FF - September 2015

GREAT MEMORIES START HERE

GET READY FOR

NATURE BREAK

MAKE ART OUTDOORS

NUMBER CRUNCHING

quick tips & cute gear to start the year off right

THE COOKIE CALCULATOR YOUR NEW FAVE

SHEET PAN SUPPERS

+

COULD THIS ONE HABIT MAKE YOUR FAMILY HAPPIER?

SEPTEMBER 2015 FAMILYFUNMAG.COM

SCORE! Check out our super soccer game inside.

SEPTEMBER 2015

COVER CLOTHING, LEFT: CREWCUTS BLUE SHIRT, VANS SNEAKERS, SAFILO GLASSES; RIGHT: CREWCUTS SHIRT, SKIRT, AND WOVEN BRACELET; ARIZONA JEAN JACKET; ZARA LEGGINGS; VANS HIGH-TOPS; H&M RHINESTONE BRACELETS

Our new favorite fall dessert: Pears in a Blanket, page 62.

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9 | THE BUZZ Trending fun on social media, readers’ best lunchies, choose your favorite school superhero, and more

19 | SILLY CELEBRATIONS

51 | ACTIVE GAME Build soccer skills with our spin on a classic activity

79 | BATH & BODY TREAT Tips for relaxing and pampering yourself

85 | WORTH THE TRIP

A paper-plate parrot for Talk Like a Pirate Day

20 | MAKE IT

52 | HEALTHY FAMILY

12 | TRY IT IN YOUR TOWN Put on a peanut butter and jelly food drive

Personalized crafts, magical mushrooms, an eraselet, and more

The rainbow challenge, sunglass smarts, tips for spy kids, and more

24 | MEET A MAKER

56 | FAVORITE THINGS

14 | YOUR GREAT IDEAS Creative solutions from readers. Plus: how to clean up kids’ art messes.

Art teacher Hope Knight shows how to make collage creatures

Noteworthy back-toschool supplies, new novels, and more

28 | ART SPARK

60 | GET SMART

A printmaking activity with cookie cutters

Math practice: water balloons + hula hoops = ?

30 | HAPPY HOME Assemble your own Lego table

62 | KITCHEN FUN Pears in a Blanket, a stackable snack, and more

34 | LET’S EAT! Sheet pan suppers for busy weeknights

68 | SPOTLIGHT Could family meetings bring new harmony to the author’s household?

16 | MOMENT OF GENIUS One dad’s simple strategy for easing his son’s separation anxiety

IN EVERY ISSUE

2 | welcome!

6 | big fun 92 | workbook 96 | last bite SPECIAL SECTION

48a | little ones: seasonal activities just for kids under 5

40 | SPOTLIGHT Five outdoor crafts that let you turn a nature walk into an artistic adventure

80 | BEAUTY Upgrade your ponyail, try a new mascara, and more 82 | GO FOR IT Real women share their surefire ways to jump-start the day

Take a stroll above the city on New York’s elevated High Line

86 | ROAD TRIP One family’s adventure through the wild heart of Ohio, from Sandusky to Hocking Hills

ON OUR COVER Alexandra and Georgia, both age 8, photographed by Lucy Schaeffer; styling

by Don Sumada; grooming by Sylvester Castellano. Butterfly backpack by Gap Kids, hat by Mokuyobi Threads.

Get Ready for School! 6, 16, 56 Make Art Outdoors 40 The Cookie Calculator 96 Sheet Pan Suppers 34

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Table Talk

A SNEAK PEEK AT WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THIS ISSUE

Seven-year-old Timmy, son of Deputy Art Director Tim MacKay, holds up one finger to show he’s starting first grade, then climbs aboard that big yellow bus.

It’s back-to-school time and you want to hear about your children’s day at school…but do you often get a “shrug” and a one-word answer?

The dinner table is an excellent place to start improving family communication.

HERE ARE SOME ENGAGING CONVERSATION STARTERS: •

What was the best thing that happened at school today?

•

Tell me something that made you laugh today.

•

If I called your teacher tonight, what would she tell me about you?

Let the new year

begin!

No offense to January 1, but for me, the real pivot point in the year is the first day of school. As the mom of two, that’s when I practically hear the hands of time clunk forward and feel my family propelled into the world of new schedules, new teachers, and new school stuff to label (and lose!).

It’s a busy time, but I always love it because, like the other New Year, it gives my family a chance to rethink our routines.

Fortunately, this issue is packed with ways to do just that. For example, I’m all over the sheet pan suppers on page 34.

These midweek dinners dirty just one pan and taste great (trust me: we have a test kitchen here). I know my daughter, our family’s crafting maniac, will want to add bling to her school shoes after seeing Big Fun on page 6. And I love the idea of offsetting homework and screen time by turning our fall hikes into art-making moments (page 40). But those are just my family’s “resolutions.” This issue has so many other ways to ring in your family’s new year—and even a candy calculator (page 96) to count them all up on!

Ann Hallock EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Help your kid’s school with every bite!

WHAT’S YOUR KID’S STYLE?

ENTER TO WIN

WE’RE ON TV

ProjectAplus.tyson.com

High-tops and dresses? Denim and neon? If your child is a stylin’ dresser, snap a photo and enter it in the Kids Cool Style Contest, which we’ve teamed up with Crazy 8 to bring you.

You could win a $500 gift card! See page 95 for more details.

TUNE IN BEFORE YOU TRAVEL Look for FamilyFun’s best travel tips on the new season of Family Travel With Colleen Kelly, hosted by the PBS travel expert and globe-trotting mom of two. Find local airtimes at familytravelck.com.

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TO P P H OTO G R A P H S B Y T I M M AC K AY

The Tyson Project A+™ program is one of the simplest ways to support your school. Just clip and redeem Tyson Project A+ labels from packages of Tyson® products. For every label we receive, we’ll give your school 24¢—and your school can use the money for whatever it needs.

Editor-in-chief ANN HALLOCK

Tasty pork, meatball or sausage treats that look and taste like the real thing because they’re packed with real USA meat and contain NO corn, wheat or soy!

ADVERTISING

Photo Editor RYAN CLINE

Art Production Coordinator MARTHA JENKINS

Contributors JODI BUTLER, LAURA M. GOMES, ERIKA KNERR, CHARLOTTE MERYMAN, NICOLE BLASENAK SHAPIRO

HARRIS, KIM KITCHEN, MICHELLE KWAN, JESSICA LEWIS, BEN PEDROSA, AMANDA PIPICH

Associate Director, Advertising Business Office BOB PARLAPIANO Associate Consumer Marketing Director SHERI STEGER

Creative Content Leader, Parents Network DANA POINTS

Ad Operations Manager SARAH OTTE

MEREDITH NATIONAL MEDIA GROUP President TOM HARTY

Quality Analyst TONY HUNT Assistant to the EVP/President,

Executive Vice Presidents President, Parents Network CAREY WITMER

Senior Research Manager ALISON JAYE

President, Meredith Digital JON WERTHER Chief Marketing Officer NANCY WEBER General Manager DOUG OLSON

Senior Vice Presidents Chief Digital Officer ANDY WILSON Digital Sales MARC ROTHSCHILD Research Solutions BRITTA CLEVELAND

Vice Presidents Business Planning and Analysis ROB SILVERSTONE Content Licensing LARRY SOMMERS Corporate Marketing STEPHANIE CONNOLLY Corporate Sales BRIAN KIGHTLINGER Digital Video LAURA ROWLEY Direct Media PATTI FOLLO Brand Licensing ELISE CONTARSY Communications PATRICK TAYLOR Human Resources DINA NATHANSON Strategic Sourcing, Newsstand, Production CHUCK HOWELL

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer STEPHEN M. LACY President, Meredith Local Media Group PAUL KARPOWICZ Vice Chairman MELL MEREDITH FRAZIER

IN MEMORIAM – E. T. MEREDITH III, 1933–2003

Business Manager MARTY MUSSER

CONTACT US E-MAIL WRITE FamilyFun 805 Third Avenue New York, NY 10022 SUBSCRIPTION HELP 800-289-4849 OUR WEBSITE familyfunmag.com SOCIAL MEDIA

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P H OTO G R A P H B Y M A R K M A N T E G N A

Homestyle USA-meat treats!

Executive Editor JONATHAN ADOLPH Deputy Editor MARY GILES Managing Editor BARBARA FINDLEN Senior Editors DEBRA IMMERGUT, DEBORAH WAY Senior Associate Editor ELLEN HARTER WALL Associate Editor JOY HOWARD Assistant Editor LUCY CASALE Copy Chief FAYE S. WOLFE

“When I found out the dog food I was feeding Barney had corn gluten meal,

I switched him to BLUE.” When pet parents learn about some of the ingredients in their dog food, they switch to Blue Buffalo. Every one of our BLUE dog food recipes features real meat and contains only the highest quality ingredients. We don’t use corn gluten meal — because that’s not something we want to feed a family member.

ALWAYS feature real meat ALWAYS include veggies and fruit ALWAYS include antioxidant-rich LifeSource Bits DON’T have chicken (or poultry) by-product meals DON’T have artificial colors, flavors or preservatives DON’T have corn, wheat or soy ®

And your dog can enjoy all of this naturally healthy goodness for only pennies a day more.

Compare your dog’s food to BLUE™ at

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A Ngre die nts A N TIOX ID

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EX TR A-BIG IDEAS FOR YOUR EX TR A-FUN FAMILY

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fancy up your feet

CUSTOM KICKS FOR COOL KIDS To send students back to class with extra flash, try these D.I.Y. tricks for transforming school shoes into style statements.

1. POP ON A POM Dress up a pair of plain flats with a fuzzy bauble. To attach the pom-poms, apply a dime-size dab of strong glue to each (E6000 Craft held up well in our tests). Press it into place, glue side down, and hold it for 10 seconds. Let it dry overnight.

2. DRAW A DESIGN Treat canvas sneakers like a blank canvas! Lightly sketch a simple motif with pencil, then follow your lines with paint pens (we recommend Elmer’s Painters Paint Markers).

3

3. ADD JEWELS AND TULLE To adorn rubber toe panels with sparkle, apply flat-backed gems with tweezers and strong glue (E6000 Craft, mentioned above, works great). For fluffy ties, cut tulle a few inches longer than the shoe’s original laces, then thread the tulle into place and trim as needed.

4. MAKE IT MONSTROUS First, find the most horrible rubber finger puppet you can.

Next, with a hole punch, pierce both sides, about ¾ inch from the bottom. Thread the puppet onto the laces about midway down the shoe’s front.

4 PHOTOGR APH BY LUCY SCHAEFFER CR AF TS BY ANN LEWIS CR AF T ST YLING BY BL AKE R AMSE Y WARDROBE BY DON SUMADA GROOMING BY SYLVESTER CASTELLANO

®, TM, © 2015 Kellogg NA Co.

share WHAT’S UP IN OUR WORLD AND YOURS

by the numbers

“

Slurp.”

535k Number of FamilyFun Facebook fans—and counting. This happy half million loves to “like” ideas such as these ultra-popular POLKA DOT RASPBERRIES.

PHOTOGRAPHS, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: JOE POLILLIO; TY MILFORD; ALEXANDRA GRABLEWSKI

behind the scenes

finish this thought

ON SCHOOL MORNINGS IN OUR HOUSE, YOU’LL OFTEN HEAR SOMEONE SAY ...

“Wakey wakey, lemon shakey!” > TOBY MEREDITH BERMUDEZ

FALL TOGETHER NOW Eight-year-old Inez and FamilyFun Associate Art Director Leslie Anne Charles goof off on a leaf-gathering mission at our Wild at Art shoot.

See the story on page 40.

“I AM up!” (said from under the covers). > NAOMI FLONNORY “I’ll pay you if I can go back to bed.” > KELLIE CARMICHAEL “Go back in your room and put underpants on.” > MELISSA KREMMEL

“Why can’t I just wear the same clothes as yesterday? They aren’t even dirty!” > @ERIK AMYERS

“The bus doesn’t go slower just because you do.” > ASHLEY DAUGHERT Y

“Stop dancing so you can make your lunch!” > CHEYENNE GOWIE ALLEN

“I have to pee” or “I have to poop.” (Right before we have to leave.) > BRITTANY SCALZI

“Wheek, wheek!!!” (The guinea pigs want food, too.) > LISA BARONE

“Have you seen Mommy’s car keys?” > LAURA WEINBRECHT

“Mom, I can’t find my shoes!” > @THISCOOLMOM

LET’S SOCIALIZE!

Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and Tumblr. Search “FamilyFun Magazine.”

SEP T EMBER 2015

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share | THE BUZZ fun-o-graphic

SCHOOL SUPERHEROES

show us your lunchie

WHO’S YOUR FAVORITE?

<

We asked readers to share pics of their kids’ midday meals, and wow, did they deliver. Check ’em out—and post yours!

2.

GYM TEACHER SUPERPOWER:

1.

Extreme enthusiasm SECRET WEAPON:

Whistle on lanyard NEMESIS: B.O.

KINDERGARTEN TEACHER SUPERPOWER:

Endless patience SECRET WEAPON:

Pump jug of hand sanitizer NEMESIS: Glitter Share a photo of your kid’s lunch via the tab on our Facebook page or on Twitter or Instagram with #familyfunmaglunchie (please claim your entry in our Facebook gallery).

If it appears in FamilyFun, you’ll earn $100.

ROOM PARENT SUPERPOWER:

Nonstop juggling SECRET WEAPON:

Killer gluten-free cupcake recipe

3.

PRINCIPAL SUPERPOWER:

Omniscience SECRET WEAPON:

Assistant principal NEMESIS: Schoolcarnival dunking booth

4.

5.

SUPERPOWER:

Transforming frozen matter into hot lunches SECRET WEAPON:

Giant spatula and Tater Tots NEMESIS:

Rebel food-fighters

1. Lunchtime milestone: his first bowl of ramen! > LYNNANN BREWER 2. A cheesy butterfly landed in this healthy lunch. > K AREN CR AWFORD

3. Avocado and honeydew cubes and a paleo-style muffin make up this power-packed meal. > CHLOE TIPPETT 4. For this lucky kid, lunch is like a box of chocolates. > MICHELE LANGSETH

MARK YOUR CALENDAR SEP T EMBER 2015

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September 25 is Shel Silverstein’s birthday. Celebrate the wise and witty work of the author/illustrator by settling down for a read-aloud of The Giving Tree.

5. This beary delicious spread features a fruity forest and paw prints sculpted from pretzels and chewy energy bars. > K ATHY THORNBURG

ILLUSTRATIONS BY LUCY VIGRASS

LUNCH LADY

snack time just got happier.

Introducing Sara Lee Snack Cakes. A variety of individually wrapped, delicious snacks that will make any kid’s day. They’re everything you love about Sara Lee, now baked fresh to go.

happy snacking.

™

Like Sara Lee Snacks on Facebook www.facebook.com/SaraLeeSnacks © Bimbo Bakeries USA, Inc. All rights reserved.

SARA LEE is a registered trademark of Sara LeeTM Holdings LLC used under license.

Find us in the fresh snack aisle.

share | TRY IT IN YOUR TOWN small project, big impact

PUT ON A PB&J DRIVE A girl’s smart plan spurs a community to send in the spreads.

BY LUCY CASALE

The Town Hatfield, Massachusetts

The Kid Lavery Greenfield, age 9 (center, above photo)

The Idea

How It Works With her family’s help, Lavery posted flyers around town asking for

“

We’d find jars in our mailbox, hanging from the door, and sitting on our stoop.”

donations of PB&J. She got her school to call for donations and set up a collection box by the office.

Soon, the jars were stacking up, and not just at school. “We’d find jars in our mailbox, hanging from the door, and sitting on our stoop,” says Renée. That year, Lavery collected 175 jars and $500 in donations for the cause.

In October 2014, she organized the drive again, and this time, friends at two

other schools joined her.

All told, Lavery and her friends sorted, weighed, and delivered a whopping 1,009 pounds of peanut butter and jelly—too many jars to count. “It was kind of awesome,” says Lavery.

Hearing about Lavery’s work, Teddie Peanut Butter donated a full pallet (1,008 jars) of peanut butter to the food bank, adding to the total.

Why Try It? “It helps people!” says Lavery. Also, “It’s fun and makes you feel proud.”

Adds Renée: “From a parent perspective, it’s easy. You just throw an extra jar into your shopping cart.”

PHOTOGRAPH BY HEATH ROBBINS; STYLING BY CATRINE KELTY

For someone in a love-hate relationship with PB&J (Today, “I’m sick of it! My dad packs it for me every single day!” Tomorrow, who knows? “I go through phases”), Lavery Greenfield of Hatfield, Massachusetts, can’t seem to get enough of the stuff.

That’s because since 2013, Lavery has held the

October Peanut Butter and Jelly Jar Drive—her invention—to collect these two sandwich spreads for her town’s local food bank.

With major success.

Rewind to September 2013, when Lavery, her mom, Renée, dad, Chris, and brother, Nolan, now age 5, toured the local food bank. Lavery recalls their guide asking them to guess what foods children requested most. The answer: peanut butter and jelly. And that’s when Lavery dreamed up a drive.

NOW YOU TRY IT SEP T EMBER 2015

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Start with a visit to your local food bank to ask what items are most needed, Lavery advises.

Then meet with the principal of your school for permission to organize a drive there.

share | YOUR GREAT IDEAS

Q&A

How our readers make family life more fun.

1.

<

WE ASKED: HOW DO YOU CLEAN AND ORGANIZE KIDS’ CREATIVE MESSES? YOU ANSWERED …

look what you did!

To build the track: Hahn’s husband traced a slot car racetrack template onto ⅛-inch mediumdensity fiberboard and cut out the pieces.

After applying three coats of magnetic paint, he added vinyl lane markers. Then he attached the track with silicone caulk and finishing nails.

LIFT UP THOSE LEGOS

Before the kids play with Legos, I put a bedsheet on the floor.

When the kids are done, it’s easy to lift the sheet and dump the toys back into their buckets. If any get away, I put panty hose over the vacuum neck. It lets me suck up strays but blocks them from going into the machine.

MAKE GLITTER DOUGH

To clean up leftover glitter messes, I tell my kids, ages 3 and 5, to use their play dough like a stamp.

So at the same time they’re cleaning, they’re making “glitter play dough”—a kid favorite.

Genifer Reid Highland, CA

SEPARATE YOUR SUPPLIES

We use a clear plastic shoe organizer to hold all our arts and crafts supplies.

This system works well to keep things like scissors up high yet visible for my older kids, and everything else in an easy-to-find (off the table) spot.

1. ROOM TO MOVE For our son’s third birthday, my husband surprised him with a transportationthemed room, complete with a magnetic race car track on the wall. We glued magnets to the bottom of his toy cars so that he could race them around his room.

Alina Hahn Valparaiso, IN Safety reminder: Magnets are dangerous if swallowed. Take care around small children.

3.

2.

3. DOLL DRESSER

My kids like to make toy soaps. We place small plastic toys in a silicone soap mold. With my help, they melt glycerin soap base, color it, and pour it over the toy in the mold.

When it’s dry, they gently press on the mold, and ta-da! They’ve got a fun, pop-arty bar of soap.

Using the lower section of a bookcase, my 6-yearold and I made her dolls their very own closet. We placed a spring curtain rod under one shelf for hanging clothes, then used the space above and below for accessories and shoes.

With everything organized and visible, she plays with her dolls more now and can easily keep it all neat.

Rebecca Green Washington, DC

Laura Axler Madison, NJ

2. GREAT D.I.Y. GIFT

Lisa Pace Abingdon, IL

SEND US YOUR IDEAS SEP T EMBER 2015

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How do you make family life more fun? E-mail your great ideas and photos to ideas.familyfun@meredith.com. If we use your submission, we’ll pay you $100.

ILLUSTRATION BY SHUTTERSTOCK

Amy Tatlock Charleston, ME

HE MAKES

tough messes WISH THEY WERE

NEVER MADE.

WHEN IT COMES

ONLY ONE MR.CLEAN.COM

© 2015 P&G.

TO CLEAN THERE’S

share | MOMENT OF GENIUS

“MY TUMMY HURTS.”

Anthony’s voice came from the back of the car as I pulled up in front of the school. In the rearview mirror, I could see my second grader staring back at me with eyes that said, “I’m not ready to face the world inside those hallways today, Dad.” This wasn’t an unfamiliar occurrence; in fact, it was becoming a regular event.

What was curious, though,

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was that my 7-year-old son’s change in attitude seemed to happen overnight. A kid who’d been chipper and bright-eyed and ready to learn had suddenly taken to curling up on the couch every morning, on the verge of tears, telling us how much he hated school, and how he really didn’t want to go.

My wife, Kristin, and I struggled to figure out what was going on. First things first: we immediately

OUR FIRST RESPONSE:

devising morning strategies to ease the way. Searching for solutions, Kristin and I talked it through and hit upon a step-by-step plan that the three of us could follow.

First, I had Anthony make me a bracelet on his Rainbow Loom. He wove one in red, black, and white, the colors of our beloved Chicago Blackhawks. I put it on and told him I’d wear it to work every day, and each time I saw it, I’d think of him. In return I gave him an old coin of mine that he’d been admiring

meet the family

The Thomas family of Brookfield, Illinois

ILLUSTRATION BY JOSIE PORTILLO

When his son experienced a bout of separation anxiety, Chris Thomas dreamed up simple and smart school-day strategies.

to carry in his pocket. This way, any time he was feeling nervous or anxious, he could simply reach into his pocket, grab the coin, and think of his mom and dad.

Second, when Kristin brought him to school and all went well, he would get to brag about his successful drop-off by sending me a text message that read :-).

Third, we brought out the incentives. We didn’t want to pay him to go to school, but we did want to reward him for good behavior and for trying his best. Toys and games were off the table right away.

Instead, we offered him the chance to have lunch with Mom all to himself, another with Dad, and a family dinner out that included his 5-yearold twin brothers, Cole and Max—his pick of restaurant— once I’d collected enough of his bragging text messages.

Slowly, our three strategies started to work. It didn’t happen overnight, and some days I didn’t get my :-) text.

Anthony made progress, though, and stress-free good-byes soon became the norm. Plus, I got a kick out of wearing my bracelet—and Kristin and I got to enjoy some pretty sweet meals out with our now more confident little boy.

<

THE HAPPY GOOD-BYE

needed to rule out that he was actually sick. A quick trip to our family doctor confirmed what we’d already figured—he was physically fine, and what he was experiencing was probably a case of nerves. Next, a chat with his teacher and the social worker at school was in order. Perhaps he was trying to avoid a particular subject that was difficult for him—or maybe he was being bullied?

After the conferences, though, it was clear that neither scenario was the cause of his school-day struggles. Kristin and I decided it was time for a sit-down, a one-on-one, “let’s get to the bottom of this” conversation with him.

So we asked Anthony, “What can we do to make you enjoy school again (or at the very least, go in without a fight)?”

Finally, after some coaxing, he revealed that he just didn’t want to be far from his family. Clearly, Anthony was suffering from a nasty bout of separation anxiety.

g y m b o re e. co m

© 2015 Gym-Mark, Inc. Gymboree is a trademark of Gym-Mark, Inc. All rights reserved.

create FUN THINGS TO MAKE AND DO TOGETHER

s i l ly c e l e b r a t i o n s

A PARROT’S LIFE FOR ME

CRAFT STYLING BY BLAKE RAMSEY; STYLING BY ANN LEWIS; GROOMING BY LYNNE AVALLONE

Arrr, ye mateys! This paperplate bird is the perfect accessory for Talk Like a Pirate Day (September 19). An elastic cord keeps him from flying away. Turn to page 92 for directions.

SEP T EMBER 2015

PHOTOGR APH BY ALE X ANDR A GR ABLEWSKI

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create | MAKE IT

four projects, one theme

NAMING RIGHTS 1

Your kids will really identify with these easy ideas for customizing a room or belongings.

1 | spellbound Kids can personalize a room with initials decorated with yarn scraps and felt.

From corrugated cardboard, cut a 6-inch-tall letter with lines about an inch wide. Use the shape as a template to cut out a matching letter from felt. Glue the felt to the cardboard. Wrap sections of the letter with lengths of assorted yarn, taping the ends to the back.

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2

3 4

2 | get framed Try this faux-stained-glass treatment for a bedroom door sign. On a 6- by 8-inch piece of sturdy white paper, have your child pencil in his name so that it fills the space, as shown. Go over the letters and the paper’s edges with thick black marker. Color in the resulting spaces.

3 | tag a bag Clip one of these homemade tags to a backpack or lunch box, and there will never be confusion about whose is whose. Start with a metal rim key tag. Remove the ring, paint the tag, and let it dry. Decorate it with stickers or glued-on drawings or cutouts.

Brush on a coat of decoupage medium (such as Mod Podge) and let it dry before replacing the key ring.

4 | go green For this ephemeral nameplate, take a walk with a purpose, collecting such items as leaves, stems, and twigs. Back home, have your child write his name lightly in pencil on sturdy paper. Glue the natural items over the penciled lines.

SHOW US WHAT YOU MADE!

Has your family made something from the magazine? Post a photo on social media with #familyfunsocute, and you could earn $100! See page 95 for details.

SEP T EMBER 2015

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create | MAKE IT

EASY PEASY

Dot your lawn with foil mushrooms for magical backyard party decor.

backyard fun

’SHROOMS WITH A VIEW September is National Mushroom Month! To celebrate, make these fanciful caps you can plant in a garden, flowerpot, or even your lawn.

To make one, place a plastic Easter egg half, curved side down, in the center of a large piece of aluminum foil (ours was 10 by 12 inches). While holding the end of a bamboo skewer in the center, scrunch the foil around the egg half, then crumple the rest of the foil around the skewer to form a thick stem. Leave several inches of the skewer sticking out from the bottom of the stem to insert in the ground. Paint the cap with acrylic paint and let it dry before planting.

GET IT RIGHT SEP T EMBER 2015

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Eraselet inventor Ana Dziengel recommends making the beads about the size of a marble (no smaller); they’ll be easier to use as erasers.

craf ter’s tip

which glue’s for you?

Though they look similar, white glue and tacky glue differ in a few important ways.

White glue is thinner, so it’s easier to mix with paint or thin with water. It often makes paper buckle when drying. Tacky glue is thicker, so it tends to dry faster, and it causes less buckling. It’s great for joining 3-D pieces together. (When adhering paper to paper, though, a glue stick is your best choice.)

PAGES 20-22: PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALEXANDRA GRABLEWSKI; CRAFT STYLING BY BLAKE RAMSEY; STYLING BY ANN LEWIS; GROOMING BY LYNNE AVALLONE

MAKE AN ERASELET Those groovy round beads in the bracelet above are actually erasers! To make them, press together various colored bits of Sculpey eraser clay, then roll the mixture into balls. Poke a hole through each with a toothpick. Bake them as the package directs. String them onto elastic cord along with additional beads and tie the cord ends together.

create | MEET A MAKER featured artist

HOPE KNIGHT Art teacher Hope Knight believes that her students’ creativity is boundless and they have the potential to express themselves powerfully through art. She should know; Mrs. Knight, as her students call her, has been teaching art at Dolvin Elementary in Johns Creek, Georgia, for 20 years. She also shares her ideas online at dolvinartknight.blogspot.com.

artistic insects

HER FAVORITE ART METHOD “Printmaking can be messy, but I love the excitement when the kids pull up their printing plate— anything from a cut sponge to a carved styrofoam sheet—to see what they’ve created.”

1 | Online (using a Google image search) or in a reference book, find a scientific illustration of an insect your child likes.

SEEING WHAT’S THERE “I have the kids do observation exercises, quick sketches of other kids, say, or little still lifes, to get them in the mind-set of drawing what they actually see and not what they think they know.”

Hope’s students use their powers of observation to re-create scientific illustrations with unexpected collage materials.

2 | Select two complementary colors of paper.

3 | For a symmetrical insect, fold one sheet of paper in half and draw half of the bug’s outline on the fold. Cut out the shape, unfold it, and glue it to the other sheet.

4 | Using the illustration as a guide, glue on shapes and lines made of yarn, fabric, feathers, shiny paper, and craft foam.

Our artist based her collage on a luna moth.

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MOTH PHOTOGRAPH BY HEATH ROBBINS; CRAFT STYLING BY CAITLIN BOSCO; STYLING BY KIMBERLY STONEY

PROMPTING IDEAS “Let’s say you just took a vacation.

Ask your child, ‘What’s one thing from the trip that pops into your mind when you close your eyes?

How can you represent that in your art?’”

ON MAKING CONNECTIONS “In class, we do a lot of sharing and reflection. We try to figure out how to use art to express feelings—your voice—visually.

For example, the kids will try to choose a color scheme to reflect the mood they’re going for.”

project she loves

In case of a severe allergic reaction

Imagine an epinephrine device that could guide your babysitter through the injection process.

Let’s talk.

Hi. I’m Auvi-Q, a smart auto-injector that talks you through the injection process.

What makes my technology smart? It’s designed to be: • Easy to use: Step-by-step voice instructions guide you or others through the injection process

Ask your healthcare professional about me.

• Easy to carry: Unique compact size and shape that fits comfortably in a pocket or small purse • Featuring patented “Press & Inject” epinephrine delivery system with an automatic retractable needle and a 5-second hold time Remember to always avoid your food allergen and practice regularly with your Auvi-Q Trainer!

Indication Auvi-Q ® (epinephrine injection, USP) is used to treat life-threatening allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) in people who are at risk for or have a history of these reactions.

Important Safety Information Auvi-Q is for immediate self (or caregiver) administration and does not take the place of emergency medical care. Seek immediate medical treatment after use. Each Auvi-Q contains a single dose of epinephrine. Auvi-Q should only be injected into your outer thigh. DO NOT INJECT INTO BUTTOCK OR INTRAVENOUSLY. If you accidentally inject Auvi-Q into any other part of your body, seek immediate medical treatment. Epinephrine should be used with caution if you have heart disease or are taking certain medicines that can cause heart-related (cardiac) symptoms.

If you take certain medicines, you may develop serious life-threatening side effects from epinephrine. Be sure to tell your doctor all the medicines you take, especially medicines for asthma.

Side effects may be increased in patients with certain medical conditions, or who take certain medicines. These include asthma, allergies, depression, thyroid disease, Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.

The most common side effects may include increase in heart rate, stronger or irregular heartbeat, sweating, nausea and vomiting, difficulty breathing, paleness, dizziness, weakness or shakiness, headache, apprehension, nervousness, or anxiety. These side effects go away quickly, especially if you rest.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please see brief summary of full Prescribing Information on the next page.

US.EAI.15.02.020

04/15

Printed in U.S.A.

© 2015 sanofi-aventis U.S. LLC, A SANOFI COMPANY

Auvi-Q.com

BRIEF SUMMARY OF PATIENT INFORMATION

Rx Only ®

Read this information before you have to use Auvi-Q (epinephrine injection, USP) and each time you get a refill. There may be new information. You should know how to use Auvi-Q® before you have an allergic emergency. This information does not take the place of talking with your healthcare provider about your medical condition or your treatment.

What is the most important information I should know about Auvi-Q®?

1. Always carry Auvi-Q® with you because you may not know when a lifethreatening allergic reaction (anaphylactic reaction) may happen. Talk to your doctor if you need additional units to keep at work, school, etc. An anaphylactic reaction is a life-threatening allergic reaction that can happen within minutes and can be caused by stinging and biting insects (bees, wasps, hornets, and mosquitoes), allergy shots, foods, medicines, exercise, or other unknown causes. Follow your healthcare provider’s instructions on when to use Auvi-Q® if you have the symptoms of an anaphylactic reaction, which may include the symptoms listed below: • trouble breathing • skin rash, redness, or swelling • wheezing • fast heartbeat • hoarseness (changes in the • weak pulse way your voice sounds) • feeling very anxious • hives (raised reddened rash • confusion that may itch) • stomach pain • severe itching • losing control of urine or bowel • swelling of your face, lips, movements mouth or tongue • dizziness or fainting 2. Tell your family members and others where you keep Auvi-Q® and how to use it before you need it. You may be unable to speak in an allergic emergency.

3. Get medical attention immediately after using Auvi-Q®. If you have a serious allergic reaction, you may need more medicine.

What is Auvi-Q®?

Auvi-Q® is a prescription medicine used to treat life-threatening allergic reactions including anaphylaxis in people who are at risk for or have a history of serious allergic reactions.

Auvi-Q® is for immediate self (or caregiver) administration and does not take the place of emergency medical care. You should get emergency medical help right away after using Auvi-Q®.

It is not known if Auvi-Q® is safe and effective in children who weigh less than 33 pounds (15 kg).

What should I tell my healthcare provider before using Auvi-Q®?

Before you use Auvi-Q®, tell your healthcare provider if you: • have heart problems or high blood pressure • have diabetes • have thyroid problems • have history of depression • have Parkinson’s disease • have any other medical conditions • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if Auvi-Q® will harm your unborn baby.

• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Auvi-Q® passes into your breast milk.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Auvi-Q® and other medicines may affect each other, causing side effects. Auvi-Q® may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how Auvi-Q® works.

Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them to show your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.

How should I use Auvi-Q®?

• Each Auvi-Q® contains only 1 dose of medicine.

• Auvi-Q® should only be injected into the muscle of your outer thigh. It can be injected through your clothing, if needed.

• Use Auvi-Q® exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to use it.

• An Auvi-Q® Trainer with a separate Trainer Instructions for Use leaflet is included with Auvi-Q®. Additional training resources are available at www.auviq.com. „ Practice with the Auvi-Q® Trainer before an allergic emergency happens to make sure you are able to safely use the real Auvi-Q® in an emergency. „ The Auvi-Q® Trainer does not contain a needle or medicine and can be reused to practice your injection.

What are the possible side effects of Auvi-Q®?

Auvi-Q® may cause serious side effects.

• Auvi-Q® should only be injected into your outer thigh. Do not inject Auvi-Q® into your: • veins

• buttocks • fingers, toes, hands or feet If you accidentally inject Auvi-Q® into any other part of your body, go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away. Tell the healthcare provider where on your body you received the accidental injection.

• If you have certain medical conditions, or take certain medicines, your condition may get worse or you may have more or longer lasting side effects when you use Auvi-Q®. Talk to your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions.

Common side effects of Auvi-Q® include: • fast, irregular, or ’pounding’ heart beat • sweating • shakiness • headache • paleness • feelings of over excitement, nervousness, or anxiety • weakness • dizziness • nausea and vomiting • breathing problems Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

These are not all of the possible side effects of Auvi-Q®. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

How should I store Auvi-Q®?

• Store Auvi-Q® at 68° to 77°F (20° to 25°C).

• Do NOT expose to extreme heat or cold. For example, do NOT store in your vehicle’s glove box. Do not store Auvi-Q® in the refrigerator or freeze.

• Examine contents in the viewing window periodically. Solution should be clear.

If the solution is discolored (pinkish color or darker than slightly yellow), cloudy or contains solid particles, replace the unit.

• Your Auvi-Q® has an expiration date. Replace it before the expiration date.

• Keep Auvi-Q® in the outer case it comes in to protect it from light.

Keep Auvi-Q® and all medicines out of the reach of children.

What are the ingredients in Auvi-Q®?

Active ingredient: epinephrine.

Inactive Ingredients: sodium chloride, sodium bisulfite, hydrochloric acid, and water.

Auvi-Q® does not contain latex.

After the use of Auvi-Q®: • The black base will lock into place.

• The voice instruction system will say Auvi-Q® has been used and the lights will blink red.

• The red safety guard cannot be replaced.

• The viewing window will no longer be clear.

• It is normal for some medicine to remain in your Auvi-Q® after you have received your dose of medicine.

• Talk to your healthcare provider about the right way to throw away your Auvi-Q®.

• Auvi-Q® is a single-use injectable device. Once Auvi-Q® has been used, any medicine that remains in the auto-injector cannot be reused.

Until you throw away your used Auvi-Q®, the electronic voice instruction system will remind you that it has been used when the outer case is removed.

General information about the safe and effective use of Auvi-Q®: Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Patient Information Leaflet. Do not use Auvi-Q® for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give Auvi-Q® to other people, even if they have an allergic reaction or the same symptoms that you have. It may harm them.

This is a summary of the most important information about Auvi-Q®. If you would like more information, talk to your healthcare provider. You can ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider for information about Auvi-Q® that is written for health professionals.

For more information and video instructions on the use of Auvi-Q®, go to www.auvi-q.com or call 1-800-633-1610.

Rev February/2014 Manufactured for: sanofi-aventis U.S. LLC Bridgewater, NJ 08807 A SANOFI COMPANY *For California Only: This product uses batteries containing Perchlorate Material – special handling may apply.

See www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/perchlorate EPI-BSC-SA-FEB14

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MUST HAVE

1-800-420-2852

HYDRANGEAS & BLUEBERRIES

REFER TO CODE PAR07

ORDER ONLINE:

BHGGardenStore.com

HYDRANGEA PANICULATA ZINFIN DOLL™ Make room in the mixed border for this hardy showstopper. Its overstuffed panicles of creamy white blossoms blush pink from the base upward and gradually darken to rich raspberry pink. The deep green foliage provides a perfect backdrop for this exuberant floral display. A Proven Winners® variety. Recommended for zones 3-7S&W. Ships in a 2-quart pot at the proper time for fall planting.

Item GM063168, $26.95 each plus shipping.

THE WELL-BEHAVED BLUEBERRY BrazelBerries® Blueberry Glaze™ is unlike any other blueberry variety. With its small stature (just 2-3’ tall) and incredibly glossy, dark green leaves, Blueberry Glaze™ is reminiscent of a boxwood and can easily be sheared as such.

Flowers transform to fruit in summer followed by a show of burgundy foliage in fall. The berries pack a healthful punch with their antioxidant-rich qualities.

Care is easy with no green thumb required. Ships in a 1-gallon pot at the proper time for fall planting.

Recommended for zones 5-8 S&W. Item GM004580, $31.95 each plus shipping.

6YKLY LHYS`" X\HU[P[PLZ HYL SPTP[LK HUK HYL YLZLY]LK VU H ÄYZ[ JVTL ÄYZ[ ZLY]LK IHZPZ

create | ART SPARK

SAND PRINTS An open-ended printmaking activity lets kids turn sand and glue into one-of-a-kind artwork. the setup Place card stock on a rimmed baking sheet and set out a few bowls of colored sand, a dish of white glue, and several cookie cutters.

Have your child dip a cookie cutter in the glue, press it onto the card stock, and sprinkle sand over the glue. She can then gently tap the excess sand onto the tray and pour it back in the bowl. Have her repeat the process with other colors of sand, overlapping the shapes or creating a pattern, until she feels her print is done.

bonus fun Omit the grit: Stir a few drops of food coloring into the glue.

Stamp the paper and let the glue shapes dry without adding sand.

ABOUT THIS IDEA SEP T EMBER 2015

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This project is from Rachelle Doorley, who shares her creativity-sparking ideas on tinkerlab.com and in the book TinkerLab: A Hands-on Guide for Little Inventors.

PHOTOGRAPH BY ALEXANDRA GRABLEWSKI; STYLING BY ANN LEWIS; GROOMING BY LYNNE AVALLONE

the project

Paper and paper-based packaging play a key role in our education, right from the very start. And that’s just one way they’re important to us. Discover how paper and packaging are instrumental to how we learn and how we live. HowLifeUnfolds.com © 2015 Paper and Packaging Board. All Rights Reserved.

create | HAPPY HOME

BUILT FOR BUILDERS

A shoe organizer makes the perfect play table.

Magnet boards and strips stow special pieces.

Use paper-covered cereal boxes to organize larger building bricks.

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Before tossing the Lego set boxes, cut out fun panels from the packaging and slip them into inexpensive frames, as shown on the wall above.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY MARK LUND; PROP STYLING BY ERIN SWIFT; WARDROBE STYLING BY DON SUMADA; GROOMING BY SYLVESTER CASTELLANO. CLOTHES AND GIRL’S SHOES BY THE GAP; LAND OF NOD THROW PILLOWS AND PILLOW ANIMALS; CHARING CROSS RUG

Delight the Lego fans in your family—and keep the avalanche of tiny bricks from burying your house— with these organizing ideas. B Y D E B R A I M M E R G U T

create | HAPPY HOME 1.

2.

3.

1. A playful workbench A shoe-organizing bench is a good size and height for building and storing (we found this Prepac Shoe Storage Cubbie Bench for $129.99 on amazon.com). Use removable foam mounting squares to attach baseplates to the top.

(The plates can be cut to any size with a sturdy pair of scissors.) To make it mobile, add casters. See how on page 92.

2. & 3. Nifty take-along kit For toting bricks to a restaurant or friend’s house, a hardware sorter works wonders (we got a Stanley Professional Organizer for $16.97 at Home Depot).

Organize the pieces in the small bins and stash small baseplates underneath them.

4. & 5. Magnet magic Sort smaller pieces in magnetic spice containers, then stick them to magnet boards and strips secured to the bench with foam mounting tape. Use hot glue to attach magnets to the backs of

Lego figures. Or glue a magnet to a small brick that can serve as a storage stand for those precious figures.

6. Instruction file What to do with all those assembly manuals after the work is done? For safekeeping, slip them into sheet protectors and file them in a three-ring binder.

7. Box it up For sorting larger building pieces, try cereal boxes.

Simply cut them down to fit into your bench’s storage shelves or cubbies, then, if you feel like spiffing them up, cover them in wrapping paper or kraft paper.

4.

7.

PRODUCT WE LOVE SEP T EMBER 2015

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Display instructions on a magnetic document holder, such as the green one shown in photo 1, above. Find a similar one at office supply stores.

5.

6.

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TM © HO UDQGV 86$զ

create | LET’S EAT!

SHEET PAN SUPPERS In this new twist on the all-in-one meal, the ingredients for a complete dinner are cooked together, resulting in big, bold, perfectly melded flavors. Minimal prep and easy cleanup make these feasts a stressfree solution for busy weeknights.

B Y M O L LY G I L B E R T

MINI MEAT LOAVES, GREEN BEANS & POTATOES Cooking this recipe in two tiers provides more space to spread ingredients. It also infuses the potatoes with some of the smoky barbecue goodness from the meat.

1½ lbs. fingerling potatoes, quartered 2 tbsp. olive oil Salt 2 lbs. lean ground beef 1 tbsp. garlic powder ½ yellow onion, finely chopped ½ cup plain bread crumbs ¾ cup plus 2 tbsp. barbecue sauce 1 lb. green beans, trimmed ACTIVE TIME: 20 MIN. TOTAL TIME: 60 MIN. MAKES: 8 SERVINGS

1. Heat the oven to 400° with a rack in the center position.

2. Toss the potatoes on a rimmed baking sheet with 1 tbsp. of the olive oil and a sprinkle of salt. Spread them evenly, then set a wire rack on top.

crumbs, and ¾ cup barbecue sauce. Shape the mixture into 4 small loaves and place them on the wire rack over the potatoes.

4. Bake the potatoes and meat loaves for 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, toss the green beans with the remaining olive oil and a pinch of salt.

5. Remove the pan from the oven. Brush the loaves with the remaining barbecue sauce and scatter the green beans around them. Return the pan to the oven and bake until the potatoes and beans are tender and a thermometer inserted into a meat loaf registers 150°, about 12 minutes more.

PER SERVING: 331 calories, 28g protein, 9g fat, 3g sat. fat, 35g carbs, 4g fiber, 496mg sodium

3 ADDITIONAL RECIPES FOLLOW

3. In a large bowl, gently combine the beef, garlic powder, onion, bread

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For best results, use a heavy-duty, rimmed baking sheet (also called a jelly roll pan). To avoid post-meal scrubbing, line it with foil coated in cooking spray.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY TARA DONNE; FOOD STYLING BY SIMON ANDREWS; PROP STYLING BY ERIN SWIFT

INGREDIENTS

© 2015 The Hillshire Brands Company

Finally, 100% natural lunchmeat that’s 100% delicious.

Hillshire Farm Naturals. Slow roasted and perfectly spiced. With absolutely no artificial ingredients or preservatives. You’ll love how it tastes or we’ll eat the costs.

Visit hillshirefarm.com/guarantee for details.

Offer valid in USA, 18+ from 7/1/15 – 9/30/15. If we “Eat it”: Limit 1 refund (up to $7.00) per household.

Offer good only with a qualifying purchase of a Hillshire Farm Naturals 8oz product. Void where prohibited.

create | LET’S EAT!

ROASTED SAUSAGE WITH MUSHROOMS, SQUASH & POLENTA Complementary ingredients and textures make this hearty autumn dinner a winner. The light sprinkle of fresh herbs lets the flavors of each component shine through.

INGREDIENTS

2 cups (about 6½ oz.) sliced cremini mushrooms 2 cups peeled, cubed butternut squash 2 cups (about 12 oz.) precooked polenta, cut into 1-inch cubes 3 tbsp. olive oil Salt and pepper 1 lb. (about 6 links) mild Italian pork sausage 1 tsp. chopped fresh rosemary ACTIVE TIME: 15 MIN. TOTAL TIME: 45 MIN. MAKES: 6 SERVINGS

1. Heat the oven to 425° with a rack in the center position.

2. Toss together the first four ingredients on a rimmed baking sheet and season with salt and pepper. Spread the mixture evenly.

3. Use a fork to prick each sausage a few times, then tuck them among the other ingredients. Sprinkle on the rosemary.

4. Bake until the sausages are cooked and nicely browned, stirring halfway through, about 30 minutes.

PER SERVING: 346 calories, 13g protein, 24g fat, 8g sat. fat, 16g carbs, 2g fiber, 663mg sodium

+

PARMESANCRUSTED COD WITH GARLICKY SUMMER SQUASH A cheesy bread crumb topping makes fish irresistible—even to finicky eaters. Paired with savory summer squash, this dish is a light yet satisfying meal. For the recipe, see page 94.

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Find more delicious sheet pan recipes—including dinners, snacks, and desserts—in the author’s recent cookbook, Sheet Pan Suppers.

pb &

yay!

Three ways to fun up everybody’s favorite target.com/recipes

create | LET’S EAT! CHICKEN FAJITAS IN A FLASH Replace your go-to taco night fare with this super-fast, mildly seasoned fajita recipe that’s sure to become a favorite. Opting for all-corn tortillas will make it more nutritious (and gluten-free).

INGREDIENTS

4 cloves garlic, minced ¼ cup olive oil 3 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce 4 tsp. chili powder 1 tsp. sugar 3 tbsp. lime juice ½ tsp. salt 1 lb. chicken cutlets 4 bell peppers (any color), thinly sliced 1 yellow onion, thinly sliced Tortillas and your family’s favorite fajita toppings for serving ACTIVE TIME: 20 MIN. TOTAL TIME: 35 MIN. MAKES: 4 SERVINGS

1. Heat the broiler with one rack positioned about 4 inches away.

2. In a small bowl, whisk together the first seven ingredients. Set aside ¼ cup of the sauce, then place the rest, along with the chicken, in a large ziplock bag.

Seal the bag and turn it to coat the chicken.

3. Toss the peppers and onion with the reserved marinade on a rimmed baking sheet. Spread them out evenly. Place the marinated chicken on top.

4. Broil, turning the chicken halfway through, until the chicken is no longer pink inside and the vegetables are charred, about 12 minutes. Slice the chicken into strips before serving with your favorite fajita toppings.

PER SERVING (FILLING ONLY): 320 calories, 27g protein, 17g fat, 3g sat. fat, 15g carbs, 4g fiber, 497mg sodium

TEST KITCHEN TIP SEP T EMBER 2015

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We prefer cutlets for this recipe, but boneless skinless chicken breasts also work. Halve each breast lengthwise before cooking to make two thin portions.

Climb aboard with Pirate’s Booty this fall and stock yarrr lil crewmates’ lunch boxes with a deliciously crunchy, baked-not-fried snack they’ ll love.

find us

PiratesBooty

PirateBrands.com

CREATIVE CREATURES Using found materials to make animals of all sorts can be especially fun for kids. Here's a dragonfly we fashioned from fallen leaves, a milkweed pod, acorns, sticks, and more. Your crew might assemble an insect, a snake, or even a creature drawn from your child's imagination.

EXPLORE, COLLECT, CREATE. With these three words as your guide, your family can experience the outdoors in a whole new way. Making nature art encourages kids to investigate the world around them and adds an extra element of fun to a hike on the trail or a walk in the park. You'll also have the pleasure of leaving a whimsical surprise for another family to discover—or for your kids to seek out on a return visit.

On the following pages, you'll find quick tips and open-ended inspiration for an outing that ends with a natural masterpiece.

WRITTEN BY JOY HOWARD | PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALEXANDRA GRABLEWSKI CRAFT STYLING BY KIMBERLY STONEY | ADDITIONAL IDEAS BY RICHARD SHILLING

GET SET Before your outing, consider these helpful tips and review them with your kids.

1. Be kind. When collecting materials, aim to minimize your impact on habitats and the ecosystem. Picking up a fallen leaf from the ground is better than plucking one from a tree.

2. Be careful. Keep an eye out for plants that might be prickly or poisonous.

3. Choose your site wisely.

Seek out and be sure to follow the rules of public and private land. Create your installation where others can see it, but where it won't block trails or paths.

4. Bring a camera or phone so you can snap a picture.

5. Go back. Land art isn't meant to last forever, but it's fun to return and see how your project has changed over time.

ROCKIN' THE WALK Here's a fun scene for other hikers to stumble upon. Arrange faux feet made of stones (or other materials, such as twigs or leaves) as if they're ambling along a path or into water.

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Looking for specific objects, such as acorns or leaves, helps kids become more familiar with native plants and trees.

SEP T EMBER 2015

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STICK TOGETHER

ART OF REFLECTION

Have everyone in the family make one of these natural totems, then set them up as a group. Simply thread leaves onto sticks or twigs in interesting patterns, then push the sticks into the ground.

For this optical illusion, find a shallow body of water with a soft bottom, such as sand.

Play with the placement of your sticks so that their reflections complete a design, as shown. No water nearby? You can get a similar effect from the shadows of sticks set in an open expanse of sand or dirt.

DONATE STUFF. CREATE JOBS.

TO FIND YOUR NEAREST DONATION CENTER, GO TO GOODWILL.ORG

NATURE MANDALAS Think big (a clearing) or small (atop a boulder or log) when planning this project.

You can incorporate just about any material, but using a circle as your shape makes it easy for kids to form and repeat a pattern. To assemble the piece, have them start in the center and work outward. Varying colors and textures adds visual contrast and encourages investigation and discovery.

SEP T EMBER 2015

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SHOW US WHAT YOU MADE! Has your family made something from the magazine?

Post a photo on social media with #familyfunsocute, and you could earn $100! See page 95 for details.

little ones SPECIAL SECTION: SEASONAL ACTIVITIES JUST FOR KIDS UNDER 5

18 months & up

WRITTEN BY PAM ABRAMS; PHOTOGRAPH BY DANE TASHIMA; WARDROBE STYLING BY SARAH CONROY; PROP STYLING BY PAM MORRIS; GROOMING BY MEL PALDINO

MIX-A-LOT This mess-free art activity is great for toddlers and neatnik kids. Squirt a few dabs of various colored tempera paints into a quart-size ziplock bag, seal it, tape it to a table, and let your child squish away.

SEP T EMBER 2015

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little ones | SPECIAL SECTION 1 newborn & up

ROOMS WITH A VIEW Create an enriching environment for developing minds with these adorable accessories and playthings.

1. PLAY TENT FARM Foster your toddler’s imagination with a durable and easy-to-assemble country cottage that pays homage to Old MacDonald. Ages 18 months and up $89.99, habausa.com 2. SEA WORLD NUMBERS This repositionable decal set comes with nine illustrated numbers to help your tot learn her 123’s. You can also upload three photos of your family, and the company will send you back three custom photo decals you can mix and match into the set. Ages newborn and up $49.99, paperculture.com

2

3. EVERYWHERE PLAY MAT Each roughly 5- by 6½-foot padded floor covering comes with a city view on one side and a zoo design on the other—and folds into a 1⅓- by 2⅓-foot rectangular shape for easy storage. Ages newborn and up $60, princelionheart.com

PRODUCT LINE WE LOVE SEP T EMBER 2015

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Haba, maker of the tent above, offers a number of other themed tents, including a magical forest and a pirate fort. Check them out at habausa.com.

WRITTEN BY JODI BUTLER; PHOTOGRAPHS BY RICHARD CARPENTER

3

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Lilacs and Daffodils GUARANTEED TO PLEASE

1-800-420-2852 REFER TO CODE PAR07

ORDER ONLINE:

BHGGardenStore.com

A PINK LILAC THAT REBLOOMS! If you’ve always wanted the intoxicating scent of Lilacs in your garden but didn’t have room for them, take a close look at this new addition to the Bloomerang® family of reblooming Lilacs. ‘Pink Perfume’ blooms heavily in May and, after a short rest, flowers again intermittently until fall.

These charming plants give a neat show of color for containers, pathways, and intimate spaces.

Its upright, bushy form reaches just 4–5’ tall. A Proven Winners® variety.

Ships in a 2-quart pot at the proper time for fall planting.

Recommended for Zones 3-7S&W. Item GM067629, $24.95 each plus shipping.

ALL-STAR DAFFODIL COLLECTION

The Works

Tahiti

Narcissus poeticus var. recurvus

Thalia

Pink Charm

Marieke

Light up your landscape with some of the world’s best Daffodils. This exclusive mix includes 25 bulbs of White Flower Farm’s The Works, a superb blend of Daffodils designed to provide a remarkable range of colors, fragrance, and bloom times. In addition, there are 5 bulbs each of 5 different Daffodil varieties widely considered to be the very fi nest: ‘Marieke,’ a classic yellow Trumpet; ‘Tahiti,’ a soft yellow Double with orange accents; ‘Thalia,’ a pure white Triandrus heirloom; Narcissus poeticus var. recurvus, a fragrant Pheasant’s Eye Daffodil; and ‘Pink Charm,’ a Large-cup with pink coronas.

These rugged, carefree bulbs are never touched by deer and will multiply over the years, producing an abundance of cheerful blooms. For color, performance, and variety, you cannot ask for a more stunning show. 50 bulbs total. Recommended for zones 3–7S/9W and shipped for fall planting. Item: GM970152. Price, $39.95, shipping included!

6YKLY LHYS`" X\HU[P[PLZ HYL SPTP[LK HUK HYL YLZLY]LK VU H Ä YZ[ JVTL Ä YZ[ ZLY]LK IHZPZ

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Readers’ Resource

Zinfin Doll™

Hardy Hydrangea Make room in the mixed border for this hardy showstopper. Its overstuffed panicles of creamy white blossoms blush pink from the base upward and gradually darken to rich raspberry pink.

The deep green foliage provides a perfect backdrop for this exuberant floral display. A Proven Winners® variety. Recommended for zones 3-7S&W. Ships in a 2-quart pot at the proper time for fall planting. Item GM063168, $26.95 each plus shipping.

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play S T Y L I N G B Y A N N L E W I S . B OY I N F R O N T: P U M A S H O E S , C H E R O K E E S H I R T, A P PA M A N PA N T S ; B OY I N B AC K : C O N V E R S E S H O E S , C R E W C U T S PA N T S , O L D N AV Y S H I R T

SIMPLE WAYS TO HAVE MORE FUN EVERY DAY

active game

STOP-AND-GO SOCCER! Here’s a skill-building version of the classic kids’ game red light, green light. One player, the traffic cop, stands on the sidelines of the playing area; the players line up at one end, each with a soccer ball. The cop turns her back and yells, “Green light!” and the players start dribbling their balls across the field. When she yells, “Red light!” and turns around, the players must stop immediately—and trap their balls. If they don’t, they go back to the starting line.

The first player to cross the field becomes the new traffic cop.

SEP T EMBER 2015

PHOTOGR APH BY JULIE BIDWELL

51

play | HEALTHY FAMILY sun smarts

PROTECT YOUR LITTLE PEEPERS

STEALTH HEALTH

walk this way shopping strategy

THE RAINBOW CHALLENGE Here’s a fun learning game to play the next time you grocery shop with your kids. Assign a color to the day (Monday is blue, say), then ask each kid to pick a fruit or vegetable that matches (blueberries? blue potatoes?). The chosen produce will star in that night’s dinner. Not only does the game encourage healthy eating, but toddlers can practice color recognition, and older kids (and parents) can expand their palate by picking more exotic items, such as yellow star fruit or green papayas.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR SEP T EMBER 2015

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This month, the USTA will be offering free family tennis events throughout the country. To find one near you, visit youthtennis.com.

Help get your kids excited about taking a neighborhood walk by turning the outing into a spy mission. Before heading out, write a list of targets—a man with a mustache, a purple flower, an address with the number 6—in a special spy notebook. As you walk, have your secret agent

WRITTEN BY RUTH SPIRO AND ELLEN HARTER WALL; PHOTOGRAPHS, FROM LEFT: LEVI BROWN/TRUNK ARCHIVE; MARK MANTEGNA (2)

With all due respect to ZZ Top, cheap sunglasses are not necessarily the rock stars of kids’ outdoor eyewear. When shopping, look for three things: 1 | UV Protection.

It should be 100 percent. 2 | Fit. The lenses should be close to the eye and the frames comfortable.

3 | Style. Kids want to look cool, too. We like Aces, for their mirrored lenses (stylin’!) and flexible frames (comfy!). Our fave feature? The one-year guarantee: if you break or lose the glasses, the company will replace them for free (you pay shipping). Ages 7 and up $30, babiators.com

HEALTHY FAMILY

|

play Give your child Rice Krispies and see

book we love

what they create.

BE AN MVP IN NUTRITION

PHOTOGRAPHS, FROM TOP: MARK MANTEGNA, JULIE BIDWELL

Grabbing a granola bar on the way to practice may be quick and easy, but active kids need a better nutritional game plan. Cynthia Lair’s Feeding the Young Athlete ($12.95) offers recipes, tips, and strategies for building healthy bodies.

Looking to serve a healthy post-game snack?

Try one of these options, which have the right after-workout mix of carbohydrates and protein.

1

2

3

4

5

Whole grain crackers with cheese and grapes

Raisin bread and a banana

Fresh vegetables with dip

Rice cakes with almond butter and apples

Pita bread and hummus

15-minute fun break

FAREWELL TO ARMS This goofy game is sure to get everyone laughing. Have a parent stand with her arms behind her back and a child behind her (on a stool, if necessary). The rest of the family takes turns asking the pair to describe certain skills, such as making a pizza, brushing teeth, putting on sunscreen, or eating spaghetti. As the parent talks, the small arms demonstrate. The more they need to move about, the better!

TAKE IT FURTHER

Feeding the Young Athlete is published by Readers to Eaters. To learn about the group’s other food-related books for kids, visit readerstoeaters.com.

SEP T EMBER 2015

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play | FAVORITE THINGS

BACK-TO-SCHOOL BASICS Great books for reading, gear for writing, and websites for ’rithmetic (or science, social studies, English ...)

supplies

1

1.

2

make a new hairdo Ages 5 and up $4, mollaspace.com

3 4

2. earned excellent marks from our testers. Ages 5 and up $4.95 for two, intlarrivals.com

six, intlarrivals.com 4. Kids can stow pencils, pens, and more in Yoobi

loved the textural $5.99, yoobi.com 5. Not to put too

Sharpener is tops.

Ages 6 and up $1, officedepot.com 6. Yoobi Mini Supply Kits pack

5 7

6

COMPANY WE LOVE SEP T EMBER 2015

56

Yoobi, the maker of the fuzzy pocket and supply kit above, is top of its class: for each item purchased, the company donates an item to a U.S. classroom in need.

scissors, staples, staple puller, and

WRITTEN BY ALICIA POTTER, RUTH SPIRO, AND ELLEN HARTER WALL; PHOTOGRAPHS BY HEATH ROBBINS; STYLING BY KIMBERLY STONEY

3. Mini Monsters Scented Markers mark the page with

There are many ways to help kids who stutter...

Doing nothing is not one of them!

For more information...

800-992-9392 www.StutteringHelp.org www.tartamudez.org

THE

STUTTERING FOUNDATION

®

A Nonprofit Organization Since 1947—Helping Those Who Stutter

play | FAVORITE THINGS

school-themed novels that make the grade 2. In The Dunderheads, by author Paul Fleischman and illustrator David Roberts, a ragtag class sets out to recover a treasure from the fortresslike home of their teacher, the tyrannical Miss Breakbone. Yet to pull off this Ocean’s Eleven–style caper, the kids must pool their outrageously unique talents, from scaling walls to making paper clip chains. Ages 9 to 12 $6.99, amazon.com

3. The rubbergloved heroine of Jarrett J. Krosoczka’s Lunch Lady graphic novels doesn’t just slap together sloppy joes—she fights crime! Packed with action, food jokes, and often a combination of the two (fish stick nunchakus, anyone?), this 10-book series is as inventive and satisfying as Lunch Lady’s pepperoni pancakes. Ages 8 to 12 $6.99 each, indiebound.org

4. A sensitive boy faces the everyday dramas of second grade in Kevin Henkes’s Newbery Honor–winning The Year of Billy Miller. Whether fretting about a bump on the head or writing a poem about his mom, Billy is portrayed with affecting realism and gentle humor over one memorable and heartwarming school year. Ages 7 and up $6.99, harpercollins.com

DR AWING BOOK WE LOVE SEP T EMBER 2015

58

I Didn’t Do My Homework Because ... Doodle Book of Excuses gives kids prompts to sketch their excuses. Ages 8 and up $14.99; chroniclebooks.com

create your own.

ILLUSTRATION BY JORDAN SONDLER

1. A wise and funny hamster shares his cage’seye view of the classroom in Betty G. Birney’s The World According to Humphrey. Not one to simply spin his wheel, Humphrey squeaks his way into the hearts of Room 26’s students (whom he amusingly calls by such names as Raise-Your-HandHeidi and LowerYour-Voice-A.J.) and their rodentaverse teacher.

Ages 8 to 12 $5.99, penguin.com

THE LOVE OF READING

CARRY THOUSANDS OF BOOKS SET READING GOALS AWARD ACHIEVEMENT BADGES

active learning

WATER BALLOON MATH Let your kids make a splash—and soak up some number skills over the summer—with these simple games.

BY DEBR A IMMERGUT

set it up

two ways to play

1 | Sandwich skewers within folded lengths of duct tape to make four or five flags. With a permanent marker, write numbers (these will be the solutions to the problems, so choose them based on your kids’ math skill levels).

> bomb the test Players pick a balloon, then, standing a few feet back, toss it at the target marked with the correct solution. A hit scores a point. The player with the most points wins.

2 | Lay hula hoops or circles of rope on the ground and insert the flags, as shown.

3 | Fill balloons with water (big box stores sell kits with a hose attachment, making this step really easy). On the balloons, write problems with answers that match the flag numbers.

> splash math Have kids play catch, tossing each balloon the number of times equal to the problem’s solution (if the balloon reads “2 + 3,” toss it 5 times). Players who drop the balloon get a point (and get wet). The player with the fewest points wins.

TAKE IT FURTHER SEP T EMBER 2015

60

Use this idea to practice grammar, too. Label the target flags with parts of speech—“verb,” “noun,” “adjective”—and write words on the balloons.

Use permanent marker to write problems on water balloons.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY SABRINA HELAS; PROP AND CRAFT STYLING BY RUBYELLEN BRATCHER; STYLING BY HEATHER ROME. BOY’S SHORTS

BY H&M, THE CHILDREN’S PLACE T-SHIRT; GIRL’S TOP BY KANA, THE CHILDREN’S PLACE SHORTS; ORIENTAL TRADING BUCKETS

play | GET SMART

play | KITCHEN FUN

PEARS IN A BLANKET Turn a sweet fall fruit into a delicious pastry-wrapped dessert in four simple steps. B Y J O Y H O WA R D 1. Heat the oven to 400°. In a small bowl, stir together 2 tbsp. sugar and ¼ tsp. cinnamon.

In another bowl, make an egg wash by whisking an egg with 1 tbsp. milk.

2. Peel, halve, and core 2 pears, leaving the stems intact. Sprinkle each half with the cinnamon sugar on both sides, then place the pears, cored side down, on a parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing them evenly.

3. Roll out a sheet of puff pastry to remove its score marks. Cut the sheet into 4 rectangles.

Wrap each pear with a piece of pastry and trim away the excess.

Use the scraps to make a leaf shape for each pear. Attach the pieces with the egg wash.

4. Bake until the pastry is puffed and golden brown, about 20 minutes. Let the pears cool 10 minutes before flipping them over and serving with a dollop of whipped cream or ice cream.

TEST KITCHEN TIP SEP T EMBER 2015

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We love Bosc pears for this recipe because of their deep flavor and firm texture after baking.

yum!

PHOTOGRAPHS BY JOE POLILLIO; FOOD STYLING BY TAMARA GALVIN; STYLING BY ANN LEWIS; GROOMING BY JEAN HENRY

seasonal recipe

©2015 Del Monte Foods, Inc.

play | KITCHEN FUN

EASY PEASY

STACKABLE SNACK A familiar combo gets a lofty treatment in this filling after-school bite. To prep it, slice a small apple crosswise, core the pieces, and place a few tablespoons of peanut butter in a bowl. Give your child a spreader and let him build and eat his own stack.

back-to-school idea

READ IT AND EAT We’re crazy about this lunch box–ready surprise from mom blogger Cristi Messersmith of bentonbetterlunches.com. Fold a flour tortilla (ours were the 8-inch size) in half; trim it into a book shape.

Draw a funny title and picture with food writers. Layer your child’s favorite sandwich fillings inside.

fun street food Kids can make wholesome meals and treats alongside some favorite friends with the new Sesame Street Let’s Cook! cookbook. From Telly’s French Toast Triangles to Big Bird’s Homemade Seed Crackers, each recipe includes kid steps, food facts, and variations to keep everyone’s appetite and curiosity satisfied. $17.99, amazon.com THIS FOR THAT SEP T EMBER 2015

64

For an allergen-free snack, replace the nut butter in the Stackable Snack, above, with sunflower seed butter.

FIRST DAYS HAPPEN.

Be Prepared.

BEING PREPARED MEANS HAVING A PLAN TO: Avoid known allergens, know what symptoms to watch for, use an EpiPen® (epinephrine injection) Auto-Injector if a life-threatening (severe) allergic reaction occurs and get emergency medical help right away.

SEND THEM BACK TO SCHOOL WITH WHAT THEY KNOW More school nurses have been trained on EpiPen® Auto-Injector than any other epinephrine auto-injector.

If your child has severe allergies, they may have been trained on one, too. In an emergency, you want to use the brand you’ve been trained on. So, ask your doctor for the brand more people are familiar with — EpiPen®.

Pay as little as $0* åƴåųƼ ƋĜĵå ƼŅƚ Ā ĬĬ ƼŅƚų )ŞĜ{åĺ®

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See full Terms and Conditions at epipencoupon.com.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

EpiPen® (epinephrine injection) 0.3 mg and EpiPen Jr ® (epinephrine injection) 0.15 mg Auto-Injectors contain a single dose of epinephrine, which you (or your caregiver or others who may be in a position to administer EpiPen® or EpiPen Jr ®) inject into the middle of your outer thigh (upper leg) (through clothing, if necessary). Get emergency medical help right away. You may need further medical attention. Only a health care professional should give additional doses of epinephrine if you need more than two injections for a single anaphylactic episode. DO NOT INJECT INTO YOUR VEINS, BUTTOCKS, FINGERS, TOES, HANDS OR FEET. In case of accidental injection, please seek immediate medical treatment. Epinephrine should be used with caution if you have heart disease or are taking certain medicines that can cause heart-related (cardiac) symptoms.

Tell your doctor if you have certain medical conditions such as asthma, depression, thyroid disease, Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, high blood pressure or heart disease, have any other medical conditions, are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Be sure to also tell your doctor all the medicines you take, especially medicines for asthma. If you have certain medical conditions, or take certain medicines, your condition may get worse or you may have longer lasting side effects when you use EpiPen® or EpiPen Jr ®.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION (continued)

shakiness, headache, apprehension, nervousness or anxiety.

These side effects may go away if you rest. Tell your health care professional if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

INDICATIONS

EpiPen® and EpiPen Jr ® Auto-Injectors are for the emergency treatment of life-threatening allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) caused by allergens, exercise, or unknown triggers; and for people who are at increased risk for these reactions. EpiPen® and EpiPen Jr ® are intended for immediate administration as emergency supportive therapy only. Seek immediate emergency medical help right away.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

For additional information, please contact us at 800-395-3376.

Please see Brief Summary of full Prescribing Information on the adjacent page.

The most common side effects may include increase in heart rate, stronger or irregular heartbeat, sweating, nausea or ]VTP[PUN KPMÄ J\S[` IYLH[OPUN WHSLULZZ KPaaPULZZ ^LHRULZZ

EpiPen Jr® Auto Injectors shown in photo.

EpiPen®, EpiPen Jr®, EpiPen 2-Pak®, EpiPen Jr 2-Pak® and LIFE HAPPENS. Be Prepared.® are registered trademarks of Mylan Inc. licensed exclusively to its wholly-owned subsidiary, Mylan Specialty L.P. © 2015 Mylan Specialty L.P. All rights reserved. 5/15 EPI-2015-0345

Be Prepared .

®

BRIEF SUMMARY OF PATIENT INFORMATION Please read this information before using EpiPen® or EpiPen Jr® Auto-Injector and each time you get a refill. Consult the Patient Information and Instructions for Use. You, your parent, a caregiver or others who may be in a position to administer EpiPen® or EpiPen Jr® Auto-Injector, should know how to use it before you have an allergic emergency.

This information does not take the place of talking with your health care professional about your medical condition or your treatment. If you have any questions, ask your health care professional.

What is the most important information I should know about the EpiPen® and EpiPen Jr®?

1. EpiPen® and EpiPen Jr® contain a medicine used to treat allergic emergencies (anaphylaxis). Anaphylaxis can be life-threatening, can happen within minutes, and can be caused by stinging and biting insects, allergy injections, foods, medicines, exercise, or unknown causes.

Symptoms of anaphylaxis may include: • trouble breathing • wheezing • hoarseness (changes in the way your voice sounds) • hives (raised reddened rash that may itch) • severe itching • swelling of your face, lips, mouth, or tongue • skin rash, redness, or swelling • fast heartbeat • weak pulse • feeling very anxious • confusion • stomach pain • losing control of urine or bowel movements (incontinence) • diarrhea or stomach cramps • dizziness, fainting, or “passing out” (unconsciousness) 2. Always carry your EpiPen® or EpiPen Jr® with you because you may not know when anaphylaxis may happen.

Talk to your health care professional if you need additional units to keep at work, school or other locations. Tell your family members, caregivers and others where you keep your EpiPen® or EpiPen Jr® and how to use it before you need it. You may be unable to speak in an allergic emergency.

3. When you have an allergic emergency (anaphylaxis): • Use EpiPen® or EpiPen Jr® right away.

• Get emergency medical help right away.

You may need further medical attention.

You may need to use a second EpiPen® or EpiPen Jr® if symptoms continue or recur.

Only a health care professional should give additional doses of epinephrine if you need more than 2 injections for a single anaphylaxis episode.

What are EpiPen® and EpiPen Jr®?

• EpiPen® and EpiPen Jr® are disposable, prefilled automatic injection devices (auto-injectors) used to treat lifethreatening, allergic emergencies including anaphylaxis in people who are at risk for or have a history of serious allergic emergencies. Each device contains a single dose of epinephrine.

• EpiPen® and EpiPen Jr® are for immediate self (or caregiver) administration and do not take the place of emergency medical care. You should get emergency help right away after using EpiPen® and EpiPen Jr®.

• EpiPen® and EpiPen Jr® are for people who have been prescribed this medicine by their health care professional.

• The EpiPen® Auto-Injector (0.3 mg) is for patients who weigh 66 pounds or more (30 kilograms or more).

• The EpiPen Jr® Auto-Injector (0.15 mg) is for patients who weigh about 33 to 66 pounds (15 to 30 kilograms).

• It is not known if EpiPen® and EpiPen Jr® are safe and effective in children who weigh less than 33 pounds (15 kilograms).

What should I tell my health care professional before using the EpiPen® or EpiPen Jr®?

Before you use EpiPen® or EpiPen Jr®, tell your health care professional about all your medical conditions, but especially if you: • have heart problems or high blood pressure • have diabetes • have thyroid problems • have asthma • have a history of depression • have Parkinson’s disease • have any other medical conditions • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if epinephrine will harm your unborn baby.

• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

It is not known if epinephrine passes into your breast milk.

Tell your health care professional about all the medicines you take including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements.

Tell your health care professional of all known allergies.

Especially tell your health care professional if you take certain asthma medicines.

EpiPen® or EpiPen Jr® and other medicines may affect each other, causing side effects.

EpiPen® or EpiPen Jr® may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how EpiPen® or EpiPen Jr® works.

Use your EpiPen® or EpiPen Jr® for treatment of anaphylaxis as prescribed by your health care professional, regardless of your medical conditions or the medicines you take.

What are the possible side effects of the EpiPen® and EpiPen Jr®?

EpiPen® and EpiPen Jr® may cause serious side effects.

• The EpiPen® or EpiPen Jr® should only

be injected into the middle of your outer thigh (upper leg). Do not inject the EpiPen® or EpiPen Jr® into your: • veins • buttocks • fingers, toes, hands, or feet If you accidentally inject EpiPen® or EpiPen Jr® into any other part of your body, go to the nearest emergency room right away. Tell the health care professional where on your body you received the accidental injection.

If you have certain medical conditions, or take certain medicines, your condition may get worse or you may have longer lasting side effects when you use your EpiPen® or EpiPen Jr®. Talk to your health care professional about all your medical conditions.

Common side effects of EpiPen® and EpiPen Jr® include: • fast, irregular or “pounding” heartbeat • sweating • headache • weakness • shakiness • paleness • feelings of over excitement, nervousness or anxiety • dizziness • nausea or vomiting • breathing problems These side effects may go away with rest.

Tell your health care professional if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

These are not all the possible side effects of the EpiPen® or EpiPen Jr®. For more information, ask your health care professional or pharmacist.

Call your health care professional for medical advice about side effects.

General information about the safe and effective use of EpiPen® and EpiPen Jr®: Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Patient Information Leaflet. Do not use the EpiPen® or EpiPen Jr® for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give your EpiPen® or EpiPen Jr® to other people.

Important Information • If an accidental injection happens, get medical help right away.

Manufactured for Mylan Specialty L.P., Morgantown, WV 26505, U.S.A. by Meridian Medical Technologies, Inc., Columbia, MD 21046, U.S.A., a Pfizer company.

EpiPen® and EpiPen Jr® are registered trademarks of Mylan Inc. licensed exclusively to its wholly-owned affiliate, Mylan Specialty L.P. of Morgantown, WV 26505, U.S.A. © 2014 Mylan Specialty L.P. All rights reserved.

09/14 EPI-2014-0800

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play | SPOTLIGHT

metheefamily t Regular meetings are a great way to nurture household harmony, the author had heard.

But would they work for his family?

By Jeff Wagenheim

S

arah came charging out of her home office/laundry room. My wife’s whiteknuckle grip on a sheet of paper and her dramatic soprano pitch as she yelled for the kids signified that it would be wise to give her a little space. “Aaron! Rebecca! Come here!

I need to show you something.”

The boy was 11 years old and his sister 9, both old enough to recognize the loaded tone of Mom’s voice. Or maybe not, because they came right away. The little innocents probably expected to be shown an online video of a funny baby or a cute puppy. Instead, they got the electric bill shoved in their faces. “You guys have to learn,” Sarah said slowly, sternly, “to turn off the

Let’s try something new!

lights when you leave your rooms.”

The kids stared at her. I stared past her, to where both the ceiling light and desk lamp in her office were sucking up wattage.

Of course, only a dim bulb of a husband would mention this in front of impressionable children, but no one’s ever accused me of being enlightened. “Sarah,” I said, employing my sober voice of reason, “instead of yelling, you could lead by example.”

Shockingly, this did not soothe the situation. It just riled up the kids, who launched into righteous finger-pointing and cackling, and did pretty much the same for my wife, minus the laughing part. We all stood there in the hallway talking over each other, burying Sarah’s complaint beneath a cacophony of miscommunication.

Then Rebecca and Aaron retreated to their well-lit rooms, Sarah went back to paying

the bills, and I was left to reflect on how sadly typical this was for us.

Too often, our family issues were coming up at random times and in clumsy ways, with predictably unproductive results. I had a strong suspicion we weren’t alone in our anarchy, though, so I started reading up on organizational tools for a happy household. An idea put forward again and again—by family therapists, self-help authors, even businesspeople-turnedparents—was to hold regular meetings, complete with rules of engagement and explicit goals. This sounded efficient but torturous. I get headaches just remembering the hours of business meetings I’ve sat through. Did I really want to turn my generally content little brood into a Forlorn 500 company?

Then I got to thinking about what may be the smartest thing Sarah and I do: our nightly check-in.

After the kids are in bed, we each get a few minutes to talk about what’s on our minds, while the other simply listens. It might be a workday frustration, a relationship concern, anything except the kids (that’s the rule). Whatever it is, no analysis or problem solving comes into play, just an active set of ears, and the process creates a cozy connection that works like a spa treatment to dissolve stress.

What if as a family we adopted this practice, scheduling meetings for the four of us? If we could make it a pleasant experience—not a party, necessarily, but tedium-free—our

SEP T EMBER 2015

68

PHOTOGR APHS BY DAN SAELINGER

Together, we created a chore schedule to keep track of the kids’ new responsibilities.

household might evolve into a tighter ship, and we shipmates might grow tighter, too. When I suggested this to Sarah, it was as if a lightbulb started to glow above her head.

MEETING 1

orientation express aron was upside down.

Draped over the sofa, his longer-every-day legs riding up the wall and his head hanging over the side and nearly grazing the rug, he seemed to be floating in our presence but barely with us. This was maddening, since our first family meeting was all of five minutes old.

I was still explaining to the kids why their mom and I had asked them to sit with us. Rebecca was sitting with us. Her brother, though?

A

SEP T EMBER 2015

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“C’mon, sit up,” I said. Aaron groaned the groan of someone whose mind’s eye is looking to be elsewhere.

I had a groan welling up in me, too, but I suppressed the urge.

One of the tips for family-meeting success I’d seen repeatedly was to encourage everyone’s participation, not try to control said participation.

That was a hard one to swallow, but with my boy’s yogalike position; still I knew harping on it would draw him into this experience about as much as kneeling in pews every Sunday as a kid had shaped me into a lifelong churchgoer. Heathen though I am, I opted to have faith in the kid rather than to pick on him.

“You’re going to like this,” Sarah told him with a mom’s tender assurance. “You’ll have a chance to talk, to tell your dad and me what

you’d like to happen in our family.”

“We get to talk about what?”

Rebecca piped up. My wife and I caught each other’s eye and shared a discreet smile. We knew this opportunity would grab our girl’s attention. She loves, loves, loves to talk.

Kids, you’re going to like this!

Our mutually beneficial arrangement: more screen time (for the kids) and more help around the house (for us).

And Aaron loves to seize any opportunity to get more of what he wants to do. “Can we talk about adding computer time?” asked the upside-down boy. “Instead of just weekends and—” “Aaron! I’m talking!” His little sister wasn’t done.

And back and forth they went, loquacious girl and languishing boy jostling for attention, until I grabbed something from the coffee table—a felt pyramid-shaped tchotchke Rebecca had made in art class—and tossed it onto my daughter’s lap.

“OK, Rebecca, when you’re holding that,” I said loudly, quieting both kids, “you’re the only one who gets to talk.”

This edict was inspired by another expert tip I’d run across: Use an object to designate who talks when. The suggestion initially had me shaking my head as I recalled

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all the woo-woo workshops I’d attended, where stick-wielding chatterboxes would suck the air out of the room. In our house the dynamic was different, though.

It made sense to issue a license to talk—and for everyone else, a directive to listen. So when Rebecca had the little felt pyramid in hand, we didn’t react as we’re prone to at the dinner table, dousing her with deep sighs, raised eyebrows, or comments about congressional filibusters. Now it was her time, no one else’s.

Well, the ideas poured out until she ran out of steam, by which time Aaron had things to say. Seeing the boy open up surprised me; it put me in mind of some advice I’d seen from the American Academy of Pediatrics: “Each family member should be allowed to speak without criticism or interruption, to share his or her thoughts, feelings, achievements,

and hopes.” Rebecca having been allowed to do just that, he apparently felt he’d been given the invitation he needed. We were rolling.

MEETING 2

let’s make a deal

R

ebecca read out, “Number 4: computer stuff.” This was an important item; I could tell from Rebecca’s inflection as she made her way down a list of topics from our first meeting the week before. I looked over at Sarah as our girl continued reading from a pink notebook she’d adorned with purple and

I’ll take notes.

©2015 P&G

Groan.

Stage 1: Newborn

orange plastic gems, hearts, and a peace sign. Neither of us had expected this; we hadn’t asked her to keep notes. Yet here she was, the self-appointed secretary.

Her keeping notes let us put into effect another family-meeting tip from the list I’d amassed. A psychologist’s suggestion that the kids lead or keep tabs on some sessions had seemed like a recipe for derailment. I know about the importance of empowerment and all that, but would the kids keep us on track? Well, Rebecca turned out to be the little engine that could. When I later peeked inside her notebook, I noticed that “computer stuff ” was the only item circled. The emphasis was interesting, since Aaron, not Rebecca, had brought that matter up.

Sarah and I had always been tight with the kids’ screen time, both television and computer. They were old enough now, though, that they were using their online sessions for school research and e-mailing friends, not just for playing video games.

It made sense for Aaron and Rebecca to have more than just weekend access, but Sarah and I wanted them to meet us

WHAT WORKED THESE FIVE TIPS MET OUR FAMILY’S MEETING NEEDS.

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halfway. “We’re willing to treat you guys like you’re more grown up,” I told the kids, “as long as you take on more grown-up chores around the house.”

Such as? Making their beds every morning. Picking up their rooms at bedtime. Setting the table before meals and clearing it afterward. All small, simple things; we weren’t talking renovating the kitchen or finishing the attic.

Underpinning this part of our family discussion was another bit of wisdom from the American Academy of Pediatrics: Parents get the final word. Isn’t that obvious? It seemed misguided to spell this out. Far better, I thought, to nudge pecking-order reality to the background and spotlight the kids’ autonomy instead.

The more Sarah and I treated this discussion as an amiable negotiation, the more agreeable the kids were, to the point where I felt comfortable stipulating this condition: “We want you guys to write up a contract that says what you’re agreeing to and what you expect in return. We’ll sign it, and you’ll sign it.”

Aaron groaned.

MEETING 3

the writing on the wall

T

he document “My Contrack” had sat on the dining-room table ever since the day after our last meeting. It looked like my daughter’s handiwork—neat penmanship on green construction paper—she’d probably done it in the morning before school. Yet a week had already passed, and I’d barely looked at it.

I told Rebecca I was waiting until Aaron gave us his contract so that I could read them together, but the truth was I’d simply had a bunch of busy days in a row.

The night we had set aside for family meetings came up, but then dinner had run late and, before we knew it, bedtime was upon us. The next evening, the meeting just never materialized. We were losing momentum.

1

2

A POSITIVE VIBE There’s a time for allegation and altercation, and this is not it. Civil communication is a building tool.

YOURS, MINE, OURS Roles and responsibilities differ within a family, but in a meeting no one voice gets to drown out the others.

©2015 P&G

This troubled me, because experts and regular folks alike always emphasize consistency as key. Meeting each week in a different setting is fine, but it’s important to zero in on a regular day and time. Yet the fact is, lives get busy, and duties and deadlines can be unforgiving. So even though our family was already seeing some benefits from structured communication, it was a challenge to make it happen. Sarah and I needed the kids’ help.

On the way home from school a couple of days later, I casually mentioned to the kids that we couldn’t start weekday computer time until their mother and I had signed contracts in hand and a schedule of chores worked out. I was hoping to spark the kids’ eagerness, which in turn might prod us back to the boardroom.

It didn’t take long until dinner conversation turned to family meetings, with Rebecca wanting to schedule one and Aaron asking, “Why not tonight?”

Within a few minutes, we’d moved to the living room to nail down the details of our chores schedule. Sarah had brought home a whiteboard on which she’d listed days of the week across the top and chores down one side, with movable stars in two colors to indicate who did what when. Rebecca loved moving the stars around because she adores structure. Though Aaron recoils from it, he thrives on it.

We’re willing to treat you guys like you’re more grown up, as long as you take on more grown-up chores around the house.

MEETING 4

lessons learned

I

don’t like all the sitting.”

We’d decided to devote a meeting to the long-term future, or at least the future of these meetings, and this was Aaron’s input. It sounded apathetic, but I dug into it a bit. “So you’re not in favor of us continuing these meetings?” I asked, trying to keep my tone neutral.

“No, I think they’re good,” he said.

“Things have improved.”

But. “I just get a little restless sitting here.”

So maybe we should get the family out of the house next time? This is another common meeting tip: Change the venue to spice things up. But my suggestion that we take it to a restaurant unnerved Rebecca.

“What if someone hears what we’re saying?” she said, with a furrowed brow. We opted to save restaurant outings for when we’re hungry.

No family hike, either.

“No, no, no, I don’t want to walk,” said Aaron, sitting up wide-eyed at the idea. “I just need something to fidget with, then I’m fine.” This was an aha! moment for me, a revelation that the yo-yo and kendama he’d been playing with intermittently during our meetings weren’t symbols of his desire to be somewhere else. They were keeping him with us.

It then occurred to me that our meetings, for all of their practical giveand-take on matters such as chores and screen time, were most important to our family in a less tangible way. They served as a mentally uncluttered environment in which we could learn how each of us thinks. Seeing Rebecca break down everything into orderly nuts and bolts, for instance, brought her essence to light for Sarah and me. And while Aaron’s ability to pay attention without paying attention will always be unnerving, I now recognize that just trusting him and letting him be is the most conscious way to be with him. Being

» C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 9 4

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4

5

SHORT IS SWEET Just getting into a groove, you say? Momentum tends to wind down after half an hour.

Don’t drag things out.

FUN TO THE FINISH A yummy dessert? A board game? Ending with something special will interest everyone in a return engagement.

NOTE TO SELF Keeping a record of what’s been discussed will help get the conversation off the ground next time.

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Stage 2: Active Baby

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Get Creative!

COUNTDOWN Check a few things off your to-do list and have fun at the same time.

WEEK

Rock fall style—shop Crazy 8® for new + now looks that your kids will love. Help them express their unique style, have one less thing to do before school starts, and always get a good deal!

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Channel summer energy into a project that will benefit your community.

Community service is an integral part of most school curriculums, and it will help you and your child connect with others. Contribute to your school directly and look for Tyson® Project A+™ labels on participating Tyson® packages. For every label you submit, Tyson® will give your school 24¢ for whatever it needs.

Host a back-to-school playdate for your child and his friends to help them get back in the swing of things. Provide healthy snacks like deliciously baked, gluten-free Pirate’s Booty®, Welch’s® Fruit Snacks made with real fruit, and Mott’s® 100% Juice. Mix in some fun with activities like “Telephone Story”— have each person take a piece of paper, write a sentence, and pass it to the person on their right to write the next line until you have one-of-a-kind stories to share!

Play with your food. Try using Mini Babybel® Original semisoft cheese to create fruit and cheese skewers and Hillshire Farm Naturals® Lunchmeat to create ham and cheese roll-ups. They are sure to be exciting and healthy additions to your kid’s lunchbox!

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LOOK-GOOD, FEEL-GOOD IDEAS FOR MOMS

bath & body treat

WRITTEN BY CHRISTINA VERCELLETTO; PHOTOGRAPH BY GALLERY STOCK

PAMPER YOURSELF Now that the kids are back in school, with homework and activities hitting full force, don’t forget to carve out some time to recharge. Veronica Taylor, an aesthetician and owner of SKIN by Veronica in Southampton, New York, recommends a warm bath with Epsom salts and essential oils to relax your muscles and your mind.

Her favorite recipe: two to three drops of lemongrass or lavender oil, one cup Epsom salts, and one cup baking soda. After you soak, smooth on a body butter. Just using these super-creamy lotions feels like a treat, and they leave skin extra hydrated.

Korres Body Butter in White Grape is steeped with silkening shea and smells lightly sweet, not cloying. $29, hsn.com

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smile

TOP MARK MASCARAS Whether you’re heading to your kids’ school or out on a date night, a good mascara can make you look polished and refreshed, even when you’re feeling a little droopy.

Here are our faves:

c l o s e-u p

UPGRADE YOUR PONY

1. OVERALL ENHANCER: bareMinerals Lash Domination Volumizing Mascara $18, bareminerals.com 2. BEST VALUE: CoverGirl Full Lash Bloom by LashBlast $8.99, covergirl.com 3. ALL-NATURAL: Gifted Amazonian Clay Smart Mascara by Tarte $21, tarte.com 4. WATERPROOF: L’Oreal Paris

This fall, try our easy and elegant twist on the go-to ponytail, created by mom and Ma Nouvelle Mode blogger, Natalia Simmons.

1.

2.

3.

1. With the lower third of your hair, make a low ponytail and secure it with a hair tie.

3. Twist the middle section and pin it above the ponytail with bobby pins. Twist and pin the left section toward the middle, then do the right.

Loosen with your fingers, then finish with hairspray.

Blogger tip: This style looks best if your hair has some volume. Don’t have curly hair? Work a dry shampoo into your roots before styling. Natalia uses Big Sexy Hair Volumizing Dry Shampoo. $17.95, sexyhair.com

2. Evenly separate your remaining hair into three sections. (Use hair clips, if you have them.)

1 2

3

See a video tutorial at youtube.com/manouvellemode (simple twisted ponytail).

Smashbox Photo Finish Pore Minimizing Foundation Primer, our tester favorite. You can’t actually shrink your pores (their size is genetically determined), but this sheer, mattifying formula covers them, plus it absorbs oil for up to eight hours.

Wear it alone, under makeup, or even over makeup as a trouble-spot touch-up during the day. $39, smashbox.com

PRODUCT WE LOVE SEP T EMBER 2015

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BoxyCharm, a beauty box subscription service, delivers four to five full-size samples to your door each month. How charming! $21 monthly, boxycharm.com

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smile | GO FOR IT we asked

WAKE UP AND WORK OUT I go to a cardio kickboxing class at 5:30 in the morning. It gets my heart pumping, the music’s terrific, and I feel amazing when I’m done!

Laura Payton Holts Summit, MO

MAKE SOMEONE’S MORNING Three days a week, I go to the coffee shop drivethrough, and I often buy the customer behind me a cup, too. It gives me a big boost of happiness in the morning, and I’m hoping to show my daughter, who’s usually with me, how bringing others joy will improve your life as well.

Lauren Matter Ballston Spa, NY

CUDDLE UP WITH A BOOK Reading books and snuggling with my two girls, ages 3 and 6, in my “big bed” starts my day in a relaxed and happy way. I keep a stack of their favorites reads nearby for easy access.

Tanya Foster Sandy, UT

PLAY A PODCAST Listening to podcasts while walking the dog always inspires me for the day ahead. Some of

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What recent accomplishment are you most proud of? E-mail us at ideas.familyfun@meredith.com. If we use yours, we’ll pay you $100.

Kimberly Tate Snohomish, WA

SPEND TIME JOURNALING To get my creative juices flowing, I spend time with my visual journal, a spiral-bound sketchbook in which I doodle and write. Watercolor, colored pencils, pens, chalk ... really anything goes. I also use it for my daily to-do lists and tracking my calendar. I’ve tried traditional day planners, but this works best.

Lynné Sleiman Dallas, TX

SOAK IN SOME BUBBLES I like to wake up before everyone in my family and take a 10-minute bubble bath. With five daughters, I need all the positive mojo I can get!

Joanna Camino Providence, RI

DO A BREAKFAST DATE My hubby leaves for work before the kids are up, but I get up with him so we can eat breakfast together. That precious half hour when it’s only us talking, laughing, or just enjoying the silence is so important to our marriage. Spending quality time with him is a great way to start my day.

Kristin Irwin Florence, SC

PHOTOGRAPH BY STEPHANIE RAUSER/TRUNK ARCHIVE

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE WAY TO JUMP-START YOUR DAY?

my favorites are Power of Moms Radio, Brilliant Business Moms, The MOM Podcast, Beyond the To-Do List, and The Productivity Show.

nly Eggland’s Best gives your family the best in taste & nutrition.

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explore IDEAS FOR GETAWAYS BIG AND SMALL

worth the trip

HIGH ABOVE THE FRAY Dramatic overlooks, lush gardens, places to sit, and a 1½-mile walkway have transformed the High Line, a former elevated railway on Manhattan’s West Side, into a vibrant urban oasis—and a favorite destination for the Landises of New Canaan, Connecticut. “The whole idea of it is amazing,” says mom Meredith, who grew up just around the corner and still has family there. “My kids love that it used to be a railroad through the city. They love the chaise lounges, the grasses, the views of the river, and all the people.”

Artwork, kids’ programs, performances, and food vendors fill out the scene.

Free; hours and offerings vary seasonally; 212-2069922; thehighline.org

SEP TEMBER 2015

PHOTOGR APH BY RONNIE ANDREN

85

explore | ROAD TRIP

BY KRISTEN J. GOUGH

Clockwise from above: Ohio pride writ large; plotting a route through Hocking Hills State Park; feeding a giraffe at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium; the hike to Old Man’s Cave at Hocking Hills State Park; Kalahari’s waterslides; a slice of Berardi’s Strawberry Nut Crunch; a freight train wends its way through acres of farmland.

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PHOTOGRAPHS BY BILLY DELFS

History, adventure, and offbeat attractions mark a road trip through corn country.

The Keebler Elves

have outdone themselves

with Jif® peanut butter, crunchy nuts and fudge.

Is this their

best cookie yet?

You be the judge.

™

Serving size equals 2 cookies.

explore | ROAD TRIP

“

Corn. Corn. More corn,” droned my 10-year-old,

Rachel. “Are we going to see anything else, Mom?” I had billed this three-day expedition through Ohio as the “super-spectacular, awesomest adventure trek ever,” but squished into the backseat, my three girls looked skeptical. As newcomers to the Midwest, Rachel and her older sisters, Abby, 13, and Kayla, 16, had not yet learned to look beyond the seemingly endless miles of farmland for the treasures tucked inside. So our itinerary, which would take us from Sandusky’s amusement parks to the Hocking Hills wilderness, was designed to prove that in the heart of the heartland, we would find plenty of places to step outside our comfort zone and discover something new.

The excitement began in Africa— or rather, the African-themed Kalahari Resorts and Conventions 1 in Sandusky, where we were greeted by safari-clad attendants, the sight of waterfalls, and the sound of conga drums. The kids almost sprinted through the lobby of the sprawling indoor/outdoor water park hotel. We were able to check in early, letting us hit the park before our room was ready. Kayla, Abby, and my husband, James, raced for the thrill rides, including a water roller coaster and swirling bowl called the Tanzanian Twister. Before seeking out the kids’ slides, Rachel and I made a detour to the Safari Adventures Animal Park ($5 for resort guests).

There we communed with rabbits, goats, giraffes, lemurs, and kangaroos (starts at $179 a night, including park passes; 877-525-2427; kalahariresorts. com/ohio; park open seasonally).

For dinner, we headed to Danny Boys, a 1960s-style restaurant Kayla had spied on the way in. In keeping with our quest for adventure, we all ordered something new to us, in this case “woogies,” a cool twist on calzones (419-621-1000; dannyboyspizza.com).

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After supper we drove to Marblehead Lighthouse State Park on Lake Erie, home of the oldest continuously operating lighthouse on the Great Lakes, and posed for silly selfies under the setting sun (419-734-4424; marbleheadlighthouseohio.org).

Then it was back to Sandusky for something sweet. A life-size cow sculpture beckoned us into Toft’s Ice Cream Parlor. Even Rachel downgraded her order to a kid size after learning the “small” cone came with a whopping five to six scoops (419-625-5490; toftdairy.com).

The Goughs at Hocking Hills Canopy Tours.

ILLUSTRATION BY JOSIE PORTILLO

DAY 1

JUICY JUICE is a registered trademark of Harvest Hill Beverage Company. ©2015 Harvest Hill Beverage Company. All rights reserved.

Kids love the sweet taste of Juicy Juice, made from real fruit picked at its ripest, juiciest peak. It’s 100% juice, with no added sugar – goodness, made juicy!™ juicyjuice.com

explore | ROAD TRIP

Pull the rug out from under juicy stains!

Marblehead Lighthouse shines across Lake Erie at dusk.

Use OxiClean™ outside the laundry room to safely remove stains and odors from carpet. For just pennies, you can tackle messy carpet stains with ease.

DAY 2 Intending to hit the road straight away, James and I lured the kids out of bed early with the promise of French toast and crispy hash browns at Berardi’s Family Kitchen (419626-4592; sanduskyberardis.com).

But the girls wrangled us back to the water park after breakfast with some serious tag-team begging. On the upside, after an active morning, the corn seemed to fly by faster as we 2 made the hour-long trip to Bucyrus, America’s Bratwurst Capital. “It’s like a sausage hot dog,” Kayla explained as we pulled up to local favorite Carle’s Bratwurst, where we sampled homemade brats and corn pudding sweet enough that my kids considered it dessert (419-562-7741; carlesbrats.com).

A half hour south, inside the 3 Marion Historical Society, we found the Wyandot Popcorn Museum, featuring the world’s largest collection of vintage poppers.

Our tour included boxes of freshly made samples, which we munched on the way to our next stop ($5 ages 18 and up, $2 ages 6 to 17, free ages 5 and under; 740-387-4255; wyandotpopcornmus.com).

Another hour of driving (more 4 cornfields) landed us in Columbus,

101 uses.

101 ways to save.

Visit us at YouTube.com/OxiClean ©2015 Church & Dwight Co., Inc.

and we made a beeline for the 582acre Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.

We felt like explorers, roaming the Heart of Africa, the Arctic, Australia, and Asia exhibits. And we all took a turn sitting in an old prop plane that extends into the lion exhibit ($14.99 ages 10 to 59, $9.99 ages 2 to 9, free age 1 and under, $10.99 ages 60 and over; $8 parking; 614-645-3400; columbuszoo.org).

Adventure followed us to dinner at Tacos Hass on Sawmill Road; its reasonable prices and unique menu encouraged risk-taking. Kayla raved over the cactus tacos, while Rachel sampled the steak, chicken, and pork varieties (614-760-0155). In 5 neighboring Dublin, we checked into Drury Inn and Suites, thinking we were done for the day (starts at $129.99; 614-798-8802; druryhotels. com). But when the concierge mentioned nearby Hayden Falls Park, we couldn’t resist checking out its waterfalls (614-645-3300; columbusrecparks.com). We wrapped up the day by strolling the quaint downtown and downing decadent Backyard Mint Chocolate Truffle ice cream sandwiches at Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams (614-792-5364; jenis.com).

» C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 9 4

<

USE #94:

meet the family

Kristen J. Gough and her family live in Solon, Ohio.

IF YOU GO SEP T EMBER 2015

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Look for the Dublin Art in Public Places installations around the city and take a family photo with Malcolm Cochran’s 6-foot ears of corn. dublinarts.org

Frizzy Or Curly Hair?

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KIDS

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From Summer Carry-All To School Necessity The ZÜCA Sport features a super light, durable aluminum alloy frame, wheels that climb stairs like a champ & works as a seat. 50 fun Sport Insert Bags & 10 Sport Frames to mix & match. 25% off! Code: HEATHER25 (Exp. 9/30/15) zuca.com

School Lunches Just Got Super Easy The rove® 7 piece Laptop Iced Bento Lunch Box has it all handled. Featuring a leak-proof, hinged lock-lid, non-toxic freezer pack, fork, spoon, and 4 ways to portion lunch, it’s a no brainer.

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Your child can fly, sparkle & roar back to school! Bixbee bridges fantastical and function. Their patented ergonomic backpacks are designed to carry weight at waist level. 15% off! Code: FAMILYFUN at bixbee.com

workbook Mason and Rylee are in the house!

4. Use a thumbtack to make a hole through both layers of the body where shown on the template. Thread a yellow pipe cleaner through the holes and slide the body to its center.

> contest winner

TOP THIS! NEWSPAPER CRAFT In April’s Top This!, we challenged readers to come up with a craft that used newspaper as its main material. Our favorite edition was this scaffoldingesque playhouse built by Amber Dedert and her kids, Mason (age 2) and Rylee (4), of Liberty, Illinois. They connected the ends of rolled-up newspaper logs with masking tape. After they built the structure, Amber threw a light blanket over the top of it, and her kids thought it was even cooler. Congratulations, Dedert family!

> how to

SILLY CELEBRATIONS A PARROT’S LIFE FOR ME, p. 19 1. Print the parrot template from family funmag.com and cut out the shapes.

2. Fold a white paper plate in half. Align the back of the body shape with the fold, and place the wing shape along the round edge. Trace and cut out the shapes through both layers.

3. Paint the pieces to look like a parrot and let them dry. Glue the wings to the body and the two halves of the beak together.

Attach self-adhesive googly eyes.

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5. Leaving about ½ inch of the pipe cleaner unbent inside the body, bend each end of the pipe cleaner into a three-toed foot, as shown. Add glue to both sides of the pipe cleaner holes and let it dry with the legs in a standing position.

6. Loop a length of white elastic cord around the center of the pipe cleaner. Put the parrot on the wearer’s shoulder, then tie the cord so that it fits snugly under his armpit and the parrot stands up by itself.

HAPPY HOME BUILT FOR BUILDERS, p. 32 To add wheels to the workbench, as shown, turn it upside down and measure the length of the shorter side. From a 2- by 4-foot board, cut 2 pieces to that length. Lay the boards atop the bench, close to the ends. Drill 2 ¼-inch holes through each board and into the bottom of the bench. Attach the board using a 3-inch-long ¼-inch carriage bolt, washer, and nut for each hole. Use a drill or screwdriver and 1-inch wood screws to attach 2-inch swivel casters (four total; ours were $4.47 each at Lowe’s) to the ends of each board.

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workbook Salt and pepper 4 (5- to 6-oz.) cod fillets, skinned ¼ cup panko bread crumbs ¼ cup grated Parmesan 2 tbsp. chopped parsley ACTIVE TIME: 20 MIN. TOTAL TIME: 40 MIN. MAKES: 4 SERVINGS

1. Heat oven to 350° with a rack in the center position.

> recipe

LET’S EAT! PARMESAN-CRUSTED COD WITH GARLICKY SUMMER SQUASH, p. 36 INGREDIENTS

2 small zucchini, sliced into ¾-inch-thick rounds 2 small yellow summer squash, sliced into ¾-inch-thick rounds 2 garlic cloves, minced ¼ cup olive oil

2. Toss together the zucchini, squash, garlic, and 2 tbsp. olive oil on a rimmed baking sheet. Season with salt and pepper and spread the ingredients evenly, leaving space for the fish. Place the fish on the pan and season with salt and pepper.

3. In a small bowl, combine the panko, Parmesan, parsley, remaining olive oil, and a pinch of salt. Press the mixture onto the fish, distributing it evenly.

4. Bake until the fish flakes apart when gently prodded with a paring knife, about 20 minutes.

PER SERVING: 314 calories, 29g protein, 17g fat, 3g sat. fat, 12g carbs, 2g fiber, 432mg sodium

> continued

SPOTLIGHT MEET THE FAMILY, p. 75 patient can be painful, but it yields a more communicative boy.

There are limits, of course, to how communicative kids of 9 and 11—or at least my kids at these ages—are willing to be. Rebecca liked the concept of probing deeper because, she said, “in some books I’ve read, like The Cupcake Diaries, there are people who keep their feelings in, and then their faces look down.”

Aaron shot back, “Life isn’t about cupcakes, Rebecca.” Her face wrinkled as she tried to process that. There was silence all around until Aaron offered up something that danced on the thin line between grudging endorsement and Zen koan. “Sitting here is like sitting in the doctor’s waiting room when the doctor is going to tell you your broken arm is all healed,” he said. “The waiting room might be boring, but the result is good.”

Jeff Wagenheim fancies himself the CEO of his Western Massachusetts family, but the two junior board members typically order him

ROAD TRIP OHIO’S WILD SIDE, p. 90 Day 3 After all the cornfields, the winding roads of the Hocking Hills region, lined with thick, towering trees, seemed otherworldly. The girls were nervously excited about the morning’s planned expedition. Rachel peppered us with questions all the way to Hocking Hills Canopy Tours in Rockbridge. She didn’t begin to relax until we were suited up in full-body harnesses and helmets. But anxiety quickly gave way to exhilaration as we followed our energetic guide for

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Hills area. There, we wrapped up our day with a relaxing evening soaking in the hot tub and picking out constellations in the startlingly dark sky (starts at $159 for a 2-bedroom cabin; crockettsrun.com).

three full hours through the treetops, maneuvering across hanging rope bridges and whizzing down zip lines ($89 canopy tour, ages 10 and up only; $29 zipline, intended for ages 5 to 12; 740-385-9477; hockinghillscanopytours.com).

Triumphant and famished, we headed next to nearby Logan for lunch at Millstone BBQ. After polishing off the free mini cornmeal muffins delivered to our table, we then wolfed down brisket sandwiches and Bacon Wrapped Burnt Ends—brisket wrapped in bacon and resmoked (740385-5341; millstonebbq.com).

Down the road, we found the Hocking Hills Regional Welcome Center. I gathered maps and advice inside (GPS is unreliable here), while the kids looked through the tiny, free Pencil Sharpener Museum next door. We learned that our afternoon destination, 6 Hocking Hills State Park, comprises six distinct, unconnected sites far enough apart that we’d need to drive between them. We decided to begin with the most visited one: Old Man’s Cave.

An easy, 15-minute hike over suspended stairs and through rock tunnels brought us to the massive gorge and falls.

After doubling back and refueling with chocolate-dipped frozen bananas from the snack bar, we drove to Conkle’s Hollow, where we followed a ¾-mile forest path through a fairy tale gorge.

Next up was Rock House, a short drive down the road. As we trudged up winding steps carved into the cliff, we wondered aloud about the name—until Rachel stepped inside the massive cave.

“It’s literally a house made of rock!” she exclaimed (park admission free; 1-800-hocking; explorehockinghills.com).

By then it was clear the rest of the park’s sites would have to wait until a future visit. So off we went in search of our cabin at Crockett’s Run, one of many privately owned accommodations in the Hocking

On our three-hour drive home the next day, we passed through plenty more cornfields, but the kids barely seemed to notice. They were much too busy recounting their many adventures in the wild countryside of Ohio.

#familyfunsocute SHOW US WHAT YOU MADE!, p. 21 and 48 We want to see your creations. Share a picture of a FamilyFun craft or recipe you’ve made via the So Cute! tab on our Facebook page, or tweet or Instagram it using #familyfunsocute. (Please accept your tweet or Instagram entry on the So Cute! gallery on our Facebook page.)

If your photo appears in the magazine, we’ll pay you $100.

KIDS COOL STYLE CONTEST RULES NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. Subject to Official Rules at facebook.com/familyfun. FamilyFun Kids Cool Style Contest begins at 12:01 a.m. E.T. on 8/17/15 and ends at 11:59 p.m. E.T. on 9/30/15.

Open to legal residents of the 50 United States, and the District of Columbia, 21 years or older. Limit one (1) entry per person and per Facebook account. Void where prohibited. Sponsor: Meredith Corporation.

This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Facebook. By entering, you understand you are providing your information to Sponsor and not to Facebook.

FamilyFun (ISSN 1056-6333), September 2015, Volume 24, No. 8, is published monthly (except bimonthly in December/ January and June/July) by Meredith Corporation, 1716 Locust Street, Des Moines, IA 50309-3023. Periodicals postage paid at Des Moines, IA, and at additional mailing offices. Subscription prices: $14.95 per year in the U.S.; $24.95 (U.S. dollars) in Canada; $34.95 (U.S. dollars) overseas. POSTMASTER: Send all UAA to CFS. (See DMM 507.1.5.2); NONPOSTAL AND MILITARY FACILITIES: send address corrections to FamilyFun, P.O. Box 37508, Boone, IA 50037-0508. In Canada: mailed under Publications Mail Sales Product Agreement No. 40069223; Canadian BN 12348 2887 RT. Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to FamilyFun, P.O. Box 875, STN A, Windsor, ON, N9A 6P2. ©Meredith Corporation 2015. All rights reserved.

Printed in the USA. Ride-along enclosed in edition AN.

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CRUNCH THE NUMBERS We’ve done the math, so we know you can count on this cute calculator to add fun to the first day of school. To make one, use a serrated knife to trim a graham cracker sheet into a shorter rectangle (ours are about 3½ inches long). Cut a rectangle from a plain chocolate bar and attach it with chocolate frosting. Trim away the tips from three butterscotch, chocolate, or white chocolate chips.

Use more frosting to attach them, along with nine M&M’s Minis candies, as shown.

You may want to make one for each kid, as this calculator breaks if you try division!

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PHOTOGRAPH BY LEVI BROWN; FOOD STYLING BY ALISON ATTENBOROUGH; PROP STYLING BY SHARON RYAN

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