July August 2021 WEB

JULY/AUGUST 2021 - Complimentary Issue - www.qcfamilyfocus.com
Early Childhood
Eye Screening
When Preparation
Meets Opportunity
How The First
Day Project
Helps Children
in Need

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2 July/August 2021 I QC Family Focus

JULY/AUGUST 2021
Serving Eastern Iowa & Western Illinois
5
8
FIRST DAY PROJECT 2021
Moving to the
big boy beds
10
Getting Ready
For Back To School
Early Vision
Screenings For
Children
Publisher: Mike Mickle
Editor: Karen Mickle
Magazine Design: Jessie Smith
Contributing Editors
Michael Carton • Ela Ersan • Evin Ersan
John Frederick • Junior Achievement • Mike Mickle
Christina Myatt • Barb Wollan
Join thousands of others as they help us promote happy healthy families in the QCA.
Call 563-940-7875 for more information.
QC Family Focus Magazine is a wholly owned subsidiary of Mickle Communications Group LLC. Publication of advertising and articles does not
constitute endorsement. The publisher reserves the right to refuse and/or edit any materials for publication. You can contact us at QC Family Focus
Magazine, P.O. Box 194, Bettendorf, Iowa 52722, 563-940-7875 or email: mmickle@qcfamilyfocus.com. ©Copyright 2021.
QC Family Focus I July/August 2021 3

Your Mickle’s Worth
It’s goodbye... again. Our oldest is heading
to St. Louis. Kyle has definitely been the “traveler”
in the family. He spent time in Chicago on a brief
internship, in Goodyear, Arizona for a 3 month
internship and Tampa for what was “supposed” to
be a 10 month internship. Unfortunately, it ended
after only three months due to covid. Now, he’s
entering the working world in St. Louis. Karen and
I are glad that he will be within driving distance so
we can see him on a regular basis. However, I’m
not sure how a diehard Cubs fan will handle being
in Cardinal country!
Kate moves back to Monmouth in a little
over a month. She will begin her senior year in
college and begin the application process for grad
school.
Matt will be heading to Iowa City about the
same time Kate leaves. I’m still struggling with the
fact that our youngest is heading to college. When
we launched QC Family Focus they were all so
young. Matt wasn’t even one year old.
It’s been quite the journey. We’ve
accumulated hundreds of miles in travel to sporting
events. We watched soccer in the snow, baseball
in the 90 degree heat and spent our share of hours
in the PV pool area watching swim meets. I’ve
loved every minute of it.
In a few weeks, it will just be Karen and me
(along with the four legged member of the family,
Boomer). How will
we spend all this
extra time we’ll
have? If I know
us, a good chunk
of it will be spent
on traveling to St.
Louis, Monmouth
and Iowa City to
have dinner with our
kids and hopefully,
some of it can be
spent on travel to other places for a few getaways
during the winter months.
Believe me when I say, the journey begins
to accelerate a little more with each passing year.
For those of you still in the toddler stage, you’ll be
planning a graduation party before you know it.
Hug your kids often, never stop telling them how
much they are loved and embrace every moment.
Best regards,
Mike, Karen, Kyle, Kate and Matt
YOUR AD
COULD BE
HERE!
m mickle
4 July/August 2021 I QC Family Focus
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Talk to the experts at
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We are the ONLY company
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to set up a brainstorming session.
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FIRST DAY PROJECT 2021
QC Wide First Day Project Helps Students in Need for the School Year
by Christina Myatt Pleasant Valley High School, Service Learning Coordinator, Director of Theatre
Each year, the Quad City-
Wide First day Project works to
collect school supply donations
for students in need throughout
the Quad Cities area. The Quad
City-Wide First Day Project
annual school supply drive is
a strong collaboration among
Quad City area school districts,
local businesses and volunteer
groups to help meet the needs of
kindergarten through 12th grade
students who may not otherwise
have the school supplies they need
to be successful.
The First Day Project was first
established in 2006 as a way to
coordinate and enhance school
supply collections taking place in
different Quad City communities.
More than 25,000 students in the
Quad Cities schools are eligible for
the free and reduced lunch program.
Some Quad Cities schools have as
many as 98% of the total student
population qualifying for free and
reduced lunch.
Supplies collected through
the Quad City-Wide First Day
Project helps meet the needs of
thousands of students and enables
them to dive into their learning
with confidence. Items needed
include pencils, pens, crayons,
composition notebooks, pocket
folders, spiral notebooks and
pencil cases. Donations can be
made at the following:
Monetary donations
● Monetary Donations to the First
Day Project can be made through
the Quad Cities Community
Foundation. Online donations can
be made at www.qcfoundation.
org and checks can be made out
to QC Community Foundation
and sent to 852 Middle Rd, Ste
100, Bettendorf. Be sure to write
First Day Fund in the memo line.
Business Drop Offs
● Ascentra- July 6-30 at the
following locations: Bettendorf
2019 Grant St and 2339 53rd
Ave; Davenport 1515 W. 53rd
St and 1710 W. 3rd St and 1800
Brady St; Moline 3005 7th St
● Carpetland- July 6-30 at 4337
Brady St, Davenport and 4201
44th Ave, Moline
● Mel Foster- July 6-30 at the
following locations: Moline 2500
41st St; Bettendorf 2300 Spruce
Hills Dr; Davenport 3211 E. 35th
St. Ct.
● Chris Elsberg State Farm Agency,
855 46th Ave, Rock Island, June
14 - July 30
● Midwest Complete Construction
will accept donations July 6-30
at 3720 46th Ave, Rock Island
“Pack the Bus” Events
● WQAD- Wednesday, July 28,
6am-6pm, 3003 Park 16th St,
Moline
● HyVee- Saturday, July 17, 10am-
2pm, 4064 E. 53rd St for the
Bettendorf Community School
District
● Genesis- August 2 (East Campus),
August 3 (West Campus), August
4 (Illini Campus), 7:30am-3:45pm
School Drop Offs (July 6-30)
● Bettendorf Community School
District- District Administration
Center, 3311 18th Street
● Davenport Schools - Achievement
Service Center, 1702 Main St
● Moline- Allendale, 1619-11th
Avenue Moline
● Pleasant Valley Community
School District-Pleasant Valley
High School, 604 Belmont Rd
● East Moline School District-
Christ United Methodist Church
– 3801 7th St., 9:30am–12 pm
● Rock Island/Milan School District
-Administration Center, 2101 6th
Avenue
For more information about
the First Day Project QC School
Supply Drive or to help support area
students contact Miryam Andrews-
Ohlman, Outreach Coordinator,
Bettendorf Community School
District, (563) 359-9375 x6558 or
mandrewsohlman@bettendorf.
k12.ia.us.
QC Family Focus I July/August 2021 5

in partnership with
JULY 15 – SEPT 9
(no class on 8/26)
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
2706 W Central Park
Ave, Davenport
To register and for more
information contact:
Suzanne Tanner
641-740-7391
stanner@iastate.edu
Income guidelines apply.
6 July/August 2021 I QC Family Focus

by exercise.com
Summer is a great time to
prioritize family fitness.
With more hours in the
day and no evening schoolwork,
the whole family can stay active
together. Despite this extra time
and warmer weather, it can still feel
impossible to motivate your kids
to get up and move. That’s where
the keys to family fitness success
come into play.
When you choose activities
as a group, keep it less structured,
and empower your kids to make
healthy choices for themselves,
you’ll find that everyone is excited
to make more time for fitness.
#1 – Do It Together
Family fitness is not about
the “divide and conquer” mentality.
You aren’t friends in a diet group,
with your own training programs
and nutrition plans. Family fitness
is about moving your bodies
together — taking advantage of
this time as a unit while staying
active all summer long.
Not only will it give you
more time together, but it will also
allow you to be a fitness role model
for your kids, which is important for
their growth. Health.gov suggests:
If children see their parents
exercising regularly, they are also
more likely to accept it as a normal
part of their own lives. They might
look forward to exercising rather
than perceiving it as some sort of
punishment. If parents commit to
becoming healthier themselves
— making better nutrition choices
and performing regular physical
activity — their children are much
more likely to emulate these
behaviors.
When working out at home,
bring out props like yoga balls,
medicine balls, and a jump rope.
Kids will love throwing around the
yoga and medicine balls and jump
roping to their hearts’ content,
while you do your usual strength
routine. Even better: bring the
workout into your backyard so
everyone can breathe in the fresh
summer air between sets.
#2 – Eat Healthy as a Household
Mealtime is about more
than simply eating. It’s a chance
to put something healthy in your
body, while role-modeling good
eating habits for your kids. But
don’t just eat in the same room,
at the same time — make healthy
eating a household focus, which
means choosing meals together,
picking out healthy ingredients as
a family, and then cooking with a
little help from everyone.
As you consider the many ways to
eat healthy as a household, keep
these ideas and tips in mind:
Choose a variety of foods –
Show your kids how many healthy
options there are to choose from.
“Offering a variety of foods helps
children get the nutrients they
need from every food group. They
will also be more likely to try new
foods and to like more foods,” the
USDA says.
Make protein the star – Both
you and your growing kids need
protein. Make sure everyone in
the family has protein at every
meal, including breakfast. If you
don’t have time to cook a full meal
one morning, have protein shakes
together instead.
Prioritize veggies over
fruit – While fruit is important for
everyone’s diet, it still contains
sugar. Find different ways to cook
veggies that make them more
appealing to your children. Try
sautéing veggies with a healthy
sauce or roasting them with
olive oil and spices. You can also
sneak vegetables into your kids’
smoothies, and they won’t even
know.
Let the kids choose
– Empower your little ones to
choose fun healthy foods at the
grocery store. While there needs
to be some semblance of planning
to make your life less hectic, start
a tradition of choosing one new
fruit or vegetable each week.
They’ll be excited to look for fun
new foods, and, better yet — even
more excited to try it.
#3 – Make It Fun
Fitness should be fun, both
for adults and for kids. Exercise
only feels like a chore if you were
taught to think that way. You have
a chance to show your kids that
staying healthy and active is a fun
part of life, not another thing they
have to do.
Appeal to their love of
friendly competition by signing
up for a race. Kids have a way of
making running look so effortless
because, for them, it is. Their
young energy carries them back
and forth across the lawn 15 times
before they sit down to take a
breath.
Here are several other
ideas to try:
- Rock climbing
- Swimming
- Hula hooping
- Obstacle or relay races
- Family or neighborhood whiffle
ball
- Bike rides
The benefits of a healthy
lifestyle are endless especially
when everyone in the family is
involved.
QC Family Focus I July/August 2021 7

Moving to the big boy beds
by Michael Carton Director of Education and Outreach, WQPT Quad Cities PBS
When I found out my wife
and I were expecting twin boys, I
was really excited about buying
them bunk beds someday. Back
then it felt like it would be a long
time before they’d be ready to
move out of their cribs and into
‘big boy’ beds; I had no idea how
quickly that “long time” would
arrive!
If feels just like yesterday
that we brought them home from
the hospital, but that was more
than 2 ½ years ago! They looked
so tiny all wrapped up in their
sleep sacks in their cribs those
first few months, but they’re not
so tiny anymore. Lately, when we
watched them sleeping in their
cribs, we realized it was the cribs
that were looking tiny!
Knowing that we needed
to transition them to bigger beds,
I realized it was finally time to buy
the bunk beds. It took surprisingly
little time to convince my wife that
we should and skip over the coollooking
train and car toddler beds (I
think she knew how excited I was
and hoped if I was that excited,
our boys would be, too). Before I
knew it, bunk beds were ordered,
and we started talking about how
we would transition them.
Unfortunately, the boys were
sick the week the boxes arrived,
so I had to wait and look at those
boxes for an extra week before
putting them together. When the
time came finally came, my oldest
son and I assembled them together
in the boys’ room without taking
their cribs apart, giving them time
to explore the bunk beds before we
took the plunge and let them sleep
in them!
The first night or two were
interesting to say the least. My wife
described it best by saying it was
like watching a clown car. Usually,
the boys fall asleep quickly at night
and never try get out of bed, but
they were so excited about the
bunk beds that they kept climbing
in and out of each bed, switching
places and acting completely
silly while doing it! They woke up
multiple times each night, but went
back to sleep rather quickly. One
time, we found them sleeping in
their own bed. Another time, they
were sleeping in opposite beds.
There were a couple times they
were sleeping in the same bed, and
even one time when Jacob was
in Andrew’s bed and Andrew was
sleeping on the floor by the closet!
After a night or two, we
realized it was time to take the cribs
out of their room. So, at the end of
a busy day, my wife kept the boys
occupied so I could break down
the beds. As I started breaking
down the pieces of each crib, I
realized that I was about to break
down. A flood of emotions hit me
as I moved each piece out of their
room. Seeing the bite marks they
left on the crib reminded me of their
teething phase. Taking the mattress
support off reminded me of the
time I had to lower it because they
were growing taller and starting to
climb. With every bolt I removed,
it seemed another memory popped
into my head. When I was finally
done taking the cribs apart, I could
not help but think that if we hadn’t
left the cribs up for me to see them
side by side with their ‘big boy’
beds, I might not have relived all of
those precious memories.
I was so excited for the
bunk beds that I didn’t realize this
next phase means my little boys
are growing up – REALLY fast! A
“long time” in parent years goes by
way too quickly! I hope the next
few years will slow down a bit!
8 July/August 2021 I QC Family Focus

Advance Child Tax Credit:
Your Opportunity to Get Ahead
by Barb Wollan Iowa State University Extension
The expanded amount
and eligibility for the 2021 Child
Tax Credit, combined with the
advance monthly payments
which begin in July, offer families
an opportunity to improve their
overall financial well-being,
according to Barb Wollan, a
human sciences specialist with
Iowa State University Extension
and Outreach. Wollan urges
local families to plan for the use
of the funds before they arrive.
For six months, July
through December 2021, most
families will receive a payment
equal to $250 per month for
each child who will be under age
18 on Dec.31, 2021. The amount
is $300 per month for children
under age 6.
“Those extra funds can
have a big impact on a family’s
financial security and possibly
help reduce any stress they may
be feeling if they are currently
behind on bills or short on
income,” notes Wollan, who
specializes in family finance.
Before making special
purchases, Wollan encourages
families to focus on increasing
their financial security and
suggests four top strategies:
Use the funds to get
current and/or stay current on
all household expenses (rent,
utilities, child care, etc.).
Build a savings cushion
to provide funds in case of
unexpected expenses such
as car repair or appliance
replacement or job cutbacks.
Wollan suggests an initial
savings goal equal to one
month’s income, and when that
is reached, gradually building it
to an amount equal to three to
six months’ income or more.
Save ahead for upcoming
expected costs such as backto-school,
holidays or property
taxes.
Pay off debt, especially
debts with high interest rates.
However, Wollan says
that it is often wise to build a
savings cushion even before
all debt is paid off. Without
that savings, every unexpected
expense simply creates more
debt and more stress.
For families who are
already very secure and stable,
the four suggestions above
may not apply. In that case,
Wollan says, “This extra income
offers a terrific opportunity
to invest for long-term goals
such as children’s education or
retirement. Even small amounts
of money can grow dramatically
over time.”
For example, if a 35-yearold
invests $250 in a taxadvantaged
retirement account
earning 6% annually for just six
months, that amount will exceed
$11,000 by the time the person
reaches age 70. If the person is
able to continue investing $250
per month until age 70, the
account value will reach over
$92,000.
A starting point for
those wishing to invest for their
children’s education is to check
out Iowa’s tax-advantaged
529 account at www.
collegesavingsiowa.com. For
those wishing to work toward
retirement, a first step is to ensure
they are taking advantage of any
available match offered through
their employer-based retirement
plan. For more information
about using the Advance CTC to
get ahead, go to www.irs.gov or
contact your ISU Extension and
Outreach county office.
QC Family Focus I July/August 2021 9

Getting Ready For Back To School
Early Vision
Screenings For Children
by John Frederick, MD
Eye Surgeons Associates
The wonders of the world are often
first encountered through the eyes of a child. Yet
without good vision, a child’s ability to learn about the
world becomes more difficult. Vision problems affect
one in 10 preschoolers and one in five school age
children. Children often don’t realize they have vision
problems, yet until age 12, vision is 80% responsible
for the learning process. Since many vision problems
begin at an early age, it is very important that children
receive proper eye care.
A common misconception is the thought that
school screenings are adequate. Unfortunately, these
screenings take place later in childhood than the
A Summer of Possibilities
MON July 19 at 9:00AM
10 July/August 2021 I QC Family Focus
wqpt.org
ideal time for starting treatment and are often not
sensitive enough to detect all eye problems. Current
recommendations are for every child to undergo
an eye examination by age three. The American
Academy of Pediatrics, The American Association
for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus and the
American Academy of Ophthalmology all support this
recommendation. Among the conditions an eye care
professional will look for are amblyopia (lazy eye),
strabismus (crossed eyes), ptosis (drooping of the
upper eyelid), color deficiency (color blindness) and
refractive errors (nearsightedness, farsightedness and
astigmatism).
On average more than one child per classroom
suffers from amblyopia or strabismus (crossed or
lazy eye). The earlier a visual problem is detected the
sooner treatment can be instituted. Take for instance,
amblyopia therapy. Treatment is much more effective
at an earlier age, but can be attempted up to about
age nine. If found early enough, treatment can often
completely restore vision. If not treated by the age
of two, there is a greater chance of losing binocular
visual function (the ability to use the two eyes together
– or depth perception). Treatment may be as simple as
glasses or using eye drops, but also may involve eye
patches or surgery.
A toddler’s eye exam should be as customary as
regular check-ups by the doctor, getting immunizations
and seeing the dentist. Don’t let vision interfere with
school performance, make sure to get your child’s
eyes examined.
Dr. Frederick, with Eye Surgeons Associates, is fellowship
trained in Pediatric Ophthalmology and certified by the American
Board of Ophthalmology. He practices in Bettendorf, Iowa
and Rock Island, Illinois. For more information, please visit:
esaeyecare.com.
The material contained in this article is for informational
purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for
professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always
seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care
provider.

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QC Family Focus I July/August 2021 11

Just For Kids
12 July/August 2021 I QC Family Focus

1.
Name: ______________________ Date:_____________
7.
2.
8.
3.
9.
4.
10.
1.
5.
6.
palm tree ball lotion
summer ice cream tent
beach June camping
swimming fan sun
hot swimsuit sunglasses
park sandals sunburn
11.
12.
QC Family Focus I July/August 2021 13

Teaching your kids about money
by Junior Achievement
The United States is facing
an epidemic of financial illiteracy.
So, how can you help?
The following is a list of tips that
take away an amount to show how
much money you saved. next talk
about the importance of saving for
the future or the unexpected.
you can use to help your kids Teach children the
understand and develop financial
literacy.
Teach your child the
concept that people earn money
importance of setting a budget
in order to save for things you
want to buy in the future. Children
as young as three can start
at their jobs. Discuss what you receiving an allowance, and with
do at work and then ask him/her that allowance comes the idea of
what she might like to be when budgeting and saving.
she’s older. If she wants to be a
veterinarian, put her in charge of
walking, bathing and feeding the
dog, and pay her for the tasks.
Even though most banking
Have you ever listed all of
the expenses you pay every month
to keep a household going? Put a
few stubs in a stack and do a little
show-and-tell. Talk about what
is done online these days, it’s happens when you add them
important to physically take your
children to the bank, so they can
up. This will help your children to
understand the concept of billpaying
and how much money is
see where your money is going
-- and that it’s in good hands. required to run a household.
When you take children to Teach your child the
the store with you, talk through difference between wants and
purchases with them. Explain to
them why you chose one product
over another.
Put a few household bills in
a stack; talk to your children about
what happens when you add them
all up and why these expenses are
necessary. This will help them to
understand the concept of billpaying
and how much money is
require to run a household.
Start to show your child
how to stretch a dollar. If you buy
an item on sale, put the dollars/
coins that equal the full purchase
price on the kitchen table and then
14 July/August 2021 I QC Family Focus
needs. Kids may “want” many
things, but “need” far less.
Discerning between needs and
wants will help them sort through
the many options they will face in
life. Evaluating needs and wantson
both a small and large scalehelps
adults control expenses.
Money that would otherwise be
spent on “wants” can be put in
long-term saving, investments or
returement. These are values that
secure a future.
Financial literacy is
important, no matter what age
group you belong to, whether you
are just starting 5th grade, funding
your college education, planning
for a family or retiring. Financial
literacy will help you achieve your
goals regardless of what you
choose them to be.
Try to develop good
financial habits. Just paying
attention to how you spend your
money will probably lead to some
ideas about how to save more.
Over time, your savings can make
a large difference in your future
financial lifestyle.

Are you into podcasts? We have just the ones
for you! Journey from Dude to Dad is a chance for dads
(soon to be, new or grizzled veterans) to gain some
insight into the jouney called fatherhood.
Our newest podcast isn’t just for dads. It’s
for anyone in the trenches! Parenting and Priorities
gives us the chance to dig deeper with our experts
who contribute to QCFF every month! You’ll learn
more about early childhood development, why early
eye-screening is important, emotional well-being and
MUCH more.
Last, but certainly not least, is for all you
grandparents who read our magazine each month!
Aging in the Heartland is a way for us to explore ( indepth)
the challenges facing grandparents who are
raising their grandchildren or simply assisting their
children in raising the grandkids.
QC Family Focus has always been about
empowering parents to raise healthy, happy families.
Now, in addition to the magazine, we are offering the
podcast AND social media videos. WAIT, did I let it
slip that we are creating social media videos? Oops.
Keep checking back on our social media pages and
our websites. We are working with the experts to bring
you the most important information you need from the
moment you find out your significant other is expecting,
all the way to the senior years when you are enjoying
your grandchildren.
Have some ideas for topics? If so, send us an
email at mmickle@qcfamilyfocus.com. Meanwhile,
enjoy the journey, whichever stage you are in!
With
Ela Ersan
Rising Senior
Pleasant Valley High School Student
NO-BAKE ENERGY BITES
{CARROT CAKE}
These taste great and are perfect when you need a healthy energy
boost!
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats (gluten free, if desired)
- 1/3 cups raw pecans chopped
- 1 tablespoon flaxseed meal
- 3/4 cup almond butter well stirred
- 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 3/4 cup packed grated carrot
- 1/3 cup raisins
INSTRUCTIONS:
- In a large bowl, mix together the oats, pecans and flaxseed
meal.
- Stir in the almond butter, maple syrup, cinnamon and nutmeg
until well combined.
- Stir in the grated carrot and raisins.
- Using 1 rounded tablespoon of the mixture for each bite, form
the mixture into bite-sized balls. Use a medium-sized cookie
scoop makes this process easier. Squeeze the mixture in the
palm of your hand, forming a fist around it so it sticks together.
Roll into a ball.
- Place the granola bites on a baking sheet, cover and refrigerate
for 1 hour. Serve.
- Store the remaining granola bites in an airtight container in the
refrigerator for up to 5 days. Alternatively, they can be frozen for
up to 3 months.
- To freeze: Place the bites on a baking sheet, cover and freeze
for 1 to 2 hours. Transfer them to an airtight freezer container.
Separate the layers with wax paper or parchment paper so the
bites don’t stick together.
www.cookincanuck.com/no-bake-carrot-cake-granola-bites-recipe/#recipe
QC Family Focus I July/August 2021 15

BE READY FOR ANY
OPPORTUNITY
by Evin Ersan College Reporter, Boston University
Opportunities… Are you ready for them?
We all have hopes, dreams, and aspirations for
our lives. We all have our own unique set of gifts
and talents. Therefore, if we can take advantage of
opportunities in life, we all have the potential to excel
beyond our wildest dreams. However, while hopes,
dreams, and aspirations are all wonderful things to
think about, PREPARATION and ACTION is what will
make our goals become a reality.
Without preparation and action, we cannot expect to
take advantage of any opportunity. In life, we will all be
presented with countless opportunities. However, we
can miss them if we’re not totally prepared to act on
them. In fact, we are often so unprepared that we don’t
even realize that an opportunity has presented itself to
us. That’s why we should always be on the lookout.
Sometimes though, not taking advantage of
opportunities can be a result of a misguided mindset.
For example, you convince yourself that in order to
accomplish your dreams, you have to give up all of
your time from your life. This kind of thinking is precisely
why so many people don’t follow their dreams. They
adopt this mindset that their goals essentially require
them to be a slave to their dreams. This is not true.
The most successful people are consistent, meaning
they are constantly chipping away at their goals and
dreams on a regular basis. They are the most effective
at managing their time so that they can have fun while
still working hard. If you can master the art of discipline,
you’ll be amazed how much you can accomplish while
also not forcing yourself to be a slave to your dreams!
16 July/August 2021 I QC Family Focus
Here’s some suggestions on how to start:
1. Create a small list of things to do everyday
2. Set reminders on your phone
3. Organize your contacts on your phone, and make
sure you have inputted all of your important contacts.
4. Create a business card or an electronic contact you
can easily send people when needed
5. Update your résumé
6. Update your social media
7. Join Linkedin
8. Organize your email and phone numbers so you can
get alerts when certain people contact or respond to
you. (There’s nothing worse than realizing you didn’t
see an email or call that was important).
9. Set up a savings account for your dream
10. Go through your clothes and make sure you have
the proper business attire ready to go if needed.
11. Organize examples of your work
12. Create a video reel of your work
13. Go to bed earlier and wake up earlier
14. Return phone calls
15. Do that thing you’ve been putting off
Start with small goals at first and then build
momentum. Dreams don’t just happen. Opportunities
don’t just fall in your lap. You have to be smart, be
disciplined, and take action in order to get them.
Good luck! You can do it!
If you enjoy health, fitness, education, motivation,
inspiration, entertainment, and happiness, visit my
website, evinersan.com, for my social media and other
content!

Snickerdoodle Blondies
Just like the classic cookie, but in bar form! These save you some time as you are not rolling each individual
cookie in cinnamon and sugar. Take this shortcut recipe and run with it! People will love them.
INGREDIENTS
For the Batter
• 2 2/3 cups flour
• 1 t cinnamon
• 1 t salt
• 2 cups brown sugar
• 2 eggs
For the Topping
• 1 T vanilla extract
• 2 t baking soda
• 1/4 t nutmeg
• 1 T vanilla extract
• 2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
• 3 T sugar
• 2 t cinnamon
• pinch of nutmeg
INSTRUCTIONS
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and lightly spray a 9x13 pan with cooking spray.
• In a stand mixer or using a hand held mixer combine the butter, brown sugar and
vanilla until light and fluffy and then add in the eggs one at a time.
• Sift together the dry ingredients and gently add it to the wet batter until just
combined. The batter will have a consistency of cookie dough.
• Spread/press the batter into the pan evenly.
• In a bowl combine the topping ingredients (it will be crumbly and wet) and sprinkle
it on top of the batter.
• Bake the bars for 25-30 minutes or until slight firm to the touch and golden brown.
• Allow to cool and then cut into bars.
Spicy BBQ Chicken Burgers
These burgers are perfect for Summer! A sweet flavor combination of barbecue and
spice - you’ll be surprised at how fun these are! Topped with a spicy bbq mayo, you
might want to make a double batch of these they go fast.
INGREDIENTS
For the Chicken Burgers
• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1/2 white onion
• 1/4 cup Cookies Original BBQ Sauce
• 1 lime, juiced
• lettuce, shredded
• dill pickles, sliced
+ add’l before grilling
For the Sauce
• 1/2 cup mayo
• 1 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce
• 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
• 1 t garlic salt
• tomato, sliced
• 7 brioche or kaiser rolls
• 1 t Cookies Flavor Enhancer Seasoning
• 1/4 cup Cookies Original BBQ Sauce
• 3 T chipotle pepper in adobo sauce (from the can)
INSTRUCTIONS
• In a food processor chop/mince together the white onion and chipotle pepper.
• Chop the boneless, skinless chicken breasts into chunks and add to the food processor. Pulse the chicken with
the onion/pepper mixture until it is ground.
• Add in the lime juice, seasonings, bbq sauce and breadcrumbs and again pulse to combine into the ground
chicken.
• 1 t Cookies Flavor Enhancer Seasoning + add’l before grilling
Using your hands form the ground chicken mixture into 7 patties. Place on a tray or cookie sheet and flash freeze
for an hour to help them firm up.
• 1 t Cookies Flavor Enhancer Seasoning + add’l before grilling
For the sauce: in a bowl combine the mayo, bbq sauce and chipotle pepper sauce in a bowl. Place in the fridge
until ready to eat.
• 1 t Cookies Flavor Enhancer Seasoning + add’l before grilling
• Thirty minutes before grilling remove the patties from the freezer.
• Heat your barbecue grill to 400 degrees or medium-high heat. Sprinkle additional Cookies Flavor Enhancer
seasoning directly onto the patties right before grilling. Place the chicken burgers on the grill. Grill for 10
minutes a side.
• Remove the cooked patties from the grill.
• To build the burger: spread a healthy amount of the bbq mayo on the bun, then layer on dill pickles, a
sliced tomato, shredded lettuce, the burger and more bbq mayo.
For more of Ally’s recipes check out the recipe section at
www.qcfamilyfocus.com or www.sweetandsavoryfood.com
QC Family Focus I July/August 2021 17

Keeping Your Phone, GERM-free
by Verizon Wireless
Our friends at Verizon
offer this advice for cleaning
your smartphone / tablet /
basic phone / smartwatch /
jetpack.
Caution Use Caution:
• Don’t use window cleaners,
household cleaners, compressed
air, aerosol sprays,
solvents, ammonia or abrasives
containing hydrogen
peroxide to clean your device.
• Don’t use bleach.
• Don’t submerge your device
in any cleaning agents.
• Avoid harsh cleaners and
rough scrubbing. When
disinfecting the screen,
avoid excessive wiping.
Notes:
• Using a 70% isopropyl
alcohol wipe or Clorox®
Disinfecting Wipes, gently
wipe the exterior surfaces
of your device.
• For the screen, use screen
wipes or eyeglasses cleaner.
• For the back and sides, use
ordinary household soap or
bleach-free cleaning wipes.
To sanitize and clean your
device(s), here are a few
guidelines to follow:
• Before cleaning your device,
power it down. If possible,
remove any accessories
(e.g., covers, cases, etc)
and unplug all cables.
• Use a soft, slightly damp,
lint-free cloth with warm
soapy water.
• Avoid getting moisture in
openings.
• To clean dirt that might
have accumulated around
the SIM tray opening, use
a soft-lint free cloth and
place a very small amount
of rubbing alcohol on it to
gently wipe away dirt from
the port opening, avoiding
any moisture in the opening.
18 July/August 2021 I QC Family Focus

Birthday Cake
Pizza!
$
5 99
Size small, with the purchase
of any HJ order.
happyjoes.com
Order online and earn
REWARDS from Joe!
We can also
add this to your
BIRTHDAY PARTY
PACKAGE or
ANY ORDER,
in a large size
complete with
candles!
LARGE DEAL!
Online Code: 200HJ
$5 OFF
Any Large
Pizza
Not valid with any other offer. Present coupon when
ordering. No cash back. One coupon per purchase.
Tax, gratuity, and delivery charge not included.
Good at participating locations only.
Enjoy by September 30, 2021.
Eternal Peace
Pine Hill Cemetery Association
& Fairmount Cemetery Association
Pine Hill Cemetery Association
1530 E. 39th St. • Davenport, IA 52807
(563) 391-5130
A Non-Profit Cemetery Association
Serving the Quad-Cities Community for 163 Years
PineHillCemeteryDavenport.com
Fairmount Cemetery Association
Iowa’s Original Crematory
3902 Rockingham Rd. • Davenport, IA 52802
(563) 322-8663
Not-for-Profit Perpetual Care
Cemetery & Crematory Services
Fairmountcemeteryandcrematory.com
Established in 1855, Pine Hill
Cemetery is a not-for-profit,
locally owned business and
a place of peace, where
departed loved ones can
rest for eternity. Pine Hill
Cemetery has always taken
great pride in honoring the
memory of the community’s
loved ones.
We strive to meet the Quad
City area’s needs, and
our efforts and respectful
attention to detail include
the grounds and operations
of Fairmount Cemetery &
Crematory. Our Board of
Directors, management and
staff work together to make
both cemeteries respected
institutions within the
community. Feel free to visit
and recall fond memories of
the past.
QC Family Focus I July/August 2021 19

m mickle
communications
video•print•design•marketing
“No other company in the Midwest is doing what you are doing.”
Eric Powell-Manager, Program Development- TLC Network
563.940.7875 • MICKLECOMMUNICATIONS.COM
Mickle Communications is the expert in telling your story.
MC is the only video production company to win a Silver Dome Award
for Best Documentary in Illinois and a 5-time Emmy Nominee.
Tackling topics no other video production
company in the QC is willing to cover.
#Whatcanwedoforyou
20 July/August 2021 I QC Family Focus