A Valentine’s Day Worth Remembering… Adopt a Real Manatee!

Manatee gift adoptions from Save the Manatee Club are a way to protect endangered manatees and their aquatic habitat, and also a way to let your loved ones see that your heart is in the right place this Valentine’s Day.

Jennifer Vogel, recently retired from a long career of practicing law, and who currently resides in Texas, adopted a manatee for her husband, John, last Valentine’s Day. “We had just decided to spend part of the summer in the Florida Keys so my two daughters could become certified scuba divers,” said Jennifer. “I have always loved manatees, and the whole family knew how excited I was about the possibility of seeing one on our trip. Adopting a real manatee was the perfect way to make our trip more meaningful.”

Thirty-three manatees are featured in Save the Manatee Club’s adoption programs, including two new manatees, Bama and Zewie, who spend the summer months in Alabama waters. Jennifer chose Brutus for her husband from the adoption program at Blue Spring State Park in Orange City, Florida. “The choice was easy,” Jennifer explained. “I loved the very macho name for such a gentle, giant creature.”

Tax-deductible gift adoptions from Save the Manatee Club cost $25 and include a color photo, biography, and adoption certificate of the manatee who is chosen. Also included is a fact-filled membership handbook, subscriptions to the Club’s official quarterly newsletter, The Manatee Zone, and the bi-monthly e-newsletter, Paddle Tales, and a year’s membership in Save the Manatee Club. A personalized Valentine’s Day gift card comes with each adoption, and shipping is free within the United States. An 8-inch manatee plush toy is included with every gift adoption of $35 or more

Funds from the adoption program help in the protection of manatees and their ecosystems. Save the Manatee Club is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit conservation organization, established in 1981 by singer/songwriter Jimmy Buffett, and former Florida Governor and U.S. Senator Bob Graham. This past year the Club assisted with rescue, rehabilitation, and release efforts in America and abroad; helped to expand and protect the manatee’s winter warm-water habitat; obtained improved boat speed zones in areas frequented by manatees; and conducted research on boater compliance in Kings Bay, Crystal River, Florida to obtain improved protection measures there. The Club raises public awareness; educates; advocates; and supports conservation efforts in other countries.

Patrick Rose, Aquatic Biologist and Executive Director of Save the Manatee Club, said that despite the immense problems facing manatees, there is hope. “As long as people continue to support strong manatee and habitat protection measures, manatees have a chance,” said Rose.

Jennifer Vogel and her family are among the many who advocate for the manatees. “The manatee is one of America’s treasures,” she remarked. “What I love about Save the Manatee Club is that they help you feel personally connected to the manatees through their real live manatee adoption program, and regular updates let you know how the manatees are doing.”

Care to adopt a manatee this Valentine’s Day? Visit Save the Manatee Club’s website at www.savethemanatee.org, or call 1-800-432-JOIN (5646). Also, sign up for the Club’s free E-Newsletter.

Soft & Safe Dino Bowling Set

I have a two year old and four year old that love this baby bowling set by Lakeshore Learning. They love to set up the soft stuffed dinos and knock them down with the balls over and over again. The pins and balls are covered in vinyl so they are easy to wipe clean. In addition to using the dinosaurs as bowling pins, they have become tea party attendants, puppets to entertain the baby and footballs. The set of 6 dinosaur pins and two large balls comes in a zipper tote for easy storage. The set retails for $14.99 at lakeshorelearning.com.

Social Mom Product Review: Dolphin Organics

As the New Year dawned, I considered making all sorts of life changing resolutions. Exercise more, get more sleep, eat more kale. Well, that last one might be a bit of a challenge. So, I took a different approach. Rather than overwhelm my family with goals that might not last through the first week, I decided it was best to start with something simple.

Switching out my daughter's regular shampoo and conditioner and replacing them with the Dolphin Organics Baby Shampoo and Conditioner was an easy first step. These products are organic, natural and endorsed by the Healthy Child Healthy World organization. The big question, would they work as well as my tried and true brands?

The short answer is yes. They are fabulous products! The tear-free shampoo lathers well and rinses cleanly. The conditioner is thick enough to coat the hair without weighing it down. These products are fragrance free but do have a slight scent. These and other baby care products are available online for about $12 each at Dolphin Organics. I recommend them and would purchase the Travel Set or Gift Baskets for baby shower presents.

If you're hoping to start the New Year off on a healthy path, the Dolphin Organics products are an easy way to go. Best wishes!

Submitted by Lisa-Marie, a Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine Social Mom, who is always on the go with a tiny tot in tow.

"Love, Loss and What I Wore" at The Straz until January 15th

“Love, Loss and What I Wore” is a wonderful collection of stories that uses the memories that clothing and accessories trigger to tell stories that any woman can relate to. The all-star cast including Loretta Swit, who played “Hot Lips” Houlihan on M*A*S*H and Sonia Manzano who has played Maria on Sesame Street for over thirty years, stays seated throughout the show.
Although the actors don’t move very much physically, they definitely move the audience with stories about surviving breast cancer, losses of parents and children, relationships that don’t work and relationships that do. The show is not about fashion. It is about how our clothing tells a story about the children we were and the stylish adults we want to be. Some of the scenes had me laughing out loud and others I needed a tissue for. It was a perfect combination of humor and poignancy. One of my favorite scenes – “I hate my purse” really describes how I feel about every purse I have ever owned. I buy a new purse hoping that it will keep me organized and by the second week of owning it I can’t find anything in it so I buy another one and the same thing happens. Finally, I find one that works for me and it falls apart. I need to get a bag! Another favorite scene was shoes, which details the age old dilemma of comfortable shoes vs. sexy heels. I have to admit that I have owned many pairs of Birkenstocks and the less comfortable, more stylish shoes always win in the end.
I strongly recommend this show for all women. I am glad that I brought a girlfriend instead of my husband. I don’t think my husband would have appreciated how traumatic it is to get your first bra or why you can never find something to wear when you have a full closet of clothes. A close girlfriend always understands these things. The Jaeb Theatre at the Straz is a perfect venue for this type of intimate show. Get your tickets soon, the show ends on Sunday January 15th.

Fireworks safety tips to consider this New Year’s

• Stay Alert. Never mix alcohol with fireworks, sparklers and novelties.
• Adult supervision. Never allow children to light or handle them.
• Take Precautions. Always keep a hose and a bucket of water nearby in case of emergencies.
• Let Sleeping fireworks, sparklers and novelties Lie. Don’t try to relight fireworks, sparklers and novelties that don’t ignite. Wait 15 - 20 minutes, then douse and soak them with water and throw them away.
• Obey All Laws. Please obey state laws regarding the use of fireworks, sparklers and novelties.
• Protect Your Pets. Animals are often frightened by the sounds of fireworks, sparklers and novelties. To protect your “best friends,” keep them indoors — away from the loud noise — and secure.

Legoland's Christmas Bricktacular and Kids' New Year's Eve

Although the presents have been opened, you can still savor the holiday season by taking a trip to Legoland Florida in Winter Haven. From now until December 31st, Legoland Florida is celebrating a Christmas Bricktacular. There are plenty of festive Lego decorations to admire as you "play your part" in Central Florida's newest theme park. Cheerful holiday music can be heard and snow falls throughout the day in The Beginning near The Market. There's even a nightly fireworks show at 7pm through December 31st.






The centerpiece of the Christmas Bricktacular festivities is a 30-foot tall Lego Christmas tree which is made up of over 270,000 Lego and Duplo bricks, shimmering lights and Lego ornaments. Even though it's amazing to see in the daylight, this unique tree really sparkles at twilight!

If you're looking for a memorable and fun way to ring in the New Year with the whole family, then be a part of Legoland Florida's first ever Kids' New Year's Eve event. Plan to spend the day riding the fabulous rides, watching entertaining live shows and movies, and eating tasty treats throughout the park. You can even take a leisurely stroll through the historical botanical gardens, build your own Lego towers in the Imagination Zone and see if your engineering skills stand up to a simulated earthquake.


The Christmas Bricktacular and Kids' New Year's Eve holiday events are included with park admission. For more information, please visit the Legoland Florida website at www.legoland.com.

Submitted by Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine Social Mom Lisa-Marie who is always on the go with a tiny tot in tow.

When Should Your Child Stay Home from School Due to a Cold?

-When is it appropriate for parents to let their child stay home from school?

Going to school can be very stressful for children. When children aren't feeling well, the stress of the school day can be too much. When children are ill, they are more tired, cranky and tend not to eat or drink. This sets them up to get further dehydrated and ill. To keep an illness from progressing, a day at home may be the first step. At home, caregivers can encourage a child to eat nourishing food like chicken soup, drink hydrating fluids such as water and rest.

-Is it better for your child to stay home so you don't get other children sick?

Keeping your child home from school is important for both your child's health as well as the health of their classmates and teachers. Children will exchange germs and get ill more frequently compared to adults. Many of the viruses that cause colds are airborne. Teach your children to sneeze into the crook of their arms and to cover their mouths when coughing. Then encourage them to wash their hands after coughing, blowing their noses and before eating. Also coughing onto toys can contaminate them and make others fall sick. Make sure your teacher is aware of your child's illness so hygiene precautions can be implemented at school.

-What signs or symptoms should a child have in order to be absent?

Some general rules of thumb to skip school include a fever over 101 degrees Fahrenheit, a severe cough, and nausea, vomiting and wheezing. These same symptoms also merit calling your pediatrician and arranging for a trip to their office. Other important signs of illness are rash and general malaise.

-Which cold remedy works the best?

Most physicians and the FDA no longer recommend cough and cold medicines for childen especially younger than age 2. For children older than 2, be wary of overdosing a child but using more than one remedy with the same ingredient. Children's Tylenol, Advil or Motrin can help with headache and low-grade fever. Always follow the directions on the label and from yur physician. Cold-EEZE zinc lozenges or oral spray are an effective way to decrease the duration of a cold. Studies from Dartmouth and the Cleveland Clinic have shown a decrease by 42% of a cold's duration. Zinc gluconate works best when started on the first day of symptoms so always keep some handy. Clean humidifiers also go a long way in keeping your child comfortable with their nasal symptoms. Keep you child well-hydrated. Unfortunately, the studies have fallen short in proving the efficacy of Vitamin C.

-Is there a way parents can prevent their children from getting sick?

Teaching your child good hygiene is the best prevention for staying healthy. Washing hands before eating or touching the eyes, nose and mouth is essential. A well-balanced diet, good hydration and rest are also important.

About the Author:
Dr. Yael Halaas, ear, nose and throat doctor. She’s been featured on round up/lifestyle and breaking news segments on The Doctors, FOX News and ABC New York.