Category: Lifestyle

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Heart health for women

As we know, in May we celebrate Mother’s Day! In the United States, heart disease is the leading cause of death in both women and men. Diet, lifestyle choices, and a few other key factors play a big role in a wide range of heart conditions. Take care of your heart by choosing foods to promote overall health.

Fruits and Vegetables Matter

When it comes to filling your plate, fruits and vegetables are where it’s at. Not only are they sources of dietary fiber and antioxidants, they also can help keep blood pressure in check. High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart attack and stroke. What makes fruits and vegetables so good? They provide potassium and magnesium, minerals that have been shown to help lower blood pressure in clinical studies.

Aiming for 1½ to 2 cups of fruit and 2 to 3 cups of vegetables daily is a good way to help meet your potassium goals. Plus, research has shown that fruit and vegetable consumption is associated with a reduced risk for many chronic diseases, including heart disease.

Fat Matters for the Heart

The type of fat you eat also makes a difference. According to the 2020-2025 “Dietary Guidelines for Americans,” a healthy eating pattern should provide less than 10% total calories from saturated fat starting at age 2. An eating plan high in saturated fat may increase the risk for heart disease. Foods such as bacon, sausages, fatty meats, butter, ice cream, and other full-fat dairy foods can be high in saturated fat.

Replacing sources of saturated fat with unsaturated fats has been shown to be beneficial in reducing “bad” cholesterol levels and may help lower the risk for heart disease. Foods such as olive oil, canola oil, avocados, nuts, and seeds contain unsaturated fat.

Omega-3 fatty acids are a special type of unsaturated fat commonly found in fatty fish, such as salmon, mackerel, tuna, and herring. Omega-3s also are found in walnuts and flaxseed. Fish is a good source of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), whereas nuts and seeds contain alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). Because these foods contain different types of omega-3 fatty acids, it’s good to include a variety of these foods among the foods you eat throughout the week. Women who are of childbearing age, pregnant, or breastfeeding should consult “Advice About Eating Fish” (www.fda.gov/food/consumers/advice-about-eating-fish) from the Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Stay Active for Heart Health

Regular physical activity also can be beneficial. Get at least 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity each week, with some activity on most days of the week. Maintaining a healthy weight can help manage certain conditions such as high blood pressure. According to the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, everyone varies in how much physical activity they need to maintain their weight.

Other Risk Factors

While you can change what you eat and whether you are physically active, there are some risk factors for heart disease that you cannot change:

  • Aging: The risk for heart disease increases with age.
  • Family history: Having a close blood relative, such as a parent or sibling, with heart disease increases your risk of having heart disease.
  • Ethnicity: Some ethnicities have a higher risk of heart disease and stroke.
  • Previous heart attack: A history of past heart attacks can increase the odds of having another one in the future. However, in this case, there are things you can do to reduce your risk, such as eating healthfully and participating in cardiac rehab.
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Jennifer J.L. Jones: Piece in nature

“Echoes of Elysium” is the exhibition on display at New River Fine Art on Las Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale through April. Artist Jennifer J.L. Jones finds her employment in the abstract contemporary trends and transforms them into the botanical atmospheres that cohere to the observer’s metaphysical hemisphere of realistic conjuncture. The strategy is by the composites of layers, not by the disconformity of postmodern rejection, but the singular reluctance to recognize concentrations between values. The artistic empirical is apparent. In agriculture, the thumbnail would be up and the hands would be down. 

Jones was born in Virginia and was raised between there and the east coast of Florida. Currently settled in Port Royal, South Carolina, she holds a bachelor’s of fine arts from the Art Institute of Chicago. 

In “Collections,” if you will, in free will, that employs the atmospheric abstracts into the altercations between hemispheres that lather by the waste sides of mere entropy is instead gorgeously assigned to her earlier works of “Hypnotic Starlings” (2016). Here, the division is in black and white, and the value is laid out indusively by color choice. The whites and blues drip, and the reds? A staged presence in a spacious spread of reasoning, and to the “Tejas,” mixed media on wood (2014), in the “Lacuna” series. 

To view the past collections, visit www.jenniferjljonesstudios.com/collectedworks.

Is this Euclidean geometry by color? “Odyssey,” currently on display at New River Fine Art, is a requiem. If one was to follow the leaves of green, the shape appears to heed the branch of mathematics that puts axioms and postulates in place on a flat space. The relationships of points are defined by color choices, at the angles intended, and beneath the fluidity, lining them up and into visual consonance.  

It shouldn’t go further than that, space, to distinguish the difference in hemispheres: one, the choice to avail dissonance into one’s solutions, or two, the opposite of where one must withdraw and appreciate the length of the objective segment itself. Jones shows her skills and artistic mastery in this light.

Distance is on the other side of it. This empirical nature goes only as far as it needs to go. It is witnessed that the closer one arrives to “Untitled,” the more abstract the artwork becomes. The potency of floral arrangements from a postmodern world extracts the work’s serenity as a schema, and in turn, dimensions are idealism. Dimensions are the elongated measures of the botanical muse to see what needs to be seen, and when it arrives. The disregarding sensuality of exposed synthetics demises what stem and into the true nature of a visual connection. What a very delicate balance that absurdity can bring! 

Still, are the flowers.

A mythological state of perfect happiness, where botany molds to the surface, is Jones’s earlier work from 2017, “Midnight for Butterflies I.” It may very well translate for some as a still life from 17th-century Dutch artistry. The change from stroke to the use of line is highly emphasized. It is a clear takeaway from traditional portraits with flowers in a vase—to, who needs a vase when you have colors to focus on? Jones takes the eerie darkness from the Baroque era and colors it lively.

Her change from 2017 to works on exhibition today is still a psychological sense of untiming. In “Cailleach” (2024), the black-and-white orthodox grows on the subject of butterflies, if at all intended, bringing shape to the subject, certainly by stroke. 

The means to the instance is of the goddess this art is named after, or “veiled one,” which is sparkled with gloss, clung to width by the blue of the skies. 

 

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Spring Into Sunshine: Local Activities to Make the Most of Springtime Fun

Families from all over the country flock to South Florida for the beautiful weather this time of year. As the locals are aware, there’s no shortage of exciting activities to enjoy around here. If you’re staying in town, here is a reminder of some fun and enjoyable ways to make the most of our beautiful springtime weather.

Life is better at the beach

Spend your days building sandcastles, soaking up the sun, and taking refreshing dips in the warm refreshing water. South Florida boasts some of the world’s most beautiful beaches, all within minutes!

Splash, Slide and Soar

Located in Riviera Beach, Rapids Water Park is South Florida’s premiere family water park from the Keys to Orlando. The park features a full-day of fun for the entire family – whether you make a splash in the cool blue waves of the wave pool, take a thrilling plunge down the waterslides, or just relax and float around the lazy river… there is something fun for everyone.

 Top-of-the Water Activities

With our year-round warm temperatures and abundance of outdoor activities such as boating, kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding, surfing, scuba diving and more, South Florida is one of the country’s top water sports destinations. For a more new experience, try flyboarding at one of the many local rental shops along the coast.

Get Lost in Art

Immerse yourself in South Florida’s vibrant culture and arts scene. Among the many museums, galleries and cultural landmarks a bit south of us, you can explore the unique and famous Wynwood Walls for the colorful street art; and don’t forget to take a selfie in front of one of the many amazing hand painted backgrounds!

Outdoor Adventures

Venture beyond the sand to discover South Florida’s natural wonders and outdoor recreation. Explore the Everglades National Park on an airboat tour or hike through scenic nature trails in the Big Cypress National Preserve.

Entertainment and Nightlife

Madonna: The Celebration Tour – April 6, 7 and 9 at the Kaseya Center, Miami

The Celebration Tour is the ongoing twelfth concert tour by American singer Madonna Visit ticketmaster.com to purchase tickets.

Entertainment for the little Ones

DISNEY PRINCESS: THE CONCERT – April 7

Take the little ones to Broward Center’s Au-Rene Theater at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. For generations, the music of Disney’s princesses has been the soundtrack to our lives. Now, these beloved songs come alive on stage with a host of Broadway and television stars in Disney Princess – The Concert! Visit ticketmaster.com to purchase tickets.

Plan the family’s spring adventures locally this year and create lasting memories while staying close to home. With the perfect blend of sun, sand, culture, and adventure, we are fortunate to have endless possibilities within minutes. Whether you’re seeking relaxation on the beach, outdoor adventures, or a vibrant cultural experience, South Florida has something for everyone to enjoy during the Spring season

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10 ways to save time and money at the grocery store

There is more variety on today’s grocery store shelves than ever before. With so many choices, it is easy to get overwhelmed.

Stay within your grocery budget while feeding your family well, by following these 10 tips:

  1. Don’t shop when you’re hungry.It may be more tempting to make impulse purchases, especially on less nutritious items that cost more, when shopping on an empty stomach.
  2. Make a shopping list and stick to it.Plan in advance and make a menu of meals for the week—check what you have at home first, so you know what you need and don’t overbuy. A list can help you avoid buying more than you plan to eat and wasting food that may spoil.
  3. Organize your list into sections according to the layout of the supermarket. This can help cut down on the time and the number of passes you need to make through the aisles.
  4. Check for supermarket specials.Check the weekly store circulars for sales and coupons for items you regularly purchase or that are on your grocery list for the week. Also, look at company websites and apps for coupons. Check for in-store deals like “manager’s specials” of day-old bread or foods close to their expiration date.
  5. Shop the bulk foods aisle.Many stores offer bulk herbs, spices, nuts, dried fruits, whole grains, dried beans, and other items at discounted prices. Sometimes these are foods in a less processed form, which means you are getting an added bonus of healthy options for less money.
  6. Stock up on staples when they go on sale.Browse grocery aisles or weekly flyers for sale items and stock up on foods you can keep in the pantry and freezer. Look for nonperishables such as canned and bottled goods; dried beans and peas; whole-grain pastas, crackers, and cereals; brown rice; tomato sauces; and nut butters.
  7. Think canned and frozen. Canned and frozen fruits and vegetables often are less expensive than their fresh counterparts. Plus, they’re great to have on hand when you’re short on fresh options. Fruits and veggies are canned at their peak of nutrition and quality. Be sure to choose no-salt-added, no-sugar-added, or less-sodium varieties.
  8. Use a slow cooker.This handy kitchen appliance uses a moist-heat method of cooking that helps tenderize less expensive but tougher cuts of meat. Stretch that dollar further by adding frozen vegetables or beans to your slow cooker recipes. Meals from a slow cooker are hearty and filling, and they make the house smell good!
  9. Cook meals in large batches, then freeze for later. Batch-cook and freeze meals over the weekend when you have more time. On weekdays, all you have to do is take a meal out of the freezer and simply reheat it. You also can use leftovers from a roast or chicken to make a stir-fry, tacos, or soup other days of the week.
  10. Take advantage of loyalty cards, store brands, coupons, and specials.If you haven’t signed up for your grocery store’s loyalty card, do it now. Sometimes sale prices are only valid with the loyalty card, and you could miss out on big savings. Consider purchasing the store brand of packaged foods—they usually are a better value than commercially branded items.
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Artist Marina Veen: Mirrors to the soul

“I get bored easily,” Marina Veen told me over tea and coffee and a lovely stroll together. A very independent, hard-working woman, Veen played a corporate role since her early 20s. During the Covid pandemic, she found the change she had been searching for.

This career adjustment fed something more important—her soul. “Two hours of meditation wasn’t enough,” Veen said. “It was time to reset.”

During her early years of taking art classes and drawing, Veen was confronted with bias technicalities in creating art—the type of technicalities that hold to rules, the type of technicalities that can hinge creative development, imagination, and heart. She found it void.

“I wished somebody would’ve told me that it was okay to reject technique,” Veen said. “I probably would’ve gone back to art much sooner if I had.” She instead held a conscious mindset toward life as she built it. In her search for something much deeper, it seems that it’s the rejection where she finds the connection to her motivation.

“If I see it is a tree, I am no longer interested,” Veen said. The intense colorism of the works by Henri Matisse in the early part of the 20th century is a good example of where her motivations belong. It is the type of connection that holds the equilibrium between mind and emotion to meet at the surface. It is the intangible reality we all silently attend to. How it is translated, or if it is clear, is something everyone experiences at one point or another. Yet it is here that Veen finds her answers by reflection. The canvas: a mirror.

Darkness to Light

Veen pulls the light from the shadows without manipulation. It is raw and undefined—until it isn’t. The light has been set, revealing the integrity and utter honesty of her focus. It is amid the darkness that one can view, in “Drift by My Windows,” recently displayed at the Parkland Library. Time predisposes beneath, where it is clear by the textures of depth nondiscriminatory. However, beneath all the textures are the stories untold.

Upside Down

Veen is a Ukrainian-American originally from Odesa, who spent much of her prime in the hustle and bustle of New York City. After moving to the California Bay Area with her family and for work, she thought she would never return to the East Coast. The artistic resilience of California held a spark. Yet, things happen. While moving to Seattle for her work with Amazon and Microsoft, and during the time of Covid, she saw the big picture.

“In Between” is an excellent example. If viewed from the opposite direction, one may see an unbloomed flower. Still are the layers on the canvas used to demonstrate perspective. Her impressively high originality cannot go unnoticed. The rejection of a still life is recreated in an entirely new definition of quality, and coincidently, it had been painted upside down. The fluidity of rhythms shines in the sheets of layers, and per the use of perspective, the story unravels, much like the rigid nature of corporate Seattle.

Lavender

The color certainly molds to the surface in characters offset of white. The character is within the color that would commonly be overlooked if not made aware of. Here the body holds much more than its weight. It is in echoes of colors beneath where the lavender-like blend developed unto its finish. During Veen’s weeks of working on this piece, “Echoed Through Me” is just one example of how her work undergoes a total metamorphosis of change—until it speaks fluently.

Methods and Media

Veen is inspired by the songs and poetry of Leonard Cohen, Radiohead, Arctic Monkeys, and Rainer Maria Rilke. One can feel the rhythmic fluidity that shows through to the surface of her pieces. It is a movement of poetry held in the textures beneath the surface of her media. Mixed media, acrylic, cold wax and oil, collage, stenciling, gelli plate printing, woodblock printing, and mark-making are just some of the resources used to create her compositions. Her method—addition and retraction.

Veen’s first group show was in September 2023 at the Macy Gallery at Columbia University in New York City. Last summer, she and her family settled in South Florida. There is high anticipation for more of her work still to come.

Today, Veen continues expanding her artistic communication of lost expression through her talent. Her work can be viewed at marinaveenstudio.com and on Instagram at marinaveenfineart.

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March is National Nutrition Month

Between what you hear on TV, see on social media, and read in the news, eating well can seem like a real challenge. But it doesn’t have to be. A registered dietitian nutritionist (RD or RDN) will partner with you to develop a safe and realistic eating plan that you can stick with for the long haul. To guide and motivate you, an RDN will use creative and out-of-the-box strategies to help with meal planning, grocery shopping, and mindful eating.

An RDN has completed multiple layers of education and training established by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics. All RDNs must do the following:
• Obtain a minimum of a master’s degree, which includes a specially designed, accredited nutrition curriculum.
• Complete an extensive supervised program of practice at a health-care facility, food-service organization, or community agency.
• Pass a rigorous registration exam.
• Maintain continuing education credits throughout their career, with licensure in each state they practice in.
What’s more, many RDNs have certifications in specialized fields, such as sports, pediatric, renal, oncology, diabetes, or gerontological nutrition.

Do you want to lose or gain weight? Are you pregnant, looking to become pregnant, or you’ve just had a child? Are you looking for ways to maintain your health in your older years? Are you an athlete looking to boost your performance? These are just a few of the reasons people seek the expert, science-based advice of an RDN.

10 Common Reasons to Consult with an RDN

1. You want help managing diabetes, high blood pressure, or other chronic diseases. An RDN can help you understand your condition and how the foods you choose might affect it. Plus, a registered dietitian nutritionist works with you to create an eating plan that has the nutrients needed to manage your condition.

2. You are thinking of having or have had gastric bypass surgery. Because your stomach can only manage small servings after surgery, it’s tricky to get the nutrients your body needs. As a part of your health-care team, an RDN helps you make changes to your eating plan to meet these needs and still feel satisfied.

3. You have digestive problems. Working closely with you and your doctor, an RDN provides guidance to help fine-tune your diet. Together, you’ll find choices that do not aggravate your condition—for example, limiting fried foods or caffeinated and carbonated drinks.

4. You’re pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or are a new parent. Meet with an RDN to make sure you get the nutrients you need for a healthy pregnancy. And, after the baby comes, an RDN can help make sure you and your little one are getting the nutrients you need to support good health.

5. You have a food allergy, intolerance, or sensitivity. Unsure what you can eat because of celiac disease, food allergies, lactose intolerance, or another condition? It’s easy to be overwhelmed by what you think you can’t eat, which can lead to a boring diet that doesn’t give your body the nutrition it needs. An RDN can teach you strategies, including identifying foods to avoid, and help you find substitutions to keep your diet balanced and tasty.

6. You or your child is experiencing disordered eating. As part of the treatment team, RDNs counsel people with eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia.

7. You’re caring for an aging parent. An RDN can help with food or drug interactions, proper hydration, special diets for hypertension, and changing taste buds as you age.

8. You want practical lifestyle advice. Need help sorting through the facts and fiction of nutrition headlines? Learn how to read labels at the supermarket, discover how healthy cooking can be inexpensive, learn how to dine out healthfully, and find out how to manage temptations. When you see an RDN, the last thing you’ll get is one-size-fits-all diet advice. After learning about your health history, favorite foods, and eating and exercise habits, an RDN will help you set goals and prioritize. Follow-up visits will focus on maintenance and monitoring your progress.

9. You want to improve your performance in sports. A RDN can help you set goals to achieve results—whether you’re running a marathon, skiing, or jogging with your dog.

10. You realize the need to feed your family healthier foods, but you do not cook. A registered dietitian nutritionist can teach you how to plan and prepare meals in a simple, healthful, and convenient way. Connect with an RDN today!

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Are you zombie scrolling too much? Try to cut down

It’s 2024. Will your average screen time go down this year?

In 2023, the average time that people spent staring at a screen was just under 7 hours, slightly higher than the worldwide average of 6.5 hours a day, according to DataReportal. Some of it is on your computer, which accounts for half of the screen time. The other half is on your mobile device. Effectively, half of our waking hours is spent looking at a screen.

Is this healthy? Probably not. Health experts recommend less than 2 hours in front of a screen daily (excluding school or work), according to the National Institute of Health (NIH).

It’s not surprising. Data from Harmony (www.harmonyhit.com), a healthcare information technology company, shows that 40% of Americans are trying to cut down on their screen time this year, and another 36% feel like they should. Like all new year’s resolutions, this may not be easy.

The top application we are using when on the phone is messages. This is followed by all the social media sites—YouTube at #2 and Facebook at #3. TikTok, the latest fashionable app, is #6, just behind Instagram.

According to the study, half of Americans feel they are addicted to their devices. The younger you are, the more you tend to feel that way. The top reason is that our entertainment is more and more coming through our phones now. People often reach for their phone when bored.

In our search for the next viral video that keeps us entertained, we end up constantly checking our phones. Researchers call the behavior of scrolling for new content without a specific purpose “zombie scrolling.” Often, even if the news is bad or depressing, we still constantly look out for it; Merriam-Webster has termed this “doom scrolling.”

According to Harmony’s December 2023 study, 48% of Americans zombie scroll; they are scrolling without a specific purpose. More alarmingly, 27% of us text while at the stoplight. This might contribute to why we are hearing more honking and road rage than in the past. Also, if you ever wondered if others share the habit of using their phone on the toilet, you will find that you are among the supermajority—3 in 5 admit to doing it.

A University of Rochester Medical Center study in 2023 listed some of the signs of addiction to our smart devices:

  • Losing large amounts of time mindlessly checking apps or browsing the internet on your phone
  • Feeling anxious or restless when you cannot access your phone
  • Use of your phone has interfered with your productivity at work or at home
  • Using your phone in dangerous or inappropriate situations, such as when driving or crossing the street
  • Struggling to wait to check your phone when you receive an alert

It is hard to imagine that, just a few decades ago, baby boomer parents would have frowned upon hours and hours of TV watching. Now, every age group is spending much more time in front of the screen. Many parents nowadays still try to limit their children’s screen time. NIH reports the following among those 8 to 18 years old:

  • 28% said that their parents set TV-watching rules
  • 30% said that their parents set rules about video-game use
  • 36% said that their parents set rules about computer use

A NIH-sponsored study showed that, when parents set media rules, children’s media use dropped by 3 hours per day!

Recently, TikTok started implementing a screen limit of 60 minutes for kids under age 18. The limit can be disabled or extended via entering a passcode.

Even among adults, the Harmony survey showed that 55% feel that they waste time on their phones. And previous studies showed that excessive phone usage is linked to anxiety among younger adults.

Smartphones are a power tool for us to stay connected with our loved ones, and like all tools, we need to use it to benefit ourselves. So if you feel like you are zombie scrolling too much, or when the next world event upsets you and you feel like doom scrolling, try these suggestions from Harmony to cut down on screen time:

  • Doing activities that don’t require a phone
  • Putting the phone away while around others
  • Using the “Do not disturb” feature

Early studies are showing that even a small reduction has shown benefits in respondents’ mental health. So for 2024, try some of these suggestions, and maybe you will end up less anxious in a turbulent world.

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HB Boulevard: On the road to success

Following in the footsteps of Kurt Cobain and his garage band, Nirvana, in the 1980s, five high school kids from Parkland and Coral Springs hope to steal a page from that playbook and hit it big with their grunge and rock garage band, HB Boulevard.

Named after Heron Bay Blvd., the five friends—Lawson Jay (vocalist), Jose Nunez (lead guitarist), and Josiah Jimenez (drummer), all 17, and Logan Siskin (rhythm guitar) and Anthony Pellito (bassist), both 16, all students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School (MSD)—have become the “unofficial Stoneman Douglas rock band.”

Last September they performed in front of 3,000 people at the MSD pep rally, and they’ve performed locally in the First Annual MSD Battle of the Bands, at Black Flamingo Brewing in Pompano Beach, and at the Black Flamingo Echoes of the Flamingo Music Festival last summer.

This is only the beginning for this group of passionate musicians, says their unofficial manager, Adam Jay, father of the band’s lead singer, Lawson Jay, who aspires one day to be a successful businessman, preferably in the music industry.

“I am super proud of these fine gentlemen,” says Jay, a sales manager at a legal education publishing company. “They have shown grit and determination in doing something they’re passionate about.”

The group practices two to three times each week in the Jays’ garage, and Adam Jay has watched their evolution over the past two years. “They have grown so much since they first started,” he says. “I’ve watched them grow, both personally and musically, and see how they treat each other with dignity and respect.

“It’s nice to see kids this age engaged in something so meaningful and special,” he says.

While the five were not even born in the 1980s, they all are passionate about music from that era and are inspired by the music of Green Day, Guns ‘N Roses, Metallica, Van Halen, Black Sabbath, and the Foo Fighters. And yes, even the Beatles get a shout-out.

Siskin, who plays rhythm guitar in the band, finds inspiration in Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Paige. Vocalist Jay admires Green Day’s singer and guitarist, Billy Joe Armstrong; and Nunez, the band’s lead guitarist, models himself on Eddie Van Halen and Kirk Hammett, lead guitarist in Metallica.

“He inspired me to play like him—fast and furious,” says Nunez, who hopes one day to meet his musical idols.

“It’s the rebirth of this musical style, and we’re adding something new to complement the old,” says Pellito, who has numerous passions, including engineering and mechanics, creating things with his hands, and becoming an astronaut.

“It’s classic ’80s, ’90s, and early 2000s music—when music was good,” he jokes. “That’s my era.”

Pellito thanks his dad, Gregg Pellito, a retired deejay, for introducing him to this music.

In fact, they have created a new musical genre, one they like to call “rift rock,” a combination of punk, classic rock ‘n’ roll, and metal.

A recent highlight for the group was when HB Boulevard played a cover of Green Day’s “The American Dream Is Killing Me” at a New Year’s Eve party. Green Day’s lead singer, Armstrong, saw the video on YouTube and reposted it to his Instagram page with 2.7 million followers.

“Shocked” when he heard this news, Pellito cut himself while washing dishes. “That’s pretty awesome,” he says. “It encourages us to keep going.”

While they all have plans to finish high school and go on to college, they hope to make music a priority in their lives. Their long-term goals are to entertain, to spread the word of rock ‘n’ roll, and to find fame and fortune. They have performed a few original songs and hope to continue creating new works.

How will they know when they’ve made it?

For Siskin, it’s buying a Gibson Les Paul guitar; for Jimenez, it’s the luxury of personal bodyguards; and for Nunez, it’s getting a signature BC Rich guitar and getting voted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

The group supports local MSD nonprofits: Safe Schools for Alex, founded by Max Schachter in honor of his son, Alex; and Lori and Ilan Alhadeff’s Make Our Schools Safe, created in memory of their daughter, Alyssa. Both Alex Schachter and Alyssa Alhadeff were killed in the MSD school shooting in February 2018.

“We want to give back to the community,” says Lawson Jay. “We would love to perform at Pine Trails Park and Amphitheater for a local charity.

“Mayor Walker, if you’re listening,” he says, “we are ready and willing to go.”

Visit HB Boulevard on YouTube and Instagram.

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Parkland girl finds her heart horse

Copa is an off-the-track thoroughbred that raced under the name It’s All Copacetic. But when he first arrived at Twine Barn Sanctuary in Parkland, things weren’t all copacetic. Twine Barn Sanctuary founder and president Crystal Coan knew she had her work cut out for her.

“Copa would jump or bolt off at a gallop over every little thing, even moving shadows on the ground from trees he was standing under,” recalls Coan. “Sometimes even his own shadow!” Coan had Copa assessed to see if he had any underlying pain or injuries that would make him behave this way. There were none.

“When he was given the green light to work, it became clear that he’d learned his naughty behavior meant people would dismount and he wouldn’t have to work anymore,” explains Coan. So she decided to work with Copa to curb his dangerous behavior.

Coan and Copa went on a number of thrilling rides she refers to as “flying dragon rolls,” one of which threw her hip out for weeks. Still, she refused to give up on Copa.

“I never once thought about giving up on him,” affirms Coan. “He was super sweet and always wanted to be hanging over your shoulder, so I knew with a lot of patience, desensitization work, and regular exercise, he had the potential to become someone’s heart horse.”

And that’s exactly what happened. When Mikaella Alzein met Copa at Twine Barn Sanctuary, it was love at first sight. Mikaella was only 9 years old at the time and hadn’t started riding yet. The idea of riding Copa gave her the motivation to get started and stick with it.

“When I first saw Copa, I immediately knew he was my favorite horse,” recalls Mikaella. After a few weeks of training, Coan allowed Mikaella to ride Copa for the first time on a lead rope and only at a walk. “I was so happy,” enthuses Mikaella. “I knew I wanted to work with this horse. I could see us going far and having a future together.”

A couple of months later, on her first ride off the lead rope, Mikaella realized how much work it would take to achieve the future she envisioned with Copa. Copa bucked the entire length of the field they were riding through, and Mikaella fell off the 17-hand horse. Copa’s bucking, which was unpredictable, happened during many of their rides and never deterred Mikaella.

“Mikaella would smile, dust herself off, tell him she loved him, and get right back on,” says Coan. “Sure gave us and her parents some scares, but she wouldn’t give up on him.”

“If you want to be a good rider, you’re gonna also have to face your fears,” explains Mikaella. “I faced my fears while he was bucking.”

To help with Copa’s bucking, Mikaella’s parents brought in horse trainers Igo Sifuentes and Irene Arshad. Even though they knew their daughter was determined, they still had their doubts about Copa and made sure Mikaella always wore a helmet and safety vest when riding him.

“At the beginning I thought there was no hope for him,” recalls Jaelke Alzein, Mikaella’s mother. “He would start good and then go wild like a rodeo. I thought the horse was crazy.” But Coan and Sifuentes assured her that Copa just needed a lot of love and consistency.

Mikaella stepped up and began spending hours with Copa in the barn to build love and trust between them. “Every day she took her books and read to him, and sang to him,” recalls Alzein. “She still does that to this day.”

During the summer, instead of going on vacation, Mikaella spent her days at the barn cleaning stalls, feeding the horses, and, of course, bonding with Copa.

As their bond deepened, Mikaella was even able to fall asleep beside Copa. “The first time I slept in his stall, I woke up with him playing with my hair,” she says. “It was a super calming, special feeling.”

“She’s the kind of kid that he needed and he’s the heart horse she’d always dreamt about,” enthuses Coan. “It was a match made in heaven.”

In early 2023, Mikaella started jumping, and within seven months she became the Grand Champion in Parkland in her division. Her dream was to be able to take Copa to a show and compete with him.

In October 2023, Mikaella started jumping with Copa. “I was so excited when that happened,” she enthuses. “It felt like I was flying.”

In late 2023, after a year and a half of working and bonding with Copa, Mikaella took him to his first show in Parkland. It didn’t go well. “He was freaking out,” recalls Jaelke Alzein. “He wanted to jump out of the arena.”

But with love, patience, and positive reinforcement, Copa and Mikaella are now successfully competing in shows together. “He behaves so well. He looks like a champion, and he behaves like one,” says Alzein. “He’s very calm.”

Five months ago, Mikaella became Copa’s official owner. Since then, they have competed in five shows together, and Coan couldn’t be happier for the pair. “Mikaella was determined to learn and grow with him so they could compete together one day, and I thank the universe her parents have supported them the whole way,” says Coan.

The Alzeins’ latest form of support comes in the form of a 3-acre property in Parkland. “This horse changed our lives completely,” says Jaelke Alzein. “We’re finally going to be able to bring Copa home with us. He’s part of the family and we want him with us.”

Mikaella, who is now realizing the original vision she had for her and Copa, has her own set of aspirations for the former racehorse.

“I want him to have the life he thought he would never have,” explains Mikaella. “I’m sure if you told him a couple of years ago that he was going to go to a nice barn, start training as an athlete, and be a champion, he wouldn’t have believed it. I want him to have a name, and be able to jump 3 meters, and go to the Wellington Equestrian Festival.”

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Finding Peace: Practical Ways to Relieve Stress in Your Daily Life

In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, stress has become a constant for many. However, incorporating simple yet effective stress-relief strategies into your daily routine can make a significant difference in your overall physical and mental well-being. 

Here are some practical tips from the CDC, along with simple (and local) ways to relieve stress and make healthy choices in the new year:

Take breaks from news stories, including those on social media. It’s good to be informed, but constant information about negative events can be upsetting. Consider limiting news to just a couple times a day and disconnecting from phone, TV, and  computer screens for a while.

Take care of your body: Staying physically healthy can improve  your emotional well-being. Whether you’re already a gym rat or working towards developing a  sustainable exercise routine, Parkland/Coral Springs and the surrounding areas have plenty of options to help you stay active.

Eat healthy. Have fruits and vegetables, lean protein, whole grains, and low-fat or no-fat dairy. Limit foods with unhealthy fats, salt, and added sugars.  Luckily, living in South Florida makes it just a bit easier to eat well all year. From the many smoothie and juice shops to our nearby locally owned healthy eateries, our town is perfect for people who want food that doesn’t skimp on flavor or nutrition.

Get enough sleep. Go to bed and wake up at the same time each day to help you sleep better. Adults need 7 or more hours per night. 

Move more and sit less. Every little bit of physical activity helps. Start small and build up to 2 ½ hours a week. You can break it into smaller amounts such as 20 to 30 minutes a day. Many locals enjoy taking a brisk cool walk first thing in the morning or  an afternoon stroll to break up the day. Either way, spending time outdoors and connecting with nature is proven to have a calming effect on the mind. 

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Dealing with dietary restrictions at holidays

The holiday season is here and with that comes fancy dinners, work parties, potlucks, and family gatherings. While breaking bread with your favorite people can be one of life’s simple joys, anxiety over what to make when feeding those with special dietary needs can make things feel complicated. Here are nine tips and tricks for hosting a holiday dinner that everyone can enjoy:

Ask for advice. Who knows best? The person with special dietary needs! Once you have a menu in mind, discuss it with your guests ahead of time and ask how they can best be accommodated.

  1. Read labels. Dairy, gluten, nuts, and non-vegetarian ingredients are found in many packaged foods. If you are not sure whether an ingredient is safe for your party guests, ask the person you’re accommodating or skip it.
  1. Don’t cross-contaminate. Use separate tongs when grilling meat and veggie burgers to spare the vegetarian foods from meat juice. Don’t bake a nut-free cookie on the same tray where you just roasted almonds. Thoroughly wash the strainer in between draining wheat spaghetti noodles and gluten-free ones. Being mindful of opportunities for cross-contamination can lower the risk of serving foods that your guests might not be able to eat.
  1. Make simple swaps. Tossing your veggies with olive oil instead of butter means that those with dairy allergies or observing a vegan diet can enjoy them too. Use vegetable stock instead of chicken or beef stock for meat-free side dishes and soups so more people can enjoy them.
  1. Leave the toppings on the side. Sometimes it’s just one or two ingredients that rule out a dish for those with dietary issues. If you leave certain items on the side, like bacon crumbles, nuts, or croutons, those who have food restrictions can still eat the food and those who don’t can top off their dish.
  1. Build a bowl. Rather than designing a menu with several parts, build a buffet of toppings and let your guests do the rest. From a yogurt parfait brunch to a smoky burrito bowl, there are many options for having a casual meal that is satisfying for everyone. Having a diverse spread of options will allow your guests to create a meal that fits their needs.
  1. Serve delicious drinks. Even those not drinking alcohol enjoy fancy mocktails. Include everyone in the festivities by making a pitcher or two of fruit and herb–infused waters or a dry bar with seltzer, juices, and herbs. 
  1. Polish your sales pitch. We tend to be wary of foods we cannot easily identify. To encourage everyone to try different dishes, write the menu on a chalkboard or place a menu card on the table. On your buffet line, label each dish with enticing adjectives and include ingredients. Not only does this encourage a picky eater to try new things, but it also helps guests avoid food allergens.
  1. Have fun! Remember, you don’t have to accommodate your guests for every single dish. If your holiday dinner would not be complete without your grandmother’s Yorkshire pudding, include it. Missing your personal favorites might lower your own enjoyment at the occasion. With a well-planned dinner, all of your guests can be happy and well fed.

 

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Seven surprising facts about reindeer

You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen, and—of course, Rudolph the iconic, red-nosed reindeer. But did you know that—if accurately depicted—all of Santa’s reindeer would be pregnant females? That is just one of the fascinating facts I learned about reindeer on a visit to Running Reindeer Ranch in Fairbanks, Alaska, earlier this year.

Fact #1: Both male and female reindeer grow antlers every year, but only pregnant females keep their antlers through the winter (it helps them forage for food in the snow). All other reindeer shed their antlers at the end of fall. Hence, Santa’s reindeer must be carrying more than just presents!

Fact #2: Because they only grow during spring through fall—which is a short period of time in Alaska, with spring and fall each lasting about two weeks—reindeer antlers grow about one to two inches per day. According to our reindeer wranglers, after they leave work on Friday and come back on Monday, some of the reindeer have added a whopping four inches to their antlers!

Fact #3: Female reindeer normally grow bigger antlers than males do, which is why the leader of the herd is usually a female, as was the case at Running Reindeer Ranch.

Fact #4: Reindeer antlers are made of bone, meaning these animals can inflict some serious damage when fighting or defending themselves.

Fact #5: While growing, reindeer antlers have a velvety outer layer that looks very inviting to touch. But there are nerve endings and blood in the growing antlers, so touching them makes the reindeer uncomfortable. It’s a big no-no on the ranch! Once the antlers are fully grown, this velvet layer dries up and itches, so the reindeer rub their antlers against trees to get it off.

Fact #6: Reindeer are the only species of deer that have been domesticated. People have been domesticating them for about 7,000 years now—longer than they’ve been domesticating horses.

Fact #7: Reindeer can see ultraviolet light, which helps them survive the harsh arctic winters. Their main winter food source is lichens, plant-like organisms that absorb ultraviolet light and appear black in the reflective snow. The ability to see ultraviolet light allows the reindeer to find the lichens and also helps them to spot predators.

Running Reindeer Ranch (pictured here) is owned and operated by Alaskan natives Jane Atkinson and Doug Torelle. They have a herd of 13 reindeer, with more on the way come spring. They offer visitors the opportunity to walk among their herd through a birch forest and learn all about these amazing creatures that—bonus fact—thrive at a temperature of 40 below zero!

Thinking about ditching the Florida heat to start a reindeer farm in Alaska? Think again! In Alaska, only those native to the state are allowed to own raindeer.

For more information, visit https://runningreindeer.com.

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