carrollwood - vol. 1, issue 9, december 2013

As the name of her practice “AllAbout Amore” indicates, Dr. Mangotruly loves cats, which is evident fromthe moment you meet her. Nestled inthe corner of her office lies her beauti-ful cat Bagheera, who she rescued overfive years ago after he was hit by a car,causing the lower half of his body tobecome paralyzed. His old ownerswanted to euthanize him, but Dr.Mango, being the compassionate lov-ing person that she is could not letthat happen, and seeing the light and

life in the cat’s eyes adopted him. Hehas been her happy companion eversince. He now accompanies her every-where she goes, happily greeting newclients when they enter All AboutAmore Cat Hospital.

For Dr. Mango, becoming a vetwas inevitable. Growing up with manypets, her love for cats, and animals ofall kinds, was realized at a young age.“I have always wanted to be a veteri-narian since I was a little kid,” says Dr.

By Alexis Selby

Cats are more than just pets, theyare family members. Thus, when yourcat is not feeling well you want to takehim/her to a doctor that truly caresabout his/her wellbeing, one who willtake the extra time with your cat toensure they get the best care possible.That doctor is Susan Mango, DVM,who has devoted her career to takingcare of cats with the highest level ofexpertise and professionalism.

The Community & Local Business Magazine Directly Mailed To 14,000 Homes In Carrollwood, Lake Magdalene & Avila

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:Happy Holidays from NNL.................................3Community Calendar..........................................4Community News Briefs..................................5-7Althea Massage and Spa....................................8-9GetMoreOffers.Com....................................10-11Local Carrollwood Gift Ideas........................12-13Fish Company...............................................16-17Feeding the Hungry...........................................18Upcoming Races...........................................20-21Local Spotlight - Carrollwood Copy Center........24Whole Foods Market Carrollwood................28-29

Vol. 1, Issue 9, December 2013

Neighborhood NewsNeighborhood News®

C A R R O L L W O O D A R E A

& LifestylesYour neighborhood. Your magazine.

PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDTAMPA FL

PERMIT 1185

See “Cat Hospital” on page 24.

By Alexis Selby

Expertly blending the uniquecuisines of Chicago, New York andmany other great cities, including ourvery own Tampa, Twinz Big City HotDogs brings the Carrollwood commu-nity a delicious taste of big city fare!Boasting a huge selection of mouthwatering eats, the menu at Twinzshowcases a little bit of everything,from loaded gourmet hot dogs, juicyburgers and seasoned fries, to their ex-tremely popular chicken wings andhand-spun milkshakes. “We get reallycreative with our food, bringing you

items that you won’t find anywhereelse,” says manager Tony Camarero.

The concept for Twinz was devel-oped by owners and twin brothersRichard and Robert Bowe. Their goalwas to bring something new to theTampa Bay Area – and they have defi-nitely succeeded! Opening this pastMay, this fun, local hangout has beenvery well received in the community,providing customers with a placewhere they can enjoy a delicious, qual-ity meal at a very affordable price.

“We love this area and enjoymeeting people in the community,”

See “Twinz” on page 26.

Twinz Big City Hot Dogs –Legendary Big City Hotdogs, Burgers, Fries & Shakes

Compassionate, High Quality Care For Your Cat

2 DECEMBER 2013 Carrollwood Area Neighborhood NewsFor Ad Info Call (813) 928-6124 or Visit NeighborhoodNewsFL.com

DECEMBER 2013 3Carrollwood Area Neighborhood News For Ad Info Call (813) 928-6124 or Visit NeighborhoodNewsFL.com

Neighborhood News& Lifestyles

Directly mailed once a month to 14,000households in zip codes 33618, 33624 & 33613

220 Safford Ave. S. Tarpon Springs, FL 34689

Phone: (813) 928-6124; Fax: (727) 942-2432Advertising E-mail:

[email protected] E-mail:

[email protected]© 2013 Carrollwood Neighborhood News is published by M Selby Publications, LLC.

Nothing that appears in Carrollwood NeighborhoodNews may be reproduced, whether wholly or in part, with-out permission. Opinions expressed by Carrollwood Neigh-borhood News writers are their own and do not reflect thepublisher’s opinion.

The management of Carrollwood NeighborhoodNews is always happy to accept outside editorial sub-missions to the paper. Please call for outside editorial sub-mission and advertisement deadlines.

Carrollwood Neighborhood News will consider pre-viously non-published outside editorial submissions if theyare double spaced, typed and less than 500 words. Carroll-wood Neighborhood News reserves the right to edit and/orreject all outside editorial submissions and makes no guar-antees regarding publication dates. Carrollwood Neighbor-hood News will not return unsolicited editorial materials.

Carrollwood Neighborhood News reserves the rightto edit and/or reject any advertising. Carrollwood Neighbor-hood News is not responsible for errors in advertising be-yond the actual cost of the advertising space itself, not forthe validity of any claims made by its advertisers.

Carrollwood Neighborhood News & Lifestyles ispublished by M Selby Publications, LLC.

PublisherMatt SelbyAdvertising SalesJim O’ReillyLinda ViegaMike BirdAccounting ManagerAlexis SelbyMarketing & DevelopmentAshley KnoblachArt DirectorTony SicaGraphic ArtistsDat X. Do

EditorAlexis SelbyCorrespondentsErin AldrichJulie KanehlLenay RuhlMarcy SanfordPamela SicaKatie ThomasKim ThomasDara Tucker

The holidays are here, bringingalong with it a whirlwind of festivitiesand celebrations, and at this time Iwould like to take the opportunity, onbehalf of all of us here at the Carroll-wood Area Neighborhood News &Lifestyles, to wish all our readers and ad-vertisers a wonderful Thanksgiving, aMerry Christmas, a Happy Hanukkahand most importantly, whatever yourbelief may be, great tidings this holidayseason. From our dedicated advertisersto our loyal readers, it is you we have tothank for our continued success andgrowth over this past year. It is all of ustogether that make our communitystrong – from our local business ownersto all the other hardworking employeesand community members that call thisarea home.

To so many, Thanksgiving is not justabout getting together and celebratingwith family and friends over a deliciousmeal of turkey, mashed potatoes andpumpkin pie, but also signifies a time toreflect on the past year and give thanks for

blessings – including the joyous opportu-nity to be united for such an occasion.

This holiday season, I would like totake the opportunity to say how gratefulI am to be part of such an extraordinarycommunity that has so warmly wel-comed me into their hearts and theirhomes with open arms. This past year,and the many years I have been writingfor the Neighborhood News & Lifestyles,I have had the chance to meet so manyof our wonderful local business ownersand let me tell you, they have left an im-pression on me that will last a lifetime.They are some of the most dedicated,honest and hard-working people I haveever met, who, no matter how busy, willstill find time and money to supportlocal school programs, athletics pro-grams and many other great charities. Ithas been a real pleasure getting to knowthe people in this community and I lookforward to many great years to come!

This year, as millions of peopleacross the country come together withtheir closest friends and family, I ask you

to reflect about the many things in lifethat you have to be thankful for. We aresuch a blessed community and are so for-tunate to live in a place where love andfriendships are so abundant. Whereneighbors become friends, who work andlive together in such unity and harmony.

I would like to conclude by sayinghow grateful our entire NeighborhoodNews & Lifestyles team is for all of ourreaders and for your continued supportover the past year. We wish you a pros-perous and bountiful holiday and manyjoyous years to come!

As Henri J. M. Nouwen once said,“Gratitude goes beyond the "mine" and"thine" and claims the truth that all oflife is a pure gift. In the past I alwaysthought of gratitude as a spontaneousresponse to the awareness of gifts re-ceived, but now I realize that gratitudecan also be lived as a discipline. The dis-cipline of gratitude is the explicit effortto acknowledge that all I am and have isgiven to me as a gift of love, a gift to becelebrated with joy.”

From The Editor Alexis Selby

Happy Holidays fromNeighborhood News & Lifestyles!


Community Calendar Saturdays 10:00 a.m. UnitedMethodist Church, 207 BuckinghamAve., Oldsmar, FL 34677.

Tuesdays 6:45 p.m. at All SaintsChurch, 1700 Keystone Rd., TarponSprings, FL 34688. ***NARATEENMEETING*** (Same day, time andlocation.)

Wednesdays 8:00 p.m. at the As-bury United Methodist Church, 4204Thys Rd., New Port Richey.

Mondays 7:00 p.m. at the CrystalBeach Community Hall, 517 CrystalBeach Ave., Palm Harbor. (Off Alt 19- 2 Blks. So. of Alderman Rd.)

Tuesdays 8p.m., except holidays,411 Wood St., First United MethodistChurch of Dunedin (Behind church inFellowship Hall)

Life Enrichment CenterArtist of the Month JuanArango

Juan Arango’s“Artist of theMonth” Exhibit will be showing at theLife Enrichment Center, 9704 NorthBoulevard, Tampa, FL 33612 throughDecember 19, 2013.

Juan’s work includes oil, acrylicand ink. The artist’s eleven pieces de-pict elements reminiscent of his life inColumbia. Much is Juan’s work isreminiscent of street life from his na-tive Columbia, vibrant and color-filled

with his creative memory. Juan is aself-taught artist whose amazing abil-ity has garnered him best of showawards and first, second and thirdplace ribbons at the Florida State Fair.All work is available for sale.

Juan’s’s work is part of a monthlyfeature provided by the Life Enrich-ment Center which displays the workof one artist every month. The LifeEnrichment Center is open for classesand Artist of the Month viewingMonday through Fridays.

The Life Enrichment Center isa non-profit organization for activeadults, featuring classes in Water-color, Acrylics, Creative Writing,Tai Chi, Drawing, Knitting, LowImpact Exercise, Pastels, and more.For more information call 932-0241 or visit www.lectampa.org.

Give The Gift of the TropicsThis Season and Pollo Tropi-cal will Reward You With aFree $5 Gift Card

For gift cards purchased nowthrough December 31, 2013, forevery $25 holiday card to Pollo Tropi-cal you gift, you will receive a $5 giftcard for yourself. The $5 gift cards areredeemable from January 1 throughJanuary 31, 2014 and are available atall company-owned locations.

Lake Magdalene UnitedMethodist Church EarlyChildhood Center Registration

Lake Magdalene UnitedMethodist Church Early ChildhoodCenter is happy to announce thatstarting January 2014 they will be ac-cepting registrations for the 2014-2015 school year. Registration willtake place at the Uth (Youth) House,located at 12722 Paddock Ave. inTampa – Queue starts on the backpatio. For more information and aspecific schedule of registrationdates visit the school’s website atwww.ecc.lmumc.org or contact theschool office at (813) 963-0356.

About Lake Magdalene UnitedMethodist Church EarlyChildhood Center

Lake Magdalene UnitedMethodist Church Early ChildhoodCenter, located 2902 W. Fletcher Av-enue in Carrollwood, was establishedin 1970 and has grown from onekindergarten class to an enrollment ofapproximately 240, serving childrenages 1 year through kindergarten.The mission of the school is to providea high-quality age-appropriate educa-

tion to the whole child in a Christianenvironment. The school believes thata concrete, hands-on, active approachto learning in all areas is critical, pro-vided in a safe, nurturing and caringenvironment in which children arechallenged but secure. The school isnon-denominational but stressesChristian morals and spiritual values tohelp the children grow in their knowl-edge of God and His love for all peo-ple. Children of all faiths are welcomeand all applicants are considered re-gardless of race color, creed, national-ity or ethnic origin.

Nar-Anon Family GroupsThe Nar-Anon Family Groups are

a worldwide fellowship for those af-fected by someone else’s addiction. Asa twelve-step program, we offer ourhelp by sharing our experience,strength and hope. Meeting times andlocations are as follows:

Mondays, 7:00 p.m., TurningPoint, Mary Martha Bldg., 6227 Shel-don Rd., Tampa.

Tuesdays, 7:00 p.m., HopeChurch, 5107 Lutz Lake Fern Rd.,Lutz. ***** Narateen***** same lo-cation, day and time.


Florida Veterans’ Hall ofFame Council AnnouncesInaugural Class Includes Local Veteran and Business-man Robert J. Silah, Captain (Re-tired), U.S. Navy

The Florida Veterans’ Hall ofFame Council announces the inaugu-ral class of inductees into the newly es-tablished Florida Veterans’ Hall ofFame.

Inductees are:1. John R. D. Cleland, Major

General (Retired), U.S. Army (Mel-bourne)

2. The late Rep. Sam M. Gib-bons, former U.S. Army Major(Tampa)

3. John L. Haynes, Major (Re-tired), U.S. Marine Corps (Monti-cello)

4. Robert F. Milligan, Lieu-tenant General (Retired), U.S. MarineCorps (Tallahassee)

5. Jeanne E. G. Rubin, Captain(Retired), U.S. Navy (Sunrise)

6. Robert J. Silah, Captain (Re-tired), U.S. Navy (Tampa)

The Florida Veterans’ Hall ofFame recognizes and honors those mili-tary veterans who, through their works

and lives during or after military service,have made a significant contribution tothe state of Florida through civic, busi-ness, public service or other pursuits. Itis not a traditional military hall of fame,as it focuses on post-military contribu-tions to the State of Florida.

The induction ceremony tookplace at 8:30 a.m. on Nov. 12, 2013in the Cabinet Room of the StateCapitol Building in Tallahassee.

“This ceremony sets forth aproud tradition of recognizing veter-ans for their leadership and civic con-tributions to the state,” said retired AirForce Col. Bruce Host, a former LeonCounty Commissioner who serves ascouncil chairman. “We look forwardto recognizing these distinguished vet-erans and many more in future years.”

The Florida Veterans’ Hall ofFame Council, a seven-member advi-sory panel, is responsible by FloridaStatute for submitting to the Gover-nor and Cabinet a list of recom-mended nominees each year. Inselecting its nominees for submission,the council gives preference to veter-ans who were either born in Florida oradopted Florida as their home state.The council’s recommendations for

the inaugural class were unanimouslyaccepted by Gov. Rick Scott and theCabinet on Sept. 24, 2013.

For more information, pleasevisit www.FloridaVeteransHallOf-Fame.org/index.asp

Captain Robert J. SilahCaptain Silah graduated from

Marquette University, Milwaukee andis a native of Wisconsin. CommissionedEnsign US Navy in 1963. Qualified inSurface Warfare, and has had duty inaircraft carriers, amphibious and minewarfare ships and others, with numer-ous deployments to the Caribbean,Western Pacific, and Mediterraneanand 2 tours to Vietnam. He had othersignificant shore assignments with theoffices of the Chief of Naval Personneland the Chief of Naval Operations inWashington, DC., and US CentralCommand. In this last assignment, heserved as Deputy Inspector Generalwith duties in Southwest Asia, inspect-ing embassies in Saudi Arabia, Kenya,Somalia, and Pakistan, as well as brief-ing Ambassadors and staff on Embassyoperations. He also served as Chief In-spector in a number of Central Com-mand major exercises. He concludedhis active duty and 27-year career inTampa. In 2004, he founded Opera-tion Helping Hand to help the

wounded/injured active duty patientsbeing treated in Tampa, where he andhis wife Kathy reside. He is alsofounder and president of SKY Sports-wear Inc.

Captain Silah can be reached forfurther comment at [email protected] or(813) 963-1854. He is a currentmember of CABA with his businessSky Sportswear and his non-profit Op-eration Helping Hand.

Local Ballet StudentsVolunteer at an Arts Centerfor disABLED children

This past year, ballet studentsfrom local dance studios were busyvolunteering at TherAbilities Perform-ing Arts Center, LLC. (TPAC), a ther-apy and performing arts center forchildren and adults with disAbilities.These volunteers have been dancingfrom an early age and are now givingback to the community through serv-ice in two areas that they are passion-ate about: dance and special needschildren.

TPAC is an organization that pro-vides specialized therapy services andextracurricular activities for childrenand adults with disABILITIES in a

Community News Briefs

See “News Briefs” on page 6.


therapeutic environment that pro-motes their participation in these ac-tivities. Classes are provided orfacilitated by therapists, special educa-tion teachers and certified instructors.

All TPAC classes are designed tobe therapeutic and take into considera-tion each student's individual needs.TPAC’s owner, Lourdes Quinones - alicensed Physical Therapist, collabo-rates with instructors to create a planthat will therapeutically address eachindividual’s needs as the student par-ticipates in a highly desirable activity,such as adapted ballet, Tae Kwon Do,music therapy, drumming or art.

Other services include individualPhysical, Occupational, Speech andMusic Therapy. Adapted Music Les-sons, homework assistance and privatetutoring are also available at TPAC.Thus, individuals with disAbilities cannow receive the services they need andthe social activities that they desire inone convenient location which is: 225W. Busch Blvd., Suite #102, Tampa,FL 33612.

At TPAC, volunteers enjoy aunique opportunity to learn methods

of teaching and working with specialneeds individuals, in a context that isboth fun and therapeutic. Volunteersare exposed to a variety of professionsin the healthcare and education fieldsthat may help them decide whether topursue any of these careers as collegemajors upon graduation from highschool, which is a True AmericanTeach-In opportunity for them. Vol-unteers get in-context experience withthese professions, which makes the ex-perience relevant and valuable to stu-dents. Take a few minutes to watchthis video of our high school volun-teers teaching one of our special needsclients to memorize an adapted danceroutine athttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGC6J_KQBMk.

For any information aboutTPAC classes and services, pleasecontact us at (813) 344-0960,(813) 494-2643 or email us at

[email protected] Pleasevisit our website tpackids.com fordetails pertaining to our programand class schedules. You may alsofind us on Facebook astpackids.com.

Fall-themed Lessons Focuson the Farm for EarlyPrimary Students

Parents waited with cameraspoised, ready for the first sign ofhorses.

With happy shouts and the thun-der of feet, kindergartners and PreK4students rounded a corner and cameinto view. They galloped toward theirguests on yardstick horses they haddecorated and named to celebrate“Fall Fun on the Farm.”

Corbett Preparatory School ofIDS teachers temporarily turned asliver of land along Lake Lipsey into afarm for a day, bringing to life the

farming unit Early Primary studentshad studied during October.

Discussions about imports and ex-ports, a farmer’s different jobs, the vari-ety of foods that come from farms andthe life cycle of farm animals broughtdepth and breadth to the fall-themedlessons. Students expanded upon an In-ternational Baccalaureate unit of in-quiry “How We Organize Ourselves:Community Work Together” to focuson rural farm communities, learningwhere food comes from and how it isgrown and packaged to wind up ontheir tables at home.

The “From the Farm to theTable” unit incorporated languagearts, geography, math and criticalthinking.

Kindergarten teachers usedUnited States and world maps for stu-dents to plot different foods grown invarious regions. In math, students se-quenced the growth of a pumpkinplant from a tiny seed to a plumppumpkin on the vine. They also sortedand graphed different crops andlearned how to read and interpretthose graphs.

Students generated a list of whatthey thought they knew about farms,the questions they had and topics theywanted to explore to steer the direc-

“News Briefs”Continued from page 5


tion of learning in the unit. They willuse that “Think, Puzzle, Explore”thinking routine to create thematicbooks and reflect in journals.

The PreK4 class explored globalconnections, studying farms aroundthe world to see similarities and differ-ences as they learned about animals,types of farms and farming jobs.

Spanish teacher AlejandraIzquierdo taught the children a songcalled “La Granja” or “The Farm”that had them chanting animal soundsin Spanish. The students were in-

trigued to find out how different lan-guages decoded animal sounds such as“ki ki ri ki” in Spanish for a rooster’s“cock-a-doodle-doo.”

All of the class work culminatedin “Fall Fun on the Farm,” a magicalmorning of activities that brought thefarm off the pages of books andturned it into something studentscould experience for themselves.Dressed like farmers, the students ranfrom station to station for new discov-eries. They bounced along on ahayride through the campus, danced

along with PreK4 teacher Teresa Krigin a hoedown and gently pet goats,sheep and bunnies.

Family members arrived to ac-company students on their journeys,watching as they painted faces onpumpkins and tasted homemadecandy apples. Students lined up to raceon their handmade horses, and whenthey needed some quiet time, theysnuggled with moms, dads and grand-parents on picnic blankets by the lake,where they could pick out fall-themedbooks to read together.

Two hours passed quickly, andthe festivities had to come to a close aslunchtime and afternoon lessons ap-proached. The children plucked theirhorses from the milk-crate stableswhere they had rested and trottedback behind their teachers towardtheir classrooms.

Founded in 1968, CorbettPreparatory School of IDS (formerlyIndependent Day School - CorbettCampus) is a fully accredited, nonsec-tarian private school located inTampa’s Carrollwood neighborhood.The school serves over 500 studentsfrom pre-kindergarten through eighthgrade and offers the International Bac-calaureate program of study for all stu-dents. Teachers are endorsed in giftededucation through a master’s levelgrant with the University of SouthFlorida College of Education. CorbettPrep balances a dynamic, nurturingand safe learning environment withhigh standards and high expectationsto develop a positive approach to lifeand learning. Corbett Prep has be-come recognized as an exemplaryschool with over 7,000 visitors observ-ing and learning from Corbett Prepteachers. For more information, visitwww.corbettprep.com or contact theAdmissions Office at (813) 961-3087.

Dressed as farmers, students at Corbett Preparatory School of IDS enjoed fall-themed lessons focused on life on afarm. Students ran from station to station for new discoveries.


Relax, Unwind, and Rejuvenate at Althea Massage & SpaBy Alexis Selby

Nestled amongst the hustle andbustle of Carrollwood lies a secret oasis,a quiet reprieve where you can come tolet go of the stresses of your day. Foronce you step inside the doors of AltheaMassage and Spa you leave your worriesbehind and are whisked away into aworld of relaxation and rejuvenation.The intimate atmosphere at Althea setsthe perfect tone, and their wonderfulspa services will give you the opportu-nity to renew your energy and reviveyour spirit – leaving you ready to takeon the world!

Meaning “healing” in Greek, thename “Althea” is the perfect embodi-ment for owner Donna Confalone’s vi-sion, and accurately portrays what herspa is all about, wellness and holistichealing of the body, mind and spirit.Donna, who is a licensed massage ther-apist, was introduced to natural healingat a young age through her mother,and upon finishing high school, at-tended the Suncoast School of MassageTherapy, where she graduated in 2000.“I really love what I do,” says Donna.“I knew this was what I wanted to doright out of high school, and it has

been a passion of mine ever since. I feelvery blessed that I am able to do some-thing that I love.”

Donna is accompanied by massagetherapist Bronia and spa specialist Kellee;together they provide divine spa servicesthat perfectly complement a healthylifestyle. “Our goal is to help our clientslive a healthier life,” says Donna. Althea’sservices include all types of massage, cus-tomized facials, manicures and pedi-cures, as well as sugaring, an organic,less-painful, form of hair removal.

Client Amber says, “Kellee givesthe best facials! I have very sensitiveskin and she structures her skin carearound my needs. Kellee also providessugaring instead of waxing, mani/pedis(done with the utmost in cleanliness)and recommends an all-natural skincare line that I have fallen in love with.I really enjoy my time at Althea Spa. Itis a quiet, small office that treats youlike family. The girls are wonderful andwork hard to make sure your experi-ence is what you are paying for. I won'tgo to a big spa again.”

Donna, Bronia and Kellee truly careabout helping their clients, which is whythey keep their services very affordable.And, instead of up-charging for different

types of massages, you pay for the timeslot and the type of massage you want toget is up to you. This allows Donna andBronia to uniquely customize the mas-sage to fit your specific needs, withoutyou having to worry if you “picked” theright massage for what those needs maybe. “I really dedicate my time to helpingmy clients, that way they can really geteverything they need out of the one ses-sion,” says Donna.

“I have been a fan of massage foryears but had not found the ‘right' per-son until I found Donna and AltheaSpa,” adds client Amber. “I was tired ofpaying money for a massage that wasso-so and just didn't feel like I was get-ting my money's worth. Donna andBronia are the real deal and the best Ihave ever been to. They are very pro-

fessional and make sure to structureyour experience around your needs. Ileave every massage feeling less stressed,less tense and overall, physically better.I have a stressful job as a nurse takingcare of other people and Donna helpsme to take care of me.”

Donna says, “We focus on helpingpeople to not only feel better but to ac-tually be better. We are such a stressedsociety. I read an article listing Tampaamong the top 10 cities in the U.S. forbeing stressed. I couldn’t believe it.”Since reading that article, Donna hasreally made it her mission to helpTampa residents lower their stress lev-els, one relaxing massage at a time. Sheadds, “I want to help people under-stand that having things done like amassage, and even things like getting a


Following the massage I met withKellee, who then took me into anotherroom to perform my facial. Startingwith a wonderful facial cleansing, Kelleethen looked at my skin under a bringlight to determine the best treatmentsfor my face, allowing her to customizethe facial for my individual preferencesand needs. Using Prana SpaCeuticals,an organic botanical skin care line,Kellee worked her magic, and by thetime she was done my face wassmoother and fresher than I have seen

in a long time. “Everything we do isnatural,” says Kellee. “All of the facialproducts in the Prana SpaCeuticals lineare natural and made from organicproducts.”

After the facial, Kellee led me overto Althea’s comfy couch and sat medown for one of her wonderful pedi-cures. The pedicure was fabulous andKellee did a great job polishing mytoes! Donna says, “We have the cleanestand most eco-friendly pedicure spa. Youaren’t going to receive a cleaner or bet-ter pedicure in Tampa.”

Many people view going to a spa asa luxury, when in actuality it should bea necessity. It is important to take timeto decompress; it can not only help toimprove your physical health, but yourmental health as well. So, when you areready to take a break and make sometime to unwind from a hectic schedulegive Althea Massage and Spa a call –you will be glad you did!

Althea Massage and Spa is lo-cated at 3802 Ehrlich Road, Suite303 in Tampa on the Southwest cor-ner of Ehrlich Road and Dale MabryHwy. The spa is open by appoint-ment Mon. – Sat. 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.For more information or to schedulean appointment please call (813)690-3619 or visit their website atwww.AltheaWellnessSpa.com.

manicure or facial reduces your stresstremendously. Too many people don’ttake time for themselves and it’s veryimportant that they do.”

My Experience with AltheaMassage and Spa

My experience with Althea startedfrom the moment I walked in theirdoors and was happily welcomed byDonna. She instantly made me feel com-fortable as she prepared me for my mas-sage, asking questions about areas I

would like her to focus on, and my mas-sage preferences. As the massage beganmy tensions started to slip away, and asthe peaceful music played in the back-ground I felt myself ease into relaxation.With a gentle, yet firm, touch, Donna’shands seemed to just glide over myaching muscles, working out all the kinksand knots of a stressful week. Her mas-sage was by far one of the best I had everhad, and when the massage came to anend, I got up feeling refreshed, with awonderful sense of calmness.

Althea Massage and Spa owner Donna Confalone welcomes you to try one of her wonderful spa services.


By Julie Kanehl

Are you moving? Would you like toput your house on the market, but aren’tsure where to start or who you can trust?Have you thought about selling the houseyourself, but aren’t sure how to getstarted? Do you wish you didn’t have togive so much commission to Realtors®,when you’re happy to do a majority of thework yourself, like designing and creat-ing an MLS listing and showing yourhouse? GetMoreOffers.Com is the af-fordable way to list your home, givingsellers the ultimate control over thesale, and on a site that attracts morethan 100,000 buyers per month! All ofthis while being backed by a licensedexperienced Real Estate Company anda Broker who sticks to his guns. This isthe new face of real estate.

Long ago, when the real estateworld was a different place, a Realtor®would be the only one who could findyou a listing, but with today’s technol-ogy, usually it’s the buyer that ends upfinding the home they want to live inby finding the listing themselves onlineand through websites that show MLSlistings.

Clearly, the market and the face of

real estate have changed, so doesn’t itmakes sense that the way we would goabout selling our houses would changeas well? Today, homeowners are morehands-on than they were in bygoneyears, and every penny counts. Sellingyour home by yourself can be an over-whelming experience, but handing allof the control over to a Realtor® whotakes a chunk of the percentage homeat the end of the day can make sellersfeel like they’re losing on the deal. Get-MoreOffers.Com is a safe middleground for sellers, which gives themcontrol of the process while savingthem money.

No-Nonsense, Discount Real Estatefor Everyone

ADDvantage Real Estate, as theauthorized Florida brokerage of Get-MoreOffers.Com, offers discount list-ing services all over Florida, fromJacksonville and the Panhandle, all theway down to the Keys. Co-created byBroker Keith Gordon, who has nearly30 years of experience in Florida, Get-MoreOffers.Com offers discount realestate that can be tailor-made to suiteach homeowner.

Together with Erin Knorr, CEO

of GetMoreOffers.com, whobrought the amazing software tolife, they’ve helped thousands ofpeople sell their homes safely andaffordably.

Typically, in a full-service list-ing, buyers have to sign an agree-ment that states that they willwork with one particular Realtor®for a period of time, usually sixmonths, which eliminates the pos-sibility of selling the home them-selves in that time, even if a buyershows up on their doorstep. Also,a 6% commission is generallyshared between the listing agentand the selling agent, which meansmore money out of pocket for thehomeowner.

The GetMoreOffers.Com ad-vantage is that the seller doesn’thave to pay a listing commission,which is usually a savings of around 3%of the final sale of the house. Accord-ing to www.GetMoreOffers.Com, withan ADDvantage flat fee MLS listing, ifyou are successful in finding a buyer foryour property without the assistance ofa real estate agent, then you would payNO commission; just the ADDvantageflat fee. It’s that simple.”

GetMoreOffers.com gives sellers“real time” control of the selling of theirhome, by offering sellers the opportunityto purchase an MLS listing at an afford-able flat fee, as well as creating an interac-tive portal where sellers can manage theirlisting, personalize it, add pictures and

Broker Keith Gordon

GetMoreOffers.Com is the New Face of Real Estate

Carrollwood Area Neighborhood News For Ad Info Call (813) 928-6124 or Visit NeighborhoodNewsFL.com DECEMBER 2013 11

make adjustments to price, and even de-termine the buyer’s agent’s fee.

Gordon says, “Everything happens inreal time, seamlessly, and electronically.”

Yuri Zygala said, “We just closedon the sale of our home and could notbe happier with the results. We choseto use GetMoreOffers.com andADDvantage Real Estate after a sale fellthrough using our listing agent. Mak-ing this choice was the best thing wedid. Selling by owner and being theones scheduling all showings we madeover $15,000 profit above what wewould have made using a listing agent.We listed on a Sunday, and had asigned cash offer 7 days later. I highlyrecommend using GetMoreOffers.comfor your next home sale.”

The GetMoreOffers.ComAdvantage

Having control doesn’t mean youwon’t get the support you need duringthe sale of your home.

GetMoreOffers.com offers amaz-ing customer service to both the seller,and the interested parties, whetherbuyers or Realtors®.

For a flat fee of just $299, yourhouse can be “on the market” and onMLS within 24 hours. Your listingwill benefit from premium internetmarketing that offers up to 25 photos,

a guarantee that it will show on yourlocal boards, will be Showcased on Re-altor.com as well as on partnered sites,including Zillow, Homes.com,Craigslist, Yahoo Real Estate, Truliaand more. The best part is that you,the seller, will control everything fromthe price of your house to when you’reavailable to show your house to inter-ested parties.

Now, if you love the idea of takingthat hands-on approach, but want thesupport and backing of a Real Estateagent for making sure that your buyersare pre-qualified, or to know when to ne-gotiate, or when not to, then you mightprefer GetMoreOffers.Com’s Profes-sional ADDvantage Program, which in-cludes everything from negotiating tothe organizing and preparing all of thelegal documentation that goes along withselling a home. This hybrid program isthe best of both worlds, and is a hugevalue to sellers. This program is only$499 upfront, and just 3/4 of 1% due atclosing (with a minimum of $1500).

Gordon says, “Sellers who go withthis program also get me, and I’m ano-nonsense discount broker. I usenon-traditional negotiating techniquesthat save sellers money.” He adds, “Ido this because I believe that buyersdon’t go away after they’ve made an

offer. If they’ve made an offer, they’vealready committed to buying yourhouse, so I don’t always believe incountering.”

While Keith Gordon also offers fullservice real estate services through hisfull service brokerage, Principal 1 Realty,he says many sellers and even full serviceagents utilize the discount services ofGetMoreOffers.com and ADDvantageReal Estate due to the value and exten-sive coverage of MLS systems through-out the state. (Many agents get listingsoutside of their board coverage area andlook to GetMoreOffers.com to listtheir out-of-area listings rather than besubjected to the expensive fees to jointhe MLS themselves.)

Since GetMoreOffers.com is affili-ated with Frontier National Title andPatriot Lending, all of a seller’s real es-tate needs can be handled in-house,from selling a house, or being ap-proved, to buying a new one.

Jurgen Schmidt said, “As a Real-tor/Broker at a full-service firm, whenit came time to list my out-of-stateproperty I never thought I would con-sider using a discount Brokerageagency, but… I’m so glad I did! Keithand his team at ADDvantage were awe-some, the service and support were ex-ceptional and they got results in notime! The entire experience far ex-ceeded my expectations and I wouldn’thesitate for an instant to use ADDvan-tage again or recommend them toeveryone.”

If you are looking to sell yourhouse and save money while you’re atit, try GetMoreOffers.com and experi-ence the new face of real estate.

GetMoreOffers.com is open andonline 24 hours a day, 7 days aweek. To speak to an agent or to getmore information, please call1-877-232-9695.

Find the Perfect Gift for Everyone on Your ListRight Here in the Carrollwood Area!

By Marcy Sanford

There is no need to run all overtown this holiday season searching forperfect presents, especially when youcan find wonderful gifts at one of themany great stores, salons, spas, orrestaurants right here in Carrollwood.Show your loved ones how much youcare, thank a special teacher or em-ployee who has helped you throughoutthe year, give your friends something toshow them how much you appreciatethem, and support your local busi-nesses at the same time.

Everyone could use a little extrapampering, especially around this timeof year, and there are some wonderfulsalons and spas in Carrollwood that willhelp you relax after all the holiday fes-tivities. Althea Massage and Spa is awonderful spa offering massages, facials,manicures, pedicures, and other uniquebody services. Great Clips will haveeveryone on your list looking beautiful,with a new haircut, color, or style andEuropean Wax Center will help themget ready for beach season. Perfect forpeople of all ages, a gift card to see hyp-

notherapist Dee Woolridge will relaxyour loved one’s body and renew theirenergy – leaving them ready to conquerthe new year. If you truly want to pam-per your friend or significant other, buythem a massage from Zen in Your Denand licensed massage therapist NatashaPalmer will come to them in the com-fort of their home.

Priel Salon is the premier kerastasesalon and hair spa of Tampa, specializ-ing in hair extensions, ammonia-freecolor, deep conditioning treatments,ombre, and balayage. Have the men inyour life looking spiffy, with a gift cardto Tampa Bay Barbers. The talentedbarbers will leave them feeling fine inno time with a personalized hot shaveand barbershop haircut.

Want to give a gift that will reallysurprise? How about a gift certificate toLandon Plastic Surgery or The SpaBoutique, where your loved one canchoose exactly which of their fabulousservices they want and need, whether itbe on the cosmetic side or spa side.

Really, a gift card to any one ofthese fabulous businesses will make youthe favorite gift giver of the season.

If you need great giftsfor the wonderful women inyour life, the friendly, knowl-edgeable staff at PrincessBoutique can help you out.Showcasing the hottesttrends in today’s fashion,Princess Boutique offerseverything from clothing,jewelry, and accessories, toshoes, trinkets, and more!From glass, pottery andwood pieces to hand-madegifts and home décor,Carter’s Gallery, a uniquestore bringing one-of-a-kindpieces from an array of ven-dors, has gifts that will trulyamaze.

Or, maybe your loved one is in tocrafts and jewelry making, how aboutget them something special from Som’sInternational Tampa Bead. A jewelry-makers Mecca, Som’s Internationalspecializes in semi-precious stones,gemstones, and freshwater pearls.

No matter if you’re looking for agift for a serious collector or searchingfor the latest release for a trendy friend,

The Sound Exchange has an extensiveselection of both new and used CDs,DVDs, Blu-Rays, vinyl records, andgames that are sure to entertain anddelight. They also carry vintage stereoequipment that rivals the sound oftoday’s newer models.

Whole Foods, well known as agourmet market with a fabulous selec-tion of delicious and healthy foods, also


Whole Foods carries a full line of soft, stylishclothing made from organic cotton.

has some amazing items that wouldmake great gifts. Whole Foods carries afull line of soft, stylish clothing madefrom organic cotton, green toys to de-light the children in your life, and com-fortable, fashionable Toms andOkabashi shoes. They have hundredsof items that you can mix and match tocreate a truly unique gift basket. Beau-tiful flowers and lovely herbs, wonder-ful wines and craft beers, specialtychocolates and tasty treats, gourmetchesses and homemade pastas, divinebody washes and soothing lotions, andcolorful eco water bottles, no matterwhat interests the people on your list,you’re sure to find something to de-light them at Whole Foods.

Everyone has to eat, and a gift cardto one of the many great restaurants inthe Carrollwood area will be a mealthey’ll remember. Treat them to ascrumptious pizza from Mellow Mush-room or fresh, delicious seafood at Bal-lyhoo Grill. Another great choice is NewBeijing Restaurant, which is sure to tan-talize their taste buds with their sushiand classic Chinese, Thai, and Viet-namese specialties. Han II Kwan Kinjahas deliciously authentic Korean andJapanese cuisine, fresh sushi, and hibachifor your favorite diner. Or, Genghis Grillwill allow them to take charge of theirmeal by creating their own stir-fry with

more than 80 fresh ingredients. You canget some delicious special roast coffeefrom Hattie’s Café & Beanery for thecaffeine lovers in your life. Or, give thema gift card and they can pick up one ofHattie’s fabulous fresh squeezed juices,coffees, teas, or smoothies. Or, they canenjoy a fresh, yummy breakfast or lunchalong with a tempting pastry or dessert.For a fun, delicious dining experienceget them a gift card for O’Brien’s IrishPub & Grill, where authentic Irish cui-sine will leave them satisfied, or TwinzBig City Hotdogs – their menu of gour-met options is perfect for anyone andeveryone!

A great option for those healthconscious people on your list is a giftcard for zumba classes at BrickhouseCardio Club. With their upbeat, ener-getic classes and high-intensity trainers,exercising becomes both fun and moti-vating at Brickhouse Cardio Club inCarrollwood.

Gifts for KidsIf you need a gift for a child,

Learning Express, located just downthe street at Citrus Park Mall, has youcovered. With unique, fun toys for chil-dren of all ages, and an extremely help-ful staff, you’re sure to find the perfectgift at Learning Express.

If you have a child, you are proba-

bly already familiar with the RainbowLoom craze. Learning Express has ac-cessories to make your favoriteLoomer’s eyes light up, including everyimaginable color of rubber band andpersonalized cases to keep everythingorganized. And, if your child is alreadyobsessed with the Rainbow Loom, youmight want to look at the Loopdedoo,a cool spinning loom kids can use tomake bracelets, headbands, and more.

One gift every kid is sure to wantis an ultra thin electronic Boogie Boardtablet. Kids can write or draw on thetablet using a stylus or even their fin-gers. This is a great gift for children ofall ages, and a fun way for a beginningwriter to practice his or her letters,while providing great entertainment forchildren traveling over the holidays.Older children will love drawing on itor even writing reminders and lists forthemselves.

In addition to all these great ideas,Learning Express carries the full line ofCalico Critters toys and many Melissa& Doug gift sets that you can’t findanywhere else. The staff at LearningExpress is happy to help you find theperfect gift for any child. Even better,their Santa’s Wish List service takesaway the guessing game of what yourfavorite child wants. With this service,children can come into the store andtag toys they like so grandparents,aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends cansee exactly what’s on their list.

Keep your holidays stress freethis season and find everything youneed right here in Carrollwood atone of these amazing local busi-nesses. For more information on anyof the businesses mentioned in thisarticle please look for their ad in thisissue.


Learning Express has accessories tomake your Loomer’s eyes light up!


By Lenay Ruhl

Some people write out proposals,researching and developing complexplans before starting a business. For theladies of Fish Company it was simple;their faith was the foundation that in-spired their business. Fish Co. is basedon the story in the Bible of Jesus feed-ing the 5,000.

As the story goes, Jesus was preach-ing to the masses. They had been listen-ing to him speak all day and they werehungry. The disciples searched for foodto feed them, but all it took was the of-fering of a small boy who had only fivetiny loaves of bread and two fish forJesus to create a miracle. As the disci-ples divided the food into baskets to dis-tribute to the people, they weresurprised when this small boy’s offeringsprovided enough food to feed the mul-titudes with plenty to spare.

Fish Co. uses the model of thismiracle as their guiding principle, be-lieving that God will take what fishthey have to offer, multiply them anduse those fish to change the lives of or-phans in need. They’ve exchangedloaves for handmade dolls and fish forpurses, and their “crowds” are the

more than 153,000,000 or-phans around the world.

Fish Co. is a non-profitorganization dedicated to pro-viding homes for orphansthroughout the world throughthe creation, sales and ex-change of products using do-nated goods and materials.Fish Co.’s mission is bothglobal and local. They are alocal ministry, whose missiontranslates to a global change.Globally they are building or-phanages and sending theirdolls to comfort orphan children. Lo-cally they are empowering and encour-aging people of all ages to offer theirgifts and skills to make a difference.

All the items that Fish Co. has tooffer are individually made and handsewn using 100 percent donated mate-rials. Those items are then sold and100 percent of the proceeds are used tochange the lives of orphans. CurrentlyFish Co. is partnered with ICM, Inter-national Cooperating Ministries, tobuild an orphanage in Uganda.

“It’s a beautiful exchange,” saidMary Carli, Fish Co. Treasurer, when re-ferring to the trading of purses and babies

for donations towards the orphanage. “The Swahili word for fish is

Samaki. Our bag is named theSamaki bag as an ever present re-minder of the small offering of alittle boy that God turned into amiracle,” said Cindy McFadden,Fish Co. Co-President.

The babies are called Mkate ba-bies. Mkate means bread in Swahili.They are sold only in pairs; one is sentto a child in need and the other is senthome with the purchaser as a reminderto pray for the child who receives itstwin. Dottie Percy is the designer andthe developer of the babies. Dottie wasproud to say, “So far, we have been

blessed to send babies to orphanages inmany countries, including Tanzania,Zambia, Bulgaria, Nicaragua,Guatemala, Haiti and Uganda.”

Fish Co. originated from the heartsof women who felt a need to make a dif-ference in this world. In 2011 JulieMiller, Fish Co. Co-President traveledto Tanzania, where she experiencedfirsthand the plight of the more than

Fish Company – Inspired by Faith and the Desire to Help Orphans Globally

Fish Company ladies with Janice

Zambia orphans


2,000,000 orphans in that small coun-try. That trip served as the spark to ig-nite the passion each of these ladies feltto both use their creative talents andchange the lives of children in need.

“It’s been amazing to see God atwork,” said Julie, “after only a fewmonths of ministry we are well on ourway to meeting our first goal of raisingfunds to build an orphanage in Uganda.”

Part of what makes Fish Co. spe-cial is that it is run entirely by volun-teers. They do everything from cuttingand sewing fabric to sweeping floorsand sending ‘Thank You’ cards. Vol-

unteer Kirsten Murawski said, “We’realways looking for donations, and morehelp.” Another thing that makes FishCo. special is that it is a family venture.Cindy and Julie are sisters and Dottie istheir mom. Their husbands and chil-dren even get involved.

“It really is a special thing, we haveour family working together and friendsfrequently dropping by to lend a handand bring donations,” added Julie. Forthem, this all goes back to the biblestory of Jesus with the loaves of breadand fish; everyone gives what they can.

As Kirsten put it, none of their

wishes have gone unanswered, andthey are continually finding people whoare donating the things they need, in-cluding everything from thread to theflooring under their feet.

Creating their bags and babies intheir workshop, they have an opendoor policy for those who would like tocome by and be a part of their ministry.They are currently selling their bags onfacebook and their website www.fish-company.org. They also frequentlymake appearances at craft shows andother events. The ladies of Fish Co.have a beautiful story to tell and wantto share that story with the world.

“What we believe God can dowith this is what drives us,” said Mary.The ladies laugh together, dreaming ofFish Co. expanding to other cities.They have shameless idealism and canimagine a world where every child hasa home; where people from all overbring their own “fish” to the table,joining efforts in raising money to bet-ter the lives of orphans.

To get involved with Fish Co.by volunteering, purchasing items,or making a donation, visit theirfacebook fan page at www.face-book.com/FishCoTampa and theirwebsite at www.fishcompany.org.

The durable and roomy Samaki bags come in a variety of fabrics,which you can view online at fishcompany.org


By Katie Thomas

On December 16, the LandonOutreach Foundation, Inc. will behosting a dinner to feed 500+ peo-ple in need this holiday season at theGood Samaritan Health Clinic,located at 5334 Aspen St. in NewPort Richey. The Landon Founda-tion welcomes all individuals andfamilies in need withinthe community."Feeding the Hun-gry" will be heldMonday, De-cember 16thfrom 3 p.m.to 5 p.m. andwill include afree hotmeal, blan-kets & socks,toys for thekids and a visitfrom Santa.

This will be theSecond Annual "Feed-

ing the Hungry" event and organiz-ers would appreciate any and all helpfrom the media in getting the wordout to those who would benefitfrom it. Any information, video orinterviews needed, will be accom-modated. They would like to thankyou in advance for any assistanceyou may be able to give them inhelping those who need it most.

The Landon OutreachFoundation Inc.

(www.Lando-nOutreach.com)

was founded in2009 by Dr.Bruce Landonand CherylLandon andthe staff atLandon Plas-tic Surgery.

Landon Out-reach Founda-

tion Inc. ispassionately dedi-

cated to assisting fami-

lies and individuals in need throughfinancial assistance, community serv-ice and food distribution through-out the Tampa Bay community aswell as globally. Cheryl Landon says,“Please help us make this event anunbelievable success and share thisevent with everyone you know!Thank you!”

The event will be held at theGood Samaritan Health Clinic,located at 5334 Aspen St. in NewPort Richey. For more informa-tion on the Landon OutreachFoundation Inc. "Feeding theHungry" event please call (727)376-3999 or e mail: [email protected].

Last year Landon Outreach Foundation’s inaugural “Feeding the Hungry”event served chili, bread, dessert, hot cocoa & coffee to families in need.Santa also came and provided gifts for the children and warm blankets.

Tampa Bay Area Business Planning to Feed More than 500People & Would Appreciate Assistance in Getting the Word Out


Hog Wild Half Marathon – The First of Many Exciting Races to ComeBy Alexis Selby

Winding through the rugged ter-rain, the Hog Wild Off-road HalfMarathon led runners on a wild ad-venture, through swamps, ditches andfields, as they fought, mud, sweat andtears to make it to the finish line! Aunique course specially designed tochallenge runners and truly test theirlimits, the Hog Wild Off-Road halfmarathon, which was held at RockingV Ranch in Plant City, was 100% offroad, meaning no pavement, no as-phalt, no traffic and lots of nature.

There is something about thewild outdoors, that makes running somuch more enjoyable, and the won-derful volunteers at the Hog WildHalf Marathon did an exceptional jobof creating a course that was bothchallenging and fun. Physically andmentally demanding, runners had tofight nature’s natural obstacles whilebattling to make it to the end.

In true Hog Wild-style, the fundidn’t stop at the finish line – it spilledout into the spectator area. Followingthe race was the after party, whererunners, along with their supporters,

enjoyed unlimited drinks – beer in-cluded – as they partied to the DJspinning Top 40 beats.

So you missed this race? Not toworry, the Hog Wild Off-Road HalfMarathon was the first installment inthe “Run In the Wild” Off Road Run-ning Series, and just one of the manyexciting races to come, so you haveplenty more chances to compete!

Run In The Wild Off RoadRunning Series

Spanning across Central Florida,the Run in The Wild Off Road Run-ning Series takes running to a wholenew level, challenging participants to arange of different terrains, obstaclesand adventures. And, the best part is –all ages and pace levels are welcome.For those of you who wish to get intorunning longer distances, these are theperfect races to try, because whetherthis is your first race or you’re a sea-soned veteran, their uniquely challeng-ing courses offers a fun terrain and thewonderful volunteers will provideample support along the way. So grabsome friends, and sign up today, thenext race is in less than 2 weeks!

Masters of All TerrainTaking you on a beautiful journey

through the Seminole State Forest,the Masters of All Terrain 10-MilerOff-Road Race, the next race in theRun In The Wild series, continuestheir tradition of bringing peaceful,green and most of all, wild backdropsto your race calendar! Spiralingthrough the magnificent trails, thisrace will provide runners with a rigor-ous, exciting course. Showcasing

spectacular views of the forest and thewildlife, you never know what to ex-pect or what will cross your path. Theair is filled with oxygen and the sawgrass trails feel great on your feet andknees. For those that wish to run, butdon’t think they can make all 10 miles,there is also a 5 mile course, so youcan still enjoy the beautiful scenerywith half the running! The 5-mile racewill be held on the same day, with thesame start time.


Event Details: When: Sunday, December 15 from

8 a.m. – 4 p.m.Where: Seminole State Forest lo-

cated at 32101 FL-46 in Sorrento, FL32776

Who: All ages and pace levels arewelcome.

Includes: Entry into race and afterparty (bring your party hat), free park-ing, unlimited food, unlimited bever-

ages (non-alcoholic), including MuscleMilk, a t-shirt, medal, chip (race is chip-timed) and photos.

Shirts and Medals: Every partici-pant will receive a custom Masters ofAll Terrain 10-Miler (or 5-Miler) fin-isher shirt and medal, custom designedfor this event. Their shirts are top qual-ity so that you will feel proud and com-fortable while showing off your newattire!

Registration: For more informa-tion about the race or to register pleasevisit www.MastersOfAllTerrain.com.You can also find them on Facebook.Cost for the 10-Mile race is $60 and$45 for the 5-Mile race.

When you go to registertype in the code“TENMILESOFFROAD” toreceive 15% off your registra-tion. You can also register theday of the race – just mentionthat you saw them in theNeighborhood News and re-ceive the same offer of 15% offregistration.

Masters of the UrbanTerrain: The MetropolitanAdventure Race!

Sure, running a 5k’s great! It’s anawesome way to stay in shape, it’s greatfor dopamine production and stress re-lief and it makes you look good to all ofyour friends in real life and on Face-book.

But, what if you could take partin a weekend event that not only getsyou out and active, but also challengesyour problem solving skills, route plan-ning and adeptness of tailgating minigames?

An urban adventure race with chal-lenges and clues, the Masters of Urban

Terrain Metropolitan Adventure Race isa choose your own adventure, point topoint landmark and secret Orlando un-derground hunt, with some built inmini-games and challenges along theway. Oh, and did I mention – therewill be plenty of FREE BEER once youfinish!

You’ll start with a list of clues thatwill lead you to different places in thebeautiful city of Orlando; some youknow about, and some may be surpris-ingly obscure. You will enjoy the his-tory lesson while you also challengeyour dexterity at 5 different, mandatorychallenge stations with mini games likecornhole, logic puzzles and a threelegged race.

The race starts at Noon and thereis a 2 hour time limit where you willsolve as many clues on the list thatyou're given as you can in the giventime and you must return to the bar by2 for your score to count.

When: Saturday January 18, 2014from 12 p.m. – Whenever the partyends.

Where: Don Jeffe’s Bar located at41 West Church Street in Orlando, Fl32801

Registration: For more informa-tion or to register please visit www.Mas-tersOfAllTerrain.com. Cost is $30 perperson in teams of 2 or 3 participants.


deserve. This includes spending extratime with them to get to know themand their feline on a personal level. Sheunderstands that no one knows yourcat better than you, therefore she asksplenty of questions, and most impor-tantly – she listens. Dr. Mango and herstaff pride themselves on developingmeaningful relationships, and knowtheir clients and cat visitors by name,making it a point to greet them with awarm welcome as soon as they walk

through the doors. “I expect a higher degree of cus-

tomer service and believe others shouldexpect the same,” says Dr. Mango.“Being in the customer service industrybefore becoming a vet, I know the waypeople should be treated. When I gosomewhere I want to be treated as anindividual and not just a number; Iwant to feel welcome and know that Iam not a nuisance.”

At All About Amore, Dr. Mangoand her staff believe patient education

Mango. “I tried other jobs knowingthat one day I would fulfill my dreamand become a vet.” Attending RossUniversity Veterinary School in theCaribbean, after working with differentanimals, she found herself gravitatingtowards cats. She says, “I fell in lovewith cats. Cats are so different andunique. I love working with them.”And, since graduating in 2006, her lovefor cats only continues to grow.

Wellness exams and yearly check-ups are an essential part of a cat’shealthy lifestyle, and in addition tocheck-ups, All About Amore offers afull range of services, including vaccina-tions, in-house lab work, surgeries, ra-diology, prescription medication,prescription food, microchips, euthana-sia, flea and heartworm control andeven grooming – yes, cats can getgroomed too! “Many people don’t re-alize that you should keep your catgroomed, especially if you have a long-haired cat,” says Dr. Mango. “We offermany different grooming services forcats. This is really important for long-haired cats, who are often unable toclean all areas, most significantly, whenit comes to reaching their back ends.”

Dr. Mango’s grooming services includeear cleanings and clipping claws, as wellas baths, fur cuts and blow-drying, shecan even give your cat a cool lion-cut!

All About Amore also offers agreat selection of items for your cat, in-cluding toys, grooming and hygienesupplies, soft paw nail caps, treats andso much more.

Dr. Mango goes above and be-yond to provide her clients with the ex-ceptional service that she believes they

“Cat Hospital”Continued from page 1

Dr. Mango and her beautiful cat Bagheera (above)All About Amore Cat Hospital offers a great selection of items for your cat,

including toys, grooming and hygiene supplies, treats and so much more. (R)


is one of the most important contribu-tors to a healthy cat, therefore, shemakes sure to keep her clients well in-formed about all aspects of their cat’shealth. Dr. Mango says, “People wantto know all of their options and we doall we can for their cat, because cats aremore than just pets, they are their fam-ily members.” This level of commit-ment makes such a difference, andclients really appreciate Dr. Mango’sdedication and love for their belovedcats.

“When you come here, we are

going to take the time with you andyour cat,” says Dr. Mango. “We wantto make sure he/she is satisfied andyour cat is taken care of properly. WeTruly care about animals.”

Dr. Mango’s compassion and lovefor animals extends out into the com-munity as well, and in her spare timeshe and Bagheera volunteer with Pawsfor Friendship, Inc., a non-profit or-ganization of volunteers sharing theunconditional love of their personalpets with people in need, throughoutthe world. (www.PawsForFriendship-Inc.org) She also works with Lap ofLove, a Veterinary Hospice and In-home euthanasia service(www.lapoflove.com), as well as KittyCity, a kitty boarding facility and foun-dation that adopts out cats who need aloving home.

All About Amore Cat Hospitalis located at 6178 Gunn Hwy. inTampa. Their hours are Mon.,Tues., and Fri. 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.;Wed. 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.; Thurs. 11a.m. – 7 p.m.; and every first andthird Sat. of the month from 8 a.m.– 12 p.m. For more information orto schedule an appointment pleasecall (813) 280-2928 or visit theirwebsite at www.AllAboutAmore-CatHospital.com. You can also findthem on Facebook.

Dr. Mango provides exceptional, loving services to all the cats in her

care.

says Richard. “We are one of thoseplaces where we call our customers bytheir names. You are not just anotherticket number. What I love mostabout Tampa is that it is a melting potof cultures. A lot of people have mi-grated here from other places, bring-ing with them the diversity of thecuisine from their different regions.”At Twinz, Richard and Robert, andthe rest of their awesome staff, do anexcellent job of replicating these au-thentically diverse cuisines and encom-passing them into their menu.

Robert and Richard are so appre-ciative for this opportunity to servethe Carrollwood community, and at-tribute their success to the hard workethic and cooking abilities taught tothem by their loving mother. Robertsays, “None of this would be possibleif it wasn’t for our mother. May sherest in peace. She changed our familyforever. She encouraged us to succeed.Our mom always had us in the kitchenand raised us to take care of ourselves.We were able to cook full thanksgivingdinners by the time we were 12. It is

because of her that we have developedinto the men we are today.”

Known around town as “therestaurant that people crave when theywant a delicious hotdog, juicy ham-burger, creamy shake, or golden fries”Twinz strives to serve only the highestquality food that will take the oldergenerations back to the backyard bar-beques and baseball games, while intro-ducing the younger generations to theway hotdogs and hamburgers shouldbe served. The meat used in their ham-burgers is a signature blend created justfor Twinz, which is really significant inthat you normally have to be a national


“Twinz”Continued from page 1

chain to get your own special blend. Featuring the best of what every

city has to offer, Twinz showcases afusion of different flavors and styles.Thinking outside the box, Robert andRichard put their own creative spin onsome of your traditional favorites tocreate items that are completely newand truly unique to the Twinz name.And, I can attest to this – they defi-nitely know how to create some re-markably delicious food!

On our previous visit my husbandMatt and I had the feast of a lifetime!Bringing out a huge variety of itemsfrom their menu, Robert and Richard

allowed us to taste just how phenome-nal their food really is!

As the name suggests, hotdogs area specialty, so on your next visit youmust try one of their signature dogs.For those of you who like fare from the“windy city”, the Chicago Dog is yourideal choice. Comprised of a NaturalCasing Chicago Red topped with mus-tard, tomatoes, pickles, onions, relish,celery salt and sport peppers, served ona steamed poppy seed bun, theChicago Dog has a yummy, sweet fla-vor that really hits the spot.

With a subtly smoking flavor, theBacon Cheddar Dog is another cus-

Twinz has a huge selection of gourmet hot dogs, like their Tampa Bay Dog (L) and Bacon Cheddar Dog (R).


tomer favorite, and after one bit I caneasily taste why. Featuring a NaturalCasing Chicago Red Hot Dog loadedwith an amazingly creamy cheesesauce, and shredded cheese beforebeing topped with mustard, choppedApplewood smoked bacon, and grilledonions this dog has got it going on!

Now comes my favorite – theTwinz Tampa Bay Dog! A true testa-ment to Tampa’s diversity, this dogrepresents the name well, showcasinga Polish Sausage grilled to perfection

before being topped with spicy mus-tard, mayo, BBQ sauce, onions, Ap-plewood smoked bacon, potato sticks,and best of all – their tasty homemadeslaw. With the first bite I was hooked!Best described as an explosion of fla-vor, the delicious crunch of the potatosticks, contrasted by the tangy slawmade for an extraordinarily great taste.

Moving on to the other side oftheir menu, the burgers are anothersuperb choice for those looking for aquality meal, and Matt and I really en-

joyed their Mushroom Swiss Burger.Made with their signature beef blend,the Mushroom Swiss burger is ahearty burger with a whole lot of fla-vor, and let me just say, you can defi-nitely taste the difference in their beef!Cooked to perfection, and toppedwith mayo, baby portabella mush-rooms, caramelized onions and Swisscheese, with each bite the burgerseemed to just melt in my mouth.

Wings are another huge seller atTwinz, and are something thatRichard and Robert really take pridein. Richard says, “Everybody expectsus to have good hot dogs, but our se-cret is in our wings. The wings weserve are what other wing places thatspecialize in wings should be serving.”So, naturally, we had to try some oftheir wings; their recommendation –the Snow Bird Rob and Rich wings.How I would describe these wings –divine! Covered in their homemadetangy BBQ sauce and topped withblue cheese crumbles, before beingput in a steamer to further melt thecheese, these were by far some of thebest wings I have ever tasted!

Have a sweet tooth? The delicioushand-spun shakes at Twinz are sure tohit the spot, and perfectly accompanyeverything and anything on the Twinzmenu.

As you can see, Twinz showcasesa nice variety of options for people ofall tastes and preferences, and theirfamily-friendly atmosphere and excel-lent share size portions on many oftheir menu items, make it the idealplace for family gatherings and groupparties. When asked what he wouldrecommend to new customers, Robertreplies, “Everything! There is nothingon my menu that I don’t like.”

With their amazing wings, andnumerous flat screen TVs showing the

NFL Sunday Ticket, it is no wonderwhy Twinz has become one of Car-rollwood’s favorite stops for FootballSundays. Sunday specials include 20wings and a large fry basket for$19.99, and four sliders and 20 wingsfor $24.99.

Robert and Richard take being apart of Carrollwood very seriously andare constantly finding new ways to giveback to the local community. They areactively involved with Carrollwood Ele-mentary and Lake Magdalene Elemen-tary and do fundraisers throughout theyear to donate to the Parent TeacherAssociations. “We Stay involved withthe community,” says Robert.

Their newest local fundraiser,called Turkeys for Tampa, has comejust in time for the holidays. For themonth of December, for every foot-long Tampa Bay Dog sold, Twinz willdonate $1 towards the purchase ofTurkeys, which Richard and Robertplan on buying and donating to Met-ropolitan Ministries. “Our goal is tobe able to donate 100 turkeys,” saysRobert. They will also have a placewhere you can donate canned goods,and as a way of saying thank-youTwinz will take a percentage off yourbill at the register whenever you do-nate. “You have to give back,” addsRobert. “We are so rooted in ourbusiness and our community. This iswhere we live. This is our home.”

Twinz Big City Hotdogs is lo-cated at 13149 North Dale MabryHwy., Suite F in Tampa on the cor-ner of Fletcher and Dale Mabry.They are open Mon. – Thurs. 11a.m. – 9 p.m.; Fri. and Sat. 11 a.m.– 12 p.m. and Sun. 11 a.m. – 9p.m. For more information pleasecall (813) 264-6018 or (813) 264-6321 or visit their website atwww.TwinzBigCityHotdogs.com.

Hot dogs aren’t the only specialty on the menu at Twinz. They also have some of the best wings, burgers and shakes in town, such as their Snow Bird Rob andRich Wings (L), and Mushroom Swiss Burger perfectly accompanied by two of their delicious shakes (R).


As you continue your journeythrough the holidays, you’re probablystarting to plan for Christmas,Hanukkah and New Year’s get togeth-ers. Much like Thanksgiving, these aredifficult events to execute while main-taining a healthy approach. But it ispossible, so stick with me to learnsome simple ways to keep your weightdown during the most indulgent sea-son of the year.

First and foremost, find time toexercise. This is the number one activ-ity I find that people cut out. I’veheard every single excuse in the book,but what it all comes down to is this:your health is worth 30 to 60 minutesa day. The American Heart Associa-tion recommends 30 or more minutesof medium intensity activity at leastfive days a week -- and remember,something is always better than noth-ing.

Second, don’t eat just becausethere’s food. Hand in hand with this isthe idea of eating until you are satis-fied, not overstuffed. There are a lot ofnumbers thrown around when peoplegive advice on how long it takes foryour stomach and brain to register

about how full you are, but just re-member that there is a lag. Eat slowly,eat with purpose and remember to lis-ten closely for your body’s signals.Whole foods with healthy fats can helpfill you up and keep you satied like noothers. Remember, the lethargy thatcomes with overconsumption plays di-rectly into my first point, so don’t overeat and then go sit on the couch!

Third, offer healthy options forsnacking -- and more importantly, optnot to have the other stuff. One of themost common mistakes party hostsmake is to offer healthy options, likeveggie platters, mixed fruit salads orpick-your-toppings salad bar, but theyalso have a bowl of chips, some sourcream and onion dip or a platter ofchicken wings. Rise above the desireto offer these items and stick with (theoften less expensive) healthier treats. Ifyou don’t have the bad stuff around,then you simply cannot eat it.

Lastly, do not skip meals to makeup for poor eating choices. This is oneof the things I hear other people advo-cating and it makes my heart sink.Often times with the focus on caloriecounting comes a desire to skip meals

in order to “make up for” overeatingat other times of the day. Unfortu-nately your digestive system does nottell time like your brain. Skippingmeals does very little in the way ofmaking up the caloric difference, butit is harmful the next time you sitdown to eat (and are positively rav-ished) and makes it exceptionally hardto control your intake. If you have a“bad meal” don’t take your next mealtime off, instead choose some nutrient

dense, plant strong options to keepyour body happy and healthy.

Nicole Sampson is the HealthyEating Specialist at Whole Foods Mar-ket Carrollwood. She is a great re-source for free, easy tips on how to eathealthy on a budget. Keep an eye outfor her free classes and store tours atwholefoodsmarket.com/stores/car-rollwood or email her at [email protected] to set up ahealthy eating education event for

Celebrate the Holidays with Whole Foods Market Carrollwood


your school or workplace!

Tahini Garlic MashedPotatoes

Ingredients: • 2 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes,peeled and cut into 1 inch chunks• 7 garlic cloves, peeled• 1/4 cup tahini• 1 cup plain unsweetened non dairymilk• 1 tablespoon lemon juice• 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt• 1 1/2 teaspoon toasted sesameseeds

Method: Place potatoes and garlic in a

large saucepan, cover with cold waterby 1 inch and bring to a boil. Lowerheat, partially cover pan, and simmeruntil potatoes are very tender, 15 to20 minutes. Drain, return potatoesand garlic to pan and add tahini. Mashwith a potato masher or large forkuntil very smooth. Place over low heatand stir in non dairy milk, lemon juiceand salt; add a little more soymilk ifpotatoes are too thick. Spoon into abowl and garnish with sesame seeds.


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carrollwood - vol. 1, issue 9, december 2013

Documents

takingcare of cats

cats eyes

alexis selby cats

cat toensure

community calendar

carrollwood community

aboutamore cat hospital

foods market carrollwood