Feed those morning munchies BOOK BUZZ: Clever and quirky reads
OCT. 4, 2012 LIBERTY TRIBUNE THE KEARNEY COURIER GLADSTONE DISPATCH
Fire safety for every room
Scare up some fun with a graveyard-themed bash
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FIRE SAFETY
ROOM BY ROOM BEDROOMS The peak time for home fire fatalities is between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., when most families are asleep. • Do not trap electrical cords against walls. Heat can build up, posing a fire hazard. • Use only lab-approved electric blankets and warmers. Make sure cords are not worn or coming apart. Do not leave electric blankets switched on all night unless they are marked “suitable for all night use.” • Keep bedding, curtains and other combustible items at least three feet away from space heaters. • Never smoke in bed. • Replace mattresses made before the 2007 Federal Mattress Flammability Standard. By law, mattresses made since then are required to be safer. • Have a working smoke alarm in every bedroom and outside each sleeping area.
KITCHEN Cooking equipment is the leading cause of reported home fires and home fire injuries in the United States, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. • Never use extension cords to plug in cooking appliances. They can overload the circuit and start a fire. • Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling, or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove. • Keep anything that can catch fire away from the
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Home fires may seem like the kind of event that happens to someone else, but the reality is, it could easily happen to you. Approximately every three hours a home fire death occurs somewhere in the nation, according to the International Association of Fire Chiefs. Take action now to make sure your home is safer and that your family knows what to do in case a fire does break out. And don’t stop there — share some positivity in your community by reminding family and friends to change the batteries in their smoke alarms when they change their clocks this fall. cooktop.This includes potholders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper or plastic bags, food packaging, towels and curtains. • Keep the cooktop, burners and oven clean. • Loose clothing can dangle onto stove burners and catch fire. Wear short, close-fitting clothing or tightly rolled sleeves when cooking.
LIVING ROOM • Do not overload electrical outlets. • Never run electrical cords under carpets. • Check all electrical cords for fraying or other signs of damage. • Only light decorative candles when adults are present. Use stable candle holders that will not catch fire. Blow candles out when you leave. • During a power failure, do not use candles or oil lamps for light. Keep battery operated flashlights and lanterns in easily accessible places. Candles used for light in the absence of electrical power cause one-third of fatal home candle fires. • Make sure you have a working smoke alarm in each room, including the living room.
GARAGE • Store all combustible materials away from regular sources of heat, such as water heaters, space heaters, boilers and furnaces. • Keep wood finishes, spray paint, paint thinners and other flammable products in a dedicated storage container with a closed door. • Store all combustible materials in their proper containers and be sure they are clearly marked. • Keeping the garage tidy can help keep it safe. Get rid of stacked boxes, newspapers, recycling and trash.They can be instant fuel for a fire. For more tips, visit www.Energizer.com. ILLUSTRATION: GETTY IMAGES
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Make a plan When a home fire occurs, you have very little time to get out. Having an escape plan that everyone is familiar with is a critical part of saving lives. Yet only 23 percent of U.S. families have developed and practiced a home fire escape plan to ensure they could escape quickly and safely. • Draw a floor plan of your home and find two ways out of every room. Sketch the exit routes clearly on the floor plan. • If an upstairs window is one of the escape options, make sure you have a fire escape ladder long enough to reach the ground. Make sure every adult knows how to use it. Adults should be responsible for helping younger children. • Assign an outside meeting place, so that if the family escapes from different routes, you can quickly locate each other. — Family Features
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Change Your Clock, Change Your Battery Daylight saving time ends Sunday, Nov. 4, and marks the 25th anniversary of the Change Your Clock Change Your Battery program, created by Energizer and the International Association of Fire Chiefs. This program reminds people to check and change the batteries in their smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors during the fall time change. Installing smoke alarms on every level of the home can give your family precious minutes to get out and get to safety. • Teach children what smoke alarms sound like and what to do when they hear one. • Once a month, check whether each alarm in the home is working properly by pushing the test button. • Replace batteries in smoke alarms at least once a year. Immediately install a new battery if an alarm chirps, warning the battery is low. • Smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years.
Never disable smoke or carbon monoxide alarms. • Carbon monoxide alarms are not substitutes for smoke alarms. Know the difference between the sound of smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms. Information sourced from the International Association of Fire Chiefs, The Home Safety Council, and the U.S. Fire Administration.
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LIBERT Y T R I BU N E , T H E K E A R N E Y C O U R I E R , G L A D S TO N E D I S PAT C H
The Accidental Parent
Jump
By Betsy Lee
She looked. Out. Under. Right. Left.
Drawer by drawer, Five in all, she climbed To the top of the brown buffet. She’d watched her brother leap from the top, Down to the carpet below. The buffet towered over her head. So she’d climb.
From the top of the brown buffet. Could she do it? Jump? Cheeks flushed, lips quivered. She drew her fingers to her mouth.
It hurt though.
Animalian, she licked two tips.
Tears filled joyful eyes.
In a moment, her whole body shuddered.
Didn’t matter. Her open mouth roared,
Sit.
Could she do it?
I did it.
And contemplate.
Jump?
She exhaled.
Could she do it? Jump? Then came the day. Her brother at school, she sat alone in her two-year-old worries.
Like a light switch clicked from north to south, fear gone, A decision came. Fingers lowered.
She could do it. Jump. Her mother, too, let out the air she’d been holding
Air inhaled.
May she jump, she thought,
She climbed, again,
And then,
Even when fear makes her shake.
To the top of the brown buffet.
She jumped.
May she take careful stock,
Then she stood.
From the top of the brown buffet.
And then,
Could she do it?
Fingers splayed in the air.
Jump.
Jump? She raised her eyes to her mother’s Finding no answer, she returned to herself. Clasping tiny hands together, not noticing how they shook,
Arms flapped, carried away by winged ancestors. Feet, barely larger than a deck of cards, land hard. She could do it. Jump.
Betsy Lee is a Kansas City journalist and columnist who lives in a perpetually messy house with her husband, three children and two pets. She can be reached at contactbetsylee@gmail.com.
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MORNING MUNCHIES In recent years, even more evidence supports the fact that starting your day with breakfast benefits people of all ages, especially children. Kids who regularly eat breakfast are more likely to be successful in school. According to a University of Missouri Extension nutrition specialist, well-nourished children are ready to learn, have a greater ability to focus on tasks, better classroom behavior, and improved test scores. Breakfast eaters also tend to have better school attendance, less tardiness, and few hunger-induced stomachaches. Teachers say it’s obvious when students skip breakfast. Breakfast leads to a healthier weight. The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans Committee found evidence that children who do not eat breakfast are at increased risk of overweight, and the data is stronger for adolescents. “People think skipping breakfast helps lose weight, however, it actually works just the opposite,” said Lynda Johnson, Extension nutrition and health education specialist. “Breakfast skippers often end up starved, then snack on high calorie foods or overeat at lunch.” Eating breakfast is an important life-long health habit for children to learn. Research indicates “maintainers” — those individuals who lose weight and keep it off for a year or longer — make eating breakfast a high priority. So, why are we so likely to skip breakfast? Johnson suggests solutions to typical excuses that may be keeping you or your children from eating a healthy breakfast. “I’m not hungry in the morning.” In actuality, you may have conditioned your body not to be hungry. Begin to build your morning appetite by drinking a glass of milk or juice, then a week later, add a piece of toast or fruit, then a small bowl of cereal. After “fasting” for 12 hours or more, our bodies need nourishment to function at its best. Over time, you will recondition your body to expect breakfast. “I don’t have time to fix breakfast.” There are lots of portable options that you can easily pack and eat on the way to school or work. Sandwiches, wraps, fresh fruit, leftover pizza or bags of cereal make breakfast on the “go” a cinch. By taking time to plan the night before, you can prepare a nutritious, on-the-run breakfast and skip the expense and calories of fast-food drive-thru.
Breakfast is essential for success all day long
“My kids eat so slow, I’d be late for work every day, so we skip breakfast!” Many public schools serve breakfast, which works well for many families. Most is minimal cost or free for eligible families, and the convenience is great. Check with your school district, and sign your kids up for the school breakfast program. Then, be a healthy role model and pack a breakfast at your desk for yourself. Help your children become self-reliant and responsible by teaching them to prepare their own breakfast. Practice on Saturdays, and build from there. By getting at least three food groups (grain, dairy, fruit) in a breakfast meal, children are on their way to getting the important nutrients needed each day. — University of Missouri Extension
Easy, kid-pleasing breakfast options ◆ Cheese slices melted on toast in the microwave with sliced apples ◆ Leftover spaghetti, macaroni and cheese, or pizza ◆ Yogurt topped with cereal and fresh fruit ◆ Chopped hard-boiled egg, grated cheese and salsa wrapped in tortilla ◆ Ham slice and cheese melted in a toasted English muffin ◆ Peanut butter, banana and jelly sandwich with a glass of milk
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Feeling the heat of CHILDHOOD FEVERS Fevers scare many parents. When a child’s temperatures rises, it can induce panic and helplessness. But when parents recognize that fevers are oftentimes not incredibly harmful to children, that recognition can reduce panic and overreliance on fever-reducing medication. If a child is healthy, a fever does not necessarily indicate anything serious. A fever is a rise in temperature initiated by the hypothalamus in the brain, which acts as the body’s internal thermostat. The average body temperature is 98.6 F (37 C),
but if body temperature is measured consistently throughout the day, this temperature will fluctuate. In fact, body temperature is often lower in the morning and higher in the middle of the day. In many cases, the hypothalamus raises body temperature as the result of an infection or illness, according to the Nemours Foundation for Children’s Health. It is believed that making the body less hospitable to viruses and bacteria helps reduce their propensity to grow and multiply. A fever is often a good indicator that a person is
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sick, which can sometimes be difficult to determine if there are no apparent symptoms. This can parents and doctors discover what is triggering the fever. For parents of toddlers and older children, a fever of 103 F or less is generally nothing to run to the doctor about. There is no inherent harm in letting the fever run its course, and it can actually prove beneficial in fighting the viral or bacterial illness that is causing the fever in the first place. If your child is a newborn, a fever of 101 F or higher can be considered a medical emergency and should be evaluated by a doctor right away. Youngsters ages 7 weeks to 3 months should be brought to a doctor immediately if they have a fever of 101 or higher. If a child has a fever of 104 or higher and his or her body temperature will not come down to 101 or 102, even with treatment, this is a cause for concern. Most pediatricians agree that a fever should not be treated with acetaminophen or ibuprofen if it is
I tried other weight loss programs. They didn’t work. Dr. Robert Huster did a comprehensive evaluation and planned my own treatment program. Sure, there were some life changes, but he and his staff supported me the whole way for long term success. You can do it, too. Do it now. There is only one weight loss program in the Northland with a physician board certified by the American Board of Obesity Medicine. Many insurance plans now cover medically supervised weight loss. Check your plan for details.
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Picking a thermometer
How hot is too hot? This guideline, courtesy of renowned childhood medical expert Dr. Sears, can help parents determine if their child’s body temperature is something they should be concerned about. not making a child extremely uncomfortable. These medications can be used if the child has pain or is complaining about how they feel about the fever. Acetaminophen is used every four hours while ibuprofen lasts a little longer and is given every six to eight hours. — Metro Creative
Normal temperature: 97 to 99 degrees Low-grade fever: 99 to 100.9 degrees Common fever: 101 to 103.5 degrees High fever: any fever over 103.6 degrees
Glass rectal or oral/underarm thermometers — These have been around the longest and have a proven record of accuracy. They do take the longest to read a temperature and can be difficult when dealing with fidgety kids. Ear thermometer — This quick and easy thermometer has become a favorite method. But accuracy can vary, giving different readings from each ear. Temporal thermometer — Another quick method, this thermometer is swept across the temporal artery in the forehead and has a better accuracy rating than the ear thermometer.
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The right time for
BRACES Braces are often an important component of oral health. The average age for getting braces is between 10 and 15 years of age. However, parents should take kids to see an orthodontist when permanent teeth start coming in.
Orthodontic braces are used to help position and align an individual’s teeth. Getting braces is something that is typically seen as a rite of childhood. But many parents are unsure as to when their children should be fitted for braces. Although many children benefit the most from getting braces between the ages of 10 and 15, the American Association of Orthodontists as well as international orthodontic authorities advise that children should get their first orthodontic screening by the age of 7, when there may be a mixture of permanent and juvenile teeth in the child’s mouth. The orthodontist may be able to forecast any future problems that may arise and note if there are any preliminary steps that can be taken. Even though many children wait until adolescence to get braces, and most doctors will want to monitor kids’ oral structure as they grow, familiarity with a child’s mouth enables an orthodontist to act when the time is right. Some orthodontists work to remedy an overbite or underbite, and they also may address spacing issues. How braces work Braces straighten teeth by putting steady pressure on the teeth to help shift the teeth into correct position. The orthodontist will determine how long to keep the braces on. As the teeth shift, the wires that are part of the braces will be cut and adjusted accordingly. Teeth that require extra help may necessitate the use of specialized headgear to impart extra pressure on the mouth. Today’s braces are much less noticeable than those of yesteryear. Some braces are smaller in profile, and there are clear varieties and those that are placed behind the teeth. The wires used in braces also have changed. They are smaller and more technologically advanced to help straighten teeth faster and easier. Living with braces Braces will require some alterations to a child’s diet as well as his or her oral hygiene routine. Sticky foods or ones with small particles that tend to lodge be-
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tween the teeth should be avoided as much as possible. Chewing gum can be exceptionally troublesome. Sticky candies may get stuck, and you could pull off brackets trying to unlodge the candy. Keeping teeth clean also will require a few extra steps. Because of the small parts and crevices braces create in the mouth, food can lodge in areas more easily. If left that way, one could end up with tooth decay. It is advisable to use specially designed floss brushes and picks to clean the teeth and dislodge any trapped particles. Also, continue with routine dental cleanings as scheduled. After braces At the time braces are removed, most patients are fitted for a retainer that will be worn at certain periods of the day (usually at night) to help keep teeth aligned properly. It is important to continue to use the retainer as advised by the orthodontist to help prevent teeth from shifting or becoming crooked once more. Braces are a necessity for thousands of people. They’re generally applied during the preteen years, but younger children as well as adults have used braces successfully. — Metro Creative
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BOOK BUZZ: Clever and Quirky They’re “Clever and Quirky,” as zany as a purple turkey from Albuquerque. Brilliantly creative, with odd characters and plots, this month’s Book Buzz Picks are sure to bee titles you’ll remember, so spread the word on the absurd. Know you’ll enjoy reading about a pen with panache, a duo that digs pancakes, and two boys who march to the beat of a very different drummer. Until next month, keep “Paging on!”
The Obstinate Pen By Frank W. Dormer Pens like Parkers and Papermates know what’s expected of them: straight lines and curlicues, and printing to be proud of. But beware the writing instrument in “The Obstinate Pen” by Frank W. Dormer. It has escapades hilarious, detailed in cartoon drawings by the former, Dormer. Uncle Flood is delighted to get a new pen and unwraps it as his nephew Horace looks on. The pen stands respectfully at attention. Imagine Flood’s shock when he puts pen to paper and instead of writing, “The following story is all true,” the pen writes, “You have a big nose.” Uncle Flood tosses the pen out the window, where it bounces off the ear of a policeman. So begins a madcap caper with the pen passing from hand to hand, each owner receiving insults from an indiscriminate roller-ball with a mind of its own. In the end, we realize the pen isn’t really such a bad apple. It just has a different goal in mind for its ink — doesn’t mean to raise a stink.
Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox, the Great Pancake Adventure By Matt Luckhurst Pass the Aunt Jemima’s! You’ll flip over “Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox, the Great Pancake
Adventure” by Matt Luckhurst. Most of you know the story of super-sized Paul and his sidekick Babe, an ox the size of a covered wagon. But did you know the pair were impassioned about pancakes? They could stomach hundreds at a sitting. Growing boys need better nourishment, Paul’s mom said. When Mom took to preaching about greens, broccoli and the like, Paul and Babe vamoosed in search of sweeter pancake pastures. They scored in the deep, dark woods. A truck loaded with flour turned over next to a creek, dumping the white stuff into the water, making a gooey-thick stream of endless batter that got baked in the hot sun. This was the first of Paul and Babe’s lucky days as they scoured the countryside, from east to west, making pancake pigs of themselves. Alas, all good things must come to an end — even a tall stack in this fun book with fanciful folk art illustrations.
Liar & Spy By Rebecca Stead Things aren’t at all what they seem in “Liar & Spy,” an unsettling, yet heartwarming, book by Rebecca Stead that doesn’t reveal all until the last 20 pages. Georges, a sixth-grader, is made fun of because of his name. He isn’t much of an athlete, has lost his best friend to the popular group and is adjusting to life in a new apartment because his dad has lost his job. Georges could have benefited from having his mother around, but she’s, it seems, working double shifts at the hospital to make up for the family’s lost income. When Georges sees a note in the basement of the apartment house about a spy club meeting, his father encourages him to join. That’s how Georges becomes friends with Safer, the only member of the club. Safer is highly intelligent, observant, weird and mysterious. The homeschooled boy is just Georges’ age, a self-taught spy sure that the Mr. X, the man in Apartment 4 is up to no good. It doesn’t take Safer long to drag Georges into his web of espionage. In actuality, both Safer and Georges wear an armor of denial to keep reality at bay. When Safer’s cover is blown, all is revealed, leaving readers in breathless wonder at the pure and simple genius of this touching, highly original read. Reprinted with permission. Missourian Publishing Company. Copyright 2012.
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Be the ghostess with the mostess this Halloween, and throw a wickedly wonderful celebration. The entertaining experts from the Wilton Test Kitchen know all the tricks and offer plenty of treats for hosting a bone-chilling blast that will have friends and family shrieking with delight. There’s no bones about it, a spooktacular skeleton cake will make for a boo-tiful Halloween centerpiece. Using a skeleton casket pan makes this impressive dessert — filled with fall flavors like cinnamon and apples — easy to achieve. Simply decorate with icing and watch as your skeleton comes back from the grave. For added fright, surround the coffin with Spooky Pop Cupcakes — swirled with brightly-colored icing and things that go bump in the night. Just be sure to pair sweets with a be“witch”ing beverage and you’ll be caught in a web of friends all evening long. All of these and other terrifyingly-terrific project ideas, supplies and more are available at www.wilton.com. — Family Features
Back From the Grave Cake Makes about 12 servings 2 3/4 2 1 1/2 1/4 1 1 1/4 3 2 3/4 1 1/4 1
cups all-purpose flour teaspoons baking powder teaspoons ground cinnamon teaspoon salt cup (2 sticks) butter, softened cups granulated sugar eggs teaspoons vanilla extract cups sweetened applesauce cups diced Granny Smith apple can (16 ounces) White Decorator Icing
Preheat oven to 325°F. Prepare 3D Skeleton Casket pan with vegetable pan spray. In medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt; set aside. In large bowl, beat butter and sugar with electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, and vanilla; mix well. Alternately add flour mixture and applesauce to butter mixture. Spread about 1/2 of cake batter so that it reaches the first horizontal line inside the pan. Sprinkle diced apples evenly over batter. Top with remaining batter, smoothing out the top. Bake 58 to 62 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean. Cool 15 minutes; remove from pan and cool completely on cooling grid. Decorate cooled cake with tip 5 and decorator icing.
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You don’t have to join the fun, but it’s nice to be polite Although there are thousands of people who eagerly await the arrival of Halloween, there are some who aren’t so excited come the last day of October because of religious beliefs or personal preference. When choosing not to participate in the Halloween festivities, be considerate of those who still enjoy the holiday and its many traditions. Alert visitors nicely There’s always the option of turning out the lights and feigning absence if you plan to opt out of Halloween entirely. However, such an approach does not always work. It is more gracious to give visitors a heads-up instead so they simply skip over your house. A clever note may be all it takes to have trick-ortreaters pass you by. Even a simple sign that says there’s no more candy is a polite way to steer trick-or-treaters away from your door.You don’t want to stand on the front porch scaring pixies and pirates off of your walkway. Don’t set the scene A house that is not decorated will be a good indication to neighborhood children that you’re simply not in the Halloween mood this year. However, if your home is decked out in cobwebs and tombstones, you are giving trick-or-treaters the message that you are open for business. Make your home inconspicuous if you want to deter visitors. — Metro Creative
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Prepare cake mix batter according to package directions; add chopped Butterfinger to batter. Bake according to directions for 24 cupcakes. Cool completely. Frost cupcakes. Place morsels in small, heavy-duty plastic bag. Microwave on HIGH (100%) power for 45 seconds; knead. Microwave at additional 10- to 15-second intervals, kneading until smooth. Cut small corner from bag; squeeze to pipe concentric circles on top of frosting. Using wooden pick or tip of knife, pull tip through chocolate from center to last circle to create a cobweb effect. Make 2 dots using decorator icing on each of 24 Goobers to resemble spider eyes. Place in center of each cobweb. For more ghoulish recipes, visit www.meals.com.
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Be wise about paying for that disguise Finding a costume is part of the excitement of getting ready for Halloween. Every year children make their lists of preferred attire and head to stores with parents in tow to get all of the necessary accessories to complete their looks. As any parent can attest, Halloween costumes seem to be growing more expensive by the year. Small bits of fabric paired with a mask or other embellishments can cost $30 or more. The more elaborate the costume, the more expensive it becomes. Many people may be looking to curtail spending this Halloween but may not know how to get costumes for less. Fortunately, there are many ways to save on costumes.
Investigate costume swaps. Some enterprising parents organize costume swaps where others can get costumes for little or no cost. Schools may host these events to serve as fundraisers for their different programs. Ask friends and family. Just as handme-down clothing helps individuals save money on the cost of new clothing, so can hand-me-down costumes. Chances are you know someone who has children who have grown out of last year’s costume. Because these costumes were likely only worn once, you can probably use them for your own children and they’ll look brand new.
tive who can help you with the project. Kids can even participate in making their costumes. Your child has probably come home from school with a handmade hat or creative item made with paper and glue. Instead of spending a fortune on a Halloween costume, encourage the kids to get crafty and design their own costumes. Turn work clothes into costumes. Children like to emulate adults and want to dress up like Mom or Dad, especially if they go to work in a uniform. Use an old uniform or one you have outgrown to make a mini version for your kids.
Shop for regular clothes. Several different costumes can be made from Make your own costumes. Many off-the-rack items at stores. For example, crafty parents have put together All you may need is a a witch’s dress can be made with a Halloween ensembles with materiblack sweatshirt, vest black dress or a skirt from a departals they’ve gathered from around and a few accessothe house. Cardboard boxes can be ment store and contrasting colored ries to pull off this inturned into robot bodies, while old tights. Create a pirate costume with an expensive costume. tablecloths can be transformed into oversized button-up shirt cinched at the waist with a scarf. A long peasant skirt capes or dresses. You may find it is less expensive to purchase a costume pattern and and some large hoop earrings can turn a person fabric from a craft store than buying a costume at into a wandering gypsy. retail. Don’t know how to sew? Find a friend or rela— Metro Creative
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