Celebration of Children - August 2008

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GREATER KALAMAZOO

FR EE !

August 2008

Fashion DejaVu

Easy & Fun Recipes

What is Autism?

Essential • Enlightening • Entertaining

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This month Women’s LifeStyle has a special focus on celebrating children – infants to teens. Children bless our lives in so many ways! You’ll read about 2 young ladies who are already showing great talent in fields they will no doubt pursue as adults. China Dukes is a very talented writer and Alison Van Orman has a gift for graphic arts.

Both young ladies inspired me, not only with their talent(s), but also with their visions for the future and with the way they pursue their dreams. Our children are certainly Kalamazoo’s greatest riches.

I found hope this month, too. Hope that our young will be compassionate and caring. As adults I think we often wonder what the world will be like when the next generation takes over. Just recently, two young women told me they had cut off their beautiful long hair for Locks of Love. One was 17 years old, the other 7.

What a marvelous thing…truly inspiring! These young ladies help me to believe we will be leaving our world in capable, compassionate hands.

Inside the covers this month, I’m sure you’ll find the inspiration to renew your passion for cooking, reading, “going green”, organizing and more. We’ve included several articles to help you squeeze the most out of the rest of your summer. There are ideas galore. New this month is our column on etiquette and manners written by Madeline Zackery.

So I think you will truly enjoy your August edition. Thanks so much for picking it up.

I hope you’ll come away inspired to follow your own passion.

Until Next Month!

Darlene Clifford CONTACT US

By Phone: 269-569-1647

By Email: wlskazoo@provide.net

By Mail: Greater Kalamazoo Women’s Lifestyle P.O. Box 228, Portage, MI 49081-2284

August Contents Celebration of Children Today’s Kids (Gadgets, News and Ideas) ................................12 Creating New Birthday Traditions...........................................16 Music Strikes a Chord with Teens ...........................................18 Eat Together...........................................................................21 Everyday Play .........................................................................22 7 Things to Do on Rainy Days...............................................22

TABLE OF CONTENTS

W

Greater Kalamazoo

sher bli

hat a month of inspiram the Pu o tion this has been!

Kalamazoo has so many wonderful things happening!

New jobs have been announced.

We have new businesses opening including new restaurants that focus on creating and serving delicious local Michigan food. We have talented young adults stepping up to take their place in our world. So many people in our community are giving and serving, so that others can have hope and a better life. There is just so much to celebrate in Kalamazoo.

Look Who’s Talking China Dukes...........................................................................19 Alison Van Orman ..................................................................19 Expand Your Horizons Helping Your Teen Make Wise Choices................................... 4 Conquer Your Clutter: Clutter Busters .................................... 7 Trivia Teasers by KEY Media....................................................11 Work It! Cradle to Career .......................................................14 Money Sense..........................................................................15 Going Back To School With Good Manners............................27 Coffee & Candor with Jennifer ...............................................27 Reader’s Lounge .....................................................................30 Kids’ (And Your) Health The Mother Load ................................................................... 6 What is Autism? .....................................................................10 How Safe Is Your Picnic Basket?..............................................13 Teen Style Fashion Deja vu ..................................................................... 8 Home & Garden Five Trends in Children’s Furniture..........................................20 Framing Your Child’s Artwork.................................................20 Kid’s Menu Funny Face Cookie Pops.........................................................17 Easy Alphabet Cookies............................................................23 Nesquik‚ Skyscrapers ..............................................................23 Healthy Eating, Healthy Kids ..................................................24 Peach-Sicles............................................................................25 Local Events & Other Hot Stuff Events Calendar .....................................................................28 Hot Stuff ................................................................................26

Mission Statement: Our missions is to provide women with information that is essential, enlightening and entertaining, and to provide our advertisers with high quality service and an effective advertising medium. Our content is resourceful and sincere. We strive to maintain a high level of integrity as a positive, inspiring and progressive media presence.

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My

18-year-old daughter just completed a lengthy discernment process. She was trying to decide what to do for the summer. College is looming large in the fall and she would love to have a sizable bank balance to count on for the coming year. On the other hand, it is her “last chance,” as she calls it, to have fun, hang out with her friends, especially at the beach, and enjoy these final halycon days before beginning her “adult life.” This decision felt monumental to her, causing considerable stress and many sleepless nights. She wanted so badly to make the “right” decision.

She felt her future depended on it.

As her mother, I wasn’t so concerned about her making the right choice, as much as I was concerned about her making a good choice, one that she could feel confident about, one that would bring her happiness. Together, we laid all her options on the table and began a companionable process of discernment.

“Discernment” is not a word found in a typical teen’s vocabulary, nor is it a process that they may even be familiar with. But oh, how important it is as they journey toward adulthood!

Discernment invites us to pay close attention, to observe, and listen carefully, not only to our thoughts, but to our feelings, as well.

Discernment is a unique, decision-making process that marries the head with the heart, joining the two great divides with insight.

Even Webster’s Dictionary describes discernment as “having the power to see what is not evident to the average mind; being able to grasp what is obscure.”

Many of the decisions we make on an everyday basis are done rapid-fire, quickly, through rational thought or instinct (“gut reaction”).

Rarely do we slow down long enough to blend the two, a process which will likely result in a “good” solid decision, one that will affirm what is right and true for us. As I accompanied my teen through her discernment process about how to spend the summer, it became evident that I needed to share some life wisdom, things I’ve learned over the years about how to make good decisions. Here is some of what I told her.

Perhaps it will help you and your teen move through the quagmire of decision making and keep you on good terms with one another.

The Art of Discernment:

Locate and disassemble any “shoulds.”

Pay attention to your mental chatter. If you notice that there are a lot of “shoulds” hanging around, that may mean you are overly concerned with the “proper” way to do things, preoccupied with societal expectations, or concerned about the opinions of others. “Shoulds” can also be a warning sign that you are feeling overly responsible, for yourself or for the wellbeing of others. Listening to “shoulds” does not usually result in healthy, wise decisions.

Making decisions laden with guilt or sourced in obligation can create undue stress, even rob us of our self-esteem.

Helping Your Teen Make Wise Choices Jan Deremo Lundy

4 Greater Kalamazoo Edition• August 2008

In my case, I witnessed my daughter falling prey to the “shoulds” of moneymaking. The pressure she put upon herself to have a lot of money in the bank, enough to carry her through her entire first year of college, was huge.

Together, we disassembled this “should” so she could see how much stress this was causing her.

She began to realize that money could flow in during the course of the school year from a variety of sources (parents, holiday gifts, parttime employment, etc.) and, financially, she could be just fine.

Slow down and hone in on your true desires.

Ask yourself, ‘What would really make me happy?’ ‘What course of action would allow me to feel good about my life?’ These are not questions that should be answered quickly from the head, but allowed to simmer in the recesses of the heart. In the midst of my daughter’s discernment process, I often found myself saying to her, “Let’s just sit with this a while. Let’s give it some time and come back to it tomorrow.” At first, this advice frustrated her, as she was used to making hasty decisions.

In time, she became more comfortable about discernment and in letting things settle inside her. I encouraged her to slow down, to allow her heart’s desire to surface. Significant time is needed for the mind to quiet down enough before the whisperings of the heart can be heard.

Balance the needs of today with your hopes for the future.

It’s easy to get caught up in worry about the future when it comes to decision making. You may feel like this one decision will make or break your future. In reality, it probably won’t.

It’s just one of thousands of decisions you will make in the next few years.

Instead of focusing so heavily on the potential of a situation or finding the perfect solution, direct your attention to what would be a good choice for you in this very moment. Ask yourself ‘What do I need right now to feel good about this?’ Making a decision rooted in your own well-being or current passion will help you remain clearheaded and openhearted about all the options. In addition, worrying about the future is a distraction, one that can prevent you from picking up on cues about the future. Stay attentive to the present moment and do what feels right for you – right here, right now.

Decisions made from this perspective can ultimately lead to favorable outcomes.

That said, follow your heart! As pop music icon Kenny Loggins sang on his famous children’s album, More Songs from Pooh’s Corner, “Your heart will lead you home.” It will, trust me. It will also lead you to a glorious future. Your heart, wisely listened to, will take you anywhere you need to go.

Oh, yes, you may be interested to know the result of my daughter’s discernment process.

She opted to savor the summer and also seek a part time job. To me, her decision felt like the perfect pairing of head and heart. You go girl!

Jan Deremo Lundy is an inspirational speaker, spiritual director and author of Coming Home to Ourselves: A Woman’s Journey to Wholeness. Her newest book, co-authored with her husband, is Perfect Love: How to Find Yours and Make It Last Forever. E-mail her at jan@awakenedliving.com or visit awakenedliving.com.

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Greater Kalamazoo

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Yoga can be a perfect complement to motherhood. A bit of silence, stretching, deep breathing and internal awareness would do most households a great deal of good. But if you don’t have the time or cash to join a studio, then turning your den into a makeshift studio is as easy as turning off the television and laying down a big beach towel. Practice the following two moves to your individual level of ability and attempt to increase your tolerance weekly. You’ll find a new strength and tone to your entire body, serving you well in your daily routine.

Plank looks like the top of a true push-up. Shoulders are above the wrists in a straight line, the body is extended back, also in a straight line, and your feet point down to the ground while you balance on your toes.

Use abdominal strength to hold the pose for as long as possible. Rest when you’re tired and repeat as often as you are able. To target low back and abdominal strength, lie on your back with your arms out to the side forming a T with your upper body. Bend your knees up so that the shins come parallel to the ground. Without arching your lower back, keep your knees together and slowly move them toward the ground from side to side, twisting at the belly. Use abdominal strength to move your knees like a pendulum from left to right while keeping your upper body still. Repeat until you’re tired. Be sure to rest as often as needed.

photo courtesy ERGObaby

Wearing your child is not only trendy but can be a handsfree exercise as well. Check out ergobabycarrier.com for a backpack-like child carrier that can handle up to 40 pounds of weight and is also ergonomic for mom’s body.

You can opt to use it in front with your child facing either toward you or away and on your back as well. Carry baby while you do household chores and grocery shop. For walking and hiking, check out shopkeltykids.com. Their highly rated backpack, external frame carriers, and jogging strollers can be a wise investment depending on your needs. Gone are the days of remaining in the house just because you have kids.

F i t n e s s

The Mother Load

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ith a few routines, gadgets and ideas, you can get your pre-mommy figure back (or at least return to a healthy level of fitness).

Greater Kalamazoo Edition• August 2008

Finally, never underestimate the calorie-burning potential of each day. According to one Web site, 30 minutes of doing laundry can burn up to 210 calories and washing dishes an impressive 75 calories. 125 calories are burned by shopping while pushing a cart, and 180 can be spent while playing with your kids outside! And don’t forget about the number of times you might take the flight of stairs in your home, or bending over to pick up your children and then standing up. The activities you so often discount as mindless are opportunities to think about using your core strength, arm and leg muscles, as well as gluteals more efficiently. Purchase a pedometer and clip it to your waist. Watch the steps begin to add up and make it a challenge by increasing the number of steps you take each day. You’ll soon be amazed at all the places your feet will take you. Suddenly the phrase “All in a day’s work” takes on a whole new meaning.

Kerri J. Reinbold, RN, BSN is a freelance writer and busy mom of 11-month-old twins Jake and Abe. Health and fitness are crucial to helping her enjoy life one marathon day at a time.

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C o n q u e r Yo u r C l u t t e r

Grandparents and Kid Clutter Busters

By Alexandra Fix

I

t’s coming back to me again—the lovely mountain of chaos a new baby and active toddlers bring into your life. Even though I thought I was done with all that kid clutter years ago when my five children grew up, it’s back. I’m a grandparent and steeped anew in baby paraphernalia and kid stuff. It’s early in the game for me, so I’m not ready for a totally separate toy room. It’s a nice concept, but babies and little children want to play where the grownups are and I want to watch them play. My solution is providing small pockets of activity that can be brought out in anticipation of my little guests and stashed away in closets and on shelves when the children go home. Clear plastic boxes, larger covered tubs, laundry baskets and fabric bins are my containers of choice. They can hold anything and everything and support a moderate degree of portion control. Following are some of my favorite grandchild play containers.

Play Food Forget those fussy, unsafe glass tea sets of past eras.

Fill one clear container with small plastic plates, little plastic cups, kid-sized plastic silverware and lots of fake food. Kids love to play tea party. Craft stores are a great source for artificial fruit and many children’s boutiques now carry fabric fried eggs and sandwiches.

I’ve seen wooden pizza and sliceable, wooden loaves of bread. Empty, plastic food containers from your own cupboard and refrigerator make for imaginative food play as well.

tle hands to carry and inviting enough for little eyes to browse. Consider the season and choose a group of books to have out for each visit. Don’t hesitate to pull out your own children’s old favorites for a second round of enjoyment. Used book sales at libraries and bargain overstock book stores are another fantastic source for kids’ books.

A Basket a Room

Book Bins Books on a bookcase are great for grownups but not so great for kids. They’re not reading the spine labels; they’re looking for the covers of the books they love.

Use small fabric bins or small organizer baskets for groups of books. They’ll be lightweight enough for lit-

One laundry basket in each room, where family and guests gather, makes a great place to corral the pull toys, the blocks, the stuffed animals and the balls.

Early on, encourage the fun of refilling the laundry basket with scattered toys. Your grandchildren might catch on to your trickery, but until they do, maybe you can establish a pick-up pattern without them even knowing it’s happening.

Outdoor Baskets A basket of balls or a basket of sand toys is a necessity in controlling the chaos of outdoor kid clutter.

When the balls have been in puddles, they dry faster in a basket than in a box.

Big Stuff Where are you going to go with the big stuff? The swing? The crib? The highchair? The car seat? For as little as they are, babies take up an enormous amount of space. So step beyond the denial and designate a good sized space in your previously child-free house. Give up a closet somewhere in the house for these oversized, desperately needed pieces of baby equipment. Your grandbabies would thank you if they could.

Dress Up Clothes This one is going to require a larger container. A big, rubber storage tub with a lid is wonderful. Ransack your own closet for some lovely, glitzy, no-longer-used finery.

Take out that old Hawaiian shirt from grandpa’s closet. Check your drawers for baubles and bangles of costume jewelry.

Check thrift shops for hard hats and tool belts or cowboy hats and boots. And don’t forget some flashy shoes to add to the mix.

Also, be sure to include something that can serve as a superhero cape and maybe splurge on a ballerina leotard and tutu.

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photos/fashions courtesy of Marshalls

To day’s fashions may have you feeling as if you’ve entered a time warp.

D re s s e s Scarves In bright patterns and bold prints scarves of today are worn around the neck, the waste or as a bandanna just like the ‘60s.

Bead Necklaces

Mod-look shifts, loose-fitting frocks and baby doll dresses (and shirts) in wildly graphic ‘60s-look prints and fluorescent colors are hot today.

Bead necklaces and chokers of the ‘60s and ‘70s were often handmade and today’s trend captures that bohemian a r t f u l f l a i r.

P e a s a n t To p s Keep cool in light, free-flowing cotton tops with intricately embroidered designs.

Also look for gypsystyle blouses worn off-the-shoulder and pull-string or lace-up necklines.

Short Shorts Ye s , t h e u n b e l i e v a b l y s h o r t , practically too tight to bend over in shorts are fashionable.

The ‘70s introduced hotpants and short shorts in luxurious fabrics like velvet or satin. Will we see the return of hot pants with wide belts and matching go-go boots?

T R E N D WAT C H Anxiously awaiting the re t u r n o f Painter pants, macrame, bib overalls, Nehru jackets.

C o r k We d g e H e e l Shoes with a cork wedge heel were a hot trend for most of the 70s and they’re back again.

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Cringing at the very thought o f t h e re t u r n o f To e s o c k s , l e i s u r e s u i t s , parachute outfits, tube tops, gaucho pants, tiki jewelry or the one-piece pantsuit with parallel zippers that ran from the ankle to the neckline.

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What is Autism? courtesy National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Autism (sometimes called “classical autism”) is the most common condition in a group of developmental disorders known as the autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). Autism is characterized by impaired social interaction, problems with verbal and nonverbal communication, and unusual, repetitive, or severely limited activities and interests. Experts estimate that three to six children out of every 1,000 will have autism. Males are four times more likely to have autism than females.

What are some common signs of autism?

time they reach adulthood.

There are three distinctive behaviors that characterize autism. Autistic children have 1. difficulties with social interaction, 2. problems with verbal and nonverbal communication and 3. repetitive behaviors or narrow, obsessive interests.

Autism varies widely in its severity and symptoms and may go unrecognized, especially in mildly affected children or when it is masked by more debilitating handicaps. Doctors rely on a core group of behaviors to alert them to the possibility of a diagnosis of autism. These behaviors are: • impaired ability to make friends with peers • impaired ability to initiate or sustain a conversation with others • absence or impairment of imaginative and social play • stereotyped, repetitive, or unusual use of language • restricted patterns of interest that are abnormal in intensity or focus • preoccupation with certain objects or subjects • inflexible adherence to specific routines or rituals

These behaviors can range in impact from mild to disabling.

The hallmark feature of autism is impaired social interaction. Parents are usually the first to notice symptoms of autism in their child.

As early as infancy, a baby with autism may be unresponsive to people or focus intently on one item to the exclusion of others for long periods of time. A child with autism may appear to develop normally and then withdraw and become indifferent to social engagement.

Children with autism may fail to respond to their name and often avoid eye contact with other people. They have difficulty interpreting what others are thinking or feeling because they can’t understand social cues, such as tone of voice or facial expressions, and don’t watch other people’s faces for clues about appropriate behavior.

They lack empathy.

Many children with autism engage in repetitive movements such as rocking and twirling, or in self-abusive behavior such as biting or head-banging. They also tend to start speaking later than other children and may refer to themselves by name instead of “I” or “me.” Children with autism don’t know how to play interactively with other children.

Some speak in a sing-song voice about a narrow range of favorite topics, with little regard for the interests of the person to whom they are speaking.

For reasons that are still unclear, about 20 to 30 percent of children with autism develop epilepsy by the

Greater Kalamazoo Edition• August 2008

Doctors will often use a questionnaire or other screening instrument to gather information about a child’s development and behavior. Some screening instruments rely solely on parent observations; others rely on a combination of parent and doctor observations. If screening instruments indicate the possibility of autism, doctors will ask for a more comprehensive evaluation.

Autism is a complex disorder. A comprehensive evaluation requires a multidisciplinary team including a psychologist, neurologist, psychiatrist, speech therapist, and other professionals who diagnose children with ASDs. The team members will conduct a thorough neurological assessment and in-depth cognitive and language testing.

Because hearing problems can cause behaviors that could be mistaken for autism, children with delayed speech development should also have their hearing tested. After a thorough evaluation, the team usually meets with parents to explain the results of the evaluation and present the diagnosis.

The hallmark feature of autism is impaired social interaction.

Many children with autism have a reduced sensitivity to pain, but are abnormally sensitive to sound, touch or other sensory stimulation. These unusual reactions may contribute to behavioral symptoms such as a resistance to being cuddled or hugged.

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How is autism diagnosed?

Children with some symptoms of autism, but not enough to be diagnosed with classical autism, are often diagnosed with PDD-NOS. Children with autistic behaviors but well-developed language skills are often diagnosed with Asperger syndrome. Children who develop normally and then suddenly deteriorate between the ages of 3 to 10 years and show marked autistic behaviors may be diagnosed with childhood disintegrative disorder. Girls with autistic symptoms may be suffering from Rett syndrome, a sex-linked genetic disorder characterized by social withdrawal, regressed language skills, and hand wringing.

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What causes autism?

Scientists aren’t certain what causes autism, but it’s likely that both genetics and environment play a role. Researchers have identified a number of genes associated with the disorder. Studies of people with autism have found irregularities in several regions of the brain. Other studies suggest that people with autism have abnormal levels of serotonin or other neurotransmitters in the brain. These abnormalities suggest that autism could result from the disruption of normal brain development early in fetal development caused by defects in genes that control brain growth and that regulate how neurons communicate with each other. While these findings are intriguing, they are preliminary and require further study. The theory that parental practices are responsible for autism has now been disproved.

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What role does inheritance play?

Recent studies strongly suggest that some people have a genetic predisposition to autism. In families with one autistic child, the risk of having a second child with the disorder is approximately 5 percent, or one in 20. This is greater than the risk for the general population. Researchers are looking for clues about which genes contribute to this increased susceptibility. In some cases, parents and other relatives of an autistic child show mild impairments in social and communicative skills or engage in repetitive behaviors. Evidence also suggests that some emotional disorders, such as manic depression, occur more frequently than average in the families of people with autism.

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Do symptoms of autism change over time?

For many children, autism symptoms improve with treatment and with age. Some children with autism grow up to lead normal or near-normal lives. Children whose language skills regress early in life, usually before the age of 3, appear to be at risk of developing epilepsy or seizurelike brain activity. During adolescence, some children with autism may become depressed or experience behavioral problems. Parents of these children should be ready to adjust treatment for their child as needed.

How is autism treated?

What research is being done?

TRIVIA QUESTIONS

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The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) is one of the federal government’s leading supporters of biomedical research on brain and nervous system disorders. The NINDS conducts research in its laboratories at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland , and also awards grants to support research at universities and other facilities. As part of the Children’s Health Act of 2000, the NINDS and three sister institutes have formed the NIH Autism Coordinating Committee to expand, intensify, and coordinate NIH’s autism research.

Where can I get more information?

For more information on neurological disorders or research programs funded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, visit the Institute’s Brain Resources and Information Network (BRAIN) website at ninds.nih.gov.

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TEST YOUR “WOMAN” KNOWLEDGE! #1 A bride stands to which side of the groom? #2 The name of J.Lo’s perfume is: a) Glitter b) Love c) Glow

?

There is no cure for autism. Therapies and behavioral interventions are designed to remedy specific symptoms and can bring about substantial improvement. The ideal treatment plan coordinates therapies and interventions that target the core symptoms of autism: impaired social interaction, problems with verbal and nonverbal communication, and obsessive or repetitive routines and interests. Most professionals agree that the earlier the intervention, the better.

• Educational/behavioral interventions: Therapists use highly structured and intensive skill-oriented training sessions to help children develop social and language skills. Family counseling for the parents and siblings of children with autism often helps families cope with the particular challenges of living with an autistic child.

• Medications: Doctors often prescribe an antidepressant medication to handle symptoms of anxiety, depression, or obsessive-compulsive disorder. Anti-psychotic medications are used to treat severe behavioral problems. Seizures can be treated with one or more of the anticonvulsant drugs. Stimulant drugs, such as those used for children with attention deficit disorder (ADD), are sometimes used effectively to help decrease impulsivity and hyperactivity.

• Other therapies: There are a number of controversial therapies or interventions available for autistic children, but few, if any, are supported by scientific studies. Parents should use caution before adopting any of these treatments.

#3 Marie Curie, famous for her work in radioactivity, died of leukemia caused by her work with radiation.

True or False?

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Some children with autism grow up to lead normal or near-normal lives.

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#4 Caligynephobia is the fear of what?

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#5 In 4,000 BC glitter eye shadow was made from crushed shells of _______.

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T o a a y ’ s

Teaching Green Values

K i d s

When a child’s backpack is too heavy, it can lead to back problems. The solution is to switch to an ergonomically designed back that will lighten the load.

Ergonomically Designed Backpacks According to a Simmons College report, 55 percent of students carry more than the recommended guideline of 10 to 15 percent of their body weight around on their backs.

“Putting a lot of weight on shoulder straps causes problems with the neck, mid back and low back. It is also to blame for headaches, fatigue, numbness and tingling in the arms and legs,” says Dr. Jerry DeGrado, National Backpack Safety Chairman for the Congress of Chiropractic State Associations.

When patients come into his office complaining of pain caused by backpacks, he recommends they do two things: Lighten the load.

Switch to an ergonomically designed backpack.

This type of pack takes the strain off the back, neck and shoulders by redistributing weight to the hips and lower back, promoting an upright standing position.

“It is important to encourage positive, environmentally friendly behaviors as early in life as possible, says Ellen McNeill, founder of MyConservationBaby.com. “If a parent starts instilling green values in their kids when they are young it will increase the likelihood that they will continue an environmentally friendly lifestyle into adulthood.”

Here are some of her top tips: Teach respect for animals. Take children to a petting zoo for a hands-on experience and discussion.

Have children turn off the water while brushing teeth and explain why it is important to conserve water.

Have children put bottles, aluminum cans, etc. in the household recycle bins to get into the habit of sorting and depositing items to recycle.

Tell children to turn off lights when they are not in use and how this saves energy.

Encourage the watching of nature and discovery shows instead of cartoons and discuss what is learned.

Gather toys that are no longer used and donate them to less fortunate children rather than throwing them in the trash.

This teaches lessons on conservation

and charity.

Make a trip to a botanical garden to teach children to appreciate plants and trees. Have a child care for a plant that doesn’t need much attention and to watch it grow.

Encourage outdoor play with friends to learn to appreciate the great outdoors.

Point out different trees, plants and animal species in the neighborhood.

Try to tie a conservation message to all activities that you do with your children.

McNeill reminds us that conservation and protection of our environment begins with us and our families. “Share your conservation knowledge with your little ones and with others important to you. It will make a world of difference.”

Stop Rushing Teeth Brushing The recommended brushing time to get teeth clean is a minute for the top arch of teeth and a minute for the bottom. So how does a parent get their child to cooperate? Make it fun, says Dr. Fresh, the maker of the FireFly®, a toothbrush that lights up and flashes (there’s also an adult version).

The FireFly toothbrush was developed when Dr. Fresh (yes, he is a real person) could not get his young daughter to brush for long enough. To inspire “psychological compliance,” he basically took the LCD light out of a pair of fancy sneakers and put it in the bottom of a regular toothbrush. With more research and development, he created the FireFly.

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Dr. DeGrado prefers the AirPacks System by Core Products International.

Developed by orthopedic professionals, the pack is clinically proven to reduce stress on the body by up to 80 percent and lighten the effective load by up to 60 percent. Airpacks are available in many doctor’s offices throughout the country or you can purchase one direct from the manufacturer at coreproducts.com.

Courtesy of ARA

These kids are wearing ergonomically designed Airpacks which take the strain off the back, neck and shoulders by redistributing weight to the hips and lower back.

“Most of us underestimate how long a minute really is,” says Dr. Fresh. A minute can seem interminable for an active child looking to move on to his or her next activity. The FireFly, which blinks for 60 seconds, is a way to encourage the one-minute for each arch brushing routine. Have children press the button to start the LCD light housed safely in the handle of the toothbrush. Once the light stops blinking, it’s time to move onto the other row of teeth. Push the button again to activate the light.

Other Dental Tips Dr. Fresh offers additional advice on oral care.

Forgetting floss? Children should also floss regularly - as early as when they have two front teeth erupted, say experts. Flossing is really important for molars because they are generally closer to each other than the front teeth. Until they reach the age of 6, you will have to help them. Gently

Greater Kalamazoo Edition• August 2008

lift the floss up between teeth toward the gum and all the way through to the inside of the mouth.

Don’t saw - that can damage fragile young gum tissue.

Time for a change: Everyone should replace a toothbrush after three months of use. If a child has recently had a virus or infection (like strep throat), change the toothbrush immediately after he or she gets better to avoid re-infection.

Fun flavor: There are a variety of toothpaste flavors available to appeal to kids who don’t enjoy the plain minty variety most adults use.

The best way to impart lessons of oral care is to show by example. Make it fun and educational for children and they’ll be more inclined to follow along.

The Firefly toothbrush is available at pharmacies and retail stores. Visit drfresh.com for more information.

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othing says summer quite like a picnic. What better way to enjoy the long leisurely days than with a meal outside with friends and family? But food storage issues can quickly turn a pleasant afternoon into a problematic situation. Warm weather can cause food spoilage and cross-contamination, but with proper care, the only worry you will have at your picnic is how to keep the ants away.

Dr. Vickie Vaclavik, a culinary instructor for The Art Institute says the first step is to pack your cooler correctly so the food arrives safely. To avoid crosscontamination she suggests, “Have one cooler specifically for raw meat, fish, and poultry, and use a separate cooler for ready-to-eat foods and drinks. If only one cooler is available, seal any raw meat, fish, and poultry in plastic containers or plastic bags, since the raw juices are loaded with bacteria and can easily contaminate other foods.”

Many picnics center around grilling. “Make sure meat, fish, and poultry are completely defrosted before grilling to allow for even cooking. When reheating at the picnic, bring a good thermometer and make sure the food reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit,” Dr. Vaclavik advises.

Clean hands are also important when preparing picnic meals. If there is no running water nearby, use an antibacterial cleanser or wipe. Properly store any leftovers in plastic storage containers to keep them fresh and bacteria-free, and discard any food that has been sitting out for more than two hours.

Expires 9/1/08

While driving to the picnic spot, keep your cooler on the floor of the car, not in the easily overheated trunk. A prime source of food-borne illness is keeping food at unsafe temperatures. Once you arrive at the picnic site, keep the cooler under a tree or bench to avoid direct sunlight. If the temperature exceeds 85 degrees Fahrenheit, do not let the food sit out on the picnic table for more than an hour, and put perishables back into the cooler immediately after eating.

To learn more about The Art Institutes, visit artinstitutes.edu/nz.

Greater Kalamazoo Edition• August 2008

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Exposure:

Career Days and Take Your Child to Work programs have made great strides in introducing children to a range of careers. But caregivers also play an important role in introducing family fun activities that are also a venue for career exploration. Horseback riding, museum visits, book clubs, concerts, pottery classes, and scout survival courses are only the tip of the iceberg. Each time your child experiences first-hand the work that goes into operating these types of venues, they are exposed to a potential career.

Your own career decision may have been based on starting a lemonade stand or that special teacher who took your class on a field trip. Perhaps it was a memorable outdoor summer camp or the first cake you ever baked.

Did any of these opportunities influence your career decision? It just might do the same for your child. Exposure not only introduces children, teens and even adults to potential career paths, but also provides opportunities for great family time together.

Skills: Ballet lessons, community soccer teams, backyard scavenger hunts, tutoring peers and after-school chess clubs are just a few of the wonderful activities where children can learn valuable career-related skills.

This is definitely a plus, especially if you discover they have an affinity for one activity over another. For example, Mom and Tot day at the library may not be your first thought for uncovering a hidden talent. Yet this style of interactive program provides the ideal environment for developing your child’s interpersonal and social skills – skills which are often number one on the list of requirements for adapting well in a work environment and moving up the corporate ladder. Consider football, math club, family game night and yes, even interactive videos. If you look at these activities from a different perspective you see much more than a few hours of fun; you discern unique ways to develop a child’s analytical reasoning, mathematical affinity, along with organizational and strategizing abilities. Once again, these are imperative skills for careers in the field of science, business or any leadership role.

Experience: It’s true, children are never too young to start gaining

Work It! C r a d l e

t o

C a r e e r

Preparing our Children Today for their Careers Tomorrow

by Kimberly Monaghan

E

nsuring our children’s happiness and success also includes thoughtful consideration of the credentials they will need to survive in tomorrow’s workplace. Similar to college admissions offices, employers will always seek applicants with experience, exposure and transferable skills acquired through lifelong activities. Are they well-rounded? Was time given to others? Did they try new things? Are they organized? How did they overcome challenges? And what did they learn from these experiences? Candidates who can confidently answer these questions are those who have been encouraged to explore new opportunities. Career-happy adults were once children who were exposed to new things, were given a chance to try out their skills, and in some cases, gained hands-on experience, thus giving them a leg up on career competition.

All three of these attributes can be nurtured from infancy forward by simply changing the way we think about what our children do and how we can spend creative time together.

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Greater Kalamazoo Edition• August 2008

experience that will help them with careers later in life. Picking up their toys, doing weekly chores, volunteering in the community, mowing lawns and organizing fundraising activities all encourage skill development and provide valuable experience. Who would you rather hire for summer work: a teen who has helped raise money for band camp or one who has never even been required to clean up their room? Anytime a child is required to demonstrate work abilities they are developing valuable experience that will help prepare them for future job responsibilities and workplace structure. Odds are they will enjoy the benefits they gain such as the satisfied feeling of meeting an obligation, or seeing the positive outcome of hard work.

No matter what activities your children pursue, talk with your child afterward and ask them what they learned, what they liked and disliked, or maybe the skills they think they tapped into. By doing so you will help your child see the value of participation and instill confidence within them that whatever they choose to do in life, the most important thing is that they try.

Great resources for activities and further exploration: • “Family Funbook: More than 400 Amazing, Amusing and All-Around Awesome Activities for the Entire Family” by Joni Hilton (Running Press, 1998) • “Family Moments: Monthly Ideas & Activities to Enjoy with Young Children”

by Beth Branigan McNamara, et. al (Our Sunday Visitor, 1995) • “Testing the Waters: A Teen’s Guide to Career Exploration”

by Alice N. Culbreath and Saundra K. Neal (JRC Consulting, 1999) • “Getting Real: Helping Teens Find Their Future” by Kenneth C. Gray (Corwin Press, 2008) • “What Color is Your Parachute for Teens” by Richard Nelson Bolles (Ten Speed Press, 2007) • “Volunteer Vacations: Short-Term Adventures that Will Benefit You and Others” by Bill McMillon (Chicago Review Press, 2006) Kimberly Monaghan is a Certified Professional Resume Writer, freelance copywriter and owner of Career Connections, a career consulting firm. For more information visit www.resumes-writer.com.

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Raising “Money Smart” Kids

Teaching Children to Save, Share and Spend Responsibly

As parents, daily life offers us ample opportunity to teach our children about money. Kids are fascinated by how many pennies are in a dollar, or how much candy they can really buy for 75 cents. But teaching them the value of money and the importance of saving – now that’s another story. Children (and many adults) tend to live in the moment, so encouraging them to save for a rainy day can be challenging, though not impossible.

Experts agree that setting the right example and instilling good money management habits while kids are still young is the first step towards raising financially literate adults.

Allowance Basics: The 10-10-80 Rule As soon as children are old enough to handle small amounts of money (typically around first or second grade) they should be allowed some of their own cash to manage. Once you’ve establishes the amount, frequency and guidelines of allowances in your home, sit with your children to discuss a plan for saving, sharing and spending. A good rule of thumb is the 10-10-80 allocation: 10% to savings; 10% to charity/church; and 80% to keep and/or spend.

Like many of us grown ups, most children will not be initially thrilled at the idea of saving 10% of their money. But teaching them that saving isn’t what we do with money that’s leftover, rather, it’s what we set aside right off the top, can establish a positive money management pattern that will carry them into adulthood. It helps to give young children a reason to save by identifying some long term goals they may have. Keep in mind long term for a 7-year old could be three-weeks from now – kids will be more excited when the achievement of their goal is somewhat in sight. Inspire their desire to save by brainstorming about big ticket items the child has been wanting – a computer game, microscope, etc.

Then sit down and figure out a savings plan that will help them achieve their goal. If your child wants a new scooter for example, help him make a plan to save for it. If you believe in paying your child for odd jobs and chores, help him come up with income producing ideas to accomplish his goal. Not only will this help instill a lesson on the value of money, it will also make the purchased item more meaningful once it is finally obtained.

You can also teach your children about the magic of compound interest by offering to add interest to their savings for each week or month they leave it untouched. Watching their money grow will do more to motivate them than any number of lectures on the subject.

(Saving $5 a week at 6 percent interest compounded quarterly will total about $266 after a year, $1,503 after 5 years, and $3,527 after 10 years!)

Teaching children to share begins in pre-school. By the grade school years, it’s a concept that is fairly well ingrained so applying it to the financial arena may not be as difficult as you may think. Encourage your children to set aside 10% of their allowance for charity – they can tithe to your local house of worship or you can sit down together to identify charitable causes to give to. Allow them to contribute to organizations that help families and children within your community, and also allow them to participate in food, clothing and toy drives. Be sure to track their contributions in a notebook you review at the end of the year so they can see the many ways their generosity impacted others. Pint-size philanthropy pays off in later years by establishing a healthy attitude towards money and the many good things it can accomplish – not just purchase.

The Money Journal: A Lesson in Record Keeping Tracking how much you spend and what you spend it on is key to keeping your financial affairs in order. Sit down with your children and create a money journal – a simple notebook will do fine or a general ledger type journal found at office supplies stores will also work well. Let the child create column heads for each page including the date, amount earned, amount spent, along with columns for saving and giving and balance.

Sample entry: Date Income/Allowance Save Give Spent Balance 10/1 $5.00 .50 .50 $2.50 $1.50 Sit with your child to fill in the columns each week and use the time as an opportunity to discuss their feelings about their money. Were they disappointed with any purchases they made? How does it feel to watch the savings column grow? What are they hoping to purchase with their savings? If they’ve already established some savings goals, the journal will act as a guide for them to track their progress.

Make Planned Spending a Habit Children are impulsive by nature. If they see a new game or toy, they want itÖnow. And once they begin earning an allowance some of those ìwantsî may become easily attainable.

But as many of us have learned the hard way, habitual impulse shopping can be costly later in life, since the price tags for grown up toys can take months or even years to pay off. Encourage common sense shopping habits by offering your children spending choices. For example, if your child has decided to spend $15 on a new video game, sit with them and think of two other items they could also purchase for $15. Compare the relative value, enjoyment and desirability of each item. Some questions to ask: What do I like about it? What don’t I like about it? How long will I want to play with it? What’s the best price for it? Encourage him to weigh his spending decisions and use the time as an opportunity to share examples of smart and foolish spending decisions from your own life.

And finally, teach children to practice the 24-hour rule. Have them sleep on any major purchasing decision and if they still feel strongly about the original choice, let them buy it and live with the consequences. Experience is still the best teacher.

Lead by Example.

At the end of the day, children are going to learn more from what we do than what we say. The best way to teach our children good money management habits is to practice them ourselves. Walk the talk by sticking to an established savings plan and budget; pay off debts in a timely manner; live within your budget and resist impulse shopping; give to charitable causes that are meaningful to you; help protect your family’s future with adequate insurance coverage; and finally, maintain a teachable attitude yourself. Speaking with a qualified financial professional about your own financial situation can help you make wise money management choices that you can pass on for generations to come.

Robert ìBryanî Burkey, Financial Planner, CFPÆ, CLU, offers investment advisory services through Prudential Financial Planning Services, a division of Pruco Securities, LLC. He can be reached at and (269) 324-1160.

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Creating New Birthday Traditions

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irthdays come but once a year, so they should be treated with extra attention for kids of all ages. If you’re looking for new ways to impart family birthday traditions that will earn rave reviews, search no further than these handy ideas.

Celebrate All Week (Month) Long Use a birthday celebration as something more than just marking another year past.

Make it a time when a particular member of the family is singled out and honored so he or she knows just how much of a special part of the family they are.

Rise and Shine, It’s Pancake Time Birthdays can start the moment the birthday girl or boy opens his or her eyes.

Bake a pancake birthday cake and layer it with fresh fruit and light whipped cream – with a candle on top, of course!

King or Queen for the Day This means more than just selecting a favorite flavor for birthday cake. Let the birthday celebrant wear a homemade crown or T-shirt announcing it’s his or her birthday. As they go about the day, well wishers will bestow lots of attention.

Delightful Decorations Do you know the feeling of entering the living room to see the gifts beneath the tree on Christmas morning? Create the same awe-inspiring effect by having the birthday child awake to a house adorned with streamers, balloons and confetti. For a smaller-scale idea, decorate the door of his or her room with a special birthday banner.

Give Activities Instead of Gifts How many toys and games can a kid get? Tons, of course. But how about an extraspecial and different idea for birthday wishes? Treat the birthday guy or girl to an outing of his or her choice in lieu of gifts. It could be a day at the aquarium or an afternoon of horseback riding. Just be sure the entire family can be involved.

Hidden Prize Kids love scavenger hunts, so hide a special trinket or gift somewhere in the house that he or she must set out to find. It could be tickets to a movie or that gift your child has been eyeing for some time.

Birthday Dinner Let the birthday child choose his or her favorite meal and dessert and that is what will be served (or eaten out) for the birthday. This gives children a chance to exert independence and have a say in family meal planning, while also feeling special about the birthday. Chances are the entire family will enjoy the tradition.

Pretend Birthday Party Not everyone gets to have a fun-filled summer birthday party. Whether your child is age fourand-a-half or almost eight, throw a summer bash to celebrate the season and have some outdoor fun with a “halfway to five” or “almost eight” birthday celebration.

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Funny Face Cookie Pops Deliciously playful and perfect as a birthday party craft, this easy recipe will have kids delightfully creating candy “funny faces” on cookie pops.

Yields 20 cookie pops • 1 pkg. (16.5 oz.) Nestlés® Toll House® refrigerated sugar cookie bar dough • 20 wooden craft sticks • 1 container (16 oz.) prepared vanilla frosting, colored as desired or colored icing • Assorted candies and chocolate* PREHEAT oven to 325° F. SEPARATE dough along pre-scored lines; roll into 20 balls, using two pieces of dough per ball. Insert wooden sticks halfway into dough balls. Place cookie pops on ungreased baking sheets 3 inches apart; press down lightly.

BAKE for 15 to 17 minutes. Cool on baking sheets for 1 minute; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

SPREAD each cookie with 1 tablespoon frosting. Decorate with candies and chocolate to resemble funny faces.

Decorating Variations and Tips: Spread frosting to resemble flower petals; sprinkle petals with Wonka Nerds and place a SweeTart in the center of flower. Use a medium size flower pot; insert a round foam and cover with green shredded paper. Insert cookie pops to resemble flowers. *Nestlés raisinets, Nestlé Goobers, Nestlé sno-caps, Wonka Tart in tinys, Wonka Nerds and/or SweeTART Gummy Bugs

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Music Strikes a Chord with Teens Teenagers have always loved music, but a new study from the NAMM Foundation illustrates just how much and highlights teens’ strong commitment to music and music making.

The study, by Patricia Shehan Campbell, PhD, was based on responses by 1,155 teens who submitted student essays to Teen People magazine as part of an online contest. Throughout the submitted essays, students expressed their thoughts toward learning and playing music and revealed they value music making as a central aspect of their identities.

The findings include: • Playing music provides a sense of belonging for teens.

“It will benefit us to listen to what teens tell us about music as a common need and a constant presence in their lives,” says Campbell. “Music is their social glue – a bridge for building acceptance and tolerance for people of different ages and cultural circumstances. Music provides opportunities in school for teens’ engagement as performers, composers, and intelligent listeners, and these activities and qualities appear to be deeply meaningful to them. For teens who are seeking relevance, musical study may give them the balanced experience they require.”

• Making music provides the freedom for teens to be themselves, to be different, to be something they thought they could never be, to be comfortable and relaxed in school and elsewhere in their lives.

Tips for Teens to Start Playing:

• Music helps adolescents release or control emotions and coping with difficult situations, such as peer pressure, substance abuse, pressures of study and family, the dynamics of friendships and social life, and the pain of loss or abuse.

• Visit your local music retailer.

• Visit NAMM’s Wanna Play?

Web site at www.wannaplaymusic.com.

• Meet with your child’s music teacher to find the right instrument.

• Teens believe developing musical skills and performance is important to paving the way to musical opportunities.

• Teens long for more variety and options for making music in school, including access to instruments and technology used in popular music.

• Adolescents are genuinely committed to their instruments and school ensembles because they love to be involved in musical and social groups.

• Teens believe music is an integral part of American life, and that music reflects American culture and society.

• Teens feel playing music teaches self discipline, such as “there are payoffs if you practice and stick with something.”

• Adolescents are of the opinion that playing music diminishes boundaries between people of different ethnic backgrounds, age-groups and social interests.

• Teens associate playing music with music literacy, listening skills, motor ability, eye-hand coordination and heightened intellectual capabilities.

“This study outlines what music and music making means to teens – it helps define them as they grow up, it gives them purpose and meaning, and contributes to their success in school and life,” says Joe Lamond, president and CEO of NAMM, the trade association of the international music products industry. “From what we have learned from this study, and others, it’s clear music is essential to a complete education for all children, so why would anyone anywhere ever consider reducing support for music education and denying access and opportunity to our nation’s children?”

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Courtesy of ARAcontent

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LOOK TALKING WHO’S

ALISON VAN ORMAN — OUTSTANDING TEEN

Editor’s Note: I first ‘met’ Alison when she emailed artwork for the family business to WLS. Her Grandfather had already “sung her praises” to me. I found Alison to be even more delightful than promised! She has a truly unassuming manner that is refreshing to experience. Her dedication to family, friends and her church show a maturity well beyond her 17 years. Yet, she is truly young at heart and I have a feeling she always will be. Thank you, Alison, for taking the time to share with our readers.

We are very lucky to have someone like you in our Kalamazoo area. May you accomplish all your dreams and goals!

CHINA DUKES — OUTSTANDING TEEN

Editor’s Note: I kept hearing about this young writer from Richland…. her mom emailed me, and again when I delivered our magazines to a coffee shop in Richland (Cabinas) - the owners pointed out an article China had written about them. I was curious to meet someone so accomplished at such a young age. She is indeed a wonder: intelligent, curious, friendly and has a real zest for life. Our thanks to China for allowing our readers a glimpse at your life. Kalamazoo is a better community with you in it.

May all your desires come true in life!

Name: China Dukes

Name: Alison Van Orman

Age: 17

Age: 17

School: Gull Lake Public High School

School: Schoolcraft Public High School

Grade: Senior

Grade: Senior

Family: China lives with her mom, dad and two brothers, who are both very athletic.

Family: Alison lives with her mom, dad and three brothers, James – 15, Philip – 11 and Timothy – 7.

Claim To Fame! Year Book Editor - where she learned to produce, copy, and create her own art. She started with advertisement sales and now completes the yearbook up to and including layout.

FAVORITES: Music: Alison enjoys all types of music especially pop and country Book: The Twilight Series by Stephanie Meyer including: Twilight, New Moon and

Claim To Fame! Writing. China has written for the Kalamazoo Gazette as part of its Rising Starts Internship Program. She is currently writing for the Battle Creek Enquirer. She is the editor for the Expressions Section of her school newspaper, and takes responsibility for its layout, grammatical content, page design and more. She has served as Class President (twice), Vice President for 1 year and Captain of the Band Color Guard. She plays flute in the concert band, and has participated in Model United Nations. China received an honorable mention from the Michigan Scholastic Press Association. This is one busy young lady!

Eclipse

FAVORITES: Music: Alternative Music – Jack Johnson – Death Cab for Cutie and more!

Activity: Alison loves photography and uses Canon Power Shot for processing

Book: Keeping the Moon or Just Listen by Sarah Dessen

Class/Subject: Math

Activities: Writing and Dancing – China and her younger brother danced together in

Food: Cheesecake! She also loves to bake cookies, especially chocolate chip!

the school talent show.

Charity: Locks of Love – she has donated her own locks! Enjoys baking for the American

Class/Subject: Language Arts

Cancer Society’s bake sale at her school.

Food: Pizza & Coffee

Boyfriend? Yes… Alison and Ray have been friends since the 8th grade and been

Charity: Relay for Life – She recently participated one of the 24 hour walks

“going steady” for the last eight months. Ray owns his own DJ service with a friend.

Alison enjoys attending his events such as weddings, parties etc. Ray attends KVCC, and plans a career in law enforcement or firefighting.

College: Alison’s goal is to have a teaching degree with a minor in advertising. She hopes to attend Concordia College in Chicago. Her second choice would be MSU.

Summer Plans: Alison just returned from a trip to Tennessee with her church youth group, where they helped rebuild an entryway for a family in need. They also had the opportunity to go white water rafting, which she totally enjoyed. As for the rest of her summer, she plans to spend time with family & friends and otherwise enjoy life.

Fashion: Blue Jeans and T-Shirts! Very casual!

BACK TO SCHOOL: Most Looking Forward To? Creating her last high school yearbook and training

Boyfriend? Not at the present…which makes Dad very happy!

College: China would love to attend Columbia College of Chicago - a private school of the arts.

Summer Plans: China hopes to spend lots of time at the lake – boating and tubing.

She would also love to participate in a writing program at Michigan State in August.

Fashion: She prefers tunic dresses with leggings or skinny jeans. She really likes shopping at Forever 21.

BACK TO SCHOOL Most Looking Forward To? Participating in the EFA Photography program.

Least Looking Forward To? Being at School every day by 7:30 am.

next year’s replacement.

Least Looking Forward To? Waking up early! She has a class at Loy Norrix that begins at 7:45.

Job: She works at Quality Meats about 20 hours a week. Quality Meats is a family owned

Job: China works 20 – 30 hours every week at Cabinas Café in Richland, where she can get her daily coffee fix! She made this editor one of the best Butter Rum Mochas I’ve ever had. When she is not busy with customers, Cabinas is a perfect setting for creative thinking and writing

and operated store just off Sprinkle Road. Her family - grandfather, father, mother and brother all work side by side! During the school year, Alison works approximately ten hours each week. She most enjoys waiting on customers from all walks of life.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years/ 10 years? In five years, she hopes to be interning at the Chicago Tribune. In ten years, she hopes to have her own column in the Tribune or perhaps in Teen Vogue.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years/ 10 years? Five years from now, she

Who is your hero or mentor? Stephanie Esters, her coach from the Kalamazoo

anticipates being in college – perhaps just finishing up. Ten years from now she hopes to be teaching elementary school, married and thinking about starting a family.

Gazette and Cheryl Jolin, her journalism teacher for three years, are both her mentors and the women she hopes to emulate.

Who is your hero or mentor? Alison’s heroes are her mother and grandmothers.

When asked why - her response was: “ They are excellent mothers, great people and they never lose their motivation.” She admires how much they have accomplished in their lives.

What inspires you? Everyday life inspires China, like when a stranger makes her day

What inspires you? The feeling she gets when helping others.

What would most people be surprised to find out about you? That she hates to get presents. She much prefers to give presents because she gets so much enjoyment from seeing the expressions on their faces.

with just a compliment, which in return makes her want to be just as nice and kind as that person was. China’s parents inspire her. Her dad works at least 70 hours a week and still has time to attend the university and get his masters degree. Her mom (who recently lost both her mom and grandma in the same month) stills get up in the morning and kisses her head before she leaves for work - because she wants to be the best mom she can be.

On the lighter side: The Sex In the City series….in particular Carrie with her writing.

What would most people be surprised to find out about you? They would be surprised to find out that , secretly, China wants to be a tattoo artist because it looks so fun and “artsy”. She can’t imagine anything more fun than putting beautiful artwork on people’s bodies.

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interior

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ideas

5 Trends in Children’s Furniture Parents are selecting nursery designs and furnishings that are versatile enough to be used in any room of the home.

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oday’s trend in baby furniture is for parents to create artfully designed environments for their children’s living spaces. These designs flow throughout the entire home, serving as a connection for the family.

According to Kelly Neal Mariotti, president and chief designer of Green Frog Art, “In today’s home you may find children’s tables and chairs, rocking chairs or even a cradle as part of the furnishings in the family room or den,” says Kelly Neal Mariotti, president and chief designer of Green Frog Art. Children are no longer relegated to just one room in the home, so parents are choosing adult-inspired designs that comfortably live within the entire home.”

“It’s no longer about creating one whimsical room that is solely dedicated to a baby,” says Mariotti. “Parents today are blending juvenile furnishings into every room of the home – and they are selecting those pieces to complement their existing life style.

Mariotti, who serves as the chairman of the national Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association, has identified the 5 trends that parents may want to consider when selecting furnishings for a baby room: • Choose an heirloom piece as the center of your baby’s room. Whether a finely-crafted cradle or crib, select a piece of furniture that magically transforms the room with a conversation piece that can be passed down to future generations.

This Old World style cradle can serve as an heirloom piece passed on from generation to generation.

• Look at rich, elegant bedding that stimulates the baby while serving as a decorative element of the home.

• Select baby room furnishings that follow styles throughout the rest of the home so that pieces can be moved around and easily incorporated into the existing home design.

• Purchase products within a specific “collection” such as toy chests, rocking chairs and changing tables, to provide a unified look to your baby’s furnishings. As an example, Green Frog Art offers the Old World Collection that includes an award-winning cradle, toy chest, changer and accent furnishings.

• When it comes time to decorate the walls of the nursery, select sophisticated, appealing artwork that will remain with the child as he or she grows.

Limited edition artwork has archival quality and value and can be used throughout the home and then passed on to children when they grow up and start their own families.

“You may just as easily find a crib in a grandmother’s kitchen as you would in a parent’s home office,” says Mariotti. “Blending furnishings throughout the house has a soothing effect on the living environment that is unconsciously communicated to the entire family.”

For more tips and ideas on furnishings for children, visit greenfrogart.com.

Framing Your Child’s Artwork Courtesy ARA Content

Barbara Schmidt, an interior style consultant whose work has been featured in In Style, Elle Decor, Architectural Digest and Metropolitan Home, offers the following tips for personalizing artwork in your children’s rooms:

• Framing your child’s artwork makes the decor unique and memorable. It’s also a good way to keep special works of art from being misplaced.

• Encourage kids to take part in the design process. For example, allow them to choose the color of the custom matboard that will frame their art.

• Think in three dimensions. Frame mementos like first home run balls, team jerseys, medals and certificates with photos.

When it comes to preserving a special memory for your child, make sure you pick custom framing materials you can count on to protect those cherished pieces, like Crescent’s 100 percent cotton RagMat matboard. It’s guaranteed safe next to any artwork, so you know that special keepsake, whether it’s a first place ribbon or your child’s art class masterpiece.

For more information about professional custom framing contact a professional custom framer in your area or visit crescentcardboard.com.

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Did You Know?

While today one may be hard-pressed to find the television land version of a family enjoying dinner together, replete with mom in apron and dad in tie, there’s something to be said about the benefit of gathering around the table and dining together.

Studies show that the more often families eat together, the less likely kids are to smoke, drink, do drugs, get depressed, develop eating disorders, and the more likely they are to do well in school.

Family dinners also foster conversation and clue family members into what others are doing. It’s easier to spot and address potential problems by regularly conversing. While it’s not mandatory that families eat together every day of the week, aim for 3 or more days of chowing down together.

And any old meal will do, whether it’s a three-course feast or a pepperoni pizza.

649 Romence Rd, Portage, In the Shoppes at Romence Village

www.thirdcoastfutons.com • 269-323-9667 Greater Kalamazoo Edition• August 2008

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Things to Do With the Kids on Rainy Days

R

ainy days cooped up inside may seem like they’d be the pits, but they actually can offer prime opportunities for the entire family to get together and participate in some fun activities.

1. Get creative in the kitchen: With a recipe for salt dough (following) you can create all sorts of molded items, from animals to buildings to imaginative super heroes.

Salt Dough 4 cups flour 1 cup salt 1-1/2 cups hot water (from tap)

Mix the salt and flour together, then gradually add the water until the dough becomes elastic. If your mixture turns out too sticky, simply add more flour.

If it turns out too crumbly, simply add more water. Knead the dough until it’s a good consistency.

2. Family karaoke: Pop in some favorite CDs and sing along. Allow each member of the family to choose songs and then set them on random play so everyone’s tastes are represented.

3. Craft central: Take out that box of scrapbooking supplies, old construction paper, swatches of fabric, etc. and use your imaginations to make just about anything you can think of. Need a starting point? Think of a theme, such as the beachside, and create around that.

4. Go play in the puddles: If weather permits, gather up your rain boots and jackets and have fun dashing through the showers and splashing in the puddles.

5. All-day movie fest: What better time to enjoy hours upon hours of favorite movies than when the weather is gloomy? Pop a bag of popcorn and gather other treats and sit down to enjoy family-friendly flicks.

6. Sort through the clutter: This sounds like a chore, but it can be wrapped in fun.

Sort through old toys and clothing and reminisce about when they were last used.

Make a pile of stuff to be donated to needy children and you’ll get a double dose of smiles.

7. Have an indoor picnic: Who says you can’t picnic in the rain? Just move the party inside. Spread a vinyl-backed tablecloth on the floor of the living room and then serve finger foods and sandwiches.

Kids’ juice boxes make a mess-free option for beverages.

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Everyday Play It’s Not Just for Kids

G

o to work. Pick up some ingredients for dinner at the grocery store. Drop the kids off at practice. Constantly tugged in different directions, today’s parents are busier than ever. Despite their many responsibilities and demands at the workplace and on the home front, parents today surprisingly spend more time with their kids than previous generations. None-the-less they often wonder about the quality of the time they spend with their children.

Dr. Lawrence J. Cohen, a psychologist specializing in play and author of “Playful Parenting,” says that quality time can be brought to virtually every nook and cranny of your day and it’s easy to come by with just a few simple pointers: • Encourage exploration. While children learn through play, parents shouldn’t assume that means that every playtime has to be about education. Let kids play in the sand, chase after things and bang on pots and pans. By doing this, kids learn about the world at their own pace without fear of failure.

• Set a timer. Many parents may struggle to stay focused and give their kids their undivided attention, especially when the activity is not something they particularly

enjoy. Setting a timer can help you to commit to fully engaging with your child. Keep the philosophy that you can do anything for 30 minutes, even if it means dressing up dolls or pretending you are on a spaceship to Mars.

• Join children in their world: the world of play. That means getting on the floor at their level, whether it’s digging holes in the yard or building tents in the house, just let your imagination carry you away. And follow the giggles. You know you’re on the right track when your children giggle with you.

• Reverse the roles. Let your child be the doctor, the monster, the strong and capable one, while you are the nervous patient, the helpless one and the bumbling person who falls over a lot. When preparing breakfast, let your child be the parent, pour your bowl of cereal and go over all your appointments with you. This gives your children a sense of control they often seek.

• Rough and Tumble. As long as it’s safe, it’s great to wrestle, race around, jump and horse around – moms included.

Being a parent is an excuse to play and be creative like a kid again. You have the opportunity to re-experience childhood through your children’s eyes. After all, why should kids have all the fun?

For additional simple tips on fun family activities including recipes, visit ChildhoodIsCalling.com.

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a n d

D e l i c i o u s

r e c i p e s

Easy Alphabet Cookies Create some back-to-school excitement with this easy recipe for alphabet cookies .

Yields 24 cookies (2 dozen)

c o u r t e s y

o f

N e s t l é

®

Nesquik® Skyscrapers Constructed with graham cracker “floors,” fresh fruit “walls,” and yummy Nesquik-flavored cream cheese layers, these delicious towers are as much fun to make as they are to eat.

Servings: 7

INGREDIENTS: • 1 package (8 ounces) nonfat or reduced fat cream cheese, at room temperature • 3/4 cup NESTLÉ NESQUIK Strawberry or Chocolate Flavor Powder • 21 honey graham or chocolate graham cracker squares • 1 cup sliced strawberries and/or whole raspberries • 1 medium banana, sliced COMBINE cream cheese and Nesquik in small mixer bowl; beat until smooth and creamy. Spread cream cheese mixture evenly over tops of graham crackers. Top 7 frosted crackers evenly with strawberries; top 7 frosted crackers evenly with banana.

STACK banana-topped crackers over top of strawberry-topped crackers. Top with remaining frosted crackers, frosting-side-down.

Serve immediately.

TRY MAKING A MEGA SKYSCRAPER: You will need 20 graham cracker squares.

PREPARE cream cheese mixture as above.

FROST 5 crackers on one side. Top evenly with strawberries. Frost 5 crackers on both sides; place over strawberries. Top evenly with banana. Frost 5 crackers on both sides; place over banana. Top evenly with strawberries. Frost 5 crackers on one side; place frosting-side-down on strawberries. Makes 5 mega skyscrapers.

Kids will love building their own afternoon snack and demolishing it one bite at a time.

Topped with a creamy layer of strawberry frosting and colorful candy sprinkles, these cookies are fun to decorate and easy to make. Kids will love adding a creative and personal flair to these “spellable” treats.

PREHEAT oven to 325° F. INGREDIENTS: • All-purpose flour • 1 package (16.5 ounces) Nestlé® Toll House® refrigerated sugar cookie bar dough • 3-inch alphabet cookie cutters • 2 cups powdered sugar • 1/2 cup Nestlé Nesquik Strawberry Flavor Syrup • 1 to 2 tablespoons water • Small tubes decorator icing, various colors • Decorator candies SPRINKLE flour over cutting board or kitchen work surface.

Break off two rows of cookie dough. Roll out dough to about 1/8-inch thickness, using additional flour as needed to prevent sticking. Press cookie cutters into dough and transfer cookies to ungreased baking sheets with spatula.

BAKE for 8 to 10 minutes or until golden. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

COMBINE sugar, Nesquik and water in medium bowl; beat with whisk or hand-held mixer until smooth. Spread icing over cookies. Allow icing to dry before adding any additional decorations.

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Healthy Eating, Healthy Kids Help your kids develop healthy eating habits for life with these tips from the American Heart Association.

Dealing With a Fussy Eater Getting a picky eater to eat a nutritious meal doesn’t have to be a battle. Here are some things to try: Add healthy fruits and vegetables to foods that your child already likes. For example, add blueberries to pancakes, carrots to muffins, fruit slices to a bowl of cereal, chunks of bell pepper to potato salad, or shredded veggies over rice.

Include your kids when you grocery shop. By being involved in choosing the foods at the grocery store they may be more likely to eat it. When your kids shop with you, have them look for the heart-check mark that shows which foods are certified by the American Heart Association to be low in saturated fat and cholesterol.

Keep healthy foods on hand - water or 100 percent juice instead of colas or fruit drinks, and a bag of apples instead of a bag of chips.

Have healthy finger foods available. Kids like to pick up foods, so give them foods they can handle. Fruit and veggie chunks (raw or cooked) are great fingerfood options.

Repeal the “clean your plate” rule, even if your child loads a plate up with more food than they can eat.

Kids know when they’re full, so let them stop and help them learn to take smaller servings next time.

Don’t cut out treats altogether. Think moderation. A scoop of ice cream or a serving of cookies is okay occasionally. If you cut out goodies, your kids will be more likely to over indulge when they get them.

Make Fast Food Friendlier If you eat on the go, use these tips to make fast food healthier for both your kids and yourself: Pass on the value size. When you increase the size, your bucket of fries isn’t the only thing that gets bigger.

Skip the sides. Eating a burger or sandwich by itself is often filling enough. If you do want a side, consider ordering fruit or a side salad instead of French fries.

Avoid double meat and bacon. You’re probably getting more than you need with a single meat patty.

Bacon is high in calories and fat with little nutrient content.

Try the grilled chicken sandwich. Poultry without skin is significantly leaner than the meats most fast-food companies use in their burgers. Beware of breaded deep fried chicken, which is loaded with calories and fat.

Eat your sandwich open-faced. By eating only half the bun, you can eliminate calories.

Pay attention to the calories in condiments - choose mustard instead of mayo or other calorie-laden dressings and sauces.

Drink water, diet soda or low-fat milk. Regular sodas are loaded with sugars, which have calories you don’t need.

Healthy Eating Habits Eat dinner together as a family whenever possible.

When everyone sits down together, there’s less chance of eating the wrong foods or snacking too much.

Don’t reward children with foods such as candy – find other ways to celebrate good behavior.

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Chicken Fingers With Dipping Sauces Serves 4

1 cup fat-free or low-fat plain yogurt 1 pound chicken tenders, all visible fat discarded Vegetable oil spray Coating Mixture 1/2 cup yellow cornmeal 1/3 cup plain dry bread crumbs 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon shredded or grated Parmesan cheese 1 teaspoon paprika 1/2 teaspoon dried basil, crumbled 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 1/4 teaspoon salt Creamy Honey Mustard Sauce 1/4 cup fat-free or light sour cream 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard 1 tablespoon honey

Greater Kalamazoo Edition• August 2008

Blackberry Dipping Sauce 1/4 cup all-fruit seedless blackberry spread 2 tablespoons fat-free or light mayonnaise 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon Put yogurt in medium bowl. Add chicken, stirring to coat. Set aside.

Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly spray baking sheet with vegetable oil spray. In another medium bowl, stir together coating mixture ingredients.

Dip one piece of chicken at a time in the coating mixture, turning gently to coat. Arrange chicken in a single layer on the baking sheet. Lightly spray chicken with vegetable oil spray.

Bake for 20 minutes, or until chicken is no longer pink in the center and coating is crisp.

Meanwhile, in small bowl, whisk together ingredients for the desired sauce.

Serve chicken fingers with sauce on the side.

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Peach-sicles Serves 6 Try these peach-sicles for a healthy summertime snack.

8.25 ounce can light sliced peaches in fruit juice, drained 1 cup fat-free or low-fat plain yogurt 1/4 cup frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed (about 2 ounces) 2 teaspoons honey 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract Cut peaches into bite-size pieces. Put 3 pieces in each of four paper or plastic 5-ounce juice cups. Transfer remaining peaches to small bowl.

Stir remaining ingredients into bowl with peaches.

Pour into juice cups.

Insert a wooden popsicle or craft stick into center of each cup. Cover cups with plastic wrap or aluminum foil, allowing sticks to poke through covering. Put cups with stick side up on a level surface in the freezer.

Freeze for 3 hours, or until solid.

To serve, peel or cut paper or plastic from frozen pops.

These recipes are reprinted with permission from Healthy Recipes Kids Love, Copyright © 2008 by the American Heart Association.

Published by Publications International, Ltd. Available at online at shopheart.org.

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t o H ff u t S LITTLE MISSMATCHED! Nothing matches buy anything goes!

It’s all about creativity & self-expression!

For kidsfrom 1 – 101!

Quinn’s Pharmacy & Gift 6909 West Q Ave. Texas Corners 269-372-7872 Mon – Sat. 9-7

Westlake Drug 8822 Portage Rd. Portage 269-327-3079 Mon – Fri 9-8 Sat. 9-7

REAL WOOD FURNITURE THAT GROWS WITH YOUR CHILD. Handcrafted with keen attention to detail & elegance. Crib to youth bed to adult bed.

TOT to TEEN Village 229 W. Kilgor Dr. Kalamazoo 269-381-7800 Mon. – Sat. 9:30 – 8 Closed Sundays

HAND-MADE AMETHYST JEWELRY. Choose from assorted styles.

All made with precious & semi-precious stones.

Go back to school in style.

Lana’s Boutique 2707 W. Michigan Ave. Kalamazoo 269-382-3524

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Going Back to School with Good Manners

By Madeline L. Zackery •

IIt won't be long before our little darlings will be getting ready for back-to-school.

As we prepare our children to go back-to-school by purchasing new clothes and school supplies, let's also prepare them with “Good Manners”. Our children spend many hours in the classroom, in the lunchroom and socializing with their classmates. How they conduct themselves in school and in public places is very important. Teaching Good Manners to your children will reap benefits both for you and your children. Children should begin learning manners when they are young, around the age three or four or when they understand right from wrong. Below are a few tips for teaching your child Good Manners.

•

When teaching manners, parents must be consistent. Teaching manners requires daily reinforcement.

•

Parents should not tolerate inappropriate behavior. When parents ignore inappropriate behavior, it's the same as encouraging that behavior.

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Teaching manners should be done while the child is NOT acting inappropriately. When done at the right time, the children will be more receptive to the training.

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Look ahead for opportunities to teach manners and then practice. If you know your child is going to be encountering certain social interactions, practice with them prior to the occasion.

•

Be an Example - when children see you being polite to others, they are given the best role model. Use the words “please, thank you, excuse me, may I,

•

you're welcome” and other polite words daily. Also, be careful not to use “bad words” around children, they mimic the way adults speak.

•

Recognize your child's polite moments and praise them for their good manners.

Use dinnertime as a time to teach proper table etiquette. Stress the importance of using the utensils correctly. The knife and fork should be held horizontally when cutting food (not having the fork in a vertical position). Discuss using good manners at the table such as; Do not talk with food in your mouth, no elbows on the table and saying “Please pass the ….” Instead of reaching across someone's plate to get a food item.

Teach the proper way to eat certain foods. Large portions of meat should be cut with a knife and fork. When dining at a buffet, only put on your plate what you are going to eat. Don't touch food that will be eaten by others.

Whether your child is returning to the same school or going to a new school, having good manners will make a good impression with the school staff and other students. Practicing the Golden Rule ; “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” is a motto all students should strive to live by. It is so important to know how to get along with your fellow students.

Parents, work with your child on Good Manners and as you wave goodbye to your child as he/she leaves for another year of education, you can pat yourself on the back for teaching them one of the most important skills they will ever learn Good Manners!

ABOUT THE WRITER Madeline L. Zackery Madeline L. Zackery has been teaching Etiquette and Modeling for over 41 years. She has provided programs for: Kalamazoo Public Library, 4-H, Big Sisters, Girl Scouts, KVCC, WMU, and more. She writes a column for Community Voices & contributes to the Kalamazoo Gazette. Madeline has written several children's books on etiquette, her latest arriving this fall. Madeline is the owner of Madeline's Modeling & Talent Agency.

Should you have a little girl wake up crying for mom, try dealing with it in this order: First, take her into another room with you and turn on the lights to help her get her bearings. Give her a snack and something to drink while you talk about all the fun you had at the party.

Jennifer, My daughter will turn six in June. She wants to have her friends over for a slumber party, but I’ve been told six is too young.

What is the best age to start sleepovers? – K.J. Dear K.J., There really is no set age, just keep in mind that your main issue will be separation anxiety, which will likely occur in the middle of the night. Things look a lot different to a little girl at night in someone else’s home, without her mom and dad, than they do during the day. Levels of anxiety differ from girl to girl, but at six you’ll probably have to deal with some night fright.

That said, you can host a successful sleepover with a little preparation on your part. First of all, remember to keep the number of guests to a minimum. The rule of thumb is one child for every year of your child’s age, until she is 10. So for a daytime party, she could invite six girls without feeling overwhelmed.

At an overnight party, however, I would suggest cutting that number in half. Three friends would be more manageable. Invite the friends and their parents to your home several days before the party to meet your family and familiarize themselves with your home, especially if they don’t know you well.

Before the party, arrange for every parent to be available by phone all night and, potentially, to come pick up their child from your home at any hour.

Next, extend an invitation to any of the moms who might want to camp out on the living room floor as well. Make it a fun mom and daughter night. Dad can hang out upstairs and take care of your other children for the evening.

No matter what, you’ll need to sleep with the girls all night.

Don’t leave them in the living room or a bedroom after they have fallen asleep and go to your own bed. If they awaken disoriented, they will need you.

Remind her that morning will come very shortly. Don’t wake other girls to help reassure her because she may feel inferior to them for being fearful and risk being teased later. Tell her about the breakfast she can help you make soon. Try to keep the conversation off her home and family. You can also tell her a story or read her a book. Stay interactive, as opposed to quietly watching TV or a video together. Passive activities allow her to think too much.

If this is unsuccessful, let her call mom or dad. They may be able to comfort her. She can keep the phone right next to her once she is relaxed enough to fall back to sleep.

If all else fails and she continues crying to go home, her parents will need to come and get her. After all, you want this to be a positive experience where she knows she can leave if she truly needs to.

I’ve hosted sleepovers at this age and had great success. With careful planning, it’s likely that the party will go without a hitch and the girls will have a great time, but be prepared just in case.

Jennifer, I am trying to be an involved parent to my 15-year-old daughter. The problem is, when she starts to tell me anything involving her friends and her life, she shuts down when I show any interest at all. How am I supposed to talk to her if she won’t let me in?

– S.M. Dear S.M., Thank goodness for mothers like you who attempt to connect with their teens! It’s very positive that your daughter “starts” to tell you things. She obviously feels safe enough to begin letting you in.

My question is how are you showing interest? Are you asking so many questions that she feels you’re suspicious of something?

Teens often wonder where we are going with our questions, even if they seem simple and straightforward to us.

Are you reacting in a disapproving manner to things she says?

Do you correct her along the way? If you do, does she walk away or do you hear her mutter, “never mind?”

Remember the cardinal rule with teenage girls: Less is more. The more you actively listen and hold your comments, the more she will talk. In essence, she wants to tell you what she wants to tell you, not what you want to know. If you find various subjects concerning and feel you need to guide her in a different direction, wait until later to address these issues.

For now, just allow her to talk. Also, teens generally feel more comfortable talking to you side by side, not face to face. They feel less questioned and judged by your eyes and facial expressions. So working on a project or making dinner together, or just taking a walk will yield more conversation from her.

It might surprise you to see how well she responds to activities you did together when she was a child, too. Walk with her through a park sometime and spontaneously start swinging on the swing set while you’re talking. Don’t ask her if she wants to swing, just start swinging. She’ll probably start swinging next to you without skipping a beat.

I bet you haven’t played jacks in awhile. Sit on the floor with her and start a game as she’s talking. Your advantage is twofold.

First, you’re setting up side-by-side activities and second, you’re involving her in fun things she used to do with you when she was a child and felt more attached to you.

Your games might be different than my examples, but you get the idea. I love spending time with my teen girls and their friends, but I have to consciously practice restraint with my opinions and comments. I learn so much about them just by listening.

Just relax and let it all come to you, Mom. You’re doing a great job!

Jennifer Scrogin, R.N., is a Community Educator and Certified Mediator. Through her extensive background in women’s health and education she has founded JIS Communications, a program that focuses on assertive and effective communication between women in the workplace and in their personal relationships. Have a question for Jennifer? She can be reached at Jennifer@womenslifestylemagazine.com.

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Calendar events

of

It’s easy to get listed in our Events Calendar. Our deadline is the 10th of the month prior to publication.

Email us at: wlskazoo@provide.net Please type Calendar in the subject line. Or you may mail your info to P.O. Box 2284, Portage MI 49081-2284 Aug. 1 - 30 Kalamazoo Art Institute West Michigan Area Show www.kiarts.org Aug 1 – 3 Barn Theatre Steel Magnolias - Dates & Times: www.BarnTheatre.com Aug. 2 – 30 Sat. & Tues.

Bank Street Farmer’s Market Open Sat. 7 am – 2pm Tues: 3:30 – 6:30

Aug. 2 Gilmore Car Museum Red Barns Spectacular 28th Annual Car Show & Swap Meet info@GilmoreCarMuseum.org Aug. 2 Portage District Library Friends of the Library Book Sale 9:00 am – 3:00 pm Aug. 3 Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo Kalamazoo Brass - Concert In The Park – Bronson Park – Rotary Club Stage 4:00 pm Aug. 4 –8 Wellspring/Cori Terry & Dancers Summer Dance Intensive a unique and challenging dance experience for all types of dancers 12-15 year olds 9:00am-12:00 pm daily, www.wellspringdance.org, call 269/342-4354

Greater Kalamazoo

Aug 4 Air Zoo Kids Camp: Session II www.airzoo.org

Aug. 8, 9, & 10 Kalamazoo Kings Home – Gateway Grizzlies 8/8: 4:05, 8/9: 7:05, 8/10:4:05

Aug. 4–8 Air Zoo Radio-controlled Aircraft Camp Mon-Fri 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Grades 6-8. www.airzoo.org

Aug. 9 Gilmore Car Museum Volvos At the Gilmore II Meet info@GilmoreCarMuseum.org

Aug. 4 Portage District Library The Edible Garden 6:30 – 7:30 pm Aug. 5 Kalamazoo Art Institute ARTbreak: “Up Close & Personal w/ W. MI Artist Part 1 12:15 pm www.kiarts.org Aug. 5, 6 & 7 Kalamazoo Kings Home – Evansville Otters: 7:05 Aug 5 -17 Barn Theatre Shenandoah - Dates & Times: www.BarnTheatre.com Aug. 6 – 11 Kazoo Co. Expo Center & Fairground Kalamazoo County Fair www.kalcounty.com/parks Aug. 7 MOLE HOLE - OPEN HOUSE 5:30 - 8:30 pm Company Representative Showcasing Products * Drawings * Merchandise Discounts * Food * Refreshments Aug. 7 Kazoo Books Guest speaker: Author Kenneth Fisher “In Defiance of Death: Exposing the Real Costs of End-ofLife Care” 2 pm Aug. 7 Portage District Library End of the Trail – Ice Cream Social 6:30 pm Aug. 8 Blue Water Gallery Spirit of the Horse Guest Artists Jeri Hollister & Alec Hall Focus: Equestrian Interpretations Celebrating Richland Park Competitions. Artist Receptions 6 – 9 pm Aug. 8-10 Family Road Trip Weekend at the Indiana Dunes Environmental Learning Center www.naturecenter.org

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Greater Kalamazoo Edition• August 2008

Aug 9 Masterpiece Memories 12 Hour Crop 10am-10pm; Includes: Lunch, Dinner& Snacks $25 Free Goodies – www.masterpiecememories.com Aug. 9 Air Zoo Plane of the Month Series: T-28 10:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m. www.airzoo.org Aug. 9 -30 Kalamazoo Art Institute New Show: Area Show Acquisitions www.kiarts.org Aug. 10 Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo Greater Kalamazoo Dixieland Society Jazz Band - Concert In The Park – Bronson Park - Rotary Club Stage 4:00 pm Aug. 11 Key Media Networking Event: Mann’s Landscape Gardens - Richland 5:30 pm www.KEYMediaMi.com Aug. 11-15 Wellspring/Cori Terry & Dancers Summer Dance Intensive a unique and challenging dance experience for all types of dancers 16-20 year olds 9:00am-1:30 pm daily, visit www.wellspringdance.org, call 269/342-4354 Aug. 11–15 Air Zoo Astronaut Camp Mon.-Fri. 9:00 am - 3:00 pm Grades 4-5. www.airzoo.org Aug. 12 Kalamazoo Art Institute ARTbreak: “Up Close & Personal w/ W. MI Artist Part 2 12:15 pm www.kiarts.org

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Aug. 13 Portage District Library The Return of the Big Trucks 11:30 am

Aug 21 - 24 The Richland Park Horse Trials National equestrian competition – www.richlandpark.com

August 15 & 29 Introduction to Integrative Breathwork Musical meditation for insight, emotional healing & creativity. by Undwindings 7 - 9 pm. Limited to 6. $30 RSVP 269.388.2988 or adamczassociates.com.

Aug. 22 Portage District Library Leaves of Glass/Carole Steinberg Berk Exhibit 8:00 am

Aug. 15, 16, 17 Kalamazoo Kings Home – Chillcothe Paints 8/15: 7:05, 8/16: 7:05 8/17: 4:05 Aug 16 HQ Salon and Spa Golf Outing – Making Strides Against Breast Cancer –States Golf Club www.hqsalonandspa.com 269343-3888 Aug 16 Red Lodge Open House and Sweat Lodge Ceremony 12 - 3 p.m. Red Lodge, a shamanic training program (www.floweringtreelodge.net) presents Stepping into Maturity: Living as a Sacred Human.

Register at (269) 966 3116 or mlapearl@aol.com.

Aug. 16 Gilmore Car Museum 23rd Annual Elvis Memorial Car Show & Tribute Concert info@GilmoreCarMuseum.org Aug. 17 Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo Kalamazoo Big Band - Concert In The Park – Bronson Park – Rotary Club Stage 4:00 pm Aug. 18 Kazoo Regional Chamber of Commerce 59th Annual Golf Outing – Gull Lake View East & West www.golfinvite.com/kazoochambergolf

Aug. 22, 23 & 24 Kalamazoo Kings Home – River City Rascals 8/22: 7:05, 8/23: 7:05, 8/24: 4:05 Aug. 23 Masterpiece Memories Spiral Chipboard Book Class “School Days” 10am -12:30; $40 www.masterpiece-memories.com

Aug. 24 Gilmore Car Museum Pierce-Arrow Gather at Gilmore info@GilmoreCarMuseum.org Aug. 24 Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo Dunuya Drum & Dance - Concert In The Park – Bronson Park RotaryStage 4:00 pm Aug. 25 Cookies By Design 25th Birthday Open House - DOT DAY Afternoon 12 – 5 Free Dot Cookies – W. Centre Ave. Portage cookiesbydesign.com Aug. 25 Kazoo Co. Expo Center & Fairground Scottish Festival www.kalcounty.com/parks Aug. 26 Kalamazoo Nature Center Fungus Among Us - Adults 55 & over 11:00 -12:30, www.naturecenter.org

Aug 18–22 Air Zoo Advanced Rocketry Camp Mon.Fri., 9 am - 3 pm Grades 7-8. www.airzoo.org

Aug. 26 Girl Scouts of Glowing Embers “Somethin’ to Talk About” – Modern Day Stress 6:30–8:00 PM FREE. Put yourself in charge of your response to stress. Learn to recognize signs & symptoms.

Adapt new ways of dealing with stress in your life. Babysitting provided. (Please RSVP by 8/20/08 to mrua@gsgec.org)

Aug 19 - 31 Barn Theatre Rent - Dates & Times: www.BarnTheatre.com

Aug. 29, 30, & 31 Kalamazoo Kings Home – Midwest Sliders 8/29: 7:05, 8/30: 7:05, 8/31: 4:05

Aug. 19, 20 & 21 Kalamazoo Kings Home – Southern Illinois Miners 7:05

Aug. 30 Air Zoo Super Science Saturdays: Spacesuits – Your Personal Spaceship 30-minute presentation at 12:00 pm. 2:00 pm & 4:00 pm www.airzoo.org

PICK UP OUR MAGAZINE AT THESE FINE BUSINESSES & MANY MORE! Hardings Friendly Markets D&W Fresh Markets Felpausch Food Centers AUGUSTA A Food Affair

OTSEGO Otsego Antiques Mall

GALESBURG

PLAINWELL Brandy’s Boutique

Grant’s Antique Market Images Consignment Koffee Klutch KALAMAZOO Acorn Clothing Store Alamo Depot Anytime Fitness Chamber of Commerce Cool Beans Café Copy Cup Felicity Salon Full City Cafe Irving’s Market & Deli Kalamazoo College Kalamazoo Humane Society Kazoopy’s Eatery Kitchen Shop Lana’s Boutique Masterpiece Memories Merle Norman Studio & Hair Salon

Messamore Chiropractic Michigan News Agency North Eleven Oakwood Bistro Passifloral Plastic Surgery of Kalamazoo Sawall Health Foods Smeelink Optical Sticks & Stones The Union Cabaret & Grill Water Street Coffee Joints Western Michigan University Zoo City

PORTAGE Derby Financial Barstools & More Fit Zone Full City Café Gift Loft Mole Hole Portage Eye Care Center Power House Gym/Family Fitness Romence Gardens Smeelink Optical Studio 24 Super Suppers Third Coast Futons & Furniture Z Café RICHLAND Arian’s Coffee Ice Cream Etc. Bayview Market Beadin’ Path Blue Water Gallery Chaubrei Gardens Gull Lake Chiropractic SCHOOLCRAFT Big Island Quilt Co. Grand Central Plaza

MANY ADDITIONAL BEAUTY SALONS COFFEE SHOPS, PHYSICIANS OFFICES AND LOCAL LIBRARIES

Greater Kalamazoo Edition• August 2008

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Conversation Starter:

By Alexandra M. Fix

There’s No Place Like Here

By Cecelia Ahern Hyperion, 2007, $24.95

Since the day her schoolmate, Jenny-May Butler, disappeared from the neighborhood, Sandy Shortt has been searching. She’s been looking obsessively for all the things missing– the single matching sock, the mislaid CD, the lost friendship. As an adult, Sandy opens a missing person agency, intent on helping other people find their lost classmates, their biological mothers, their runaway family members. As the story begins, she has just taken on a new client, a man named Jack whose brother disappeared after an evening out with friends. That morning, while jogging to pass the time before her scheduled meeting with Jack, Sandy herself goes missing. She finds herself in a most unusual place, the place of all things missing, filled with the people and things that have been lost from others’ lives. This community of missing persons takes her under its wings and teaches her a thing or two about recognizing what you’ve been missing even when it’s clearly in your presence. In searching for her way home, Sandy realizes how much the people in her life mean to her. There’s some love and laughter she’s been blindly missing out on and she’s eager to find her way home.

Cecelia Ahern is the author of several novels, including P.S. I Love You. She is also the cocreator of the television sitcom, Samantha Who.

Kids’ Summer Reading: Organic Crafts 75 Earth-Friendly Art Activities

By Kimberly Monaghan* Chicago Review Press, 2007, $14.95

This could be the perfect answer to that age old, end-of-the-summer lament: “I’m bored. What can I do?” Kimberly Monaghan has gathered together a delightful array of projects that encourage children to explore the world around them with fresh eyes. They learn to see the art in nature and create their own natural masterpieces. Activities and projects will appeal to a wide range of ages and can be easily adapted to suit the season. Some of the projects that particularly caught my eye were the twig trivet, the bark boat, a toad home, rock racers, garden chimes and a leaf basket. Little, if anything, needed to create the crafts, is store-bought. There are even recipes for natural glue and cornstarch paint.

Monaghan includes directions for making homemade soil, a cute way of describing composting.

Scattered throughout the book are nature facts and earth action ideas. Children are invited to celebrate the beauty of their planet. They are encouraged to reduce, reuse and recycle materials to help protect our natural resources. *Kimberly Monaghan is business/career writer for Women’s LifeStyle Magazine.

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Greater Kalamazoo Edition• August 2008

Moon Shell Beach

By Nancy Thayer Ballantine, 2008, $24 Moon Shell Beach is a warm sunshine and sand kind of novel. It’s perfect for a bright afternoon beside the water or an evening of cool reflection. It’s about women and men and lifelong friendships. There’s love, romance, betrayal and reunion tucked into its pages.

As children, Clare and Lexi are inseparable friends.

Living on Nantucket Island, the girls find a small, isolated patch of sand they name Moon Shell beach. This becomes home to their imaginative play each childhood summer and a harbor for their thoughts and dreams in their growing-up years. Their friendship reaches an impasse when Lexi runs off to marry a man distrusted by Clare and the island community. Eleven years later, Lexi returns to Nantucket after a luxurious life and a difficult marriage. Clare has remained on the island, caring for her elderly father and developing a gourmet chocolate business. She has been dating her teenage sweetheart and is about to embark on marriage. Clare and Lexi meet up again and struggle to recapture the trust and friendship lost by their island of silence over the years. Like shifting sand, two steps forward bring them one step back.

This novel is reminiscent of Nancy Thayer’s earlier works, like Belonging, Everlasting and my all time favorite, Stepping. In recent years, Thayer has entertained her readers with her Hot Flash Club ladies. Moon Shell Beach is just as sassy, but more reflective. Gather women readers together and there will always be lively conversation about women and friendship, the choices they make and the men who wedge their way into their lives.

Alexandra M. Fix is the author of the children’s book, “All Around Michigan: Regions & Resources” (Heinemann Library). She is a librarian, registered nurse, freelance writer and an avid reader. Returning to college, one class at a time while her children were growing up, allowed her to explore her interest in literature and creative writing.

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