From the Editors: April’s ‘Ouch’

July/August 2008 Issue | Posted by Tom and April Hoopes in Editor's Note

April: Ouch. Sometimes an issue of Faith & Family hits you right between the eyes.

Someone came up to me after Mass recently and told me, “I’ve just got to thank you for that last issue of the magazine. It seemed like every article was written for me!” Now I know what she means.

First, there’s the Marriage Matters... READ MORE

The Cat’s Pope

July/August 2008 Issue | Posted by Tim Drake in Features

Only three years ago, like so many other Catholics, we eagerly listened to the radio together as a family, awaiting the announcement of who our new pope would be.

I can still remember the excitement on our daughter Claire’s face when she heard his first name — Joseph — because we live in a town named... READ MORE

From Fat to Fit

July/August 2008 Issue | Posted by Carmen Staicer in Features

My last two babies were born 16 months apart.

Losing weight was hard — too hard, I reasoned — and besides, I was busy raising my children.

My husband had pledged to marry me for better or for worse, and so he’d have to be happy with me the way I was. We weren’t going to get divorced, so I could relax... READ MORE

­Falling out of Balance

July/August 2008 Issue | Posted by Wayne Laugesen in Marriage

Kristen and Matt had five kids at home when Matt was laid off from his medical technology job in New Mexico. Life had been chaotic and stressful over the years, but now it was worse.

Just to keep bread and milk on the table, Matt quickly went to work for two guys with a pickup who had a makeshift landscaping... READ MORE

Are We There YET?

July/August 2008 Issue | Posted by Mary Ellen Barrett in Features

A friend of mine recently confided in me that she felt completely overwhelmed by the thought of an upcoming family vacation with her small children.

It would be a beach vacation, she told me, and she predicted that her days would consist of packing up the little ones, trekking them to the beach, and... READ MORE

The Heat is On!

July/August 2008 Issue | Posted by Elizabeth Foss in What's Cooking

By Elizabeth Foss

It’s summertime and the living is easy — at least theoretically.

Most summer weekends find my family on a soccer field, and as surely as the referee is going to blow the final whistle, we are going to invite someone from the sidelines to come for dinner. The day will be hot, the sun... READ MORE

Together for Good

July/August 2008 Issue | Posted by Tom and April Hoopes in Homework

FAM MAIL

I love your magazine! I am a veteran among even the veterans you feature — at the ripe old age of 43, with 12 children ranging in age from 21 down to 2 and 2 (twin boys). The May/June 2008 issue was so fun with the feature about little ones in Mass, Kids to Mass,” and the divide-and-conquer... READ MORE

The Home Front

July/August 2008 Issue | Posted by Danielle Bean in Home Front

NUTRITION

BY Danielle

Sensational Smoothies

When it comes to making healthy snacks, on-the-go breakfasts, and summertime treats, a blender is this mom’s best friend. Even my pickiest kids who prefer sugary snacks to fresh fruit and yogurt will get in line when I offer them a “smoothie.” The most mom-friendly thing about a smoothie is that you get to decide what goes in it. You really can’t go wrong with any combination of ice, fruit, dairy, and juice. Make up your own from what you have on hand, or try one of the easy, refreshing recipes featured at right.

To make any of these recipes, crush 4-6 ice cubes in a blender, add the remaining ingredients, and blend till smooth!

Quick tip: Any smoothie recipe can be frozen in popsicle molds for an alternative to the artificial coloring and flavoring of the store-bought stuff. Check out Williams-Sonoma.com for these kid-pleasing “rocket pop” molds.

—Visit Danielle at DanielleBean.com

Make Mine Melon

1 1/2 cups diced melon

1/2 cup lemon yogurt

1 cup frozen green grapes

1 tablespoon fresh mint, minced

lemon juice to desired tartness

Peachy Passion

2 ripe peaches, peeled, pitted,

and cut into chunks

2 cups low fat, plain yogurt

3 tablespoons firmly packed

brown sugar

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Mom’s Mocha

1/2 cup strong brewed coffee

1 teaspoon instant coffee

1 cup low fat milk

1 cup frozen vanilla yogurt

2 tablespoons chocolate

syrup

PB & B

1 banana, frozen and cut in chunks

1 tablespoon creamy peanut butter

1 cup low fat milk

SELF

Body Type Basics

BY Mary

Aside from aiming to have clothes fit better, all of us naturally find balance aesthetically pleasing, and want the focal point of fashion to be our faces, rather than an exceptionally noticeable …well, anything else.

Fashion consultants use the following four shapes to describe what has been termed as “body types”: pear, heart, box, and hourglass.

To find out yours, take out a measuring tape and measure your bust, waistline, and hips in inches. Then, compare the measurements. If your hips are 2 or more inches than your bust, you have a pear-shape body type. If your bust is 2 or more inches than your hips, you have a heart-shape body type. Don’t worry about your waist measurement. If you have a protruding tummy, follow the advice for a box body type.

If neither of the above are the case, compare your hip measurement with your waist measurement. If your hips are 8 inches or more greater than your waist measurement, you have an hourglass body type. If not, you have a box body type.

Armed with this basic information, you are now ready to use your clothing choices to create an optical illusion of proportion. No dieting; no exercising; Just love your size and work with it!

Pear shape: Wear dark colors on the bottom, light colors on the top. Avoid prints and thick textures on the bottom, but choose them for any top. Puffy sleeves, prominent collars, small shoulder pads, and jacket pockets all add volume to the top. Straight skirts, slight a-line skirts, and flat-front trousers are best for bottoms.

Heart shape: Wear dark colors on top, lighter colors on the bottom. Wear prints and thicker textures on the bottom in the form of full-volume skirts and trousers, and buy v-necks and surplices for tops.

Box shape: Avoid focal points at your midriff. Don’t tuck in your blouse, place contrasting colors at the waistline, or wear belts. Longer sweaters, jackets with a nipped waist, and fitted tunic-style tops are fabulous for this body type.

Hourglass shape: Avoid styles which upset your natural balance and proportion.

You can learn more about body types and style camouflage in my book It’s So You: Fitting Fashion to Your Life (SpencePublishing.com). Also Zafu.com and HerRoom.com are great sites for checking out which brands work with which body types.

— Visit Mary at MarySheehanWarren.com

HOME

Paper Chase

If your kids’ artwork is taking over your household surfaces and you can’t bring yourself to purge, regain control in some simple ways:

Scan it. Use a scanner to turn that precious paper into a precious computer file.

Frame it. Decorate a playroom with some of their best productions.

Wrap it.Kids’ art makes great wrapping paper for small gifts.

Mail it. Brighten an aunt, uncle, or grandparent’s day by sharing the wealth.

Out SPOT!

The The Crayola company knows that little people don’t always use their products as intended. At Crayola.com, parents will find a handy stain guide for the removal of Crayola products from household surfaces (click “For Parents” and “Stain Tips”). Click on the product used and then the place where you found it for step-by-step cleaning tips and advice. Dry erase markers on the upholstery? Rubbing alcohol will do the trick. Colored pencils on porcelain?

A mix of car part lubricant and dish detergent will save you … and the offending party.

MONEY

Forget 411

No phone book handy? Stop racking up fees on your home telephone bill just for dialing information. Dial (800) GOOG-411 instead and bring the power of Google.com to your telephone — for free. Besides basic business telephone number information, you also have access to a yellow pages-style guide to area businesses. Tell the computer the name of a city or town and then ask for “restaurant” or “hair salon” to get a list of top matches. Other services include retrieving addresses, sending a text message of the information to your cell phone, and automatically connecting you to your requested number.

Cheaper Fares

Being a little flexible when making flight arrangements can bring you big savings on air fare.

Airport Matters: Before booking, compare costs from different area airports. You might find a significantly cheaper rate by driving to a different one.

Stay Another Day: Always ask which days have the cheapest fares. You can realize great savings by adding a Saturday overnight to your stay at your destination.

Go Online: Even if you use a travel agent, follow up by checking sites like Expedia.com or Orbitz.com for possible last-minute deals and more savings.

‘Feminine Genius’ Revisited

July/August 2008 Issue | Posted by Rebecca Teti in Faith&Culture

The summer I graduated from high school I took an internship in journalism before going to college. It was the late 1980s and the hot domestic topics all concerned “women’s issues.” Not just the social issues we associate with radical feminism, but questions about equality generally.

“Glass ceiling”... READ MORE

Party Planners

July/August 2008 Issue | Posted by Robyn Lee in Party Planners

9 Cheers for Brigid

Occasion:Brigid turns 9

Party Planner:Brigid’s mom Jane

Place:Our Illinois home

Theme:Cheerleading!

Guests:“We invited about 12 girls (including our four) and one very good-natured boy who helped run the concession stand, applied the football tattoos, and came wearing his sports... READ MORE

12 Ways We Love to Be Beautiful

July/August 2008 Issue | Posted by Robyn Lee in Insider

1. Catchall

“Rosetti purses are reasonable, and the styles are attractive as well as practical. There are lots of compartments rather than a big gaping sack to lose things in.” $45, from Sears (in stores only).

— Daria Sockey

2. Compatibility Test

L’oreal True Match Foundation. “The display case... READ MORE

Summer

July/August 2008 Issue | Posted by Daria Sockey in Season

July

11 - St. Benedict

Pope Benedict XVI took his name after this saint who saved Western civilization. You can read Pope Benedict’s own plans at Pope2008.com.

Want to write your own family rule of life? Read Benedict’s Rule at KansasMonks.org (Click on “Our Way of Life” and “Rule of St. Benedict”)... READ MORE

Singing Their Hearts Out

July/August 2008 Issue | Posted by Lynn Wehner in Everyday Apostles

World Youth Day Songstress

Sarah Bauer, age 25

At World Youth Day in Sydney, Australia, this dynamic 25-year-old singer/songwriter hopes to share the same kind of Christian joy she did at World Youth Day in Cologne, Germany.

She remembers the excitement of seeing young Slovakians come alive to her... READ MORE

Open House

July/August 2008 Issue | Posted by Tammy Darling in Features

Refrigerator raids, loud mu­ sic, and a lot of horsing around may not sound like fun to you, but to your kids and their friends it’s heaven on earth. Yes, kids — especially teens — can be loud, expensive, and at times, can rattle your nerves, but the time, money, and energy you spend on them now is... READ MORE

Teen Faith Resource Guide

July/August 2008 Issue | Posted by Tim Drake in Features

With our eldest child on the verge of his teen years, I’ve often wondered what materials are out there to help guide my children through this volatile time in their lives. I was pleasantly surprised to find a vast variety of resources available to help teens retain and grow in their Catholic faith —... READ MORE

Game On!

July/August 2008 Issue | Posted by Daria Sockey in Mind Games

At an outdoor family party, a crowd of children — even quiet, polite ones — can really dull the edge of one’s scintillating after-dinner wit. The temptation is to herd them all indoors and pop in a DVD. Don’t! Instead, set them up with one of these back yard games. They’ll get plenty of exercise, and... READ MORE

Facing the End

July/August 2008 Issue | Posted by Father Richard Gill, LC in Spirituality

Question

I am an oncologist and have many
serious cases of people with poor prospects of survival. I agree that it is wrong to lie to patients, but I prefer not to be completely honest with them because being the bearer of bad news is very emotional and unpleasant for us both to deal with. The news... READ MORE

The Cutest Age

July/August 2008 Issue | Posted by Susie Lloyd in Back Porch

“What a cute baby. Too bad they have to grow up!”

I’ve heard that more than once from strangers and assumed it was just another one of those worn-out lines about the evils of raising kids. You know — small and cute like a puppy that you can hold in your arms and pet. But watch out! Someday you won’t... READ MORE

Bonus Room

July/August 2008 Issue | Posted by Lynn Wehner in Bonus Room

Summer fashions can distract from the true inner beauty of the human person. But modesty is the virtue of not calling attention to oneself — either by words or by dress!

Modesty. 1: freedom from conceit or vanity 2: propriety in dress, speech, or conduct (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

“Purity requires... READ MORE

Gear Up for Summer Break

July/August 2008 Issue | Posted by Tim Drake in Entertainment

Little Ones (ages 0-7)

Friends in High Places

If your children like praise and worship music, I can’t recommend this CD highly enough. It’s the best Catholic kids worship album I’ve heard, and it includes both familiar and original songs. With inspiring vocals and rousing instrumentals by Christ Music... READ MORE

‘The Pope and Me’ writing contest!

July/August 2008 Issue | Posted by Danielle Bean in Features

Rules:

Schools must select essays and send only the top five.

Families may submit one essay per child in each age category.

Details:

1. There will be two age categories: (a) 3rd - 5th grade (b) 6th - 8th grade

2. Essays should be 500 words or less.

3. Please submit typed essays only.

4. Please submit... READ MORE