June 2013 HerFamily

Feeling Young On The Run Tori Young and her daughter bond through running.

PREPARING FOR

June 2013

Road Trips

Say “Yes”

TO VEGGIES

DENVER, CO PERMIT NO. 5377

PAID

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U.S. POSTAGE

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Editor’s Letter Volume 1 • Issue 1

Welcome to HerFamily!

A

PUBLISHER Todd Lemke OMAHA PUBLICATIONS EDITOR Linda Persigehl HER FAMILY EDITOR Bailey Hemphill

n exciting change recently

happened at Omaha Publications.

We sat down and looked at our family magazine, Family Spectrum, and our women’s magazine, HerLiving, and thought, ‘Hey! Why not combine the two to make one really great magazine?!’ And that’s exactly what we did. Now, we are HerFamily.

This new, 48-page magazine will continue to have stories about parenting, health, education, and family activities, as well as additional stories on fitness, recipes, women-focused businesses, beauty, fashion, leisure, and home improvement. We hope you like it!

Kicking off our inaugural issue, we feature Omaha mom Tori Young and her 12-year-old daughter, Elli, on our cover. Tori and Elli are prime examples of how a parent and a child being physically active together can form strong bonds and provide an accountable fitness partner.

Read their inspiring story on pg. 25!

In this issue’s health feature, Amberly Wagner-Connolly talks about how her struggles with breast cancer after giving birth to twins led to a career in health care. Wagner-Connolly celebrated her four-year anniversary of being a cancer survivor in March of this year. See her story on pg. 35!

If you’re looking for new meals for your family, try the spinach pizza or pasta salad recipes from pgs. 22-23. They’re perfect for summer! Also, since family road trips are big this time of year, you should probably check out the road trip preparation advice in our auto care column on pg. 41. And watch out for those bed bugs! They’ve been a big problem in Omaha lately, so Boys Town Pediatrics has some tips on how to get rid of them on pg. 9.

ASSISTANT EDITOR Chris Wolfgang EDITORIAL INTERN Mary Quinn (#26) CREATIVE DIRECTOR John Gawley ART DIRECTOR Katie Anderson DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Bill Sitzmann JUNIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER Paul Lukes GRAPHIC DESIGN INTERN Marti Latka (#27) CONTRIBUTORS Alexis Abel • Erik Bird • Bev Carlson Michael G. Dawson, M.D. • Darcie Dingman Deb Fuller • Deborah Gleich-Bope • Cherie Lytle Susan Meyers • Leslie Murrell Connor O’Leary VICE PRESIDENT Greg Bruns HER FAMILY ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Paige Edwards ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Gwen Lemke • Gil Cohen • Vicki Voet Sandy Besch SALES ASSOCIATE Alicia Smith-Hollins • Jessica Linhart TECHNICAL ADVISOR Tyler Lemke WAREHOUSE DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Mike Brewer For a one-year subscription (12 issues), send $9.95 to P.O. Box 461208, Papillion, NE 68046-1208. www.omahapublications.com

Bailey Hemphill Editor, HerFamily Magazine

Comments? Story ideas?

Send your letter to the editor: letters@omahapublications.com

Original contributions become the property of Omaha Publications. Contributions cannot be acknowledged or returned.

@herfamilyoma

facebook.com/herfamily

Find us on www.Womego.com; an integrated online community that gives women access to a great wealth of content from the journalists, bloggers and community leaders you already know and trust.

4

HerFamily • June 2013

The information contained within HerFamily is for informational purposes only. It is not intended and should not be used to take the place of seeking professional advice, counsel or assistance. Omaha Publications makes no endorsement of and is not responsible for contributors or advertising herein. If you have concerns or questions related to your health, consult with you physician.

HerFamily is protected by copyright and may not be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission of Omaha Publications, 402.884.2000.

Owned and managed by Omaha Magazine, LTD

we the women

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Feeling better by bedtime

Same Day Pediatrics offers scheduled sick appointments 7 days a week.

It’s not an urgent care center, but a real pediatric clinic for all Omaha children.

Call (402) 334-SICK to schedule an appointment at one of our clinics

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Boys Town Pediatrics 88th Street Clinic 2801 S 88 Street (88th & Center)

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on the

inside june 2013

features 9 12 16 22 25 35

Bed Bugs Sibling Harmony Family Success Story: The Dotsons Say “Yes” to More Veggies Cover Feature: Feeling Young on the Run Young and Surviving Cancer

departments

16

10 Home: Cultivating Your Vegetable Garden 11 Home Extra: Organizing Bedroom Closets 21 Young Hero: Is There a Young Hero in Your Life?

23 Food: Pasta Salad and Sugar-Free Lemonade 29 Fashion: A Night Out on the Town 33 Beauty: Tan Without Damaging Your Skin 40 Health Extra: Are You Getting Enough Vitamin D? 42 Moms’ Getaway: Staycations Just for Mom 45 Calendar of Events 46 On the Go: Discover the Magic of a Road Trip

columns

14 What’s on Your Mind? Coping with the Loss of a Pet 19 Education: Stimulate Your Kids’ Brains This Summer 20 Teen Voice: Fear, Then and Now 24 Fitness: 5-Minute Workout, The Plank 39 Mom on the Rocks: The Search for Mommy Friends 41 Auto Care: Preparing for Road Trips

42

Thanks to Tori and Elli Young for being on this issue’s cover.

Photo by Bill Sitzmann.

on the cover

Say “Yes” to More Veggies 22 Feeling Young on the Run 25 Preparing for Road Trips 41 Feeling Young On The Run

19

Tori Young and her daughter bond through running.

PREPARING FOR

June 2013

Road Trips

Say “Yes”

TO VEGGIES

DENVER, CO PERMIT NO. 5377

PAID U.S. POSTAGE PRSRT STD

HerFamily • June 2013

OMAHA MAGAZINE • 5921 S. 118TH CIRCLE • OMAHA, NE 68137

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feature story by Michael G. Dawson, M.D., Boys Town Pediatrics

Bed Bugs

When bed bugs set up shop in your house, they find their niches and multiply quickly. There are several different places in your home where bed bugs may be hiding: • Mattresses, box springs, bed frames, and headboards • Nightstands • Curtains • Baseboards • Upholstered furniture • Clothes, backpacks, and luggage • Cracks in the walls or floors

Y

the expression “Sleep tight and don’t let the bed bugs bite!” Although once all but unheard of in the United States, bed bugs are being uncovered in many places and have become a hot topic of discussion.

Bed bugs are small, wingless insects that feed on animal and human blood, usually at night. They are reddish-brown and flat in appearance and only about half a centimeter long (about the size of a match head). While bites from bed bugs can be irritating, they have rarely been found to carry and transmit diseases.

Bed bug bites often occur on exposed parts of the body, such as the face and arms. Bites from bed bugs leave red, raised bumps on the skin—frequently in a pattern of two or three—which may itch for several days or even a few weeks. They may be present in the morning or may not show up for a few days. New bites may appear as the old bites are healing. It can be hard, but try not to scratch. Just like a mosquito bite, scratching the bites can irritate them. If they become red or inflamed, they may be infected. If so, contact your health care provider. ou have probably heard

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Bed bugs can be hard to eliminate. If you wake up with bites, find rust-colored blood stains on your sheets, or happen to catch bed bugs in your covers one night, here are some measures you can take: • Vacuum everything carefully, including cracks and crevices. Make sure that you dispose of the vacuum cleaner bag right away. Put the vacuum receptacle in a sealed plastic bag to keep the bugs from getting out.

• Wash clothes and other items in hot water (at least 120°F or 49°C). Dry the clothes and other items in a clothes dryer on the high heat setting for 20 minutes. This should kill the bugs and their eggs. You can also put pillows and stuffed toys in the dryer, even if you can’t wash them first.

• Hire a professional exterminator. They may use insecticides to kill bed bugs or other methods, such as diatomaceous earth or special heaters that raise the indoor temperature of a room to 122°F (50°C).

• If you need to get rid of mattresses or furniture, be careful when you take the items out of your home. You don’t want the bed bugs to spread to other places. Take the furniture to the dump rather than leaving it on the curb.

With the correct combination of methods, you can ward off the bed bugs and not lose any more sleep.

Michael Dawson, M.D., is a Board Certified pediatrician at Boys Town Pediatrics – Pacific Street Clinic, 14080 Hospital Road, (402) 778-6900.

HerFamily • June 2013

9

home story by Mary Quinn

Cultivating Your Vegetable Garden

S

a great way to encourage organic living.

When beginning yours, plan for year-round growth. Keep a gardening log to record tips and tricks you’ve picked up along the way; it can help you determine what may or may not work for next year. It’s also a good idea to educate yourself at your local nursery or farmers market about proper care and growing techniques.

Thanks to Mother Nature, almost every vegetable has at least one companion plant that helps protect it from pests and insects. For example, marigolds repel beetles, nematodes, and rabbits. Dill and parsley attract “garden heroes,” like spiders and ladybugs, that love to eat garden pests. And while most people know that herbs, such as basil and chives, make great additions to your fresh dishes, others such as yarrow and lavender protect plants from moths.

Here are more tips for maintaining your vegetable garden in the summer months: ustainable vegetable gardens are

June

All warm-season plants should be in your garden now. Remember to water weekly and pull weeds when they sprout. According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac (almanac.com), “By keeping your plants well-watered and fertilized, they will quickly fill in spaces instead of weeds.” Start seedlings for broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage now so they’ll be ready for fall. Use nine-cell containers that can be watered from the bottom. Then, transplant to bigger containers 1-2 weeks later, or when sprouts begin to appear.

10 HerFamily • June 2013

July

If you have summer squash in your garden, harvest when they grow to eight inches.

Fertilize tomatoes and peppers lightly, and water the garden in the morning or later in the afternoon to prevent evaporation. Also, make sure to stake the taller plants to encourage growth and protect them from falling over during any summer storms. You can now begin sowing all your seeds for your fall garden: beets, carrots, collards, kale, radish, snap beans, turnips, and winter squash.

August

Continue to harvest your fruits and veggies every few days—this will promote production well into fall. This is a good time to begin canning. In fact, can everything you can! Let your tomatoes ripen on the vine. If any green tomatoes fall, store them in a paper bag with an apple to help them ripen. Keep planning for your fall garden and watch for pests and diseases. And don’t forget to share your harvest with friends, family, and neighbors! Backyard parties under summer skies are always better with fresh vegetables on the grill anyway. omahapublications.com

home extra story by Mary Quinn • photos by Bill Sitzmann

Organizing Bedroom Closets

H

you been late to work because you couldn’t find one of your shoes in your closet? Or maybe that cute scarf you bought last month? Whether you have a small amount of closet space or a slight shopping addiction, organization can be your best friend.

The first step to solving the mess: Utilize the closet space you have. Find an organization system that works best for you. If you have a small space with too much stuff, it might be a good idea to purchase an organizer with plenty of shelves and drawers (IKEA has lots of these). Another great investment?

Clear storage bins. They’re stackable, and you can see what’s inside without getting them out.

It helps to organize clothing, accessories, and shoes in your closet by season. Store anything that isn’t currently in season in bins and label the season on the outside of the bin. With the clothes that you have out for the current season, hang the hangers from the backside of the rack. Only face the hangers the correct way if you’ve worn the clothes during the season. Any clothes ow many times have

readonlinenow.com

still backward at the end of the season should be donated to eliminate clutter.

Have a hamper in the closet as well. This way, clean clothes and those already worn are separate, making laundry less of a headache. There’s nothing worse than having to wash the entire contents of your closet because you’re not sure what is clean and what isn’t.

Since several home organizing blogs have become popular in the last few years, it’s worth looking around at some of the unique ideas on the web, too. Pam with DIY Design Fanatic suggests taking smaller wicker baskets and nailing them to the closet wall to keep track of socks, tank tops, etc. Multiple blogs recommend installing key hooks or corkboards with push pins to hang necklaces so they don’t get tangled. If you’re not sure where to start looking for ideas, don’t forget about Pinterest. It’s a fabulous source of DIY solutions.

HerFamily • June 2013

11

feature story by Bev Carlson, APR, Lutheran Family Services Carlson with younger brother Ken in the early ’80s.

Sibling Harmony

I

recently with a friend, a father of three. He was talking about his two oldest children, both incredibly talented musicians. The son can play just about any instrument. The daughter has a voice like an angel.

“It’s just such a shame they refuse to perform together,” he said. When I asked why, he shrugged and said, “They just can’t stop fighting.”

His response surprised me. My guess? These kids will grow out of it. This was a family that exuded harmony on almost every level. Very engaged, involved parents. Bright, accomplished children. But siblings that, for now, could barely get along. Ever.

I understand sibling conflict. I really do. I have a younger brother, emphasis on “younger” because “little” stopped working when he hit six feet or so. Now, at 6’5”, he’s an officer in the U.S. Navy who carries a wide command and a powerful presence.

Well, I clearly recall back to the days when I could push him around at will. Of course, I was the ONLY one who could do so. If anyone else even looked at him like they were going to tease had an interesting conversation

12 HerFamily • June 2013

him or bully him, they had to get through me first— and that simply wasn’t happening. We were four years apart, and even though he could irritate me just by walking into my bedroom, he was still my little brother, and that meant I had his back.

I still do.

It’s not that way for a lot of siblings—adult or otherwise. Relationships that never really gelled in childhood only grow more distant with time. Brothers and sisters who experience mutual trauma walk away from the conflict and each other.

Siblings with oil-and-water personalities determine that it’s not worth the effort to find a balance, especially once the parental connection is gone. I hear friends talk about it a lot, and it makes me sad. I don’t want that for my children.

I really don’t know any of the secrets of creating sibling harmony, but I do claim a couple of kids who, for the most part, get along and enjoy each other. I love to hear their conversations about books or teachers or issues. Video games and YouTube videos are other common topics. They brag about each other when they think I’m not listening. They have their moments when they genuinely annoy one another, but I rarely have to intervene.

Maybe it’s helped that they’ve heard since day one that they are expected to look out for each other. “You guys run in nearly the same circles,” they’ve heard from me. “You have a better idea of whether the kids you’re hanging out with are nice or not.” They atomahapublications.com

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tend each other’s events and performances.

They partner up on amusement rides. They are generally encouraged to help each other when they can. “Because,” as they hear from me, “you are lifetime friends.”

I may have just gotten lucky with the personality mix of my two, but I also took some advice that I got when they were very small.

Now that they are young teenagers, I believe it might be paying off.

Here are some expert suggestions from Scholastic.com: • Avoid comparisons. Nothing causes more short- and long-term damage to the sibling dynamic than comparing academic or extracurricular achievements. Give honest, specific feedback and support each of your children toward their individual strengths and the skills each needs to strive for. Don’t ever stack them against each other.

• Intervene when they argue, but be selective. There’s a big difference between fighting and problem solving. Rather than letting them always duke it out, teach them cooperation and conflictresolution skills, like taking turns.

• Introduce meaningful apologies. Rather than forcing an angry child to say he’s sorry, which will only produce an insincere apology, let him cool down first.

Then talk to him about how to make amends for hurting another person’s feelings.

As it usually is, starting early and being consistent is key. And children also benefit when they see their parents model warm and loving relationships with their own siblings.

But for the most part, some discontent with a brother or sister is simply part of growing up and provides a training ground for finding your voice.

Oh, and one last thing. Tell all of your children how much you love them. All the time. A child who feels well-loved has fewer reasons to lash out at their siblings. readonlinenow.com

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HerFamily • June 2013

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Bring inside outside

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Coping With the Loss of a Pet

Q A

: We had to give one of our dogs to another family because we’re moving, and my daughter is not handling it very well. What should I do? She is 9.

: Losing a pet, for any reason, is often hard for kids.

Pets become part of the family, so expect your daughter to go through a grieving process. Anger, tears, irritability, sadness…any of these might show up, so be patient as she works through them.

If your daughter is one who likes to talk at bedtime, hang out with her a little longer than usual. Even if neither of you says anything, your presence can be comforting. Share your feelings, but chances are there isn’t anything you can say that will change the situation, so let her do most of the talking. Also, take her lead on discussing the possibility of a new pet in the future. Be cautious not to convey the message that her pet is easily replaceable, and don’t make promises you might not be able to keep.

Will the new family send pictures? Your daughter might not want to see them right away, but it’s helpful to have them if this changes.

Pictures also help hold onto good memories, so try putting together a photo album or scrapbook of the pet if it’s something she would enjoy. Working with her on the project provides another opportunity for her to talk to you about whatever’s on her mind.

As she adjusts to life without her pet, keep her busy. If you can make it work, trying letting her spend some extra time with friends or family. Having fun is a great way to keep her mind off feeling sad.

Send in your questions to Deb, and she might answer them in this column. Submit them to reallifecounseling@cox.net with ‘HerFamily’ in the subject line. omahapublications.com

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HerFamily • June 2013

15

feature story by Mary Quinn • photos by Bill Sitzmann

From left: Lily, 6, Susie, David, and Noah, 8.

Family Success Story The Dotsons

“D

ate night ” is not

a term often used in the Dotson household, however “family” is. After 11 years of marriage, David and Susie Dotson have experienced more than any parents should, but they still find time to come together as a family and cherish the moments they have. “Our marriage has shaped us to be better parents,” Susie explains.

16 HerFamily • June 2013

“Strength” is another word thrown around a lot when discussing the Dotsons. Their first child, Noah, was born with autism. “He suffered from anxiety [when he heard] any loud noise growing up. He didn’t develop his speech to explain his fears and anxiety until around age 4.” Susie became focused on trying to help Noah by going to autism events, getting involved in discussion groups, and doing her own research. The Millard Public Schools district was able to get Noah started with homebound help at age 2, and eventually into Halo, a gifted learning program at Wheeler Elementary School, where he continues to build his communication skills.

A couple years after Noah’s birth, Lily was born five weeks early and had to stay in the NICU for two weeks. She went home on a heart monitor and eventually grew into a healthy baby girl. Five years later, however, Lily was suddenly diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a type of cancer common in childhood and characterized by the overproduction of immature white blood cells in the bone marrow.

Susie remembers the day they found out. omahapublications.com

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“I felt all summer long that something wasn’t right with her. I had mother’s intuition.”

After complaining of stomach aches and her legs hurting when she played sports, Susie took Lily out of gymnastics, soccer, and swimming. She thought the schedule may have been too daunting for her little girl. “After a couple of weeks into school, I noticed bruising,” she says, “After about two weeks of the bruising getting worse and showing up in places that you normally don’t bruise, I made an appointment.”

The night before Lily’s doctor’s appointment, Susie decided to google her daughter’s symptoms. Every result came back the same: cancer.

Susie’s heart sank. “I took a photo of her eating breakfast before school that morning, knowing that this is what a normal day looked like before cancer.” Later that day, after five minutes of examining Lily, their pediatrician told Susie that her daughter had cancer and needed to go to the emergency room immediately. “Within 24 hours, she started blood transfusions, chemo, spinal tap, and a bone marrow scan. She has had over a dozen platelet and whole blood transfusions. She was put on high risk and only » readonlinenow.com

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« a 40 percent chance of making it the first year.

She is now up to 65-70 percent.”

Lily’s fight not only took a toll on her but also on the Dotson’s marriage and Susie’s relationship with Noah. “Communication is key, and we are slowly finding that. During the heavy treatment, it was very hard to have a meaningful relationship [with David or Noah] with the high demands of Lily’s cancer treatment. But we are now learning how to heal as a married couple. I’m also loving my ‘Noah time.’ I feel like I missed a whole year of his life. I missed him.”

Lily’s treatment doesn’t end until January 2014, but the heavy treatment portion concluded last July. Lily can now do daily chemo treatments at home and go to school.

While life is far less stressful than it was a year ago, Susie says, “No matter what day it is, cancer doesn’t let you forget you’re fighting it. Once your family is hit by cancer, you are constantly in the battle…You never get to leave the battlefield.” The Dotsons still find time to be a normal family, with Lily dressing up the family Maltese, Santana, and Noah writing letters to the family beta fish: Patrick, Sandy, Rainbow Buddy, and Red Nose Clown Nose. And maybe soon, Susie and David will finally get that date night.

“I feel like we are still figuring it all out. There are days that are not pretty. One of my favorite quotes for my family is, ‘We may not have it all together, but together, we have it all.’”

omahapublications.com

education story by Deborah Gleich-Bope, M.S. Ed • photo by Bill Sitzmann

Gracie, 11, of Omaha

Stimulate Your Kids’ Brains This Summer

S

Time = Fun Time! This is true for all of us, especially kids who are looking for a break from school. But according to Harris Cooper, author of Summer Learning Loss: The Problem and Some Solutions, a concern of educators and parents is that the long summer vacation breaks the rhythm of instruction, since children learn best when instruction is continuous. Long breaks from school can often require educators to do a significant amount of review of material when students return to school in the fall.

Below are some suggestions on ways to keep your child’s brain engaged throughout the summer while still having opportunities to practice skills they acquired in the classroom.

Lakeshore Learning Center, located at 12005 W. Center Rd., offers free crafts for kids every Saturday from 11am to 4pm. You can even check the website to preview the craft. While you are there, pick up some educational games and activities your child can do during the week.

The store offers educational games for all ages and in every subject area in which your child may have an interest.

If your budget is a little tight, your children can participate in the Omaha Public Library’s free summer reading program. Each library will post a schedule online describing the special activities your children can participate in, along with the days and the times they will be taking place. They also can earn points for reading each day and exchange their points for prizes.

Another good source for free activities is familyfuninomaha.com. This website features a page entitled “Summer Fun Series,” in which parents can find free summer activities throughout Omaha. Some of these may include special kid-friendly activities at the local malls, free local fine arts performances, and community events.

We all know how much our children love to spend time on the computer, so make it worth their while by directing them to websites that encourage them to practice reading and math skills while still having a good time. Try out some of the following sites: • learninggamesforkids.com • funbrain.com • pbskids.org • playkidsgames.com • knowledgeadventure.com • cookie.com • turtlediary.com Remember—making sure your kids’ brains stay active throughout the summer will help them transition into the next grade smoothly and lessen their stress level at the start of the year. ummer

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Fear, Then and Now

F

thing to discuss.

It occurs in every human, yet we know so little about it. More often than not, the cause of our fear is a mystery to us. Other times, the source of the fear can be traced back to a single incident or a series of tragic events from our past.

As a child, I had many fears that are common. The main fear that I remember is being afraid of the dark. This is easily the most common fear for kids that I have heard of.

This could be because kids are afraid of what they cannot see. I was afraid of what may be hiding in my closet or under my bed.

The fears that I have now as a teenager are mainly about my future and where I will end up as an adult. And now, being a sophomore in high school, I have to start thinking about college and where I might want to attend.

Contemplating your future from the mere age of 16 can be very scary, but it’s necessary and all part of growing up. This fear comes from the possibility of choosing the wrong college major or making the wrong life choices. This determines my path for life, which is scary and stressful.

Dealing with the fear of growing up and becoming an adult is tricky because it takes place in the future. I try to think of the possible outcomes before I make important decisions. I compare my decisions and make sure they are similar to the choices that other adults, who I look up to, have made.

Good luck to all of you who are dealing with fear. We all must face it, and it follows us throughout our entire lives. ear is a tricky

Have your cake.

And eat it, too.

Dining. Family. Fun. Health & Beauty.

Household. Retail. Services. Transportation.

20 HerFamily • June 2013

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young hero story by Bailey Hemphill

Is There a Young Hero in Your Life?

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that children are wonderful. Besides having the most beautiful, innocent, and open-minded outlooks on life, they often teach us lessons and encourage us to be better people.

Every issue features a nominated child in “Young Hero,” a story sponsored by the Omaha Storm Chasers. Some Young Heroes depict a particular moment in a child’s life whereas others give a general profile of a child. With each unique Young Hero, parents and guardians have expressed how they have inspired not only the other children around them but the adults as well.

In the last five issues of our magazine, we have featured amazing Young Heroes, each are different from the next.

In January, we featured Isaac Oldridge, a 3-year-old with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS). In February, we featured Michaela Gibbons, a high school junior who’s drawn to working with special needs kids. In March, we featured Serenity Jankowski, who remained an honor roll student despite family issues. In April, we featured Jonathan Halstead, an Eagle Scout who created a weekend camp experience for young boys who’d never been camping. In May, we featured Jack Militti, a middle school student who faces his cancer struggles with a smile on his face.

If you know a child who you believe is special—be it because of a medical condition, a unique activity, or just their attitude toward life—share it with us! If you nominate someone else’s child, please just make sure to okay it with a parent or guardian beforehand. You can submit your Young Hero nominations to Bailey at bailey@omahapublications.com. here is no doubt

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INDEPENDENCE

FIREWORKS

JULY 2&3 7:0555 HerFamily • June 2013

21

feature story by Cherie Lytle, Children’s Hospital & Medical Center • photo provided by Children’s Hospital & Medical Center

Spinach Pizza

Ingredients

• 1 store-bought whole wheat pizza crust (7-inch diameter) • 2 tsp olive oil • 2 garlic cloves, minced • 2 oz part-skim fontina or mozzarella cheese, shredded • ¼ cup cannellini beans, rinsed and drained • 2 tsp grated Parmesan cheese • 1 cup fresh baby spinach, chopped • Black pepper to taste

Preparation

Say “Yes”

to More Veggies

W

hen it ’s time to

eat vegetables, does your child do the Brussels sprout pout?

Don’t give up. It can take eight to 10 tries before children accept a new food.

Children are born with a natural preference for sweet foods and develop a liking for salty foods at around four months. That’s combined with an innate suspicion of foods unknown to them. But if a child rejects a food at first, it doesn’t mean they’ll always dislike it.

Healthy Kohl’s Kids, a partnership between Children’s Hospital & Medical Center and Kohl’s Department Stores, offers these tips to encourage your child to try the green stuff: • Don’t overcook. Steam vegetables lightly so they taste better.

• Teach by example. Eat vegetables with your child.

• Rather than telling your child to “eat your vegetables,” offer him or her a choice of two and ask, “Which one of these do you want to eat?”

• Shop with your children. Let them pick a vegetable they like.

• Add color. Use red bell peppers, bright carrot strips, and different types and colors of lettuce. Bake shoestring “fries” out of deep orange sweet potatoes.

• Incorporate vegetables into the main dish rather than serving them on the side.

Here’s a great recipe that combines spinach with a family favorite—pizza! For more healthy recipes (with and without veggies), visit HealthyKohlsKids.com.

22 HerFamily • June 2013

1. Preheat oven to 450°.

2. Place pizza crust on a baking sheet. Brush pizza crust with 1 teaspoon of the olive oil. Evenly spread garlic, fontina or mozzarella cheese, and beans over pizza crust.

Sprinkle with the Parmesan cheese.

3. In a large bowl, toss the spinach with remaining 1 teaspoon olive oil and black pepper to taste.

4. Spread the spinach leaves in the center of the pizza, leaving a border around the rim.

5. Bake the pizza for 8 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the spinach is wilted.

Yield: 2 servings

Nutrition Facts

• Calories: 323 • Fat: 11g • Saturated Fat: 4g • Cholesterol: 18mg • Sodium: 488mg • Carbohydrates: 37g • Fiber: 7g • Protein: 12g

* Nutritional information is based on ingredients listed and serving size; any additions or substitutions to ingredients may alter the recipe’s nutritional content.

omahapublications.com

food prepared by Bailey Hemphill • photo by Bill Sitzmann

Pasta Salad and

Sugar-Free Lemonade

Sugar-Free Lemonade

Ingredients: • 1¾ cups sugar-free sweetener, granulated • 1½ cups lemon juice • 8 cups water Instructions: 1. In a small saucepan, combine sugar-free sweetener and 1 cup of water.

2. Bring to a boil and stir to dissolve sweetener in water.

3. Allow to cool to room temperature, then cover and refrigerate until chilled.

4. Remove seeds from lemon juice, but leave pulp.

5. In pitcher, stir together chilled sweetener/water mix, lemon juice, and remaining 7 cups of water.

Pasta Salad

Ingredients: • 1 (16oz) package tri-color spiral pasta • 3 cups cherry tomatoes, halved • ½ lb. provolone cheese, cubed • ½ lb. salami, cubed • ¼ lb. sliced pepperoni, cut in half • 1 large green bell pepper, cut into 1” pieces • 1 (10oz) can black olives, drained • 1 (4oz) jar pimentos, drained • 1 (8oz) bottle Italian salad dressing Instructions: 1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil.

2. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, or until al dente.

3. Drain and rinse with cold water.

4. In a large bowl, combine pasta with tomatoes, cheese, salami, pepperoni, green peppers, olives, and pimentos.

5. Pour in salad dressing and toss to coat. readonlinenow.com

Sources: allrecipes.com HerFamily • June 2013

23

fitness story by Erik Bird • photos by Bill Sitzmann • modeled by Shaela Bruce

5-Minute Workout The Plank

Q

important and beneficial exercise that we can do is the plank. This exercise is good for core stability and, if done correctly, will make every other exercise you do better. Planks teach you how to actively engage your core at all times, whether you’re carrying groceries or babies, walking up the stairs, or even sitting correctly. This will help alleviate lower back pain while making daily tasks easier and safer.

Erik Bird Personal Trainer, Lifetime Fitness ACE-CPT, NASM-CPT-CES-PES, HKC Kettlebell uite possibly the most

1 Setup & Starting Position

1. Brace your core as strong as you can (imagine you’re anticipating the impact of a punch in the stomach) and distribute your weight evenly between your arms and toes.

2. If you can’t hold this position, you can also do this exercise with your forearms on the floor. Just make sure your elbows don’t move on the floor.

2 Exercise 1. Hold either position for 30 seconds.

Brace your core and squeeze your glutes as you hold.

2. Add time to the position hold or try doing the exercise with your arms fully extended as the exercise gets easier.

Tip The entire time you are doing this exercise, your core should be activated as much as possible. If you’ve heard someone in the past say, “Try and pull your belly button into your spine,” do not follow that advice. This makes it almost impossible to make your core as strong as possible.

24 HerFamily • June 2013

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cover feature story by Bailey Hemphill • photos by Bill Sitzmann

Feeling Young On The Run Tori Young and her daughter bond through running.

T

Young, 40, was on the drill team in high school. She never considered herself an athlete, and she spent most of her time eating whatever she wanted. But, as it always does, metabolism caught up with her. “I heard from my friends that things get more challenging when you hit 40,” she says. “They weren’t kidding!” » ori

readonlinenow.com

HerFamily • June 2013

25

youngest son, Reid, at the time and wouldn’t have been able to run.

“We did feel like we missed out though, so we signed up the next year. I printed off a Couch to 5K training program online and was able to get to the point where I could run four miles without stopping.”

During Elli’s fourth grade year, they both ran the program’s 5K. “I had to walk twice during that run since it was mapped out on their grade school playground, and it was 30-some laps around the blacktop, down a hill, around the playground equipment, and back up the hill,” Young says. “The hills kicked my butt!”

Although Young stopped running regularly after that 5K, she ran again with Elli in the fifth graders’ 5K. Later, they signed up for a Siena-Francis benefit run. “It was nice to do something that we could do together that was good for us but also benefited [Siena-Francis House],” says Elli, who’s now in middle school.

Since then, Young and Elli have been participating in all the runs they can. They even participated in Papillion’s Half Marathon events this May; Young ran the 10K while Elli ran the 5K. Both agree that they really want to run The Color Run and Color Me Rad 5Ks, which they look forward to trying in the future.

Young finds running with her daughter to be an inspiring way to maintain a healthy lifestyle. “I love when we practice and go to Zorinsky [Lake] together…We set some goals, like « Although she doesn’t feel older, Young realized her body required more being able to run farther, and it’s fun to meet one and then attention than it did back in her carefree high school days. She tried lots of set the next one.” things to get back on track—Jazzercise, tracking meals on the MyFitnessPal But it’s not just all about the run; it’s also about the time app, Kosama, running on the treadmill, P90X, yoga, dancing videos, Kettleshe gets to spend with Elli that keeps her going. “With four bell workouts—but she always found it hard to stick to those programs. kids, I wish I could give them each more one-on-one time, so She admits most of the problem was her hectic lifestyle. “I started each week I really love just talking with her [during our runs].” with the best intentions…but like everyone, when we’re busy and on-the-go, “We get to have an uninterrupted conversation and talk it’s easy to make poor choices.” about my school, her work, our As a technical recruiting lead with Client Refriends, and random stories,” Elli “I know I have to be aware sources, Inc., she’s constantly running around adds. “We also talk about our town and treating candidates and consultants of how I talk about my own goals for the future, like other to lunch, which makes eating well difficult. And we’d like to do [and] ways to body and my feelings about runs then, of course, she didn’t want to cut into her eat healthier.” family time with husband Chad, a teacher and how I look. We’ve had conver“I dislike the body issues that football coach at Millard West High School, and come for most females,” Young sations about not focusing on says. “I know I have to be aware their four kids—Elli, 12, Beau, 9, Leah, 6, and Reid, 2. “Having four kids is absolutely crazy, how many pounds we weigh of how I talk about my own but it keeps us on our toes,” she adds. and my feelings about how and comparing that to oth- body But an opportunity appeared a few years ago I look. We’ve had conversations when Young’s oldest daughter, Elli, told her about ers, but instead on how we’re about not focusing on how many a school program for third through fifth graders we weigh and comparing treating our bodies and what pounds called Girls on the Run. “It’s so cool,” Young says. that to others, but instead on how “It’s all about girl power, being a good friend, we’re putting in them.” we’re treating our bodies and what and being encouraging and supportive of others we’re putting in them.”

Tori Young while training to run a 5K.” She adds that the Seeing Elli improve makes girls often included their moms in this program.

Young think they’re headed in the Elli, who was in third grade then, didn’t want to do it. “She said, ‘That right direction, too. “She was born with a cyst in her lung, would be like having gym class even more often!’” Young laughs, explaining which resulted in a 12-day stay in the NICU and a surgery for that it was probably for the best anyway because she was pregnant with her her right after birth…they removed the top lobe of her right 26 HerFamily • June 2013

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cover feature

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lung. Her scars are faint, her lung regenerated, and the only real lasting effect is some asthma.”

Young adds that Elli has gone from feeling like she “can’t do it” and using asthma as an out to pushing herself harder.

Young believes it’s important for parents and their kids to be physically active together. “It’s so easy to get caught up in television…We have so many devices that capture our attention, and it’s hard to break away from e-mail, Facebook, and Instagram…Making time to be physically active together provides the opportunity for quality time and setting goals that we can work toward together.”

Because Young and Elli have been running so much in the last few years, it’s really started to rub off on the other family members. “My husband has been running more lately, and even recently admitted that he pushed himself faster on the treadmill than [me] because he didn’t like the thought of me outrunning him!”

Most importantly, Young feels healthy and happy right now. All she cares about is feeling good about herself, being a positive body image role model for her daughters, and having the energy to keep up with her job and her kids. readonlinenow.com

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER! @OMAHAMAGAZINE

HerFamily • June 2013

27

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8552 Cass Street Suite 201 402-391-SKIN (7546) www.rustaddermatology.com 28 HerFamily • June 2013

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Photos by Bill Sitzmann Model: Jenny Mickeliunas Special thanks to Krug Park.

Summer is the perfect time to call the babysitter and head out to enjoy some Omaha nightlife.

Mother Jenny Mickeliunas, 30, shows off her comfortable, playful style as she meets up with a friend at Krug Park in Benson. readonlinenow.com

HerFamily • June 2013

29

Feel like your closet is full of neutrals? Consider layering patterns in similar shades.

Go for an extra pop of color with a bold accessory while you’re at it.

30 HerFamily • June 2013

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Take off your workday cardigan and exchange it for a statement necklace. The office flats get left behind for sky-high heels.

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HerFamily • June 2013

31

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beauty story by Bailey Hemphill • photo by Bill Sitzmann • modeled by Marti Latka

Tan Without

Damaging Your Skin

W

hen

Coco Cha-

nel

returned

from a luxurious vacation in 1929, she declared “The 1929 girl must be tanned,” starting a beauty revolution that changed the sun-kissed look from being a sign of working-class status to chic, wealthy fashionista. Surprisingly, this trend has stuck around for nearly 85 years and has only grown as a desired beauty trait among women (not to mention its growth as a major cash-cow for the beauty industry).

The problem is more and more women are getting skin cancer while trying to achieve this look, even those in their early 20s who should barely have had time to damage their skin. With too much natural sun exposure, as well as tanning booth UV exposure, this beautiful look seems a little too dangerous. But as it’s the time of year again for swimsuits, women are lining up to get that perfect tan.

So how can we get the bronzed look without actually harming our skin?

If you’re attempting your own self-tanning experience, try Here Comes the Sun™ ($28), one of the many Philosophy skin care products available at Sephora in Village Pointe Shopping Center. According to Sephora’s website, “This self-tanner provides a sun-inspired golden glow within hours of application while an amino acid complex helps firm and tone for smooth, healthy-looking skin. The oil-free, streak-free formula is easy to apply for even, mistake-proof coverage. Skip the sun, and go for the glow.”

Cheaper options—like Jergens Natural Glow, L’Oreal Sublime Bronze, or Sally Hansen Airbrush Leg—usually range from $7-15 and are available at Walgreens, Target, or Walmart. But always read the product reviews first! While these products will save you money, they can sometimes spread unevenly or leave your hands, arms, knees, ankles, and feet looking too brown or awkwardly orange. A few minutes of online reading can be the difference between countless hours of frustrated scrubbing in the shower and a thrifty, beautiful glow.

If you don’t trust your own handiwork to get the desired effect, most local tanning salons have spray-on tanning available. Best of Omaha® winner Ashley Lynn’s Tanning, which has 11 locations in Omaha, is known for its “sunless tan” spray-on tanning.

A “sunless tan” at Ashley Lynn’s only takes a few minutes. Clients can go fully nude or wear swimsuits. Single sessions cost $30, but the tanning salon currently has a $39 special for three sessions.

“We use the VersaSpa spray tan booth,” says Dana Morinelli, director of marketing with Ashley Lynn’s. “There’s a clear treatment and a bronzer treatment. The bronzer is topical. [It] washes off so you can see it right away. Both are composed of skin-firming agents to give you long-lasting color.” Morinelli adds that the color in the clear treatment develops four to eight hours after the session, and both treatments usually last about five to seven days, depending on skin type and daily skin care routines.

Though the bronzer treatment isn’t recommended if you’re getting a quick spray-on tan during your lunch break before heading back to the office, Morinelli assures that the treatments are water-soluble, so clothes won’t be stained.

“If you’re looking for quick color with fewer sessions, then [sunless tan] is perfect.

It’s completely cosmetic, and it gives you that immediate tan,” says Morinelli. readonlinenow.com

HerFamily • June 2013

33

NEW 3D MAMMOGRAM TECHNOLOGY. GIVING WOMEN THE CLEAREST PICTURE OF WHAT HEALTHY LOOKS LIKE. Getting a routine mammogram is your first line of defense against breast cancer. And now, at Alegent Creighton Health, we’re expanding our services to include the most accurate imaging you’ll find in the Omaha metro area – 3D mammography. The perfect complement to traditional digital imaging, 3D mammography offers improved accuracy to patients with a family history of breast cancer or a past diagnosis. 3D imaging, in combination with traditional digital imaging, results in a significant decrease of false positive rates and better detects more invasive cancers. This leads to 40% fewer patient callbacks, which takes unnecessary anxiety out of the equation. However, saving lives is the ultimate goal and 3D mammography is just another example of how, when it comes to keeping you healthy, we are never standing still. Learn more at AlegentCreighton.com/3Dmammo.

feature story by Susan Meyers • photos by Bill Sitzmann

“It has helped guide me in my life and my career.

It opened my eyes to how much worse things could be and inspired me to do more with my life.”

Amberly Wagner-Connolly readonlinenow.com

Young and

Cancer survivor and mother Amberly Wagner-Connolly

Surviving Cancer

I

weeks after Amberly Wagner-Connolly had given birth to twins when she received the devastating news that she had breast cancer. She was just 29.

“I knew that life as I knew it would never be the same,” she recalls. “I was so shocked.

Why me? Why would I have these beautiful kids and then so soon after find this out?”

As it turns out, the experience has come to be one of the most positive things that has happened in Wagner-Connolly’s life. It also became the springboard that put her goals in motion. » t was just eight

HerFamily • June 2013

35

a better mom, friend, teacher, nurse, wife— everything. All of my roles have been affected in a positive way because of [cancer].”

On March 1, Wagner-Connolly celebrated her four-year anniversary of being a cancer survivor, and while she has managed to make it a positive in her life, she acknowledges that it was also one of the most difficult and trying times in her life.

The number of young adults who are diagnosed with cancer is very low, usually less than 5 percent, depending on the cancer, says

Margaret Block, M.D. oncologist at Nebraska Cancer Specialists.

« “It has helped guide me in my life and my career,” she says. “It opened my eyes to how much worse things could be and inspired me to do more with my life. Through cancer, I realized that I wanted to go into public health where I can help others. I know I am

“The number of young adults who are diagnosed with cancer is very low, usually less than 5 percent, depending on the cancer.”

Margaret Block, M.D.

Margaret Block, M.D., a medical oncologist at Nebraska Cancer Specialists. But for those who do receive the disturbing news, it can be a very emotional and stressful journey.

Like many young cancer patients, Wagner-Connolly experienced the challenges and emotional turmoil common among people her age. She struggled with the shock of being diagnosed at such an early age; she feared not being around to see her children grow up; and she grew weary from juggling two tiny twins and a four-year-old daughter when she could barely take care of herself.

Her family and friends and people she didn’t even know became her biggest supporters. Her husband worked nights and was able to help as much as he could during the day. Her mother and mother-in-law also provided help when they could and were there for emergencies.

Her co-workers at The Nebraska Medical Center held a fundraiser for her. Several friends of her sister who work at Lincoln Financial Group also organized a fundraiser/ auction and raised more than $6,000 to help

Dr. Geetha Palaniappan and the nationally recognized Nebraska Cancer Specialists are at the forefront of cancer diagnosis, treatment and research. *Nationally Recognized in Clinical Trials and Oncology Research by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Margaret Block, M.D. M. Salman Haroon, M.D. Ralph J. Hauke, M.D. Timothy K. Huyck, M.D. Robert M. Langdon, Jr., M.D.

Kirsten M. Leu, M.D. John M. Longo, M.D. Patrick J. McKenna, M.D. Geetha Palaniappan, M.D. David A. Silverberg, M.D.

Gamini S. Soori, M.D. Yungpo Bernard Su, M.D. Stefano R. Tarantolo, M.D. Peter M. Townley, M.D.

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36 HerFamily • June 2013

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feature her with her medical bills.

This touched Wagner-Connolly greatly and was a turning point that helped her keep fighting. “It made me see the good in the world,” she says. “When complete strangers reached out to help me, I became determined that I had to do something with my life to make an impact like they had for me.”

Determined to not let her surgery and chemotherapy treatment slow her down, Wagner-Connolly was able to continue her master’s studies, finishing on her target date.

She also kept a challenging work schedule as a nurse at The Nebraska Medical Center.

Being able to maintain some control over other parts of her life was important to her mental well-being. There were days during her six-month chemotherapy regimen when she felt as if she couldn’t go on. “I just had to take it day by day,” she recalls. “I did a lot of reality checks.”

Having goals—such as seeing her children grow up, completing her master’s degree, and wanting to live to make a difference in the world—fueled her will to keep fighting.

“Amberly did an amazing job,” says Peggy Jarrell, LCSW, OSW-C, a licensed clinical social worker and a certified oncology social worker at Nebraska Methodist Hospital, who worked with her during her treatment.

“Motherhood can be stressful enough…put cancer on top of that, and you have a lot to deal with. [She] was able to maintain her own and still stay active in the outside world.”

Jarrell says it’s very important for cancer patients to establish a good support network of people and friends who can help them through this period. She also recommends

“Motherhood can be stressful enough…put cancer on top of that, and you have a lot to deal with.”

Peggy Jarrell, LCSW, OSW-C

Peggy Jarrell, licensed clinical social worker and certified oncology social worker at Nebraska Methodist Hospital.

having a designated support person who can accompany them at appointments and act as their second set of ears.

Many hospitals now provide nurse navigators to help patients “navigate” the health care »

The most clinical trial options for women

Dr. Crotzer

Learning that you have cancer is overwhelming. So at Methodist, the very next thing you learn is that you’re in the right place. With a team of oncologists specializing in gynecological treatments and surgeries and the most clinical trials in the region, you’ll have more chances for new cures. And that means you’re in the best place to beat your cancer. That’s the meaning of care. bestcare.org ©2012 Methodist Hospital, an affiliate of Methodist Health System

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HerFamily • June 2013

37

feature

A surgeon who understands a woman’s concerns.

Member American Society of Breast Surgeons Certified by the American Board of Surgery Comprehensive evaluation of breast complaints Personal, compassionate approach to patient care Same day appointments available Second opinions provided Stacy Patzloff, a certified oncology nurse navigator at Alegent Creighton Health.

Midlands Two Professional Center 401 E Gold Coast Rd, Ste 329 Papillion, NE 68046 phone (402) 934-9323 fax (402) 934-9471 www.yourbreasthealthcare.com NE

W!

Interactive Fun Awaits!

Sid the Science Kid Live!

Thursday, January 30, 2014 Orpheum Theater

ERTH: Dinosaur Petting Zoo™ March 21-22, 2014 Scott Recital Hall

KIDS ZONE Introduce your children to the arts with two interactive experiences! Plus come early and enjoy our Kids Zone with Face Painting, Coloring and Balloon Artists.

Perfect for children ages 3-8 years old.

« system. Stacy Patzloff, RN, BSN, a certified oncology nurse navigator at Alegent Creighton Health, says nurse navigators work closely with the patient and the cancer support team to make sure everything is coordinated. They’re there to attend appointments with them and to act as a support person who is available 24/7.

Support is key, agrees Dr. Block, whether it’s family, friends, a support group, or seeking the help of a psychologist or psychiatrist.

Exercise can also be a good thing and may help you get through chemotherapy with less fatigue, she notes.

Other tips that may help young patients get through treatment and recovery include: • Don’t be afraid to ask for help from others.

• Take time for yourself if you’re having a bad day.

• Eat a healthy diet. Seek the nutrition advice of dietitians on staff at the hospital where you are receiving treatment.

• Take care of your physical well-being. Programs like Alegent Creighton Health’s Image Recovery program provide cancer patients with wigs and helps them deal with hair, nail, and skin problems that are unique to cancer patients.

Today, Wagner-Connolly is very active in a number of projects to help other young victims of cancer. She started the group Survivors Raising Kids for young parents who need help with childcare during treatment and recovery. She is on the board of Camp Kesem for kids who have had a parent with cancer. She is also a nursing instructor at Clarkson College where she teaches public health and is pursuing a doctorate in global health.

“I know how lucky I am,” she says. “I want to make a difference in this world. No one should have to face cancer and certainly not a young mom.”

And for those who do, Wagner-Connolly is committed to easing that journey.

Season Tickets as low as $50!

OmahaPerformingArts.org/SeasonTickets | 402.345.0606 38 HerFamily • June 2013

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mom on the rocks

Dr. Niki Pearson Dr. Bethany Forsyth

story by Leslie Murrell

Join us

at Stinson Park in Aksarben Village on

July 13, 2013 for the Walk for Wishes/5k run/walk and Kids Fun Run Wellness Fair 8-12

Fun Run starts at 8:00 5k starts at 8:30

The Search for Mommy Friends

F

or a stay-at- home mom

of toddler twins in a new state, there should’ve been a therapist included in our relocation package.

“You wanna hang out this weekend?” doesn’t exist in this part of the country because, if there’s not a graduation, there’s a nephew’s birthday party or t-ball game. Although there’s something warm and fuzzy about how tight extended family is here in the heartland, it’s no fun for the new girl.

There are several other components to consider with mommy friends: Do I like her? Does she laugh at my very funny jokes? Do I like her kids? Do my kids like her kids? Will our spouses get along?

It’s a delicate balance. But after a year of living in Nebraska friendless, my kids managed to form the words: “Mom, you need some adult friends.”

I found a mommy match website. You go in, do a profile, and find people who match your profile. It’s like a dating service for moms.

You follow pretty much all the same dating rules on a mommy level.

Meet in a public space. Let someone know exactly where you will be.

Check back in as soon as you’re done. Have someone call and check in so that you have an out if you need it.

The first lady I met had an intense passion for cats, and a lot of them. She was mean to her kid, who threw dirt at me. I didn’t even wait for my check-in call. Instead, I used a lame kid emergency like, “It’s nap time…gotta go!” We dashed home, I put the kids down for that nap, and I re-filtered my mommy dating profile search. It worked. I found someone online, and we’ve been “dating” for years.

A beautiful byproduct of our friendship is the many new friends we’ve made together. That, and she laughs at all of my jokes. Mommy friends are to be cherished for an eternity, whether you meet them at that nephew’s t-ball game or online.

If you’re looking for mom friends, try truebluematch.com or momsofomaha.com, or search Facebook for Mom On the Rocks and HerFamily.

Read more of Murrell’s stories at momontherocks.com readonlinenow.com

Register by June 7, 2013

Signup at the Pearson Chiropractic office

6303 Center St. Suite 103 Just East of Ak-Sar-Ben Village

or online at getmeregistered.com

Call Today to Schedule an Appointment!

402.933.1933

www.pearsonchirowellness.com

We’re hyper-local with or without the caffeine. www.Womego.com

we the women HerFamily actively supports local women’s magazines.

HerFamily • June 2013

39

health extra story by Bailey Hemphill

Are You Getting Enough Vitamin D?

V

D plays many roles in our bodies. It regulates immune health, helps to build and maintain strong bones, and absorbs calcium and phosphorus into the blood stream. While vitamin D can be obtained naturally through food, like fish and eggs, or through exposure to sunlight, most people (especially women) don’t get enough of it, the result of which can be linked to poor skeletal health, cancer, depression, heart disease, and obesity.

You might be under the impression that spending more time in the sun is all it takes to combat this deficiency. But that’s not true. In fact, there are several variables dependent on how much vitamin D your body requires, as well as how well it absorbs sunlight.

According to David Rostollan, N.D., in his article “Vitamin D: How to Determine Your Optimal Dose” written for NaturalNews.com, “Healthy, young people can usually get the vitamin D they need from around 10 to 30 minutes of sun exposure per day, depending on their location and time of year. itamin

40 HerFamily • June 2013

Most adults in today’s modern world, however, do not even attempt to get this much sun exposure, much less achieve it.”

Dr. Rostollan adds that, even if adults did attempt more exposure, issues of location, age, and skin color can hinder proper sunlight absorption. “Because of the axial tilt of the earth, the further north one lives, the less the sun’s UVB rays will be able to activate vitamin D in the skin…If you’re around 35-40 years-old or above, you’re likely losing the ability to activate sufficient levels of vitamin D in your skin… [and] if you have a lot of pigment in your skin, this is going to shield you from the UVB radiation you need.” Being overweight and illnesses, like cancer, can also require higher vitamin D levels, as the vitamin is consumed much faster in larger or weakened bodies.

Don’t attempt to adjust your vitamin D levels on your own though. Taking vitamin D supplements can be harmful if you take too high a dose; and while sun exposure can’t make you overdose on vitamin D, too much time in the sun can put you at risk for skin cancer. As usual, you should only increase sun exposure or start taking a supplement after you have consulted with your physician. omahapublications.com

auto care

story by Darcie Dingman • photo by Bill Sitzmann

Preparing for

THE ONLY TIME YOU SHOULD BUY A LEMON IS AT THE GROCERY STORE!

Your hard earned dollars count. An independent, unbiased and convenient used car inspection makes perfect sense.

Road Trips

R

a lot of fun, but they can also turn into a nightmare if you aren’t prepared. There are a few items that should be checked before you set out for your destination to ensure that your vehicle is as ready for the drive as you are.

• Make sure to check all fluids—antifreeze, power steering, brake, transmission, and windshield wiper.

• If you aren’t current with your oil changes, get it changed before leaving.

• Inspect your hoses and belts for wear and tear. If something looks askew, take it to a trusted mechanic and have them take a look.

• Check all tires, including the spare, to make sure that they’re in good shape and that the tire pressure is correct.

• Be certain you have a jack and lug wrench in case you need to change a tire.

• Check your battery to make sure there are no corrosions, cracks, or leaks.

I recommend doing all of these things a week in advance in case there are any problems. This should give you adequate time to take care of any repairs. There are also some items that are important to have along with you in case you do have car issues.

• Gas can. Don’t wait until the tank is too low to fill up. On a road trip, it can be hard to know how far the next gas station will be.

• Water. Make sure to have plenty of bottled water; the summer heat can be extremely dehydrating.

• Phone charger. This should be used your entire trip to ensure your cell phone has a full charge.

• Shade. Bring window shades, towels, and hats.

• Sunscreen and sunglasses. Just because you’re in the car doesn’t mean your skin and eyes can’t get sun-damaged.

• Flashlight. Nothing is worse than being stranded in the dark.

• Maps. We often use phones or the GPS on our vehicles, but having an actual map is necessary in case our electronics fail.

• Walking shoes. Make sure you have shoes that are comfortable for walking in case you have to “hoof it.”

Be sure to prepare for your road trip and carry along a few extras just in case. With these few tips, you should be well on your way to a fun, safe trip. oad trips can be

readonlinenow.com

OMAHA’S ONLY LOCAL, MOBILE INSPECTION SERVICE RELIABLE • CERTIFIED • EXPERIENCED

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Boys Town Center for Behavioral Health

Outpatient counseling for children of all ages who are experiencing: • Behavioral problems • Emotional issues

• Academic problems • Substance abuse

Boys Town Center for Behavioral Health 13064 Walsh Drive

On the Boys Town Campus

402-498-3358

boystownpediatrics.org

HerFamily • June 2013

41

moms’ getaway story by Linda Persigehl • photo by Bill Sitzmann

Staycations Just for Mom

A

ll busy moms— stay-at- home and

working mothers alike— need to break routine and get away from it all once in a while.

There’s no shame in admitting it. Even a single night away from home can do wonders to reinvigorate your spirit and help you gain a better perspective on all you have to be grateful for. In the end, you’re a better parent for having taken a little time for yourself.

But getting away doesn’t have to mean boarding a plane or spending a fortune.

There are plenty of great staycation options here in Omaha, ideal for a quick romantic escape with your significant other or a fun girlfriends’ weekend.

If you’re always talking about all the great places and events in Downtown 42 HerFamily • June 2013

Omaha you’d love to take in (but never do), and you appreciate the finer things in life, then an overnight at Hotel Deco XV (15th & Harney streets) might be just what you’re looking for. With an Art Deco design, 24-hour room service, and valet and concierge services available, you’re sure to feel like a special guest at this AAA Four-Diamond boutique hotel. All of its 89 elegant rooms and suites are furnished with plush beds and luxurious linens, and each is decorated a bit differently, making every stay unique.

Hotel Deco’s location downtown makes it a convenient omahapublications.com

Omaha moms Shelley Lessig (left), Jennifer Witcher, and Carolyn Trainor enjoy a sunny shopping spree at Village Pointe.

spot to call “home” if you wish to take in a musical or theatre performance at the Holland Performing Arts Center or Orpheum Theater, an art exhibit at KANEKO or the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, or a riverfront walk or stroll over the Pedestrian Bridge. You’re also just steps away from the historic Old Market District, which houses several of Omaha’s best restaurants, dozens of pubs and wine lounges with live entertainment, eclectic gift and antique stores, clothing and jewelry stores, and even several yoga studios, salons, and day spas.

If you’re a lover of old homes and prefer the charm of a bed and breakfast, then a stay at the Cornerstone Mansion in Midtown might be your perfect readonlinenow.com

destination. Just north of Dodge off 39th Street in Omaha’s Gold Coast neighborhood, the 10,200-sq-ft home built in 1894 is on the National Register of Historic Places. The home features seven guest rooms, each with a private bath and décor true to the period. Some rooms also have a fireplace, sun porch, desk, oversized claw-foot tub, and views of neighboring Joslyn Castle and its beautifully landscaped six-acre estate. Guests are encouraged to peruse the books in the library, play a tune on the grand piano, enjoy a chat in the parlor, or relax in one of the garden gazebos. A continental breakfast is also served on weekdays, and a full gourmet breakfast in the formal dining room on weekends.

While many guests find so much to take in at the mansion that they don’t leave, others that wish to venture out have many options nearby. Joslyn Art Museum is just a five-minute drive away, and Midtown Crossing, with its casual and fine dining, movie theater, park, cocktail lounges, and retail shopping, is just a few blocks’ walk down Dodge. Cornerstone is also a 10-minute drive from the Omaha Community Playhouse, TD Ameritrade Park, CenturyLink Center, and all the venues in Downtown Omaha, so the opportunities are almost limitless!

If for you, a getaway is simply code for a weekend shopping spree, then a stay in West Omaha may be more your style.

The Hilton Garden Inn (near 180th just south of Dodge) is conveniently located next to Village Pointe Shopping Center, which offers a plethora of shopping for mom—accessories and apparel, home décor, jewelry, and lotions and potions, as well as a hair salon, nail salon, gourmet ice cream and chocolate shops, and several great sit-down restaurants featuring delicious appetizer and drink menus. The center also features a 16-screen state-of-the-art movie theater, the Funny Bone Comedy Club, and hosts a Saturday morning farmers market and free Saturday night concert series in the summer.

Back at the Garden Inn after a day of shopping, you can enjoy a dip in the hotel’s heated pool or soak in the whirlpool (some suites even have whirlpool tubs in-room!), then retire to a white, duvet-covered bed—with no risk of a child joining you at 3am—and wake refreshed the next morning, ready to hit the fitness center for an uninterrupted workout, grab a bite at a nearby café, and venture out to the stores for more retail therapy.

Book your staycation today. You know what they say… when Mom’s happy, everybody’s happy!

HerFamily • June 2013

43

@

Visit our l an ds c a p e s up p ly ya r d at 5601 Harr ison S tr eet • Om a h a , N E 68157

402.932.5704 omahafriendlyservices.com • sunvalleyomaha.com

44 HerFamily • June 2013

omahapublications.com

Calendar of Events

World Oceans Day Photo by Bill Sitzmann

Sand in the City

Photo provided by NCHS

THROUGH JUNE 16

Photo by Scott McIntyre

Musical of the biblical story of Joseph and his “Coat of Many Colors.”

TH-F/7PM; SAT-SUN/2PM $20-25 THE ROSE THEATER, 2001 FARNAM ST. ROSETHEATER.ORG 402-345-4849

Four-day festival with food, jazz in the park, craft fair, street dancing, and carnival.

BLAIR, NEB. BLAIRCHAMBER.ORG 402-533-4455

Omaha’s premier summer festival with live performances and children’s activities.

F-SAT/11AM-11PM; SUN/11AM-5PM GENE LEAHY MALL, 10TH TO 15TH ON FARNAM ST. SUMMERARTS.ORG 402-345-5401

Local musicians entertain families every Friday night throughout the summer.

F/7-8PM FREE ROCKBROOK VILLAGE, 10819 PRAIRIE BROOK RD. ROCKBROOKVILLAGE.COM 402-390-0890

Hour-long session for new and expectant dads to address common fatherhood concerns in preparation for a new baby.

10-11AM BOYS TOWN NATIONAL RESEARCH HOSPITAL, 14000 HOSPITAL RD. BOYSTOWNPEDIATRICS.ORG

JUNE 8

Children’s educational activities in celebration of World Oceans Day.

9AM-1PM FREE WITH REGULAR ZOO ADMISSION HENRY DOORLY ZOO & AQUARIUM, 3701 S. 10TH ST. OMAHAZOO.COM • 402-733-8401

JUNE 8-9

A weekend supporting Nebraska Children’s Home Society with sand sculptures and family-friendly activities.

SAT/10AM-8PM; SUN/11AM-5PM CENTURYLINK CENTER OMAHA, 455 N. 10TH ST. SANDINTHECITYOMAHA.COM

“The Greatest Show on Dirt” is back in Omaha once again.

TD AMERITRADE PARK OMAHA, 1200 MIKE FAHEY ST. CWSOMAHA.COM

JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT

JUNE 6-9

GATEWAY TO THE WEST DAYS

JUNE 7-9

SUMMER ARTS FESTIVAL

JUNE 7 – AUGUST 30

ROCKBROOK VILLAGE FRIDAY CONCERTS

JUNE 8

DADDY IN TRAINING

WORLD OCEANS DAY

SAND IN THE CITY

JUNE 14-26

2013 NCAA® COLLEGE WORLD SERIES readonlinenow.com

2013 NCAA® College World Series

HerFamily • June 2013

45

on the go! story by Alexis Abel, Nebraska Travel & Tourism photo provided by Nebraska Travel & Tourism

YEARS

1983 - 2013

OMAG COVER Faces • style • Home • events • art • Dining

Discover the

Summer Fun In Omaha

Special Olympics Nebraska

Celebrating 40 Years Fine Tequila Tasting

at La Mesa

omaha’s

PITCH MAN Willy TheisenOMAG may/june • 2012

Magic of a Road Trip

COVER

Faces • style • Home • events • art • Dining

GALA

Cover Story: Project Interfaith

PERMIT NO. 5377 DENVER, CO

PAID

w w w.O ma ha P u bl ic ations.com

Omaha magazine • 5921 S. 118th CirCle • Omaha, ne 68137

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE

OMAG COVER

Belles Ball

P

trip?

It’s easy to keep the kids entertained across the miles in today’s world—just load up the portable DVD player, the handheld game system, and the iPad. Perhaps you remember roughing it in the old days when you and your siblings jockeyed for space on the bench seat and played I Spy to make the time pass.

Compare that to what a road trip was like 100 years ago—travel, itself, was a monumental undertaking. Not only were there no electronic games, there were no roads linking cities and towns.

In 1913, entrepreneur Carl G. Fisher vowed to change that with the construction of a paved, coast-to-coast roadway that would extend from New York City to San Francisco. The Lincoln Highway, named after our 16th president, was big news for Nebraska where the route would run the entire length of the state.

Today, you and your family can make the trek in comfort and style while visiting remnants of the old highway, including the original brick pavers near Omaha and two sections of “seedling miles” in Grand Island and Kearney.

Throughout the state, the cross-country route—now called U.S. Highway 30—is flanked by historical buildings just waiting lanning a family road

of the

Ponzu Sushi & Grill Restaurant Review Revival of

Ak-Sar-Ben Coronation Chairs

Benson

OMAG COVER Anne Kennedy’s

Enchanted Cottage Condo

september/october • 2012 Faces • style • Home • events • art • Dining

DENVER, CO PERMIT NO. 5377

PAID

www.OmahaPublications.com

U.S. POSTAGE

Omaha magazine • 5921 S. 118th CirCle • Omaha, ne 68137

PRSRT STD

OMAG COVER Best of Omaha® Time To Vote

Summer Fun In Omaha Omaha’s

topDenTiSTS

Tm

Warren Buffett

Heralding The Headmaster Brownell-Talbot’s Dianne Desler

Mentoring America’s ‘Secret’ Entrepreneurs July/august • 2012

GALA

Cover Story: National T.T.T. Society

PERMIT NO. 5377 DENVER, CO

w w w.O ma ha P u bl ic ations.com

PAID

Omaha magazine • 5921 S. 118th CirCle • Omaha, ne 68137

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE

OMAG COVER

CELEBRATING 30 YEARS OF OMAHA’S FACES & SPACES!

46 HerFamily • June 2013

to be explored, as well as several of Nebraska’s top attractions. For example, in Gothenburg, you can check out the reconstructed Pony Express Station; in nearby North Platte, you can visit the home of Buffalo Bill Cody at the Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park; and in Grand Island, the Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer is one of the nation’s top living history museums.

A stop in Kearney at the Great Platte River Road Archway is a must. This state-of-theart museum traces the development of the American West, including the making of the nation’s first transcontinental highway. From there, it’s a short drive across town to see the exhibits at the Classic Car Collection, which is situated along the original route of the old Lincoln Highway.

With 400 Nebraska miles, there’s plenty to see along this historic roadway. And while the journey may be much smoother now, you can be sure it will be just as interesting and adventurous as its pre-paved days. Isn’t it time your family explored Nebraska’s Lincoln Highway?

Join the Official Lincoln Highway Centennial Celebration in Kearney June 30-July 1.

With food, music, speakers, and car clubs, there will be plenty of events for the whole family. For more information, visit VisitNebraska.com/lhc. omahapublications.com

Endless adventures await. let us take you there.

Your next vacation getaway should be unique and Travel and Transport is here to ensure your specific needs are met!

For over 66 years, the travel specialists at Travel and Transport have been planning everything from family vacations to couples retreats.

From museums and historical adventures in Europe to a relaxed tropical vacation in the Caribbean, our experts are here to help you plan your next unique getaway that will be perfectly suited for you! travelandtransport.com Located at 72nd & Mercy | 402.399.4555

CorporaTe Travel | EvEnTs | LoyaLTy | Vacations

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