Lane County MOM | Dec 2019 Jan 2020

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Lane County | December 2019/ January 2020 | FREE

COVER MOM

BOOK LOVER’S

FOOD FEATURE

JENNY WILLIAMS

GIFT GUIDE

COWBOY TREATS

LARGE PRIZE WALL FOR A JOB WELL DONE! • 15 years experience in

the dental field

• birth to 16 years old • accepting all insurances • offering sedation dentistry • awesome monthly

prize drawings

• all new state-of-the-art

dental equipment

• lobby treehouse

with slide

• coffee bar •

fun, fun, fun

Dr. Erin Estep

Treehouse Kids Dentist provides the highest quality pediatric dentistry in an incredibly warm, friendly, and fun environment. We are committed to giving you and your child the very best care in a welcoming and playful manner.

1611 J Street Springfield, OR • 541-515-6631 • office@treehousekidsdental.com 2 mommag.com

mommag.com 2

It’s what‘s

Everyone has

inside that counts at least one

lover on their

book-

list, so here’s

our

vers.

for book-lo

Lights Out

Gifts

21

t 24

Treats 28

Meet the MOM experts.... 4

Power Outages................21

Cowboy Treats.................28

They know what they're

How to survive and thrive

Holiday goodness,

talking about

when the lights go out

cowboy style

Because I said so............... 5

Book Lover’s Gift Guide..........................24

Reindeer Cupcakes........30

Unique gifts for the book-

cuteness

A message from MOM

Vacation MOM................... 6 Pack like a pro

Easy to assemble holiday

lovers on your list

Cover MOM: Jenny Williams.................10 This mom gets real

More ways to love your MOM Blog: mommag.com

Facebook: facebook.com/ lovemommag

Cover MOM

10

Photos by MJ’s Photography

Advertise today Want to get the word out about your business? Contact Linda Blair at linda@mommag.com mommag.com 3

meet the

experts

[They know what they’re talking about]

Vacation MOM

™

with Donnita Bassinger, page 6

Focus on MOM

™

with Dr. David Hackett, Pediatric Optometrist, page 8

Beyond the bin

™

“ You can tell a lot about a

with Sarah Grimm, page 18

person by the way they handle three things: a rainy

Christmas tree lights.

“

day, lost luggage and tangled

– Maya Angelou

4 mommag.com

EDITOR'S NOTE

Because I said so!

Published by GO Creative, LLC 263 29th Avenue SW Albany, OR 97322 Editor-in-Chief Managing Director Angela Hibbard angela@mommag.com Mid-Valley & Lane County Business Development Manager Linda Blair linda@mommag.com 541-231-7250 Salem Advertising Representative Kim Leighty kim.leighty@mommag.com 503-510-9036 Tri-Cities Business Development Manager Kim Harvey kim@mommag.com 509-460-6526 Designer Sean Carver We love hearing from you. Email info@mommag.com with feedback, story ideas or nominations.

MOM MagazineTM is produced by GO Creative, LLC. © 2018 All rights reserved. Any reproduction, in whole or part, without written permission of the publisher, is prohibited.

Information in the magazine is provided for general information purposes only with the understanding that none of the content constitutes professional advice.

Opinions expressed by the writers or advertisers are not necessarily the opinions of the magazine or the publisher. Inclusion in the magazine does not constitute endorsement of information, products or services.

Perfect parenting is poor preparation for the real world.

WHEN MY CHILDREN were very young and just the idea of getting out of the house felt like an Olympic event I hadn’t trained for, a neighbor—who must have observed my sleep-deprived, impatient mothering skills—passed on some advice that her mother had shared with her.

“Perfect parenting is poor preparation for the real world,” she said, giving me a reassuring smile. Those words have stuck with me and encourage me when I feel like I’m failing as a mom.

All of us can feel this way occasionally, especially at this time of year when there’s so much pressure to have the perfectlydecorated house, neatly-iced cookies, clever crafts, unique gifts and that darn Elf on the Shelf. Not to mention Christmas cards, brag letters and all of that shopping.

When I feel overwhelmed and not up to the epic responsibility of motherhood, I remember my neighbor’s wise words and feel particularly smug about just how prepared my kids will be for the real world thanks to my imperfect parenting skills! I also remind myself to:

Angela’s children, Catherine and Liam, enjoying an imperfect holiday moment

So if you ever feel like an imperfect parent, remember that your children were not given a perfect mom, just the perfect mom for them.

Why? Because I said so!

Take a deep breath Say “no” to holiday parties Dim the lights, so it’s easier to ignore the dirt in my house Log off of Pinterest and all social media Remember that my presence is the best gift I can give my children

Angela Hibbard MOM Magazine Editor-in-Chief

mommag.com 5

ts en a r mil y p nd fa r ra on a you sy, g a o n g t eling ff o ot e , n i n o go rav e t’s me ’re or t u tak ck. I u ti my ls in u o pa yo are tia yo ys er lida ore y ust save ere ssen h t ho ef m ill . H e e he W r the on, b , you ell w tion f th fo cati ture g w stra all o . va ven ckin fru ing sible a d t p a a n d p a ck p os bu ney s to s as m o c r et b a g se few as

N PL A

A HE

AD

It’s tempting to pack everything you might need. Eliminate the guesswork by planning ahead. Make a list of daily activities with specific items required. Plan outfits for each member of your family for each day, based on that list. Pack an entire kid’s outfit into a zipper bag and write their name and the activity on the bag. Look up the expected day and night temperatures for your destination and pack accordingly.

RT SMA K C PA HE IN T BE W K NO

IF YOU KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT, YOU CAN PLAN FOR ALMOST ANYTHING.

Be comfortable. The temperature in airports and on planes can fluctuate dramatically. I dress my kids in t-shirts, running suits and tennis shoes so they are comfy for the flight and can adapt to any weather. Everyone should bring a light jacket or sweater, no matter where you are going.

Lay out head-to-toe traveling clothes for each family member (especially for early morning flights).

VACATION MOM TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

?

Word to the wise, don’t check anything you can’t replace.

Y EL IDA RAV H O L L INE T S A IR IND E R REM

Do not travel with wrapped gifts in your carry-on. Either pack them in your checkedbag or wrap them when you arrive. Don’t bring any toys or gifts that resemble a weapon. If you’re bringing Christmas favorites like fruitcake and cookies, they’re okay to pack in your carry-on along with other solid foods, but all liquids, gels and creams must be in containers of 3.4 ounces or less to pack as carry-on items.

Make sure everything fits and check for stains or tears.

Choose only necessary and multi-purpose items. Shoes take up the most room so get multi-functional shoes such as Keen sandals. Cargo pants with zip-off legs are great.

Limit your bags. Decide how many suitcases you need and keep eliminating items until they are zipped. Check with your airline to see if there is a discount for prepaid baggage fees.

All airlines allow a free personal item. Use a beach bag or large tote as your personal item. Put a small purse and other items you need onboard in this bag. Kids can bring a small backpack with their snacks and toys for the flight.

Don’t check anything you can’t replace.

Keep all important items such as medications with you. Split each person’s clothing between bags in case one bag gets lost.

If you are only bringing carry-on items, make sure any liquids are in a quart-size zipper bag with no container larger than 3.4 ounces.

Tag your luggage inside and out with your name and phone number, but not your home address.

Make sure to pack a coordinated outfit for each family member so you can capture a nice family photo. You’ll be happy to have a picture to remember your travel adventure.

Black marker and ink pens.

Small scissors (in checked bag).

Tape and sticky notes.

Reduce the amount of clothing you pack by half if laundry facilities are available at your hotel.

Dress everyone in the same color shirts or hats to keep track of each other in crowded places.

Plastic zipper bags of all sizes.

Medical kit with small amounts of any medicine you might need, tweezers and Band-Aids.

Clothes pins (clip wet swimsuits to chairs to dry, close drapes, etc.).

Anti-bacterial wipes and tissues.

Sunglasses, sunscreen and bug spray (liquids go in a plastic bag in checked luggage).

E L IN A IR G A G E E V BAG ES HA L U R NGE D CHA

Chargers, extra batteries and an electrical outlet extender.

Check airline websites for their latest policy. Some basic economy fares and low-cost airlines only allow a personal item for free and charge you for carry-on bags. If you don’t follow their rules, you could end up paying up to $100 per bag! Measure and weigh each of your bags to avoid excess size or weight charges at the airport.

So far they still allow car seats and strollers for no additional charge.

Nightlight and small flashlight.

Passports and copies, if leaving the USA.

Check with the Transportation Security Administration website for an up-to-date list of what is and is not allowed. www.tsa.gov/travel

Brought to you by:

MEET VACATION MOM

TM

Donnita Bassinger is mom to three boys and lives in Eugene, OR. She is active in scouting, school PTO’s and local charities. As owner of VIP Vacations Inc. and a travel agent for 30 years, Donnita has packing down to a science.

Contact her at 541-688-7473.

For more information visit her on Facebook @VacationMOMpage.

mommag.com 7

Vision toys and games Eye Spy Eagle Eye

Rubik’s Cube / Ball Maze

(Figure-ground)

(Visual perception)

Concentration/Match

Jenga

(Visual memory)

(Eye-hand coordination)

Spot it!

Gravity Maze

(Form constancy)

(Visualization)

Simon

Play-doh/Clay

(Visual memory)

(Fine-motor control)

This gift-giving season, consider giving games and activities that enhance a child’s brain and assist in their vision development. Vision is much more than just “20/20.” It is a combination of sub-skills which can be learned and developed. Each of these entertaining gifts build different foundational visual skills.

Pretend-play toys: dolls, dress-up, (Imagination/Visualization)

Chess / Checkers / Jigsaw Puzzles (Several skills)

Legos / Duplo /K’NEX (Several skills)

Books (Visualization, eye tracking)

Coloring Books (Eye-hand coordination)

Ping Pong / Table Tennis (Visual pursuit)

Many (not all) screen-based activities and games provide so much stimulation that the child’s brain is overwhelmed with observing, rather than developing rewarding abilities to create, visualize, imagine, and problem solve.

For more information on each of these foundational visual skills and an excellent child development timeline visit covd.org

Brought to you by: David Hackett, O.D. 4765 Village Plaza Loop, Eugene, Oregon (541) 342-3100 lifetimeeyecare.net

8 mommag.com

SHINE ON. Eli’s body was full of cancer.

Now he’s full of life.

At age 2, Eli faced a cancer almost never seen in kids that age.

Fortunately, OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital was ready to meet the challenge.

Doernbecher specializes in creating new possibilities. Eli’s team turned the world’s latest research into an innovative treatment plan and helped Eli beat cancer. Today he’s a happy, healthy 5-year-old who loves baseball, family and building things.

Your generous support helps create these new possibilities and powers lifesaving care for families across the Northwest.

Please make a gift to Doernbecher today.

mommag.com 9

Cover MOM

Photo credit: MJ’s Photography

Cover MOM, Jenny Williams, is a mother of three, an active volunteer and the reigning Mrs. Oregon. She reminds other moms that it’s never too late to pursue a dream.

10 mommag.com

Jenny Williams ! l a e r s

Q & A Who is MOM?

Community/hometown: Springfield, OR. Family: Husband, Steve Williams, owner

of East and West Coast Auto and Air Force veteran and children: Wyatt, age 16; Walker, age 14 and Austyn, age 11 Profession: Stay-at-home mom

Get

Family comes first.

All families are unique. Tell us about yours.

It was love at first sight 25 years ago when I met Steve. From that moment on, he has been my best friend. My rock. My voice of reason. My sounding board. My biggest fan and supporter. The love of my life. There is truly no one like Steve.

He is larger than life and lives his life with an intense passion and protection for his family. We have been married for 19 years and are busy raising three kids.

As a dad, he is active, involved and fun!

He can often be found in a rousing and competitive UNO game or ping pong match with the kids. He has also had the honor of coaching our middle son in Little League baseball for 10 years. With the same passion and larger-than-life personality, he was able to take his team to 2nd place in State in 2018.

Our first born, Wyatt, came into this world at a whopping 11 pounds 2.2 ounces. He is now a 6’3” junior in high school. He is a musician and has been playing the piano for eight years. He is also a drummer and percussionist and heavily involved in his school music program as a member of the school marching band and various ensembles.

His witty and constant sense of humor keeps us laughing all the time.

Walker is a freshman this year and is one busy guy. He is almost always in a good mood and up for a good time. He plays basketball and baseball and is active in YoungLife. He shares his dad’s passion for baseball and has been playing since preschool. He also seems to have a real business mind and an uncanny knack for making money. Eternally optimistic, he hopes to be an entrepreneur, after the Major Leagues of course.

Our daughter, Austyn, is 11 years old and in her first year of middle school. She is quite possibly the happiest human being I know. She is a lover of life and has been playing the piano for five years. She is an overachiever at school and in sports. She plays soccer, volleyball, basketball and softball. She is also excited to try out middle school track this year. She also loves to turn the kitchen table into a crafting wonderland.

Rounding out the Williams household are our two cats: Sox and Ranger and our rescue German Shorthaired Pointer, Dodger.

Tell us about one of your proudest mom moments?

I am never prouder than when watching my kids do what they love. From baseball and soccer games to band concerts and piano recitals, nothing gives me more joy than watching my children do what they love. mommag.com 11

Now tell us about one of your most humbling mom moments?

Each time the hospital sends you on your way with your brand new baby. It is humbling to know that it is all up to you!

No one can do it for you. You are responsible for this precious little baby.

We’re all moms so we know that no one is perfect all of the time, or even some of the time. Tell us about your most recent “Mother of the Year” moment. You know, like forgetting to pick the kids up from school.

Having three kids has forced me to be an organized person, however, mistakes do get made! The most embarrassing was probably showing up with all three kids to a pumpkin patch birthday party a week early!

Quick

You hear your mother’s voice when you say to your kids “…….”

questions

“Do you have a coat?”

for MOM

Your biggest wish for your kids is…

To always be happy and healthy.

No one works harder than mom.

We know that being a mom is a full-time job. Tell us about your work or volunteerism outside of the home.

When we adopted our dog from Greenhill Humane Society, I was intrigued by the sheer volunteer power running the day-to-day operations. As a dog-lover I just had to get involved and give back to the organization that gave us our wonderful rescue. I spent some time cleaning the kennels on a weekly basis for a while. I have also spent volunteer hours at Bags of Love. They are an organization that provides bags of age-appropriate clothing, toiletries, school supplies and other comfort items and necessities to foster children or children in crisis. The bulk of my volunteer hours, however, have been spent in my children’s classrooms. From your everyday filing,

grading and sorting, to yearbook and slideshow production and field trips of all kinds. Three kids means I’ve been on nine pumpkin patch field trips over the years!

Tell us about a recent achievement you’re proud of, or a personal passion or talent.

In March, 2017, I was crowned Mrs. Oregon America. Entering the Mrs. Oregon pageant allowed me to conquer old insecurities and experience a childhood dream. It was also an opportunity to set an example to my children about having goals and dreams and setting out to achieve them. It may have started out as a personal pursuit, but it ultimately became an experience shared by my entire family. They were always by my side and supported me all the way—from parades and appearances, to preparations for Nationals and an exciting trip to Las Vegas where I competed for the title of

Morning or Night?

Night

Summer or Winter?

Winter

Fly or Drive?

Drive

Gold or Silver?

Gold

Dog or Cat?

Dog

Bath or Shower?

Shower

Math or English?

English

Sweet or Savory?

Sweet

Ice cream or Chocolate?

Chocolate

mommag.com 13

MOM’s Favorite …words to live by:

“Success is not a competition with the world. It’s a competition with yourself. When you can sit down in your own silence and feel truly amazing about yourself, you’ve won.” ~ #bossbabe

…time-saving app or digital tool:

Grocery delivery, online grocery shopping and grocery pick up is completely life changing!

…parenting book or philosophy:

Be the mom you want them to remember.

14 mommag.com

Mrs. America. I hope my experience inspires other people and lets them know that it’s never too late to go after a dream. I was 42 years old and walking side-by-side with some women in their twenties!

Do you have a goal you’d like to accomplish in the next five years?

Date Night! Steve and I spent our years before children on numerous hunting and fishing adventures. Now that our lives are busy with raising a family, we rarely find time for a date night. We truly enjoy spending time with our kids though. They are who we want to spend our dinners out and weekends with! Steve and I maintain our close relationship with each other through extensive communication. Either with texting to check in during the day or with lengthy and meaningful conversations after the kids have gone to bed. Between work, commitments and evening activities, our chats are our time to catch up. Great communication keeps us united and on the same path as we navigate marriage, parenthood and life together as a team.

If mom’s not happy, nobody’s happy.

What is something you will NEVER do again?

Host a sleepover for 15 boys.

What are you hoping to find under the tree this year?

I’m sure, just like most moms, I could most certainly use a gift certificate for a full car detail!

What is the quality you like most about yourself?

Cover MOM, Jenny Williams, pictured here in her role as Mrs. Oregon.

Even though it is hard for me to take a compliment, I will say that—through the experience of being a mom—I have found that I am happily a very selfless person. Maybe that is the very definition of mom. I just know that being a mom is my greatest

achievement and a position I don’t take lightly. It truly is a job, the most important job, and that has never been lost on me. I take it seriously. I love it. It is who I am, and I am proud of the passion and dedication I have to be the best mom and wife I can be.

If you could turn any activity into an Olympic sport, in which event would you win a gold medal?

A perfect 10 from all judges in shoe restoration and baseball pant rewhitening.

What keeps you up at night (apart from kids, of course)?

When the kids were younger, I would go to bed each night and judge myself for any mistakes I felt I had made that day. Over time I’ve learned, instead, to focus on all of the successes of the day which far outweigh any mistakes. I will always strive to grow and learn as a person and a parent, but I also understand the value of respecting myself enough to realize that parenting is hard. No one is perfect. I’m doing my very best and am proud of what I do.

What is the best way that you let off steam?

A long drive, a hike, engaging in something creative, a good movie, baking cookies, and my family.

Honestly, a movie night at home with the family all piled up in the same room is my favorite. With hot cookies, of course.

They say that everyone has a book in them. What’s the title of your book?

Reaching The Summit: The True Story of a Mother’s Quest to Conquer The Laundry

Listen to mom.

Is motherhood what you expected?

What surprised you the most?

When you start your family, everyone always tells you how fast time passes.

Even though we live our lives and mommag.com 15

parent our children with the intentional effort to soak it all in, it still sneaks up on you! Suddenly your babies are in middle and high school!

Like they say, “The days are long but the years are short.” I wasn’t prepared for the emotional anguish involved with my children getting older.

Who and what has influenced the mother you are today?

My mom has been a huge influence on who I am as a mother. I think we naturally parent the way we were parented and I’m lucky to have been raised by a wonderful mother. My mom always puts her family first, even to this day. That has also carried over into the kind of grandparent she is. She has an

16 mommag.com

incredibly nurturing personality and caregiver mentality. Anything you need, no really, anything—kite string, baby doll diapers, rubber band ball—at any hour, she will be there for you.

What message would you like to share with other moms?

I often see memes, social media comments and articles that state that “your child is not your friend” and I always wince. I think this is a sentiment that has been taken too literally. You don’t have to be overly strict to feel like you are being a good parent. While I understand the role of parent versus child, and those roles are well established and healthy in our household, our children are our friends

and always will be. We have their respect and maintain control, but we also give them respect as well.

Children are people too and, as hard as parenting can be, it can also be hard to be a kid sometimes! Put down the authoritarian hat, so to speak, and lay the foundation early that you are open to any and all conversations. This will establish a parent/child relationship that will flourish through the years.

[ Momism #201: Santa

is watching.

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Academy of Ballet Fantastique

]

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Eugene, Oregon

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Ongoing registration at: balletfantastique.org - academy@balletfantastique.org - 541-342-4611

RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE THE EASTERN EDGE eou.edu/mom

ONLINE DEGREES CONVENIENCE FLEXIBILITY

mommag.com 17

Thoughtful

gift giving

While wishing “peace on earth to all� we risk trashing the earth with the added things we buy. So this holiday season, try these tips for giving thoughtful gifts without adding too much waste.

Focus on togetherness. Cooking and

roller skating, ski passes, MECCA art

crafting gifts together, especially with

classes or theater tickets.

children, provides memories that are

Let them choose. Gift certificates are less

cherished for a lifetime.

wasteful because the recipient can select

Buy secondhand. Unique items can be

just what they want. Give twice by

found at secondhand stores; spiff them up

choosing certificates from nonprofits such

and add a personal touch to make them

as Materials Exchange Center for

extra special.

Community Arts (MECCA), the Museum of

Gift an experience. Experiences are

Natural History or other organizations.

much more valuable than things. The

Keep these ideas in mind all year long to

possibilities are endless. Give art or

prevent pollution caused by the mining,

cooking classes, a Science Factory

manufacturing and transporting of all the

membership, a year of

goods we buy.

Brought to you by: Sarah Grimm is the Waste Reduction Specialist for Lane County Public Works. She is an avid gardener, flyfisher and lover of the great outdoors.

Wondering if something is Recyclable in Lane County?

Look it up at www.lanecounty.org/garbageguru

500 and counting...

A place where youth create, play & heal.

C O N TAC T (541) 760-6836 105 E. Hilliard Lane E u g e n e , O R 9 74 0 4 18 mommag.com

G E T I N VO LV E D ELRODCENTER.COM

[ Momism #174: You’ll

thank me when you’re older.

]

Memberships Gift Certificates

Give the gift of experience this year.

Visit acgilbert.org

Eugene Montessori School Educating for a better world since 1962.

A quality Montessori education for children 3 through kindergarten. The individualized curriculum includes music and P.E., snacks and a wholesome hot lunch.

Call for a tour!

Eugene Montessori School 2255 Oakmont Way 541.345.7124 eugenemontessorischool.com

mommag.com 19

20 mommag.com

a mom’s guide to:

power outages W

intry, stormy weather can lead to loss of power. For a child, power outages can be exciting. Forced time together without modern conveniences means family board games, cuddling by the fire and building lots of forts—it’s like camping inside your house. But for mom, a power outage means no refrigeration (if you’re storing precious breast milk that’s a big deal), no Netflix and, possibly, no heat. Here’s our guide to surviving and thriving during the next power outage.

mommag.com 21

how to survive a power outage

Prepare BEFORE a power outage: Take an inventory of the items you need that rely on electricity. Plan for batteries and other alternatives to meet your needs when the power goes out.

Talk to your medical provider about a power outage plan for medical devices powered by electricity and refrigerated medicines. Find out how long medication can be stored at higher temperatures and get specific guidance for any medications that are critical for life.

Sign up for local alerts and warning systems.

Monitor weather reports.

Install carbon monoxide detectors with battery backup in central locations on every level of your home.

Determine whether your home phone will work in a power outage and how long battery backup will last.

Review your supplies. Have flashlights with extra batteries for every household member. Have enough nonperishable food and water.

Use a thermometer in the refrigerator and freezer so you know the temperature when the power is restored.

Throw out food if the temperature is 40 degrees

HOW TO THRIVE DURING A POWER OUTAGE

*

or at least retain your sanity

or higher.

Treat yourself. Have water, drinks and pantry

Keep mobile phones and other electric equipment

Keep freezers and refrigerators closed.

snacks on hand so you can feed your crew without opening your fridge. Make it fun. This is not the time to stick rigidly to your “healthy snacks only” mantra. If you have reason to believe the power will be out for an extended amount of time, go ahead and break into that gallon of ice cream in the freezer—it’s probably going to melt anyway.

Only use generators outdoors and away from windows.

Let it glow. Deck everyone out with glow sticks,

Do not use a gas stove to heat your home.

then turn off all the flashlights for a glow party.

Disconnect appliances and electronics to avoid damage

Blow it up. Always have balloons on hand. They’re

charged and gas tanks full.

Protect yourself DURING a power outage:

from electrical surges.

Have alternate plans for refrigerating medicines or using power-dependent medical devices.

If safe, go to an alternate location for heat or cooling.

Check on neighbors.

Be safe AFTER power is restored: When in doubt, throw it out! Throw away any food that has been exposed to temperatures 40 degrees or higher for two hours or more, or that has an unusual odor, color, or texture.

If the power is out for more than a day, discard any medication that should be refrigerated, unless the drug’s label says otherwise. If a life depends on the refrigerated drugs, consult a doctor or pharmacist and use medicine only until a new supply is available.

Source: www.ready.gov

inexpensive and surprisingly entertaining. Try balloon volleyball or tennis, waddle races, pass the balloon or the classic rub the balloon against your hair to create static energy.

Camp out. Kids will likely want to sleep with you, or at least with each other, while the lights are out. Be ready with extra blankets or sleeping bags to create a common sleeping area in your bedroom or living room.

Go for the full camping effect by pitching a small tent.

Make it flash. Put those flashlights to good use by making shadow puppets or playing flashlight tag or freeze dance.

Take a break. Your family will likely come to treasure this time off the grid together, but that doesn’t mean that mom doesn’t need her breaks. Try to stick to nap or rest schedules and carve out some time for you— sneak away with a miner’s lamp and a good book, or lie down while the kids build a fort around you (it’s dark, they won’t see that your eyes are closed).

A note for breastfeeding moms.

IS YOUR STORED BREAST MILK okay after a power outage?

According to the Center for Disease Control, your breast milk might still be safe, but it depends on how long the power is out and how defrosted or warm the breast milk becomes.

Freezers, if left unopened and full during a power outage, will keep food safe for about 48 hours (about 24 hours if half full). When freezers are full, the other frozen items help keep the freezer colder longer. The refrigerator will keep food cold for about four hours if it is unopened. While the power is out, keep the freezer and refrigerator doors closed as much as possible.

Once the power is back on, check the condition of your stored breast milk. Frozen breast milk that has started to thaw, but still contains ice crystals can be refrozen. If your breast milk has completely thawed, but still feels cold, put it into the refrigerator and use it within the next day or discard it.

If you’re not with your baby during a power outage and you need to pump use a battery adapter, manual hand pump or hand express. Some pumps even have an adapter that can be used in your car. The expressed milk can be stored in an insulated cooler bag with frozen ice packs for up to 24 hours. Once breast milk is cooled it should remain cool until it is consumed, so when the power returns (if breast milk is still cool) transfer milk to a refrigerator or freezer.

Shadow-puppet skills

Have some fun with flashlights while you’re waiting for the power to come back on. Try these shadow puppets or get creative and make up new ones.

The Gator

The Dodo

The Rabbit

The Goat

The Dog

The Cub

The Dove

The Parrot

mommag.com 23

B

Everyone has

at least one

lover on the

Everyone has at least one book-lover on their list, so here’s our guide to the best non-book gifts for book-lovers.

book-

t

e’s our ir list, so her

vers.

for book-lo

A

C

24 mommag.com

A

Using this wooden page spreader frees up a hand to shoo away the kids. “Can’t you see? I’m reading!” etsy.com

B

Adults will love these literary-themed cocktails that are as fun to read about as they are to make (and drink). amazon.com

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If there’s a librarian on your list, they’ll love checking out these ties and scarves. etsy.com

There’s literally a tote for everyone. outofprint.com

C

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Start the morning with literary first lines. philosophersguild.com

Everyone appreciates a gift card to their favorite local bookstore.

Book-lovers can snuggle up during the holidays in these cozy pjs. basbleu.com

Gift card You can’t judge a book by its cover, but kids will love covering up with these reading-inspired tees. outofprint.com

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FOOD

Christmas Treats Walla Walla author Shanna Hatfield’s latest book, A Cowboy Christmas, is filled with traditions, decor and recipes for a fantastic holiday—cowboy style! Cowboy or not, everyone will love making and eating these simple, sweet treats.

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Chocolate Chex™ Trees

Cowboy

Sweets

FOOD

Makes 6 trees

Chocolate Chex™ Trees These yummy and adorable trees are so simple to make and a great project if you have kids at home who need something to do. Set them on a disposable plate, foil-wrapped piece of cardboard, or a large sugar cookie wrapped in cellophane for gift-giving!

INGREDIENTS: Makes 6 trees 3 cups Chocolate Chex™ cereal 6 pretzel sticks (the thick kind, made for dipping) ½ cup peanut butter ¼ cup Nutella 3 tablespoons butter, softened 1 cup powdered sugar DIRECTIONS:

Mix the peanut but­ter, Nutella, but­ter and pow­dered sugar in a bowl.

On whatever you plan to use for a base, mold the peanut butter mixture around the pretzel stick until it stands upright and forms a slight cone shape.

Hold it steady by using the tip of the pret­zel as a han­dle and begin insert­ing pieces of cereal into the peanut but­ter mix­ture in a sym­met­ri­cal pat­tern around the stick. You can tip the cereal pieces up or down, depending on your personal preference. Add more cereal pieces, stag­ger­ing them as you move upward, until you get near the top.

For the top of the tree, use broken pieces or cut them in half to get the smaller scale of branches near the top.

Use two pieces of cereal back to back to form the top.

Dust with powdered sugar.

Elf snack mix INGREDIENTS: Serves 8 10 cups popped popcorn 1 package white chocolate candy melt 1 bag red and green M&M’s 1 cup cocktail peanuts 2 cups pretzels ¼ cup Christmas sprinkles (optional) DIRECTIONS:

Mix popcorn with peanuts, pretzels and M&Ms. Set aside.

Melt white chocolate according to package directions and pour over popcorn mixture.

Stir well to coat. Top with Christmas sprinkles, if desired. Store in an airtight container to keep fresh.

The combination of sweet and salty in these completely addictive treats is perfect. It’s hard to stop after just one or two bites. Make extra so you have plenty for munching and giving away!

Recipes and photos courtesy of Shanna Hatfield. Visit your favorite online retailer to purchase A Cowboy Christmas or one of Shanna's many other books. You'll be helping a cowboy in need. From now until Christmas Eve, Shanna is donating 10 percent of the proceeds of all book sales to the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund which provides financial assistance to injured rodeo athletes. mommag.com 29

reindeer cupcakes We love these REINDEER-DECORATED CUPCAKES from local mom and Rad Baker, Destiny Garcia. Try this sweet craft with your family over the holidays.

HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED Cupcakes Pretzel twists

WHAT YOU NEED

Candy eyes Red Hot candies or red M&Ms Chocolate frosting Nilla wafer cookies TO ASSEMBLE THE CUPCAKES: 1 Attach the red noses to cookies using frosting as your glue.

2 Cover cupcakes with frosting.

3 Place one cookie and two eyes on top of each frosted cupcake.

4 Add pretzel antlers.

5 Sit back and admire the cuteness.

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Look for reindeer cupcake kits from The Rad Baker at local holiday fairs. Follow facebook.com/ theradbaker for more sweet ideas.

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