Treats for Cheap

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September 30, 2019

Score Inexpensive Treats this Halloween

Soon children will appear on your doorstep wanting goodies. Handing out treats to the whole neighborhood doesn’t have to be expensive though.

The cheapest way to get Halloween candy is to stock up in November when leftover goodies are as low as 90% off their original prices. Didn’t stockpile treats last year? There are still ways to provide treats to trick-or-treaters without spending a fortune.

Use rewards

Cash in your CVS Extra Care bucks or the $5 gift card you got for buying three rolls of paper towels at Target. Free money turns into free candy!

Don’t go overboard.

Set a budget for treats and when they are gone, shut off your light for the night. The neighborhood kids will get plenty of candy even if you call it a night early.

Don’t rely on dollars stores for the best deals.

Bags of candy at stores like Dollar Tree are typically very small. You often get more “bang for your buck” by buying big bags at wholesale stores like Costco.

Want to skip the candy completely?

Hand out stickers: You can buy hundreds of stickers for just a couple of bucks at dollar stores or the dollar section of Target. Cut the sheets down and hand out three or four stickers per child.

Give out toys: Purchase small toys in bulk from online retailers like Oriental Trading Company. Pencils, silly-band bracelets, glow sticks, playing cards, miniature balls, temporary tattoos, rings and yo-yos are just a few of the fun options. You can score a hundred trinkets for just a couple bucks.

Pick up fast food gift certificates: Wendy’s and McDonald’s both sell coupon booklets for a couple dollars. Each booklet usually contains 12 coupons, so $10 will give you a nice size stack to give out one certificate per child.

Hand out a snacking treat: Choose granola bars, fruit roll-ups, snack size bags of chips or other kid-friendly treats. Look for “buy one, get one free” specials. Pair that with coupons and you might even get the product for free! As a bonus, you’ll be able to use the leftovers in your own child’s lunchbox.

Supplying Halloween treats doesn’t have to feel like a trick on your budget!

Exceeding Expectations

By

Karen L. Zickes

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September 30, 2019

The Short Course

To avoid wait: Anytime, and you can call ahead for parties up to 6.
Noise level: Moderate to loud
Bathroom amenities: Changing station in both the men’s and women’s restroom.
High chairs? Yes.
Got milk? Yes.
Kids’ menu? Yes, it offers MANY options and complimentary ‘starters.’
Allergies? Alert your server of any allergies so precautions can be taken in the kitchen. Gluten free menu options available.

BJ’s is becoming a fast favorite in Toledo

It’s hard to miss one of Toledo’s newest restaurants, located on Monroe Street in front of the mall. BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse has grown to 205 locations in 27 states with 13 of them in Ohio. The large but tasteful wood and brick building is an eye-catcher. And Toledoans seem to think the cuisine inside is even better. After visiting one in Columbus with their uncle, my boys were chomping at the bit to stop in for a bite. Of course, we invited a few friends to make it a back- to-school celebration. (The parents may have been celebrating more than the kids!)

A menu on steroids…even for the kids!

BJ’s is a restaurant to please your entire group, no matter their picky inclinations. Everything from the restaurant layout, the menu, the portions and their charitable foundation is, in one word, BIG.

Admittedly, I was overwhelmed by the menu, which lists over 140 items. Thankfully, however, it is organized by sections, so if you are having a particular craving, it makes it easy to locate your desire. Sections include pasta, sandwiches and tacos, burgers, slow-roasted entrees, and even a fabulous subcategory called the EnLIGHTened® Menu which offers lighter fare, as well as vegan and vegetarian options. Now that I know they began as a pizza shop in 1978, I feel a return trip with the Pizza Posse is in order to try one of their 18 flavors of pie, including deep-dish pizza that is made with dough that rises twice! And don’t forget about their 11 signature beers. Afterall, “brewhouse” is part of their name.

Not only do they have an affordable children’s menu, they may have the most options I have ever seen for kids, with more than 10 entrée options, a choice of 11 sides, and two desserts (priced extra).

In addition to a fun menu, complete with activities to pass the time, they offer what they call “kid starters.” When little ones are seated, the first thing out to the table is a complementary garlic knot and some fresh fruit because we all know “hangry” little ones make dining out a little less enjoyable.

Making a difference in the community

It wasn’t until I noticed an article hanging on the wall that made me stop and realize there is a lot more to this restaurant than just good food, strong drinks, and great service.

BJ’s has its own foundation that supports things such as children’s healthcare. They primarily support the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) ,and Cookies 4Kids is part of that initiative. Sales from their ever-popular Pizookie® desserts go directly to support the CFF, and the Pizookies® are amazing. Be sure to order one for the table to share! The company goes a step further and even rewards employees who are active in the community.

They have programs that promote leadership and advancement of women in their organization. They offer fundraising options for local schools, as well as a program for teachers to reward students for achieving success in school. To date, the company has made donations to over 60 charities. Great food aside, knowing about this franchise makes me want to return and give them more of my business. In many ways, BJ’s has surely exceeded my expectations.

Karen Zickes is a mom of three active children and freelance writer who resides in Holland, OH. She can be reached in c/o [email protected].

Bottom Line:

Though many of us sometimes prefer local restaurants to a chain, don’t discount the newest franchise in town, BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse, located in front of the Franklin Park Mall. The atmosphere is lively, the service is great, and they offer an amazingly large menu filled with fabulous options — along with one of the biggest kids’ menus around. Little ones are sure to love the “Kid Starters” that come out to the table immediately to take the edge off their rumbly little tummies.

BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse
4905 Monroe St., Toledo | 419.402.8210
Mon-Thur: 11AM-11PM
Fri-Sat: 11AM-1AM
Sun: 11AM-12AM
www.bjsrestaurant.com

West Side Montessori Welcomes New Head of School, Jenn Schoepf

By

Erin Schoen Marsh

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September 30, 2019

Succeeding Lynn Fisher as West Side Montessori’s (WSM) Head of School, Jenn Schoepf began working in the position over the summer, bringing decades of experience as an educator and an administrator. Schoepf, who has worked with WSM for 25 years, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Education and a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education with Montessori emphasis. In addition to her teaching background, Jenn brings administrative experience to her new role — she was the Director of Perrysburg campus and, later, the Director of Elementary and Middle School Education, Perrysburg and Toledo campuses.

montessoritoledo.org | [email protected].

Holey Toledough Remodels Original Location, Opens Second Location

By

Erin Schoen Marsh

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September 30, 2019

Holey Toledough’s original location on 3812 Alexis Road, newly expanded and remodeled, re-opened last month while a new, additional location opened on the second floor of the University of Toledo Student Union Center. As well, for all UT home games, Holey Toledough will have a food truck below the ESPN scoreboard. Now game attendees can see why Toledo loves its “Holey” Doughnuts.

holeytoledough.com

Mom-Shaming: No Room for Judgment in Parenting

By

Emily Remaklus

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September 30, 2019

Local parent of 5-year-old with autism shares hurdles and joys

“He is such a sweet, loving boy,” Ashley Earls stated as she described her oldest son, Kole. Not only is Kole a wonderful son, but he is also a great friend, a caring older brother to his two year old sibling Cooper, and has recently discovered the fun of playing soccer. Kole is also autistic, but that does not define him.

Finding support

Ashley had her suspicions early on that her now five-year old son might have autism. Her pregnancy with him was very difficult, and he was “a tiny little thing” when he was born. After his birth, he had a plethora of maladies, especially
GI issues.

Ashley noticed Kole was hitting milestones a little later than other children his age, and when he couldn’t find the words or ways to express himself, he became frustrated. “It was really, really hard,” confessed Ashley. After being on a waitlist for about six months, Kole, who was almost three at the time, was finally able to get in to see a specialist, who subsequently diagnosed him with autism.

Ashley recalled, “I just remember them coming in and saying really coldly ‘He does have autism’…the nurse in me wanted to advocate, but the mom in me just bawled…I remember thinking ‘Oh my gosh. What do we do next?’”

Taking advantage of various resources, Ashley did figure out what to do next. Kole is currently enrolled in preschool at Whiteford Elementary in the Sylvania School District, where he is provided with intervention services, mixing “typical” kids with children with special needs. Kole is thriving with the help of his teacher, Mr. Eric.

Rehab Dynamic and his occupational therapist have also been an immense help. However, despite Kole’s successes, some people haven’t realized the struggles Ashley and Kole have had to overcome and continue to face. One of those struggles is judgment from other parents.

Ashley has had to deal with “mom-glares” from others when Kole becomes overstimulated, resulting in his kicking and screaming. There have been times when he would sit at a restaurant with an iPad and headphones, a tool used to help him stay focused and prevent overstimulation by restaurant noises, and adults would walk by, commenting on how Ashley was using the iPad as a babysitter.

Someone at a grocery store once told her to “learn to control your children before having another one,” after seeing Kole upset. What that adult didn’t know was that the lights in a grocery stores or the noises or even the conveyor belt at check-out can be overwhelming for a child with autism.

“I wish there was more awareness for autism,” said Ashley. She also explained, “You never know anyone’s backstory, whether an adult or child. You can’t judge because you just don’t know.”

Teaching acceptance

When asked about tips for other parents to help with teaching their children acceptance, Ashley suggested the children’s book Jacob the Flapping Dinosaur Goes to School. She also said that parents’ guidance of their children on how to interact with Kole and other children with autism can make a huge difference.

She spoke of one little boy at Kole’s preschool whose mom always told him to say “bye” to every child in his class when he left. Ashley said that small gesture meant so much to her and Kole because he would come home and talk about his friend, and it was a relief for her to hear that he had a friend. The friendship has continued between the two and Ashley has found a great support group with other moms at the preschool.

Easterseals Northern Ohio Offers FREE Speech Screenings for Children

By

Erin Schoen Marsh

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September 30, 2019

Summer has come to an end and a new school year is here! Easterseals is helping children start the school year off right by offering free speech-language screenings during October. The screening is designed to provide a quick assessment of a child’s speech-language abilities and to help determine if a comprehensive evaluation is necessary.

Some speech milestones include: smiling when spoken to (3mos), babbling in speech-like sounds (6mos), saying simple words, like bye-bye (1yr), putting two words together to make simple sentences, like “More cookie” (2yrs), and having a word for almost everything (3yrs).

Call 1-888-325-8532 ext. 101 to learn more or schedule your free speech-language screening. easterseals.com/noh