nnylife.com 2015 winter break survival guide

NNYLIFE.COM2015W I N T E R B R E A K SURVIVAL G U I D E

WATERTOWN * FORT DRUM * CLAYTON * NORTHERN NEW YORK

FIND MORE AT NNYLIFE.COM

@docintheboxx

@roguemogwai

WINTER BREAK SURVIVAL GUIDEOUR NNY LIFE WINTER BREAK SURVIVAL GUIDE CONTRIBUTORS SEARCHED HIGH AND LOW ALONG THE FROZEN TUNDRA OF NORTHERN NEW YORK FOR WAYS TO KEEP YOU AND YOUR FAMILY BUSY, AND THE CABIN FEVER AT BAY, DURING WINTER BREAK 2015.

BRIEANNA LEWISBrieanna Lewis is a Northern New York native who dabbles in freelance writ-ing and blogging. Brieanna graduated from the State University of New York at New Paltz with a BA in Theatre Arts Design/Technology (concentration in Costume Design); she also spent time at a writer’s workshop held at the University of Alaska in Anchorage. When she is not writing Brieanna is working at the Watertown Daily Times, facilitating a book club and a women’s circle, and raising her fur babies. You can contact Brieanna by e-mailing her at [email protected].

What’s Your Favorite Winter Activity? Brieanna: I enjoy walking my dogs out-side in the winter. It’s peaceful and the snow is pretty when it’s pristine, and when I don’t have to drive in it.

ELIZABETH HURSTElizabeth Hurst is a wife, mother, run-ner, friend, artist, and general student of life. She moved to NNY with her husband, Sgt Ian Hurst and their son Briggs in December of 2012 and they have loved NNY ever since. Currently Elizabeth is the Coordinator of Arts Ed-ucation for the Watertown YMCA and North Country Arts Council, and loves the opportunities it gives her to turn creative passions into a job. Whether it’s teaching a kids art class, making use of her growing art supply stash tackling a Pinterest project, trying a new recipe, or finger painting with Briggs, Elizabeth loves anything that lets her be more creative.

What’s Your Favorite Winter Activity?

Elizabeth: My favorite part of winter is playing in the snow with my kids! I love all snow activities, snowball fights, snow angels, sledding, skiing, I recently took up snowshoeing... But the best part is sharing that with my kids, watching them see and feel and play with snow for the first time is like experiencing it all over again.

SARA CARPENTERSara is the Marketing Director for the Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce, and is also an adjunct instructor for Jefferson Com-munity College as well as teaching classes in the Continuing Education Division. She is a graduate of SUNY Oswego (MAT Art Education) and Rochester Institute of Technology (BA in Graphic Design), and is a member of the Greater Watertown Jaycees and is on the board of the Resolution Center of Jefferson and Lewis Counties, Inc. Sara lives in Dexter with her fiancé, Todd, daughter Hadley and her beagle, Rosie.

What’s Your Favorite Winter Activity? Sara: I would have to stay figure skat-ing! I figure skated professionally for 20 years, coached for 6 years, and traveled the world skating in competitions.

2015 | WINTER BREAK SURVIVAL GUIDE | www.NNYLife.com

Showcase your #NNYLifeNNYLIFE.COM SHOWS THE REAL NNY LIFE: THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE BEAUTIFUL

Whatever you’re up to over Winter Break 2015, take a minute to share it with us by tagging #NNYLife on your favorite social media platform, including Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, just like the folks featured below:

@docintheboxx

@ktclick

@rebal66

NNYLife.com is a regional

lifestyle blog and seasonal periodical pub-lished by Word Works Media, Watertown, NY,

13601.

Volume 1 # 1 published on February 5, 2015.

All rights reserved © 2015

@roguemogwai@elahurst

@lrpwilliams

@dkams

@d.isla

Temps.

PNG

www.NNYLife.com | WINTER BREAK SURVIVAL GUIDE | 2015

Cabin f e rvo r By Elizabeth Anderson Hurst

BEING INDOORS WITH YOUNG KIDS FOR DAYS AND DAYS CAN BE DAUNTING. BUT BE-FORE YOU THROW IN THE TOWEL AND TURN ON THE TV (A SUREFIRE SHORTCUT TO CABIN FEVER), READ THESE TIPS FROM ELIZABETH ANDERSON HURST, DIRECTOR OF THE WATER-TOWN YMCA’S ART PROGRAM, ON HOW TO KEEP KIDS PLAYING WHEN THE WEATHER IS JUST TOO BAD TO LEAVE THE HOUSE.

Winter in NNY is long... and cold...

and snowy... and there are days

when you can’t remember the last

time you were outside longer than

running from the car to a building.

Staying inside, although warm, is

bound to drive us crazy eventually.

Toss a couple of kids into the mix

and you’ve got a recipe for a big

mess. We wanted to give you a few

places to start to get the creative

juices flowing. Here are some ideas

gathered from both my own experi-

ence as well as some of my favorite

“mom-blogs.”

BUILD A BLANKET FORT

Have a “read in.” Does anyone else

remember doing this in school? We

used to wear our PJs, bring pillows,

blankets, and snacks... and a big

pile of books. So why not have a

“read in” at home? Try building a

cool blanket fort (we have a whole

board devoted to them on our

Pinterest page at Pinterest.com/

NNYLife), and then just read. Read

as many books as you want, for as

long as you want.

Kids too little to read on their own?

Try borrowing a free audiobook

from your local library’s digital lend-

ing program!

BRING A LITTLE SNOW INSIDE

Too cold to go outside? Bring the

winter fun IN! First, find things

around the house to decorate your

snowman. Get creative with what

you use for eyes, buttons, hands,


LOCAL LIBRARYIf you do make it to the library, be sure to go for Story time. They also have some fun programs for adults that you can find on our calendar at NNYLife.com.

KITCHENI fnd that I get the most repetitive with meals in the winter: grilled cheese and tomato soup every day... why not? My 3 year old absolutely loves helping me.

THEME NIGHT I love theme anything... especially movie nights. Why not take it a step further? Find a book to read that also has a movie and double up the entertainment!

BOARD GAMES Board games are also great, especially if you have multiple kids. Have the older one’s take charge and teach to the younger ones.

PUZZLESPuzzles are big at our house. We started out doing them together, talking about how you put a puzzle together (personally, I start with the edges).

Ad Space [email protected]

and don’t forget a hat and scarf!!

Grab a bucket and fill your bathtub

with snow. (It took us about 6x5

gallon buckets to really fill the tub).

Then, throw some snow pants and

boots on and climb in! You can get

about 45 minutes to an hour of

building fun before the snow starts

to melt, and then you just let it melt

right down the drain!

TAKE A VIRTUAL TOUR OF AN ART MUSEUM

A lot of museums have virtual tours

that allow you to explore places

you might otherwise not be able to

visit. The National Gallery of Art has

several different tours, including

one that features the Van Gogh Mu-

seum in Amsterdam. You can also

find tours for the Louvre, the Nation

Gallery in London, and the Museum

of Modern Art offers not only it’s

own virtual tour, but also links to

other museum tours as well. After

“visiting” a museum and seeing

some of the most famous works of

art, take some time to create your

own! The team over at RedTedArt.

com have tons of ideas on how to

create work inspired by the greats!

AWAKEN YOUR SENSES

Sensory play is one of my favorite

activities. It’s incredible to watch

little brains at work figuring out the

word around them. Setting up a

sensory activity doesn’t have to be

complicated. The super-mom over

at MamaPapaBubba.com has tons

of ideas. One that we’ve been want-

ing to try at our house is the Frozen

Ocean Animal Rescue. She also has

oodles of ideas for playing, crafting,

and cooking with your kids... and

some of the coolest home-made

play dough I’ve ever seen. Which

leads us to..

MAKE SOME PLAY-DOUGH!

I personally prefer a cooked play-

dough that I found a few months

ago. It is perfectly smooth, and lasts

forever! We are still using some

that we made for Halloween, and

I’ve just been keeping it in a zip-

lock bag. Don’t be intimidated by

“cooked play-dough” it’s super easy.

(Visit NNYLife.com for ingredients

and recipe. )

Below you’ll find a few more ideas

I put together. For more informa-

tion, and for links to all the sites in

this round-up, visit NNYLife.com.


http://www.redtedart.com/

http://www.redtedart.com/

http://mamapapabubba.com/

http://mamapapabubba.com/2014/01/08/frozen-ocean-animal-rescue-salt-water-ice-play/

http://mamapapabubba.com/2014/01/08/frozen-ocean-animal-rescue-salt-water-ice-play/

http://NNYLIFE.COM


Winter Break calendar of events

2015

Compiled by sara carpenter

Snowtown USA closing ceremonies will take place on February 15 at Dry Hill Ski Area in Watertown at 6:30 p.m. Visit watertownny.com for more information.

Please Note: Before traveling to any

of the events listed in this guide, NNY

Life recommends you call, email, or

check the websites of the events you

plan to attend. Plans change. Weath-

er happens. Be safe, and make sure

the travel is worth your time by call-

ing ahead to make sure your event is

still happening.

FEBRUARY 14

Snowkite Rally

Deer River Ranch, 1414 Route 177.

Combines snowboarding or skiing

with a foil kite. No cost to attend.

Participants required to sign waiver.

Register at wdt.me/AZP7sa. No in

person registration. Party to follow,

6 p.m., Ridge View Inn. Raffle, 8 p.m.

proceeds benefit Lowville Food

Pantry. Food, drinks available for

sale. Click here for more Informa-

tion.

Free Snowshoe Day

1:00pm

Minna Anthony Common Nature

Center, County Route 100. Lesson

at 1 p.m. Free snowshoe rental.

Information: (315) 482-2479, www.

MACnaturecenter.com.

29th Annual Theresa Fire Depart-

ment “Luck of the Draw” Open

Boundaries Ice Fishing Derby

5:30am- 5pm

Pre-Register at the Theresa Fire Sta-

tion, Felder’s Bait Shop in Redwood,

Hunters Hideaway Bait Shop Co. Rt.

46, Theresa, & Chaumont Hardware,

Rt. 12E. Questions: Contact Timothy

Karg (315) 777-3936, www.there-

safire.com

Wolverine Enrichment in Water-

town

10am-11am

Thompson Park Zoo & Conservancy,

1 Thompson Park, Watertown, New

York 13601

Chippewa Bay Fish and Game

Clubs Annual Open Boundary/

Catch & Release Ice Fishing Derby

6am- 4pm

Chippewa bay fish and game club

annual ice fishing derby, prizes to

be awarded by lottery draw, no

child goes without a prize, very

family oriented ice derby. Chippewa

Bay, www.chippewabayfishandg-

ameclub.org

Carthage Winterfest 2015

10am-3pm

Horse-drawn sleigh rides, card-

board sled races, tug of war, scaven-

ger hunt, face painting, food, drinks

and more. Registration forms for

the cardboard sled races, tug of war


2015

http://watertownny.com

http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20150120/NEWS04/150118351


and precious pet photo contest are

available at www.carthageny.com.

Located Carthage Park, Carthage,

NY

Valentine’s Day Ice-Rink Party

12pm - 8pm

Come down to the LaFargeville

Ice-Rink for food, fun, games and

prizes! Sunrise Avenue, Lafargeville.

Snowtown USA Events

12pm-2:30pm

Snowtown Valentine’s Day Public

Skate

2pm-3:45pm

Free Admission with Canned Good,

Watertown Municipal Ice Arena,

Watertown Fairgrounds

Valentine’s Day Movie Special: Join us

for “Sleepless in Seattle”

7:35pm

(1993) PG- Snacks provided! Flower

Memorial Library, Community

Room, Watertown

An Evening of Music and Conver-

sation with Tessa Thompson and

Nelly’s Echo

7pm

Discussion on diversity, 7 p.m.

Robert R. and Jean S. Sturtz Theater,

Jefferson Community College, 1220

Coffeen St. Free. Information: www.

sunyjefferson.edu.

Watertown Wolves vs. Steel City

Warriors

7:35pm

Hockey Game at the Watertown

Municipal Ice Arena, Watertown

Fairgrounds

FEBRUARY 15

Snowkite Rally










sale. Click here for more informa-

tion.

Chaumont Farmers Market

9am-2pm

Located at the Chaumont Volunteer

Fire Station, includes local crafters

and vendors.

Sweetheart Jamboree

1pm

Raffles, Silent Auction, Karaoke,

Live Band, Food, to benefit Barben-

Jones VFW Post 1400, 231 Bellew

Ave., Watertown,(315) 788-2945

Daddy Daughter/ Mommy’s Little

Sweetheart Dance

5pm-7pm





Children’s valentine dance with

mom and dad. So often our little

one watch as mommy and daddy

get all dressed up and go out for a

night of dinner and dancing. Now

it is their turn to get dressed up for

a special night out with their hero,

their first love....you!!! Location:

Ramada Inn, Watertown NY Phone:

315-842-5661

Watertown Wolves vs. Dayton

Demonz

5:05pm



Fairgrounds

Snowtown USA Closing Ceremony

6:30pm

Closing Ceremony Fireworks and

Torchlight Parade, Dry Hill Ski Area,

Watertown, www.watertownny.

com

FEBRUARY 16

Snowkite Rally










sale. Click here for more Informa-

tion.

Watertown Wolves vs. Dayton

Demonz

7:35pm



Fairgrounds

Baby-Sitting Training

9am-4pm

For youth 11 to 15, American Red

Close-up on: HOMESOMETIMES WE NEED TO CIRCLE THE WAGONS -A CASE FOR ENTERTAINING AT HOME

JB Wise Outdoor Skating Rink; Photo courtesy of Horizon Aerial Media Services





FEBRUARY 16, CONT.

Cross, 203 N. Hamilton St. Bring

lunch and Cabbage Patch sized doll.

Fee required. Registration required:

(800) 733-2767, www.redcross.org/

take-a-class.

Writer’s Workshop

9am-5pm

WPBS-TV, 1056 Arsenal St. For chil-

dren K-3. Tips to write story for PBS

kid’s writer’s contest. Free. Informa-

tion: wpbstv.org/writerscontest.

Family Movie

10am

WPBS-TV, 1056 Arsenal St. Cinema

Six presentation, “The Cookie Thief.”

Special activities for children, re-

freshments, appearance by Cookie

Monster. Free. Information: www.

wpbs.org.

Poets & Writers Ink

7pm-9pm

Sponsored by Cape Vincent Arts

Council, Cape Vincent Recreation

Center, 602 S. James St. All skill

levels, genre and ages welcome.

Information: (315) 654-2413.

Born to Move Fitness Class for

Kids at Downtown YMCA

Ages 8-12 – 4:45 to 5:30 p.m.

(Aerobics Room)

FEBRUARY 17

Winter Reading Program,

Lowville Free Library

10:30 a.m.

Tuesday, beach party storytime

5387 Dayan St.

For complete schedule: www.

lowvillefreelibrary.org. 376-2131.

Depauville Free Library

11 a.m. - Tween Tuesday...Wire Ring

Making (ages 10+)

4:30 - Movie: Alexander and the

Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very

Bad Day

For more information call 315-686-

3299., or visit

www.depauvillefreelibrary.org/

4-H Winter Break Special

9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Join us at the Cornell Coopera-

tive Extension Office of Jefferson

County for hands-on activities in

the morning. Following a lunch

break, we will head to Dry Hill for an

afternoon on the slopes. (Healthy

snacks will be provided. Partici-

pants will need to bring their own

lunch.) Pick-up will be at the Ski

Area. To RSVP, or for more informa-

tion, please call 315-788-8450, ext.

269.

AudioBody

11am

Robert R. and Jean S. Sturtz The-

ater, Jefferson Community College,

1220 Coffeen St. High tech comedy

show sponsored by JCC Campus

Activities Board. Cost: $5. Tickets on

sale on Monday, Jan. 26, at noon.

Tickets: www.sunyjefferson.edu or

at Student Activities Center, Room

4-100, McVean Center. Students

with valid ID receive one free ticket.

Information: (315) 786-2431.

FEBRUARY 18


Kids at Downtown YMCA

4:30-5:15 p.m.

Ages 13-16 – (Aerobics Room)

www.watertownymca.org for more

information


Kids at Fairgrounds YMCA

4:30 to 5:15 p.m.

Ages 8-12 – (Aerobics Room)


information

Carthage Free Library

Children’s Craft Program

12:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m

Children’s Chinese New Year pa-

per craft program, Carthage Free

Library, 412 Budd St., .

Crafts include Chinese fan, lantern,

drum or paper dragon.

Information: 493-2620.

Depauville Free Library Classical

Guitar Concert with Gary Walts

1:00

Bring along a guitar for a lesson

after the performance



3299., or visit


Flower Memorial Library

Parent & Child Activity Time

10:30am-11:15am

Enjoy a family-friendly program of

stories, movement, and crafting!

Ages 3 to 5 (siblings are welcome!).

No registration necessary. Parents:

you must remain with your child!

Flower Memorial Library, 229 Wash-

ington St., Free. Information: www.

flowerlibrary.org or (315) 785-7705.


Lego Challenge

3:30pm-5pm

Teen Space, for those 12 to 18 years

old. Prizes awarded. Free. Informa-

tion: www.flowerlibrary.org or (315)

785-7705.

FEBRUARY 19



4:45-5:30

Ages 8 -12- Thursdays (Aerobics

Room)


information

Depauville Free Library

Story Hour and Craft

10:00

Story Hour and Craft (theme is Chi-

nese New Year)

11:00

Movie : The Gruffalo followed by

The Gruffalos Child

4:30

Movie : The Gruffalo followed by

The Gruffalos Child


3299., or visit



Libraries! Story Time

10:30am

Begin developing literacy skills with

a wiggly program for our young-

est patrons. Program concludes

with a play time! Ages 2 and under

(siblings are welcome!). No registra-

tion necessary. Parents: you must

remain with your child, Flower

Memorial Library, 229 Washington

St. Free.

Information: www.flowerlibrary.org

or (315) 785-7705.

Carthage Free Library

10 a.m.

Story hour with local story teller,

Lynn Morgan, Carthage Free

Library, 412 Budd St., Fun stories

about animals, audience participa-

tion. Animal crafts, special snack

treats.


Frozen Tea Party

1pm-4pm

Community room, Flower Memorial

Library, 229 Washington St. Crafts,

games, snacks and prizes. Attend

as favorite Frozen character, if you

wish.

Information: www.flowerlibrary.org

or (315) 785-7705.

Frozen Party at Lowville Elks

Lodge

10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.

5600 Shady Ave., Movie, “Frozen”

at 12 p.m. For complete schedule:

www.lowvillefreelibrary.org.

376-2131.

Clayton Chamber of Commerce

Broomball under the Lights!

6pm- 8pm

If you’re looking to get out & have

some fun with friends or are in the

mood for some friendly competi-

tion come to the Oval at the Lion’s

Field Thursday February 19th!

Everyone is welcome to come at

no cost & we will be picking teams

there. No hockey equipment or

skates necessary, Just a broomball

stick with the hard plastic broom

end, or even an old cut-off broom!

If you have any questions you can

call the Clayton Chamber of Com-

merce at (315) 686-3771 or send us

a message, otherwise hope to see

everyone there, Webb St, Clayton

FEBRUARY 20

Beatlemania Now

8pm

Kallet Theater, 4842 N. Jefferson St.,


Pulaski, Live on stage tribute to the

Beatles. Cost: $40, $50, $75. Tickets:

[email protected]. Infor-

mation: kallettheater.com/events,

kallettheater.com/bmn,

(315) 298-0007.

Depauville Free Library Movie

11:00

Movie: The Boxtrolls


3299., or visit


FEBRUARY 21



9:30-10:15

Ages 6 & 7- Saturdays(Aerobics

Room)


information

Clayton Ice Fishing Derby & Ice

Shanty Contest!

11 a.m.

Carrier & French Bays

Weather Permitting: Contest will be

cancelled if derby is cancelled or

poor ice conditions

Contest Categories include: Best

hospitality, weekend getaway, most

patriotic, Time-Honored Classic,

Judges Choice

Free Registration, Friday, February

20, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Knights of

Columbus

Call 315-686-3771, or visit 1000is-

lands-Clayton.com/Shanty

855 Graves St, Clayton, NY 13624

Depauville Free Library Movie

11:00

Movie: The Pagemaster


3299., or visit


Snowmobile Drag Races

8 a.m. - Registration

10:30 a.m. - Races

Behind Copenhagen Fire Hall, 9950

Main St. Cost: $15 each class. Gen-

eral admission: $5 per person. Food

available.

Information: (315) 783-9206 or

(315) 483-5367

Annual Chili Cook-Off

11am-3pm

FX Caprara Harley-Davidson, 17890

Goodnough Road. Free entry, free

admission. Prizes awarded to top

three chilis. Information: www.

fxchd.com.

Clayton Taste of the Town

4pm-8pm

Presented by Rotary Club of Clay-

ton, 1000 Islands Harbor Hotel, 200

Riverside Drive. Celebrate regional

businesses. Admission: $5 (five

samples), $4, military. Proceeds do-

nated to Rotary International. Silent

auction to benefit Dodge Pond

FEBRUARY 22

Watertown Airsoft League Fund-

raiser

10am-3pm

Local crafters and vendors, Spider-

man visits from 1pm-2pm, Raffles &

more. Dulles State office Building,

317 Washington Street, Watertown.

(315) 529-4893

Chaumont Farmers Market

9am-2pm

Located at the Chaumont Volunteer

Fire Station, includes local crafters

and vendors.CAMPS & CLASSE

CLASSES

February 14

My Fave Adult and Me: Learn to

Knit

9 a.m. to noon

Extended Learning Center,

Jefferson Community College, 1220

Coffeen St. Cost: $20; children 15

and younger, $10.

Information: 786-2438.

My Fave Adult and Me: Rainbow

Baking (Grades 1-8)

9 a.m. to noon

ames McVean Student Center, Jef-

ferson Community College, 1220

Coffeen St. Cost: $99 (one adult/one

child). Information: 786-2438.

CAMPS & SPECIAL EVENTS

Art Camp at the Fairgrounds

YMCA

February 16, 17, 18th

9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Camps & Classes


If you wish to register after that

time you may contact Elizabeth

Hurst at [email protected] to

see if slots are still available.

Daily snacks will be served

Art camp is a great way for kids

to discover their inter artist. They

will get the chance to try several

different projects while they create

their masterpieces and meet new

friends.

Cost: YMCA Member: $70

Non-Member: $80

Military $75

Kids Pottery Open Studio

February 17, 18, 19, 20

CLAY TIME! Kids Pottery Open

Studio

Where: Thousand Islands Arts Cen-

ter, 314 John Street, Clayton

Times: 10-11:30 am

Cost: $15 per session

Antique Boat Museum Science

Camp

February 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

Explore the science of boating.

$7 per child for members and $10

for nonmembers with a family

maximum charge of $21 per family,

per day. For more information or

to pre-register, contact Julie Broad-

bent at 686-4104, ext. 235, or via

email at [email protected].

Lowville Cheer Camp

February 16, 18, 20,

Ages 5-8, 12pm-1pm,

Ages 9-12, 1:30pm-2:30pm

Students will learn basic motion

and jump technique along with

basic tumbling, flexibility, sideline

cheers, dance and stunts.

$25 for all three days, Double Play

Sports Community Center, Lowville,

4-H Choose Health Teen Leader

Training

February 19-20

This two-day workshop is for teens

interested in developing leadership

and career development skills in

the area of nutrition. Call to register.

Cornell Cooperative Extension of

Jefferson County, 203 N. Hamilton,

Watertown, 315-788-8450


Winter in NNY is brutal, but that’s

no secret. Due to white-out condi-

tions, temperatures in the negatives

and roads so icy that they put skat-

ing rinks to shame there have been

many school and activity cancel-

lations as well as travel advisories.

Even though Moms seem like super

heroes, the reality is that they are

only human and that they too need

a break from the chaos every once

in awhile.

Since North Country winters are not

an ideal time to travel long dis-

tances and our instinct is to circle

the wagons and, after the holidays,

spend as little money as possible, a

good idea for NNY moms is to have

a “Mom’s Night In.”

Check out this list of ideas for

moms who want to beat the winter

blues, get together, unwind, have

fun, and learn something new.

COSMETICS PARTY Mary Kay, Avon, Motives…there are

plenty of cosmetics companies that

have consultants who will come

to your home and do makeovers.

Consultants will also be able to

instruct on cosmetic application

as well as the latest trends in the

beauty industry.

FOOD/KITCHEN PARTIESWhether it’s Pampered Chef,

Wildtree, or good old fashioned

Tupperware there are plenty of

food/kitchenware themed parties

that you could host for a mom’s

night in.

CLOTHES SWAP A chance to come together to

swap kids clothes and/or Mom

clothes.

BOOK SWAPA great way to share your favorite

books and get some new reading

material.

HIRE A PROHire a professional to come in and

show you how to do something

new! Hire a chef to teach you

how to cook a new dish or a yoga

instructor to lead you all through a

rejuvenating vinyasa.

GAME NIGHTSometimes an old fashioned game

night is necessary to beat the

Wagons

Circle the

WHY LEAVE THE HOUSE WHEN YOU CAN BRING THE FUN AND COMPANIONSHIP OF OTHER NNY WOMEN INTO YOUR LIVING ROOM? BY BRIEANNA LEWIS


hzzht

winter blues. Card games, board games…

Anything to get the laughter and conversa-

tion flowing.

PINTEREST PARTYYou know how you peruse Pinterest and

you see a million things that you would like

to make but you never have the time? Get

together with your friends and have a Pin-

terest party! Choose one craft/recipe off of

Pinterest, gather together your friends and

some materials and make it happen!

SPA NIGHTFace masks, manis, pedis, wine…need I say

more?

MOVIE NIGHTThe chance to watch an entire movie unin-

terrupted.

BOOK CLUBFor all of the bookworms out there, you

know that nothing is more satisfying than

sharing a bond over an awesome book.

Visit NNYLife.com for reviews on the per-

fect book for your next book club gather-

ing!




Shortly after giving birth to her son, Jenelle Botts, like many women in the Fort Drum community, found herself the spouse of a deployed soldier, and a brand new mom, trying to figure out when was a convenient time to shovel herself out of her driveway to go to the store: between naps, or after bedtime? Instead of becoming frozen in that What Now??? phase of new motherhood, she joined a local fitness group for moms, made great friends, and explored the northern New York community with her little boy in tow. But, as you’ll see in her profile, Jenelle is always a few steps ahead. In addition to mastering the north country, she also launched a business in an industry even tougher than being a girl in the army: selling hand-made luxury baby items.

1. Name : Jenelle Botts

2. Place of Birth : Los Angeles

3. Family: Husband, Seth and Son, Henry

4. Education/Military Experience: Masters Degree in Psychology, eleven years active duty Army, Military Intelli-gence Warrant Officer, Current: NY National Guard, MI Warrant Officer

5. Occupation : Stay At Home Mom, Owner, Spools and Drool Baby Boutique

6. Hobbies: Reading, baking, traveling

7. What is Your Business? I make luxury items for babies, toddlers, and moms. I specialize in custom baby blankets and linens, organic baby pajamas, and I make the Double Doodie Bag which is exclusive to S&D.

8. What is Your Audience/Market? Women ages 25-45, mothers, grandmothers, and those who have babies that they love!

9. What’s Your Career Ambition? To expand into a nationally recognized brand and ultimately provide financial support to my fam-ily.

10. What made you decide to start your own business? It started as an outlet for my creativity and desire to make things. I also wanted to start working again but not full time and not out of the home. It just made sense.

11. What is the most challenging part of being a work at home mom? Working at home! There are so many other things to do and prioritizing work tasks and setting a work schedule is key to not getting side tracked!

12. I have a knack for: Finding fabrics. I love patterns and colors and designs! I like finding beautiful, unique fabrics for the store.

13. Excluding family members, who influenced you most, and why? Amanda Lessner. She has successfully run a thriving business, raised a baby, and run a household all while staying humble and true to her craft. She was the first to put the bug in my ear about selling the things I made. She is so encouraging and supportive.

14. What is your fondest childhood memory? Family vacations to the mountains of NC to my grandfather’s cabin. It was always so family focused and all my cousins would come and we would spend a week in our bathing suits swimming in

"YOU HAVE TO BE UNCOMFORTABLE SOMETIMES, AND F E E L S A F E I N U N C O N D I T I O N A L loveu"


the lake and playing in the dirt!

15. My pet peeve is: dogs dressed in people clothes. They have fur. They don’t need sweaters.

16. If you could sit down and ask questions of anyone (living or dead), who would it be and why? My profound, deep, touching answer is my grandmother, Mimi. I would introduce her to my son and ask her questions about being a mother. My superficial answer is Adnan Syed. (from Serial). I’d like to ask him so many questions!

17. What is the most exciting or dangerous thing you’ve ever done? Get married!

18. Life’s most challenging endeavor is: Relationships with other people. Whether it is romantic, a friendship, or fam-ily ties. All relationships require work and understanding and patience. You have to allow yourself to grow and change with the relationship or you will become dissatisfied and unhappy with that relationship. Humans are complicated. Put two together and it gets even harder! But relationships are also

so rewarding and bring so much joy and fulfillment. But no relationship happens naturally. Just because you are a child of another human, it doesn’t mean that that relationship will just happen. You have to try, be uncomfortable at times, and feel safe in the glory of unconditional love.

19. Is there anything you have passed up on doing that you now regret? Yes. When I was a young, unmarried Warrant Officer, I was offered a job at a Special Forces Group. I would have been the first female in that position. It was a huge deal that I was chosen. But I was dating Seth and there were no job opportunities at that base. So we would be apart. I chose him. I don’t regret that decision, but I always wondered how I would have done in that job.

20. If you were stranded alone on a desert island, what is one item you would take with you? Coffee. No wine. Cof-fee. Ok Wine. In a box.

Photos by Amanda Lessner Photography

Mom-trepreneur

Meet Jenelle Botts: Mom to Henry, New York National Guardswoman, NNY Life Contributor, owner of Spools

& Drools Baby Boutique, and creator of the “Double-Doodie” diaper bag., which is exclusive to S&D. How does she do it all

and still have time to smile like that? Take a peek inside for her Q&A with NNY Life.

JeNELLE BOTTS

nnylife.com 2015 winter break survival guide

Documents