September 2012

Parent Atlanta’s No. 1 Parenting Magazine

atlantaparent.com

Party Central

Cake Pops and Tips Galore

atlanta

September 2012

A Photo Memory Book of Baby’s 1st Year

Mommy Makeovers A Better Body After Baby

Atlanta’s Got Talent Like Us on FACEBOOK

Five Rising Young Stars

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FRIDAY September 21

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SARA EVANS in concert 8:00pm

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CASEY JAMES in concert 8:00pm

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The best first steps?

The ones you take together.

The first step is keeping your little one healthy. You can count on the WellStar Pediatric Network to connect you with doctors who’ll take care of your baby every step of the way, from newborn to toddler to teen.

WellStar pediatricians are experts at child development and age-appropriate care.

They know tummy aches and playground scrapes and so much more.

And because aches and pains don’t take a day off, many of our pediatricians offer same-day appointments, six days a week.

To learn more, call 770-956-STAR or visit the new wellstar.org.

We believe in life well-lived.

Women • Newborns • Pediatrics

The vision of WellStar Health System is to deliver world-class healthcare. Our not-for-profit health system includes WellStar Cobb Hospital, WellStar Douglas Hospital, WellStar Kennestone Hospital, WellStar Paulding Hospital, WellStar Windy Hill Hospital and WellStar Medical Group.

4 Atlanta Parent    September 2012

atlantaparent.com

Inside September Cover Kids , rs Winne58 Page

Vol. 29 Number 9

Departments

Features 16

Shining Stars

It’s always inspiring to learn about ambitious young people. From star athletes to our talented singer on the cover of this issue, meet five.

24

Makeovers for Moms

40

Hooray for Grandparents

It’s time to reflect on the joy of grandparents, and find ways to thank and honor them.

Atlanta Baby

Photo Books: Choosing baby’s first year as our theme, we compare some popular options A Mom Thought of It: Atlanta moms who dreamed up products that work

52

28

Tips for Frugal Families

82 Humor in the House

The New Birthday Plan

A little nip and tuck can help you have a better body after baby.

44

8 Publisher’s Note 10 News You Can Use 14 Dollars & Sense

Family Fun Guide 61 62 63

Not-to-Miss Events

64

Haunted or not: We take you

67 70

Fall Festivals & Fairs

Homework Headaches?

Our story provides tips from experts and parents so you can minimize your child’s (and your) homework stress.

Magazine Association of the Southeast

2012 Award Winner

Free Fun:

Just Splash It! on four Ghost Tours in the area

For Art’s Sake: A

Downtown Stroll

71

At the Alliance:

Theatre for the Very Young

Party Central The cake pop craze is here to stay; learn all about them, get advice for making them. Plus, some tried-and-true party tips.

Eating Out: Rise-n-Dine

72

September Calendar

On the Cover: Bria Johnson, 14, of Ellenwood is the winner of McDonald’s The Gift singing contest.

Photo by Studio 7 Photography.

Like us on Facebook; facebook.com/ AtlantaParentMagazine

Atlanta’s Award-Winning Parenting Publication PUBLISHER Liz White

lwhite@atlantaparent.com

ASSOCIATE Laura Powell PUBLISHER lpowell@atlantaparent.com

EDITOR Julie Bookman editor@atlantaparent.com

BUSINESS Amy Smith DEVELOPMENT asmith@atlantaparent.com MANAGER

ACCOUNT Julia Sparks EXECUTIVES jsparks@atlantaparent.com

Andi Levine alevine@atlantaparent.com

EDITORIAL Sheri Taylor-Emery ART DIRECTOR creative@atlantaparent.com

PRODUCTION Natalie Thavenot MANAGER apads@atlantaparent.com

EDITORIAL Robin Mintz PRODUCTION rmintz@atlantaparent.com ARTIST

CALENDAR EDITOR Kate Wallace

calendar@atlantaparent.com

Reach Atlanta’s Families Now! Atlanta Parent Magazine’s

family block party 2012

Entertainment • Food • Music

Interactive Games & Activities

Exhibit at

SATURDAY, OCT 13th

Mercer University • Atlanta Campus 10 am - 4 pm

To reserve your space:

Call Kaitlyn Morris at 678-222-1911 or kmorris@atlantaparent.com 6 Atlanta Parent September 2012

COPY EDITOR Glenn Emery

OFFICE Caroline Ward COORDINATOR cward@atlantaparent.com

SPECIAL EVENTS Kaitlyn Morris COORDINATOR kmorris@atlantaparent.com

ADMINISTRATIVE Kirsten Gromatzky ASSISTANT kgromatzky@atlantaparent.com

MARKETING MOM Felicia Barman

SUMMER INTERNS

Sara Doogan Sarah Egan Allie Fogel Carolyn Williams

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Atlanta Parent magazine is published monthly by Atlanta Parent, Inc., 2346 Perimeter Park Drive, Atlanta, Georgia 30341.

Telephone 770-454-7599, Fax 770-454-7699.

Atlanta Parent magazine is available free of charge at more than 1,000 locations throughout the metro Atlanta area. First class subscription only $30 per year. Subscription orders must include check or money order made out to Atlanta Parent magazine.

Atlanta Parent magazine welcomes letters, articles, artwork and photographs from its readers and the community. Atlanta Parent magazine is not responsible for the return of unsolicited materials.

All rights reserved. Any reproduction in whole or in part, is prohibited without written permission.

© Atlanta Parent, Inc. 2012

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Publisher’s Note Sept 12 - 23

Grey Seal Puppets

By Grey Seal Puppets of Charlotte, NC

Fantastic folk tales from around the world come to life with a menagerie of zany characters and a variety of puppetry styles!

Featuring The Frog Prince,Three Billy Goats Gruff, and The Three Little Pigs.

Sept 26 - Oct 7 National Marionette Theatre

By National Marionette Theatre of Brattleboro,VT

Join Prince Stefan as he sets out to rescue Princess Aurora, who has been asleep for almost 100 years, in this adaptation that combines beautifully crafted marionettes with timeless music from Tchaikovsky’s ballet.

Making that birthday party pop As parents, we want every birthday for every child to be special, and often that means wracking our brains to come up with something new – a theme, an outing, fun games or decorations.

This year, Atlanta Parent decided, what could be more fun that cake pops, those trendy little cakes on a stick? They’d add a little pizzazz to the party, make clean up a snap, and they’d be so easy, the perfect solution for busy parents.

We had a cake pop cookbook in the office with photos of beautifully decorated cakes. Why not give them a try?

I took the book home over a weekend when my 13-year-old niece was visiting, thinking it would be an activity for the two of us. We bought a cake pop pan, and the adventure began.

We learned a lot about cake pops that weekend and in subsequent testing – the good, the bad and the downright ugly. It’s a cautionary tale, though one with a happy-ish ending: You can make these delightful little treats, but you can’t make them perfectly the very first time, and perhaps not the second or third.

Our first cake pops came out a little less than round, and some of them might be described as misshapen. And we made a couple of other mistakes: not buying sticks for the pops and buying a cake pop pan that made only nine pops – we had to refill the pan several times.

Our pops were more like cake truffles that we served in paper cupcake liners.

Rather than dipping the pops in candy melt icing, we spread it on. The pops were delicious, but hardly a party showstopper.

Then we sought advice from experienced moms and professional bakers. All recommended the crumb method, which we found dicey for a beginner. And finally, we turned to pop cake machines, which are more likely to produce round cakes without as much trial and error. You can read all about it, and decide which method would work best for you (Page 28).

Once you get the cakes’ shaped, then you have the challenge of decorating them. You need more than just a coat of icing to, well, make a pop “pop.”

The cakes are really cute, and a big hit at a party. In just two bites, the pops vanish, replaced by big smiles. If you love the idea but can’t spare the time, bakeries will do the work for you for a couple of dollars a pop – and that’s a bargain!

404.873.3391 www.puppet.org 1404 Spring Street NW Atlanta, GA 30309 Limited FREE Parking • MARTA Accessible Advance purchase is highly recommended.

Season supported in part by: Fulton County Arts Council, City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs, National Endowment for the Arts, Georgia Council for the Arts.

8 Atlanta Parent September 2012

How to Reach us: Telephone 770.454.7599

E-Mail lwhite@atlantaparent.com

Fax 770.454.7699

Website www.atlantaparent.com

The Old Fashioned Way 2346 Perimeter Park Drive Atlanta, Georgia 30341

We welcome your views and comments. Letters that appear in the magazine may be edited for content and space.

atlantaparent.com

ItFigures

by Cynthia Washam

Are You Ready for

Skinny

Food and Family 33

Percent of Americans honored on Stepfamily Day, Sept. 16, for being stepparents, stepchildren or stepsiblings

Jeans?

65

Percent of remarriages that involve children from a previous marriage

23

Age of Romanian gypsy Ridca Stanescu in March 2011, when she became the world’s youngest grandmother

Free Consultation

61

Age of Chicago grandmother Sara Connell in Feb. 2011, when she gave birth to a testtube baby fertilized from her daughter and son-in-law’s egg and sperm

visit website for details code AP

62

Percent of obese women who were put on their first diet before age 14

40

Percent who were put on a diet by their parents

4,500

Number of McDonald’s Happy Meal toys Pennsylvania father of three David Bracken has collected since 1993

12

Number of fast-food kids’ combo meals out of more than 3,000 studies that meet the nutritional standards for preschoolers

500

www.perimeterplasticsurgery.com • Read Dr. Mark Deutsch’s Credentials • See Before and After Pictures • Mommy Makeover Details • Liposuction, Tummy Tucks • Breast Implants • Injectables • Facial Plastic Surgery

ACTUAL PATIENT

Patient - Before

Patient - After

Calorie limit New York City Councilman Leroy Comrie is proposing for children’s meals to include a toy

1,090

Calories in a typical McDonald’s Happy Meal

15

Percent of children who ask daily to go to McDonald’s

30

Percent of children who say their favorite breakfast food is bacon

2

Percent who say oatmeal Sources: Steppingstones, tripod.com, FoxNews.com, HollyBaby.com, Medicinenet.com, Time.com, USA Today, Slashfood.com, CNN.com

atlantaparent.com

Mark F. Deutsch, MD, FACS

Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery

(770) 461-4824

Atlanta/Fayetteville

www.perimeterplasticsurgery.com “Like” us on September 2012 Atlanta Parent 9

News You Can Use

by Kate Wallace

Atlanta Parent’s Beautiful Baby Contest at the Fair IS YOUR CHUBBY-CHEEKED SMILING BABY the cutest thing ever? Then consider entering your tot in the North Georgia State Fair’s Beautiful Baby Contest sponsored by Atlanta Parent magazine. Parents are invited to show off their little ones, ages 0-36 months, in this “tiny tots pageant.”

Dress your child in any sort of outfit, from “Sunday best” to bumblebee costume. Informal judging will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 25. Registration is one hour earlier. There is no cost to enter, but fair admission is required: adults, $5; ages 7-18, $2; children 6 and younger, free. Jim R. Miller Park, 2245 Callaway Rd., Marietta. 770-528-8989.

Suwanee: Tops for Families THE NORTHERN ATLANTA SUBURB of Suwanee was recently named the third best city in the U.S. to raise a family, according to a ranking by Kiplinger, the business and financial advice publisher. The top 10 cities were selected based on household income, cost of living and crime rate. Schools with strong funding and high graduation rates also played a factor.

Suwanee, with an average annual family income of about $104,000, landed just behind Richland, Wash., and just ahead of Thousand Oaks, Calif., largely because of its high percentage of families with children – about 40 percent.

In order of desirability, here are the top 10: Omaha, Neb.; Richland, Wash.; Suwanee, Ga.; Thousands Oaks, Calif.; East Grand Rapids, Mich.; Appleton, Wis.; Sunnyvale, Calif.; Middletown, N.Y.; Corona, Calif.; Stamford, Conn.

Hello, Caroline!

Walk or Run For Literacy SIGN UP FOR THE 5K RUN/WALK in Decatur on September 29 to support the Literacy Alliance of Metro Atlanta’s mission to achieve 100 percent literacy among Atlanta adults and families. Visit literacyallianceatlanta.org to receive the early registration fee of $20 per individual and $60 for a team of four. Seventy percent of each registration fee goes to the charity of the registrant’s choice; the remaining 30 percent goes to strengthen LAMA’s coalition efforts.

More than 1,500 children, families and volunteers are expected to come out for this event to bring awareness to reading.

10 percent

of the world’s population is lefthanded. Presidents Obama, Clinton, Bush the elder, Reagan and Ford were all left-handed too!

SEPTEMBER 4 MARKS THE DEBUT of Caroline Abbott, the 13th heroine to join American Girl’s family of collectible historical dolls. Caroline’s story is set 200 years ago, during the second war for American independence, also known as the War of 1812. Her story of courage and kindness is intended to inspire girls today “to stay steady and believe in themselves in difficult times.” The American Girl store in Alpharetta’s North Point Mall has planned craft activities – on Sept. 4, 8 and 9 – to celebrate Caroline’s arrival on the scene; details in our Calendar, Page 72. Like Samantha, Felicity and other dolls in the collection, Caroline sells for $105 (doll and book only), or $124 (doll, book and accessories). For more information: americangirl.com.

Websites Worth Visiting n fiveminutesformom.com If five minutes is asking too much, then try to spend three looking over this resourceful site that puts moms in touch with other moms. The site hosts a wealth of articles, deals, recipes, job opportunities and more.

10 Atlanta Parent September 2012

n Postagramapp.com From the new company Sincerely Inc., the Postagram website (and app) lets users choose photos from their Instagram, Facebook or photo albums, turn them into postcards, and mail them directly from their smart phones.

Postagrams cost 99 cents and usually arrive within two to five business days.

atlantaparent.com

Cholesterol Slightly Down in Kids ( But Don’t Get Too Excited)

W

hile the childhood obesity rate remains a serious concern, the proportion of children who have high cholesterol has fallen in the past decade, according to a recent government study.

The research released from the Journal of American Medical Association said that the study done on roughly 16,000 children and adolescents between the ages of 6 and 19 found to have high cholesterol was 1 in 12.

That was down from three years ago when the number of kids with high cholesterol, levels over 200, was 1 in 9.

Jack Stevens, a cardiologist at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta says the lower cholesterol levels could be attributed to foods having slightly fewer trans fats. And while this is better news than other recent childhood health reports, it’s nothing to be relieved about just yet.

“I wouldn’t get too excited about this slight improvement when we have a population of young people that’s getting more and more overweight,” says Stevens. He suggests that while perhaps the types of food that young

12 Atlanta Parent September 2012

Trans fats are found in foods like crackers, cookies, chips, burger buns and fried foods. people eat are being made with less trans fats, a contributor to high cholesterol, other unhealthy ingredients and saturated fats are being added to replace them. And this is why the weight levels of kids have not gone down in correlation with cholesterol levels.

“Trans fats are an interesting problem.

They’re found in processed foods and especially in baked goods and frozen dinners,” says Stevens. Trans fats are also found in foods like crackers, cookies, chips, burger buns and fried foods. Based on the recommended 2,000 calorie per day diet, the percentage of trans fats kids should have is less than 1 percent, equaling about two grams.

The real problem when it comes to kids health is their weight. “I think we need to crack the obesity problem. It will have to a lot to do with reading labels,” says Stevens.

Eating more fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy are ways kids and adults can improve cholesterol and weight.

Another factor contributing to unhealthy kids is television and computers. “Children should play for hours – not on a treadmill but outside playing. They need to be moving, moving, moving and having a good time.

Video games, TV and computers were not around for past generations and these are all contributing to our overweight youth,” says Stevens.

– Kate Wallace

atlantaparent.com

Dollars&Sense TIPS FOR FRUGAL FAMILIES

Need the landline?

Hot Spots where Kids EAT FREE!

There are always exceptions, but more folks are pulling the plug on their home phone landline service. Even if you only pay $20-$25 a month for your home phone, canceling the service and going “cell only” could save you $300 a year.

Radial Café: Originally known for its breakfast and brunch, Radial Café recently opened for dinner. For each adult meal purchased, kids can eat from the kids’ menu for free! Little ones will love the grilled cheese sandwiches or chocolate chip pancakes.

Deal applies to weekdays only. 1530 DeKalb Ave., Atlanta. radial.us.

Price matching Both Walmart and Target will match a competitor’s price if you bring in an advertisement that shows the price.

EVOS : Healthy fast food is catching on.

Try out this restaurant on Sundays, when kids can eat free from the kids’ menu all day (with purchase of an adult meal). Deal for dine-in customers only. 5590 Roswell Rd., Atlanta. evos.com.

Locos Grill and Pub: From Walmart honors: n “buy one, get one free” ads from another store. n competitors’ ads that feature a specific item at a

specified price. n prices a competitor has advertised on groceries, including fresh produce and meat items (item must be a match in terms of pound-for-pound price and unit type).

Target shoppers have seven days after making a purchase to get a price adjustment. If you find another store’s ad that lists a lower price for the same item, bring in your receipt plus the ad to get some money back.

Price-matching deals are not available on purchases made via walmart.com or target.com.

Spending $4 at Starbucks just three days a week can easily run you $600 a year. Instead, choose coffee from home as your routine.

14 Atlanta Parent September 2012

The Aldi Experience From Stockbridge and Mableton to Sandy Springs and Woodstock, Aldi grocery stores have been popping up throughout the metro area. You won’t find many national brands here, but the low prices set by this German chain (which also owns Trader Joe’s) make up for that.

For staples such as milk and eggs, Aldi prices can hardly be beat (we found a gallon of milk for $1.99). Prices on produce are also lower than you’ll find at most other stores.

Good to know: You need a quarter to use a shopping cart at Aldi, but you get it back when you return the cart. There is a charge for bags, so bring your own.

Atlanta mom Bridget O’Hara sang praise for Aldi on our Facebook page: “Bring your bags, bring a quarter, get the basic items you need the most, and save a ton of money! I love it. They sometimes have items like goat cheese, frozen blueberries and excellent seafood.”

To find the Aldi store closest to you and sign up for weekly emails to learn about specials, visit aldi.us.

sandwiches and wings to salads, the whole family will find something yummy on this menu. On Saturdays one “little league” entrée is free with the purchase of an adult menu item. 11770 Haynes Bridge Rd., Alpharetta. Visit locosgrill.com for more information on other area locations.

Worthy Websites For a wealth of money-saving tips, look to these sites: thesimpledollar.com “A blog for those who need both sense and cents!” Run by a father of three who experienced a financial meltdown in 2006, the Simple Dollar posts great money-saving tips and is updated a few times a week.

Savingthefamilymoney.com A Florida mom of two runs this site that’s chock-full of deals and family finance tips.

She knows from experience what it’s like to raise kids and try to earn a living from home.

– Kate Wallace

atlantaparent.com

5

Rising Young Stars

There are outstanding young people throughout the metro area, and they are an inspiration to us all. Atlanta Parent spotlights just five (two are brothers) who are going “above and beyond.” Meet a couple of entertainers, two star athletes, and a super community service volunteer.

Bria Johnson:

Don’t Let Your Dreams Be Dreams

by Kate Wallace

B

ria Johnson doesn’t say the word “if” that often. She’s more likely to say “when,” as in “When I’m famous…” Atlanta Parent spoke with the 14-year-old singer, dancer and actor. Johnson wasn’t joking around when she casually started a sentence with that phrase.

A freshman at the DeKalb School of the Arts, Bria lives in Ellenwood.

Last year, she surpassed more than 200 applicants to earn first place in the Gift Youth Inspirational Singing Competition, winning $20,000 in cash and prizes. Bria’s winning song was Jennifer Hudson’s, “I Am Changing.” The annual contest is sponsored by the Greater Atlanta McDonald’s Operators Association and can give talented young people in the metro area a jump-start in their careers.

Bria’s mom, Erika Ashlock, thinks back to her daughter’s preschool days, when a 4-year-old Bria and fellow classmates were asked what they wanted to be when they grew up. After a few kids mentioned such things as “doctor” and “lawyer” and “teacher,” Bria belted out: “I’m going to be a singer!”

“I’ve been singing since before I could talk,” Bria says. “I sing all the time, you can’t escape it.” Her mom absolutely agrees. When she was in the fourth grade, Bria wrote her first song and began voice lessons. More recently, she made it through multiple rounds in “The X Factor” and “America’s Got Talent.”

“When I sing, I like for people to be moved by my music,” says Bria, smiling. “I like to get connected with my audience and I like having fun on and off stage. I also love to make people laugh.” Her songwriting, she says, is inspired and influenced by musical greats such as Whitney Houston, Christina Aguilera and Jennifer Hudson. But she’s yet to figure out if she wants to “go the Beyonce route or Nicki Minaj route.”

It’s clear that Bria and her mom – who is much more reserved than her affable daughter – have a strong bond. Although self-admittedly goofy, Bria also seems wise beyond her years. “I can’t take myself to the places I want to go, so my mom takes me and she’s dedicated to helping me pursue my dream,” Bria says. “But when I’m famous, she’s fired so she can take a well-deserved break!”

16 Atlanta Parent September 2012

“I like to get connected with my audience and I like having fun on and off stage.”

atlantaparent.com

Mo and Chris Lewis:

Motivated by Family and Sports

by Sara Doogan

G Cobe performs with sister Ziya

Cobe Jackson:

Striving To Be Best, On and Off Stage

by Allie Fogel

W

“I hope to

create four fullith his confident yet quiet demeanor, seventhgrader Cobe Jackson has the heart and desire length plays to serve. The Mableton 12-year-old strives to that teach kids shine onstage and also thrives in academics, important life community service and as a playwright. He has even created lessons.” his own nonprofit organization – and has thought about creating his own shoe line!

Cobe started acting at age 3 with the Alliance Theatre. His mom, Zanethia Eubanks, says that Cobe winning a school talent contest at age 7 in elementary school (dancing to “Planet Rock”) was a defining moment for her son. “When I saw him on stage, I knew Cobe had a special talent and immediately embraced all that he had to offer,” she says.

Soon after, Cobe took up writing. His play, A Life-Changing Adventure (A.L.C.A.) won first place in the 2010 Young Voices with New Visions Short Play Fest contest. Cobe is brainstorming ideas for other plays to write. “I hope to create four full-length plays that teach kids important life lessons,” he says. (He has written a second A.L.C.A. short play, subtitled A Lesson in Lying.)

His proudest moment to date was at age 11, when he played the title role in the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra’s production of The Remarkable Farkle McBride.

Cobe says that it was incredible to conduct the entire orchestra (which Farkle does in the story) and work with professional musicians.

“When I’m performing, I love to look into the audience and see everyone’s smiling faces,” says Cobe, a student at Cobb County’s Lindley Middle School. “All types of people, especially my mom, inspire me to do my best on and off the stage.”

Cobe’s goal is to use his talents to help people all over the world, especially those who are treated unfairly or living in poverty. That’s why he created the nonprofit organization, Co-Creativity; its mission is to inspire and spread love to less-fortunate children and adults – such as those in hospitals – through children’s art and performance. “We perform for the patients and do arts and crafts with them,” Cobe explains. “It’s so fun!” (For information, email co-creativity@comcast.net.)

But his energies don’t stop there. Dressed as Little Harry the Hawk, sidekick to the Atlanta Hawks’ mascot, Cobe has danced at Hawks’ basketball games.

“I like to encourage people to Dream in C.O.L.O.R.,” Cobe says, spelling it out.

“It’s my motto that I created, which stands for ‘creating opulent life overcoming rejection.’ Through my work, I hope people will come together joyfully and leave behind all negative intentions.” atlantaparent.com

ood genes and hard work make Milton High brothers Mo and Chris Lewis successful in sports – and as all-around individuals.

Support from their family makes them role models among their peers. Eleventhgrader Mo and ninth-grader Chris come by athletics naturally: Their dad is Mo Lewis, former New York Jets linebacker.

But these young men are not following in their dad’s footsteps on the football field.

The basketball court is where they shine.

“I’ll tell you this,” says David Boyd, English teacher and basketball coach at Milton High, near Alpharetta. “I really love the Lewis boys and they are a joy to coach.” In his 29 years as a coach, “they are probably two of the best young men I’ve ever had the chance to coach. Not only are they great athletes, but they also are outstanding in every other way: good students, very coach-able, they listen, and then they are great athletes, especially for their size.” Chris is 6-foot-8 and already has attracted interest from colleges, which is highly unusual for a freshman athlete.

Mo is 6-foot-6. Boyd says both brothers are strong Division 1 college prospects.

Cont’d on page 18

Chris and Mo Lewis

September 2012 Atlanta Parent 17

5

Rising Young Stars

“When I work with them on the basketball court, they are looking me right in the eye, they are always at full attention and listening to every single detail. And part of that comes from their upbringing, with a dad who played pro football for the New York Jets and a mom [Mindi], who was an outstanding basketball player in Baldwin County who played in state championships.”

Mo plays power forward and last year helped lead his team to a state championship. While he may aspire to be another Kobe Bryant, this young star already knows what he wants to do with his future.

“I want to study law,” he says. Mo takes several AP classes and in his spare time volunteers at a local shelter and basketball camp.

The boys’ Younger brother Chris plays forward for dad is “fully Milton and had two college offers before playing one high school basketball game. “I want to help supportive” that my team win another state championship,” says basketball is Chris, who already plans to study engineering their key sport. when he enters college in four years.

The boys’ dad is “fully supportive” that basketball is their key sport. “If they are happy, I am happy,” he says. “I just ask them to give 100 percent. They are just as serious about school as they are their athletics.”

With the Lewis brothers on the Milton team, another state title in 2013 is a possibility. “No question,” says Coach Boyd. “But we need the Lewis brothers to do it.”

18 Atlanta Parent September 2012

Charlotte McCauley: Helping Others Comes Naturally

by Sarah Egan

M

ost 16-year-olds can’t say they’ve received a personal letter from the president, or been recognized by the Georgia House of Representatives for winning the 17th annual Prudential Spirit of Community Award. Charlotte McCauley can; such honors have sprung from the fact that she spends much of her free time working to make her community a better place.

For two years, the Buckhead native put on her journalist’s hat and went to the airport to interview soldiers being deployed or coming back home. She then created a short video montage to tell soldiers’ stories. This illustrated the need to further support the troops and helped McCauley in an effort to send 22,000 boxes of Girl Scout cookies and more than 900 letters to troops overseas.

“People are going away to serve our country, and they are all a part of someone’s family,” Charlotte says.

“They’re all doing so much for our country, it’s the least I can do to help.”

As a seventh-grader, Charlotte spent countless hours recording books on tape for visually impaired children.

While still in middle school, she planned a body image seminar for young girls in her community that featured

atlantaparent.com

For two years, the Buckhead native went to the airport to interview soldiers being deployed or coming back home.

Haley Kilpatrick, founder of the Girl Talk Foundation. “I think it is important to empower young girls,” she explains. The event included a fashion show in which a local boutique demonstrated that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes.

Today, she still finds time to mentor a small Girl Scout troop working toward its coveted Gold Award, the highest achievement in the organization. She plans to work with the scout troop once a month while attending the prestigious Advanced Academy of Georgia at West Georgia College, where high school students from around the world take college courses to accelerate their education. (She previously attended North Atlanta High.) Charlotte also received a Foundation Fellow Scholarship for her academic accomplishments and volunteer work.

Charlotte credits her work ethic to her mom and older sister. She says that the amazing support system from her family has led to her success thus far. She hopes to continue to help others, and she has set her sights on “industrial psychologist” as a career. c Editor’s note: Atlanta Parent is always interested in hearing about young people who are going the extra mile to make a difference. If you want to tell us about someone, please email editor@atlantaparent.com. atlantaparent.com

September 2012 Atlanta Parent 19

Moms Need

Girlfriend Time

by Mary Beth Bishop

W

hen Roswell mom Mary Reese and her friends hit the road, all the chattering and catching up sometimes outshine the exciting places they visit.

Scattered across different states, Reese and her longtime girlfriends may not talk much during the year. But once they get together again, the conversation never ends.

“They came to Atlanta last year and never left my house,” says Reese. The mother of two boys, ages 7 and 11, travels each year with a tightknit group of friends formed at North Carolina’s Salem College. She had places she wanted to take them in the metro area, but they couldn’t get organized to leave Reese’s home. They were too busy just catching up with each other.

Amid the laughter, they’ve steered each other through everything from bad boyfriends in their early years to providing support when more serious issues came along, including miscarriage and illness.

It’s an association born out of a long tradition. Two of the women’s mothers were also friends long ago at Salem and began the tradition of traveling with their own college 20 Atlanta Parent September 2012

friends. Reese and her college chums began their annual getaways shortly after graduating in 1989. Their adventures have included a trip to the U.S. Virgin Islands and horseback riding in Colorado.

“It reminds you of who you were before you were a wife and mother,” Reese says. “It takes you back to your essential self. You can go back to who you are inside yourself and not who you are in the world every day.”

Steph O’Connell of Sandy Springs reaches even further back to recharge with

some favorite girls. Last month she traveled to Boston and spent time with friends that she’s been close to since the seventh grade “Self preservation is key,” she says, and friends are a vital connection for the busy mom of four boys.

She also loves to “step out of the mom zone” with local women friends (lots of fellow moms) for a monthly game of cards.

“I get to be just Steph for at least one night a month.”

Cont’d on page 22

Reese and her college chums began their annual

getaways shortly after graduating in 1989. Their adventures have included a trip to the U.S. Virgin Islands and horseback riding in Colorado. atlantaparent.com

Girls Just Want to Have Fun

n Movie Night: Sure, you can always join

n Girls Night at Turner Field: The Atlanta

or start a book group – but that can mean homework, and maybe the book is not your cup of tea. For a lower-pressure “girls night out,” consider a regular movie outing, such as on the first Monday of each month. If you skip a month, no big deal; there’s always next month. Grab a glass of wine and an appetizer afterward.

Braves are celebrating Girls Night Out on Friday, Sept. 14. For $35 each, women get special hats, light blue boas and a pre-game party as well as outfield seats for the 7:30 game against the Washington Nationals. For tickets or info: braves. com/gno or call Stacey Nicely at 404-614-1325.

n Free Clothes, with Laughs: Judi Holley of

last month to catch Cocktails in the Garden on Thursday nights at the Atlanta Botanical Garden.

Explore the garden with a drink in hand and watch a chef whip up something yummy from the Edible Garden. The $18.95 admission price for nonmembers includes one cocktail; dinner is available for purchase. On display now are 19 sculptures by contemporary artists; these will be theatrically lit during the Thursday night events. For more information, visit atlantabotanicalgarden.org or call 404-876-5859.

Virginia-Highland gets together with longtime girlfriends for periodic clothes swaps. “You bring everything you don’t want and things people have given you,” says the mother of two. Even some things for husbands end up the mix. One at a time, the women present clothes they are ready to part with; the first gal to indicate she really wants something usually winds up with it – if it fits! Bonus: The hostess delivers leftover items (clothes, shoes, handbags, etc.) to places such as local women’s shelters. Holley says the swaps – which provide plenty of laughs – have allowed her to connect to her “former childless self.” n I’ve Always Wanted To…: Have each friend

choose something she’s always wanted to do. The whole group could take a course on cooking fine desserts, for example, or perhaps even try a psychic reading.

Photo by Anthony Masterson

Beyond playing bunco or going out for dinner, there are lots of ways to spend time with girlfriends. Just a few ideas:

n Cocktails in the Garden: September is the

n Artsy Nights: One of Atlanta’s top art districts

is open for business the second Friday of each month for an award-winning Art Stroll through Castleberry Hill. There are restaurants in the mix as well for those who think that abstracts and oils go better with appetizers and merlot. And while you’re there, why not try a free hand scrub at Iwi Fresh Garden Day Spa. Info: castleberryhillartstroll.com

Cocktails in the Garden n Cupcakes Are for Moms: The Pink Pastry

Parlor in Roswell has a party package just for grown-up little girls. The Sweet Sixteen – Again! package also includes a buffet of goodies and a Cupcake Tower Cake, activities and more. $399 for eight guests. For information call 770-650-7465.

Lots of businesses gives moms the chance to plan some grown-up play. Head to a skating rink, a cooking school or painting studio – whatever feeds your passion.

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September 2012 Atlanta Parent 21

Moms Need Girlfriend Time Melanie Bliss, who practices psychology in Decatur, says time with friends is “an important time to relax, to laugh, to commiserate, to share stories, to offer advice and give advice, and to just have fun.”

The mother of two children, ages 4 and 7, takes her own advice to heart, spending regular time with her book club as well as with another close group of friends. Since her husband often travels, she has to plan ahead for childcare, but she says time with friends is worth the effort: “I love not being responsible for anyone but me in that moment.”

“Often, women feel guilty taking time for themselves,” says Athens psychologist J. Kip Matthews. But he says the act of de-stressing with some good girlfriend time can, in fact, make a mother “more attentive and more connected to the child.”

It also lets children know that friendships are worth the effort.

“I found it important to connect with gal pals when the girls were home as an example to them,” says Debra Baker Steinmann, whose girls are now grown with lots of close girlfriends of their own. “You never are a better mom than after you’ve had a break,” says Steinmann, who lives in the Northlake area.

The act of de-stressing with

some good girlfriend time can make a mother “more attentive and more connected to the child,” says Athens psychologist J. Kip Matthews.

It wasn’t always easy, but she tried to make time for quilting and other activities with friends when her girls were young. An added bonus for the kids: concentrated time with Dad. Actress Gwyneth Paltrow is reported to have once said, “The best way to mend a broken heart is time and girlfriends.”

Girlfriends turned out to be the answer when Le’Dor Phoenix-Milteer of Marietta was fighting her postpartum blues.

Now Phoenix-Milteer makes time for friends every other week. On one birthday, she turned her home into a spa. She went all out with cocktails and music, candles and pedicures, and even fluffy robes.

“You work 40 hours a week and you’re still a wife and now you’re a mother,” says Phoenix-Milteer, whose son is now 2.

“There’s traffic. You need to exercise and you want to feel beautiful. When do you look after yourself?”

Whether they have careers or stay home with their kids, she says the group “all agree that together we feel relevant and connected.”

Making it Work Easier said than done? In a recent study by the American Psychological Association, fewer people said they spent time with their friends and family as a way to relieve stress: 38 percent in 2011 compared to 46 percent the year before. Here’s some advice on finding some time just for you: n “Put it on the calendar as a “have to” – just like any other appointment you must keep. n Share sitters for easier, more affordable fun. n Make it all about you. Matthews notes that young mothers often spend time with friends in conjunction with playdates for their kids. “This is good,” he says, “but it’s also important to have time alone to allow for adult conversation.” n Don’t be reluctant to pamper yourself just like you would your child.

“Make it a big deal. Buy a new dress,” says Phoenix-Milteer. “It doesn’t have to be expensive.” c

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Just for Moms: A One-Night Escape

by Dana diLorenzo Recently, my husband was nice enough – or rather, brave enough – to support me when I suggested a quick overnight getaway with a few other metro moms. Our destination: the Marriott Residence Inn in downtown Atlanta. Our mission: to relax, have some fun and celebrate the survival of the summer.

We wanted some time to reconnect, breathe deeply, indulge in some adult conversation, compare summer stories, even just hear the sound of our first names again. (Still, we all immediately turned our heads whenever we heard a child call out “Mom!”) The Marriott Residence Inn proved the right spot for us: nice hotel close to home, amenities that excited us, and affordable. The hotel’s “Girls Night Out” package starts at $129 and includes valet parking, a nice-sized suite (with mini-kitchen), wine-and-cheese welcome tray, ice cream treats (our beforebedtime indulgence), and a deluxe breakfast.

Rooms sleep up to four people.

We were eager to explore and start the fun. Hotel staff gave us a quick overview of nearby sights and attractions. Centennial Olympic Park was just across the street.

We also found time to visit the beauty bar Sugarcoat in Virginia -Highland for pedicures.

Later in the afternoon, we enjoyed a culinary tour through nearby Inman Park and the Old Fourth Ward (Atlanta-culinarytours.com). This was not only a fun and

enlightening outing, but also served as our late lunch/early dinner.

We also took advantage of the free grocery shopping service offered by the Residence Inn. We arrived back to our suite to find the fridge had been stocked with all the items we had requested for our light dinner snack. (The grocery charges were simply added to our hotel bill.) One of our thrifty, super-smart fellow moms had brought along all the necessary supplies so we could have a mini-pamper session in our suite. We also had agreed on an official “lights out” time that would ensure a good night’s sleep. After all, one of the main goals of this getaway was to arrive home rested and rejuvenated.

A mere 24 hours after we had checked in, we were indeed restored, relaxed and ready to click our heels, dash home and reunite with our families!

Girl Time! Where To Go…for Starters Think you could escape the home front for a whole night? Is there somewhere close enough to home you might like to go for some “me” time and maybe a little pampering? Call hotels and resorts in and around Atlanta and ask if they have a “women’s night away” package. Here are just some we’ve found: n Marriott Residence Inn, 134 Peachtree St., Atlanta. “Girls Night Out” package starts at $129 for one room (split that price with a friend or two). 404-522-0950; marriott.com/hotels/ hotel-deals. n Bed and Breakfasts are another option for a girlfriend getaway and there are plenty of great choices in the area.

Visit bbonline.com. n Barnsley Gardens in Adairsville has a one-night “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” package that includes a welcome martini, 40-minute manicure and a 60-minute Swedish massage. Packages start at $320 per person. 770-773-7480; barnsleyresort.com.

n The Embassy Suites at the Atlanta Perimeter Center has a “Girlfriend Getaway Suite Retreat” package for a two-room suite, complimentary breakfast and shuttle service, a $15 credit toward room service and a Dunwoody Girlfriend’s Club Card that provides discounts to local restaurants, spas and boutiques. Starting at $159 per night for up to four.

Call 800-774-1500 and request plan code “PK8”; embassysuites3.hilton.com. n The Omni Hotel at CNN Center has the “Reminisce” Girlfriend Getaway package, where moms will enjoy complimentary champagne waiting for them upon arrival to this deluxe room. Your group can earn two $50 gift cards to Bloomingdale’s with the donation of a gently used cocktail dress for charity. Up to four friends for $237 per night.

404-659-0000; omnihotels.com.

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September 2012 Atlanta Parent 23

liposuction tummy tuck breast lift botox laser resurfacing fillers dermabrasion cool sculpting

MOM MAKEOVER A NIP HERE, FAT-FREEZE THERE, TO LOOK AND FEEL YOUR BEST.

by Elizabeth Connor and Julie Bookman

E

very week, Perimeter Plastic Surgery gets dozens of emails from inquiring moms who want to look a whole lot better – and soon. Even dads sometimes send an inquiry. Here are just three recent emails: – Hi! I’m 27 years old and I just had my second child.

I’m very interested in your Mommy Makeover. I would like to do lipo and a tummy tuck. Please call me back A.S.A.P.!

– I’m 44. My children are 11 and 7. I’m active, I exercise and have decent eating habits, but I still have a pouch and my breasts could use a lift. Am I a candidate for a “Mommy Makeover” after all these years?

– My wife is interested in having a tummy tuck. She is concerned about her mommy stomach after having two children over the last 18 years. She is 36. I am interested in how much it would cost to make my wife happy.

Have you thought about a Mom Makeover?

Anna Handell has no regrets. She has always been athletic, but that didn’t prevent a 30-pound weight gain after her first child arrived 2 ½ years ago. “When he was born, I just poured myself into caring for him,” says the Sandy Springs mom. Her schedule shift, plus hormonal complications from pregnancy, left her with a stubborn middle-section bulge. Even spin classes four times a week didn’t bring back her pre-baby shape.

While at the dermatologist, Handell learned about the hot trend of “fat-freezing,” also marketed as 24 Atlanta Parent September 2012

CoolSculpting™. The procedure – technically called cryolipolysis – involves a gentle suction that pulls fat away from the body and against cooling plates. Applying cold externally for up to an hour can destroy fat cells without harming the skin or other parts of your body.

The fact that it wasn’t a surgical intervention appealed to Handell, 36, but the big selling point was the minimal downtime. As a stay-at-home mom whose husband travels a lot on business, time and convenience were essential. Late last year, Handell found the three-hour block she needed for the procedure so she could finally deal with her love handles and abdomen. By January, she was digging out “skinny” clothes she hadn’t worn since college.

“Mommy Makeover” is a catchall phrase that covers any number of procedures to restore and repair body areas that have sagged and stretched as a result of pregnancy and breast-feeding. Typically, the lay term refers to a woman having more than one thing done: a combination of cosmetic and plastic surgery procedures. Because the stomach and breasts are most impacted by pregnancy, those are the most common areas that a Mommy Makeover targets. The abdomen is often improved via a tummy tuck or liposuction, while breasts are generally enhanced through augmentation or a lift.

Each and every Mom Makeover is different from the next “and can be anything you want it to be,” says Dr. Mark Deutsch, a doctor at Perimeter Plastic Surgery.

Procedures are customized to a woman’s specific needs.

The Mom Makeover “has become my No. 1 procedure – atlantaparent.com

what I do more than anything else,” he says.

“It’s for someone who is finished having children and she feel she wants to restore her breasts and abdomen to the way they were before having kids.” His patients range in age from their late 20s to their late 40s. “Patients are overwhelmingly positive about the results of their surgery,” Deutsch adds. “They feel like they’ve restored their appearance – and in some cases, they look even better than they did before.”

More than 12 million American women last year opted for one or more procedures to help them reclaim their pre-baby shape or erase some not-so-funny laugh lines. More moms are saying “yes” to these makeovers because recent innovations have made such procedures minimally invasive and more affordable. In addition, these procedures are showing fewer side effects, and recoveries are quite quick.

The less-is-more trend is catching on.

Between 2008 and 2011, the number of cosmetic surgeries in the United States actually declined – about 5 percent to 1.6 million. At the same time, the number of minimally invasive procedures designed to buff, burnish and tone climbed 18 percent to 12.2 million, reports the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

When you’re ready to reclaim some of the “dewiness” your skin once boasted, cosmetic dermatology offers many chemicalor light-based interventions.

“I think Atlanta mirrors the national trends,” says Dr. Harold Brody, a northwest Atlanta dermatologist in practice for more than 30 years. He’s not surprised that some surgical procedures such as liposuction and dermabrasion have fallen off in recent years in favor of less invasive alternatives. “These other procedures are so good,” he says.

Most moms going the extra mile to look and feel good start out small.

The Food and Drug Administration has approved the fat-freezing technology for such things as love handles and belly blubber.

Doctors are also tackling – and getting good results – in the back and other areas.

Fat-freezing has taken off only in the last few years and is available throughout metro Atlanta. The procedure accounted for 12 percent of all body sculpting procedures in 2011, according to a survey by the American Academy of Dermatological Surgery. There were a total of about 55,000 such procedures last year, followed by tumescent liposuction (see sidebar), with 16,800 procedures.

Cont’d on page 26

Stadium Childcare Providers for the Atlanta Braves

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September 2012 Atlanta Parent 25

MOM MAKEOVER After Laura Cooper’s second child became a toddler, the 36-year-old Decatur resident got serious about reclaiming her prebaby body. “The first year and a half after my daughter was born, I was nursing and didn’t really have the time to focus on myself at all,” she says.

Some six months ago, she decided that hitting the gym four times a week wasn’t enough. “I definitely noticed a change in my body after pregnancy. It wasn’t so much the weight as things were in places they weren’t before,” she says.

Cooper works in the Tucker office of Atlanta Dermatology & Laser Surgery, where the popularity of fat-freezing caught her attention. “I’m one for trying something that’s not painful and that doesn’t take a lot of time, so I thought – why not?”

The process is designed to address annoying fat pockets, not obesity; nor is fatfreezing intended as a solution for weight reduction. Excess fat in a treated area may only be reduced by one-fifth to one-fourth, says Marsha Fuller, a medical esthetician at Plastic Surgery Center of the South in Atlanta.

Cosmetic Dermatology When you’re ready to reclaim some of the “dewiness” your skin once boasted, cosmetic dermatology offers many chemical- or lightbased interventions. One that promises quick results and requires minimal downtime is non-ablative laser resurfacing. (Non-ablative means that the skin surface does not get burned off.)

Non-ablative resurfacing procedures in the U.S. topped 331,000 in 2011, up 6 percent from the year before, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

“I see results after just one treatment,” says Dr. Ashley Curtis with Dermatology Associates of Atlanta. “The women who are the best candidates are those who have a little discoloration on the face, fine lines or wrinkles, or that ruddy complexion we get over the years.” First approved in 2003, non-ablative resurfacing procedures work by creating microscopic fissures in the skin. The body responds by getting rid of the damaged skin and producing new collagen, the workhorse protein in our skin and connective tissue.

Cindy Blount, of Roswell, works fulltime as a nurse, so the minimal procedure time was a big selling point. She underwent the hour-long resurfacing on a Friday and says she could have gone back to work the next day.

“It’s a great procedure,” says Blount, 54.

“I can’t wait to have it done again.” c 26 Atlanta Parent September 2012

Mom Makeover 101: Menu Options Besides the common practice of altering, reducing or enlarging the breasts, here are other top options for moms looking to reclaim their bodies following pregnancy and breast-feeding: n Botox: A brand of botulinum toxin, a protein and neurotoxin. When injected with a tiny needle, it relaxes muscles that generate wrinkles, or reduces wrinkles by blocking the nerve signal (or paralyzing facial muscles). The most common of minimally invasive cosmetic procedures, Botox lasts for a few months. Injections take only a few minutes. A Botox topical gel to fight wrinkles is currently in testing stages. n Breast augmentation: In 2010, the procedure was the most popular cosmetic surgery in the country. While the basic process has not changed much in recent years, newer technology continues to whittle away at the risk of complications and side effects. n Breast implants: Surgery to enhance the breasts should last 15 or more years, notes Dr. Mark Deutsch at Perimeter Plastic Surgery.

Silicone has a reputation for feeling more natural than saline. n Breast lift: A classic nip-tuck procedure that can undo some of the droopy effects of pregnancy or nursing. An implant by itself has the effect of rejuvenating the bust, notes Deutsch, who reports good success with women who opt for both an implant and lift. n Dermabrasion: A technique that uses a wire brush or a diamond wheel with rough edges to remove the upper layers of the skin.

Used most often to improve the appearance of acne scars and fine lines on the face. n Fat-freezing: Cosmetic procedure that freezes fat cells in an attempt to slim the body, but not for those who have a significant amount of weight to lose. It can take at least a month to notice changes after the procedure, and the average reduction in fat is about 20 percent.

Also known as CoolSculpting™; technical term is “cryolipolysis.”

What Price Beauty?

Make sure you know the full price of the procedure you’re considering. The average physician fees quoted here don’t include charges for a hospital or surgery center, medications, or anesthesia, when needed.

But prices vary by region of the country and by practice, so it’s important to ask.

Botox: $375 Breast augmentation: $3,351, plus surgical fees Breast lift: $4,207, plus surgical fees Fillers: $475-$1,099 Non-ablative laser resurfacing: $1,156 Check the cost of other procedures at plasticsurgery.org.

n Fillers: A soft substance that can be injected into the skin to fill a wrinkle. There are many different types of fillers, from human collagen to fat injection. A more recent class of fillers is based on hyaluronic acid (HA), which is a sugar found naturally in human skin. Filler effects can last anywhere from three months to a lifetime. n Liposuction: A cosmetic surgical procedure in which excess fatty tissue is removed from a specific area of the body, such as the thighs or abdomen, by means of suction. n Non-ablative laser resurfacing: A technique for reducing face wrinkles and blemishes by directing beams of light at irregular skin to remove the precise area, layer by layer.

(Non-ablative means that the skin surface does not get burned off.) n Tumescent liposuction: A type of liposuction in which the area is filled with water; the stomach is a likely candidate for this procedure.

Know What To Ask With elective surgery, you have time to research the procedure and the medical professionals you want to use. Here are some questions to ask a physician:

❑ Am I a good candidate for this procedure? ❑ Where and how will you perform my procedure? ❑ What do I need to know about my recovery period? ❑ What are the risks and complications associated with my procedure? ❑ How are complications handled? ❑ Are you board-certified in the relevant specialty? (For plastic surgery, the certifying organization is the American Board of Plastic Surgery; for dermatology, it’s the American Board of Dermatology.)

❑ What are my options if I am dissatisfied with the outcome of my surgery? ❑ Do you have before-and-after photos I can look at for each procedure, and what results are reasonable for me?

Adapted from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

atlantaparent.com

Just For Moms Sky Zone

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aricose Veins And Pregnancy What are varicose veins?

Varicose veins are swollen veins near the surface of the skin that are often bulging and blue or purple in color. They may be tender or make your legs feel heavy and achy. The skin around the veins may burn or itch.

Why are pregnant women more prone to develop varicose veins?

This is due to hormonal changes that affect the vein walls. During pregnancy, your blood volume increases dramatically causing greater stress on the vein walls. As progesterone levels rise, it causes the vein walls to relax and they can become dilated. Pregnancy also causes an increase in pressure in the veins in your legs and can lead to development of varicose veins.

What can you do to prevent varicose veins?

Exercise moderately to improve your circulation. Elevate your feet and legs as much as possible and try to avoid standing or sitting for long periods of time without taking breaks to move around. Sleep on your left side. Lastly, wear special support hose called graduated compression stocking which are thicker than regular pantyhose. Call Circulatory Centers today at 678-954-7712 for your free consultation or visit www.veinhealth.com.

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id you ever think it was possible to burn up to 1,000 calories per hour, and still have FUN doing it? With SkyRobics, that reality is now a possibility.

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September 2012 Atlanta Parent 27

CAKE POPS

THE PROCESS

Cute and neat as birthday treats.

by Carolyn Williams and Kate Wallace

With their delicious flavors, vibrant colors and easy-to-eat simplicity, cake pops have become popular substitutes for the traditional sheet cake or cupcakes. These little cake bites on lollipop sticks are trendy at parties everywhere.

Parents love that cake pops satisfy a party-going child’s desire for a sweet. They also like saying goodbye to all those plates of half-eaten cake. Bring out these pretty pops, sing “Happy Birthday,” and look forward to a little less cleanup.

Portion control is another plus. Due to their small size, the calories in one cake pop are less than those in a standard slice of cake. Birthday cake can lose its sweet splendor after a few bites, but with cake pops, one or two bites does the trick.

1

Hand-formed Pops

Forming cakes by hand may be the most difficult choice, but you can master it with a few attempts.

These make-yourself tips come from intown Atlanta’s Kara Peterson, who enjoys crafting cake pops on her own for various occasions. l Bake a cake according to the usual directions, let it cool. l Dig in with your hands to crumble up the cake. l Add a little moisture while crumbling; use a bit of cream cheese (or other ingredient, such as a little frosting or flavor extract). l Roll crumbled ingredients into small balls; a tablespoon scooper can help. l Wilton Candy Melts work well as a dipping sauce. Use a fondue pot or crock pot to ensure sauce melts evenly. l Dip one end of each stick into melted chocolate, then insert the dipped end of stick into each cake ball. l Put cake pops into the fridge for about two hours so they get firm and ready for coating/dipping.

28 Atlanta Parent September 2012

l To coat each ball, “make it a quick dip in and out,” says Peterson. Don’t swirl it, as the cake ball could come off its stick. l Add nuts, sprinkles or other decorations. l Set pops on wax paper to dry. Voila!

Sarah Baker, an Atlanta mom (and aptly named cake maker), also shared her cake pop tips with us. She says all brands of store-bought cake mixes work great, but she likes Jiffy cake mixes because they are inexpensive and get good results.

Baker also makes the cake according to the box directions, but she likes using a food processor to break the baked cake into crumbs.

Your first try at hand-forming cake pops may not be everything you dream, but over time you’ll improve your technique. Some pops may turn out lumpy, others misshapen. It’s OK if they’re not perfect the first time around; the kids will probably forgive you.

“I love seeing kids get excited by the different shapes I’ve made,” Baker says. “I’ve done Yo Gabba Gabba characters, giant eyeballs, ghosts, and Christmas trees. My favorite part is definitely the reaction I get from the kids!”

Party Planner

Sounds easy, right? Well, not so fast.

If making cake pops on your own, the process is not to be taken lightly. A few attempts may be necessary, and parents are advised not to wait until the night before the party before attempting to make them for the first time.

Atlanta Parent tested for you, trying each of the three main options: handformed, cake pop pan (widely available) to bake/ form the cake balls, or using a machine.

Most start with a storebought cake mix, prepared according to the box. Expect to get 32 to 40 cake pops from one mix. Here’s what we found:

Brownie Pop Kit: Atlanta Parent’s Kirsten Gromatzky made a dozen tasty cake pops using the new Pillsbury Funfetti Brownie Pop Kit ($2.89). She loved the convenience of this kit that includes brownie mix, chocolate wafers for coating the cake pops, sticks and sprinkles.

She baked the brownies in a 9-by-9inch pan, let them cool, then cut them into 12 squares, being sure to slice off the hard edges. She rolled each gooey square into a neat, compact ball. Next, she melted half of the wafers, dipped each stick into the melted chocolate, then pushed each stick into the center of each ball. After 30 minutes in the fridge, the cake pops were ready to be coated (with the rest of the wafers, melted), then topped with sprinkles.

The dense brownies made the whole process easy, Gromatzky says. The pops were “very rich, decadent and more successful than my previous cake pop attempts.”

atlantaparent.com

TOO PRETTY TO EAT? Make and bake the cake you want, whether from scratch or using a cake mix. Prepare your cake balls by hand or using a machine. Here’s a recipe for making them almost too pretty to eat!

Sweet Thanks Makes one gift (or one batch of pops) The words “thank you” are so simple, but they carry such meaning – especially when you add a tasty cake pop treat arranged in a jar full of candy!

Ingredients Milk chocolate, red, blue, green, orange, yellow and white candy melts cake pops (such as chocolate or strawberry cake) Materials 6 cake pop sticks 1 pastry bag or squeeze bottle, fitted with a fine tip 1 one-pint canning jar Candy-coated chocolate candies Paper raffia ribbon Melt 2 Tbsp. chocolate candy melts and use to attach a stick to 1 cake pop. Reserve the remaining candy melt. Repeat with red, blue, green, orange and yellow candy melts, using each color to attach a stick to 1 cake pop.

Freeze cake pops for at least 15 minutes to set.

Add 1⁄2 cup chocolate candy melts to those left in the cup and melt until smooth. Coat the cake pop secured with chocolate melts. Set in a cake pop stand to dry. Repeat with red, blue, green, orange and yellow candy melts.

Set in the stand to dry.

Melt 1⁄4 cup white candy melts. Use the pastry bag to pipe swirls or filigree on each cake pop. Set in the stand to dry.

Fill the canning jar with candies. Arrange cake pops in the jar, using the candies to steady them. Tie the ribbon in a bow around the lip of the jar.

Excerpted from 175 Best Babycakes Cake Pop Maker Recipes by Kathy Moore & Roxanne Wyss © 2012 www. robertrose.ca Reprinted with permission. All rights reserved.

Photo credit: Colin Erricson/www.robertrose.ca

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3

Cake Pop Pans

Using a Machine

Making cake pops with a pan is a little easier, but you still need a trial run or two before making pops for a birthday or other special event.

You’ll find plenty of cake pop pans to choose from. Most look a little like a non-stick muffin pan with a cover, except they have a rounded bottom and top. You fill the bottom with cake batter according to directions, close the cover and bake. When the cakes rise, the rounded top is supposed to shape the cake for a perfect ball. But if you overfill or under fill, you may wind up with a ball that’s not quite what you expected. With a little experimenting, you’ll reach perfection.

Atlanta Parent tip: Buy a pan that makes 12 or more balls per pan. Otherwise, you’ll be spending a lot of time tending the oven; most pans cost $10-$20.

A machine is the easiest of the three methods. Recipes in the Babycakes book were developed specifically for the machine option.

In the book, the authors assert that “there really isn’t a way to bake them in the oven and keep the same round shape.” (Some at-home bakers, like Kara Peterson and Sarah Baker, may take that as a challenge!)

atlantaparent.com

When using a machine, the batter is poured directly into molds and bakes in just minutes.

Atlanta Parent tested the Babycakes Cake Pop Maker, but other machines on the market also claim to achieve the perfect round shape. l Babycakes Cake Pop Maker, by Select Brands Inc., lets you cook a dozen cake pops in less than four minutes. The machine comes with recipes and decorating tips. At Bed, Bath and Beyond, Kohl’s, or online at thebabycakesshop.com; $24.99.

Atlanta Parent tried the Babycakes machine and reports good results, although a careful technique makes a difference. It will take some practice to learn exactly how much batter you should squeeze into each pop spot without overfilling; you’ll also need to learn to work as fast as possible because the tiny cakes are baking straightaway.

Two other machines on the market: l Cake Pop and Donut Hole Bakery by Nostalgia Electrics. Makes seven cake balls at a time in five minutes; comes with an injector tool to fill the pops with jellies and creams. At Walmart or amazon.com, $19.99. l Cake Pop Maker by Bella. Makes six slightly larger cake balls in just under six minutes. At amazon. com, $19.99.

Cont’d on page 30

Party Planner

September 2012 Atlanta Parent 29

CAKE POPS

THE BAKERY OPTION

YUMMY TIPS l Experiment

with different cake mixes and recipes; adding one egg to a box recipe and a box of instant pudding can help achieve the consistency you need. One source for recipes: cakepoprecipes.com l For

coating pops, use candy coating – not cake frosting.

l When

using a cake pop pan or cake pop maker, use a squeeze bottle to fill each well. Work as efficiently as possible when using cake pop maker, because you squirt batter into machine that is preheated, so the little cakes are baking right away (and will be done in just a few minutes). l When

placing sticks into the cake pop, dip one end of stick into melted candy coating and push that end into the middle of the cake ball – it almost serves like a glue; put into freezer for 15-20 minutes so they can set further.

Love the idea, but don’t have time for the execution? Many professionals will do the work for you, so check with your favorite bakery or try one of these: l Sweet

Cheats’ cake pops, called “cruffles,” start at $2 per pop.

You can custom-order cake pops for any occasion. 404-590-6086; sweetcheatsatlanta.com. l Megan’s

Cake Pops is a cake pop delivery service based in Gwinnett County. Order cake pops in fun shapes and colors – wrapped to match.

Pops start at $20 for one dozen. 678-296-4916; meganscakepops.com. l TK

Cake Pops downtown has standard cake pops starting at $19.99 per dozen. TK Cake Pops ships anywhere in the U.S. 678-596-1684; tkcakepops.com. l KC’s

Sweet Shoppe in Snellville offers decorated pops for $1 apiece.

678-701-7527; kcsweetshoppe.com.

l After

you coat and decorate all your cake pops, place in freezer again for another 15-20 minutes. l During

both the “inserting sticks” and “coating” stages, you can use a Styrofoam block ($3.49 for a brick-size block at Michaels) to stick each pop into. (Ideally, this block can go in and out of your freezer).

l Sarah

Kate’s Bakery in Marietta sells pops that are truffles on a stick for $30 a dozen. 770-597-2248; sarahkatesbakery.com.

l When

coating cake pops, some prefer the “quick dip or dunk” (in a small, deep container such as a large coffee mug), while others prefer to hold each pop over a bowl and drizzle gently, using a spoon. l If

l The

Dunwoody Bakery (glutenfree) in Dunwoody has cake pops for $2 each, or $2.50 for a specialty cake pop. 770-393-8787; thedunwoodybakery.com.

just starting out, don’t go overboard decorating keep it simple.

l Wrap

cake pop(s) in clear Cellophane and tie with pretty ribbon to give as a gift or party favor. l Don’t

want cake pops on a stick? No problem. Serve them inside mini cupcake liners instead.

30 Atlanta Parent September 2012

Dunwoody Bakery

Party Planner

atlantaparent.com

DJ Services School Events Birthday parties And more!

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Party Planner

September 2012    Atlanta Parent 31

Planning your family’s reunion, your child’s birthday or graduation party is tough work.

These basic planning tips will keep you on track and make your job a bit easier.

Parties that Work 10 tips for Success

by Amy Dusek

1

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32 Atlanta Parent September 2012

Party Planner

Planning Ahead Start planning sooner rather than later. For big events, start a year in advance. There’s plenty to do – secure a location, select a caterer, hire an entertainer, develop the guest list, arrange lodging for out-of-town guests, send out invitations, and so on.

For smaller parties, three to six month timetable give you enough time to organize,

Set the Date If your invite list includes out-of-town guests, plan your party around a long weekend such as Memorial Day, Labor Day or the 4th of July. This will give your guests a few extra days to visit without having to take much vacation time from work.

atlantaparent.com

7 Get Help

3

If you’re planning without the help of a professional, you’ll need extra hands to serve drinks, layout the food, conduct party games and clean up on the big day. High school students are an affordable source of help or arrange a trade agreement with one of your friends or neighbors, In return for their help at your party, you’ll baby-sit or help out at their next event.

Pick a Theme For ideas on a party theme, head straight to the source – the guest of honor.

Consider their interested and brainstorm to develop the best theme,. The games, food, invitations, decorations, and party favors will all center on your theme.

4 Do Your Homework

When selecting the facility consider your family’s interests. Would they be happy to skate, go bowling, hike around a state park or would they prefer a more elegant setting? Ask about how many people the space comfortably accommodates, time limits, deposits, clean-up services and what supplies you’ll be responsible for. Make sure the facility you’re renting us up to your standards.

Conduct an on-site inspection, and if possible watch a party in action.

5 Compose the Guest List

Whittle the guest list down to a manageable number. For birthday parties, use your child’s age as a guide. The number of guests should equal your child’s age, plus one. So for a 4-year-old’s birthday party, invite five guests.

For graduation parties and b’nai mitzvah, do your best to invite family members and your child’s close friends.

Also, your party space may only be able to accommodate a limited number of guests.

If you’re planning a family reunion, your job is easy – invite the entire clan.

6 Keep it Simple

For smaller family celebrations, keep things simple. Too many activities can be over stimulating. Design an ageappropriate party lasting about an hour.

One or two activities and time for cake and presents is all you need for the preschool set. As kids grow older, plan for a longer party with entertainment, crafts and games. During the teen years, kids may prefer to take their closest friend out for dinner and a movie or a slumber party.

atlantaparent.com

8

Families Caught in Pictures If your family is like mine, then you have a relative designated as the “official photographer.” There’s no better way to document family gatherings and memories than tough pictures. Consider these picture-taking tips at your next party.

At family reunions, take group shots of the individual families. Arrange the group so that their faces are as close together as possible. Then show all the generations together in a large group shot. When composing the shot, pick an anchor person and arrange the rest of the family around him.

When photographing kids, go for a more natural shot, Catch them in action while they’re playing with their cousins or eating with the family. You’ll also get a better shot if you crouch or kneel while shooting.

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9 Party Eats

For a simple birthday, keep the menu kid-friendly. Chicken nuggets, pizzas, sandwiches, cake and ice cream are safe choices. For larger family gatherings, consider hiring a catering service. You’ll have less mess in your kitchen and more time to spend with your relatives.

If you’re planning to do the cooking, ask friends and relatives to pitch in with favorite family recipes.

10 Keep the Kids Busy

Plan a variety of activities for the kids. Consider hiring a balloon artist, magician or clown or renting a moonwalk. This way they’ll be entertained so adults can visit with less interruptions.

Include a few activities for the older guests. DJs, watching home videos and flipping through memory books can be fun for all ages. c

Party Planner

September 2012 Atlanta Parent 33

Do you ever feel that children’s birthday parties are getting out of hand?

Don’t get caught up in the hype just because one of your child’s friends had an over-the-top celebration. A few simple suggestions will ensure your youngster has a wonderful, memorable day – without making a lot of extravagant preparations or spending a ton of money.

Birthday Party Success

…Without the Excess!

by Kerrie McLoughlin

1 2 3

You’re not obligated to invite every one of your child’s friends.

Five guests is often an ideal number and easy to manage. The party can be as simple as a trip to an ice cream parlor or a local playground. You can spice it up every few years by renting a bounce house for the back yard and inviting more guests.

Encourage your child not to broadcast the news of his party to his entire classroom or sports team. This will help avoid hurt feelings for those who don’t get an invitation. Stress to your child that this is his special day to celebrate with just his closest friends. Set a limit on the guest list and have your child really think about the best friends to invite.

A sleepover party with pizza and a movie is another good bet. But you’ll probably want to keep the guest list short. Grandparents and other family members can come over too for the actual celebration and opening of the gifts, while your child’s special invited friends get to stay overnight.

34 Atlanta Parent September 2012

4 5 6

Instead of spending mega bucks on a specialty cake, bake a couple batches of homemade cupcakes and let the guests decorate their own with colored frostings, sprinkles, gumdrops and other candies.

A piñata is a cheap, fun way for kids to have a blast. First, set up a few games and activities outdoors to give the children a chance to run wild and burn off some energy. Then cap it off with bashing the piñata. Always a favorite!

Take your child on a special Birthday Date, just the two of you, and tell her about the day she was born.

Children love to hear their own birth story – even if they’ve heard it before.

You can also write a personal, heartfelt letter to let her know how she’s changed and grown as a person, what she likes and dislikes, and what you love about her. Your child will cherish and remember your time together much more than an expensive, stressful party with too many guests.

Party Planner

7

Birthday gifts don’t have to be toys or other items your child might never use.

Instead, ask the guests to bring canned goods for donation to a local charity, or have them bring a few used books and turn the party into a book swap. c

Whatever you decide for your child’s birthday party, the most important thing is that your child feels special – not how much money you spent or how many people were invited. atlantaparent.com

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Party Planner

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Spotlight on Parties Special Advertising Section

Chattahoochee Nature Center

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he Chattahoochee Nature Center offers “Green” Birthday Parties for kids who enjoy nature, wildlife and fun! Their parties are so easy for parents.

Letters from parents: “Thanks for helping us create some very special memories.”“Fun and educational, not a normal party.

Great!” “Not only was it educational for the kids, but the natural¬ist was so prepared, the event was completely stressfree for my husband and myself!”

The Chattahoochee Nature Center provides everything from invitations to compostable cups and plates, party décor, party favors with reusable canvas bags, drinks, a cookie cake from a local bakery and a T-shirt for the honoree. Each party will entertain and educate with a nature hike and encounter with the animal of your choice!

Older kids can participate in the brand new Discovery Party which includes exploring the live animals at CNC and special trading in the Nature Exchange – complete with special trading points for each guest! All party packages include free admission for party attendees on party day.

Their naturalists help tailor your party for a one-of-a-kind experience. Parties are offered Fridays through Sundays throughout the year. Book online and select from a variety of packages at www.chattnaturecenter.org/birthday-parties or call 770-992-2055 ext. 237.

Malibu Grand Prix & Mountasia Family Fun Center

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ive your child the birthday party they have always dreamed of – host their next party at Malibu Grand Prix or Mountasia. Not only are they a kid’s dream come true, but also your dream come true. Imagine hosting a birthday party with tons of entertainment and you do not have to setup, serve food, or cleanup!

Their two Atlanta locations offer something for everyone.

Your child will love racing their friends on the go-kart tracks, trying to get that hole-in-one on one of the golf courses, or playing games to win prizes from the redemption area in the game room. While you are at Malibu Grand Prix you can also climb aboard one of the bumper boats and try to soak your friends and family. Strap yourself into one of the high powered Grand Prix cars, or get some practice in one of the batting cages.

With party packages starting as low as $12.99 per person plus tax, they have something to meet everyone’s needs and budgets. Come make your child’s birthday wishes come true at Malibu Grand Prix and Mountasia! Malibu Grand Prix 770-416-7630 I-85 at Indian Trail, Norcross. Mountasia 770-422-7227 I-575 at Barrett Parkway, Marietta.

North Georgia Canopy Tours™

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lan your PARTY at North Georgia Canopy Tours™! Just north of Gainesville, in Lula, with two thrilling Canopy Tours experiences on 136 acres in north Hall County, an 18 hole disc golf course, Teepee camping, a 5 stage geocache (free), and much more!

Plenty of indoor and outdoor eating space. Don’t forget to bring your cooler and set up a picnic or use our gas grill!

Stay the day … or spend the night in a furnished Teepee.

Zip Line Tour Description: Adventure Tour ($89 allow 3 hrs) 12 ziplines, three nature hikes, two sky bridges, and a rappel, traversing three ponds, the North Oconee River, forests, and ridges. Sky Bridge Tour ($69 allow 2 hrs) 9 ziplines, two nature hikes, and two sky bridges. Both canopy tours end with the 700 foot Dual Racing Zip. Reservations strongly recommended. Group and kid discounts available on the Adventure Tour. Must be at least 10 years old and 70 pounds to experience canopy tour. www.northgeorgiacanopytours.com or 770-869-7272.

Other free activities include corn hole, tetherball, board games, foosball and cards.

n the midst of status quo, mundane monotony, and discouraging imitations rises a unique and exciting star in Atlanta, Georgia. SkyZone Indoor Trampoline Park is the destination for family fun! Jump your way through multiple exciting options - from the huge foam pit, to 3-D dodgeball, to SkySlam dunk court, and the massive Open Jump court, family members of all ages will reach new heights of entertainment. For the fitness buff, come check out SkyRobics fitness classes and burn up to 1,000 calories in an hour - just by having fun! For those who want a competitive edge, come jump off walls and launch balls at our 3-D dodgeball tournaments. Parents can enjoy watching their kids jump while relaxing in the comfortable parent lounge (with free wi-fi), or they can be part of the action!

SkyZone also offers unique birthday party packages that feature private jump areas, access to party rooms, and DVDs with pictures and videos from your party that will last a lifetime. From toddlers to seniors, SkyZone is the hot new attraction that never gets old. For more information, follow them on facebook (facebook.com/skyzoneatlanta) and go to skyzoneatlanta.com to purchase tickets now!

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Party Planner

September 2012 Atlanta Parent 37

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PARTYBITS n Invitations

in a Snap

If on the hunt for delightful high-quality invitations for your child’s next birthday party, you can’t go wrong with Poka Dot Design. This online-only company offers 950 invitation designs for kids’ parties. Find everything from princess and pirate invitations to more unexpected choices: invites for bounce house or super hero parties, or “safari” or “makeover” parties. You can also order invitations bearing a photo of your child.

Polka Dot specializes in speedy service. Go online to set up an account, choose your template and type in the information you want printed on your invitations. Just one business day later, a proof of your custom order will be uploaded to your account on the site. Most kids’ invitations cost about $1.20 each.

The company has offered a 30 percent discount to Atlanta Parent readers. Just use the code ATLANTAPARENT30; no expiration date. Call 877-816-0884, or go to polkadotdesign.com n Look

to Pinterest

In a pinch for last-minute party ideas? Busy moms and dads should look to the Internet for great party ideas instantly. Websites such as Pinterest.com will get your ideas spinning; go to the “kids” category, then in the search field, try phrases such as “kids parties” and “kids themes” to find hundreds of colorful ideas.

Pinterest users create “bulletin” boards on this site that are filled with ideas; thousands of party ideas can be seen among the many pictures you’ll find on these boards –from party themes, decorations and favor ideas, to delicious recipes for every sort of party. Pinterest, which is all about organizing and sharing things you love, can be accessed by anyone who just wants to browse. You will need to set up a Pinterest account if you want to save such things as pictures and recipes. pinterest.com

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Spotlight on Parties Special Advertising Section

Stars and Strikes

T

ake your child’s birthday party to the EXTREME! Stars and Strikes all-inclusive package includes laser tag, bumper cars, bowling, an arcade card, pizza, soda and even your very own party host. Their expert hosts have been trained at Birthday Party University and will ensure that your party is extremely memorable for everyone. Moms and Dads don’t have to do anything….leave the work to them and enjoy watching all the FUN! All birthday kids get a turn during their party in the “Fun Machine” where they can win hundreds or even thousands of tickets to use at the huge redemption counter. State of the art bowling lanes are equipped with automatic bumpers and scoring. Your child will love the ALL-NEW THEME PARTIES at Stars and Strikes! Their birthday planners will work closely with you to create a unique experience for your child. Ask about Princess, Prince, Superheros, Star Wars Parties and other options…the sky is the limit!

For your convenience, there are four Stars and Strikes locations in Metro Atlanta. Call 678-965-5707 or go to www.starsandstrikes.com for additional information or to book a party.

Science Birthday Parties

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Starlite Family Fun Center

J

oin in on the fun at Starlite Family Fun Center, newly opened in Sharpsburg. Take a few turns around the huge skate floor; play laser tag in the 3D arena, swing, slide and bounce in the multilevel playground, or win redemption tickets in the huge arcade. In addition to birthday parties, Starlite offers school spirit nights, toddler time sessions, church events, fundraisers and corporate events. You can even rent the facility for a private party. Starlite offers Extreme Fun Monday-Friday. Extreme Fun Admission includes skating, unlimited laser tag, playground and FREE skate rental. It’s Family Fun for Everyone!

Starlite offers a full service café with all of your favorite foods. In addition to your favorite snacks like funnel cakes and popcorn, Starlite offers pizza, hot dogs, chicken wings, chicken tender baskets, burgers, fries and all your favorite ice cold beverages.

55 Thomas Grace Annex, Sharpsburg Ga. 770 252-9500 www.StarliteFamilyFunCenters.com

THE ULTIMATE VIDEO GAME PARTY ™

Since 1994 Hands on experiments conducted by degreed professionals

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888-602-4263 All trademarks are owned by their respective owners.

Piccadilly Puppets

Manufacture your own chocolate candies!

Let us entertain you with puppets, music, storytelling and audience participation.

Birthday Parties & Field Trips for all ages!

Learn to create your own candies and take them home in a personal goody bag.

Birthday child always gets a puppet!

Puppet making workshops available

404-636-0022

www.piccadillypuppets.org piccadillypuppets@earthlink.net

678-728-0100 www.WeAreSweet.com atlantaparent.com

Party Planner

September 2012 Atlanta Parent 39

Grandparents Day and Beyond: How To Make the Relationships Strong

by Sharon Nolfi, M.A.

Families with living grandparents are especially blessed.

A grandparent fills a unique role in a child’s development, providing both love and family history. Honor your elders this Grandparents Day, September 9, and throughout the year.

Nurturing the Relationship Like all relationships worth having, those between children and their grandparents take time and attention. Do your part by providing plenty of opportunities for interaction, both in person and otherwise. Even if you are divorced, the value your child can obtain from a grandparent is worth putting aside any disputes you may have with former in-laws.

Setting Limits on Grandparents Many grandparents will follow your parenting example and enforce your rules with the children. To the few who try to impose their own child-rearing methods, explain that this undermines your authority and confuses the children. Ask for their cooperation, stressing how much you value their relationships with your child.

Distance Busters Grandparents who live far away require more creativity to maintain strong contact. Besides visits, use telephone calls, email, regular mail, and Internet video communication to keep ties strong. The more consistent and frequent the distant contact, the easier it will be to make the most of in-person visits.

Memory Building Your children will outlive your parents, so it’s important to build memories that can sustain your children in the future. Encourage activities that will result in concrete reminders of time spent together.

September is National Grandparents Month n One out of every 10 children in the U.S. lives with a grandparent in the home. n About 3 million American children are being raised by a grandparent. n Children with relationships with their grandparents have more self-esteem and cope better with stress. n Grandparents who interact with their grandchildren experience less memory loss, less depression, and more satisfaction in life.

Source: GrandparentsforChildren.org

40 Atlanta Parent September 2012

atlantaparent.com

One-on-One vs. Family Time Try to spend time together as an extended family, but balance it with one-on-one time between each grandchild and grandparent.

Parent/Grandparent Relations

Join the club!

Join the fun at Northlake Mall!

Don’t allow your disputes with parents or in-laws to cloud your children’s relationships with their grandparents. Children size people up with amazing accuracy, and besides, grandparents may well treat a grandchild better than they treat you.

Annual Membership includes: Entertaining events throughout the year Free Goodies at Events Birthday Gift Spin the Prize Wheel at all Events Special Offers and Discounts VIP Treatment at various mall functions

Grandparents’ Limitations Help your children to understand that Grandma may tire more easily than they do, and that Grandpa may need assistance with walking or other basic skills. Don’t burden grandparents with childcare beyond their physical or emotional limits.

Follow us on Facebook at Northlake Mall or www.simonkidgitsclub.com to see our calendar of upcoming events.

Avoiding Jealousy A child who develops an especially close relationship to a grandparent may seem, at times, to prefer that grandparent to her actual parents. Be assured that your child still loves you as much as ever, just as your love for one child is undiminished by the birth of another.

Visit the Mall Management Office for details

Sickness and Death Our time with elderly relatives is limited and often complicated by physical and/or mental declines. Explain illnesses, including dementia, emphasizing the need for continued contact, love and respect. Understand that children may mourn a death differently than adults. A child may suddenly develop behavior problems or become reclusive. Give children a chance to discuss sad feelings, and seek professional help in extreme situations.

Adopt a Grandparent If your family’s grandparents have died, look for other seniors to “grandparent” your child. Older relatives, especially those without grandchildren of their own, may welcome the chance to develop a stronger relationship with your child. Consider programs offered by local retirement homes or libraries that match children with senior volunteers.

Grandparents are a precious gift to an already loving family. Make the most of them! Everyone will benefit right now, and your children will have memories to cherish the rest of their lives. c Turn the page for ideas on making memories for kids and grandparents. atlantaparent.com

NORTHLAKE MALL 4800 Briarcliff Road N.E. Atlanta, GA I-285 at Exit 37 LaVista Road Shopping Line ® 770-938-3564

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September 2012 Atlanta Parent 41

Memory Makers for Kids and Grandparents

by Kerrie McLoughlin

If your children are lucky enough to live close to their grandparents, here are some great ideas the kids and grandparents can do together to help bridge the generation gap.

n Explore the grandparents’ “stuff.” Take the kids on

a tour of grandma’s attic, basement and special treasures. Kids can learn so much about their family roots through collections of baseball cards, vintage music, classic books, old photos, special autographs, antique toys, personal diaries and other mementoes.

n Go fishing. Boys and girls alike are always up for a short bout

of fishing with a grandparent. They not only learn how to bait a hook and cast the line, but their faces light up when they actually catch a fish. Even if nobody catches anything, at least the kids and grandparent get to spend some quality time together. n Get a makeover. Girls love to accompany grandma to the

beauty salon or get a makeover at grandma’s house. My girls adore how Grandma Mac brushes their hair, because she is patient and gentle and talks to them so lovingly while doing it. A simple session of nail painting can be very relaxing and the perfect time for a girl-to-girl chat. n Share a special activity. Keep the grandparents involved

in your child’s latest interests. For instance, if your daughter develops a love for ballet, have grandma take her to see “The Nutcracker.” If your son is crazy about trains, grandpa could treat him to a short Amtrak excursion or take him to the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History in Kennesaw. n Share a skill or hobby. Does grandma crochet, scrapbook,

garden, paint pictures, or cook a favorite dish? Your child can join in and learn how to do it too. Grandma Tutu (my mom) got my kids interested in rocks when she gave them some quartz crystal chunks. n Make something. The possibilities for your kids to interact

with their grandparents are endless: They can bake cookies, build a birdhouse, or plant a pot of marigolds. My husband’s grandma made wooden stick horses for all of her grandchildren, and they still have them. Now my kids play with them – 40 years later. n Go exploring. A nature walk or a trip to a petting zoo or nature

center is an ideal activity for grandparents and grandchildren. Even just a stroll through the park or around the block can be a rewarding and memorable experience.

n Sleepovers. My sons love shrimp, so when they visit their

grandparents, their grandfather makes them a dinner of shrimp, potatoes and green beans and tops it off with a big bowl of sherbet while they watch a movie before going to bed. In the morning, they wake up to eggs, hash browns, bacon and a day full of fun. n Volunteering. My father-in-law takes my 10-year-old son to a

food bank every few weeks for three hours of sorting donated food, then they go out to lunch. Head to VolunteerMatch.org to find all sorts of volunteer opportunities that grandparents and kids can do together. n Cheerleading. Invite the grandparents to as many sports

competitions, scouting events, dance recitals and other special occasions as you can so they can lend their support to your children’s achievements. Their presence at these important milestones will be remembered and appreciated. c 42 Atlanta Parent September 2012

atlantaparent.com

Show Off Those Photos!

by Laura Powell

T

he birth of your new little bundle of joy gives you the opportunity to capture every moment, from the hospital to the first bath, first smile, and more. With digital cameras, iPhones, video cameras, and other forms of technology, your photo collection may grow quickly into the thousands.

Not so many years ago, parents had to go to the store to get their precious photos printed, and then place them into albums, picture frames and shoeboxes. Parents today have many more options.

A fun way to capture your photos from the first year is a memory book, but which service to use? Atlanta Parent tested three for you.

Getting Started Before your baby is born or within the first month, think about how you want to capture your baby’s growth. Many parents pose their infant with a favorite stuffed animal, which provides scale as the baby grows. A laundry basket is also a fun prop to use.

It’s a good idea to use stickers with the month on them, or write the date on a chalkboard or card and put it in the shot. Companies like StickyBellies.com and many sites on Etsy.com let you order month stickers from $5-$15 for a set of 12. If you are handy with Photoshop, you also can creatively add the date to the picture.

After the first year, you can pick the best pictures from the past 12 months and organize them into a book that you will always treasure. Almost every major retailer, from CVS to Walmart, produces custom books from your photos. Warehouse clubs also offer these services but require a membership.

Generally, we felt that the major retailers’ books were of slightly lower quality, and we wanted to focus on photo book services that offered more creative options and control. But if you need a book right away, major retailers are a good choice.

We tried the products from three companies: Snapfish (probably the best known), MixBook and Blurb. We created and ordered books from each that were nearly identical in size, number of pages, and content. All three provide books up to 20 pages at the base price, then charge extra for additional pages. (See sidebar.) Overall, the prices of these books are around $25$30 for hardcover. Softcovers are a lower-priced option, and all of these companies email you coupons once you register.

Tips for a Great Photo Book n Fewer photos per page is better; aim for 2-3 images per page. n Fewer embellishments can make a page more attractive. It’s easy to get carried away with fun tags and quotes, but too many make the book cheesy. n Try to change set quotes to quotes you know or like. Change theme blurbs to words that match your child at that time. I changed “Our Little Princess” in the theme to “Our Little Dude.” I changed another one to “I Love Crawling.” n Be aware when placing a picture on the page of the orientation of people’s heads in relation to the spine of the book. Some pictures may look better on one side than the other. n Multiple-picture layouts look better on the left; one-picture layouts look better on the right.

44 Atlanta Parent September 2012

atlanta baby

atlantaparent.com

Make a Memory Book of Your Baby’s First Year

Snapfish

MixBook

Blurb

Snapfish is the largest company of the three.

The software is Web-based and worked well.

It is straightforward to use and easy to upload photos. They had the quickest turnaround time of the three. Snapfish does not offer quite as many themes, but you can change the order of the pages. You can also delete pages you don’t like.

Several pictures uploaded at a lower resolution but they printed fine.

Snapfish is not as customizable as the other two programs; it is more about making simple, easy photo books. You can’t just drop a picture onto the page and have it be the size you want. If a photo is too low-res, it is not easy to fix. Lowres photos must be used smaller than you might like. If you only want to use one small photo on a page, you must pick a template that has a text box; you don’t have to put text in the box, but the photo can’t be centered on the page.

A benefit of Snapfish is you can order almost anything to customize, from playing cards to posters. The service also offers 11 x 14 books, which are more expensive ($50) but nice for a special occasion.

This is the most customizable program for someone without a design background or knowledge of design software. My favorite part of MixBook was the ability to add stickers from a variety of embellishments like quotes, badges, tags, shapes, animals, flowers and more.

It’s Web-based but works better than most such programs I have tried. It’s super easy to upload the photos and get cool effects. For example, on my cover, the program reversed the photo automatically so it would be facing the opposite way when opening the book, which made it look much better.

The service has a great variety of layouts and themes that you can then edit and customize however you want. You can even change the border colors of boxes. The page I changed from pink to blue turned out quite well. I was worried that the themes and stickers might be cheesy, but I was very happy with how they reproduced.

You can edit some stock text from the theme and re-type the text to fit your child’s personality.

Blurb is known for providing a quality bookmaking service. It can be very customizable, especially if you have design skills. It also provides services that are easy to use if you are not a designer.

This service has downloadable software, called Booksmart, or you can use the Webbased option, Bookify, which is simpler. I used the software. My book was only on the computer I was working on, but I didn’t have to deal with the Internet. The software also provided more creative options. Blurb was the only service to offer a matte cover, and it made the book look more finished and of higher quality.

All of Blurb’s layout options can be customized, so you can move the photo placement or text boxes anywhere on the page.

Something as simple as layering three photos was easier with this program than the other two.

Blurb offers the ability to design your layouts exactly as you want them. This is good since its themes are simpler and do not provide as many options. You can use black-and-white ornaments to embellish a page, and you can use design software like InDesign to make your book and then upload a PDF.

n We Liked: A button called “shuffle.” It can help if you are having trouble with picture size/resolution or how the layout is working. One layout option allows you to make a collage on any page with up to 15 photos. n We Wanted: More themes and layout

options; an easier way to place just one smaller photo on the page by itself and have it centered on the page. n What You’ll Spend: 8 x 8 photo

book up to 20 pages: Hardcover/$28.99.

Softcover/$19.99. Each additional two pages, $1.99. Shipping: $8.99 (5-7 business days). snapfish.com.

atlantaparent.com

n We Liked: Easy to upload photos and add embellishments. A neat feature is that you can invite contributors to help with your book, though only one person can work on the project at a time. The quality was very good. n We Wanted: An easier way to check the

alignment of the photos and embellishments; you had to be careful to place photos precisely or you might wind up with extra space on the outside of the page or a photo not quite aligned with the one above it. n What You’ll Spend: 8.5 x 8.5 photo

book up to 20 pages: Hardcover/$29.99.

Softcover/$12.99. Additional pages, 50 cents each. Shipping: $12.99 (6 business days). mixbook.com.

atlanta baby

n We Liked: Easy to design pages and move the photos and text boxes anywhere on the page. The downloadable software is a good option if your Internet service is slow or you want more customization. n We Wanted: More themes. n What You’ll Spend: 7 x 7 photo book up to 20 pages: Hardcover/$24.99.

Softcover/$10.95. Add $5 for up to 20 extra pages. Shipping: $11.99 (9 business days). blurb.com.

Cont’d on page 46

September 2012 Atlanta Parent 45

Show Off Those Photos!  

Beyond the Baby Book

        us at  Or visit   www.eastcobbpeds.com

&

Or visit  us at

 Or visit us  at www.eastcobbpeds.com   www.eastcobbpeds.com           To Better Meet the Demand for     Quality Care in Pediatrics and

To Better Meet the Demand for Adolescent please To BetterCare Meet the Demand for Quality inMedicine Pediatrics and To Better MeetCare the Demand for and Quality Care Quality in Pediatrics welcome ourplease Adolescent Medicine in Pediatrics andMedicine Adolescent Medicine Adolescent welcome our please please welcome  our our welcome                 Eric  B. Karlen, MD ♦ Marisa Gadea MD Eric B. Karlen, MD ♦ Marisa Gadea MD Elizabeth Kemp, ♦Tracy Barr,MD MD MD Eric B. Karlen, MD ♦ Marisa Gadea Elizabeth Kemp, MD Barr, MD  ♦Tracy Barbara Cossman, CPNP, IBCLC Elizabeth MD MD  ♦Tracy BarbaraKemp, Cossman, CPNP, Barr, IBCLC  CPNP, Darlene Coyne, CPNP, IBCLC Barbara Cossman, IBCLC  CPNP, Darlene Coyne, IBCLC DeannaM. M.Fetsch, Fetsch, RN, CPNP  CPNP, Darlene Coyne, IBCLC Deanna RN, CPNP Sharon Lebedin, RN, CNP Deanna M. Fetsch,RN, RN, CPNP Sharon Lebedin, CNP Sharon Lebedin, RN, CNP

Embracing Strengthening

Metro Atlanta Families since 1983

770-234-9111 www.focus-ga.org

D L I H C R YOU G? N I Z E E WH TAKE PART IN A CLINICAL RESEARCH STUDY!

If YES then consider volunteering for a clinical research study conducted at Emory University. This clinical trial is for children 1–5 years of age, who suffer from wheezing.

We are trying to see if giving an antibiotic (azithromycin) for upper respiratory infections will help improve asthma symptoms and lower the incidence of more serious lower respiratory infections in preschoolers. You may be asked to participate for as long as one year (52 weeks) in this study.

Jennifer Dodds 404-727-5176 jcdodds@emory.edu or Denise Whitlock 404-712-1773 drwhitl@emory.edu

Study Includes: • Pulmonary evaluation • Physical exam (by a MD) • Study drug • Compensation for time and travel 46 Atlanta Parent September 2012

n Digital slideshow

After a family trip or event, use photo-editing software to make a slideshow to play for the family or during a party. n Create a website

Share photos with family and friends on a free website (for privacy, you can limit who has access to the site). See shutterfly.com. n Share online

TIRED OF

Contact:

Too many digital photos languish unseen in a computer, iPhone or camera.

If making a photo book is not for you, try these ideas:

atlanta baby

Burst is a mobile app and website cloudbased photo sharing service. It’s easy to upload photos (or set up to automatically load) from your camera roll on your phone and is available for both iPhone and Andriod devices. Your images are stored on Burst. The site does not own your images and allows for your photos to be private.

You can choose who to share your images with and they do not have to be a member to view them. It’s a slick app and is very easy to use. It is recommended to be on wi-fi if you are doing are a larger photo or video upload. Currently there is no fee to use Burst, but in the future there may be a free option and then pricing based on how much storage you need. www.burst.it n Make presents

Create a one-of-a-kind calendar featuring family photos; put your children’s faces on a coffee mug, or a keychain, puzzle, greeting card or tote bag. Try blackphoto.com or costcophotocenter.com for instructions and pricing information. Snapfish.com has more options – diaper bags, playing cards, blankets, ornaments and more. n Scrapbook without glue

Digital scrapbooking sites let you pop your online photos onto digital scrapbook pages, then print out the pages to make a book, store them online, email them to friends, or post them on Facebook. For an easy program, try smilebox. com. n Funky fridge dolls

Find pictures of complete figures and carefully cut out each person. Buy sheets of self-adhesive photo-magnets, usually found in packs of two, each 6 x 9 inches. Place the cutout photo on the white backing paper of a photo-magnet sheet.

Using an indelible marker, trace around the photo, then cut around the outline. Peel off the white backing and press the photo figure onto the sticky side of the magnet sheet. Place on the fridge. c

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Spotlight on

Baby

Dance and Arts Showcase

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ance and Arts Showcase specializes in Ballet and Tap dance classes for ages 2 and up. Their classes involve many fun activities for the very young while learning the act of dance. All children are princesses or kings and will wear fairy wings and dance to the Sugar Plum Fairy in an outstanding Broadway Dance Recital at the Gwinnett Civic Center. They also offer Creative Movement classes for ages 2 to 3 using a combination of movement, ballet, and mini trampoline’s for building great motor skills. Classes are set to music and utilize many props. So call today since they fill up fast.

Owner and director Jean Shapiro has been teaching dance & exercise since 1972 and all of her dance teachers are professionals. As winner of the Golden Peach Award for best teacher and dancer with the Atlanta Ballet, Jean has earned many other important accolades by dedicating her life to helping babies, children, and adults learn through the art of dance. Classes are offered Monday – Saturday at their 2 locations in Chamblee/Tucker and Alpharetta.

Visit www.danceandarts.com or call 770-934-5010 to sign up today.

Special Advertising Section

East Cobb Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, P.C.

L

ooking for a friendly and professional “pediatric home” for your children?

East Cobb Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, P.C. has been committed to children’s health and their well-being for the past 30 years. Their motto is “Caring for Kids”. They take care of your family until the age of 21.

Their medical staff reflects their multi-cultural communities. Several of their providers and staff speak Spanish.

L to R: Dr. Marisa Gadea The website has a photograph and brief and Dr. Eric Karlen biography on each of the doctors and nurse practitioners so that you can learn more about them.

East Cobb Pediatrics maintains an environment that is friendly, professional and responsive to patients’ needs.

Both offices have undergone refurbishment to make your visit more pleasurable. And an electronic medical record system is being implemented to move them to the next generation of medical record keeping.

A free group prenatal visit is provided for expecting parents in Kennesaw and Marietta/East Cobb. All providers understand what you are going through because they all have children of their own. Call 770-795-4553 (Kennesaw) or 770-977-0094 (East Cobb) to schedule your free visit. For additional information: www.eastcobbpeds.com.

Kids ‘R’ Kids Schools and Academies

Nanny Poppinz

he youngest learners at Kids ‘R’ Kids’ Infant-Toddler Program are well on their way to a lifetime of learning.

Infants, as young as six weeks old, are immersed with stimulating, hands-on play. Kids ‘R’ Kids is a place for love, growth, and discovery. Each activity is designed to assist your child in achieving developmental milestones, while having fun.

Expanding the imagination and strengthening the muscles has never been more fun! The Kids ‘R’ Kids Accredited AdvancED SACS program works to strengthen all aspects of your growing infant/toddler’s development such as building language, developing fine and gross motor skills, as well as social interaction.

The Infant-Toddler Big Steps Curriculum tm provides weekly lesson plans and activities designed to develop skills necessary to accomplish developmental milestones. The extensive Infant-Toddler Sign Language Program, which is known to eliminate frustration for children who have yet to form their verbal vocabulary, introduces age appropriate language skills for non-verbal communication.

46 convenient metro Atlanta locations. Please call 770-279-7777 or visit www.kidsrkidsatlanta.com for more information on all programs for children 6 weeks - twelve years.

utting your child in the care of someone else can be stressful and nerve-racking. Every parent has had those uh-oh moments when a sitter just isn’t going to work out. Listing the job, interviewing the candidates and hopefully choosing the right person is not an easy process. Nanny Poppinz will gladly take this off your plate.

Currently celebrating its 20th year in the business, Nanny Poppinz offers customized nanny services for every family’s unique childcare needs. They provide services ranging from a four hour per week babysitter to a full-time live-in professional nanny. Nanny Poppinz works with your schedule to set up the entire interview process, and conduct background and employment reference checks to ensure they’re providing a trustworthy and exceptional person to care for your children.

Nanny Poppinz offers unmatched customer service available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There is no application fee or membership fee to begin a relationship with Nanny Poppinz. Call today at 678-608-2769 or 1-877-A-NANNY-4U (1-877-262-6694) or visit their website www.nannypoppinz.com.

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atlanta baby

September 2012 Atlanta Parent 47

Why Didn’t I Think of That?

These Metro Atlantans Had an Idea, and a New Baby Product Was Born

by Glenn Emery It’s said that necessity is the mother of invention. It must be true, because Atlanta Parent found several local moms who created their own baby products when they couldn’t find exactly what they needed.

Take the Highchair Organizer, a simple set of washable storage pouches that fit easily over any highchair or booster seat. Whether at home or a restaurant, the organizer makes feeding time a breeze.

“Even before I had children, I saw how friends and family struggled at mealtime with small children,” says inventor Abraxas Abrams-Pickens Abraxas Abrams-Pickens of Douglasville. “They were always getting up and leaving the baby unattended while they got a clean spoon or sippy cup. That’s when I realized there had to be a better way.”

Within six months, Abrams-Pickens had a prototype of her organizer. After acquaintances enthusiastically began requesting their own, she found a manufacturer to mass-produce the product.

Cont’d on page 50

48 Atlanta Parent September 2012

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Made

by Moms Here are some new baby products created by Atlanta-area moms – products they were looking for and couldn’t find when their infants arrived.

Mommy Pendant A keepsake must for every new mom, this beautiful heart-shaped pendant captures the essence of mother and child, set off with the newborn’s birthstone. Available in silver, 14K or 18K gold, with up to three birthstones. Chains are extra, and birthstones vary in price. A silver, single-stone pendant begins at $149.

At TheMommyPendant.com. .

Go With Me Chair by Kelsyus Families on the go will love this compact chair that grows with the child from age 3 months through his first years. Infants 3 to 6 months can relax slightly reclined with a three-point harness, toys within reach; a tray table and sun bonnet are detachable. At age 6-12 months, the seat cover can be folded into a pocket so baby can stand; a under-seat bucket keeps kids’ feet clean.

As kids get older, remove the harness, recover the seat, and the chair becomes a favorite place to sit. $89.95. At Kelsyus.com

Sweet Baby Belly Bowls

Bonchos

These ceramic clay bowls are a unique keepsake. All are custom carved and detailed by artist, Tina McCullough.

McCullough takes castings of the mother’s abdomen, either at her studio in Comer or a home visit with the parents (she’ll do castings within a three-hour drive of Athens). Then she collaborates with the parents on design and colors, creates the clay bowl, carves designs and inscriptions, fires it, glazes it, and fires it again. A bowl can be completed within two to three weeks. $375-$475. 706-248-1227; sweetbabybellybowls.net.

The Boncho is a clever cross between a baby blanket and a poncho. The fleece material has three snug holes for the child’s head and hands, holding it securely around the body.

Baby can’t kick it off while in the car seat, stroller or baby carrier. It can be customized with special fabrics and embroidery. Add a matching accessory for mom! Prices start at $25. At Bonchos.com.

Highchair Organizer Mealtime with infants and toddlers can be trying.

Parents often spend as much time getting up to retrieve a spoon or sippy cup than actually feeding their child. The Highchair Organizer attaches to the back of highchairs and booster seats to hold baby’s essentials, including bottles, sippy cups, utensils and wipes. $24.95. At theHighchairOrganizer.com.

atlantaparent.com

Nursing Covers Breastfeeding in public can be tricky and embarrassing. Blankets easily slip, and other coverings can be inadequate or awkward. The Natural Nursing Cover by Tara’s Touch is extra large to provide mom with plenty of privacy and to shield baby from outside distractions. It comes with an adjustable strap and inside pocket, plus the design allows mom and baby to maintain eye contact. $24.99. To order: naturalnursingcovers.com.

atlanta baby

September 2012 Atlanta Parent 49

Why Didn’t I Think of That?

A few years ago, Debra Carmody of Alpharetta became frustrated that her infant son kept kicking off his blanket while in the stroller. So she fashioned a baby poncho to fit over his head. “His father would take him for a walk and people would stop and ask where he got the blanket and he Debra Carmody would tell them I made it. Gradually, we realized we should turn it into a real product.” Last October, they launched Bonchos – The Better Baby Blanket.

The Mommy Pendant was conceived –

literally – from the much more painful experience of childbirth. After two difficult years of trying to conceive, Jenna Nudelman of Sandy Springs wanted to celebrate the birth of her “miracle” daughter with a keepsake piece of jewelry.

“I searched online Jenna Nudelman and in catalogs but could

only find novelty jewelry with pacifiers and baby shoes, or very expensive jewelry that we could not afford,” she says.

Her husband, who is in the jewelry business, encouraged her to make it herself.

“So I decided to design my own pendant inspired by the most precious moment I experienced during childbirth, cradling my darling daughter for the very first time. I then added a birthstone to commemorate her birthday and The Mommy Pendant was born.”

Tina McCullough, a clay artist and owner with her husband of Blue Bell Gallery in Comer, 20 miles east of Athens, commemorated her nephew’s birth 10 years ago with a unique gift: a baby belly bowl, Tina McCullough cast from her sister’s shape during her third trimester.

Over the years, she made a few more, when an expectant parent heard about the belly bowl by word-of-mouth. Then inspiration struck two years ago, in the form of a stunning photo one of those few clients sent to her, showing her newborn asleep in

Don’t Miss Atlanta’s

the bowl. McCullough realized she should actively market the bowls as Sweet Baby Belly Bowls. In the past two years, she’s created 10 to 15 a year, and the demand is growing.

The ceramic clay bowl might include carvings, or family trees, or poems and scriptures, or a combination of those, in colors the parents choose. Usually, the baby’s name and date of birth is carved somewhere on the bowl or under the pedestal.

“The belly bowls are as different as every little one that’s born,” she says, and they’re a beautiful piece of art for the baby’s family.

After Kristi Gorinas’ fourth daughter was born in February 2007, she wanted a simple, portable seat and came up with the “Go & Grow Seat,” a seat she could move around the house or take to the beach, camping or to visit relatives, a seat that would grow with the child.

With the strong support from her husband, Vyto, she started working on the idea, and at the same time, pursuing another idea: a purse with an “EZ-Wipe System” that allows a mom to reach into a zippered compartment in the bag with one hand and pull out a baby wipe. The purse was less complicated to manufacture, and came to market first, but both products have been a hit with busy moms.

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atlanta baby

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“It’s a super neat chair, really one of a kind,” Gorinas says. When she started marketing the chair from their Lawrenceville home as a one-woman company in spring 2010, “it was so popular I couldn’t keep up with Kristi Gorinas demand.” By fall, she had licensed the chair to another company, which made a few design changes, and relaunched it under the name Go With Me Chair. It’s now available online and at BJ’s Wholesale Clubs.

Gorinas, whose family has grown to five daughters, says her 2-year-old uses the chair all the time, at her sisters’ soccer games, camping, in the airport waiting to catch a plane, in their family room. “It’s comfortable and has a nice tray,” Gorinas says. “My daughter will settle in with a snack, and she’s good to go!”

Like other “mompreneurs,” Gorinas makes time for her business between her kids’ school and extracurricular activities, home management and her church, proving that all things are possible if you have a good idea.

Acworth massage therapist Tara Thompson, who specializes in prenatal massage techniques, knew there were plenty of breast-feeding cover-ups on the market, but she thought she could improve upon designs she had seen. In some of the classes she teaches (such as infant massage), Thompson noticed that some women were reluctant to breast-feed in class, which would often include some dads.

So Thompson created the Natural Nursing Cover. Made of 100 percent cotton, it’s worn like an apron and is extra large to fully cover a woman’s upper body. Best of all, it has an ample opening at the top that protrudes with the help of boning sewn into the roomy neckline.

“The moms who have bought it so far have said that’s one of the reasons they love it,” Thompson says. “They like that they can easily see their baby Tara Thompson and their baby can also see their face.”

The nifty design also has two pockets and the whole cover-up folds into a convenient carrying pouch. Thompson’s 18-year-old daughter, Troi Bowen, a student at Kennesaw State University, is helping her mom market the product. Together, the two sew the nursing covers; they introduce several new fabric prints each month. The Natural Nursing Cover sells for $24.99, or $20.99 if you provide your own fabric. Order through Tara’s Touch: naturalnursingcovers.com. c atlantaparent.com

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September 2012 Atlanta Parent 51

Halt the Homework Hassles How Parents Can Help Their Kids Succeed

by Lara Krupicka

Be Informed

ulie Jung-Kim drinks a lemon-lime soda as daughter Isabella prattles about the school day. They sit companionably at the kitchen table, Isabella talking between bites of her snack. It’s a pre-homework ritual that suits them both.

Jung-Kim takes Isabella’s afterschool schedule seriously. She knows following it makes a big difference in what happens with Isabella’s homework.

But her homework routine didn’t happen by accident, nor did it come together overnight. Jung-Kim has learned what works and what doesn’t. And what works, stays.

If you’ve struggled over homework in your household, don’t give up. You may be only a few tweaks away from a more productive process. Here are some tips from experts and parents for minimizing homework trouble:

Knowing ahead of time what the school and teacher expect of your child can eliminate many frustrations. Some school districts post their suggested guidelines on a district website. These might include standard amounts of homework to expect per grade. Many teachers also explain their homework standards during open house at the start of each school year. If not, don’t be afraid to ask your child’s teacher early on about what work you can expect at home.

Neil McNerney, a counselor and author of Homework: A Parent’s Guide to Helping Out Without Freaking Out, strongly encourages parents to attend their school’s “back to school night.”

“Learn as much as you can about each subject, homework policies, tests, etc.,” he says. “Then, review this information with your kids to make sure you are all on the same page.”

Discuss homework expectations with your child either before school starts or on a weekend when there isn’t any homework to be done. Avoid introducing the topic in the midst of a homework session.

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52 Atlanta Parent September 2012

Share what you and the teacher will be asking of him and how that may have changed from the previous school year. Make sure to also ask your child what he expects. Open the lines of communication right from the start.

Establish a Routine Gwen Stephens, a teacher and mom, also believes in the value of routine.

“Establish a time every day that homework is to be done,” she says. “For some kids it works best to get it done right away. Other kids need time to chill out.”

The key: Determine what works best for your child and stick to that. When there’s a rhythm in place, kids learn to roll with it. Routine alone can smooth out problems with homework – particularly in assuring a prompt start.

For Jung-Kim, the routine involves a quiet environment. Usually she picks Isabella up from school two hours before she retrieves her son from daycare. The two enjoy some one-on-one time at first. Then it’s time for distraction-free homework. No television, no atlantaparent.com

computer, no music. Jung-Kim has learned keeping her daughter calm allows a more trouble-free process. And with no distractions for herself, Jung-Kim is free to step in when Isabella needs help.

In Stephens’ home, the routine is similar: Her girls walk in the door and grab a snack, then start their homework. Stephens keeps the same schedule every day, including Fridays, unless one of the girls has an afterschool activity.

Mom Christa Hines implements a timer in her routine to keep the schedule on track.

“I give my son 30 minutes to chill out and play,” says Hines. “We set the timer so there’s no argument at the end of the 30 minutes.”

Finding a good homework routine may take some trial and error. And it may not be the same for all the kids in your house. One may do best getting right to the homework, while another requires downtime first. And after-school lessons and sports may require shifts in the routine for a season. But once you find what works, be consistent.

Create a Space Like a routine, workspace needs may vary between children. Some work best where there are few visual distractions, such

“Establish a time every day that homework is to be done. For some kids it works best to get it done right away. Other kids need time to chill out.”

– Gwen Stephens

as at a desk facing a wall. Others may prefer company while working or need to be near mom for help. Again, don’t be afraid to switch around for the first few weeks to find a suitable spot for your child. But once you’ve created an acceptable space, maintain it.

Michele Smith’s three children work together at one table. “They have dedicated space on our dining room table all week so they can keep their supplies out.”

As Smith notes, it’s important for children to have homework supplies available. There’s

nothing more frustrating than starting a worksheet on measurements, only to find you don’t have a ruler. Double-check your stash of pencils, erasers and other supplies.

Then store them near where your child will be working.

If you’re ambitious, you can set out supplies at their workspace before they return from school. The subtle message encourages them to get to work sooner.

Provide Support with Boundaries Be encouraging. Give your child concrete observations about themselves that demonstrate you believe they can succeed at homework. Note past successes, as well as tools and skills they’ve gained.

Cont’d on page 54

imagine Your Child?

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September 2012 Atlanta Parent 53

Homework Hassles And when it comes to completing homework, be accessible without hovering.

“It’s good to check for completion, but not a good idea to make your child re-do assignments due to sloppiness or a poor job,” says McNerney.

Above all, avoid the desire to do the work for your child. Both Stephens and McNerney are firm on this point.

“Some parents don’t know when to let the child do homework without interfering,” Stephens explains. Homework “should be something the teacher checks, not the parent.

Otherwise, that’s not the child’s homework any more. It’s the parent’s.”

Stephens also advocates for parents practicing memorization of spelling and math facts. Given their limited time during the school day, teachers rely on parents to supplement with work at home.

“Take flash cards in the van,” Stephens urges.

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If you’re ambitious, you can set out supplies at their workspace before they return from school. The subtle message encourages them to get to work sooner.

Model a Firm but Positive Attitude Remember that learning to complete independent work is a life skill. When your child complains about having to do homework, acknowledge their frustration. Then encourage them to get to work.

“I expect every year homework will increase,” says Stephens. “I say, ‘It’s not going to get easier as you get older.’”

McNerney encourages parents to watch their semantics, particularly with children who would rather skip the work.

“Stop calling it homework!” he says. “When we ask our kids: ‘Did you do your homework?’ they will usually only think of actual homework and not studying, reading, practicing and working on long-term projects. Instead ask: ‘What work do you have tonight?’”

Using these tools, you can ease your child back into the routine of schoolwork at home. The results should be more pleasant for everyone.

While homework isn’t always her family’s favorite part of the day, Jung-Kim is pleased with her setup, especially having personal time with her daughter.

“It lets her know I am here,” she explains.

Sometimes that’s the best thing parents can do for their kids when it comes to homework. c 54 Atlanta Parent September 2012

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September 2012    Atlanta Parent 55

French Classes

For Adults & Children

Saturday in

Paris?

REGISTER

for Classes Online NOW! Saturday Program 18 months - 12 yrs. • Buckhead location at the Atlanta International School

Bébé et Moi (Baby and Me) ages 18 - 36 months

School Matters Teacher Satisfaction at All-Time Low TEACHERS ARE LESS SATISFIED WITH THEIR JOBS than they have been in decades, but parental involvement with schools has increased, according to the latest MetLife Survey of the American Teacher.

Teacher job satisfaction has dropped by 15 percentage points: from 59 percent in 2009 to an all-time low of 44 percent in 2011. The survey attributes this decline to teachers feeling that their jobs are not secure and their salaries are not fair for the work they do. Meanwhile, levels of engagement between parents and schools have seen marked improvement, the study showed.

Nearly half of the students surveyed – 46 percent – said their parents visit their school at least once

a month – up from 16 percent in 1988.

The annual study, conducted for the past 28 years, is based on a survey of public school teachers, parents and students. The survey was conducted by phone among 1,001 public school teachers and online among 1,086 parents and 947 students.

– Carolyn Williams

Wanted: Word Wizards Who Love Their Pets

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Free Help for Students on Dictionary.com KIDS CAN CHALLENGE THEMSELVES to learn on dictionary.com. Once used solely as a reference source, the new and improved website features interactive and comprehensive word-learning activities for all grade levels. For example, the activity “Word Dynamo” is a game that bridges classroom and outside learning to help students expand their vocabulary. The site, which is free to use, generates a mix of activities based on grade level and subject.

– Kate Wallace

BEGINNING SEPT. 1, submissions for the Pets Add Life children’s poetry contest will be accepted. Kids in grades third through eighth should write original poems about the love they have for their pets. The fifth annual contest is sponsored by the American Pet Products Association. Six winners will get $1,000 for their classrooms plus $250 each to spend on their pets. In the past, kids have written poems about pet hermit crabs, cats, dogs, horses and more.

Submit entries online at petsaddlife.org.

Deadline: January 31, 2013.

– K.W.

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AGES 14 MONTHS - 12 YEARS

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56 Atlanta Parent September 2012

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Ask a Teacher

Q: A:

How can I help my kindergartener adjust to school?

In 10 years of teaching kindergarten, I’ve learned a lot. Each child transitions at his own pace.

Kindergarten is an exciting time, but can be a challenge for some children as well as for parents, especially during the first few weeks of school. Here’s some advice I’ve given to hundreds of kindergarten Laura Polinsky parents.

Academic Concerns

My child is already reading – will he be bored in class?

Absolutely not! I spend the first few weeks of school accessing the academic levels of my students. Then I can group students based on their academic needs and teach them where they are developmentally.

What can I do at home to help my child succeed academically?

You’ve heard it before: Read, read, read!

Children need opportunities to hear strong, fluent readers read to them. They need practice reading by themselves and with a partner. After reading, ask questions to check your child’s level of comprehension. Ask your child to draw and/or write about the story. Developing and maintaining a regular routine at home helps your child transition to the daily schedule of a classroom.

Behavior Concerns

What should I do if my kindergartener is still crying every morning?

Leaving the comforts of home and loved ones can be difficult for many children. Remain calm and patient with your child. Discuss the reasons behind the tears. Let them know you understand, but that it will get easier with time and practice. If your child’s crying persists, share your concerns with your child’s teacher, but try to stay out of the classroom. It’s easier for children to adjust to school when they make a clean goodbye before entering the building.

(I’ve had to make visits to the carpool line to escort a screaming child to class – and to keep the parent out!)

Sometimes my child still has an occasional bathroom accident.

Accidents still happen. Keep a change of clothes in your child’s backpack, or leave a set in your child’s cubby or with the teacher.

– Laura Polinsky teaches at Harmony Leland Elementary in Cobb County. atlantaparent.com

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www.LittleBusyBeeMandarin.com September 2012 Atlanta Parent 57

Cover Kids winners!

CONTEST 2012

Who knew Atlanta was home to so many adorable children? After ooh-ing and aah-ing over more than 400 Cover Kids entries, we narrowed the field to 50 super cute semi-finalists. Our friends at Presence Models & Talent and Studio 7 helped us pick this year’s finalists. They had their photos snapped at Studio 7 in Roswell.

Thank you to each family who submitted photos this year!

Maeve Astorga Marietta

Aidun Evans Snellville

Hayan Lee Woodstock

Hudson Lossie Milton

Presley Morales Marietta

Trinity Simone Kennesaw

58 Atlanta Parent September 2012

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finalists Peyton Chappell Johns Creek

Chase Dixon Newnan

Matigan Edwards Atlanta

Kingston Guertin Covington

Jayden Harris Cumming

Gwyneth Heinl Smyrna

Rihanna Karim Suwanee

Michael Marks Stockbridge

Hayden Menezes Marietta

Edgar Robitaille Cumming

Kori Samuelu Marietta

Chandler Schack Decatur

Shyanne Spade Atlanta

Makiyah Stanley Riverdale

semifinalists Julian Arevalo Suwanee

Ryann Banks Peachtree City

Alex Bolsen Decatur

Brooke Bowman Milton

Caleb Carter Marietta

Xernavien Cooper Jonesboro

Carli Dixon Newnan

Mila Edwards Atlanta

Violet Ee Lawrenceville

Amaya Gaston Duluth

Alonje Hamilton Marietta

Gavin Huffman Canton

Ava Hurley Conyers

Kaden Kirkland Atlanta

Ian Manning Moreland

Amelia Nesmith Canton

John Persichetti Atlanta

Austin Ransby Atlanta

Maxwell Rhodes Newnan

Dominique Riley Duluth

Elijah Samuelu Kennesaw

Lauren Smith Atlanta

Roan St. Romain Roswell

Nolan Stewart Atlanta

Olivia Stockton Woodstock

Alexandra Tisdale Johns Creek

Adrianna Toolsie Marietta

Isla Wells Alpharetta

Kenley Wilbur Dallas

Kayla Wurster Fayetteville

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September 2012    Atlanta Parent 59

Good habits start early. That’s why we teamed up with Kohl’s Cares to create the Kohl’s Healthy Halls program, which teaches young school kids the benefits of staying active and eating right. Learn more at choa.org/kohlshealthyhalls.

©2012 Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Inc. All rights reserved.

60 Atlanta Parent September 2012

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Family Fun Guide * Eating Out

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Free Fun

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Fall Festivals & Fairs

Not-to-miss events for September

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Calendar

Ghosts Tour 4 6 Page

Sesame Street Live Presents Elmo Makes Music Philips Arena Sept. 13-16. Thurs., 6:30 p.m.; Fri., 10:30 a.m. & 6:30 p.m.; Sat., 10:30 a.m., 2 & 5:30 p.m.; Sun., 1 & 4:30 p.m.

Sing and dance along with Elmo, Cookie Monster, Big Bird and of course, Bert and Ernie as they take the stage to share the magical world of music. In this traveling show, Jenny the music teacher moves to town only to lose all of her instruments. The Sesame Street friends help her discover new “instruments” that they never knew existed, from trashcan lids to rubber duckies. Elmo, his friends and the audience will learn that everyone can make beautiful music. 1 Philips Dr., Atlanta. 800-745-3000. Tickets $17-$52.

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Japan Fest

Sesame Street Live

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Gwinnett Convention Center Sept. 15-16. Sat., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Play the Animal Way Zoo Atlanta / Sept. 29. Sat., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Walk like an animal and talk like an animal after you spend a day learning all about our fourlegged friends and other creatures. This animalenrichment event features a kids’ DJ, crafts, training demonstrations and colorful surprises for your favorite zoo residents. 800 Cherokee Ave. SE, Atlanta. 404-624-9453. Event is free with regular zoo admission, ages 3-11, $15.99; 12 and older, $20.99.

Join this annual celebration of Japanese culture that features interactive fun and educational activities for adults and kids alike.

The fest will have taiko drum concerts and dance performances, martial arts demonstrations, children’s games popular in Japan and traditional foods. 6400 Sugarloaf Pkwy., Duluth. 404-842-0763. $8/ person; children 6 and younger, free.

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Family Fun Guide

September 2012 Atlanta Parent 61

Family Fun Guide Rise -n- Dine

facebook.com/breakfastatl 1565 North Decatur Rd. NE, Atlanta; 404-377-4407 Mon.-Fri., 7 a.m.-3 p.m.; Sat.-Sun., 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

If you want a delicious and unique build-ityourself breakfast, Rise -n- Dine is the place to go. Located in Emory Village, Rise -n- Dine is one of my favorite breakfast places to take my two young children. The restaurant is small, with a cozy, retro feel and very friendly service.

On a recent morning when I dined there with my children, the entire row of booths behind us was filled with young families, so I am definitely not alone in thinking Rise -n- Dine is a great choice for kids. Get there early to avoid a long wait, as this place is popular! n What’s on the menu: Look forward to a huge variety of breakfast items, from Rise -n- Dine’s famous sweet potato pancakes (a personal

EATING OUT

favorite) to Polish omelets with pierogis. You’ll find pretty much anything you may want to start your day: fruit, granola, biscuits, waffles, breakfast burritos and tacos, and much more! The ability to customize your meal makes this place special.

Though a bit daunting at first (due to so many options), the menu is divided into sections from which you can choose the elements of your breakfast to create exactly what you want. Opt for a biscuit with egg for just $3, or personalize an omelet or an egg scramble from a base price of $6.50. Kids can choose from a “pick two” menu, which includes an egg and side for $2.95, or a “pick four” menu, where they choose any four side items for $6. Rise -n- Dine also has a small lunch section on the menu with salads, sandwiches and pierogi bowl. n Why parents will like it: The prices are good, and with the option to piece together choices from the menu, you can choose the meal to suit your budget. The portions are a

reasonable size, so you won’t feel stuffed when you leave! To make things easier on parents, there’s a selection of children’s books at the front of the store to entertain your kids – especially appreciated if you do have to wait. n Why kids will like it: The kids love it because they get to choose what they want and make a breakfast exactly to their liking. Our kind waiter brought my children’s hot chocolate at a reduced temperature in a lidded coffee cup – just like “Mommy’s coffee” – which made my daughter feel especially grown up! The kids also got fun activity sheets to keep them busy while waiting for their food.

– Kirsten Gromatzky

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Labor Day Weekend Events

Atlanta Parent Magazine’s Family Block Party Oct. 13, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.

Mercer University, Atlanta Campus

Decatur Book Festival

Decatur Book Festival

Art in the Park

Aug. 31- Sept. 2. Parade at 9:45 a.m. on Sat. and 11:45 a.m. on Sun. Decatur Square. Browse through hundreds of books, meet with best-selling authors, enjoy poetry and novel readings, music and live theatrics, visit the interactive children’s area.

Visit decaturbookfestival.com for scheduled events and times. 556 N. McDonough St., Decatur. 404-471-5769. Free.

Sept. 1-3. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Glover Park. Come celebrate fine arts from all over the country. Kids can join the juried sidewalk chalk art competition or help build the Cityscape, a 3D model of Marietta made of recycled materials. Be sure to check out the inflatables and artist stations. Historic Marietta Square. 770-592-7180. Free.

Pioneer Day Festival Aug. 31-Sept. 3. Fri., 4-11 p.m., Sat.-Sun., noon-11 p.m., Mon., noon-10 p.m.

Sam Smith Park. Celebrate Labor Day with carnival rides and games, arts and crafts vendors, festival foods, live entertainment and handcraft demos. 1155 Douthit Ferry Rd., Cartersville. 770-974-9033. Adults, $5; ages 12 and younger, free. Unlimited rides each day, $20 wristbands.

62 Atlanta Parent September 2012

Don’t miss Atlanta’s best family festival! Participate in more than 50 kid-friendly activities, enjoy live entertainment and storytelling, enter giveaways and much more! 3001 Mercer University Dr., Atlanta. 770454-7599. $5/person; kids 2 and younger, free.

Powers Festival Sept. 1-3. 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Powers Pavilion. For over 40 years, this charity event has been raising money through its wide selection of entertainment. Enjoy arts, crafts, food vendors, face painting, inflatable slides, live entertainment and much more. 4766 W. Hwy 34, Newnan. 770-253-2011. Adults, $7; children 12 and younger, free.

Love the Lake Festival Sept. 1-2. Sat., 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sun., noon-6 p.m.

Lake Acworth at Cauble Park. Over 150 arts & crafts vendors as well as food, live entertainment, ski demonstrations and a large Kids Zone. Festival kicks off with the parade on Sat. 2293 Beach St., Acworth. 770-423-1330. Admission and shuttles, free.

Family Fun Guide

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FREE FUN atlantaparent.com

Just Splash It! Atlanta doesn’t suddenly cool down in September, but most public pools close their gates after Labor Day. Fortunately, you and your children can still beat the heat through September at these no-admission “splash pads” in city parks. All four of the splash pads below are open 10 a.m.-8 p.m. daily through October 1.

Center Hill Park 2305 Hollowell Hwy. (formerly Bankhead Hwy.) NW, Atlanta. 404-546-6813 After playing and getting sweaty at the adjacent park, kids can head over to the new splash pads, where they can jump and play in jets that shoot out from both the cement surface and benches. While there, learn a little history about Donald Lee Hollowell, a leader in the Civil Rights movement; information about Hollowell is located in the area that surrounds the splash pad.

D.H. Stanton Park 213 Haygood Ave. SE, Atlanta. 404-546-6813 When the pools close and the lifeguards go off duty in early September, don’t let that stop your family from cooling down at this splash pad.

Come to the first energy-neutral park in the city!

This splash pad has water guns, a spray tunnel and plenty of jets above to soak your kids. In the center, commissioned public art by artist Robert Witherspoon is displayed.

D.H. Stanton Park

Historic Fourth Ward Park 702 Ralph McGill Blvd., Atlanta. 404-546-6813 This is the newest splash pad in town. Its colorful design is appealing for kids of all ages. Jets in the ground shoot water straight up – escalating to different heights. In the middle of the sprayground, towering water jets make the heat much more bearable. For safety reasons, encourage your youngsters to wear shoes when walking from the playground to the splash pads.

Perkerson Park 770 Deckner Ave. SW, Atlanta. 404-756-1859 The fountains at this splash pad are designed for all ages. Kids both big and small can have a ball cooling off in separate zones designed just for them. This site includes granite boulders that fashion a fountain and seating area, displaying sculptures by Maria Artemis, a local artist.

– Sarah Egan

Family Fun Guide

September 2012 Atlanta Parent 63

4 ghostly delights Tours Lawrenceville Ghost Tour Gathering spot: Aurora Theatre, 128 Pike St., Lawrenceville When: May-Sept., Fri. and Sat., 8:30 p.m.; Oct. 1-31, nightly: Sun.-Thurs., 7:30 p.m.; Fri. and Sat., 7 and 9 p.m.

Cost: $12 adults, $9 kids (Sept. and Sun.-Thurs. dates in Oct.); $15 adults, $12 kids (Fri. and Sat. in Oct.) Info: scarystroll.com; 678-226-6222 (ask for box office)

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ne of the oldest cities in the region, Lawrenceville is rich in history and filled with mysterious tales of yesteryear. The 90-minute Lawrenceville Ghost Tour begins at the Aurora Theatre and moves through Courthouse Square, past quaint shops and restaurants.

My 6-year-old, Adam, gets very excited when our tour guide, “Barefoot Bill the Undertaker,” appears. Barefoot Bill has scraggly long white hair, a disheveled black suit and top hat. He carries a gas lantern, which definitely sets the spooky tone.

Barefoot Bill starts things off with a story about an 11Alive TV news crew that spent the night in the cemetery, hoping to witness some paranormal activity. Those on the Lawrenceville Ghost Tour learn that the crew’s camera batteries – which had been fully charged – were suddenly drained when in the cemetery. Then, inexplicably, they were fully charged again when the crew left the cemetery. We also learn that once back in the TV studio, a woman’s voice could be heard chattering on the videotape. Yet no woman had been present.

Although a skeptic, while standing in a tiny jail opposite the courthouse I feel as though someone is right behind me. I move aside so that the person can see, but when I look back, no one is there.

I do not recommend this tour for a child as young as Adam, who is a bit bored at times and frightened at others. Older kids in our group seem to have a lot of fun. I am most fascinated to learn about long-ago families in the area and their stories – stories that have been authenticated. Barefoot Bill is a very talented storyteller who definitely draws his audience into another time and atmosphere.

What kids like most: Hearing about mischievous ghosts and visiting the jail cell.

What parents like most: Being part of local history and learning spooky facts about our area.

Good to know: The tour is 90 minutes of walking and listening; younger children may get tired. Although most of the stories were not very frightening, there were several that I wish my son hadn’t heard. I recommend this tour for kids 12 and older.

– Kirsten Gromatzky

Ghosts of Marietta Gathering spot: The Historic Marietta Trolley Company, 131 Church St. NE, Marietta When: April-Sept.: Thurs.-Sat., 8:30 p.m.; October: check website for expanded schedule; Nov.-March: Thurs.-Sat., 7:30 p.m.

Cost: $17 adults, $12 children 12 and younger (plus tax) Info: ghostsofmarietta.com; 770-425-1006

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arietta has been dubbed by historians as one of the greatest jewels of the South due to its traditional architecture and idyllic historic square. Atlanta Parent joined the “Ghosts of Marietta” for a 90-minute walking tour to some of the most “haunted” locations, from the Kennesaw House and the Museum of Art to Johnnie MacCracken’s Celtic Pub. Our tour guide, “psychic and sensitive” Michele Lowe, leads myself and my brother Collier, a 14-year-old skeptic, and several others to each location. Along the way, she tells our group stories from the city’s rich and “tortured” past, as well as tales of locals who have reportedly lived with ghosts in their own homes for years. We hear about underground tunnels beneath our feet, reportedly used to smuggle munitions and soldiers during the Civil War. The story about a mischievous ghost who likes to interact with people in peculiar ways catches Collier’s attention. “The lady who haunts the art museum was my favorite because it was interesting to hear about the things she does to mess with people,” he says.

64 Atlanta Parent September 2012

The tour is fun and enriched our knowledge about the history and prominent families of the Marietta/Kennesaw area.

What kids like most: Being entertained by old Civil War stories while also looking to catch a glimpse of ghosts through shop windows.

What parents like most: Learning about the tragic yet rich history of the area and just strolling through the beautifully scenic Square.

Good to know: While this tour is fun and informative, some of the more gruesome and darker stories may frighten younger children.

– Carolyn Williams

Family Fun Guide

atlantaparent.com

Some kids are flat-out scared just by the words “ghost tour,” so you may want to wait a spell before taking younger children on any of the outings Atlanta Parent experienced – in Lawrenceville, Decatur, Marietta and Roswell. These “ghostly” walks double as atmospheric history lessons.

Roswell Ghost Tour Decatur Ghost Tour

Gathering spot: Bandstand in Roswell Square (across from the Historic Roswell Convention & Visitors Bureau, 617 Atlanta St., Roswell).

When: Year-round, usually Fri.-Sun., 8:30 p.m.; always check schedule on website. October times/dates vary: Fri.-Sat. tours at 8 and 9 p.m., plus tours at 6 and 7 p.m. most Fridays.

Cost: Adults, $15; kids 12 and younger, $10. Cash only; reservations necessary.

A portion of proceeds goes to historic preservation and restoration in Roswell.

Info: roswellghosttour.com, 770-649-9922

Gathering spot: Decatur Courthouse Square, 101 E. Court Square, Decatur When: Year-round, Fri. and Sat., 8 p.m.

Cost: $15 adults, $12 ages 10 and younger Info: decaturghosttour.com, 404-296-7771

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t twilight, my daughter and I approach the bandstand in historic Roswell’s town square with a mix of curiosity and skepticism. Run by a husband-wife team of paranormal investigators, the 2½-hour Roswell Ghost Tour aims to educate about the town’s rich history and the spirits some believe are still active here. Spotting a small child in our group, our guide promises to go “light” on grisly details.

The first stop is Bulloch Hall, built by one of the town’s first residents and the childhood home of Teddy Roosevelt’s mother. It’s easy to imagine lights flickering and ghosts running through the property, including Barrington Hall, built for the son of city founder Roswell King. It’s too far away to sense anything ghostly.

We next learn about Roswell Mill, where materials for the Confederate Army were manufactured; in 1864, Union troops burned the mill. Some believe there are still spirits here trying to reconnect. My daughter sees a face in the window; we’re relieved it’s a cat!

We traipse through Founders Cemetery, the final resting place of early dignitaries. Flashlights are a must. The cracked headstones, surrounded by unidentified graves, are enough to give even us skeptics a chill.

The most unsettling part of the tour is at the end: a dilapidated bungalow called “Creepy House.” Our guide says few will go near it. He doesn’t share any gruesome details about its history, but we can sense that something tragic took place there.

The tour, often in complete darkness, is perfect for history buffs, lovers of ghost stories, and families with older children. Younger kids may get tired.

What kids like most: Creeping through the Founders Cemetery, hoping to catch a ghost hiding in the trees.

What parents like most: Hearing stories of people affected by tragedy and heartache; learning about the enduring emotional impact of the Civil War. Good to know: Bring a flashlight and camera, wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather. There are no bathroom breaks.

– Beth Balga

atlantaparent.com

Family Fun Guide

n a recent Saturday night, Rebecca Montgomery of Smyrna, along with her two brave sons – Ace, 10, and Griffin, 6 – finds herself on the Decatur Ghost Tour, “where the dead walk among the living.” The tour is led by “psychic medium” and history buff Boo Newell.

The tour begins at the historic courthouse, where we learn about a man named James Crowder, who was hanged for murder at the square in 1829 for killing his wife. Crowder’s ghost, says Boo, still haunts the place.

She adds that some courthouse visitors claim they have sensed Crowder’s “negative energy.” Boo leads patrons into some of Decatur’s oldest neighborhoods. Our walk winds up at the Decatur Cemetery, better known today as “The Old Cemetery.” (Considered the oldest burial ground in metro Atlanta, it’s believed to have been used even before Decatur’s incorporation in 1823.)

At one point, Boo tells Ace and Griffin that two “child ghosts” named Herman and Lucy have joined our group. Boo mentions that these ghosts have taken a particular liking to Ace. Patrons are encouraged to take photos in hopes of catching an image of an “orb,” which Boo explains will represent a spirit she’s telling us about. In front of a church, Ace and Griffin’s mom reportedly does capture an orb in one photograph she snaps. A skeptic, Montgomery calls this phenomenon “very strange.”

The tour is a great history lesson on the Decatur area. Boo’s knowledge of events during the Civil War is impressive. Her reports of “ghostly” behaviors keep us all on our toes.

What kids like most: Ace and Griffin liked hearing about the child ghosts. They also liked being in the old cemetery at night because that was both fun and spooky.

What parents like most: “Boo involves the kids well throughout the tour,” Montgomery says. “And I really like that it encourages your imagination to run.”

Good to know: The website indicates that the tour is about two hours long, but due to our large group, it was almost three hours, so it can get tiresome for young kids. If rain is in the forecast, call ahead to see if the tour is still on; you can always ask for a rain check.

– Kate Wallace

September 2012 Atlanta Parent 65

PArAde: 10am

EAST COBBER

FestivAl: 11am Fountains of Olde towne shopping Center 736 Johnson Ferry road Marietta/east Cobb

Parade & Festival

For Parade Application, Festival Booth Forms: www.eastcobber.com

66 Atlanta Parent September 2012

Family Fun Guide

12 September 15, 20

atlantaparent.com

fallfestivals&fairs Celebrate the autumn season and attend a festival with the family. Eat cotton candy, take a gander at craft vendors and ride a ferris wheels to your heart’s delight.

Charges may apply for some festival activities, such as inflatables and activity stations in addition to entrance fees.

Johns Creek Fall Festival. Newton Park.

Crafts, carnival games, moonwalks, a giant slide, obstacle courses, food and live music.

Sept. 8. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. 3150 Old Alabama Rd., Johns Creek. 678-512-3200. Free.

Yellow Daisy Festival

Yellow Daisy Festival Stone Mountain Park Sept. 6-9: Thurs., Fri., Sun., 10 a.m.6 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.-7:30 p.m.

Taste of Kennesaw. Downtown Kennesaw.

Taste food from local restaurants, enjoy live entertainment, and take the kids to the children’s zone with inflatables, a trackless train and more. Sept. 8. 11 a.m.-8 p.m. 2829 Cherokee St., Kennesaw. 770-423-1330.

Free admission, tickets for samples, $1-$4.

Visitors can glimpse and gawk at the work of more than 400 artists and craftspeople from all over the country. Kids can romp in the Children’s Corner and enjoy craft demonstrations. Take some time to sit back, relax and enjoy live entertainment and festival food. Hwy. 78, Stone Mountain. 770-498-5633.

Free; parking, $10.

Paws and Planes Festival. Marietta Museum of History. Have fun with helicopter rides, pet adoptions, live music, children’s activities and a raffle. Leashed dogs are welcome at this event that benefits homeless pets. Sept. 8. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 550 Perrin Rd., Marietta. 770-971-0010. Adults, $10; children 12 and younger, free.

Pine Log Arts and Crafts Fair. Pine Log UMC Campground. Live entertainment, barbecue, and arts and crafts. Sept. 8-9.

Sat., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Off Highway 411, Rydal. 770-607-5350. $3/ person; children younger than 12, free.

Marietta Streetfest

Glover Park in Marietta Square Sept. 15, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.

Stroll through a topnotch artists market and antique alley, enjoy live music and gaze upon classic cars in the Hubcaps and History Classic car show. The kids will want to dash to the family fun zone, where they’ll find inflatables and artist stations. Please stop by the Atlanta Parent booth and say hello. Marietta Square. 770-7945710. Free.

Gwinnett County Fair. Gwinnett County Fairgrounds. Livestock shows, carnival rides, games and live entertainment. Sept.

13-23. Mon.-Fri., 5-11 p.m.; Sat., 11 a.m.midnight; Sun., 1-10 p.m. 2405 Sugarloaf Pkwy., Lawrenceville. 770-963-6522. Adults, $5; children 6-12, $2; younger than 6, free.

Parking, free.

Hapeville Happy Days Festival. Jess Lucas Downtown Park. Live music Friday; games, rides, and arts and crafts Saturday.

Sept. 14-15. Fri., 7-11 p.m.; Sat., Parade at 10 a.m., Festival 11 a.m.-5 p.m. 680 South Central Ave., Hapeville. 404-669-8269. Free.

North Georgia State Fair

East Cobber Parade & Festival. Fountains of Olde Towne shopping center. Live entertainment, arts and crafts, carnival games and parade. Sept. 15. Parade starts at 10 a.m., festival 11 a.m.-3 p.m. 736 Johnson Ferry Rd., Marietta. 770-640-7070. Free.

Jim R. Miller Park Sept. 20-30: Mon.-Thurs., 4-11 p.m.; Fri., 4 p.m.-midnight; Sat., 10 a.m.midnight; Sun., 12:30-10 p.m.

Celebrate the beginning of fall at the largest fair in the metro Atlanta area. Families can enjoy carnival rides and games, a petting zoo and pony rides. Don’t miss live music featuring country favorites such as Colt Ford, Thompson Square, and Sara Evans. 2245 Callaway Rd., Marietta. 770-528-8989. Adults, $7; children 10 and under, free. Ride tickets, $1 each. Parking, $3.

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Suwanee Day. Town Center Park. Celebrate the City of Suwannee with games, kids activities, all-day on-stage entertainment, a parade and more. Sept. 15. Parade kicks of at 9 a.m. Festival, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. 370 Buford Hwy., Suwannee. 770-945-8996. Free.

Taste of Smyrna Festival of Delectable.

Downtown Smyrna. Taste food from local restaurants, enjoy live music and take the kids to the enormous, interactive Kids Zone. Sept. 15. 11 a.m.-8 p.m. 2800 King St., Smyrna. 770-423-1330. Free, tickets for samples range from $1-$4.

Family Fun Guide

September 2012 Atlanta Parent 67

fallfestivals&fairs

Fall Folklife Festival. Smith Family Farm at the Atlanta History Center. Enjoy a variety of farm demonstrations, music and kid-friendly activities representing traditions of the Southeast. Sept. 22. 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. 130 W. Paces Ferry Rd. NW, Atlanta. 404-814-4000. Adults, $14.50; ages 4-12, $9; 3 and younger, free.

Honeybee Festival. Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center. Come and celebrate this crucial part of Georgia Agriculture. Don’t miss the bee costume contest, games and crafts. Sept.

15. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. 2020 Clean Water Dr. Buford.

770-904-3500. Adults 13 and older, $10.50; ages 3-12, $6.50.

Sandy Springs Festival. Heritage Green.

Children’s park, live entertainment and more than 600 artists, crafters, vendors and entertainers. Lightening 10K and 5K races and pet parade. Sept. 22-23. Sat., 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m.-5 p.m. 6075 Sandy Springs Cir., Sandy Springs. 404851-9111. Adults, $5; children 6-17, $2; younger than 5, free.

Art in the Square. Downtown Gainesville. Live entertainment, including belly dancing and music, food from local restaurants and more. Sept.

15-16. Sat., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun., 11 am.-5 p.m.

Downtown Gainesville. 770-535-6860. Free.

Atlanta Arts Festival. Piedmont Park. Fine arts exhibit showcasing 200 artists, entertainment, children’s activities, and food. Sept.

15-16. Sat., 10 a.m.-7:30 p.m., Sun., 10 a.m.-6 p.m. 400 Park Dr. NE, Atlanta. 770-941-9660.

Free.

JapanFest. Gwinnett Center. Experience Japanese culture with musical and dance performances, martial arts demos, a tea ceremony, and workshops about Japanese kimonos and a tea ceremony, kids area with crafts and games and much more. Sept. 1516. Sat., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

6400 Sugarloaf Pkwy., Duluth. 404-842-0736.

Adults, $8; children 6 and younger, free.

Roswell Arts Festival. Roswell Town Square.

Live performances and arts and crafts for purchase. Children’s activities and food vendors on site. Sept. 15-16. 10 a.m.- 6 p.m.

Downtown Roswell. 770-641-3705. Parking and shuttles available at City Hall. Free.

Fall Folklife Festival at the Atlanta History Center

Shakerag Arts and Crafts Festival.

Shakerag Knoll. More than 100 art vendors selling handmade jewelry, pottery, candles and more; children’s activities, live entertainment and food. Sept. 15-16. Sat., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun., noon-5 p.m. 191 McIntosh Tr., Peachtree City. 770-631-2542. Free.

Inman Farm Heritage Days. Minter Farms.

A printing press, steam engine, cotton gin and other antique machines on display.

Food, craft sale and live music. Sept. 21-23.

Fri.-Sat., 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sun., 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

283 Hills Bridge Rd., Fayetteville. 770-4612840. Free.

Fiesta Georgia. Georgia International Horse Park. Celebrate Mexican Independence with live music, Latino culture, authentic food, helicopter rides, and arts and crafts. Sept. 23. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. 1996 Centennial Olympic Pkwy., Conyers. 404350-0200. Free.

Duluth Fall Festival. Taylor Miller Park.

Live entertainment, arts and crafts, parade, 5K road race and silent auction.

Sept. 29-30. Sat., 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sun., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. W. Lawrence St. and Main St., Duluth. 855-385-8841. Free.

Riverfest Arts and Crafts Festival.

Boling Park. Arts and crafts, children’s area, antiques and live entertainment. Sept.

29-30. Sat., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Hwy. 5, Canton. 770-704-5991. Adults, $5; children 10 and younger, free.

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Folklife Demonstrations Live Music Kid-Friendly Crafts $3 Petting Zoo OFF an adult ticket Storytelling online or at door Food Trucks Limit 4

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Family Fun Guide

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Crossroads in Crabapple Antique and Arts Festival. American Country Antique Dealers and local artists are featured at this one day show in Historic Crabapple. Food vendors, children’s activities and roaming musicians.

Oct. 6. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. 790 Mayfield Rd., Milton 770-241-1115. Free.

Callaway’s Balloon Festival

Beyond Atlanta Callaway’s Sky High Hot Air Balloon Festival. Callaway Gardens. Watch the skies light up with a balloon glow on Friday evening and stick around for balloon launches Sat. and Sun. in the mornings and evenings. Between balloon launches, experience all the food, music, and entertainment Robin Lake has to offer on its last weekend of operation for the year. Aug. 31-Sept. 3. Visit callawaygardens. com for scheduled events and times. Hwy 27, Pine Mountain. 706-663-2281. Adults, $25; ages 6-12, $12.50; children 5 and younger, free.

Apple Pickin’ Jubilee. Hillcrest Orchards.

Apple picking, cow milking, mule-drawn wagon rides, pig racing, live entertainment and more.

Sept. 8-9, Sept. 15-16, Sept. 22-23, Sept. 29-30 and weekends in Oct. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. 9696 Hwy. 52 E., Ellijay. 706-273-3838. $6/person; petting farm $3.

Mountain Music and Arts & Crafts Festival.

Vogel State Park. Bluegrass and gospel music and arts and crafts booths. Sept. 8. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 7485 Vogel State Park Rd., Blairsville. 706745-2628. $2-5 plus $5 parking.

Heritage Weekend. Tweetsie Railroad. Celebrate the golden age of steam locomotive and mountain heritage during Railroad Heritage Weekend.

On Sat., Cherokee dancers perform at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. Event runs Sept. 8-9 . 300 Tweetsie Railroad Ln., Blowing Rock, NC. 800526-5740. Special park admission price for two days includes unlimited train rides; Adults, $48; ages 3-12, $33; 2 and younger, free.

Arts in the Heart of Augusta. Augusta Commons. Over 35 different cultures will be featured, international cuisine, live entertainment, and a children’s area. Sept. 14-16. Fri., 5 p.m.-9 p.m.; Sat., 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sun., noon-7 p.m. Historic Downtown Augusta. 706-826-4702. Adults, $7, $5 in advance; children under 10, free.

Railfest. Great Smoky Mountains Railroad. Visit the authentic Mountain Craft Fair, listen to Appalachia music and ride the railroad. Sept.

15-16. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. 226 Everett St., Bryson City, NC. 800-872-4681. Festival is free. c

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Family Fun Guide

September 2012 Atlanta Parent 69

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hen was the last time your family spent some time wandering around downtown Atlanta? If it’s been a while, then the new Public Art Audio Tour is one enticing reason to venture into the heart of the city. The free walking tour features art placed in 22 locations throughout the downtown area.

Revitalization projects are ongoing downtown; a goal is a more family-friendly experience, and the new “artwalk” is just one step in that direction.

The self-guided tour begins at Andrew Young Plaza and winds through Woodruff Park.

Each piece of art along the way bears a plaque with a number that corresponds to an audio clip. The tour’s phone number allows visitors to listen at each stop via their cellphone. Pieces on the tour include the expressionist sculpture Threshold by Spanish artist Robert Llimos (No. 20) and the “chicken wire” columns in Margaret Mitchell Square by artist Kit-Yin Snyder (No. 11). Other stops include Folk Art Park and the blue steel sculpture The River Sings. The brief audio pieces provide information on the artist and the history behind each artwork.

Stops 1-20 on the tour are all within 15 blocks; plan on two hours if you’re going to be ambitious and visit them all. Stops 21 and 22 are located just beyond downtown in nearby Freedom Park; best to drive there rather than walk. While the tour might better hold the attention of older kids, younger kids will appreciate the chance to run wild at the new play structure in Woodruff Park.

The art walk was in planning stages for about a year, says Courtney Hammond of the City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs.

More art pieces will be incorporated, as well as educational tours for school groups.

“So far, we can see that around 300 to

Family Fun Guide

400 people per month are listening to the tour,” Hammond says. “We look for people to explore the city. This tour gives them historical conceptions to the monuments that surround them.”

To access the audio components of the tour, call 404-260-5532. Patrons are encouraged to follow the prompts to listen to interviews and other information regarding the artworks. For a more in-depth look at stops on the tour and a map, visit ocaatlanta.com/public-art-audio-tour.

– Kate Wallace atlantaparent.com

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Family Fun Guide

September 2012 Atlanta Parent 71

Calendar

our Calendar at atlantaparent.com for calendar updates and ongoing events and attractions in Atlanta.

n Events

may be cancelled or changed after our deadline. n Please call the event beforehand to confirm dates and times.

classes Children’s Garden Amphitheater. Atlanta Botanical Garden. Queen Emeralda from Fairyland will tell stories about nature through puppets and song on Sept. 1. Create and play musical instruments from plants on Sept. 8. 10:3011:30 a.m. 1345 Piedmont Ave. NE, Atlanta.

404-876-5859. Adults, $18.95; ages 3-12, $12.95; 2 and younger, free.

Home Depot Kids’ Workshop. All locations.

Learn tool safety while building a craft and receive a kid-sized orange apron. First Saturday of each month 9 a.m.-noon. homedepot.com.

Ages 5-12. Free.

Lil’ Bean Heads Crafts. Bean Head Toys. Create an art project twice a month. All ages welcome, but smaller children may need assistance. First and third Wednesday of every month. 3-4 p.m.

220 Johnson Ferry Rd., Sandy Springs. 404851-2980. Free.

Mommy and Me Preschool Program. Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History.

Sept. 6, Name Train; Sept. 13, Wonderful World of Weather; Sept. 20, Wheels, Wheels, Wheels; Sept. 27, The Busy Barnyard; 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. 2829 Cherokee St., Kennesaw.

770-427-2117. Ages 3-5. Free with museum admission. Adults, $7.50; children 4-12, $5.50; 3 and younger, free.

Magic Monday. Atlanta History Center. Storytime, sing-a-longs and crafts. Sept. 10. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. 130 W. Paces Ferry Rd., Atlanta. 404-8144000. Adults, $6.50; kids 5 and younger, $5.50.

Mom’s Morning Out. North Georgia Zoo and Petting Farm. Bring the kids for a morning out and enjoy special rates. Sept. 11. 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

706-348-7279. 2912 Paradise Valley Rd., Cleveland. Petting zoo and hayride, $6 or add in a wildlife walk for $15.

Drop-In Family Class: Chocolate Lollipops.

Atlanta Botanical Garden. Kids can make their own lollipops using chocolate molds. Sept.

15 and 16. 1-2 p.m. 1345 Piedmont Ave. NE, Atlanta. 404-876-5859. $6 plus admission; Adults, $18.95; ages 3-12, $12.95; 2 and younger, free.

Toddler Thursdays. High Museum of Art. Create masterpieces to complement the museum’s current exhibits. Sept. 6, 13, 20, 27. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. 1280 Peachtree St., Atlanta. 404-7334550. Adults, $19.50; ages 6-17, $12; 5 and younger, free.

Art Workshops. Vinings School of Art. Take a drawing, painting or pottery class. Supplies included. Ages 2-13. Saturdays, 10 and 11 a.m.

1675 Cumberland Pkwy., Smyrna. 678-2134278. Pre-register. $15 for one-hour workshop.

Crafts for Kids. Lakeshore Learning Store. Make a different craft each week. Sept. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. 4287 Roswell Rd., Marietta.

770-578-3100. 3 and older. Free.

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‘WHAT MOVES YOU’ COMMUNITY HEALTHY LIVING DAY Atlanta Ballet: Michael C. Carlos Dance Centre SEPT. 9, 10 A.M.-6 P.M. The whole family can “get moving” and learn about living healthy. Put on your dancing shoes and attend free classes in different genres of dance, including hiphop, jazz and ballet.

Attend the “Great Kids Snacks Food Demo” and learn about healthy snack options. This full day of activities will culminate with performances by Atlanta Ballet’s Wabi Sabi chamber performance group and the company’s Centre for Dance Education. 1695 Marietta Blvd. NW, Atlanta. 404-873-5811. Free.

INK Craft Weeks. Interactive Neighborhood for Kids.

Dragon Week, Sept 3-7; Heroes from 9/11 Week, Sept. 10-14; Elephant Week, Sept. 17-21; It’s Fall Week, Sept. 24-28; $1 with paid admission to museum. Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun., 1-5 p.m. 999 Chestnut St., Gainesville. 770-536-1900.

Adults, $8; children, $6.

Build and Grow Clinics. Lowes. Clinics teach kids to build wooden crafts. Kids receive a free apron, goggles and merit patch. Sat. Sept. 8,. 10 a.m.

Visit lowesbuildandgrow.com for locations. 800445-6937. Pre-register. Free.

EnviroVentures Saturday Drop-By. Piedmont Park.

Hula-hooping and crafts while parents shop at the Green Market. Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. 1320 Monroe Drive, Atlanta. 404-875-7275. Free.

Second Thursday Program. Southeastern Railway Museum. Parents and tots program includes circle time, an activity, and craft. Ages 1-4. Sept.

13. 10:30 a.m.-noon. 3595 Buford Hwy, Duluth.

770-495-0253. $7 per child, one adult free, additional adult, $8.

Weekends in the Naturalist Center. Fernbank Museum of Natural History. Activities include animal encounters, science explorations and more. Sat., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun., noon-5 p.m. 767 Clifton Rd., Atlanta. 404-929-6400. Activities included with price of admission. Adults, $17.50; children 3-12, $15.50; younger than 3, free.

Walk Through the Stream. Okhurst Garden. Kids will get the chance to explore the living Shoal Creak ecosystem. Wear clothes that can get dirty, fresh apples provided for snacks. Great for ages 6-12. Pre-register. Sat., Sept. 29, 10-11 a.m. 435 Oakview Rd., Decatur. 404-371-1920. $15.

Family Fun Guide

Latin American Folktales. Atlanta Botanical Garden. Listen to stories and songs from Latin America and Spain. Sept. 29. 10:3011:30 a.m. 1345 Piedmont Ave. NE, Atlanta.

404-876-5859. Adults, $18.95; ages 3-12, $12.95; 2 and younger, free.

American Girl Crafts. American Girl Boutique and Bistro. Have fun making crafts inspired by the stories of American Girl. Sept. 1, Julie’s Bracelet Craft, 4-6 p.m.; Sept. 4, 8, 9, Caroline Craft.; Sept. 7, Grandparents Day Card Craft, 4-6 p.m.; Historical Character Craft, Sept. 15, 22, 29, 4-6 p.m. and Sept. 16, 23, 30, 1-3 p.m. Ages 8 and older. 1202 North Point Circle, Alpharetta. 877-247-5223. Free.

exhibits Bodies. Atlantic Station. This exhibition provides an intimate and informative view into the human body. Mon.-Thurs. 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Fri.- Sun. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Last ticket sold 1 hour before closing. 2685 18th St., Atlanta. 404-496-4274. Adult, $24; children 4-12, $16.

Hubble Exhibit. Tellus Science Museum. See huge images from space thanks to the Hubble space telescope. Includes images of galaxies, exploding stars, stars being born, even some planets. Through Nov.11.

Mon.-Sun., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 100 Tellus Dr., Cartersville. 770-606-5700. Adults, $12; ages 3-17, $8.

atlantaparent.com

Photo courtesy of the Atlanta Ballet

n Visit

September

Calendar Crime Lab Detective Exhibit. Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center. Visitors can be the real Sherlock Holmes as they examine clues such as DNA. Through Oct. 15, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. 2020 Clean Water Dr. Buford. 770-904-3500. Adults 13 and older, $10.50; ages 3-12, $6.50.

Dolphin Tales. Georgia Aquarium. The live show incorporates dolphins, live human actors, dramatic costuming, and special effects. Multiple shows per day, times vary. Reservations recommended. Sun.-Mon., 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Tues.-Sat., 9 a.m.-9 p.m. 225 Baker St., Atlanta. 404-581-4000.

Admission price depends on date of visit; Adults, $34.95; ages 3-12, $28.95.

Titanic: The Artifact Exhibit. Atlantic Station. Travel back in time and experience the wonder and tragedy of this ill-fated ship. Mon.-Thurs. 11 a.m.-6 p.m.(last ticket sold at 5 p.m.); Fri.-Sun., 11 a.m.-7 p.m. (last ticket sold at 6 p.m.). 265 18th St. (second floor), Atlanta. 866-866-8265. Adults, $24; Ages 4-12, $16.

Anne Frank in the World: 1929-1945. Parkside Shopping Center. Learn about the life of the Frank family and others who lived in the secret annex in Amsterdam; includes replica of Anne’s room in the annex. Tues.-Thurs., 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Fri., 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; Sat.-Sun., 12-4 p.m. 5920 Roswell Rd., Sandy Springs. 770-206-1558. 10 and older. Free.

Turtle Tours. Heritage Sandy Springs Museum.

Through stories, hands-on exhibits and crafts, museum mascots Sandy the chipmunk and Spring the turtle introduce the youngest visitors to history. Through Dec. Second Saturday of each month. 11 a.m. 6075 Sandy Springs Circle, Sandy Springs. 404-851-9111. Donations encouraged.

ATL_ParentMag_7.5x4.625_25Off.indd atlantaparent.com

1

The Scoop on Poop. Fernbank Museum of Natural History. Fish do it, frogs do it, pythons, turtles and humans do it. A hands-on, humorous exhibit about dung, poop and scat. Through Sept. 3. Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun., noon-5 p.m. 767 Clifton Rd. NE, Atlanta. 404-929-6300. Adults, $17.50; ages 3-12, $15.50; 2 and younger, free.

The Big Adventure. The Children’s Museum of Atlanta. Kids climb a rock wall and move through dark tunnels in this new exhibit that’s like a 3-D game board. Through Sept. 9. Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sat.-Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 275 Centennial Olympic Park Drive NW, Atlanta. 404-659-5437. Adults and ages 2 and older, $12.75; younger than 2, free. Free admission starting at 1 p.m. on the second Tuesday of every month brought to you by Target Free Second Tuesday.

The Scoop on Poop

Frogs: A Chorus of Colors. Georgia Aquarium. Features 15 species of frogs in more than 3,000 square feet of habitats, with hands-on and interactive activities. Through Jan. 2013. Sun.-Mon., 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Tues.Sat., 9 a.m.-9 p.m. 225 Baker St., Atlanta.

404-581-4000. Admission price depends on date of visit; Adults, $34.95; ages 3-12, $28.95.

Troublesome Times: Impact of the Civil War in Roswell. Barrington Hall. Through the use of letters, official documents and photographs, this exhibit explores the effect of the Civil War on the lives of those with connections to the Roswell area. Through Oct. 31. Tours start on the hour from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. 535 Barrington Dr., Roswell.

770-640-3855. Adults, $8; ages 6-13, $6.

Skate It or Hang It!? The Evolution of Skateboard Art. Museum of Design Atlanta. An exhibit that examines the visual expression in skateboard art. Through Oct. 27. Tues.Fri. 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun. noon-5 p.m. 1315 Peachtree St., Atlanta.

404-979-6455. Adults, $10; ages 6-17, $5; 5 and younger, free.

LEGOLAND Discovery Center. Phipps Plaza.

Come play, build and look at a variety of spectacular LEGO exhibits that will have all LEGO lovers amazed. Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.- 9 p.m.; Sun., 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Last admission is 2 hours before closing. 3500 Peachtree Rd., Atlanta. 404-8489252. Adult, $20.52; ages 3-12, $16.20, 2 and younger, free.

Family Fun Guide

8/17/12 2:33 PM September 2012 Atlanta Parent 73

‘THE THREE LITTLE PIGS’ & MORE Center for Puppetry Arts SEPT. 12-23: WED.-FRI., 10 & 11:30 A.M.; SAT., 11 A.M., 1 & 3 P.M.; SUN., 1 & 3 P.M. Take a journey around the world with this special puppetry performance that brings some of the kids’ favorite bedtime stories to life. Expect new renditions of three classic folk tales: “The Frog Prince” from Germany, “Three Billy Goats Gruff” from Scandinavia, and “The Three Little Pigs” from England. 1404 Spring St., Atlanta.

404-873-3391. Tickets, $16.50.

LEE HARPER STUDIOS Home of

Lee Harper & Dancers and

Lee Harper & Dancers II, a children’s dance company

Now Registering for the 2012-2013 School Year

Ages 3 - Adult Creative Movement • Modern Ballet •Pointe • Tap 3080 E. Shadowlawn • Buckhead between Peachtree & E. Paces Ferry

74 Atlanta Parent September 2012

Family Fun Guide

Lee Harper named a 2002 Lexus Leader of the Arts.

33 Years of Teaching and Performing in Atlanta Call for class schedule & registration package

404-364-9555 • leeharperanddancers.com atlantaparent.com

Calendar Southern Belle Farm. McDonough. Enjoy a hayride, corn maze, pumpkin patch and more. Sept. 22Nov. 4. Sat., 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sun., 1-6 p.m. 1658 Turner Church Rd., McDonough. 770-288-2582.

Adults, $12/person; 2 and under, free.

Corn Dawgs. Loganville. The Southeast’s largest corn maze with farm animals and other fun activities. Sept. 23-Nov. 4. Fri., 3-8 p.m., Sat., 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Sun., 1-8 p.m. 955 Leone Ave., Loganville.

770-786-9000. $12 general admission; 2 and younger, free. $25 all-inclusive wristband.

Buck’s Corn Maze. Explore this 12 acre corn maze with a beautiful view of the Appalachian Mountains. Sept. 1- Nov. 4. Fri., 5-10 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.9 p.m.; Sun., 10 a.m.-6 p.m. 1923 New Hope Rd., Dawsonville. 706-344-8834. Adults, $8; 10 and younger, $7; 4 and younger, free with paid adult.

movies Movies at East Cobb Park. Bring a picnic along with your lawn chairs and blankets, enjoy music and a playground for kids. Food and drinks available for purchase. Movies begin at dark.

Sept. 8, Dr, Seuss’ The Lorax. 3322 Roswell Rd., Marietta. 770-591-3160. Free.

Movies Under the Stars. During the summer each movie is at a different park in Clayton County.

Movie starts at dusk. Sept. 15, Yogi Bear. International Park. 2300 Hwy 138 SE, Jonesboro.

770-477-3766. Free.

Rescue. Fernbank Museum of Natural History. Get an inside look at what it takes to be a first responder and understand what it takes to provide aid in times of need. Sept. 4-Nov. 15. See fernabankmuseum.org for show times. 767 Clifton Rd. NE, Atlanta. 404-929-6300. IMAX tickets: adults, $13; ages 3-12, $11; 2 and younger, free.

Africa’s Elephant Kingdom. Fernbank Museum of Natural History. Journey into Kenya for a glimpse of an Elephant’s wild world through waterfalls, desert and vast plains. Sept. 4-Nov. 15. See fernbankmuseum.org for show times. 767 Clifton Rd. NE, Atlanta. 404-929-6300. IMAX tickets: adults, $13; ages 3-12, $11; 2 and younger, free.

music Concerts on the Square. Marta Plaza. Various bands perform every Saturday night in Sept.

Sept. 8, 15, 22 and 29. 7 p.m. Downtown Decatur. 404-371-8386. Free.

Bluesky Concerts. Marta Plaza. Bring your lunch and enjoy music on the square. Every Wednesday in September from noon-1 p.m. Downtown Decatur. 404-371-8386. Free.

Pickin’ on the Square. Newnan. Acoustic musicians of all genres and skill levels are welcome to join in on the first and third Saturday of every month.

11 a.m. on Sept. 1 and 15. Newnan Courthouse Square at LaGrange St. and E. Broad St. 770-2538283. Free.

Riverside Sounds. Riverside Park. Outdoor concert series in the park.; The Black Lillies, Sept. 1.

Concerts from 7-9 p.m. Free shuttle available from Azalea Park and Don White Park. 575 Riverside Rd., Roswell. 770-641-3705. Free.

atlantaparent.com

Family Fun Guide

September 2012 Atlanta Parent 75

COLE BROS. CIRCUS Atlanta Motor Speedway

SEPT. 20-23, THURS.-FRI., 4:30 & 7:30 P.M.; SAT., 1:30, 4:30 & 7:30 P.M.; SUN., 1:30 & 4:30 P.M.

The Cole Bros. Circus, performing under a “big top” since 1884, returns to the Atlanta Motor Speedway with tigers, elephants, clowns, trapeze artists and more. This annual show promises daredevil acts, aerial ballet, exotic animal attractions and a freestyle motorcycle show. 1500 Tara Pl., Hampton. 386-736-0071.

Adults, $21; children ages 2-12, $16; younger than 2, free.

Concerts by the Spring. Heritage Green. Banks and Shane, Sept 9. Bring picnic baskets, coolers and blankets. Smoking and pets prohibited.

Lawn opens at 5 p.m., concerts from 7-8:30 p.m. 6110 Bluestone Rd., Sandy Springs. 404851-9111. Free.

Music at Noon. Centennial Olympic Park. Enjoy lunch and live music performed by local artists.

Tues. and Thurs. through Oct. Concerts from noon-1 p.m., 265 Park Avenue West, Atlanta.

404-223-4412. Free.

Wednesday Wind Down. Centennial Olympic Park.

Concert series includes jazz, R&B and blues performed by local and national touring acts. Sept.

5, 12, 19, 26. Concerts from 5:30-8 p.m., 265 Park Ave. West, Atlanta. 404-223-4412. Free.

All-Day Bluegrass. Red Top Mountain State Park.

Various artists perform bluegrass and mountain music. Food vendors available. Sept. 8, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. 50 Lodge Rd., Cartersville. 770-9750055. General admission, $15; 12 and younger, free. Parking, $5.

Friday Night Live. Atlantic Station. Up-andcoming artists perform on the stage in Central Park; genres range from country to rock, jazz to blues. Through Nov. 23. Concerts are from 7-9 p.m. 18th St. NW., Atlanta. 404-733-1221. Free.

Glover Park Concert Series. Glover Park. Atlanta Pleasure Band, Sept 28. Concerts begin at 8 p.m. Picnics, blankets and lawn chairs may be set up after 4 p.m. 50 Park Sq., Marietta. 770794-5601. Free.

Moonlight and Music Concert Series. Gwinnett Historic Courthouse Lawn. Highballs, Sept. 28.

Concerts begin at 8 p.m. Bring chairs, blankets and food. Alcohol is prohibited. 185 Crogan St., Lawrenceville. 678-226-2639. Free.

nature Frog Slog. Panola Mountain Park. Search for salamanders and frogs in the streams and wetlands. Bring a flashlight, headlamp, net and bucket. Prepare for a wet and muddy adventure. Sept. 1, 5:30 p.m. 2600 Hwy. 155, Stockbridge. 770-389-7801. Pre-register. $5 per person; parking, $5.

76 Atlanta Parent September 2012

Family Fun Guide

Saturday Afternoon Fly Fishing. Panola Mountain State Park. This clinic focuses on casting and safety. Bring snacks, sunscreen, and water. A Georgia fishing license is required for children 16 and older. Sept. 8. 9-11 a.m. 2600 Hwy. 155, Stockbridge. 770-389-7801. Pre-register. $15 or $12 with own gear. parking, $5.

Canoeing 101. Chattahoochee Nature Center. Learn the basics of canoeing on the CNC’s ponds. Ages 5 and older. Sept. 16.

10-11:30 a.m. 9135 Willeo Rd., Roswell.

770-992-2055 ext. 237 to pre-register. $15 per person plus admission. Adults, $8; ages 3-12, $5; 2 and younger, free.

Ranger-led Mountain Hike. Panola Mountain State Park. See wildlife and learn about this important ecosystem.

Saturdays at 10 a.m. 2600 Ga. Hwy. 155, Stockbridge. 770-389-7801. Pre-register. $7/person; parking, $5.

Kiddie Gardener Series. Smith-Gilbert Gardens. Kids can walk through the gardens, listen to storytelling, sing and dance at this special nature event for families.

Ages 5 and younger. Sept. 14 and 28. 10 a.m. 2382 Pine Mountain Rd., Kennesaw.

770-919-0248. Kids, $5; adults, free.

Night Hike. Chattahoochee Nature Center.

Explore the woodlands and wetlands by moonlight, then roast marshmallows by the campfire. Ages 5 and older. Sept. 8.

8-10 p.m. 9135 Willeo Rd., Roswell. 770992-2055. $10/person plus admission.

Adults, $8; ages 3-12, $5; 2 and younger, free.

The Sky Tonight. Fernbank Science Center.

An astronomer leads the tour through the constellations, planets and events of the evening sky. Saturdays, 11 a.m. 156 Heaton Park Dr., Atlanta. 678-874-7102. Adults, $4; ages 3-18, $3; 2 and younger, free.

New Manchester History Hike. Sweetwater Creek State Park. A mile hike leads to the five-story ruins of the Civil-War era New Manchester textile mill. Climb inside the ruins and view the whitewater rapids.

Saturdays in Sept. 1-3 p.m. 1750 Mt. Vernon Rd., Lithia Springs. 770-732-5817. $5/person; parking, $5.

atlantaparent.com

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PettitCreekFarms.com atlantaparent.com

Family Fun Guide

September 2012 Atlanta Parent 77

Calendar Fulton County Free Saturday. High Museum of Art. Admission is free for Fulton County residents with I.D. on the first Saturday of each month.

Sept. 1, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 1280 Peachtree St., NE, Atlanta. 404-733-5000. Free.

special events

Second Sunday Funday. High Museum of Art. Enjoy art demonstrations, art-making workshops and live performances. Sept. 9. 1-4 p.m. 1280 Peachtree St., Atlanta. 404-733-4550. Adults, $19.50; ages 6-17, $12; 5 and younger, free.

Dragon*Con Parade. Downtown Atlanta. Be sure to catch some wacky costumes and interesting sci-fi culture at this parade, a part of a large convention featuring the latest in fantasy, gaming, comics and more. Parade is Sept. 1 at 10 a.m. beginning at Woodruff Park on Peachtree St. Convention is Aug. 31-Sept. 3. 770-9090115. Parade is free.

Sunday Funday. East Cobb Park. Enjoy live entertainment and family fun, visitors are encouraged to bring a picnic dinner.

Sundays Sept. 9-Oct. 28. 4-7 p.m. 3322 Roswell Rd. Marietta. 770-591-3160. Free.

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

Atlanta Motor Speedway. Catch three nights of racing with some of NASCAR’s top stars. Aug. 31-Sept. 2. Fri., 8:30 a.m.-8 p.m., Sat., 9 a.m.-7 p.m., Sun., 11 a.m.7:30 p.m. 1500 Tara Pl, Hampton. 770707-7904. Tickets start at $25 for adults; kids 12 and younger, free.

Grandparents’ Day Ice Cream Social.

Chattahoochee Nature Center. Honor grandparents with an old fashioned ice cream social. Sat. Sept. 9. 1-3 p.m.

9135 Willeo Rd., Roswell. 770-992-2055.

Grandparents eat for free, everyone else $3 plus admission. Adults, $8; ages 3-12, $5; 2 and younger, free.

78 Atlanta Parent September 2012

Decatur Ghost Tours. Decatur. Come meet some of Decatur’s ghosts on this historical, paranormal walking tour of downtown Decatur. Fridays and Saturdays, 8 p.m. 101 East Court Sq., Decatur.

404-296-7771. Adults, $15; 10 and younger, $12.

The King and I

Nutty Nature Day. Chattahoochee Nature Center.

Enjoy a day of crafts, laugh during the flying debris show and learn about trees during Storytime.

Sept. 15. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. 9135 Willeo Rd., Roswell.

770-992-2055 ext. 237 Adults, $8; ages 3-12, $5; 2 and younger, free.

Teen Arts Night. City Center. Teens can bring instruments, poetry, artwork and short stories to share.

Includes a slice of pizza and a soda. Sept. 7. 6-8 p.m. 8534 Main St., Woodstock. 678-494-4251. $5.

History Tours. Piedmont Park. Learn about Piedmont Park’s history and the city of Atlanta.

Tuesdays and Saturdays through Dec. 11 a.m.

Reservations for Tuesdays required. Meet at the Green Market Info booth near 12th St. park entrance. Piedmont Park. 404-875-7275. Free.

Alive After Five. Downtown Roswell. Enjoy a break from the busy workweek with live music, outside vendors, late hours at retailers, face painting and more. Bring your family, a date, your dog or your friends, and be sure to hop on the free trolley.

Every third Thursday of the month, through Oct. 5-9 p.m. Downtown Roswell. 770-640-3253. Free.

Ghost Tours. Lawrenceville. Listen to vivid stories of the strange and supernatural as guides lead groups on a 90-minute adventure. Every Fri. and Sat. through Sept., 8:30 p.m. 128 East Pike St., Lawrenceville. 678-226-6222. Adults $12, 16 and younger, $9.

Sesame Street Live. Philips Arena. Catch the “Elmo Makes Music” Tour and watch the gang make instruments out of stuff they find on the street!

Sept. 13-16. Thurs. 6:30 p.m.; Fri., 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.; Sat. 10:30 a.m., 2 and 5:30 p.m.; Sun. 1 and 4 p.m. 1 Philips Dr., Atlanta. 404-8783000. Tickets $17-90.

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Calendar Roswell Georgia Paranormal Investigations.

Roswell. Take a walking ghost tour led by paranormal investigators. Every Fri., Sat. and every other Sun. 8 p.m. No tour on Sept. 30. 610 Atlanta St., Roswell. 770-649-9922. Adults, $15; children 12 and younger, $10.

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Ghosts of Marietta. Marietta. A 90-minute lantern led walk through historic Marietta. Thurs.-Sat. 8:30 p.m. 131 Church St., Marietta. 770-4251006 . Adults, $17; children 12 and younger, $12.

The Cole Brothers Circus. Atlanta Motor Speedway. Watch breathtaking performances, a motorcycle show and animal attractions. Sept. 20-23, Thurs.-Fri., 4:30 & 7:30 p.m.; Sat., 1:30, 4:30 & 7:30 P.M.; Sun., 1:30 & 4:30 p.m. 1500 Tara Pl, Hampton. 386-736-0071. Adults, $21; children ages 2-12, $16; younger than 2, free.

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Fourth Saturday Family Fun Day. Centennial Olympic Park. “Our Many Cultures.” Sept. 22. Noon-4 p.m. 265 Park Avenue West, Atlanta. 404-543-7407.

Free.

Play the Animal Way. Zoo Atlanta. Entertain your inner wild thing in the wacky world of animal enrichment. Enjoy music, crafts and demonstrations for kids. Sept. 29. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 800 Cherokee Ave. Atlanta. 404-624-9453. Adults, $20.99; children ages 3-11, $15.99; 2 and younger, free.

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Children’s Story Time. FoxTale Book Shoppe. Ageappropriate stories followed by dance and song period. Mondays and Saturdays. 11 a.m. 105 East Main St., #138, Woodstock. 770-516-9989. Free.

Storytime at Little Shop. Little Shop of Stories.

Storytelling three times a week; Thursday nights, milk and cookies provided and kids can come in pajamas. Sundays, 3 p.m.; Tuesdays, 11 a.m.; Thursdays, 7 p.m. 133A East Court Sq., Decatur.

404-373-6300. Free.

Storytime. Yawn’s Books. Enjoy a story for all ages.

Every Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. 210 East Main St., Canton. 678-880-1922. Free.

Tales for Toddlers. Bean Head Toys. Stories read in the indoor tree house, then kids make a craft to take home. Every Thursday. 10:30 a.m. 220 Johnson Ferry Road, Sandy Springs. 404-8512980. Free.

Wren’s Nest Storytelling. The Wren’s Nest. Wren’s Nest Ramblers host storytelling sessions every Saturday. 1 p.m. 1050 Ralph D. Abernathy Blvd., Atlanta. 404-753-7735. Adults, $8; children $5, 4 and younger, free.

Storybook Time. Atlanta Botanical Garden. Listen to stories about bees, butterflies, frogs and flowers. Wednesdays through Oct., 10:30 a.m. 1345 Piedmont Ave. NE, Atlanta. 404-876-5859. Adults, $18.95; ages 3-12, $12.95; 2 and younger, free.

Storytime by the River. Chattahoochee Nature Center. Listen to storytellers read about the night sky as they use books and crafts. Every first Wed. of the month. 9135 Willeo Rd., Roswell.

770-992-2055. Free with admission. Adults, $8; ages 3-12, $5; 2 and younger, free.

Family Storytelling. Callanwolde Fine Arts Center.

Join the Southern Order of Storytellers’ Father Goose Brigade as they share exciting cultural stories. Sept. 28. 7 p.m. 980 Briarcliff Rd. NE, Atlanta. 404-872-5338. Adults, $3; Children 12 and younger, $1.

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Family Fun Guide

Parent atlanta

September 2012 Atlanta Parent 79

Calendar

YOUR STATE PARKS DAY

theater Tranquil Tortoise and the Hoppity Hare. Alliance Theatre. Join in the fun and exitement as the tortoise and the hare hit the starting line. Sept. 4-8, 15, 22. 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.

1280 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta. The Sept. 15 and 22 performances are at The Goat Farm Arts Center, 1200 Foster St., Atlanta. General admission, $10; ages younger than 1, free.

The Tortoise, the Hare and other Aesop’s Fables. Center for Puppetry Arts. Children will be bouncing, clapping, and singing along when the carnival comes to town and presents five stories from Aesop’s timeless fables. Through Sept. 9. Thur.-Fri., 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., Sat. 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., Sun. 1 p.m., 3 p.m. 1404 Spring St., Atlanta. 404-873-3391. $16.50.

The King and I. Fox Theatre. This popular musical will capture the hearts of many as you watch a British tutor brought into the court of Siam to teach the King’s many children. Sept 5-11. Wed.-Sat., 8 p.m., Sun. 1:30 p.m., 7 p.m., Also Sat., 2 p.m.

660 Peachtree St., Atlanta. 404- 881-2100. $34-67.

Velveteen Rabbit. New Dawn Theater. Children will love this tender story about a child’s love, imagination and friendship. Sept. 6-22.

Thurs.-Sat. 11 a.m. Main St., Duluth. 678-8875015. Tickets, $7.

Georgia State Parks & Historical Sites SEPT 29 7 A.M.,-10 P.M. The Friends of Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites will welcome visitors to all state parks in Georgia for no charge. Take advantage of this play day for the whole family. Georgia State Parks offers activities such as hiking, fishing, picnicking and much more - all in the great outdoors. For addresses to Georgia State Parks, visit gastateparks.org. Free.

The Three Little Pigs and More. Center for Puppetry Arts. Take a trip with fantastic folk tales from around the world. Sept. 12-23. Wed.-Fri. 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., Sat. 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., Sun. 1 p.m., 3 p.m. 1404 Spring St., Atlanta. 404-873-3391. $16.50.

Anything Goes. Marietta Strand Theatre. This musical and tap dancing extravaganza tells the story of two unlikely pairs that embark on the course of true love as the S.S. American sets sail. Sept. 21-Oct. 7. Thurs.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 2 p.m. 117 N. Park Sq., Marietta. 404377-9948. $40-45.

Sleeping Beauty. Center for Puppetry Arts. Join hero Prince Stefan as he sets out to rescue the princess Aurora. Sept. 26-Oct. 7. Wed.-Fri. 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., Sat. noon, 2 p.m., Sun. 1 p.m., 3 p.m. 1404 Spring St., Atlanta. 404-8733391. $16.50.

beyond atlanta First Friday Night Concert Series. Hancock Park. Travel to the gold-mining town for some outdoor tunes. Sept. 7. 6:30 p.m. Corner of North Park St. and Warwick St., Dahlonega.

706-864-3711. Free.

River Giants Exhibit. Tennessee Aquarium. A collection of freshwater fish at legendary sizes, the “goliaths” of freshwater. Open daily 10 a.m.-6 p.m. One Broad St., Chattanooga, Tenn. 800262-0695. $24.95 per adult; $14.95 per child ages 3-12.

Family Fun Days. The Rock Ranch. Enjoy farming attractions and kids activities at the Rock Ranch. Sept. 22 and 29. 10 a.m.-9 p.m. 5020 Barnesville Hwy., The Rock. 706-647-6374.

Admission, $15; ages 3 and younger, free.

Pumpkin Fest and Scarecrow Trail. North Georgia Zoo. Take a look at some unique scarecrows or enter one of your own. Enjoy the wool jump, hayrides and more. Sept. 22-Oct.31.

Sat.-Sun. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. 2912 Paradise Valley Rd., Cleveland. 706-348-7279. Adults, $7; 10 and younger, $5; infants, free. c

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Everyone who answers the “Question of the Week” will be entered to win 4 admission passes and 3 large pumpkins from Yule Forest!

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Facebook.com/atlantaparentmagazine 80 Atlanta Parent September 2012

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Humor

by Lela Davidson

The New Birthday Plan Dear Son, I’m writing to tell you about an exciting change we’ll be making in regard to birthdays this year!

Because this is a big birthday year for me (rhymes with shorty), and because you are such a big boy now, and frankly because I’m a little worn out with the whole kids’ birthday scene, we’re going to do things a little differently this year. Instead of me spending my time planning, executing, and cleaning up after your birthday party, you’re going to do all that for my birthday.

Sounds like fun, right?

First, you’re going to help me make a list of all my very best friends. Don’t worry, the guest list won’t get out of hand. You know how I always limit the number of guests at your parties to the number that corresponds with your age? Same deal. I’ll only be inviting 40 friends! Because my friends are slightly geographically diverse, transporting them all to the party could get tricky. But I’m sure you’ll figure it out – just like Daddy and I always found ways to shuttle your friends around. I promise my pals will smell better. Most of them, anyway.

Aren’t you just dying to know the theme for my party? You know how you’re always begging for pizza parties and laser tag parties and parties where you can eat pizza while riding go-carts and playing laser tag in space? I want a cool party too. That’s why I’ll be going to a spa with my 40 friends. (I have no idea how much all this will cost, but you might want to start saving your allowance now.)

When you think about it, this spa plan is a pretty good deal for you because it frees you from cooking a bunch of food we might very well a) eat without tasting, b) throw at each other, or c) shove down our throats so fast it makes us sick enough to throw up on the new carpet.

After the party, of course, I’ll expect you to hound me night and day until I write each and every last thank-you note. You’ll also need to keep track of my gifts and write down exactly how to word my gratitude to each of my guests.

Finally, when I get bored will all my presents – like, a week later – I’m going to be really crabby and whiny. I may refuse to do ordinary tasks such as make your dinner and wash your underwear.

Don’t take this personally. After all, you’re the one spoiling me rotten! Oh, and I just want to add that I’m super excited about this year’s birthday plans and so proud of you, my grown-up little boy!

Love, Mommy 82 Atlanta Parent September 2012

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