Momaha Magazine - January 2015

momaha.com

VOLUME 6 · ISSUE 1

Get Organized Make time for what you want to do

PLUS

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Can I play for a Spaces fit am child’s dre

SNOW BABIES Say goodbye to the winter birthday blues

JANUARY 2015

WINTER PROGRAM FOR KIDS Mud Pies Adults and children discover a different natural science topic each week introduced through interactive stations.

Free for Fontenelle Forest members or $5 children and $7 adult daily admission.

9:30 - 11:30 a.m. every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday during the school year.

Visit

FONTENELLEFOREST.ORG for weekly topic listings.

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momaha

From our momaha.com EdItor

where moms connect

VOLUME 6 . ISSUE 1 . JANUARy 2015 editor in chief CHRIS CHRISTEN chris.christen@owh.com 402-444-1094

assistant editor AMy LaMAR a m y. l a m a r @ o w h . c o m 402-444-1416

creative director/designer HEIDI THORSON hhoffman@owh.com 402-444-1351

momaha.com editor

josie Loza

J O S I E LOZ A josie.loza@owh.com 402-444-1075

production coordinator PAT R I C I A “ M U R P H y ” B E N O I T

on the cover P H O T O : K R I S TA L E I G H H U R S T

momaha.com editor

Mom to two girly girls.

Quirky, unpredictable & sometimes says too much.

Loves making people smile.

content contributors DANIELLE HER ZO G, AMy GR ACE, SANDR A WENDEL, DANIEL J O HNSO N, H E AT H E R W I N K E L , A M y T O K O S , K R I S TA L E I G H H U R S T

Fun Fact Josie loves to go on walks with her children.

to advertise, contact E M I Ly M A R T I N emily.martin@owh.com 402-444-1411 MARCIA OSTRANSK y marcia.ostransky@owh.com 402-444-1489 Momaha Magazine is a monthly publication of the Omaha World-Herald, 1314 Douglas St., Suite 600, Omaha, NE 68102. Momaha is a registered trademark, and all content is copyright 2015 by the Omaha World-Herald. All rights reserved. The opinions and perspectives published herein are those of the authors and should not be construed as those of Momaha Magazine.

Get Social Chat with Josie each Friday from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. on momaha.com

Exercise your Willpower I n the new year, we’ll be doing more cleaning, sorting, exercising, budgeting and saving, right? Let’s not call them resolutions.

Instead, let’s view them as lifestyle changes so our healthier habits will stick around longer.

One of the best ways to realize a permanent change is to give it a workout.

In this issue, we help you jump-start that new routine.

Learn how to maximize the hours in your day, pamper yourself without guilt 12 months out of the year, and build your cash reserves, one week at a time.

Also find ideas for a winter birthday party to remember, inspiration for playrooms that can grow along with your child, and an easy recipe for a yummy chocolate cobbler.

Good luck embracing a new you. But for the record, I like the old you, too!

Facebook: josie.loza Twitter: @LozaFina Pinterest: momahaowh

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On Our Radar NEW YEAR’S EVE FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR

Dec. 31

Gene Leahy Mall holidaylightsfestival.org The Holiday Lights Festival closing event is one of the largest New Year’s Eve fireworks displays in the region.

Hours: 7 to 7:30 p.m.

Admission: Free

GINGERBREAD HOUSE DISPLAY

Through Jan. 4

Mormon Trail Center historicflorence.org The annual gingerbread house display’s theme this year is “old-fashioned Christmas.”

Hours: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Admission: Free

IDENTITY: AN EXHIBITION OF YOU

Through Jan. 11 except Mondays

Durham Museum durhammuseum.org Find out what makes you tick in an entertaining exhibit that allows you to experience hands-on interactive stations that show how your genetics, brain chemistry and even your friends and social groups help make you who you are. Are you a dreamer or an organizer? How do the people in your life influence the choices you make?

Hours: Regular museum hours Admission: $6 to $9 for nonmembers; free for members

KIDZ EXPLORE

Feb. 14-15

Mid-America Center omaha.com The fun-filled family-oriented celebration features activities and exhibitors, a toddler village and more!

Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Admission: $7 for adults, $5 for children ages 3 to 12 and free for children 2 and under

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COWBOY BAND

By Max Sparber

Jan 23 - Feb 8, 2015 Fridays at 7 pm 路 Saturdays at 2 pm & 5 pm 路 Sundays at 2 pm Buffalo Bill was an adventurer, a cowboy, a buffalo hunter, a Pony Express rider, and a showman. At the turn of the 20th century, thanks to his outrageous Wild West traveling shows, he was the most famous man on earth. One week, on a long train trip from Omaha, where his Wild West show started, Buffalo Bill looks out on a West very different than the one his ne fr ffrom om mh is childhood, and he tells his daughter his story.

6+ 70

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Show Sponsored By: Opening Night Sponsored By:

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Kid Spaces Texy by amy lamar phoTography by daniel johnson

T

wo moms show how they turned little-used rooms into kid-friendly zones that their children can call their own and dream of who they want to be.

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A window seat doubles as a cozy reading nook, while floor pillows create extra seating for play dates.

FACT:

A baby loves peek-a-boo when he begins to understand an object exists, even when not in view.

PRIMROSE WAY:

Infants – Private Pre-K & After School

We have teachers who could represent the U.S. in peek-a-boo.

CALL FOR A TOUR. Primrose School of La Vista

8202 S 97th Plaza | La Vista, NE 68128 402.517.1153 | PrimroseLaVista.com Each Primrose School is a privately owned and operated franchise. Primrose Schools and The Leader in Educational Child Care are trademarks of Primrose School Franchising Company. ©2014 Primrose School Franchising Company. All rights reserved. See primroseschools.com for ‘fact’ source and curriculum detail.

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Room to gRow

Everything in this neutral playroom (opposite page) is meant to age along with the children it was designed for – right down to the contents of the drawers.

Someday, the drawing pads and Lego instruction books will give way to hanging files and school projects, Laura DiMaio predicts.

“You could take all the toys out and have high school stuff in here. They will use it for many years,” Laura says, referring to Vinnie, 7, Giovanni, 2, and 7-month-old Gemma.

For the time being, the playroom is perfectly suited for Vinnie and Giovanni’s ages and interests.

“They can do whatever they want up here,” says Laura about the former “dark and gothic” maid’s quarters-turned guestroom in the family’s 78-year-old home in the vicinity of the Westroads.

Best of all for this mom is the playroom’s proximity to a half bath – which means fewer accidents for Giovanni, who is potty-training.

The bathroom has a whimsical feel, partly from a hand-painted Sherle Wagner sink. Laura had Omaha artist Andy Moore replicate a portion of the decorative motif on the sink wall.

Moore also painted the playroom ceiling to resemble the underside of an umbrella. (Laura originally wanted a tented ceiling but later decided that it would be too bold for the room.)

Suspended from the center of the ceiling design is a contemporary light fixture that could easily be switched out in a few years for, say, a punching bag for Laura’s sons.

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While formerly a guestroom, no one used it – except the cats. “The cats lived up here,� Laura DiMaio says with a laugh. Meanwhile the toys were piling up, so they decided to make the room useful.

Guests now stay in a repurposed third-floor bedroom.

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What mess?

“As moms we like things to be organized,� says Kelly Buscher, who also loves “zones� for special activities.

The family’s Westchester neighborhood home includes a space for creative play for Kylee, 9, and Libby, 5.

Located right off the kitchen, the room has cheerful bright yellow walls and abundant natural light that invite you to hang out and take it all in.

In one half of the former bedroom are aprons, dishes and plastic food – and an overflowing bin of puppets ready for a show. You’ll also find a play vacuum, board games and a robot dog that has been “walked� a time or two.

On one wall is a colorful piece of art made out of recycled fence posts, while another wall holds paintbrushes made out of unwanted chair legs and TV wire from a school.

The other half of the room is where the girls’ artistic juices really flow. Their latest

paintings and drawings hang from clothespins attached to the bottom rims of pendant lampshades.

Below is a well-loved art table that “gets a lot of use and abuse,� Kelly says, adding that pizza is frequently eaten here between art projects.

A Lazy Susan in the middle of the table makes every colored pencil, pair of scissors and bottle of glue easy to reach regardless of where you’re sitting.

Kelly, a former high school teacher and territory manager for the Portico showroom in Dallas, wouldn’t have it any other way. “I wanted it to be bright and childlike – a fun place to be creative,� she says.

But it won’t always look this way. “I didn’t want to put a lot of money into the room since the girls will grow out of it,� she says of her future home office.

For now she is happy that she can pull the door closed. “In two minutes this room will be trashed,� she says with an exasperated smile.

littlesportsomaha.com

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The “I believe in make believe” sign in this dressup nook in the Buscher home sums up what happens in the former basement storage closet. Boas, costumes and hair bows – it’s a little girl’s dream!

You may think this cozy nook is supposed to be for a wine rack or a fish tank, but it was actually designed to be exactly what Kylee, 9, and Libby, 5, use it for: Snuggling up with a good book.

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THE BEST PLACE FOR KIDS.

GraceAnn, age 7 Asthma

Visit ChildrensOmaha.org for more information on how we can help your child.

For a pediatrician, family physician or pediatric specialist, call 1.800.833.3100.

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winter break survivaL guide

Boredom

Menu

Make cleanup easy with a single-serve, serve-yourself menu.

what you need Rainbow Goldfish served in takeout containers Veggie sticks and hummus Colorful macaroni salad Sandwich bar Root beer floats Birthday cake

Busters When the new loot loses its luster.

TexT by Amy LamAr, Chris ChrisTen And heidi Thorson PhoTogrAPhy by heidi Thorson And KurT A. KeeLer sTyLing by Amy LamAr, Chris ChrisTen And heidi Thorson

L

ike summer, the winter holiday break can get long and “B.O.R.I.N.G.,” in your child’s words. At least he has the weather as an excuse. As for the living room full of newly unwrapped toys? Sigh.

Here are 25 fun ideas for the whole family to enjoy. From the oldfashioned, to the crafty, creative and just plain fun, there won’t be time for boredom.

Toss the confetti! Cold-weather birthdays just got fun!

TexT and sTyling by HeaTHer Winkel PHoTograPHy by krisTa leigH HursT

P

C t o

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summer parties may seem to have all the fun since beautiful weather allows for options galore. but that doesn’t mean that winter babies are stuck with drab options. a little creative planning can take a winter party from a logistical nightmare to the best event ever.

Balloon Pool Party

Bring your splish-splash party indoors with a balloon pool party. The kids will have just as much fun, and nobody has to get wet! Greet guests with root beer floats and a pair of sunglasses. They’ll be relaxing by the pool in no time.

Worried about balloons popping? Make popping part of the fun by adding a pinch of confetti before blowing up the balloons.

Popping becomes the life of the party when confetti is sent aflutter.

Balloon Pool

The pièce de résistance of this indoor party.

Tip: Use varying shades of blue balloons and the pool will look like it’s filled with water. Blow up beach balls and dive in.

Confetti Balloon invite

Wow your guests with this in-person party invite. what you need Clear balloons Paper confetti Balloon Time latex helium balloon it (check balloontime.com for local availability) Printed ribbons or cards listing invitation information Gift tags what you need 1. Ask someone to hold the mouth of a balloon open and add a pinch of paper confetti. (Don’t add too much or the balloon won’t float.)

2. Fill up the balloon using the Balloon Time helium tank.

3. Tie off balloon, and attach a ribbon or card with the invitation information and a gift tag with recipient’s name.

4. Hand-deliver to your guests. Repeat.

PoM-PoM Party hats

Customized hats – you can’t beat that! Find the directions + a downloadable template on Momaha.com

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confetti favoR bags

Send guests home with balloon treats that won’t deflate. what you need Clear treat bags Paper confetti Bubbles Temporary tattoos Lollipops (They look like balloons on a stick!)

Colorful string what you do 1. Open up the clear treat bags and sprinkle a bit of confetti in each.

2. Toss the confetti around, utilizing the static of the bag, until it sticks to the sides.

3. Fill bags with containers of bubbles, temporary tattoos and lollipops.

4. Tie with colorful string.

Note: Looking for temporary tattoos? Visit momaha.com, and print our template on temporary tattoo paper (we found ours through Amazon).

MoRe winteR paRty ideas

RacetRack

Imagine taking your friends to a day at the races – at your house! Tape off a racetrack on a hard floor, and mark your front door with a giant checkered flag. Give Matchbox cars and Washi tape as party favors so the kids can keep racing at home.

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decoRate it

Let them decorate ... everything! Send little homemade cupcakes home in miniature paint cans. If you’re willing to give up a wall in your house, paint it with chalkboard paint and let birthday guests draw on it.

pajaMa bRunch

Invite friends over for brunch in your PJs. Think juice bar, make-your-own pancakes and doughnuts packaged and tied up with bows.

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It’s not hot chocolate, but it isn’t quite a brownie either. It’s hot cocoa cobbler – the perfect sweet treat for chasing the chills away.

Back by popular demand, Balloonacy explores the power of friendship. A lonely old man is befriended by a mischievous balloon.

The balloon teaches the old man to play again, Through all the ups and downs of a new relationship.

This sweet and inventive tale is packed with physical comedy especially suited for very young audiences.

Don’t miss this charming, award-winning play.

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Warm & Gooey Stay toasty with this dessert in a mug.

TexT & PhoTograPhy by heaTher Winkel

Hot cocoa cobbler

Makes: 10

wHat you need 1 cup butter 1 cup flour 2 teaspoons baking powder ¼ teaspoon salt 7 tablespoons cocoa powder, divided ¾ and ½ cup sugar, divided ½ cup milk 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract ½ cup packed light brown sugar 1½ cups hot water wHat you do 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Melt butter in bottom of an 8-inch baking dish.

3. Stir together the flour, baking powder, salt, 3 tablespoons of the cocoa and ¾ cup of the sugar.

4. Stir milk and vanilla into the dry mixture and mix until smooth.

5. Pour mixture over melted butter in baking dish.

6. In a separate bowl, mix ½ cup sugar, brown sugar and 4 tablespoons of cocoa.

7. Sprinkle this mixture evenly over batter.

8. Pour the hot water over all and DO NOT stir. It will look a bit strange, but trust us.

We have done this before!

9. Bake for 40 minutes.

10. Serve in mugs.

Note: You can divide the mixture and bake it directly in oven-safe mugs, but you’ll need to determine the baking time based on mug size. The deeper the mug, the longer the baking time.

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Get orGanized // amy tokos Amy Tokos, CPO, is the owner of Freshly Organized, and is the only Certified Professional Organizer in Nebraska. freshlyorganized.com

Priorities By-the-Minute tiMe-savers Kiss the day-to-day craziness goodbye.

Priorities are among life’s little necessities. if you stick with them, you’ll be rewarded with that extra hour you always say you need each day.

Priority how-to 1. Start each day with five priorities.

2. Cross off each priority on your list as it’s accomplished.

3. If you accomplish fewer than four, it’s time to simplify and streamline the craziness that’s holding you back. By saving time on your “have to’s,” you’ll make more time for your “want to’s.”

Productivity Boosters Waiting time. We all spend time waiting for a child, a doctor, etc. Take advantage of the down time. Read or work a crossword puzzle; do stretches or squats in place.

Driving time. I am not a fan of multitasking because we can really only do one thing at a time to be truly efficient and focused. But there are a few exceptions to this rule, and driving is one of them. It’s a great time to listen to your child talk about her day or for her to read you a story.

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gain 5 minutes: 1. Clean out your utensil drawer.

Weed out the extras. that you never use. The next time you need your pizza cutter it will be much easier to find.

2. Organize your storage containers.

First, only keep what you use. Then put all of the containers and lids together.

If you can, limit yourself to containers that use the same size lid.

3. sort mail next to the recycle bin.

A quick sort as you come into the house can keep junk mail from cluttering your countertops.

4. Color-code the kids.

Assign each kid a color for her cup, toothbrush, towel and anything else you can think of. This makes the owner’s search much easier. gain 10 minutes: 1. start a lost-and-found basket.

Stop delivering what your kids leave laying around to where you think it belongs. Instead, toss it into a lost-andfound basket. See a video explanation at youtube.com/amytokos under “Tackle Kids’ Clutter.”

2. simplify your beauty routine.

Something as simple as letting your curls be curly instead of trying to make them straight can save you at least 10 minutes a day. Next, find the products that work best and clear out the rest.

Clean out your closet.

Stop climbing over the things that you never wear. Minimize your decisions each morning. Keep what you love; donate the rest.

gain 20 minutes: 1. make an action file box.

Contain papers that are needed all the time. Check out my video explanation at youtube.com/amytokos under “A Home Action File.”

2. make a meal plan.

Planning takes a few minutes, but it will save time in the long run. Consider themed nights (“Taco Tuesday,” for example). Join eMeals, which provides recipes and a shopping list each week.

3. Delegate chores.

Put those kids and your spouse to work! If everyone helps for a quick 15 minutes a couple of times a week, you can accomplish a lot. gain an evening: 1. turn it all off.

Everything. Walk away from your phone and computer. Turn off the TV. Do something more constructive with your time.

2. Leave the homework to the kids.

Your kids need to do their own homework. This will free up your evening. Plus, it will be a big boost to your child’s confidence when he knows he can do it on his own.

More at MoMaha.coM

Find out the gender

at 16 weeks

;-)

?!

Chat with Josie Loza each Friday from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. on momaha.com.

Read “How I Do It,” a Q & A feature on moms getting through their day.

Join momaha’s Evening Children’s Story Time.

It meets at 7 p.m. the last Friday of each month at The Bookworm.

Click through our Kids Camp Directory.

It’s full of worthwhile experiences in the metro area. Make a note to yourself to reserve your child’s spot early for next year. Camps fill up quickly.

79

Prince or Princess $ Package only

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Must mention Momaha when booking for special discount.

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10913 Prairie Brook Rd Omaha, NE 68144

402.932.1555 omahastorkvision@gmail.com

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ZIP IT, ZIP IT GOOD Head for Mt. Crescent Ski Area and strap yourself in for an exhilarating ride on the Screaming Eagle zip line that whizzes above the treetops at up to 40 mph. Five football fields in length and 30 feet high, it’s the wildest ride of its kind in Nebraska or Iowa. Open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through January. Admission: $25 for 1 ride; $40 for 3 rides (the multi-ticket can only be used by one person). Must be 50 to 250 pounds. Closed-toe shoes, empty pockets advised. Reservations required. Pick your day and time here: skicrescent.com

Go Play!

Cabin fever won’t dare set in with this activity list. text by chris christen

W

e subscribe to the theory that an active family is a happy family.

Take advantage of the long holiday school break to give yourselves a workout – mentally and physically.

Try our suggestions over the next three weeks, and we pretty much can guarantee that cabin fever won’t be an issue in your household.

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CREATE A MASTERWORK At Joslyn Art Museum, where admission is free, kids can explore nine hands-on activity stations with connections to the museum’s permanent collections and temporary exhibitions. Called Artworks, the newly opened 1,500-square-foot interactive space is touted as “a place for curiosity.” Eloise’s Portrait Gallery turns every child into an artist and you into his or her muse! The best part: Kids leave with a priceless, one-of-a-kind memento of their day at the museum. Hours: Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Thursdays open until 8 p.m. Closed Mondays and major holidays. joslyn.org GO WILD Check out the babies at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium. It was a busy fall in the nursery, where zoo vets welcomed a giraffe, lion triplets, a whiteheaded gibbon and an African spotted-neck otter. The baby giraffe loves to romp in the indoor giraffe exhibit, while the lion cubs are most likely cuddled up to their mother, Ahadi, or their Aunt Mfisha in a corner of the Cat Complex.

(Look closely at the lion cubs. One is white, which is really rare.) The two other zoo infants – the gibbon and the otter – reside in the Lied Jungle. omahazoo.com

BUILD A CONNECTION WITH NATURE Don’t miss Nature Connects 2, an indoor exhibit featuring 12 ALL-NEW installations, inspired by nature and built from nearly 300,000 LEGO® bricks.

JANUARY 17 THROUGH APRIL 26 • 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Off Interstate 80 at 100 Bancroft Street, Omaha | (402) 346-4002 • www.lauritzengardens.org

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New Year, New You Your 12-month plan for a more relaxing, loving, toned, hydrated, nutritious life. compiled by sandra wendel photography by heidi thorson

January

april

Ahhh. Relax your muscles after an especially tense day with a soothing bath soak. Inject a little aromatherapy into your bath water with 2 cups Epsom salts and 5 drops each of these essential oils: lavender, lemon grass, tea tree and orange. Voila! You’ve just created a luxuriating spa at home.

Drink up and smile. Aim to drink half of your body weight in ounces of water each day. Work yourself up to it by placing a rubber band at the top of your water bottle.

Use it to “meter” your consumption. You’ll soon know how many ounces you need to drink in an hour to hit your target.

Source: MD Anderson Cancer Center

Source: Fitness expert Jay Cardiello, editor-at-large for Shape magazine

February

May

Keep kissing. Kissing burns 26 calories per minute. So calculate how many minutes of passion you’ll need to burn off that box of chocolates your darling may give you on Valentine’s Day. Guilt-free indulgence.

How sweet!

Save the planet. Lower the litter rate and feel good. Consumers worldwide use 1 trillion plastic bags a year. The typical bag is used for just 12 minutes, and the average family brings home 1,500 bags per year. So carry and use those recycled tote bags in your car!

Source: NYU College of Dentistry

Source: Mother Jones

March Chill out. Fill empty plastic milk jugs threequarters full with water and freeze them.

These homemade blocks of ice inside your refrigerator can keep food colder longer (and safer) if the power happens to go out during a storm.

Source: Saint Louis University

June Say yes to kale. This leafy green veggie tops the list of rising stars in the produce department. Look for baby kale – a real winner – at farmers markets. This veggie is leafy and nutrient-dense, and it packs a big nutritional punch without a huge calorie count.

July Water check. By now you know that water keeps you hydrated. But have you noticed?

It also helps rinse decay-causing food particles, restore natural PH balance and help with the production of saliva, which keeps your mouth healthy and clean.

Source: Dr. Timothy Chase, cosmetic dentist

august Beware of midways. State fairs are fun, and so are the corn dogs, funnel cakes and fried stuff on a stick. So wear comfortable shoes and walk off what you eat. It takes 3 miles of walking to burn off the calories in a funnel cake; 4.5 miles for a corn dog; and 1.5 miles for cotton candy.

Source: University of Nebraska Extension Office

septeMber Look who’s walking. Dog owners walk nearly twice as much as their neighbors who don’t have dogs. Fall into the latter category? The Nebraska Humane Society can fix you up with a built-in exercise machine on four legs.

Source: American Journal of Preventive Medicine

Source: Meijer, a grocery retailer

Kid Friendly & Mom’s Groups Welcome!

30 3 0K Kids Menu Items Starting at $3.49!

FFrom ro Noodles to Biscuits & Gravy to Hot Pancakes! We have it all!

OPEN ALL DAY EVERYDAY 6AM - 8PM | Conveniently located off I-680 & Center - Rockbrook Village | 402.393.0252 | gardencaferockbrook.com

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Be Well What’s a baby tooth Worth?

According to the Original Tooth Fairy Poll, the average gift from the Tooth Fairy is $3.50. The first tooth lost has an even higher value: $4.51. Most Tooth Fairies leave cash for kids. And it pays for Moms and Dads to remind kids that the Tooth Fairy likes teeth that are well-brushed daily!

october

Source: Delta Dental

Pillow talk. Sleeping soundly away from home can be difficult, but an easy solution is to bring your own pillow. About 41 percent of Americans take their pillows on vacation.

Limit screen time.

Source: Carpenter Co. Sleep Better Survey

Screen time with TVs, iPads and game units for 2-year-olds and younger is discouraged, while the recommendation is no more than two hours daily for older children.

Also keep media devices out of children’s bedrooms; maintain family routines such as mealtimes screenfree; and set aside TV-free days for the whole family.

november Mind power. Try an old-fashioned jigsaw puzzle to challenge your brain. Completing a puzzle of at least 500 pieces requires fine visual judgment. When you slip the right piece into place, your brain rewards you by producing dopamine – a brain chemical that improves learning and memory.

Source: American Academy of Pediatrics

Source: PositScience

December

cLass animaLs.

Give of yourself. Volunteer work is good for both your mental and physical health. People of all ages who volunteer are happier and experience better physical health and less depression. Think about something you like to do in your spare time and find a match at volunteermatch.org.

Animals can be valuable teaching aids for children in the classroom and on field trips, but there is a risk of illness.

Young children are most at risk because their immune systems are still developing. Supervise children’s hand washing after petting animals.

Soap and water are best, while hand sanitizer is a second-best choice.

Source: Vanderbilt University

Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture

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MOMAHA.COM BlOgger // AMY grACe Amy Grace writes on Fridays at momaha.com.

Get Fit in Style Hit your stride in everyday active wear.

The flip of the calendar year is likely to bring a new fitness goal, or at least a vow to yourself to lead a more active lifestyle. The popularity of active wear as everyday attire makes it easy to at least keep up the appearance of heading to the gym or yoga class. But more so, these garments are perfect for a day of running errands. Here’s a sampling of my favorite haunts for chasing down the latest apparel trend.

OLD NAVY

fiND: Tops, tees, tanks, bras and pants in rainbow colors SiziNg: XS to XXL PriciNg: $40 or less

ATHLETA

fiND: Name-brand pants, sweaters, tops, tees and jackets built for fashion, form and function SiziNg: XS to XL PriciNg: $40 to $200

LULULEMON

fiND: Pants in flattering styles that “suck” you in SiziNg: 2 to 12 PriciNg: $40 to $200, or a little less

H&M

fiND: Ultra-modern active wear with flattering ruching and wide waistbands. Online only in our area. (The Westroads store doesn’t carry active wear.)

SiziNg: XS to XL PriciNg: $40 or less

TArgET

fiND: C9 by Champion tees, tanks, sweatshirts, sports bras and leggings SiziNg: XS to XXL PriciNg: Under $45

gAP

fiND: GapFit leggings, capris, sweatshirts, tees and sports bras in a range of colors and styles that are both figureflattering and stylish.

SiziNg: XS to XL PriciNg: Under $65

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Capture, Preserve, Share.

At Rockbrook Camera photography is much more than a Smartphone App. We believe that recording, preserving and sharing memories through photography is more than just fun and artistic, it’s an obligation to the generations that follow us.

We are the only area store that combines the best in digital cameras and accessories with a complete education program and full service imaging lab.

Share your life with pictures.

Rockbrook - 108th & Center - 397-1171 | Legacy - 168th & W. Center - 691-0003 | Lincoln - 70th & Pioneers - 488-4200 | Shop 24/7 at rockbrookcamera.com

DID YOU KNOW?

that healthy young women can develop osteoporosis?

Healthy women ages 20 – 45 may qualify for a free screening test if you have: regular menstrual periods (use of birth control is okay) had a broken bone or stress fracture • family history of osteoporosis • •

YOUNG WOMEN’S BONE HEALTH RESEARCH STUDY BONE

After screening, you may qualify for our study to find a treatment.

For those that qualify, this study will provide free medication and a $400 stipend.

For more information or to enroll, please contact our research staff at 402.280.2663 and mention the “Young Women’s” study.

29

1-2-3 ways to

Save Money TexT by Amy LAmAr PhoTogrAPhy by heidi Thorson

Think you can’t save money? Look beyond the obvious at your daily, weekly and monthly spending to see where that extra dollar can take you. Start slowly – but do start – by choosing a method that works best for you.

Daily plan

30

Brew coffee at home rather than buying it at your favorite coffee shop.

Plug your appliances into a power socket, and flip the socket switch off between uses.

Take shorter showers. Set a timer, and turn off the water when it goes off.

Brown-bag your lunch every day for work and you could save $25 per week – or $1,300 per year.

Walk or bike to work if you can.

The typical U.S. work commute by car costs about $4,000 per year.

Skip the convenience store. Common grocery items are 45 percent cheaper at a supermarket.

Order water instead of pop or alcohol at restaurants. A family of four could save about $800 per year by drinking water when dining out.

Break a bad habit. Buying a single pack of cigarettes per day adds up to about $2,000 per year.

Bundle your errands into one long trip and save on fuel costs.

Don’t use a higher grade of gas for your car than the manufacturer recommends.

Most car experts agree that you’re wasting money.

Weekly plan

If you want to physically see your money grow, the Mason jar method lets your family see your savings accumulate from week to week inside a clear jar.

The 52-week plan starts with $1 during the first week of January, and then you add an extra dollar to the jar for each week following. Week one, save $1, week two, save $2 and so on. Of course, at the end of the plan you’ll have to save $52 in one week, but the idea is that you’ll have lead time to minimize the sting of the larger amounts.

When you’re finished, you’ll have well over $1,300 in the jar to spend on something special or to set aside for a rainy day.

MOnthly plan 1. GET A LIBRARY CARD. Use the library instead of a bookstore for books, DVDs and more. The average American household spends about $200 per year on books alone.

2. REWARD YOURSELF. Some people have a “swear jar,” but why not have a “yay you!” jar instead? If you didn’t buy an ice cream cone at the mall, put a quarter in the jar. (Better yet, put in the actual cost of the cone.)

3. AUTOMATE YOUR SAVINGS. Set up an automatic transfer from your checking account to your savings account each month. Better yet, transfer from your checking account into an online savings account.

4. DESIGNATE YOUR DOLLARS. Set up sub-accounts at your bank and give them specific names such as “slush fund” or “new car.”

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F R E C OL L E G E Call 402-502-0250 for a consulta on www.crystalfinsol.com

5. KEEP THE CHANGE. Some banks round debit card purchases up to the next dollar and then transfer that amount from checking into savings. For example, if you pay $37.03 for groceries, 97 cents goes into savings. You can also do this with a checkbook or paper register.

6. TURN YOUR PINS INTO REMINDERS. For example, when you sign on to your favorite shopping sites, typing your child’s birth date could remind you that setting up a college plan is more rewarding than buying a new blouse.

7. BILL YOURSELF. Make “savings” a bill and then pay it.

Grow STRONG With OneWorld Pediatrics

8. GET A SAVINGS BUDDY. Suggest that a friend or relative join you in your savings goal, and then chat or e-mail each week about your progress.

South Omaha

9. HIDE YOUR DOLLARS. Open a savings account at a bank across town and don’t get a debit card.

10. PAY DOWN YOUR MORTGAGE. Paying just $100 extra every month toward the principal of the average 30-year mortgage will allow you to save tens of thousands of dollars in interest.

Quality, Culturally Respectful, Affordable Care

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Northwest Omaha

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Sources: Budgeting.about.com, aarp.org, frugalbeautiful.com and huffingtonpost.com

oneworldomaha.org

31

Advice // dAnielle Herzog Sassy Housewife Danielle Herzog is a married mother of two and a former middle and high school teacher. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in counseling.

Tearful Drop-off?

Change up his routine.

Dear Sassy Housewife, My 5-year-old son started kindergarten this year, and he is having trouble letting go of me each morning. If he isn’t in tears, he is whining and complaining about having to be away from me for the entire day. It breaks my heart that he is so sad, but I know he enjoys school. What can I do to put a skip in his step at drop-off?

Signed, Depressed at Drop-off Dear Depressed, I feel ya, momma. My daughter started kindergarten this year, and it was like “Dead Man Walking” every morning for the first month. I’m sorry that you have to deal with that.

It sounds to me like your son needs a bit of a change in his morning routine. Perhaps he’s too rushed after waking up and he doesn’t feel like he gets to spend enough

Where

time with you.

Maybe you could lay out his clothes the night before so in the morning, you two can spend a little extra time together. While my daughter is eating breakfast, for example, we try to play a little game. Sometimes it’s a card game like Old Maid and sometimes it’s Bingo.

It’s just something to start the day together laughing and smiling.

Also, you could give him something to look forward to at school. I started putting notes in my daughter’s lunch box, and I talk about the note at drop-off. She then runs into school and, of course, opens her lunch box to read it.

And heck, I’m not above bribery. Maybe come up with a chart that rewards your son with a new book at a bookstore if he goes five days without whining. At least the book part is educational, right? It’s not like you’re just throwing candy at him, which, cough cough, I would never do.

Lastly, is there a buddy he can walk with

Class & Style 32

into school? Perhaps arrange for him to meet a friend at drop-off so they can walk in together. I have found that having a little person next to a child gives her much more confidence than even a parent can offer.

In the end, know this. This too shall pass.

It might be months of his first year of school, but he won’t do it for the rest of his life. The important thing is to try to find some fun in the morning. He’ll figure it out!

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Duchesne Academy 8th Grade Entrance & Scholarship Exam

7th Grade Practice Exam

Sunday, January 10, 2015 at 8:30 a.m.

Sunday, January 17, 2015 at noon

Contact Recruitment Director, Lauren Mueller, with any questions: 402-558-3800 or lmueller@duchesneacademy.org.

Duchesne O F

T H E

Academy

S A C R E D

H E A R T

3601 Burt Street Omaha, Nebraska 68131 • 402-558-3800 • duchesneacademy.org Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origins to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin and administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.