Poppyseed Magazine - September/October 2015

poppyseed the cool guide for all families

September • October 2015

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Happy Halloween!

Family Hiking Day • Cool Gear for All • Halloween Crafts & MORE!!!

poppyseed

Issue Nine September • October 2015

publisher & owner Joey Coakley Beck jbeck@beckmediagroup.com editorial director Hayleigh Worgan hworgan@beckmediagroup.com contributors Lani Maddox Hayleigh Worgan advertising inquiries advertise@beckmediagroup.com poppyseed@beckmediagroup.com (540) 904-6800

poppyseed the cool guide for all families

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Enjoy our cool gear section, filled with products to make both the school day and after school activities much more enjoyable for everyone!

Don’t forget to check out our website and Facebook page this month for information on how you can win some of the items featured in this issue.

LLC

806 Wasena Avenue, Suite 101 Roanoke, VA 24015 540.904.6800 fax 540.904.6803 www.beckmediagroup.com

Poppyseed Magazine is the property of Beck Media Group LLC. It is a free publication printed bimonthly and is distributed throughout Southwest and Central Virginia and beyond. The concept and design of Poppyseed Magazine, as well as the design, advertisements, art, photos and editorial content is property of Beck Media Group LLC and may not be copied or reprinted without written permission from the publisher. ©2015 Beck Media Group LLC All Rights Reserved. PRINTED IN THE USA

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Summer is over and we are officially back on the school routine! Fortunately, the Poppyseed staff has some wonderful advice to make things a little easier on your day-to-day schedule. In this issue, you will find solutions to your dilemmas, like packing school lunches, fun family activities, and so much more!

A HUGE thank you to our dedicated readers and our advertisers for their continued support. We hope you enjoy reading this issue as much as we enjoyed creating it!

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poppyseed

Page 3 September • October 2015

Get Outside Outdoor Happenings: Family Hiking Day

The weather may be getting a little cooler, but that is no excuse to hide away inside! Now that school is back in session, families have to take every opportunity available to reconnect and spend time together. Fortunately, our beautiful region offers many opportunities to do just that— one of which is Family Hiking Day. On Saturday, September 26, join the Appalachian Trail Conservancy as they celebrate this special day with a hike on the Appalachian Trail.

Held on National Public Lands Day, Family Hiking Day is an opportunity to introduce children to America’s premier footpath and all the benefits that come from being active and spending time outdoors.

You can join one of many hikes being held up and down the trail or plan a hike of your own. Either way, your day will be filled with family memories that will last a lifetime.

Visit www.applachiantrail.org for more information, or follow our Facebook page—we will be sharing reminders of this event throughout the month of September. www.beckmediagroup.com

Page 5 September • October 2015

A Fun Snack

for Team Moms!

Revamping the classic orange slice Soccer is gearing up and you know what that means, team parents! Between practices and games, you may find yourself short on healthy snack ideas that give your child the boost they need.

We love this spin on the classic orange slice from www.topinspired.com!

For these Jell-o oranges, you will need: 2-3 Oranges (Each yields about 8 slices) 2 6oz Boxes of Cherry Jell-O Mix Bowl, Hand Orange Squeezer, Knife, Pot and Spoon

Written by

Lani Maddox

Page 6 September • October 2015

Start by cutting each orange into halves. For this recipe you will need the juice, so use a hand orange squeezer. Set juice aside. CAUTION: Be gentle when removing insides, because you will grind through orange peel. Follow the directions on the Jell-O box. Combine the Jell-O mixture with the fresh squeezed orange juice. After preparation, you can ladle the Jell-O liquid into the orange shells. After you have filled the orange shells with liquid mixture, then place them into the fridge to harden. This usually takes about an hour. The last step is to cut them into pieces! Depending on how you cut them, each orange will yield about 4-8 slices.

I’d say in total these take about an hour and 15 minutes to make at most. You can use any flavor Jell-O that you’d like and using the juice is optional. Have fun with these and let your kids help! Not only will they have fun making them, they will definitely appreciate them on those long afternoons! www.beckmediagroup.com

Staying inTouch Making a grandparent a school-year pen pal

Written by

Lani Maddox

www.beckmediagroup.com

Now that September is here, the time children get to spend with their grandparents is often reduced to a phone call every now and then. Life gets busy during the school year, and it is easy to become disconnected with grandparents that you see frequently during the summer. But things don’t have to be that way.

It is easy to sweep connections under the rug for a few months. We all know that life gets in the way, and even the best intentions to keep in touch can be excused when another assignment or team practice comes up. However, it is important that families don’t let opportunities to connect with one another pass them by, because those are moments you can’t get back.

Keep that relationship strong all year by having your kids write to their grandparents, like a pen pal. Make a kit that will include all of the essentials: stationary, envelopes, stamps, and a pen. Better yet, personalize those items to each child. Try and get them into a habit of writing to their grandparents once a week. Maybe they had a big soccer game, and they could give them the play by play. Many grandparents may also be encouraged to keep up their end of the exchange and respond to those letters.

These are memories that your child will treasure for a lifetime.

In addition to promoting a constant flow of communication, you are helping your child develop writing skills that will help them in the future. Even if a week has been less than eventful, suggest that they write anyway. What will begin as a challenge will likely become an exciting part of their routine that solidifies the lasting bond between grandparents and grandchildren.

Page 9 September • October 2015

Written by

Lani Maddox

Page 10 September • October 2015

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Kid-Friendly Subscription Services A cool way to reward your child

Written by

Lani Maddox

Monthly subscriptions are popular and cater to all interests and age groups! As the holidays approach and school becomes a little more challenging, they are a great way to either reward your child each month or keep small gifts handy for celebrations. However you decide to use them, here are a few of our favorite subscription services: Kiwi Crate, was “built out of a passion for hands-on fun that encourages creativity and curiosity in children.” Families no longer have to worry about complicated crafts that require hours of scavenging for materials, because Kiwi Crate has you covered!

This one is perfect for the curious little minds of toddlers. Go to www.kiwicrate.com to place your order today!

Whether your child is a gamer in the making, or has a love for all things super heroes and villains, they will love Loot Crate! This monthly subscription is packed with comic books, games, t-shirts and much more. The best part is that each month a lucky member of Loot Crate is entered in a drawing for a Mega Crate that includes things like game systems, high-value board games and more! Visit www.lootcrate.com for more information.

If GiftLit would’ve been around when I was growing up, I would’ve been thrilled! This is a monthly subscription that provides books suitable for your child’s age group. As you choose your theme, the people behind GiftLit will send you the perfect book that will be sure to grab your attention. To sign up, visit www.giftlit.com.

Visit our website between issues for more information on the most unique and cool gear available for families!

www.beckmediagroup.com

Page 11 September • October 2015

OperA fun!

For ....... all ages

Free Family Day

Nov. 7, 2015, 2pm • 701 Main Street, Lynchburg Join us in the opera building for a free performance of Billy Goats Gruff, an art activity and reception with the performers.

Opera at the miller Center

Nov. 14, 2015, 2pm • 301 Grove Street, Lynchburg The Billy Goats Gruff are coming to the MIller Center. Enjoy the show and a reception with the performers. (lynchburgva.gov/miller-center)

hansel & gretel

Jan. 29, 2016, 7:30pm • Jan. 30, 2016, 3pm • Jan. 31, 2016, 2pm Academy of Fine Arts Warehouse Theatre Co-produced with the Academy of Fine Arts, don’t miss the classic story sung and danced with operatic flair! (academyfinearts.com)

Visit OperaOnTheJames.org for other programs for all ages.

Kitchen Adventures Choosing Dinner as a Family Written by

Lani Maddox

www.beckmediagroup.com

Everyone has memories that just stick, and some of my favorites took place when I was in kindergarten. As we began our morning, Mrs. Wickham would begin with a routine of choosing lunch. My parents would send me to school with enough money to buy lunch and an ice cream at the end of the day. When you approached her desk you would see that week’s menu taped to her desk and two cups: one for bills and one for coins. From there, she would have you read the choices and then she’d have you help count the money. To finish up, there was a chart with pictures of the ice cream available that day. This added value to our lunch because we got to choose what we purchased.

As your own children get older, it is a great idea to start including them in decision making. An easy place to begin is the kitchen. Place a menu on the refrigerator with a few healthy choices that they enjoy. You can design it anyway you’d like, but it would be helpful to have clothespins, stickers, or something to differentiate between the days of the week. From there you could add 1-2 pockets that hold entrees and maybe even a dessert option.

This activity is a great way for families to bond over dinner instead of spending the entire time at the table arguing about cleaning plates. You can start by letting your child choose 1-2 meals per week with a mutual agreement that they will give your choices a try on all of the other nights. Learning to make choices is very important in development, and the dinner table is a great place to start!

Page 13 September • October 2015

Saving Time on a School Day Winning the race against the clock every morning

Relaxed mornings are few and far between for the average American family, and it can seem like you’re always in a race against the clock to get everyone out the door on time. If it seems like your kids are making you 10 minutes late every morning, try these tricks to make mornings go faster and smoothly:

1. Turn making the bed from an annoying time-consuming chore into a fast, fun activity.

Most parents say kids don’t want to make their beds because it isn’t fun or takes too much time, according to a recent survey by Zipit Bedding. It’s no mystery why kids walk out the door without doing the one thing that can make a messy room look tidy. Turning a chore into a fun activity is the fastest way to get kids to do it. New Zipit Bedding simplifies bed-making to a quick zip. The all-in-one bedding fits over mattresses much like a sleeping bag. Instead of the tiresome tucking and straightening needed to make regular bedding, Zipit literally zips closed, bringing the top sheet perfectly in place over the fitted bottom sheet. To learn more, or to order, visit www.zipitbedding.com.

2. Pack lunches the night before.

Packing just two lunches can take 10 minutes or more. Save time by packing as much as possible the night before.

If you have room in the refrigerator, store the packed lunch bag overnight. If you’ll be packing items that won’t keep well chilled - like pretzels or potato chips—pre-pack what you can and then add the non-chillable items in the morning. On the weekend, shop with lunch in mind and plan your “menus” for the week so you’re not wasting time wracking your brain for ideas every day.

3. Streamline breakfast time.

Big breakfasts take time and typically happen only on weekends in many American households. But skipping breakfast is out of the question—as is chowing down on fast food breakfast every day—so look for breakfast foods that are both nourishing and fast. Smoothies can be a quick, healthful breakfast when you incorporate skim milk, fruits and veggies. Add extra protein with a dash of protein powder or a tablespoon of lowfat peanut butter. Make mini breakfast quiches or muffins in advance, freeze them and pop one in the microwave each morning for a fast, tasty and nutritious breakfast.

4. Pull off a quick wardrobe change.

Before putting kids to bed each night, take a few minutes to pick out the next day’s outfit. Arrange everything kids will need on a chair beside the bed—undies to hair clips—so that they don’t have to ponder what to wear or waste time looking for misplaced items in the morning. For picky kids or erratic weather forecasts, offer kids two options to choose from so they can feel like part of the process!

5. Pump up the morning with music.

Kids love a good dance party, and playing an upbeat, energetic song in the background as they get dressed, brush teeth and eat breakfast can help raise their energy levels. The faster the song, the faster they’ll probably move, so pick tunes that really pop—and that they love! Happy music can also help set the mood for their whole day.

6. Set the stage with a good night’s sleep.

Children need more sleep than adults, but many studies have shown that few kids—and fewer teens—really get as much as they need. A tired child is a cranky child who is likely to drag his feet getting out of bed in the morning.

Establish and stick to a set bedtime and follow a soothing routine to ensure kids get the amount of sleep they need to be healthy, happy and alert in the morning. www.beckmediagroup.com

Page 15 September • October 2015

Upcycling at Its Best

Written by

Lani Maddox

Wickedly Cute Crafts

Halloween is just around the corner, so you know what that means! It’s time to decorate the tree!

Christmas isn’t the only time of year that it’s acceptable to break out the tree. My mom believes in celebrating every occasion. If there is an ornament then there is a way! I’ve racked my brain and endlessly searched Pinterest, and I found some cute Halloween ornaments that you can easily make at home. These are all upcycled crafts, which allow you to find use out of things you’d usually pitch in the trashcan!

The first craft I ran across is a wickedly cute bat that’s made out of toilet paper rolls from MollyMoo Crafts!

You will need: Toilet Paper Rolls Black Construction Paper Black Permanent Marker & Crayons Scissors Start by folding in one side of the toilet paper roll and glue them into place. If you have a creative mind then you will quickly see bat ears. Next you will create bat wings out of the black construction paper. The last step is to draw a face!

I also ran across this creepy, crawly spider on Etsy that is just as easy to make yourself!

You will need: Old Colored Christmas Bulb Craft Wire Wire Cutters Start by cutting eight “legs” out of craft wire.

From here, you simply twist the wire around the coil of the light bulb.

Before you load up your tree, of course you will need some kind of garland! Burlap is always a great choice, but if you want a more old-fashioned look, then I’d go with Halloween-inspired paper chain.

Be sure to visit our Pinterest page for more great DIY ideas—perfect for Halloween AND the holidays that follow! www.beckmediagroup.com

Page 17 September • October 2015

Cool Family Gear Having rad school supplies is a must and sometimes you will find things that will resemble‌ pita bread! This pencil case will hold every that is essential like pencils/pens, a ruler, scissors, and even keys or a USB drive. It is made from cotton with elastic webbing that holds up to 10 items and has a Velcro tab for easy opening and closing. You can find these on LOGG Design Studio’s page found on www.etsy.com.

WIN THESE!!!

Stay tuned to our Facebook page for details.

Back to School Necessities If you are like us, you are still getting used to the back-to-school schedule changes. Everything from going to bed earlier to waking up, getting dressed, and making sure everyone has all the supplies they will need for the day is a test in patience and resilience for everyone involved.

We rounded up a few of our favorite things to make the adjustment a little easier. Check them out, and remember: We are all in this together!

The OK to Wake! children’s alarm clock and nightlight is perfect for the both the child who wakes up too early OR the one that sleeps too late. The color changing night-light timer teaches children to stay in bed longer in the morning so parents get more sleep.

Parents set the OK to Wake time and brightness. A separate “nap timer” allows for afternoon napping without the usual alarm and night-light settings that can disrupt sleep. Finally, the alarm clock with snooze function allows older kids to get up “on their own” and begin to take responsibility for their morning activities.

Cool Family Gear

WIN THESE!!!

Stay tuned to our Facebook page for details.

As a kid, it was always exciting to get a new pair of back-to-school kicks.

Send your kids back to school in style with Plae’s, The Artist. This shoe is a blank canvas for a creative mind that leaves it up to your child to fill in the empty space. They can color it anyway that they’d like. This product is lightweight, washable, and vegan-friendly. Check them out at www.goplae.com.

Page 20 September • October 2015

Dr. Seuss is back! His latest picture book to hit the shelves goes by the name of What Pet Should I Get? In this story, two children are faced with the hard decision of choosing a pet (only one!). Whether you are a Seuss fan or not, it helps define a core life lesson of making one’s mind up, which is a struggle at any age. Witty to the last page, Seuss teaches the reader that though it’s not always fun to make a hard decision, like choosing a pet, that it is just a part of life!

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Beating the Stress of Back to School Do you or your child have the back-to-school blues? If so, you’re not the only ones. Saying goodbye to slower summer days can be difficult. For almost three months, you have felt free from the structure of the classroom and the accompanying homework. When the upcoming school year rolls around, it’s common to feel some sadness. For children who suffer from anxiety, this stress may be harder to handle, and it may stem from more than just pop quizzes and earlier bedtimes.

These children need extra attention as the new school year draws near. The best thing you can do to prepare your child is to give the gift of your time and attention. Instead of dwelling on things like tests and homework, talk about how to make the transition into the exciting new school year the best it can be.

Lauren Zimet, director of the Early Insights Healthy Foundations Program, is a mother herself and has pinpointed the top four back-to-school tips and tricks to make the transition easier. These tips will help to reduce the stress and tension felt by you and your child, not only for the first weeks of school (the hardest time to adjust) but throughout the year as well.

1. Connected communication. Engage in a conversation with your child and ask what he or she is excited and concerned about for the upcoming school year. Give your child the freedom to speak openly and avoid asking too many questions at once. You’ll know you are connecting when he starts volunteering information. When you listen to your child, and he can see the genuine interest and attention in your eyes and through your body language, he will feel more comfortable discussing the upcoming year.

2. Creative calendars. Planning ahead makes adults feel prepared, which is a huge de-stressor. The same goes for your child. Younger children only need a day or two to look forward to their big day. Older children may benefit from discussing the year weeks before the first day, especially if those conversations include working on things like organization, planning, prioritizing, and sequencing (those important executive functions of the brain).

3. Visualize the goal. Get specific and help your child visualize the first day of school. Have your child tell you or draw out the sequence of the day, from waking up in the morning, to dressing in an outfit chosen the night before, to what she’ll be enjoying as her brain-boosting energy breakfast. The more your child can visualize her routine(s), the more she will be at ease when the big day finally arrives.

4. Load up on brain food. Breakfast is coined “the most important meal of the day,” and rightly so!

Food is the fuel for the brain and body, and the quality of the fuel matters. Whatever you choose to give your body and brain each morning will enable you to do a certain level of thinking. American breakfasts are often unbalanced, heavily favoring carbs, which are only a tiny part of the good-breakfast equation. Encourage your child to pick a protein each morning, as well as fruit, veggie, and healthy fat and carb options.

The new school year is on its way and while this time of year may cause some children to feel anxious, there are things you can do to help. Employ any of the suggestions above to help your child start feeling more excited about the new school year with each passing day.

Page 22 September • October 2015

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