FOR A BEAUTIFUL, HEALTHY SMILE
ELKINSDENTAL.COM FEBRUARY 2019
THE HONEYMOON WE DREAMED OF
From Galveston to Greece to Idaho
As Beth and I get ready to celebrate 20 years of marriage, I think about the milestones that mark the different phases of our lives — college graduation, dental school, the Navy, and two deployments. Each milestone led us closer to our ultimate goal: to live near family, to have my own practice, and to live in an area where we feel our family thrives and enjoys life. Today, we are exactly where we want to be. And along the way, the Navy presented me with some incredible opportunities, culminating in a visit to Greece and a presidential handshake.
Beth and I on a date for the first time in 5 months at a nice little restaurant in Rhodes, Greece
were just a little happy to see each other.The location wasn’t bad, either — pristine beaches with beautiful, clear blue water, fantastic food, and a historical island. It all made for a magical place to catch up on five months away from Beth and embark on our next adventure together. As I watched my ship sail off without me, filled with many emotions, I knew that day marked a new chapter. It was the culmination of my service in the Navy, and the destination provided us with the honeymoon we dreamed of when we were newlyweds. Beth and I got married when she was 19 and I was 23. We didn’t have the money to go on a European honeymoon, so we drove to Southern Texas and enjoyed the beaches of Galveston instead. You can imagine what it was like to find ourselves strolling the cobblestone streets and beaches of Greece 10 years later. It was absolutely amazing. After we got back from Greece, we moved our family to Idaho, where we started a new chapter of our lives, and I could only imagine what the next chapter would hold. Who knew 10 years later we’d be returning to Greece for our 20th wedding anniversary? We are so excited to relive the magic this upcoming July.
Receiving my end of tour award from President Bush
During my second and final deployment, the end of our tour coincided with the end of my military service. Our ship was scheduled to arrive in Greece on the same day my service was up. To make the most of the opportunity, Beth and I arranged to meet on Rhodes, an island off the coast of Greece, where our ship would leave me and continue on its course. Before I got to see Beth, though, a surprise visitor gave a very memorable end-of-service send off. It just so happened that the day our ship stopped in Greece, so did George W. Bush’s yacht. George, Barbara, and Jeb Bush came aboard our ship for a tour. George W. Bush even shook my hand and gave me my end-of-tour award. It was an amazing end to my service. The next day, the ship dropped me off on Rhodes, and I reunited with Beth. We hadn’t seen each other for five months, and yes, we
–Dr. Elkins
Elkinsdental.com | 1
3 TIPS TO PREVENT
Raising a Picky Eater
When you’re trying to feed your child, keep them healthy, and prevent them from becoming one of those weird adults with the stunted palate of a 2-year-old, it may feel like you’re faced with an uphill climb. Research shows that fussy eating may be as linked to genetics as it is to upbringing, not to mention the tangle of other psychosocial factors that can fuel a child’s inscrutable food preferences. That said, there are ways to help your child foster a healthy relationship with food and encourage them to be adventurous eaters. 1. KEEP YOUR EXPECTATIONS IN CHECK. When a child first encounters a new food, they’re going to give it the side-eye.That’s natural. In fact, according to a 2003 study, it may take as many as 12 “exposures” to a new food for it to become familiar, much less something they want to eat. If you put too much pressure on them to eat every last bit of the new food, that particular food won’t fare well in their memories and you’ll have to fight those negative associations from then on. Instead, talk about the new food as you’re preparing it, involve your child in the preparation, and have them check it out on their own terms. Normalizing those Brussels sprouts is half the battle.
2. AVOIDTURNING VEGETABLES INTO CHORES. You might think that offering your child a reward in return for finishing their green beans is a good way to make sure your child gets their nutrients, but it causes more problems than it’s worth. It just reinforces your child’s perception that the green beans are the “bad” food they have to choke down before getting to the good stuff. 3. MAKE A VARIETY OF DISHES. The more monotonous your nightly menu is, the fewer new foods your child will be exposed to, and the harder it will become to introduce healthy newcomers to the table. If your kids like green beans, great, but don’t start serving green beans with every meal just because you know those are the only veggies they’ll eat. Keep it varied and fun, and your kid’s palate will follow. You shouldn’t force your kid to eat food they don’t want to eat, but you shouldn’t cater too closely to their fussy habits either. Present them with a wide variety of the healthy options you want them to eat, and let them discover the joys of taste and texture as they grow. START SMALL: CHOOSE SUGAR-FREE GUM. Reducing your sugar intake is part of a healthy diet. Find sugar-free gum, and if you are a fan of sugary candy, choose ones you aren’t sucking on throughout the day so you avoid constantly coating your smile in sugar. Drinking plenty of water is also helpful to maintain a healthy smile. START SMALL: VISIT YOUR DENTISTTWICE A YEAR. See your dentist every six months and as needed. Set up your reservations in advance and stick to them! Don’t postpone visits. GO BIGGER: QUIT SMOKING. Giving up a smoking habit is a great step toward better oral health.This is different for everyone. For some, quitting cold turkey works.; for others, they might need the support of friends and family. Talk to us and talk to your doctor — we’ll remind you that this is a goal you want to stick to! Of course, it’s easy for us to tell you these things are important. Sometimes we don’t know how important something is until we learn about it. For us, we learned in hygiene school why caring for your smile daily with these practices is so important. For you, it might be doing some research at home to learn more about it — and asking us, of course. Taking control of your health is going to change your life, and it all starts with your smile. Kalie and Caryn
A Word From
This time of year, many of us are beginning to work on our New Year’s resolutions.
Working out, losing weight, and getting healthier can be a lot to tackle all at once, right?
Something we like to do to make these goals more manageable is to start small. Small changes add up to make a big difference. Here are some of our ideas for starting small, beginning with your smile. START SMALL: FLOSS ONCE A DAY. Start small with the goal to floss daily. It’s two extra minutes in the morning or night. It can be before or after you brush, as long as you floss once a day. Once a day is the key. START SMALL: BRUSHTWICE A DAY FOR 2 MINUTES. Once you’ve hit that goal, make sure you’re brushing two times a day for two minutes. It keeps your mouth clean and healthy and keeps bacteria at bay.
-Kalie and Caryn
2 | Elkins Dental
Inspired by foodnetwork.com
Ingredients
TIRAMISU
• 2 teaspoons dark rum • 24 packaged ladyfingers • 1/2 cup bittersweet chocolate shavings, for garnish
• 6 egg yolks • 3 tablespoons sugar • 1 pound mascarpone cheese • 1 1/2 cups strong espresso, cooled
GOOD CHEER Beer lovers, rejoice! Idaho is the world’s largest hop producer, and more and more people are taking advantage of our agricultural bounty by opening breweries in the Treasure Valley. Share a few of these treasures with visiting family members and their only question will be “How did we not come here sooner?” ladyfingers at the bottom of a walled baking dish. 5. Spread half of th mascarpone mixture on top of the first layer of ladyfingers. Top with another layer of ladyfingers and another layer of mascarpone. 6. Cover and refrigerate 2–8 hours. 7. Remove from fridge, sprinkle with chocolate shavings, and serve.
MOUNTAIN RANGES Surrounded by the Rocky Mountains, we don’t have to go far to find mountaintop winter activities. If skiing or tubing is your idea of winter fun, Bogus Basin is just a short drive away, and heading to McCall makes a fun weekend getaway. ... AND RIVERS Not only are we surrounded by the Payette and Boise rivers, Idaho is also home to the deepest gorge in North America: Hells Canyon. Take that, Arizona! 1. In a large mixing bowl, use a whisk to beat together egg yolks and sugar until thick and pale, about 5 minutes. 2. Add mascarpo e cheese and beat until smooth. 3. Fold in 1 tablespoon of espresso. 4. In a small, shallow dish, combine remaining espresso with rum. Dip each ladyfinger into mixture for 5 seconds. Place soaked Directions
Out-of-town relatives who are visiting for the holidays might wonder what makes Emmett so special. But we already know the Treasure Valley is full of gems — and we don’t just mean the rocks. Here are some additional reasons Emmett and The Gem State are great. WE’VE GOT SUNSHINE On average, we have 210 sunny days per year. Compare that to 144 rainy days in Portland and we can feel pretty happy about all our free vitamin D.
GEM STATE? WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE
Cabin Fever Reliever Where: Karcher Mall When: Saturday, Feb. 16
Les Bois 10K Where: Fort Boise Park When: Saturday, March 2
SIGNS OF SPRING The Crocus
We traditionally look to the groundhog to tell us whether or not spring is on its way, but there might be another, more accurate sign: the crocus. This humble flower stays underground through winter. When the plant senses sunlight, the buds open, and we are treated to the bright-eyed beauties, ranging in hues from purple and yellow to white. In contrast to the spring bloomer is the crocus sativus, or the autumn- flowering saffron crocus. Prized by the ancient Greeks for their aromatic centers, or stigmas, they were picked and dried to season their dishes. Today, these flowers are as prized as ever by chefs around the world, and a single gram of the dried spice, known as saffron — which is gathered meticulously by hand — can cost $7.
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNER, AMANDA E.! The cruise selected will be on the Norwegian Royal Princess. It departs from LA and includes three port stops on the way to the Mexican Riviera. It’s all-inclusive with Comfort+ flights, a balcony-view suite, a drink pass, gratuity, and , to top it all off, an on-shore excursion or $500 CASH (we’ll let Amanda choose)! What a lucky winner! These great patients have stuck with Elkins Dental since we opened in 2011, and we are thrilled to give them the chance to get away for a bit!
Elkinsdental.com | 3
INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1. Celebrating 20 Years 2. How to Raise Adventurous Eaters A Word From Kalie and Caryn
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
3.
4.
Couples
Tiramisu
Who Sweat Together Stay Together
Did You Know?
1110 S. Washington Ave. Emmett, ID 83617
HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY FROM ELKINS DENTAL
208-369-4532 Elkinsdental.com
COUPLES WHO SWEAT TOGETHER STAY TOGETHER Why You Should Exercise With Your Significant Other
Each Valentine’s Day, people all over the world rush to the store to buy chocolates and all the ingredients necessary to whip up a romantic dinner for two. Unfortunately, these calorie-laden holiday traditions can undermine the fitness resolutions you made just six weeks before. Instead of throwing your goals by the wayside this February, why not make fitness a couples activity? The National Library of Medicine published a study showing that couples who focused on their health together went to the gym more often and reported feeling more connected in their relationship.These findings were corroborated by a study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. Scientists claimed that partners who exercised together reported higher levels of happiness and satisfaction in their relationship. If you and your sweetheart are looking for a romantic way to burn some calories this month, here are some great workout ideas for two. PLAY CATCH! Grab a medicine ball and do some overhead passes, feet-to-feet situp passes, and back-to-back twists with each other. All of these easy at- home workouts help build a solid core.
GO FOR A RUN! If the weather is nice, the two of you can lace up and hit the pavement together. You could even make a couples playlist to listen to as you run. If the cold temperatures are preventing you from enjoying the great outdoors, head to the gym and challenge each other on side-by-side treadmills. TRY SOME ROCK CLIMBING! This is a great way to get a good workout while simultaneously building trust with your partner. Most rock-climbing gyms offer classes in belaying, and staff members can give you tips to improve your form. Sign up to work with an instructor and test your personal limits together.
4 | Elkins Dental
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook Learn more on our blog