Chatt Valley January 2020

JANUARY 2020

Wise Choices for Moms & Families

© Timeless Memories by Jessica

CHATTAHOOCHEE VALLEY

Cover Sponsor See P age 25

We Make Math Make Sense

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family

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Gentle Dentistry for the Entire Family!

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with any adult meal purchase.

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Offer only valid Monday 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Kids 10 and under only. Limit one Zax Kidz Meal per adult meal purchase. Adult meals include any Zalad®, Sandwich Meal or Most Popular Meal. Dine-in only. Not valid at any other locations. © 2018 Zaxby’s Franchising LLC “Zaxby’s,” “Zax Kidz” and “Zalad” are registered trademarks of Zaxby’s Franchising LLC. Each Zaxby’s restaurant is independently owned and operated under a license agreement with Zaxby’s Franchising LLC.

HOO’s INSPIRED www.FamilyAndKidsGA.com

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Live with less

Live

to

with

MORE

BY KIMBERLY BLAKER

We’ve heard this mantra for years. But it’s often easier said than done. Unfortunately, the accumulation of things often erodes our joy, pleasure and fulfillment in life. That’s because possessions eat up precious time, energy and money you could spend on doing the things you love.

This cycle persists until one day, you wake up, and it hits you. You no longer have a life – and probably haven’t for some time. Instead, your home and belongings own your life.

When you live with less, you can enjoy more of what brings you true happiness and fulfillment. That could mean going to more concerts, plays and sporting events. Or perhaps it’ll give you the time and money to travel, pursue hobbies, get physically fit, volunteer or visit more with family and friends.

How to reach your end-goal So how do you go about reclaiming your life? For some, homing items with family and friends. Donating goods to a upon experiencing this awareness, it’s a no-brainer. They particular charity or family in need might even make you feel better about parting with them. Here’s a local list of come up with a plan and move full steam ahead. options: familyandkidsga.com/clothes-donations But for most of us, it’s a more arduous process. We often feel tied to our possessions and are likely creatures of habit, Once you begin purging, work room-by-room so you can even when they don’t serve us well. Fortunately, there are keep track of what you’ve already done. This will help you see your progress, and you can experience the feeling of a ways to ease into the transition. room that no longer owns you.

First, create a budget and account for everything you spend money on. Don’t forget all the maintenance costs as well. As you sort through your belongings, ask why you’re keepAlso make a list of the amount of time you spend shopping, ing each item. If you’re storing it ‘just in case,’ haven’t used it cleaning, organizing and maintaining your possessions, in- in a year or more, wouldn’t buy it now, it doesn’t hold senticluding your home. Then add a second column to each list mental value and doesn’t bring you happiness, get rid of it. and note how much time or money you can save by living with less and a smaller home. Also, make a list of things After you’ve gone through your entire home (including you could do with the extra time and cash that would bring yard, shed and garage), make another round. You’ll likely find many more items you’re now comfortable eliminating. more joy to your life.

Finally, once you’ve successfully freed up a ton of space in your home, plan your next step. You may no longer need so much space. Consider a smaller house or apartment to save even more time, energy and costs. Most importantly, enjoy Decide the best methods for disposing of things so you’ll your new-found freedom, and make a conscious effort to feel good about it and stay motivated. If you can use the live your life to its fullest. extra cash, box things up for a garage sale, sell them online or drop them off to a consignment store. Also, consider reNext, set a goal to eliminate a certain number of possessions on a daily or weekly basis. Once you begin, if you have the urge to purge more, go for it.

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The Scoop!

Wise Choices for You & Your Family

Follow us @FamilyAndKidsGA

Win cool prizes, socialize & stay in the know!

Where to Find HOO? Check your local kid-friendly doctors, dentists, attractions, retail shops & restaurants; or see our interactive distro map at: familyandkidsga.com/get-a-copy

TO SUBMIT AD OR EVENT: Tammy Usie, Publisher tammy@familyandkidsga.com 253-212-7270 FamilyAndKidsGA

www.Familyandkidsga.com

www.FamilyAndKidsGA.com

HOO’s Fun When the buzzer sounded for the last game of the Columbus Cottonmouths Hockey Team in 2017, it marked the end of an era of local hockey and disappointed fans across the Chattahoochee Valley. But immediately after, behind the scenes efforts were taking place to bring pro hockey back to the area. It would take close to two years for a new bid to get approved.

The Columbus River Dragons got the job done and were welcomed to the area in 2019 for their first season. Led by team President/GM Scott Brand, hockey has come back to the Columbus Civic Center and fans are showing their support in a big way.

From the moment you enter the Columbus Civic Center for a game, you can feel the excitement. The concourses are filled with vendors for merchandise, food and community partners. You enter into the ice rink and the music is pumping, the teams are warming up, fans assemble a tunnel to welcome the Dragons back on to the ice, the puck drops, and the high-speed action begins, with no shortage of physical contact keeping fans on their toes. During breaks there are fun games to get the crowd going like Dance Cam, T-Shirt Tosses and on-ice contests. There to guide all the fun are Torch and Scorch, the brother and sister mascot duo who are the cutest and silliest dragons you ever did see.

“The planning process was very short. Three weeks after the lease was signed, we hit the ground running,” Brand said. “A lot of long nights were put in this past summer to get us to where we are. We even considered waiting a full year to get going, but with all the variables in play, we went for it and judging by the opening crowd of over 4,000 and the corporate support, we made the right decision.”

With tickets as low as $8 per game, it’s a great entertainment option for local families. Find player info, game schedules and tickets at rdragons.com. On February 15, the Family & Kids Magazine will sponsor a special Kids’ Night at the Civic Center when the River Dragons take on the Battle Creek Rumble Bees. Check out our February issue for more details, including a special ticket offer.

JANUARY GAMES

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family

7 2 7 5 4 t h St r e e t C o l u m b u s , GA 3 1 9 0 4

S AT U R DAY S 4:30PM | 6:00PM

S U N DAY S 9:30AM | 11:00AM *CHILD CARE IS PROVIDED AT ALL SERVICES

meal 1 planning 1 0

www.FamilyAndKidsGA.com

HOO’s tips

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When your family has a calendar full of after school activities and weekend events, planning healthy meals your family will enjoy eating can be a challenge. However, taking a few minutes each week to plan and research recipes that fit your schedule can save you time, reduce food costs and help your family eat healthy, nutritionally balanced meals.

DECIDE WHAT TYPES OF MEALS FIT YOUR SCHEDULE First, look at your schedule for the next week and note how much time you have to prepare meals each day. Decide which days you will prepare meals fresh at home.

If there is a particular evening when you will be very short on time, that may be the evening you want to plan to prepare a slow cooker meal or heat up a homemade freezer meal you have thawed in the refrigerator. If you have at least one afternoon a month to spend preparing your family’s favorite recipes and freezing them in meal-sized portions, freezer meals are a good way to reduce the number of times a month you eat out.

STRATEGIZE YOUR MEAL-PLANNING TO SAVE TIME AND MONEY Now that you know what types of meals you need, decide what you will prepare. One money saving strategy is to check the grocery store ads to see what ingredients are on sale that week and select some recipes that use those items. Keep an inventory of what is in your pantry and freezer, so you know what you already have on hand to combine with the on sale fresh items like meat, vegetables and fish. Keep a supply of frozen items that can be put together as an ‘emergency meal’ for situations where you are stuck at home.

Another effective strategy is to find recipes that use common ingredients, where the leftovers from one recipe could be the basis for the next day’s meal. For example, the leftovers from grilling chicken one evening could be the basis for chicken enchiladas the next. Along with this, reduce food costs by planning the meals in a way that ensures the fresh ingredients are used first and you don’t end up forgetting to use them. For example, don’t buy more fresh meat that you can use in the day or two after you buy it, unless you plan on freezing some of it.

 Free meal-planning apps like Cozi Meals, Recipe Box and Mealime will help you find new recipes and provide a calendar to keep track of what you have planned for each day of the week or month. Many provide a grocery list of items needed to prepare the meals.  Yummly has one of the widest varieties of recipes and even helps track nutritional information.  Some apps like Fridge Check and Fresh Box help you keep an inventory of what is in the pantry, so that you don’t buy items you already have.  There are even apps like Family Freezer that help you plan a month’s work of freezer meals.  Pinterest allows you to broadly search for recipes based on keywords such as “fast chicken dinners” or “recipes using lime.”

Having a busy schedule does not mean your family cannot eat at home. In fact, eating meals together helps you stay connected to your kids. Make meal-planning fun for the family by asking your kids to select which recipes in the meal plan they would like to help you make.

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family

Trending @Father_of_Daughters This Instagram throws away the sugarcoated lifestyle of parenting for the real nitty-gritty as-seen-by Dad. Plus, Dad is English, for even more endearing narratives and “clever little buggers.” Follow this Dad and published author for a hilarious, honest take on modern parenting.

The Longest Shortest Time Stories about the surprises and absurdities of raising other humans—and being raised by them. It’s a podcast about parenthood in all of its forms. But you don’t need to be a parent to listen. It has won awards from New York Festival’s World’s Best Radio, The Academy of Podcasters, the Webbys and more.

Red Tricycle

The Child Whisperer

This blog’s mission is to help every parent feel like a rock star by inspiring them to do fun things with their kids. Red Tricycle offers ideas that are aspirational and actionable that you can do at home, in your city or wherever your adventures take you. Red Tricycle knows you’re busy (they’ve got kids too), so they wade through the multitude of ideas to present a small, well-edited list of activities that are worth your time.

Bestselling author Carol Tuttle explains that children tell their parents every day exactly how they need to be parented. They tell their teachers exactly how they need to be taught.

Children are trying to tell adults who they are so they can be recognized and treated in a way that honors them uniquely. This book suggests the key to raising happy, healthy, cooperative children lies in understanding and responding to a child’s inner nature.

www.FamilyAndKidsGA.com

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HOO’s CRAFTY

PAPER PLATE SNOWMAN Shimmer & shines like real snow, this cutie will bring a smile to your face all season. www.easypeasyandfun.com

DIRECTIONS Hot glue your two black buttons towards the top middle of your paper plate for the eyes. Then hot glue your two pink buttons below the eyes and to the side for the cheeks. Naturally, you can also paint these with pink and black paint. Paint your plate with mod podge and sprinkle your glitter onto the mod podge. Use your black puffy paint to connect the two pick buttons with a wavy smile (you can also use a black marker to draw the smile, but you will have to do it before you use Mod Podge and sprinkles – this will also make the smile not so visible). Alternatively you could also use small black buttons. Then draw on a carrot shaped nose with your orange puffy paint and let your plate dry.

SUPPLIES Paper Plates Medium Black Buttons Large Pink Buttons White Glitter Mod Podge Orange Puffy Paint Paint Brush Glue Gun

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family GUIDE AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITY

AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITY GUIDE www.FamilyAndKidsGA.com

WE ARE A 3 STAR QUALITY RATED PROGRAM! Small class sizes, homework time, recess, character building curriculum, and much more!

706-221-5947

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Email: tammy@familyandkidsga.com

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Call 253-212-7270

STRENGTH SPEED AGILITY POWER CONFIDENCE The Only After School Program for Athletes Ages 7- Adult Go to www.ImpactPerformanceRX.com and schedule a FREE class today!

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family

www.FamilyAndKidsGA.com AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITY GUIDE

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HOO’s HELPFUL

Wise Choices for You & Your Family

S A V I N G for your

Child's F U T U R E

The start of a new year is the perfect time to review and update your family’s financial goals, including your plans for saving for your child’s future. Starting to save money early in your child’s life means the investments have more time to grow before he reaches adulthood, but it is never too late to get started.

REVIEW YOUR FAMILY’S FINANCIAL PLAN

There are financial essentials you should address first. Once they are in place, you can then decide how much of your monthly household budget to contribute to your child’s savings.  Build an emergency fund for your household that is large enough to cover six to nine months of living expenses.  Review the monthly contributions to your retirement savings plan. Saving enough funds to cover your living expenses when you retire takes priority over saving for your child’s college expenses.  Put resources into place that will keep your kids financially secure, even if you pass away before they reach adulthood. Many employers offer inexpensive term life insurance policies as part of a benefits package. Review each of your life insurance policies and savings plans to ensure the list of beneficiaries is up to date.  When listing a minor child as the beneficiary of an asset, designate an adult to serve as the custodian of the asset until your child reaches adulthood. As a safety measure, also list this adult as a property guardian in your will.

SELECT ACCOUNTS TO HOLD THE SAVINGS

Once you determine how much to contribute each month toward your child’s savings, you are ready to select where to place the funds.

TRADITIONAL SAVINGS PROS: A traditional savings account is a low-risk place to keep funds, and it is easy to withdraw funds when you need to. It is also an opportunity to teach your child crucial financial skills. Your child can deposit a portion of his weekly allowance in his account and watch his savings grow.

CONS: The interest rate on a traditional savings account is rather low.

ROTH IRA ACCOUNT PROS: There are a variety of investments to choose from, and the earnings grow tax-free. You can withdraw funds from the plan to pay for your child’s educational expenses without paying early withdrawal penalties. As the owner of a ROTH IRA, you retain complete control over the account.

CONS: The maximum combined amount you can contribute yearly to your Roth IRAs is $6,000 (plus $1,000 if you are over 50). If you do withdraw earnings to pay educational expenses before reaching age 59 ½, you will owe income tax on the withdrawal.

UGMA & UTMA ACCOUNTS

(UNIFORM GIFT TO MINORS ACT AND UNIFORM TRANSFER TO MINORS ACT)

PROS: A variety of assets can be placed in UGMA/UTMA accounts, giving you some flexibility when deciding what types of investments to transfer to your child.

CONS: Once you transfer assets to your child’s account, the assets belong to your child, and you cannot take back ownership. Also, once your child reaches the legal age to take control of the account, your oversight ends, and he can use the funds as he wishes.

529 PLAN PROS: The earnings from the investments in a 529 plan grow tax-free. You do not have to pay federal income tax on funds withdrawn from a 529 plan to pay qualified educational expenses. Your child (the beneficiary) has no control over the account, and you can change the beneficiary to another family member if needed.

CONS: There are a limited number of investments, and the funds can only be used to pay qualified educational expenses.

FOR RESOURCES VISIT: familyandkidsga.com/saving-for-their-future

www.FamilyAndKidsGA.com

Ear, Nose, & Throat Specialists Schedule your appointment today!

(706) 507-2307

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January Wise Choices for You & Your Family

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1

First Day Hike.

9:45am. $5 parking.

FD Roosevelt State Park; 706-663-4858

7 After School Games. 3pm. Columbus Li- 11 Uno, Dos, Tres Craft. 3pm. Mildred L. Terry brary; 706-243-2813

Library; 706-243-2782

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11 Kids Can Code. 4pm. North Columbus Li-

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11 CSO: Family Dress Rehearsal. 12:30pm. Riv-

1-5 Fantasy in Lights. 6pm. Callaway Gar-

STEAM Punks: Stories & Science. 3:30pm.

South Columbus Library; 706-683-8805

2-4 Kids Film Fest. 10am & 2pm. Free. Na-

Kid’s Drawing Club: Pint-Sized Picassos & Mini Monets (Ages 5-12). 4pm. North Columbus Library; 706-748-2855

dens, Pine Mountain; 855-923-7299

tional Infantry Museum; 706-685-5800

3 Parents Night Out. St. Peter United Method- 7 Chess: Unplug From the Computer For ist. 6-9pm. Ages 12 and under. $8/child. RSVP 706-561-9391.

3-4

River Dragons Hockey Game. $8-$25. Fri 7:35pm & Sat 6:05pm. Columbus Civic Center; rdragons.com

Chess’ Sake. 4:30pm. Mildred L. Terry Library; 706-243-2782

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Harry Potter Night. 6:30pm. Mildred L. Terry Library; 706-243-2782

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4 Home Depot Kids Workshop. 9am-Noon.

Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl Q & A. 5pm.

Columbus Library; 706-243-2813

4 Puppy Tales. 10:30am. North Columbus

River Dragons Hockey Game. $8-$25.

Fri 7:35pm & Sat 6:05pm. Columbus Civic Center; rdragons.com

Free. Ages 5-12. Columbus store; 706-3229240. Phenix City store; 334-297-2045 Library; 706-748-2855

4 Happy Birthday, Mildred L. Terry Library;

3pm. Mildred L. Terry Public Library; 706243-2782

10-11 11

Character Breakfast by Junior League. 9am or 11am. St. Luke Ministry Center. jlcolumbus. com/character-breakfast-2020

brary; 706-748-2855

erCenter; 706-256-3645

14 Discovery Hub: 1920’s. 10:30am. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813

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Blockheads LEGO™ Challenge. 3:30pm.

South Columbus Library; 706-683-8805

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Chess. 4:30pm. Mildred L. Terry Library; 706-243-2782

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PlayLab for Kids. (Ages 8-12). 4:30pm.

Columbus Library; 706-243-2813

16 Books Before Bedtime. 6pm. North Columbus Library; 706-748-2855

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Parents Night Out. Treadstone Climbing Gym. 6-10pm. $25. RSVP 706-507-7625.

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10:30am. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813

MOPS and MOMSnext meeting. 9:1511:30am. Wynnbrook Baptist, 500 River Knoll Way, Columbus; 706-323-4374

7 Artful Babies. 10:30am. RSVP. Columbus

Puppy Tales. 2pm. Columbus Library; 706243-2813

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18 Click, Clack, Type. 10am. Mildred L. Terry

7 Mini Makers (Ages 3-5). 10:30am. Colum-

Parent & Child Workshop: Night Rider.

10am. RSVP. Columbus Museum; 706-7482562, ex 2124

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18 Screen Free Saturday & Social Hour.

Artful Babies. 10:30am. RSVP. Columbus Museum; 706-748-2562, ex 2124 Museum; 706-748-2562, ex 2124 bus Library; 706-243-2813

11 Creative Crawlers (Ages 0-24 months).

Library; 706-243-2782

10:30am. Mildred L. Terry Library; 706-2432782

11 Teen Pottery Workshop. 2pm. RSVP. Colum- 18 LEGO™ Languages (Ages 6-11). 4pm. bus Museum; 706-748-2562, ex 2124

North Columbus Library; 706-748-2855

Events www.FamilyAndKidsGA.com

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PROVIDED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH:

18-19 Twinkle, Twinkle Littlest Star. Sat 25 Puppy Tales. 2pm. Columbus Library; 9:30am, 11am & 12:30pm. Sun 2pm. $9-$15.

Springer Opera House; 706-327-3688

706-243-2813

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Weekly Events MONDAY

19 Winnie the Pooh Walk. 1pm. ages 4 & up.

Girl Power Program: Dining Etiquette.

1-3pm. Mildred L. Terry Library. blessingsthree65.org.

21 Mini Makers (Ages 3-5). 10:30am. Colum-

ASL: Silent Chat. 4pm. Mildred L. Terry Library; 706-243-2782

ASL: Silent Chat. 4pm. Mildred L. Terry Library; 706-243-2782 (not 1/20)

21 Afterschool Games in the Garden. 3pm.

28 Picture Book Club. 3:30pm. South Columbus Library; 706-683-8805

WEDNESDAY

$3 plus $5 parking. FD Roosevelt State Park; 706-663-4858 bus Library; 706-243-2813

Columbus Library; 706-243-2813

21 National Hugging Day. 3:30pm. South

Columbus Library; 706-683-8805

21

Chess. 4:30pm. Mildred L. Terry Library; 706-243-2782

22-24

Twinkle, Twinkle Littlest Star.

Weds-Sat 9:30am & 11am, Sun 2pm. $9-$15.

Springer Opera House; 706-327-3688

23 Storywalk in the Library: Christian Robin-

son, Last Stop on Market Street. 4pm. North Columbus Library; 706-748-2855

23-26 Freckleface Strawberry. $6-$12.

Riverside Theater; 706-507-8444

24-25

River Dragons Hockey Game. $8$25. Fri 7:35pm & Sat 6:05pm. Columbus Civic Center; rdragons.com

25 Young Eagles Day at Flightways Columbus. 8:30-11:30am. Free. Ages 8-17. Columbus Airport; 706-323-6565

25

Creative Crawlers (Ages 0-24 months).

10:30am. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813

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28 PlayLab for Kids. (Ages 8-12). 4:30pm.

Columbus Library; 706-243-2813

28 Chess: Unplug From the Computer For

Chess’ Sake. 4:30pm. Mildred L. Terry Library; 706-243-2782

28 Family Fun Night. 6:30pm. Mildred L. Terry Library; 706-243-2782

28 Discovery Hub: 1950’s. 10:30am. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813

Family Storytime. 10:30am. South Columbus Library; 706-683-8805 (not 1/20)

Family Storytime. 10:30am. Columbus Library; 706-243-2679 (not 1/1)

THURSDAY

Get Your Game ON! 3:30pm. South Columbus Library; 706-683-8805 (not 1/2) Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl. 5pm. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813 (not 1/2 or 1/30)

FRIDAY

Music ‘n Motion. 10:30am. Columbus Library; 706-243-2679 (not 1/3)

29 Mommy Meet-Up. 11am. North Colum-

Sensory Storytime. 2pm. Columbus Library; 706-243-2679 (not 1/18)

31 Switch Mix Super Mario Game (Ages

SATURDAY

bus Library; 706-748-2855

7-12). 4pm. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813

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Friday Family Flicks: “The Secret Life of Pets 2”. 3:30pm. South Columbus Library; 706-683-8805

Michael’s Kids Club Meeting. 10am-Noon.

Ages 3+. See store for details.

Saturday Storytime. 11am. Barnes & Noble, 5555 Whittlesey Blvd; 706-653-7880 Please call ahead to confirm event dates, times and age-appropriateness, in case changes were made after the info was obtained.

Wise Choices for You & Your Family

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HOO’s CUTE

CONTEST VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO ENTER YOUR CUTIE: www.FamilyAndKidsGA.com

Lauren, 9 years Fort Benning

Rosario, 7 years Columbus

London, 7 years Columbus

www.FamilyAndKidsGA.com

HOO’s HUNGRY

TWICE-BAKED

POTATOES This delicious breakfast is packed-full of protein and flavor. Courtesy of www.spoonforkbacon.

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 400˚F. Place potatoes directly on oven rack in center of the oven and bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until potatoes are tender through the center. Remove and allow potatoes to cool for about 15 minutes. Slice each potato in half lengthwise and hollow each half out, scooping the potato flesh into a mixing bowl. Add butter and cream to the potato and mash together until smooth. Season with salt and pepper and stir together. Spread some of the potato mixture into the bottom of each hollowed potato skin and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon cheese.

Add 1 piece of bacon to each half and top with a raw egg. Place potatoes onto a baking sheet and return to the oven. Lower oven temperature to 375˚F and bake potatoes until egg whites just set and yolks are still runny. Top each potato with a sprinkle of the remaining cheese, season with salt and pepper and finish with sliced chives.

INGREDIENTS • 2 medium russet potatoes,scrubbed and pricked with a fork all over • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter • 3 tablespoons heavy cream • 4 pieces of cooked bacon • 4 large eggs • 1/2 cup shredded cheddar • thinly sliced chives • salt and pepper

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family

Dining Deals 20

for Kids

With deals this good, save the mess and dine out!

MONDAY Barberitos

Free kid’s meal with adult entrée

Sapo’s

5-8pm: Free kid’s meal with adult entrée

Zaxby’s

5-8pm: Free kid’s meal with adult entrée

Tuesday

The Chicken Lady’s COOP 5-8pm: Kids chicken plate for $3.25

Denny’s 4-10pm: Up to two free kids’ entrées with adult entrée for kids 10 and under

Hudson’s Free kids’ meal for 12 and under with adult entrée

Jason’s Deli 5-9pm: Free kids’ meal for kids 12 and under with each adult entrée; dine-in only

Ruby Tuesday

thursday MOE’s Southwest Grill 5-9pm: Free kid’s meal per $5 minimum adult entrée

Captain D’s Kids’ meals .99 cents all day

saturday Denny’s 4-10pm: Up to two free kids’ entrées with adult entrée for kids 10 and under

sunday The Simple Greek Kids 12 & under get free kids bowl with purchase of regular bowl or pita

every day 219 On The Lake 5-9pm: Kids eat for $2.19 on kids menu (M-TH)

5-10pm: Kids 12 and under eat free with adult entrée

Bruster’s Ice Cream

TGI Friday’s

Kids under 40” get free baby cone

3-10pm: Kids under 13 eat free with adult entrée

wednesDAY Applebee’s Half off kid’s meal per adult entrée. Limit: 4 kids to adult

Pita Street Food 4-9pm: Kids eat free, per $8 min. adult buy; dine-in

Golden Corral Kids 3 & under eat free with adult meal purchase

McAlister’s Kids’ meals are $1.99 with dine-in order

Newk’s 4pm-close: free kid’s meal with adult meal (M-W)

O’Charley’s

Your Pie

Free kid’s meal per adult entrée for kids 10 & under

Kid’s meal $1.99 (pizza, drink & gelato) w/ adult meal

All locations are Columbus, GA unless noted.

Specials are subject to change without notice, so please verify them directly before dining. Send kids deals to Tammy@FamilyAndKidsGA.com.

Red Robin Kid’s meal $1.99 w/ adult meal for kids 11 and under

www.FamilyAndKidsGA.com

Tuesdays Kids Eat Free!

From 5-9pm with each adult entrée

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Over 10 Kids Meals under $4 each!! (includes drink)

FREE ICE CREAM Because everyone deserves dessert!

All-natural

jasonsdeli.com

706-494-8857 • 5555 Whittlesey Blvd, Columbus • Hours: 10am-10pm

ingredients Diet Restriction Friendly Online Ordering Catering

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family

PerFect We buy and sell the cutest styles.

Located in The Landings at exit 8 off I-185 | 2521 Airport Thruway, Columbus, GA 31904 706.507.3737 | onceuponachildcolumbusga.com |

/onceuponachildcolumbusga

DISPELLING

www.FamilyAndKidsGA.com

workout

HOO’s FIT

23

myths

THERE ARE SOME EXERCISE MYTHS THAT SEEM TO PERSIST, EVEN WHEN THERE IS NO SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE THAT SUPPORTS THEM. HERE ARE A FEW THAT COULD GET IN THE WAY OF AN EFFECTIVE WORKOUT OR EVEN BE HARMFUL.

Doing a lot of crunches is healthy and will get rid of belly fat You can’t turn the belly fat into muscle by doing crunches. In order to reduce belly fat, you have to make lifestyle changes that help you lose weight and, even then, you have no control over where your body chooses to lose fat. In addition, crunches only target a few muscle groups and put pressure on the lower back, which can cause lower back pain and injury in the long term. According to research performed by University of Waterloo biomechanics professor Dr Stuart McGill, when you bend your spine while doing a crunch, about 340 kg of compressive force can be applied to the spine. Instead, try planks and other exercises that allow your spine to remain in neutral alignment (not curved) and work on strengthening your entire core. A pilates class is an excellent way to strengthen your entire core.

You should not work out in the evening or you will have trouble falling asleep Updated research suggests that working out in the evening may not keep you awake, as long as you work out at least an hour before bedtime. You should work out during the time when you feel you have the most energy and if you are not a ‘morning person’, this may very well be in the evening. Also, working out in the evening means that you do not have to sacrifice sleep in order to wake up very early in the morning to exercise.

If you exercise, you don’t have to make diet changes to lose weight

This is only partially true. Exercise alone may lead to weight loss, but only if you exercise enough to create a large enough calorie deficit. Even if you do not change what you eat, controlling portion sizes and tracking calories is still necessary to ensure your exercise routine is creating a calorie deficit. A study published in September 2018 in the American Journal of Physiology supports this concept. In the study, participants who created a calorie deficit by exercising five times a week for an hour and burned 600 calories at each session did lose weight without making changes in their diet. However, participants who only exercised for 30 minutes five times a week and burned only 300 calories a day did not lose weight.

‘No pain, no gain’ To progress in your exercise program, yes, you must gradually increase the difficulty of your workout, but sharp, stabbing pain is a sign that you have increased the difficulty of your workout too quickly and could cause injury. You should exercise to fatigue, not until you feel pain. Also, if you note that one group of your muscles is already sore at the beginning of your workout, choose another group of muscles to work out that day.

Some people gage the effectivity of their workout by how sore they are the next day, but being sore only means you exercised in a way your body is not yet adapted to. Instead, track your progress in other ways, such as measuring weight loss or a one-rep maximum test to gage gain in strength.

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DO YOUR

kids really PLAY?

By Joanne Cogle, CSCS, MS, owner of CrossFit CSG, local military spouse and mom to 7-year-old daughter Red Rover Red Rover, Tug of War, Double Dutch, Frozen Tag…where did those simple playground games go; simple playground games that simulated gross motor movements and playground camaraderie. They have long been replaced with indoor recess, videos games and specific sport activities.

Locking our kids into one specific sport and eliminating movement activities is doing them a disservice. Our children are missing out on a vital part of growing up; the sport of play.

Sure, they play baseball or basketball, but can they perform functional gross motor skills, like squatting or pulling up their body weight, as efficiently as they can drill a ball? Probably not. Think back to when you were in elementary school and performing the President’s Fitness Test. Imagine if you had kept that same strength and agility through your younger years. Would you be a different parent? Would your back hurt less? Would you move better?

across different modalities at high intensity. Our kids’ program at CrossFit CSG, for ages 5-9, focuses on a variety of non-sport, specific movements that are designed to challenge the class mentally, within their physical abilities.

We keep the class size small for safety and have certified coaches instructing the program where the kids are constantly engaged in learning activities through play and games. If you are interested in getting your child involved, schedule a No Sweat Intro at www.crossfitcsg.com.

While some of our young athletes use our CrossFit Kids program as their sole activity, many of our young athletes are part of their own respective sports outside of our gym.

In addition to improving athletic performance, we are confident that our program provides children a new and refreshing perspective on health and fitness that they will carry with them into adolescence and adulthood.

Most fitness professionals, including myself, recommend getting your child(ren) into as many movement activities as possible while keeping it fun. What might have turned your crank as a kid may not turn theirs. Letting them find an activity involving movement that they enjoy has been proven to increase self-esteem and confidence, improve grades and coping skills, relieve stress and anxiety and the list goes on.

If organized classes are not the best choice for your child, there are plenty of play resources accessible within any community. Head to your local playground to start up some physical games, such as creating an obstacle course.

Take your child to the Columbus Riverwalk for a bike ride which provides a safe space with little to no traffic. Hike one of the many local trail systems for a great way to unplug and reengage. Create a scavenger hunt with fitness clues, play hide and go seek, make forts out of cardboard boxes or kick a ball around. Take the family swimming, play catch in the front yard, rake a pile of leaves and play in them or simply jump in puddles after a rainstorm.

One of the best activities that I have come across has been CrossFit. Now before you roll your eyes and turn the page, hear me out. This activity is not about coaches yelling in your face or throwing up in a bucket. By its own definition, it is constant, varied, functional movement performed

Regardless of the activity you might choose; the important thing is to keep your child moving and continue to stimulate their imagination. They will be happier, perform better in school, and one day they will thank you for keeping them moving.

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