Augusta Family Magazine Dec. 2014 - Jan. 2016

www.augustafamily.com2

Dec. 2015/Jan. 2016

FAMILY SANITY IN 2016

RESOLVE TO CONTROLCLUTTER CHAOS!

FIVE-MINUTESTRESS BUSTERS

www.augustafamily.com


ContentsPUBLISHERAshlee Griggs Duren

EDITORKarin Calloway

PRODUCTIONArt Director / Web ProducerMichael Rushbrook

ADVERTISINGDirector of AdvertisingLisa Dorn

Advertising SalesDoressa HawesLisa Taylor Maidi McMurtrie ThompsonMary Porter Vann

Audience DevelopmentManagerMargaret Ranew

PHOTOGRAPHYKaty D. SullivanJohn Harpring

CONTRIBUTORSKim Beavers, MS, RD, CDEJ. Ron Eaker, M.D.Cammie JonesJennifer MillerMary Ashton MillsJennie MontgomeryDustin Turner

PRE PRESS SERVICES

Augusta Family Magazine is published 10 times per year and distributed throughout the Augusta and Aiken area. Send press releases, story ideas or comments to the editor at [email protected] or mail to 725 Broad Street, Augusta, Ga., 30901 or telephone (706) 828-3946. For advertising information, telephone (706) 823-3702. For circulation/distribu-tion, call (706) 823-3722.


FamilyAUGUSTA

m a g a z i n e

7 editor’s page 9 mom2mom Mountain Santa -Jennie Montgomery

10 news&notes13 eating well with kim Gifting Goodies -Kim Beavers, MS, RD, LD, CDE

15 doctor/dad Parenting Is Terminal -J. Ron Eaker, M.D.

16 smart mom’s guide Five-Minute Stress Busters -Cammie Jones

32 fun food Holiday Eats and Treats -Courtesy of Family Features

34 inspiration station Bringing Them Beds -Jennifer Miller

36 calendar46 go girl!

Katie Wynn -Karin Calloway

departments

December 2015 - January 2016

“Parting with our stu� is one of the best and easiest ways to simplify our lives so that we can enjoy our free time with the ones we love. If we can learn to de-clutter, we will be more prepared for life, spend less time looking for our things and more time be-ing e� cient.” Read how to tackle 10 areas of family clutter in Mary Ashton Mills’ article on page 28.

quick pickDec/Jan

ON THE COVERSusanna Rhodes, 9, is the daughter of Katy and Emmett Rhodes of Martinez. Photo by Katy D. Sullivan Photography.

Healthy and Fit in 2016By Meredith Flory

26

Family Sanity in the New YearBy Dustin Turner

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28

Clutter Be Gone!By Mary Ashton Mills

The Fourfold Trap



I have a baby book for both of my children that highlights milestones—their �rst steps, �rst words and so much more. �ey’re young adults now, but the milestones haven’t stopped.

�e photo above depicts a milestone for our daughter, CC, as she was presented as a debutante during the 51st Augusta Symphony Guild Cotillion last November. Yes, our artsy tomboy is also a debutante. It was a special night for the families of the 27 young ladies who were presented and also a wonderful fundraiser for Symphony Orchestra Augusta.

Our son, Tripp, has a big milestone coming up on December 18. He’s graduat-ing from the University of Georgia and on top of that he has a job! He’s set to begin his insurance sales career in Atlanta on February 1.

�e turning of each New Year represents an opportunity for each of us to aspire to milestones of our own—whether our goal is to get healthy and �t, bring sanity to our family lives, control the clutter or one of the plethora of resolutions made this time of year. �is issue can help you with all three of these goals, with feature articles by Dustin Turner (page 22) and Mary Ashton Mills (page 28) as well as a Healthy and Fit in 2016 guide on page 26. All great food for thought, even if you’re a non-resolution maker like me.

We have set a few goals of our own for the New Year here at Augusta Fam-ily Magazine. �ese include a bit of tweaking to the design, the addition of a new “Raising Readers” column by Meredith Flory and two additions to our News&Notes section—a Getaways section by Mary Ashton Mills and a “Mom’s Minute” section which will o�er ideas for moms to de-stress, be pampered and unwind. Look for these to begin appearing in our February issue.

Wishing you and yours a happy holiday season and blessed New Year! Until February,

KARIN CALLOWAY is a wife and mother of two. She’s also a journalist and rec-ipe developer who writes the Wednesday cooking column for �e Augusta Chroni-cle. Watch Karin prepare her recipes on WJBF NewsChannel 6 on Tuesdays during Mid-Day and Wednesdays during Good Morning Augusta.

editor’sby Karin Calloway

Milestones

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JENNIE MONTGOMERY anchors the evening news at WJBF-TV. She and her husband, Scott, have three children.

It was a quiet Saturday night in a quaint mountain town, not far from my daughter’s college campus at the Georgia/N.C. state line.

Maddy, her roommate and I were “window shopping” at the closed storefronts around the town square as we waited for a table in the down-

town restaurant.We heard some commotion two stores up. Two little girls were in awe of

something inside the glass. We heard a high-pitched voice loudly gasp, “It’s God!”�at piqued our interest! As soon as the little girls moved along, Maddy and

Kelsey walked up and looked inside. Hanging right in the middle of the window was a big stained glass angel. “God,” we guessed.

Walking back to the restaurant we heard more squeals and laughter coming from those little girls. �ey were excited about everything...but NOTHING could have prepared their unsuspecting parents for what happened next.

Our table was in the middle of the small restaurant; family with little girls was to my right—and to my le�, two booths down, was a man who strongly resembled a jolly old elf, just waking up from a long winter’s nap!

It wasn’t long before those little girls spotted the bearded man with white hair and a red shirt. A high-pitched voice again gasped, and proclaimed, “IT’S SANTA CLAUS!”

I could see the parents nodding and smiling, trying to quiet their girls. Every few minutes, though, a little head would turn to sneak a peek at “Santa,” followed by squeals and giggles.

A�er a while, “Santa” stood up. He made his way over to the little girls who were, no doubt, having an unforgettable dinner. (God AND Santa in the same night? �at’s �at overwhelming!)

�e girls were giddy! �ey assured “Santa” they were being good and minding their parents. He promised lots of surprises.

People were snapping pictures of this sweet little magical moment when, as if in a movie, the keyboard player so�ly broke into “Here comes Santa Claus...”

�ere wasn’t a dry eye in the place. As “Santa” headed back to his booth, everyone started clapping! Before he sat

down he turned to the crowd, winked, and gave us a big “Ho! Ho! Ho!”�ank you, Mountain Santa Man, for the great blessing of sharing special mo-

ments with those you love. v

mom m mby Jennie Montgomery2

Mountain Santa

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FRESH FACES

news notesnews notes

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FRESH FACES

IS YOUR CHILD READY FOR THEIR “close up?” If you think you’ve got a “cover kid,” submit their photo and information on our website and they may grace the cover of Augusta Family Magazine!


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Dec. 2015/Jan. 2016

FAMILY SANITY IN 2016

RESOLVE TO CONTROL

CLUTTER CHAOS!

FIVE-MINUTE

STRESS BUSTERS

A CURIOUS, DETERMINED CHILD can topple a television in an instant, caus-ing serious injury. In fact, about every 45 minutes, a child is taken to an emer-gency room because of a TV tipping over, according to Safe Kids Worldwide.

Safe Kids recommends that you:stability of all TVs in your

home.Secure all TVs properly, whether a fl at-screen or older box-style.Secure all furniture that could be pulled over by a child, especially if it holds a TV.

TV TIP-OVERS

Safe Kids Greater Augusta, led by Children’s Hos-pital of Georgia, works to prevent accidental child-hood injury, the leading killer of children ages 1 to 14. Safe Kids Greater Augusta is a member of the Safe Kids USA network. To fi nd out more about lo-cal Safe Kids programs, call 706-721-7606, or visit grhealth.org/safekids. Read the complete article about television safety at www.augustafamily.com.

--Ralph Waldo Emerson

KNOW A MOM who deserves a “Go Girl!” (see page 46) in an upcoming issue of Augusta Fam-ily Magazine? Submit her on the contest page of our website.

GirlGO

THIS PAST JANUARY, Candy Candler, a

Thomson Elementary School teacher,

was leading an assignment on New Year’s

resolutions—and shared her own resolu-

tion with her 3rd-grade class: to be more

giving of herself. And even more than

that she planned to donate an organ.

The next day, one of her students

brought in a card from her grandmother

who was on dialysis and waiting for

a kidney—and Candler’s resolution

became a reality. Though her student’s

grandmother ended up being matched

with another donor, Candler was still de-

termined to give someone the gift of life.

This past summer, she became GRHealth’s

fi rst altruistic kidney donor, donating

her kidney to 74-year-old Sharon Dole, a

“My daddy always told me that I couldn’t save the whole world, but I

told him I can—one life at a time.” —Candy Candler

Candy Candler and Sharon Dole

professor at Western Carolina University near Asheville, N.C.

The two met for the fi rst time the morning of surgery. “From that mo-

ment, if my family wasn’t in my room, they were in Candy’s,” Dole says. “We

were just like one big family. Of course, now we’re connected for life.”

“I felt like this was what God wanted me to do,” says Candler, who

is also a wife and mother of two. “I realized part of it would be hard

for me, but I wanted to set a good example for not only my school-

children, but for my own children.”

-Courtesy of Augusta Magazine

A Priceless GIFT


SUBSCRIBE TODAY!

Save money, save time: subscribe to Augusta Magazine online at augustamagazine.com or call 706.823.3722

www.augustamagazine.com | facebook.com/augustamagazine |

App-Tastic!Zipongo

If one of your resolutions is to eat better in the new year, the Zipongo—Healthy Recipes and Grocery Deals—can help. Zipongo makes it easy to eat well by providing personalized recipes, grocery discounts and nutrition guidance tailored to your speci� c food preferences, needs and goals.

The app helps you � nd healthy and delicious recipes, create grocery lists, save and share your favorite recipes. Get inspired by healthy eating tips delivered weekly. With the app, there’s no need to scan every product, track every last food you eat or clip coupons from multiple sources. Zipongo’s MealRX personalization engine is built on national standards, peer-reviewed literature and Zipongo’s expert team of doctors, dietitians and cooks.

ZIPONGO IS AVAILABLE FOR IPHONE AND IPAD, REQUIRES IOS 8.0 OR HIGHER AND IT’S FREE.

www.augustamagazine.com | facebook.com/augustamagazine |



The best gi�s are consumable! Well, the kids may not actually feel this way. How-ever, as an adult I feel quite sure that I do not need any more “stu� ” and most of

my friends have all the “stu� ” they could possibly need, so consumables are perfect.

Think about consumable gifts as gifts of expe-riences. Even better is the consumable gift that is also a “time with” gift (things the gift-giver and the receiver do together). “Time with” gifts can be movie tickets, painting or cooking classes, farm tours, scheduled family game nights or other family activities. Sometimes consumable gifts are more about sharing something you feel is special, such as a favorite spice rub, tea, wine, specialty soap, lotion or candle. When time together or a favorite experience is shared, a memory is made, and that is exactly the point—isn’t life about mak-ing memories?

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by Kim Beavers, MS, RD, LD, CDE and Arielle Weekley, MS, Dietetic Intern

eating well with kim

Gifting Goodies

KIM BEAVERS is a Registered Dietitian and Dia-betes Educator for University Health Care System. She lives in North Augusta with her husband and two children and she is the co-host of the culinary nutri-tion segment Eating Well with Kim, which airs at noon Monday, Wednesday and Friday on WRDW. To join the recipe club or view recipes, visit www.univer-sityhealth.org/ewwk. You can also watch the segments at www.wrdw.com/ewwk.

Chipotle Chicken Skewers

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast halves2 tablespoons Chipotle Barbecue Rub4 skewers (metal or wood—if using wood soak in water for 1 hour prior to using)Non-stick cooking spray

Cut chicken breast into bite size pieces and place into a ziptop bag with the rub. Squish around until all sides of the chicken are coated. Thread the chicken onto the skewers and cook on an inside grill pan coated with cooking spray or on the outside grill over medium heat for 4-6 minutes on each side or until done. (Chicken is done when an internal tem-perature of 165 degrees is reached on a meat thermometer.)

Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 1 skewer)Nutrition Breakdown: Calories 140, Fat 1.5g (0g saturated fat), Cholesterol 65mg, Sodium 290mg, Carbohydrate 2g, Protein 26gDiabetes Exchange Values: 4 lean meats

To Gift: • You can put 2-4 tablespoons of the rub

into a spice jar and attach the recipe.• Make a barbecue gift basket with rub,

recipe, skewers, tongs, apron, plate and a barbecue cookbook.

Have a happy, healthy and memorable Christmas season.

Chipotle Barbecue Rub

Making your own rubs allows you to control the sodium content and adjust other seasonings as well. Find one of your favorites and give with a recipe as a

simple inexpensive gift.

3 tablespoon parsley flakes2 tablespoon coarse salt½ cup light brown sugar¼ cup paprika3 tablespoon coarse black pepper1 tablespoon garlic powder2 teaspoon onion powder1 teaspoons ground dried chipotle pepper

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and stir or whisk to mix, be sure to break up any lumps of brown sugar. Transfer to small jars with tight-fitting lids and give as gifts with the following recipe attached. Store in a cool dark place for up to 2 months. Yield: 8 servings (Serving size: 2 tablespoons)

Once the holidays are done—the focus usually turns to getting healthy! This year I have some exciting news to share. I have collaborated with Sohailla Digsby, RDN, LD of Best Body Nutrition & Fitness on a cookbook: Countdown to Your Best Body Cookbook & Menu Plan.

• Available locally in January at University Hospital Sunshine Gift Shop, New Life Natural Food Store, Communigraphics and on Amazon.

The cookbook is designed to be paired with the Count-down to Your Best Body Success Journal by Sohailla Digsby, RDN, LD. The cookbook will work equally well as a stand-alone, however if healthy changes are on your agenda for 2016 please visit www.bestbodyin52.com to register for the next 52-day Best Body Countdown.

• Registration opens on December 30 and the Best Body Countdown begins on January 19th.


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BEST PARTIES EVER!

NINJA COURSE IS NOW OPEN!

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doctor dadby J. Ron Eaker, M.D.

Parenting is a terminal condition. I don’t mean it will kill you…usually. Once you catch parenting, you have it for life, much like herpes.

Years ago researcher Elizabeth Kubler-Ross came out with her �ve stages of grief and recently I re�ected on those stages. I was amazed at how simi-lar those grief stages were to the stages of parent-hood. Let’s explore!

Step One: Denial and Isolation

For many new parents their �rst reaction is,

“But why didn’t you tell me your birth control pills ran out last month?” Denial can reach monumental proportions in the female species as they can concoct a Rube Goldberg like explanation as to the obvious-ly aberrant positive pregnancy test result. “I’m late because I’ve been stressed out about global warm-ing!” Denial, not simply a river in Egypt, can take on a pathological aspect when a woman refuses to acknowledge her expanding girth is not simply due to Cheesy Pu�s and Miller Lite.

A�er denial there comes isolation as all non-pregnant couple friends vow to rip out your lungs if you mention your tender breasts one more time. You can �nd solace in future parent support groups that have speakers on topics like “Easy Second Mortgages to Pay for Baby” and “Why Sex No Longer Matters.”

Stage Two: Anger Parents curb the market when it comes to an-

ger. We are angry about grades, angry about boy-friends and girlfriends, angry about piercings and tattoos and angry about being angry. �e Apostle James once wrote, “Be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger” but I can say with con�dence that he was single and childless. Righteous indignation is

justi�ed by a parent when little Johnny �ushes the cat in the toilet for the second time.

Parental anger must be tempered by under-standing, maturity and perseverance…otherwise known as wine. I have known parents who have used such techniques as yoga, meditation and quiet contemplation to cope with the anger stage. Don’t bother. �ese practices 1) are impossible when you have toddlers as there is no quiet time and 2) are impractical because you spend most of the medi-tation making grocery lists or wondering whether you changed the laundry from the washer to the dryer. �e best tool is to simply go out to the garage, punch a hole in the wall, come back in the house, apply bandages and go calmly about your day.

Stage Three: Bargaining

�is is perhaps my favorite parenting stage as it is both universal and diverse. Bargaining is a natural re-action to a sense of helplessness that arises at various stages of parenthood. �ere are times that all parents realize that no matter what you do, things will play out in a predictable fashion. If your daughter falls into the “mean girls” clique (and aren’t they all?) at some point she will fall out and the carnage will be profuse.

Most bargaining consists of if/then propositions. If I do this, then you will do that. �is can be e�ec-tive when bargaining with a deity (see Gideon and the �eece), however, this is a completely ine�ective tool when your child is a part of the bargain. Bargaining with a child is like putting a screen door on a subma-rine—there’s not much use in it.

Stage Four: Depression

If you are clinically depressed you sit around and stare at the wall. If you are in a parental stage of depression, you sit around and stare at the wall with

a picture of your child when they were small and controllable. Parents react to depression in a variety of ways. Some compensate by playing 84 holes of golf on a weekend while others charge the equivalent of the gross national product of Zaire at Macys. Either approach is destructive and can only further the de-pression, so caution is advised. Most therapist don’t recommend medication for this type of depression as they label it “situational,” which is a fancy way of saying it is the kids fault.

Stage Five: Acceptance

�ere comes a point in every parents life that you accept the fact that you are and will ever be a parent. Acceptance is cognitively realizing that your kids are a product of genetics, luck, discipline, fate and sugar intake. �e bottom line is that parenting is indeed terminal, you can’t cure it, and the sooner you reach the stage of acceptance, the sooner you can get on with the important things like organizing the silverware drawer and shaving your back. �ere are sorry parents who have stellar kids and there are awesome parents who have juvenile delinquents. A key to acceptance is realizing that most outcomes are your spouse’s fault, just be careful to not let them in on this little secret.

Being a parent is a terminal condition, but I can think of nothing else that provides as much happi-ness, joy, love, tears and angst, except for maybe a Nicolas Sparks novel. �rough the years, a parent sees life for what it really is, a game where the winner is determined by how much you love and are loved. And, with every jaunt around the game board, you collect $200, and then turn around and give it di-rectly to the kids! v

Dr. Eaker is an Augusta Ob/GYN and author. He and his wife, Susan, have two daughters in college.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year and prob-ably one of the most stressful and busy times for parents. No matter how organized you are, the month of December is a whirlwind. � e days or

nights where there is nothing on the calendar are few to none, especially when you have children.

In order to remember the reason for the season and to try to relax and enjoy these days, I found my top 10 � ve-minute stress relievers that might help you make it through the day without a “Mommy Dearest” moment.

1. Go Outside

Going outside to get some fresh air helps with relax-ation and stress reduction, according to Rodale’s Or-ganic Life, “Ten Quick & Easy Ways to De-Stress,” by Jacqueline Parisi. Taking a quick walk around the block or simply eating your lunch outside on the patio can do wonders for your psyche.

2. Breathe Deeply

Most of us do not take deep breaths regularly through-out the day. Take a moment to do just that. “Concen-trating on your breathing can increase the flow of

oxygen to your body and make you feel more relaxed,” says Adelina Espat, author of MD Anderson Center’s “Focused on Health—5-Minute Stress Relief.”

3. Talk (not text) to a Friend

Sometimes the best medicine is to tell someone how you are feeling. Call a friend and have a quick venting session. Don’t forget to give her time to vent, too. Just reaching out to some-one outside the situation will help you to keep things in per-spective. Plus, the advice you will receive can only help!

4. Stretch

When I am at the computer all day, not only do I get sti� but my brain also starts to hurt. � is is a great time to take a stretch break. Espat says, “Relieve stress by doing simple stretching exercises. � ey get your blood � owing and improve circula-tion, while increasing � exibility and relieving muscle tension.” � ese mini stretch breaks are sure to help clear your mind.

5.Take a Virtual Vacation

Espat suggests using guided imagery in which you visual-ize a place where you feel safe and at peace. “Use all your


smartMom’sguideby Cammie Jones

MinuteMinuteMinute

5


senses to make this place as real as possible. �ink about what you hear, feel and smell,” she says. Totally engulf yourself in this “safe place” and enjoy the relaxing feeling that is your end goal.

6. Enjoy a Healthy Snack

“The simple act of eating a healthy snack can be both energizing and de-stressing,” says Meredith Melnick, author of “20 Scientifically Backed Ways to De-Stress Right Now.” Try to minimize any distractions such as the computer or phone. Eating even a small piece of dark chocolate is as-sociated with reducing the level of stress hormones in the body, according to Melnick.

7. Listen to Music

Parenting Magazine’s “De-Stress in 5 Minutes or Less,” by Leslie Pepper says,“Play music that brings up good memories.” Find your favorite radio station on your commute to work or put on some soothing tunes as back-ground music while doing your chores around the house.

8. Turn Off your Phone

Stepping away and “unplugging” from electronics is a great way to reduce stress. Allowing yourself time away from your emails and text messages will allow you to regroup and relax without all the interruptions. Plan a few minutes each day to ignore your phone and its many demands.

9. Drink Herbal Tea

It’s not only is it good for you—it can also reduce stress. Instead of cof-fee or energy drinks, tea is a good alternative. “It has half the caffeine of coffee and contains healthy antioxidants, as well as theanine, an amino acid that has a calming and soothing effect on the nervous system,” says Nathan Reese, healthline.com’s “10 Simple Ways to Reduce Stress.”

10. Hang Out with Your Pets

“According to psychologists, the relaxation response is automatic when we hold or cuddle a pet,” says Melanie Haiken of caring.com. Also, when you hear a cat purr, your heart rate slows down accordingly. Pets can be quite needy and annoying at times, but who doesn’t enjoy the uncondi-tional love that comes from your slobbery dog or furry cat?

So, take a deep breath, fix a healthy snack, stretch your legs and give your furry friend a hug this season. It can only help lower your stress level and allow you the time to really love the holidays! v

smartMom’sguide

Cammie Jones is an Augusta freelance writer and mother of three.


Blanket Scarfs are in high demand this season. Expected to be one of the hottest new winter fashions! Great with Boots! CommuniGraph-ics, Inc, 400 Georgia Ave., North Augusta

Colored Crochet Knit Beanie to top off the perfect winter outfi t for only $6.99 Kid to Kid, 2701 Washington Rd. • 4088 Washington Rd.

Umgee Lace Extender Tank to make any ordinary sweater one of a kind for only $22.99 in various colors and styles! Kid to Kid, 2701 Washington Rd. • 4088 Washington Rd.

Melissa & Doug Race Car Track Rug with Race Cars included $29.99. Kid to Kid, 2701 Washington Rd. • 4088 Washington Rd.

Candles—Assortment of Habersham Candle Co. candles. $15-$22. Augusta Visitor Center & Gift Shop, 560 Reynolds St.

l e t ’ s b e HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE


The Melting Snowman was our #1 selling items last Christmas. Get yours this year before they are gone. CommuniGraphics, Inc, 400 Georgia Ave., North Augusta

Merry Christmas Y’all! Your tee shirt collec-tion is not complete with out this limited edi-tion gem from Southern Raised! Our fastest growing tshirt line. CommuniGraphics, Inc, 400 Georgia Ave., North Augusta

Golf themed wine glass set, $40. Augusta Visitor Center & Gift Shop, 560 Reynolds St.

Hilarious practical gifts are what makes Christmas fun and our selection of Bubble Baths (Bean soup) and Moonshine (hot sauce) are gift everyone will trade for and laugh about! CommuniGraphics, Inc, 400 Georgia Ave., North Augusta

Merry Christmas Y’all! Your tee shirt collec-tion is not complete with out this limited edi-

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

Ruffl ed, pink checked dress with red & green border and colorful Christmas tree applique’. Le Za Me. $60 Posh Tots, 343 Highland Ave.


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Melissa & Doug Baking Set for your little baker of the house for only $29.99. Kid to Kid, 2701 Washington Rd. • 4088 Washington Rd.

Spring 2015 $3.75

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Our magazine reaches Aiken’s influential residents with arts,

homes, personalities and history.

To advertise: 706.823.3702 or email lisa.dorn@

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To subscribe: 706.823.3722 or 1.800.622.6358


Any Brighton gift gets a big WOW on Christmas day! CommuniGraphics, Inc, 400 Georgia Ave., North Augusta

The Yeti Colster is the most popular selling Yeti item for men. If you’ve got a guy to buy for, he defi nitely wants a YETI! CommuniGraphics, Inc, 400 Geor-gia Ave., North Augusta

Red Corduroy long all with playful , skating Elf ap-plique’ / white turtleneck included. Petit Ami. $42 Posh Tots, 343 Highland Ave.

The Yeti Colster is the most popular selling Yeti item The Yeti Colster is the most popular selling Yeti item


ne thing I notice about going to the gym— back in my glory days of actually going to the gym—was that around the beginning of every year, the place was packed. � en, within a couple of months, the crowds

thinned out, and it was back to the usual crowd. � e rea-son, of course, is New Year’s resolutions.

Most people’s resolutions, however, are all about them-selves. “I’m going to lose weight, � nd money, exercise more, drink less, start a hobby, stop smoking…” and the list goes on. But what about resolutions that a� ect the whole family and make family life run smoothly?

I wanted to know what other families do to remain sane, so I asked friends and family through social media, includ-ing a pastor and a psychologist. Here are some of their ideas for achieving family sanity in the New Year.

in the New YearAdvice From Other Parents To Ease Household Stress

By Dustin Turner


Lisa Bonham Kaylor, of Augusta, says, “One thing that comes to mind is to take care of yourself. A few minutes each day to relieve stress through meditation or exercise or to just be quiet makes everything run better. Preparation is the other. Plan menus, cook ahead and freeze so you’re not scrambling or hitting the drive-through on busy nights.”

� at helps with � nances, too, because it’s cheaper, Kaylor says. “� row small loads of laundry in the wash every morning or every other morning to keep laundry under control.”

Aiken physician Dr. Cathy Harmon says, “Delegate, delegate, delegate!” Give children age-appropriate chores that are mandatory, she says. Tie them to favorite activities or items. Weekday chores are tied to weekend activities with friends. Weekend chores are tied to having a cellphone a� er school during the week, etc.

Mary Chatriwala, of Graniteville, is a train-er and coach at CrossFit Maximum Dosage, so health is an important issue for her.

“Health-wise, I see a lot of adults vowing to eat healthier and exercise regularly but not in-volving their children,” Chatriwala says. “� is eventually creates a new generation of adults who are sick, overweight and unhappy. If par-ents make small, healthy changes and involve the children, the entire family bene� ts for years to come.”

With two children and a military husband, Chatriwala says family time also is important. “To improve the quality of our family time, we try to always remember that each of us is an in-dividual being, worthy of equal love and respect. My husband and I do our best to only speak to the children as we would speak to each other. Ask lovingly for help when it’s needed and o� er your help freely instead of barking orders and demanding things.”

Crystal Caudill Bentley, of Mooresville, N.C., (a North Augusta transplant), believes that husbands helping out with child and household chores are a plus for a happy marriage, which in return gives more time for family time. “Limiting TV is good for overall family health, adults in-cluded. I have found a large trend for families to now have a maid at least once a week to save the marriage/allow more time with kids.”

� e Rev. Rick Mason, the pastor of Ehrhardt, S.C., Me-morial Lutheran Church and nearby Mount Pleasant Evan-gelical Lutheran Church, urges a faith-based approach to family happiness: “� ere is something called the Faith 5 that I am encouraging families to try.

1. SHARE: Each person shares their highs and lows from the day.

2. READ: Read the Scripture for the day. (Could be adapted to other readings.)

3. TALK: About how the Scripture relates to the highs & lows that were shared.

4. PRAY: Pray for the concerns that were talked about. Take turns each night, so that everyone gets a chance during the week to pray or read the prayer.

5. BLESS: Make the sign of the cross on one another’s foreheads and say, “God bless you” or “God loves you” or the like. It only takes about � ve minutes; but it has the potential to open up relationships between par-ents and children, as well as among siblings.”


LesleyAnne Klepac, of Aiken, and her husband, Ian, are the parents of a daugh-ter and triplets. For the Klepacs, saving money de� nitely helps family sanity.

“One of the greatest wastes of money for a family is food,” she says. “Meal planning for the week and making a list when you go to the grocery store is so important. Also make-ahead meals save a lot of time and money. Prepare the mea,l put it in a freezer bag and put it in the freezer. When you are ready take it out warm it up and you have a meal.”

Kristy Kitzmiller, of Chicago, has a young daughter. Her key to family sanity: “I think not sweating the small stu� . If my daughter and I are happy and enjoying time together, how my 2-year-old’s hair looks and if her clothes exactly match isn’t important. Also asking them to do as much as their age al-lows to help the family. My 2-year-old helps ‘cook’ and ‘sweep’ and ‘clean-up.’ Sure, she is not very e� ective, but she is participating in the chore as an activ-ity instead of sitting and watching me do it for her. And setting patterns, we almost never buy her things at the store so it doesn’t occur to her to ask unless she sees another kid being bratty and begging for a toy purchase. And since we almost never do it, she isn’t surprised and moves on when we say, “no we won’t be doing that today.” When we are going to get something, we tell her in advance. It stops a lot of tantrums we used to have.”

Dr. Amy Holsten, an Augusta psychologist at Families Forward LLC, agrees about not sweating the small stu� . She says just spending time together is more important.

“Don’t become trapped by trying to be the perfect Pinterest parent. Time with your children is super-important but time with your children doesn’t have to be a well planned and beautifully orchestrated event that they will remember and cher-ish forever. It simply needs to be time where you are together and enjoying each other. � is can be as simple as a lazy Saturday morning breakfast where everyone is together and talking with each other, taking a walk, playing a game or just hang-ing out without interruption from work or other distractions. � is doesn’t need to be a breakfast where you have made special pancakes in the shape of snow� akes. Breakfast can be cold cereal. It’s the time not the event that matters to you.”

As a husband of 18 years and the father of an 8-year-old daughter, the advice here resonates with me. I must admit that not sweating the small stu� and simply enjoying time together is an issue that I have. My wife consistently reminds me of these two vital factors of a happy life because, as she so eloquently says, “We only get one ride in this life. Enjoy it.” I look forward to working together with my family to take the time to enjoy the time we have together, and I wish each of you and your families a very happy, healthy and blessed New Year. v

Dustin Turner is Associate Travel Editor for wheretraveler.com. His wife, Jamie Johnson Turner, has put up with him for 18 years now, and they are the proud parents of 8-year-old Abigail. � e Turners stay busy with community theater and wine-making.


NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS

2015 Physicians’ Directory

Available Free for iPhone® and AndroidTM.

Download the Physicians’ Directory app for free and have

contact information at your fingertips for Augusta and Aiken

area physicians and dentists. Database is searchable by both

specialty and by name. Brought to you by Augusta Magazine.


BEST BODY COUNTOWNwww.bestbodyin52.com

Once the holidays are done—the focus usually turns to getting healthy! This year, Kim Beavers, of Eating Well With Kim on WRDW and in Augusta Family Magazine, has worked with So-hailla Digsby, RDN, LD, of Best Body Nutrition & Fitness on a cook-book: Countdown to Your Best Body Cookbook & Menu Plan. The book will be available locally in January at University Hospital Sunshine Gift Shop, New Life Natural Food Store, Communigraph-ics and on Amazon.

The cookbook is designed to be paired with the Countdown to Your Best Body Success Journal by Sohailla Digsby, RDN, LD. The cook-book will work equally well as a stand-alone. If healthy changes are on your agenda for 2016 please visit www.bestbodyin52.com to register for the next 52-day Best Body Countdown. Registration opens on December 30 and the Best Body Countdown begins on January 19th.

CRAZY SUN YOGA AND FITNESS706-755-4680.http://crazysunom.com/

New Year’s special on purchasing two months of available programs in January. Programs include a 14-day detox, 14-day diet and 28-day maintenance and wellness plans with omnivore, vegan and paleo options. Wellness coaching and fitness components included. Indi-vidual fitness sessions locally or online are available.

CURVES 1764 Knox Ave., North Augusta803-279-7220.www.curves.com.

Kick Start Your Weight LossCurves, a gym for women only, will have an open house in January with door prizes, membership specials and other coaching tools to help ladies meet their fitness goals in the new year. Date to be an-nounced, check with this location for specifics.

DANCING DOGS YOGA 412-2 Vaughn Rd. 706-231-1777.http://dancingdogsyoga.com/

Yoga Santa Specials and New Year’s Resolution Yoga ChallengeIn the month of December, the Yoga Santa Special is 30 days of un-limited yoga for $30. In the New Year, participants in the New Year’s Resolution Challenge will participate in a challenge board where they will check in every time they take a class and at the end of the month three winners will be randomly drawn for a free month of yoga (you must take at least two classes per week to qualify).

EVANS FITNESS CLUB3002 Allen Dr. 706-288-2700http://www.evansfitnessclub.com/

Look Better NakedA campaign to encourage participants to meet their fitness goals in the New Year. Will include January Enrollment specials for new members. Cost depends on level of membership, and a seven-day trial of results-driven classes and facility use is available to non-members.

FAMILY YMCA OF GREATER AUGUSTAFamily Y of Aiken County, 621 Trolley Line Rd., Graniteville., S.C. 803-349-8080.

IF YOUR NEW YEAR’S GOALS INCLUDE INCREASING YOUR HEALTH AND FITNESS, HERE’S A LISTING OF SPECIAL PROGRAMS THAT CAN HELP YOU ATTAIN IT—AND HELP YOU LOSE SOME WEIGHT, TOO.

H E A L T H Y A N D F I T I N

20166BY MERED ITH F LORY


Marshall Family YMCA, 1202 Town Park Lane, Evans. 706-364-3269.

Family YMCA of North Jefferson, 3001 GA Highway 17 N., Wrens, Ga. 706-547-2653.

Family YMCA of Thomson, 510 Hill St., Thomson. 706-595-5615.

Family YMCA of Barnwell County, 660 Joey Zorn Blvd, Barnwell, S.C. 803-450-4151.

Family YMCA of Augusta South, 2215 Tobacco Rd., Augusta. 706-922-9650.

Family YMCA of Downtown Augusta, 9445 Broad St., Augusta. 706-922-6190.

Steiner Branch Family YMCA, 218 Partnership Dr., Grovetown. 706-922-6711.

Wilson Family YMCA, 3570 Wheeler Rd., Augusta. 706-922-9623.

Contact info for each branch available at www.thefamilyy.org.

Team Lean The ninth annual community health initiative “pay for play” chal-lenge will kick-off January 11. Teams of four to five people com-pete against teams of the same gender to lose a goal percentage of weight. Individuals may sign up, and there are opportunities for schools, churches and businesses to compete against like groups. The program is 12 weeks long with a weekly weigh-in. There are weekly educational sessions and a Saturday exercise event each week in a different community location. Prices vary based on mem-bership. Non-members will receive 12 visits to their local Y during the program. Scholarships are available.

MEDICAL WEIGHT & WELLNESS SPECIALISTS OF AUGUSTA108 SRP Drive, Suite B, Evans.706-829-9906. [email protected].

SpecialsMedical Weight and Wellness Specialists of Augusta provides physi-cian-directed weight loss services. Each patient’s program is individu-ally tailored, whether they have just 10 pounds to lose or a hundred or more pounds to lose. Dr. Maycie Elchoufi, who heads the program, is certified in both Internal Medicine and Obesity Medicine, and has a thorough understanding of the treatment of obesity and the genetic, biochemical, environmental, social and behavioral factors that contrib-ute to obesity. Dr. Elchoufi is also pleased to provide aesthetic services to help her patients look and feel their very best. New Year’s Specials include: 10 percent off initial Physician visit for medical weight loss services, free aesthetic consultation with the Physician (regularly an $85 value), up to $200 off dermal fillers (including Restylane, Radiesse, and Belatero), 10 percent of Botox, Xeomin, or Dysport, 15 percent off professional-grade skin care products, 20 percent off selected supple-ments, snacks, and meal replacement products. Call (706) 829-9906 for additional details and to reserve your appointment.

OXYGEN FITNESS STUDIOAugusta: 357 Highland Ave. 706-364-7746.Aiken: 110 Park Ave. SW. 803-226-0242.

30/30/30 ChallengeA 30-day challenge for members to not only work on losing the extra pounds that may have snuck on during the holiday, but also long-term

lifestyle changes. Exercising consistently and creating healthy habits outside of the gym, at the house and in the office will have a long-term affect on health and happiness that will benefit and affect the entire family. For 30 days participants are encouraged to take 30 classes and to make 30 small changes to their everyday life such as taking time to make a healthy breakfast, a few minutes to focus on your breathing, stretching, looking at yourself with admiration and telling people about your health and fitness journey and goals. There will be an interactive calendar for all challenge goers revealing the small change each day. Challengers are encouraged to journal their success, experience and transformation on social media. Membership to Oxygen Fitness Studio is required, but there is no additional cost or restrictions.

PURE BARRE2907 Washington Rd., Suite 202.706-667-7300.purebarre.com/ga-augusta/

New Year’s SpecialsPure Barre, a 55-minute total body workout, is offering two New Year’s specials. New clients can get one month of unlimited classes for $99 or five weeks of unlimited classes for $120. Their technique is a fast and effective way to change the shape of your body, with results seen in just 10 classes.

THE SALVATION ARMY KROC CENTER 1833 Broad Street. 706- 922-1530.http://salvationarmyaugusta.org/kroc-center/

What Are You Weighting For?A six-week weight loss challenge for members and non-members starting January 11 that will include group workouts, nutrition events and weekly weigh-ins. Participants will also receive a personalized workout plan and weekly emails with nutrition advice and fitness tips. The Kroc offers solid, consistent and non-judgemental support from trainers. First place will get a 12-month free membership at the Kroc Center, second place will receive one free personal training ses-sion once a month for 12 months and third place will receive a free monthly personal training session for six months. The fee is only $20 for members and $30 for non-members. In addition, personal train-ing sessions and nutritional coaching will be buy one session, get one free from January 1-January 31. This offer is available to members and non-members who need a personalized workout plan. New ben-efits also available starting in January include a membership referral bonus where members will receive a $10 discount off of their monthly draft for having a friend join. Various membership plans are avail-able, including a three-month membership and a discounted lunch-time membership for use of the facility Monday-Friday, noon-3 p.m.

ULTIMATE RIDE AND FITNESS3830 Washington Rd #16 706-910-8136http://ultimaterideandfitness.com/

Commit to be FitTeam weight loss challenge, based on percentage of body fat lost. Includes several types of assistance with meeting weight loss goals including recipes, training sessions and workout tips. Prices vary based on level of program and member/non-member. Begins Mid-January. v

Are you constantly feeling like you live your life in a tailspin? Do

you live from one sticky note reminder to the other, only to lose

them before accomplishing the task? Are you unprepared for

meetings because you le� something important at home? Are

the mail hills turning into mountains in your kitchen? Me too! If you feel like

clutter is taking over your life, take a few cues from local personal organizing

coach Marin Rose of Libra Organizing. By calling Rose over the summer, I

learned a new golden rule: Parting with our stu� is one of the best and easiest

ways to simplify our lives so that we can enjoy our free time with the ones we

love. If we can learn to de-clutter, we will be more prepared for life, spend less

time looking for our things and more time being e� cient. Join me in tackling

10 areas where clutter can creep up on the best of us.

By Mary Ashton MillsBE GONE!CLUTTER

BE GONE!CLUTTER

1. Car Clutter

Rose suggests we use our car only for transporting

items to and from place to place throughout the day. If

we try to get in the mindset that things should not “live”

in our car, then we may remember that whatever we put

in our car in the morning should come out at the end of

the day. A car charger, recyclable grocery bags and a small

envelope for coupons all seem like appropriate items to

keep in the car. If you feel the need to keep a trashcan in

your car, consider a small plastic bag that can be removed

at the end of the day. Rose says sometimes when people

have children the lines get muddled and they act like it is

normal for things to be messy because they have children.

Hold children accountable for taking their book bags,

sports bags, toys and trash out of the car, even if it means

asking them to make multiple trips.

2. Kitchen Clutter

According to Rose, we try to get too many functions

out of the kitchen. “� e real purpose of the kitchen is to-

getherness, family time, and enjoying the ritual of a family

meal. It should not be the catch-all for schoolwork and junk

mail,” she says. Instead, try to limit the kitchen to preparing,

serving and dining. “Make use of the stu� in the pantry or

get rid of it.” Items like old pasta and canned goods can take

up useful space.

� ink about your lifestyle when organizing the kitch-

en. On a weekly basis, what pots and pans do we use? Are

we wasting valuable storage on pots and pans that we never

use because they were wedding gi� s? Unless cooking for a

large crowd, a few pots and pans are su� cient. � is rule can

be applied to dishes, serving pieces, spices and just about

anything in the kitchen.

3. Closet Clutter

Every woman will want to take heed of what Rose ad-

vises when it comes to our closets. “Your closet should feel

like a boutique specially stocked and designed for you as an

individual,” she says. Each item should � t, go together and

look good on you, making it feel like a delightful shopping

experience. When organizing our closets, Rose suggests we

choose only the items we love in our closet and get rid of the

rest. She is also an advocate of the clear plastic shoe bags,

which serve as a space saver as well as a protective layer.

4. Kid’s Clutter

Rose says people tend to make excuses and they think

if they have kids they inherently have clutter. “� e truth

is it is a child’s job to constantly want, ask for things, feel

out how far they can take you. It’s your job to draw the

line,” says Rose. With toys, out� ts and other stu� she says

they are actually happier when we go through and chose

the things they love. � en they will learn to appreciate the

special things and not be inundated with too much stu� .

“� e more we have the less joy we get from each item.” By

involving children and letting them make choices in the

organization process the more organized and responsible

they will be as an adult.

One thing that has worked well in my house is the “drop

zone”. I set up a “drop zone” in the small hall by my back

door. Anytime the children come home, they know they

have to go straight to the drop zone to dump their items.

Backpacks, lunch bags, shoes, coats, sporting equipment all

go to the drop zone. My husband is even instructed to use

the “drop zone”. If something is ever missing, they know to

check the “drop zone” and most always they � nd it. In addi-

tion my front entry and den stay clutter-free.

Rose suggests teaching children to manage laundry

weekly by keeping tabs on when their basket is full and

depending on age, sort and put away clean laundry. When

receiving new toys consider donating an old toy for each

new toy. For toddlers consider rotating toys so that no more

than three sets of toys are out at once. Rose reminds us

that toddlers can’t fully engage and lose interest if there is

too much stimulation around. Bins are an excellent storage

solution and can easily be stored under beds, on a shelf, or

in a toy closet.

5. Mail Clutter

I’ve been known to walk from the mailbox straight to the

outside trashcan with catalogs and junk � yers to eliminate the

temptation of setting them on the kitchen counter. For paying

bills, toss or shred all but the paystub of the bill and place it

in a folder by the computer. If paying by mail, keep stamps,

checkbook and other resources stocked close by so that we

aren’t hunting them down each time we go to pay a bill. For my

lifestyle, Rose suggested I make a note of the bill amount due in

my calendar on my cell phone. By setting a reminder � ve days

in advance of the due date, I can set up the payment online

and there is no paperwork to clutter my counters. � ere is no


need to save invitations in our digital age. Simply add all of the information into our phone calendar, including address, start time and details. Set a reminder and when it is party time, the address and details are all in one place.

6. Office Clutter

Our o�ces can be a �rst impression. Keep paperwork piles to a minimum since most everything can be accessed digitally. Stock work areas with resources needed so that we don’t have to search for them. At the end of each day, spend �ve minutes tidying up so that we start the next day o� with a clean slate.

7. Computer and Cell Phone Clutter

Proper cloud storage on our phone and computer is important. Keep email and text messages cleared out. Create �les for commonly used reports or mate-rial. Using Dropbox can allow access to these �les from anywhere, which can be helpful in our digital world. Save or delete photos o�en to save space on our phones. Rose suggests using the calendar on our phone as our main calendar. It syncs with other family members so that everyone can keep track. Keep to-do lists in the calendar and any other important notes

8. Handbag/Wallet Clutter

Our handbags should not become a catch all for junk. Rose recommends keeping a small bag with a wallet, keys, lipstick, an envelope for receipts and anything important. �is bag goes inside of our purse and makes rotating purses easy, keeps the lining of our purses clean and eliminates excess junk.

9. Garage and Attic Clutter

Is the stu� in your garage or attic making you happy or does it frustrate you to see the excess junk? For my family, this month is garage month. Its time for us to get rid of the 15 coolers in our garage, riding toys our kids don’t ride anymore, lawn equipment we don’t use and random broken items. We will visit a local charity, donate our stu� and actually try using the garage for our cars.

10. Miscellaneous Clutter

We all fall prey to the random pile every now and then. It may be a koozie sit-

ting on the counter, headphones, a random sock, loose change or the prize our child won at the festival over the weekend. Keep a small bag for miscellaneous junk. At the end of the week, if nobody has missed it, then we know what to do with it! When in doubt, throw it out.

Join me in trying the less is more approach to de-cluttering your life. I’m taking it one step at a time and �nding I’m gaining more time for the things I love! For more information on organizing or to schedule a personal session with Marin Rose, visit libraorganizing.com. v

Mary Ashton Mills lives in Augusta with her husband and two children. Her work has appeared in Charleston Magazine, The Post and Courier and Augusta Family Magazine.

BE GONE!CLUTTER Holiday Fun!

Holiday Fun!


Holiday Fun!



funfood

From savory centerpieces to rich, �avorful sides to cookies and candies aplenty, the holiday season is a time to appreciate a bounty of good food while surrounded by your loved ones. Make this year’s celebration extra special with cooking tips and recipes that make a festive feast to remember as easy as can be. Start with a main dish carved just right, add an exciting twist on traditional staples and learn

how unexpected ingredients make delicious seasonal sweets.

A baked ham is the perfect centerpiece to any holiday celebration. Follow these tips to ensure your seasonal meal’s main course is a sensation with your guests:

• Never thaw meat on the kitchen counter as the ex-ternal temperature can rise above 40° while the in-side remains frozen. Thaw in either the refrigerator or in cold water.

• Plan ahead to clean up; line your pan with aluminum foil.

• To avoid dried out ham, cook at 325°, allowing 20-30 minutes per pound.

• Place fat side up. The melting fat will baste your ham. Turn over halfway through baking to avoid un-even salting.

• Do not use sharp utensils when turning the ham. Valuable juices may escape if the ham is pierced.

• Use proper cooking times and temperatures. Cook-ing to at least 145° will result in juicy, tender meat.

• Let ham stand for 15 minutes after roasting before slicing.

• Completely cook ham until done. Avoid partial cook-ing and storing in refrigerator for later use, which can contaminate the meat.

Prepping the Perfect Ham

Celebrate with a Sweetly Salty Snack

Sweet treats are a staple of every holiday party, and you can add your own crowd-pleasing recipe with a favorite from your own pantry: peanut butter. It pairs perfectly with other sweet and salty flavors in this easy candy recipe. Find more ideas for cooking with peanut butter this holiday season at peanutbutterlovers.com.


funfood

From savory centerpieces to rich, �avorful sides to cookies and candies aplenty, the holiday season is a time to appreciate a bounty of good food while surrounded by your loved ones. Make this year’s celebration extra special with cooking tips and recipes that make a festive feast to remember as easy as can be. Start with a main dish carved just right, add an exciting twist on traditional staples and learn

how unexpected ingredients make delicious seasonal sweets.

A baked ham is the perfect centerpiece to any holiday celebration. Follow these tips to ensure your seasonal meal’s main course is a sensation with your guests:

• Never thaw meat on the kitchen counter as the ex-ternal temperature can rise above 40° while the in-side remains frozen. Thaw in either the refrigerator or in cold water.

• Plan ahead to clean up; line your pan with aluminum foil.

• To avoid dried out ham, cook at 325°, allowing 20-30 minutes per pound.

• Place fat side up. The melting fat will baste your ham. Turn over halfway through baking to avoid un-even salting.

• Do not use sharp utensils when turning the ham. Valuable juices may escape if the ham is pierced.

• Use proper cooking times and temperatures. Cook-ing to at least 145° will result in juicy, tender meat.

• Let ham stand for 15 minutes after roasting before slicing.

• Completely cook ham until done. Avoid partial cook-ing and storing in refrigerator for later use, which can contaminate the meat.

Prepping the Perfect Ham

Celebrate with a Sweetly Salty Snack

Sweet treats are a staple of every holiday party, and you can add your own crowd-pleasing recipe with a favorite from your own pantry: peanut butter. It pairs perfectly with other sweet and salty flavors in this easy candy recipe. Find more ideas for cooking with peanut butter this holiday season at peanutbutterlovers.com.


Peanut Butter Saltine BrittleMakes: 45 pieces

Butter-flavored nonstick cooking spray1/2 cup butter3/4 cup creamy peanut butter1 cup granulated sugar1 sleeve (4 ounces) regular saltine crackers2 cups milk chocolate chips1/2 cup peanut butter chips1/2 cup roughly chopped, dry-roasted, salted peanuts

Heat oven to 400°. Line a 10-by-15-by-1-inch pan with aluminum foil. Spray foil with butter-flavored nonstick cooking spray; set aside.

In heavy duty, 1-quart saucepan heat butter, peanut butter and sugar over medium heat. Stir constantly until butter and sugar are melted. Bring ingredients to boil; stir frequently for 3 minutes.

While mixture cooks, lay saltines flat in single layer on prepared pan. Pour cooked mixture evenly over saltines. Place in oven and cook 5 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle chocolate chips over top. Let cool for 3 minutes, then spread chocolate complete-ly over top of saltines.

Sprinkle peanut butter chips evenly over top of chocolate. Return pan to oven 1 minute to soften chips. Pull tines of fork through softened peanut butter chips to partially cover chocolate. Sprinkle peanuts over top and gently press down.

Let cool on rack about 15 minutes; place in freezer for 3 min-utes. Remove from freezer and break into pieces. Store in air-tight container.

Hot Chocolate Crunch CookiesPrep time: 30 minutesTotal time: 3 hours Servings: 52 cookies

1 cup Cocoa Pebbles, divided2 cups all-purpose flour1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder2 teaspoons cream of tartar1 teaspoon baking soda1/2 teaspoon salt1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temp- erature1 3/4 cups sugar, divided2 large eggs1 teaspoon vanilla2 teaspoons cinnamon1/4 teaspoon chili powder (optional)

Heat oven to 350°.

In food processor, crush cereal to yield 1/2 cup. In medium bowl, combine 1/4 cup ground cereal, flour, cocoa powder, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt.

In large bowl, using electric mixer, cream butter and 1 1/2 cups sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy. Scrape down side of bowl. Add eggs and vanilla. Beat to combine. With mixer on low, gradu-ally add flour mixture, beating until combined. Chill dough 1-2 hours.

In small bowl, combine remaining 1/4 cup ground cereal, remaining 1/4 cup sugar, cinnamon and chili powder (optional—for a delicious spicy twist).

Using a tablespoon, form balls of dough. Roll in cinnamon-sugar-cereal mixture. Place balls 2 inch-es apart on parchment-lined baking sheets. Press down lightly with a glass. Bake 8-10 minutes.

Garlic EVOO Smashed Potatoes and ParsnipsServes: 6

3 medium to large russet potatoes, peeled and large diced3 large parsnips, peeled and large dicedGarlic olive oil, to taste (see recipe)3 tablespoons parsley, thinly shreddedSalt and pepper

Combine potatoes and parsnips in water, boil until ten-der. Drain well.

In large roasting pan, smash drained potatoes and parsnips with fork.

Season hot potatoes and parsnips with garlic olive oil, parsley, salt and pepper. Serve immediately.

Garlic Olive Oil for Potatoes and Parsnips

1 head of garlic, washed, dried and halved 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

In small loaf pan, cover garlic with extra virgin olive oil.

Place foil over pan, place in 250-300° oven until garlic is fully cooked and soft. Remove garlic and pop out cloves.

Strain extra virgin olive oil to remove any skins. Puree cooked cloves with strained oil. v

Kid-Favorite Holiday CookiesIt isn’t hard to convince kids to join in the fun of making holiday cookies. These cookies pack a great chocolate flavor thanks to a surprise ingredient – Cocoa Pebbles. For more kid-favorite recipe ideas, visit PostFoods.com.

Holiday Side with a Twist

It’s easy to get caught up in the same holi-day recipes year after year. They’re clas-sics for a reason, right? Add a different twist to a holiday menu mainstay—mashed potatoes—this year with extra virgin olive oil, garlic and parsnips. Visit AboutOliveOil.org to learn more about the benefits of olive oil and to find more holiday recipes.


Bringing Them BedsReStart Augusta Provides Beds for �ose Who Don’t Have One

It all starts with a good night’s sleep. �at’s the foundation for a good start and a healthy life.

But what if you don’t have a bed? What if you sleep on a pallet on the floor with only a

coat for a pillow? “We know our kids go to bed hungry,” says Pat Wil-

liams, one of the founders of ReStart Augusta who now serves as the volunteer CEO. “But where do they come from the night before.”

Enter ReStart Augusta, a nonpro�t started in Janu-ary 2014 to provide beds for people who don’t have one. �e �rst bed was delivered in May 2014, and as early No-vember, ReStart had provided nearly 500 beds.

Why Beds?

It’s usually the one of the most expensive items someone needs immediately, and it’s the most requested item, she says.

“We can’t do everything. We thought we could make the most di�erence with this,” says Larry Dinkins, chair-man of the ReStart Augusta Board of Directors and one of the organization’s most active volunteers. “If you’ve got a bed to sleep on you’re helped as soon as you get it. It’s an immediate pay-back.”

Many of those whom ReStart serves are veterans coming out of the Veterans Administration Hospital.

“�ey’re restarting their lives, but restarting without a bed,” Williams says.

Gary Whited, another board of directors member and active volunteer, makes many of the bed deliveries for ReStart and sees �rst-hand the need. “Last February we delivered to a vet in South Augusta. When we got there he was sitting in a lawn chair in the yard. �at was the only furniture he had,” Whited says.

�e house had no heat, so the night before the vet-eran slept on the hard �oor with only his coat for a pillow.

While the ReStart volunteers were there, the gas compa-ny arrived to turn on the gas, so that night the man had a comfortable bed, clean bedding, a so� pillow and a warm house to sleep in.

More Than Beds

�e ReStart volunteers have developed a unique system for providing the bedding. Twin and queen mat-tresses and box springs are purchased. Volunteers con-struct wooden frames that can be assembled on-site, and disassembled if the recipient moves later.

Some mattresses are donated, but only if they are good quality. “We don’t take anything we wouldn’t sleep in,” Dinkins says.

Clients also get bedding that’s been purchased new or gently used.

Referrals come from other social service agencies

inspirationstationby Jennifer Miller


Bringing Them BedsReStart Augusta Provides Beds for �ose Who Don’t Have One

It all starts with a good night’s sleep. �at’s the foundation for a good start and a healthy life.

But what if you don’t have a bed? What if you sleep on a pallet on the floor with only a

coat for a pillow? “We know our kids go to bed hungry,” says Pat Wil-

liams, one of the founders of ReStart Augusta who now serves as the volunteer CEO. “But where do they come from the night before.”

Enter ReStart Augusta, a nonpro�t started in Janu-ary 2014 to provide beds for people who don’t have one. �e �rst bed was delivered in May 2014, and as early No-vember, ReStart had provided nearly 500 beds.

Why Beds?

It’s usually the one of the most expensive items someone needs immediately, and it’s the most requested item, she says.

“We can’t do everything. We thought we could make the most di�erence with this,” says Larry Dinkins, chair-man of the ReStart Augusta Board of Directors and one of the organization’s most active volunteers. “If you’ve got a bed to sleep on you’re helped as soon as you get it. It’s an immediate pay-back.”

Many of those whom ReStart serves are veterans coming out of the Veterans Administration Hospital.

“�ey’re restarting their lives, but restarting without a bed,” Williams says.

Gary Whited, another board of directors member and active volunteer, makes many of the bed deliveries for ReStart and sees �rst-hand the need. “Last February we delivered to a vet in South Augusta. When we got there he was sitting in a lawn chair in the yard. �at was the only furniture he had,” Whited says.

�e house had no heat, so the night before the vet-eran slept on the hard �oor with only his coat for a pillow.

While the ReStart volunteers were there, the gas compa-ny arrived to turn on the gas, so that night the man had a comfortable bed, clean bedding, a so� pillow and a warm house to sleep in.

More Than Beds

�e ReStart volunteers have developed a unique system for providing the bedding. Twin and queen mat-tresses and box springs are purchased. Volunteers con-struct wooden frames that can be assembled on-site, and disassembled if the recipient moves later.

Some mattresses are donated, but only if they are good quality. “We don’t take anything we wouldn’t sleep in,” Dinkins says.

Clients also get bedding that’s been purchased new or gently used.

Referrals come from other social service agencies

inspirationstationby Jennifer Miller


calendar Dec. 2015 Jan. 2016

The NutcrackerThe spirit of the season is no more beautifully embodied than in the timeless Nutcracker ballet. The Columbia County Ballet brings the

magic of this classic holiday tale to life with brilliant costuming and set design. Journey with Clara through the mystical pine forest and colorful Land of Sweets to rediscover an imaginative world of childhood dreams.

Decembeer 4. 7 p.m. Imperial Theatre.

706-860-1852.


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HOLIDAY EVENTS

December 4. The Nutcracker. As performed by the Columbia County Ballet. 7 p.m. Imperial Theatre. 706-722-8341.

December 4 & 5. Christmas Craft Show. Home-made crafts with over 100 artisans. 5 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Odell Weeks Center, 1700 Whiskey Rd., Aiken. 803-642-7631.

December 4, 10, 17 & 18. Eli’s Bethlehem Inn. Join Eli and his family as they dine on a �ve-course meal. Dinner theatre musical. Reservations required. 706-771-7777. Enopion.com. 6 p.m. at the Kroc Center, 1833 Broad St.

December 5. Gingerbread House Workshop. Dec-orate a gingerbread house. Reservations with child’s �rst name and age required. All ages. 10 a.m. at Hire Grounds Café, 3179 Washington Rd., Augusta. 706-650-5760 or [email protected].

December 5. Christmas for the Birds. Bring ap-ples, oranges, peanut butter for the birds and pet food for local pet adoptions centers. Or just bring yourself and the children to share the joy of creat-ing and giving gifts at Christmas. Cider and cook-ies will be served. Free. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. North Au-gusta Living History Park. 803-279-7560 or www.colonialtimes.us.

December 5. North Augusta Christmas Tour of Homes. Tour private homes, the North Augusta Arts & Heritage Center and North Augusta High School Science and Technology Center. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. 803-279-4577.

December 5. Nutcracker Tea. Presented by the Ai-ken Civic Ballet. 1-3 p.m. Aiken County Historical Museum. 803-642-2015.

December 5. Christmas in the Park Festival. Evans Towne Center Park. Includes the annual Christmas tree lighting. 706-650-5005.

December 5. Christmas Light Up Spectacular. Au-gusta’s holiday season kicks off when the city of Au-gusta twinkles with lights and holiday decorations. Live entertainment, children’s activities, �reworks display and more. 4-6 p.m. Augusta Common. 706-722-8000.

December 5. The Augusta Players: Mr. Fezzi-wig’s Christmas Ball. Rub shoulders with Mr. and

Mrs. Fezziwig and the cast of The Augusta Players' A Christmas Carol the Musical. Savory and sweet treats, libations, music and dancing. Costumed Dickens characters. Ages 21 and up. 7 p.m. in the Augusta Museum of History Rotunda. 706-826-4707 or http://augustaplayers.org/events.

December 6. Christmas at Champions Retreat. Holiday activities and delicious food, photos with Santa and Disney princess, bounce house, hay rides, carols, local food trucks, food stations, ven-dors. Demo Day with Titleist, Callaway, TaylorMade and Ping. Open to the public. Tickets available on-line. Supports the Augusta Wounded Warrior Proj-ect. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at Champions Retreat Golf Club, 37 Champions Parkway, Evans. www.championsre-treat.net/christmas.

December 6. Canal Kids Christmas Concert. Two concerts by Tara Scheyer, known for children’s dance-along songs. 2-2:45 and 3:15-4 p.m. 706-823-0440 for tickets. Augusta Canal Discovery Cen-ter at Enterprise Mill, 1450 Greene St.

December 8. Story Time with Mrs. Clause. Mrs. Clause reading holiday books, giving a free book to every family in attendance. Cookies and juice with Mrs. Claus after the reading. Ages 8 and under ac-companied by an adult. Odell Weeks Center, Rooms 6 & 7, 170 Whiskey Rd., Aiken. 803-642-7631.

December 8. A Festival of Nine Lessons & Car-ols. This annual Christmas event, featuring guest choirs and readers, is the highlight of the Christmas season. The traditional English Christmas program originated at King’s College Chapel, Cambridge University, England. 7:30 p.m. Sacred Heart Cultural Center. 706-826-4700.

December 9. A Visit from Santa Claus. Bring a camera for photos with Santa. 10 a.m. at the Jeff Maxwell Branch Library, 1927 Lumpkin Rd.

December 9. Holly and the Secret Santa. Present-ed by Porkchop Productions. Holly the Elf searches for the perfect present for Santa and learns the best gifts are from the heart. For all ages. Seating may be limited. Free. 4 p.m. at the Aiken County Library, 314 Chester�eld St., SW, Aiken. 803-642-2020.

December 10. Night of 1,000 Lights. Sponsoring businesses in downtown Aiken stay open late. Lu-minaries will line the streets as you shop for those on your list this year. Food, festivities and other events round out the evening. 5-9 p.m. 803-649-2221.

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24th Annual Christmas in the Hopelands

Hopeland Gardens, 135 Dupree Place, Aiken.

803-642-7650.Times: 6-9:30 p.m. each night.

Over 100,000 twinkling lights illuminate the Hopeland Gardens in Aiken during the 24th Annual Christmas in Hopelands. This enchant-ed walk-through exhibit features over 2 miles of lighted pathways and holiday displays.

The Rye Patch is a destination for holiday fun activities for the children with special visits by Santa and crafts on select nights. Holiday entertainment is provided by local schools, groups and choirs.

The Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame, The Doll House, and the Carriage Museum are open and decorated during Christmas in Hopelands for visitors to enjoy. Complimentary refresh-ments will be served in the Hall of Fame court-yard and outside of the Guest Cottage.

December 13 Aiken High Jazz BandDecember 14 Southland Express CloggersDecember 15 Christmas Standards by Tony Baughman & FriendsDecember 16 Aiken Community Playhouse Youth Wing December 17 Harmony River Chorus December 18 Outdoor Movie: “Elf”December 19 Town Creek Baptist Church ChoirDecember 20 Christ’s Way Christian Church Bell Choir December 21 Suzuki Strings of AugustaDecember 22 CSRA New Horizons BandDecember 23 Outdoor Movie: “Frozen” with special guest Elsa December 26 Mount Anna Baptist Church ChoirDecember 27 Soloist Keturah Cummings

This guide to the CSRA’s many Christmas Eve and Christmas Day church services is also available on augustafamily.com. Click on resources at the top of the screen to download a pdf and share it with family and friends.

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Christmas Eve & Christmas Day Church Services

1420 Monte Santo Ave. Augusta GA 30904 706.733.6627www.stmaryonthehill.org*Christmas Eve, December 246 p.m. Mass, 9 p.m. Mass, Midnight Mass*Christmas Day, December 259 a.m. Mass, 11 a.m. Mass*New Years Eve, December 316 p.m. Vigil*New Years Day, January 19 :15 a.m. Mass, 7 p.m. Mass

St. Mary on the Hill Catholic Church

www.� cna.org

December 12 at 7pm and December 13 at 6pmChristmas musical "Under a Starry Sky."*Christmas Eve Service5 pm – Christmas Eve Family Worship Traditional Christmas carols with special music by Choir and Orchestra

First Baptist Church, North Augusta

*Christmas Eve Festival Celebration, December 244 p.m. & 10 p.m. A nursery will be available at the 4 p.m. service.*Christmas Day, December 2510 a.m.—in the Chapel

Saint Paul’s Church

Whole Life Ministries2621 Washington Road www.wholelife.org*Christmas Extravaganza, Sunday, December 1310:30 a.m.*Candlelight Christmas Eve Service, Wednesday, December 247:00 p.m.*New Year's Eve Service, Wednesday, December 319:00 p.m.

*Christmas Evensong Services, Sunday, December 134:30 and 6:30 p.m.—Lessons and Carols featuring the children’s Canterbury Choir, Youth Choir, adult Chancel Choir and orchestra.*Christmas Eve, � ursday, December 24, 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., Family Candlelight ServicesChildren’s story, traditional Christmas carols, special music with strings, harp and organ.

First Presbyterian Church of Augusta

To advertise your church or business in Augusta Family Magazine or online



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December 11. Madrigal Dinner: A Renaissance Yuletide Feast. A festive occasion presented by the Aiken Choral Society. Houndslake Country Club. www.aikenchoralsociety.org.

December 11, 12 & 18-23. SouthStar's Arctic Express Trolley Tours. Board the trolley and be greeted by Mrs. Claus who will be your guide and storyteller on a tour that takes you to view the lights of downtown Augusta and North Augusta and oth-er uniquely lit spots nearby. At the end of the tour, Santa himself will be waiting for you to share a �rst-person telling of 'Twas The Night Before Christmas. Two tours nightly, 6 and 8 p.m. Call 706-432-8883 for reservations.

December 12. Columbia County Orchestra: Noel! Christmas. Featuring St. Teresa’s Choir with Kim-berly Lies conducting. 7 p.m. at St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church, 4921 Columbia Rd., Grovetown. Columbiacco.org or st-teresa.com.

December 12. Augusta Choral Society: Amahl—With Noel. Amahl and the Night Visitors by Menotti, The First Noel by Mack Wilbert, Believe by Silvestri & Ballard (from the movie The Polar Express), Hal-lelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah with Lyra Vi-vance Chamber Orchestra. 7:30 p.m. at St. Paul’s Church, 605 Reynolds St., Augusta. Augustacho-ralsociety.org.

December 12-13. A Christmas Carol, the Musi-cal. Brimming with music and dance, love and laughter, the Augusta Players will give the full Broadway treatment to the musical version of the Charles Dickens classic. Imperial Theatre. www.augustaplayers.org.

December 13-23 and 26-27. Christmas in Hope-lands. Hopelands Gardens is spectacular all four seasons, especially during this time of year when it is adorned with lighted holiday displays and path-ways creating a whimsical fantasy land. In addition to the lights exhibit, special events, such as concerts and children’s crafts, will take place each evening. 6-9:30 p.m. www.cityofaikensc.gov.

December 15. Christmas With the Annie Moses Band. Performing a blend of folk and classical mu-sic, the Annie Moses Band is comprised of extraor-dinary musicians from the same family. The siblings call their style “chamber pop,” a spicy arrangement of classical, jazz and pop mixed with old-fashioned country. 7:30 p.m. Jabez Performing Arts Center. 706-447-7652. December 18. Asleep at the Wheel: Santa Loves

To Boogie. Now in their 41st year, Asleep at the Wheel continues to introduce the Western swing genre to a new generation on tour and takes audi-ences on the ride of a lifetime with their play A Ride With Bob. Part of the Morris Museum’s Southern Soul and Song series. 7:30 p.m. Imperial Theatre. www.imperialtheatre.com.

December 19-20. The Nutcracker. As performed by the Aiken Civic Ballet. Dec. 19, 7 p.m. Dec. 20, 2 p.m. Aiken County Historical Museum. 803-648-5771.

December 19. Breakfast With Santa. Santa listening to holiday wishes after breakfast. Ages 12 and un-der accompanied by an adult. Make a holiday craft to take home. Registration required before Dec. 13. 8:30 a.m. at the Odell Weeks Center, Rooms 6 & 7, 1700 Whiskey Rd., Aiken. 803-642-7631.

December 19. Santa at the Depot. Visit with Santa, enjoy Christmas music, beautiful decorations and hot cocoa. All ages. Free. 11 a.m. at the Aiken Visi-tors Center and Train Museum, 406 Park Ave., SE, Aiken. www.visitaikensc.com.

December 19. Christmas in the Quarters. Discover

how more than 300 enslaved laborers celebrated the holidays at Redcliffe Plantation. Activities, games and demonstrations. Special guest storyteller Kitty Wilson-Evans. 2-5 p.m. Redcliffe Plantation State Historic Site. 803-827-1473.

December 20. Christmas With John Berry. John Ber-ry began his Christmas tour in 1996 and this year will mark his 19th consecutive Christmas concert series. As Berry has grown in his walk with Christ, his calling has been to share God’s love with his audience. Mov-ing into a new phase in his career, his tenor voice re-mains an instrument that is able to touch all our hearts. 7 p.m. Imperial Theatre. www.imperialtheatre.com.

Dance Theatre of HarlemAs the conclusion of the New Traditions Dance Festival, Augusta Ballet will present the Dance

Theatre of Harlem, a racially diverse group of artists performing a demanding repertory at the high-est level of quality.

Augusta Ballet: Anyone Can Dance Camp

Jessye Norman School of the Arts 739 Greene St.706-261-0555.

December 21, 22 & 23. Free all-day camp for ages 5-12 on a �rst-come, �rst-served basis. Call for information or go to www.august-aballet.org.


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December 24. Christmas Candlelight Service. Ev-ans Towne Center Park. 706-650-5005.

SPECIAL EVENTS December 2, 9 & 16. Super Awesome Story Time. Music, stories, crafts and a snack provided by New Moon Café. Children ages 5 and up accompanied by an adult. Free. 10:30 a.m. at the The Book Tavern, 936 Broad St. www.booktabern.com. 706-826-1940 or [email protected].

December 3-5. 15th Annual Cares for Kids Radio-thon. During this live broadcast, the Cares for Kids Radiothon personalities from WBBQ 104.3, KISS 96.3 and the new country station G 105.7 FM will talk with patients and families of the Children's Hos-pital of Georgia about the specialized care they re-ceived at CHOG, a not-for-pro�t and the area’s only children’s hospital. Pledges can be made by calling 706-922-KIDS (5437) or toll-free at 1-866-412-KIDS (5437) or by going online at www.caresforkidsra-diothon.com. Children’s Hospital of Georgia lobby. 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 3-4, 7 a.m. to Noon Dec. 5. For more information, contact Catherine Stewart at [email protected] or 706-721-4004.

December 15. Third Tuesday Tales: Children’s Story Time. A special children’s story time with Kathy Crosson. 10 a.m. at Imagination Station Augusta Children’s Museum, 965 Hickman Rd.. Go to www.imagineaugusta.org for fee and more information.

January 8 & 9. Monster X. Racing, wheelie contests, freestyle action. Meet drivers, see trucks up close at pre-event. 7:30 p.m. at James Brown Arena, 601 7th St. www.augustaentertainmentcomplex.com.

THE ARTS, MUSIC AND MORE

December 1-31. International Doll Exhibit. Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History and the Augusta-Richmond County Public Library. 706-724-3576.

December 1. Aiken Concert Band. 7:30 p.m. USC-Aiken Etherredge Center. 803-641-3305.

December 3, 4 & 5. Greetings. The Fort Gordon Dinner Theatre presents this comedy by Tim Dudz-ick. 706-793-8552 for tickets. 7 p.m.

December 4. Dallas Brass. The group has es-tablished a unique blend of traditional brass in-struments with a full complement of drums and percussion, which creates a performing entity of

extraordinary range and musical challenges. Their repertoire includes classical masterpieces, Dixie-land, swing, Broadway, Hollywood and patriotic music. 7:30 p.m. USC-Aiken Etherredge Center. 803-641-3305.

December 4, 5, 11 & 12. Fruitcakes. Mix together a batch of fruitcakes, three dozen Christmas trees, a chicken pox epidemic, two Southern spinsters, a lost cat and a Christmas hog and you’ve got the rec-ipe for a fun-�lled and touching evening of holiday cheer. November 27-28, December 4-5 and 11-12, 7:30 p.m. November 29 and December 6, 3 p.m. Ai-ken Community Playhouse. 803-648-1438.

December 6. Tim Zimmerman and The King’s Brass. Playing a wide variety of music from Ga-brieli to hymn classics, from Handel to jazz spiritu-als, from Christmas carols to patriotic marches, the King’s Brass uses all corners of the concert hall to lift hearts and spirits in praise. 4 p.m. Jabez Per-forming Arts Center. 706-826-4705.

December 6. Jill Scott. Singer-songwriter, poet and actress. 7 p.m. at the Bell Auditorium, 712 Telfair St. www.augustaentertainmentcomplex.com.

December 7-January 2. Happy Birthday Aiken: Celebrating 180 Years. Featuring the work of local artists, including ceramicist Tom Supensky. Opening reception, December 10. 6-8 p.m. Aiken Center for the Arts. 803-641-9094

December 8-13. Jersey Boys. The 2006 Tony, Grammy and Olivier Award-winning Best Musical about Rock and Roll Hall of Famers, the Four Sea-sons: Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito and Nick Massi. This is the true story of how four blue-collar kids became one of the greatest successes in pop music history. They wrote their own songs, invented their own sounds and sold 175 million re-cords worldwide. Jersey Boys features hit songs “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Oh What a Night” and “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.” Dec. 8-10, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 11, 8 p.m. Dec. 12, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Dec. 13, 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Bell Auditorium. www.augus-taentertainmentcomplex.com.

December 18. Southern Soul & Song: Asleep at the Wheel. Texas swing group Asleep at the Wheel will perform holiday tunes during their “Merry Texas Christmas Y’all” show at the historic Imperial The-atre. 7:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the Im-perial Theatre box of�ce by calling 706-722-8341 or visiting www.imperialtheatre.com.

January 3. Fantasia With Lyfe Jennings, a New Year’s Celebration. Grammy award winner Fanta-

sia (winner of American Idol) with special guest Lyfe Jennings. 7:30 p.m. at the Bell Auditorium, 721 Tel-fair St. www.augustaentertainmentcomplex.com.

January 8. Live from Nashville. A lively production of songs and dance with country songs from hank, Patsy and the latest from Nashville. Stagecraft, country singers and dancers backed by a bona�de band of Nashville sidemen. 7:30 p.m. at the Jabez S. Hardin Performing Arts Center in the Evans Library. www.augustaamusements.com for tickets.

January 8, 9, 15, 16, 17, 22 & 23. Wait Until Dark. Susy Hendrix is a blind Greenwich Village housewife who becomes the target of three con-men searching for heroin hidden in a doll which her husband, Sam, innocently transported from Canada as a favor to a woman. All performances 7:30 p.m. except January 17, which will be shown at 3 p.m. 803-648-1438. Ai-ken Community Playhouse, 126 Newberry St., S.W., Aiken. Aikenplayhouse.us.

January 9. Rock and Roll Over Beethoven, Ed Turner and the Number 9 with Symphony Orches-tra Augusta. Classic rock and pop from the 60s and 70s including songs of Stevie Wonder, Chicago, The Beatles, Joe Cocker, Electric Light Orchestra and

TEDX Augusta

TEDX Augusta is back for its third year and organizers say this year’s program will be bigger and better than ever, offer-ing a more streamlined group of speak-ers and additional creative breaks. The independently organized TED event is designed to help communities, organi-zations and individuals spark conversa-tion and connection. New this year is a gallery show focused on TEDx Augusta 2016’s theme “Autonomy.” The art show will feature visual artists from across the U.S. The show opens on First Friday, De-cember 4, at the Clubhou.se, 540 Telfair St. The show runs through January.

TEDx Augusta 2016 is Friday, January 29, at the Imperial Theatre and will fea-ture a baker’s dozen of speakers. Speak-ers and topics will be announced at the end of 2015. Regular tickets will range from $75 to $85 with group discounts, VIP tickets and patron tickets also avail-able. To stay up to date on TEDx Augusta details, visit www.tedxaugusta.com.

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more. Bene�ts SOA’s education and community outreach. 7:30 p.m. at the Bell Auditorium. www.soaugusta.org.

January 15, 16, 18, 23 & 24 and February 20 & 21. Augusta Mini Theatre: The Me I Like. Salutes the work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 8 p.m. on Janu-ary 15, 3 and 8 p.m. on January 16 & 17, 3 p.m. January 18, 23 & 24 and Feb. 20 & 21. 8 p.m. at the Judy Simon Drama Studio, 2548 Deans Bridge Rd. 706-722-0598 or www.augustaminitheatre.com.

January 16. Symphony Orchestra Augusta: All Brahms. Performing Piano Concerto No. 2 and Symphony No. 2. 7:30 p.m. at First Bap-tist Church of Augusta, 3500 Walton Way. www.soaugusta.org.

January 16. Southern Soul & Song: Della Mae. The American group from Nashville bills itself as a “band of goddesses working for piece. Part of Morris Museum of Art’s Budweiser True Music Concert Series. 7:30 p.m. at the Imperial The-atre. 706-722-8341 or www.southernsouland-song.org.

January 22. The World Famous Glenn Miller Or-chestra. 7:30 p.m. at the Jabez Sanford Hardin Per-forming Arts Center inside the Evans Library. www.augustaamusements.com.

January 22. Harry Jacobs Chamber Music Society: Eden-Stell Guitar Duo. 7:30 p.m. at the Maxwell Theatre, 2500 Walton Way. 706-284-2976 or www.hjcms.org.

January 23. Symphony Orchestra Augusta: Turtle Island Quartet. Creating bold new trends in cham-

ber music for strings. 7:30 p.m. at the Jabez Sanford Hardin Performing Arts Center in the Evans Library. www.soaugusta.org.

January 26, 27, 28, 29 & 30. Storyland Theatre: The Nightengale. School shows Jan. 26-29 at 9:30 and 10:45 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. Reservation required. Family matinee on the 30th. Active duty military and their families free with ID for the family matinee. Be sure to meet the actors after the show. Maxwell The-atre, 2500 Walton Way. www.storylandtheatre.org or 706-736-3455.

January 28. Polish Baltic Philharmonic Orchestra. The largest musical institution in northern Poland. 7:30 p.m. at the Ehterredge Center, 471 University Parkway, Aiken. www.etherredge.usca.edu.

January 30. Augusta Ballet Presents Dance The-atre of Harlem. Conclusion of the New Traditions Dance Festival. Racially diverse artists performing a demanding repertory at the highest level of quality. 7:30 p.m. at the Bell Auditorium. www.augustaenter-tainmentcomplex.com.

Morris Museum of Art1 Tenth St. 706-724-7501 or www.themorris.org.

December 3. Mommy and Me: Wonderful Wreaths! View the exhibition Winter Dreams and create a wreath made with found objects. Registration re-quired. 10–11 a.m.

December 4. Art at Lunch: Dale Kennington. The artist discusses her exhibition Real Lives: Obser-vations and Reflections by Dale Kennington. After-wards, she will sign copies of the exhibition catalog in the museum store. Noon. Paid reservations due December 2.

December 6. Music at the Morris: Mike Frost Jazz. Enjoy funky jazz versions of holiday classics with Mike Frost Jazz, featuring Lauren Meccia. 2 p.m. Free.

December 6. Holiday Museum Open House. The Morris presents holiday crafts, stories, and tours in the galleries, a concert with Mike Frost Jazz at 2 p.m., and special store merchandise and discounts. 2–4 p.m. Free.

December 6. Currie Jewelry Trunk Show. Join us for a trunk show of gold-�lled, silver, and beaded earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and rings from the Currie Jewelry collection. Each piece is handmade by Currie Kilpatrick Boyd, an Augusta native who

Camp Twin LakesWalton Winter Weekend

www.waltonfoundation.net.Contact Haley Hamam at 706-826-2016.

Registration is open until January 1 for chil-dren ages 6 to 18 with physical disabilities and their families to enjoy a safe, medically supervised camp. Walton Foundtion for In-dependence's Winter Weekend Camp will be held February 5-7 at Camp Twin Lakes in Rutledge, Ga.

November 2015

SAY GOODBYE TO

PINTEREST PERFECTION

TODDLER-PROOFING YOUR

HOLIDAYS

30 GREAT GIFT IDEAS

Kristian, 3, and Khloe Clay, 5,

are the children of Dameon

and Leila Clay of Evans.


calendar

now resides in Charleston, South Carolina. Noon–4 p.m Free.

December 11. Films on Friday: A Christmas Carol (1951). Produced in England (where it was released as Scrooge) this �ne �lm adaptation of Charles Dickens’s oft-produced immortal Christmas story is thought by many the best version ever. After view-ing the �lm, museum director Kevin Grogan leads a discussion. Participants are invited to bring a lunch. Noon. Free.

December 13. Book Premiere and Artist Talk: Paint-ing with a Broad Brush: A Collection of Cartoons by Rick McKee. Rick McKee premieres his �rst book featuring editorial cartoons and behind-the-scenes information on how he develops his iconic work. McKee won the United Nations/Ranan Lurie International Political Cartoon Award in 2013 and his work is syndicated to more than 850 publications worldwide. 2 p.m.

January 7. Mommy and Me: Beautiful Baskets! View Jonathan Green’s artwork Daughters of the South and learn about basket weaving. After-wards, weave a colorful basket. 10–11 a.m. Reg-istration required.

January 8. Films on Friday: Great Expectations (1946). An early masterpiece by director David Lean, based on the novel by Charles Dickens, this �lm won two Academy Awards. After viewing the �lm, museum director Kevin Grogan leads a dis-cussion. Participants are invited to bring a lunch. Noon. Free.

January 10. Artrageous! Family Sunday: Folk Art Spectacular. Storyteller and artist Peter Loose-Schrantz spins tales and reads from his book Bongo Is a Happy Dog. Afterwards, create a me-nagerie of folk-art-inspired animals using found objects. 2 p.m. Free.

January 19. Trip to Savannah. Enjoy the Telfair Mu-seums during a trip to historic Savannah, Georgia. Tour the exhibition Monet and American Impres-sionism at the Jepson Center, explore an impres-sive collection of American and European art at the Telfair Academy, and learn about the history and decorative arts collection of the Owens-Thomas House. Cost includes museum admission, tours, and transportation. Register by January 12 by call-ing 706-828-3867.

January 21. Opening Reception: Scenic Impres-sions: Southern Interpretations from the Johnson Collection. Art historian and author Martha Seve-

rens discusses the exhibition. Reception and book signing follow. 6 p.m.

January 24. Film Screening: Motivated by Color: The Life & Art of Philip Morsberger. Enjoy an en-core screening of the documentary in the museum’s auditorium. Noon Free.

January 24. Music at the Morris: Stephanie Santa-na. Singer and songwriter Stephanie Santana plays original compositions of contemporary folk songs. 2 p.m. Free.

January 28. Film Screening: Motivated by Color: The Life & Art of Philip Morsberger. Enjoy an en-core screening of the documentary in Washington Hall, Towers Room, on the Augusta University cam-pus. 4:30 p.m. Free.

January 29. Art at Lunch: Beth Bolgla. Artist Beth Bolgla discusses her artwork. Bolgla, an Augusta native who now lives and works in New York, is known for her ceramic pieces and paintings, in-cluding a large-scale canvas entitled Heartland X,

Angel and Cow, acquired by the Morris in 2013. Ca-tered lunch included. Paid reservations due Janu-ary 27. Noon.

SPORTS & RECREATION

December 5. Jingle Jam. 10k run/walk at Evans Towne Center Park. 706- 650-5005.

Champions Made From AdversityP.O. Box 980, Evans, Ga.706-364-2422.www.cmfa.us.This nonpro�t organization strives to advance the lives of people with physical disabilities and their families through sport and leisure opportunities.

Current weekly schedule:Monday—Adapted �tness at the Kroc Center, 2-4 p.m. and wheelchair basketball at Garrett Elemen-tary School, 6:30-8 p.m.Tuesday—Swimming at Fort Gordon, 9-11 a.m., and quad rugby at the Kroc Center, 6-8 p.m.Wednesday—Wheelchair basketball, 6:30-8 p.m.

Brass Is KingTim Zimmerman and the King’s Brass provide innovative worship through the best in sacred

brass music. For more than 20 years, The King’s Brass has performed more than 100 concerts each season with three trumpets, three trombones, a tuba, keyboards and percussion. Playing a

wide variety of music from Gabrieli to hymn classics, from Handel to jazz spirituals, from Christmas carols to patriotic marches, the King’s Brass uses all corners of the concert hall to lift hearts and

spirits in praise. Part of the Symphony Orchestra Augusta Columbia County Music Series.

Thursday—Swimming at Fort Gordon, 9-11 a.m., and Adapted Fitness at the Kroc Center, 3-5 p.m.Friday—Adapted cycling at the uptown VA, 1:30-2:30 p.m.

Columbia County Parks & Recreation De-partment5445 Columbia Road Grovetown.706-863-7523.

January 4-15. Spring Soccer Registration.

CSRA Defensive Arts803-221-0330 or csraDefensiveArts.com.Martial Arts Classes. Ages 8-adult. Goshinjitsu, Kin-dai Karate and Kobojutsu. Call for information.

FAMILY ACTIVITIES

Aiken Home SchoolTimes Playgroup803-648-7042 [email protected]. This playgroup is open to all home schoolers. Meets at the O’Dell Weeks playground for unstructured play for the children and time with other home school parents for the adults. Noon.

Augusta Jewish Community Center898 Weinberger Way.706-228-3636 or log on at augustajcc.org.

Ongoing. The Mothers Circle. Free course, re-sources, education and events for women of other backgrounds raising Jewish children. Call for details.

Sign Up for Class! The AJCC offers a wide variety of classes for children of all ages and adults, including athletics, the arts, cooking, language and more. Log on to download a complete listing.

Classical Conversationswww.classicalconversations.com.noelelang@hotmail.com.Classical Conversations is a community of home educators following a Christian, classical model of education. Five locations currently serve families in the CSRA —Augusta, Evans/Grovetown, Grovetown/Martinez, North Augusta and Aiken.

Monkey Joe’s368 Furys Ferry Rd.706-922-JUMP (5867).monkeyjoes.com.First Sunday of Each Month. Special Needs Night at Monkey Joe’s. This event is held the �rst Sun-day of each month after general store hours to

ensure a calm environment for special needs chil-dren and their parents. 6-7 p.m.

North AugustaHomeschool PlaygroupMeets Thursdays at various North Augusta parks for play. Field trips will also be scheduled. All home-schoolers are welcome. Call 803-613-0484 or e-mail [email protected].

HOSPITAL PROGRAMS

Georgia Regents Health SystemRegister online at gru.edu.

Ongoing. Support Group for Families Who Have Lost a Baby During Pregnancy, Childbirth or Early Infancy. Call 706-721-8299 or visit their website.

First Tuesday of Each Month. Autism Spectrum Disorder Support and Resource Group (The “A-Team”). Education and support for families, care-givers and friends of children with autism spec-trum disorders including autism, Asperger’s and PDD NOS. 6-7 p.m. Children’s Hospital of Geor-gia, First Floor, Family Resource Library, Room 1801. Call Family Services Development at 706-721-5160 for more information.

First Thursday and Third Wednesday of Each Month. Cribs for Kids. Co-bunking and inappropri-ate infant furniture are putting area babies at risk. Safe Kids Greater Augusta, led by Children's Hospi-tal of Georgia, will teach caregivers how to provide a safe sleep environment by showing what dangers to watch out for. Families who can demonstrate a �nancial need (Medicare, Peachcare or WICC) will receive a portable crib, �tted sheet, sleep sac and paci�er for a small fee. Call Rene Hopkins at 706-721-7606 to register. 5:45-8 p.m. on the �rst Thursday of the month, 9:45 a.m.-noon on the third Wednesday of each month. Safe Kids Of�ce, Build-ing 1010C,1225 Walton Way.

First Friday and Second Wednesday of Each Month. Child Safety Seat Inspections. Four out of �ve car seats are used incorrectly. Schedule an ap-pointment to make sure yours is installed properly. First Friday of the month in Building 1010C, 1225 Walton Way. Call Rene Hopkins, RN, at 706-721-7606 to schedule an appointment at the downtown location. The second Wednesday each month at Columbia County Sheriff’s Of�ce Substation, 650 Ronald Reagan Dr. Call 706-541-3870 to make an appointment at the Columbia County location.

Second Thursday and Fourth Wednesday of

Phinizy Swamp Nature Park1858 Lock and Dam Rd.www.phinizycenter.com.

706-828-2109.

December 1 and January 1. Children’s Hike With Story Time. Nature hike for children with a story before exploring and experiencing nature �rsthand. Lim-ited space and registration required. 9:30 a.m.

December 5 & January 2. Swamp Saturday Guided Hike. Liesurely hike through approximately 2.5 miles of park trails, departing from Swamp Shop & Visitor’s Center. See a variety of wildlife, learn about the diverse plant life and the importance of urban wetland ecology. Wear comfortable closed-toe shoes, bring water to drink. Strollers welcome. No dogs. 9:30 a.m.

December 8 & January 12. Puddle Ducks. For children up to age 5. Sto-ries, crafts and hands-on fun in nature. Limited space, registration required. Call 706-396-1424 or email [email protected] for reservations and fee information.

December 19 & January 16. Swamp Saturday Guided Bike Ride. Gentle bike ride through approximately seven miles of wetland trails. Meet in front of the Swamp Shop and then enjoy a view of a variety of wildlife, learn about the diverse plant life at Phinizy Swamp Na-ture Park as well as the importance of urban wetland ecology. Bring your bike, wear closed-toed comfortable shoes, bring drinking water and helmets (re-quired). Registration required. 9:30 a.m.

January 23. Stream Explorers. Become an aquatic ecologist for a day. Join sci-entists in the creek (waders provided) and the laboratory to learn methods to determine the condition of lakes and streams. Wear long socks, bring water to drink. Ages 8 and up. Strollers al-lowed, no dogs. 706-396-1426.



calendar

Holiday Fun!

Each Month. Car Seat Class. Safe Kids Greater Augusta offers car seat safety, education and training. Financial assistance is available to Med-icaid and Peach Care eligible families. Safe Kids Of� ce, Building 1010C, 1225 Walton Way. Call 706-721-7606 to register. 5:45-8 p.m.

Second Thursday of Each Month. NICU Parent Support Group. Noon-1 p.m. in the Neonatal In-tensive Care Unit, 5th Floor, Children’s Hospital of Georgia; For more information, call Sylvia McCoy at 706-721-2286.

Third Tuesday of Each Month. Breastfeeding Class.A free class led by an International Board Certi� ed Lactation Consultant. Helps expectant parents gain knowledge and support to ensure successful breast-feeding. 7-9 p.m., Georgia Regents Medical Center, 7th Floor South, Room 7524.

University Health Care SystemCall 706-774-2825 or logon at www.universityhealth.org/calendar for information. Registration is required for most programs.

December 1-22 (Tuesdays). Prenatal Educa-tion. This multi-week series of childbirth prepara-tion classes is designed to inform and prepare all expectant parents regardless of birth plans. Class topics include various stages of labor, breathing and relaxation and how to care for yourself and your new baby. 7-9 p.m. in the Women’s Center Third Floor Classroom. Registration required.

December 4 & 5 or 18 & 19. Childbirth Preparation Weekend Class. A complete childbirth preparation class designed for those with time constraints or � uctuating schedules. Class meets from 6:30-9:30 p.m. on Friday and from 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. on Satur-day. Also included is a follow-up evening at the W.G. Watson, M.D., Women’s Center for a tour, question-and-answer session and review.

December 17. Introduction to Infant CPR. Do you worry about knowing how to revive your baby should the need arise? This class provides an opportunity to learn and practice infant CPR on mannequins and learn other aspects of infant safety. Space is limited, so early registration is suggested. 7-8:30 p.m. v

Barnes & Noble Story TimesAugusta Mall. 3450 Wrightsboro Rd.

www.bn.com.

December 2, 9, 16. 22 & 30 and January 6, 13, 20 & 27. Wacky Wednesday Story Time. For kids of all ages—the newest and coolest titles in kids books. 10 a.m.

December 4. Polar Express Story Time.Pajama party in celebration of the 30th an-niversary of The Polar Express. 7 p.m.

December 5. How the Grinch Stole Christ-mas Story Time. A special story time fea-turing this holiday classic. 11 a.m.

December 12. Waiting Is Not Easy! Story Time. Story time and activities. 11 a.m.

December 19. How To Catch Santa Story Time. Activities and story. 11 a.m.


calendar

Holiday Fun!

Each Month. Car Seat Class. Safe Kids Greater Augusta offers car seat safety, education and training. Financial assistance is available to Med-icaid and Peach Care eligible families. Safe Kids Of� ce, Building 1010C, 1225 Walton Way. Call 706-721-7606 to register. 5:45-8 p.m.

Second Thursday of Each Month. NICU Parent Support Group. Noon-1 p.m. in the Neonatal In-tensive Care Unit, 5th Floor, Children’s Hospital of Georgia; For more information, call Sylvia McCoy at 706-721-2286.

Third Tuesday of Each Month. Breastfeeding Class.A free class led by an International Board Certi� ed Lactation Consultant. Helps expectant parents gain knowledge and support to ensure successful breast-feeding. 7-9 p.m., Georgia Regents Medical Center, 7th Floor South, Room 7524.

University Health Care SystemCall 706-774-2825 or logon at www.universityhealth.org/calendar for information. Registration is required for most programs.

December 1-22 (Tuesdays). Prenatal Educa-tion. This multi-week series of childbirth prepara-tion classes is designed to inform and prepare all expectant parents regardless of birth plans. Class topics include various stages of labor, breathing and relaxation and how to care for yourself and your new baby. 7-9 p.m. in the Women’s Center Third Floor Classroom. Registration required.

December 4 & 5 or 18 & 19. Childbirth Preparation Weekend Class. A complete childbirth preparation class designed for those with time constraints or � uctuating schedules. Class meets from 6:30-9:30 p.m. on Friday and from 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. on Satur-day. Also included is a follow-up evening at the W.G. Watson, M.D., Women’s Center for a tour, question-and-answer session and review.

December 17. Introduction to Infant CPR. Do you worry about knowing how to revive your baby should the need arise? This class provides an opportunity to learn and practice infant CPR on mannequins and learn other aspects of infant safety. Space is limited, so early registration is suggested. 7-8:30 p.m. v

Barnes & Noble Story TimesAugusta Mall. 3450 Wrightsboro Rd.

www.bn.com.

December 2, 9, 16. 22 & 30 and January 6, 13, 20 & 27. Wacky Wednesday Story Time. For kids of all ages—the newest and coolest titles in kids books. 10 a.m.

December 4. Polar Express Story Time.Pajama party in celebration of the 30th an-niversary of The Polar Express. 7 p.m.

December 5. How the Grinch Stole Christ-mas Story Time. A special story time fea-turing this holiday classic. 11 a.m.

December 12. Waiting Is Not Easy! Story Time. Story time and activities. 11 a.m.

December 19. How To Catch Santa Story Time. Activities and story. 11 a.m.


Dream job: Broadway star. First job: Company member with the Augusta Ballet. Quality she admires the most: Kindness. Favorite food: Any

hot meal prepared by someone else that I didn’t have to cook! Dream vacation: African safari. Favorite place to take the kids: Pendleton King

Park. Super power she’d like to have: I’d like to be Elastigirl! Life lesson: Lately I keep hearing my mom’s words—If it’s worth doing, it’s worth

doing well. Might surprise you about Katie: I’m so unorganized. Best thing about being a mom: Watching my children’s personalities develop

independent of any ways I’ve tried to shape them. I love watching them become their own persons. Hardest part of being a mom: Getting ev-

eryone dressed and out the door. Favorite indulgence: Binge reading a good book.

GirlGO

Katie Wynn | Team Builder

Katie Wynn, 33, of Augusta, is an organizational effectiveness consultant who works with individuals and teams within organiza-tions to help team members better understand themselves, each other and then determine ways to work together more effec-tively. “I love what I do,” she says. She and her husband, Rob, CFA, president of Wynn Capital, have three children ages 4, 3 and 9 months. She is a member of the Forest Hills Garden Club and Forest Hills Safe Kids Initiative, teaches Sunday School at Church of the Good Shepherd, is head coach for Girls on the Run and serves on the board of Dance Augusta.

by Karin Calloway

Documents

Augusta Family Magazine Dec. 2014 - Jan. 2016