32
March 2015 Rise of the Mommy Bloggers YOUNG HERO Nicole Carrillo helps new immigrants find their bearings in America. spaghetti TOES Martin Bruckner makes art from the darndest things kids say.

March 2015 HerFamily

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Page 1: March 2015 HerFamily

March 2015

Rise of the Mommy

BloggersYOUNG HERONicole Carrillo helps

new immigrants find their bearings

in America

spaghetti

TOESMartin Bruckner makes art from

the darndest things kids say

Visit ChildrensOmahaorg for more information on how we can help your child For a pediatrician family physician or pediatric specialist call 18008333100

Ella age 6Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome

THE BEST PLACE FOR KIDS

HERFamilyAdFNLDec2014indd 1 1515 905 AM

On the CoverGrace Ostergaard 13

is ready for March Madness

features14 The Rise of the Mommy Bloggers Parents are turning to blogs for all manner of healthy ventings20 Spaghetti Toes Kids say the darndest things

departments6 health For many moms fitness trackers mean better workouts8 meet the family The Kassals A Family of Teachers10 lifestyle Working Moms of Omaha know when to play12 diy Dig These Chicks17 young hero Nicole Carrillo helps immigrants thrive in America18 activity Big Museum Pint-Sized Fun22 mind amp body No Age Limit for Bullies 24 food Bean amp Cheese Tostadas26 mom on the rocks Spring Cleaning the St Patrickrsquos Way27 fitness Boat Pose28 calendar of events30 the grandpa chronicles Canine Calamity

4emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

Volume 2 bull Issue 10

PUBLISHER

Todd Lemke

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

David Williams

MANAGING EDITOR

Robert Nelson

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

John Gawley

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY amp INTERACTIVE MEDIA

Bill Sitzmann

SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER amp WEB CONTENT MANAGER

Kristen Hoffman

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Rachel Joy

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Bev Carlson bull Allison Janda bull Lisa Lukecart Claire Martin bull Leslie Murrell Kara Schweiss bull Kara Wesely

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

Keith Binder

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Gwen Lemke bull Greg Bruns bull Gil Cohen Kyle Fischer bull Angie Hall bull George Idelman

ASSISTANT TO THE PUBLISHER

Sandy Besch Matson

ACCOUNT ASSISTANTS

Alicia Smith Hollins bull Jessica Linhart Dawn Dennis bull Jessica Cullinane

OPERATIONS

Tyler Lemke

ACCOUNTING

Jim Heitz

WAREHOUSE DISTRIBUTION MANAGER

Mike Brewer

Printed by Omaha Print

For a one-year subscription

(12 issues) send $995 to

PO Box 461208 Papillion NE 68046-1208

wwwomahamagazinecom

Original contributions become the property of Omaha Publi-cations Contributions cannot be acknowledged or returned

The information contained within HerFamily is for infor-mational purposes only It is not intended and should not be used to take the place of seeking professional advice

counsel or assistance Omaha Publications makes no endorsement of and is not responsible for contributors or advertising herein If you have concerns or questions

related to your health consult with your physician HerFamily is protected by copyright and may not be re-produced in whole or in part without written permission

of Omaha Publications 4028842000

Owned and managed by Omaha Magazine LTD

march 2015on the inside

omahamagazine

omahamagazine

omahamagazine

18

12

CHI Health

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp5

CHI Health Alegent Creighton Clinic offers

no-appointment-necessary care clinics with

extended hours and pharmacies with

mail-order and delivery services

Access routine care 247 from your home or

office with our innovative tools like online

appointment scheduling and Virtual Care

Health and wellness Here and now

Our website features videos of our providers so you can

choose the right fit for you and your family To learn more

and find a doctor visit CHIhealthcomClinic

Bergan Mercy | Creighton University Medical Center | Good Samaritan | Immanuel | Lakeside | Mercy Council Bluffs | Midlands | Nebraska Heart | St Elizabeth St Francis | Missouri Valley | Mercy Corning | Plainview | Schuyler | St Maryrsquos | Lasting Hope Recovery Center | Richard Young Behavioral Health | Alegent Creighton Clinic

4440_064158_CHI_ACC_HerMagazine_4C_8375rdquox10875rdquo064158_CHI_ACC_HerMagazine_4Cindd 1 1915 231 PM

when it comes to exercise motivation can be somewhat elusive Good intentions fall by the wayside and soon enough we find ourselves stuck

in the same old routine or probably more often the routine of not exercising at all

Enter fitness trackers and fitness bands Fitbits Garmin Vivofits Fitbugs iFits and more You name it your local sporting goods or electronic stores are sure to have it But the question is do they really work and more importantly do they keep their users motivated

A Bit of MotivationFor many moms Fitbit and other fitness trackers mean better workouts

6emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Kara Weselyhealth

ackyardBE

dventurescampxplorers

Yoursquoll never know what yoursquoll find

Pre-K ages 4-5 June 1-5 9-noonDiscover the wonders of nature in this outdoors camp led by natural resources experts and licensed teach-ers Activities could include seed planting wildlife tracks frogs and turtles and casting fishing poles

at Chalo Hills Rec Area RegistrationContactwwwpapionrdorg (educational resources tab)

Lora Bogatz among many other Omaha moms certainly thinks so Bogatz has used both a BodyBug and a Fitbit and has found that both devices not only kept her motivated they brought out her competitive side

ldquoAlmost my entire family has Fitbitsrdquo she says ldquoWe all sync ours together and do either daily or weekly challenges It has definitely brought out my competitive side I will even walk extra laps while at work to stay in the leadrdquo

Itrsquos not only the competition that has Bogatz moving more Her Fitbit counts steps measures her heart rate sets goals for her and awards badges when goals are attained all of which she feels keeps her motivated and accountable

ldquoI feel like I am always checking in with either my Fitbit or my Fitness Pal It definitely keep me honestrdquo-Sarah Trout

ldquoIt definitely gets me to the gym more I want to reach my 10000 steps each day and want to earn the next badgerdquo

Sarah Trout another Fitbit enthusiast has seen a change in how often she exercises and how hard

ldquoI like to know how many calories I am burning and if I see that number drop from one day to another I know I have to work harder I think I tended to be somewhat lazier before and wouldnrsquot push myself nearly as muchrdquo Trout says

Troutrsquos Fitbit syncs with her iPhone and Fitness Pal app a feature she utilizes daily

ldquoI feel like I am always checking in with either my Fitbit or my Fitness Pal It definitely keep me honestrdquo Trout says

Both Bogatz and Trout wear their Fitbits nearly every day and have come to appreciate their little sidekick

ldquoI am a very visual personrdquo Trout says ldquo Being able to look at my Fitbit at any point during the day and see how many steps I have taken is a huge bonus as well as a huge motivatorrdquo

Like Bogatz and Trout Jeanne Vlcek has found that wearing a fitness band while working out keeps her accountable and keeps her moving as much as she can The one difference being that Vlcek is seven months pregnant and thinks her fitness band a Timex fitness watch is possibly picking up the heart rate of her baby in addition to her own

ldquoI think my watch is a little confused because itrsquos telling me I am burning way more calories than is possiblerdquo Vlcek says

In spite of that issue Vlcek has appreciated having the watch while exercising She thinks shersquoll appreciate it even more after her baby is born

ldquoI think Irsquoll be counting on it much much more after our baby is born to help me get back in shaperdquo she saysemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp7

The KassalsIn this family of educators even the kindergartner is a teacher

Jeff Kassal LIlly Kassal and Kristin Boe

8emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Kara Schweiss photography by Keith Bindermeet the family

Kassal says he wasnrsquot planning on teaching special education when he started his career as an educator

ldquoI did my undergraduate in general educationelementary When I graduated it was right after Christmas break so I did some subbing and long-term subbing in general educationrdquo Kassal says ldquoThen I got a summer job at a special education school and thought it would be just that a summer school job But I ended up really liking it It was a different kind of challengerdquo

Although Boe and Kassal work in two different career fields the couple say their worlds do intersect from time to time

ldquoItrsquos nice to have Kristinrsquos help with decorating schoolrooms or her ideas to make things look better like presentationsrdquo Kassal says

ldquoAnd vice versardquo Boe adds ldquoEspecially when he was working with elementary kids Irsquod ask him about projects we were trying outrdquo

Boe also applies some of her own experience as an educatormdashhaving taught English as a Second Language (ESL) classes in Korea in her single daysmdashwhen shersquos dreaming up new ideas for Kids DIY Studio She also says that overseas job helped give her the courage to take the risk of starting her own business years later ldquoThat was probably the scariest thing I ever did taking that big leap and going somewhere so far away So everything else is lsquoGive it a tryrsquordquo

The couple (Kassal is from Omaha Boe grew up in the Bennington area) were introduced by Boersquos sister and a friend of Kassalrsquos who is now Boersquos brother-in-law

ldquoWe went to a comedy show togetherrdquo Boe says but Kassal questions that fact Kassalrsquos conclusion ldquoYeah laquowe did It was pre-datingrdquo

They may not quite agree on their meet-cute but the couple enjoy gardening togethermdashKassal is the avid gardener but quite a few garden-themed projects have found their way into the studiomdashand both Boe and Kassal are runners And with a five-year-old in the house a lot of their spare time is devoted to kidsrsquo movies and activities

ldquoWersquore fairly average We work hard we raise our kidrdquo Boe says ldquoWe eat a lot of pizzardquo emsp

lilly Kassal is still in kindergarten but the aspiring dress designer already has her first grown-up sewing machine and is ready to

start learning how to turn her fashion drawings into haute couture Creativity is definitely part of the little girlrsquos DNA Lillyrsquos mom Kristin Boe is the owner of Kids DIY Studio a drop-in craft studio that opened last spring

ldquoYou can come in and do arts and crafts projects and paint and we have classes and partiesrdquo Boe says ldquoCrafting stuff is messy and itrsquos nice to have a large supply in one area besides your house You can leave the glitter on the floor here and splatter paint You can be creativerdquo

Like its name suggests her business is geared toward children mid-teens and younger although some adult classes are also on the schedule Boe whose first entrepreneurial endeavor was a home-based daycare during Lillyrsquos infant and toddler years says she enjoys expressing her creativity as much as her customers do

ldquoEvery aspect of this business is creative The job itself is creative the marketing takes a lot of creativityrdquo she says ldquoItrsquos fun because therersquos a constant rotation of projects and classes to dream up and see if they will work so therersquos a lot of trial and errorrdquo

Lilly 5 says she enjoys pitching in at the studio although her mom gently chuckles at her claim of helping with the cleaning What she does do Boe says is try out new projects or in Lillyrsquos words ldquoI make examplesrdquo The success of Lillyrsquos proto-types are a good indicator of how other children will respond to new projects Boe says and Lilly is also good at initiating activity with groups of children and helping shy visitors feel comfortable at the studio

ldquoI talk to them if they need help if my mom is helping someone elserdquo Lilly says

Lillyrsquos dad Jeff Kassal is also creative but in a more academic sort of way He is in his first year of teaching special education math classes at Kirn Middle School in the Council Bluffs Community School District after teaching in the elementary grades at a private school in Omaha Not only does he find ways to reach individual students with respect to their special learning needs but he also teaches an age group that can be a tough audience seventh-graders

ldquoIrsquom always trying to make everything interesting and (apply to) real-life situationsrdquo Kassal says ldquoLuckily the majority of my class likes football and sports in general so I try to make connections thererdquo

ldquoItrsquos fun because therersquos a constant rotation of projects and classes to dream up and see if they will work so therersquos a lot of trial and errorrdquoKristin Boe

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp9

wake up Get the kids ready Hurry out the door Drop kids off Work eight to five Pick kids up Go home Make dinner Help

with homework Put kids to bed Wake up Repeat Phew Making time for oneself can feel like a

pipe dreamFeeling that crunch and hoping to help Stephanie

Feltus created the meet-up group ldquoWorking Moms of Omahardquo after moving here to take a job in corporate sales ldquoI did a fair amount of travelingrdquo says the mother of two children Lucy 4 and Gavin 1 ldquoI began to look for resources supporting working moms and locally I wasnrsquot finding many resourcesrdquo

Work Hard Play Hard

Working Moms of Omaha Know When to Play

Stephanie Feltus

10emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Allison Janda photography by Keith Binderlifestyle

WHAT DID

YOURCHILD

LEARN TODAY

Call (402)932-4978or visit omahacmorgto begin your childrsquos

LEARNING

Largest childrenrsquos frame selection in Omaha

(We have adults covered too)

cool^

12660 Q Street Omaha | Tel (402) 896-3300 wwwmillardfamilyeyecarecom

The grouprsquos purpose is simple Moms come together to meet other working moms The group is currently 300 members strong Within that membership small groups with similar interests typically meet just once a month which makes it easy for even the busiest mothers to partake in the fun

The group meets at a public venue typically on a Saturday morning with children or on a Sunday evening with women only Feltus says that over the years she has discovered that events involving the children work better during the summer months while events that call for just mothers tend to come together more easily in the winter

ldquoOur most recent outing was a Holiday Lights Limo Tour for moms onlyrdquo she explains ldquoWe met at Upstream [Brewing Company] where the limo picked us up for a two- hour holiday lights tour of Omaha We sipped on apple cider chatted and enjoyed the beauty of the seasonrdquo

Feltus interested in expanding options available to working mothers hopes to begin planning lunch-and- learn events that focus on achieving worklife balance and reducing the amount of guilt working mothers feel in their day-to-day lives Currently the only lead organizer Feltus says that any member of the group is welcome to plan events such as a trip to the zoo or a play date at the museum

While the group allows working moms to connect and form friendships it is the raising of children and how much they change that offers a common bond for these women Their kids range in age from newborns to teenagers but as all mothers know motherhood isnrsquot biased ldquoThis group has taught me to not take parenthood too seriouslyrdquo she says ldquoYour most devastating parenting moment is probably not that bad This group gives you support and more importantly sanityrdquo

Working Moms of Omaha is funded by a business Feltus owns called Mommy Assistant which is focused on supporting working families thereby enabling parents to spend more quality time with their kids

You can join their Facebook page at Working Moms of Omaha as well as the Working Moms of Omaha Meetup Group at meetupcom ldquoPersonally I have made some fabulous friends and my kids have as wellrdquo Feltus says emsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp11

Dig These Chicks

12emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

diyby Kristen Hoffman photography by Bill Sitzmann

if you are an American female living in the year 2015 you probably have noticed that succulent plants have

exploded in popularity over the past year or two You canrsquot resist themmdashtheir tiny stature their resilience their pinks and purples that scream ldquoIrsquom a girl plantrdquo Good grief letrsquos just admit it Theyrsquore adorable

You know what else is adorable Baby chicks emerging from their eggs at springtime

So letrsquos take advantage of a plant that is actually referred to as ldquohensrdquo and ldquochicksrdquo (depending on their maturity) and combine them into an explosion of adorable Pinterest magic

SUPPLIESbull Eggsbull Paper egg cartonbull Knifebull Paper clipbull Preserved mossbull Gluebull Small succulentsbull Cactus soil (if needed)

DIRECTIONS1 Shop for some succulent babies

You can find these at nurseries grocery stores or home improvement stores The smaller the better Look for bunches that have multiple blooms to fill out your eggshells

2 Open the eggshells with the back of a butter knife Peel off the top section of the shell until you are satisfied with the size of the hole

3 Wash out the eggs with warm water and soap and place them back in the carton Pull apart a paper clip so that it is one long piece of metal With the paper clip poke a hole in the bottom of each egg Keeping them in the carton will keep the eggs from cracking and the hole will provide drainage for the plant Wash hands thoroughly afterwards

4 Attach small pieces of preserved moss to the carton with glue to give it a little green Only do this to the top Placing moss into the carton will prevent the eggshells from sitting snugly in their place

5 Carefully remove the succulents from their containers Shake off any excess dirt that may be attached at the roots Fill the eggs about halfway with the excess dirt Arrange the succulents in the eggshells and pour a little more dirt into the shells to stabilize the stems

Keep these little guys in a sunny area and spray them with a water bottle sparingly Succulents are desert plants and honestly thrive on neglect Just my kind of plantemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp13

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Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

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402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

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Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

ldquoIt was cathartic for me Writing is how I emote Tons of women contacted me which then made me feel healedrdquo -Ashli Brehm

14emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Kara Weselyfeature

itrsquos easy for young moms to long for the stimulation of speaking with someone over the age of 10 Therersquos catharsis in talking through onersquos feelings and

problems with a person who no longer wears a diaper or a backpack

Increasingly mothers in Omaha like mothers nationally are turning to social media to connect vent or keep their writing chops sharp Theyrsquore the ldquoMommy Bloggersrdquo a group that by some estimates now number in the millions

Most blog as a pastime But some mommy blogs have higher purposes A blog can foster healing A blog can be a purposefully permanent document for the family

Omaha native Missy Cobb started her blog The Cobb Mobb as a way to connect with her three children

ldquoEvery time I write for the blog I think about my kids and how I am documenting memories for them I tried scrapbooking for my older kids but it was too time consumingrdquo Cobb says gt

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp15

lt Cobb who started her blog as a New Yearrsquos resolution in 2012 found writing allowed her to capture milestones and memories in a more efficient and permanent way ldquoIrsquove always enjoyed writing and I like knowing that this will always be there for my kids to readrdquo

Ashli Brehmrsquos blog Baby on the Brehm has played a key role in getting her through some trying times After going through a miscarriage Brehm (pronounced like brain but with an lsquomrsquo) dedicated a blog post to her experience and managed to connect with other women who had lost a baby

ldquoIt was cathartic for me Writing is how I emote Tons of women contacted me which then made me feel healedrdquo Brehm says

When her subsequent pregnancy did not go as planned and her third son was born several weeks premature she shared the highs and lows with her readers and received an overwhelming amount of support via Baby on the Brehm That support carried her through the next six weeks while her son Harrison was in the NICU growing strong enough to head home with his parents and two brothers

Fast-forward one year and Harrison is a happy healthy 1-year-old and Ashli is still blogging about her boys motherhood and everything in between And she still manages to maintain that connection with her audience

ldquoThe people who read my blog are like a community to me They are my life raft at timesrdquo Brehm says

Brehm like Cobb hopes that some day her children will read her entries and considers the blog a sort of legacy she is leaving behind

ldquoI want my boys to learn to be themselves and to have confidence I hope that by blogging and doing it in an authentic and honest way I am showing them thatrdquo emsp

feature continued

Missy CobbPhoto by Keith Binder

16emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

Visit us today12965 W Center Rd 4027780650

HoursMon-Thu 10-6Fri-Sat 10-5Sun 12-4

wwwelitecheercom402-537-0855 2410 S 140th Circle

Nebraskarsquos Premiere Cheerleading amp Tumbling center Learn basic

cheer techniquesJumps Tumbling Stunts amp Pyramids

We teach kids how to win through-Hard Work PerserverenceAccountability Discipline Integrity

ldquoA journey of a thousand miles starts with a single steprdquo

ldquoI bust mine so you can kick theirsrdquo

LFSneborg middot infoLFSneborg

Friday Feb 20 2015

dinner amp auction

Honorary cHair

nancy K JoHnson

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LFS Her Family ad 12-08-14indd 1 1282014 123544 PM

Young Hero proudly sponsored by

Young Hero proudly sponsored by

nicole Carrillo says she can make friends anywhere Even at the airport

Case in point On a chilly night in November Nicole stood with her fellow Thrive Club members at Eppley Airfield holding colorful signs Nicolersquos read ldquoWELCOME TO OMAHArdquo with the Orsquos shaped like hearts Moments later wild applause laughter and some tears erupted from the relatives students and coaches gathered for this moment

Nicolersquos soon-to-be-new friends were a refugee family just arriving from Burma Marisol Nicolersquos mother and one of the sponsors of Thrive was overwhelmed as tears flooded her eyes ldquoIt was life- changingrdquo Marisol recalls

Members of the Thrive Club along with Lutheran Family Services provided a cozy home environment for the immigrant family in an apartment volunteerrsquos chocked full of groceries clothes and furniture

Nicole a junior at Northwest High School had filled out a grant to present to her principal Thomas Lee to do something for a family that would be lost in a foreign world

Emigrating is hard scary often emotionally draining Nicolersquos empathy stems from hearing the story of her parents Marisol a native of Mexico left for the United States in her teens to pursue a cosmetics license It was difficult she says but she argues she had it easier than her husband Joel who she would later meet in English classes

Joel started his first job in the ldquoworst town you can think ofrdquomdashAguascalientes Mexico He loaded heavy bricks into trucks and along with 15 or so other boys sold them house-to-house He was five at the time Joel came to the United States when he was 15 Later he worked 60 to 70 hours a week while attending college classes at night sometimes even taking a course during his lunch hour

Nicole sees what her parents had to go throughmdashall their hard work So she strives to be the best As a 40 student Nicole is currently right behind her best friend for the top spot on the GPA ladder ldquoIt has been a long steady fightrdquo she says ldquobut itrsquos all in good funrdquo However like most high achievers Nicole gets upset if she receives a B on a test or paper but her parents do not

ldquoMy parents are like lsquoyou are doing the best you canrsquordquo Nicole says resting her hand on her cheek during a recent interview ldquoLove themrdquo

Nicole says attending Northwest was one the best decisions she has ever made ldquoShe is one of the best ambassadors for the schoolrdquo Lee says Nicole is active in all aspects of the school including student council National Honor Society and choir She has won numerous community service awards and was one of five in the nation to be selected for the National Youth Advisory Council

Nicole is now eager to show the Burmese family all the ldquosimple things we take for grantedrdquo around Omahamdashldquolike the mall and zoordquo she says

ldquoNicole has the heart to helphellip to make a better worldrdquo her mother says proudlyemsp

Nicole CarrilloHelping Immigrants Thrive in America

Nicole Carillo and the Thrive Group

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp17

by Lisa Lukecart photography by Keith Binderyoung hero

18emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Claire Martin photography by Bill Sitzmannactivity

the expected audience for morning attendance at the Joslyn Art Museum is not perhaps thought to be a handful of pint-sized art scholars But thats precisely the group of observers that hovered around a Renaissance fresco on a recent Friday

morning chattering about concepts like color shapes and how it was that a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle (Michelangelo) could be an artist

A museum shouldnt be a stuffy place I dont think artist and teacher Therese Straseski says It should be a fun place

Straseski has led and instructed the Art Adventures program at the Joslyn for 15 years now in which kids from the ages of 3-5 participate in interactive art activities with their parents every Friday morning Creative tasks can range anywhere from pouring plaster to mixing color palettes

I think art is amazingly important in children Straseski says Teaching art is about learning to enjoy yourself and love what you do Maybe I cant be Rembrandt but I can teach these kids to enjoy themselves in creating art

Another of Straseskis passions in her job is the substantial development in her young students skill and interest over time More exposure to art she believes helps integrate both sides of the brain immediately in children

We absolutely see improvement in our kids she says When they come as 3-year-olds concepts are lost on them and theyre just having fun But as they get older they start to understand concepts like color and line

Big Museum Pint-Sized Fun

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp19

Parents according to Straseski are some of the programs strongest advocates especially as art programs are dropped from elementary curriculums due to budget cuts

Mom and Art Adventures regular Alison Novak for example prioritizes the preservation of arts significance in her kids

I think children are naturally drawn to art because its messy and creative Novak says But I do think theyre very aware of the importance of art and artists especially as they get older

She adds that the interactive aspect of Joslyns art program is especially engaging for her 3-year-old daughter Dagny

The experience of art in this program is important because its so tactile and allows [my daughter] to use different materials Novak says Its not just coming and looking at the art Its something to get her involved

Its quite possible then that with the efforts of art advocates like Straseski and Novak a mini-Renaissance is in the making in these small art studentsmdashperhaps not in technique but in the messy and loving creative process

Art is about being able to pass on that passion to someone else Straseski says with a smile Thats the passion in artemsp

ww

Therese Straseski at work with budding artists at the Art Adventures program

Posh PeacockConsignment Gallery

Furniture amp Home Decor

4029339666 - poshpeacocknet

Bel Air Plaza 704 12100 W Center Rd

A Treasure Troveof Delightful amp Valuable Things

JULYAUGUST bull 2014

war amp PeaceChuck Hagel battles for a future free of the quagmires of the past

OmaharsquostopDentiststrade

Best of Omahatrade Campaign 2015

The Loyal Royal Alex Gordon

Malorie MaddoxOmaha Stories

trade

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

omamagcomsave

Donrsquot miss a single issue of Omaha Magazine

kids say the darndest things

20emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Allison Janda photography by Keith Binder

as a parent yoursquove probably appreciated (and not appreciated) the absolute

honesty that often escapes your childrsquos mouth Frankness aside kids also tend to say some hilarious things Martin Brucknerrsquos daughter Harper 3 is no exception

In early 2014 Bruckner his wife Michelle and their daughter were having dinner when he overheard his wife exclaim to Harper ldquoPlease donrsquot put spaghetti between your toesrdquo That same night as Bruckner was giving his daughter her evening bath he found himself asking her ldquoDid you drop your cheese in the tub againrdquo From that point on he decided it would be worthwhile to take note of all of the absurd utterances around his house He knew that one day he his wife and their child could all look back and have a good laugh

Bruckner began to create graphics based on things he wrote down eventually starting Tumblr and Facebook accounts to share them with friends family and parents around the world ldquoPretty much the first day I started the Facebook and Tumblr pages I had parents replying to me with the things their children say to themrdquo he chuckles Bruckner admits that it isnrsquot just the locals that find things he his wife and his daughter say funny In fact he has gotten messages from as far away as Australia

While Spaghetti Toes started out innocently enough it seems to be gaining steam as Harper ages Bruckner states that while his daughter is a newer

conversationalist the things she says only get funnier with age ldquoHer vocabulary is getting bigger and stronger but shersquos still having a hard time getting certain things to be in the correct context which in turn makes them hilariousrdquo he says This is confirmed with nothing more than a cursory glance through his website

The graphics he has created have started to garner some national attention getting picked up by websites such as BuzzFeed and The Chive Additionally Bruckner has started to fulfill custom orders and recently completed two such requests for a woman in Canada Nonetheless Bruckner remains encouraged by the local scene claiming Omaharsquos creatives are extremely supportive while locals are incredibly kind

The attention his sites have garnered feels good Bruckner says Nonetheless he finds that he is more drawn to the long-term payoff that they will have ldquoI started this as a way to document my daughterrsquos life while shersquos little and Irsquom having an incredible time doing itrdquo he shares In fact his own mother inspired by what her son was doing went digging for books that she kept on Bruckner and his siblings when they were young Bruckner hopes to use it to create additional graphics for his mom and five sisters ldquoIrsquove gotten message after message after message from parents and I think everyone is in agreement as far as their children saying incredible silly ridiculous and disgusting thingsrdquo he adds ldquoI say things daily that I never thought Irsquod sayrdquo Wersquore sure that every parent out there can relateemsp

feature

I think everyone is in agreement as far as their children saying incredible sillyridiculous and disgusting thingsrdquo-Martin Bruckner

Martin Harper and Michelle Bruckner

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp21

No Age Limit for

Bullies

i could have worked with Jim Rome the radio sportscaster Wersquore about the same age We were in college about the same time studying the same thing We both started working at

small stations before moving up I produced a number of anchors and reporters ldquoback in the dayrdquo who are still on the air at national networks So I have some experience working with Romersquos personality typemdashor at least the type he uses on air Arrogant bloated ego Inflammatory language 70rsquos mustache

Before January 1 of this year I only had peripheral knowledge of and no opinion on Mr Rome Irsquom not a hardcore sports fan so I couldnrsquot have picked him out of a lineup any day of the week But on this particular New Yearrsquos Day Mr Rome chose to insult not only my children but the children of my friends and in fact the children and grandchildren of hundreds of thousands of Americans In the middle of one of college footballrsquos biggest days he threw this tweet out there

ldquoIs there anybody not in a marching band who thinks those dorks running around with their instruments are coolrdquo

Wow You can just imagine the firestorm that followed It didnrsquot take long for the hashtag MarchonRome to be trending To be brief the answer to Mr Romersquos question was a resounding ldquoYes there are people who think theyrsquore coolrdquo After a 24-hour blast of more than 8000 responses (and that was only on Twitter) including everyone from the US Marines to band alums everywhere he tweeted this

ldquoBand nationmdashI hear you I was out of line I apologize I do not condone bullying of any kind and that was not my intentrdquo

The reason I chose this topic is not so much because I was personally offended by Mr Romersquos comment but because I was so saddened that someone my age could intentionally set such a horrible example If not to be a bully I canrsquot comprehend what Mr Romersquos intent was I think if it was ldquoto be funnyrdquo then thatrsquos a fail toomdashbecause making fun of entire groups of people in this manner is pretty much the textbook definition of bullying

Mr Rome (and many others I think) got a fast education about the athleticism discipline and commitment that marching band requires And I wonrsquot even start on the statistics about the value of arts education Just last week a new study from the University of Vermont indicated the measurable impact of music education in developing attention skills anxiety management and emotional control

No my beef with Mr Rome is quite simplemdashhe should be old enough to know better I get that my generation was a little different We were very cliquishmdashjocks potheads geeks dorks

22emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

mind amp bodyby Bev Carlson Lutheran Family Services

blah blahmdashbut I really thought (hoped) that with all of the current awareness of bullying a public figure like Mr Rose would be tuned in enough to choose his words more carefully when referring to hundreds of thousands of hard-working high school and college students

My hope rests with this next generation where amid the online furor those students with highly developed ldquoemotional controlrdquo graciously accepted Mr Rosersquos apology reminding him that this time he ldquomessed with the wrong dorksrdquo Irsquom still holding out hope that he will accept the challenge from many of the band members (many of whom also play sports) to come do what they domdash handle one week of band camp In the summer In the South Or how about here in Nebraska on all those cold early mornings Go Bandemsp

I was so saddened that someone my age could intentionally set such a horrible example

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp23

oneworldomahaorg

Grow STRONG WithOneWorld Pediatrics

45 YEARS OF MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Cass FamilyMedicine

122 S 6th StPlattsmouth

402-296-2345

Northwest Omaha

4229 N 90th St402-401-6000

West Omaha4101 S 120th St402-505-3907

South Omaha4920 S 30th St

402-734-4110

45 Years of Making a DifferenceOne Child at a Time

Bean amp Cheese Tostadas

this yummy tostada recipe makes a satisfying healthy lunch or dinner Black beans zucchini corn and cherry tomatoes make this colorful vegetarian

dish delicious and nutritious emsp

Find more great recipes at HealthyKohlsKidscom The Healthy Kohlrsquos Kids program is a partnership between Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center and Kohlrsquos Department Stores to educate children and parents about healthy nutrition and fitness

24emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

sponsored content by Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center food

ingredientsbull 8 corn

tortillas (6-inch diameter)

bull 1 can (14 oz) black beans rinsed and drained

bull 1 small white onion finely chopped

bull 2 medium zucchini cut into 14-inch pieces

bull 2 jalapentildeo peppers seeded and chopped

bull 12 Tbsp black pepper

bull 14 cup water

bull 12 cup cooked corn

bull 1 cup cherry tomatoes sliced

bull 12 cup chopped cilantro leaves

bull 1 12 oz grated reduced-fat white cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese (14 cup)

bull 4 scallions chopped

bull 1 small avocado pitted peeled and chopped

bull Lime wedges optional

preparation1 Preheat oven to 400deg Arrange tortillas

on 2 baking sheets and toast in oven until crisp about 5 minutes Remove from baking sheets

2 Lightly spray baking sheets with nonstick cooking spray Spread beans and onion on one and zucchini and jalapentildeos on the other Lightly coat vegetables with cooking spray season with the black pepper and roast until golden 12 to 15 minutes

3 Transfer half the beans and onion to a bowl with the water and mash beans with the back of a fork until smooth (Add more water to reach desired consistency if necessary) Spread mixture onto tortillas

4 Toss remaining beans and onion with zucchini jalapentildeos and corn and divide among tortillas

5 Top each tostada with tomatoes cilantro cheese scallions and avocado Serve with lime wedges if desired

Yield 4 servings

Nutrition Facts Calories 434 Fat 14g

Saturated Fat 3g Cholesterol 0

Sodium 446mg Carbohydrates 61g

Fiber 10g Protein 16g

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp25

Thanks for Voting Us Best of Omahatrade

84th and 1st St Downtown Papillion

402-331-9136

18 flavorsBaked daily Birthdays Weddings GraduationsOn-site party room

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FREEExpires March 31 2015

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4025583500Corner of

50th amp SouthSaddlecreek

402-502-8757Southwest corner

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votes for best Auto Body Repair

Spring Cleaning St Patrickrsquos Way

while most are eager for the weather to warm up in time for St Patrickrsquos Day (and the green beer sure)

Irsquom more into the holidayrsquos theme of ridding the country of evils Itrsquos time to purge yrsquoall

Irsquove been hibernating for six months under a blanket in front of the fireplace All I see here is an intense accumulation of clutter tucked in the corners out of my usual visual paths as I traverse my house

I finally get up and start the purge ldquoWhorsquos beach towel is thisrdquo ldquoI think Bobby left it here when we had that

slip-n-slide partyrdquo one of the kids says to me while walking out of their scarf gloves hat sweatshirt and shoes which leaves a trail marking my imminent demise from slips and falls (If I fall and am lying there unconscious interrogate my kids first)

ldquoThe slip-n-slide party That was five years agordquo I respond

ldquoYeah I think Bobby moved to Alaskardquo comes the retort which was both informative and confirmation that we had a right to be embarrassed

ldquoWell he doesnrsquot need this beach towel anymorerdquo Once the snow melts the purge involves three or four trips to Goodwill

Itrsquos funny that when yoursquore trapped in your house long enough due to subzero temperatures you start looking at the walls a little differently ldquoIs it me or is our kitchen less sage green and more My Little Pony Minty Greenrdquo I ask my husband

Before he can assure me the pastel shade of green is fine Irsquom off getting paint You canrsquot go wrong with a color called ldquoChocolaterdquo for the kitchen right

My family isnrsquot very supportive of my winter stir-crazy hobby of purging This year for Christmas the kids asked Santa for locks on their doors in an effort to protect their belongings from Momrsquos annual campaign

Itrsquos inevitable that about five years after I give something away one of my kids wants to know where it went Irsquom sorry your 2005 Lego set is gone My bare feet just couldnrsquot take it anymore

Just as St Patrick rid Ireland of all the snakes Irsquove secretly celebrated my own sainthood as Irsquove shooed all of my clutter away

Oh but then you realize that even saints canrsquot always win the clutter battle The cat barfs up a hairball My son walks by and touts ldquoIf only we still had Bobbyrsquos beach towel to clean this uprdquoemsp

26emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Leslie Murrell mom on the rocks

Boat PoseSanskrit name Paripurna Navasana(par-ee-POOR-nah nah-VAHS-anna)

the Boat Pose strengthens the hip flexors spine and the abdomen This pose helps to relieve stress improves digestion and stimulates the kidneys

intestines and thyroidemsp

BEGINNERS TIPPlace a strap around the ball of both feet Hold on to the

strap with straight arms

1 Sit on the floor with your legs straight in front of you Place your hands behind your hip and press into the ground fingers face- forward

2 Lift up through the sternum and slightly lean back until the weight is distributed to the top of your sitting bones and tailbone

3 Bend the knees and lift the feet off the floor

4 Lengthen the tailbone by pressing it into the floor and lift the pubis towards the naval

5 Slowly straighten your legs until your feet reach above eye level and spread the toes

6 Stretch the arms alongside the legs and reach out through the fingers

7 Breathe deeply for 15-30 seconds

8 Exhale and lower the legs to the floor

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp27

by Rachel Joy photography by Bill SitzmannfitnessWe are

the most experienced full-service family owned real estate company in America

npdodgecom

FOR THE KIDS

BAM ITrsquoS A PICTURE BOOK THE ART BEHIND GRAPHIC NOVELSTHROUGH MARCH 29 2015 JOSLYN ART MUSEUM ndash

2200 DODGE ST Popular among young readers

graphic novels are known for their comic

format They are generally described as

ldquosequential artrdquo where a series of illustrations

tell the story but unlike newspaper comics

they are the length of a novel and include

narrative development This exhibition features

the work of Jarrett J Krosoczka Mark Crilley

Matt Holm Raina Telgemeier and Lincoln

Peirce Tuesday - Wednesday amp Friday - Sunday

10am- 4pm Thursday 10am- 8pm Free

admission 402-342-3300

- JOSLYNORG

ONCE UPON A FARM EXHIBITTHROUGH APRIL 12 OMAHA CHILDRENrsquoS MUSEUMmdash500

S 20TH ST Explore the world of agriculture and

learn where your food comes from with the help

of interactive exhibit components like a center

pivot amp planting station dairy cows pedal track

maze and more Tuesday through Friday 10am ndash

4pm Saturday 9am ndash 5pm Sunday 1pm ndash 5 pm

Admission $2 plus regular admission Free for

members 402-342-6164

- OCMORG

MERMAID MINIONS amp DRAGONSMARCH 22 Holland Performing Arts

Centermdash1200 Douglas St Your favorite music

from How to Train Your Dragon Despicable Me

The Little Mermaid and other family movie hits

Brought to life through thrilling performances of

song dance and spectacle 2pm

Admission $15

- OMAHASYMPHONYORG

FOR THE FAMILY

NATURE CONNECTS 2THROUGH APRIL 26 LAURITZEN GARDENSmdash100

BANCROFT ST View 27 new sculptures each

inspired by the natural world made entirely of

300000 Legoreg bricks Make your own Lego

brick creations in the Legobrickyard and enjoy

a variety of Lego-inspired events throughout

the duration of the exhibit 9am ndash 5pm

Admission $10 adults$5 children six to 12 Free

for children under six and for garden members

402-346-4003

- LAURITZENGARDENSORG

TECH CITYTHROUGH MAY 10 STRATEGIC AIR amp SPACE MUSEUMmdash

ASHLAND NE This travelling engineering exhibit

is a great way to inspire learning and interest

in careers that focus on science technology

engineering and mathematics (STEM) The

Tech City exhibit is designed with interactive

learning that will appeal to visitors of all ages

9am - 5pm Free with regular admission $12

adult $6 youth children under 3 are free

402-944-3100

- SASMUSEUMCOM

ZEN TIES

THROUGH MARCH 8 THE ROSE THEATERmdash2001

FARNAM ST A gentle tale about patience and

compassion Zen Ties will make you remember

how much wisdom can come of simple

mindfulness Friday Saturday and Sunday

Members Four free admissions Non-member

admission $18 402-345-4949

- ROSETHEATERORG

FOR MOM amp DAD

AMERICAN MODERNS FROM OrsquoKEEFFE TO ROCKWELLTHROUGH MAY 17 JOSLYN ART MUSEUMmdash2200

DODGE ST The United States emerged as an

international power while also experiencing

two world wars and the Great Depression

New technologies changed all aspects of

life while the art world witnessed dramatic

transformations of its own This exhibition

explores the ways American artists including

Georgia OrsquoKeeffe Marsden Hartley Stuart

Davis Rockwell Kent and Norman Rockwell

engaged the modern world This exhibition

will have a ticket fee Free for members youth

ages 17 and younger amp college students with ID

402-342-3300

-JOSLYNORG

KATHARINE HEPBURN DRESSED FOR STAGE AND SCREENFEBRUARY 7-APRIL 26 DURHAM MUSEUMmdash801 S

10TH ST This exhibition from the Kent State

University Museum features more than 35

costumes worn in 21 films and six stage

productions as well as other personal items

spanning Hepburnrsquos illustrious career Come see

how this true icon of American culture came

to epitomize the modern woman of the 20th

century Children $6 Adults $9 402-444-5071

- DURHAMMUSEUMORG

COMPAGNIE KAumlFIGMARCH 18 HOLLAND CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST

Brazilian dance company Compagnie Kaumlfig

brings a high-energy performance style

combining their hip-hop foundation with martial

arts and circus elements 730pm $1350 to

$2625 402-345-0202

- OMAHAPERFORMINGARTSORG

Tech CityBam Itrsquos a Picture Book American Moderns

28emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

Calendar of Events

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp29

Erin Cox Event Director

402-884-2038 | erinomahamagazinecom

EVENTS by OMAHA MAGAZINE

Events by Omaha Magazine is a full-service event production company specializing in trade shows corporate events product launches and social gatherings From concept to delivery our goal is to provide an exceptional event experience for the host and their guests

Your Vision Our Innovation Event Solutions

GET A JUMP ON SUMMER

YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA wwwmetroymcaorg

Join us March 21 2015 for our Open House at any YMCA of Greater Omaha location The YMCA is your place for camp this summer bull Weekly themed preschool morning camps (3-5 years) and summer day camp (4-12 years - varies by location)

bull Mini special interest camps

bull Premier camps and Camp Platte

bull Counselors-in-Training program for teens

REGISTER FOR

CAMP AT OUR OPEN

HOUSE 3-21-15

AND PAY NO CAMP

REGISTRATION FEES

i never had a pet as a childOkay so I did at the age of 9 or so have

an ill-fated and short-lived guardianship of a turtle whose name Irsquove long forgotten but Irsquove never been a pet person

My mother abhorred the idea of anything furry dwelling in her home and I was pretty much fine with that The feeling carried over into adulthood and my three now-grown children probably felt super-lucky just to have had the brief company of a single pet a (clean and non-slobbering) feline named Scribbles

Viral videos portraying cats and dogs doing whatever it is that cats and dogs do have never appeared on any of my playlists And to be frank people who describe their little quadruped cuties as their ldquochildrenrdquohellipwell kinda creep me out I have no innate aversion to cats even though I take them to be whiskered sociopaths of evil intent but I have never been at all comfortable around dogs of any make or model

Before the hate mail begins please allow me at least a shot at redemption

My grandsons Barrett and Easton are growing up in a home where the company of canines is prized Their collie Summer recently ascended to that great dog pound in the sky and after an appropriate period of mourning has been replaced by a border collie pup carrying an equally seasonal name of Winter

Itrsquos an understatement to say that I never hit it off with Summer Perhaps it didnrsquot help that she stained our Oriental rug as a pup not 10 seconds into her very first visit to our home My son Eric entered with Summer while explaining that all would be well in that the creature was doing a smash-up job when it came to taking care of business but it was too late The little thing bounded (Is that what dogs do They ldquoboundrdquo) directly to the rug lifted one leg andhellipyou know the rest

I have promised to be different with Winter My kids already know that I am neurotic but I donrsquot

want Easton and Barrett to grow up thinking that their granddad is some kind of loathsome monster I am going to do my best to get to know Winter and not be such a basket case

Not surprisingly my first encounter with Winter was shall we say trying ldquoHersquos

just young and excitablerdquo I was told as the dog tried to climb up my leg Yeah tell that to my now urine-stained

shoes (suede no less) and newish sweater scarred by Winterrsquos talons or toes or paws or whatever it is theyrsquore called

But it is with a certain sense of self-satisfaction that I can report that I kept my cool Now the notion of ldquocoolrdquo is subjective My immediate knee-jerk reaction was admittedly to jerk my knee in revulsion but I collected myself as quickly as possible and

tried my best to not make an international incident of the affair

I really need to up my game in being the grandpa that I hope to

be but boy do I have my work cut out for meemsp

Canine Calamity A Plan to Fake it Until I Make it

30emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

the grandpa chroniclesby David Williams

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp31

Did you know90 of brain development

happens by age 5Discover Nebraska Childrenrsquos Home Societyrsquos

accredited high-quality early childhood education programs with low child-to-staff ratios at two locations

4939 S 118th St in Omaha (402) 898-7760 for children 18 months through Pre-K

and 3549 Fontenelle Blvd in Omaha (402) 898-7768 for children 6 weeks through Pre-K

Call today for a free no-obligation tour

4023450606 OMAHASYMPHONYORG

Sunday March 22 bull 200 PMHolland Center

Your favorite music from How to Train Your Dragon

The Little Mermaid Despicable Me and other

family movie hits Brought to life through exciting performances of song dance and spectacle

FEATURING

THE HEARTLAND YOUTH BALLET

REacuteSONANCE CHOIR

Tickets Adults amp Kids $12

FAMILY SERIES

CONCERT

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Omaha Magazine5921 S 118th CirOmaha NE 68137

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

Page 2: March 2015 HerFamily

Visit ChildrensOmahaorg for more information on how we can help your child For a pediatrician family physician or pediatric specialist call 18008333100

Ella age 6Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome

THE BEST PLACE FOR KIDS

HERFamilyAdFNLDec2014indd 1 1515 905 AM

On the CoverGrace Ostergaard 13

is ready for March Madness

features14 The Rise of the Mommy Bloggers Parents are turning to blogs for all manner of healthy ventings20 Spaghetti Toes Kids say the darndest things

departments6 health For many moms fitness trackers mean better workouts8 meet the family The Kassals A Family of Teachers10 lifestyle Working Moms of Omaha know when to play12 diy Dig These Chicks17 young hero Nicole Carrillo helps immigrants thrive in America18 activity Big Museum Pint-Sized Fun22 mind amp body No Age Limit for Bullies 24 food Bean amp Cheese Tostadas26 mom on the rocks Spring Cleaning the St Patrickrsquos Way27 fitness Boat Pose28 calendar of events30 the grandpa chronicles Canine Calamity

4emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

Volume 2 bull Issue 10

PUBLISHER

Todd Lemke

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

David Williams

MANAGING EDITOR

Robert Nelson

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

John Gawley

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY amp INTERACTIVE MEDIA

Bill Sitzmann

SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER amp WEB CONTENT MANAGER

Kristen Hoffman

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Rachel Joy

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Bev Carlson bull Allison Janda bull Lisa Lukecart Claire Martin bull Leslie Murrell Kara Schweiss bull Kara Wesely

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

Keith Binder

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Gwen Lemke bull Greg Bruns bull Gil Cohen Kyle Fischer bull Angie Hall bull George Idelman

ASSISTANT TO THE PUBLISHER

Sandy Besch Matson

ACCOUNT ASSISTANTS

Alicia Smith Hollins bull Jessica Linhart Dawn Dennis bull Jessica Cullinane

OPERATIONS

Tyler Lemke

ACCOUNTING

Jim Heitz

WAREHOUSE DISTRIBUTION MANAGER

Mike Brewer

Printed by Omaha Print

For a one-year subscription

(12 issues) send $995 to

PO Box 461208 Papillion NE 68046-1208

wwwomahamagazinecom

Original contributions become the property of Omaha Publi-cations Contributions cannot be acknowledged or returned

The information contained within HerFamily is for infor-mational purposes only It is not intended and should not be used to take the place of seeking professional advice

counsel or assistance Omaha Publications makes no endorsement of and is not responsible for contributors or advertising herein If you have concerns or questions

related to your health consult with your physician HerFamily is protected by copyright and may not be re-produced in whole or in part without written permission

of Omaha Publications 4028842000

Owned and managed by Omaha Magazine LTD

march 2015on the inside

omahamagazine

omahamagazine

omahamagazine

18

12

CHI Health

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp5

CHI Health Alegent Creighton Clinic offers

no-appointment-necessary care clinics with

extended hours and pharmacies with

mail-order and delivery services

Access routine care 247 from your home or

office with our innovative tools like online

appointment scheduling and Virtual Care

Health and wellness Here and now

Our website features videos of our providers so you can

choose the right fit for you and your family To learn more

and find a doctor visit CHIhealthcomClinic

Bergan Mercy | Creighton University Medical Center | Good Samaritan | Immanuel | Lakeside | Mercy Council Bluffs | Midlands | Nebraska Heart | St Elizabeth St Francis | Missouri Valley | Mercy Corning | Plainview | Schuyler | St Maryrsquos | Lasting Hope Recovery Center | Richard Young Behavioral Health | Alegent Creighton Clinic

4440_064158_CHI_ACC_HerMagazine_4C_8375rdquox10875rdquo064158_CHI_ACC_HerMagazine_4Cindd 1 1915 231 PM

when it comes to exercise motivation can be somewhat elusive Good intentions fall by the wayside and soon enough we find ourselves stuck

in the same old routine or probably more often the routine of not exercising at all

Enter fitness trackers and fitness bands Fitbits Garmin Vivofits Fitbugs iFits and more You name it your local sporting goods or electronic stores are sure to have it But the question is do they really work and more importantly do they keep their users motivated

A Bit of MotivationFor many moms Fitbit and other fitness trackers mean better workouts

6emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Kara Weselyhealth

ackyardBE

dventurescampxplorers

Yoursquoll never know what yoursquoll find

Pre-K ages 4-5 June 1-5 9-noonDiscover the wonders of nature in this outdoors camp led by natural resources experts and licensed teach-ers Activities could include seed planting wildlife tracks frogs and turtles and casting fishing poles

at Chalo Hills Rec Area RegistrationContactwwwpapionrdorg (educational resources tab)

Lora Bogatz among many other Omaha moms certainly thinks so Bogatz has used both a BodyBug and a Fitbit and has found that both devices not only kept her motivated they brought out her competitive side

ldquoAlmost my entire family has Fitbitsrdquo she says ldquoWe all sync ours together and do either daily or weekly challenges It has definitely brought out my competitive side I will even walk extra laps while at work to stay in the leadrdquo

Itrsquos not only the competition that has Bogatz moving more Her Fitbit counts steps measures her heart rate sets goals for her and awards badges when goals are attained all of which she feels keeps her motivated and accountable

ldquoI feel like I am always checking in with either my Fitbit or my Fitness Pal It definitely keep me honestrdquo-Sarah Trout

ldquoIt definitely gets me to the gym more I want to reach my 10000 steps each day and want to earn the next badgerdquo

Sarah Trout another Fitbit enthusiast has seen a change in how often she exercises and how hard

ldquoI like to know how many calories I am burning and if I see that number drop from one day to another I know I have to work harder I think I tended to be somewhat lazier before and wouldnrsquot push myself nearly as muchrdquo Trout says

Troutrsquos Fitbit syncs with her iPhone and Fitness Pal app a feature she utilizes daily

ldquoI feel like I am always checking in with either my Fitbit or my Fitness Pal It definitely keep me honestrdquo Trout says

Both Bogatz and Trout wear their Fitbits nearly every day and have come to appreciate their little sidekick

ldquoI am a very visual personrdquo Trout says ldquo Being able to look at my Fitbit at any point during the day and see how many steps I have taken is a huge bonus as well as a huge motivatorrdquo

Like Bogatz and Trout Jeanne Vlcek has found that wearing a fitness band while working out keeps her accountable and keeps her moving as much as she can The one difference being that Vlcek is seven months pregnant and thinks her fitness band a Timex fitness watch is possibly picking up the heart rate of her baby in addition to her own

ldquoI think my watch is a little confused because itrsquos telling me I am burning way more calories than is possiblerdquo Vlcek says

In spite of that issue Vlcek has appreciated having the watch while exercising She thinks shersquoll appreciate it even more after her baby is born

ldquoI think Irsquoll be counting on it much much more after our baby is born to help me get back in shaperdquo she saysemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp7

The KassalsIn this family of educators even the kindergartner is a teacher

Jeff Kassal LIlly Kassal and Kristin Boe

8emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Kara Schweiss photography by Keith Bindermeet the family

Kassal says he wasnrsquot planning on teaching special education when he started his career as an educator

ldquoI did my undergraduate in general educationelementary When I graduated it was right after Christmas break so I did some subbing and long-term subbing in general educationrdquo Kassal says ldquoThen I got a summer job at a special education school and thought it would be just that a summer school job But I ended up really liking it It was a different kind of challengerdquo

Although Boe and Kassal work in two different career fields the couple say their worlds do intersect from time to time

ldquoItrsquos nice to have Kristinrsquos help with decorating schoolrooms or her ideas to make things look better like presentationsrdquo Kassal says

ldquoAnd vice versardquo Boe adds ldquoEspecially when he was working with elementary kids Irsquod ask him about projects we were trying outrdquo

Boe also applies some of her own experience as an educatormdashhaving taught English as a Second Language (ESL) classes in Korea in her single daysmdashwhen shersquos dreaming up new ideas for Kids DIY Studio She also says that overseas job helped give her the courage to take the risk of starting her own business years later ldquoThat was probably the scariest thing I ever did taking that big leap and going somewhere so far away So everything else is lsquoGive it a tryrsquordquo

The couple (Kassal is from Omaha Boe grew up in the Bennington area) were introduced by Boersquos sister and a friend of Kassalrsquos who is now Boersquos brother-in-law

ldquoWe went to a comedy show togetherrdquo Boe says but Kassal questions that fact Kassalrsquos conclusion ldquoYeah laquowe did It was pre-datingrdquo

They may not quite agree on their meet-cute but the couple enjoy gardening togethermdashKassal is the avid gardener but quite a few garden-themed projects have found their way into the studiomdashand both Boe and Kassal are runners And with a five-year-old in the house a lot of their spare time is devoted to kidsrsquo movies and activities

ldquoWersquore fairly average We work hard we raise our kidrdquo Boe says ldquoWe eat a lot of pizzardquo emsp

lilly Kassal is still in kindergarten but the aspiring dress designer already has her first grown-up sewing machine and is ready to

start learning how to turn her fashion drawings into haute couture Creativity is definitely part of the little girlrsquos DNA Lillyrsquos mom Kristin Boe is the owner of Kids DIY Studio a drop-in craft studio that opened last spring

ldquoYou can come in and do arts and crafts projects and paint and we have classes and partiesrdquo Boe says ldquoCrafting stuff is messy and itrsquos nice to have a large supply in one area besides your house You can leave the glitter on the floor here and splatter paint You can be creativerdquo

Like its name suggests her business is geared toward children mid-teens and younger although some adult classes are also on the schedule Boe whose first entrepreneurial endeavor was a home-based daycare during Lillyrsquos infant and toddler years says she enjoys expressing her creativity as much as her customers do

ldquoEvery aspect of this business is creative The job itself is creative the marketing takes a lot of creativityrdquo she says ldquoItrsquos fun because therersquos a constant rotation of projects and classes to dream up and see if they will work so therersquos a lot of trial and errorrdquo

Lilly 5 says she enjoys pitching in at the studio although her mom gently chuckles at her claim of helping with the cleaning What she does do Boe says is try out new projects or in Lillyrsquos words ldquoI make examplesrdquo The success of Lillyrsquos proto-types are a good indicator of how other children will respond to new projects Boe says and Lilly is also good at initiating activity with groups of children and helping shy visitors feel comfortable at the studio

ldquoI talk to them if they need help if my mom is helping someone elserdquo Lilly says

Lillyrsquos dad Jeff Kassal is also creative but in a more academic sort of way He is in his first year of teaching special education math classes at Kirn Middle School in the Council Bluffs Community School District after teaching in the elementary grades at a private school in Omaha Not only does he find ways to reach individual students with respect to their special learning needs but he also teaches an age group that can be a tough audience seventh-graders

ldquoIrsquom always trying to make everything interesting and (apply to) real-life situationsrdquo Kassal says ldquoLuckily the majority of my class likes football and sports in general so I try to make connections thererdquo

ldquoItrsquos fun because therersquos a constant rotation of projects and classes to dream up and see if they will work so therersquos a lot of trial and errorrdquoKristin Boe

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp9

wake up Get the kids ready Hurry out the door Drop kids off Work eight to five Pick kids up Go home Make dinner Help

with homework Put kids to bed Wake up Repeat Phew Making time for oneself can feel like a

pipe dreamFeeling that crunch and hoping to help Stephanie

Feltus created the meet-up group ldquoWorking Moms of Omahardquo after moving here to take a job in corporate sales ldquoI did a fair amount of travelingrdquo says the mother of two children Lucy 4 and Gavin 1 ldquoI began to look for resources supporting working moms and locally I wasnrsquot finding many resourcesrdquo

Work Hard Play Hard

Working Moms of Omaha Know When to Play

Stephanie Feltus

10emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Allison Janda photography by Keith Binderlifestyle

WHAT DID

YOURCHILD

LEARN TODAY

Call (402)932-4978or visit omahacmorgto begin your childrsquos

LEARNING

Largest childrenrsquos frame selection in Omaha

(We have adults covered too)

cool^

12660 Q Street Omaha | Tel (402) 896-3300 wwwmillardfamilyeyecarecom

The grouprsquos purpose is simple Moms come together to meet other working moms The group is currently 300 members strong Within that membership small groups with similar interests typically meet just once a month which makes it easy for even the busiest mothers to partake in the fun

The group meets at a public venue typically on a Saturday morning with children or on a Sunday evening with women only Feltus says that over the years she has discovered that events involving the children work better during the summer months while events that call for just mothers tend to come together more easily in the winter

ldquoOur most recent outing was a Holiday Lights Limo Tour for moms onlyrdquo she explains ldquoWe met at Upstream [Brewing Company] where the limo picked us up for a two- hour holiday lights tour of Omaha We sipped on apple cider chatted and enjoyed the beauty of the seasonrdquo

Feltus interested in expanding options available to working mothers hopes to begin planning lunch-and- learn events that focus on achieving worklife balance and reducing the amount of guilt working mothers feel in their day-to-day lives Currently the only lead organizer Feltus says that any member of the group is welcome to plan events such as a trip to the zoo or a play date at the museum

While the group allows working moms to connect and form friendships it is the raising of children and how much they change that offers a common bond for these women Their kids range in age from newborns to teenagers but as all mothers know motherhood isnrsquot biased ldquoThis group has taught me to not take parenthood too seriouslyrdquo she says ldquoYour most devastating parenting moment is probably not that bad This group gives you support and more importantly sanityrdquo

Working Moms of Omaha is funded by a business Feltus owns called Mommy Assistant which is focused on supporting working families thereby enabling parents to spend more quality time with their kids

You can join their Facebook page at Working Moms of Omaha as well as the Working Moms of Omaha Meetup Group at meetupcom ldquoPersonally I have made some fabulous friends and my kids have as wellrdquo Feltus says emsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp11

Dig These Chicks

12emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

diyby Kristen Hoffman photography by Bill Sitzmann

if you are an American female living in the year 2015 you probably have noticed that succulent plants have

exploded in popularity over the past year or two You canrsquot resist themmdashtheir tiny stature their resilience their pinks and purples that scream ldquoIrsquom a girl plantrdquo Good grief letrsquos just admit it Theyrsquore adorable

You know what else is adorable Baby chicks emerging from their eggs at springtime

So letrsquos take advantage of a plant that is actually referred to as ldquohensrdquo and ldquochicksrdquo (depending on their maturity) and combine them into an explosion of adorable Pinterest magic

SUPPLIESbull Eggsbull Paper egg cartonbull Knifebull Paper clipbull Preserved mossbull Gluebull Small succulentsbull Cactus soil (if needed)

DIRECTIONS1 Shop for some succulent babies

You can find these at nurseries grocery stores or home improvement stores The smaller the better Look for bunches that have multiple blooms to fill out your eggshells

2 Open the eggshells with the back of a butter knife Peel off the top section of the shell until you are satisfied with the size of the hole

3 Wash out the eggs with warm water and soap and place them back in the carton Pull apart a paper clip so that it is one long piece of metal With the paper clip poke a hole in the bottom of each egg Keeping them in the carton will keep the eggs from cracking and the hole will provide drainage for the plant Wash hands thoroughly afterwards

4 Attach small pieces of preserved moss to the carton with glue to give it a little green Only do this to the top Placing moss into the carton will prevent the eggshells from sitting snugly in their place

5 Carefully remove the succulents from their containers Shake off any excess dirt that may be attached at the roots Fill the eggs about halfway with the excess dirt Arrange the succulents in the eggshells and pour a little more dirt into the shells to stabilize the stems

Keep these little guys in a sunny area and spray them with a water bottle sparingly Succulents are desert plants and honestly thrive on neglect Just my kind of plantemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp13

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Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

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Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

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Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

ldquoIt was cathartic for me Writing is how I emote Tons of women contacted me which then made me feel healedrdquo -Ashli Brehm

14emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Kara Weselyfeature

itrsquos easy for young moms to long for the stimulation of speaking with someone over the age of 10 Therersquos catharsis in talking through onersquos feelings and

problems with a person who no longer wears a diaper or a backpack

Increasingly mothers in Omaha like mothers nationally are turning to social media to connect vent or keep their writing chops sharp Theyrsquore the ldquoMommy Bloggersrdquo a group that by some estimates now number in the millions

Most blog as a pastime But some mommy blogs have higher purposes A blog can foster healing A blog can be a purposefully permanent document for the family

Omaha native Missy Cobb started her blog The Cobb Mobb as a way to connect with her three children

ldquoEvery time I write for the blog I think about my kids and how I am documenting memories for them I tried scrapbooking for my older kids but it was too time consumingrdquo Cobb says gt

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp15

lt Cobb who started her blog as a New Yearrsquos resolution in 2012 found writing allowed her to capture milestones and memories in a more efficient and permanent way ldquoIrsquove always enjoyed writing and I like knowing that this will always be there for my kids to readrdquo

Ashli Brehmrsquos blog Baby on the Brehm has played a key role in getting her through some trying times After going through a miscarriage Brehm (pronounced like brain but with an lsquomrsquo) dedicated a blog post to her experience and managed to connect with other women who had lost a baby

ldquoIt was cathartic for me Writing is how I emote Tons of women contacted me which then made me feel healedrdquo Brehm says

When her subsequent pregnancy did not go as planned and her third son was born several weeks premature she shared the highs and lows with her readers and received an overwhelming amount of support via Baby on the Brehm That support carried her through the next six weeks while her son Harrison was in the NICU growing strong enough to head home with his parents and two brothers

Fast-forward one year and Harrison is a happy healthy 1-year-old and Ashli is still blogging about her boys motherhood and everything in between And she still manages to maintain that connection with her audience

ldquoThe people who read my blog are like a community to me They are my life raft at timesrdquo Brehm says

Brehm like Cobb hopes that some day her children will read her entries and considers the blog a sort of legacy she is leaving behind

ldquoI want my boys to learn to be themselves and to have confidence I hope that by blogging and doing it in an authentic and honest way I am showing them thatrdquo emsp

feature continued

Missy CobbPhoto by Keith Binder

16emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

Visit us today12965 W Center Rd 4027780650

HoursMon-Thu 10-6Fri-Sat 10-5Sun 12-4

wwwelitecheercom402-537-0855 2410 S 140th Circle

Nebraskarsquos Premiere Cheerleading amp Tumbling center Learn basic

cheer techniquesJumps Tumbling Stunts amp Pyramids

We teach kids how to win through-Hard Work PerserverenceAccountability Discipline Integrity

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Friday Feb 20 2015

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Honorary cHair

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Young Hero proudly sponsored by

Young Hero proudly sponsored by

nicole Carrillo says she can make friends anywhere Even at the airport

Case in point On a chilly night in November Nicole stood with her fellow Thrive Club members at Eppley Airfield holding colorful signs Nicolersquos read ldquoWELCOME TO OMAHArdquo with the Orsquos shaped like hearts Moments later wild applause laughter and some tears erupted from the relatives students and coaches gathered for this moment

Nicolersquos soon-to-be-new friends were a refugee family just arriving from Burma Marisol Nicolersquos mother and one of the sponsors of Thrive was overwhelmed as tears flooded her eyes ldquoIt was life- changingrdquo Marisol recalls

Members of the Thrive Club along with Lutheran Family Services provided a cozy home environment for the immigrant family in an apartment volunteerrsquos chocked full of groceries clothes and furniture

Nicole a junior at Northwest High School had filled out a grant to present to her principal Thomas Lee to do something for a family that would be lost in a foreign world

Emigrating is hard scary often emotionally draining Nicolersquos empathy stems from hearing the story of her parents Marisol a native of Mexico left for the United States in her teens to pursue a cosmetics license It was difficult she says but she argues she had it easier than her husband Joel who she would later meet in English classes

Joel started his first job in the ldquoworst town you can think ofrdquomdashAguascalientes Mexico He loaded heavy bricks into trucks and along with 15 or so other boys sold them house-to-house He was five at the time Joel came to the United States when he was 15 Later he worked 60 to 70 hours a week while attending college classes at night sometimes even taking a course during his lunch hour

Nicole sees what her parents had to go throughmdashall their hard work So she strives to be the best As a 40 student Nicole is currently right behind her best friend for the top spot on the GPA ladder ldquoIt has been a long steady fightrdquo she says ldquobut itrsquos all in good funrdquo However like most high achievers Nicole gets upset if she receives a B on a test or paper but her parents do not

ldquoMy parents are like lsquoyou are doing the best you canrsquordquo Nicole says resting her hand on her cheek during a recent interview ldquoLove themrdquo

Nicole says attending Northwest was one the best decisions she has ever made ldquoShe is one of the best ambassadors for the schoolrdquo Lee says Nicole is active in all aspects of the school including student council National Honor Society and choir She has won numerous community service awards and was one of five in the nation to be selected for the National Youth Advisory Council

Nicole is now eager to show the Burmese family all the ldquosimple things we take for grantedrdquo around Omahamdashldquolike the mall and zoordquo she says

ldquoNicole has the heart to helphellip to make a better worldrdquo her mother says proudlyemsp

Nicole CarrilloHelping Immigrants Thrive in America

Nicole Carillo and the Thrive Group

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp17

by Lisa Lukecart photography by Keith Binderyoung hero

18emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Claire Martin photography by Bill Sitzmannactivity

the expected audience for morning attendance at the Joslyn Art Museum is not perhaps thought to be a handful of pint-sized art scholars But thats precisely the group of observers that hovered around a Renaissance fresco on a recent Friday

morning chattering about concepts like color shapes and how it was that a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle (Michelangelo) could be an artist

A museum shouldnt be a stuffy place I dont think artist and teacher Therese Straseski says It should be a fun place

Straseski has led and instructed the Art Adventures program at the Joslyn for 15 years now in which kids from the ages of 3-5 participate in interactive art activities with their parents every Friday morning Creative tasks can range anywhere from pouring plaster to mixing color palettes

I think art is amazingly important in children Straseski says Teaching art is about learning to enjoy yourself and love what you do Maybe I cant be Rembrandt but I can teach these kids to enjoy themselves in creating art

Another of Straseskis passions in her job is the substantial development in her young students skill and interest over time More exposure to art she believes helps integrate both sides of the brain immediately in children

We absolutely see improvement in our kids she says When they come as 3-year-olds concepts are lost on them and theyre just having fun But as they get older they start to understand concepts like color and line

Big Museum Pint-Sized Fun

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp19

Parents according to Straseski are some of the programs strongest advocates especially as art programs are dropped from elementary curriculums due to budget cuts

Mom and Art Adventures regular Alison Novak for example prioritizes the preservation of arts significance in her kids

I think children are naturally drawn to art because its messy and creative Novak says But I do think theyre very aware of the importance of art and artists especially as they get older

She adds that the interactive aspect of Joslyns art program is especially engaging for her 3-year-old daughter Dagny

The experience of art in this program is important because its so tactile and allows [my daughter] to use different materials Novak says Its not just coming and looking at the art Its something to get her involved

Its quite possible then that with the efforts of art advocates like Straseski and Novak a mini-Renaissance is in the making in these small art studentsmdashperhaps not in technique but in the messy and loving creative process

Art is about being able to pass on that passion to someone else Straseski says with a smile Thats the passion in artemsp

ww

Therese Straseski at work with budding artists at the Art Adventures program

Posh PeacockConsignment Gallery

Furniture amp Home Decor

4029339666 - poshpeacocknet

Bel Air Plaza 704 12100 W Center Rd

A Treasure Troveof Delightful amp Valuable Things

JULYAUGUST bull 2014

war amp PeaceChuck Hagel battles for a future free of the quagmires of the past

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Best of Omahatrade Campaign 2015

The Loyal Royal Alex Gordon

Malorie MaddoxOmaha Stories

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Donrsquot miss a single issue of Omaha Magazine

kids say the darndest things

20emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Allison Janda photography by Keith Binder

as a parent yoursquove probably appreciated (and not appreciated) the absolute

honesty that often escapes your childrsquos mouth Frankness aside kids also tend to say some hilarious things Martin Brucknerrsquos daughter Harper 3 is no exception

In early 2014 Bruckner his wife Michelle and their daughter were having dinner when he overheard his wife exclaim to Harper ldquoPlease donrsquot put spaghetti between your toesrdquo That same night as Bruckner was giving his daughter her evening bath he found himself asking her ldquoDid you drop your cheese in the tub againrdquo From that point on he decided it would be worthwhile to take note of all of the absurd utterances around his house He knew that one day he his wife and their child could all look back and have a good laugh

Bruckner began to create graphics based on things he wrote down eventually starting Tumblr and Facebook accounts to share them with friends family and parents around the world ldquoPretty much the first day I started the Facebook and Tumblr pages I had parents replying to me with the things their children say to themrdquo he chuckles Bruckner admits that it isnrsquot just the locals that find things he his wife and his daughter say funny In fact he has gotten messages from as far away as Australia

While Spaghetti Toes started out innocently enough it seems to be gaining steam as Harper ages Bruckner states that while his daughter is a newer

conversationalist the things she says only get funnier with age ldquoHer vocabulary is getting bigger and stronger but shersquos still having a hard time getting certain things to be in the correct context which in turn makes them hilariousrdquo he says This is confirmed with nothing more than a cursory glance through his website

The graphics he has created have started to garner some national attention getting picked up by websites such as BuzzFeed and The Chive Additionally Bruckner has started to fulfill custom orders and recently completed two such requests for a woman in Canada Nonetheless Bruckner remains encouraged by the local scene claiming Omaharsquos creatives are extremely supportive while locals are incredibly kind

The attention his sites have garnered feels good Bruckner says Nonetheless he finds that he is more drawn to the long-term payoff that they will have ldquoI started this as a way to document my daughterrsquos life while shersquos little and Irsquom having an incredible time doing itrdquo he shares In fact his own mother inspired by what her son was doing went digging for books that she kept on Bruckner and his siblings when they were young Bruckner hopes to use it to create additional graphics for his mom and five sisters ldquoIrsquove gotten message after message after message from parents and I think everyone is in agreement as far as their children saying incredible silly ridiculous and disgusting thingsrdquo he adds ldquoI say things daily that I never thought Irsquod sayrdquo Wersquore sure that every parent out there can relateemsp

feature

I think everyone is in agreement as far as their children saying incredible sillyridiculous and disgusting thingsrdquo-Martin Bruckner

Martin Harper and Michelle Bruckner

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp21

No Age Limit for

Bullies

i could have worked with Jim Rome the radio sportscaster Wersquore about the same age We were in college about the same time studying the same thing We both started working at

small stations before moving up I produced a number of anchors and reporters ldquoback in the dayrdquo who are still on the air at national networks So I have some experience working with Romersquos personality typemdashor at least the type he uses on air Arrogant bloated ego Inflammatory language 70rsquos mustache

Before January 1 of this year I only had peripheral knowledge of and no opinion on Mr Rome Irsquom not a hardcore sports fan so I couldnrsquot have picked him out of a lineup any day of the week But on this particular New Yearrsquos Day Mr Rome chose to insult not only my children but the children of my friends and in fact the children and grandchildren of hundreds of thousands of Americans In the middle of one of college footballrsquos biggest days he threw this tweet out there

ldquoIs there anybody not in a marching band who thinks those dorks running around with their instruments are coolrdquo

Wow You can just imagine the firestorm that followed It didnrsquot take long for the hashtag MarchonRome to be trending To be brief the answer to Mr Romersquos question was a resounding ldquoYes there are people who think theyrsquore coolrdquo After a 24-hour blast of more than 8000 responses (and that was only on Twitter) including everyone from the US Marines to band alums everywhere he tweeted this

ldquoBand nationmdashI hear you I was out of line I apologize I do not condone bullying of any kind and that was not my intentrdquo

The reason I chose this topic is not so much because I was personally offended by Mr Romersquos comment but because I was so saddened that someone my age could intentionally set such a horrible example If not to be a bully I canrsquot comprehend what Mr Romersquos intent was I think if it was ldquoto be funnyrdquo then thatrsquos a fail toomdashbecause making fun of entire groups of people in this manner is pretty much the textbook definition of bullying

Mr Rome (and many others I think) got a fast education about the athleticism discipline and commitment that marching band requires And I wonrsquot even start on the statistics about the value of arts education Just last week a new study from the University of Vermont indicated the measurable impact of music education in developing attention skills anxiety management and emotional control

No my beef with Mr Rome is quite simplemdashhe should be old enough to know better I get that my generation was a little different We were very cliquishmdashjocks potheads geeks dorks

22emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

mind amp bodyby Bev Carlson Lutheran Family Services

blah blahmdashbut I really thought (hoped) that with all of the current awareness of bullying a public figure like Mr Rose would be tuned in enough to choose his words more carefully when referring to hundreds of thousands of hard-working high school and college students

My hope rests with this next generation where amid the online furor those students with highly developed ldquoemotional controlrdquo graciously accepted Mr Rosersquos apology reminding him that this time he ldquomessed with the wrong dorksrdquo Irsquom still holding out hope that he will accept the challenge from many of the band members (many of whom also play sports) to come do what they domdash handle one week of band camp In the summer In the South Or how about here in Nebraska on all those cold early mornings Go Bandemsp

I was so saddened that someone my age could intentionally set such a horrible example

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp23

oneworldomahaorg

Grow STRONG WithOneWorld Pediatrics

45 YEARS OF MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Cass FamilyMedicine

122 S 6th StPlattsmouth

402-296-2345

Northwest Omaha

4229 N 90th St402-401-6000

West Omaha4101 S 120th St402-505-3907

South Omaha4920 S 30th St

402-734-4110

45 Years of Making a DifferenceOne Child at a Time

Bean amp Cheese Tostadas

this yummy tostada recipe makes a satisfying healthy lunch or dinner Black beans zucchini corn and cherry tomatoes make this colorful vegetarian

dish delicious and nutritious emsp

Find more great recipes at HealthyKohlsKidscom The Healthy Kohlrsquos Kids program is a partnership between Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center and Kohlrsquos Department Stores to educate children and parents about healthy nutrition and fitness

24emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

sponsored content by Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center food

ingredientsbull 8 corn

tortillas (6-inch diameter)

bull 1 can (14 oz) black beans rinsed and drained

bull 1 small white onion finely chopped

bull 2 medium zucchini cut into 14-inch pieces

bull 2 jalapentildeo peppers seeded and chopped

bull 12 Tbsp black pepper

bull 14 cup water

bull 12 cup cooked corn

bull 1 cup cherry tomatoes sliced

bull 12 cup chopped cilantro leaves

bull 1 12 oz grated reduced-fat white cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese (14 cup)

bull 4 scallions chopped

bull 1 small avocado pitted peeled and chopped

bull Lime wedges optional

preparation1 Preheat oven to 400deg Arrange tortillas

on 2 baking sheets and toast in oven until crisp about 5 minutes Remove from baking sheets

2 Lightly spray baking sheets with nonstick cooking spray Spread beans and onion on one and zucchini and jalapentildeos on the other Lightly coat vegetables with cooking spray season with the black pepper and roast until golden 12 to 15 minutes

3 Transfer half the beans and onion to a bowl with the water and mash beans with the back of a fork until smooth (Add more water to reach desired consistency if necessary) Spread mixture onto tortillas

4 Toss remaining beans and onion with zucchini jalapentildeos and corn and divide among tortillas

5 Top each tostada with tomatoes cilantro cheese scallions and avocado Serve with lime wedges if desired

Yield 4 servings

Nutrition Facts Calories 434 Fat 14g

Saturated Fat 3g Cholesterol 0

Sodium 446mg Carbohydrates 61g

Fiber 10g Protein 16g

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp25

Thanks for Voting Us Best of Omahatrade

84th and 1st St Downtown Papillion

402-331-9136

18 flavorsBaked daily Birthdays Weddings GraduationsOn-site party room

buy one get one

FREEExpires March 31 2015

HoursMonday-Saturday raquo11am-8pm

Located at Midlands Placeoff 84th Street and Highway 370

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4025583500Corner of

50th amp SouthSaddlecreek

402-502-8757Southwest corner

of 144th amp Industrial Rd

4025025511Southwestcorner of

120th amp Maple

4029339400Corner of

Washington amp Lincoln in Papillion

ldquoWersquod Rather Be The Best Than Apologize for Anything Lessrdquo

1st place

10 YEARS in a row

We are grateful for your business and Best of Omahatrade

votes for best Auto Body Repair

Spring Cleaning St Patrickrsquos Way

while most are eager for the weather to warm up in time for St Patrickrsquos Day (and the green beer sure)

Irsquom more into the holidayrsquos theme of ridding the country of evils Itrsquos time to purge yrsquoall

Irsquove been hibernating for six months under a blanket in front of the fireplace All I see here is an intense accumulation of clutter tucked in the corners out of my usual visual paths as I traverse my house

I finally get up and start the purge ldquoWhorsquos beach towel is thisrdquo ldquoI think Bobby left it here when we had that

slip-n-slide partyrdquo one of the kids says to me while walking out of their scarf gloves hat sweatshirt and shoes which leaves a trail marking my imminent demise from slips and falls (If I fall and am lying there unconscious interrogate my kids first)

ldquoThe slip-n-slide party That was five years agordquo I respond

ldquoYeah I think Bobby moved to Alaskardquo comes the retort which was both informative and confirmation that we had a right to be embarrassed

ldquoWell he doesnrsquot need this beach towel anymorerdquo Once the snow melts the purge involves three or four trips to Goodwill

Itrsquos funny that when yoursquore trapped in your house long enough due to subzero temperatures you start looking at the walls a little differently ldquoIs it me or is our kitchen less sage green and more My Little Pony Minty Greenrdquo I ask my husband

Before he can assure me the pastel shade of green is fine Irsquom off getting paint You canrsquot go wrong with a color called ldquoChocolaterdquo for the kitchen right

My family isnrsquot very supportive of my winter stir-crazy hobby of purging This year for Christmas the kids asked Santa for locks on their doors in an effort to protect their belongings from Momrsquos annual campaign

Itrsquos inevitable that about five years after I give something away one of my kids wants to know where it went Irsquom sorry your 2005 Lego set is gone My bare feet just couldnrsquot take it anymore

Just as St Patrick rid Ireland of all the snakes Irsquove secretly celebrated my own sainthood as Irsquove shooed all of my clutter away

Oh but then you realize that even saints canrsquot always win the clutter battle The cat barfs up a hairball My son walks by and touts ldquoIf only we still had Bobbyrsquos beach towel to clean this uprdquoemsp

26emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Leslie Murrell mom on the rocks

Boat PoseSanskrit name Paripurna Navasana(par-ee-POOR-nah nah-VAHS-anna)

the Boat Pose strengthens the hip flexors spine and the abdomen This pose helps to relieve stress improves digestion and stimulates the kidneys

intestines and thyroidemsp

BEGINNERS TIPPlace a strap around the ball of both feet Hold on to the

strap with straight arms

1 Sit on the floor with your legs straight in front of you Place your hands behind your hip and press into the ground fingers face- forward

2 Lift up through the sternum and slightly lean back until the weight is distributed to the top of your sitting bones and tailbone

3 Bend the knees and lift the feet off the floor

4 Lengthen the tailbone by pressing it into the floor and lift the pubis towards the naval

5 Slowly straighten your legs until your feet reach above eye level and spread the toes

6 Stretch the arms alongside the legs and reach out through the fingers

7 Breathe deeply for 15-30 seconds

8 Exhale and lower the legs to the floor

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp27

by Rachel Joy photography by Bill SitzmannfitnessWe are

the most experienced full-service family owned real estate company in America

npdodgecom

FOR THE KIDS

BAM ITrsquoS A PICTURE BOOK THE ART BEHIND GRAPHIC NOVELSTHROUGH MARCH 29 2015 JOSLYN ART MUSEUM ndash

2200 DODGE ST Popular among young readers

graphic novels are known for their comic

format They are generally described as

ldquosequential artrdquo where a series of illustrations

tell the story but unlike newspaper comics

they are the length of a novel and include

narrative development This exhibition features

the work of Jarrett J Krosoczka Mark Crilley

Matt Holm Raina Telgemeier and Lincoln

Peirce Tuesday - Wednesday amp Friday - Sunday

10am- 4pm Thursday 10am- 8pm Free

admission 402-342-3300

- JOSLYNORG

ONCE UPON A FARM EXHIBITTHROUGH APRIL 12 OMAHA CHILDRENrsquoS MUSEUMmdash500

S 20TH ST Explore the world of agriculture and

learn where your food comes from with the help

of interactive exhibit components like a center

pivot amp planting station dairy cows pedal track

maze and more Tuesday through Friday 10am ndash

4pm Saturday 9am ndash 5pm Sunday 1pm ndash 5 pm

Admission $2 plus regular admission Free for

members 402-342-6164

- OCMORG

MERMAID MINIONS amp DRAGONSMARCH 22 Holland Performing Arts

Centermdash1200 Douglas St Your favorite music

from How to Train Your Dragon Despicable Me

The Little Mermaid and other family movie hits

Brought to life through thrilling performances of

song dance and spectacle 2pm

Admission $15

- OMAHASYMPHONYORG

FOR THE FAMILY

NATURE CONNECTS 2THROUGH APRIL 26 LAURITZEN GARDENSmdash100

BANCROFT ST View 27 new sculptures each

inspired by the natural world made entirely of

300000 Legoreg bricks Make your own Lego

brick creations in the Legobrickyard and enjoy

a variety of Lego-inspired events throughout

the duration of the exhibit 9am ndash 5pm

Admission $10 adults$5 children six to 12 Free

for children under six and for garden members

402-346-4003

- LAURITZENGARDENSORG

TECH CITYTHROUGH MAY 10 STRATEGIC AIR amp SPACE MUSEUMmdash

ASHLAND NE This travelling engineering exhibit

is a great way to inspire learning and interest

in careers that focus on science technology

engineering and mathematics (STEM) The

Tech City exhibit is designed with interactive

learning that will appeal to visitors of all ages

9am - 5pm Free with regular admission $12

adult $6 youth children under 3 are free

402-944-3100

- SASMUSEUMCOM

ZEN TIES

THROUGH MARCH 8 THE ROSE THEATERmdash2001

FARNAM ST A gentle tale about patience and

compassion Zen Ties will make you remember

how much wisdom can come of simple

mindfulness Friday Saturday and Sunday

Members Four free admissions Non-member

admission $18 402-345-4949

- ROSETHEATERORG

FOR MOM amp DAD

AMERICAN MODERNS FROM OrsquoKEEFFE TO ROCKWELLTHROUGH MAY 17 JOSLYN ART MUSEUMmdash2200

DODGE ST The United States emerged as an

international power while also experiencing

two world wars and the Great Depression

New technologies changed all aspects of

life while the art world witnessed dramatic

transformations of its own This exhibition

explores the ways American artists including

Georgia OrsquoKeeffe Marsden Hartley Stuart

Davis Rockwell Kent and Norman Rockwell

engaged the modern world This exhibition

will have a ticket fee Free for members youth

ages 17 and younger amp college students with ID

402-342-3300

-JOSLYNORG

KATHARINE HEPBURN DRESSED FOR STAGE AND SCREENFEBRUARY 7-APRIL 26 DURHAM MUSEUMmdash801 S

10TH ST This exhibition from the Kent State

University Museum features more than 35

costumes worn in 21 films and six stage

productions as well as other personal items

spanning Hepburnrsquos illustrious career Come see

how this true icon of American culture came

to epitomize the modern woman of the 20th

century Children $6 Adults $9 402-444-5071

- DURHAMMUSEUMORG

COMPAGNIE KAumlFIGMARCH 18 HOLLAND CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST

Brazilian dance company Compagnie Kaumlfig

brings a high-energy performance style

combining their hip-hop foundation with martial

arts and circus elements 730pm $1350 to

$2625 402-345-0202

- OMAHAPERFORMINGARTSORG

Tech CityBam Itrsquos a Picture Book American Moderns

28emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

Calendar of Events

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp29

Erin Cox Event Director

402-884-2038 | erinomahamagazinecom

EVENTS by OMAHA MAGAZINE

Events by Omaha Magazine is a full-service event production company specializing in trade shows corporate events product launches and social gatherings From concept to delivery our goal is to provide an exceptional event experience for the host and their guests

Your Vision Our Innovation Event Solutions

GET A JUMP ON SUMMER

YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA wwwmetroymcaorg

Join us March 21 2015 for our Open House at any YMCA of Greater Omaha location The YMCA is your place for camp this summer bull Weekly themed preschool morning camps (3-5 years) and summer day camp (4-12 years - varies by location)

bull Mini special interest camps

bull Premier camps and Camp Platte

bull Counselors-in-Training program for teens

REGISTER FOR

CAMP AT OUR OPEN

HOUSE 3-21-15

AND PAY NO CAMP

REGISTRATION FEES

i never had a pet as a childOkay so I did at the age of 9 or so have

an ill-fated and short-lived guardianship of a turtle whose name Irsquove long forgotten but Irsquove never been a pet person

My mother abhorred the idea of anything furry dwelling in her home and I was pretty much fine with that The feeling carried over into adulthood and my three now-grown children probably felt super-lucky just to have had the brief company of a single pet a (clean and non-slobbering) feline named Scribbles

Viral videos portraying cats and dogs doing whatever it is that cats and dogs do have never appeared on any of my playlists And to be frank people who describe their little quadruped cuties as their ldquochildrenrdquohellipwell kinda creep me out I have no innate aversion to cats even though I take them to be whiskered sociopaths of evil intent but I have never been at all comfortable around dogs of any make or model

Before the hate mail begins please allow me at least a shot at redemption

My grandsons Barrett and Easton are growing up in a home where the company of canines is prized Their collie Summer recently ascended to that great dog pound in the sky and after an appropriate period of mourning has been replaced by a border collie pup carrying an equally seasonal name of Winter

Itrsquos an understatement to say that I never hit it off with Summer Perhaps it didnrsquot help that she stained our Oriental rug as a pup not 10 seconds into her very first visit to our home My son Eric entered with Summer while explaining that all would be well in that the creature was doing a smash-up job when it came to taking care of business but it was too late The little thing bounded (Is that what dogs do They ldquoboundrdquo) directly to the rug lifted one leg andhellipyou know the rest

I have promised to be different with Winter My kids already know that I am neurotic but I donrsquot

want Easton and Barrett to grow up thinking that their granddad is some kind of loathsome monster I am going to do my best to get to know Winter and not be such a basket case

Not surprisingly my first encounter with Winter was shall we say trying ldquoHersquos

just young and excitablerdquo I was told as the dog tried to climb up my leg Yeah tell that to my now urine-stained

shoes (suede no less) and newish sweater scarred by Winterrsquos talons or toes or paws or whatever it is theyrsquore called

But it is with a certain sense of self-satisfaction that I can report that I kept my cool Now the notion of ldquocoolrdquo is subjective My immediate knee-jerk reaction was admittedly to jerk my knee in revulsion but I collected myself as quickly as possible and

tried my best to not make an international incident of the affair

I really need to up my game in being the grandpa that I hope to

be but boy do I have my work cut out for meemsp

Canine Calamity A Plan to Fake it Until I Make it

30emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

the grandpa chroniclesby David Williams

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp31

Did you know90 of brain development

happens by age 5Discover Nebraska Childrenrsquos Home Societyrsquos

accredited high-quality early childhood education programs with low child-to-staff ratios at two locations

4939 S 118th St in Omaha (402) 898-7760 for children 18 months through Pre-K

and 3549 Fontenelle Blvd in Omaha (402) 898-7768 for children 6 weeks through Pre-K

Call today for a free no-obligation tour

4023450606 OMAHASYMPHONYORG

Sunday March 22 bull 200 PMHolland Center

Your favorite music from How to Train Your Dragon

The Little Mermaid Despicable Me and other

family movie hits Brought to life through exciting performances of song dance and spectacle

FEATURING

THE HEARTLAND YOUTH BALLET

REacuteSONANCE CHOIR

Tickets Adults amp Kids $12

FAMILY SERIES

CONCERT

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Omaha Magazine5921 S 118th CirOmaha NE 68137

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

Page 3: March 2015 HerFamily

On the CoverGrace Ostergaard 13

is ready for March Madness

features14 The Rise of the Mommy Bloggers Parents are turning to blogs for all manner of healthy ventings20 Spaghetti Toes Kids say the darndest things

departments6 health For many moms fitness trackers mean better workouts8 meet the family The Kassals A Family of Teachers10 lifestyle Working Moms of Omaha know when to play12 diy Dig These Chicks17 young hero Nicole Carrillo helps immigrants thrive in America18 activity Big Museum Pint-Sized Fun22 mind amp body No Age Limit for Bullies 24 food Bean amp Cheese Tostadas26 mom on the rocks Spring Cleaning the St Patrickrsquos Way27 fitness Boat Pose28 calendar of events30 the grandpa chronicles Canine Calamity

4emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

Volume 2 bull Issue 10

PUBLISHER

Todd Lemke

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

David Williams

MANAGING EDITOR

Robert Nelson

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

John Gawley

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY amp INTERACTIVE MEDIA

Bill Sitzmann

SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER amp WEB CONTENT MANAGER

Kristen Hoffman

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Rachel Joy

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Bev Carlson bull Allison Janda bull Lisa Lukecart Claire Martin bull Leslie Murrell Kara Schweiss bull Kara Wesely

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

Keith Binder

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Gwen Lemke bull Greg Bruns bull Gil Cohen Kyle Fischer bull Angie Hall bull George Idelman

ASSISTANT TO THE PUBLISHER

Sandy Besch Matson

ACCOUNT ASSISTANTS

Alicia Smith Hollins bull Jessica Linhart Dawn Dennis bull Jessica Cullinane

OPERATIONS

Tyler Lemke

ACCOUNTING

Jim Heitz

WAREHOUSE DISTRIBUTION MANAGER

Mike Brewer

Printed by Omaha Print

For a one-year subscription

(12 issues) send $995 to

PO Box 461208 Papillion NE 68046-1208

wwwomahamagazinecom

Original contributions become the property of Omaha Publi-cations Contributions cannot be acknowledged or returned

The information contained within HerFamily is for infor-mational purposes only It is not intended and should not be used to take the place of seeking professional advice

counsel or assistance Omaha Publications makes no endorsement of and is not responsible for contributors or advertising herein If you have concerns or questions

related to your health consult with your physician HerFamily is protected by copyright and may not be re-produced in whole or in part without written permission

of Omaha Publications 4028842000

Owned and managed by Omaha Magazine LTD

march 2015on the inside

omahamagazine

omahamagazine

omahamagazine

18

12

CHI Health

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp5

CHI Health Alegent Creighton Clinic offers

no-appointment-necessary care clinics with

extended hours and pharmacies with

mail-order and delivery services

Access routine care 247 from your home or

office with our innovative tools like online

appointment scheduling and Virtual Care

Health and wellness Here and now

Our website features videos of our providers so you can

choose the right fit for you and your family To learn more

and find a doctor visit CHIhealthcomClinic

Bergan Mercy | Creighton University Medical Center | Good Samaritan | Immanuel | Lakeside | Mercy Council Bluffs | Midlands | Nebraska Heart | St Elizabeth St Francis | Missouri Valley | Mercy Corning | Plainview | Schuyler | St Maryrsquos | Lasting Hope Recovery Center | Richard Young Behavioral Health | Alegent Creighton Clinic

4440_064158_CHI_ACC_HerMagazine_4C_8375rdquox10875rdquo064158_CHI_ACC_HerMagazine_4Cindd 1 1915 231 PM

when it comes to exercise motivation can be somewhat elusive Good intentions fall by the wayside and soon enough we find ourselves stuck

in the same old routine or probably more often the routine of not exercising at all

Enter fitness trackers and fitness bands Fitbits Garmin Vivofits Fitbugs iFits and more You name it your local sporting goods or electronic stores are sure to have it But the question is do they really work and more importantly do they keep their users motivated

A Bit of MotivationFor many moms Fitbit and other fitness trackers mean better workouts

6emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Kara Weselyhealth

ackyardBE

dventurescampxplorers

Yoursquoll never know what yoursquoll find

Pre-K ages 4-5 June 1-5 9-noonDiscover the wonders of nature in this outdoors camp led by natural resources experts and licensed teach-ers Activities could include seed planting wildlife tracks frogs and turtles and casting fishing poles

at Chalo Hills Rec Area RegistrationContactwwwpapionrdorg (educational resources tab)

Lora Bogatz among many other Omaha moms certainly thinks so Bogatz has used both a BodyBug and a Fitbit and has found that both devices not only kept her motivated they brought out her competitive side

ldquoAlmost my entire family has Fitbitsrdquo she says ldquoWe all sync ours together and do either daily or weekly challenges It has definitely brought out my competitive side I will even walk extra laps while at work to stay in the leadrdquo

Itrsquos not only the competition that has Bogatz moving more Her Fitbit counts steps measures her heart rate sets goals for her and awards badges when goals are attained all of which she feels keeps her motivated and accountable

ldquoI feel like I am always checking in with either my Fitbit or my Fitness Pal It definitely keep me honestrdquo-Sarah Trout

ldquoIt definitely gets me to the gym more I want to reach my 10000 steps each day and want to earn the next badgerdquo

Sarah Trout another Fitbit enthusiast has seen a change in how often she exercises and how hard

ldquoI like to know how many calories I am burning and if I see that number drop from one day to another I know I have to work harder I think I tended to be somewhat lazier before and wouldnrsquot push myself nearly as muchrdquo Trout says

Troutrsquos Fitbit syncs with her iPhone and Fitness Pal app a feature she utilizes daily

ldquoI feel like I am always checking in with either my Fitbit or my Fitness Pal It definitely keep me honestrdquo Trout says

Both Bogatz and Trout wear their Fitbits nearly every day and have come to appreciate their little sidekick

ldquoI am a very visual personrdquo Trout says ldquo Being able to look at my Fitbit at any point during the day and see how many steps I have taken is a huge bonus as well as a huge motivatorrdquo

Like Bogatz and Trout Jeanne Vlcek has found that wearing a fitness band while working out keeps her accountable and keeps her moving as much as she can The one difference being that Vlcek is seven months pregnant and thinks her fitness band a Timex fitness watch is possibly picking up the heart rate of her baby in addition to her own

ldquoI think my watch is a little confused because itrsquos telling me I am burning way more calories than is possiblerdquo Vlcek says

In spite of that issue Vlcek has appreciated having the watch while exercising She thinks shersquoll appreciate it even more after her baby is born

ldquoI think Irsquoll be counting on it much much more after our baby is born to help me get back in shaperdquo she saysemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp7

The KassalsIn this family of educators even the kindergartner is a teacher

Jeff Kassal LIlly Kassal and Kristin Boe

8emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Kara Schweiss photography by Keith Bindermeet the family

Kassal says he wasnrsquot planning on teaching special education when he started his career as an educator

ldquoI did my undergraduate in general educationelementary When I graduated it was right after Christmas break so I did some subbing and long-term subbing in general educationrdquo Kassal says ldquoThen I got a summer job at a special education school and thought it would be just that a summer school job But I ended up really liking it It was a different kind of challengerdquo

Although Boe and Kassal work in two different career fields the couple say their worlds do intersect from time to time

ldquoItrsquos nice to have Kristinrsquos help with decorating schoolrooms or her ideas to make things look better like presentationsrdquo Kassal says

ldquoAnd vice versardquo Boe adds ldquoEspecially when he was working with elementary kids Irsquod ask him about projects we were trying outrdquo

Boe also applies some of her own experience as an educatormdashhaving taught English as a Second Language (ESL) classes in Korea in her single daysmdashwhen shersquos dreaming up new ideas for Kids DIY Studio She also says that overseas job helped give her the courage to take the risk of starting her own business years later ldquoThat was probably the scariest thing I ever did taking that big leap and going somewhere so far away So everything else is lsquoGive it a tryrsquordquo

The couple (Kassal is from Omaha Boe grew up in the Bennington area) were introduced by Boersquos sister and a friend of Kassalrsquos who is now Boersquos brother-in-law

ldquoWe went to a comedy show togetherrdquo Boe says but Kassal questions that fact Kassalrsquos conclusion ldquoYeah laquowe did It was pre-datingrdquo

They may not quite agree on their meet-cute but the couple enjoy gardening togethermdashKassal is the avid gardener but quite a few garden-themed projects have found their way into the studiomdashand both Boe and Kassal are runners And with a five-year-old in the house a lot of their spare time is devoted to kidsrsquo movies and activities

ldquoWersquore fairly average We work hard we raise our kidrdquo Boe says ldquoWe eat a lot of pizzardquo emsp

lilly Kassal is still in kindergarten but the aspiring dress designer already has her first grown-up sewing machine and is ready to

start learning how to turn her fashion drawings into haute couture Creativity is definitely part of the little girlrsquos DNA Lillyrsquos mom Kristin Boe is the owner of Kids DIY Studio a drop-in craft studio that opened last spring

ldquoYou can come in and do arts and crafts projects and paint and we have classes and partiesrdquo Boe says ldquoCrafting stuff is messy and itrsquos nice to have a large supply in one area besides your house You can leave the glitter on the floor here and splatter paint You can be creativerdquo

Like its name suggests her business is geared toward children mid-teens and younger although some adult classes are also on the schedule Boe whose first entrepreneurial endeavor was a home-based daycare during Lillyrsquos infant and toddler years says she enjoys expressing her creativity as much as her customers do

ldquoEvery aspect of this business is creative The job itself is creative the marketing takes a lot of creativityrdquo she says ldquoItrsquos fun because therersquos a constant rotation of projects and classes to dream up and see if they will work so therersquos a lot of trial and errorrdquo

Lilly 5 says she enjoys pitching in at the studio although her mom gently chuckles at her claim of helping with the cleaning What she does do Boe says is try out new projects or in Lillyrsquos words ldquoI make examplesrdquo The success of Lillyrsquos proto-types are a good indicator of how other children will respond to new projects Boe says and Lilly is also good at initiating activity with groups of children and helping shy visitors feel comfortable at the studio

ldquoI talk to them if they need help if my mom is helping someone elserdquo Lilly says

Lillyrsquos dad Jeff Kassal is also creative but in a more academic sort of way He is in his first year of teaching special education math classes at Kirn Middle School in the Council Bluffs Community School District after teaching in the elementary grades at a private school in Omaha Not only does he find ways to reach individual students with respect to their special learning needs but he also teaches an age group that can be a tough audience seventh-graders

ldquoIrsquom always trying to make everything interesting and (apply to) real-life situationsrdquo Kassal says ldquoLuckily the majority of my class likes football and sports in general so I try to make connections thererdquo

ldquoItrsquos fun because therersquos a constant rotation of projects and classes to dream up and see if they will work so therersquos a lot of trial and errorrdquoKristin Boe

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp9

wake up Get the kids ready Hurry out the door Drop kids off Work eight to five Pick kids up Go home Make dinner Help

with homework Put kids to bed Wake up Repeat Phew Making time for oneself can feel like a

pipe dreamFeeling that crunch and hoping to help Stephanie

Feltus created the meet-up group ldquoWorking Moms of Omahardquo after moving here to take a job in corporate sales ldquoI did a fair amount of travelingrdquo says the mother of two children Lucy 4 and Gavin 1 ldquoI began to look for resources supporting working moms and locally I wasnrsquot finding many resourcesrdquo

Work Hard Play Hard

Working Moms of Omaha Know When to Play

Stephanie Feltus

10emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Allison Janda photography by Keith Binderlifestyle

WHAT DID

YOURCHILD

LEARN TODAY

Call (402)932-4978or visit omahacmorgto begin your childrsquos

LEARNING

Largest childrenrsquos frame selection in Omaha

(We have adults covered too)

cool^

12660 Q Street Omaha | Tel (402) 896-3300 wwwmillardfamilyeyecarecom

The grouprsquos purpose is simple Moms come together to meet other working moms The group is currently 300 members strong Within that membership small groups with similar interests typically meet just once a month which makes it easy for even the busiest mothers to partake in the fun

The group meets at a public venue typically on a Saturday morning with children or on a Sunday evening with women only Feltus says that over the years she has discovered that events involving the children work better during the summer months while events that call for just mothers tend to come together more easily in the winter

ldquoOur most recent outing was a Holiday Lights Limo Tour for moms onlyrdquo she explains ldquoWe met at Upstream [Brewing Company] where the limo picked us up for a two- hour holiday lights tour of Omaha We sipped on apple cider chatted and enjoyed the beauty of the seasonrdquo

Feltus interested in expanding options available to working mothers hopes to begin planning lunch-and- learn events that focus on achieving worklife balance and reducing the amount of guilt working mothers feel in their day-to-day lives Currently the only lead organizer Feltus says that any member of the group is welcome to plan events such as a trip to the zoo or a play date at the museum

While the group allows working moms to connect and form friendships it is the raising of children and how much they change that offers a common bond for these women Their kids range in age from newborns to teenagers but as all mothers know motherhood isnrsquot biased ldquoThis group has taught me to not take parenthood too seriouslyrdquo she says ldquoYour most devastating parenting moment is probably not that bad This group gives you support and more importantly sanityrdquo

Working Moms of Omaha is funded by a business Feltus owns called Mommy Assistant which is focused on supporting working families thereby enabling parents to spend more quality time with their kids

You can join their Facebook page at Working Moms of Omaha as well as the Working Moms of Omaha Meetup Group at meetupcom ldquoPersonally I have made some fabulous friends and my kids have as wellrdquo Feltus says emsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp11

Dig These Chicks

12emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

diyby Kristen Hoffman photography by Bill Sitzmann

if you are an American female living in the year 2015 you probably have noticed that succulent plants have

exploded in popularity over the past year or two You canrsquot resist themmdashtheir tiny stature their resilience their pinks and purples that scream ldquoIrsquom a girl plantrdquo Good grief letrsquos just admit it Theyrsquore adorable

You know what else is adorable Baby chicks emerging from their eggs at springtime

So letrsquos take advantage of a plant that is actually referred to as ldquohensrdquo and ldquochicksrdquo (depending on their maturity) and combine them into an explosion of adorable Pinterest magic

SUPPLIESbull Eggsbull Paper egg cartonbull Knifebull Paper clipbull Preserved mossbull Gluebull Small succulentsbull Cactus soil (if needed)

DIRECTIONS1 Shop for some succulent babies

You can find these at nurseries grocery stores or home improvement stores The smaller the better Look for bunches that have multiple blooms to fill out your eggshells

2 Open the eggshells with the back of a butter knife Peel off the top section of the shell until you are satisfied with the size of the hole

3 Wash out the eggs with warm water and soap and place them back in the carton Pull apart a paper clip so that it is one long piece of metal With the paper clip poke a hole in the bottom of each egg Keeping them in the carton will keep the eggs from cracking and the hole will provide drainage for the plant Wash hands thoroughly afterwards

4 Attach small pieces of preserved moss to the carton with glue to give it a little green Only do this to the top Placing moss into the carton will prevent the eggshells from sitting snugly in their place

5 Carefully remove the succulents from their containers Shake off any excess dirt that may be attached at the roots Fill the eggs about halfway with the excess dirt Arrange the succulents in the eggshells and pour a little more dirt into the shells to stabilize the stems

Keep these little guys in a sunny area and spray them with a water bottle sparingly Succulents are desert plants and honestly thrive on neglect Just my kind of plantemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp13

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

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Molly Maid clean is now green

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Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

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Reasons why it makes sense

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Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

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Molly Maid clean is now green

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Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

ldquoIt was cathartic for me Writing is how I emote Tons of women contacted me which then made me feel healedrdquo -Ashli Brehm

14emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Kara Weselyfeature

itrsquos easy for young moms to long for the stimulation of speaking with someone over the age of 10 Therersquos catharsis in talking through onersquos feelings and

problems with a person who no longer wears a diaper or a backpack

Increasingly mothers in Omaha like mothers nationally are turning to social media to connect vent or keep their writing chops sharp Theyrsquore the ldquoMommy Bloggersrdquo a group that by some estimates now number in the millions

Most blog as a pastime But some mommy blogs have higher purposes A blog can foster healing A blog can be a purposefully permanent document for the family

Omaha native Missy Cobb started her blog The Cobb Mobb as a way to connect with her three children

ldquoEvery time I write for the blog I think about my kids and how I am documenting memories for them I tried scrapbooking for my older kids but it was too time consumingrdquo Cobb says gt

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp15

lt Cobb who started her blog as a New Yearrsquos resolution in 2012 found writing allowed her to capture milestones and memories in a more efficient and permanent way ldquoIrsquove always enjoyed writing and I like knowing that this will always be there for my kids to readrdquo

Ashli Brehmrsquos blog Baby on the Brehm has played a key role in getting her through some trying times After going through a miscarriage Brehm (pronounced like brain but with an lsquomrsquo) dedicated a blog post to her experience and managed to connect with other women who had lost a baby

ldquoIt was cathartic for me Writing is how I emote Tons of women contacted me which then made me feel healedrdquo Brehm says

When her subsequent pregnancy did not go as planned and her third son was born several weeks premature she shared the highs and lows with her readers and received an overwhelming amount of support via Baby on the Brehm That support carried her through the next six weeks while her son Harrison was in the NICU growing strong enough to head home with his parents and two brothers

Fast-forward one year and Harrison is a happy healthy 1-year-old and Ashli is still blogging about her boys motherhood and everything in between And she still manages to maintain that connection with her audience

ldquoThe people who read my blog are like a community to me They are my life raft at timesrdquo Brehm says

Brehm like Cobb hopes that some day her children will read her entries and considers the blog a sort of legacy she is leaving behind

ldquoI want my boys to learn to be themselves and to have confidence I hope that by blogging and doing it in an authentic and honest way I am showing them thatrdquo emsp

feature continued

Missy CobbPhoto by Keith Binder

16emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

Visit us today12965 W Center Rd 4027780650

HoursMon-Thu 10-6Fri-Sat 10-5Sun 12-4

wwwelitecheercom402-537-0855 2410 S 140th Circle

Nebraskarsquos Premiere Cheerleading amp Tumbling center Learn basic

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Friday Feb 20 2015

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Young Hero proudly sponsored by

Young Hero proudly sponsored by

nicole Carrillo says she can make friends anywhere Even at the airport

Case in point On a chilly night in November Nicole stood with her fellow Thrive Club members at Eppley Airfield holding colorful signs Nicolersquos read ldquoWELCOME TO OMAHArdquo with the Orsquos shaped like hearts Moments later wild applause laughter and some tears erupted from the relatives students and coaches gathered for this moment

Nicolersquos soon-to-be-new friends were a refugee family just arriving from Burma Marisol Nicolersquos mother and one of the sponsors of Thrive was overwhelmed as tears flooded her eyes ldquoIt was life- changingrdquo Marisol recalls

Members of the Thrive Club along with Lutheran Family Services provided a cozy home environment for the immigrant family in an apartment volunteerrsquos chocked full of groceries clothes and furniture

Nicole a junior at Northwest High School had filled out a grant to present to her principal Thomas Lee to do something for a family that would be lost in a foreign world

Emigrating is hard scary often emotionally draining Nicolersquos empathy stems from hearing the story of her parents Marisol a native of Mexico left for the United States in her teens to pursue a cosmetics license It was difficult she says but she argues she had it easier than her husband Joel who she would later meet in English classes

Joel started his first job in the ldquoworst town you can think ofrdquomdashAguascalientes Mexico He loaded heavy bricks into trucks and along with 15 or so other boys sold them house-to-house He was five at the time Joel came to the United States when he was 15 Later he worked 60 to 70 hours a week while attending college classes at night sometimes even taking a course during his lunch hour

Nicole sees what her parents had to go throughmdashall their hard work So she strives to be the best As a 40 student Nicole is currently right behind her best friend for the top spot on the GPA ladder ldquoIt has been a long steady fightrdquo she says ldquobut itrsquos all in good funrdquo However like most high achievers Nicole gets upset if she receives a B on a test or paper but her parents do not

ldquoMy parents are like lsquoyou are doing the best you canrsquordquo Nicole says resting her hand on her cheek during a recent interview ldquoLove themrdquo

Nicole says attending Northwest was one the best decisions she has ever made ldquoShe is one of the best ambassadors for the schoolrdquo Lee says Nicole is active in all aspects of the school including student council National Honor Society and choir She has won numerous community service awards and was one of five in the nation to be selected for the National Youth Advisory Council

Nicole is now eager to show the Burmese family all the ldquosimple things we take for grantedrdquo around Omahamdashldquolike the mall and zoordquo she says

ldquoNicole has the heart to helphellip to make a better worldrdquo her mother says proudlyemsp

Nicole CarrilloHelping Immigrants Thrive in America

Nicole Carillo and the Thrive Group

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp17

by Lisa Lukecart photography by Keith Binderyoung hero

18emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Claire Martin photography by Bill Sitzmannactivity

the expected audience for morning attendance at the Joslyn Art Museum is not perhaps thought to be a handful of pint-sized art scholars But thats precisely the group of observers that hovered around a Renaissance fresco on a recent Friday

morning chattering about concepts like color shapes and how it was that a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle (Michelangelo) could be an artist

A museum shouldnt be a stuffy place I dont think artist and teacher Therese Straseski says It should be a fun place

Straseski has led and instructed the Art Adventures program at the Joslyn for 15 years now in which kids from the ages of 3-5 participate in interactive art activities with their parents every Friday morning Creative tasks can range anywhere from pouring plaster to mixing color palettes

I think art is amazingly important in children Straseski says Teaching art is about learning to enjoy yourself and love what you do Maybe I cant be Rembrandt but I can teach these kids to enjoy themselves in creating art

Another of Straseskis passions in her job is the substantial development in her young students skill and interest over time More exposure to art she believes helps integrate both sides of the brain immediately in children

We absolutely see improvement in our kids she says When they come as 3-year-olds concepts are lost on them and theyre just having fun But as they get older they start to understand concepts like color and line

Big Museum Pint-Sized Fun

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp19

Parents according to Straseski are some of the programs strongest advocates especially as art programs are dropped from elementary curriculums due to budget cuts

Mom and Art Adventures regular Alison Novak for example prioritizes the preservation of arts significance in her kids

I think children are naturally drawn to art because its messy and creative Novak says But I do think theyre very aware of the importance of art and artists especially as they get older

She adds that the interactive aspect of Joslyns art program is especially engaging for her 3-year-old daughter Dagny

The experience of art in this program is important because its so tactile and allows [my daughter] to use different materials Novak says Its not just coming and looking at the art Its something to get her involved

Its quite possible then that with the efforts of art advocates like Straseski and Novak a mini-Renaissance is in the making in these small art studentsmdashperhaps not in technique but in the messy and loving creative process

Art is about being able to pass on that passion to someone else Straseski says with a smile Thats the passion in artemsp

ww

Therese Straseski at work with budding artists at the Art Adventures program

Posh PeacockConsignment Gallery

Furniture amp Home Decor

4029339666 - poshpeacocknet

Bel Air Plaza 704 12100 W Center Rd

A Treasure Troveof Delightful amp Valuable Things

JULYAUGUST bull 2014

war amp PeaceChuck Hagel battles for a future free of the quagmires of the past

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Best of Omahatrade Campaign 2015

The Loyal Royal Alex Gordon

Malorie MaddoxOmaha Stories

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Donrsquot miss a single issue of Omaha Magazine

kids say the darndest things

20emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Allison Janda photography by Keith Binder

as a parent yoursquove probably appreciated (and not appreciated) the absolute

honesty that often escapes your childrsquos mouth Frankness aside kids also tend to say some hilarious things Martin Brucknerrsquos daughter Harper 3 is no exception

In early 2014 Bruckner his wife Michelle and their daughter were having dinner when he overheard his wife exclaim to Harper ldquoPlease donrsquot put spaghetti between your toesrdquo That same night as Bruckner was giving his daughter her evening bath he found himself asking her ldquoDid you drop your cheese in the tub againrdquo From that point on he decided it would be worthwhile to take note of all of the absurd utterances around his house He knew that one day he his wife and their child could all look back and have a good laugh

Bruckner began to create graphics based on things he wrote down eventually starting Tumblr and Facebook accounts to share them with friends family and parents around the world ldquoPretty much the first day I started the Facebook and Tumblr pages I had parents replying to me with the things their children say to themrdquo he chuckles Bruckner admits that it isnrsquot just the locals that find things he his wife and his daughter say funny In fact he has gotten messages from as far away as Australia

While Spaghetti Toes started out innocently enough it seems to be gaining steam as Harper ages Bruckner states that while his daughter is a newer

conversationalist the things she says only get funnier with age ldquoHer vocabulary is getting bigger and stronger but shersquos still having a hard time getting certain things to be in the correct context which in turn makes them hilariousrdquo he says This is confirmed with nothing more than a cursory glance through his website

The graphics he has created have started to garner some national attention getting picked up by websites such as BuzzFeed and The Chive Additionally Bruckner has started to fulfill custom orders and recently completed two such requests for a woman in Canada Nonetheless Bruckner remains encouraged by the local scene claiming Omaharsquos creatives are extremely supportive while locals are incredibly kind

The attention his sites have garnered feels good Bruckner says Nonetheless he finds that he is more drawn to the long-term payoff that they will have ldquoI started this as a way to document my daughterrsquos life while shersquos little and Irsquom having an incredible time doing itrdquo he shares In fact his own mother inspired by what her son was doing went digging for books that she kept on Bruckner and his siblings when they were young Bruckner hopes to use it to create additional graphics for his mom and five sisters ldquoIrsquove gotten message after message after message from parents and I think everyone is in agreement as far as their children saying incredible silly ridiculous and disgusting thingsrdquo he adds ldquoI say things daily that I never thought Irsquod sayrdquo Wersquore sure that every parent out there can relateemsp

feature

I think everyone is in agreement as far as their children saying incredible sillyridiculous and disgusting thingsrdquo-Martin Bruckner

Martin Harper and Michelle Bruckner

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp21

No Age Limit for

Bullies

i could have worked with Jim Rome the radio sportscaster Wersquore about the same age We were in college about the same time studying the same thing We both started working at

small stations before moving up I produced a number of anchors and reporters ldquoback in the dayrdquo who are still on the air at national networks So I have some experience working with Romersquos personality typemdashor at least the type he uses on air Arrogant bloated ego Inflammatory language 70rsquos mustache

Before January 1 of this year I only had peripheral knowledge of and no opinion on Mr Rome Irsquom not a hardcore sports fan so I couldnrsquot have picked him out of a lineup any day of the week But on this particular New Yearrsquos Day Mr Rome chose to insult not only my children but the children of my friends and in fact the children and grandchildren of hundreds of thousands of Americans In the middle of one of college footballrsquos biggest days he threw this tweet out there

ldquoIs there anybody not in a marching band who thinks those dorks running around with their instruments are coolrdquo

Wow You can just imagine the firestorm that followed It didnrsquot take long for the hashtag MarchonRome to be trending To be brief the answer to Mr Romersquos question was a resounding ldquoYes there are people who think theyrsquore coolrdquo After a 24-hour blast of more than 8000 responses (and that was only on Twitter) including everyone from the US Marines to band alums everywhere he tweeted this

ldquoBand nationmdashI hear you I was out of line I apologize I do not condone bullying of any kind and that was not my intentrdquo

The reason I chose this topic is not so much because I was personally offended by Mr Romersquos comment but because I was so saddened that someone my age could intentionally set such a horrible example If not to be a bully I canrsquot comprehend what Mr Romersquos intent was I think if it was ldquoto be funnyrdquo then thatrsquos a fail toomdashbecause making fun of entire groups of people in this manner is pretty much the textbook definition of bullying

Mr Rome (and many others I think) got a fast education about the athleticism discipline and commitment that marching band requires And I wonrsquot even start on the statistics about the value of arts education Just last week a new study from the University of Vermont indicated the measurable impact of music education in developing attention skills anxiety management and emotional control

No my beef with Mr Rome is quite simplemdashhe should be old enough to know better I get that my generation was a little different We were very cliquishmdashjocks potheads geeks dorks

22emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

mind amp bodyby Bev Carlson Lutheran Family Services

blah blahmdashbut I really thought (hoped) that with all of the current awareness of bullying a public figure like Mr Rose would be tuned in enough to choose his words more carefully when referring to hundreds of thousands of hard-working high school and college students

My hope rests with this next generation where amid the online furor those students with highly developed ldquoemotional controlrdquo graciously accepted Mr Rosersquos apology reminding him that this time he ldquomessed with the wrong dorksrdquo Irsquom still holding out hope that he will accept the challenge from many of the band members (many of whom also play sports) to come do what they domdash handle one week of band camp In the summer In the South Or how about here in Nebraska on all those cold early mornings Go Bandemsp

I was so saddened that someone my age could intentionally set such a horrible example

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp23

oneworldomahaorg

Grow STRONG WithOneWorld Pediatrics

45 YEARS OF MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Cass FamilyMedicine

122 S 6th StPlattsmouth

402-296-2345

Northwest Omaha

4229 N 90th St402-401-6000

West Omaha4101 S 120th St402-505-3907

South Omaha4920 S 30th St

402-734-4110

45 Years of Making a DifferenceOne Child at a Time

Bean amp Cheese Tostadas

this yummy tostada recipe makes a satisfying healthy lunch or dinner Black beans zucchini corn and cherry tomatoes make this colorful vegetarian

dish delicious and nutritious emsp

Find more great recipes at HealthyKohlsKidscom The Healthy Kohlrsquos Kids program is a partnership between Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center and Kohlrsquos Department Stores to educate children and parents about healthy nutrition and fitness

24emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

sponsored content by Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center food

ingredientsbull 8 corn

tortillas (6-inch diameter)

bull 1 can (14 oz) black beans rinsed and drained

bull 1 small white onion finely chopped

bull 2 medium zucchini cut into 14-inch pieces

bull 2 jalapentildeo peppers seeded and chopped

bull 12 Tbsp black pepper

bull 14 cup water

bull 12 cup cooked corn

bull 1 cup cherry tomatoes sliced

bull 12 cup chopped cilantro leaves

bull 1 12 oz grated reduced-fat white cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese (14 cup)

bull 4 scallions chopped

bull 1 small avocado pitted peeled and chopped

bull Lime wedges optional

preparation1 Preheat oven to 400deg Arrange tortillas

on 2 baking sheets and toast in oven until crisp about 5 minutes Remove from baking sheets

2 Lightly spray baking sheets with nonstick cooking spray Spread beans and onion on one and zucchini and jalapentildeos on the other Lightly coat vegetables with cooking spray season with the black pepper and roast until golden 12 to 15 minutes

3 Transfer half the beans and onion to a bowl with the water and mash beans with the back of a fork until smooth (Add more water to reach desired consistency if necessary) Spread mixture onto tortillas

4 Toss remaining beans and onion with zucchini jalapentildeos and corn and divide among tortillas

5 Top each tostada with tomatoes cilantro cheese scallions and avocado Serve with lime wedges if desired

Yield 4 servings

Nutrition Facts Calories 434 Fat 14g

Saturated Fat 3g Cholesterol 0

Sodium 446mg Carbohydrates 61g

Fiber 10g Protein 16g

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp25

Thanks for Voting Us Best of Omahatrade

84th and 1st St Downtown Papillion

402-331-9136

18 flavorsBaked daily Birthdays Weddings GraduationsOn-site party room

buy one get one

FREEExpires March 31 2015

HoursMonday-Saturday raquo11am-8pm

Located at Midlands Placeoff 84th Street and Highway 370

Maybe a Cupcake Will Help

wwwdingmanscom

4025583500Corner of

50th amp SouthSaddlecreek

402-502-8757Southwest corner

of 144th amp Industrial Rd

4025025511Southwestcorner of

120th amp Maple

4029339400Corner of

Washington amp Lincoln in Papillion

ldquoWersquod Rather Be The Best Than Apologize for Anything Lessrdquo

1st place

10 YEARS in a row

We are grateful for your business and Best of Omahatrade

votes for best Auto Body Repair

Spring Cleaning St Patrickrsquos Way

while most are eager for the weather to warm up in time for St Patrickrsquos Day (and the green beer sure)

Irsquom more into the holidayrsquos theme of ridding the country of evils Itrsquos time to purge yrsquoall

Irsquove been hibernating for six months under a blanket in front of the fireplace All I see here is an intense accumulation of clutter tucked in the corners out of my usual visual paths as I traverse my house

I finally get up and start the purge ldquoWhorsquos beach towel is thisrdquo ldquoI think Bobby left it here when we had that

slip-n-slide partyrdquo one of the kids says to me while walking out of their scarf gloves hat sweatshirt and shoes which leaves a trail marking my imminent demise from slips and falls (If I fall and am lying there unconscious interrogate my kids first)

ldquoThe slip-n-slide party That was five years agordquo I respond

ldquoYeah I think Bobby moved to Alaskardquo comes the retort which was both informative and confirmation that we had a right to be embarrassed

ldquoWell he doesnrsquot need this beach towel anymorerdquo Once the snow melts the purge involves three or four trips to Goodwill

Itrsquos funny that when yoursquore trapped in your house long enough due to subzero temperatures you start looking at the walls a little differently ldquoIs it me or is our kitchen less sage green and more My Little Pony Minty Greenrdquo I ask my husband

Before he can assure me the pastel shade of green is fine Irsquom off getting paint You canrsquot go wrong with a color called ldquoChocolaterdquo for the kitchen right

My family isnrsquot very supportive of my winter stir-crazy hobby of purging This year for Christmas the kids asked Santa for locks on their doors in an effort to protect their belongings from Momrsquos annual campaign

Itrsquos inevitable that about five years after I give something away one of my kids wants to know where it went Irsquom sorry your 2005 Lego set is gone My bare feet just couldnrsquot take it anymore

Just as St Patrick rid Ireland of all the snakes Irsquove secretly celebrated my own sainthood as Irsquove shooed all of my clutter away

Oh but then you realize that even saints canrsquot always win the clutter battle The cat barfs up a hairball My son walks by and touts ldquoIf only we still had Bobbyrsquos beach towel to clean this uprdquoemsp

26emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Leslie Murrell mom on the rocks

Boat PoseSanskrit name Paripurna Navasana(par-ee-POOR-nah nah-VAHS-anna)

the Boat Pose strengthens the hip flexors spine and the abdomen This pose helps to relieve stress improves digestion and stimulates the kidneys

intestines and thyroidemsp

BEGINNERS TIPPlace a strap around the ball of both feet Hold on to the

strap with straight arms

1 Sit on the floor with your legs straight in front of you Place your hands behind your hip and press into the ground fingers face- forward

2 Lift up through the sternum and slightly lean back until the weight is distributed to the top of your sitting bones and tailbone

3 Bend the knees and lift the feet off the floor

4 Lengthen the tailbone by pressing it into the floor and lift the pubis towards the naval

5 Slowly straighten your legs until your feet reach above eye level and spread the toes

6 Stretch the arms alongside the legs and reach out through the fingers

7 Breathe deeply for 15-30 seconds

8 Exhale and lower the legs to the floor

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp27

by Rachel Joy photography by Bill SitzmannfitnessWe are

the most experienced full-service family owned real estate company in America

npdodgecom

FOR THE KIDS

BAM ITrsquoS A PICTURE BOOK THE ART BEHIND GRAPHIC NOVELSTHROUGH MARCH 29 2015 JOSLYN ART MUSEUM ndash

2200 DODGE ST Popular among young readers

graphic novels are known for their comic

format They are generally described as

ldquosequential artrdquo where a series of illustrations

tell the story but unlike newspaper comics

they are the length of a novel and include

narrative development This exhibition features

the work of Jarrett J Krosoczka Mark Crilley

Matt Holm Raina Telgemeier and Lincoln

Peirce Tuesday - Wednesday amp Friday - Sunday

10am- 4pm Thursday 10am- 8pm Free

admission 402-342-3300

- JOSLYNORG

ONCE UPON A FARM EXHIBITTHROUGH APRIL 12 OMAHA CHILDRENrsquoS MUSEUMmdash500

S 20TH ST Explore the world of agriculture and

learn where your food comes from with the help

of interactive exhibit components like a center

pivot amp planting station dairy cows pedal track

maze and more Tuesday through Friday 10am ndash

4pm Saturday 9am ndash 5pm Sunday 1pm ndash 5 pm

Admission $2 plus regular admission Free for

members 402-342-6164

- OCMORG

MERMAID MINIONS amp DRAGONSMARCH 22 Holland Performing Arts

Centermdash1200 Douglas St Your favorite music

from How to Train Your Dragon Despicable Me

The Little Mermaid and other family movie hits

Brought to life through thrilling performances of

song dance and spectacle 2pm

Admission $15

- OMAHASYMPHONYORG

FOR THE FAMILY

NATURE CONNECTS 2THROUGH APRIL 26 LAURITZEN GARDENSmdash100

BANCROFT ST View 27 new sculptures each

inspired by the natural world made entirely of

300000 Legoreg bricks Make your own Lego

brick creations in the Legobrickyard and enjoy

a variety of Lego-inspired events throughout

the duration of the exhibit 9am ndash 5pm

Admission $10 adults$5 children six to 12 Free

for children under six and for garden members

402-346-4003

- LAURITZENGARDENSORG

TECH CITYTHROUGH MAY 10 STRATEGIC AIR amp SPACE MUSEUMmdash

ASHLAND NE This travelling engineering exhibit

is a great way to inspire learning and interest

in careers that focus on science technology

engineering and mathematics (STEM) The

Tech City exhibit is designed with interactive

learning that will appeal to visitors of all ages

9am - 5pm Free with regular admission $12

adult $6 youth children under 3 are free

402-944-3100

- SASMUSEUMCOM

ZEN TIES

THROUGH MARCH 8 THE ROSE THEATERmdash2001

FARNAM ST A gentle tale about patience and

compassion Zen Ties will make you remember

how much wisdom can come of simple

mindfulness Friday Saturday and Sunday

Members Four free admissions Non-member

admission $18 402-345-4949

- ROSETHEATERORG

FOR MOM amp DAD

AMERICAN MODERNS FROM OrsquoKEEFFE TO ROCKWELLTHROUGH MAY 17 JOSLYN ART MUSEUMmdash2200

DODGE ST The United States emerged as an

international power while also experiencing

two world wars and the Great Depression

New technologies changed all aspects of

life while the art world witnessed dramatic

transformations of its own This exhibition

explores the ways American artists including

Georgia OrsquoKeeffe Marsden Hartley Stuart

Davis Rockwell Kent and Norman Rockwell

engaged the modern world This exhibition

will have a ticket fee Free for members youth

ages 17 and younger amp college students with ID

402-342-3300

-JOSLYNORG

KATHARINE HEPBURN DRESSED FOR STAGE AND SCREENFEBRUARY 7-APRIL 26 DURHAM MUSEUMmdash801 S

10TH ST This exhibition from the Kent State

University Museum features more than 35

costumes worn in 21 films and six stage

productions as well as other personal items

spanning Hepburnrsquos illustrious career Come see

how this true icon of American culture came

to epitomize the modern woman of the 20th

century Children $6 Adults $9 402-444-5071

- DURHAMMUSEUMORG

COMPAGNIE KAumlFIGMARCH 18 HOLLAND CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST

Brazilian dance company Compagnie Kaumlfig

brings a high-energy performance style

combining their hip-hop foundation with martial

arts and circus elements 730pm $1350 to

$2625 402-345-0202

- OMAHAPERFORMINGARTSORG

Tech CityBam Itrsquos a Picture Book American Moderns

28emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

Calendar of Events

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp29

Erin Cox Event Director

402-884-2038 | erinomahamagazinecom

EVENTS by OMAHA MAGAZINE

Events by Omaha Magazine is a full-service event production company specializing in trade shows corporate events product launches and social gatherings From concept to delivery our goal is to provide an exceptional event experience for the host and their guests

Your Vision Our Innovation Event Solutions

GET A JUMP ON SUMMER

YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA wwwmetroymcaorg

Join us March 21 2015 for our Open House at any YMCA of Greater Omaha location The YMCA is your place for camp this summer bull Weekly themed preschool morning camps (3-5 years) and summer day camp (4-12 years - varies by location)

bull Mini special interest camps

bull Premier camps and Camp Platte

bull Counselors-in-Training program for teens

REGISTER FOR

CAMP AT OUR OPEN

HOUSE 3-21-15

AND PAY NO CAMP

REGISTRATION FEES

i never had a pet as a childOkay so I did at the age of 9 or so have

an ill-fated and short-lived guardianship of a turtle whose name Irsquove long forgotten but Irsquove never been a pet person

My mother abhorred the idea of anything furry dwelling in her home and I was pretty much fine with that The feeling carried over into adulthood and my three now-grown children probably felt super-lucky just to have had the brief company of a single pet a (clean and non-slobbering) feline named Scribbles

Viral videos portraying cats and dogs doing whatever it is that cats and dogs do have never appeared on any of my playlists And to be frank people who describe their little quadruped cuties as their ldquochildrenrdquohellipwell kinda creep me out I have no innate aversion to cats even though I take them to be whiskered sociopaths of evil intent but I have never been at all comfortable around dogs of any make or model

Before the hate mail begins please allow me at least a shot at redemption

My grandsons Barrett and Easton are growing up in a home where the company of canines is prized Their collie Summer recently ascended to that great dog pound in the sky and after an appropriate period of mourning has been replaced by a border collie pup carrying an equally seasonal name of Winter

Itrsquos an understatement to say that I never hit it off with Summer Perhaps it didnrsquot help that she stained our Oriental rug as a pup not 10 seconds into her very first visit to our home My son Eric entered with Summer while explaining that all would be well in that the creature was doing a smash-up job when it came to taking care of business but it was too late The little thing bounded (Is that what dogs do They ldquoboundrdquo) directly to the rug lifted one leg andhellipyou know the rest

I have promised to be different with Winter My kids already know that I am neurotic but I donrsquot

want Easton and Barrett to grow up thinking that their granddad is some kind of loathsome monster I am going to do my best to get to know Winter and not be such a basket case

Not surprisingly my first encounter with Winter was shall we say trying ldquoHersquos

just young and excitablerdquo I was told as the dog tried to climb up my leg Yeah tell that to my now urine-stained

shoes (suede no less) and newish sweater scarred by Winterrsquos talons or toes or paws or whatever it is theyrsquore called

But it is with a certain sense of self-satisfaction that I can report that I kept my cool Now the notion of ldquocoolrdquo is subjective My immediate knee-jerk reaction was admittedly to jerk my knee in revulsion but I collected myself as quickly as possible and

tried my best to not make an international incident of the affair

I really need to up my game in being the grandpa that I hope to

be but boy do I have my work cut out for meemsp

Canine Calamity A Plan to Fake it Until I Make it

30emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

the grandpa chroniclesby David Williams

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp31

Did you know90 of brain development

happens by age 5Discover Nebraska Childrenrsquos Home Societyrsquos

accredited high-quality early childhood education programs with low child-to-staff ratios at two locations

4939 S 118th St in Omaha (402) 898-7760 for children 18 months through Pre-K

and 3549 Fontenelle Blvd in Omaha (402) 898-7768 for children 6 weeks through Pre-K

Call today for a free no-obligation tour

4023450606 OMAHASYMPHONYORG

Sunday March 22 bull 200 PMHolland Center

Your favorite music from How to Train Your Dragon

The Little Mermaid Despicable Me and other

family movie hits Brought to life through exciting performances of song dance and spectacle

FEATURING

THE HEARTLAND YOUTH BALLET

REacuteSONANCE CHOIR

Tickets Adults amp Kids $12

FAMILY SERIES

CONCERT

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Omaha Magazine5921 S 118th CirOmaha NE 68137

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

Page 4: March 2015 HerFamily

CHI Health

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp5

CHI Health Alegent Creighton Clinic offers

no-appointment-necessary care clinics with

extended hours and pharmacies with

mail-order and delivery services

Access routine care 247 from your home or

office with our innovative tools like online

appointment scheduling and Virtual Care

Health and wellness Here and now

Our website features videos of our providers so you can

choose the right fit for you and your family To learn more

and find a doctor visit CHIhealthcomClinic

Bergan Mercy | Creighton University Medical Center | Good Samaritan | Immanuel | Lakeside | Mercy Council Bluffs | Midlands | Nebraska Heart | St Elizabeth St Francis | Missouri Valley | Mercy Corning | Plainview | Schuyler | St Maryrsquos | Lasting Hope Recovery Center | Richard Young Behavioral Health | Alegent Creighton Clinic

4440_064158_CHI_ACC_HerMagazine_4C_8375rdquox10875rdquo064158_CHI_ACC_HerMagazine_4Cindd 1 1915 231 PM

when it comes to exercise motivation can be somewhat elusive Good intentions fall by the wayside and soon enough we find ourselves stuck

in the same old routine or probably more often the routine of not exercising at all

Enter fitness trackers and fitness bands Fitbits Garmin Vivofits Fitbugs iFits and more You name it your local sporting goods or electronic stores are sure to have it But the question is do they really work and more importantly do they keep their users motivated

A Bit of MotivationFor many moms Fitbit and other fitness trackers mean better workouts

6emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Kara Weselyhealth

ackyardBE

dventurescampxplorers

Yoursquoll never know what yoursquoll find

Pre-K ages 4-5 June 1-5 9-noonDiscover the wonders of nature in this outdoors camp led by natural resources experts and licensed teach-ers Activities could include seed planting wildlife tracks frogs and turtles and casting fishing poles

at Chalo Hills Rec Area RegistrationContactwwwpapionrdorg (educational resources tab)

Lora Bogatz among many other Omaha moms certainly thinks so Bogatz has used both a BodyBug and a Fitbit and has found that both devices not only kept her motivated they brought out her competitive side

ldquoAlmost my entire family has Fitbitsrdquo she says ldquoWe all sync ours together and do either daily or weekly challenges It has definitely brought out my competitive side I will even walk extra laps while at work to stay in the leadrdquo

Itrsquos not only the competition that has Bogatz moving more Her Fitbit counts steps measures her heart rate sets goals for her and awards badges when goals are attained all of which she feels keeps her motivated and accountable

ldquoI feel like I am always checking in with either my Fitbit or my Fitness Pal It definitely keep me honestrdquo-Sarah Trout

ldquoIt definitely gets me to the gym more I want to reach my 10000 steps each day and want to earn the next badgerdquo

Sarah Trout another Fitbit enthusiast has seen a change in how often she exercises and how hard

ldquoI like to know how many calories I am burning and if I see that number drop from one day to another I know I have to work harder I think I tended to be somewhat lazier before and wouldnrsquot push myself nearly as muchrdquo Trout says

Troutrsquos Fitbit syncs with her iPhone and Fitness Pal app a feature she utilizes daily

ldquoI feel like I am always checking in with either my Fitbit or my Fitness Pal It definitely keep me honestrdquo Trout says

Both Bogatz and Trout wear their Fitbits nearly every day and have come to appreciate their little sidekick

ldquoI am a very visual personrdquo Trout says ldquo Being able to look at my Fitbit at any point during the day and see how many steps I have taken is a huge bonus as well as a huge motivatorrdquo

Like Bogatz and Trout Jeanne Vlcek has found that wearing a fitness band while working out keeps her accountable and keeps her moving as much as she can The one difference being that Vlcek is seven months pregnant and thinks her fitness band a Timex fitness watch is possibly picking up the heart rate of her baby in addition to her own

ldquoI think my watch is a little confused because itrsquos telling me I am burning way more calories than is possiblerdquo Vlcek says

In spite of that issue Vlcek has appreciated having the watch while exercising She thinks shersquoll appreciate it even more after her baby is born

ldquoI think Irsquoll be counting on it much much more after our baby is born to help me get back in shaperdquo she saysemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp7

The KassalsIn this family of educators even the kindergartner is a teacher

Jeff Kassal LIlly Kassal and Kristin Boe

8emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Kara Schweiss photography by Keith Bindermeet the family

Kassal says he wasnrsquot planning on teaching special education when he started his career as an educator

ldquoI did my undergraduate in general educationelementary When I graduated it was right after Christmas break so I did some subbing and long-term subbing in general educationrdquo Kassal says ldquoThen I got a summer job at a special education school and thought it would be just that a summer school job But I ended up really liking it It was a different kind of challengerdquo

Although Boe and Kassal work in two different career fields the couple say their worlds do intersect from time to time

ldquoItrsquos nice to have Kristinrsquos help with decorating schoolrooms or her ideas to make things look better like presentationsrdquo Kassal says

ldquoAnd vice versardquo Boe adds ldquoEspecially when he was working with elementary kids Irsquod ask him about projects we were trying outrdquo

Boe also applies some of her own experience as an educatormdashhaving taught English as a Second Language (ESL) classes in Korea in her single daysmdashwhen shersquos dreaming up new ideas for Kids DIY Studio She also says that overseas job helped give her the courage to take the risk of starting her own business years later ldquoThat was probably the scariest thing I ever did taking that big leap and going somewhere so far away So everything else is lsquoGive it a tryrsquordquo

The couple (Kassal is from Omaha Boe grew up in the Bennington area) were introduced by Boersquos sister and a friend of Kassalrsquos who is now Boersquos brother-in-law

ldquoWe went to a comedy show togetherrdquo Boe says but Kassal questions that fact Kassalrsquos conclusion ldquoYeah laquowe did It was pre-datingrdquo

They may not quite agree on their meet-cute but the couple enjoy gardening togethermdashKassal is the avid gardener but quite a few garden-themed projects have found their way into the studiomdashand both Boe and Kassal are runners And with a five-year-old in the house a lot of their spare time is devoted to kidsrsquo movies and activities

ldquoWersquore fairly average We work hard we raise our kidrdquo Boe says ldquoWe eat a lot of pizzardquo emsp

lilly Kassal is still in kindergarten but the aspiring dress designer already has her first grown-up sewing machine and is ready to

start learning how to turn her fashion drawings into haute couture Creativity is definitely part of the little girlrsquos DNA Lillyrsquos mom Kristin Boe is the owner of Kids DIY Studio a drop-in craft studio that opened last spring

ldquoYou can come in and do arts and crafts projects and paint and we have classes and partiesrdquo Boe says ldquoCrafting stuff is messy and itrsquos nice to have a large supply in one area besides your house You can leave the glitter on the floor here and splatter paint You can be creativerdquo

Like its name suggests her business is geared toward children mid-teens and younger although some adult classes are also on the schedule Boe whose first entrepreneurial endeavor was a home-based daycare during Lillyrsquos infant and toddler years says she enjoys expressing her creativity as much as her customers do

ldquoEvery aspect of this business is creative The job itself is creative the marketing takes a lot of creativityrdquo she says ldquoItrsquos fun because therersquos a constant rotation of projects and classes to dream up and see if they will work so therersquos a lot of trial and errorrdquo

Lilly 5 says she enjoys pitching in at the studio although her mom gently chuckles at her claim of helping with the cleaning What she does do Boe says is try out new projects or in Lillyrsquos words ldquoI make examplesrdquo The success of Lillyrsquos proto-types are a good indicator of how other children will respond to new projects Boe says and Lilly is also good at initiating activity with groups of children and helping shy visitors feel comfortable at the studio

ldquoI talk to them if they need help if my mom is helping someone elserdquo Lilly says

Lillyrsquos dad Jeff Kassal is also creative but in a more academic sort of way He is in his first year of teaching special education math classes at Kirn Middle School in the Council Bluffs Community School District after teaching in the elementary grades at a private school in Omaha Not only does he find ways to reach individual students with respect to their special learning needs but he also teaches an age group that can be a tough audience seventh-graders

ldquoIrsquom always trying to make everything interesting and (apply to) real-life situationsrdquo Kassal says ldquoLuckily the majority of my class likes football and sports in general so I try to make connections thererdquo

ldquoItrsquos fun because therersquos a constant rotation of projects and classes to dream up and see if they will work so therersquos a lot of trial and errorrdquoKristin Boe

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp9

wake up Get the kids ready Hurry out the door Drop kids off Work eight to five Pick kids up Go home Make dinner Help

with homework Put kids to bed Wake up Repeat Phew Making time for oneself can feel like a

pipe dreamFeeling that crunch and hoping to help Stephanie

Feltus created the meet-up group ldquoWorking Moms of Omahardquo after moving here to take a job in corporate sales ldquoI did a fair amount of travelingrdquo says the mother of two children Lucy 4 and Gavin 1 ldquoI began to look for resources supporting working moms and locally I wasnrsquot finding many resourcesrdquo

Work Hard Play Hard

Working Moms of Omaha Know When to Play

Stephanie Feltus

10emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Allison Janda photography by Keith Binderlifestyle

WHAT DID

YOURCHILD

LEARN TODAY

Call (402)932-4978or visit omahacmorgto begin your childrsquos

LEARNING

Largest childrenrsquos frame selection in Omaha

(We have adults covered too)

cool^

12660 Q Street Omaha | Tel (402) 896-3300 wwwmillardfamilyeyecarecom

The grouprsquos purpose is simple Moms come together to meet other working moms The group is currently 300 members strong Within that membership small groups with similar interests typically meet just once a month which makes it easy for even the busiest mothers to partake in the fun

The group meets at a public venue typically on a Saturday morning with children or on a Sunday evening with women only Feltus says that over the years she has discovered that events involving the children work better during the summer months while events that call for just mothers tend to come together more easily in the winter

ldquoOur most recent outing was a Holiday Lights Limo Tour for moms onlyrdquo she explains ldquoWe met at Upstream [Brewing Company] where the limo picked us up for a two- hour holiday lights tour of Omaha We sipped on apple cider chatted and enjoyed the beauty of the seasonrdquo

Feltus interested in expanding options available to working mothers hopes to begin planning lunch-and- learn events that focus on achieving worklife balance and reducing the amount of guilt working mothers feel in their day-to-day lives Currently the only lead organizer Feltus says that any member of the group is welcome to plan events such as a trip to the zoo or a play date at the museum

While the group allows working moms to connect and form friendships it is the raising of children and how much they change that offers a common bond for these women Their kids range in age from newborns to teenagers but as all mothers know motherhood isnrsquot biased ldquoThis group has taught me to not take parenthood too seriouslyrdquo she says ldquoYour most devastating parenting moment is probably not that bad This group gives you support and more importantly sanityrdquo

Working Moms of Omaha is funded by a business Feltus owns called Mommy Assistant which is focused on supporting working families thereby enabling parents to spend more quality time with their kids

You can join their Facebook page at Working Moms of Omaha as well as the Working Moms of Omaha Meetup Group at meetupcom ldquoPersonally I have made some fabulous friends and my kids have as wellrdquo Feltus says emsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp11

Dig These Chicks

12emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

diyby Kristen Hoffman photography by Bill Sitzmann

if you are an American female living in the year 2015 you probably have noticed that succulent plants have

exploded in popularity over the past year or two You canrsquot resist themmdashtheir tiny stature their resilience their pinks and purples that scream ldquoIrsquom a girl plantrdquo Good grief letrsquos just admit it Theyrsquore adorable

You know what else is adorable Baby chicks emerging from their eggs at springtime

So letrsquos take advantage of a plant that is actually referred to as ldquohensrdquo and ldquochicksrdquo (depending on their maturity) and combine them into an explosion of adorable Pinterest magic

SUPPLIESbull Eggsbull Paper egg cartonbull Knifebull Paper clipbull Preserved mossbull Gluebull Small succulentsbull Cactus soil (if needed)

DIRECTIONS1 Shop for some succulent babies

You can find these at nurseries grocery stores or home improvement stores The smaller the better Look for bunches that have multiple blooms to fill out your eggshells

2 Open the eggshells with the back of a butter knife Peel off the top section of the shell until you are satisfied with the size of the hole

3 Wash out the eggs with warm water and soap and place them back in the carton Pull apart a paper clip so that it is one long piece of metal With the paper clip poke a hole in the bottom of each egg Keeping them in the carton will keep the eggs from cracking and the hole will provide drainage for the plant Wash hands thoroughly afterwards

4 Attach small pieces of preserved moss to the carton with glue to give it a little green Only do this to the top Placing moss into the carton will prevent the eggshells from sitting snugly in their place

5 Carefully remove the succulents from their containers Shake off any excess dirt that may be attached at the roots Fill the eggs about halfway with the excess dirt Arrange the succulents in the eggshells and pour a little more dirt into the shells to stabilize the stems

Keep these little guys in a sunny area and spray them with a water bottle sparingly Succulents are desert plants and honestly thrive on neglect Just my kind of plantemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp13

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Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

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Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

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Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

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Each franchise independently owned and operated

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For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

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402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

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Molly Maid clean is now green

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Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

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402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

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Molly Maid clean is now green

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Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

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MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

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Molly Maid clean is now green

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Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

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Molly Maid clean is now green

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Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

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Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

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cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

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Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

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ldquoIt was cathartic for me Writing is how I emote Tons of women contacted me which then made me feel healedrdquo -Ashli Brehm

14emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Kara Weselyfeature

itrsquos easy for young moms to long for the stimulation of speaking with someone over the age of 10 Therersquos catharsis in talking through onersquos feelings and

problems with a person who no longer wears a diaper or a backpack

Increasingly mothers in Omaha like mothers nationally are turning to social media to connect vent or keep their writing chops sharp Theyrsquore the ldquoMommy Bloggersrdquo a group that by some estimates now number in the millions

Most blog as a pastime But some mommy blogs have higher purposes A blog can foster healing A blog can be a purposefully permanent document for the family

Omaha native Missy Cobb started her blog The Cobb Mobb as a way to connect with her three children

ldquoEvery time I write for the blog I think about my kids and how I am documenting memories for them I tried scrapbooking for my older kids but it was too time consumingrdquo Cobb says gt

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp15

lt Cobb who started her blog as a New Yearrsquos resolution in 2012 found writing allowed her to capture milestones and memories in a more efficient and permanent way ldquoIrsquove always enjoyed writing and I like knowing that this will always be there for my kids to readrdquo

Ashli Brehmrsquos blog Baby on the Brehm has played a key role in getting her through some trying times After going through a miscarriage Brehm (pronounced like brain but with an lsquomrsquo) dedicated a blog post to her experience and managed to connect with other women who had lost a baby

ldquoIt was cathartic for me Writing is how I emote Tons of women contacted me which then made me feel healedrdquo Brehm says

When her subsequent pregnancy did not go as planned and her third son was born several weeks premature she shared the highs and lows with her readers and received an overwhelming amount of support via Baby on the Brehm That support carried her through the next six weeks while her son Harrison was in the NICU growing strong enough to head home with his parents and two brothers

Fast-forward one year and Harrison is a happy healthy 1-year-old and Ashli is still blogging about her boys motherhood and everything in between And she still manages to maintain that connection with her audience

ldquoThe people who read my blog are like a community to me They are my life raft at timesrdquo Brehm says

Brehm like Cobb hopes that some day her children will read her entries and considers the blog a sort of legacy she is leaving behind

ldquoI want my boys to learn to be themselves and to have confidence I hope that by blogging and doing it in an authentic and honest way I am showing them thatrdquo emsp

feature continued

Missy CobbPhoto by Keith Binder

16emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

Visit us today12965 W Center Rd 4027780650

HoursMon-Thu 10-6Fri-Sat 10-5Sun 12-4

wwwelitecheercom402-537-0855 2410 S 140th Circle

Nebraskarsquos Premiere Cheerleading amp Tumbling center Learn basic

cheer techniquesJumps Tumbling Stunts amp Pyramids

We teach kids how to win through-Hard Work PerserverenceAccountability Discipline Integrity

ldquoA journey of a thousand miles starts with a single steprdquo

ldquoI bust mine so you can kick theirsrdquo

LFSneborg middot infoLFSneborg

Friday Feb 20 2015

dinner amp auction

Honorary cHair

nancy K JoHnson

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LFS Her Family ad 12-08-14indd 1 1282014 123544 PM

Young Hero proudly sponsored by

Young Hero proudly sponsored by

nicole Carrillo says she can make friends anywhere Even at the airport

Case in point On a chilly night in November Nicole stood with her fellow Thrive Club members at Eppley Airfield holding colorful signs Nicolersquos read ldquoWELCOME TO OMAHArdquo with the Orsquos shaped like hearts Moments later wild applause laughter and some tears erupted from the relatives students and coaches gathered for this moment

Nicolersquos soon-to-be-new friends were a refugee family just arriving from Burma Marisol Nicolersquos mother and one of the sponsors of Thrive was overwhelmed as tears flooded her eyes ldquoIt was life- changingrdquo Marisol recalls

Members of the Thrive Club along with Lutheran Family Services provided a cozy home environment for the immigrant family in an apartment volunteerrsquos chocked full of groceries clothes and furniture

Nicole a junior at Northwest High School had filled out a grant to present to her principal Thomas Lee to do something for a family that would be lost in a foreign world

Emigrating is hard scary often emotionally draining Nicolersquos empathy stems from hearing the story of her parents Marisol a native of Mexico left for the United States in her teens to pursue a cosmetics license It was difficult she says but she argues she had it easier than her husband Joel who she would later meet in English classes

Joel started his first job in the ldquoworst town you can think ofrdquomdashAguascalientes Mexico He loaded heavy bricks into trucks and along with 15 or so other boys sold them house-to-house He was five at the time Joel came to the United States when he was 15 Later he worked 60 to 70 hours a week while attending college classes at night sometimes even taking a course during his lunch hour

Nicole sees what her parents had to go throughmdashall their hard work So she strives to be the best As a 40 student Nicole is currently right behind her best friend for the top spot on the GPA ladder ldquoIt has been a long steady fightrdquo she says ldquobut itrsquos all in good funrdquo However like most high achievers Nicole gets upset if she receives a B on a test or paper but her parents do not

ldquoMy parents are like lsquoyou are doing the best you canrsquordquo Nicole says resting her hand on her cheek during a recent interview ldquoLove themrdquo

Nicole says attending Northwest was one the best decisions she has ever made ldquoShe is one of the best ambassadors for the schoolrdquo Lee says Nicole is active in all aspects of the school including student council National Honor Society and choir She has won numerous community service awards and was one of five in the nation to be selected for the National Youth Advisory Council

Nicole is now eager to show the Burmese family all the ldquosimple things we take for grantedrdquo around Omahamdashldquolike the mall and zoordquo she says

ldquoNicole has the heart to helphellip to make a better worldrdquo her mother says proudlyemsp

Nicole CarrilloHelping Immigrants Thrive in America

Nicole Carillo and the Thrive Group

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp17

by Lisa Lukecart photography by Keith Binderyoung hero

18emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Claire Martin photography by Bill Sitzmannactivity

the expected audience for morning attendance at the Joslyn Art Museum is not perhaps thought to be a handful of pint-sized art scholars But thats precisely the group of observers that hovered around a Renaissance fresco on a recent Friday

morning chattering about concepts like color shapes and how it was that a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle (Michelangelo) could be an artist

A museum shouldnt be a stuffy place I dont think artist and teacher Therese Straseski says It should be a fun place

Straseski has led and instructed the Art Adventures program at the Joslyn for 15 years now in which kids from the ages of 3-5 participate in interactive art activities with their parents every Friday morning Creative tasks can range anywhere from pouring plaster to mixing color palettes

I think art is amazingly important in children Straseski says Teaching art is about learning to enjoy yourself and love what you do Maybe I cant be Rembrandt but I can teach these kids to enjoy themselves in creating art

Another of Straseskis passions in her job is the substantial development in her young students skill and interest over time More exposure to art she believes helps integrate both sides of the brain immediately in children

We absolutely see improvement in our kids she says When they come as 3-year-olds concepts are lost on them and theyre just having fun But as they get older they start to understand concepts like color and line

Big Museum Pint-Sized Fun

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp19

Parents according to Straseski are some of the programs strongest advocates especially as art programs are dropped from elementary curriculums due to budget cuts

Mom and Art Adventures regular Alison Novak for example prioritizes the preservation of arts significance in her kids

I think children are naturally drawn to art because its messy and creative Novak says But I do think theyre very aware of the importance of art and artists especially as they get older

She adds that the interactive aspect of Joslyns art program is especially engaging for her 3-year-old daughter Dagny

The experience of art in this program is important because its so tactile and allows [my daughter] to use different materials Novak says Its not just coming and looking at the art Its something to get her involved

Its quite possible then that with the efforts of art advocates like Straseski and Novak a mini-Renaissance is in the making in these small art studentsmdashperhaps not in technique but in the messy and loving creative process

Art is about being able to pass on that passion to someone else Straseski says with a smile Thats the passion in artemsp

ww

Therese Straseski at work with budding artists at the Art Adventures program

Posh PeacockConsignment Gallery

Furniture amp Home Decor

4029339666 - poshpeacocknet

Bel Air Plaza 704 12100 W Center Rd

A Treasure Troveof Delightful amp Valuable Things

JULYAUGUST bull 2014

war amp PeaceChuck Hagel battles for a future free of the quagmires of the past

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Best of Omahatrade Campaign 2015

The Loyal Royal Alex Gordon

Malorie MaddoxOmaha Stories

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SUBSCRIBE TODAY

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Donrsquot miss a single issue of Omaha Magazine

kids say the darndest things

20emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Allison Janda photography by Keith Binder

as a parent yoursquove probably appreciated (and not appreciated) the absolute

honesty that often escapes your childrsquos mouth Frankness aside kids also tend to say some hilarious things Martin Brucknerrsquos daughter Harper 3 is no exception

In early 2014 Bruckner his wife Michelle and their daughter were having dinner when he overheard his wife exclaim to Harper ldquoPlease donrsquot put spaghetti between your toesrdquo That same night as Bruckner was giving his daughter her evening bath he found himself asking her ldquoDid you drop your cheese in the tub againrdquo From that point on he decided it would be worthwhile to take note of all of the absurd utterances around his house He knew that one day he his wife and their child could all look back and have a good laugh

Bruckner began to create graphics based on things he wrote down eventually starting Tumblr and Facebook accounts to share them with friends family and parents around the world ldquoPretty much the first day I started the Facebook and Tumblr pages I had parents replying to me with the things their children say to themrdquo he chuckles Bruckner admits that it isnrsquot just the locals that find things he his wife and his daughter say funny In fact he has gotten messages from as far away as Australia

While Spaghetti Toes started out innocently enough it seems to be gaining steam as Harper ages Bruckner states that while his daughter is a newer

conversationalist the things she says only get funnier with age ldquoHer vocabulary is getting bigger and stronger but shersquos still having a hard time getting certain things to be in the correct context which in turn makes them hilariousrdquo he says This is confirmed with nothing more than a cursory glance through his website

The graphics he has created have started to garner some national attention getting picked up by websites such as BuzzFeed and The Chive Additionally Bruckner has started to fulfill custom orders and recently completed two such requests for a woman in Canada Nonetheless Bruckner remains encouraged by the local scene claiming Omaharsquos creatives are extremely supportive while locals are incredibly kind

The attention his sites have garnered feels good Bruckner says Nonetheless he finds that he is more drawn to the long-term payoff that they will have ldquoI started this as a way to document my daughterrsquos life while shersquos little and Irsquom having an incredible time doing itrdquo he shares In fact his own mother inspired by what her son was doing went digging for books that she kept on Bruckner and his siblings when they were young Bruckner hopes to use it to create additional graphics for his mom and five sisters ldquoIrsquove gotten message after message after message from parents and I think everyone is in agreement as far as their children saying incredible silly ridiculous and disgusting thingsrdquo he adds ldquoI say things daily that I never thought Irsquod sayrdquo Wersquore sure that every parent out there can relateemsp

feature

I think everyone is in agreement as far as their children saying incredible sillyridiculous and disgusting thingsrdquo-Martin Bruckner

Martin Harper and Michelle Bruckner

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp21

No Age Limit for

Bullies

i could have worked with Jim Rome the radio sportscaster Wersquore about the same age We were in college about the same time studying the same thing We both started working at

small stations before moving up I produced a number of anchors and reporters ldquoback in the dayrdquo who are still on the air at national networks So I have some experience working with Romersquos personality typemdashor at least the type he uses on air Arrogant bloated ego Inflammatory language 70rsquos mustache

Before January 1 of this year I only had peripheral knowledge of and no opinion on Mr Rome Irsquom not a hardcore sports fan so I couldnrsquot have picked him out of a lineup any day of the week But on this particular New Yearrsquos Day Mr Rome chose to insult not only my children but the children of my friends and in fact the children and grandchildren of hundreds of thousands of Americans In the middle of one of college footballrsquos biggest days he threw this tweet out there

ldquoIs there anybody not in a marching band who thinks those dorks running around with their instruments are coolrdquo

Wow You can just imagine the firestorm that followed It didnrsquot take long for the hashtag MarchonRome to be trending To be brief the answer to Mr Romersquos question was a resounding ldquoYes there are people who think theyrsquore coolrdquo After a 24-hour blast of more than 8000 responses (and that was only on Twitter) including everyone from the US Marines to band alums everywhere he tweeted this

ldquoBand nationmdashI hear you I was out of line I apologize I do not condone bullying of any kind and that was not my intentrdquo

The reason I chose this topic is not so much because I was personally offended by Mr Romersquos comment but because I was so saddened that someone my age could intentionally set such a horrible example If not to be a bully I canrsquot comprehend what Mr Romersquos intent was I think if it was ldquoto be funnyrdquo then thatrsquos a fail toomdashbecause making fun of entire groups of people in this manner is pretty much the textbook definition of bullying

Mr Rome (and many others I think) got a fast education about the athleticism discipline and commitment that marching band requires And I wonrsquot even start on the statistics about the value of arts education Just last week a new study from the University of Vermont indicated the measurable impact of music education in developing attention skills anxiety management and emotional control

No my beef with Mr Rome is quite simplemdashhe should be old enough to know better I get that my generation was a little different We were very cliquishmdashjocks potheads geeks dorks

22emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

mind amp bodyby Bev Carlson Lutheran Family Services

blah blahmdashbut I really thought (hoped) that with all of the current awareness of bullying a public figure like Mr Rose would be tuned in enough to choose his words more carefully when referring to hundreds of thousands of hard-working high school and college students

My hope rests with this next generation where amid the online furor those students with highly developed ldquoemotional controlrdquo graciously accepted Mr Rosersquos apology reminding him that this time he ldquomessed with the wrong dorksrdquo Irsquom still holding out hope that he will accept the challenge from many of the band members (many of whom also play sports) to come do what they domdash handle one week of band camp In the summer In the South Or how about here in Nebraska on all those cold early mornings Go Bandemsp

I was so saddened that someone my age could intentionally set such a horrible example

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp23

oneworldomahaorg

Grow STRONG WithOneWorld Pediatrics

45 YEARS OF MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Cass FamilyMedicine

122 S 6th StPlattsmouth

402-296-2345

Northwest Omaha

4229 N 90th St402-401-6000

West Omaha4101 S 120th St402-505-3907

South Omaha4920 S 30th St

402-734-4110

45 Years of Making a DifferenceOne Child at a Time

Bean amp Cheese Tostadas

this yummy tostada recipe makes a satisfying healthy lunch or dinner Black beans zucchini corn and cherry tomatoes make this colorful vegetarian

dish delicious and nutritious emsp

Find more great recipes at HealthyKohlsKidscom The Healthy Kohlrsquos Kids program is a partnership between Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center and Kohlrsquos Department Stores to educate children and parents about healthy nutrition and fitness

24emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

sponsored content by Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center food

ingredientsbull 8 corn

tortillas (6-inch diameter)

bull 1 can (14 oz) black beans rinsed and drained

bull 1 small white onion finely chopped

bull 2 medium zucchini cut into 14-inch pieces

bull 2 jalapentildeo peppers seeded and chopped

bull 12 Tbsp black pepper

bull 14 cup water

bull 12 cup cooked corn

bull 1 cup cherry tomatoes sliced

bull 12 cup chopped cilantro leaves

bull 1 12 oz grated reduced-fat white cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese (14 cup)

bull 4 scallions chopped

bull 1 small avocado pitted peeled and chopped

bull Lime wedges optional

preparation1 Preheat oven to 400deg Arrange tortillas

on 2 baking sheets and toast in oven until crisp about 5 minutes Remove from baking sheets

2 Lightly spray baking sheets with nonstick cooking spray Spread beans and onion on one and zucchini and jalapentildeos on the other Lightly coat vegetables with cooking spray season with the black pepper and roast until golden 12 to 15 minutes

3 Transfer half the beans and onion to a bowl with the water and mash beans with the back of a fork until smooth (Add more water to reach desired consistency if necessary) Spread mixture onto tortillas

4 Toss remaining beans and onion with zucchini jalapentildeos and corn and divide among tortillas

5 Top each tostada with tomatoes cilantro cheese scallions and avocado Serve with lime wedges if desired

Yield 4 servings

Nutrition Facts Calories 434 Fat 14g

Saturated Fat 3g Cholesterol 0

Sodium 446mg Carbohydrates 61g

Fiber 10g Protein 16g

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp25

Thanks for Voting Us Best of Omahatrade

84th and 1st St Downtown Papillion

402-331-9136

18 flavorsBaked daily Birthdays Weddings GraduationsOn-site party room

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FREEExpires March 31 2015

HoursMonday-Saturday raquo11am-8pm

Located at Midlands Placeoff 84th Street and Highway 370

Maybe a Cupcake Will Help

wwwdingmanscom

4025583500Corner of

50th amp SouthSaddlecreek

402-502-8757Southwest corner

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4029339400Corner of

Washington amp Lincoln in Papillion

ldquoWersquod Rather Be The Best Than Apologize for Anything Lessrdquo

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We are grateful for your business and Best of Omahatrade

votes for best Auto Body Repair

Spring Cleaning St Patrickrsquos Way

while most are eager for the weather to warm up in time for St Patrickrsquos Day (and the green beer sure)

Irsquom more into the holidayrsquos theme of ridding the country of evils Itrsquos time to purge yrsquoall

Irsquove been hibernating for six months under a blanket in front of the fireplace All I see here is an intense accumulation of clutter tucked in the corners out of my usual visual paths as I traverse my house

I finally get up and start the purge ldquoWhorsquos beach towel is thisrdquo ldquoI think Bobby left it here when we had that

slip-n-slide partyrdquo one of the kids says to me while walking out of their scarf gloves hat sweatshirt and shoes which leaves a trail marking my imminent demise from slips and falls (If I fall and am lying there unconscious interrogate my kids first)

ldquoThe slip-n-slide party That was five years agordquo I respond

ldquoYeah I think Bobby moved to Alaskardquo comes the retort which was both informative and confirmation that we had a right to be embarrassed

ldquoWell he doesnrsquot need this beach towel anymorerdquo Once the snow melts the purge involves three or four trips to Goodwill

Itrsquos funny that when yoursquore trapped in your house long enough due to subzero temperatures you start looking at the walls a little differently ldquoIs it me or is our kitchen less sage green and more My Little Pony Minty Greenrdquo I ask my husband

Before he can assure me the pastel shade of green is fine Irsquom off getting paint You canrsquot go wrong with a color called ldquoChocolaterdquo for the kitchen right

My family isnrsquot very supportive of my winter stir-crazy hobby of purging This year for Christmas the kids asked Santa for locks on their doors in an effort to protect their belongings from Momrsquos annual campaign

Itrsquos inevitable that about five years after I give something away one of my kids wants to know where it went Irsquom sorry your 2005 Lego set is gone My bare feet just couldnrsquot take it anymore

Just as St Patrick rid Ireland of all the snakes Irsquove secretly celebrated my own sainthood as Irsquove shooed all of my clutter away

Oh but then you realize that even saints canrsquot always win the clutter battle The cat barfs up a hairball My son walks by and touts ldquoIf only we still had Bobbyrsquos beach towel to clean this uprdquoemsp

26emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Leslie Murrell mom on the rocks

Boat PoseSanskrit name Paripurna Navasana(par-ee-POOR-nah nah-VAHS-anna)

the Boat Pose strengthens the hip flexors spine and the abdomen This pose helps to relieve stress improves digestion and stimulates the kidneys

intestines and thyroidemsp

BEGINNERS TIPPlace a strap around the ball of both feet Hold on to the

strap with straight arms

1 Sit on the floor with your legs straight in front of you Place your hands behind your hip and press into the ground fingers face- forward

2 Lift up through the sternum and slightly lean back until the weight is distributed to the top of your sitting bones and tailbone

3 Bend the knees and lift the feet off the floor

4 Lengthen the tailbone by pressing it into the floor and lift the pubis towards the naval

5 Slowly straighten your legs until your feet reach above eye level and spread the toes

6 Stretch the arms alongside the legs and reach out through the fingers

7 Breathe deeply for 15-30 seconds

8 Exhale and lower the legs to the floor

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp27

by Rachel Joy photography by Bill SitzmannfitnessWe are

the most experienced full-service family owned real estate company in America

npdodgecom

FOR THE KIDS

BAM ITrsquoS A PICTURE BOOK THE ART BEHIND GRAPHIC NOVELSTHROUGH MARCH 29 2015 JOSLYN ART MUSEUM ndash

2200 DODGE ST Popular among young readers

graphic novels are known for their comic

format They are generally described as

ldquosequential artrdquo where a series of illustrations

tell the story but unlike newspaper comics

they are the length of a novel and include

narrative development This exhibition features

the work of Jarrett J Krosoczka Mark Crilley

Matt Holm Raina Telgemeier and Lincoln

Peirce Tuesday - Wednesday amp Friday - Sunday

10am- 4pm Thursday 10am- 8pm Free

admission 402-342-3300

- JOSLYNORG

ONCE UPON A FARM EXHIBITTHROUGH APRIL 12 OMAHA CHILDRENrsquoS MUSEUMmdash500

S 20TH ST Explore the world of agriculture and

learn where your food comes from with the help

of interactive exhibit components like a center

pivot amp planting station dairy cows pedal track

maze and more Tuesday through Friday 10am ndash

4pm Saturday 9am ndash 5pm Sunday 1pm ndash 5 pm

Admission $2 plus regular admission Free for

members 402-342-6164

- OCMORG

MERMAID MINIONS amp DRAGONSMARCH 22 Holland Performing Arts

Centermdash1200 Douglas St Your favorite music

from How to Train Your Dragon Despicable Me

The Little Mermaid and other family movie hits

Brought to life through thrilling performances of

song dance and spectacle 2pm

Admission $15

- OMAHASYMPHONYORG

FOR THE FAMILY

NATURE CONNECTS 2THROUGH APRIL 26 LAURITZEN GARDENSmdash100

BANCROFT ST View 27 new sculptures each

inspired by the natural world made entirely of

300000 Legoreg bricks Make your own Lego

brick creations in the Legobrickyard and enjoy

a variety of Lego-inspired events throughout

the duration of the exhibit 9am ndash 5pm

Admission $10 adults$5 children six to 12 Free

for children under six and for garden members

402-346-4003

- LAURITZENGARDENSORG

TECH CITYTHROUGH MAY 10 STRATEGIC AIR amp SPACE MUSEUMmdash

ASHLAND NE This travelling engineering exhibit

is a great way to inspire learning and interest

in careers that focus on science technology

engineering and mathematics (STEM) The

Tech City exhibit is designed with interactive

learning that will appeal to visitors of all ages

9am - 5pm Free with regular admission $12

adult $6 youth children under 3 are free

402-944-3100

- SASMUSEUMCOM

ZEN TIES

THROUGH MARCH 8 THE ROSE THEATERmdash2001

FARNAM ST A gentle tale about patience and

compassion Zen Ties will make you remember

how much wisdom can come of simple

mindfulness Friday Saturday and Sunday

Members Four free admissions Non-member

admission $18 402-345-4949

- ROSETHEATERORG

FOR MOM amp DAD

AMERICAN MODERNS FROM OrsquoKEEFFE TO ROCKWELLTHROUGH MAY 17 JOSLYN ART MUSEUMmdash2200

DODGE ST The United States emerged as an

international power while also experiencing

two world wars and the Great Depression

New technologies changed all aspects of

life while the art world witnessed dramatic

transformations of its own This exhibition

explores the ways American artists including

Georgia OrsquoKeeffe Marsden Hartley Stuart

Davis Rockwell Kent and Norman Rockwell

engaged the modern world This exhibition

will have a ticket fee Free for members youth

ages 17 and younger amp college students with ID

402-342-3300

-JOSLYNORG

KATHARINE HEPBURN DRESSED FOR STAGE AND SCREENFEBRUARY 7-APRIL 26 DURHAM MUSEUMmdash801 S

10TH ST This exhibition from the Kent State

University Museum features more than 35

costumes worn in 21 films and six stage

productions as well as other personal items

spanning Hepburnrsquos illustrious career Come see

how this true icon of American culture came

to epitomize the modern woman of the 20th

century Children $6 Adults $9 402-444-5071

- DURHAMMUSEUMORG

COMPAGNIE KAumlFIGMARCH 18 HOLLAND CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST

Brazilian dance company Compagnie Kaumlfig

brings a high-energy performance style

combining their hip-hop foundation with martial

arts and circus elements 730pm $1350 to

$2625 402-345-0202

- OMAHAPERFORMINGARTSORG

Tech CityBam Itrsquos a Picture Book American Moderns

28emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

Calendar of Events

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp29

Erin Cox Event Director

402-884-2038 | erinomahamagazinecom

EVENTS by OMAHA MAGAZINE

Events by Omaha Magazine is a full-service event production company specializing in trade shows corporate events product launches and social gatherings From concept to delivery our goal is to provide an exceptional event experience for the host and their guests

Your Vision Our Innovation Event Solutions

GET A JUMP ON SUMMER

YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA wwwmetroymcaorg

Join us March 21 2015 for our Open House at any YMCA of Greater Omaha location The YMCA is your place for camp this summer bull Weekly themed preschool morning camps (3-5 years) and summer day camp (4-12 years - varies by location)

bull Mini special interest camps

bull Premier camps and Camp Platte

bull Counselors-in-Training program for teens

REGISTER FOR

CAMP AT OUR OPEN

HOUSE 3-21-15

AND PAY NO CAMP

REGISTRATION FEES

i never had a pet as a childOkay so I did at the age of 9 or so have

an ill-fated and short-lived guardianship of a turtle whose name Irsquove long forgotten but Irsquove never been a pet person

My mother abhorred the idea of anything furry dwelling in her home and I was pretty much fine with that The feeling carried over into adulthood and my three now-grown children probably felt super-lucky just to have had the brief company of a single pet a (clean and non-slobbering) feline named Scribbles

Viral videos portraying cats and dogs doing whatever it is that cats and dogs do have never appeared on any of my playlists And to be frank people who describe their little quadruped cuties as their ldquochildrenrdquohellipwell kinda creep me out I have no innate aversion to cats even though I take them to be whiskered sociopaths of evil intent but I have never been at all comfortable around dogs of any make or model

Before the hate mail begins please allow me at least a shot at redemption

My grandsons Barrett and Easton are growing up in a home where the company of canines is prized Their collie Summer recently ascended to that great dog pound in the sky and after an appropriate period of mourning has been replaced by a border collie pup carrying an equally seasonal name of Winter

Itrsquos an understatement to say that I never hit it off with Summer Perhaps it didnrsquot help that she stained our Oriental rug as a pup not 10 seconds into her very first visit to our home My son Eric entered with Summer while explaining that all would be well in that the creature was doing a smash-up job when it came to taking care of business but it was too late The little thing bounded (Is that what dogs do They ldquoboundrdquo) directly to the rug lifted one leg andhellipyou know the rest

I have promised to be different with Winter My kids already know that I am neurotic but I donrsquot

want Easton and Barrett to grow up thinking that their granddad is some kind of loathsome monster I am going to do my best to get to know Winter and not be such a basket case

Not surprisingly my first encounter with Winter was shall we say trying ldquoHersquos

just young and excitablerdquo I was told as the dog tried to climb up my leg Yeah tell that to my now urine-stained

shoes (suede no less) and newish sweater scarred by Winterrsquos talons or toes or paws or whatever it is theyrsquore called

But it is with a certain sense of self-satisfaction that I can report that I kept my cool Now the notion of ldquocoolrdquo is subjective My immediate knee-jerk reaction was admittedly to jerk my knee in revulsion but I collected myself as quickly as possible and

tried my best to not make an international incident of the affair

I really need to up my game in being the grandpa that I hope to

be but boy do I have my work cut out for meemsp

Canine Calamity A Plan to Fake it Until I Make it

30emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

the grandpa chroniclesby David Williams

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp31

Did you know90 of brain development

happens by age 5Discover Nebraska Childrenrsquos Home Societyrsquos

accredited high-quality early childhood education programs with low child-to-staff ratios at two locations

4939 S 118th St in Omaha (402) 898-7760 for children 18 months through Pre-K

and 3549 Fontenelle Blvd in Omaha (402) 898-7768 for children 6 weeks through Pre-K

Call today for a free no-obligation tour

4023450606 OMAHASYMPHONYORG

Sunday March 22 bull 200 PMHolland Center

Your favorite music from How to Train Your Dragon

The Little Mermaid Despicable Me and other

family movie hits Brought to life through exciting performances of song dance and spectacle

FEATURING

THE HEARTLAND YOUTH BALLET

REacuteSONANCE CHOIR

Tickets Adults amp Kids $12

FAMILY SERIES

CONCERT

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Omaha Magazine5921 S 118th CirOmaha NE 68137

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

Page 5: March 2015 HerFamily

when it comes to exercise motivation can be somewhat elusive Good intentions fall by the wayside and soon enough we find ourselves stuck

in the same old routine or probably more often the routine of not exercising at all

Enter fitness trackers and fitness bands Fitbits Garmin Vivofits Fitbugs iFits and more You name it your local sporting goods or electronic stores are sure to have it But the question is do they really work and more importantly do they keep their users motivated

A Bit of MotivationFor many moms Fitbit and other fitness trackers mean better workouts

6emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Kara Weselyhealth

ackyardBE

dventurescampxplorers

Yoursquoll never know what yoursquoll find

Pre-K ages 4-5 June 1-5 9-noonDiscover the wonders of nature in this outdoors camp led by natural resources experts and licensed teach-ers Activities could include seed planting wildlife tracks frogs and turtles and casting fishing poles

at Chalo Hills Rec Area RegistrationContactwwwpapionrdorg (educational resources tab)

Lora Bogatz among many other Omaha moms certainly thinks so Bogatz has used both a BodyBug and a Fitbit and has found that both devices not only kept her motivated they brought out her competitive side

ldquoAlmost my entire family has Fitbitsrdquo she says ldquoWe all sync ours together and do either daily or weekly challenges It has definitely brought out my competitive side I will even walk extra laps while at work to stay in the leadrdquo

Itrsquos not only the competition that has Bogatz moving more Her Fitbit counts steps measures her heart rate sets goals for her and awards badges when goals are attained all of which she feels keeps her motivated and accountable

ldquoI feel like I am always checking in with either my Fitbit or my Fitness Pal It definitely keep me honestrdquo-Sarah Trout

ldquoIt definitely gets me to the gym more I want to reach my 10000 steps each day and want to earn the next badgerdquo

Sarah Trout another Fitbit enthusiast has seen a change in how often she exercises and how hard

ldquoI like to know how many calories I am burning and if I see that number drop from one day to another I know I have to work harder I think I tended to be somewhat lazier before and wouldnrsquot push myself nearly as muchrdquo Trout says

Troutrsquos Fitbit syncs with her iPhone and Fitness Pal app a feature she utilizes daily

ldquoI feel like I am always checking in with either my Fitbit or my Fitness Pal It definitely keep me honestrdquo Trout says

Both Bogatz and Trout wear their Fitbits nearly every day and have come to appreciate their little sidekick

ldquoI am a very visual personrdquo Trout says ldquo Being able to look at my Fitbit at any point during the day and see how many steps I have taken is a huge bonus as well as a huge motivatorrdquo

Like Bogatz and Trout Jeanne Vlcek has found that wearing a fitness band while working out keeps her accountable and keeps her moving as much as she can The one difference being that Vlcek is seven months pregnant and thinks her fitness band a Timex fitness watch is possibly picking up the heart rate of her baby in addition to her own

ldquoI think my watch is a little confused because itrsquos telling me I am burning way more calories than is possiblerdquo Vlcek says

In spite of that issue Vlcek has appreciated having the watch while exercising She thinks shersquoll appreciate it even more after her baby is born

ldquoI think Irsquoll be counting on it much much more after our baby is born to help me get back in shaperdquo she saysemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp7

The KassalsIn this family of educators even the kindergartner is a teacher

Jeff Kassal LIlly Kassal and Kristin Boe

8emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Kara Schweiss photography by Keith Bindermeet the family

Kassal says he wasnrsquot planning on teaching special education when he started his career as an educator

ldquoI did my undergraduate in general educationelementary When I graduated it was right after Christmas break so I did some subbing and long-term subbing in general educationrdquo Kassal says ldquoThen I got a summer job at a special education school and thought it would be just that a summer school job But I ended up really liking it It was a different kind of challengerdquo

Although Boe and Kassal work in two different career fields the couple say their worlds do intersect from time to time

ldquoItrsquos nice to have Kristinrsquos help with decorating schoolrooms or her ideas to make things look better like presentationsrdquo Kassal says

ldquoAnd vice versardquo Boe adds ldquoEspecially when he was working with elementary kids Irsquod ask him about projects we were trying outrdquo

Boe also applies some of her own experience as an educatormdashhaving taught English as a Second Language (ESL) classes in Korea in her single daysmdashwhen shersquos dreaming up new ideas for Kids DIY Studio She also says that overseas job helped give her the courage to take the risk of starting her own business years later ldquoThat was probably the scariest thing I ever did taking that big leap and going somewhere so far away So everything else is lsquoGive it a tryrsquordquo

The couple (Kassal is from Omaha Boe grew up in the Bennington area) were introduced by Boersquos sister and a friend of Kassalrsquos who is now Boersquos brother-in-law

ldquoWe went to a comedy show togetherrdquo Boe says but Kassal questions that fact Kassalrsquos conclusion ldquoYeah laquowe did It was pre-datingrdquo

They may not quite agree on their meet-cute but the couple enjoy gardening togethermdashKassal is the avid gardener but quite a few garden-themed projects have found their way into the studiomdashand both Boe and Kassal are runners And with a five-year-old in the house a lot of their spare time is devoted to kidsrsquo movies and activities

ldquoWersquore fairly average We work hard we raise our kidrdquo Boe says ldquoWe eat a lot of pizzardquo emsp

lilly Kassal is still in kindergarten but the aspiring dress designer already has her first grown-up sewing machine and is ready to

start learning how to turn her fashion drawings into haute couture Creativity is definitely part of the little girlrsquos DNA Lillyrsquos mom Kristin Boe is the owner of Kids DIY Studio a drop-in craft studio that opened last spring

ldquoYou can come in and do arts and crafts projects and paint and we have classes and partiesrdquo Boe says ldquoCrafting stuff is messy and itrsquos nice to have a large supply in one area besides your house You can leave the glitter on the floor here and splatter paint You can be creativerdquo

Like its name suggests her business is geared toward children mid-teens and younger although some adult classes are also on the schedule Boe whose first entrepreneurial endeavor was a home-based daycare during Lillyrsquos infant and toddler years says she enjoys expressing her creativity as much as her customers do

ldquoEvery aspect of this business is creative The job itself is creative the marketing takes a lot of creativityrdquo she says ldquoItrsquos fun because therersquos a constant rotation of projects and classes to dream up and see if they will work so therersquos a lot of trial and errorrdquo

Lilly 5 says she enjoys pitching in at the studio although her mom gently chuckles at her claim of helping with the cleaning What she does do Boe says is try out new projects or in Lillyrsquos words ldquoI make examplesrdquo The success of Lillyrsquos proto-types are a good indicator of how other children will respond to new projects Boe says and Lilly is also good at initiating activity with groups of children and helping shy visitors feel comfortable at the studio

ldquoI talk to them if they need help if my mom is helping someone elserdquo Lilly says

Lillyrsquos dad Jeff Kassal is also creative but in a more academic sort of way He is in his first year of teaching special education math classes at Kirn Middle School in the Council Bluffs Community School District after teaching in the elementary grades at a private school in Omaha Not only does he find ways to reach individual students with respect to their special learning needs but he also teaches an age group that can be a tough audience seventh-graders

ldquoIrsquom always trying to make everything interesting and (apply to) real-life situationsrdquo Kassal says ldquoLuckily the majority of my class likes football and sports in general so I try to make connections thererdquo

ldquoItrsquos fun because therersquos a constant rotation of projects and classes to dream up and see if they will work so therersquos a lot of trial and errorrdquoKristin Boe

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp9

wake up Get the kids ready Hurry out the door Drop kids off Work eight to five Pick kids up Go home Make dinner Help

with homework Put kids to bed Wake up Repeat Phew Making time for oneself can feel like a

pipe dreamFeeling that crunch and hoping to help Stephanie

Feltus created the meet-up group ldquoWorking Moms of Omahardquo after moving here to take a job in corporate sales ldquoI did a fair amount of travelingrdquo says the mother of two children Lucy 4 and Gavin 1 ldquoI began to look for resources supporting working moms and locally I wasnrsquot finding many resourcesrdquo

Work Hard Play Hard

Working Moms of Omaha Know When to Play

Stephanie Feltus

10emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Allison Janda photography by Keith Binderlifestyle

WHAT DID

YOURCHILD

LEARN TODAY

Call (402)932-4978or visit omahacmorgto begin your childrsquos

LEARNING

Largest childrenrsquos frame selection in Omaha

(We have adults covered too)

cool^

12660 Q Street Omaha | Tel (402) 896-3300 wwwmillardfamilyeyecarecom

The grouprsquos purpose is simple Moms come together to meet other working moms The group is currently 300 members strong Within that membership small groups with similar interests typically meet just once a month which makes it easy for even the busiest mothers to partake in the fun

The group meets at a public venue typically on a Saturday morning with children or on a Sunday evening with women only Feltus says that over the years she has discovered that events involving the children work better during the summer months while events that call for just mothers tend to come together more easily in the winter

ldquoOur most recent outing was a Holiday Lights Limo Tour for moms onlyrdquo she explains ldquoWe met at Upstream [Brewing Company] where the limo picked us up for a two- hour holiday lights tour of Omaha We sipped on apple cider chatted and enjoyed the beauty of the seasonrdquo

Feltus interested in expanding options available to working mothers hopes to begin planning lunch-and- learn events that focus on achieving worklife balance and reducing the amount of guilt working mothers feel in their day-to-day lives Currently the only lead organizer Feltus says that any member of the group is welcome to plan events such as a trip to the zoo or a play date at the museum

While the group allows working moms to connect and form friendships it is the raising of children and how much they change that offers a common bond for these women Their kids range in age from newborns to teenagers but as all mothers know motherhood isnrsquot biased ldquoThis group has taught me to not take parenthood too seriouslyrdquo she says ldquoYour most devastating parenting moment is probably not that bad This group gives you support and more importantly sanityrdquo

Working Moms of Omaha is funded by a business Feltus owns called Mommy Assistant which is focused on supporting working families thereby enabling parents to spend more quality time with their kids

You can join their Facebook page at Working Moms of Omaha as well as the Working Moms of Omaha Meetup Group at meetupcom ldquoPersonally I have made some fabulous friends and my kids have as wellrdquo Feltus says emsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp11

Dig These Chicks

12emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

diyby Kristen Hoffman photography by Bill Sitzmann

if you are an American female living in the year 2015 you probably have noticed that succulent plants have

exploded in popularity over the past year or two You canrsquot resist themmdashtheir tiny stature their resilience their pinks and purples that scream ldquoIrsquom a girl plantrdquo Good grief letrsquos just admit it Theyrsquore adorable

You know what else is adorable Baby chicks emerging from their eggs at springtime

So letrsquos take advantage of a plant that is actually referred to as ldquohensrdquo and ldquochicksrdquo (depending on their maturity) and combine them into an explosion of adorable Pinterest magic

SUPPLIESbull Eggsbull Paper egg cartonbull Knifebull Paper clipbull Preserved mossbull Gluebull Small succulentsbull Cactus soil (if needed)

DIRECTIONS1 Shop for some succulent babies

You can find these at nurseries grocery stores or home improvement stores The smaller the better Look for bunches that have multiple blooms to fill out your eggshells

2 Open the eggshells with the back of a butter knife Peel off the top section of the shell until you are satisfied with the size of the hole

3 Wash out the eggs with warm water and soap and place them back in the carton Pull apart a paper clip so that it is one long piece of metal With the paper clip poke a hole in the bottom of each egg Keeping them in the carton will keep the eggs from cracking and the hole will provide drainage for the plant Wash hands thoroughly afterwards

4 Attach small pieces of preserved moss to the carton with glue to give it a little green Only do this to the top Placing moss into the carton will prevent the eggshells from sitting snugly in their place

5 Carefully remove the succulents from their containers Shake off any excess dirt that may be attached at the roots Fill the eggs about halfway with the excess dirt Arrange the succulents in the eggshells and pour a little more dirt into the shells to stabilize the stems

Keep these little guys in a sunny area and spray them with a water bottle sparingly Succulents are desert plants and honestly thrive on neglect Just my kind of plantemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp13

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

ldquoIt was cathartic for me Writing is how I emote Tons of women contacted me which then made me feel healedrdquo -Ashli Brehm

14emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Kara Weselyfeature

itrsquos easy for young moms to long for the stimulation of speaking with someone over the age of 10 Therersquos catharsis in talking through onersquos feelings and

problems with a person who no longer wears a diaper or a backpack

Increasingly mothers in Omaha like mothers nationally are turning to social media to connect vent or keep their writing chops sharp Theyrsquore the ldquoMommy Bloggersrdquo a group that by some estimates now number in the millions

Most blog as a pastime But some mommy blogs have higher purposes A blog can foster healing A blog can be a purposefully permanent document for the family

Omaha native Missy Cobb started her blog The Cobb Mobb as a way to connect with her three children

ldquoEvery time I write for the blog I think about my kids and how I am documenting memories for them I tried scrapbooking for my older kids but it was too time consumingrdquo Cobb says gt

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp15

lt Cobb who started her blog as a New Yearrsquos resolution in 2012 found writing allowed her to capture milestones and memories in a more efficient and permanent way ldquoIrsquove always enjoyed writing and I like knowing that this will always be there for my kids to readrdquo

Ashli Brehmrsquos blog Baby on the Brehm has played a key role in getting her through some trying times After going through a miscarriage Brehm (pronounced like brain but with an lsquomrsquo) dedicated a blog post to her experience and managed to connect with other women who had lost a baby

ldquoIt was cathartic for me Writing is how I emote Tons of women contacted me which then made me feel healedrdquo Brehm says

When her subsequent pregnancy did not go as planned and her third son was born several weeks premature she shared the highs and lows with her readers and received an overwhelming amount of support via Baby on the Brehm That support carried her through the next six weeks while her son Harrison was in the NICU growing strong enough to head home with his parents and two brothers

Fast-forward one year and Harrison is a happy healthy 1-year-old and Ashli is still blogging about her boys motherhood and everything in between And she still manages to maintain that connection with her audience

ldquoThe people who read my blog are like a community to me They are my life raft at timesrdquo Brehm says

Brehm like Cobb hopes that some day her children will read her entries and considers the blog a sort of legacy she is leaving behind

ldquoI want my boys to learn to be themselves and to have confidence I hope that by blogging and doing it in an authentic and honest way I am showing them thatrdquo emsp

feature continued

Missy CobbPhoto by Keith Binder

16emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

Visit us today12965 W Center Rd 4027780650

HoursMon-Thu 10-6Fri-Sat 10-5Sun 12-4

wwwelitecheercom402-537-0855 2410 S 140th Circle

Nebraskarsquos Premiere Cheerleading amp Tumbling center Learn basic

cheer techniquesJumps Tumbling Stunts amp Pyramids

We teach kids how to win through-Hard Work PerserverenceAccountability Discipline Integrity

ldquoA journey of a thousand miles starts with a single steprdquo

ldquoI bust mine so you can kick theirsrdquo

LFSneborg middot infoLFSneborg

Friday Feb 20 2015

dinner amp auction

Honorary cHair

nancy K JoHnson

il Palazzo bull 5110 nortH 132nd street bull omaHa ne cmurraylFsneborg

LFS Her Family ad 12-08-14indd 1 1282014 123544 PM

Young Hero proudly sponsored by

Young Hero proudly sponsored by

nicole Carrillo says she can make friends anywhere Even at the airport

Case in point On a chilly night in November Nicole stood with her fellow Thrive Club members at Eppley Airfield holding colorful signs Nicolersquos read ldquoWELCOME TO OMAHArdquo with the Orsquos shaped like hearts Moments later wild applause laughter and some tears erupted from the relatives students and coaches gathered for this moment

Nicolersquos soon-to-be-new friends were a refugee family just arriving from Burma Marisol Nicolersquos mother and one of the sponsors of Thrive was overwhelmed as tears flooded her eyes ldquoIt was life- changingrdquo Marisol recalls

Members of the Thrive Club along with Lutheran Family Services provided a cozy home environment for the immigrant family in an apartment volunteerrsquos chocked full of groceries clothes and furniture

Nicole a junior at Northwest High School had filled out a grant to present to her principal Thomas Lee to do something for a family that would be lost in a foreign world

Emigrating is hard scary often emotionally draining Nicolersquos empathy stems from hearing the story of her parents Marisol a native of Mexico left for the United States in her teens to pursue a cosmetics license It was difficult she says but she argues she had it easier than her husband Joel who she would later meet in English classes

Joel started his first job in the ldquoworst town you can think ofrdquomdashAguascalientes Mexico He loaded heavy bricks into trucks and along with 15 or so other boys sold them house-to-house He was five at the time Joel came to the United States when he was 15 Later he worked 60 to 70 hours a week while attending college classes at night sometimes even taking a course during his lunch hour

Nicole sees what her parents had to go throughmdashall their hard work So she strives to be the best As a 40 student Nicole is currently right behind her best friend for the top spot on the GPA ladder ldquoIt has been a long steady fightrdquo she says ldquobut itrsquos all in good funrdquo However like most high achievers Nicole gets upset if she receives a B on a test or paper but her parents do not

ldquoMy parents are like lsquoyou are doing the best you canrsquordquo Nicole says resting her hand on her cheek during a recent interview ldquoLove themrdquo

Nicole says attending Northwest was one the best decisions she has ever made ldquoShe is one of the best ambassadors for the schoolrdquo Lee says Nicole is active in all aspects of the school including student council National Honor Society and choir She has won numerous community service awards and was one of five in the nation to be selected for the National Youth Advisory Council

Nicole is now eager to show the Burmese family all the ldquosimple things we take for grantedrdquo around Omahamdashldquolike the mall and zoordquo she says

ldquoNicole has the heart to helphellip to make a better worldrdquo her mother says proudlyemsp

Nicole CarrilloHelping Immigrants Thrive in America

Nicole Carillo and the Thrive Group

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp17

by Lisa Lukecart photography by Keith Binderyoung hero

18emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Claire Martin photography by Bill Sitzmannactivity

the expected audience for morning attendance at the Joslyn Art Museum is not perhaps thought to be a handful of pint-sized art scholars But thats precisely the group of observers that hovered around a Renaissance fresco on a recent Friday

morning chattering about concepts like color shapes and how it was that a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle (Michelangelo) could be an artist

A museum shouldnt be a stuffy place I dont think artist and teacher Therese Straseski says It should be a fun place

Straseski has led and instructed the Art Adventures program at the Joslyn for 15 years now in which kids from the ages of 3-5 participate in interactive art activities with their parents every Friday morning Creative tasks can range anywhere from pouring plaster to mixing color palettes

I think art is amazingly important in children Straseski says Teaching art is about learning to enjoy yourself and love what you do Maybe I cant be Rembrandt but I can teach these kids to enjoy themselves in creating art

Another of Straseskis passions in her job is the substantial development in her young students skill and interest over time More exposure to art she believes helps integrate both sides of the brain immediately in children

We absolutely see improvement in our kids she says When they come as 3-year-olds concepts are lost on them and theyre just having fun But as they get older they start to understand concepts like color and line

Big Museum Pint-Sized Fun

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp19

Parents according to Straseski are some of the programs strongest advocates especially as art programs are dropped from elementary curriculums due to budget cuts

Mom and Art Adventures regular Alison Novak for example prioritizes the preservation of arts significance in her kids

I think children are naturally drawn to art because its messy and creative Novak says But I do think theyre very aware of the importance of art and artists especially as they get older

She adds that the interactive aspect of Joslyns art program is especially engaging for her 3-year-old daughter Dagny

The experience of art in this program is important because its so tactile and allows [my daughter] to use different materials Novak says Its not just coming and looking at the art Its something to get her involved

Its quite possible then that with the efforts of art advocates like Straseski and Novak a mini-Renaissance is in the making in these small art studentsmdashperhaps not in technique but in the messy and loving creative process

Art is about being able to pass on that passion to someone else Straseski says with a smile Thats the passion in artemsp

ww

Therese Straseski at work with budding artists at the Art Adventures program

Posh PeacockConsignment Gallery

Furniture amp Home Decor

4029339666 - poshpeacocknet

Bel Air Plaza 704 12100 W Center Rd

A Treasure Troveof Delightful amp Valuable Things

JULYAUGUST bull 2014

war amp PeaceChuck Hagel battles for a future free of the quagmires of the past

OmaharsquostopDentiststrade

Best of Omahatrade Campaign 2015

The Loyal Royal Alex Gordon

Malorie MaddoxOmaha Stories

trade

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

omamagcomsave

Donrsquot miss a single issue of Omaha Magazine

kids say the darndest things

20emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Allison Janda photography by Keith Binder

as a parent yoursquove probably appreciated (and not appreciated) the absolute

honesty that often escapes your childrsquos mouth Frankness aside kids also tend to say some hilarious things Martin Brucknerrsquos daughter Harper 3 is no exception

In early 2014 Bruckner his wife Michelle and their daughter were having dinner when he overheard his wife exclaim to Harper ldquoPlease donrsquot put spaghetti between your toesrdquo That same night as Bruckner was giving his daughter her evening bath he found himself asking her ldquoDid you drop your cheese in the tub againrdquo From that point on he decided it would be worthwhile to take note of all of the absurd utterances around his house He knew that one day he his wife and their child could all look back and have a good laugh

Bruckner began to create graphics based on things he wrote down eventually starting Tumblr and Facebook accounts to share them with friends family and parents around the world ldquoPretty much the first day I started the Facebook and Tumblr pages I had parents replying to me with the things their children say to themrdquo he chuckles Bruckner admits that it isnrsquot just the locals that find things he his wife and his daughter say funny In fact he has gotten messages from as far away as Australia

While Spaghetti Toes started out innocently enough it seems to be gaining steam as Harper ages Bruckner states that while his daughter is a newer

conversationalist the things she says only get funnier with age ldquoHer vocabulary is getting bigger and stronger but shersquos still having a hard time getting certain things to be in the correct context which in turn makes them hilariousrdquo he says This is confirmed with nothing more than a cursory glance through his website

The graphics he has created have started to garner some national attention getting picked up by websites such as BuzzFeed and The Chive Additionally Bruckner has started to fulfill custom orders and recently completed two such requests for a woman in Canada Nonetheless Bruckner remains encouraged by the local scene claiming Omaharsquos creatives are extremely supportive while locals are incredibly kind

The attention his sites have garnered feels good Bruckner says Nonetheless he finds that he is more drawn to the long-term payoff that they will have ldquoI started this as a way to document my daughterrsquos life while shersquos little and Irsquom having an incredible time doing itrdquo he shares In fact his own mother inspired by what her son was doing went digging for books that she kept on Bruckner and his siblings when they were young Bruckner hopes to use it to create additional graphics for his mom and five sisters ldquoIrsquove gotten message after message after message from parents and I think everyone is in agreement as far as their children saying incredible silly ridiculous and disgusting thingsrdquo he adds ldquoI say things daily that I never thought Irsquod sayrdquo Wersquore sure that every parent out there can relateemsp

feature

I think everyone is in agreement as far as their children saying incredible sillyridiculous and disgusting thingsrdquo-Martin Bruckner

Martin Harper and Michelle Bruckner

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp21

No Age Limit for

Bullies

i could have worked with Jim Rome the radio sportscaster Wersquore about the same age We were in college about the same time studying the same thing We both started working at

small stations before moving up I produced a number of anchors and reporters ldquoback in the dayrdquo who are still on the air at national networks So I have some experience working with Romersquos personality typemdashor at least the type he uses on air Arrogant bloated ego Inflammatory language 70rsquos mustache

Before January 1 of this year I only had peripheral knowledge of and no opinion on Mr Rome Irsquom not a hardcore sports fan so I couldnrsquot have picked him out of a lineup any day of the week But on this particular New Yearrsquos Day Mr Rome chose to insult not only my children but the children of my friends and in fact the children and grandchildren of hundreds of thousands of Americans In the middle of one of college footballrsquos biggest days he threw this tweet out there

ldquoIs there anybody not in a marching band who thinks those dorks running around with their instruments are coolrdquo

Wow You can just imagine the firestorm that followed It didnrsquot take long for the hashtag MarchonRome to be trending To be brief the answer to Mr Romersquos question was a resounding ldquoYes there are people who think theyrsquore coolrdquo After a 24-hour blast of more than 8000 responses (and that was only on Twitter) including everyone from the US Marines to band alums everywhere he tweeted this

ldquoBand nationmdashI hear you I was out of line I apologize I do not condone bullying of any kind and that was not my intentrdquo

The reason I chose this topic is not so much because I was personally offended by Mr Romersquos comment but because I was so saddened that someone my age could intentionally set such a horrible example If not to be a bully I canrsquot comprehend what Mr Romersquos intent was I think if it was ldquoto be funnyrdquo then thatrsquos a fail toomdashbecause making fun of entire groups of people in this manner is pretty much the textbook definition of bullying

Mr Rome (and many others I think) got a fast education about the athleticism discipline and commitment that marching band requires And I wonrsquot even start on the statistics about the value of arts education Just last week a new study from the University of Vermont indicated the measurable impact of music education in developing attention skills anxiety management and emotional control

No my beef with Mr Rome is quite simplemdashhe should be old enough to know better I get that my generation was a little different We were very cliquishmdashjocks potheads geeks dorks

22emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

mind amp bodyby Bev Carlson Lutheran Family Services

blah blahmdashbut I really thought (hoped) that with all of the current awareness of bullying a public figure like Mr Rose would be tuned in enough to choose his words more carefully when referring to hundreds of thousands of hard-working high school and college students

My hope rests with this next generation where amid the online furor those students with highly developed ldquoemotional controlrdquo graciously accepted Mr Rosersquos apology reminding him that this time he ldquomessed with the wrong dorksrdquo Irsquom still holding out hope that he will accept the challenge from many of the band members (many of whom also play sports) to come do what they domdash handle one week of band camp In the summer In the South Or how about here in Nebraska on all those cold early mornings Go Bandemsp

I was so saddened that someone my age could intentionally set such a horrible example

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp23

oneworldomahaorg

Grow STRONG WithOneWorld Pediatrics

45 YEARS OF MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Cass FamilyMedicine

122 S 6th StPlattsmouth

402-296-2345

Northwest Omaha

4229 N 90th St402-401-6000

West Omaha4101 S 120th St402-505-3907

South Omaha4920 S 30th St

402-734-4110

45 Years of Making a DifferenceOne Child at a Time

Bean amp Cheese Tostadas

this yummy tostada recipe makes a satisfying healthy lunch or dinner Black beans zucchini corn and cherry tomatoes make this colorful vegetarian

dish delicious and nutritious emsp

Find more great recipes at HealthyKohlsKidscom The Healthy Kohlrsquos Kids program is a partnership between Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center and Kohlrsquos Department Stores to educate children and parents about healthy nutrition and fitness

24emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

sponsored content by Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center food

ingredientsbull 8 corn

tortillas (6-inch diameter)

bull 1 can (14 oz) black beans rinsed and drained

bull 1 small white onion finely chopped

bull 2 medium zucchini cut into 14-inch pieces

bull 2 jalapentildeo peppers seeded and chopped

bull 12 Tbsp black pepper

bull 14 cup water

bull 12 cup cooked corn

bull 1 cup cherry tomatoes sliced

bull 12 cup chopped cilantro leaves

bull 1 12 oz grated reduced-fat white cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese (14 cup)

bull 4 scallions chopped

bull 1 small avocado pitted peeled and chopped

bull Lime wedges optional

preparation1 Preheat oven to 400deg Arrange tortillas

on 2 baking sheets and toast in oven until crisp about 5 minutes Remove from baking sheets

2 Lightly spray baking sheets with nonstick cooking spray Spread beans and onion on one and zucchini and jalapentildeos on the other Lightly coat vegetables with cooking spray season with the black pepper and roast until golden 12 to 15 minutes

3 Transfer half the beans and onion to a bowl with the water and mash beans with the back of a fork until smooth (Add more water to reach desired consistency if necessary) Spread mixture onto tortillas

4 Toss remaining beans and onion with zucchini jalapentildeos and corn and divide among tortillas

5 Top each tostada with tomatoes cilantro cheese scallions and avocado Serve with lime wedges if desired

Yield 4 servings

Nutrition Facts Calories 434 Fat 14g

Saturated Fat 3g Cholesterol 0

Sodium 446mg Carbohydrates 61g

Fiber 10g Protein 16g

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp25

Thanks for Voting Us Best of Omahatrade

84th and 1st St Downtown Papillion

402-331-9136

18 flavorsBaked daily Birthdays Weddings GraduationsOn-site party room

buy one get one

FREEExpires March 31 2015

HoursMonday-Saturday raquo11am-8pm

Located at Midlands Placeoff 84th Street and Highway 370

Maybe a Cupcake Will Help

wwwdingmanscom

4025583500Corner of

50th amp SouthSaddlecreek

402-502-8757Southwest corner

of 144th amp Industrial Rd

4025025511Southwestcorner of

120th amp Maple

4029339400Corner of

Washington amp Lincoln in Papillion

ldquoWersquod Rather Be The Best Than Apologize for Anything Lessrdquo

1st place

10 YEARS in a row

We are grateful for your business and Best of Omahatrade

votes for best Auto Body Repair

Spring Cleaning St Patrickrsquos Way

while most are eager for the weather to warm up in time for St Patrickrsquos Day (and the green beer sure)

Irsquom more into the holidayrsquos theme of ridding the country of evils Itrsquos time to purge yrsquoall

Irsquove been hibernating for six months under a blanket in front of the fireplace All I see here is an intense accumulation of clutter tucked in the corners out of my usual visual paths as I traverse my house

I finally get up and start the purge ldquoWhorsquos beach towel is thisrdquo ldquoI think Bobby left it here when we had that

slip-n-slide partyrdquo one of the kids says to me while walking out of their scarf gloves hat sweatshirt and shoes which leaves a trail marking my imminent demise from slips and falls (If I fall and am lying there unconscious interrogate my kids first)

ldquoThe slip-n-slide party That was five years agordquo I respond

ldquoYeah I think Bobby moved to Alaskardquo comes the retort which was both informative and confirmation that we had a right to be embarrassed

ldquoWell he doesnrsquot need this beach towel anymorerdquo Once the snow melts the purge involves three or four trips to Goodwill

Itrsquos funny that when yoursquore trapped in your house long enough due to subzero temperatures you start looking at the walls a little differently ldquoIs it me or is our kitchen less sage green and more My Little Pony Minty Greenrdquo I ask my husband

Before he can assure me the pastel shade of green is fine Irsquom off getting paint You canrsquot go wrong with a color called ldquoChocolaterdquo for the kitchen right

My family isnrsquot very supportive of my winter stir-crazy hobby of purging This year for Christmas the kids asked Santa for locks on their doors in an effort to protect their belongings from Momrsquos annual campaign

Itrsquos inevitable that about five years after I give something away one of my kids wants to know where it went Irsquom sorry your 2005 Lego set is gone My bare feet just couldnrsquot take it anymore

Just as St Patrick rid Ireland of all the snakes Irsquove secretly celebrated my own sainthood as Irsquove shooed all of my clutter away

Oh but then you realize that even saints canrsquot always win the clutter battle The cat barfs up a hairball My son walks by and touts ldquoIf only we still had Bobbyrsquos beach towel to clean this uprdquoemsp

26emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Leslie Murrell mom on the rocks

Boat PoseSanskrit name Paripurna Navasana(par-ee-POOR-nah nah-VAHS-anna)

the Boat Pose strengthens the hip flexors spine and the abdomen This pose helps to relieve stress improves digestion and stimulates the kidneys

intestines and thyroidemsp

BEGINNERS TIPPlace a strap around the ball of both feet Hold on to the

strap with straight arms

1 Sit on the floor with your legs straight in front of you Place your hands behind your hip and press into the ground fingers face- forward

2 Lift up through the sternum and slightly lean back until the weight is distributed to the top of your sitting bones and tailbone

3 Bend the knees and lift the feet off the floor

4 Lengthen the tailbone by pressing it into the floor and lift the pubis towards the naval

5 Slowly straighten your legs until your feet reach above eye level and spread the toes

6 Stretch the arms alongside the legs and reach out through the fingers

7 Breathe deeply for 15-30 seconds

8 Exhale and lower the legs to the floor

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp27

by Rachel Joy photography by Bill SitzmannfitnessWe are

the most experienced full-service family owned real estate company in America

npdodgecom

FOR THE KIDS

BAM ITrsquoS A PICTURE BOOK THE ART BEHIND GRAPHIC NOVELSTHROUGH MARCH 29 2015 JOSLYN ART MUSEUM ndash

2200 DODGE ST Popular among young readers

graphic novels are known for their comic

format They are generally described as

ldquosequential artrdquo where a series of illustrations

tell the story but unlike newspaper comics

they are the length of a novel and include

narrative development This exhibition features

the work of Jarrett J Krosoczka Mark Crilley

Matt Holm Raina Telgemeier and Lincoln

Peirce Tuesday - Wednesday amp Friday - Sunday

10am- 4pm Thursday 10am- 8pm Free

admission 402-342-3300

- JOSLYNORG

ONCE UPON A FARM EXHIBITTHROUGH APRIL 12 OMAHA CHILDRENrsquoS MUSEUMmdash500

S 20TH ST Explore the world of agriculture and

learn where your food comes from with the help

of interactive exhibit components like a center

pivot amp planting station dairy cows pedal track

maze and more Tuesday through Friday 10am ndash

4pm Saturday 9am ndash 5pm Sunday 1pm ndash 5 pm

Admission $2 plus regular admission Free for

members 402-342-6164

- OCMORG

MERMAID MINIONS amp DRAGONSMARCH 22 Holland Performing Arts

Centermdash1200 Douglas St Your favorite music

from How to Train Your Dragon Despicable Me

The Little Mermaid and other family movie hits

Brought to life through thrilling performances of

song dance and spectacle 2pm

Admission $15

- OMAHASYMPHONYORG

FOR THE FAMILY

NATURE CONNECTS 2THROUGH APRIL 26 LAURITZEN GARDENSmdash100

BANCROFT ST View 27 new sculptures each

inspired by the natural world made entirely of

300000 Legoreg bricks Make your own Lego

brick creations in the Legobrickyard and enjoy

a variety of Lego-inspired events throughout

the duration of the exhibit 9am ndash 5pm

Admission $10 adults$5 children six to 12 Free

for children under six and for garden members

402-346-4003

- LAURITZENGARDENSORG

TECH CITYTHROUGH MAY 10 STRATEGIC AIR amp SPACE MUSEUMmdash

ASHLAND NE This travelling engineering exhibit

is a great way to inspire learning and interest

in careers that focus on science technology

engineering and mathematics (STEM) The

Tech City exhibit is designed with interactive

learning that will appeal to visitors of all ages

9am - 5pm Free with regular admission $12

adult $6 youth children under 3 are free

402-944-3100

- SASMUSEUMCOM

ZEN TIES

THROUGH MARCH 8 THE ROSE THEATERmdash2001

FARNAM ST A gentle tale about patience and

compassion Zen Ties will make you remember

how much wisdom can come of simple

mindfulness Friday Saturday and Sunday

Members Four free admissions Non-member

admission $18 402-345-4949

- ROSETHEATERORG

FOR MOM amp DAD

AMERICAN MODERNS FROM OrsquoKEEFFE TO ROCKWELLTHROUGH MAY 17 JOSLYN ART MUSEUMmdash2200

DODGE ST The United States emerged as an

international power while also experiencing

two world wars and the Great Depression

New technologies changed all aspects of

life while the art world witnessed dramatic

transformations of its own This exhibition

explores the ways American artists including

Georgia OrsquoKeeffe Marsden Hartley Stuart

Davis Rockwell Kent and Norman Rockwell

engaged the modern world This exhibition

will have a ticket fee Free for members youth

ages 17 and younger amp college students with ID

402-342-3300

-JOSLYNORG

KATHARINE HEPBURN DRESSED FOR STAGE AND SCREENFEBRUARY 7-APRIL 26 DURHAM MUSEUMmdash801 S

10TH ST This exhibition from the Kent State

University Museum features more than 35

costumes worn in 21 films and six stage

productions as well as other personal items

spanning Hepburnrsquos illustrious career Come see

how this true icon of American culture came

to epitomize the modern woman of the 20th

century Children $6 Adults $9 402-444-5071

- DURHAMMUSEUMORG

COMPAGNIE KAumlFIGMARCH 18 HOLLAND CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST

Brazilian dance company Compagnie Kaumlfig

brings a high-energy performance style

combining their hip-hop foundation with martial

arts and circus elements 730pm $1350 to

$2625 402-345-0202

- OMAHAPERFORMINGARTSORG

Tech CityBam Itrsquos a Picture Book American Moderns

28emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

Calendar of Events

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp29

Erin Cox Event Director

402-884-2038 | erinomahamagazinecom

EVENTS by OMAHA MAGAZINE

Events by Omaha Magazine is a full-service event production company specializing in trade shows corporate events product launches and social gatherings From concept to delivery our goal is to provide an exceptional event experience for the host and their guests

Your Vision Our Innovation Event Solutions

GET A JUMP ON SUMMER

YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA wwwmetroymcaorg

Join us March 21 2015 for our Open House at any YMCA of Greater Omaha location The YMCA is your place for camp this summer bull Weekly themed preschool morning camps (3-5 years) and summer day camp (4-12 years - varies by location)

bull Mini special interest camps

bull Premier camps and Camp Platte

bull Counselors-in-Training program for teens

REGISTER FOR

CAMP AT OUR OPEN

HOUSE 3-21-15

AND PAY NO CAMP

REGISTRATION FEES

i never had a pet as a childOkay so I did at the age of 9 or so have

an ill-fated and short-lived guardianship of a turtle whose name Irsquove long forgotten but Irsquove never been a pet person

My mother abhorred the idea of anything furry dwelling in her home and I was pretty much fine with that The feeling carried over into adulthood and my three now-grown children probably felt super-lucky just to have had the brief company of a single pet a (clean and non-slobbering) feline named Scribbles

Viral videos portraying cats and dogs doing whatever it is that cats and dogs do have never appeared on any of my playlists And to be frank people who describe their little quadruped cuties as their ldquochildrenrdquohellipwell kinda creep me out I have no innate aversion to cats even though I take them to be whiskered sociopaths of evil intent but I have never been at all comfortable around dogs of any make or model

Before the hate mail begins please allow me at least a shot at redemption

My grandsons Barrett and Easton are growing up in a home where the company of canines is prized Their collie Summer recently ascended to that great dog pound in the sky and after an appropriate period of mourning has been replaced by a border collie pup carrying an equally seasonal name of Winter

Itrsquos an understatement to say that I never hit it off with Summer Perhaps it didnrsquot help that she stained our Oriental rug as a pup not 10 seconds into her very first visit to our home My son Eric entered with Summer while explaining that all would be well in that the creature was doing a smash-up job when it came to taking care of business but it was too late The little thing bounded (Is that what dogs do They ldquoboundrdquo) directly to the rug lifted one leg andhellipyou know the rest

I have promised to be different with Winter My kids already know that I am neurotic but I donrsquot

want Easton and Barrett to grow up thinking that their granddad is some kind of loathsome monster I am going to do my best to get to know Winter and not be such a basket case

Not surprisingly my first encounter with Winter was shall we say trying ldquoHersquos

just young and excitablerdquo I was told as the dog tried to climb up my leg Yeah tell that to my now urine-stained

shoes (suede no less) and newish sweater scarred by Winterrsquos talons or toes or paws or whatever it is theyrsquore called

But it is with a certain sense of self-satisfaction that I can report that I kept my cool Now the notion of ldquocoolrdquo is subjective My immediate knee-jerk reaction was admittedly to jerk my knee in revulsion but I collected myself as quickly as possible and

tried my best to not make an international incident of the affair

I really need to up my game in being the grandpa that I hope to

be but boy do I have my work cut out for meemsp

Canine Calamity A Plan to Fake it Until I Make it

30emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

the grandpa chroniclesby David Williams

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp31

Did you know90 of brain development

happens by age 5Discover Nebraska Childrenrsquos Home Societyrsquos

accredited high-quality early childhood education programs with low child-to-staff ratios at two locations

4939 S 118th St in Omaha (402) 898-7760 for children 18 months through Pre-K

and 3549 Fontenelle Blvd in Omaha (402) 898-7768 for children 6 weeks through Pre-K

Call today for a free no-obligation tour

4023450606 OMAHASYMPHONYORG

Sunday March 22 bull 200 PMHolland Center

Your favorite music from How to Train Your Dragon

The Little Mermaid Despicable Me and other

family movie hits Brought to life through exciting performances of song dance and spectacle

FEATURING

THE HEARTLAND YOUTH BALLET

REacuteSONANCE CHOIR

Tickets Adults amp Kids $12

FAMILY SERIES

CONCERT

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Omaha Magazine5921 S 118th CirOmaha NE 68137

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

Page 6: March 2015 HerFamily

ackyardBE

dventurescampxplorers

Yoursquoll never know what yoursquoll find

Pre-K ages 4-5 June 1-5 9-noonDiscover the wonders of nature in this outdoors camp led by natural resources experts and licensed teach-ers Activities could include seed planting wildlife tracks frogs and turtles and casting fishing poles

at Chalo Hills Rec Area RegistrationContactwwwpapionrdorg (educational resources tab)

Lora Bogatz among many other Omaha moms certainly thinks so Bogatz has used both a BodyBug and a Fitbit and has found that both devices not only kept her motivated they brought out her competitive side

ldquoAlmost my entire family has Fitbitsrdquo she says ldquoWe all sync ours together and do either daily or weekly challenges It has definitely brought out my competitive side I will even walk extra laps while at work to stay in the leadrdquo

Itrsquos not only the competition that has Bogatz moving more Her Fitbit counts steps measures her heart rate sets goals for her and awards badges when goals are attained all of which she feels keeps her motivated and accountable

ldquoI feel like I am always checking in with either my Fitbit or my Fitness Pal It definitely keep me honestrdquo-Sarah Trout

ldquoIt definitely gets me to the gym more I want to reach my 10000 steps each day and want to earn the next badgerdquo

Sarah Trout another Fitbit enthusiast has seen a change in how often she exercises and how hard

ldquoI like to know how many calories I am burning and if I see that number drop from one day to another I know I have to work harder I think I tended to be somewhat lazier before and wouldnrsquot push myself nearly as muchrdquo Trout says

Troutrsquos Fitbit syncs with her iPhone and Fitness Pal app a feature she utilizes daily

ldquoI feel like I am always checking in with either my Fitbit or my Fitness Pal It definitely keep me honestrdquo Trout says

Both Bogatz and Trout wear their Fitbits nearly every day and have come to appreciate their little sidekick

ldquoI am a very visual personrdquo Trout says ldquo Being able to look at my Fitbit at any point during the day and see how many steps I have taken is a huge bonus as well as a huge motivatorrdquo

Like Bogatz and Trout Jeanne Vlcek has found that wearing a fitness band while working out keeps her accountable and keeps her moving as much as she can The one difference being that Vlcek is seven months pregnant and thinks her fitness band a Timex fitness watch is possibly picking up the heart rate of her baby in addition to her own

ldquoI think my watch is a little confused because itrsquos telling me I am burning way more calories than is possiblerdquo Vlcek says

In spite of that issue Vlcek has appreciated having the watch while exercising She thinks shersquoll appreciate it even more after her baby is born

ldquoI think Irsquoll be counting on it much much more after our baby is born to help me get back in shaperdquo she saysemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp7

The KassalsIn this family of educators even the kindergartner is a teacher

Jeff Kassal LIlly Kassal and Kristin Boe

8emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Kara Schweiss photography by Keith Bindermeet the family

Kassal says he wasnrsquot planning on teaching special education when he started his career as an educator

ldquoI did my undergraduate in general educationelementary When I graduated it was right after Christmas break so I did some subbing and long-term subbing in general educationrdquo Kassal says ldquoThen I got a summer job at a special education school and thought it would be just that a summer school job But I ended up really liking it It was a different kind of challengerdquo

Although Boe and Kassal work in two different career fields the couple say their worlds do intersect from time to time

ldquoItrsquos nice to have Kristinrsquos help with decorating schoolrooms or her ideas to make things look better like presentationsrdquo Kassal says

ldquoAnd vice versardquo Boe adds ldquoEspecially when he was working with elementary kids Irsquod ask him about projects we were trying outrdquo

Boe also applies some of her own experience as an educatormdashhaving taught English as a Second Language (ESL) classes in Korea in her single daysmdashwhen shersquos dreaming up new ideas for Kids DIY Studio She also says that overseas job helped give her the courage to take the risk of starting her own business years later ldquoThat was probably the scariest thing I ever did taking that big leap and going somewhere so far away So everything else is lsquoGive it a tryrsquordquo

The couple (Kassal is from Omaha Boe grew up in the Bennington area) were introduced by Boersquos sister and a friend of Kassalrsquos who is now Boersquos brother-in-law

ldquoWe went to a comedy show togetherrdquo Boe says but Kassal questions that fact Kassalrsquos conclusion ldquoYeah laquowe did It was pre-datingrdquo

They may not quite agree on their meet-cute but the couple enjoy gardening togethermdashKassal is the avid gardener but quite a few garden-themed projects have found their way into the studiomdashand both Boe and Kassal are runners And with a five-year-old in the house a lot of their spare time is devoted to kidsrsquo movies and activities

ldquoWersquore fairly average We work hard we raise our kidrdquo Boe says ldquoWe eat a lot of pizzardquo emsp

lilly Kassal is still in kindergarten but the aspiring dress designer already has her first grown-up sewing machine and is ready to

start learning how to turn her fashion drawings into haute couture Creativity is definitely part of the little girlrsquos DNA Lillyrsquos mom Kristin Boe is the owner of Kids DIY Studio a drop-in craft studio that opened last spring

ldquoYou can come in and do arts and crafts projects and paint and we have classes and partiesrdquo Boe says ldquoCrafting stuff is messy and itrsquos nice to have a large supply in one area besides your house You can leave the glitter on the floor here and splatter paint You can be creativerdquo

Like its name suggests her business is geared toward children mid-teens and younger although some adult classes are also on the schedule Boe whose first entrepreneurial endeavor was a home-based daycare during Lillyrsquos infant and toddler years says she enjoys expressing her creativity as much as her customers do

ldquoEvery aspect of this business is creative The job itself is creative the marketing takes a lot of creativityrdquo she says ldquoItrsquos fun because therersquos a constant rotation of projects and classes to dream up and see if they will work so therersquos a lot of trial and errorrdquo

Lilly 5 says she enjoys pitching in at the studio although her mom gently chuckles at her claim of helping with the cleaning What she does do Boe says is try out new projects or in Lillyrsquos words ldquoI make examplesrdquo The success of Lillyrsquos proto-types are a good indicator of how other children will respond to new projects Boe says and Lilly is also good at initiating activity with groups of children and helping shy visitors feel comfortable at the studio

ldquoI talk to them if they need help if my mom is helping someone elserdquo Lilly says

Lillyrsquos dad Jeff Kassal is also creative but in a more academic sort of way He is in his first year of teaching special education math classes at Kirn Middle School in the Council Bluffs Community School District after teaching in the elementary grades at a private school in Omaha Not only does he find ways to reach individual students with respect to their special learning needs but he also teaches an age group that can be a tough audience seventh-graders

ldquoIrsquom always trying to make everything interesting and (apply to) real-life situationsrdquo Kassal says ldquoLuckily the majority of my class likes football and sports in general so I try to make connections thererdquo

ldquoItrsquos fun because therersquos a constant rotation of projects and classes to dream up and see if they will work so therersquos a lot of trial and errorrdquoKristin Boe

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp9

wake up Get the kids ready Hurry out the door Drop kids off Work eight to five Pick kids up Go home Make dinner Help

with homework Put kids to bed Wake up Repeat Phew Making time for oneself can feel like a

pipe dreamFeeling that crunch and hoping to help Stephanie

Feltus created the meet-up group ldquoWorking Moms of Omahardquo after moving here to take a job in corporate sales ldquoI did a fair amount of travelingrdquo says the mother of two children Lucy 4 and Gavin 1 ldquoI began to look for resources supporting working moms and locally I wasnrsquot finding many resourcesrdquo

Work Hard Play Hard

Working Moms of Omaha Know When to Play

Stephanie Feltus

10emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Allison Janda photography by Keith Binderlifestyle

WHAT DID

YOURCHILD

LEARN TODAY

Call (402)932-4978or visit omahacmorgto begin your childrsquos

LEARNING

Largest childrenrsquos frame selection in Omaha

(We have adults covered too)

cool^

12660 Q Street Omaha | Tel (402) 896-3300 wwwmillardfamilyeyecarecom

The grouprsquos purpose is simple Moms come together to meet other working moms The group is currently 300 members strong Within that membership small groups with similar interests typically meet just once a month which makes it easy for even the busiest mothers to partake in the fun

The group meets at a public venue typically on a Saturday morning with children or on a Sunday evening with women only Feltus says that over the years she has discovered that events involving the children work better during the summer months while events that call for just mothers tend to come together more easily in the winter

ldquoOur most recent outing was a Holiday Lights Limo Tour for moms onlyrdquo she explains ldquoWe met at Upstream [Brewing Company] where the limo picked us up for a two- hour holiday lights tour of Omaha We sipped on apple cider chatted and enjoyed the beauty of the seasonrdquo

Feltus interested in expanding options available to working mothers hopes to begin planning lunch-and- learn events that focus on achieving worklife balance and reducing the amount of guilt working mothers feel in their day-to-day lives Currently the only lead organizer Feltus says that any member of the group is welcome to plan events such as a trip to the zoo or a play date at the museum

While the group allows working moms to connect and form friendships it is the raising of children and how much they change that offers a common bond for these women Their kids range in age from newborns to teenagers but as all mothers know motherhood isnrsquot biased ldquoThis group has taught me to not take parenthood too seriouslyrdquo she says ldquoYour most devastating parenting moment is probably not that bad This group gives you support and more importantly sanityrdquo

Working Moms of Omaha is funded by a business Feltus owns called Mommy Assistant which is focused on supporting working families thereby enabling parents to spend more quality time with their kids

You can join their Facebook page at Working Moms of Omaha as well as the Working Moms of Omaha Meetup Group at meetupcom ldquoPersonally I have made some fabulous friends and my kids have as wellrdquo Feltus says emsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp11

Dig These Chicks

12emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

diyby Kristen Hoffman photography by Bill Sitzmann

if you are an American female living in the year 2015 you probably have noticed that succulent plants have

exploded in popularity over the past year or two You canrsquot resist themmdashtheir tiny stature their resilience their pinks and purples that scream ldquoIrsquom a girl plantrdquo Good grief letrsquos just admit it Theyrsquore adorable

You know what else is adorable Baby chicks emerging from their eggs at springtime

So letrsquos take advantage of a plant that is actually referred to as ldquohensrdquo and ldquochicksrdquo (depending on their maturity) and combine them into an explosion of adorable Pinterest magic

SUPPLIESbull Eggsbull Paper egg cartonbull Knifebull Paper clipbull Preserved mossbull Gluebull Small succulentsbull Cactus soil (if needed)

DIRECTIONS1 Shop for some succulent babies

You can find these at nurseries grocery stores or home improvement stores The smaller the better Look for bunches that have multiple blooms to fill out your eggshells

2 Open the eggshells with the back of a butter knife Peel off the top section of the shell until you are satisfied with the size of the hole

3 Wash out the eggs with warm water and soap and place them back in the carton Pull apart a paper clip so that it is one long piece of metal With the paper clip poke a hole in the bottom of each egg Keeping them in the carton will keep the eggs from cracking and the hole will provide drainage for the plant Wash hands thoroughly afterwards

4 Attach small pieces of preserved moss to the carton with glue to give it a little green Only do this to the top Placing moss into the carton will prevent the eggshells from sitting snugly in their place

5 Carefully remove the succulents from their containers Shake off any excess dirt that may be attached at the roots Fill the eggs about halfway with the excess dirt Arrange the succulents in the eggshells and pour a little more dirt into the shells to stabilize the stems

Keep these little guys in a sunny area and spray them with a water bottle sparingly Succulents are desert plants and honestly thrive on neglect Just my kind of plantemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp13

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

ldquoIt was cathartic for me Writing is how I emote Tons of women contacted me which then made me feel healedrdquo -Ashli Brehm

14emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Kara Weselyfeature

itrsquos easy for young moms to long for the stimulation of speaking with someone over the age of 10 Therersquos catharsis in talking through onersquos feelings and

problems with a person who no longer wears a diaper or a backpack

Increasingly mothers in Omaha like mothers nationally are turning to social media to connect vent or keep their writing chops sharp Theyrsquore the ldquoMommy Bloggersrdquo a group that by some estimates now number in the millions

Most blog as a pastime But some mommy blogs have higher purposes A blog can foster healing A blog can be a purposefully permanent document for the family

Omaha native Missy Cobb started her blog The Cobb Mobb as a way to connect with her three children

ldquoEvery time I write for the blog I think about my kids and how I am documenting memories for them I tried scrapbooking for my older kids but it was too time consumingrdquo Cobb says gt

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp15

lt Cobb who started her blog as a New Yearrsquos resolution in 2012 found writing allowed her to capture milestones and memories in a more efficient and permanent way ldquoIrsquove always enjoyed writing and I like knowing that this will always be there for my kids to readrdquo

Ashli Brehmrsquos blog Baby on the Brehm has played a key role in getting her through some trying times After going through a miscarriage Brehm (pronounced like brain but with an lsquomrsquo) dedicated a blog post to her experience and managed to connect with other women who had lost a baby

ldquoIt was cathartic for me Writing is how I emote Tons of women contacted me which then made me feel healedrdquo Brehm says

When her subsequent pregnancy did not go as planned and her third son was born several weeks premature she shared the highs and lows with her readers and received an overwhelming amount of support via Baby on the Brehm That support carried her through the next six weeks while her son Harrison was in the NICU growing strong enough to head home with his parents and two brothers

Fast-forward one year and Harrison is a happy healthy 1-year-old and Ashli is still blogging about her boys motherhood and everything in between And she still manages to maintain that connection with her audience

ldquoThe people who read my blog are like a community to me They are my life raft at timesrdquo Brehm says

Brehm like Cobb hopes that some day her children will read her entries and considers the blog a sort of legacy she is leaving behind

ldquoI want my boys to learn to be themselves and to have confidence I hope that by blogging and doing it in an authentic and honest way I am showing them thatrdquo emsp

feature continued

Missy CobbPhoto by Keith Binder

16emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

Visit us today12965 W Center Rd 4027780650

HoursMon-Thu 10-6Fri-Sat 10-5Sun 12-4

wwwelitecheercom402-537-0855 2410 S 140th Circle

Nebraskarsquos Premiere Cheerleading amp Tumbling center Learn basic

cheer techniquesJumps Tumbling Stunts amp Pyramids

We teach kids how to win through-Hard Work PerserverenceAccountability Discipline Integrity

ldquoA journey of a thousand miles starts with a single steprdquo

ldquoI bust mine so you can kick theirsrdquo

LFSneborg middot infoLFSneborg

Friday Feb 20 2015

dinner amp auction

Honorary cHair

nancy K JoHnson

il Palazzo bull 5110 nortH 132nd street bull omaHa ne cmurraylFsneborg

LFS Her Family ad 12-08-14indd 1 1282014 123544 PM

Young Hero proudly sponsored by

Young Hero proudly sponsored by

nicole Carrillo says she can make friends anywhere Even at the airport

Case in point On a chilly night in November Nicole stood with her fellow Thrive Club members at Eppley Airfield holding colorful signs Nicolersquos read ldquoWELCOME TO OMAHArdquo with the Orsquos shaped like hearts Moments later wild applause laughter and some tears erupted from the relatives students and coaches gathered for this moment

Nicolersquos soon-to-be-new friends were a refugee family just arriving from Burma Marisol Nicolersquos mother and one of the sponsors of Thrive was overwhelmed as tears flooded her eyes ldquoIt was life- changingrdquo Marisol recalls

Members of the Thrive Club along with Lutheran Family Services provided a cozy home environment for the immigrant family in an apartment volunteerrsquos chocked full of groceries clothes and furniture

Nicole a junior at Northwest High School had filled out a grant to present to her principal Thomas Lee to do something for a family that would be lost in a foreign world

Emigrating is hard scary often emotionally draining Nicolersquos empathy stems from hearing the story of her parents Marisol a native of Mexico left for the United States in her teens to pursue a cosmetics license It was difficult she says but she argues she had it easier than her husband Joel who she would later meet in English classes

Joel started his first job in the ldquoworst town you can think ofrdquomdashAguascalientes Mexico He loaded heavy bricks into trucks and along with 15 or so other boys sold them house-to-house He was five at the time Joel came to the United States when he was 15 Later he worked 60 to 70 hours a week while attending college classes at night sometimes even taking a course during his lunch hour

Nicole sees what her parents had to go throughmdashall their hard work So she strives to be the best As a 40 student Nicole is currently right behind her best friend for the top spot on the GPA ladder ldquoIt has been a long steady fightrdquo she says ldquobut itrsquos all in good funrdquo However like most high achievers Nicole gets upset if she receives a B on a test or paper but her parents do not

ldquoMy parents are like lsquoyou are doing the best you canrsquordquo Nicole says resting her hand on her cheek during a recent interview ldquoLove themrdquo

Nicole says attending Northwest was one the best decisions she has ever made ldquoShe is one of the best ambassadors for the schoolrdquo Lee says Nicole is active in all aspects of the school including student council National Honor Society and choir She has won numerous community service awards and was one of five in the nation to be selected for the National Youth Advisory Council

Nicole is now eager to show the Burmese family all the ldquosimple things we take for grantedrdquo around Omahamdashldquolike the mall and zoordquo she says

ldquoNicole has the heart to helphellip to make a better worldrdquo her mother says proudlyemsp

Nicole CarrilloHelping Immigrants Thrive in America

Nicole Carillo and the Thrive Group

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp17

by Lisa Lukecart photography by Keith Binderyoung hero

18emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Claire Martin photography by Bill Sitzmannactivity

the expected audience for morning attendance at the Joslyn Art Museum is not perhaps thought to be a handful of pint-sized art scholars But thats precisely the group of observers that hovered around a Renaissance fresco on a recent Friday

morning chattering about concepts like color shapes and how it was that a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle (Michelangelo) could be an artist

A museum shouldnt be a stuffy place I dont think artist and teacher Therese Straseski says It should be a fun place

Straseski has led and instructed the Art Adventures program at the Joslyn for 15 years now in which kids from the ages of 3-5 participate in interactive art activities with their parents every Friday morning Creative tasks can range anywhere from pouring plaster to mixing color palettes

I think art is amazingly important in children Straseski says Teaching art is about learning to enjoy yourself and love what you do Maybe I cant be Rembrandt but I can teach these kids to enjoy themselves in creating art

Another of Straseskis passions in her job is the substantial development in her young students skill and interest over time More exposure to art she believes helps integrate both sides of the brain immediately in children

We absolutely see improvement in our kids she says When they come as 3-year-olds concepts are lost on them and theyre just having fun But as they get older they start to understand concepts like color and line

Big Museum Pint-Sized Fun

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp19

Parents according to Straseski are some of the programs strongest advocates especially as art programs are dropped from elementary curriculums due to budget cuts

Mom and Art Adventures regular Alison Novak for example prioritizes the preservation of arts significance in her kids

I think children are naturally drawn to art because its messy and creative Novak says But I do think theyre very aware of the importance of art and artists especially as they get older

She adds that the interactive aspect of Joslyns art program is especially engaging for her 3-year-old daughter Dagny

The experience of art in this program is important because its so tactile and allows [my daughter] to use different materials Novak says Its not just coming and looking at the art Its something to get her involved

Its quite possible then that with the efforts of art advocates like Straseski and Novak a mini-Renaissance is in the making in these small art studentsmdashperhaps not in technique but in the messy and loving creative process

Art is about being able to pass on that passion to someone else Straseski says with a smile Thats the passion in artemsp

ww

Therese Straseski at work with budding artists at the Art Adventures program

Posh PeacockConsignment Gallery

Furniture amp Home Decor

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Bel Air Plaza 704 12100 W Center Rd

A Treasure Troveof Delightful amp Valuable Things

JULYAUGUST bull 2014

war amp PeaceChuck Hagel battles for a future free of the quagmires of the past

OmaharsquostopDentiststrade

Best of Omahatrade Campaign 2015

The Loyal Royal Alex Gordon

Malorie MaddoxOmaha Stories

trade

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

omamagcomsave

Donrsquot miss a single issue of Omaha Magazine

kids say the darndest things

20emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Allison Janda photography by Keith Binder

as a parent yoursquove probably appreciated (and not appreciated) the absolute

honesty that often escapes your childrsquos mouth Frankness aside kids also tend to say some hilarious things Martin Brucknerrsquos daughter Harper 3 is no exception

In early 2014 Bruckner his wife Michelle and their daughter were having dinner when he overheard his wife exclaim to Harper ldquoPlease donrsquot put spaghetti between your toesrdquo That same night as Bruckner was giving his daughter her evening bath he found himself asking her ldquoDid you drop your cheese in the tub againrdquo From that point on he decided it would be worthwhile to take note of all of the absurd utterances around his house He knew that one day he his wife and their child could all look back and have a good laugh

Bruckner began to create graphics based on things he wrote down eventually starting Tumblr and Facebook accounts to share them with friends family and parents around the world ldquoPretty much the first day I started the Facebook and Tumblr pages I had parents replying to me with the things their children say to themrdquo he chuckles Bruckner admits that it isnrsquot just the locals that find things he his wife and his daughter say funny In fact he has gotten messages from as far away as Australia

While Spaghetti Toes started out innocently enough it seems to be gaining steam as Harper ages Bruckner states that while his daughter is a newer

conversationalist the things she says only get funnier with age ldquoHer vocabulary is getting bigger and stronger but shersquos still having a hard time getting certain things to be in the correct context which in turn makes them hilariousrdquo he says This is confirmed with nothing more than a cursory glance through his website

The graphics he has created have started to garner some national attention getting picked up by websites such as BuzzFeed and The Chive Additionally Bruckner has started to fulfill custom orders and recently completed two such requests for a woman in Canada Nonetheless Bruckner remains encouraged by the local scene claiming Omaharsquos creatives are extremely supportive while locals are incredibly kind

The attention his sites have garnered feels good Bruckner says Nonetheless he finds that he is more drawn to the long-term payoff that they will have ldquoI started this as a way to document my daughterrsquos life while shersquos little and Irsquom having an incredible time doing itrdquo he shares In fact his own mother inspired by what her son was doing went digging for books that she kept on Bruckner and his siblings when they were young Bruckner hopes to use it to create additional graphics for his mom and five sisters ldquoIrsquove gotten message after message after message from parents and I think everyone is in agreement as far as their children saying incredible silly ridiculous and disgusting thingsrdquo he adds ldquoI say things daily that I never thought Irsquod sayrdquo Wersquore sure that every parent out there can relateemsp

feature

I think everyone is in agreement as far as their children saying incredible sillyridiculous and disgusting thingsrdquo-Martin Bruckner

Martin Harper and Michelle Bruckner

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp21

No Age Limit for

Bullies

i could have worked with Jim Rome the radio sportscaster Wersquore about the same age We were in college about the same time studying the same thing We both started working at

small stations before moving up I produced a number of anchors and reporters ldquoback in the dayrdquo who are still on the air at national networks So I have some experience working with Romersquos personality typemdashor at least the type he uses on air Arrogant bloated ego Inflammatory language 70rsquos mustache

Before January 1 of this year I only had peripheral knowledge of and no opinion on Mr Rome Irsquom not a hardcore sports fan so I couldnrsquot have picked him out of a lineup any day of the week But on this particular New Yearrsquos Day Mr Rome chose to insult not only my children but the children of my friends and in fact the children and grandchildren of hundreds of thousands of Americans In the middle of one of college footballrsquos biggest days he threw this tweet out there

ldquoIs there anybody not in a marching band who thinks those dorks running around with their instruments are coolrdquo

Wow You can just imagine the firestorm that followed It didnrsquot take long for the hashtag MarchonRome to be trending To be brief the answer to Mr Romersquos question was a resounding ldquoYes there are people who think theyrsquore coolrdquo After a 24-hour blast of more than 8000 responses (and that was only on Twitter) including everyone from the US Marines to band alums everywhere he tweeted this

ldquoBand nationmdashI hear you I was out of line I apologize I do not condone bullying of any kind and that was not my intentrdquo

The reason I chose this topic is not so much because I was personally offended by Mr Romersquos comment but because I was so saddened that someone my age could intentionally set such a horrible example If not to be a bully I canrsquot comprehend what Mr Romersquos intent was I think if it was ldquoto be funnyrdquo then thatrsquos a fail toomdashbecause making fun of entire groups of people in this manner is pretty much the textbook definition of bullying

Mr Rome (and many others I think) got a fast education about the athleticism discipline and commitment that marching band requires And I wonrsquot even start on the statistics about the value of arts education Just last week a new study from the University of Vermont indicated the measurable impact of music education in developing attention skills anxiety management and emotional control

No my beef with Mr Rome is quite simplemdashhe should be old enough to know better I get that my generation was a little different We were very cliquishmdashjocks potheads geeks dorks

22emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

mind amp bodyby Bev Carlson Lutheran Family Services

blah blahmdashbut I really thought (hoped) that with all of the current awareness of bullying a public figure like Mr Rose would be tuned in enough to choose his words more carefully when referring to hundreds of thousands of hard-working high school and college students

My hope rests with this next generation where amid the online furor those students with highly developed ldquoemotional controlrdquo graciously accepted Mr Rosersquos apology reminding him that this time he ldquomessed with the wrong dorksrdquo Irsquom still holding out hope that he will accept the challenge from many of the band members (many of whom also play sports) to come do what they domdash handle one week of band camp In the summer In the South Or how about here in Nebraska on all those cold early mornings Go Bandemsp

I was so saddened that someone my age could intentionally set such a horrible example

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp23

oneworldomahaorg

Grow STRONG WithOneWorld Pediatrics

45 YEARS OF MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Cass FamilyMedicine

122 S 6th StPlattsmouth

402-296-2345

Northwest Omaha

4229 N 90th St402-401-6000

West Omaha4101 S 120th St402-505-3907

South Omaha4920 S 30th St

402-734-4110

45 Years of Making a DifferenceOne Child at a Time

Bean amp Cheese Tostadas

this yummy tostada recipe makes a satisfying healthy lunch or dinner Black beans zucchini corn and cherry tomatoes make this colorful vegetarian

dish delicious and nutritious emsp

Find more great recipes at HealthyKohlsKidscom The Healthy Kohlrsquos Kids program is a partnership between Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center and Kohlrsquos Department Stores to educate children and parents about healthy nutrition and fitness

24emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

sponsored content by Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center food

ingredientsbull 8 corn

tortillas (6-inch diameter)

bull 1 can (14 oz) black beans rinsed and drained

bull 1 small white onion finely chopped

bull 2 medium zucchini cut into 14-inch pieces

bull 2 jalapentildeo peppers seeded and chopped

bull 12 Tbsp black pepper

bull 14 cup water

bull 12 cup cooked corn

bull 1 cup cherry tomatoes sliced

bull 12 cup chopped cilantro leaves

bull 1 12 oz grated reduced-fat white cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese (14 cup)

bull 4 scallions chopped

bull 1 small avocado pitted peeled and chopped

bull Lime wedges optional

preparation1 Preheat oven to 400deg Arrange tortillas

on 2 baking sheets and toast in oven until crisp about 5 minutes Remove from baking sheets

2 Lightly spray baking sheets with nonstick cooking spray Spread beans and onion on one and zucchini and jalapentildeos on the other Lightly coat vegetables with cooking spray season with the black pepper and roast until golden 12 to 15 minutes

3 Transfer half the beans and onion to a bowl with the water and mash beans with the back of a fork until smooth (Add more water to reach desired consistency if necessary) Spread mixture onto tortillas

4 Toss remaining beans and onion with zucchini jalapentildeos and corn and divide among tortillas

5 Top each tostada with tomatoes cilantro cheese scallions and avocado Serve with lime wedges if desired

Yield 4 servings

Nutrition Facts Calories 434 Fat 14g

Saturated Fat 3g Cholesterol 0

Sodium 446mg Carbohydrates 61g

Fiber 10g Protein 16g

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp25

Thanks for Voting Us Best of Omahatrade

84th and 1st St Downtown Papillion

402-331-9136

18 flavorsBaked daily Birthdays Weddings GraduationsOn-site party room

buy one get one

FREEExpires March 31 2015

HoursMonday-Saturday raquo11am-8pm

Located at Midlands Placeoff 84th Street and Highway 370

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4025583500Corner of

50th amp SouthSaddlecreek

402-502-8757Southwest corner

of 144th amp Industrial Rd

4025025511Southwestcorner of

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4029339400Corner of

Washington amp Lincoln in Papillion

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We are grateful for your business and Best of Omahatrade

votes for best Auto Body Repair

Spring Cleaning St Patrickrsquos Way

while most are eager for the weather to warm up in time for St Patrickrsquos Day (and the green beer sure)

Irsquom more into the holidayrsquos theme of ridding the country of evils Itrsquos time to purge yrsquoall

Irsquove been hibernating for six months under a blanket in front of the fireplace All I see here is an intense accumulation of clutter tucked in the corners out of my usual visual paths as I traverse my house

I finally get up and start the purge ldquoWhorsquos beach towel is thisrdquo ldquoI think Bobby left it here when we had that

slip-n-slide partyrdquo one of the kids says to me while walking out of their scarf gloves hat sweatshirt and shoes which leaves a trail marking my imminent demise from slips and falls (If I fall and am lying there unconscious interrogate my kids first)

ldquoThe slip-n-slide party That was five years agordquo I respond

ldquoYeah I think Bobby moved to Alaskardquo comes the retort which was both informative and confirmation that we had a right to be embarrassed

ldquoWell he doesnrsquot need this beach towel anymorerdquo Once the snow melts the purge involves three or four trips to Goodwill

Itrsquos funny that when yoursquore trapped in your house long enough due to subzero temperatures you start looking at the walls a little differently ldquoIs it me or is our kitchen less sage green and more My Little Pony Minty Greenrdquo I ask my husband

Before he can assure me the pastel shade of green is fine Irsquom off getting paint You canrsquot go wrong with a color called ldquoChocolaterdquo for the kitchen right

My family isnrsquot very supportive of my winter stir-crazy hobby of purging This year for Christmas the kids asked Santa for locks on their doors in an effort to protect their belongings from Momrsquos annual campaign

Itrsquos inevitable that about five years after I give something away one of my kids wants to know where it went Irsquom sorry your 2005 Lego set is gone My bare feet just couldnrsquot take it anymore

Just as St Patrick rid Ireland of all the snakes Irsquove secretly celebrated my own sainthood as Irsquove shooed all of my clutter away

Oh but then you realize that even saints canrsquot always win the clutter battle The cat barfs up a hairball My son walks by and touts ldquoIf only we still had Bobbyrsquos beach towel to clean this uprdquoemsp

26emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Leslie Murrell mom on the rocks

Boat PoseSanskrit name Paripurna Navasana(par-ee-POOR-nah nah-VAHS-anna)

the Boat Pose strengthens the hip flexors spine and the abdomen This pose helps to relieve stress improves digestion and stimulates the kidneys

intestines and thyroidemsp

BEGINNERS TIPPlace a strap around the ball of both feet Hold on to the

strap with straight arms

1 Sit on the floor with your legs straight in front of you Place your hands behind your hip and press into the ground fingers face- forward

2 Lift up through the sternum and slightly lean back until the weight is distributed to the top of your sitting bones and tailbone

3 Bend the knees and lift the feet off the floor

4 Lengthen the tailbone by pressing it into the floor and lift the pubis towards the naval

5 Slowly straighten your legs until your feet reach above eye level and spread the toes

6 Stretch the arms alongside the legs and reach out through the fingers

7 Breathe deeply for 15-30 seconds

8 Exhale and lower the legs to the floor

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp27

by Rachel Joy photography by Bill SitzmannfitnessWe are

the most experienced full-service family owned real estate company in America

npdodgecom

FOR THE KIDS

BAM ITrsquoS A PICTURE BOOK THE ART BEHIND GRAPHIC NOVELSTHROUGH MARCH 29 2015 JOSLYN ART MUSEUM ndash

2200 DODGE ST Popular among young readers

graphic novels are known for their comic

format They are generally described as

ldquosequential artrdquo where a series of illustrations

tell the story but unlike newspaper comics

they are the length of a novel and include

narrative development This exhibition features

the work of Jarrett J Krosoczka Mark Crilley

Matt Holm Raina Telgemeier and Lincoln

Peirce Tuesday - Wednesday amp Friday - Sunday

10am- 4pm Thursday 10am- 8pm Free

admission 402-342-3300

- JOSLYNORG

ONCE UPON A FARM EXHIBITTHROUGH APRIL 12 OMAHA CHILDRENrsquoS MUSEUMmdash500

S 20TH ST Explore the world of agriculture and

learn where your food comes from with the help

of interactive exhibit components like a center

pivot amp planting station dairy cows pedal track

maze and more Tuesday through Friday 10am ndash

4pm Saturday 9am ndash 5pm Sunday 1pm ndash 5 pm

Admission $2 plus regular admission Free for

members 402-342-6164

- OCMORG

MERMAID MINIONS amp DRAGONSMARCH 22 Holland Performing Arts

Centermdash1200 Douglas St Your favorite music

from How to Train Your Dragon Despicable Me

The Little Mermaid and other family movie hits

Brought to life through thrilling performances of

song dance and spectacle 2pm

Admission $15

- OMAHASYMPHONYORG

FOR THE FAMILY

NATURE CONNECTS 2THROUGH APRIL 26 LAURITZEN GARDENSmdash100

BANCROFT ST View 27 new sculptures each

inspired by the natural world made entirely of

300000 Legoreg bricks Make your own Lego

brick creations in the Legobrickyard and enjoy

a variety of Lego-inspired events throughout

the duration of the exhibit 9am ndash 5pm

Admission $10 adults$5 children six to 12 Free

for children under six and for garden members

402-346-4003

- LAURITZENGARDENSORG

TECH CITYTHROUGH MAY 10 STRATEGIC AIR amp SPACE MUSEUMmdash

ASHLAND NE This travelling engineering exhibit

is a great way to inspire learning and interest

in careers that focus on science technology

engineering and mathematics (STEM) The

Tech City exhibit is designed with interactive

learning that will appeal to visitors of all ages

9am - 5pm Free with regular admission $12

adult $6 youth children under 3 are free

402-944-3100

- SASMUSEUMCOM

ZEN TIES

THROUGH MARCH 8 THE ROSE THEATERmdash2001

FARNAM ST A gentle tale about patience and

compassion Zen Ties will make you remember

how much wisdom can come of simple

mindfulness Friday Saturday and Sunday

Members Four free admissions Non-member

admission $18 402-345-4949

- ROSETHEATERORG

FOR MOM amp DAD

AMERICAN MODERNS FROM OrsquoKEEFFE TO ROCKWELLTHROUGH MAY 17 JOSLYN ART MUSEUMmdash2200

DODGE ST The United States emerged as an

international power while also experiencing

two world wars and the Great Depression

New technologies changed all aspects of

life while the art world witnessed dramatic

transformations of its own This exhibition

explores the ways American artists including

Georgia OrsquoKeeffe Marsden Hartley Stuart

Davis Rockwell Kent and Norman Rockwell

engaged the modern world This exhibition

will have a ticket fee Free for members youth

ages 17 and younger amp college students with ID

402-342-3300

-JOSLYNORG

KATHARINE HEPBURN DRESSED FOR STAGE AND SCREENFEBRUARY 7-APRIL 26 DURHAM MUSEUMmdash801 S

10TH ST This exhibition from the Kent State

University Museum features more than 35

costumes worn in 21 films and six stage

productions as well as other personal items

spanning Hepburnrsquos illustrious career Come see

how this true icon of American culture came

to epitomize the modern woman of the 20th

century Children $6 Adults $9 402-444-5071

- DURHAMMUSEUMORG

COMPAGNIE KAumlFIGMARCH 18 HOLLAND CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST

Brazilian dance company Compagnie Kaumlfig

brings a high-energy performance style

combining their hip-hop foundation with martial

arts and circus elements 730pm $1350 to

$2625 402-345-0202

- OMAHAPERFORMINGARTSORG

Tech CityBam Itrsquos a Picture Book American Moderns

28emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

Calendar of Events

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp29

Erin Cox Event Director

402-884-2038 | erinomahamagazinecom

EVENTS by OMAHA MAGAZINE

Events by Omaha Magazine is a full-service event production company specializing in trade shows corporate events product launches and social gatherings From concept to delivery our goal is to provide an exceptional event experience for the host and their guests

Your Vision Our Innovation Event Solutions

GET A JUMP ON SUMMER

YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA wwwmetroymcaorg

Join us March 21 2015 for our Open House at any YMCA of Greater Omaha location The YMCA is your place for camp this summer bull Weekly themed preschool morning camps (3-5 years) and summer day camp (4-12 years - varies by location)

bull Mini special interest camps

bull Premier camps and Camp Platte

bull Counselors-in-Training program for teens

REGISTER FOR

CAMP AT OUR OPEN

HOUSE 3-21-15

AND PAY NO CAMP

REGISTRATION FEES

i never had a pet as a childOkay so I did at the age of 9 or so have

an ill-fated and short-lived guardianship of a turtle whose name Irsquove long forgotten but Irsquove never been a pet person

My mother abhorred the idea of anything furry dwelling in her home and I was pretty much fine with that The feeling carried over into adulthood and my three now-grown children probably felt super-lucky just to have had the brief company of a single pet a (clean and non-slobbering) feline named Scribbles

Viral videos portraying cats and dogs doing whatever it is that cats and dogs do have never appeared on any of my playlists And to be frank people who describe their little quadruped cuties as their ldquochildrenrdquohellipwell kinda creep me out I have no innate aversion to cats even though I take them to be whiskered sociopaths of evil intent but I have never been at all comfortable around dogs of any make or model

Before the hate mail begins please allow me at least a shot at redemption

My grandsons Barrett and Easton are growing up in a home where the company of canines is prized Their collie Summer recently ascended to that great dog pound in the sky and after an appropriate period of mourning has been replaced by a border collie pup carrying an equally seasonal name of Winter

Itrsquos an understatement to say that I never hit it off with Summer Perhaps it didnrsquot help that she stained our Oriental rug as a pup not 10 seconds into her very first visit to our home My son Eric entered with Summer while explaining that all would be well in that the creature was doing a smash-up job when it came to taking care of business but it was too late The little thing bounded (Is that what dogs do They ldquoboundrdquo) directly to the rug lifted one leg andhellipyou know the rest

I have promised to be different with Winter My kids already know that I am neurotic but I donrsquot

want Easton and Barrett to grow up thinking that their granddad is some kind of loathsome monster I am going to do my best to get to know Winter and not be such a basket case

Not surprisingly my first encounter with Winter was shall we say trying ldquoHersquos

just young and excitablerdquo I was told as the dog tried to climb up my leg Yeah tell that to my now urine-stained

shoes (suede no less) and newish sweater scarred by Winterrsquos talons or toes or paws or whatever it is theyrsquore called

But it is with a certain sense of self-satisfaction that I can report that I kept my cool Now the notion of ldquocoolrdquo is subjective My immediate knee-jerk reaction was admittedly to jerk my knee in revulsion but I collected myself as quickly as possible and

tried my best to not make an international incident of the affair

I really need to up my game in being the grandpa that I hope to

be but boy do I have my work cut out for meemsp

Canine Calamity A Plan to Fake it Until I Make it

30emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

the grandpa chroniclesby David Williams

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp31

Did you know90 of brain development

happens by age 5Discover Nebraska Childrenrsquos Home Societyrsquos

accredited high-quality early childhood education programs with low child-to-staff ratios at two locations

4939 S 118th St in Omaha (402) 898-7760 for children 18 months through Pre-K

and 3549 Fontenelle Blvd in Omaha (402) 898-7768 for children 6 weeks through Pre-K

Call today for a free no-obligation tour

4023450606 OMAHASYMPHONYORG

Sunday March 22 bull 200 PMHolland Center

Your favorite music from How to Train Your Dragon

The Little Mermaid Despicable Me and other

family movie hits Brought to life through exciting performances of song dance and spectacle

FEATURING

THE HEARTLAND YOUTH BALLET

REacuteSONANCE CHOIR

Tickets Adults amp Kids $12

FAMILY SERIES

CONCERT

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Omaha Magazine5921 S 118th CirOmaha NE 68137

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

Page 7: March 2015 HerFamily

The KassalsIn this family of educators even the kindergartner is a teacher

Jeff Kassal LIlly Kassal and Kristin Boe

8emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Kara Schweiss photography by Keith Bindermeet the family

Kassal says he wasnrsquot planning on teaching special education when he started his career as an educator

ldquoI did my undergraduate in general educationelementary When I graduated it was right after Christmas break so I did some subbing and long-term subbing in general educationrdquo Kassal says ldquoThen I got a summer job at a special education school and thought it would be just that a summer school job But I ended up really liking it It was a different kind of challengerdquo

Although Boe and Kassal work in two different career fields the couple say their worlds do intersect from time to time

ldquoItrsquos nice to have Kristinrsquos help with decorating schoolrooms or her ideas to make things look better like presentationsrdquo Kassal says

ldquoAnd vice versardquo Boe adds ldquoEspecially when he was working with elementary kids Irsquod ask him about projects we were trying outrdquo

Boe also applies some of her own experience as an educatormdashhaving taught English as a Second Language (ESL) classes in Korea in her single daysmdashwhen shersquos dreaming up new ideas for Kids DIY Studio She also says that overseas job helped give her the courage to take the risk of starting her own business years later ldquoThat was probably the scariest thing I ever did taking that big leap and going somewhere so far away So everything else is lsquoGive it a tryrsquordquo

The couple (Kassal is from Omaha Boe grew up in the Bennington area) were introduced by Boersquos sister and a friend of Kassalrsquos who is now Boersquos brother-in-law

ldquoWe went to a comedy show togetherrdquo Boe says but Kassal questions that fact Kassalrsquos conclusion ldquoYeah laquowe did It was pre-datingrdquo

They may not quite agree on their meet-cute but the couple enjoy gardening togethermdashKassal is the avid gardener but quite a few garden-themed projects have found their way into the studiomdashand both Boe and Kassal are runners And with a five-year-old in the house a lot of their spare time is devoted to kidsrsquo movies and activities

ldquoWersquore fairly average We work hard we raise our kidrdquo Boe says ldquoWe eat a lot of pizzardquo emsp

lilly Kassal is still in kindergarten but the aspiring dress designer already has her first grown-up sewing machine and is ready to

start learning how to turn her fashion drawings into haute couture Creativity is definitely part of the little girlrsquos DNA Lillyrsquos mom Kristin Boe is the owner of Kids DIY Studio a drop-in craft studio that opened last spring

ldquoYou can come in and do arts and crafts projects and paint and we have classes and partiesrdquo Boe says ldquoCrafting stuff is messy and itrsquos nice to have a large supply in one area besides your house You can leave the glitter on the floor here and splatter paint You can be creativerdquo

Like its name suggests her business is geared toward children mid-teens and younger although some adult classes are also on the schedule Boe whose first entrepreneurial endeavor was a home-based daycare during Lillyrsquos infant and toddler years says she enjoys expressing her creativity as much as her customers do

ldquoEvery aspect of this business is creative The job itself is creative the marketing takes a lot of creativityrdquo she says ldquoItrsquos fun because therersquos a constant rotation of projects and classes to dream up and see if they will work so therersquos a lot of trial and errorrdquo

Lilly 5 says she enjoys pitching in at the studio although her mom gently chuckles at her claim of helping with the cleaning What she does do Boe says is try out new projects or in Lillyrsquos words ldquoI make examplesrdquo The success of Lillyrsquos proto-types are a good indicator of how other children will respond to new projects Boe says and Lilly is also good at initiating activity with groups of children and helping shy visitors feel comfortable at the studio

ldquoI talk to them if they need help if my mom is helping someone elserdquo Lilly says

Lillyrsquos dad Jeff Kassal is also creative but in a more academic sort of way He is in his first year of teaching special education math classes at Kirn Middle School in the Council Bluffs Community School District after teaching in the elementary grades at a private school in Omaha Not only does he find ways to reach individual students with respect to their special learning needs but he also teaches an age group that can be a tough audience seventh-graders

ldquoIrsquom always trying to make everything interesting and (apply to) real-life situationsrdquo Kassal says ldquoLuckily the majority of my class likes football and sports in general so I try to make connections thererdquo

ldquoItrsquos fun because therersquos a constant rotation of projects and classes to dream up and see if they will work so therersquos a lot of trial and errorrdquoKristin Boe

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp9

wake up Get the kids ready Hurry out the door Drop kids off Work eight to five Pick kids up Go home Make dinner Help

with homework Put kids to bed Wake up Repeat Phew Making time for oneself can feel like a

pipe dreamFeeling that crunch and hoping to help Stephanie

Feltus created the meet-up group ldquoWorking Moms of Omahardquo after moving here to take a job in corporate sales ldquoI did a fair amount of travelingrdquo says the mother of two children Lucy 4 and Gavin 1 ldquoI began to look for resources supporting working moms and locally I wasnrsquot finding many resourcesrdquo

Work Hard Play Hard

Working Moms of Omaha Know When to Play

Stephanie Feltus

10emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Allison Janda photography by Keith Binderlifestyle

WHAT DID

YOURCHILD

LEARN TODAY

Call (402)932-4978or visit omahacmorgto begin your childrsquos

LEARNING

Largest childrenrsquos frame selection in Omaha

(We have adults covered too)

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12660 Q Street Omaha | Tel (402) 896-3300 wwwmillardfamilyeyecarecom

The grouprsquos purpose is simple Moms come together to meet other working moms The group is currently 300 members strong Within that membership small groups with similar interests typically meet just once a month which makes it easy for even the busiest mothers to partake in the fun

The group meets at a public venue typically on a Saturday morning with children or on a Sunday evening with women only Feltus says that over the years she has discovered that events involving the children work better during the summer months while events that call for just mothers tend to come together more easily in the winter

ldquoOur most recent outing was a Holiday Lights Limo Tour for moms onlyrdquo she explains ldquoWe met at Upstream [Brewing Company] where the limo picked us up for a two- hour holiday lights tour of Omaha We sipped on apple cider chatted and enjoyed the beauty of the seasonrdquo

Feltus interested in expanding options available to working mothers hopes to begin planning lunch-and- learn events that focus on achieving worklife balance and reducing the amount of guilt working mothers feel in their day-to-day lives Currently the only lead organizer Feltus says that any member of the group is welcome to plan events such as a trip to the zoo or a play date at the museum

While the group allows working moms to connect and form friendships it is the raising of children and how much they change that offers a common bond for these women Their kids range in age from newborns to teenagers but as all mothers know motherhood isnrsquot biased ldquoThis group has taught me to not take parenthood too seriouslyrdquo she says ldquoYour most devastating parenting moment is probably not that bad This group gives you support and more importantly sanityrdquo

Working Moms of Omaha is funded by a business Feltus owns called Mommy Assistant which is focused on supporting working families thereby enabling parents to spend more quality time with their kids

You can join their Facebook page at Working Moms of Omaha as well as the Working Moms of Omaha Meetup Group at meetupcom ldquoPersonally I have made some fabulous friends and my kids have as wellrdquo Feltus says emsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp11

Dig These Chicks

12emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

diyby Kristen Hoffman photography by Bill Sitzmann

if you are an American female living in the year 2015 you probably have noticed that succulent plants have

exploded in popularity over the past year or two You canrsquot resist themmdashtheir tiny stature their resilience their pinks and purples that scream ldquoIrsquom a girl plantrdquo Good grief letrsquos just admit it Theyrsquore adorable

You know what else is adorable Baby chicks emerging from their eggs at springtime

So letrsquos take advantage of a plant that is actually referred to as ldquohensrdquo and ldquochicksrdquo (depending on their maturity) and combine them into an explosion of adorable Pinterest magic

SUPPLIESbull Eggsbull Paper egg cartonbull Knifebull Paper clipbull Preserved mossbull Gluebull Small succulentsbull Cactus soil (if needed)

DIRECTIONS1 Shop for some succulent babies

You can find these at nurseries grocery stores or home improvement stores The smaller the better Look for bunches that have multiple blooms to fill out your eggshells

2 Open the eggshells with the back of a butter knife Peel off the top section of the shell until you are satisfied with the size of the hole

3 Wash out the eggs with warm water and soap and place them back in the carton Pull apart a paper clip so that it is one long piece of metal With the paper clip poke a hole in the bottom of each egg Keeping them in the carton will keep the eggs from cracking and the hole will provide drainage for the plant Wash hands thoroughly afterwards

4 Attach small pieces of preserved moss to the carton with glue to give it a little green Only do this to the top Placing moss into the carton will prevent the eggshells from sitting snugly in their place

5 Carefully remove the succulents from their containers Shake off any excess dirt that may be attached at the roots Fill the eggs about halfway with the excess dirt Arrange the succulents in the eggshells and pour a little more dirt into the shells to stabilize the stems

Keep these little guys in a sunny area and spray them with a water bottle sparingly Succulents are desert plants and honestly thrive on neglect Just my kind of plantemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp13

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Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

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2

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Molly Maid clean is now green

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Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

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Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

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Each franchise independently owned and operated

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402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

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Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

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Molly Maid clean is now green

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Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

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MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

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4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

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Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

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cathytichymollymaidcom

ldquoIt was cathartic for me Writing is how I emote Tons of women contacted me which then made me feel healedrdquo -Ashli Brehm

14emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Kara Weselyfeature

itrsquos easy for young moms to long for the stimulation of speaking with someone over the age of 10 Therersquos catharsis in talking through onersquos feelings and

problems with a person who no longer wears a diaper or a backpack

Increasingly mothers in Omaha like mothers nationally are turning to social media to connect vent or keep their writing chops sharp Theyrsquore the ldquoMommy Bloggersrdquo a group that by some estimates now number in the millions

Most blog as a pastime But some mommy blogs have higher purposes A blog can foster healing A blog can be a purposefully permanent document for the family

Omaha native Missy Cobb started her blog The Cobb Mobb as a way to connect with her three children

ldquoEvery time I write for the blog I think about my kids and how I am documenting memories for them I tried scrapbooking for my older kids but it was too time consumingrdquo Cobb says gt

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp15

lt Cobb who started her blog as a New Yearrsquos resolution in 2012 found writing allowed her to capture milestones and memories in a more efficient and permanent way ldquoIrsquove always enjoyed writing and I like knowing that this will always be there for my kids to readrdquo

Ashli Brehmrsquos blog Baby on the Brehm has played a key role in getting her through some trying times After going through a miscarriage Brehm (pronounced like brain but with an lsquomrsquo) dedicated a blog post to her experience and managed to connect with other women who had lost a baby

ldquoIt was cathartic for me Writing is how I emote Tons of women contacted me which then made me feel healedrdquo Brehm says

When her subsequent pregnancy did not go as planned and her third son was born several weeks premature she shared the highs and lows with her readers and received an overwhelming amount of support via Baby on the Brehm That support carried her through the next six weeks while her son Harrison was in the NICU growing strong enough to head home with his parents and two brothers

Fast-forward one year and Harrison is a happy healthy 1-year-old and Ashli is still blogging about her boys motherhood and everything in between And she still manages to maintain that connection with her audience

ldquoThe people who read my blog are like a community to me They are my life raft at timesrdquo Brehm says

Brehm like Cobb hopes that some day her children will read her entries and considers the blog a sort of legacy she is leaving behind

ldquoI want my boys to learn to be themselves and to have confidence I hope that by blogging and doing it in an authentic and honest way I am showing them thatrdquo emsp

feature continued

Missy CobbPhoto by Keith Binder

16emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

Visit us today12965 W Center Rd 4027780650

HoursMon-Thu 10-6Fri-Sat 10-5Sun 12-4

wwwelitecheercom402-537-0855 2410 S 140th Circle

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Friday Feb 20 2015

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Young Hero proudly sponsored by

Young Hero proudly sponsored by

nicole Carrillo says she can make friends anywhere Even at the airport

Case in point On a chilly night in November Nicole stood with her fellow Thrive Club members at Eppley Airfield holding colorful signs Nicolersquos read ldquoWELCOME TO OMAHArdquo with the Orsquos shaped like hearts Moments later wild applause laughter and some tears erupted from the relatives students and coaches gathered for this moment

Nicolersquos soon-to-be-new friends were a refugee family just arriving from Burma Marisol Nicolersquos mother and one of the sponsors of Thrive was overwhelmed as tears flooded her eyes ldquoIt was life- changingrdquo Marisol recalls

Members of the Thrive Club along with Lutheran Family Services provided a cozy home environment for the immigrant family in an apartment volunteerrsquos chocked full of groceries clothes and furniture

Nicole a junior at Northwest High School had filled out a grant to present to her principal Thomas Lee to do something for a family that would be lost in a foreign world

Emigrating is hard scary often emotionally draining Nicolersquos empathy stems from hearing the story of her parents Marisol a native of Mexico left for the United States in her teens to pursue a cosmetics license It was difficult she says but she argues she had it easier than her husband Joel who she would later meet in English classes

Joel started his first job in the ldquoworst town you can think ofrdquomdashAguascalientes Mexico He loaded heavy bricks into trucks and along with 15 or so other boys sold them house-to-house He was five at the time Joel came to the United States when he was 15 Later he worked 60 to 70 hours a week while attending college classes at night sometimes even taking a course during his lunch hour

Nicole sees what her parents had to go throughmdashall their hard work So she strives to be the best As a 40 student Nicole is currently right behind her best friend for the top spot on the GPA ladder ldquoIt has been a long steady fightrdquo she says ldquobut itrsquos all in good funrdquo However like most high achievers Nicole gets upset if she receives a B on a test or paper but her parents do not

ldquoMy parents are like lsquoyou are doing the best you canrsquordquo Nicole says resting her hand on her cheek during a recent interview ldquoLove themrdquo

Nicole says attending Northwest was one the best decisions she has ever made ldquoShe is one of the best ambassadors for the schoolrdquo Lee says Nicole is active in all aspects of the school including student council National Honor Society and choir She has won numerous community service awards and was one of five in the nation to be selected for the National Youth Advisory Council

Nicole is now eager to show the Burmese family all the ldquosimple things we take for grantedrdquo around Omahamdashldquolike the mall and zoordquo she says

ldquoNicole has the heart to helphellip to make a better worldrdquo her mother says proudlyemsp

Nicole CarrilloHelping Immigrants Thrive in America

Nicole Carillo and the Thrive Group

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp17

by Lisa Lukecart photography by Keith Binderyoung hero

18emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Claire Martin photography by Bill Sitzmannactivity

the expected audience for morning attendance at the Joslyn Art Museum is not perhaps thought to be a handful of pint-sized art scholars But thats precisely the group of observers that hovered around a Renaissance fresco on a recent Friday

morning chattering about concepts like color shapes and how it was that a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle (Michelangelo) could be an artist

A museum shouldnt be a stuffy place I dont think artist and teacher Therese Straseski says It should be a fun place

Straseski has led and instructed the Art Adventures program at the Joslyn for 15 years now in which kids from the ages of 3-5 participate in interactive art activities with their parents every Friday morning Creative tasks can range anywhere from pouring plaster to mixing color palettes

I think art is amazingly important in children Straseski says Teaching art is about learning to enjoy yourself and love what you do Maybe I cant be Rembrandt but I can teach these kids to enjoy themselves in creating art

Another of Straseskis passions in her job is the substantial development in her young students skill and interest over time More exposure to art she believes helps integrate both sides of the brain immediately in children

We absolutely see improvement in our kids she says When they come as 3-year-olds concepts are lost on them and theyre just having fun But as they get older they start to understand concepts like color and line

Big Museum Pint-Sized Fun

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp19

Parents according to Straseski are some of the programs strongest advocates especially as art programs are dropped from elementary curriculums due to budget cuts

Mom and Art Adventures regular Alison Novak for example prioritizes the preservation of arts significance in her kids

I think children are naturally drawn to art because its messy and creative Novak says But I do think theyre very aware of the importance of art and artists especially as they get older

She adds that the interactive aspect of Joslyns art program is especially engaging for her 3-year-old daughter Dagny

The experience of art in this program is important because its so tactile and allows [my daughter] to use different materials Novak says Its not just coming and looking at the art Its something to get her involved

Its quite possible then that with the efforts of art advocates like Straseski and Novak a mini-Renaissance is in the making in these small art studentsmdashperhaps not in technique but in the messy and loving creative process

Art is about being able to pass on that passion to someone else Straseski says with a smile Thats the passion in artemsp

ww

Therese Straseski at work with budding artists at the Art Adventures program

Posh PeacockConsignment Gallery

Furniture amp Home Decor

4029339666 - poshpeacocknet

Bel Air Plaza 704 12100 W Center Rd

A Treasure Troveof Delightful amp Valuable Things

JULYAUGUST bull 2014

war amp PeaceChuck Hagel battles for a future free of the quagmires of the past

OmaharsquostopDentiststrade

Best of Omahatrade Campaign 2015

The Loyal Royal Alex Gordon

Malorie MaddoxOmaha Stories

trade

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

omamagcomsave

Donrsquot miss a single issue of Omaha Magazine

kids say the darndest things

20emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Allison Janda photography by Keith Binder

as a parent yoursquove probably appreciated (and not appreciated) the absolute

honesty that often escapes your childrsquos mouth Frankness aside kids also tend to say some hilarious things Martin Brucknerrsquos daughter Harper 3 is no exception

In early 2014 Bruckner his wife Michelle and their daughter were having dinner when he overheard his wife exclaim to Harper ldquoPlease donrsquot put spaghetti between your toesrdquo That same night as Bruckner was giving his daughter her evening bath he found himself asking her ldquoDid you drop your cheese in the tub againrdquo From that point on he decided it would be worthwhile to take note of all of the absurd utterances around his house He knew that one day he his wife and their child could all look back and have a good laugh

Bruckner began to create graphics based on things he wrote down eventually starting Tumblr and Facebook accounts to share them with friends family and parents around the world ldquoPretty much the first day I started the Facebook and Tumblr pages I had parents replying to me with the things their children say to themrdquo he chuckles Bruckner admits that it isnrsquot just the locals that find things he his wife and his daughter say funny In fact he has gotten messages from as far away as Australia

While Spaghetti Toes started out innocently enough it seems to be gaining steam as Harper ages Bruckner states that while his daughter is a newer

conversationalist the things she says only get funnier with age ldquoHer vocabulary is getting bigger and stronger but shersquos still having a hard time getting certain things to be in the correct context which in turn makes them hilariousrdquo he says This is confirmed with nothing more than a cursory glance through his website

The graphics he has created have started to garner some national attention getting picked up by websites such as BuzzFeed and The Chive Additionally Bruckner has started to fulfill custom orders and recently completed two such requests for a woman in Canada Nonetheless Bruckner remains encouraged by the local scene claiming Omaharsquos creatives are extremely supportive while locals are incredibly kind

The attention his sites have garnered feels good Bruckner says Nonetheless he finds that he is more drawn to the long-term payoff that they will have ldquoI started this as a way to document my daughterrsquos life while shersquos little and Irsquom having an incredible time doing itrdquo he shares In fact his own mother inspired by what her son was doing went digging for books that she kept on Bruckner and his siblings when they were young Bruckner hopes to use it to create additional graphics for his mom and five sisters ldquoIrsquove gotten message after message after message from parents and I think everyone is in agreement as far as their children saying incredible silly ridiculous and disgusting thingsrdquo he adds ldquoI say things daily that I never thought Irsquod sayrdquo Wersquore sure that every parent out there can relateemsp

feature

I think everyone is in agreement as far as their children saying incredible sillyridiculous and disgusting thingsrdquo-Martin Bruckner

Martin Harper and Michelle Bruckner

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp21

No Age Limit for

Bullies

i could have worked with Jim Rome the radio sportscaster Wersquore about the same age We were in college about the same time studying the same thing We both started working at

small stations before moving up I produced a number of anchors and reporters ldquoback in the dayrdquo who are still on the air at national networks So I have some experience working with Romersquos personality typemdashor at least the type he uses on air Arrogant bloated ego Inflammatory language 70rsquos mustache

Before January 1 of this year I only had peripheral knowledge of and no opinion on Mr Rome Irsquom not a hardcore sports fan so I couldnrsquot have picked him out of a lineup any day of the week But on this particular New Yearrsquos Day Mr Rome chose to insult not only my children but the children of my friends and in fact the children and grandchildren of hundreds of thousands of Americans In the middle of one of college footballrsquos biggest days he threw this tweet out there

ldquoIs there anybody not in a marching band who thinks those dorks running around with their instruments are coolrdquo

Wow You can just imagine the firestorm that followed It didnrsquot take long for the hashtag MarchonRome to be trending To be brief the answer to Mr Romersquos question was a resounding ldquoYes there are people who think theyrsquore coolrdquo After a 24-hour blast of more than 8000 responses (and that was only on Twitter) including everyone from the US Marines to band alums everywhere he tweeted this

ldquoBand nationmdashI hear you I was out of line I apologize I do not condone bullying of any kind and that was not my intentrdquo

The reason I chose this topic is not so much because I was personally offended by Mr Romersquos comment but because I was so saddened that someone my age could intentionally set such a horrible example If not to be a bully I canrsquot comprehend what Mr Romersquos intent was I think if it was ldquoto be funnyrdquo then thatrsquos a fail toomdashbecause making fun of entire groups of people in this manner is pretty much the textbook definition of bullying

Mr Rome (and many others I think) got a fast education about the athleticism discipline and commitment that marching band requires And I wonrsquot even start on the statistics about the value of arts education Just last week a new study from the University of Vermont indicated the measurable impact of music education in developing attention skills anxiety management and emotional control

No my beef with Mr Rome is quite simplemdashhe should be old enough to know better I get that my generation was a little different We were very cliquishmdashjocks potheads geeks dorks

22emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

mind amp bodyby Bev Carlson Lutheran Family Services

blah blahmdashbut I really thought (hoped) that with all of the current awareness of bullying a public figure like Mr Rose would be tuned in enough to choose his words more carefully when referring to hundreds of thousands of hard-working high school and college students

My hope rests with this next generation where amid the online furor those students with highly developed ldquoemotional controlrdquo graciously accepted Mr Rosersquos apology reminding him that this time he ldquomessed with the wrong dorksrdquo Irsquom still holding out hope that he will accept the challenge from many of the band members (many of whom also play sports) to come do what they domdash handle one week of band camp In the summer In the South Or how about here in Nebraska on all those cold early mornings Go Bandemsp

I was so saddened that someone my age could intentionally set such a horrible example

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp23

oneworldomahaorg

Grow STRONG WithOneWorld Pediatrics

45 YEARS OF MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Cass FamilyMedicine

122 S 6th StPlattsmouth

402-296-2345

Northwest Omaha

4229 N 90th St402-401-6000

West Omaha4101 S 120th St402-505-3907

South Omaha4920 S 30th St

402-734-4110

45 Years of Making a DifferenceOne Child at a Time

Bean amp Cheese Tostadas

this yummy tostada recipe makes a satisfying healthy lunch or dinner Black beans zucchini corn and cherry tomatoes make this colorful vegetarian

dish delicious and nutritious emsp

Find more great recipes at HealthyKohlsKidscom The Healthy Kohlrsquos Kids program is a partnership between Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center and Kohlrsquos Department Stores to educate children and parents about healthy nutrition and fitness

24emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

sponsored content by Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center food

ingredientsbull 8 corn

tortillas (6-inch diameter)

bull 1 can (14 oz) black beans rinsed and drained

bull 1 small white onion finely chopped

bull 2 medium zucchini cut into 14-inch pieces

bull 2 jalapentildeo peppers seeded and chopped

bull 12 Tbsp black pepper

bull 14 cup water

bull 12 cup cooked corn

bull 1 cup cherry tomatoes sliced

bull 12 cup chopped cilantro leaves

bull 1 12 oz grated reduced-fat white cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese (14 cup)

bull 4 scallions chopped

bull 1 small avocado pitted peeled and chopped

bull Lime wedges optional

preparation1 Preheat oven to 400deg Arrange tortillas

on 2 baking sheets and toast in oven until crisp about 5 minutes Remove from baking sheets

2 Lightly spray baking sheets with nonstick cooking spray Spread beans and onion on one and zucchini and jalapentildeos on the other Lightly coat vegetables with cooking spray season with the black pepper and roast until golden 12 to 15 minutes

3 Transfer half the beans and onion to a bowl with the water and mash beans with the back of a fork until smooth (Add more water to reach desired consistency if necessary) Spread mixture onto tortillas

4 Toss remaining beans and onion with zucchini jalapentildeos and corn and divide among tortillas

5 Top each tostada with tomatoes cilantro cheese scallions and avocado Serve with lime wedges if desired

Yield 4 servings

Nutrition Facts Calories 434 Fat 14g

Saturated Fat 3g Cholesterol 0

Sodium 446mg Carbohydrates 61g

Fiber 10g Protein 16g

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp25

Thanks for Voting Us Best of Omahatrade

84th and 1st St Downtown Papillion

402-331-9136

18 flavorsBaked daily Birthdays Weddings GraduationsOn-site party room

buy one get one

FREEExpires March 31 2015

HoursMonday-Saturday raquo11am-8pm

Located at Midlands Placeoff 84th Street and Highway 370

Maybe a Cupcake Will Help

wwwdingmanscom

4025583500Corner of

50th amp SouthSaddlecreek

402-502-8757Southwest corner

of 144th amp Industrial Rd

4025025511Southwestcorner of

120th amp Maple

4029339400Corner of

Washington amp Lincoln in Papillion

ldquoWersquod Rather Be The Best Than Apologize for Anything Lessrdquo

1st place

10 YEARS in a row

We are grateful for your business and Best of Omahatrade

votes for best Auto Body Repair

Spring Cleaning St Patrickrsquos Way

while most are eager for the weather to warm up in time for St Patrickrsquos Day (and the green beer sure)

Irsquom more into the holidayrsquos theme of ridding the country of evils Itrsquos time to purge yrsquoall

Irsquove been hibernating for six months under a blanket in front of the fireplace All I see here is an intense accumulation of clutter tucked in the corners out of my usual visual paths as I traverse my house

I finally get up and start the purge ldquoWhorsquos beach towel is thisrdquo ldquoI think Bobby left it here when we had that

slip-n-slide partyrdquo one of the kids says to me while walking out of their scarf gloves hat sweatshirt and shoes which leaves a trail marking my imminent demise from slips and falls (If I fall and am lying there unconscious interrogate my kids first)

ldquoThe slip-n-slide party That was five years agordquo I respond

ldquoYeah I think Bobby moved to Alaskardquo comes the retort which was both informative and confirmation that we had a right to be embarrassed

ldquoWell he doesnrsquot need this beach towel anymorerdquo Once the snow melts the purge involves three or four trips to Goodwill

Itrsquos funny that when yoursquore trapped in your house long enough due to subzero temperatures you start looking at the walls a little differently ldquoIs it me or is our kitchen less sage green and more My Little Pony Minty Greenrdquo I ask my husband

Before he can assure me the pastel shade of green is fine Irsquom off getting paint You canrsquot go wrong with a color called ldquoChocolaterdquo for the kitchen right

My family isnrsquot very supportive of my winter stir-crazy hobby of purging This year for Christmas the kids asked Santa for locks on their doors in an effort to protect their belongings from Momrsquos annual campaign

Itrsquos inevitable that about five years after I give something away one of my kids wants to know where it went Irsquom sorry your 2005 Lego set is gone My bare feet just couldnrsquot take it anymore

Just as St Patrick rid Ireland of all the snakes Irsquove secretly celebrated my own sainthood as Irsquove shooed all of my clutter away

Oh but then you realize that even saints canrsquot always win the clutter battle The cat barfs up a hairball My son walks by and touts ldquoIf only we still had Bobbyrsquos beach towel to clean this uprdquoemsp

26emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Leslie Murrell mom on the rocks

Boat PoseSanskrit name Paripurna Navasana(par-ee-POOR-nah nah-VAHS-anna)

the Boat Pose strengthens the hip flexors spine and the abdomen This pose helps to relieve stress improves digestion and stimulates the kidneys

intestines and thyroidemsp

BEGINNERS TIPPlace a strap around the ball of both feet Hold on to the

strap with straight arms

1 Sit on the floor with your legs straight in front of you Place your hands behind your hip and press into the ground fingers face- forward

2 Lift up through the sternum and slightly lean back until the weight is distributed to the top of your sitting bones and tailbone

3 Bend the knees and lift the feet off the floor

4 Lengthen the tailbone by pressing it into the floor and lift the pubis towards the naval

5 Slowly straighten your legs until your feet reach above eye level and spread the toes

6 Stretch the arms alongside the legs and reach out through the fingers

7 Breathe deeply for 15-30 seconds

8 Exhale and lower the legs to the floor

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp27

by Rachel Joy photography by Bill SitzmannfitnessWe are

the most experienced full-service family owned real estate company in America

npdodgecom

FOR THE KIDS

BAM ITrsquoS A PICTURE BOOK THE ART BEHIND GRAPHIC NOVELSTHROUGH MARCH 29 2015 JOSLYN ART MUSEUM ndash

2200 DODGE ST Popular among young readers

graphic novels are known for their comic

format They are generally described as

ldquosequential artrdquo where a series of illustrations

tell the story but unlike newspaper comics

they are the length of a novel and include

narrative development This exhibition features

the work of Jarrett J Krosoczka Mark Crilley

Matt Holm Raina Telgemeier and Lincoln

Peirce Tuesday - Wednesday amp Friday - Sunday

10am- 4pm Thursday 10am- 8pm Free

admission 402-342-3300

- JOSLYNORG

ONCE UPON A FARM EXHIBITTHROUGH APRIL 12 OMAHA CHILDRENrsquoS MUSEUMmdash500

S 20TH ST Explore the world of agriculture and

learn where your food comes from with the help

of interactive exhibit components like a center

pivot amp planting station dairy cows pedal track

maze and more Tuesday through Friday 10am ndash

4pm Saturday 9am ndash 5pm Sunday 1pm ndash 5 pm

Admission $2 plus regular admission Free for

members 402-342-6164

- OCMORG

MERMAID MINIONS amp DRAGONSMARCH 22 Holland Performing Arts

Centermdash1200 Douglas St Your favorite music

from How to Train Your Dragon Despicable Me

The Little Mermaid and other family movie hits

Brought to life through thrilling performances of

song dance and spectacle 2pm

Admission $15

- OMAHASYMPHONYORG

FOR THE FAMILY

NATURE CONNECTS 2THROUGH APRIL 26 LAURITZEN GARDENSmdash100

BANCROFT ST View 27 new sculptures each

inspired by the natural world made entirely of

300000 Legoreg bricks Make your own Lego

brick creations in the Legobrickyard and enjoy

a variety of Lego-inspired events throughout

the duration of the exhibit 9am ndash 5pm

Admission $10 adults$5 children six to 12 Free

for children under six and for garden members

402-346-4003

- LAURITZENGARDENSORG

TECH CITYTHROUGH MAY 10 STRATEGIC AIR amp SPACE MUSEUMmdash

ASHLAND NE This travelling engineering exhibit

is a great way to inspire learning and interest

in careers that focus on science technology

engineering and mathematics (STEM) The

Tech City exhibit is designed with interactive

learning that will appeal to visitors of all ages

9am - 5pm Free with regular admission $12

adult $6 youth children under 3 are free

402-944-3100

- SASMUSEUMCOM

ZEN TIES

THROUGH MARCH 8 THE ROSE THEATERmdash2001

FARNAM ST A gentle tale about patience and

compassion Zen Ties will make you remember

how much wisdom can come of simple

mindfulness Friday Saturday and Sunday

Members Four free admissions Non-member

admission $18 402-345-4949

- ROSETHEATERORG

FOR MOM amp DAD

AMERICAN MODERNS FROM OrsquoKEEFFE TO ROCKWELLTHROUGH MAY 17 JOSLYN ART MUSEUMmdash2200

DODGE ST The United States emerged as an

international power while also experiencing

two world wars and the Great Depression

New technologies changed all aspects of

life while the art world witnessed dramatic

transformations of its own This exhibition

explores the ways American artists including

Georgia OrsquoKeeffe Marsden Hartley Stuart

Davis Rockwell Kent and Norman Rockwell

engaged the modern world This exhibition

will have a ticket fee Free for members youth

ages 17 and younger amp college students with ID

402-342-3300

-JOSLYNORG

KATHARINE HEPBURN DRESSED FOR STAGE AND SCREENFEBRUARY 7-APRIL 26 DURHAM MUSEUMmdash801 S

10TH ST This exhibition from the Kent State

University Museum features more than 35

costumes worn in 21 films and six stage

productions as well as other personal items

spanning Hepburnrsquos illustrious career Come see

how this true icon of American culture came

to epitomize the modern woman of the 20th

century Children $6 Adults $9 402-444-5071

- DURHAMMUSEUMORG

COMPAGNIE KAumlFIGMARCH 18 HOLLAND CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST

Brazilian dance company Compagnie Kaumlfig

brings a high-energy performance style

combining their hip-hop foundation with martial

arts and circus elements 730pm $1350 to

$2625 402-345-0202

- OMAHAPERFORMINGARTSORG

Tech CityBam Itrsquos a Picture Book American Moderns

28emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

Calendar of Events

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp29

Erin Cox Event Director

402-884-2038 | erinomahamagazinecom

EVENTS by OMAHA MAGAZINE

Events by Omaha Magazine is a full-service event production company specializing in trade shows corporate events product launches and social gatherings From concept to delivery our goal is to provide an exceptional event experience for the host and their guests

Your Vision Our Innovation Event Solutions

GET A JUMP ON SUMMER

YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA wwwmetroymcaorg

Join us March 21 2015 for our Open House at any YMCA of Greater Omaha location The YMCA is your place for camp this summer bull Weekly themed preschool morning camps (3-5 years) and summer day camp (4-12 years - varies by location)

bull Mini special interest camps

bull Premier camps and Camp Platte

bull Counselors-in-Training program for teens

REGISTER FOR

CAMP AT OUR OPEN

HOUSE 3-21-15

AND PAY NO CAMP

REGISTRATION FEES

i never had a pet as a childOkay so I did at the age of 9 or so have

an ill-fated and short-lived guardianship of a turtle whose name Irsquove long forgotten but Irsquove never been a pet person

My mother abhorred the idea of anything furry dwelling in her home and I was pretty much fine with that The feeling carried over into adulthood and my three now-grown children probably felt super-lucky just to have had the brief company of a single pet a (clean and non-slobbering) feline named Scribbles

Viral videos portraying cats and dogs doing whatever it is that cats and dogs do have never appeared on any of my playlists And to be frank people who describe their little quadruped cuties as their ldquochildrenrdquohellipwell kinda creep me out I have no innate aversion to cats even though I take them to be whiskered sociopaths of evil intent but I have never been at all comfortable around dogs of any make or model

Before the hate mail begins please allow me at least a shot at redemption

My grandsons Barrett and Easton are growing up in a home where the company of canines is prized Their collie Summer recently ascended to that great dog pound in the sky and after an appropriate period of mourning has been replaced by a border collie pup carrying an equally seasonal name of Winter

Itrsquos an understatement to say that I never hit it off with Summer Perhaps it didnrsquot help that she stained our Oriental rug as a pup not 10 seconds into her very first visit to our home My son Eric entered with Summer while explaining that all would be well in that the creature was doing a smash-up job when it came to taking care of business but it was too late The little thing bounded (Is that what dogs do They ldquoboundrdquo) directly to the rug lifted one leg andhellipyou know the rest

I have promised to be different with Winter My kids already know that I am neurotic but I donrsquot

want Easton and Barrett to grow up thinking that their granddad is some kind of loathsome monster I am going to do my best to get to know Winter and not be such a basket case

Not surprisingly my first encounter with Winter was shall we say trying ldquoHersquos

just young and excitablerdquo I was told as the dog tried to climb up my leg Yeah tell that to my now urine-stained

shoes (suede no less) and newish sweater scarred by Winterrsquos talons or toes or paws or whatever it is theyrsquore called

But it is with a certain sense of self-satisfaction that I can report that I kept my cool Now the notion of ldquocoolrdquo is subjective My immediate knee-jerk reaction was admittedly to jerk my knee in revulsion but I collected myself as quickly as possible and

tried my best to not make an international incident of the affair

I really need to up my game in being the grandpa that I hope to

be but boy do I have my work cut out for meemsp

Canine Calamity A Plan to Fake it Until I Make it

30emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

the grandpa chroniclesby David Williams

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp31

Did you know90 of brain development

happens by age 5Discover Nebraska Childrenrsquos Home Societyrsquos

accredited high-quality early childhood education programs with low child-to-staff ratios at two locations

4939 S 118th St in Omaha (402) 898-7760 for children 18 months through Pre-K

and 3549 Fontenelle Blvd in Omaha (402) 898-7768 for children 6 weeks through Pre-K

Call today for a free no-obligation tour

4023450606 OMAHASYMPHONYORG

Sunday March 22 bull 200 PMHolland Center

Your favorite music from How to Train Your Dragon

The Little Mermaid Despicable Me and other

family movie hits Brought to life through exciting performances of song dance and spectacle

FEATURING

THE HEARTLAND YOUTH BALLET

REacuteSONANCE CHOIR

Tickets Adults amp Kids $12

FAMILY SERIES

CONCERT

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Omaha Magazine5921 S 118th CirOmaha NE 68137

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

Page 8: March 2015 HerFamily

Kassal says he wasnrsquot planning on teaching special education when he started his career as an educator

ldquoI did my undergraduate in general educationelementary When I graduated it was right after Christmas break so I did some subbing and long-term subbing in general educationrdquo Kassal says ldquoThen I got a summer job at a special education school and thought it would be just that a summer school job But I ended up really liking it It was a different kind of challengerdquo

Although Boe and Kassal work in two different career fields the couple say their worlds do intersect from time to time

ldquoItrsquos nice to have Kristinrsquos help with decorating schoolrooms or her ideas to make things look better like presentationsrdquo Kassal says

ldquoAnd vice versardquo Boe adds ldquoEspecially when he was working with elementary kids Irsquod ask him about projects we were trying outrdquo

Boe also applies some of her own experience as an educatormdashhaving taught English as a Second Language (ESL) classes in Korea in her single daysmdashwhen shersquos dreaming up new ideas for Kids DIY Studio She also says that overseas job helped give her the courage to take the risk of starting her own business years later ldquoThat was probably the scariest thing I ever did taking that big leap and going somewhere so far away So everything else is lsquoGive it a tryrsquordquo

The couple (Kassal is from Omaha Boe grew up in the Bennington area) were introduced by Boersquos sister and a friend of Kassalrsquos who is now Boersquos brother-in-law

ldquoWe went to a comedy show togetherrdquo Boe says but Kassal questions that fact Kassalrsquos conclusion ldquoYeah laquowe did It was pre-datingrdquo

They may not quite agree on their meet-cute but the couple enjoy gardening togethermdashKassal is the avid gardener but quite a few garden-themed projects have found their way into the studiomdashand both Boe and Kassal are runners And with a five-year-old in the house a lot of their spare time is devoted to kidsrsquo movies and activities

ldquoWersquore fairly average We work hard we raise our kidrdquo Boe says ldquoWe eat a lot of pizzardquo emsp

lilly Kassal is still in kindergarten but the aspiring dress designer already has her first grown-up sewing machine and is ready to

start learning how to turn her fashion drawings into haute couture Creativity is definitely part of the little girlrsquos DNA Lillyrsquos mom Kristin Boe is the owner of Kids DIY Studio a drop-in craft studio that opened last spring

ldquoYou can come in and do arts and crafts projects and paint and we have classes and partiesrdquo Boe says ldquoCrafting stuff is messy and itrsquos nice to have a large supply in one area besides your house You can leave the glitter on the floor here and splatter paint You can be creativerdquo

Like its name suggests her business is geared toward children mid-teens and younger although some adult classes are also on the schedule Boe whose first entrepreneurial endeavor was a home-based daycare during Lillyrsquos infant and toddler years says she enjoys expressing her creativity as much as her customers do

ldquoEvery aspect of this business is creative The job itself is creative the marketing takes a lot of creativityrdquo she says ldquoItrsquos fun because therersquos a constant rotation of projects and classes to dream up and see if they will work so therersquos a lot of trial and errorrdquo

Lilly 5 says she enjoys pitching in at the studio although her mom gently chuckles at her claim of helping with the cleaning What she does do Boe says is try out new projects or in Lillyrsquos words ldquoI make examplesrdquo The success of Lillyrsquos proto-types are a good indicator of how other children will respond to new projects Boe says and Lilly is also good at initiating activity with groups of children and helping shy visitors feel comfortable at the studio

ldquoI talk to them if they need help if my mom is helping someone elserdquo Lilly says

Lillyrsquos dad Jeff Kassal is also creative but in a more academic sort of way He is in his first year of teaching special education math classes at Kirn Middle School in the Council Bluffs Community School District after teaching in the elementary grades at a private school in Omaha Not only does he find ways to reach individual students with respect to their special learning needs but he also teaches an age group that can be a tough audience seventh-graders

ldquoIrsquom always trying to make everything interesting and (apply to) real-life situationsrdquo Kassal says ldquoLuckily the majority of my class likes football and sports in general so I try to make connections thererdquo

ldquoItrsquos fun because therersquos a constant rotation of projects and classes to dream up and see if they will work so therersquos a lot of trial and errorrdquoKristin Boe

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp9

wake up Get the kids ready Hurry out the door Drop kids off Work eight to five Pick kids up Go home Make dinner Help

with homework Put kids to bed Wake up Repeat Phew Making time for oneself can feel like a

pipe dreamFeeling that crunch and hoping to help Stephanie

Feltus created the meet-up group ldquoWorking Moms of Omahardquo after moving here to take a job in corporate sales ldquoI did a fair amount of travelingrdquo says the mother of two children Lucy 4 and Gavin 1 ldquoI began to look for resources supporting working moms and locally I wasnrsquot finding many resourcesrdquo

Work Hard Play Hard

Working Moms of Omaha Know When to Play

Stephanie Feltus

10emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Allison Janda photography by Keith Binderlifestyle

WHAT DID

YOURCHILD

LEARN TODAY

Call (402)932-4978or visit omahacmorgto begin your childrsquos

LEARNING

Largest childrenrsquos frame selection in Omaha

(We have adults covered too)

cool^

12660 Q Street Omaha | Tel (402) 896-3300 wwwmillardfamilyeyecarecom

The grouprsquos purpose is simple Moms come together to meet other working moms The group is currently 300 members strong Within that membership small groups with similar interests typically meet just once a month which makes it easy for even the busiest mothers to partake in the fun

The group meets at a public venue typically on a Saturday morning with children or on a Sunday evening with women only Feltus says that over the years she has discovered that events involving the children work better during the summer months while events that call for just mothers tend to come together more easily in the winter

ldquoOur most recent outing was a Holiday Lights Limo Tour for moms onlyrdquo she explains ldquoWe met at Upstream [Brewing Company] where the limo picked us up for a two- hour holiday lights tour of Omaha We sipped on apple cider chatted and enjoyed the beauty of the seasonrdquo

Feltus interested in expanding options available to working mothers hopes to begin planning lunch-and- learn events that focus on achieving worklife balance and reducing the amount of guilt working mothers feel in their day-to-day lives Currently the only lead organizer Feltus says that any member of the group is welcome to plan events such as a trip to the zoo or a play date at the museum

While the group allows working moms to connect and form friendships it is the raising of children and how much they change that offers a common bond for these women Their kids range in age from newborns to teenagers but as all mothers know motherhood isnrsquot biased ldquoThis group has taught me to not take parenthood too seriouslyrdquo she says ldquoYour most devastating parenting moment is probably not that bad This group gives you support and more importantly sanityrdquo

Working Moms of Omaha is funded by a business Feltus owns called Mommy Assistant which is focused on supporting working families thereby enabling parents to spend more quality time with their kids

You can join their Facebook page at Working Moms of Omaha as well as the Working Moms of Omaha Meetup Group at meetupcom ldquoPersonally I have made some fabulous friends and my kids have as wellrdquo Feltus says emsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp11

Dig These Chicks

12emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

diyby Kristen Hoffman photography by Bill Sitzmann

if you are an American female living in the year 2015 you probably have noticed that succulent plants have

exploded in popularity over the past year or two You canrsquot resist themmdashtheir tiny stature their resilience their pinks and purples that scream ldquoIrsquom a girl plantrdquo Good grief letrsquos just admit it Theyrsquore adorable

You know what else is adorable Baby chicks emerging from their eggs at springtime

So letrsquos take advantage of a plant that is actually referred to as ldquohensrdquo and ldquochicksrdquo (depending on their maturity) and combine them into an explosion of adorable Pinterest magic

SUPPLIESbull Eggsbull Paper egg cartonbull Knifebull Paper clipbull Preserved mossbull Gluebull Small succulentsbull Cactus soil (if needed)

DIRECTIONS1 Shop for some succulent babies

You can find these at nurseries grocery stores or home improvement stores The smaller the better Look for bunches that have multiple blooms to fill out your eggshells

2 Open the eggshells with the back of a butter knife Peel off the top section of the shell until you are satisfied with the size of the hole

3 Wash out the eggs with warm water and soap and place them back in the carton Pull apart a paper clip so that it is one long piece of metal With the paper clip poke a hole in the bottom of each egg Keeping them in the carton will keep the eggs from cracking and the hole will provide drainage for the plant Wash hands thoroughly afterwards

4 Attach small pieces of preserved moss to the carton with glue to give it a little green Only do this to the top Placing moss into the carton will prevent the eggshells from sitting snugly in their place

5 Carefully remove the succulents from their containers Shake off any excess dirt that may be attached at the roots Fill the eggs about halfway with the excess dirt Arrange the succulents in the eggshells and pour a little more dirt into the shells to stabilize the stems

Keep these little guys in a sunny area and spray them with a water bottle sparingly Succulents are desert plants and honestly thrive on neglect Just my kind of plantemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp13

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

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Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

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ldquoIt was cathartic for me Writing is how I emote Tons of women contacted me which then made me feel healedrdquo -Ashli Brehm

14emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Kara Weselyfeature

itrsquos easy for young moms to long for the stimulation of speaking with someone over the age of 10 Therersquos catharsis in talking through onersquos feelings and

problems with a person who no longer wears a diaper or a backpack

Increasingly mothers in Omaha like mothers nationally are turning to social media to connect vent or keep their writing chops sharp Theyrsquore the ldquoMommy Bloggersrdquo a group that by some estimates now number in the millions

Most blog as a pastime But some mommy blogs have higher purposes A blog can foster healing A blog can be a purposefully permanent document for the family

Omaha native Missy Cobb started her blog The Cobb Mobb as a way to connect with her three children

ldquoEvery time I write for the blog I think about my kids and how I am documenting memories for them I tried scrapbooking for my older kids but it was too time consumingrdquo Cobb says gt

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp15

lt Cobb who started her blog as a New Yearrsquos resolution in 2012 found writing allowed her to capture milestones and memories in a more efficient and permanent way ldquoIrsquove always enjoyed writing and I like knowing that this will always be there for my kids to readrdquo

Ashli Brehmrsquos blog Baby on the Brehm has played a key role in getting her through some trying times After going through a miscarriage Brehm (pronounced like brain but with an lsquomrsquo) dedicated a blog post to her experience and managed to connect with other women who had lost a baby

ldquoIt was cathartic for me Writing is how I emote Tons of women contacted me which then made me feel healedrdquo Brehm says

When her subsequent pregnancy did not go as planned and her third son was born several weeks premature she shared the highs and lows with her readers and received an overwhelming amount of support via Baby on the Brehm That support carried her through the next six weeks while her son Harrison was in the NICU growing strong enough to head home with his parents and two brothers

Fast-forward one year and Harrison is a happy healthy 1-year-old and Ashli is still blogging about her boys motherhood and everything in between And she still manages to maintain that connection with her audience

ldquoThe people who read my blog are like a community to me They are my life raft at timesrdquo Brehm says

Brehm like Cobb hopes that some day her children will read her entries and considers the blog a sort of legacy she is leaving behind

ldquoI want my boys to learn to be themselves and to have confidence I hope that by blogging and doing it in an authentic and honest way I am showing them thatrdquo emsp

feature continued

Missy CobbPhoto by Keith Binder

16emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

Visit us today12965 W Center Rd 4027780650

HoursMon-Thu 10-6Fri-Sat 10-5Sun 12-4

wwwelitecheercom402-537-0855 2410 S 140th Circle

Nebraskarsquos Premiere Cheerleading amp Tumbling center Learn basic

cheer techniquesJumps Tumbling Stunts amp Pyramids

We teach kids how to win through-Hard Work PerserverenceAccountability Discipline Integrity

ldquoA journey of a thousand miles starts with a single steprdquo

ldquoI bust mine so you can kick theirsrdquo

LFSneborg middot infoLFSneborg

Friday Feb 20 2015

dinner amp auction

Honorary cHair

nancy K JoHnson

il Palazzo bull 5110 nortH 132nd street bull omaHa ne cmurraylFsneborg

LFS Her Family ad 12-08-14indd 1 1282014 123544 PM

Young Hero proudly sponsored by

Young Hero proudly sponsored by

nicole Carrillo says she can make friends anywhere Even at the airport

Case in point On a chilly night in November Nicole stood with her fellow Thrive Club members at Eppley Airfield holding colorful signs Nicolersquos read ldquoWELCOME TO OMAHArdquo with the Orsquos shaped like hearts Moments later wild applause laughter and some tears erupted from the relatives students and coaches gathered for this moment

Nicolersquos soon-to-be-new friends were a refugee family just arriving from Burma Marisol Nicolersquos mother and one of the sponsors of Thrive was overwhelmed as tears flooded her eyes ldquoIt was life- changingrdquo Marisol recalls

Members of the Thrive Club along with Lutheran Family Services provided a cozy home environment for the immigrant family in an apartment volunteerrsquos chocked full of groceries clothes and furniture

Nicole a junior at Northwest High School had filled out a grant to present to her principal Thomas Lee to do something for a family that would be lost in a foreign world

Emigrating is hard scary often emotionally draining Nicolersquos empathy stems from hearing the story of her parents Marisol a native of Mexico left for the United States in her teens to pursue a cosmetics license It was difficult she says but she argues she had it easier than her husband Joel who she would later meet in English classes

Joel started his first job in the ldquoworst town you can think ofrdquomdashAguascalientes Mexico He loaded heavy bricks into trucks and along with 15 or so other boys sold them house-to-house He was five at the time Joel came to the United States when he was 15 Later he worked 60 to 70 hours a week while attending college classes at night sometimes even taking a course during his lunch hour

Nicole sees what her parents had to go throughmdashall their hard work So she strives to be the best As a 40 student Nicole is currently right behind her best friend for the top spot on the GPA ladder ldquoIt has been a long steady fightrdquo she says ldquobut itrsquos all in good funrdquo However like most high achievers Nicole gets upset if she receives a B on a test or paper but her parents do not

ldquoMy parents are like lsquoyou are doing the best you canrsquordquo Nicole says resting her hand on her cheek during a recent interview ldquoLove themrdquo

Nicole says attending Northwest was one the best decisions she has ever made ldquoShe is one of the best ambassadors for the schoolrdquo Lee says Nicole is active in all aspects of the school including student council National Honor Society and choir She has won numerous community service awards and was one of five in the nation to be selected for the National Youth Advisory Council

Nicole is now eager to show the Burmese family all the ldquosimple things we take for grantedrdquo around Omahamdashldquolike the mall and zoordquo she says

ldquoNicole has the heart to helphellip to make a better worldrdquo her mother says proudlyemsp

Nicole CarrilloHelping Immigrants Thrive in America

Nicole Carillo and the Thrive Group

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp17

by Lisa Lukecart photography by Keith Binderyoung hero

18emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Claire Martin photography by Bill Sitzmannactivity

the expected audience for morning attendance at the Joslyn Art Museum is not perhaps thought to be a handful of pint-sized art scholars But thats precisely the group of observers that hovered around a Renaissance fresco on a recent Friday

morning chattering about concepts like color shapes and how it was that a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle (Michelangelo) could be an artist

A museum shouldnt be a stuffy place I dont think artist and teacher Therese Straseski says It should be a fun place

Straseski has led and instructed the Art Adventures program at the Joslyn for 15 years now in which kids from the ages of 3-5 participate in interactive art activities with their parents every Friday morning Creative tasks can range anywhere from pouring plaster to mixing color palettes

I think art is amazingly important in children Straseski says Teaching art is about learning to enjoy yourself and love what you do Maybe I cant be Rembrandt but I can teach these kids to enjoy themselves in creating art

Another of Straseskis passions in her job is the substantial development in her young students skill and interest over time More exposure to art she believes helps integrate both sides of the brain immediately in children

We absolutely see improvement in our kids she says When they come as 3-year-olds concepts are lost on them and theyre just having fun But as they get older they start to understand concepts like color and line

Big Museum Pint-Sized Fun

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp19

Parents according to Straseski are some of the programs strongest advocates especially as art programs are dropped from elementary curriculums due to budget cuts

Mom and Art Adventures regular Alison Novak for example prioritizes the preservation of arts significance in her kids

I think children are naturally drawn to art because its messy and creative Novak says But I do think theyre very aware of the importance of art and artists especially as they get older

She adds that the interactive aspect of Joslyns art program is especially engaging for her 3-year-old daughter Dagny

The experience of art in this program is important because its so tactile and allows [my daughter] to use different materials Novak says Its not just coming and looking at the art Its something to get her involved

Its quite possible then that with the efforts of art advocates like Straseski and Novak a mini-Renaissance is in the making in these small art studentsmdashperhaps not in technique but in the messy and loving creative process

Art is about being able to pass on that passion to someone else Straseski says with a smile Thats the passion in artemsp

ww

Therese Straseski at work with budding artists at the Art Adventures program

Posh PeacockConsignment Gallery

Furniture amp Home Decor

4029339666 - poshpeacocknet

Bel Air Plaza 704 12100 W Center Rd

A Treasure Troveof Delightful amp Valuable Things

JULYAUGUST bull 2014

war amp PeaceChuck Hagel battles for a future free of the quagmires of the past

OmaharsquostopDentiststrade

Best of Omahatrade Campaign 2015

The Loyal Royal Alex Gordon

Malorie MaddoxOmaha Stories

trade

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

omamagcomsave

Donrsquot miss a single issue of Omaha Magazine

kids say the darndest things

20emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Allison Janda photography by Keith Binder

as a parent yoursquove probably appreciated (and not appreciated) the absolute

honesty that often escapes your childrsquos mouth Frankness aside kids also tend to say some hilarious things Martin Brucknerrsquos daughter Harper 3 is no exception

In early 2014 Bruckner his wife Michelle and their daughter were having dinner when he overheard his wife exclaim to Harper ldquoPlease donrsquot put spaghetti between your toesrdquo That same night as Bruckner was giving his daughter her evening bath he found himself asking her ldquoDid you drop your cheese in the tub againrdquo From that point on he decided it would be worthwhile to take note of all of the absurd utterances around his house He knew that one day he his wife and their child could all look back and have a good laugh

Bruckner began to create graphics based on things he wrote down eventually starting Tumblr and Facebook accounts to share them with friends family and parents around the world ldquoPretty much the first day I started the Facebook and Tumblr pages I had parents replying to me with the things their children say to themrdquo he chuckles Bruckner admits that it isnrsquot just the locals that find things he his wife and his daughter say funny In fact he has gotten messages from as far away as Australia

While Spaghetti Toes started out innocently enough it seems to be gaining steam as Harper ages Bruckner states that while his daughter is a newer

conversationalist the things she says only get funnier with age ldquoHer vocabulary is getting bigger and stronger but shersquos still having a hard time getting certain things to be in the correct context which in turn makes them hilariousrdquo he says This is confirmed with nothing more than a cursory glance through his website

The graphics he has created have started to garner some national attention getting picked up by websites such as BuzzFeed and The Chive Additionally Bruckner has started to fulfill custom orders and recently completed two such requests for a woman in Canada Nonetheless Bruckner remains encouraged by the local scene claiming Omaharsquos creatives are extremely supportive while locals are incredibly kind

The attention his sites have garnered feels good Bruckner says Nonetheless he finds that he is more drawn to the long-term payoff that they will have ldquoI started this as a way to document my daughterrsquos life while shersquos little and Irsquom having an incredible time doing itrdquo he shares In fact his own mother inspired by what her son was doing went digging for books that she kept on Bruckner and his siblings when they were young Bruckner hopes to use it to create additional graphics for his mom and five sisters ldquoIrsquove gotten message after message after message from parents and I think everyone is in agreement as far as their children saying incredible silly ridiculous and disgusting thingsrdquo he adds ldquoI say things daily that I never thought Irsquod sayrdquo Wersquore sure that every parent out there can relateemsp

feature

I think everyone is in agreement as far as their children saying incredible sillyridiculous and disgusting thingsrdquo-Martin Bruckner

Martin Harper and Michelle Bruckner

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp21

No Age Limit for

Bullies

i could have worked with Jim Rome the radio sportscaster Wersquore about the same age We were in college about the same time studying the same thing We both started working at

small stations before moving up I produced a number of anchors and reporters ldquoback in the dayrdquo who are still on the air at national networks So I have some experience working with Romersquos personality typemdashor at least the type he uses on air Arrogant bloated ego Inflammatory language 70rsquos mustache

Before January 1 of this year I only had peripheral knowledge of and no opinion on Mr Rome Irsquom not a hardcore sports fan so I couldnrsquot have picked him out of a lineup any day of the week But on this particular New Yearrsquos Day Mr Rome chose to insult not only my children but the children of my friends and in fact the children and grandchildren of hundreds of thousands of Americans In the middle of one of college footballrsquos biggest days he threw this tweet out there

ldquoIs there anybody not in a marching band who thinks those dorks running around with their instruments are coolrdquo

Wow You can just imagine the firestorm that followed It didnrsquot take long for the hashtag MarchonRome to be trending To be brief the answer to Mr Romersquos question was a resounding ldquoYes there are people who think theyrsquore coolrdquo After a 24-hour blast of more than 8000 responses (and that was only on Twitter) including everyone from the US Marines to band alums everywhere he tweeted this

ldquoBand nationmdashI hear you I was out of line I apologize I do not condone bullying of any kind and that was not my intentrdquo

The reason I chose this topic is not so much because I was personally offended by Mr Romersquos comment but because I was so saddened that someone my age could intentionally set such a horrible example If not to be a bully I canrsquot comprehend what Mr Romersquos intent was I think if it was ldquoto be funnyrdquo then thatrsquos a fail toomdashbecause making fun of entire groups of people in this manner is pretty much the textbook definition of bullying

Mr Rome (and many others I think) got a fast education about the athleticism discipline and commitment that marching band requires And I wonrsquot even start on the statistics about the value of arts education Just last week a new study from the University of Vermont indicated the measurable impact of music education in developing attention skills anxiety management and emotional control

No my beef with Mr Rome is quite simplemdashhe should be old enough to know better I get that my generation was a little different We were very cliquishmdashjocks potheads geeks dorks

22emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

mind amp bodyby Bev Carlson Lutheran Family Services

blah blahmdashbut I really thought (hoped) that with all of the current awareness of bullying a public figure like Mr Rose would be tuned in enough to choose his words more carefully when referring to hundreds of thousands of hard-working high school and college students

My hope rests with this next generation where amid the online furor those students with highly developed ldquoemotional controlrdquo graciously accepted Mr Rosersquos apology reminding him that this time he ldquomessed with the wrong dorksrdquo Irsquom still holding out hope that he will accept the challenge from many of the band members (many of whom also play sports) to come do what they domdash handle one week of band camp In the summer In the South Or how about here in Nebraska on all those cold early mornings Go Bandemsp

I was so saddened that someone my age could intentionally set such a horrible example

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp23

oneworldomahaorg

Grow STRONG WithOneWorld Pediatrics

45 YEARS OF MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Cass FamilyMedicine

122 S 6th StPlattsmouth

402-296-2345

Northwest Omaha

4229 N 90th St402-401-6000

West Omaha4101 S 120th St402-505-3907

South Omaha4920 S 30th St

402-734-4110

45 Years of Making a DifferenceOne Child at a Time

Bean amp Cheese Tostadas

this yummy tostada recipe makes a satisfying healthy lunch or dinner Black beans zucchini corn and cherry tomatoes make this colorful vegetarian

dish delicious and nutritious emsp

Find more great recipes at HealthyKohlsKidscom The Healthy Kohlrsquos Kids program is a partnership between Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center and Kohlrsquos Department Stores to educate children and parents about healthy nutrition and fitness

24emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

sponsored content by Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center food

ingredientsbull 8 corn

tortillas (6-inch diameter)

bull 1 can (14 oz) black beans rinsed and drained

bull 1 small white onion finely chopped

bull 2 medium zucchini cut into 14-inch pieces

bull 2 jalapentildeo peppers seeded and chopped

bull 12 Tbsp black pepper

bull 14 cup water

bull 12 cup cooked corn

bull 1 cup cherry tomatoes sliced

bull 12 cup chopped cilantro leaves

bull 1 12 oz grated reduced-fat white cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese (14 cup)

bull 4 scallions chopped

bull 1 small avocado pitted peeled and chopped

bull Lime wedges optional

preparation1 Preheat oven to 400deg Arrange tortillas

on 2 baking sheets and toast in oven until crisp about 5 minutes Remove from baking sheets

2 Lightly spray baking sheets with nonstick cooking spray Spread beans and onion on one and zucchini and jalapentildeos on the other Lightly coat vegetables with cooking spray season with the black pepper and roast until golden 12 to 15 minutes

3 Transfer half the beans and onion to a bowl with the water and mash beans with the back of a fork until smooth (Add more water to reach desired consistency if necessary) Spread mixture onto tortillas

4 Toss remaining beans and onion with zucchini jalapentildeos and corn and divide among tortillas

5 Top each tostada with tomatoes cilantro cheese scallions and avocado Serve with lime wedges if desired

Yield 4 servings

Nutrition Facts Calories 434 Fat 14g

Saturated Fat 3g Cholesterol 0

Sodium 446mg Carbohydrates 61g

Fiber 10g Protein 16g

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp25

Thanks for Voting Us Best of Omahatrade

84th and 1st St Downtown Papillion

402-331-9136

18 flavorsBaked daily Birthdays Weddings GraduationsOn-site party room

buy one get one

FREEExpires March 31 2015

HoursMonday-Saturday raquo11am-8pm

Located at Midlands Placeoff 84th Street and Highway 370

Maybe a Cupcake Will Help

wwwdingmanscom

4025583500Corner of

50th amp SouthSaddlecreek

402-502-8757Southwest corner

of 144th amp Industrial Rd

4025025511Southwestcorner of

120th amp Maple

4029339400Corner of

Washington amp Lincoln in Papillion

ldquoWersquod Rather Be The Best Than Apologize for Anything Lessrdquo

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We are grateful for your business and Best of Omahatrade

votes for best Auto Body Repair

Spring Cleaning St Patrickrsquos Way

while most are eager for the weather to warm up in time for St Patrickrsquos Day (and the green beer sure)

Irsquom more into the holidayrsquos theme of ridding the country of evils Itrsquos time to purge yrsquoall

Irsquove been hibernating for six months under a blanket in front of the fireplace All I see here is an intense accumulation of clutter tucked in the corners out of my usual visual paths as I traverse my house

I finally get up and start the purge ldquoWhorsquos beach towel is thisrdquo ldquoI think Bobby left it here when we had that

slip-n-slide partyrdquo one of the kids says to me while walking out of their scarf gloves hat sweatshirt and shoes which leaves a trail marking my imminent demise from slips and falls (If I fall and am lying there unconscious interrogate my kids first)

ldquoThe slip-n-slide party That was five years agordquo I respond

ldquoYeah I think Bobby moved to Alaskardquo comes the retort which was both informative and confirmation that we had a right to be embarrassed

ldquoWell he doesnrsquot need this beach towel anymorerdquo Once the snow melts the purge involves three or four trips to Goodwill

Itrsquos funny that when yoursquore trapped in your house long enough due to subzero temperatures you start looking at the walls a little differently ldquoIs it me or is our kitchen less sage green and more My Little Pony Minty Greenrdquo I ask my husband

Before he can assure me the pastel shade of green is fine Irsquom off getting paint You canrsquot go wrong with a color called ldquoChocolaterdquo for the kitchen right

My family isnrsquot very supportive of my winter stir-crazy hobby of purging This year for Christmas the kids asked Santa for locks on their doors in an effort to protect their belongings from Momrsquos annual campaign

Itrsquos inevitable that about five years after I give something away one of my kids wants to know where it went Irsquom sorry your 2005 Lego set is gone My bare feet just couldnrsquot take it anymore

Just as St Patrick rid Ireland of all the snakes Irsquove secretly celebrated my own sainthood as Irsquove shooed all of my clutter away

Oh but then you realize that even saints canrsquot always win the clutter battle The cat barfs up a hairball My son walks by and touts ldquoIf only we still had Bobbyrsquos beach towel to clean this uprdquoemsp

26emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Leslie Murrell mom on the rocks

Boat PoseSanskrit name Paripurna Navasana(par-ee-POOR-nah nah-VAHS-anna)

the Boat Pose strengthens the hip flexors spine and the abdomen This pose helps to relieve stress improves digestion and stimulates the kidneys

intestines and thyroidemsp

BEGINNERS TIPPlace a strap around the ball of both feet Hold on to the

strap with straight arms

1 Sit on the floor with your legs straight in front of you Place your hands behind your hip and press into the ground fingers face- forward

2 Lift up through the sternum and slightly lean back until the weight is distributed to the top of your sitting bones and tailbone

3 Bend the knees and lift the feet off the floor

4 Lengthen the tailbone by pressing it into the floor and lift the pubis towards the naval

5 Slowly straighten your legs until your feet reach above eye level and spread the toes

6 Stretch the arms alongside the legs and reach out through the fingers

7 Breathe deeply for 15-30 seconds

8 Exhale and lower the legs to the floor

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp27

by Rachel Joy photography by Bill SitzmannfitnessWe are

the most experienced full-service family owned real estate company in America

npdodgecom

FOR THE KIDS

BAM ITrsquoS A PICTURE BOOK THE ART BEHIND GRAPHIC NOVELSTHROUGH MARCH 29 2015 JOSLYN ART MUSEUM ndash

2200 DODGE ST Popular among young readers

graphic novels are known for their comic

format They are generally described as

ldquosequential artrdquo where a series of illustrations

tell the story but unlike newspaper comics

they are the length of a novel and include

narrative development This exhibition features

the work of Jarrett J Krosoczka Mark Crilley

Matt Holm Raina Telgemeier and Lincoln

Peirce Tuesday - Wednesday amp Friday - Sunday

10am- 4pm Thursday 10am- 8pm Free

admission 402-342-3300

- JOSLYNORG

ONCE UPON A FARM EXHIBITTHROUGH APRIL 12 OMAHA CHILDRENrsquoS MUSEUMmdash500

S 20TH ST Explore the world of agriculture and

learn where your food comes from with the help

of interactive exhibit components like a center

pivot amp planting station dairy cows pedal track

maze and more Tuesday through Friday 10am ndash

4pm Saturday 9am ndash 5pm Sunday 1pm ndash 5 pm

Admission $2 plus regular admission Free for

members 402-342-6164

- OCMORG

MERMAID MINIONS amp DRAGONSMARCH 22 Holland Performing Arts

Centermdash1200 Douglas St Your favorite music

from How to Train Your Dragon Despicable Me

The Little Mermaid and other family movie hits

Brought to life through thrilling performances of

song dance and spectacle 2pm

Admission $15

- OMAHASYMPHONYORG

FOR THE FAMILY

NATURE CONNECTS 2THROUGH APRIL 26 LAURITZEN GARDENSmdash100

BANCROFT ST View 27 new sculptures each

inspired by the natural world made entirely of

300000 Legoreg bricks Make your own Lego

brick creations in the Legobrickyard and enjoy

a variety of Lego-inspired events throughout

the duration of the exhibit 9am ndash 5pm

Admission $10 adults$5 children six to 12 Free

for children under six and for garden members

402-346-4003

- LAURITZENGARDENSORG

TECH CITYTHROUGH MAY 10 STRATEGIC AIR amp SPACE MUSEUMmdash

ASHLAND NE This travelling engineering exhibit

is a great way to inspire learning and interest

in careers that focus on science technology

engineering and mathematics (STEM) The

Tech City exhibit is designed with interactive

learning that will appeal to visitors of all ages

9am - 5pm Free with regular admission $12

adult $6 youth children under 3 are free

402-944-3100

- SASMUSEUMCOM

ZEN TIES

THROUGH MARCH 8 THE ROSE THEATERmdash2001

FARNAM ST A gentle tale about patience and

compassion Zen Ties will make you remember

how much wisdom can come of simple

mindfulness Friday Saturday and Sunday

Members Four free admissions Non-member

admission $18 402-345-4949

- ROSETHEATERORG

FOR MOM amp DAD

AMERICAN MODERNS FROM OrsquoKEEFFE TO ROCKWELLTHROUGH MAY 17 JOSLYN ART MUSEUMmdash2200

DODGE ST The United States emerged as an

international power while also experiencing

two world wars and the Great Depression

New technologies changed all aspects of

life while the art world witnessed dramatic

transformations of its own This exhibition

explores the ways American artists including

Georgia OrsquoKeeffe Marsden Hartley Stuart

Davis Rockwell Kent and Norman Rockwell

engaged the modern world This exhibition

will have a ticket fee Free for members youth

ages 17 and younger amp college students with ID

402-342-3300

-JOSLYNORG

KATHARINE HEPBURN DRESSED FOR STAGE AND SCREENFEBRUARY 7-APRIL 26 DURHAM MUSEUMmdash801 S

10TH ST This exhibition from the Kent State

University Museum features more than 35

costumes worn in 21 films and six stage

productions as well as other personal items

spanning Hepburnrsquos illustrious career Come see

how this true icon of American culture came

to epitomize the modern woman of the 20th

century Children $6 Adults $9 402-444-5071

- DURHAMMUSEUMORG

COMPAGNIE KAumlFIGMARCH 18 HOLLAND CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST

Brazilian dance company Compagnie Kaumlfig

brings a high-energy performance style

combining their hip-hop foundation with martial

arts and circus elements 730pm $1350 to

$2625 402-345-0202

- OMAHAPERFORMINGARTSORG

Tech CityBam Itrsquos a Picture Book American Moderns

28emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

Calendar of Events

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp29

Erin Cox Event Director

402-884-2038 | erinomahamagazinecom

EVENTS by OMAHA MAGAZINE

Events by Omaha Magazine is a full-service event production company specializing in trade shows corporate events product launches and social gatherings From concept to delivery our goal is to provide an exceptional event experience for the host and their guests

Your Vision Our Innovation Event Solutions

GET A JUMP ON SUMMER

YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA wwwmetroymcaorg

Join us March 21 2015 for our Open House at any YMCA of Greater Omaha location The YMCA is your place for camp this summer bull Weekly themed preschool morning camps (3-5 years) and summer day camp (4-12 years - varies by location)

bull Mini special interest camps

bull Premier camps and Camp Platte

bull Counselors-in-Training program for teens

REGISTER FOR

CAMP AT OUR OPEN

HOUSE 3-21-15

AND PAY NO CAMP

REGISTRATION FEES

i never had a pet as a childOkay so I did at the age of 9 or so have

an ill-fated and short-lived guardianship of a turtle whose name Irsquove long forgotten but Irsquove never been a pet person

My mother abhorred the idea of anything furry dwelling in her home and I was pretty much fine with that The feeling carried over into adulthood and my three now-grown children probably felt super-lucky just to have had the brief company of a single pet a (clean and non-slobbering) feline named Scribbles

Viral videos portraying cats and dogs doing whatever it is that cats and dogs do have never appeared on any of my playlists And to be frank people who describe their little quadruped cuties as their ldquochildrenrdquohellipwell kinda creep me out I have no innate aversion to cats even though I take them to be whiskered sociopaths of evil intent but I have never been at all comfortable around dogs of any make or model

Before the hate mail begins please allow me at least a shot at redemption

My grandsons Barrett and Easton are growing up in a home where the company of canines is prized Their collie Summer recently ascended to that great dog pound in the sky and after an appropriate period of mourning has been replaced by a border collie pup carrying an equally seasonal name of Winter

Itrsquos an understatement to say that I never hit it off with Summer Perhaps it didnrsquot help that she stained our Oriental rug as a pup not 10 seconds into her very first visit to our home My son Eric entered with Summer while explaining that all would be well in that the creature was doing a smash-up job when it came to taking care of business but it was too late The little thing bounded (Is that what dogs do They ldquoboundrdquo) directly to the rug lifted one leg andhellipyou know the rest

I have promised to be different with Winter My kids already know that I am neurotic but I donrsquot

want Easton and Barrett to grow up thinking that their granddad is some kind of loathsome monster I am going to do my best to get to know Winter and not be such a basket case

Not surprisingly my first encounter with Winter was shall we say trying ldquoHersquos

just young and excitablerdquo I was told as the dog tried to climb up my leg Yeah tell that to my now urine-stained

shoes (suede no less) and newish sweater scarred by Winterrsquos talons or toes or paws or whatever it is theyrsquore called

But it is with a certain sense of self-satisfaction that I can report that I kept my cool Now the notion of ldquocoolrdquo is subjective My immediate knee-jerk reaction was admittedly to jerk my knee in revulsion but I collected myself as quickly as possible and

tried my best to not make an international incident of the affair

I really need to up my game in being the grandpa that I hope to

be but boy do I have my work cut out for meemsp

Canine Calamity A Plan to Fake it Until I Make it

30emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

the grandpa chroniclesby David Williams

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp31

Did you know90 of brain development

happens by age 5Discover Nebraska Childrenrsquos Home Societyrsquos

accredited high-quality early childhood education programs with low child-to-staff ratios at two locations

4939 S 118th St in Omaha (402) 898-7760 for children 18 months through Pre-K

and 3549 Fontenelle Blvd in Omaha (402) 898-7768 for children 6 weeks through Pre-K

Call today for a free no-obligation tour

4023450606 OMAHASYMPHONYORG

Sunday March 22 bull 200 PMHolland Center

Your favorite music from How to Train Your Dragon

The Little Mermaid Despicable Me and other

family movie hits Brought to life through exciting performances of song dance and spectacle

FEATURING

THE HEARTLAND YOUTH BALLET

REacuteSONANCE CHOIR

Tickets Adults amp Kids $12

FAMILY SERIES

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Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

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Register now for summer and fall classes

Omaha Magazine5921 S 118th CirOmaha NE 68137

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

Page 9: March 2015 HerFamily

wake up Get the kids ready Hurry out the door Drop kids off Work eight to five Pick kids up Go home Make dinner Help

with homework Put kids to bed Wake up Repeat Phew Making time for oneself can feel like a

pipe dreamFeeling that crunch and hoping to help Stephanie

Feltus created the meet-up group ldquoWorking Moms of Omahardquo after moving here to take a job in corporate sales ldquoI did a fair amount of travelingrdquo says the mother of two children Lucy 4 and Gavin 1 ldquoI began to look for resources supporting working moms and locally I wasnrsquot finding many resourcesrdquo

Work Hard Play Hard

Working Moms of Omaha Know When to Play

Stephanie Feltus

10emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Allison Janda photography by Keith Binderlifestyle

WHAT DID

YOURCHILD

LEARN TODAY

Call (402)932-4978or visit omahacmorgto begin your childrsquos

LEARNING

Largest childrenrsquos frame selection in Omaha

(We have adults covered too)

cool^

12660 Q Street Omaha | Tel (402) 896-3300 wwwmillardfamilyeyecarecom

The grouprsquos purpose is simple Moms come together to meet other working moms The group is currently 300 members strong Within that membership small groups with similar interests typically meet just once a month which makes it easy for even the busiest mothers to partake in the fun

The group meets at a public venue typically on a Saturday morning with children or on a Sunday evening with women only Feltus says that over the years she has discovered that events involving the children work better during the summer months while events that call for just mothers tend to come together more easily in the winter

ldquoOur most recent outing was a Holiday Lights Limo Tour for moms onlyrdquo she explains ldquoWe met at Upstream [Brewing Company] where the limo picked us up for a two- hour holiday lights tour of Omaha We sipped on apple cider chatted and enjoyed the beauty of the seasonrdquo

Feltus interested in expanding options available to working mothers hopes to begin planning lunch-and- learn events that focus on achieving worklife balance and reducing the amount of guilt working mothers feel in their day-to-day lives Currently the only lead organizer Feltus says that any member of the group is welcome to plan events such as a trip to the zoo or a play date at the museum

While the group allows working moms to connect and form friendships it is the raising of children and how much they change that offers a common bond for these women Their kids range in age from newborns to teenagers but as all mothers know motherhood isnrsquot biased ldquoThis group has taught me to not take parenthood too seriouslyrdquo she says ldquoYour most devastating parenting moment is probably not that bad This group gives you support and more importantly sanityrdquo

Working Moms of Omaha is funded by a business Feltus owns called Mommy Assistant which is focused on supporting working families thereby enabling parents to spend more quality time with their kids

You can join their Facebook page at Working Moms of Omaha as well as the Working Moms of Omaha Meetup Group at meetupcom ldquoPersonally I have made some fabulous friends and my kids have as wellrdquo Feltus says emsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp11

Dig These Chicks

12emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

diyby Kristen Hoffman photography by Bill Sitzmann

if you are an American female living in the year 2015 you probably have noticed that succulent plants have

exploded in popularity over the past year or two You canrsquot resist themmdashtheir tiny stature their resilience their pinks and purples that scream ldquoIrsquom a girl plantrdquo Good grief letrsquos just admit it Theyrsquore adorable

You know what else is adorable Baby chicks emerging from their eggs at springtime

So letrsquos take advantage of a plant that is actually referred to as ldquohensrdquo and ldquochicksrdquo (depending on their maturity) and combine them into an explosion of adorable Pinterest magic

SUPPLIESbull Eggsbull Paper egg cartonbull Knifebull Paper clipbull Preserved mossbull Gluebull Small succulentsbull Cactus soil (if needed)

DIRECTIONS1 Shop for some succulent babies

You can find these at nurseries grocery stores or home improvement stores The smaller the better Look for bunches that have multiple blooms to fill out your eggshells

2 Open the eggshells with the back of a butter knife Peel off the top section of the shell until you are satisfied with the size of the hole

3 Wash out the eggs with warm water and soap and place them back in the carton Pull apart a paper clip so that it is one long piece of metal With the paper clip poke a hole in the bottom of each egg Keeping them in the carton will keep the eggs from cracking and the hole will provide drainage for the plant Wash hands thoroughly afterwards

4 Attach small pieces of preserved moss to the carton with glue to give it a little green Only do this to the top Placing moss into the carton will prevent the eggshells from sitting snugly in their place

5 Carefully remove the succulents from their containers Shake off any excess dirt that may be attached at the roots Fill the eggs about halfway with the excess dirt Arrange the succulents in the eggshells and pour a little more dirt into the shells to stabilize the stems

Keep these little guys in a sunny area and spray them with a water bottle sparingly Succulents are desert plants and honestly thrive on neglect Just my kind of plantemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp13

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Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

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4

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Molly Maid clean is now green

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Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

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Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

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Molly Maid clean is now green

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Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

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MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

ldquoIt was cathartic for me Writing is how I emote Tons of women contacted me which then made me feel healedrdquo -Ashli Brehm

14emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Kara Weselyfeature

itrsquos easy for young moms to long for the stimulation of speaking with someone over the age of 10 Therersquos catharsis in talking through onersquos feelings and

problems with a person who no longer wears a diaper or a backpack

Increasingly mothers in Omaha like mothers nationally are turning to social media to connect vent or keep their writing chops sharp Theyrsquore the ldquoMommy Bloggersrdquo a group that by some estimates now number in the millions

Most blog as a pastime But some mommy blogs have higher purposes A blog can foster healing A blog can be a purposefully permanent document for the family

Omaha native Missy Cobb started her blog The Cobb Mobb as a way to connect with her three children

ldquoEvery time I write for the blog I think about my kids and how I am documenting memories for them I tried scrapbooking for my older kids but it was too time consumingrdquo Cobb says gt

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp15

lt Cobb who started her blog as a New Yearrsquos resolution in 2012 found writing allowed her to capture milestones and memories in a more efficient and permanent way ldquoIrsquove always enjoyed writing and I like knowing that this will always be there for my kids to readrdquo

Ashli Brehmrsquos blog Baby on the Brehm has played a key role in getting her through some trying times After going through a miscarriage Brehm (pronounced like brain but with an lsquomrsquo) dedicated a blog post to her experience and managed to connect with other women who had lost a baby

ldquoIt was cathartic for me Writing is how I emote Tons of women contacted me which then made me feel healedrdquo Brehm says

When her subsequent pregnancy did not go as planned and her third son was born several weeks premature she shared the highs and lows with her readers and received an overwhelming amount of support via Baby on the Brehm That support carried her through the next six weeks while her son Harrison was in the NICU growing strong enough to head home with his parents and two brothers

Fast-forward one year and Harrison is a happy healthy 1-year-old and Ashli is still blogging about her boys motherhood and everything in between And she still manages to maintain that connection with her audience

ldquoThe people who read my blog are like a community to me They are my life raft at timesrdquo Brehm says

Brehm like Cobb hopes that some day her children will read her entries and considers the blog a sort of legacy she is leaving behind

ldquoI want my boys to learn to be themselves and to have confidence I hope that by blogging and doing it in an authentic and honest way I am showing them thatrdquo emsp

feature continued

Missy CobbPhoto by Keith Binder

16emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

Visit us today12965 W Center Rd 4027780650

HoursMon-Thu 10-6Fri-Sat 10-5Sun 12-4

wwwelitecheercom402-537-0855 2410 S 140th Circle

Nebraskarsquos Premiere Cheerleading amp Tumbling center Learn basic

cheer techniquesJumps Tumbling Stunts amp Pyramids

We teach kids how to win through-Hard Work PerserverenceAccountability Discipline Integrity

ldquoA journey of a thousand miles starts with a single steprdquo

ldquoI bust mine so you can kick theirsrdquo

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Friday Feb 20 2015

dinner amp auction

Honorary cHair

nancy K JoHnson

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Young Hero proudly sponsored by

Young Hero proudly sponsored by

nicole Carrillo says she can make friends anywhere Even at the airport

Case in point On a chilly night in November Nicole stood with her fellow Thrive Club members at Eppley Airfield holding colorful signs Nicolersquos read ldquoWELCOME TO OMAHArdquo with the Orsquos shaped like hearts Moments later wild applause laughter and some tears erupted from the relatives students and coaches gathered for this moment

Nicolersquos soon-to-be-new friends were a refugee family just arriving from Burma Marisol Nicolersquos mother and one of the sponsors of Thrive was overwhelmed as tears flooded her eyes ldquoIt was life- changingrdquo Marisol recalls

Members of the Thrive Club along with Lutheran Family Services provided a cozy home environment for the immigrant family in an apartment volunteerrsquos chocked full of groceries clothes and furniture

Nicole a junior at Northwest High School had filled out a grant to present to her principal Thomas Lee to do something for a family that would be lost in a foreign world

Emigrating is hard scary often emotionally draining Nicolersquos empathy stems from hearing the story of her parents Marisol a native of Mexico left for the United States in her teens to pursue a cosmetics license It was difficult she says but she argues she had it easier than her husband Joel who she would later meet in English classes

Joel started his first job in the ldquoworst town you can think ofrdquomdashAguascalientes Mexico He loaded heavy bricks into trucks and along with 15 or so other boys sold them house-to-house He was five at the time Joel came to the United States when he was 15 Later he worked 60 to 70 hours a week while attending college classes at night sometimes even taking a course during his lunch hour

Nicole sees what her parents had to go throughmdashall their hard work So she strives to be the best As a 40 student Nicole is currently right behind her best friend for the top spot on the GPA ladder ldquoIt has been a long steady fightrdquo she says ldquobut itrsquos all in good funrdquo However like most high achievers Nicole gets upset if she receives a B on a test or paper but her parents do not

ldquoMy parents are like lsquoyou are doing the best you canrsquordquo Nicole says resting her hand on her cheek during a recent interview ldquoLove themrdquo

Nicole says attending Northwest was one the best decisions she has ever made ldquoShe is one of the best ambassadors for the schoolrdquo Lee says Nicole is active in all aspects of the school including student council National Honor Society and choir She has won numerous community service awards and was one of five in the nation to be selected for the National Youth Advisory Council

Nicole is now eager to show the Burmese family all the ldquosimple things we take for grantedrdquo around Omahamdashldquolike the mall and zoordquo she says

ldquoNicole has the heart to helphellip to make a better worldrdquo her mother says proudlyemsp

Nicole CarrilloHelping Immigrants Thrive in America

Nicole Carillo and the Thrive Group

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp17

by Lisa Lukecart photography by Keith Binderyoung hero

18emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Claire Martin photography by Bill Sitzmannactivity

the expected audience for morning attendance at the Joslyn Art Museum is not perhaps thought to be a handful of pint-sized art scholars But thats precisely the group of observers that hovered around a Renaissance fresco on a recent Friday

morning chattering about concepts like color shapes and how it was that a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle (Michelangelo) could be an artist

A museum shouldnt be a stuffy place I dont think artist and teacher Therese Straseski says It should be a fun place

Straseski has led and instructed the Art Adventures program at the Joslyn for 15 years now in which kids from the ages of 3-5 participate in interactive art activities with their parents every Friday morning Creative tasks can range anywhere from pouring plaster to mixing color palettes

I think art is amazingly important in children Straseski says Teaching art is about learning to enjoy yourself and love what you do Maybe I cant be Rembrandt but I can teach these kids to enjoy themselves in creating art

Another of Straseskis passions in her job is the substantial development in her young students skill and interest over time More exposure to art she believes helps integrate both sides of the brain immediately in children

We absolutely see improvement in our kids she says When they come as 3-year-olds concepts are lost on them and theyre just having fun But as they get older they start to understand concepts like color and line

Big Museum Pint-Sized Fun

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp19

Parents according to Straseski are some of the programs strongest advocates especially as art programs are dropped from elementary curriculums due to budget cuts

Mom and Art Adventures regular Alison Novak for example prioritizes the preservation of arts significance in her kids

I think children are naturally drawn to art because its messy and creative Novak says But I do think theyre very aware of the importance of art and artists especially as they get older

She adds that the interactive aspect of Joslyns art program is especially engaging for her 3-year-old daughter Dagny

The experience of art in this program is important because its so tactile and allows [my daughter] to use different materials Novak says Its not just coming and looking at the art Its something to get her involved

Its quite possible then that with the efforts of art advocates like Straseski and Novak a mini-Renaissance is in the making in these small art studentsmdashperhaps not in technique but in the messy and loving creative process

Art is about being able to pass on that passion to someone else Straseski says with a smile Thats the passion in artemsp

ww

Therese Straseski at work with budding artists at the Art Adventures program

Posh PeacockConsignment Gallery

Furniture amp Home Decor

4029339666 - poshpeacocknet

Bel Air Plaza 704 12100 W Center Rd

A Treasure Troveof Delightful amp Valuable Things

JULYAUGUST bull 2014

war amp PeaceChuck Hagel battles for a future free of the quagmires of the past

OmaharsquostopDentiststrade

Best of Omahatrade Campaign 2015

The Loyal Royal Alex Gordon

Malorie MaddoxOmaha Stories

trade

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

omamagcomsave

Donrsquot miss a single issue of Omaha Magazine

kids say the darndest things

20emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Allison Janda photography by Keith Binder

as a parent yoursquove probably appreciated (and not appreciated) the absolute

honesty that often escapes your childrsquos mouth Frankness aside kids also tend to say some hilarious things Martin Brucknerrsquos daughter Harper 3 is no exception

In early 2014 Bruckner his wife Michelle and their daughter were having dinner when he overheard his wife exclaim to Harper ldquoPlease donrsquot put spaghetti between your toesrdquo That same night as Bruckner was giving his daughter her evening bath he found himself asking her ldquoDid you drop your cheese in the tub againrdquo From that point on he decided it would be worthwhile to take note of all of the absurd utterances around his house He knew that one day he his wife and their child could all look back and have a good laugh

Bruckner began to create graphics based on things he wrote down eventually starting Tumblr and Facebook accounts to share them with friends family and parents around the world ldquoPretty much the first day I started the Facebook and Tumblr pages I had parents replying to me with the things their children say to themrdquo he chuckles Bruckner admits that it isnrsquot just the locals that find things he his wife and his daughter say funny In fact he has gotten messages from as far away as Australia

While Spaghetti Toes started out innocently enough it seems to be gaining steam as Harper ages Bruckner states that while his daughter is a newer

conversationalist the things she says only get funnier with age ldquoHer vocabulary is getting bigger and stronger but shersquos still having a hard time getting certain things to be in the correct context which in turn makes them hilariousrdquo he says This is confirmed with nothing more than a cursory glance through his website

The graphics he has created have started to garner some national attention getting picked up by websites such as BuzzFeed and The Chive Additionally Bruckner has started to fulfill custom orders and recently completed two such requests for a woman in Canada Nonetheless Bruckner remains encouraged by the local scene claiming Omaharsquos creatives are extremely supportive while locals are incredibly kind

The attention his sites have garnered feels good Bruckner says Nonetheless he finds that he is more drawn to the long-term payoff that they will have ldquoI started this as a way to document my daughterrsquos life while shersquos little and Irsquom having an incredible time doing itrdquo he shares In fact his own mother inspired by what her son was doing went digging for books that she kept on Bruckner and his siblings when they were young Bruckner hopes to use it to create additional graphics for his mom and five sisters ldquoIrsquove gotten message after message after message from parents and I think everyone is in agreement as far as their children saying incredible silly ridiculous and disgusting thingsrdquo he adds ldquoI say things daily that I never thought Irsquod sayrdquo Wersquore sure that every parent out there can relateemsp

feature

I think everyone is in agreement as far as their children saying incredible sillyridiculous and disgusting thingsrdquo-Martin Bruckner

Martin Harper and Michelle Bruckner

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp21

No Age Limit for

Bullies

i could have worked with Jim Rome the radio sportscaster Wersquore about the same age We were in college about the same time studying the same thing We both started working at

small stations before moving up I produced a number of anchors and reporters ldquoback in the dayrdquo who are still on the air at national networks So I have some experience working with Romersquos personality typemdashor at least the type he uses on air Arrogant bloated ego Inflammatory language 70rsquos mustache

Before January 1 of this year I only had peripheral knowledge of and no opinion on Mr Rome Irsquom not a hardcore sports fan so I couldnrsquot have picked him out of a lineup any day of the week But on this particular New Yearrsquos Day Mr Rome chose to insult not only my children but the children of my friends and in fact the children and grandchildren of hundreds of thousands of Americans In the middle of one of college footballrsquos biggest days he threw this tweet out there

ldquoIs there anybody not in a marching band who thinks those dorks running around with their instruments are coolrdquo

Wow You can just imagine the firestorm that followed It didnrsquot take long for the hashtag MarchonRome to be trending To be brief the answer to Mr Romersquos question was a resounding ldquoYes there are people who think theyrsquore coolrdquo After a 24-hour blast of more than 8000 responses (and that was only on Twitter) including everyone from the US Marines to band alums everywhere he tweeted this

ldquoBand nationmdashI hear you I was out of line I apologize I do not condone bullying of any kind and that was not my intentrdquo

The reason I chose this topic is not so much because I was personally offended by Mr Romersquos comment but because I was so saddened that someone my age could intentionally set such a horrible example If not to be a bully I canrsquot comprehend what Mr Romersquos intent was I think if it was ldquoto be funnyrdquo then thatrsquos a fail toomdashbecause making fun of entire groups of people in this manner is pretty much the textbook definition of bullying

Mr Rome (and many others I think) got a fast education about the athleticism discipline and commitment that marching band requires And I wonrsquot even start on the statistics about the value of arts education Just last week a new study from the University of Vermont indicated the measurable impact of music education in developing attention skills anxiety management and emotional control

No my beef with Mr Rome is quite simplemdashhe should be old enough to know better I get that my generation was a little different We were very cliquishmdashjocks potheads geeks dorks

22emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

mind amp bodyby Bev Carlson Lutheran Family Services

blah blahmdashbut I really thought (hoped) that with all of the current awareness of bullying a public figure like Mr Rose would be tuned in enough to choose his words more carefully when referring to hundreds of thousands of hard-working high school and college students

My hope rests with this next generation where amid the online furor those students with highly developed ldquoemotional controlrdquo graciously accepted Mr Rosersquos apology reminding him that this time he ldquomessed with the wrong dorksrdquo Irsquom still holding out hope that he will accept the challenge from many of the band members (many of whom also play sports) to come do what they domdash handle one week of band camp In the summer In the South Or how about here in Nebraska on all those cold early mornings Go Bandemsp

I was so saddened that someone my age could intentionally set such a horrible example

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp23

oneworldomahaorg

Grow STRONG WithOneWorld Pediatrics

45 YEARS OF MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Cass FamilyMedicine

122 S 6th StPlattsmouth

402-296-2345

Northwest Omaha

4229 N 90th St402-401-6000

West Omaha4101 S 120th St402-505-3907

South Omaha4920 S 30th St

402-734-4110

45 Years of Making a DifferenceOne Child at a Time

Bean amp Cheese Tostadas

this yummy tostada recipe makes a satisfying healthy lunch or dinner Black beans zucchini corn and cherry tomatoes make this colorful vegetarian

dish delicious and nutritious emsp

Find more great recipes at HealthyKohlsKidscom The Healthy Kohlrsquos Kids program is a partnership between Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center and Kohlrsquos Department Stores to educate children and parents about healthy nutrition and fitness

24emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

sponsored content by Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center food

ingredientsbull 8 corn

tortillas (6-inch diameter)

bull 1 can (14 oz) black beans rinsed and drained

bull 1 small white onion finely chopped

bull 2 medium zucchini cut into 14-inch pieces

bull 2 jalapentildeo peppers seeded and chopped

bull 12 Tbsp black pepper

bull 14 cup water

bull 12 cup cooked corn

bull 1 cup cherry tomatoes sliced

bull 12 cup chopped cilantro leaves

bull 1 12 oz grated reduced-fat white cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese (14 cup)

bull 4 scallions chopped

bull 1 small avocado pitted peeled and chopped

bull Lime wedges optional

preparation1 Preheat oven to 400deg Arrange tortillas

on 2 baking sheets and toast in oven until crisp about 5 minutes Remove from baking sheets

2 Lightly spray baking sheets with nonstick cooking spray Spread beans and onion on one and zucchini and jalapentildeos on the other Lightly coat vegetables with cooking spray season with the black pepper and roast until golden 12 to 15 minutes

3 Transfer half the beans and onion to a bowl with the water and mash beans with the back of a fork until smooth (Add more water to reach desired consistency if necessary) Spread mixture onto tortillas

4 Toss remaining beans and onion with zucchini jalapentildeos and corn and divide among tortillas

5 Top each tostada with tomatoes cilantro cheese scallions and avocado Serve with lime wedges if desired

Yield 4 servings

Nutrition Facts Calories 434 Fat 14g

Saturated Fat 3g Cholesterol 0

Sodium 446mg Carbohydrates 61g

Fiber 10g Protein 16g

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp25

Thanks for Voting Us Best of Omahatrade

84th and 1st St Downtown Papillion

402-331-9136

18 flavorsBaked daily Birthdays Weddings GraduationsOn-site party room

buy one get one

FREEExpires March 31 2015

HoursMonday-Saturday raquo11am-8pm

Located at Midlands Placeoff 84th Street and Highway 370

Maybe a Cupcake Will Help

wwwdingmanscom

4025583500Corner of

50th amp SouthSaddlecreek

402-502-8757Southwest corner

of 144th amp Industrial Rd

4025025511Southwestcorner of

120th amp Maple

4029339400Corner of

Washington amp Lincoln in Papillion

ldquoWersquod Rather Be The Best Than Apologize for Anything Lessrdquo

1st place

10 YEARS in a row

We are grateful for your business and Best of Omahatrade

votes for best Auto Body Repair

Spring Cleaning St Patrickrsquos Way

while most are eager for the weather to warm up in time for St Patrickrsquos Day (and the green beer sure)

Irsquom more into the holidayrsquos theme of ridding the country of evils Itrsquos time to purge yrsquoall

Irsquove been hibernating for six months under a blanket in front of the fireplace All I see here is an intense accumulation of clutter tucked in the corners out of my usual visual paths as I traverse my house

I finally get up and start the purge ldquoWhorsquos beach towel is thisrdquo ldquoI think Bobby left it here when we had that

slip-n-slide partyrdquo one of the kids says to me while walking out of their scarf gloves hat sweatshirt and shoes which leaves a trail marking my imminent demise from slips and falls (If I fall and am lying there unconscious interrogate my kids first)

ldquoThe slip-n-slide party That was five years agordquo I respond

ldquoYeah I think Bobby moved to Alaskardquo comes the retort which was both informative and confirmation that we had a right to be embarrassed

ldquoWell he doesnrsquot need this beach towel anymorerdquo Once the snow melts the purge involves three or four trips to Goodwill

Itrsquos funny that when yoursquore trapped in your house long enough due to subzero temperatures you start looking at the walls a little differently ldquoIs it me or is our kitchen less sage green and more My Little Pony Minty Greenrdquo I ask my husband

Before he can assure me the pastel shade of green is fine Irsquom off getting paint You canrsquot go wrong with a color called ldquoChocolaterdquo for the kitchen right

My family isnrsquot very supportive of my winter stir-crazy hobby of purging This year for Christmas the kids asked Santa for locks on their doors in an effort to protect their belongings from Momrsquos annual campaign

Itrsquos inevitable that about five years after I give something away one of my kids wants to know where it went Irsquom sorry your 2005 Lego set is gone My bare feet just couldnrsquot take it anymore

Just as St Patrick rid Ireland of all the snakes Irsquove secretly celebrated my own sainthood as Irsquove shooed all of my clutter away

Oh but then you realize that even saints canrsquot always win the clutter battle The cat barfs up a hairball My son walks by and touts ldquoIf only we still had Bobbyrsquos beach towel to clean this uprdquoemsp

26emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Leslie Murrell mom on the rocks

Boat PoseSanskrit name Paripurna Navasana(par-ee-POOR-nah nah-VAHS-anna)

the Boat Pose strengthens the hip flexors spine and the abdomen This pose helps to relieve stress improves digestion and stimulates the kidneys

intestines and thyroidemsp

BEGINNERS TIPPlace a strap around the ball of both feet Hold on to the

strap with straight arms

1 Sit on the floor with your legs straight in front of you Place your hands behind your hip and press into the ground fingers face- forward

2 Lift up through the sternum and slightly lean back until the weight is distributed to the top of your sitting bones and tailbone

3 Bend the knees and lift the feet off the floor

4 Lengthen the tailbone by pressing it into the floor and lift the pubis towards the naval

5 Slowly straighten your legs until your feet reach above eye level and spread the toes

6 Stretch the arms alongside the legs and reach out through the fingers

7 Breathe deeply for 15-30 seconds

8 Exhale and lower the legs to the floor

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp27

by Rachel Joy photography by Bill SitzmannfitnessWe are

the most experienced full-service family owned real estate company in America

npdodgecom

FOR THE KIDS

BAM ITrsquoS A PICTURE BOOK THE ART BEHIND GRAPHIC NOVELSTHROUGH MARCH 29 2015 JOSLYN ART MUSEUM ndash

2200 DODGE ST Popular among young readers

graphic novels are known for their comic

format They are generally described as

ldquosequential artrdquo where a series of illustrations

tell the story but unlike newspaper comics

they are the length of a novel and include

narrative development This exhibition features

the work of Jarrett J Krosoczka Mark Crilley

Matt Holm Raina Telgemeier and Lincoln

Peirce Tuesday - Wednesday amp Friday - Sunday

10am- 4pm Thursday 10am- 8pm Free

admission 402-342-3300

- JOSLYNORG

ONCE UPON A FARM EXHIBITTHROUGH APRIL 12 OMAHA CHILDRENrsquoS MUSEUMmdash500

S 20TH ST Explore the world of agriculture and

learn where your food comes from with the help

of interactive exhibit components like a center

pivot amp planting station dairy cows pedal track

maze and more Tuesday through Friday 10am ndash

4pm Saturday 9am ndash 5pm Sunday 1pm ndash 5 pm

Admission $2 plus regular admission Free for

members 402-342-6164

- OCMORG

MERMAID MINIONS amp DRAGONSMARCH 22 Holland Performing Arts

Centermdash1200 Douglas St Your favorite music

from How to Train Your Dragon Despicable Me

The Little Mermaid and other family movie hits

Brought to life through thrilling performances of

song dance and spectacle 2pm

Admission $15

- OMAHASYMPHONYORG

FOR THE FAMILY

NATURE CONNECTS 2THROUGH APRIL 26 LAURITZEN GARDENSmdash100

BANCROFT ST View 27 new sculptures each

inspired by the natural world made entirely of

300000 Legoreg bricks Make your own Lego

brick creations in the Legobrickyard and enjoy

a variety of Lego-inspired events throughout

the duration of the exhibit 9am ndash 5pm

Admission $10 adults$5 children six to 12 Free

for children under six and for garden members

402-346-4003

- LAURITZENGARDENSORG

TECH CITYTHROUGH MAY 10 STRATEGIC AIR amp SPACE MUSEUMmdash

ASHLAND NE This travelling engineering exhibit

is a great way to inspire learning and interest

in careers that focus on science technology

engineering and mathematics (STEM) The

Tech City exhibit is designed with interactive

learning that will appeal to visitors of all ages

9am - 5pm Free with regular admission $12

adult $6 youth children under 3 are free

402-944-3100

- SASMUSEUMCOM

ZEN TIES

THROUGH MARCH 8 THE ROSE THEATERmdash2001

FARNAM ST A gentle tale about patience and

compassion Zen Ties will make you remember

how much wisdom can come of simple

mindfulness Friday Saturday and Sunday

Members Four free admissions Non-member

admission $18 402-345-4949

- ROSETHEATERORG

FOR MOM amp DAD

AMERICAN MODERNS FROM OrsquoKEEFFE TO ROCKWELLTHROUGH MAY 17 JOSLYN ART MUSEUMmdash2200

DODGE ST The United States emerged as an

international power while also experiencing

two world wars and the Great Depression

New technologies changed all aspects of

life while the art world witnessed dramatic

transformations of its own This exhibition

explores the ways American artists including

Georgia OrsquoKeeffe Marsden Hartley Stuart

Davis Rockwell Kent and Norman Rockwell

engaged the modern world This exhibition

will have a ticket fee Free for members youth

ages 17 and younger amp college students with ID

402-342-3300

-JOSLYNORG

KATHARINE HEPBURN DRESSED FOR STAGE AND SCREENFEBRUARY 7-APRIL 26 DURHAM MUSEUMmdash801 S

10TH ST This exhibition from the Kent State

University Museum features more than 35

costumes worn in 21 films and six stage

productions as well as other personal items

spanning Hepburnrsquos illustrious career Come see

how this true icon of American culture came

to epitomize the modern woman of the 20th

century Children $6 Adults $9 402-444-5071

- DURHAMMUSEUMORG

COMPAGNIE KAumlFIGMARCH 18 HOLLAND CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST

Brazilian dance company Compagnie Kaumlfig

brings a high-energy performance style

combining their hip-hop foundation with martial

arts and circus elements 730pm $1350 to

$2625 402-345-0202

- OMAHAPERFORMINGARTSORG

Tech CityBam Itrsquos a Picture Book American Moderns

28emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

Calendar of Events

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp29

Erin Cox Event Director

402-884-2038 | erinomahamagazinecom

EVENTS by OMAHA MAGAZINE

Events by Omaha Magazine is a full-service event production company specializing in trade shows corporate events product launches and social gatherings From concept to delivery our goal is to provide an exceptional event experience for the host and their guests

Your Vision Our Innovation Event Solutions

GET A JUMP ON SUMMER

YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA wwwmetroymcaorg

Join us March 21 2015 for our Open House at any YMCA of Greater Omaha location The YMCA is your place for camp this summer bull Weekly themed preschool morning camps (3-5 years) and summer day camp (4-12 years - varies by location)

bull Mini special interest camps

bull Premier camps and Camp Platte

bull Counselors-in-Training program for teens

REGISTER FOR

CAMP AT OUR OPEN

HOUSE 3-21-15

AND PAY NO CAMP

REGISTRATION FEES

i never had a pet as a childOkay so I did at the age of 9 or so have

an ill-fated and short-lived guardianship of a turtle whose name Irsquove long forgotten but Irsquove never been a pet person

My mother abhorred the idea of anything furry dwelling in her home and I was pretty much fine with that The feeling carried over into adulthood and my three now-grown children probably felt super-lucky just to have had the brief company of a single pet a (clean and non-slobbering) feline named Scribbles

Viral videos portraying cats and dogs doing whatever it is that cats and dogs do have never appeared on any of my playlists And to be frank people who describe their little quadruped cuties as their ldquochildrenrdquohellipwell kinda creep me out I have no innate aversion to cats even though I take them to be whiskered sociopaths of evil intent but I have never been at all comfortable around dogs of any make or model

Before the hate mail begins please allow me at least a shot at redemption

My grandsons Barrett and Easton are growing up in a home where the company of canines is prized Their collie Summer recently ascended to that great dog pound in the sky and after an appropriate period of mourning has been replaced by a border collie pup carrying an equally seasonal name of Winter

Itrsquos an understatement to say that I never hit it off with Summer Perhaps it didnrsquot help that she stained our Oriental rug as a pup not 10 seconds into her very first visit to our home My son Eric entered with Summer while explaining that all would be well in that the creature was doing a smash-up job when it came to taking care of business but it was too late The little thing bounded (Is that what dogs do They ldquoboundrdquo) directly to the rug lifted one leg andhellipyou know the rest

I have promised to be different with Winter My kids already know that I am neurotic but I donrsquot

want Easton and Barrett to grow up thinking that their granddad is some kind of loathsome monster I am going to do my best to get to know Winter and not be such a basket case

Not surprisingly my first encounter with Winter was shall we say trying ldquoHersquos

just young and excitablerdquo I was told as the dog tried to climb up my leg Yeah tell that to my now urine-stained

shoes (suede no less) and newish sweater scarred by Winterrsquos talons or toes or paws or whatever it is theyrsquore called

But it is with a certain sense of self-satisfaction that I can report that I kept my cool Now the notion of ldquocoolrdquo is subjective My immediate knee-jerk reaction was admittedly to jerk my knee in revulsion but I collected myself as quickly as possible and

tried my best to not make an international incident of the affair

I really need to up my game in being the grandpa that I hope to

be but boy do I have my work cut out for meemsp

Canine Calamity A Plan to Fake it Until I Make it

30emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

the grandpa chroniclesby David Williams

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp31

Did you know90 of brain development

happens by age 5Discover Nebraska Childrenrsquos Home Societyrsquos

accredited high-quality early childhood education programs with low child-to-staff ratios at two locations

4939 S 118th St in Omaha (402) 898-7760 for children 18 months through Pre-K

and 3549 Fontenelle Blvd in Omaha (402) 898-7768 for children 6 weeks through Pre-K

Call today for a free no-obligation tour

4023450606 OMAHASYMPHONYORG

Sunday March 22 bull 200 PMHolland Center

Your favorite music from How to Train Your Dragon

The Little Mermaid Despicable Me and other

family movie hits Brought to life through exciting performances of song dance and spectacle

FEATURING

THE HEARTLAND YOUTH BALLET

REacuteSONANCE CHOIR

Tickets Adults amp Kids $12

FAMILY SERIES

CONCERT

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Omaha Magazine5921 S 118th CirOmaha NE 68137

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

Page 10: March 2015 HerFamily

WHAT DID

YOURCHILD

LEARN TODAY

Call (402)932-4978or visit omahacmorgto begin your childrsquos

LEARNING

Largest childrenrsquos frame selection in Omaha

(We have adults covered too)

cool^

12660 Q Street Omaha | Tel (402) 896-3300 wwwmillardfamilyeyecarecom

The grouprsquos purpose is simple Moms come together to meet other working moms The group is currently 300 members strong Within that membership small groups with similar interests typically meet just once a month which makes it easy for even the busiest mothers to partake in the fun

The group meets at a public venue typically on a Saturday morning with children or on a Sunday evening with women only Feltus says that over the years she has discovered that events involving the children work better during the summer months while events that call for just mothers tend to come together more easily in the winter

ldquoOur most recent outing was a Holiday Lights Limo Tour for moms onlyrdquo she explains ldquoWe met at Upstream [Brewing Company] where the limo picked us up for a two- hour holiday lights tour of Omaha We sipped on apple cider chatted and enjoyed the beauty of the seasonrdquo

Feltus interested in expanding options available to working mothers hopes to begin planning lunch-and- learn events that focus on achieving worklife balance and reducing the amount of guilt working mothers feel in their day-to-day lives Currently the only lead organizer Feltus says that any member of the group is welcome to plan events such as a trip to the zoo or a play date at the museum

While the group allows working moms to connect and form friendships it is the raising of children and how much they change that offers a common bond for these women Their kids range in age from newborns to teenagers but as all mothers know motherhood isnrsquot biased ldquoThis group has taught me to not take parenthood too seriouslyrdquo she says ldquoYour most devastating parenting moment is probably not that bad This group gives you support and more importantly sanityrdquo

Working Moms of Omaha is funded by a business Feltus owns called Mommy Assistant which is focused on supporting working families thereby enabling parents to spend more quality time with their kids

You can join their Facebook page at Working Moms of Omaha as well as the Working Moms of Omaha Meetup Group at meetupcom ldquoPersonally I have made some fabulous friends and my kids have as wellrdquo Feltus says emsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp11

Dig These Chicks

12emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

diyby Kristen Hoffman photography by Bill Sitzmann

if you are an American female living in the year 2015 you probably have noticed that succulent plants have

exploded in popularity over the past year or two You canrsquot resist themmdashtheir tiny stature their resilience their pinks and purples that scream ldquoIrsquom a girl plantrdquo Good grief letrsquos just admit it Theyrsquore adorable

You know what else is adorable Baby chicks emerging from their eggs at springtime

So letrsquos take advantage of a plant that is actually referred to as ldquohensrdquo and ldquochicksrdquo (depending on their maturity) and combine them into an explosion of adorable Pinterest magic

SUPPLIESbull Eggsbull Paper egg cartonbull Knifebull Paper clipbull Preserved mossbull Gluebull Small succulentsbull Cactus soil (if needed)

DIRECTIONS1 Shop for some succulent babies

You can find these at nurseries grocery stores or home improvement stores The smaller the better Look for bunches that have multiple blooms to fill out your eggshells

2 Open the eggshells with the back of a butter knife Peel off the top section of the shell until you are satisfied with the size of the hole

3 Wash out the eggs with warm water and soap and place them back in the carton Pull apart a paper clip so that it is one long piece of metal With the paper clip poke a hole in the bottom of each egg Keeping them in the carton will keep the eggs from cracking and the hole will provide drainage for the plant Wash hands thoroughly afterwards

4 Attach small pieces of preserved moss to the carton with glue to give it a little green Only do this to the top Placing moss into the carton will prevent the eggshells from sitting snugly in their place

5 Carefully remove the succulents from their containers Shake off any excess dirt that may be attached at the roots Fill the eggs about halfway with the excess dirt Arrange the succulents in the eggshells and pour a little more dirt into the shells to stabilize the stems

Keep these little guys in a sunny area and spray them with a water bottle sparingly Succulents are desert plants and honestly thrive on neglect Just my kind of plantemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp13

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

ldquoIt was cathartic for me Writing is how I emote Tons of women contacted me which then made me feel healedrdquo -Ashli Brehm

14emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Kara Weselyfeature

itrsquos easy for young moms to long for the stimulation of speaking with someone over the age of 10 Therersquos catharsis in talking through onersquos feelings and

problems with a person who no longer wears a diaper or a backpack

Increasingly mothers in Omaha like mothers nationally are turning to social media to connect vent or keep their writing chops sharp Theyrsquore the ldquoMommy Bloggersrdquo a group that by some estimates now number in the millions

Most blog as a pastime But some mommy blogs have higher purposes A blog can foster healing A blog can be a purposefully permanent document for the family

Omaha native Missy Cobb started her blog The Cobb Mobb as a way to connect with her three children

ldquoEvery time I write for the blog I think about my kids and how I am documenting memories for them I tried scrapbooking for my older kids but it was too time consumingrdquo Cobb says gt

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp15

lt Cobb who started her blog as a New Yearrsquos resolution in 2012 found writing allowed her to capture milestones and memories in a more efficient and permanent way ldquoIrsquove always enjoyed writing and I like knowing that this will always be there for my kids to readrdquo

Ashli Brehmrsquos blog Baby on the Brehm has played a key role in getting her through some trying times After going through a miscarriage Brehm (pronounced like brain but with an lsquomrsquo) dedicated a blog post to her experience and managed to connect with other women who had lost a baby

ldquoIt was cathartic for me Writing is how I emote Tons of women contacted me which then made me feel healedrdquo Brehm says

When her subsequent pregnancy did not go as planned and her third son was born several weeks premature she shared the highs and lows with her readers and received an overwhelming amount of support via Baby on the Brehm That support carried her through the next six weeks while her son Harrison was in the NICU growing strong enough to head home with his parents and two brothers

Fast-forward one year and Harrison is a happy healthy 1-year-old and Ashli is still blogging about her boys motherhood and everything in between And she still manages to maintain that connection with her audience

ldquoThe people who read my blog are like a community to me They are my life raft at timesrdquo Brehm says

Brehm like Cobb hopes that some day her children will read her entries and considers the blog a sort of legacy she is leaving behind

ldquoI want my boys to learn to be themselves and to have confidence I hope that by blogging and doing it in an authentic and honest way I am showing them thatrdquo emsp

feature continued

Missy CobbPhoto by Keith Binder

16emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

Visit us today12965 W Center Rd 4027780650

HoursMon-Thu 10-6Fri-Sat 10-5Sun 12-4

wwwelitecheercom402-537-0855 2410 S 140th Circle

Nebraskarsquos Premiere Cheerleading amp Tumbling center Learn basic

cheer techniquesJumps Tumbling Stunts amp Pyramids

We teach kids how to win through-Hard Work PerserverenceAccountability Discipline Integrity

ldquoA journey of a thousand miles starts with a single steprdquo

ldquoI bust mine so you can kick theirsrdquo

LFSneborg middot infoLFSneborg

Friday Feb 20 2015

dinner amp auction

Honorary cHair

nancy K JoHnson

il Palazzo bull 5110 nortH 132nd street bull omaHa ne cmurraylFsneborg

LFS Her Family ad 12-08-14indd 1 1282014 123544 PM

Young Hero proudly sponsored by

Young Hero proudly sponsored by

nicole Carrillo says she can make friends anywhere Even at the airport

Case in point On a chilly night in November Nicole stood with her fellow Thrive Club members at Eppley Airfield holding colorful signs Nicolersquos read ldquoWELCOME TO OMAHArdquo with the Orsquos shaped like hearts Moments later wild applause laughter and some tears erupted from the relatives students and coaches gathered for this moment

Nicolersquos soon-to-be-new friends were a refugee family just arriving from Burma Marisol Nicolersquos mother and one of the sponsors of Thrive was overwhelmed as tears flooded her eyes ldquoIt was life- changingrdquo Marisol recalls

Members of the Thrive Club along with Lutheran Family Services provided a cozy home environment for the immigrant family in an apartment volunteerrsquos chocked full of groceries clothes and furniture

Nicole a junior at Northwest High School had filled out a grant to present to her principal Thomas Lee to do something for a family that would be lost in a foreign world

Emigrating is hard scary often emotionally draining Nicolersquos empathy stems from hearing the story of her parents Marisol a native of Mexico left for the United States in her teens to pursue a cosmetics license It was difficult she says but she argues she had it easier than her husband Joel who she would later meet in English classes

Joel started his first job in the ldquoworst town you can think ofrdquomdashAguascalientes Mexico He loaded heavy bricks into trucks and along with 15 or so other boys sold them house-to-house He was five at the time Joel came to the United States when he was 15 Later he worked 60 to 70 hours a week while attending college classes at night sometimes even taking a course during his lunch hour

Nicole sees what her parents had to go throughmdashall their hard work So she strives to be the best As a 40 student Nicole is currently right behind her best friend for the top spot on the GPA ladder ldquoIt has been a long steady fightrdquo she says ldquobut itrsquos all in good funrdquo However like most high achievers Nicole gets upset if she receives a B on a test or paper but her parents do not

ldquoMy parents are like lsquoyou are doing the best you canrsquordquo Nicole says resting her hand on her cheek during a recent interview ldquoLove themrdquo

Nicole says attending Northwest was one the best decisions she has ever made ldquoShe is one of the best ambassadors for the schoolrdquo Lee says Nicole is active in all aspects of the school including student council National Honor Society and choir She has won numerous community service awards and was one of five in the nation to be selected for the National Youth Advisory Council

Nicole is now eager to show the Burmese family all the ldquosimple things we take for grantedrdquo around Omahamdashldquolike the mall and zoordquo she says

ldquoNicole has the heart to helphellip to make a better worldrdquo her mother says proudlyemsp

Nicole CarrilloHelping Immigrants Thrive in America

Nicole Carillo and the Thrive Group

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp17

by Lisa Lukecart photography by Keith Binderyoung hero

18emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Claire Martin photography by Bill Sitzmannactivity

the expected audience for morning attendance at the Joslyn Art Museum is not perhaps thought to be a handful of pint-sized art scholars But thats precisely the group of observers that hovered around a Renaissance fresco on a recent Friday

morning chattering about concepts like color shapes and how it was that a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle (Michelangelo) could be an artist

A museum shouldnt be a stuffy place I dont think artist and teacher Therese Straseski says It should be a fun place

Straseski has led and instructed the Art Adventures program at the Joslyn for 15 years now in which kids from the ages of 3-5 participate in interactive art activities with their parents every Friday morning Creative tasks can range anywhere from pouring plaster to mixing color palettes

I think art is amazingly important in children Straseski says Teaching art is about learning to enjoy yourself and love what you do Maybe I cant be Rembrandt but I can teach these kids to enjoy themselves in creating art

Another of Straseskis passions in her job is the substantial development in her young students skill and interest over time More exposure to art she believes helps integrate both sides of the brain immediately in children

We absolutely see improvement in our kids she says When they come as 3-year-olds concepts are lost on them and theyre just having fun But as they get older they start to understand concepts like color and line

Big Museum Pint-Sized Fun

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp19

Parents according to Straseski are some of the programs strongest advocates especially as art programs are dropped from elementary curriculums due to budget cuts

Mom and Art Adventures regular Alison Novak for example prioritizes the preservation of arts significance in her kids

I think children are naturally drawn to art because its messy and creative Novak says But I do think theyre very aware of the importance of art and artists especially as they get older

She adds that the interactive aspect of Joslyns art program is especially engaging for her 3-year-old daughter Dagny

The experience of art in this program is important because its so tactile and allows [my daughter] to use different materials Novak says Its not just coming and looking at the art Its something to get her involved

Its quite possible then that with the efforts of art advocates like Straseski and Novak a mini-Renaissance is in the making in these small art studentsmdashperhaps not in technique but in the messy and loving creative process

Art is about being able to pass on that passion to someone else Straseski says with a smile Thats the passion in artemsp

ww

Therese Straseski at work with budding artists at the Art Adventures program

Posh PeacockConsignment Gallery

Furniture amp Home Decor

4029339666 - poshpeacocknet

Bel Air Plaza 704 12100 W Center Rd

A Treasure Troveof Delightful amp Valuable Things

JULYAUGUST bull 2014

war amp PeaceChuck Hagel battles for a future free of the quagmires of the past

OmaharsquostopDentiststrade

Best of Omahatrade Campaign 2015

The Loyal Royal Alex Gordon

Malorie MaddoxOmaha Stories

trade

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

omamagcomsave

Donrsquot miss a single issue of Omaha Magazine

kids say the darndest things

20emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Allison Janda photography by Keith Binder

as a parent yoursquove probably appreciated (and not appreciated) the absolute

honesty that often escapes your childrsquos mouth Frankness aside kids also tend to say some hilarious things Martin Brucknerrsquos daughter Harper 3 is no exception

In early 2014 Bruckner his wife Michelle and their daughter were having dinner when he overheard his wife exclaim to Harper ldquoPlease donrsquot put spaghetti between your toesrdquo That same night as Bruckner was giving his daughter her evening bath he found himself asking her ldquoDid you drop your cheese in the tub againrdquo From that point on he decided it would be worthwhile to take note of all of the absurd utterances around his house He knew that one day he his wife and their child could all look back and have a good laugh

Bruckner began to create graphics based on things he wrote down eventually starting Tumblr and Facebook accounts to share them with friends family and parents around the world ldquoPretty much the first day I started the Facebook and Tumblr pages I had parents replying to me with the things their children say to themrdquo he chuckles Bruckner admits that it isnrsquot just the locals that find things he his wife and his daughter say funny In fact he has gotten messages from as far away as Australia

While Spaghetti Toes started out innocently enough it seems to be gaining steam as Harper ages Bruckner states that while his daughter is a newer

conversationalist the things she says only get funnier with age ldquoHer vocabulary is getting bigger and stronger but shersquos still having a hard time getting certain things to be in the correct context which in turn makes them hilariousrdquo he says This is confirmed with nothing more than a cursory glance through his website

The graphics he has created have started to garner some national attention getting picked up by websites such as BuzzFeed and The Chive Additionally Bruckner has started to fulfill custom orders and recently completed two such requests for a woman in Canada Nonetheless Bruckner remains encouraged by the local scene claiming Omaharsquos creatives are extremely supportive while locals are incredibly kind

The attention his sites have garnered feels good Bruckner says Nonetheless he finds that he is more drawn to the long-term payoff that they will have ldquoI started this as a way to document my daughterrsquos life while shersquos little and Irsquom having an incredible time doing itrdquo he shares In fact his own mother inspired by what her son was doing went digging for books that she kept on Bruckner and his siblings when they were young Bruckner hopes to use it to create additional graphics for his mom and five sisters ldquoIrsquove gotten message after message after message from parents and I think everyone is in agreement as far as their children saying incredible silly ridiculous and disgusting thingsrdquo he adds ldquoI say things daily that I never thought Irsquod sayrdquo Wersquore sure that every parent out there can relateemsp

feature

I think everyone is in agreement as far as their children saying incredible sillyridiculous and disgusting thingsrdquo-Martin Bruckner

Martin Harper and Michelle Bruckner

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp21

No Age Limit for

Bullies

i could have worked with Jim Rome the radio sportscaster Wersquore about the same age We were in college about the same time studying the same thing We both started working at

small stations before moving up I produced a number of anchors and reporters ldquoback in the dayrdquo who are still on the air at national networks So I have some experience working with Romersquos personality typemdashor at least the type he uses on air Arrogant bloated ego Inflammatory language 70rsquos mustache

Before January 1 of this year I only had peripheral knowledge of and no opinion on Mr Rome Irsquom not a hardcore sports fan so I couldnrsquot have picked him out of a lineup any day of the week But on this particular New Yearrsquos Day Mr Rome chose to insult not only my children but the children of my friends and in fact the children and grandchildren of hundreds of thousands of Americans In the middle of one of college footballrsquos biggest days he threw this tweet out there

ldquoIs there anybody not in a marching band who thinks those dorks running around with their instruments are coolrdquo

Wow You can just imagine the firestorm that followed It didnrsquot take long for the hashtag MarchonRome to be trending To be brief the answer to Mr Romersquos question was a resounding ldquoYes there are people who think theyrsquore coolrdquo After a 24-hour blast of more than 8000 responses (and that was only on Twitter) including everyone from the US Marines to band alums everywhere he tweeted this

ldquoBand nationmdashI hear you I was out of line I apologize I do not condone bullying of any kind and that was not my intentrdquo

The reason I chose this topic is not so much because I was personally offended by Mr Romersquos comment but because I was so saddened that someone my age could intentionally set such a horrible example If not to be a bully I canrsquot comprehend what Mr Romersquos intent was I think if it was ldquoto be funnyrdquo then thatrsquos a fail toomdashbecause making fun of entire groups of people in this manner is pretty much the textbook definition of bullying

Mr Rome (and many others I think) got a fast education about the athleticism discipline and commitment that marching band requires And I wonrsquot even start on the statistics about the value of arts education Just last week a new study from the University of Vermont indicated the measurable impact of music education in developing attention skills anxiety management and emotional control

No my beef with Mr Rome is quite simplemdashhe should be old enough to know better I get that my generation was a little different We were very cliquishmdashjocks potheads geeks dorks

22emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

mind amp bodyby Bev Carlson Lutheran Family Services

blah blahmdashbut I really thought (hoped) that with all of the current awareness of bullying a public figure like Mr Rose would be tuned in enough to choose his words more carefully when referring to hundreds of thousands of hard-working high school and college students

My hope rests with this next generation where amid the online furor those students with highly developed ldquoemotional controlrdquo graciously accepted Mr Rosersquos apology reminding him that this time he ldquomessed with the wrong dorksrdquo Irsquom still holding out hope that he will accept the challenge from many of the band members (many of whom also play sports) to come do what they domdash handle one week of band camp In the summer In the South Or how about here in Nebraska on all those cold early mornings Go Bandemsp

I was so saddened that someone my age could intentionally set such a horrible example

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp23

oneworldomahaorg

Grow STRONG WithOneWorld Pediatrics

45 YEARS OF MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Cass FamilyMedicine

122 S 6th StPlattsmouth

402-296-2345

Northwest Omaha

4229 N 90th St402-401-6000

West Omaha4101 S 120th St402-505-3907

South Omaha4920 S 30th St

402-734-4110

45 Years of Making a DifferenceOne Child at a Time

Bean amp Cheese Tostadas

this yummy tostada recipe makes a satisfying healthy lunch or dinner Black beans zucchini corn and cherry tomatoes make this colorful vegetarian

dish delicious and nutritious emsp

Find more great recipes at HealthyKohlsKidscom The Healthy Kohlrsquos Kids program is a partnership between Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center and Kohlrsquos Department Stores to educate children and parents about healthy nutrition and fitness

24emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

sponsored content by Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center food

ingredientsbull 8 corn

tortillas (6-inch diameter)

bull 1 can (14 oz) black beans rinsed and drained

bull 1 small white onion finely chopped

bull 2 medium zucchini cut into 14-inch pieces

bull 2 jalapentildeo peppers seeded and chopped

bull 12 Tbsp black pepper

bull 14 cup water

bull 12 cup cooked corn

bull 1 cup cherry tomatoes sliced

bull 12 cup chopped cilantro leaves

bull 1 12 oz grated reduced-fat white cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese (14 cup)

bull 4 scallions chopped

bull 1 small avocado pitted peeled and chopped

bull Lime wedges optional

preparation1 Preheat oven to 400deg Arrange tortillas

on 2 baking sheets and toast in oven until crisp about 5 minutes Remove from baking sheets

2 Lightly spray baking sheets with nonstick cooking spray Spread beans and onion on one and zucchini and jalapentildeos on the other Lightly coat vegetables with cooking spray season with the black pepper and roast until golden 12 to 15 minutes

3 Transfer half the beans and onion to a bowl with the water and mash beans with the back of a fork until smooth (Add more water to reach desired consistency if necessary) Spread mixture onto tortillas

4 Toss remaining beans and onion with zucchini jalapentildeos and corn and divide among tortillas

5 Top each tostada with tomatoes cilantro cheese scallions and avocado Serve with lime wedges if desired

Yield 4 servings

Nutrition Facts Calories 434 Fat 14g

Saturated Fat 3g Cholesterol 0

Sodium 446mg Carbohydrates 61g

Fiber 10g Protein 16g

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp25

Thanks for Voting Us Best of Omahatrade

84th and 1st St Downtown Papillion

402-331-9136

18 flavorsBaked daily Birthdays Weddings GraduationsOn-site party room

buy one get one

FREEExpires March 31 2015

HoursMonday-Saturday raquo11am-8pm

Located at Midlands Placeoff 84th Street and Highway 370

Maybe a Cupcake Will Help

wwwdingmanscom

4025583500Corner of

50th amp SouthSaddlecreek

402-502-8757Southwest corner

of 144th amp Industrial Rd

4025025511Southwestcorner of

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4029339400Corner of

Washington amp Lincoln in Papillion

ldquoWersquod Rather Be The Best Than Apologize for Anything Lessrdquo

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10 YEARS in a row

We are grateful for your business and Best of Omahatrade

votes for best Auto Body Repair

Spring Cleaning St Patrickrsquos Way

while most are eager for the weather to warm up in time for St Patrickrsquos Day (and the green beer sure)

Irsquom more into the holidayrsquos theme of ridding the country of evils Itrsquos time to purge yrsquoall

Irsquove been hibernating for six months under a blanket in front of the fireplace All I see here is an intense accumulation of clutter tucked in the corners out of my usual visual paths as I traverse my house

I finally get up and start the purge ldquoWhorsquos beach towel is thisrdquo ldquoI think Bobby left it here when we had that

slip-n-slide partyrdquo one of the kids says to me while walking out of their scarf gloves hat sweatshirt and shoes which leaves a trail marking my imminent demise from slips and falls (If I fall and am lying there unconscious interrogate my kids first)

ldquoThe slip-n-slide party That was five years agordquo I respond

ldquoYeah I think Bobby moved to Alaskardquo comes the retort which was both informative and confirmation that we had a right to be embarrassed

ldquoWell he doesnrsquot need this beach towel anymorerdquo Once the snow melts the purge involves three or four trips to Goodwill

Itrsquos funny that when yoursquore trapped in your house long enough due to subzero temperatures you start looking at the walls a little differently ldquoIs it me or is our kitchen less sage green and more My Little Pony Minty Greenrdquo I ask my husband

Before he can assure me the pastel shade of green is fine Irsquom off getting paint You canrsquot go wrong with a color called ldquoChocolaterdquo for the kitchen right

My family isnrsquot very supportive of my winter stir-crazy hobby of purging This year for Christmas the kids asked Santa for locks on their doors in an effort to protect their belongings from Momrsquos annual campaign

Itrsquos inevitable that about five years after I give something away one of my kids wants to know where it went Irsquom sorry your 2005 Lego set is gone My bare feet just couldnrsquot take it anymore

Just as St Patrick rid Ireland of all the snakes Irsquove secretly celebrated my own sainthood as Irsquove shooed all of my clutter away

Oh but then you realize that even saints canrsquot always win the clutter battle The cat barfs up a hairball My son walks by and touts ldquoIf only we still had Bobbyrsquos beach towel to clean this uprdquoemsp

26emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Leslie Murrell mom on the rocks

Boat PoseSanskrit name Paripurna Navasana(par-ee-POOR-nah nah-VAHS-anna)

the Boat Pose strengthens the hip flexors spine and the abdomen This pose helps to relieve stress improves digestion and stimulates the kidneys

intestines and thyroidemsp

BEGINNERS TIPPlace a strap around the ball of both feet Hold on to the

strap with straight arms

1 Sit on the floor with your legs straight in front of you Place your hands behind your hip and press into the ground fingers face- forward

2 Lift up through the sternum and slightly lean back until the weight is distributed to the top of your sitting bones and tailbone

3 Bend the knees and lift the feet off the floor

4 Lengthen the tailbone by pressing it into the floor and lift the pubis towards the naval

5 Slowly straighten your legs until your feet reach above eye level and spread the toes

6 Stretch the arms alongside the legs and reach out through the fingers

7 Breathe deeply for 15-30 seconds

8 Exhale and lower the legs to the floor

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp27

by Rachel Joy photography by Bill SitzmannfitnessWe are

the most experienced full-service family owned real estate company in America

npdodgecom

FOR THE KIDS

BAM ITrsquoS A PICTURE BOOK THE ART BEHIND GRAPHIC NOVELSTHROUGH MARCH 29 2015 JOSLYN ART MUSEUM ndash

2200 DODGE ST Popular among young readers

graphic novels are known for their comic

format They are generally described as

ldquosequential artrdquo where a series of illustrations

tell the story but unlike newspaper comics

they are the length of a novel and include

narrative development This exhibition features

the work of Jarrett J Krosoczka Mark Crilley

Matt Holm Raina Telgemeier and Lincoln

Peirce Tuesday - Wednesday amp Friday - Sunday

10am- 4pm Thursday 10am- 8pm Free

admission 402-342-3300

- JOSLYNORG

ONCE UPON A FARM EXHIBITTHROUGH APRIL 12 OMAHA CHILDRENrsquoS MUSEUMmdash500

S 20TH ST Explore the world of agriculture and

learn where your food comes from with the help

of interactive exhibit components like a center

pivot amp planting station dairy cows pedal track

maze and more Tuesday through Friday 10am ndash

4pm Saturday 9am ndash 5pm Sunday 1pm ndash 5 pm

Admission $2 plus regular admission Free for

members 402-342-6164

- OCMORG

MERMAID MINIONS amp DRAGONSMARCH 22 Holland Performing Arts

Centermdash1200 Douglas St Your favorite music

from How to Train Your Dragon Despicable Me

The Little Mermaid and other family movie hits

Brought to life through thrilling performances of

song dance and spectacle 2pm

Admission $15

- OMAHASYMPHONYORG

FOR THE FAMILY

NATURE CONNECTS 2THROUGH APRIL 26 LAURITZEN GARDENSmdash100

BANCROFT ST View 27 new sculptures each

inspired by the natural world made entirely of

300000 Legoreg bricks Make your own Lego

brick creations in the Legobrickyard and enjoy

a variety of Lego-inspired events throughout

the duration of the exhibit 9am ndash 5pm

Admission $10 adults$5 children six to 12 Free

for children under six and for garden members

402-346-4003

- LAURITZENGARDENSORG

TECH CITYTHROUGH MAY 10 STRATEGIC AIR amp SPACE MUSEUMmdash

ASHLAND NE This travelling engineering exhibit

is a great way to inspire learning and interest

in careers that focus on science technology

engineering and mathematics (STEM) The

Tech City exhibit is designed with interactive

learning that will appeal to visitors of all ages

9am - 5pm Free with regular admission $12

adult $6 youth children under 3 are free

402-944-3100

- SASMUSEUMCOM

ZEN TIES

THROUGH MARCH 8 THE ROSE THEATERmdash2001

FARNAM ST A gentle tale about patience and

compassion Zen Ties will make you remember

how much wisdom can come of simple

mindfulness Friday Saturday and Sunday

Members Four free admissions Non-member

admission $18 402-345-4949

- ROSETHEATERORG

FOR MOM amp DAD

AMERICAN MODERNS FROM OrsquoKEEFFE TO ROCKWELLTHROUGH MAY 17 JOSLYN ART MUSEUMmdash2200

DODGE ST The United States emerged as an

international power while also experiencing

two world wars and the Great Depression

New technologies changed all aspects of

life while the art world witnessed dramatic

transformations of its own This exhibition

explores the ways American artists including

Georgia OrsquoKeeffe Marsden Hartley Stuart

Davis Rockwell Kent and Norman Rockwell

engaged the modern world This exhibition

will have a ticket fee Free for members youth

ages 17 and younger amp college students with ID

402-342-3300

-JOSLYNORG

KATHARINE HEPBURN DRESSED FOR STAGE AND SCREENFEBRUARY 7-APRIL 26 DURHAM MUSEUMmdash801 S

10TH ST This exhibition from the Kent State

University Museum features more than 35

costumes worn in 21 films and six stage

productions as well as other personal items

spanning Hepburnrsquos illustrious career Come see

how this true icon of American culture came

to epitomize the modern woman of the 20th

century Children $6 Adults $9 402-444-5071

- DURHAMMUSEUMORG

COMPAGNIE KAumlFIGMARCH 18 HOLLAND CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST

Brazilian dance company Compagnie Kaumlfig

brings a high-energy performance style

combining their hip-hop foundation with martial

arts and circus elements 730pm $1350 to

$2625 402-345-0202

- OMAHAPERFORMINGARTSORG

Tech CityBam Itrsquos a Picture Book American Moderns

28emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

Calendar of Events

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp29

Erin Cox Event Director

402-884-2038 | erinomahamagazinecom

EVENTS by OMAHA MAGAZINE

Events by Omaha Magazine is a full-service event production company specializing in trade shows corporate events product launches and social gatherings From concept to delivery our goal is to provide an exceptional event experience for the host and their guests

Your Vision Our Innovation Event Solutions

GET A JUMP ON SUMMER

YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA wwwmetroymcaorg

Join us March 21 2015 for our Open House at any YMCA of Greater Omaha location The YMCA is your place for camp this summer bull Weekly themed preschool morning camps (3-5 years) and summer day camp (4-12 years - varies by location)

bull Mini special interest camps

bull Premier camps and Camp Platte

bull Counselors-in-Training program for teens

REGISTER FOR

CAMP AT OUR OPEN

HOUSE 3-21-15

AND PAY NO CAMP

REGISTRATION FEES

i never had a pet as a childOkay so I did at the age of 9 or so have

an ill-fated and short-lived guardianship of a turtle whose name Irsquove long forgotten but Irsquove never been a pet person

My mother abhorred the idea of anything furry dwelling in her home and I was pretty much fine with that The feeling carried over into adulthood and my three now-grown children probably felt super-lucky just to have had the brief company of a single pet a (clean and non-slobbering) feline named Scribbles

Viral videos portraying cats and dogs doing whatever it is that cats and dogs do have never appeared on any of my playlists And to be frank people who describe their little quadruped cuties as their ldquochildrenrdquohellipwell kinda creep me out I have no innate aversion to cats even though I take them to be whiskered sociopaths of evil intent but I have never been at all comfortable around dogs of any make or model

Before the hate mail begins please allow me at least a shot at redemption

My grandsons Barrett and Easton are growing up in a home where the company of canines is prized Their collie Summer recently ascended to that great dog pound in the sky and after an appropriate period of mourning has been replaced by a border collie pup carrying an equally seasonal name of Winter

Itrsquos an understatement to say that I never hit it off with Summer Perhaps it didnrsquot help that she stained our Oriental rug as a pup not 10 seconds into her very first visit to our home My son Eric entered with Summer while explaining that all would be well in that the creature was doing a smash-up job when it came to taking care of business but it was too late The little thing bounded (Is that what dogs do They ldquoboundrdquo) directly to the rug lifted one leg andhellipyou know the rest

I have promised to be different with Winter My kids already know that I am neurotic but I donrsquot

want Easton and Barrett to grow up thinking that their granddad is some kind of loathsome monster I am going to do my best to get to know Winter and not be such a basket case

Not surprisingly my first encounter with Winter was shall we say trying ldquoHersquos

just young and excitablerdquo I was told as the dog tried to climb up my leg Yeah tell that to my now urine-stained

shoes (suede no less) and newish sweater scarred by Winterrsquos talons or toes or paws or whatever it is theyrsquore called

But it is with a certain sense of self-satisfaction that I can report that I kept my cool Now the notion of ldquocoolrdquo is subjective My immediate knee-jerk reaction was admittedly to jerk my knee in revulsion but I collected myself as quickly as possible and

tried my best to not make an international incident of the affair

I really need to up my game in being the grandpa that I hope to

be but boy do I have my work cut out for meemsp

Canine Calamity A Plan to Fake it Until I Make it

30emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

the grandpa chroniclesby David Williams

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp31

Did you know90 of brain development

happens by age 5Discover Nebraska Childrenrsquos Home Societyrsquos

accredited high-quality early childhood education programs with low child-to-staff ratios at two locations

4939 S 118th St in Omaha (402) 898-7760 for children 18 months through Pre-K

and 3549 Fontenelle Blvd in Omaha (402) 898-7768 for children 6 weeks through Pre-K

Call today for a free no-obligation tour

4023450606 OMAHASYMPHONYORG

Sunday March 22 bull 200 PMHolland Center

Your favorite music from How to Train Your Dragon

The Little Mermaid Despicable Me and other

family movie hits Brought to life through exciting performances of song dance and spectacle

FEATURING

THE HEARTLAND YOUTH BALLET

REacuteSONANCE CHOIR

Tickets Adults amp Kids $12

FAMILY SERIES

CONCERT

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Omaha Magazine5921 S 118th CirOmaha NE 68137

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

Page 11: March 2015 HerFamily

Dig These Chicks

12emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

diyby Kristen Hoffman photography by Bill Sitzmann

if you are an American female living in the year 2015 you probably have noticed that succulent plants have

exploded in popularity over the past year or two You canrsquot resist themmdashtheir tiny stature their resilience their pinks and purples that scream ldquoIrsquom a girl plantrdquo Good grief letrsquos just admit it Theyrsquore adorable

You know what else is adorable Baby chicks emerging from their eggs at springtime

So letrsquos take advantage of a plant that is actually referred to as ldquohensrdquo and ldquochicksrdquo (depending on their maturity) and combine them into an explosion of adorable Pinterest magic

SUPPLIESbull Eggsbull Paper egg cartonbull Knifebull Paper clipbull Preserved mossbull Gluebull Small succulentsbull Cactus soil (if needed)

DIRECTIONS1 Shop for some succulent babies

You can find these at nurseries grocery stores or home improvement stores The smaller the better Look for bunches that have multiple blooms to fill out your eggshells

2 Open the eggshells with the back of a butter knife Peel off the top section of the shell until you are satisfied with the size of the hole

3 Wash out the eggs with warm water and soap and place them back in the carton Pull apart a paper clip so that it is one long piece of metal With the paper clip poke a hole in the bottom of each egg Keeping them in the carton will keep the eggs from cracking and the hole will provide drainage for the plant Wash hands thoroughly afterwards

4 Attach small pieces of preserved moss to the carton with glue to give it a little green Only do this to the top Placing moss into the carton will prevent the eggshells from sitting snugly in their place

5 Carefully remove the succulents from their containers Shake off any excess dirt that may be attached at the roots Fill the eggs about halfway with the excess dirt Arrange the succulents in the eggshells and pour a little more dirt into the shells to stabilize the stems

Keep these little guys in a sunny area and spray them with a water bottle sparingly Succulents are desert plants and honestly thrive on neglect Just my kind of plantemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp13

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Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

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2

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Molly Maid clean is now green

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Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

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402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

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Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

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Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

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402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

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Molly Maid clean is now green

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Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

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4

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Molly Maid clean is now green

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Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

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Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

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Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

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cathytichymollymaidcom

ldquoIt was cathartic for me Writing is how I emote Tons of women contacted me which then made me feel healedrdquo -Ashli Brehm

14emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Kara Weselyfeature

itrsquos easy for young moms to long for the stimulation of speaking with someone over the age of 10 Therersquos catharsis in talking through onersquos feelings and

problems with a person who no longer wears a diaper or a backpack

Increasingly mothers in Omaha like mothers nationally are turning to social media to connect vent or keep their writing chops sharp Theyrsquore the ldquoMommy Bloggersrdquo a group that by some estimates now number in the millions

Most blog as a pastime But some mommy blogs have higher purposes A blog can foster healing A blog can be a purposefully permanent document for the family

Omaha native Missy Cobb started her blog The Cobb Mobb as a way to connect with her three children

ldquoEvery time I write for the blog I think about my kids and how I am documenting memories for them I tried scrapbooking for my older kids but it was too time consumingrdquo Cobb says gt

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp15

lt Cobb who started her blog as a New Yearrsquos resolution in 2012 found writing allowed her to capture milestones and memories in a more efficient and permanent way ldquoIrsquove always enjoyed writing and I like knowing that this will always be there for my kids to readrdquo

Ashli Brehmrsquos blog Baby on the Brehm has played a key role in getting her through some trying times After going through a miscarriage Brehm (pronounced like brain but with an lsquomrsquo) dedicated a blog post to her experience and managed to connect with other women who had lost a baby

ldquoIt was cathartic for me Writing is how I emote Tons of women contacted me which then made me feel healedrdquo Brehm says

When her subsequent pregnancy did not go as planned and her third son was born several weeks premature she shared the highs and lows with her readers and received an overwhelming amount of support via Baby on the Brehm That support carried her through the next six weeks while her son Harrison was in the NICU growing strong enough to head home with his parents and two brothers

Fast-forward one year and Harrison is a happy healthy 1-year-old and Ashli is still blogging about her boys motherhood and everything in between And she still manages to maintain that connection with her audience

ldquoThe people who read my blog are like a community to me They are my life raft at timesrdquo Brehm says

Brehm like Cobb hopes that some day her children will read her entries and considers the blog a sort of legacy she is leaving behind

ldquoI want my boys to learn to be themselves and to have confidence I hope that by blogging and doing it in an authentic and honest way I am showing them thatrdquo emsp

feature continued

Missy CobbPhoto by Keith Binder

16emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

Visit us today12965 W Center Rd 4027780650

HoursMon-Thu 10-6Fri-Sat 10-5Sun 12-4

wwwelitecheercom402-537-0855 2410 S 140th Circle

Nebraskarsquos Premiere Cheerleading amp Tumbling center Learn basic

cheer techniquesJumps Tumbling Stunts amp Pyramids

We teach kids how to win through-Hard Work PerserverenceAccountability Discipline Integrity

ldquoA journey of a thousand miles starts with a single steprdquo

ldquoI bust mine so you can kick theirsrdquo

LFSneborg middot infoLFSneborg

Friday Feb 20 2015

dinner amp auction

Honorary cHair

nancy K JoHnson

il Palazzo bull 5110 nortH 132nd street bull omaHa ne cmurraylFsneborg

LFS Her Family ad 12-08-14indd 1 1282014 123544 PM

Young Hero proudly sponsored by

Young Hero proudly sponsored by

nicole Carrillo says she can make friends anywhere Even at the airport

Case in point On a chilly night in November Nicole stood with her fellow Thrive Club members at Eppley Airfield holding colorful signs Nicolersquos read ldquoWELCOME TO OMAHArdquo with the Orsquos shaped like hearts Moments later wild applause laughter and some tears erupted from the relatives students and coaches gathered for this moment

Nicolersquos soon-to-be-new friends were a refugee family just arriving from Burma Marisol Nicolersquos mother and one of the sponsors of Thrive was overwhelmed as tears flooded her eyes ldquoIt was life- changingrdquo Marisol recalls

Members of the Thrive Club along with Lutheran Family Services provided a cozy home environment for the immigrant family in an apartment volunteerrsquos chocked full of groceries clothes and furniture

Nicole a junior at Northwest High School had filled out a grant to present to her principal Thomas Lee to do something for a family that would be lost in a foreign world

Emigrating is hard scary often emotionally draining Nicolersquos empathy stems from hearing the story of her parents Marisol a native of Mexico left for the United States in her teens to pursue a cosmetics license It was difficult she says but she argues she had it easier than her husband Joel who she would later meet in English classes

Joel started his first job in the ldquoworst town you can think ofrdquomdashAguascalientes Mexico He loaded heavy bricks into trucks and along with 15 or so other boys sold them house-to-house He was five at the time Joel came to the United States when he was 15 Later he worked 60 to 70 hours a week while attending college classes at night sometimes even taking a course during his lunch hour

Nicole sees what her parents had to go throughmdashall their hard work So she strives to be the best As a 40 student Nicole is currently right behind her best friend for the top spot on the GPA ladder ldquoIt has been a long steady fightrdquo she says ldquobut itrsquos all in good funrdquo However like most high achievers Nicole gets upset if she receives a B on a test or paper but her parents do not

ldquoMy parents are like lsquoyou are doing the best you canrsquordquo Nicole says resting her hand on her cheek during a recent interview ldquoLove themrdquo

Nicole says attending Northwest was one the best decisions she has ever made ldquoShe is one of the best ambassadors for the schoolrdquo Lee says Nicole is active in all aspects of the school including student council National Honor Society and choir She has won numerous community service awards and was one of five in the nation to be selected for the National Youth Advisory Council

Nicole is now eager to show the Burmese family all the ldquosimple things we take for grantedrdquo around Omahamdashldquolike the mall and zoordquo she says

ldquoNicole has the heart to helphellip to make a better worldrdquo her mother says proudlyemsp

Nicole CarrilloHelping Immigrants Thrive in America

Nicole Carillo and the Thrive Group

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp17

by Lisa Lukecart photography by Keith Binderyoung hero

18emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Claire Martin photography by Bill Sitzmannactivity

the expected audience for morning attendance at the Joslyn Art Museum is not perhaps thought to be a handful of pint-sized art scholars But thats precisely the group of observers that hovered around a Renaissance fresco on a recent Friday

morning chattering about concepts like color shapes and how it was that a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle (Michelangelo) could be an artist

A museum shouldnt be a stuffy place I dont think artist and teacher Therese Straseski says It should be a fun place

Straseski has led and instructed the Art Adventures program at the Joslyn for 15 years now in which kids from the ages of 3-5 participate in interactive art activities with their parents every Friday morning Creative tasks can range anywhere from pouring plaster to mixing color palettes

I think art is amazingly important in children Straseski says Teaching art is about learning to enjoy yourself and love what you do Maybe I cant be Rembrandt but I can teach these kids to enjoy themselves in creating art

Another of Straseskis passions in her job is the substantial development in her young students skill and interest over time More exposure to art she believes helps integrate both sides of the brain immediately in children

We absolutely see improvement in our kids she says When they come as 3-year-olds concepts are lost on them and theyre just having fun But as they get older they start to understand concepts like color and line

Big Museum Pint-Sized Fun

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp19

Parents according to Straseski are some of the programs strongest advocates especially as art programs are dropped from elementary curriculums due to budget cuts

Mom and Art Adventures regular Alison Novak for example prioritizes the preservation of arts significance in her kids

I think children are naturally drawn to art because its messy and creative Novak says But I do think theyre very aware of the importance of art and artists especially as they get older

She adds that the interactive aspect of Joslyns art program is especially engaging for her 3-year-old daughter Dagny

The experience of art in this program is important because its so tactile and allows [my daughter] to use different materials Novak says Its not just coming and looking at the art Its something to get her involved

Its quite possible then that with the efforts of art advocates like Straseski and Novak a mini-Renaissance is in the making in these small art studentsmdashperhaps not in technique but in the messy and loving creative process

Art is about being able to pass on that passion to someone else Straseski says with a smile Thats the passion in artemsp

ww

Therese Straseski at work with budding artists at the Art Adventures program

Posh PeacockConsignment Gallery

Furniture amp Home Decor

4029339666 - poshpeacocknet

Bel Air Plaza 704 12100 W Center Rd

A Treasure Troveof Delightful amp Valuable Things

JULYAUGUST bull 2014

war amp PeaceChuck Hagel battles for a future free of the quagmires of the past

OmaharsquostopDentiststrade

Best of Omahatrade Campaign 2015

The Loyal Royal Alex Gordon

Malorie MaddoxOmaha Stories

trade

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

omamagcomsave

Donrsquot miss a single issue of Omaha Magazine

kids say the darndest things

20emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Allison Janda photography by Keith Binder

as a parent yoursquove probably appreciated (and not appreciated) the absolute

honesty that often escapes your childrsquos mouth Frankness aside kids also tend to say some hilarious things Martin Brucknerrsquos daughter Harper 3 is no exception

In early 2014 Bruckner his wife Michelle and their daughter were having dinner when he overheard his wife exclaim to Harper ldquoPlease donrsquot put spaghetti between your toesrdquo That same night as Bruckner was giving his daughter her evening bath he found himself asking her ldquoDid you drop your cheese in the tub againrdquo From that point on he decided it would be worthwhile to take note of all of the absurd utterances around his house He knew that one day he his wife and their child could all look back and have a good laugh

Bruckner began to create graphics based on things he wrote down eventually starting Tumblr and Facebook accounts to share them with friends family and parents around the world ldquoPretty much the first day I started the Facebook and Tumblr pages I had parents replying to me with the things their children say to themrdquo he chuckles Bruckner admits that it isnrsquot just the locals that find things he his wife and his daughter say funny In fact he has gotten messages from as far away as Australia

While Spaghetti Toes started out innocently enough it seems to be gaining steam as Harper ages Bruckner states that while his daughter is a newer

conversationalist the things she says only get funnier with age ldquoHer vocabulary is getting bigger and stronger but shersquos still having a hard time getting certain things to be in the correct context which in turn makes them hilariousrdquo he says This is confirmed with nothing more than a cursory glance through his website

The graphics he has created have started to garner some national attention getting picked up by websites such as BuzzFeed and The Chive Additionally Bruckner has started to fulfill custom orders and recently completed two such requests for a woman in Canada Nonetheless Bruckner remains encouraged by the local scene claiming Omaharsquos creatives are extremely supportive while locals are incredibly kind

The attention his sites have garnered feels good Bruckner says Nonetheless he finds that he is more drawn to the long-term payoff that they will have ldquoI started this as a way to document my daughterrsquos life while shersquos little and Irsquom having an incredible time doing itrdquo he shares In fact his own mother inspired by what her son was doing went digging for books that she kept on Bruckner and his siblings when they were young Bruckner hopes to use it to create additional graphics for his mom and five sisters ldquoIrsquove gotten message after message after message from parents and I think everyone is in agreement as far as their children saying incredible silly ridiculous and disgusting thingsrdquo he adds ldquoI say things daily that I never thought Irsquod sayrdquo Wersquore sure that every parent out there can relateemsp

feature

I think everyone is in agreement as far as their children saying incredible sillyridiculous and disgusting thingsrdquo-Martin Bruckner

Martin Harper and Michelle Bruckner

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp21

No Age Limit for

Bullies

i could have worked with Jim Rome the radio sportscaster Wersquore about the same age We were in college about the same time studying the same thing We both started working at

small stations before moving up I produced a number of anchors and reporters ldquoback in the dayrdquo who are still on the air at national networks So I have some experience working with Romersquos personality typemdashor at least the type he uses on air Arrogant bloated ego Inflammatory language 70rsquos mustache

Before January 1 of this year I only had peripheral knowledge of and no opinion on Mr Rome Irsquom not a hardcore sports fan so I couldnrsquot have picked him out of a lineup any day of the week But on this particular New Yearrsquos Day Mr Rome chose to insult not only my children but the children of my friends and in fact the children and grandchildren of hundreds of thousands of Americans In the middle of one of college footballrsquos biggest days he threw this tweet out there

ldquoIs there anybody not in a marching band who thinks those dorks running around with their instruments are coolrdquo

Wow You can just imagine the firestorm that followed It didnrsquot take long for the hashtag MarchonRome to be trending To be brief the answer to Mr Romersquos question was a resounding ldquoYes there are people who think theyrsquore coolrdquo After a 24-hour blast of more than 8000 responses (and that was only on Twitter) including everyone from the US Marines to band alums everywhere he tweeted this

ldquoBand nationmdashI hear you I was out of line I apologize I do not condone bullying of any kind and that was not my intentrdquo

The reason I chose this topic is not so much because I was personally offended by Mr Romersquos comment but because I was so saddened that someone my age could intentionally set such a horrible example If not to be a bully I canrsquot comprehend what Mr Romersquos intent was I think if it was ldquoto be funnyrdquo then thatrsquos a fail toomdashbecause making fun of entire groups of people in this manner is pretty much the textbook definition of bullying

Mr Rome (and many others I think) got a fast education about the athleticism discipline and commitment that marching band requires And I wonrsquot even start on the statistics about the value of arts education Just last week a new study from the University of Vermont indicated the measurable impact of music education in developing attention skills anxiety management and emotional control

No my beef with Mr Rome is quite simplemdashhe should be old enough to know better I get that my generation was a little different We were very cliquishmdashjocks potheads geeks dorks

22emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

mind amp bodyby Bev Carlson Lutheran Family Services

blah blahmdashbut I really thought (hoped) that with all of the current awareness of bullying a public figure like Mr Rose would be tuned in enough to choose his words more carefully when referring to hundreds of thousands of hard-working high school and college students

My hope rests with this next generation where amid the online furor those students with highly developed ldquoemotional controlrdquo graciously accepted Mr Rosersquos apology reminding him that this time he ldquomessed with the wrong dorksrdquo Irsquom still holding out hope that he will accept the challenge from many of the band members (many of whom also play sports) to come do what they domdash handle one week of band camp In the summer In the South Or how about here in Nebraska on all those cold early mornings Go Bandemsp

I was so saddened that someone my age could intentionally set such a horrible example

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp23

oneworldomahaorg

Grow STRONG WithOneWorld Pediatrics

45 YEARS OF MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Cass FamilyMedicine

122 S 6th StPlattsmouth

402-296-2345

Northwest Omaha

4229 N 90th St402-401-6000

West Omaha4101 S 120th St402-505-3907

South Omaha4920 S 30th St

402-734-4110

45 Years of Making a DifferenceOne Child at a Time

Bean amp Cheese Tostadas

this yummy tostada recipe makes a satisfying healthy lunch or dinner Black beans zucchini corn and cherry tomatoes make this colorful vegetarian

dish delicious and nutritious emsp

Find more great recipes at HealthyKohlsKidscom The Healthy Kohlrsquos Kids program is a partnership between Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center and Kohlrsquos Department Stores to educate children and parents about healthy nutrition and fitness

24emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

sponsored content by Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center food

ingredientsbull 8 corn

tortillas (6-inch diameter)

bull 1 can (14 oz) black beans rinsed and drained

bull 1 small white onion finely chopped

bull 2 medium zucchini cut into 14-inch pieces

bull 2 jalapentildeo peppers seeded and chopped

bull 12 Tbsp black pepper

bull 14 cup water

bull 12 cup cooked corn

bull 1 cup cherry tomatoes sliced

bull 12 cup chopped cilantro leaves

bull 1 12 oz grated reduced-fat white cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese (14 cup)

bull 4 scallions chopped

bull 1 small avocado pitted peeled and chopped

bull Lime wedges optional

preparation1 Preheat oven to 400deg Arrange tortillas

on 2 baking sheets and toast in oven until crisp about 5 minutes Remove from baking sheets

2 Lightly spray baking sheets with nonstick cooking spray Spread beans and onion on one and zucchini and jalapentildeos on the other Lightly coat vegetables with cooking spray season with the black pepper and roast until golden 12 to 15 minutes

3 Transfer half the beans and onion to a bowl with the water and mash beans with the back of a fork until smooth (Add more water to reach desired consistency if necessary) Spread mixture onto tortillas

4 Toss remaining beans and onion with zucchini jalapentildeos and corn and divide among tortillas

5 Top each tostada with tomatoes cilantro cheese scallions and avocado Serve with lime wedges if desired

Yield 4 servings

Nutrition Facts Calories 434 Fat 14g

Saturated Fat 3g Cholesterol 0

Sodium 446mg Carbohydrates 61g

Fiber 10g Protein 16g

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp25

Thanks for Voting Us Best of Omahatrade

84th and 1st St Downtown Papillion

402-331-9136

18 flavorsBaked daily Birthdays Weddings GraduationsOn-site party room

buy one get one

FREEExpires March 31 2015

HoursMonday-Saturday raquo11am-8pm

Located at Midlands Placeoff 84th Street and Highway 370

Maybe a Cupcake Will Help

wwwdingmanscom

4025583500Corner of

50th amp SouthSaddlecreek

402-502-8757Southwest corner

of 144th amp Industrial Rd

4025025511Southwestcorner of

120th amp Maple

4029339400Corner of

Washington amp Lincoln in Papillion

ldquoWersquod Rather Be The Best Than Apologize for Anything Lessrdquo

1st place

10 YEARS in a row

We are grateful for your business and Best of Omahatrade

votes for best Auto Body Repair

Spring Cleaning St Patrickrsquos Way

while most are eager for the weather to warm up in time for St Patrickrsquos Day (and the green beer sure)

Irsquom more into the holidayrsquos theme of ridding the country of evils Itrsquos time to purge yrsquoall

Irsquove been hibernating for six months under a blanket in front of the fireplace All I see here is an intense accumulation of clutter tucked in the corners out of my usual visual paths as I traverse my house

I finally get up and start the purge ldquoWhorsquos beach towel is thisrdquo ldquoI think Bobby left it here when we had that

slip-n-slide partyrdquo one of the kids says to me while walking out of their scarf gloves hat sweatshirt and shoes which leaves a trail marking my imminent demise from slips and falls (If I fall and am lying there unconscious interrogate my kids first)

ldquoThe slip-n-slide party That was five years agordquo I respond

ldquoYeah I think Bobby moved to Alaskardquo comes the retort which was both informative and confirmation that we had a right to be embarrassed

ldquoWell he doesnrsquot need this beach towel anymorerdquo Once the snow melts the purge involves three or four trips to Goodwill

Itrsquos funny that when yoursquore trapped in your house long enough due to subzero temperatures you start looking at the walls a little differently ldquoIs it me or is our kitchen less sage green and more My Little Pony Minty Greenrdquo I ask my husband

Before he can assure me the pastel shade of green is fine Irsquom off getting paint You canrsquot go wrong with a color called ldquoChocolaterdquo for the kitchen right

My family isnrsquot very supportive of my winter stir-crazy hobby of purging This year for Christmas the kids asked Santa for locks on their doors in an effort to protect their belongings from Momrsquos annual campaign

Itrsquos inevitable that about five years after I give something away one of my kids wants to know where it went Irsquom sorry your 2005 Lego set is gone My bare feet just couldnrsquot take it anymore

Just as St Patrick rid Ireland of all the snakes Irsquove secretly celebrated my own sainthood as Irsquove shooed all of my clutter away

Oh but then you realize that even saints canrsquot always win the clutter battle The cat barfs up a hairball My son walks by and touts ldquoIf only we still had Bobbyrsquos beach towel to clean this uprdquoemsp

26emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Leslie Murrell mom on the rocks

Boat PoseSanskrit name Paripurna Navasana(par-ee-POOR-nah nah-VAHS-anna)

the Boat Pose strengthens the hip flexors spine and the abdomen This pose helps to relieve stress improves digestion and stimulates the kidneys

intestines and thyroidemsp

BEGINNERS TIPPlace a strap around the ball of both feet Hold on to the

strap with straight arms

1 Sit on the floor with your legs straight in front of you Place your hands behind your hip and press into the ground fingers face- forward

2 Lift up through the sternum and slightly lean back until the weight is distributed to the top of your sitting bones and tailbone

3 Bend the knees and lift the feet off the floor

4 Lengthen the tailbone by pressing it into the floor and lift the pubis towards the naval

5 Slowly straighten your legs until your feet reach above eye level and spread the toes

6 Stretch the arms alongside the legs and reach out through the fingers

7 Breathe deeply for 15-30 seconds

8 Exhale and lower the legs to the floor

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp27

by Rachel Joy photography by Bill SitzmannfitnessWe are

the most experienced full-service family owned real estate company in America

npdodgecom

FOR THE KIDS

BAM ITrsquoS A PICTURE BOOK THE ART BEHIND GRAPHIC NOVELSTHROUGH MARCH 29 2015 JOSLYN ART MUSEUM ndash

2200 DODGE ST Popular among young readers

graphic novels are known for their comic

format They are generally described as

ldquosequential artrdquo where a series of illustrations

tell the story but unlike newspaper comics

they are the length of a novel and include

narrative development This exhibition features

the work of Jarrett J Krosoczka Mark Crilley

Matt Holm Raina Telgemeier and Lincoln

Peirce Tuesday - Wednesday amp Friday - Sunday

10am- 4pm Thursday 10am- 8pm Free

admission 402-342-3300

- JOSLYNORG

ONCE UPON A FARM EXHIBITTHROUGH APRIL 12 OMAHA CHILDRENrsquoS MUSEUMmdash500

S 20TH ST Explore the world of agriculture and

learn where your food comes from with the help

of interactive exhibit components like a center

pivot amp planting station dairy cows pedal track

maze and more Tuesday through Friday 10am ndash

4pm Saturday 9am ndash 5pm Sunday 1pm ndash 5 pm

Admission $2 plus regular admission Free for

members 402-342-6164

- OCMORG

MERMAID MINIONS amp DRAGONSMARCH 22 Holland Performing Arts

Centermdash1200 Douglas St Your favorite music

from How to Train Your Dragon Despicable Me

The Little Mermaid and other family movie hits

Brought to life through thrilling performances of

song dance and spectacle 2pm

Admission $15

- OMAHASYMPHONYORG

FOR THE FAMILY

NATURE CONNECTS 2THROUGH APRIL 26 LAURITZEN GARDENSmdash100

BANCROFT ST View 27 new sculptures each

inspired by the natural world made entirely of

300000 Legoreg bricks Make your own Lego

brick creations in the Legobrickyard and enjoy

a variety of Lego-inspired events throughout

the duration of the exhibit 9am ndash 5pm

Admission $10 adults$5 children six to 12 Free

for children under six and for garden members

402-346-4003

- LAURITZENGARDENSORG

TECH CITYTHROUGH MAY 10 STRATEGIC AIR amp SPACE MUSEUMmdash

ASHLAND NE This travelling engineering exhibit

is a great way to inspire learning and interest

in careers that focus on science technology

engineering and mathematics (STEM) The

Tech City exhibit is designed with interactive

learning that will appeal to visitors of all ages

9am - 5pm Free with regular admission $12

adult $6 youth children under 3 are free

402-944-3100

- SASMUSEUMCOM

ZEN TIES

THROUGH MARCH 8 THE ROSE THEATERmdash2001

FARNAM ST A gentle tale about patience and

compassion Zen Ties will make you remember

how much wisdom can come of simple

mindfulness Friday Saturday and Sunday

Members Four free admissions Non-member

admission $18 402-345-4949

- ROSETHEATERORG

FOR MOM amp DAD

AMERICAN MODERNS FROM OrsquoKEEFFE TO ROCKWELLTHROUGH MAY 17 JOSLYN ART MUSEUMmdash2200

DODGE ST The United States emerged as an

international power while also experiencing

two world wars and the Great Depression

New technologies changed all aspects of

life while the art world witnessed dramatic

transformations of its own This exhibition

explores the ways American artists including

Georgia OrsquoKeeffe Marsden Hartley Stuart

Davis Rockwell Kent and Norman Rockwell

engaged the modern world This exhibition

will have a ticket fee Free for members youth

ages 17 and younger amp college students with ID

402-342-3300

-JOSLYNORG

KATHARINE HEPBURN DRESSED FOR STAGE AND SCREENFEBRUARY 7-APRIL 26 DURHAM MUSEUMmdash801 S

10TH ST This exhibition from the Kent State

University Museum features more than 35

costumes worn in 21 films and six stage

productions as well as other personal items

spanning Hepburnrsquos illustrious career Come see

how this true icon of American culture came

to epitomize the modern woman of the 20th

century Children $6 Adults $9 402-444-5071

- DURHAMMUSEUMORG

COMPAGNIE KAumlFIGMARCH 18 HOLLAND CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST

Brazilian dance company Compagnie Kaumlfig

brings a high-energy performance style

combining their hip-hop foundation with martial

arts and circus elements 730pm $1350 to

$2625 402-345-0202

- OMAHAPERFORMINGARTSORG

Tech CityBam Itrsquos a Picture Book American Moderns

28emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

Calendar of Events

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp29

Erin Cox Event Director

402-884-2038 | erinomahamagazinecom

EVENTS by OMAHA MAGAZINE

Events by Omaha Magazine is a full-service event production company specializing in trade shows corporate events product launches and social gatherings From concept to delivery our goal is to provide an exceptional event experience for the host and their guests

Your Vision Our Innovation Event Solutions

GET A JUMP ON SUMMER

YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA wwwmetroymcaorg

Join us March 21 2015 for our Open House at any YMCA of Greater Omaha location The YMCA is your place for camp this summer bull Weekly themed preschool morning camps (3-5 years) and summer day camp (4-12 years - varies by location)

bull Mini special interest camps

bull Premier camps and Camp Platte

bull Counselors-in-Training program for teens

REGISTER FOR

CAMP AT OUR OPEN

HOUSE 3-21-15

AND PAY NO CAMP

REGISTRATION FEES

i never had a pet as a childOkay so I did at the age of 9 or so have

an ill-fated and short-lived guardianship of a turtle whose name Irsquove long forgotten but Irsquove never been a pet person

My mother abhorred the idea of anything furry dwelling in her home and I was pretty much fine with that The feeling carried over into adulthood and my three now-grown children probably felt super-lucky just to have had the brief company of a single pet a (clean and non-slobbering) feline named Scribbles

Viral videos portraying cats and dogs doing whatever it is that cats and dogs do have never appeared on any of my playlists And to be frank people who describe their little quadruped cuties as their ldquochildrenrdquohellipwell kinda creep me out I have no innate aversion to cats even though I take them to be whiskered sociopaths of evil intent but I have never been at all comfortable around dogs of any make or model

Before the hate mail begins please allow me at least a shot at redemption

My grandsons Barrett and Easton are growing up in a home where the company of canines is prized Their collie Summer recently ascended to that great dog pound in the sky and after an appropriate period of mourning has been replaced by a border collie pup carrying an equally seasonal name of Winter

Itrsquos an understatement to say that I never hit it off with Summer Perhaps it didnrsquot help that she stained our Oriental rug as a pup not 10 seconds into her very first visit to our home My son Eric entered with Summer while explaining that all would be well in that the creature was doing a smash-up job when it came to taking care of business but it was too late The little thing bounded (Is that what dogs do They ldquoboundrdquo) directly to the rug lifted one leg andhellipyou know the rest

I have promised to be different with Winter My kids already know that I am neurotic but I donrsquot

want Easton and Barrett to grow up thinking that their granddad is some kind of loathsome monster I am going to do my best to get to know Winter and not be such a basket case

Not surprisingly my first encounter with Winter was shall we say trying ldquoHersquos

just young and excitablerdquo I was told as the dog tried to climb up my leg Yeah tell that to my now urine-stained

shoes (suede no less) and newish sweater scarred by Winterrsquos talons or toes or paws or whatever it is theyrsquore called

But it is with a certain sense of self-satisfaction that I can report that I kept my cool Now the notion of ldquocoolrdquo is subjective My immediate knee-jerk reaction was admittedly to jerk my knee in revulsion but I collected myself as quickly as possible and

tried my best to not make an international incident of the affair

I really need to up my game in being the grandpa that I hope to

be but boy do I have my work cut out for meemsp

Canine Calamity A Plan to Fake it Until I Make it

30emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

the grandpa chroniclesby David Williams

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp31

Did you know90 of brain development

happens by age 5Discover Nebraska Childrenrsquos Home Societyrsquos

accredited high-quality early childhood education programs with low child-to-staff ratios at two locations

4939 S 118th St in Omaha (402) 898-7760 for children 18 months through Pre-K

and 3549 Fontenelle Blvd in Omaha (402) 898-7768 for children 6 weeks through Pre-K

Call today for a free no-obligation tour

4023450606 OMAHASYMPHONYORG

Sunday March 22 bull 200 PMHolland Center

Your favorite music from How to Train Your Dragon

The Little Mermaid Despicable Me and other

family movie hits Brought to life through exciting performances of song dance and spectacle

FEATURING

THE HEARTLAND YOUTH BALLET

REacuteSONANCE CHOIR

Tickets Adults amp Kids $12

FAMILY SERIES

CONCERT

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Omaha Magazine5921 S 118th CirOmaha NE 68137

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

Page 12: March 2015 HerFamily

if you are an American female living in the year 2015 you probably have noticed that succulent plants have

exploded in popularity over the past year or two You canrsquot resist themmdashtheir tiny stature their resilience their pinks and purples that scream ldquoIrsquom a girl plantrdquo Good grief letrsquos just admit it Theyrsquore adorable

You know what else is adorable Baby chicks emerging from their eggs at springtime

So letrsquos take advantage of a plant that is actually referred to as ldquohensrdquo and ldquochicksrdquo (depending on their maturity) and combine them into an explosion of adorable Pinterest magic

SUPPLIESbull Eggsbull Paper egg cartonbull Knifebull Paper clipbull Preserved mossbull Gluebull Small succulentsbull Cactus soil (if needed)

DIRECTIONS1 Shop for some succulent babies

You can find these at nurseries grocery stores or home improvement stores The smaller the better Look for bunches that have multiple blooms to fill out your eggshells

2 Open the eggshells with the back of a butter knife Peel off the top section of the shell until you are satisfied with the size of the hole

3 Wash out the eggs with warm water and soap and place them back in the carton Pull apart a paper clip so that it is one long piece of metal With the paper clip poke a hole in the bottom of each egg Keeping them in the carton will keep the eggs from cracking and the hole will provide drainage for the plant Wash hands thoroughly afterwards

4 Attach small pieces of preserved moss to the carton with glue to give it a little green Only do this to the top Placing moss into the carton will prevent the eggshells from sitting snugly in their place

5 Carefully remove the succulents from their containers Shake off any excess dirt that may be attached at the roots Fill the eggs about halfway with the excess dirt Arrange the succulents in the eggshells and pour a little more dirt into the shells to stabilize the stems

Keep these little guys in a sunny area and spray them with a water bottle sparingly Succulents are desert plants and honestly thrive on neglect Just my kind of plantemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp13

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

ldquoIt was cathartic for me Writing is how I emote Tons of women contacted me which then made me feel healedrdquo -Ashli Brehm

14emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Kara Weselyfeature

itrsquos easy for young moms to long for the stimulation of speaking with someone over the age of 10 Therersquos catharsis in talking through onersquos feelings and

problems with a person who no longer wears a diaper or a backpack

Increasingly mothers in Omaha like mothers nationally are turning to social media to connect vent or keep their writing chops sharp Theyrsquore the ldquoMommy Bloggersrdquo a group that by some estimates now number in the millions

Most blog as a pastime But some mommy blogs have higher purposes A blog can foster healing A blog can be a purposefully permanent document for the family

Omaha native Missy Cobb started her blog The Cobb Mobb as a way to connect with her three children

ldquoEvery time I write for the blog I think about my kids and how I am documenting memories for them I tried scrapbooking for my older kids but it was too time consumingrdquo Cobb says gt

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp15

lt Cobb who started her blog as a New Yearrsquos resolution in 2012 found writing allowed her to capture milestones and memories in a more efficient and permanent way ldquoIrsquove always enjoyed writing and I like knowing that this will always be there for my kids to readrdquo

Ashli Brehmrsquos blog Baby on the Brehm has played a key role in getting her through some trying times After going through a miscarriage Brehm (pronounced like brain but with an lsquomrsquo) dedicated a blog post to her experience and managed to connect with other women who had lost a baby

ldquoIt was cathartic for me Writing is how I emote Tons of women contacted me which then made me feel healedrdquo Brehm says

When her subsequent pregnancy did not go as planned and her third son was born several weeks premature she shared the highs and lows with her readers and received an overwhelming amount of support via Baby on the Brehm That support carried her through the next six weeks while her son Harrison was in the NICU growing strong enough to head home with his parents and two brothers

Fast-forward one year and Harrison is a happy healthy 1-year-old and Ashli is still blogging about her boys motherhood and everything in between And she still manages to maintain that connection with her audience

ldquoThe people who read my blog are like a community to me They are my life raft at timesrdquo Brehm says

Brehm like Cobb hopes that some day her children will read her entries and considers the blog a sort of legacy she is leaving behind

ldquoI want my boys to learn to be themselves and to have confidence I hope that by blogging and doing it in an authentic and honest way I am showing them thatrdquo emsp

feature continued

Missy CobbPhoto by Keith Binder

16emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

Visit us today12965 W Center Rd 4027780650

HoursMon-Thu 10-6Fri-Sat 10-5Sun 12-4

wwwelitecheercom402-537-0855 2410 S 140th Circle

Nebraskarsquos Premiere Cheerleading amp Tumbling center Learn basic

cheer techniquesJumps Tumbling Stunts amp Pyramids

We teach kids how to win through-Hard Work PerserverenceAccountability Discipline Integrity

ldquoA journey of a thousand miles starts with a single steprdquo

ldquoI bust mine so you can kick theirsrdquo

LFSneborg middot infoLFSneborg

Friday Feb 20 2015

dinner amp auction

Honorary cHair

nancy K JoHnson

il Palazzo bull 5110 nortH 132nd street bull omaHa ne cmurraylFsneborg

LFS Her Family ad 12-08-14indd 1 1282014 123544 PM

Young Hero proudly sponsored by

Young Hero proudly sponsored by

nicole Carrillo says she can make friends anywhere Even at the airport

Case in point On a chilly night in November Nicole stood with her fellow Thrive Club members at Eppley Airfield holding colorful signs Nicolersquos read ldquoWELCOME TO OMAHArdquo with the Orsquos shaped like hearts Moments later wild applause laughter and some tears erupted from the relatives students and coaches gathered for this moment

Nicolersquos soon-to-be-new friends were a refugee family just arriving from Burma Marisol Nicolersquos mother and one of the sponsors of Thrive was overwhelmed as tears flooded her eyes ldquoIt was life- changingrdquo Marisol recalls

Members of the Thrive Club along with Lutheran Family Services provided a cozy home environment for the immigrant family in an apartment volunteerrsquos chocked full of groceries clothes and furniture

Nicole a junior at Northwest High School had filled out a grant to present to her principal Thomas Lee to do something for a family that would be lost in a foreign world

Emigrating is hard scary often emotionally draining Nicolersquos empathy stems from hearing the story of her parents Marisol a native of Mexico left for the United States in her teens to pursue a cosmetics license It was difficult she says but she argues she had it easier than her husband Joel who she would later meet in English classes

Joel started his first job in the ldquoworst town you can think ofrdquomdashAguascalientes Mexico He loaded heavy bricks into trucks and along with 15 or so other boys sold them house-to-house He was five at the time Joel came to the United States when he was 15 Later he worked 60 to 70 hours a week while attending college classes at night sometimes even taking a course during his lunch hour

Nicole sees what her parents had to go throughmdashall their hard work So she strives to be the best As a 40 student Nicole is currently right behind her best friend for the top spot on the GPA ladder ldquoIt has been a long steady fightrdquo she says ldquobut itrsquos all in good funrdquo However like most high achievers Nicole gets upset if she receives a B on a test or paper but her parents do not

ldquoMy parents are like lsquoyou are doing the best you canrsquordquo Nicole says resting her hand on her cheek during a recent interview ldquoLove themrdquo

Nicole says attending Northwest was one the best decisions she has ever made ldquoShe is one of the best ambassadors for the schoolrdquo Lee says Nicole is active in all aspects of the school including student council National Honor Society and choir She has won numerous community service awards and was one of five in the nation to be selected for the National Youth Advisory Council

Nicole is now eager to show the Burmese family all the ldquosimple things we take for grantedrdquo around Omahamdashldquolike the mall and zoordquo she says

ldquoNicole has the heart to helphellip to make a better worldrdquo her mother says proudlyemsp

Nicole CarrilloHelping Immigrants Thrive in America

Nicole Carillo and the Thrive Group

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp17

by Lisa Lukecart photography by Keith Binderyoung hero

18emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Claire Martin photography by Bill Sitzmannactivity

the expected audience for morning attendance at the Joslyn Art Museum is not perhaps thought to be a handful of pint-sized art scholars But thats precisely the group of observers that hovered around a Renaissance fresco on a recent Friday

morning chattering about concepts like color shapes and how it was that a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle (Michelangelo) could be an artist

A museum shouldnt be a stuffy place I dont think artist and teacher Therese Straseski says It should be a fun place

Straseski has led and instructed the Art Adventures program at the Joslyn for 15 years now in which kids from the ages of 3-5 participate in interactive art activities with their parents every Friday morning Creative tasks can range anywhere from pouring plaster to mixing color palettes

I think art is amazingly important in children Straseski says Teaching art is about learning to enjoy yourself and love what you do Maybe I cant be Rembrandt but I can teach these kids to enjoy themselves in creating art

Another of Straseskis passions in her job is the substantial development in her young students skill and interest over time More exposure to art she believes helps integrate both sides of the brain immediately in children

We absolutely see improvement in our kids she says When they come as 3-year-olds concepts are lost on them and theyre just having fun But as they get older they start to understand concepts like color and line

Big Museum Pint-Sized Fun

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp19

Parents according to Straseski are some of the programs strongest advocates especially as art programs are dropped from elementary curriculums due to budget cuts

Mom and Art Adventures regular Alison Novak for example prioritizes the preservation of arts significance in her kids

I think children are naturally drawn to art because its messy and creative Novak says But I do think theyre very aware of the importance of art and artists especially as they get older

She adds that the interactive aspect of Joslyns art program is especially engaging for her 3-year-old daughter Dagny

The experience of art in this program is important because its so tactile and allows [my daughter] to use different materials Novak says Its not just coming and looking at the art Its something to get her involved

Its quite possible then that with the efforts of art advocates like Straseski and Novak a mini-Renaissance is in the making in these small art studentsmdashperhaps not in technique but in the messy and loving creative process

Art is about being able to pass on that passion to someone else Straseski says with a smile Thats the passion in artemsp

ww

Therese Straseski at work with budding artists at the Art Adventures program

Posh PeacockConsignment Gallery

Furniture amp Home Decor

4029339666 - poshpeacocknet

Bel Air Plaza 704 12100 W Center Rd

A Treasure Troveof Delightful amp Valuable Things

JULYAUGUST bull 2014

war amp PeaceChuck Hagel battles for a future free of the quagmires of the past

OmaharsquostopDentiststrade

Best of Omahatrade Campaign 2015

The Loyal Royal Alex Gordon

Malorie MaddoxOmaha Stories

trade

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

omamagcomsave

Donrsquot miss a single issue of Omaha Magazine

kids say the darndest things

20emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Allison Janda photography by Keith Binder

as a parent yoursquove probably appreciated (and not appreciated) the absolute

honesty that often escapes your childrsquos mouth Frankness aside kids also tend to say some hilarious things Martin Brucknerrsquos daughter Harper 3 is no exception

In early 2014 Bruckner his wife Michelle and their daughter were having dinner when he overheard his wife exclaim to Harper ldquoPlease donrsquot put spaghetti between your toesrdquo That same night as Bruckner was giving his daughter her evening bath he found himself asking her ldquoDid you drop your cheese in the tub againrdquo From that point on he decided it would be worthwhile to take note of all of the absurd utterances around his house He knew that one day he his wife and their child could all look back and have a good laugh

Bruckner began to create graphics based on things he wrote down eventually starting Tumblr and Facebook accounts to share them with friends family and parents around the world ldquoPretty much the first day I started the Facebook and Tumblr pages I had parents replying to me with the things their children say to themrdquo he chuckles Bruckner admits that it isnrsquot just the locals that find things he his wife and his daughter say funny In fact he has gotten messages from as far away as Australia

While Spaghetti Toes started out innocently enough it seems to be gaining steam as Harper ages Bruckner states that while his daughter is a newer

conversationalist the things she says only get funnier with age ldquoHer vocabulary is getting bigger and stronger but shersquos still having a hard time getting certain things to be in the correct context which in turn makes them hilariousrdquo he says This is confirmed with nothing more than a cursory glance through his website

The graphics he has created have started to garner some national attention getting picked up by websites such as BuzzFeed and The Chive Additionally Bruckner has started to fulfill custom orders and recently completed two such requests for a woman in Canada Nonetheless Bruckner remains encouraged by the local scene claiming Omaharsquos creatives are extremely supportive while locals are incredibly kind

The attention his sites have garnered feels good Bruckner says Nonetheless he finds that he is more drawn to the long-term payoff that they will have ldquoI started this as a way to document my daughterrsquos life while shersquos little and Irsquom having an incredible time doing itrdquo he shares In fact his own mother inspired by what her son was doing went digging for books that she kept on Bruckner and his siblings when they were young Bruckner hopes to use it to create additional graphics for his mom and five sisters ldquoIrsquove gotten message after message after message from parents and I think everyone is in agreement as far as their children saying incredible silly ridiculous and disgusting thingsrdquo he adds ldquoI say things daily that I never thought Irsquod sayrdquo Wersquore sure that every parent out there can relateemsp

feature

I think everyone is in agreement as far as their children saying incredible sillyridiculous and disgusting thingsrdquo-Martin Bruckner

Martin Harper and Michelle Bruckner

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp21

No Age Limit for

Bullies

i could have worked with Jim Rome the radio sportscaster Wersquore about the same age We were in college about the same time studying the same thing We both started working at

small stations before moving up I produced a number of anchors and reporters ldquoback in the dayrdquo who are still on the air at national networks So I have some experience working with Romersquos personality typemdashor at least the type he uses on air Arrogant bloated ego Inflammatory language 70rsquos mustache

Before January 1 of this year I only had peripheral knowledge of and no opinion on Mr Rome Irsquom not a hardcore sports fan so I couldnrsquot have picked him out of a lineup any day of the week But on this particular New Yearrsquos Day Mr Rome chose to insult not only my children but the children of my friends and in fact the children and grandchildren of hundreds of thousands of Americans In the middle of one of college footballrsquos biggest days he threw this tweet out there

ldquoIs there anybody not in a marching band who thinks those dorks running around with their instruments are coolrdquo

Wow You can just imagine the firestorm that followed It didnrsquot take long for the hashtag MarchonRome to be trending To be brief the answer to Mr Romersquos question was a resounding ldquoYes there are people who think theyrsquore coolrdquo After a 24-hour blast of more than 8000 responses (and that was only on Twitter) including everyone from the US Marines to band alums everywhere he tweeted this

ldquoBand nationmdashI hear you I was out of line I apologize I do not condone bullying of any kind and that was not my intentrdquo

The reason I chose this topic is not so much because I was personally offended by Mr Romersquos comment but because I was so saddened that someone my age could intentionally set such a horrible example If not to be a bully I canrsquot comprehend what Mr Romersquos intent was I think if it was ldquoto be funnyrdquo then thatrsquos a fail toomdashbecause making fun of entire groups of people in this manner is pretty much the textbook definition of bullying

Mr Rome (and many others I think) got a fast education about the athleticism discipline and commitment that marching band requires And I wonrsquot even start on the statistics about the value of arts education Just last week a new study from the University of Vermont indicated the measurable impact of music education in developing attention skills anxiety management and emotional control

No my beef with Mr Rome is quite simplemdashhe should be old enough to know better I get that my generation was a little different We were very cliquishmdashjocks potheads geeks dorks

22emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

mind amp bodyby Bev Carlson Lutheran Family Services

blah blahmdashbut I really thought (hoped) that with all of the current awareness of bullying a public figure like Mr Rose would be tuned in enough to choose his words more carefully when referring to hundreds of thousands of hard-working high school and college students

My hope rests with this next generation where amid the online furor those students with highly developed ldquoemotional controlrdquo graciously accepted Mr Rosersquos apology reminding him that this time he ldquomessed with the wrong dorksrdquo Irsquom still holding out hope that he will accept the challenge from many of the band members (many of whom also play sports) to come do what they domdash handle one week of band camp In the summer In the South Or how about here in Nebraska on all those cold early mornings Go Bandemsp

I was so saddened that someone my age could intentionally set such a horrible example

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp23

oneworldomahaorg

Grow STRONG WithOneWorld Pediatrics

45 YEARS OF MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Cass FamilyMedicine

122 S 6th StPlattsmouth

402-296-2345

Northwest Omaha

4229 N 90th St402-401-6000

West Omaha4101 S 120th St402-505-3907

South Omaha4920 S 30th St

402-734-4110

45 Years of Making a DifferenceOne Child at a Time

Bean amp Cheese Tostadas

this yummy tostada recipe makes a satisfying healthy lunch or dinner Black beans zucchini corn and cherry tomatoes make this colorful vegetarian

dish delicious and nutritious emsp

Find more great recipes at HealthyKohlsKidscom The Healthy Kohlrsquos Kids program is a partnership between Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center and Kohlrsquos Department Stores to educate children and parents about healthy nutrition and fitness

24emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

sponsored content by Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center food

ingredientsbull 8 corn

tortillas (6-inch diameter)

bull 1 can (14 oz) black beans rinsed and drained

bull 1 small white onion finely chopped

bull 2 medium zucchini cut into 14-inch pieces

bull 2 jalapentildeo peppers seeded and chopped

bull 12 Tbsp black pepper

bull 14 cup water

bull 12 cup cooked corn

bull 1 cup cherry tomatoes sliced

bull 12 cup chopped cilantro leaves

bull 1 12 oz grated reduced-fat white cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese (14 cup)

bull 4 scallions chopped

bull 1 small avocado pitted peeled and chopped

bull Lime wedges optional

preparation1 Preheat oven to 400deg Arrange tortillas

on 2 baking sheets and toast in oven until crisp about 5 minutes Remove from baking sheets

2 Lightly spray baking sheets with nonstick cooking spray Spread beans and onion on one and zucchini and jalapentildeos on the other Lightly coat vegetables with cooking spray season with the black pepper and roast until golden 12 to 15 minutes

3 Transfer half the beans and onion to a bowl with the water and mash beans with the back of a fork until smooth (Add more water to reach desired consistency if necessary) Spread mixture onto tortillas

4 Toss remaining beans and onion with zucchini jalapentildeos and corn and divide among tortillas

5 Top each tostada with tomatoes cilantro cheese scallions and avocado Serve with lime wedges if desired

Yield 4 servings

Nutrition Facts Calories 434 Fat 14g

Saturated Fat 3g Cholesterol 0

Sodium 446mg Carbohydrates 61g

Fiber 10g Protein 16g

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp25

Thanks for Voting Us Best of Omahatrade

84th and 1st St Downtown Papillion

402-331-9136

18 flavorsBaked daily Birthdays Weddings GraduationsOn-site party room

buy one get one

FREEExpires March 31 2015

HoursMonday-Saturday raquo11am-8pm

Located at Midlands Placeoff 84th Street and Highway 370

Maybe a Cupcake Will Help

wwwdingmanscom

4025583500Corner of

50th amp SouthSaddlecreek

402-502-8757Southwest corner

of 144th amp Industrial Rd

4025025511Southwestcorner of

120th amp Maple

4029339400Corner of

Washington amp Lincoln in Papillion

ldquoWersquod Rather Be The Best Than Apologize for Anything Lessrdquo

1st place

10 YEARS in a row

We are grateful for your business and Best of Omahatrade

votes for best Auto Body Repair

Spring Cleaning St Patrickrsquos Way

while most are eager for the weather to warm up in time for St Patrickrsquos Day (and the green beer sure)

Irsquom more into the holidayrsquos theme of ridding the country of evils Itrsquos time to purge yrsquoall

Irsquove been hibernating for six months under a blanket in front of the fireplace All I see here is an intense accumulation of clutter tucked in the corners out of my usual visual paths as I traverse my house

I finally get up and start the purge ldquoWhorsquos beach towel is thisrdquo ldquoI think Bobby left it here when we had that

slip-n-slide partyrdquo one of the kids says to me while walking out of their scarf gloves hat sweatshirt and shoes which leaves a trail marking my imminent demise from slips and falls (If I fall and am lying there unconscious interrogate my kids first)

ldquoThe slip-n-slide party That was five years agordquo I respond

ldquoYeah I think Bobby moved to Alaskardquo comes the retort which was both informative and confirmation that we had a right to be embarrassed

ldquoWell he doesnrsquot need this beach towel anymorerdquo Once the snow melts the purge involves three or four trips to Goodwill

Itrsquos funny that when yoursquore trapped in your house long enough due to subzero temperatures you start looking at the walls a little differently ldquoIs it me or is our kitchen less sage green and more My Little Pony Minty Greenrdquo I ask my husband

Before he can assure me the pastel shade of green is fine Irsquom off getting paint You canrsquot go wrong with a color called ldquoChocolaterdquo for the kitchen right

My family isnrsquot very supportive of my winter stir-crazy hobby of purging This year for Christmas the kids asked Santa for locks on their doors in an effort to protect their belongings from Momrsquos annual campaign

Itrsquos inevitable that about five years after I give something away one of my kids wants to know where it went Irsquom sorry your 2005 Lego set is gone My bare feet just couldnrsquot take it anymore

Just as St Patrick rid Ireland of all the snakes Irsquove secretly celebrated my own sainthood as Irsquove shooed all of my clutter away

Oh but then you realize that even saints canrsquot always win the clutter battle The cat barfs up a hairball My son walks by and touts ldquoIf only we still had Bobbyrsquos beach towel to clean this uprdquoemsp

26emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Leslie Murrell mom on the rocks

Boat PoseSanskrit name Paripurna Navasana(par-ee-POOR-nah nah-VAHS-anna)

the Boat Pose strengthens the hip flexors spine and the abdomen This pose helps to relieve stress improves digestion and stimulates the kidneys

intestines and thyroidemsp

BEGINNERS TIPPlace a strap around the ball of both feet Hold on to the

strap with straight arms

1 Sit on the floor with your legs straight in front of you Place your hands behind your hip and press into the ground fingers face- forward

2 Lift up through the sternum and slightly lean back until the weight is distributed to the top of your sitting bones and tailbone

3 Bend the knees and lift the feet off the floor

4 Lengthen the tailbone by pressing it into the floor and lift the pubis towards the naval

5 Slowly straighten your legs until your feet reach above eye level and spread the toes

6 Stretch the arms alongside the legs and reach out through the fingers

7 Breathe deeply for 15-30 seconds

8 Exhale and lower the legs to the floor

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp27

by Rachel Joy photography by Bill SitzmannfitnessWe are

the most experienced full-service family owned real estate company in America

npdodgecom

FOR THE KIDS

BAM ITrsquoS A PICTURE BOOK THE ART BEHIND GRAPHIC NOVELSTHROUGH MARCH 29 2015 JOSLYN ART MUSEUM ndash

2200 DODGE ST Popular among young readers

graphic novels are known for their comic

format They are generally described as

ldquosequential artrdquo where a series of illustrations

tell the story but unlike newspaper comics

they are the length of a novel and include

narrative development This exhibition features

the work of Jarrett J Krosoczka Mark Crilley

Matt Holm Raina Telgemeier and Lincoln

Peirce Tuesday - Wednesday amp Friday - Sunday

10am- 4pm Thursday 10am- 8pm Free

admission 402-342-3300

- JOSLYNORG

ONCE UPON A FARM EXHIBITTHROUGH APRIL 12 OMAHA CHILDRENrsquoS MUSEUMmdash500

S 20TH ST Explore the world of agriculture and

learn where your food comes from with the help

of interactive exhibit components like a center

pivot amp planting station dairy cows pedal track

maze and more Tuesday through Friday 10am ndash

4pm Saturday 9am ndash 5pm Sunday 1pm ndash 5 pm

Admission $2 plus regular admission Free for

members 402-342-6164

- OCMORG

MERMAID MINIONS amp DRAGONSMARCH 22 Holland Performing Arts

Centermdash1200 Douglas St Your favorite music

from How to Train Your Dragon Despicable Me

The Little Mermaid and other family movie hits

Brought to life through thrilling performances of

song dance and spectacle 2pm

Admission $15

- OMAHASYMPHONYORG

FOR THE FAMILY

NATURE CONNECTS 2THROUGH APRIL 26 LAURITZEN GARDENSmdash100

BANCROFT ST View 27 new sculptures each

inspired by the natural world made entirely of

300000 Legoreg bricks Make your own Lego

brick creations in the Legobrickyard and enjoy

a variety of Lego-inspired events throughout

the duration of the exhibit 9am ndash 5pm

Admission $10 adults$5 children six to 12 Free

for children under six and for garden members

402-346-4003

- LAURITZENGARDENSORG

TECH CITYTHROUGH MAY 10 STRATEGIC AIR amp SPACE MUSEUMmdash

ASHLAND NE This travelling engineering exhibit

is a great way to inspire learning and interest

in careers that focus on science technology

engineering and mathematics (STEM) The

Tech City exhibit is designed with interactive

learning that will appeal to visitors of all ages

9am - 5pm Free with regular admission $12

adult $6 youth children under 3 are free

402-944-3100

- SASMUSEUMCOM

ZEN TIES

THROUGH MARCH 8 THE ROSE THEATERmdash2001

FARNAM ST A gentle tale about patience and

compassion Zen Ties will make you remember

how much wisdom can come of simple

mindfulness Friday Saturday and Sunday

Members Four free admissions Non-member

admission $18 402-345-4949

- ROSETHEATERORG

FOR MOM amp DAD

AMERICAN MODERNS FROM OrsquoKEEFFE TO ROCKWELLTHROUGH MAY 17 JOSLYN ART MUSEUMmdash2200

DODGE ST The United States emerged as an

international power while also experiencing

two world wars and the Great Depression

New technologies changed all aspects of

life while the art world witnessed dramatic

transformations of its own This exhibition

explores the ways American artists including

Georgia OrsquoKeeffe Marsden Hartley Stuart

Davis Rockwell Kent and Norman Rockwell

engaged the modern world This exhibition

will have a ticket fee Free for members youth

ages 17 and younger amp college students with ID

402-342-3300

-JOSLYNORG

KATHARINE HEPBURN DRESSED FOR STAGE AND SCREENFEBRUARY 7-APRIL 26 DURHAM MUSEUMmdash801 S

10TH ST This exhibition from the Kent State

University Museum features more than 35

costumes worn in 21 films and six stage

productions as well as other personal items

spanning Hepburnrsquos illustrious career Come see

how this true icon of American culture came

to epitomize the modern woman of the 20th

century Children $6 Adults $9 402-444-5071

- DURHAMMUSEUMORG

COMPAGNIE KAumlFIGMARCH 18 HOLLAND CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST

Brazilian dance company Compagnie Kaumlfig

brings a high-energy performance style

combining their hip-hop foundation with martial

arts and circus elements 730pm $1350 to

$2625 402-345-0202

- OMAHAPERFORMINGARTSORG

Tech CityBam Itrsquos a Picture Book American Moderns

28emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

Calendar of Events

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp29

Erin Cox Event Director

402-884-2038 | erinomahamagazinecom

EVENTS by OMAHA MAGAZINE

Events by Omaha Magazine is a full-service event production company specializing in trade shows corporate events product launches and social gatherings From concept to delivery our goal is to provide an exceptional event experience for the host and their guests

Your Vision Our Innovation Event Solutions

GET A JUMP ON SUMMER

YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA wwwmetroymcaorg

Join us March 21 2015 for our Open House at any YMCA of Greater Omaha location The YMCA is your place for camp this summer bull Weekly themed preschool morning camps (3-5 years) and summer day camp (4-12 years - varies by location)

bull Mini special interest camps

bull Premier camps and Camp Platte

bull Counselors-in-Training program for teens

REGISTER FOR

CAMP AT OUR OPEN

HOUSE 3-21-15

AND PAY NO CAMP

REGISTRATION FEES

i never had a pet as a childOkay so I did at the age of 9 or so have

an ill-fated and short-lived guardianship of a turtle whose name Irsquove long forgotten but Irsquove never been a pet person

My mother abhorred the idea of anything furry dwelling in her home and I was pretty much fine with that The feeling carried over into adulthood and my three now-grown children probably felt super-lucky just to have had the brief company of a single pet a (clean and non-slobbering) feline named Scribbles

Viral videos portraying cats and dogs doing whatever it is that cats and dogs do have never appeared on any of my playlists And to be frank people who describe their little quadruped cuties as their ldquochildrenrdquohellipwell kinda creep me out I have no innate aversion to cats even though I take them to be whiskered sociopaths of evil intent but I have never been at all comfortable around dogs of any make or model

Before the hate mail begins please allow me at least a shot at redemption

My grandsons Barrett and Easton are growing up in a home where the company of canines is prized Their collie Summer recently ascended to that great dog pound in the sky and after an appropriate period of mourning has been replaced by a border collie pup carrying an equally seasonal name of Winter

Itrsquos an understatement to say that I never hit it off with Summer Perhaps it didnrsquot help that she stained our Oriental rug as a pup not 10 seconds into her very first visit to our home My son Eric entered with Summer while explaining that all would be well in that the creature was doing a smash-up job when it came to taking care of business but it was too late The little thing bounded (Is that what dogs do They ldquoboundrdquo) directly to the rug lifted one leg andhellipyou know the rest

I have promised to be different with Winter My kids already know that I am neurotic but I donrsquot

want Easton and Barrett to grow up thinking that their granddad is some kind of loathsome monster I am going to do my best to get to know Winter and not be such a basket case

Not surprisingly my first encounter with Winter was shall we say trying ldquoHersquos

just young and excitablerdquo I was told as the dog tried to climb up my leg Yeah tell that to my now urine-stained

shoes (suede no less) and newish sweater scarred by Winterrsquos talons or toes or paws or whatever it is theyrsquore called

But it is with a certain sense of self-satisfaction that I can report that I kept my cool Now the notion of ldquocoolrdquo is subjective My immediate knee-jerk reaction was admittedly to jerk my knee in revulsion but I collected myself as quickly as possible and

tried my best to not make an international incident of the affair

I really need to up my game in being the grandpa that I hope to

be but boy do I have my work cut out for meemsp

Canine Calamity A Plan to Fake it Until I Make it

30emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

the grandpa chroniclesby David Williams

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp31

Did you know90 of brain development

happens by age 5Discover Nebraska Childrenrsquos Home Societyrsquos

accredited high-quality early childhood education programs with low child-to-staff ratios at two locations

4939 S 118th St in Omaha (402) 898-7760 for children 18 months through Pre-K

and 3549 Fontenelle Blvd in Omaha (402) 898-7768 for children 6 weeks through Pre-K

Call today for a free no-obligation tour

4023450606 OMAHASYMPHONYORG

Sunday March 22 bull 200 PMHolland Center

Your favorite music from How to Train Your Dragon

The Little Mermaid Despicable Me and other

family movie hits Brought to life through exciting performances of song dance and spectacle

FEATURING

THE HEARTLAND YOUTH BALLET

REacuteSONANCE CHOIR

Tickets Adults amp Kids $12

FAMILY SERIES

CONCERT

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Omaha Magazine5921 S 118th CirOmaha NE 68137

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

Page 13: March 2015 HerFamily

ldquoIt was cathartic for me Writing is how I emote Tons of women contacted me which then made me feel healedrdquo -Ashli Brehm

14emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Kara Weselyfeature

itrsquos easy for young moms to long for the stimulation of speaking with someone over the age of 10 Therersquos catharsis in talking through onersquos feelings and

problems with a person who no longer wears a diaper or a backpack

Increasingly mothers in Omaha like mothers nationally are turning to social media to connect vent or keep their writing chops sharp Theyrsquore the ldquoMommy Bloggersrdquo a group that by some estimates now number in the millions

Most blog as a pastime But some mommy blogs have higher purposes A blog can foster healing A blog can be a purposefully permanent document for the family

Omaha native Missy Cobb started her blog The Cobb Mobb as a way to connect with her three children

ldquoEvery time I write for the blog I think about my kids and how I am documenting memories for them I tried scrapbooking for my older kids but it was too time consumingrdquo Cobb says gt

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp15

lt Cobb who started her blog as a New Yearrsquos resolution in 2012 found writing allowed her to capture milestones and memories in a more efficient and permanent way ldquoIrsquove always enjoyed writing and I like knowing that this will always be there for my kids to readrdquo

Ashli Brehmrsquos blog Baby on the Brehm has played a key role in getting her through some trying times After going through a miscarriage Brehm (pronounced like brain but with an lsquomrsquo) dedicated a blog post to her experience and managed to connect with other women who had lost a baby

ldquoIt was cathartic for me Writing is how I emote Tons of women contacted me which then made me feel healedrdquo Brehm says

When her subsequent pregnancy did not go as planned and her third son was born several weeks premature she shared the highs and lows with her readers and received an overwhelming amount of support via Baby on the Brehm That support carried her through the next six weeks while her son Harrison was in the NICU growing strong enough to head home with his parents and two brothers

Fast-forward one year and Harrison is a happy healthy 1-year-old and Ashli is still blogging about her boys motherhood and everything in between And she still manages to maintain that connection with her audience

ldquoThe people who read my blog are like a community to me They are my life raft at timesrdquo Brehm says

Brehm like Cobb hopes that some day her children will read her entries and considers the blog a sort of legacy she is leaving behind

ldquoI want my boys to learn to be themselves and to have confidence I hope that by blogging and doing it in an authentic and honest way I am showing them thatrdquo emsp

feature continued

Missy CobbPhoto by Keith Binder

16emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

Visit us today12965 W Center Rd 4027780650

HoursMon-Thu 10-6Fri-Sat 10-5Sun 12-4

wwwelitecheercom402-537-0855 2410 S 140th Circle

Nebraskarsquos Premiere Cheerleading amp Tumbling center Learn basic

cheer techniquesJumps Tumbling Stunts amp Pyramids

We teach kids how to win through-Hard Work PerserverenceAccountability Discipline Integrity

ldquoA journey of a thousand miles starts with a single steprdquo

ldquoI bust mine so you can kick theirsrdquo

LFSneborg middot infoLFSneborg

Friday Feb 20 2015

dinner amp auction

Honorary cHair

nancy K JoHnson

il Palazzo bull 5110 nortH 132nd street bull omaHa ne cmurraylFsneborg

LFS Her Family ad 12-08-14indd 1 1282014 123544 PM

Young Hero proudly sponsored by

Young Hero proudly sponsored by

nicole Carrillo says she can make friends anywhere Even at the airport

Case in point On a chilly night in November Nicole stood with her fellow Thrive Club members at Eppley Airfield holding colorful signs Nicolersquos read ldquoWELCOME TO OMAHArdquo with the Orsquos shaped like hearts Moments later wild applause laughter and some tears erupted from the relatives students and coaches gathered for this moment

Nicolersquos soon-to-be-new friends were a refugee family just arriving from Burma Marisol Nicolersquos mother and one of the sponsors of Thrive was overwhelmed as tears flooded her eyes ldquoIt was life- changingrdquo Marisol recalls

Members of the Thrive Club along with Lutheran Family Services provided a cozy home environment for the immigrant family in an apartment volunteerrsquos chocked full of groceries clothes and furniture

Nicole a junior at Northwest High School had filled out a grant to present to her principal Thomas Lee to do something for a family that would be lost in a foreign world

Emigrating is hard scary often emotionally draining Nicolersquos empathy stems from hearing the story of her parents Marisol a native of Mexico left for the United States in her teens to pursue a cosmetics license It was difficult she says but she argues she had it easier than her husband Joel who she would later meet in English classes

Joel started his first job in the ldquoworst town you can think ofrdquomdashAguascalientes Mexico He loaded heavy bricks into trucks and along with 15 or so other boys sold them house-to-house He was five at the time Joel came to the United States when he was 15 Later he worked 60 to 70 hours a week while attending college classes at night sometimes even taking a course during his lunch hour

Nicole sees what her parents had to go throughmdashall their hard work So she strives to be the best As a 40 student Nicole is currently right behind her best friend for the top spot on the GPA ladder ldquoIt has been a long steady fightrdquo she says ldquobut itrsquos all in good funrdquo However like most high achievers Nicole gets upset if she receives a B on a test or paper but her parents do not

ldquoMy parents are like lsquoyou are doing the best you canrsquordquo Nicole says resting her hand on her cheek during a recent interview ldquoLove themrdquo

Nicole says attending Northwest was one the best decisions she has ever made ldquoShe is one of the best ambassadors for the schoolrdquo Lee says Nicole is active in all aspects of the school including student council National Honor Society and choir She has won numerous community service awards and was one of five in the nation to be selected for the National Youth Advisory Council

Nicole is now eager to show the Burmese family all the ldquosimple things we take for grantedrdquo around Omahamdashldquolike the mall and zoordquo she says

ldquoNicole has the heart to helphellip to make a better worldrdquo her mother says proudlyemsp

Nicole CarrilloHelping Immigrants Thrive in America

Nicole Carillo and the Thrive Group

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp17

by Lisa Lukecart photography by Keith Binderyoung hero

18emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Claire Martin photography by Bill Sitzmannactivity

the expected audience for morning attendance at the Joslyn Art Museum is not perhaps thought to be a handful of pint-sized art scholars But thats precisely the group of observers that hovered around a Renaissance fresco on a recent Friday

morning chattering about concepts like color shapes and how it was that a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle (Michelangelo) could be an artist

A museum shouldnt be a stuffy place I dont think artist and teacher Therese Straseski says It should be a fun place

Straseski has led and instructed the Art Adventures program at the Joslyn for 15 years now in which kids from the ages of 3-5 participate in interactive art activities with their parents every Friday morning Creative tasks can range anywhere from pouring plaster to mixing color palettes

I think art is amazingly important in children Straseski says Teaching art is about learning to enjoy yourself and love what you do Maybe I cant be Rembrandt but I can teach these kids to enjoy themselves in creating art

Another of Straseskis passions in her job is the substantial development in her young students skill and interest over time More exposure to art she believes helps integrate both sides of the brain immediately in children

We absolutely see improvement in our kids she says When they come as 3-year-olds concepts are lost on them and theyre just having fun But as they get older they start to understand concepts like color and line

Big Museum Pint-Sized Fun

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp19

Parents according to Straseski are some of the programs strongest advocates especially as art programs are dropped from elementary curriculums due to budget cuts

Mom and Art Adventures regular Alison Novak for example prioritizes the preservation of arts significance in her kids

I think children are naturally drawn to art because its messy and creative Novak says But I do think theyre very aware of the importance of art and artists especially as they get older

She adds that the interactive aspect of Joslyns art program is especially engaging for her 3-year-old daughter Dagny

The experience of art in this program is important because its so tactile and allows [my daughter] to use different materials Novak says Its not just coming and looking at the art Its something to get her involved

Its quite possible then that with the efforts of art advocates like Straseski and Novak a mini-Renaissance is in the making in these small art studentsmdashperhaps not in technique but in the messy and loving creative process

Art is about being able to pass on that passion to someone else Straseski says with a smile Thats the passion in artemsp

ww

Therese Straseski at work with budding artists at the Art Adventures program

Posh PeacockConsignment Gallery

Furniture amp Home Decor

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Bel Air Plaza 704 12100 W Center Rd

A Treasure Troveof Delightful amp Valuable Things

JULYAUGUST bull 2014

war amp PeaceChuck Hagel battles for a future free of the quagmires of the past

OmaharsquostopDentiststrade

Best of Omahatrade Campaign 2015

The Loyal Royal Alex Gordon

Malorie MaddoxOmaha Stories

trade

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

omamagcomsave

Donrsquot miss a single issue of Omaha Magazine

kids say the darndest things

20emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Allison Janda photography by Keith Binder

as a parent yoursquove probably appreciated (and not appreciated) the absolute

honesty that often escapes your childrsquos mouth Frankness aside kids also tend to say some hilarious things Martin Brucknerrsquos daughter Harper 3 is no exception

In early 2014 Bruckner his wife Michelle and their daughter were having dinner when he overheard his wife exclaim to Harper ldquoPlease donrsquot put spaghetti between your toesrdquo That same night as Bruckner was giving his daughter her evening bath he found himself asking her ldquoDid you drop your cheese in the tub againrdquo From that point on he decided it would be worthwhile to take note of all of the absurd utterances around his house He knew that one day he his wife and their child could all look back and have a good laugh

Bruckner began to create graphics based on things he wrote down eventually starting Tumblr and Facebook accounts to share them with friends family and parents around the world ldquoPretty much the first day I started the Facebook and Tumblr pages I had parents replying to me with the things their children say to themrdquo he chuckles Bruckner admits that it isnrsquot just the locals that find things he his wife and his daughter say funny In fact he has gotten messages from as far away as Australia

While Spaghetti Toes started out innocently enough it seems to be gaining steam as Harper ages Bruckner states that while his daughter is a newer

conversationalist the things she says only get funnier with age ldquoHer vocabulary is getting bigger and stronger but shersquos still having a hard time getting certain things to be in the correct context which in turn makes them hilariousrdquo he says This is confirmed with nothing more than a cursory glance through his website

The graphics he has created have started to garner some national attention getting picked up by websites such as BuzzFeed and The Chive Additionally Bruckner has started to fulfill custom orders and recently completed two such requests for a woman in Canada Nonetheless Bruckner remains encouraged by the local scene claiming Omaharsquos creatives are extremely supportive while locals are incredibly kind

The attention his sites have garnered feels good Bruckner says Nonetheless he finds that he is more drawn to the long-term payoff that they will have ldquoI started this as a way to document my daughterrsquos life while shersquos little and Irsquom having an incredible time doing itrdquo he shares In fact his own mother inspired by what her son was doing went digging for books that she kept on Bruckner and his siblings when they were young Bruckner hopes to use it to create additional graphics for his mom and five sisters ldquoIrsquove gotten message after message after message from parents and I think everyone is in agreement as far as their children saying incredible silly ridiculous and disgusting thingsrdquo he adds ldquoI say things daily that I never thought Irsquod sayrdquo Wersquore sure that every parent out there can relateemsp

feature

I think everyone is in agreement as far as their children saying incredible sillyridiculous and disgusting thingsrdquo-Martin Bruckner

Martin Harper and Michelle Bruckner

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp21

No Age Limit for

Bullies

i could have worked with Jim Rome the radio sportscaster Wersquore about the same age We were in college about the same time studying the same thing We both started working at

small stations before moving up I produced a number of anchors and reporters ldquoback in the dayrdquo who are still on the air at national networks So I have some experience working with Romersquos personality typemdashor at least the type he uses on air Arrogant bloated ego Inflammatory language 70rsquos mustache

Before January 1 of this year I only had peripheral knowledge of and no opinion on Mr Rome Irsquom not a hardcore sports fan so I couldnrsquot have picked him out of a lineup any day of the week But on this particular New Yearrsquos Day Mr Rome chose to insult not only my children but the children of my friends and in fact the children and grandchildren of hundreds of thousands of Americans In the middle of one of college footballrsquos biggest days he threw this tweet out there

ldquoIs there anybody not in a marching band who thinks those dorks running around with their instruments are coolrdquo

Wow You can just imagine the firestorm that followed It didnrsquot take long for the hashtag MarchonRome to be trending To be brief the answer to Mr Romersquos question was a resounding ldquoYes there are people who think theyrsquore coolrdquo After a 24-hour blast of more than 8000 responses (and that was only on Twitter) including everyone from the US Marines to band alums everywhere he tweeted this

ldquoBand nationmdashI hear you I was out of line I apologize I do not condone bullying of any kind and that was not my intentrdquo

The reason I chose this topic is not so much because I was personally offended by Mr Romersquos comment but because I was so saddened that someone my age could intentionally set such a horrible example If not to be a bully I canrsquot comprehend what Mr Romersquos intent was I think if it was ldquoto be funnyrdquo then thatrsquos a fail toomdashbecause making fun of entire groups of people in this manner is pretty much the textbook definition of bullying

Mr Rome (and many others I think) got a fast education about the athleticism discipline and commitment that marching band requires And I wonrsquot even start on the statistics about the value of arts education Just last week a new study from the University of Vermont indicated the measurable impact of music education in developing attention skills anxiety management and emotional control

No my beef with Mr Rome is quite simplemdashhe should be old enough to know better I get that my generation was a little different We were very cliquishmdashjocks potheads geeks dorks

22emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

mind amp bodyby Bev Carlson Lutheran Family Services

blah blahmdashbut I really thought (hoped) that with all of the current awareness of bullying a public figure like Mr Rose would be tuned in enough to choose his words more carefully when referring to hundreds of thousands of hard-working high school and college students

My hope rests with this next generation where amid the online furor those students with highly developed ldquoemotional controlrdquo graciously accepted Mr Rosersquos apology reminding him that this time he ldquomessed with the wrong dorksrdquo Irsquom still holding out hope that he will accept the challenge from many of the band members (many of whom also play sports) to come do what they domdash handle one week of band camp In the summer In the South Or how about here in Nebraska on all those cold early mornings Go Bandemsp

I was so saddened that someone my age could intentionally set such a horrible example

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp23

oneworldomahaorg

Grow STRONG WithOneWorld Pediatrics

45 YEARS OF MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Cass FamilyMedicine

122 S 6th StPlattsmouth

402-296-2345

Northwest Omaha

4229 N 90th St402-401-6000

West Omaha4101 S 120th St402-505-3907

South Omaha4920 S 30th St

402-734-4110

45 Years of Making a DifferenceOne Child at a Time

Bean amp Cheese Tostadas

this yummy tostada recipe makes a satisfying healthy lunch or dinner Black beans zucchini corn and cherry tomatoes make this colorful vegetarian

dish delicious and nutritious emsp

Find more great recipes at HealthyKohlsKidscom The Healthy Kohlrsquos Kids program is a partnership between Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center and Kohlrsquos Department Stores to educate children and parents about healthy nutrition and fitness

24emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

sponsored content by Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center food

ingredientsbull 8 corn

tortillas (6-inch diameter)

bull 1 can (14 oz) black beans rinsed and drained

bull 1 small white onion finely chopped

bull 2 medium zucchini cut into 14-inch pieces

bull 2 jalapentildeo peppers seeded and chopped

bull 12 Tbsp black pepper

bull 14 cup water

bull 12 cup cooked corn

bull 1 cup cherry tomatoes sliced

bull 12 cup chopped cilantro leaves

bull 1 12 oz grated reduced-fat white cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese (14 cup)

bull 4 scallions chopped

bull 1 small avocado pitted peeled and chopped

bull Lime wedges optional

preparation1 Preheat oven to 400deg Arrange tortillas

on 2 baking sheets and toast in oven until crisp about 5 minutes Remove from baking sheets

2 Lightly spray baking sheets with nonstick cooking spray Spread beans and onion on one and zucchini and jalapentildeos on the other Lightly coat vegetables with cooking spray season with the black pepper and roast until golden 12 to 15 minutes

3 Transfer half the beans and onion to a bowl with the water and mash beans with the back of a fork until smooth (Add more water to reach desired consistency if necessary) Spread mixture onto tortillas

4 Toss remaining beans and onion with zucchini jalapentildeos and corn and divide among tortillas

5 Top each tostada with tomatoes cilantro cheese scallions and avocado Serve with lime wedges if desired

Yield 4 servings

Nutrition Facts Calories 434 Fat 14g

Saturated Fat 3g Cholesterol 0

Sodium 446mg Carbohydrates 61g

Fiber 10g Protein 16g

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp25

Thanks for Voting Us Best of Omahatrade

84th and 1st St Downtown Papillion

402-331-9136

18 flavorsBaked daily Birthdays Weddings GraduationsOn-site party room

buy one get one

FREEExpires March 31 2015

HoursMonday-Saturday raquo11am-8pm

Located at Midlands Placeoff 84th Street and Highway 370

Maybe a Cupcake Will Help

wwwdingmanscom

4025583500Corner of

50th amp SouthSaddlecreek

402-502-8757Southwest corner

of 144th amp Industrial Rd

4025025511Southwestcorner of

120th amp Maple

4029339400Corner of

Washington amp Lincoln in Papillion

ldquoWersquod Rather Be The Best Than Apologize for Anything Lessrdquo

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We are grateful for your business and Best of Omahatrade

votes for best Auto Body Repair

Spring Cleaning St Patrickrsquos Way

while most are eager for the weather to warm up in time for St Patrickrsquos Day (and the green beer sure)

Irsquom more into the holidayrsquos theme of ridding the country of evils Itrsquos time to purge yrsquoall

Irsquove been hibernating for six months under a blanket in front of the fireplace All I see here is an intense accumulation of clutter tucked in the corners out of my usual visual paths as I traverse my house

I finally get up and start the purge ldquoWhorsquos beach towel is thisrdquo ldquoI think Bobby left it here when we had that

slip-n-slide partyrdquo one of the kids says to me while walking out of their scarf gloves hat sweatshirt and shoes which leaves a trail marking my imminent demise from slips and falls (If I fall and am lying there unconscious interrogate my kids first)

ldquoThe slip-n-slide party That was five years agordquo I respond

ldquoYeah I think Bobby moved to Alaskardquo comes the retort which was both informative and confirmation that we had a right to be embarrassed

ldquoWell he doesnrsquot need this beach towel anymorerdquo Once the snow melts the purge involves three or four trips to Goodwill

Itrsquos funny that when yoursquore trapped in your house long enough due to subzero temperatures you start looking at the walls a little differently ldquoIs it me or is our kitchen less sage green and more My Little Pony Minty Greenrdquo I ask my husband

Before he can assure me the pastel shade of green is fine Irsquom off getting paint You canrsquot go wrong with a color called ldquoChocolaterdquo for the kitchen right

My family isnrsquot very supportive of my winter stir-crazy hobby of purging This year for Christmas the kids asked Santa for locks on their doors in an effort to protect their belongings from Momrsquos annual campaign

Itrsquos inevitable that about five years after I give something away one of my kids wants to know where it went Irsquom sorry your 2005 Lego set is gone My bare feet just couldnrsquot take it anymore

Just as St Patrick rid Ireland of all the snakes Irsquove secretly celebrated my own sainthood as Irsquove shooed all of my clutter away

Oh but then you realize that even saints canrsquot always win the clutter battle The cat barfs up a hairball My son walks by and touts ldquoIf only we still had Bobbyrsquos beach towel to clean this uprdquoemsp

26emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Leslie Murrell mom on the rocks

Boat PoseSanskrit name Paripurna Navasana(par-ee-POOR-nah nah-VAHS-anna)

the Boat Pose strengthens the hip flexors spine and the abdomen This pose helps to relieve stress improves digestion and stimulates the kidneys

intestines and thyroidemsp

BEGINNERS TIPPlace a strap around the ball of both feet Hold on to the

strap with straight arms

1 Sit on the floor with your legs straight in front of you Place your hands behind your hip and press into the ground fingers face- forward

2 Lift up through the sternum and slightly lean back until the weight is distributed to the top of your sitting bones and tailbone

3 Bend the knees and lift the feet off the floor

4 Lengthen the tailbone by pressing it into the floor and lift the pubis towards the naval

5 Slowly straighten your legs until your feet reach above eye level and spread the toes

6 Stretch the arms alongside the legs and reach out through the fingers

7 Breathe deeply for 15-30 seconds

8 Exhale and lower the legs to the floor

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp27

by Rachel Joy photography by Bill SitzmannfitnessWe are

the most experienced full-service family owned real estate company in America

npdodgecom

FOR THE KIDS

BAM ITrsquoS A PICTURE BOOK THE ART BEHIND GRAPHIC NOVELSTHROUGH MARCH 29 2015 JOSLYN ART MUSEUM ndash

2200 DODGE ST Popular among young readers

graphic novels are known for their comic

format They are generally described as

ldquosequential artrdquo where a series of illustrations

tell the story but unlike newspaper comics

they are the length of a novel and include

narrative development This exhibition features

the work of Jarrett J Krosoczka Mark Crilley

Matt Holm Raina Telgemeier and Lincoln

Peirce Tuesday - Wednesday amp Friday - Sunday

10am- 4pm Thursday 10am- 8pm Free

admission 402-342-3300

- JOSLYNORG

ONCE UPON A FARM EXHIBITTHROUGH APRIL 12 OMAHA CHILDRENrsquoS MUSEUMmdash500

S 20TH ST Explore the world of agriculture and

learn where your food comes from with the help

of interactive exhibit components like a center

pivot amp planting station dairy cows pedal track

maze and more Tuesday through Friday 10am ndash

4pm Saturday 9am ndash 5pm Sunday 1pm ndash 5 pm

Admission $2 plus regular admission Free for

members 402-342-6164

- OCMORG

MERMAID MINIONS amp DRAGONSMARCH 22 Holland Performing Arts

Centermdash1200 Douglas St Your favorite music

from How to Train Your Dragon Despicable Me

The Little Mermaid and other family movie hits

Brought to life through thrilling performances of

song dance and spectacle 2pm

Admission $15

- OMAHASYMPHONYORG

FOR THE FAMILY

NATURE CONNECTS 2THROUGH APRIL 26 LAURITZEN GARDENSmdash100

BANCROFT ST View 27 new sculptures each

inspired by the natural world made entirely of

300000 Legoreg bricks Make your own Lego

brick creations in the Legobrickyard and enjoy

a variety of Lego-inspired events throughout

the duration of the exhibit 9am ndash 5pm

Admission $10 adults$5 children six to 12 Free

for children under six and for garden members

402-346-4003

- LAURITZENGARDENSORG

TECH CITYTHROUGH MAY 10 STRATEGIC AIR amp SPACE MUSEUMmdash

ASHLAND NE This travelling engineering exhibit

is a great way to inspire learning and interest

in careers that focus on science technology

engineering and mathematics (STEM) The

Tech City exhibit is designed with interactive

learning that will appeal to visitors of all ages

9am - 5pm Free with regular admission $12

adult $6 youth children under 3 are free

402-944-3100

- SASMUSEUMCOM

ZEN TIES

THROUGH MARCH 8 THE ROSE THEATERmdash2001

FARNAM ST A gentle tale about patience and

compassion Zen Ties will make you remember

how much wisdom can come of simple

mindfulness Friday Saturday and Sunday

Members Four free admissions Non-member

admission $18 402-345-4949

- ROSETHEATERORG

FOR MOM amp DAD

AMERICAN MODERNS FROM OrsquoKEEFFE TO ROCKWELLTHROUGH MAY 17 JOSLYN ART MUSEUMmdash2200

DODGE ST The United States emerged as an

international power while also experiencing

two world wars and the Great Depression

New technologies changed all aspects of

life while the art world witnessed dramatic

transformations of its own This exhibition

explores the ways American artists including

Georgia OrsquoKeeffe Marsden Hartley Stuart

Davis Rockwell Kent and Norman Rockwell

engaged the modern world This exhibition

will have a ticket fee Free for members youth

ages 17 and younger amp college students with ID

402-342-3300

-JOSLYNORG

KATHARINE HEPBURN DRESSED FOR STAGE AND SCREENFEBRUARY 7-APRIL 26 DURHAM MUSEUMmdash801 S

10TH ST This exhibition from the Kent State

University Museum features more than 35

costumes worn in 21 films and six stage

productions as well as other personal items

spanning Hepburnrsquos illustrious career Come see

how this true icon of American culture came

to epitomize the modern woman of the 20th

century Children $6 Adults $9 402-444-5071

- DURHAMMUSEUMORG

COMPAGNIE KAumlFIGMARCH 18 HOLLAND CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST

Brazilian dance company Compagnie Kaumlfig

brings a high-energy performance style

combining their hip-hop foundation with martial

arts and circus elements 730pm $1350 to

$2625 402-345-0202

- OMAHAPERFORMINGARTSORG

Tech CityBam Itrsquos a Picture Book American Moderns

28emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

Calendar of Events

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp29

Erin Cox Event Director

402-884-2038 | erinomahamagazinecom

EVENTS by OMAHA MAGAZINE

Events by Omaha Magazine is a full-service event production company specializing in trade shows corporate events product launches and social gatherings From concept to delivery our goal is to provide an exceptional event experience for the host and their guests

Your Vision Our Innovation Event Solutions

GET A JUMP ON SUMMER

YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA wwwmetroymcaorg

Join us March 21 2015 for our Open House at any YMCA of Greater Omaha location The YMCA is your place for camp this summer bull Weekly themed preschool morning camps (3-5 years) and summer day camp (4-12 years - varies by location)

bull Mini special interest camps

bull Premier camps and Camp Platte

bull Counselors-in-Training program for teens

REGISTER FOR

CAMP AT OUR OPEN

HOUSE 3-21-15

AND PAY NO CAMP

REGISTRATION FEES

i never had a pet as a childOkay so I did at the age of 9 or so have

an ill-fated and short-lived guardianship of a turtle whose name Irsquove long forgotten but Irsquove never been a pet person

My mother abhorred the idea of anything furry dwelling in her home and I was pretty much fine with that The feeling carried over into adulthood and my three now-grown children probably felt super-lucky just to have had the brief company of a single pet a (clean and non-slobbering) feline named Scribbles

Viral videos portraying cats and dogs doing whatever it is that cats and dogs do have never appeared on any of my playlists And to be frank people who describe their little quadruped cuties as their ldquochildrenrdquohellipwell kinda creep me out I have no innate aversion to cats even though I take them to be whiskered sociopaths of evil intent but I have never been at all comfortable around dogs of any make or model

Before the hate mail begins please allow me at least a shot at redemption

My grandsons Barrett and Easton are growing up in a home where the company of canines is prized Their collie Summer recently ascended to that great dog pound in the sky and after an appropriate period of mourning has been replaced by a border collie pup carrying an equally seasonal name of Winter

Itrsquos an understatement to say that I never hit it off with Summer Perhaps it didnrsquot help that she stained our Oriental rug as a pup not 10 seconds into her very first visit to our home My son Eric entered with Summer while explaining that all would be well in that the creature was doing a smash-up job when it came to taking care of business but it was too late The little thing bounded (Is that what dogs do They ldquoboundrdquo) directly to the rug lifted one leg andhellipyou know the rest

I have promised to be different with Winter My kids already know that I am neurotic but I donrsquot

want Easton and Barrett to grow up thinking that their granddad is some kind of loathsome monster I am going to do my best to get to know Winter and not be such a basket case

Not surprisingly my first encounter with Winter was shall we say trying ldquoHersquos

just young and excitablerdquo I was told as the dog tried to climb up my leg Yeah tell that to my now urine-stained

shoes (suede no less) and newish sweater scarred by Winterrsquos talons or toes or paws or whatever it is theyrsquore called

But it is with a certain sense of self-satisfaction that I can report that I kept my cool Now the notion of ldquocoolrdquo is subjective My immediate knee-jerk reaction was admittedly to jerk my knee in revulsion but I collected myself as quickly as possible and

tried my best to not make an international incident of the affair

I really need to up my game in being the grandpa that I hope to

be but boy do I have my work cut out for meemsp

Canine Calamity A Plan to Fake it Until I Make it

30emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

the grandpa chroniclesby David Williams

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp31

Did you know90 of brain development

happens by age 5Discover Nebraska Childrenrsquos Home Societyrsquos

accredited high-quality early childhood education programs with low child-to-staff ratios at two locations

4939 S 118th St in Omaha (402) 898-7760 for children 18 months through Pre-K

and 3549 Fontenelle Blvd in Omaha (402) 898-7768 for children 6 weeks through Pre-K

Call today for a free no-obligation tour

4023450606 OMAHASYMPHONYORG

Sunday March 22 bull 200 PMHolland Center

Your favorite music from How to Train Your Dragon

The Little Mermaid Despicable Me and other

family movie hits Brought to life through exciting performances of song dance and spectacle

FEATURING

THE HEARTLAND YOUTH BALLET

REacuteSONANCE CHOIR

Tickets Adults amp Kids $12

FAMILY SERIES

CONCERT

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Omaha Magazine5921 S 118th CirOmaha NE 68137

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

Page 14: March 2015 HerFamily

itrsquos easy for young moms to long for the stimulation of speaking with someone over the age of 10 Therersquos catharsis in talking through onersquos feelings and

problems with a person who no longer wears a diaper or a backpack

Increasingly mothers in Omaha like mothers nationally are turning to social media to connect vent or keep their writing chops sharp Theyrsquore the ldquoMommy Bloggersrdquo a group that by some estimates now number in the millions

Most blog as a pastime But some mommy blogs have higher purposes A blog can foster healing A blog can be a purposefully permanent document for the family

Omaha native Missy Cobb started her blog The Cobb Mobb as a way to connect with her three children

ldquoEvery time I write for the blog I think about my kids and how I am documenting memories for them I tried scrapbooking for my older kids but it was too time consumingrdquo Cobb says gt

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp15

lt Cobb who started her blog as a New Yearrsquos resolution in 2012 found writing allowed her to capture milestones and memories in a more efficient and permanent way ldquoIrsquove always enjoyed writing and I like knowing that this will always be there for my kids to readrdquo

Ashli Brehmrsquos blog Baby on the Brehm has played a key role in getting her through some trying times After going through a miscarriage Brehm (pronounced like brain but with an lsquomrsquo) dedicated a blog post to her experience and managed to connect with other women who had lost a baby

ldquoIt was cathartic for me Writing is how I emote Tons of women contacted me which then made me feel healedrdquo Brehm says

When her subsequent pregnancy did not go as planned and her third son was born several weeks premature she shared the highs and lows with her readers and received an overwhelming amount of support via Baby on the Brehm That support carried her through the next six weeks while her son Harrison was in the NICU growing strong enough to head home with his parents and two brothers

Fast-forward one year and Harrison is a happy healthy 1-year-old and Ashli is still blogging about her boys motherhood and everything in between And she still manages to maintain that connection with her audience

ldquoThe people who read my blog are like a community to me They are my life raft at timesrdquo Brehm says

Brehm like Cobb hopes that some day her children will read her entries and considers the blog a sort of legacy she is leaving behind

ldquoI want my boys to learn to be themselves and to have confidence I hope that by blogging and doing it in an authentic and honest way I am showing them thatrdquo emsp

feature continued

Missy CobbPhoto by Keith Binder

16emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

Visit us today12965 W Center Rd 4027780650

HoursMon-Thu 10-6Fri-Sat 10-5Sun 12-4

wwwelitecheercom402-537-0855 2410 S 140th Circle

Nebraskarsquos Premiere Cheerleading amp Tumbling center Learn basic

cheer techniquesJumps Tumbling Stunts amp Pyramids

We teach kids how to win through-Hard Work PerserverenceAccountability Discipline Integrity

ldquoA journey of a thousand miles starts with a single steprdquo

ldquoI bust mine so you can kick theirsrdquo

LFSneborg middot infoLFSneborg

Friday Feb 20 2015

dinner amp auction

Honorary cHair

nancy K JoHnson

il Palazzo bull 5110 nortH 132nd street bull omaHa ne cmurraylFsneborg

LFS Her Family ad 12-08-14indd 1 1282014 123544 PM

Young Hero proudly sponsored by

Young Hero proudly sponsored by

nicole Carrillo says she can make friends anywhere Even at the airport

Case in point On a chilly night in November Nicole stood with her fellow Thrive Club members at Eppley Airfield holding colorful signs Nicolersquos read ldquoWELCOME TO OMAHArdquo with the Orsquos shaped like hearts Moments later wild applause laughter and some tears erupted from the relatives students and coaches gathered for this moment

Nicolersquos soon-to-be-new friends were a refugee family just arriving from Burma Marisol Nicolersquos mother and one of the sponsors of Thrive was overwhelmed as tears flooded her eyes ldquoIt was life- changingrdquo Marisol recalls

Members of the Thrive Club along with Lutheran Family Services provided a cozy home environment for the immigrant family in an apartment volunteerrsquos chocked full of groceries clothes and furniture

Nicole a junior at Northwest High School had filled out a grant to present to her principal Thomas Lee to do something for a family that would be lost in a foreign world

Emigrating is hard scary often emotionally draining Nicolersquos empathy stems from hearing the story of her parents Marisol a native of Mexico left for the United States in her teens to pursue a cosmetics license It was difficult she says but she argues she had it easier than her husband Joel who she would later meet in English classes

Joel started his first job in the ldquoworst town you can think ofrdquomdashAguascalientes Mexico He loaded heavy bricks into trucks and along with 15 or so other boys sold them house-to-house He was five at the time Joel came to the United States when he was 15 Later he worked 60 to 70 hours a week while attending college classes at night sometimes even taking a course during his lunch hour

Nicole sees what her parents had to go throughmdashall their hard work So she strives to be the best As a 40 student Nicole is currently right behind her best friend for the top spot on the GPA ladder ldquoIt has been a long steady fightrdquo she says ldquobut itrsquos all in good funrdquo However like most high achievers Nicole gets upset if she receives a B on a test or paper but her parents do not

ldquoMy parents are like lsquoyou are doing the best you canrsquordquo Nicole says resting her hand on her cheek during a recent interview ldquoLove themrdquo

Nicole says attending Northwest was one the best decisions she has ever made ldquoShe is one of the best ambassadors for the schoolrdquo Lee says Nicole is active in all aspects of the school including student council National Honor Society and choir She has won numerous community service awards and was one of five in the nation to be selected for the National Youth Advisory Council

Nicole is now eager to show the Burmese family all the ldquosimple things we take for grantedrdquo around Omahamdashldquolike the mall and zoordquo she says

ldquoNicole has the heart to helphellip to make a better worldrdquo her mother says proudlyemsp

Nicole CarrilloHelping Immigrants Thrive in America

Nicole Carillo and the Thrive Group

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp17

by Lisa Lukecart photography by Keith Binderyoung hero

18emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Claire Martin photography by Bill Sitzmannactivity

the expected audience for morning attendance at the Joslyn Art Museum is not perhaps thought to be a handful of pint-sized art scholars But thats precisely the group of observers that hovered around a Renaissance fresco on a recent Friday

morning chattering about concepts like color shapes and how it was that a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle (Michelangelo) could be an artist

A museum shouldnt be a stuffy place I dont think artist and teacher Therese Straseski says It should be a fun place

Straseski has led and instructed the Art Adventures program at the Joslyn for 15 years now in which kids from the ages of 3-5 participate in interactive art activities with their parents every Friday morning Creative tasks can range anywhere from pouring plaster to mixing color palettes

I think art is amazingly important in children Straseski says Teaching art is about learning to enjoy yourself and love what you do Maybe I cant be Rembrandt but I can teach these kids to enjoy themselves in creating art

Another of Straseskis passions in her job is the substantial development in her young students skill and interest over time More exposure to art she believes helps integrate both sides of the brain immediately in children

We absolutely see improvement in our kids she says When they come as 3-year-olds concepts are lost on them and theyre just having fun But as they get older they start to understand concepts like color and line

Big Museum Pint-Sized Fun

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp19

Parents according to Straseski are some of the programs strongest advocates especially as art programs are dropped from elementary curriculums due to budget cuts

Mom and Art Adventures regular Alison Novak for example prioritizes the preservation of arts significance in her kids

I think children are naturally drawn to art because its messy and creative Novak says But I do think theyre very aware of the importance of art and artists especially as they get older

She adds that the interactive aspect of Joslyns art program is especially engaging for her 3-year-old daughter Dagny

The experience of art in this program is important because its so tactile and allows [my daughter] to use different materials Novak says Its not just coming and looking at the art Its something to get her involved

Its quite possible then that with the efforts of art advocates like Straseski and Novak a mini-Renaissance is in the making in these small art studentsmdashperhaps not in technique but in the messy and loving creative process

Art is about being able to pass on that passion to someone else Straseski says with a smile Thats the passion in artemsp

ww

Therese Straseski at work with budding artists at the Art Adventures program

Posh PeacockConsignment Gallery

Furniture amp Home Decor

4029339666 - poshpeacocknet

Bel Air Plaza 704 12100 W Center Rd

A Treasure Troveof Delightful amp Valuable Things

JULYAUGUST bull 2014

war amp PeaceChuck Hagel battles for a future free of the quagmires of the past

OmaharsquostopDentiststrade

Best of Omahatrade Campaign 2015

The Loyal Royal Alex Gordon

Malorie MaddoxOmaha Stories

trade

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

omamagcomsave

Donrsquot miss a single issue of Omaha Magazine

kids say the darndest things

20emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Allison Janda photography by Keith Binder

as a parent yoursquove probably appreciated (and not appreciated) the absolute

honesty that often escapes your childrsquos mouth Frankness aside kids also tend to say some hilarious things Martin Brucknerrsquos daughter Harper 3 is no exception

In early 2014 Bruckner his wife Michelle and their daughter were having dinner when he overheard his wife exclaim to Harper ldquoPlease donrsquot put spaghetti between your toesrdquo That same night as Bruckner was giving his daughter her evening bath he found himself asking her ldquoDid you drop your cheese in the tub againrdquo From that point on he decided it would be worthwhile to take note of all of the absurd utterances around his house He knew that one day he his wife and their child could all look back and have a good laugh

Bruckner began to create graphics based on things he wrote down eventually starting Tumblr and Facebook accounts to share them with friends family and parents around the world ldquoPretty much the first day I started the Facebook and Tumblr pages I had parents replying to me with the things their children say to themrdquo he chuckles Bruckner admits that it isnrsquot just the locals that find things he his wife and his daughter say funny In fact he has gotten messages from as far away as Australia

While Spaghetti Toes started out innocently enough it seems to be gaining steam as Harper ages Bruckner states that while his daughter is a newer

conversationalist the things she says only get funnier with age ldquoHer vocabulary is getting bigger and stronger but shersquos still having a hard time getting certain things to be in the correct context which in turn makes them hilariousrdquo he says This is confirmed with nothing more than a cursory glance through his website

The graphics he has created have started to garner some national attention getting picked up by websites such as BuzzFeed and The Chive Additionally Bruckner has started to fulfill custom orders and recently completed two such requests for a woman in Canada Nonetheless Bruckner remains encouraged by the local scene claiming Omaharsquos creatives are extremely supportive while locals are incredibly kind

The attention his sites have garnered feels good Bruckner says Nonetheless he finds that he is more drawn to the long-term payoff that they will have ldquoI started this as a way to document my daughterrsquos life while shersquos little and Irsquom having an incredible time doing itrdquo he shares In fact his own mother inspired by what her son was doing went digging for books that she kept on Bruckner and his siblings when they were young Bruckner hopes to use it to create additional graphics for his mom and five sisters ldquoIrsquove gotten message after message after message from parents and I think everyone is in agreement as far as their children saying incredible silly ridiculous and disgusting thingsrdquo he adds ldquoI say things daily that I never thought Irsquod sayrdquo Wersquore sure that every parent out there can relateemsp

feature

I think everyone is in agreement as far as their children saying incredible sillyridiculous and disgusting thingsrdquo-Martin Bruckner

Martin Harper and Michelle Bruckner

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp21

No Age Limit for

Bullies

i could have worked with Jim Rome the radio sportscaster Wersquore about the same age We were in college about the same time studying the same thing We both started working at

small stations before moving up I produced a number of anchors and reporters ldquoback in the dayrdquo who are still on the air at national networks So I have some experience working with Romersquos personality typemdashor at least the type he uses on air Arrogant bloated ego Inflammatory language 70rsquos mustache

Before January 1 of this year I only had peripheral knowledge of and no opinion on Mr Rome Irsquom not a hardcore sports fan so I couldnrsquot have picked him out of a lineup any day of the week But on this particular New Yearrsquos Day Mr Rome chose to insult not only my children but the children of my friends and in fact the children and grandchildren of hundreds of thousands of Americans In the middle of one of college footballrsquos biggest days he threw this tweet out there

ldquoIs there anybody not in a marching band who thinks those dorks running around with their instruments are coolrdquo

Wow You can just imagine the firestorm that followed It didnrsquot take long for the hashtag MarchonRome to be trending To be brief the answer to Mr Romersquos question was a resounding ldquoYes there are people who think theyrsquore coolrdquo After a 24-hour blast of more than 8000 responses (and that was only on Twitter) including everyone from the US Marines to band alums everywhere he tweeted this

ldquoBand nationmdashI hear you I was out of line I apologize I do not condone bullying of any kind and that was not my intentrdquo

The reason I chose this topic is not so much because I was personally offended by Mr Romersquos comment but because I was so saddened that someone my age could intentionally set such a horrible example If not to be a bully I canrsquot comprehend what Mr Romersquos intent was I think if it was ldquoto be funnyrdquo then thatrsquos a fail toomdashbecause making fun of entire groups of people in this manner is pretty much the textbook definition of bullying

Mr Rome (and many others I think) got a fast education about the athleticism discipline and commitment that marching band requires And I wonrsquot even start on the statistics about the value of arts education Just last week a new study from the University of Vermont indicated the measurable impact of music education in developing attention skills anxiety management and emotional control

No my beef with Mr Rome is quite simplemdashhe should be old enough to know better I get that my generation was a little different We were very cliquishmdashjocks potheads geeks dorks

22emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

mind amp bodyby Bev Carlson Lutheran Family Services

blah blahmdashbut I really thought (hoped) that with all of the current awareness of bullying a public figure like Mr Rose would be tuned in enough to choose his words more carefully when referring to hundreds of thousands of hard-working high school and college students

My hope rests with this next generation where amid the online furor those students with highly developed ldquoemotional controlrdquo graciously accepted Mr Rosersquos apology reminding him that this time he ldquomessed with the wrong dorksrdquo Irsquom still holding out hope that he will accept the challenge from many of the band members (many of whom also play sports) to come do what they domdash handle one week of band camp In the summer In the South Or how about here in Nebraska on all those cold early mornings Go Bandemsp

I was so saddened that someone my age could intentionally set such a horrible example

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp23

oneworldomahaorg

Grow STRONG WithOneWorld Pediatrics

45 YEARS OF MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Cass FamilyMedicine

122 S 6th StPlattsmouth

402-296-2345

Northwest Omaha

4229 N 90th St402-401-6000

West Omaha4101 S 120th St402-505-3907

South Omaha4920 S 30th St

402-734-4110

45 Years of Making a DifferenceOne Child at a Time

Bean amp Cheese Tostadas

this yummy tostada recipe makes a satisfying healthy lunch or dinner Black beans zucchini corn and cherry tomatoes make this colorful vegetarian

dish delicious and nutritious emsp

Find more great recipes at HealthyKohlsKidscom The Healthy Kohlrsquos Kids program is a partnership between Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center and Kohlrsquos Department Stores to educate children and parents about healthy nutrition and fitness

24emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

sponsored content by Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center food

ingredientsbull 8 corn

tortillas (6-inch diameter)

bull 1 can (14 oz) black beans rinsed and drained

bull 1 small white onion finely chopped

bull 2 medium zucchini cut into 14-inch pieces

bull 2 jalapentildeo peppers seeded and chopped

bull 12 Tbsp black pepper

bull 14 cup water

bull 12 cup cooked corn

bull 1 cup cherry tomatoes sliced

bull 12 cup chopped cilantro leaves

bull 1 12 oz grated reduced-fat white cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese (14 cup)

bull 4 scallions chopped

bull 1 small avocado pitted peeled and chopped

bull Lime wedges optional

preparation1 Preheat oven to 400deg Arrange tortillas

on 2 baking sheets and toast in oven until crisp about 5 minutes Remove from baking sheets

2 Lightly spray baking sheets with nonstick cooking spray Spread beans and onion on one and zucchini and jalapentildeos on the other Lightly coat vegetables with cooking spray season with the black pepper and roast until golden 12 to 15 minutes

3 Transfer half the beans and onion to a bowl with the water and mash beans with the back of a fork until smooth (Add more water to reach desired consistency if necessary) Spread mixture onto tortillas

4 Toss remaining beans and onion with zucchini jalapentildeos and corn and divide among tortillas

5 Top each tostada with tomatoes cilantro cheese scallions and avocado Serve with lime wedges if desired

Yield 4 servings

Nutrition Facts Calories 434 Fat 14g

Saturated Fat 3g Cholesterol 0

Sodium 446mg Carbohydrates 61g

Fiber 10g Protein 16g

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp25

Thanks for Voting Us Best of Omahatrade

84th and 1st St Downtown Papillion

402-331-9136

18 flavorsBaked daily Birthdays Weddings GraduationsOn-site party room

buy one get one

FREEExpires March 31 2015

HoursMonday-Saturday raquo11am-8pm

Located at Midlands Placeoff 84th Street and Highway 370

Maybe a Cupcake Will Help

wwwdingmanscom

4025583500Corner of

50th amp SouthSaddlecreek

402-502-8757Southwest corner

of 144th amp Industrial Rd

4025025511Southwestcorner of

120th amp Maple

4029339400Corner of

Washington amp Lincoln in Papillion

ldquoWersquod Rather Be The Best Than Apologize for Anything Lessrdquo

1st place

10 YEARS in a row

We are grateful for your business and Best of Omahatrade

votes for best Auto Body Repair

Spring Cleaning St Patrickrsquos Way

while most are eager for the weather to warm up in time for St Patrickrsquos Day (and the green beer sure)

Irsquom more into the holidayrsquos theme of ridding the country of evils Itrsquos time to purge yrsquoall

Irsquove been hibernating for six months under a blanket in front of the fireplace All I see here is an intense accumulation of clutter tucked in the corners out of my usual visual paths as I traverse my house

I finally get up and start the purge ldquoWhorsquos beach towel is thisrdquo ldquoI think Bobby left it here when we had that

slip-n-slide partyrdquo one of the kids says to me while walking out of their scarf gloves hat sweatshirt and shoes which leaves a trail marking my imminent demise from slips and falls (If I fall and am lying there unconscious interrogate my kids first)

ldquoThe slip-n-slide party That was five years agordquo I respond

ldquoYeah I think Bobby moved to Alaskardquo comes the retort which was both informative and confirmation that we had a right to be embarrassed

ldquoWell he doesnrsquot need this beach towel anymorerdquo Once the snow melts the purge involves three or four trips to Goodwill

Itrsquos funny that when yoursquore trapped in your house long enough due to subzero temperatures you start looking at the walls a little differently ldquoIs it me or is our kitchen less sage green and more My Little Pony Minty Greenrdquo I ask my husband

Before he can assure me the pastel shade of green is fine Irsquom off getting paint You canrsquot go wrong with a color called ldquoChocolaterdquo for the kitchen right

My family isnrsquot very supportive of my winter stir-crazy hobby of purging This year for Christmas the kids asked Santa for locks on their doors in an effort to protect their belongings from Momrsquos annual campaign

Itrsquos inevitable that about five years after I give something away one of my kids wants to know where it went Irsquom sorry your 2005 Lego set is gone My bare feet just couldnrsquot take it anymore

Just as St Patrick rid Ireland of all the snakes Irsquove secretly celebrated my own sainthood as Irsquove shooed all of my clutter away

Oh but then you realize that even saints canrsquot always win the clutter battle The cat barfs up a hairball My son walks by and touts ldquoIf only we still had Bobbyrsquos beach towel to clean this uprdquoemsp

26emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Leslie Murrell mom on the rocks

Boat PoseSanskrit name Paripurna Navasana(par-ee-POOR-nah nah-VAHS-anna)

the Boat Pose strengthens the hip flexors spine and the abdomen This pose helps to relieve stress improves digestion and stimulates the kidneys

intestines and thyroidemsp

BEGINNERS TIPPlace a strap around the ball of both feet Hold on to the

strap with straight arms

1 Sit on the floor with your legs straight in front of you Place your hands behind your hip and press into the ground fingers face- forward

2 Lift up through the sternum and slightly lean back until the weight is distributed to the top of your sitting bones and tailbone

3 Bend the knees and lift the feet off the floor

4 Lengthen the tailbone by pressing it into the floor and lift the pubis towards the naval

5 Slowly straighten your legs until your feet reach above eye level and spread the toes

6 Stretch the arms alongside the legs and reach out through the fingers

7 Breathe deeply for 15-30 seconds

8 Exhale and lower the legs to the floor

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp27

by Rachel Joy photography by Bill SitzmannfitnessWe are

the most experienced full-service family owned real estate company in America

npdodgecom

FOR THE KIDS

BAM ITrsquoS A PICTURE BOOK THE ART BEHIND GRAPHIC NOVELSTHROUGH MARCH 29 2015 JOSLYN ART MUSEUM ndash

2200 DODGE ST Popular among young readers

graphic novels are known for their comic

format They are generally described as

ldquosequential artrdquo where a series of illustrations

tell the story but unlike newspaper comics

they are the length of a novel and include

narrative development This exhibition features

the work of Jarrett J Krosoczka Mark Crilley

Matt Holm Raina Telgemeier and Lincoln

Peirce Tuesday - Wednesday amp Friday - Sunday

10am- 4pm Thursday 10am- 8pm Free

admission 402-342-3300

- JOSLYNORG

ONCE UPON A FARM EXHIBITTHROUGH APRIL 12 OMAHA CHILDRENrsquoS MUSEUMmdash500

S 20TH ST Explore the world of agriculture and

learn where your food comes from with the help

of interactive exhibit components like a center

pivot amp planting station dairy cows pedal track

maze and more Tuesday through Friday 10am ndash

4pm Saturday 9am ndash 5pm Sunday 1pm ndash 5 pm

Admission $2 plus regular admission Free for

members 402-342-6164

- OCMORG

MERMAID MINIONS amp DRAGONSMARCH 22 Holland Performing Arts

Centermdash1200 Douglas St Your favorite music

from How to Train Your Dragon Despicable Me

The Little Mermaid and other family movie hits

Brought to life through thrilling performances of

song dance and spectacle 2pm

Admission $15

- OMAHASYMPHONYORG

FOR THE FAMILY

NATURE CONNECTS 2THROUGH APRIL 26 LAURITZEN GARDENSmdash100

BANCROFT ST View 27 new sculptures each

inspired by the natural world made entirely of

300000 Legoreg bricks Make your own Lego

brick creations in the Legobrickyard and enjoy

a variety of Lego-inspired events throughout

the duration of the exhibit 9am ndash 5pm

Admission $10 adults$5 children six to 12 Free

for children under six and for garden members

402-346-4003

- LAURITZENGARDENSORG

TECH CITYTHROUGH MAY 10 STRATEGIC AIR amp SPACE MUSEUMmdash

ASHLAND NE This travelling engineering exhibit

is a great way to inspire learning and interest

in careers that focus on science technology

engineering and mathematics (STEM) The

Tech City exhibit is designed with interactive

learning that will appeal to visitors of all ages

9am - 5pm Free with regular admission $12

adult $6 youth children under 3 are free

402-944-3100

- SASMUSEUMCOM

ZEN TIES

THROUGH MARCH 8 THE ROSE THEATERmdash2001

FARNAM ST A gentle tale about patience and

compassion Zen Ties will make you remember

how much wisdom can come of simple

mindfulness Friday Saturday and Sunday

Members Four free admissions Non-member

admission $18 402-345-4949

- ROSETHEATERORG

FOR MOM amp DAD

AMERICAN MODERNS FROM OrsquoKEEFFE TO ROCKWELLTHROUGH MAY 17 JOSLYN ART MUSEUMmdash2200

DODGE ST The United States emerged as an

international power while also experiencing

two world wars and the Great Depression

New technologies changed all aspects of

life while the art world witnessed dramatic

transformations of its own This exhibition

explores the ways American artists including

Georgia OrsquoKeeffe Marsden Hartley Stuart

Davis Rockwell Kent and Norman Rockwell

engaged the modern world This exhibition

will have a ticket fee Free for members youth

ages 17 and younger amp college students with ID

402-342-3300

-JOSLYNORG

KATHARINE HEPBURN DRESSED FOR STAGE AND SCREENFEBRUARY 7-APRIL 26 DURHAM MUSEUMmdash801 S

10TH ST This exhibition from the Kent State

University Museum features more than 35

costumes worn in 21 films and six stage

productions as well as other personal items

spanning Hepburnrsquos illustrious career Come see

how this true icon of American culture came

to epitomize the modern woman of the 20th

century Children $6 Adults $9 402-444-5071

- DURHAMMUSEUMORG

COMPAGNIE KAumlFIGMARCH 18 HOLLAND CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST

Brazilian dance company Compagnie Kaumlfig

brings a high-energy performance style

combining their hip-hop foundation with martial

arts and circus elements 730pm $1350 to

$2625 402-345-0202

- OMAHAPERFORMINGARTSORG

Tech CityBam Itrsquos a Picture Book American Moderns

28emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

Calendar of Events

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp29

Erin Cox Event Director

402-884-2038 | erinomahamagazinecom

EVENTS by OMAHA MAGAZINE

Events by Omaha Magazine is a full-service event production company specializing in trade shows corporate events product launches and social gatherings From concept to delivery our goal is to provide an exceptional event experience for the host and their guests

Your Vision Our Innovation Event Solutions

GET A JUMP ON SUMMER

YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA wwwmetroymcaorg

Join us March 21 2015 for our Open House at any YMCA of Greater Omaha location The YMCA is your place for camp this summer bull Weekly themed preschool morning camps (3-5 years) and summer day camp (4-12 years - varies by location)

bull Mini special interest camps

bull Premier camps and Camp Platte

bull Counselors-in-Training program for teens

REGISTER FOR

CAMP AT OUR OPEN

HOUSE 3-21-15

AND PAY NO CAMP

REGISTRATION FEES

i never had a pet as a childOkay so I did at the age of 9 or so have

an ill-fated and short-lived guardianship of a turtle whose name Irsquove long forgotten but Irsquove never been a pet person

My mother abhorred the idea of anything furry dwelling in her home and I was pretty much fine with that The feeling carried over into adulthood and my three now-grown children probably felt super-lucky just to have had the brief company of a single pet a (clean and non-slobbering) feline named Scribbles

Viral videos portraying cats and dogs doing whatever it is that cats and dogs do have never appeared on any of my playlists And to be frank people who describe their little quadruped cuties as their ldquochildrenrdquohellipwell kinda creep me out I have no innate aversion to cats even though I take them to be whiskered sociopaths of evil intent but I have never been at all comfortable around dogs of any make or model

Before the hate mail begins please allow me at least a shot at redemption

My grandsons Barrett and Easton are growing up in a home where the company of canines is prized Their collie Summer recently ascended to that great dog pound in the sky and after an appropriate period of mourning has been replaced by a border collie pup carrying an equally seasonal name of Winter

Itrsquos an understatement to say that I never hit it off with Summer Perhaps it didnrsquot help that she stained our Oriental rug as a pup not 10 seconds into her very first visit to our home My son Eric entered with Summer while explaining that all would be well in that the creature was doing a smash-up job when it came to taking care of business but it was too late The little thing bounded (Is that what dogs do They ldquoboundrdquo) directly to the rug lifted one leg andhellipyou know the rest

I have promised to be different with Winter My kids already know that I am neurotic but I donrsquot

want Easton and Barrett to grow up thinking that their granddad is some kind of loathsome monster I am going to do my best to get to know Winter and not be such a basket case

Not surprisingly my first encounter with Winter was shall we say trying ldquoHersquos

just young and excitablerdquo I was told as the dog tried to climb up my leg Yeah tell that to my now urine-stained

shoes (suede no less) and newish sweater scarred by Winterrsquos talons or toes or paws or whatever it is theyrsquore called

But it is with a certain sense of self-satisfaction that I can report that I kept my cool Now the notion of ldquocoolrdquo is subjective My immediate knee-jerk reaction was admittedly to jerk my knee in revulsion but I collected myself as quickly as possible and

tried my best to not make an international incident of the affair

I really need to up my game in being the grandpa that I hope to

be but boy do I have my work cut out for meemsp

Canine Calamity A Plan to Fake it Until I Make it

30emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

the grandpa chroniclesby David Williams

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp31

Did you know90 of brain development

happens by age 5Discover Nebraska Childrenrsquos Home Societyrsquos

accredited high-quality early childhood education programs with low child-to-staff ratios at two locations

4939 S 118th St in Omaha (402) 898-7760 for children 18 months through Pre-K

and 3549 Fontenelle Blvd in Omaha (402) 898-7768 for children 6 weeks through Pre-K

Call today for a free no-obligation tour

4023450606 OMAHASYMPHONYORG

Sunday March 22 bull 200 PMHolland Center

Your favorite music from How to Train Your Dragon

The Little Mermaid Despicable Me and other

family movie hits Brought to life through exciting performances of song dance and spectacle

FEATURING

THE HEARTLAND YOUTH BALLET

REacuteSONANCE CHOIR

Tickets Adults amp Kids $12

FAMILY SERIES

CONCERT

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Omaha Magazine5921 S 118th CirOmaha NE 68137

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

Page 15: March 2015 HerFamily

lt Cobb who started her blog as a New Yearrsquos resolution in 2012 found writing allowed her to capture milestones and memories in a more efficient and permanent way ldquoIrsquove always enjoyed writing and I like knowing that this will always be there for my kids to readrdquo

Ashli Brehmrsquos blog Baby on the Brehm has played a key role in getting her through some trying times After going through a miscarriage Brehm (pronounced like brain but with an lsquomrsquo) dedicated a blog post to her experience and managed to connect with other women who had lost a baby

ldquoIt was cathartic for me Writing is how I emote Tons of women contacted me which then made me feel healedrdquo Brehm says

When her subsequent pregnancy did not go as planned and her third son was born several weeks premature she shared the highs and lows with her readers and received an overwhelming amount of support via Baby on the Brehm That support carried her through the next six weeks while her son Harrison was in the NICU growing strong enough to head home with his parents and two brothers

Fast-forward one year and Harrison is a happy healthy 1-year-old and Ashli is still blogging about her boys motherhood and everything in between And she still manages to maintain that connection with her audience

ldquoThe people who read my blog are like a community to me They are my life raft at timesrdquo Brehm says

Brehm like Cobb hopes that some day her children will read her entries and considers the blog a sort of legacy she is leaving behind

ldquoI want my boys to learn to be themselves and to have confidence I hope that by blogging and doing it in an authentic and honest way I am showing them thatrdquo emsp

feature continued

Missy CobbPhoto by Keith Binder

16emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

Visit us today12965 W Center Rd 4027780650

HoursMon-Thu 10-6Fri-Sat 10-5Sun 12-4

wwwelitecheercom402-537-0855 2410 S 140th Circle

Nebraskarsquos Premiere Cheerleading amp Tumbling center Learn basic

cheer techniquesJumps Tumbling Stunts amp Pyramids

We teach kids how to win through-Hard Work PerserverenceAccountability Discipline Integrity

ldquoA journey of a thousand miles starts with a single steprdquo

ldquoI bust mine so you can kick theirsrdquo

LFSneborg middot infoLFSneborg

Friday Feb 20 2015

dinner amp auction

Honorary cHair

nancy K JoHnson

il Palazzo bull 5110 nortH 132nd street bull omaHa ne cmurraylFsneborg

LFS Her Family ad 12-08-14indd 1 1282014 123544 PM

Young Hero proudly sponsored by

Young Hero proudly sponsored by

nicole Carrillo says she can make friends anywhere Even at the airport

Case in point On a chilly night in November Nicole stood with her fellow Thrive Club members at Eppley Airfield holding colorful signs Nicolersquos read ldquoWELCOME TO OMAHArdquo with the Orsquos shaped like hearts Moments later wild applause laughter and some tears erupted from the relatives students and coaches gathered for this moment

Nicolersquos soon-to-be-new friends were a refugee family just arriving from Burma Marisol Nicolersquos mother and one of the sponsors of Thrive was overwhelmed as tears flooded her eyes ldquoIt was life- changingrdquo Marisol recalls

Members of the Thrive Club along with Lutheran Family Services provided a cozy home environment for the immigrant family in an apartment volunteerrsquos chocked full of groceries clothes and furniture

Nicole a junior at Northwest High School had filled out a grant to present to her principal Thomas Lee to do something for a family that would be lost in a foreign world

Emigrating is hard scary often emotionally draining Nicolersquos empathy stems from hearing the story of her parents Marisol a native of Mexico left for the United States in her teens to pursue a cosmetics license It was difficult she says but she argues she had it easier than her husband Joel who she would later meet in English classes

Joel started his first job in the ldquoworst town you can think ofrdquomdashAguascalientes Mexico He loaded heavy bricks into trucks and along with 15 or so other boys sold them house-to-house He was five at the time Joel came to the United States when he was 15 Later he worked 60 to 70 hours a week while attending college classes at night sometimes even taking a course during his lunch hour

Nicole sees what her parents had to go throughmdashall their hard work So she strives to be the best As a 40 student Nicole is currently right behind her best friend for the top spot on the GPA ladder ldquoIt has been a long steady fightrdquo she says ldquobut itrsquos all in good funrdquo However like most high achievers Nicole gets upset if she receives a B on a test or paper but her parents do not

ldquoMy parents are like lsquoyou are doing the best you canrsquordquo Nicole says resting her hand on her cheek during a recent interview ldquoLove themrdquo

Nicole says attending Northwest was one the best decisions she has ever made ldquoShe is one of the best ambassadors for the schoolrdquo Lee says Nicole is active in all aspects of the school including student council National Honor Society and choir She has won numerous community service awards and was one of five in the nation to be selected for the National Youth Advisory Council

Nicole is now eager to show the Burmese family all the ldquosimple things we take for grantedrdquo around Omahamdashldquolike the mall and zoordquo she says

ldquoNicole has the heart to helphellip to make a better worldrdquo her mother says proudlyemsp

Nicole CarrilloHelping Immigrants Thrive in America

Nicole Carillo and the Thrive Group

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp17

by Lisa Lukecart photography by Keith Binderyoung hero

18emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Claire Martin photography by Bill Sitzmannactivity

the expected audience for morning attendance at the Joslyn Art Museum is not perhaps thought to be a handful of pint-sized art scholars But thats precisely the group of observers that hovered around a Renaissance fresco on a recent Friday

morning chattering about concepts like color shapes and how it was that a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle (Michelangelo) could be an artist

A museum shouldnt be a stuffy place I dont think artist and teacher Therese Straseski says It should be a fun place

Straseski has led and instructed the Art Adventures program at the Joslyn for 15 years now in which kids from the ages of 3-5 participate in interactive art activities with their parents every Friday morning Creative tasks can range anywhere from pouring plaster to mixing color palettes

I think art is amazingly important in children Straseski says Teaching art is about learning to enjoy yourself and love what you do Maybe I cant be Rembrandt but I can teach these kids to enjoy themselves in creating art

Another of Straseskis passions in her job is the substantial development in her young students skill and interest over time More exposure to art she believes helps integrate both sides of the brain immediately in children

We absolutely see improvement in our kids she says When they come as 3-year-olds concepts are lost on them and theyre just having fun But as they get older they start to understand concepts like color and line

Big Museum Pint-Sized Fun

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp19

Parents according to Straseski are some of the programs strongest advocates especially as art programs are dropped from elementary curriculums due to budget cuts

Mom and Art Adventures regular Alison Novak for example prioritizes the preservation of arts significance in her kids

I think children are naturally drawn to art because its messy and creative Novak says But I do think theyre very aware of the importance of art and artists especially as they get older

She adds that the interactive aspect of Joslyns art program is especially engaging for her 3-year-old daughter Dagny

The experience of art in this program is important because its so tactile and allows [my daughter] to use different materials Novak says Its not just coming and looking at the art Its something to get her involved

Its quite possible then that with the efforts of art advocates like Straseski and Novak a mini-Renaissance is in the making in these small art studentsmdashperhaps not in technique but in the messy and loving creative process

Art is about being able to pass on that passion to someone else Straseski says with a smile Thats the passion in artemsp

ww

Therese Straseski at work with budding artists at the Art Adventures program

Posh PeacockConsignment Gallery

Furniture amp Home Decor

4029339666 - poshpeacocknet

Bel Air Plaza 704 12100 W Center Rd

A Treasure Troveof Delightful amp Valuable Things

JULYAUGUST bull 2014

war amp PeaceChuck Hagel battles for a future free of the quagmires of the past

OmaharsquostopDentiststrade

Best of Omahatrade Campaign 2015

The Loyal Royal Alex Gordon

Malorie MaddoxOmaha Stories

trade

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

omamagcomsave

Donrsquot miss a single issue of Omaha Magazine

kids say the darndest things

20emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Allison Janda photography by Keith Binder

as a parent yoursquove probably appreciated (and not appreciated) the absolute

honesty that often escapes your childrsquos mouth Frankness aside kids also tend to say some hilarious things Martin Brucknerrsquos daughter Harper 3 is no exception

In early 2014 Bruckner his wife Michelle and their daughter were having dinner when he overheard his wife exclaim to Harper ldquoPlease donrsquot put spaghetti between your toesrdquo That same night as Bruckner was giving his daughter her evening bath he found himself asking her ldquoDid you drop your cheese in the tub againrdquo From that point on he decided it would be worthwhile to take note of all of the absurd utterances around his house He knew that one day he his wife and their child could all look back and have a good laugh

Bruckner began to create graphics based on things he wrote down eventually starting Tumblr and Facebook accounts to share them with friends family and parents around the world ldquoPretty much the first day I started the Facebook and Tumblr pages I had parents replying to me with the things their children say to themrdquo he chuckles Bruckner admits that it isnrsquot just the locals that find things he his wife and his daughter say funny In fact he has gotten messages from as far away as Australia

While Spaghetti Toes started out innocently enough it seems to be gaining steam as Harper ages Bruckner states that while his daughter is a newer

conversationalist the things she says only get funnier with age ldquoHer vocabulary is getting bigger and stronger but shersquos still having a hard time getting certain things to be in the correct context which in turn makes them hilariousrdquo he says This is confirmed with nothing more than a cursory glance through his website

The graphics he has created have started to garner some national attention getting picked up by websites such as BuzzFeed and The Chive Additionally Bruckner has started to fulfill custom orders and recently completed two such requests for a woman in Canada Nonetheless Bruckner remains encouraged by the local scene claiming Omaharsquos creatives are extremely supportive while locals are incredibly kind

The attention his sites have garnered feels good Bruckner says Nonetheless he finds that he is more drawn to the long-term payoff that they will have ldquoI started this as a way to document my daughterrsquos life while shersquos little and Irsquom having an incredible time doing itrdquo he shares In fact his own mother inspired by what her son was doing went digging for books that she kept on Bruckner and his siblings when they were young Bruckner hopes to use it to create additional graphics for his mom and five sisters ldquoIrsquove gotten message after message after message from parents and I think everyone is in agreement as far as their children saying incredible silly ridiculous and disgusting thingsrdquo he adds ldquoI say things daily that I never thought Irsquod sayrdquo Wersquore sure that every parent out there can relateemsp

feature

I think everyone is in agreement as far as their children saying incredible sillyridiculous and disgusting thingsrdquo-Martin Bruckner

Martin Harper and Michelle Bruckner

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp21

No Age Limit for

Bullies

i could have worked with Jim Rome the radio sportscaster Wersquore about the same age We were in college about the same time studying the same thing We both started working at

small stations before moving up I produced a number of anchors and reporters ldquoback in the dayrdquo who are still on the air at national networks So I have some experience working with Romersquos personality typemdashor at least the type he uses on air Arrogant bloated ego Inflammatory language 70rsquos mustache

Before January 1 of this year I only had peripheral knowledge of and no opinion on Mr Rome Irsquom not a hardcore sports fan so I couldnrsquot have picked him out of a lineup any day of the week But on this particular New Yearrsquos Day Mr Rome chose to insult not only my children but the children of my friends and in fact the children and grandchildren of hundreds of thousands of Americans In the middle of one of college footballrsquos biggest days he threw this tweet out there

ldquoIs there anybody not in a marching band who thinks those dorks running around with their instruments are coolrdquo

Wow You can just imagine the firestorm that followed It didnrsquot take long for the hashtag MarchonRome to be trending To be brief the answer to Mr Romersquos question was a resounding ldquoYes there are people who think theyrsquore coolrdquo After a 24-hour blast of more than 8000 responses (and that was only on Twitter) including everyone from the US Marines to band alums everywhere he tweeted this

ldquoBand nationmdashI hear you I was out of line I apologize I do not condone bullying of any kind and that was not my intentrdquo

The reason I chose this topic is not so much because I was personally offended by Mr Romersquos comment but because I was so saddened that someone my age could intentionally set such a horrible example If not to be a bully I canrsquot comprehend what Mr Romersquos intent was I think if it was ldquoto be funnyrdquo then thatrsquos a fail toomdashbecause making fun of entire groups of people in this manner is pretty much the textbook definition of bullying

Mr Rome (and many others I think) got a fast education about the athleticism discipline and commitment that marching band requires And I wonrsquot even start on the statistics about the value of arts education Just last week a new study from the University of Vermont indicated the measurable impact of music education in developing attention skills anxiety management and emotional control

No my beef with Mr Rome is quite simplemdashhe should be old enough to know better I get that my generation was a little different We were very cliquishmdashjocks potheads geeks dorks

22emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

mind amp bodyby Bev Carlson Lutheran Family Services

blah blahmdashbut I really thought (hoped) that with all of the current awareness of bullying a public figure like Mr Rose would be tuned in enough to choose his words more carefully when referring to hundreds of thousands of hard-working high school and college students

My hope rests with this next generation where amid the online furor those students with highly developed ldquoemotional controlrdquo graciously accepted Mr Rosersquos apology reminding him that this time he ldquomessed with the wrong dorksrdquo Irsquom still holding out hope that he will accept the challenge from many of the band members (many of whom also play sports) to come do what they domdash handle one week of band camp In the summer In the South Or how about here in Nebraska on all those cold early mornings Go Bandemsp

I was so saddened that someone my age could intentionally set such a horrible example

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp23

oneworldomahaorg

Grow STRONG WithOneWorld Pediatrics

45 YEARS OF MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Cass FamilyMedicine

122 S 6th StPlattsmouth

402-296-2345

Northwest Omaha

4229 N 90th St402-401-6000

West Omaha4101 S 120th St402-505-3907

South Omaha4920 S 30th St

402-734-4110

45 Years of Making a DifferenceOne Child at a Time

Bean amp Cheese Tostadas

this yummy tostada recipe makes a satisfying healthy lunch or dinner Black beans zucchini corn and cherry tomatoes make this colorful vegetarian

dish delicious and nutritious emsp

Find more great recipes at HealthyKohlsKidscom The Healthy Kohlrsquos Kids program is a partnership between Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center and Kohlrsquos Department Stores to educate children and parents about healthy nutrition and fitness

24emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

sponsored content by Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center food

ingredientsbull 8 corn

tortillas (6-inch diameter)

bull 1 can (14 oz) black beans rinsed and drained

bull 1 small white onion finely chopped

bull 2 medium zucchini cut into 14-inch pieces

bull 2 jalapentildeo peppers seeded and chopped

bull 12 Tbsp black pepper

bull 14 cup water

bull 12 cup cooked corn

bull 1 cup cherry tomatoes sliced

bull 12 cup chopped cilantro leaves

bull 1 12 oz grated reduced-fat white cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese (14 cup)

bull 4 scallions chopped

bull 1 small avocado pitted peeled and chopped

bull Lime wedges optional

preparation1 Preheat oven to 400deg Arrange tortillas

on 2 baking sheets and toast in oven until crisp about 5 minutes Remove from baking sheets

2 Lightly spray baking sheets with nonstick cooking spray Spread beans and onion on one and zucchini and jalapentildeos on the other Lightly coat vegetables with cooking spray season with the black pepper and roast until golden 12 to 15 minutes

3 Transfer half the beans and onion to a bowl with the water and mash beans with the back of a fork until smooth (Add more water to reach desired consistency if necessary) Spread mixture onto tortillas

4 Toss remaining beans and onion with zucchini jalapentildeos and corn and divide among tortillas

5 Top each tostada with tomatoes cilantro cheese scallions and avocado Serve with lime wedges if desired

Yield 4 servings

Nutrition Facts Calories 434 Fat 14g

Saturated Fat 3g Cholesterol 0

Sodium 446mg Carbohydrates 61g

Fiber 10g Protein 16g

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp25

Thanks for Voting Us Best of Omahatrade

84th and 1st St Downtown Papillion

402-331-9136

18 flavorsBaked daily Birthdays Weddings GraduationsOn-site party room

buy one get one

FREEExpires March 31 2015

HoursMonday-Saturday raquo11am-8pm

Located at Midlands Placeoff 84th Street and Highway 370

Maybe a Cupcake Will Help

wwwdingmanscom

4025583500Corner of

50th amp SouthSaddlecreek

402-502-8757Southwest corner

of 144th amp Industrial Rd

4025025511Southwestcorner of

120th amp Maple

4029339400Corner of

Washington amp Lincoln in Papillion

ldquoWersquod Rather Be The Best Than Apologize for Anything Lessrdquo

1st place

10 YEARS in a row

We are grateful for your business and Best of Omahatrade

votes for best Auto Body Repair

Spring Cleaning St Patrickrsquos Way

while most are eager for the weather to warm up in time for St Patrickrsquos Day (and the green beer sure)

Irsquom more into the holidayrsquos theme of ridding the country of evils Itrsquos time to purge yrsquoall

Irsquove been hibernating for six months under a blanket in front of the fireplace All I see here is an intense accumulation of clutter tucked in the corners out of my usual visual paths as I traverse my house

I finally get up and start the purge ldquoWhorsquos beach towel is thisrdquo ldquoI think Bobby left it here when we had that

slip-n-slide partyrdquo one of the kids says to me while walking out of their scarf gloves hat sweatshirt and shoes which leaves a trail marking my imminent demise from slips and falls (If I fall and am lying there unconscious interrogate my kids first)

ldquoThe slip-n-slide party That was five years agordquo I respond

ldquoYeah I think Bobby moved to Alaskardquo comes the retort which was both informative and confirmation that we had a right to be embarrassed

ldquoWell he doesnrsquot need this beach towel anymorerdquo Once the snow melts the purge involves three or four trips to Goodwill

Itrsquos funny that when yoursquore trapped in your house long enough due to subzero temperatures you start looking at the walls a little differently ldquoIs it me or is our kitchen less sage green and more My Little Pony Minty Greenrdquo I ask my husband

Before he can assure me the pastel shade of green is fine Irsquom off getting paint You canrsquot go wrong with a color called ldquoChocolaterdquo for the kitchen right

My family isnrsquot very supportive of my winter stir-crazy hobby of purging This year for Christmas the kids asked Santa for locks on their doors in an effort to protect their belongings from Momrsquos annual campaign

Itrsquos inevitable that about five years after I give something away one of my kids wants to know where it went Irsquom sorry your 2005 Lego set is gone My bare feet just couldnrsquot take it anymore

Just as St Patrick rid Ireland of all the snakes Irsquove secretly celebrated my own sainthood as Irsquove shooed all of my clutter away

Oh but then you realize that even saints canrsquot always win the clutter battle The cat barfs up a hairball My son walks by and touts ldquoIf only we still had Bobbyrsquos beach towel to clean this uprdquoemsp

26emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Leslie Murrell mom on the rocks

Boat PoseSanskrit name Paripurna Navasana(par-ee-POOR-nah nah-VAHS-anna)

the Boat Pose strengthens the hip flexors spine and the abdomen This pose helps to relieve stress improves digestion and stimulates the kidneys

intestines and thyroidemsp

BEGINNERS TIPPlace a strap around the ball of both feet Hold on to the

strap with straight arms

1 Sit on the floor with your legs straight in front of you Place your hands behind your hip and press into the ground fingers face- forward

2 Lift up through the sternum and slightly lean back until the weight is distributed to the top of your sitting bones and tailbone

3 Bend the knees and lift the feet off the floor

4 Lengthen the tailbone by pressing it into the floor and lift the pubis towards the naval

5 Slowly straighten your legs until your feet reach above eye level and spread the toes

6 Stretch the arms alongside the legs and reach out through the fingers

7 Breathe deeply for 15-30 seconds

8 Exhale and lower the legs to the floor

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp27

by Rachel Joy photography by Bill SitzmannfitnessWe are

the most experienced full-service family owned real estate company in America

npdodgecom

FOR THE KIDS

BAM ITrsquoS A PICTURE BOOK THE ART BEHIND GRAPHIC NOVELSTHROUGH MARCH 29 2015 JOSLYN ART MUSEUM ndash

2200 DODGE ST Popular among young readers

graphic novels are known for their comic

format They are generally described as

ldquosequential artrdquo where a series of illustrations

tell the story but unlike newspaper comics

they are the length of a novel and include

narrative development This exhibition features

the work of Jarrett J Krosoczka Mark Crilley

Matt Holm Raina Telgemeier and Lincoln

Peirce Tuesday - Wednesday amp Friday - Sunday

10am- 4pm Thursday 10am- 8pm Free

admission 402-342-3300

- JOSLYNORG

ONCE UPON A FARM EXHIBITTHROUGH APRIL 12 OMAHA CHILDRENrsquoS MUSEUMmdash500

S 20TH ST Explore the world of agriculture and

learn where your food comes from with the help

of interactive exhibit components like a center

pivot amp planting station dairy cows pedal track

maze and more Tuesday through Friday 10am ndash

4pm Saturday 9am ndash 5pm Sunday 1pm ndash 5 pm

Admission $2 plus regular admission Free for

members 402-342-6164

- OCMORG

MERMAID MINIONS amp DRAGONSMARCH 22 Holland Performing Arts

Centermdash1200 Douglas St Your favorite music

from How to Train Your Dragon Despicable Me

The Little Mermaid and other family movie hits

Brought to life through thrilling performances of

song dance and spectacle 2pm

Admission $15

- OMAHASYMPHONYORG

FOR THE FAMILY

NATURE CONNECTS 2THROUGH APRIL 26 LAURITZEN GARDENSmdash100

BANCROFT ST View 27 new sculptures each

inspired by the natural world made entirely of

300000 Legoreg bricks Make your own Lego

brick creations in the Legobrickyard and enjoy

a variety of Lego-inspired events throughout

the duration of the exhibit 9am ndash 5pm

Admission $10 adults$5 children six to 12 Free

for children under six and for garden members

402-346-4003

- LAURITZENGARDENSORG

TECH CITYTHROUGH MAY 10 STRATEGIC AIR amp SPACE MUSEUMmdash

ASHLAND NE This travelling engineering exhibit

is a great way to inspire learning and interest

in careers that focus on science technology

engineering and mathematics (STEM) The

Tech City exhibit is designed with interactive

learning that will appeal to visitors of all ages

9am - 5pm Free with regular admission $12

adult $6 youth children under 3 are free

402-944-3100

- SASMUSEUMCOM

ZEN TIES

THROUGH MARCH 8 THE ROSE THEATERmdash2001

FARNAM ST A gentle tale about patience and

compassion Zen Ties will make you remember

how much wisdom can come of simple

mindfulness Friday Saturday and Sunday

Members Four free admissions Non-member

admission $18 402-345-4949

- ROSETHEATERORG

FOR MOM amp DAD

AMERICAN MODERNS FROM OrsquoKEEFFE TO ROCKWELLTHROUGH MAY 17 JOSLYN ART MUSEUMmdash2200

DODGE ST The United States emerged as an

international power while also experiencing

two world wars and the Great Depression

New technologies changed all aspects of

life while the art world witnessed dramatic

transformations of its own This exhibition

explores the ways American artists including

Georgia OrsquoKeeffe Marsden Hartley Stuart

Davis Rockwell Kent and Norman Rockwell

engaged the modern world This exhibition

will have a ticket fee Free for members youth

ages 17 and younger amp college students with ID

402-342-3300

-JOSLYNORG

KATHARINE HEPBURN DRESSED FOR STAGE AND SCREENFEBRUARY 7-APRIL 26 DURHAM MUSEUMmdash801 S

10TH ST This exhibition from the Kent State

University Museum features more than 35

costumes worn in 21 films and six stage

productions as well as other personal items

spanning Hepburnrsquos illustrious career Come see

how this true icon of American culture came

to epitomize the modern woman of the 20th

century Children $6 Adults $9 402-444-5071

- DURHAMMUSEUMORG

COMPAGNIE KAumlFIGMARCH 18 HOLLAND CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST

Brazilian dance company Compagnie Kaumlfig

brings a high-energy performance style

combining their hip-hop foundation with martial

arts and circus elements 730pm $1350 to

$2625 402-345-0202

- OMAHAPERFORMINGARTSORG

Tech CityBam Itrsquos a Picture Book American Moderns

28emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

Calendar of Events

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp29

Erin Cox Event Director

402-884-2038 | erinomahamagazinecom

EVENTS by OMAHA MAGAZINE

Events by Omaha Magazine is a full-service event production company specializing in trade shows corporate events product launches and social gatherings From concept to delivery our goal is to provide an exceptional event experience for the host and their guests

Your Vision Our Innovation Event Solutions

GET A JUMP ON SUMMER

YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA wwwmetroymcaorg

Join us March 21 2015 for our Open House at any YMCA of Greater Omaha location The YMCA is your place for camp this summer bull Weekly themed preschool morning camps (3-5 years) and summer day camp (4-12 years - varies by location)

bull Mini special interest camps

bull Premier camps and Camp Platte

bull Counselors-in-Training program for teens

REGISTER FOR

CAMP AT OUR OPEN

HOUSE 3-21-15

AND PAY NO CAMP

REGISTRATION FEES

i never had a pet as a childOkay so I did at the age of 9 or so have

an ill-fated and short-lived guardianship of a turtle whose name Irsquove long forgotten but Irsquove never been a pet person

My mother abhorred the idea of anything furry dwelling in her home and I was pretty much fine with that The feeling carried over into adulthood and my three now-grown children probably felt super-lucky just to have had the brief company of a single pet a (clean and non-slobbering) feline named Scribbles

Viral videos portraying cats and dogs doing whatever it is that cats and dogs do have never appeared on any of my playlists And to be frank people who describe their little quadruped cuties as their ldquochildrenrdquohellipwell kinda creep me out I have no innate aversion to cats even though I take them to be whiskered sociopaths of evil intent but I have never been at all comfortable around dogs of any make or model

Before the hate mail begins please allow me at least a shot at redemption

My grandsons Barrett and Easton are growing up in a home where the company of canines is prized Their collie Summer recently ascended to that great dog pound in the sky and after an appropriate period of mourning has been replaced by a border collie pup carrying an equally seasonal name of Winter

Itrsquos an understatement to say that I never hit it off with Summer Perhaps it didnrsquot help that she stained our Oriental rug as a pup not 10 seconds into her very first visit to our home My son Eric entered with Summer while explaining that all would be well in that the creature was doing a smash-up job when it came to taking care of business but it was too late The little thing bounded (Is that what dogs do They ldquoboundrdquo) directly to the rug lifted one leg andhellipyou know the rest

I have promised to be different with Winter My kids already know that I am neurotic but I donrsquot

want Easton and Barrett to grow up thinking that their granddad is some kind of loathsome monster I am going to do my best to get to know Winter and not be such a basket case

Not surprisingly my first encounter with Winter was shall we say trying ldquoHersquos

just young and excitablerdquo I was told as the dog tried to climb up my leg Yeah tell that to my now urine-stained

shoes (suede no less) and newish sweater scarred by Winterrsquos talons or toes or paws or whatever it is theyrsquore called

But it is with a certain sense of self-satisfaction that I can report that I kept my cool Now the notion of ldquocoolrdquo is subjective My immediate knee-jerk reaction was admittedly to jerk my knee in revulsion but I collected myself as quickly as possible and

tried my best to not make an international incident of the affair

I really need to up my game in being the grandpa that I hope to

be but boy do I have my work cut out for meemsp

Canine Calamity A Plan to Fake it Until I Make it

30emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

the grandpa chroniclesby David Williams

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp31

Did you know90 of brain development

happens by age 5Discover Nebraska Childrenrsquos Home Societyrsquos

accredited high-quality early childhood education programs with low child-to-staff ratios at two locations

4939 S 118th St in Omaha (402) 898-7760 for children 18 months through Pre-K

and 3549 Fontenelle Blvd in Omaha (402) 898-7768 for children 6 weeks through Pre-K

Call today for a free no-obligation tour

4023450606 OMAHASYMPHONYORG

Sunday March 22 bull 200 PMHolland Center

Your favorite music from How to Train Your Dragon

The Little Mermaid Despicable Me and other

family movie hits Brought to life through exciting performances of song dance and spectacle

FEATURING

THE HEARTLAND YOUTH BALLET

REacuteSONANCE CHOIR

Tickets Adults amp Kids $12

FAMILY SERIES

CONCERT

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Omaha Magazine5921 S 118th CirOmaha NE 68137

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

Page 16: March 2015 HerFamily

Young Hero proudly sponsored by

Young Hero proudly sponsored by

nicole Carrillo says she can make friends anywhere Even at the airport

Case in point On a chilly night in November Nicole stood with her fellow Thrive Club members at Eppley Airfield holding colorful signs Nicolersquos read ldquoWELCOME TO OMAHArdquo with the Orsquos shaped like hearts Moments later wild applause laughter and some tears erupted from the relatives students and coaches gathered for this moment

Nicolersquos soon-to-be-new friends were a refugee family just arriving from Burma Marisol Nicolersquos mother and one of the sponsors of Thrive was overwhelmed as tears flooded her eyes ldquoIt was life- changingrdquo Marisol recalls

Members of the Thrive Club along with Lutheran Family Services provided a cozy home environment for the immigrant family in an apartment volunteerrsquos chocked full of groceries clothes and furniture

Nicole a junior at Northwest High School had filled out a grant to present to her principal Thomas Lee to do something for a family that would be lost in a foreign world

Emigrating is hard scary often emotionally draining Nicolersquos empathy stems from hearing the story of her parents Marisol a native of Mexico left for the United States in her teens to pursue a cosmetics license It was difficult she says but she argues she had it easier than her husband Joel who she would later meet in English classes

Joel started his first job in the ldquoworst town you can think ofrdquomdashAguascalientes Mexico He loaded heavy bricks into trucks and along with 15 or so other boys sold them house-to-house He was five at the time Joel came to the United States when he was 15 Later he worked 60 to 70 hours a week while attending college classes at night sometimes even taking a course during his lunch hour

Nicole sees what her parents had to go throughmdashall their hard work So she strives to be the best As a 40 student Nicole is currently right behind her best friend for the top spot on the GPA ladder ldquoIt has been a long steady fightrdquo she says ldquobut itrsquos all in good funrdquo However like most high achievers Nicole gets upset if she receives a B on a test or paper but her parents do not

ldquoMy parents are like lsquoyou are doing the best you canrsquordquo Nicole says resting her hand on her cheek during a recent interview ldquoLove themrdquo

Nicole says attending Northwest was one the best decisions she has ever made ldquoShe is one of the best ambassadors for the schoolrdquo Lee says Nicole is active in all aspects of the school including student council National Honor Society and choir She has won numerous community service awards and was one of five in the nation to be selected for the National Youth Advisory Council

Nicole is now eager to show the Burmese family all the ldquosimple things we take for grantedrdquo around Omahamdashldquolike the mall and zoordquo she says

ldquoNicole has the heart to helphellip to make a better worldrdquo her mother says proudlyemsp

Nicole CarrilloHelping Immigrants Thrive in America

Nicole Carillo and the Thrive Group

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp17

by Lisa Lukecart photography by Keith Binderyoung hero

18emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Claire Martin photography by Bill Sitzmannactivity

the expected audience for morning attendance at the Joslyn Art Museum is not perhaps thought to be a handful of pint-sized art scholars But thats precisely the group of observers that hovered around a Renaissance fresco on a recent Friday

morning chattering about concepts like color shapes and how it was that a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle (Michelangelo) could be an artist

A museum shouldnt be a stuffy place I dont think artist and teacher Therese Straseski says It should be a fun place

Straseski has led and instructed the Art Adventures program at the Joslyn for 15 years now in which kids from the ages of 3-5 participate in interactive art activities with their parents every Friday morning Creative tasks can range anywhere from pouring plaster to mixing color palettes

I think art is amazingly important in children Straseski says Teaching art is about learning to enjoy yourself and love what you do Maybe I cant be Rembrandt but I can teach these kids to enjoy themselves in creating art

Another of Straseskis passions in her job is the substantial development in her young students skill and interest over time More exposure to art she believes helps integrate both sides of the brain immediately in children

We absolutely see improvement in our kids she says When they come as 3-year-olds concepts are lost on them and theyre just having fun But as they get older they start to understand concepts like color and line

Big Museum Pint-Sized Fun

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp19

Parents according to Straseski are some of the programs strongest advocates especially as art programs are dropped from elementary curriculums due to budget cuts

Mom and Art Adventures regular Alison Novak for example prioritizes the preservation of arts significance in her kids

I think children are naturally drawn to art because its messy and creative Novak says But I do think theyre very aware of the importance of art and artists especially as they get older

She adds that the interactive aspect of Joslyns art program is especially engaging for her 3-year-old daughter Dagny

The experience of art in this program is important because its so tactile and allows [my daughter] to use different materials Novak says Its not just coming and looking at the art Its something to get her involved

Its quite possible then that with the efforts of art advocates like Straseski and Novak a mini-Renaissance is in the making in these small art studentsmdashperhaps not in technique but in the messy and loving creative process

Art is about being able to pass on that passion to someone else Straseski says with a smile Thats the passion in artemsp

ww

Therese Straseski at work with budding artists at the Art Adventures program

Posh PeacockConsignment Gallery

Furniture amp Home Decor

4029339666 - poshpeacocknet

Bel Air Plaza 704 12100 W Center Rd

A Treasure Troveof Delightful amp Valuable Things

JULYAUGUST bull 2014

war amp PeaceChuck Hagel battles for a future free of the quagmires of the past

OmaharsquostopDentiststrade

Best of Omahatrade Campaign 2015

The Loyal Royal Alex Gordon

Malorie MaddoxOmaha Stories

trade

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

omamagcomsave

Donrsquot miss a single issue of Omaha Magazine

kids say the darndest things

20emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Allison Janda photography by Keith Binder

as a parent yoursquove probably appreciated (and not appreciated) the absolute

honesty that often escapes your childrsquos mouth Frankness aside kids also tend to say some hilarious things Martin Brucknerrsquos daughter Harper 3 is no exception

In early 2014 Bruckner his wife Michelle and their daughter were having dinner when he overheard his wife exclaim to Harper ldquoPlease donrsquot put spaghetti between your toesrdquo That same night as Bruckner was giving his daughter her evening bath he found himself asking her ldquoDid you drop your cheese in the tub againrdquo From that point on he decided it would be worthwhile to take note of all of the absurd utterances around his house He knew that one day he his wife and their child could all look back and have a good laugh

Bruckner began to create graphics based on things he wrote down eventually starting Tumblr and Facebook accounts to share them with friends family and parents around the world ldquoPretty much the first day I started the Facebook and Tumblr pages I had parents replying to me with the things their children say to themrdquo he chuckles Bruckner admits that it isnrsquot just the locals that find things he his wife and his daughter say funny In fact he has gotten messages from as far away as Australia

While Spaghetti Toes started out innocently enough it seems to be gaining steam as Harper ages Bruckner states that while his daughter is a newer

conversationalist the things she says only get funnier with age ldquoHer vocabulary is getting bigger and stronger but shersquos still having a hard time getting certain things to be in the correct context which in turn makes them hilariousrdquo he says This is confirmed with nothing more than a cursory glance through his website

The graphics he has created have started to garner some national attention getting picked up by websites such as BuzzFeed and The Chive Additionally Bruckner has started to fulfill custom orders and recently completed two such requests for a woman in Canada Nonetheless Bruckner remains encouraged by the local scene claiming Omaharsquos creatives are extremely supportive while locals are incredibly kind

The attention his sites have garnered feels good Bruckner says Nonetheless he finds that he is more drawn to the long-term payoff that they will have ldquoI started this as a way to document my daughterrsquos life while shersquos little and Irsquom having an incredible time doing itrdquo he shares In fact his own mother inspired by what her son was doing went digging for books that she kept on Bruckner and his siblings when they were young Bruckner hopes to use it to create additional graphics for his mom and five sisters ldquoIrsquove gotten message after message after message from parents and I think everyone is in agreement as far as their children saying incredible silly ridiculous and disgusting thingsrdquo he adds ldquoI say things daily that I never thought Irsquod sayrdquo Wersquore sure that every parent out there can relateemsp

feature

I think everyone is in agreement as far as their children saying incredible sillyridiculous and disgusting thingsrdquo-Martin Bruckner

Martin Harper and Michelle Bruckner

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp21

No Age Limit for

Bullies

i could have worked with Jim Rome the radio sportscaster Wersquore about the same age We were in college about the same time studying the same thing We both started working at

small stations before moving up I produced a number of anchors and reporters ldquoback in the dayrdquo who are still on the air at national networks So I have some experience working with Romersquos personality typemdashor at least the type he uses on air Arrogant bloated ego Inflammatory language 70rsquos mustache

Before January 1 of this year I only had peripheral knowledge of and no opinion on Mr Rome Irsquom not a hardcore sports fan so I couldnrsquot have picked him out of a lineup any day of the week But on this particular New Yearrsquos Day Mr Rome chose to insult not only my children but the children of my friends and in fact the children and grandchildren of hundreds of thousands of Americans In the middle of one of college footballrsquos biggest days he threw this tweet out there

ldquoIs there anybody not in a marching band who thinks those dorks running around with their instruments are coolrdquo

Wow You can just imagine the firestorm that followed It didnrsquot take long for the hashtag MarchonRome to be trending To be brief the answer to Mr Romersquos question was a resounding ldquoYes there are people who think theyrsquore coolrdquo After a 24-hour blast of more than 8000 responses (and that was only on Twitter) including everyone from the US Marines to band alums everywhere he tweeted this

ldquoBand nationmdashI hear you I was out of line I apologize I do not condone bullying of any kind and that was not my intentrdquo

The reason I chose this topic is not so much because I was personally offended by Mr Romersquos comment but because I was so saddened that someone my age could intentionally set such a horrible example If not to be a bully I canrsquot comprehend what Mr Romersquos intent was I think if it was ldquoto be funnyrdquo then thatrsquos a fail toomdashbecause making fun of entire groups of people in this manner is pretty much the textbook definition of bullying

Mr Rome (and many others I think) got a fast education about the athleticism discipline and commitment that marching band requires And I wonrsquot even start on the statistics about the value of arts education Just last week a new study from the University of Vermont indicated the measurable impact of music education in developing attention skills anxiety management and emotional control

No my beef with Mr Rome is quite simplemdashhe should be old enough to know better I get that my generation was a little different We were very cliquishmdashjocks potheads geeks dorks

22emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

mind amp bodyby Bev Carlson Lutheran Family Services

blah blahmdashbut I really thought (hoped) that with all of the current awareness of bullying a public figure like Mr Rose would be tuned in enough to choose his words more carefully when referring to hundreds of thousands of hard-working high school and college students

My hope rests with this next generation where amid the online furor those students with highly developed ldquoemotional controlrdquo graciously accepted Mr Rosersquos apology reminding him that this time he ldquomessed with the wrong dorksrdquo Irsquom still holding out hope that he will accept the challenge from many of the band members (many of whom also play sports) to come do what they domdash handle one week of band camp In the summer In the South Or how about here in Nebraska on all those cold early mornings Go Bandemsp

I was so saddened that someone my age could intentionally set such a horrible example

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp23

oneworldomahaorg

Grow STRONG WithOneWorld Pediatrics

45 YEARS OF MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Cass FamilyMedicine

122 S 6th StPlattsmouth

402-296-2345

Northwest Omaha

4229 N 90th St402-401-6000

West Omaha4101 S 120th St402-505-3907

South Omaha4920 S 30th St

402-734-4110

45 Years of Making a DifferenceOne Child at a Time

Bean amp Cheese Tostadas

this yummy tostada recipe makes a satisfying healthy lunch or dinner Black beans zucchini corn and cherry tomatoes make this colorful vegetarian

dish delicious and nutritious emsp

Find more great recipes at HealthyKohlsKidscom The Healthy Kohlrsquos Kids program is a partnership between Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center and Kohlrsquos Department Stores to educate children and parents about healthy nutrition and fitness

24emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

sponsored content by Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center food

ingredientsbull 8 corn

tortillas (6-inch diameter)

bull 1 can (14 oz) black beans rinsed and drained

bull 1 small white onion finely chopped

bull 2 medium zucchini cut into 14-inch pieces

bull 2 jalapentildeo peppers seeded and chopped

bull 12 Tbsp black pepper

bull 14 cup water

bull 12 cup cooked corn

bull 1 cup cherry tomatoes sliced

bull 12 cup chopped cilantro leaves

bull 1 12 oz grated reduced-fat white cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese (14 cup)

bull 4 scallions chopped

bull 1 small avocado pitted peeled and chopped

bull Lime wedges optional

preparation1 Preheat oven to 400deg Arrange tortillas

on 2 baking sheets and toast in oven until crisp about 5 minutes Remove from baking sheets

2 Lightly spray baking sheets with nonstick cooking spray Spread beans and onion on one and zucchini and jalapentildeos on the other Lightly coat vegetables with cooking spray season with the black pepper and roast until golden 12 to 15 minutes

3 Transfer half the beans and onion to a bowl with the water and mash beans with the back of a fork until smooth (Add more water to reach desired consistency if necessary) Spread mixture onto tortillas

4 Toss remaining beans and onion with zucchini jalapentildeos and corn and divide among tortillas

5 Top each tostada with tomatoes cilantro cheese scallions and avocado Serve with lime wedges if desired

Yield 4 servings

Nutrition Facts Calories 434 Fat 14g

Saturated Fat 3g Cholesterol 0

Sodium 446mg Carbohydrates 61g

Fiber 10g Protein 16g

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp25

Thanks for Voting Us Best of Omahatrade

84th and 1st St Downtown Papillion

402-331-9136

18 flavorsBaked daily Birthdays Weddings GraduationsOn-site party room

buy one get one

FREEExpires March 31 2015

HoursMonday-Saturday raquo11am-8pm

Located at Midlands Placeoff 84th Street and Highway 370

Maybe a Cupcake Will Help

wwwdingmanscom

4025583500Corner of

50th amp SouthSaddlecreek

402-502-8757Southwest corner

of 144th amp Industrial Rd

4025025511Southwestcorner of

120th amp Maple

4029339400Corner of

Washington amp Lincoln in Papillion

ldquoWersquod Rather Be The Best Than Apologize for Anything Lessrdquo

1st place

10 YEARS in a row

We are grateful for your business and Best of Omahatrade

votes for best Auto Body Repair

Spring Cleaning St Patrickrsquos Way

while most are eager for the weather to warm up in time for St Patrickrsquos Day (and the green beer sure)

Irsquom more into the holidayrsquos theme of ridding the country of evils Itrsquos time to purge yrsquoall

Irsquove been hibernating for six months under a blanket in front of the fireplace All I see here is an intense accumulation of clutter tucked in the corners out of my usual visual paths as I traverse my house

I finally get up and start the purge ldquoWhorsquos beach towel is thisrdquo ldquoI think Bobby left it here when we had that

slip-n-slide partyrdquo one of the kids says to me while walking out of their scarf gloves hat sweatshirt and shoes which leaves a trail marking my imminent demise from slips and falls (If I fall and am lying there unconscious interrogate my kids first)

ldquoThe slip-n-slide party That was five years agordquo I respond

ldquoYeah I think Bobby moved to Alaskardquo comes the retort which was both informative and confirmation that we had a right to be embarrassed

ldquoWell he doesnrsquot need this beach towel anymorerdquo Once the snow melts the purge involves three or four trips to Goodwill

Itrsquos funny that when yoursquore trapped in your house long enough due to subzero temperatures you start looking at the walls a little differently ldquoIs it me or is our kitchen less sage green and more My Little Pony Minty Greenrdquo I ask my husband

Before he can assure me the pastel shade of green is fine Irsquom off getting paint You canrsquot go wrong with a color called ldquoChocolaterdquo for the kitchen right

My family isnrsquot very supportive of my winter stir-crazy hobby of purging This year for Christmas the kids asked Santa for locks on their doors in an effort to protect their belongings from Momrsquos annual campaign

Itrsquos inevitable that about five years after I give something away one of my kids wants to know where it went Irsquom sorry your 2005 Lego set is gone My bare feet just couldnrsquot take it anymore

Just as St Patrick rid Ireland of all the snakes Irsquove secretly celebrated my own sainthood as Irsquove shooed all of my clutter away

Oh but then you realize that even saints canrsquot always win the clutter battle The cat barfs up a hairball My son walks by and touts ldquoIf only we still had Bobbyrsquos beach towel to clean this uprdquoemsp

26emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Leslie Murrell mom on the rocks

Boat PoseSanskrit name Paripurna Navasana(par-ee-POOR-nah nah-VAHS-anna)

the Boat Pose strengthens the hip flexors spine and the abdomen This pose helps to relieve stress improves digestion and stimulates the kidneys

intestines and thyroidemsp

BEGINNERS TIPPlace a strap around the ball of both feet Hold on to the

strap with straight arms

1 Sit on the floor with your legs straight in front of you Place your hands behind your hip and press into the ground fingers face- forward

2 Lift up through the sternum and slightly lean back until the weight is distributed to the top of your sitting bones and tailbone

3 Bend the knees and lift the feet off the floor

4 Lengthen the tailbone by pressing it into the floor and lift the pubis towards the naval

5 Slowly straighten your legs until your feet reach above eye level and spread the toes

6 Stretch the arms alongside the legs and reach out through the fingers

7 Breathe deeply for 15-30 seconds

8 Exhale and lower the legs to the floor

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp27

by Rachel Joy photography by Bill SitzmannfitnessWe are

the most experienced full-service family owned real estate company in America

npdodgecom

FOR THE KIDS

BAM ITrsquoS A PICTURE BOOK THE ART BEHIND GRAPHIC NOVELSTHROUGH MARCH 29 2015 JOSLYN ART MUSEUM ndash

2200 DODGE ST Popular among young readers

graphic novels are known for their comic

format They are generally described as

ldquosequential artrdquo where a series of illustrations

tell the story but unlike newspaper comics

they are the length of a novel and include

narrative development This exhibition features

the work of Jarrett J Krosoczka Mark Crilley

Matt Holm Raina Telgemeier and Lincoln

Peirce Tuesday - Wednesday amp Friday - Sunday

10am- 4pm Thursday 10am- 8pm Free

admission 402-342-3300

- JOSLYNORG

ONCE UPON A FARM EXHIBITTHROUGH APRIL 12 OMAHA CHILDRENrsquoS MUSEUMmdash500

S 20TH ST Explore the world of agriculture and

learn where your food comes from with the help

of interactive exhibit components like a center

pivot amp planting station dairy cows pedal track

maze and more Tuesday through Friday 10am ndash

4pm Saturday 9am ndash 5pm Sunday 1pm ndash 5 pm

Admission $2 plus regular admission Free for

members 402-342-6164

- OCMORG

MERMAID MINIONS amp DRAGONSMARCH 22 Holland Performing Arts

Centermdash1200 Douglas St Your favorite music

from How to Train Your Dragon Despicable Me

The Little Mermaid and other family movie hits

Brought to life through thrilling performances of

song dance and spectacle 2pm

Admission $15

- OMAHASYMPHONYORG

FOR THE FAMILY

NATURE CONNECTS 2THROUGH APRIL 26 LAURITZEN GARDENSmdash100

BANCROFT ST View 27 new sculptures each

inspired by the natural world made entirely of

300000 Legoreg bricks Make your own Lego

brick creations in the Legobrickyard and enjoy

a variety of Lego-inspired events throughout

the duration of the exhibit 9am ndash 5pm

Admission $10 adults$5 children six to 12 Free

for children under six and for garden members

402-346-4003

- LAURITZENGARDENSORG

TECH CITYTHROUGH MAY 10 STRATEGIC AIR amp SPACE MUSEUMmdash

ASHLAND NE This travelling engineering exhibit

is a great way to inspire learning and interest

in careers that focus on science technology

engineering and mathematics (STEM) The

Tech City exhibit is designed with interactive

learning that will appeal to visitors of all ages

9am - 5pm Free with regular admission $12

adult $6 youth children under 3 are free

402-944-3100

- SASMUSEUMCOM

ZEN TIES

THROUGH MARCH 8 THE ROSE THEATERmdash2001

FARNAM ST A gentle tale about patience and

compassion Zen Ties will make you remember

how much wisdom can come of simple

mindfulness Friday Saturday and Sunday

Members Four free admissions Non-member

admission $18 402-345-4949

- ROSETHEATERORG

FOR MOM amp DAD

AMERICAN MODERNS FROM OrsquoKEEFFE TO ROCKWELLTHROUGH MAY 17 JOSLYN ART MUSEUMmdash2200

DODGE ST The United States emerged as an

international power while also experiencing

two world wars and the Great Depression

New technologies changed all aspects of

life while the art world witnessed dramatic

transformations of its own This exhibition

explores the ways American artists including

Georgia OrsquoKeeffe Marsden Hartley Stuart

Davis Rockwell Kent and Norman Rockwell

engaged the modern world This exhibition

will have a ticket fee Free for members youth

ages 17 and younger amp college students with ID

402-342-3300

-JOSLYNORG

KATHARINE HEPBURN DRESSED FOR STAGE AND SCREENFEBRUARY 7-APRIL 26 DURHAM MUSEUMmdash801 S

10TH ST This exhibition from the Kent State

University Museum features more than 35

costumes worn in 21 films and six stage

productions as well as other personal items

spanning Hepburnrsquos illustrious career Come see

how this true icon of American culture came

to epitomize the modern woman of the 20th

century Children $6 Adults $9 402-444-5071

- DURHAMMUSEUMORG

COMPAGNIE KAumlFIGMARCH 18 HOLLAND CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST

Brazilian dance company Compagnie Kaumlfig

brings a high-energy performance style

combining their hip-hop foundation with martial

arts and circus elements 730pm $1350 to

$2625 402-345-0202

- OMAHAPERFORMINGARTSORG

Tech CityBam Itrsquos a Picture Book American Moderns

28emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

Calendar of Events

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp29

Erin Cox Event Director

402-884-2038 | erinomahamagazinecom

EVENTS by OMAHA MAGAZINE

Events by Omaha Magazine is a full-service event production company specializing in trade shows corporate events product launches and social gatherings From concept to delivery our goal is to provide an exceptional event experience for the host and their guests

Your Vision Our Innovation Event Solutions

GET A JUMP ON SUMMER

YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA wwwmetroymcaorg

Join us March 21 2015 for our Open House at any YMCA of Greater Omaha location The YMCA is your place for camp this summer bull Weekly themed preschool morning camps (3-5 years) and summer day camp (4-12 years - varies by location)

bull Mini special interest camps

bull Premier camps and Camp Platte

bull Counselors-in-Training program for teens

REGISTER FOR

CAMP AT OUR OPEN

HOUSE 3-21-15

AND PAY NO CAMP

REGISTRATION FEES

i never had a pet as a childOkay so I did at the age of 9 or so have

an ill-fated and short-lived guardianship of a turtle whose name Irsquove long forgotten but Irsquove never been a pet person

My mother abhorred the idea of anything furry dwelling in her home and I was pretty much fine with that The feeling carried over into adulthood and my three now-grown children probably felt super-lucky just to have had the brief company of a single pet a (clean and non-slobbering) feline named Scribbles

Viral videos portraying cats and dogs doing whatever it is that cats and dogs do have never appeared on any of my playlists And to be frank people who describe their little quadruped cuties as their ldquochildrenrdquohellipwell kinda creep me out I have no innate aversion to cats even though I take them to be whiskered sociopaths of evil intent but I have never been at all comfortable around dogs of any make or model

Before the hate mail begins please allow me at least a shot at redemption

My grandsons Barrett and Easton are growing up in a home where the company of canines is prized Their collie Summer recently ascended to that great dog pound in the sky and after an appropriate period of mourning has been replaced by a border collie pup carrying an equally seasonal name of Winter

Itrsquos an understatement to say that I never hit it off with Summer Perhaps it didnrsquot help that she stained our Oriental rug as a pup not 10 seconds into her very first visit to our home My son Eric entered with Summer while explaining that all would be well in that the creature was doing a smash-up job when it came to taking care of business but it was too late The little thing bounded (Is that what dogs do They ldquoboundrdquo) directly to the rug lifted one leg andhellipyou know the rest

I have promised to be different with Winter My kids already know that I am neurotic but I donrsquot

want Easton and Barrett to grow up thinking that their granddad is some kind of loathsome monster I am going to do my best to get to know Winter and not be such a basket case

Not surprisingly my first encounter with Winter was shall we say trying ldquoHersquos

just young and excitablerdquo I was told as the dog tried to climb up my leg Yeah tell that to my now urine-stained

shoes (suede no less) and newish sweater scarred by Winterrsquos talons or toes or paws or whatever it is theyrsquore called

But it is with a certain sense of self-satisfaction that I can report that I kept my cool Now the notion of ldquocoolrdquo is subjective My immediate knee-jerk reaction was admittedly to jerk my knee in revulsion but I collected myself as quickly as possible and

tried my best to not make an international incident of the affair

I really need to up my game in being the grandpa that I hope to

be but boy do I have my work cut out for meemsp

Canine Calamity A Plan to Fake it Until I Make it

30emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

the grandpa chroniclesby David Williams

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp31

Did you know90 of brain development

happens by age 5Discover Nebraska Childrenrsquos Home Societyrsquos

accredited high-quality early childhood education programs with low child-to-staff ratios at two locations

4939 S 118th St in Omaha (402) 898-7760 for children 18 months through Pre-K

and 3549 Fontenelle Blvd in Omaha (402) 898-7768 for children 6 weeks through Pre-K

Call today for a free no-obligation tour

4023450606 OMAHASYMPHONYORG

Sunday March 22 bull 200 PMHolland Center

Your favorite music from How to Train Your Dragon

The Little Mermaid Despicable Me and other

family movie hits Brought to life through exciting performances of song dance and spectacle

FEATURING

THE HEARTLAND YOUTH BALLET

REacuteSONANCE CHOIR

Tickets Adults amp Kids $12

FAMILY SERIES

CONCERT

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Omaha Magazine5921 S 118th CirOmaha NE 68137

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

Page 17: March 2015 HerFamily

18emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Claire Martin photography by Bill Sitzmannactivity

the expected audience for morning attendance at the Joslyn Art Museum is not perhaps thought to be a handful of pint-sized art scholars But thats precisely the group of observers that hovered around a Renaissance fresco on a recent Friday

morning chattering about concepts like color shapes and how it was that a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle (Michelangelo) could be an artist

A museum shouldnt be a stuffy place I dont think artist and teacher Therese Straseski says It should be a fun place

Straseski has led and instructed the Art Adventures program at the Joslyn for 15 years now in which kids from the ages of 3-5 participate in interactive art activities with their parents every Friday morning Creative tasks can range anywhere from pouring plaster to mixing color palettes

I think art is amazingly important in children Straseski says Teaching art is about learning to enjoy yourself and love what you do Maybe I cant be Rembrandt but I can teach these kids to enjoy themselves in creating art

Another of Straseskis passions in her job is the substantial development in her young students skill and interest over time More exposure to art she believes helps integrate both sides of the brain immediately in children

We absolutely see improvement in our kids she says When they come as 3-year-olds concepts are lost on them and theyre just having fun But as they get older they start to understand concepts like color and line

Big Museum Pint-Sized Fun

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp19

Parents according to Straseski are some of the programs strongest advocates especially as art programs are dropped from elementary curriculums due to budget cuts

Mom and Art Adventures regular Alison Novak for example prioritizes the preservation of arts significance in her kids

I think children are naturally drawn to art because its messy and creative Novak says But I do think theyre very aware of the importance of art and artists especially as they get older

She adds that the interactive aspect of Joslyns art program is especially engaging for her 3-year-old daughter Dagny

The experience of art in this program is important because its so tactile and allows [my daughter] to use different materials Novak says Its not just coming and looking at the art Its something to get her involved

Its quite possible then that with the efforts of art advocates like Straseski and Novak a mini-Renaissance is in the making in these small art studentsmdashperhaps not in technique but in the messy and loving creative process

Art is about being able to pass on that passion to someone else Straseski says with a smile Thats the passion in artemsp

ww

Therese Straseski at work with budding artists at the Art Adventures program

Posh PeacockConsignment Gallery

Furniture amp Home Decor

4029339666 - poshpeacocknet

Bel Air Plaza 704 12100 W Center Rd

A Treasure Troveof Delightful amp Valuable Things

JULYAUGUST bull 2014

war amp PeaceChuck Hagel battles for a future free of the quagmires of the past

OmaharsquostopDentiststrade

Best of Omahatrade Campaign 2015

The Loyal Royal Alex Gordon

Malorie MaddoxOmaha Stories

trade

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

omamagcomsave

Donrsquot miss a single issue of Omaha Magazine

kids say the darndest things

20emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Allison Janda photography by Keith Binder

as a parent yoursquove probably appreciated (and not appreciated) the absolute

honesty that often escapes your childrsquos mouth Frankness aside kids also tend to say some hilarious things Martin Brucknerrsquos daughter Harper 3 is no exception

In early 2014 Bruckner his wife Michelle and their daughter were having dinner when he overheard his wife exclaim to Harper ldquoPlease donrsquot put spaghetti between your toesrdquo That same night as Bruckner was giving his daughter her evening bath he found himself asking her ldquoDid you drop your cheese in the tub againrdquo From that point on he decided it would be worthwhile to take note of all of the absurd utterances around his house He knew that one day he his wife and their child could all look back and have a good laugh

Bruckner began to create graphics based on things he wrote down eventually starting Tumblr and Facebook accounts to share them with friends family and parents around the world ldquoPretty much the first day I started the Facebook and Tumblr pages I had parents replying to me with the things their children say to themrdquo he chuckles Bruckner admits that it isnrsquot just the locals that find things he his wife and his daughter say funny In fact he has gotten messages from as far away as Australia

While Spaghetti Toes started out innocently enough it seems to be gaining steam as Harper ages Bruckner states that while his daughter is a newer

conversationalist the things she says only get funnier with age ldquoHer vocabulary is getting bigger and stronger but shersquos still having a hard time getting certain things to be in the correct context which in turn makes them hilariousrdquo he says This is confirmed with nothing more than a cursory glance through his website

The graphics he has created have started to garner some national attention getting picked up by websites such as BuzzFeed and The Chive Additionally Bruckner has started to fulfill custom orders and recently completed two such requests for a woman in Canada Nonetheless Bruckner remains encouraged by the local scene claiming Omaharsquos creatives are extremely supportive while locals are incredibly kind

The attention his sites have garnered feels good Bruckner says Nonetheless he finds that he is more drawn to the long-term payoff that they will have ldquoI started this as a way to document my daughterrsquos life while shersquos little and Irsquom having an incredible time doing itrdquo he shares In fact his own mother inspired by what her son was doing went digging for books that she kept on Bruckner and his siblings when they were young Bruckner hopes to use it to create additional graphics for his mom and five sisters ldquoIrsquove gotten message after message after message from parents and I think everyone is in agreement as far as their children saying incredible silly ridiculous and disgusting thingsrdquo he adds ldquoI say things daily that I never thought Irsquod sayrdquo Wersquore sure that every parent out there can relateemsp

feature

I think everyone is in agreement as far as their children saying incredible sillyridiculous and disgusting thingsrdquo-Martin Bruckner

Martin Harper and Michelle Bruckner

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp21

No Age Limit for

Bullies

i could have worked with Jim Rome the radio sportscaster Wersquore about the same age We were in college about the same time studying the same thing We both started working at

small stations before moving up I produced a number of anchors and reporters ldquoback in the dayrdquo who are still on the air at national networks So I have some experience working with Romersquos personality typemdashor at least the type he uses on air Arrogant bloated ego Inflammatory language 70rsquos mustache

Before January 1 of this year I only had peripheral knowledge of and no opinion on Mr Rome Irsquom not a hardcore sports fan so I couldnrsquot have picked him out of a lineup any day of the week But on this particular New Yearrsquos Day Mr Rome chose to insult not only my children but the children of my friends and in fact the children and grandchildren of hundreds of thousands of Americans In the middle of one of college footballrsquos biggest days he threw this tweet out there

ldquoIs there anybody not in a marching band who thinks those dorks running around with their instruments are coolrdquo

Wow You can just imagine the firestorm that followed It didnrsquot take long for the hashtag MarchonRome to be trending To be brief the answer to Mr Romersquos question was a resounding ldquoYes there are people who think theyrsquore coolrdquo After a 24-hour blast of more than 8000 responses (and that was only on Twitter) including everyone from the US Marines to band alums everywhere he tweeted this

ldquoBand nationmdashI hear you I was out of line I apologize I do not condone bullying of any kind and that was not my intentrdquo

The reason I chose this topic is not so much because I was personally offended by Mr Romersquos comment but because I was so saddened that someone my age could intentionally set such a horrible example If not to be a bully I canrsquot comprehend what Mr Romersquos intent was I think if it was ldquoto be funnyrdquo then thatrsquos a fail toomdashbecause making fun of entire groups of people in this manner is pretty much the textbook definition of bullying

Mr Rome (and many others I think) got a fast education about the athleticism discipline and commitment that marching band requires And I wonrsquot even start on the statistics about the value of arts education Just last week a new study from the University of Vermont indicated the measurable impact of music education in developing attention skills anxiety management and emotional control

No my beef with Mr Rome is quite simplemdashhe should be old enough to know better I get that my generation was a little different We were very cliquishmdashjocks potheads geeks dorks

22emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

mind amp bodyby Bev Carlson Lutheran Family Services

blah blahmdashbut I really thought (hoped) that with all of the current awareness of bullying a public figure like Mr Rose would be tuned in enough to choose his words more carefully when referring to hundreds of thousands of hard-working high school and college students

My hope rests with this next generation where amid the online furor those students with highly developed ldquoemotional controlrdquo graciously accepted Mr Rosersquos apology reminding him that this time he ldquomessed with the wrong dorksrdquo Irsquom still holding out hope that he will accept the challenge from many of the band members (many of whom also play sports) to come do what they domdash handle one week of band camp In the summer In the South Or how about here in Nebraska on all those cold early mornings Go Bandemsp

I was so saddened that someone my age could intentionally set such a horrible example

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp23

oneworldomahaorg

Grow STRONG WithOneWorld Pediatrics

45 YEARS OF MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Cass FamilyMedicine

122 S 6th StPlattsmouth

402-296-2345

Northwest Omaha

4229 N 90th St402-401-6000

West Omaha4101 S 120th St402-505-3907

South Omaha4920 S 30th St

402-734-4110

45 Years of Making a DifferenceOne Child at a Time

Bean amp Cheese Tostadas

this yummy tostada recipe makes a satisfying healthy lunch or dinner Black beans zucchini corn and cherry tomatoes make this colorful vegetarian

dish delicious and nutritious emsp

Find more great recipes at HealthyKohlsKidscom The Healthy Kohlrsquos Kids program is a partnership between Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center and Kohlrsquos Department Stores to educate children and parents about healthy nutrition and fitness

24emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

sponsored content by Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center food

ingredientsbull 8 corn

tortillas (6-inch diameter)

bull 1 can (14 oz) black beans rinsed and drained

bull 1 small white onion finely chopped

bull 2 medium zucchini cut into 14-inch pieces

bull 2 jalapentildeo peppers seeded and chopped

bull 12 Tbsp black pepper

bull 14 cup water

bull 12 cup cooked corn

bull 1 cup cherry tomatoes sliced

bull 12 cup chopped cilantro leaves

bull 1 12 oz grated reduced-fat white cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese (14 cup)

bull 4 scallions chopped

bull 1 small avocado pitted peeled and chopped

bull Lime wedges optional

preparation1 Preheat oven to 400deg Arrange tortillas

on 2 baking sheets and toast in oven until crisp about 5 minutes Remove from baking sheets

2 Lightly spray baking sheets with nonstick cooking spray Spread beans and onion on one and zucchini and jalapentildeos on the other Lightly coat vegetables with cooking spray season with the black pepper and roast until golden 12 to 15 minutes

3 Transfer half the beans and onion to a bowl with the water and mash beans with the back of a fork until smooth (Add more water to reach desired consistency if necessary) Spread mixture onto tortillas

4 Toss remaining beans and onion with zucchini jalapentildeos and corn and divide among tortillas

5 Top each tostada with tomatoes cilantro cheese scallions and avocado Serve with lime wedges if desired

Yield 4 servings

Nutrition Facts Calories 434 Fat 14g

Saturated Fat 3g Cholesterol 0

Sodium 446mg Carbohydrates 61g

Fiber 10g Protein 16g

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp25

Thanks for Voting Us Best of Omahatrade

84th and 1st St Downtown Papillion

402-331-9136

18 flavorsBaked daily Birthdays Weddings GraduationsOn-site party room

buy one get one

FREEExpires March 31 2015

HoursMonday-Saturday raquo11am-8pm

Located at Midlands Placeoff 84th Street and Highway 370

Maybe a Cupcake Will Help

wwwdingmanscom

4025583500Corner of

50th amp SouthSaddlecreek

402-502-8757Southwest corner

of 144th amp Industrial Rd

4025025511Southwestcorner of

120th amp Maple

4029339400Corner of

Washington amp Lincoln in Papillion

ldquoWersquod Rather Be The Best Than Apologize for Anything Lessrdquo

1st place

10 YEARS in a row

We are grateful for your business and Best of Omahatrade

votes for best Auto Body Repair

Spring Cleaning St Patrickrsquos Way

while most are eager for the weather to warm up in time for St Patrickrsquos Day (and the green beer sure)

Irsquom more into the holidayrsquos theme of ridding the country of evils Itrsquos time to purge yrsquoall

Irsquove been hibernating for six months under a blanket in front of the fireplace All I see here is an intense accumulation of clutter tucked in the corners out of my usual visual paths as I traverse my house

I finally get up and start the purge ldquoWhorsquos beach towel is thisrdquo ldquoI think Bobby left it here when we had that

slip-n-slide partyrdquo one of the kids says to me while walking out of their scarf gloves hat sweatshirt and shoes which leaves a trail marking my imminent demise from slips and falls (If I fall and am lying there unconscious interrogate my kids first)

ldquoThe slip-n-slide party That was five years agordquo I respond

ldquoYeah I think Bobby moved to Alaskardquo comes the retort which was both informative and confirmation that we had a right to be embarrassed

ldquoWell he doesnrsquot need this beach towel anymorerdquo Once the snow melts the purge involves three or four trips to Goodwill

Itrsquos funny that when yoursquore trapped in your house long enough due to subzero temperatures you start looking at the walls a little differently ldquoIs it me or is our kitchen less sage green and more My Little Pony Minty Greenrdquo I ask my husband

Before he can assure me the pastel shade of green is fine Irsquom off getting paint You canrsquot go wrong with a color called ldquoChocolaterdquo for the kitchen right

My family isnrsquot very supportive of my winter stir-crazy hobby of purging This year for Christmas the kids asked Santa for locks on their doors in an effort to protect their belongings from Momrsquos annual campaign

Itrsquos inevitable that about five years after I give something away one of my kids wants to know where it went Irsquom sorry your 2005 Lego set is gone My bare feet just couldnrsquot take it anymore

Just as St Patrick rid Ireland of all the snakes Irsquove secretly celebrated my own sainthood as Irsquove shooed all of my clutter away

Oh but then you realize that even saints canrsquot always win the clutter battle The cat barfs up a hairball My son walks by and touts ldquoIf only we still had Bobbyrsquos beach towel to clean this uprdquoemsp

26emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Leslie Murrell mom on the rocks

Boat PoseSanskrit name Paripurna Navasana(par-ee-POOR-nah nah-VAHS-anna)

the Boat Pose strengthens the hip flexors spine and the abdomen This pose helps to relieve stress improves digestion and stimulates the kidneys

intestines and thyroidemsp

BEGINNERS TIPPlace a strap around the ball of both feet Hold on to the

strap with straight arms

1 Sit on the floor with your legs straight in front of you Place your hands behind your hip and press into the ground fingers face- forward

2 Lift up through the sternum and slightly lean back until the weight is distributed to the top of your sitting bones and tailbone

3 Bend the knees and lift the feet off the floor

4 Lengthen the tailbone by pressing it into the floor and lift the pubis towards the naval

5 Slowly straighten your legs until your feet reach above eye level and spread the toes

6 Stretch the arms alongside the legs and reach out through the fingers

7 Breathe deeply for 15-30 seconds

8 Exhale and lower the legs to the floor

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp27

by Rachel Joy photography by Bill SitzmannfitnessWe are

the most experienced full-service family owned real estate company in America

npdodgecom

FOR THE KIDS

BAM ITrsquoS A PICTURE BOOK THE ART BEHIND GRAPHIC NOVELSTHROUGH MARCH 29 2015 JOSLYN ART MUSEUM ndash

2200 DODGE ST Popular among young readers

graphic novels are known for their comic

format They are generally described as

ldquosequential artrdquo where a series of illustrations

tell the story but unlike newspaper comics

they are the length of a novel and include

narrative development This exhibition features

the work of Jarrett J Krosoczka Mark Crilley

Matt Holm Raina Telgemeier and Lincoln

Peirce Tuesday - Wednesday amp Friday - Sunday

10am- 4pm Thursday 10am- 8pm Free

admission 402-342-3300

- JOSLYNORG

ONCE UPON A FARM EXHIBITTHROUGH APRIL 12 OMAHA CHILDRENrsquoS MUSEUMmdash500

S 20TH ST Explore the world of agriculture and

learn where your food comes from with the help

of interactive exhibit components like a center

pivot amp planting station dairy cows pedal track

maze and more Tuesday through Friday 10am ndash

4pm Saturday 9am ndash 5pm Sunday 1pm ndash 5 pm

Admission $2 plus regular admission Free for

members 402-342-6164

- OCMORG

MERMAID MINIONS amp DRAGONSMARCH 22 Holland Performing Arts

Centermdash1200 Douglas St Your favorite music

from How to Train Your Dragon Despicable Me

The Little Mermaid and other family movie hits

Brought to life through thrilling performances of

song dance and spectacle 2pm

Admission $15

- OMAHASYMPHONYORG

FOR THE FAMILY

NATURE CONNECTS 2THROUGH APRIL 26 LAURITZEN GARDENSmdash100

BANCROFT ST View 27 new sculptures each

inspired by the natural world made entirely of

300000 Legoreg bricks Make your own Lego

brick creations in the Legobrickyard and enjoy

a variety of Lego-inspired events throughout

the duration of the exhibit 9am ndash 5pm

Admission $10 adults$5 children six to 12 Free

for children under six and for garden members

402-346-4003

- LAURITZENGARDENSORG

TECH CITYTHROUGH MAY 10 STRATEGIC AIR amp SPACE MUSEUMmdash

ASHLAND NE This travelling engineering exhibit

is a great way to inspire learning and interest

in careers that focus on science technology

engineering and mathematics (STEM) The

Tech City exhibit is designed with interactive

learning that will appeal to visitors of all ages

9am - 5pm Free with regular admission $12

adult $6 youth children under 3 are free

402-944-3100

- SASMUSEUMCOM

ZEN TIES

THROUGH MARCH 8 THE ROSE THEATERmdash2001

FARNAM ST A gentle tale about patience and

compassion Zen Ties will make you remember

how much wisdom can come of simple

mindfulness Friday Saturday and Sunday

Members Four free admissions Non-member

admission $18 402-345-4949

- ROSETHEATERORG

FOR MOM amp DAD

AMERICAN MODERNS FROM OrsquoKEEFFE TO ROCKWELLTHROUGH MAY 17 JOSLYN ART MUSEUMmdash2200

DODGE ST The United States emerged as an

international power while also experiencing

two world wars and the Great Depression

New technologies changed all aspects of

life while the art world witnessed dramatic

transformations of its own This exhibition

explores the ways American artists including

Georgia OrsquoKeeffe Marsden Hartley Stuart

Davis Rockwell Kent and Norman Rockwell

engaged the modern world This exhibition

will have a ticket fee Free for members youth

ages 17 and younger amp college students with ID

402-342-3300

-JOSLYNORG

KATHARINE HEPBURN DRESSED FOR STAGE AND SCREENFEBRUARY 7-APRIL 26 DURHAM MUSEUMmdash801 S

10TH ST This exhibition from the Kent State

University Museum features more than 35

costumes worn in 21 films and six stage

productions as well as other personal items

spanning Hepburnrsquos illustrious career Come see

how this true icon of American culture came

to epitomize the modern woman of the 20th

century Children $6 Adults $9 402-444-5071

- DURHAMMUSEUMORG

COMPAGNIE KAumlFIGMARCH 18 HOLLAND CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST

Brazilian dance company Compagnie Kaumlfig

brings a high-energy performance style

combining their hip-hop foundation with martial

arts and circus elements 730pm $1350 to

$2625 402-345-0202

- OMAHAPERFORMINGARTSORG

Tech CityBam Itrsquos a Picture Book American Moderns

28emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

Calendar of Events

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp29

Erin Cox Event Director

402-884-2038 | erinomahamagazinecom

EVENTS by OMAHA MAGAZINE

Events by Omaha Magazine is a full-service event production company specializing in trade shows corporate events product launches and social gatherings From concept to delivery our goal is to provide an exceptional event experience for the host and their guests

Your Vision Our Innovation Event Solutions

GET A JUMP ON SUMMER

YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA wwwmetroymcaorg

Join us March 21 2015 for our Open House at any YMCA of Greater Omaha location The YMCA is your place for camp this summer bull Weekly themed preschool morning camps (3-5 years) and summer day camp (4-12 years - varies by location)

bull Mini special interest camps

bull Premier camps and Camp Platte

bull Counselors-in-Training program for teens

REGISTER FOR

CAMP AT OUR OPEN

HOUSE 3-21-15

AND PAY NO CAMP

REGISTRATION FEES

i never had a pet as a childOkay so I did at the age of 9 or so have

an ill-fated and short-lived guardianship of a turtle whose name Irsquove long forgotten but Irsquove never been a pet person

My mother abhorred the idea of anything furry dwelling in her home and I was pretty much fine with that The feeling carried over into adulthood and my three now-grown children probably felt super-lucky just to have had the brief company of a single pet a (clean and non-slobbering) feline named Scribbles

Viral videos portraying cats and dogs doing whatever it is that cats and dogs do have never appeared on any of my playlists And to be frank people who describe their little quadruped cuties as their ldquochildrenrdquohellipwell kinda creep me out I have no innate aversion to cats even though I take them to be whiskered sociopaths of evil intent but I have never been at all comfortable around dogs of any make or model

Before the hate mail begins please allow me at least a shot at redemption

My grandsons Barrett and Easton are growing up in a home where the company of canines is prized Their collie Summer recently ascended to that great dog pound in the sky and after an appropriate period of mourning has been replaced by a border collie pup carrying an equally seasonal name of Winter

Itrsquos an understatement to say that I never hit it off with Summer Perhaps it didnrsquot help that she stained our Oriental rug as a pup not 10 seconds into her very first visit to our home My son Eric entered with Summer while explaining that all would be well in that the creature was doing a smash-up job when it came to taking care of business but it was too late The little thing bounded (Is that what dogs do They ldquoboundrdquo) directly to the rug lifted one leg andhellipyou know the rest

I have promised to be different with Winter My kids already know that I am neurotic but I donrsquot

want Easton and Barrett to grow up thinking that their granddad is some kind of loathsome monster I am going to do my best to get to know Winter and not be such a basket case

Not surprisingly my first encounter with Winter was shall we say trying ldquoHersquos

just young and excitablerdquo I was told as the dog tried to climb up my leg Yeah tell that to my now urine-stained

shoes (suede no less) and newish sweater scarred by Winterrsquos talons or toes or paws or whatever it is theyrsquore called

But it is with a certain sense of self-satisfaction that I can report that I kept my cool Now the notion of ldquocoolrdquo is subjective My immediate knee-jerk reaction was admittedly to jerk my knee in revulsion but I collected myself as quickly as possible and

tried my best to not make an international incident of the affair

I really need to up my game in being the grandpa that I hope to

be but boy do I have my work cut out for meemsp

Canine Calamity A Plan to Fake it Until I Make it

30emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

the grandpa chroniclesby David Williams

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp31

Did you know90 of brain development

happens by age 5Discover Nebraska Childrenrsquos Home Societyrsquos

accredited high-quality early childhood education programs with low child-to-staff ratios at two locations

4939 S 118th St in Omaha (402) 898-7760 for children 18 months through Pre-K

and 3549 Fontenelle Blvd in Omaha (402) 898-7768 for children 6 weeks through Pre-K

Call today for a free no-obligation tour

4023450606 OMAHASYMPHONYORG

Sunday March 22 bull 200 PMHolland Center

Your favorite music from How to Train Your Dragon

The Little Mermaid Despicable Me and other

family movie hits Brought to life through exciting performances of song dance and spectacle

FEATURING

THE HEARTLAND YOUTH BALLET

REacuteSONANCE CHOIR

Tickets Adults amp Kids $12

FAMILY SERIES

CONCERT

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Omaha Magazine5921 S 118th CirOmaha NE 68137

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

Page 18: March 2015 HerFamily

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp19

Parents according to Straseski are some of the programs strongest advocates especially as art programs are dropped from elementary curriculums due to budget cuts

Mom and Art Adventures regular Alison Novak for example prioritizes the preservation of arts significance in her kids

I think children are naturally drawn to art because its messy and creative Novak says But I do think theyre very aware of the importance of art and artists especially as they get older

She adds that the interactive aspect of Joslyns art program is especially engaging for her 3-year-old daughter Dagny

The experience of art in this program is important because its so tactile and allows [my daughter] to use different materials Novak says Its not just coming and looking at the art Its something to get her involved

Its quite possible then that with the efforts of art advocates like Straseski and Novak a mini-Renaissance is in the making in these small art studentsmdashperhaps not in technique but in the messy and loving creative process

Art is about being able to pass on that passion to someone else Straseski says with a smile Thats the passion in artemsp

ww

Therese Straseski at work with budding artists at the Art Adventures program

Posh PeacockConsignment Gallery

Furniture amp Home Decor

4029339666 - poshpeacocknet

Bel Air Plaza 704 12100 W Center Rd

A Treasure Troveof Delightful amp Valuable Things

JULYAUGUST bull 2014

war amp PeaceChuck Hagel battles for a future free of the quagmires of the past

OmaharsquostopDentiststrade

Best of Omahatrade Campaign 2015

The Loyal Royal Alex Gordon

Malorie MaddoxOmaha Stories

trade

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

omamagcomsave

Donrsquot miss a single issue of Omaha Magazine

kids say the darndest things

20emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Allison Janda photography by Keith Binder

as a parent yoursquove probably appreciated (and not appreciated) the absolute

honesty that often escapes your childrsquos mouth Frankness aside kids also tend to say some hilarious things Martin Brucknerrsquos daughter Harper 3 is no exception

In early 2014 Bruckner his wife Michelle and their daughter were having dinner when he overheard his wife exclaim to Harper ldquoPlease donrsquot put spaghetti between your toesrdquo That same night as Bruckner was giving his daughter her evening bath he found himself asking her ldquoDid you drop your cheese in the tub againrdquo From that point on he decided it would be worthwhile to take note of all of the absurd utterances around his house He knew that one day he his wife and their child could all look back and have a good laugh

Bruckner began to create graphics based on things he wrote down eventually starting Tumblr and Facebook accounts to share them with friends family and parents around the world ldquoPretty much the first day I started the Facebook and Tumblr pages I had parents replying to me with the things their children say to themrdquo he chuckles Bruckner admits that it isnrsquot just the locals that find things he his wife and his daughter say funny In fact he has gotten messages from as far away as Australia

While Spaghetti Toes started out innocently enough it seems to be gaining steam as Harper ages Bruckner states that while his daughter is a newer

conversationalist the things she says only get funnier with age ldquoHer vocabulary is getting bigger and stronger but shersquos still having a hard time getting certain things to be in the correct context which in turn makes them hilariousrdquo he says This is confirmed with nothing more than a cursory glance through his website

The graphics he has created have started to garner some national attention getting picked up by websites such as BuzzFeed and The Chive Additionally Bruckner has started to fulfill custom orders and recently completed two such requests for a woman in Canada Nonetheless Bruckner remains encouraged by the local scene claiming Omaharsquos creatives are extremely supportive while locals are incredibly kind

The attention his sites have garnered feels good Bruckner says Nonetheless he finds that he is more drawn to the long-term payoff that they will have ldquoI started this as a way to document my daughterrsquos life while shersquos little and Irsquom having an incredible time doing itrdquo he shares In fact his own mother inspired by what her son was doing went digging for books that she kept on Bruckner and his siblings when they were young Bruckner hopes to use it to create additional graphics for his mom and five sisters ldquoIrsquove gotten message after message after message from parents and I think everyone is in agreement as far as their children saying incredible silly ridiculous and disgusting thingsrdquo he adds ldquoI say things daily that I never thought Irsquod sayrdquo Wersquore sure that every parent out there can relateemsp

feature

I think everyone is in agreement as far as their children saying incredible sillyridiculous and disgusting thingsrdquo-Martin Bruckner

Martin Harper and Michelle Bruckner

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp21

No Age Limit for

Bullies

i could have worked with Jim Rome the radio sportscaster Wersquore about the same age We were in college about the same time studying the same thing We both started working at

small stations before moving up I produced a number of anchors and reporters ldquoback in the dayrdquo who are still on the air at national networks So I have some experience working with Romersquos personality typemdashor at least the type he uses on air Arrogant bloated ego Inflammatory language 70rsquos mustache

Before January 1 of this year I only had peripheral knowledge of and no opinion on Mr Rome Irsquom not a hardcore sports fan so I couldnrsquot have picked him out of a lineup any day of the week But on this particular New Yearrsquos Day Mr Rome chose to insult not only my children but the children of my friends and in fact the children and grandchildren of hundreds of thousands of Americans In the middle of one of college footballrsquos biggest days he threw this tweet out there

ldquoIs there anybody not in a marching band who thinks those dorks running around with their instruments are coolrdquo

Wow You can just imagine the firestorm that followed It didnrsquot take long for the hashtag MarchonRome to be trending To be brief the answer to Mr Romersquos question was a resounding ldquoYes there are people who think theyrsquore coolrdquo After a 24-hour blast of more than 8000 responses (and that was only on Twitter) including everyone from the US Marines to band alums everywhere he tweeted this

ldquoBand nationmdashI hear you I was out of line I apologize I do not condone bullying of any kind and that was not my intentrdquo

The reason I chose this topic is not so much because I was personally offended by Mr Romersquos comment but because I was so saddened that someone my age could intentionally set such a horrible example If not to be a bully I canrsquot comprehend what Mr Romersquos intent was I think if it was ldquoto be funnyrdquo then thatrsquos a fail toomdashbecause making fun of entire groups of people in this manner is pretty much the textbook definition of bullying

Mr Rome (and many others I think) got a fast education about the athleticism discipline and commitment that marching band requires And I wonrsquot even start on the statistics about the value of arts education Just last week a new study from the University of Vermont indicated the measurable impact of music education in developing attention skills anxiety management and emotional control

No my beef with Mr Rome is quite simplemdashhe should be old enough to know better I get that my generation was a little different We were very cliquishmdashjocks potheads geeks dorks

22emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

mind amp bodyby Bev Carlson Lutheran Family Services

blah blahmdashbut I really thought (hoped) that with all of the current awareness of bullying a public figure like Mr Rose would be tuned in enough to choose his words more carefully when referring to hundreds of thousands of hard-working high school and college students

My hope rests with this next generation where amid the online furor those students with highly developed ldquoemotional controlrdquo graciously accepted Mr Rosersquos apology reminding him that this time he ldquomessed with the wrong dorksrdquo Irsquom still holding out hope that he will accept the challenge from many of the band members (many of whom also play sports) to come do what they domdash handle one week of band camp In the summer In the South Or how about here in Nebraska on all those cold early mornings Go Bandemsp

I was so saddened that someone my age could intentionally set such a horrible example

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp23

oneworldomahaorg

Grow STRONG WithOneWorld Pediatrics

45 YEARS OF MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Cass FamilyMedicine

122 S 6th StPlattsmouth

402-296-2345

Northwest Omaha

4229 N 90th St402-401-6000

West Omaha4101 S 120th St402-505-3907

South Omaha4920 S 30th St

402-734-4110

45 Years of Making a DifferenceOne Child at a Time

Bean amp Cheese Tostadas

this yummy tostada recipe makes a satisfying healthy lunch or dinner Black beans zucchini corn and cherry tomatoes make this colorful vegetarian

dish delicious and nutritious emsp

Find more great recipes at HealthyKohlsKidscom The Healthy Kohlrsquos Kids program is a partnership between Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center and Kohlrsquos Department Stores to educate children and parents about healthy nutrition and fitness

24emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

sponsored content by Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center food

ingredientsbull 8 corn

tortillas (6-inch diameter)

bull 1 can (14 oz) black beans rinsed and drained

bull 1 small white onion finely chopped

bull 2 medium zucchini cut into 14-inch pieces

bull 2 jalapentildeo peppers seeded and chopped

bull 12 Tbsp black pepper

bull 14 cup water

bull 12 cup cooked corn

bull 1 cup cherry tomatoes sliced

bull 12 cup chopped cilantro leaves

bull 1 12 oz grated reduced-fat white cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese (14 cup)

bull 4 scallions chopped

bull 1 small avocado pitted peeled and chopped

bull Lime wedges optional

preparation1 Preheat oven to 400deg Arrange tortillas

on 2 baking sheets and toast in oven until crisp about 5 minutes Remove from baking sheets

2 Lightly spray baking sheets with nonstick cooking spray Spread beans and onion on one and zucchini and jalapentildeos on the other Lightly coat vegetables with cooking spray season with the black pepper and roast until golden 12 to 15 minutes

3 Transfer half the beans and onion to a bowl with the water and mash beans with the back of a fork until smooth (Add more water to reach desired consistency if necessary) Spread mixture onto tortillas

4 Toss remaining beans and onion with zucchini jalapentildeos and corn and divide among tortillas

5 Top each tostada with tomatoes cilantro cheese scallions and avocado Serve with lime wedges if desired

Yield 4 servings

Nutrition Facts Calories 434 Fat 14g

Saturated Fat 3g Cholesterol 0

Sodium 446mg Carbohydrates 61g

Fiber 10g Protein 16g

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp25

Thanks for Voting Us Best of Omahatrade

84th and 1st St Downtown Papillion

402-331-9136

18 flavorsBaked daily Birthdays Weddings GraduationsOn-site party room

buy one get one

FREEExpires March 31 2015

HoursMonday-Saturday raquo11am-8pm

Located at Midlands Placeoff 84th Street and Highway 370

Maybe a Cupcake Will Help

wwwdingmanscom

4025583500Corner of

50th amp SouthSaddlecreek

402-502-8757Southwest corner

of 144th amp Industrial Rd

4025025511Southwestcorner of

120th amp Maple

4029339400Corner of

Washington amp Lincoln in Papillion

ldquoWersquod Rather Be The Best Than Apologize for Anything Lessrdquo

1st place

10 YEARS in a row

We are grateful for your business and Best of Omahatrade

votes for best Auto Body Repair

Spring Cleaning St Patrickrsquos Way

while most are eager for the weather to warm up in time for St Patrickrsquos Day (and the green beer sure)

Irsquom more into the holidayrsquos theme of ridding the country of evils Itrsquos time to purge yrsquoall

Irsquove been hibernating for six months under a blanket in front of the fireplace All I see here is an intense accumulation of clutter tucked in the corners out of my usual visual paths as I traverse my house

I finally get up and start the purge ldquoWhorsquos beach towel is thisrdquo ldquoI think Bobby left it here when we had that

slip-n-slide partyrdquo one of the kids says to me while walking out of their scarf gloves hat sweatshirt and shoes which leaves a trail marking my imminent demise from slips and falls (If I fall and am lying there unconscious interrogate my kids first)

ldquoThe slip-n-slide party That was five years agordquo I respond

ldquoYeah I think Bobby moved to Alaskardquo comes the retort which was both informative and confirmation that we had a right to be embarrassed

ldquoWell he doesnrsquot need this beach towel anymorerdquo Once the snow melts the purge involves three or four trips to Goodwill

Itrsquos funny that when yoursquore trapped in your house long enough due to subzero temperatures you start looking at the walls a little differently ldquoIs it me or is our kitchen less sage green and more My Little Pony Minty Greenrdquo I ask my husband

Before he can assure me the pastel shade of green is fine Irsquom off getting paint You canrsquot go wrong with a color called ldquoChocolaterdquo for the kitchen right

My family isnrsquot very supportive of my winter stir-crazy hobby of purging This year for Christmas the kids asked Santa for locks on their doors in an effort to protect their belongings from Momrsquos annual campaign

Itrsquos inevitable that about five years after I give something away one of my kids wants to know where it went Irsquom sorry your 2005 Lego set is gone My bare feet just couldnrsquot take it anymore

Just as St Patrick rid Ireland of all the snakes Irsquove secretly celebrated my own sainthood as Irsquove shooed all of my clutter away

Oh but then you realize that even saints canrsquot always win the clutter battle The cat barfs up a hairball My son walks by and touts ldquoIf only we still had Bobbyrsquos beach towel to clean this uprdquoemsp

26emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Leslie Murrell mom on the rocks

Boat PoseSanskrit name Paripurna Navasana(par-ee-POOR-nah nah-VAHS-anna)

the Boat Pose strengthens the hip flexors spine and the abdomen This pose helps to relieve stress improves digestion and stimulates the kidneys

intestines and thyroidemsp

BEGINNERS TIPPlace a strap around the ball of both feet Hold on to the

strap with straight arms

1 Sit on the floor with your legs straight in front of you Place your hands behind your hip and press into the ground fingers face- forward

2 Lift up through the sternum and slightly lean back until the weight is distributed to the top of your sitting bones and tailbone

3 Bend the knees and lift the feet off the floor

4 Lengthen the tailbone by pressing it into the floor and lift the pubis towards the naval

5 Slowly straighten your legs until your feet reach above eye level and spread the toes

6 Stretch the arms alongside the legs and reach out through the fingers

7 Breathe deeply for 15-30 seconds

8 Exhale and lower the legs to the floor

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp27

by Rachel Joy photography by Bill SitzmannfitnessWe are

the most experienced full-service family owned real estate company in America

npdodgecom

FOR THE KIDS

BAM ITrsquoS A PICTURE BOOK THE ART BEHIND GRAPHIC NOVELSTHROUGH MARCH 29 2015 JOSLYN ART MUSEUM ndash

2200 DODGE ST Popular among young readers

graphic novels are known for their comic

format They are generally described as

ldquosequential artrdquo where a series of illustrations

tell the story but unlike newspaper comics

they are the length of a novel and include

narrative development This exhibition features

the work of Jarrett J Krosoczka Mark Crilley

Matt Holm Raina Telgemeier and Lincoln

Peirce Tuesday - Wednesday amp Friday - Sunday

10am- 4pm Thursday 10am- 8pm Free

admission 402-342-3300

- JOSLYNORG

ONCE UPON A FARM EXHIBITTHROUGH APRIL 12 OMAHA CHILDRENrsquoS MUSEUMmdash500

S 20TH ST Explore the world of agriculture and

learn where your food comes from with the help

of interactive exhibit components like a center

pivot amp planting station dairy cows pedal track

maze and more Tuesday through Friday 10am ndash

4pm Saturday 9am ndash 5pm Sunday 1pm ndash 5 pm

Admission $2 plus regular admission Free for

members 402-342-6164

- OCMORG

MERMAID MINIONS amp DRAGONSMARCH 22 Holland Performing Arts

Centermdash1200 Douglas St Your favorite music

from How to Train Your Dragon Despicable Me

The Little Mermaid and other family movie hits

Brought to life through thrilling performances of

song dance and spectacle 2pm

Admission $15

- OMAHASYMPHONYORG

FOR THE FAMILY

NATURE CONNECTS 2THROUGH APRIL 26 LAURITZEN GARDENSmdash100

BANCROFT ST View 27 new sculptures each

inspired by the natural world made entirely of

300000 Legoreg bricks Make your own Lego

brick creations in the Legobrickyard and enjoy

a variety of Lego-inspired events throughout

the duration of the exhibit 9am ndash 5pm

Admission $10 adults$5 children six to 12 Free

for children under six and for garden members

402-346-4003

- LAURITZENGARDENSORG

TECH CITYTHROUGH MAY 10 STRATEGIC AIR amp SPACE MUSEUMmdash

ASHLAND NE This travelling engineering exhibit

is a great way to inspire learning and interest

in careers that focus on science technology

engineering and mathematics (STEM) The

Tech City exhibit is designed with interactive

learning that will appeal to visitors of all ages

9am - 5pm Free with regular admission $12

adult $6 youth children under 3 are free

402-944-3100

- SASMUSEUMCOM

ZEN TIES

THROUGH MARCH 8 THE ROSE THEATERmdash2001

FARNAM ST A gentle tale about patience and

compassion Zen Ties will make you remember

how much wisdom can come of simple

mindfulness Friday Saturday and Sunday

Members Four free admissions Non-member

admission $18 402-345-4949

- ROSETHEATERORG

FOR MOM amp DAD

AMERICAN MODERNS FROM OrsquoKEEFFE TO ROCKWELLTHROUGH MAY 17 JOSLYN ART MUSEUMmdash2200

DODGE ST The United States emerged as an

international power while also experiencing

two world wars and the Great Depression

New technologies changed all aspects of

life while the art world witnessed dramatic

transformations of its own This exhibition

explores the ways American artists including

Georgia OrsquoKeeffe Marsden Hartley Stuart

Davis Rockwell Kent and Norman Rockwell

engaged the modern world This exhibition

will have a ticket fee Free for members youth

ages 17 and younger amp college students with ID

402-342-3300

-JOSLYNORG

KATHARINE HEPBURN DRESSED FOR STAGE AND SCREENFEBRUARY 7-APRIL 26 DURHAM MUSEUMmdash801 S

10TH ST This exhibition from the Kent State

University Museum features more than 35

costumes worn in 21 films and six stage

productions as well as other personal items

spanning Hepburnrsquos illustrious career Come see

how this true icon of American culture came

to epitomize the modern woman of the 20th

century Children $6 Adults $9 402-444-5071

- DURHAMMUSEUMORG

COMPAGNIE KAumlFIGMARCH 18 HOLLAND CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST

Brazilian dance company Compagnie Kaumlfig

brings a high-energy performance style

combining their hip-hop foundation with martial

arts and circus elements 730pm $1350 to

$2625 402-345-0202

- OMAHAPERFORMINGARTSORG

Tech CityBam Itrsquos a Picture Book American Moderns

28emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

Calendar of Events

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp29

Erin Cox Event Director

402-884-2038 | erinomahamagazinecom

EVENTS by OMAHA MAGAZINE

Events by Omaha Magazine is a full-service event production company specializing in trade shows corporate events product launches and social gatherings From concept to delivery our goal is to provide an exceptional event experience for the host and their guests

Your Vision Our Innovation Event Solutions

GET A JUMP ON SUMMER

YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA wwwmetroymcaorg

Join us March 21 2015 for our Open House at any YMCA of Greater Omaha location The YMCA is your place for camp this summer bull Weekly themed preschool morning camps (3-5 years) and summer day camp (4-12 years - varies by location)

bull Mini special interest camps

bull Premier camps and Camp Platte

bull Counselors-in-Training program for teens

REGISTER FOR

CAMP AT OUR OPEN

HOUSE 3-21-15

AND PAY NO CAMP

REGISTRATION FEES

i never had a pet as a childOkay so I did at the age of 9 or so have

an ill-fated and short-lived guardianship of a turtle whose name Irsquove long forgotten but Irsquove never been a pet person

My mother abhorred the idea of anything furry dwelling in her home and I was pretty much fine with that The feeling carried over into adulthood and my three now-grown children probably felt super-lucky just to have had the brief company of a single pet a (clean and non-slobbering) feline named Scribbles

Viral videos portraying cats and dogs doing whatever it is that cats and dogs do have never appeared on any of my playlists And to be frank people who describe their little quadruped cuties as their ldquochildrenrdquohellipwell kinda creep me out I have no innate aversion to cats even though I take them to be whiskered sociopaths of evil intent but I have never been at all comfortable around dogs of any make or model

Before the hate mail begins please allow me at least a shot at redemption

My grandsons Barrett and Easton are growing up in a home where the company of canines is prized Their collie Summer recently ascended to that great dog pound in the sky and after an appropriate period of mourning has been replaced by a border collie pup carrying an equally seasonal name of Winter

Itrsquos an understatement to say that I never hit it off with Summer Perhaps it didnrsquot help that she stained our Oriental rug as a pup not 10 seconds into her very first visit to our home My son Eric entered with Summer while explaining that all would be well in that the creature was doing a smash-up job when it came to taking care of business but it was too late The little thing bounded (Is that what dogs do They ldquoboundrdquo) directly to the rug lifted one leg andhellipyou know the rest

I have promised to be different with Winter My kids already know that I am neurotic but I donrsquot

want Easton and Barrett to grow up thinking that their granddad is some kind of loathsome monster I am going to do my best to get to know Winter and not be such a basket case

Not surprisingly my first encounter with Winter was shall we say trying ldquoHersquos

just young and excitablerdquo I was told as the dog tried to climb up my leg Yeah tell that to my now urine-stained

shoes (suede no less) and newish sweater scarred by Winterrsquos talons or toes or paws or whatever it is theyrsquore called

But it is with a certain sense of self-satisfaction that I can report that I kept my cool Now the notion of ldquocoolrdquo is subjective My immediate knee-jerk reaction was admittedly to jerk my knee in revulsion but I collected myself as quickly as possible and

tried my best to not make an international incident of the affair

I really need to up my game in being the grandpa that I hope to

be but boy do I have my work cut out for meemsp

Canine Calamity A Plan to Fake it Until I Make it

30emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

the grandpa chroniclesby David Williams

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp31

Did you know90 of brain development

happens by age 5Discover Nebraska Childrenrsquos Home Societyrsquos

accredited high-quality early childhood education programs with low child-to-staff ratios at two locations

4939 S 118th St in Omaha (402) 898-7760 for children 18 months through Pre-K

and 3549 Fontenelle Blvd in Omaha (402) 898-7768 for children 6 weeks through Pre-K

Call today for a free no-obligation tour

4023450606 OMAHASYMPHONYORG

Sunday March 22 bull 200 PMHolland Center

Your favorite music from How to Train Your Dragon

The Little Mermaid Despicable Me and other

family movie hits Brought to life through exciting performances of song dance and spectacle

FEATURING

THE HEARTLAND YOUTH BALLET

REacuteSONANCE CHOIR

Tickets Adults amp Kids $12

FAMILY SERIES

CONCERT

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Omaha Magazine5921 S 118th CirOmaha NE 68137

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

Page 19: March 2015 HerFamily

kids say the darndest things

20emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Allison Janda photography by Keith Binder

as a parent yoursquove probably appreciated (and not appreciated) the absolute

honesty that often escapes your childrsquos mouth Frankness aside kids also tend to say some hilarious things Martin Brucknerrsquos daughter Harper 3 is no exception

In early 2014 Bruckner his wife Michelle and their daughter were having dinner when he overheard his wife exclaim to Harper ldquoPlease donrsquot put spaghetti between your toesrdquo That same night as Bruckner was giving his daughter her evening bath he found himself asking her ldquoDid you drop your cheese in the tub againrdquo From that point on he decided it would be worthwhile to take note of all of the absurd utterances around his house He knew that one day he his wife and their child could all look back and have a good laugh

Bruckner began to create graphics based on things he wrote down eventually starting Tumblr and Facebook accounts to share them with friends family and parents around the world ldquoPretty much the first day I started the Facebook and Tumblr pages I had parents replying to me with the things their children say to themrdquo he chuckles Bruckner admits that it isnrsquot just the locals that find things he his wife and his daughter say funny In fact he has gotten messages from as far away as Australia

While Spaghetti Toes started out innocently enough it seems to be gaining steam as Harper ages Bruckner states that while his daughter is a newer

conversationalist the things she says only get funnier with age ldquoHer vocabulary is getting bigger and stronger but shersquos still having a hard time getting certain things to be in the correct context which in turn makes them hilariousrdquo he says This is confirmed with nothing more than a cursory glance through his website

The graphics he has created have started to garner some national attention getting picked up by websites such as BuzzFeed and The Chive Additionally Bruckner has started to fulfill custom orders and recently completed two such requests for a woman in Canada Nonetheless Bruckner remains encouraged by the local scene claiming Omaharsquos creatives are extremely supportive while locals are incredibly kind

The attention his sites have garnered feels good Bruckner says Nonetheless he finds that he is more drawn to the long-term payoff that they will have ldquoI started this as a way to document my daughterrsquos life while shersquos little and Irsquom having an incredible time doing itrdquo he shares In fact his own mother inspired by what her son was doing went digging for books that she kept on Bruckner and his siblings when they were young Bruckner hopes to use it to create additional graphics for his mom and five sisters ldquoIrsquove gotten message after message after message from parents and I think everyone is in agreement as far as their children saying incredible silly ridiculous and disgusting thingsrdquo he adds ldquoI say things daily that I never thought Irsquod sayrdquo Wersquore sure that every parent out there can relateemsp

feature

I think everyone is in agreement as far as their children saying incredible sillyridiculous and disgusting thingsrdquo-Martin Bruckner

Martin Harper and Michelle Bruckner

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp21

No Age Limit for

Bullies

i could have worked with Jim Rome the radio sportscaster Wersquore about the same age We were in college about the same time studying the same thing We both started working at

small stations before moving up I produced a number of anchors and reporters ldquoback in the dayrdquo who are still on the air at national networks So I have some experience working with Romersquos personality typemdashor at least the type he uses on air Arrogant bloated ego Inflammatory language 70rsquos mustache

Before January 1 of this year I only had peripheral knowledge of and no opinion on Mr Rome Irsquom not a hardcore sports fan so I couldnrsquot have picked him out of a lineup any day of the week But on this particular New Yearrsquos Day Mr Rome chose to insult not only my children but the children of my friends and in fact the children and grandchildren of hundreds of thousands of Americans In the middle of one of college footballrsquos biggest days he threw this tweet out there

ldquoIs there anybody not in a marching band who thinks those dorks running around with their instruments are coolrdquo

Wow You can just imagine the firestorm that followed It didnrsquot take long for the hashtag MarchonRome to be trending To be brief the answer to Mr Romersquos question was a resounding ldquoYes there are people who think theyrsquore coolrdquo After a 24-hour blast of more than 8000 responses (and that was only on Twitter) including everyone from the US Marines to band alums everywhere he tweeted this

ldquoBand nationmdashI hear you I was out of line I apologize I do not condone bullying of any kind and that was not my intentrdquo

The reason I chose this topic is not so much because I was personally offended by Mr Romersquos comment but because I was so saddened that someone my age could intentionally set such a horrible example If not to be a bully I canrsquot comprehend what Mr Romersquos intent was I think if it was ldquoto be funnyrdquo then thatrsquos a fail toomdashbecause making fun of entire groups of people in this manner is pretty much the textbook definition of bullying

Mr Rome (and many others I think) got a fast education about the athleticism discipline and commitment that marching band requires And I wonrsquot even start on the statistics about the value of arts education Just last week a new study from the University of Vermont indicated the measurable impact of music education in developing attention skills anxiety management and emotional control

No my beef with Mr Rome is quite simplemdashhe should be old enough to know better I get that my generation was a little different We were very cliquishmdashjocks potheads geeks dorks

22emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

mind amp bodyby Bev Carlson Lutheran Family Services

blah blahmdashbut I really thought (hoped) that with all of the current awareness of bullying a public figure like Mr Rose would be tuned in enough to choose his words more carefully when referring to hundreds of thousands of hard-working high school and college students

My hope rests with this next generation where amid the online furor those students with highly developed ldquoemotional controlrdquo graciously accepted Mr Rosersquos apology reminding him that this time he ldquomessed with the wrong dorksrdquo Irsquom still holding out hope that he will accept the challenge from many of the band members (many of whom also play sports) to come do what they domdash handle one week of band camp In the summer In the South Or how about here in Nebraska on all those cold early mornings Go Bandemsp

I was so saddened that someone my age could intentionally set such a horrible example

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp23

oneworldomahaorg

Grow STRONG WithOneWorld Pediatrics

45 YEARS OF MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Cass FamilyMedicine

122 S 6th StPlattsmouth

402-296-2345

Northwest Omaha

4229 N 90th St402-401-6000

West Omaha4101 S 120th St402-505-3907

South Omaha4920 S 30th St

402-734-4110

45 Years of Making a DifferenceOne Child at a Time

Bean amp Cheese Tostadas

this yummy tostada recipe makes a satisfying healthy lunch or dinner Black beans zucchini corn and cherry tomatoes make this colorful vegetarian

dish delicious and nutritious emsp

Find more great recipes at HealthyKohlsKidscom The Healthy Kohlrsquos Kids program is a partnership between Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center and Kohlrsquos Department Stores to educate children and parents about healthy nutrition and fitness

24emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

sponsored content by Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center food

ingredientsbull 8 corn

tortillas (6-inch diameter)

bull 1 can (14 oz) black beans rinsed and drained

bull 1 small white onion finely chopped

bull 2 medium zucchini cut into 14-inch pieces

bull 2 jalapentildeo peppers seeded and chopped

bull 12 Tbsp black pepper

bull 14 cup water

bull 12 cup cooked corn

bull 1 cup cherry tomatoes sliced

bull 12 cup chopped cilantro leaves

bull 1 12 oz grated reduced-fat white cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese (14 cup)

bull 4 scallions chopped

bull 1 small avocado pitted peeled and chopped

bull Lime wedges optional

preparation1 Preheat oven to 400deg Arrange tortillas

on 2 baking sheets and toast in oven until crisp about 5 minutes Remove from baking sheets

2 Lightly spray baking sheets with nonstick cooking spray Spread beans and onion on one and zucchini and jalapentildeos on the other Lightly coat vegetables with cooking spray season with the black pepper and roast until golden 12 to 15 minutes

3 Transfer half the beans and onion to a bowl with the water and mash beans with the back of a fork until smooth (Add more water to reach desired consistency if necessary) Spread mixture onto tortillas

4 Toss remaining beans and onion with zucchini jalapentildeos and corn and divide among tortillas

5 Top each tostada with tomatoes cilantro cheese scallions and avocado Serve with lime wedges if desired

Yield 4 servings

Nutrition Facts Calories 434 Fat 14g

Saturated Fat 3g Cholesterol 0

Sodium 446mg Carbohydrates 61g

Fiber 10g Protein 16g

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp25

Thanks for Voting Us Best of Omahatrade

84th and 1st St Downtown Papillion

402-331-9136

18 flavorsBaked daily Birthdays Weddings GraduationsOn-site party room

buy one get one

FREEExpires March 31 2015

HoursMonday-Saturday raquo11am-8pm

Located at Midlands Placeoff 84th Street and Highway 370

Maybe a Cupcake Will Help

wwwdingmanscom

4025583500Corner of

50th amp SouthSaddlecreek

402-502-8757Southwest corner

of 144th amp Industrial Rd

4025025511Southwestcorner of

120th amp Maple

4029339400Corner of

Washington amp Lincoln in Papillion

ldquoWersquod Rather Be The Best Than Apologize for Anything Lessrdquo

1st place

10 YEARS in a row

We are grateful for your business and Best of Omahatrade

votes for best Auto Body Repair

Spring Cleaning St Patrickrsquos Way

while most are eager for the weather to warm up in time for St Patrickrsquos Day (and the green beer sure)

Irsquom more into the holidayrsquos theme of ridding the country of evils Itrsquos time to purge yrsquoall

Irsquove been hibernating for six months under a blanket in front of the fireplace All I see here is an intense accumulation of clutter tucked in the corners out of my usual visual paths as I traverse my house

I finally get up and start the purge ldquoWhorsquos beach towel is thisrdquo ldquoI think Bobby left it here when we had that

slip-n-slide partyrdquo one of the kids says to me while walking out of their scarf gloves hat sweatshirt and shoes which leaves a trail marking my imminent demise from slips and falls (If I fall and am lying there unconscious interrogate my kids first)

ldquoThe slip-n-slide party That was five years agordquo I respond

ldquoYeah I think Bobby moved to Alaskardquo comes the retort which was both informative and confirmation that we had a right to be embarrassed

ldquoWell he doesnrsquot need this beach towel anymorerdquo Once the snow melts the purge involves three or four trips to Goodwill

Itrsquos funny that when yoursquore trapped in your house long enough due to subzero temperatures you start looking at the walls a little differently ldquoIs it me or is our kitchen less sage green and more My Little Pony Minty Greenrdquo I ask my husband

Before he can assure me the pastel shade of green is fine Irsquom off getting paint You canrsquot go wrong with a color called ldquoChocolaterdquo for the kitchen right

My family isnrsquot very supportive of my winter stir-crazy hobby of purging This year for Christmas the kids asked Santa for locks on their doors in an effort to protect their belongings from Momrsquos annual campaign

Itrsquos inevitable that about five years after I give something away one of my kids wants to know where it went Irsquom sorry your 2005 Lego set is gone My bare feet just couldnrsquot take it anymore

Just as St Patrick rid Ireland of all the snakes Irsquove secretly celebrated my own sainthood as Irsquove shooed all of my clutter away

Oh but then you realize that even saints canrsquot always win the clutter battle The cat barfs up a hairball My son walks by and touts ldquoIf only we still had Bobbyrsquos beach towel to clean this uprdquoemsp

26emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Leslie Murrell mom on the rocks

Boat PoseSanskrit name Paripurna Navasana(par-ee-POOR-nah nah-VAHS-anna)

the Boat Pose strengthens the hip flexors spine and the abdomen This pose helps to relieve stress improves digestion and stimulates the kidneys

intestines and thyroidemsp

BEGINNERS TIPPlace a strap around the ball of both feet Hold on to the

strap with straight arms

1 Sit on the floor with your legs straight in front of you Place your hands behind your hip and press into the ground fingers face- forward

2 Lift up through the sternum and slightly lean back until the weight is distributed to the top of your sitting bones and tailbone

3 Bend the knees and lift the feet off the floor

4 Lengthen the tailbone by pressing it into the floor and lift the pubis towards the naval

5 Slowly straighten your legs until your feet reach above eye level and spread the toes

6 Stretch the arms alongside the legs and reach out through the fingers

7 Breathe deeply for 15-30 seconds

8 Exhale and lower the legs to the floor

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp27

by Rachel Joy photography by Bill SitzmannfitnessWe are

the most experienced full-service family owned real estate company in America

npdodgecom

FOR THE KIDS

BAM ITrsquoS A PICTURE BOOK THE ART BEHIND GRAPHIC NOVELSTHROUGH MARCH 29 2015 JOSLYN ART MUSEUM ndash

2200 DODGE ST Popular among young readers

graphic novels are known for their comic

format They are generally described as

ldquosequential artrdquo where a series of illustrations

tell the story but unlike newspaper comics

they are the length of a novel and include

narrative development This exhibition features

the work of Jarrett J Krosoczka Mark Crilley

Matt Holm Raina Telgemeier and Lincoln

Peirce Tuesday - Wednesday amp Friday - Sunday

10am- 4pm Thursday 10am- 8pm Free

admission 402-342-3300

- JOSLYNORG

ONCE UPON A FARM EXHIBITTHROUGH APRIL 12 OMAHA CHILDRENrsquoS MUSEUMmdash500

S 20TH ST Explore the world of agriculture and

learn where your food comes from with the help

of interactive exhibit components like a center

pivot amp planting station dairy cows pedal track

maze and more Tuesday through Friday 10am ndash

4pm Saturday 9am ndash 5pm Sunday 1pm ndash 5 pm

Admission $2 plus regular admission Free for

members 402-342-6164

- OCMORG

MERMAID MINIONS amp DRAGONSMARCH 22 Holland Performing Arts

Centermdash1200 Douglas St Your favorite music

from How to Train Your Dragon Despicable Me

The Little Mermaid and other family movie hits

Brought to life through thrilling performances of

song dance and spectacle 2pm

Admission $15

- OMAHASYMPHONYORG

FOR THE FAMILY

NATURE CONNECTS 2THROUGH APRIL 26 LAURITZEN GARDENSmdash100

BANCROFT ST View 27 new sculptures each

inspired by the natural world made entirely of

300000 Legoreg bricks Make your own Lego

brick creations in the Legobrickyard and enjoy

a variety of Lego-inspired events throughout

the duration of the exhibit 9am ndash 5pm

Admission $10 adults$5 children six to 12 Free

for children under six and for garden members

402-346-4003

- LAURITZENGARDENSORG

TECH CITYTHROUGH MAY 10 STRATEGIC AIR amp SPACE MUSEUMmdash

ASHLAND NE This travelling engineering exhibit

is a great way to inspire learning and interest

in careers that focus on science technology

engineering and mathematics (STEM) The

Tech City exhibit is designed with interactive

learning that will appeal to visitors of all ages

9am - 5pm Free with regular admission $12

adult $6 youth children under 3 are free

402-944-3100

- SASMUSEUMCOM

ZEN TIES

THROUGH MARCH 8 THE ROSE THEATERmdash2001

FARNAM ST A gentle tale about patience and

compassion Zen Ties will make you remember

how much wisdom can come of simple

mindfulness Friday Saturday and Sunday

Members Four free admissions Non-member

admission $18 402-345-4949

- ROSETHEATERORG

FOR MOM amp DAD

AMERICAN MODERNS FROM OrsquoKEEFFE TO ROCKWELLTHROUGH MAY 17 JOSLYN ART MUSEUMmdash2200

DODGE ST The United States emerged as an

international power while also experiencing

two world wars and the Great Depression

New technologies changed all aspects of

life while the art world witnessed dramatic

transformations of its own This exhibition

explores the ways American artists including

Georgia OrsquoKeeffe Marsden Hartley Stuart

Davis Rockwell Kent and Norman Rockwell

engaged the modern world This exhibition

will have a ticket fee Free for members youth

ages 17 and younger amp college students with ID

402-342-3300

-JOSLYNORG

KATHARINE HEPBURN DRESSED FOR STAGE AND SCREENFEBRUARY 7-APRIL 26 DURHAM MUSEUMmdash801 S

10TH ST This exhibition from the Kent State

University Museum features more than 35

costumes worn in 21 films and six stage

productions as well as other personal items

spanning Hepburnrsquos illustrious career Come see

how this true icon of American culture came

to epitomize the modern woman of the 20th

century Children $6 Adults $9 402-444-5071

- DURHAMMUSEUMORG

COMPAGNIE KAumlFIGMARCH 18 HOLLAND CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST

Brazilian dance company Compagnie Kaumlfig

brings a high-energy performance style

combining their hip-hop foundation with martial

arts and circus elements 730pm $1350 to

$2625 402-345-0202

- OMAHAPERFORMINGARTSORG

Tech CityBam Itrsquos a Picture Book American Moderns

28emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

Calendar of Events

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp29

Erin Cox Event Director

402-884-2038 | erinomahamagazinecom

EVENTS by OMAHA MAGAZINE

Events by Omaha Magazine is a full-service event production company specializing in trade shows corporate events product launches and social gatherings From concept to delivery our goal is to provide an exceptional event experience for the host and their guests

Your Vision Our Innovation Event Solutions

GET A JUMP ON SUMMER

YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA wwwmetroymcaorg

Join us March 21 2015 for our Open House at any YMCA of Greater Omaha location The YMCA is your place for camp this summer bull Weekly themed preschool morning camps (3-5 years) and summer day camp (4-12 years - varies by location)

bull Mini special interest camps

bull Premier camps and Camp Platte

bull Counselors-in-Training program for teens

REGISTER FOR

CAMP AT OUR OPEN

HOUSE 3-21-15

AND PAY NO CAMP

REGISTRATION FEES

i never had a pet as a childOkay so I did at the age of 9 or so have

an ill-fated and short-lived guardianship of a turtle whose name Irsquove long forgotten but Irsquove never been a pet person

My mother abhorred the idea of anything furry dwelling in her home and I was pretty much fine with that The feeling carried over into adulthood and my three now-grown children probably felt super-lucky just to have had the brief company of a single pet a (clean and non-slobbering) feline named Scribbles

Viral videos portraying cats and dogs doing whatever it is that cats and dogs do have never appeared on any of my playlists And to be frank people who describe their little quadruped cuties as their ldquochildrenrdquohellipwell kinda creep me out I have no innate aversion to cats even though I take them to be whiskered sociopaths of evil intent but I have never been at all comfortable around dogs of any make or model

Before the hate mail begins please allow me at least a shot at redemption

My grandsons Barrett and Easton are growing up in a home where the company of canines is prized Their collie Summer recently ascended to that great dog pound in the sky and after an appropriate period of mourning has been replaced by a border collie pup carrying an equally seasonal name of Winter

Itrsquos an understatement to say that I never hit it off with Summer Perhaps it didnrsquot help that she stained our Oriental rug as a pup not 10 seconds into her very first visit to our home My son Eric entered with Summer while explaining that all would be well in that the creature was doing a smash-up job when it came to taking care of business but it was too late The little thing bounded (Is that what dogs do They ldquoboundrdquo) directly to the rug lifted one leg andhellipyou know the rest

I have promised to be different with Winter My kids already know that I am neurotic but I donrsquot

want Easton and Barrett to grow up thinking that their granddad is some kind of loathsome monster I am going to do my best to get to know Winter and not be such a basket case

Not surprisingly my first encounter with Winter was shall we say trying ldquoHersquos

just young and excitablerdquo I was told as the dog tried to climb up my leg Yeah tell that to my now urine-stained

shoes (suede no less) and newish sweater scarred by Winterrsquos talons or toes or paws or whatever it is theyrsquore called

But it is with a certain sense of self-satisfaction that I can report that I kept my cool Now the notion of ldquocoolrdquo is subjective My immediate knee-jerk reaction was admittedly to jerk my knee in revulsion but I collected myself as quickly as possible and

tried my best to not make an international incident of the affair

I really need to up my game in being the grandpa that I hope to

be but boy do I have my work cut out for meemsp

Canine Calamity A Plan to Fake it Until I Make it

30emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

the grandpa chroniclesby David Williams

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp31

Did you know90 of brain development

happens by age 5Discover Nebraska Childrenrsquos Home Societyrsquos

accredited high-quality early childhood education programs with low child-to-staff ratios at two locations

4939 S 118th St in Omaha (402) 898-7760 for children 18 months through Pre-K

and 3549 Fontenelle Blvd in Omaha (402) 898-7768 for children 6 weeks through Pre-K

Call today for a free no-obligation tour

4023450606 OMAHASYMPHONYORG

Sunday March 22 bull 200 PMHolland Center

Your favorite music from How to Train Your Dragon

The Little Mermaid Despicable Me and other

family movie hits Brought to life through exciting performances of song dance and spectacle

FEATURING

THE HEARTLAND YOUTH BALLET

REacuteSONANCE CHOIR

Tickets Adults amp Kids $12

FAMILY SERIES

CONCERT

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Omaha Magazine5921 S 118th CirOmaha NE 68137

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

Page 20: March 2015 HerFamily

I think everyone is in agreement as far as their children saying incredible sillyridiculous and disgusting thingsrdquo-Martin Bruckner

Martin Harper and Michelle Bruckner

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp21

No Age Limit for

Bullies

i could have worked with Jim Rome the radio sportscaster Wersquore about the same age We were in college about the same time studying the same thing We both started working at

small stations before moving up I produced a number of anchors and reporters ldquoback in the dayrdquo who are still on the air at national networks So I have some experience working with Romersquos personality typemdashor at least the type he uses on air Arrogant bloated ego Inflammatory language 70rsquos mustache

Before January 1 of this year I only had peripheral knowledge of and no opinion on Mr Rome Irsquom not a hardcore sports fan so I couldnrsquot have picked him out of a lineup any day of the week But on this particular New Yearrsquos Day Mr Rome chose to insult not only my children but the children of my friends and in fact the children and grandchildren of hundreds of thousands of Americans In the middle of one of college footballrsquos biggest days he threw this tweet out there

ldquoIs there anybody not in a marching band who thinks those dorks running around with their instruments are coolrdquo

Wow You can just imagine the firestorm that followed It didnrsquot take long for the hashtag MarchonRome to be trending To be brief the answer to Mr Romersquos question was a resounding ldquoYes there are people who think theyrsquore coolrdquo After a 24-hour blast of more than 8000 responses (and that was only on Twitter) including everyone from the US Marines to band alums everywhere he tweeted this

ldquoBand nationmdashI hear you I was out of line I apologize I do not condone bullying of any kind and that was not my intentrdquo

The reason I chose this topic is not so much because I was personally offended by Mr Romersquos comment but because I was so saddened that someone my age could intentionally set such a horrible example If not to be a bully I canrsquot comprehend what Mr Romersquos intent was I think if it was ldquoto be funnyrdquo then thatrsquos a fail toomdashbecause making fun of entire groups of people in this manner is pretty much the textbook definition of bullying

Mr Rome (and many others I think) got a fast education about the athleticism discipline and commitment that marching band requires And I wonrsquot even start on the statistics about the value of arts education Just last week a new study from the University of Vermont indicated the measurable impact of music education in developing attention skills anxiety management and emotional control

No my beef with Mr Rome is quite simplemdashhe should be old enough to know better I get that my generation was a little different We were very cliquishmdashjocks potheads geeks dorks

22emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

mind amp bodyby Bev Carlson Lutheran Family Services

blah blahmdashbut I really thought (hoped) that with all of the current awareness of bullying a public figure like Mr Rose would be tuned in enough to choose his words more carefully when referring to hundreds of thousands of hard-working high school and college students

My hope rests with this next generation where amid the online furor those students with highly developed ldquoemotional controlrdquo graciously accepted Mr Rosersquos apology reminding him that this time he ldquomessed with the wrong dorksrdquo Irsquom still holding out hope that he will accept the challenge from many of the band members (many of whom also play sports) to come do what they domdash handle one week of band camp In the summer In the South Or how about here in Nebraska on all those cold early mornings Go Bandemsp

I was so saddened that someone my age could intentionally set such a horrible example

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp23

oneworldomahaorg

Grow STRONG WithOneWorld Pediatrics

45 YEARS OF MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Cass FamilyMedicine

122 S 6th StPlattsmouth

402-296-2345

Northwest Omaha

4229 N 90th St402-401-6000

West Omaha4101 S 120th St402-505-3907

South Omaha4920 S 30th St

402-734-4110

45 Years of Making a DifferenceOne Child at a Time

Bean amp Cheese Tostadas

this yummy tostada recipe makes a satisfying healthy lunch or dinner Black beans zucchini corn and cherry tomatoes make this colorful vegetarian

dish delicious and nutritious emsp

Find more great recipes at HealthyKohlsKidscom The Healthy Kohlrsquos Kids program is a partnership between Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center and Kohlrsquos Department Stores to educate children and parents about healthy nutrition and fitness

24emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

sponsored content by Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center food

ingredientsbull 8 corn

tortillas (6-inch diameter)

bull 1 can (14 oz) black beans rinsed and drained

bull 1 small white onion finely chopped

bull 2 medium zucchini cut into 14-inch pieces

bull 2 jalapentildeo peppers seeded and chopped

bull 12 Tbsp black pepper

bull 14 cup water

bull 12 cup cooked corn

bull 1 cup cherry tomatoes sliced

bull 12 cup chopped cilantro leaves

bull 1 12 oz grated reduced-fat white cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese (14 cup)

bull 4 scallions chopped

bull 1 small avocado pitted peeled and chopped

bull Lime wedges optional

preparation1 Preheat oven to 400deg Arrange tortillas

on 2 baking sheets and toast in oven until crisp about 5 minutes Remove from baking sheets

2 Lightly spray baking sheets with nonstick cooking spray Spread beans and onion on one and zucchini and jalapentildeos on the other Lightly coat vegetables with cooking spray season with the black pepper and roast until golden 12 to 15 minutes

3 Transfer half the beans and onion to a bowl with the water and mash beans with the back of a fork until smooth (Add more water to reach desired consistency if necessary) Spread mixture onto tortillas

4 Toss remaining beans and onion with zucchini jalapentildeos and corn and divide among tortillas

5 Top each tostada with tomatoes cilantro cheese scallions and avocado Serve with lime wedges if desired

Yield 4 servings

Nutrition Facts Calories 434 Fat 14g

Saturated Fat 3g Cholesterol 0

Sodium 446mg Carbohydrates 61g

Fiber 10g Protein 16g

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp25

Thanks for Voting Us Best of Omahatrade

84th and 1st St Downtown Papillion

402-331-9136

18 flavorsBaked daily Birthdays Weddings GraduationsOn-site party room

buy one get one

FREEExpires March 31 2015

HoursMonday-Saturday raquo11am-8pm

Located at Midlands Placeoff 84th Street and Highway 370

Maybe a Cupcake Will Help

wwwdingmanscom

4025583500Corner of

50th amp SouthSaddlecreek

402-502-8757Southwest corner

of 144th amp Industrial Rd

4025025511Southwestcorner of

120th amp Maple

4029339400Corner of

Washington amp Lincoln in Papillion

ldquoWersquod Rather Be The Best Than Apologize for Anything Lessrdquo

1st place

10 YEARS in a row

We are grateful for your business and Best of Omahatrade

votes for best Auto Body Repair

Spring Cleaning St Patrickrsquos Way

while most are eager for the weather to warm up in time for St Patrickrsquos Day (and the green beer sure)

Irsquom more into the holidayrsquos theme of ridding the country of evils Itrsquos time to purge yrsquoall

Irsquove been hibernating for six months under a blanket in front of the fireplace All I see here is an intense accumulation of clutter tucked in the corners out of my usual visual paths as I traverse my house

I finally get up and start the purge ldquoWhorsquos beach towel is thisrdquo ldquoI think Bobby left it here when we had that

slip-n-slide partyrdquo one of the kids says to me while walking out of their scarf gloves hat sweatshirt and shoes which leaves a trail marking my imminent demise from slips and falls (If I fall and am lying there unconscious interrogate my kids first)

ldquoThe slip-n-slide party That was five years agordquo I respond

ldquoYeah I think Bobby moved to Alaskardquo comes the retort which was both informative and confirmation that we had a right to be embarrassed

ldquoWell he doesnrsquot need this beach towel anymorerdquo Once the snow melts the purge involves three or four trips to Goodwill

Itrsquos funny that when yoursquore trapped in your house long enough due to subzero temperatures you start looking at the walls a little differently ldquoIs it me or is our kitchen less sage green and more My Little Pony Minty Greenrdquo I ask my husband

Before he can assure me the pastel shade of green is fine Irsquom off getting paint You canrsquot go wrong with a color called ldquoChocolaterdquo for the kitchen right

My family isnrsquot very supportive of my winter stir-crazy hobby of purging This year for Christmas the kids asked Santa for locks on their doors in an effort to protect their belongings from Momrsquos annual campaign

Itrsquos inevitable that about five years after I give something away one of my kids wants to know where it went Irsquom sorry your 2005 Lego set is gone My bare feet just couldnrsquot take it anymore

Just as St Patrick rid Ireland of all the snakes Irsquove secretly celebrated my own sainthood as Irsquove shooed all of my clutter away

Oh but then you realize that even saints canrsquot always win the clutter battle The cat barfs up a hairball My son walks by and touts ldquoIf only we still had Bobbyrsquos beach towel to clean this uprdquoemsp

26emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Leslie Murrell mom on the rocks

Boat PoseSanskrit name Paripurna Navasana(par-ee-POOR-nah nah-VAHS-anna)

the Boat Pose strengthens the hip flexors spine and the abdomen This pose helps to relieve stress improves digestion and stimulates the kidneys

intestines and thyroidemsp

BEGINNERS TIPPlace a strap around the ball of both feet Hold on to the

strap with straight arms

1 Sit on the floor with your legs straight in front of you Place your hands behind your hip and press into the ground fingers face- forward

2 Lift up through the sternum and slightly lean back until the weight is distributed to the top of your sitting bones and tailbone

3 Bend the knees and lift the feet off the floor

4 Lengthen the tailbone by pressing it into the floor and lift the pubis towards the naval

5 Slowly straighten your legs until your feet reach above eye level and spread the toes

6 Stretch the arms alongside the legs and reach out through the fingers

7 Breathe deeply for 15-30 seconds

8 Exhale and lower the legs to the floor

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp27

by Rachel Joy photography by Bill SitzmannfitnessWe are

the most experienced full-service family owned real estate company in America

npdodgecom

FOR THE KIDS

BAM ITrsquoS A PICTURE BOOK THE ART BEHIND GRAPHIC NOVELSTHROUGH MARCH 29 2015 JOSLYN ART MUSEUM ndash

2200 DODGE ST Popular among young readers

graphic novels are known for their comic

format They are generally described as

ldquosequential artrdquo where a series of illustrations

tell the story but unlike newspaper comics

they are the length of a novel and include

narrative development This exhibition features

the work of Jarrett J Krosoczka Mark Crilley

Matt Holm Raina Telgemeier and Lincoln

Peirce Tuesday - Wednesday amp Friday - Sunday

10am- 4pm Thursday 10am- 8pm Free

admission 402-342-3300

- JOSLYNORG

ONCE UPON A FARM EXHIBITTHROUGH APRIL 12 OMAHA CHILDRENrsquoS MUSEUMmdash500

S 20TH ST Explore the world of agriculture and

learn where your food comes from with the help

of interactive exhibit components like a center

pivot amp planting station dairy cows pedal track

maze and more Tuesday through Friday 10am ndash

4pm Saturday 9am ndash 5pm Sunday 1pm ndash 5 pm

Admission $2 plus regular admission Free for

members 402-342-6164

- OCMORG

MERMAID MINIONS amp DRAGONSMARCH 22 Holland Performing Arts

Centermdash1200 Douglas St Your favorite music

from How to Train Your Dragon Despicable Me

The Little Mermaid and other family movie hits

Brought to life through thrilling performances of

song dance and spectacle 2pm

Admission $15

- OMAHASYMPHONYORG

FOR THE FAMILY

NATURE CONNECTS 2THROUGH APRIL 26 LAURITZEN GARDENSmdash100

BANCROFT ST View 27 new sculptures each

inspired by the natural world made entirely of

300000 Legoreg bricks Make your own Lego

brick creations in the Legobrickyard and enjoy

a variety of Lego-inspired events throughout

the duration of the exhibit 9am ndash 5pm

Admission $10 adults$5 children six to 12 Free

for children under six and for garden members

402-346-4003

- LAURITZENGARDENSORG

TECH CITYTHROUGH MAY 10 STRATEGIC AIR amp SPACE MUSEUMmdash

ASHLAND NE This travelling engineering exhibit

is a great way to inspire learning and interest

in careers that focus on science technology

engineering and mathematics (STEM) The

Tech City exhibit is designed with interactive

learning that will appeal to visitors of all ages

9am - 5pm Free with regular admission $12

adult $6 youth children under 3 are free

402-944-3100

- SASMUSEUMCOM

ZEN TIES

THROUGH MARCH 8 THE ROSE THEATERmdash2001

FARNAM ST A gentle tale about patience and

compassion Zen Ties will make you remember

how much wisdom can come of simple

mindfulness Friday Saturday and Sunday

Members Four free admissions Non-member

admission $18 402-345-4949

- ROSETHEATERORG

FOR MOM amp DAD

AMERICAN MODERNS FROM OrsquoKEEFFE TO ROCKWELLTHROUGH MAY 17 JOSLYN ART MUSEUMmdash2200

DODGE ST The United States emerged as an

international power while also experiencing

two world wars and the Great Depression

New technologies changed all aspects of

life while the art world witnessed dramatic

transformations of its own This exhibition

explores the ways American artists including

Georgia OrsquoKeeffe Marsden Hartley Stuart

Davis Rockwell Kent and Norman Rockwell

engaged the modern world This exhibition

will have a ticket fee Free for members youth

ages 17 and younger amp college students with ID

402-342-3300

-JOSLYNORG

KATHARINE HEPBURN DRESSED FOR STAGE AND SCREENFEBRUARY 7-APRIL 26 DURHAM MUSEUMmdash801 S

10TH ST This exhibition from the Kent State

University Museum features more than 35

costumes worn in 21 films and six stage

productions as well as other personal items

spanning Hepburnrsquos illustrious career Come see

how this true icon of American culture came

to epitomize the modern woman of the 20th

century Children $6 Adults $9 402-444-5071

- DURHAMMUSEUMORG

COMPAGNIE KAumlFIGMARCH 18 HOLLAND CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST

Brazilian dance company Compagnie Kaumlfig

brings a high-energy performance style

combining their hip-hop foundation with martial

arts and circus elements 730pm $1350 to

$2625 402-345-0202

- OMAHAPERFORMINGARTSORG

Tech CityBam Itrsquos a Picture Book American Moderns

28emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

Calendar of Events

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp29

Erin Cox Event Director

402-884-2038 | erinomahamagazinecom

EVENTS by OMAHA MAGAZINE

Events by Omaha Magazine is a full-service event production company specializing in trade shows corporate events product launches and social gatherings From concept to delivery our goal is to provide an exceptional event experience for the host and their guests

Your Vision Our Innovation Event Solutions

GET A JUMP ON SUMMER

YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA wwwmetroymcaorg

Join us March 21 2015 for our Open House at any YMCA of Greater Omaha location The YMCA is your place for camp this summer bull Weekly themed preschool morning camps (3-5 years) and summer day camp (4-12 years - varies by location)

bull Mini special interest camps

bull Premier camps and Camp Platte

bull Counselors-in-Training program for teens

REGISTER FOR

CAMP AT OUR OPEN

HOUSE 3-21-15

AND PAY NO CAMP

REGISTRATION FEES

i never had a pet as a childOkay so I did at the age of 9 or so have

an ill-fated and short-lived guardianship of a turtle whose name Irsquove long forgotten but Irsquove never been a pet person

My mother abhorred the idea of anything furry dwelling in her home and I was pretty much fine with that The feeling carried over into adulthood and my three now-grown children probably felt super-lucky just to have had the brief company of a single pet a (clean and non-slobbering) feline named Scribbles

Viral videos portraying cats and dogs doing whatever it is that cats and dogs do have never appeared on any of my playlists And to be frank people who describe their little quadruped cuties as their ldquochildrenrdquohellipwell kinda creep me out I have no innate aversion to cats even though I take them to be whiskered sociopaths of evil intent but I have never been at all comfortable around dogs of any make or model

Before the hate mail begins please allow me at least a shot at redemption

My grandsons Barrett and Easton are growing up in a home where the company of canines is prized Their collie Summer recently ascended to that great dog pound in the sky and after an appropriate period of mourning has been replaced by a border collie pup carrying an equally seasonal name of Winter

Itrsquos an understatement to say that I never hit it off with Summer Perhaps it didnrsquot help that she stained our Oriental rug as a pup not 10 seconds into her very first visit to our home My son Eric entered with Summer while explaining that all would be well in that the creature was doing a smash-up job when it came to taking care of business but it was too late The little thing bounded (Is that what dogs do They ldquoboundrdquo) directly to the rug lifted one leg andhellipyou know the rest

I have promised to be different with Winter My kids already know that I am neurotic but I donrsquot

want Easton and Barrett to grow up thinking that their granddad is some kind of loathsome monster I am going to do my best to get to know Winter and not be such a basket case

Not surprisingly my first encounter with Winter was shall we say trying ldquoHersquos

just young and excitablerdquo I was told as the dog tried to climb up my leg Yeah tell that to my now urine-stained

shoes (suede no less) and newish sweater scarred by Winterrsquos talons or toes or paws or whatever it is theyrsquore called

But it is with a certain sense of self-satisfaction that I can report that I kept my cool Now the notion of ldquocoolrdquo is subjective My immediate knee-jerk reaction was admittedly to jerk my knee in revulsion but I collected myself as quickly as possible and

tried my best to not make an international incident of the affair

I really need to up my game in being the grandpa that I hope to

be but boy do I have my work cut out for meemsp

Canine Calamity A Plan to Fake it Until I Make it

30emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

the grandpa chroniclesby David Williams

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp31

Did you know90 of brain development

happens by age 5Discover Nebraska Childrenrsquos Home Societyrsquos

accredited high-quality early childhood education programs with low child-to-staff ratios at two locations

4939 S 118th St in Omaha (402) 898-7760 for children 18 months through Pre-K

and 3549 Fontenelle Blvd in Omaha (402) 898-7768 for children 6 weeks through Pre-K

Call today for a free no-obligation tour

4023450606 OMAHASYMPHONYORG

Sunday March 22 bull 200 PMHolland Center

Your favorite music from How to Train Your Dragon

The Little Mermaid Despicable Me and other

family movie hits Brought to life through exciting performances of song dance and spectacle

FEATURING

THE HEARTLAND YOUTH BALLET

REacuteSONANCE CHOIR

Tickets Adults amp Kids $12

FAMILY SERIES

CONCERT

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Omaha Magazine5921 S 118th CirOmaha NE 68137

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

Page 21: March 2015 HerFamily

No Age Limit for

Bullies

i could have worked with Jim Rome the radio sportscaster Wersquore about the same age We were in college about the same time studying the same thing We both started working at

small stations before moving up I produced a number of anchors and reporters ldquoback in the dayrdquo who are still on the air at national networks So I have some experience working with Romersquos personality typemdashor at least the type he uses on air Arrogant bloated ego Inflammatory language 70rsquos mustache

Before January 1 of this year I only had peripheral knowledge of and no opinion on Mr Rome Irsquom not a hardcore sports fan so I couldnrsquot have picked him out of a lineup any day of the week But on this particular New Yearrsquos Day Mr Rome chose to insult not only my children but the children of my friends and in fact the children and grandchildren of hundreds of thousands of Americans In the middle of one of college footballrsquos biggest days he threw this tweet out there

ldquoIs there anybody not in a marching band who thinks those dorks running around with their instruments are coolrdquo

Wow You can just imagine the firestorm that followed It didnrsquot take long for the hashtag MarchonRome to be trending To be brief the answer to Mr Romersquos question was a resounding ldquoYes there are people who think theyrsquore coolrdquo After a 24-hour blast of more than 8000 responses (and that was only on Twitter) including everyone from the US Marines to band alums everywhere he tweeted this

ldquoBand nationmdashI hear you I was out of line I apologize I do not condone bullying of any kind and that was not my intentrdquo

The reason I chose this topic is not so much because I was personally offended by Mr Romersquos comment but because I was so saddened that someone my age could intentionally set such a horrible example If not to be a bully I canrsquot comprehend what Mr Romersquos intent was I think if it was ldquoto be funnyrdquo then thatrsquos a fail toomdashbecause making fun of entire groups of people in this manner is pretty much the textbook definition of bullying

Mr Rome (and many others I think) got a fast education about the athleticism discipline and commitment that marching band requires And I wonrsquot even start on the statistics about the value of arts education Just last week a new study from the University of Vermont indicated the measurable impact of music education in developing attention skills anxiety management and emotional control

No my beef with Mr Rome is quite simplemdashhe should be old enough to know better I get that my generation was a little different We were very cliquishmdashjocks potheads geeks dorks

22emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

mind amp bodyby Bev Carlson Lutheran Family Services

blah blahmdashbut I really thought (hoped) that with all of the current awareness of bullying a public figure like Mr Rose would be tuned in enough to choose his words more carefully when referring to hundreds of thousands of hard-working high school and college students

My hope rests with this next generation where amid the online furor those students with highly developed ldquoemotional controlrdquo graciously accepted Mr Rosersquos apology reminding him that this time he ldquomessed with the wrong dorksrdquo Irsquom still holding out hope that he will accept the challenge from many of the band members (many of whom also play sports) to come do what they domdash handle one week of band camp In the summer In the South Or how about here in Nebraska on all those cold early mornings Go Bandemsp

I was so saddened that someone my age could intentionally set such a horrible example

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp23

oneworldomahaorg

Grow STRONG WithOneWorld Pediatrics

45 YEARS OF MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Cass FamilyMedicine

122 S 6th StPlattsmouth

402-296-2345

Northwest Omaha

4229 N 90th St402-401-6000

West Omaha4101 S 120th St402-505-3907

South Omaha4920 S 30th St

402-734-4110

45 Years of Making a DifferenceOne Child at a Time

Bean amp Cheese Tostadas

this yummy tostada recipe makes a satisfying healthy lunch or dinner Black beans zucchini corn and cherry tomatoes make this colorful vegetarian

dish delicious and nutritious emsp

Find more great recipes at HealthyKohlsKidscom The Healthy Kohlrsquos Kids program is a partnership between Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center and Kohlrsquos Department Stores to educate children and parents about healthy nutrition and fitness

24emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

sponsored content by Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center food

ingredientsbull 8 corn

tortillas (6-inch diameter)

bull 1 can (14 oz) black beans rinsed and drained

bull 1 small white onion finely chopped

bull 2 medium zucchini cut into 14-inch pieces

bull 2 jalapentildeo peppers seeded and chopped

bull 12 Tbsp black pepper

bull 14 cup water

bull 12 cup cooked corn

bull 1 cup cherry tomatoes sliced

bull 12 cup chopped cilantro leaves

bull 1 12 oz grated reduced-fat white cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese (14 cup)

bull 4 scallions chopped

bull 1 small avocado pitted peeled and chopped

bull Lime wedges optional

preparation1 Preheat oven to 400deg Arrange tortillas

on 2 baking sheets and toast in oven until crisp about 5 minutes Remove from baking sheets

2 Lightly spray baking sheets with nonstick cooking spray Spread beans and onion on one and zucchini and jalapentildeos on the other Lightly coat vegetables with cooking spray season with the black pepper and roast until golden 12 to 15 minutes

3 Transfer half the beans and onion to a bowl with the water and mash beans with the back of a fork until smooth (Add more water to reach desired consistency if necessary) Spread mixture onto tortillas

4 Toss remaining beans and onion with zucchini jalapentildeos and corn and divide among tortillas

5 Top each tostada with tomatoes cilantro cheese scallions and avocado Serve with lime wedges if desired

Yield 4 servings

Nutrition Facts Calories 434 Fat 14g

Saturated Fat 3g Cholesterol 0

Sodium 446mg Carbohydrates 61g

Fiber 10g Protein 16g

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp25

Thanks for Voting Us Best of Omahatrade

84th and 1st St Downtown Papillion

402-331-9136

18 flavorsBaked daily Birthdays Weddings GraduationsOn-site party room

buy one get one

FREEExpires March 31 2015

HoursMonday-Saturday raquo11am-8pm

Located at Midlands Placeoff 84th Street and Highway 370

Maybe a Cupcake Will Help

wwwdingmanscom

4025583500Corner of

50th amp SouthSaddlecreek

402-502-8757Southwest corner

of 144th amp Industrial Rd

4025025511Southwestcorner of

120th amp Maple

4029339400Corner of

Washington amp Lincoln in Papillion

ldquoWersquod Rather Be The Best Than Apologize for Anything Lessrdquo

1st place

10 YEARS in a row

We are grateful for your business and Best of Omahatrade

votes for best Auto Body Repair

Spring Cleaning St Patrickrsquos Way

while most are eager for the weather to warm up in time for St Patrickrsquos Day (and the green beer sure)

Irsquom more into the holidayrsquos theme of ridding the country of evils Itrsquos time to purge yrsquoall

Irsquove been hibernating for six months under a blanket in front of the fireplace All I see here is an intense accumulation of clutter tucked in the corners out of my usual visual paths as I traverse my house

I finally get up and start the purge ldquoWhorsquos beach towel is thisrdquo ldquoI think Bobby left it here when we had that

slip-n-slide partyrdquo one of the kids says to me while walking out of their scarf gloves hat sweatshirt and shoes which leaves a trail marking my imminent demise from slips and falls (If I fall and am lying there unconscious interrogate my kids first)

ldquoThe slip-n-slide party That was five years agordquo I respond

ldquoYeah I think Bobby moved to Alaskardquo comes the retort which was both informative and confirmation that we had a right to be embarrassed

ldquoWell he doesnrsquot need this beach towel anymorerdquo Once the snow melts the purge involves three or four trips to Goodwill

Itrsquos funny that when yoursquore trapped in your house long enough due to subzero temperatures you start looking at the walls a little differently ldquoIs it me or is our kitchen less sage green and more My Little Pony Minty Greenrdquo I ask my husband

Before he can assure me the pastel shade of green is fine Irsquom off getting paint You canrsquot go wrong with a color called ldquoChocolaterdquo for the kitchen right

My family isnrsquot very supportive of my winter stir-crazy hobby of purging This year for Christmas the kids asked Santa for locks on their doors in an effort to protect their belongings from Momrsquos annual campaign

Itrsquos inevitable that about five years after I give something away one of my kids wants to know where it went Irsquom sorry your 2005 Lego set is gone My bare feet just couldnrsquot take it anymore

Just as St Patrick rid Ireland of all the snakes Irsquove secretly celebrated my own sainthood as Irsquove shooed all of my clutter away

Oh but then you realize that even saints canrsquot always win the clutter battle The cat barfs up a hairball My son walks by and touts ldquoIf only we still had Bobbyrsquos beach towel to clean this uprdquoemsp

26emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Leslie Murrell mom on the rocks

Boat PoseSanskrit name Paripurna Navasana(par-ee-POOR-nah nah-VAHS-anna)

the Boat Pose strengthens the hip flexors spine and the abdomen This pose helps to relieve stress improves digestion and stimulates the kidneys

intestines and thyroidemsp

BEGINNERS TIPPlace a strap around the ball of both feet Hold on to the

strap with straight arms

1 Sit on the floor with your legs straight in front of you Place your hands behind your hip and press into the ground fingers face- forward

2 Lift up through the sternum and slightly lean back until the weight is distributed to the top of your sitting bones and tailbone

3 Bend the knees and lift the feet off the floor

4 Lengthen the tailbone by pressing it into the floor and lift the pubis towards the naval

5 Slowly straighten your legs until your feet reach above eye level and spread the toes

6 Stretch the arms alongside the legs and reach out through the fingers

7 Breathe deeply for 15-30 seconds

8 Exhale and lower the legs to the floor

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp27

by Rachel Joy photography by Bill SitzmannfitnessWe are

the most experienced full-service family owned real estate company in America

npdodgecom

FOR THE KIDS

BAM ITrsquoS A PICTURE BOOK THE ART BEHIND GRAPHIC NOVELSTHROUGH MARCH 29 2015 JOSLYN ART MUSEUM ndash

2200 DODGE ST Popular among young readers

graphic novels are known for their comic

format They are generally described as

ldquosequential artrdquo where a series of illustrations

tell the story but unlike newspaper comics

they are the length of a novel and include

narrative development This exhibition features

the work of Jarrett J Krosoczka Mark Crilley

Matt Holm Raina Telgemeier and Lincoln

Peirce Tuesday - Wednesday amp Friday - Sunday

10am- 4pm Thursday 10am- 8pm Free

admission 402-342-3300

- JOSLYNORG

ONCE UPON A FARM EXHIBITTHROUGH APRIL 12 OMAHA CHILDRENrsquoS MUSEUMmdash500

S 20TH ST Explore the world of agriculture and

learn where your food comes from with the help

of interactive exhibit components like a center

pivot amp planting station dairy cows pedal track

maze and more Tuesday through Friday 10am ndash

4pm Saturday 9am ndash 5pm Sunday 1pm ndash 5 pm

Admission $2 plus regular admission Free for

members 402-342-6164

- OCMORG

MERMAID MINIONS amp DRAGONSMARCH 22 Holland Performing Arts

Centermdash1200 Douglas St Your favorite music

from How to Train Your Dragon Despicable Me

The Little Mermaid and other family movie hits

Brought to life through thrilling performances of

song dance and spectacle 2pm

Admission $15

- OMAHASYMPHONYORG

FOR THE FAMILY

NATURE CONNECTS 2THROUGH APRIL 26 LAURITZEN GARDENSmdash100

BANCROFT ST View 27 new sculptures each

inspired by the natural world made entirely of

300000 Legoreg bricks Make your own Lego

brick creations in the Legobrickyard and enjoy

a variety of Lego-inspired events throughout

the duration of the exhibit 9am ndash 5pm

Admission $10 adults$5 children six to 12 Free

for children under six and for garden members

402-346-4003

- LAURITZENGARDENSORG

TECH CITYTHROUGH MAY 10 STRATEGIC AIR amp SPACE MUSEUMmdash

ASHLAND NE This travelling engineering exhibit

is a great way to inspire learning and interest

in careers that focus on science technology

engineering and mathematics (STEM) The

Tech City exhibit is designed with interactive

learning that will appeal to visitors of all ages

9am - 5pm Free with regular admission $12

adult $6 youth children under 3 are free

402-944-3100

- SASMUSEUMCOM

ZEN TIES

THROUGH MARCH 8 THE ROSE THEATERmdash2001

FARNAM ST A gentle tale about patience and

compassion Zen Ties will make you remember

how much wisdom can come of simple

mindfulness Friday Saturday and Sunday

Members Four free admissions Non-member

admission $18 402-345-4949

- ROSETHEATERORG

FOR MOM amp DAD

AMERICAN MODERNS FROM OrsquoKEEFFE TO ROCKWELLTHROUGH MAY 17 JOSLYN ART MUSEUMmdash2200

DODGE ST The United States emerged as an

international power while also experiencing

two world wars and the Great Depression

New technologies changed all aspects of

life while the art world witnessed dramatic

transformations of its own This exhibition

explores the ways American artists including

Georgia OrsquoKeeffe Marsden Hartley Stuart

Davis Rockwell Kent and Norman Rockwell

engaged the modern world This exhibition

will have a ticket fee Free for members youth

ages 17 and younger amp college students with ID

402-342-3300

-JOSLYNORG

KATHARINE HEPBURN DRESSED FOR STAGE AND SCREENFEBRUARY 7-APRIL 26 DURHAM MUSEUMmdash801 S

10TH ST This exhibition from the Kent State

University Museum features more than 35

costumes worn in 21 films and six stage

productions as well as other personal items

spanning Hepburnrsquos illustrious career Come see

how this true icon of American culture came

to epitomize the modern woman of the 20th

century Children $6 Adults $9 402-444-5071

- DURHAMMUSEUMORG

COMPAGNIE KAumlFIGMARCH 18 HOLLAND CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST

Brazilian dance company Compagnie Kaumlfig

brings a high-energy performance style

combining their hip-hop foundation with martial

arts and circus elements 730pm $1350 to

$2625 402-345-0202

- OMAHAPERFORMINGARTSORG

Tech CityBam Itrsquos a Picture Book American Moderns

28emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

Calendar of Events

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp29

Erin Cox Event Director

402-884-2038 | erinomahamagazinecom

EVENTS by OMAHA MAGAZINE

Events by Omaha Magazine is a full-service event production company specializing in trade shows corporate events product launches and social gatherings From concept to delivery our goal is to provide an exceptional event experience for the host and their guests

Your Vision Our Innovation Event Solutions

GET A JUMP ON SUMMER

YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA wwwmetroymcaorg

Join us March 21 2015 for our Open House at any YMCA of Greater Omaha location The YMCA is your place for camp this summer bull Weekly themed preschool morning camps (3-5 years) and summer day camp (4-12 years - varies by location)

bull Mini special interest camps

bull Premier camps and Camp Platte

bull Counselors-in-Training program for teens

REGISTER FOR

CAMP AT OUR OPEN

HOUSE 3-21-15

AND PAY NO CAMP

REGISTRATION FEES

i never had a pet as a childOkay so I did at the age of 9 or so have

an ill-fated and short-lived guardianship of a turtle whose name Irsquove long forgotten but Irsquove never been a pet person

My mother abhorred the idea of anything furry dwelling in her home and I was pretty much fine with that The feeling carried over into adulthood and my three now-grown children probably felt super-lucky just to have had the brief company of a single pet a (clean and non-slobbering) feline named Scribbles

Viral videos portraying cats and dogs doing whatever it is that cats and dogs do have never appeared on any of my playlists And to be frank people who describe their little quadruped cuties as their ldquochildrenrdquohellipwell kinda creep me out I have no innate aversion to cats even though I take them to be whiskered sociopaths of evil intent but I have never been at all comfortable around dogs of any make or model

Before the hate mail begins please allow me at least a shot at redemption

My grandsons Barrett and Easton are growing up in a home where the company of canines is prized Their collie Summer recently ascended to that great dog pound in the sky and after an appropriate period of mourning has been replaced by a border collie pup carrying an equally seasonal name of Winter

Itrsquos an understatement to say that I never hit it off with Summer Perhaps it didnrsquot help that she stained our Oriental rug as a pup not 10 seconds into her very first visit to our home My son Eric entered with Summer while explaining that all would be well in that the creature was doing a smash-up job when it came to taking care of business but it was too late The little thing bounded (Is that what dogs do They ldquoboundrdquo) directly to the rug lifted one leg andhellipyou know the rest

I have promised to be different with Winter My kids already know that I am neurotic but I donrsquot

want Easton and Barrett to grow up thinking that their granddad is some kind of loathsome monster I am going to do my best to get to know Winter and not be such a basket case

Not surprisingly my first encounter with Winter was shall we say trying ldquoHersquos

just young and excitablerdquo I was told as the dog tried to climb up my leg Yeah tell that to my now urine-stained

shoes (suede no less) and newish sweater scarred by Winterrsquos talons or toes or paws or whatever it is theyrsquore called

But it is with a certain sense of self-satisfaction that I can report that I kept my cool Now the notion of ldquocoolrdquo is subjective My immediate knee-jerk reaction was admittedly to jerk my knee in revulsion but I collected myself as quickly as possible and

tried my best to not make an international incident of the affair

I really need to up my game in being the grandpa that I hope to

be but boy do I have my work cut out for meemsp

Canine Calamity A Plan to Fake it Until I Make it

30emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

the grandpa chroniclesby David Williams

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp31

Did you know90 of brain development

happens by age 5Discover Nebraska Childrenrsquos Home Societyrsquos

accredited high-quality early childhood education programs with low child-to-staff ratios at two locations

4939 S 118th St in Omaha (402) 898-7760 for children 18 months through Pre-K

and 3549 Fontenelle Blvd in Omaha (402) 898-7768 for children 6 weeks through Pre-K

Call today for a free no-obligation tour

4023450606 OMAHASYMPHONYORG

Sunday March 22 bull 200 PMHolland Center

Your favorite music from How to Train Your Dragon

The Little Mermaid Despicable Me and other

family movie hits Brought to life through exciting performances of song dance and spectacle

FEATURING

THE HEARTLAND YOUTH BALLET

REacuteSONANCE CHOIR

Tickets Adults amp Kids $12

FAMILY SERIES

CONCERT

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Omaha Magazine5921 S 118th CirOmaha NE 68137

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

Page 22: March 2015 HerFamily

blah blahmdashbut I really thought (hoped) that with all of the current awareness of bullying a public figure like Mr Rose would be tuned in enough to choose his words more carefully when referring to hundreds of thousands of hard-working high school and college students

My hope rests with this next generation where amid the online furor those students with highly developed ldquoemotional controlrdquo graciously accepted Mr Rosersquos apology reminding him that this time he ldquomessed with the wrong dorksrdquo Irsquom still holding out hope that he will accept the challenge from many of the band members (many of whom also play sports) to come do what they domdash handle one week of band camp In the summer In the South Or how about here in Nebraska on all those cold early mornings Go Bandemsp

I was so saddened that someone my age could intentionally set such a horrible example

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp23

oneworldomahaorg

Grow STRONG WithOneWorld Pediatrics

45 YEARS OF MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Cass FamilyMedicine

122 S 6th StPlattsmouth

402-296-2345

Northwest Omaha

4229 N 90th St402-401-6000

West Omaha4101 S 120th St402-505-3907

South Omaha4920 S 30th St

402-734-4110

45 Years of Making a DifferenceOne Child at a Time

Bean amp Cheese Tostadas

this yummy tostada recipe makes a satisfying healthy lunch or dinner Black beans zucchini corn and cherry tomatoes make this colorful vegetarian

dish delicious and nutritious emsp

Find more great recipes at HealthyKohlsKidscom The Healthy Kohlrsquos Kids program is a partnership between Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center and Kohlrsquos Department Stores to educate children and parents about healthy nutrition and fitness

24emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

sponsored content by Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center food

ingredientsbull 8 corn

tortillas (6-inch diameter)

bull 1 can (14 oz) black beans rinsed and drained

bull 1 small white onion finely chopped

bull 2 medium zucchini cut into 14-inch pieces

bull 2 jalapentildeo peppers seeded and chopped

bull 12 Tbsp black pepper

bull 14 cup water

bull 12 cup cooked corn

bull 1 cup cherry tomatoes sliced

bull 12 cup chopped cilantro leaves

bull 1 12 oz grated reduced-fat white cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese (14 cup)

bull 4 scallions chopped

bull 1 small avocado pitted peeled and chopped

bull Lime wedges optional

preparation1 Preheat oven to 400deg Arrange tortillas

on 2 baking sheets and toast in oven until crisp about 5 minutes Remove from baking sheets

2 Lightly spray baking sheets with nonstick cooking spray Spread beans and onion on one and zucchini and jalapentildeos on the other Lightly coat vegetables with cooking spray season with the black pepper and roast until golden 12 to 15 minutes

3 Transfer half the beans and onion to a bowl with the water and mash beans with the back of a fork until smooth (Add more water to reach desired consistency if necessary) Spread mixture onto tortillas

4 Toss remaining beans and onion with zucchini jalapentildeos and corn and divide among tortillas

5 Top each tostada with tomatoes cilantro cheese scallions and avocado Serve with lime wedges if desired

Yield 4 servings

Nutrition Facts Calories 434 Fat 14g

Saturated Fat 3g Cholesterol 0

Sodium 446mg Carbohydrates 61g

Fiber 10g Protein 16g

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp25

Thanks for Voting Us Best of Omahatrade

84th and 1st St Downtown Papillion

402-331-9136

18 flavorsBaked daily Birthdays Weddings GraduationsOn-site party room

buy one get one

FREEExpires March 31 2015

HoursMonday-Saturday raquo11am-8pm

Located at Midlands Placeoff 84th Street and Highway 370

Maybe a Cupcake Will Help

wwwdingmanscom

4025583500Corner of

50th amp SouthSaddlecreek

402-502-8757Southwest corner

of 144th amp Industrial Rd

4025025511Southwestcorner of

120th amp Maple

4029339400Corner of

Washington amp Lincoln in Papillion

ldquoWersquod Rather Be The Best Than Apologize for Anything Lessrdquo

1st place

10 YEARS in a row

We are grateful for your business and Best of Omahatrade

votes for best Auto Body Repair

Spring Cleaning St Patrickrsquos Way

while most are eager for the weather to warm up in time for St Patrickrsquos Day (and the green beer sure)

Irsquom more into the holidayrsquos theme of ridding the country of evils Itrsquos time to purge yrsquoall

Irsquove been hibernating for six months under a blanket in front of the fireplace All I see here is an intense accumulation of clutter tucked in the corners out of my usual visual paths as I traverse my house

I finally get up and start the purge ldquoWhorsquos beach towel is thisrdquo ldquoI think Bobby left it here when we had that

slip-n-slide partyrdquo one of the kids says to me while walking out of their scarf gloves hat sweatshirt and shoes which leaves a trail marking my imminent demise from slips and falls (If I fall and am lying there unconscious interrogate my kids first)

ldquoThe slip-n-slide party That was five years agordquo I respond

ldquoYeah I think Bobby moved to Alaskardquo comes the retort which was both informative and confirmation that we had a right to be embarrassed

ldquoWell he doesnrsquot need this beach towel anymorerdquo Once the snow melts the purge involves three or four trips to Goodwill

Itrsquos funny that when yoursquore trapped in your house long enough due to subzero temperatures you start looking at the walls a little differently ldquoIs it me or is our kitchen less sage green and more My Little Pony Minty Greenrdquo I ask my husband

Before he can assure me the pastel shade of green is fine Irsquom off getting paint You canrsquot go wrong with a color called ldquoChocolaterdquo for the kitchen right

My family isnrsquot very supportive of my winter stir-crazy hobby of purging This year for Christmas the kids asked Santa for locks on their doors in an effort to protect their belongings from Momrsquos annual campaign

Itrsquos inevitable that about five years after I give something away one of my kids wants to know where it went Irsquom sorry your 2005 Lego set is gone My bare feet just couldnrsquot take it anymore

Just as St Patrick rid Ireland of all the snakes Irsquove secretly celebrated my own sainthood as Irsquove shooed all of my clutter away

Oh but then you realize that even saints canrsquot always win the clutter battle The cat barfs up a hairball My son walks by and touts ldquoIf only we still had Bobbyrsquos beach towel to clean this uprdquoemsp

26emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Leslie Murrell mom on the rocks

Boat PoseSanskrit name Paripurna Navasana(par-ee-POOR-nah nah-VAHS-anna)

the Boat Pose strengthens the hip flexors spine and the abdomen This pose helps to relieve stress improves digestion and stimulates the kidneys

intestines and thyroidemsp

BEGINNERS TIPPlace a strap around the ball of both feet Hold on to the

strap with straight arms

1 Sit on the floor with your legs straight in front of you Place your hands behind your hip and press into the ground fingers face- forward

2 Lift up through the sternum and slightly lean back until the weight is distributed to the top of your sitting bones and tailbone

3 Bend the knees and lift the feet off the floor

4 Lengthen the tailbone by pressing it into the floor and lift the pubis towards the naval

5 Slowly straighten your legs until your feet reach above eye level and spread the toes

6 Stretch the arms alongside the legs and reach out through the fingers

7 Breathe deeply for 15-30 seconds

8 Exhale and lower the legs to the floor

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp27

by Rachel Joy photography by Bill SitzmannfitnessWe are

the most experienced full-service family owned real estate company in America

npdodgecom

FOR THE KIDS

BAM ITrsquoS A PICTURE BOOK THE ART BEHIND GRAPHIC NOVELSTHROUGH MARCH 29 2015 JOSLYN ART MUSEUM ndash

2200 DODGE ST Popular among young readers

graphic novels are known for their comic

format They are generally described as

ldquosequential artrdquo where a series of illustrations

tell the story but unlike newspaper comics

they are the length of a novel and include

narrative development This exhibition features

the work of Jarrett J Krosoczka Mark Crilley

Matt Holm Raina Telgemeier and Lincoln

Peirce Tuesday - Wednesday amp Friday - Sunday

10am- 4pm Thursday 10am- 8pm Free

admission 402-342-3300

- JOSLYNORG

ONCE UPON A FARM EXHIBITTHROUGH APRIL 12 OMAHA CHILDRENrsquoS MUSEUMmdash500

S 20TH ST Explore the world of agriculture and

learn where your food comes from with the help

of interactive exhibit components like a center

pivot amp planting station dairy cows pedal track

maze and more Tuesday through Friday 10am ndash

4pm Saturday 9am ndash 5pm Sunday 1pm ndash 5 pm

Admission $2 plus regular admission Free for

members 402-342-6164

- OCMORG

MERMAID MINIONS amp DRAGONSMARCH 22 Holland Performing Arts

Centermdash1200 Douglas St Your favorite music

from How to Train Your Dragon Despicable Me

The Little Mermaid and other family movie hits

Brought to life through thrilling performances of

song dance and spectacle 2pm

Admission $15

- OMAHASYMPHONYORG

FOR THE FAMILY

NATURE CONNECTS 2THROUGH APRIL 26 LAURITZEN GARDENSmdash100

BANCROFT ST View 27 new sculptures each

inspired by the natural world made entirely of

300000 Legoreg bricks Make your own Lego

brick creations in the Legobrickyard and enjoy

a variety of Lego-inspired events throughout

the duration of the exhibit 9am ndash 5pm

Admission $10 adults$5 children six to 12 Free

for children under six and for garden members

402-346-4003

- LAURITZENGARDENSORG

TECH CITYTHROUGH MAY 10 STRATEGIC AIR amp SPACE MUSEUMmdash

ASHLAND NE This travelling engineering exhibit

is a great way to inspire learning and interest

in careers that focus on science technology

engineering and mathematics (STEM) The

Tech City exhibit is designed with interactive

learning that will appeal to visitors of all ages

9am - 5pm Free with regular admission $12

adult $6 youth children under 3 are free

402-944-3100

- SASMUSEUMCOM

ZEN TIES

THROUGH MARCH 8 THE ROSE THEATERmdash2001

FARNAM ST A gentle tale about patience and

compassion Zen Ties will make you remember

how much wisdom can come of simple

mindfulness Friday Saturday and Sunday

Members Four free admissions Non-member

admission $18 402-345-4949

- ROSETHEATERORG

FOR MOM amp DAD

AMERICAN MODERNS FROM OrsquoKEEFFE TO ROCKWELLTHROUGH MAY 17 JOSLYN ART MUSEUMmdash2200

DODGE ST The United States emerged as an

international power while also experiencing

two world wars and the Great Depression

New technologies changed all aspects of

life while the art world witnessed dramatic

transformations of its own This exhibition

explores the ways American artists including

Georgia OrsquoKeeffe Marsden Hartley Stuart

Davis Rockwell Kent and Norman Rockwell

engaged the modern world This exhibition

will have a ticket fee Free for members youth

ages 17 and younger amp college students with ID

402-342-3300

-JOSLYNORG

KATHARINE HEPBURN DRESSED FOR STAGE AND SCREENFEBRUARY 7-APRIL 26 DURHAM MUSEUMmdash801 S

10TH ST This exhibition from the Kent State

University Museum features more than 35

costumes worn in 21 films and six stage

productions as well as other personal items

spanning Hepburnrsquos illustrious career Come see

how this true icon of American culture came

to epitomize the modern woman of the 20th

century Children $6 Adults $9 402-444-5071

- DURHAMMUSEUMORG

COMPAGNIE KAumlFIGMARCH 18 HOLLAND CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST

Brazilian dance company Compagnie Kaumlfig

brings a high-energy performance style

combining their hip-hop foundation with martial

arts and circus elements 730pm $1350 to

$2625 402-345-0202

- OMAHAPERFORMINGARTSORG

Tech CityBam Itrsquos a Picture Book American Moderns

28emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

Calendar of Events

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp29

Erin Cox Event Director

402-884-2038 | erinomahamagazinecom

EVENTS by OMAHA MAGAZINE

Events by Omaha Magazine is a full-service event production company specializing in trade shows corporate events product launches and social gatherings From concept to delivery our goal is to provide an exceptional event experience for the host and their guests

Your Vision Our Innovation Event Solutions

GET A JUMP ON SUMMER

YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA wwwmetroymcaorg

Join us March 21 2015 for our Open House at any YMCA of Greater Omaha location The YMCA is your place for camp this summer bull Weekly themed preschool morning camps (3-5 years) and summer day camp (4-12 years - varies by location)

bull Mini special interest camps

bull Premier camps and Camp Platte

bull Counselors-in-Training program for teens

REGISTER FOR

CAMP AT OUR OPEN

HOUSE 3-21-15

AND PAY NO CAMP

REGISTRATION FEES

i never had a pet as a childOkay so I did at the age of 9 or so have

an ill-fated and short-lived guardianship of a turtle whose name Irsquove long forgotten but Irsquove never been a pet person

My mother abhorred the idea of anything furry dwelling in her home and I was pretty much fine with that The feeling carried over into adulthood and my three now-grown children probably felt super-lucky just to have had the brief company of a single pet a (clean and non-slobbering) feline named Scribbles

Viral videos portraying cats and dogs doing whatever it is that cats and dogs do have never appeared on any of my playlists And to be frank people who describe their little quadruped cuties as their ldquochildrenrdquohellipwell kinda creep me out I have no innate aversion to cats even though I take them to be whiskered sociopaths of evil intent but I have never been at all comfortable around dogs of any make or model

Before the hate mail begins please allow me at least a shot at redemption

My grandsons Barrett and Easton are growing up in a home where the company of canines is prized Their collie Summer recently ascended to that great dog pound in the sky and after an appropriate period of mourning has been replaced by a border collie pup carrying an equally seasonal name of Winter

Itrsquos an understatement to say that I never hit it off with Summer Perhaps it didnrsquot help that she stained our Oriental rug as a pup not 10 seconds into her very first visit to our home My son Eric entered with Summer while explaining that all would be well in that the creature was doing a smash-up job when it came to taking care of business but it was too late The little thing bounded (Is that what dogs do They ldquoboundrdquo) directly to the rug lifted one leg andhellipyou know the rest

I have promised to be different with Winter My kids already know that I am neurotic but I donrsquot

want Easton and Barrett to grow up thinking that their granddad is some kind of loathsome monster I am going to do my best to get to know Winter and not be such a basket case

Not surprisingly my first encounter with Winter was shall we say trying ldquoHersquos

just young and excitablerdquo I was told as the dog tried to climb up my leg Yeah tell that to my now urine-stained

shoes (suede no less) and newish sweater scarred by Winterrsquos talons or toes or paws or whatever it is theyrsquore called

But it is with a certain sense of self-satisfaction that I can report that I kept my cool Now the notion of ldquocoolrdquo is subjective My immediate knee-jerk reaction was admittedly to jerk my knee in revulsion but I collected myself as quickly as possible and

tried my best to not make an international incident of the affair

I really need to up my game in being the grandpa that I hope to

be but boy do I have my work cut out for meemsp

Canine Calamity A Plan to Fake it Until I Make it

30emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

the grandpa chroniclesby David Williams

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp31

Did you know90 of brain development

happens by age 5Discover Nebraska Childrenrsquos Home Societyrsquos

accredited high-quality early childhood education programs with low child-to-staff ratios at two locations

4939 S 118th St in Omaha (402) 898-7760 for children 18 months through Pre-K

and 3549 Fontenelle Blvd in Omaha (402) 898-7768 for children 6 weeks through Pre-K

Call today for a free no-obligation tour

4023450606 OMAHASYMPHONYORG

Sunday March 22 bull 200 PMHolland Center

Your favorite music from How to Train Your Dragon

The Little Mermaid Despicable Me and other

family movie hits Brought to life through exciting performances of song dance and spectacle

FEATURING

THE HEARTLAND YOUTH BALLET

REacuteSONANCE CHOIR

Tickets Adults amp Kids $12

FAMILY SERIES

CONCERT

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Omaha Magazine5921 S 118th CirOmaha NE 68137

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

Page 23: March 2015 HerFamily

Bean amp Cheese Tostadas

this yummy tostada recipe makes a satisfying healthy lunch or dinner Black beans zucchini corn and cherry tomatoes make this colorful vegetarian

dish delicious and nutritious emsp

Find more great recipes at HealthyKohlsKidscom The Healthy Kohlrsquos Kids program is a partnership between Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center and Kohlrsquos Department Stores to educate children and parents about healthy nutrition and fitness

24emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

sponsored content by Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center food

ingredientsbull 8 corn

tortillas (6-inch diameter)

bull 1 can (14 oz) black beans rinsed and drained

bull 1 small white onion finely chopped

bull 2 medium zucchini cut into 14-inch pieces

bull 2 jalapentildeo peppers seeded and chopped

bull 12 Tbsp black pepper

bull 14 cup water

bull 12 cup cooked corn

bull 1 cup cherry tomatoes sliced

bull 12 cup chopped cilantro leaves

bull 1 12 oz grated reduced-fat white cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese (14 cup)

bull 4 scallions chopped

bull 1 small avocado pitted peeled and chopped

bull Lime wedges optional

preparation1 Preheat oven to 400deg Arrange tortillas

on 2 baking sheets and toast in oven until crisp about 5 minutes Remove from baking sheets

2 Lightly spray baking sheets with nonstick cooking spray Spread beans and onion on one and zucchini and jalapentildeos on the other Lightly coat vegetables with cooking spray season with the black pepper and roast until golden 12 to 15 minutes

3 Transfer half the beans and onion to a bowl with the water and mash beans with the back of a fork until smooth (Add more water to reach desired consistency if necessary) Spread mixture onto tortillas

4 Toss remaining beans and onion with zucchini jalapentildeos and corn and divide among tortillas

5 Top each tostada with tomatoes cilantro cheese scallions and avocado Serve with lime wedges if desired

Yield 4 servings

Nutrition Facts Calories 434 Fat 14g

Saturated Fat 3g Cholesterol 0

Sodium 446mg Carbohydrates 61g

Fiber 10g Protein 16g

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp25

Thanks for Voting Us Best of Omahatrade

84th and 1st St Downtown Papillion

402-331-9136

18 flavorsBaked daily Birthdays Weddings GraduationsOn-site party room

buy one get one

FREEExpires March 31 2015

HoursMonday-Saturday raquo11am-8pm

Located at Midlands Placeoff 84th Street and Highway 370

Maybe a Cupcake Will Help

wwwdingmanscom

4025583500Corner of

50th amp SouthSaddlecreek

402-502-8757Southwest corner

of 144th amp Industrial Rd

4025025511Southwestcorner of

120th amp Maple

4029339400Corner of

Washington amp Lincoln in Papillion

ldquoWersquod Rather Be The Best Than Apologize for Anything Lessrdquo

1st place

10 YEARS in a row

We are grateful for your business and Best of Omahatrade

votes for best Auto Body Repair

Spring Cleaning St Patrickrsquos Way

while most are eager for the weather to warm up in time for St Patrickrsquos Day (and the green beer sure)

Irsquom more into the holidayrsquos theme of ridding the country of evils Itrsquos time to purge yrsquoall

Irsquove been hibernating for six months under a blanket in front of the fireplace All I see here is an intense accumulation of clutter tucked in the corners out of my usual visual paths as I traverse my house

I finally get up and start the purge ldquoWhorsquos beach towel is thisrdquo ldquoI think Bobby left it here when we had that

slip-n-slide partyrdquo one of the kids says to me while walking out of their scarf gloves hat sweatshirt and shoes which leaves a trail marking my imminent demise from slips and falls (If I fall and am lying there unconscious interrogate my kids first)

ldquoThe slip-n-slide party That was five years agordquo I respond

ldquoYeah I think Bobby moved to Alaskardquo comes the retort which was both informative and confirmation that we had a right to be embarrassed

ldquoWell he doesnrsquot need this beach towel anymorerdquo Once the snow melts the purge involves three or four trips to Goodwill

Itrsquos funny that when yoursquore trapped in your house long enough due to subzero temperatures you start looking at the walls a little differently ldquoIs it me or is our kitchen less sage green and more My Little Pony Minty Greenrdquo I ask my husband

Before he can assure me the pastel shade of green is fine Irsquom off getting paint You canrsquot go wrong with a color called ldquoChocolaterdquo for the kitchen right

My family isnrsquot very supportive of my winter stir-crazy hobby of purging This year for Christmas the kids asked Santa for locks on their doors in an effort to protect their belongings from Momrsquos annual campaign

Itrsquos inevitable that about five years after I give something away one of my kids wants to know where it went Irsquom sorry your 2005 Lego set is gone My bare feet just couldnrsquot take it anymore

Just as St Patrick rid Ireland of all the snakes Irsquove secretly celebrated my own sainthood as Irsquove shooed all of my clutter away

Oh but then you realize that even saints canrsquot always win the clutter battle The cat barfs up a hairball My son walks by and touts ldquoIf only we still had Bobbyrsquos beach towel to clean this uprdquoemsp

26emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Leslie Murrell mom on the rocks

Boat PoseSanskrit name Paripurna Navasana(par-ee-POOR-nah nah-VAHS-anna)

the Boat Pose strengthens the hip flexors spine and the abdomen This pose helps to relieve stress improves digestion and stimulates the kidneys

intestines and thyroidemsp

BEGINNERS TIPPlace a strap around the ball of both feet Hold on to the

strap with straight arms

1 Sit on the floor with your legs straight in front of you Place your hands behind your hip and press into the ground fingers face- forward

2 Lift up through the sternum and slightly lean back until the weight is distributed to the top of your sitting bones and tailbone

3 Bend the knees and lift the feet off the floor

4 Lengthen the tailbone by pressing it into the floor and lift the pubis towards the naval

5 Slowly straighten your legs until your feet reach above eye level and spread the toes

6 Stretch the arms alongside the legs and reach out through the fingers

7 Breathe deeply for 15-30 seconds

8 Exhale and lower the legs to the floor

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp27

by Rachel Joy photography by Bill SitzmannfitnessWe are

the most experienced full-service family owned real estate company in America

npdodgecom

FOR THE KIDS

BAM ITrsquoS A PICTURE BOOK THE ART BEHIND GRAPHIC NOVELSTHROUGH MARCH 29 2015 JOSLYN ART MUSEUM ndash

2200 DODGE ST Popular among young readers

graphic novels are known for their comic

format They are generally described as

ldquosequential artrdquo where a series of illustrations

tell the story but unlike newspaper comics

they are the length of a novel and include

narrative development This exhibition features

the work of Jarrett J Krosoczka Mark Crilley

Matt Holm Raina Telgemeier and Lincoln

Peirce Tuesday - Wednesday amp Friday - Sunday

10am- 4pm Thursday 10am- 8pm Free

admission 402-342-3300

- JOSLYNORG

ONCE UPON A FARM EXHIBITTHROUGH APRIL 12 OMAHA CHILDRENrsquoS MUSEUMmdash500

S 20TH ST Explore the world of agriculture and

learn where your food comes from with the help

of interactive exhibit components like a center

pivot amp planting station dairy cows pedal track

maze and more Tuesday through Friday 10am ndash

4pm Saturday 9am ndash 5pm Sunday 1pm ndash 5 pm

Admission $2 plus regular admission Free for

members 402-342-6164

- OCMORG

MERMAID MINIONS amp DRAGONSMARCH 22 Holland Performing Arts

Centermdash1200 Douglas St Your favorite music

from How to Train Your Dragon Despicable Me

The Little Mermaid and other family movie hits

Brought to life through thrilling performances of

song dance and spectacle 2pm

Admission $15

- OMAHASYMPHONYORG

FOR THE FAMILY

NATURE CONNECTS 2THROUGH APRIL 26 LAURITZEN GARDENSmdash100

BANCROFT ST View 27 new sculptures each

inspired by the natural world made entirely of

300000 Legoreg bricks Make your own Lego

brick creations in the Legobrickyard and enjoy

a variety of Lego-inspired events throughout

the duration of the exhibit 9am ndash 5pm

Admission $10 adults$5 children six to 12 Free

for children under six and for garden members

402-346-4003

- LAURITZENGARDENSORG

TECH CITYTHROUGH MAY 10 STRATEGIC AIR amp SPACE MUSEUMmdash

ASHLAND NE This travelling engineering exhibit

is a great way to inspire learning and interest

in careers that focus on science technology

engineering and mathematics (STEM) The

Tech City exhibit is designed with interactive

learning that will appeal to visitors of all ages

9am - 5pm Free with regular admission $12

adult $6 youth children under 3 are free

402-944-3100

- SASMUSEUMCOM

ZEN TIES

THROUGH MARCH 8 THE ROSE THEATERmdash2001

FARNAM ST A gentle tale about patience and

compassion Zen Ties will make you remember

how much wisdom can come of simple

mindfulness Friday Saturday and Sunday

Members Four free admissions Non-member

admission $18 402-345-4949

- ROSETHEATERORG

FOR MOM amp DAD

AMERICAN MODERNS FROM OrsquoKEEFFE TO ROCKWELLTHROUGH MAY 17 JOSLYN ART MUSEUMmdash2200

DODGE ST The United States emerged as an

international power while also experiencing

two world wars and the Great Depression

New technologies changed all aspects of

life while the art world witnessed dramatic

transformations of its own This exhibition

explores the ways American artists including

Georgia OrsquoKeeffe Marsden Hartley Stuart

Davis Rockwell Kent and Norman Rockwell

engaged the modern world This exhibition

will have a ticket fee Free for members youth

ages 17 and younger amp college students with ID

402-342-3300

-JOSLYNORG

KATHARINE HEPBURN DRESSED FOR STAGE AND SCREENFEBRUARY 7-APRIL 26 DURHAM MUSEUMmdash801 S

10TH ST This exhibition from the Kent State

University Museum features more than 35

costumes worn in 21 films and six stage

productions as well as other personal items

spanning Hepburnrsquos illustrious career Come see

how this true icon of American culture came

to epitomize the modern woman of the 20th

century Children $6 Adults $9 402-444-5071

- DURHAMMUSEUMORG

COMPAGNIE KAumlFIGMARCH 18 HOLLAND CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST

Brazilian dance company Compagnie Kaumlfig

brings a high-energy performance style

combining their hip-hop foundation with martial

arts and circus elements 730pm $1350 to

$2625 402-345-0202

- OMAHAPERFORMINGARTSORG

Tech CityBam Itrsquos a Picture Book American Moderns

28emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

Calendar of Events

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp29

Erin Cox Event Director

402-884-2038 | erinomahamagazinecom

EVENTS by OMAHA MAGAZINE

Events by Omaha Magazine is a full-service event production company specializing in trade shows corporate events product launches and social gatherings From concept to delivery our goal is to provide an exceptional event experience for the host and their guests

Your Vision Our Innovation Event Solutions

GET A JUMP ON SUMMER

YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA wwwmetroymcaorg

Join us March 21 2015 for our Open House at any YMCA of Greater Omaha location The YMCA is your place for camp this summer bull Weekly themed preschool morning camps (3-5 years) and summer day camp (4-12 years - varies by location)

bull Mini special interest camps

bull Premier camps and Camp Platte

bull Counselors-in-Training program for teens

REGISTER FOR

CAMP AT OUR OPEN

HOUSE 3-21-15

AND PAY NO CAMP

REGISTRATION FEES

i never had a pet as a childOkay so I did at the age of 9 or so have

an ill-fated and short-lived guardianship of a turtle whose name Irsquove long forgotten but Irsquove never been a pet person

My mother abhorred the idea of anything furry dwelling in her home and I was pretty much fine with that The feeling carried over into adulthood and my three now-grown children probably felt super-lucky just to have had the brief company of a single pet a (clean and non-slobbering) feline named Scribbles

Viral videos portraying cats and dogs doing whatever it is that cats and dogs do have never appeared on any of my playlists And to be frank people who describe their little quadruped cuties as their ldquochildrenrdquohellipwell kinda creep me out I have no innate aversion to cats even though I take them to be whiskered sociopaths of evil intent but I have never been at all comfortable around dogs of any make or model

Before the hate mail begins please allow me at least a shot at redemption

My grandsons Barrett and Easton are growing up in a home where the company of canines is prized Their collie Summer recently ascended to that great dog pound in the sky and after an appropriate period of mourning has been replaced by a border collie pup carrying an equally seasonal name of Winter

Itrsquos an understatement to say that I never hit it off with Summer Perhaps it didnrsquot help that she stained our Oriental rug as a pup not 10 seconds into her very first visit to our home My son Eric entered with Summer while explaining that all would be well in that the creature was doing a smash-up job when it came to taking care of business but it was too late The little thing bounded (Is that what dogs do They ldquoboundrdquo) directly to the rug lifted one leg andhellipyou know the rest

I have promised to be different with Winter My kids already know that I am neurotic but I donrsquot

want Easton and Barrett to grow up thinking that their granddad is some kind of loathsome monster I am going to do my best to get to know Winter and not be such a basket case

Not surprisingly my first encounter with Winter was shall we say trying ldquoHersquos

just young and excitablerdquo I was told as the dog tried to climb up my leg Yeah tell that to my now urine-stained

shoes (suede no less) and newish sweater scarred by Winterrsquos talons or toes or paws or whatever it is theyrsquore called

But it is with a certain sense of self-satisfaction that I can report that I kept my cool Now the notion of ldquocoolrdquo is subjective My immediate knee-jerk reaction was admittedly to jerk my knee in revulsion but I collected myself as quickly as possible and

tried my best to not make an international incident of the affair

I really need to up my game in being the grandpa that I hope to

be but boy do I have my work cut out for meemsp

Canine Calamity A Plan to Fake it Until I Make it

30emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

the grandpa chroniclesby David Williams

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp31

Did you know90 of brain development

happens by age 5Discover Nebraska Childrenrsquos Home Societyrsquos

accredited high-quality early childhood education programs with low child-to-staff ratios at two locations

4939 S 118th St in Omaha (402) 898-7760 for children 18 months through Pre-K

and 3549 Fontenelle Blvd in Omaha (402) 898-7768 for children 6 weeks through Pre-K

Call today for a free no-obligation tour

4023450606 OMAHASYMPHONYORG

Sunday March 22 bull 200 PMHolland Center

Your favorite music from How to Train Your Dragon

The Little Mermaid Despicable Me and other

family movie hits Brought to life through exciting performances of song dance and spectacle

FEATURING

THE HEARTLAND YOUTH BALLET

REacuteSONANCE CHOIR

Tickets Adults amp Kids $12

FAMILY SERIES

CONCERT

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Omaha Magazine5921 S 118th CirOmaha NE 68137

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

Page 24: March 2015 HerFamily

ingredientsbull 8 corn

tortillas (6-inch diameter)

bull 1 can (14 oz) black beans rinsed and drained

bull 1 small white onion finely chopped

bull 2 medium zucchini cut into 14-inch pieces

bull 2 jalapentildeo peppers seeded and chopped

bull 12 Tbsp black pepper

bull 14 cup water

bull 12 cup cooked corn

bull 1 cup cherry tomatoes sliced

bull 12 cup chopped cilantro leaves

bull 1 12 oz grated reduced-fat white cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese (14 cup)

bull 4 scallions chopped

bull 1 small avocado pitted peeled and chopped

bull Lime wedges optional

preparation1 Preheat oven to 400deg Arrange tortillas

on 2 baking sheets and toast in oven until crisp about 5 minutes Remove from baking sheets

2 Lightly spray baking sheets with nonstick cooking spray Spread beans and onion on one and zucchini and jalapentildeos on the other Lightly coat vegetables with cooking spray season with the black pepper and roast until golden 12 to 15 minutes

3 Transfer half the beans and onion to a bowl with the water and mash beans with the back of a fork until smooth (Add more water to reach desired consistency if necessary) Spread mixture onto tortillas

4 Toss remaining beans and onion with zucchini jalapentildeos and corn and divide among tortillas

5 Top each tostada with tomatoes cilantro cheese scallions and avocado Serve with lime wedges if desired

Yield 4 servings

Nutrition Facts Calories 434 Fat 14g

Saturated Fat 3g Cholesterol 0

Sodium 446mg Carbohydrates 61g

Fiber 10g Protein 16g

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp25

Thanks for Voting Us Best of Omahatrade

84th and 1st St Downtown Papillion

402-331-9136

18 flavorsBaked daily Birthdays Weddings GraduationsOn-site party room

buy one get one

FREEExpires March 31 2015

HoursMonday-Saturday raquo11am-8pm

Located at Midlands Placeoff 84th Street and Highway 370

Maybe a Cupcake Will Help

wwwdingmanscom

4025583500Corner of

50th amp SouthSaddlecreek

402-502-8757Southwest corner

of 144th amp Industrial Rd

4025025511Southwestcorner of

120th amp Maple

4029339400Corner of

Washington amp Lincoln in Papillion

ldquoWersquod Rather Be The Best Than Apologize for Anything Lessrdquo

1st place

10 YEARS in a row

We are grateful for your business and Best of Omahatrade

votes for best Auto Body Repair

Spring Cleaning St Patrickrsquos Way

while most are eager for the weather to warm up in time for St Patrickrsquos Day (and the green beer sure)

Irsquom more into the holidayrsquos theme of ridding the country of evils Itrsquos time to purge yrsquoall

Irsquove been hibernating for six months under a blanket in front of the fireplace All I see here is an intense accumulation of clutter tucked in the corners out of my usual visual paths as I traverse my house

I finally get up and start the purge ldquoWhorsquos beach towel is thisrdquo ldquoI think Bobby left it here when we had that

slip-n-slide partyrdquo one of the kids says to me while walking out of their scarf gloves hat sweatshirt and shoes which leaves a trail marking my imminent demise from slips and falls (If I fall and am lying there unconscious interrogate my kids first)

ldquoThe slip-n-slide party That was five years agordquo I respond

ldquoYeah I think Bobby moved to Alaskardquo comes the retort which was both informative and confirmation that we had a right to be embarrassed

ldquoWell he doesnrsquot need this beach towel anymorerdquo Once the snow melts the purge involves three or four trips to Goodwill

Itrsquos funny that when yoursquore trapped in your house long enough due to subzero temperatures you start looking at the walls a little differently ldquoIs it me or is our kitchen less sage green and more My Little Pony Minty Greenrdquo I ask my husband

Before he can assure me the pastel shade of green is fine Irsquom off getting paint You canrsquot go wrong with a color called ldquoChocolaterdquo for the kitchen right

My family isnrsquot very supportive of my winter stir-crazy hobby of purging This year for Christmas the kids asked Santa for locks on their doors in an effort to protect their belongings from Momrsquos annual campaign

Itrsquos inevitable that about five years after I give something away one of my kids wants to know where it went Irsquom sorry your 2005 Lego set is gone My bare feet just couldnrsquot take it anymore

Just as St Patrick rid Ireland of all the snakes Irsquove secretly celebrated my own sainthood as Irsquove shooed all of my clutter away

Oh but then you realize that even saints canrsquot always win the clutter battle The cat barfs up a hairball My son walks by and touts ldquoIf only we still had Bobbyrsquos beach towel to clean this uprdquoemsp

26emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Leslie Murrell mom on the rocks

Boat PoseSanskrit name Paripurna Navasana(par-ee-POOR-nah nah-VAHS-anna)

the Boat Pose strengthens the hip flexors spine and the abdomen This pose helps to relieve stress improves digestion and stimulates the kidneys

intestines and thyroidemsp

BEGINNERS TIPPlace a strap around the ball of both feet Hold on to the

strap with straight arms

1 Sit on the floor with your legs straight in front of you Place your hands behind your hip and press into the ground fingers face- forward

2 Lift up through the sternum and slightly lean back until the weight is distributed to the top of your sitting bones and tailbone

3 Bend the knees and lift the feet off the floor

4 Lengthen the tailbone by pressing it into the floor and lift the pubis towards the naval

5 Slowly straighten your legs until your feet reach above eye level and spread the toes

6 Stretch the arms alongside the legs and reach out through the fingers

7 Breathe deeply for 15-30 seconds

8 Exhale and lower the legs to the floor

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp27

by Rachel Joy photography by Bill SitzmannfitnessWe are

the most experienced full-service family owned real estate company in America

npdodgecom

FOR THE KIDS

BAM ITrsquoS A PICTURE BOOK THE ART BEHIND GRAPHIC NOVELSTHROUGH MARCH 29 2015 JOSLYN ART MUSEUM ndash

2200 DODGE ST Popular among young readers

graphic novels are known for their comic

format They are generally described as

ldquosequential artrdquo where a series of illustrations

tell the story but unlike newspaper comics

they are the length of a novel and include

narrative development This exhibition features

the work of Jarrett J Krosoczka Mark Crilley

Matt Holm Raina Telgemeier and Lincoln

Peirce Tuesday - Wednesday amp Friday - Sunday

10am- 4pm Thursday 10am- 8pm Free

admission 402-342-3300

- JOSLYNORG

ONCE UPON A FARM EXHIBITTHROUGH APRIL 12 OMAHA CHILDRENrsquoS MUSEUMmdash500

S 20TH ST Explore the world of agriculture and

learn where your food comes from with the help

of interactive exhibit components like a center

pivot amp planting station dairy cows pedal track

maze and more Tuesday through Friday 10am ndash

4pm Saturday 9am ndash 5pm Sunday 1pm ndash 5 pm

Admission $2 plus regular admission Free for

members 402-342-6164

- OCMORG

MERMAID MINIONS amp DRAGONSMARCH 22 Holland Performing Arts

Centermdash1200 Douglas St Your favorite music

from How to Train Your Dragon Despicable Me

The Little Mermaid and other family movie hits

Brought to life through thrilling performances of

song dance and spectacle 2pm

Admission $15

- OMAHASYMPHONYORG

FOR THE FAMILY

NATURE CONNECTS 2THROUGH APRIL 26 LAURITZEN GARDENSmdash100

BANCROFT ST View 27 new sculptures each

inspired by the natural world made entirely of

300000 Legoreg bricks Make your own Lego

brick creations in the Legobrickyard and enjoy

a variety of Lego-inspired events throughout

the duration of the exhibit 9am ndash 5pm

Admission $10 adults$5 children six to 12 Free

for children under six and for garden members

402-346-4003

- LAURITZENGARDENSORG

TECH CITYTHROUGH MAY 10 STRATEGIC AIR amp SPACE MUSEUMmdash

ASHLAND NE This travelling engineering exhibit

is a great way to inspire learning and interest

in careers that focus on science technology

engineering and mathematics (STEM) The

Tech City exhibit is designed with interactive

learning that will appeal to visitors of all ages

9am - 5pm Free with regular admission $12

adult $6 youth children under 3 are free

402-944-3100

- SASMUSEUMCOM

ZEN TIES

THROUGH MARCH 8 THE ROSE THEATERmdash2001

FARNAM ST A gentle tale about patience and

compassion Zen Ties will make you remember

how much wisdom can come of simple

mindfulness Friday Saturday and Sunday

Members Four free admissions Non-member

admission $18 402-345-4949

- ROSETHEATERORG

FOR MOM amp DAD

AMERICAN MODERNS FROM OrsquoKEEFFE TO ROCKWELLTHROUGH MAY 17 JOSLYN ART MUSEUMmdash2200

DODGE ST The United States emerged as an

international power while also experiencing

two world wars and the Great Depression

New technologies changed all aspects of

life while the art world witnessed dramatic

transformations of its own This exhibition

explores the ways American artists including

Georgia OrsquoKeeffe Marsden Hartley Stuart

Davis Rockwell Kent and Norman Rockwell

engaged the modern world This exhibition

will have a ticket fee Free for members youth

ages 17 and younger amp college students with ID

402-342-3300

-JOSLYNORG

KATHARINE HEPBURN DRESSED FOR STAGE AND SCREENFEBRUARY 7-APRIL 26 DURHAM MUSEUMmdash801 S

10TH ST This exhibition from the Kent State

University Museum features more than 35

costumes worn in 21 films and six stage

productions as well as other personal items

spanning Hepburnrsquos illustrious career Come see

how this true icon of American culture came

to epitomize the modern woman of the 20th

century Children $6 Adults $9 402-444-5071

- DURHAMMUSEUMORG

COMPAGNIE KAumlFIGMARCH 18 HOLLAND CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST

Brazilian dance company Compagnie Kaumlfig

brings a high-energy performance style

combining their hip-hop foundation with martial

arts and circus elements 730pm $1350 to

$2625 402-345-0202

- OMAHAPERFORMINGARTSORG

Tech CityBam Itrsquos a Picture Book American Moderns

28emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

Calendar of Events

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp29

Erin Cox Event Director

402-884-2038 | erinomahamagazinecom

EVENTS by OMAHA MAGAZINE

Events by Omaha Magazine is a full-service event production company specializing in trade shows corporate events product launches and social gatherings From concept to delivery our goal is to provide an exceptional event experience for the host and their guests

Your Vision Our Innovation Event Solutions

GET A JUMP ON SUMMER

YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA wwwmetroymcaorg

Join us March 21 2015 for our Open House at any YMCA of Greater Omaha location The YMCA is your place for camp this summer bull Weekly themed preschool morning camps (3-5 years) and summer day camp (4-12 years - varies by location)

bull Mini special interest camps

bull Premier camps and Camp Platte

bull Counselors-in-Training program for teens

REGISTER FOR

CAMP AT OUR OPEN

HOUSE 3-21-15

AND PAY NO CAMP

REGISTRATION FEES

i never had a pet as a childOkay so I did at the age of 9 or so have

an ill-fated and short-lived guardianship of a turtle whose name Irsquove long forgotten but Irsquove never been a pet person

My mother abhorred the idea of anything furry dwelling in her home and I was pretty much fine with that The feeling carried over into adulthood and my three now-grown children probably felt super-lucky just to have had the brief company of a single pet a (clean and non-slobbering) feline named Scribbles

Viral videos portraying cats and dogs doing whatever it is that cats and dogs do have never appeared on any of my playlists And to be frank people who describe their little quadruped cuties as their ldquochildrenrdquohellipwell kinda creep me out I have no innate aversion to cats even though I take them to be whiskered sociopaths of evil intent but I have never been at all comfortable around dogs of any make or model

Before the hate mail begins please allow me at least a shot at redemption

My grandsons Barrett and Easton are growing up in a home where the company of canines is prized Their collie Summer recently ascended to that great dog pound in the sky and after an appropriate period of mourning has been replaced by a border collie pup carrying an equally seasonal name of Winter

Itrsquos an understatement to say that I never hit it off with Summer Perhaps it didnrsquot help that she stained our Oriental rug as a pup not 10 seconds into her very first visit to our home My son Eric entered with Summer while explaining that all would be well in that the creature was doing a smash-up job when it came to taking care of business but it was too late The little thing bounded (Is that what dogs do They ldquoboundrdquo) directly to the rug lifted one leg andhellipyou know the rest

I have promised to be different with Winter My kids already know that I am neurotic but I donrsquot

want Easton and Barrett to grow up thinking that their granddad is some kind of loathsome monster I am going to do my best to get to know Winter and not be such a basket case

Not surprisingly my first encounter with Winter was shall we say trying ldquoHersquos

just young and excitablerdquo I was told as the dog tried to climb up my leg Yeah tell that to my now urine-stained

shoes (suede no less) and newish sweater scarred by Winterrsquos talons or toes or paws or whatever it is theyrsquore called

But it is with a certain sense of self-satisfaction that I can report that I kept my cool Now the notion of ldquocoolrdquo is subjective My immediate knee-jerk reaction was admittedly to jerk my knee in revulsion but I collected myself as quickly as possible and

tried my best to not make an international incident of the affair

I really need to up my game in being the grandpa that I hope to

be but boy do I have my work cut out for meemsp

Canine Calamity A Plan to Fake it Until I Make it

30emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

the grandpa chroniclesby David Williams

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp31

Did you know90 of brain development

happens by age 5Discover Nebraska Childrenrsquos Home Societyrsquos

accredited high-quality early childhood education programs with low child-to-staff ratios at two locations

4939 S 118th St in Omaha (402) 898-7760 for children 18 months through Pre-K

and 3549 Fontenelle Blvd in Omaha (402) 898-7768 for children 6 weeks through Pre-K

Call today for a free no-obligation tour

4023450606 OMAHASYMPHONYORG

Sunday March 22 bull 200 PMHolland Center

Your favorite music from How to Train Your Dragon

The Little Mermaid Despicable Me and other

family movie hits Brought to life through exciting performances of song dance and spectacle

FEATURING

THE HEARTLAND YOUTH BALLET

REacuteSONANCE CHOIR

Tickets Adults amp Kids $12

FAMILY SERIES

CONCERT

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Omaha Magazine5921 S 118th CirOmaha NE 68137

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

Page 25: March 2015 HerFamily

Spring Cleaning St Patrickrsquos Way

while most are eager for the weather to warm up in time for St Patrickrsquos Day (and the green beer sure)

Irsquom more into the holidayrsquos theme of ridding the country of evils Itrsquos time to purge yrsquoall

Irsquove been hibernating for six months under a blanket in front of the fireplace All I see here is an intense accumulation of clutter tucked in the corners out of my usual visual paths as I traverse my house

I finally get up and start the purge ldquoWhorsquos beach towel is thisrdquo ldquoI think Bobby left it here when we had that

slip-n-slide partyrdquo one of the kids says to me while walking out of their scarf gloves hat sweatshirt and shoes which leaves a trail marking my imminent demise from slips and falls (If I fall and am lying there unconscious interrogate my kids first)

ldquoThe slip-n-slide party That was five years agordquo I respond

ldquoYeah I think Bobby moved to Alaskardquo comes the retort which was both informative and confirmation that we had a right to be embarrassed

ldquoWell he doesnrsquot need this beach towel anymorerdquo Once the snow melts the purge involves three or four trips to Goodwill

Itrsquos funny that when yoursquore trapped in your house long enough due to subzero temperatures you start looking at the walls a little differently ldquoIs it me or is our kitchen less sage green and more My Little Pony Minty Greenrdquo I ask my husband

Before he can assure me the pastel shade of green is fine Irsquom off getting paint You canrsquot go wrong with a color called ldquoChocolaterdquo for the kitchen right

My family isnrsquot very supportive of my winter stir-crazy hobby of purging This year for Christmas the kids asked Santa for locks on their doors in an effort to protect their belongings from Momrsquos annual campaign

Itrsquos inevitable that about five years after I give something away one of my kids wants to know where it went Irsquom sorry your 2005 Lego set is gone My bare feet just couldnrsquot take it anymore

Just as St Patrick rid Ireland of all the snakes Irsquove secretly celebrated my own sainthood as Irsquove shooed all of my clutter away

Oh but then you realize that even saints canrsquot always win the clutter battle The cat barfs up a hairball My son walks by and touts ldquoIf only we still had Bobbyrsquos beach towel to clean this uprdquoemsp

26emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Leslie Murrell mom on the rocks

Boat PoseSanskrit name Paripurna Navasana(par-ee-POOR-nah nah-VAHS-anna)

the Boat Pose strengthens the hip flexors spine and the abdomen This pose helps to relieve stress improves digestion and stimulates the kidneys

intestines and thyroidemsp

BEGINNERS TIPPlace a strap around the ball of both feet Hold on to the

strap with straight arms

1 Sit on the floor with your legs straight in front of you Place your hands behind your hip and press into the ground fingers face- forward

2 Lift up through the sternum and slightly lean back until the weight is distributed to the top of your sitting bones and tailbone

3 Bend the knees and lift the feet off the floor

4 Lengthen the tailbone by pressing it into the floor and lift the pubis towards the naval

5 Slowly straighten your legs until your feet reach above eye level and spread the toes

6 Stretch the arms alongside the legs and reach out through the fingers

7 Breathe deeply for 15-30 seconds

8 Exhale and lower the legs to the floor

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp27

by Rachel Joy photography by Bill SitzmannfitnessWe are

the most experienced full-service family owned real estate company in America

npdodgecom

FOR THE KIDS

BAM ITrsquoS A PICTURE BOOK THE ART BEHIND GRAPHIC NOVELSTHROUGH MARCH 29 2015 JOSLYN ART MUSEUM ndash

2200 DODGE ST Popular among young readers

graphic novels are known for their comic

format They are generally described as

ldquosequential artrdquo where a series of illustrations

tell the story but unlike newspaper comics

they are the length of a novel and include

narrative development This exhibition features

the work of Jarrett J Krosoczka Mark Crilley

Matt Holm Raina Telgemeier and Lincoln

Peirce Tuesday - Wednesday amp Friday - Sunday

10am- 4pm Thursday 10am- 8pm Free

admission 402-342-3300

- JOSLYNORG

ONCE UPON A FARM EXHIBITTHROUGH APRIL 12 OMAHA CHILDRENrsquoS MUSEUMmdash500

S 20TH ST Explore the world of agriculture and

learn where your food comes from with the help

of interactive exhibit components like a center

pivot amp planting station dairy cows pedal track

maze and more Tuesday through Friday 10am ndash

4pm Saturday 9am ndash 5pm Sunday 1pm ndash 5 pm

Admission $2 plus regular admission Free for

members 402-342-6164

- OCMORG

MERMAID MINIONS amp DRAGONSMARCH 22 Holland Performing Arts

Centermdash1200 Douglas St Your favorite music

from How to Train Your Dragon Despicable Me

The Little Mermaid and other family movie hits

Brought to life through thrilling performances of

song dance and spectacle 2pm

Admission $15

- OMAHASYMPHONYORG

FOR THE FAMILY

NATURE CONNECTS 2THROUGH APRIL 26 LAURITZEN GARDENSmdash100

BANCROFT ST View 27 new sculptures each

inspired by the natural world made entirely of

300000 Legoreg bricks Make your own Lego

brick creations in the Legobrickyard and enjoy

a variety of Lego-inspired events throughout

the duration of the exhibit 9am ndash 5pm

Admission $10 adults$5 children six to 12 Free

for children under six and for garden members

402-346-4003

- LAURITZENGARDENSORG

TECH CITYTHROUGH MAY 10 STRATEGIC AIR amp SPACE MUSEUMmdash

ASHLAND NE This travelling engineering exhibit

is a great way to inspire learning and interest

in careers that focus on science technology

engineering and mathematics (STEM) The

Tech City exhibit is designed with interactive

learning that will appeal to visitors of all ages

9am - 5pm Free with regular admission $12

adult $6 youth children under 3 are free

402-944-3100

- SASMUSEUMCOM

ZEN TIES

THROUGH MARCH 8 THE ROSE THEATERmdash2001

FARNAM ST A gentle tale about patience and

compassion Zen Ties will make you remember

how much wisdom can come of simple

mindfulness Friday Saturday and Sunday

Members Four free admissions Non-member

admission $18 402-345-4949

- ROSETHEATERORG

FOR MOM amp DAD

AMERICAN MODERNS FROM OrsquoKEEFFE TO ROCKWELLTHROUGH MAY 17 JOSLYN ART MUSEUMmdash2200

DODGE ST The United States emerged as an

international power while also experiencing

two world wars and the Great Depression

New technologies changed all aspects of

life while the art world witnessed dramatic

transformations of its own This exhibition

explores the ways American artists including

Georgia OrsquoKeeffe Marsden Hartley Stuart

Davis Rockwell Kent and Norman Rockwell

engaged the modern world This exhibition

will have a ticket fee Free for members youth

ages 17 and younger amp college students with ID

402-342-3300

-JOSLYNORG

KATHARINE HEPBURN DRESSED FOR STAGE AND SCREENFEBRUARY 7-APRIL 26 DURHAM MUSEUMmdash801 S

10TH ST This exhibition from the Kent State

University Museum features more than 35

costumes worn in 21 films and six stage

productions as well as other personal items

spanning Hepburnrsquos illustrious career Come see

how this true icon of American culture came

to epitomize the modern woman of the 20th

century Children $6 Adults $9 402-444-5071

- DURHAMMUSEUMORG

COMPAGNIE KAumlFIGMARCH 18 HOLLAND CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST

Brazilian dance company Compagnie Kaumlfig

brings a high-energy performance style

combining their hip-hop foundation with martial

arts and circus elements 730pm $1350 to

$2625 402-345-0202

- OMAHAPERFORMINGARTSORG

Tech CityBam Itrsquos a Picture Book American Moderns

28emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

Calendar of Events

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp29

Erin Cox Event Director

402-884-2038 | erinomahamagazinecom

EVENTS by OMAHA MAGAZINE

Events by Omaha Magazine is a full-service event production company specializing in trade shows corporate events product launches and social gatherings From concept to delivery our goal is to provide an exceptional event experience for the host and their guests

Your Vision Our Innovation Event Solutions

GET A JUMP ON SUMMER

YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA wwwmetroymcaorg

Join us March 21 2015 for our Open House at any YMCA of Greater Omaha location The YMCA is your place for camp this summer bull Weekly themed preschool morning camps (3-5 years) and summer day camp (4-12 years - varies by location)

bull Mini special interest camps

bull Premier camps and Camp Platte

bull Counselors-in-Training program for teens

REGISTER FOR

CAMP AT OUR OPEN

HOUSE 3-21-15

AND PAY NO CAMP

REGISTRATION FEES

i never had a pet as a childOkay so I did at the age of 9 or so have

an ill-fated and short-lived guardianship of a turtle whose name Irsquove long forgotten but Irsquove never been a pet person

My mother abhorred the idea of anything furry dwelling in her home and I was pretty much fine with that The feeling carried over into adulthood and my three now-grown children probably felt super-lucky just to have had the brief company of a single pet a (clean and non-slobbering) feline named Scribbles

Viral videos portraying cats and dogs doing whatever it is that cats and dogs do have never appeared on any of my playlists And to be frank people who describe their little quadruped cuties as their ldquochildrenrdquohellipwell kinda creep me out I have no innate aversion to cats even though I take them to be whiskered sociopaths of evil intent but I have never been at all comfortable around dogs of any make or model

Before the hate mail begins please allow me at least a shot at redemption

My grandsons Barrett and Easton are growing up in a home where the company of canines is prized Their collie Summer recently ascended to that great dog pound in the sky and after an appropriate period of mourning has been replaced by a border collie pup carrying an equally seasonal name of Winter

Itrsquos an understatement to say that I never hit it off with Summer Perhaps it didnrsquot help that she stained our Oriental rug as a pup not 10 seconds into her very first visit to our home My son Eric entered with Summer while explaining that all would be well in that the creature was doing a smash-up job when it came to taking care of business but it was too late The little thing bounded (Is that what dogs do They ldquoboundrdquo) directly to the rug lifted one leg andhellipyou know the rest

I have promised to be different with Winter My kids already know that I am neurotic but I donrsquot

want Easton and Barrett to grow up thinking that their granddad is some kind of loathsome monster I am going to do my best to get to know Winter and not be such a basket case

Not surprisingly my first encounter with Winter was shall we say trying ldquoHersquos

just young and excitablerdquo I was told as the dog tried to climb up my leg Yeah tell that to my now urine-stained

shoes (suede no less) and newish sweater scarred by Winterrsquos talons or toes or paws or whatever it is theyrsquore called

But it is with a certain sense of self-satisfaction that I can report that I kept my cool Now the notion of ldquocoolrdquo is subjective My immediate knee-jerk reaction was admittedly to jerk my knee in revulsion but I collected myself as quickly as possible and

tried my best to not make an international incident of the affair

I really need to up my game in being the grandpa that I hope to

be but boy do I have my work cut out for meemsp

Canine Calamity A Plan to Fake it Until I Make it

30emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

the grandpa chroniclesby David Williams

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp31

Did you know90 of brain development

happens by age 5Discover Nebraska Childrenrsquos Home Societyrsquos

accredited high-quality early childhood education programs with low child-to-staff ratios at two locations

4939 S 118th St in Omaha (402) 898-7760 for children 18 months through Pre-K

and 3549 Fontenelle Blvd in Omaha (402) 898-7768 for children 6 weeks through Pre-K

Call today for a free no-obligation tour

4023450606 OMAHASYMPHONYORG

Sunday March 22 bull 200 PMHolland Center

Your favorite music from How to Train Your Dragon

The Little Mermaid Despicable Me and other

family movie hits Brought to life through exciting performances of song dance and spectacle

FEATURING

THE HEARTLAND YOUTH BALLET

REacuteSONANCE CHOIR

Tickets Adults amp Kids $12

FAMILY SERIES

CONCERT

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Omaha Magazine5921 S 118th CirOmaha NE 68137

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

Page 26: March 2015 HerFamily

Boat PoseSanskrit name Paripurna Navasana(par-ee-POOR-nah nah-VAHS-anna)

the Boat Pose strengthens the hip flexors spine and the abdomen This pose helps to relieve stress improves digestion and stimulates the kidneys

intestines and thyroidemsp

BEGINNERS TIPPlace a strap around the ball of both feet Hold on to the

strap with straight arms

1 Sit on the floor with your legs straight in front of you Place your hands behind your hip and press into the ground fingers face- forward

2 Lift up through the sternum and slightly lean back until the weight is distributed to the top of your sitting bones and tailbone

3 Bend the knees and lift the feet off the floor

4 Lengthen the tailbone by pressing it into the floor and lift the pubis towards the naval

5 Slowly straighten your legs until your feet reach above eye level and spread the toes

6 Stretch the arms alongside the legs and reach out through the fingers

7 Breathe deeply for 15-30 seconds

8 Exhale and lower the legs to the floor

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp27

by Rachel Joy photography by Bill SitzmannfitnessWe are

the most experienced full-service family owned real estate company in America

npdodgecom

FOR THE KIDS

BAM ITrsquoS A PICTURE BOOK THE ART BEHIND GRAPHIC NOVELSTHROUGH MARCH 29 2015 JOSLYN ART MUSEUM ndash

2200 DODGE ST Popular among young readers

graphic novels are known for their comic

format They are generally described as

ldquosequential artrdquo where a series of illustrations

tell the story but unlike newspaper comics

they are the length of a novel and include

narrative development This exhibition features

the work of Jarrett J Krosoczka Mark Crilley

Matt Holm Raina Telgemeier and Lincoln

Peirce Tuesday - Wednesday amp Friday - Sunday

10am- 4pm Thursday 10am- 8pm Free

admission 402-342-3300

- JOSLYNORG

ONCE UPON A FARM EXHIBITTHROUGH APRIL 12 OMAHA CHILDRENrsquoS MUSEUMmdash500

S 20TH ST Explore the world of agriculture and

learn where your food comes from with the help

of interactive exhibit components like a center

pivot amp planting station dairy cows pedal track

maze and more Tuesday through Friday 10am ndash

4pm Saturday 9am ndash 5pm Sunday 1pm ndash 5 pm

Admission $2 plus regular admission Free for

members 402-342-6164

- OCMORG

MERMAID MINIONS amp DRAGONSMARCH 22 Holland Performing Arts

Centermdash1200 Douglas St Your favorite music

from How to Train Your Dragon Despicable Me

The Little Mermaid and other family movie hits

Brought to life through thrilling performances of

song dance and spectacle 2pm

Admission $15

- OMAHASYMPHONYORG

FOR THE FAMILY

NATURE CONNECTS 2THROUGH APRIL 26 LAURITZEN GARDENSmdash100

BANCROFT ST View 27 new sculptures each

inspired by the natural world made entirely of

300000 Legoreg bricks Make your own Lego

brick creations in the Legobrickyard and enjoy

a variety of Lego-inspired events throughout

the duration of the exhibit 9am ndash 5pm

Admission $10 adults$5 children six to 12 Free

for children under six and for garden members

402-346-4003

- LAURITZENGARDENSORG

TECH CITYTHROUGH MAY 10 STRATEGIC AIR amp SPACE MUSEUMmdash

ASHLAND NE This travelling engineering exhibit

is a great way to inspire learning and interest

in careers that focus on science technology

engineering and mathematics (STEM) The

Tech City exhibit is designed with interactive

learning that will appeal to visitors of all ages

9am - 5pm Free with regular admission $12

adult $6 youth children under 3 are free

402-944-3100

- SASMUSEUMCOM

ZEN TIES

THROUGH MARCH 8 THE ROSE THEATERmdash2001

FARNAM ST A gentle tale about patience and

compassion Zen Ties will make you remember

how much wisdom can come of simple

mindfulness Friday Saturday and Sunday

Members Four free admissions Non-member

admission $18 402-345-4949

- ROSETHEATERORG

FOR MOM amp DAD

AMERICAN MODERNS FROM OrsquoKEEFFE TO ROCKWELLTHROUGH MAY 17 JOSLYN ART MUSEUMmdash2200

DODGE ST The United States emerged as an

international power while also experiencing

two world wars and the Great Depression

New technologies changed all aspects of

life while the art world witnessed dramatic

transformations of its own This exhibition

explores the ways American artists including

Georgia OrsquoKeeffe Marsden Hartley Stuart

Davis Rockwell Kent and Norman Rockwell

engaged the modern world This exhibition

will have a ticket fee Free for members youth

ages 17 and younger amp college students with ID

402-342-3300

-JOSLYNORG

KATHARINE HEPBURN DRESSED FOR STAGE AND SCREENFEBRUARY 7-APRIL 26 DURHAM MUSEUMmdash801 S

10TH ST This exhibition from the Kent State

University Museum features more than 35

costumes worn in 21 films and six stage

productions as well as other personal items

spanning Hepburnrsquos illustrious career Come see

how this true icon of American culture came

to epitomize the modern woman of the 20th

century Children $6 Adults $9 402-444-5071

- DURHAMMUSEUMORG

COMPAGNIE KAumlFIGMARCH 18 HOLLAND CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST

Brazilian dance company Compagnie Kaumlfig

brings a high-energy performance style

combining their hip-hop foundation with martial

arts and circus elements 730pm $1350 to

$2625 402-345-0202

- OMAHAPERFORMINGARTSORG

Tech CityBam Itrsquos a Picture Book American Moderns

28emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

Calendar of Events

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp29

Erin Cox Event Director

402-884-2038 | erinomahamagazinecom

EVENTS by OMAHA MAGAZINE

Events by Omaha Magazine is a full-service event production company specializing in trade shows corporate events product launches and social gatherings From concept to delivery our goal is to provide an exceptional event experience for the host and their guests

Your Vision Our Innovation Event Solutions

GET A JUMP ON SUMMER

YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA wwwmetroymcaorg

Join us March 21 2015 for our Open House at any YMCA of Greater Omaha location The YMCA is your place for camp this summer bull Weekly themed preschool morning camps (3-5 years) and summer day camp (4-12 years - varies by location)

bull Mini special interest camps

bull Premier camps and Camp Platte

bull Counselors-in-Training program for teens

REGISTER FOR

CAMP AT OUR OPEN

HOUSE 3-21-15

AND PAY NO CAMP

REGISTRATION FEES

i never had a pet as a childOkay so I did at the age of 9 or so have

an ill-fated and short-lived guardianship of a turtle whose name Irsquove long forgotten but Irsquove never been a pet person

My mother abhorred the idea of anything furry dwelling in her home and I was pretty much fine with that The feeling carried over into adulthood and my three now-grown children probably felt super-lucky just to have had the brief company of a single pet a (clean and non-slobbering) feline named Scribbles

Viral videos portraying cats and dogs doing whatever it is that cats and dogs do have never appeared on any of my playlists And to be frank people who describe their little quadruped cuties as their ldquochildrenrdquohellipwell kinda creep me out I have no innate aversion to cats even though I take them to be whiskered sociopaths of evil intent but I have never been at all comfortable around dogs of any make or model

Before the hate mail begins please allow me at least a shot at redemption

My grandsons Barrett and Easton are growing up in a home where the company of canines is prized Their collie Summer recently ascended to that great dog pound in the sky and after an appropriate period of mourning has been replaced by a border collie pup carrying an equally seasonal name of Winter

Itrsquos an understatement to say that I never hit it off with Summer Perhaps it didnrsquot help that she stained our Oriental rug as a pup not 10 seconds into her very first visit to our home My son Eric entered with Summer while explaining that all would be well in that the creature was doing a smash-up job when it came to taking care of business but it was too late The little thing bounded (Is that what dogs do They ldquoboundrdquo) directly to the rug lifted one leg andhellipyou know the rest

I have promised to be different with Winter My kids already know that I am neurotic but I donrsquot

want Easton and Barrett to grow up thinking that their granddad is some kind of loathsome monster I am going to do my best to get to know Winter and not be such a basket case

Not surprisingly my first encounter with Winter was shall we say trying ldquoHersquos

just young and excitablerdquo I was told as the dog tried to climb up my leg Yeah tell that to my now urine-stained

shoes (suede no less) and newish sweater scarred by Winterrsquos talons or toes or paws or whatever it is theyrsquore called

But it is with a certain sense of self-satisfaction that I can report that I kept my cool Now the notion of ldquocoolrdquo is subjective My immediate knee-jerk reaction was admittedly to jerk my knee in revulsion but I collected myself as quickly as possible and

tried my best to not make an international incident of the affair

I really need to up my game in being the grandpa that I hope to

be but boy do I have my work cut out for meemsp

Canine Calamity A Plan to Fake it Until I Make it

30emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

the grandpa chroniclesby David Williams

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp31

Did you know90 of brain development

happens by age 5Discover Nebraska Childrenrsquos Home Societyrsquos

accredited high-quality early childhood education programs with low child-to-staff ratios at two locations

4939 S 118th St in Omaha (402) 898-7760 for children 18 months through Pre-K

and 3549 Fontenelle Blvd in Omaha (402) 898-7768 for children 6 weeks through Pre-K

Call today for a free no-obligation tour

4023450606 OMAHASYMPHONYORG

Sunday March 22 bull 200 PMHolland Center

Your favorite music from How to Train Your Dragon

The Little Mermaid Despicable Me and other

family movie hits Brought to life through exciting performances of song dance and spectacle

FEATURING

THE HEARTLAND YOUTH BALLET

REacuteSONANCE CHOIR

Tickets Adults amp Kids $12

FAMILY SERIES

CONCERT

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Omaha Magazine5921 S 118th CirOmaha NE 68137

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

Page 27: March 2015 HerFamily

FOR THE KIDS

BAM ITrsquoS A PICTURE BOOK THE ART BEHIND GRAPHIC NOVELSTHROUGH MARCH 29 2015 JOSLYN ART MUSEUM ndash

2200 DODGE ST Popular among young readers

graphic novels are known for their comic

format They are generally described as

ldquosequential artrdquo where a series of illustrations

tell the story but unlike newspaper comics

they are the length of a novel and include

narrative development This exhibition features

the work of Jarrett J Krosoczka Mark Crilley

Matt Holm Raina Telgemeier and Lincoln

Peirce Tuesday - Wednesday amp Friday - Sunday

10am- 4pm Thursday 10am- 8pm Free

admission 402-342-3300

- JOSLYNORG

ONCE UPON A FARM EXHIBITTHROUGH APRIL 12 OMAHA CHILDRENrsquoS MUSEUMmdash500

S 20TH ST Explore the world of agriculture and

learn where your food comes from with the help

of interactive exhibit components like a center

pivot amp planting station dairy cows pedal track

maze and more Tuesday through Friday 10am ndash

4pm Saturday 9am ndash 5pm Sunday 1pm ndash 5 pm

Admission $2 plus regular admission Free for

members 402-342-6164

- OCMORG

MERMAID MINIONS amp DRAGONSMARCH 22 Holland Performing Arts

Centermdash1200 Douglas St Your favorite music

from How to Train Your Dragon Despicable Me

The Little Mermaid and other family movie hits

Brought to life through thrilling performances of

song dance and spectacle 2pm

Admission $15

- OMAHASYMPHONYORG

FOR THE FAMILY

NATURE CONNECTS 2THROUGH APRIL 26 LAURITZEN GARDENSmdash100

BANCROFT ST View 27 new sculptures each

inspired by the natural world made entirely of

300000 Legoreg bricks Make your own Lego

brick creations in the Legobrickyard and enjoy

a variety of Lego-inspired events throughout

the duration of the exhibit 9am ndash 5pm

Admission $10 adults$5 children six to 12 Free

for children under six and for garden members

402-346-4003

- LAURITZENGARDENSORG

TECH CITYTHROUGH MAY 10 STRATEGIC AIR amp SPACE MUSEUMmdash

ASHLAND NE This travelling engineering exhibit

is a great way to inspire learning and interest

in careers that focus on science technology

engineering and mathematics (STEM) The

Tech City exhibit is designed with interactive

learning that will appeal to visitors of all ages

9am - 5pm Free with regular admission $12

adult $6 youth children under 3 are free

402-944-3100

- SASMUSEUMCOM

ZEN TIES

THROUGH MARCH 8 THE ROSE THEATERmdash2001

FARNAM ST A gentle tale about patience and

compassion Zen Ties will make you remember

how much wisdom can come of simple

mindfulness Friday Saturday and Sunday

Members Four free admissions Non-member

admission $18 402-345-4949

- ROSETHEATERORG

FOR MOM amp DAD

AMERICAN MODERNS FROM OrsquoKEEFFE TO ROCKWELLTHROUGH MAY 17 JOSLYN ART MUSEUMmdash2200

DODGE ST The United States emerged as an

international power while also experiencing

two world wars and the Great Depression

New technologies changed all aspects of

life while the art world witnessed dramatic

transformations of its own This exhibition

explores the ways American artists including

Georgia OrsquoKeeffe Marsden Hartley Stuart

Davis Rockwell Kent and Norman Rockwell

engaged the modern world This exhibition

will have a ticket fee Free for members youth

ages 17 and younger amp college students with ID

402-342-3300

-JOSLYNORG

KATHARINE HEPBURN DRESSED FOR STAGE AND SCREENFEBRUARY 7-APRIL 26 DURHAM MUSEUMmdash801 S

10TH ST This exhibition from the Kent State

University Museum features more than 35

costumes worn in 21 films and six stage

productions as well as other personal items

spanning Hepburnrsquos illustrious career Come see

how this true icon of American culture came

to epitomize the modern woman of the 20th

century Children $6 Adults $9 402-444-5071

- DURHAMMUSEUMORG

COMPAGNIE KAumlFIGMARCH 18 HOLLAND CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST

Brazilian dance company Compagnie Kaumlfig

brings a high-energy performance style

combining their hip-hop foundation with martial

arts and circus elements 730pm $1350 to

$2625 402-345-0202

- OMAHAPERFORMINGARTSORG

Tech CityBam Itrsquos a Picture Book American Moderns

28emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

Calendar of Events

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp29

Erin Cox Event Director

402-884-2038 | erinomahamagazinecom

EVENTS by OMAHA MAGAZINE

Events by Omaha Magazine is a full-service event production company specializing in trade shows corporate events product launches and social gatherings From concept to delivery our goal is to provide an exceptional event experience for the host and their guests

Your Vision Our Innovation Event Solutions

GET A JUMP ON SUMMER

YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA wwwmetroymcaorg

Join us March 21 2015 for our Open House at any YMCA of Greater Omaha location The YMCA is your place for camp this summer bull Weekly themed preschool morning camps (3-5 years) and summer day camp (4-12 years - varies by location)

bull Mini special interest camps

bull Premier camps and Camp Platte

bull Counselors-in-Training program for teens

REGISTER FOR

CAMP AT OUR OPEN

HOUSE 3-21-15

AND PAY NO CAMP

REGISTRATION FEES

i never had a pet as a childOkay so I did at the age of 9 or so have

an ill-fated and short-lived guardianship of a turtle whose name Irsquove long forgotten but Irsquove never been a pet person

My mother abhorred the idea of anything furry dwelling in her home and I was pretty much fine with that The feeling carried over into adulthood and my three now-grown children probably felt super-lucky just to have had the brief company of a single pet a (clean and non-slobbering) feline named Scribbles

Viral videos portraying cats and dogs doing whatever it is that cats and dogs do have never appeared on any of my playlists And to be frank people who describe their little quadruped cuties as their ldquochildrenrdquohellipwell kinda creep me out I have no innate aversion to cats even though I take them to be whiskered sociopaths of evil intent but I have never been at all comfortable around dogs of any make or model

Before the hate mail begins please allow me at least a shot at redemption

My grandsons Barrett and Easton are growing up in a home where the company of canines is prized Their collie Summer recently ascended to that great dog pound in the sky and after an appropriate period of mourning has been replaced by a border collie pup carrying an equally seasonal name of Winter

Itrsquos an understatement to say that I never hit it off with Summer Perhaps it didnrsquot help that she stained our Oriental rug as a pup not 10 seconds into her very first visit to our home My son Eric entered with Summer while explaining that all would be well in that the creature was doing a smash-up job when it came to taking care of business but it was too late The little thing bounded (Is that what dogs do They ldquoboundrdquo) directly to the rug lifted one leg andhellipyou know the rest

I have promised to be different with Winter My kids already know that I am neurotic but I donrsquot

want Easton and Barrett to grow up thinking that their granddad is some kind of loathsome monster I am going to do my best to get to know Winter and not be such a basket case

Not surprisingly my first encounter with Winter was shall we say trying ldquoHersquos

just young and excitablerdquo I was told as the dog tried to climb up my leg Yeah tell that to my now urine-stained

shoes (suede no less) and newish sweater scarred by Winterrsquos talons or toes or paws or whatever it is theyrsquore called

But it is with a certain sense of self-satisfaction that I can report that I kept my cool Now the notion of ldquocoolrdquo is subjective My immediate knee-jerk reaction was admittedly to jerk my knee in revulsion but I collected myself as quickly as possible and

tried my best to not make an international incident of the affair

I really need to up my game in being the grandpa that I hope to

be but boy do I have my work cut out for meemsp

Canine Calamity A Plan to Fake it Until I Make it

30emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

the grandpa chroniclesby David Williams

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp31

Did you know90 of brain development

happens by age 5Discover Nebraska Childrenrsquos Home Societyrsquos

accredited high-quality early childhood education programs with low child-to-staff ratios at two locations

4939 S 118th St in Omaha (402) 898-7760 for children 18 months through Pre-K

and 3549 Fontenelle Blvd in Omaha (402) 898-7768 for children 6 weeks through Pre-K

Call today for a free no-obligation tour

4023450606 OMAHASYMPHONYORG

Sunday March 22 bull 200 PMHolland Center

Your favorite music from How to Train Your Dragon

The Little Mermaid Despicable Me and other

family movie hits Brought to life through exciting performances of song dance and spectacle

FEATURING

THE HEARTLAND YOUTH BALLET

REacuteSONANCE CHOIR

Tickets Adults amp Kids $12

FAMILY SERIES

CONCERT

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Omaha Magazine5921 S 118th CirOmaha NE 68137

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

Page 28: March 2015 HerFamily

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp29

Erin Cox Event Director

402-884-2038 | erinomahamagazinecom

EVENTS by OMAHA MAGAZINE

Events by Omaha Magazine is a full-service event production company specializing in trade shows corporate events product launches and social gatherings From concept to delivery our goal is to provide an exceptional event experience for the host and their guests

Your Vision Our Innovation Event Solutions

GET A JUMP ON SUMMER

YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA wwwmetroymcaorg

Join us March 21 2015 for our Open House at any YMCA of Greater Omaha location The YMCA is your place for camp this summer bull Weekly themed preschool morning camps (3-5 years) and summer day camp (4-12 years - varies by location)

bull Mini special interest camps

bull Premier camps and Camp Platte

bull Counselors-in-Training program for teens

REGISTER FOR

CAMP AT OUR OPEN

HOUSE 3-21-15

AND PAY NO CAMP

REGISTRATION FEES

i never had a pet as a childOkay so I did at the age of 9 or so have

an ill-fated and short-lived guardianship of a turtle whose name Irsquove long forgotten but Irsquove never been a pet person

My mother abhorred the idea of anything furry dwelling in her home and I was pretty much fine with that The feeling carried over into adulthood and my three now-grown children probably felt super-lucky just to have had the brief company of a single pet a (clean and non-slobbering) feline named Scribbles

Viral videos portraying cats and dogs doing whatever it is that cats and dogs do have never appeared on any of my playlists And to be frank people who describe their little quadruped cuties as their ldquochildrenrdquohellipwell kinda creep me out I have no innate aversion to cats even though I take them to be whiskered sociopaths of evil intent but I have never been at all comfortable around dogs of any make or model

Before the hate mail begins please allow me at least a shot at redemption

My grandsons Barrett and Easton are growing up in a home where the company of canines is prized Their collie Summer recently ascended to that great dog pound in the sky and after an appropriate period of mourning has been replaced by a border collie pup carrying an equally seasonal name of Winter

Itrsquos an understatement to say that I never hit it off with Summer Perhaps it didnrsquot help that she stained our Oriental rug as a pup not 10 seconds into her very first visit to our home My son Eric entered with Summer while explaining that all would be well in that the creature was doing a smash-up job when it came to taking care of business but it was too late The little thing bounded (Is that what dogs do They ldquoboundrdquo) directly to the rug lifted one leg andhellipyou know the rest

I have promised to be different with Winter My kids already know that I am neurotic but I donrsquot

want Easton and Barrett to grow up thinking that their granddad is some kind of loathsome monster I am going to do my best to get to know Winter and not be such a basket case

Not surprisingly my first encounter with Winter was shall we say trying ldquoHersquos

just young and excitablerdquo I was told as the dog tried to climb up my leg Yeah tell that to my now urine-stained

shoes (suede no less) and newish sweater scarred by Winterrsquos talons or toes or paws or whatever it is theyrsquore called

But it is with a certain sense of self-satisfaction that I can report that I kept my cool Now the notion of ldquocoolrdquo is subjective My immediate knee-jerk reaction was admittedly to jerk my knee in revulsion but I collected myself as quickly as possible and

tried my best to not make an international incident of the affair

I really need to up my game in being the grandpa that I hope to

be but boy do I have my work cut out for meemsp

Canine Calamity A Plan to Fake it Until I Make it

30emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

the grandpa chroniclesby David Williams

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp31

Did you know90 of brain development

happens by age 5Discover Nebraska Childrenrsquos Home Societyrsquos

accredited high-quality early childhood education programs with low child-to-staff ratios at two locations

4939 S 118th St in Omaha (402) 898-7760 for children 18 months through Pre-K

and 3549 Fontenelle Blvd in Omaha (402) 898-7768 for children 6 weeks through Pre-K

Call today for a free no-obligation tour

4023450606 OMAHASYMPHONYORG

Sunday March 22 bull 200 PMHolland Center

Your favorite music from How to Train Your Dragon

The Little Mermaid Despicable Me and other

family movie hits Brought to life through exciting performances of song dance and spectacle

FEATURING

THE HEARTLAND YOUTH BALLET

REacuteSONANCE CHOIR

Tickets Adults amp Kids $12

FAMILY SERIES

CONCERT

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Omaha Magazine5921 S 118th CirOmaha NE 68137

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

Page 29: March 2015 HerFamily

i never had a pet as a childOkay so I did at the age of 9 or so have

an ill-fated and short-lived guardianship of a turtle whose name Irsquove long forgotten but Irsquove never been a pet person

My mother abhorred the idea of anything furry dwelling in her home and I was pretty much fine with that The feeling carried over into adulthood and my three now-grown children probably felt super-lucky just to have had the brief company of a single pet a (clean and non-slobbering) feline named Scribbles

Viral videos portraying cats and dogs doing whatever it is that cats and dogs do have never appeared on any of my playlists And to be frank people who describe their little quadruped cuties as their ldquochildrenrdquohellipwell kinda creep me out I have no innate aversion to cats even though I take them to be whiskered sociopaths of evil intent but I have never been at all comfortable around dogs of any make or model

Before the hate mail begins please allow me at least a shot at redemption

My grandsons Barrett and Easton are growing up in a home where the company of canines is prized Their collie Summer recently ascended to that great dog pound in the sky and after an appropriate period of mourning has been replaced by a border collie pup carrying an equally seasonal name of Winter

Itrsquos an understatement to say that I never hit it off with Summer Perhaps it didnrsquot help that she stained our Oriental rug as a pup not 10 seconds into her very first visit to our home My son Eric entered with Summer while explaining that all would be well in that the creature was doing a smash-up job when it came to taking care of business but it was too late The little thing bounded (Is that what dogs do They ldquoboundrdquo) directly to the rug lifted one leg andhellipyou know the rest

I have promised to be different with Winter My kids already know that I am neurotic but I donrsquot

want Easton and Barrett to grow up thinking that their granddad is some kind of loathsome monster I am going to do my best to get to know Winter and not be such a basket case

Not surprisingly my first encounter with Winter was shall we say trying ldquoHersquos

just young and excitablerdquo I was told as the dog tried to climb up my leg Yeah tell that to my now urine-stained

shoes (suede no less) and newish sweater scarred by Winterrsquos talons or toes or paws or whatever it is theyrsquore called

But it is with a certain sense of self-satisfaction that I can report that I kept my cool Now the notion of ldquocoolrdquo is subjective My immediate knee-jerk reaction was admittedly to jerk my knee in revulsion but I collected myself as quickly as possible and

tried my best to not make an international incident of the affair

I really need to up my game in being the grandpa that I hope to

be but boy do I have my work cut out for meemsp

Canine Calamity A Plan to Fake it Until I Make it

30emspHerFamily bull March 2015 omahamagazinecom

the grandpa chroniclesby David Williams

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp31

Did you know90 of brain development

happens by age 5Discover Nebraska Childrenrsquos Home Societyrsquos

accredited high-quality early childhood education programs with low child-to-staff ratios at two locations

4939 S 118th St in Omaha (402) 898-7760 for children 18 months through Pre-K

and 3549 Fontenelle Blvd in Omaha (402) 898-7768 for children 6 weeks through Pre-K

Call today for a free no-obligation tour

4023450606 OMAHASYMPHONYORG

Sunday March 22 bull 200 PMHolland Center

Your favorite music from How to Train Your Dragon

The Little Mermaid Despicable Me and other

family movie hits Brought to life through exciting performances of song dance and spectacle

FEATURING

THE HEARTLAND YOUTH BALLET

REacuteSONANCE CHOIR

Tickets Adults amp Kids $12

FAMILY SERIES

CONCERT

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Omaha Magazine5921 S 118th CirOmaha NE 68137

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

Page 30: March 2015 HerFamily

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull March 2015emsp31

Did you know90 of brain development

happens by age 5Discover Nebraska Childrenrsquos Home Societyrsquos

accredited high-quality early childhood education programs with low child-to-staff ratios at two locations

4939 S 118th St in Omaha (402) 898-7760 for children 18 months through Pre-K

and 3549 Fontenelle Blvd in Omaha (402) 898-7768 for children 6 weeks through Pre-K

Call today for a free no-obligation tour

4023450606 OMAHASYMPHONYORG

Sunday March 22 bull 200 PMHolland Center

Your favorite music from How to Train Your Dragon

The Little Mermaid Despicable Me and other

family movie hits Brought to life through exciting performances of song dance and spectacle

FEATURING

THE HEARTLAND YOUTH BALLET

REacuteSONANCE CHOIR

Tickets Adults amp Kids $12

FAMILY SERIES

CONCERT

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Omaha Magazine5921 S 118th CirOmaha NE 68137

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

Page 31: March 2015 HerFamily

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Omaha Magazine5921 S 118th CirOmaha NE 68137

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154