a FREE local publication
december 2012
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montana parent from birth to college
ine
growing up under the big sky
az mag
handmade holiday
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local gift guide what’s up in bozeman, helena, townsend livingston, west and moonlight :: DECEMBER ACTIVITY CALENDARS + BLOGyellowstone + MORE @ MTPARENT.COM :: DECEMBER 2012 | mtparent.com
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It ’s t ime to start living. AND LIVE WELL NOW
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bozemandeaconess.org/livenow 406 522-4600
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Like us on Facebook for access to exclusive deals & offers!
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DECEMBER 2012 |
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Contact Big Sky Cosmetic Surgery + Aesthetics today for a free consultation. You’re going to love what you see.
bigskycosmeticsurgery.com t 406-522-3770
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A Dealer for the People
A sales and service team with a high level of integrity and family values
montana parent e
in m ag a z
Need more information,resources or fun things to do with your kids this winter? visit
Our job starts when you buy from us. You get great service for life and the car comes with it. We treat everybody with respect, and pride ourselves on giving everybody a great deal.
s
The entire buying experience is straight forward, fair, honest and hassle-free. Visit us today -- we are excited to show you how we are different.
photo E. kelley Photography
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for comprehensive daily event calendars and our blog, “Gum in Your Hair,” featuring giveaways, crafts, recipes and more. Bozeman & Helena
Publisher Media Mavens LLC
Advertising Sales Regional:
Operations Manager
Liz sullivan 406.570.6196
[email protected]
Stephanie Johnson 406.223.6166 •
[email protected]
Cora Larson 406.579.0746
[email protected]
Editor/accounting Leigh Ripley
[email protected]
Helena: Alycia Holston 406.422.2898
[email protected]
Business Manager/sales Cora Larson
Demaris Bruce 406.465.9992
[email protected]
406.579.0746 •
[email protected]
Creative Director/layout Shaunescy Willard •
[email protected]
Ad Design Jennieven Cole
Livingston/park county: Amanda Harms 406.223.8433
[email protected]
online CALENDARs LiZ Sullivan
[email protected]
Cover Photo Amelia Anne photography copy editor eleonore snow Blog Katie Walters, bunny FuFu, Bozemama, Adrienne Schroeder
Social Media Assistant Gloria Ravi
Inder Overcash
Information system management Kristin Laird
Contributing Writers:
222-8600
Yellowstonecountrymotors.com
1415 West Park St.
Livingston, Montana
Leigh Ripley Eleonore Snow Sara Groves Alycia Holston Lane O’Donnell Shaunescy Willard Melissa Bring Caleigh Searle Anna Hernandez Kristen O’Brien Jennifer Gossett Flora McCormick, LCPC Ann Swann Colleen E. Crane, MSW, LCSW Marie Mitchell, PNP, FNP Kaylan Clevenger Country Bookshelf Sam Farmer Myriah Marsh
Shane Borrowman Melynda Harrison Amy L Stoddart Holly Alastra Shel Sebren Katey T. Franklin, M.ED Rebecca Koltz Paula K. Beswick Annie Beaver Rachel Waterman Stacey Tompkins, MA Nora Daniels Carly Seifert Elsie Johnson Maranda Lee
Contributing Photographers: Amelia Anne Photography simple reflections LUCAPHOTOGRAPHY Chieko horn photography zo-mak photography Kacie Q Photography Melissa Bring Bon TOn Photo Co. Adrienne Schroeder amy shertzer photography Diana Proemm photography kristen Obrien S. willard Leigh ripley Anna Hernandez
© Copyright 2012 by Media Mavens LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without permission prohibited. This magazine is printed on FSC Certified paper that is 100% a product of USA.
Please recycle this magazine!
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Bozeman’s Finest Four-Season Community
Black Bull is defined by the things that make Bozeman special—community events and giving back, locally-sourced foods and services, a historic location, dynamic friends and neighbors who love getting outdoors—with the amenities and added convenience of a full-service club. You and your family can enjoy the Pool & Fitness Center, the Corral Clubhouse, and Tom Weiskopf-designed championship golf course— with numerous custom and dev eloper- built r eal est at e options—in one private ‘got-it-all’ community. :: DECEMBER ACTIVITY CALENDARS + BLOG + MORE @ MTPARENT.COM ::
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b la c k b u llb o zem a n .co m /mTParenT | 406. 556. 5011 | Tours available daily
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december 2012 comprehensive
EYE CARE for the
ENTIRE FAMILY
What’s Up? Bozeman
9
Local Business Feature: How Sweet It Is. Good Karmal
10
What’s Up? Helena
19
Local Business Feature: The Memory Trail
22
What’s Up? Townsend
28
What’s Up? Livingston
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Local Business Feature: The Wheatgrass Saloon
32
What’s Up? West Yellowstone
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What’s Up? Moonlight
35
Handmade Holiday
37
The Christmas Card
38
Hawk Tawk: A Stocking for Charity
39
OFFERING NO-FEE INFANTSEE ASSESSMENTS
LARGEST SELECTION OF FRAMES IN MONTANA GUARANTEED CONTACT LENS PROGRAMS OFFERING CARE CREDIT PAYMENT OPTIONS VSP, EYEMED, BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD, MEDICARE, MEDICAID, HEALTHY MONTANA KIDS, NEWWEST AND OTHERS TREATMENT OF EYE INFECTIONS, EYE INJURIES AND GLAUCOMA
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Super Natural: Bath Salts and Sugar Scrubs
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Functional Art: Book Page Garland
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Jambi’s Cranberry Tea
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Little Hands in the Batter: Grinch Crinkles
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A Version of Normal: Holiday Crafting with Your Special Needs Child
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Sustainable Parenting: Downsize, Donate and Discuss
50
The Gift of You
52
Counselor's Corner: Thoughts on Gratitude
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Corner on Health: In the Spirit of Giving
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A College Student’s Perspective: Experience Gifts
55
lenses are covered by your
The 2012 Best Toys for Kids
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FLEX DOLLARS
The Season’s Best Book Buys
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Unbored: Montana Parent’s Book Pick
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Eye exams, glasses and contact
Doug Kimball, O.D. | Kyle McMurray, O.D.
Becoming "That Dad"
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Are We There, Yet? Ice Skating
71
No Gym Necessary: Resistance Training
72
‘Tis the Season for Temptation
74
Eating Clean on a Budget
75
Goals of Behavior: Part 2: Redirect Your Kids During the Holidays
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Performance Panic
79
The Teenager: Decisions, Decisions
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(406) 587-0668
mtparent.com
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4265 Fallon St. Suite #1 Bozeman, MT
DECEMBER 2012 |
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Sugar
Ask Annie: Compound Interest
Jennipher Harper O.D.
advancedeyecare.info
Holiday Gift Guide
Adventures of An Empty Nester: Keeping the Grandparents Connected
Cynthia Johnson, O.D. | Jody Fink, O.D.
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Recycle Holiday Cards to Create Mobiles and Garland
photos: Amelia Anne photography
Parenting Single: A Little Help From My Friends
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Africa to America: Supporting a Friend Through the Adoption Process
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Elsie’s Tips: Thinking About Thinking
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Mama’s Got a New Bag Contest
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Leftover Chef: From Cheesy Apps to Mac-and-Cheese
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moonlightbasin.com · @moonlightbasin · #moonlightbasin :: DECEMBER ACTIVITY CALENDARS + BLOG + MORE @ MTPARENT.COM ::
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You Can Talk to Us About Incontinence
Incontinence is a common problem, affecting more than 30% of all women. Pelvic floor dysfunction may cause incontinence, as well as prolapse, vaginal pain/discomfort and abdominal discomfort. These conditions may be caused by normal changes from childbirth and aging, or may be a result of a medical condition. We can diagnose the cause of the problem and offer you treatment options to improve the quality of your life.
The following physicians at Bozeman OB/GYN have a special interest in the care of urologic-gynecologic issues for women: • Tyler Bradford, MD • Shelby Haugan, MD • Amy Korten, MD • Samuel Sillitti, MD We also offer general gynecologic care with Fanee Freeman, MD, Lori Newman, CMN, FNP, and Christene McDonnell, PA.
For an appointment with any of our ob/gyn providers, please call us at (406) 587-9202 or (866) 587-9202.
925 Highland Blvd., Suite 1210/1220 Bozeman, MT (Located on the Bozeman Deaconess Hospital campus)
www.bozemanobgyn.com
Happy Holidays and thank you Gallatin Valley for your continued support!
lll0 Toddlers - Preschool/Kindergarten - Elementary Grades 1-6
1572 Cobb Hill Road • Bozeman, MT 59718 www.middlecreekmontessori.org • 406-587-3817 8
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What’s Up?
Bozeman
ie d o o g & s tion a r b e l e C ay d i l o h l a c
s
photo amelia anne photography
Lo
rs A very e d a e r r u fo wish all o 2013 with You! o t e ik l d l g oyin e wou t Magazin ok forward to enj n e r a P a n o Monta iday! We l Happy Hol
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How Sweet it is written By Eleonore Snow
Holiday stresses be gone my dear; Montana Gift Corral is the place for holiday cheer; Hundreds of gifts for the ones you adore; Wrapping, packing and shipping no longer a chore.
S Western and Montana Made Gifts for any Budget.
237 East Main • Bozeman, MT
406-585-8625 10
DECEMBER 2012 |
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Although her yummy caramels are lovingly enveloped in an image of a contented Buddha, Good Karmal owner Patty West doesn’t consider herself a Buddhist. “I’m a Kind-ist,” she jokes, “I believe in kindness and in karma.” Yes, there is a Buddha statue on the bookshelf of her sunny Bozeman office, but it would probably be hard for West to do any serious meditation in here since her young daughters frequently flop out on the soft and fuzzy couch that Mom has designated just for them, with their crafting supplies nearby. And West certainly doesn’t subscribe to the Buddhist philosophy that “life is suffering,” which makes sense, considering that she has devoted herself to making life sweeter for people, providing them with mouthwatering all-natural caramels wrapped in words of wisdom. She is a busy working Bozeman mom, who has created a super sweet setup for herself by making a product she loves and working with the people she loves, including her husband, Ryan, and her brother, Steve. She is, in her own words, “very lucky.” West was working as a television publicist in Los Angeles when the events of September 11, 2001 led her to examine her life and choose a new path for herself. “I wanted to inspire people to be nice to each other,” she explains, “I was looking for the next chapter.” How did caramel become the hero of the story? “This idea just came to me. I have always been a huge fan of caramel and quotes.” So during the holidays of 2001, West decided to box her homemade caramels for her colleagues, business associates and friends, attaching her favorite quotes. She concocted her own formula by combining elements from the recipes in her mom’s old cookbooks and taste testing with friends. Her brother informed her that this was “good karmal,” (basically naming her future
business), her pal designed the logo in exchange for a grilled cheese sandwich at Bob’s Big Boy and her mom stuffed the boxes. The response was overwhelming. People started calling and placing orders. So West quit her job, started the company and then got a very lucky break from, of all people, Oprah. The one Buddhist concept that West does adhere to is that everything happens for a reason. And here’s a case in point: After a series of random coincidences, a box of Good Karmal made its way onto the desk of a producer for Oprah and it was just a matter of time before America’s favorite tastemaker anointed Good Karmal one of her Favorite Things in 2002. “That stamp of approval was huge,” West says ten years later. Business boomed so big that West had to find a facility to mass-produce the caramel in a way that met her standards. She hired a food consultant who led her to Robin Bequet who had been Ryan West’s boss years earlier when he lived in Bozeman. Got that? Well, it makes no real difference, except to prove Patty’s point that fate plays a role. “I can’t believe this is all a coincidence. I feel like it was meant to be. I was meant to raise my kids here.” West cites the strong symbiotic relationship that she and her husband have with Robin Bequet as a major asset to her business. Bequet manufactures Good Karmal’s candy and they share many similar flavors, but their recipes are slightly different. West’s is mainly an online business offering gift baskets and party favors (with huge corporate clients like Microsoft, Disney, Xerox, Nasdaq and even the Milwaukee Brewers placing huge orders) but – thank the Buddha – Bozemanites will now be able to chew on Good Karmal without having to pay for shipping since Heyday is now carrying gift baskets for the Holidays. How sweet it is. mp GoodKarmal.com Eleonore Snow is an East coast transplant to Bozeman (please don’t hold this against her) who delights exploring her new hometown with her two marvelous kids and her gassy dog Lola.
‘Twas the Night Before Christmas December 14, 2012 Christmas is a time of traditions, both old and new. Start a new one with your family at Main Street Dance Theatre’s 5th annual production of “Twas the Night Before Christmas,” brought to life by 80 local dancers and performing artists with cheerful Christmas tunes favored by the young and old. This production was conceptualized and written by local artists and uses the talents of dancers from area Gallatin Valley dance schools along with local ethnic dance troupes, drummers, actors and an aerialist. Funds from this year’s production will be donated to Hope & The Holidays (formerly known as Toys for Tots) in keeping with the theme of making families' Christmas dreams come true. Join us for a magical story about Santa and two of his best elves who embark on an adventure fulfilling a young child’s wish to receive Christmas gifts for her family from around the world. The performance is an international extravaganza of dance featuring traditional, classic and contemporary styles that showcase the celebrations of the season with beloved holiday tunes throughout the show. Show time is at 7 p.m. December 14, 2012 at the Willson Auditorium and tickets are $15 for adults, $7 for children, three and under are free. Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased at the Main Street Dance Theatre Studios 406-587-7192 and at Cactus Records. mp
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Date Night in B. Noelle for Noel? WRITTEN BY ELEONORE SNOW
Ever find yourself staring at the gaudy baubles great aunt Hortense left you, wondering if they could ever be re-fashioned into something you would actually wear? I know I do. Or maybe your wife has a stone that’s been floating around the family and needs a good home. Well, the good news for us is that Babs Noelle, Bozeman’s resident jewelry designer and owner of Alara on Main, spends about a third of her time customizing new pieces from older jewelry – and she loves doing it. “It’s always really fun for me to collaborate with a person on creating a new piece, because I’m able to infuse it with their personality,” Noelle says. So, if you want to drop your family a big fat hint for the holidays or are simply interested in gifting yourself, then do yourself a favor and make an appointment for a custom design with Babs. You can also surprise your mom/wife/partner/sister by making an appointment for her. Noelle can’t guarantee a price before drawing up the design, but she says that for roughly $2,100 a new heirloom can be created from unworn family jewelry. mp
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Downtown Bozeman Thursday, December 13, 2012 The Downtown Bozeman Association presents the 2nd event in a series of three nights out in Downtown Bozeman. Date Night will take place on Thursday, December 13, 2012 from 5-8 p.m. followed by additional “after hours” cocktail specials. Date Night brings you a whole night dedicated to having a fun, stress-free evening of holiday shopping, dining and cocktailing in Downtown Bozeman with your significant other or friends. There will be specials and promotions at over 40 downtown retailers and restaurants. A list of participating businesses, restaurants and bars for the 2012 Date Night as well as all the deals to be found will be available online at www. downtownbozeman.org and www.my1035.com by December 5. This will help you plan your attack. Then, join us again for Men’s Night on Thursday, February 7, 2013. More details to come. All Downtown Nights events will take place snow or shine and are FREE to the public. Visit www.downtownbozeman.org or call 406586-4008 for more information. mp
Bzn Cookie Decorating at
2012 Emerson Holiday Bazaar Please join us in the Emerson Ballroom for the 2012 Holiday Bazaar on Saturday, December 15, 2012 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. A wide variety of talented local artists will feature their works ranging from fine art, sculpture, photography, jewelry, handbags, woolens, decorative items and much more. For the first time, MSU students will be selling their fine art in an adjoining room off the Ballroom. Also new this year, additional booths will be featured upstairs. The Emerson will be alive with activity. In addition to shopping at the Bazaar we encourage you to visit the six retail art galleries in Galleria Hall. In the Crawford Theatre, you can catch a performance of “Nutcracker in a Nutshell.” We also encourage you to visit the Weaver Room for the Southwest Montana Artists Show. Food and refreshments will be available. This is an excellent opportunity to spend an exciting day at the Emerson. Call (406) 587-9797 ext. 101 or visit http://www. theemerson.org for more information. mp
The Leaf and Bean will be hosting Kids’ Christmas Cookie Decorating, Sundays, December 9, 16 and 23, 2012 from 12-2 p.m. For $5, your little ones will receive a bag of cookies to decorate and any drink from the kid’s menu. Leaf and Bean will provide colorful icing, sprinkles, chocolate chips and more. All you have to bring is your imagination. Gift boxes are available as well for kids who would like to give their handmade goodies to a teacher, neighbor, family member or Santa. When you finish with your cookies, draw a design for the Start Something Blend coffee bag label to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Gallatin County. Paper, crayons and colored pencils will be provided. The winner will receive $100 for their school’s art program. The Leaf and Bean is located at 35 West Main Street. mp
GRINCH “FOOD-RAISER” CREATES A “WHO FEAST!”
Kate will share her engaging and interactive telling of Dr. Seuss's classic, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas and top it off with a holiday family sing-along. Bring your camera and get your kid’s picture taken with Kate in her “Grinchy” Santa outfit too. The event is FREE and participants are encouraged to bring canned or shelfstable food items to donate to a “Who Feast” for the Gallatin Valley Food Bank.
SUCCEED IN SCHOOL.
the Leaf and Bean
December 15, 2012
Montana Parent magazine has teamed up with local Music Together teacher, Kate Bryan, for a Gallatin Valley Food Bank “Food-Raiser” on Saturday, December 15, 2012.
HELP YOUR CHILD
Families in attendance will be entered into a drawing to win a free copy of Dr. Seuss' The Grinch Who Stole Christmas book or a free semester of Music Together’s child group music classes. Bring the entire family to pilgrim Congregational Church on Saturday, December 15 and attend one of two story telling/sing-along events starting (promptly) at 10 and 11:30 a.m. Come early to reserve your seat. Don’t miss this memorable holiday party and please help feed “WHOever” needs it this holiday season. For more information on Music Together classes visit: www. MusicTogetherBozeman.com. mp
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ONE-TO-ONE INDIVIDUALIZED INSTRUCTION FOR CHILDREN AGES 4-18. A R E A S W E C OV E R Fluency in Foundational Skills Reading and Spelling Phonics Reading Fluency and Comprehension Pre-Reading Skills Fine Motor Skills Memory Expansion Math Processing Skills Vocabulary Development and Critical Thinking Skills Study and Organizational Skills Attention Development
AT SAGE LEARNING CENTER, OUR MISSION IS TO IDENTIFY AND DECREASE THE GAP BETWEEN A PERSON’S POTENTIAL AND THEIR PERFORMANCE. Sage Learning Center
582-9570
2055 N. 22nd Ave. Ste 4 Bozeman, MT 59718 Carisa Fillbach, Owner
www.Sa g e Le a rn in g Center.c om
Locally owned and operated since 1996. DECEMBER 2012 |
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MOPS photos Chieko horn photography
MOPS, “Mothers of Preschoolers,” meets the needs of moms of children from conception through kindergarten. Whether you’re a stay-at-home, working, adoptive, special-needs, single or married mom, MOPS is for you.
Pick Your Throne Support Upcycling Educational Programs The Human Empowered Arts Project (HEAP) has partnered with Living Home Furniture (LHF) to host the “Pick Your Throne” fundraiser. This December, Tart (at the Emerson) will be selling 16 of HEAP and LHF’s upcycled and reupholstered chairs. Proceeds from this event will benefit HEAP Bozeman’s upcycling and educational programs. HEAP proudly completes its first year with a great list of accomplishments. HEAP Bozeman has lived up to its promise to inspire upcycle creativity and empower the community through environmental awareness and contribution. The program’s list of accomplishments includes the Thrift Cooperative, the HEAP Upcycling Station Guide and Classroom Lesson Plan, and the Art Toxicity Guide for art programs. Program Director, Anna Hernandez formed the non-profit program under the 501(c) 3, Good For Kids Foundation. HEAP was developed with the assistance of MSU interns studying Business, Art, Architecture and Early Art Education.
Being moms is what brings us together and allows us to build a community and meet and build friendships with moms in our area. The early years of being a mom are just as foundational to you as they are to your baby, and those years are filled with unique needs that other moms instinctively understand. Come join MOPS for personal growth, practical help, spiritual hope, guest speakers and crafts. We meet every other Monday night from 6:308:30 p.m. at The Commons. Registration for the spring semester must be completed by January 4, 2013. For more information, or to register, go to journeyweb.net/mops. mp
Visit Tart, located in the Emerson, during the month of December and check out the Thrones for sale. Support HEAP and help to continue providing educational resources to the community. For more information regarding these upcycled pieces, or to preview and reserve one of their recreations visit heapbozeman.org. mp
MY BANK
HAS BEEN IN MONTANA FOR OVER 90 YEARS
A MONTANA COMMUNITY BANK SINCE 1922 12-AFS-134 My Bank 90 Years 14 DECEMBER 2012 | mtparent.com Size: 1/3page horizontal (7.4x2.35) Color Pub: MT Parent Runs: December 2012
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with BioScience Laboratories Would some extra money this season help make the holidays a little brighter for you and your family? BioScience Laboratories would like to invite you to attend a special Information Session to learn more about who we are, what we do, and most importantly, how you can earn money participating in our studies. Please join us at the new Bioscience Laboratories location, 1765 South 19th Avenue, next door to Stockman Bank on Wednesday, December 5, 2012 at 6 p.m. Please visit our website at www. biosciencelabs.com or www.facebook.com/ biosciencelaboratories to RSVP or call us at 406587-5735 for more information. mp
:: DECEMBER ACTIVITY CALENDARS + BLOG + MORE @ MTPARENT.COM ::
montana parent
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e
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Earn Holiday Money
When looking to list or buy your home with HOPE real estate you become part of something greater...you become a part of the cure for cancer. For more information call 406-585-5811 or visit www. hoperealestate.com. Wallis Morger-Bryan can be reached directly by calling 406-2234778 and Tammy Jeske is at 406-451-3860. HOPE real estate is located at 321 E. Mendenhall in Bozeman. mp
o
ng subscri eri pt f f i
ns
Dr. Bonville offers all aspects of family care, with special interest in women’s health, stomach and intestinal disorders, hormone imbalance and holistic cancer care. Patients are seen by appointment only at Spring Integrative Health at 502 S. 19th Avenue, Suite 200, in Bozeman. Visit www.springintegrativehealth.com or call (406) 586-2626 for additional information. mp
“If we can affect the future by contributing to the day when the loss of precious lives to a needless and curable disease is no longer a reality, then we will have made a difference for those that have lost and those who would be lost.”
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A Bozeman native and fifth generation Montanan, Dr. Bonville brings over 12 years experience in conventional and naturopathic care. She most recently relocated to Bozeman from Portland, where she was a physician of Grain Integrative Health, a leading practice of family medicine in the Pacific Northwest. Alisun holds a doctorate in naturopathic medicine from National College of Natural Medicine.
ga ma
a FREE local publication
May 2012
mtparent.com
montana parent growing up under the big sky
from birth to college
ine
Dr. Alisun Cummings Bonville recently opened the doors to a new holistic medical center in Bozeman. Spring Integrative Health is a medical clinic offering a wide array of complementary and alternative therapies including a five-element Chinese acupuncture, Bodytalk therapy, craniosacral- fascial therapy, holistic counseling and medical massage.
Bozeman parents and residents, Wallis Morger-Bryan and Tammy Jeske recently opened HOPE real estate and development in which a portion of their proceeds help fund cancer research, support and prevention. “It is our vision to create HOPE through real estate transactions with people who share a common goal...the dream of a world without cancer,” commented Bryan.
az mag
a FREE local publication
december 2011
mtparent.com
montana parent growing up under the big sky
from birth to college
gardening
ine
Now Open in Bozeman
Real Estate with HOPE
*n ow
New Holistic Medical Center
az mag
with our children
+
most deserving mom contest winners mother’s day brunch of the winner Taylor, of Bozeman the Babes Contest! Photo
local
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May 2012 | mtparent.com
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gift guide
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winter sports equipment: new or used? eggnog-style monte cristo
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December 2011 • mtparent.com
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Can’t find a copy of Montana Parent around town? Don’t have time to look? Want to share Montana Parent with friends & family?
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Family Deals & Discounts Just mention you saw it in Montana Parent Magazine!
A Restaurant the Whole Family can Enjoy!
NOW SERVING CAGE FREE EGGS Open 7 days a week 7am-2pm 406-586-0395 5 Tai Lane Bozeman one block West of the MSU Fieldhouse
photo lucaphotography
Kids Play Room!
Bozeman
Culture
Frozen Yogurt & Coffee Bozeman
Creative Sandwiches & Lunch Platters
Heebs
Take $5 Off a $25 order
PLU 500 544 E. Main Bozeman
Bozeman
Book Now For Holiday Parties! Check out www.fftdeli.com for daily specials and rotating menu Hours: M-F 11am - 6pm Sat: 11am-3pm • Closed Sunday 270 W. Kagy Suite B • Bozeman MT
406.587.4454 Follow Us On Facebook and Twitter Owned & Operated by a Registered Dietitian Full Service Catering • Kid Friendly Options
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DECEMBER 2012 |
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Storm Castle Cafe SUPER Kid Friendly featuring a full
Kids’ Play Room!
Treat yourself to a cup of Bozeman’s best pour over coffee and teas.
Don’t forget to pick up a gift card, 15% off for the month of December. FREE WIFI 1011 W. College, Bozeman (406) 404-1191 Bozeman
Community Food CO-OP Buy BULK Over 600 products in our newly remodeled Bulk Dept.
Bozeman
Children’s Museum Bozeman
FREE Friday Nights!
Bozeman
Soby’s Cafe
$4.95 kids’ meals all the time. Includes drink.
Bozeman
Nova Cafe
Lose the Apron!
Bozeman
North
Community
Montana State University
N. Church Ave.
The Root
Childrens Museum of Bozeman
Kagy Blvd.
S. 3rd Ave.
Museum of the Rockies
Sola Cafe
Soby’s Nova Cafe Kagy Blvd.
Bozeman
Bozeman
The Root
$10
OFF
a $50 purchase see ad on page 47
Every Tuesday
FREE POP
The Garage
with purchase of a large or jumbo pizza
Entire Kids’ Meal just 2 bucks!
Bozeman
$2 Tuesdays (w/ adult meal purchase)
Enjoy your meal, a glass of wine, and conversation while your children play in the spacious kids’ play area.
Sola Cafe
Kids’ Fun-Doo Veggie Appetizer (FREE at Dinner)
Yummy kids’ meals all the time!
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food and art
bacon!
Y o U ’ L L wa n t t o LIcK oUr SKILLetS
daILY SpecIaLS breaKfaSt 7-2
312 e. maIn St. bozeman t h e n o v a c a f e . c o m
DECEMBER 2012 |
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406.587.3973
282-7416 or
[email protected]
Colombo’s Pizza & Pasta FAMILY NIGHT
free
give yourself the gift of half price
Bozeman
GLUten
Make an Initial Consultation appointment during the month of December and
LUnch 11-2
Learning Options
bacon!
Bozeman
LocaL
downtown bozeman
bacon! KIdS’ menU
Food for Thought
LocaLS ’ choIce
Museum of the Rockies
Highland Blvd.
South 19th Ave.
Storm Castle Cafe
Lincoln St.
Heebs
Sourdough Rd.
Culture
Frozen Yogurt and Coffee
S.11th Ave.
College St.
Mendenhall St. Main Street
South Church Ave.
S. 8th Ave.
Colombo’s Pizza & Pasta
S. Willson Ave.
Babcock St.
N. Rouse Ave.
N. Willson Ave.
N. 7th Ave.
N. 11th Ave.
ain
M West
The Garage & Soup Shack 0
La Chatelaine
Food Co-op Downtown
I-9
North 19th Ave.
Community Food Co-op
17
montana ballet company
Photo: Rab Cummings
Where Dreams Begin and Blossom
Classical Ballet Instruction for Students of All Ages.
Elizabeth DeFanti, Academy Director. For more information, 406.582.8702 or visit us online at: montanaballet.org
FURNITURE • CAR SEATS • STROLLERS • NURSING • HEALTH & SAFETY • TOYS • GIFT & ACCESSORIES
SHOP BIBS AND BINKIES for that special baby or child in your life! Classic Beads
Little G
$39.00
Mighty Mixer
Tabletop Easel
My First Gym
$64.99
$14.99
$24.99
$69.99
Hape - Manhattan Toy - P’kolino Melissa & Doug - Litte Giraffe
Shop Local! 18
DECEMBER 2012 |
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2320 W Main St, Ste 2A • Bozeman, MT 59718 ph 406.585.8800 • bibsandbinkies.com
What’s Up?
photo simple reflections
Helena
Children’s 2012 Holiday Program Who wears a big red suit, has a twinkle in his eye and tells a great story? Why Santa Claus, of course. And, thanks to Downtown Helena Inc., he will be at your Lewis & Clark Library on Saturday, December 8, 2012 from 10:3011:45 a.m. to tell stories and hear little ones’ wish lists. Joining Santa this year are his elves from the Capital High Drama Club to entertain little ones with magical stories, songs and skits. Once again the Helena Family Fun & Support Group will be hosting a clothing drive in conjunction with the Downtown Helena Children’s Program, so please bring your gently used clothing items and help make a difference in our Community. For more information, log onto www.lclibrary. org or contact Candice Morris at 406-4471690 ext 115 and remember, “There’s Always Something Going on at Your Lewis & Clark Library!” mp
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See Santa! Saturdays from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Nov. 24, Dec. 1, 8, 15, 22 Take all the photos you want with your own camera for a $5 sitting fee!
See Santa!
We’ll be open Christmas Eve from 11-3
At the Great Northern Carousel Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
December 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd and we’ll be open Christmas Eve from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Take all the photos you want with your own camera for a $5 sitting fee! mp
photo diana proemm photography
hln Donate Your Stretch written By Sara Groves
What if you could find a holiday activity that was fun and healthy while providing the opportunity to teach your children a little something about charitable giving? Sound too good to be true? Well, it’s not; and you can do all of the above – with children in tow – at Northern Lights Yoga's annual “Donate your Stretch” class. Here’s how it works: Everyone is welcome, regardless of yoga ability or age (expect everyone from nursing babies to senior citizens). Bring a cash donation of any size to drop in the shoebox on your way in the door, along with a suggestion about which deserving Helena nonprofit should receive the donations. The Northern Lights Yoga teachers will demonstrate a range of poses for you to try. You will likely be amazed at the agility of the preschoolers in the room. There is definitely an air of celebration and community as everyone tries their hardest to bend into some of the more challenging poses. At the class’ conclusion, the youngest attendee gets to draw the name of the organization that will receive the “Donate Your Stretch” gift. Typically, the class raises over $500 that is given to a Helena nonprofit organization. Afterwards, the entire Northern Lights Yoga community comes together to share refreshments. This year’s “Donate Your Stretch” class will be held on Saturday, December 15 from 11 a.m. – noon at the Northern Lights Yoga studio, which is located upstairs at 9 W. Placer in downtown Helena. Refreshments will be served immediately after the class. For questions, please call Judy or Charles at 406-449-2205 or visit their website at www.northernlightsyoga.com. mp Sara Groves lives in Helena where she is mom to Mike, age seven, and Peter, age five. She coordinates the early literacy program, Ready 2 Read, at the Montana State Library and also works as a freelance writer.
Helena
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Helena
Ice Skating Lessons
Sunday Brunch
The Helena Figure Skating Club (HFSC) will offer Basic Skills ice skating lessons every Sunday afternoon, January through March 2013. Basic Skills Lessons, which also include basic hockey skating lessons, are for people of all ages and skill levels. There is a $10 cost per week with a one-time registration fee of $15.
photo simple reflections
The Helena Figure Skating Club is a nonprofit 501c recreational figure skating organization, which provides a healthy, physical activity; educational opportunities; and individual and continued personal growth in learning ice skating basics. HFSC is sanctioned by U.S. Figure Skating and offers introductory classes, Great to Skate, HFSC Ice Breaker, summer camps, competitions and shows. For more information contact the Helena Figure Skating Club: www. helenafigureskating.com. mp
We’ll Cook... We’ll Clean... You enjoy time with your family Every Sunday 9am - 1pm at the Red Lion Colonial Hotel
Giving Tree Bring your kids to Helena’s Great Northern Hotel lobby and let them choose a giving tree tag to fulfill the holiday wish of a child or family living at Intermountain, Friendship Center or YWCA. Tags are available now and gifts need to be returned by Monday, December 17, 2012. Happy Holidays! mp
Red Lion Colonial Hotel 2301 Colonial Drive, Helena MT 59601 406.443.2100
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The Memory Trail written By Alycia Holston
Walking into The Memory Trail is an automatic jolt to get your creative juices flowing. The inviting atmosphere draws you in on so many levels, from the white picket fence around the balcony to the comfortable sitting area; even the bathroom is lined with paper selections to inspire you while washing your hands. The shop is packed with colorful ink and paper, thousands of stamps, stickers and embellishments – all to make your life events memorable for generations. Charmaine Barker, owner, wife and mother of three, purchased the papercrafting business in 2005 and moved the shop to their current location on Colton Drive in 2011. Barker and her staff are welcoming and knowledgeable, completely hands-on and constantly educating themselves through conventions and classes designed for instructors. They are able to help on all levels, from the beginner to the more advanced crafter. Barker began learning to scrapbook around the time of her wedding. She says most major life events get people thinking about scrapbooking to document their special moments. Her store is a scrapbooker's dream, but all crafters can find what they are looking for – from painting and woodworking to jewelry and doll making. The Memory Trail is a Copic authorized dealer. Cartoonists in China and Japan originally used the alcohol ink marker/ artist’s pen. Barker and her staff are skilled instructors for this unique coloring technique. You can also find a new and expanded stamp line as well as the complete line of Tim Holtz products that offer inks, paints, metal embellishments, embossing folders and dyes. Their paper selection is one of the largest in the state and they have all their Cricut cartridges available for rent.
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This unique store has an extended classroom space, perfect for club events, personal workspace, a fun night with friends or customized parties for any occasion. Your holiday gift possibilities are endless at The Memory Trail. Recipe books and boxes, wreaths, wall collages, frames, centerpieces and calendars are the tip of the imagination iceberg. Gift cards are available to use on products as well as classes or crops. The Memory Trail can ship and wrap your selections as well. Don’t miss out on The Memory Trail coupon in Montana Parent’s Local Deals section—good on any class or crop in December. Upcoming classes: »» Saturday, December 1, 2012 - Christmas Card Class from 1-3:30 p.m. »» Wednesday, December 5, 2012 Holiday Tags class from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Now Open! The latest addition to the Great Northern Town Center is Irene’s Kitchen, featuring espresso, home baked goods, a fresh salad bar and more. “I am so excited about the opening of Irene’s Kitchen. I have such a passion for feeding people, from deciding what to make and preparing the dish to serving up the tasty treat. And I don’t even mind cleaning up,” says owner and operator, Irene Bushnell. “But the best part of course is watching someone’s eyes light up, or hearing that “mmmm” sound because they are enjoying what I prepared.” Breakfast options include: espresso, burritos, waffle cinnamon rolls, a
»» Friday, December 7, 2012 - Pizza, Pop and Crop of the month from 3-11 p.m. »» Tuesday, December 11, 2012 - Holiday Recipe Book Class from 5:30-8 p.m. »» Friday, December 14, 2012 - Pizza, Pop and Crop of the month from 3-11 p.m. »» Wednesday, December 19, 2012 Creative Cards class from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
For more information contact The Memory Trail at 406-442-4330. mp Alycia Holston, wife and mother of three, lives in Helena, MT. She is the author of While The Giant Is Sleeping and continues to write the new chapter of her life each day.
Don’t forget to tell your friends and Family in Butte, Missoula & Great Falls that we sell subscriptions and will ship to them! GO to mtparent.com for more info!
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Helena
We know your MOST important investment is the valuable time and energy you devote to parenting… Let us help with your SECONDmost important investment: Your home purchase!
Freda Wilkinson, Broker 406-431-5240
[email protected] • • • Ryan Wilkinson, Realtor 406-461-0375
[email protected]
daily baked treat (scones, sticky buns, cinnamon rolls, etc.). Lunch options include a salad bar, daily soup and a hot special. We will also offer cookies and other desserts to satisfy an afternoon craving. With the help of her mother and sisters, Irene’s Kitchen opened in November at 855 Great Northern Blvd. in Helena’s Great Northern Town Center. Irene’s Kitchen is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. – 3 p.m. during the winter. Visit the website at www.irenes-kitchen.com for daily specials, the soup of the day and when fresh hot cinnamon rolls will be coming out of the oven. mp
Down-to-Earth Real Estate Professionals
www.bigskybrokers.com
Weekends? Evenings? Kids in tow? No problem! Our schedule will adapt to yours, ensuring a convenient and comfortable real estate experience.
s s e n t e e w S d n e S liday! this Ho
Helena
MOMoirs
by Helena author Sara Groves is online this month due to a Santa Claus Advisory. Visit www.mtparent.com on December 2, 2012 and remember parents; this one is rated SCA (Santa Claus Advisory). mp
442-1470
PARROTCHOCOLATE.COM 42 N. LAST CHANCE GULCH
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photo zo-mak photography
Helena
Montana Adoption Ceremony Merry Christmas from Randy & Carol
Payment Options Available* 1422 Cedar St • Helena
406-495-1060 (On the east side, in the Mother Lode Casino Mall) * subject to credit approval. Minimum monthly payments required. See store for details.
Helena
e plorationWorks!
“Adoption…It Takes a Community” was the keynote address delivered by Erik Anspach at the 16th Annual “Celebrate Adoption” ceremony recently held in the old Supreme Court Chambers at the Montana State Capital Building in Helena. Citing his family’s personal experience in the recent open adoption of a newborn baby girl, Erik said his family was overwhelmed with love and support when they brought home their new daughter - a matter of hours after having made the life-changing decision to adopt her. The afternoon opened with a welcome address by Anna Whiting Sorrell, Director of Montana’s Department of Health and Human Services, and was followed by a proclamation naming November as National Adoption Awareness Month. The Honorable Jeffrey Sherlock, District Judge, finalized three adoptions with
Community Christmas Sharing
• Giant Harvard/Smithsonian Black Holes Exhibit • Hands on Interactive Exhibits and Activities • “Little Sky Country” for kids under 5 • Science-themed Gift Store • Gourmet Coffee Shop
A group of community partners came together this year to make sure no family goes without food and no child without a gift during the holidays. Community Christmas Sharing is a coordinated effort among many agencies throughout the Helena area including: Helena Food Share, Good Samaritan Ministries, the Salvation Army, The Friendship Center, Saint Mary Catholic Community, Cathedral of St. Helena, East Helena School District, Head Start and United Way of the Lewis and Clark Area.
995 Carousel Way, Helena, MT 59601 phone : 406-457-1800 www.ExplorationWorks.org
Each year Good Samaritan gets toys from local businesses and the public. The
Bring the family to
O
Montana's Science Center In Helena
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DECEMBER 2012 |
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the help of his assistants, Tweetie Bird and Sylvester, who presented each child with a special teddy bear and signed the certificates of adoption. The afternoon’s entertainment included the St. Andrews School Choir who sang “About Adoption” and “On the Day You Were Born” with a personal stanza for each child adopted that day. The adopted little ones were a delight and seemed to understand the importance of the event, even though their favorite cartoon characters were there in attendance. The celebration was sponsored by Catholic Social Services of Montana, Montana Dept. of Public Health and Human Services, Intermountain Adoption and Family Support Program, and the Dan Fox Youth Homes. mp
parishioners of the Cathedral also donate a substantial amount of new toys, books and money to the “Giving Tree” program. The Salvation Army’s toys come from Toys for Tots drives. Assistance with Thanksgiving food comes from Helena Food Share and Saint Mary Catholic Community. Food Share also adds extra food to the regular December monthly groceries. The Salvation Army hosts a community Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings and a Christmas party with snacks, music and more as well as providing Thanksgiving food boxes and boxes with extra food for December. For more information contact Amanda Burkhart, Communications Coordinator for United Way of the Lewis and Clark Area, at 406-442-4360 or Amanda@ unitedway.org. mp
Bowl For Kids’ Sake 2013 Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of Helena is appealing to the community to support Bowl for Kids’ Sake 2013, the local mentoring organization’s annual fundraiser. This year’s event will be held at Sleeping Giant Lanes, in Helena on Saturday, January 26 and Sunday January 27, 2013. BBBS is looking for teams of five to get together and raise a minimum of $200 per person or $1,000 per team to directly support BBBS in Helena. In 2013, the donor-funded BBBS will provide mentoring services to over 350 Helena kids. Studies have shown that they’ll be 46 percent less likely to initiate drug use, 52 percent less likely to skip school, 33 percent less likely to get in a fight, and 57 percent less likely to be arrested. That’s about 350 young people who, because of positive, volunteer role models, understand what it takes to stay out of trouble, not only now, but also throughout their lives. To join Bowl for Kids’ Sake 2013, take the first step and get started making an impact in your community by visiting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Helena website at: www.bbbs-helena.org, where you can sign up to participate or make a donation. By pledging to raise $1,000 per team, you can fund a new mentoring opportunity for one child in your community, starting him/her on the path to a brighter future. BBBS opened its doors in Helena more than 44 years ago with the simple idea that matching adult mentors with at-risk children could benefit an entire community. We know all children face challenges as they grow. But for some kids, the challenges are greater; and they can be multiplied if there isn’t a positive adult role model to turn to. BBBS is the only Best Practice prevention program in Montana proven to affect a broad spectrum of risk factors: delinquency— alcohol, tobacco and drug use; teen pregnancy, and school dropout —while simultaneously helping children reach their highest potential. As such, the return on investment is higher across the board than dollars invested in singleissue prevention programs. mp
photo amelia anne photography
Helena
Coming Soon
Helena’s Paw Park Plans are underway for a fenced dog park at Centennial Park with interior trails, shade structures and future agility and recreation stations.
Montana Sapphires in Silver & Gold 21 N. Last Chance Gulch On the Walking Mall in Helena 406.449.2022 Monday – Friday 9:30 – 5:30 Saturday 10 – 5
Popular in communities throughout Montana, dog parks allow pet owners to walk and play with their pets in a safe environment.
Helena
Development of the planned dog park depends on support from the community. Donations are being accepted through the Foundation for Animals to install the extra fencing, water features and other amenities. Send your tax-deductible donations to: Foundation For Animals (FFA)/ Paw Park PO Box 389 Helena, MT 59624 Thank you, and make sure to visit our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/ PawParkHelenaDogPark mp
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Shape. Color. Heart-stopping Knits. It’s Eileen Fisher. Cobblestone Clothing 828 Great Northern Blvd Helena, Montana 449.8684
DECEMBER 2012 |
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OPEN EVERYDAY Noon- 8PM
Late on Fridays & Saturdays Great for Date Nights
photo Lucaphotography
Helena
Family Deals & Discounts Just mention you saw it in Montana Parent magazine!
Gourmet Ice Cream made on premises Fresh, local ingredients Gift Cards and Stocking Stuffers Holiday Flavors
Helena
Prepackaged Tubs and Growlers
Big Dipper
Happy Hour M-F noon til 3 58 N. Last Chance Gulch (On the walking mall)
406.513.1051
Helena
Ultra Vac
Helena
FREE
Gift Wapping for any vacuum purchase
Helena
Birthday Party Tableware and Decorations Balloon Bouquets Baby Shower Theme Party Tableware and Decorations Pinatas Rental items for all your party needs.
Great Northern Carousel 989 Carousel Way
5 After 5 Special Mon.- Thur. after 5pm
Party Plus Rentals and Sales 1400 Cedar Street • Helena, MT
406-442-7099
Hours Monday thru Saturday 7:30 am to 6:00 pm Sunday 8:30 am to 1:00 pm.
www.A-1RentalsandPartyPlus.com
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DECEMBER 2012 |
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Get unlimited rides and a Kiddie Scoop of ice cream for only $5.00 Valid until 12/31/12
Happy Hour Monday – Friday Noon til 3
$2 single scoops $3 double scoops Expires 1/31/2013
Helena
Helena
Associated Dermatology
Bert & Ernie’s Helena’s Best Kept Secret!
Kids Meals
$3.00
FREE
Aging Skin Consultation
starting at
Helena
Helena
Frozen Moose
(1015 Boulder Ave. Ste. 1D)
Exploration Works
Come see Muttley the Moose and
ADMISSION
get 15% off your entire order!
$2.00 OFF For everyone in your party!
Helena Memory Trail
Helena
t. ulc hS
La st
5
N.
t.
I-1
Great Northern Carousel
Fro nt S t.
Get che ll S
Ultra Vac Services
E. Lyndale Ave
W. Lyndale Ave
Park Ave. Bakery
Cedar St.
Frozen Moose Yogurt
Ch an ce G
N. Benton Ave
Carroll College
North Montana Ave.
Mountain Mochahh!
Great Northern Carousel Exploration Works The Root Clothing
Dinners Done Right
W. Custer Ave.
a len
OPEN SUNDAYS
Bert & Ernies Associated Dermatology
e. Av
from 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.!
He
Hill Park
St. Gu lch
Holter Museum of Art
Parrot Confectionery Broadway St.
Bert & Ernies
North Montana Ave.
La
st
Ch an ce
Ave N. Park
N.
Lasso the Moon
11th Ave
Montana State Capital
• Breakfast Pastries
5
Heritage Pioneer Park
11th Ave
I-1
Big Dipper
• European Style Desserts
Prospect Ave
Red Lion Colonial Hotel
• Hearth Breads • Pizza • Delicious lunches.
Park Avenue Bakery & Cafe 44 South Park Avenue, Helena, MT
406-449-8424
Helena
Helena
Dinners Done Right
FRIENDS SPECIAL Helena
The Root
$10 OFF a $50 purchase
Buy one cup of hot soup for lunch and
get half off a second cup for a friend.
see ad on page 47
Helena
Helena
Memory Trail
$5 off
a class or crop
Red Lion Colonial Hotel 2301 Colonial Dr.
Kids 5 & under eat
FREE
(1 per paid adult)
Helena
Mountain MochAHH!
FREE $5
prepaid card $20 prepaid card
Great Birthday party gatherin g place. le na Best kids m enus in He startin g at just $3
with purchase of
Helena
Parrot Confectionery
Free Friday Game Night From 6-9 pm.
Games Donated by Lasso the Moon
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361 North Last Chance Gulch • Helena, MT
406-443-5680 www.bertanderniesofhelena.com
DECEMBER 2012 |
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Helena
Gift Giving~Montana Style
What’s Up? Townsend
Perfect for the hard-to-buy-for people on your list:
Montana Historical Society memberships! Members receive: ÙÙ 15% discount at Museum Store ÙÙ Admission to Museum and
Original Governor’s Mansion
The Museum Store ÙÙ Jewelry ÙÙ Candy ÙÙ Books ÙÙ Prints ÙÙ Cards
ÙÙ Toys ÙÙ Native American ÙÙ Western ÙÙ Made in Montana ÙÙ And much more!
ÙÙ Quarterly Montana The Magazine
of Western History
ÙÙ MHS calendar ÙÙ Complimentary assistance from
the MHS Research Center
History Worth Celebrating!
225 North Roberts, Helena, MT
(800) 243-9900
NUTCR ACKER
Y
ellowstone
Ballet Co.
CHILD CHILD ONLY ONLY
$5
Community Christmas Choir and Nativity Night This is a unique event where people from the community bring in their nativity sets or special ornaments for display. The event generally occupies four rooms and features more than 300 items. The display takes place from 6-7 p.m. both Wednesday and Thursday evening, after which the community choir puts on a program of Christmas music. The occasion really brings the community together and is such a special way to start the Christmas season. Add call Emma Moffitt at (406) 266-3900 for location and more information. mp
December 17-18, 2012
SUNDAY DEC. 16TH 4PM
WILLSON AUDITORIUM
DECEMBER 2012 |
The “Light of Love” project is a means of sharing the memory of our loved ones in a special way during the holidays. Donations to the foundation in memory of our loved ones purchase a special laminated ornament memorial bulb, which is placed in the window stating for whom the memorial is made. Memorial donations are accepted year round, but those received between December 1 and 25, 2012 are recognized on the Christmas tree setup in Creative Closet on Broadway. mp
Light a Light Memorial Drive
Sponsored by: Bozeman Daily Chronicle Romans Plumbing KBOZ
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december 1-24, 2012
December 5-6, 2012
Shop or join online at montanahistoricalsociety.org
THE
Light of Love
mtparent.com
TICKETS: CHILD $5, ADULT $15 - $35 ECKROTH MUSIC, WWW.YELLOWSTONEBALLET.ORG ADD $2 AT DOOR
The Rotary and Lions Club members pick up our senior citizens and take them out to see the Christmas lights around Townsend. After they have toured the town and surrounding area they are all taken to one of the local restaurants for dinner. For more information contact Brian Obert at 406-266-4370. mp
What’s Up?
Livingston
Livingston Hockey & Skating Rinks The Livingston Ice Skating Association (LISA) will once again provide ice surfaces, free and open to the public. There will be a hockey rink next to the Civic Center and, weather permitting, there may be a visit from Santa Claus. In years past, he has arrived prior to Christmas Eve. LISA also plans to build a skating only rink (no hockey) next to Water Works Park, located at the corner of South 10th Street and Cambridge Drive. There will be no boards and hockey is not permitted at this site. “We’re building this skating rink so that kids have a place to skate independent of hockey games,” says LISA President Matt Higgins. The skating rinks are built entirely with donations and volunteers. The city provides water for flooding and liability insurance. For anyone interested in volunteering or for more information, contact Matt Higgins at (406) 640-7770,
[email protected] or visit LISA’s website at: www. livingstoniceskating.org. mp
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photo amy shertzer photography
LVN
WILSALL | MONTANA
Stock your freezer for Winter! GRASS-FED & FINISHED No hormones or antibiotics used
1/4, 1/2, and Whole Cow Shares available now
Holiday Art Walk The Livingston Center for Art and Culture will offer Songwriting for Teens (November 28 – December 19), a free class led by Ashly Holland, and Ceramic Plate Painting on Saturday, December 8 or Wednesday, December 12. The Livingston Center for Art and Culture is located at 119 South Main Street, and can be reached at 222-5222 or www.livingstoncenter.org. mp
[email protected]
406-624-6289
Livingston
BUSY. BUSY. BUSY. BUSY. BUSY.
Livingston Community Christmas Dinner The public is invited to the 29th Annual Community Christmas Dinner at the Civic Center in Livingston on Christmas Day from 12-2 p.m. You can help make this event a success by volunteering your time on Christmas Eve from 12-4 p.m. or any time on Christmas Day. Organizers are also asking for donations of desserts, salads, cooked turkey or ham, or a donation to the Christmas dinner fund at First Interstate Bank of Livingston. Arrangements can be made to have a meal delivered or ride share to the event. Please contact Beverly George at 406-222-2284 for more information. mp
Life insurance shouldn’t wait.
Even though life is busy, take a moment to reflect on what’s most important. For peace of mind, protect your family with State Farm life insurance. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. CALL ME TODAY.
Livingston Water Spray Park
®
®
Sarah Skofield, Agent 125 E Callender Street Livingston, MT 59047 Bus: 406-222-1000 www.sarahskofield.com
State Farm Life Insurance Company (Not licensed in MA, NY or WI), State Farm Life and Accident Assurance Company (Licensed in NY and WI), Bloomington, IL 0901038.1
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The Livingston Rotary Club is actively soliciting grants and donations for the second phase of construction on the City’s Water Spray Park, located in the Mike Webb Park at the end of G Street. Phase I, completed fall 2012, includes restrooms, changing rooms, an equipment shed, pipe work under the splash pad and the concrete splash pad itself. Phase II, which the Rotary Club hopes to complete by Memorial Day 2013, involves purchasing the fun, interactive water features like the Super Splash bucket, Ground Geyser, and Water Tunnel. The recirculation and UV systems will clean and purify the water and allow it to be reused the entire summer season. Tax-deductible donations can be made to the Livingston Rotary Club 1014, Foundation Fund (501c3), P.O. Box 66, Livingston, MT 59047. The Livingston Rotary club thanks the community for its continued financial support of this project. mp
LVN
Livingston W h at M at t e r s M o s t...
Choices. “I had worries that a hospital birth would feel clinical. By the end of the [preparing for childbirth] class, they were all squelched. I knew that it would be as natural as possible and they would support me in my decision about how I wanted the birth to go.” –Amanda Harms, New Mother
Holiday Vaudeville Show Don’t miss the Shane Center’s annual Holiday Vaudeville Show, playing weekends December 7– 16, 2012. Songs of the season with a comedic spin make for a hilarious respite from the rigors of the holiday. Show times are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m., with a special Saturday matinee on December 14 at 3 p.m. January 7-19, 2013, the Shane Center will host the Winter Young Actors Workshop. An intense two-week after-school theatre arts workshop for ages 6-17, that culminates in three public performances at the Shane Center.
406-222-3541 www.livingstonhealthcare.org
Do you or your child suffer from...
stuffy noses, sinus infections, difficulty breathing or persistant coughing? If so, we can help.
The Shane Lalani Center for the Arts is a multi-use arts center dedicated to fostering creativity and building community through a wide variety of arts programming, classes and events. The Shane Center is located at 415 East Lewis Street in Livingston, and can be reached at 406-222-1420 or www. theshanecenter.org. mp
Our goal is to have you lead a healthy life free of allergy or asthma symptoms. Michael C. DiCello, MD
Diplomate American Board of Allergy & Immunology
Cindy K. Feddes, FNP
www.allergymontana.com
Certified Asthma Educator
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p. (406) 582-1111
Northridge Professional Plaza 2055 North 22nd Avenue, Suite 1 Bozeman, MT 59718 Est. 2000
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photo amanda harms
LVN
The Wheatgrass Saloon With fresh, organic juices and smoothies, owner Lisa D Snow brings a taste of delicious and healthy living to Livingston. She combines farm-fresh produce in inspired ways to create exotically flavorful drinks one can feel great about indulging in. Along with handcrafted drinks, she offers handcrafted art and gift items, many by local artists, as well. “As a mother of four, I know how important it is to stay energized to be there for my kids,” says Lisa. “Whenever I visit another town, the first thing I do is find a juice bar for a shot of wheatgrass. I’m glad to now bring that to my hometown as an addition to the great business community that’s already here.” The Wheatgrass Saloon is located at 117 E. Callender (the former Drawing Room), in downtown Livingston. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, contact
[email protected] or call 406-224-3895. mp
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What’s Up?
West Yellowtone
Three Forks
Pony
photo simple reflections
Belgrade Four Corners Bozeman
Norris Hot Springs
Norris Ennis
Big Sky
West Yellowstone
West Yellowstone Christmas Stroll Parents and grandparents, are you looking for a great way to create lasting memories with the children in your life? Join West Yellowstone families for a small-town Holiday Stroll on Thursday, December 13, 2012. Streets will light up the town with excitement as kids from ages 1-100 get caught in the merriment that comes with the holidays. The evening begins with the annual Parade of Lights, featuring local floats and the Sled Dog Racing teams who are in town for the annual Rodeo Run races. After the Stroll, there’s a chance to meet the mushers and their canine athletes. After the parade, everyone gathers around the tree (at the intersection of Canyon Street and Madison Avenue) to await Santa’s arrival on a fire truck. Once the tree is lit, Santa heads to the Madison Crossing where every kid has a chance to personally deliver their own Christmas wish list.
The Three Bear Lodge & Tours
West Yellowstone
The Three Bear Lodge & Tours “YOUR HEADQUARTERS FOR THE FOUR SEASONS OF YELLOWSTONE”
$10 off mp
West Yellowstone stores stay open late and offer up treats and beverages for shoppers while kids are welcome to attend a free Holiday movie. Gather the family, grab the camera, dress warm and come join us. Families are always welcome in West Yellowstone. Call the West Yellowstone Visitor Center for more information at 406-646-7701. mp
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per person on any tour with mention of this ad in Montana Parent
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West Yellowstone’s
ECOSTAR AWARD WINNING LODGE
LODGING AND DINING CLOSEST LODGING TO YELLOWSTONE
WYS
photo west Yellowstone chamber
West Yellowstone
YEAR ROUND TOURS VAN | SNOWCOACH | SNOWMOBILE RENTALS FULL
CONFERENCE FACILITIES
YOUR HEADQUARTERS FOR THE FOUR
SEASONS OF YELLOWSTONE
4 06-6 46- 7353
threebearlodge.com
Sled Dog Races Don’t miss the annual Sled Dog races, Friday and Saturday December 14 and 15, 2012 located in the winter resort town of West Yellowstone. Mushers and sled dogs from around the country travel here for one of the first races of the season. West Yellowstone receives early and abundant snow each winter due to its location in a high mountain valley.
Before the races even start you have a chance to get up close and personal with the mushers at the “meet the Mushers event” on Thursday evening during the Christmas Stroll. Get out to the prep area early the next morning (around 8:30 a.m.) and watch the mushers harness and ready their team of athlete dogs as they prepare for the race. The yips of eager dogs fill the winter morning air as mushers move to the start line at 9 a.m. Then, paws will pound across the Old Airport (western edge of West Yellowstone) as sleds and mushers head off down the trail. Races include 12-dog teams, 8-dog and 6-dog teams, and 4-dog team Junior Races. Dress warm, grab the camera and save the date. For more information check our website at www.destinationyellowstone.com/calendar. See you at the races! mp
EY LLC HOCK . Live it. Don’t just play it
Kids’N’Snow December 15 and 16, 2012, take a break from the Holiday rush and celebrate the wonders of winter with your children or grandchildren at Kids’N’Snow, the awardwinning program for kids and winter activities in West Yellowstone. Kids’N’Snow headquarters will be located at the West Yellowstone Visitor Center, 30 Yellowstone Avenue. Here, kids can pick up their “Passport” schedules. There will be a Saturday morning presentation (no charge) by the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center with live raptors (birds of prey) and a naturalist talking about the special adaptations that allow them to survive Yellowstone winters. The Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center will also be offering special programs at the Center just for kids throughout the weekend.
APPAREL E L Y T S E LIF TFITTING TEAM OU JERSEYS CUSTOM G E CLOTHIN C N A M R ERFO
P
www.ipuckalot.com
[email protected]
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There will be outdoor activities each day including snowshoe hikes with a Forest Service interpretive ranger and cross country ski games just for kids. Saturday evening features Skatin’ and S’mores’ and Sleddin’ with free treats, use of ice skates, and sleds for the kid’s sledding hill. West Yellowstone businesses also provide a unique Snowcoach Sampler adventure where you can venture into Yellowstone Park through a unique snowcoach ride. Snowcoach Samplers will be held at various times throughout the weekend. The snowcoach rides are free, but a Yellowstone Park pass and reservation are required due to limited space. For more information and pre-registration for limited space events, please email
[email protected] or go to www.kidsnsnow.org. mp
What’s Up?
What’s Up? Moonlight Basin
Moonlight
written By Ersin Ozer, Moonlight staff
Moonlight Basin celebrates their 10th winter season with lodging specials, Turkey for a Ticket food drive, and New Year’s Eve festivities. Moonlight Basin is primed for the opening day exclusively for season pass holders on December 7, with an official opening on December 8, 2012. Commemorate the 10th winter season and a decade of turns on our winter playground with a new lodging offer for locals; book two nights with Moonlight Lodging– checking in on Friday or Saturday of opening weekend – and ski free all weekend. The holiday season is jam-packed with fun activities for families and guests of all ages. The second Friday in December marks the 6th annual Turkey for a Ticket food drive, where philanthropic skiers and riders donate a frozen turkey or 20 cans of food and earn free skiing in return. This event has been the single-most contributor of donations to the Gallatin Valley Food Bank for any one-day event and raised 18,000 pounds of food in 2011 – join us again with your turkey in hand to aid our community and ski for free on December 14. New Year’s Eve at Moonlight Basin brings two options to let loose – a kid-friendly party at Headwaters Grille featuring karaoke, S'mores, party favors and a balloon drop, and a celebration at Jack Creek Grille in the Moonlight Lodge featuring live music, a special dinner menu, and a champagne toast to ring in the New Year. New for this season, the Jack Creek Grille features weekend brunch on Saturdays and Sundays starting December 16, and Montana Night, a special Montana-themed dinner and live music every Wednesday night, starting December 19.
amelia photo
photo s. Willard
oto anne ph
graphy
The lodging special is valid for new reservations only, based on availability. Call 866-348-5134 for reservations. For more information about upcoming events, visit moonlightbasin.com or call (406) 993-6000. mp
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Celebrate our 13TH Birthday
with storewide savings of 20% off! Friday & Saturday only December 7 & 8! take an additional 25% off all clearance! elebrate the holiday magic at Lillylu!
C
®
424 E. Main, Bozeman
•
406 587.6364
Bozeman & Helena
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•
Mon-Sat 10-6
no early sales all discounted sales FINAL discount does not apply to special orders
photo amelia anne photography
H
de Holid a m d a an
y
decorate the tree
Have the kids make the garland this year.
String popcorn with a needle and thread. You can add fresh cranberries into the pattern for color. Hang outside for the birds to eat the popcorn and berries when the holidays are over.
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photo leigh ripley
the
Christmas Card written By Leigh Ripley
Come on down to Culture, the best self-serve froyo and pour over coffee in town; and did you know... We also have great tea, hot chocolate and cupcakes Free WiFi Open until midnight daily Great space for parties and meetings Happy hour 2-5 daily - free coffee with yogurt purchase
3 doors down from Colombo’s 1011 W. College | 406-404-1191
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I have been writing since I was a kid. My mother kept a scary amount of my schoolwork over the years and, according to my chicken scratch signatures, I’ve penned short stories as early as the age of nine. I started writing poetry when I was twelve; I still rarely let people read it. The written word has been my center, my balance, throughout my life. When pain rocked me to the core, I steadied myself with a ballpoint pen. When love had my stomach fluttering and heart racing to keep up, I daydreamed of eternal perfection with my latest crush and played it out on paper. When I had nothing to give, I shared the most treasured piece of my soul, strings of letters forming words. Seemingly so generic, yet -- for me -- it was raw, honest and entirely focused upon my recipient. I could not present another gift leaving me as vulnerable as this. I wrote poems about everyone and everything I felt (seriously, like Taylor Swift), a decade of apologies to my sister, love letters, and a lot of personalized Christmas cards. For most of my teen and college years I was broke (like most kids) and my focus was not on spending the little money I had on my family at Christmas. Sorry, I was a teenager; in my mind, they were lucky I came home. Nonetheless, I loved them, and I desperately wanted to show it. So I cased the card aisles, everywhere, looking for the perfect card with the perfect words, only to go home and scribble my affection over every inch of white space. I can’t remember the first store-bought present I got for my parents, but I do remember what I said in that first Christmas Card, and every one after that. I said what I couldn’t buy: I love you. mp
photo simple reflections
style for the holidays .........................
Hawk Tawk
A Stocking for Charity written By Lane O’Donnell
The simple act of opening a Christmas gift is a present in itself. It’s a race to unravel ribbons and rip wrapping paper to shreds all in an effort to discover what has been hiding under the Christmas tree for days on end. When someone has put in time and money to study your desires and provide you with a material object that seems to say, “I know you this well and love you this much,” that is an act of love. But my parents taught me at a young age to find satisfaction not from the getting alone, but the giving as well. For my tenth Christmas, my parents decided to share with my siblings and me the power of donation. My mom and dad explained that this year, instead of getting our own stockings, we were going to fill stockings with presents we would like, and then donate each stocking to the local family shelter. Mom drove us to Walmart and, putting twenty dollars in one hand and a stocking in the other, she gave us the reins. Some would say we were as happy as kids in a candy store, but that would be a drastic understatement in comparison to the never-ending aisles and infinite toys a ten year old takes in while wandering through Walmart. I remember the fascination of picking and choosing whatever I pleased as long as it met the budget and size constraints of my stocking. At the cash register I had compiled two pairs of pink socks, a Walkman, a pair of headphones, a CD, candy, and a Polly Pocket. After collecting each stocking, my mom delivered them to the local family shelter where they were distributed to a
family with three kids the same ages as my siblings and me. I can still remember the excitement of knowing that some girl, somewhere, was going to wake up Christmas morning and have the chance to experience the Christmas tradition that I had always known.
mon - sat 10am - 6pm sun 12pm-5pm ph: 406.586.5589 www.heydaybozeman.com
Christmas spirit is not merely about the presents under the tree or the surprises Santa brings, but about coming to terms with the valuable lessons taught by giving and receiving. I learned at age ten that the power of giving a gift to someone else is just as satisfying and rewarding as getting a gift yourself. The power to be happy by making others happy is a Christmas lesson that works beyond the material things and revolves around the essence of appreciation and compassion. There’s a famous quote by Tao Tzu, “Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.” Receiving a gift of any means shows that you are loved, and giving a gift means that you have the capability to love in return. To this day I am confident that with a single Christmas stocking my parents taught me the power of sacrifice and the reward that donation bestows. More importantly, this snowball effect of love doesn’t derive from the possession of money, but the presence of caring. There is no gift too small, or hug too big, to show how much you care for another during the holiday season. mp
Country Bookshelf 28 West Main Street Bozeman, Montana
(406) 587-0166
Lane O’Donnell is a senior at Bozeman High School and member of the Hawk Tawk staff. She hopes to pursue a major in communications during college.
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Hurricane Sandy Relief Efforts Continue Donate to the American Red Cross.
SHOP ONLINE
DEE-O-GEE.COM
Bozeman & Helena
Hurricane Sandy devastated portions of the Caribbean, Mid-Atlantic, the Northeastern United States and Eastern Canada in October of this year. The largest Atlantic hurricane in history, Sandy caused an estimated $20-$50 billion in damage. At least 199 people were killed in seven countries and the storm caused extensive damage along the East Coast of the United States. It is hard to erase the images Sandy has left us with: people homeless and heartbroken; our Nation’s first boardwalk (in Atlantic City) destroyed; floating taxicabs; flooded tunnels; shipwrecks; and the destructive snow storm that followed in Sandy’s wake, leaving residents of West Virginia without power and literally buried in some parts.
You have enough to worry about, let us put dinner on the table
In these busy times we all want to spend a moment relaxing with our family, not slaving over supper. Let Montana’s last meal prep store prepare you a healthy filling dinner so you can spend more time catching up and less time cleaning up. DINNERS DONE RIGHT (406) 449-5100
3150 North Montana Ave Suite C, Helena MT 59602 Where we make dinner fun again! Check out our Facebook page!
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Offer those trying to rebuild in the wake of Sandy support in the form of a donation to the American Red Cross. Financial donations make the greatest and most immediate impact, helping the Red Cross provide shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance. Visit www.redcross. org and help those who have had so much taken away from them during this holiday season. mp
photo s. willard
Give Now
Not so crafty Spice Tins I’m not too crafty but for this handmade holiday gift you don’t have to be. Just thrifty! Aside from the obvious sentiment of a personally crafted gift, handmade, for the most part, should mean inexpensive. This fits the bill. Simply shop for small reusable tins or jars and fill with dried herbs or spices. Label it and your done. Buy your spices in bulk. I shop at the Bozeman Community Food Co-Op or Hill Botanical for this. Bulk spices and dried herbs are way cheaper than the prepackaged variety. mp
raphy og bring phot sa photo melis
and
Create Unique Professional Holiday Cards written by Melissa Bring
With tight budgets around the holidays we all need to start thinking more creatively. If you don’t have extra cash this year to get your professional family portrait try this quick, easy and extremely fun project with your kids for this years holiday card.
Materials Needed: »» Wall or old board lying around in the garage. »» Chalk board paint (sold at home depot). »» Paint brush. »» Colored chalk. »» Tacks. »» String of lights. »» Any additional props you’d like (we chose teddy bear and apple boxes). »» Camera with flash.
Steps: Paint the chalkboard paint onto the wall. Some walls may need two coats of paint. Once the paint is dry, the fun part comes in. Have the kids use the chalk to draw their own holiday background. Once the coloring is complete, tack the lights carefully to the wall to outline the drawings. Then wrap the kids up in the lights and start photographing. They’ll have fun with the whole process and in return you’ll get happy kids for a creative Christmas card. mp
Taste
Love
Crave
Healthy & Delicious Ask Us About Catering your next event!
Made fresh daily in our store with Nancy’s Plain Organic Non-fat Yogurt Locally Owned and Operated since 2009. We are NOT a Chain or Franchise.
Open 11 am to 9 pm Every Day! 280 W. Kagy Blvd, Ste D • Bozeman MT icravemoberry.com or Like Us on Facebook
Curiosity of © Melissa Bring Photography
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photo amelia anne photography
Recycle Holiday Cards
to
Create Mobiles and Garland written By Shaunescy Willard
Supplies: »» Old Christmas cards -- you will want quite a few »» Various colors of craft or construction paper »» Thread, colored string or thin ribbon »» Scissors or circle cutter (we used a circle cutter from the Martha Stewart collection at Michaels but you can also trace different sized cups and cut the circles out with scissors) »» Glue (glue sticks or spray adhesive work best, we found that craft glue is too wet and warps the paper)
Directions: »» Cut images from the cards into circles of varying sizes: large, medium and small. Cut an exact same size craft paper circle for the back of each card circle. »» Lay the card circles face-side-down on a table, it looks best to arrange them in a pattern (large, medium, small, large, medium, small, and so forth). »» Place string or ribbon down the center of the circles, you may want a few feet depending on how long you want your garland or mobile. Be sure to leave ample slack at each end for hanging or tying. »» Working with one paper circle at a time, apply glue or adhesive to a paper circle, center and place the string down the paper circle and top with the Christmas card cutout (like a sandwich). Leave about an inch or two of string between each circle. »» Let your creation dry and then hang it up. We like to hang ours, three or four mobiles in a row, above a railing or in a window. They also make great garlands for your tree, mantel or to drape above a window. mp
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Super Natural
Bath Salts and Sugar Scrubs written By Caleigh Searle
The Holidays are a time for family get-togethers, parties and, of course, gift giving. Many people not only have their own families and children to buy for but also stepparents, stepsiblings and in-laws just to name a few. Don’t get me started on my blended family—this magazine isn’t big enough! Obviously all this generous gift giving can get very expensive, so I will give you a few impressive recipes that happen to be amazingly inexpensive to make. Most of the ingredients can be found at your local health food store/herb shop (www. hillbotanical.com) or specialty craft store (for the containers).
Bath Salts: Who doesn’t love to luxuriate in a warm bath, breathing in a wonderful scent, relaxing those tired muscles? Specialty bath salts are ridiculously expensive, but actually very cheap to make at home. Store these in pretty jars, tins or clean coffee bags. Label with ingredients and instructions. Get creative with the packaging, it is amazing what a little ribbon can do. BASIC BATH SALT RECIPE:
FIZZY BATH SALTS: These are fun for children because when the bath salts make contact with the water, they gently fizz for a few seconds. Simply add 1/2 cup citric acid to the basic recipe. It reacts with the baking soda to fizz when it hits the bath. Citric acid is a safe, naturally occurring weak acid, found in fruits, notably citrus fruits. It is also an ingredient in many “fizzy” candies. Use it for a different twist on traditional bath salts.
SUGAR SCRUBS: Sugar scrubs are phenomenal for all-over scrubbing in the bath or shower. The sugar crystals are gentler on the skin than salt and the oils in the scrub leave your skin hydrated and baby smooth. Some people use them on the face, but I usually treat the delicate facial skin with different scrubs. These can be stored in little jars, though plastic is safer. Use caution when using and gift-giving scrubs with oils in them, the shower can get slippery. I was once accused of trying to kill a friend of mine (by her) after giving her an oily scrub. I have since learned to add vegetable glycerin to the scrubs to cut out some of the oiliness. I have seen sugar scrubs sell for $20 to $30 and the homemade ones are only a fraction of the price. SUGAR SCRUB: »» 1 cup granulated sugar (no coarse crystals) »» 1/2 cup oil* »» 1/2 cup vegetable glycerin
»» 1 cup Epsom salts
»» 20 to 30 drops essential oil**
»» 1 cup baking soda »» 1 cup sea salt* »» 30 drops essential oil or blend of oils**
Mix all the ingredients well and package. This recipe can be made in larger quantities. Use a handful to scrub the whole body, hands and feet as well, then rinse.
This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled.
*The oil you use depends on what is available and what oils you prefer. Sweet almond is nice, apricot is a little lighter and you can blend oils as well. I never seem to have enough of one oil so I use two or three different ones.
*There are different types of salts you can use, depending on how much you want to spend.
**The same essential oils mentioned in the bath salt recipe can be used in the sugar scrubs.
-I use a basic sea salt from the health food store then add specialty salts for color or texture.
»» Use grapefruit and basil for an anti-cellulite (not that any of us have that!) scrub.
-Himalayan pink salt is very pretty and has larger crystals that give bath salts a nice texture. Play around with them, you can add 1/4 or 1/8 cup to the basic recipe to give bath salts a fancier look and feel.
»» Spearmint, eucalyptus and grapefruit for an invigorating scrub.
Whisk all ingredients together in a glass or ceramic bowl. Use 2 Tablespoons of salts per bath.
**Essential oils are another area where I encourage creativity. Lavender, geranium, ylang ylang are all great in baths and fairly affordable. Eucalyptus is wonderful for sinus issues and colds. Grapefruit and orange are good for kids, they love the citrus scents. Orange and lavender blend especially well together for a relaxing scent. Experiment!
»» Ylang ylang and geranium for a sweet, sensual scrub. »» Orange, lemon and lime for a citrus blast.
The holidays are stressful enough, make gifts that people will appreciate but won’t break the bank and be sure to make a little extra for yourself, you deserve a relaxing bath and baby soft skin too. mp Caleigh Searle is a Certified Clinical Herbalist with 18 years experience. She is a Montana native and mom of two active boys. Questions can be answered at
[email protected].
Hill Botanical is your retail herb shop in Bozeman, offering quality bulk herbs, organic essential oils and tools for making the products featured in the Super Natural article. www.hillbotanical.com 438 East Mendenhall Street 406-570-4593
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Book Page Garland written By Anna Hernandez, HEAP
Save money and create one-of-a-kind holiday decorations by giving a new purpose to book pages. The whole family can help decorate your home by making these beautiful leaf garlands. Embellish your garland with other decorations or add a natural element by scheduling a family pinecone hunt. Happy Holidays! Materials: »» Book pages »» White cotton string »» Scissors »» Hot glue gun/glue sticks »» Stapler »» Small pinecones
Instructions: 1. Fold three to four pages in half, lengthwise (the long way). 2. Cut any shape leaf. Cut three or four pages at a time to create identical leaves. 3. Use a stapler to attach the leaf base to the string. Hang them all in one direction. It helps to pin your string on the wall and position your leaves, then staple them on. Or you can also use a hot glue gun to attach the leaves. 4. Cut 5” pieces of string and attach them to the base of the pinecones with a few drops of glue. 5. Hang the pinecones between the leaves. For more upcycling projects join the Human Empowered Arts Project on Facebook or follow our blog updates at www.heapbozeman.org. HEAP Bozeman inspires upcycle creativity and empowers our community through environmental awareness and contribution. mp
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photo anna hernandez
functional art
Jambi’s
Cranberry Tea written By Shaunescy Willard
Jambi’s Cranberry Tea is not really tea at all, but this drink is our family’s holiday tradition of cranberries steeped with spices, orange juice and honey. My mom created this recipe when we were little and it makes an appearance in my house every year as soon as fresh cranberries hit the stores each holiday seaon. Enjoy it iced, hot or spiked (think Vodka or Rum).
Ingredients: »» 3 pound bag of cranberries (suggested: the fresh bag from Costco)
»» 3 gallons water »» 2 tablespoons cinnamon »» 2 tablespoons nutmeg »» 1 teaspoon ground cloves or whole cloves for more spice »» 1 can frozen orange juice concentrate or 1 quart of fresh orange juice »» Approximately 1½ cups of honey, sweeten to taste (The above spices may be substituted with ginger or cardamom)
photo s. willard
Instructions: Rinse cranberries and pick out any brown or squishy ones. Put cranberries and spices in large stockpot and fill with 3 gallons of water. Bring to a boil, then turn to low and simmer for two to three hours, stirring occasionally until the berries fall apart and the skins float to the top when stirred. Let cool until just warm. Strain through a colander or strainer into a second pot. If you strain the tea through a colander it will be thicker, pulpier, that’s how we like it. If you strain through a fine strainer it will be more like cranberry juice, but very tasty all the same. Stir in honey to taste. Cranberries are very bitter without the honey, some people like it a little bitter but remember, the orange juice will also sweeten the tea as well. Stir in the orange juice and divide into jars. Refrigerate immediately. Server warm or cold. Jambi’s Cranberry Tea is a great gift: pour tea into a canning jar, label it and tie a ribbon around the lid with instructions to serve hot, or cold with ice. Shake well before serving. Cheers to Jambi! Happy Holidays. mp :: DECEMBER ACTIVITY CALENDARS + BLOG + MORE @ MTPARENT.COM ::
Women’s clothing boutique featuring chic activewear and maternity. Winter Hours
Mon-Fri 10:30 - 5:30 • Sat 10-5 451 East Main Street Bozeman, MT
406-586-9474 www.gerty.net DECEMBER 2012 |
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Little Hands in the Batter
Grinch Crinkles written By Kristen O’Brien
Every Who here in Whoville liked making Christmas presents a lot. But the Grinch who had four little Whos did not! Could it be that there was just too much to do? With the tree and lights and the decorating too. So, she stood there staring at her stove with a sour Grinchy frown. How do I give a homemade gift without bringing the Whos down? The Grinch simply said, When I can’t find a present, I bake one instead! I won’t give them a recipe too hard or too scary I’ll show them how this ol’ Grinch can be merry! If I save them some time in the kitchen, she knew
The Kaleidoscope Players Present A Night of Feasting & Merriment...
The Grinch, the husband Grinch and the Whos would be happier too!
To Reserve Tickets Call
587-3642
Adults $30.00 Children under 11 $20.00
Something real fun to bring a smile and a twinkle “I know,” said the Grinch, “I’ll bake a Grinch crinkle!” She chuckled and chuckled, what a great Grinchy trick! With this easy recipe, I’ll be as quick as St. Nick! So, the Grinch grabbed her Who-daughters and handsome Who-sons And they baked those Grinch Crinkles with their little green thumbs.
And what happened did you say?
A AWinter’s Madrigal Christmas Dinner Theater Production Friday & Saturday December 7 & 8 Thursday, Friday & Saturday December 13,14 & 15
According to my little Whos that old Grinch’s heart grew three sizes that day.
The
Kaleidoscope Playhouse 1602 West Beall
New Club Kaleidoscope Classes in January! 16 Classes for $200.00
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For the Whos were so happy and gift giving not a bore The Grinch will show them Christmas doesn’t come from a store! Making something for someone means a little bit more. Wishing you the Merriest of Christmases and a New Year filled with peace and joy! Kristen O’Brien
Bozeman & Helena
$10 Off
purchase of $50 or more
photos kristen o'brien
Making shopping affordable and enjoyable Fashion forward styles in the latest trends Textiles and fabrics you will love Fun footwear and accessories
Grinch Crinkles I’ve always wanted to try a “cake batter” recipe. My kids love the cake batter ice cream flavor so this really made the Whos happy. We watched the Grinch Movie while we baked too. Makes about 24 cookies Preheat oven to 375 degrees
Ingredients: »» 1 - 18oz. package of vanilla cake mix »» 6 tablespoons butter, melted and cooled
Two Montana Locations 26 N. Last Chance Gulch, Helena, MT. (406) 449-2230 36 West Main Street Bozeman, MT 59715 (406) 582-0079
»» 2 eggs »» Green food coloring (50 drops green and 5 yellow. Trust me.) »» 1 cup powdered sugar »» 1 tablespoon cornstarch
Directions: Whisk powdered sugar and cornstarch together in a shallow bowl and set aside. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the melted, cooled butter, eggs and vanilla cake batter.
Custom Hand Crafted Bags and Accessories
Add all of the food coloring. Mix with a wooden spoon. It will be a little stiff but no worries. Make sure it is all incorporated and mixed well. Using two spoons, drop a blob of Grinch Crinkle batter into the powdered sugar/ cornstarch mix and roll it around with a fork until generously coated. Place on a greased/sprayed cookie sheet. Do not crowd, they will spread a little. Bake approximately 10 minutes. They will be puffed and look NOT DONE, trust me, they are. Place on a cooling rack. Do not cover to store - they get chewier! mp Kristen O’Brien is a Chef, graduate of The California Culinary Academy in San Francisco and a former teacher for Marin Day Schools. Kristen is a stay at home mom and lives in Bozeman with her loving husband Tim, and four children Jack, Maeve, Rose and Finn.
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Upcoming Festival Schedule: Gallatin Fairground, Holiday Festival December 1-2 SLAM Holiday Festival Downtown Main St above Santa Fe Reds December 15 Emerson Cultural Center, Holiday Bazaar
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a version of normal Holiday Crafting
with Your Special Needs Child
See us for your complete holiday meal needs. Fruit, cheese and meat trays available on order. Hutterite and Fresh Turkeys Special orders for your holiday meats.
$5 off
a $25 order PLU 500
ph: 586-5464
544 E Main St., Bozeman, MT 59715
Scala Communication Services, Inc.
Do you think your child might have a speech or language disorder?
586-5609 720 Stoneridge Dr., Unit 1
[email protected]
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photo simple reflections
Take
written By Jennifer Gossett
We’ve all seen the idyllic holiday movies, TV shows and commercials about the ohso-perfect home and the blissful family at Christmas. Perfectly made-up mom and her sparklingly clean and fashionably dressed kids smile as they hang their homemade decorations on the tree by the fire. When it comes to making those homemade decorations, though, the reality is often far from perfect, especially if you are dealing with children with delayed motor skills or other special needs. Nevertheless, working together as a family on holiday crafts can be a wonderful way to make memories, even if it doesn’t quite match the Hallmark card image. With some creativity and thoughtful planning, children with motor skill delays can still enjoy that fun craft-making experience, and create decorations and memories that will last for years. Both of my boys have received occupational therapy for various reasons, and my youngest still does because he has always struggled with fine motor issues. It took him FOREVER to learn to use scissors successfully; his handwriting
is still pretty atrocious (at age eight) and we buy Velcro-equipped shoes rather than fight the lace-tying battle. I remember when he was younger, I was obsessed with finding every toy and product available to promote his development--intellectually, socially, and with motor skills. I scoured catalogs and the Internet, and one of the items I bought was a set of “stringing beads.” His Occupational Therapist recommended it for hand-eye coordination and focus, and he enjoyed it once he caught on to how it worked. So for a Christmas craft, why not make your own garlands of beads for the tree? Use yarn, fishing line or any string that is durable and strong. Craft stores have a limitless variety of beads in all sizes and colors, so you can design your own pattern to match your decor. Look for bigger beads, though, and make sure the openings are big enough for the yarn to pass through. We don’t want to frustrate the child who struggles with a tiny bead and cannot feel successful. Imagine, though, your child’s pride at seeing the beautiful garland he or she made hanging on your family’s tree.
For more creative ideas check out www. ot-mom-learning-activities.com. If your child struggles with scissor skills, try the activity on that site for making paper lanterns. The site has lots of printables, but the one you need for the lanterns is the printable “cutting lines” sheet (or you could make your own). Your paper (turned in the “landscape” direction) should have several evenly spaced lines drawn on it that do not go all the way to the top and bottom of the page. Fold the paper horizontally, then have your child use scissors to cut on the lines, stopping where the lines stop so that the paper isn’t cut completely apart into strips. Then, unfold the paper but leave it slightly bent so that the scissored areas flare out. Lastly, wrap the paper around an empty toilet-paper roll and secure with tape at the top and bottom while keeping the paper flared as before. Decorate the roll ahead of time if you choose. Put a piece of paper at the top of your lantern as a handle and it’s ready for the tree, or put several lanterns on your table as a centerpiece. There are plenty of other good websites with ideas that you can modify to fit your child’s needs and skills. Another one of my favorites is www.handsonaswegrow. com. Going beyond the Internet, you’ll find ways to customize crafts and activities for your child all around you once you start looking. Think of the craft project you’d love to do but haven’t tried, then look for a way that it CAN work with some tweaking and creativity. For example, make your gingerbread house a flat, two-dimensional version by laying the gingerbread out on a tray rather than trying to assemble it standing up. (Let’s face it, we all struggle to make those darn walls stay up.) The truth is, just like everything you do for -- and with -- your special-needs child, it’s all about modifying, adapting and finding ways to make it work. So don’t completely abandon the TV image of the family making the perfect craft, just make it your own and what works for your child, and that will be perfect too. mp Jennifer Gossett is a music therapist for children with disabilities and has 15 years experience as a music educator in public and private schools. She is also a wife and the mother of two special boys.
Raise the Roof Sponsored by:
Dick Anderson Construction Kath Williams + Associates Owenhouse Ace Hardware
Raise the Roof was produced by the Science Museum of Minnesota. The exhibit was made possible with support from the National Science Foundation. P h ot o by M a t t Tre a ge r | m a t t t re a ge r. com
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One of a kind frames
Peek-a-boo Pillows
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photo Bon Ton Photo Co.
Peggy Karr functional artware
Sustainable Parenting Downsize, Donate and Discuss written By Flora McCormick
One Christmas morning a mother and father were opening Christmas presents with their three children and after all the presents were opened the youngest (three years old) started throwing a complete temper tantrum. She was crying and hitting the floor. The mother and father looked at each other with annoyance and frustration thinking, “Have we raised a monster? How could she not be grateful for the privilege of getting these wonderful presents?” Just then, the mother remembered the parenting tool of “Get Curious, Not Furious.” She took a second to step back, breathed a few slow breaths, and then bent down at her daughter’s level to say, “What’s the matter sweetie? What are you upset about?” To her surprise, her daughter said through her tears, “I forgot to get Santa a present!” Many parents fear their children becoming “spoiled brats” that are ungrateful for gifts and privileges. Fortunately this child was coming from a place of compassion. If you are worried your child could have a tantrum after Christmas for other reasons, here are some tips to help your child to feel grateful for his Christmas presents this year: Downsize, Donate, and Discuss the value of receiving gifts.
Downsize: Joshua Becker, author of
Simplify: 7 Guiding Principles to Help Anyone Declutter Their Home and Life says, “Kids with less toys develop longer attention spans, take greater care of things, and become less selfish.” He is a married father of two and has shared his experience of downsizing on the CBS evening news, NPR and other media sources. Becker notes, “When too many toys are introduced into a child’s life, their attention span will begin to suffer. A child will rarely learn to fully appreciate the toy in front of them when there are countless options still remaining on the shelf behind them.” In addition, “Kids who get everything they want believe they can have everything they want.” If your child has more toys than he really needs, take time before the Holidays this year to get rid of about half of the items. You’ll be pleasantly surprised with how it can improve your child’s inner qualities of gratitude. If your child is under three you can generally do this without the child, but if they are older, it is best to do with your child.
Donate: Talk with your child about other kids less fortunate, who may have no toys at all. It can help to give concrete examples like “some families have had a
Come on in, the Water is fine!
Winter 2012/spring 2013 Programs fire or flood in their house and they lost all their toys.” This will help to encourage their other-person perspective. Then talk about the great opportunity of sharing some toys with those in need. Lastly, involve your child in taking the toys to Goodwill, a toy drive site in your community, or another donation site. Having the experience of giving will likely have the greatest impact on your child’s value of receiving.
Discuss the Value of Receiving Gifts: You can prevent
undue selfishness or entitlement by talking with your child about why we give gifts to others and why it is a privilege to receive a gift. Life Coach Mary Jane Ryan, author of Attitudes of Gratitude (Conari, 1999), gives a great reminder that “No one is born grateful.” We need to take time for training in the area of manners instead of expecting children to learn from our “lectures.” Positive Discipline (Jane Nelson and Lynn Lott) calls this parenting tool “Take Time for Teaching.” In these conversations the less the parent is talking the better. What I mean is that you can discuss these issues by asking rather than telling. Ask your child thought provoking questions such as “What is special about giving a gift?” Or “What are the reasons we give each other gifts for Birthdays?” You could also consider reading a book with your child that teaches great intrinsic values. One such book is called What Do You Stand For? For Kids (Free Spirit Publishing, 2005) by Barbara Lewis. This book is appropriate for children in grades 2-6. Lewis states “By learning gratitude, children become sensitive to the feelings of others, developing empathy and other life skills along the way.”
Winter Youth Basketball • Grades K-4th Jan. 28th-Mar. 9th Member: $60/Non-member: $65 Youth swim Lessons • Ages 3-12 Session 1: Jan. 7th-Jan. 31 (2xweek) Session 3: Jan. 10-Feb. 28 (1xweek) Member $55/Non-member $65 Girls Basketball • Grades K-4th Feb. 9th-Mar. 9th Member: $35/Non-member: $40 holiday Break Camp • Ages 5-12 Dec. 27-28th, Jan. 2-4th Member: $35/Non-member: $40
reGister onLine! gallatinvalleyymca.org
406.994.4622 Gallatin Valley YmCa
Lastly, make sure to involve your child in making “Thank you” cards for Santa, grandparents, or whoever they “know” gave them a gift. When you Downsize, Donate, and Discuss the value of receiving gifts, you will be building your child’s appreciation for giving and receiving. Enjoy the Holidays! mp Flora McCormick, LCPC is a professional counselor and parenting coach at Psychiatry Associates, PC in Bozeman. She works 1-on-1 with parents, to empower their discipline, and bring more joy to their homes. Learn more about Flora at www.sustainableparenting. com.
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The Gift of Giving Honors someone special Shares the joy of giving Demonstrates how a gift can change lives.
GIVE TO
photo amelia anne photography
is a teaching opportunity and...
the
Gift of You written By Ann Swann
We all know how easy it is to get caught up in the madness of the holidays. This is a beautiful time of the year, but let’s be honest: It can be stressful and exhausting for both you and your family. And while not all stress is bad (a certain level of stress for children is part of regular development and offers opportunities for growth and learning), it’s part of our job to help our families handle normal stress. The busy holiday season seems like a perfect time to think about the gifts that you can give to your children that cost nothing and might just ease their stress.
Your honoree will receive a festive acknowledgement of the gift you made in their name and how it changes lives.
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Be generous with your affection. This seems easy enough, but sometimes in the rush of life we forget. Especially as your children get older, a pat on the back or a hug shows them that you are still there for them and that you care. Be ready for conversation and to lend an ear. Children of all ages just want to be heard. It is easy to tune out when your child is talking nonstop about a subject that seems trivial to you. However, this is a great opportunity to show your child that they are important to you. Ask questions about the subject and then try
to remember what they said for the next time the subject comes up. Create and maintain routines. Children like to know what to expect in life. By creating everyday routines around bedtime or morning time, for instance, you are providing a framework for them to understand what is expected. Knowing that mom leaves the house at 7:45 a.m. every day, whether they are showered or not, can help your sleepy teen make decisions about managing their time in the morning. Show them how to make mistakes. No one is perfect, especially parents. One of the biggest gifts you can give your child is the gift of showing them how to be resilient when you make a mistake. Seeing a parent make a mistake and then watching them resolve it is a terrific learning opportunity for your child. This holiday season, take a moment to step back, slow down and focus on the one thing you don’t have to buy for your children: the gift of you. mp By Ann Swann, a Parent Educator with the Parent Place - a signature program of Thrive. For help with any of your parenting questions, call the Parent Place at 587-4734.
Counselor's Corner
Thoughts on Gratitude written By: Colleen E. Crane MSW, LCSW
I woke up this morning thinking about gratitude. So I thought I would write a little about it in hopes of inspiring you. Think about some of the things that have happened to you this year and take note of what you are grateful for. Often when we think about gratitude we immediately jump to the material things. For example, I am grateful for my job, my house and my running car. But if you look closer, there are a lot of little moments in your every day life that can cause you to feel grateful. Just this morning my daughter poked my belly and exclaimed that it was like a squishy pillow. After having two children and wanting so much to have a flat belly again, I must admit I was initially chagrined by her comment. But you know what? I can honestly say that, yes, I am grateful for my “squishy belly” because it reminds me that I carried two beautiful children, both for 40 weeks and 5 days. A nurse once said to me, “That belly that you dislike so much is your badge of courage, not something you should be ashamed of.” I remember looking down at my growing belly knowing that my life would be forever changed once that child arrived. I am grateful to have had that experience, even if it does mean that my belly is a little squishy. Sometimes we get stuck recounting negative experiences and are unable
to see the positives. Each day in my office I hear stories of trauma and the courageous spirits who have walked through trauma and survived. They survived to share their story and make a difference for others. For example, it might be hard to say, “Yes, I am grateful for the experience of losing a loved one.” Surely you miss that person and the times that were shared. However, for many of us when there is a tragedy or loss, there is growth that follows -- growth and understanding. We start to develop empathy for others who have had similar experiences and our perspective on life changes. I think that a change in perspective is something to be grateful for. So, I ask of you during this holiday season to reflect on what you are grateful for. Try not to jump to the obvious experiences, but peer into the more difficult situations and see if you can find some peace from those moments, maybe an understanding that you didn’t have before. Take pause and reflect. Then start the New Year with a different perspective and maybe a deeper sense of gratitude. From my family to yours, happy holidays. mp Written by Colleen E. Crane MSW, LCSW. If you have topics or questions that you would like me to answer or address, please feel free to contact me. I can be reached at
[email protected].
Comprehensive Therapy Services for Independence and Growth F Occupational and Physical Therapy F Speech and Language Therapy F Breastfeeding Support and Supplies A warm and comfortable environment serving: Infants, Children and Women
1276 N. 15th Ave., #101 F 587-2755
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»» Donate blood »» Volunteer!
SHORT ON IDEAS? »» Churches welcome donations to provide vouchers for meals and temporary housing and support through local and international outreach programs
In The Spirit
of Giving written By Marie Mitchell, PNP, FNP Four Corners Health Care, Inc.
Did you know that children under the age of two are happier giving to others, especially when it involves some cost to them, like giving their toy to another? It’s true, according to Psychology professor Lara Aknin’s study, “Giving Leads to Happiness in Young Children.” Giving, especially personally assisting someone, has added benefits, such as improving depression, increasing self esteem and self confidence, learning new skills, meeting new people and becoming more aware of needs in your community. Studies also suggest that volunteers live longer and function at higher levels. Of course giving can take many different forms. Contribute money, food or clothing to charity. Perform random acts of kindness. Volunteer. And if, despite your best intentions, the holidays find you short on time or money or physical limitations hinder what you can do, then consider some of the ideas below:
photo Bon Ton Photo Co.
Corner on Health
»» Fix an extra meal when you are cooking for your family for someone who is especially stressed »» Add an extra place setting and invite someone who is alone to eat with you »» For someone who will appreciate something homemade, add on an extra dozen cookies to the ones you are baking
IF YOU HAVE PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS: »» Donate money to charitable organizations »» Make phone calls for charities
IF YOU ARE SHORT ON MONEY: »» Shovel a neighbor’s walk »» Drive someone to an appointment, church or the grocery store
IF YOU ARE SHORT ON TIME:
»» Provide respite care for families caring for an ill or elderly family member
»» Purchase an extra gift when holiday shopping to put in a collection drop box (e.g. Toys for Tots)
»» Offer free babysitting for a family that’s especially stressed or hurting
»» Purchase extra canned goods when grocery shopping and donate to the local Food Bank
»» Provide emotional support to someone trying to quit smoking, overcoming addictions, recently divorced/ separated, alone
»» Donate money to charitable organizations
»» Pick up mail, newspapers, house sit or provide animal care for someone away
»» Service organizations that provide assistance locally and worldwide. One can become a member or participate in other ways. For example, you can donate used eyeglasses to The Lion’s Club (www. lionsclubs.org ). »» Grocery stores sometimes have boxes for food donations »» Banks have special accounts for families facing extreme medical expenses. »» American Red Cross: Donate blood—the gift of life.
GIVING BEGINS AT HOME Giving has no timetable and for many families, giving at holiday times can be stressful. This may be the time to spend more time with your family. Take a moment to read to your child, watch a movie together, play a game, or get outside and make that snowman, sled down that hill, ski, or ice skate together. Family members will feel closer and less stressed, a gift to everyone. When giving one more thing to one more person or organization is going to put you “over the edge,” take time to give to yourself. Now might the time to take that nap, soak in a bubble bath or read a magazine. It’s difficult to give to others when you are emotionally drained. When the holidays have passed, you may have more time or resources available to help others. We all think of the holidays as the time to give to others, but gifts of time, money or talent are always needed. Sharing your blessings with others is a gift that has no price tag: because it’s priceless. mp Marie Mitchell is nationally certified and licensed in Montana as both a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and Family Nurse Practitioner and is the owner of Four Corners Health Care, Inc. She provides general health care for infants and children, individual adults, and families and welcomes new patients. Please call 406-556-8300. Information used in this article was obtained from: http://www.plosone.org/article/ info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0039211
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photo Bon Ton Photo Co.
A College Student’s Perspective
Experience Gifts written By Kaylan Clevenger
Mother Theresa once said, “It’s not how much we give; but how much love we put into giving.” I couldn’t agree more; the best gifts I have ever received may have required money, but it wasn’t the monetary value that made them special. It honestly was the thought that counted most. Over the years I’ve received some very cool “experience” gifts. For my tenth, and my brothers seventh birthday’s (we are exactly three years and four days apart), my mom selflessly used an inheritance she received (my grandma had passed earlier that fall) to take us to Anaheim, California. While we were in California we got to see and play in the ocean for the first time, visit Disneyland and Sea World. We “received” that trip on Christmas and got to experience it the following May. One of my favorite childhood memories is the special feeling I had when I turned ten as we were walking through Disneyland’s front gate. In high school, I once shared lunches with my best friend Leah for a month so I could save my lunch-money to buy us both concert tickets for her birthday. For my sweet-sixteenth birthday, Leah wanted to reserve a limo. This was obviously out of our “lunch and allowance money only budget” so she convinced my parents and quite a few of my other friends to pitch in with her. The “limo” ended up being a Mercedes van that didn’t have windows or a sun-roof (and Leah was rather upset) but it is now a hilarious memory and I’ll never forget the look on her face when it pulled up, just as I told her it was the thought that counts. Last
year my boyfriend took me sky-diving for my birthday, it was something I had wanted to do for a very long time and I’ve never been more excited to unwrap a piece of note paper. This past summer, I used the money I had been saving for college tuition and instead took a trip to Tanzania, Africa. While in Tanzania, I worked in two different orphanages and taught in a primary school. Although this was an expensive adventure, it was more than worth the cost. The trip was a gift to myself but what I received the day before I left was the greatest gift. My friend Nicole gave me a notebook dubbed my World Book. It was filled with pictures, quotes and a letter for every day I was gone, not only from Nicole but also from many other friends and family. I will cherish that book forever as it contains handwritten keepsakes I could never replace. I am also grateful for the time and energy Nicole put into making it. I’m blessed with an amazing set of friends and family and after reading this you may think I am spoiled. I would agree, all of these presents were pretty outrageous or extravagant but that isn’t the point I am making now. Take your family, your friends, your kids out and do something fun for a night or weekend as a gift, make something special yourself, make a memory. In the end, the holidays are more about who you spend them with and not what you receive. mp Kaylan was born and raised in Montana, graduated from Bozeman High School, and currently attends Montana State University while working in Bozeman.
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the 2012
BEST TOYS FOR KIDS Selected by a pool of 550 local and independent toy retailers from across the country, The American Specialty Toy and Retailing Association’s (ASTRA) 2012 Best Toys for Kids list honors 21 unique toys in a variety of categories. The winning toys were chosen for their ability to promote open-ended or creative play, their innovative design features and their exceptional safety standards. All toys are new or include new features for 2012. “With so many toys on the market, the shopping experience can become overwhelming for parents,” said Kathleen McHugh, President of ASTRA. “ASTRA develops the Best Toys for Kids list each year to help parents and caregivers select toys that deliver exceptional value and spark the interest and imagination of children each and every time they are used.”
This year’s list honors: Active Play Kickin’ Putt by BeginAgain This game combines the fun of soccer, kickball, Frisbee and golf! The set includes two kickin’ golf balls, a flying scoring disc and instructions on how to play this active new game. 3+ years, $29.99.
Ogo Sport RAQ by OgoSport, LLC
Constructive Play Nanoblock Musical Instruments by Ohio Art Company Build a detailed 3D violin, electric guitar or piano with micro-sized building blocks. 8+ years, $12.99.
The ZOOB Challenge by INFINITOY
The OgoSport RAQ combines disc and racquet play. Play with water balloons, tennis balls or the included custom Flux ball with movable tail parts. 6+ years, $34.99.
This game challenges players to move a ball into a target with a 2” high wall from 2 feet away. Players can use ZOOB pieces to build contraptions to solve the challenges! 8+ years, $39.99.
Classic Play (0-7 years)
Creative Arts Play
Brio Classic Figure 8 Train Set by Schylling Toys This classic wooden railway set includes 15 track pieces, a sleek engine, 2 railway cars plus accessories to build the perfect train track, 2+ years, $49.99.
Classic Play (8 years +) Rush Hour by ThinkFun This game challenges players to set up traffic jams and battle the gridlock by sliding blocking vehicles out of the way in order to find a path for the red car to exit. Includes 40 new traffic challenges. 8+ years, $19.99.
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Loopdedoo by Ann Williams Kids can design their own friendship bracelets with this new spinning tool. 8+ years, $34.99.
Sunflowers Master Kitz by Kidzaw Inspired by Vincent van Gogh’s paintings of sunflowers, this art kit includes all the tools kids need to create their own sunflower-inspired masterpiece, plus learning materials to deepen their understanding of the famous artist. 5+ years, $29.99.
Early Play (0-3 years) Tobbles Neo by Fat Brain Toy Company Six uniquely weighted pieces balance, nest and spin, inviting toddlers to stack, topple, balance and wobble the mysterious blocks. 6+ months, $27.99.
Roll & Play by ThinkFun This game for toddlers invites players to toss a plush and identify which colored side faces up. Then players choose a matching colored card and perform the simple activity shown, such as, “Make a happy face” or “Moo like a cow.” 18+ months, $19.99.
Game Play (3-7 years) Look Look by Mindware Six types of challenges test players’ powers of perception in this fast-paced, mixed-up matching race. 8+ years, $19.99.
Feed the Woozle by Peaceable Kingdom This game for preschoolers combines fine and gross motor movements, counting and teamwork into a fun, interactive game. 3-6 years, $19.99.
the 2012
Game Play (8+ years)
Pretend (Fantasy Play) E-Rangers Headquarters by PLAYMOBIL
TENZI by Carma Games This fast moving game challenges players to get all 10 of their dice to land on the same number. 8+ years, $14.99.
Pajaggle Board by Pajaggle Inc The Pajaggle Board is a combination of a game, brainteaser and puzzle all rolled into one and based on the concepts of spatial recognition and visual discrimination. 8+ years, $29.99.
Game Play (Brainteasers) Rubik’s® The Void™ Puzzle by Winning Moves This twist on the classic Rubik’s Cube features a hole where there should be a middle. Scramble The Void™’s vibrant rings, then try to restore a solid-colored ring on each side. 8+ years, $14.99.
Perplexus Twist by PlaSmart The newest Perplexus model requires a player to twist, turn and realign the tracks within to escape traps, dead ends and cliffhangers. 7+ years, $29.99.
Pretend (Role Play) Kidoozie Deluxe Build-A-Road with Elevator by International Playthings This set includes 15 feet of flexible track for kids to build their own roadway. The set has an exciting elevator that lifts cars from one level to another and a ramp for jumps and car tricks. 2 battery-operated cars are also included. 3+ years, $49.99.
Your local connection for the best toys for kids this holiday season!
In the Gallatin Valley Mall • Bozeman
406.522.toys (8697)
Join us on Facebook or stop by Giggles for more info.
Scientific Play
Helena
My First Super Science Kit by Be Amazing! Toys Junior scientists can explore, experiment and discover with this science kit that includes the materials for more than 70 exciting science experiments. 4+ years, $39.99.
Snap Circuits LIGHT from ELENCO This easy-to-assemble electronic circuit board kit invites kids to build over 175 cool projects. 8+ years, $79.99. mp
Puppet-on-a-Stick™ by Educational Insights®
Thank you to Giggles: Toys & More for providing the information for the Best Toys for Kids 2012. Find these great toys and support your locally owned toy stores by shopping with Giggles: Toys & More and Rocky Mountain Toy Co. in Bozeman and Lasso the Moon in Helena.
are at Giggles: Toys & More
Kids can enter the realm of a futuristic world filled with topnotch technology including an LED spotlight and functional solar fan module. 7-12 years, $129.99.
Pretend (Doll Play)
These adorable oversized puppets on sticks inspire dramatic play with silly faces, movable mouths and endless possibilities. 4+ years, $9.99.
Best Toys for Kids Winners
For more information on the winning toys and to find a neighborhood toy store near you please visit YourNeighborhoodToyStore.org. About ASTRA Founded in 1992, the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA) is a non-profit organization that provides leadership and resources to grow the specialty toy industry. As the largest association serving the specialty toy industry, ASTRA members include independent toy and children’s product retailers, specialty toy manufacturers and industry affiliates. For more information on ASTRA, please visit www.astratoy.org.
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WONDERFUL TOYS For boys and girls, indoor and outdoor play, ages 4-12, $3.99 and up
Downtown on the Walking Mall 25 S Last Chance Gulch, 442-1594
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This Season’s
Best Book Buys Courtesy of the Country Bookshelf
Winter Wonderland
Ages 0-2 Alphasaurus by Megan E. Bryant; illustrated by Luciana Navarro Powell
Join us for
Winter Crafts, Snowy Science, and Seasonal Stories Every Day during Winter Break December 22 - January 5 at 11am 202 South Willson Avenue 406-522-9087 www.cmbozeman.org
Dinosaurs and bright colors will keep your little ones engaged as they learn their ABC’s and the dinosaur names for each letter of the alphabet. The pictures are playful and very kid friendly which will make reading and playtime fun for the whole family. Other titles by Megan E. Bryant: Colorasaurus, Shapeasaurus and Countasaurus
Ages 3-5
springintegrativehealth.com
One stop for: Naturopathic Acupuncture Holistic Counseling Medical Massage Bodytalk Craniosacral Family Friendly Discounts Available
406.586.2626
springintegrativehealth.com
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Other titles by William Joyce: Man in the Moon, Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lesmore, Leaf Men, Dinosaur Bob
Ages 9-12 The Peculiar by Stefan Bachmann Bartholomew and his younger sister, Hettie, are changeling children; children who are halfhuman and half-faerie. Neither humans nor faeries want anything to do with changelings so they are forced to hide their true identity. But then someone begins to take notice of the changelings and Hettie disappears. Bartholomew must save her before their world is destroyed. The story includes faerie lore and mystery, friendship and adventure and is sure to please readers both young and old.
Ages 13 and up The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
This is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen
Find Your Health
colorful and whimsical telling of a childhood fairytale gives the reader a case of the “warm and fuzzies.”
A small fish steals a little hat from a big fish and is confident he won’t get caught. Maybe too confident. Find out what happens in this new book by Jon Klassen, who also authored I Want My Hat Back. Other titles by Jon Klassen: Extra Yarn, House Held Up By Trees, Cat’s Night Out
Ages 6-8 The Sandman by William Joyce The Man in the Moon needs help. Most nights he shines, providing sleeping children with a nightlight to help keep the nightmares away. But what happens when his light can’t reach them and who will keep the children safe? Sanderson Mansnoozie is the right person for the job. Book Two of the Guardians of Childhood series, Joyce’s
Blue’s family is full of psychics, including her mother and aunt, and she is the exception; her power is to amplify energy. Blue is caught up in an unexplained mystery she never expected involving the privileged Raven Boys from Aglionby Academy. She must guard her heart closely, however, because Blue’s always been told that she’s destined to kill her true love with a kiss. Blue is haunted by this prediction as she helps Gansey and the other Raven Boys on their quest to find a legendary sleeping Welsh king, and their discovery of centuries-old magic. Other titles by Maggie Stiefvater: Scorpio Races, Shiver, Linger, Forever, Lament These titles were brought to you by your friendly local bookstore, Country Bookshelf. Come in and check out our awesome children’s and teen’s sections, where we have the titles listed here and many favorites, both new and old. Located in downtown Bozeman, our knowledgeable staff is always happy to give suggestions and to help you find what you need. mp
UNBORED -Montana Parent’s Book Pick Review by Sam Farmer
This is a fabulous book. The target audience for Unbored is school aged kids from 9 to 17, but much of it is useful and inspiring to the younger set with help from parents as well as imaginative tinkerers of any age. I can imagine this book on a grandparent’s shelf, ready to be pulled out in expectation of a weekend visit with the grandkids. Philosophically, I couldn’t be more on board with Unbored. And without throwing around a tired cliché about ‘kids-these-days,’ and, “When I was a kid all we had were sticks and leftover bailing twine to play with,” I’ll just point out that the introduction starts off with an illustration of a homemade instrument with a simple caption reading, “The joy of making stuff often surpasses the joy of consuming mass-produced stuff.” It is about playing. How to roughhouse without actually coming to blows or traumatizing a younger sibling. Reveling in lazy days, making stuff, thinking about weird things like how mayonnaise started a war and dreaming about travel. This is Montana Parent Magazine’s pick for best book of the year. It is jam-packed with great activities. From how-to’s, such as making a stop motion movie, to a tutorial on how to play four-square like a pro. There are addictively fun parlor games and a DIY project on making a noisy recycled drink bottle amplified “exhaust pipe” for your bike, you won’t ever be at a loss for a reply to the dreaded cry of, “Mom, I’m bored!”
Unbored is not a parenting book, but-as a parent-I’d rather have this in my arsenal than a book that advises you to find ways to connect, making you doubt whether the choices you’ve made have been sufficient to create kids who have a true love of learning and exploration. Instead, Unbored offers up 352 brightly illustrated pages of things that you and your kids will want to do. mp Sam Farmer is a Bozeman resident and the mother of two amazing kids.
UNBORED The Essential Guide to Serious Fun By Joshua Glenn and Elizabeth Foy Larsen ISBN: 978-1-60819-641-8 Price: $25 Pages: 352 Publisher: Bloomsbury Available at Country Bookshelf
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photo amelia anne photography
the holiday
Gift Guide
Shop Local for Unique Gifts & Great Deals
Rusi Hats
Vest, Coats & Snowshoes Courtesy of Chalet Sports in Bozeman
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BOZEMAN | LIVINGSTON | BIG SKY
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Isgardening the Montana Parent Magazine rack empty again or are you just looking for the perfect gift for family and friends who live out-of-state? Either way, a Montana Parent subscription is the solution. Keep gift guide grandparents in touch and feeling like they are here with you and their grandchildren – offer your siblings, parents and friends across the country a chance to see what parenting under the Big Sky is like. Montana Parent Magazine features vibrant photography combined subscr with content parents everywhere will enjoy. every ng Bonus…for Go to mtparent.com ip eri fParent ti a gift subscription youinpurchase Montana will send you f You will find subscriptions our store o o card for a free Moberry treat. We’ll also send you a Moberry card parent if you share the subscription event onmontana Facebook. Cost is $25 for 11 issues. Visit www.mtparent.com and click on the subscriptions tab to purchase. Now offering subscriptions for $25 to our first growing up under the big sky
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Give the gift of Montana Parent Magazine!
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*n ow
Print Subscriptions are now available!
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*
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150 customers!
Livingston Kite C mpany Snowflake Kite
Regular cost will be $30 per year/11 issues. Subscriptions will start shipping January 1st, 2013. See www.mtparent.com for more details.
Aesthetic Medicine
Give yourself the gift of beautiful skin. We tailor our many services to meet your unique needs. Our services include: microdermabrasion, waxing, facials, laser hair removal, chemical peels, tint, massage, Botox and dermal fillers. Mention this ad and receive 20% off any service or gift card. (406) 586-9229 • www.BeautifulSkinMontana.com
Amelia Anne Photography
Bibs and Binkies
Bibs and Binkies offers unique, quality holiday gifts. Choose from educational toys, toddler furniture, luxury blankets, & much more. Don't forget about Mom or Mom2B; we have diaper bags, teething jewelry, & lotions. If you are looking to spoil Mom or Dad this year, how about a must-have glider chair for the nursery. Every parent deserves a Storytime Series Best Chair! Shop Bibs and Binkies this Holiday Season. Shop Local! 2320 West Main St, Ste 2A, Bozeman • 406.585-8800 • www.bibsandbinkies.com
BioScience Laboratories
Looking for the perfect gift that is sure to be appreciated? Check out Amelia Anne Photography. We all know how fast time goes by. The gift of captured memories will be cherished forever. For the whole month of December, receive an additional $25 bonus for each $100 gift certificate purchased. Buy a $100 gift certificate and get $125, buy a $200 gift certificate get $250.00, etc.! (406) 579-5527 • www.ameliaannephotography.com
Antoinette’s
HOLIDAY MONEY
Let us help make your holiday gift giving a little brighter this year. Participate in a study with BioScience Laboratories and earn $50 to $500 to spend with these great local gift guide retailers. Visit our website or stop by our recruitment office to learn more. 1765 South 19th Ave, Bozeman • (406) 587-5735 • www.biosciencelabs.com
Blissful Family Yoga
Antoinette’s, a full hair and makeup studio, is reopening. Make an appointment Give the gift of movement, meditation and bliss oon! today-we can’t wait to see you. Antoinette this holiday season. fo is now a national educator for Paul sa Surprise the kids with a gift certificate for Mitchell systems. Antoinette’s carries cator hell Kids Yoga. Or, treat the new or expectant Bare Escentuals, bareMinerals formula mother in your life to Prenatal Yoga Classes representing the ideal mix of makeup and Mommy & Me Yoga Classes, and/or Prenatal & skincare-problem-solving cosmetics that Yoga for the Whole Family! Postpartum Dancing For Birth™ classes to keep perfect and pamper the complexion. Makeup so pure youKundalini can Adult Classes • Pregnancy Yoga vard, Suite B • Bozeman, Montana balanced, happy and feeling good throughout the changes that sleep in it. Gift certificates are available for all services. For a Mommy & her Me Yoga • Yoga for Kids 6.582.5427 pregnancy and motherhood bring. Gift certificates are also available for personal consultation, call today. hairandmakeup.com Gloria (406) 595-2547 private Kundalini Yoga Classes. Certified instructor. blissfulfamilyyoga.wordpress.com 290 W Kagy Blvd Suite B, Bozeman • (406) 582-5427 • www.antoinetteshairandmakeup.com
e you can sleep in it
(406) 595-2547 • blissfulfamilyyoga.wordpress.com
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Bon Ton Photo Co. • Boutique
Portrait Package
New to Bozeman, Bon Ton Photo Co. offers a fresh and magical approach to children’s portraiture. Their beautifully Boutique Portrait Package will be a parent’s most beloved gift this holiday season. The package includes a gift certificate for a Bon Ton Portrait Session and Print Collection for $150. www.bontonphotoco.com •
[email protected]
Bridger Pilates
Spoil your loved one this season with the gift of a leaner body and a stronger core. Bridger Pilates offers group training in Mat, Barre Conditioning and Equipment Classes. Packages for private training, massage or nutritional counseling available. Clinics in ski conditioning and weight-loss running are available in December and January. (406) 600-5247 • www.bridgerpilates.com
Community Food Co-op • Local
Jewelry
Looking for something unique? The Co-op Wellness Department, at 908 West Main, offers a wide selection of original, one-of-a-kind earrings and necklaces handcrafted by local artists. Funky, whimsical, bold or elegant, find the perfect gift for that special person on your list. (406) 587-4039 • www.bozo.coop
Country Bookshelf
Whether it's the latest craze or old-school favorites you’re looking for, the Country Bookshelf is the place for the best selection of new books and games, calendars, diaries, puzzles and craft kits in town. Visit our cozy store and knowledgeable staff in downtown Bozeman or shop online at www. countrybookshelf.com. 28 West Main, Bozeman • (406) 587-0166 • www.countrybookshelf.com •
[email protected] • http://twitter.com/countrybooks
Culture
Best way to warm up on a cold day? Stop in to Culture, Bozeman’s hottest fro-yo shop. While you’re there, treat yourself to a cup of Bozeman’s best pour over coffee and teas. Don’t forget to pick up a gift card, 15% off for the month of December. FREE WIFI 1011 W. College, Bozeman • (406) 404-1191 • Find us on Facebook: Bozemanculture
Dinners Done Right
Certificates from Dinners Done Right in Helena are a perfect fit for everyone on your gift list. No matter who you are, a good home-style meal is always appreciated, and now packages can be ordered for preparation in Helena with limited delivery in Bozeman. (Call for details) Or better yet – come on in the next time you are in Helena for our ready-totake meals, sides, soups and desserts. Pick ‘em out and take ‘em home! You’ll be glad you did. 3150 North Montana Ave Suite C, Helena • (406) 449-5100 • www.DinnersDoneRight.com
Eagle Ridge Ranch Beef • Grass-fed Beef and Gift Certificates
Great for the meat lover or health fanatic in your family. Our beef is lean, tasty and tender. High in Omega-3s, protein and great flavor, Eagle Ridge Ranch Beef is the perfect choice to nourish your loved ones. We use sustainably run Black Angus from our ranch outside of Wilsall, Montana. Eagle Ridge Ranch Beef is a 100% mama-owned business. (406) 624-6289 •
[email protected]
Earth’s Treasures
Earth's Treasures is the only little museum and mining store in SW MT, just off Main Street in Bozeman. Find unique gifts: fossils, crystals, dinosaur poop, metal detectors, butterfly wing jewelry (only harvested after a natural death), rock tumblers, gold pans and affordable gemstone jewelry. Cool stuff for the serious collector as well as small children. A fun place where kids can get something with their allowance (prices start at .50 cents). Also: books, collection boxes, kits and magnifying loupes. Don't miss the bug wall-kids LOVE bugs. Come in and enjoy the treasures of the earth that many people will never see. 25 N Willson Ave, Ste. B, Bozeman • (406) 586-3451 • www.earthstreasuresmt.com
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Giggles: Toys & More
HeyDay Ornament
Giggles: Toys & More in the Gallatin Valley Mall has “The Best Toys for Kids 2012”. Come in to Giggles to find all the award winners like: Feed the Woozle, Pajaggle, Rubiks The Void, Master Kitz, Look Look and many more. Be sure to check out the full list of Best Toys for Kids 2012 in Montana Parents Gift Guide and let Giggles friendly staff help you find that perfect gift. In the Gallatin Valley Mall • (406) 522-8697
F-11 Photo Print and Share
Stacked metal prints are available in many unique designs, shapes and sizes. Choose a beautiful background to show off your favorite image, or create a wall collage piece with multiple images or shapes. 16 E Main Street, Bozeman • (406) 586-3281 • 800-548-0203
Gallatin Valley Furniture Carpet One
Heyday
Find the perfect gift, every time. Heyday, a gift boutique located in the heart of downtown Bozeman, offers a fresh approach to home decorating and everyday giving. Count on us for complementary gift-wrapping, gift registry, workshops, a rewards program and style tips via email. Enjoy our extended holiday hours: Monday – Saturday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. and Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. 7 West Main Street, Bozeman • (406) 586-5589 • www.heydaybozeman.com • www.facebook.com/heydaybozeman
IPuckALot
Find the perfect gift for the holidays at Gallatin Valley Furniture Carpet One. Come in and enjoy great savings on artwork, accessories, lamps, mirrors, clocks, area rugs, furniture and flooring. Gift Certificates are also available. Gallatin Valley Furniture Carpet One… Local, family-owned and operated since 1946. Open Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Closed Sundays. 923 N. 7th Ave., Bozeman • (406) 587-5423
Let IPuckALot Hockey design and deliver top-quality custom team apparel for your organization. Our staff will assist your team in the development of team equipment, warm-ups, jerseys and apparel. Make your organization look as great as it plays!
[email protected] • ipuckalot.com
Gerty
Jazzercise Bozeman
Gerty offers, everything on the fashionable active mom's wish list. Fashion forward styles that are comfortable, versatile and functional. Local jewelry artists featured plus the latest in handbags and accessories along with organic skin care lines and candles just to name a few stellar gift giving ideas. (406) 586-9474 • http://www.gerty.net/
GetN ’Green
Make someone shine this holiday! Give the gift of twelve Jazzercise classes along with a balsam-scented luxury candle for only $20. (Retail value: $156) With 37 classes a week, a thriving women’s community, top-notch instructors and trainers, and a supportive environment; Jazzercise has it all! 2320 West Main, Suite 6 • (406) 587-8112 •
[email protected]
LillyLu
Get N’ Green offers products from companies that use sustainable materials and manufacturing methods. Give your family and the planet the gift of well-being. Check out the SKOY reusable Earth Friendly Cloth. One Skoy Cloth outlasts 15 rolls of paper towels and absorbs fifteen times its own weight. Replace your dishtowels and sponges with the SKOY, 100% biodegradable and machine washable.
Welcome to the wonderland of LillyLu. Shop an exceptional selection of Holiday gifts and apparel from around the world for boys, size newborn to age five and girls, newborn to age 14. Discover our preteen offerings... adorable! Enjoy a lovely selection of the softest, cutest baby gifts around. LillyLu loves children and the wonder of the holidays. Open Monday through Saturday,10 a.m.-6 p.m.
113 East Main Street • (406) 922-5070 • www.getngreen.com
424 East Main, Bozeman • (406) 587-6364
®
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Give a gift that lasts all year: Dance Lessons from Main Street Dance Theatre. Dance lessons improve coordination, rhythm, grace, self-awareness, performance technique and confidence all in a friendly, non-competitive and professional environment. Classes offered in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, hip-hop and modern. Perfect for girls and boys alike. Costs range from $42-$54 per month. There is still space available in The Creative Arts Preschool. Daily class specials include drumming, music, dance and more. 2304 N. 7th Ave Suite C-3, Bozeman • (406) 587-7192 • www.mainstreetdancetheatre.com
Maranda Lee Handbags
Find the perfect gift for every woman in your life at Maranda Lee, home of the Original Hot Mama Handbags, where you will find quality hand crafted bags, diaper bags, clutches, key chains and more. Use coupon code “mtparent” for 15% off your order. Checkout my festival schedule online www.marandalee.com. www.marandalee.etsy.com • www.marandalee.com
Moonlight Basin
Moonlight Basin’s Value Card makes the perfect stocking stuffer for your family, friends or yourself! Includes eight days of free skiing and great discounts on lift tickets and much more all season long. Only available through December 16, 2012. Purchase online at moonlightbasin.com. Price: $59 (406) 993-6074 •
[email protected] • moonlightbasin.com
Music Lingua LLC
Foreign language classes for kids French, German and Spanish classes for ages 0-8. Created by local moms to teach foreign language to children during their most absorbent years of language acquisition, our fun music-based program teaches through movement, drama, storytelling and art. Parentchild and drop-off classes also available. Come learn a foreign language with your child. Gigi Swenson • (406) 586-1770 • (877) 654-6482 •
[email protected] • www.musiclingua.com
Maranda Lee Bag
Montana Gift Corral
Windrift Hill All Natural Goat’s Milk Products are made in Conrad, Montana. Each product is made of the purest natural ingredients and Montana Gift Corral offers the entire collection of goat’s milk soaps, lotions, bath salts and much more. The Montana Gift Corral is a busy parent’s holiday stress relief. Come to our downtown store and browse the beautiful Montana and Western Gifts that fit into any budget. Convenient parking behind the store, and we can wrap, pack and ship it for you. 237 East Main Street • www.giftcorral.com • (406) 585-8625
Music Together
The gift of music with Music Together. Children and families experience the gift of music though singing, movement, drumming, dance, rhythm and improvisation. A perfect gift for grandparents who want to encourage their grandchild’s creative expression and growth. Make it possible for a child to create music with their parents or build a musical bond with your grandchild by coming to class with them. Contact Kate for gift certificates in $25 increments toward part or full tuition. “Like” us on Facebook for notification of special offers and upcoming free preview classes or visit the website for winter schedule/online registration, videos, testimonials and class photos. (406) 570-2839 • www.MusicTogetherBozeman.com •
[email protected]
Music Villa
Looking for the perfect gift for the young musician in your household? Music Villa carries a huge selection of musical instruments from novice to pro, and is known locally for their friendly, knowledgeable staff. Music Villa is also home to Bozeman’s most trusted music lesson program - the Music Villa School of Music, which offers lessons for all ages and skill levels. Having trouble deciding? Pick up a Music Villa Gift Card (good for all services). Open Everyday. 539 East Main Street, Bozeman • (406) 587-4761 • www.musicvilla.com
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Main Street Dance Theatre
Spire
Musikgarten
Give the gift of music and movement or be the lucky family to receive a gift certificate for Musikgarten classes through one of Rachel Waterman Studio, LLC locations. Gift certificates are available for four and eight week sessions starting in January 2013.
Get your kids climbing with a gift certificate to Spire Climbing Center. These certificates can be used for parents to bring kids into the gym on their own, to attend our monthly family night or to enroll your kids in one of our youth programs. We now offer preschool and home school youth programs, as well as our after school programs and Christmas, Spring Break, summer and PIR day Climbing Camps. These certificates never expire and are transferable. www.spireclimbingcenter.com
(406) 570-0179 • www.musikgarten.org/rachelwaterman #A9C398
Pure Barre
Pure Barre is the fastest, most effective way #993333 to change the shape of your body. Using small isometric movements at the ballet barre set to motivating music, Pure Barre #666666 lifts your seat, tones your thighs, abs and arms and burns fat in record breaking time. Clients see results in just 10 classes, lose inches in weeks and have fun doing it! First class is FREE!! 34 E Mendenhall R-6, Bozeman • (406) 577-2918 • bozeman@purebarre. com • www.purebarre.com/MT-bozeman/index.html
Rocky Mountain Travel
Here’s a gift idea – now that winter is here, start planning your family getaway. Join us at Beaches Ocho Rios, Jamaica June 8-15, 2013, where you can do your own thing AND the family thing - it’s all included: meals, drinks, land and watersports, kids’ camps and more. Call 522-0617 for our special MT Parent Magazine group rate. (406) 522-0617 •
[email protected]
Rusi • Adult and Child Hats
Fun, funky local hat fashion, started by local Bridger Bowl girls. Wear your RUSI hats on a mountain campout, spring jog, lounging around the house on a bad hair day. Whatever the case, you’ll find them ultra soft, fun and functional for kids and adults alike. RUSI hats are currently for sale at Gerty Downtown. Simia Ranieri and Ruth Heerdt • (406) 522-7669 •
[email protected]
Spring Integrative Health • Spring
spring
Health Package
#336633
spring
Give the gift of health and/or pamper I Nseason. T E G RBring ATIVE yourself for the holiday vitality and balance to life by gifting a INTEGRATIVE Spring Health Package. Spring Integrative Health is a holistic medical clinic that offers Naturopathic Medical services, Five Element Acupuncture, Medical Massage, BodyTalk/ Craniosacral Facial Therapy and Counseling. Gift certificates are available to create a customized health package. Find your health INTEGRATIVE INTEGRATIVE at Spring Integrative HEALTH H E A LHealth. TH
HEALTH
HEALTH
spring
spring
502 S. 19th, #200, Bozeman • (406) 586-2626 • drbonville@ springintegrativehealth.com
Stix
Stix has gifts for everyone on your “nice” list - supplies for the beloved crafter in your life, including yarns, books, classes and more. Stix offers a great selection of local and specialty yarns from Handmaiden, Malabrigo, Western Sky Knits and Sweet Grass Wool. Come down and pet our new bison yarn from Montana Sweater Company. Or, let them think YOU made it yourself by purchasing ready-made items (we won’t tell). 23 W Main St, Bozeman • (406) 556- 5786 • www.stixyarn.com/
The Great Rocky Mountain Toy Company
BionicBlox completely fill the need for children ages 3 to 103 to build strong, big and durable structures that do not fall apart. Children quickly and easily connect BionicStars with wooden blocks to build structures as big as they are. Masterpieces can be moved, saved, admired and added to at anytime without risk of a collapse. We carry the 50-piece Explorer Kit up to the 135-piece Architecture Kit. Made in the USA. 111 E. Main St., Bozeman • (406) 585-3322 • (406) 587-8353 • info@ mountaintoys.net • www.mountaintoys.net
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{BuffALO}
Tom’s Jewelers
The Learning Options
Give the gift of becoming a confident learner. Help your child take advantage of their natural way of thinking. Make an initial consultation appointment during the month of December and give yourself the gift of half price. Call Elsie at Learning Options for help with school concerns ranging from reading, writing, spelling, attention, math, to dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, dyspraxia, Asperger’s, ADD and ADHD.
Tom’s features a selection of jewelry lines, including Landstrom’s Original Black Hills Gold. These pieces are the finest examples of hand made jewelry from the Black Hills, USA. Choose a pendant or earrings featuring genuine Montana sapphires for a truly special gift.
LEARNING
OPTIONS
114 W. Lewis, Livingston • (406) 222-1413
Yellowstone Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine
(406) 282-7416 •
[email protected]
The Livingston Kite C mpany
Every summer, my mother would take us kids to the kite shop where we would, after careful consideration, pick out a kite and give input on which windsock would look best hanging from the eave outside the kitchen window. Sometimes the kites flew and sometimes they didn’t... but we always had fun. The best memories are born from lasting traditions, and I hope that I can help you create a new family tradition here in southwest Montana. 113 West Callender Street, Livingston • (406) 222-KITE • Friend us on Facebook • Make Peace with the Wind!*
The Natural Baby Co.
15 reasons to give the gift of acupuncture this holiday: freedom from suffering, better/more satisfying health, more energy and vitality, greater relaxation, stronger immune system, greater comfort, improved appearance, greater happiness, faster return to work, greater productivity, self-improvement, peace of mind, greater physical stamina, greater ability to function, greater ability to give and receive – which is what the holiday season is all about! 3985 Valley Commons Drive, Bozeman • (406) 585-4642 • yellowstoneacupuncture.com
HELENA
Big Dipper Ice Cream
Big Dipper Ice Cream Helena on the walking mall is offering a FREE cone card for every $10 spent on Big Dipper gift cards in December. You can treat your friends and treat yourself. Gift cards can be used for cones, sundaes and shakes, or how about a pre-packed quart or growler tub? Big Dipper Ice Cream is the place to get the unique “Have a Helena Day” T-shirt, available in men and ladies cuts. And, while you are shopping, make sure to try the exciting line-up of seasonal holiday flavors like Candy Cane, Pumpkin, Eggnog and Cranberry sorbet.
1203 N. Rouse Ave. Ste. 3E, Bozeman • 1-877-899-BABY
58 N. Last Chance Gulch, Helena • (406) 513-1051 • bigdippericecream.com
BA
B
NY
L
TH
The Natural Baby Co. is your headquarters for Eco-friendly, healthy, heirloom quality toys for ages 0-7. We provide children’s toys with superior quality and safety standards. We are committed to maintaining the Y highest standard of ethics while providing C O M PA innovative educational toys for every developmental stage of childhood. Our toys inspire children’s imagination as well as promoting their physical and intellectual development. Made from non-toxic, natural materials.
ATUR A EN
The Root Bozeman
Cobblestone Clothing Co.
The Root has stocking stuffers for everyone on your list! We carry styles and textiles that are fashion forward and on everyone’s wish list this winter, including many popular designs in snow hats, arm-warmers, leg warmers and headbands. We carry accessories from bags, purses, shoes, boots and lots of fashionable jewelry, necklaces, earrings and bracelets…the perfect gifts for everyone this holiday season. Check out our $10 off coupon on page 47 and come in for a wonderful shopping experience today.
Now in its third generation, Cobblestone Clothing is one of the must-stop shops while visiting the Great Northern Town Center. A family-owned and operated business, Cobblestone offers women’s clothing for all Montana lifestyles. From work to play, owner Kym Liska has selected soft neutrals and bright colors in everything from shoes, to accessories and clothing. With brands like Eileen Fisher, Isda, David Kahn and White + Warren, Liska and her staff can help you build a wardrobe that goes from the office to a party or can fill the gaps in your closet.
36 W. Main Street, Bozeman • (406) 582-0079 • Find us on Facebook: The Root, Bozeman, MT
Great Northern Town Center, Helena • (406) 449-8684 • Find us on Facebook at CobblestoneClothing
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Dinners Done Right
The Memory Trail
Gift Certificates from Dinners Done Right are a perfect fit for everyone on your gift list. From busy singles to large families and everyone in between, a good meal is always appreciated. Flexible and useful, this gift can be used for meal packages, desserts and side dishes or for one meal at a time. This is a great gift for grandparents, college students, teachers, friends, families and co-workers. 3150 North Montana Ave Suite C, Helena • (406) 449-5100 • DinnersDoneRight.com
The Memory Trail wants to help you create your own handmade holiday gifts. We have classes all month long including Christmas cards, centerpieces, wreaths, holiday tags, recipe albums and calendars. We can help you recreate all of the ideas you have pinned. Stop in for a creative holiday season.
www.
3385 Colton Drive Suite A, Helena • (406) 442-4330 • Find us on Facebook at thememorytrail
ExplorationWorks!
Mountain MochAhh!
Desk Toy Stocking Stuffers at ExplorationWorks!
Merry Christmas! Stop by and pick up Mountain MochAhh! gift certificates for everyone on your list. They make great stocking stuffers. Mountain MochAhh! is a full service coffee truck serving the Helena area.
Drive the Mars Rover, experiment with a giant Newton’s Cradle or body-sized Pin Impression Board then purchase desk models as gifts. You’ll find dozens of fascinating and fun stocking stuffers and desk toys in ExplorationWorks’ ExploreStore. Whether it’s puzzles or playthings, artistry or academic endeavor, you’ll find it at ExplorationWorks!
(406) 465-4368 • Follow us on Facebook and Twitter
Party Plus Rentals and Sales
995 Carousel Way, Helena • (406) 457-1800 • explorationworks.org
The Carousel Gift Shop
Santa Suit Rental
This Holiday season, do something entertaining-invite Santa, Mrs. Claus and their elves over to meet your holiday guests. Pose for pictures, pass out gifts and enjoy the spirit of Christmas. We here at Party Plus Rentals rent and sell all Santa apparel and accessories in order for you to
At Great Northern Town Center Webkinz Pets are one of many new toys at the Great Northern Carousel Gift Shop. Lovable plush pets with a secret code for kids to enter Webkinz World and play with a virtual version of their pet. Here, they can name their pet, design a room for them, read stories, go shopping and more.
play the perfect part. 1400 Cedar Street, Helena • (406) 442-7099 •
[email protected] • www.A1rentalsandpartyplus.com
The Root
924 Bicentennial Plaza • (406) 457-5353 • www.gntowncenter.com • Find us on Facebook at Great-Northern-Carousel
Lasso the Moon Toy Store
Lasso the Moon Toy Store has unique, creative gifts for kids of all ages, but one of our favorite toys is Playmobil. Imaginative playsets for ages 4 to 12, feature themes such as Future Planet with lasers and solar power, Pirate Ship with working cannons, a modern School Building, or Princess Fantasy Castle. These sets will inspire years of play. Wonderful quality, made in Germany. Every child should be so lucky to find Playmobil under the tree.
The Root on the Walking Mall is Helena’s newest fashion boutique with the latest trends for the ladies. The Root makes shopping affordable, fashionable and fun. We carry styles and textiles that are fashion forward and on everyone’s wish list this winter, including many popular designs in snow hats, arm-warmers, leg warmers and headbands. We have all the accessories you need, from bags, purses, scarves, shoes, boots and lots of fashionable jewelry, necklaces, earrings and bracelets. Check out our $10 off coupon on page 47 and come in for a wonderful shopping experience today. You’ll be glad you did!
WONDERFUL TOYS 25 South Last Chance Gulch, Helena • (406) 442-1594 • lassothemoontoys.com For boys and girls, indoor and outdoor play,
26 N. Last Chance Gulch, Helena • (406) 449-2230 • Find us on Facebook: The Root-Helena
ages 4-12, $3.99 and up
Downtown on the Walking Mall 25 S Last Chance Gulch, 442-1594
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Montana Toughskins Handmade Double Knee Pants
Boys Fleece based pant with canvas cover over knee. Requested by Moms - No More Knee Blowouts! Most comfy, most durable, boy tested pant you’ll find. Mt Parent Magazine Endorsed
photo amelia anne photography
MontanaTwirls.etsy.com
[email protected] 406-587-0063 Link above to pant directly
Kundalini Yoga for the Whole Family! Adult Classes • Pregnancy Yoga • Mommy & Me Yoga Yoga for Kids • Dancing For Birth (TM) Classes
Gloria (406) 595-2547
blissfulfamilyyoga.wordpress.com
Saunders Jewelry
Saunders Jewelry, located on the walking mall in downtown Helena, has a beautiful selection of Yogo and Montana sapphires. Choose your own gemstone to be set into a piece of jewelry exquisitely designed by one of our three goldsmiths, or stop in and see our large selection of sapphire rings, pendants and earrings already set in sterling silver or gold. If you have a jewelry design idea, we can create it for you. Saunders Jewelry also offers in-house jewelry repairs. Visit us this holiday season for a unique Montana gift. 21 N. Last Chance Gulch, Helena • (406) 449-2022
Ultra Vac Services Health Care For You & Your Family Marie Mitchell
Pediatric and Family Nurse Practitioner
406-556-8300
Look for the monthly “Corner on Health” column in Montana Parent Magazine
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Ultra Vac Services in Helena has practical holiday gifts. If you know someone who really cares about keeping their home clean and taking care of their carpet, our “nondisposable," high quality vacuums do a great job, are long lasting and keep the “air clean” during use. FREE GIFT WRAPPING 1422 Cedar Street, Helena • (406) 495-1060 • www.ultravacservices. com mp
written By Myriah Marsh
The world produced about 168 million tons of sugar in 2011. The average person consumes about 24 kilograms (53 lbs.) of sugar each year (73 lbs. in industrialized countries), equivalent to more than 260 food calories per person, per day. According to WebMD, consuming too much sugar suppresses the immune system. The white blood cells that attack bacteria are less effective after the consumption of as little as 75 to 100 grams (2.6 to 3.5 oz.) of sugar in solution (about two 12-ounce sodas). The effect lasts for several hours.
photo amelia anne photography
Sugar
Holistic Family Medicine
A.I. Lieber, L.Ac., C.A., Dipl. NCCAOM Kelly Lieber, LMT
2135 Charlotte 1B • Bozeman, 59718
406-586-3133
http://bozeacu.googlepages.com
Here are some ways to cut down on sugar for the holidays: »» Cut the sugar by half or a third in your favorite recipes. Make sure you allow time to try out the new recipe and to adjust liquids accordingly. »» Use fruit as a sweetener. Applesauce goes great in sweet breads. Shredded foods like apples, carrots and zucchini add moisture and texture to baked goods. »» Try coconut. It is a wonderful snack, have a bowl of coconut with various nuts and dried fruit. »» Serve more healthy options at parties. If you are hosting, make sure to have plenty of fruits and veggies. If you are unaware of what will be served, fill up on the good stuff at home before you head out to a gathering. As far as gifts are concerned, giving teas, fruit, nuts or even gift cards to your favorite local grocery are great ideas.
Another great way to cut back is to do a sugar fast or taper. Cut back on the sweets before the holidays, that way when eating time does come, the food tastes so sweet you will not want as much of it. Here is a suggestion for a December food taper: »» Week One: Pick two-to-three days when you will not eat sugar. »» Week Two: Pick three-to-four days when you won’t have sugar. »» Week Three: Pick five-to-six days without sugar. I don’t think completely cutting sugar out of our diets is a good idea. Things take time and habits will be more lasting if you take it in small steps.
Keeping those extra pounds off during the holidays can jump start your health objectives for 2013. I, for one, think that somehow sugar began to equal love in America, and it certainly seems to be what people convey around the Holidays. mp
NOW is the time to talk to your children about healthy relationships. Help promote respect in our community by promoting respect in the home. Here are a few ways to break the ice when talking with your children: What does respect mean? Have you seen other kids being bullied? How do you solve problems with your friends? To learn more about HAVEN’s services to victims of domestic abuse and how to prevent teen dating violence, visit www.havenmt.org or call HAVEN’s crisis line: 406.586.4111
Myriah Marsh lives in Bozeman and owns In Home Fitness. She teaches exercise classes and specializes working one-on-one with clients. For more information call 406-586-9657 or visit: www.inhomefitnessmt.com.
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photo simple reflections
the referees and judges, I remained silent. Until John made it to State.
Becoming “That Dad” written By Shane Borrowman
When I was growing up in Anaconda, my father coached Little League. He took this job seriously. Very seriously. His enthusiasm led him to teach tactical game play to kids who had never held a bat before. If the team won, he took everyone to the A&W. There weren’t many trips to A&W. But there were tantrums. When calls were bad and catches were fumbled, he cursed, stomped, threw anything close to hand. He wasn’t alone. Many fathers yelled. They yelled at their sons when they did well, screaming instructions about better performance. They yelled when their sons struck out, both at the boys who swung and the umpires who made calls. There were a lot of tears shed in the dustfilled dugouts. I was the batboy, and even I was regularly yelled at. I didn’t see anything wrong with this. Neither did anyone else. Yelling and crying were just a part of playing sports. I live in Dillon now and am the father of seven-year-old twins, John and Samantha. For six years, I raised them beneath the rhetoric of “do your best” and “it’s all about how you play the game.” Then they got involved in flag football and Little Guy Wrestling...and I became That Dad. It started when the Broncos played the Vikings. Samantha, playing quarterback for the Broncos, ran the ball toward the
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end zone—a pack of milling, confused 1st graders around her. She leaped over a Viking who tripped and fell right in front of her, an accident rather than an attempt to make a play. Then a Viking tackled her. They hit the ground in a heap, my daughter buried beneath a boy fifteen pounds heavier. Her glasses flew off, and I freaked out. One minute I was standing along the sidelines, cheering with all the other parents. Then I was having an out-ofbody experience, bellowing at the coach to get that boy out of the game and at the referee to do something about this massive breaking of the “just pull the flag” rule. Sam got up, got back into the huddle and ran for a touchdown on the next play. I seethed and stared at the boy who’d brought my daughter down. I searched the sideline for the parents who raised that monster and glared at the Vikings’ coach. I behaved exactly like all the parents from my Little League memories. I knew I was doing it and couldn’t stop. When football ended and Little Guy Wrestling began, I swore I wouldn’t be That Dad again, wouldn’t fly off the handle and yell at a coach, participant or parent. I kept this promise through Saturday after Saturday of sitting in crowded, hot gyms filled with young wrestlers and their families. I left cheering to my wife. No matter how many parents around me howled at their children and at
John ultimately won every match that day and took first in his weight class. As he won match after match, he cried. Tears ran down his small face almost from the minute each match began until it was over. He cried when he was ahead on points. He cried when he was behind. He cried when he got pinned. He cried after he pinned someone else. I could feel my patience unstitching. I knew that John was crying because of the pressure. He was at State. He was only seven. He was surrounded by hundreds of screaming families. His mother wasn’t there. His sister wasn’t there. His grandfather watched from the stands, so all he had near at hand was me. I understood all of this. But John’s tears infuriated me, and my fury shamed me. I hugged him. I encouraged him. I walked with him to and from the locker room. We shared slices of pizza and took turns playing his Nintendo. I did what I could to get him through the day and by the time we stopped in Butte for dinner, he was strutting. He marched to the counter at Burger King, ordered his chicken meal, and announced loudly to the clerk that he was State Champ in wrestling. He was fine. I was the one who was upset, and my father knew it. As we drove the last miles to Dillon, he did the only thing he could to talk me down: He told me about coaching Little League, about the tears that he and other parents caused young players to shed, about his own shame at being That Dad. Flag football 2012 ended with my children as Super Bowl champs. Little Guy Wrestling isn’t far away. Whenever something stressful occurs, I tell myself that I’m going to take deep breaths and continue to think about Little League. mp Shane Borrowman, a native of Anaconda, Montana, serves as chair of the English Department at The University of Montana Western. He teaches nonfiction writing and has published in such magazines as Renaissance, Nostalgia and Twins. He has edited or co-edited six collections of original scholarship and four writing textbooks. Although he is a longtime fan of the New England Patriots, both of his twins inexplicably root for the Seahawks.
Are we there, yet?
Ice Skating
written By Melynda Harrison
When you live in a place like southwest Montana, you have to embrace winter—there’s a lot of it. Ice-skating is a fun way to jump into the cold season. Secondhand skates are easy to come by and there is probably a rink not far from where you live. Here are some of the local ice sheets.
Bozeman
and special hours. www.ci.helena.mt.us/ departments/parks-recreation/recreationprograms-and-activities/winter-programs/ ice-rink.html
The City of Bozeman builds and maintains three ice rinks. Opening and closing dates depend on the weather. Hours: 1210 p.m., Monday through Friday and 10 a.m.-10 p.m., Saturday and Sunday.
The Helena Ice Arena, 400 Lola Street, offers public skating, figure skating lessons, youth hockey, pick-up hockey and birthday parties.
Bogart Park—325 North Church Ave.
The Helena Figure Skating Club provides basic skills ice skating lessons for all ages and skill levels from January through March. These classes also include basic hockey skating lessons. Lessons take place at the Helena Ice Arena. Participants can join lessons on any Sunday. Cost is $10 per week with a one-time $15.00 registration fee.www. helenafigureskating.com
Southside Park—College St. and 5th Ave. Beall Park—Black St. and Villard St. They also offer ice-skating lessons at Southside Ice Rink. The first session starts January 8, 2013. Ages four to adult. Preregister at the Beall Park office or call 5822290. www.bozeman.net
Bozeman Amateur Hockey Association youth program provides
young people with the opportunity to have fun learning the skills of skating and the game of hockey while affording them the environment to achieve their highest level of play. Teams start with kids six years and younger, and go up to adult. Register online at www.bozemanhockey. org/page/show/208794-baha-youthhockey.
Bozeman Figure Skating Club
offers a “Learn-to-Skate” program for kids as young as three years old. “Rising Star” classes transition skaters from the organized group lesson setting to the more advanced freestyle session. “Finer Edge” classes teach all skill levels to learn new elements such as stroking, spiral, Bauer, spread eagle, spin technique, turns and edges and jump technique. www. bozemanfigureskating.org
Big Sky Livingston The Livingston Ice Skating Association builds and maintains two
rinks in L-Town. The first, next to the Civic Center, is a hockey rink. The second rink will be located at Water Works Park, on the corner of South 10th Street and Cambridge Drive. This is a skating-only rink and hockey is not allowed. Both are free and open to the public. www. livingstoniceskating.org
Helena The City of Helena runs Memorial Park Warming Hut and Ice Rink on N. Last Chance Gulch Street and Memorial Drive. Skates are free, but limited, so bring your own if you have them. They’re open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays during the end of December through most of February. Check the website for fees
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Skating and hockey take center ice at the
full-sized rink in the Big Sky Town Center. The “Dinky Rink” is intended for
kids and new skaters—no sticks or pucks. The Alpine Rink is available for rent. Check the website for schedule, events and activities: www.bigskytowncenter. com/pages/21/hockey-and-ice-skating. html
West Yellowstone The Town of West Yellowstone maintains a skating rink on the Electric Street basketball courts. The rink is generally open for skating from Christmas through early March. It’s typically groomed twice a week and for special occasions. The rink is free-bring your own skates. www. townofwestyellowstone.com mp Melynda Harrison babbles on and on about her life and kids at www.travelingmel.com.
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No Gym Necessary: Resistance Training written By Amy L Stoddart
photos amy stoddart
Resistance training is any exercise done while working against resistance to encourage the muscles of the body to contract and thus build strength, tone and definition. In gyms or with home gym equipment you can use free weights, weight machines or dumbbells. In a Pilates studio we often use less resistance to build long, lean, pliable musculature through the use of springs, balls, elastic bands or tubing. According to the American Council on Exercise, resistance training can have major effects on your physical health, such as reduced blood pressure, improved cholesterol and reduced risk of diabetes. Moreover, resistance training can improve your ability to perform daily activities as a result of your increased strength, coordination and flexibility.
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Getting started on a fitness plan can seem like a daunting task both physically and financially. Over the holidays it becomes increasingly difficult to find the time and finances to continue attending classes or hitting the gym. Never fear. Your home can be an amazing place to find resistance of all kinds. Through the use of towels, gallon containers, kids’ playground balls, water bottles, soup cans or even bricks you can create the resistance your muscles and skeleton crave to keep you strong and healthy throughout this intense and often overwhelming holiday season. The increased positivity and energy you experience will allow you to enjoy the hustle and bustle of the season and appreciate the joys of the holidays. The American College of Sports Medicine recommends that resistance training should be progressive in nature. If you are new to this kind of training, remember to start slowly. That means low resistance (or weight) and fewer repetitions. Generally 8-10 repetitions of an exercise for each of the major muscle groups for beginners is a good starting place. As you build strength, you can safely add more weight and more repetitions, working to fatigue. Strength training three days a week is a great goal. If you have already been working in a gym or studio you will be surprised how lifting a brick instead of a dumbbell will create just enough muscle confusion in the same exercises you’ve been doing all along to give you a new sensation and a new “burn.” Here are six simple exercises you can do in the comfort of your own home to take charge of your health over the holidays. I recommend repeating all six, three days a week for maximum benefits. As you feel stronger each week, add more repetitions of each exercise to fatigue.
1. Curls How to: Extend arms out in front of your shoulders with palms up and bend the elbows bringing the palms in towards your shoulders. Imagine your elbows are on a table and keep them up at shoulder height. Add a lower arm variation by staring with palms down and rotating palms up as they come into the shoulders (and the reverse). Target Muscles: Biceps, ad rotation of lower arm for pronators and supinators
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»» Low resistance: Soup can »» Moderate resistance: Bricks »» Heavy resistance: Gallon milk containers filled with water »» Chair Dips
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5 4 How to: While seated in a chair, walk your feet out bringing your pelvis off the front edge. Try keeping the front of the chest open as you bend the elbows lowering the body and pressing back up again. Experiment with different angles/ directions for the elbows to get into different muscle bodies for variety and balance.
Moderate resistance: Extend legs on a long diagonal
Moderate resistance: Soup cans or bricks
Heavy resistance: A hardcover book over your sternum
Heavy resistance: Full gallon jugs
3. Squats
5. Extension or Superman How to: Lying on the front surface of the body, reach through the crown of the head to elongate the spine as you peel the chest up off the floor while maintaining the pelvis on the floor and a deep abdominal connection.
Low resistance: The weight of your body
How to: Setting your back against a wall, walk your feet approximately 1 foot to 18 inches out. As you bend the knees, lower the body against the wall keeping the navel pulled in towards the wall behind you and the pelvic floor deeply engaged.
Moderate resistance: A dictionary or large hardcover book on your lap
Target muscles: Quadriceps on lowering, glutes on press up
Target muscles: spinal extensors, scapula stabilizers (mid back), as well as glutes and abdominals
Heavy resistance: One of your children on your lap
Low resistance: Move in a small range of motion
Low resistance: The weight of your own body
2. Abdominals
Moderate resistance: Increase range of motion and squeeze a playground ball between the inner thighs
Moderate resistance: Hold soup cans in your hands and pulse arms to ceiling to further work triceps
Heavy resistance: Hold a full gallon jug or hardcover book above your head
Heavy resistance: Not recommended -- often creates loaded weight on lower spine
Target Muscles: Triceps, with pectorals, deltoids and scapula stabilizers
How to: Lying on the back surface of the body gently flatten your lumbar (lower spine) on the floor. Bringing your legs up off the floor and your head and torso up off the floor create a deep “c curve” shape with your torso reaching your sternum to your pubic bone and pulling your navel in towards your spine. Hold the shape for five breaths. Target muscles: Transverse, rectus and oblique abdominals, as well as pelvic floor and scapular stabilizers Low resistance: Keep legs at a 90-degree angle (table-top)
4. Heel Raises How to: Rise up to the balls of the feet. Try in parallel, closed and wide positions as well as internal and external rotation for variation. Target muscles: Calves (gastrocnemius and soleus), as well as hamstring and glutes with repetitions Low resistance: The weight of your own body
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With minimal effort and time, your health doesn’t need to take a back seat over the holidays. Besides, if you’ve done your daily exercises, then you’ve earned your eggnog. Wishing you and your loved ones a healthy and happy holiday season. mp © Amy Stoddart Amy Stoddart is owner of Bridger Pilates in downtown Bozeman. Information on group and private instruction in Pilates can be found online at www. bridgerpilates.com. Amy is a STOTT Pilates Certified Instructor, holds an MFA in Dance, and is the CoArtistic Director of the Montana Ballet Company.
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photo melissa bring photography
Tis the Season
promotes a sense of well-being. Stress and depression run high during the holidays, so-if nothing else-bundle up and go for a walk with your family to see holiday lights in your neighborhood or walk some brisk laps around the store when shopping—the fuller your cart, the better the workout.
FOR TEMPTATION
»» Bake with healthier substitutes when you whip up your favorite holiday fare. Use fat-free evaporated or 1% milk instead of whole milk or cream in dishes like bread pudding, quiche and mashed potatoes. Swap applesauce for some of the oil in sweet breads. Once you add the spices, chances are nobody will notice that you substituted ingredients.
I love this time of year, a time to celebrate the blessings in our lives and savor the magic of the season. Sadly, as a registered dietitian, I’ve learned that lots of people fear the temptations and ensuing weight gain that can come along with the holidays. The parties and family gatherings that would otherwise be joyous occasions lead to anxiety over eating right. Here are a few common worries: (a) “Will I eat too much? (b) “How will I avoid the delicious desserts?” (c) “How much weight will I gain by New Year's Day?”
can fit into a healthy diet. In fact, people who don’t label foods as “good” or “bad” typically report more self-control with eating. A little indulgence isn’t the problem, for us or our kids. A lot of indulgence is another story.
»» Leave a little of your baked goods out for your family to enjoy and immediately package the rest in festive wrap to give as gifts. Or freeze individual portions for just the right size treat later on.
Personally, I think the holidays just aren’t the holidays without food in all of its glory. A few of my family’s favorites: pie, chocolate truffles, caramel corn, brightly colored Christmas cookies and did I mention pie? Oh, how we love pie for breakfast at my house. Nevertheless, we eat mostly healthy, balanced meals and consume sweets in moderation (a slice of pie, not a quarter or half of a pie).
»» Take a healthier dish to a holiday party. Or if you host your own, be sure to include a relish tray, fruit salad, and leaner protein options like shrimp cocktail or turkey meatballs. Decide on just a few high calorie items you really want, and then fill the rest of your plate with lighter choices. After you have eaten, steer clear of the buffet table to avoid continual munching.
written By Holly Alastra
When I asked one client how he felt about the upcoming festivities, he said, “I’m downright terrified!” I tried to reassure him, telling him the good news is that most people do not gain five to ten pounds over the holidays. According to a study of nearly 200 people published in The New England Journal of Medicine, the average weight gain during Thanksgiving and New Year’s is just less than one pound. By revealing this information, I didn’t mean to give him free rein to overeat. Maybe only Santa’s reindeer, who need to store energy to fly around the world all in one night, need to pack in as many calories as possible. Still, I do hope he (and you too) can look forward to the holiday season worry free. You’ve heard it many times, and it’s just as true today as it’s always been. All foods
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This December, I hope you can enjoy yourself—splurge a little—while still taking control of your family’s nutrition. With a cup of creativity, a pinch of planning, and just a dash of discipline, you’ll have the perfect recipe for treating yourself and your family without the remorse that can follow those tasty morsels. The following tips can help you start January with no need for a weight loss resolution. »» Make exercise a priority. You know that exercise burns calories while you’re doing it, and also helps speed up your metabolism while you’re at rest (by increasing your muscle mass). We might forget that exercise is also great for stress-relief and
»» Mind your beverage. Water is the best choice. If you drink alcoholic beverages, ideally limit to one drink. The 2010 Dietary Guidelines actually recommend that men have no more than one drink and women only one-half drink. One drink equals 5 ounces of wine, 12 ounces of beer, or 1 ½ ounces of spirits. Overdoing it on alcohol can lead to overeating by increasing appetite and lowering inhibition. Drinking in moderation, or not drinking at all, is also good rolemodeling for our kids. mp Holly Alastra is a registered dietitian with a master’s degree in counseling located in the Helena area. She has expertise in weight management and overeating. To make an appointment, call (406) 439-2109 or email her at
[email protected].
Eating Clean on a Budget
written By Shel Sebren
photo S. Willard
As a parent, you may be putting more thought into the food that you purchase and feed your family. After all, groceries are typically one of largest expenses of a family’s monthly budget and everyone wants the best bang for their grocery buck.
Lower your pesticide intake and stay within the grocery budget, buy buying the following foods organic:
High on my list are fruits and vegetables, important fuel for little bodies. They provide an incredible array of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients to give our children’s bodies the energy to grow, play and learn. They help our little ones thrive.
»» Celery
Now think about the vast amount of petroleum-based fertilizers and pesticides that are used to grow many conventional fruits and veggies. Encouraging our children to eat fresh produce is good, but does the added dose of chemicals make you a little uneasy? It certainly makes me think twice.
»» Nectarines– imported
Organic food provides the quality and safety that every family deserves. Unfortunately, it is true that organic food does cost more. And trust me, convincing yourself, or your partner, to spend extra money on organic food can be a challenge. It can be difficult to know where to begin. Do I have to buy all organic? If I can’t afford to buy all organic, how do I prioritize my purchases? A great way to start is to know the “The Dirty Dozen.” This is a list from the Environmental Working Group detailing the top 12 fruits and veggies with the highest concentration of pesticide residue. This year, they also added two leafy greens to the list, which can often contain high levels of insecticide.
The Dirty Dozen (Plus 2) »» Apples
»» Sweet bell peppers »» Peaches »» Strawberries »» Grapes »» Spinach »» Lettuce »» Cucumbers »» Blueberries – domestic »» Potatoes
Plus + Green beans + Kale/Greens Visit the Environmental Working Group for more info, including “The Clean 15,” those fruits and vegetables with the least amount of pesticide residue, at www.ewg.org/ foodnews. mp Shel Sebren is passionate about working at the Community Food Co-op. She brings home the [nitrate-free] bacon AND fries it up in a pan for her husband, Matt, and two children, Graham and Molly, ages nine and six. The Community Food Co-op is a cooperatively owned grocery store with two locations in Bozeman, Montana. Specializing in organic foods and Montanaproduced meat and vegetables, the Co-op offers high quality food at affordable prices, promotes sustainable practices and supports a strong community.
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also meet your child’s goal if her need is about contact. Regular meetings with the family without the distraction of televisions and phones can provide the focused attention that your child might be seeking. So while these meetings can solve problems, they can also be fun.
photo Adrienne schroder
Fun Time It may seem counterintuitive,
Goals of Behavior: Part 2: Redirect Your Kid during the Holidays written by Katey T. Franklin, M.Ed & Rebecca Koltz, PhD, LCPC, NCC
In our last article, in the November 2012 issue of Montana Parent, we explored children’s goals of behavior. Children do not act out to purposefully exasperate us, but tend to be very goal directed in their behavior. If you recall those five goals were: Contact: Gain attention from others to obtain a sense of belonging Power: Feel in control of self and body, assert appropriate independence Protection: Able to advocate for self, appropriate communication and expression of needs Withdrawal: Centering and renewal, “recharge” or unwind Challenge (Teens): Skill building, testing boundaries and own abilities, identity formation In this article, we will focus on “contact." Oftentimes, the challenge for parents is recognizing what goal of behavior their child is using and whether the child is acting from an encouraged stance or a discouraged one. For example, the holidays bring a change in the normal routine and schedule. Perhaps you notice that your child is complaining and being more demanding than usual. This might suggest that your child is seeking contact from you, but from a discouraged stance. Your child is not intentionally trying to 76
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irritate you; however, she is telling you something. She is saying- “I miss you. I want to spend time with you.” However, because children are sometimes limited in their communication skills, their goal of behavior is communicated from a discouraged stance and it can be easy to interpret the behavior negatively. We will provide three strategies to redirect your child’s behavior and promote a more positive parenting experience. We are heading into the holidays and, perhaps, these ideas can facilitate a holiday filled with harmony rather than agony.
Family Meetings Schedule a family meeting to redirect behavior in a more positive, pro-social manner. A family meeting gives every member of the family a chance to express him or herself freely. Scheduling regular meetings provides an opportunity for you to say in the heat of the moment, “I understand that you feel angry and unheard right now. We have a family meeting tonight where we can all express our concerns, but right now I need you to….” Children often act out from a power stance because they feel unheard. The regular scheduling of family meetings provides an opportunity to express concerns where all can be heard. However, adults need to be prepared to listen. Listening does not mean you give in. It just means that you have heard a concern and are attending to your child’s need to connect. Family meetings can
but increasing your fun time as a family can be a useful strategy. If your child is acting out to get attention, spending some fun contact time together engaging in a project can help the child realize that she does not need to do things to get your attention. Unfortunately, families are often overscheduled and so busy that fun is a luxury, not a habit. By regularly scheduling fun, you may avoid reinforcing negative attention-getting behavior by providing opportunity for positive attention.
Break it Down In situations when you are experiencing resistance or reluctance to comply, ask yourself two important questions: Am I expecting too much? Can I break this task down to help my child succeed? Often as parents, we expect that our children should be able to remember to do simple things like household chores; however, brain research is showing that during the peak brain growth children are often forgetful. So, how might you break the task into small steps to foster success, rather than failure? For example, a child looking at a room full of toys that need to be picked up may feel overwhelmed and may evoke a withdrawal response. How might you break that task down? Can you divide the room in half, into quarters? You may actually create a learning moment, as well as make an overwhelming task appear manageable. Be sure to encourage positive attempts, no matter how small. Developing encouraged behavior to meet your child’s goals takes time and patience. In some cases, it may require a change in fundamental views of life, attitudes toward other people, as well as feelings about self and, perhaps, the child. It may seem unnatural at first and may not work right away; however, if you are able to be consistent the result will be children who are cooperative, contribute and have a sense of belonging. mp Katey T. Franklin is the School Counseling Program Leader and Addictions Counseling Program Director at MSU. Rebecca Koltz is an Assistant Professor, the Marriage and Family Program Leader and Graduate Coordinator in the graduate counseling program at MSU. Both are faculty members in the Health & Human Development department at Montana State University.
Keeping
Grandparents Connected written By Paula K. Beswick
Grandparents can bring such joy to kids, especially over the holidays. Think about those cherished memories that only a grandma or grandpa can make: baking, playing games, special treats and sharing the big holiday meals. I was fortunate enough to have both sets of grandparents who doted on my sister and me and each had their accompanying traditions, which included things like homemade caramel rolls, decorating Christmas cookies, Swedish meatballs on Christmas Eve, and playing lots of games. I feel we had the quintessential grandparents. My own kids have been just as lucky with two sets of grandparents, but with the added bonus of a couple of greatgrandparents (one maternal, the other paternal). They know what it’s like to be close to grandparents. The only problem is that we live in Montana and the grandparents are spread out in Florida, Minnesota and Illinois. Family vacations on our part and annual visits to Montana on their parts made the distance not so bad. But now that the grandkids are far flung to Boston for college, it gets trickier keeping those familial ties strong. A couple of questions come to mind – is it important that grandkids are responsive to grandparents during those four college years when their thoughts are rightfully on other things? Who should make sure a connection remains – the grandparents, grandkids or parents?
I would venture to say that it is an allof-the-above combo. Grandparents certainly will continue sending birthday cards and holiday gifts, and grandkids will need to continue following up with a personal thank you (if they don’t do this at a younger age, this task will be harder in college so start them early). But beyond that, ensuring a meaningful relationship is more dependent on the sandwich generation of the mom and dad. We recently returned from a Parents' Weekend, our fourth so far spread between two campuses. This fall we invited my mom to join us (my dad passed away a couple of years ago). It was a stretch for us all, but such great fun to have three generations in one small, single dorm room. Struggling over who got the lone chair and how many of us could fit on the bed was comical, especially when the desk drawer was open. During this busy weekend of programs, college tours, cultural events and lots of food, we built memories – memories like the Indian restaurant that included a boyfriend and a girlfriend at the table with us and memories of seeing a granddaughter playing violin in the college orchestra concert. Shared reminiscences such as these between grandparent and grandchild can form unbreakable bonds. Will a college
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Adventures of an Empty Nester
kid ever invite grandma to visit his dorm room? Probably not. Will that same kid welcome a visit arranged by his parents? Most likely, yes. Another way to encourage this relationship is to remind your student of family birthdays and other milestones. College kids have a hard enough time cramming everything into their brains – don’t assume they will remember grandpa’s birthday. Make sure the kids have appropriate addresses for family members, especially if someone has recently moved. Use a new address (even a new email address) as a way to gently insert info about an upcoming big anniversary or some such event. I’ve even provided note cards and stamps in an effort to remove the barriers that kids will surely stand behind if they are able. I know what you’re thinking – this sounds like a lot of work. Why must we continue to coddle these budding adults? The answer is simple: fostering a rapport between family members adds meaning to each generation. These four years can be a time of divide that must later be made up, or a time to strengthen the bonds. The holidays simply create an added incentive to be the middle-mom. mp Paula K. Beswick is the foundation director for the Bozeman Public Library Foundation.
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WRITTEN BY ANNIE BEAVER
finance re
Compound Interest
I would like to think of myself as a great person to ask about homemade Christmas gifts, but as I sit here writing this, I feel a little queasy about the (lovely) pillow I tried to make for my sister-in-law for Christmas two years ago. It is still in my basement in all its incomplete glory. (Sorry, Debra!)
CElEBratIng
10 Years
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Alice $ SAVED AGE 15-24 $ SAVED AGE 25-29 $ SAVED AGE 30-39 TOTAL INVESTMENT AT AGE 65 (Assuming 7% growth)
mtparent.com
$259,178
$93,940
If you know a young person who works part time, perhaps the “homemade” gift you can give this year is the gift of compound interest. It isn’t as warm and cozy as a scarf you knit yourself, but its impact will be felt far longer.
twice as much as Zoe simply because of when she started.
In a nutshell, compound interest means earning interest on the interest you have already earned. It sounds confusing, so let’s use an example.
»» A person can contribute her entire salary or $5,000, whichever is smaller.
Alice and Zoe are both 15-year-old students who work part time at the grocery store. Alice decides to save $100 per month, every month for 10 years. That means she is saving $1,200 every year. It isn’t easy to find the money in her budget, but she scrimps and makes it work. After 10 years, she has deposited $12,000, but since she was earning 7% on her investments all along, her actual account value is $17,308. (The difference between her investment of $12,000 and her account value of $17,308 is due to compound interest.) If Alice were to stop investing at this point and simply let the account grow at our assumed rate of return of 7%, her final account value would be $259,178 when she retired at age 65. Zoe, on the other hand, didn’t start saving until she was 30 and had a solid full-time job. Everything else about Zoe’s investments is identical to Alice’s, the only difference is her age when she started saving. If Zoe, like Alice, were to stop investing after 10 years and simply let the account grow at our assumed rate of 7%, her final account value would be $93,941 when she retired at age 65.
These two women saved the exact same amount, but Alice ends up with more than DECEMBER 2012 |
$12,000
$ SAVED AGE 40+
Let’s look at it in a chart, which will really drive home what I’m saying.
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Zoe
$12,000
Here are the requirements: »» Anyone with earned income can open her own retirement account; and
Talk to your financial consultant about whether a Traditional IRA or Roth IRA makes more sense. For most young people, a Roth will be better for these reasons: People who earn small incomes (less than $5,950) don’t qualify for the tax deduction normally available when making a contribution to a Traditional IRA, which erases one of the main benefits of having a Traditional IRA; and »» IRAs do not count against a student who is applying for financial aid.
There are other great reasons for young people to have Roths, like the ability to withdraw funds for a first-time home purchase, but since we are talking about saving and leaving the money invested until retirement, I will leave that discussion for a future column. While I understand you can’t really give the gift of compound interest, you can give the gift of knowledge. Maybe your gift to a young person this holiday season could be helping them understand one of the most powerful tools in existence for reaching your financial goals. Annie Beaver is an Associate Financial Consultant with D.A. Davidson & Co. in Livingston, MT. This information is not intended as specific investment advice. Information from sources deemed reliable include D. A. Davidson & Co., member SIPC. mp
Performance Panic written By Rachel Waterman
People love the songs of the holidays. Children are especially excited to play and sing their favorites in the privacy of their own home. Performing these memorable tunes is another part of the holidays we cannot forget. Here is a glimpse into a piano student’s mind as the holiday performance season approaches.
as well make the best of this, you sure practiced enough. You really are ready. This realization does provide a little comfort and pushes you to switch from panic to performance; you blew the whistle on that stomach sports game and added the referee for control. Now, you can strategically go through your performance procedures:
You sit rigid with your hands sweating. Your leg starts twitching as you practice the sticky parts of your piano song in your head. You hope and pray that you play the song right. You’re too afraid to even look at the other students sitting around you, so you stare blankly at the people in the audience, find a friendly face, and focus on the elderly lady with a toothy perm-a-grin, while you try to calm the sports game in your stomach. You listen to the student who is playing now…he made a mistake. Now he’s fumbling and turning vibrant red in the face. This only makes you more anxious and you torment yourself by thinking, “That sounded really bad. My audience friend even made a sour face. That will be me in the hot seat in only three performances. Oh, please let me get through this without life long damage!”
1) Hands in your lap, smile and take two deep breaths.
Your name is called and you look around as if you just got caught cheating. You rise out of your somewhat damp chair onto numb legs connected to 50 pound weighted feet. You say to yourself, “Just start walking, please don’t stumble, act relaxed.” Your teacher smiles and nods at you as you make the trek across the stage, but you don’t smile back because this recital was her idea, so you blame her for your current predicament. Your teacher said, “Performances build character,” but at this moment you would give anything to be an invisible character. That dream takes your mind off the daunting task long enough to get you to the piano where you quickly get reabsorbed into your mission. You slowly maneuver onto the bench, get into position and make final adjustments to your appearance. It’s time to start. One last desperate glance at your teacher…she seems to have caught the toothy perm-a-grin from the elderly lady in the audience, and she provides no possible escape route. So, you might
2) Pep-talk silently to yourself, “I am prepared…I can play this song…it will sound great.” Then bring your hands to the piano keys. 3) Hear what the beginning of the song sounds like, find the rhythm, put yourself in the song, one more breath, in-then-out. Now start strong. 4) Feel the music. Get involved in it. Make the piano sing. Draw in your audience by your emotion. 5) Keep going if you make a mistake. Most of the time, ONLY you and your teacher will know the mistake ever happened. 6) Finish your piece using the correct note(s) and hold your end position for a few seconds before releasing. Let the impact of your final sound be absorbed by your audience. 7) When the clapping starts, plaster on an enormously satisfied smile, exit the bench gracefully. Curtsy or bow to your audience. You did it and you did it well. photo kacie q photography
You almost vault back to your chair on your now sturdy legs and feather light feet. The referee inside you controls your urges to yell and do a dance, though nothing can control your perm-a-grin with glowing self-confidence. You did the best that you could do and it was great. You conquered pure performance panic. mp Written by Rachel Waterman, a tenure private piano teacher in the Gallatin Valley. Mrs. Rachel also teaches group classes for children birth to age five using the Musikgarten program. For more information contact the Rachel Waterman Studio, LLC at 406-5700179 and www.musikgarten.org/rachelwaterman.
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First, what to avoid:
The Teenager
photo melissa bring photography
»» Demanding certainty before acting: People who strive for perfection do this. They may feel it’s unreasonable to move forward until they are completely sure. When doubts surface the mind goes round and round. Paralysis ensues. There will always be reasons to doubt, don’t let it derail you.
Decisions,Decisions written by Stacey Tompkins, MA
Have you ever been unable to make a decision? How do you choose which beverage to drink or what type of car to buy? How do you go about knowing what you want? And why is it that making decisions can be easy in one circumstance and confounding the next?
Of course there are everyday decisions that don’t matter much, such as Cheerios or Wheaties, skirt or jeans, walk or bike? And there are decisions that overwhelm because of their importance, such as gap year or college, quit job or ask for changes, move in together or move on?
My 17-year-old daughter is investigating possible colleges. She’s presently scouring a book titled, 376 Best Colleges. This makes me crazy because how can anyone choose when the pool of possibility is that enormous? Right now she’s focusing on eliminating colleges from the list. Any unsavory thing will result in the crossing off of an option, because she has to narrow it down somehow. This strikes me as a great metaphor for life. Who knows what random thing will eliminate a future possibility for each of us? People are forced to reject options when making decisions, because in order to narrow things down, and move toward something that feels right, we must somehow hone in on what is calling to us.
Many decisions have to do with either accepting the status quo or taking action to stir things up. Doing nothing is a legitimate decision, and it has the added benefit of feeling less risky. But then our fine old friends frustration, boredom and incongruence show up and we may begin to feel desperate for change.
The word decision comes from Latin roots and literally means ‘to cut off’. The elimination of possibilities is the very essence of decision-making. One obvious example, if you marry this one person, you don’t get to marry that other person. I know that may (or may not) sound troubling, but consider; it can also be a relief not to be constantly entertaining so many possibilities. 80
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Decisions can be tough. Everyone can recall a time when a decision was easy to make, when we just knew what we wanted. What is going on when that happens? When I have that feeling, there is congruence within my mind, my heart, and my intuition. All are aligned and although I often experience a smattering of doubt (I’ve learned to live with a constant dose of doubt), I can still muster enough confidence to make the leap and go. Trusting your ability to just know and follow that with action is a learned skill. With practice, anyone can do it. What can one do to increase their capacity for making decisions? Because let’s be truthful, nobody wants to be the chronically indecisive one.
»» Allowing emotions to choose: People often come to recognize these decisions as mistakes. Usually these choices are accompanied by rationalizations, such as “I will move in with this sociopath because he makes good money.” »» Believing you can only decide if you have the support of 10 other people: This approach comes out of fear of making an independent decision. It’s a possible sign of reluctance to take responsibility for one’s own life. »» Making similar mistakes, and failing to learn from them: We all do this, and it can cause stunted emotional growth. Be courageous and take a look at your patterns, they point out blind spots. To ensure different outcomes, try to behave in new ways.
What to embrace: »» Trust your instincts. Let go of your need for ‘logical’ reasons. Why oatmeal this morning instead of eggs? Try saying: ‘Because it feels right.’ (If it does) »» Use your imagination. When basing a decision on pros and cons, sit down and visualize living with the choice. How does it feel? This is useful information. »» You are the expert on what is right for you. Some decisions will never make sense to others, let that go. Listen to yourself, and then let others (whom you respect) chime in, and then listen to yourself again. »» Don’t beat yourself up. If you make a wrong decision, learn from it and move on. Everyone has opportunities to experience mistakes. »» Choosing is the stuff of life. Embracing the process can significantly help ease the burden. Practice these skills on small decisions, then go for it with the bigger ones. mp Stacey Tompkins lives in downtown Bozeman with her elderly mutt, two teenage daughters and one energetic husband. She is an irrepressible writer, and loves working with individuals and couples as a life coach through her business, Sungate Integral Coaching (406-570-1304 or
[email protected]).
parenting single
A Little Help from my Friends written By Nora Daniels
Joe Cocker’s crazy voice is blaring as I write this. What do I do when my love is away? (Does it worry you to be alone?) How do I feel by the end of the day? (Are you sad because you’re on your own?) No I get by with a little help from my friends . . . It might sound cheesy, but this Lennon/McCartney tune has been a kind of anthem for my post-separation existence this last year. Not only have I gotten by with a little help from my friends, but I wouldn’t have been able to survive without the help of my friends. And that’s no exaggeration. On the night that my husband of 15 years and I decided that we should separate, I blindly stumbled my way out to my car in the garage, hunkered down and called my best friend, Lucy, in Seattle. There I was, pathetic and dripping in tears, alone in a parked car; there she was tethered to me on the other end of the line, strong and loving, crying with me. And she’s been there every day since. Sometimes I feel guilty for leaning on her, but then I remind myself that our friendship will last a lifetime and that I will do the same for her someday when she needs me to, for whatever reason. Lucy and I are not unique. A fascinating landmark study by UCLA Dr. Laura Cousin
Klein and Researcher Shelley Taylor found that when women are stressed, they respond less with the “fight and flight” reaction (which, not surprisingly, is a more male response) than by “tending and befriending.” Klein and Taylor found that when women feel stress, their bodies release oxytocin, which causes them to seek out and focus on their children and friends, which then releases more oxytocin and helps them relax. It’s a cycle of love and friendship that our bodies crave: Women with strong friendships have lower blood pressure, live longer and are just happier. The famed Nurses’ Health Study from Harvard Medical School found that not having close friends or confidants was as detrimental to your health as smoking or carrying extra weight. Those of us lucky enough to have strong, healthy bonds with other women probably didn’t need these scientific studies to tell us how important our friends are. But, it’s still kind of nice to have the evidence to back up our need for girls’ night and those rare but oh-soawesome 40-minute conversations with far-flung pals. The only way I know to show my gratitude for my beautiful friends is by re-telling this poem that’s been floating around. I don’t even know who wrote it, but I love it and it hangs in my office, reminding me everyday:
Life happens. Distance separates. Children grow up. Jobs come and go. Love waxes and wanes. Men don’t do what they’re supposed to do. Hearts break. Parents die. Colleagues forget favors. Careers end. BUT . . . Sisters are there, no matter how much time and how many miles are between you. A girlfriend is never farther away than needing her can reach. When you have to walk that lonesome valley and you have to walk it by yourself, the women in your life will be on the valley’s rim, cheering you on, praying for you, pulling for you, intervening on your behalf, and waiting with open arms at the valley’s end. Sometimes, they will even break the rules and walk beside you… Or come in and carry you out. The world wouldn’t be the same without women, and neither would I. When we began this adventure called womanhood, we had no idea of the incredible joys or sorrows that lay ahead. Nor did we know how much we would need each other. mp Nora Daniels lives with her two children in Bozeman, where she is lucky enough to have loved ones that are helping her rebuild her family.
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Africa to America:
Supporting a Friend Through the Adoption Process written By Carly Seifert
This past spring we kicked off our international adoption process with a garage sale to help raise the needed funds. Our neighbor at the time, who learned during our sale that we were adopting, looked at me incredulously and asked, “Why don’t you just have one of your own?” I’ve realized at many times throughout our adoption journey that people are incredible. Most people know exactly the right words to say and exactly when I need to hear them, and they have been amazingly helpful and encouraging. I’ve also learned that some people either have no idea what to say, or just say something so offensive I can’t process it well enough to come up with a quickwitted response. Bozeman currently has dozens of families bringing kids home from places nearby and all over the world. It is highly likely you have a local friend or will have a local friend who needs your support throughout her adoption process.
ASK HER ABOUT HER ADOPTION: Chances are, your adoptive friend doesn’t get to talk as much about her adoption as her exploding heart would like to. Strangers don’t stop her at the grocery store and ask her how far along she is in her process. Sometimes close friends or family members may be unsure of what to ask or how to approach the topic, so they may not bring it up at all. Your friend will need a chance to talk about adoption--to share her frustrations, her happiness, her worries. So go ahead and ask her how she’s doing.
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OFFER SUPPORT:
NOW YOU’LL GET PREGNANT!
Along those same lines, offer your unwavering support to your friend. Adoption is filled with ups and downs that can be difficult to understand and empathize with. Your friend will likely be distracted, emotional, worried, incredibly busy and perhaps even distant while she works on bringing her child home. Be patient with her, cut her some slack and be there for her when she needs it. Trust me—she’s grateful.
If I had a dime for every time someone told me this I’d be writing this article from the beaches of Hawaii. Yes, maybe the adoptive mom struggling with fertility will get pregnant during her adoption process, but more than likely, she won’t. Adoption isn’t fertility treatment and when you say this to adoptive moms, it makes them feel as though you’re not excited about their decision to adopt and are secretly hoping they’ll still get pregnant.
THE CHILD IS HER OWN: If you couldn’t tell by my opening story, I get slightly offended when someone makes a comment that insinuates my biological daughter is “my own” but my adopted son is not. You would be surprised how often this happens to a mom who has experienced both childbirth and adoption. Both of my children are every bit my own, despite the ways in which they came to me. So if you want to adopt after having “kids of your own,” do your friend a favor and don’t say it out loud.
DON’T QUESTION HER CHOICE: And I mean this about the many aspects involved in adoption. When your friend who has been struggling with fertility announces she’s adopting, don’t ask her if she’s sure she wants to “give up” on having “her own kids” (see above comments). Don’t ask your friend adopting from China why she chose to adopt there when so many children in America need homes. Don’t ask your friend adopting a special needs baby if she really feels she can handle it. Don’t ask your friend who says she’s adopting from Africa if she’s worried her child will be black (yes, I have been asked this). Just don’t do it.
HELP WITH FUNDRAISING: Let’s be frank: adoption is expensive. Domestic adoption can cost as much as $20,000 and international as much as $35,000. Many middle-income families will be doing their share of fundraising to help offset these expenses. Show support for these fundraisers--offer to host one or just attend the one that another friend is throwing. Aside from the gratitude (and relief) your friend will undoubtedly feel for your financial contribution, she will mostly just be grateful for the support from those she is closest to. A few weeks ago, I stood over the refreshments table at church, deliberating over whether or not to “give in” and eat a brownie. A friend observed my dilemma and said, “You better have that brownie! You’re eating for two!” My heart swelled. And I ate the brownie. mp Carly Seifert is a Music for Young Children teacher, mother of two (both her own) and writer/blogger. You can read about her family’s adoption journey at www. africatoamerica.org.
Livingston
Elsie’s
Tips
Thinking about Thinking written By Elsie Johnson
Q – My nine-year-old is having a hard time reading and keeping her attention focused in school. She loves school but gets quite
When seeing these images and scenes, one’s brain stops receiving what the real eyes are seeing, and real ears are hearing, and instead see and hear what is being created when imagining. In other words, when one uses their imagination, they are using that part of their brain where they can make a picture, close their real eyes, and still see, imagine or sense that picture. This gift helps certain individuals create, invent, engineer and solve problems creatively and in some cases escape from reality. Often, such individuals are, by nature, intelligent, curious, intuitive and imaginative. This same gift, however, is also what makes dealing with twodimensional symbols – such as letters, words and punctuation marks – a tedious task. This gift allows one the ability to think and perceive multi-dimensionally. This ability to manipulate symbols using the imagination turns on automatically when picture thinkers experience uncertainty or confusion about two dimensional objects like symbols (b/d, +/x, 5/2). These mistakes can happen when a myriad of conditions occur, ranging from being tired, hungry, distracted, anxious; it can also happen with words when the reader has nothing to associate the word with. Whatever the prompt, making mistakes is exhausting and emotional.
tired and a bit discouraged. These seem related, and though she gets help at school and home, things remain the same for her. Can you help me understand so we can help her?
A – After decades of looking at these
problems from the perspective available to educators at the time, the word thinking point of view, we now have the perspective of ‘picture thinking’ that provides an effective explanation. At the root of what you are seeing is a gift. “A gift?” You say! Yes, a gift. The idea of The Mind’s Eye has embraced creativity for years as the ability to imagine ways to represent ideas using one’s imagination.
{Buffalo}
Consider the possibility that your daughter is trying her best to accomplish tasks she sees others easily do. Sometimes when using coping behaviors to accomplish these tasks, she may be working harder, concentrating, getting a bit headachy, memorizing, though not yet avoiding tasks, acting out or turning inward.
Tom West’s In the Mind’s Eye and Ron Davis’ The Gift of Dyslexia are good sources for understanding about the role of picture thinking in learning and how many of us already utilize our gift. I am one of 400 persons worldwide who are trained to facilitate adults and children to recognize, manage and use their picture thinking ability to their advantage with tasks previously difficult and exhausting that can sometimes look like the emptiness that we commonly refer to as ADD. Do the reading, and/or attend seminars offered, call, or set a consultation offered for half price during the month of December in the spirit of the gift. mp
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Elsie Johnson, a Registered Educational Therapist, and certified DDAI Facilitator, has helped hundreds of adults and children gain control over their ABILITY to learn through understanding how to take advantage of their picture thinking – thus taking responsibility and pride in learning. Learn more at www.thelearningoptions.com or call Elsie at 406-282-7416.
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Mama’s Got a New Bag
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WE ARE SERIOUS! Join Montana Parent Magazine and Rocky Mountain Travel at the Beaches Ocho Rios Resort and Golf Club in Jamaica June 8 - 15, 2013.
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Basic Mac-and-Cheese recipe: »» 2 tablespoons butter »» 2 tablespoons flour »» 2 cups milk (I use 1%) »» 1-½ - 2 cups of cheese (your choices) »» ¼ cup of grated Parmesan »» ¼ teaspoon coarse salt (or to taste) »» Fresh ground pepper to taste »» ¼ teaspoon paprika (optional)
From Cheesy Apps to Mac-and-Cheese RECIPE BY LEIGH RIPLEY
»» 2-3 dashes of Tabasco or Thai Hot Chili Sauce (optional) »» ½ - 1 lb. Elbow, Penne or Orecchiette noodles Step #1: Choose your cheeses. Good, smooth, flavorful choices include (but are not limited to): Gouda, Fontina, Extra Sharp Yellow Cheddar, Havarti, Gorgonzola or Blue Cheese Step #2: Choose your add-ins. This is optional, but very effective for sneaking vitamins in or upping the ante for an adult version. Some examples: »» ¼ cup of leftover bacon from breakfast »» ¼ cup of sundried tomatoes, drained and chopped »» ¼ cup of thinly sliced jalapenos »» ¼ cup roasted red peppers, diced »» ¼-½ cup of pureed sweet potatoes
I am passionate about macaroni and cheese.
»» ¼-½ cup of pureed carrots
In my mind, the only thing better than eating mac-and-cheese is creating new combinations for it. Experiment with different types of macaroni, cheese, add-ins and toppings. Use what’s on hand, and you’ll find you always have the ingredients for a great mac-and-cheese.
Step #3: Choose your toppings.
Furthermore, you can cut back on the season’s hostess-stress by planning a few good cheese appetizers using leftovers that will find their way to your dinner table. From hors d’oeuvres to already prepped Holiday side dish – winner, winner kid-friendly dinner!
»» Top with sliced tomatoes »» Sprinkle a combination of the cheeses you used over the top »» Add Panko crumbs »» Pinch a little additional paprika over the top Step #4: Get Cooking »» Melt butter in a medium saucepan »» Whisk in flour and cook a few seconds, until it is combined and bubbling »» Slowly add milk, whisking as you go »» Simmer until slightly thick - don’t boil, don’t burn the bottom and don’t cook it so long that you make paste
Scrumptious Cheese Appetizer Combinations
»» Turn the heat to warm and add your cheeses, slowly stirring to combine
»» Extra Sharp Cheddar + fruit and/or pepper jelly with crackers
»» Taste and adjust spices
»» Gorgonzola or Blue Cheese + pears or apples and honey
»» Stir in your add-ins
»» If it’s too thick add a little more milk. Too thin, don’t worry; the starch in the pasta will thicken the end product up nicely »» Set cheese sauce aside and boil macaroni. Please don’t overcook it or you will have mushy macand-cheese.
»» Fontina melted over mild roasted pepper rings (a.k.a. Pepperoncini) on bruschetta
»» When the macaroni is done, drain it and add it to the cheese sauce in increments. Add as much or as little macaroni as you wish, depending on how saucy or dry you like your mac-and-cheese
»» Gouda goes great with anything BBQ – also terrific with meats and hot peppers
»» Note: At this point, you can cover the mac-and-cheese and refrigerate overnight if you are prepping it for a Holiday side dish. Just make sure it has cooled completely before you cover it, otherwise condensation will form and make your mac-and-cheese watery.
»» Havarti is fabulous with fruits and nuts
If you are serving it now:
»» Pour the mac-and-cheese into a casserole dish (prepped with non-stick spray)
»» Add your toppings All of the featured cheeses in this month's Leftover Chef column can be found at your locally owned and operated grocery store, HEEBS.
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»» Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. When done, broil the casserole for a few minutes to brown the top »» Remove from oven and serve immediately. Mac-and-cheese gets cool quick so keep it covered.
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P E D I AT R I C S A doctor for all of you
DOCTORS FOR TOTS, TODDLERS, TYKES, TWEENS, AND TEENS. Pediatricians specialize in kids of all ages. Which is important, because children and adolescents come with unique health requirements. The pediatricians at Bozeman Deaconess Health Group understand those requirements, and how to help children become healthy adults. Call, or visit our web site for referral to one of our pediatricians. When it comes to caring for your children, we have a doctor for all of you.
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Michael Blake, MD, PhD James R. Feist, MD Juliet Hansen, MD Pepper Henyon, MD Mark Hodgson, MD Charleen McInnis, MD Angelika Ostrowski, MD
Participating Provider: Allegiance, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Interwest Health, Medicare, Managed Medicare, Montana Medicaid, Montana Unified School Trust, New West, United Healthcare, Work Compensation
PEDIATRICS | Highland Health Park | 935 Highland Blvd, Suite 2200 | Bozeman | 406-587-5123
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