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PA R E N T
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Big RED’S Rascals Growing Up RED page 3
TAILGATING Fun for the Family page 4
moms of
MULTIPLES page 16 Reaching Beyond:
HIGHER EDUCATION OPTIONS pages 6-9
from the editor “MOM, DON’T YOU THINK Bowling Green needs a magazine for families?” That tantalizing conversation starter five years ago initiated the exciting adventure known today as Bowling Green Parent Magazine. My daughter, Katie Frassinelli, and I share a passion for Bowling Green. It is simply the best place to raise a family. This city has a plethora of churches, wonderful schools, tons of shopping, zillions of restaurants, night clubs, a state of the art theater with SkyPAC, two fabulous orchestras. Basically, we have anything you need to put your heart, mind and soul to rest. Why would anyone want to live anywhere else? Our mission at BGP is to share our passion for the area by publishing all the fun and economical family activities, as you will see when you look through our magazine. And home, to both Katie and me, is Bowling Green, KY. It just doesn’t get any better than this! We hope that you will make Bowling Green Parent your source for local living!
in this issue
oct/nov/dec 2011
events
WKU Dept. of Theatre & Dance
Kid, Teen & Family Events
Kentucky Favorites
Get Your Home in the Spirit
Pictured: Cara Pitchford with daughter Katie Fleming Frassinelli, 1980
Happy Reading! Cara Cossey Pitchford, Editor
5 Arts for Everyone 14-15 Event Calendar 23 Holiday Craft Festivals arts Holiday Crafts 2 2 Homemade 25 FOODIE PAGECostumes 26 health & safety Hunt with Your Kids 6 The 10 Skinny: Bullying 18 Moms of Multiples 19 Pre-Natal Eating 20 Lunchbox Safety
BECOME A FAN...Contest with prizes, fun ideas and more!
Make it Yourself Costumes What kind of food
Youth Hunting Safety
On the Cover: WKU Head Football Coach Willie Taggart tossing some pigskin with future Toppers Paislee and Hudson Harper, one-year-old twins of Cody and Andrea Harper of Scottsville. Cover photo shot by Andrea Harper of Wolfe Photography. Paislee and Hudson’s shirts courtsey of BlueCotton.
Resources
Healthy You, Healthy Baby
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and Save on What You Pack!
Bowling Green Parent is a quarterly publication for Bowling Green / Warren County and surrounding areas. We generate 10,000 free copies of this issue which can be picked up at over 200 local family-friendly businesses in five counties. For a list of locations: www.bgparent.com/about/distribution To inquire about advertising, call 270-792-7228 or email info@bgparent.com. Katie Frassinelli, Publisher and Creative Director Carolyn Cossey Pitchford, Editor-in-Chief Stephanie Hill, Director of Sales
education
7 College Directory 8 The Traditional Route 9 Alternative Education features 4 Tailgating Fun 11 Girl Scouts & Bargaining 12-13 Consigning 24 Pets As Gifts? Your Educational Options Prepare for Success
The Road Not Taken
All material and information, which appears in Bowling Green Parent Magazine, is presented for informational purposes only. Always consult your physician or child care expert if you have any questions concerning you or your Family’s well being. Bowling Green Parent Magazine presents all data as is, without any warranty of any kind, express or implied, and is not liable for its accuracy, for mistakes, errors, or omissions of any kind, nor for any loss or damage caused by a user’s reliance on information obtained in the magazine. Bowling Green Parent Magazine takes no responsibility as to the accuracy of statements in any of our articles or segments. We rely on independent writers and reader responses to present us with ideas and informational material.
THANKS to our supporters! Without the advertisers in BG Parent, we would not be able to bring this FREE publication to you! Please thank them by visiting their business, and tell them you saw them in BG Parent!
For the Whole Family
It’s Great Being One! Simple Ways to Save
Think Before Buying
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Emotional Health
october / november / december 2011
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Up Red Big Red’s Growing It’s Our Legacy Rascals
Getting Kids in the Spirit Everyone knows and loves the friendly WKU mascot, Big Red. To give kids more access to their friend Big Red and WKU athletics, Western Kentucky University Athletics has established an official kid’s fan club, Big Red’s Rascals. When kids, age 13 and younger join this exclusive group, they can attend all soccer, volleyball, softball and baseball
games for free by showing their official membership card. Members are also given free admission to two select Hilltopper football games, three select Hilltopper basketball games, and three select Lady Topper basketball games. Other membership benefits include a newsletter every other month, a birthday card from Big Red, invitations to special WKU athletic events, such as autograph sessions, a membership kit which includes a membership card from Big Red, free tshirt, red towel, sunglasses, folder, pen, lapel pin, and more. In order to join Big Red’s Rascals kid’s club, go to www.wkusports.com and access the application under the traditions tab. The membership fee is $20 or $15 if the child’s parent is a member of Hilltopper Athletic Foundation or a WKU Faculty/ Staff member. < About the author: Andy Bean graduated from Texas Tech University May 2011 with a Masters in Sports Management. While in Texas he was a graduate assistant in the Athletic Marketing and Promotions department. Currently he is employed at WKU as an Athletic Marketing intern and is heading up the Big Red’s Rascals kid’s club among other responsibilities.
As a parent, one of my greatest joys has been seeing my children grow in their appreciation for the WKU campus. I love their genuine smile at the site of Big Red (after the fear subsides) and their enthusiasm for waving their very own Red Towel. Those traditions are some of the things that made me fall in love with our beautiful campus many years ago. As the coordinator of the Growing Up Red Legacy Program, I’m proud to be a part of a project that allows Alumni Association members a chance to share their WKU passion with their own children. There’s no time like the present to start educating our children about college, as well as sharing our WKU experiences with future generations of Hilltoppers. The Growing Up Red program is intended to do just that - give children the opportunity to “Grow Up Red.” Children learn more about WKU as they receive their personalized red towel at birth, measure their growth at an early age against a Big Red Growth chart, carry their Big Red backpack to school, and start saving for college in their Big Red piggybank. The cornerstone of the program is the exclusive storybook, Big Red’s Spirited Adventure, which tells the story of Big Red and his friends looking for the WKU Spirit. Growing Up Red helps teach children about the Spirit of WKU, our fun-loving mascot Big Red, and hopefully, begin a passion in a child while rekindling that WKU passion in the adult. Introduce your children to the WKU Spirit. To learn more, visit alumni.wku. edu/growingupred.< WKU Football Schedule Remaining Home Games <October 1 ARKANSAS STATE <October 22 LOUISIANALAFAYETTE (Homecoming) <November 5 FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL <November 26 TROY
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About the author: Ginny Hensley is the Director of Alumni Programming at Western Kentucky University. She and her husband, Drew, live in Bowling Green with their two children; Reed, age 8 and Hope, age 5.
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Tailgating Fun for the Family! Food, Fun, Family and FOOTBALL!
If you’ve been to a really great tailgate, you may think that the kiddos don’t belong there - but with proper planning you AND the whole family can have lots of fun! Location. When picking a location for your tailgating experience, keep in mind traffic and accessibility to a restroom. The less traffic, the safer it is for kids to play freely, and when possible, use your vehicle, tent and tables to “rope” off a safe area. A bonus: grassy spots in the shade when it’s hot! Munchies. With kids, simple is usually best, but you can spice up even simple dishes with some things adults will love. Put a spin on the basic hot dog by offering a topping bar. Use divided vegetable trays to display relish, dill pickles, chopped onion, sprinkle cheddar cheese and diced onion. Hot chili is a great extra dish, and don’t forget the condiments. Other fun kid foods are pigs in a blanket, fruit kabobs and meatballs heated with a jar of grape jelly and jar of chili sauce. Tasty! Games. You’ll definitely want some activities for the kids. Our family favorite is cornhole, but even have a ball to toss around (tennis ball with velcro mitt is great) can keep them occupied. If you are on or near concrete, bring some sidewalk chalk and draw up a work of art celebrating the
TopperTown- An interactive area on South Lawn across from the stadium filled with inflatables for the entire family! Open 3 hours prior to kickoff and FREE for everyone! TopperWalk- Across from South Lawn 2-1/2 hours prior to kickoff. Cheer on Coach Taggart and the Hilltoppers along with Big Red, Cheer, Dance, and the Big Red Marching Band as they make their way into the stadium!
The Taggart family tailgates with the other football coaching staff’s wives and children on South Lawn. The boys usually play football and enjoy TopperTown, and the families socialize together. home team. Music. What’s a party without music? Don’t forget some of your kid’s favorite tunes to add into the mix. Our favorites are any of the Jock Jams cds - upbeat and get you into the sporting spirit.
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WKU Tailgating for Young Toppers!
Grass Parking Areas for Tailgating- WKU has five designated grass parking areas down College Heights Blvd. that are available to purchase on a season or singlegame basis. Season passes are $100, call 270-745-2468 to reserve a spot. Single-game grass spots can be purchased on game days at the top of College Heights Blvd. For general tailgating or parking questions, contact Rick French at 270-745-3324. The 2011 WKU Football Tailgating Map is also located online at wkusports.com “WKU really has a lot to offer families who want to tailgate on game days. TopperTown is filled with inflatables for kids of all ages and it’s completely FREE! TopperWalk is also a fun WKU family tradition and a great way to get excited and slap a few players’ hands before each game. I think these activities really add to the WKU Football game day experience and we hope you will come out and join us for six home games this season on the Hill!” Megan Micheli, Assistant Director of Marketing, WKU Athletic Dept.
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Arts for Everyone!
Children’s Theatre & Dance at WKU Are you looking for an entertaining, educational experience to share with your child? If so, we invite you to join the WKU Department of Theatre and Dance for all the fantastic shows being presented in WKU’s Children’s Theatre Series! Beginning in September and continuing throughout the fall semester, WKU stages a variety of productions geared toward children. This year, four plays will be presented, all under the guidance of Carol Jordan, Adjunct Instructor for the Children’s Theatre and Creative Dramatics. According to Jordan, “We have an amazing line-up of shows this year that will make children laugh and cry as they watch the characters overcome challenges that range from hilarious to tragic. This season has something for young people of all ages!” The series begins September 23-25 with Rapunzel Uncut. You may think you know the tale of Rapunzel, but think again! This hilarious play features two narrators who try to figure out the real story of Rapunzel, making the audience wonder: will Rapunzel and her prince ever get their happy ending? October 14-16, Hucklebee and the Rhyming Mountain comes complete with adventure and fantasy as the audience follows the journey of Hucklebee as he travels through Rhyming Mountain and meets some fascinating characters along the way. November’s show, Zink: the Myth, the Legend, the Zebra, best suited for ages 8 and up, is a touching and heartfelt play about a young girl’s struggle with a lifethreatening illness and the amazing creatures who lift her spirits and support her through this struggle. Show
dates are November 4-6. The final show of the children’s season, Along Came a Dragon, is an original show written by WKU students. This show will tour to local elementary and middle schools throughout the fall to teach children about the Chinese culture and language. For those of you who don’t get a chance to see the tour, this production (as all others) will be performed in Gordon Wilson Hall Lab Theatre December 9-11, admission $4 for all ages. WKU’s Mainstage season also includes family-friendly fare. In November, families can enjoy two short musical shows the same evening, with Amahl and the Night Visitors and a musical tale of Gift of the Magi. December’s presentation, WinterDance, is the perfect treat for your family for the holiday season. In February, you can see America’s most beloved musical right here in Bowling Green. Oklahoma, written by the famous composing team Rodgers and Hammerstein, is filled with spectacular songs and dances that will provide your whole family with a great night of entertainment. For more information on any of these shows, call the WKU Theatre
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and Dance Office at (270) 745-5845 or email questions to theatreanddance@wku.edu. You can also visit our website at www.wku.edu/theatre-and-dance. We look forward to seeing you at the shows! About the author: Holly Berger is a Junior at Western Kentucky University, pursuing a double major in Theatre and Business Administration. She loves acting, singing, dancing, and being onstage and is thrilled to spread the word about the WKU Department of Theatre and Dance.
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Hunt with Your
KIDS
Youth Hunting in Kentucky You can always tell when deer season begins in southern Kentucky, attendance figures at schools and businesses drop and fathers (or mothers) and children spend more quality time together. It is a long standing American tradition and a great way for young family members to learn about nature and firearms safety. It is a budget friendly hobby to share with kids, because in Kentucky, resident and non-resident hunters under the age of 12 are not required to purchase licenses and permits (except for the elk lottery application). Children under 12 years old who hunt any species must be accompanied by an adult if they have not taken a hunter education course. In fact, it is nice to know that everyone required to have a hunting license and born on or after Jan. 1, 1975 must carry a hunter education course completion card while hunting. The hunter safety course includes study in Hunter Ethics, Wildlife Conservation and Identification, Field Care of Game, Trapping, First Aid, Firearm Safety, Archery and Muzzleloading. The course is offered several ways. Gander Mountain and other vendors offer courses you can take. Or, you can pre-register for a course, at the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources’ homepage at fw.ky.gov
Pictured: Joshua Ward, 10-year-old son of Misty Bow and the late Josh Ward, downed this nice 8-point buck and was hunting with his Poppy, David Sisco. (all of Scottsville) This is his third big buck since he started hunting.
and select the “Education and Outdoor Activities” tab. Click the “Hunter Education” tab followed by “Hunter Education Class Schedule.” After selecting a course, the information page comes up and you’ll see a “Register online” link in blue. Hunter education courses are offered across Kentucky year-round Lt. Brett Zalla of the KDF&W said, “In order to be an efficient and ethical young hunter, kids should learn to be proficient and practice with their firearm or bow. Practice is essential and can consist of shooting at targets in the backyard, plinking at tin cans with a .22 all the way up to shooting practice with clay pigeons. But safety is always the greatest concern.” Some other interesting ways to practice include sporting clays, which is a shooting game. A great outing would be a short trip to Rockcastle Shooting in Park Mammoth Resort at Park City, Ky. This multi level shooting center offers young hunters (and old ones alike) a fine opportunity to hone their skills to test their aim.You might also consider visiting Wagoner Mill Sporting Clays on Wagoner Mill Road in Allen County for some shooting practice. Young Kentucky hunters as well as non-resident
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hunters ages 12-15 are eligible to purchase discounted licenses and permits, which are valid for the entire license year, if they are purchased BEFORE the youth’s 16th birthday. Persons 15 years of age and under who hunt turkey, elk, deer or bear with a firearm must always be accompanied by an adult. Once a hunter turns 16 years of age, he/she is no longer eligible to buy youth hunting licenses and permits. About the author: Lieutenant Brett Zalla is the Commander of the Fourth District of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife, Law Enforcement Division. Brett and his wife Kerry have two children, Lucy and Lincoln.
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higher
EDUCATION
Campbellsville University 1 University Drive, Campbellsville, KY 42718 270.789.5000 or 800.264.6014 www.campbellsville.edu CU offers 63 programs of study at the undergraduate level, 17 masters’ degrees and five postgraduate areas. Campbellsville University is affiliated with the Kentucky Baptist Convention and has an enrollment of 3,225 students who represent 97 Kentucky counties, 30 states and 37 foreign nations. Listed in U.S.News & World Report’s 2010 “America’s Best Colleges,” CU is ranked 25th in “Best Baccalaureate Colleges” in the South. Preview Day is October 1 or November 5. Register on the website. Daymar College 2421 Industrial Drive, Bowling Green, KY 42101 270.843.6750 | www.daymarcollege.edu Daymar College has programs to prepare their graduates for the challenges of tomorrow’s workplace and beyond. With convenient locations in Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana, Daymar College in Bowling Green offers 15 associate degrees, four programs of studies leading to a Bachelor of Science degree, seven certificate programs and 11 diploma programs. Walk-In Wednesday allows
directory
interested people to stop by the campus any Wednesday to learn more. Georgetown College 400 East College St., Georgetown, KY 40324 502.863.8009 or 800.788.9985 www.georgetowncollege.edu Georgetown College is a Christian liberal arts college inspiring students to live, learn and believe as global citizens. GC offers over 70 majors, minors and academic programs. Chances are you’ll find what you’re interested in. Even if you don’t find an area of academic interest right away, don’t worry! It’s not out of the ordinary to have a student design a major. Open House Days are October 7 and 28, November 19 and December 2. Contact Admissions to schedule. Lindsey Wilson College 116 West Public Square, Scottsville, KY 42164 270.237.9136 | www.lindsey.edu. LW offers an affordable education with several choices of Bachelor of Arts, Associate of Arts and Master of Education programs available. LWC has recently expanded to sports on its main campus with a new football field. Start the admission process now by calling Dorinda Livesay in Scottsville.
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Western Kentucky University 1906 College Heights Blvd, Bowling Green, KY 42101 270.745.0111 | www.wku.edu WKU is one of the fastest growing universities in the South with a beautiful campus hosting 20,000 students. WKU offers an extensive range of undergraduate and graduate majors and minors plus a doctoral program. WKU is the home of the Gatton Academy for Mathematics and Science for exceptional Kentucky high school juniors and seniors and is proud to have Kentucky’s first and only independent Honors College.
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the TRADITIONAL Route Prepare for Success!
When I was a young teen my parents gave me some very generous advice about higher education. “Ada, your job is to do as well as you can in school. We’ll worry about the rest.” I didn’t realize until I was in my mid-twenties and earning my master’s degree while teaching full-time, what an exceptional gift my parents had given me, the ability to immerse myself in college without financial worry. My parents understood long before I could appreciate it, what a fiscal advantage it would be to graduate with no college debt. Not many parents can afford to foot the bill for their children’s college education now days. There is a lot that goes into planning for a child’s future. College costs are substantial; scholarships are few and given to those who can prove that they are assets that universities want as students. And, students must be well prepared for the tasks that higher education demands. There are steps that can be taken to help students prepare to be successful in high school, standardized testing, scholarship applications and post high school study. a I recommend that you communicate regularly with your children’s middle and high school teachers and be
proactive in their scheduling. Students should take full schedules of high quality classes because the quality of the teachers and classes before your children each day is one of the most important aspects in determining the value of their educational experience. a If your children are planning to pursue a college education, they should take Pre-AP and Advanced Placement courses in high school. The College Board actively promotes an open enrollment policy and data overwhelmingly supports that students who take AP courses and the exams for college credit are much more likely to thrive in and graduate from college. a Study for the PSAT (October of the junior year of high school is the one shot students have of qualifying for National Merit recognition) and the ACT. At Bowling Green High School, we offer free student reviews and practice tests throughout the year. a The Common Application: https://www. commonapp.org For parents who haven’t yet acquainted themselves with college application, it is extremely helpful to see the many aspects involved in the application process. We like to show students the ways their teachers are asked to comment on their character and their performance, well beyond the
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numerical average earned for our classes. The Common Application will give both parents and students insight into what it takes to get into college. a Financing college is tricky. Every college has a different price tag. For information about the kinds of financial assistance available to Kentucky students, check out the KHEAA (Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority): http://www.kheaa.com/website/kheaa/home.
This article continues on our website in greater detail. Follow the QR code to read the rest of the story. About the author: Ada Travelsted Skillern grew up in Bowling Green and was a member of Warren Central High School’s class of 1991. She graduated from the University of the South (Sewanee) in 1994. Ada has taught English at Bowling Green High School since 1996 alongside her husband, Ron, who teaches history. They have one daughter, Elizabeth.
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Alternative College Education The Road Not Taken
When you see television newscasters, you probably think we are just people with good reading skills, nice smiles and an interest in current events. That isn’t completely true. To be a top rated newscaster, you need a college degree, something I didn’t want to admit when I was just beginning my plans for a career when I was in high school. I was a good student in high school, hard working and a high achiever. When I landed a part-time job at a local TV station it made my college and major decision easy. My college was one of the best schools in the country for journalism located conveniently in my back yard, WKU. I began my educational journey, hopefully securing my financial future. And then, at age 18, the real world came knocking in the form of a job offer. When you are young you don’t know the value of education and the price you pay for not having it, you make mistakes. I took the job, dropped out of college for a while until I made the discovery that I could not become anything higher level without a real education. This part of my educational road to discovery is detailed in my full story at the BG Parent website: www.bgparent.com/alternative. By now I had a small family that had to be supported,
a job that was inadequate, little education and I was in a rut. I wanted so much more from my career and was unprepared educationally for it. Where did I turn? I found the door open to the alternative classroom. It was not an easy path. I took online classes, night classes, correspondence courses, all while working 40 hours a week, raising a small child and trying to be a good husband. It is a good thing I have a wonderful wife who really loves me. Often I am invited to speak to high school students about my job at the television station. Inevitably, one of them will ask if I think they need to get their education right away, or if they can wait like I did. I am quick to set the record straight, letting them know that they must go straight to school and complete it. There aren’t many young people who will finish school the way I did it. In this time of economic crisis I don’t see how anyone can support their family if they have not received an education to give them some form of employable skills. This area of Kentucky has so many options for education. Of course, there is WKU, but there is also Daymar, Lindsey Wilson, BGTC, Georgetown, Campbellsville, and all sorts of online options for attending from home.
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Don’t let your career slide by. If I can do it, you can too! Read Zakk Gammon’s entire inspiring story on the BG Parent website by following the QR code, or log on to www.bgparent.com/alternative.
About the author: Zakk Gammon is a reporter, producer and fill-in anchor at WBKO-TV in Bowling Green. His professional experience includes work at WXIX-TV in Cincinnati, OH and KFVS-TV in Cape Girardeau, MO. In his spare time, Zakk enjoys reading, writing, and simply spending time with his family. He’s a graduate of Allen County-Scottsville High School and holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Mass Communication. Zakk, his wife Blaire and two daughters Briley and Haven live in Scottsville.
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WIN!
the skinny:
Bullying Our kids are back at school and well into the swing of things – making friends, participating in sports and involved in extracurricular activities. But even with all sorts of things to keep them busy, there is still the risk of bullying – whether it is physical, verbal, emotional or even ‘cyber.’ According to “Stop Bullying Now” (hhs.gov), bullying happens when someone hurts or scares another person on purpose and the person being bullied has a hard time defending themself. Typically, bullying happens repeatedly. Bullying is a growing problem and the stress of being bullied can make children feel sick and not want to socialize, play, or even attend school. Natcher Elementary sponsored a special anti-bullying week – Hands of Kindness: Take a Stand Against Bullying. Students were encouraged to perform random acts of kindness and, in return, were recognized for those acts. Susan Tabor, Family Resource Coordinator at Natcher, said these acts of kindness can be done in everyday life and for young children these are as simple as giving a compliment to someone, having good manners, and saying thank you. Susan also said teaching children to be kind was the first step in helping prevent
bullying, and when children are really young you have to teach them to get along. Children won’t always tell that they are being bullied, so here are some signs to watch for: - Changes in eating and/or sleep habits - Loss of interest in school, decline in grades - Frequently says doesn’t feel well, asks to stay home - Moodiness, crying easily You can help your child learn to defend her/himself against bullies. We like the ideas shared in 15 Ways to Zap a Bully by Jackie Humans, PhD. Jackie suggests ‘spying’ on the bully to determine other children they pick on, and become friends with those children. Bullies tend to pick on kids who are by themselves, so if you can outnumber the bully, they are less likely to target you. She also suggests ignoring the bully or acting bored, because most of the time the bully is seeking attention. By not giving them attention they are likely to lose interest. The Skinny on Bullying by Mike Cassidy also suggests avoiding hot spots – or places where bullying occurs, to stay confident, and agrees that you should stay in groups. He suggests staying active, participate, socialize and get involved in school to lessen your chances of
books on bullying
The Skinny on Bullying is the story of two popular 5th graders, who, when they start 6th grade, soon realize they aren’t as popular as they used to be and experience bullying. With the help of teachers, adults and friends they devise strategies to put a stop to bullying. 15 Ways to Zap a Bully! illustrates both simple and sophisticated techniques to help kids feel more confident against bullies. The book also outlines the 5 W’s of reporting bullying in order to maximize credibility. Watch our Facebook with how to enter. becoming a target. If the bullying becomes serious, kids should try to keep a journal and document the times they’ve been bullied – who, where, what, when – and then bring the information to a teacher. “If a child is scared, they need to communicate with the schools,” Susan said. “Start with the child’s teacher. The child needs to feel like they can come to school and be comfortable,” she added.
Help Teens in Foster Care Find HOPE!
The Training Resource Center (TRC) at WKU is collaborating with Murray State University’s Training Resource Center and the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to provide HOPE for foster teens in Kentucky. HOPE is: Helping to Organize, Provide for and Empower youth. The goal of the program is simple: to help teens in out-of-home care (foster care) transition successfully into adulthood. HOPE needs mentors that are at least 21 years old and can make at least a six month - one year commitment to a teen. What is required of mentors? - Attend an orientation session and a training session - Complete screening process, including background & reference checks - Spend one hour a week with the teen for a minimum of six months (two hours each month must be face-to-face) - Ability to listen, support, encourage, and have fun with the teen Orientation sessions are scheduled in Bowling Green to show you how you can help a teen in your community: Tuesday, October 12 Tate Page Hall Room 424 (WKU Main Campus) Session 1: Noon Session 2: 4:30pm For more information, please call 1-877-994-9970 or 270-745-2523. Please call to reserve a seat and a parking permit before October 12th. page
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It’s Great Being a Girl Scout! Do you and your daughter enjoy having fun, meeting new friends, and making a difference? Check out the Girl Scouts! Women of all ages are invited to participate. Kindergarten through 12th grade students can be Girl Scouts and women 18 years of age and older are invited to participate as leaders. It doesn’t matter how old you are because we’ve got something for everyone! We are the largest girl-serving organization in the country. Here in Kentuckiana, our membership is over 22,000 adults and girls. Our purpose is to meet the unique needs of girls by offering activities addressing their current interests and future roles as successful women. Our mission is to build girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. Girl Scouting is not just camping and cookies! From sports to career mentoring, world travel and cultural exchanges to local community service projects, environmental stewardship and financial literacy, the Girls Scout experience enables girls to be who they want to be! A recent poll shows that the two highestrated benefits of being a Girl Scout are the opportunity to have fun and to work with friends on activities. Girl Scouts opens the doors to truly amazing experiences: great adventures, community service and hundreds of other activities where young women can
develop values and skills to help you discover your own potential for greatness. By being a part of Girl Scouts, you can make new friends, discover amazing places, develop your creativity, and be inspired to help in your community in order to make a difference. Recent studies reveal that when compared to non-Girl Scouts, Girl Scouts have higher levels of respect for others, better decision-making skills, and have a greater sense of belonging. Girl Scouts also demonstrate increased leadership and teamwork skills, a greater desire to be helpful to others, and a higher appreciation for diversity. So, are you ready for an adventure? We have several ways that you can become a part of Girl Scouting. Whether you enjoy attending troop meetings, going to events, or just camping in the great outdoors, the possibilities and combinations are endless! It’s up to you. Whichever road you take, you will discover new things about yourself, connect with the world around you and take action on those things about which you feel inspired. Girl Scouts offers more choices and more reasons to join and we’re just a phone call away. Call us locally at 270-842-8138, or go to our website at www. kyanags.org for more information. If you can think it, you can do it! SO………
What did you do today?
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Pictured: Ashton Gentry, Meredith Lewis, Jessica Bowling, Kassidy Krueger, Christy Wilkins and leader Kelly Lewis. About the author: Felicia Bland is the Public Relations Liaison and Outreach Coordinator for Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana in Bowling Green. Felicia has been with Girl Scouts for over 11 years. When not at work, she teaches Spiritual Mime and Dance for several churches locally and statewide. She has one daughter, Kerprecia, who attends Bowling Green High School.
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Consigning Tips Mirror, Mirror on the wall, who’s the most clever consignor of all? Got some mirrors, pillows, prints and purses laying around that aren’t being used? Consider consigning. It is the most popular way to sell items you no longer need, but are still of value. Buying and selling through consignment is also the ultimate form of going green, it’s recycling. Now, to become the cleverest consigner of all follow these few simple guidelines. Clean your items & repair any damage. Something with cobwebs or dust sends a message to the potential buyer that the item was kept in a garage or attic because it wasn’t valuable enough to be on display in their home. No one wants to feel like they are buying broken castoffs. They want to feel like they have found a treasure. Don’t hold onto items until they are outdated. The rule of thumb for your clothes, if you haven’t worn it in a year it’s time to get rid of it, goes for your home items as well. If you have had a lamp or necklace buried away in a closet for over a year, chances are, you are never going to use it again. It is just creating clutter in your home. You’ll get more bang for your buck if you part with an item when it is still current than you would if you held onto an item until no one wanted it anymore (including yourself ).
more bees with honey... well, that works with shop keepers as well. A smile and a soft hello will go a whole lot further than a grumpy old bear. Want your items to be located in the “prime real estate” of the shop, or the employees to be on the lookout for that special something for you? Be nice, not demanding. The shop wants your item to sell as much as you do. They don’t make money if you don’t make money. So, know that they are on your side. You’re a team. Knowing some of the tricks of the trade to consigning will help your experience be more profitable. Rummage around in your closets, attics, and garages for all those hidden treasures and take them to your favorite consignment shop. Then sit back and watch the dollars roll in. As they say, one man’s trash... About the author: Liz Bradley is a mother of two girly girls, wifey to one Hubby, primary care giver to 3 dogs, 2 cats, and a fish and is the owner of LuLu’s and Little LuLu’s shoppes. Follow her blog at Mylovelylittlelulu.blogspot.com.
Don’t expect unrealistic prices for your items. With furniture and home accessories you can expect to get about 50% of the original store bought price. With clothing you can expect to get about 25% of what you paid for an outfit new. The lure of the consignment shopping experience is the incredible savings that you can expect. Without that, potential buyers of your item will just go buy new. Shops will reduce prices after an item has been in the store too long to help an item sell. However, when this happens, you usually get less out of your item then you would have gotten had it been priced accurately to begin with. Get to know the employees. You know the old saying, you can catch page
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october / november / december 2011
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BARGAINING Seems as though every day we hear of rising gas and grocery prices. Not to mention the increasing expense of raising our children and saving for,the always on the rise, cost of college. However, there is Good News! By using the technology and information we have available at our fingertips, you can save your family hundreds of dollars each month with just a little planning. Using coupons is a super way to save money on your day to day purchases. You can find a vast selection of coupons that you can print from your home computer. Sites like coupons.com, smartsource.com, and redplum. com offer the biggest variety of printables in one place. Of course, your Sunday newspaper is a great resource for weekly coupons delivered right to your door. And don’t forget social media sites like Facebook and Twitter, where you can find some great coupons from your favorite manufacturers from time to time. Think you don’t have time to use coupons? Think again! One of the greatest things to come along in recent years are coupon blogs and websites. These sites are dedicated to helping shoppers save time and money by accessing the information they provide. You will find listings of store sale items matched up with the specific coupon you can use (either paper coupons or links to printable coupons) along with the final sale price you will pay. You will also find offers for coupons, free samples, retail coupons and other money saving tips and ideas on these great sites. There are hundreds of these websites now available for example Hip2Save.com and SouthernSavers.com. Locally, you can find some great deals by checking out BG Couponers or The Frugal Friends on Facebook. Before you head out to your local store with coupons in hand, know the store’s coupon policy. You can access several store coupon policies on their websites or by asking their customer service department. Something else to keep in mind, just because you use a coupon does not necessarily mean your getting a good deal. Try not to use a coupon just because you have
in BG it. Remember to use your coupons on items that your family will use or would like to try or something you can donate. Try to use your coupon when an item is already on sale at a great price and take advantage of what your store offers you such as doubling coupons or allowing you to “stack” a store coupon and a manufactureres coupon. This will maximize your coupon value and savings. Still think couponing is not for you? How about a way to save without using coupons? Many stores will price match their competitor’s prices. In most cases, all you have to do is provide proof, such as a sale paper, showing that a competitor has the same item at a lower price and your store will match it. This is a great way to shop in one store without having to drive all over town getting the best prices. Whether it’s coupons, price matching or just being a smart shopper, any amount of money saved helps our family budget’s bottom line. And that’s a good thing!
About the author: April Hennion is a Stay At Home Mom of two who enjoys passing on her knowledge of smart shopping to those who are eager to learn how to lower their family’s monthly expenses. In September 2010, April started The Frugal Friends. April provides classes to teach smart shoppers how to maximize their family’s budget by using coupons, store sales and incentives, meal planning and other money saving tips and ideas. “Like” The Frugal Friends on Facebook for up to date store match ups, sales, coupons and freebies. For more information about classes offered for your group, club, business or organization please contact April at thefrugalfriends@yahoo.com or visit The Frugal Friends on Facebook.
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MEGAN’S MONEY-SAVING Megan Meredith, mom of two young children, shared with us some of her own couponing tips and thoughts, “the hunt... that’s what’s so fun!” • Each week, Megan looks through newspaper insert sales fliers. She finds items on sale, plus Kroger “Mega Events” items, and uses a coupon on top of that. • You can combine a store coupon AND a manufacturers coupon on a single item. • Megan finds better pricing at Kroger when taking advantage of their double couponing, but without that WalMart is the lowest. • Megan said her $7/month Sunday paper subscription saves her a minimum of 50% when shopping due to the coupons. • Megan keeps a binder of her coupons, and organizes them by aisle of her grocery. • A lot of companies are now using Facebook as a main way of marketing printable coupons. • Megan also likes DealSeekingMom.com (daily email of deals), and Carolina Couponer (Facebook Page). They tell you exactly where in the newspaper inserts to find coupons. She also likes Swap Mamas. • Megan says drug stores run great diaper specials!
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area events & activities FESTIVALS & MAJOR EVENTS School Fall Festival, T.C. Cherry Oct. 21, Potter Gray Oct. 21, McNeill Oct. 21, Parker-Bennett-Curry Nov. 4 Pumpkin Festival, Jackson’s Orchard, Oct. 1-2,8-9, 15-16, 22-23, Sat. 8am-6pm, Sun. 1-6pm, pick your own pumpkins, petting zoo, food, children’s activities and more, 270-781-5303, jacksonsorchard.com Aussie Fest, Celebrate the Land Down Under with Aussie Competitions-all for prizes, Kentucky Down Under, Oct. 1-2, 800-762-2869, www.kdu.com Skeleton’s Lair, “High School Horror Nights”, Haunted Woods, Gold City Ghost Ride & SkeletalVisions 3D, live actors, Fridays and Saturdays, Sept. 23-Oct. 29, plus Sunday Oct. 9, 16, 23 and 30, Halloween night Oct. 31. 7 p.m. to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, and 7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Sundays, $20, 270-622-8171, www.skeletonslair.com Warren County Asylum Haunted House, 707 E. Main Ave. (Reservoir Hill), $10 per person benefitting American Cancer Society, opens at 7pm Thurs.-Sat. and extended 10/27-10/31. Old Fashioned Farm Days, Pelly’s Farm Fresh Market, Smiths Grove, sorghum making, quilting bee, corn shelling, wool spinning, Oct. 8, 270-563-3411 Buffalo Crossing BBQ Cookoff, Munfordville, KY, Oct. 14-15, BBQ vendors, merchandise, music and family-fun activities. 888-686-3673, visitmunfordville Dumont Hill Civil War Living History Weekend, Scottsville, Nov. 5-6, Sat. 9am-5pm, Sun. 9am-3pm, battle reenactments, children’s games, Civil War artifacts, KY Museum’s Lincoln display, Civil Ware wedding noon Sat. Christmas at Shakertown Holiday Market, South Union, Preview Party Dec. 2, 7-9pm, reservations required, $10, Event Dec. 3, 9am-4pm, (canned food donation) 800-811-8379, shakermuseum.com Christmas in Kentucky, Kentucky Museum, Dec. 3, 11am- 2pm, free activities including gingerbread sampling, ornament making, scavenger hunts, performers, 270-745-2592, www.wku.edu/museum Festival of Trains, Historic Railpark & Train Museum, extended hours with evening outdoor light display, Dec. 3-4, 270-745-7317 MUSIC & THE ARTS Lost River Art Fair, Lost River Cave & Valley, 270393-0077, Oct.. 8, www.artworksinc.org It Was a Dark and Stormy Night, Public Theatre of KY, The Phoenix Theatre, Oct. 13-30, Thurs. 7pm, Fri & Sat 8pm, Sun 3pm, 270-781-6233, www.ptkbg.org
Hucklebee and the Rhyming Mountain, Gordon Wilson Lab Theatre, Children’s theatre series, Oct. 14-16, Fri. 4pm, Sat. 1 & 3pm, Sun. 3pm, 270-7455845, www.wku.edu/pcal.childrens-theatre Bellewoodstock, Capitol Arts Center, Oct. 15, 6-9pm, competition for young singers, bands and musicians from KY, red carpet event hosted by country singer Clay Underwood, youth 1st-12th grade accepted, www.bellewood.org/music Carmen, Orchestra Kentucky, Van Meter Hall, Oct. 17, 7:30 pm, 270-846-2426, OrchestraKentucky.com CMT On Tour featuring Luke Bryan, Country concert with guests Lee Brice & Josh Thompson, E.A. Diddle Arena, 1-800-5BIGRED, wku.edu, Oct. 20. Bowling Green Gallery Hop, 5-8pm, galleries, museums & studio centers, Oct. 21, Dec. 2, 270781-0872, thebowlinggreengalleryhop.com The Symphony @WKU, Van Meter Auditorium, Oct. 28, 8pm, 270-745-3751, www.wku.edu/music KMEA Kentucky State Marching Band Championships, WKU Houchens-Smith Stadium, Oct. 29, 5pm, 1-800-5-BIG RED, www.kmea.org Bat Boy the Musical, Capitol Arts Alliance 2nd Stage Production, Capitol Arts Center, Oct. 29-30, 10pm, 270-782-2787, capitolarts.com Rocky Horror Picture Show, Capitol Arts Center, Oct. 31, 10pm, 270-782-2787, capitolarts.com Zink: the Myth, the Legend, the Zebra, Gordon Wilson Lab Theatre, Children’s Theatre Series, Nov. 4-6, Fri. 4pm, Sat. 1 & 3pm, Sun. 3pm, 270-7455845, www.wku.edu/pcal/childrens-theatre The Ultimate ABBA Concert starring Abbacadabra, Orchestra Kentucky, Van Meter Hall, Nov. 4-5, 8pm, 270-846-2426, www.OrchestraKentucky.com WKU Symphony Chamber Series, Baker Chamber Players, Kentucky Railpark & Museum, Nov. 6, 3pm, 270-745-5222, www.thesymphonyatwku.org
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Public Theatre of KY, Dec. 1-11, Th 7pm, Fri & Sat 8pm, Sun 3pm, 270-781-6233, www.ptkbg.org WinterDance, Van Meter Auditorium, Dec. 2-4,Fri. & Sat. 8pm, Sun. 3pm, 270-745-5845, www.wku. edu/pcal/in-production Choral Winterfest, Holy Spirit Catholic Church, Dec. 2, 7:30 pm, 270-745-3751, www.wku.edu/music Cave Sing, Mammoth Cave National Park, free event everyone welcome, Dec. 4, 270-758-2192 Symphony Concert Series, Holiday Pops, Van Meter Auditorium, Enjoy a performance by Santa Claus, Dec. 9, 270-745-5222, www.thesymphonyatwu.org The Nutcracker, Capitol Arts Center, Dec. 9-11, Fri & Sat 7pm, Sun 3pm, 270-782-2787, capitolarts.com Along Came A Dragon, Gordon Wilson Lab Theatre, Children’s Theatre Series, Dec. 9-11, Fri. 4pm, Sat. 1 & 3pm, Sun. 3pm, 270-745-5845, www.wku.edu/art A Christmas Carol, Phoenix Theater, A new take on an old classic, Dec. 15-18, Thur.-Sat. 8pm, Sun. 3pm, $10-$14, 270-782-3119, fountainsquareplayers.org A Rockin’ Christmas, Orchestra Kentucky, Van Meter Hall, Dec. 17, 8 pm, 270-846-2426, www. OrchestraKentucky.com FAMILY FUN Free Family Movie, Main Library, Oct. 5, 2pm Junior Fire Fighter Day, Mammoth Cave National Park, Oct. 15, 270-758-2192 Victorian Skills Workshop for Children, “ Knit a Scarf ”, Riverview at Hobson Grove, Oct. 15, 1 pm, 270-843-5565, www.bgky.org/riverview Decorate a Mask Party, Public Library, Oct. 18, 6:30pm, registration required 270-781-4882 x212
“Blood Relations”, Phoenix Theater, Nov. 10-13, Thur.-Sat. 8pm, Sun. 3pm, A re-imagining of events surrounding a notorious murder where Lizzie Borden was accused of murdering her parents, $10-$12, 270782-3119, www.fountainsquareplayers.org
Victorian Skills Workshop for Children, “An Uncivil War”, Riverview at Hobson Grove, Oct. 22, 1 pm, 270-843-5565, www.bgky.org/riverview
“Tartuffe”, Capitol Arts Youth Theatre, Nov. 11-13, Fri & Sat 7pm, Sun 3pm, 270-782-2787
Goblin Fest, Historic Railpark, Oct. 27, 6pm, creepy critters show, call for free tickets, 270-745-7317
Amahl and the Night Visitors and The Gift of the Magi, Russell H. Miller Theatre Ivan Wilson FAC, Nov. 17-20, Thurs.-Sat. 8pm, Sun. 3pm, 270-7455845, www.wku.edu/pcal/in-production Southern Gospel Music, Capitol Arts Center, Nov. 26, 7:30pm, 270-782-2787, capitolarts.com
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Messiah Meets Mancini, Orchestra Kentucky, Van Meter Hall, Nov. 28, 7:30pm, 270-846-2426, www. OrchestraKentucky.com
BG Technical College Holiday Bazaar, KATI, Oct. 22, 9am-1pm, 270-901-1012
Museum Monster Mash, Corvette Museum, Oct. 29, 1-3 pm, Trick or Treating, Arts & Crafts, Games, 270781-7973, www.corvettemuseum.org Mammoth Cave Free Discovery Tours for area residents, Oct. 22, Oct. 29, Nov. 11-13, Mammoth Cave National Park, 270-758-2192, nps.gov/maca/ bowling green
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Halloween Monster Ball, Graham Drive Library, Oct. 31, 3:30pm Dinosaur World Free Halloween Admission for Kids ages 3-12 in Costume, Oct. 31, 270-773-4345, www.dinosaurworld.com Military Appreciation Month, Veterans & immediate families Free Admission to National Corvette Museum, Bring Military ID or DD-214, Nov. 1-30, 270-781-7973, www.corvettemuseum.org A Shaker Breakfast, 1869 Shaker Tavern, 8:30 and 10:30 am seatings, reservations required, Nov. 5, 800811-8379, www.shakermuseum.com Dinosaur World Grandparents’ Days, One Grandparent gets free admission with each fully paid child on first 3 Sundays in November, 270-773-4345, www.dinosaurworld.com A Country Christmas on the Cumberland. General Jackson showboat at Opryland. Nov. 15-Dec. 23. www.gaylordhotels.com Breakfast with Santa, National Corvette Museum, Nov. 26, 9 am, Pre-registration required, Adults $12, Kids $5, 270-781-7973, www.corvettemuseum.org 33rd Annual Trees of Christmas, Eloise B. Houchens Center, Dec. 2- Christmas Mon.-Fri. 10am-2pm, Sat. 10am-4pm, Sun. 1-4pm, free admission to see 33 decorated trees, 270-842-6761 Dollar Days, Corvette Museum, $1 Admission for Kentucky residents with proof of residency, Dec. 1-31, 270-781-7973, www.corvettemuseum.org Egyptian Treasurers from the Brooklyn Museum, Frist Museum, Nashville, www.fristcenter.org
Oct. 15, 6am-12pm, Health & Fitness Expo and Pasta Party on 10/14 at Sloan Convention Center, 270-7962141, themedicalcenter10kclassic.com Tour de Town: River Front Ride, Bike ride leaving from Riverfront Park, Oct. 15, 9 am, www.bikebg.org New Beginnings Therapeutic Riding: The Mane Event, WKU Ag Expo Center, Oct. 15, 270-7453976, www.wku.edu/expo Monster Dash, Oct. 28, 7pm, Kereiakes Park, 5K race, 1-mile fun walk, trick-or-treat off fire trucks, 270-792-4664 Kick or Treat Soccer Championships, Lovers Lane Soccer Complex, Oct. 29-30, sokysoccer.org Educational Offerings Lego Club, Main Library, first two Tuesdays each month at 6pm, ages 5 and up Graham Troopers, Graham Library, Wednesdays 3pm, school age students Kentucky Down Under Home School Month, Home Schools receive group rates during October, 800-762-2869, www.kdu.com Astronomy Night, Thompson Complex Lobby, 89pm, learn how to use the telescope, discover space, free, Oct. 12, Nov. 9, 270-745-5940, physics.wku.edu Make Your Mark Week, Oct. 10-22, (Make a Difference Day Oct. 22), kidstuffaroundtown.com Perilous Times, Civil War Living History Weekend, South Union Shaker Village, $8 adults, $4 children, Oct. 21-23, 800-811-8379, www.shakermuseum.com Terrific Tuesdays Book Club, Main Library, 6:30pm
Christmas Parades, December 3 in Munfordville, Horse Cave, Scottsville, Glasgow and Franklin.
Expectant Parent Fair, Medical Center Auditorium, Oct. 30, 1-3pm
Neighborhood Christmas Celebration, Graham Drive Community Library, Dec. 8, 6pm
Sib-Shop, Regional Child Development Clinic, a collaboration with the Suzanne Vitale Clinical Education Complex for the siblings of children age 8-17 with disabilities. 270-843-8284
SPORTS Twilight Thunder Cruise, benefit for Kids on the Block, meet at Harley-Davidson at 5:30 pm, ride to Circus Square, food, drinks, entertainment, Oct. 1, 7 pm, 270-842-2259, www.kykob.org Southern KY Ranch Horse Association, WKU Ag Expo Center, Oct. 1-2, 270-745-3976, wku.edu/expo SKyMAC Bluegrass Circle Burn, (RC Model aviation) Stahl Field, Oct. 1-2, 270-404-6846. skymacrc.com Car Truck Tractor Show presented by the Smiths Grove Lions Club, North Warren Elementary School, Pancake breakfast at the lions club building, Oct. 2, 7 am- 10 am with trophies, door prizes, food, 50/50 drawing, 270-563-2144 or 270-791-1741. Bluegrass Reining Horse Show, Brown Ag Expo Center, 270-745-3976, Oct. 8-9, www.wku.edu/expo The Medical Center 10K Classic, begin at WKU,
Victorian Skills Workshop for Children, “Flowery Slumbers”, Riverview at Hobson Grove, Nov. 5, 1 pm, 270-843-5565, www.bgky.org/riverview Operation Christmas Child Collection Week, Nov. 14-21, www.kidstuffaroundtown.com Geocaching 101: Introduction to Hand-Held GPS Units: What to Buy, Lost River Cave & Valley, Nov. 19, 2-4 pm, 270-393-0077, www.lostrivercave.com Infant CPR Class, Regional Child Development Clinics, Nov. TBD, 270-843-8284, childhelpbg.org Winter Reading Program Kick-Off, Dec. 1, 6pm, Warren County Main Library
Note: While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this information, all information is subject to change. Please call ahead to verify dates, times and schedules!
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Educational Offerings Exercise and Nutrition Classes at The Medical Center Health & Wellness Center at Greenwood Mall More information and register at 270-745-0972 Limber for Life (Fridays) 9-10am, $5/class Exercise class for men & women of all ages. Low impact aerobic workout with a focus on flexibility, relaxation and muscular strength. Bring 3-5 lb. hand weights. Preparing and Caring for Baby, Classes at Medical Center Auditorium unless otherwise noted. Info and registration at 270-796-2495 or themedicalcenter.org A New Baby’s Coming Class (Nov. 3) 6-8pm Breast is Best (Oct. 20 or Dec. 15) 6-8pm C-Section Class (Nov. 1) 6-8pm Fatherhood 101 (Nov. 1) 7pm, Classroom 2 Grandparents Class (Oct. 4 or Dec. 13) 6-8pm Newborn Care & Safety Class (Oct 13 & 27 or Nov. 10) 6-8pm - Greenwood Mall Wellness Ctr. or (Oct. 28 or Dec. 23) 2-4pm - Fairview Center Annex. Nutrition During Pregnancy (Oct. 11) 6-7pm, Mall Prepared Childbirth Classes Option 1: Six Week Series (Meets every Tues. Oct. 18Dec. 13 ) 6pm Option 2: One-Night Refresher (Oct. 25) 6pm Option 3: One-Day (Oct. 25, Nov. 12, Dec. 17) 9am-1pm Ready, Set, Go! (Oct. 6, Nov. 17 or Dec. 1) 6-8pm Twins or More! (Nov. 30) 6-8pm, Med. Ctr. Conf. Rm. SIDS Prevention (Nov. 8) 5:30-6:30pm, Mall Free Sleep Screenings for Children & Adults Oct. 17, 9am-3pm, Prereg. req. Med. Ctr. Sleep Center Free Activities at Warren Co. Public Library Mondays Toddler Time (9:30 Kirby) (10:30 Main), 18-36 months Kirby Kids (3:30-4:30pm) Kirby, elementary age Tuesdays Toddler Time (9:30) Main, 18-36 mos. Preschool Spanish (11:30am) Main, 3-5 years Spanish Explorers Club (4pm) Main, elementary age Wednesdays Kirby Babies (9:30) Kirby, 6-18 mos. Preschool Story (10:30am) Smiths Grove, Main & Kirby Kid’s Craft Time (3pm) Smiths Grove Thursdays Preschool Story Time (10:30) Main, 3-5 years High Five Kids Club (4) Main, K-5 Teen Thursdays (5pm) Grades 6-12, Graham Fridays Peek-a-book Babies (9:30) Main, 6-18 mos. Preschool Story Time (10:30) Kirby & Main Preschool Spanish (9:30am) Kirby, 3-5 years Saturdays Family Story Time (10:30am) Kirby Branch page
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tailgating
TREATS Big Red Football Whoopie Pie For cakes Boxed cake mix (we used red velvet) 3 eggs 1/2 c. water 1/2 c. vegetable oil Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper. Drop cake batter onto sheet, two tablespoons per drop spaced two inches apart. Bake 8-10 minutes until puffed and toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely. For filling 1-1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) unsalted butter, softened 3/4 cup confectioners sugar 1-1/3 cups marshmallow cream 2 oz. cream cheese, softened 1-1/2 teaspoon vanilla 1/4 teaspoon salt. Make filling: Beat together filling ingredients in a bowl with electric mixer at medium speed until smooth, about 3 minutes. Assemble pies: Spread a rounded tablespoon of filling on flat sides of half of cakes and top with remaining cakes. Use marshmallow cream or white icing to create “laces” on top.
YUMMY MOMMY CINEMA chat While this year has been far from Hollywood’s best, there is still hope to wrap up 2011 with some quality cinematic entertainment. Recently, directors have been trying to build upon past box office hits. There are plenty of sequels, remakes, and spinoffs to look forward to, although some fresh new ideas are also heading to the silver screen. October isn’t shaping up to be all that kid-friendly, so instead, take this month to enjoy the delights of fall; rent some Pixar and Dreamworks favorites – you can’t go wrong there. November and December, on the other hand, are definitely worth waiting for. Here are some of my fall picks that will be enjoyable for the whole family: Puss in Boots Genre: Animation Rating: Not yet rated Release: November 4th Releasing on November 4th, Puss in Boots hopes to be a successful spin-off from the ever-popular Shrek series. This movie goes back to a time before our suave feline joins forces with Shrek, and chronicles his adventure with new allies Humpty-Dumpty and Kitty Softpaws on their quest to steal the Goose that lays Golden Eggs. This movie is sure to be entertaining, if only for the swashbuckling lead, and will hopefully provide laughs for the whole family. The Muppets Genre: Children, Comedy Rating: Not yet rated Release: November 23
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This past summer, “The Smurfs” tried to bring to life everyone’s beloved television show starring those tiny blue creatures. The movie was not well received though, regardless of how much people wanted to relive their childhood memories. Now another childhood favorite is heading to the big screen, and with the Smurf ’s failed attempt not yet forgotten, “The Muppets” have a lot to prove. The story centers on a quest to save Muppet Theater, which greedy oilman Tex Richman wants to tear down. The Muppets must reunite to save their former stomping ground, and with favorites like Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy and the whole gang, this film will hopefully hit the mark and be a fun ride for anyone who sees it. Also coming out this November: Happy Feet 2 (Nov. 18) Arthur Christmas (Nov. 23) The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 (Nov. 18) About the author: Jaclyn Melcher is a Film Major at Western Kentucky University. She loves all types of movies, and is fascinated with animation. Jaclyn hopes to one day work in the movie industry, making animated films for Pixar. She’s also involved with fair trade, and enjoy learning about environmental issues.
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october / november / december 2011
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holiday HEALTH The Holidays are here! And with all the great things that means (like family, fun and FOOD!), staying healthy can be a big challenge. So, in the spirit of Christmas, here are some helpful tips on how to enjoy this holiday season to the fullest, while still looking out for your health.
Find Time For Fitness. Stay fit, healthy and less stressed during the holidays by scheduling time for exercise and keeping your appointments! Wake up early and get your workout done before the day starts or try to plan fun exercise sessions the whole family can enjoy. Eat A Little of What You Want. Try to eat as healthily as possible and munch on holiday treats in small quantities. A good rule of thumb is to eat healthily for six days, and then allow yourself a few holiday snacks or desserts on the seventh. Chew gum at parties and while cooking to reduce your number of bites and tastes! Say NO to Stress. It’s never too early to start planning food, recipes, gift buying/wrapping, parties, decorations, cards, travel arrangements, etc. Keeping your stress level as low as possible is a must during the holiday season. Stay Organized. Make a list and check it twice! Write down your appointments and lists in pencil, in case anything needs to be rescheduled and refer to it often. Share events that affect the whole family with everyone at a family meeting. Add Fun and Games. Take the focus off food and focus on getting family and friends more active during holiday parties. Think sledding, ice skating, or building snowmen. Indoors, try a spirited game of charades or get everybody up for a dance off! About the author: Allison Millett been teaching fitness classes and personal training in the Bowling Green area for 13 years and enjoys helping others reach their health and fitness goals. She is also a wife and mother of two.
holiday HAIR 1
Start with dry hair and a large (1 ¼ inch) curling iron. Take large sections of hair and make barrel curls in opposite directions so that your hair won’t be real curly. When you get to the front, roll the hair away from the face.
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Turn your head upside down and shake it. You can take some hair spray and scrunch it up if you like, but don’t mess with the curls too much. Then bring your head up and lightly put your curls into place.
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If you want to leave it down, going from the part, on each side, twisting up with the hair, real loose, bring up pieces from the side towards the back pinning them with criss-crossed small bobby pins. This look is quick and easy, while still dressy.
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A second thing you can do with this same preparation is to sweep hair back from your face for a bun which would be great for holiday parties and cute little dresses.
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Some people might prefer to use a pony tail holder than bobby pins. Twist hair back to the corner behind the ear where hair goes to, criss-crossing bobby pins helps hold hair in place. Take small sections and twisting them around into a bun form.
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With a bun like this it is cute to add cute Oriental sticks or other hair ornaments. About the author: Meg Rodgers been a hairdresser at Off Broadway for 12 years. She is a Kuene color specialist trained at the Kuene Academy in Atlanta. Meg travels to Chicago, Atlanta and other cities every year to broaden her expertise and bring the latest styles back to Bowling Green.
Congratulations to our Fall Trip winners! - Anderson County, TN Dawn Bennett of Campbellsville, KY
- Chattanooga, TN Sharon Hammer of Bowling Green, KY
- Bardstown, KY Deborah Cole of Bowling Green, KY
- Helen, GA AND Luggage Alicia Oberhausen of Lewisburg, KY
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Moms of Multiples Good Things Come in Small Packages It is a blessed event to find out that you are expecting a child. But what if it is more than one child? Would you be excited, dismayed, apprehensive, or all of those things, plus, worried about how you were going to handle everything in your future? Jennifer Shelton Holder, owner of Total Cheer, said when she discovered that she was going to be the mother of twins, “Well, we have all heard that God does not give us more than we can handle, right?? I have decided today that He has me mixed up with someone else or that He has A LOT of faith in me!! We are having TWINS!! Still in shock...” Mandi Emedi, mother of 2 ½ year old twin girls, Brooklyn and Anna, started a Bowling Green based support group called Mothers of Multiples (MoMs), with Jenny Borders, mother of similar age twins. The group started after the two began talking about a need for a network outside of the prenatal classes offered at the Medical Center. Mandi said, “We now have just over 40 moms on our roster. We have families with infant twins, ranging to those with school-age children. We meet once a month. Some of our meeting topics are more ‘professionally-oriented’ -- we’ve had a speech pathologist, a nutritionist, and a financial planner over the past year, for example. And some are a little
‘lighter’ -- family travel, coupon savings, connecting with your spouse.” All new mothers have questions that need answers, like how do you burp a baby or make one quit crying. But, if your go-to person is your mother who never had twins, she probably doesn’t know the answer to even those questions. “Our group passes down the answers to those questions only parents of twins experience. For example, all of us have at Pictured: Trace and Tripp, twin sons of Beth and Todd some time had to figure out how to get two Cunningham of Bowling Green. Photo by Wolfe Photography. babies to the car by ourselves. Or, we’ve had to figure out how to shop at the grocery store with two like herding cats. Maybe when they are seniors. (or more) babies.” Mandi said. The group shares the The monthly meeting of Moms is 2 p.m. the third name of a favorite pediatrician, Dr. Zahid Fraser, who Sunday of the month in the auditorium of the Medical has seen many parents through the multiple experience Center. On the Tuesday following each monthly and is a local expert. meeting, they meet informally at Barnes & Noble One of the new members of the group is Mary Mihok, from 8:00 until 10:00 p.m. for Coffee Night. Parents mother of quads. Mary’s crew is three boys and a girl. of multiples may request to join the BGMoMs group “My little girl is definitely the leader of the pack. Those on Facebook. There is also a blog at http://bgmoms. boys don’t have a chance.” Mary laughed. When asked wordpress.com. if she had a picture to share with the magazine, we got the idea that getting a picture of four babies would be
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For more information call Mandi Emedi at 781-7007 or email bgmoms@gmail.com
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Pre-Natal Nutrition Eating for Two We’ve all heard that pregnant women are eating for two. But while it’s true that the food you eat is providing the building blocks for your baby’s growth, you must also remember that the other person you’re eating for is not another full-grown adult. When discussing prenatal nutrition, the focus is on quality, not quantity. You’ll need an extra 100-500 calories per day when you are pregnant. In your second trimester the number is around +340 calories, +450 in your third trimester. The number will be higher if you were seriously underweight before pregnancy, are carrying multiple babies, or are a teenager still completing your own growth. If you went into the pregnancy significantly overweight, you may need slightly fewer calories. Your obstetrician will help determine the right amount for you. But getting those extra calories requires a little more thought than merely adding a candy bar to your day. Protein, calcium, vitamins and minerals are important for proper prenatal nutrition. The guidelines for prenatal nutrition aren’t that different from those for adults who want to stay healthy. Choose meals and snacks with nutrient dense. The bulk of your diet should consist of whole grain breads, cereals and pastas; seven or more servings of fruits and vegetables, at least one high in vitamin C and one in
vitamin A; low-fat milk and dairy products; and foods high in protein, such as lean meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and dried beans. Sound familiar? There are, however, a few cautions to bear in mind. Bacteria—such as Listeriosis can harm a developing baby, so avoid foods like raw seafood (oysters, sushi), unpasteurized milk, and soft cheeses (brie, camembert, Mexican style cheese such as queso blanco). Pass on the pate and steak tartare, and order your meat on the medium-well side. Keep tuna and other fish to about 12 ounces a week to limit possible exposure to mercury. You should also cook hot dogs and heat processed meats, such as bologna, until they are steaming hot, or avoid them completely. And, when you cook eggs, make sure the yolks and whites are firm. And for optimum prenatal nutrition, consider cutting back or skipping caffeinated foods such as coffee, colas, and chocolate. Decaf is good: replacing them with healthy alternatives such as milk or water is even better. Your practitioner will probably advise you to take a multivitamin supplement, preferably one high in folic acid to help prevent spina bifida and other neural tube defects. You may need iron and calcium supplements as well, for optimum maternal and prenatal nutrition. Pay attention to proper prenatal nutrition most of
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the time, and you can still indulge in a piece of cake on your birthday or low-fat sorbet on a hot summer day. Enjoy! Dana O’Meallie Bennett is a Registered Dietitian and Lactation Counselor at the Allen County Health Department. Dana says she “was born on my due date making up for it ever since.” She and husband Jim moved to Bowling Green in 1996, and have embraced the beautiful area since the drive eastward on I-64. Dana says she loves food, and loves when people breastfeed.
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packed lunches
Too Warm to Be Safe? A Texas study that tested more than 700 preschoolers’ lunch packs found less than 2% of the meats, vegetables and dairy products were in the safe temperature zone. “It was a shock when we discovered that more than 90% of the perishable items in these packed lunches were kept at unsafe temperatures,” said Fawaz Almansour, a doctoral student at the University of Texas in Austin. His study, released August 8 online in Pediatrics, is the first to check how the food that kids’ bring to school is doing about an hour and a half before lunchtime. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, perishable foods kept between 40 degrees and 140 degrees Fahrenheit (4 to 60 degrees Celsius) for more than two hours are no longer safe to eat. Although 45% of the packed lunches included an ice pack and 12% were kept in refrigerators, nearly all of the perishable foods were in the danger zone. According to the CDC, one in six Americans gets food poisoning every year, but it is unclear how many cases are caused by lukewarm sack lunches. “This study is an eye-opener more than anything else,” Almansour told Reuters Health. “It shows there is a problem.” His recommendation? Pack the lunch with lots of icepacks, and have kids take it out of the container at school and put it in the fridge.
Lunch for Less! Pack for $2.00
For several years I packed my son’s lunch. Between stocking up at each sale and using coupons I’ve been able to create lunches for little to almost no money. My youngest also has several allergies that play into a desire to pack lunches. We are faced with avoiding both citric acid and eggs in the lunches for our youngest, so it’s easier to pack lunch than try to verify that everything is safe. One way we save on lunches is to use a reusable bag. You can even get some with ice containers built in. I like to err on the side of making sure everything stays cold no matter what so I tend to add lots of cold items to lunch. One great snack that doubles as ‘ice’ is frozen grapes and there are some great sales on them throughout the year. I’ve also gotten squeezable yogurt to freeze and use as ‘ice’. The yogurt usually defrosts enough to eat by lunch time. Cheese is also another frequent sale item that can be frozen for other times. I’ve frozen both shredded and sliced when I’ve stocked up. Keeping lunch cold, leftovers can be used to make lunch. Rotisserie Chicken can becomes chicken salad. Tortilla shells from a taco night can be used in place of bread for sandwiches. I remember my mother sending hard boiled eggs in my lunch when I was in school - of course with my family they were goose eggs, but I’ve seen some great sales on eggs lately at the local grocery store and think of the fun you can have writing a message on the egg shell (or drawing a face) and sending in for lunch. Check out the great lunch suggestions at http://bleubirdvintage.typepad.com/blog/kiddo-lunch/. I love the idea of writing notes on my kid’s lunch, making funny faces on the food, and cutting sandwiches into shapes. Making lunch more interesting and an adventure adds to the likelihood that kids will eat what’s packed. To save on lunch items check for coupons at coupons.com and check the deals lists at bgcouponers.com. You can also use ecoupons like the ones on Kroger’s website and the new site savingsstar.com (Saving Star lets you load the coupons on your card and will give you a gift card when you have reached $5). Sites like bgcouponers.com include a coupon database telling whether coupons are available for the item you are looking for and where it can be found. Codes such as SS (SmartSource) and RP (Redplum) tell which coupon inserts including the coupon you are looking for. I was able to find 7 different coupons for Peanut Butter - one was even for Peter Pan Spread and a loaf of Bread ($.50 off which will double to $1 off at Kroger or Houchens) - this is listed as being in SS 08/07/11 (The SmartSource coupon insert). While shopping you can also use price matching at Walmart. Walmart will price match ads form any of the other local stores. Just let them know what store and the price to get the lower price. Price Matching can save you from all the driving around town. Karla Andrew is a work at home computer geek/ nerd mom with three boys ranging in age from 2 to 18. She authors the blog Tech Ed 4 Kids (http:// teched4kids.com) and is a partner with Bowling Green Savings and Poor House Princess in BG Couponers (http://bgcouponers.com). As our family begins the odysseus to pay for college while dealing with preschool every bit of savings helps. Karla also is an instructor at WKU and is currently teaching mobile app development. She is also Twitter @kquad. bowling green
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Fall Break in Your Own Backyard! Fall is on the way, and it’s a perfect time to schedule a fabulous Kentucky getaway. Make it a ziplining, caving, canoeing, hiking, country-road exploring getaway in America’s heartland. If there’s one thing that South Central Kentucky offers that you can’t get anywhere else, it’s loads of caves! Our part of Kentucky not only has Lost River Cave Kentucky’s ONLY underground boat tour, right here in Bowling Green, but the Cave Region offers an additional NINE caves for you to choose from! • Mammoth Cave. Pick from multiple tours to enjoy the world’s longest cave system. • Kentucky Caverns. If you pick KY Caverns, plan to spend 3 to 4 hours for Kentucky Down Under as well. • Diamond Caverns. See why tours have continued here for over 150 years. • Outlaw Cave. It has been said famous outlaws such as Jesse James hid here, now you can too.
Wildlife Museum. Exotic and beautiful animals in a cave atmosphere If your family is the adventurous and outdoorsy type, you won’t want to miss these great experiences: • Big Buffalo Crossing. Plan your adventure on the banks of Green River, one of the world’s most biologically diverse rivers. Day or overnight tours can include camping, fishing, swimming, caving, and/or sightseeing. There is something for every skill.
Good Eats! • Snappy’s Pizza. Great homemade specialties and a lunchtime buffet
• Mammoth Cave Canoe and Kayak. Get on the water at Mammoth Cave National Park
• Watermill. Not good lookin’ just good country cookin’!
• Green River Canoe. Enjoy some time with the family on the water.
• Gallery Café and Bakery. Lunch on fresh wraps and luscious baked goods, and let the kids decorate their own cookies while you browse the gallery in downtown Horse Cave.
• Mammoth Cave Zipline. Come breeze along the treetops at the edge of Mammoth Cave National Park (adult and kids zips available), or saddle up and enjoy a scenic trail ride in the Mammoth Cave hills (gentle trails for all levels).
• Onyx Cave. This cave packs miles of beauty in just a short walk.
• Sahara. Local steakhouse and salad bar
• Bib Bubba Buck’s Belly Bustin’ BBQ Bliss. Have an authentic down-home bbq experience at Big Bubba’s. • Picnic. Enjoy the beautiful local area with a picnic in the national park.
• Cub Run Cave. Lauded by many as one of the most beautiful caves in America.
About the author: Nicole Randall is Marketing Director at Dinosaur World in Cave City, Kentucky. She also serves as Secretary for Caveland Marketing Association and is on the Board of Directors for the Kentucky Travel Industry Association. Nicole and husband Chris have one awesome 6 year old son, Ryne, a Warren County Inline Hockey League Player and a North Jackson Elementary Baseball player.
• Hidden River Cave. Choose a guided tour along the banks of an underground river or an off-trail Adventure. Tickets include admission to the American Cave Museum with interactive exhibits. Now that you’ve picked which cave tour is right for your family, choose additional activites to keep everyone busy! •Dinosaur World. Visit over 150 life size dinosaurs in an outdoor museum. Find fossils to take home in the Fossil Dig, unearth a life size dinosaur and more. • Kentucky Down Under. Meet a kangaroo, feed colorful Lories, learn to play a didgeridoo, explore Kentucky Caverns, and have an “Aussie” good time at this Australian animal park • Kentucky Action Park. Zip line, alpine slide, bumper boats, go karts, mini-golf, chairlift, and more. Have an actionpacked time just like the name says. •
Mammoth
Cave
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Holiday Crafts With the long days of smoldering summer heat brings my craving for pumpkins, corduroy, Christmas lights and weather requiring winter fashion accessories. By September my family is over the pool, done with the heat and ready to hibernate in our house until spring. So what is there to do with all the upcoming time indoors? CREATE! Keep things exciting and plan a craft each week; something to look forward to doing together and sitting down to make memories. When crafting with the kids, I always try and use what I have around me. By doing this it makes for an excellent way to talk about using your resources and recycling. I hope you enjoy a few ideas to help celebrate the upcoming holidays. Look around the house for things you can use to make these crafts and enjoy creating! Pumpkin Pops! What’s Halloween without treats? Well, one year in a health conscious effort to force my neighbor’s children into a healthy Halloween, I handed out pencils and play dough. (Pause for effect) Our house was toilet papered later that week. True story, so I’ve learned there’s no substitute for treats at Halloween. Try this easy and fun idea for Pumpkin Pops (they also make really cute turkey’s treats or snowman pops too)!
What you’ll need: • Lollipop sticks (can be bought at Hobby Lobby or you can use sturdy coffee stirrers or skewers) • White bark chocolate (in the grocery baker’s aisle) • Yellow and Red food coloring to tint bark orange • Green icing or candies for embellishing pops • Pretzels sticks for the pumpkin stem Directions: Insert your lollipop stick into the icing part of the Oreo. I recommend the double stuffed mint Oreos, even if you’re not making pumpkin pops. When you have prepped all the Oreos with sticks you will then want to melt your chocolate bark and add food coloring. Work quickly as the bark cools very fast. After the dipped pops have cooled you can decorate them and ENJOY! The Very Thankful Turkey Thanksgiving brings a time to express gratitude for all we have. This activity is sweet and simple but also a good learning tool to share with your children. By talking about your “thankful things” you can help your children see it’s not the material things that make for a happy home. Talk about and write down on a turkey feather one “thankful thing”, big or small. Sharing this craft is a sweet moment as a parent to see what your children come up with. What you’ll need: • Styrofoam ball • Construction paper • Tissue paper to cover the turkey body and head • Small embellishments for the turkey’s face • Tooth picks Directions To get started you will cover the turkey body and head with tissue paper.
Check-out Marissa’s Creative Christmas Tree on our website at www.bgparent.com. About the Author, Marissa Brown: When accepting the position of Domestic Affairs and Management (stay at home mother) for my family, I never anticipated the amount of coffee and sanitizing wipes the job would require. What blessings we’ve been given though. As a loving wife and mother of two toddlers 14 mos. apart, it takes creativity, an abundance of patience and a whole lot of Jesus to guide everyday into a loving and learning experience. My creativity is an outlet for my busy life. That is where SWANKY SOIREES was born. We help you celebrate all life has to delight in; from baby or wedding showers, birthday parties to any other reason you may find to celebrate. Check us out on Facebook!
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Place the sphere in the center of the tissue paper and wrap around the sphere pressing the access paper into one spot. Push all the tissue paper into the Styrofoam with a butter knife to make sure it is secure. With each turkey feather written on, you will slightly fold them at the bottom in the center long ways and glue a toothpick to the center to puncture into the turkey. By the time Thanksgiving arrives you will have a beautifully decorated turkey and many “thankful things” to share with your Thanksgiving guest.
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Top 5 Craft Festivals Crisp fall weekends mark the beginning of festival season and southern Kentucky has so many great ones to attend. Check out some of these we have listed. Maybe some of them will interest you and your family. Mark your calendar and be ready to enjoy!
Invasion of the Scarecrows Don’t miss an evening of music, costumes and a cruise-in at the Invasion of the Scarecrows. It’s just a short trip down highway 231 to the town square in Scottsville October 8. It is fun to stroll among the hundred scarecrows all over the town! There’s lots of food, music and fun! 270-237-4782.
Kentucky Guild Fall Fair If you enjoy seeing beautiful handmade art and how it is made, take a scenic drive to Berea October 8-9 to see some of Kentucky’s finest artists and craftsmen. They will impress you with the highest quality work in glass, ironwork, jewelry, pottery, wood, photography, and 2D fine art. Live demonstrations are available for your enjoyment, as will live musical entertainment and fun filled hands-on activities for children of any age. For more information call (859) 986-3192. Glendale Crossing Festival Can you imagine finding 600 craft, antique and food booths in one area plus a parade? Plan to go to Glendale, KY on the 3rd Saturday in October. At any time of the year, it is fun to visit the many shops, restaurants and antique malls usually open Tues.-Sat. Certainly you will enjoy this quaint, peaceful town located just off I-65 at exit 86. 270-369-6188. Houchens Center 28th Christmas Tree Show Each year in December, decorated Christmas trees are displayed for the public to see free at the historic Houchens Center at 1115 Adams Street in Bowling Green. Twenty-eight organizations will decorate a
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tree along the theme, “Best Loved Books.” Many special activities, tours and a December 10th shopper’s day will be held during the month. The opening ceremony is Fri., December 2 at 2pm. 270-842-6761. 100th Anniversary Quilt Show A new event this year in observance of the 100th Anniversary of the Home Economics Dept (now Family and Consumer Science Dept) at WKU will be a quilt show at the Kentucky Museum at WKU, opening Oct. 22 (Homecoming) - Dec. 10. The show, “Preserving the Past, Sustaining the Future” will feature lectures, displays, appraisals, sales, classes and exhibits. 270-842-0686 - Happy Traveling in Kentucky, Romanza
About the author: Romanza Johnson, a certified home economist, is a retired teacher and home economist in business. She is a native of Scottsville. Presently she serves as President of the Warren County Retired Teachers, Kentucky Democrat Women and retired Senior Volunteer program. During the years she has been involved in many organizations and projects as a volunteer working to make our community a better place to live.
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Holiday Gifts Think Before You Buy a Pet
Pets love us unconditionally. They’re also great for our health — mentally and physically. Caring for pets can boost self-esteem, prevent loneliness, and even lower heart rate and blood pressure. With those great thoughts in mind and with Christmas arriving soon, some of us are looking for that perfect gift for the family. That might lead to trouble when we make a long-term decision, like buying a dog, based on our emotions instead of a well thought out choice with input from every stakeholder. A common mistake is bringing home a pet on an impulse without fully understanding the level of commitment involved. Diana Gibbs with Fishy Business agrees. “We highly discourage giving pets as gifts. It’s just not a good idea because you don’t know if the person will like the pet or even have a proper home for the pet. If you want to give something pet-related, sometimes a gift certificate is best so they can choose what’s right for them.” If you’re set on getting a pet for a birthday or the holidays, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) suggests first buying and wrapping some pet supplies (pet bowls, pet bed, leash, etc.) as gifts, then selecting the pet as a family. That way, everyone has time to really think about whether your family is ready for a pet.
Before adopting or purchasing any pet, talk to all family members, discuss expectations and responsibilities, and take a realistic look at your family’s lifestyle. Dr. Tina Brown of Crocker Animal Hospital of Franklin and Scottsville said, “Families should avoid pets as an impulse purchase. Your dog will be a part of your family for 12-15 years and must fit with everyone’s lifestyle.” She also added, “House training a dog often means that the puppy has to be let out every hour.” Dr. Brown said that it often takes a minimum of eight weeks but she has seen some dogs needing 5-6 months. Ask yourselves these key questions before leaping into pet ownership: • How much care will the pet require? • What role will each family member play in the pet’s care? Who will feed the pet, groom and bathe it, clean its living space, and walk it? • What kind of medical care will the pet need? • How big will the pet grow to be? • Do you have enough space in your home for the pet to live and exercise? If you’re thinking about getting a
• Do you have another pet? How do you think it will get along with a new pet? • Who will care for the pet when you’re away? (e.g., what will you do with the pet if you work long hours and the kids stay after school? What if your family travels a lot?) • Does anyone in your family have a history of allergies or asthma? If so, talk to your doctor about the possibility of pet allergy tests to see whether anyone might be allergic to certain animals. Or consider a hypoallergenic pet who is less likely to trigger allergic symptoms.
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dog, do you have a yard, preferably a fenced one?
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Homemade
HALLOWEEN!
It’s that time again! This year, skip the traditional Halloween costumes and opt for one of these quick and easy ideas. These costumes are so simple to make that your child can participate in the construction! Happy Hooo-laween Owl Costume Approximate cost and time required: $15 and 1 hour Materials: • Black or brown long sleeved shirt • Black or brown leggings • Remnants of gray, brown and white fabric • Fabric glue • Child’s sunglasses • White cardstock • Hot glue gun and scissors Directions: 1. Print feather pattern and mask pattern on cardstock. 2. Use feather pattern to cut approximately 50-60 different colored fabric feathers from fabric remnants. Double this amount if
you wish to cover the back of the shirt. 3. Starting at the bottom of the shirt, begin gluing a row of fabric feathers. 4. Continue with the next row up, making sure to place the next row between each feather on the bottom row. 5. Continue until entire front of shirt is complete. 6. Cut out mask pattern and eye holes and hot glue the mask to the child’s sunglasses. (We used paint to brighten up the mask). A Happy Bag of Jelly Beans Approximate cost and time required: $10 and 20 minutes Materials: • One bag of colorful, small balloons (we used 7”) • One transparent trash bag (leaf/garden bag) • One spool of wide ribbon (any color) • Scissors
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Directions: 1. Open the trash bag and rip two small holes in the bottom, just wide enough for legs to fit through and have the child step in. 2. Rip two small holes in the sides of the bag to allow the arms to pass through. 3. With the child inside, blow up approximately 1520 balloons and stuff the bag full in both the back and front. 4. When plump, gather the opening of the trash bag around the child’s neck and tie carefully with ribbon. Pictured: Jelly Beans - Neha Reddy; Owl - Graham Browder-Seguin
About the author: Jenn Hewett owns and teaches at the Montessori School of Bowling Green on State Street. She and husband, Kevin, are originally from Canada but have called Bowling Green home for the past eight years. They are the proud parents of Jethro, a black Lab.
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Kids Eat Free!
Area Free and Cheap Eats for Children
Mancino’s | 270-783-3131, 270-782-9400 2710 Nashville Road, Bowling Green, 42104 4665 Scottsville Road, Bowling Green, 42104 Kids eat free all day every day
Anna’s Greek Restaurant | 270-846-2662 535 Three Springs Road, Bowling Green, 42104 Free kid’s meal with adult meal purchase on Tuesdays
4700 Scottsville Road, Bowling Green, 42104 Kid’s age 10 and under eat free 4-10pm Tuesdays and Saturdays with adult purchase of $2.50 or more
Moe’s Southwest Grill | 270-782-9898 2020 Scottsville Road, Bowling Green 42104 Kids eat free on Tuesdays with purchase of adult meal
Applebee’s | 270-782-6981 2545 Scottsville Road, Bowling Green, 42104 Tuesdays 5-9pm, 1 free kid’s meal with each paying adult. $1 each additional kid’s meal.
Fazoli’s | 270-796-3934 2915 Scottsville Road, Bowling Green, 42104 Tuesdays 5-8pm kid’s meals are 99 cents (dine in)
Pizza Hut | 270-782-9056 2631 Scottsville Road, Bowling Green 42104 Kids 3 & under eat free (buffet) Mon.-Fri. 11am-1pm
Gatti’s Pizza | 270-393-0333 600 US 31W Bypass, Bowling Green, 42101 Free kid’s buffet with purchase of adult buffet at regular price (coupon available online). Free kid’s buffet with purchase of adult buffet on Wednesdays. Kids age 2 and under are free everyday.
Smokey Bones | 270-782-1888 2450 Scottsville Road, Bowling Green, 42104 Mondays 5-7pm kids age 12 and under receive a free kid’s meal with each adult meal purchased
Buffalo Wild Wings | 270-842-9464 1760 Scottsville Road, Bowling Green, 42104 Kids meals are 99 cents on Mondays from 5-8pm Captain D’s | 270-781-3485, 270-842-4808 2634 Scottsville Road, Bowling Green, 42104 1626 US 31W Bypass, Bowling Green, 42101 Two free kid’s meals with purchase of adult meal at regular price on Thursdays (dine in only) Cici’s Pizza | 270-843-9299 760 Campbell Lane, Bowling Green, 42104 Kids 3 and under eat free Denny’s | 270-782-9827
Geno’s Italian Deli | 270-904-3676 1751 Scottsville Road, Bowling Green, 42104 Kids meals are 99 cents after 4pm daily. Dine in only. Griff’s Deli | 270-904-4743 1640 Scottsville Road, Bowling Green, 42104 Kids eat free every day after 4pm and all day on Sundays.
Steak-n-Shake | 270-783-9260 1680 Scottsville Road, Bowling Green, 42104 1 free kids meal for every $8 spent on Saturdays and Sundays Toot’s | 270-843-2335 2500 Scottsville Road, Bowling Green, 42104 Tuesdays – 1 child eats free with adult purchase. Free hot dogs and ice cream everyday. Wha-Bah Family Steakhouse | 270-782-6400 2361 Russellville Road, Bowling Green, 42101 Thursdays – Kids eat free Zaxby’s | 270-796-8300, 846-0000, 781-1866 1801 US 31W Bypass, Bowling Green, 42101 1651 Campbell Lane, Bowling Green, 42104 100 Cherry Farms Lane (off Scottsville Road) 99 cent kid’s meals Mon. 5-8pm with adult meal We found various restaurants listed online that in some cities offer a kid deal, but upon checking locally that deal is not offered in Bowling Green including at O’Charley’s and TGI Fridays. Please call first if you are unsure.Visit www.bgparent.com for our online directory. And if you know of any we missed, email us at info@bgparent.com!
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From Nature to the Table
Found Items Create Perfect Centerpieces Seasonal centerpieces can be more than a vase of flowers or display of candles. You can easily create a ‘fall in Kentucky’ vignette while exploring the world around you, taking what you have and making a memory. This easy to assemble piece fits nicely on a table, or on your mantle. Start with a copper or galvanized (less expensive) planter. This one is a 46” long custom-made piece and was soldered so that it is waterproof. The fun part is gathering the goodies for your piece. You and your children, grandchildren or other special young people can go on a nature walk to find all these items. We gathered wild turkey feathers, dried hydrangea blooms, pine cones, wild mushrooms, grapevine (found in fence rows), bark, moss, and greenery like magnolia and pine sprigs. Remember: if you do not have these items on your property, you need to ask first before taking items from others’ property! A great thing to find in the fall are bird’s nests. Do
not disturb the nest if a bird has eggs or babies in it, but the fall is the best time to find empty nests - not only because birds do not usually have babies in the fall, but because as the trees loose their leaves they are easier to find. Another idea for found items is from beach vacations. Seashells and beach moss are a perfect memory to add. From the store you will need some wet and dry oasis (florist foam), thin wire, potted Dracena and ferns (lime green in color to give a nice contrast to the wood) and some grass sprigs. All these items are available at MacKenzies. The next step is to assemble your planter. We started with the potted plants (leave them in their pots), and staggered them with the oasis. Then you start building your design, adding sprigs
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and pieces to fill it in. To make the mushrooms easy to stick in, hot glue a small wooden stick to the base. Bend the thin wires like a bobby pin to keep the moss in place. For more tips and step by step instruction, visit bgparent.com for my video... and happy hunting!
About the author: Roiann Ridley is the mother of three grown sons and two grandsons. She earned a degree from WKU in Small Business Management and studied in London with Kenneth Turner, renowned floral designer. Roiann credits colleague Joe Smith of Ilex in Nashville for her style, and she only buys from farms that practice sustainability and pay a living wage. Visit her shop in Thoroughbred Square (by Rafferty’s), order beautiful flower arrangements at mackenziesonlinesales.com, and become a fan on Facebook!
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the
book nook Otis by Loren Long Have you ever wondered what life would be like if it were seen through the eyes of a tractor. This is exactly the feeling you will have as you read the book Otis. Otis is no ordinary tractor! He is a little red tractor with a heart. Otis becomes friends with a calf who is adjusting to being left alone. It wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be long before the Putt Puff Puttedy Chuff of the little tractor will warm you heart. Life changes in the story for Otis when the farmer thinks they needs a new big yellow tractor and puts Otis out behind the barn. When the calf is stuck in Mud Pond, there is only one tractor that can save the day. This is a story that will warm your heart as you see the extra mile that a friend will go to save an old friend. Otis and the Tornado by Loren Long This is the latest picture book which will be released in September by Loren Long and the adventure of the tractor Otis. In this story Otis tries to be a friend to the newest animal on the farm, the big red bull. The bull wants no part of the friendship from Otis or any of the animals on the farm. As a tornado comes up Otis quickly leads the animals to safety as the tornado is
spotted heading straight for the farm. With some quick thinking Otis realizes that not everyone is safe as the sounds of the bull is heard from the locked pen. Will Otis reach the bull in time or will the tornado before it is too late? This beautifully illustrated book is one that you will want to share with your child and find out what happens to Otis and the bull in the heart warming story sure to keep you wanting more stories about Otis. Loren Long lives in Cincinnati with his wife and two sons. Loren Long is a multiple New York Times bestselling author and illustrator with his books where he has re-illustrated The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper, Mr. Peabodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Apples by Madonna and Of Thee I Sing by President Barack Obama. Mr. Long as also written along with author Phil Bildner the popular Slugger series which are perfect chapter books to get your older readers who love baseball and a mystery involved in. Loren Long will be at Natcher Elementary in Bowling Green for an author visit on Wednesday, October 26
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to share his work and illustrations with students and staff. About the Reviewer: Alecia Marcum (pictured with student Chase Dinning) is beginning her 24th year with Warren County school where she is the School Media Librarian at Natcher Elementary. Mrs. Marcum received an award for Exemplary Library Service for Children and Young Adults in 1998 and in 2009 received the Outstanding School Media Librarian Award in Kentucky. She is married to Steve Marcum and they have three children. One of her favorite things to do is to meet and work with authors and loves sharing her love of literature with the students at Natcher Elementary.
bowling green
october / november / december 2011
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