Momaha Magazine - February 2016 by Omaha World-Herald

momaha.com

VOLUME 7 路 ISSUE 2

FEBRUARY 2016

Get Organized Weed out your junk drawer

PLUS

GIRLY GIRLS, GIGGLES & GLAM

KIDZ E XP Family LORE learnin fun, creativ g and e play

GO WALKING IN A

WINTER WONDERLAND

Time spent frolicking in the woods wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t keep you up on the Kardashians or help your kids crush it on Halo 5. But, it just might do a few other things for them. Like, boost their immune system, lower their blood pressure, reduce their stress, improve their mood, give them more energy, increase their ability to focus, improve their sleep, and help them nurture creativity and social skills. Seriously, Google it. Push pause on the texting, clicking, sharing, and streaming, just for a moment, and come out to the forest. Move your feet, breathe in the fresh air, explore. And watch what happens.

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PLAN AHEAD FOR FUN THIS SUMMER Registration is open now for summer day camp! Summer Ca mp uth Yo

2016 First Place KETV 7 • Baxter Arena

Preschool Camps • Summer Day Camp • Mini Camps • Specialty Camps Teen Camps • YMCA Camp Platte • Counselor-in-Training Program Register for summer day camp at any of the 10 YMCA locations. Pick up a summer day camp guide or visit our website for more information.

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momaha where moms connect

VOLUME 7 . ISSUE 2 . FEBRUARY 2016 editor in chief CHRIS CHRISTEN chris.christen@owh.com 402-444-1094

creative director + designer HEIDI THoRSoN hthorson@owh.com 402-444-1351

assistant editor kIm CaRpENTER kim.carpenter@owh.com 402-444-1416

momaha.com editor aSHlEE CoffEy ashlee.coffey@owh.com 402-444-1075

production coordinator paT R I C I a “ m U R p H y ” B E N o I T

COMING SOON!

content contributors E R I N fa I R C H I l D DEv HaNUmaRa amy TokoS SaNDRa WENDEl H E aT H E R W I N k E l

account manager CaRRIE kENTCH carrie.kentch@owh.com 402-444-1448

account executive

• LOCAL ONLINE AUCTION EVENT •

March 6-15, 2016

G ay l I D D E l l gay.liddell@owh.com 402-444-1489

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account executive C aT H l E E N va N H a U E R cathleen.vanhauer@owh.com 402-444-1209 Momaha Magazine is a monthly publication of the news division of the Omaha World-Herald, 1314 Douglas St., Suite 700, Omaha, NE 68102. Momaha is a registered trademark, and all content is copyright 2016 by the Omaha WorldHerald. All rights reserved. The opinions and perspectives published herein are those of the authors and should not be construed as those of Momaha Magazine or its publisher.

Join us for a summer of

CONTENTS

EXPLORE and G R O W

OUTDOOR E ADVENTUR

Summer Adventure Camps at Lauritzen Gardens provide exciting opportunities for children ages 4-12 to connect to nature and foster an appreciation for the environment through direct experiences with the natural world. Visit lauritzengardens.org for details.

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www.lauritzengardens.org

Real MoMs + advice

6 Momaha.com Editor 8 On Our Radar 10 Get Organized 23 Be Well: Tips for Healthy Living 24 Sugar Swaps

FaMilY TiMe

18 Kidz Explore Preview 20 Game Night 22 Have a Heart: Give Back

diY coRNeR

12 Galentine’s Day 16 Lip Balm

Interested in learning lacrosse? We provide the equipment for an hour to learn the basics. Kids from youth to high school welcome! Register online for a speciﬁc date on www.OmahaLaxClub.com Pick a Date-‐ February 6, 13, 20 or 27th Oﬀ the Wall | 110th and Harrison | $10 9am—10am | Space is Limited

oN The coveR Galentine’s Day Party sTYliNg Heather Winkel PhoTogRaPhY Dev Hanumara

Celebrate your besties and declare a girls night in with a mini mani-pedi party on Valentine’s Day Eve! Inspiration, Page 12.

MoMaha.coM editor // aShlee coFFey Wife to Kevin Coffey, music critic for the Omaha World-Herald. Mom to Sam. Native of Plattsmouth, Nebraska. Follow her on Twitter: @ashleecoffeyowH

CELEBRATING LOVE & FAmILy TImE

ebruary is the month of love – and a perfect time to cuddle up at home with family and loved ones. I can think of lots of ways to enjoy the cold days inside – family game nights, do-it-yourself crafts, house projects and cooking and baking. My son is still too young to get involved in the more traditional game nights, but we have fun building with LEGOS, making silly shapes with Play-Doh, painting and coloring. After Sam goes to bed, my husband and I might enjoy

Scrabble, a card game or even a nontraditional game like Ghostbusters: The Board Game. If you’re more the DIY type, check out the “Sealed With a Kiss Lip Balm,” page 16, or our sweet Galentine’s Day party idea, page 12. For those itching to get out of the house (and who isn’t?), head for the Omaha World-Herald’s Kidz Explore family festival February 13 and 14. We’re planning a Valentine’s Day party theme featuring crafts, activities and games. Kids can interact with exotic animals, test

their skills during zany beat-theclock challenges and, of course, make their very own Valentines. Speaking of Valentine’s Day, why not use the holiday to teach your child about the capacity of the human heart and get him or her involved in giving back to the community? Find great ideas – including donating outgrown DVDs to a pediatrician’s office or children’s hospital – on page 22. Until next time, stay warm! And take heart. Spring will be here before we know it!

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On OUR RADAR // ERin FAiRchilD Erin Fairchild is a 20-something lifestyle blogger living in Omaha. Follow her latest posts at herheartlandsoul.com

TASTE THE TROPICS

THINGS TO TRY THIS MONTH WHEN YOU WANT TO CELEBRATE LOVE.

When the days are cold and dark, warm up with Teavana’s Pineapple Kona Pop Herbal Tea. This caffeine-free pineapple and citrus infusion tea has light floral undertones for a taste of something tropical in the dead of winter.

TREAT YOURSELF

Treat yourself to a sweet indulgence with Vosges Haut-Chocolat, one of the world’s leading chocolatiers. Its Dark Chocolate Truffle Collection is absolutely decadent and includes a 16-piece collection that re-imagines the traditional dark chocolate truffle with exotic flavors like Oaxaca, Absinthe, Red Fire, Polline di Finocchio, Balsamico and more.

DELIGHT YOUR VALENTINE

GET LOST IN COLOR

Scientists believe coloring elicits a relaxing mindset and helps block negative thoughts. One of the most popular adult coloring book creators, Johanna Basford, recently released Lost Ocean: An Inky Adventure and Coloring Book. This book explores an enchanting underwater world and is perfect for coloring solo, with kids, girlfriends or that special someone in your life.

February is here, and that means children will be exchanging Valentines with friends. This year, have fun making homemade versions with your child. If you don’t want to go totally DIY, this Puppies & Kittens Valentine Kit from The Paper Source contains easy-to-make Valentines sure to delight both giver and receiver.

EXCHANGE FLOWERS

Looking for a Valentine’s Day gift? While adults exchange chocolates and fresh flowers, little ones can enjoy a paper flower craft. This American Girl Crafts Paper Posies Pad makes 231 layered posies in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes for a picture-perfect kid-friendly bouquet.

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Get ORGanized // amy tOkOs Amy Tokos is a Certified Professional Organizer and the owner of Freshly Organized. You can find more organizing tips at freshlyorganized.com.

Get a grip on that drawer full of household miscellany. The junk drawer. We all have one. And that might not be a bad thing. Unless yours is an irredeemable mess. Here’s how to bring order to chaos.

Empty the contents of the drawer onto a hard surface. Trash or recycle items that are worthless. This includes random tech accessories and items for longabandoned products.

Group like items together – paper clips, safety pins, pens, spare keys, sunglasses, frequent shopper cards, etc. Place the items in zip-top bags or small containers.

Scan the pile for items that belong in another space like the craft room, home office, laundry room, garage, etc. Take them there.

Contain the remaining groups from the drawer using dividers, small storage containers and zip-top bags. Use labels to streamline the groupings.

Evaluate the size of your drawer. A shallow drawer will allow full view of contents and curtail what you drop in it. If your drawer is too deep, find another one for maximum efficiency and ease.

Clean the drawer before filling it. Wipe away crumbs and grime for a fresh start. Consider adding an easy-to-clean, non-slip drawer liner.

Reload the drawer with its streamlined contents. Put rarely used items toward the rear; frequently used items, like a multihead screw driver, hammer and scissors, toward the front.

Label as many keys as you can with tape and a Sharpie. Drop the rest in a zip-top bag or envelope for storing at the back of the drawer or elsewhere in your home.

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We are celebrating our 15th Anniversary season! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for exciting updates throughout the year and for more information regarding our spring sessions. Nebraska Dance Spring Session March 12th - April 23rd NEBRASKA DANCE Facebook: Nebraska Dance Instagram: nebraska_dance

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FOLLOw THE LOvE BUGS! Find more valentine’s Day fun at kidz Explore, details on page 18.

TEXT + STYLING Heather Winkel PHOTOGRAPHY Dev Hanumara

kip the boys this Valentine’s Day. We recommend sending out sparkly invites to your besties and staying in for a Galentine’s spa day. Set the table for mini manis and a facial before heading to the pedi tubs. Indulge in chocolate-covered waffles (with sprinkles!) - and don’t forget a mimosa. Because there’s nothing more glamorous than a mimosa, even if it is a mock one.

SPA BAR TAkE-HOmES Fill glass containers with spa essentials such as loofahs, nail polish and files as Galentine favors.

ChoColate-Covered heart WaffleS

HOW TO MAKE IT: 1. Make waffle mix according to package directions. 2. Spray waffle iron with cooking spray before pouring in batter. (This step is essential to making a waffle that doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stick and tear apart.) 3. Carefully remove waffle from waffle maker and set on a cutting board. 4. Using cookie cutter, cut waffles into heart shapes. 5. Melt a 12-ounce bag of white chocolate chips in the microwave or over a double boiler. Dip each heart waffle into chocolate, lay on waxed paper and decorate immediately with multicolored candy sprinkles. 6. Let sit a few moments until the chocolate hardens and serve.

GLAm STIR STIckS Use a hot glue gun to affix gems back-to-back on a kabob stick. mINImOSA A perfect mimosa is equal parts juice and sparkling beverage. Fill a glass to the half-way mark with Sanpellegrino Sparkling Fruit Beverage; top with Simply mixed Berry Juice Drink.

DIPPED wAFERS make the party even sweeter with strawberry-flavored wafers dipped in white chocolate and add sprinkles.

TOwEL NAmE cARD wrap a candy necklace around a rolled up towel and attach a tag for a spa-worthy name card.

Mini Facial Mask

HOW TO MAKE IT: 1. Cook 1 cup instant oatmeal according to package directions. 2. Add 6 tablespoons honey and 6 tablespoons plain yogurt; mix together. 3. Set aside to cool to room temperature. 4. Apply mixture to face, avoiding the area around eyes. 5. Allow mask to sit for 10 to 15 minutes. 6. Rinse face with warm water.

MoMaha.coM DownloaD go online for printable versions of our invitation, signage and tags for your own party!

Follow the love bugs! Find more valentineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day fun at Kidz explore, details on page 18.

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Lip balm you can make at home. TEXT Kim Carpenter PHOTOGRAPHY Heidi Thorson

Lip BaLm

FOllOw THE lOvE buGs! Find more valentineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day craft fun at Kidz Explore, details on page 18.

Meet Award-Winning Author

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Saturday, April 2 at Benson Branch for A Novel Affaire,

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SWAK! This super easy moisturizing lip balm is a perfect Valentine’s Day craft to keep or give to someone special.

DIY LIP BALM

HOW TO MAKE IT: 1. Combine 3 teaspoons coconut oil, 2 teaspoons beeswax and 1 teaspoon raw shea butter in a small saucepan. 2. Melt ingredients over medium-low heat, stirring gently until fully blended. 3. Pour liquid into lip balm pots or tubes using a funnel. Make sure to wash and dry containers thoroughly before filling. 4. Let lip balm sit 15 to 20 minutes to cool and set. 5. Decorate pots or tubes with Xs (kisses) and Os (hugs).

OPTIONAL • 20 drops essential oil of choice. We used peppermint. • For tinted lip balm, add a few drops of Kool-Aid or melt a small amount of colored lipstick with the ingredients.

Patron Tickets: $100 General Admission Tickets: $60 For 30 years, the Omaha Public Library Foundation has raised funds and advocated for Omaha Public Library. To purchase tickets or for more information:

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GAME PIECES! For extra Valentine’s Day fun, make a tic-tac-toe board with washi tape and use lip balm pots as playing pieces.

Share the love at Kidz Explore. STORY Kim Carpenter ILLUSTRATIONS Heidi Thorson

ow sweet it is! The World-Herald is throwing a giant Valentine’s party at Kidz Explore, and the whole family is invited! Join the fun February 13 and 14 at the MidAmerica Center in Council Bluffs. While the event’s emphasis is on kids ages 2 to 10, there will be plenty of love to go around in two days of activities centered on fun and learning. Kids can shake off cabin fever by embarking on an adventurous scavenger hunt, zipping along a speedy racetrack or meeting an exotic animal. They can also get their faces painted, take a pony ride or navigate a massive bounce house obstacle course. Toddler Village features special activities for little ones, including a bounce house just their size. Get ready to beat the clock with zany 60-second challenges the whole family can try. Test your skill – and luck – at events like the candy heart toss and rapid-fire cup stack. The timer is ticking! Valentine’s crafts will let kids make the most of candy treats and arts materials, and they can also create their own cards to take home. The event, the largest of its kind in the metro area and now entering its 24th year, also includes

exhibitors, who will keep families engaged with activities, food samples, games and freebies. Starting January 22, check Momaha’s Facebook page every Friday for a new Beat-the-Clock challenge, Valentine’s craft, special postings and a chance to upload your own Beatthe-Clock family video to win free tickets to the event.

What “Sweet! A Family Valentine’s Day Party”

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45 YEARS OF MAKING A DIFFERENCE

oneworldomaha.org

45 Years of Making a Difference.. ...One Child at a Time 19

Declare a family game night. Everybody wins as bonds and skills multiply. STORY Kim Carpenter PHOTOGRAPHY Heidi Thorson

urn off the Game Boy and put away the Wii. Family Game Night – the kind that involves an old-fashioned board or deck of cards – is on, and so are the benefits that come with the competition. Namely, bonding with your kids and boosting cognitive skills. So says Kaleb Michaud, co-founder and CEO of Spielbound Board Game Café, a nonprofit coffeehouse stocked with more than 1,700 tabletop games for the public to play. “Games bring families face-to-face across a table as opposed to side-by-side at a computer screen,” Michaud stresses. “People talk about a disconnect in their lives. This is a way to connect. It’s a very different kind of interaction.” It’s also a way for children to learn important social skills – without even realizing it. Playing games teaches kids how to follow rules, get along with others and win or lose gracefully. Time spent over a game board also has educational benefits. “Games reinforce what you learn,” explains the game expert. “It’s one thing to be told the facts. It’s another to implement them. Playing games helps develop long-term thinking, because there are so many different ways to apply strategy. A lot of them also employ economics.” Michaud knows it isn’t always easy to pull out a game, but he urges families to find the time. “I remember my parents would come home from work and be exhausted,” he reflects. “We’d eat dinner, maybe watch some TV and go to bed. But what I really remember is sitting around the table and playing games. Families are so busy. Time together is limited and that much more valuable. Games are great ways to come together. They make families stronger.”

THE GAME IS AFOOT Kaleb Michaud at Spielbound says we’re in a “Golden Age of Board Games.” He should know. His personal collection numbers 2,500. Michaud shares seven crowdpleasers – two of which originated here in the metro – for your own family game cabinet.

love leTTer

DiScounT Salmon

panDemic

TickeT To riDe

Players: 2-4 Ages: 8+ Time: 20 mins Players attempt to smuggle love letters to a fair princess, who is locked in a castle. While it might sound like it’s geared toward girls, this illustrated card game requires risk, strategy and devious intent to thwart fellow suitors.

Super TooTh

Players: 2-4 Ages: 5+ Time: 15 mins Launched in Omaha in 2014, this quick-paced, whimsical card game is a race to outmaneuver extinction. Players compete to collect matching sets of dinosaurs – without biting off more than they can chew. Eat or be eaten. It’s survival of the fittest!

Players: 2-4 Ages: 13+ Time: 60 mins The world is under siege by four diseases, and it’s up to specialists to stop their spread and save the world. Contagious disease may not sound appealing, but the challenge to find cures makes for riveting play. The fun is infectious!

Players: 3 or more Ages: 8+ Time: 10 mins Enter Lake Miasma, the world’s most contaminated body of water, in a hilarious card game that turns kids into fish mongers. Created by a pair of Omaha cousins, the game won the top prize in a 2014 international game competition.

Players: 2-5 Ages: 8+ Time: 30-60 mins Based on the book “Around the World in 80 Days,” this board game pits players against one another in a million-dollar train chase across the United States. As kids lay wagers and connect cities, they also learn geography.

GET SPIELBOUND

Sherriff of noTTingham

Players: 3-5 Ages: 13+ Time: 45-60 mins Sure, bluffing and bribery may not be skills you want to cultivate in your kids, but think of it as nurturing the fine art of negotiation. Families will dissolve into laughter as they attempt to smuggle illicit goods like chickens or cheese past the player designated as the sheriff.

SplenDor

Players: 2-4 Ages: 10+ Time: 30 mins Bring on the bling as a Renaissance merchant who acquires gem mines, hires skilled artisans and courts wealthy patrons. The goal is to create opulent jewelry by collecting cards and accumulating points. Kids will love vying to become the top jewelry makers to the nobility.

Located in midtown Omaha, Spielbound Café offers access to board games with a membership or $5 day pass. Patrons also can bring their own games and play for free. The coffeehouse additionally hosts free demo nights during which staff members teach rules for board games listed on the calendar. spielbound.com

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FIRST STEPS: 7 WayS To PuT oThERS FIRST

“Giving back teaches children to see the world from a different perspective,” says Dr. Sean Akers. “The only way – the best way – really, to do that is to expose them to other lives.”

the benefits of selfless giving.

hen Julee Niemants teaches history to sixth graders at Dundee Elementary School, she doesn’t just want her students to understand the past, she also wants them to develop an understanding for people in the present. And the best way to do that, she believes, is to give back. Enter the llama. Niemants challenged her class to buy one for a Bolivian family in need by raising $150 through an in-school sucker sale. The students embraced the call to action. “I was looking for something that would help the kids feel like they were doing something big,” she explains. “Children are very hopeful and innocent and want to be a part of something bigger than themselves. Right now is the time to instill caring for others.” Dr. Sean Akers, clinical pediatric psychologist with Children’s Behavioral Health, agrees. “Doing things for

other people is extremely important,” he notes. “When you’re totally focused on yourself, it’s easy to forget there are people in need who might lead very different lives. It’s important for kids to see others from a compassionate perspective beyond their electronics, toys and TVs.” The pay-off can be big. Not only do children develop compassion and empathy for others, they also feel good about themselves. “When we start giving back to others, there’s a lot of evidence that we feel better about ourselves,” says Akers. “It’s very important to have kids start doing things for other people for self-esteem.” Niemants’ students certainly felt wonderful about themselves. They raised almost double their goal – enough for the llama plus a goat. “They were so excited,” she says. “They did something for someone else, and they made a difference. Who doesn’t want to do that?”

seven places to start • Head with your children to a local park or playground and pick up trash. The next time you visit, they’ll take pride in knowing they’ve done their part to keep their community space beautiful. • Donate no longer watched DVDs to a pediatrician’s office for other children’s enjoyment. • Purchase toiletries like toothpaste, deodorant and shampoo and deliver them to a local homeless shelter. While shopping, explain that other people may need help from time to time and this is one way to provide that assistance. • Assist an elderly neighbor by bringing in trash cans or shoveling a sidewalk. • The next time a neighbor heads out of town, volunteer with your child to take in the mail, water plants or look after a pet. • When lemonade stand time rolls around, have kids choose a charity they care about and donate all proceeds to it. Encourage them to tell their customers where they’re putting their profits. Consider providing a 1:1 match. • Instead of gifts at the next birthday party, suggest that your child request items for a specific charity, such as diapers for a women’s shelter or pet food for an animal shelter.

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remained calm twice as long when listening to a song as they did when listening to speech. Why? Humans are enraptured by music. Babies can’t tap their toes yet, but they do have the mental capacity to get carried away by music. Center for Research on Brain, Music and Language, University of Montreal

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child talk incessantly, or have trouble focusing and prefer to daydream? He or she may have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. This disorder often begins between ages 3 and 6. And it’s not just a childhood disease. ADHD may continue through the teenage years and into adulthood. National Institute of Mental Health

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More PeAS, PleASe. 3- to 5-year-olds aren’t swayed to eat what’s on their plate because you say it’s good for them. According to a study published in the Journal of Consumer Research, when children are told food makes them stronger or better at counting or reading, they think of it as less tasty and eat smaller amounts. Researchers concluded that the best way to get young children to eat is simply to serve the food free of any message. Let color, texture and aroma be the motivator and watch your child ask for seconds. TheGuardian.com KiSSing cAn cAuSe cAvitieS. If you kiss someone who has bad bacteria in his or her mouth, that person’s saliva can possibly pass the bacteria on to you, thereby causing cavities. NYU College of Dentistry creAte c0MPlic@t3d PASSwordS. Avoid birthdays, pet names and simple passwords like 12345. It’s also important to change passwords at least three times a year. Because friendly theft – theft by someone the victim knows – is the most common type of identity theft or fraud, don’t share your passwords with family members and be mindful of who has access to your personal information. American Bankers Association Sandra Wendel is a veteran health journalist and book editor living in the Omaha metro area. She is a frequent contributor to World-Herald publications.

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