Family Lehigh Valley
Januar y - Februar y 2013
Capture It!
Tips on setting and achieving goals
When Scary Things Happen... How to talk to the kids about them
Combat Cabin Fever!
With Our Fun Things to Do List
Keep Your Style Delightful --
Even When the Weather is Freezing and Frightful!
Pric take eless one!
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Family Lehigh Valley
A Thrive, LLC Publication 905 Harrison Street, Suite 104 • Allentown 18103 610-762-9011 editor@lehighvalleyfamily.com
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OUR TEAM Publisher Jeff Tintle, II
Editor
Laura Putt Editor@ lehighvalleyfamily.com
Associate Editor Vicki Bezems
Cover Photo:
Janet Sena Pix-Ology, LLC www.Pix-Ology.com
Contributors
Art Villafane Denise Continenza Amanda Furbeck
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Copyright© 2013 by Thrive, LLC. All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be copied or reproduced in any manner without the express written permission of the publisher. Thrive, LLC assumes no responsibility for damages arising from errors or omissions. Thrive Media, 905 Harrison Street, Suite 104, Allentown 18103. www.lehighvalleyfamily.com. Lehigh Valley Family’s monthly issues are available online at www.lehighvalleyfamily.com. Print issues are published bi-monthly (Jan/ Feb; March/April; May/June; July/Aug; Sept/ Oct; Nov/Dec); and are available at libraries, churches, health clubs, medical facilities, child care centers, preschools, educational centers and other locations where publications are generally found. Print subscriptions are available for $20 (6 issues).
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FROM THE EDITOR
oday as I sit down to write this letter to you, my heart is heavy in the wake of the tragic school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut.
The Sunday prior to the shooting, I sat by my grandfather’s feet as he took his last breaths. It was a beautiful, humbling experience to be a part of. As I sat holding his feet and telling him I loved him one last time, I watched as each of his children surrounded him with their love. My grandmother held her hand over his heart, knowing it would soon stop beating, and she would have to somehow go on without the great love of her life and husband of 56 years. I realized in those moments that I had so much to learn in life -- as a wife, a mother, a friend, and a child of God. I felt optimistic and inspired by the lessons I had learned. Fast forward to Friday and the news of the school shooting. My spirits couldn’t have been more crushed. Like many of you, I questioned how this could happen. My faith in fellow humans was completely shaken. Looking at my beautiful daughter who is nearly the age of the children who perished, I couldn’t believe that anyone could willingly inflict harm upon these beautiful, innocent beings. All I could see was darkness. The day after the shooting, my family held the memorial for my grandfather. The outpouring of love for our family was felt beyond measure. The people whose lives my grandfather touched flooded in and they regaled us with tales of their time with him. Our own friends took time from their busy schedules simply to let us know they cared. All I could see was light. All I could feel was love. I am sharing this deeply personal story because it was my reminder about light and darkness. Sometimes, often times, life can be so very dark. It is so easy to focus on the darkness, but if we can look away from it for a moment, we are able to see that all around us there is light. Make a point to shed the dark stuff and surround yourself with the goodness. Focus on the positive. Be the change you want to see in our community. Live a life that you and your family can be proud of. There is goodness and light all around us - take the time to see it, feel it, and be it. I wish you and your family a happy, healthy 2013 that is brimming with light.
- Laura
table of contents The Wellness Issue Physical - Emotional - Spiritual For families of Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton and Beyond!
FUN and GAMES 5 Fun Facts 13 Show Your Kids Some Valentine’s Day Love 19 Commonyms 21 Commonyms Answers 22-23 Fun Things to Do
features 6 8 9 12 14 15
p.20 We’ve got some great tips to keep your style sizzling even while its frosty outside.
p.15
17 18 21
When Scary Things Happen How to Heart Your Heart Capture It! Goal Setting Tips Reinforcing Math Skills Swim for Life Teach Your Kids How to Think About Money Time-outs for All Build a Budget-Friendly Grocery List Keep Your Style Delightful -- Even When the Weather is Freezing and Frightful!
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Fun, Useless Facts!
• If you spell out consecutive numbers, you have to go up to one thousand until you would find the letter “a”. • Men can read smaller print than women; women can hear better than men. • The reason firehouses have circular stairways is from the days of yore when the engines were pulled by horses. The horses were stabled on the ground floor and figured out how to walk up straight staircases. • Each king in a deck of playing cards represents a great king from history. Spades - King David; Clubs - Alexander the Great; Hearts Charlemagne; and Diamonds - Julius Caesar. • Pearls melt in vinegar. Don’t test this fact with your mother’s strand of pearls, just trust us. • If you put a raisin in a glass of champagne, it will keep floating to the top and sinking to the bottom. • Only one person in two billion will live to be 116 or older. • A frog can throw up. The frog throws up its stomach first, so the stomach is dangling out of its mouth. Then the frog uses its forearms to dig out all of the stomach’s contents and then swallows the stomach back down again. • If NASA sent birds into space they would soon die; they need gravity to swallow. • Certain frogs can be frozen solid, then thawed, and survive.
• A shark can detect one part of blood in 100 million parts of water. • A rat can last longer without water than a camel. • To escape the grip of a crocodile’s jaws, push your thumbs into its eyeballs - it will let you go instantly. • If you toss a penny 10,000 times, it will not be heads 5,000 times, but more like 4,950. The heads picture weighs more, so it ends up on the bottom. • Babies are born without kneecaps. They don’t appear until the child reaches 2-6 years of age. • 40% of McDonald’s profits come from the sales of Happy Meals. • Every person has a unique tongue print. • Intelligent people have more zinc and copper in their hair. • Leonardo da Vinci could write with one hand and draw with the other at the same time. • A ‘jiffy’ is an actual unit of time: 1/100th of a second. • Months that begin on a Sunday will always have a “Friday the 13th.” • First novel ever written on a typewriter: Tom Sawyer. • Clans of long ago that wanted to get rid of their unwanted people without killing them used to burn their houses down - hence the expression “to get fired.” • The US Interstate road system was designed so that one mile in every five must be straight. These straight sections are usable as airstrips in times of war or other emergencies. • The cruise liner Queen Elizabeth II, moves only six inches for each gallon of fuel that it burns. • Most lipstick contains fish scales. • Ketchup was sold in the 1830’s as medicine.
www.LehighValleyFamily.com • Lehigh Valley Family
When Scary Things Happen By Denise H. Continenza, M.Ed. Family and Consumer Sciences Educator/Prevention Affiliate Penn State Cooperative Extension
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his past fall brought not only Halloween to the Lehigh Valley; we also got our very own monster storm! Dubbed so because it brought a tricky bag of weather conditions, Hurricane Sandy aroused in both children and adults a wide gamut of emotions and reactions. Power outages, destruction, long periods of darkness and disruptions to routine life are becoming more common in an area that has historically been removed from such occurrences. While the experts debate the causes of the changes in our climate and the ensuing drastic weather conditions, parents and caregivers of children need to build an emotional preparedness kit to keep families resilient during trying times. It is important for caregivers to be attentive and responsive to children during times of uncertainty. Observe them to see if you notice changes in mood or behavior. Check in with them by making statements like, “You look worried (or sad, or mad, etc.)�. This will let the child know that you care and are present for him/her. Often, a simple comment like this will open January / February 2013
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the door for conversation, and the child will pour out what he or she is thinking or feeling. Other children may take more time to be able to verbalize what is going on, but you will have communicated to them that you are tuned in to them. Let them know it is okay to be scared at times, but again, reassure them that you are there for them. It is also important for adults to monitor their own feelings and be careful not to project their own fears onto children. At the same time, be honest about your own feelings. Convey a sense of controlled emotion rather than false bravado. Children are smart and can read through it, and this is not reassuring or comforting. Talk about the storm or event realistically, conveying to children a message that they are safe. Tell them about your plans for how the family will manage an extended power outage, for example. Ask them for their ideas as well. Let them know that the adults in their lives will be there to take care of them. Long-winded explanations of how hurricanes develop and move do little to help a child increase his/her understanding. Older children may www.LehighValleyFamily.com
be interested in this, and they may even like to research the topic on the internet. However, young children need to feel that there are caring adults around them who will keep them safe. Talk with children about the situation as they bring it up. Answer their questions in simple terms. Communicate a message of confidence in your ability to provide care and shelter. Limit the amount of news coverage of the event as this seems to magnify the situation and create more angst, especially for emotionally intense children. Give children an opportunity to express their feelings through art and dramatic play. Be careful not to dismiss their feelings, but help them to keep them in perspective. By allowing children to express their fears and anxieties, we let them know that scary feelings are okay- and they can be managed.
www.LehighValleyFamily.com • Lehigh Valley Family
How to
Your Heart Tips for Heart Healthy Living
Photo Courtesy of Getty Images
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t beats about 100,000 times a day, 35 million times a year. It pumps blood through the body three times every minute, taking that blood on the equivalent of a 12,000 mile trek every 24 hours. Even at rest, it works twice as hard as the leg muscles of a person running. The heart is a remarkable, vital muscle that warrants great care and maintenance. Yet 1 in every 4 deaths is due to heart disease. While there are some inherent risk factors such as aging or family history, poor lifestyle choices are often to blame for the onset of heart disease. The good news is that making better lifestyle choices reduces your risk of heart disease — and it’s not as hard as you might think.
Heart-Healthy Living Works A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that people who most closely followed the diet and lifestyle recommendations of the American Heart Association (AHA) had a 76 percent lower risk of dying from heart disease, and a 51 percent lower risk of all-cause deaths than those who didn’t follow recommendations as
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closely. The study also found that only a small number of people follow all or most of the AHA guidelines for heart health. So it’s not surprising that heart disease is still the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. But it doesn’t have to be that way. You can start making changes today that will help make your heart healthier in the long run.
Three Changes You Can Make 1. Eat Better
One of your best weapons against cardiovascular disease is a healthy diet. Eating a wide variety of foods that are low in fat, cholesterol and salt, but rich in nutrients can help protect your heart. Instead of thinking about a healthy diet in terms of what you can’t eat, think about it in terms of what you can eat. Add more: —Fruits and vegetables — about 4 1/2 cups a day —Whole grain foods — at least three 1-ounce servings a day —Fish — at least two 3 1/2-ounce servings a week —Nuts, legumes and seeds — at least four servings a week www.LehighValleyFamily.com
About 25 percent of the cholesterol in your blood comes from the foods you eat. Eating healthy foods low in cholesterol, trans fats and saturated fats, as well as foods that are high in fiber, can help keep cholesterol levels in check. Another way to help control cholesterol levels is by incorporating soy protein into your healthy diet. An extensive body of research has shown that soy-based diets can reduce LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) and triglycerides, and raise HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol). One of the key components in soy’s cholesterol lowering properties is something called lunasin, a naturally occurring soy peptide. It was found to work at the earlier stage of cholesterol production in the body, or at what’s known as the epigenetic level. This indicated that heart disease and other hereditary conditions might be controllable by adding lunasin to your diet. Research on lunasin was so promising that scientists found a way to extract lunasin from soybeans so that it could be made available in a pure form. Lunasin content in soy-based foods varies by product and by brand. For example, LunaRich soy powder delivers the lunasin equivalent of 25 grams of soy protein. To get that same amount from other foods, you would need to drink approximately 32 ounces of soy milk, or eat approximately 12 ounces of tofu. Learn more about lunasin at www.reliv. com/lunasin.
2. Get Moving
According to the AHA, nearly 70 percent of Americans don’t get the physical activity they need. But daily physical activity can increase your quality and length of life. Moderate exercise can help you lose weight, reduce your chances of stroke, diabetes and heart disease complications, lower your blood pressure and prevent other serious medical complications. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate activity a day, five times per week. Here are some easy ways to get moving: —Start walking — Walk just fast enough to get your heart rate up. Try taking brisk, 10-minute walks throughout the day. Park farther away from your destination. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Walk the dog after dinner or walk to a neighborhood destination instead of driving. —Do chores — Outdoor chores like gardening, raking leaves and washing the car are good ways to get moving. Cleaning house does it, too. Try turning on some music and dancing while doing chores. Even small changes like these can give you health benefits, but you’ll see bigger benefits when you increase the duration, frequency and intensity of your activities. Always talk with
your doctor to find out if there are any activities that you should not be doing.
3. Lose Weight
Being overweight is a risk factor for heart disease all on its own. Extra weight puts more burden on your heart, lungs, blood vessels and bones. Being overweight increases the risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes, as well. Losing even 10 pounds can produce a significant reduction in blood pressure. —Talk to your doctor — Find out your body mass index (BMI), which is your body weight relative to your height. Find out what your BMI should be, and find out what your calorie intake should be for someone of your age, gender and level of physical activity. —Keep track of what you eat — This will tell you a lot about your eating habits and help you make smart decisions, like controlling portion sizes and choosing nutrient-rich foods. —Set reasonable goals — Don’t go for fad diets that claim you’ll lose 10 pounds in a week. Slow and steady weight loss is more likely to stay off, and you’ll be healthier in the long run. The good news is, if you put steps one and two into place — eating healthier foods and getting more active — step three should be a natural by-product of your efforts. Your heart works hard for you — start taking better care of it today so that it can keep working for you for a long time. The Food and Drug Administration approved the health claim that “25 grams of soy protein per day as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart disease.” Additional research over the last decade indicates that soy, and a peptide within soy called lunasin, could work to prevent a variety of other hereditary health conditions.
www.LehighValleyFamily.com • Lehigh Valley Family
How to Capture It! By Kenrick Smith
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have discovered throughout my life how important it is to have goals and how essential they are for one to succeed. I started noticing, though, how many of us have goals (which is wonderful) but sometimes we don’t put a solid foundation down as to how these goals will eventually be attained. As we greet the New Year, I want to help you in reaching your goals for 2013. Listed below are my favorite goal setting tools designed to help build that strong foundation that will ultimately result in success. My latest goal is to race triathlons professionally and from my experiences throughout my life and from racing, I have put together a strategy outline that you can use to achieve any goal you can think up. These steps have helped me immensely and I hope they will do the same for you.
1 - Goal Identification -
Figure out what it is that you want to accomplish. Develop benchmarks to keep you on track or to use along the way to gauge your progress. Set a specific long-term goal and adapt your benchmarks as short- term goals that you can check off on your way to your long-term goal.
2 - Motivating Factors – definition: to act as the motive for; the causative factor of; instigate, induce 10 January / February 2013
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This is the reason, the force, which drives us or will drive us to attain our goals. It could be in the form of a reward, to prove to yourself or to others that you can do something, the inspiration you receive from others, or possibly just the satisfaction of completing the task. Motivating factors will help you push through the tough times. I encourage you to re-visit these factors throughout your journey to remind yourself of what your inspirations mean to you.
3 -Perseverance – definition: to continue striving in spite of discouragements
This is the ability to push through diversity or difficult times in order to achieve your goal. At times your perseverance will be tested to its limits but will be necessary to break down the roadblocks you face in order to fulfill the ultimate prize. These next three items (roadblocks): Fear of Failure, Doubters, and I CAN’T – are the topics I feel are the ones most commonly associated with not attaining your goal. These subjects are the ones that will try and derail more times than not on your quest to fulfilling your goals. When you encounter an item like the ones I listed above, this is the perfect opportunity to revisit your motivating factors. This will remind you why you want to achieve this goal. Your ability to overcome these issues will www.LehighValleyFamily.com
be critical in your overall accomplishment of your goal.
4 - Support System – Whom are you going to have in place to help you attain your goal.
Your support system are the people you will surround yourself with to help you achieve your goal. This group of individuals will help you through the toughest of times and help get you pointed in the right direction when things don’t seem to be going as planned. These individuals can be your parents, siblings, teachers, pastors, coaches, friends and people you might never expect. One motto I have lived by is: “Surround yourself with great people and great things will happen”. It’s the truth. Embrace this group of people when they want to help and ensure that they feel included and a part of the process. Continually thank them for their support. Goal setting is critical when trying to attain all different levels of success throughout your life. Setting up the proper goal setting outline will allow you to achieve your goals easier than just saying I want to do this or that. Don’t get discouraged, no matter what road blocks are
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thrown at you during your journey; pull from everything you have put in place to help you through and keep moving forward. You will get there. You can do it. Put your mind to it and it is amazing what one can accomplish. Also, lead by example. Help inspire others to reach their goals, be part of their support system (sometimes it is just as gratifying to see someone else reach their goal as it is to reach your own), help motivate them, and help them persevere through the rough patches. DREAM BIG and then GO CAPTURE IT!! Kenrick Smith is a local elite amateur triathlete inspiring others to reach for their dreams and encouraging them to live an active, healthy lifestyle. Share in the journey at K17SPORT.com Please feel free to contact him with any feedback or questions you might have.
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Reinforcing Math Skills
Nina Pinsley, Club Z! In-Home Tutoring of the Lehigh Valley
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any students struggle to learn important math skills, but when it comes to teaching math, parents can look beyond the standard textbook. Because math skills are a basic part of everyday life, parents can find fun, interactive ways to engage kids in mathematical problem solving without their kids even realizing it. Check out the worksheets and homework that your children bring home from school. Once you familiarize yourself with the level of math that your children are learning in school, you can take opportunities in the car, at the dinner table, at a sporting event – really anywhere – to reinforce those skills. • Dinnertime quizzes: Ask your children math problems that are age appropriate. Go around the table asking each child in turn. This doesn’t have to be limited to math skills. Pick up a set of flashcards for whatever subject they are studying in school – be it the 50 state capitals, China or chemistry – and spend 5 minutes quizzing. Flashcards are inexpensive at a dollar store or free online. • Calculate statistics: At a baseball game, count the number of times a player is at bat and the total number of hits for that player. Divide the number of “at bats” by the “number of hits” to get the player’s batting average for that game. You can create your own statistic for any type of game and have your child keep track of data and calculate the statistic.
In the Car:
• Give your children a goal number and have them find a license plate that adds up to that number. For more advanced students, allow them to apply more complicated operations. For example, tell them to find a license plate with four numbers. Multiply two of the numbers together and subtract the remaining two to get to the goal number. • Have your child help you track the miles driven for each tank of gas. Use your trip odometer to keep track of miles driven and have your child record it on the receipt when you fill up your tank. Then have your child calculate the miles per gallon. Don’t forget to reset the odometer! • For young children, such as kindergartners, ask them to find shapes, colors or patterns while you are stopped at a traffic light. This is also a great age group for sorting laundry
(colors) and matching socks (patterns). • The kitchen is also a terrific place to teach math skills, especially fractions, while creating culinary masterpieces. While cooking, cut a recipe in half or double it and ask your child to help determine the new measurements for the ingredients. • Grocery shopping, too, offers unique opportunities for children to learn about weights, measures, comparisons, and change. Ask younger children to help count the apples that you are adding to your cart. Ask older children to calculate the final price of an item that is 25% off. • Reinforce early subtraction skills with a countdown calendar. Pick a special date – birthday, holiday, first day of that trip to Disney – and mark it on a calendar. Count the days until this special event. Cross off one day each night and count the remaining days. • If all else fails, use a smartphone app. Many free math apps are available. I really like Math Workout by Brain Training. Not only can your child (or you) practice addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, but they have a fantastic Math Blaster Challenge – you ‘ start with one number and apply about ten different computations to it in a timed period and see if you get the correct number in the end. All of the ideas presented here offer excellent teaching opportunities, but nothing will motivate a child to learn money management and calculation faster than to give him an allowance! Club Z! Tutoring of Lehigh Valley proudly offers one-onone, in-home tutoring for all subjects, Pre-K through Adult. Visiting them online at www.ClubZ.com/LehighValley, or call them at 610-351-3500.
tle t i L a ds i K r u Yo Show ove! L y a sD ’ e n i t • Home-made pizza for dinner on heart-shaped Valen • Make a variety of sized/colors hearts of construction paper and hang over the dinner table as a chandelier. • Hide notes all over. Taped to the bathroom mirror, under the pillow, in the shoes they plan to wear to school... you get the idea. A surprise love note is sure to bring a smile to their face throughout the day. • For lunch, make heart-shaped sandwiches served with strawberries cut in-half lengthwise, which usually are heart-shaped.
dough with heart-shaped pepperoni. • Make them a special photo book recapping the last year in both words and images. Order one for each child and they will have it to share with their children one day. • In advance, take 3 photos of the parents holding 3 different signs – I, Love, and You. Make them silly, and stick them together on colorful card stock. The kids will love it! • For dinner, make a favorite dish of each person. • After dinner, have each person list 3 things they love about each member of your family.
Swim for Life: Local Family Swims for Health, Safety and Fun An Interview by Lehigh Valley Family
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ehigh Valley Family has been looking for a local family to inspire us as we focus on health and wellness in this issue. We stumbled upon a local mom who has found an answer for family fun and fitness all under one roof. Her name is Heidi, and she was kind enough to tell us about her family’s healthy hobby. Heidi and her three children, ages 7, 9, and 11, swim together at Rodale Aquatic Center (RAC) in Allentown, which offers multiple opportunities for children and adults to improve skills, stay in shape and have fun. LVF: Could you give us an overview of what the kids do at RAC and what the center offers you as an active adult? Heidi: “My two older children participate in the Yes I Can Program, a non-competitive program for kids, ages eight through high school, who have completed all five of the Red Cross swim levels. It’s a non-competitive program for kids who are not on school swim teams to continue to work on technique. Our youngest child is seven and still taking the classes that occur once a week. They also have adult fitness classes going on at the same time.
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There is an adult swim program called the Master’s Program and open family swim times, where your entire family can come in and swim for fun inexpensively. They even offer a spin class in the water -- which is a great workout! At the center, there is also a small fitness pool heated to about 90 degrees. We see people come in from all walks of life, people with muscular dystrophy and arthritis, as well as other health problems. It is inspiring to see people coming in using a cane or walker and get in the pool and do their workout. We’ve used swimming as the most important activity our kids do because it can really save your life, in the case of an accident and as a way of staying healthy.” LVF: At what age did you get your kids involved in swimming? Heidi: “We started our kids swimming at about a year old. We took “you and me” classes at the YMCA, then moved to semi-private lessons at RAC and continued with the swim program because the kids enjoy it. Literally, swimming can save your life. If you know how www.LehighValleyFamily.com
to do it and you fall into a pool, you would be able to save yourself and get to the side of the pool. It’s a safety issue and is the primary reason we started our kids in swim lessons. What started for us as a safety issue has become something they thoroughly enjoy. They’re up at 9:00 in the morning dressed in their swim outfits for the evening.” LVF: At what level of fitness and health was your family prior to getting involved with swimming? Heidi: “We were into health and fitness before we started because I used to teach dance. When I got the kids involved in swimming, I saw that there were classes for adults. I started because it was new to me and I saw that they had other things to offer. Plus, it was nice to get in a workout while the kids were happy and engaged in their own thing.” LVF: Do you feel that your kids are encouraged by the fact that mom also gets in a water workout? Heidi: “Oh, yes. They’ve always known that I was actively involved, myself. “ LVF: As a mom, do you feel like your family works together to maintain a healthy lifestyle as a result of having everyone get in a workout under the same roof? Swimming seems like your family hobby.”
Teaching Your Kids How to Think About Money By Jason White, FrugalDad.com
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hen it comes to financing our children’s educations, we have a lot of expectations of Heidi: “Yes. I try to schedule the kids’ sessions around the ourselves, and probably of our kids too. We times I can be there also. I schedule our youngest’s swim lesson expect them to think about college at least while the other two do Yes I Can so he’s not just sitting while as much as we do and to understand that not only is it an they do their swimming.” expensive proposition but that they will need to participate in We’ve also made family friends through swimming. My both planning and paying for their education. One stumbling daughter and her best friend met when they were on a swim block that we may run into when talking to our kids about team together, and we’ve developed a close friendship with her how their college is getting paid for is that they may not yet family. have a solid grasp on some of the concepts that we consider LVF: What advice do you have for other families who may be basic, or at least familiar. looking for a way to become active and lead a more healthful In the fast-paced world of the American teenager, instant lifestyle? gratification plays a big role. They spend what they get and Heidi: “I think that swimming is one of the activities that they want what they want and they want it NOW! When we everyone can do, no matter what your age or activity level. talk to our college-bound kids about money, then, a couple This is something your whole family can be involved in for the of really crucial concepts that we need to cover are the time rest of your lives.” value of money and opportunity costs. Both of these notions require a level of patience that is rare in, and in many cases Thanks to Heidi and her family for giving us a peek inside antithetical to, the lives of our teenagers. their love of swimming. We encourage all readers to follow her lead and find some sort of activity that will not only increase Time Value Of Money your family’s health and wellness, but also allow you to have The time value of money is just another way of looking at new experiences together and grow as a family. how the money you put away grows over the period time Strong body and a strong family? Sounds like a win-win! that you save it. The earlier we start saving, less of our (Continued on page 16)
www.LehighValleyFamily.com • Lehigh Valley Family
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income (if all goes well!) will need to be earmarked for saving and can be spent elsewhere. Conversely, if we start saving our money for college later, it will not have as much time to grow and we’ll have to save more in order to get similar returns. This is the time value of money. In explaining the time value of money, two of the most important things we need to make sure our kids understand are saving and investing, coupled with the notions that compounding interest and reinvestment are powerful tools. I’m sure that at many levels our kids get the concept of putting away money for future use. In fact, they probably covered the topic in high (if not junior high or middle) school. But theoretical notions of what happens to the money after it’s been “saved” pales in comparison to a real world visual aid like an account statement. When I talk to my kids about paying for college, or savings in general, I try to create a sense of urgency in their minds for saving. I impress upon them that as much as I want them to go to school that the process must be a partnership, and that if they get (or have) a job or an income, whether it’s babysitting, raking leaves or pouring triple lattes, they – like us – should be putting away a good portion of their income for use during their college years. Then, each month or quarter, if it’s more appropriate to the account, I sit down with them and look at their statements. For bank accounts, at least regular savings accounts like my kids have had since they were born, the power of compounding interest is considerably less impressive than it used to be. If you or your children are putting money into a money market, savings or certificate of deposit account at a bank, it may make some sense to look at several statements going back over a period of time. This way, your son or daughter will be able to see how their (or your ) accounts grow with the compounding of interest and additional periodic deposits. Of course, if you or your kids have a Section 529 educational, or other type of investment, account in which the money is deposited in mutual funds or other types of equities with a dividend reinvestment component, your regular check ins will be more dramatic. On the other hand, during those months or quarters when the market has been down, you’ll be able to pass on the valuable lessons of market volatility, unguaranteed gains and saving or investing over a long term. Which brings us to opportunity cost.
Opportunity Cost When we try to instill the virtues of patience and frugality into our kids, we will have to help them examine decisions
and choices. One way of doing this is opportunity costs. Typically, an opportunity cast is not a concrete figure, although it weighs the value of one action against another. For example, if I decide to go out to dinner with a friend tonight, I will miss my son’s basketball game. Because my son’s game ultimately has more value to me, I am willing to give up the dinner: that is my cost of attending the basketball game. When talking to our kids about saving for college, the concept of opportunity cost is important. If they buy $100 worth of CDs during their junior year of high school, the opportunity cost will be the lost interest/investment gains on the $100 and their inability to use that $100+interest in college for an emergency. If we are able to impress upon our kids the importance of the dual concepts of the time value of money and opportunity costs at a younger age, they will be better partners in saving for their own educations, as well as better stewards of their own money. Hopefully, they’ll call less often for loans, as well. About The Author: Jason had the foresight to understand that people can’t continue to live beyond their means without unpleasant financial consequences. Jason’s wisdom became apparent several months after the site launched, when the world economy saw its worst downturn in a century. Read more at www.FrugalDad.com.
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Time Outs for All!
By Jessica Clarke, Life Early Learning Center
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arents and kids both need time outs. Unless we are in a place to discipline in love (and often our kids’ behavior stirs everything but love in us), then we need a time out. Make sure discipline is about teaching, shaping, and loving our kids.
Enjoy these simple adult time out tips: • Release the stress and exercise at the gym or simply walk the dog • Look at old photos and videos of when the children were young • Take a long drive to clear your mind and listen to your favorite music • Spend some alone time in your room with a good book • Call a trusted friend and let them be a listening ear For new families seeking to enroll at Life Early Learning Center, reference this ad to receive your first week of tuition FREE. For more information please contact Jessica Clarke at 610-439-2399 or Jessica. lifeelc@gmail.com.
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hink healthy eating has to be expensive? Think again. Comparing cost per nutrients when searching for nutrient-rich fruits, vegetables, whole grains and milk can not only save you money, but can affect your health in the long run. “We’re all watching our budgets these days,” said Michelle Dudash, registered dietitian, mom and author of the upcoming book titled, “Clean Eating for Busy Families.” But, says Dudash, “there are important health and nutrition trade-offs that we need to consider. The truth is, Americans need a crash course in ‘nutrition economics.’” Whether it’s picking the most nutrient-rich foods, or finding ways to keep the costs down within important food groups like fruits, vegetables and milk, she also emphasizes that nutrition economics doesn’t mean making everything from scratch – it means doing a little advance work to understand exactly what you’re buying. “Expensive” depends on how you measure cost, so to
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help navigate the supermarket, Dudash has outlined tips to make the most of your grocery cart. With these tips as a guide, learn the art of nutrition economics and save more while getting nutrients you need, all within budget.
The Do’s and Don’ts of Nutrition Economics DO: Learn to look at costs per nutrient. Healthy foods can sometimes appear to be higher in cost but, when you look at the nutrients these foods provide, they often are a good value. Check your labels and ask yourself: “Is the food I’m selecting packed with nutrients to keep my family fueled?” Be sure to look at the percent daily value for nutrients you need like calcium, potassium and vitamin D. DON’T: Spend on substitutes. Expensive alternatives are usually just that – expensive, and they often don’t deliver the value of the real thing. For example, look for the best value in the dairy aisle – milk. Unlike some of the other alternatives, you always know what you’re getting when you grab a glass of milk: nine essential nutrients www.LehighValleyFamily.com
Commonyms
for just a quarter a glass. DO: Think about your drink. Drinks are often an overlooked part of your food budget, and can not only break the bank; they can also lack the nutrition you need, especially at breakfast. Take a look at your beverage closely and choose the options that offer the most nutrients for a healthy start. DO: Maximize the seasons. Buy fresh fruits and vegetables only when in season and learn to maximize your freezer. By utilizing frozen produce in the off season, you still get the same nutrients at a much lower cost. DON’T: Be a Spontaneous Meal Planner. Of course there’s room for fun when it comes to meals, but the more you plan, the more you’ll maximize your budget. We can all admit to giving in to the last-minute meal, but planning ahead can help you avoid costly quick stops, and too many fresh veggies tossed in the trash. To learn more about the value of a glass of milk, and for useful recipes your family will love, visit www. TheBreakfastProject.com.
What’s a commonym you ask? A commonym is group of words that have a common trait in the three words/items listed. For example: the words; A car - A tree - An elephant... they all have trunks. These will make you think! 1. Wagon - Ferris - Cart 2. Love - Chain - Dear John 3. Hot - Chili - Corn 4. Bricks - Eggs - Carpets 5. A Skyscraper - Ernest Heminway - Mark Twain 6. Tone - Zest - Dove 7. Door - Grand - Nobel 8. Pillow - Dog - Fist 9. Dinner - Straight - Leather 10. Labor - Columbus - Ground Hog
11. Your Hand - Your Voice - Your Children 12. Chop - Yard - Pogo 13. Lawn - Rocking - Wheel 14. Sheep - Watch - Seeing-Eye 15. Lilac - Plum - Violet 16. Tug - Sail - Steam 17. Turkey - Teddy Bear - Christmas Stocking 18. Sea - Taco - Turtle 19. Sand - Juke - Toy 20. Time - Stink - Atomic
Answers on Page 21
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Keep Your Style Delightful...
Even While the Weather is Freezing and Frightful! By Amanda Furbeck, Lehigh Valley Family Stylista
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rigid temperatures stop style in its tracks and put a fast freeze on dainty dressing. Piles of turtlenecks, heavy-weight sweaters, bulky long underwear, and layers of socks are great for staying warm in a Lehigh Valley snowstorm. And yet all those warm fuzzy layers can put a downright damper on looking cool and slim. If your aim is to stay chic no matter what the weather, try some of these tricks for keeping warm this winter season without compromising your svelte style.
Belted layers. One of the problems with winter
dressing is the bulky layers. By the time you’ve put on enough layers to keep warm, you feel like a small child who’s been stuffed into their snowsuit. Keep those layers under control with a wide belt. Wear your belt right over top of your sweater to add a little figure-enhancing shape to your warm style. A skinny belt over a delicate cardigan leans towards a more polished look, while a wide belt and chunky sweater lends itself to a more casual shape.
Cable knit tights. Dresses and skirts in
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the wintertime can be downright freezing, but you can warm them up with a stylish pair of cable knit tights. Although slightly more casual than your sheer hosiery, these trendy tights will help you stay warm in the work place. They look great with a pencil skirt and a sharp pair of boots.
Body Shapers. Body Shapers are great for smoothing
out all those lumps and bumps, but the added benefit is a little extra warmth without any bulk. Any fitted type of camisole with a little stretch to it should do the trick to keep you feeling warm and looking slimmer.
Sweater dresses. There are plenty of options for sweater dresses, but finding the one that is the most versatile will give you miles of wearable styles. Of course, you can wear your sweater dress with your cable knit tights for a look that is warm and textured (as long as your tights create a contrast with the sweater dress and don’t match it exactly). But the right sweater dress can also be worn with a pair of leggings or even over a great pair of skinny jeans for a super fun, casual look. Invest in a sweater dress that skims the body without being too tight, and make sure your leggings aren’t stretched thin or sagging.
Boots and boot socks. Boots are without a doubt,
the perfect winter staple in the Lehigh Valley. Wear them with tights, leggings, or over your favorite skinny jeans for a host of modern looks. To navigate the slushy streets, look for a pair that is sleek and stylish, yet has a little chunky tread on the bottom for traction. A wedge heel will provide a lot more stability than a pointed heel, but www.LehighValleyFamily.com
will still give you that lift if you need it. For a fun casual look that will really keep your toes toasty, try on a pair of chunky boot socks. These long heavy socks go right over top of your jeans or leggings but under your boots. They help keep your jeans from creeping up and out of your boots when you walk and they look extra cute peeking out the top.
Show off a scarf. Scarves aren’t just for the great
outdoors. Keep the inside drafts at bay with any kind of decorative scarf. Loosely wrap it around it your neck or tie it in a fancy knot. The easiest way to wear a scarf is to fold it in half lengthwise, and place the middle of folded scarf against the back of your neck. Bring the ends forward on each side of you, tucking the loose ends through the folded loop. Pull the scarf as tight as you desire. If scarf tying intimidates you, try an infinity scarf which is like a big, beautiful loop that you simply pull on over your head. A scarf will give you the warmth of a turtleneck but with a more modern, feminine look.
Fabulous accessories. A few fabulous accessories will Commonyms Answers 1. wheels 2. letters 3. types of dogs 4. they are laid 5. they have stories 6. names of soap brands 7. prizes 8. fights 9. jackets 10. days
11. things you raise 12. sticks 13. chairs 14. dogs 15. purples 16. boats 17. they are stuffed 18. shells 19. boxes 20. bombs
draw the eye. A great scarf, a pair of intricate long earrings, and a belt to nip in your waist will help to skinny-ize your look and can be added to almost any outfit. Look for interesting details on boots and handbags to make your look come together. This season, accessories should coordinate but not be overly matched.
Balance is always the key to creating a stylish and warm
look. If you love a bulky, over-sized sweater, pair it with skinny jeans and tall boots for to balance the proportions. A short, boxy sweater looks fabulous with a pair of highwaisted, wide leg trousers. A cashmere cardigan provides maximum warmth for minimum bulk and looks great for the workplace. A cape, blanket shawl, or long skimming vest can also add to your style and your warmth. Despite the plunging temps and swirling snowflakes, great style can keep you feeling warm and looking great all winter long.
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y r a u r b e F y r a u n Ja
Thru Jan
Toys, Games and Trains. Discover the history of toys and games. These fascinating antique playthings reflect the eras when they were created. Opening will feature fun for all ages, including our special Thomas the Tank Engine Fun Room. Exhibit remains on display through March 31, 2013 during regular museum hours of Tues.- Sat. 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. and Sun. 12 NOON – 4:00 p.m. http:// www.lehighvalleyheritagemuseum.org.
Jan 6
Free EcoZone Afternoon, Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC), 538 Emery Road, Dingmans Ferry, (570) 828-2319, www.peec.org., 1 to 4 p.m. Enjoy a fun, educational afternoon in PEEC’s all new discovery room! Interactive exhibits include an eagle’s nest, bat cave, fossil pit and more! Admission is free. Additional details are available online.
January is:
National Be On-Purpose Month
Jan 7
Snowshoe Hike at Skytop, Skytop Lodge. The Monroe County Environmental Education Center (MCEEC) presents this exciting excursion. Learn about the ecosystems and animals of the Poconos during a two-hour snowshoe trek. Participants should dress in layers and meet at Skytop at 12:45 p.m. Preregistration is required. Cost: $5/EE members and children under 12, $8/adult non-members. Snowshoe rentals cost $10 for adults and $6 for children. Additional information is available online. 1 Skytop Lodge Road, Skytop, (570) 629-3061, www.mcconservation.org.
Jan 12
January 8
National Bubble Bath Day
Game Day –Northampton Community College’s reading program at the Fowler Family Southside Center especially for youth, with fun activities for children ages preschool – grade 6. Children are able to choose free books after each event. Programs are free, but pre-registration is required. Call 610-861-5526. The Reading Room is also open to the public Wednesdays, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Thru Feb 10
Bodies Revealed Exhibition, The worldrenowned Bodies Revealed exhibition – provides visitors a mesmerizing three-dimensional tour of the human body that otherwise is available only to medical professionals and students. DaVinci Center, Hamilton Blvd, Allentown. www.davincisciencecenter. org/tickets. Every day through Feb 10, 2013.
Jan 12
Fruitcake Toss Day
Thru Jan and Feb
Playtimes Past, the winter 2012-2013 exhibit at the Sigal Museum will enchant visitors of all ages with toys, games, puppets, and other amusements produced prior to electronic toys and gadgets. January 1 through February 2013. Sigal Museum, 342 Northampton Street, Easton Pennsylvania; Tues – Saturday: 9:30am – 3pm, Sunday: Noon – 4pm.
February 2
Angelina Ballerina,The Musical. Based on the beloved children’s books and animated television series, this show from the award-winning Vital Theatre Company will have you dancing in the aisles. Perfect for children ages 3-12, Angelina Ballerina features spirited songs and all types of dance-from hip-hop to ballet. 1-3 pm. Allentown Symphony Hall.
February 12
Bach at Noon. Free monthly concert series at Central Moravian Church, 73 West Church St., Bethlehem Pennsylvania. Feel free to bring your lunch! 12:101pm.
Feb 2
Ice Cream for Breakfast Day
Feb 16
Cops ‘N Kids Northampton Community College offers a reading program at the Fowler Family Southside Center especially for youth with fun activities for children ages preschool – grade 6. Children are able to choose free books after each event. February 16: Troy Hein, “Jay At Play: The Season”. PLEASE NOTE: Programs are free, but pre-registration is required. Call
610-861-5526. The Reading Room is also open to the public Wednesdays, 11 a.m.–7 p.m. Fowler Family Southside Center, Room 403, 511 E. Third Street, Bethlehem
Feb 28
2-6 pm. FAFSA Workshop Main Campus (Walk-in Session). Northampton Community College offers free assistance in completing your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) forms for the 20132014 academic year. PLEASE NOTE: This is a walk-in session, RSVP is not required. Other future walk-in sessions are scheduled for March 7, 14, 21 and 28 from 2 pm to 6 pm; March 29 from 2 pm to 5 pm; April 4, 11, 18 and 25 from 2 pm to 6 pm. Northampton Community College – Main Campus, Room 104, Student Enrollment Center, 3835 Green Pond Road, Bethlehem.
Feb 17
My Way Day
Need More Fun Ideas? • Make a wind chime with stuff in your yard. Collect acorns and small rocks (about a dozen), rinse and dry. Next, wrap a piece of ribbon (about 24 inches long) around one acorn, leaving a 2-inch tail; secure with glue. Add another and another. Now do the same thing with a fresh ribbon for the rocks, and then another for the acorns. Wrap one end of each finished ribbon around a stick and glue in place. Space them evenly along the stick. Next, use an 8-inch piece of ribbon to hang it. Simply wrap each end around the stick and glue. For more noise, add a festive bell to the bottom of each ribbon. Finally, find a tree or porch to from which to hang your masterpiece! • Turn off the cell phone (and iPad and computer). For one whole day give your technology a much-needed rest. Simply set up an “I’m offline” message, forget about it and fully engage with your family. It may just inspire a more off-line time in the future. • Bubble time: You might associate blowing bubbles with sundresses, bare feet and Blow bubbles on freezing days and watching them turn into ice bubbles — they look amazing. Then chase them and break them!
February is:
Exotic Vegetables and Star Fruit Month
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EVERY BABY IS BORN TO DO SOMETHING GREAT. More than 4 million babies were born last year, and the March of Dimes helped each and every one through research, education, vaccines and breakthroughs.
Next Mother’s Day to Father’s Day, shop, dine or donate where you see our logo to help more babies grow up to do something great.
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