August/September 2010

southernchildmagazine.com

The cutest way to announce you’re expecting!

Perfect for shower gifts and dads-to-be!

Tees as low as $10 Use code SOUTHERN for 10% off!

Also: Wholesale maternity blank tees by the case ~ready for printing!

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preggersnproud.comDaddy & Mommy Tees & Gifts

features

Back to School Tips for Parents 51

Help! My Tween Wants to Wear

Makeup! 61

Bars, Beams, Bows, Boy?! 65

departments

Hoof & Paw : Help Your Dog with Separation Anxiety

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Stuff We Love : Kids Crooked House 14

Fashion : Adorable styles from Sweet Tea 18

Healthy, Happy Family : A School Lunchbox that

Packs Brain Power 25

Arts & Entertainment : Great fall reads and dvd’s 28

Working Moms : Start Your Own Consignment Sale

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Seeing The South : The Kentucky Experience 36

Craft : It’s A Pirate Party! 44

Food : Quick, Easy and Healthy Dinner & Snacks 55

Super Southern Child : For The Birds 70

Inspiration Station : Your Dirt Versus My Dirt 73

For advertising info, contact advertising@southernchildmagazine.com.Media kit available at www.southernchildmagazine.com

graphic designer: Aimee Roberts web designer: Rich Gaither

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Can someone PLEASE help me find summer? It seems to have disap-peared! And oh to quickly I may add! This summer has been particularly challenging for many southern families, mine included. My husband has been helping families enjoy what we consider a prized possession, for 18 years. He owns ScottyBoat Rentals in Panama City and on his days off, you can find us doing exactly what we encourage other families to do, hop on a pontoon boat and enjoy the simple life on Shell Island, complete with sugar white sand and crystal blue water, the Island has become our second home.

Our fears are beginning to subside, as it seems Panama City will remain oil free. Yet our hearts still ache for those who have not been so fortunate. Our prayers continue to be lifted daily for those of you who have had your life yanked right out from under you. I know we aren’t supposed to ques-tion God as to why bad things happen to good people, so I will just contin-ue to pray that each affected will keep their faith and soon triumph in light of this tragedy. And if you don’t live along the Gulf Coast and think there is nothing you can do, be sure to read about our how our Super Southern Child, Olivia Bouler, took matters in to her own hands…at 11-years-old. We hope she will inspire you as she has inspired us!

To our friends and family in Nashville pulling your lives back together, our hearts and hands continue to reach out to you. And to those of you just having a bad day, we love you, too!!

Some kids may feel it is a tragedy that it is time for a new school year! Or so I would think, except I continue to see my nieces and nephews making comments on Facebook that make me think they are ready to go back. I really love the excitement kids exuberate as they anticipate seeing their friends, using their new school supplies, meeting their teachers and the overall desire to achieve new goals. This issue is full of tips to help your child feel successful.

Monica will close this issue by comparing my dirt to your dirt, you will be very interested to see what her study found! I can’t stop thanking each of you for your generosity and support. Southern Child had more than 65,000 hits our first month online!! Southern Child Magazine….Inquir-ing moms want to know!

Thanks, hugs and love to you all! See you in October.

Amyeditor@southernchildmagazine.com

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Walker WagonThis walker wagon is perfect for first steps aiding children in moving. A seat in behind the seat is another compart-ment. Sturdy construction, rubber tires on wooden rims. zacandzoe.com

Learn ‘N’ TurnAs much as they want

to take control and feed themselves, very youngchildren have difficulty using spoons and forks because the bones andmuscles in their hands

and wrists are still devel-oping. Which means

they aren’t able to easily rotate and manipulate conventional utensils.

The Learn ‘N’ Turn can help change that.

LearnandTurn.com

Discovery WagonA fun walked for toddlers taking their beginning steps. Features fun, integrated toys such as themkaleido-scope in various bright colorswooden rotating elelments,a wooden car for sliding on side panel of wagon ,a hiding place for the mouse,a spiral disc that rotates when wheels turn.Tires are rimmed in rubber top protect floors. zacandzoe.com

>> September 12 is National Grandparents Day.

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Birds & Bees BottleEarthLust was created with the health of children and the protection of the environment in mind. The delicate de-signs are inspired by nature. This innovative baby bottle comes with both a nipple top and a sippy top, so it transitions along with your little one. It also has removable handles and a cap, is insulated, and very durable! Made with food grade stainless steel and non-toxic paints. Naturally safe with no liner. Completely reusable and recyclable. HazelNutKids.com

>> In days past, hiccups were thought to be caused by elves.

>> September 12 is National Grandparents Day.

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Pushing CarToddlers will delight in zooming their favorite stuffed animals all over the house with this car-shaped push cart. The car has all the most important features of your average motor vehicle, including windows, painted head lights, a nicely padded seat cushion and rubber road gripping tires. The car also has all the major features of a good push cart, including a handle that is adjustable to accom-modate children of different heights, and a handy removable fabric pocket at the back to store all of your prized child-hood treasures. zacandzoe.com

boxes & briefs

AbrakadoodleAbrakadoodle has become the source for creative fun and art education for children across north-west Florida. Classes are ongoing and geared to specific age groups, such as Twoosy Doodlers for children ages 20 to 36 months, Mini Doodlers for children ages 3 to kindergarten and Doodlers for children in first through sixth grade.

Erin Bakker and Teri McGinnis, mother and daugh-ter team, are co-owners of Abrakadoodle and are passionate about their company’s mission. Erin, whose background is in early childhood educa-tion and art history states that, “Abrakadoodle’s amazing curriculum meets national standards for Visual Arts Education, and learning about art with us is fun! There’s more to Abrakadoo-dle than learning how to make art. Children who have exposure to the arts, to artistic concepts and vocabulary become better learners. ”

Back to school means new sessions, and Abraka-doodle begins with a wonderful series called, Studio Sampler , where students have the oppor-tunity to explore a variety of artistic media. Aus-trian artist, Hundertwasser, was a painter, drawer, graphic artist and architect in the early 1900’s, is one of six artists kids will discover during this terrific series. Students will learn about Hun-dertwasser’s love for bright colors, fluid lines and organic shapes. The operative word for Abraka-doodle is fun and kids love Abrakadoodle.

Parents and children will find Abrakadoodle at all sorts of locations. Public schools are teaming up with this remarkable art program to offer af-ter school classes on their campuses for the con-venience of parents. It’s a win-win for schools because Abrakadoodle gives each school 10% of their revenues from these parent paid classes

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to use as they wish. How wonderfully simple is that?! It is a partnership dedicated to enriching the lives of young children.

Want to sample a little Abrakadoodle in a big way? Just visit Mini Gras at the Village of Baytowne Wharf in Sandestin, Seaside 4 Kids, HarborWalk Village at Emerald Grande, just to name a few, as Abrakadoodle will be found at each of these very popular family destinations painting faces and entertain-ing families with art activities. “Special events have become an important part of our business” says Teri McGinnis. “We are honored to be a part of such quality family programs and it is loads of fun!. Many families look for us when visiting these resorts because they have come to know us and we love seeing them again. Erin and I love what we do.”

And if that isn’t enough, Abrakadoodle has opened a new studio at Destin Commons in the office area of the parking garage behind Belks. The studio is open only when classes are being held, so check out their schedule online at www.abrakadoodle.com/fl07. Mommy & Me classes are

a hit with moms of children 20 to 36 months! Bring your

little one along for a morning of discovery at Destin Commons and enjoy being with other moms and kiddos.

Check out Abraka-doodle’s schedules

for classes ranging from sewing, to cook-

ing, to tie dying shirts, to graphic design, painting,

drawing and plain ol’fun! Children may find Abrakadoodle’s remarkable classes at locations all across the panhandle. Check out their face-book page for updated information and photos of doodlers and their masterpieces! http://www.fa-cebook.com/#!/AbrakadoodleNWF?ref=ts

Abrakadoodlewww.abrakadoodle.com/fl07850-424-5058

hoof & paw

Does your dog d e m o n s t r a t e

signs of fear and ner-vousness when left alone? Separa-tion anxiety has become a bit of a “catch-all” phrase in the dog world but dog’s can experience varying levels of anxiety, fear and nervousness when left on their own. For serious cases with complex causes, especially if your dog has become self destruc-tive, consulting a Dog Trainer who is a qualified Behavior Counselor is rec-ommended.

When trying to help your pooch become relaxed and calm when left alone the first thing you should do is take it to your vet so you can be sure its ner-vous behavior isn’t caused by a medical condi-tion.

Once your vet has determined your dog is physi-cally fit the next step is to make sure your pooch is getting adequate exercise and mental stimulation. And however much physical and mental exercise Fido may be getting now, increase it. Just like hu-mans, exercise will help your dog’s brain regu-late mood and reduce nervous behavior. Exercise alone will often reduce your pooches anxiety and nervousness. A dog that is well exercised will be more relaxed and less likely to display destructive behaviors. A tired dog is a happy dog.

Help Your Dog WithSeparation

Anxiety

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Diet can also be a factor. Poor quality foods use ingredients like corn which can alter the brain’s ability to moderate mood by causing an imbal-ance in amino acids and brain functioning. The result of these imbalances can be an animal that becomes agitated, impulsive, obsessive and over-reactive. Always ensure your pet is fed a high quality diet free of corn, wheat, soy, hormones/steroids, by-products, artificial colors/flavors, or chemical preservatives.

Dogs often display anxiety, (pacing, whining, barking, inappropriate chewing, etc.) out of pure loneliness and boredom. If you suspect that bore-dom may contribute to your dog’s anxiety look into some of the excellent interactive toys now available for pets. You can even use toys that will dispense your dog’s meals keeping it mentally stimulated figuring out how to get its breakfast. Your pooch may not even notice you’ve gone to work.

Another important technique for your dog’s gen-eral well being is to make sure your dog is getting quality “face” time with you and your family. They are pack animals and we are their pack. And there is nothing like enrolling your dog in an obedience or agility course, using strictly positive methods, to help build a strong relationship between you and your dog. Also, consider putting your pooch into daycare or hiring a dog walker. Your dog will greatly benefit from the additional exercise and companionship.

Finally, one of the most effective methods of en-suring a happy, confident and well-mannered dog in general is to ‘crate-train’ it. A properly crate-trained dog feels relaxed, safe and secure in its crate (download our free e-book on crate-training, www.DogSmith.com).

Whichever of these techniques you use, success will come with time, patience and consistency. And under no circumstance should you punish your dog for anxious behaviors as that tends to make the condition worse. Remember, if your dog’s condition seems severe, especially where it may harm itself, consult a Canine Behavior Coun-selor. A Behavior Counselor is equipped to iden-tify the root cause of your dog’s destructive be-haviors and can guide you through a customized program of training tailored for your particular situation.

Niki Tudge is the owner and founder of The DogSmith, America’s Dog Training, Dog Walking and Pet Care Franchise. Niki is a CPDT, E-Nadoi, CBC, AABP- PDT,DIP. ABT, Pet Care Services CPCT, CAPCT, AKC “CGC” Evaluator.

You can reach Niki via email at NikiTudge@DogSmith.com

To learn more about joining the DogSmith visit http://www.DogSmithFranchise.com

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stuff we love

A Crooked RequestFrom Santa

Southern Child just got word from the jolly guy from the North Pole. Seems he has hired a few elves to help him out this year. These elves live in what is equivalent to the North Pole to us southerns, Maine! Burrrr! These two elves are a.k.a. Glen and Jeff. Here is their story.

Once upon a time, there lived a fun-lov-ing Dad named Glen who was a graphic designer but really loved to build things out of wood. Glen frowned when he saw how his three adorable kids (Jake, Bai-ley, and Madison) were glued to the TV. He wanted them to go outside and tum-ble around the backyard so he thought he’d find, or make, something fun for them to play with. Glen’s cousin, Jeff, said he wanted to help because he had a cute kid (Sebastian) who wanted to be part of the outdoor play scene. Af-ter Glen and Jeff thought and thought, they decided to look for something their kids could play IN, not with.

Glen and Jeff went to lots of stores and web sites looking for a decent, ready-

made kids playhouse, or even a build-it-yourself one. But the playhouses they found were plain and ordinary, and just not, you know, FUN. It made Glen and Jeff pretty darn sad. So they went home to sulk and watch some children’s TV with their kids. They liked the cartoon shows featur-ing houses with wonky lines, skewed angles and off-kilter windows…houses where everything is just a little bit funky, sort of off, and, well — crooked.

“That’s it,” they cried. “Let’s build a Kids Crooked House.” And so they did.

After much sawing and hammering and painting in Glen’s

From Santa

old red barn in Maine, they finished the very first unique, custom designed Kids Crooked House. The Crooked House thrilled their children and when all the neighbor kids came to see it, they loved the playhouse too. The kids went home and told their parents about the incredibly cool, wood-en Kids Crooked House. It didn’t take long before the parents wanted Kids Crooked Houses in their own backyards.

Glen and Jeff started to tell lots of people about their nifty unique hand-crafted custom designed Kids Crooked House playhouse and, in no time at all, the Fairy Godmother at Yahoo dubbed them the winners of a huge 2007 marketing contest. They set off for the Big Apple to load up on ad-vertising ideas for the Maine-based company and when they got there, Princess Ivanka Trump granted them a boatload of wishes and that’s how Kids Crooked House became a nationwide sensa-tion.

Glen and Jeff began building so many Kids Crooked House playhouses that their barn was bursting. So they moved the business to a giant, new workshop in Maine and people from far away lands (Germany, Sweden, Pakistan, Ireland, Eng-land, Kenya and more) started to ask about Kids Crooked Houses. Today, Glen and Jeff have built tons of unique custom children’s playhouses and gazillions of kids are abandoning their TVs (whoo hooo) and heading outside to play the days away in colorful, customized Kids Crooked Houses.

Kids think it’s neat to have their own playhouse, furnished with their own stuff, a place where they can make up the game AND the rules. Children’s imaginations are running wild in the Kids Crooked Houses that are springing up all over the place, and the kids themselves are getting lots more ex-ercise. Weird, wonderful fantasy worlds are be-ing constructed (cooperatively, of course) during great, rumbling creative bursts of energy and lots of kids are making their own dreams come true.And all the people are living happily ever after. Especially the children, who play in total harmo-ny, and secretly wish that kids everywhere will get Crooked Houses of their very own.

Help the jolly guy out this Christmas, let the elves at KidsCrookedHouse.com brighten up your child’s Christmas morning.

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Kids Crooked House designs and builds the most talked about playhouses on the planet. Our award-winning, wooden playhouses are loved the world over. Now you can get one built and in your own backyard starting at just $1449 plus shipping.

Kids Crooked House, the world’s most talked about brand in wooden playhouses, has gone to the dogs. Give that special four-legged friend in your life a quality-built, creative home only Crooked House could dream up.Starting at just $449 plus shipping.

southern styles with a

twist

Sweet Tea’s charming line of children’s clothing are custom made specially for girls (sizes 12m - 12) and boys (sizes 12m -6). Each season they offer a fun-filled and funky collection for boys and girls. Their adorable line is sold exclusively through trunk shows. www.sweetteaonline.com

southern styles with a

twist

Collection: Autumn BlissLS Josie Top - Long sleeve peasant style top with elastic waist Sizes 12m-12 $35

Twirl skirt – Four layer skirt with elastic waistSizes 12m-12 $40

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Left:Collection: Vintage BayEmma Top – Knit Tee w/ three Slide Ruffles and Wooden Button Sizes 12m – 12 $26Ava Skirt – Three Panel Skirt Sizes 2T – 12 $38

Corner:Collection: Little RascalsDiamond Initial Tee (Red) sizes 12m – 5/6 $34Reversible Cuffed Pants (Red Cord./Red Gingham) Sizes 12m – 6 $40

Below:Collection: Peace…Love…ChristmasCha Cha Top w/ app - Long sleeve tee with two large top sewn ruffles Sizes 12m-12 $56Double Cha Cha Pants - Long pants with two large top sewn ruffles Sizes 12m-12 $38

Above:Collection: Autumn BlissHelicopter Tee – Sizes 12m-5/6 $30Cargo Pants – Long pants with side cargo pocketsSizes 12m-6 $32

RIght:Collection: Little RascalsNavy Tee w/ Truck appliqué Sizes 12m – 5/6 $32Reversible Cuffed Pants (Navy Cord./Navy Plaid)Sizes 12m – 6 $40

Above:Collection: Autumn BlissBailey Top – Knotted at Yoke with Pockets Sizes 12m – 12 $36Girls Plain White Tee Sizes 12m – 12 $16Cha Cha Ruffled Pants Sizes 12m – 12 $32

RIght top:Collection: Peace…Love…ChristmasTara Dress – Long Sleeved Knit Tee Dress with Center Slide Ruffle and Large Top Sewn Ruffle at BottomSizes 12m – 7/8$48

RIght bottom:Collection: NantucketRyan Longall w/ appliqué sizes 12m – 6 $68 23

healthy, happy family

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A School Lunchthat Packs

Brain PowerAh, the amazing power of nutrition and its’ hold over the function of

the rapidly growing, neuron firing child’s brain. Great nutrition is es-

sential to good education and learning potential. In order for the

brain to function optimally, it needs a hearty supply of healthy

fats, proteins, carbohydrates, water, vitamins, and minerals.

When children are missing these essential nutrients from

their diets, they tend to be less curious, less attentive, less

active, and more anxious. These deficiencies can lead to

cognitive impairment and delayed learning capabilities.

And as the lazy days of summer come to an end, and those frenzied mornings that signal that school is back in session begin again, it is a wonderful time for us to take stock of what we are using to fuel our children’s brains. By send-ing them off to school with lunches that are full of nutrient dense foods packed with the proteins and amino acids that will keep those neurons firing long into the afternoons, we are fostering

amazing learning potentials.

However, in the rush of the mornings, we often lose sight of what the best options are to pack in a healthy punch. Here are some ideas to help over-come those mental blocks that we can face during the hectic

spin of the mornings. The ideas below focus on plant based vegan

possibilities that will help to keep your child’s brain sharp all afternoon.

Sandwich choices Note: Any of these ideas can be put on whole grain sprouted breads, gluten free breads, whole grain or gluten free tortillas or wraps, whole grain crackers, or bagels, or even whole grain or grain free pancakes and waffles - mix and match your sandwich fillings with what you put them on.

Try out different nut butters topped with fruit slices (instead of your typical PB&J). If your child’s school is nut-free, try Sunflower Seed or Soy Butter.

Hummus topped with cucumbers and/or shredded carrots

Mashed avocados with a little squeeze of lime and some mild salsa

Avocado slices, Roasted Peppers, Vegan Cheese slices

Roasted veggies and hummus

Mashed beans topped with some shredded Vegan Cheese

Cucumber slices and vegan cream cheese

Black Bean burgers with avocado slices

Other Hearty choicesCooked brown rice mixed with cannellini beans, garlic, and shredded vegan cheese

Cooked quinoa mixed with pine nuts, dried cranberries, 1 Tbsp orange juice

Fun shaped Pasta noodles tossed with cooked broccoli, shredded carrots, diced black olives, and 1 Tbsp vegan salad dressing

Gnocchi with Marinara sauce for dipping

Sides and Sweet Treats Bananas with a small container of nut butter or sunflower seed or soy butter for dipping

Raw vegetables

Celery with Nut Butters or sunflower seed or soy butter for dipping

Roasted Fingerling Potatoes with Marinara Sauce for dippingFresh Fruit Kebabs with Dairy-Free yogurt for dipping

Roasted pumpkin seeds

Muffins – sweet potato, carrot, banana, or zucchini muffins are all healthy ideasSmoothies in a thermos – can get creative and add different fruits, greens, chia or flax seedsSoups in a thermos

Nuts

Trail mix with Dairy Free Dark Chocolate pieces for a treatDehydrated Fruit

Whole grain low sugar Granola Bars

Try to mix and match your choices each day, throw in a note or a joke to put a smile on your child’s face, and arm yourself with some fun eco-friendly reusable lunch con-tainers. You really cannot go wrong with filling their lunch boxes with whole grain, plant based options, and avoiding the highly processed, nu-trient void convenience foods. Have fun with your creations and then sit back and know that you have done a major part in fostering your child’s learning potential.

For more nutrional tips, please visit Kim’s site, CookItAllergyFree.com.

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arts & entertainment

Garmann’s Summer by Stain Hole A tale of six-year-old Garmann’s fears about starting school and what he learns about life, death and fear from his parents and his elderly aunts. By the end of sum-mer, Garmann is still scared about school, but he has come to realize that everyone has things that frighten them.

No Copycats Allowed It’s hard to move to another community and start a new grade in a room full of strang-ers. That’s Gabrielle’s situation in this chap-ter book by Bonnie Graves. Second grader Gabrielle is so anxious to fit in that she tries to be like everyone else, but the girls she thought were her new friends call her a “copycat” and make fun of her. The problem is solved when Gabrielle decides to be her-self rather than just like everyone else.

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A Child’s Story: Going to School with AnxietyWhen dealing with a little one with Separation Anxiety Disorder, one can feel helpless to pro-vide any kind of relief or support. This beauti-fully written and illustrated book helps parents explain to their child what they are feeling and gives counseling techniques that can be imple-mented immediately. This book deals with the frightening prospect of going to school and the inner worries of a little girl coming to terms with her anxiety.

Starting School with an Enemy by Elisa Carbon. Sarah is mad at her par-ents for making her move. She is not eager to start fifth grade. Things get worse when she inadvertently makes an enemy, although she also makes a friend her own age. Sarah has to adjust to a new school and a bully at the same time. She makes some unwise decisions trying to get revenge on the bully, but some words of wisdom from her brother help her to make bet-ter decisions.

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arts & entertainment

Dwizzle Dee™ Colors, Sizes, Songs & Imagination! Little ones will love (okay and my 2nd grader enjoyed as well!) this new pre-school educational DVD series ap-proved and endorsed by The Dove Foundation and KIDS FIRST!

A Future For Frogs J.P. Rothbone and his Sniveling Cro-nies are up to no good again destroy-ing habitats as they build their Colos-sal Condo Complex in the middle of a Chilean rain forest. But indigenous tree frogs are sticking to the windows and keeping guests awake all night! J.P. is convinced that the frogs must go! PlanetBonehead.com

Good Night Moon, A Pocket for Corduroy The most recognized children’s stories of all time are brought to life by voice and signing. Studies show that learn-ing sign language at a young age can increase IQ scores by an average of 12 points, enhance early reading and fine motor skills. scholastic.com

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Like a scene from “Groundhog Day,” the event repeats itself over and over. Bass and drums pound out the beat in perfect unison. Bodies spring to their feet and rush the stage; jumping, dancing and bouncing off each other like bumper cars. The concertgoers behave like children. This should come as no surprise, because they are children, participating in the kiddie mosh pit found at nearly every Justin Roberts concert.

Justin Roberts is truly one of the “all-stars” of the indie family music scene. He logs thousands of miles on the road each year, leading some to call him the hardest working man in children’s show business. With numerous national awards and recognition and a devoted fan base, Justin and The Not Ready for Naptime Players dish out intelligent and whimsically rocking music for kids and their parents.

Justin’s latest CD Jungle Gym ascends through the collective memories of childhood: from the joys of trick or treating and gym class parachutes to sleepovers and the magic stillness of snow days. The recording takes listeners on a journey through iconic experiences that kids will relate to and parents will remember. It’s an often funny and rocking ride: from magic moments sailing on a moonlit cardboard box, through the temporary trauma of getting lost, to the anticipation and wonder of a school fire drill. Giant pounding drums, vintage electric guitars, strange and fanciful time changes, soaring vocals and elegant French horns conquer the heights of the Jungle Gym.

JUSTIN ROBERTS“The Paul McCartney of kids’ music.”

USA Today

“Deft lyrics and beautiful sound.” Los Angeles Times

“As a kids’ performer, Roberts is in a league of his own.”

Chicago Tribune

"On your feet fun and laugh-out-loud funny." - People Magazine

“A master of conjuring up images that resonate with the young ones.” - Entertainment Weekly

“The Buddy Holly of the kids’ world.” - Time Out NY Kids

“Some of the most inspired and intelligent kids’ lyrics ever.”- Amazon.com

“Hits all the right magical buttons to ch�m p�ents and chil�en alike.”- Minneapolis Star-Tribune

WHAT THE CRITICS ARE SAYING ABOUT JUSTIN ROBERTS:

H AWARDS, ACCOLADES AND HIGH FIVES H“Best Children’s Music of the Past 30 Years”

Meltdown! - Time Out NY Kids

Winner of Five Parents’ Choice Gold Awards, and Not Naptime was selected for Parents’ Choice 25 Best Children’s CDs of the Past 25 Years

Winner of Five National Parenting Publications (NAPPA) Gold Awards

Amazon.com Top 10 Children’s CDs of the Year four times.

#1 Children’s CD of the Year - Fids and Kamily Poll in 2006 and 2008

Serendipitously, Justin discovered that Sebastian Hinton, the inventor of the Jungle Gym, was

from the band’s hometown of Chicago. An original Hinton still stands in nearby Winnetka, IL.

photo ©

todd rosenb

erg, 2010

art © sarajo fried

en, 2010

new cd: June 8, 2010

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working moms

Start aConsignment

Children’sSaleSecrets of Success Shared

Owners of a successful seasonal children’s

consignment sale have launched the sale of

a complete business system, Start Your Own

Sale, to assist others interested in making a full

time income working only a few weeks each

year.

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Owners of Here We Grow Again Children’s Consignment Sale have launched the sale of the Start Your Own Sale system. Start Your Own Sale contains multiple tools for suc-cess: a comprehensive 150 page manual, 4 CDs containing all documents for readymade record keeping, accounting, advertising, etc., an invitation to Here We Grow Again’s upcoming sale to learn hands on, extremely low start up costs, and unlimited email sup-port for 6 months. Start Your Own Sale rises above similar systems because, without ex-pensive equipment, the system allows for distribution of checks to consignors the day the sale closes!

Moms and friends, Mary Jo Hanson and Donna Kmetz, began organizing their profit-able semiannual children’s consignment sale in Eau Claire, Wisconsin in 2005. They have now hosted 11 successful sales, the most recent sale involving over 350 consignors, 250 volunteers, and thousands of shoppers. These moms and business owners share the secrets of everything they have developed and learned so others interested in making a full time income working a few weeks a year can benefit. While franchises are available, Hanson and Kmetz are passionate about sharing their system without high franchise fees or royalties.

Seasonal children’s sales are semiannual events are popping up all over the country and growing by leaps and bounds in popu-larity. A semi annual children’s consignment sale is an opportunity for parents and grand-

parents to sell their like new, gently used children’s and maternity items and make money without the hassle of having their own garage sale. It is an opportunity for parents and grandparents to purchase gently used items for their children from an incredible selection at great prices. It is an opportu-nity for the business owner, to make a profit by planning, organizing, and implementing this sale in their community.

In a nutshell, consignors prepare their qual-ity children’s and maternity items and drop them off at the sale location. The sale own-ers, with volunteer help, do all of the advertis-ing, set up, selling, and clean up. The con-signors receive a percentage of the price of things that sell and you, the business owner, profit after expenses are paid.

“We’ve been so pleased with the community response, even in a tough economy, and now want to share our proven business model with others,” said Hanson. “This business has allowed us to offer people in our com-munity an incredible opportunity to buy and sell everything children could possibly need or want for great prices and our own families have benefitted financially more than we ever imagined possible.”

Start Your Own Sale is being offered to en-trepreneurs around country. For more infor-mation visit www.StartYourOwnSale.com or contact Mary Jo Hanson at 715-456-8543.

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by Patti Nickell

Is your family planning a trip to

the Commonwealth of Ken-

tucky in the near future and

you’re wondering how many

of the state’s iconic attrac-

tions you can squeeze in?

Of course, youwant to see

majestic thoroughbreds and

learn what makes the Blue-

grass Region the “Horse Cap-

ital of the World.” You’ll prob-

ably also want to nose a glass

of aged bourbon (95 percent

of the world’s bourbon is pro-

duced in Kentucky) or sip a

goblet of wine from the state

where America’s grape-

growing industry began. Nat-

urally, you have to shop for

one-of-a-kind arts and crafts,

inspired by the folk tradition

of the Appalachians, or listen

to some bluegrass music, de-

fined and shaped by the area

which gave birth to it.

There’s Daniel Boone’s fort, Abraham Lincoln’s log cabin, Federal Hill, the inspiration for Stephen Foster’s My Old Kentucky Home, Henry Clay’s mansion, Muhammad Ali’s Center and Colonel Sanders’ original restaurant. Not to mention, the only park in the world dedicated to the horse, the world’s only Corvette Museum, Revolutionary and Civil War battlefields, the largest restored Shaker community in the United States, and the twin spires of Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby.

Of course, you really must see Mammoth Cave, the largest mapped cave system in the world; Breaks Interstate Park, often referred to as “the Grand Canyon of the South;” the Land Between the Lakes, the largest inland peninsula in the United States; Cumberland Falls, one of only two loca-tions in the world where you can see a rare moonbow, and other natural wonders such as Cumberland Gap, Red River Gorge and the Daniel Boone National Forest.

By now, you’re surely shaking your head in frustration, wondering how you could possibly pack all of this into ONE vacation. What if I told you that you could experience it all - and a whole lot more - in one day and at a single location. Well, you can - at The Kentucky Experience.

In 2010, the world will be coming to Kentucky to take part in the pageantry and splendor of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, a 16-day competition (September 25 to October 10) which will culminate in the crowning of champions in eight equestrian sports. Well okay, the whole world won’t be coming, but 800 athletes and 900 horses from 60 countries will, bringing with them thousands of visitors, all of them eager to experience the sights, sounds, tastes and feel of Kentucky.

The Kentucky ExperienceVisitors to the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington during this time will get not only a generous dose of horsemanship at the Games, but a generous dose of the state’s unbridled

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spirit and Southern hospitality at the Kentucky Experience, a massive interactive facility on the grounds of the Horse Park. A Bluegrass version of Disneyworld’s Epcot Center, the 25,000-square-foot space will utilize five distinctive areas - connected by a promenade - to give visitors a tutorial on all things Kentucky.

“We want to overload your senses with all the best sights and sounds every region of our state has to offer,” says Mike Coo-per, Kentucky’s Commissioner of Tour-ism. Visitors will begin their Kentucky odyssey at the Visitor’s Center, where in addition tofriendly smiles and warm welcomes, they’ll get a list of daily events and information on re-gions and products in the Kentucky spotlight. They’ll also b e able to get assistance on tours throughout the state and can pick up literature on each of its nine regions. They will then move on to a large open-air courtyard with access to three pavilions. Connecting the metal and glass pavilions will be the courtyard garden, designed by Kentucky native and master gardener Jon Carloftis, who has designed gardens for celebrities such as actor Edward Norton, comedian Mike Myers, and TV producer Jerry Bruckheimer. Carloftis will make use of native Kentucky foliage and plantings to soften the effect of the futuristic pavilions and to create a peaceful oasis.

The Three PavilionsThe main focus of the Kentucky Experience will be three areas showcasing the best of the commonwealth - the Exhibit, Product and Entertainment Pavilions. The Exhibit Pavilion offers a trip through all nine of the state’s regions, focusing on the attrac-tions and natural wonders of each. For example in the Caves, Lakes and Corvettes Region, a shiny Corvette, straight off the assembly line in Bowling Green, will vie for the spotlight with areplica, complete with spectacular formations, of Mammoth Cave, a National Park and UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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The Bluegrass, Blues and Barbecue Region in the western part of the state will use the pavilion to highlight its name music and food. Western Waterlands will showcase its prominence in the arts, with Paducah’s nationally recognized Low-ertown Arts District, and as a water won-derland, with both the Mississippi River and Land Between the Lakes. If water is important to the Western Water-lands Region, it positively defines the Northern Kentucky River Re-gion, bordered as it is by the Ohio River. The region’s presence in the Exhibit Pavilion will showcase such water-related features as its iconic covered bridges, romantic riverboats and award-winning Newport Aquarium. Each of the other five regions will have an equal chance to shine in the pavilion, showcasing everything from history and heritage to Agritourism and African-American culture.

“The Kentucky Experience is a terrif-ic idea,” says the Northern Kentucky Region’s Tom Caradonio. “The fact that we’ll be able to show our region to hun-dreds of thousands of world travel-ers is amazing.”

Fred James of the Kentucky Appala-chian Region agrees. “Travelers worldwide have heard about Churchill Downs and Mam-moth Cave,” he says. “With the Kentucky Experi-ence, they’ll be able to see what’s unique about those places, as well as dozens more of Kentucky’s special places.”

At the Product Pavilion, visitors will get a chance to find out for them-selves what “Kentucky Proud” really means. It’s mouth-watering barbe-cue from the Western part of the state and sizzling Hot Browns from Louisville’s Brown Hotel where the dish was invented. It’s country ham; hearty burgoo, the Bluegrass version of gumbo; Benedictine, a staple at every Derby party; fried chicken the way the Colonel would have liked it, and melt-in-your-mouth spoon-bread from Berea’s Boone Tavern.

For the over-21 visitor, it’s a chance to sample bourbon from one of Kentucky’s eight distill-eries or a vintage wine from one of its 52 winer-ies, and to learn the history and heritage of these “unbridled spirits” while you are sampling. Ken-

tucky Proud doesn’t just refer to the agricultural heritage of the state, but also to a proud folk art heritage that goes back several hundred years. The state’s Appalachian Region, known interna-tionally for its weaving, textiles and quality hand-

crafted furniture, may be the epicenter of the folk arts and crafts tradition, but it’s

far from the only area of the state with a unique aesthetic flavor. Whether it’s elaborate quilts at Paducah’s National Quilt Museum, specialty equine art in Lexington’s shops and galleries, or one-of-a-kind pottery from Louisville

Stoneware or Bybee Pottery in Madison County, the state’s various art forms are

well known to discriminating collectors. The Pavilion will have both a service desk for those wanting to ship Kentucky products home and a large retail store for those wishing to purchase

products to take with them.

Anyone who has ever taken a drive down Route 23, better known as the Ken-tucky Music Highway, knows that stars such as Loretta Lynn, Patty Loveless, Ricky Skaggs, Dwight Yoakum and the Judds have turned their Kentucky roots into Platinum-selling, award-

winning songs. Representation of mu-sic by these country superstars, however,

are only part of the spectacle awaiting visi-tors to the Entertainment Pavilion where large screens and live performances will bring the best of not only country, but also blues and bal-let, rock and opera, and, of course, the common-

wealth’s own musical specialty, bluegrass. With a multitude of artists representing

each region, it will be a non-stop hand-clapping, toe-tapping good time for any music lover.

So, there you have it - a trip through Kentucky’s nine distinctive regions -

and the opportunity to taste its food, hear its music and buy its products -

without having to leave the Kentucky Horse Park. The commonwealth’s First Lady, Jane

Beshear, is among those eagerly awaiting their own Kentucky Experience. “We are assembling - in one spot - the best of Kentucky for the world to see,” says Mrs. Beshear. “In essence, it’s a mini-World’s Fair focusing entirely on all things Kentucky. Please come and see all we have to of-fer.”

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contributed by ChicaAndJo.com 45

Shiver Me Timbers!

It’s a Pirate

Party!A good friend recently threw a pirate-

themed birthday party for her son. She

was eager to have some really fun and

unique invitations, and that’s exactly

what I came up with for her. What says

“pirate” more than a treasure map in an

old bottle, right?

Treasure Map InvitationsThese invitations were a lot of fun to make, and the kids even helped us with most of them. They were quite proud of the results and the party guests were thrilled to receive them. Here’s how to do it.

For the invitation itself, you’ll need regular white copy paper, a black marker, a squirt bottle of water, and op-tionally a candle. For the bottle that holds the invitation, you’ll need an empty glass bottle and some masking tape, along with a little varnish or sealer.

For both the invitation and the bottle, you’ll need some of Tim Holtz’ Distress Ink stamp pads in two colors — Vintage Photo (which is a dark brown) and Antique Linen (which is a light brown). While you could theoretically use any brown stamp pad, the Distress Ink will work the best because it’s made specifically for this type of application. It’s water-based, so it will blend and smear and make your items look really worn and ragged, which is exactly the look we’re going for here. Trust me, this stuff blends amazingly well and is totally worth having in your craft bag.

To make the map, just use a blank marker to draw on some white copy paper. Have some fun and keep it loose and graphic. Make a big island with jagged shores. Put a giant “X” to mark the spot of the party and label it with the ad-dress where the party will be. Make a bold, curving, dashed line for a path around the island and put several obstacles or landmarks along the way, each one giving a clue to the party (things like guest of honor, time, date, etc).

If you need some inspiration to get you started, I scanned my pirate map for you. Download at www.chicaandjo.com/pirate-invite. You’ll obviously have to change the details, but you can trace parts of it for your map.

Once you’ve got your map drawn, make enough photocopies of it for all the invitations you need to send. Again, you can use regular white copy paper for this.

Time to make that pretty white map look rugged and old! To get rid of those straight paper edges, you can either tear the edges or burn them. I like the look of the burning better myself, so that’s what I did. Just light a candle and carefully hold the paper next to the flame until it lights. As soon as it catches, blow it out so the whole thing doesn’t catch on fire. I recommend doing this outside and keeping a metal bowl nearby so that you can toss the paper in it if the flames get out of control. It’s also handy to have a damp towel on hand so you can pat it on any smoldering edges to put them out completely. Obviously, this is the one part of this project that your kids should NOT help with. Please be careful!

Now that the edges are nice and rough, take the entire page and crumple it into a ball. (This is the part the kids will re-ally love!) You want to get the paper full of nice crinkles and folds. When you’re content, unfold the paper and press it out flat on the table.

Now take the Antique Linen (lighter brown) Distress Ink and rub the pad lightly over the paper. You’ll see that the ink sticks to the folds and creases but not to the flat parts of the paper. The result is a really cool distressed look. Be sure to ink the front and back of the paper, and go a little heavier on the edges, to give it a nice look.

We’ve got a fun map now, but we need to tame it down a little and wear it out a little more. Take your squirt bottle and squirt water evenly all over the paper. Use enough water

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so that the paper is thoroughly wet, but not so much that there are puddles. The water will do two things: it will cause the ink to blend a little, creating a really nice smeary effect on the paper, and it will relax the creases you made so that the map is a little closer to flat (and will be easier to roll up later).

Be careful not to handle the map much when it is wet, or else you might tear it! Leave it flat on the table until it’s to-tally dried. If you want to hurry this process along, you can use an embossing gun or hair dryer to gently dry the paper.

Okay, the maps are done, so now let’s make the bottles to put them in.

You can use just about any glass bottle you’ve got. It can be from soda, beer, barbecue sauce, or whatever is sitting empty in your recycling bin. (If you don’t have any bottles handy and need to make some invitations now, I suggest you make root beer floats for everyone!) Soak it in hot water to remove the label and then dry the bottle thoroughly.

Now we’re going to use an old technique I’ve been doing since I was a kid — we’re going to cover this bottle with tape to make it look like old leather or canvas. Just take some ordinary beige masking tape and start tearing it into tiny pieces (about 1/2″ to 1″). Add the pieces of tape to the bot-tle, overlapping them quite a bit. Be sure to TEAR the ends of the tape (rather than cut) because we want it to look really

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rough and random. Keep going until you have the entire bottle covered with tape pieces.

When I was a kid, this is where I would pull out my dad’s paste shoe polish for the next step, but since not many folks have shoe polish these days (including my dad), I found an alternative. Grab the Vintage Photo (dark brown) Distress Ink and start applying it liberally to the bottle. The ink will be darker on the edges of the tape, which will look really neat. If you have trouble getting into the curves along the neck, remem-ber that this Distress Ink is water soluble, so just get a damp paper towel and smudge and dab the ink into all the crevices.

At this point you can optionally add some dec-oration to the bottle. Use a black permanent marker to draw a skull and crossbones or a pi-rate ship and add the words “You’re invited”. This will help your guests instantly know that

Booty BagsWe happen to be using these items for a treasure hunt, but they would be great DIY favors for a pirate-themed birthday party as well!

I started with the booty bags. I used my drawstring bag tutorial ( www.chicaandjo.com/drawstring-bag) to make bags out of shiny black sat-in. Make sure your fabric is iron-safe. (Some of the shiny fabrics will melt if you iron them!)

To decorate the bags, I created a skull and crossbones design. (down-load Skull and Crossbones template at:www.chicaandjo.com/pirate-party

I printed the template onto iron-on transfer sheets made for dark shirts. Make sure you buy the kind for DARK shirts or else they won’t show up on the black bags! Then I used my fine-point Cutter Bee

this is an invitation.

The bottle is basically done, but as a final step, we want to seal it. Since the Distress Ink we used is water-based, you’ll find that it will come off the bottle onto your hands without much ef-fort. To seal it in, just get some regular clear gloss varnish and apply it gently with a brush over the whole bottle. Work quickly and care-fully, because the water-based ink will actually blend into the varnish, but that’s a good thing — it will let you push the ink around and create the perfect result. The varnish will also darken the colors and add a really rich look to the fin-ished bottle.

Roll up the map and stick it into the bottle (but make sure it doesn’t go all the way in!). Your invitations are now ready to be delivered to your guests.

910

Create some pirate-

themed party favors for

the kids to have during a

treasure hunt. They’ll need

some pirate eye patches

to wear, some “booty

bags” for to haul all their

treasures, and some Jolly

Roger flags to mark the

locations of the various

clues for the hunt.

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scissors cut out all the skull and crossbones, one for each booty bag. I can’t help but think that these are awfully cute for skulls, wouldn’t you say?

4 Then I followed the directions on the iron-on

transfers to iron them onto the bags.

The kids are gonna love these!

Note that if you don’t want to mess with iron-on transfers, you could also use the template I provided as a stencil. Just cut out the design and leave the background intact. Then use the stencil and some white fabric paint to paint the design onto the bag.

Eye PatchesI made this super easy by designing a down-loadable template that’s ready to print. I used the same cute skull and crossbones design that I used on the bags. Download the tem-plate at www.chicaandjo.com/pirate-party. After printing the template onto white card-stock, I used my Cutter Bee scissors to cut out the patches, and I used my Crop-a-Dile to make two tiny holes, one on each side of the patch.

I cut a piece of round elastic cord to a good length for fitting around a kid’s head. I can’t give you an exact measurement to use be-cause it will vary depending on the stretchi-ness of your elastic. I slipped the end through one of the holes on the patch.

I carefully tied a double-knot and then trimmed off the excess.

After tying the other end of the cord in a knot on the other hole in the patch, it was good to go.

I really have a hard time looking at these and not saying “Arrrrr!”

Jolly Roger FlagsThat charming skull and crossbones design is here again, and I have another template for you to download, too! www.chicaandjo.com/pirate-party

I printed the template onto regular paper and then used my paper trimmer to trim them down to size. I also cut some wooden dowel rods to 12″ in length, one for each flag.

To attach the flag to the stick, I started with a long piece of packing tape, which I placed so that it covered about 1/2″ of the front of the flag. I then trimmed the sides with scissors.

I put the tape over the dowel rod, making sure to line up the top of the flag with the end of the dowel. I used my hand to press the tape in place.

I flipped the flag over and pulled the tape tight, rolling the paper around the dowel just a bit as I went. I pressed hard to make sure the tape had good contact with the dowel and the paper.

The flag is ready to stick anywhere you need an extra pop of decoration. If it bothers you that the back is white, you can always cut an-other flag design and stick it to the back with some spray adhesive.

We plan to put one of these flags at each clue location in our treasure hunt. I just love them to pieces!

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Baby’s Silkie specializes in personalized baby silkies, blankets and pillows.

Back to School

Allowance, Routine & Money Tipsby Lori Mackey

Wow! Its school time again, those days of sleeping in, hanging

around and staying up late are over! It has been an adjustment,

but with both of my kids starting new schools, they were very

excited to start their new journey!

Now that school is taking up a lot of my kid’s time, I had to change their chore schedule to work around their school, sports and homework schedules. I knew I had to implement this right away before we got to comfortable with our new routines and I must say it is working out great!

As you know my son struggles in school, not be-cause he is dumb, but because he does not see the reason why he has to study and learn what the schools are teaching him, he does not see how this will help him in life, when you have calculators, Google and ask.com.

But, we made a pact over the summer that he would try to do better in school for other rea-sons besides just the grades. We talked about the awards in areas that he is fully capable of achieving, like athletics, social studies and all

stars. My son watched his sister receive seven awards last

year and realized that he was fully capable of re-ceiving those awards also. We talked about it and we both real-ized that school was about achieving and

striving to do better than before, it’s not all

about the grades, as much as it is about learning how to

learn, problem solve and socialization.

Our schools have a hard time teaching to differ-ent learning styles and as a parent, I have had to teach my son that he can shine in other areas, if he works on his attitude about learning it might bring up his grades, and he must compete with himself and strive to bypass his last effort.

Children love to learn, as long as it is fun, re-warding and engaging. Below are a couple tips from an article that I wrote that will engage you, your children and teach some life lessons at the same time.

A Visa Back-To-School Survey found that only 5% of kids learn about money in the classroom, even though 91% of adults feel that money les-sons should be required in school. Reality is, it could take years for the schools to implement money lessons, and right now, most children are ready for something new and excited to go back to school. Children are in learning mode, and now is the perfect time to set positive expectations of what is expected from your chil-dren in school, outside of school and at home. Allowance is a great way to tie in responsibilities, expectations and lessons in money 101. “Parent’s don’t have to wait, there are valuable lessons that can be learned daily when it comes to money. Allow-ance is a wonderful tool to use in creating good habits, helping kids understands the value of

money and teaching how to be responsible in and out of school.

Start by Creating a Weekly Calendar of your Child’s Daily Routine On a whiteboard, piece of paper or calen-dar write down your child’s mandatory weekly schedule, which includes, school, sports and activities. Then write in times for homework and block out sleeping routine. This will allow you and your child to see their available time for each day. Then you will have a better idea of when your child will have free time for helping around the house and taking care of responsibilities. To give a heads up, Thursday is always heavy study nights, so chores on Thursdays never work out or are done, so I do not even bother assigning chores on Thursdays.

Integrating Allowance, Chores and Responsibilities We all need to learn how to become responsible in life and the sooner our children learn the concepts the better. Children also need to learn how to man-age and earn money. You will want to assign chores, jobs or tasks in the free time slots that your child has, making sure not to overload and take away social time. But, as you know most of the time, your child needs money for the social time, so one does not happen with-out the other. The key is to keep it positive and workable, be flexible because things will come up, but be aware if this is happening too often, for the most part be sure to stay consistent, set boundaries and consequences.

If you have set chores for Mondays and Wednes-days and they are not done for any reason, excused or not excused, your child does not receive the allowance for those days. This happens in real life, if you provide a service, you receive payment, if you do not provide

the service you do not receive payment, it is that simple. This also happens in school with homework, tests and assignments, you must make them up to receive the points otherwise you receive a big fat “0.”

Develop Good Habits Kids do their best when they know and under-stand what is expected. The habits we create on a daily basis determine our success in every area of life. As an example, if your child does not like to read, look at the weekly calendar, de-cide together when will be the best time to read, add this to their schedule and allow your child to earn some of their allowance for this task. Once your child gets in the habit of reading and it be-comes natural, then move onto something else. Kids and adults love to be rewarded for a job well done, spend time praising the good and ignore the bad and a lot more good will come of it. The key to this working is to stay positive and excited with your tone, never make doing chores, task or responsibilities a burden or negative concept.

Lastly, it is mandatory that our children go to school for 12 years to learn how to read, write and understand mathematics. But, we are forgetting to teach our children one of the key ingredients to success, and that is, money management. The Nation Jump Start Coalition reports show that year after year our children are graduating high school with below failing grades in finan-cial literacy. The best way to combat financial

illiteracy is to talk about money and integrate money conversations into everyday activities.

If you are interested in finding out more informa-tion and simple techniques in teaching your kids about money visit the Prosperity4Kids.com and download “The Eight Common Mistakes Parents Make with Kids and Money” , “The Smarter Way to Pay an Allowance” and “ The Seven Secrets to a Money Smart Kid.”

Lori Mackey is the creator of Prosperity 4 Kids.

54

Back to School: Tips for Parents8

The beginning of a new school year can be a stressful time for children, with new teach-ers and classmates, bigger classrooms, new routines and more schoolwork. This time can be particularly unnerving and overwhelming for children who are facing major transitions such as starting elementary school or enter-ing middle school. As a parent there are proactive steps you can take to support your child as he or she heads back to school.

1 Be interested and enthusiastic about the start of the school year. If you are confident and excited, your child will be too.

2 If you have visited your child’s school al-ready, you are one step ahead of the game. If not, take a walk around the school with your child and locate his or her classrooms, lunchroom, playground and restrooms. This will help keep your child from feeling lost on the first day.

3 Take time to listen to your child and dis-cuss aspects of the new school that he or she is worried about. Remember to let your child know that it’s normal to feel nervous about the start of school. For parents of younger children, suggest that your child take a fam-ily photo or special object to school to make his or her surroundings more comfortable.

4 Spend time each day talking to your child about what happened in school. Give your child positive feedback about his or her new experiences.

5 Praise and encourage your child to be-come involved with school activities and try new things.

6 Attend school functions and stay involved in your child’s education. Children whose parents are more involved with their edu-cation have higher achievement, are better adjusted and are less likely to drop out of school.

7 Make a point to learn about how your child develops not just physically, but social-ly and emotionally, as well. If you are aware of what’s typical behavior and thoughts for your child’s stage of life, you will more read-ily be able to tell when things may not be right.

8 Anxiety and stress about starting school is normal for a child and usually passes with-in the first few days or weeks. If your child continues to seem anxious or stressed, it may be time to seek help. Talk to your child’s teacher and/or family physician about what you can do as a parent. If problems persist, consider a referral to a trained and qualified mental health professional.

Nmha.org

Dinner & Snacks

55

Quick, Easyand Healthy

Dinner & Snacks

recipes

Open Faced Veggie Sliders1 baguette, sliced2 short and chubby zucchinis, cut into rounds4 Roma tomatoes, sliced into rounds, ends discardedRed onion slices, cut small to garnishSpinach leaves, long stems removed (small ones look nicer)Hummus, any favorite variety or make your ownOlive oilGarlic powderSalt & freshly cracked pepper

Turn the grill to medium high. Coat the zucchini slices with olive oil, a sprinkle of garlic powder, salt and freshly cracked pep-per. Grill on both sides just until light grill marks form. Set aside.

Salt and pepper the tomato slices. Set aside.

On a baguette slice spread a semi thick layer of hummus. Top with spinach leaves, a tomato slice, a zucchini slice, and a couple small red onions. Repeat with the remaining sandwiches. Top with another slice of bread if desired.

photos and recipes courtesy of thecookingphotographer.com

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Samosa Tacos2 pounds Russet potatoes1 teaspoon onion powder1/4 teaspoon garlic powder1/2 teaspoon ground cumin1/2 teaspoon turmeric1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, to tasteLots of freshly ground black pepper1 Tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil1 cup frozen petite green peas1 tablespoon fresh cilantro, mincedTaco sized flour tortillas, store bought or homemade

1. Peel and cube potatoes into a pot of cold water. Drain water once all the potatoes are sliced, and refill to 1 inch above potatoes with more cold water. Heavily salt the water and bring to a gentle boil until the potatoes pierce easily with a fork.

2. Drain potatoes well in a colander and place back in the pot. Turn on the stove to low and evaporate the liquid in the bottom of the pot and then turn off the heat. Add all the spices and olive oil and mash leaving some small chunks throughout. Stir in the frozen peas and serve on tortillas.

Samosa Tacos

Pizza Dough1 cup warm (110 degrees F) water1 (1/4-ounce) envelope (or 2 1/4 teaspoons) active dry yeast1 teaspoon honey1 cup bread flour2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon olive oil1 teaspoon salt

1. In a stand mixer bowl add the water, yeast, and honey and let sit for 5 minutes until foamy. Add the flours, olive oil, and salt and mix with the dough hook until well kneaded. Remove the dough and knead by hand for another few minutes.

2. Olive oil a large bowl. Remove the dough from the stand mixer and knead on a clean surface for two more minutes. Place the dough in the oiled bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let the dough rise in a warm place for about 45 minutes before using.

Samosa Tacos

Vanilla Bean Frozen Custard

Grilled Zucchini, Onion and Garlic White PizzaThis recipe makes two medium to large pizzas depending on the thickness of your dough. If you just want one pizza, throw half the dough in the fridge or freezer for later use.

1 recipe pizza dough, below1 (5.2 ounce) container Garlic & Fine Herbs Boursin CheeseMozzarella, shreddedVery thinly sliced onion sliversParmesan cheese, shreddedA couple zucchinis, cut into thin roundsGarlic powderOnion powderOlive oilSalt & pepperCoarse cornmeal

1. Make the pizza dough 45 minutes in advance. Preheat the grill to high about 30 minutes into the rising dough.

2. Place the zucchini rounds in a bowl and toss with olive oil, garlic powder, onion pow-der, salt and pepper. Grill on each side until

grill marks form. Place back in the bowl and set aside. Leave the grill on.

3. Sprinkle a medium or large good qual-ity pizza pan with cornmeal and set aside. Divide the dough in half, sprinkle a clean sur-face with flour and pat out dough into circles using your palms and fingers. Move to pizza pan. Brush dough with olive oil. If you have a second pizza pan you can repeat the process now.

4. Place the Boursin cheese in a bowl and microwave for 20 to 30 seconds until creamy. Stir and spread thinly over pizzas.

5. Top pizzas with some mozzarella, on-ion slivers, grilled zucchini, parmesan, and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

6. Place the pizzas on the grill one at a time and cook for about 5 to 8 minutes per pizza, depending on how hot your grill is. The hotter the grill, the better the pizza and the quicker it cooks. You’re looking for a nice dark brown bottom crust. Check often near the end, it can go from done to burnt quickly.

7. Repeat with second pizza.

Grilled Zucchini, Onion and White Garlic Pizza

Shortcut Homemade “Twinkies”

Shortcut Homemade “Twinkies”Simple Syrup1 cup granulated sugar1 cup water

Boil together in a small pot with a lid. Once mixture comes to a boil remove the lid and cook for three more minutes to ensure the sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and set aside.

CakesCrisco for greasing4 egg whites1 16-oz box of golden pound cake mix2/3 cup of water

Pre-heat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a cream canoe pan with Crisco. (But-ter doesn’t work as well here).

Beat the egg whites until stiff but not a solid mass. In a separate bowl combine the cake mix with water and beat until blended. Then, fold egg whites into the cake with a spatula then beat it with the hand mixer at the end until just combined.

Fill the molds half full of batter. Bake for around 22 to 23 minutes, or until the cakes are lightly golden brown around the edges (but light on top) and a toothpick comes out clean.

Run a toothpick around the cakes to loosen the sides. Dump the hot cakes onto parch-ment paper. Turn cakes upside down so the bottoms are now on top. Place some of the simple syrup into a wide shallow bowl and immediately roll the tops, sides, and ends of hot Twinkies in the syrup. Try not to get syrup on the bottoms. Fill with cream filling, below.

Repeat the process for second set of cakes. Be sure to grease the pan again.

Cream Filling2 teaspoons very hot water1/4 teaspoon salt2 cups marshmallow cream (or one 7 oz jar)1/2 cup shortening1/3 cup powdered sugar1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 chopstick

To do the cream filling, first mix the salt into the bowl of hot water, and mix until the salt is dissolved. Let it cool.

Combine the marshmallow cream, shorten-ing, powdered sugar, and vanilla in a bowl and mix, preferably with an electric mixer or stand mixer on high, until fluffy.

Now pour the salt-water solution in and mix.

When the cakes are mainly cool, poke a hole into the bottom in three places like a Twinkie with a narrow ended chopstick. Move the chopstick around inside to make some room for filling. Then stick a pastry bag into the holes and press gently to fill.

Storing “Twinkies”Store in a wax paper lined covered container for a few hours before serving. Twinkies need time for their outsides to get soft. Twinkies also freeze quite well after filling.

Makes 16 Twinkie Copycats.

Adapted from Todd Wilber from Top Secret Recipes. Picture by Laura Flowers. 58

Shortcut Homemade “Twinkies”

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HELP!My

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There is no question girls today are ex-

posed to make up much earlier than their

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es are all around them. It’s no wonder girls

want to experiment with make up soon-

er. After all, their favorite Disney stars not

only wear make up, they endorse the

products. But while these beauty im-

ages are available to them sooner, does

that mean it’s OK?

Consumer Research Company NPD Group reports the percentage of girls ages 8 to 12 who regularly use mascara and eyeliner nearly doubled from 2007 to 2009. Stacy Malkan, author of “Not Just a Pretty Face: The Ugly Side of the Beauty Industry” agrees. Malkan states that parents have been fighting a los-

ing battle with the beauty industry, which now markets to children so aggressively. “There’s relentless marketing pressure on young girls to look older,” Ms. Malkan said. “Not just from magazines and ads, but from their favorite TV shows.”

“The dangers of cosmetics and chemical based skin care products may go much deep-er to girls,” says Good For You Girls Organic Skin Care Founder, Kim Grustas. “Chemicals found in traditional skin care and cosmet-ics are a particular concern to a girls devel-oping body”. According to a 2008 study done by the Environmental Working Group, girls may be at a particular greater risk of exposure to even trace levels of hormone altering chemicals found in traditional skin care and cosmet-

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ics due to the delicate changes that happen in their bodies during puberty. “From lead

in lipstick to endocrine dis-rupters in fragrance, there

is enough evidence for moms to take notice

and be concerned,” says Grustas.

A girl’s growing want for skin care and a mom’s obvi-ous desire to keep

her safe was the in-spiration for the Good

For You Girls line of natural skin care. Kim

Grustas, mom of two girls and partner Grace Petrarca, mom of four girls de-veloped the line because they could not find any products they felt were effective, safe or age appropriate enough for their own daugh-ters.

As a Practitioner of Ayurvedic Medicine, Pe-trarca knows the beauty of natural ingredi-ents first hand. “The natural and organic in-gredients in Good For You Girls are not only a safer alternative for girls, they pamper and protect the skin unlike any chemical products can”, explains Petrarca. The company offers moms some great advice when answering your daughter and her desire for make up, too. “Unless your daughter can commit to a nightly skin care routine for at least six months then she is just not ready for make up”, says Grus-tas. “In many cases the girls feel empowered just taking care of their skin that it’s really enough for them. Besides, when their skin is healthy and glowing, they won’t want to cover it up.” Good For You Girls natural skin care can be purchased online or visit their website for a list of retailers.

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65

Bars,Beam,

Bows...BOY?!Gymnastics was always my

sport of choice, so naturally

I dreamed of having a little

gymnast one day. Bars,

beam, bows, I dreamed in

pink...and then I had blue! A

very active blue!

When Austin was almost two, we started a Mommy and Me class at the gymnastics cen-ter. Something came up and we left for a few months. Then we went back and eventually he graduated in to a class where mommy was no longer needed. Our on again off again pattern continued for three years.

Once when we went from off to on, we de-cided to try a new gym. Gallagher’s Gym-nastics to be exact. Owner and coach, Brian Gallagher, had been a gymnast since age 8. He attended Florida State as the receipient of a cheerleading scholarship and went on to open his own gymnastics and cheerleading training center.

I immediately knew that was where Austin needed to be. Coach Brian taught with high enthusiasm and strong, positive reinforce-ment. Unlike our previous gym, where class-es were led by young adults who seemed to be there more for the part-time job opportunity.

Austin turned six three months after he start-ed at Gallagher’s, which made him eligible to join the team. Shortly after we made our initial financial investment to get him on the team, the whining began on the way to practice. This was typical for Austin, when the newness of a new activity wore off, he would get to a point that he wouldn’t want to stop what he was doing at home (ie

by Amy Shepherd-Smith

LEGO construction, playing Wii) to get in the van and go to practice, even though he always had fun once he got there.

“You will train and attend the meets I have paid for,” I finally told him, “ at the end of January you can quit if that is what you choose.” His first meet was December 6. He finished the meet with the absolute lowest score of all the competitors.

At the end of the meet, he came running off the floor, grinning from ear to ear and said, “Mommy, that was so much fun!” He was hooked. Since that day, he has wanted to be in the gym daily. His hard work began to show in the meets to follow. As a matter of fact, he won first place all around in the last meet this season!

The discipline and sportsmanship my son has learned from gymnastics, at just six years old, is priceless. I am so thankful I did not just write off gymnastics as a girls sport. Currently he is spending a lot of time in the gym, how-ever I continue to allow him to be involved in a myriad of sports and activities. I never want him to regret not trying other sports and the

bonus, the strength, agility and co-ordination skills he has developed in gymnastics are beneficial on the baseball field and the bas-ketball court!

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The 4A mom recently told me she had been using praise to motivate her three-year-old daugh-ter to stay dry through the night. If the little girl awoke each morning with a dry diaper, her mom would praise her. One particular morn-ing the child apparently took off her diaper and brought it to her mom to show the great results and receive her praise. But later that morning, mom found the REAL diaper that was worn that night–hidden in the child’s bedroom and wet!

I don’t normally support praise, although the exception can be when working with toddlers and preschoolers. Praise can be effective when teaching something new that may be difficult for very young children to master. Praise can give them confidence and motivate them tocooperate with you. The acceptable form of praise in these cases is in expressing delight for your child’s accomplishment but avoiding labeling them as a good boy or girl. Adults must be cautious because the side effects of this praise can be motivation to do whatever it takes to get more. From the child’s perspec-tive, having a caregiver express delight in something you have accomplished feels great and you usually want to get more.

We teach them to lie to get our approvalIn the case above, the little girl loved the praise she was getting for her dry diaper in themorning and learned to hide the wet diaper to please her mother. Even though this examplewas about a young child, children of all ages learn quickly about getting our approval at allcosts. The caregiver’s approval feels good and a child will do whatever he can to get it.

Children lie to protect themselvesMy parents obtained their parenting tools from their parents. The penalty my siblings and I received for the C’s, D’s, and F’s on school papers was a whipping from a belt. Because my parents used fear to motivate us to per-form, fear is what I felt as a child. To protect myself fromwhat I feared most, I quickly learned how to change grades on papers, hide or destroy my

work, or lie about the grades I received on assignments. I often think about where I might be today academically if my parents had responded differ-ently.

Hopefully you are not using old tools our parents may have used on us. But think about how you respond to your children when their performance is not where you think it should be. How do you react emotionally and physically when they make mistakes, make poor decisions, or explore the world? If you yell, get angry, punish, or dem-onstrate other forms of disapproval,might you be teaching them to lie?

Parents force their children to be nice to othersHave you ever told your child to be nice to a playmate or relative, or forced them to say they’re sorry? Young children don’t always see other children as equals. The process of de-veloping social skills takes time and patience. When one child is mean or disrespectful to-ward a sibling or playmate, it usually is an indication that they have had enough of the other child and it is time for a break or an end to the playtime. But parents usually admon-ish their child for the behavior and force their child to be nice. At that particular moment, the child may not have any warm feelings for the other child nor feel sorry in any way. When I was a child I had an elderly relative I did not like. She smelled terrible and when we went to visit her my parents forced me to give her a hug. It was an excruciating experience and I hated having to go near her. Does this scenar-io sound familiar? Many of us probably had asimilar experience because our parents ex-pected us to show our respect. But at what cost?

Ways We Teach OurChildren to Lieby

Bill Corbett

68

Children learn from the example adults setYour child runs to answer the ringing tele-phone as you shout out, “If it’s grandma, tell her that I’m not home.” You tell the ticket taker at the admission gate of the amusement park that your child is an age just under the price break so that you can save a few dollars. I know that I have been guilty myself of a few incidents where I taught my son or daughter to lie. One day my young daughter and I were returning home from a brief shopping trip to get some groceries we needed for dinner. When my daughter saw the ice cream vendor outside the supermarket, her pleading for a small treat pulled at my heartstrings. I caved to her request. I then taught my daughter to lie when I told her not to tell her mother when we got home. I knew that I would be scolded by my wife if she found out I had given our daughter a treat before dinner. It didn’t matter anyway. My cover was blown when my daugh-ter walked into the house and said, “We had an ice cream at the store, Mommy.” By natural design children have a drive for honesty, but through modeling, training, and getting their needs met, they can easily learn to lie.

In my parenting classes I sometimes poll my participants about the top ten characteristics they want their children to have as an adult. The majority of the time, honesty ranks among the top three. Yet look at the things adults do that promote their children to lie. The mother who found the hidden wet diaper asked me what she should do about her three-year-old hiding it and lying to her. I told her that she should have revealed to her daughter that mommy had found that diaper and now knew that her little girl did not wake up dry.

In the book Nurture Shock (published by Twelve, 2009), authors Po Bryson and AshleyMerryman advise that lying is not just an inno-cent childhood trait. They believe that parentsmust let their children know that it is not okay to lie. If we don’t, the lying will progressthroughout the child’s development years. How the parent lets the child know that lying is not okay is the most important factor. If done without a trace of punishment or anger, and instead with a demonstration of acceptance and unconditional love, the child will have less motivation tocontinue the lying. Her internal compass of integrity will develop naturally as it should.

super southern child

For the Birds

11-years-old and willing to help, is how Oliv-ia Bourler described herself to the Audubon Society when she contacted them about the tragedy in the Gulf. Aspiring ornithologist, artist,and saxophone player, Olivia wept when she heard about the oil spill in the Gulf Coast, a place where she spent many vacations with her cousins and grandparents who live in Louisiana and Alabama. Knowing birds were going to suffer, she had to take action.

Inspired by her hero James Audubon, Ol-ivia wrote to the Audubon Society about her fundraising idea and decided simply to give bird drawings to those who donated to wildlife recovery efforts, setting a goal of 500 origi-nals.

The response has been incredible, raising over $160,000 for a variety of organizations helping wildlife in the Gulf region and having over 26,000 people sign up for her Facebook fan page: Save the Gulf: Olivia’s Bird Illustra-tions. Her story has appeared on many me-dia outlets including CNN, The Today Show, CBS Evening News with Katie Couric, Larry King Live, People Magazine, The MobilePress Register, The Guardian (UK), BBC radio, AOL News, Newsday, andinternational news out-lets. Sheeven had the honor of ringing the closing bell last week at the NYSE!

Her work is now featured as an AOL Artist, with AOL giving The Audubon Society $25,000 in honor of Olivia’s efforts. AOL has also facili-tated the mailing of her limited edition prints. To date, Olivia has drawn at least 80 different species of birds in 225 original drawings.

In mid-June, Olivia visited her family’s cot-tage in Orange Beach, Ala. “The oil hit the beaches near the end of the days I was there,” Olivia says. “I saw a lot of oily feathers and definitely some tar on the beach. It really was upsetting.”

In addition to the National Audubon Society, Olivia will send prints of her paintings to any-one donating to Gulf relief efforts through the Sierra Club, the Weeks Bay Foundation, the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program, or the National Wildlife Federation.

Olivia is thrilled but also a bit stunned at the success of her project. “It’s really fantastic,” she says. “But I think the reason everybody is interested is because it gives them a way to help … everybody feels so helpless when they watch the oil, like I felt. It gives them a way to help out the birds, and the marine wildlife, and … the fishermen who are suffering.”

Meet Spencer: charming, friendly, and a budding entomologist (a bug scientist). This young man is intrigued by all types of insects, bugs

and animals. He loves books and, during quiet times, he can be found reading about creatures that creep and crawl. Putting together puz-

zles is another of Spencer's favorite activities.

In the fifth grade, Spencer is eager to please and thrives on one-on-

one attention. Concrete tasks particularly set the stage for him to ex-cel. As an adult, Spencer may benefit from an assisted living environ-

ment. He can have a great life.

Spencer has siblings with whom he hopes to remain in contact. The caseworker prefers a home in which he can be the only child; how-

ever, all family types will be considered. Financial assistance may be available for adoption-related services.

For Colorado children, both homestudied and non-homestudied Colo-

rado families are encouraged to inquire; only homestudied families from other states should do so.

Child ID 8089

If you would like more information about Spencer or other waiting

children like him, please contact The Adoption Exchange at 800-451-5246 or visit www.adoptex.org.

Spencer, age 12

Colorado

Special Interests:

Books, puzzles, bugs, animals

Becky, age 17

Sabrina, age 15 Scarlett, age12 Victoria, age 9

Oklahoma

Becky, Sabrina, Scarlett, and Victoria are courageous sisters. They are in need of a family who will adopt them together.

Becky has a very outgoing personality. In conversation, her sweetness captivates all of those around her. Tops on her list include going to the movies with her foster mother, the color blue, Chinese rice, pizza, coun-try music, and R&B. While excelling in the tenth grade (making As and Bs), Becky is also involved in the drama club and her church choir. She is very artistic and loves to draw, something she does extremely well! This past summer she held a job at a fast food restaurant. A perfect time for Becky happens when she is with her sisters or listening to music. Goals and dreams include going to college and getting a family for all of her sisters. Sabrina projects her confidence in her personal appearance, always taking the time to look her best. She loves coloring, doing needlework, swimming, playing her Game Boy DS, the color pink, and animals. The family dog is a very close companion of Sabrina's. When it comes to food, pizza, steak, fried chicken and casseroles can't be topped. Now in the 8th grade, her favorite class is art. Times spent at the mall and shop-ping with her foster mom are Sabina's favorites. Someday, she hopes to be a veterinarian technician. She understands that it will take a lot of work but is willing to do whatever it takes. Scarlett enjoys watching movies with her foster mother and playing with her dolls. She is kind, compassionate and loving, which is evident when she plays with others. This preteen is a shy, quiet girl who enjoys roller-skating and going to the lake. She does well in the sixth grade, and really likes her science classes. Scarlett's future plans are to be adopted into a loving family and to be with her sisters. Victoria is a happy and easy-going child. She enjoys playing with her friends, and values the time she spends with her dogs as well. She loves going to the park, riding her bike, playing with her dolls, watching movies and going to the mall with her foster mom. Victoria is in the second grade and would appreciate attention and patience when she does her school work. In the future, she wants to be adopted into a loving home with her sisters. All of the sisters benefit from counseling, which will need to continue after placement. Each youngster is on an IEP (Individual Education Plan) and will benefit from a supportive and understanding environment. Their caseworker prefers either a two-parent or single-mother family who are Native American; however, all family types will be considered. For Oklahoma children, both homestudied and non-homestudied Oklahoma families are encouraged to in-quire; only homestudied families from other states should do so. Financial assistance may be available for

adoption-related services. We only accept inquiries on the entire sibling group, who will be placed to-gether.

For more information about this sibling group or other waiting children like them, please contact The Adoption Exchange at 800-451-5246 or

visit our website at www.adoptex.org.

inspiration station

Your Dirt Versus My Dirt by Monica Hawkins

It is no secret that I have a love for clean-ing and cleaning supplies. I know it sounds strange, but I LOVE to clean. There is noth-ing quite like the feeling of seeing some-thing that is really dirty, putting your heart and soul into it and then watching it sparkle and shine. I love Clorox. I love Magic Eras-ers. I love Pine Sol. I love to pressure wash. Anything that can take that which was dirty and make it clean makes my heart leap for joy. I have always had an obsession with my house being spotless until recently. I have recently been doing some cleaning for some friends and the more I clean for others the less I work on my own dirt. Somehow my dirt doesn’t seem as bad as others dirt, but guess what...dirt is dirt.

As I looked around my disgusting home last night knowing it was time for a deep clean, but not really having a burden to see it done God revealed to me why I am not as pas-sionate about my dirt anymore. Matthew 7:3-5 describes it so clearly. “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your broth-er’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank our of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

How often does our neighbor’s dirt seem so much worse than our own dirt. We compare, we judge, we condemn all the while walking in sin ourselves. The more we focus on the

dirt in someone else’s life the less we notice or are disgusted with or own dirt. God says, (how dare you) you hypocrite...you have dirt too and dirt is dirt, so why does their dirt bother you, but your dirt does not? The sins of others bother us so much, but we never stop to see that we ourselves have sins and sin bothers God! In His eyes sin is sin! “At least my bathrooms are cleaner than hers.” Guess what...dirt is dirt...a little or a lot it is still called dirt.

The more we focus on the dirt or sins of oth-ers the more we become desensitized to our own dirt and sin. In our eyes it just doesn’t seem so bad. Guess what my friend? It still grieves the heart of a Holy and righteous God. We must pray that our hearts never be-come desensitized to sin, especially our own sin. Psalm 51:10 “Create in me a CLEAN heart Oh God and renew a right spirit with-in me.” We must pray and ask the Lord to clean our hearts and to renew a right spirit within us. A spirit that is concerned about the things that our God is concerned about. A spirit that offers grace to others, not con-demnation.

I answer to many names, mommy, baby,honey, crazy friend, dork, pastor’s wife, daughter, grand-daughter. Of all the namesI am honored to have “My Child” is my favor-ite one. I became “His Child” 31 years agoand without that name the rest would notmatter. I love my Jesus, I love my wonderfulhusband of 13 years and I love my 4 littleboys. God uses all of these things to change-and conform me Moment by Moment and I

73

While playing on the Northshore,