May 2013 Mommyzine - Summertime Rules

mommyzine ! s e l u ime R

t r e m Sum

cover photo by Susannah Buhner

New Inside!

I Almost

Cook

Fun & Easy Recipes For You & Your Kids!

contents

MOMMY MAGIC™ mommyzine Summer 2013

What’s Inside Publisher: Mary Susan Buhner Editor: Jen Alderman Contributing Writers:

Kara Tamulonis

Mindy Fleming

Krista Bocko

Michelle Anixter

Paige Miller

Caroline Buhner Photos & Design:

Jen Alderman

Susannah Buhner

©2013 Mommy Magic Publishing

Features: Welcome

3-4

Party It Up

6

Mommy Magic

10-11

Witty in Pink

16-17

Summer Safety

14

Summer Tips

26-27

Amazing Holiday Race

27

Whole Foods Recipes In Every Issue What’s Hot

What’s Hot Tweens Quote Page Summer Spinning

29-30 8-9 19 12 15

I Almost Cook

20-23

A Friend’s Story

24-25

Mommy Magic Bulletin Board

32-33

! e m o c l e W As a mom, of three beautiful and very busy girls, I am juggling many plates while still trying to find time to make dinner and have family time over a meal. Secretly, I long for the slower days I experienced as a child with my grandmother in her kitchen. The reality though, is a fast paced life where texting or googling a recipe while waiting in carpool or at soccer game is more likely than canning anything.

With that, I am excited to share with you a new a cooking show dedicated to helping moms make delicious, affordable and fast meals for their family using my grandmother’s method of “A pinch here and a dash there.”

I ALMOST COOK combines this old fashion method while being mindful that today’s mom does not have the time to spend all day in a kitchen. I will show you how to use a handful of ingredients from your kitchen pantry to make a family meal fun, memorable and GOOD!

Mary Susan Buhner

t, c e f r e p e b o t e v a h t ’ n s e o d t I “ , y a s o t d e s ” u ! o D m a O O M G e b o t s Like my a it just h I Almost Cook

!

O G s ’ t Le I have a confession - I am not a cold weather person. By February of every year I’m inches from having a mental breakdown unless I get some warmer weather and sunshine in my life. Needless to say then, I am ALWAYS ready for summer!

Although I’m thrilled about the return of flip-flops and grilled dinners, like many moms I’m always at a loss with how to fill those long summer days with my kids home from school. This issue of Mommyzine is filled with tips, tricks, and terrific recipes to help you not just survive the summer, but thrive this summer! So I say, “Let’s GO! Bring summer on!”

Happy Summer!

Jen

My boys with friends enjoying one of our favorite summer activities - s’mores on the firepit!

Perfect

Occasions

Perfect Occasions is a modern, full-service event planning company specializing in innovative and inspired celebrations. Our creative team swirls together every detail of your vision with our charming concepts. Please let us help you create your Perfect Wedding Day. We love all Weddings!

02'(51 Classic

Whimsical

Rustic

And even “Ooo Laa Laa�

Our Specialties Candy and Dessert Buffets, Stylish and Personal Favors, Imaginative Double-duty Centerpieces, Delightful Details in every aspect of the Wedding from the Engagement Party to the Bride and Groom send-off.

www.perfectoccasions4u@yahoo.com

317-201-0714

317-847-0249

Party It Up!

by Kara Tamulonus

The Fourth of July is one of my FAVORITE holidays. What better excuse to bring together family and friends to celebrate our nations Independence Day?! Here are a few fun ideas to make your Fourth of July Celebration the best one yet!

Everybody loves a Parade...Our neighborhood has a Fourth of July Parade every year. The kids LOVE it!

This is a great tradition to start in your neighborhood or even just with family and friends. Get out your strollers, wagons and bikes and let the kids go to town! Red, white and blue streamers, balloons, cut out stars, and American flags are great items to decorate with. Once the decorating is complete line up your kiddos in a single file line and march through your neighborhood letting all your neighbors share in the patriotic fun!!!

All American Treats! The Fourth of July is a great excuse to break out all the classics. Hamburgers, hot dogs, potato salad, corn on the cob and apple pie! In addition to serving everyone’s summer time favorites get a little

patriotic with your food this fourth! Use a star shaped cookie cutter to cut watermelon slices into stars. Create a red, white and blue flag with strawberries, blueberries and whip cream. Or let your kiddos run wild with red, white and blue sprinkles.

They can dip whipped cream strawberries, roll the edges of an ice cream sandwich or decorate star shaped cookies with them!

And last but not least fireworks!!! Fireworks are so much fun on the Fourth of July. It’s a tradition that most kids and adults alike look forward to. Find a local firework display to attend with your family to enjoy the colorful display. If your can’t find a close enough local display liven up your own family picnic or barbecue with sparklers and snappers. These are two kid friendly options that will create lasting memories and keep them busy for hours!!!

Change well.

Choreo is the perfect partner to help facilitate effective change throughout your organization. With energy and expertise, our team will support your team with the development of workplace protocols and best practices, in addition to technology integration, ergonomic awareness and other aspects of effective culture and workspace change.

Leading Indiana corporations have trusted Choreo to help implement significant innovation.

We choreograph change in business.

317.216.1410 choreogroup.com

What’s Hot

Spring...the time of all things renewed...trees begin to bud, it’s “hello sunshine” and mother’s day is just around the corner. It’s a time for us moms to kick off our boots, pack away bulky sweaters and begin our “budding” of sorts, style wise that is. It’s fresh, lighter and flirty. It’s feminine and softer

Go Green! This season’s repeat favorite color is green, but softer than last season’s emerald. It’s softer shades of mint and grass. It’s fresh, easy and mixes beautifully with other shades of green like olive. Choose a structured jacket and soften it with this season’s softest greens. www.nordstrom.com go make noise jacket $70.00

Bloom where you are planted. Nothing is more feminine or puts a spring in your step like flowers. This spring’s hottest pattern is popping up on everything from the season’s skinny pants to classic accessories. We chose a favorite...a handbag in a vintage inspired floral, reminiscent of a palm springs getaway.

It is sure to give new life to your favorite white jeans and t-shirt. www.cwonder.com floral canvas hobo bag $78.00

For Summer!

by Paige Miller

than it’s seasonal opponent winter and it feels easier even with our style. ‘Tis the season of the mom and why not?”because you deserve it”.”of course you can”...take time to do something that’s about you feeling good, looking good and stepping out shining as bright and bold as the sun!

You little kitten! there is nothing that makes you feel more feminine than a beautiful high heel to lengthen your leg and give you that ladylike feel. This season, the highest heel is taking a back seat to a friendlier yet still sexy little number...the kitten heel or lower heel.

It’s not only comfortable, but packs a punch when it comes to style. It goes from day to evening without blinking and your feet will thank you.This new trend is so girly and gives nod to the 60’s feel of days gone by when women wanted to be polished but also were stepping out and demanding practical...after all if you can put on a sexy shoe and still do carpool, why not!? www.piperlime.com aldo heliette shoe $80.00

Black or white?How about both! black and white has long been a traditional combo for many seasons and makes a dramatic return for spring of 2013. Never before has it looked so crisp and fresh especially when paired with a pop of color on the lip...update this always classic trend and wear it in spring’s favorite pattern, A stripe. You can go as simple as your favorite white jeans and a black tank, or a color blocked dress of black and white for bolder approach. www.whitehouseblackmarket.com

by Mary Susan Buhner

Summer is finally here! If you are like me, you were so happy to pack up all the snow boots, coats and winter gear. Easy breezy summertime full of flip-flops, sprinkler parks and ice cream cones! As a kid, summer days seemed endless – filled with hours of running through the sprinkler and riding my bike until dusk. Long, hot days filled with special memories like a slip-nslide in the backyard and purple popsicles dripping down my chin.

I still do all these things each summer with my kids. I often get a glimpse into being a kid again and the sense of freedom during the summer months by watching the pure delight on my children’s faces. Last summer I decided to take one of our favorite summer traditions and make it a bit more meaningful. After all, I thought to myself, they are getting older and I wanted to seize the opportunity to teach them something I feel deeply passionate about - helping others. I have always preached to my kiddos the importance of giving back, but last summer I realized that I really needed

to show them how to do it. Talking about it was no longer enough. Rather, I needed to help them connect the dots and show them the difference they had the power to make in our own community.

One of my favorite sayings that I love and have on a plaque at home is by Ghandi.

He so profoundly stated, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” Well, it was time to stop saying it and actually help my kids put this motto into action. We started by planning our usual Fourth of July Stand that has become a favorite summer tradition for our family. Typically, my kids bake cookies, brownies, make lemonade, and even sell snow cones with red, white and blue flavoring. In the past, they gear up all week making and organizing their items and set up shop at the end of our street on July 3 in celebration of The Fourth of July weekend. Last year, however, we sat down as a family and decided to make the stand bigger and better and focused on donating 100% of the proceeds to a charity in our community.

Much to my surprise, I did not have to twist any of their arms to agree to give their hard earned proceeds away. Instead, they decided to raise money from the Fourth of July Stand to benefit our local Humane Society. Before I could blink, all three of my kids were working together (a rare moment, I must admit) to create flyers, posters and decorations for their charity stand.

They recruited neighbor kids, friends and family members to help with it. They spent days baking, planning and talking about

how many animals they wanted to help and how much money they wanted to earn to make a difference. To be honest, it took on a life of its own and it was a wonderful thing, as a mom, to watch it unfold with my kids. Last year, our little stand raised over $400 dollars in a two-hour period. The kids sold out of everything and couldn’t believe that customers were paying $10 for a cookie. They accepted donations of any amount for all their items. People gave generously as they shared that they were raising money to help the local Humane Society.

With summer now here my kids have already started to plan our Fourth of July Stand for this year. I have been so moved by their motivation that it has inspired me to not only share the idea with you, but to create a special day for moms and kids to participate in making a difference in the community. One day, one stand, one big difference!

So with that, I invite you and your kids to participate in this year’s Mommy Magic’s Fourth of July Stand Day. It is easy and a wonderful way to teach your kids to work together to help others

and make a difference in your community.

All you have to do is: Save the Date - July 3!

Choose a Charity- Talk and research together as a family what charity in your community you want to help. It could be in honor or memory of a loved one who fought a particular disease, a homeless shelter, and a church. Picking a cause that your kids want to help really brings meaning and life to your stand. You can even contact the charity and take a tour before hand to show your kids how their efforts will truly make a difference to others!

Make a Plan - Decide what you want to sell. Baked goods, snow cones, popsicles, lemonade, American Flags, Fourth of July hats, beads and even candy.

Invite Others - Invite your neighbors, friends and families to help and participate!

Create Your Stand - Decorate a card table with Fourth of July decorations or tape mini flags to a wagon. Whatever it is, have your kids show their American spirit by creating and decorating their stand!

Get the Word Out! Make flyers and posters for your stand to let others know your Fourth of July Stand is helping others in the community!

I hope you take me up on the invitation to participate in this years Mommy Magic’s Fourth of July Stand Day. Together, as moms, we can teach our children on the importance of helping others. In fact, one day, one stand, can make one big difference! For more details on Mommy Magic’s National Fourth of July Stand Day visit www.Mommy-Magic.com.

SL-david & mary-0612.qxd:Layout 2

(!)2

s

7/25/12

3+).

s

4:15 PM

"/$9

Page 1

s

-!+%

50

s

.!),3

s

,!3(%3

follow us on

# ! 2 - % , #,!9 4%22!#% ",6$ 35)4%

L

L

777 $!6)$!.$-!29 #/-

PHOTO: DAN WEISS: MODELS: KELLY & DAVID DORN; MAKEUP: MARY MILLER / DAVID & MARY; HAIR: JOSEPH HATCHETT; STYLING: DELONZO RHODES; ART DIRECTOR: DAVID REILICH

Summer Safety Tips!

School is ALMOST out, it’s going to be getting hot and the pools will open soon! Make sure to follow these important tips for keeping your family cool, safe and protected this summer.

1. Water supervision is a must. Make sure to follow the 10/20 rule while your kids are swimming. The supervising adult should be positioned to be able to scan the water every 10 seconds and reach it within 20 seconds.

It’s also important to have proper rescue/flotation devices & a phone near by for extra insurance. If you’re dropping your children off to swim investigate the pools rules & policies.

Find out if there is a CERTIFIED lifeguard on duty or a pool attendant. A pool attendant is NOT certified to save lives.

2. Be sun smart. The sun’s ultraviolet strength is at its peak from 10AM to 4PM. During this time children should use a sun block with an SPF rating of 50. Make sure to apply at least half an hour before swimming, reapply often, and don’t forget to apply to ears, feet, behind the legs and lips. There is a difference between water-resistant and waterproof sunscreen. Water resistant sunscreen only provides 40 minutes of protection in the water. Waterproof sunscreen will give you 80 minutes of protection. Hats, sunglasses and SPF clothing are extremely helpful when fighting the suns strong rays.

3. Beware of Bugs. Parents or caregivers should spray kids’ exposed skin and clothing.

Reapply often. They also make insect repellent pads that clip on clothes, or bracelets.

Also be sure to check for ticks. They thrive in warm, moist, woodsy areas. A great tip to help prevent ticks from attaching themselves

by Kara Tamulonous

to your kids is to check them and shower within two hours of coming indoors.

4. Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate! To prevent dehydration, have your kids drink at least 12 ounces of fluid 30 minutes before an activity begins. Make sure that they also take several hydration breaks, about every half an hour.

Watch for warning signs such as thirst, headache, muscle cramping, fatigue, dry mouth, irritability, weakness or dizziness.

5. Safety First! When bike riding make helmets a must! It’s also a good idea to encourage kneepads when skateboarding or rollerblading. Make sure your kids are also playing in sturdy tennis shoes, no flip-flops.

A Summer Safety Survival Kit Take a few minutes to put together a summer safety survival kit for summer emergencies: 2.

Water 3.

Bandages 4.

Antibiotic cream for cuts and scrapes 5.

Crushable icepack for bruises 6.

Benadryl 7.

Sun protection 8.

Hats and sunglasses 9.

Insect repellent 10. Tweezers (in case of splinters!)

Hope this helps you have a safe and enjoyable summer!

Spinning the Circle

by Krista Bocko

It’s no secret that spinning a plastic circle around my body is one of my favorite ways to work out.

I’ve been spinning in circles for about four years, and while it might seem like child’s play or a throwback to the 1950’s, this isn’t your grandma’s hula hoop. Hooping, or hoop dancing, is a newer phenomenon that involves not just hooping around the waist, but hooping on the hips, legs, shoulders, hands and anywhere in between and flowing in and out of tricks with apparent ease and skill.

tall, keeping your core engaged. Turn in a circle with your hoop, feeling the change of the speed, and walk in all directions. Lift your arms out to your sides and overhead.

And don’t be surprised if your kids want a turn! Hooping is a great family activity, especially in the summer when you can all go into the backyard and hoop. I often bring hoops when we go to the park (they’re so easy to transport!), so that I can play while my kids play, too.

Where can you go with hooping? Anywhere, literally. Hoop on your waist, standing still. Feel the massaging rhythm of the hoop. Lift through your spine and stand

Krista Bocko, aka Sparrow, is a local hoop dancer, hoop maker, and instructor. She can be reached at sparrow@cachethoops.com or via facebook on her page Cachet Hoops.

I never started out hooping for the workout, but the cardio and mental workout are excellent side benefits. I started because I wanted to play, because I wanted to be able to manipulate this object in a way that made people wonder ‘how did she do that?’ and I wanted to have the outlet of creative expression through dance that I could do inside, outside, alone, with my kids or other people, and something that I I often meet women who insist they can’t wouldn’t get bored with. I’m happy to say I hoop, but their perspective changes once found all that in my hoop! they try one of my handmade hoops and, with a little practice, they’re waist hooping.

Why the difference? Basically, small lightweight plastic hoops are for kids. When you grow up, your hoop needs to grow as well! Spinning a larger, heavier hoop gives you more time to react and move, and the heavier weight means less effort is required to keep it in orbit. It’s magical and fun!

sparkly costume, and shake my money maker. Hey, it’s slightly more realistic than taking a snap at quarterback for the Colts, which also made the list, so give me a little credit for being moderately reserved in my goals.

I’ve never made a bucket list. I guess I have always been so busy trying to get the things I need to get done completed that I haven’t had any time to think about doing the things that I wanted to get done.

But the summer after I was diagnosed with cancer, I naturally started thinking about those things, those bucket list items that I should consider trying to get around to, you know, just in case. And mostly I made the list because it was a fun distraction from the reality surrounding me – that I was a 34-year-old Mom trying to survive cancer. The bucket list gave me the outlet to escape that for a minute and dream of all the things I could be out there doing.

Here is a sampling of “to-dos” from my bucket list: Become a cheerleader for the Indianapolis Colts – Hey, I never said the items on my list were attainable or realistic. If you’re going to make a list of all the things you wish you could do before you die, then I figure you might as well dream big. I know that a nearly 40 yr old soccer mom isn’t at the top of the list of qualifications for NFL cheerleader, but I’d love the chance to just learn one dance, jump out on the field in a

Drive cross county in an RV and see the Grand Canyon – I have a burning desire to unleash my inner Griswald and see the country with my family the way God intended, in a gasguzzling Ramada on wheels. My husband and I have actually had a few conversations about this type of trip, and our game plan is to wait until the kids are old enough to all tie their own shoes and get excited about traveling in a big rig, but before they get too old and spend the entire trip texting to their friends about how lame their parents are.

Attend the Tour De France – I used to run triathlons, about a hundred years ago before chasing my kids became my main form of exercise. I used to hurry home during the Tour and watch the recap of the day’s stages on the Outdoor Network.

This was back when Lance Armstrong was dominating the Tour De France, back when I defended every doping allegation against him and before he disappointed my and thousands of other cancer survivors by turning out to be every bad thing everyone ever accused of him. My husband would come in and shake his head in confusion when I’d say to him, “Man! Look how bunched up the peloton is coming down this mountain! Somebody’s going to get killed!” And I dreamed of following the tour, of eating and drinking my way

through France while I cheered on the American underdogs. My sister & I were inches away from dropping everything and hopping on a plane to Miami to cheer on the Colts their last trip to the Super Bowl, and as much fun as that would have been (albeit disappointing) I would take a trip to the Tour over the best Super Bowl tickets in the stadium any day of the week.

Unless they were going to let me take the first snap or dance on the field.

Play the guitar and sing on stage with Kenny Chesney – OK, so half of this one falls in the fantasy category again. I’ve seen Chesney a few times in concert, and I quickly realized that he & his band have the greatest jobs on earth. They get to travel the world, meet all kinds of new people, and have 50,000 people a night singing along with their music. I can’t imagine it getting much better than that. I don’t know that I have the emotional stamina (or, more importantly, the talent) to be a rock star, but I sure would like to experience that feeling for about 10 minutes. It would definitely be a story for the grandkids someday. I took guitar lessons when I was younger, but never practiced hard enough to get very good, and I always regretted that. I’d like to pick it up again and get good enough to play a few songs that my kids could sing along with. I can see us all huddled around a campfire on our Grand Canyon RV adventure, singing together in perfect harmony. I sound like lunatic again, don’t I? The list goes on, and there are some easily achievable items (see New York City) and some more fantasy items (be a contestant on Top Chef) on the list. When I review my list I am reminded of the quote from co-

median Paul Feig, “I made my bucket list tonight and the only thing on it I have any hope of owning is a bucket.”

Looking back, as much fun as I had compiling the list, I really just wanted to cross some items off of my immediate “to-do” list: finish chemo, grow my hair back, finish my reconstruction, hang out with my kids, feel normal again. I remember thinking that my “reality goals” may not have been as exciting as my “fantasy goals” of singing on stage or touring France, but if I could successfully check them all off, even if I never complete one item on the bucket list, I would feel pretty satisfied with my achievements. And three years later, although I have only checked a few more realistic goals from my bucket list (take the kids to Disney), I know that I did finish that immediate “to-do” list and if I never check off any of the other crazy fantasies from the bucket list, I’m going to be OK with that. But if the Colts thing happens, that wouldn’t be so bad either.

What’s Hot for Tweens

by Caroline Buhner

Having trouble keeping up with all the continually changing trends your tween follows? Here’s a quick guide to some popular Tween picks!

Chuck Taylors/Converses are the new spring shoes for kids. My daughter Caroline has 3 or more pairs. She always suggest for me to get the bright colors or the one pair with polka dots.

Instagram is really popular for editing pictures. Kids also love seeing what their friends are up to.

Duct tape is really popular. Kids love to make wallets or coin pouches or whatever they can think of.

presents

I Almost

Cook

I adored my grandmother growing up - Mary Louise Parker - or as I called her, Mamo. She had a huge garden outside her screened in porch. Her garden was actually bigger than her kitchen. She cooked, baked, canned and found comfort and joy in cooking and baking for her family and others.

I eagerly stood on a stool by her side watching, helping and loving every minute of it. I continued to cook and bake with her as an adult - using the “pinch and the dash” method.

Now, I a mom myself, of three beautiful and very busy girls. Like you, I am juggling many plates while being a mom and still trying to find time to make dinner and have family time over a meal. Secretly, I long for slower days like it felt I had with my grandmother in her kitchen. The reality though, is a fast paced life where texting or googling a recipe while waiting in carpool or at soccer game is more likely than canning anything. With that, I am excited to share with you a new a cookbook dedicated to helping moms make delicious, affordable and fast meals for their family using my grandmother’s method of “A pinch here and a dash there.”

I ALMOST COOK combines this old fashion method while being mindful that today’s mom does not have the time to spend all day in a kitchen. I will show you how to use a handful of ingredients from your kitchen pantry to make a family meal fun, memorable and GOOD! Unforgettable Fresh Tomato Bruschetta Mix 3 oz of goat cheese with 3 T fresh-chopped basil (add a little milk if you want a creamier consistency for spreading) Seed and remove juice/membrane from 6 plum tomatoes (works with any fresh tomatoes) Dice tomatoes and sprinkle lightly with sea salt, add 2-3 T of olive oil, 3 cloves of minced garlic and more chopped basil.

Mix together, sit for 30 min. Spread layer of goat cheese on bread, top with bruschetta, Serve and ENJOY!!!

The Perfect Sweet Corn Muffin If your kids are like mine, just as you wipe up the kitchen counter from breakfast and load the dishwasher someone will say, “Mom, I am hungry! What do we have for a snack?” A great tip is to make a batch if muffins the night before place them in a Tupperware container to keep them moist and MAGIC... With little effort, a yummy snack! I love making corn muffins for my kiddos. They remind me of my grandmother and when I was a kid. Plus, they are a little sweet so they can be a morning snack or afternoon snack- love that! Plop a fresh strawberry on top and it looks like you slaved over it. In reality, I used a simple recipe (see below) and had yummy snack to satisfy all my kiddos at any time of the day! Happy snacking!!!

1 cup of flour 1 cup of cornmeal 1/3 cup of sugar 2 teaspoons of baking powder One egg 1 cup of milk

1/2 teaspoon of salt 1/4 teaspoon of vegetable oil Fun Little Twist: add a squirt or two of honey into batter and mix to make corn muffins a bit sweeter...Top with a piece of your favorite fresh fruit - you can’t go wrong with a fresh strawberry on top! Mix together is whatever clean bowl you can find and spoon batter into greased muffin pan. Lick bowl if desired. Bake for 15-20 minutes on 400 degrees. Jazz it up by plopping a fresh strawberry on top of muffin!

I Almost Cook: Ice Cream Cool Clown Treats This is one of my favorite treats to make with my kiddos! The time spent creating them with your children is sure to be fun and memorable! It will for sure bring a smile to kiddos faces!

Ice cream- whatever kind you like best or what is on sale at the store Sugar cones (clown hat) Chocolate chips (eyes) Decorating cake icing (the kind in a can works well) use whatever color(s) your kiddos like best (buttons on hat) A cherry (nose)

Cook the noodles - strain them. Dump into a dish. Open cans of soup. Scoop cheesy soup in with noodles/pasta. Mix together. Take croutons and put in a zip loc bag. Fun part for your kiddos - AFTER it is properly sealed (by you to be on the safe side) let them smoosh, stomp and pound the croutons into tiny pieces. Kids love doing it and it is fun to watch them help with the recipe. Take the bag of smooshed croutons and sprinkle on top of noodles and cheese in dish.

Pop it in to the oven on 325 for 8-10 minutes or until croutons are toasting and it looks yummy to eat!

This is great pre packed in individual cellophane bags for bake sales!!!

Nanie’s Mac & Cheese From: http://thepastrytip.blogspot.com/2012/03/birthday-cake-chex-mix.html

I LOVE making good food for my family, but like you, I am a busy mom so easy and simple recipes are a must...With that, I ALMOST COOK Blog features this week a super yummy and easy recipe just for you and your kiddos!

2 Cans of Cheddar Cheese Campbell’s Soup 1 Box or Bag of your kiddos favorite shaped noodles or macaroni shaped pasta 1 Bag of Seasoned Croutons

Birthday Cake Chex Mix 18 servings (1/2 cup each) 9 cups Rice Chex or Corn Chex (or combination) 1-½ cups white chocolate chips 1 cup ready to spread vanilla frosting 4 ounces multi-colored non-pareils candy sprinkles ¾ cup powdered sugar ¾ cup boxed white cake mix 1 package birthday candy cake decorations 1. In a large bowl, measure cereal; set aside.

2. In a 1-quart microwavable bowl, microwave white chocolate chips on 70% power for 45 seconds and stir well. Heat for an additional 20 seconds longer or until mixture is smooth with-

out any lumps remaining. Pour melted chocolate over cereal, tossing to coat.

3. In a small microwavable bowl, melt vanilla frosting for 15 seconds on high power and stir.

Heat frosting for seconds more if needed for smooth consistency. Pour over cereal and stir until evenly coated. Note: Do not melt chocolate and frosting together or the chocolate will seize.

4. Put 2 cups of cereal in a 1-gallon food storage resealable plastic bag and add the non-pareils.

Shake until well coated. Spread on waxed paper to cool.

5. Put remaining 7 cups of cereal in 2-gallon food storage resealable plastic bag. Add the powdered sugar and cake mix. Seal bag; shake until well coated. Spread on waxed paper to cool.

6. Place all of the coated cereal and the candy cake decorations in an airtight container to store.

the oven for 4-5 minutes, until Rolo candies start to melt. Don’t melt them all the way.

3. Remove from oven and lightly press a Pretzel M&M on top of each Rolo.

4. Eat warm or let them cool if you want them to set up.

These are great to make with the kids!

From: http://candy.about.com/od/specialoccasions/r/ candysushi.htm Note that this recipe creates two “types” of sushi, the maki rolls and the fish-topped nigiri.

You can make both, or choose just one type and omit the instructions for the other. As written, the recipe makes approximately 2 dozen rolls and 2 dozen nigiri.

From: http://www.twopeasandtheirpod.com/rolo-pretzels-with-pretzel-m-and-ms/ Rolo Pretzels with chocolate candy

ingredients: Mini Pretzels (read ingredients to make sure they are safe) Rolo candies, unwrapped (read ingredients to make sure they are safe) (you can also use Hershey’s kisses or other safe alternative) M&Ms (my kids can’t eat M&Ms so I use a safe white chocolate chip or M&M like safe candy like a sixlet or skippers Vermont Nut Free Company) directions: 1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. 2. Place mini pretzels on a large baking sheet.

Top each pretzel with one Rolo candy. Place in

Ingredients: You can sub safe alternatives for these ingredients. 4 tbsp butter (or dairy free alternative) 4 cups miniature marshmallows 6 cups crispy rice cereal 20 gummy worms, or rainbow twizzlers 2 boxes green-colored Fruit Roll-Ups 30 fish-shaped gummy candies Preparation:1. Prepare a 12x17” baking sheet by lining it with waxed paper and spraying the paper with nonstick cooking spray.

2. Place 2 tablespoons of butter in a large microwave-safe bowl, and microwave until melted, about 45 seconds.

3. Add 2 cups of miniature marshmallows to the bowl, and microwave until the marshmallows are completely melted, about 1 minute, stirring every 30 seconds. Stir the mixture until it is completely

smooth.

4. Add 3 cups of rice cereal and stir until completely coated. Immediately pour mixture out onto the prepared baking sheet. Spray your hands with nonstick cooking spray, and begin to press the candy into the sheet in a thin layer. Begin working from the edge of the shorter side of the sheet.

The mixture will only cover approximately half of the baking sheet.

5. With the short side of the baking sheet nearest you, place a pair of gummy worms an inch from the edge. Place another pair directly below, and repeat until you have a line of worms stretching across the baking sheet.

6. Using the waxed paper to help you, roll the cereal mixture around the gummy worms, pressing firmly to make a tight roll. Take a large sharp knife and cut the log away from the rest of the mixture. Place it off to the side, and repeat the worms/rolling/cutting procedure for the remainder of the cereal.

7. Slice the logs into 1-inch rounds. Wrap each round in a strip of green-colored Fruit Roll-Ups. 8. To make the fish-topped “nigiri,” repeat steps 1-4 to make the rice candy base, but do not press the rice mixture as thinly. It should be about ¾ inch thick once pressed into the baking sheet.

9. Cut the candy into rectangles about ¾ inch by 1.5 inches. Place a candy fish on top of each rectangle, and wrap a ½-inch strip of green Fruit Roll-Up around the entire package.

10. For a finishing touch, decorate your sushi platter to look more authentic. Suggestions include substituting chocolate sauce for soy sauce, green-tinted whipped cream (or melted white chocolate) for wasabi, and thinly sliced pink fish for pickled ginger.

Note: These candies are best eaten the day they are made, as the fruit wrapping gets sticky if left overnight. Alternately, you can prepare them up until the final step, and wrap them once you are ready to eat them.

For more fun recipes, check out I Almost Cook on Facebook and at www.youtube. com/ialmostcook

A Friend’s Story It was Halloween 7 ½ years ago, our food allergic three and a half year old son was dressed to trick or treat as Superman. Naturally, he had on his super hero suit, “S” on his chest, plastic muscles and flowing cape. But, to complete the look, he was wearing bright yellow dishwashing gloves up to his armpits, so he could at least touch the candy he wouldn’t be able to eat. For added protection, we shoved a Halloween pacifier with the fake ugly teeth in his mouth, so he wouldn’t inadvertently put anything in his mouth. His Dad and I were armed with holsters, loaded with Benadryl, epi pens, inhalers, charged cell phones and emergency contact numbers.

Next, came a Halloween party at a friend’s house, where they’d done everything possible to make the place safe for kids with food allergies. I attempted to bake an eggless, Frankenstein cake so my kids could eat special treats with their friends. Of course, what began as a cake had turned into green mush. So, I literally am ladling scoops of Frankenstein slop onto kids’ plates with tears in my eyes. The other mothers were reassuring me, and their children, that this was delicious.

All of the parents started to relax and talk about how happy they were that the ordeal was over. All my husband and I were thinking was our ordeal was just beginning as all of these kids began to open their candy and ours watched sadly. After we got home and we handed off our pre-packed safe trick or treat bags to our kids, we agreed, our friends must have thought we were crazy, overbearing, over protective, lunatics!

Maybe they’re right. But only 3 weeks before this Halloween, we experienced a day that changed our lives forever.

It was dinnertime and I had worked hard to make a well-balanced, nutritious and safe dinner. Grant didn’t want to eat, as always. But, in an effort to teach him not to be afraid of food, I insisted he take a “no thank you bite”. Within a minute, I look over to see that Grant is vomiting, frothing at the mouth, and grabbing his throat and turning blue. His face is swollen, blotchy and unrecognizable. He had the look of terror in his eyes. As I grab him and administer the epi pen, I hear the babysitter calling 911.

Now I’m running carrying Grant to the ambulance. All I remember saying is “breathe baby breathe, breathe baby breathe”, over and over. In the ambulance, a medic is yelling that the boy’s not breathing and pushing meds as fast as he can. At the ER, everyone worked furiously, rushing around and scaring the hell out of me. One of the medics was in the corner of the room crying. Then, my husband comes in, filled with

Allergy Awareness Month

By Michelle Anixter

confusion and guilt, all I could say was “I read the ingredients”.

As a mother of three boys, two with anaphylactic food allergies, holidays are not the only obstacles we face. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks alone are huge challenges. We all eat at least 3x/day 7 days/week. That’s at least 1,000x/year that we are confronted with the possibility of a fatal reaction. That doesn’t include: Bake sales, sleepovers, play dates, school snacks, birthday parties, airplane rides and even kissing - I could go on. How many non- allergic people do you know that truly THINK about what they eat before they put something in their mouths? Not many.

These children do. It’s not easy to teach these kids, and not to fear food. As their parent it’s so hard to let them start to develop independence. However, they are learning to be self-advocating leaders, disciplined individuals, compassionate and thoughtful people.

To me, these children are TRUE super heroes each and everyday!

Her Advice: ALWAYS BE PREPARED FOR A REACTION! Leaving the house without your epi pen should feel like going out with no pants on. Mistaken exposures happen. Being prepared and knowing how to use the epipen will save their life.

Summer Fun!

by Mindy Fleming

As a mom of three younger children (ages 7, 5, 1) and of mixed genders, I will do my best to come up with some great ideas for those on a budget and those that aren’t for activities to keep busy during the hot summer months.

I’ll start my dig into the fabulous, local parks. All I can say parks, parks parks!! There are a plethora (I love using that word) of unique (and FREE) parks around the area. Let’s start at Cool Creek Park in Noblesville they have great walking trails, an amphitheater, an indoor nature area, a playground and plenty of areas to picnic. Heading to the East in Noblesville, will take you to another huge park called Forest Park…plenty to do here as well, including a carousel! You could probably hit a different park either in Carmel, Noblesville, and Fishers each day for a month or two! I didn’t do the math, but it’s an educated guess nonetheless. Heading into Fishers you will find Brooks School park and Holland park- both have some great playgrounds to kill some time between lunch and dinner! TIP: Go to www.fishers.in.gov for a list of parks in Fishers…there are a ton more to choose from. I can only talk about the ones that I have been to!

Now lets move back west into Carmel…this is where I can tell you there is a park around every corner! My favorite thing to do is to bike to these parks with plenty of snacks (I actually walk and my kids bike…a two-car garage only allows for a certain amount of stuff). And ya know, most public schools allow you to use their playgrounds as well! So if you are interested, call ahead, make sure you can, and make plans to hit those parks as well. My favorite parks are Gray Road Park, Founders Park and West Park. There are also several splash parks. Go to www.carmelclayparks.com for a list of all the parks in Carmel. One park we recently discovered is Flowing Well Park in Carmel off 116th and Gray Road. We will bring an empty water bottle, fill it up at the well and make our way through the trails along the creek. We will stop, skip some rocks and sip on our well water! TIP: Wear water shoes and old clothes. There is sand next to the creek the kids can play in.

Ok, enough about the parks. Let’s discuss some ideas of places to visit to help make each day count!

Parks, parks, parks - THEY ARE FREE!!!

Conner Prairie - get an annual pass if you will go a few times this summer. There is no reason not to stop in here every week. It is a great place for both indoors and out!

Children’s Museum of Indianapolis - I think we all know why I put this one down.

White River State Park has some great places to explore - including paddleboats! And of course the Indianapolis Zoo (bring some extra change for the carousel, and little roller coaster).

Drive down to Holiday World/Splashin Safari - voted #1 cleanest and friendliest park!

Monon Center outdoor water park. There are also some great paved paths here to do a little biking with your youngsters.

Too hot to stay out? Go to Caribbean Cove indoor water park.

Take in a movie. Or go to a bookstore. Visit a pet store.

Get your feet (or bike) and take them to the Monon Trail. What a great place to spend time with the family. Stop off at Main Street for anything your tummy desires!

Visit out of town family. Summer is the ideal time to visit friends or family that are out of town.

Here are some more fun quick “tidbits” Get out the bubbles - or make your own - Google it!

Sidewalk Chalk - make a city out of chalk on your driveway and down the sidewalks. Or make your own sidewalk chalk paint like Jenny Alderman did - Google it!

Make your own splash park with a hose, buckets, water guns, and small plastic or inflatable pools.

Invite the neighborhood kids over for an impromptu picnic - have everyone bring a side to share.

Eat ice cream for lunch or dinner - this is soooo much fun to do. Your kid’s eyes will light up when you tell them “it’s ice cream for dinner!”

Get some books, find a shady spot under a tree and read to or with your kids.

Let your kids take fun photos with your smart phone, then make a summer scrapbook with the photos they have taken.

Hunt for worms and bugs. Kids love to get dirty!

I like to do water paints outside on our patio. Get some big white paper, use rocks as paperweights and let your kids be creative. You don’t have to worry about the mess if it’s outside.

And last but not least: Take in some SPORTS! Play catch in the backyard. Kick a soccer ball. Take in a game of hoops. Pass the football. Play tennis in the street. Swing a golf club in the backyard.

Kids love to stay active. An hour a day of physical activity - right?

Enjoy your summer. Eat lots of ice cream. And don’t get a sunburn.

Did You Know?

Hearing loss is the most common birth defect.

Every 48 hours…

a baby in Indiana is diagnosed with a hearing loss.

Early diagnosis…

is critical for a child’s success in speech and language development.

Most children…

with hearing loss (even those who are profoundly deaf) can learn to listen and talk.

Hear Indiana is a nonprofit dedicated to empowering and supporting individuals and families with hearing loss who communicate through spoken language. We believe in early detection, intensive amplification, and ongoing intervention. Hear Indiana offers informational resources, educational programming, support for families and professionals, advocacy, and a summer camp for deaf and hard of hearing children.

PO Box 347 Zionsville, IN 46077 (317) 828-0211 info@hearindiana.org www.hearindiana.org

Healthy Summer Recipes!

Black Bean and Cilantro Quesadillas Serves 2 These basic quesadillas come together quickly and adapt well to many variations. Add salsa, sautéed onions or peppers and diced red or white onion, if you like. Serve with a green salad for dinner or alone as a hearty after-school snack.

Ingredients: 2 (8-inch) flour tortillas 1/4 cup grated Monterey Jack or cheddar cheese 1/2 cup cooked and drained black beans 2 tablespoons coarsely chopped cilantro Method: Set a heavy skillet over medium heat. When hot, add a tortilla and warm. Flip tortilla. Sprinkle half of the cheese evenly over tortilla. Lightly cover cheese with half of the beans and cilantro. Top with a second tortilla. Flip and warm on the second side. When beans are hot and cheese is melted, slide quesadilla onto a cutting board and slice into four wedges.

Fish Po’Boys with Tartar Slaw and Sweet Potato Fries Serves 4 Everyone will enjoy this quick-and-easy family-friendly dinner. To save time, look for prepared coleslaw mix in the produce section or pick up the veggies from the salad bar.

Ingredients: 2 large (about 1 1/2 pounds total) sweet potatoes 1 tablespoon canola oil 1 tablespoon Caribbean barbecue seasoning 2 cups roughly chopped cabbage 1/2 cup grated carrots 1/4 cup prepared tartar sauce 1 (10 ounce) package lightly breaded fish sticks 4 French bread or hoagie rolls 4 large lettuce leaves Method: Preheat oven to 400°F. Peel potatoes, cut each in half lengthwise and slice into 8 wedges. In a

large bowl combine potatoes, oil and seasoning and toss until evenly coated. On a baking sheet, arrange potatoes in a single layer and place on the middle rack of the oven. Bake until edges are crisp and cooked through, about 30 minutes. While potatoes are baking, toss together cabbage, carrots and tartar sauce in a small bowl. Refrigerate. When potatoes have 15 minutes left to cook, prepare fish sticks according to package directions. Toast rolls and layer with lettuce, slaw and fish pieces. Serve with sweet potato fries.

Creamy Chicken Salad with Yogurt and Apples Serves 4 to 6 Prepare this salad ahead of time and serve chilled, if you like. Spoon into avocado halves and serve with whole wheat crackers for a refreshing lunch or dinner.

Ingredients: 1 cup low-fat cottage cheese 2 teaspoons lemon juice 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard 1 teaspoon honey 2 tablespoons nonfat plain yogurt 2 tablespoons nonfat milk 1/2 teaspoon salt Ground black pepper, to taste 1 pound cooked skinless, boneless chicken breast, chopped 3/4 cup finely chopped celery 2 green onions, thinly sliced 1 granny smith apple, cored, peeled and chopped Method: Put cottage cheese, lemon juice, mustard, honey, yogurt, milk, salt and pepper into the blender and purĂŠe until smooth; set aside.

Put chicken, celery, onions and apples into a large bowl. Pour over cottage cheese mixture and stir gently to coat. Serve immediately or cover and chill until ready to serve.

Check out more great recipes at www.wholefoods.com

By T

he Po

ol!

Every summer deserves a signature cocktail, and this one is easy, fresh, and delicious!

Frozen Lemonade with Coconut Rum Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups ice cubes, crushed 3 tablespoons frozen lemonade concentrate $ 2 tablespoons coconut rum (such as Malibu) Lime wedge (optional) Place ice, concentrate, and rum in a blender; blend until slushy. Garnish with lime wedge, if desired.