Salem MOM | June/July 2020

real local moms

since 2005

Salem | June / July 2020

FREE

COVER MOM

SUMMER FUN

A FRUIT AND A VEGETABLE

MAGGIE VELASCO

ON A BUDGET

WATERMELON

Together we can make a difference

It’s what‘s

Backyard Chickens

20

inside that counts

Summer Fun On A Budget

22

Meet the MOM experts..... 4

Healthy MOM..................... 8

They know what they're

Spring cleaning in summer

talking about

Because I said so............... 5

Cover MOM: Maggie Velasco...............10

A message from MOM

This mom gets real

On the road.............................6

Backyard chickens..........20

Car shopping in your

Should you get backyard

comfy pants

chickens?

Watermelon

27

Summer Fun on a budget......................22 Low-cost ways for you and your crew to get outside

Watermelon......................27 A fruit and a vegetable

More ways to love your MOM mommag.com

facebook.com/ lovemommag info@mommag.com We love hearing from you. Email us with feedback, story ideas or nominations.

Cover MOM

10

Photos by Joni Loraine Photography

Advertise today Want to get the word out about your business?

Contact Kim Leighty at kim.leighty@mommag.com mommag.com 3

meet the

experts

[They know what they’re talking about]

Drive.

On the road with Kristina Minahan, page 6

Health.

Healthy MOM with Santiam Hospital, page 8

“When I was a boy and I would see scary things

Say Cheese.

Say cheese with Dr. Ana Castilla, page 18

in the news, my mother would say to me, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”

“

– Fred Rogers.

4 mommag.com

Smile.

Something to Smile About with Dr. Na Xu, page 26

EDITOR'S NOTE

Because I said so!

Published by GO Creative, LLC 263 29th Avenue SW Albany, OR 97322 Editor-in-Chief Managing Director Audrey Meier DeKam audrey@mommag.com Salem Advertising Representative Kim Leighty kim.leighty@mommag.com 503-510-9036 Mid-Valley & Lane County Business Development Manager Linda Blair linda@mommag.com 541-231-7250 Tri-Cities Business Development Manager Kim Harvey kim@mommag.com 509-460-6526 Designer Sean Carver

MOM MagazineTM is produced by GO Creative, LLC. © 2020 All rights reserved. Any reproduction, in whole or part, without written permission of the publisher, is prohibited.

Information in the magazine is provided for general information purposes only with the understanding that none of the content constitutes professional advice.

Opinions expressed by the writers or advertisers are not necessarily the opinions of the magazine or the publisher. Inclusion in the magazine does not constitute endorsement of information, products or services.

What a wild parenting journey it’s been, eh?

I

don’t think there’s a mom out there who hasn’t felt put through the ringer these past few months as we rode the waves of our new socially distant lifestyles. However the COVID-19 pandemic has touched your lives, I’m wishing you sanity and peace. And if you broke down and screamed like a howler monkey at some point during it all, you weren’t the only one...hopefully it wasn’t caught on your kid’s video distance learning session.

In the middle of the chaos, some good things happened, too. For me, it was becoming the editor-in-chief of MOM Magazine. I’ve been a fan of this publication since it began because it seemed to understand me, as a local mom, as it was geared to where I live, work and raise my children. It is with pride that I follow the footsteps of the editors before me, as this really is a brilliant little magazine for moms.

A little about me: I live in Albany, Oregon, with my husband, Kevin, and our two boys, Elijah, age 13, and Powell, age 11.

We have a big goofy golden retriever, Murphy, and a cat, Tomato. Our life on a cul-de-sac is filled with foam bullets, bikes, balls and scooters strewn about outside, and too much video gaming on the inside (even the husband is a gamer).

Life with boys is all new to me because I grew up with two older sisters. The boy moms out there warned me it would be a lot of fights, farts and video games, and they were right!

We have an unusual summer ahead of us.

Some of your family’s typical activities and escapes might be off the table, which means we’ll have to get creative. Follow us on Facebook for ideas and insights, and let us know what you’re doing with your kids this summer. As the saying goes, this too shall pass — maybe like a kidney stone, but it will pass.

Stay healthy.

Why? Because I said so!

Audrey Meier DeKam Editor-in-Chief

mommag.com 5

on the road

Car shopping in your comfy pants

M

you consider your family’s unique needs for space, fuel economy, towing, etc.

Many manufacturer websites like Toyota offer full 360-degree views, allowing you to feel like you are sitting inside the vehicle.

consider options over time. Email also works great to keep track of the conversation, too, which is helpful as there are details, like trading in your current vehicle (and yep, that too, can be arranged online).

Online shopping offers convenience, even for car shopping. It’s easy to do from your mobile phone, and it allows you to shop during those pockets of time when your kids are engaged in an activity or blissfully asleep.

After the research phase, you’ll of course want to do a test drive. But how do you test drive a car online? It’s remarkably straightforward: our customers schedule a time online, and we drive the vehicle to their house, give them the keys and they take it for a spin.

Shopping online for a major purchase may seem odd at first, but once you do it, you might not imagine it any other way. Visit us at capitolauto.com, and you can see our inventory for both new and used vehicles.

Most people are comfortable with researching cars online. That part of the equation is fairly straight-forward, as

Some people actually prefer online interaction with a sales representative, as it gives them time to pause and

Brought to you by:

oms are busy. Between making snacks, checking homework and then making more snacks, finding the time to car shop seems about as likely as locating all the missing pacifiers in the world.

6 mommag.com

MEET KRISTINA MINAHAN Kristina Minahan enjoys working in sales at Capitol Toyota and is the proud mother of three: twins Khloe and Konner, age 10, and Karsyn, age 11. As a family they love to go on long bike rides, enjoy the great outdoors and go to Disneyland any chance they can. Contact Kristina at Capitol Toyota for your next Toyota purchase at kminahan@capitolauto.com or 503.399.1011.

[ Momism #39: Look

with your eyes, not with your hands.

]

YOUR DREAM IS OUT THERE. MAKE IT A REALITY. Top-ranked degrees

ONLINE Christy Wedding’s pathway to earning a business administration degree 100% online was made easier thanks to Oregon State’s Degree Partnership Program with statewide community colleges.

ecampus.oregonstate.edu

mommag.com 7

in summer

W

e all did a little more spring cleaning than usual this spring (wash, sanitize, repeat) but the lessons we learned in keeping our families safe from the coronavirus needn’t be left

8 mommag.com

behind now that the worst of the threat has passed. In fact, some of these virus-busting methods can be easily incorporated into our routine, and help to keep other viruses, the flu and even the common cold at bay.

Most people do an admirable job of keeping their homes tidy. However, the sudden, complete directive for social distancing made everyone start to think differently about shared and public spaces. Even if public spaces and restaurants open, being in groups when we’re sick or run down should give us more pause now that we’ve all been given a primer in disease transmission. The lessons we learned while we were staying home and staying healthy can easily fit into our everyday lives— without disrupting them.

Wash your hands before eating, before touching your face, after using the restroom, any time they are visibly dirty and before

preparing food. You should also wash your hands after being in public places, other people’s cars or homes. Use soap and very warm water for 20 seconds, or hand sanitizer if a sink isn’t available.

to a doctor’s appointment— wear a mask.

Sanitize door handles, countertops and other high-touch areas at least once a day. This includes children’s toys that are being

The lessons we learned while we were staying home and staying healthy can easily fit into our everyday lives— without disrupting them.

If you’re sick, stay home. Do not go to school, the gym, work, the grocery store or to other public places when you have a fever, cough or sneeze, or if your doctor tells you you’re contagious. If you have to go out—for example,

played with a lot. A flu virus can live on surfaces (and remain infectious) for several hours—longer on stainless steel, plastic and similar hard surfaces than on fabric and other soft surfaces.

Taking precautions on our own to prevent the spread of germs will not only make it less likely we’ll get sick, but wide-spread social consciousness may make future mandated shut downs of public places less likely.

We can protect ourselves, our families, our communities and our economy by being proactive in caring for ourselves when we’re sick and doing our best to prevent the spread of any germs, no matter how innocuous.

Brought to you by:

www.santiamhospital.org

General disinfecting and sanitizing with bleach guidelines** Disinfecting Solutions For use on sinks, bathrooms (including toilet bowls, toilet seats, soap dispensers), door and cabinet handles, etc.

Bleach Strength* 2.75%

1 Gallon Water

1 Quart water

1/3 Cup + 1 Tablespoon

11/2 Tablespoons

Bleach Strength* 5.25-6.25%

3 Tablespoons

Bleach Strength* 8.25%

2 Tablespoons

Sanitizing Solutions For use on eating utensils, food use contact surfaces, mixed use tables, high chair trays, crib frames and mattresses, toys, pacifiers, floors, etc.

Bleach Strength* 2.75%

1 Gallon water

1 Quart water

1 Tablespoon

1 Teaspoon

2 1/4 Teaspoon

Bleach Strength* 5.25-6.25%

2 Teaspoons

1/2 Teaspoon

11/2 Teaspoon

Bleach Strength* 8.25%

1 Teaspoon

1/4 Teaspoon

*Use only plain unscented bleach that lists the percent (%) strength on the manufacturer’s label.

Read the label on the bleach bottle to determine the bleach strength. For example, Sodium Hypochlorite...6.25% or 8.25%. Source: Washington State Dept. of Health www.doh.wa.gov

** For a complete list of EPA-approved products for use against COVID-19 visit CDC.gov or: www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/list-ndisinfectants-use-against-sars-cov-2 www.americanchemistry.com/Novel-CoronavirusFighting-Products-List.pdf

Preparation Tips Prepare a fresh bleach solution each day in a well ventilated area that is separate from children.

Label bottle of bleach solution with contents, ratio and date mixed.

Use cool water.

Always add bleach to cool water, NOT water to bleach.

Wear gloves and eye protection, and keep eye wash nearby.

mommag.com 9

Life is beyond busy for Cover MOM Maggie Velasco, as she juggles being an urgent care

Family

Maggie Velasco with her husband, Samuel Velasco, Carpenter, and children: Noah, 2.5 years, and Lucas, due mid-June

nurse, wife, and

MAGGIE VELASCO

mom to a toddler, all while being

pregnant with her second child.

Photo credit: Joni Loraine Photography

10 10 mommag.com mommag.com

mommag.com 11

QA &

Family comes first.

All families are unique. Tell us about yours. My husband and I met in high school and connected six years afterwards. Our son Noah is the love of our lives, and our second son Lucas is due in June. We can’t wait to give Noah a forever friend. We also have one amazing dog named Tigg.

Every family has their own traditions, rituals or inside jokes. What’s one of yours? At birthdays we try to go around the table and each of us says what we love about that person.

When did you know you wanted to be a mom? I’ve always said my biggest dream is to be a mother and my biggest fear is not being able to have children.

Do you think that parenting is easier or more challenging than when you were growing up? A little of both. Social media/screen time makes it harder for children to be social.

12 mommag.com

Tell us about one of your proudest mom moments.

When my son said “I love you” back.

What is the most surprising thing you have found wedged between the sofa cushions or behind a car seat?

Old french fries.

Now tell us about one of your most humbling mom moments.

When I find myself losing my patience I have to take a step back and put myself in my two-year-old’s shoes. I usually feel terrible and quickly change my point of view.

In what way are your children like you?

Noah loves to be outside, like me.

Your biggest wish for your kids is…

To be confident in their own skin and to not let the opinions of others impact their happiness.

No one works harder than mom.

We know that being a mom is a full-time job. Tell us about your work or volunteerism outside of the home.

I work as a full-time LPN at Urgent Care at Salem Clinic. We are currently working the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.

What have you learned professionally, that has helped you as a mom?

To listen first and then answer. You must always demonstrate patience.

How do you balance (or not) motherhood, activities, work, volunteering, household responsibilities, and life in general?

Typically, what falls through the cracks?

Cleaning the bathrooms and mopping. The kitchen and living rooms are cleaned regularly, but by the time I’m done with that, this pregnant mom is exhausted.

Tell us about a recent achievement you’re proud of, or a personal passion or talent.

Finishing my prerequisites for the LPN to RN program.

When was the last time you failed? What did you learn?

I applied for a promotion last year and didn’t get it. I learned to not give up and maybe a better opportunity would present itself. A few months later, a bigger promotion came up, I applied and got it!

“Cuddle and love on your littles as much and as long as they will let you.

Tomorrow isn’t promised and they grow up too fast.”

mommag.com 13

Do you have a goal you’d like to accomplish within the next five years?

Yes, buying a larger home and using our current home as a rental.

If mom’s not happy, nobody’s happy.

Tell us about your community/upbringing growing up. How did it shape the mother you are today?

I grew up next door to my grandparents.

They were quite elderly and I learned how to take care of others and have respect for my elders. I learned about life, family values and death. Through them I developed my dream to become a nurse. Living next to my grandparents, we had such a close relationship and I hold all those memories close now that they have passed away.

When was the last time you did something for the first time?

In Jan. 2020, while five months pregnant, I jumped in the ocean off a boat and snorkeled in Mexico.

What is something you will NEVER do again?

Drink alcohol.

What good habit do you wish you started earlier?

Eating fresh, organic, healthy foods.

When did you realize you were no longer a child?

When I had to put another person’s happiness and well-being before my own.

What are three words your best friend would use to describe you?

Ambitious, caring and stubborn.

What are three words your kids would use to describe you?

Momma, love, help.

What is the quality you like most about yourself?

Determination. When I set my mind to something I don’t give up.

If you could instantly have one new skill, what would it be?

Speak fluent Spanish. My husband’s family lives in Mexico and our communication is limited.

What’s your superpower?

Multitasking.

14 mommag.com

What’s in your mom purse right now?

A diaper, one sock, wallet, birthing book, stickers, receipts, facemasks and keys.

If you could turn any activity into an Olympic sport, in which event would you win a gold medal?

Worrying.

Tell us something about you that would surprise your kids or husband.

I pray every day to tbe the best wife, mother, coworker, daughter and friend. Yet I still feel I fail in this department often.

It’s Saturday afternoon and you suddenly find yourself at home alone for a few hours (we know, it never happens). What do you do?

Take a hot bath, listen to alternative rock, read and take a nap.

What keeps you up at night (apart from kids, of course)?

Stress about the next day.

What keeps you sane?

Cuddles with my son and husband. And being outside in nature.

What is the best way that you let off steam?

Workout and go on walks. When I’m not pregnant, I run — well, jog.

What’s your guilty pleasure?

Desserts.

What’s your greatest extravagance?

Coffee. It’s literally the only thing I buy for myself.

Who is your favorite fictional hero?

Harry Potter.

Who is your real life hero?

My mom.

Outside of your family members, who/what inspired you to be better?

My relationship with God. What is something you think everyone should do at least once in their lives?

Volunteer to help the less fortunate.

They say that everyone has a book in them.

What’s the title of your book?

Saved by two little words: “I’m pregnant.”

Listen to mom.

Is motherhood what you expected? What surprised you the most?

No — it’s even better. I’ve never experienced a love so deep in my entire life. My children are what make me whole.

MOM’s

Favorite… ...family game: Dominoes

...words to live by: Kill them with kindness

...place to hide and find some peace & quiet: Anywhere in nature

…binge-worthy TV or podcast: Ozarks, Naked & Afraid, Vikings, Game of Thrones

?

Quick

questions

for MOM Tea or Coffee?

Coffee

Morning or Night?

Morning

Summer or Winter?

Summer

Fly or Drive?

Drive

Gold or Silver?

Silver

Dog or Cat?

Dog

Bath or Shower?

Bath

Math or English?

Math

Hot or Cold?

Hot

Sweet or Savory?

Sweet

Hugs or Kisses?

Hugs

Ice cream or Chocolate?

Chocolate Early or Late?

Early

mommag.com 15

Who has influenced the mother you are today?

I’d say my mom and mother-in-law. They do so much for their kids, even to this this day.

I strive to be like them in so many ways!

What’s the best advice you’ve received from another mom?

Take date night seriously. Tending to your own relationship with your husband is important and will in turn make you better parents.

What advice would you give your younger mom self - what do you wish you knew then that you know now?

Soak in every single moment, take pictures, make each day a memory. It goes by WAY too fast!

What message would you like to share with other moms? Remember to tell it like it is.

Cuddle and love on your littles as much and as long as they will let you. Tomorrow isn’t promised and they grow up too fast.

16 mommag.com

[ Momism #70:

Did you comb your hair?

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mommag.com 17

I

T NEVER FAILS. It’s

WHAT’S THE

racket

WITH THAT

bracket?

Castilla Orthodontics 503-399-0721 justsmile@castillaortho.com 434 Lancaster Drive NE, Salem

the moving bracket is causing irritation, simply break off a Saturday night and your small piece and press it over child tells you they have the bracket and onto the a wiggly bracket on their tooth. If you are out of wax, braces. It’s as if these things you can find it at are perfectly timed your drugstore in to after-hours and the dental aisle. weekends. Never Wax sticks best fear! There are OH NO! to a dry surface, steps you can take It’s Saturday night so you can use a at home. and your child tells cotton swab to dry Check to see if you they have a the area first. the bracket is still wiggly bracket on Call your attached to the orthodontist for wire. Sometimes their braces. the next steps. If when a bracket it’s after-hours, don’t panic! becomes detached from the Simply call the next business tooth, it will slide side-to-side day and they’ll find the next on the wire like a bead on best appointment time to an abacus. Your orthodontist replace it with a new one. likely provided you with a packet of dental wax, so if

Ana Castilla, DDS, MS is a board-certified, Oregon-based orthodontist. She is passionate about helping patients attain their perfect smile, so they can live their lives to the fullest!

GIVING BLOOD IS GIVING LIFE. SCHEDULE YOUR DONATION TODAY. Bloodworksnw.org (800) 398-7888 Download the App 18 mommag.com

@BloodworkNW

[ Momism #139:

Get outside!

]

Every mom is worthy of the cover of MOM Magazine.

Who would you like to see as a Cover MOM? Fill out the form on mommag.com/about

Protect Local Streams and Rivers!

Alis Volat Propriis

She Flies With Her Own Wings www.CleanStreamsSalem.org mommag.com 19

Did you know? There are more chickens in the world than people.

SHOULD YOU GET BACKYARD CHICKENS?

20 mommag.com

It’s been the rage to get a few egg-laying chickens in your backyard.

Also consider:

Before you jump on the feathery trend, you’ll want to do some research. For starters, check with your town’s rules, your HOA, city ordinances, etc. Many communities limit the number of chickens, if they are allowed at all; roosters are often considered bird non grata because they crow — and your neighbors might not be so keen on Foghorn Leghorn’s early morning noise.

Space: chickens need room to

roam, and they need to be moved around. If left in one spot, the ground will likely turn hard and bare. Everybody loves chicken... including foxes, raccoons and other predators so you’ll need a secure coop.

Care and feeding: the baby chicks that arrive each year at local farm supply stores sure are cute, but they grow up fast.

Before you know it, you’ll have lovely hens scratching for bugs in your backyard. They’ll still need chicken feed, so factor that in.

Your pets: the family dog

might be too interested in the new arrivals. Some dogs might learn to peacefully coexist while others will never give up the chase. If you want healthy, unstressed birds, it’s best to keep Fido away.

Choose the right breed:

there are hundreds of types of chickens. Older kids will enjoy researching which ones are right for your family. Consider size, egg production, and personalities.

Your kids: are they old

enough to help? Young children will enjoy throwing feed and watching the chickens’ entertaining movements. Older kids can collect eggs, clean the coop, refresh water sources and so on. Make sure everyone is washing their hands properly after caring for and handling live poultry.

Find a chicken mentor:

your neighbor, friend, or helpful farm store worker can help you learn the craft of keeping chickens. You might want to [warning: dad joke ahead] pluck their brains for advice.

mommag.com 21

Summer fun on a

budget T

he summer of 2020 is new territory for all of us, as we learn how to safely live and travel with health restrictions in place. But summer is still on, and as moms we’re great at finding and inventing joy for our kids. It’s been a stressful spring for them, too, so it’s time to find the fun.

We’ve compiled some of our favorite, low-cost ways for you and your crew to get outside.

Here’s to a cheerful, bright summer for all of us.

22 mommag.com

them by hand to those who are more experienced. Take them home in a cooler of water, to later boil, clean and eat. Be sure to check with the state’s fish and wildlife regulations for license requirements and catch limits.

Tip: In addition to sun protection, pack water sandals or old shoes with rubber soles for everyone, which will help protect feet from the rocky bottoms of streams and rivers.

Camping

Picnics

Crawdadding

Kids of all ages will enjoy the thrill of meals around a campfire or looking for fish in nearby streams. Camping is also a superb way to unplug from screen time, which many families have had enough of these days. If campgrounds are open this summer, check your state and county park’s reservation and permit requirements. Different campgrounds have different amenities. Some of them are surprisingly appointed, with showers and small stores.

Many day-use areas throughout the Northwest offer scenic places to set up a family-style picnic. You can get elaborate with many fancy picnic menus on Pinterest to guide you.

Or, pack a few snacks and drinks, and get to-go sub sandwiches. Some families get pizza and call it good; no judgement here.

No matter if you call them crayfish, crawdads, or crawfish, finding and catching these bright red crustaceans can be surprisingly fun. Shallow, freshwater areas are good family spots for this activity, with your best chances in coastal rivers and streams. Bring small and medium-sized nets, as well as buckets for everyone. Crawdads can pinch, so leave catching

Water fun

Berry picking This is a relaxing outing that can yield lots of fresh, local fruit at the end of the day. Go early to avoid the heat and BYOB: bring your own buckets. Note that some U-pick farms are cash only.

Outdoor movie night Assemble the lawn chairs, hang a sheet on the side of the house and roll a family

Small kids are easy to please: get out a sprinkler, and they are delighted to If campgrounds splash the day away. aren’t open this Tweens will want summer, pitch a to up the ante, If campgrounds tent in your with water aren’t open this own backyard. balloon fights summer, pitch a The novelty of and squirt guns tent in your own it impresses more likely their backyard. most kids, and it style. For an epic requires zero packing. water balloon fight, This memory-making prefill the balloons and put experience is great to do at them in a kiddie pool of least once. (Plus, if after a water until they’re ready for few hours you’re ready for launching, as this prevents your real bed, it awaits you premature popping. just a few steps away.)

Tip:

mommag.com 23

favorite movie. Except, uh, how exactly does one Making these monstrous project the movie? If you bubbles doesn’t take much. can afford it, portable Most recipes call for liquid projectors are sold dish soap and water through retailers with either corn such as Target, syrup or glycerin Walmart and Don’t forget added in. Old Amazon. to apply bug tennis or sports Renting is repellent before rackets, with another option: starting the netting removed, call a local party movie. can double as store or audio-visuwands. Or make your al rental business in own with a few dowels and your area. Chill the drinks, cotton rope. butter the popcorn, and enjoy.

Giant bubbles

Tip:

Stargazing

Outdoor games Use rope to create a tic tac toe grid, and get the kids involved in cutting out and decorating Xs and Os. You can use cardboard, painted rocks, old lids, etc. Another fun one is cornhole, with sets available at many retailers or as a DIY project if you have the skills. After dark fun can be had with glow sticks: add some to empty water bottles and make circular rings out of others. Ta da! You have glow-in-dark ring toss.

Grow your garden It’s not too late to start. In June and July, you can still plant bush beans, carrots and broccoli. They’ll be ready for harvest in late summer or early fall. Kids enjoy planting and watching things grow. And they might just be more apt to eat them if they have a hand in growing, tending and harvesting.

24 mommag.com

Summer meteor showers are a sight to behold. You’ll want to get away from city lights to best view them. Looking for constellations is another celestial activity. Use a mobile app such as Star Chart to identify stars, planets and constellations.

[ Momism #77: I

love you to the moon.

] 82%

What can MOM do for you?

Moms make 82% of household purchasing decisions. Reach your customers with MOM Magazine.

Contact Kim Leighty today at kim.leighty@mommag.com or 503-510-9036 to secure your ad space.

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magazines • inserts • newspapers • postcards • catalogs • maps • calendars mommag.com 25

something to smile about

TM

baby

teeth & cavities

There’s a misconception that cavities in baby teeth are no big deal, because those teeth will eventually fall out and be replaced by permanent teeth. But leaving cavities untreated in baby teeth is actually quite serious.

Cavities in baby teeth are not

react differently to hot or cold

to be ignored. For starters,

food and drinks.

they can be quite painful.

Some children don’t even

Tooth pain can interfere with sleep, so you can end up with a tired, cranky kid on your hands.

And if a cavity is ignored, it can cause a serious infection that

notice or show symptoms, which makes it even more important to stay up-to-date with your child’s dental checkups and practice

can lead to a root canal or

regular brushing.

extraction, and in worse case, bone loss in the jaw.

Because kids may not show or communicate their symptoms

Brought to you by: Healthy Smiles Family Dentistry

2601 25th St., Suite 400, in Salem 503-689-8936 www.myfamilydentistsalem.com

with us, moms need to be on the lookout. A child might favor

Na Xu, DDS, is a mother of two.

one side of their mouth for chewing, avoid certain foods or

r o f g n Cari ies

il m a f g growin

5 2 9 1 e c sin

OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY 26 mommag.com

FAMILY MEDICINE

salemclinic.org

URGENT CARE

503.399.2424

Watermelon af ru it

e l b and a vegeta

It’s been debated for years whether watermelons are considered fruit or vegetable.

The complicated yet short answer here is yes to both.

However you want to classify it, this light summer favorite is versatile, going from a sorbet to the charcuterie board, or into a fresh salsa.

Watermelon

Pickled watermelon rind Wait, you can eat the rind? It’s true. Rinds can be sliced into stir-fry for a delightful crunch or pickled, as in this recipe below.

INGREDIENTS:

3-4 pounds watermelon rind 2

cups apple cider vinegar

1

cup water

¾

cup sugar

⅓

cup candied ginger, minced

1

tablespoon salt

1

teaspoon Aleppo red pepper flakes (possible substitutes: hot paprika or cayenne)

1

teaspoon allspice berries

1ea. star anise pod DIRECTIONS:

Remove all of the watermelon’s green peel, and slice off most of the flesh, leaving about ¼ to ½ inch of watermelon flesh. Cut the rind into 1-inch cubes.

Bring the apple cider vinegar, water, sugar, ginger, salt and spices to a boil over medium-high heat in a medium 2-quart saucepan. Hold the boil for 60 seconds then carefully add the watermelon.

Return to a boil and turn off the heat.

Move the pickles to a 2-quart jar using a canning funnel and ladle. Pour on as much of the pickling juice as possible. Loosely place the lid on the jar and leave at room temperature until cool.

Once cool, tighten the lid and refrigerate.

Consume within a month. These pickles must be refrigerated.

28 mommag.com

Look, mom, I picked the best one!

Watermelon Berry Popsicles No popsicle molds? No problem: use muffin tins, old yogurt containers or ice cube trays. Skip the added berries if that’s not your thing. These frozen treats hit the spot on a hot afternoon.

INGREDIENTS:

6

cups watermelon

1

cup blueberries

1

cup raspberries

3

tablespoons honey

It seems like everybody has a special trick for picking the ripest watermelon.

Some swear by the old thumping method where you knock on it and listen for a dull, muffled sound. Others feel the firmness level near the blossom end. According to watermelon. org, choosing a good one is as simple as Look, Lift and Turn.

• Look for a firm watermelon with no dents or bruises.

• Lift it: it should have a good heft for its size.

• Turn it over and check for a creamy yellow spot from where it was on the ground.

DIRECTIONS:

Add watermelon, ½ cup of blueberries, ½ cup of raspberries, and honey to a blender. Blend until smooth. Press through a fine mesh strainer to remove pulp and seeds.

Fill popsicle molds ¾ full with liquid. Add whole blueberries and raspberries to each mold. Insert sticks and freeze for at least 4 hours or until completely frozen.

Thanks to the National Watermelon Promotion Board (NWPB) for these recipes and tips. Visit watermelon.org for more information.

mommag.com 29

Frontline workers for keeping us safe!

With gratitude and appreciation from all of us at

30 mommag.com

HEALTHY, HAPPY CHILDREN

Raising healthy, well-adjusted children is one of life’s biggest challenges. It’s also one of the most rewarding. Yet, as parents, there are times when you need some help. The good news is you’re not alone.

2 CONVENIENT LOCATIONS in

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Now Accepting New Patients!

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So, whether it’s a common health concern, or something more serious, Childhood Health will be here for you.

LEARN MORE

childhoodhealth.com

FOLLOW US!

(503) 364-2181

Salem: 891 23rd Street NE (& D Street)

Silverton: 450 Welch St., Next to Hospital

*Certified 5-Star by Oregon’s Patient-Centered Primary Care Program which recognizes clinics statewide for offering quality patient-centered primary care.

mommag.com 31

263 29th Avenue SW | Albany, OR 97322 541-926-0353 | 541-926-1515 fax

www.mommag.com | info@mommag.com

The views, information and content in this magazine are not that of the organization that may have provided MOM Magazine to readers as a courtesy.

MOM Magazine and its distributors assume no liability for the contents or events arising out of its distribution.

/mäm/ noun Takes care of her children or other living things that live under her roof. She will do anything for her family. The one person who knows where all of your stuff is. Her love is unconditional.

“Mom, where are my shoes?”

/wou/ exclamation Expressing astonishment or admiration “Wow, Mom! You are amazing!” they cried enthusiastically.

To all those women that put the WOW in MOM. mommag.com 32