Project You Magazine, Back AT School 2012 by Project You Magazine

project you Pursue your passion one dream at a time.

Back At School Managing Your Expectations

Is Your To-Do List Doing You In?

Go Batty This Halloween

A Role Mommnye Magazi FALL 2012

Table of Contents 3 4

Editor’s Letter How it Works

BETWEEN US 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Must-See Fall Shows Soften Your Skin News and Tidbits Worth Noting Smile and Say “Whateves” Get Some Zzzs Tune Into “Emily Owens, MD” When Kids Are Bullied Online Easing Into Your Autumn Wardrobe

BACK AT SCHOOL 13 14 15

Take the Leap with School Search Solutions Teaching Kids about Money Managing Your Child’s School Results

FUN STUFF 17 18 20 21

A Conversation with Queen Latifah Go Batty This Halloween Take the Fright Out of Junk Food Vacation Rentals, Villas and House Swaps…Oh My!

IN THE KNOW 23 24 25 26

Pet Savings Fall In Love With Your Food When Your “To Do” List is Doing You In Pick the Perfect Pumpkin

editor’s LETTER

Back AT School

Courtesy: Fashion Forward Conference/Bellamy Blue

n the blink of an eye, summer is officially over, our kids are back in school and many of us are busier than ever. I don’t know about you, but I’ve got a to do list that never seems to get done but I have to admit, that’s totally fine with me. I recently made an exciting career change -- venturing back out on my own and taking on a lot of challenging new projects. My new criterion for projects is simple: If it’s fun and fulfilling, I am interested. While being your own boss is a daunting task, it’s also one of the most liberating. I feel like I now have the freedom to do all the things I love and that includes writing, singing, teaching and spending time with some of the most talented people I know. That includes a recent Supermodel for a Day stint I had walking the runway at the first annual Fashion Forward conference hosted by the uber stylish Nicole Feliciano, founder of Momtrends and the fashionably beautiful mom duo, Vera Sweeney and Audrey McClelland of Getting Gorgeous. Here at Project You, we have assembled an amazing collection of features and advice for fall. From much needed tips that’ll help any busy woman finally get some rest, to the dangers of helicopter parenting, to must see Fall TV that includes

an interview with superstar Queen Latifah and a preview of the new CW drama, “Emily Owens MD.” While you’re knee deep in homework help and Halloween, it’s never too early to start planning a fabulous getaway and this time, we’re taking you on a tour of a lavish villa with ocean views located in Treasure Beach, Jamaica. Our Partybluprints girlfriends are back with ghoulish decorating tips for Halloween and Eric Ruhlater, our resident KidDictionary humorist is in the house with a story about his kids that’ll have you howling. We’d also love to welcome new contributors Heather Cabot and Elissa Freeman to the Project You family. We are continually on the lookout for incredible voices to showcase in our little ezine that could, so please feel free to reach out to us if you’re interested in contributing to an upcoming issue. Hope that once you’ve checked up all the never-ending tasks on your to do list that you’ll kick back and relax with our latest issue. Enjoy!

Best wishes,

Beth Feldman Editor in Chief

HOW IT WORKS

Found Project You on your favorite blog or on ProjectYouMagazine.com? Click on the magazine to read the articles in full screen, or use the triangles on the left and right to skim the pages.

When viewing the magazine in full screen mode, you have a menu at the top to control your viewing options and a menu at the bottom to control what page you are on.

The magazine is interactive, so all of the links are live. Seeing blue? Don’t miss the information, movies, and exclusive links we offer. Simply click on the blue lettering. ■

Pursue your passion one dream at a time. Editor in Chief Beth Feldman

Art Director Katie Schlientz

Managing Editor Jeanne Muchnick

Senior Editor

Danielle Feigenbaum

Contributors

Beth Aldrich Heather Cabot Ross Ellis Elissa Freeman Mark Hansen Elizabeth Mascali Kendal Perez Eric Ruhalter Dawn Sandomeno Marla Tomazin

cover photos: ©www.istock.com/IBushuev

A Role Mommy Magazine l Back AT School 2012

RoleMommy.com

Role Mommy is an online community and events company dedicated to inspiring today’s busy parents to pursue their passion while raising a family. Role Mommy hosts online writing and career workshops as well as events that bring entrepreneurs, authors, parenting experts and bloggers together to share how they’ve reinvented their lives while raising a family. For more information, visit www.ProjectYouMagazine.com and www. RoleMommy.com.

ProjectYouMagazine@gmail.com

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Between US Must-see Fall Shows Parenthood (Tuesday nights on NBC) is one of those shows that you want to jump into the television and become part of. You will laugh, cry and won’t believe how incredibly relatable the characters are.

©www.istock.com/alexsl; www.istock.com/borchee

Emily Owens MD (Tuesday nights on the CW) stars Mamie Gummer as a surgical intern who discovers, much to her dismay, that working in a hospital feels a lot like high school. Modern Family (Wednesday nights on ABC) A must-see, Emmy-award winning favorite!

Guys With Kids (Wednesday nights on NBC) from creator and funny man, Jimmy Fallon, featuring a dad’s P.O.V. Animal Practice (Wednesday nights on NBC). Who doesn’t love a veterinarian with a pet monkey side kick?? The Mindy Project (Tuesday The Next (Thursday nights nights on FOX), starring Mindy Kaling from The Office. on The CW) which features mentors, Gloria Estefan, Joe Jonas, John Rich and The X Factor (on FOX). You Nelly who work with each love to hate Simon Cowell, contestant and then the L.A. Reid is very likable, Demi audience in each city Lavato is cute and Brittany is votes and decides who will entertaining. represent their town. ■

eak peek n s a e e s to t Wan MD? Turn s n e w O y il m at E to page 10.

Soften your skin!

Did you know?

According to Microsoft’s recent worldwide online bullying survey, girls are more likely to be bullied online: 55% vs. 24% of boys. Also, those who bully online are twice as likely to be victims of cyberbullying themselves. Go here for more information: Click here to see how you can help your tween battle bullying. 6

A Role Mommy Magazine l Back AT School 2012

Take a nod from this sensational celeb mom! Prepare your skin for winter with Salma Hayek’s Nuance Super Secret Moisturizing Body Cream. $14.99 at CVS.com

image courtesy of vendor; © www.istock.com/Linzerino; © www.istock.com/DomenicoGelermo; © www.istock.com/EdStock

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by the numbers Consider this:

BETWEEN US

The average young adult amasses $45,000 in debt by the time they turn 29, according to a recent PNC Bank report.

1 in 5

ens about te r u o y h c a Te ge 12! a p to n r u T t! deb

parents of children ages birth to 12 said they decided against having another child due to the economic downturn Source: Parents magazine and The Center for the Next Generation

Worth Noting When asked to choose between an extra $10,000 or an extra hour of quality time with their children, two-thirds chose the money! Source: Parents magazine and The Center for the Next Generation

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project you Smile and Say “Whatevs!”

The (d.a.) D List of Ways to Tell It’s Back to School • Coming up on two month anniversary of kids telling you they are bored. • Lunch left in backpack since last day of school has grown a mouth and is calling for help. • School supplies quadruple in price • Department stores have begun selling Halloween costumes. • 50 gallon drums of sunscreen, bug spray and Calamine lotion are nearly empty. 8

By Eric Ruhalter

e as parents could learn a stay on them about their assignments. lot from our smug teens and But inevitably, they’ll let themselves get tweens who respond to our ev- behind. Particularly with the longer term ery inquiry and every point we make with projects. You can advise them to keep on their quaint shorthand dismissal, “What- top of it until you’re blue in the face. At evs!” which point the kids are annoyed, they’re It’s a shorter form of “Whatever!” no further along in their assignment, Though not much shorter. To them and your face is blue. Eric it’s an acknowledgment. To you So when it’s the night before Ruhalter it’s a clear indication that they’re it’s due and they’re freaking TheKid Dictionary.com paying you no mind at all. out, and tired and forced to In this “WhatEvs” spirit of letstay up all night researching on ting things roll off your back, let’s the internet and putting togethpledge to make sure our kids’ learn a er something worth handing and little extra this year without all of our tire- they’re rebuking you for not helping them, less nagging. you can say, as you’re going upstairs, yawnWhen you’ve been trying to wake them ing and stretching on your way to turn in, up to no avail and they need a half hour “WhatEvs!” to get ready, but the bus will arrive in 20 Anyway, that’s the general idea. A minutes they will inevitably be rushing to “WhatEvs” attitude will work wonders in get ready and pack their bags and have to de-stressing those school days and nights. skip breakfast and possibly have to walk Well, yours anyway. Your kids? Not so to school. As they’re rushing out the door much. But they’ll learn a good bit about consumed with stress and they shout responsibility if you don’t shoulder all of it “YOU SHOULDA WOKEN ME UP!?!?!” for them. Whatevs. ■ You can respond, “WhatEvs!” With each new school year, more and Eric Ruhalter’s book The Kid Dictionary: Hilarious Words To Describe more is expected of our kids in terms of the Indescribable Things Kids Do is school work. It’s staggering at times. As debuting everywhere in March from their parents we often feel compelled to Sourcebooks.

KidDictionary Word:

SCHOOLELUJAH!

(SKOO-lay-loo-yah Interj.: The exclamation shouted by mothers at the end of winter or summer vacation for their kids.

A Role Mommy Magazine l Back AT School 2012

BETWEEN US

Get some ZZZ’s According to Health.com about half of the adult population is affected by insomnia or other sleep problems and up to 14% use sleeping pills regularly. Instead of reaching for a Starbucks Trenta Chicago Healers Practitioner Karen Erickson suggest giving the following a try:

Go ‘hypno’

No after dinner mints

See a hypnotherapist. They can help stop the mind chatter when going to sleep at night and can help manage stress.

Go to bed on an empty stomach as food digestion may keep your body up and running. Try to cut yourself off of food three hours prior to your bedtime.

Cut the caffeine Cut out caffeine completely or drink only low sugar caffeine free drinks, such as green or white tea.

Say “Omm.” Be sure to engage in personal ‘quiet time’. Meditate at least 30 minutes a day, go for walks in nature or do yoga.

Magnificent magnesium

Take magnesium supplements which help muscles relax and relieves anxiousness.

Lights out Abstain from watching TV in bed at night and be sure your room is dark. If you need to, invest in a sleep mask. The darker the room the better as light may disrupt the production of healthy neurotransmitters. ■ projectyou

images courtesy of the CW

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Don’t Miss “Emily Owens, M.D.” You may feel like you’re seeing a familiar face when you tune into “Emily Owens, M.D.” The show stars Mamie Gummer, the beautiful daughter of Meryl Streep. Emily Owens, M.D. premieres on Tues., Oct. 16 at 9 p.m. ET on The CW. Check out the video to get a glimpse into the life of Emily Owens (Gummer), a first-year intern at Denver Memorial hospital.

see the Click here to 10

➚

video!

A Role Mommy Magazine l Back AT School 2012

How To Tell if Your Kids Are Being Bullied Online By Ross Ellis

BETWEEN US

G www.istock.com/ fstop123

hether you like it or not, your kids are connected to each other by Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Google, Tumbler and many other social media sites. More digitally savvy than their parents, they are not emotionally equipped or mature enough to handle digital experiences, which can and do cause problems. Before you allow you them to use social media sites, you need to understand social media first. Learn the different sites and read their safety pages. Facebook MySpace Google Twitter Speak with your kids about social media, as well as monitoring them online. The conversation with your kids will vary by their

age, but by having a first hand understanding of how these sites work you can keep them safe. It’s critical to have your own profile on these sites. Let your kids know that they must friend you. You are not there to spy, but you are there to help them if they have any problems. Everyday ask them if they were on the Internet today. Ask if anyone texted them and if they had any new chats lately? Get them into a regular routine about talking about their social media experiences. Make sure all computers are in a centrally open location in your home. Make it a point to educate them about not gossiping, spreading rumors, bullying or damaging someone’s reputation using texting or other tools.

sit www. To learn more vi ng.org stompoutbullyi

Ross Ellis is a parenting, bullying prevention and cyber safety expert and the Founder and CEO of Love Our Children USA, the national non-profit leader of child violence prevention. Ross writes for the Examiner and is a ‘go-to’ expert to MomLogic. projectyou

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Jackets, Scarves, and Boots, Oh My! Five Tips to Help You Ease Into Autumn By Marla Tomazin

Yes, that’s right— the old “no white after Labor Day” rule is a thing of the past. Leave them in your closet and start wearing them with a cashmere sweater and flats. Another way to make a stylish statement is to pair white jeans (or corduroys) with a white cotton turtleneck, t-shirt, or sweater to create a column, and then top it off with a camel or chocolate leather or suede jacket. Finish the look with a pair of coordinating flats. Very Ralph Lauren!

cottons.

Navy, taupe, brown, and olive green are wonderful for fall and they pair fabulously with other dark colors. Opt for a black or olive shirt with khakis, cream pants, or a cream skirt to achieve a transitional feel. Another winning look can be achieved by starting with a white or cream t-shirt and topping it off with a darker cotton sweater, cotton or linen jacket, or a leather jacket. If you want to branch out to a heavier material, look for tropicalweight wools.

Tights are another accessory that can be stylish and functional. Just make sure they work with your outfit instead of dominating it. For instance, thick tights don’t work well with thin dresses since they create visual dissonance. An example of a classic look that is never a faux pas is to extend a slim black skirt with a black tight and chunky black heel. It will move through the season well, and you can even add a leather jacket for some extra punch.

Marla Tomazin, Certified Image Consultant, established her image consulting business in 1990 with the goal of helping clients identify an authentic image and develop its effective expression. For more information, go to www.marlatomazin.com. 12

A Role Mommy Magazine l Back AT School 2012

Finally, it’s time to start sporting closed-toe pumps, flats, and ankle-andother-length boots. Some perennial favorites include subtle animal-print flats, which can work as a neutral, as well as nude flats in camel and pinkishbeige, which are fast becoming season-less. And if you’re looking to incorporate an of-the-moment trend into your wardrobe? Crimson patent leather—in pumps, flats, and even handbags—is very popular.

Get the look!

What’s not to love about scarves? They can take an outfit from average to amazing, and they’re functional, too. Just make sure the pattern ties in with what you’re wearing. ■

image courtesy of vendor

➍ Add tights. ➎ Don’t ➊ Keep those ➋ Cool it ➌ Say hello to down with dark white jeans. forget your feet. scarves.

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BACK AT SCHOOL Click here to Find the perfect match for your child’s education!

Take the LEAP School Search Solutions launches an innovative tool to find the perfect private school for your child. By Katie Schlientz

Looking to find the perfect match between your child and school? Take the LEAP, a new, free tool developed by School Search Solutions. The online questionnaire utilizes a growing database of 70 independent schools who have responded to complex questions regarding the school’s culture. Take a few minutes to fill answer the online questions and your input will be compared to the school’s information covering diverse topics, such as learning and teaching styles, discipline, spirituality, among others. You will receive a list of NYC schools that most closely match the environment you are looking for! Take the LEAP! ■ projectyou

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It’s not too early to learn fiscal responsibility. By Mark Hansen

e know you’re busy ferrying your children to this or that after-school activity or gearing them up for college applications…but what have you taught them about managing their money? Those lemonade stands and babysitting jobs add up and it’s more important than ever for kids to have fiscal responsibility. Consider this hard fact from a recent PNC Bank report: The average young adult amasses $45,000 in debt by the time they turn 29. Which is why teaching our children money management skills early is critical. Here, tips to get your child on the road to financial success: ● Encourage the three-envelope savings method: Explain to your child how to use the first envelope for day-to-day expenses such as gas or lunch money. Envelope No. 2 is for short-term goals, which might be clothing or a new laptop. The third envelope is for long-term goals such as a car or college. ● Set goals: Talk to your child about the importance of savings and working within your means. Have them first figure out

A Role Mommy Magazine l Back AT School 2012

what their current finances are, then determine what they will be in the future —one year out, then two years out, then four years later, etc. How will you get to your one- or two-year goal? You need a plan, and most of the time that means either earning more money, spending less, or a combination of the two. ● Learn how to balance a checkbook: These days, it’s easier than ever to review accounts online, which automatically tracks exchanges. However, banks do make mistakes, which is why it’s wise to track your accounts independently. Encourage your child to ask questions and advocate for themselves. Banks are putting a premium on service and want to establish a positive relationship with young customers. If you have a question, speak to someone at the bank. As you take control of your money, you’ll also take control of your life. ■ Financial expert Mark Hansen is the author of Success 101 for Teens.

Create a budget! A budget lets us know what’s possible—and not possible—with money. There are six steps to creating a budget. 1. List all of your expenses. 2. List all income. 3. List monthly expenses. 4. Add up these lists separately. 5. Tweak your budget so you can meet your expenses with money left over for savings. 6. Review your budget every week.

Teaching Kids About Money

Great Expectations Would you give yourself a pass or a fail when it comes to managing your child’s school results?

By Elissa Freeman (@elissapr)

hen does wanting your child to succeed in school become a bad thing? When as a parent you want it too much. With school in session, not only do I need to make sure my daughter is prepared and ready, but I also need to prepare myself. Mentally, that is. Beyond the fresh packages of pens, pencils and erasers, ever since she started school, good marks have been somewhat of a big deal for me. But are marks the only barometer of measuring my child’s upcoming school year success? Last year, I developed this horrible habit whenever my 12 year old daughter came home from school with a test mark. She’ll tell me the grade and then I’ll ask: “So, how did the other kids do?” I know, I know, you’re not supposed to compare when it comes to your kids’ marks. But I do. I can’t help it; knowing what the other kids achieved provides me with a good barometer of how my child is doing relative to the rest of the class. But does it? Even my daughter became wise to my inquiring ways. “Why do you need to know? What does it matter? I’m doing my best okay?” she yells. (At her age, yelling is the normal response here). And when I explain myself to her? It always falls short. Yes, she studies. Yes, she is lackadaisical at times. Yes, she’s only a kid.

back at school

Quick Tips to Improve Your Child’s Study Habits Have your child study the same subject at the same time in the same place each day. After a short while, it will automatically put them in the right subject groove. Experts say they’ll also remember more of what he’s studying! Limit your student to spend only one hour per subject at a time. When you give someone a time restriction, they are encouraged to use their time more wisely Studies show that children learn as much in four one-hour sessions distributed over four days as in one marathon sixhour session. Give the kid frequent rest breaks. Specialists say that ten-minute breaks between subjects keep a child alert and his mind in top working order. projectyou

Quick Tips to Improve Your Child’s Study Habits If your child’s mind tends to wander from her studies, help her begin with the most boring subject. Studying is easier if they work their way toward the easiest task. Don’t allow your child to study so close to bedtime. Research shows that everyone has a certain time of day for getting sleepy. Their attention will lapse despite their best efforts. Teach your child to study according to the type of class. If it’s a lecture, studying is most effective if it’s done soon after class by reviewing, revising and organizing class and reading notes. If it’s a class where students are called on to recite or answer questions, studying’s best done before class, by memorizing and brushing up on the facts. 16

Yet, in my zeal to want her to succeed, I know I’m treading a fine line here. As adults, we compare all the time: food prices, economic status, body shape. Actually we never stop comparing. Comparing our kids is a deeply rooted behavior and it starts early. Even when my daughter was a toddler, I’m sure I wasn’t the only mother who measured her growth and achievements with other kids in the playgroup. Back then, my comparisons had no emotional affect on her, but today, they do. I think it’s impossible not to compare, but I think it is possible to create perspective and not transfer my angst onto her. Even our school board has made changes in how and when grades are reported. Instead of distributing a graded report card in November, we now receive an ‘achievement assessment’ outlining whether or not the student is meeting or not meeting expectations. At first, I wasn’t sure how I would respond to this change. After all, it meant waiting until January until I could actually see a real grade. However, I quickly changed my mind. Can any teacher really asses my child’s progress in two short months? For that matter, could I? Plus, some kids take off fast in September, while others need a little runway to get going. Not receiving a graded report card has

A Role Mommy Magazine l Back AT School 2012

taken the edge off of my overzealous behavior. It’s also created a more relaxed environment for my daughter; she is more interested in the learning process versus the grading process. Here’s the homework I’m giving myself when it comes to creating a positive learning environment for my daughter: Temper my nosiness in asking about other kids’ marks. Take time to review a test/project – both good and bad – and talk about what went right vs what went wrong. If I have a real concern, I’ll talk to the teacher. That one mark is only part of the entire evaluation. Listen when she says, “everyone learns at their own pace!” Evaluate her other successes: working well with her peers, extra-curricular triumphs, leadership qualities Truthfully, I will always do an innercringe if my kid comes home with a so-so mark. But that’s okay once in a while – that in itself may teach her about the effort required to improve. For me, I just need to learn how to approach it better. ■ Elissa Freeman is a mom, foodie, selfconfessed pop culture junkie, and a 20+ year PR veteran who was recently named one of twitter’s Top 52 PR pros. You can follow her on Twitter at elissaPR.

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Fun StuFF

A Conversation With

Queen Latifah By Beth Feldman

Image courtesy of Lifetime Television

ebuting this October on Lifetime Television is a remake of the classic film “Steel Magnolias.” As someone who can recite some of the most memorable lines from the original film (“Shelby’s right, my hair does look like a brown football helmut!”), I am really excited for the latest version starring Queen Latifah, Alfre Woodward, Phylicia Rashad and her real life daughter Condola Rashad, who tackles the powerful role of Shelby. In an interview with Queen Latifah, who portray’s Shelby’s mom M’Lynn, she shared that much like Shelby, her own grandmother has battled diabetes throughout her life, but has never tried to over do it. “My grandmother is so cool that you would never know (she has diabetes).” She adds that while she played the role, in reality, “Shelby is really more like me in real life. She’s going to put her mind to something and go for it.” While M’Lynn can’t stop her daughter’s disease from inevitably taking her life, Queen Latifah says in her own life she tries her best to help her family members

stay healthy. Unfortunately, with such a large family, Latifah says that illness is at times, unavoidable. “When there’s something that impacts a family member or friend that is difficult for them you want to do what you can to help. And sometimes you can’t do anything and it makes you feel like you’re kind of helpless,” she says. But Queen Latifah says that when a family member is sick, “When there’s a need you show up. And it doesn’t matter what that need is.” ■

Get ready to laugh and cry again this fall when “Steel Magnolias” makes its nationwide debut on Lifetime Television. For a sneak preview of the film, visit Steel Magnolias on Lifetime. projectyou

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Go Batty This Halloween

Going batty this Halloween looking for a great party idea? We have a spooktacular solution for you – A “Bat Bar”! By Elizabeth Mascali and Dawn Sandomeno

Bats have long been associated with Halloween and this year they are the hot ticket for party décor. Use these creatures of the night to create a cool spot for cocktails, beverages or a combination of both! Bats are spooky, but not too scary, and can work for an adult-only or kidfriendly party. A ‘Bar Bar” is also the perfect pit stop on the trick or treating trail. It’s a simple and special way to host friends and family for some fun! Provide a place to rest and some refreshments and then head back out for more candy!

A “Bat Bar” is easy and inexpensive to create!

PartyBluPrintsBlog.com

● Visit your local craft or party store and purchase fake bats on stretchy strings, skulls and spiders. ● Suspend bats from doorways, ceiling, molding or from the bar if you have one. ● Drape black gauze and a hang a vampire cape to create the backdrop for the “Bat Bar”.

A Role Mommy Magazine l Back AT School 2012

● Fill test tubes with red punch and garnish glasses with retro striped straws and plastic vampire teeth. ● Then, stock your “Bat Bar” with red drinks: red punch, red wine, cranberry juice, tomato juice, cherry vanilla soda, etc… Note: We used Command™ Brand Clear hooks and caddies to hang these items.

©partybluprints

To get the Look:

Fun Stuff

Other ideas batty ideas:

● Create a “Bat Mobile” – place a medium size branch in a vase and hang bats on a string to create a spooky centerpiece. ● Purchase bat wall stickers to decorate your front windows or door. ● Let the kids make cut out bats from black construction paper. Hang the paper bats on a string from a chandelier or your mantle. ● Decorate your pumpkins with bats. Cut out small bats from felt or cardstock paper and use push pins to attach them to pumpkins.

“Batty Beliefs”:

● A bat flying into a house means ghosts there are ghost around. ● If a bat circles a house 3 times it is an omen of death. ● If bats are out before night falls, it’s a sign that good weather is on the way. ● Many Native American tribes believed that the bat was a trickster spirit.

©partybluprints

● Vampires have the ability to transform into a bat. Elizabeth Mascali and Dawn Sandomeno are party and lifestyle authors, bloggers, and social media hostesses. Their first book, PLAN TO PARTY, (Yorkshire Publishing) offers ideas from their blog andis a goto resource for home entertaining.

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By Heather Cabot

he specter of sugar overload likely hangs over many of our homes this time of the year. But Halloween doesn’t have to be so scary according to nutritionist and entrepreneur Marta DeWulf. In fact, her video game company FoodN’Me is out with a new free iPhone app that’s geared to empower children and parents make better choices this season. And she’s just getting started. The 46-year-old mom of four never dreamed she would get into gaming nor found her own tech company. But after she spent a year teaching 3,000 Bellevue, Washington public school kids the difference between “sugar sweet” and “candy sweet,” she decided she needed a way to scale up her message to make an impact on America’s childhood obesity crisis. Out of the gate in early 2012, DeWulf entered her very first product in the First Lady’s Apps for Healthy Kids Contest and took home first prize. The winning iPad app, Smash Your Food (and new iPhone app), treats users to a fun and delightfully gross experience that entices players to literally destroy French fries and donuts when they correctly guess the junk food’s sugar, salt and fat content. The latest version, which debuts this month, will feature candy corn, caramel apples and other Halloween sweets. 20

When kids master a new concept, the game sends parents an email alert with the information, suggested discussion points and activities to reinforce the lesson. It’s a game that explains the science of food in a very unscientific way and that’s exactly the point. “We’re not scaring people. My goal is to change the conversation about food,” says DeWulf. “We want to empower families to eat more healthfully and live healthy lives and to do it because it feels good, not out of fear.” ■

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Heather Cabot is a digital trends expert and consumer spokesperson for Yahoo who is featured regularly on national TV including Today, Better TV, CNN, MSNBC and Rachael Ray. Heather and her husband are parents of 6-year-old twins.

Mom’s Video Game Takes the Fright Out of Junk Food

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In the know

Vacation Rentals, Villas & House Swaps...Oh My!

By Beth Feldman projectyou

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his past summer, I got my first taste of the rich life. After staying in a three bedroom cottage at Jake’s Resort in Treasure Beach, Jamaica, we found ourselves without a hotel room for the last day of our stay since our flight was at 11:30 pm and checkout was at 11am. Luckily for us, the owner of Jake’s (one of our favorite destinations on the planet), Jason Henzell has become a dear friend. When I explained our situation to him, he walked away for a moment, made a quick phone call and then informed me that we had just won the lottery. We soon found out that Jake’s was managing a new villa for a family who lives year round in Kingston. The property, called Seaweed, was magnificent. The villa boasted four bedrooms with bathrooms and outdoor tile showers in every room. Then there was the bi-level swimming pool, outdoor grounds, ocean views, a private beach, jacuzzis, a gazebo, outdoor grill, two bedroom cottage and workout room. It was pure paradise and for the first hour of our stay, my daughter and her best friend tried to convince me that we had to return next summer and rent that villa. As long as we found four other families to chip in with us, it surprisingly is an option that’s within reach of our travel budget. While the rates hadn’t been officially set, rates for a villa at Jakes range from $60022

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$1500 per night (in the off season) and comes with a staff that includes a chef who will cook for your family during your entire stay. All you need to do is buy the groceries, and the staff takes care of the rest.

HOW ABOUT A HOME SWAP?

If a villa is out of your price range, then here’s another innovative travel option -- house swaps. At LoveHomeSwap.com, all you need is a dollar and a dream house. Peruse the site for the ideal vacation sites, connect with a homeowner via skype -- take a virtual tour and before you know it, you may be zipping off to a flat in Paris, France. Of course, it helps if you live in a city that’s a frequent tourist destination or know a retiree (Hello Mom and Dad) who might lend out their Hamptons house for the ultimate vacation experience.

THE TIME SHARE EXPERIENCE

If you enjoy the hotel experience, why not purchase a timeshare at one of your favorite hotels? At Westin Vacation Ownership, you can purchase a share at a Westin resort and then travel to a host of exotic destinations including Hawaii, St. John, Mexico and Palm Desert, California. If you love to travel and want to take the guesswork out of travel planning, then the time share option is ideal. ■

Pet Savings

in the know By Kendal Perez

ccording to a recent article in USA Today, Americans spent approximately $50.8 billion on their pets last year. That’s a lot of money for Max or Fluffy, but still nothing compared to the unconditional love they shell out for you every day. As the proud owner of two Labrador-Australian Shepard mixes, I’m no stranger to the rising cost of pet care. My husband and I save hundreds of dollars on pet care by adopting the following savvy strategies:

● Create an Emergency Fund

There are at least nine reasons for an emergency fund, according to Kiplinger, including the ability to offset a costly vet bill should your beloved animal need expensive treatment.

● Don’t Skimp on Food

By purchasing healthy food, you’re enhancing your pet’s quality of life and ultimately saving yourself from costly vet bills. Purchase discount gift cards to PetSmart and other stores from sites like GiftCardGranny.com to nab savings.

● Consider Pet Insurance

If you’re the type of pet owner who will spare no expense for veterinary care, consider signing up for pet insurance.

Visit PetInsuranceComparison.org for information on available policies.

● Take Advantage of Clinics

Some veterinary practices offer free clinics one or two times a year, waiving appointment fees. If your vet doesn’t offer this service, check with your local Humane Society for recommendations.

● Buy Discount

While shopping discount retailers like TJMaxx and Ross, peruse their pet-care aisles for deals. Score serious savings by stocking up on discount supplies.

● Be Loyal

loyalty programs that offer discounts. You should also sign up to receive email notifications about sales to stock up during these specials.

● Order Meds Online

Unless it’s an emergency, request the prescription information and shop online at sites like 1800PetMeds. com.

● Fix for Less

Neutering or spaying your pet is crucial to avoiding the exponential expense of caring for a litter down the road Consult ASPCA’s Low Cost Spay/Neuter Programs page to find a provider near you. ■

PetSmart and PetCo each have free

Kendal Perez is a frugal fashionista and bargain shopper who helps fellow shopaholics find hassle-free ways to save money. As the marketing coordinator for Kinoli Inc., she has the resources to be an extreme couponer but prefers a less complicated approach to staying in-budget For savings tips and more information, visit HassleFree Savings.com. projectyou

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Fall in Love with Your Food

lot has changed for 21st-century women, but one thing hasn’t: Moms still juggle insanely busy lives and their needs usually fall last on the list, says Columbia University-certified health coach Beth Aldrich. That includes eating – as in, really loving what you eat. Because you didn’t really love that bag of chips you downed while watching “An Affair to Remember,” did you? “ It’s wonderful to take pleasure in food, she says. It’s even OK to eat the things we shouldn’t every once in a while – just be sure to savor every bite. “Eating in front of the TV is not savoring,” says Aldrich, author of the award-winning book, Real Moms Love to Eat Aldrich offers ways to kick off the romance with healthier versions of those favorite comfort foods from childhood and oh yeah – fit into those skinny jeans you love. ● Make it all about YOU: Get back to the basics, remembering the pleasure inherent in the food experiences of your childhood. Think of the simple joy you had crunching into a sweet apple. How does that compare with the highfructose corn syrup-drenched, refined wheatflour products that leave you bloated and craving more? Whole foods – those eaten in their natural, unprocessed state, such as a baked potato versus French fries -- give you a fuller eating experience, increase energy and help you look great! ● Get naked with raw foods: Our earliest ancestors were hunter-gatherers who foraged for and consumed a wide variety of caloric intake, 24

A Role Mommy Magazine l Back AT School 2012

mostly consisting of raw veggies. Your body will thank you not long after you include more raw food into your diet, but you don’t have to go the full Monty right away. Add fresh berries to your breakfast yogurt, include fresh nuts with your lunch, or replace coleslaw from the supermarket deli with a fresh recipe made from scratch. ● Tame your cravings dragon: One of the swiftest paths to an unhealthy snacking binge is readymade, highly-processed sweets and baked goods. The craving-attack occurs when you’re super busy and haven’t planned your meals for the day. This leads to a spike in blood sugar, a crash and then – another monster-sized craving. Have healthy options ready to go. Nutrient-dense whole grains such as quinoa, whole-grain toast with sesame butter, and oatmeal will turn that dragon of yours into a pussycat in no time. ● Eat an ounce of dark chocolate every day: High-quality dark chocolate – the kind that doesn’t have all the fillers – actually has lots of benefits, not the least of which is … its chocolate! Dark chocolate contains natural chemicals that serve as mood boosters and elevate serotonin levels, which enhance our sense of well-being. Health benefits range from keeping blood vessels elastic to increasing antioxidant levels. ■ Beth Aldrich is the founder of RealMomsLoveToEat.com and a certified health coach. Her new book, “Real Moms Love to Eat: How to Conduct a Love Affair with Food, Lose Weight and Feel Fabulous” won a 2012 National Indie Excellence Book Award.

Tips to Jumpstart an Affair Your Jeans Will Remember. By Beth Aldrich

in the know

Is Your “To-Do” List Doing You In? By putting yourself first, everything else will be cake. “We Can Do It!” was a World War II-era battle cry that empowered women. Today, however, the expression for many women is more like, “We can do it -- if there’s time and I’m not super exhausted!” In a recent survey by Real Simple Magazine: 50 % of women say they don't have enough free time and 60 % feel guilty for spending what little time they do have on themselves. Seriously? We need to think of ourselves!!

Mothering is a marathon, not a sprint, stresses Saniel Bonder, author of the acclaimed new novel Ultimaya 1.0: The Trouble with the Wishes of Leopold Stokes (www. humansunmedia.com). You know you know it – yet you still don’t slow down enough for “you.” Here, tips for managing your never-ending to-do list:

Make “me time” a priority every day. Set aside five to ten inviolable minutes for triaging your day’s to-do list — early on, when you’ve got plenty of energy and aren’t already overwhelmed.

Do it with “Mother Bear” fierceness.

Serve everyone notice. Let your family, friends, and others who depend on you know that for everyone’s sake, you are going to take better care of yourself and you’re not going to try to be Superwoman any more.

Do some ruthless ranking. Rank each item 1, 2 or 3 in order of real importance. Make sure your priority is only the most important, and that you actually can do it.

Indulge your inner child. Make at least one of your daily number one priorities something to pamper yourself – something you know will really make you feel good but that you think you really don’t have time for and shouldn’t need.

Talk back to your inner critic. Do this out loud -- shout it if you need to! Just say “no,” a lot, to that fault-finding perfectionist in your head. You need to make yourself a priority. Remember that. ■

Go at it with ferocious intention to protect your “cub”— except in this case, the cub is your own total wellness. projectyou

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Pick the Perfect Pumpkin ✔ S elect an unbruised pumpkin.

And (in this case) the age-old saying is true—bigger is better. You can always enlarge your pattern; shrinking a pattern can get impractical for detail work.

✔C heck for discoloration and soft spots. ✔P umpkins that are flat and don't roll work best. ✔ L ook for pumpkins with a sturdy stem, this is the sign of a healthy pumpkin. Note: Now matter how sturdy a stem seems, never carry a pumpkin by it’s stem.

damaged. Sometimes the bottom of the pumpkin is thin and can get punctured.

✔A void sloshy pumpkins. Once you cut into them, you’ll find the insides rotted, slimey, and smelly.

A Role Mommy Magazine l Back AT School 2012

✔C heck the bottom of the pumpkin to see if the base is

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project you Pursue yo one drea ur passion m at a tim e.

A Role Mommy Magazine

How Happ y Are You?

Holiday 2011

Discoverin g Your Inner Yogin i

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HoLIDAY How-ToS De aling with Left pping on a overs Bud ● Gif ts that Giv get e Back

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