'hood Magazine: December 2022

Sanford Health would like to invite your child to participate in a screening research study. The Sanford PLEDGE screening study has expanded into two new age categories. Through Sanford PLEDGE, we hope to identify children at higher risk of developing type 1 diabetes (T1D) and celiac disease and intervene early to prevent serious illness.

Your child may qualify to join the study if they: Are ages 0-5 or ages 9-16 Do not have T1D

Children ages 6-17 who have a sibling with T1D or T1D antibodies may also join the study.

Ask your provider or care team about the PLEDGE screening study. Visit sanfordhealth.org/PLEDGE or call (877) 878-4825 to join the study or learn more about PLEDGE.

President & Publisher

Steffanie Liston-Holtrop 605-366-1479 steff@thehoodmagazine.com

Editor Miranda Ochocki editor@thehoodmagazine.com

Bust Winter Boredom

As the winter months drag on, you start to run out of ideas to keep everyone active. We have compiled a list of 40 activities to help combat that winter boredom in our annual Winter Boredom Busters. You will find activities available in our community and some easy and fun activities you can do at home. Many of these are some of my family’s favorite things to do.

I know what it is like to be a busy parent being pulled a million different directions all day long and yet never feel like I am doing enough with my kids. The ‘hood team is here to make your life easier as we are busy parents just like you. If you want to stay up to date with fun things to do as family, sign up for our weekly calendar email and we will send our top events right to your inbox. All you need to do is head to www.thehoodmagazine.com and click on Join the ’hood.

Miranda and I just got back from the Parenting Media Association conference, where we met and shared ideas with parenting magazine publishers across the country. In addition, we were excited to win an award, so you’ll see a new award seal on our publication!

We hope you can slow down this holiday season and spend some time as family.

Happy Holidays!

Steff

& the ‘hood team

Reproduction or use of the contents of this magazine is prohibited.

Digital Media Director Jaclyn Small

Calendar Jessie Paquette

Circulation Ben Graff and Laura Kattenberg

‘Hood Magazine is published 9 times a year by Hoodlum Productions, LLC and strives to publish only accurate information; however, Hoodlum Productions, LLC cannot be held responsible for consequences resulting from errors or omissions. All material in this magazine is the property of Hoodlum Productions, LLC and cannot be reproduced without permission of the publisher.

©2022 Hoodlum Productions, LLC All Rights Reserved.

‘hood Online

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it

Snow!

Remember as a child wishing for snow? The more snow the better! As adults it seems we don’t get quite as excited about snow now, but there is still something magical when you wake up to that fresh white powder. This issue is filled with winter fun, but the fun doesn’t stop here! Online this month you will find exclusive recipes, crafts and articles that will surely make your winter enjoyable. Find it all at www.thehoodmagazine.com!

baby

‘hood

Tips from Health Haven

Being a nursing mom during the holidays can be stressful all on its own. Adding travel, and sometimes having to nurse at new places can be an addi tional stressor! Alicia with Health Haven is sharing tips on how to prepare and keep your nursing journey successful throughout the holiday season.

Baby, it’s cold INSIDE!

Birthday Club

Have you signed up yet? The ‘hood birthday club launches SOON, and you will want your child to be on the list! If you like savings and FREE stuff this is the club for you! Click below to sign your child up today.

The worst time to find out you need a new furnace is when it dies in the middle of a cold winter’s night. So here are some things to keep an eye on this winter. CLICK HERE

2022

Wrap

That’s a

With the new year near, let’s take a look back at what’s been going on with ‘hood in 2022:

• Did you know that in the year 2022 ‘hood over 3 million pages and dispersed them to the community?

• Did you know that in the year 2022 the ‘hood team grew by one baby boy? That means has 16 kids all together!

• Did you know that the reason we are passionate about being a parenting resource for all ages, is because the ‘hood team has children of all ages We not only were lucky enough to see one of our moms welcome their first baby, but another one of our mama’s sent her first born off to college in the year 2022!

• Did you know that in the year 2022, we directly emailed over 160,000 families a new issue of ‘hood?

• Did you know that our team is made up of animal lovers too? Besides the normal cats and dogs, our ‘hood teams also added a bearded dragon, a hamster and even a Russian tortoise to their families this year!

Did you know we loved being your parenting resource in the year 2022 and can’t wait to share even more great things with you in 2023? Wishing you all a Happy New Year!

When the Christmas decorations come down,

Mini Merry Meat

Entertaining during the winter months? This meatball appetizer from South Dakota Beef is just the thing for the table this season.

beyond the pages

Find local directories, stories, recipes, extra articles and so much more. Find it all at www.thehoodmagazine.com.

Find upcoming events on our online calendar.

What to Know About Lice

Lice can be prevented by avoiding sharing combs, hats and headgear

Head lice cause a common, generally harmless infestation of tan to gray bugs about the size of a sesame seed. They lay eggs, called nits, that firmly attach to the hair near the scalp. Though stigmatized, lice do not carry disease and are not a sign of poor hygiene.

Lice can’t jump, don’t infest pets, and can’t live off of the scalp for more than one day. Passed by direct head-to-head contact, lice can be prevented by educating children to avoid sharing combs, hats, and headgear.

A lice diagnosis does not require special testing but through seeing the eggs, nymphs, or adult lice in the hair. Parents can often diagnose just by looking at home. Lice tend to cluster around the nape of the neck and around the ears. Distinguishing nits and lice from other debris and dandruff is important. Debris and dandruff can easily be brushed off, whereas lice cannot.

If a child has lice:

1. Start treatment with removal and occlusive agents or over-the-counter medications. Discuss

the best type with a pharmacist or your child’s physician, as there are several options available

2. After treatment, removing all nits from the hair is essential, often by using a special comb. Although time-consuming, this step is one of the most critical ones. Not removing nits can result in infestations when they hatch.

3. After treating your child’s hair, wash all bedding and clean hair care items.

4. Check all family members for lice and treat if found.

After treatment:

1. Continue to check the child (and family) daily.

2. Re-treat and consider a different form of treatment if you find new lice or nits.

3. If, after multiple treatments, live lice or nits still exist, contact your child’s physician. Sometimes prescription treatment is necessary. l

HotMess Embrace a Christmas

‘Tis the seasdon to feel... Stressed? Guilty? Less than? Holly Jolly? Or more… Hot Mess?

Christmas, the most wonderful time of the year, can put undue pressure on moms (dads, families…) to create holiday magic. Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest … it’s a ruthless game of Yuletide one-upping. The best, most elaborate Elf-on-shelf schemes. (I am guilty of this. We now have 3 Elves. And a reindeer. And this year I bought them Elf scooters. It’s magical insanity!)

The perfectly decorated sugar cookies. (Why do the candy canes always turn out inappropriate looking?)

The decorating. And twinkling lights. And shop ping. And caroling (Wait…do people do that?!)

It’s too much. I need a long winter’s nap!

This season of hope and love and peace.

This season of Silent Nights. If we aren’t careful, will suck the Joy right out of the World.

Can we, as a collective group in the ‘hood, agree to embrace the Hot Mess Christmas? Throw away the rules and checklists? The expectations and pressures we put on our selves?

I have learned through (many!) years of counseling. And several seasons of discomfort, that many of these “rules” I put on myself are a trap.

by Erica Varcoe, Hot Mess Moms Facebook Group

A trap that leaves me stuck and missing out. A trap that has me feeling exhausted. Feeling like a failure. Like a bad mom. A trap that makes me feel like the Grinch.

We have this idea that if we see someone post ing their perfect family night of gingerbread house making, matching family pajama wearing, then we have to do that too. And maybe even better. Or better staged. No matter the yelling and tears. Bribes.

What you had hoped would be a #blessed Family Christmas Night has left you feeling like a scrooge. Kids in tears. Houses in ruins. (the real ones and the cookie ones!)

Is this Christmas? The one that Mariah Carey sings about? COUNT ME OUT!

So…

What if we embraced having a Hot Mess Christmas?

An imperfectly perfectly decorated Christmas Tree. (Decorated by laughing kids!)

Store bought Christmas goodies. (Maybe even thrown on a Dol lar Tree tray and passed off as “homemade” gifts.)

Christmas outfits that were what everyone wanted to wear. Sweatshirts. Flan nels. Jeans. Sweats. The Reason for the Season has nothing to do with coordinating outfits.

So, could we let it go?

Setting boundaries from things and people that are worse (for you) than eggnog. Saying NO NO NO instead of HO HO HO. Could we do it?

Breaking traditions to create new onesfor the sake of peace. WHAT A GIFT. Could the Elf really just sit on the shelf? Life is hard. And I’m sure the Elf would appreciate a comfortable rest from his shenanigans. (That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!)

What is your trap? What are your rules? Are you dreaming of Christmas? Or (secretly and guiltily) dreading it?

Talk to your family. Your children. Have them list their favorite parts of Christmastheir favorite traditions. You may be surprised.

Decide as a family what is worth the (precious) time, so the hustle to Holly Jolly doesn’t turn into the season of Bah-Humbug.

Make a list. That is just yours. And sit in the joy that it brings. Unlock the trap. Bask in freedom. (Freedom from expectations, the hustle, the image, the making of the magic…)

And..while you’re at it… I’ll invite you to slow down this holiday season. (Try to…) Care less about appearance. Social media comparison. And notice the magic in the mundane. The simple. The authentic.

And if it feels like a dumpster fire … gather around it and grab your chestnuts!

Real life. Let’s change the narrative. We don’t live in a Hallmark™ Movie. We live in Hot Mess Reality. l

HAPPY,

holidaySMILES

When it is too cold and blustery to play outside, bring the

Snow

VolcanoEs

The next time fresh snow piles up at home, give this experiment a try. Your children will love this classic baking soda and vinegar eruption with a snowy twist!

Collect some snow on a large baking sheet or tray. Put a small bowl or glass in the middle of the tray and form the snow into a volcano shape around the bowl. Add a few drops of liquid dish soap and a couple generous scoops of baking soda to the bowl. If you want colored lava, drop in a few drops of food coloring too!

Begin dropping in a little vinegar and watch your volcano erupt! Continue to add vinegar to keep your lava flowing.

Want to see it in Action?

CLICK HERE

Shimmery SNOW PAINT

Craft up a beautiful snowy scene with this fun paint. Instead of using regular paint, try this:

1

Mix 2 cups of shaving cream, 1 cup of white glue and a ½ of cup flour in a bowl. Don’t forget some glitter!

Snowman S’MORES

This winter, keep some simple ingredients on hand to make these fun treats anytime! All you need is some graham crackers, large marshmallows, chocolate chips, pretzel sticks and an orange candy for the carrot nose. M&M’s or a cut piece of candy corn work great.

To create your snowman, cut marshmallows in half. Place three halves sticky side down on a full graham cracker. Microwave for about 12-14 seconds until the marshmallows begin to gently puff.

Once the marshmallows are warm and gooey, stick in pretzels on each side for arms. And add chocolate chips and orange candy to create a face and buttons.

WINTER BOREDOM BUSTERS for Families 40

Ready or not – winter is here! If you need help to ensure that you don’t hear the words “I’m bored” this winter season, we have you covered. This Winter Boredom Busters list is filled with ideas and activities to entertain your family all season long.

1.

Sensory Bins. Find an empty bin or box and fill it with various items like dry rice or noodles, cereal, cotton balls, small toys (like little cars), and measuring spoons or little bowls.

2.

Sensory Bag. If you have a little that may want to throw items in the sensory bin, think about making a sensory bag! You can add some of the same items as the sensory bin to a zip top bag or use hair gel and food coloring for some squishy fun! You can see more on this by searching “sensory bag” on ‘hood’s website.

Fish Race. Using a straw, blow fish crackers across the finish line. You can do this on a table or hard surface floor and create a start and finish line using tape. If you only have one child, you can time them to see how fast they can go. Otherwise, you can make it a race if you have two or more people.

3.

4.

Winter Wonder Show Holiday Exhibition

https://bit.ly/3CNa5ZK

The holiday season is here and the Sioux Falls Figure Skating Club is excited to be hosting our seventh annual Holiday Show! Join us on Sunday, December 18 at 2:00 p.m. Doors open at 1:30 p.m. Scan the QR code in our ad on page 17 for ticket and show information.

Card Movements. Grab a deck of cards and on a piece of paper, write down a movement for each suit (hearts = hop, spade = jumping jack, etc.). Throw down a card and everyone has to do that number of the suit movements. (You can make the face cards 11, 12, and 13 or they can all be 1, make up the rules to work with the ages of your kids.)

Ice Skating Rinks. Sioux Falls Parks and Recreation has multiple skating rinks throughout town to provide hours of family fun.

Galaxy Gaming www.thegalaxygaming.com

Galaxy Gaming offers an out of this world Laser Tag arena, Virtual Reality and Gaming experience. Your ultimate entertainment destination.

Shape Matching. On a piece of paper, trace out items and then have your kids match them. You could use similar items, like condiment bottles, pens/markers, or the leaves that are still in your yard for an advanced challenge, or find objects of various shapes and sizes for an easier match.

Upgrade the Hot Chocolate. Nothing is better than snuggling up with a warm mug of hot chocolate. Upgrade your experience by grabbing fun toppings, like using marshmallow fluff around the rim! See more ideas by searching for Hot Chocolate Bar on ‘hood’s website.

14.

SDGFP The Outdoor Campus

Sioux Falls

https://gfp.sd.gov/toc-east/

The Outdoor Campus’ mission is to provide education about outdoor skills, wildlife, conservation and management practices of South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks to all ages in order to preserve our outdoor heritage.

17. 18.

Cardboard Castle. When your holiday online shopping arrives, save those boxes to transform into a castle or rocket ship or costume.

Never Bored @ Wings Gym! www.wingsgym.com

Gymnastics Academy

15.

Color Collecting. Call out a color to your kid(s) and have them race to bring you something of that color. They could choose from anything in the house or narrow it to a certain room or pile of toys.

16.

Skate City www.skatecitysd.com

Santa Skate- Come out with your favorite sweater for a fun holiday party and get your picture taken with Santa! December 17th 10AM-12PM. Family New Year’s Party- Celebrate the New Year with our annual balloon drop party! 10AM-2PM on December 31st.

Prevent cabin fever at Wings Gymnastics. Outside of our Ninja and Gymnastics classes we offer Open Gym throughout the week, various camp opportunities & a monthly Parent’s Night Out event. See our ad on page 20 for more details.

Gymnastics Academy

For All Ages Open Gym

Lil’ Wings Camp

Preschoolers

Wednesday or Friday (9 am - 12 pm)

Night

School Age Kids

19.

Washington Pavilion www.washingtonpavilion.org

Visit the Washington Pavilion to break the winter blues! Children can experience Sioux Falls’ biggest indoor climbing area, explore our South Dakota floor, discover your inner artist and so much more. Visit WashingtonPavilion.org to save $1 when you purchase your admission online.

Paint a Memory. Get crafty! Find DIY projects at a variety of businesses, from the Museum of Visual Materials to Color Me Mine to big box stores, to try a new project and create something fun!

20. 21.

Mission Possible. Change out the laser beams for yarn and tape up a spy course in the hallway. Black clothing optional.

22.

EmBe www.embe.org/aquatics

Give the gift of swimming and enjoy a holiday pool movie. Looking for winter fun? Send a friend or loved one a gift card for swim lessons, a day pass, a family pass and more! Plus discover your inner elf at our Holiday Pool Movie!

Take in a Movie. Whether you want to watch it on the big screen or opt for a movie at home, grab your popcorn and be transported to a new world for a family movie night.

Holiday Fun and ‘hood @ Home. Did you know www.thehoodmagazine.com has tabs called “Holiday Fun” where you can find crafts, recipes, and fun ideas to do over the holidays and “’hood @ Home” where you can find all of our arts & crafts and recipes? Head over to our website to find endless ideas to keep your family entertained.

BRINGTHE

Great Shots www.greatshots.golf

OPEN YEAR ROUND TO UP YOUR GAME! Great Shots is next level golf entertainment. Enjoy a modern spin on golf by putting your skills to the test on our state-of-the-art driving range, eating and drinking with friends, or bonding with coworkers over friendly competition.

Inside Toss Game. In the summer, corn hole/bean bags is a classic game. Bring this game indoors with a toss game. Find an empty container (like a bucket or old snack container) and pick something to toss in. You can use light things like cotton balls or crumpled up newspaper, small things like paper clips, or those old corks you’ve been saving for a future craft project.

Sugar and Conversation. Pick up a yummy treat from the many cookie or cotton candy businesses, and drive around town while asking your kids conversation starter questions that can be found on ‘hood’s website.

28. 29.

Butterfly House & Aquarium

www.ButterflyHouseAquarium.org

Brilliant butterflies. Exotic sea creatures. Year-round tropical environment. Immerse yourself in the wonders of the natural world at the Butterfly House & Aquarium! Discover animal and plant life from every corner of the globe as you kick back, relax, and enjoy this lush rainforest in the heart of Sioux Falls.

Paper Airplane Challenge. There are dozens of ways to fold a paper airplane. Make a fun family challenge to see what type of fold can fly the farthest.

Give your Time. One thing that Sioux Falls is amazing at is giving back! There are numerous opportunities for your whole family to give back to our community this winter. Visit the Helpline Center for opportunities around town.

30.

Children’s Museum of South Dakota www.prairieplay.org

Greet a life-size T. rex and climb the clouds. Harvest food and move it from farm to market. This is a sample of the hands-on activities ready to spark your imagination 50 miles north of Sioux Falls in Brookings. Did someone say ROAD TRIP? Play along with us!!

32.

31. 33.

Bring the Snow Inside. Use a Rubbermaid tote and scoop up some snow for your children to enjoy. Dye some water with simple food coloring and put it into a squirt bottle to color the snow! Use cups and spoons to make your very own snow cone fun.

Siouxland Libraries www.siouxlandlib.org/ winter-reading-program

The Winter Reading Program is for all ages! Each age group has a BINGO card, and each BINGO square contains a different reading idea or challenge. This allows you to enjoy your favorites and explore new things on your way to earning prizes! Visit our website for more details.

Shovel the Sidewalks for the Block. After being cooped up inside from a snowstorm, burn off some energy by doing a good deed for the neighbors. Instead of just shoveling your sidewalk, do the whole street and show your neighbors how much they mean to you!

34. 35.

Write Letters to Veterans or the Elderly. Winter can be a very lonely time for some people. Take an hour and help your children write a letter to residents at a local nursing home or the VA. The letters brighten the resident’s day and help to teach your children letter writing skills too!

36. 37.

Sky Zone Sioux Falls

www.skyzone.com/siouxfalls

Play. Every. Day! Jump into Sky Zone today and discover all the new ways to play. Don’t forget to check out our Little Leapers and GLOW programs for extra excitement! Check out our Holiday Punch Cards for our best deal of the year!

Camp at Home. Bring the summer into winter by setting up a campsite indoors. Create a campfire by putting a Sterno can in a metal bucket with rocks (safety first!) and roast some marshmallows.

Dance the Day Away. Let everyone add their own song choices and create a family play list. With a mixture of new and old songs, as well as some party favorites, a family dance day is sure to burn off the winter blues.

39. 40.

Toughest Monster Truck Tour

www.toughestmonstertrucks.com

On January 20 & 21, the Toughest Monster Truck Tour returns to Denny Sanford PREMIER Center! With larger than life monster trucks flying high on an all-dirt track! Also featuring the Freestyle Motocross Team! Get tickets at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center box office and toughestmonstertrucks.com!

38.

Thunder Road

Entertainment

www.ThunderRoadSiouxFalls.com

Break out of the cold and into 30,000 feet of amazing arcade & VR games, Hyper-bowl ing, 2-Story Laser-Tag, Mini-Bowling, 7D theater, & More! Satisfy your appetite at REV-IT-UP Grille for awesome eats, deserts, and adult drinks! We host awesome parties as well. Next spring enjoy Go-Karts, Euro-Bungy, Mini-Golf, and more!

Field trips and special speakers are also used to enhance the educational experience. Our teachers help each child become an individual who is aware of their abilities and who can focus on their own strengths.

Stop in and check out our program and teachers anytime! No appointment necessary.

Here’s a story that is all too common: A family received their stimulus checks from the government and decided to spend that money on a new camper, boat, jetski, motorcycle, house, etc.

With where the economy stood at the time of purchase, it seemed like a loan payment they could manage. Then, however, inflation started to hit, and the costs to fuel that new boat or heat that new house skyrocketed, leaving them scrambling to make their minimum payments.

Increased anxiety and stress levels for all, especially parents, caused by increased inflation, additional payments, and the overall cost of living is relatable and understandable. These factors can make things difficult in regard to budgeting and spending.

Now that the holiday season is upon us, budgets are squeezing tighter than ever. People are scrambling to figure out how they can afford gifts for their loved ones without falling behind on other payments. They want to get their family member that gift they’ve wanted so badly but aren’t sure if they’ll be able to swing it financially.

Don’t panic. There’s help. Vern Eide Motorcars has finance experts available to help. They can look at any specific financial situation and work to figure out a solution. They aren’t going to judge potential clients. They genuinely want to help try to find a way forward.

The finance experts at Vern Eide Motorcars have multiple ways in which they can help:

• They can help you lease a new vehicle. In most cases, you will have a lower payment when leasing a vehicle. This can help free up some cash each month to help pay other bills.

• They can take your current vehicle and camper or boat in on trade toward the lease or purchase of a different vehicle. This would make it so you have one payment, instead of multiple payments.

• They can purchase your camper or boat from you as a way toward you eliminating that monthly payment.

We all struggle from time to time - let Vern Eide Motorcars work to bring more peace to your life. Stop by or call any of our Vern Eide Motorcars locations to see how they can help today.

by Ashley Kracke

NewCelebrating Year’s Eve

with Friends and Kids

My family lives in a great neighborhood where we enjoy getting together to celebrate occasions and holidays like New Year’s Eve. With kids ages four to 12, most of us are at a point in our lives where we need babysitters for an evening out with adults and friends. Therefore, we find it easier to have a kid-friendly neighborhood celebration.

Over the years, our neighbor group has celebrated in various ways. We usually start the parties around 7 pm, so the younger kids can still get in on the fun before hitting bedtime. We also try to plan events that all ages can enjoy doing together. Here are two party types that have stuck out and may be worth trying with your friends or family this New Year’s Eve.

New Hourly Activities

An easy one to plan was activities every hour for the kids to do throughout the night. We have had them make a craft, do a scavenger hunt, decorate cupcakes/cookies, and play games. The kids loved Bingo, and dance parties were always a hit to fill the extra time left in the hour.

On the Move

Another celebration we had was a progressive New Year’s Eve party. Three families hosted throughout the evening, and we enjoyed food and activities at each of their houses. Each home had a theme, like glow night, games, and sports. We served appetizers at one place, the main meal at another house, and dessert at

the final home. It was so much fun to walk to the next house so the kids didn’t get bored at any one place. The activities and variety of food kept the kids entertained, and we all

My advice is to enjoy the time together. As a group, we always promise to one another not to stress about how clean our houses are or whether we have enough food. We always know that we will be cleaning up after the party, and there will

by LifeScape

Gross Motor Development Disguised as Outdoor Winter Fun

Gross motor skill development is important all year long, not just when the weather is sunny and warm. Winter can still be an excellent time to encourage play and movement. If you’re brave enough to bundle up and head out to play in the snow, here are some fun activities for you and your child that will encourage gross motor development!

• “Do you want to build a snowman?” Rolling and lifting heavy snowballs is a great way to work on core and leg strength. Have your child try jumping over the branches before you use them for arms on your snowman for some added gross motor fun!

• Swing set or local playground covered in snow? No problem! Climbing and swinging, even in the snow, are fun ways to work on core and leg strength. Besides, climbing to the top of your favorite slide and landing in a big pile of snow at the bottom is fun!

• Throwing, catching, and kicking snowballs, oh my! Roll up snowballs of various sizes to help your child work on their ball skills. Ball skills are a terrific way to work on balance (standing on one foot to kick) and hand-eye coordination.

• Take a walk in a winter wonderland! The deeper the snow, the more resistance for your child and the more challenging the workout. For extra

fun while working on your endurance and leg strength, turn your walk in the backyard or at a local park into a scavenger hunt!

• Sledding is yet another adventurous way to promote your child’s gross motor develop ment. Live near a big hill? Great! Have your child strengthen their whole body by pulling their sled up the snowy hill. No hill, no problem! Have your child take their sibling, friend, pet, or a pile of snow for a ride around the yard in their sled for some resistance work. Get creative and have your child pull the sled forward, backward, and sideways!

• Looking for a way to really challenge your child’s balance? Lace-up your skates and head to your local ice-skating rink!

Who knew winter could be so beneficial to your child? So, the next time it snows, bundle up, embrace the weather, and head outdoors to work on your child’s gross motor skill development! l

by Foley’s Heating & Air Conditioning

What to Do if You Wake Up to a Freezing House

There are just some cold winter mornings when the alarm goes off, and as you begin to poke a foot out from underneath the covers, you quickly decide under the covers is where you prefer to stay. For most of us, that is not an option.

After coming to that conclusion, you realize it’s more than a chilly winter’s morn, but the actual house is downright cold. You may have a furnace on the fritz. But don’t panic yet.

• First, check that the furnace is on. The switch may have gotten bumped into the off position. Most furnaces have a control that often resembles a light switch.

• Check if the thermostat is in heat mode.

• Reset the furnace. For newer models, that’s typically a matter of turning off the furnace, waiting ten seconds, and turning it back on. Another way is to turn off the circuit breaker for ten seconds and back on. If you have an older furnace and the pilot light is on, a reset is not required. If the pilot light is off, turn the thermostat

all the way down, light the pilot light, and reset the thermostat.

• Your thermostat may be broken. Set it to different temperatures and see how the temperature in your home responds.

• Check your electrical panel to ensure you didn’t blow a fuse or trip a breaker.

• Ensure the pilot light isn’t out and the gas valve is on. If it is, you can relight the pilot light.

If you can still see your breath standing in the kitchen after checking these possible issues, it is probably time to call a professional. Until that person arrives, close rooms not in use, build a fire if you have a fireplace, bake some bread, dress in layers, break out the space heaters, and open faucets enough to drip a little. Help is on the way! l

Special offers and discounts will be sent to your email two months prior to your child’s birthday to help plan their celebration. On the date of their birthday, coupons and/or offers from our partners will be emailed to you, redeemable for the specified time on each offer. The club will be launching in 2023, so scan the QR code to the right to join our insider’s list to be the first to know!

Fun Things To Do

You could list your events for on thehoodmagazine.com

?Here is how to create an event:

1. Create an account.

2. Post your event details.

3. Add a logo or photo.

Things to know about our calendar:

• You can create reoccurring events.

• You can share straight to social media.

• We share our calendar with our email list.

• We do weekly social media callouts linking to our calendar.

to do as a family?

Check out thehoodmagazine.com or scan our QR code and click on the Things to Do tab! You can save our events right to your calendar, so you don’t forget the details! With the click of a button, you can share any event with friends or family and finalize all your plans too!

Looking for something to do for particular age? No worries! Our calendar does that too!

and the winter season upon us, we found some fun events we think you will enjoy to keep you warm and entertained!

Scroll through all the events or head straight to the date you are looking for.

Here are some upcoming events we think you will love! Learn all about these events and more on the ‘hood online calendar.

• Disney on Ice

• Cocomelon Live

• The Princess Concert

• Mystery Dinner Theater

by HouseMaster

CLEARING SNOW the Right Way

For many homeowners, clearing snow after a storm is merely an annoyance. In South Dakota, it is a way of life. Here are a few tips to keep a little or a lot of snow from becoming a big problem:

1. As you focus on clearing walks, steps, and driveways, also take time to consider drainage as the snow ac cumulation melts. Avoid piling snow against the foundation, even if the surface is graded correctly away from the house. If the basement leaks, it would be advisable to remove the snow from the area altogether.

2. After heavy snow, check your gas meter; a buried gas meter can freeze and restrict gas flow into the home properly.

3. Ensure your furnace exhaust is not buried in the snow or iced over. Covered exhausts could cause harm ful gases to enter the home or your furnace not to work properly.

4. Before using any calcium chloride or other melting agent, think about whether the corrosive run-off will flow into areas of plantings, pet traffic, or pools.

5. If adequately drained by gutters, the roof should be left alone, except for removing any ice buildup at the eaves.

6. Driveway salt can be a useful tool in helping with slipping; however, it can also be a hazard to your concrete and wear the concrete down faster than you would like.

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DIRECTIONS

Combine beef, broth, chickpeas, tomatoes, water, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper in 4-1/2 to 5-1/2-quart slow cooker; toss to coat well. Cover and cook on HIGH 5 hours, or on LOW 8 hours. (No stirring is necessary during cooking.) Stir in mixed vegetables and pasta. Continue cooking, covered, 1 hour or until beef and pasta are tender. Season with salt and pepper, as desired. Stir well before serving. Serve with cheese, if desired.

Total Recipe Time: on HIGH setting: 6-1/4 hours; on LOW setting: 9-1/4 hours.

Makes 6 to 8 servings.

by Scheels

Winter Jackets Tips to Care for Your

Investing in a quality winter jacket for your child is a big decision, especially living in this cold climate. Whether your child has a puffer jacket, a down jacket or a three-in-one interchangeable jacket, it’s important to properly clean and care for it. To keep winter jackets fresh and clean follow this step-by-step guide to keep your child’s jacket ready for winter.

1. Check the Care Label

2. Prep for Washing

Once you’ve checked the care label, you can start prepping the jacket for washing. If the jacket has fur trim, you’ll want to remove this prior to washing. Next, empty the jacket’s pockets of any items, zip up all the zippers, and seal any VELCRO or hook-and-loop closures.

3. Wash the Jacket

When you’re ready to wash the jacket, go ahead and place the jacket in your washing machine. Ideally, use a front-loading machine or a machine without an agitator (the tall spindle in the center of the wash basket). This will ensure a gentle cycle and prevent damage to the coat. Make sure to wash on cold with a gentle soap.

4. Drying the Jacket

Once your jacket is finished in the washing machine, load your jacket into the dryer on low heat. Make sure the jacket is fully dry. If it’s still damp after the drying cycle ends, run it again for a few additional minutes. This will prevent your jacket from picking up a damp, musty smell.

Voila! Your child’s winter jacket is clean and ready. You can perform any touch-ups or spot-cleaning with a soft cloth and water. Following this step-by-step guide will keep winter jackets looking just like new!

Penquin

by Sanford Health

Cold-Weather Safety Tips

For Inside, Outside

and In the Car

The wind is howling, the snow is falling, and it’s time to bundle up with mittens, hats and winter coats. But if you have a little one at home, they have their own winter safety guidelines for being outdoors or while riding in a car.

Properly dressed for winter

To keep children warm, it’s best to dress them in layers. This allows par ents to remove or add layers depend ing on the temperature, so you can avoid the child overheating or getting too cold.

“People tend to overdress babies. They have a really good circulatory system. So if you are hot, then they are likely hot,” says Jody Jordet, a community life educator at Sanford Health. “Children are comfortable in what a parent would be wearing. For babies and toddlers, one more layer can be added as needed. When headed outside for some outdoor fun, dress your child in layers with a waterproof outside layer. This will keep your child dry and warm.”

Winter car seat safety

Car seats are designed to fit snugly around a child’s body to protect him or her in

case of an accident. In winter, this can become more challenging, as there needs to be a balance of keeping your child safe with also keeping your child warm. Jordet says, “Any time a child is in a five-point harness, thinner layers — nothing bulkier than a polar fleece or properly fitted hooded sweater — should be worn. Properly fitted clothing is key.” If a child is wearing a bulky winter coat, the car seat straps will not fit properly, leaving your child vulnerable and at risk of injury in the event of a crash.

This does not mean your child is un able to wear a coat in the car; it just means he or she needs to wear the right one. “I always tell people to have a proper car seat safe layer for travel ing and a different coat for playing outside, so a car coat and a play coat,” says Jordet. Light fleece is thin enough to fit properly but thick enough to keep your child warm. If you feel your child still will be cold, put him or her in the seat with the harness fastened. Then, take the child’s heavy winter coat or a blanket to cover your child for car rides.

Happy Holiday Shopping

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YOUR WORLD IN OUR HANDS

PRIMARY PEDIATRIC CARE

They are a bundle of energy, smiles and snuggles one minute and causing mischief the next. But you wouldn’t have it any other way. To help keep your little ones going at top speed, partner with a pediatrician from Sanford Health. Whether it’s a well-child check-up, a cold or a complex medical issue, we’re here for all your child’s health needs.

Find a pediatrician for your child at sanfordhealth.org