The holidays are a great time of year to add a festive punch bowl or cocktails to your celebration! Seasonal recipes highlights include:
·Festive ingredients like cinnamon, peppermint and cranberry
·Hot recipes for dessert or fireside sipping
·Add color to the table or bar with signature red and green hues
·Seasonal garnishes like cinnamon sticks and fresh berries
·Original holiday punch recipe ideal for serving large groups
Here are a few recipes for drinks to give your holidays a little flair.
Midori Merry Berry Bowl (Created by Victoria D’Amato Moran)
1 oz Midori Melon Liqueur
1/2 oz Flor de Cana Rum Platino
½ oz Pear Liqueur
1 oz Pear Juice
1 oz White Cranberry
*This recipe makes 1 serving
To make a punch Bowl: multiply this recipe by 8. Add the liquids, then add cranberries, pear slices, pierced with cloves, 2 cinnamon sticks and winter melon balls. May also add Champagne, Prosecco or Sparkling water.
Midori Merry Berry Bowl
Midori Peppermint Kiss (Created by Victoria D’Amato Moran)
1 oz Midori Melon Liqueur
1 oz Skyy Vodka
3 oz Pineapple juice
¼ oz fresh lemon juice
¼ oz Peppermint Schnapps
6 Basil Leaves, gently torn in half, ( to release oils)
In a chilled shaker glass, add all the above ingredients. Add ice, shake for 15 seconds, strain into a Collins glass. Garnish with a basil leaf and one raspberry sitting in front of basil in glass.
Peppermint Kiss
Tully-Tini (Created by Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey)
1.5 oz of Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey
.5 oz of Sour Apple
3 oz of Cranberry
Shaken and served in a martini glass
Tully-tini
Tullamore Toddy (hot) (Created by Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey)
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup water
3 pieces Cardamon
2 pieces Anise
1 tablespoon Allspice
1 very small Vanilla Stick (or half a large one)
Tullamore Toddy
Heat brown sugar and water to a simmer, add spices. When adding vanilla pod, cut down the middle and scrape out the insides into the pot. When this “Toddy Mix” is done, mix 1 ½ oz of it with 1 ½ oz of Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey. Garnish with a lemon peel, possibly flamed or cinnamon stick.
extraordinary work produced by this company.The production of her play, Mauritius,about two half-sisters vying for the rights to a recently inherited and extremely valuable stamp collection, premiered not only to sold out houses last season, but was so successful that the run was extended.People were literally staying in the lobby afterwards discussing this enthralling play.To say that Rebeck has lots of fans in Miami is putting it lightly – they adore this woman!It’s the incompatible relationship between the sisters in Mauritius who inadvertently meet up with a couple of con artists ensnaring them in their own web of deception, along with a fascinating ending, that has caused all the fuss.It’s a story that keeps you thinking and on your toes the entire time.
If you haven’t seen a production of Mauritius yet – make sure that you see it somewhere, anywhere … as it’s as perfect as a play can get, written by an absolute genius.A kind woman who would blush at being called a genius, but there’s no doubt about it – she’s an American gem!Rebeck’s plays have been produced all over the world.Her play, Omnium Gatherum, co-written with Alexandra Gersten-Vassilaros, was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in 2003.The Understudy recently opened in New York at the Roundabout Theater. It stars JustinKirk (Uncle Andy, Weeds), Mark-Paul Gosselar, (Zack Morris, Saved by the Bell) and Julie White (Mitzi Huntley, Six Feet Under).
Michaela Cronan in Mauritius
A native of Cincinnati, OH, and a graduate of Catholic University, she has an MFA in Playwriting and a PhD. in Victorian Melodrama, both from Brandeis University and lives in Brooklyn with her husband Jess Lynn and two children, Cooper and Cleo.She has written for numerous television shows, such as: L.A. Law and Third Watch and has been a writer/producer for shows such as Law and Order: Criminal Intent and NYPD Blue.For more information on all of her work and numerous awards, go to:http://www.theresarebeck.com/.
Rebeck has been kind enough to answer a few questions about her work:
MES. Where did you come up with the idea for writing Mauritius?
TR. I had been interested in writing a play about a valuable object for several years—I actually wrote a few pages about a valuable bottle of wine at one point–and then I found some information about those stamps when I was just poking around some websites. I became really fascinated by them and continued to do some research. I loved the fact that those stamps were so small and beautiful and historic and yet so frail. It seemed quite mysterious to me. The play was first produced up in Boston, at the Huntington Theater, directed by the wonderful Rebecca Taichman. When it was a success there, I was invited by Manhattan Theater Club to bring it to their Broadway stage. After that it went into publication, with Samuel French, who handles the booking of further productions. I don’t know specifically how it came to Miami; {but} I’m glad to hear it was successful for them.
MES.Mauritius was your Broadway debut – how did your friends and family in your hometown react?
TR. My friends in Cincinnati were excited and a most of my family came to see it. They live very different lives. Sometimes I think they don’t really know what to make of me.
MES. Can you tell me if you have a specific writing schedule?
TR. Most people are impressed by the fact that I’m “prolific” but honestly I am not terribly interested in a lot of other things. So my “schedule” is that I write a lot.
MES. Do you have a particular writing style?
TR. Certainly. My work tends to fall in the area of heightened realism, I think. I write stories, with characters, which reveal themselves through action and dialogue. I believe in musical language and I’m not terribly interested in deconstructing the universe, at least not at this time.
MES. When did you first become interested in writing plays?
TR. I started writing plays in high school and college but there was no real container for it–there were no classes, where I was from; no one saying ‘let’s see what you have this week.’ it wasn’t until I got to graduate school that I started to get serious about it.
MES. Is it true that you got your first experience as a produced playwright while a graduate student at Brandeis University? If so, what was this experience like for you?
TR. Yes, I had plays done at Brandeis and also a couple of plays were done in Boston, at a little theater called Playwrights Platform. It really was a playwrights’ collective–we all chipped in and rented a space and produced ourselves, with actors who were friends. It was fantastic, frankly.
MES. Do you have any role models?
TR. I really admire Edward Albee for the way he survived a long period when he was not welcome in New York. I think he is edgy and interesting.I like David Ives for the way he lives a complicated life as a writer and thinker. Marsha Norman and John Weidman are wonderful theater artists who have provided enormous psychological support to other artists, including me.On the other side of the question allow me to say there are plenty of people who have been discouraging to me in ways that were painful. I think all but a few artists must have those people in their lives.
MES. Do you have any specific playwrights – those considered living legends, which you admire?
TR. I’m a little perplexed by the ‘living legend’ tag. Certainly I think Albee has earned it and Caryl Churchill as well.I think the jury is still out on the rest of us.
MES. Congratulations on your position on the Board of the Dramatists Guild, Inc. as Treasurer. When did you first become involved with this organization?
TR. I became a member of the Dramatists Guild when I was in graduate school, twenty years ago. It is a superb organization and I think it does a tremendous job helping playwrights at all levels. I urge everyone who is interested in writing for the theater to join.
MES. Do you have any advice for young people who are just beginning to follow their dreams of becoming a playwright?
TR. Mostly I tell young writers that they should learn the basics–things like how to write character, how to achieve forward motion through action, listen for the music in your language, try to keep your stakes high. Also, I think everybody should learn how to FINISH.So many writers get caught up in process and can’t finish a draft. You really have to learn how to get through a draft and rewrite it. So my advice is technical, yes: learn how to write. There are a lot of forces at work in the corporate side of things now, which muddy the waters. A playwright is a singular voice – and necessary as such.
MES. When was the first time someone asked you for an autograph and how did it make you feel?
TR. I always find it a bit overwhelming to be asked for my autograph. I can’t imagine why anyone finds me interesting enough to want it. I particularly like those people who come up to me after plays and ask me to sign their programs. There are so many people who are really passionate about the theater and collecting memorabilia. I love those people.
MES.Do you know that you’re on Wikipedia? Have you had a chance to look at it and make sure that the information is accurate?
TR. I did finally go on my Wikipedia page and straightened it out. It had a lot of strange stuff on it, and I don’t know who wrote the first version of my page. But it’s good now.
MES. The idea that playwriting is a dying art seems very sad to me – how do you respond to such an assertion?
TR. Well, I don’t think it’s dying but I do think that there are trends in the American theater right now that really aren’t helping very much. A lot of producers are running around saying things like “audiences don’t want new plays!” which I think is completely untrue. I think frankly audiences are pretty tired of revivals. And I think that they are hungering for a kind of contemporary American theater that speaks to their lives. So I think that producers need to start getting excited about new plays, and I also think that in general we all need to be working HARD to bring ticket prices down. I think that that is keeping people away. But my experience is when you lower ticket prices and do new plays, people show up in droves, and are interested in what theater offers them, which is so much richer and more immediate and frankly beautiful than most film and television.
MES. You’ve worked with a great deal of celebrities, do any of these actors specifically ask you to write roles for them to portray?
TR. Let’s see. Obviously I worked a lot with Jimmy Smits and Dennis Franz when I was writing for NYPD Blue. I also did a movie a long time ago with Kate Hudson and James Marsden, although I am not sure they’d even remember me. In the theater I’ve worked with Kevin Bacon and Tony Goldwyn and Kate Burton. I did a couple of readings with Michael C. Hall, who plays Dexter on television, but we never made it to a full production. I did The Scene in New York with Tony Shaloub, Patricia Heaton, Anna Camp and Christopher Evan Welch. The person I really write for mostly is Julie White, who was in Grace Under Fire, Six Feet Under and currently she’s in the Transformer movies.
"The Scene" by Theresa Rebeck with Tony Shalhoub and Patricia Heaton
MES.Law & Order Criminal Intent is one of my favorite TV shows – can you explain your journey to becoming involved with this show?
TR. I wrote for Law and Order so long ago! I haven’t written much television since. Mostly I help out with pilots.I might do it again someday, but right now my real interest is in theater and fiction.
MES. You co-wrote the play Omnium Gatherum with Gersten-Vassilaros, which was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in 2003 – congratulations, first of all. But I’m curious, how did this project come about and why did you decide to write the play with a collaborator? Can you describe how you worked together on this play – for example, did you have a set writing schedule? Where were you during the events of 9/11?
TR. I was at home, in Brooklyn, when the Towers were hit. I live very close to Flatbush Ave. We’re actually right across the river from Wall Street, about a mile further in. So we were out on the street, watching, when the towers came down. Shortly after that, the first people who had made it across the bridges marched straight up Flatbush. They were covered in ashes, and they were silent. It was really just devastating.
Those of us who were here in New York were obviously very overwhelmed by those events. I went to a meeting of playwrights shortly after the terrorist attack happened, and many people felt silenced by the event–they admitted that they didn’t know how to write, or what to write about, in a world that seemed so radically and tragically different, suddenly. I did not feel that way. But most of us at that time also didn’t want to be alone. It made sense to share the event of writing at that time. It really helped both Alex and I understand at least some of what had happened to us in this city. Basically we would come together, usually at Alex’s house and write and talk and share things we had been reading, and act out scenes with each other, and write them down. I was usually the one at the typewriter because I type faster than she does. Then we’d go off and work on our own, then come back together and try to fold the work into a coherent whole.
MES. Can you tell me about your first novel, Three Girls and Their Brother and why did you envision this story as a novel and not as a play or a movie?
TR. I’ve always loved and respected fiction–it was one of my life’s dreams, to write a novel. I finally had an idea that I thought would work well as fiction, and I decided to stop being a chicken about it, and just write it. Then it took me another year to find an agent and get it published. It is a very different world, fiction, as you might imagine. My second novel is coming out in May, and that was both more difficult and less difficult.
MES. What’s next?
TR.My second novel, Twelve Rooms With A View, comes out in England in November. Then it’s coming out here in the spring.
Theresa Rebeck, thank you very much for your time.
Ricky J. Martinez, Artistic Director and Eileen Suarez, Managing Director, of New Theatre are always on the search for new plays.Check out its website, study it, and if you feel you have a new play that would match their production history, by all means submit it.The website address is: www.new-theatre.org; play submission information is listed at the same web address.
Upcoming New Theatre productions include: In Development by David Caudle, October 8 – November 8, 2009; 26 Miles by Quiara Alegría Hudes, November 19 – December 20, 2009; The Hour of the Tiger by Sandra Riley, January 14 – February 14, 2010; Equus by Peter Shaffer, February 25 – March 28, 2010, and A New Play,TBA, April 8 – May 9, 2010.For tickets and more information, call the box office at (305) 443-5909.
A native of Toledo, OH and a graduate of Kent State, Marla E. Schwartz has been a professional journalist since her teenage years and is a Senior Writer for Miami Living Magazine, and a freelance writer for CRAVINGS South Florida in Aventura, as well as Around Wellington Magazine and Lighthouse Point Magazine.An avid photographer, her images have appeared in numerous Ohio publications, as well as in Miami Living, the Miami Herald, the Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel and the Palm Beach Post.She has had numerous plays published and produced around the country.Her short play, America’s Working?was originally read at First Stage in Los Angeles and in the same city produced at the Lone Star Ensemble.It was then produced at Lynn University in Boca Raton, FL and then taken to an Off-Broadway playhouse by its producers Adam and Carrie Simpson.Her piece, The Lunch Time Café, was a finalist at the Actor’s Theater in Louisville, Kentucky.Feel free to contact her at: [email protected].
Motivation and Productivity: A Winning Combination
By Claudine Motto
Claudine Motto, Organization Expert
You need the right amount of motivation and productivity to accomplish your goals. Motivation inspires you and makes work more enjoyable, and a focus on productivity forces you to step out from the everyday busyness once in a while to make sure you’re still moving toward your goals.
Here are 5 things that if you do on a consistent basis, will help you stay motivated, productive, and in tune with the bigger picture.
1.) Know yourself: “Money” is usually the first thing that comes to mind as a motivator for accomplishing goals. Yet, a study conducted by Kenneth Kovach of George Mason University revealed that interesting work and appreciation of work rank higher than money on a scale of external motivators.
Knowing what motivates you, then, can make what you use to inspire you really “speak” to you. For example, if you crave recognition, thinking about people asking for your autograph might be more motivating for you than thinking only about the money you’ll make.
Action step: whenever you set a new goal, make a list of other factors besides money that will make the goal uniquely “you” and give you the drive to pull through and accomplish it.
2.) Appreciate yourself: When you work from home, you have no boss to say “thank you” and recognize you for a job well done – so you must do this for yourself. The challenge with this is that we’re often our own worst critic and are quick to point out what we didn’t get done or didn’t accomplish.
Action step: right now, and every day from now on, write down at least one thing you did right today – perhaps you made a difficult decision, got started on a project you have been putting off, or stuck to your self-imposed limits for hanging out on Facebook during the workday.
If you tend to be hard on yourself, set aside a notebook just for keeping track of these every day accomplishments that are so easy to ignore.
3.) Keep turning yourself on – motivation doesn’t just “happen” and it doesn’t just stick around by itself – you need something to aim for, and you need to remember why your goals matter to you – otherwise projects, deadlines, and busyness will cause you to lose direction.
Action step: revisit your priorities daily, weekly, and monthly, so that you keep on track about where to exert your efforts (and why you want to in the first place). If a priority is particularly challenging, or you’ve been avoiding it, write it in a place where you’ll be reminded of it every day – having it loom over your desk might be enough of a motivator to just get it done.
4.)Schedule a punch out time – if you often think to yourself “I’ve got all day to finish that project” or “I can get that done tonight” you’ve probably gotten too used to having no end to your workday. This is especially true if you work from home – the fluidity is good, but it can also make it too easy to slack during the day and then difficult to pull away at night – which makes it harder to find time to recharge.
Action step: come up with an ideal of what you would like your work hours to be – if you work from home, perhaps you can split your day in two shifts to accommodate your personal preferences and or/home responsibilities. Strive to stick to that ideal every day and schedule some fun, relaxing, or non-work related activities during the off hours.
5.) Attitude is everything – how you deal with problems when they come up has an effect on your motivation, and your productivity. Negativity, fear, and insecurity can slow you down, sap your energy, and increase your stress level, because they force you to stay focused on problems. Thinking positive and feeling confident, on the other hand, can lead to an attitude of “I can,” which keeps you focused on finding solutions to challenges.
Action step:think of a problem that has been bothering you, and come up with at least one positive thing that can come from it – be open to the answers that come to you, even if you resist them. If you can’t come up with any on your own, ask someone for help – they may be able to see something you can’t. Then, from that more positive outlook, brainstorm some possible solutions to it, or things you can do to better deal with the situation.
Give yourself permission to accept that motivation takes effort and persistence. It’s easier to drown in the busyness, to look down, rather than up. So if you’re constantly working on keeping yourself motivated, you already have plenty to be proud of.
2009 Claudine Motto, All Rights Reserved.
Productivity Coach and Professional Organizer Claudine Motto helps home office geniuses, entrepreneurs, and independent professionals get organized and in control of their workload so they can reach their goals with less struggle and less stress. She offers one-on-one coaching and group training programs – please visit http://www.vistalnorte.com or call 561-641-9500 for more information, to sign up for her monthly newsletter, or to schedule a complimentary 20-minute consultation.
The holidays are an excellent time to reduce our impact on the environment, start new family traditions, and at the same time save money.
Here are five tips to help you capture the spirit of the holidays by making your celebrations Eco-friendly.An Eco-friendly holiday season will enrich your family’s holiday traditions because you’ll be giving back to the earth and instilling the values of sustainable living to your families.
1) Holiday Cards
Do you know that 2.6 billion holiday cards are sold each season?This is enough cards to fill a football field 10 stories high and requires the destruction of 300,000 trees.Consider sending your holiday cards through email.Not traditional enough for you? Then send cards printed on recycled paper, or consider making them.Be creative: you can use heavy paper that you have saved for recycling and glue children’s artwork or old calendar pictures to it.
2) Gift Wrapping
According to the Recyclers Handbook, the U.S. creates over 4 million tons of annual trash from gift wrap alone.If we all wrapped three of our gifts that we are giving this holiday season in re-used paper or fabric gift bags, it would save enough paper to fill 45,000 hockey rinks.This year, for your gift wrapping, try using Eco-friendly wrapping paper, brown bags from the grocery store with pretty ribbon, re-use gift wrapping, or other alternatives to conventional gift wrapping.
3) Lighting
Electricity drains natural resources.To minimize the effect use LED (light emitting diodes) lights.LED is 90% more efficient than traditional lighting, lowers the risk of fire, and last longer.Also consider reducing the size of your outdoor lighting display.A smaller presentation of lights is still attractive and shows the community that you are doing your part to living a green holiday season!
4) Decorating
Use simple supplies and your imagination to make great Eco-friendly Holiday decorations.Don’t know where to start? Colored construction paper can be cut or folded into simple holiday decorations or ornaments.When you’re done, the paper can be recycled.Also, try baker’s clay (made from common kitchen ingredients), and shape and mold it into holiday figures.Color with non-toxic paints or food coloring.Seasonal fruit can be used as decorations, is biodegradable, or can be eaten afterward.Other items that can be used are pine cones, horse chestnuts, and leaves.These all make great decorations and add a natural touch.
5) Green Gifts
The idea here is to think outside the box.Give an experience rather than a material item, such as a concert, sport’s lesson, dinner, a show, etc.When giving a gift-wrapped item consider giving green-friendly items: a reusable lunch bag, canvas grocery bag, reusable travel coffee mug, reusable razors, rechargeable batteries, or a tin full of goodies.These examples should be enough to get your thought process flowing.The idea is to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle, not only through the holiday season, but year around!
Christine Smith is a Principal, as well as the Director of Marketing for Fine Lions, Inc. Fine Lions specializes in a proprietary Eco-friendly wood graining process that is applied to non wood products to give them the appearance of natural wood. This earth conscious application may be done on exterior and interior doors, garage doors, kitchen and bath cabinets, as well as other surfaces.To learn more, visithttp://www.finelions.com.
The Around Wellington Guide to Surviving the Holidays in your Skinniest Jeans
By Cheryl Alker
It happens every year about this time, the days get shorter, the air gets nippier (O.K. it drops from 90 to 79), the shops get busier – and our jeans get tighter.
We maintain our workouts and all our healthy eating habits for ten months and then BAM!After October 31st it’s a free-for-all. It starts with the Halloween candy to the pumpkin pie and cream, the eggnog and all those endless rounds of buffets and the alcohol that often goes hand in hand with such holiday gatherings. No wonder come New Years, we will all be heading desperately back to the gyms and slimming clubs only to start the whole cycle again ready for the next holiday Season.
Well, how about this year you don’t just enjoy the season. Wouldn’t you like to be able to wear the same size clothes comfortably on January 1st that you were wearing before that first Halloween party that kicked off the eight weeks of festivities?
All it takes is a little planning, a little willpower and the Around Wellington “Guide to Surviving the Holidays in your Skinniest Jeans.”
EAT BEFORE YOU LEAVE – Sounds crazy I know, but an empty stomach is an invitation to binge. If you have taken the edge off your hunger, you will be less likely to indulge in the bread basket, dip or tortilla chips before the entrée has even arrived.
DON’T DRINK YOUR CALORIES – Champagne, wine, cocktails, spiked eggnog are incredibly high in calories and light on nutrients. So you get all of the bad stuff and none of the good. The more you drink, the more you eat; it’s a vicious circle. So make every other drink a cool glass of calorie-free water or drink spritzers half wine, half soda water.
FILL UP ON HEALTHY FARE FIRST – If you are off to a party and you know there is going to be a buffet, attack the fresh fruits and vegetable platters first.Fruit and vegetables are abundant in fiber, which will make you feel full faster.
ENJOY SMALLER PORTIONS – When you are faced with all the good (meaning bad) things, it is so difficult not to be tempted.So instead of missing out on all those wonderful things you dream of having all year, have them, but only have a very small portion of each.This way you won’t feel deprived, and your waistline will thank you for it.
BEWARE GRAVY, DIPS AND SAUCES– Oh, they look so harmless, but one tablespoon of gravy made from turkey drippings can contain up to seventy calories.That can also be said for those creamy dips, salad dressings and cheesy sauces.One dip and your healthy carrot stick turns into a calorific nightmare.Try and stick to salsas made with fresh herbs and tomatoes to dip your chip.
DON’T SET YOURSELF UP FOR FAILURE – With all the extra demands you’ll be facing, keeping to your normal workout schedule will be difficult.It’s easy to get frustrated when your expectations are not in line with reality. When it just isn’t possible to fit in your regular routines it can lead to the tendency to not bother at all.Therefore, make a schedule that you can achieve, this way, you won’t beat yourself up when parties and shopping have to take priority. Make your workouts time-efficient with super sets, circuit training and integrated total body exercises.A maintenance program will keep you in good shape until you have more time on your hands.
Ok, you are now ready to party.So instead of leaving your skinniest jeans in the closet this holiday season, why don’t the two of you go out and enjoy the festivities together?
Happy Holidays!
Cheryl Alker specializes in flexibility training, facial exercises and postural alignment. Her 26-year career began as a group fitness and personal trainer. She has lectured and directed fitness training programs in both Europe and the USA and was an advisor for a British governmental health promotion program. Alker and her company Stretch Results International continues to work with a select clientele from a base in Palm Beach County, certifying health professionals in her results-based stretching program, educating consumers through public speaking and offering consultation to clients who wish to lose their muscular pain and gain flexibility to achieve full and active lifestyles. Her program has been accredited with The National Association of Sports Medicine, The American Council of Exercise, The National Strength and Conditioning Association and The Florida Physical Therapy Association. For more information about professional continuing education and consultation options, please call Cheryl at (561) 889 3738 or visit www.stretchresults.com.
So what if your children have already been to Magic Kingdom and you’re ready to try some of the other Disney attractions? When I mentioned to some other parents that we were thinking of going to Disney, but not Magic Kingdom this time, they looked concerned. Skeptical. Loyalty to Magic Kingdom runs deep, especially here in Florida. But never fear – Disney does an excellent job of providing fun for young children at their other parks too.
In mid-October, we ventured to Epcot Center with our four-year-old girl and two-year-old boy and a few friends. We visited during the Food & Wine Festival, so we were possibly mixing with a more “grown-up” crowd than usual. A few rides were safe bets and a lot of fun for young children, as well as for squeamish people of any age. We enjoyed the “Living with the Land” boat ride, where you get to see different environments and the latest technology in agriculture. It’s fun to ride through greenhouses and see big pumpkins, cucumbers, tomatoes and other veggies growing.
I was also impressed with the updated “Spaceship Earth” ride, which
A postcard from Spaceship Earth
explores the world of communication. If you might remember, this is the ride inside the big ball that is central to Epcot. Well, they’ve updated it to include the latest advancements in computers. You answer a few questions about your “ideal future” and end up getting your photo taken. Disney then emails you a cute postcard from your trip, as well as a Jetsons-style video about your future. Both are fun, electronic keepsakes of your trip to Epcot and it’s all free.
A few other good ones are “Journey into Imagination with Figment” starring John Cleese, “The Seas with Nemo & Friends” and the “Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros” in Epcot’s Mexico. All very entertaining for toddlers and older children too. I did notice that almost all of these boat rides begin in a dark tunnel and then lighten up quickly afterward. I think this is the same strategy as a school teacher, who turns off the lights for a few seconds to get everyone’s attention.
A Kidcot Funstop at Epcot
Epcot was a terrific experience, and then I had the good fortune of returning to Orlando with my son a couple of weeks later, visiting Animal Kingdom and downtown Disney. Before I go any further, I should tell you that Disney has a pamphlet, “For Kids 5 and Under! Maps & Highlights.” You can get it when you purchase your tickets at the entrance of any of the Disney Parks. Of course, I’m the type of vacationer who doesn’t tend to look at the pamphlets or maps until after the fact. So I’m finding some more gems within the Disney parks now, after my two visits. Oops!
As I entered Animal Kingdom, I felt fairly certain that my two-year-old son would be pleased, especially with “Dinoland U.S.A.” So that’s
DinoLand, USA at Animal Kingdom
where we headed first. It’s set up like a big carnival with games as well as rides. He loved the TriceraTop Spin ride, which is similar to the Dumbo ride at Disney. He also enjoyed “The Boneyard,” a play maze with lots of slides and opportunities for digging for bones in the sand. The backdrop is fossil remains of T. Rex, Triceratops and wooly mammoths. Kids seem to get lost in there, having a lot of fun and forgetting that there are entire other lands to explore inside of Animal Kingdom.
We caught a couple of great shows while in Animal Kingdom too. First we went to “Finding Nemo – the Musical.” This was a powerful theatrical performance, in which actors used hand-puppets. It took just a couple minutes to adapt to it, as you could see the actor handling the puppets. Soon enough you get wrapped up in the quest to “Find Nemo” and the excellent singing talent that Disney has found for this show.
Another fun show is the “Festival of the Lion King.” This show gets the audience involved from the beginning, dividing up the circle in the round into four groups: elephant, giraffe, warthog and lion. There’s a phenomenal part of the show where acrobats dressed as monkeys perform in the center, swinging from high bars and from each other’s grasp. This is a very loud, boisterous celebration of songs from the Lion King and, ironically, my son found this a good place to fall asleep and take his afternoon nap. I noticed that with all of the activity and walking that Disney requires, kids will nap whenever their bodies are ready to – no matter what’s going on around them.
Just for young children, there’s a spot called Camp Minnie-Mickey. It’s basically a place in the woods to get in line and get photos with Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy. We stumbled upon an outdoor singer, who was quite skillful at asking a few questions of parents and putting together a cute, humorous folk song devoted to your children.
The amazing "Tree of Life" at Animal Kingdom
Animal Kingdom is also, of course, a fun place to see wild animals, sometimes by foot and sometimes by safari ride. For example, in Animal Kingdom’s Asia, you can walk the Maharajah Jungle Trek, seeing giant fruit bats, birds, tapirs, Komodo dragons and tigers. In Africa, you can go on the Kilimanjaro Safari, riding through a savannah and seeing giraffes, gazelles, elephants, rhinos and lions.
My son and I had a nice “lazy day” at Downtown Disney the next day. There were three major attractions in his eyes: the Lego Land store, the T-Rex restaurant and the $2 little train ride. If I had been visiting with my daughter, I think we would have veered off into the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique inside the World of Disney store, (which would have been a much more expensive escapade by the way). I overheard parents who were dropping between $100 – $200 easily for the princess make-over, involving the hair, make-up, dress, jewelry and other accessories. Good thing I had my prince with me this time, instead of my princess!
I can’t say enough good things about the Lego store and play area. It’s very simple actually, but my son would have stayed there all day
Captivated by Lego cars at the Lego store, Downtown Disney
if I had allowed him to. There’s an outdoor area with little “sinks” filled with Lego pieces. Kids are encouraged to build race cars out of Legos; there are race tracks to see who has the fastest design. There’s also a little playground slide, which my son enjoyed too.
We went inside the store and filled up a tall cup with random Lego pieces (for $14.99). As a gal who never really played much with Legos, I failed to get all the right pieces to construct a car, even though I thought I was getting the right stuff. We didn’t discover that we were missing the axels and a few other pieces for making cars until we got back home. You should have seen the disappointed looks on my husband’s and my son’s faces. Just when despair was setting in, I noticed that I could go on the Lego website and write about my experience at the Lego store. I took the opportunity to take their survey, secretly hoping they would have excellent customer service and maybe even call me to follow up. My wish came true…they did have excellent customer service! A nice staff person called me the next day to thank me for my positive survey remarks and asked if there was anything that could have been better. He immediately offered to send me a cup of extra parts for making race cars. We received our extra parts within three days and were made whole again!
Here’s an extra tip! A couple of friends were kind enough to lend us Disney resort cups before we left on our trip and stayed at Disney’s Coronado Springs. As it turned out, the cups are $13 to purchase initially. But then all of your soft drink (and perhaps all non-alcoholic drink) re-fills are free…for life, as far as I can tell. One of the cups was a few years old. I was very happy and surprised to find this out. It seemed very out-of-character for Disney to not make an extra buck on something when they could have, but I’m not going to question the fabulous person who slipped up and decided that all drinks would be free! Woo hoo!!
In summary, you will definitely have fun if you visit other Disney places besides Magic Kingdom, even if your children are five and under.
Krista Martinelli is the editor of www.aroundwellington.com. She’s the mother of a four year old girl and a two year old boy. She plays with the kids by day and works by night.Sleeping is a rarity!
Tis the season for Magic, Miracles and Marshmallows!
Lightworker Lisa
Fa la la la la – la la la la.
By Lisa Dawn Wax
People often ask me where I get my inspirations to write my articles. Honestly, some come a lot easier than others. This month I knew I wanted to talk about celebrating this special time of year, but wasn’t exactly sure which direction to go. Then I decided to jump on board and go in the direction of The Polar Express!
So, as Tom Hanks says as the train conductor, “All aboard. Well, ya coming?”
THE MAGIC
The Polar Express is a wonderful holiday movie with a theme that can be celebrated throughout the year. It is the story of a young boy who is struggling to believe in holiday magic and the spirit of Christmas.For me, one of the most meaningful lines of dialogue is when Santa Claus declares, “The magic of Christmas lies in your heart.” I’d like to zoom in on that concept and further dissect the line to say, “magic lies in your heart.”The trick is to awaken the magic in your heart and then conspire with your mind to create the magic of your life. The best way to experience the magic of Christmas and the holiday season is to see through the eyes of the children. Consider how a child thinks, with their minds uncluttered of worry and responsibilities, they simply enjoy life with awe of every moment. Each moment is a new opportunity to create something wonderful. Each moment is a new opportunity to discover something to enjoy. This is magic that lies in our hearts. During the holidays we are reminded of our childhood hearts and the magic they hold. Be a little childish this time of year. Let yourself go and discover the magic.
THE MIRACLES
The Hanukkah miracle – Jews celebrate Hanukkah, also known as The Festival of Lights, because years ago when there was only enough oil to light the menorah for one day, the oil miraculously lasted for 8 days and nights, which was just long enough to press new oil so the eternal flame on the menorah could continue to burn uninterrupted. Hanukkah is an 8-day celebration of this miracle.
The Christmas miracle – Christians celebrate Christmas as the birth of Jesus Christ whose messages of brotherhood, forgiveness and compassion unified millions of people and reawakened faith in the faithless. The Christmas story is full of miracles, including the angel that visited Mary and Joseph, the star that guided the Wise Men to their new king in Bethlehem and ultimately the birth of a Messiah. Christmas is a celebration of these many miracles.
Miracle on 34th Street – Another story of holiday miracles is told in this movie favorite, which teaches the main characters, a mother and daughter, faith to believe via the magic of Santa Claus. “Faith is believing in things when common sense tells you not to,” says our hero John Payne as Fred to his dear friend, Maureen O’Hara as Doris, who originally tells her daughter, nine-year-old Natalie Wood as Susie, that the man who claims to be Santa Claus is really only “a nice old man with whiskers.”However, towards the end of the film Doris later recalls and shares Fred’s words of faith with Susie, who because she has struggled throughout the movie with her mom’s mixed messages of fantasy/reality and belief/non-belief, mutters mockingly and unconvincingly, “I believe. I believe. Even though it’s silly, I believe.”In the end Susie and Doris happily find their faith to celebrate and believe that Mr. Kris Kringle truly is Santa Claus as they transcend into happy believers of miracles and magic. So, go ahead, be a little silly, have faith and believe.
Believe it or not, with a little faith you can even create your own miracles.
I encourage you to practice repeating these positive affirmations either aloud, to yourself, or in a journal.You just may be surprised at the outcome.
Believing is seeing.
Believe you can and you’re half way there.
THE MARSHMALLOWS
Another favorite this time of year is hot chocolate and no hot chocolate is complete without, of course, the marshmallows.Marshmallows can help bring us back to our childlike selves.Whether they’re floating in your hot chocolate, being roasted over an open fire or smiling happily in the shape of a snowman peep, marshmallows are fun to eat. They can help us to feel a little silly so we can find the faith to believe and enjoy the magic. Whether you share them with your kids, or enjoy them with a moment of solitude, eat some marshmallows and smile.
I’m going to close with a poignant song quote from The Polar Express theme song, “Believe,” sung by Josh Groban. It’s one of my personal favorites, so I’ve included a link to the Youtube performance for all to enjoy.
There’s no time to waste
There’s so much to celebrate
Believe in what you feel inside
And give your dreams the wings to fly
You have everything you need
If you just believe. If you just believe. If you just believe.
So, to all my faithful readers I wish you a truly blessed holiday season. May you discover the magic in your hearts so you may create the miracles and enjoy the marshmallows.
Until next time, may your days be brighter and your lives be lighter.
Lisa Dawn Wax, aka Lightworker Lisa, has been certified in Massage Therapy, Fitness Training and Reiki Healing for over 15 years. In addition to being a born Lightworker she is a certified Angel Healing Practitioner; both of which basically confirm her intuitive abilities to help, heal and teach. Using reiki (energy healing), divine messages and intuitive readings, she has helped many people to identify the source of their pain, clarify current life situations, and successfully redirect their focus into positive channels.If you’d like to share comments about this article or if you are in need of affordable healing and/or life coaching via divine inspiration with immediate results, please call her at 561-594-3948 or visit her new website www.lightworkerlisa.com.
A cute, cuddly puppy or kitten is on many Christmas lists this year. But are the holidays a good time to fulfill such a wish?
Really not, say many animal welfare experts.
With the hustle and bustle of the season, it’s difficult to set aside the time a new pet needs during this important adjustment and bonding stage.
This especially applies to puppies, as well as kitties, birds and pocket pets.
Plus, the selection should not be made under the time pressure of “finding one before Christmas.”
New Puppies
For those who are thinking of a puppy, Lisa Peterson of the American Kennel Club has the following wise advice:
(However, if you’re considering a pet of another species, please apply where it fits.)
“The first few months of a puppy’s life are extremely important—he will require your full, undivided attention and will need training, exercise, socialization, trips to the vet and lots of love and care,” Peterson advises.
If a puppy will be right for the family, she recommends surprising your kids by gift-wrapping pet supplies such as a leash, food bowl, training book or a pet-related toy to symbolize the new family member you will add after the holiday, when routines are back to normal.
Meantime, be sure to teach the children about responsible pet ownership as they prepare for the real thing. And discuss with them what pet tasks they will own.
Although nothing tugs harder at the heartstrings, every adorable pet represents years of responsibility.
Depending on the breed, both cats and dogs may have a life span of up to 20 years.
Pet-Harmony
For a successful relationship, matching the right pet to the family’s lifestyle is key. Be sure to research the pet and breed that best suit your family.
With dogs, especially, their energy level and temperament must be compatible with the family’s activity level and the ability to provide for the dog’s needs.
A walk around the block or playing in the back yard will not fill the exercise requirements for a large high-energy dog. (Think a one-mile run per day minimum for adult breeds such as Labs or golden retrievers!)
But a one-block walk will be fine for some, especially toy breeds.
Meanwhile, don’t rule out the possibility of finding the perfect new family member at a local shelter, or through a breed rescue group. Purebreed rescue groups exist for almost every breed of dog as an outreach of their breed clubs.
To research dog breeds and their rescue groups, visit www.akc.org.
Two More Things
Here are two more bits of good advice to parents planning to acquire a pet for their child:
1.) Even with assigned pet care tasks, parental involvement and oversight should always be factored in. For the sake of the pet, children should not be expected to take total responsibility for the animal’s welfare.
2.) Be sure to equate the expected life span of the pet with the age of the child who will be the recipient.
Why? Because pre-adolescent children can be expected to lose interest in pets as they enter the teen years and social life becomes all-important. Teens also graduate from high school and leave home for college.
Which means a new pet, in reality, will ultimately end up as mom and dad’s pet.
For the pet’s sake, that should be acceptable to mom and dad from the outset.
P. S. On the subject of pets as gifts!
PLEASE let me share this advice that has also proven to be important time and again: Even though we think a friend or relative may be lonely, it’s best not to surprise them (or anyone) with a pet as an unexpected gift.
Pets require time, work and expense, and these responsibilities should never be placed on anyone without their willingness and eager anticipation.
Thanks for caring! See you in January, 2010!
Holiday Safety Tips for Pets
Here are some important safety tips for keeping pets healthy and happy at this time of year:
·Food gifts under the Christmas tree put pets at risk. Do keep them put away and safely contained. Paws and teeth can easily open a box of candy or other food gift on the night before Christmas, or any other night!
·Christmas tree glitter, especially icicles and tinsel, are highly attractive to cats, kittens, dogs, puppies and pet birds who may eat them, resulting in life-threatening intestinal blockages. They resemble grass and greenery, but pets don’t know they’re indigestible and dangerous.
·Careful! Don’t let pets drink the fluid in the Christmas tree container. The bacteria build-up and/or toxicity can cause illness.
·Macadamia nuts are now on the known list of toxins for dogs, as they can cause temporary paralysis of the back legs.
·Also keep in mind that chocolate, grapes, raisins, xylitol or alcohol consumption can cause serious problems and even death for pets. Be sure to put food away and “pet proof” your garbage.
·Lilies of all kinds, including a seasonal favorite the Amaryllis, are toxic to cats if they nibble them. Be sure to monitor all bouquets, if you have pets who purr.
Safe and happy holidays to all!
Frances Goodman is a professional dog trainer and pet care writer who lives in Royal Palm Beach. Got a question? Email her at [email protected]. Or click on her ad to visit her website, www.mypetnews.com.
The Summer Day Who made the world?
Who made the swan, and the black bear?
Who made the grasshopper?
This grasshopper, I mean–
the one who has flung herself out of the grass,
the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,
who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down,
who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.
Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.
Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.
I don’t know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn’t everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?
~ Mary Oliver ~
(New and Selected Poems, Volume I)
Editor’s Note: You might ask, “What is this poem about a summer day doing in the middle of our December issue online?” However, since this is the Poetry page, you might just ask it again . . . instead of getting an answer. And the answer might come to you, as you read it again! 🙂
Most sci-fi fans have probably already seen the blockbuster movie regarding the mysterious date of December 21st, 2012. The movie has brought a lot of attention to the fated long-known date, but there’s apparently much more to it than just the movie.
The Mayan Calendar
The Ancient Mayans had what is known as the Long Count Calendar and it ends on December 21, 2012. The numbers are written differently but when the equivalent dates are deciphered the last day on the calendar comes out to be 12-21-12.
Some people think this date means the end of the world; others say that it will be a time for spiritual renewal. The Mayans didn’t leave much information on what they though would happen on this day. So others have speculated for years and there are many theories making the rounds, especially doomsday ones. Here is a look at some of them:
Planet X
This scenario suggests that a celestial body that was first discovered by astronomers in the 1980’s will interact with Earth in 2012 and cause potential catastrophic destruction.
The planet body will start heading on a collision course towards Earth, but it is not sure exactly what trajectory the planet will take. It could go anywhere from passing near the Sun, to hitting Earth head on.If it hits head on, then the planet will be destroyed, close trajectories could cause meteor showers capable of inciting large tsunamis.
Solar Activity
Increased solar activity as the year 2012 approaches could also elevate a corresponding rise in solar radiation. The Earth’s core has slowed its spinning since 2002 for unclear reasons; this can affect the magnetic field.
When combined with a heightened solar period this could seriously damage Earth’s magnetic field and disrupt the ecosystems. The heat could also provoke volcanoes and earthquakes.
Crustal Displacement
Due to the Galactic Alignment coming in 2012, where the Sun will be at the center of the Milky Way, cataclysmic forces will start a displacement of the Earth’s crust. The Sun will have an increased gravitational pull on the Earth because of its new position in the galaxy.
Solar activity will also increase due to this phenomenon, and will heat up the semi-liquid layers beneath the surface of the Earth. This will allow the crust to shift easier and massive violent earthquakes will occur.
Magnetic Pole Shift
This theory suggests that a pole reversal is imminent, as this phenomenon has actually happened before, about 730,000 years ago. It is believed that pole reversals happen every 400,000 years, so apparently we are quite overdue for one.
There are some signs that this reversal could have already started as the magnetic field has been declining by 10 percent in the last 150 years. The magnetic pole is moving around at a rapid pace as well.
A reversal in poles could prove quite catastrophic if it was to happen quickly, although by the evidence shown, it seems that they happen very gradually. However, it is possible that a pole shift could leave a diminished magnetic field and expose Earth to cosmic radiation.
These are the most common scenarios making the rounds about the impending 2012 date. Certainly there are many others, some of which are really out there.
Looking at this with common sense and logic, it pretty much comes down to a lot of science fiction. Which for this column it is really great, but for reality . . . Not so much. NASA has clearly denounced most of these theories to be anywhere from improbable to simply impossible.
But for what it’s worth, they make for a great movie with some absolutely awesome effects, which is just enough for any sci-fi geek out there!
If you want to psych yourself out with some more cataclysmic possibilities check out these websites:
Sky events to watch for this month, December 2009:
The Full Moon will be on the 2nd, we will see it in Last Quarter on the 8th and then the New Moon will happen on the 16th.
The constellation Perseus shines towards the high eastern sky at about 10:00 p.m. midmonth. Above it and a little to the right of it you will find the Triangulum constellation, which forms – you guessed it – a triangle! These two make great sights in December.
Then, between Perseus and Cassiopeia (which lies to the upper left of Perseus), you can find the Double Cluster, which we have already mentioned in previous months. This is a pair of star clusters that can be easily viewed with binoculars.
Rising earlier this month is beautiful Orion, the Hunter. Find this awesome constellation by looking to the east-southeast at around 9:00 p.m. EST. You will easily spot it by seeing the three stars that form a straight line, making up the Hunter’s belt. Right under the belt lies the Orion nebula, which can be seen with the naked eye from a dark location and easily defined with binoculars. The bluish haze becomes quite apparent with an average telescope; and with a large one the colors of the nebula will be much more evident. A beautiful sight, indeed.
Jupiter is now starting to sink towards the western horizon in the evening, slowly making its exit from the night-time sky. Mars is rising at about midnight now and is visible during the late night onto morning. Saturn is still a morning planet. If you are an early bird, you can observe its rings start to gradually open up as the planet tilts in its axis. Look for it at around 5:00 a.m. EST.
Mid December brings a bright and fast meteor shower known as the Geminid. The shower will start around December 12th and go until December 14that about 10:00 p.m. EST. Look towards the area in the sky where the stars Castor and Pollux lie, which is overhead on the eastern sky, a little to the upper left from Orion.
Watch for the shortest day of the year coming up on December 21st, which is known as the winter solstice.
Anna Sanclement writes from home and has recently started to write articles for various Internet sites. She has also finished a novel and has written many stories and a movie script, just for fun.
A native of Toledo, OH and a graduate of Kent State, Marla E. Schwartz has been a professional journalist since her teenage years and is a Senior Writer for 
