(LONG ISLAND, NY) Starting your own business can be a risky endeavor. It takes capital, initiative and a lot of hard work. I caught up with local business owner Jessica Mashkevich, founder of Kona Benellie and creator of the throwbee who now adds ‘kindness’ to that mix. Jessica, who calls herself ‘chief comfort giver’ gave her company a new direction—using compassion as a compass.

What gave the you idea to start your own company? I created Kona Benellie Designs in 2010 armed with only a scissor and a desire to make people’s lives easier through versatile comfort. A pet-lover to say the least, I named my company after our golden retriever “Kona”.  With a mission of comfort for all, I created the first and only 4-in-1 “OmniRobe” (which appeared on the TODAY Show) and the best wearable blanket called the “throwbee blanket-poncho”. I also just launched the “throwbee pet blanket” allowing our pets to enjoy the same throwbee softness as we do.

Jessica’s daughter Ellie

Your company took a new direction recently–can you tell me about that? Upon a recent visit to a local animal shelter to donate supplies and spend time with the dogs, I noticed that the pups had very little to bring them comfort and security in their living space. Concrete floors can be cold and unforgiving, and shelter life is stressful for them. I knew a blanket would instantly bring the dogs security, comfort, and warmth as they await their forever home. In chatting with the shelter employees, I learned that blankets are at the top of most shelter wish lists nationwide. Wanting to help, I immediately evolved my comfort-focused company into a social enterprise and would now match each customer purchase with a new blanket for a shelter dog in need.

Our story of giving becomes our customer’s story of giving and impacts the life of a dog forever. We give a new blanket to a dog in need for every product purchased. Your comfort becomes their comfort.

How did you connect with North Shore Animal League and how can Long Islanders help your initiative? I reached out to Beth Stern (Howard Stern’s wife) who put me in touch with the right people at North Shore Animal League. Beth’s animal-loving efforts are an inspiration. North Shore Animal League is the world’s largest no-kill animal rescue and adoption organization with a national network of shelter and rescue partners. They rescue, nurture and find homes for nearly 20,000 homeless, ailing or neglected animals each year. We are happy to provide them with our blankets on our first “Giving Trip” knowing that this will make an immediate impact in the lives of so many dogs.

Kona Benellie provides people with a great product and an opportunity to do something that matters. We use the same One for One business model as TOMS and aim to make a big impact in the lives of shelter dogs. 6-8 million animals enter shelters each year. Blankets are at the top of shelter wish list. A blanket instantly brings them security, comfort, and warmth as they await their forever home. Together we can make a difference. Your comfort becomes their comfort. To learn more visit: www.konabenellie.com and www.facebook.com/konabenellie

(Long Island, NY) When I asked my 11-year-old son where he wanted to eat his big birthday dinner, he didn’t flinch. It was BBD’s, a hip new restaurant in Rocky Point… for the win.  An acronym for Beers Burgers Desserts –the restaurant is a dynamic new approach to the neighborhood hamburger bar. Putting an innovative spin on America’s beloved burger, the folks at BBD’s grind and patty all of their meat in-house and offer three different cooking methods for guests to choose from: grilled, griddled and steamed. It’s my family’s new  favorite place to break bread. (You must, must, must try the Bavarian Pretzel appetizer!)

With a 30-foot bar, BBD’s extensive beverage program offers 22 draught taps and dozens of bottled selections.  They choose to highlight local craft brewers with some of  their favorite beers from around the country and the globe. BBD’s is  also are one of the first restaurants in the country to offer six whiskey and bourbon draught taps; served as a ‘Whiskey Block’ on perfectly cubed ice or in one of their adult milkshakes! Oh and the desserts are to die for.  BBD’s is the brilliant brainchild of Chef Ralph Perrazzo, a native Long Island resident. Perrazzo’s concept for a restaurant focuses on the things he loves, BEERS, BURGERS and DESSERTS. BBD’s quickly becoming a Suffolk County hotspot and snatching up lots of accolades and top honors. The buzz is, in my opinion, truly well-deserved.  If you’re on the hunt for a fabulous dinner for everyone in your family, this is the place.

Something you might want to put on your calendar where you can eat and drink like a king for a good cause: BBD’s is proud to present its first  BBD’s Inagural Craft Beer Dinner  Wednesday, March 12, 2014 for a one-of-a-kind food and beer extravaganza.

BBD’s Chef and Owner, Ralph Perrazzo, has asked his talented friends to come and cook a special dinner just for you.  9 Chefs and 9 Breweries will present their food and beer for this inaugural event.  Enjoy passed hors’ d oeuvres and a 7 Couse Meal with beers to match.

All proceed will go to Live Like Susie (www.livelikesusie.org), a local scholarship program.

• Where: BBD’s, Rocky Point,
• Date: 3.12.14
• Time: 5:30 PM to 9:30 PM, but it may go later….
• Cost:   $150 General Seating, $185 VIP Bar Seating

The Chefs

• Ralph Perrazzo – Chef/Owner, BBD’s Restaurant
• Matt Birnstill – Executive Chef, The Quogue Club
• Joe Realmuto – Executive Chef, Honest Man Company (Nick & Toni’s, Nick & Toni’s Café, Rowdy Hall, La Fondita, Townline BBQ, Honest Catering)
• Sue Torres – Chef/Owner – Suenos
• Darren Carbone – Executive Chef/Partner, Tierra at the Old Town Hall
• Steve Gallagher – Chef/Owner, The Trattoria
• Jonah Kim – Executive Chef, PABU Restaurant
• Chris Broberg
• Joe Murphy – Pastry Chef, Jean George

The Beers

• Port Jeff Brewing Company – Plum Sour Ale
• Greenport Harbor Brewing Co.  – Otherside IPA Cask
• Rocky Point Artisan Brewers – Calypso Red Saison
• Crooked Ladder Brewing Company – Rye Maple Stout
• The Blue Point Brewing Company – Mosaic Session IPA
• Montauk Brewing Co. – Montauk Driftwood Ale
• Captain Lawrence – Reserve Imperial IPA
• Sixpoint Brewery – The Brothers Quinn
• Ommegang Brewery – 3 Philosophers

 (**Must be 21 or older to attend.  Valid ID required to enter.)

(Long Island, NY) Each February, the American Dental Association (ADA) sponsors National Children’s Dental Health Month to raise awareness about the importance of oral health. Taking your child to the dentist is key to a healthy smile and if your child is scared to go, there are ways to soothe their anxiety. Parents play a key role in helping their children have a fun visit to the dentist, explains Dr. Tanny Josen D.D.S., Pediatric Dental Specialist at Great Neck & Mid-Island Dental Associates.

“Children can perceive their parents anxiety prior to dental visits, which will make them more fearful. Tell your children that the dentist is their friend and wants to help them have a healthy mouth.”

When parents talk about going to the dentist, they should not use words that would scare the child, such as needle, hurt, injection, shot, or drill, says Josen. These are words that would set the children off.

“As pediatric dentists, we use child friendly words that are accepting to the children without causing any fear. Another way parents can help their children cope with going to the dentist is to bring their children to watch when they go to the dentist or better yet, watch their older siblings,” he says. “Showing the child that people have fun at the dentist is a wonderful method of approach.”

What are the top three ways parents can help promote healthy habits at home? You probably know this already but I will list Josen’s expert advice below as a reminder. “Your kids will thank you for setting them on the right path,” he says. “A majority of the tooth decay that I see could have been prevented, at an early age, if parents followed these three simple points.”

1. As many know, at-home oral health care is the foundation for a healthy mouth; brushing and flossing, twice daily, is imperative for good oral hygiene. Teaching a child this basic routine at a young age will instill good oral care habits well into adulthood. Parents should also lead by example.
2. Parents should limit sugary, sticky foods and drinks to help prevent tooth decay. They should also teach their children at a young age to make good food choices as a balanced, healthy diet is vital for a child’s overall health.
3. By scheduling regular dental check-ups and cleanings every six months, kids will learn that taking care of their oral health is important.

Great Neck & Mid-Island Dental Associates is a multidisciplinary practice, offering a full spectrum of general and cosmetic dentistry services including periodontics, orthodontics, porcelain veneers and IV sedation dentistry. In addition, the office has a state of the art pediatric division called Kid Island Dental, providing excellent care for children and ensuring each child has the most comfortable visit possible. For more information, please visit www.greatneckdentalassociates.com

It’s that’s time of year again—when all the New Year’s resolutioners hit the gym hard.  Or plan to. For me, looking good is a priority, sure.  But feeling good is what I tend to focus on the most. There’s one exercise class where you can do both. I’m taking Zumba Fitness and it’s the one class where even if I have gained a few holiday pounds, it doesn’t matter.  I still feel inspired to go because I always walk out feeling just a little ‘hotter’ each time.

Truth be told, I owe said hotness to Kristi Tramposch, a fierce fitness instructor at Evolusion Fitness in Miller Place who is makes the hour shaking off the Christmas cookies literally fly by. Kristi (who also teaches Piloxing, Pound and Insanity at Evolusion) is also a personal trainer and she really knows how to get her students motivated.   If you’re on the fence about Zumba (I certainly was at first!), read on because you don’t need dancing skills to reap the rewards and join the party.

Kristi Tramposch, a fierce fitness instructor at Evolusion Fitness in Miller Place. Kristi makes the hour shaking off the Christmas cookies literally fly by.

I can’t really dance my way out of a paper bag, yet I can really follow along. What do you typically tell new students who may be intimated to take a class or think they need to be a ‘dancer’ to enjoy it?

Kristi: This is one of my biggest challenges…getting students to walk through the door.  A lot of times they are standing outside watching and way too intimidated to come in and try a class.  I am very honest with my students.  I tell them MY story.  I have never danced a day in my life–I took a Zumba class for the first time and tripped over my feet.  If it weren’t for my instructor I would have quit right then.  She encouraged me to stay and though it took me a few classes, when I got it, it felt GREAT!

I let my students know that I have everyone in my classes from older teenagers to 70-year olds, dancers and non-dancers, male and female and everyone moves differently and that’s okay.  Any movement is better than NO movement and Zumba is a FUN, effective way to meet your fitness goals!

I always leave feeling empowered and invigorated.  I would never put on lip-gloss for spin class or any other class (!) but for some reason I like to get a little dolled up for Zumba.  Is that common?

Kristi: I LOVE that you get dolled up for Zumba.   After aging a bit, becoming a mother, and a wife I started to get into a slump.  I realized after a while that feeling sexy IS empowering and I decided that I would make sure that no matter what was happening in my students’ lives at the time, during that one hour they spent with me in my class that they were going to feel sexy.  Every woman needs to feel sexy!

When you first started taking my class I saw you as a little bit on the shyer side and you were very quiet.  You stood near the door which made me think that sometimes you wanted to escape! You very quickly came out of that shell and it was obvious not only to me but to other students as well.  People love to watch you flip that long gorgeous hair of yours and your smile lights up the room!   I’ve noticed that you’ve become closer friends with the ladies that share the spots next to you on the dance floor and that’s what it’s all about.  A party atmosphere!  Like I said it is always my goal that my students feel sexy and to hear that it makes you feel empowered and invigorated is really the best compliment I can receive!

Ooh, thanks! YES, I do flip my hair and YES I have made some very good friends from taking Zumba class. I used to hide in the back at first… Do many students have issues with letting loose during class and feeling too self-conscious?

Kristi: So many of them hold back because they are shy to “shake it” in public but I think I shake SO much that they start to loosen up really fast. Over the years that I’ve taught Zumba fitness classes I have seen so many shy students go from “I can’t dance” to OMG they are really shaking it!   It is so rewarding to see a student who once hid in the back make her way up to the front row and get really into the dance moves.   One of my students said to me recently, “I never even knew I could move like that before taking your class!”   Two months later, she became an instructor.

I love your (ahem) sexy routines.  Are they the most requested?

Kristi: Like I said before it’s so important to me for my students to leave feeling sexy and good about themselves.  I love to choreograph a routine with easy to follow, yet sexy moves in it knowing that every woman in that class can do it!  Yes these routines ARE my most requested and it’s fun to watch even the women in the class who are too shy to shake it, become confident enough during those songs to execute each step with all the sexiness inside of themselves!

Welcome to the #Selfie Revolution!

(Long Island, N.Y.) Well, it looks like we are all super obsessed with ourselfies! I’ve got the latest scoop on the state of the selfie union. Besides being named ‘Word of the Year’ by Oxford Dictionaries recently, the phenomenon is really catching fire. eBay Deals recently conducted an exclusive study on the explosion of selfies in 2013. (Yes, there’s really a major selfie study out there!) They found that the original #selfie hashtag grew more than 200% since January of this year. According to the report, in 2013, the selfie has practically become a medium all its own. It states:

“With hundreds of millions of users sharing their photos on Twitter and Instagram, tips and tricks abound for creating a quality self-shot. And with the unexpected rise of selfies, people have begun to study the social impact and motivations behind sharing whole albums of nothing but self-photos. Today, the selfie is an unavoidable fixture of social networking. At the gym, in the car, at a baseball game – or, yes, in the bathroom mirror – selfies have become universal. With the continuing spread of smartphones and the availability of more photo sharing and editing apps, their popularity isn’t likely to recede any time soon.”

Who are the top celebrity selfie tweeters? The study says among the most famous Twitter users, women unquestionably dominate the field when it comes to selfies. No surprise there.

“Actress and singer Miley Ray Cyrus has posted the most selfies of any Twitter celeb, a remarkable 121 – many more than her runner-up, model and TV host Tyra Banks, who only has 61 selfies. In contrast, the most popular male celeb on Twitter, comedian Russell Brand, has posted a mere 12 self-shots.”

If you post some selfies on Instagram, you are so not alone. According to eBay Deals, the top celeb selfie poster is Kylie Jenner of “Keeping Up With the Kardashians,” with 451 self-photos – far more than Miley. But she’s challenged for the top spot by runner-up Snoop Dogg, with 271 selfies. Instagram selfies show a much more even spread of men and women: While the top 25 includes Kim Kardashian, Rihanna and Kat Von D, it also includes Justin Bieber, Wiz Khalifa and LeBron James. Overall, Instagram is used for vastly more celeb selfies than Twitter.

The most striking selfie stat: “The top 10 selfie-related hashtags used on Instagram include #selfie, #selfiemonday, #selfiesaturday, and #selfiesunday – for Instagram users, every day is a good day for a selfie. Altogether, these 10 hashtags include more than 41 million photos, with #selfie alone comprising nearly 35 million of these.” Posts containing the #selfie hashtag on Instagram: 34,924,648.

And there you have it.

(Long Island, N.Y.) When celebrating Thanksgiving we are all reminded to feel gratitude. But often, the holiday is spent focusing on food or dodging family squabbles. For some tips (and reminders!) to stay grounded and thankful, I turned to Strategic Life & Relationship Coach Meryl Hartstein, author of “You Were Born to Shine” Confidence for Women, Internally, Externally, Eternally. Here, she shares her abundant wisdom.

• Reflect on the past. Although going back into ones past is not always a good thing to do, being a believer of leaving the past in the past, I do think that’s where one needs to go on Thanksgiving. Taking a trip down memory lane and weighing the good with the bad is a great place to start. Gratitude needs to be found deeply within the heart. It’s not about what you have now, today in the present, but more of what you didn’t have in the past. It’s also about what could have become of you without the good fortune you’ve been blessed with. It can be health, wealth or the absolute blessing of finding peace and purpose in your life.

• Think positive. Gratitude is one of the most important emotions one can possess. It prevents you from carrying around negative feelings such as anger, jealousy, resentment and self-pity. For its nearly impossible for those feelings to co-exist with gratitude. So when you are experiencing any of those extremely painful feelings, think about what you are grateful for and you will only be left feeling blessed and positive.

• Keep the peace. It’s a normal condition to be arguing with family throughout the years. I have yet to find any family that is not without conflict. On this special family day each year when we have turkey and all the trimmings, it’s a good practice to leave the conflict at the door. Remember, family is a gift. There is no one else that you can share your precious childhood memories with, laugh together at the crazy stories that you all grew up on, and loving the same people who share your bloodline.

• Pass it on. On this holiday, we must pass on the meaning of Thanksgiving to our children. They need to be taught compassion along with gratitude. Show them what the other side might be experiencing. Let them give back where they can. This is one of the greatest ways for them to truly appreciate their abundance. Sharing what they have with others less fortunate is a lesson well needed these days. Our children are so indulged with material things. With all the technology that is at their fingertips, they, along with us can lose sight of what truly matters. I believe that it might be a great idea to leave the cell phones away from the table on Thanksgiving. Allow them to listen to the stories of their past ancestors, their journeys to this country and reminding them that without these people, they might not have been as lucky as they are today.

(Long Island, N.Y.) With autumn swiftly blowing in, now’s the time that Long Island families begin to brainstorm fall and winter vacations. If you’re on the hunt for a fun family getaway, look no further than the great outdoors–The Adirondacks Region. Mother nature really puts on an a spectacular show in the Adirondacks and if you live on Long Island, you’re about a five-six hour scenic drive away from a front row seat.

Where to Stay: Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort is a most amazing place to reconnect as a family. I asked my kids last spring to pick any place they’d like to travel to for our summer family vacation. They bypassed Disney and Atlantis and begged to return to Golden Arrow. (I’m so glad they did–I have fallen in love with this place!) It’s situated directly on Mirror Lake and in the very heart of Lake Placid. It’s the first resort in the U.S. to receive the Audubon Society’s Platinum Eco Rating for Hotels and its pet-friendly. So every member of your family (even the furry ones) can kick back and unwind at a lakeside resort. I have to say, there’s something so warm and welcoming about staying there and my family visits have been nothing short of glorious. Be sure to book a room overlooking the lake–the dawn and dusks are breathtaking.

For fall, the Golden Arrow is offering a cooking demonstration add-on with the head chef at Generations (casual eatery that features a fresh, locally sourced menu) in addition to a general lodging package that includes the cooking demonstration and lodging.

For the winter, the resort offers some special holiday touches. The area becomes a winter wonderland. The Holiday Village Stroll 2013 is a family fun event, featuring holiday shopping, art and entertainment and more that runs December 6th-8th. The Golden Arrow offers a Holiday Stroll Package to help you get all holly and jolly and drive in the spirit of the holidays. Some room choices are already sold out for that festive weekend so you might want to act fast!

What to Do: Ready for an adventure? Eastern Mountain Sports’ outdoor school, in Lake Placid (2453 Main Street) is the BEST in town for guided outdoor outings and the experts are full of insider insight into all things Adirondack. They can help you and your family try new things (you don’t have to have experience!) and really make you feel confident about venturing out. They offer programs/instruction on things like rock climbing, kayaking, ice climbing/mountaineering, skiing, and much more. We took a guided hike with EMS and found the experience…thrilling. By all means, they can help you fulfill your family bucket list, Again, first-timers are welcome so we just might try some “backcountry skiing” instruction.

For peak experiences, there are number of other Olympic attractions, the full list can be found here. Must not miss: gondola ride and disc golf at Whiteface or a drive up the Veteran’s Memorial Highway to the top of Whiteface Mtn – the 5th highest peak in the Adirondacks. This road just might lead to the best seat in the house!

(Long Island, N.Y.) During our family Disney vacation two months ago we decided to do something strikingly different…we barely did Disney at all. At ages 10 and 8, my kids set their sights on Universal Studios and we never looked back. If you’re heading to the Orlando area for any reason, it is really worth a visit. Universal is a blast. It’s clean, easy to navigate, lots to do and see and eat and experience…you’ll need at least two days to get in on all the action.

There’s Universal’s Islands of Adventure—packed with thrilling rides, shows and interactive attractions. It’s a thrill-seekers heaven: You (gulp) plunge down an 85-foot waterfall to escape the jaws of a hungry T-rex on the Jurassic Park River Adventure, you get to fight the forces of villains on The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man and hold on to your hats folks, because The Incredible Hulk Coaster takes you from zero to 40 mph in a flash. (Full disclosure: I did not go on the Hulk ride. I was too chicken.)

My fave was The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™–even if you’re not a big-time Harry Potter fan, it’s still really cool. And while you’re in the Hogwarts hood, you might want to grab a frothy Butterbeer (great for kids!) and stock up on all your much needed wizardry supplies. The Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride brings you face-to-face with magical creatures and is absolutely mystifying!

Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure are connected so once you’re done with one you can head over to another and park hop. (You’ll need to make sure you purchase tickets that give you access to both—it’s worth it!)

At Universal Studios, you jump into the action of movies—literally. There are way too many rides and attractions to mention. It’s so much fun. Oh and about me chickening out on the Hulk ride…I totally redeemed myself by facing the mummy’s wrath and plunging into the darkness on the Revenge of the Mummy ride. The ride catapults you at speeds up to 45 mph in virtual darkness. When the ride was over I could barely catch my breath. And once I did, I headed back to the line to do it again. Whoa—what a thrill! When we return to Orlando, this is the ride I will hit first. Or maybe second because we missed all the excitement of Universal’s latest , most anticipated attraction in years… TRANSFORMERS: The Ride – 3D. It just opened last week and here is how it’s described:

“The new attraction is based on the popular TRANSFORMERS films and created along with the award-winning director of the film series, Michael Bay. It blends a powerful storyline, powerful technology, all-new hyper-real animation and massive sets into an action-adventure that grabs riders and does not let them go until the very last second. Riders are recruited for a high-tech, good versus evil battle in which they must save Planet Earth. They join iconic film characters Optimus Prime and the Autobots as they fight Megatron and the Decepticons to the end.”

(Long Island, N.Y.) Some of the most frequently asked questions that come across my desk these days are related to diet and fitness for moms. There’s so many family activities going on and most often, moms are the last on the list! The hot topics seem to revolve around non-surgical procedures to zap the fat. What procedures are available out there, how do I choose a reputable facility?

To answer your burning questions on how to torch the fat, I turned to Dr. Cameron K. Rokhsar, assistant professor of dermatology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and medical director of New York Cosmetic Skin & Laser Surgery Center with offices located in NYC and Garden City.

Question: I’m almost at my goal weight but no matter how hard I try, I can’t seem to get rid of some fat around my thighs. What’s the best way to get rid of it without surgery?

Dr. Rokhsar: For many people, getting rid of stubborn, excess fat can be difficult even with exercise and a healthy diet. Non-invasive fat removal technologies have made it possible for patients to get rid of fat without surgery or extensive downtime.

• Liposonix is one non-surgical alternative that uses ultrasound to create a powerful thermal effect that focuses at specific depths in fatty layers, safely destroying fat without damaging surrounding tissue in a one-hour session.

• CoolSculpting is another effective non-invasive fat reduction procedure. This technology is based on the research that shows fat cells are more vulnerable to cold temperatures than other cells. Freezing fat cells through cooling plates stimulates the body to naturally metabolize frozen fat. This is an optimal choice for those that fit the applicator, but is not ideal for those that are smaller. Results begin to show in three weeks with progressive improvements within four months post-treatment.

• Laser liposuction combines the effectiveness of liposuction with laser technology. A small laser is inserted and used to liquefy fat, making it easier to vacuum out. The laser treatment may also stimulate collagen, which results in smoother and firmer skin. Because of the small size of the fiber optic tip, laser-assisted liposuction has become the standard for treating those with isolated pockets of fat.

Dr. Cameron K. Rokhsar, M.D., is the first physician to use the Liposonix procedure in the United States. He is the leading authority on laser surgery and non-invasive fat reduction. A graduate of Harvard and New York University and fellowship-trained dermatologist and laser surgeon, Dr. Rokhsar is an extensively published medical author and Professor of Dermatology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. For more information, visit www.CosmeticLaserSkinSurgery.com.

(Long Island, N.Y.) I’m still finding it hard to wrap my mind around what happened in Boston on Monday. It’s almost too heavy and heartbreaking to comprehend. How do you address the horrific events when the kids start asking questions?

I asked parenting expert Deborah Gilboa, MD, of AskDoctorG.com to offer some tips on how to get the conversation flowing and ease their fears.

1. Think through your own feelings. However our children react, we need to be able to focus on them and have worked through our own initial responses. Seeing a parent break down can make that conversation much scarier, and puts the child in the role of wanting to comfort. Furthermore, they may not be able to take in what we’re saying if they more concerned about our emotions. We don’t have to pretend we’re not affected, but should process things a little before talking to our kids.

2. Think about your child. His or her developmental stage, and coping mechanisms. There are some great websites for help with this, including the American Academy of Pediatrics www.healthychilren.org.

3. Keep your conversation short, and leave the door open for further conversations later in the day or week. Ask at some other point, “How are you doing? Any questions or thoughts?”

4. Highlight the heroes. In addition to talking about the “bad guys” talk about the heroes also. Mention all the people who ran to help, all the marathoners who kept running after the race – right to the hospital to donate blood! In the days following a tragedy there are always stories of heroic actions.

5. Create good from the bad. Look for something you and your kids can do to support the people who are suffering, or some other way to make the world a better place. This teaches resilience and creates problem-solvers!