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Holiday Shopping Tips
Checking newspapers, flyers and emails for holiday savings can turn into a chore. When shopping this holiday season, don’t let the deals and steals overwhelm you. Use these tips to save while keeping a level head: Get a head start on planning. Websites such as BFads.net post-Black Friday flyers way before Thanksgiving. They also offer databases to search for the best deals. Have a plan to save time, headaches and money. Check sale dates. Some sales are only early bird specials & others last all weekend. Know where you need to be on Friday and what can wait until the weekend. Stick to your budget. Bringing cash instead of cards can help prevent overspending. We all want to enjoy the season of giving, but don’t give yourself financial stress for months after. Know your prices. Is a deal REALLY a deal? Retailers are known for marking up prices to mimic a sale. Know your prices before cashing out. Buy discounted gift cards. If you plan to do a lot of your shopping at a specific store, purchase gift cards in advance on resale sites such as GiftCardGranny.com. Some gift cards are offered at a 50% savings! Pace Yourself. Tis’ the […]
1. Nov 2018
Ham & Cheese Cracker Dip
Ingredients 1 shallot, finely chopped 2 (8-oz) packages cream cheese 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese 1 cup shredded Swiss cheese 8 oz diced precooked ham 3 tablespoons whole grain mustard 1/2 cup water DIRECTIONS Chop shallot (2 tablespoons). Place all ingredients in slow cooker; cover and cook on HIGH for 50–60 minutes, stirring occasionally, until cheeses are melted and mixture is smooth. Place slow cooker on warm. Serve dip hot with crackers.
1. Nov 2018
Volunteering in the Chattahoochee Valley
Volunteering is an excellent way to teach your kids important life skills. In addition, volunteering during the holidays helps promote an ‘attitude of gratitude’ in your household and takes your child’s mind off their holiday wish list. Volunteering Is For the Whole Family It is not only those who you help that benefit when you and your family volunteer. When kids volunteer, they learn important skills, like following directions and collaborating with others. Your child will also learn more about her abilities and talents when she volunteers, including leadership skills. Older kids may discover they enjoy helping to organize the volunteer activities and overseeing younger volunteers. This self-discovery is especially valuable to teens deciding which career path to select in high school. Volunteering Builds Character by Teaching Empathy and Compassion The real world is a harsh place and it can be tempting to shelter kids from the hard, cold realities of natural disasters, poverty and illness. However, by allowing kids to see that others in the community need help, many times due to circumstances beyond their control, you allow them to see that their unique set of skills and talents are needed by others in their community. This sense of […]
1. Nov 2018
Do I want an Elf in My House?
Elves are appearing in homes all over America. Your child wakes up, rubs their tired eyes and is greeted by a mischievous elf who toilet papered their bedroom! Hilarious, right? Last holiday season I toiled with the idea of Scout the Elf for my then 2-year-old, but decided he wasn’t old enough. This year, he’s all about Santa, more affectionately known as Mr. Ho, Ho, Ho! My kiddo has become quite the prankster himself, and I know Scout will bring holiday cheer to my child. Heck, it may even bring some cheer to his Scrooge of a father. But, don’t we have enough fa-la-la? I’m already packing the advent calendar, wrapping 25 Christmas themed books for holiday bedtime stories, planning a Gingerbread House party, and buying tickets to Fantasy in Lights. This is on top of decorating the inside and outside of my house plus all the other holiday cheer responsibilities. But have you seen the cute rain jackets for Elf? I mean, I’ve already decided to name him Tinsel. So let me break it down for you: Pros: This little doll is the ultimate tattle-tale, watching your child’s every move and reporting back to the man in red. It does […]
1. Nov 2018
Keepsake Handprint Hand Towel
Supplies Two white or cream tea towels Red, yellow, orange and dark brown fabric paint Paper plate Foam paintbrush Thin tip paint brush Directions Pour a quart size blob of each paint onto your paper plate. With your foam brush, paint your child’s hand with red, yellow or orange paint. Press their hand onto the towel. Choose different colors to paint their hand and press it into the towel at different angles. Repeat this until both towels are covered in hand prints. Take the thin paintbrush and outline all the handprints with the brown paint. To make the leaves veins you will paint a thin line down the palm of the handprint. Off of that line, you will need to make smaller lines going off the side on an angle. Allow the paint to completely dry before use. Follow the directions on your fabric paint when washing your towels. Courtesy of midgetmomma.com Summary Published On 2018-11-01
1. Nov 2018
Do I want a real Christmas tree?
It’s that time of the year again! Christmas tree extravaganza! What kind of tree will you choose this year? Real or artificial? Real trees come with upkeep but have a certain nostalgia to them. Will it be a Blue Spruce or Fir this Christmas? Artificial trees have no maintenance and can be set up within minutes. Artistry can be somewhat painted over the branches. So, here are some pros and cons to both sides of the needles. Real Trees Pros Joy associated with picking out a tree on the lot Evergreen aroma that permeates Baby boomers are taken back to warming childhoods The essence of “real” Cons Dries out easily High flammability Consistent watering of the tree Falling needles Artificial Trees Pros Setup within minutes Some come pre-lit (no hassle and tangles) Creativity of bending and mending branches Project for the whole family to enjoy No mess and cleanup Cons Artificial comes with artificial features Storing hassles No sense of “realness” No aromatic value Real trees do come with maintenance, but here are some tips to help. http://www.realchristmastrees.org/dnn/All-About-Trees/Care-Tips Whatever type of tree you choose this year, I’m sure it will be the perfect fit for your family. Don’t forget to make it unforgettable! Make it an all-day event. Pick out a tree, Christmas […]
30. Oct 2018
‘I have a confession. I have a crippling fear my child will get taken.’
“I have a confession. I have a crippling fear my child will get taken. A close friend told me once, ‘Anxiety holds hands with fear.’ And the fear of losing one of my children at a park, or the zoo, or even the grocery store, has paralyzed me at times. I feel like I have held my kids back from incredible adventures. It’s like I’m keeping them from experiencing things I know they would love because the fear of someone taking one of them is so overwhelming that it is often easier and safer to just stay at home. Even as infants I was terrified to simply take the triplets in a walk down the block and back. I was consumed with worry and fear. However, in the last year or so I have taken steps to help me with my anxiety struggles. I am a part of an amazing moms group called MOPS. This was essential in helping me make friends in my area and walk through some of my daily challenges with moms who offer no judgement or criticism, just love. Last spring, our MOPS group held an Easter Egg Hunt at a large park in our city. […]
19. Oct 2018
No Bake Thanksgiving Desserts
Banana Cream Pie with Vanilla Wafer Ingredients: 1 1/2 Cups Nilla Wafer Crumbs (grind the cookies in a blender) 1/3 Cup Sugar 4 Tablespoons of Butter, melted 1 3.4 ounce of Banana Cream Instant Pudding 1 Cup of Milk 4 ounces Cream Cheese, softened 1/2 Cup Sweetened Condensed Milk 1 1/2 Cups Fresh Whipped Cream* see note 2 Large Bananas, slices Directions: Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Stir together the wafer crumbs, sugar and butter and press into a pie plate. Bake for 8 minutes and remove to cool. In a bowl, whisk together the milk and pudding. In another bowl, using a handheld mixer, beat the softened cream cheese until smooth, add the condensed milk and beat again. Stir in the pudding then fold in the whipped cream. Place the bananas in a single layer on the cooled pie crust. Top with the pudding mixture and refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours or overnight if needed. Serve with fresh whipped cream. To make fresh whipped cream simply beat 3/4 cup heavy cream until soft peaks begin to form. Add in 1/4 Cup powdered sugar or to taste and beat until stiff peaks form. Courtesy of Oh, Sweet Basil. […]
16. Oct 2018
Apps to Love
LetGo Apple | Android Letgo is the biggest and fastest growing app to buy and sell locally. Over 75 million downloads and 200 million listings! Find great local deals, from secondhand phones, toys, fashion, sneakers and games to furniture, cars and real estate. Chick-Fil-A App Apple | Android Earn points, redeem available rewards with snacks of your choice and reach new tiers with increasing benefits. Plus, mobile ordering, restaurant locations, a full menu and “just because” free meal offers! Glow Apple | Android A menstrual and ovulation calculator, whether avoiding or attempting pregnancy. It’s also a period tracker that records your mood, symptoms, sex and meds; it predicts your fertility and assists those in fertility treatment. Skyview Apple | Android SkyView® brings stargazing to everyone. Simply point your iPhone, iPad, or iPod at the sky to identify stars, constellations, planets, satellites, and more! Winner of best educational app in 2011! Target App Apple | Android Plan your next Target Run by checking out the Weekly Ad, Cartwheel offers and item availability. Then streamline your run with store maps and aisle locations, and scan item barcodes for prices, reviews and available deals. Plus! Place orders for carside pick up at our […]
1. Oct 2018
Vita-Fuse Comes to Columbus, GA
Albany doctor, Alan Medley is bringing a boost to the Columbus, GA area, a VitaBoost. Vita-Fuse, an at-home IV hydration service, provides the same vitamins and nutrients you can pick up at the store but is faster and more effective. The science is simple. When you take medication or a vitamin orally, you’re said to only receive 20% absorption, even less for chronically ill patients. When you receive an IV infusion, you’re able to get nearly 100% of the same nutrients delivered to your cells for uptake. “We don’t eat the way our ancestors ate.” Dr. Medley admits, “All our foods are processed and most of our nutrients are cooked out. I wish I could say we have a chance to eat a nice, healthy home-cooked meal every day but we don’t.” Dr. Medley and his wife use VitaBoost on a regular basis. It’s infused with B1, B2, B3, B5, B12, vitamin C, glutathione, calcium and magnesium. These treatments are administered by board-certified, registered nurses, most with an emergent care background, in your own home under the guidance of Dr. Medley and his colleague, Dr. Azer. The nurses bring everything needed and most treatments take less than an hour. Vita-Fuse […]
27. Sep 2018
Acorn Marble Necklace
Supplies Acorn Caps Marbles Hemp Cord Drill Glue gun with glue sticks or E6000 Craft Adhesive Directions Play with your marbles and acorn caps to see which acorn caps will fit a marble. Not all acorn caps will work. Cut as many 26″ to 32″ sections of hemp cord as you need for the number of acorn caps and marbles that you have paired together. Drill two holes into the acorn cap on either side of the stem, or where the stem was. Thread hemp cord through holes in the acorn cap and tie together. Use a glue gun to place a dollop of glue inside the acorn cap and quickly place a marble into it before the glue dries. Courtesy of rhythmsofplay.com
31. Aug 2018
Inside look at Columbus Figure Skating Coach: Robbie Przepioski
It’s uncommon to have an ice rink in the south, but Columbus has one. It’s even more uncommon to have a nationally ranked skater in the south, but Columbus has one of those too! His name is Robbie Przepioski and he is the director of the Columbus Figure Skating Academy. He began a little over a year ago, and in that time, the program’s enrollment has grown from 75 members to 195! And it’s no surprise, considering Robbie’s accomplishments. Robbie, who is originally from California, didn’t begin skating until 14, which is considered a late start in the sport. By age 23 he was competing at the Olympic trials, an accomplishment many called impossible. Some national qualifiers start skating at the age of four! He came close to qualifying for the Olympics; however, he realized quad jumps were taking a toll on him physically. He made the decision to pursue a coaching career instead, but not until he completed a couple more goals: winning a pairs national skating medal and completing a back-flip on the ice. He accomplished both. “I did things I couldn’t imagine I’d ever be able to do,” Robbie admits, “It’s like winning the lottery…even though you […]
31. Jul 2018
New Book Written By Columbus, GA Psychotherapist, Dr. Ambroes Pass-Turner
Local psychotherapist, Dr. Ambroes Pass-Turner invites families to the Columbus Public Library on June 23rd from 2:30 PM – 5:30 PM for a launch party, book reading and signing of her latest book “Rex’s Journey”. Rex’s Journey is about a child who’s been struggling with understanding why and how he feels. From angry one minute to sad the next, he just wants to be a kid. What’s so hard about that? But, we can’t always control how we feel. Especially not as kids. Follow along with Rex’s journey as he learns to cope with his emotions in a safe and healthy way, something we all can learn from. Food will be served and children will be taught some fun, healthy coping skills. Dr. Ambroes Pass-Turner is a Doctor of Counseling Psychology and founder of APT counseling Services, LLC. She is a professor and author. Dr. Pass-Turner is an expert in working with behavioral and emotionally disturbed children, adults, families, and offenders within the criminal justice system. Rex’s Journey can be purchased from Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble and Books A Million.
12. Jun 2018
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Welcome to Family and Kids Magazine‘s online parenting resource, serving families of Columbus, Fort Benning, Phenix City and the rest of the Chattahoochee Valley. We strive to be your #1 local magazine for family news, parenting tips, local events and business referrals. Check out our online localized directory for things to do, places to eat, where to shop and almost every other resource a growing family in the Chattahoochee Valley could need. While you’re here, enter our monthly giveaway or submit your child’s photo to be featured in our Hoo’s Cute section of our magazine. We welcome all families coming into our area, whether for a temporary stay or a new place to call home, and hope our magazine guides you through our large community. Pick up a copy of our Family and Kids magazine at our many distribution locations, including all local Chick-fil-as or read the latest issue here.
