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Allen Family Magazine issue 6
Citation preview
Residential CustomerAllen, TX
PRSRT STDU.S.POSTAGE
PAIDMcKinney, TXPermit No 146
November/December 2008
m a g a z i n e
Dreaming ofa Green Christmas
A Gift inEvery Jar
Holidays forDivorced Parents
ANNUALCover PhotoCONTEST
2 Allen Family Magazine November/December 2008 www.northtexasmagazines.com
Table of ContentsNovember/December 2008 - Issue 6
Publisher/Editor:Vanessa Ximenez
Art Director:Marlina Rahman
Photographer:Michael Rivera
Contributing Writers:Janet GroeneJodi Helmer
Heidi Smith LuedtkeMarcia Lynne
Belinda MooneyDiane O'Neil
Brette SemberMartha Wegner
North Texas Magazines, Inc.972.547.6261
www.northtexasmagazines.com
5 Make a Gingerbread House and Make a Memory
10 Dreaming of a Green Christmas Make your holiday celebrations more eco-friendly
12 A Gift in Every Jar
20 Holidays for Divorced Parents
22 What to Teach Your Kids About Credit
Features
Allen Family Magazine is a product of North Texas Magazines, Inc.Copyright 2007, exclusive of proprietary ads and artwork designs. All rights reserved. No portion may be reproduced in whole or in part by any means without prior written permission from the publisher. Placement of advertising is not a personal endorsement by the publisher or its representatives, and no liability arising therefrom is assumed.
5
12
20
Make a Gingerbread House and Make
a Memory
A Gift in Every Jar
Holidays forDivorced Parents
On the Cover:Finley is a happy 17 month old who loves
puppy dogs and books.
Cover Photo:Michael Rivera
www.michaellouisphotos.com
972-727-3941www.allendentist.com
300 W. Boyd DriveAllen, Texas
(Next door to the Allen Post Office)
Cosmetic Dentistry • General Family Dentistry • Sedation Dentistry
Discover Drs. Jeff and Steve Williams
and their special brand of quality care
at Allen Dental Center.
We use only the highest-quality dental
products and services, and we will
strive to provide you the level of treatment and comfort we
would want for our own family.
The Williams Family
4 Allen Family Magazine November/December 2008 www.northtexasmagazines.com
Publisher’s Note
Photo Submission Guidelines:
▪ Send or drop photos to: North Texas Magazines, Inc. 808 S. College Street, Suite 112 McKinney, TX 75069
▪ Include name, age, and phone number on the back of each photo.
▪ Kids must be residents of Allen area and between the ages of newborn - 16 years.
▪ Photos must be received by December 10, 2008 and will not be returned.
▪ One photo per child.
▪ Cover winner will receive a free professional photo shoot and will appear on the front cover of the january issue.
2009 AFM Cover Photo Contest
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! And with that being said, it’s time to begin preparations for all this season brings – baking, parties, decorating, shopping, and a little time for reflection. However, this year may be a little different than previous years regarding finances and budget. While there may not be as much disposable income, you can still have the best holiday season ever! On page 12,
read about Gifts in a Jar. Rather than buying the typical tie or perfume, you can create gifts that are not only perfectly packaged, but also delicious. With gifts in a jar, simple ingredients and a few instructions will provide a unique present that is sure to be a big hit. In addition, the whole family can take part in the preparations. And speaking of fun for the entire family, on page 5, read about Making a Gingerbread House with your kids and making lots of exciting memories. Whether your children choose to create a traditional house or plan for something off-the-wall, they are creating memories that will last a lifetime and traditions they’ll pass onto their children. Finally, if you are a divorced parent and will be coordinating a holiday schedule with your ex-spouse, on page 20, read about simple strategies to ensure happy holidays for everyone involved, especially your children.
Happy Holidays!
Vanessa Ximenez
www.northtexasmagazines.com November/December 2008 Allen Family Magazine 5
Make a Gingerbread House and Make a Memory
The holiday season is all about making memo-
ries with our families. And there is no better
way to do that than spending time together
making gingerbread houses. Not only do you
get to spend time with your kids but you have a
work of art when you are done.
Included here are two recipes - one for those of us who are short on time or have very young children. Graham crackers make wonderful prefabricated gingerbread walls. The other is for those who want to go the whole route, from start to dazzling finish.
Keep in mind you can use any candies or decorations you want. Those listed are suggestions.
Easy Gingerbread Cottages by Nestle©
Supplies:• A sturdy piece of cardboard or a wood board, approximately 12 inches x 12 inches • Wrapping paper to cover board (optional) • Double-sided cellophane tape • Cellophane tape • 1 pint milk carton, emptied
• 1 box of 2 1/2 inches x 5 inches graham crackers • 1 16-oz can of pre-made frosting. White for snow and any accent color you choose. • 1 14-oz. bag of flaked or shredded coconut • A variety of NESTLÉ Candy. We suggest: NESTLÉ JINGLES, SPREE Candy Canes, Mini Chewy SWEETARTS in Holiday Dispensers, Giant SWEETARTS, SNO-CAPS, WONKA GOBSTOPPERS, WONKA NERDS Ropes.
Instructions• Empty contents of carton and tape carton opening shut.• Cover the cardboard or wooden base with wrapping paper (Optional). • Secure carton to base with double-sided tape. • For the sides of the cottage, carefully break 4 graham cracker sheets, along the scored line, into fourths, for a total of 12 pieces. Set aside. • For the roof of the cottage, break each graham cracker sheet in half along the scored line for a total of 2 pieces, one for each side of the roof. Set aside. • Now frost the entire carton. Place 3 of the smaller graham cracker pieces, horizontally, onto each side. Place 2 of the larger graham cracker pieces on each side of the top of the carton, to create the roof.
By Belinda Mooney
6 Allen Family Magazine November/December 2008 www.northtexasmagazines.com
• Using the frosting as “glue”, place SNO-CAPS in rows to create snow covered roof shingles. Wrap the NERDS Rope around the edges of the side of the carton and secure with frosting. Place 3 red Mini Chewy SPREE in the center above the NERDS Rope. Repeat on other side of cottage. • For the front of the cottage, use 5 green Mini Chewy SPREE to create a round wreath below the center of the NERDS Rope. Break off 2 rounded ends of unwrapped SPREE Candy Canes and put them together to create a horse shoe shape for the front door. • Unwrap SPREE Candy Canes and break them into 2-3/4” lengths. You will need four of these pieces. With frosting, glue one SPREE Candy Cane piece under the roof and one at the base of the cottage on both sides (the sides which do not have the NERDS ROPE decoration). Secure 2 to 3 red Mini Chewy SPREE to each side to represent windows.
Now it’s time for the landscaping:• Frost the board. • Using green foil wrapped NESTLÉ JINGLES, use frosting and “glue” one on top of the other to create trees. • Make a colorful “cobblestone” walkway using Mini Chewy SWEETARTS kept in place with the frosting. • Break unwrapped SPREE Candy Canes into 1” pieces to line the walkway. Use 3 to 4 pieces on each side. • If desired, line the edges of the cardboard base with NERDS Rope.
Sprinkle some shredded coconut “snow” around and your cottage is ready for visitors!
Traditional Gingerbread HouseThis traditional gingerbread house is courtesy of Del Lago Resort’s Executive Chef Mike Wallace.
Before you get started, use cardboard or heavy poster board to draw out your templates. Test by taping the pieces together. If the cardboard house stands, it is a safe bet that your gingerbread house will too. • Roof - Two rectangles (11” X 7”) • Sidewalls - Two rectangles (5”X 8”) • Frontandbackwalls - (Base 5”, total height 9”)
Dough ingredients:• 1 cup soft butter • 1 - 3/4 cup brown sugar • 1-1/4 cup white sugar • 2 tablespoons molasses • 6 eggs • 6 cup all-purpose flour
Directions:1. pray non-stick spray onto baking sheets and pre-heat oven to 325 degrees. 2. In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugars. Beat in the molasses and eggs.
• 2 teaspoon baking soda • 1 tablespoon ginger • 1 tablespoon cinnamon • 3/4 tablespoon allspice • 1 teaspoon nutmeg
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www.northtexasmagazines.com November/December 2008 Allen Family Magazine 7
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3. In another bowl, sift dry ingredients. Gradually add the dry mixture to the molasses mixture and knead into a smooth ball. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.4. On a floured surface, roll out some of the dough to a 1/4 inch thickness. Use the templates to cut into desired shapes and place on baking sheet. 5. Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes. Place on racks to let cool completely.
Icing Ingredients: • 3 large egg whites, room temperature• 4 3/4 cup powdered sugar• 1/2 teaspon cream of tartar
Directions:1. Place egg whites in bowl. Add cream of tartar. 2. Sift sugar directly onto egg whites. Beat four minutes with electric mixer on high speed. The mixture will thicken as you beat it and when finished should be the consistency of mashed potatoes. 3. Place a piece of plastic wrap directly over icing while using to prevent air from drying it. If icing becomes too firm, simply beat a little water into it.
Decorating:1. Place the icing in a pastry bag and generously squeeze it in a 90 degree angle along your base. Place one side wall and the back wall in the icing and hold till it sets (approx. 15 minutes). Repeat with remaining walls.
2. Let the walls set for at least 30 minutes before attaching the roof.3. Use the extra dough for chimneys, windows, doors, etc.4. Stained glass windows can be made from crushed hard candies. In the unbaked dough, cut the window hole and sprinkle in the candy pieces. Bake the candy chips with the gingerbread house to create a stained glass effect.5. When house is thoroughly dry, any and all types of candies can be used for decoration. Just let your imagination run wild. Use the remaining icing to attach the candy decorations.
NOTE: The icing is not for eating, it contains raw eggs.
Belinda Mooney is a freelance writer mainly focusing on parenting and family issues.
8 Allen Family Magazine November/December 2008 www.northtexasmagazines.com
JustacrosstheOklahomaborderandashort2.5hourdrivefromAllen,TexasisafamilygetawayfewpeopleknowaboutinNorthTexas.Formyfamily,it’sourweekendhomeawayfromhome.
Typically, my two kids (Tyler, 12 and Emma, 9) are glued to the TV, a video game or the family computer. As an active mom, I’m always looking for a way to stay connected with my husband and children, without connecting to an electrical outlet.
A few years ago, a friend of mine suggested I travel northward to McCurtain County, Oklahoma… to the Beavers Bend State Park and Broken Bow Lake area located in Southeast Oklahoma.
On that advice, we went… and we fell in love with the entire county. There are quaint little towns like Idabel, Broken Bow, Valliant and Hochatown that offer shopping, great restaurants, museums, water activities, hiking, biking…. you name it. McCurtain County offers something for the entire family – both outdoors and indoors. Thankfully, it is everything the mall and typical family getaway isn’t.
Since that time, we’ve made it a point to visit once or twice a year. Adding to the attraction and allure of McCurtain County are their “Indian Summers.” Due to the foliage and soil content, McCurtain County stays “green” deep into the fall. But when fall does hit usually around the second week in November… it is a county-wide splash of showing fall foliage that is second to none.
Being a creature of comfort, I was thrilled to learn that McCurtain County features a wide variety of lodging – ranging from the small and rustic cabins, to a lodge overlooking the lake, to motels and large and luxurious cabins in the deep pines. You’ll find clean, comfortable cabins with spacious rooms, big beds, brand new and clean show-ers and hot tubs. Thanks to my wonderful husband, who is willing to watch our children, I’ve been able to plan a few “girls weekends” with a few friends. We leave our “mom” duties at home, rent a great cabin, visit the local winery and take a break from the routine.
My husband and I were married on Valentine’s Day. We’ve found the winter months of January and February in McCurtain County to be the ideal place for that fireplace-romantic-husband-and-wife weekend.
Real mountains, luxury cabins and a family getaway are2.5 hours away from Allen, TX. - By Marcia Lynne
Ideal Family Getaway
In today’s tough economic times, we love the idea of an affordable “staycation” that’s less than a gas tank away. Located in the Kiamichi Mountains, your family just won’t believe that a place so wonderful and beautiful is so close to home.
A couple of restaurants you will want to check out are Steven’s Gap Restaurant, Highway 259 North, Broken Bow, OK 580-484-6350 and a little more upscale Abendigo’s in Hochatown, OK 580-494-7222.
As for a wonderful cabin, your family will enjoy staying in the OKeHI cabin rented by The Cabins in Broken Bow - www.cabinsinbrokenbow.com. 580-212-3555.
For more information on McCurtain County, Oklahoma, visit www.mccurtaincountygetaways.com.
Marcia Lynne is a free-lance travel writer based in the DFW area.
Couples will find the secluded cabins in the tower pines of McCurtain County, OK.
the ideal romantic getaway.
The fall foliage and changing colors in McCurtain County, OK. are among the country’s best - just a short drive northeast of Allen, TX.
Just one of the many affordable and luxuriously appointed cabins available for a weekend
getaway in McCurtain County, OK.
Outdoor
1. Bald Eagle watching along the sheer cliffs of Mountain Fork River
2. Pet a snake at the Beavers Bend Nature Center
3. Scenic wildlife viewing drive in the Ouachita National Forest
4. Family hiking along the David Boren Trail at Beavers Bend
5. Picnic under the cypress trees along the Mountain Fork River
Historic
1. View Indian Artifacts at the Indian Memorial Museum
2. Visit Oklahoma’s oldest standing church, Wheelock Church
3. See a dinosaur at the Museum of the Red River
4. Tour the majestic Barnes-Stevenson House
5. Tour Waterfall Creek Pecan Farm in Idabel
FamilyActivities
1. Watch a live radio show on Broadway Street in Broken Bow
2. Feed goats at Honey Bear Ranch
3. Watch chainsaw sculpting at Hochatown Junction Station
4. Make arts and crafts at Beavers Bend Nature Center
5. Listen to campfire stories at Beavers Bend Nature Center
Marcia’s top 15 free family activities in McCurtain County:
10 Allen Family Magazine November/December 2008 www.northtexasmagazines.com
‘Tis the season to be kind to the environment. Instead of faux Christmas trees, energy-draining light displays and gifts wrapped in eight layers of paper, celebrate the season by making a few eco-friendly changes to your holiday celebrations.
Not sure where to start? Here are a few tips for a green Christmas.
Go online to check the proofs of your holiday card photos Sending cards with family photos is a great way to spread
holiday cheer – and much more personal than store-bought cards.
Instead of having the store print a copy of your photo proof,
check it online. Proofing your holiday greetings electronically will
help cut down on the use of chemical inks and heavy-duty photo
paper. Once you’ve picked the photo for your holiday cards, only
order as many cards as you plan to send to eliminate waste.
Order LED holiday lightsTurn your home into one of the most festive and eco-friendly on the
block with LED holiday lights. Most retailers stock energy-efficient
holiday lights made with light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, that are
90 percent more efficient than traditional Christmas lights and last
longer – up to 10,000 hours compared with 5,000 hours for incan-
descent bulbs.
Put your holiday lights on timersLeaving your holiday lights turned on 24 hours a day will
quadruple your energy costs - and create four times the pollution
– as leaving them on for six hours. Set your timer to turn the lights
on at dusk and leave them on until you go to bed. You’ll be able to
enjoy the lights all evening without burning energy overnight.
Make plans to carpool to a Christmas party or holiday church servicesCall family and friends and suggest going to a Christmas party
together, instead of driving separately. Or, call an elderly member of
your church and offer to pick her up for holiday services. You’ll re-
duce your carbon footprint and help spread the spirit of the season.
Decorate with natural materialsYou can make beautiful holiday decorations with items found in na-
ture: A bowl of evergreen boughs and fresh fruit, a basket filled with
fallen branches, winter berries and pinecones and seasonal plants
like poinsettias make inexpensive holiday décor. Once the holidays
are over, your decorations can be added to the compost pile.
Use eco-friendly packing materials to mail giftsMail your holiday gifts in boxes padded with recycled newspaper or
the leftover paper in your shredder. You can also use real peanuts
and include a note asking the recipient to feed them to the squirrels
once the box is unpacked. These green materials will protect your
packages just as well as bubble wrap or Styrofoam but have none
of the negative impacts on the environment. Styrofoam accounts for
up to 25 percent of the waste in our landfills. When it’s burned,
Styrofoam releases over 90 different toxins including dioxin, a
known carcinogen.
Buy a cut Christmas treeNearly all cut Christmas trees were grown on tree farms, which
means that their stock is replenished yearly and forests aren’t
depleted. Cut trees are a much greener choice than artificial trees
Dreaming ofa Green ChristmasMake your holiday celebrations more eco-friendlyBy Jodi Helmer
www.northtexasmagazines.com November/December 2008 Allen Family Magazine 11
that are made with petroleum-based materials and often shipped
thousands of miles before they reach your living room. Unlike
artificial trees, which eventually end up in the landfill, cut trees can
be recycled after the holidays.
Create a homemade garland for the Christmas treeAn old-fashioned string of popcorn and cranberries will look great
on your tree. Once the holidays are over, you can hang the garland
in an evergreen tree in your backyard and let the birds feast on your
creation. An added bonus: It’s a great afternoon craft project for
the entire family!
Shop for holiday gifts that don’t require batteriesNearly 40 percent of all battery sales occur during the holidays.
Eventually, worn out batteries end up in the landfill where they leach
toxic metals into the soil and groundwater. You can help keep bat-
teries from going to the landfill by choosing holiday gifts that don’t
require batteries. If you do buy gifts that require batteries, give
rechargeable batteries.
Wrap presents in gift bagsOnce you tear the wrapping paper off of a holiday gift, it ends up
in the recycle bin but gift bags can be used over and over again.
Look for gift bags made with recycled content or purchase plain
paper bags and decorate them yourself with recycled holiday
cards. If every family in the U.S. reused two feet of holiday ribbon,
it would save 38,000 miles of ribbon – enough to tie a bow around
the entire planet.
Recycle your Christmas treeAfter the holidays are over, don’t put your Christmas tree at the curb.
Instead of taking up space in the landfill, trees can be ground into
woodchips and used to mulch your garden or prevent erosion at a
local watershed. Go to www.earth911.org and enter your zip code to
find out where to have your Christmas tree recycled.
Jodi Helmer is the author of The Green Year: 365 Small Things You Can Do to Make a Big Difference (Alpha, 2008). Visit her online at www.green-year.com.
Yuri Cook, MD,FAAP Kim Smith,MD,FAAPBoard Certified Pediatricians
Amber Holifield, MS,PA-C Sabrina Dorris,MSN,CFNP
1111 Raintree Circle, Ste. 290Allen, TX 75013
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12 Allen Family Magazine November/December 2008 www.northtexasmagazines.com
Every year around this time I ask myself the
same question: “What to give Great Aunt Edith
for Christmas?” Not to mention the question
of what to give the next-door-neighbor, my
daughter’s piano teacher, and our babysitter,
who is celebrating Hanukkah. Somehow,
buying another tree ornament, box of candy,
or gift certificate seems just a little boring
and uninspired.
This year I am pleased to say I have discovered the perfect gift
and it comes in a jar. Not too surprisingly, it is called a “gift jar”.
Just what is a gift jar? It is a 1-quart glass jar (commonly referred
to as a “Mason jar”) filled with ingredients for making cookies,
soups, or beverages. The jars are assembled in layers, making
for a beautiful effect. Then the jar is screwed shut and decorated
with a square of fabric and a brightly colored
ribbon. The recipient follows the instructions
on the attached card, and soon he or she has
a batch of home-baked treats, courtesy of her
favorite student. The advantages? First, we all love to eat, and
these recipes yield treats that are indeed, very good to eat. Sec-
ond, for the person who is exhausted at the end of the day (and
aren’t we all?) it’s a delight to know that the job of making home-
made cookies for the family is already halfway done. Finally,
this is a project that the giver, your child, can really involve him/
herself with. My children, ages 10 and 14, and I had a great time
creating these gift jars. After realizing that these gift jars would be
great for not only neighbors, but also tutors, babysitters, teachers,
and great Aunt Edith, we knew we would be making lots of them.
So we formed an assembly line filled with brown sugar, flour,
candies, and cocoa, and baking soda. What could be more fun?
And the response? David’s karate instructor said these were the
best cookies (the M & M cookies, recipe to follow) he had ever
eaten, and asked for the recipe! Christine’s piano teacher told her
that she didn’t want to make the cookies just yet - the jar was just
too beautiful.
Here’s what you’ll need for each jar: the ingredients listed in the
recipe, a 1-quart wide-mouth glass jar with a screw-on top, a 7 x
7 inch piece of fabric, and a 48” length of twine or yarn or ribbon.
Also, you will be making a tag for each jar which will supply the
name of the cookie recipe, and the list of ingredients that must be
added to the mix (eggs and butter, for example), and the bak-
ing instructions. The tag should be made from a piece of sturdy
paper on which you will write out (or print out) the instructions.
A Gift in Every JarBy Martha Wegner
www.northtexasmagazines.com November/December 2008 Allen Family Magazine 13
O.K., now you have the supplies, here’s what you do. Assemble
the ingredients in each jar in the order specified. Do not change
the order, it may spoil the effect. After pouring in each ingredient,
be sure to press it down firmly to form an even layer. Before add-
ing the next ingredient, wipe the inside of the jar with a dry paper
towel, to keep the sides clean. After all the layers of the mix have
been added, simply screw on the top of the jar.
Center the chosen fabric square on the lid of the jar and secure it
with a rubber band. Then wrap your chosen tie around the rub-
ber band twice and knot the tie to hold it in place. Using a hole
punch, make a hole in the tag and slide it through the hole, tying it
off with a bow.
That’s it! You’re done. You’ve had fun, you and your child feel
a sense of accomplishment, and you have a beautiful gift, a gift
you will be proud to give.
I’ve included 3 recipes that our family found to be both beautiful
to look at and good to eat. One is for cookies, one is for brown-
ies, and one is for some delicious breakfast muffins. There are
countless recipes that you may wish to try; we’ve included some
resources in the sidebar. A word of advice: if you are trying out a
new recipe, make the recipe for yourself first. If the jar is beautiful,
but the end results are not, everyone will feel disappointed. You
want to be sure you're giving a gift that tastes as good as it looks.
M & M COOKIE MIX(adapted from a recipe at www.mms.com)
Jar Ingredients:
• ¾ cup all-purpose flour
• ½ tsp. baking soda
• ½ tsp. salt
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ½ cup chopped walnuts
• 1 cup M & M’s chocolate Mini Baking Bits, divided
• ¾ cup firmly packed light brown sugar
• 1 ¼ cups uncooked quick oats
Directions:
In medium bowl combine flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
Layer ingredients in this order, pressing firmly between each lay-
er: flour mixture, walnuts, ½ cup M & M’s, brown sugar, remaining
½ cup M & M’s, and oats. Secure the lid; decorate.
Tag instructions:
In addition to the contents of this jar, you will need to add the fol-
lowing ingredients:
• ¾ cup butter
• 1 large egg
• ¾ tsp. vanilla extract
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14 Allen Family Magazine November/December 2008 www.northtexasmagazines.com
Preheat oven to 350°. Lightly grease cookie sheets; set aside.
In large bowl beat butter, egg, and vanilla extract until well
blended. Stir in contents of jar until well blended. Roll into 1” balls
and place about 2” apart on prepared cookie sheets. Bake 12-15
minutes. Yield: 4 dozen cookies.
SANDCASTLE BROWNIES MIX(from “The Mason Jar Cookie Cookbook” by Lonnette Parks)
Jar Ingredients:
• 2 ¼ cups sugar
• 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
• 2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• ½ cup chopped pecans
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. salt
Layer the ingredients in this order: pecans, cocoa powder, sugar,
salt, baking powder, and flour, pressing firmly between each
layer. Secure the lid; decorate.
Tag instructions:
In addition to the contents of the jar, you will need to add the
following ingredients:
• ¾ cup butter, softened
• 4 eggs
Preheat the oven to 350°. In a large bowl, cream the butter and
eggs. Add the contents of the jar, and stir until well mixed. Pour
the batter into a greased 13 x 9” baking pan and bake for 20-25
minutes until the edges are light brown in color. Cool completely
in the pan before cutting into bars.
Yield: 2 dozen brownies.
APRICOT-WALNUT MUFFINS(from “The Mason Jar Soup-to-Nuts Cookbook”
by Lonnette Parks)
Jar Ingredients:
• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup oatmeal
• ½ cup chopped dried apricots
• 1/3 cup chopped walnuts
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• ¼ tsp. baking soda
• ¼ tsp. salt
Layer the ingredients in this order: walnuts, apricots, brown sugar,
oatmeal, salt, baking soda, baking powder, and flour, pressing
firmly between each layer. Secure the lid; decorate.
Tag instructions:
In addition to the contents of the jar, you will need to add the
following ingredients:
• 1 cup milk
• ¼ cup melted butter, slightly cooled
• 1 egg, slightly beaten
Preheat the oven to 375°. In large bowl, cream the milk, butter,
and egg. Add the contents of the jar, and stir until just mixed. Do
not overstir. Spoon the batter into greased or papered muffin tins,
filling each cup 2/3 full. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until a tooth-
pick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean. Cool 10
minutes in the tin, remove, and cool completely.
Yield: 12 muffins.
• TheMasonJarSoup-to-NutsCookbook,
by Lonnette Parks, Square One Publishers, 2004.
• TheMasonJarCookieCookbook,
Lonnette Parks, Square One Publishers, 2002
• GiftsfortheCookieJar:
CookieRecipesforIngredientsinaJar,
Lia Wilson, Cookbook Resources, 2002
• www.creativeladiesministry.com/jarrecipes.html.
From the “Creative Ladies Ministry”, this site has
countless links to other sites featuring gift jar recipes.
Martha Wegner is a freelance writer whose work can be found at www.marthawegner.com
Looking for more recipes?Here are some great resources:
www.northtexasmagazines.com November/December 2008 Allen Family Magazine 15
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16 Allen Family Magazine November/December 2008 www.northtexasmagazines.com
Are you frustrated to hear your child mutter,
“Why bother? I won’t make the team” or
“It doesn’t matter. I can’t get an A”? Children
today face enormous academic and social
pressure, but an attitude of passive resigna-
tion isn’t healthy. Dr. Martin Seligman, lead
researcher for the Pennsylvania Resiliency
Project and author of “Learned Optimism:
How to Change Your Mind and Your Life”
describes three benefits of optimism you’ll
want for your child: Better health, greater
academic and extracurricular performance,
and the motivation to keep trying when times
are tough.
Optimists experience less physical distress in challenging situ-
ations than pessimists and have stronger immune systems, ac-
cording to 25 years of research conducted by Dr. Michael Scheier
and his colleagues at Carnegie Mellon University. Optimists live
longer and happier lives. In addition, optimists are achievers.
Studies show optimistic youth get higher grades and perform
better in athletic competition than pessimists, even when they are
led to believe their earlier performance was not so good. These
benefits are fueled by optimists’ tendency to give extra effort in
challenging situations – optimists believe hard work pays off.
While genetics play some role in determining kids’ attitudes, there
is good evidence we can help kids look on the bright side more
often. Seligman calls this “psychological immunization” against
depression. Here are some strategies to help your child think and
act optimistically in today’s pessimistic culture.
Practice Thought Watching. Learn to spot your child’s negative self-talk. Kids often express
negative thoughts aloud: “My hair looks ugly,” or “I don’t have any
friends.” Help your child reject unfavorable thoughts. Stop and
discuss his internal dialogue. Encourage your child to police his
thoughts for “bad beliefs” by acting as his very own thought cop.
Model optimistic self-talk. Talk with your child (over breakfast, or on the way to school)
about what might happen today. Perhaps you have an impor-
tant meeting or are attending a playgroup together. Share your
excitement with your child. Say “I’ll have a chance to present my
ideas,” or “I might make a new friend.” Don’t be afraid to men-
tion coming events that concern you, but focus on potential joys,
rather than fears of the unknown.
“I Think I Can!”Eight Ways to Encourage Optimism in Your Childby Heidi Smith Luedtke
www.northtexasmagazines.com November/December 2008 Allen Family Magazine 17
Make a mantra. Remember The Little Engine That Could? He puffed faster and
harder saying “I-think-I-can, I-think-I-can” until he succeeded. What
phrase motivates your family in challenging times? Inject some
humor and say your slogan together when times are tough (you’re
climbing a big hill, walking a long way, or stuck in slow traffic). You’ll
end up laughing about how silly you all look and show your child
you’re in this together. Social support boosts optimism.
Take action. Try new things – even scary ones. Go someplace new. Cook and
eat a new food for dinner. When you meet someone new, be the
first to introduce yourself. Discuss with your child the benefits of
openness to new experiences. If the new food tastes icky or the new
park is less fun than the old one, focus on what you learned. Perhaps
say, “Now we know how much we like the slide at our park,” or “Wow,
that tasted yucky! But it will make us strong and healthy.”
Change your child’s explanations for adversity. Even for optimists, things don’t always turn out great. What
matters is how kids make sense of undesirable outcomes. Move
from global, personal evaluations to more specific, situational ones.
For instance, “I failed the test because I’m dumb and I’ll never be
good at math” is pessimistic, but “I failed because I didn’t understand
the problems and need more practice” allows active coping. To help
your child make the switch, ask guiding questions, such as “What
other explanations can you think of?” and “What can you do differ-
ently next time?”
Focus on improvement. Optimists know getting better is a process. Encourage your child to
adopt this approach by commenting on his improvement, not just
the outcome. Say “You really improved your sprint from the starting
line” or “Your spelling has really improved since the rough draft”
rather than focusing on his place in the contest or grade on the
report. Follow progress visually using a simple chart. Then, when
challenges arise you can point out how far he’s come and
encourage persistence.
Be a skill-builder. Kids’ skills develop incrementally. Read a book or watch a video
together that teaches a skill your child wants to develop. Encourage
him to ask an expert for advice, if you know one. Practice the skill in
a simple way then move up to bigger challenges. Reinforce the idea
that your child can learn to do just about anything.
Recognize good when it happens. Some emotion researchers believe we are genetically programmed
to pay more attention to bad news than good – learning from bad
news helps us survive dangerous situations. But focusing on what’s
wrong diminishes all that is going right. Before bed, play the “three
good things” game. Both you and your child list three good things
that happened today and describe how you felt about them. You may
be inspired to list three good things you anticipate tomorrow, too.
An optimistic attitude encourages positive action. By encouraging an upbeat approach, you give your child the key
to a healthier, happier, more productive life. Optimists’ dedicated,
persistent action can change the world for the better, and I believe
our kids will do just that.
Heidi Smith Luedtke, PhD is a psychologist and freelance writer from Alex-andria, VA. You can find her blog on parenting and leadership at www.Leading-Mama.com.
Bright Side Books for KidsPreschool• WhenPigsFly (by Valerie Coulman, Lobster Press, 2003) Ralph, a determined cow who wants a bicycle triumphs
over naysayers.
• TheLittleEnginethatCould (by Watty Piper, Grosset & Dunlap, 1978) A little blue train climbs a towering mountain others won’t
attempt to deliver toys to good children.
Ages4-8• LittleLiamEagle (by Nancy McGrath, BookSurge Publishing, 2008) A young eagle bravely soars past his fears with his
parents’ encouragement.
• Stitches
(by Kevin Morrison, Ambassador Books, 2003) Stitches, a baseball, dreams of the big leagues – but a
stitching defect sends him down another path to his dreams.
Ages9-12• BecauseofWinnDixie (by Kate DiCamillo, Candlewick, 2000) Ten-year-old Opal overcomes sadness and makes new and
unusual friends because of a big, ugly dog named Winn Dixie.
• DaretoDream!25ExtraordinaryLives (by Sandra McLeod Humphreys, Prometheus Books, 2005) Biographical sketches of famous artists, athletes, thinkers and
inventors inspire kids to persist in the face of adversity.
18 Allen Family Magazine November/December 2008 www.northtexasmagazines.com
Is this the year you’ll introduce your children
to silent sports? It’s a safe bet they won’t
miss their iPhones as they paddle into the
outback. Skimming across shining lakes,
through tangled mangrove forests and down
hushed rivers, the world is your oyster.
How can you keep your family comfortable and safe?
General Canoe Types
Canoes come in four basic categories. A cruising canoe is
sporty but efficient, ideal for a racing and mild whitewater.
A recreation canoe is agile too but steadier for all-around family
trips. You’ll need an expedition canoe for canoe camping and
exploring all types of waters. It has more space for camping gear
yet it’s reliable in many wave conditions. A touring canoe
combines the qualities of all types, allowing you to carry a
moderate amount of camping gear and still encounter a variety
of paddling conditions.
Special canoes are made for marathon, racing and whitewater
conditions but let’s assume for now you want an all-around, fam-
ily canoe for a few hours of easy paddling each day and enough
space on board for a cooler and picnic basket.
Most canoes have single seats fore and aft, and that’s ideal for
a parent and any child old enough to handle a paddle. (The adult
can steer from the stern and also provide most of the thrust).
Also available are canoes with seats for paddlers fore and aft plus
a middle seat wide enough to hold two youngsters. A larger family
is best outfitted with more than one canoe.
First, ask yourself where you’ll store the canoe(s) at home and
how you’ll get them to the water. Don’t buy more canoe than you
can manhandle off and on the roof rack of the SUV or store on a
boat trailer in your yard (deed restrictions may apply). Here are
things to consider when you’re shopping for a canoe.
About Materials
Aluminum is tough and light. Polyethylene is strong, low cost and
it “gives” up to a point if you ram something. Light, strong, most
repairable and usually the most costly are composite canoes in
which layers are built up out of high-tech materials such as Kev-
lar, fiberglass or Royalex.
Wood or wood and canvas canoes are traditional, an excellent
choice for a parent-child building project. They take a lifetime
of maintenance but that’s part of the love affair with this time-
honored choice. Sunlight is murder on wood finishes so it’s best
if you can store a wooden canoe indoors.
The Right Canoe for Your FamilyBy Janet Groene
www.northtexasmagazines.com November/December 2008 Allen Family Magazine 19
A Canoe Glossary
• Caddy is a set of wheels placed under a canoe or kayak to
wheel it around on land. If you get a folding caddy you can
carry it on board, always prepared to haul up on a beach.
• Cartopper kits offered by the manufacturer of the canoe or
kayak offer the best fit for a secure ride.
• Chine refers to the place where topsides meet the hull.
Little, soft or no chine means a rounded bottom. Hard chine
(pronounced shine) refers to a sharp angle.
• Color. In cold weather paddling, dark colors absorb the sun’s
heat better. A dark canoe also makes a better shelter if you
camp under it in cold weather. Bright colors, especially yellow,
make you more visible in a rescue situation but can be glary on
the eyes on long, sunny voyages. Forest green or camouflage
blend better with the environment.
• Depth is the distance from the top of the hull to the bottom of
the bilge. More depth in the center adds interior space plus
stability. More depth at the bow means it will slice more
sharply through waves and spray.
• Draft refers to the amount of water required to float your boat,
as in, “It draws XX inches” or “Its draft is XX inches.”
• Entryline is the term for the sharpness of the bow is as it
enters the water. Some materials adapt better than others for
shaping a sharp entry line, which in turn affects efficiency
and tracking.
• Flotation in modern canoes and kayaks is usually enough to
keep them afloat even when filled with water. You can also add
flotation bags to lighten the vessel further for whitewater use.
• Freeboard is the amount of hull showing above the waterline.
The heavier the load, the the less freeboard you have and the
greater the chance of swamping.
• Kneepads allow paddlers to spend long hours on their knees,
paddling at maximum effort.
• Livery is a place where canoes are stored and rented. Most
outfitters are also willing, for a modest fee, to provide return
service to your car if you launch your own canoe and require
pick-up downstream.
• Paddles come in many styles, sizes, colors and materials and,
like the vessel itself, should be chosen for the mission. The
paddle you choose for slalom competition is different from the
one needed for expeditions.
• Repair-ability. Can you patch the material yourself or are
high-tech repairs required to exotic new materials?
• Rocker. Picture the way the hull rises from its deepest point to
the top of the bow and stern. The more “rocker” the canoe has,
the more easily the hull will turn but the less willing it will be to
go in a straight line. In a slalom you want a lot of rocker; for
cruising you probably want as little as possible.
• Seam construction is dictated by the construction material but
do look for high strength and watertight integrity at seams.
• Safetyperimeterlinesare grab lines that allow you to right
a capsized vessel even though you’re in the water yourself.
These lines are also handy for tucking in small items or maps.
Fittings should be strong, clean and low profile to prefer snags.
• Seats should have proper support for the back, legs and hips
for long hours of paddling.
• Rudders are available on some kayaks to aid maneuvering
and stability. They’re operated by foot pedals and can be
retracted in shallow water.
• Skeg is a fin that drops down at the stern of a kayak to in
crease tracking ability. When it’s up, the kayak is more
maneuverable. When it’s down, it’s easier to paddle a stready
course.
• Skidplate is a reinforcement at the bow in case of a bow-on
crash. It can squelch performance but is a plus in rocky rapids.
Order the plate from the boat manufacturer, who will supply the
best match for your boat.
• Stability. Primary or initial stability refers to how steady the
vessel rides when it’s upright. Secondary or final stability
refers to its resistance to capsize. A wide hull may have very
good primary stability (for boarding, for example) but poor final
stability (such as when a passing boat throws you a big wake).
• Tandem means a two-person canoe or kayak with seats fore
and aft. Canoes with three or more seats are also available.
• Thwarts are braces or bars that run crosswise. When weight
is distributed across the hull it’s said to be athwart.
• Trim is balance bow to stern. You want the vessel to ride
level, so you load it evenly (including the weight of your own
body) to achieve this balance. Here’s where sliding seats come
in. Good trim is always important; in frisky winds and seas it’s
especially important.
• Tumblehome refers to the curve of a canoe hull as it comes
back in at the gunnels. It determines how far out you have
to reach to paddle. Extreme tumblehome is best left to experts
because it makes handling trickier.
• Width. The narrower the hull the farther you can push it per
stroke, but also the more easily it will tip. A wider, more stable
canoe requires more paddle power. Measurements at the
waterline determine how the vessel will paddle, ride, and
recover its equilibrium.
Accessories
Wish lists for canoe and kayak users know no end, but some
items are best ordered at the time of purchase to get the right
mount or match for your vessel. (See Skid Place above). Con-
sider a spray skirt, which fastens to the cockpit coaming of a
kayak to keep the paddler dry. A flush-mount deck compass is
offered by some manufacturers. Also available OEM may be a
bilge pump. You’ll also need the right tie-downs and rack for car-
topping and a life jacket for every soul on board.
Janet Groene’s books include ABCs of Boat Camping, Creating Comfort Afloat and Living Aboard. She blogs at www.CampAndRVCook.blogspot.com.
20 Allen Family Magazine November/December 2008 www.northtexasmagazines.com
For most people, the holiday season is
a joyous time of year. It means celebrating,
eating delicious food, and spending time with
the people you love. Most of all, the holidays
are about children. Whether your child is four
or eighteen, they’re the ones who love the
magic the most. Kids are what make the
holiday season the most special.
For many divorced families, the holidays may not be as joyful as
they once were. Usually, both Mom and Dad would like the kids
to spend the entire holiday season with them, but that can’t hap-
pen anymore. The children spend a portion of the time with Mom,
and another portion with Dad. Since they can’t all be together at
the same time anymore, the kids are shuttled between the two
homes. That’s hard on the kids.
The following are some tips that can help make the holidays less
stressful for divorced families:
You and Your Ex We all know that it’s best for the children if we can get along with
our ex-spouses. Parent education classes, which all divorcing
parents are required to attend, repeatedly stress the importance
of getting along with your ex. We’re told to never speak badly
about the other parent in front of our children. During the holi-
days, it’s even more important to do your best to get along with
each other.
Do it for the kidsIf they see their parents arguing and complaining about each oth-
er from Halloween through New Year’s Day, their whole holiday
season will be ruined. Children of divorced parents need to know
that they have permission to love both mom and dad. That’s what
best for the kids.
Schedules Both money and time seem to be in short supply during the
holidays. We all spend too much time running frantically from this
mall to that toy store. The kids feel it too; the older ones have
the stress of finals, and the younger ones wish they could have
a little more of our time. It can be crazy! One very important tip
is to make sure you and your ex arrange the holiday visitation
schedules well in advance. It’s vital that the kids know where
they’re going to be for each holiday. Communicate the schedule
to your children as early as possible, so they know exactly what to
expect. And, don’t change the schedule at the last minute!
Most divorced parents who live fairly close to each other alternate
holiday time with the kids. One year Thanksgiving may be with
Mom, and the next year Dad’s cooking the turkey. Other parents
might swap Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Holidays for Divorced ParentsBy Diane O'Neil
www.northtexasmagazines.com November/December 2008 Allen Family Magazine 21
Divorced parents who live
in different states may
have a little more difficult
time figuring out the
schedule. My son goes
to visit his dad and his
grandparents for his en-
tire winter break. I miss
him terribly; I really want
him to be with me for the
holidays. But then, after
a couple deep breaths, I
remember that he’s with
me for forty-eight weeks
out of the year. It’s ok
for him to spend a White
Christmas in Minnesota
each year.
Gifts
I love to buy Christmas gifts for my kids. If I had my way, I would
buy all the hottest toys, new clothes, and also that new car for
my eighteen-year-old. Then reality sets in. I need to budget my
holiday gift giving, for my children and for everyone else on my
list. I set aside a certain amount of money to spend on gifts for
my kids, and I stick to it.
Over the years I’ve learned that it isn’t the dollar amount of the gifts
that make the holidays special. The most important things are the
traditions; spending time together, baking treats, and
cutting down a Christmas tree.
But we know that all kids love to open presents. The best
possible thing you could do, is work with your ex regarding
holiday gift-giving. Try to follow these tips:
• Don’t try to outdo each other when it comes to buying gifts.
How expensive an object is really isn’t that important. If
you start playing this game, you’ll only end up hurting your
checking account.
• Talk to your ex about what you plan to buy the children. The
kids don’t need two of the same item. Make sure you’re both
getting them something they’ll use.
• If your child would like a larger item that is not within your bud
get, you could consider buying it with your ex. This would be a
great way to show your child that his parents are still able to
work together and get along.
While we miss our children terribly when they’re not with us, it’s ok
to enjoy a little bit of “me” time. Plan to do some things that you
always wish you had the time to do. These could be some projects
around the house, or a couple of really fat books you can dive into
with no interruptions.
Diane O'Neil is a freelance writer and single mother of three.
22 Allen Family Magazine November/December 2008 www.northtexasmagazines.com
Most of us probably headed out into the
world without a very good understanding
of how credit really works and how to use it
responsibly. If the recent credit crunch is any
indication, this country has a real problem
with credit. The average U.S. household
carries $8000 in debt on their credit cards,
and has 12.71 credit cards. There are
1.3 billion credit cards in use in the US at this
time. 43% of U.S. households spend more
than they earn each year. We spend a lot of
time on religious education, instrument
lessons, sports practice, dance lessons, not to
mention SAT prep course and possibly tutors
in specific subjects to help our kids learn and
grow, yet not many parents spend a lot of time
helping kids learn about money and credit.
Start YoungYour five year old doesn’t need to know a lot about credit. At this
age, he’s still trying to learn to count money and is finding out
how to spend it. Help your preschooler learn to save money.
If he gets $20 for his birthday, suggest he save half and spend
half. Start a piggy bank or even a real savings account for your
child. Learning to save is an important skill and one that does
not come naturally to many kids. Saving, is after all, a kind of
impulse control. Just as you probably don’t let your child eat all
his Halloween candy in one sitting, you shouldn’t let him spend all
his money at once either.
Young children can start to understand the concept of credit.
After all, your child has seen you use credit cards, so it’s a good
idea to explain what it is. Tell your child that the credit card
allows you to buy things all month long and then pay for them all
at once at the end of the month. Tell him if he bought a piece of
gum from you every day of the week for ten cents but you let him
use credit, he would have to pay you seventy cents at the end of
the week. It’s the same concept – buy now and pay later.
Encourage Kids toThink about MoneyWhen your child is of elementary and middle school age, you
know he understands how money works, but he still needs
to be taught how to think about money. Explain to your child
what a budget is - you as an adult have to create a budget for
the household and can’t run out and spend every paycheck on
clothes, video games, or candy because otherwise there wouldn’t
be money to pay for electricity, gas or food. Encourage your
child to make thoughtful purchases (avoiding impulse purchases
What to Teach Your Kids about CreditBy Brette Sember
www.northtexasmagazines.com November/December 2008 Allen Family Magazine 23
when possible). Savings should be something that your child is
expected to create and maintain. Encourage him to watch his
savings grow and praise him for doing so.
If your child wants to purchase something she doesn’t have the
money for, allowing her to borrow it from you is fine, as long as
you set up and enforce a repayment schedule. This is a great
way to help kids learn credit in a hands on way. Help your child
understand what purchases are beyond her means. If she wants
to buy a $100 item, but only earns $5 a week in allowance, it will
take her 20 weeks (almost five months) to pay that back.
Moving Towards More ResponsibilityBy the time your child has become a teen he will hopefully have
learned a lot of financial lessons from you. However, these are
the years during which you can have the most impact on how he
will manage money as an adult. Encourage your teen to set up a
budget that includes expenses such as school lunches, entertain-
ment, gifts for friends and family, and savings. Give your teen an
allowance or require him to use money from a job to cover these
expenses. Help him understand how to use the money carefully
so all expenses can be met (he will need a budget). Give your
teen the register from his savings account and teach him how to
balance it against bank statements and keep it up to date.
Once your teen is driving (and is even more independent) you
might want to consider having a card issued to him from one of
your credit card accounts. You will remain the accountholder,
but he can be listed as an authorized user. Sit him down and
talk about how you use credit. Explain that credit cards are a
convenience that allow people to pay for things with one bill at
the end of the month (and yes, you should be paying that balance
off each month and teaching your teen to do the same). Tell him
what expenses he is authorized to put on the card (maybe you
will want to limit it to gas or school supplies). Expect him to retain
the receipts and be prepared to provide an accounting of exactly
how he used it. If you will allow him to use the card for personal
discretionary spending (like movies or eating out), you can expect
him to pay you back for all items charged to the card by the date
the monthly bill is due.
Doing this gives him the power to use a credit card, but with your
close oversight and guidance. Many teens get their first individual
credit card in their own name when they go off to college, so this
allows him to try a credit card with training wheels before then.
Explain That There is OversightTeens also need to understand what credit reports and credit
scores are. A credit report is like a report card for how well you
pay back your loans and credit cards. It shows late payments
or missed payments. A credit score is like an overall grade for
how well you manage your credit. This is real life though and
not school and every mistake you make with credit will haunt you
for at least seven years (the length of time an item remains on a
credit report). If you have bad credit, you won’t be able to get a
car loan or a mortgage when you want it. Teach your teen to get
his free credit report every year from all three major credit report-
ing agencies at www.annualcreditreport.com. Show him your
own credit report and explain how to read it.
Brette Sember is a former attorney and mom of two children. She is the author of The Everything Kids’ Money Book and The Complete Credit Repair Kit and has taught a course about credit and debt for Barnes and Noble University.
Ten Rules to Teach Your Teens about Credit and Debt:
1. Credit is not evil or bad, it is just a useful tool adults can
take advantage of.
2. Using a credit card is a real loan. It is not “free money” or
a license to spend.
3. Credit cards can be very convenient and helpful if you use
them correctly.
4. The balance on a credit card should be paid off every
single month. If you don’t pay off the balance on a credit
card, you will pay a very high interest rate.
5. You should never buy something on a credit card if you
don’t have the money to pay for it.
6. It is ok to take out other kinds of credit – such as car loans
or mortgages – without paying them off immediately, but
you must be sure you can make the monthly payments for
the entire length of the loan.
7. If you pay a credit card late, it will damage your credit rating
and make it harder for you to get other credit.
8. Make sure your teen understands that student loans are
not forgivable in bankruptcy – any school loan your child
takes out will have to repaid. The same is true of tax debt.
9. Any time you spend beyond your means you are guaranteed
to end up with debt you cannot pay. Teens need to be re
minded to think about the future and how a big purchase
today will leave them strapped for cash a month from now.
10. Store cards that offer “no interest and no payments” for six
months or a year are a great deal – but only if your teen
divides the amount charged by the number of months the
offer is in effect and pays that sum each month, so the
whole debt is paid before interest kicks in. If any debt
remains after the free period, interest is charged on the
entire purchase.
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