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contents letter from the editor 4 baby led weaning 6 march of dimes 8 mom you should know 10 ask the mom

breaking bread easter brunch 14

fun & games

date night diva 16 salon trisse 30

couch talk 20 community calendar 22

kids and cell phones 18

fashion rules 12 fit & active

horoscopes 29

jazzercise 13

Front Cover Photo By: balee images

OUR TEAM Matt Scearce – Designer/Layout Eva Williams - Sales Priscilla Metros - Sales Mindy Gear – Contributing Writer Megan Ciszewski – Contributing Writer Brooke Recktenwall – Contributing Writer Beth Whitaker – Contributing Writer Emma Kester – Contributing Writer Nichole Odijk DeMario – Contributing Writer Amber Neace – Contributing Writer

Table of Contents Photo By: balee images Advertising & Submissions: Mom to Mom, NWI LLC 6212 US HWY 6 Ste. 170, Portage, IN 46368 • (219) 973-5138 Managing Editor / Publisher: Stephanie Vega Edwards stephanie@momtomomnwi.com Sales / Publisher: Roly Martinez 773-416-0665 • rolym05@comcast.net

Mom to Mom, NWI is a monthly publication by Mom to Mom, NWI LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited. All photographs and articles submitted become the sole property of Mom to Mom, NWI.

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letter from the editor by: stephanie vega edwards

As a native New Yorker, and former television news reporter, I was glued to reports of the blizzard pummeling the East Coast in February. There was a part of me that wished I was there to experience it – after all, it’s been pretty mild here in Northwest Indiana. Many thought I was crazy, but I love one good snowstorm (as long as I don’t have to go anywhere), so I found myself dreaming of a winter wonderland. It didn’t take long before I realized that while a good blast of snow would be nice, a blast of warmth would be even nicer. Spring is my second favorite time of year (it can’t beat Fall!) because the days start getting longer, the grass starts to turn green, and we start spending more time outdoors as a family. It hit me that we’d probably be turning our clocks up an hour soon, but I didn’t realize it was right around the corner. March 10th is Daylight Savings Time, and while we “lose” an hour of sleep, we gain more sunlight – and I’ll take that over sleep any day (I’m not getting much of if these days, anyway)!

We decided to set our sights on finding a mom who lives a green life, and we were excited to feature her as a Mom You Should Know. Then our fashion editor Megan Ciszewski took to the streets to find out about consignment shops and introduces us to a shop in Crown Point. And finally, we talk about a topic new to many here in the US. It’s called Baby Led Weaning, and it’s about feeding our babies organic solid food rather than baby food. It’s an interesting take on a not much discussed topic.

Spring means a lot of things to a lot of people, and besides the longer days, for many of us, it’s a trigger to start cleaning. Spring cleaning is something I actually look forward to – it’s amazing how great it feels to purge your closets! I tend to be a mini-hoarder, so when Spring comes around, it feels good to get rid of those items we just aren’t using. I love to recycle all those papers I kept for no reason and donate those unneeded clothes to someone who could use them. It’s amazing how great it feels to not only reduce the clutter, but feel like you’re helping save the environment.

The last thing I’d like to talk about is something I’m really looking forward to. Because last year was such a success, we are once again hosting our Deserving Mom Contest. We are asking our readers to nominate a mom they think deserves to be recognized for all they do. Email your nominations, along with a picture, to stephanie@momtomomnwi.com. Then in the April issue, we will feature our top five contestants and have our readers vote on our Facebook page for who they think should win. We have a variety of gifts and prizes for our winner, but the grand prize is a family photo shoot with Brandi Lee of Balee Images. The deadline to submit a nomination is March 15th. We can’t wait to hear from you!!

Also in the pages of this issue we talk about sleep a little more with regular columnist Beth Whitaker. She tells us about how sleep is so important for us and how much of it we should actually be getting. And as always, we have recipes by Mindy for Easter Brunch, working out with Brooke at a Jazzercise class, fun $2 dates with our Date Night Diva Emma Kester, and a birthday party for your kids at a local hair salon.

Then it hit me, our March issue should definitely discuss way to be green!

Take Care,

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” ” d o o F y b ore Ba

No M

by: Nichole Odijk DeMario

For years, families have incorporated purees into their infants’ diets prior to transitioning to solids. In recent years however, for various reasons, families have looked for alternatives to pre-packaged and even homemade baby food.

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solids are secondary - a baby will increase solids and drop milk feedings very gradually, at his own pace.

Gill Rapley, a United Kingdom health visitor (similar to a public health nurse in the United States) with twenty years experience worked with parents whose infants had trouble moving to solid foods. She began questioning current trends, and after much research learned infants can feed themselves and do not need to be spoon fed at all. She coined the approach baby-led weaning (which means introducing solids in the UK). Baby-led weaning (BLW) allows babies to join in with healthy family mealtimes and share the same food whenever they are ready, feeding themselves with their fingers at first, and moving onto utensils in their own time.

There are a few safety precautions to take note of: make sure baby is sitting upright to eat, don’t give your baby nuts (whole or in chunks), cut small round foods such as cherries and olives in half, don’t let anyone except your baby put food into his/her mouth and never leave your baby alone with food. BLW has only recently made its way to the United States. Nearly three years ago, Nikki Rauwerda of southeast Wisconsin was reading the book, “The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding” and came across a brief mention of BLW. The topic didn’t resurface until it came time to determine what approach to take with her infant. She and her husband decided they would give BLW a try. The Rauwerdas decision was met with reservations from their pediatrician to family members. They continued their research and persevered. Nikki’s husband encouraged her to document the experience through blogging. She called it, “Adventures in Solid Food” at baby-led-solids.blogspot.com since weaning has a different meaning in the U.S. “Sometimes I think my mother-in-law feels deprived. She comes from a generation that likes the ritual of spoon feeding babies,”Rauwerda said. “Putting food into a baby’s mouth is a hard habit to break.”

Rapley was the first person to speak publicly about BLW and has shared her research worldwide. Mom and writer Tracey Murkett approached Rapley about publishing a book about this approach after she heard other mothers talking about it and tested it out on her own daughter. “When I asked the moms about BLW, two things really struck a chord with me – firstly they said it was really easy – which is a bonus for any busy mum – and secondly they said their babies loved it. So I tried it with my daughter and I was hooked,” Murkett said. “It was so clear that it was a natural, logical and enjoyable way for babies to start on family food.” BLW introduces solid foods based on infants’ natural development. One necessary development milestone is the ability to sit upright without support along with the ability to pick up an object and bring it one’s mouth. This happens at around six months for most babies – the age now recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics to start solids. There’s no spoon feeding or purees. Babies start with roughly finger-sized pieces of food, long enough for a bit to poke out of their fists, and - as long as they are offered a wide range of foods - they gradually become able to handle smaller pieces and different textures. “The ability to swallow chewed foods develops after the ability to chew, which itself lags slightly behind the ability to pick up objects and get them accurately to the mouth. Thus, for many babies, early mouthfuls simply fall back out,” Rapley said. “Since BLW is as much about exploring and learning as is it is about eating, a delay in actually swallowing food is to be expected.”

They are now the parents of two children who have been raised utilizing BLW. Their three-year-old and 16-month old have diverse palettes from pickled herring to curry which they feed themselves using proper utensils. “I really like that my kids were up for the challenge to try any food,” she said. “They see mom and dad eating and they’d try it. It was an adventure for them and it was fun. They learned to have their own relationship with food without us imposing food on them.” Rauwerda recalled how relaxing and simple it was to take their oldest to a restaurant sans jars of baby food knowing they could share their meals. While their child contently gnawed away on a piece of broccoli another family struggled to spoon feed their child pureed carrots resulting in an unhappy baby and a giant mess. As this concept spreads from coast to coast, nation to nation, Rapley and Murkett encourage parents to utilize online resources and social media groups to learn more. “Once people see a baby handling food they understand straight away why it makes sense,” Rapley said.

Some common concerns about BLW are; will an infant will choke and will they receive adequate nutrition? To the first concern, experts say choking is no more likely with BLW than with conventional spoon feedings. Often times, gagging is confused with choking. A baby’s gag reflex is farther forward than an adult’s so it is activated more easily. In regards to nutrition, the women explain breast milk or formula is the most important part of an infant’s diet until one year of age and

To learn more, you can go to www.babyledweaning.com or Rauwerdas blog www.baby-led-solids.blogspot.com.

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As moms, we’ve all experienced that rush of getting a positive pregnancy test. For some, it’s a surprise, for others, a long awaited plus sign. For Stephanie Scanlon, it was an over the moon kind of excitement that she immediately had to share with some of her closest friends. But that initial excitement over the pregnancy was short lived and quickly turned to fear when she started bleeding early on in the pregnancy. “At 10 weeks, I was rushed to the hospital because of the possibility of a miscarriage,” Scanlon said. “After an ultrasound and further testing, it was found that it wasn’t a miscarriage but subchronic hematoma - a gathering of blood between the membranes of the placenta and the uterus.”

weeks pregnant, she had come to enjoy the sounds of her baby’s heartbeat every day. Since she had been having complications during her pregnancy she wanted to have her own Doppler so she could listen any time she wanted – plus the sound of her baby girl growing inside of her was like sweet music to her ears. But on this day, Scanlon couldn’t find the heartbeat. She thought maybe she was just overlooking it, so she tried a bit later – still nothing. She went to the hospital and was immediately taken to labor and delivery. Two nurses came in to listen to the heartbeat, but they couldn’t find it either. “The nurse then looked at me with the saddest face I had ever seen and asked ‘Honey is there anyone here with you,’” said Scanlon. “I replied back with a simple ‘no,’ and she asked me to please call someone while we waited for the doctor.”

Relieved by the news, Scanlon was able to go home; her baby was still with her. She began going to go her doctor appointments, doing all the necessary testing when she was hit with some other kind of news. “When I was given the results of my quad screening, I was told there was a 1 in 6 chance of my baby having Down Syndrome, and the doctor suggested I have an amniocentesis done,” she said. “I knew that either way it wasn’t going to change my feelings on the baby, but I elected to have the procedure so that I would be prepared if additional care was going to be needed at the time of delivery and when I went home.”

Her mom quickly came to her side, and it wasn’t much longer before Scanlon got the news that would change her life forever. “The doctor told me ‘there was no heartbeat,’ and those three words had me feel like my heart was dropping out of my chest,” she said. “I prayed and prayed and prayed and thought - let this all be a lie – but an ultrasound provided my nightmare a reality. Then a nurse came in and asked what her name would be and what my plans were for her burial.”

At 19 weeks, the test was performed, and the results came back normal. For the entire family it seemed like they had dodged another bullet so to speak, and the baby was going to be fine. After the 20th week, Scanlon found out she was going to have a girl and started planning a baby shower and picking out names. She knew she wanted to name the baby after her niece who had passed away in October of 2004 due to pregnancy complications and premature birth. So with invitations sent out, a crib bought, and a name picked out, excitement over this little bundle of joy was in full gear. But what happened next no-one saw coming.

Words no mother wants to hear, especially a new mother who hadn’t even had the chance to hold her baby in her arms. She did get that chance the next morning when doctors put Scanlon into labor. On March 1, 2011 at 8:41am, she delivered Leilani Kaori, and doctors placed the baby in her arms so she could say goodbye. “I held her in my arms and prayed and cried. At that point that was all I could do,” she said. “At that moment, my life changed; Leilani had changed my life. I knew I’d always carry her in my heart, mind, and dreams, and I could only imagine the impact she would have made on this world!”” Last year, in honor of Leilani, Scanlon signed up to walk in the March for Babies to help raise funds for the March of Dimes. With her best friend by her side, they walked proudly in Leilani’s name. This year they will be doing it again, this time as a team. On May 5th, Scanlon’s family and friends will come together as Team Kaori to walk for the memory of not only Leilani, but her cousin Kaydence Kaori after whom she was named. Two very special little girls will live on through the hearts of the people that loved them most. Money raised in the March for Babies goes towards the research of preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality. If you would like to donate or walk with Team Kaori you can do so by visiting the team page on the March of Dimes website, http:// www.marchforbabies.org/team/t1953741 For more information on the March of Dimes or find an event in your area you can visit their website www.marchforbabies.org

February 28, 2011 is a day that runs through Stephanie Scanlon’s mind all the time. At 26 and a half

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LAKE COUNTY May 5, 2013 Highland High School 9315 Erie St Highland,IN 46322 Walk Distance: 5miles Registration Time: 9:00 AM Start Time: 10:00 AM Chapter: Indiana Phone: (219) 736-0023

PORTER CO. April 28,2013 Old Fairgrounds Park Corner of Evans & Calumet Valparaiso, IN 46383 Walk Distance: 5miles Registration Time: 9:00 AM Start Time: 10:00 AM Chapter: Indiana Phone: (219) 736-0023

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LA PORTE COUNTY April 27, 2013 Venue TBA Address TBA Westville, IN 46350 Walk Distance:2miles Registration Time: 9:00 AM Start Time: 10:00 AM Chapter: Indiana Phone: (219) 736-0023


mom you should know: Christine Sierazy

The Sierazy Family, Christine and Tim, Alejandra 7, Zarek 5, Xander 3, Richella 7 mo.

With Spring around the corner, many are looking forward to spending more time outdoors. As moms, we spend countless hours with our kids at the park, riding bikes, or playing tag. But when we get some time to ourselves, many of us moms enjoy getting outside and gardening. Mom Christine Sierazy knows all about that. “When we moved to Porter from Indianapolis, I got a house and started a garden,” she said. “Two years ago, I actually got a greenhouse because my garden was just so big.” Sierazy, a stay at home mother of four, plants seeds every March and generally makes enough food to last a year. The family freezes fruits and vegetables so they have are able to enjoy fresh food at any time. In addition, the family has raspberry bushes where they are able to get quarts of raspberries. Ever since Sierazy became a mother, she started eating more organic food, and made organic baby food. – and she didn’t stop there. “When I became a mom I knew I wanted to live a green life,” she said. “We are leaving our children a legacy so we have to take care of earth right now. It’s important to start conserving what we have. There are so many things we can do to teach out kids to create a more sustainable environment.” So how does Sierazy spread that message? It’s simple – reduce, reuse and recycle. “We started composting four years ago and we put our fresh compost in the garden,” she said. “We use everything from food scraps to weeds and grass clippings. What doesn’t go for composting gets recycled. We don’t use anything plastic so pretty much everything can be recycled.” The Sierazy family doesn’t use any plastic wrap, plastic containers or even plastic wear. When they have parties, they use their regular plates and forks, and when it comes to paper towels and napkins, they use cloth. They have a seven month old daughter, Richella, with whom they use cloth diapers – really limiting the trash this household outs out on a regular basis. “We have one trash bag full of garbage a week, she said. “And for a family of six, I think that’s pretty impressive.” Impressive indeed!! Now, the very green Sierazy has taken her passion for living an eco-friendly life one step further. In December,

along with friend Krystal Markwart, started a business called Green Housewives Bath Company. The company is dedicated to helping conserve the environment and Sierazy said the idea came when the two ladies were making holiday gifts for their kids’ teachers. “Krystal was making cute cocoa packages and I wanted to make something too,” she said. “So since I’ve been making all natural bath products, I decided to make those. Everyone loved them, and I told Krystal we should go into business. We laughed about it like it was a joke, but it turned out to be a great adventure and very prosperous.” They started out making bath salts, bath bombs, lip balms and lotion bars. They use all natural ingredients and everything is packaged in either recyclable bags, aluminum cans that can be recycled or glass jars that can be repurposed. “Everything we use is all natural, and we use eco-friendly packaging because we want to be as green as possible,” she said. “I’ve always been into aromatherapy and essential oils. It’s something I know a lot about and to be in this business, you have to be very knowledgeable because there’s a lot of playing around with formulas.” Sierazy makes custom orders, tailored to specific needs, and are selling mostly in NWI, though they do ship items as far as Virginia and California. They’ve had some interest in local businesses wanted to sell their product, and Sierazy claims their quality and price sets them aside from others like them. “We’re moms, and we know what moms need and what they can afford,” she said. “So we make not only make our products affordable for families, but we are constantly combing new ingredients to help people with all different types of ailments. I infused my own avocado oil with my own herbs to make a pungent oil good for your skin. There’s no adverse side effects to our products, we test everything on our kids and husbands.” If you want to learn more about their products, check them out on Facebook at Green Housewives Bath Company. And as a special offer for our readers, they are giving a 10% discount. All you have to is use the code “Green Mom” and mention you read the article in our magazine.

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G Shopping Secondhand seemed like the ideal place to stock up on the basics: denim, solid tees and tanks. Now, if you are looking to sell some of your unwanted goods – here’s what you need to know! When you sell your items, you, the consignor, drops off your clothes and will don’t get paid until the items actually get purchased. Items are displayed for 90 days during which time the consignor will make 50% of the actual sale price. After 30 days, items are reduced; and then reduced again at 60 days. “Just Like New” does not return clothing that does not sell. Instead they donate them to charity at the end of 90 days. So, if you are looking to get a head start on that Spring cleaning, it is worth taking those clothes at the back of the closet - and let’s not forget those shoes you haven’t worn in years- to a consignment shop like “Just Like New”. And if you are like me, a frugalista at heart, it makes sense to check out second hand shops just to keep a pulse on what’s out there. Better yet, by getting in the consigning process, you’ll win out in one of two ways: saving some hard-earned green or making some unexpected & much appreciated green.

In the spirit of Mom to Mom, NWI’s green edition, we thought it wise to encourage our readers to think about fashion in an ecofriendly way. While second hand stores have long been around, repurposed clothing is now called “vintage”, and Pinterest is inspiring all new ways to make your own clothes. Let’s face it - things are just so darned expensive these days! Why not “go green” by saving some green?!

Just Like New

We took to Facebook to ask our fans which regional used clothing stores are their favorite. Several responded, but the one that got my attention was “Just Like New” located in Crown Point. I decided to pay the shop a visit - here’s the lowdown.

417 N. Main Street • Crown Point, IN • 219-662-7206 Store hours: Monday – Saturday 10am to 5pm

First off, “Just Like New” is a consignment shop nestled in an old Victorian house just north of the Crown Point courthouse. Upon entering, you’ll see the rooms are jam packed with an array of items from shoes to formal dresses, from children’s clothes to designer jewelry. I noticed that like-colors were grouped together, and as I looked through the merchandise I realized that the shop is in fact organized by size – BONUS! I made my way around the store and looked at everything they had to offer – brands, prices and selection. The variety was impressive. It was clear that “Just Like New” merchandises items according to season or holiday, which makes shopping easier. The condition of clothes varied from excellent used condition to very good condition, and the prices matched the quality. It

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Get Out & Get Fit This year, I’m hitting various gyms across the region in the hopes of bringing our readers new and different ways to exercise. As a Pilates instructor, one thing clients commonly tell me is that they’re bored of doing the same cardio workout. My clients come to me to build flexibility, strengthen their core, and sculpt and tone their bodies, but many also seek out ways to get in that all important cardio workout. The problem many have (and I’m sure others would agree to) is that running everyday on a treadmill could get boring. We need to change things up, and find ways to move our body, get our heartbeat up, and burn a sweat – all while feeling great afterwards! And let’s not forget motivation to do it all over again!! So this month, I’m going outside my comfort zone and trying a Jazzercise class. Jazzercise Explained: Jazzercise is a group fitness class that combines dance based cardio with strength training and stretching to sculpt, tone and lengthen muscles. Choreographed to up-beat, modern music, Jazzercise is a fusion of jazz dance, resistance training, Pilates, yoga, and kickboxing. Jazzercise has been gaining popularity since its start in 1969 and currently employs 7,800 instructors teaching more than 32,000 classes weekly in 32 countries. Jazzercise Experience: I will be completely honest - when Jennifer Smolnicky, the Owner of Portage Jazzercise, contacted me with the offer of a complimentary class I was skeptical about a dance based workout. In a previous life I was a cheerleader and a gymnast, however the coordination that I used to possess has mysteriously disappeared. I often fumble with the moves in these

dance fitness classes - not to mention just the word Jazzercise had me envisioning Olivia Newton John singing “Lets get physical!” in her leotard and legwarmers! To my great surprise (and relief) my first experience with Jazzercise was FUN, and consisted of steps that were easy to master - and there was not a single leotard in sight! I was greeted by very friendly fellow Jazzercise classmates who made me feel comfortable the minute I stepped into their studio. The music, instructor and classmates made the atmosphere fun and energetic. Everyone is encouraged to move at their own intensity and most moves are adapted and demonstrated in both low and high intensity levels to cater to all. By the end of the cardio set, I had worked up a good sweat and the strength training portion at the end of class had my legs and glutes sore for the next few days! Where to find Jazzercise: I attended a class at Portage Jazzercise located on Central Avenue in Portage, Indiana. You can check their website for more information and class schedules at http:// jcls.jazzercise.com/facility/jazzercise-portage-fitness-center or call (219) 628-0321. Looking for a Jazzercise Studio closer to home? Jazzercise classes are in Valparaiso, Michigan City, and Laporte and have nearly 50 locations in the Chicagoland/ Northwest Indiana area. Check the Jazzercise website for locations and details. Do you offer a fun or different kind of class you think I’ll work up a sweat at? Send an email to momtomomnwi@gmail.com and you may see me at your gym!

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breaking bread By: Mindy Gear

As I was thinking about this month’s article, I was having a hard time deciding what to make. I love to cook and always have dozens of recipes I want to try - then there are my favorite recipes that I want to make again and again. There just isn’t enough time to do it all! Since Easter falls in late March this year, I began to think about my family’s plans, and brunch sounded like a fantastic idea! Usually I fuss over a standing rib roast or ham, but this year I will be cooking something much simpler - an egg strata that I’ll put together the night before so Easter Day will be a relaxing time with my family. To make this no fuss dish, all you need is a few basic ingredients and then customize the casserole to your family’s preferences. Serve it with fresh fruit, cinnamon rolls, sweet breads or Easter bread; it will be fantastic.

This breakfast strata contains the cruciferous vegetable “kale”. Its relatives are cabbage, collards, broccoli and Brussels sprouts. One cup of kale contains 36 calories and 5 grams of fiber. Kale contains more iron that beef and is high in Vitamins A, C & K. It is proven to help lower cholesterol and protect against various cancers. It can be eaten cooked or raw. You can even freeze it! Add it to your favorite soup during the last 5-10 minutes of cooking, toss it in salads, use in casseroles or add to your homemade pizza. Homemade kale chips are easy to make: wash/dry kale, toss with a little olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt. Then, bake for 10-15 minutes in a 350 degree oven. Try some; you will be glad you did!

Sausage and Kale Breakfast Strata 12 eggs (add salt/pepper to taste) 3 cups half & half or milk 8-12 slices bread, cubed 1 pound sausage, cooked and crumbled 1 small onion (cooked with sausage), optional 1 bunch Kale, washed and sautéed in 1 Tbsp. oil for 2 minutes to soften 2 cups shredded cheese (I used Monterey Jack) Grease 9x13 pan. Whisk eggs and half & half together, set aside. Layer remaining ingredients: cubed bread, sausage, kale and cheese. Carefully pour egg mixture over ingredients. You want to do this slowly and evenly over the entire pan to

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g d n e o s , ! t g g t a o d n s n

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allow all the bread to soak up the egg mixture. Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight (to allow the bread to thoroughly absorb the milk/egg mixture). The next day set out for about 20 minutes prior to baking. Bake in preheated oven 3040 minutes. Remove foil and bake additional 20-25 or until browned and edges are crispy. Substitutions: -You can eliminate the bread and layer frozen hash browns on the bottom of the pan. This way does not require sitting overnight. Just have everything mixed up and ready for quick assembly.

Cinnamon rolls are always a great addition to brunch. If you find yourself short on time (or patience), try this Cinnamon Roll Cake. Fresh from the oven it is gooey and delicious! Cake: 3 cups all-purpose flour ½ tsp salt 1 cup white sugar 4 tsp baking powder 1 ½ cup milk 2 eggs 2 tsp vanilla 4 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted Filling: 2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, softened 1 cup brown sugar 2 Tbsp flour 2 Tbsp cinnamon ½ nuts, optional

- Instead of crumbed sausage, try bacon, ham, kielbasa/ smoked sausage. - You can try other vegetable like peppers: green, yellow, orange or jalapeño. Slice and sauté in 1 Tbsp. olive oil for two minutes. Try mushrooms: toss with olive oil and salt/pepper, roast in a 425 degree oven for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. If you like corn, simply thaw and drain. Asparagus in 1” pieces is another great substitute. Steam with 1 Tbsp. olive oil, salt and 1/3 cup water (3-4 minutes). Uncover and allow remaining liquid to cook off.

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Glaze: 2 cups powdered sugar 5-6 Tbsp milk 2 tsp vanilla Mix flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, milk, eggs and vanilla with electric mixer on medium speed. Once wellcombined, slowly stir in 4 Tbsp melted butter. Pour batter into 9x13 greased baking pan. Mix 2 sticks of softened butter, brown sugar, flour and cinnamon (nuts if wanted) until combined. Drop evening over batter by the spoonful and use a knife to swirl thru the cake batter. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until toothpick comes out nearly clean from center. Whisk together powdered sugar, milk and vanilla in a large bowl. Drizzle over warm cake. Serve warm or at room temperature.


When I talk with friends and co-workers about having a date night out, one of the biggest complaints I hear is “No time, No money”. During these rough economic times, it is difficult to go out as much as we’d like, but it’s not impossible. In fact, I thought I’d take to the challenge of 10 date nights for just $20 – total! Sounds crazy right? It did to me to, but then when I started thinking about fun and creative things to do, it was really quite easy! Once I came up with the ideas, I wanted a cute away to create the dates and then it hit me- Pinterest! It seems cheap date nights is something many of us crave, but there was one idea so cute I couldn’t pass it up! What you do is take your date ideas (that are written on a piece of small paper) and wrap them up with 2 $1 bills. Tie them up with a ribbon and put them in a jar – now, whenever you get a date night, we grab an idea and you go! 10 dates for $20 1 – Go to the dollar store and get two kites. Fly them around in the backyard after the kids go to bed. 2 – Eat ice cream sandwiches on the porch or the roof. 3 - Grab a loaf of bread and feed ducks in a nearby pond. 4 – When seeds are on sale 10 for $1, go to the store and pick out seeds. Plan your garden together! 5 - Enjoy a root beer float and a walk in the park. 6 – Have a spa night and give each other a massage. 7 -Lay on a blanket in the backyard and stargaze while enjoying two new songs you’ve downloaded. 8 – Go camping in your family room! Build a tent with sheets and blankets like when you were kids. Grab a Redbox movie and enjoy some popcorn. All things are better under a tent!!! 9 - Play a game of Twister with a bottle of 2 buck chuck! 10 – Make a picnic in your living room. Scavenger your own kitchen; pack a basket; lay out a table cloth on the ground. Don’t forget to dust off those candles. *Remember, be creative when you plan your dates. As parents, we don’t get much time alone - try and make the best of your time with your spouse (and no talking about the kids!)

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The Scrambled Diner 250 81st Ave Dyer, IN 46311 (219) 865-3950 Hours: Mon-Sun 6 am - 2:30 pm Good for Kids: Yes Attire: Casual Price Range: $ If you’re looking to try a new breakfast spot, either with the hubby or with the family, the Scrambled Diner in Dyer is a great choice. When we went, I was amazed but not only how excellent the food was, but how reasonable the prices were. I ordered the chorizo skillet chorizo, peppers, onions and pepperjack cheese. I loved the fact that the chorizo was homemade – so was the jelly, mayo and ketchup! You could tell everything was very fresh and cooked to order. My husband tried the biscuits and gravy, and they were fantastic. It was not your traditional dish - the whole dish was made from scratch. We decided we’d split another dish since we were just both so intrigued. What made us loosen our pants? It’s called monkey cakes - bacon, peanut butter, bananas and chocolate sauce on pancakes. Wow – these were the best pancakes I’ve ever had! I highly recommend The Scrambled Diner – your belly will thank you!


Dunes Learning Center

Place your Ad Here Call 219-973-5138

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When should your child get a cell phone? There’s no doubt about it –cell phones are a great way to stay in touch anytime, anywhere! But is your child old enough to have one? It’s a question many parents debate, and since there are so many reasons for and against it, we thought we’d take to the Mom to Mom, NWI board and ask the opinions of our Facebook fans. We asked them: At what age should your child be given a cell phone? Is it an age issue, a maturity issue, or a safety issue? The responses were overwhelming! Here’s what they said: Brandy B., “I’ll be getting mine one sooner rather than later. As he starts to find more after school activities that interest him, I will feel safer having him carry one. He has food allergies, and right now he is always with a teacher or a trusted adult. When this changes, I think he’s safest with a phone (although it will be one with restricted use). He’s in Kindergarten now, and I’m sure it won’t be much longer.” Kerisa G, “I will consider the idea when they are in middle school – based on responsibility and grades. If they want that privilege, they will have to earn it! Eileen T., “For me, it’s when they are old enough to be dropped off at places by themselves – like baseball practice or going to see a movie with a friend. The sole purpose for the phone is for our kids to be in touch with us (the parents) more than it is with the friends. My 13 year old son (who thank goodness is not into texting) has to give us his phone every night at 8pm out of

respect for our household and his friends’ households.” Jamie M., “My daughter will not have one until she starts to drive. My husband and I don’t feel she needs one of her own until then. When I feel she is old enough to go places without an adult, she can take one of ours so she can get a hold of us.” Shaela L., “For us, it was when there was a reason for it. When our oldest daughter started becoming involved in school sports that required her to travel on the bus to different schools, she got her first phone. She was in 6th grade and probably one of the last of her ‘friends’ to get one.” Amber N., “I think it all depends on the kid and the situation. I wasn’t allowed to have one until I could pay for it. If I went out with friends (even in High School), I took my parents cell phone with me to get in touch with them. I wasn’t allowed to use it while I was out unless it was to call them or if there was an emergency. If my kids get cell phones, it probably won’t be until they are at least in High School, and they will have restrictions on them.” Pamela K., “I got my 4th grader one for Christmas. I figured he would have time to get used to it, before starting middle school next year. They start here in the 5th grade, and school phones are shut down at the end of the day. He’s also old enough to go to a friends’ house on his bike, and this is extra security for BOTH of us in case of an emergency - on both ends. Times are a lot different, and unfortunately a little scarier than when I was growing up.”

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Amber W., “I’m sure I am in the minority, but until my kids drive, they don’t need a cell phone. I’ll MAYBE give them one when they are in middle school and start staying after for sports and activities, but only because of the lack of pay phones anymore. Even then, there would be rules: 1) it would be a phone that only stores/dials the numbers they need. 2) it would not text or take/send pics 3) they would have to earn it with chores or help pay for it with odd jobs (babysitting, etc). Before that age, and without those stipulations, it can only be trouble.” Megan S., “Being a mother of three, I think I would give my children a cell phone as soon as they are old enough to use it. I would however put a parental block on it so they could only call approved numbers. The only reason I want my children to have a phone is because in today’s society, your child isn’t even safe at school. I would want my child to have access to calling me at any time, no matter where they were at. My children are my life, and if they were at school and felt unsafe, I would want them to be able to call me right away. Also, because of technology, I could use the cell phone as a tracking device. This way, I would know if my children were where they were supposed to be, or if I couldn’t get a hold of them I could just use their phone to find them. I never thought I would say I want my kids to have a phone, but I do!” Laura L., “My daughter got one for her 11th birthday – one of those ‘pay as you go’ phones. I quickly learned those really aren’t cost effective, even when she used it really only to call/text me after school or other similar pick up situations. I added her to my plan this Christmas for a variety of reasons: 1) she is now in Middle School and I like the security of her having the ability to get in touch with me, 2)she has rules to abide by and doesn’t abuse them, 3) it’s NOT a smartphone – even though most of her friends have them. 4) she must surrender the phone to me at any time to view texts and call log. If she erases them, she loses the phone. We haven’t had any problems so far. She also knows if she losses it, it’s gone – no more phone!” Jenny S., “I have four boys and my oldest got his first cell phone when he was 10 years old. At the time, I was working full-time and he was at home for 30-45 minutes alone after school. I got him the phone just for me to be in constant contact with him. He’s 14½ now and he really doesn’t ‘abuse’ his cell phone. Now my 5½ year old has been asking for a cell phone and I do think that he’s a bit young, but I really feel when all of my kids are in school, and I am working I will get them all cell phones. It will just give me a piece of mind to be able to know where they are. Many phones now have tracking devices on them, so you can know where your child is at all times! I don’t think you can put an age limit on them - nowadays, they are just for safety reasons and just for our own comfort of knowing where our kids are.”

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family health Beth Whitaker Beth@momtomomnwi.com

Couch Talk

The Beauty of Sleep Ray Romano once said, “Everyone should have kids. They are the greatest joy in the world. But they are also terrorists. You’ll realize this as soon as they are born and they start using sleep deprivation to break you.”

It’s a funny way to look at it, but it’s an issue that is no laughing matter. Sleep deprivation is a badge that most mothers wear as soon as our first child is born. We laugh about our lack of sleep over coffee and just assume it is a way of life. It can go on for years, and we give no thought to the impact lack of sleep has had on our lives. Sleep deprivation does not just occur during the new born stage of child rearing. The reason for sleep loss is different as a child ages but continues even through the teen years. Poor sleep habits and teens out past curfew are not the only reasons that mothers miss valuable sleep time. Mothers also

put their babies or children to bed and then stay up much later than they should trying to complete unfinished tasks from the day. In many cases it might be the only uninterrupted time they have during the day. Our culture expects mothers to complete more in a day than physically possible - caring for a family, home and often managing a career. We also view a busy schedule as a sign of success and idle time as a sign of laziness. With this cultural mindset, it is easy to put sleep at the bottom of our to-do list. In our carelessness, we forget that sleep is a fundamental need that we have as humans. It is essential for our health and the well-being of our families. We need to view sleep as equally as important as diet and exercise. Not getting 7 or 8 hours of sleep per night can seriously compromise our health. Sleep is better than any magical pill because it can help prevent cancer, weight gain and heart disease. It also improves memory and athletic performance while fending off colds. On top of all of the benefits, it is enjoyable. With as wonderful as sleep might be, only 30% of people take advantage of it. Around 60% of adults get less than 7 to 8 hours of sleep while 15% of adults get fewer than 6 hours of sleep per night. The first area of concern related to sleep is weight gain. Women who sleep five or fewer hours of sleep are one third more likely to gain up to 33 pounds over 16 years. Our body functions best if it is able to cycle through the five stages of sleep four to five times per night. The first four stages of sleep are essential for maintaining healthy metabolism, learning

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and memory and the fifth (rapid eye movement) is important for regulating mood and forming emotional memories. Missing one or two cycles will cause problems with the immune system, heart health, brain function and more. That should be enough for us to get a little more sleep! Unfortunately, you can have too much of a good thing. Sleeping more than 8 hours of sleep per night disrupts blood sugar levels, which puts you at higher risk for type two diabetes. Sleeping more than 9 hours of sleep per night carries a risk of negative health consequences. Now, on top of health considerations, there are also practical considerations. Women who are not exhausted are more patient and attentive to their children. Lack of sleep can lead to irritability and frustration, especially with energetic children. Another concern with lack of sleep is careless mistakes and inability to focus while driving. Studies even compare driving drunk to driving while exhausted. It is scary to think how impaired we might be while driving our children around exhausted. So now that we know the risks of being a sleep-deprived mother, we need to discuss how we can make changes. We need to take sleep seriously and follow some simple steps. What can a sleep-deprived mother do? Here’s some advice. Bed time. We understand the importance of a set bed time for our children but we balk at the idea of a bed time for ourselves. Set a time that allows you to get done what needs done and then go to bed. You have to g to bed anticipating that you will be awoken early or during the night, so plan accordingly. Catch up when you can. It is easy to have a negative attitude

about nap time, but it a great chance to catch up on missed sleep at night. If your child still naps or you have a chance to rest during the day, take it. Also, utilize weekend time. Take turns with your spouse so that each of you can sleep in one day of every weekend. If you have family or a sitter handy, schedule time occasionally to rest. Catch up when you can! Turn it off! We live in a society where we are constantly entertained. It is easy to sit in front of a TV, computer or phone at night and numb our brains. It is also easy to stay up later than we should because we get caught up in a show or something similar. With that in mind, set a time to turn off electronics so that you can calm your mind before bed. Relax before bed. As mentioned previously, turn off any electronic device that allows your mind to race. Try to complete lists or other tasks for the next day prior to going to bed so that you can lie down and attempt to clear your mind. As mothers, we can find our minds racing with unfinished tasks or tasks for the next day as soon as we lay down in bed at night. Find what works for you to clear your mind. Light reading, music or writing in a journal. Find your own bed time routine. Help your child sleep soundly. We expect for newborns to have inconsistent sleep schedules but older children can develop sleep problems as well. To help your child sleep soundly, try a consistent bedtime routine, room darkening curtains or even a white noise machine. These changes could help improve the sleep of everyone in the family. Take sleep seriously! You may not feel like you have 8 hours to spare each day for sleep, but you are putting your health and productivity at risk. We need to remember that as mothers, we must be productive for 16 hours a day, take the other 8 to sleep.

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Family & Kid Events:

raffle tickets call 219.662.7066 ext 15. Due to limited seating, pre-registration is required.

-The School City of Hobart presents Spring Fest. This fun filled event will feature bounce houses, carnival games, radar baseball, silent auction, a picture studio, karaoke, popcorn and other concessions. The cost for this event is $10 for a wristband which includes unlimited activities. The Hobart High School Theatre will also be the host to a Magic Show and a musical review by the high school students called “Brickies Have Talent”. All proceeds from this event go to support Early Education in the community of Hobart through Parents as Teachers (PAT) which serves children from birth to Kindergarten.

Adult Events:

*Spring Fest March 22nd from 5:00pm-9:00pm

*Mommy, Dolly & Me Spring Tea April 20th at the Avalon Manor in Merrillville -Join Cinderella, Belle and Sleeping Beauty for an enchanted afternoon at the Princess Spring Tea to benefit St. Jude House. This annual benefit luncheon includes: American Girl Doll raffles, child and adult gift basket drawings, doll parade, photos by Edda Taylor Photoraphie and a cash raffle. The menu includes crepes for the adults and chicken tenders for children. Tickets for adults cost $35, children 12 and under are $20. This is the perfect Princess gift for any occasion – gift certificates are also available to give a girl special memories. To purchase event tickets, gift certificates, American Girl and cash

*Sandy Hook Fundraiser March 8th at 6:00pm -Come out for night of fun, food and drinks at the Sand Creek Country Club! Enjoy music, photo booth and a great silent auction. Tickets are $75/ person. Contact Mercy Turner for more information 219.983.2293

Easter Activities:

*Cedar Lake Annual Easter Egg Hunt and Breakfast with the Bunny at Holy Name Catholic Church March 23rd from 8:30am-12:30pm *Munster Egg Hunt and Breakfast with the Easter Bunny at Centennial Park March 23rd from 9:00am-12:00pm *LaPorte Jaycees’ Annual Easter Egg Hunt at the LaPorte County Fairgrounds Saturday March 30th from 9:00am-10:00am *Lowell Egg Hunt at Oak Hill School March 30th at 10:00am SHARP! -Bring your basket to hunt for eggs. For children ages 1-12; there will be an area set up for special needs children. No need to register – event is free! *Portage Easter Egg Hunt and Breakfast with the Easter Bunny at Woodland Park March 23rd from 8:00am-11:00am -Portage Township residents only. $5 for adults, $3

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for children 12 and under

Library Events (Lake County) Cedar Lake

*Mother Goose on the Loose (birth to 23 months) March 1st and 15th from 10:30am-11:00am and 11:30am-12:00pm *Toddler Time (2 and 3) March 14th and 28th from 10:30am-11:15am *Preschool Story Hour (4-5 years) March 5th and 19th from 10:30-11:30 and 1:00pm-2:00pm *Lego Mania (K-6th grade) March 7th from 4:30pm-6:00pm *Great Artists Craft Day (All Ages) March 9th from 10:00am-12:00pm *History on Film: The Exodus Revealed: Search for the Red Sea Crossing (Adults) March 12th from 2:00pm-3:30pm

W h y d a n c e at M i r r or I m a g e Da n ce Ac a d em y? • We are a Christian based dance

studio focused on building strong dancers and strong character. •Our competitive teams have earned top honors! •Our music, costuming, and movements are contemporary, yet age appropriate! •We have been an integral part of the community with over 12 yrs of exceptional dance instruction.

219-462-3160 www.mirrorimagedance.net

Dance for all levels 18 months-adult! Ballet-Tap-Jazz-Contemporary-Hip Hop-Modern-PointePraise Dance-Performing and Competing TeamsAcademic/Dance Preschool

3207 Cascade Dr., Suite G, Valparaiso Just off Silhavy Rd, 2 blocks north of Target

*Super Scrabble Saturday March 23rd from 10:00am-12:00pm -Children and families are invited to play Scrabble at the library! All supplies, and snack, will be provided.

Central *Mother Goose on the Loose (birth to 23 months) March 5th and 19th from 10:00am-10:30am *Toddler Time (2 and 3) March 4th and 18th from 10:00am-10:40am *Preschool Story Hour (4-5 years) March 12th and 26th from 10:00am-11:00am *Craft Table for Children (All Ages) March 4th, 11th, 18th and 25th from 9:00am8:30pm -Children are welcome to make a craft at the craft table in the Children’s Department. *Scrabble Fun (2nd – 5th grade) March 27th from 6:30pm-7:30pm

Dyer-Schererville *Mother Goose on the Loose (birth to 23 months) March 11th, 12th, 18th, and 19th from 10:3oam11:00am *Toddler Time (2 and 3) March 13th, and 20th from 10:15am-10:55am, 11:15am-11:55am and 1:30-2:10pm *Preschool Story Hour (4-5 years) March 12th, 18th, and 19th from 1:30pm2:30pm *Lego Club (K-6th grade) March 6th and 18th from 6:30pm-7:30pm *Power Paws for Kids (4-5 years and K-6th grade) March 9th from 11:00am-12:00pm *Dynamite Duplo (2–5 years) March 7th from 10:00am-11:30am

Griffith Branch

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*Mother Goose on the Loose (birth to 23 months) March 27th from 10:30am-11:00am *Toddler Time (2 and 3) March 20th from 10:30am-11:15am *LEGO Mania (K-6th grade) March 18th from 3:30pm-5:00pm *Thursday Threaders (Adult) March 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th from 10:30am12:30pm -Like to cross-stitch, knit, crochet, or do any other craft? Every Thursday, bring and work on your own project while enjoying the company of others. *Family Craft Night (All Ages) March 26th from 6:00pm-7:00pm

Highland Branch *Mother Goose on the Loose (birth to 23 months) March 6th and 20th from 10:30am-11:00am March 5th and 19th from 6:30pm-7:00pm *Tremendous 2’s and 3’s March 11th and 25th from 10:30am-11:15am *Fabulous 4’s, 5’s and 6’s March 13th and 27th from 10:30am-11:15am *Family Story Hour (3-7 years) March 12th and 26th from 6:30pm-7:30pm (all ages) *Family Craft Night (All Ages) March 7th from 6:30pm – 7:30pm

Hobart Branch *Mother Goose on the Loose (birth to 23 months)

March 6th, and 20th from 10:15am-10:45am *Toddler Time (2 and 3) March 14th, 20th and 28th from 10:15am11:00am March 11th and 25th from 11:15am-12:00pm March 12th and 26th from 6:30pm-7:30pm *Preschool Story Hour (4-5 years) March 12th and 26th from 1:30pm-2:30pm *LEGO Night (K-6th grade) March 5th from 6:00pm-7:30pm *Evening Pajama Movie: Monsters, Inc. (All Ages) March 19th from 6:00pm-7:30pm

Lake Station Branch *’Tween Time (4th-7th grade) March 6th from 6:00pm-7:00pm *Family Nutrition Program (All Ages) March 8th from 11:00am-12:00pm *Butterflies (K-6th grade) March 13th from 6:00pm-7:00pm

Munster Branch *Mother Goose on the Loose (birth to 23 months) March 13th and 27th from 10:3oam-11:00am *Terrific 2’s & 3’s March 4th and 18th from 10:15am-11:00am and 11:15am-12:00pm *Fantastic 4’s & 5’s March 12th and 26th from 10:30am-11:30am and 1:30pm-2:30pm *Lego Building (K-6th grade) March 14th from 3:00pm-7:00pm *Family Craft Night (K-6th grade) March 28th from 6:00pm-7:00pm

St. John Branch *Mother Goose on the Loose (birth to 23 months) March 14th and 28th from 10:15am-10:45am *Toddler Time (2 and 3) March 5th and 19th from 10:15am-10:45am OR

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11:15am-11:45am *Preschool Story Hour (4, 5 and 6 years) March 12th and 26th from 10:30am-11:30am *Amazing LEGOs (K-6th grade) March 19th from 4:30pm-5:30pm *Crafty Kids Club (K-6th grade) March 12th from 4:30pm-5:30pm *Family Story Time (All Ages) March 27th from 6:30pm-7:30pm *The Moon Launch (K-5th grade) March 7th from 4:30pm-5:30pm -Children will enjoy stories about the moon launch, make a craft, and participate in other fun activities.

Library Events (Porter County) Hebron

*Superhero Party March 7th from 4:00pm-5:30pm -Do you have what it takes to be a superhero? Become a Superhero-In-Training! What kind of Superhero will you be? Test your skills, develop your powers, and design your own costume! *Toddler Time (2 and 3) March 29th from 10:15am-10:45am *Story Time (4 and 5) March 29th from 11:30am-12:00pm

Kouts *Mother Goose on the Loose (birth to 23 months) March 12th and 19th from 11:0oam-11:30am *Toddler Time (2 and 3) March 12th and 19th from 10:15am-10:45am *Story Time (4 and 5)

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March 11th and 18th from 10:15am-10:45am and 1:00pm-1:30pm *Library Lego Land (K-6th grade) March 6th from 3:30pm-4:30pm *Homeschool Hangout (K-8th grade) March 11th and 18th from 11:15am-12:15pm *Book a Stay-cation at the Library March 25th, 26th, 27th, and 28th from 10:30am11:30am (K-8th grade) -Not going anywhere for spring break? Book a staycation at the library and “visit� a different state each day.

Portage *Baby Time (Birth to 23 months) March 8th and 22nd at 10:00am *Lego Club (K-5th grade) March 16th from 10:30am-11:30am *Game Night (3rd to 6th grade)

March 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th *Spring Break Book Bingo (1st-5th grade) March 25th at 10:30am

South Haven *Toddler Time (2 and 3) March 5th, 12th, 19th, and 26th from 10:15am-10:45am *Preschool Story Time (4 and 5) March 5th, 12th, 19th, and 26th from 11:00am-11:30am

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Thomas

*Lego Club (K-5th grade) March 23rd from 1:30pm-2:30pm

Valparaiso *Book Babies (newborn to 23 months) March 15th from 3:30pm-4:00pm March 4th and 18th from 9:30am-10:00am OR 10:45am-11:15am *Tiny Tots (2 to 2½ years) March 8th, 15th and 29th from 9:30am-10:15am OR 10:45am-11:30am *Preschool Story Hour (3½ to 5½ years) March 5th, 12th, and 19th from 9:30am-10:15am OR 10:45am-11:30am OR 1:00pm-1:45pm *Preschool BINGO! (3½ to 5½ years) March 25th from 10:00am-10:30am -Registration begins Monday, March 11th in person or by phone. This event is free! *Stuffed Animal Sleepover (3½ years-7 years) March 28th from 2:00pm-3:00pm -Bring your stuffed animal friend to the library for an Animal Sleepover! Wear your comfiest pjs and join the library for stories, fun, crafts and a snack. Afterwards, you’ll say “goodbye” to your stuffed friends as they have an adventure at the library overnight! $2 fee due at registration.

*I Can Do That!!! Art – Drop In March 2nd, 9th, 16th, and 23rd from 10:00am1:00pm *Wiggles & Giggles March 7th, 8th, 14th, 15th, 21st, 22nd, and 28th at 10:00am *Tickle Tales (9-24months) March 6th, 13th, 20th, and 27th at 10:00am *Story Time (4-6 years) March 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th at 10:00am *Lego Club March 8th at 6:30pm

Library Events (La Porte County) Coolspring

*OUCH! (2nd grade and up) March 16th at 1:00pm -Come to the library to learn some basics of first aid. Find out how to prevent and treat burns, cuts and wounds. Learn how to help someone who is choking. Know how to prevent accidental poisonings. A great program for kids who are getting ready to stay home alone or to begin babysitting.

Main

Westchester Public Libraries Hageman

*Play Date (newborn to 12 months) March 5th, 12th, 19th, and 26th at 10:30am *Tickle Tales (9-24 months) March 5th, 12th, 19th, and 26 from 10:00am10:30am *Stepping Stone (3 years) March 6th, 13th, 20th, and 27th *Toddler Time (2–3 years) March 4th, 11th, 18th, and 25th at 10:00am *Story Time (4-6years) March 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th

*Baby Story time (newborn-24months) March 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th at 10:00am *Daytime Story time (2-5 years) March 8th, 15th and 22nd and 29th at 10:00am *Nighttime Story time (newborn-5 years) March 25th at 6:30pm *A Novel Yarn (Adults) March 4th at 5:30pm

Rolling Prairie *Reader’s Group March 5th at 10:00am -Join the library to discuss Year of Wonders: A Novel of the Plague by Geraldine Brooks.

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KIDS EAT FREE OR REDUCED: Amarillo Roadhouse –Kids eat free on Tuesday at the location in Schererville. Bob Evans – Kids eat free on Tuesday

nights with the purchase of an adult entrée at Merrillville, Chesterton and Valparaiso locations.

Boston’s Gourmet Pizza – Kids eat free on Sundays with the purchase of an adult entrée at the Schererville location. Buffalo Wild Wings – On Wednesday and

Sunday, kids 12 and under get half-price kids meals at Buffalo Wild Wings in Valparaiso.

Denny’s – Kids can eat free at Denny’s on

Tuesday and Saturday night from 4pm to 10pm. For every one regularly priced adult entrée purchased, two free kid’s meals are given. That means a family with four children can eat for the price of just two adult entrees. The deal is limited to children 10 and under and is available at the Merrillville, Hebron, Portage and Michigan City location.

Fazoli’s – On Tuesdays, kids 12 and under

adult entrée is purchased. The daily special is not included in this deal.

Quaker

and

Lube – On

Wednesday’s, the Portage location offers a $3.99 kids meal, all day long. This includes a drink.

Pops Italian Beef, Dyer – On Tuesday’s, kids get a $.99 kids meal with the purchase of a value meal.

Reuben’s Mexican Grill – Sunday is

Family Day! Kids 10 and under eat free with the purchase of an adult entrée. Dine in only.

Shenanigan’s Pub and Eatery – Kids eat free on Wednesday’s and Sundays with the purchase of an adult entrée. Shenanigan’s is located on Route 20 in Portage. Texas Roadhouse – On Monday nights,

the Dyer location has $.99 kids meals, with the purchase of an adult entrée. There is a limit of 2 kids meals per family. Andy Armadillo, the mascot, can also be found on these nights, walking around the restaurant and playing with the kids! ***Do you have an event you want to share with us? Just send an email to Stephanie@ momtomomnwi.com. The deadline for your entry is due by the 15th.

eat for $.99 from 5pm to 8pm at the Valparaiso location.

Golden Corral – All day, every day, kids 3 and under eat FREE from the buffet with the purchase of an adult meal (limit 2) at the Merrillville location. Kids ages 4-7 are $2.99, 8-10 are $4.99, and 11 and 12 year olds are $5.99. A drink is included in the price. Goodfellas Bar and Grill, Cedar Lake – Kids get a free meal when an

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Steak


ARIES – MARCH 21 THROUGH APRIL 20

You have a handful of planets moving through Aries this month. They are boosting your self-confidence, encouraging you to stand tall and to not allow others to put you into a box or to shame you into “playing it small”. Most of the time, this is working out wonderfully for you. However, an authority figure in your life is really unhappy about the “new you” that you are trying to showcase. They might be right that you need to fine-tune your presentation or they could just be a control freak that is threatened by your sense of personal power. The trick is for you to figure out which is the case without burning any bridges. Read more about what this month holds for Aries. TAURUS – APRIL 21

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MAY 21

You and a partner are still feeling social and adventurous. As the month progresses, you find yourself wanting to bust out of the various restraints real and imagined that seem to be holding you back, keeping you down, or just putting a wet blanket on your happy day feelings. You are in a great place for letting go of negative attitudes, self-destructive behaviors, and/or delusional ideas that have kept you from achieving your goals. You are also ready to thumb your nose at bureaucratic dramas and society’s rules and regulations. You are feeling a bit rebellious, but it is still mostly a private inner world where you are entertaining these ideas. Still, you are not going to tolerate anything that feels stifling or dysfunctional. Read more about what this month holds for Taurus. GEMINI – MAY 22 THROUGH JUNE 21

The month starts out with you still focusing on all of the good news coming from your professional life. You are able to get a lot accomplished, earn bigger profits, and take on leadership roles. You are still occasionally upset about how a boss or high profile client is treating you, but you are still moving forward in a positive direction. The end of the month has you focusing on your social life, teams, club memberships, committee meetings, networking projects, ecommerce, and/or Internet activities. You are coming across as a very smart, fun, and tenacious team player. This is great for your professional life, social life, and commercial activities, but it is not good for your love life or your finances. Try to avoid mixing your social life with your romantic and/or financial activities. Read more about what this month holds for Gemini. CANCER – JUNE 22

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JULY 22

You and a partner are having a lovely time together. The two of you are enjoying broadening your horizons. You are also questioning some of the injustices, stupid rules, and political dramas that you are learning about. You are also spending quite a bit of time this month working on your professional goals and taking on leadership roles. Your partner is not too happy about it, but you are still meant to take advantage of the positive energy flowing through your professional life. Read more about what this month holds for Cancer. LEO – JULY 23

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AUGUST 23

these topics could be making it difficult for you to have fun. It is also possible that a child, pet, lover, hobby, vacation, and/or some other playtime activity is clashing with your desire to increase profits and bring more romance into your life. Read more about what this month holds for Virgo. LIBRA – SEPTEMBER 23

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OCTOBER 23

You have a lot of drama happening in the area of your chart that governs partnerships and rivalries. The bad news is that your home, parents, roommates, retirement plans, housing situation, and/or household chores are causing this partner or rival to get really angry. The good news is that the two of you are doing extremely well when you focus on academic, legal, political, religious, cultural, travel, and/or relocation projects together. You are also still doing quite well at work and are finding ways to improve your financial situation while working on your residential and professional projects. Read more about what this month holds for Libra. SCORPIO – OCTOBER 24

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NOVEMBER 22

You have the planets in charge of genius, wealth, optimism, and tenacity all traveling through your work sector. They are taking turns connecting with the good luck planet in your profits sector. This could be an excellent time for you to brainstorm lucrative ideas that boost productivity, employee morale, and the bottom line. You also still have some of last month’s playtime and fun energy still encouraging you to take time to smell the roses per se. You do not appear to have any trouble juggling your playtime and professional activities. Read more about what this month holds for Scorpio. SAGITTARIUS – NOVEMBER 23

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DECEMBER 21

During the first half of the month, you are mostly focused on your home life, parents, retirement planning, or real estate deals. Despite your partner or rival’s occasional complaints, these home related activities seem to be going quite well for you. During the second half of the month, your focus changes to playtime. You are in the mood for romance, hobbies, creativity, vacations, fine dining, music, theatre, spending quality time with pets and children, laughing, dancing, sports, etc. It is as if you got your house in order, and now you are ready for some much deserved rest and relaxation. Read more about what this month holds for Sagittarius. CAPRICORN – DECEMBER 22

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JANUARY 20

There is a lot of excitement happening in your private life. It could be your parents, roommates, houseguests, retirement plans, home improvement projects, landscaping, real estate deals, or anything else home related. Most of the time, this is an awesome development. Professionally, it is working out quite nicely for you. However, there are times when you get really annoyed at how it is playing out. Chaos is a natural part of this activity or personality within your home life, but you are not really in the mood for chaos and the controlling side of your personality is uncomfortable. Read more about what this month holds for Capricorn.

You have a smart, fun, and enthusiastic bunch of planets moving through the area of your chart that promotes traveling and getting involved in legal, political, religious, academic, media, and/or multicultural activities. You are in the mood to broaden your horizons. These planets are also receiving positive energies from Jupiter in your Internet, social networking, friendships, and teamwork sector. This is a great time for road trips, college classes, church gatherings, joining political parties, and other fun ideas for combining your social life with your need to explore the world. Your career is clashing with these ideas, but that does not mean that you are not still meant to find ways to get more involved in these topics. Read more about what this month holds for Leo.

AQUARIUS – JANUARY 21

VIRGO – AUGUST 24

You are still clashing with your roommates, parents, or housing matters. However, your financial sector and your home sector are getting along beautifully throughout most of the month. Maybe you should just throw money at whomever or whatever it is in your home or private life that keeps upsetting you. You are also still in a good place socially and are having a great time learning new things and expanding your horizons. Read more about what this month

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SEPTEMBER 22

You have a handful of planets moving through the area of your chart that governs our ability to trust others and how much we share with others. Therefore, things like fidelity, loyalty, greed, joint assets, investments, commissions, and profit sharing are all part of that section of your chart. Most of the time, these planets are able to help you bring more financial and romantic security into your life, especially when your career and public life are concerned. However, your focus on

FEBRUARY 18

PISCES – FEBRUARY 19 THROUGH MARCH 20

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You have a wonderfully fun and clever energy promoting the idea that you and your relatives, neighbors, and local community members should be enjoying good times together. You cannot help but feel as if you are meant to be happy and to follow your bliss. Unfortunately, your finances are not cooperating at all. And to make matters worse, there are addictions, dysfunctional relationships, bureaucrats, secrets, gossip, and/or hidden agendas that are putting a dark cloud on everyone’s ability to really feel good about the situation. Read more about what this month holds for Aquarius.


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By: Nicho

Catering To All Clients When stylists Chaunah Macewicz and Allison Perkins learned the salon they worked for was closing its doors, they knew they wouldn’t be able to find another salon to accommodate their individualism. So instead of watching Salon Trissé close, they opted to buy it instead in early 2012. “We didn’t care if someone was for us or against us,” Macewicz said. “This is what we wanted and what we were going to do.” From day one of becoming salon owners, they knew they wanted to have an all-inclusive salon that caters to clients of all ages and genders. “We wanted it to be family oriented instead of having primarily female clients,” Macewicz said. “We have well-versed stylists who can do your fire engine red Rihanna hair to your grandmother’s gray touch up with curl set.” They slightly revamped the pre-existing salon, adding spa services such as facials, massages and waxing to the usual color, cut, styling and up-dos, etcetera one has come to expect from a salon. When it came to tailoring services to all ages, the pair looked at how adolescent clients were treated. If comfortable with it, all children are shampooed prior to a haircut at Salon Trissé. Stylists get the child’s input on what they’d like always receiving a parent’s final stamp of approval. “I like to help compromise. Sometimes a kid will walk in and wants something drastic and crazy like a mohawk and the parent says ‘No way!’” Macewicz explained. “I like to show them how I can cut hair so it can be styled in a lot of ways that makes everyone happy. We want both children and their parents to enjoy the experience.” They also wanted to add a personal touch on the salon. They had heard from their clients that were mothers how difficult it was to find unique birthday party venues especially for girls. With some collaboration and thought, the salon began offering birthday party packages for young girls, preteens and teens. “Every little girl likes to be pampered just like their mom,” she detailed. And the stylists enjoy the party experience just as much as the partygoers, “We love it. It takes us back. We convert to being a little more giddy and fun. We relate to them.” Party themes include rock and roll, princess, tea time and a day of pampering. Custom themed events are welcome. Attendees are treated to mini manicures, hair styling and age appropriate make-up. Parties average at least one-ina-half hours, but are dependent on the number of attendees. The salon will accommodate groups of all sizes. Parties are available during salon hours, but the salon will open during off times when possible. The salon is open Tuesday and Thursday from 11 am to 8 pm, Wednesdays from 9 am to 7 pm, Friday from 9 am to 5 pm and Saturdays from 8 am to 1 pm. Monthly specials and Groupon® discounts are regularly offered. To find out more information visit salontrisse.com or call 219.365.0814.

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