expresses a strong reaction to situations and events. A protest can be violent or nonviolent. Protesting dates back to the 18th century in American with events such as the Boston Tea Party that lead to the American Revolution. This enabled the colonies to get out from under control of the British Empire and create their own government. Another major protest in American history was the succession from the United States of some Southern states who wanted to keep slavery. Later, came the Civil Rights Movement and equal rights for women. This involved nonviolent protests which helped to produce change. Some examples of the Civil Rights protests were the Montgomery bus boycott and sit-ins. Martin Luther King was one of the major players in this movement. Other protests were against the Viet Nam conflict. Protests have been an active part of the Right To Life groups who want to get Roe VS Wade reversed and outlaw abortions. Recent protests involved antiwar demonstrations such as the March on Washington in 2007. Unfortunately, this protest could not stop the war in Iraq.
Historically, protests have generally been successful in producing change. Threatened protests can also produce a lot of discussion and debate as in the case of Terry Jones. Now it’s your turn to weigh in, have you ever been involved in a protest. If you have, I want to hear about it. It does not matter if it’s just a small on campus one. I look forward to hearing about your protest stories.

Behind the Game: The Popularity of Online Gaming

The Game Show Network did a general survey of individuals who play online games. They found that 60% of them engage in online gaming on a daily basis and spend more than 11 hours a week playing. In fact, the Pew Internet center for internet research found that 70% of college students play some type of video game or computer game. So, what exactly are online games? Read further to find out some information on this popular leisure activity for college students.
An online game is defined as any game played over some type of a computer network. According to Wikipedia, the term sometimes is confused with online gambling. But online gambling often involves betting money while online gaming does not involve any money. Games can involve a single player or many players. Massively multiplayer online games (MMOG) enabled hundreds of thousands of players to play the same game at the same time. Games that are very popular tend to be 3 dimensional. Online games can be addictive since they are free and readily available 24/7. The next section will talk about some popular websites where you can download and play free online games. These website have lots of different games available such as action, fun, adventure, puzzle, racing, driving and sports. All of these games are free and can be downloaded immediately.
1. http://www.jarkey.net-
2. http://www.games.com-
3. http://www.addictinggames.com
4. http://www.shockwave.com

Be sure to check out some online gaming sites! Happy gaming!

Do College Students Need a Flu Shot?

According to abcnews.com/health, nine to twenty percent of college students each year come down with the flu. This usually results in missed classes and poor school performance. Getting a flu shot can significantly reduce your chances of getting the flu. But before we get into that, let’s take a few minutes to learn about the flu.
The flu season usually begins in October and runs through March. There are two different types of flu viruses. The most common is the influenza virus. This usually infects the respiratory tract. It can cause fevers, headaches, a general feeling of tiredness, a sore throat and even nausea or vomiting. In 2009, another strain of influenza was identified call H1N1. Although, it has similar symptoms to influenza, it can be more difficult to treat because the human body has never been exposed to that type of virus. Healthy young adults are more susceptible to this type of flu virus unlike the other strain which is most likely to affect those with weakened immune systems. This year’s flu vaccine is designed to protect individuals from the regular seasonal strain of influenza, the H1N1 virus and another strain of the flu.
Now you might be wondering, should I get a flu shot? Where can I get one and how can I stay healthy? Well, I am about to answer all of these questions. This year, the CDC recommends that everyone 6 months or older receive the flu vaccine. Flu vaccines are available on campus and at all of your local drug stores for a small fee. Even if you get a flu vaccine, remember the following tips will help you to stay healthy and ward off the flu:
1. Wash your hands frequently or carry hand sanitizer.
2. Eat a healthy diet and drink lots of fluids
3. Stay home if you are sick to prevent spreading germs.
For more information, check out www.cdc.gov.
Until next time, stay well!

A Guide to Getting a Well Rounded Education in Gainesville

Students who come to UF often have two things on their minds: partying and football. Although these are important parts of college life, they are not things that are part of a well rounded education. Obviously, a good education consists of a diverse academic curriculum. But this is still only a small component. Gainesville, Florida is rich in cultural activities which provide a lot of great learning opportunities outside the classroom. Read on to find out more.
1. The Phillips Center for the Performing Arts- offers a nice variety of different types of shows Latin American music, orchestras and dance shows. Students can get involved by checking them out on Face book or Twitter. There is also the opportunity for internships and a $40 yearly membership fee that includes an inside look at the theater and upcoming events.
2. The Hippodrome Theatre- features both on and off Broadway plays. They also have foreign films and opportunities for students to get involved. There are summer internships and acting workshops for teens.
3. Free Fridays Concert Series- every year from May-October there is a free concert series in the Bo Diddley Community Plaza. This takes place every Friday night. So grab a chair and prepare to hear some great music.
4. 10th Annual Regional Juried Exhibition- The Thomas Center is the location for this particular exhibit. It runs through September 17 and features 43 works of art presented in different media.
5. Florida Museum of Natural History- this offers lots of opportunities for learning and growth. They have a CSI insect’s exhibit and an upcoming one about butterflies. You can visit their website at http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/ to find out more about the exhibits and membership.
More information on these places can be found at the following web sites:
http://www.cityofgainesville.org
http://performingarts.ufl.edu/
http://www.thehipp.org/
Now that you have a taste of some of the cultural and other events available outside of UF, your homework assignment will be check one out and come back with feedback. Until next time, have fun exploring culture

Behind the Blog: Up Close and Personal Look at Me

Each week we spend time looking at three topics together. I have covered a wide range of subjects from politics to sexual health. But this week, I thought it would be interesting to devote a blog to the author. In, today’s blog you will learn all about me. I think you might find it to be a cool story. Read on and find out more about my life journey.
I was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. I always had an interest in medicine and for years dreamed about being a doctor. But that dream was put on hold because I had trouble passing organic chemistry. I let this subject stand in my way of pursuing a true passion. Instead, I decided to focus my efforts on graduating from college really early at 18. I went on to get a Master’s degree in Political Science. This was not something that I was passionate but I viewed it as an alternative to medicine.
After getting an MA at 19, I decided to get some life experience. The classroom did not provide me with any real life skills so I did some volunteer work at a radio station and wrote some health articles for a local community college paper. But I was still unfulfilled and decided to work on getting into a doctoral program in political science. I applied for several schools and ended up in the Sunshine state. I was accepted into both the doctoral program in Political Science and a special medical journalism degree program at UF.
I started out in both programs and realized that was too much work. So I spent a year in Political Science only to switch to journalism. I also did an internship in radio where I met my future husband, James.
Fast forward, five years later I am now happily married and the mother of a one week old baby, Tiffany. Nothing that I learned in the classroom could ever prepare me for the challenges of being a mother. It’s been an amazing journey that has only just begun.
Well, thanks for letting me share my story. I would love to hear about you. Take a few minutes to tell me an interesting personal story. See you next time in blog land.

Healthy Foods for Your Tailgate

Gator football season is here. That means lots of orange and blue gear, Saturday football games and lots of tailgating with family and friends. When you think of tailgating food, you might imagine greasy hamburgers, chips with lots of cheese and big juicy steaks. But Gator tailgating does not have to ruin your diet. There are lots of healthy choices that can be a big hit with your guests. So read on to find out more about planning your next healthy tailgate party!
1.Buy Baked chips- Avoid traditional greasy chips and stick to baked varieties. Instead of cheese dip, purchase some salsa. Its made of tomatoes and provides you with lots of antioxidants and lycopene! Dig in!
2.Chilli made with ground turkey- Chili is another favorite tailgating food. It’s mostly made with ground beef. If you want to cut the fat in half substitute with lean turkey and use lots more beans.
3. Use light beer instead of regular- Light beer is just as good as regular beer and it will save you 30 to 50 calories a can!
4. Fruit kabob- Make dessert fun. Try cutting up some easy to manage fruit like pineapple, melon and apples. Let the guests put together their kabobs. Yogurt makes a great dip!
5. Replace red meat with chicken- This will help you cut your fat and calories in half! Chicken is also a great source of lean protein. Feel free to make chicken sandwiches.
6. Try turkey bratwursts. Traditional pork varieties can have up to 43 grams of fat!
For more information check out
http://www.healthcastle.com
http://www.dietreviews.com
Until next time, Happy Tailgating!

Managing Student Debt

According to NellieMae.org, the average college student has $2,700 worth of credit card debit. They also have about $19,000 in student loans. Students can take certain steps to prevent and manage. Before you sign up for that card just to get a free magazine subscription or take out a second student loan, read on for some helpful hints.
Tip 1- Plan Ahead- Debt of any kind can be prevented by planning ahead. In order to avoid taking out too many student loans, take some advanced placement courses while still in high school. This can help you to get ahead in college and avoid spending too much money.
Tip 2- Attend a community college- Four year universities tend to be more pricey You can take your basic courses at the local community college and then have them transferred over to the four year school.
Tip 3- Live within your means- Do not buy extravagant items for yourself that you are not able to pay for on the spot. Buying one expensive item can create a bad debt cycle which is hard to break. Instead, visit Wal-Mart and second hand stores for good quality items at a lower price.
Tip 4- Check out work study programs- Many schools allow you to get an on campus job which will pay you a small salary and give you money for tuition as well.
Tip 5- Look for scholarships and grants- There are many opportunities to get free money which does not need to be paid back. Start with the school financial office. They can point you in the right direction.
Tip 6- Only use your credit card for emergencies- If you really need to have a credit card, then only use it for an emergency situations.. This will prevent you from racking up a huge balance and getting stuff that you don’t need.
Until next time, try to stay as debt free as possible! Information for blog was adapted from
http://www.nextstudent.com
http://www.nelliemae.org

The Top Ten Sex Myths for College Students

College life is back in full swing in Gainesville. This means lots of great classes, tons of homework and long informative lectures. But lets be realistic. College life also means lots of drinking, late night parties and sex. Many female students become sexually active while they are away at college. This blog will help debunk some of the myths that college students may have about sex. Make sure you read on before you go out and party.
Myth 1- You can’t get pregnant during your period- There is always a chance that you can get pregnant if you have unprotected sex. Your period is not a form of birth control. In fact, the most risky time to have sex is at the end of monthly cycle after the flow has decreased. So be safe even during that time of the month!
Myth 2- Condoms are 100% effective- This is false. There is always a chance that you can become pregnant regardless of the form of birth control that you use. Condoms are very effective against STD’s but its important to have a backup method of birth control just because they can break.
Myth 3- You can’t get pregnant if a man pulls out before ejaculation- This is false. Some men have sperm in their precum. It only takes one sperm to fertilize an egg.
Myth 4- You can get an STD from a toilet seat- This is not true. Sexually transmitted diseases cannot live outside the human body for long periods of time. They are also not present in urine. So if you sat on a not so clean toilet seat, don’t worry.
Myth 5- You can’t get pregnant the first time you have sex- Another myth. It does not matter if its your first or 50th time. According to health.com, 20% of people get pregnant within a month of sex.
Myth 6- You can’t get pregnant if you douche after sex- False. Douching cannot do anything to prevent sperm from entering the cervix after a man ejaculates.
Myth 7- You can’t get pregnant if you shower, bathe or urinate after sex- This is not true. None of these methods can do anything about the sperm that is on its way to fertilize an egg.
Myth 8-Birth control pills are effective immediately- False. Any hormonal method takes time before it can become effective so its important to have a backup plan
Myth 9- Pregnancy cannot occur if a woman does not have an orgasm- False. Pregnancy has nothing to do with whether or not a woman has an orgasm.
Myth 10- There is nothing you can do if the condom breaks- False- Emergency contraception such as Plan B can help prevent pregnancy if taken within 48 hours of having sex.
I hope that I have debunked some of the sex myths for you. The information for this blog was adapted from the following websites:
http://www.WebMD.com
http://www.health.com
http://www.thesite.org
So if you are ready to have sex, take precautions or in nine months you and your partner will be parents.

Frozen Treats 101

Welcome to Frozen Treats 101! This will be the easiest class that you take in college because there are no tests. Just a little bit of reading about lots of great frozen treats! Lets get started! Before you hit the books, be sure to learn all of the frozen treats available in Gainesville!
1. Dlites- Are you craving ice-cream but don’t want all of the extra calories. Then you need to head over to Dlites. They have two locations and offer delicious low fat soft serve ice-cream. Its only 50 calories per 4 oz serving. With over 100 flavors like peanut butter cake batter and white chocolate macadamia nut, there is something to satisfy every taste bud!
2. TCBY- If you are craving low fat frozen yogurt, then you might want to check out TCBY. They have hand scooped or soft serve yogurt. There are also a variety of options such as shakes, parfaits and even cakes! Dig in!
3. Mochi- Do you like to serve yourself? Are you looking for frozen yogurt loaded with pro biotics? Then Mochi might be the place for you. The newest frozen yogurt craze offers self-serve and about 20 different rotating flavors. They also have lots of great toppings ranging from fruit to fruity pebbles. Be sure to check them out!
4. Red Mango- The newest self serve frozen yogurt place in Gainesville is Red Mango. Red Mango also offers fresh probiotic smoothies and antioxidant teas! There is something to satisfy every appetite and craving!
5. Freshens- They are located right in the Reitz Union! Despite being super convenient, Freshens offers high protein smoothies and frozen yogurt with a wide variety of toppings!
6. Ben and Jerry’s- Ben and Jerry’s offer some great low fat frozen yogurt options like chocolate fudge brownie. They also have low fat and low calorie smoothies as well. There are a lot of places to sit outside so be sure to bring a friend!
7. Karma Cream- Are you craving organic ice cream? Then you might want to check out karma cream. Karma cream is located on University Ave and open 24/7. They also feature organic coffee as well!
Congratulations! You have completed frozen treats 101! Your homework assignment is to pick a place and get a treat ASAP! Enjoy!

Back to School Health Tips for College Students

With the fall semester just around the corner, thousands of students are getting ready to go back to school. Most of them have their shopping for supplies and other essentials. However, did you know there is a back to school health check list? Your health is your number one priority and it’s important that you check to make sure you have all of the bases covered. This is especially important if you are living in a dorm or away from home the first time. Read on and find out more!
1. Get a checkup- Let’s face it. Most people do not enjoy going to visit the doctor. But it’s important to make sure that you are healthy before you start school. This will also give you the opportunity to make sure that all of your vaccinations are up to date. One important vaccine that college students do not think about is the one for meningitis. The risk of getting meningitis is greater in college dorms. Be sure to ask the doctor to refill any prescriptions that you might need. You also need to make sure that you have a reliable method of birth control and enough of that to get you through the first semester.
2. Make a list- Now that your health history is up to date; be sure you write down any medications that you are taking. You also need to do research about where you will get your medical care while you are away at school. Visit the college’s health clinic before you get sick just to familiarize yourself.
3. Wash your hands frequently- You don’t have to be afraid of germs but it’s important to wash your hands a lot. This will help you to prevent the spread of germs. It can also be a good idea to keep some wet wipes or hand sanitizer in your car or backpack. These are great for times that you do not have access to soap and water.
4. Eat a balanced diet- If you eat poorly or do not consume enough food, then you run the risk of weakening your immune system. Be sure to eat a healthy diet so you can stay in good shape and avoid getting sick.
Most of the information in this blog comes from st.louischildrens.org. You can visit their web site for more information. Stay healthy!

Getting in Shape Using Water

What do the majority of apartment complexes in Gainesville have in common? In case you have not guessed, they have a swimming pool. When you think of a swimming pool, you might think of lounging by the pool with a few friends or taking a cool dip in the water. But did you know that a swimming pool is a great place to exercise and get in shape. Read onto find out more about the benefits of swimming.
Swimming can help you by keeping your heart and lungs in good shape. It does this by building up your endurance and cardio-vascular fitness. This can be a great way to start or end another type of non water workout. For example, if you swim before running it can help to get your heart rate up. But if you swim after you run, then it will help you to cool down. This can also help your muscles to relax.
Calorie burning is another benefit of swimming. Swimming can burn 3 calories a mile per pound of body weight. About.com gives a good example to help us understand this concept. If a person weighs 150 lbs, and it take 30 minutes to swim one mile, then you will burn 900 calories per hour. But this also varies with the type of swimming that a person engages in like a breast stroke or back stroke. For estimates on this type of information or to customize your fitness program to your weight, visit www.dietandfitnesstoday.com.
Swimming also can be a fun social activity. You can encourage your friends to go swimming with you so they can also enjoy the same health benefits. This will enable you to get together with them while sharing a common activity and get in shape at the same time.
Unfortunately, swimming is not the best exercise for significant weight loss. According to the on-line Merck Manual, swimming has a cooling effect so you may burn a lot of calories while in the pool but this calorie burning process stops as soon as you get out of the water. This is why land exercises such as walking or running are better for a large amount of weight loss.
Are you ready to jump in the water? Well, check out about.com for more information on swimming! Don’t forget to bring a towel so you can dry off!