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EDITORS Lori Stephanoff Wanda Litchenberg Cindy Van Horn
GRAPHIC DESIGN Sherie LaPrade
AD DESIGN Chris Duckett
DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Madeleine Thomas
ADVERTISING 843.760.2626 advertise@pointemag.com
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Pointe!ing the Way Ask Meg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Throw a Stick in the Wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Fresh Pointe!s Farmer’s Markets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Making Food Fun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 SerenDIPity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Pointe! East, West, North & South Easy, Breezy & Economical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Fourth of July Celebrations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Check Pointe!s Free to Be Me . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Boundaries Bring Freedom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 A Lesson from Jeremiah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Dear College Freshman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 A Ri-kick-ulous Good Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Kid Pointe!rs B Polite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Learning on the Go . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 The First Day of School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 The Best Things in Life are Free . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Summer Fun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
CONTENTS
Embrace the Camera . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Read a Book . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
SUMMER 2012
Pointe! of Focus
Design Pointe!s Lawn/Garden. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Handy Girl DIY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Easy Home FaceLIFTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Handmade Wedding Ideas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Hints, Tips and Pointe!s Household Hints & Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Beat the Heat in Style . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Royal Style on a Commoner's Budget . . . . . . . . . 37
Health Pointe!rs
EASY BREEZY SUMMER If you took a sneak peek behind the scenes of pointe! magazine, you might be surprised at how each edition comes together. Beyond the “hard” stuff of gathering articles, selling ads, designing, editing, and meeting deadlines, what really gives pointe! its unique flavor comes from the “soft” side: the personalities and interactions of the team that brings this magazine to life each quarter. On numerous occasions, occupants of adjacent offices have called down our pointe! team for getting a little too rowdy. “Girls! Hold it down. I’m on the phone!” Others, curious about the hearty laughs, delighted claps, and “I LOVE IT!,” pop their heads in the door just to see what’s going on. So, what does this have to do with an “Easy, Breezy” summer theme? Two simple words: laughter and together. You’ve probably heard the proverb, “A merry heart does good, like medicine.” Medical evidence supports it. So, laugh often, at least once a day. Take delight in the simple things. And find someone to do life with this summer. Together is so much better. I know from recently losing my Dad that shared sorrows are lightened. And, having just officiated the weddings of two young couples very dear to my heart, I can assure you that shared joy multiplies. I think I feel a breeze! Might be time to go to the beach with a friend, take the family on an outing, or grab a good book and find a hammock. Whatever you choose, make it a great summer! g
Pump It Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Easy Breezy Path to Health & Fitness . . . . . . . . . 42 Energy Boosting Recipes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Senior Pastor Cathedral of Praise FALL/HOLIDAY SNEAK PREVIEW!
"Home Sweet Home" Now accepting ad submissions for Fall/Holiday 2012. Email us at advertise@pointemag.com for more information!
Look for this image throughout our Spring issue to see some of our favorite mobile apps — compiled by Debrawww.pointemag.com & Jennifer Malone! {
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MEGAN TURNER
Ask MEG My two year old knows one word: “No!” How do I stop her from saying, “No!” seemingly ALL the time? That is a tough one! Rest assured that saying “No!” is a natural stage for most two year olds. She will grow out of it, I promise. In the meantime, try to redirect her use of “no” as much as possible. I think it’s also important that, as moms, we use the word “no” only when necessary. My mom taught me early on by saying “yes” as often as possible. When she said “no,” that “no” really meant something, and I knew there must be a solid reason. Try to rephrase what you want or don’t want her to do into a “yes” statement. Instead of saying, “No, leave that alone,” try to say, “Here, play with this.” That way you are exchanging the negative for a positive. Side note: My parents’ philosophy of saying “yes” as much as possible held true into my adolescence and young adulthood. Even though I didn’t always agree with the reason for the “no,” I was less apt to argue because the yes’s outweighed the no’s.
I love summer, but come July, my kids are “bored” and I’m about to pull out my hair. Any suggestions? I hear you! My first thought is Pinterest (www.pinterest.com). It is an amazing resource for tons of ideas: easy crafting, 101 things to do with a toddler on a rainy day, fun science experiments, handson activities, and so much more.
INSTAGRAM — A free, fun and simple way to make gorgeous photos on your phone. Use effects to transform everyday moments into works of art to share with friends & family!
Recently, my husband Luke and I tried a Pinterest idea at bath time. We turned off the bathroom light, tossed glow sticks in the tub, and watched our girls try to figure it out with amusement and wide eyes. They loved it! Investigate local attractions. I didn’t know so much existed for kids, AND often for free! 1.
Does a movie theatre near you offer free/dollar kids movie times? Call your local theater or visit www.southeastcinemas. com or www.regmovies.com.
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Kids do better with other kid-time interaction at least twice a week. Consider enrolling your child in a half-day themed camp.
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Charleston’s summer festivals usually include children activities. Check out www.charlestonsfinestcityguide.com for an event calendar.
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Visit the library for summer reading programs and story time.
I want to take my kids to the beach and pool but hate the idea of getting in my old bathing suit. What do I do? Girlfriend, DON’T get in your old bathing suit! New body, new bathing suit. After we have kids and as we get a little older, our bodies change! It’s important to feel as comfortable as possible. If we’re uncomfortable, we’re miserable. And if mom’s not happy, nobody’s happy! First step, take a friend shopping with you. Most women don’t like shopping for bathing suits because of those stupid mirrors in the dressing rooms! So take an honest (but encouraging) friend who can help you find a bathing suit that is comfortable and stylish. Second, get out there and have fun at the beach and pool. You probably won’t see most of those people ever again, but your summertime water memories will last a lifetime. Thirdly, rock that bathing suit in the back yard playing with the kids as much as possible. To me, tanned cellulite is much prettier than white cellulite!
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Have questions? askmeg@pointemag.com
AS A WIFE AND WORKING MOM WITH 3 GIRLS, MEGAN UNDERSTANDS THE CHALLENGES OF BALANCING HOME, FAMILY AND FRIENDSHIPS. ENERGETIC AND PASSIONATE, SHE LIVES LIFE WITH CONTAGIOUS JOY AND FREEDOM.
Farmer's Markets Enjoy your summer by frequenting these local farmer's markets for an abundance of the freshest local produce, seafood, jams/jellies, plants, flowers, herbs, packaged & canned foods, bakery, and much more! Local food vendors, artisans, and entertainment may also be available. CHARLESTON Saturdays, 8am-2pm through December 23 Location: Marion Square, between King and Meeting Streets
COOSAW POINTE Wednesdays, 12pm-6pm through November Location: 5150 Ashley Phosphate Road (between and behind Jiffy Lube and State Farm)
DANIEL ISLAND Thursdays, 4pm to dusk through August Location: Island Park Drive across from the Publix shopping center
FRESHFIELDS VILLAGE Mondays, 4pm-8pm through August 27 Location: Shopping center at the crossroads of Kiawah, Seabrook and Johns Island
GOOSE CREEK Thursdays, 3-6 pm through September 30 Location: 150 Howe Hall Road
MOUNT PLEASANT Tuesdays, 3:30pm-dusk through October 16 Location: Mt. Pleasant Farmers Market Pavilion on Coleman Boulevard (Moultrie Middle School)
NORTH CHARLESTON Thursdays, 2pm-7pm through mid-October Location: 1055 East Montague Avenue in the Olde Village of North Charleston off of Park Circle
SUMMERVILLE Saturdays, 8am-1pm through November 17 Location: 1st Citizens bank parking lot adjacent to Summerville Town Hall at 200 S. Main Street
Making Food Fun A Local Restaurateur With a Fresh Approach — Pointe! Editorial Staff
Our editorial staff loves sharing a good restaurant find. During a recent visit to “The Black Bean Co.,” we met owner Ellis Grossman and asked him to share his story with our readers. Authentic, personable, intelligent, kind, and funny – Ellis is so passionate for growing local fresh produce and providing healthy, nutrient dense food, we were tempted to put on our gardening gloves and head to the farm.
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o, how do you get a picky eater to eat healthy food? Ellis knows one answer. “You gotta make food fun!” Ellis recalls planting carrot seeds with his aunt when he was around three. After just a few days, thanks to a little “extra help” from his aunt and the local grocery store, he found full-grown carrots in their backyard garden! “Thinking it was something I grew made me want to eat them.” Now age 26, Ellis is a successful farmer and restaurateur. A 2004 graduate of Charleston’s Academic Magnet School, Ellis planned to attend The Citadel and continue onto medical school. During the summer before college, his mom (yes, moms often know
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us better than we know ourselves) slid him a brochure from Johnson & Wales University. He switched gears and attended the culinary school. After one year at JWU, Ellis left school for a manager position at Hyman’s Seafood Restaurant, a long-time favorite of tourists and locals. At age 20, he enrolled in Trident Technical College’s Culinary Institute, graduating early with a degree in Culinary Arts & Business. By age 22, Ellis managed twenty Bojangles’ and Taco Bell chains and received an award for increasing sales 18-20% in one year. What did he do differently? “I took care of the people. I talked to customers, treated employees right, and made sure everyone was happy when they left.” During these experiences, he began cultivating his own ideas on the food business. Ellis believed that quick food service industry was being overlooked as a place to utilize a culinary arts degree and blend healthier meal options with great customer service and happy employees. On September 15, 2010, Ellis (age 24), opened the first Black Bean Co. on Spring Street in Charleston. By July 2011, Ellis opened his second Black Bean on James Island in an abandoned Church’s Chicken, a location he’d been eyeing for 10 years. At this location, he tried a new concept, a healthy “quick service” drive thru, and successfully transformed a local eyesore into a thriving business. Ellis takes pride in the quality of food he serves and emphasizes nutrition and sustainability. “There’s a significant taste difference in all-natural food grown to maturity.” Never afraid to attempt something new and wanting fresh produce for his customers, Ellis found a half-acre of land and tried his hand at farming. He developed a friendship with local farmer Shawn Thackeray, and soon the half-acre farming plot grew to 35 acres and a partnership with Thackeray Farms. Ellis now handles the marketing, advertising, and planning for the 70-acre farm. Eighty percent of Black Bean’s menu comes straight from the farm every morning. “Food is not just what you’re eating, it’s a lifestyle. It’s a complete dish. Everyone is so focused on calories but ‘calories’ by definition means energy. That’s what’s so fun about our food, combining the ingredients you nutritionally need so you hit your energy goal at
the end of the meal in a way that you taste every ingredient in every bite.” WHERE DOES ELLIS SEE HIMSELF IN FIVE YEARS? “Doing the exact same thing: working the restaurants, coming up with new dinner specials, and farming. I love what I do!” MEET ELLIS: “I’m just a local guy at a local spot providing local produce.” He loves to meet people. Stop by the Thackeray Farms tent inside the Charleston Farmer’s Market downtown in Marion Square on Saturday mornings. TIPS FOR PARENTS: Take your kids on a farm tour. Explain where food comes from. Let the kids help cook. Steer them toward fresh, healthy, food options. Plant something together and watch it grow. Remember: “You gotta make food fun.” TRY THE FOOD FOR YOURSELF: LOCATIONS & HOURS Downtown Charleston at 116 Spring Street James Island at 869 Folly Road Opening July 2012 at MUSC’s new medical plaza in Mt. Pleasant Open 7am-10pm, 7 days a week Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner Dine in, take-out or delivery Natural, vegan and health food catering EDITOR’S MENU PICKS: Personal favorites: South West Chicken (with a little extra kick) and the Super Asian (with tofu). If you don’t like tofu, please try it at Black Bean Co. before you totally discard the idea. Part of the fun of Black Bean Co. is experimenting with different tastes & textures. Their wraps are amazing. Oh so yummy and so fresh!
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Easy, Breezy & ECONOMICAL! Things to do this Summer FOUNTAINS that invite kids of all ages to splash around:
Waterfront Park (Charleston). Take a walking tour or carriage tour of our great city, then come cool o in the fountain, swing on the pier, and enjoy the harbor view. Grab a blanket and book, too.
Riverfront Park (North Charleston) Discover this best kept secret in North Charleston. Grab a bite at the Runaway Bay Restaurant, get your feet wet in the fountain, stroll along the boardwalk, play on the playground, swing on the river’s edge bank, nap on the green lawn expanse. Take your pick. There is something for everyone at the Riverfront Park. Walk or bike across the COOPER RIVER BRIDGE. Two and a half miles of beautiful views!
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Visit any of the area’s BEACHES. Be sure to check out Morris Island Lighthouse on Folly Beach.
LOCAL PARKS are a great place for picnics, outdoor activities
DOG DAY AFTERNOON Whirlin’ Waters Adventure Waterpark September 9 Celebrate the dog days of summer with man’s best friend!
and special events. From the many county parks to city parks, there’s something for everyone! Check out the county and city websites for additional information.
Got some down time and want to be outdoors? Spend some time
Shop local on these special days:
Feel like dancing?
King Street is closed to vehicle traffic to celebrate Southern Sunday afternoons by welcoming everyone to stroll, shop, dine and enjoy Charleston at its finest. 1pm-5pm
Mt. Pleasant Pier Saturdays, 7pm-11pm 843.795.4386 • July 4: Uncle Sam Jam, music by Permanent Vacation
2nd Sunday on King Street
3rd Thursday, Downtown Summerville Music, art, shopping, dining, and fun! 5pm-8pm
FISHING FROM ONE OF THE AREA’S PIERS.
Shaggin’ on the Cooper
• July 14: Port Authority Band • August 4: The Coppertones • September 8: Coastrunner
Family Fun Days:
Tickets available at the gate.
MOVIES AT THE MT PLEASANT PIER
Moonlight Mixers Shaggin’ at Folly
Bring a lawn chair or blanket and enjoy a movie under the stars! July 20: The Muppets Aug 24: How to Train Your Dragon Free admission Time: movie begins around sundown
Folly Beach Pier Fridays, 7pm-11pm 843.795.4386 • July 27 • August 10, 31 • September 21 Limited tickets available, advance purchase recommended.
GOOGLE MAPS — Follow the path from your current location to where you want to go. Views include satellite images, hybrid maps, and directions list.
North Charleston Coliseum and Performing Arts Center: Visit their website at www.northcharlestoncoliseumpac.com for a full summer schedule of events!
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RiverDogs Home Game vs Greenville Drive July 3 at 6:35pm Game concludes with Fireworks Celebration. charleston.riverdogs.milb.com
Red, White & Blue on the Green Summerville Town Square July 3 from 5-8pm, 843.821.7260 Fireworks at Gahagan Sports Complex at 9pm
Uncle Sam Jam at the Mt. Pleasant Pier Fourth of July, time TBD, 843.795.4386 Enjoy the cool harbor breeze as you dance to live beach music from the Coast Runner Band. The scenic Mt. Pleasant Pier will also be a great spot to watch the area’s fireworks display.
Patriots Point July 4, time TBD, 843.884.2727 www.PatriotsPoint.org Free Admission, Parking is $5. Includes live entertainment and Kidz Zone (Admission onto Yorktown not included.)
Riverfront Park in North Charleston July 4, 3pm-9pm, 843.745.1087 Free Admission. Local entertainers and activities throughout the day ending with spectacular fireworks.
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AIR HORN — Need to make some noise? Great for football games, graduations, etc. Includes 3 realistic sounds! pointe! summer 2012
— Marcia Davis Taylor
What are the desires of your heart? Do you long to return to an activity that you sidelined when you married or became a mom? Maybe you have a passion for something others may consider unconventional for a woman, or inappropriate for a woman of your age? Are the opinions of others holding you back?
T
he expectations of family, friends and co-workers can influence how we live. Unrealistic media images bombard us day in and day out and further shape our own expectations. Images of women, who are pencil-thin, look flawless 24 hours a day and who manage their myriad responsibilities without ever breaking a sweat, are etched in our minds. Do you meet every expectation that others have of you? The myth of the superwoman who can do and have “it all” creates frustration in the lives of women on a daily basis. As women, we often sacrifice our truest selves because we are trying to live up to the expectations of others. The expectations placed upon us vary according to our age, our ethnic or cultural heritage, and our socioeconomic status. The key to having “it all” is defining what “it” means to you. If your expectations are set too high, you may become dissatisfied with your current life situation. If they are set too low, you may never achieve goals that you have the potential to reach. So, how do you strike a balance? • Create realistic expectations. For example, it is not realistic to expect to keep a spotless house when you have children. Better to have a clean house with some clutter, than a spotless house with no time or energy to spend with your family. • Being a perfectionist can rob you of time and energy to devote to other activities.
• Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. It is unrealistic to expect that you can do everything on your own, all of the time, without some assistance. • Beware of comparing yourself, your life, husband, children or possessions with anyone else. This actually shifts your focus away from your priorities and puts it on others. Sometimes it is not important what other people think. Many times, our efforts to live up to the expectations of others end with disastrous consequences for our mental and physical health. Freedom from being controlled by opinions, either yours or other people’s, comes by creating and prioritizing realistic expectations for you. It’s your life. Know what you want, create a plan to get there and work your plan! “Your truest self. Too often it gets lost amid self-doubt or other people’s expectations. Picture yourself peeling all that away, and discovering, once more, the core within. It is what you started out with, what you desire. It is who you are and who you can be. Remember it. Reclaim it. Because when you act from that place you can’t go wrong.” Author Unknown
Marcia Davis Taylor is President and CEO of Chrysalis Services for Girls and Women, a nonprofit based in Orangeburg, South Carolina.
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Boundaries Freedom Bring
in Marriage!
— Alyce Reeves
There are some things in marriage you can do that actually make life easier for both of you. Setting boundaries is one of those things.
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A group of educators conducted a study which involved removing the chain link fence from around the school playground because they believed the fence made the children feel confined. The result was interesting. As soon as the fence was removed, the children huddled in the center of the playground to play. They didn’t even venture toward where the fence line had been. The research conclusion was that the children needed boundaries in order to play freely and function best. Really, we all do. We were designed to function best in an atmosphere filled with appropriate boundaries. In marriage, we both want a safe relationship where trust is strong. Many times people don’t realize that boundaries are missing until something happens that causes one spouse to feel threatened, insecure, or unloved. Lines are crossed, feelings are hurt, and hearts are broken.
WHAT IS A BOUNDARY? In Boundaries in Marriage, Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend define a “boundary” as a property line that determines where something ends and something else begins. When healthy boundaries are established and respected, the marriage will experience freedom and security.
Find out what God thinks about your marriage relationship. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
How to set a marriage boundary: Identify with your spouse the areas of your marriage in which you would like to establish boundaries. Discuss in love and agree on the boundary. While two adults can do as they please, when they please, a marriage will be much more successful and enjoyable when mutual guidelines are in place.
AREAS TO CONSIDER Boundaries about Words: Wordss are Words Word a powerful. You may want to agree on certain words that yyou ou w will refuse to use in your marriage in order to protect your sw sweetheart, such as profanity, name-calling, or the “D” word.
Boundaries concerning Behaviors:
A marriage will be much more successful and enjoyable when mutual guidelines are in place.
When my daughter and her husband bought their house next to a large, beautiful pond, they agreed that a fence around the back yard was a must. They were aware that alligators lurk in the waters of coastal South Carolina. Because the fence was set in place, their three children have enjoyed climbing trees, playing on the gym set, and kicking a soccer ball safe from the ominous resident ‘gator. Even the dog, Toby Mac, can run in safety. The fence is actually liberating.
Healthy boundaries help you:
Think about what’s acceptable and unacceptable to you. My husband and I agreed not to correct each other’s story in public, but we also agreed we can interrupt each other when we teach together. Some boundaries are absolute. For example, when angry, we will not hit, slap, or push one another.
Boundaries with Family and Friends: Where do they end and the two of you begin? How much influence do they have in your marriage? Guard your privacy with a boundary.
Boundaries with Children: Children are needy and time-consuming. Don’t allow these precious gifts to keep you apart emotionally or physically.
• Know how to make right decisions.
Boundaries with Opposite Sex Friends:
• Say “yes” to good things and “no” to bad things more easily.
The safest boundary to maintain concerning relationships with members of the opposite sex is to avoid one-on-one contact. This is not suggesting legalism as the answer. Most of the time, scenarios can be adapted to ensure other people will be present. If your mate feels uncomfortable with a specific person, respect your spouse’s feelings, even if it doesn’t make sense to you.
• Protect your marriage. • Distance yourself from temptations. • Feel safe and secure.
Before you set a boundary, identify what is important to you. • How do you want to be treated by your sweetheart? • How do you feel about faithfulness, honesty, and commitment in marriage? • What are your priorities for your marriage and family? • Where does God fit in?
Consider setting boundaries in other areas of concern to you, such as pornography, credit card spending, texting, partying, computers, games, work, flirting, etc. With your marriage boundaries in place, you’ll be free to enjoy each other in wonderful ways! Remember: Boundaries are often tested, so be ready to stand your ground. This is your marriage. Protect it.
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No Worries!
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WE'RE HERE FOR YOU
A Lesson From
Jeremiah
— Katrina Spigner
My grandson, gra and ndso son so n, JJeremiah, n, e em er e ia ah, h, w was as b born o n on or o A August ugus ug usst 29, ust 29, 20 2011 2011. 11. In lless 11 esss th es than a ay an year, earr, tthis ea hiss li hi litt little ttle tt le p person errso erso son n ha has fo has foun found und un d a pl plac place lace e in my heart I didn’t even know existed. His presence has made me aware of a capacity to love beyond what I knew was possible. Each time I encounter him, it seems I grow to love him more and more.
W
hile Jeremiah can’t speak yet, or walk yet, or do much of anything, I have witnessed his tremendous POWER – not in what he knows how to DO, but rather his instinctive ability to just know how to BE.
So, here is what I’ve learned from Jeremiah… There is power in BEING! Too often we allow our doing to get in the way of our being. We busy ourselves with the cares of this world, not pausing long enough to recognize the state or quality of our existence.
My lessons in being have been life-changing. BEING... • alleviates my self-imposed pressure to do. • offers me the freedom to relinquish the need to take responsibility for the things in my life that I am not responsible for…the things that solely belong to God. • moves me out of His way and out of my own. • reminds me that there is already a plan in place for my life; I don’t have to manufacture one. • relaxes my need to be perfect and helps me embrace my imperfections – confident in His grace.
Instead, our lives become performance-driven, with an emphasis on playing to audiences that are not even related to our destiny. How much can we get done? How much can we accomplish? The answers to these questions become the formula by which we measure our success.
When I allow myself to just BE, I align my world with His plan for me. While being, I can close my eyes, hear His whispers, taste His goodness, touch His heart, smell His aroma, and see His hand. BEING calms me, comforts me, and keeps me. Therefore, I can surrender my DOING to Him. After all, it is in Him that I live, move and have our being anyway. (Acts 17:28)
But the greater question is, “Who are we beyond what we DO?” WHO, not what, is our definition.
Thank you, Jeremiah, for DOING absolutely nothing to earn my love. You have made it easy, simply because you know how to BE.
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B Polite
YARD ETIQUETTE
yourself and displaying that to others, by respecting them. This important lesson helps to set the landscape of children’s lives.
Many of us live in neighborhoods, and along with that come neighbors, often with pets and children. Please remember that when living in a neighborhood, there are manners we want our children to keep in mind; one would be not to walk or ride a bicycle through a neighbor’s property.
The original definition of etiquette was from the era of Louis XIV’s and meant, “Keep off the grass.” Keeping off of someone’s grass is still a good thought today…all through the year.
Children often do not realize that yards are not common areas, but rather someone’s private property. Please start teaching your child at a young age that being a good neighbor includes being mindful to always use sidewalks rather than cutting through flower beds or walking or riding a bicycle on someone’s grass.
Cynthia Grosso is a national etiquette expert and the author of "The Proper Penguin – The Story of B Polite." Visit Properpenguin.com or Charlestonschoolofprotocol.com.
Being a good neighbor is more than the action of not walking through someone’s yard, but rather the attitude of respect for
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B Polite Says:
“Walking on the sidewalk is the proper thing to do. Not cutting through another’s yard…makes the neighbors happier, too!”
Learning on the Go — Sarah Stephanoff, 4th Grade Teacher
I’m a huge advocate of learning wherever you are, whatever you’re doing. This summer, turn everyday household chores and activities into fun learning for your children. You don’t have to make your child sit down and do workbook pages for them to be learning over the summer. Everyday life is a learning experience for children! CONSIDER THESE IDEAS: Cooking Any time you make cookies, brownies, a cake, etc. is an excellent occasion to talk about measurement. Be brave and let your kids use measuring cups for the flour, oil, etc.
Shopping The grocery store is a wonderful place for all kinds of learning! Depending on the age of your child, you can talk about your budget for the trip and estimating/rounding each item to calculate if you will come in under budget. You could also let your child help count out the money at the register (I know it takes more time, but it’s so worth it.)
I am huge proponent of graphic novels which are chapter books that are told in comic book style. Even though they have so many pictures, they often have great vocabulary and a sophisticated story line. Check out these series: Babymouse, Squish, Big Nate, and Bones.
Road Trips/Flights
If your child is not a huge reading fan, you can turn reading into a competition. For example, you can have a summer-long competition of who can read more books: you or your child.
You can talk about what time you leave, what time you will get there, and how much time will pass in between. You can also discuss the concept of miles per hour if your child is upper elementary. Trips are also an excellent opportunity for kids to do puzzle books or play games. I know kids love to play video games and watch movies in the car, but kids also love word searches and riddles. (Trust me on this one.)
Technology If you have a computer or iPad at home, here are some really cool learning options: 1.
Photostory – Kids can import photos, add text, and narrate each photo. This program could be a great one to retell about a family vacation. (Photostory is a free download for your computer – just Google it.)
2.
Pictello – This iPad app is similar to Photostory. Kids can draw pictures, take them with the camera, or find them online. They can then add text and narrate their pages to create a story.
3.
Toontastic – This iPad app allows kids to create a superfun cartoon. They can choose from an array of characters (princesses, pirates, and many more), pick their backgrounds and then move their characters to animate their cartoon.
Reading The one thing I would stress to have your child do this summer is to read. They will regress in their reading level if they do not read at all over the summer. One idea would be to take your child to Barnes and Noble or the library at the beginning of the summer and have them choose a couple books they want to read. A good rule of thumb for determining if a book is at an appropriate reading level for your child is to have him/her read a couple pages to you. If s/he misses more than 5 words on a page, the book is too difficult. If s/he doesn’t miss any words for a couple pages, the book is too easy.
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Lessons from
KINDERGARTEN Here is a Kindergarten twist on some well-known Life Lessons! The grass is greener on the... “dirt” ~London Boys will be... “men” ~Tyler The pen is mightier than the... “pencil” ~Niles All work and no play makes Jack... “a mess” ~Bodhi Time flies when... “you grow up” ~Ethan You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him... “swim” ~Logan Look before you... “kiss” ~Mikey Two heads are better than... “a pig” ~London Beauty is only... “girl things” ~Dillon Blondes have more... “yellow in it” ~Madison Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man... “sleep” ~Austin A penny saved is... “one cent” ~Niles A closed mouth catches no... “cavities” ~Ben Every cloud has... “fluff ” ~Logan Boys will be... “six” ~Ben It’s always darkest before... “bed” ~Austin Be careful what you wish for... “tell God” ~Mikey Look before you... “crash” ~Austin You can’t teach an old dog... “to do a front flip” ~Madison Be careful what you wish for... “like a dog” ~Emre Experience is the best... “way to be right” ~LJ
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The Fir Day of School — Amy Brace, Kindergarten Teacher
The first day of school comes with much anticipation for a teacher! Like my fellow teachers, I have spared no creative effort in transforming my classroom into a welcoming “home away from home” with colorful bulletin boards and a catchy theme.
B
y the time I have carefully labeled all of the desks, cubbies, and hooks, I’ve memorized a roster of names without even knowing who they are. I take time to pray for each one and leave them a special treat on their new desk. “Katelyn, I’ve been expecting you!” I like to say as they walk in the door and I can finally put a face with a name. The first day of school is a fresh start for teacher and student alike. There is an excitement and energy unique to this special day. Expectations are communicated and new routines are established. In fact, the word “new” applies to so many things about the first day of school - a new teacher, new grade, new group of children, not to mention all the new stuff like backpacks, clothes and supplies. It is a NEW day! In kindergarten, the first day of the school year really is the FIRST day of school! Parents, as well as children, are eager and nervous. I’ll never forget Tyler. The first day of school he ran and hid behind a box of dress up clothes! This went on for the entire first week of school, but he slowly made it to the edge of the carpet circle. By the end of the year, he was standing in front of the class giving a speech for Show & Tell. The following year, I received a letter from his mother saying he sang a solo in his first grade spring program! Usually, however, kindergarten is harder for the parents than the child. To help with this transition, I like to give my kindergarten parents a bag of goodies. These few significant items include: a package of tissues to wipe away the tears, a tea bag for having a cup of tea and reflecting on this milestone year, and a flower to represent the growth and blossoming their child will experience as we work together. But perhaps for most teachers, the best part of the first day of a new school year is when former students appear at the door to give a hug as they journey on to their own first day in a new grade. Who knew school could be this much fun!
Dear College Freshman —Dr. Linda Karges-Bone, Professor of Education, Ed. D.
A Letter from Your Future Professor
When you see this article in print, you will be packing - sheets and towels, printer cartridges and paper, snacks and probably a fresh credit card (for emergencies only) – all for the big move to college. While I am not dismissing the value of microwave popcorn and cocoa packets, or the comfort of a snuggly throw, there is more to consider.
I
have a unique vantage point of 25 years in the professorate and having two daughters who successfully completed undergraduate and graduate school programs. This advice will help keep you in school, in good health and on the path to a four-year graduation rather than a six or more year stay at your alma mater.
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Please get up and go to class - every day. It is a myth that you can “pass” by taking advantage of the absence policy. While a lot of colleges do not take roll, missing classes will greatly impact your ability to answer test questions and prepare papers, and ultimately, your grade. If you decide to skip class, please do not email professors to ask them “what you missed.” Ask a classmate instead. We assume that if you were not there; you do not care. Do notify a professor if there is a family emergency that will prevent you from attending class. Ask your professor for assistance or a referral for tutoring if you do attend class every session and still struggle. Professors will gladly help a hard-working, attentive student who reaches out for guidance. Do not wait until you are drowning. Act quickly. Plan your schedule carefully. Take at least 5 classes (15 credit hours) per semester, but try to balance your course load. If you love history, then take two and meet your requirements quickly. If your skills in mathematics are questionable, consider taking math during a summer school session when you can give the work your full attention. Meet with your academic advisor each semester. It is easy to get behind a year or more simply by messing up a course schedule. Certain majors require specific courses to satisfy graduation requirements.
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Be sure to register for your classes the very first day that registration opens. If you want a specific schedule or professor, then be ready to sign into your account and register online the moment the new semester’s portal opens. Unplug while you study. While you may think Facebook and iPods help, studies prove that the brain simply adjusts and does each of the tasks with less care. Plan on a minimum of one hour of reading after each class. Take advantage of electives. You may not consider yourself artistic, but take a painting class anyway. The same for Chinese, or an interesting Psychology or Religion class. Join at least two different campus organizations. Make one of them a “service” oriented group. Choose another that is something new and fun that challenges you to think, explore and create. Consider a study abroad experience. Need ideas? Try an immersion in Spanish, a mission trip to Africa, or a trek through the rainforest in Costa Rica. Take care of yourself, physically. The “Freshman 15” is not a myth. Choose healthy foods in the cafeteria. Play an intramural sport. Work out, ride a bike, learn to rock climb or hike. Physical activity reduces anxiety and increases the amount of gray matter in the front of the brain.
I am excited for you. College is wonderful. The newfound freedom of university life offers many possibilities: spiritually, mentally, and socially. It changed my life so much that I never left! Be well. Make good choices. Hold on to your faith. If you get stuck or scared, reach out to your campus minister, your adviser, or a trusted professor. Have a great Freshman Year!
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No need to spend a lot of money this summer keeping your kids busy. The longer I am a mom, the more I realize the simplest activities are usually the most fun. Look around your house. Use what you have and be surprised at how much fun you’ll all have! Go on a Scavenger Hunt in your backyard, nearby park, or wooded area. Give your child an empty egg carton and have them fill each hole with something they find. • DECORATE A CARDBOARD BOX. You can make race cars, fire trucks, rocket ships, etc. • MAKE A LEMONADE STAND. After selling your treats, take the earnings and go to the Dollar Store.
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• HAVE A BUG HUNT. Take an empty 1 gallon milk carton and cut a large hole at the top. It’s a great size and the handle makes it easy for children to carry.
• MAKE AN INDOOR FORT. Take two sheets and sew them together so you have one large square. Then sew small elastic hoops around the outside of sheets. These hooks are perfect for doorknobs, nail heads, etc. Use all the pillows in your house and make some memories. • GO FOR A RAINBOW BIKE RIDE. Everyone has to find something that is red, then orange, then yellow, and so on. (Remember: ROYGBIV.)
• PLAY IN THE MUD. All you need are some shovels, a bucket, and a hose. This is one of my boys’ favorite activities. They make mud pies, mud soup and have the occasional mud war. • WASH THE FAMILY CAR, kids’ bikes, scooters, little tikes cars, etc. My children can clean for hours when I give them a bucket, bubbly soap, and some sponges. I usually have them wear their swimsuits because they get very wet.
• GO TO THE LIBRARY. You can rent movies, books on tape, and, of course, books. • HAVE A SPONGE WAR. All you need is two buckets and lots of sponges. It’s a lot easier than water balloons. • BAKE SOME COOKIES or cupcakes and surprise a friend with them. • WRITE A LETTER or color a picture and mail it to a family member. • BREAK OUT THE SPRINKLER. Nothing says summer more than a sprinkler.
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— E. Otto Tilley
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What’s the greatest thing about summer? No school! All year long you’ve been trying to figure out how you can find time to connect with your kids, but it’s so hard. Every day you find yourself in the hamster wheel. You have to work, and they have to go to school. Then there’s the after school programs; sports, music, drama, dance, and a million other things. When you finally lay your head on the pillow at night, your last thought is, “I miss my kids.” Have no fear, summer is here! That’s kind of cheesy and unfortunately, not true. Oh, summer is here all right, but if you think the hamster wheel is just going to stop on its own, you’ve got another thing coming. Your kids are chomping at the bit to fill their schedules with trips to the beach, movie nights with their friends, and nonstop activity. A little word of advice, don’t get mad at them. They can’t help it. They’re addicted to it, and we’ve made them that way. They love the wheel! None of those activities are bad in themselves, but the truth is they need you more than anything else in their life. Kids need time with their parents. It’s an investment with incalculable returns. Studies have proven time and time again that nobody has more influence with your kids than you. So you’re going to have to stop the wheel, but how? You throw a stick in it.
Now imagine with me a cute little hamster, with his little feet going a hundred miles an hour as he furiously spins his wheel. If you jab a stick in the wheel, what happens to the cute little hamster? Yep, it’s pretty ugly. It’s gonna trip, flip, cartwheel, and look at you like you’re crazy. Your kids will do the same, but don’t let that deter you from saving them from themselves. Oh, yeah, I forgot to mention that in order for you to throw a stick in your kids’ wheel, someone’s gonna have to throw a stick in yours first. They get it honestly from us. We may not fill our time with the same things, but we fill it just the same. esa saw. w. So, this summer, do yourself a favor. Trade your wheel for a seesaw. You remember those? Two people, facing each other, one on each ach eend end, nd,, and each has to give a little push for the other person to go high. gh.. gh
Mobile Apps for Children
Baby and children’s apps are available in the thousands. Both fun & educational . . . App Stores break them down by genre for easy selections!
BABYFIRST Allows yours baby or toddler to safely use the iPhone or IPad to watch Baby FirstTV’s original, award winning, educational video content made just for children their age.
FACES iMAKE This app is all about stimulating the right-brain and giving kids a fun and playful educational environment. Because the app isn’t based on drawing alone but rather creating with objects, Faces iMake provides the perfect platform for every family member to create and share with one another.
MONKEY MATH SCHOOL Allows children to build fundamental math skills while they are endlessly entertained.
LULLABY LAMB A great 3 in 1 application for kids and their parents. 10 lullabies, sheep counter and a funny lamb. A MUST HAVE!
COOKIE DOODLE If you enjoy making cookies but hate the mess, this is the app for you! We provide the dough, a rolling pin, cookie cutters, your choice of frostings, sprinkles, and candies all in one easy to use package!
TALKING HIPPO, LARRY, TOM & CARL These adorable characters repeat everything you say with additional characteristcs to each one. Video your recordings and post po st to to YouTube YouT Yo uTub ubee and and Facebook Face Fa cebo book ok oorr em emai email aill to ffri friends rien ends ds aand nd ffam family. am
It’s a give-and-take game. You give a push then you take a rride. ide. id e. IIt’ It’s t’ss a good way to live your life, and it’s a great way to teach your ur kkid kids idss to live their lives. What’s on each end of the seesaw? Whatt th they ey want to do, and what you want to do. If you’ll get on the seesaw ees esaw aw with them, and practice the give-and-take, you’ll have a very ry fulfilling summer. Who knows, you may find that when summer’s over, the wheel heel he el h has as lost its appeal.
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THIRSTY LAWNS
Crazy for Roses
Most lawns in our region will require about 1.5 inches of moisture each week during the growing season.
Since the mid-2000s, Knockout Roses have become a landscape favorite, residentially and commercially.
This water can be provided through natural rainfall, your irrigation efforts, or a combination of both! Weather conditions, soils, and your lawn type determine watering guidelines. As a general guideline, set your system to run every other day for 20-25 minutes in the morning.
Outstanding qualities include repeat blooming, generally self-cleaning (dead heading not mandatory but does help), and adaptability to a broad range of soils and gardening zones. These roses do require pruning to prevent overgrowth.
— Mark A. Tamn, Freedom Lawns
— Mark A. Tamn, Freedom Lawns
If we are getting good rainfall, either reduce or turn off your irrigation. During warmer, drier periods, you may need to increase your irrigation efforts to as often as every day, particularly if you have a dense lawn or sandy soil.
The Drift Rose is a smaller, more manageable variety with all the desirable qualities of a Knockout Rose, including continual bloom from spring to fall. A low-growing ground cover (1.5 to 2 feet tall, 3 foot-plus spread), this variety makes a great addition for perennial flowerbeds, slopes, borders, and small landscape areas.
Too much water can actually be as detrimental to your lawn and ornamental plants as lack of water! Excess water can enhance fungus diseases and root disorders in your lawn and landscape.
These repeat bloomers seem more resistant to diseases such as Black Spot and are heat and cold tolerant. For best results, prune back to around 6”-8” inches in the early spring after the last hard frost.
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A Ri-kick-ulous Good Time
— Jeff King
A warm spring evening, standing at home plate, poised for a jaunt around three bases… I was suddenly back in my childhood, reliving a neighborhood favorite – kickball.
Photo © Jennifer Malone
But now, the players were no longer elementary school classmates, but rather ranged in age from late teens to sixties with varying skill levels and physical fitness. Welcome to adult kickball! Last year, I joined a league not really knowing what to expect since the last time I played kickball was recess. Now in our second season, I’ve realized that kickball is the only sport where people from various walks of life; former professional athletes, mothers, grandmothers, teachers, nurses, and students, all have this one thing in common: they have no idea what they are doing. In kickball, being a great athlete helps out about as much as having great accessories. It’s true. Players show up decked out in shiny cleats, colorful socks, wristbands, headbands, armbands, knee braces, eye black, face paint, etc. You get just as much recognition for a home run as you do for having a clever name on the back of your jersey. Now this doesn’t mean that the games aren’t competitive. We all want to win out there. The difference is that we’re not willing to win at the expense of someone else’s good time. Last season, our team lost every game but one. This year, we’ve won every game but one. Sure, it’s fun to win. But, win or lose, every Tuesday night on those kickball fields you’ll see a couple hundred smiling faces enjoying the fellowship and camaraderie together. I’d say we’re all winning.
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Read a
Book!
— Megan Sanders
There’s just something about getting completely lost in a book, caught up in the story and the characters, and taking the journey with them. If you’ve never been a big reader, I encourage you to give it a try! Take fifteen or twenty minutes before bed or when you wake up to just relax and read. Here are a few books that I have read (and re-read) from three of my favorite authors: FRANCINE RIVERS is one of my favorite writers. She’s masterful at telling a story that you simply can’t put down. • Redeeming Love: This modern-day (well, 1800s) retelling of a Biblical love story found in the book of Hosea. You’ll cheer and cry as Michael Hosea and Angel deal with issues of sacrifice, obedience, hope, forgiveness, redemption, and of course, love. • The Last Sin Eater: Yes, the book is so much better than the movie! A young girl’s Appalachian community practices the ritual of calling in a “sin eater” anytime someone dies to ensure they move on to heaven. Journey with young Cady as she searches for answers to the questions deep in her heart about herself and the “sin eater.” A powerful story of man’s need for a true savior.
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• Mark of the Lion Trilogy: Set in ancient Rome, just after Jesus was crucified and resurrected, this trilogy follows the lives of Hadassah, a Jewish girl, and Marcus and Julia, her Roman masters. After pressing through the unfamiliar terms in the beginning of the first book, I couldn’t put it down. Fantastic love stories, adventure, and life-changing miracles. I’ve reread A Voice in the Wind, An Echo in the Darkness and As Sure As Dawn several times!
KAREN KINGSBURY is skilled at creating characters that you can relate to and bringing them to life. She effectively demonstrates how to do life with the people around you. • Forever Faithful Trilogy: Waiting for Morning and Moment of Weakness focus on the lives of two couples whose stories come together in Halfway to Forever. Each book tackles some of life’s more difficult moments: unexpected death, illness, deception and forgiveness. But in light of these trials, Karen expertly ties in how to approach these situations with faith and God-honoring attitudes. • Like Dandelion Dust: Unlike most of Karen’s books, this love story is one between parent and child, focusing on the struggle between birth parents and adoptive parents over their four-year old son. A touching story of depending on God even when you’re tempted to take matters into your own hands. • Redemption (Baxter Family) Series, Firstborn series, Sunrise series, Above the Line series, Bailey Flanigan series: These 22 books comprise the most addicting series I have ever read. The first five books in the Redemption series deal with the siblings of the Baxter family and their various life struggles. The other 17 books are spin-offs of this first series. JOHN ELDREDGE – I’ve found his books to be some of my favorites for reflection and my personal devotional time. • Captivating: Written by John and his wife, Stasi, this book addresses the essential question every woman asks: Am I captivating, beautiful, worthy? Reaching to the heart of issues that all women struggle with, John and Stasi invite each woman to rediscover her feminine heart and become all God created her to be. • Walking with God: This is one of my favorites. Eldredge shares stories of his personal journey with God, learning to hear God’s voice and accept the invitation to a life of greater adventure. It amazed me how accurately the author hit the issues that I struggle with in my own relationship with God but could never really pinpoint or put into words. • Epic: This is a really short, easy read, I love how it summarizes the great story of which we are all a part. You’ll become aware of things that we don’t really think about all of the time, but impact our lives all the same. Discover the unique role you have to play in the story that God is telling.
PANDORA RADIO — Free personalized radio that only plays music you'll love! Start with a favorite song or artist and Pandora will create a custom station for you.
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Handy Girl D•I•Y Easy Breezy Pallet Shelves After
Do-it-yourself shelving with minimal fuss and low cost: • Cut a pallet into thirds. Depending on the size of your pallet, you may only want to cut it into 2 pieces. A circular saw works best; but you can use a sawsall, jigsaw, or hand saw. • Screw on a piece of wood that fits to the bottom of the shelf. • Leave it rustic, stain it, or paint it. • Find the studs in your wall, and screw your shelves right to the wall. • Fill in shelves with picture frames, artwork, old books, floral arrangements, etc. Before you know it you’ve decorated and organized in just a few simple steps.
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Source: whenthekidsaresleeping.com
Easy Home FaceLIFTS
Source: sunshineoncloudydays.com
Have any leftover paint sitting in your garage? Armed with just a little bit of paint, here are a few easy ways to add fresh touches around your home:
Before
After Bring a little more character to an everyday white panel interior door
Before
Do your oor vents need some extra help?
After
Before
After
Mirror mirror on the wall...
HANDY LEVEL — A true carpenter's tool. Use this for home decoration, picture alignment, measuring angles and more. www.pointemag.com {
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Summer Fun at Your County Parks! — Sarah Reynolds
Make this summer one your kids will remember! North Charleston’s Wannamaker County Park offers great ways for children to explore their environment and find adventure. A Plant’s Life – July 16-20 Learn about different plants within in the park, including how to plant and take care of your own flower.
Our Saltwater Marsha, Marsha, Marsha – July 23-27 Learn more about our Lowcountry marshes. Who lives there, what does a marsh do, and how does it work?
We are Hometown Heroes – July 30-August 3 SUMMER CAMPS Explorers Camps offer adventurous youth, ages 6-9, an ideal venue to learn about themselves and create a personal connection with the environment. Campers experience the wonders of the Lowcountry; develop physical, social and decision-making skills; and enjoy an array of recreational activities, including arts and crafts and cooperative games. Staff is certified in First Aid and CPR, and trained to assist in campers’ development of selfconfidence, cooperative skills and environmental awareness.
Camp Hours: 8:30 a.m. through 4:30 p.m. Fees: $154 per camp ($140 for Charleston County residents). Minimum enrollment is required two weeks prior to the start of camp.
UPCOMING EXPLORERS CAMPS: Here Today, Here Tomorrow – July 2-6 If we are creating trash today, it will be here tomorrow. Learn how recycling can help to reduce our impact on the environment and that it can be fun too!
Who are the heroes in our local communities? We are! We will learn more about being better stewards while we work to complete a project for the park. Plus, we’ll meet some of the firefighters and police officers who work diligently to serve and protect our communities.
WHIRLIN’ WATERS ADVENTURE WATERPARK A summer paradise for youth of all ages, and adults too! Whirlin’ Waters is the area’s largest waterpark. Curious little ones will enjoy the Otter Bay pool area, and the Big Splash Tree House featuring racer slides, sprays, play elements, and a giant bucket dumping 1,000 gallons of water. Lily Pad Lagoon provides hours of fun for toddlers with a pool and spray geysers. Adults can unwind while drifting down the 870-foot long lazy river. Big Kahuna wave pool is family favorite, and thrill seekers will love the Riptide Run and the Tubular Twister slides.
Available Amenities: concessions, lockers, lounge chairs, showers and restrooms. Trained Lifeguards on duty.
Park hours: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Weather Wizards – July 9-13 Learn more about the atmosphere and how severe storms are created.
Open daily through August 18, then weekends only through Labor Day.
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Household Hints & Tips
KITCHEN AND COOKING SHORTCUTS & SUBSTITUTES • To prevent brown sugar from hardening, add a piece of bread to the container. • Buy boneless chicken breasts in bulk when on sale. Cook in Crockpot; then shred. Place three cups in freezer bags to pull out and thaw for cooked chicken recipes.
• Add a bay leaf to your container of flour to keep out the bugs. CLEANING, STAINS & LAUNDRY • Apply latex caulk to the back of area rugs to keep them in place. • After spraying your shower with cleaner, wipe it down with a plastic shopping bag. Soap scum disappears. • Add a fabric softener sheet and water to your scorched pot. Let it sit overnight and rinse clean in the morning. • Mix equal parts of ammonia and water. Spray liberally on carpet stain. Cover with a white towel and steam iron until stain disappears. • Apply hairspray to ballpoint ink stain and launder as usual. • Use an old pillowcase to clean your fan blades. Place over each blade and pull towards you. The dust goes into the pillowcase, not all over your room.
— Susan Weathers
• White vinegar in the rinse dispenser of your dishwasher gives the same amazing results as the expensive rinse agents sold in stores. • E-cloths (found online) are wonderful if you prefer chemicalfree cleaning. BEAUTY TIPS • Mascara — add a few drops of saline solution to your mascara when it gets low and you’ll get a few more weeks out of it. • Milk of Magnesia — works wonders on acne when applied nightly as lotion on the face. The results - beautiful clear skin! It can also be used as a safe deodorant when put into a roll-on type bottle. HEALTH TIPS • Mustard — swallowing a tablespoon of yellow mustard brings instant relief to leg cramps. • Roll-on antiperspirant neutralizes the venom of an insect bite or sting. Apply to the sting as soon as possible and it brings instant relief along with preventing further festering. • Soy sauce on a burn brings instant relief and prevents blistering.
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B
right hues and bold patterns are big among the summer 2012 trends. Vibrant colors and patterns are showing up on summer pieces such as dresses and scarves. (Yes, you can wear scarves even in hot weather, particularly if temperatures are cool indoors. Pick scarves in airy fabrics and summery colors to complete a hot weather ensemble.) Colored jeans are turning up in many stores this season. Look for lightweight denim with a bit of stretch. These jeans look great with a khaki blazer and white t-shirt or a dressy top.
Beat the Heat
in Style
— Brooks Hearn
Summer’s here, and along with it comes longer days, beach and pool trips...and humidity. Summer weather does not have to wreck your style. In fact, summer fashions can be the easiest of all seasons. Keep cool and look great throughout the day with these ideas.
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Breezy, sheer tops are surprisingly wearable. With the proper undergarments and a cami or shell top, this look can be appropriate and modern with shorts, a pencil skirt, or skinny pants. When wearing a billowy top, be sure to balance the look with a more fitted piece below to avoid swimming in fabric. Embellished sandals with flat soles or wedge heels are still fashionable for the summer. Top off the look with a fun, summerinspired pedicure. Is your hair naturally wavy or curly? Save time and your hair by skipping the blow dryer and flat iron. If you must heat-style, consider using an anti-humidity product to prolong your style on hot summer days. Your makeup routine can be streamlined when the temperature rises. Replace heavier foundation with a tinted moisturizer (extra points if it contains sunscreen). If your makeup takes a break by lunchtime, extend its wear by using a primer before base color and finishing with translucent powder. Carry blotting sheets for touchups on the go. This summer, embrace the hot and humid weather while keeping your look intact!
The Duchess of Cambridge arrives at The Royal Marsden Hospital at Belmont, Sutton on September 29, 2011 in London, England. (Photo by Brendon Thorne)
Royal Style on a
Commoner's Budget Kate Middleton has become one of the most recognizable fashion icons in the world, particularly over the past year. Although Kate is one of the most well-known women of today, her style is surprisingly attainable. • HIGH/LOW MIX: While Kate has her fair share of designer clothing, she complements her high-end looks with reasonably priced pieces. She chooses what she likes, not what carries the most brand appeal. Many of the off-the-rack items she has worn in public have sold out in a matter of hours. • UNIQUENESS: Kate has brought notoriety to numerous underground fashion labels by simply wearing them. She is not afraid to look beyond mainstream labels to find pieces that suit her personal style. • BOLDNESS: While she tends toward timeless fashions, Kate is not afraid to experiment with unique items, such as fascinators, that others may be hesitant to wear. She works the daring pieces into her overall classic look in order to avoid looking "off the wall" from head-to-toe. • FINDING WHAT WORKS: Although her clothing budget may exceed that of most "commoners," Kate has been known to wear the same dress or pair of shoes several times in public. Her demanding schedule requires that she appear at a variety of events, and she often finds ways to make the same pieces work in different settings.
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What You Need
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WHEN YOU NEED IT!
Handmade Wedding Ideas YARN BALLS
TISSUE BALLS
— Brittany Weathers
— BJ Clark
SUPPLIES NEEDED Yarn
SUPPLIES NEEDED
Balloons 1 bottle of Elmer’s glue (any size)
20" x 30" tissue paper (available in bulk from Papermart.com)
Corn Starch
Nylon Ribbon Floral wire
GLUE SOLUTION 1. 2. 3.
Pour Elmer’s glue into a large mixing ng bowl. bowl bo wl Fill the empty glue bottle halfway with water, shake it up, and pour into the mixing bowl. Mix in one tablespoon of corn starch.
INSTRUCTIONS
Paper cutter or really sharp scissors Girlfriends to help
INSTRUCTIONS 1. 2.
(This is easier with 2 people working together.) 1. 2. 3. 4.
5.
6. 7.
Make the glue solution; set aside. Inflate balloons to desired size. Unravel and soak the yarn in the glue mixture. One person is the yarn feeder. She feeds the yarn into the glue mixture and then strings it back out of the glue, wiping off excess glue from the yarn. The second person is the wrapper. She begins randomly wrapping the yarn around the balloon. It is easiest to hold the balloon and start wrapping at the knotted lip. There is no rhyme or reason to wrapping other than to cover the balloon to achieve the desired look. Take your time because the yarn has a tendency to slip a little. If it slips, no big deal, just reposition it back on the balloon. Place the yarned balloons aside and let dry for 24 hours. Once dry, pop the balloons!
PINTEREST — Organize and share all the beautiful things you find online with a Virtual Pinboard. Use your boards to plan a wedding, decorate and collect favorite recipes!
3.
Stack eight sheets of tissue. Make 1 1/2-inch-wide accordion folds, creasing with each fold. Fold an 18-inch piece of floral wire in half, and slip over center of folded tissue; twist. With scissors, trim ends of tissue into rounded or pointy shapes. Vary how much you cut off of the ends because this will allow you to have different sizes of tissue balls. If you are hanging your tissue balls from the ceiling, you will also need to tie your ribbon at different lengths during this step. Separate layers by pulling one at a time gently outward, it will look funny at first; and remember that the smaller you cut the tissue balls, the tighter the pulling will be.
Additional Thoughts: Grab some friends and have a tissue ball making party! It’s a great time to socialize and have help getting ready for your event. Some people will love to fluff and some will love to fold, so make an assembly line and everyone can take on a different step!
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Pump It Up — Keith Brown
There was once a man who was desperate to put in a well on the far side of his property so he could water his quickly drying crops on the back 20 acres.
H
e finally got the well installed. Excited about the new well and hand pump, he walked out by himself each evening and pumped and pumped and pumped...but to no avail. Each day he showed up and pumped the handle... less and less now, and each day he got no water. He began going out to the well fewer times each week. He became more and more frustrated, but had nobody to tell or help him pump the handle. Not seeing the results come forth, the man began to lose interest in the well and chalked it up to a bad investment. He finally quit going to the well and just let it run down and rust. "Maybe I'll put in another someday and put in a better one this time," he told his friends back in the neighborhood and around town. What he didn't realize is how deep the well line was and that that the first few days the water had to come from very far down the deep line. It took considerably more effort than he realized. Once he stopped, the water receded all the way back down to the bottom. With less effort on the days that followed, combined with fewer trips to the well, the water never really had a chance to make it. Without knowing how far the water had to travel, and being unwilling to stay with the project on a determined and consistent course, it was bound to fail.
You see the water was just about to spring forth when the man stopped his pumping. If he had just researched what was involved, planned what he had to do, and been determined to see it through, the water would have made it to the surface and fulfilled its intent. For once it had made its initial spouting, the pump would have been primed to produce results on and on without having to exert such effort. If it hasn’t hit you yet…you are the man. The "pump" is your fitness program. The water represents your success. Continue to work diligently with a partner or group of folks and see the successes flow!
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CREDIT
INSTANT HEARTRATE — Detects the pulse in your fingertip via your phone's camera using the same technique as medical pulse oximeters.
SerenDIPity — Lori Stephanoff
This summer my husband and I will be celebrating our 27th wedding anniversary. We usually try to get away for a night or two. We try to be intentional in setting aside time just for “us” and remembering our big day!
T
hinking back over the years, one of my favorite memories was year 10. I put my wedding dress back on, rented a limo, kidnapped my husband from work, and we headed to our honeymoon spot - this time for a week with our two children. That was a big deal. It took some planning and preparation. We experienced tons of fun and it was so well worth it. Usually, however, it’s a simpler celebration because, honestly, most years called for a tighter budget.
For instance, we had taken a special trip in the spring of our 25th anniversary, and considered it our anniversary celebration. So when the actual day came, we decided to keep it simple with minimal expense. And it is one of my fondest memories. I purchased a gift certificate from restaurant.com so we were able to enjoy a delicious downtown meal at a very affordable price. We then strolled along the harbor and streets of Charleston, enjoying the night air, chuckling, happy, and proud of our budget restraint until…until IT happened. Yep, we walked by a window of chocolate-covered strawberries. Instantly grinning mischievously at each other, in unison we chimed, “Okay, we can splurge for two strawberries.” After all, we didn’t get coffee or dessert, so what could it cost…maybe $5? As the gal handed us two strawberries, I proceeded to give her my $5. Grin. And the mouth drops here. It rang up to $14. Yep, that’s right: one
chocolate-covered strawberry plus one chocolate-covered strawberry equals fourteen dollars. So much for the budget and dinner savings. My sweet husband whispered, “It’s okay, it’s okay, we’re fine. Take the strawberry.” Reluctantly I did. And we laughed some more. And the story continues. We created a “moment” to indulge in our strawberries together, when suddenly after my initial bite, oh no, my chocolate coating dropped to the ground. Saddened and mortified at my loss, my husband, a believer of the 3 second rule, reclaimed that chocolate and popped it right into his mouth knowing I wouldn’t. More bah-ha laughter. Now every time we walk by that store, we grin [big] and re-tell the chocolate-covered strawberry story to whoever is with us. Dinner $18. Strawberries…$14. Memory…priceless. After experiencing the heavenly sensation of those strawberries [they were QUITE good], I said to myself, “I bet you can make these at home.” And so I did. I don’t know why but chocolate-covered strawberries had always seemed like a luxury, certainly a complicated process. Not anymore. It’s so easy to treat myself and guests on a regular basis! One quart of strawberries…$2.50. One container of Baker’s dipping chocolate…$2. A delectable experience…priceless. SerenDIPity: chance, fate, destiny, providence, luck, coincidence. Yep, that’d be the right word.
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The
— Brent Thacker
Easy Breezy Path
If one “easy” path to health and fitness existed, we would all be lean, fit and strong. Even though that’s not the case, we can all make simple changes that add up to significant results. Here are some tips to make health and fitness a bit easier no matter where you are in this summer.
• STAND UP — New research has shown that you will burn up to 50% more calories just by standing versus sitting so get out of your chair!
• EAT PROTEIN AT EVERY MEAL — By simply increasing the amount of protein you eat in your diet, you increase the body’s best “fat burner” which is a hormone called glucagon. By eating more lean proteins like fish and chicken, not only will you decrease your fat but you will also be much healthier all around!
• TAKE THE STAIRS — Take the stairs instead of the
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elevator if you can. Also try to make it up to the next floor as quickly as you can because, if you do, you will continue burning calories after you are finished!
Brent Thacker has a Master of Science in Exercise Physiology. A NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), he is also Crossfit Level 1 certified.
to Health & Fitness!
• PASS ON THE SUGARY DRINKS — Research has shown that the easiest way to decrease unneeded calories is from what we drink. Examples are soda, sweetened tea/ coffee, as well as, juices. Try to replace all of these sweet drinks with water. If you need some flavor, try adding lemon. Just make sure to drink this with a straw though because the lemon can have a negative effect on your teeth’s enamel.
• PICK UP THE PACE — Whether you are exercising or walking around the mall, try moving at a faster pace than you normally do. Something as simple as this can have more benefits for your body than you think!
• EAT YOUR VEGETABLES — During the summer, there are plenty of tasty vegetables popping up all around. These foods are packed with nutrients that decrease the chance of developing many diseases including everything from intestinal issues to certain types of cancers. The more vegetables, the better!
• PARK AT THE FAR END OF THE LOT — Whether on vacation or around town, walking those extra steps to and from your car wherever you go will add up over time, so make sure to get those extra steps in!
• GO “SIGHT SEEING” AFTER DINNER — Taking a walk after dinner not only gives some extra exercise at the end of the day but it will also help with digestion! Even without drastic changes, these simple additions to your daily life can have a big impact over time, making your health and fitness journey that much easier!
Just Take That First Step I started walking with a close friend three or four times a week — not much, not fast. As I started feeling better, our pace picked up and I began looking for other ways to exercise. This past February, I tried CrossFit. I’d never heard of it but decided to be brave. Our trainer had us doing things I thought were impossible. It challenged me mentally and physically. The key — keep pushing myself! Now, in my sixties, I’m stronger and feel better than ever. Added bonus: I weigh less than I have in 25 years! All I had to do was take that first step forward and stay committed. — Debbie Marlowe
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Greek Yogurt Go Greek! (health.usnews.com)
Move over, regular yogurt! Greek Yogurt is making its way onto refrigerator shelves everywhere. Its tangy, less sweet, creamier texture satisfies taste and health desires.
Energy Boosting
Recipes
For a quick power breakfast, before a workout or on the go!
Personal Sized Baked Oatmeal
PROTEIN. Greek yogurt is high in protein, which helps promote fullness. A typical 6-ounce serving contains 15 to 20 grams, the amount in 2 to 3 ounces of lean meat. CARBOHYDRATES. Going Greek is a smart choice for low-carb dieters. It contains roughly half the carbs as regular. Plus, the straining process removes some of the lactose, making Greek yogurt less likely to upset the lactoseintolerant. Opt for yogurt with less added sugar. INGREDIENTS FAT. Read nutrition labels carefully. If you're watching your calories, stick to low-fat or non-fat varieties. • Toss in some berries or high-fiber granola. • Mix it with seasonings like garlic, dill, and parsley to create a tasty dip for carrots, celery sticks or cucumbers.
2
eggs
1
teaspoon vanilla extract
2
cups applesauce, unsweetened
1
banana, mashed
6
packets of Sweetleaf Stevia or 1 1/2 teaspoons stevia powder or use 1/2 cup honey
5
cups old fashioned rolled oats {I used Bob’s Red Mill}
¼ cup flaxseed meal 1
tablespoon ground cinnamon
3
teaspoon baking powder
1
teaspoon salt
2¾ cups milk Optional toppings: raisins, walnuts, chocolate chips DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 2. Mix eggs, vanilla, applesauce, banana & Stevia together in a bowl. 3. Add in oats, flax, cinnamon, baking powder, salt and mix well with wet ingredients. 4. Finally pour in milk and combine. 5. Spray a 12 and 6 capacity muffin tin with cooking spray or use cupcake liners. 6. Pour mixture evenly into muffin tin cups. 7. If using toppings add them onto the tops of muffins now. If using fresh or frozen fruit, drop it right into the batter. 8. Bake 30 minutes until a toothpick in center comes out clean. Cool and enjoy or freeze them in gallon freezer bags. (Recipe & photo by Brenda Bennett, published February 27, 2012 at: http://www.sugarfreemom.com/recipes/personal-sized-baked-oatmeal-with-indi-
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vidual-toppings-gluten-free-diabetic-friendly/, used with express written consent.)
Banana Oatmeal Smoothie
INGREDIENTS 2
whole Chiquita bananas (best with brown flecks on peel)
2
cups ice
⅓ cup yogurt - preferably Greek yogurt flavored with honey ½ cup cooked oatmeal ⅓ cup almonds DIRECTIONS 1. Pour all ingredients in blender pouring ice in last. 2. Blend on high for 30 seconds or until smoothie thickens. http://www.chiquitabananas.com
Missouri Munch Granola INGREDIENTS ½ cup oil
2
pounds old fashioned rolled oats (dry oatmeal)
2
sticks butter
2
tablespoons molasses
½ cup sunflower seeds
1
cup brown sugar
1
cup chopped pecans
1
tablespoon vanilla
1
cup wheat germ
1
cup honey
2
cups Grape-nuts Cereal
½ teaspoon salt
2
tablespoons cinnamon
DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In saucepan, melt and mix together first 7 ingredients; cool slightly. Combine remaining ingredients in very large bowl; mix well. Pour in liquid mixture; mix together well. Spread onto shallow, lightly greased pans. 2. Bake 20-25 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes. 3. Makes 5 quarts.
It’s a Wrap! INGREDIENTS peanut butter
Coconut Oil
Great in the kitchen AND on your skin! Coconut oil is an edible oil extracted from the kernel or meat of matured coconuts harvested from the coconut palm. Throughout the tropical world, it has served as the primary source of fat in the diets of millions of people for generations. Coconut is also a very heat-stable oil, which makes it wellsuited to methods of cooking at high temperatures like frying. Because of its stability, it is slow to oxidize and resistant to rancidity, lasting up to two years in storage! Coconut oil is rising in popularity and certainly worthy of a little attention. What do you think? Why not do a little research on your own and see if it just might be worth a try!
POTENTIAL BENEFITS: • Improves heart health
flour tortilla
• Boosts your thyroid
fresh diced strawberries
• Increases metabolism
fresh diced bananas
• Promotes a lean body and weight loss
Missiouri Munch granola (recipe above) DIRECTIONS 1. Spread peanut butter on a flour tortilla. 2. Add diced strawberries and bananas. 3. Sprinkle with Missouri Munch granola 4. Fold and carry with you! (no exact measurements, base it on your personal liking) · SUBSTITUTE IT FOR SOUR CREAM, CREAM CHEESE, OR MAYONNAISE
• Supports your immune system • Reduces risk of diabetes • Skin, hair and anti-aging benefits! Some information from Wikipedia.org
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Love is to the heart what the summer is to the farmer's year — it brings to harvest all the loveliest flowers of the soul. Billy Graham