FF - April 2015 by Lawrence Ambrocio

W I L D

WINNERS 50 FAMILY-FAVORITE VACATION SPOTS

gotcha! trick your kids with our funny April Fools’ Day treat

APRIL 2 0 1 5 F A M I LY F U N M A G . C O M

F O R

WA F F L E S !

DECORATIONS YOU CAN DO IT!

HOW TO BUILD YOUR KID’S CONFIDENCE

Hitting the road? Pack a map for the kids. Charting the way helps them learn spatial reasoning—and funny place names.

TOYS THAT TEACH

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FAMILYFUN

features

create

50 THE 2015 FAMILYFUN TRAVEL AWARDS Vacationing families have spoken! Presenting this year’s 50 top family destinations.

9 • CHALK POPS

60 • HOPPY EASTER Adorable crafts, treats, and egg-decorating ideas for you and your honeybunnies

14 • KIDS IN THE KITCHEN

•

66 • WILD FOR WAFFLES Turn your iron loose on four dinner recipes with baked-in kid appeal

40 b • SPECIAL SECTION FUN FOR LITTLE ONES Activities for kids under 5: an Easter basket surprise and a pair of DIY wings

Whip up some sidewalk chalk in a host of fun shapes

10 • MAKE IT Dyed pasta jewelry, egg-carton critters, and our Top This! challenge Carrot crisps, salad on a stick, and more

APRIL 2015

play 29 • FLYING SAUCERS Three kid-friendly spins on a classic game: disc golf

Slip your peeps a sweet treat! Page 60.

30 • FAVORITE THINGS Toys that teach tech (and science and engineering)

smile

MONTH Fool your family with a glass of lemonade that won’t spill

34 • HEALTHY FAMILY

SENSIBILITY Spring for a ﬂoral perfume

22 • IDEA OF THE MONTH

40 • GET SMART Make

How a “conﬁdence wall” built one girl’s self-esteem

it rain with our shaving cream science experiment

24 • MORE GREAT IDEAS

42 • TONIGHT’S SPECIAL

Readers tell how they go green and manage kids’ art

Games, grub, and tunes for a Wild West dinner

20 • TREAT OF THE

IN EVERY ISSUE: 4 • HELLO! | 6 • THE FUN LIST 70 • WORKBOOK | 72 • HOW WE HAVE FUN

The beneﬁts of dirt, plus banana sushi, and more

45 • SCENTS & 46 • BEAUTY NEWS Natural and organic beauty picks, the latest lipsticks, and more

48 • GO FOR IT How one mom discovered hot yoga—by mistake

ON OUR COVER Vivi, age 6, photographed by Priscilla Gragg; styling by Lisa Moir; grooming by Tricia Turner. H&M sweater, socks, and shoes; crewcuts skirt. Fisher-Price camera, Target pillows, CB2 throw. our travel award winners 50 trick your kids with our funny April Fools’ Day treat 20 adorable Easter crafts & decorations 60 how to build your kid’s conﬁdence 22 toys that teach 30

April 2015 • FamilyFun • 1

post your pics Editor-in-chief ANN HALLOCK Executive Editor JONATHAN ADOLPH Deputy Editor MARY GILES Managing Editor BARBARA FINDLEN Senior Editors DEBRA IMMERGUT, DEBORAH WAY Senior Associate Editor ELLEN HARTER WALL Associate Editor JOY HOWARD Assistant Editor LUCY CASALE Copy Chief FAYE S. WOLFE Research Chief BETH HONEYMAN Assistant Researcher KRISTA HOJNOWSKI Administrative Assistant JEAN CRANSTON Creative Director MOIRA GRETO Photo Director MARK MANTEGNA Deputy Art Director TIM MACKAY Senior Designer KANDY LITTRELL Photo Editor RYAN CLINE Associate Art Director LESLIE ANNE CHARLES Designer PABLO E. YGLESIAS Art Production Coordinator MARTHA JENKINS

Contributors RANI ARBO, DEBORAH GEIGIS BERRY, NICOLE BLUM, JODI BUTLER, SHARON MILLER CINDRICH, LAURA M. GOMES, CHARLOTTE MERYMAN, CATHERINE NEWMAN, LESLIE GARISTO PFAFF, NICOLE BLASENAK SHAPIRO, KIMBERLY STONEY, LISA STOWE, MARYELLEN SULLIVAN, LYNN ZIMMERMAN Content Director, Parents Network DANA POINTS

Vice President, Group Publisher, Parents Network JEFF WELLINGTON Advertising National Account Director MARIA JAKUBEK Midwest Director LORI POPERNIK Northwest Director JULIE BANFIELD Southwest Director JACQUI DZIAK BAKER Advertising Sales Staff MARY JOE CLARK, ALYSSA CRAMER COHEN, ANDREA CONTI-PABST, CATHERINE DAUN, ANNE GILHOOL, GERALD J. GOLINSKE, ERROL GRIFFITHS,

LIZ HASKELL, MARY CAROL MURPHY, KELLEY SHINE, CHRISTINE STRIFAS, MOLLY THOMPSON, THERESA VOYLES, ERICA WAGNER Direct Media Manager TYLER HUB National Travel Director JODIE BURLOG SCHAFER Hawaii Manager Media Links LAURIE DOERSCHLEN Sales Coordinator JEN MORONEY Assistants T.J. HANES, BEVERLEY NEUFVILLE HARDING, KYLEE HARRIS, KIM KITCHEN, MICHELLE KWAN, JESSICA LEWIS, TAMMI PERNOUD, AMANDA PIPICH Associate Director, Advertising Business Office BOB PARLAPIANO Associate Consumer Marketing Director JULIE WILFORD Associate Production Manager CHRIS WILSON Ad Operations Manager SARAH OTTE Quality Technical Director DAVID WOLVEK Ad Production Supervisor ASHLEY SCHAUBROECK Associate Director of Prepress RICK JOHN Quality Analyst TONY HUNT Prepress Desktop Specialist CARI WASMUND Assistant to the EVP/President, Parents Network CARINA FRIAS Senior Research Manager ALISON JAYE Associate Research Director LISA GRAMLING Executive Director, Integrated Marketing SHARON MULLIGAN Director, Marketing MARY JO RATHGEB Senior Marketing Manager SARAH LOVE MCCOURT Marketing Manager WESLEY BIRDSALL

that is #socute! Have you and your kids made crafts from our magazine? Use the hashtag #FamilyFunSoCute to post a photo via Instagram or Twitter, or share it via the tab on our Facebook page, then look for it on our Facebook gallery. 1 Aaralynn Malikian of Charlottesville, Virginia, poses with her penguins. 2 Romy Malmquist of Northampton, Massachusetts, shows off her cone head. 3 Matchbox birdhouses by FamilyFun crafter Lynn Zimmerman

Activation Director SUSAN JOYCE Activation and Events Manager ILISA D. COHEN Marketing Coordinator JULIA CORBETT Creative Director JEANETTE CHOW Senior Promotion Designer GOSIA NOSOWICZ Custom Solutions Executive Director CHUCK HAJJ Business Director CHRISTY LIGHT Business Manager MARTY MUSSER

MEREDITH NATIONAL MEDIA GROUP President TOM HARTY Executive Vice Presidents

Vice Presidents

President, Media Sales RICHARD PORTER

Business Planning and Analysis ROB SILVERSTONE

President, Parents Network CAREY WITMER

Consumer Marketing JANET DONNELLY

President, Women’s Lifestyle THOMAS WITSCHI

Content Licensing LARRY SOMMERS

President, Meredith Digital JON WERTHER

Corporate Marketing STEPHANIE CONNOLLY

Meredith Home Group JAMES CARR

Corporate Sales BRIAN KIGHTLINGER

Creative Content Leader GAYLE GOODSON BUTLER

Digital Video LAURA ROWLEY

Chief Marketing Officer NANCY WEBER

Direct Media PATTI FOLLO

Chief Revenue Officer MICHAEL BROWNSTEIN

Brand Licensing ELISE CONTARSY

General Manager DOUG OLSON

Communications PATRICK TAYLOR Human Resources DINA NATHANSON

Senior Vice Presidents

Strategic Sourcing, Newsstand, Production CHUCK HOWELL

Chief Digital Officer ANDY WILSON

Digital Sales MARC ROTHSCHILD

E-MAIL letters.familyfun@meredith.com

Research Solutions BRITTA CLEVELAND

Innovation Officer CAROLYN BEKKEDAHL

WRITE FamilyFun 47 Pleasant Street Northampton, MA 01060 SUBSCRIPTION HELP ffncustserv@cdsfulﬁllment.com 800-289-4849 OUR WEBSITE familyfunmag.com SOCIAL MEDIA

2 • FamilyFun • April 2015

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer STEPHEN M. LACY

IN MEMORIAM – E. T. MEREDITH III, 1933–2003

President, Meredith Local Media Group PAUL KARPOWICZ Vice Chairman MELL MEREDITH FRAZIER

Editorial correspondence: 47 Pleasant Street, Northampton, MA 01060. Queries: queries.familyfun@meredith.com. All materials submitted become the property of Meredith Corporation, and submission constitutes permission for Meredith Corporation to use the material in any and all media. Materials may be used without compensation or acknowledgment and may be edited for length and clarity. Please include a daytime telephone number for veriﬁcation purposes. Executive and advertising offices: 805 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10022. Subscriptions: familyfunmag.com. Subscription correspondence: Send an e-mail to FFNcustserv@cdsfulfillment.com or write to FamilyFun at the address below. Mailing lists: Our subscriber list is occasionally made available to carefully selected ﬁrms whose products may be of interest to you. If you prefer not to receive information from these companies by mail or by phone, please let us know. Send your request along with your mailing label to Magazine Customer Service, P.O. Box 37508, Boone, IA 50037-0508. © 2015 Meredith Corporation. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.

THE FUN STARTS HERE WITH NEWS, NOTES, AND MORE

say cheese! WHERE IN THE WORLD IS FAMILYFUN? Our annual Travel Awards, starting on page 50, feature top family-rated destinations across the country. The next time you’re on an outing—whether to one of our award-winning attractions or just your family’s favorite local spot—take a photo of your gang holding a copy of FamilyFun and post it to social media with #WhereisFamilyFun. All the photos will appear on our Facebook gallery, and if we feature your photo in a future issue, we’ll pay you $100.

Eggs-traordinary Easter Book Visit our Facebook page to get our free e-book—it’s got a dozen cute ideas. Click on the “Easter Activities” tab. WE’RE A FOOL FOR PINTEREST Love a practical joke? Check out our April Fools’ Day Pranks board on Pinterest for funny faux food recipes, such as this “chicken” made from Rice Krispies Treats.

CLARIFICATION: Some eagle-eyed math teachers wrote to tell us that the numbers in our Twist and Count game (February 2015, page 27) didn’t quite add up. Our example for the game was written as (4 + 2 x 4). If kids do the math using a running total (as we imagined), they get 24. But following the math principle known as order of operations, the total is 12. Math teachers: you’re #1!

What do Wisconsin Dells, Ohiopyle State Park, and Santa Cruz, California, have in common? They’re all regional favorites in our Travel Awards. See our special insert, which follows page 56. 4 • FamilyFun • April 2015

TOP PHOTOGRAPH BY COLIENA RENTMEESTER/TRUNK ARCHIVE; ILLUSTRATION BY LUCY VIGRASS

Take FamilyFun on your next trip and snap a picture with the magazine. If we publish your pic, we’ll pay you $100.

# hamitup #targetrun

FIVE REASONS TO SMILE THIS MONTH

1 play

2 watch 3 turn three varieties of penguins—king, gentoo, and rockhopper—frolic and rollick on World Penguin Day, April 25, via the PenguinCam at the Kansas City Zoo (kansascityzoo.org/ penguincam). Tuxedos optional.

6 • FamilyFun • April 2015

April showers into creative indoor playtime by having your kids make a faux stainedglass window. With masking tape, attach clear Con-Tact paper to a window (sticky side toward the room), then the kids can press pieces of tissue paper onto the surface.

4 go

on a signs-of-spring nature walk for Earth Day, April 22. Make a list of 10 items you might ﬁnd on a spring day, such as tulips, mud puddles, and croaking frogs, then head outside to ﬁnd these harbingers of the season in your neighborhood.

5 vote

for some awesome reads as part of The Children’s Choice Book Awards. Through May 3, kids can go to ccbookawards.com and mark an online ballot. Last year, more than 1.2 million votes were cast! Winners will be announced in May.

PHOTOGRAPH BY ALEXANDRA GRABLEWSKI; STYLING BY ANN LEWIS; GROOMING BY JEAN HENRY. CREWCUTS SHIRT

a round of ringer during National Knuckles Down Month. Don’t know what we’re talking about? That’s a good oldfashioned game of marbles! Visit landofmarbles.com and click on “How to Play Marbles” for rules to ringer and more than a dozen other games.

Wholesome Yummy Morning Magic

FUN THINGS TO MAKE & DO TOGETHER

PHOTOGRAPHS BY SABRINA HELAS; CRAFT STYLING BY BLAKE RAMSEY; STYLING BY HEATHER ROME. MINI BODEN SHIRT, TARGET SHORTS

chalk pops With our easy recipe, you can make sidewalk chalk in fun shapes using ice pop or silicone baking molds. First, choose molds you no longer use for food. Spray the insides with plain cooking spray. In a disposable plastic container, mix plaster of paris (we used 1 cup to ﬁll two 3-ounce wells in our mold) with water according to the package directions. Stir in poster or tempera paint, a drip at a time, until the mixture reaches the desired color. Pour the plaster into the mold, then tap the sides to release any large air bubbles. To make more colors, wipe any remaining plaster from your mixing container with a paper towel and start a new batch. Allow the plaster to harden overnight before removing the chalk from the molds.

CRAFTER’S TIP Never rinse plaster into the sink. Instead, wait for it to dry, then throw the dried plaster away.

April 2015 • FamilyFun • 9

MAKE IT

great gift jewelry to dye for Our modern take on the classic pasta craft is bright, bold, and colorfast.

getting started

CRAFTER’S TIP Earring wires are available at craft stores; ours were $3 for 30 pairs.

First dye the pasta. For each color, pour 5 tablespoons of rubbing alcohol into a ziplock bag. (You can substitute distilled white vinegar for the rubbing alcohol, but the pasta will become a bit more brittle.) Add 15 or so drops of food coloring. Seal the bag and swirl it to combine. Add ½ cup pasta, then seal the bag, removing as much air as possible. Move the pasta

10 • FamilyFun • April 2015

around so that the color is evenly distributed. Let it sit in the bag for 15 minutes, then pour the pasta onto a cookie sheet lined with foil. Use a skewer to spread the pieces into a single layer to dry completely, about an hour.

2. Penne-dants: Glue pasta pieces (we used ziti, wagon wheels, ditalini, and a star) together with tacky glue. Let them dry on waxed paper. If needed, adhere a piece of ditalini to the back to provide a hole for stringing.

for the neckaroni

for the earrini

1. Beaded necklace: Thread pasta (we used rigatoni, ziti, and wagon wheels) onto a cord. Tie the ends together.

3. Straight earrings: String a piece of ditalini onto a 7-inch length of craft wire. Fold the wire in half with the ditalini in the center. String a star onto

BEADED NECKLACE IDEA BY PAM ABRAMS; PHOTOGRAPH BY ALEXANDRA GRABLEWSKI; CRAFT STYLING BY BLAKE RAMSEY; STYLING BY ANN LEWIS

carton critters Got egg cartons? Turn them into these forest-animal ﬁnger puppets.

CRITTER PHOTOGRAPHS BY SABRINA HELAS; CRAFT STYLING BY BLAKE RAMSEY; STYLING BY HEATHER ROME. MINI BODEN SHIRT

From a cardboard egg carton, cut a section consisting of two cups and the raised post between them. Cut ears from cereal-box cardboard and glue them to the back rim of the carton. Paint as desired. Glue on googly eyes and a pom-pom nose. To use the puppet, press a ﬁnger or two into the back of the nose section.

each wire end, then insert both ends through a piece of ziti. Top with a mini wheel and a ditalini, then twist both ends around an earring wire. 4. Circular earrings: Loop and twist one end of a 5-inch length of craft wire around an earring wire. Thread stars and ditalini onto the craft wire, bend it into a circle, then loop and twist the end around the earring.

HOW DEER! For another wild look, cut antlers from cereal-box cardboard and glue them to the back.

April 2015 • FamilyFun • 11

MAKE IT

TOP THIS!

Calling all creative families: this month, we challenge you to make something fun out of newspaper. To inspire you, we crafted the project below. So go ahead and top it. If we pick your idea, you could win $200 and awesome bragging rights.

curled-up kitty We coiled strips of newspaper to make a cat, but you can use the technique to form other animals and letters. Go wild!

1. Cut a sheet of newspaper lengthwise into 5-inch-wide sections. We used 5½ strips to make our cat. 2. Fold each strip in half lengthwise 3 times to end up with a strip that’s roughly ½ inch wide. Press the folds ﬂat.

3. Start coiling by rolling one end of the strip tightly around itself. Add strips to the coil by adhering the overlapping ends with a glue stick. Finish the shape by gluing down the end.

YOU TOPPED

In November, we challenged families to make something with cardboard tubes. Out of all the creative entries we received, our favorite was by the Weinroth family from the Bronx, New York. Mom Orital and sons Eli (age 11), David (9), and Yishai (6) trimmed tubes into chess ﬁgure shapes. The boys painted them and added washi tape stripes for an extra decorative touch. The best thing about the set, according to Orital, is that if you lose a piece, all you need is another cardboard tube to replace it. Check and mate, Weinroth family!

US!

12 • FamilyFun • April 2015

4. For the eyes and head, start with a larger center circle before coiling.

5. Make other shapes, such as ears and a tail, as shown. 6. Arrange the shapes on waxed paper and add tacky glue where the pieces touch. Let the glue dry completely. 7. Use tacky glue to add folded-paper features, such as feet, a nose, and a mouth.

NEWSPAPER PHOTOGRAPH FROM SHUTTERSTOCK; CAT PHOTOGRAPH BY ALEXANDRA GRABLEWSKI; CRAFT STYLING BY BLAKE RAMSEY; STYLING BY ANN LEWIS

what we made

"We used to live with litter box odor. Now that we use BLUE Naturally Fresh, the smell is gone." For most cat parents, the biggest factor in choosing a cat litter is odor control. That’s why BLUE Naturally Fresh is made from walnut shells. In lab tests, Naturally Fresh proved to neutralize odor better than litters made of pine, wheat, corn or clay. And when it comes to absorption, our walnut shell litter also proved superior. In fact, because BLUE Naturally Fresh Quick-Clumping litter has up to 3x better absorbency, one bag of Naturally Fresh can last as long as three bags of the leading clay litter.* What’s more, BLUE Naturally Fresh is: • Harder clumping * • Virtually dust-free Low tracking • • All-natural, annually renewable, and biodegradable†

BlueNaturallyFresh.com Available in Quick-Clumping, Multi-Cat, Non-Clumping Pellet, Scented and Herbal Attraction formulas.

Lasts Longer with 3x Better Absorption*

*In separate independent studies commissioned by Blue Buffalo, BLUE Naturally Fresh Quick-Clumping litter was found to: (i) have a liquid absorption capacity at least three times greater per ounce than the leading clay-based litter; (ii) control ammonia odors better than the leading clumping litters; and (iii) form harder clumps than the leading pine, corn and wheat clumping litters. †BLUE Naturally Fresh litter is biodegradable if composted or disposed of in a similar fashion. Landfill disposal of litter in plastic bags is not conducive to biodegradation.

ingredients For the carrots: 2 or 3 large carrots 1 tablespoon sugar ¼ teaspoon salt ¾ teaspoon cinnamon For the yogurt dip: ½ cup plain yogurt 1 tablespoon honey

active time 15 MINUTES total time 45 MINUTES makes 4 SERVINGS

carrot crisps Tempt everybunny in your family with this wholesome twist on veggie chips. 1. Heat the oven to 375°. Lightly coat two baking sheets with cooking spray. Use a vegetable peeler to peel away the carrots’ outer layer; discard. Peel the rest of each carrot lengthwise into thin strips. 2. In a large bowl, use your hands to toss the carrot strips with the sugar, salt, and cinnamon until coated. 3. Evenly divide the strips between the baking sheets, being careful not to overlap.

Bake for 15 minutes, switching the position of the pans halfway through. Turn off the oven, open the door slightly, and let the strips remain inside for 10 minutes more.

4. Meanwhile, stir together the ingredients for the yogurt dip. Serve the crisps with the dip on the side. Nutrition per serving: 72 calories, 2g protein, 1g fat (0g sat. fat), 15g carbs, 2g ﬁber, 12g sugar, 80mg calcium, 0mg iron, 206mg sodium

kids can ... Peel and toss the carrots • Arrange them on the baking sheet • Stir the dip 14 • FamilyFun • April 2015

kid-friendly peeler The cleverly designed handle of the Chef’n PalmPeeler features a ring for a young chef to slide onto his ﬁnger, and a curved base that will ﬁt in the palm of his hand—ensuring a steady grip. $6.99, amazon.com

RECIPE BY MEREDITH STEELE OF INSOCKMONKEYSLIPPERS.COM; PHOTOGRAPHS BY JOE POLILLIO; FOOD STYLING BY TAMARA GALVIN; STYLING BY ANN LEWIS; GROOMING BY JEAN HENRY. OLD NAVY SHIRT

KIDS IN THE KITCHEN

PASTA WITH

PROTEIN POWER

Barilla ProteinPLUS™ is ready to fuel the whole family. With 17g of protein* from all-natural vegetarian ingredients, Barilla ProteinPLUS™ is the delicious, wholesome pasta that pumps them up. For recipe inspiration and more, follow us on

Pinterest.com/BarillaUS

*Per 3.5 oz portion. Contains 200mg of ALA per 56g serving, which is 15% of the daily value for ALA (1.3g).

hop

Mix & match styles made to keep up with the rhythm of play.

by g y mb o re e . co m / ho p n r o l l

Sizes 6 months to 14 years crazy8.com

ls Real dea

for cool

kids.

KIDS IN THE KITCHEN product we ❤

eggcellent gadget Give an ordinary egg a playful presentation with Fred and Friends Egg-a-Matic Hard-boiled Egg Mold. Simply press a warm, boiled egg inside and let it cool. Out will hatch a chick-shaped snack you can set atop the included pair of feet. We added a tiny carrot beak. Tweet! $9, perpetualkid.com

silly sentence game

fun with food cobb salad skewers Use up your surplus of boiled Easter eggs with this scrumptious lunch idea. Thread all the ﬁxings for a classic Cobb salad onto bamboo skewers: grape tomatoes, quartered boiled egg pieces, and rolled strips of romaine lettuce, plus cubes of avocado, rotisserie chicken, and ham. Serve with a side of blue cheese dressing for dipping.

18 • FamilyFun • April 2015

Liven up dinnertime conversation with a goofy challenge that encourages everyone to chat while they eat. Before your meal, have each family member secretly jot down a funny or outrageous sentence on a slip of paper (“I ate crickets for lunch today”), then place it under another family member’s plate. At the start of the meal, each player reads the message to himself, then tries to work it into the conversation without being detected. There are no winners or losers, but smiles are guaranteed!

TREAT OF THE MONTH

lemonade look-alike

april fools! TIP ME OVER, AND I WON’T POUR OUT!

20 • FamilyFun • April 2015

cooking spray and freeze until set, about 45 minutes. Meanwhile, sprinkle 2 packets unﬂavored gelatin into ½ cup cold lemonade. Let it sit 1 minute, then stir in 1½ cups boiling lemonade, ¼ cup lemon juice, and 2 tablespoons honey. Let the mixture cool to room temperature,

then divide among four 8-ounce glasses. Refrigerate until beginning to set, about 75 minutes. Add gelatin cubes and a straw to each glass and return to the refrigerator to set completely, about 30 minutes. Garnish with lemon slices, then see how many sips the kids attempt before they grab spoons!

PHOTOGRAPH BY JOE POLILLIO; FOOD STYLING BY TAMARA GALVIN; STYLING BY ANN LEWIS

This April 1, fool your family with a gelatin dessert disguised as a glass of lemonade. Sprinkle 1 packet of unflavored gelatin over ¼ cup cold water. Stir in ½ cup boiling water, ¼ cup sugar, and 1 tablespoon milk. Pour into an ice cube tray lightly coated with

Everyone chipping in makes for a great meal. That’s why we work with universities, farmers, nonproﬁts and others from around the world to develop ideas that help farmers have better harvests while using water and other important resources more efficiently. It’s an approach that helps build a sustainable future. It’s time for a bigger discussion about food. Be part of the conversation at Discover.Monsanto.com

IDEA OF THE MONTH

To help her child build a strong foundation of self-esteem, Tamiko Nimura discovers that the job is best done brick by brick. MY THIRD-GRADER, Ella,

started her ﬁrst choir audition by singing very softly. From the piano bench, Mrs. Schmidt, the music teacher, leaned in to hear her. As my 4-year-old, Sophie, and I watched, Mrs. Schmidt led Ella through a series of exercises: repeating a simple melody picked out on the piano keys, watching herself in a mirror as she made different mouth shapes to change her voice’s tone. But it was the last bit of the audition that impressed me the most. “Now, Ella, I know that singing for someone you don’t know can be challenging,” said Mrs. Schmidt, “but you did very well.” She began drawing bricks at the bottom of the audition assessment sheet. “This is your conﬁdence wall,” she said. 22 • FamilyFun • April 2015

“And you just took a very important step in building it. So the next time you’re scared about having to do something, I want you to think about this wall.” She pointed to a brick and wrote “choir audition” in it. “This brick will be part of your conﬁdence wall.” When Mrs. Schmidt introduced Ella to the idea of the conﬁdence wall, she was also introducing it to me and my partner, Josh. It proved useful a few months later, when Ella had difficulties with a new friend. As Ella unpacked her lunch, the friend would make a face and say things like, “That’s disgusting. I can’t believe anyone would eat that.” Ella tried acting as if it didn’t bother her, with comebacks such as, “Well, I guess you’re missing out.” After a

couple of weeks, though, as the nasty remarks kept coming, Ella struggled to shrug them off. After some discussion, we encouraged Ella to tell her friend that her behavior was not okay. Not an easy task, but Ella went ahead and talked to her friend the next day. After school, Josh asked her how it went. “It was kinda hard,” Ella said. “She just looked away. I had to ask, ‘Did you hear me?’ She said ‘Yeah, I heard you.’ ” After she told me the story that evening, I said, “See? You just added another brick in your conﬁdence wall.” Her eyes lit up. The lunch comments haven’t been an issue since. ELLA IS a fourth-grader now, and we still talk about the conﬁdence wall when she’s a bit apprehensive before a test, a play, or a choir performance. This year, when Ella ran for secretary of the student council, she had to give a speech in front of several hundred students. She was nervous, but I reminded

Tamiko, Sophie, Ella, and Josh of Tacoma, Washington

ILLUSTRATION BY SHANNON MAY

CONFIDENCE WALL

her, “You’ve been in front of people before. You’re standing on your confidence wall.” She smiled, recalling her talk with Mrs. Schmidt. When Ella and other candidates practiced their campaign speeches in front of a small audience, she didn’t have much energy. Afterward, we discussed the other speeches and why some of them stood out. She mustered her confidence, and on election day, her teachers reported, she was strong and enthusiastic, opening with a rousing “I want to be YOUR secretary!” At 9, Ella is nearing middle school, often a challenging passage, but I’m not worried. She has more self-confidence than I ever had at her age. As a kid, I avoided eye contact; Ella has a direct gaze. While I might have hummed to myself, she exuberantly sings Katy Perry’s “Roar.” It all started that day she laid the first brick in a wall that seems sure to reach great heights.

A street called Mulberry Way. They turn the corner and lo & behold It’s grandma’s house! Hurray!

Inspired by the London Family of Mill Valley, CA Share your Goldﬁsh® Tales at GoldﬁshSmiles.com

M other spies with her little eye

MORE GREAT IDEAS

we asked How do you manage your kids’ artwork? TURN IT INTO KEEPSAKES

We laminate my girls’ artwork for coasters and place mats. Tracy Yates Gresham, OR BIND ART INTO BOOKS

I print photo books of my kids’ work using the website GrooveBook. Each book costs only $2.99 and has 100 pages of 4.5- by 6.5-inch photos. You can even do it right from your phone! Angie Smith Sparta, TN CURATE A CORKBOARD

Each of my kids has a corkboard to ﬁll with art. The only rule is that all of their artwork must go on the corkboards: they decide what to keep and what to toss. At the end of each school year, what’s left gets put in a memory folder, and we start fresh the next year. Carda Morrison Hillsboro, OR

24 • FamilyFun • April 2015

CHOOSE ACCESSIBLE STORAGE

STRING IT UP

I store all the kids’ “keep” artwork in three-ring binders with protective sheets. My sons love taking them out when grandparents come to visit. Kary Bijeol Fremont, NH

We run a string along one wall that the kids can attach their art to with clothespins. There is room for only so many pieces, so the kids have to take one down to hang a new one. Annaleesa Hanks Saint Johns, FL

MAXIMIZE YOUR WALL SPACE

EMPLOY A CLIPBOARD SYSTEM

I painted a wall in my kitchen with magnetic paint and use magnets to hang the kids’ artwork from f loor to ceiling. It’s like having a really big refrigerator. Amy Hieber Export, PA

I hung four clipboards on the wall, one for each of my kids. They pick what goes up on their own clipboard and get to change it as often as they like. Renata Whightsil Roseburg, OR

SPREAD ART AROUND

I send my kids’ surplus pieces to nursing homes and hospitals to cheer up patients who are lonely. Janet May Dickson City, PA MAKE IT A SWEET SURPRISE

I have my kids write “thinking of you” notes on the backs of their artwork to mail to relatives. Out of the house but still bringing smiles! Ali Asher Mauldin, SC

send your ideas We want to know: What are your great ideas for making family life more fun? E-mail us at ideas.familyfun@meredith.com. If we use your submission, we’ll pay you $100.

ILLUSTRATIONS BY SHANNON MAY

I take digital pictures of my kids’ creations, reduce the images to about three inches square, and print them onto Shrinky Dinks plastic sheets. These bake down to become fun little charms that we make into jewelry. Larger images become key chains or ornaments. Lauren Hodges Granger, IN

MORE GREAT IDEAS

SAUSAGE SU P PE R SHOWDOW N Dinnertime should be quick and easy— and with Hillshire Farm Smoked Sausage, it can be! Perfectly seasoned and fully cooked, you can discover the bold and delicious flavors of smoked sausage in as little as 15 minutes!

we asked What fun ways does your family go green? RECYCLE AMONG FRIENDS

We hold swap meets with friends and neighbors where the kids trade items they no longer play with. It’s a great way to reduce the number of things you buy and to recycle what might have been thrown away. Cheryl Hullihen Vineland, NJ

My kids cut school ﬂiers into squares, staple the corners, and create their own scratch pads. Heather M. Arthur Acton, MA BE ECOFRIENDLY GARDENERS

Join the fun and enter the Sausage Supper Showdown where Allrecipes® top home cooks whip up delicious recipes using Hillshire Farm Smoked Sausage!

We grow an indoor herb garden in recycled yogurt, cottage cheese, and sour cream containers that the kids have decorated. And we water the garden with rainwater we collect. Carrie Hill Webster, MA FROM OUR STAFF

START AN INVENTORS’ BOX

VISIT

Every two weeks vote for your favorite recipe for a chance to WIN $10,000 and other fabulous prizes. Plus, find quick and easy recipes for your next family meal.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE 50 UNITED STATES (D.C.) 18 YEARS AND OLDER. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. Sweepstakes ends 4/26/15. For Official Rules, prize descriptions and odds disclosure, visit http://www.sausagesuppershowdown.com. Sponsor: Meredith Corporation, 1716 Locust Street Des Moines, IA 50309.

I’ve always kept an “inventors’ box” full of interesting trash: empty tape spools, foil candy wrappers, and more. In general, if something can’t be recycled, it goes in the box. For years my kids and their friends turned to it for school and art projects. Neighborhood children still call me when they need supplies! Charlotte Meryman C ontributing Editor

26 • FamilyFun • April 2015

REWARD GREEN ACTS

My 7-year-old, Eamon, came up with this idea. Each of us gets one point for turning off a light that’s been left on, and the person with the most points at the end of the month gets to pick a family movie or dessert. Bryan McCreary Amherst, MA SOLAR-POWER YOUR LAUNDRY

Using a pulley system, we dry clothes outside. To make it fun for the kids, when we hang or take in the wash, we send messages in a special bag from one end of the line to the other. Tim Stokes Westhampton, MA COMPOST WITH “PETS”

We have pet worms! Our red wigglers turn garbage into fertilizer for our family vegetable garden. They serve as a fun, ongoing science lesson for my 5-year-old, James, too. Becky Williams San Antonio, TX MAKE COOL TOYS

My four kids and I make many playthings from items we have around the house. We recently used old wooden pegs, rubber bands, and fabric scraps to make Elsa and Anna dolls inspired by Frozen. Michelle O’Toole Sydney, Australia

DON’T BE CHICKEN. MAKE A GREAT SUPPER IN JUST 15 MINUTES.

Sausage

CHICKEN ALFREDO

READY IN: 1 HOUR ®

I pkg. Hillshire Farm Smoked Sausage 3 chicken breast halves, cubed

1 1/2 tsps. salt

2 tbsps. butter, divided

1/2 tsp. ground white pepper

2 cloves garlic, minced, divided

8 oz. pasta, cooked, drained

2 tbsps. chopped flat-leaf parsley

2 cups heavy cream

1 1/2 tsps. Italian seasoning

2 tsp. Cajun seasoning

1/2 onion, diced

1/2 cup grated Parmesan

15 minutes

1. Prepare pasta according to package directions; drain and set aside.

Sauté sausage for 5 minutes. 2. Cook chicken in butter, season with salt, white pepper and Italian seasoning in a large skillet over medium-high heat until chicken is no longer pink. Stir in onion and parsley; cook until onions are transparent.

3. Add garlic cloves, cream and Cajun seasoning and boil. Reduce heat; simmer 3–4 mins. or until mixture begins to thicken. Stir in Parmesan. Add pasta and toss. Great additions are peas, tomatoes or any of your favorite vegetables. Just stir them in and simmer.

Saving People ... that’s before the electric clothes dryer. fantastic customer service for more than 75 years. Get a quote and see how much you could save today. JHLFR FRP _ $872 _ /RFDO RIĆ FH

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IDEAS BY GRAHAM AVERILL; PHOTOGRAPH BY WILLIAM GEDDES; STYLING BY ANN LEWIS; GROOMING BY LIZ WASHER. CREWCUTS STRIPED TOP; TARGET RED TOP AND PANTS

SIMPLE WAYS TO HAVE MORE FUN EVERY DAY

FLYING SAUCERS For a homespun version of disc golf, hang a hoop from a branch or clothesline, then grab a Frisbee and try these spins on the game. D-I-S-C

BASEBALL

OBSTACLE GOLF

The game’s the same as H-O-R-S-E in basketball. One player throws a disc through the hoop, then the others have to match that shot or earn a letter; last one to spell D-I-S-C wins.

Set out four bases (cardboard squares work well) with home plate near the hoop. Players start at home and work around the diamond, shooting from each base. Three “strikes” (misses) and you’re out; complete the circuit to earn a run and another turn (with three strikes).

Starting and ending with a disc shot through the hoop, players race to complete a course of challenges (jump rope 25 times, kick a soccer ball into a net, and so on). Keep time; fastest player wins.

April 2015 • FamilyFun • 29

play

FAVORITE THINGS

OUR TOP STEM PICKS Toys, books, and apps that help kids discover the fun of science, technology, engineering, and math

Where you draw, I will follow!

$49.99, ozobot.com

SNAP CIRCUITS These electronic sets, ﬁrst launched in the U.S. in 2000, were STEM-friendly before STEM was cool. Each of the more than 30 kits allows kids to snap together components to form circuits (hence the name). Among the tester favorites were kits featuring fans that blow and buzzers that beep. Ages 6 and up Starting at $19.95, snapcircuits.net

30 • FamilyFun • April 2015

PRIMARY SCIENCE COLOR MIXING SET Red and blue make purple—and create silly spectacles when kids place a lens of each color in this kit’s frames. The kaleidoscope and spinning top that come with it provide a host of other hue-changing activities. Ages 3 to 6

$29.99, learningresources.com

GRAVITY MAZE Kids put their engineering skills to the test, using colorful towers to construct various marble runs. Cards presenting 60 building challenges (ranging in difficulty from beginner to expert) are included. Ages 8 and up $29.99, amazon.com

WRITTEN BY BETH HONEYMAN, ALICIA POTTER, RUTH SPIRO, AND ELLEN HARTER WALL

OZOBOT A 1-inch-wide R2-D2 look-alike teaches the basics of coding and robotics. Kids use the included cards or their own markers to create color-coded paths (a sequence of blue-black-blue dots makes Ozobot go faster, for example). You can also download free apps that let the ’bot follow lines on your tablet screen. iOS and Android. Ages 8 and up

nly Eggland’s Best gives your family the best in taste & nutrition. THINK ALL EGGS ARE THE SAME? Then you haven’t experienced Eggland’s Best. Compared to ordinary eggs, Eggland’s Best eggs have four times the Vitamin D, more than double the Omega 3, 10 times the Vitamin E, and 25 percent less saturated fat. Plus, EBs are a good source of Vitamin B5 and Riboﬂavin, contain only 60 calories, and stay fresher longer. Hungry for better taste? EBs deliver more of the farm-fresh ﬂavor you and your family love. Any way you cook them! So why give your family ordinary when they can enjoy the best? Eggland’s Best.

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Better taste. Better nutrition. Better Eggs.®

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FAVORITE THINGS

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STEM BOOKS WE LOVE

1 TINY CREATURES: THE WORLD OF MICROBES Go RVing AWAY is a place that’s easy to ﬁnd and impossible to forget. Find your AWAY. Go RVing. GoRVing.com/FamilyFun

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Have more fun with a chance to win great prizes and receive special offers from our sponsors!

This science title zooms in on the giant role that microorganisms play in nature. Millions of the little guys, author Nicola Davies reveals, can ﬁt on an ant’s antenna, and they form beautiful kaleidoscopic patterns in Emily Sutton’s watercolor art. Ages 5 to 8 $15.99, amazon.com

2 MESMERIZED Benjamin Franklin schools 18th-century France in the scientiﬁc method in this true tale by author Mara Rockliff and illustrator Iacopo Bruno. As the beguiling, wand-waving Dr. Mesmer thrills Paris, the American inventor tests a hypothesis to learn what’s really behind the mystic’s power. Ages 6 to 10 $17.99, amazon.com

3 IF: A MIND-BENDING NEW WAY OF LOOKING AT BIG IDEAS David J. Smith’s compelling book, illustrated by Steve Adams, shrinks huge, often overwhelming facts about the world down to a more kid-friendly scale. For example, if all of the earth’s water were boiled down to 100 glasses, 97 would hold salt water. Ages 7 and up

$18.95, amazon.com

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32 • FamilyFun • April 2015

Fun Finds from Our Advertisers

STEM FREE APPS WE LOVE

HOPSCOTCH

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After watching easy-to-follow video tutorials, kids drag and drop blocks of code to design games (including virtual food ﬁghts, a tester favorite), as well as to create art and animations, all of which can be shared with others. iOS Ages 9 and up Free

For younger kids, ScratchJr teaches sequencing and problem-solving skills. Beginning programmers arrange blocks of prewritten code to create simple games and stories. iOS Ages 5 to 7 Free

BRIDGE CONSTRUCTOR PLAYGROUND Budding engineers construct virtual bridges, learning about construction techniques (triangles are strong!), then run a simulated stress test to see if their structures hold up. iOS and Android Ages 6 and up Free, ad-free version $1.99

ROBOTS FOR IPAD

MARCO POLO WEATHER

Explore the world of robotics through photos, videos, and interactive animations of more than 150 robots, ranging from cute dogs and smart birds to realistic (and slightly creepy!) humanoids. iOS Ages 8 and up Free

Preschoolers learn about the elements as they turn up the heat, make it rain, and adjust wind speed, then see how their changes affect the app’s three cute characters. Is the pink, big-eared critter shivering? Give her a virtual coat to make her smile. iOS Ages 3 to 6 Free

play

HEALTHY FAMILY

outdoor

fun

Encourage your child to get down and dirty with one of these open-ended activities.

Create a portable play station for easier post-play cleanup. Fill a plastic rolling crate, wheelbarrow, or wagon with dirt, add some water, and turn your kids loose. When they’re done, simply wheel the muck to a suitable dumping spot.

SET UP A MESSY-ANDCLEAN STATION Toy cars, dinosaurs, and play dishes can all withstand a little grit. They’re also fun to wash up. Fill one small tub with mud and another with soapy water, so your child can take her toys from messy to shiny and back again. Could messing around in the mud be good for your child’s physical and mental health?

the dirty truth Playing in the soil may deliver more than just good unclean fun. According to what scientists call “the hygiene hypothesis,” our society’s overemphasis on cleanliness may block our exposure to beneﬁcial bugs. The trillions of microorganisms that live inside us (including ones we pick up from our environment) “are doing something important for us,” says Dr. Dorothy Matthews, a professor at The Sage Colleges. “Especially the ones in our gastrointestinal tract, where most of our immune response happens.” In addition, Matthews and her colleague Susan Jenks discovered that mice exposed to a common soil microbe experienced a boost of the feel-good brain chemical serotonin and a decrease in anxiety-related behaviors. In short, she says, “There’s something about exposure to organisms found in soil that’s good for us.” So go ahead and make those mud pies (just don’t eat ’em!). 34 • FamilyFun • April 2015

BUILD WITH BRICKS Since ancient times, people have built entire villages using mud bricks, and your little ones can, too—on a smaller scale, of course. Have them pack mud into old ice cube trays or egg cartons. When it dries (it may take up to 24 hours), kids can use the bricks to build mini pyramids or tiny fortresses for their toys.

PHOTOGRAPHS, FROM TOP: GETTYIMAGES; TIM MACKAY

MAKE A MOBILE PIT

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HEALTHY FAMILY

products

we love

4 the tooth is in here

From left: Looploft’s 6-inch pillow hangs on a doorknob. Starting at $25, looploft.etsy.com

Mighty Twenty’s hut-shaped softie comes with a keepsake journal. $29.95, mightytwenty.com

this for that Can’t eat peanut butter? This recipe also works with sunﬂower-seed or soy butter.

EASY SNACK

Hannalah Designs’ fuzzy molar is available in tons of colors and styles—from a pearly white to a patch-eyed pirate. Starting at $12, hannalah.etsy.com

banana sushi Packed with ﬁber and heart-healthy potassium, these one-bite treats lend themselves to tasty customization. Start with a peeled banana. Trim one end so that it’s ﬂat, and set the banana upright on the cut. Use a butter knife to apply a coating of all-natural (sugar-free) nut butter, then roll the fruit in a healthy topping. Shown here: 1. chia seeds 2. unsweetened, shredded coconut 3. crushed pretzels 4. chopped walnuts. Cut into ¾-inch slices and serve.

brain game boost your family’s memory skills This after-dinner activity is great for building brain power. Cut out a dozen or so newspaper or magazine pictures of fun objects (ﬂowers, a cookie, and so on), then have an adult moderator secretly sort them into groups of three to ﬁve, based on something the images have in common (all are related to water,

36 • FamilyFun • April 2015

say, or all are green). The moderator then shows the other players each picture in a group, holding them up one at a time for about 3 seconds. Players must remember what ﬂashed by as they try to guess what the objects have in common. The ﬁrst to make the connection takes the round.

BANANA AND TOOTH PILLOW PHOTOGRAPHS BY TIM MACKAY; FOOD STYLING BY JOY HOWARD; MAGAZINE PHOTOGRAPH BY MARK MANTEGNA

Even a magical being like the Tooth Fairy can use a little help now and then. These little pillows with pockets make it easier to exchange cold hard cash for lost teeth in the dark.

FIELD TRIPS HAPPEN.

Be Prepared. *Gd< | *| *& b* d C Gd< |Y d l× •

Avoid known allergens

•

Know what symptoms to watch for

•

Use an EpiPen® (epinephrine) Auto-Injector if a life-threatening (severe) allergic reaction occurs

•

Get emergency medical help right away

V**| l *|G|*d® lěGdS* l Gd b Y G|Y* Yl Gld Home, school, a relative’s house...ask your health care professional to prescribe EpiPen 2-Pak® cartons for every place you need them. Wherever life takes your child, make sure two EpiPen® Auto-Injectors are there.

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The most common side effects may include increase in heart rate, stronger or irregular heartbeat, sweating, nausea or vomiting, difﬁculty breathing, paleness, dizziness, weakness, shakiness, headache, apprehension, nervousness or anxiety. These side effects may go away if you rest. Tell your health care WYVMLZZPVUHS PM `V\ OH]L HU` ZPKL L LJ[ [OH[ IV[OLYZ `V\ VY that does not go away.

EpiPen® (epinephrine injection) 0.3 mg and EpiPen Jr ® (epinephrine injection) 0.15 mg Auto-Injectors are for the emergency treatment of life-threatening allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) caused by allergens, exercise, or unknown triggers; and for people who are at increased risk for these reactions. EpiPen® and EpiPen Jr ® are intended for immediate administration as emergency supportive therapy only. Seek immediate emergency medical help right away. EpiPen® and EpiPen Jr ® Auto-Injectors contain a single dose of epinephrine, which you (or your caregiver or others who may be in a position to administer EpiPen® or EpiPen Jr ®) inject into the middle of your outer thigh (upper leg) (through clothing, if necessary). Get emergency medical help right away. You may need further medical attention. Only a health care professional should give additional doses of epinephrine if you need more than two injections for a single anaphylactic episode. DO NOT INJECT INTO YOUR VEINS, BUTTOCKS, FINGERS, TOES, HANDS OR FEET. In case of accidental injection, please seek immediate medical treatment. Epinephrine should be used with caution if you have heart disease or are taking certain medicines that can cause heart-related (cardiac) symptoms.

Be sure to also tell your doctor all the medicines you take, especially medicines for asthma. If you have certain medical conditions, or take certain medicines, your condition may NL[ ^VYZL VY `V\ TH` OH]L SVUNLY SHZ[PUN ZPKL L LJ[Z ^OLU you use EpiPen® or EpiPen Jr ®.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088. For additional information, please contact us at 800-395-3376. 7SLHZL ZLL )YPLM :\TTHY` VM M\SS 7YLZJYPIPUN 0UMVYTH[PVU VU the adjacent page.

Tell your doctor if you have certain medical conditions such as asthma, depression, thyroid disease, Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, high blood pressure or heart disease, have any other medical conditions, are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

EpiPen Jr® Auto-Injectors shown in photo. EpiPen®, EpiPen Jr®, EpiPen 2-Pak®, EpiPen Jr 2-Pak® and LIFE HAPPENS. Be Prepared.® are registered trademarks of Mylan Inc. licensed exclusively to its wholly-owned subsidiary, Mylan Specialty L.P. © 2014 Mylan Specialty L.P. All rights reserved. 11/14 EPI-2014-1104

BRIEF SUMMARY OF PATIENT INFORMATION Please read this information before using EpiPen® or EpiPen Jr® Auto-Injector and each time you get a refill. Consult the Patient Information and Instructions for Use. You, your parent, a caregiver or others who may be in a position to administer EpiPen® or EpiPen Jr® Auto-Injector, should know how to use it before you have an allergic emergency. This information does not take the place of talking with your health care professional about your medical condition or your treatment. If you have any questions, ask your health care professional. What is the most important information I should know about the EpiPen® and EpiPen Jr®? 1. EpiPen® and EpiPen Jr® contain a medicine used to treat allergic emergencies (anaphylaxis). Anaphylaxis can be life-threatening, can happen within minutes, and can be caused by stinging and biting insects, allergy injections, foods, medicines, exercise, or unknown causes. Symptoms of anaphylaxis may include: • trouble breathing • wheezing • hoarseness (changes in the way your voice sounds) • hives (raised reddened rash that may itch) • severe itching • swelling of your face, lips, mouth, or tongue • skin rash, redness, or swelling • fast heartbeat • weak pulse • feeling very anxious • confusion • stomach pain • losing control of urine or bowel movements (incontinence) • diarrhea or stomach cramps • dizziness, fainting, or “passing out” (unconsciousness) 2. Always carry your EpiPen® or EpiPen Jr® with you because you may not know when anaphylaxis may happen. Talk to your health care professional if you need additional units to keep at work, school or other locations. Tell your family members, caregivers and others where you keep your EpiPen® or EpiPen Jr® and how to use it before you need it. You may be unable to speak in an allergic emergency. 3. When you have an allergic emergency (anaphylaxis): • Use EpiPen® or EpiPen Jr® right away. • Get emergency medical help right away. You may need further medical attention. You may need to use a second EpiPen® or EpiPen Jr® if symptoms continue or recur. Only a health care professional should give additional doses of epinephrine if you need more than 2 injections for a single anaphylaxis episode.

What are EpiPen® and EpiPen Jr®? • EpiPen® and EpiPen Jr® are disposable, prefilled automatic injection devices (auto-injectors) used to treat lifethreatening, allergic emergencies including anaphylaxis in people who are at risk for or have a history of serious allergic emergencies. Each device contains a single dose of epinephrine. • EpiPen® and EpiPen Jr® are for immediate self (or caregiver) administration and do not take the place of emergency medical care. You should get emergency help right away after using EpiPen® and EpiPen Jr®. • EpiPen® and EpiPen Jr® are for people who have been prescribed this medicine by their health care professional. • The EpiPen® Auto-Injector (0.3 mg) is for patients who weigh 66 pounds or more (30 kilograms or more). • The EpiPen Jr® Auto-Injector (0.15 mg) is for patients who weigh about 33 to 66 pounds (15 to 30 kilograms). • It is not known if EpiPen® and EpiPen Jr® are safe and effective in children who weigh less than 33 pounds (15 kilograms). What should I tell my health care professional before using the EpiPen® or EpiPen Jr®? Before you use EpiPen® or EpiPen Jr®, tell your health care professional about all your medical conditions, but especially if you: • have heart problems or high blood pressure • have diabetes • have thyroid problems • have asthma • have a history of depression • have Parkinson’s disease • have any other medical conditions • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if epinephrine will harm your unborn baby. • are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if epinephrine passes into your breast milk. Tell your health care professional about all the medicines you take including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements. Tell your health care professional of all known allergies. Especially tell your health care professional if you take certain asthma medicines. EpiPen® or EpiPen Jr® and other medicines may affect each other, causing side effects. EpiPen® or EpiPen Jr® may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how EpiPen® or EpiPen Jr® works. Use your EpiPen® or EpiPen Jr® for treatment of anaphylaxis as prescribed by your health care professional, regardless of your medical conditions or the medicines you take. What are the possible side effects of the EpiPen® and EpiPen Jr®? EpiPen® and EpiPen Jr® may cause serious side effects. • The EpiPen® or EpiPen Jr® should only

be injected into the middle of your outer thigh (upper leg). Do not inject the EpiPen® or EpiPen Jr® into your: • veins • buttocks • fingers, toes, hands, or feet If you accidentally inject EpiPen® or EpiPen Jr® into any other part of your body, go to the nearest emergency room right away. Tell the health care professional where on your body you received the accidental injection. If you have certain medical conditions, or take certain medicines, your condition may get worse or you may have longer lasting side effects when you use your EpiPen® or EpiPen Jr®. Talk to your health care professional about all your medical conditions. Common side effects of EpiPen® and EpiPen Jr® include: • fast, irregular or “pounding” heartbeat • sweating • headache • weakness • shakiness • paleness • feelings of over excitement, nervousness or anxiety • dizziness • nausea or vomiting • breathing problems These side effects may go away with rest. Tell your health care professional if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. These are not all the possible side effects of the EpiPen® or EpiPen Jr®. For more information, ask your health care professional or pharmacist. Call your health care professional for medical advice about side effects. General information about the safe and effective use of EpiPen® and EpiPen Jr®: Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Patient Information Leaflet. Do not use the EpiPen® or EpiPen Jr® for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give your EpiPen® or EpiPen Jr® to other people. Important Information • If an accidental injection happens, get medical help right away. Manufactured for Mylan Specialty L.P., Morgantown, WV 26505, U.S.A. by Meridian Medical Technologies, Inc., Columbia, MD 21046, U.S.A., a Pfizer company. EpiPen® and EpiPen Jr® are registered trademarks of Mylan Inc. licensed exclusively to its wholly-owned affiliate, Mylan Specialty L.P. of Morgantown, WV 26505, U.S.A. © 2014 Mylan Specialty L.P. All rights reserved. 09/14 EPI-2014-0800

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A PINK LILAC THAT REBLOOMS! For the first time ever, we offer this new addition to the Bloomerang® family of reblooming Lilacs. ‘Pink Perfume’ blooms heavily in May and, after a short rest, flowers again intermittently until fall. These charming and compact plants give a neat show of color for containers, pathways, and intimate spaces. Its upright, bushy form reaches just 4-5’ tall. A Proven Winners® variety. Ships in a 2 quart pot at the proper time for spring planting in your zone, weather permitting. Recommended for Zones 3–7 S&W. Item M067629, $24.95, or 3 for $63 (save 15%), plus shipping.

LARGE-FLOWERING LILY MIX The showy, fragrant blooms of Orienpet Lilies are some of the grandest jewels of the summer garden. It’s easy to enjoy the exquisite beauty and rich perfume of these hardy bulbs simply by planting them among perennials and shrubs. The Orienpet Lily Mix includes 8 varieties of top-quality Lilies (3 of each), 24 bulbs in total, in shades of red, white, pink, and yellow—all intensely fragrant and held on sturdy 3–5’ stems. These blooms will make any border sparkle and any bouquet a success. Your Lily bulbs will be shipped at the proper time for spring planting in your zone, weather permitting. Recommended for zones 5-8S/9W. Item MM920613, $39.00, plus shipping. 6YKLY LHYS`" X\HU[P[PLZ HYL SPTP[LK HUK HYL YLZLY]LK VU H Ä YZ[ JVTL Ä YZ[ ZLY]LK IHZPZ

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GET SMART

the skills it builds LAB TECHNIQUES FINE MOTOR CONTROL EARTH SCIENCE

HOW IT’S DONE 1. In a small glass, mix 3 tablespoons of water with 10 drops of food coloring.

2. Fill a large glass with water, then add 1 to 3 inches of plain foam shaving cream (the thicker the layer, the longer the experiment lasts). Smooth the top with a spoon.

3. Transfer the colored water drop by drop: dip a straw into the liquid, place a ﬁnger over the top end, and lift the straw out. Hold the straw over the shaving cream and lift your ﬁnger to deposit the colored water.

4. Continue adding drops

WHAT’S HAPPENING When a cloud (which is made of tiny drops of water) accumulates too many drops, it releases the excess moisture in the form of rain. The same thing happens to the shaving cream; at a certain point, it can’t absorb another drop. That’s when gravity steps in, pulling the colored water through the foam to create a downpour below.

See this experiment in action at youtube.com/ familyfunmag.

make it rain! Kids can create their own stormy weather— and play with shaving cream—doing this simple science experiment. 40 • FamilyFun • April 2015

DID YOU KNOW? This experiment lets kids practice pipetting, a laboratory technique for transferring liquids drop by drop. A scientist would use a glass tube (called a pipette). We used a plastic straw.

PHOTOGRAPH BY JULIE BIDWELL; CRAFT STYLING BY KIMBERLY STONEY; STYLING BY ANN LEWIS

(anywhere from 50 to 100 or so) until “rain” falls beneath the “cloud.”

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Present at sitting. One free sitting fee or apply to purchase of portrait membership. $9.99 sitting fee per additional subject. Not valid on CDs/media, featured product, portrait memberships, services, merchandise, reorders or online orders. Not valid with other offers. Void if copied, scanned, altered, transferred, purchased, sold or prohibited by law. No cash value. Valid through 9/24/15. PC1819935

Schedule appointments and ﬁnd studio locations at jcpportraits.com

Services are subject to availability and may not be available in all JCPenney stores.

WHAT’S UP, DOUGH? Deck out your wee one’s Easter basket with a sugar-free, holiday-themed play dough kit. Fill cone-shaped cellophane favor bags (available at craft stores) with orange play dough, then tie the tops with short, curly green ribbon. Place the carrots in a basket with accessories, such as Easter- or springthemed cookie cutters and a mini rolling pin.

40 b • FamilyFun • April 2015

WRITTEN BY JODI BUTLER; PHOTOGRAPHS BY JULIE BIDWELL; CRAFT STYLING BY KIMBERLY STONEY; STYLING BY ANN LEWIS

months & up

years & up

FLIGHT OF FANCY Let your child’s imagination soar with a pair of pretty poster board wings she can decorate herself.

you will need • Tempera paint and brushes • 1 sheet (22- by 28-inch) white poster board • 1 sheet (22- by 28-inch) colored poster board • Glue stick • Clear packing tape • Hole punch • 2 (10-inch) lengths of ⅝-inch-wide fold-over elastic

1. Have your child paint the white poster board. Let the paint dry.

3. Trace the wings onto the back of the painting. Draw a line about ½ inch in from the tracing, then cut out the shape along that line. Glue the pieces together and let them dry. 4. Hold the wings up to your child’s back and draw a light pencil mark just above each shoulder, then add a second mark about 3 inches below. For extra durability, adhere clear packing tape over each of the pencil marks, then punch holes through them.

5. Knot an end of one length of the elastic. Starting from the back, thread the other end through the bottom hole and out the top. Securely knot the end and trim any excess. Repeat with the other side. 40 d • FamilyFun • April 2015

IDEA ADAPTED FROM 150+ SCREEN-FREE ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS, BY ASIA CITRO

2. Fold the colored poster board in half lengthwise, then draw a rough B shape, using the fold as the ﬂat side of the B (ours measured 12 by 18 inches). Cut out the shape and unfold the wings.

Readers’ Resource Our advertisers invite you to receive FREE information about their products and services. You may: 1. Complete the attached card, circle your choice of advertiser numbers and mail, or 2. Visit travelmeredith.com to request information online

ALABAMA 1. Gulf Shores and Orange Beach—Come be transformed by our sugar-white sand beaches and turquoise water and enjoy a variety of family-friendly attractions and accommodations. ARKANSAS 2. Arkansas—An undiscovered vacation paradise with rivers, lakes, mountains, museums and music for the whole family. DELAWARE 3. Rehoboth Beach—Dewey Beach—Always Fun…Always Tax Free! Award-winning Beach and Boardwalk. FLORIDA 4. The Beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel—Receive a free copy of our new Lonely Planet guidebook full of tips of what to see and do on Florida’s most natural islands. HOTELS/RESORTS/SPAS 5. Americas Best Value Inn—A family of 1,000 inns, hotels, and suites throughout North America, offering hometown comfort, quality, and service at an exceptional value. IOWA 6. Clear Lake/Mason City—Explore Frank Lloyd Wright architecture, music history at the Surf Ballroom and Music Man Square and plenty of lake activities. 7. Des Moines—Catch a blockbuster musical, one of the nation’s top farmers’ markets, or boutique shopping. Catch a love for Des Moines. 8. Iowa State Fair—“Nothing Compares” to America’s classic state fair. Join us at the Iowa State Fair August 13–23, 2015. 9. Travel Iowa—Order your FREE Iowa Travel Guide for trip ideas and information on attractions, lodging, campgrounds and more. 10. Marshalltown—Try our one-of-a-kind restaurants, boutique shopping and five golf courses. Nature, art and culture abound in Marshalltown. 11. Okoboji—Abundant water activities, trails, Arnolds Park Amusement Park, museums, golf, shopping and more—we are Iowa’s #1 vacation destination! DEPT. FF0614RR

12. Pella—Welkom to Pella, America’s Dutch Treasure! See turning windmills, hear Dutch “klompen” on the streets and taste delectable Dutch pastries. NEW YORK 13. New York State—Get the latest fantastic getaway information in glorious New York State. NORTH CAROLINA 14. North Carolina—With breathtaking beaches, mountains and cities, you can’t help but take hold in North Carolina. NORTH DAKOTA 15. Fargo-Moorhead—There’s a vitality and momentum that have taken over the town, brought here by a wave of new indie galleries, quirky shops and trendy eateries. 16. North Dakota—North Dakota is where families create legendary memories. Start your journey with a free North Dakota Travel Guide. PENNSYLVANIA 17. Sesame Place—Let’s Celebrate Together all season with everyone’s favorite furry friends, whirling rides, water slides, and colorful shows, the whole family can get in on the fun at the nation’s only theme park based entirely on Sesame Street. SOUTH CAROLINA 18. South Carolina—There’s more to us than great golf and world-class beaches. Come and discover “undiscovered” South Carolina! SOUTHEAST 19. Great Southeast Family Vacations—Request free travel information and register to win a mouth-watering Foddie getaway in Baton Rouge. VERMONT 20. Smugglers’ Notch Vermont, America’s Family Resort®— Your best value for Family Fun—anywhere! America’s Family Resort features mountain resort village lodging, awardwinning children’s programs (6 wks – 17 years), 8 pools, 4 waterslides, Zip Line canopy Tours, hiking and activities everyone will love. Family Fun Guaranteed! WYOMING 21. Wyoming Forever West—Wyoming is not just a destination; it’s a spirit of adventure that says you and your family belong.

play

TONIGHT’S SPECIAL

THE GRUB These chuck wagon–inspired dishes evoke a meal cooked over an open ﬁre, but they’re easily whipped up in the kitchen.

1. SPEEDY CHILI CON CARNE In a large pot, brown 2 pounds lean ground beef over medium-high heat. Chop 3 garlic cloves, an onion, and a green pepper, then add them to the pot and cook until softened. Stir in 2 teaspoons chili powder, a 28-ounce can of crushed tomatoes, 2 cups chicken stock, and a can each of kidney and pinto beans. From a can of chipotle in adobo, add a chopped chili and a tablespoon of sauce. Cook the chili for

30 minutes on mediumlow, stirring occasionally, until thickened. Serve it with toppings, such as shredded cheese, sliced scallions, and diced tomato, and corn on the side.

2. SKILLET S’MORES Preheat the broiler. Pour a 12-ounce bag of semisweet chocolate chips into a 9-inch ovenproof skillet. Add ¼ cup milk, then stir the mixture on the stovetop over medium-low heat until the chips are melted,

about 3 minutes. Top the chocolate with a layer of marshmallows. Place the skillet under the broiler for a minute or two, watching it carefully, until the marshmallows turn golden brown. Serve it with graham crackers and spoons for scooping (be sure to warn kids not to touch the skillet while it’s hot).

42 • FamilyFun • April 2015

RECIPES BY MOLLY SHUSTER; PHOTOGRAPHS BY MICHAEL PIAZZA; FOOD STYLING BY MARIE PIRAINO; STYLING BY CAROLINE WOODWARD

wild west wednesday!

Turn an ordinary weeknight into an adventure on the range with quick-draw recipes and cowpoke crafts.

THE GAMES

THE TUNES

Dress up the chow table and have the ranch hands wear denim duds and bandannas.

Set the mood with some classic Western music. Singing along and yodeling are encouraged.

3. APPOINT A SHERIFF Have kids

5. BUILD A TABLETOP CAMPFIRE Cut foot-long

“Back in the Saddle Again” Gene Autry

make badges from gold card stock and markers (punched circles add a snazzy touch). Tape a binder clip to the back of each. Whoever wears a badge must safeguard innocent citizens against manners outlaws and dessert rustlers.

strips of red, orange, and yellow tissue paper. Snip flame-shaped fringe along one edge of each as shown. Stack them, then use glue stick, dabbing it between the layers, to join them together. Tape together four battery-operated tea lights. Wrap the flames around the tea lights, taping the circle closed. Switch on the tea lights and pile some twigs on top. Surround your fire with a ring of rocks.

“Ghost Riders in the Sky” Marty Robbins

4. PICK A TRUSTY PONY To transform plain old dining chairs into beloved steeds, have each child dream up her horse’s name, then use card stock or paper to make a horseshoe nameplate. Tape the ﬁnished nameplates to chair backs.

“Happy Trails” Roy Rogers and Dale Evans “Goodbye, Old Paint” Tex Ritter “I’m an Old Cowhand” Patsy Montana

4 3

April 2015 • FamilyFun • 43

LOOK-GOOD, FEEL-GOOD IDEAS FOR MOMS

scents & sensibility Dreaming of May flowers? Evoke their essence with a beautiful floral fragrance. We like Noble Carnation Eau de Parfum by Royal Apothic— the flower’s subtle aroma mixed with warmer sandalwood turns our thoughts to spring ($55, royalapothic.com). To make your spritz last longer, give it something to hold on to, says Patti Kapla, vice president of business development for FragranceNet.com. Apply petroleum jelly or a nonscented moisturizer to pulse points, then layer on your scent.

WRITTEN BY KRISTA HOJNOWSKI; PHOTOGRAPH BY STEPHANIE RAUSSER/TRUNK ARCHIVE

DID YOU KNOW?

While perfumes typically last three to ﬁve years, heat and sunlight can break down the ingredients. Store yours in a cool, dry, sun-free spot.

smile

BEAUTY NEWS

freshfaced 1 Juice Beauty Glowing Cheek Color | Give cheeks a natural-looking tint with this blush, which boasts five USDA-certified organic berries, including acai and goji. We love the matte finish with a subtle shimmer in both Pink (shown) and Fig ($16, juicebeauty.com).

2 Nourish Organic Pure Hydrating

Argan Face Serum | Score brighter skin with this serum made of USDA-certiﬁed organic oils. The mix’s Moroccan argan oil hydrates, the rose hip oil evens tone, and the apricot kernel oil clariﬁes ($23.99, nourishorganic.com).

go green! Our favorite natural and organic products for Earth Day

crazy for cranberry This berry deserves a place in your beauty regimen. “Cranberry balances skin acidity to prevent premature aging,” says Jeni Garrett, founder of Woodhouse Day Spas. “Plus, cranberry seed oil has a perfect ratio of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, so it absorbs really well and is supremely hydrating.” Our cranberry-boosted picks: Redken Color Extend Shampoo uses cranberry seed oil to soften and protect color-treated hair. The oil also helps with itchy scalp and dandruff ($15, redken.com). JĀSÖN Antioxidant Cranberry Body Wash combines cranberry seed oil with aloe vera— the perfect recipe for extra-smooth skin ($14.72, jason-personalcare.com). Pangea Organics Egyptian Geranium With Adzuki Bean & Cranberry Facial Scrub exfoliates so gently, you can use it every day. Cranberry paired with geranium oil brightens skin and lightens dark spots ($36, pangeaorganics.com).

46 • FamilyFun • April 2015

breakouts with a few swipes of this allnatural treatment (it can even be applied over makeup). Witch hazel acts as an astringent, while salicylic acid from white willow tree bark clears skin and unclogs pores ($28, indielee.com).

4 One Love Organics The Cleansing Sponge | We’re sweet on this deepcleaning but gentle sponge, made from the ﬁbrous root of konjac, an Asian plant. Just add a dab of cleanser, then buff away dead skin cells ($10, oneloveorganics.com).

WRITTEN BY LUCY CASALE AND CHRISTINA VERCELLETTO, OPPOSITE PAGE BY CHRISTINA VERCELLETTO; PHOTOGRAPHS BY ERICA MCCARTNEY

3 Indie Lee Blemish Stick | Ease

VERSATILE PICK | Avon Ultra Color Bold Lipstick in Pink Punch $8, avon.com | “I can easily rock this fun, ﬂirty hue from the office to a party. Plus, it really pops against my dark hair.” —Lucy Casale, Assistant Editor

INSTANT PERKER-UPPER | Sonia

SMOOTH MOVE | Rimmel London

Kashuk Satin Luxe Lip Colour with SPF 16 in Very Berry $9.99, target.com | “It doesn’t overpower; it just brightens up my face.” — Martha Jenkins, Art Production Coordinator

Moisture Renew Lipstick in Diva Red $7.49, walmart.com | “A bold shade, this goes on satiny and looks great with my olive complexion.” —Laura M. Gomes, Contributor

pucker up! NO-FADE SHADE | COVERGIRL

Queen Collection Lip Color in Paint the Town $6.50, covergirl.com | “This rich stick has staying power—even after eating and drinking.” —Joy Howard, Associate Editor

NOTEWORTHY NEUTRAL | MAC The Ultimate Lipstick in Marque $23, maccosmetics.com | “Pale beige wasn’t my go-to, but this color has changed my mind.” — Krista Hojnowski, Assistant Researcher

We swiped, smacked, sipped, and smooched while wearing dozens of the latest lipsticks. Here, eight staff faves that passed our test.

NATURAL BEAUTY | Paciﬁca Devocean

Natural Lipstick in Rebel Sol $14, paciﬁca beauty.com | “I love this creamy, hydrating, all-natural choice. And the containers can be recycled.” —Mary Giles, Deputy Editor

PUNCHY POP | L’Oreal Paris Colour Riche Balm Pop in Fiery Red $7.99, drug store.com | “This vivid orange-red is sheer, so it’s great for everyday. It’s moisturizing, too!” —Ellen Harter Wall, Senior Associate Editor

BARGAIN SURPRISE | Essence Longlasting Lipstick in Dare to Wear $2.99, essence-cosmetics.com | “The perfect red for my look? Not too bright, not too dark ... this is it!”—Debra Immergut, Senior Editor

For color that keeps going, ﬁrst cover lips with a matching lip liner, so lipstick has something to adhere to, says celeb makeup artist Margina Dennis (her clients include Lea Michele and Jane Lynch). Then apply your lipstick. April 2015 • FamilyFun • 47

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GO FOR IT

I was entirely too stubborn to get up and walk out.

warming up to hot yoga A happy accident introduces Erin Brady to one of the hardest and most satisfying experiences of her life. WHEN A NEW YOGA STUDIO opened

within walking distance of my office, I thought taking a class there would be a perfect way to get some exercise. Having done flow yoga, I figured I’d do a few sun salutations on my lunch break, then pull on my street clothes afterward. But, um, no. In the studio, it was 102 degrees— I could hardly breathe. This was my introduction to hot yoga, done in a super-heated room to improve the body’s flow of blood and oxygen. I was entirely too stubborn to get up and walk out, so I just sat there on the mat I’d borrowed from a coworker, wondering how I was going to survive. (It didn’t help that all the other women there looked like Greek goddesses, with rock-hard glutes.)

48 • FamilyFun • April 2015

We started, and the first five minutes were great. I was breathing, I was planking and warrior-posing like a champ. I thought, This is easier than I expected! Then I bent over into the downward-dog pose, and the room started spinning. After I went into the air-conditioned lobby and sat down in the middle of the floor, someone handed me an electrolyte drink and said, “Drink it. You’ll feel better.” And in a few minutes I did. I went back into that room and I rocked out (meaning, I tried every move and didn’t die). At the end of the class, with lights dimmed, we all rested on our mats while the instructor came around and rubbed lavender oil on our heads and put cold rags over our faces. It was one of the best experiences of my life.

WANT TO TRY IT? Many types of yoga can be practiced in a heated room. Look for one described as hot yoga, or search for studio locations at bikramyoga.com to ﬁnd a (brutally hot and) cathartic class near you.

Erin Brady and her family live in Whispering Pines, NC.

How do you jump-start your day? Tell us and you could earn $100! queries.familyfun@meredith.com

AS TOLD TO CATHERINE NEWMAN; PHOTOGRAPH BY JOHNER IMAGES/CORBIS

me time

Sure, after my hair dried, it looked like I’d been in a wind tunnel. And getting through that class was one of the hardest things I’d ever done. But walking out of that hot room— my body soaking wet, my mind perfectly clear—I felt an intense energy that almost didn’t make sense. I loved it. And that’s why I’ve become a regular. The thing is, it’s not just physical. We moms carry a lot of stress inside us. We worry about whether we’re doing the right thing, if our kids are okay. As the mom of a teen, a toddler, and a newborn, my days are a mix of fun and not-so-fun. The hormones, the attitudes, the ear infections, the not-sleeping: when I go to hot yoga, I leave it all at the door and focus on myself for an hour. Emotionally, the break does wonders. It’s how I renew my spirit. It’s how I ﬁnd inner peace. But now I use my own mat.

Behold, an enchanted protein & grains alchemy.

This magical marriage of sun-baked grains in milk’s powerful liquid embrace conjures 9-10 grams of protein, at your body’s service. Tomorrow is yours to claim. Set your table tonight with Kellogg’s.

SAN I B E L, F LO R I DA With its laid-back style and sun-soaked beaches, this tourist town earned the top spot overall.

THE

2015

50 • FamilyFun • April 2015

TRAVEL

Looking for a fun family getaway? You’ve come to the right place! For our annual travel survey, presented with Go RVing, we asked 2,000 families to rate hundreds of popular spots across the country in ﬁve categories. The winners, along with their scores, appear here. (For more on our methodology, see page 56.) Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or a cross-country trek, our award lists provide the perfect point of departure.

TOP 10 WINNERS

AWARDS

For our list of the 10 highest-rated attractions nationwide (followed by our regional winners), see page 56.

We’ve teamed up with Go RVing to bring you the results of our annual survey of favorite family destinations. B Y L E S L I E G A R I S T O PFA F F

THE

2015 T R AV E L AWA R D S

STATE PARKS Recreation areas from coast to coast

1 Mackinac Island State Park 91

MACKINAC ISLAND, MI

The Ojibwa and Odawa people who once made Mackinac their home believed that all of life began here, and a visit to the state park, which comprises more than 80 percent of the island, might well convince you they were right. (The town itself is among our Top 10 Tourist Towns, listed on page 55.) Automobiles are banned on the island (pronounced “Mack-i-naw”), so the park itself is a kind of Eden, accessible only by ferry and traversable by foot, bike, horseback, and horse-drawn carriage. From the limestone bluffs overlooking Lake Huron, you can make your way inland to a dense boreal forest, taking in unique geographical and historical sights as you go, from the rainbowshaped Arch Rock to Revolutionary War–era Fort Mackinac.

Carved by ancient waves over thousands of years, Arch Rock towers above Lake Huron in Mackinac Island State Park.

2 Hocking Hills

State Park 91

LOGAN, OH

M ACKI NACI SLAN D.O RG

“Beautiful and unspoiled.” That’s how one Ohio mom described this 2,300acre slice of wilderness nestled in the Blackhand Sandstone region of southeastern Ohio. The park offers hiking trails for every level of experience and stamina as well as hemlock forests, deep gorges, dramatic waterfalls, caves, cliffs, and spectacular rock formations. Families can explore on their own or take advantage of a multitude of programs and events, including owl-calling walks and an eerie, lantern-lit cave tour. O HI OSTAT EPAR KS.O RG

3 Ludington

State Park 89

LUDINGTON, MI

This popular Midwestern getaway has everything you’d expect to ﬁnd in a park that borders seven miles of Lake Michigan: sweeping dunes, beautiful beaches, and a classic lighthouse that’s open for touring. And if you need more in the way of aquatic fun, you can head to Hamlin Lake for freshwater ﬁshing or a self-guided canoe tour through shallow bayous teeming with wildlife. An Ohio family raved, “Soooo much to do! We made a whole day of visiting beaches and just enjoying nature and the beautiful scenery Ludington has to offer.” M I CHI GAN.GOV/LUD I NGTO N

4 Niagara Falls State Park 88

NIAGARA FALLS, NY

5 Huntington Beach State Park 87

MURRELLS INLET, SC

6 Slide Rock State

Park 87 SEDONA, AZ

7 Red Rock State

Park 87 SEDONA, AZ

8 John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park 87

KEY LARGO, FL

9 Tahquamenon

Falls State Park 87 PARADISE, MI

10 Assateague State

Park 87 BERLIN, MD

PHOTOGRAPHS, PAGES 50-51, BY KINZIE + RIEHM. THIS PAGE: RICHARD NOWITZ/GETTYIMAGES

THE TOP 10

THE

2015 T R AV E L AWA R D S

1 Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium 92

THE TO P 10

OMAHA, NE

This world-class zoo was the most popular attraction in the Midwest region, and we challenge you to describe it without using superlatives. It boasts the world’s largest nocturnal exhibit and indoor desert, the largest indoor rain forest in North America, and one of the world’s largest free-ﬂight aviaries. Other mustsees: a three-acre gorilla habitat and a 14,000-squarefoot butterﬂy and insect pavilion with a separate hatching room. No wonder one Minnesota family called it “the most amazing zoo we’ve ever seen.” OMA HA ZOO.COM

2 Saint Louis Zoo

PHOTOGRAPH BY JULIA VANDENOEVER

91 ST. LOUIS, MO

Survey respondents love the fact that this zoo has no admission charge, but there’s plenty more to adore about an institution that’s clearly determined to keep getting better. Consider that since 2002, it has added nine major permanent exhibits, including Penguin and Puffin Coast (the country’s ﬁrst walk-through penguin habitat); Stingrays at Caribbean Cove (they’re pettable!); Cypress Swamp (home to 20 gorgeously plumed species of North American birds); and Sea Lion Sound (where visitors can rub noses—through glass, of course—with the playful sea mammals). ST LZOO.OR G

ANIMAL ATTRACTIONS 3 Monterey Bay

Zoos, aquariums, and wildanimal theme parks

Aquarium 91 MONTEREY, CA

You have to be pretty special to lure folks inside from some of the most breathtaking scenery in the nation, but the Monterey Bay Aquarium has been doing just that for 30 years. Maybe that’s because the aquarium has gone out of its way to bring its eye-popping marine dwellers eyeball-toeyeball with visitors in such exhibits as Open Sea, where sharks, sea turtles, blueﬁn tuna, and vast, glittering schools of sardines sweep past a 90-foot window. We’re not at all surprised that families described it with words such as “fantastic,” “engaging,” “colorful,” “amazing,” and “majestic.” MONTEREYBAYAQUARIUM.ORG

4 Georgia Aquarium

A whitehanded gibbon roams the largest indoor rain forest on the continent at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium.

91 ATLANTA, GA

5 San Diego Zoo 90 SAN DIEGO, CA

6 Virginia Safari

Park 90 NATURAL

BRIDGE, VA

7 Disney’s Animal

Kingdom 90 LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL

8 Cincinnati Zoo &

Botanical Garden

90 CINCINNATI, OH

9 Busch Gardens Tampa 89 TAMPA, FL

10 Riverbanks Zoo and Garden 89

COLUMBIA, SC

April 2015 • FamilyFun • 53

THE

2015 T R AV E L AWA R D S

2 Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum

93 WASHINGTON, DC

THE TOP 10

SCIENCE MUSEUMS Kid-friendly institutions with a STEM focus

1 Smithsonian’s

AI RANDSPACE.SI . ED U

National Museum of Natural History

93 WASHINGTON, DC

MN H. SI . ED U

3 The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis 92 INDIANAPOLIS, IN

It may call itself a children’s museum, but the focus is clearly on science. And as so many in our survey noted, there’s something here for everyone, including adults. Yes, it’s the biggest children’s museum in the world, but its real appeal is the hands-on experience it delivers. Whether respondents were ogling dinosaur fossils under a changing sky, crawling through a tunnel to catch a glimpse of a model railroad, or pumping up their heart rate with a spirited game of jump rope, the one word they used most often to describe the museum was (small surprise) “fun.” CHI L DR ENSM US EUM .O RG

4 Cincinnati Museum Center/Museum of Natural History & Science 91

CINCINNATI, OH

5 Center of Science

and Industry (COSI)

91 COLUMBUS, OH

6 Kennedy Space

A massive, preserved African elephant greets visitors at the iconic entrance to Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History.

54 • FamilyFun • April 2015

Center Visitor Complex 90 TITUSVILLE, FL

7 Michigan Science Center 89

DETROIT, MI

8 Museum of Science and Industry 89 CHICAGO, IL

9 Saint Louis Science Center 89

ST. LOUIS, MO

10 American Museum of Natural History

88 NEW YORK, NY

PHOTOGRAPH BY DAVID COLEMAN/ALAMY

Where else can you find a living coral reef, a mummified cat, the Hope Diamond, and the cast of a prehistoric human (Lucy) named after a Beatles song all under one roof and free of charge? With thousands of items— from dinosaur skeletons to antique pottery to live butterflies—and interactive experiences designed just for kids, the museum invites repeat visits. In fact, one family from Georgia wrote: “We spent a week going back every day in order to see everything.”

It’s nothing less than the history of ﬂight, from gliders to spaceships, which may explain why so many families said they love this museum. The thousands of jaw-dropping objects on display here and in a companion facility in Virginia include the 1903 Wright ﬂyer, which traveled all of 852 feet, and the Space Shuttle Discovery, which logged more than 150 million miles, plus a near-endless array of engines, rockets, space suits, balloons, and other artifacts testifying to humankind’s fascination with the wild blue yonder.

THE

2015 T R AV E L AWA R D S

1 Sanibel, FL 93 If you’re trying to get a handle on the appeal of this island town off Florida’s west coast, consider that the number one outdoor activity there is strolling along the beach hunting for seashells. Families come to Sanibel to unwind, and its broad, white beaches, gentle surf, and bountiful array of shells encourage them to do just that. As one Texas mom wrote of our top-rated attraction overall, “it’s just a relaxing place that lets kids be kids.” Yes, there’s also cycling, kayaking, paddleboarding, and even gator-gazing through the tropical foliage at the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge. But in laid-back Sanibel, doing next to nothing is just ﬁne, too.

THE TO P 10

TOURIST TOWNS Historic villages, beach towns, and vacation hot spots

3 Savannah, GA 92 Say “Savannah,” and most folks think “history.” And why not? This city of antebellum mansions, cobblestone streets, historic forts, and elegant public squares boasts one of the largest National Historic Landmark Districts in the U.S. But with beautiful Tybee Island only a 20-minute drive away, Savannah’s also a great beach town. In fact, you may have a hard time deciding between the history and the seaside—which is why several of the families we surveyed said their Savannah vacations combine the best of both.

SANI BEL- C A PT IVA .OR G

2 Gatlinburg, TN

PHOTOGRAPH BY KINZIE + RIEHM

It’s the perfect indoor/outdoor town, renowned as much for its verdant scenery as for its walkability and host of familyfriendly attractions. The gorgeous Smoky Mountains are at your doorstep, along with restaurants, theaters, shops, a world-famous aquarium, a tramway and mountain chairlift, a scenic space needle, and the eight-mile Arts and Crafts Loop, featuring the best of Appalachian art and handiworks. A Kentucky mom summed it up perfectly: “Natural beauty everywhere, and so many attractions for indoor days!” GATLI NB UR G .COM

VI SI TSAVANNAH.CO M

4 St. Augustine, FL 92

5 Wisconsin Dells,

1 Sanibel, Florida, is all about simple pleasures, such as deluxe waffle cones from Pinocchio’s Original Italian Ice Cream.

WI 91

6 Myrtle Beach, SC 90

7 Estes Park, CO 90 8 Petoskey, MI 89 9 Key West, FL 89 10 Mackinac Island, MI 89

Starting at just $6,000, it’s easy to ﬁnd your AWAY. When you go RVing, AWAY is closer and more affordable than you might think.

THE

2015 T R AV E L AWA R D S

THE TOP 10

F O L D I N G C A M P I N G T RA I L E R

OVERALL WINNERS The following destinations received the highest scores across all categories.

T RU C K C A M P E R

T RAV E L T RA I L E R

“ E X PA N DA B L E ” T RAV E L T RA I L E R

1 Sanibel, FL Tt 93 2 Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC Sm 93 3 Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, Washington, DC Sm 93 4 Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, Omaha, NE Aa 92 5 The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN Sm 92 6 Gatlinburg, TN Tt 92 7 Savannah, GA Tt 92 8 St. Augustine, FL Tt 92 9 Mackinac Island State Park, Mackinac Island, MI Sp 91 Saint Louis Zoo, St. Louis, MO Aa 91

S P O RT U T I L I T Y RV

F I F T H -W H E E L T RAV E L T RA I L E R

9 4

T Y P E B M OTO R H O M E

5 6 7 8

T Y P E C M OTO R H O M E

T Y P E A M OTO R H O M E

Snap a photo of this tag with your smartphone to find an RV dealer, watch videos, and more.

Aa A NI M A L ATTR AC TI ONS Sm SC I ENC E M US E UM S Sp STATE PA RKS Tt TOU RI ST TOWNS Cr C ASUA L R E STAUR A NTS

␣ NO RTHE AST ␣ SOU TH ␣ M I DWE ST ␣ WE ST

HOW WE GOT OUR RESULTS We asked 2,000 families that travel with kids ages 3 to 12 to rate 464 destinations in ﬁve categories. With the exception of casual restaurant chains, respondents rated only nominees within their own region (Northeast, South, Midwest, or West). Scores are based on a 100-point scale, calculated to the hundredth place, then rounded off for easier reading. Winners required a minimum number of votes to qualify.

56 • FamilyFun • April 2015

ILLUSTRATION BY LUCY VIGRASS

What’s your idea of AWAY? Wherever or whatever it is, an RV is the best way to find it on your terms, your timetable, your itinerary. And it’s more affordable than you might think.To learn more, visit GoRVing.com and see an RV dealer.

THE

2015 T R AV E L AWA R D S

THE TOP 10

National chains offering dinner service and a kids’ menu

1 The Cheesecake

2 Texas

An extensive menu that includes ﬁre-roasted fresh artichokes, herb-crusted salmon salads, and macand-cheese burgers, well-prepared food, and attentive service made The Cheesecake Factory the number one pick of families in our survey (and the only restaurant to rank among the top three in all four regions). Healthy options, kidpleasing menu items, and clever twists on old standbys abound at the chain’s 177 restaurants. And we’d be remiss not to mention the cheesecakes, which seem to come in every ﬂavor under the sun from Wild Blueberry White Chocolate to Caramel Pecan Turtle.

This chain works hard to make you feel as if you’ve just pulled into a local restaurant off a stretch of Texas highway, and that’s one of the reasons so many families love it. The others are friendly Lone Star–style service, mouth-watering steaks, and Southern favorites, such as fried pickles, Texas Red Chili, and its Fall-Off-the-Bone Ribs.

Factory 83

Roadhouse 80

TE XAS R OAD H O U SE.COM

THECHEESECAKEFACTORY.COM

58 • FamilyFun • April 2015

Steakhouse 79

Beef-loving families love LongHorn for its signature steaks, such as the Outlaw Ribeye, Flo’s Filet, and the Porterhouse for Two. But you don’t have to be into red meat to dig in happily at this popular chain, which also has plenty of chicken, ﬁsh, shrimp, and pork dishes, along with burgers. LongHorn ranked number one in our survey among families in the West. And like our other top picks, it has a reputation for friendly service. LONGHORNSTEAKHOUSE.COM

4 Cracker Barrel Old Country Store 78

5 Red Robin 78 6 P. F. Chang’s 78 7 Uno Pizzeria & Grill 78

8 Outback

Steakhouse 78

9 Red Lobster 77 10 Boneﬁsh Grill 77

The Cheesecake Factory was the top-rated restaurant in three of our four regions, coming in second only in the West, to LongHorn Steakhouse.

PHOTOGRAPH BY SABRINA HELAS; WARDROBE STYLING BY HEATHER ROME

CASUAL RESTAURANTS

3 LongHorn

KIDS Avoid Mixups Of All Your Baby's Gear!

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Mabel’s Labels’ Baby Combo Pack has got you covered! From bottles & diaper bags to onesies & tiny baby things, this adorable set of personalized labels featuring a sweet icon is perfect for all things baby. mabelslabels.com or 866-306-2235

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Take The Guesswork Out Of Your Sunscreen New DVDs Perfect For Easter! Littlest Pet Shop: Pet Shop Pals and Jasper: Journey To The End Of The World are two new releases featuring adorable animals on fantastic adventures. Both would make delightful additions to your child’s Easter basket! ShoutKids.com

Celebrate Easter With A FREE Carseat Canopy While supplies last, keep your little ones snug with the Carseat Canopy of your choice, FREE ($49.95) when you use the Easter Special promo code: FUNEASTER at carseatcanopy.com

Hair Looking Thinner? For thicker, fuller, more beautiful looking hair, there’s Pura d’or Organic Hair Loss Prevention Shampoo with natural ingredients Argan oil, vitamins & extracts & no parabens, sulfates or gluten. Available at purador.com & amazon.com/purador

Mineral based Zinka has been keeping kids safe in the sun for decades. With fun, colorful Nosecoat, you know it’s working as long as you can see it! No hands needed for compact Facestick, just swipe and go. 20% off. Code: SAVE20 at zinka.com

A One-Of-A-Kind Shoe Sizer! Squatchi® just made your life tons easier by taking the guesswork out of shoe shopping. Squatchi is a foot growth chart that measures kids feet sizes 2T-5Y (ages 1-12), resulting into an adorable keepsake. Available on Amazon. squatchi.com

Show Them The World With Little Passports! This award-winning educational subscription introduces your child to a new country every month. Packages are filled with souvenirs, stickers, activities & more. Fun with online games, too! Learn more at littlepassports.com

H PPY Calling all cottontails! Get a jump on Easter fun with these adorable crafts, treats, and egg-decorating ideas.

EGG ’EM ON Hard-boil a dozen, then try these four irresistible designs. See instructions on page 65.

WRITTEN BY DEBRA IMMERGUT PHOTOGRAPHS BY HEATH ROBBINS FOOD AND CRAFT STYLING BY KIMBERLY STONEY PROP STYLING BY JULIE PAQUETTE

WHITE-RABBIT BARS Dotted with candy-coated sunﬂower seeds, these white-chocolate treats add homespun happiness to an Easter basket. Find the instructions on page 71.

April 2015 • FamilyFun • 61

1 IF YOUR PEEPS LOVE PEEPS ... ... then sweeten up a drink with this trick. Use an oiled chopstick to pierce a channel in a marshmallow bunny, then insert a straw and serve with milk.

2 CANDY CADDIES Here’s how to recycle yogurt cups into bowls; you can tuck a place card between the ears as a sweet way to mark seats at your Easter table. To make one, start with a clean 32-ounce yogurt cup (look for a white cup with a label that can be removed). Apply a cutting guide using 1-inch-wide masking tape: adhere a strip at the bottom edge, then add two vertical strips, about ½ inch apart, for the ears. With sharp scissors, cut away the container’s top rim (an adult’s job), then cut along the guide with child-size scissors. Round the tops of the ears. Peel off the tape and add eyes with a permanent marker.

3 WAITER, THERE’S A HARE IN MY LUNCH Add some Easter love to the kids’ lunch boxes by creating rabbit shapes with a cookie cutter from slices of white and wheat breads, then mixing them up in sandwiches (we gave each rabbit a black sesame seed eye). On the side, serve mini versions of a bunny’s fave food: use a toothpick to pierce holes in baby carrots and insert parsley stems. We also shaped cuke slices with a small cutter.

GROOMING BY ERICA FAGEN

RICKRACK ATTACK Festoon your ﬁesta with this garland made from simple shapes. Cut circles and ovals (craft punches get this done ultra fast), plus elongated oval pieces for the ears. Use glue dots to attach the ears to the circle backs. Draw the eyes. Adhere the eggs and the bunny heads to a long length of rickrack, using more glue dots. Tie or tack above your table, in a window, or wherever your home could use a little bunny style.

5 FUNNY BUNNY Slip on some whiskers for extra giggles at the egg hunt. Find the instructions on page 71.

April 2015 • FamilyFun • 63

I f you can

imagine it,

you can

make it.

Make Rice Krispies ® treats with your l i ttle ones and share the holiday fun.

START WITH hard-boiled eggs cooled to room temperature.

SO OMEBUNNY LOVES TO DECORATE EGGS! 1

Bu n n y Tr e a t

1 GET-THE-MESSAGE EGG Look in magazines for terms related to Easter or springtime and clip them out (or customize an egg for each family member, choosing words to describe personalities and interests). Apply a glue stick to the backs of the clipped words, then smooth them onto an egg.

2 MARGARINE-MARBLED EGG

In a glass measuring cup, mix 1 cup cool water with 20 drops food coloring and 2 teaspoons white vinegar. In a microwave-safe bowl, melt 1 tablespoon margarine (use the stick type). Stir it into the dye. With tongs, quickly dunk an egg in and out of the mixture three times, then let it soak 3 to 5 minutes. Remove it and let it dry. Gently rub away any margarine with a paper towel. Tester note: We found that different egg, dye, and margarine brands produce varied marbling effects. All turned out lovely!

Ingredients

3 TISSUE-SPECKLED EGG

Stack a few layers of tissue paper, then punch dots with a hole punch. Separate the layered dots. Working in sections, apply a glue stick to a dyed egg, then roll it in the dots or dab them on with a glue-sticked ﬁnger.

10 oz

4 OMBRE EGG

Place an egg on a bottle cap inside a wide, ﬂat-bottomed 8- or 10-ounce glass. Make the dye solution: to ½ cup boiling water, add 1 teaspoon white vinegar and 40 drops food coloring. Carefully pour the mixture along the inside of the glass until a quarter of the egg is covered. Let it sit for 5 minutes. Next, carefully add clear warm water, again pouring it along the inside of the glass, until the egg is half submerged. Let it sit 3 minutes. Add water for one or two more stripes, waiting 2 minutes after each addition. Remove the egg with tongs and let it dry.

SHOW US WHAT YOU MADE Share a pic of your Easter projects via the tab on our Facebook page or with the hashtag #FamilyFunSoCute via Instagram or Twitter. Then look for your photo in the So Cute! gallery on our Facebook page. April 2015 • FamilyFun • 65

6 cups

for

IT’S NO SECRET that waffles shine at the breakfast table, but as the following

recipes reveal, your iron is capable of cooking up so much more. Packed with kid-friendly dinner ingredients like cornbread, sweet potatoes, and rotisserie chicken, these wild waffles present tasty new ﬂavors in a surprisingly familiar form. WRITTEN BY MATT KADEY | PHOTOGRAPHS BY MICHAEL PIAZZA FOOD STYLING BY CATRINE KELTY | STYLING BY CAROLINE WOODWARD

chili cornbread squares With a batter that combines corn, hearty beans, and sweet bell peppers, this comforting waffle tastes like a bowl of homemade chili with a side of buttery cornbread. Top it with a dollop of our avocado cream.

stacked thai supper The waffle base is a blend of rice and veggies. The topping is beef braised in coconut milk and ginger. The result: a square meal loaded with exotic Thai ﬂavors. FOR BOTH RECIPES, TURN TO PAGE 70.

April 2015 • FamilyFun • 67

all-in-one breakfast dinner With sweet potatoes, sausage, and hash browns inside and a fried egg on top, this hearty waffle satisﬁes as either a morning treat or an evening feast. Cooked in a waffle iron, the hash browns turn out perfectly crisp on both sides—no ﬂipping necessary. ACTIVE TIME: 15 MINUTES TOTAL TIME: 25 MINUTES MAKES: 6 WAFFLES

68 • FamilyFun • April 2015

FOR THE WAFFLES: 1 pound sweet potatoes, peeled and grated ½ pound cooked and crumbled turkey sausage ¼ cup cornmeal 2 shallots, minced 1 tablespoon canola oil 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves ½ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon pepper 2 large eggs, lightly beaten FOR THE TOPPING: 6 fried eggs 2 tablespoons chopped chives

1 In a large bowl, toss together all the ingredients for the waffles except the eggs, then stir in the eggs until well blended. 2 Coat a waffle iron with cooking spray and heat it according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Ladle on ½ cup of the waffle mixture (the amount may vary depending on the size of your iron).

Cook until set and crispy, about 7 minutes. Repeat with the remaining batter. Serve each waffle topped with an egg and a sprinkle of chopped chives. NUTRITION PER WAFFLE: 284 calories, 17g protein, 14g fat (3g sat. fat), 22g carbs, 3g ﬁber, 4g sugar, 73mg calcium, 2mg iron, 580mg sodium

bundled-up chicken and biscuits We’ve slimmed down (and streamlined) a Southern favorite by using supermarket rotisserie chicken and adding in some fresh baby spinach. A homemade maple sauce gives the dish a sweet ﬁnishing touch. ACTIVE TIME: 30 MINUTES TOTAL TIME: 35 MINUTES MAKES: 4 LARGE WAFFLES

FOR THE MAPLE SAUCE: 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth ½ cup maple syrup 2 tablespoons lemon juice 3 teaspoons Dijon mustard Pinch of pepper Whisk together the ingredients in a medium saucepan and place over high heat. Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce the heat to mediumhigh, and simmer uncovered until reduced by half, about 7 minutes.

FOR THE WAFFLES: 1½ cups ﬂour 1 tablespoon ﬁnely chopped rosemary 1½ teaspoons baking powder ½ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon pepper

¼ cup (½ stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces 1 egg 1¼ cups buttermilk 3 cups baby spinach 2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken

1 In a large bowl, stir together the first five ingredients. Use a pastry cutter or fork to cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. In another bowl, whisk together the egg and buttermilk. Combine the two mixtures and stir until well blended. The batter will be thick. 2 Coat a waffle iron with cooking spray and heat it according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Ladle on ⅓ cup batter (the amount may vary depending on the size of your iron). Cook until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Repeat with the remaining batter. Serve each waffle topped with one quarter of the spinach and rotisserie chicken and a drizzle of the maple sauce. NUTRITION PER WAFFLE: 465 calories, 30g protein, 19g fat (10g sat. fat), 42g carbs, 2g fiber, 4g sugar, 284mg calcium, 5mg iron, 899mg sodium

Award-winning food writer Matt Kadey is the author of The Muffin Tin Chef and The No-Cook, No-Bake Cookbook.

TRAVEL DIRECTORY To receive free travel information from these advertisers, see Readers’ Resource on page 41.

ALABAMA

Suddenly, you’re in a whole different state of

carefree.

recipes WILD FOR WAFFLES CHILI CORNBREAD SQUARES, page 67 ACTIVE TIME: 20 MINUTES TOTAL TIME: 60 MINUTES MAKES: 8 WAFFLES

Ingredients For the waffles: 1¼ cups yellow cornmeal ¾ cup ﬂour 2 teaspoons baking powder

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3. Whisk together the ingredients for the avocado cream until smooth. Serve the waffles with small bowls of the cream, sliced scallions, and grated cheese for topping. Nutrition per waffle: 368 calories, 14g protein, 17g fat (6g sat. fat), 41g carbs, 4g ﬁber, 5g sugar, 316mg calcium, 2mg iron, 571mg sodium

1 teaspoon garlic powder

STACKED THAI SUPPER, page 67

1 teaspoon onion powder

ACTIVE TIME: 30 MINUTES TOTAL TIME: 35 MINUTES MAKES: 4 LARGE WAFFLES

½ teaspoon salt

DELAWARE

manufacturer’s instructions. Ladle on ½ cup batter (the amount may vary depending on the size of your iron). Cook until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Repeat with the remaining batter.

2 large eggs

2 tablespoons tomato paste

Ingredients For the beef: ½ cup canned coconut milk

1½ cups buttermilk ¼ cup canola oil 1 cup kidney beans, rinsed and drained

1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger

1 cup grated cheddar, plus more for serving

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 small red bell pepper, diced

¾ pound lean ground beef

1 cup frozen corn

1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce

1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced (optional)

1 tablespoon Thai ﬁsh sauce

½ teaspoon red chili ﬂakes

1 tablespoon rice vinegar

4 scallions, thinly sliced, for serving For the waffles: For the avocado cream: ⅔ cup low-fat sour cream

1 cup ﬂour

Half an avocado

1 large egg, lightly beaten

Juice of half a lime

1 tablespoon honey

1. In a large bowl, stir together the

1 teaspoon baking powder

ﬁrst six ingredients for the waffles. In a separate bowl, whisk together the next four ingredients. Combine the mixtures and stir until well blended. Fold in the remaining ingredients.

½ teaspoon salt

2. Coat a waffle iron with cooking

Fresh cilantro, chopped, for serving

spray and heat it according to the

Lime wedges, for serving

70 • FamilyFun • April 2015

1 cup milk

1 cup cooked and cooled brown rice 1 cup grated carrot 4 scallions, thinly sliced

1. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, bring the first four ingredients for the beef to a simmer. Stir in the beef, reduce the heat to medium, and simmer until cooked through, stirring occasionally, about 7 minutes. Drain the excess liquid, then stir in the soy sauce, fish sauce, and vinegar. Cover to keep warm. 2. In a large bowl, stir together the first six ingredients for the waffles until well blended. Fold in the rice, carrot, and scallions. Coat a waffle iron with cooking spray and heat it according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Ladle on ½ cup batter (the amount may vary depending on the size of your iron). Cook until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Repeat with the remaining batter. Serve each waffle topped with a scoop of the beef, a sprinkle of cilantro, and lime wedges. Nutrition per waffle: 470 calories, 27g protein, 18g fat (10g sat. fat), 50g carbs, 3g fiber, 11g sugar, 198mg calcium, 5mg iron, 981mg sodium FamilyFun (ISSN 1056-6333), April 2015, Volume 24, No. 4, is published monthly (except bimonthly in December/January and June/July) by Meredith Corporation, 1716 Locust Street, Des Moines, IA 50309-3023. Periodicals postage paid at Des Moines, IA, and at additional mailing offices. Subscription prices: $14.95 per year in the U.S.; $24.95 (U.S. dollars) in Canada; $34.95 (U.S. dollars) overseas. POSTMASTER: Send all UAA to CFS. (See DMM 707.4.12.5); NONPOSTAL AND MILITARY FACILITIES: send address corrections to FamilyFun, P.O. Box 37508, Boone, IA 50037-0508. In Canada: mailed under Publications Mail Sales Product Agreement No. 40069223; Canadian BN 12348 2887 RT. Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to FamilyFun, P.O. Box 875, STN A, Windsor, ON, N9A 6P2. © Meredith Corporation 2015. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA. Ride-along enclosed in edition AN.

thick onto the parchment. Sprinkle on candy-coated sunﬂower seeds. Place the sheet in the refrigerator for 10 minutes. Cut the hardened chocolate into bars (ours measure 5¼ by 2¼ inches). For longer storage, back each bar with stiff cardboard and wrap it with plastic wrap. Makes 3 bars.

covered ﬂoral wire or pipe cleaners, crossed at their centers to make whiskers, onto a small pink pom-pom nose. With another dab of hot glue, stick the nose to the mask. Have your child try it on carefully; trim the whiskers if needed so they stay clear of your child’s eyes.

For the wrapper: Cut white card stock (ours measures 5¼ by 6½ inches) to wrap around each bar and secure it with double-sided tape. Tape oval ears inside the wrapper. With tacky glue, add string whiskers and a pom-pom nose. Draw on eyes.

FUNNY BUNNY, page 63

1. Cut teeth as shown from white card stock or a paper plate. Use a pushpin to make two holes, then thread a 20-inch length of elastic cord through them and knot it into a loop. Run a line of hot glue (an adult’s job) above the teeth as shown at right, and adhere 2 large white pom-poms. 2. With hot glue, adhere three 8-inch lengths of 32-gauge white cloth–

Hometown Comfort and Great Value!

Free Instant Rewards* – Save 15%, Room Upgrade, Late Check-Out & More with the Value Club Plus, Free Internet & Continental Breakfast at most locations HOPPY EASTER WHITE-RABBIT BARS, page 61 For the bars: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a small microwave-safe bowl, melt 8 ounces white chocolate, then spread it ¼ inch

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ABVI.com • 888-315-2378 Download our free App *Offers & discounts are subject to availability and may be cancelled at any time. Details at ABVI.com or visit an Americas Best Value Inn. ©2015 Vantage Hospitality Group, Inc.

OUR READERS CAPTURE THE MAGIC OF EVERYDAY LIFE

This collection of self-portraits is from a trip to Tom’s Farms in Corona, California, which has a petting zoo, restaurants, shops, and a nice, grassy picnic area. My friend Jessica and I visit it often with our kids. (Mine are Stella, age 9, on the far left, and Lucy, 7, in the center.) We usually bring along art supplies, and on this day, the children drew their faces. When they ﬁnished, the kids thought each other’s portraits were hilarious but were quite serious about their own drawings. We loved seeing how they pictured themselves. Denise Bovee Upland, CA

72 • FamilyFun • April 2015

Finally, 100% natural lunchmeat that’s 100% delicious. Hillshire Farm Naturals. Slow roasted and perfectly spiced. With absolutely no artificial ingredients or preservatives. You’ll love how it tastes or we’ll eat the costs. Visit hillshirefarm.com/guarantee for details. Offer valid in USA, 18+ from 2/1/15 – 4/30/15. If we “Eat it”: Limit 1 refund (up to $6.00) per household. Offer good only with a qualifying purchase of a Hillshire Farm Naturals 8oz product. Void where prohibited.

A door just did this to my face.

That’s right, a door. At home you take them for granted. But at Embassy Suites a two-room suite with the kids will break your trip into two things: peace and quiet.

EMBASSYSUITES.COM

FF - April 2015

Articles inside

TREAT OF THE

IDEA OF THE MONTH

MORE GREAT IDEAS

KIDS IN THE KITCHEN

BEAUTY NEWS