November 2023
Volume 12 • Issue 3
Happy Thanksgiving!
leading off: publisher’s note Hey there, fabulous parents! As we gear up for the ultimate feast of gratitude, Thanksgiving, we couldn’t resist sprinkling a dash of parenting pizzazz into the mix. Whether you’re a master chef crafting a turkey masterpiece or a pro at navigating the delicate art of convincing your little ones that mashed potatoes are, indeed, a dessert, we’ve got you covered. In this issue, we’re serving up a cornucopia of tips and tricks to make your Thanksgiving celebration a harmonious symphony of laughter and love. From crafting the perfect “turkey hand” art with the kiddos to expertly dodging those tricky questions about where cranberries really come from, consider us your Thanksgiving wing-parents.
Trying Mountain Dew Fruit Quake last Thanksgiving!
So, grab a slice of pumpkin pie (or two, we won’t judge), kick back, and let the Thanksgiving festivities begin. Here’s to creating memories as heartwarming as that first bite of stuffing and as delightful as the post-feast nap. Happy Turkey Day, parenting pros!
The Eagan Family Andrea, Josh, Ani & Evie
Proud Members of the Parenting Media Association since 2013! Learn more at www.parentmedia.org. 7
Co n t a ct Us: P.O. Box 4484, Roanoke, VA 24015 540-251-1660 www.roanoke.family
Publishers
Josh & Andrea Eagan josh@virginiafamily.com • Anika and Evelyn’s Parents
Creative Director
Read Our Other Publications
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Contributors Cristy Carr • Gene Marano • Sandi Schwartz Tani Haas • Rebecca Hastings Rachel Levine • Jacqueline Moon
Connect With Us
/roanokefamily
Tracy Fisher
tracy@virginiafamily.com • Charlotte and Evelyn’s Mom
Webmaster
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Roanoke Valley Family and www.roanoke.family are published by MoFat Publishing. Roanoke Valley Family is published monthly. The views and the opinions expressed by the writers and advertisers do not necessarily represent those of Roanoke Valley Family, its staff, or its contributors. While multiple businesses, schools, and organizations are represented in our pages, and magazines are often distributed to students according to the policies and procedures of each school district, this is not a publication coordinated or endorsed by any public or private school district, nor is it a publication with any religious or political objectives. As a mass media outlet, it is our oath and responsibility to communicate with due diligence, through our content, the plurality of views and opinions reflected in our audience of Central and Southwest Virginia. Readers are strongly encouraged to verify information with programs and businesses directly. Parents are urged to thoroughly research any decisions involving their children. Copyright 2019 by MoFat Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved. All material, including artwork, advertisements, and editorials, may not be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the publisher.
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Inside November
Holiday Buying Guide
We’ve found our favorite toys, books and gadgets for everyone on your holiday shopping list this year! Read on page 13
Celebrating Together A Roanoke Interfaith Family’s Holiday Traditions.
Cooking Corner Make cute delicious Sugar Mice. Read on page 31
6 Local Events & Fun At Home 8 Is It Time to Look for a New Credit Card
Freedom First walks us through when to look for a new credit card and what they they should be getting.
18 Making Holidays New
Read on page 28
20 A History of Christmas Traditions
22 Black Friday/Cyber Monday
Get ready to cash in on the busiest shopping days of the year! We give you tips to get you the best deals available!
32 Holiday Book Guide
We pick some of our favorite reads for this holidays gift giving season!
36 Better Butter Experiment
Have fun with this science experiment and learn how a marble can help you make butter!
38 Home is Where the Art Is
The Taubman Museum shows us how to make a beautiful and musical paper bowl drum.
November Things to do
Layman Family Farm Fall Festival Now - Nov 5 Layman Farms Blue Ridge
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Run for Donuts 5k
November 4 Sherwood Memorial Park
Family • November 2023
WWE Supershow November 12 Berglund Center
Grandin Village Holiday Children’s Parade November 18 Grandin Village
Drumstick Dash
November 23 Downtown Roanoke Roanoke
Small Business
Saturday
November 25 | 10am - 6pm Downtown Roanoke
Shop small, shop local More details at DowntownRoanokeShopping.com
Admission = $10 Skate rentals = $2 Open from
November 22 - January 28 Visit ElmwoodOnIce.com for details Family • November 2023
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CHOOSE CAR SEAT: BY AGE & SIZE
THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE
WHO THINK
ML
THEY HAVE THEIR CHILD IN THE RIGHT SEAT.
THE ONES
WHO ACTUALLY DO.
KNOW FOR SURE
IF YOUR CHILD IS IN THE RIGHT CAR SEAT. VISIT SAFERCAR.GOV/THERIGHTSEAT
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Family • November 2023
As fall weather sets in, many homeowners take advantage of cooler days to spruce up their living spaces since they’re confined indoors. However, fitting all that work into a busy season filled with school, sports, and other family demands isn’t always easy. Fortunately, a fall refresh doesn’t have to mean mountains of daunting work. These tips can provide the inspiration you need to spruce up your home without the hassle.
Control the clutter.
Even the cleanest homes still look messy when they’re disorganized, but it’s an uphill battle for many to keep clutter from accumulating. Tackle the house room-byroom. Divide clutter into three piles: keep, donate, and discard.
Give floors a facelift.
After months spent outside, it’s inevitable that you’ve tracked some of the great outdoors back inside with you. Get your floors back in their best condition with a simple carpet washing innovation like Hoover’s Smartwash Automatic Carpet Cleaner. An auto-mix feature precisely mixes and dispenses solution for optimal cleaning, and operation is as easy as it comes: push forward to wash, pull back to dry. Let the powerful brushes do all the work to gently remove embedded dirt and debris.
Add some cheery light.
If you’re like many homeowners, light fixtures aren’t high on your list for everyday cleaning. However, over time, dust and debris build up, which can impact the quality of light. Take time to wipe down fixtures for a cleaner, brighter ambiance in minutes.
Swap out bedding.
Updating the textiles in a room is an easy way to instantly transform a space. Bedding for cooler seasons tends to be heavier and darker, so it’s the perfect time to make a switch to sheets and comforters that are not only practical but look cozy and inviting for the cold nights ahead. Similarly, you can swap out airy drapes and window treatments for more robust versions that reflect the season while helping keep drafts at bay.
Quick Ways to Freshen Up Make DIY cleaning supplies. Your Home for Fall
Some of the most effective cleaning agents can be made at home, so you never have to worry about running out. Make your own all-purpose spray cleaner by combining a quart of water with four tablespoons of baking soda. For extra cleaning power, you can mix vinegar with water and add a few drops of essential oils for an appealing scent. Another quick fix: Run citrus peels through the garbage disposal for an easy clean and fresh smelling kitchen. Find more tips and ideas to get your home fall-ready at hoover.com. Family • November 2023
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l ley ’s a V e k o n a o R Pa r k e n i l o p m a r On ly T
Kids Eat Freeor cheap Every Day
B o o k Yo u r rty Bi r t hday Pa To day !
• Mama Maria’s 11 AM - 2 PM • 3 & under free buffet with paid adult W. Main St., Salem (540) 389-2848 • Golden Corral All Day • 3 & under free buffet with paid adult 1441 Towne Square Blvd., Roanoke (540) 563-8826 IHop 4PM-10PM • 12 & Under All Locations
Monday • Famous Anthony’s 3 PM - Close • 1 child per paid adult All Locations in Roanoke, Salem, & Vinton (540) 362-1400 • Buffalo Wild Wings 4 PM - 9 PM • 12 & under, 1 child per paid adult All Locations (540) 725-9464
launchingpadsalem.com 1300 Intervale Drive Salem VA 24153
540-404-9235 10
Family • November 2023
• El Rio Mexican Grill All Day • 10 & under, 1 child per paid adult 4208 Electric Rd., Roanoke (540) 685-4343 • Firehouse Subs All Day • 11 & under, 2
children per paid adult combo,dine in Blacksburg (540) 9610371 • The Green Goat All Day • 12 & under, 1 child per paid adult 802 Wiley Dr. SW, Roanoke (540) 904-6091
Tuesday • Denny’s 4 PM - 10 PM • 12 & under, 1 child per paid adult All Locations Roanoke & Salem (540) 389-5074 • Macado’s 4 PM - 9 PM • 12 & under, $1 child meal per paid adult All Locations in Roanoke & Salem (540) 776-9884 • McAlister’s Deli 5 PM - Close • 2 children per paid adult 2063 Colonial Ave., Roanoke (540) 204-4407 • Town Center Tap House All Day • 12 & under, 2 children per paid adult 90 Town Center St., Daleville
(540) 591-9991 • Firehouse Subs All Day • 12 & under, 1 child per paid adult Colonial Ave, Town Square & Salem only (540) 345-3131 • Pizza Hut 5 PM - Close • 10 & under, free buffet per paid adult 1016 Hershberger Rd., Roanoke (540) 362-3834
Wednesday • Dogwood 4 PM - Close • 10 & under, per paid adult 106 E. Lee Ave., Vinton (540) 343-6549
Trampolines
& More!
Thursday • Jerry’s Family Restaurant 4 PM - Close • 6 & under, 1 child per adult meal purchase 1340 E. Washington Ave., Vinton (540) 343-4400
Friday See Everyday Deals!
Saturday • Famous Anthony’s 12 PM - Close • 1 child per adult meal All Locations Roanoke, Salem, Vinton (540) 362-1400
Sunday • Local Roots 5 PM -7 PM • 5 & under eat for free, discount for ages 5-7 per paid adult 1314 Grandin Rd., Roanoke
Bumper Cars Ninja Warrior Course Basketball Dodgeball Jousting Pit Fidget Ladder Airbag Pit Launch Tower Arcade with prizes Flight Training Wall Snack Bar 5 Party Rooms
(540) 206-2610 • T.G.I.Fridays All Day • 12 & under 1 with paying adult 4869 Valley View Blvd., Roanoke (540) 362-1475 • Moe’s Southwestern Grill All Day • 1 free per paid adult All Roanoke & Blacksburg locations • Firehouse Subs All Day • 12 and Under 1 free per paid adult Keagy Road, Roanoke 540-204-4471 • Rodeo Grande All Day • 12 and Under 1 free per paid adult Valley View, Roanoke 540-206-2296 • Lew’s Restaurant SW All Day • 12 and Under 2 free per paid adult Walnut Avenue, Roanoke 540-682-5925
Roanoke Valley Family Magazine publishes these deals for informational purposes only. A Listing here does not guarantee a discount at any of the mentioned restaurants. Promotions often change without notice and we recommend calling the restaurant to confirm any discount before arrival.
Family • November 2023
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Social Media Oral Health Myths by Dr. Sarah K. Wilson, DDS
About two years ago, seemingly out of nowhere, my patients started asking about something “new” — “Is charcoal toothpaste safe to use? Does it work?” Prior to that, it was oil pulling and fluoride-free products. Lately, I’ve heard more questions from patients spurred by what they’ve seen on social media relating to oral health and hygiene. We are suddenly in a world where we are exposed en masse to new technologies, innovations, and ideas. Some are good, some are ineffective, and at worst, some cause harm. Excitement around these trends seems backed by a desire for natural, organic products. Often, they may be backed by historic use, which makes them seem safe. Charcoal toothpaste has anecdotally been used for centuries, and oil pulling has roots in ancient India. Generally, people want what’s best for their health, but there’s a lot of conflicting information out there to sift through. I counsel my patients to stick with methods that are tested, researched, and proven effective. Here are a few examples of social media myths that my practice has addressed with our patients. MYTH: Charcoal toothpaste will make your teeth whiter. The popularity of charcoal toothpaste, and its promotion on social media, appears to be tied to individuals wanting to whiten their teeth while brushing. Because of the bold claims often made on the packaging of charcoal toothpastes, you might be surprised
to learn that there is no scientific evidence proving the effectiveness of these toothpastes when it comes to whitening. In fact, brushing regularly with charcoal toothpaste has been found to be abrasive to the teeth, meaning it can cause your teeth to wear away faster than normal. Many charcoal toothpastes lack fluoride, a mineral essential to strengthening enamel. If you’ve recently changed your toothpaste and are experiencing tooth sensitivity or notice a change in your oral health, I encourage you to consult with your dentist. MYTH: Fluoride-free toothpaste is a better, more natural option than toothpaste with fluoride. Fluoride is a naturally occurring element that can be found in most water sources like lakes, oceans, and rivers. It is important to brush with a toothpaste that contains fluoride because it’s the ingredient that helps prevent tooth decay by making your and your child’s tooth enamel stronger. Last year, a study in the dental journal Gerodontology found that without fluoride, oral hygiene efforts have no impact on cavity rates — if you’re brushing with a toothpaste that is fluoridefree, you aren’t properly protecting your teeth. MYTH: You can use DIY braces to save money and straighten your child’s teeth. Do-it-yourself braces can cause permanent, irreparable
damage to a person’s teeth. Nearly 13% of American Association of Orthodontists members have reported seeing patients who have tried this approach. Of all the oral health ideas being spread on social media, this one alarms me the most. I understand that braces are expensive, but using DIY braces in an effort to save money often leads to even more oral-health-related costs down the road. Fixing the damage caused by trying to realign your teeth without the help of a licensed dentist or orthodontist can come at a high price. MYTH: Oil pulling is a good substitute for oral health habits like brushing. Oil pulling is a practice that has been around for hundreds of years, and while there is little to no risk of causing damage to your oral health from oil pulling, there is no scientific evidence that shows the practice reduces cavities, whitens teeth, or improves oral health and well-being. Brushing twice a day with toothpaste that contains fluoride remains the most effective way to strengthen teeth and prevent cavities. I recommend sticking to using olive oil and coconut oil in the kitchen, not in the bathroom alongside your toothbrush and mouthwash. I encourage all patients to talk to their dentist before trying something they see on social media. For more information and tips, visit the American Dental Association’s Mouth Healthy website at mouthhealthy.org. Dr. Sarah Wilson is a member of the Virginia Dental Association and a general dentist practicing in Vinton, VA.
Gift Guide 2023 Holiday
Discover the newest trends, hottest toys, and coolest gifts to give your family and friends this holiday season
Gift Guide 2023 Holiday
Cinemood Portable Projector $399 | Ages 6+ Cinemood is the world’s first noiseless, 3-inch ultralight standalone projector that converts any flat surface into up to 12-feet of cinema bliss. Totally portable, it doesn’t need to be connected to a computer, phone or wall outlet. Stream your favorite Netflix shows on the ceiling while luxuriously watching from bed or anywhere else the moment strikes you. Cinemood has tons of educational options too so it’s perfect for your little ones and you control all content.
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Family • November 2023
Educational Insights Sculptapalooza Sculpting Party Game $19.99 | Ages 10+
Learning Resources Spike The Fine Motor Hedgehog $14.99 | Ages 18 months +
Squish and squash your way into sculpting superstardom with Sculptapalooza from Educational Insights. This fastpaced, hands-on game gets teams racing against the clock to sculpt their way through hilarious challenges for laughout-loud family fun.
Develop important motor skills and prepare your toddler for dressing themselves, writing and other important skills!
Soapsox $12.99-$26.99 | Ages 2+ A patented soap pocket transforms lovable SoapSox into sudsy wash cloth – just add soap and scrub.Snuggle, cuddle, and play together all day and when it’s time for your bath, bring them with you!
King of Dice $21.99 | Ages 8+ From HABA, players will want to gain new citizens for their kingdoms by fulfilling the various requirements on the cards with three rolls of the dice. Special cards provide benefits. But watch out for village idiots and dragons! The player with the best citizens at the end wins the game and makes their kingdom thrive! Do you have what it takes to be King of the Dice? Mini Maker Tubes $6.99 | Ages 5+ This Mini Maker Tube includes step-by-step instructions and all the pieces you need to build a fun design. Everyone will love using their imaginations with Plus-Plus Tube mixes. Just one simple shape will give them endless possibilities and hours of fun.
Kanoodle® Duplexity™ $21.99 | Ages 8+ Put your brain power to the test with 200 magnetic puzzle challenges from Educational Insights! Includes 28 two-color, magnetic pieces; 100 double-sided challenge cards; and a carrying case that doubles as a play board. Totally portable—perfect for playing on-the-go and Perfect to tuck into any puzzle lover’s stocking!
Fun fogres! all a
Indestructible Book Series $4.99 | Ages 0+ Indestructibles are the books built for the way babies read. They are 100 percent baby-proof, chewproof, rip-proof, and drool-proof. Printed on a unique nontoxic, paperlike material that holds up to anything babies can throw at it— gumming, spilling, dragging across the floor— Indestructibles are the little books that could. They’re indestructible. And if they get dirty, just throw them in the washing machine or dishwasher. Family • November 2023
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Chickapig $34.99 | Ages 8+ Chickapig is a highly social strategic board game where Chicken-Pig hybrids (that’s what you get when a chicken and a pig fall in love) attempt to reach their goals while dodging opponents, hay bales, and an ever-menacing pooping cow. Think chess meets checkers meets hilarious fun.
locally owned
Gift Guide 2023 Holiday
8 kids a day are accidentally killed or injured by FAMILY FIRE. FAMILY FIRE is a shooting involving an improperly stored gun, often found in the home. ENDFAMILYFIRE.org
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Family • November 2023
The North Pole Gnome $34.99 | All Ages Where to buy: www.amazon.com The North Pole Gnomes are Santa’s new helpers at the North Pole. Tasked with monitoring the naughty meter, the rascally gnomes are playful, fun, and help your child to do the right thing. The North Pole Gnomes are not just home decor. These plush toys were made to be hugged, and taken on the go. At the end of the night, they go to sleep in your child’s Christmas stocking to report back to the North Pole.
Family • November 2023
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Making Holidays New
by Sharon Probst
It’s here—the change has come. You know it before you see it on the calendar. It’s autumn, and with it come the blessings of cooler, drier air, open windows, and the approaching fall and winter holidays. We’re lucky, aren’t we? That just as we might be wondering what to do with ourselves as the outdoors becomes a bit less accommodating, here come the holidays—with buckets of opportunities for family time both indoors and outdoors, and a coming back together after the chaotic events of summer and back-to-school obligations.
The perspective is what I dig here. You and I, well, we’ve done how many Thanksgiving dinners? Twenty? Thirty? More? But your precious grandchildren are seeing this from a totally different point of view, maybe even for the first time, or maybe for the first time that they can remember. You’ve become accustomed to that luscious scent of cloves and nutmeg in the kitchen, but their memories are just now being established. You are a part of that! It’s exciting! Whatever the holiday or occasion
you’re celebrating with your family, this is the thing: Make it new. Possibly it is new to someone there, so see it that way in your preparations. Close your eyes and remember your experiences growing up. Remember how you felt when gathered up in the arms of relatives that you only saw at these special times of the year. Remember how warm it all felt. Cherish those memories and bring them to life now. Kids are kids, and you know, they love to have fun. Don’t neglect the
“easy” moments, the ones you don’t have to plan. There are leaves in the yard, right? Well, you don’t have to be in the kitchen every minute—get outside! Rake ‘em up and jump in ‘em! You’ll hear belly laughs that are never produced by video games, and you might be surprised to find they are coming from your own belly! Once they (and you) are sufficiently “energied out,” bathed, and fed, gather everyone around for a fun, allinclusive, diversion.
didn’t matter. We made (and she won’t remember, as she was only one) god’s eyes ornaments of yarn and toothpicks. A tradition of making, saving, and displaying handmade treasures for the tree is one that will keep families talking about old times for years to come. Gather friends, family, children, and grandchildren for a tree-trimming party, and memories will flood to the times that this one or that one was fashioned, and what was happening in people’s lives at those times.
My favorite is cookie decorating, because everyone can participate—and who doesn’t love cookies? This is easy prep (make the cookie dough ahead and store in the fridge until whenever the moment arises), and fill small bowls with whatever toppings your mind can conjure. The kids will do the rest, and the results are truly priceless (but alas, will disappear, leaving only crumbs in their wake).
Whatever your holidays are, whatever your traditions already encompass, this season offers us the structure to bring our divergent lives together in a collective spirit. The Roanoke Valley presents opportunities for families to share time together and make positive memories that can be handed over from year to year and generation to generation. From the Drumstick Dash on Thanksgiving morning (drumstickdash.net/), to Dickens of a Christmas downtown during the first three weekends of December (downtownroanoke.org/ events/signature-events/dickens-
To provide longer-lasting memories, try ornament-making. I remember the very first Christmas with my daughter. Money was tight, but that
of-a-christmas), to ice skating at Elmwood Park (downtownroanoke. org/events/elmwood-on-ice), there are really no limits to how we can engage with our families, our children, our grandchildren, and even our great-grandchildren, to make lasting memories that will survive us and carry forward our love to future generations. Look through the eyes of the children that surround you, and in doing so, look through your own eyes and see what is magical. Bring it to life in stories around the fireplace, around the table, or at bedtime. Bring it forward in traditions that have been carried on from prior generations, and in new traditions that reflect the lives of your family members—with an eye to the common past from which we have emerged together. And tie it all together with love. Sharon Probst lives in Roanoke with her husband, Dave. They have three children and three grandchildren who live in the Roanoke Valley.
Family • November 2023
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A History of Christmas Traditions
by Kimberly Emory
M
any Christmas traditions began long before the birth of Christ and Christianity. Various sights and events associated with the Christmas season began hundreds of years ago in ancient civilizations.
Christmas wreaths from fruit, nuts, and evergreens. Many across the country wanted the ‘Williamsburg look’ in their own homes at Christmastime, but this is not historically accurate to early American celebrations.
Winter solstice was celebrated by Celtic Druids in France, Britain and Ireland. This festival honored the sun on its shortest day in the sky, encouraging it to return for longer periods. In Persia, the god of light, Mithra, was born on December 25th and this time was accompanied by feasts and celebrations. The Roman god of agriculture symbolized by the sun, Saturn, was honored in a weeklong festival in Rome during this season, and in Scandinavia, yuletide was held as a 2 week-long festival for their god Thor. All of these festivals passed on holiday traditions through the years and as the world expanded. Immigrants traveling across Europe and eventually to America brought their traditions with them, which are still seen today.
In 1828 Dr. Poinsett returned from Mexico where he was ministering with the lovely red blooms on beautiful greenery we commonly see during the holidays today. This poinsettia flower was renamed for him. There is a Mexican legend about a girl who had nothing to give to the Christ child as a gift one Christmas eve. An angel appeared and told her to gather weeds and take them to the manger. While others laughed and scoffed at her gift, after she laid them down they miraculously bloomed the lovely red blossoms of the poinsettia plant!
Christmas Trees
Both the Romans and the Scandinavians used evergreens to decorate during their winter festivals. They felt that this plant was the most honorable because it stayed green through the winter when other plants did not. The Druids also believed that mistletoe was magical- that it brought love and good luck. They also wore holly in their hair during their celebrations.
Trees were first used during Saturnalia in Rome, when they decorated evergreen trees with candles and figures of Saturn. The Druids also decorated trees with candles and golden fruits to symbolize the sun during the winter solstice. Later, in the Middle Ages of Europe, plays about Adam and Eve travelled through northern Europe. One of the features of the play was called a paradise tree, often decorated with red fruits like apples. Since these plays were performed at Christmas time, the tree was linked with Christmas this way.
In colonial American times, decorations at Christmas were sparse, but holly was most often used, especially in churches. Later, during the restoration of Williamsburg, women created
Martin Luther is well known for having Christmas trees in Germany, where they hung cookies and candles on their boughs. Later, German professor Charles Minnigerode brought the
Greenery
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Family • November 2023
Christmas tree to America when he stayed with an American family while teaching at William & Mary in 1842. The early Americans decorated their trees with paper chains, candles, popcorn and cranberry garlands, and cornhusk figures.
Lights Since all of the ancient festivals had to do with the sun and light, candles were used frequently as decorations. After the arrival of Christianity, as Jesus declared himself the ‘light of the world’, candles and lights continued to be utilized during the Christmas season. In the Middle Ages candles were placed in windows as a symbol of welcome to the Christ child searching for lodging. Candles were also used to decorate Christmas trees, but as they were a very real fire hazard they were replaced with electric lights when available. Additionally, the Norsemen burned a Yule log on December 21st to encourage the return of light and heat on the darkest day of the year.
Food and Feasting All of the ancient winter festivals were a time of feasting. Often wild boar was eaten during winter festivals, which translates to modern day Christmas hams. The yule log of the Norsemen is often times now celebrated as a rolled ice cream or cake dessert instead of an actual log in a fireplace. In the Middle Ages pie and plum pudding was popular during the Christmas season. In colonial America, life was hard and there was much work to be done. However, at Christmas time the harvest
Protect the ones you love,
was in and the people could relax a bit more, which brought about the twelve days of Christmas. This was a time of much dancing, feasting, and fox hunting for the colonists. Their feasts were always laid out very symmetrically on the tables, and usually included 12th Night Cake, which was very much like fruitcake and was served on the culminating and most exciting day of the holidays.
Santa Most people know that Saint Nicholas was a real person who lived in Greece in the third century. A devout Christian, orphaned when he was very young, he gave away most of his inheritance and was well known for his good deeds. One of the best known stories about his generosity was providing the dowries for some young girls- some legends say he threw the money through a window and it landed in the girls’ shoes on the hearth (thus why the Scandinavians leave their shoes out on Christmas eve). Other versions say he tossed the money down the chimney and it landed in the girls’ stockings drying over the hearth (thus why the British and Americans hang stockings from the mantle). People in the Middle Ages began to give credit to St. Nicholas anytime they got an unexpected gift, but the legend really caught on in 1823 after the poem ‘A Visit from St. Nicholas’ was published. From there, the modern St. Nick was born and over the years morphed into the Santa Claus we know and love today.
The Spirit of Christmas Rome’s Saturnalia festival included gift giving, known as strenae, which after the birth of Christianity was later connected with the magi’s gifts to the Christ child and continued. In colonial America, Christmas was more a time of merriment for the
adults and not much gift giving was involved. It wasn’t until the 1800s that the holiday evolved into a time for children and families. This was the time when not only was the famous poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas’ was published touting the charitable legend, but also Charles Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’, which included a general feeling of giving and generosity that became linked with the Christmas season.
get your flu shot today.
There are so many great traditions that surround the holiday season. Whether you enjoy caroling with your family (which was based on the tradition of wassailing in England, where people went door to door singing and given something to eat or drink in return), making gingerbread houses (which were romanticized and modernized from Grimm’s Fairy Tales), or helping others who are less fortunate (as so many have done for centuries on Boxing Day), make sure to focus on your family and making great memories- and maybe some new traditions too!
The Roanoke Star Our valley has a very unique Christmas historical artifact- our very own Roanoke Star! The star was sponsored by the American Merchant’s Association in 1949 and meant to shine during the holiday shopping season and then dismantled. It was first lit on November 23rd, 1949, and quickly became so popular it was decided to keep it lit all year. Though the star has become an icon of our area and often has reflected our valley’s patriotism by being lit red, white, and blue for 6 years after September 11th, or sorrow, such as turning red for traffic fatalities or darkened completely on the first anniversary of the Virginia Tech shootings, its origins are in the festivities of the Christmas season.
@vaccinatevirginia
Family • November 2023
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BLACK FRIDAY CYBER MONDAY Cashing in on Super Holiday Savings by Kimberly Blaker
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Family • November 2023
T
here may be no other aspect of the holiday season regarded with such strong and varied opinions than Black Friday. Lovers thrill over the freebies and super savings that lure them in. Haters berate it for getting in the way of the Thanksgiving holiday tradition, for being a big gimmick, and for leading people to behave badly, insisting it’s a symbol of excessive American consumerism. Whether you’re a hater or an enthusiast, there are plenty of ways to cash in on holiday savings on Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and throughout the holiday season. Follow these tips for deep holiday savings. Subscribe to store email lists. Decide at least a couple weeks in advance at which stores you’ll want to shop for the holidays. Then visit each store’s website and subscribe to their email list. Signing up early will ensure you receive all special emails for the season’s big Black Friday and Cyber Monday events, as well as ongoing savings right on through Christmas Eve. Buy discounted gift cards. Visit Raise.com and order discounted gift cards for the stores you’ll be frequenting. Then use these cards to purchase sale and special-buy items to increase your total savings. The caveat: Be certain the gift cards are for stores you’ll definitely shop at. Otherwise, you’ll defeat your savings by being forced to use the cards on unnecessary purchases to recoup your investment. On the other hand, gift cards can also make great gifts. Start collecting deals. Keep track of Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals that show up in your newspaper, mailbox, and email. Also, visit your favorite stores online a few days in advance to find out what kind of deals they’ll be offering. Print out any coupons you find online or in your email. Then, store them together in a safe place. Organize for the big day. Once you’ve collected all the deals, sort through and match them up to your holiday shopping list. Compare deals and determine when the sales or doorbusters begin and whether there’ll be limited quantities. Then,
strategize. If you can’t stand in line for hours for a limited-quantity doorbuster, skip it altogether and focus on the other deals that’ll be easier to fetch. Prepare a ‘second best’ list. You can’t be everywhere at once, so you’re sure to miss a deal or two. If you’ve prepared in advance for that possibility, you’ll know where to go and what to look for as an alternative.
Many stores offer the same deals online as they do in their stores. Not to mention, many online stores don’t even have storefronts. Keep in mind, however, that supplies are often limited, even online. By the time you reach checkout, an item in your basket may be sold out. If you’re shopping for multiple items from a single online store, do multiple checkouts to ensure the items in your basket don’t disappear while you’re busy clicking around.
Some stores mark up merchandise before reducing it only to make it look like a great bargain.
Watch for early bird freebies. Many stores offer free gifts to the first 25 or 100 people in their store. It’s true, there are some pretty nice prizes to fetch—but they’ll likely require hours of waiting in line, starting well before the crack of dawn. Before succumbing to these lures, consider whether losing out on savings elsewhere is worth it. Do your research. Black Friday isn’t always the best or only day for hot bargains. Stores tout their Black Friday deals to get consumers into a buying frenzy early in the season. Some even offer their super deals starting Thanksgiving evening, and even reduce their prices on Wednesday. Remember also that those Black Friday deals can often be found online on Cyber Monday. In fact, many of the hot deals—and even better ones—stretch well into December.
Shop late in the day. If you’re like many people, shopping on Black Friday isn’t even a consideration for no other reason than the intrinsic chaos. But realize that on Black Friday, the vast majority of shoppers start out at the crack of dawn or earlier. By 5:00 p.m., malls and stores are dead. Early birds have already shopped ‘til they dropped. So Black Friday evening is a great time to get in your early shopping, with plenty of great deals still going on. Shop online. This is another option if you don’t want to participate in the madhouse.
Arrange your finances in advance. If you plan on paying by credit card, plan well in advance so the credit will be available to you. Make credit card payments at least two weeks in advance to allow time for processing. Use your credit cards that offer cash back or reward points to increase your savings. If paying with a debit card, double check your balance before heading out to avoid unwelcome surprises. Carrying cash isn’t advisable, as chaotic crowds increase the potential for pickpockets and purse snatchers. Leave the kids at home. The chaos of the holiday shopping season, especially Black Friday, poses risks to your children. There’s the slim but potential risk of trampling by crazed crowds on Black Friday, and an increased risk of losing your child among the mob. Add to this that shopping for long hours is stressful and exhausting for children; not to mention, it will increase your own stress level and deplete your energy. Avoid carts. On Black Friday, carry shopping bags or totes instead, unless you’re buying heavy items. Carts will slow you down through crowds unwilling to budge for you. Hold off on toy purchases. Black Friday doesn’t offer the best deals on toys. The first week of December usually offers much bigger savings on these items. Family • November 2023
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Use social media for extra savings. Many retailers offer special coupons and discounts to people who like them on Facebook or other social media. Look for the social media accounts of the stores you plan to shop at. Check on return policies. Most major retailers have liberal return policies, but not all do. Do your homework before making purchases. Also, be sure to ask for gift receipts to make exchanges and returns easy for gift recipients. Avoid impulse buying. For many shoppers, their savings go down the drain because they grab unnecessary ‘great buys’ at the spur of the moment. Prepare yourself mentally before you head out. Get extra savings with instant store credit. This is a double-edged sword. You can save 10 to 25% by opening a store credit card at checkout. If you pay your charges off immediately and don’t use it for unnecessary purchases, it’s well worth the savings. Otherwise, the long-term cost of
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interest will exceed the savings you initially gained. Make sure a sale is really a sale. Some stores mark up merchandise before reducing it only to make it look like a great bargain. Furniture chains are especially known for this tactic. Many other stores do it as well on select merchandise. Again, do your homework. Don’t waste time trying to price match. On Black Friday and Cyber Monday, stores typically don’t honor price matching. Outside of these two days, it’s well worth your time to do so. Be prepared for long lines. Bring entertainment on your phone for waiting in long lines. Before heading out, add your email account, music, e-books, or games to your phone— or spend your waiting-in-line-time visiting online stores to watch for rotating deals. Also, you can download a Black Friday deals app, such as Dealnews, Slickdeals, Shopkick, Flipp, or The Coupons App.
Organize yourself for rebates. Print out rebate forms in advance so you don’t lose track of them. Also, request duplicate receipts for rebate purchases, and store them in a safe place in your wallet or purse. If shopping online, download the Ebates app for automatic rebates when shopping on participating websites. Forego the extended warranties. With a few exceptions, extended warranties are a waste of money. Most electronics already come with a limited manufacturer’s warranty. Defects usually show up within the scope of the manufacturer’s warranty. The accidental damage that might be covered under a store’s extended warranty tends to occur rarely. Cell phones or small personal electronics people carry with them that are likely to get dropped, lost, or run through the washing machine tend to be the exception.
STOP THE FLU YOUR BEST SHOT IS TO GET THE SHOT. GET YOUR FLU VACCINE TODAY! Visit CarilionClinic.org/Flu for more information and flu shot locations.
G390072 Flu Campaign - 2021-2022 8.125x10.25.indd 1
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“ OT in the Community
Gratitude and a Positive Attitude by Lauren Pittard
I
t’s the season of handprint turkeys and elastic waist pants. In this season of gratitude, it’s important to note that if it is difficult for a child to grasp emotional concepts, it may be a good idea to seek support so your son or daughter can get the most out of social activities around the holidays. Finding gratitude and promoting good mental health are just a couple ways occupational therapy practitioners encourage children to participate in meaningful and enjoyable activities. Plenty of research suggests that good mental health is not just lacking mental illness, but rather having positive mental functioning. Positive emotions, like gratitude and joy, are associated with stronger friendships, better resilience, and less stress and depression over time. Having positive mental functioning also prevents children from being bullies, victims of bullying, and/or passive bystanders of bullying. Experiencing positive emotions helps in social situations, as it improves a child’s empathy and encourages kindness and
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appreciation. If your child has a hard time identifying things she’s thankful for, it may mean she has difficulty identifying and regulating her own emotions. You may notice this if she gets upset more frequently and intensely than her peers. You can help a child identify what brings her joy by asking concrete questions about what makes her feel happy and loved. You don’t have to preserve talking about gratitude only during Thanksgiving time. Think of ways beyond the turkey feathers to creatively list what you are thankful for during every season: snowflakes, hearts, four-leaf clovers, rain drops, flower petals, rays of sunshine, etc. Year-round, it’s also helpful to think of how to get back to feeling good after negative emotions. For example, if your child is feeling sad, would he like hugs or time alone to feel better? Or when he’s mad, would he feel better listening to music or taking a short walk? Too many choices can be overwhelming during times of frustration, so give two choices that are known
to be calming for your child that you approve providing in that moment. When you read stories, talk about the characters’ faces and the story line. Ask, “Are the characters smiling? How do you think they feel? Why?” You could even have your child imitate your facial expressions or the ones found on the pages. Alternatively, let your child create a story based on the pictures and see if she is incorporating emotions that are expressed on the character’s faces. If the emotions don’t match, ask questions that can guide her towards the right direction. Your child could even keep his or her own gratitude journal. The journal responses may not have much substance until they are 7 or 8 — the age children typically start to grasp the concept of gratitude — but it will be good for children of all ages to reflect on the good things in their day-to-day life. As a parent, serve as a role model and express something that is good from the day, even if there were plenty of bad moments around the good stuff. The family can use everyone’s sources of goodness to plan quality activities, whether that means baking, hiking, playing on pinball machines, making art, etc. You can even find volunteer opportunities in the community based on these interests to spread the goodness throughout the Roanoke Valley. Talking to children about gratitude can be difficult. Thankfully, there are resources for caregivers. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has some great checklists for personal and social developmental milestones for ages 2 months to 5 years. You can also download the CDC’s Milestone Tracker app for to track this information for each child individually. There is another free app from SAMSHA that includes all sorts of strategies on discussing positive and negative emotions with adolescents and teenagers. Other helpful resources include TheParentToolkit.com for social and emotional developmental milestones and Brene Brown’s book The Gifts of Imperfect Parenting: Raising Children with Courage, Compassion, and Connection to help find ways to support gratitude in your parent-child
interactions. Other resources can be found around your community, like various school services, play groups, counseling, and therapies. It’s important to remember that every child is different, so these ideas may need to be adapted based on your son or daughter’s individual needs, abilities, and understanding of emotional concepts. If you have concerns related to your child’s development, consult with your pediatrician to determine if an occupational therapy evaluation would be beneficial to help incorporate sensory, motor, or environmental strategies into your routine so your family can live life to the fullest.
Lauren Pittard, MSOT, OTR/L, is a pediatric occupational therapist who works at the Carilion Children’s Pediatric Therapy outpatient clinic. She is currently pursuing her occupational therapy doctorate degree to achieve her dream of bringing occupational therapy strategies into areas of need within the Roanoke Valley and surrounding areas.
It’s important to remember that every child is different, so these ideas may need to be adapted based on your son or daughter’s individual needs, abilities, and understanding of emotional concepts.
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Celebrating Together: A Roanoke Interfaith Family’s Holiday Traditions by Rachel Levine
This season brings flickering lights and holiday cheer all across the Roanoke Valley. My family is lucky to get double the holiday joy and family traditions. As an interfaith family, we are part of a growing number of households across the country who practice two religious traditions. My husband Uri is Jewish, and I am Episcopalian. When we fell in love fifteen years ago, it quickly became clear that neither of us could ask the other to give up their religion or traditions, and instead we wanted to honor and support each other’s faith. We wanted to pass on both of our traditions to our children. The path forward would mean attending both synagogue and church, Friday night Shabbat dinners with challah, as well as Easter Egg hunts, and, of course, celebrating both Christmas and Hanukkah. The concurrence of Hanukkah and Christmas in December is so famous in interfaith families that it even has its own name: the “December Dilemma.”
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Families struggle with questions like, “How do we do both holidays justice? Can we fully honor both traditions? How do we find the time to do it all?” Christmas is a joyful time when Christians celebrate the miracle of Jesus’ birth. Christmas lights and Christmas trees sparkle. “Holy Night” and “Away in a Manger” play on the radio and everywhere you go. Families bake their favorite cookies and decorate gingerbread houses. There are Christmas books to read together, crafts to make, and presents to wrap. On Christmas Eve, there are joy-filled church services with candlelit choruses of “Silent Night” before bundling little ones to bed before Santa comes.
Hanukkah is a festive Jewish holiday commemorating an extraordinary wonder. About 1,800 years ago, the Greeks desecrated the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. After many years, the Temple was finally restored to the Jewish people. As they rededicated this most holy of places, they had only enough oil to burn the required sacred menorah (or candelabra) for one day. Miraculously, however, the oil lasted for eight days, until more oil could be made. This miracle is celebrated by Jewish people around the world with the nightly lighting of the menorah. For eight days the candles flicker and glow and impart a beautiful light. Hanukkah is a time for devouring foods fried in oil to remember the miracle of the oil long ago. Jelly doughnuts and potato latkes fill happy bellies while families play dreidel. Dreidel is a traditional game in which players spin a four-sided top to win nuts, coins, or chocolates. Families cuddle up to read Hanukkah storybooks and make menorah pictures with little handprints. Hanukkah is eight days of sweet, cozy family time to remember all the miracles, big and small, in our lives. Trying to do justice to two such wonderful holidays as an interfaith family is a major undertaking. First, my husband and I had to educate ourselves on each other’s holidays and find rituals that spoke to us in our spouse’s religion. I found I love lighting the menorah with the kids and watching the candles slowly burn out. Uri discovered he loves the annual quest with our daughters for the perfect Christmas tree at a local farm. Over time, Christmas was no longer just my holiday, and Hanukkah wasn’t just Uri’s holiday. They became both our holidays. They became our family’s holidays. Our next goal was surviving the
logistics of organizing both a satisfying Hanukkah and Christmas celebration. In order to not overextend ourselves, we have to pick and choose which holiday traditions are most meaningful for us and prioritize those. I have found I don’t have the energy to make latkes in December, so we just enjoy those at our synagogue’s annual Hanukkah party. I also find the thought of Christmas baking overwhelming, so I limit my baking to gingerbread muffins on Christmas morning. On the other hand, we all treasure reading aloud, and so we display Christmas and Hanukkah books on our coffee table and try to read at least one a day all December.
Embracing the two religious traditions in our family requires an extra level of commitment. Decembers in our house are insanely busy, as we have double the responsibilities of most families. They are happy days, though, filled with tradition, beauty, and love. Sharing both our Jewish and Christian traditions with our children is a
precious and holy thing. It is our own holiday miracle. Rachel Levine and her husband, Uri, live in Roanoke City. They have two daughters.
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Misty D. Lenk, DSS, MS, PC 228 Commons Parkway Daleville, VA, 24083
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Sometimes, Christmas and Hanukkah are not just in the same month, but actually directly overlap. Luckily, the daily lighting of the Hanukkah menorah can take place anytime in a twenty-four-hour window, which gives us flexibility. When Christmas Eve is also one of the nights of Hanukkah, we simply light the menorah later than usual.
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Corny Holiday Jokes Knock, knock Who’s there? Gladys. Gladys who? I’m Gladys Thanksgiving! If April showers bring May flowers, what do May flowers bring? Pilgrims. What happened when the turkey got into a fight? He got the stuffing knocked out of him!
Charlie’s Cooking Corner
Sugar Mice
These adorable little critters are made of sweet homemade fondant! While traditional mice don many cakes and cookies- you can use this recipe to create a delicious moldable dough that can be made into anything you can imagine! 3/4 stick of butter 1/4 cup of light corn syrup 3 cups of powdered sugar 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract
Carefully mix the butter, syrup and extract in a large bowl until thoroughly combined. Slowly mix in the powdered sugar, one 1/2 cupful at a time. The dough should not be sticky to the touch and hold its shape when completed.
A lady was picking through the frozen turkeys at the grocery store for Thanksgiving, but couldn’t find one big enough for her family. She asked a stock boy, “Do these turkeys get any bigger?” “No, ma’am.” he replied, “They’re dead.” Can a turkey jump higher than the Empire State Building? Yes, of course! A building can’t jump at all.
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Holiday Book Guide Rhett & Link’s Book of Mythicality: A Field Guide to Curiosity, Creativity, and Tomfoolery by Rhett McLaughlin and Link Neal “Internetainers” Rhett & Link met in first grade when their teacher made them miss recess for writing profanity on their desks, and they have been best friends ever since. Today, their daily YouTube talk show, Good Mythical Morning, is the most-watched daily talk show on the Internet, and nearly 12 million subscribers tune in to see the guys broadcast brainy trivia, wild experiments, and hilarious banter (not to mention the occasional cereal bath). Now the award-winning comedians are finally bringing their “Mythical” world to the printed page in their first book.
Jane Austen at Home by Lucy Worsley
One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus
This new telling of the story of Jane’s life shows us how and why she lived as she did, examining the places and spaces that mattered to her. It wasn’t all country houses and ballrooms, but a life that was often a painful struggle. Jane famously lived a ‘life without incident’, but with new research and insights Lucy Worsley reveals a passionate woman who fought for her freedom. A woman who far from being a lonely spinster in fact had at least five marriage prospects, but who in the end refused to settle for anything less than Mr Darcy.
On Monday afternoon, five students at Bayview High walk into detention. Bronwyn, the brain, is Yalebound and never breaks a rule. Addy, the beauty, is the picture-perfect homecoming princess. Nate, the criminal, is already on probation for dealing. Cooper, the athlete, is the all-star baseball pitcher. And Simon, the outcast, is the creator of Bayview High’s notorious gossip app. Only, Simon never makes it out of that classroom. Before the end of detention, Simon’s dead. And according to investigators, his death wasn’t an accident. On Monday, he died. But on Tuesday, he’d planned to post juicy reveals about all four of his high-profile classmates, which makes all four of them suspects in his murder. Or are they the perfect patsies for a killer who’s still on the loose?
Give a Girl a Knife by Amy Thielen Before Amy Thielen frantically plated rings of truffled potatoes in some of New York City s finest kitchens for chefs David Bouley, Daniel Boulud, and Jean-Georges Vongerichten she grew up in a northern Minnesota town home to the nation s largest French fry factory, the headwaters of the fast food nation, with a mother whose generous cooking pulsed with joy, family drama, and an overabundance of butter. Amy Thielen’s coming-ofage account brims with energy, a cook s eye for intimate detail, and a dose of dry Midwestern humor. Give a Girl a Knife offers a fresh, vivid view into New York s high-end restaurant before returning Thielen to her roots, where she realizes that the marrow running through her bones is not demi-glace, but gravy honest, thick with nostalgia, and hard to resist.”
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Word by Word: The Secret Life of Dictionaries by Kory Stamper
From Here to Eternity: Traveling the World to Find the Good Death by Caitlin Doughty Fascinated by our pervasive terror of dead bodies, mortician Caitlin Doughty set out to discover how other cultures care for their dead. In rural Indonesia, she observes a man clean and dress his grandfather’s mummified body. Grandpa’s mummy has lived in the family home for two years, where the family has maintained a warm and respectful relationship. She meets Bolivian natitas (cigarette-smoking, wishgranting human skulls), and introduces us to a Japanese kotsuage, in which relatives
use chopsticks to pluck their loved-ones’ bones from cremation ashes. With curiosity and morbid humor, Doughty encounters vividly decomposed bodies and participates in compelling, powerful death practices almost entirely unknown in America. Featuring Goreyesque illustrations by artist Landis Blair, From Here to Eternity introduces deathcare innovators researching green burial and body composting, explores new spaces for mourning— including a glowing-Buddha columbarium in Japan and America’s only openair pyre—and reveals unexpected new possibilities for our own death rituals.
While most of us might take dictionaries for granted, the process of writing them is in fact as lively and dynamic as language itself. With sharp wit and irreverence, Kory Stamper cracks open the complex, obsessive world of lexicography--from the agonizing decisions about what and how to define, to the knotty questions of usage in an ever-changing language. She explains why small words are the most difficult to define (have you ever tried to define is ?), how it can take nine months to define a single word, and how our biases about language and pronunciation can have tremendous social influence. Throughout, Stamper brings to life the hallowed halls (and highly idiosyncratic cubicles) of Merriam-Webster, a world inhabited by quirky, erudite individuals who quietly shape the way we communicate. A sure delight for all lovers of words, Word by Word might also quietly improve readers grasp and use of the English language.”
Talking as Fast as I Can: From Gilmore Girls to Gilmore Girls, and Everything in Between by Lauren Graham In Talking as Fast as I Can, Lauren Graham hits pause for a moment and looks back on her life, sharing laugh-out-loud stories about growing up, starting out as an actress, and, years later, sitting in her trailer on the Parenthood set and asking herself, “Did you, um, make it?” She opens up about the challenges of being single in Hollywood, the time she was asked to audition her butt for a role, and her experience being a judge on Project Runway. Including photos and excerpts from the diary Graham kept during the filming of the recent Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life, this book is like a cozy night in, catching up with your best friend, laughing and swapping stories, and—of course— talking as fast as you can.
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FRIENDSGIVING and Solitary Celebrations to Make the Most of Thanksgiving Day by Kimberly Blaker
The long-held tradition of the family gathered around the table for a savory Thanksgiving feast carries fond memories for many Americans. Still, many will spend the day alone either out of circumstance or by choice. Whichever the case, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the holiday without family. Consider one of the following ideas for going it alone, or celebrate a Friendsgiving instead.
Solitary celebrations The upside to spending Thanksgiving alone is it’s your day to do whatever you want. But do plan ahead so you don’t waste it away – unless wasting it away is exactly what you’d like to do – which is perfectly okay too. One of the benefits of spending it alone is that you can feast on exactly what you want. If you enjoy cooking, it’s the perfect day to pull out your favorite recipes and treat yourself to a gourmet meal.
REAL. LOCAL.
SAVINGS.
If cooking isn’t your thing, you can still indulge by eating out. A few restaurants will be open on Thanksgiving, and some will serve a special Thanksgiving dinner. Just be sure to make your reservation a week or so in advance because restaurants book up early for the holiday. One thing that doesn’t shut down on Thanksgiving is the movie theater. So it’s a great day to catch a flick and treat yourself to hot buttery popcorn. If weather permits, get
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some fresh air and exercise by going for a hike. On the other hand, you might just want to stay in where it’s cozy and warm. If so, why not bask in luxury by giving yourself a home spa treatment? Do a manicure and pedicure, give yourself a facial, and try out a new hair color. It’s also a good day for a trip down memory lane. Pour yourself a glass of wine, put on some music from your past, pull out your photo albums, and reminisce. Plus, don’t forget about that good book you’ve been dying to read. Thanksgiving is also a good reason to call friends you haven’t spoken with in a while. So give them a ring. If you’d really like to do something good for the soul and for others, offer to help in a soup kitchen. Another idea is to take up a coat collection in advance. Then on Thanksgiving deliver the coats to a shelter or distribute them in areas populated with the homeless. Friendsgiving Even if you don’t have family around for the holidays, it doesn’t mean
you have to spend it alone. In fact, many people choose to avoid the hot political climate that all too often erupts at family Thanksgiving gatherings. There’s a good chance you have friends, co-workers, neighbors, or acquaintances who’ll also be spending the day alone. So why not have a Friendsgiving? Even for those who will spend Thanksgiving with family, Friendsgiving has gained so much popularity, many people are now holding a Friendsgiving on Friday or Saturday so they can jump in on the action. There are many ways to do a Friendsgiving. It may depend in part on the size of your guest list. If there’ll be only a couple of you, split the grocery list and then plan to cook together. Although you might prefer to skip the hassle and enjoy dinner out. If so, be sure to make reservations well in advance. If you have several friends, a potluck is the best idea. The key to making it a success without a ton of work and stress on your part is to plan ahead. As the host, do the Turkey or meat yourself. Then
ask each person to bring one or two specific types of dishes. For example, ask two or three friends to bring a vegetable dish. But have them to tell you in advance what specifically they plan to bring to avoid multiples of the same vegetable. Assign two other guests dessert, and another could be in charge of dinner rolls and snacks. For the beverages, you might offer to supply soda. But ask everyone to bring their own alcoholic beverages. On the other hand, if you know everyone likes beer or wine, ask each person to bring something to share so guests can enjoy tasting and variety. Additional items to consider asking guests to bring include ice, coolers, tableware, serving utensils, folding chairs, folding tables, and tablecloths. In addition to the day’s main event – the mouthwatering food – plan for some form of entertainment. If it’s music, put together a variety to fit everyone’s taste. You could also play cards or games. If all your guests are football fans, that may be just the ticket. If any of your guests have children, have a clean childproof room available where they can play away from the adult ruckus. However you choose to spend your day, just remember to relax and enjoy it. Whether or not all goes as planned, know you’re in good company – may it be friends or the company of yourself.
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www.reproductivepossibilities.com Family • November 2023
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Protect the ones you love,
get your flu shot today.
Better Butter Experiment Supplies: Clean jars or containers with tightfitting lids 1 cup heavy cream Select at least one other liquid from this list: • 1 cup light whipping cream • 1 cup half and half • 1 cup whole milk
@vaccinatevirginia
Optional: clean glass marble
Directions: 1. Taste the first heavy cream, then pour it into one of the containers until the container is approximately half-full.
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2. If using a marble, add it now, and then put the lid on the container. 3. Check that the container is firmly closed and will not leak. 4. Shake the container and listen closely. What does it sound like? (It should sound like liquid sloshing.) 5. Keep shaking until the sound changes and it stops sloshing. Open up the container to look at the stuff inside. What does it look like? Does it taste different than it did at the beginning of the experiment? 6. Tightly close the container and shake again until you hear sloshing. Open the container and taste the liquid and the solids. What do they
taste like? What do they smell like? 7. Pour off the liquid (which is now buttermilk) and you have made butter! Your butter should keep in the refrigerator for a few days. Note: some people recommend rinsing and kneading homemade butter to help prevent spoiling. You may also add salt during this step, if you prefer salted butter.
in liquid. When you shake the milk or cream, all of the bits of fat bump into one another and clump together. Eventually, this makes butter—and the leftover liquid is buttermilk. While you were making the butter, there was also a part in the middle where you ended up with a thick foam. This was actually whipped cream! When you shake the container that is half-full of liquid, you are mixing air into your milk or cream, which makes another type of colloid! Some of the types of milk or cream that you tested may have worked better than others. This is because of the amount of fat in the liquid. Whole milk, which probably didn’t work, doesn’t have a high enough fat content to use to make butter. We also use a process called homogenization on our dairy products in the US, which means that the colloid has very, very tiny pieces of fat which may make it harder or impossible to create butter.
Colloid: a substance microscopically dispersed evenly throughout another substance.
8. Repeat this process with the other milks and creams, making sure to use a clean container and marble). Can they all make butter? Does the butter each one makes taste different?
Try This: The temperature can affect the speed at which butter is made. If you warm up the liquid before shaking it (cream works best), does it turn into butter more quickly? Does the taste change?
Protect the ones you love,
get your flu shot today.
Why the Marble?
The marble acts as an extra agitator and may help you create the butter more quickly.
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Experiement provided by
What’s Happening? Milk and cream are not actually all one liquid but instead are a colloid: there are tiny bits of fat suspended
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E W R O E H E I S M Paper Bowl H THIS MONTH:
T H E AR T I S
Drum
Bring the Taubman Museum of Art to you with this fun activity inspired by the exhibition A Very Anxious Feeling: Voices of Unrest in the American Experience; 20 Years of the Beth Rudin DeWoody Collection, on view through February 7, 2021. The exhibition features over 70 works by 57 Latinx and Latin American artists living and working in the United States.
Music and dance are huge parts of Latin American culture. Using these simple materials, make a drum to create your own beat to dance to!
Materials: 2 Paper Bowls Markers Tape
Materiales: 2 Platos Hondos de Cartón Marcadores Cinta Adhesiva
Follow along in English or Spanish! ¡Siga las instrucciones en inglés o español!
1
Decorate the bowls with markers. Try adding fun shapes and patterns! Decora los platos con marcadores. ¡Trata de dibujar formas y patrones divertidos!
2
Stack the bowls so the insides are facing each other. Secure the edges with tape. Coloca los platos de manera que el interior de un plato quede al frente del interior del otro plato (como uno tapando al otro). Asegure los bordes con cinta adhesiva (teipe).
3
Gently tap the drum with your fingers. Try creating different beats! Golpea suavemente el tambor con los dedos. ¡Intenta crear diferentes ritmos!
110 Salem Ave SE, Downtown Roanoke | 540.342.5760 | TaubmanMuseum.org
Free General Admission sponsored in part by
RVFM_PaperBowlDrum_v2.indd 1
10/15/20 12:48 PM
Joy BABY
IS A WELL-FED
See if you are eligible.
WIC helps families by providing:
Breastfeeding support
Personalized nutrition education
WIC food benefits that can be used at the grocery store
Referrals to local health and community organizations
APPLY TODAY at myvawic.org For more information call
1-888-942-3663 This institution is an equal opportunity provider.