Oregon Family Magazine

Marking the milestones, from childhood to young adulthood.

Shelley Hartman, M.D., F.A.A.P., is an avid listener who focuses on her patients’ needs and builds trust with families. She has extensive experience in pediatric well-child and urgent care, as well as the management of mental health, medically fragile and complex cases. Having come from a family of teachers, she approaches her role like an educator would, guiding and sharing her knowledge as patients grow from infants to young adults.

To schedule an appointment, call 541-HUG- KIDS.

Make Memories with Family Traditions

BY PILAR BRADSDHAW, M.D., F.A.A.P. EUGENE PEDIATRIC ASSOCIATES

FAMILY TRADITIONS, NO MATTER which holidays you celebrate, will yield the benefits of quality time. In addition to strengthening family bonds, traditions create a sense of belonging and help children better define their identity and culture.

KEEP FAMILIAR TRADITIONS

Traditions that your family or your friends maybe already practice:

• Cooking or baking: Time in the kitchen is a great way to make connections. When you’ve baked too much, take some treats to a neighbor or share with friends who will benefit from your kindness.

• Reading a classic: Favorite holiday tales are worth re-reading year after year. As children get older, try a true classic, such as Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.”

• Attending a performance: This is a great way to make memories and support local performing artists.

• Decorating: Even if all you do is string up some lights, the sparkle is sure to boost the spirits of you and your visitors.

• Listen to music or sing songs together: Similar to tastes and smells, sounds can create and conjure many memories.

CONSIDER NEW TRADITIONS, TOO

New traditions allow the opportunity to do things differently, challenging families to think outside the box, to create more inclusive activities for people beyond the family sphere. Brainstorm together to see what matters to each person and try to come to a consensus. Some new traditions may be:

• Turning off your devices: At least one night a week, turn off all your electronic devices as you do something together — watch a holiday movie, play a board game, cook a family dinner with special foods. Make it fun by using a decorated basket that even parents have to deposit their phones into. No ifs, ands or buts!

• Doing something for your community: Volunteer at community events, or buy gifts for a community giving tree or toy donation drive. If you have special crafty skills, considering knitting a hat or sewing a stuffed animal to donate.

• Inviting friends: If your children have friends who don’t have a stable home life, invite these friends into your home or to a family activity. It will give them a safe place to feel included during what can be a difficult time for some children and teens.

Even if your current situation is challenging — maybe there’s been a divorce, an illness or a loss in the family — the consistency of traditions provides a welcome structure and a safe space in which to be thoughtful and intentional during the holidays when spending time together. ✦

Our Contributors

1. PILAR BRADSHAW, M.D., F.A.A.P.

Dr. Pilar Bradshaw practices the full spectrum of pediatric medicine, seeing patients from birth to young adulthood. Named as 1 of 7 “Favorite Pediatricians” by Parents magazine, she believes in the ability of parents to embrace the joys and challenges of raising children.

2. LEXIE BRIGGS

Lexie Briggs is the marketing and communications specialist at the Museum of Natural and Cultural History on the campus of the University of Oregon. She enjoys dancing Lindy hop, reading Shakespeare with her friends, and hanging out with the giant ground sloth skeleton on display in the museum. She lives with a sweet but timorous cat named Emma.

3. RICK EPSTEIN

A Dad’s Eye View contributor, also awardwinning columnist, and journalist. Author of Rookie Dad (Hyperion) and The Right Number of Kids (McKenna Publishing Group). His wife and three daughters run a living laboratory in which he is constantly tested, analyzed, and experimented upon. It’s as if a guinea pig could write.

4. MELANIE GRIFFIN

Melanie is Travel Lane County’s Art Director. She guides the creative team in the conception, design and execution of all visual materials. She also creates content to support the marketing initiatives across departments, including copywriting, original photography and photo/ video editing. She manages the organization’s

library of creative assets and assists with requests from media and partners.

5. BONNIE HARRIS

Bonnie is Oregon Family Magazine’s resident Movie Review Master Extraordinaire. She enjoys watching movies of all kinds, and has been doing movie reviews for over 9 years and counting. She lives in Eugene with her family, enjoys gardening and cooking.

6. KELLI MATTHEWS

Kelli Matthews is our gift guide reviewer extraordinaire. Sampling lotions, testing toys and sipping bubbly is hard work, but someone has to do it. When not compiling the best of the best to share with readers, she teaches public relations at the University of Oregon. Kelli lives and works in Eugene with her two boys and her high school sweetheart.

7. JAN PIERCE

Jan Pierce is a retired teacher and a writer who specializes in education, parenting and family life features. She is a Pacific Northwest native who loves reading, gardening and playing tennis. She is the author of Homegrown Readers and Homegrown Family Fun. Find Jan at www. janpierce.net.

8.

RODDY SCHEER

Journalist and photographer specializing in environmental issues, the outdoors and travel. When he is not out in the field taking pictures, Roddy runs EarthTalk, the non-profit Publisher of the syndicated EarthTalk Q&A column and the EarthTalk.org and Emagazine.

Oregon Family Magazine is distributed monthly, year-round via direct mail in the greater Lane County area, and at over 150 high-traffic commercial locations. For information regarding Every Door Direct Mail, please visit www.dmachoice.org or www.optoutprescreen.com.

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Christmas Hype: You’d Better Watch Out

BY RICK EPSTEIN

SALLY,

OUR USUALLY SUNNY 6-year-old, took a look at the pile of gifts under the tree and said gloomily, “I guess there’s nothing there for me.”

Huh?! What was THIS all about?

“Of course, there are things here for you,” I replied with stubborn cheer as Sally’s aggressive disappointment put a black hole into our Christmas morning. Her sisters, Marie, 10, and Wendy, 3, seemed to be having no problem.

Sally’s mood got even uglier as she opened her presents. One of them was a book on origami. The Japanese art of paper-folding is not big with me; my aesthetic sense is better attuned to the art of making animals out of long, skinny balloons, but Santa had no literature on that.

Nevertheless, I figured that some father-daughter interaction and a little artistic achievement would distract Sally from whatever was upsetting her.

We opened the book, and together we applied our thumbs and fists to a sheet of emeraldgreen paper for 15 minutes, failing to fold it into a shape anything like the swan pictured in the book. Her bad mood bottomed out with tears of frustration. Finally fed up with her, I sent Sally to the protective isolation of her room. That was last year.

Later, when I tried to figure out why she’d behaved so badly, I remembered that we’d had the same problem with Marie a few years before. So I couldn’t blame

the Japanese art of paper-folding. The villain both times was good old American excess, specifically our excessive buildup to Christmas.

Many years ago, Christmas was a big deal, but there were limits. Every adult – including parents and merchants – waited for Santa to appear at the tail end of the Thanksgiving Day parades, and the benevolent wave of his hand sufficed to say, “Let the wild rumpus begin!”

Now the hype starts sooner and rises faster to a pitch that hadn’t been attainable when each family only had one TV and a couple of radios. Only big department stores felt obliged to enthrone an in-house Santa Claus. Whether a kid got an electric train set or a baseball mitt, it was the satisfying conclusion to a tantalizing month.

But my wife Betsy and I aren’t just innocent bystanders. Like the toy companies, we want our children’s Christmas to be as exciting as possible, so from Halloween onward we talk it up. Embracing the premise that Christmas is wonderful, we give the kids a maximum dose of it. Tales of Santa and Rudolph are read. The story of Baby Jesus and the Three Wise Men is told. Decorations, cards and cookies are made. Christmas music fills the house.

In the final weeks, men in Santa costumes are so abundant that Sally could practically bounce from knee to knee and never touch

the ground ‘til the 25th.

At my wife’s signal, the Christmas-tree pageant unfolds. We drive into the country and wander through a field of contenders to pick the perfect tree. A guy hands me a bow-saw, and an adolescent evergreen yields to my manly strokes, toppling lazily onto its bushy side. We bear it home on the roof like some kind of prize and then decorate it while the kids caper around it in a wild scene like Happy Hour aboard a pirate ship.

The evening before Christmas is spent at my in-laws’ house with their five adult children and 16 grandchildren. We trim their tree as the cousins eat cookies, race, wrestle, do headstands, and ride each other. Each child gets to open one gift – a token of the deluge to come. No one’s head explodes. We put the girls into pajamas, and on the long drive

pass out in the back seat – shortcircuited, I think.

Now you know why, when Sally came downstairs the next morning she was expecting to find a live, saddled pony, nickering a glad greeting to her from beside the tree. But it wasn’t even a bike Christmas.

When she entered the living room, it struck her that her life would go on pretty much as before, and the letdown could hardly be borne. She had wished away most of a year, and then endured the endless pre-Christmas titillations of December just for a new doll, a couple of board games, a paint set, a pair of SpongeBob slippers, a cubic yard of school clothes from Grandma & Grandpa, and, of course, the exasperating origami book.

So what’s a parent to do? Knowing why Sally had such a bad time is not particularly useful, except that it helps me get a grip on my own yuletide expectations. Even so, I vowed that the next year I’d try to cushion her Christmas letdown a little. I resolved to cut back on my pre-Christmas hype by about 20 percent, and I will preach on the nature of expectations and gracious acceptance. But that’s all. Even if Betsy agreed, I wouldn’t establish a Moderation Zone around our house and attempt to shrink Christmas to sensible proportions inside it.

Trying to be the only sane person in an insane world would make me crazy. ✦

Rick can be reached at rickepstein@yahoo.com.

GROWING A Thankful Family IN A “WANT-MORE” WORLD

BY JAN PIERCE, M.ED.

OONE OF MY FAVORITE childhood stories is Laura Ingalls Wilder’s account of the Christmas when Mr. Edwards braved a snowstorm to bring gifts to the family. He had sweet potatoes for Ma in one pocket, and gifts for Laura and Mary in another—a tin cup for each of them, plus a penny and a peppermint stick. The girls were thrilled. Would our children be content with such simple gifts today? Not likely. It’s a challenge to raise thankful children in our consumer-driven culture, but it’s a challenge we can meet. We can train our children in the fine art of having enough.

PLANT THE SEEDS: TEACH YOUR VALUES

Agree on the values you wish to teach your children and encourage them in everyday living—in work and play and how you spend your time. Those lessons begin in the nursery and continue to adulthood. In the book Just Moms, Conveying Justice in an Unjust World, Marta Oti Sears writes about a project her seven year old daughter took on one Christmas. The year before, she’d participated in a project to give a farm animal to a needy community overseas but this year, said her daughter, “I want to give the whole farm!” The whole farm was a group of animals costing in excess of $2,000. Marta outlines her family’s journey through, “Can we really do it?” to “Yes, we did it with the help of friends and family.” You can bet the family had planted those seeds in their daughter’s heart at an early age and as a result they’ll all treasure the memory forever.

PROJECTS FOR YOUR GENEROUS FAMILY

• Allow children to do chores to earn money for the purpose of giving to a worthy cause.

• Adopt a needy family through a local agency and meet their holiday needs.

• Work as a family to earn money to donate to a specific family-selected charity.

• Make the decision to sort through old clothing, toys and other possessions to “pare down” possessions and live with less.

• Take the entire family to a shelter or group home and help serve a meal.

• Choose to provide a snack or meal to a homeless person you pass on the roadways each day.

• Decide how to spend vacation time with an emphasis on enjoying one another without excess financial drain.

• Regularly plan family fun times including games, music, food, work projects and other inter-generational or extended family activities.

• At meal times make it a point to discuss the “fine art of having enough.” What does it look like in real life? What are the distinctions between wants and needs?

WATER: TELL YOUR STORIES

Most of us have stories from our family’s history documenting a much simpler lifestyle. My father received only one gift his entire childhood. It was a sled made by his father. His was a North Dakota farm family working hard to make a simple living, and gifts were not expected. Knowing his father took the time to make the sled for him made it more than special.

When my own children had questions about the concepts of rich and poor we came up with a saying that covered our philosophy of family life. It was, “We’re rich in love.” The children knew we gave gifts to those less fortunate. They knew we had enough to share with others in times of need. The message they received was the truth––we had all we needed and enough left over to be generous. We were content. What true stories of simpler times do you have to share with your kids?

FEED AND PRUNE: MODEL A THANKFUL LIFESTYLE

Children may learn by hearing stories, but they’ll take to heart the things they see with their own eyes and actually experience. Have a family meeting and talk about the choices you make. Explain why you make certain purchases, what you give to others and why you shop for bargains. Why do you choose certain family activities and not others? When do you refrain from spending? Does fun always require spending a lot of money? Are there opportunities for your family to give time or money to help others? Model the decision-making process and include the children.

REAP THE REWARD: A THANKFUL FAMILY IN ACTION

The benefit of careful planting, watering and pruning is a healthy family with thankful children. You’ll have kids who understand life beyond their own wants and needs. A thankful heart doesn’t just happen, it’s taught over time. Living out the values of a thankful heart in day to day family life isn’t easy in our consumerdriven world. We have to say no to the want-more, have-more cycles so many families embrace. But we can do it, because it’s the right thing to do. So go ahead and plant, water, feed and prune. Your family will thrive when you teach them to have thankful hearts. ✦

Sources: You can contact Marta Oti Sears at www.martaotisears.com. Her blog is Beauty and Mean ing in the Ordinary. Just Moms: Conveying Justice in an Unjust World is published by Barclay Press.

The Shedd Institute www.theshedd.org - 541.434.7000 The John G Shedd Institute for the Ar t s The G. Shedd Institute for the Arts Community Music School Community Music School Classes & private lessons for all ages Classes & private lessons for all ages � Contact the registrar today! Contact the registrar � 541.434.70 0 0 / registrar@theshedd.net 541.434.7000 / registrar@theshedd.net

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It’s a challenge to raise thankful children in a consumer-driven culture. But it’s a challenge we can meet.

•

The Perfect Accents to Your Holiday Meal

Whether your festivities include immediate family or bring together relatives from around the country, the holidays are about making memories with loved ones. From the first days of the season to the last, many families spend their precious time together with favorite activities and the best foods the holidays have to offer. At this year’s holiday gatherings, whet your guests’

appetites with this savory appetizer, a festive, easy-to-make favorite that satisfies the cravings of a hungry crowd (recipe courtesy of Beef Loving Texans). And because cherished memories are made with sweet ingredients, you can top off your holiday feast with a delicious dessert like an Apple Custard Sponge Trifle, made with the sweet, sophisticated flavor of Envy apples.

HOLIDAY MINI BEEF MEATBALL SKEWERS WITH CRANBERRY BARBECUE SAUCE

Total time: 50 minutes

Servings: 12 INGREDIENTS

Meatball Skewers

• 1 pound ground beef

• 1 cup fresh zucchini, grated

• 1 egg

• ½ teaspoon salt

• ¼ teaspoon pepper

• 1 small yellow onion, diced ½ inch

• 2 red bell peppers, diced ½ inch

• 2 green bell peppers, diced ½ inch

• 12 skewers (6 inches)

Cranberry Barbecue Sauce:

• 1 can (16 ounces) whole berry cranberry sauce

• 3 tablespoons barbecue sauce

APPLE CUSTARD SPONGE TRIFLE

Servings: 8-10

INGREDIENTS

6 Envy apples

• 2 tablespoons golden caster sugar

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

• ½ cup, plus 2 tablespoons, water

• 1 tablespoon corn flour

• 1 large plain sponge cake

• 2 cups vanilla bean custard

• ½ cup caramel or butterscotch sauce, plus additional for garnish, divided

• ½ cup cream

• fresh apple slices

• fresh strawberry slices

PREPARATION

1. Peel, core and dice apples; place in large saucepan. Add caster sugar, cinnamon and 1/2 cup water. Simmer apples 5-8 minutes until tender.

2. Combine corn flour and remaining water. Stir corn flour mixture into apples until apples are syrupy.

3. Cut sponge cake into 2-centimeter diced pieces. Arrange 1/3 of sponge pieces in base of serving bowl. Add half of cinnamon apple pieces, including syrupy juices. Add 1 cup custard and drizzle with 1/4 cup caramel sauce. Repeat with remaining ingredients, finishing with sponge cake; chill.

4. Whip cream and spoon dollops over sponge cake to cover top. Garnish with apple slices, strawberry slices and caramel sauce.

PREPARATION

1. Preheat oven to 400 F.

2. In medium bowl, lightly mix ground beef, zucchini, egg, salt and pepper until thoroughly combined. Shape into 24 1-inch meatballs. Alternately thread meatballs, onions, red peppers and green peppers onto skewers. Place skewers on shallow-rimmed baking sheet.

3. Bake 22-25 minutes, or until instantread thermometer inserted into center of meatball registers 160 F.

4. To make cranberry barbecue sauce: In medium saucepan, combine cranberry sauce and barbecue sauce; simmer 5 minutes, or until flavors blend.

5. Drizzle sauce over skewers or serve as dipping sauce.

Holiday Magic Medieval Europe IN

BY LEXIE BRIGGS, MUSEUM OF NATURAL AND CULTURAL HISTORY

AhTHE HOLIDAY SEASON, that time between Halloween and New Year’s Eve when we reconnect with family, friends, and community. It’s a little bit magical, a little bit spiritual, and mostly a lot of fun. People have viewed this time of year as just a little more magical for longer than you might think! Did you know that many of the traditions we still celebrate today date back as far as the Middle Ages? Many modern “American” traditions have roots dating back to medieval European Christianity and spirituality, and those traditions have roots that date to pre-Christian Europe.

Halloween as we know it began as an American holiday, with some of the earliest instances of spooky costume wearing and celebrations dating back to the early 1900s. But traditions like carving a jacko’-lantern and going trick-or-treating are much, much older. The tradition of making jack-o’-lanterns originally comes from Ireland, where people would carve a face into a turnip, beet, or potato. Pumpkins are much easier to carve, and Americans adopted the pumpkin jack-o’-lantern as the official mascot of Halloween.

Halloween can also trace its roots further back to Medieval Christianity. One predecessor to Halloween is All Souls’ (or All Hallows’) Eve, a day for using Christian supernatural power against the forces of death and darkness, which in turn is a holiday from a much earlier, pre-Christian tradition. Trick-or-treating can trace its roots back to soul-cakes, a popular treat in medieval Europe. People would go “souling,” or going door-to-door to ask for homemade Eucharist, or soul-cakes. They would say a rhymed blessing as well—a little different from trick-or-treating today. At one time, soul-cakes were basically homemade communion wafers, but they became sweeter with time.

Besides medieval Christian roots, Halloween and Christmas share another tradition—one that is nearly forgotten today. Have you ever wondered about that line in It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year that says “There’ll be scary ghost stories/And tales of the glories of/ Christmases long, long ago?” Christmastime was once thought to be a time when the boundary between spirits and the living blurred, and many families told holiday ghost stories around the yuletide fire. We still see some lingering ghost stories, though—one of the most popular

Père Noël (above) and Befana are two of the tradional European predecessors of our modern day Santa Claus.

Christmas stories is A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, where ghosts lead Ebeneezer Scrooge through Christmases past, present, and future. Plus, who could forget the modern classic The Nightmare Before Christmas?

That’s not the only magic of Christmas! Santa Claus, Père Noël, Kristkind, Befana—whatever the name, magical beings are part of Christmastime gift-giving traditions throughout Europe and the United States. Traditionally, Santa Claus was a small, magical being, like a household sprite. People today still leave him milk and cookies, just as medieval people did for their household sprites. Only after people began dressing up as Santa did he become life-sized in popular culture. Remember the portion of the poem A Visit from St. Nicholas (commonly called “T’was the Night before Christmas”) that calls Santa’s sleigh “miniature,” with “eight tiny reindeer.” Also, it’s easier to fit down a chimney if you’re the size of a sprite!

So this holiday season, while you’re hanging out with family, maybe try carving a face into a turnip, telling a ghost story, or leaving out an extra cookie for your own household sprite. After all, it’s tradition! ✦

Want to dive deeper into magical traditions? Magic in Medieval Europe is currently on display at the Museum of Natural and Cultural History on the University of Oregon Campus. The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and until 8:00 p.m. on Thursdays. The museum will take a winter break between Wednesday, December 21 and Tuesday, December 27, but is open the rest of the month.

ExperienceLANE COUNTY

Meet the Neighborhoods

BY MELANIE GRIFFIN

VISIT ALL THE NEIGHBORHOODS that comprise the Eugene-Springfield area. Each community has its own personality expressed through unique shopping, dining, things to do and atmosphere. Take your family exploring!

DOWNTOWN EUGENE

As the cultural and creative heart at the center of the city, downtown Eugene offers an exciting mix of experiences for families: colorful murals, festive markets, cultural and performing arts showcases, the Eugene Public Library, and plenty of family-friendly dining. The iconic Saturday Market and Farmers Market are the place to be on weekends, a home base for locally grown produce, handmade clothing and unique gifts like “fresh picked rainbows.” Ken Kesey Square, named for the region’s celebrated author, sits at the core of downtown as a home to stellar food carts and occasional street performers.

MARKET DISTRICT

Anchored by the multilevel 5th Street Public Market and the adjacent Market Alley, Eugene’s Market District is a fun maze of kid-favorite shops featuring toys, candy and casual eateries. Eugene’s all-ages brewpubs, like Steelhead Brewing Co. and Northwest Burgers, serve stellar burgers. After lunch, check out the museum of history inside the ornate Shelton McMurphey Johnson House. To the north, the sprawling Skinner Butte Park encompasses a children’s playground, gardens and miles of smooth, flat bike paths along the river. A short but steep hike takes you to panoramic views of the city from the top of the butte.

THE WHITEAKER

The Whiteaker neighborhood is the epicenter of artisan collectives, inventive foods and craft beverages. Among the neighborhood’s colorfully painted houses, the Whit’s watering holes often serve as community hubs, hosting weekend brunch and local musicians. The Wheel Apizza Pub serves New Haven-style apizza alongside inventive beers made with Oregon-grown hops. And there is plenty to do in the Whit: Try a smoothie and a bagel at the Red Barn Natural Grocery before watching skateboarders at the WJ Skatepark, or zoom around in one of Arcimoto’s one-of-a-kind, electric Fun Utility Vehicles (FUVs). For lunch, stop by Fisherman’s Market for Oregon Dungeness crab or wild-salmon tacos, or opt for Thai noodles and curries at Chao Pra Ya. Hit up Bricks & Minifigs for hard to find Lego pieces and finish the day with the pinball machines at Blairally Vintage Arcade.

EUGENE, CASCADES AND COAST

MELANIE GRIFFIN / EUGENECASCADESCOAST.ORG

OAKWAY

Oakway Center is its own ecosystem in the city’s core, with shops, markets and restaurants anchored by the Hyatt Eugene. It’s home to both local favorites and national standbys, from Eugene Running Company to Lululemon. Health is the theme here, with fitness studios, juice bars and healthy eateries like locally owned Cafe Yumm and Nektar juice bar. Treat the kids to wild ice cream flavors at the popular Portland-based Salt & Straw. Then meander the bike and walking paths at Alton Baker Park, home to public art installations, disc golf and duck ponds. For dinner, enjoy the Oregon-owned Pastini for responsibly sourced Italian food, or order tacos on the patio at Chapala overlooking the courtyard.

MAIN STREET SPRINGFIELD

Charming downtown Springfield is home to unique shops and boutiques, fantastic eateries, and a variety of Simpsons-themed murals — a nod to show creator Matt Groening’s Oregon roots. A day’s stroll down Main Street could involve an afternoon of art at Tronson Gallery and the Emerald Art Center, or an educational excursion to the Springfield History Museum. And in the evening, challenge the family to an immersive puzzle at Escape the Room Oregon or catch a show at The Wildish. You certainly won’t go hungry: The neighborhood is stocked with bakeries, cafes, food carts and a number of exceptional restaurants. PublicHouse food hall is home to a beer taproom and multiple food vendors, serving everything from Indian-Latin American fusion to fresh fish and chips. For classic American fare, Cornucopia Main Street is a local favorite. Or grab picnic fixings at the Main Street Market to take to the riverside Island Park. ✦

NEW YEAR NEW ADVENTURES

DELENE & CO / EUGENECASCADESCOAST.ORG

COLIN MORTON / EUGENE, CASCADES & COAST

11TH ANNUAL OREGON FAMILY

by Kelli Matthews

Our 11th annual holiday gift guide uncovers some wonderful hidden gems and ideas that you may not have heard of. From playtime to outdoor time to family time, each choice follows two basic guidelines: no “hot” toys with popular characters and not a single thing that will increase screentime. As my own kids (a.k.a. my trusty reviewers) get older, I’ve co-opted nieces and nephews and kids and grandkids of friends and colleagues to provide their feedback on every item. This year’s picks cover ages toddler through teen! We’re sure you’ll find just the right idea to add to your list.

Rest Time

One of the most creative gift ideas we reviewed this year was ZENIMALS . My 10-year-old loves sleep stories at night, but I worry about him having a device in his room all night. Zenimals teaches mindfulness and meditation, all without screens. The Zenimal is a small device that has 9 different guided meditations and three soothing sounds. My son loves it and asks to listen to the guided sleep meditation every night. Available at: https://zenimals.com/

Bath time is the best time and the BATH BOMBS FROM DABBLE AND DOLLOP are all-natural, vegan and smell so good! The Bath Bomb set includes 12 bath bombs in four fresh-smelling, all-natural scents. Our reviewer’s favorite part was mixing the smells to create his own “recipe.” https://dabbleanddollop.com/

Playtime

Sometimes, we all feel like a GRUMPY OCTOPUS , and now your kids (or you) have the perfect little companion to commiserate with. He’s a joyous bundle of negativity that can’t help but bring a smile. He also has friends like Grumpy Shark and Grumpy Baby Dinosaur. Grumpy is the new adorable and, although he may complain, I’m sure he’s ready for an adventure. Available at: https://thegrumpyoctopus.com/

These four smart, creative dolls from SURPRISE POWERZ bring inspiration for the next generation of leaders in science, technology, engineering and math. Astro the Astronaut paid a visit to our young reviewer, who was delighted by the phrases, singalongs and sound effects. Maria the Mathemagician, Codie the Coder and Vera the Vet are the other Suprise Powerz characters to engage little learners in making math and science. Available at: https://www.surprisepowerz.com/

Your kiddo can create a whole world of make believe with the PLAY MAYSIE wild portable travel dollhouse. The set looks like an old-fashioned lunch box with magnetic floors and scene/prop magnets. Add the adorable characters and create a fishing and camping adventure on the go. This set is pretty irresistible and will provide hours of imaginary play wherever your holiday travels take you. Available at: https://playmaysie.com/

Set sail… or hide in your fortress… or take a rocket ship to the moon. All of it is possible with FIGGY . This play couch is anything and everything an imagination can create. I thought maybe my 10-year-old was too old for forts and pirate ships, but he couldn’t get enough! And yes, sometimes it becomes a gaming couch or cozy nap spot. The Figgy includes 4 base cushions, 2 rectangles, and the option to add an extra wedge and separate waterproof liners. Available at: https://figgyplay.com

For little ones, the KIKO + GG* UFO WOODEN BALANCE GAME is a delightful journey to outer space with 50 friendly aliens. Little fingers try and stack the funky alien figures along the UFO’s edge without the UFO or aliens toppling. Or they can build martian pyramids or alien parades to practice your stacking and counting skills. This a beautiful toy that delighted our toddler reviewer (and her preschool big brother). Available at: https://www.us.kikoandgg.com/

Growing a garden with your preschooler takes on an adorable look with PATCHWORK GARDEN Memory Game. In this game, you work together to plant and grow a pretend garden by finding matches. This adorable award-winning game induced a-has and giggles from our preschool reviewer. Available at: https://www.blueninjastudios.com/

The SPEAQUA Barnacle Vibe 2.0 will go anywhere you go. Seriously. It’s waterproof, floatable and thanks to a (removable) suction stand, it can tag along on any adventure. If your adventures take you to areas where there’s no wifi or phone connection, the Vibe delivers. It stores up to 2,000 songs without wifi or Bluetooth all with great sound quality thanks to three speakers with an ultra deep bass. Available at: https://speaqua.com/

Outdoor time

Remember those first rides on your bike as a kid? Or the look on your kid’s face the first time she took off on her own? Bikes are a little taste of freedom. With WOOM BALANCE BIKES , kids as young as 18 months old can enjoy a cruise around the cul-de-sac. Our toddler reviewers love the woom ORIGINAL balance bike. The woom is lightweight and purposefully designed to set kiddos up for a lifetime of bike riding bliss. Available at: https://woom.com/

In Western Oregon, we saw snowflakes in early November, which meant everyone in my house got excited for snowboarding, skiing and tubing this winter. Time to gear up! The

AIRBLASTER NINJA SUIT is a high-quality base layer made from proprietary merino-rich 4-way stretch fabric. Airblaster says its blend is 45% stronger and dries twice as fast as Merino alone. Available in men’s, women’s and kids’ sizes in solids and fun and funky prints. Available at: https://myairblaster.com/

Of course, you need snow toys, and the WOW Sports Snow Tube Collection is durable, unique, and FUN! We checked out the WOW BOBSLED SNOW TUBE . Admittedly, pretending to sled in the living room isn’t nearly as fun as Willamette Pass Sno Park. Still, the bobsled will obviously provide hours of fun on the hill this winter. The shape of this inflatable offers a shield from the snow and two molded handles give you a tight grip. With a PVC slick bottom, you’ll fly down the hill every time. Available at: https://wowwatersports.com/

Sidewalk chalk is a fun, easy way to get outside and express a little creativity! Use SMELLY CHALK to draw a race track, decorate the driveway or leave a love note. With 10 bright colors and 10 fun scents, Smelly Chalk is fun for the eyes and the nose. Available at: https://smellychalk.com/

Enjoying the outdoors doesn’t have to end when the sun goes down. In fact, with the CELESTRON STARSENSE EXPLORER it’s easier than ever to navigate the sky. This telescope uses sky recognition – think about it as similar to face recognition but for stars and plants. It’s easy to identify, locate and observe celestial objects. It’s easy for a beginner and even works well in brighter urban environments. We had a blast exploring the sky on a few recent clear nights. Available at: https://www.celestron.com/

Family Time

ART WITHIN is the first familyoriented subscription box I’ve seen. I love that you get enough supplies each month for four people to create art together. We tried the acrylic pour kit and had a great time together (yes, even the teenager enjoyed it). Each set has all the art supplies you need, instructions, video tutorials and activities. Available at: https://www.createartwithin.com/

If you’re looking for an outdoor game that is fun to learn and easy to play together, try MURBLES . This American-made version of lawn bowling is designed to be played by the whole family. Take it to the yard, take it camping or to the park. Murbles can be played anywhere. We loved that Murbles came in custom color sets and we absolutely ordered a Go Ducks version. Available at: https://murblegame.com/

We love games in our family and try to plan a game night at least once a week. We found a few to add to our rotation this year! THESE FIVE GAMES were a great way to spend an evening together. None of them required extensive set-up or were easy to learn.

ASYMBOL - https://www.simplyfun.com/ DISH ‘EM OUT - https://www.simplyfun.com/ SPOOF - https://inspirationplay.com/ or Amazon

UNSOLVED CASE FILES - https://www.goliathgames.us/ HACKBOTS - https://www.blueninjastudios.com/

Mom’s Gift Guide

Cozy and Cute

This year’s guide has many good ideas for moms (or sisters or aunts … or yourself), whether you’re looking for a cozy corner, a new bottle of wine, or to flex your green thumb.

Greener Thumbs

If you’re running out of space for plants on shelves and sills, MODERN BOTANICAL wall planters are a beautifully designed way to showcase more greenery in your home. The planters are handmade in maple and walnut in a San Diego woodshop. I couldn’t wait to hang these in my home; they add a special feeling to the space. You can order your plants from Modern Botanical along with the planters or look to a local nursery like Johnson Brothers, Gray’s Garden Center or The Basic Botanist. Available at: https://modernbotanical.shop/

What’s better and brighter than a beautiful sunflower on the window sill? We love BACK TO THE ROOTS grow kits, and the sunflower kit is a perfect little bit of sunshine. The kit contains nutrient-rich organic soil, organic sunflower seeds, and an eco-friendly, stylish mason jar planter. https://backtotheroots.com/

Moms who are more gardeners than houseplant collectors will love the RISE GARDEN personal garden system. The late fall and winter are always a bit of a let down watching most of the outdoor garden go to seed, but this hydroponic system was straightforward to set up and get started. We’re looking forward to veggies from our kitchen soon! Plus, anything with an app to keep me on track is a bonus. It’s also modular, with add-on units that will let you grow up to three levels (hydroponic beets, anyone?). Amazing! Available at: https://risegardens.com/

Whether for a hydroponic garden or prepping for the spring planting season, TRUE LEAF ORGANICS has a vast selection of seeds and starter kits that are certified organic, non-GMO and heirloom. The diversity of options and a library of howtos, tips and information create a onestop shop. I’ve long wanted to plant flowers that attract hummingbirds and butterflies, so the Wildflower Seed Collection is perfect. I’ve got just the place picked out. Available at: https:// www.trueleafmarket.com/

Coziest Corner

No cozy corner is complete without a candle, right? The CALM JOY CANDLES are made from coconut wax and toxin-free fragrances. They are super fragrant and make your home smell like the holidays. I especially loved the wooden

The perfect pillow is a must for mom’s cozy corner. LAGOON SLEEP has a simple quiz to understand how you sleep, and they recommend the right pillow to help with quality sleep. I appreciated that I could change the pillow filling level to get just the right level of squish and firmness. That squish is crucial for keeping the neck and shoulders comfortable as a side sleeper. Learn more at: https://lagoonsleep.com/

Pink noise is a milder, mellower version of white noise. It mirrors nature’s sounds, like waves or rainfall and relaxes the brain and helps keep those worrying thoughts that can keep us up at night at bay. After some simple setup, the SOUNDOFF sleep earbuds were comfortable and helped me stay asleep. I look forward to trying them during the day to help me calm my hectic mind and focus. Learn more at: https://soundoffsleep.com/

SEEK & SWOON throw designs evoke faraway places, sunny vacation spots and locations you’ve visited in your travels and somehow feel like home. Each throw has enough weight to feel substantial and soothing. So take a deep breath, wrap yourself in a moment and be inspired. Seek and Swoon throws are designed in Oregon and made in the USA. Available at: https://www.seekandswoon.com/

Soft, comfortable sheets are a necessary part of great sleep. We loved the SWEAVE Eucalyptus Tencel Sheet Set. These sheets are made with eucalyptus Tencel Lyocell and Egyptian cotton and are Oeko-Tex certified. Sweave cares about its impact on the planet, and this certification means its sheets are made in environmentallyfriendly, safe, and socially responsible facilities. So you can feel good about feeling good. Available at: https://www. sweavebedding.com/

Saucier Sips

The 2021 Chehalem Mountains, Dundee Hills and Willamette Valley Pinot Noirs from STOLLER FAMILY ESTATES a perfect holiday trio. Nothing says “Oregon wine” like pinot noir, and these three have bold and complex profiles and are also accessible and outstanding wines to share. Available at: https://www. stollerfamilyestate.com/ Sundance Wine Cellars

The hostess mom will love the BROOKS WINE MERRY MAKER kit from the Amity, Oregon vineyard. It’s a holiday party in a box with two Brooks wines (a 2018 Cahiers Riesling for the mulled wine and a 2018 Janus Pinot Noir to enjoy with the chocolate), Smith Tea Merry Maker’s Punch, Woodblock Chocolate’s enfleurage chocolates made with Merry Maker’s Punch. The kit also contains recipe cards for mulled wine and a delicious holiday glaze, both made with the tea. Available at: https://www.brookswine.com/product/merry-2022/

One of my favorite finds this year is the beautiful foodie and home goods gifts from VERVE CULTURE . The team at Verve Culture has artfully curated food-related gifts from four regions of the world - Mexico, Morocco, Thailand and Italy. The homemade pizza bundle has all the essentials for gourmet pizza imported from Italy. It features easy-to-make Italian pizza “00” flour, a tomato and mozzarella pizza sauce, and a beechwood pizza peel and slicer. Available at: https://verveculture.com/

If your taste leans more toward craft beer, ciders or spirits, SIPSCOUT from The Crafty Cask has the gift boxes for you! SipScout is a subscription box that features different categories and styles each month from craft makers all over the country. The whiskey & bourbon sampler included tipples from incredible craft makers from coast to coast, plus Ireland. My favorite so far was the Fort Mose’ 1738 Bourbon Whiskey from a Black-owned business in West Palm Beach, Florida. Each month there’s also a virtual SipScout party to learn about that month’s kit. Learn more and subscribe: https://thecraftycask.com/

Face masks make delivering moisture and goodness right to your skin easy - and with sKIN , you can invite your little, your tween or your teen to join you in a little at-home spa moment. When parents and kids connect and teach simple self-care, like taking care of your skin, it’s beautiful. sKIN masks come in a set with one regular size (Me) and one smaller size (mini). Both my sons (a tween and a teen) even enjoy a little spa time with me. Available at:

Blissed Out Beauty Cutest Accessories

The new vibrant colors of full-grain leather of the East-West Tote and the Mini Journey Backpack make a perfect set. And yes, your mom always needs a new bag (believe me on this one!). The sage green says “winter” and will carry you through the rainy months in Oregon with a pop of color. Keep an eye on holiday sales, too. This time of year is a great time to shop online or at the Boxcar at 5th Street Market. Available at: https://www. willleathergoods.com/

Local flower grower and craftswoman Cindy Ingram and HAPPY HILL HOMESTEAD launched an allnatural, herbal skincare line. The seven different types of salves are made from the flowers and herbs from Happy HIll’s wholesale garden. Cindy creates every kind with a blend of coconut and sweet almond oil, shea butter, beeswax, fresh farm flowers, herbs, and essential oils. Available at https://www.Thehappyhillhomestead.com/

From the local to the international, MIMAAMI ORGANICS’ skin care products are made from all-natural ingredients and ethically sourced from female producers in Ghana, where the company founder is from. Mimaami means “my mother” in Twi, one of the tribal languages in Ghana. My winter skin is always dry and this whipped shea butter moisturizer is perfect. More information at https://www.mimaamiorganics.com/ and available on Amazon.

Sneakers that are slip-on with fun prints and patterns? And you can feel good about the impact on the planet? Yes, please!

PSUDO SNEAKERS are created with REPREVE yarn, made from recycled water bottles. All sneakers are 100% made and sourced in the USA. Psudo is committed to creating the world’s most eco-friendly sneaker by 2023. Cute and conscious! Available at: https://psudo.com/

Mom has a lot of stuff in her head – family schedules, work obligations, personal care and more. A beautiful, functional journal can help capture that stuff. COPPER FOX JOURNALS come in a variety of colors and styles (19 different options!), and each is personalizable. They’re also affordable; every journal is under $30. Available at: https://www.copperfoxco.com/

Connected to Everything

BY BONNIE L. HARRIS

ONCE IN A WHILE, a family film comes along that’s so captivating and inspirational, it shouldn’t be missed. Although its release was last summer, Marcel the Shell With Shoes On just landed on my radar and it’s one of the most wonderful stop-motion movies I’ve ever seen. It’ll likely be nominated for an Oscar, so

MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON A24 & Cinereach, Rated: PG Streaming on Amazon

there’s even more reason to see it. Funny, unique, original, and quirky, it’s a wonderful introduction to independent filmmaking for the younger crowd. But its sincere message and heartfelt life lessons will delight all ages. We discover that Marcel, an odd little fellow with pink shoes and one eye, lives with his Nanna Connie in a house that’s now an Airbnb. Although many people have stayed in the house, it isn’t until Dean and his camera begin interviewing Marcel that we learn his full story. Marcel busies himself with taking care of

Nanna and finding the beauty in his quiet life, but he’s haunted by the accidental disappearance of his shell family. After Dean posts a series of YouTube videos, Marcel’s personality captivates millions of viewers. Hoping that this new online community can help him, Marcel is disappointed to realize that the people watching him only want their own 15 minutes of fame. On an adventurous tour of the city with Dean, Marcel finally understands

FOR the PARENTS

Christmas Falls Short

FALLING FOR CHRISTMAS

Motion Picture Corporation, Rated: PG Streaming on Netflix

ALTHOUGH IT OVERFLOWS with holiday decorations, sleigh bells, and ornaments, the fluffy new rom-com from Netflix starring Lindsay Lohan & Chord Overstreet doesn’t have much imagination or pizazz. But if you just want to curl up with a mug of hot chocolate and let the holiday schmaltz take over, then Falling for Christmas is a tolerable pick. The recycled story is about an obnoxious rich-girl who loses her memory after a skiing accident and ends up at an old-fashioned lodge run by a handsome widowed father. He’s generous and helpful, his daughter is sweet and adorable, and his mother-in-law is kind, understanding, and wise. Rich-girl learns how the other half lives while waiting for her memory to return. The small ski lodge faces closure, but rich-girl eventually saves the family business by hosting a fund-raising Christmas party. The side story of the jilted fiancé lost in the woods is mildly funny, but Lohan’s

That holiday feeling.

how big the world really is, and finding a lost family of shells could be impossible. But help is on the way through a producer for 60 Minutes and Nanna Connie, who teaches Marcel to face his fears and dive into life. Not only a commentary on how we easily overlook the small things, but Marcel’s awakening is also a celebration of his ingenuity and strength. There’s laughter, tears, and of course, a very happy ending. ✦

physical pratfalls are only somewhat cute. Unfortunately, Falling for Christmas feels like a pretend romance in a pretend ski resort with cardboard characters. The best part of the film are the outtakes over the credits, which are much funnier than the scripted scenes.

Marcel maps out a plan.

Meet sweet, friendly pup MOLLY ! She is a very affectionate chocolate Pitbull mix looking for

forever person

call her own! She wiggles her tail at everyone

off her adorable smile. She is a big fan of treats, hikes and butt scratches. Our team loves her sweet demeanor and soulful eyes!

At 6-years-old, Molly is looking to be the only pet in the family as she has all the love to give. She is very active and will enjoy regular walks and adventures. She does not have much experience around kids so she would do best with dog-savvy older kids in the house. She weights between 53-59 lbs., is spayed, microchipped, and up to date on vaccines. Molly will make her person very happy with her loyalty and zest for life!

Greenhill Humane Society is open seven days a week, 11 am – 6 pm at 88530 Green Hill Rd in Eugene. For more information call (541) 689.1503 or visit www.green-hill.org.

The Cat Rescue & Adoption Network presents LEO THE LARGE , a handsome young brown tabby kitty with white, about 1 ½ yrs old. He’s an active, energetic boy who loves lots of attention and interaction. He would enjoy a busy household, but he can be a bully to other submissive cats. Leo is a charming kitty with a large personality who will make a great companion for an active family! He’s neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, and negative for FIV & FeLV (he’s on a prescription diet for urinary tract health, but otherwise is in excellent condition). To meet Leo, please call 541-225-4955 option 1, or visit our website at CatRescues.org

care for everyone