Momaha Magazine - October 2016

momaha.com

VOLUME 7 · ISSUE 10

OCTOBER 2016

What a hoot! A craft project in a tube

A sackful of non-candy Halloween treats

GET ORGANIZED Capsule wardrobe: Tidy solution day in, day out

GIVE THEM A

BIRD’S EYE VIEW Thirty feet above the forest floor , your kids can see hawks, owls, falcons, and other raptors up-close at the brand new Raptor Wildlife Refuge at Fontenelle Forest.

Push pause on the texting, clicking, sharing, and streaming, just for a moment, and come out to the forest. Move your feet, breathe in the fresh air, explore.

And watch what happens.

FontenelleForest.org

THE BEST PLACE FOR KIDS.

Levi & Dylan, age 4 Pulmonary Atresia

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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Approximately 12% of women in the United States will develop invasive breast cancer in her lifetime.

#SaveTheJugs Help Prairieland Dairy Raise Awareness for Breast Cancer in October

prairielanddairy.com

2

FALL FOR A HEALTHIER YOU JOIN THE YMCA!

October 10-17, join & pay nothing until November!

Valid at any YMCA of Greater Omaha location. Must be a new member. Cannot be combined with any other offer.

Must present coupon and bank draft info. First draft 11/3/16.

REGISTER TODAY AT ANY YMCA LOCATION OR AT WWW.METROYMCA.ORG!

COME PLAY TOGETHER

YMCA Winter Youth Basketball January 9 - March 4 3yrs - 12th grade

Register through December 3

YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA • www.metroymca.org 3

momaha where moms connect

VOLUME 7 . ISSUE 10 . OCTOBER 2016 editor in chief CHRIS CHRISTEN chris.christen@owh.com 402-444-1094

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

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

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

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

content contributors

FALL INTO THE ARTS

E R I N fa I R C H I l D H owaR D k . m aRCUS B E C k y N o va C E k JENNI SwEITzER amy TokoS H E aT H E R w I N k E l

account manager D E B C ava l I E R deb.cavalier@owh.com 402-444-1448

account executive SaRa BakER sara.baker@owh.com 402-444-1442

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

account executive

Piano, Mariachi, Ukulele, Drums, Guitar, Voice, Cartooning, Painting, Ceramics, Ballet, Ballroom, Acting/Improv, Stage Makeup, & Much More!

„ … � � † „ ‡­ � „ † ˆ €‚ ‚ ‰ Š ƒ  � �  � �  ­ � €‚  ƒ www.artsforallinc.com 402.556.7821

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E m I ly m a R T I N emily.martin@owh.com 402-444-1411

account executive C aT H l E E N va N H a U E R cathleen.vanhauer@owh.com 402-444-1209 Momaha Magazine is a monthly publication of the Omaha World-Herald, 1314 Douglas St., Suite 700, Omaha, NE 68102.

Momaha is a registered trademark, and all content is copyright 2016 by the Omaha 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.

20TH SEASON • • • •

State-of-the-Art Facility 3 Large Studios at 1 Location Top Quality Dance Instruction Boys • Girls • Ages 2 to Adults

• Caring Teachers in a Fun, Positive Learning Environment • Age-Appropriate Classes, Choreography & Costumes • Serving the Papillion/La Vista Area Since 1998

8610 Brentwood Drive Drive, #7 | La Vista 402-592-6722 ADCdance.com | adcboss@cox.net | Jennifer Kinsey, owner FREE REGISTRATION FOR 2016 CLASSES* *Expires 10.31.16. New students only.

END CHILD ABUSE BE SOMEONE SO O

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CONTENTS

Real MoMs + advice

8 Editor’s Column 10 On Our Radar 12 Be Well 14 Get Organized 28 Overcome Overscheduling

seasoNal

18 Halloweentines 22 Face-Painting Tutorial 30 Junkstock 32 Jack-o’-Lantern Stuffed Bell Peppers

oN THe coveR

Photo: Heidi Thorson 16 Hoot to Boo Give these easy and irresistably cute Halloween decorations a try!

SkyHawks are brothers and sisters on the same flight path.

Learn more about Skutt Catholic’s faith-based, college-prep curriculum and our over 50 award winning activity and athletic programs.

Contact Tim Bloomingdale, director of admissions at 402.333.0818 ext. 5133 to schedule a tour. Ask about our financial assistance program.

Pine Ridge Reservation Mission Trip, Summer 2016

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SkuttCatholic.com | 3131 S 156th St | Omaha, NE 68130

Haunted Safari October 7 and 8 Go on a haunted hike, enjoy supper, roast marshmallows and play ghostly games for candies in the great outdoors during Haunted Safari at Wildlife Safari Park. Great for families with children ages 3–12, but everyone is welcome. For more information or to reserve a spot, visit OmahaZoo.com.

October 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29 and 30 It’s time for Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium’s annual Spooktacular. This safe and family fun evening includes after-hours admission for trick-or-treating and fun activities. Take a sweet stroll down Story Book Lane and experience exhibits like never before. Head to Spooktacular and get ready for a candy-munchin, moon-howlin good time.

Visit OmahaZoo.com for details.

Boo Bash October 29 ALL NEW! Join Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium for Boo Bash, an enchanted Halloween dinner providing first-entry admission to Spooktacular. Meet and take pictures with characters, create crafts, and dance the night away. Pre-registration is required and will be available September 2016. Visit OmahaZoo.com for details. /OmahaZoo

@OmahaZoo

@TheOmahaZoo

Photo taken at Haunted Safari

#Spooktacular

OmahaZoo.com

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MoMaha aSSiStaNt editor // KiM carPeNter Guest columnist while online editor Ashlee Coffey is on family leave with new baby Elliott Arthur. Mom to Annie, wife to John, owner of a dog that never comes when called and semi-talented multi-tasker

K

BOO TO YOU!

ettle corn and apple cider.

Cooler nights and changing leaves. There’s so much to love about October, most of all, perhaps Halloween. I’ll admit it.

Sometimes it ranks even higher than Christmas on my beloved holidays list. Less hassle, more fun, plus Kit Kats and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups to surreptitiously liberate from the trick-or-treat bag. All that sugar is bad for kids, right?

Everything in moderation.

We provide some guidelines for handling the mass of candy your youngster will tote home as well

as step-by-step instructions for creating alternative treats.

Contributor Heather Winkel puts a clever twist on classic Valentines with D.I.Y. “Halloweentines” (page 18) to delight little ghouls, goblins and fairy princesses (and anyone – or anything – else that might come knocking).

This is a time to let loose, so why not hand out something above and beyond the usual jawbreakers and lollipops?

As we sink further into the school year, it’s also easy for kids to become overbooked. We talk with a local

expert for tips on how to avoid over-scheduling your children – and yourself (page 28). We also provide a new way to streamline your wardrobe and tame closet clutter (page 14).

Finally, we offer a sneak peek of what to expect at Junkstock’s new location (page 30). The popular flea market is moving to Sycamore Farms, where it aims to take collecting vintage treasures to new heights.

Welcome to fall and safe trick-ortreating!

Get Social Facebook /momahacom TwiTTer @momaha_owh PinTeresT /momahaowh

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OUTLET

d r to: NOW OPEN next doo and Grover on 84th a

Your Original Halloween Experts • Costumes • Makeup • Indoor & Outdoor Decorations

ONLY AT

Every Saturday 10-2

3457 S 84th Street, Omaha, NE 68124 402.391.6225 | mangelsens.com

Earn A 10% rebate on everything you buy with our Fun Club Rewards Program!

Join for FREE in our store.

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On OUR RADAR // ERin FAiRchilD Erin Fairchild is a 20-something lifestyle blogger living in Omaha.

Follow her latest posts at herheartlandsoul.com

SAY MEOW

Gorgeous illustrations dance on the pages of “They All Saw a Cat”

by Brendan Wenzel.

Just released, the book tells the tale of observation, curiosity and imagination through a cat and his nine lives. A sure repeat request at bedtime. Amazon, $16.99

THINGS TO TRY THIS MONTH

DRESS UP YOUR PET

CELEBRATE AMERICA

Christopher Columbus Day is Oct. 10. Help your little ones learn all 50 states with the Learning Journey Lift and Learn USA Map. It’s not only colorful and fun for young learners, it also illustrates a key attraction in each state. Walmart, $8.50

MAKE A RUN FOR IT

We don’t know how this is possible, but the holidays are just around the corner.

Use that as motivation to step up your workouts so you can feel better once the endless streams of cookies, cakes, pies and sweets start circulating. We love these Nike Free RN Flyknit ULTD running shoes. They’re lightweight, stylish and perfect for sprinters. Nike, $130

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Include the family pet in your Halloween celebrations. Target carries a large selection of affordable and absolutely adorable costumes for dogs and cats. This lion costume makes even the most timid pup look brave. While we’re sure cats would look cute in this too, dress them at your own risk! Target, $19.99

STAY STYLISH

As the weather gets cooler, and you need more layers, stay stylish with this BLANKNYC faux leather jacket. It pairs perfectly with tall boots and a statement necklace.

Best of all, it’s under $100.

Nordstrom, $98

Halloween!

Celebrate

Crafts

Lock-ins

Games & Parties

Spooktacular Storytimes

Tabletop Haunted Houses Mini Halloween Hats Haunted Gingerbread Houses

Visit omahalibrary.org for a complete schedule of events.

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ADVICE FOR A BETTER LIFE COMPILED by Momaha Magazine

TRICK OR TREAT

SLOW GOES IT

Halloween means lots of treats. The trick is making sure children stay safe and healthy.

SAFETY FIRST

Dressing up is one of the best parts of Halloween, but costumes can sometimes be safety hazards. Choose ones with light colors and help them stand out with reflective or glow-in-the dark tape or stickers. Make sure clothes are the appropriate length and shoes fit well and have low heels. Eschew masks that can make it hard for kids to see in favor of face paint or makeup. And outfit children with glow sticks or flashlights to make them highly visible to drivers.

Safe Kids Worldwide

While Halloween is exciting, don’t let trick-or-treaters make a run for it.

Costumes can be tough to navigate, and more people on sidewalks mean more opportunities for collisions. Have kids take their time, cross streets only at corners and walk door-to-door. They’re less likely to get hurt, and you’ll have an easier time keeping an eye on them.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

IF LOST, PLEASE CALL

Halloween is hectic. Sometimes even the most eagle-eyed parent can lose sight of a little one in a crowd. Place a nametag with your phone number on your child’s costume in case you get separated. Kids Health

BREAK WITH JAWBREAKERS

Parents sometimes think hard candies like jawbreakers and lollipops are okay for kids because the extra saliva produced while sucking washes sugar away from teeth. Studies, though, find the acidity of these kinds of treats offsets any salutary saliva by eroding dental enamel. Academic Center for Dentistry Amsterdam

DON’T STICK TO IT

Not all Halloween candy is created equal.

Among the worst offenders are treats that stick to teeth. These include gum, toffee and caramel. Choose candy that’s easy to chew – and have kids brush extra well after consuming lots of sugar. Time Magazine

100

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Are you all in?

You are invited to Brownell Talbot School’s Open House!

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM • Meet faculty, administration, and families.

• Tour our beautiful campus.

• Learn about financial aid opportunities.

• Entrance exam fee waived for open house attendees.

From preschool to grade 12, we prepare students to learn passionately, think critically, act responsibly, and lead with integrity.

ALL IN FOR BT

Visit brownell.edu/GoBT to request more information.

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

Tame your closet and make mornings easier with a capsule wardrobe WHAT IT IS We’ve all seen Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg with his T-shirt uniform. That’s a very basic example of the capsule wardrobe, a collection of essential clothing items you augment with seasonal pieces.

The concept has been around for more than 40 years and is an easy way to minimize clothing so you only wear the items you love.

WHAT TO INCLUDE Surprise! You already have a capsule wardrobe.

It’s the dozen or so pieces of clothing that find their way into your laundry basket every week.

Those favorite work slacks, beloved blue jeans and go-to tops. Select items you can mix, match and layer. Add a few seasonal or trendy pieces. Create a capsule wardrobe for work, another for everyday life.

WHY HAVE ONE There are numerous benefits to having a capsule wardrobe.

No. 1: Closets become simple to organize, and you can get ready in a snap. You’ll also wash things more frequently and get them back into your closet faster, which means fewer piles of laundry. You’ll begin to shop with purpose, investing in better-quality items for durability.

WHAT NOT TO INCLUDE

HOW TO GET STARTED

Don’t follow someone else’s template for a capsule wardrobe.

Create your own.

Start with an inventory of your closet. When shopping, don’t settle. If an article of clothing looks good, and you love the way you feel in it, then it belongs in your capsule.

If something fits poorly, eliminate it or refrain from buying it.

Be intentional in what you keep.

If you’re not completely on board with a capsule wardrobe, try placing clothes you don’t wear frequently in a storage bin. And see if you miss them.

FITNESS ADVICE YOU CAN FOLLOW. HEALTHYKOHLSKIDS.COM 14

FINAL STEPS Another easy purge? Turn your hangers backward on your clothing rod. After you wear an item, turn the hanger facing front.

In one month, remove any items (from the current season) on the backward hangers.

This process shouldn’t happen in one week. Take your time. You’ll create a capsule you love, one that leaves you feeling confident and beautiful.

VALA’S IS NOW OPEN! September 16 thru October 31

Over 50 attractions and activities at Vala’s Pumpkin Patch, plan to spend most of your day exploring all the farm has to offer.

From the classic hayrack ride to the pumpkin field to our giant bouncing pillows, there’s sure to be something for everyone.

Buy your season passes now online at

www.valaspumpkinpatch.com

402-332-4200 info@valaspumpkinpatch.com

12102 S 180th St • Gretna, NE 68028 15

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Create a Halloween menagerie with these toilet paper tube crafts TEXT + STYLING Kim Carpenter PHOTOGRAPHY Heidi Thorson

Halloween is a perfect time for making crafts. These simple ones pair an everyday item with a few select craft supplies.

MR. MUMMY 1. Glue white gauze around toilet paper tube. 2. Affix googly eyes with glue stick.

ATTA BAT 1. Paint toilet paper tube black. Let dry. 2. Press down top of tube to form ears. 3. Glue on googly eyes. 4. Cut 2 small

triangles out of white construction paper to make teeth.

Glue under eyes. 5. To create wings, cut two 1½-inch-wide triangles from black construction paper. Make a small crease at top of each triangle. Cut three points on bottom of triangles. Glue wings at the crease on either side of tube.

BAD LUCK BLACK CAT 1. Paint toilet paper tube black. Let dry. 2. Press down top of tube to form ears. 3. Glue on googly eyes. 4. Cut a small

circle out of pink craft paper to create nose. Glue under eyes.

5. Cut white construction paper into six narrow 1-inch-

long strips to make whiskers. Glue three whiskers on either side of nose. 6. Cut a 4- or 5-inch curved tail from black construction paper. Glue on back of tube.

HOOTIE OWL 1. Paint toilet paper tube brown. Let dry. 2. Press down top of tube to form “tufts.” 3. Use a glue stick to affix large googly eyes to tube. 4. Cut a small triangle from orange or yellow craft paper to make a beak. Glue under eyes. 5. Glue craft

feathers on either side of tube to create wings.

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Forget bowls of candy – hand out these festive favors instead

TEXT + STYLING Heather Winkel PHOTOGRAPHY Jenni Sweitzer

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Sept. 14th - 17th GooGly eye ScarecrowS Make oogly, googly treat bags in a pinch.

1. Cut out a 7”-by-9” piece of burlap, and using a hot glue gun, make a small pouch with an open top. 2. Place a piece of paper inside the pouch (to prevent hot glue from seeping through).

3. Create a face on the bottom half of the bag front. Cut a triangle nose from orange felt and attach nose and two googly eyes to bag with hot glue. Use black puff paint to draw mouth and let dry. 4. Create a bow tie from raffia and attach with hot glue below the mouth. 5. Use small rubber letter stamps and ink pad to stamp “I have my eyes on you” onto a small piece of paper. Use hot glue to attach. 6. Remove paper from inside pouch. Fill with raffia and treats.

Boo! S’moreS Friends will shriek with happiness over these haunted s’mores kits.

Halloween Costumes Holiday Dresses & Attire Snow Gear & Boots Sports Gear & Shoes Cribs & Furniture Highchairs & Strollers Maternity & Jr. Clothes DVDs & Gaming Systems So Much More!

9:30am - 7:00pm

1/2 Price Day

Sept. 17th - 9:30am - 4:00pm

f

The Soccer Club 14706 Giles Rd. kidzshoppeomaha.com

1. Print our “From me to boo!” tag template (available on momaha.com) on 8.5”-by-11” cardstock. Cut into tag shape and punch a small hole at the top. 2. Break 1 graham cracker in half and place sections in a clear plastic party favor bag. Add 1 Hershey’s miniature chocolate bar and 1 ghost-shaped marshmallow Peep. 3. Tie top of bag with twine and attach tag.

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smelly Feet Pedicure Skip the treat for this fast, fun pedicure favor that uses a classic Halloween rhyme.

1. Trace the lid of a small mason jar on Halloween-themed paper and cut out the circle. Place it between the jar lid and jar. 2. Add paper grass to bottom of jar and fill with orange and black nail polish. 3. Print the “Trick or treat, smell my feet” tag template on 8.5”-by-11” cardstock. Cut along dotted lines, punch a small hole at top and tie onto lid with embroidery thread.

Bugs and Kisses Quick, sweet party favors with a creepy twist.

1. Print jar template on 8.5”-by-11” craft paper cardstock and cut round jar shape with scissors. 2. Slip jar into 5.25”-by-7.25” plastic sleeve. 3. Fill sleeve 1/3 full with Hershey’s kisses and spider rings.

Halloween glow ligHts Stay safe and light up the night.

1. Print templates on 8.5”-by-11” yellow

cardstock and assemble with glue.

2. Slide three glow sticks under top flap.

All templates available at momaha.com

test tuBe treats Turn ordinary craft test tubes into specimen containers.

1. Fill various sizes of test tubes with witches warts (chocolate chips), pumpkin teeth (candy corn) and spider eyes (Wilton candy eyes). 2. Use a 1” circle punch to stamp circles and write specimen names in spooky handwriting. Attach to test tubes with Washi tape.

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When his doctor is out,

Ours is in.

Same Day Pediatrics, brought to you

evening, weekend and holiday sick appointments for all Omaha children.

We’re not an urgent care center but a real pediatric clinic with scheduled appointments.

When he’s sick, you can count on us to be here.

402.334.7425 139th

6715 South 180th Street 7205 West Center Road, Suite 104

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TEXT + PHOTOGRAPHY Heidi Thorson MODELS Avery Jarzynka, Breck Baker & Addyson Harris FACE-PAINT ARTIST Ima Clown/Mangelsen’s

FACE-PAINTING ESSENTIALS Available (or similar) at Mangelsen’s

Mehron Paradise Face Paint, $10 each or $30 palette

Simple steps to a creative costume Makeup brushes, $2-$8

Makeup sponge set, $10

T

ired of wearing the same costume year after year? No sweat.

All you need to switch it up is a little face paint.

The added bonus? The options are endless and the storage is minimal.

Here, we give you a tutorial on three popular faces.

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FACE-PAINTING TIPS

• Save the acrylics for the paper canvas. Use paints specifically made for the face. The same goes for glitter.

• Baby wipes are for bottoms.

Remove paint with soap and water or makeup remover.

• Keep your paints longer by making sure they are dry before you put them in storage.

Ben Nye Quick Cleanse Makeup Remover, $3

Ben Nye Aqua Glitter, $10 each Temporary tattoos, iron-ons, makeup and brushes also available at squareup.com/store/chris_ts

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Fierce cat

1. Choose your colors. We selected pink and purple. Use a makeup brush and apply white face paint on eyelids, above eyebrows, along the nose, above upper lip and cheeks. 2. Add light purple face paint over the white on cheeks, leading up to the nose and three spots on forehead. 3. Use dark purple to emphasize cheeks and forehead. 4. Apply dark pink to

upper edge of eyebrows, tip of the nose, and top and bottom of cheeks. Use black face paint to draw ears, nose and mouth.

5. Add whiskers with black face paint and pink face paint to bottom lip. 6. Add fangs to edges of bottom lip to complete this fierce look.

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Captain ameriCa

1. Draw an “A” on forehead with white face paint. 2. Using a small makeup brush, outline mask in blue and fill in color around “A”. 3. Using a large makeup brush, color in the outlined mask with blue face paint. 4. To give the mask texture, use a stencil and large makeup brush to dab on white face paint to sides of forehead and upper cheeks. 5. Outline eyes and bottom edges of the mask from chin to chin. 6. Add silver metallic face paint lightly around the mask to give it a shine.

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SAFE & LOVING QUALITY CHILD CARE 2 Convenient Locations:

Full and PartTime Child Care

180th & Dodg 402-93 e 2-2922

192nd & Pa c i f i c 696 402-991-0

Contact us to enroll or for more information ENROLLMENT@SMALLMIRACLECHILDCARE.COM

www.smallmiraclechildcare.com

FALL Lil’ Sprouts: Feeling Batty October 12 | 10 a.m.

October 13 | 1 p.m.

fun

*registration required

Pumpkin Carving with Whole Foods October 22 | 10 a.m. *registration required

Ghoulish Garden Adventure October 30 | Noon to 4 p.m.

•

•

100 Bancroft Street, Omaha (402) 346-4002

www.lauritzengardens.org

Call today for a tour | 402-451-0787

www.nchs.org 25

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Snow PrinceSS

1. Using a makeup brush and blue face paint, draw an “S� curve between the eyes. Add a streak of silver face paint for extra shine. 2. Use a stencil and white face paint to dab on snowflakes. 3. Add snowflakes above and below left eye, and below right eye. 4. Add a snowflake body sticker. 5. Use white face paint to add swirls, flourishes to the end of blue curve and dots along the blue paint. 6. Add light pink face paint for blush on cheeks and on lips for lip color. Optional: Add glitter to snowflakes.

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FALL

Into Swim Lessons!

ONCE-A-WEEK SWIM LESSONS REGISTER TODAY!

Get back into the routine Ages 6 Mos. & Older. Morning, Afternoon, Evening & Saturday Morning Timeslots Available!

Stay Warm In Style Hundreds of coats, jackets, and snow gear! Stay in style and on budget.

402-932-2030 LittleWavesFamilySwimSchool.com

$5 OFF of a $25 Purchase

Must mention ad for promotion. Not valid with other offers. No Expiration

1215 S 180th St

402-810-9518

kidtokid.com/omaha

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Enjoy a party in birthday or at yo our studio ur house !

Looking for a fun and creative outlet for your little artist?

Then Little Brushes has exactly what you

little artists can have a blast creating

Telltale signs your child is overscheduled STORY Kim Carpenter

Go to: www.pinotspalette.com/lavista For More Information.

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D

o you find yourself spending more time with your child in the car than around the dinner table? Do you spend your evenings rushing from one after-school activity to another? Do your kids spend the majority of their time outside the classroom playing sports or participating in extracurricular activities?

If you answered “yes� to any of these scenarios, your child might be overscheduled Dr. Kim Levering, a licensed psychologist with Children’s Behavioral Health, has been in practice for 14 years and is seeing a rise in kids who are simply doing too much. “Parents want their children involved in more things, because they feel the social pressure to have them match up and be able to compete with all the other kids,� she observes. “They question if they’re really doing the right thing – if they should put their children in something or hold them back.�

While making that decision varies for each family, the expert offers tips for determining if your child is too busy outside the classroom and what you can do about it.

WHY THE RISE? Levering sees two factors behind overscheduling. “First, it’s driven by kids. They experience social ramifications on a regular basis and want to be included. They want to do what their friends are doing.�

Parents are the second culprit. “There’s more and more talk about whether kids are successful in certain things,� she observes. “Parents have a tendency to define themselves by their children’s successes, like what medals they’ve received and what their grade-point averages are. We feel great the more successful they are and the better they do.�

OBVIOUS SIGNS The psychologist says parents don’t often come to her about overscheduling, but the topic typically emerges during discussions. “If we’re talking about behavior or academic issues, I’ll ask what their kids are doing in the evening, what time they’re getting to sleep, how late they’re getting home and if they’re missing school assignments because they get home too late to get stuff done.”

If children are frequently tired, their grades are suffering and they’re more anxious about academic or extra-curricular performances, they may be doing too much. No longer having time just to hang out with good friends outside their activities can also be a sign of too much on the calendar.

If you’re stressed and tired from all the chauffeuring, it’s probably time to review your child’s schedule.

DOING “NOTHING” IS BENEFICIAL Not having anything to do is good for children. “When we were growing up, we played outside,” Levering says. “Our parents kicked us out, and we weren’t allowed to come back (into the house) until the street lights came on. We just played and had fun.” There’s huge value in those kinds of activities. Kids learn how to navigate social situations with their peers and solve their own problems, which are critical adulthood skills.

FAILURE IS GOOD While we might think placing our kids in lots of different activities will give them a leg up in life, scheduling too many activities means not giving children the opportunity to fail – and learn. “We think we have to manage everything for our kids. We don’t let them solve problems. We don’t let them experience failure and don’t want them to experience any negativity.” Failure, she continues, is important for helping kids become successful adults. “It teaches valuable life lessons and helps children become who they are. We don’t want our kids to feel like they have to be perfect all the time.”

FREE HEALTH FAIR OPEN TO THE PUBLIC Family Health and Safety Fair St. Mark Lutheran Preschool 90th and Blondo Saturday, October 22nd 2016 9:00am - 12:00pm

• Hy-Vee Dietitian available • CVS Minute Clinic • Omaha Police Department • Omaha Fire Department • CHIP - Child Identification Program

The CHIP Kit includes:

• Digital Video Interview (on CD) • Digital Fingerprints (on CD) • Digital Photograph (on CD) • Toothprints™ bite impression • DNA Swab • Scent Pad (to be done at home)

Events are offered at no cost to parents so that anyone wanting their child/ren to participate can do so. If you would like additional information about the Family Health & Safety Fair, please contact:

Julie Kyriss (402) 913-2255 | jkyriss@stmarkomaha.org St. Mark Lutheran Preschool

Fall

Also Don’t Miss Our

Sat., Oct. 22nd • 9:00 am - 2:00 pm • St. Mark Lutheran Preschool

WHAT TO DO While Levering says adjusting schedules depends on individuals, she advises that parents take into consideration how well their children manage their time and keep up with what’s important.

“School comes first,” she emphasizes. “We need to make sure kids are putting academics before anything else.”

She also urges parents to make sure their children have down time. “Kids are running and busy every second and don’t have time just to hang back and do nothing or engage in some kind of preferred activity they used to enjoy.”

FAMILY TIME Finally, parents should create family time. “Sit and do something as a family,” Levering urges. “We don’t want family dinners to go by the sidelines because dad is running one kid somewhere and mom is running another someplace else.

Once or twice a week, whether it’s the family dinner or a family game night, create some kind of family time. Those relationships are important.”

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STORY Kim Carpenter · PHOTOGRAPHY Becky Novacek

Where everything is old, even the new location

J

unkstock is not the place to find a brand new or recently minted item. It’s the place to find things that have been used, worn and loved, objects that have withstood the test of time – and are all the better for it. Think vintage. Think retro.

Think shabby chic.

“We don’t want just any stuff,” emphasizes Danelle Schlegelmilch, public relations director for the perennially popular flea market festival. “We really like to have things that are at least 40 years old and are refurbished, refinished or repurposed.

We want things that are rusty-dusty with patinas and have stories behind them. We like to keep it original.”

Even Junkstock’s new permanent location has a story. And it’s certainly original. This October, the event takes place for the first time at Sycamore Farms, a one-time horse farm that dates back more than a century. The 135-acre property features numerous rustic barns and weathered outbuildings, ideal places for showcasing antiques and vintage wares.

“There are little outbuildings that used to store supplies for the horses,” Schlegelmilch explains.

“Those are going to be really fun for us. We’re refinishing them so vendors can have more covered spaces. The former horse stalls are also perfect spaces for them.”

The new terrain is also ideal for visitors.

“We’re so excited that the property is flat,”

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Schlegelmilch says. “It’s easier for strollers and wheelchairs to get around. People can bring their wagons and not worry about hauling stuff around.”

There will be plenty to haul. Junkstock typically attracts about 150 vendors who go through a carefully curated application process. “We don’t want just any vendor,” says the PR director. “We have a pretty extensive process of choosing who comes to Junkstock. They come from all four corners of the U.S.” Not all those people are selling vintage items. The weekend event includes food trucks, a kid zone with bounce houses, crafts, face painting, pony rides and about a dozen musical acts, with John Elefante, the former lead singer of Kansas, headlining on Sunday.

“This just takes it to the next level,” says Schlegemilch. “The new location offers us an opportunity to have more events.”

For all the careful curating, precise planning and orchestrated coordinating, though, there’s one thing Junkstock’s organizers can’t control.

“The weather in Nebraska is unpredictable, but we love being on the farm,” Schegelmilch laughs.

“There are similar events at convention centers, but we just think the charm of the farm for better or worse is something you can’t compete against. You just enjoy the country and being outside the city.

We treasure those moments – even when it gets rainy or too hot.”

Junkstock takes place Oct. 7-9 at Sycamore Farms, 1150 River Road Drive, Waterloo, Nebraska. Details: junkstockomaha.com

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It’s not all about the pumpkins!

Carve mini Jack-o’-Lanterns you can actually eat using orange bell peppers.

TEXT + STYLING + PHOTOGRAPHY Heidi Thorson

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Jack-O’-Lantern Stuffed PePPerS

(Makes 4 servings) 1. Rinse 4 orange bell peppers, slice off the tops, hallow out the inside and remove seeds. 2. Using paring knife, cut out a jack-o’-lantern face and set aside. 3. Following the instructions on the package, make 1 package Mexican rice. 4. In a large bowl, mix together Mexican rice, 1 cup cooked, shredded chicken, 1 cup cheddar cheese, ¼ cup salsa, and 1 cup black beans, drained and rinsed. 5. Fill each pepper with the chicken and rice mixture. Optional: Top with extra shredded cheese. 6. Bake filled peppers at 350 F for 30 minutes or until cheese is melted and pepper is tender. Optional: Serve with cheese quesadillas. *Recipe adapted from everydayjenny.com

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