Tri-Cities MOM | June/July 2019

REAL | LOCAL | MOMS

Tri Cities | June/July 2019 | FREE

COVER MOM

TRAVELING USA

FOOD FEATURE

KC GARZA

ALL ABOARD

BLUEBERRIES

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It’s what‘s

All Aboard

20

Because I said so............... 5 A message from MOM

A journey through chronic pain........................ 8 Treating Trigelminal

inside that counts

You Rock

26

Cover MOM: KC Garza.............................10 This mom gets real

Blueberries 28 You rock.............................26 Painting and hiding rocks

All aboard..........................20

Summer time in the blueberry patch..............28

Traveling the United States

Recipes with NW blueberries

Neuralgia from Tri-Cities Cancer Center

More ways to love your MOM Blog: mommag.com

Facebook: facebook.com/ lovemommag

Cover MOM Photos by It’s a Keeper Photography - Lisa Weiss

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Advertise today Want to get the word out about your business? Contact Kim Harvey at kim@mommag.com. mommag.com 3

[Momism #172: Buckle up. [

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Published by GO Creative, LLC 263 29th Avenue SW Albany, OR 97322 Editor-in-Chief Managing Director Angela Hibbard Tri-Cities Business Development Manager Kim Harvey kim@mommag.com 509-460-6526 Contact Kim today to advertise 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 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.

Because I said so!

Are we there yet?

Our family has taken a lot of road trips over the years.

In fact, one of my few mom brags is that my kids are great travelers. But that doesn’t immunize us from bumps along the road. I can’t think of a single journey that hasn’t involved some sort of derailment often related to vomit, lost lovies, potty mishaps, a trip to urgent care, or all of the above. At the time I can't help thinking, “Can't we just get there?” But it’s often these times, or how we respond to them, that we remember most and that have become family folklore. The destination might be forgotten, but we remember the moments.

In motherhood, just like road trips, I can get too focused on the next mile marker and lose sight of the journey. Are we (sleeping through the night, walking, talking, potty trained) there yet?

When my son was in preschool, I worked with him to identify colors for what seemed like forever. We selected a color each week and had fun spotting it all around town. Then, one day shortly after “red week,” we spotted a red truck and I was so deflated when he didn’t recognize it as red. I thought, “Are you kidding? After all that work, we’re not there yet? Now I see that the destination wasn’t learning colors (although that’s important), it was all the fun we had together exploring our town. My son didn’t care what color the truck was, he was just in the moment hanging out with his mom.

So whether you’re on or off the road, the next time you find yourself wondering if you’re there yet remember that, yes, you are. You are exactly where you need to be: in the moment, however awkward, exhausting, amusing or messy it might be.

Angela's kids, Catherine and Liam, on the road.

Why? Because I said so!

Angela Hibbard MOM Magazine Editor-in-Chief

mommag.com 5

[ Momism #182:

Don't make me turn this car around.

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[

[ Momism #190:

We'll get there when we get there.

[

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Let our family take care of yours

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TREATING KCG’s TRIGEMINAL NEURALGIA AT THE TRI-CITIES CANCER CENTER By: Carl Berkowitz, TCCC Volunteer

Pictured above: KC with her husband Rufino and son, Dominic.

The tingling sensation in KC Garza’s left cheek was a mild irritant for many

months. It hadn’t stopped her from going to her job, or from her love of singing with many local bands. But it was an annoyance as she planned for her wedding, sold one house while building a new one and continued with her travel for work and family activities.

Worried that the discomfort in her face would keep her from a bachelorette party in Portland, she made an appointment with a neurologist who confirmed KC’s suspicion that it was trigeminal neuralgia (TN) and started her on a standard treatment of carbamazepine. But because of the potential for birth defects with this drug and her desire to start a family, this soon-to-be-bride decided against taking it.

KC made it through the bachelorette party drug free, with minimal discomfort. But while cooking dinner the next day, her face began to get very hot. She finished her cooking, sat down to eat and began nibbling at her food. And suddenly “It felt like someone hit me in the side of my face with a baseball bat at the same time my cheek felt like it was on fire. It was like an electrical shock or lightning

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“Dr. Jones and the

Cancer Center staff were awesome. They really

cared, and knew that the pain was real, and

life altering”

strike!” This unexpected and sudden flare up convinced her that she had to start the drug, despite its undesirable side effects. By this time, the nerve was so irritated and inflamed that anything would set it off, even drinking from a straw.

With her wedding less than a month away, KC was devastated. Although she got through the wedding with no shooting pains that day or the next, the discomfort came back. Her wedding would be the last time she

was able to sing for many months.

Shortly after, her neurologist upped her medication to the maximum amount. But the TN flare-ups continued, prompting her to continue looking for relief. A 3-D MRI done at the OHSU Facial Pain Clinic found that there was nothing impinging on the nerve, which is a common cause of TN. She continued her research which eventually led her to consider a surgical technique in which the inflamed nerve is rendered non-functional. But this invasive procedure was associated with a long recovery period and the possibility of additional neurological complications.

Although KC had been obsessive in her research on TN, with much time spent looking at peer-reviewed clinical results, traditional folk medicines and cures posted on the internet, her road to recovery

Picture left: KC being treated on the Varian: Edge® Radiosurgery System.

“We were there for less than an hour, and it was done. The relief in KC was obvious.”

Picutre below: KC with her son, Dominic

Jodi Santillie KC’s mom

ironically started during a standard dermatology exam with Stacey Lemire.

On the day of KC’s exam, Stacey had gone to an early morning seminar on the services and capabilities of the Tri-Cities Cancer Center. Among the information she learned about was a specialized radiotherapy technique to treat TN, available at the Cancer Center.

Stacey passed this information on to KC, who made an appointment with TCCC radiation oncologist Dr. Guy Jones. Following a consultation visit, a custom mask was made for KC to assure that a tightly focused beam of radiation would hit only the specific nerve associated with her TN flare-ups. When the mask fitting was done, she came into the Cancer Center for the actual treatment.

Then, as KC’s mother, Jodi Santillie describes it, “We were there for less than an hour, and it was done. The relief in KC was obvious.”

Not only was the radiation therapy effective, says KC but “Dr. Jones and the Cancer Center staff were

awesome. They really cared, and knew that the pain was real, and life altering. When I told him what was happening, even though he knew what was happening, he was up front about what could and may not work. He reassured me that this was going to help.”

It’s been more than a year since KC’s last TN flare-up. While she still has some residual numbness and an occasional headache, the discomfort today is nothing like it was before. As a result, she’s getting back into her life ‘pre-TN.’ She can sing again (“But I’ve got a lot of work to do to get my voice back”) and will be returning to her job with Freestone Environmental Services (“who let me work from home at my own schedule when I was too tired to come into the office”.)

But maybe the biggest and best step forward for KC, her husband Rufino and parents will be fussing over a brand new happy, healthy little boy, Dominic Garza.

For more information on treatment of benign diseases, please visit us online at: tccancer.org/benign Brought to you by:

mommag.com 9

Cover MOM

Q Photo credit: It's A Keeper Photography

"This motherhood gig is no joke," says Cover MOM KC Garza who shares about adjusting to life as a new mom. While there are suddenly a lot more chores to do, KC's discovered the importance of simply being present for her son, Dominic, and staying in the moment.

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!

KC Garza l a e r ets

Q& A Who is MOM?

Community/hometown: Pasco, WA.

Family: Husband, Rufino, mechanic at Toyota of Tri-Cities and son, Dominic.

Profession: Contracts administrator, Freestone Environmental Services.

G

Family comes first.

All families are unique. Tell us about yours.

My husband and I met at one of my shows.

I’ve been singing in cover bands around the Tri-Cities for years (Soundwall, The Shades, The StrataCats), and he came out with a group of friends that my mom had invited. It took about a month after we initially met for him to ask for my number and, subsequently, for a date. But, after that first date, we were inseparable. After six years together— married two—he’s still my best friend. We had our son on July 5, 2018 (I tried so hard for the 4th), and he is the best thing that’s ever happened to us. His nickname is Chubbs and he’s the cutest baby I’ve ever seen— obviously. I hadn’t always pictured myself as a mother. Even when I was pregnant, I had these doubts about whether or not I was up to the task. But, the minute that kid came out (or was pulled out more accurately—he got stuck in the birth canal) it was like a switch flipped and all of the clichés my friends and family had said to me during my 10 months of pregnancy were spot on. Since he’s arrived, our family feels perfect. Even our fat English Bulldog, Diesel, loves him.

Tell us about one of your proudest mom moments.

Everyone tells you when you’re pregnant that the first time your baby rolls over or starts to crawl (or poops after a couple days) is a big event. And I always brushed it off. But I tell you what, the first time that kid rolled over, I felt like starting the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. It’s so funny how something so little can make you so excited!

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.

Luckily, I haven’t had a whole lot of time to screw up yet. But the baby rolling into the sink from the counter wasn’t exactly my proudest moment. And thankfully, no harm was done, just a very angry baby.

No one works harder than mom.

Being a mother is a full-time job. Tell us about your additional work or volunteerism outside of the home.

I work as a contracts administrator for Freestone Environmental Services in Richland. We’re a small business, environmental consulting firm that does work with the Hanford Site, but also across the United States. I love my job and I love the people I work with. I feel like it’s a rarity to find a company that cares about you as a person, but my company does. My job consists of a little bit of everything: contracts, invoices, HR, party planning, etc. The variety keeps me engaged and still lets me be creative, which is something I definitely need.

How do you balance (or not) motherhood, activities, work, volunteering, household responsibilities, and life in general?

I don’t. This motherhood gig is no joke.

Coming home from work isn’t a time to relax, it’s the start of the second shift! Stopping by the grocery store, making dinner, bathing babies, bedtime stories, cleaning up, prepping for the next day, trying to maintain some sort of skin care routine; it’s exhausting.

Continued on page 14

mommag.com 11

games when I was young and when the Disney Scene-It? came on the market, it was a game changer. To this day, when my sisters and I play it, things can get a little aggressive.

…parenting book or philosophy: When in

doubt, call mom! I’m only kind of kidding. Really, I’m just winging it. I had to make myself a promise when my son was about 3 months old that I would stop Googling things. This came after a spiral into the depths of the internet about the detrimental effects of screen time on babies younger than 18 months. I’m discovering that a lot of parenting is just doing it and not beating yourself up if it’s not perfect.

…podcast: The Joe Rogan Experience.

I love cooking. But one of my favorite go-to dinners is homemade alfredo. It’s not scary and it tastes 1000x better than anything out of a jar.

Tea or Coffee?

Beer or Wine?

Morning or Night?

Bath or Shower?

Coffee!

Night

Summer or Winter?

Summer

Gold or Silver?

Gold

Dog or Cat?

Dog

for MOM

...effortless dinner: This one is tough because

Quick questions

MOM’s favorite…

…family game: My family was really into board

Wine

Shower Math or English?

English Hot or Cold?

Cold

Hugs or Kisses?

Hugs

Ice cream or Chocolate?

Ice Cream

?

Q& A

Continued from page 11

And I will be the first to admit that I do not ask for help.

I will gladly take help if it’s offered, but I don’t ask for it.

So, inevitably, I work, work, work until I burn out and have a mild breakdown (or get sick) and then my husband has to find a way to calm me down. Even though it’s all kinds of hectic—and I only have one baby—I try to carve out a few minutes every day when I’m just present. Whether it’s right after my baby falls asleep on me, or bath time, I try to remember that he’s never going to be as little as he is in this moment, ever again. That helps keep my ship straight.

I also have the added bonus of managing a chronic pain condition that is, thankfully, currently in remission. I was diagnosed with Trigeminal Neuralgia in April, 2016 and it’s by far the worst thing that’s ever happened to me. Before I received treatment, it was a daily battle of near constant taser-like shocks on the left side of my face. With burning, tingling, lightning bolts under my skin, I couldn’t eat, I couldn’t drink, I couldn’t sleep and I couldn’t sing. It was a very dark, sad time, but I received treatment at the Tri-Cities Cancer Center that gave me my life back. I still deal with minor annoyances like facial migraines, tingling and itchiness, some numbness and, of course, the emotional anxiety that comes with thinking that every little sensation in my face could be a relapse. But the longer I go without a flare, the easier it is to let go of that tension and live a little.

What have you learned professionally, that has helped you as a mom?

A well-organized calendar is a thing to be treasured!

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

Well, 21 hours of unmedicated labor felt like an achievement. But on a more serious note, I’m a singer; it has been the greatest passion in my life and I like to think I’m pretty good at it. Since taking a break two years ago to recover from my Trigeminal Neuralgia, I’ve been kicking around the idea of getting back into it.

Though the idea of staying up until 1 a.m. then getting up at 4 a.m. with Dominic might be a little more than I can handle right now.

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I try to carve out a few minutes every day when i’m just present.

Whether it’s right after my baby falls asleep on me, or bath time, i try to remember that he’s never going to be as little as he is in this moment, ever again. That helps keep my ship straight.

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

I’d love to be debt-free, except for my mortgage, which would allow me to work a little less and be with my family a little more.

If mom’s not happy, nobody’s happy.

In what ways are you the same as your childhood self? How are you different?

I still like to be outside, I still love to sing and entertain people and I’m still incredibly loud. Since “growing up,” I no longer care what other people think of me. That’s their business, not mine. I’m a better driver than I once was (five years, no tickets!) and I have such an appreciation for my parents—I love you so much and I’m so sorry I was always five minutes late for curfew!

What are three words your best friend would use to describe you?

I figured I’d just ask her. “Hilarious, inappropriate, resilient, strong.

I have more, do you need more?”

What’s your superpower?

I’d like to think it’s my ability to multitask, but I always forget about stuff I have on broil in the oven, so maybe it’s not multitasking. Maybe it’s sarcasm?

What keeps you sane?

My daily, sometimes twice-a-day, phone calls with my mom. She watches Dominic on days that my husband and I both work. So I’ll call her in the morning, after the guys are headed out the door to meet her, to go over “The Morning Update” (said in a Ron Burgundy voice). How long he slept for, if he ate yet that morning, if he pooped…all the necessary information. It’s usually followed by what she’s got going on for the day, something cool one of us saw on Facebook, and maybe a little gossip for good measure. I’m a talker and luckily, so is my mother.

mommag.com 15

What keeps you up at night?

An irrational fear of aliens. I wish I was kidding. Since I’ve stopped watching Netflix documentaries, my life has improved dramatically.

What is the best way that you let off steam?

Singing in the car. I can’t wait until my son can sing with me!

Listen to mom.

What surprised you the most about motherhood?

How naturally it came. Yet another example that women are awesome and we can do anything.

Who and what has influenced the mother you are today?

The women in my family and the women I’m friends with. I’ve got a rockstar lineup of women in my life that will always be there for me, regardless of the situation and vice versa.

It’s empowering to know that someone always has my back.

What’s the best advice you have received from another mom?

An epidural is not a failure.

What advice would you give your younger mom self—what do you wish you knew then that you know now?

I mean, I’m only into this mom gig about six months, so I don’t feel like I have a ton of

wisdom to impart. But maybe just know that all the time you spent letting that little, tiny baby sleep on you instead of “doing something else,” is totally worth it. I already miss that.

What message or advice would you like to share with other moms?

You’re doing so awesome. Whatever it is, however you’re doing it—you’re doing great, mama!

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mommag.com 17

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[ Momism #28: I saw that. [

Locations!

mommag.com 19

Alternative scenic route from Pasco to Chicago.

All aboard o! g we Here

For many families summer means the call of the open road and the annual summer road trip. That’s certainly true for the Evans family who have logged their fair share of miles over the years. But for their most recent adventure they decided to go off road or—more precisely— to hit the rails. This family of five crossed the country by train for their “bucket list” East Coast vacation. Here’s how they did it.

A

Pasco

Albany

Sacramento Traveled through 19 states

How long does it take to cross the country by train?

Albany, OR - Sacramento , CA

14 hrs Each railroad tie is 30 minutes

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Sacramento, CA - Chicago, IL

50 hrs

The mighty Empire Builder train line takes you on an

Inspiration for the trip.

exciting adventure through majestic wilderness, following

Visiting extended family on the East Coast and some pretty incredible cities was on our “bucket list.” We chose the train because we really wanted to give the boys the experience of seeing the vast and ever-changing landscape of our country—America and all her rich beauty and history. We also wanted to make sure John had a chance to enjoy it and not be driving the entire time.

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National Park Passport Stamps

Chicago, IL - Boston, MA

21.5 hrs

B os N t on ew , Yo M A rk ,N N Y ew Ph Yo i l rk ad , el N Y Ph ph il ia W ad ,P as e l A p hi h ng ia to , P n, A D .C .

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4 hrs

1.5 hrs 2 hrs

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Hours spent on trains.

Trip of a life time.

mommag.com 21

Continued from page 21

The Evans family: John, Noah, Ryan, Caleb, and Wendy departing for their cross-country train journey.

Cost.

We purchased Amtrak U.S. Rail Passes ($460 for adults/$230 kids ages 2-12) good for up to eight segments over the course of 15 days. Be careful because it is eight segments, not eight destinations. We were able to use our passes for our entire trip, including between cities on the East Coast. We did, however, choose to fly home.

The highs.

One of the biggest highlights for us was just how easily the boys jumped into travel mode. They seemed to truly appreciate that what they were doing was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It was also very fun to meet and visit with new people. When you are stuck on a train with strangers, it's amazing how quickly you can become friends.

The lows.

While the train from Sacramento to Chicago was very roomy and comfortable, the train from Chicago to Boston was extremely crowded. There was no room to stretch out and no observation deck to visit, so we were essentially trapped in our seats for 21 hours and running low on snacks. Boston couldn’t come fast enough!

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Sleeping arrangements.

Because sleeping cars for a family of five were so expensive, we slept in coach. On the cross-country train we were lucky to be in the very back of the last car so we had very few disruptions. Each of us had a fleece sleeping bag that rolled up nice and tight, and a travel pillow. The fleece sleeping bags were another golden ticket! They helped the boys get nice and cozy—and they now bring them on all road or plane trips.

The seats themselves were comfy. Not only did they recline, but they also had a fold-out extension for your feet. At 5’3” and below, the boys and I were able to get a fairly decent night’s sleep. My poor husband though, at just shy of 6’, had a harder time.

Continued on page 24

[ Momism #132: Use

the bathroom before we leave.

[

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Food.

We knew that, if we weren’t careful, we would blow our entire trip’s food budget while on the train. So we purchased a soft-sided cooler for the train that would also fold down flat and fit in a suitcase for the flight home. We filled the cooler and a grocery bag with food for the train before we left. For breakfast, we had oatmeal packets (we used hot water from the café car) or bagels and cream cheese. For lunch, we had PB&J, salami, cheeses, crackers, etc. For dinner, we brought burritos on the train the first night, and then an entire pizza in the cooler for the next two nights. We also brought an assortment of snacks that packed a nutritional punch because, on a trip like this, there’s no room for empty calorie meltdowns. And, of course, homemade cookies because they fix just about every mood swing. We did do one meal in the dining car because it is definitely part of the train experience.

Are we there yet?

For the train, each boy had a clipboard with a storage area for drawing paper, a chapter book (or four for the oldest), puzzle books, hand puzzles and a deck of cards. The deck of cards was golden! The boys also brought MP3 players for music but, otherwise, no electronics with the exception of a game on our phone here and there.

We were really fortunate that we were able to get a table in the observation car each day of the cross-country trip.

This allowed us to have a great view of the passing landscape, a table to eat or play games on, plus a lot of opportunities to visit with other travelers. The boys were able to go back and forth between our seats at the end of the train and the observation car in the middle of the train.

We basically spent the days visiting, reading, playing a lot of card games, drawing, taking pictures, hanging out with other passengers and, honestly, just watching the country unfold out our window.

Stop the train!

When traveling by train, the only true layovers are when you are switching trains. After the first night, we arrived in Sacramento early in the morning and had time to go out to eat breakfast and wander through Old Town Sacramento. It was a great introduction to our American History trip to the East Coast. Traveling across country most stops were just long enough for people to get on and off. However, every few hours they would have a slightly longer stop so that passengers could get off and stretch their legs. During these stops, we made our kids run laps back and forth on the platform to get the wiggles out and reset moods.

Travel

ADVICE If you’re thinking about planning your own family train trip, take some advice from the Evans family

Set the tone. Attitude is everything. You the parents set the tone for the trip.

Study up. We spent weeks reading books

about American History so that what we saw on our trip would mean more. We also watched National Treasure since it visits each of the main cities we were planning to visit.

This helped the boys appreciate the importance of the museums and artifacts we visited. Lastly, and probably the most helpful and by complete accident, we had been watching The Amazing Race leading up to our trip. The boys not only gained an appreciation of travel, but they also observed what works well when traveling together and what doesn’t. I really believe that this had a tremendous effect on their attitudes throughout the trip.

Scenario plan. Talk through potential

situations with your kids beforehand so they know what to do in different circumstances.

Empower your kids. Whenever possible, let them make choices and allow them to handle their own ticket. The more you allow them to feel grown up on a trip like this, the more mature and easy-going the trip will be.

Keep something up your sleeve. Don’t

show your whole hand at once. Introduce new activities (and snacks) throughout the trip.

Feed them. Often!

Laugh a lot. Be able to laugh at the bumps

in the road (or on the train) that are bound to happen.

Praise. Tell them frequently that you are so

glad you have kids that can travel like this.

Remind them that you can take a trip like this because you have kids that can handle it. Set the bar realistically high and they will reach it.

Special thanks to the Evans family for sharing their train journey with us.

mommag.com 24

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You Rock! ck ” o r g m in o k r c “F ro to Who knew that rocks could be so cute? People are having so much fun painting rocks that it’s becoming a movement across the country to paint and hide rocks for others to find. The idea is to spread a little kindness and joy by sharing an inspiring word or phrase, a whimsical design or, simply, a cute image. It’s easy, really. Just paint a rock and leave it behind on your next hike or adventure for someone else to find. Be sure to put a message on the back so folks know what to do when they find it.

26 mommag.com

Feeling ready to paint?

Just follow these simple tips from MOM reader, Kim Long.

Tip Nº1 Hiding and searching for rocks is

Tip Nº2 A note about collecting rocks

a great way to keep your kids engaged during your summer hikes and adventures. Be sure to join the painted rock movement so you can tag and share your finds.

to paint. The best place to collect rocks is a river bed, right? Well you can’t, or aren’t supposed to for obvious reason—if everyone did that, there wouldn’t be any rocks left.

So when you are on a hike you can collect rocks, just as long as they’re not near water.

...GROUPS TO CHECK OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA Tri-Cities Rocks Tri-Cities Rock Painting West Coast Painted Rocks #WCPR Pacific Northwest Painted Rocks #PNWPR

Start by cleaning your rocks with warm, soapy water.

Tip Nº3 Make it a family affair. It’s easy to involve the whole family in your rock art. Little kids are great at applying base coats and making simple shapes or designs. Older kids love to search Pinterest for ideas. And, of course, everyone loves to find and hide rocks.

Prime with white acrylic paint to help enhance color. Sketch letters with pencil first, then use small brushes to make an outline.

Don’t forget to write a message on the back

Use a mix of acrylic paints and paint markers to achieve bold or watercolor looks. Some markers will wash away, so test an area before the final design is finished or placed outside.

Rocks can be sealed with a spray so colors don’t bleed. Apply sparingly and let dry completely between coats. Apply at least two coats.

mommag.com 27

One of the sure signs of summer in the Northwest is blueberries. They’re delicious all on their own, or try mixing things up with some of these blueberry-inspired recipes.

Blueberry & mint spritzer

Blueberry cheesecake

When mom needs a cocktail, this refreshing spritzer is just the thing.

Or forego the alcohol and make it a mocktail everyone can enjoy.

As if blueberries weren’t good enough, this cheesecake recipe pairs the sweet-tart flavor of fresh blueberries with savory cream cheese for a decadent-tasting dessert.

Ingredients: 3 cups blueberries, fresh or frozen

Ingredients:

1 cup simple syrup:

3 tablespoons honey, divided

½ cup lime juice

1 container (8 ounces) nonfat orange or tangerine yogurt

2 teaspoons lemon zest 1 cup mint leaves, torn 4 cups club soda 8 fluid ounces vodka (optional) 1 cup blueberries, fresh Directions:

To make the blueberry base combine the first four ingredients in a small saucepan and bring to a boil, remove from the heat and add the mint leaves, then stir with a wooden spoon to release the mint aromas. Chill completely and strain out solids into a container by pushing on the blueberries to extract as much juice as possible.

For each drink combine 3 ounces of the chilled blueberry base in a shaker with ½ cup ice cubes; 1 fluid ounce vodka, if using, and shake to muddle and strain into a chilled glass. Add 4 ounces club soda and garnish with a few blueberries and a mint leaf.

28 mommag.com

1 cup graham cracker crumbs

4 ounces low-fat cream cheese, from an 8-ounce package ¾ cup nonfat cottage cheese 1 tablespoon cornstarch 2 eggs 2 cups fresh blueberries Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°F. In a small bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs and 2 tablespoons of the honey, then transfer to a 9-inch pie plate. With the back of a spoon, press mixture onto bottom and halfway up sides of plate.

In a food processor container, place yogurt, cream cheese, cottage cheese and cornstarch. Whirl until smooth, about 1 minute. Add eggs, whirl until blended.

Pour about half of the cheese mixture onto the crust. Top with ½

HAN DLE WITH

CARE

Looking for more blueberry love?

Try the blueberry coffee cake recipe on oregonblueberry.com

If you’ve gone to the effort of picking those luscious berries, make sure you’re handling and storing them correctly.

FRESH & FROZEN BLUEBERRIES When buying fresh blueberries, select firm, plump and unblemished berries in dry, unstained containers. The blueberries should be free of surface moisture, which accelerates decay.

Color is the best indicator of

blueberry maturity and fully developed flavor. Blueberries should be deep purple-blue to blue-black, with a natural powdery bloom or fine snowy white dust on the surface.

Shelf-life for blueberries is

longer than other berries— generally 10 days to two weeks from harvest.

STORAGE & THAWING TIPS: • Arrange unwashed blueberries in a shallow container.

• Cover blueberries while storing.

• Wash blueberries just prior to use.

cup of the blueberries, then cover with remaining cheese mixture.

Bake until firm, about 35 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.

In a microwaveable dish, microwave the remaining 1 tablespoon honey just until liquefied, about 15 seconds. Add the remaining 1 ½ cups blueberries and toss to coat. Top pie with berries.

Loosely cover pie and refrigerate until firm, about 3 hours.

• Blueberries should be thawed under refrigerated conditions to ensure an optimal defrost.

• Never refreeze thawed fruit.

Properly thawed, cultivated blueberries will maintain their original freshness.

Thanks to the Oregon Blueberry Commission for these recipes and tips www.oregonblueberry.com

mommag.com 29

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Richland, one of the Tri-Cities, is home to over 55,000 residents and is a hub for innovation, education, technology and energy.

VITAL STATISTICS Population 55,340

Median Income $79,021

2019 EVENTS June 20 - 23 Cool Desert Nights

Unemployment 4.1%

June 27 - 30 Richland Regatta

QUALITY OF LIFE Richland is the perfect place to relax and get outdoors; the City is host to miles of vibrant riverfront, multi-use trails, dozens of City maintained parks, community event facilities, athletic fields, and a dog park. Take a “Richland Road Trip� to learn more about the many outdoor entertainment, art, and relaxation options available!

WWW.RICHLANDROADTRIP.COM

KEY INDUSTRIES

July 26 - 27 Art in the Park

Aug. 30 - Sept. 1 Tumbleweed Festival

Some of the key industries in Richland include industrial manufacturing, wine production, agriculture, microbreweries, wineries, spirits, research and development. Richland is also a science and engineering hub, home to two college campuses, and a national laboratory.

Sept. 14

Secret City Celebration

Oct. 26

COST OF LIVING

Fall Carnival

Grocery items, housing, utilities, transportation, health care, and goods and services are more affordable in Richland compared to other cities with similar employers.

cost of living index Richland: 97.6

Portland, OR: 130.1

Dec. 6 - 7 Winter Wonderland

Seattle: 152.2

Source: ACCRA Cost of Living Index, 2018 Second Quarter Data, Published August 2018

CITY OF RICHLAND, WASHINGTON | WWW.RICHLANDBUSINESS.COM