idaho family magazine

FREENOVEMBER 2013

ENTREPRENEURIAL

KidsStarting a babysitting business

Zephyr & PhoenixWant your child’s photo on next month’s cover?

Check inside for details!

BOISEPhilharmonicTeaching through music

BLENDED

FamiliesSurviving the holidays

HOLIDAY

CheerBaking memories

� November 2013 | Idaho Family Magazine www.idahofamilymagazine.com

M A G A Z I N E

IDAHO

Contents November 2013

Volume 1, Number 4

PublisherSterling Media Ltd.

EditorGaye Bunderson

[email protected]

Sales & MarketingMelva Bade

[email protected]

Sales ManagerSandy Jones

Graphic DesignDenice King

ContributorsRebecca Evans, Amy Larson,

Beth Markley, Rebecca Maxwell, Irene Woodworth & Angela Hayes

Distribution AssistantsDoris Evans

and Shawna Howard

Idaho Family Magazine, published monthly by Sterling Media Ltd., is committed to providing readers with informative and entertaining information to help them in maintaining healthy families and positive lifestyles. It is distributed throughout the valley as a free publication. Idaho Family Magazine does not assume responsibility for statements or opinions expressed by editorial contributors or advertisers. The acceptance of advertising does not constitute an endorsement of the products, services or information. Idaho Family Magazine does not knowingly present any product or service which is fraudulent or misleading in nature. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced without express written consent of the publisher. Reader correspondence and editorial submissions are welcome. Idaho Family Magazine reserves the right to edit or reject all materials submitted. All rights reserved. Copyright 2013 by Sterling Media Ltd.

Features

Blended Families:How to survive the holidays

10

Education & Music Meet: Students get a great deal from Philharmonic

6

Columns

Departments

In Each EditionEditor’s IntroTrying something non-traditional for Thanksgiving

Family Events Calendar:Family friendly activities & events for November & early December!

1� - 15

3

In the Community: Couple offers babysiting class

8

Manic Mothering: Thank you, thighs, I appreciate you

4

Irene’s Insights: Basement goes from boring to inviting

�0

Allow Yourself Some S.P.A.C.E: How to stay balanced through the holidays

��

Holiday Cheer: Making meals memorable, but easier, all year

18

All in Good Taste: ‘Turkey Burger’

16

www.idahofamilymagazine.com Idaho Family Magazine | November 2013 3

EDITOR’S Intro Trying something non-traditional for Thanksgiving

I asked my Facebook “friends” to respond to a query about non-traditional Thanksgivings they may have expe-rienced. I gave them the option of writing about unusual menu items, entertaining odd guests, taking a good or bad trip, just skipping the holiday — anything they wanted.

It seems that even for people who tried to do something different that didn’t pan out, the memory of the day stayed with them.

I warned my FB friends I would print their answers, and none of them complained. But I didn’t say I’d use their full names, so I’m just including their first names in most instances. I need to add that, like everyone else’s Facebook friends, mine consist of former and current co-workers, people I went to grade school and high school with, some relatives, and a variety of other acquaintances. Oh, and one more thing... One person wrote about Christmas, but it was a good answer and I want to share it. It got me in the mood for Christmas and hopefully will affect you the same way.

Here are the answers:“One year we decided we would go ‘out’ for Thanksgiving din-

ner and leave the clean-up mess to the pros. I was so excited that I wouldn’t be slaving in the kitchen all day. I was giddy! ... What an epic fail! We sure did miss the leftovers. No turkey sandwiches. We decided we would cook Thanksgiving dinner the following week, and we did!” — Sherry

“This is not actually a response to your question, but my favorite Thanksgiving memory is the time when we were all eating peacefully one Thanksgiving and all of a sudden some ‘90s dance song came on from the living room. My anti-social, practically blind and 6’5” grandfather perked up, then darted into the living room and started doing some awkward aerobics dance. Apparently he knew that one from his old-person aerobics class. All the kids joined in, but he had the best moves.” — Dani

“My husband and I were so used to having all our kids around for Thanksgiving, when all of a sudden our kids were married and with their ‘other’ families during that time. I sure as heck wasn’t going to cook a turkey for just the two of us; so we sat down, had our favorite meal (shrimp with some menial side dishes, then more shrimp) on the family china (paper plates). We didn’t watch football games, but

rather, went for a ride in the mountains and looked at lots of beauti-ful wildlife. It was great, but I have to admit, I missed all the hectic hustle and bustle of the family Thanksgiving holiday traditions at our house.” — Georgi

“A trip to Vegas... My wife Geri, me and the boys. Had so much fun we went back the next year.” — Joel

“When I was about 6 years old, my family was falling on hard times and Christmas wasn’t looking too promising for my brothers and I. My folks didn’t want to disappoint us, so they invented ‘new’ fam-ily traditions to give us something new and exciting to focus on. For gifts Mom made me an ice skating skirt; Dad handmade gifts for my brothers. We all sat in front of the TV stringing popcorn and gluing strips of paper into chains for a tree we all went up to Mt. Hood to cut. Christmas dinner was so fun! We didn’t have the funds to do the entire spread so we dined on grilled cheese sandwiches and homemade potato soup! It was the very best holiday supper ever. To this day that is my Christmas Eve dinner. The tradition has been passed down to my girls, and their families have that same Eve dinner. I think it was my favorite Christmas of my life. So inexpensive, so heartfelt, and memorable.” — Suz

“I ran the Lifetime TD5K (Turkey Day 5K). It’s a 3.1-mile run through downtown Boise and it benefits the Boise Rescue Mission and local Special Olympics teams. I ran it last year for the first time and there were more than 3,000 runners. It started at 9 a.m. and was freezing cold, but it was a beautiful morning. I ‘ran my giblets off ’ but felt a little less guilty about all the food I ate the rest of the day, and I’m doing it again this year.” — Melva Bade, Idaho Family Magazine sales and marketing executive

There! Now get ready to create your own great holiday memories and don’t forget to share them with your friends.

This month you’ll notice an expanded Family Events Calendar in our pages. Please keep sending your calen-dar items to me at [email protected]. We had more Cover Child Contest entries this month as well, and we continue to invite parents to send us photos of their children to be considered for use on our front cover. Send them to the above email address. Questions may be directed there as well, or by calling me at 639-8301. n

Gaye Bunderson, Editor

Cover Child of the MonthIdaho Family Magazine is holding a Cover Child of the Month contest. Your child — or children — could be featured on our cover, just like the children on this month’s cover. Send photos to me at [email protected]. All photos sent should be high quality, meaning clear not blurry, and high resolution of around 300 dpi. They must also be in color; no black and white photos will be accepted. They need to be vertical, not horizontal. Photos should be of the child only, with no adults. Please also provide the child’s name and age, parents’ names, and the community the family lives in. Only the first name of the child will be printed, and all other information will be kept private. All photos received will be reviewed by a panel of judges, and a winner will be selected.

On the Cover: Zephyr & Phoenix

4 November 2013 | Idaho Family Magazine www.idahofamilymagazine.com

MANIC Mothering Thank you, thighs, I appreciate youBy Beth Markley

Thank you, thighs. Sixteen-year-old me would never have dreamed I’d one day appreciate you. I’ve always thought of you as a tad over-sized. Thirty or so years ago, I was consistently pissed that you wouldn’t fit well into a reasonably sized pair of Levi’s 501s. But it was your muscle and sinew and bone that recently carried me across the finish line of my 17th half marathon.

While we’re at it, I’d like to say thanks to you heart and lungs. I don’t know why you’ve stuck it out all these years, and done so well, but I appreciate it. I would like to apolo-gize for my lack of attention to nu-trition and fitness earlier in life and any effect it may have had on you. Also, there aren’t any words to ex-plain the smoking thing. I apologize profusely for that and promise to let a good long time pass before you ever have to deal with that nonsense ever again.

I would say you’ll never have to deal with it again, but I made a deal with my frontal cortex: if we all last another four and a half decades, we give ourselves permis-sion to pick the habit back up. (Between you and me, lungs, it’s likely that my frontal cortex will be slowing down by then. She’ll probably forget our promise in favor of taking up puzzles with cats on them or something. I wouldn’t worry).

Thank you, abdominal area and everything in it for continuing to function and for making room for two very healthy babies. I don’t hold a grudge about the fact that a good

portion of you resembles the foil covering of a Jiffy Pop popcorn pan. I wasn’t all that into bikinis anyway, and the desire for a belly ring was only a phase.

Oh, and spine, you’ve been such a trooper through all the carrying and bending and lifting and stuff. I haven’t been all that good to you, I know. I promise to pay attention to my posture from here on out, and to do a core workout once in a while.

Jeez, skin. I’m really, really sorry for that whole decade or so where I wanted you to be something other than what you are, which is a fair, freckled, pale pink tribute to Scotch/Irish heritage. I appreciate that you take after my mom’s side of the family in retaining some of your youthful elasticity. I promise to

continue to see the dermatolo-gist on a regular basis and

wear sunscreen every day for the rest of my life. I don’t think either of us need any more of that basal-cell baloney.

Sheesh.Overall, you guys, we make a pretty good team. I know a younger me thought all of us together should more closely resemble the figures I saw

in magazines or in cheerleader uniforms. Hon-estly, I didn’t like how some of you jiggled or pushed against the seams. I failed to be impressed

by your functionality, even through all the neglect and abuse I put you through.

Now, I feel pretty silly for that 16-year-old’s perspective. I’d like to go back and tell me how awesome it’s going to be, one day, when I can will myself down a steep ski hill, or across the starting line of a race my brain is going to insist should not be run. I want to tell me that someday, a doctor will lay a squirming baby on my stomach, a baby that came out of a body that had only recently started to impress me with its ability to perform miracles. I want to tell 16-year-old me to stop looking in the mirror and get out and move and experience with all my senses what we all can do together.

I want to tell 16-year-old me to say thank you more often, to appreciate the health and strength and durabil-ity that we had even then.

Except you, hair. I’m sorry, I have not grown to appreciate you. I don’t think I ever will. You’re just going to have to live with that. n

Beth Markley is a humor writer and fundraising consultant who lives in Boise with her husband and two sons. She publishes weekly stories about her misadventures in parenting in her blog, Manic Mumbling at www.manicmumbling.com.

Beth Markley finishes the 16-mile Aldape Challenge, giving her a new appreciation for her body. (Photo courtesy of manicmumbling.com)


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EDUCATION And Music Meet Students get a great deal from Philharmonic

By Gaye BundersonWith violas, trumpets and other instruments in hand,

musicians from the Boise Philharmonic enter class-rooms filled with second-graders each year with the purpose of instilling in them a love of music. In fact, the program goes beyond teaching the love of music. It embraces all the ways music can be applied to the students’ lives, and even to their class curriculum.

According to a woman who participates in the pro-gram, which officially goes by the name Musicians in the Classroom, both the youngsters and the performers cherish the experience.

“One of my favorite parts of the job is going into classrooms,” Lindsey Bohl, Philharmonic violist, said. “The kids are thrilled, and that’s one of the things that is so great. They’re just so excited, and they’re on their best behavior already.”

When a musician carrying a case enters a class full of kids, there’s an immediate sense of anticipation about what the case may hold, Bohl said.

“There is a core of about 18 salaried musicians — all of them section leaders — and it’s built into their con-tracts to perform various services,” Jamey Lamar, edu-cation and outreach director for the Philharmonic, said. “They’re our top players. Over the course of the season from September to June, they visit around 270 second-grade classrooms within an hour’s drive of Boise. Most of the second-graders have some face time with one of our principal musicians.”

The Philharmonic’s youth outreach isn’t limited to the lower grades. In September the Philharmonic held tryouts for its Boise Philharmonic Youth Orchestra; performances are set for November, February and April. Generally, students who participate in the BPYO are in the 9th through 12th grades.

The youth orchestra is comprised of about 78 young musicians from throughout the valley.

“It’s a great opportunity for students to work with an orchestra of their peers who are competitive enough to have won the tryouts. It allows them to play at a much higher level, with a standard classical repertoire,” Lamar said.

For third- through fifth-graders, the Philharmonic performs school-day concerts in either the Morrison Center on the Boise State campus or Swayne Audito-rium on the Northwest Nazarene University campus in Nampa. About 13,000 area students are bused to the performances, and Lamar referred to it as “a great logistical effort.”

The Children’s Concerts programs focus on what the students are targeting in their curriculum at the time, so the orchestral events are a joint effort between the Phil-harmonic and area school districts. Lamar explained a program could include, for instance, demonstrating how music connects with styles of writing such as po-etry or storytelling.

“We design the program to keep the kids interested, but also to be educating them,” Lamar said.

Members of the Boise Philharmonic Youth Orchestra rehearse for their 2013-2014 season under the leadership of conductor Yorgos Kouritas. The youth orchestra’s first performance will be at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, at the Morrison Center. (Photo by Gaye Bunderson)

www.idahofamilymagazine.com Idaho Family Magazine | November 2013 �

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In some instances, sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade school band and orchestra members are given the opportunity to connect with Boise Philharmonic musi-cians when they visit their schools. After the musicians work with the bands and orchestras collectively, they go into small rooms and work with students individually, according to Lamar.

The Philharmonic’s assistant principal trumpet player, Justin Stamps, praised the Philharmonic’s outreach programs and said he has had meaningful experiences working with youth, even helping the youngsters master reading skills through connecting reading with music.

“In our case, the program pairs with reading and reading tactics and skills, making sure that neither reading nor music has more emphasis than the other. They are crossover ideas and complementary skills and tactics that young people can use to get better at read-ing and listening,” Stamps said. “What happens is all the kids start to slowly understand, to connect the world of music and sound that they might be slightly familiar with with the world of reading they’ve been studying in their classroom.”

The value of the Philharmonic to the community in terms of both high-end entertainment and educational opportunities makes it an important resource in the area. All the outreach programs are funded by sponsors and patrons, so attendance at a Boise Philharmonic event is a contribution to the betterment of children throughout the Treasure Valley. n

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By Gaye BundersonA company called Young Hearts

Education, founded in 2009 by Kev-in and Ann Young of Eagle, offers CPR, first aid and safety courses for adults and children. Particu-larly relevant to young people with an entrepreneurial spirit is Young Hearts’ babysitting course.

In conjunction with the American Safety and Health Institute, Young Hearts prepares youngsters to pur-sue Babysitting as a Business. For $37.50 for an approximately five-hour course, participants receive a CABS booklet, which stands for “Child and Babysitting Safety.” The front of the booklet lists its partial content, including:

• You’re in Charge — Be Prepared• 7 Rules (for handling that knock

on the door)• Starting Your Business (and fig-

uring out what to charge)• Resolving Conflicts• To Text or Not to Text?In all, the booklet offers 40 pages

of valuable information for the would-be babysitter.

“The class is for teens whose parents feel they are mature and responsible enough to start a career as a babysitter. Parents make the decision about the maturity level,” said Kevin, explaining that though there’s no firm age limit, generally the youngsters in the course are from 12 to 16 years old.

Participants are given a card to show they’ve completed the course and are certified by ASHI to babysit. The certi-fication is good for two years.

“The confidence that parents have be-cause their babysitter has been through this training is huge,” Ann said.

A lesson on first aid is part of the training and primarily focuses on what to do if a baby or child is choking. In the book, tips on how to handle hot water scalds and insect stings are also included.

“At most of these kids’ ages, they don’t have a lot of self-confidence with-out extra training to really grasp how to perform first aid. The hardest part is keeping the kids focused. There’s a lot of hands-on skills portion and role-playing,” Kevin said. “Fun and laughter takes the intensity off and relaxes the students so they don’t feel pressured.”

The course, and the booklet, get very specific about what to do in certain instances, from naming and safely promoting a babysitting business to handling a situation where parents return home from an office party in no condition to drive.

The booklet also includes information on pre-paring a babysitting

resume, and such tips can be useful for chil-dren as they continue

to mature and enter the job market.

The Youngs have many years of experi-

ence in CPR, first aid and safety training.

“I’ve been in the public safety industry

a little over 20 years,” Kevin said, explaining he has worked in law enforcement, as an EMT (emer-gency medical technician), in private security, and as a salesman for 911 emergency systems. He is certified as a BLS (basic life support) and EMS (emergency medical services) instruc-tor/trainer.

Ann, who currently works as an officer for the Idaho Department of Corrections, said she is certified “the same thing minus the trainer.”

Both are actively involved in the community, and Kevin coaches Op-timist Youth Football in Eagle.

Young Hearts Education is an authorized American Safety and Health Institute training center and is audited on a regular basis by ASHI.

ASHI follows the same guidelines and standards as the American Heart Association and the American Red Cross, according to the Youngs.

“Safety is the focus of everything we do at Young Hearts Education. I don’t believe what we do is about making money,” Kevin said.

CPR — or cardiopulmonary resuscitation — is highly personal for him. He first performed it on his baby daughter.

“Because of her early birth,” he said, “she didn’t survive.”

Born at just 25 weeks, she stopped breathing.

“You can go in one of two ways with your experiences. You can dwell on them, or you can make them a positive,” Kevin said.

He stressed that not dwelling on negative incidents doesn’t mean completely forgetting them.

“To this day, I still think about my daughter. … It’s a gift I can share. When I’m teaching CPR, it’s not just something I read in a book,” he said.

“The heart of our business is that we want people to learn to save lives,” Ann said.

IN The Community Couple offers Babysitting as a Business class

Youngsters who take the Babysitting as a Business class learn to care for children of all ages, and the guidebook for the class lists topics such as age-appropriate play and staying involved and aware of what the children are doing while playing. (File art)

www.idahofamilymagazine.com Idaho Family Magazine | November 2013 �

Though the Babysitting as a Business course isn’t strictly about saving lives, it fits with the Youngs’ safety-first prin-ciples. Their daughter Kloe has taken the course and has become so comfortable with caring for children that she currently looks after a special needs child.

“It was difficult at times, but it gets easier,” Kloe said.She also babysits other children and charges based on

how many kids she’s looking after and on how long she’ll be watching over them — a financial lesson she learned from the babysitting course.

She also incorporates her parents’ safety-first philosophy into her work.

“Before I babysit, I go over to the people’s house and know all emergency exits and how the children are going to get out if there’s a fire,” Kloe said.

The Babysitting as a Business course is offered as interest is shown or on an as-needed basis, according to Ann, who said so far it has been offered four to five times a year with an average student count of seven. Parents interested in get-ting their child into a class may start by contacting Young Hearts Education at [email protected], [email protected] or by calling (208) 991-2770. n

Kevin Young (right) demonstrates performing CPR on a baby. Young owns a company called Young Hearts Education with his wife Ann. Among other things, the couple offers a course called Babysitting as a Business. (Photo by Gaye Bunderson)

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BLENDED Families How to get through the holidays

By Angela Hayes

blend•ed fam•i•lynoun1. A family consisting of a couple and

their children from this and all previous relationships.

I am a mom to five kids. I have an ex-husband who is married to a woman who has two boys of her own from two different fathers. My ex-husband and I have three chil-dren together. My husband and I have two sons. Are you still with me here? Yeah, I have problems keep-ing up sometimes too. But despite our blended chaos, we all have to deal with the holidays and all of the goodness (hopefully) they can bring to our family.

If you happen to be one of the staggering 1,300 blended families that are formed each day in the United States, you may want to

know how it’s all supposed to flow this time of year.

I Googled some ideas on how to survive the holidays with blended families to prepare for this article. As I read, I laughed. I laughed at how each author of his or her arti-cle formed the tips according to per-fect, well-balanced blended families. Let’s face it, not all blended families are created equal. Some families are just, well, screwed up! And yet there are other families who emulate what the authors were referring to. So how does one take advice from someone writing not about YOUR blended family? Good question.

I’ve been dealing with that ques-tion for too many years. But some-how, each passing Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year’s, I man-age. I manage to “do the right thing” regarding my children and who they’re going to spend their holidays with. I have to be fair to

the other parent, I have to be fair to my children, and yes, I even need to be fair to my spouse and myself.

So that being said, I came up with my own tips. As you read, you won’t find many. Maybe you won’t even find the tips helpful because your blended family isn’t like mine. And you may discover that by reading my tips, you’re more normal than you thought and I’m the screwed up one and you fear for the sanity of my children. Don’t be alarmed; there’s a counselor somewhere out there for any and every issue I may cause my kids to have.

I have two pointers, which can make your blended family winter gatherings a little less icy. First and foremost, talk to the adults.

Talk, speak, slur. Whatever you do, speak to one another. Step-mom needs to talk to Mom; Dad needs to talk to Step-dad (or you can switch the genders around if you’d prefer). And by talking I mean speaking to each other, not through your children. Pick up the phone, drive over to their house, send an email, etc. Get your point across through the adults involved in the planning process.

After you’ve made your holiday plans, come together and decide if those plans will work for each side of the family. Or if you’re in my situation, the divorce decree is writ-ten on golden tablets in our home. Follow what that court-ordered piece of paper says and move on, despite how upset you’ll be when Suzy spends Christmas with her new Grandma Ruth who forgets what she’s saying mid-sentence and calls your daughter Sally.

You have a new family now. You have your own way of doing things. These pending holidays can be a way for you to break out your dance moves after too much spiked eggnog and try and teach your kids or step-kids how it’s done – minus the brandy hidden in the eggnog of course. Or how about finding a

Steve and Angela Hayes have two children together, while Angela brought to their union three children from another marriage. (Photo courtesy of Amanda Allard Photography)


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charity you all can agree upon and donating your time, money, or the necessary donations they may need this time of year. Or our favorite: We hide an ornament in the shape of a pickle (a German Christmas legend) and whichever child finds it first, gets a gift card. Or you can even be like the Joneses and all buy matching pajamas to sleep in Christmas Eve.

Whatever your new tradition, make it yours. Not your ex’s, but yours. This is your new family now, have some fun with it!

And my takeaway? I don’t have one other than try to survive! It’s hard blending families, trying to make everyone happy, and yet still enjoy the reason for the season. But try. Try to make it a happy time. Holi-days can be beyond stressful for “normal” families, and you add a new grandma here, a new uncle there, or even a few new siblings into the mix? Ahhh…. where’s my eggnog?! nAngela Hayes is a mom to five children (who of course don’t appreciate a thing she does), a moth-er to one lucky husband, and has rightfully earned the title, Wonder Woman. She is a stay-at-home mom who, when not doing laundry, mopping floors, making lunches, or trying to appease every-one, is sleeping. You may visit her family blog at: www.thehayesfamily6.blogspot.com.

1� November 2013 | Idaho Family Magazine www.idahofamilymagazine.com

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November 2013Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday FridaySunday Saturday

Daylight Saving Time Ends

ThanksgivingFirst Day of Hanukkah

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Veterans Day

3029

General Election Day

M A G A Z I N E

IDAHO

CALENDAR of EventsThe Ambrose School Christmas Bazaar will be held from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15, and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16, at 6100 N. Locust Grove Road in Meridian.

Ambrose School Christmas Bazaar Friday, November 15 & Saturday, November 16

A “Free Crafts for Kids” program is offered each Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Lakeshore Learning Store in the Westpark Towne Plaza at 417 N. Milwaukee St. in Boise. Children will learn to make an “I Am Thankful Placemat” on Nov. 16. For more information, call (208) 377-1855.

“I Am Thankful Placemat” Crafts Class Saturday, November 16

The Library! at Collister will host a family reading program from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19, in the neighborhood branch’s Sycamore Room. Reading together allows parents and children to share an activity while helping the children build reading and verbal skills, according to the Boise Public Library! website at www.boisepubliclibrary.org. The Library! hosts many parent- and child-related reading programs — from Bloomin’ Babies Storytime to Family Storytime — on various days each month. See the website for more details.

Idaho Family Reading at the Library! Tuesday, November 19 - Various Dates & Times

Thunder Mountain Line will host its annual Santa Express and Holiday Dinner train rides on specific days beginning Nov. 22 and continuing through Dec. 23. Thunder Mountain Line is located at 120 Mill Road in Horseshoe Bend. Reservations and tickets are required for all train rides. For more information, visit www.thundermountainline.com or call (208) 331-1184.

Thunder Mountain Line Santa Express & Holiday DinnerFriday, November 22 — Monday, December 23

The Canyon County Christmas Gift Show will be held Nov. 22-24 beginning at 11 a.m. each day at the Idaho Center on East Franklin Road in Nampa. For more information, visit www.idahocenter.com.

Canyon County Christmas Gift Show Friday, November 22 — Sunday, November 24

A “Free Crafts for Kids” program is offered each Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Lakeshore Learning Store in the Westpark Towne Plaza at 417 N. Milwaukee St. in Boise. Children will learn to make a “Silly Turkey Hat” on Nov. 23. For more information, call (208) 377-1855.

“Silly Turkey Hat” Crafts Class Saturday, November 23

There will be crafters and vendors from throughout the valley at the Meridian Medical Arts Charter High School Holiday Bazaar from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, at 1789 E. Heritage Park Lane in Meridian. Vendors will include Scentsy, Miche Bags, Grace Adele, Velata, Perfectly Posh, Vault Denim, Premier Design, Mary Kay, Tupperware and others. Gift-wrapping will be available. For more information, contact Rosi Ray at 286-7024.

Fifth Annual Meridian Medical Arts Charter High School Holiday BazaarSaturday, November 23

The Boise Philharmonic Youth Orchestra will perform its first of three concerts at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, at the Morrison Center. Other performances are set for 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22, at the Morrison Center and 7 p.m. Monday, April 28, at Swayne Auditorium on the Northwest Nazarene University campus in Nampa. Cost for a family of five or more is $35, and a three-concert individual pass is $20. For more information, visit www.boisephilharmonic.org.

Boise Philharmonic Youth Orchestra Saturday, November 23


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CALENDAR of Events November - DecemberPlease send family-related calendar

items to [email protected].

The Nampa Parks & Recreation Department is hosting a Turkey Shoot beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, at the Nampa Recreation Center, 131 Constitution Way. Teams consisting of one adult and one child will be allowed 10 free-throw shots, and the team with the highest combined total in each age division will take home a turkey. Participants should come 30 minutes early to practice. Advance registration is recommended, but teams may register the day of the shoot. Age divisions and hoop height are as follows: ages 6 to 8, 8-foot hoop; ages 9 to 11, 9-foot hoop; and ages 12 to 13, 10-foot hoop. Cost is $5 per team for members and $7 per team for non-members. For more information, call Brooke Murphy at 468-5858.

Nampa Recreation Department Turkey ShootSaturday, November 23

School’s out the week of Nov. 25-29 and people are welcome to come paint “YOU-nique” holiday gifts at Ceramica, 1002 S. Vista Ave. in Boise. The pottery store will be closed Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28. For more information, visit www.ceramicaboise.com or call 342-3822.

Thanksgiving Week at CeramicaMonday, November 25 — Friday, November 29

The Saint Alphonsus Festival of Trees will be held Nov. 27-Dec. 1 at the Boise Centre downtown. There will also be a gala on Nov. 26 and a fashion show on Dec. 2. Funds raised help support the work of Saint Alphonsus. For more information, visit www.saintalphonsus.org/festival.

�013 Festival of Trees Wednesday, November 27 — Sunday, December 1

Kids can stay “locked in” at the Nampa Recreation Center all night from 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 28, to 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 29. The center is located at 131 Constitution Way. Kids can enjoy movies, swimming, games and a pizza party sponsored by Domino’s Pizza. Children should bring a sleeping bag, swimsuit, towel and clothes to sleep in. The event is for children ages 6 to 12. Cost is $20 for rec center members and $25 for non-members. For more information, contact Brooke Murphy at 468-5858.

Black Friday Lock In for Kids Thursday, November 28 — Friday, November 29

The YMCA is kicking off the Thanksgiving holiday by “getting active and giving back.” A Zumbathon will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 28, at the Homecourt Y at 936 W. Taylor, Ste. 104, Meridian. There is no charge to participate, but the Y will be taking donations for its Strong Kids Campaign, as well as canned food for a Canned Food Drive. People of all ages are welcome and may register ahead of time or the day of the event. For more information or to register in advance, visit www.ymcatvidaho.org or contact Homecourt coordinator Michelle Houde at [email protected] or 855-5711.

Zumbathon at the YThursday, November 28

A “Free Crafts for Kids” program is offered each Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Lakeshore Learning Store in the Westpark Towne Plaza at 417 N. Milwaukee St. in Boise. Children will learn to make a “Falling Leaves Mobile” on Nov. 30. For more information, call 377-1855.

“Falling Leaves Mobile” Crafts Class Saturday, November 30

Winter Garden aGlow opens Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28, and continues until Jan. 5 at the Idaho Botanical Garden. The event will be held daily from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. no matter the weather. Winter Garden aGlow will be closed to the public Dec. 3-4 for private events. For admission prices and other information, visit www.idahobotanicalgarden.org.

Winter Garden aGlowThursday, November 28 — Sunday, January 5, 2014

More Events on Page 14


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A “Free Crafts for Kids” program is offered each Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Lakeshore Learning Store in the Westpark Towne Plaza at 417 N. Milwaukee St. in Boise. Children will learn to make a “Festive Frame Ornament” on Dec. 14. For more information, call 377-1855.

“Festive Frame Ornament” Crafts Class Saturday, December 14

A great family event, the Winter Festival features an indoor street fair with many local crafters and artists. There will also be a Scholastic Book Fair, entertainment, a visit from Santa, and things to eat. Admission is free, and the event is set for 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, at Renaissance High School, 1307 E. Central Drive in Meridian.

Renaissance High School Annual Winter FestivalFriday, December 6

The annual Boise Christmas Show is set for Dec. 6-8 at Expo Idaho. Show times are: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7; and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8. For more information, visit www.spectraproductions.com or call 939-6426.

Boise Christmas Show Friday, December 6 — Sunday, December 8

A performance of the holiday play “The Nightshift Before Christmas” will be presented at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7, at the Merid-ian United Methodist Church of the Warm Heart, 240 E. Idaho Ave. The play is set in Bethlehem’s only 24-hour roadside restaurant, the Falafel House. The performance is free and open to the public.

“The Nightshift Before Christmas”Saturday, December 7 The Flying M at 1314 2nd St. S. in

downtown Nampa will be the site of a Hip Holiday Craft Market from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7. Dress warmly; some vendors will be set up in an outdoor tent. For more information, contact Lisa Myers at 467-5533.

Hip Holiday Craft Market at Flying M CoffeegarageSaturday, December 7

Zoo Boise’s Claus ‘n Paws event will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, with Santa ap-pearing at the zoo from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, visit www.zooboise.org.

Claus ‘n Paws Saturday, December 7

The annual Boise State Holiday Con-cert, presented by the BSU Department of Music, will be held from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8, at the Morrison Center. Tickets and more information are available at www.morrisoncenter.com or by calling 426-1110.

Boise State Holiday Concert Sunday, December 8

A “Free Crafts for Kids” program is offered each Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Lakeshore Learning Store in the Westpark Towne Plaza at 417 N. Milwaukee St. in Boise. Children will learn to make an “Igloo Toss Game” on Dec. 7. For more information, call 377-1855.

“Igloo Toss Game” Crafts Class Saturday, December 7

Music Theatre of Idaho will present a perfor-mance of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” Dec. 12-15 at Nampa Civic Center’s Brandt Audito-rium. There will be evening and afternoon per-formances, and the ticket price is $17. For specific show times each day, or to purchase tickets, visit www.nampaciviccenter.com or mtionline.org.

“A Christmas Carol” Thursday, December 12 — Sunday, December 15 The Treasure Valley Children’s Theater is presenting the

holiday play “A Spell of Cold Weather” on Saturday, Dec. 14, and Saturday, Dec. 21. There will be three perfor-mances each day at 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. at 703 N. Main St. in downtown Meridian. Seating is limited, so advance ticket purchase is recommended. Tickets are available at www.treasurevalleychildrenstheater.com.

“A Spell of Cold Weather” Saturday, December 14 & Saturday, December 21


There will be a self-guided family crafts program provided in the Nampa Public Library’s basement area beginning at 10 a.m. each day except Sundays, Christmas and New Year’s from Dec. 16 through Jan. 4. Families are invited to come during open hours and participate in a hands-on crafting experience (except during regularly scheduled library programs). For more information, visit the library’s events calendar at www.eventkeeper.com/code/events.cfm?curOrg=NAMPA or call Joyce Gergen at 468-5859. The Nampa Public Library also hosts a Saturday Family Program on various Saturdays throughout each month of the year, as well as reading programs for children. See the website for more details.

Self-GuidedFamily CraftsMonday, December 16 — Saturday, January 4, 2014

The Piano Guys will perform a “Home for Christmas” concert at Taco Bell Arena Tuesday, Dec. 17. Tickets for the event went on sale Sept. 23 and cost $25, $45, $55 and $65. The Piano Guys are a Utah-based classical-pop group. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit tacobellarena.com or call 426-1766.

Home for Christmas Tuesday, December 17

Ballet Idaho will present the holiday classic “The Nutcracker” Dec. 20-22 at the Morrison Center. The choreography by Artistic Director Peter Anastos celebrates the season in glittering fashion, and more than 100 children from the Ballet Idaho Academy will grace the Morrison Center stage with company dancers. There will be both matinee and evening performances. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.morrisoncenter.com or call 426-1110.

The Nutcracker Friday, December 20 — Sunday, December 22


Cooking Matters teaches low-income individuals and families in Idaho how to identify, shop for, and prepare delicious, simple, healthy meals on a budget. They are always looking for volunteer support to help teach these cooking-based nutrition courses. If you would like to get involved, contact Cooking Matters at (208) 577-2692.

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HOLIDAY Cheer 2013 Making meals memorable, but easier, all yearBy Amy Larson

When it comes to the holidays, what do you remember the most?

As a young child, I slept late on Thanksgiving mornings and luxuriously woke to the smell of turkey roasting in the oven, the exclamation point aroma stating that, at least for the day, all was well in my young world.

Food surrounds the most poignant of recollections. What makes those memo-ries so strong? All five senses, but especially taste and more specifically smell, play a huge role in memory-mak-ing. Here’s why:

The olfactory bulb within the brain is so linked with both memories and emo-tion, one sniff of something familiar instantly brings up a tumble of feelings and events from the past. This explains why food packs such an emotional punch. It’s why when we smell a neighbor’s backyard barbeque, it might evoke memories from past summers.

This we know: smell and taste can trigger good feelings and cause us to recall positive memories, so how do we use this for the greater good? By realizing we have the ability to create an intentional, conditioned response within friends and fam-ily by providing favorite tastes and smells for them whenever they enter our home.

Other senses are at work when it comes to the annual family holiday dinner. Great Grandma’s tablecloth spread lovingly over the table with the gravy stain right smack in the middle, accompanied by the story of when Mom was little, she ac-cidentally flipped the gravy ladle and — splat! — there went the gravy. The sight of unholy amounts of pie, Butterflake rolls carefully

nestled in woven baskets, crackers, cheese balls, veggie trays laden with colorful victuals, eggnog and cider for sipping, both before and after the big meal. An uncle who prides himself on his famous prime rib and wears the same ‘Hug the Chef ’ apron every year. All of it contrib-utes to the whole festive tradition.

Behind every holiday paradise, though, is a lot of hard work, and dramatic movie scenes of self-im-posed kitchen slaves tearfully throw-ing in the towel are not far from the truth of what often happens. Those family members who “make the magic” arise before the sun and retire long after the others.

There are better ways. Here are a few:• Recruit. Whenever you hear,

“What can I do to help?” be ready with an answer. Working together fosters relationships, so harness the available synergy.

• Keep it simple. Don’t over-plan and don’t overwork. Pre-make everything you possibly can and do so at a reasonable pace. It’s also OK to let go of the idea that the perfect holiday meal must be homemade and slaved over all day.

• Ask yourself: Am I having fun yet? If the answer is no, you might be doing it wrong. Make it fun. Turn on some music. Get out the fine chocolates and reward yourself. Dance in the kitchen. Start a food fight with your ‘sous chef.’

• Don’t be a “bustler.” If you don’t stay at the dinner table for at least a 20-minute block, your friends and family are sure to be missing out on your company. Popping up like popcorn just makes everyone else nervous.

• Toss out the idea of perfec-tion. Do your best and laugh off the rest.

What was eaten on any given holiday evokes some of the strongest memories about that day. (File art)

www.idahofamilymagazine.com Idaho Family Magazine | November 2013 1�

So we get through a couple of big holiday meals. Super impres-sive. But, wait, what about the rest of the year? What about ongoing family togetherness?

Impossible, right, what with soc-cer, work, and crazy schedules? After hearing what actual MD’s have to say about the importance of the family meal, we might find eating together moving up the priority totem pole.

According to Jeanie Lerche Davis’s article on WebMD, “Ten Reasons Why and Ten Shortcuts to Help Get the Family to the Table,” dinnertime is paramount to healthy living. When dining together, families tend to eat healthier foods, resulting in chil-dren being less prone to obesity, or drug, tobacco, and alcohol usage. Children experiencing regular family dinners are known to have better grades, a greater connection and trust with their parents, and a sense of accep-tance. There is also evidence of less tension within homes where families routinely break bread together.

But what about the time spent, the grocery shopping, the plan-ning and prep work? All valid considerations.

Holiday rules apply here, too:

• Recruit help. Shop as a couple, or with your kids, who’ll feel appreciated when they push the cart or unload groceries from the car for you.

• Have fun. Make a smiley face out of two eggs and a strip of bacon. Put black olives on your fingers. Show off your spaghetti-twirling prowess.

• Keep it simple. The meals don’t have to be fancy. Have soup and sandwiches. The important thing isn’t what you’re eating, it’s how you’re eating: together.

• Don’t bustle. Stay planted at the table. Turn off cell phones and other electronic devices, take a deep breath and just enjoy each other.

• Toss perfection. The plates don’t always have to match. Re-ally.

Give the most meaningful gift there is over the coming year, with “leftovers” that last a life-time and span generations. … The aromas, the tastes, and the memories of family dinners.

At right are holiday recipes the family can share, compliments of two Boise women. n

Directions: Make balls of vanilla ice cream, roll in coconut flakes. Attach a sprig of real or imitation holly to the top, and stick a red candle in the center. Turn off lights in the room and present to delighted guests.

Holiday SnowballsContributed by Amy Pence-Brown

“It’s so important for me to pass on traditions to my girls, even new ones. A few years ago on Christmas Eve, I made ‘snowballs’ for dessert. We turned off the lights, lit the candles and I brought a tray of them into the room.

“My mother was visiting, and when she saw them she squealed with delight, saying, ‘Your grandma used to make these for us every Christmas, too!’ My mom hadn’t thought about them for years, but my walking into the room with the lighted desserts completely jogged her childhood memory. The next day, I called my grandma to confirm. I had no idea. Call it good tradition genes.”

Cranberry Orange SauceShared by Terah Young

2 (8-ounce) packages cranberries, fresh or frozen1 orange, juiced, and orange zest from peel according to your taste1/4-1/2 cup sugar depending on how sweet you like it1/2-1 cup vanilla1/4 tsp cinnamon — if you want it more tasty, then 1 cinnamon stickDirections: Put all the ingredients into a saucepan over medium heat and simmer until the cranberries burst and the sauce thickens, about 15 to 20 minutes.

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�0 November 2013 | Idaho Family Magazine www.idahofamilymagazine.com

By Irene WoodworthYoung mothers bring their pre-

school daughters to weekly dance lessons in the basement of our client’s home. The family room turns into the waiting room for these mothers while their young daughters have their lessons in an adjacent room. I was asked to im-prove the feel and look of this room. When I arrived, the furniture was lining the walls like a waiting room in a doctor’s office.

The client knew there just had to be a better way to improve this room for her clients and her fam-ily. This room needed the proper furniture arrangement to improve its look and feel for all. It did not welcome you as you walked in. It felt cold and lifeless. The over-sized black entertainment center absorbed the space in this lightly colored golden room with camel-colored furniture. It did not look cohesive or inviting.

I knew we would also need some additional artwork, accessories, lighting and some end tables to make this room look more comfort-able. After doing some power shop-ping we started our redesign on the

room. We decided to purchase some black lamps and end tables to coordinate with the larger black entertainment center. Look at the challenges and assess what furniture needs to stay and what can go. You may want to consider how many people will use the room and ad-dress the function for the room. Since this room was going to be used for two different purposes, we needed to see how we could im-prove it.

The first thing we needed to do was improve the furniture arrange-ment. We emptied the room and looked at new possibilities. It is very

easy to assume that the furniture can only be placed in one way. Move the largest piece of furniture and face it towards the focal point like a fireplace or a window and work your way to the smaller pieces of furniture.

We then decided to float the furniture in the middle of the room and left a walking aisle around it of four feet to use to walk to the guest bathroom or to walk to the other downstairs bedrooms. We then figured that if the furniture was in a cozier area away from the pathway it would no longer be a distraction for others whether watching the TV or having a discussion while using this family room. We removed some of the heavier top shelves from the modular black entertainment center. We then moved it under a neighbor-ing wall and put the TV under the window.

After placing the furniture in a newer and fresher style we went to work by including the end tables, lighting, artwork and accessories to make this room feel better. Our “inspirational piece” was a beauti-ful picture of a flower garden near

A combination waiting room/family room was redesigned to make it more inviting, as well as make it easier for people in the room to watch TV or have conversations. The photo at left is a “before” shot of the room, while the photo at right is how the room looked after being redecorated. (Courtesy photos)

IRENE’S Insights Basement goes from boring to inviting

Irene Woodworth is known as “Idaho’s Color Lady” and is founder of Redesign Boise and The Color & Redesign Academy. She is a national redesign award winner and trainer, motivational speaker, certified interior redesigner and color expert. She has a degree in education and interior design and has taught various decorating classes throughout the U.S. She may be reached at [email protected]. For more information visit www.redesignboise.com.

www.idahofamilymagazine.com Idaho Family Magazine | November 2013 �1

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a pond. We used some of the fall colors in this picture to add some colorful accent pillows and accessories to coordinate this look. Now the mothers can enter this room as it welcomes them in to relax for those dance lessons. The first thing they now see in this waiting/family room is a soothing floral picture and a sofa invit-ing them in. In fact the mothers may enjoy visiting with one another in this colorful and relaxing family room.

The homeowner said she never even thought of mov-ing the furniture this way and it looked beautiful. She appreciated us helping her to make this area of her home feel and look right! We are satisfied in knowing we are “Changing Rooms... Changing Lives!” n

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�� November 2013 | Idaho Family Magazine www.idahofamilymagazine.com

By Rebecca EvansClutter can come in many shapes

and sizes. It isn’t just the extra piles on your desk, the laun-dry overflowing, or the stack of dirty dishes in the sink. Clutter can also show up as an overbooked schedule, not getting enough rest, other people’s negative energy, and the never-ending task lists you have yet to complete. This type of clutter seems to surface dur-ing a crisis and, often, during the holiday season.

To de-clutter your life, especially in the midst of or prior to the holiday sea-son, simply choose one place in your life that you want to begin with. The focus should be to opt for a place you wish to stay balanced through the holidays. You may choose your weight, your schedule, your family gatherings, your kitchen or your sleep habits.

An easy way to remember the em-powering steps to de-clutter is the acronym S.P.A.C.E.

1. Spatial Limitations. Though most of us don’t want to admit it, we indeed have a lim-ited number of hours in our day. We also have limited space on our shelves and limited energy to burn. Despite our deepest desires, we are not superhuman. You must become familiar with the space in your life and your physical environment. My rule of thumb is to keep some blank space. Everywhere. An opening in your day, an empty line on your task list, room in your closet or on your shelf to add something new and exciting. The most enriching qual-ity of music is the pause. The most beautiful thing in art is its stillness

and space around the object. Es-pecially when life gets busy, wiggle room can offer us peace of mind.

2. Plan. When you take the time to plan, you are taking control of your life in the areas that you can. Plan your menu, plan your sched-ule, plan your outfit, plan your guest list. Keep in mind that your plan need not be set in concrete. A plan is simply an outline of what you intend to do with your time and resources.

One of the first symptoms of a life that needs more structure (aka Planning) is the feeling of chaos. So when you begin to feel over-whelmed, look at the areas in your life where you can create more structure.

Also in this category, I like to offer clients the concept of Plan B. Plan B is basically your backup plan or your Holiday Plan. For example, if you go to the gym four times a week

during a typical week, you may want to commit to twice a week

over the Winter Break. This affords you a schedule that is realistic and removes the guilt.

3. Accountability. Take full responsibility for

your life. Take charge of saying no. Every time you say yes to some-

thing, you are also mak-ing the decision to say no to many other things.

Make sure the things you say yes to help keep you

on track with your plan (see item 2, above). This is

especially critical through the holiday season. Try to say yes

to the events and gatherings that really matter to you. Practice saying no aloud if saying no is a challenge for you.

4. Choice. We often overlook options when we feel overwhelmed. One method to reignite our options is to brainstorm with a friend. For example, a challenging and option-less scenario may be: “I really want to attend a family gathering, but they do not allow kids and I don’t have a reliable sitter.” With a plain sheet of paper in front of you, start writing all your options, even the ones that seem outlandish: fly in an au pair, ask your neighbor whom you don’t even know to watch your children, ask your ex-spouse to trade with you, look on craigslist for a sitter, ask your friends for some sitter op-tions, ask another parent-friend to trade with you…. Once you start this process, your stress level lowers because you begin to realize that you do indeed have options, even if some of them are choices you would never utilize. Now you have a list to work from and then expand it into something useable.

HOLIDAY Balance Allow yourself some S.P.A.C.E. for the holidays

www.idahofamilymagazine.com Idaho Family Magazine | November 2013 �3

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5. Efficient Systems. According to Kim Peake, founder of Simply Organized, “It does take time during the de-clut-tering phase to think through how a space is used, but this will lead to a well-designed space.” She also advises to try to develop a ‘home’ for every item close to where you use that item and based on how often the items are used. This will lead to a natural maintenance system. Physically walk through the room and envision the layout and function of the area.

“When a space is well-defined, maintaining it feels natural and need not be time-consuming or energetically draining,” says Peake.

It’s easy to get tangled in the attitude of “having it all” and trying to “keep it all,” especially during the holiday season. But a well-balanced and purposeful life doesn’t need more, it usually needs less. By simplifying our schedules and space, we can better focus, stay balanced, and maintain our peace of mind.

Learning new systems and methods in your life will not just keep you balanced during the holidays, it can move you for-ward. Seeing clearly how you operate helps you stay on course and live a rewarding and purposeful life. And, most impor-tantly, you will enjoy a life with less chaos. nRebecca Evans is an author, motivational speaker, and certified empowerment coach. Her workbook, “The Art of Self Discovery,” is available at Amazon.com. To register for one of her courses, contact her at www.in-nerelement.com.

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