406 woman Vol. 7 No. 2 by 406 Woman

Brandi Br yan wearing Tacori

M c G o u g h & C o ... W h e r e M o n ta na G e t s E n g ag e d www.McGoughandCo.com

131 Central Avenue Whitefish, MT 59937 406-862-9199 800-862-9199

406 contents featured 16. Women of Courage -

Kelsey Timothy & Andrea Call

...44

wellness

50. fitness - Improve your Posture 52. Mistakes Smart Women Make

Fashion 36. 114 West - The Perfect Dress

...16

406

love

26. Logan & Katie

family 56. Chores

58. Safe Keeping

32. Watching Love Happen For Love or For

food & flavor 20. The Art of Tablescaping - Ice Cream Party 38. Recipe for Success - Fried Rice 40. In The Panty - Oysters 44. Plot Twists - Perfect Summer Salads 46. beer - Gettin' Crafty

...20

Cover Girls

publisher

Cindy Gerrity

cindy@montanasky.net

business manager Daley McDaniel

daley@montanasky.net

executive editor

Kristen Hamilton

montanakristen@hotmail.com

Madyson Rigg

Miss Montana Teen USA, her life is devoted to multiple activities. She has been a member of Business Professionals of America throughout her high school career and is her chapter's president this year. Madyson also has obtained a leadership role in DECA, a competitive marketing club in which she has been a Montana state officer for two years, and a chapter officer for three. She is additionally involved in Speech and Debate, Model United Nations, and We the People, all of which are competitive activities. These activities have inspired her future career aspiration of becoming a businesswoman in some facet.

She is currently in the

process of applying to various universities and plans on majoring in marketing and business management.

is a goal of hers to be a positive influence on the

state of

Montana

and the

United States

as whole by

sending a message to young women that they all are beautiful and unique and important by visiting local schools to share her perspective.

She

also plans on

being an advocate against teenage drug abuse and spreading awareness in schools.

Above

anything she

hopes to be a role model for young people everywhere.

photo by: Hope Kauffman (www.hopekauffmanphotography.com)

director & design Sara Joy Pinnell

sara@mrsandmrpublishing.com

photographers Scott Wilson- Scott Wilson Photography Daniel Seymour- Sharpe Eye Photography Nicole Wickens – Green Door Photography Rachel Spray - Jeremiah & Rachel Photography Danella Miller - Danella Miller Photography Hope Kauffman, Hope Kauffman Photography Molly Claridge - Be Still Photography Mark Bryant - Bryant Photographics Matthew Murphy-Murphy Made Photography Daley McDaniel Photography

Published by Skirts Publishing six times a year

Business Girl

View current and past issues of 406 Woman at w w w . 4 0 6 W o m a n . c o m

Want to know about great events, open houses, and more? Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/406 Woman Blackfeet

Lily Gladstone actress

Lily Gladstone

has drawn the

attention of audiences for her roles in two highly

Montana,"Winter Blood" and "Jimmy P."

praised films shot partly or fully in in the

photo by:

Matthew Murphy at Murphy Made Photography (www.murphymade.com)

406 Woman is distributed in Bigfork, Columbia Falls, Kalispell, Missoula, Whitefish and every point in between. Check out www.406woman.com for our full distribution list. Have a great story idea or know someone that we should feature? Email us with your comments & suggestions. Interested in increasing your business and partnering with 406 Woman? Check out www.406woman.com.

4 06 w o m a n

Checking In As another summer is coming to a an end, we look back and think about what a terrific area we live in and how on earth do we fit everything it to a couple short sunny months. Music festivals, art festivals, hiking, biking, boating, camping, and the list goes on… It seems like we are all running around to cram every bit of sunshine and fun into every day as if we won’t have the opportunity again. The good news…around here the activities and fun just keep coming every month of the year. Sure, you have to prepare differently – maybe another layer of clothes and a hot toddy instead of an iced cold beer - but there is plenty to do in Northwest Montana.

On tap in the coming months…

Mountain Madness Airshow The Crown of the Continent Guitar Festival The Montana Dragon Boat Festival Festival of Flavors Art and Music Events in all the area communities Not to mention great outdoor activities are still abundant – a few even more pleasant with the cooler temps. We are truly blessed to live in such a wonderful area that has so much to offer. Get up, get out and enjoy!

{

What did we learn after reading this issue?

All about Jason Curtis with the USAF Thunderbirds as our 406 Man this month, written by Julie Laing. This hometown guy is performing at the Mountain Madness Airshow this Labor Day weekend. Read his story on page 10 in our business section. How to make a couple delicious summer salads that will keep everyone coming back for more. See Leslie Budewitz’s story on page 44. We remember the chores and elbow grease that gave us character as kids. Read Gretchen Knuffke 406 Family story on page 56. Some great advice and strategies for jump starting your retirement savings can be found in our business section on page 22 with a great story from By Christine Weidow, CPA and Marija Berney, CPA with JCCS.

{

contributors

406 Erin Blair

Our Talented

Contributor’s Corner With school starting at the end of this month, tell us about your favorite year in school and why?

Licensed esthetician and owner of Skin Therapy Studio

Delia Buckmaster Leslie Budewitz

Lawyer and national best selling writer of 'The Food Lovers’ Village Mysteries'

Cris Marie Campbell

Master certified Martha Beck coach and consultant, co-owner of Thrive! Inc.

Susan B Clarke

Faculty at The Haven Institute for 20 years and co-owner of Thrive! Inc.

Brian D’Ambrosio

Accomplished writer and newly published author of “Reservation Champ’

Nancy Dewar

Freelance marketing, public relations & events specialist

Jen Euell

Program Director for the Women’s Foundation of Montana

Courtney Ferda

Owner and blogger of www.114-west.com providing expert fashion advice

C hr i st i ne Wei do w

Certified in pilates and an active health coach, owner of Exhale Pilates Studio

Freshman year of college was my favorite. It was intimidating at first and definitely challenging, but having all those opportunities in front of you is really exciting.

Kari Gabriel

Exec Dir or Flathead CARE plus wildlife rehabilitator and educator

Bob Hamilton

Music aficionado, former English teacher, and all around good guy Board certified OB/GYN professional offering expert advice

Junkermier, Clark, Campanella, Stevens, P.C. Certified Public Accountants and Business Advisors

Gretchen Knuffke

Motherhood and parenting expert, owner of Maternal Instincts

Marti Kurth

Public relations and marketing expert for organizations in the arts and music

Cara Lard

Owner of Goldfinch Events & Design and Mum’s Flowers

Julie Laing

Professional writer, editor, and editorial consultant and published poet

Kristen Ledyard

B ob Hami lt on

Kalispell OB/GYN Doctors & Practitioners

Junior year of high school was my favorite. I was working at McDonalds and met a lot of kids from other schools, started attending some awesome concerts, and overall just had a great year!

Executive Chef and Owner of John’s Angels Catering

Jessica Manly

Montana FoodCorps leader connecting kids to real food to grow up healthy

John Miller, DDS

Specializing in general dentistry, Dr Miller provides expert advice

Kelly O’Brien, Esq. Kristen Pulsifer

Writer, editor and owner of Whitefish Study Center

Karen Sanderson

Wine expert and owner of Brix Bottleshop in Kalispell

Rabbi Allen Secher

Rabbi for 50 years, an Emmy award-winning television producer, and a family man

Jill Seigmund

Entrepreneurship Coordinator at FVCC; Accomplished writer and editor

Miriam Singer

Talented writer and songstress, promoting music as Singer & Simpson Productions

Gwen Sutherland

Owner of Marketing Bits, writing and design business

For full bios for our contributors, please visit www.406woman.com. 12

Jul ie Lai ng

Business law specialist with Measure Law Office, P.C.

My junior year of high school was full of promise—and of promises fulfilled. It included great teachers, new lifelong friends, and many adventures as I explored the independence that comes with a car, started taking classes at the local community college, and prepared for my first European symphony tour.

D r. Sarah N a r gi

whitefish plastic surgery & med spa board certified

Whitefish Plastic Surgery & Med Spa Menu of Services Cosmetic surgery - Injectables including Botox, Juvederm, Voluma - Sclerotherapy Facials & chemical Peels Laser Hair Remover - Laser Skin tightening Laser skin resurfacing - Tattoo Removal - waxing (all types)

w h i t e f i s h p l a s t i c s u r g e r y. c o m

Call now for same day appointments. 406-862-6808. Conveniently located by Montana Coffee Traders off Hwy 93.

featured}

Courage

Women of Cour age reclaiming ‘normal’ from the unfathomable By Nancy Kimball

For Kelsey Timothy and Andrea Call, the world changed in a day. “How can my life be so…” Andrea’s question trailed off as she traveled back to Nov. 6, 2011. “Yesterday I was showing property in Kila and today I’m down on the floor of my gym and two weeks from now I’m having brain surgery.”

The edges of recollection are just as sharp for Kelsey, but her time frame stretched from the Whitefish Winter Carnival celebration on Feb. 4, 2012, to her diagnosis 13 days later. “I don’t get mad anymore,” she said, “because who has the time? Until you’re told you have a 12 percent chance to live, you don’t get it.” The same thief stole “normal” from these two Flathead Valley women – a particularly aggressive brain tumor called glioblastoma multiforme. Its tentacles creep their way into normal brain tissue as they feed on the brain’s blood supply, making it impossible to eliminate all the cancer.

Median survival after diagnosis was 15 months not so long ago; now it’s closing in on 18-24 months. Kelsey is right at 2 ½ years; Andrea is past that mark. And, Andrea insisted, “I don’t plan on dying anytime soon.”

Grim? Yes. But both women face it with their own style of black humor, and draw on something in their moral fabric that’s powering them through every day. Brain surgeon T.C.

Origitano, MD, PhD, calls it courage.

“Each day they get up and have to push this looming weight behind them and live as normal a day as possible,” Dr. Origitano said. The medical director of Kalispell Regional Healthcare’s Neuroscience and Spine Institute operated on both women. “Courage is not just running toward the guns. Courage is planning your life so it’s normal for those around you. Courage is having that bad day and still getting up and doing what needs to be done.” Andrea was 48 years old when diagnosed with grade 4 glioblastoma multiforme. As a Kalispell career woman with two teens – Ryan, now 15, and Avery, now 13 – and a husband, local artist Greg Call, disbelief was her first reaction. How could a short bout of muscle twitches and five minutes of what she thought was a pinched nerve during a gym workout be anything serious? But when she woke up from her magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to the news that she had a brain tumor, Andrea said, “My whole life changed in a day.” Her tumor was too close to the central motor strip in her brain to remove it all, so after the biopsy she went through 33 rounds of radiation and started oral chemo. The chemo took some adjustment to find what she could tolerate, but today she’s

featured}

Courage

Andrea was 48 years old when diagnosed with grade 4 glioblastoma multiforme. As a Kalispell career woman with two teens – Ryan, now 15, and Avery, now 13 – and a husband, local artist Greg Call, disbelief was her first reaction. How could a short bout of muscle twitches and five minutes of what she thought was a pinched nerve during a gym workout be anything serious? But when she woke up from her magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to the news that she had a brain tumor, Andrea said, “My whole life changed in a day.”

tapered off from infusions every two weeks to once every three weeks.

Kelsey was just 25, recently returned to her native Flathead Valley with her boyfriend and enjoying Winter Carnival festivities. She slipped on the ice and hit her head, then went to the emergency room when she awoke nauseous the next morning. Although the radiologist saw no evidence of a concussion on the computed tomography (CT) scan, he was concerned; the follow-up MRI showed a 6cm tumor, one that she later was told could have been growing for 10 or 11 years. Surgery five days after diagnosis removed most of the tumor, then the simultaneous start of chemo and radiation eventually left her scalp patchy. “You don’t know how much your hair matters until you don’t have it,” Kelsey said. She allowed herself three months to mope over the tumor, her inability to sleep or work, her weight gain, her comb-over that couldn’t erase the hair loss, her fear of losing her treasured but new relationship with her boyfriend, Derrick Whitby. Then that was it.

“Derrick shaved my hair for me and suddenly it was OK,” she said. “I wasn’t just a weird person any more. I was sick.” But she wasn’t about to act sick. She started hiking and getting back into what she loved, returned to her job as a Montana Coffee Traders barista in Whitefish. “It must be working. I’m 2 ½ years out … I decided I’m going to live forever, even if I’m on chemo for the rest of my life.” Peter Wagner, MD, the medical oncologist with Northwest Oncology and Hematology in Kalispell who supervised chemotherapy for both women, is intrigued with their success.

“First of all, I didn’t expect them to live this long,” he said. “When they surprised me and they are still alive 2 ½ years later, the question is whether it will come back – or if we just stop treatment, what will happen? We have no good data to show how that could affect Andrea and Kelsey.” Exceptionally low long-term survival among glioblastoma patients, a disease found primarily in older men, means statistically significant data is almost nonexistent. Dr. Wagner is learning alongside his patients who, even though Andrea insists courage has

nothing to do with it, are giving him a tangible lesson in grit. “They are taking treatments that are very hard to take,” he said of the chemo regimens. “Even if they don’t admit it to themselves, they both are very courageous women.”

They’ve undergone surgery, radiation, chemo – and now endure regular edgeof-the-cliff experiences when they have MRIs. It can be terrifying. “Those are scary,” Kelsey said. “Even after this long, we’re still riding the wave because we don’t know if it will come back bad. I just have to work through it.”

“A patient’s life revolves around the MRI,” Dr. Origitano said. “They gear up a week ahead, and then they have to wait for someone to call with the results. A lot of what we do as surgeons is to help them manage the terror that comes with this diagnosis.” Andrea is undaunted. Since May 2013 she’s suffered eight seizures. Right-side nerve damage means she falls occasionally and can’t drive; Greg and an array of loving friends and family help run errands. She feels the chemo

featured}

Courage

“I think it’s good to be true to yourself about it,” Kelsey said. “I know it could kill me, but today I’m having a good day." “is eroding me from the inside out,” so prefers to put up with the gradually improving pain level and taper off the drug.

Despite the challenges, she feels fortunate in a sense. “I’ve had jobs, I’ve had successes in my career,” she said, “I have two incredible kids and I’ve been married for 27 years. I’ve had a pretty full life. “The hardest thing is knowing how it’ll affect my kids,” she said. Her loss of independence and “generally feeling crappy,” also are huge frustrations for the athletic, incontrol woman. “I’m a Type A personality trapped in a Type D body – whatever that even is.”

For her part, Kelsey feels she is living “a new normal – it’s a standstill,” she said. She’s with the man of her dreams. They plan to marry and would love to have kids, but she can’t have children while on chemotherapy. Still, she won’t be dragged back into anger at the cancer diagnosis.

“At first I thought, ‘Why me?’ But I stopped because it only made me sad and miserable.” And, odd as it may seem, “I wouldn’t change the cancer diagnosis for a second. It made me calmer, more open, happy, and willing to experience life for what it is instead of expecting things.

“I think it’s good to be true to yourself about it,” Kelsey said. “I know it could kill me, but today I’m having a good day. I’m going paddle boarding and Derrick’s going to come home and we’ll have dinner. I deal with one thing at a time.” Dr. Origitano’s take on their courage turns to the philosophical.

“In my experience, when you’re given this ticket to get on this train, you have two choices,” he said. “You can leave those behind a legacy of how full life can be, or you can leave them a legacy of sorrow and bitterness. Where courage comes in is being absolutely overwhelmed by the decisions you have to face and still working through the solutions. “What reinforces these two women’s stories is it changes other people’s lives,” he said. “That’s an absolute choice they have decided to take and embrace, and do it with grace and dignity.”

food}tablescaping

Written, Photographed, and Styled by: Cara Lard of Goldfinch Events & Design and Rachel Spray of Jeremiah and Rachel Photography

20 â&#x20AC;Żâ&#x20AC;Ż

There's nothing better on a hot summer day than a big scoop of homemade ice cream and no better way to enjoy it than with all of your friends! This issue, we wanted to create a party idea for all the moms out there with young kids. The "I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream" mantra has always been one of our favorites so we used our own version of this for inspiration. Our un-

paralleled obsession with Sweet Peaks Ice Cream (with locations in Whitefish, Kalispell, Bigfork, and now Missoula!) and their delicious home made ice cream made from local farms and flavors was another driving force. And how fun to be able to buy pints of it and keep it in your freezer, along with their yummy homemade waffle cones, and pull it out to serve in your own home.

food}tablescaping

rom start to finish, the party was all about bright primary colors, vintage ice cream scoops and parlor bowls, old fashioned gumballs, striped paper straws and chalkboard paper (buy it on a roll as table runner at Mum's Flowers in downtown Whitefish). How fun to be able to write the flavors of ice cream with chalkboard pens on the table, or entertain your little partygoers by letting them draw on the table at the end of the party. We decorated with giant balloons filled with confetti, tissue paper tassel garlands, and oversized tissue ice cream cones. Instead of cooking an elaborate meal we kept it simple with an extensive ice cream bar where the kiddos could build their own cones with rainbow sprinkles, crushed peanuts, and even a cherry on top.

â&#x20AC;Ż21

food}tablescaping

These adorable invitations are the perfect way to start off this whimsical party! Each one will be unique and handmade for the extra special touch., and really set the tone for a fun party ahead!

Gather your supplies! You’ll need vellum envelopes thick paper, cut into a popsicle shape, popsicle sticks, take or glue, and markers. We used Copic markers to make it easy to blend the colors.

Starting with your darker color marker, start blending the color up towards the middle. Add more ink at the bottom edge to give it dimension. Using the light color, do the same thing from the top down, leaving a white space in the middle.

Using a Sharpie writing pen and your best hand-writing, write out your party details. It’s fun to give your party a name!

4. Use scotch tape or a dab of

glue to tape the popsicle stick to the back of your paper popsicle. Make sure you don’t make it too long so it doesn’t fit in the envelope!

5. Assemble

the completed invitation along with some homemade tissue confetti. The party starts when your guests recieve their invite in the mail, or even better, hand delievered by you!

Styling by Cara Lard of Goldfinch Events & Design Photography by: Jeremiah and Rachel Photography Ice-Cream and Waffle Cones by: Sweat Peaks, Decor and Florals by: Mum’s Flowers

Logan & Katie

Photographed by Nicole Wickens – Green Door Photography www.greendoorphotography.com

Who are we? Katie and Logan Miller

live in Dillon, Montana. Katie is a 7th and 8th grade English teacher for Dillon Middle School and Logan is a Natural Resource Specialist for the company Ranch Resources which is located a short drive away in the town of Sheridan, MT. Katie grew up in Tennessee, Alabama, and Idaho, whereas Logan was born and raised in Lolo, MT. How did you meet? Logan - On the first Friday night of college at the University of Montana, Logan and his best friend Marcus decided to head to a park near campus and toss the Frisbee around. Upon arriving at the park they couldn’t help but notice a pretty girl sitting by herself at a picnic table reading what looked to be a dense literature book. It took all of a minute for Logan and Marcus to hatch a plan for Marcus to throw the Frisbee over Logan’s head and bounce it off the picnic table so that Logan would have an excuse to go and strike up a conversation with the pretty girl. The first throw Logan chickened out and he leaped and caught the disc. The next throw was perfect and nearly hit Katie as it ricochet off the table. An apology was given followed by questions and finally enough prompting that she joined them in throwing the Frisbee around…. the rest as they say is history.

Katie - This is true. I see two boys bounding about after a Frisbee, and I am trying to read some of my British Literature homework (on a Friday!) when they begin attempting to “gracefully” and “nonchalantly” get my attention. When one of them (Logan) finally “misses” the Frisbee he asks me what I am doing, and looks at me curiously when I tell him I am doing homework. He invites me to come play, and I like Frisbee, and maybe I’m a little curious too, so I joined them. I think we played and talked for almost 2 hours!

The Proposal. After nearly 8 years of dating Logan found himself with a ring in his pocket. Driving through Yellowstone Park along the Madison River like a man on a mission, passing all the places Katie wanted to stop at. Finally, Logan screeched into a wide spot in the road that was of no notoriety or importance, but it was private. Walking along the banks of the Madison with a tripod and a camera Logan asks if they should take a picture together. He sets up the tripod, secretly switches it to video and the goes over by Katie.

About the Magical Day

PhotographyGreen Door Photography

RingsStudio Pandora

Bridesmaid Dresses JCrew

VenueMiller Family Ranch Stevensville, MT

HairThe bride's Aunt Connie

Tuxes/Vest The Tux Shop

CakeBlackcat Bakery

Make-upAshley Breza from Arbonne

CatererBurn St. Bistro

MusiciansCounty Line

DressChic Bridal Boutique

CoordinatorThea D Rae

Katie -Ha! Yes, it just came out on the racquetball court. I love that I can be competitive with Logan. I am not the type that likes to go easy, especially in sports, so it must of been the adrenaline and the fun I was having, and I realized that, hmmm, Katie - Logan is my best friend—and friendship I think I love him! Of course, love has to start is about sharing and learning together. Since somewhere, and it just bloomed from there. And the beginning Logan has been a partner who so you know, I think we still have that original has helped me grow as a person as I learn new “ball” as a keepsake of where it all truly began. What is love? things from him, and he learns new things from Logan - Love is not complicated. It is however me. I remember when we first started dating Wedding details difficult to explain, and it does come in several and maybe it was that I read, read, read...that Logan and Katie tied the knot at the Miller’s family forms. I love Katie much different than I Love he too began to curiously pick up books and, ranch located in Stevensville, MT. The ranch was an object, or an activity, or even a relative. I ha, started to read (at least he always tells me owned and operated by Logan’s grandparents, would describe Love for Katie as the emotion, I got him into reading). Logan introduced me now deceased, and now is primarily owned by partnership and bond between us. It doesn’t to different parts of a life I hadn’t experienced. Logan’s parents. The wedding was on June 22, matter what happens in life, she is the most His family owns a ranch, a beautiful place for 2013 under a super moon amidst friends, family, important person to me. She is the one person exploring, seeing wildlife, finding deer sheds, and alfalfa fields. They were married next to a that knows and accepts everything about me, four-wheeling, fishing...all these things that barn and about a half mile away from the barn warts and all. I hadn’t done before. But besides new things where Logan’s parents were married on June Katie - Love is a ticklish, tingling sensation in the in life I could learn to appreciate and enjoy, as 18th 31 years prior. Wedding events consisted pit of my stomach every time I am around Logan. a person Logan and I are constantly learning of the country band County Line and a world It is a thousand words fluttering inside—best how to be there for someone else, be a part of a record 15 foot Norwegian Candle. companion, understanding, laughter, friend, greater whole—something that has to be done lovelovelove, sharing, dance partner, smiles, together, over and over. Logan is the social, Honeymoon plans We followed up the wedding with a honeymoon comfort, learning together and on and on. After charismatic, hardworking other half of myself. to Banff, Canada the following December. It many years dating, then marriage, the feeling was the perfect time to go! There were far less doesn’t disappear. It isn’t always peaceful, it is When did you know you were in love? raw emotion and feelings that entwine and build Logan - After two months of dating we were people there for winter—especially as we both over years together. I love that love bonds us in the heat of battle playing racket ball at the cross-country ski and downhill ski/board. Each Universities Recreation Center. During out last day was filled with outdoor skiing, exploring the together year after year match Katie, out of nowhere, yelled “I Love park in the winter, and eating good food! It was What do you love most about each other? You”. Not sure whether or not to keep playing, refreshing and exactly the kind of honeymoon Logan - Being married to my best friend where I turned around and knew from that moment I we wanted—downtime for just the two of us, I can always being myself and share memories was in Love too. but doing things we loved while being outdoors. He gets down on one knee and she immediately is onto the gig, Logan, sensing her suspicions, pretends that he is clearing a rock out of his shoe and gets back up and into position for the photo. Katie, embarrassed by her confused thoughts straightens right up and smiles at the camera. He gives it a few moments then drops back down on one knee for the real deal.

with. I love her laugh, and begin able to tease her constantly and get away with it… most of the time. I love her sense of adventure and her thirst for life and experiences.

406 love} Watching Love Happen

For Love or For… As told by Rabbi Allen and written by Ina Albert

Love is a good reason for getting married—not the exclusive one, but definitely preferred. When you add friendship, companionship, convenience, greed, social position, fantasy and loneliness to the recipe, throw in a healthy soupcon of libido, you have a recipe for success or disaster depending on the quality of the ingredients. And sometimes the mixture is just not quite ready for the oven. Best Friends Sixty or so guests were all assembled in the living room of a large suburban home breathlessly awaiting the big moment. Large baskets of cut flowers lined the procession aisle. A chuppah (wedding canopy) hung over the platform in front of the fireplace. A cellist was playing Handel. The setting was perfection and the spring weather beautiful. Moments before the ceremony began, Jack and Marion, the bride and groom, called me upstairs. I thought they wanted me to calm their last minute jitters, but it was nothing so simple.

Dear Reader, Life cycle events are exciting and wonderful, but they are also filled with emotion. Even the most ideal situations have moments of tears, joy, anger and frustration. Everyone has their dream of what their wedding should look like, and they usually don’t look the same to everyone. I want to help you through these challenging times. So send me your confidential questions. I will protect your privacy and not identify you by name. Meanwhile, Readers, I look forward to hearing from you and to helping you and your family make the wedding everything you dreamed it should be. Best thoughts and blessings, Rabbi Allen Secher Sech1818@gmail.com 406 863-2333 32

"Listen. We need to talk to you,” said Jack. “Marion and I have decided we don't want to get married today. Yes, it’s true we've lived together for three years, but we're not ready to get married yet. We still might want to someday, but just not today." "Okay. I'll go downstairs and inform the guests that the wedding is off, I said starting to open the bedroom door. "No, please don't do that!" Marion implored. The poor girl began to shake with embarrassment. My grip on the doorknob tightened. I couldn’t imagine what to tell all the people in the living room. Would this occasion just turn into a party to celebrate—what? "Well, what would you like me to do?" I asked. "We're still best friends,” she said. “Can you quickly devise a service of friendship? You know, talk about how important friendship is to our relationship." We devised a plan on the spot, but would it work? A few moments later we stood before the assembled multitude. After some opening remarks, I read a couple of poems then asked: "John, do you accept Janet as your friend?" "I do." Janet, do you accept John as your friend?" "I do." "Then I declare your friendship to be valid and binding in the eyes of God and the assembled multitude."

Jack and Marion glowed and the guests, never realizing what had passed, simply continued their celebration. Postscript: Six months later they returned to my office and officially married in my study. I hope that both the marriage and the friendship lasted. In Love with Love Sometimes just one cruise on the Love Boat is simply not satisfying enough. The drama of matrimony can be addictive. How gorgeous Barbie will look in her magnificent gown. How handsome Ken will appear in tails. How thrilling the attendants will look as they waltz down the aisle, and how very wonderful to be the total center of attention for weeks—even months. Very often the fantasy of being in love with love plays the dominant role in the decision to marry. Glen was 21. Laura was 19. It was the third marriage for both of them. When I asked the bride what she planned to do after they got married, her Momma, who insisted on being in on the prewedding interview, said, "She's going to take care of the house." Beware of parents who insist on answering for their abouttobemarried children. "How much time is does it take for a nineteen-year old to clean a one bedroom apartment?" I asked. The question fell on deaf ears. Six weeks later they set sail on Marriage Number Four. Time to check the Guiness Book of Records. This bride copied every single nuance from every possible glamour and bride magazine. She painstakingly choreographed the ultimate wedding march. She transformed the indoor pool area of a local motel into a wedding hall, complete with covers over the pool to permit three hundred guests to squeeze in. The construction of the pool area permitted her to descend the twostory winding staircase in all her glory before the assembled multitude. All eyes were on the Busby Berkley scene that she played it to the hilt.

406 love} Watching Love Happen

As soon as they returned home after the honeymoon and settled into a normal routine the relationship fell apart. The dream was over and the glamour gone. Within three weeks she was having an affair and within six this marriage was history. On to the next. Show me the Money Greed rears its ugly head far too often in weddings. The groom, a dear friend and one of the kindest people I've known, deserved a better fate. He thought he was marrying an angel, a sweet southern lady. Butter would certainly melt in her mouth. He adored her, but never took the time to scratch the surface of her charm to see if it was more than skin-deep. I vividly recall the mother who must have whispered in her daughter's ear from the moment she could discern sound, "When you marry, marry money. When you marry, marry money." She did. Eight years and a three million dollar settlement later she was ready for an even richer and better connected husband number two. He never quite recovered from the shock. Heartbroken, he could no longer trust his judgment of women and went from one to another, fearful of making another mistake. The sweetness and generosity he showered on his wife was absent in later relationships so one after another they failed. He never married, but he didn’t make a mistake either. Better safe than sorry? More Money Another case in point… George was sixtyfive and one of Hollywood's best known agents. Ingrid was a twentythree-year old striking blond—buxom and knockout gorgeous. Newly minted from Germany. "George," said I, "don't do it. It’s a mistake. She wants your money, your prestige and her chance for stardom. I give it six months." "You're wrong," said George. "Look how much she loves me. She's even willing to convert for me!" "George, I can give you a list of 2,313 starlets in Hollywood who would be willing to become Jewish for you. She's just lucky enough to be at the front of the line."

: Is the honeymoon necessary?

"I promise you, she loves me." “Six months, George!” Well, I was wrong. It lasted a year. Unable to handle the strain of the divorce, George had a fatal heart attack a few months later. His millions helped to feed and clothe Ingrid and quite a few of her lovers and friends for years. The true magic of a wedding lasts beyond the ceremony and celebration. When I tell couples that, though this day may be perfect, there will be many times when your lives together will be difficult. It is at those times that you can look back at the wedding day remember the depth of your feelings and renew your vows to each other. That will make the wedding day last forever.

A: The answer is ‘Yes’ and ‘No’. Couples really needs a honeymoon is about six months after the wedding when the routine of married life has settled in and you’ve discovered your reaction to laundry on the floor, tooth paste sqeezed in the middle and dirty dishes left in the sink— when it’s become clear that married life is not all sunshine, roses and lolly pops. At this point getting away and a sincere change of pace is a necessary fact of life. What one really needs after the wedding ceremony is a couple days away from the planning, the tension and nervousness. Just go somewhere close by yourselves. Another mistake, especially when finances are tight, is to spend a huge amount of money on the honeymoon and return home to discover that you’ve blown all the gift money and that bills need to be paid. Plan the honeymoon wisely and romance will follow.

fashion} Courtney Ferda

114° west By Courtney Ferda - www.114-west.com Photos by Hope Kauffman Photography Dress from Harlow in Whitefish

Hello everyone! So crazy that my wedding is only a month away! I have not written much about it so this issue I wanted to share an amazing dress I wore for my bridal shower and share a bit about dressing for parties like your bridal shower. Life has been getting even crazier as we get closer to the big day so daily I am reminding myself to breath, relax and enjoy our beautiful summer months in Montana. I have to admit, this was a pretty easy mantra at my bridal shower. During the shower, I was surrounded by the women that mean the most to me as they blessed David and I with way more kitchen things than we will ever know how to use! When I started looking for a dress for my shower I knew I wanted something comfortable yet classy and a little vintage. There is something to getting a new dress for special occasions that I love. It is something to look forward to putting on and wearing, something that will always bring back memories from that day and when you see it in your closet it will always make you smile. I encourage you all to specifically make these occasions special with a new dress or jewelry, something to commemorate the day. Mine is a tea length dress that I picked up at Harlow in down town Whitefish. I LOVE the length on this one, I tried on a few other white or ivory lace dresses and I was never sure about the short length, some occasions I think there is something beautiful

about looking classy and elegant and for me my bridal shower was one of them. The buttons up the front of this dress and how the neckline is actually a little higher was one of my favorite things. Then you turn around and this dress has the most amazing back. Unique backed dresses are so popular right now and I love mixing the sexiness of a low back dress with the classiness of a tea length skirt. For a bride antique white like mine or ivory is so much fun to wear at your shower (since you're the person of honor) for everyone else this is a great occasion to bring out the pastel and floral dresses you have hidden in your closet for special times. We tend to dress so casual for these events and it can be so fun as a guest also to spend that little bit of extra time getting dressed up and feeling special yourself that day!

As summer starts to move into fall these types of dresses are a great addition to your wardrobe. Something that you can wear a sweater or jacket with in the early mornings but then wear as a sundress the rest of the day once it warms up. I loved this dress for my bridal shower and had so much fun taking pictures with Hope Kauffman Photography to show off this adorable piece from Harlow. Being a bride has been a beautiful special season of my life but I am definitely looking forward to being a wife! 36

xoxo Court

food}

Fried Rice

Recipe forSuccess Ta i w a n e s e F u s i o n F r i e d R i c e with Montana Bacon By Denise Lang and Sophia Hirokawa Lin In my first “Recipe for Success” article, I suggested that the way to a family’s heart is through the stomach. You may remember that to create peace and harmony between my two rambunctious boys, we headed for the kitchen and with both young men propped up at the counter, we made my grandmother's potato salad. As it turns out, my good friend and client Sophia Hirokawa Lin does the same thing with her boys. That makes us kindred spirits! We didn’t know that until we started sharing cooking stories after Sophia and her husband Dan found their Montana dream cabin at Saddlehorn. For the past five years, they have been enjoying Montana’s beautiful summers with their sons, Miles and Hudson. In fact, Sophia’s extended family comes up for Montana summer fun and that’s when her parents’ Fusion Fried Rice recipe comes in handy. “It feeds of ton of people, is simple to make, and tastes delicious!” exclaims Sophia. Sophia’s story is so fascinating that I can’t do it justice, so I am just going to let her tell it…

Above Photo by Daley McDaniel 38

Above photo of Hudson Lin, Miles Lin and Sophia Lin. Photo by Lucy Williams

Sophia Hirokawa Lin

My father was a tornado in the kitchen. When he cooked, every cupboard was open, every dish was used. His meals were always delicious but he could never recreate the same meal more than once because he never used a recipe. Somewhere, in my childhood brain, I remembered that he put bacon in his fried rice and that tradition has stuck with me all these years. My mother was also a wonderful cook and much more organized in the kitchen. She was able to teach me many of her dishes and my boys love it when I prepare one of grandma’s recipes.

The summer we met Denise Lang is the summer we fell in love with Montana. Looking for a good fishing experience, our friend, Huntley Ritter, told us about the Flathead Valley. It was love at first sight. We bought a delightful cabin in Saddlehorn and inherited a community. The people in the Bigfork area are so friendly and that sold us. We have never met so many nice, helpful and outdoorsy people in our entire lives. My son, Miles, claims he is “going to be married and buried in Montana!” He has really taken to the lifestyle.

For me, an important component of cooking is to use the local ingredients.

You may or may not know, fried rice in Taiwanese tradition is like “refrigerator soup” in an American home. Everything leftover goes into it, vegetables, meat, whatever you like. We eat it as a main dish and a side dish, too. It’s a tradition that has spanned our fast-paced life in Los Angeles and our beautiful life in Montana. For me, an important component of cooking is to use locally grown ingredients that are higher in nutrition and better for the environment due to little transportation. Our vegetables come from Gayle and Dan at Loon Lake Farm and our bacon comes from Farm to Market Pork, just west of Kalispell. We appreciate that every ingredient is so fresh and holds the taste of our beloved Montana in every bite.

Our lives here are wonderfully different. My husband, Dan, is a film and television producer. You may recognize a couple of his films, “Sherlock Holmes” and “The Lego Movie.” I studied sociology and graphic design in college. My passion for people and design led me to Raven + Lily, a fair trade lifestyle brand that I started in 2008 with my good friend Kirsten Dickerson. Our company empowers women around the world with design training and product development to create apparel, jewelry and accessories that are fashion forward, fair trade and handmade. I invite you to visit our website www.ravenandlily.com Enjoy!

# A friend told us about the Flathead Valley and it was love at first sight. Between Dan’s schedule, the boy’s activities and my business, there isn’t time for much else. Then we come to Montana and have these random pop-up experiences. We may go antler shed hunting one day or spend an evening doing a puzzle with neighbors. We unwind 24/7 with our kids, our friends and their kids. Everything is unscheduled and beautiful. I have always believed that the greatest legacy we can leave our children are happy memories. So please take care to build delightful memories with your loved ones and allow me to offer you my family’s humble tradition of fried rice for those times when you have a ton of leftovers and a crowd to feed! 祝您好胃口 Zhù nín hǎo wèikǒu. Bon Appetit! Sophia and Dan bring a wonderful set of traditions to us in Bigfork. Both their parents came from Taiwan. Sophia’s mother is a country girl from Yilan and her father was born in Taipei. They were uprooted by political occupation and moved to Japan and then the United States before she was born. She has many extended family still residing in Japan and Taiwan. What resulted is a lovely blending of Taiwanese, Japanese and American cultures that I have enjoyed throughout our friendship over the past five years.

I think you may have noticed in my “Recipe for Success” articles that I highly value family, heritage and tradition. Every day I meet people who enliven and enrich my life. We share our backgrounds and who we are through the foods that we bring to our tables. Sophia’s innate joy and love of Montana is exciting to me and if I have had a small part in the fruition of that joy then I believe my life’s work is much more than selling real estate. I love the Flathead Valley lifestyle and I enjoy sharing it with others. Food is my language of love and real estate will always be a family thing to me.

Taiwanese Fusion Fried Rice with Montana Bacon We love to get our fresh produce from Loon Lake. Gail and Dan have the freshest and tastiest veggies we have ever had. They are literally picked right before we pick them up and sometimes while we are picking them up!

For the bacon, we like to get it from Farm to Market Pork, just west of Kalispell. There is nothing like their fresh pork and we appreciate their animal husbandry practices. They use no hormones or antibiotics.

Recipe:

2 cups of short grain sticky rice. Cook per regular rice directions. Day old rice works the best because it has dried out a little and is not as sticky) 2 carrots, sliced super thin 4 garlic cloves, smashed and slightly chopped. 3 stalks of green onions, separated between the

bottom, thicker white parts and the top, more delicate green parts

6 pieces of thick slab bacon, chopped into small bits. 2 eggs, cracked into a small bowl and whisked (like making scrambled eggs) Soy sauce, pepper, salt

Heat up a large skillet or wok on medium high heat. Add the small bits of bacon and cook until almost crunchy. When done, leave bacon in the pan but discard most of the oil, leaving about 1 tablespoon of the bacon drippings in the pan. You will be using this as the oil to cook the fried rice.

Add the thickest white parts of the sliced green onions and the smashed garlic to the pan. Sauté for about 1 minute being careful not to burn the garlic. Add the sliced carrots and sauté until the carrots are softened, about 2 minutes.

are fully cooked, add the cooked rice and sauté all the ingredients together on the pan.

Add the soy sauce and stir until all the rice is somewhat covered in the soy sauce and all the ingredients are mixed together. Add the remaining green onions and do one final stir on the pan to incorporate everything together. Season with a little salt and pepper according to taste.

This can be used as a one dish meal (like it is in our house) or you can Push all of the ingredients in the pan use it as a side dish. Feel free to to the edges, creating an empty well substitute other vegetables or meats in the middle of the pan. Pour the in this recipe. We often add peas and beaten egg mixture into the well and corn, and sometimes make without let it heat up until it starts to thicken, the bacon to serve as a vegetarian stirring occasionally. When the eggs side dish.

Above photo of Denise Lang, Hudson Lin, Miles Lin and Sophia Lin. Photo by Lucy Williams

If you have a tip or a recipe you would like to share contact me at DeniseLang@nationalparksrealty.com.

Photo by John Stalowy

Denise Lang Your Recipe for Success Denise Lang, Broker National Parks Realty 8270 MT. Hwy 35 Suite 5 Bigfork, MT 59911 DeniseLang@nationalparksrealty.com. Cell 406-249-1758

food}

In the Pantry

Is it an “r” month? By Kristen Ledyard Owner/Executive Chef of John’s Angels Catering LLC

Jonathan Swift is quoted as having said, "He was a bold man that first ate an oyster", but evidence of oyster consumption goes back into prehistory, evidenced by oyster middens found worldwide. An oyster midden is an area that has layers and layers of oyster shells that were formed over 1,000 years starting as early as 200 BC. Oysters were an important food source in all coastal areas where they could be found, and oyster fisheries were an important industry where they were plentiful. Overfishing and pressure from diseases and pollution have sharply reduced supplies, but they remain a popular treat especially for special occasions.

On raw oysters, I simply enjoy fresh lemon juice and homemade cocktail sauce or ketchup and pure horseradish. To get your friends to try, create a mignonette sauce to serve with oysters. My special mignonette recipe includes: a favorite champagne, minced scallion, and black pepper. Oysters are a great end of summer and early fall treat, so let’s talk barbeque! Open your large oysters and smoke for 10 minutes. Brush with my southern style barbeque sauce (see below) and smoke for 2 more minutes. Serve with lemon on the side.

Here’s the recipe for my barbeque sauce: Mix tomato paste, minced sweet onion, a touch of honey, brown sauce, It was once assumed that oysters were favorite hot sauce, salt and pepper. Add only safe to eat in months with the letwater to desired consistency then simter ‘r’ in their English and French names. mer to thicken. Having enjoyed fresh oysters in every month of the year, I think its safe to put For extra fun, teach your guests to open this myth to rest and eat up! oysters! Never use an oyster knife unless you want to lose your hand! Oysters are an excellent source of zinc, iron, calcium, and selenium, as A small, sharp paring knife is the best well as vitamin A and vitamin B12. Furespecially if you have tiny hands. thermore, oysters are considered most nutritious when eaten raw. Also make sure you hold the oyster with a towel or rubber mitt. As we’ve all heard, oysters are considered to be an aphrodisiac, and research has Make it a fun part of summer and serve shown this to be true. When researchan iced beverage or adult iced beverage ers analyzed bivalves, they found oysters to complete the experience. were rich in amino acids that trigger increased levels of sex hormones. Their One of my family favorites is a Caesar high zinc content aids the production of slushy. It goes well to compliment the testosterone. oysters and is a great finishing touch to any summer event. Here’s my take on oysters…. Oysters are good any time of year. Wild oysters are of course the best. Smaller oysters are sweeter and great raw on the half shell. Larger oysters are great on the barbeque. Whether from East Coast or West Coast, overnight shipping is available. Ask your local fishmonger. 40

Photo by Alisia Cubberly

Oysters Rockefeller Recipe Makes 8 first-course servings

The original recipe for oysters Rockefeller, created at the New Orleans restaurant Antoineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in 1899, remains a secret to this day. The appetizer, oysters topped with a mixture of finely chopped greens and copious amounts of butter and then baked in their shells, was considered so rich that it had to be named after the richest man of the day, John D. Rockefeller. A few years later, no self-respecting restaurateur would be without his own version on the menu. This lighter version features spinach, watercress, green onions and grated Parmesan.

Ingredients I

garlic clove

cups loosely packed fresh spinach

bunch watercress, stems trimmed

1/2

cup chopped green onions

3/4

(11/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature

1/2

cup dry breadcrumbs

tablespoons Pernod or other anise-flavored liqueur

1 teaspoon fennel seeds, ground I

teaspoon hot pepper sauce

Preparation Position rack in top third of oven and preheat to 450 F. Finely chop garlic in processor. Add spinach, watercress and green onions to garlic. Process, using on/ off turns, until mixture is finely chopped. Transfer mixture to medium bowl. Combine butter, breadcrumbs, Pernod, fennel and hot sauce in processor. Process until well blended. Return spinach mixture to processor. Process, using on/ off turns, just until mixtures are blended. Season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 8 hours ahead, Cover; chill.) Sprinkle rock salt over large baking sheet to a depth on 1/2 inch. Arrange oysters in half shells atop rock salt. Top each oyster with 1 tablespoon spinach mixture. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake until browns on top, about 8 minutes. â&#x20AC;Ż41

food}

Leslie Budewitz

Plot Twists - A Pair of Perfect Summer Salads By Leslie Budewitz, Author/Lawyer

When a reader finishes one of my mysteries, I want her to say, “I never guessed who the killer was—but it all adds up perfectly.” The writer must play fair with the reader, giving her all the information she needs to identify the killer, but at the same time, use miscues and misdirection to keep her slightly off the scent. Keep her reading, keep her guessing, keep her wondering— and itching to find out. The plot, the problems, the personalities should lead naturally to the ending, so that she closes the book with a smile of satisfaction.

Erin’s Two Bean and Pesto Salad

Erin Murphy, the main character in my Food Lovers’ Village Mysteries, serves this salad in Crime Rib, published July 1, 2014 by Berkley Prime Crime. Make your own pesto (recipe below) or substitute one cup or more, to taste, of prepared pesto.

about one inch long. Rinse and drain the white beans. Mix the beans, tomatoes, and onions in a large bowl and toss with pesto. Add sea salt and fresh ground pepper to taste. Serve at room temperature or chilled, by itself or on a bed of greens.

Pesto:

In a small (2 cup) food processor, loosely chop fresh basil leaves. Toss in one or two cloves of garlic—the pesto will blend more easily if you slice or chop the cloves first. Drizzle in olive oil and pulse until you get a good consistency for mixing with other ingredients. Add grated Parmesan and, if you’d like, pine nuts or walnuts, and pulse to mix well.

1 pound of fresh green beans (the thin French style, also called haricots vert, works best) 1-14 ounce can white beans 1 cup of cherry or grape tomatoes, cut in half 1 small white onion, chopped fine (sweet, red, or green onions also work well, but a yellow onion That is the magic of story. Tri-Color Garbanzo & Bell Pepper Salad will be too strong) At the launch party for my first mystery, Death al A recipe can be a bit like that, too. Certain com- sea salt and fresh ground pepper Dente, at Frame of Reference Gallery in Bigfork, binations seem odd at first, but once we try them, we served this salad and other foods my charPesto: they go together so well that they are forever acters love. Both the gallery owner and I forgot that the recipe for this salad was not in the book linked in our taste memories. That’s how these 2 cups fresh basil leaves but on my website, until a puzzled reader, fliptwo salads are for me. Both are easy to make and 1 or 2 cloves garlic, to taste ping the pages in vain, prompted me to rememare perfect at home on the deck or at a summer 1/2 cup olive oil, more or less ber! What a delight when she came up to me a potluck. Both can be made ahead; the flavor com- ½ cup Parmesan, grated few days later to say that she’d found it, made it, binations improve after a few hours. 1/4 cup pine nuts or walnuts (optional) and loved it just as much the second time. So, change up the plot a little. Instead of the clasSteam the green beans until tender-crunchy It’s particularly good with chicken, halibut, or Erin’s sic summer three-bean salad, try a new twist. The (start checking after about 3 minutes). Rinse, favorite—grilled shrimp wrapped with prosciutto characters around your table will be happy you did. drain, and cool, then cut into bite-sized pieces, and served with melon and berries for dessert. 44

Dressing:

1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped 2 tablespoons orange juice 1 tablespoon lime juice (half a fresh lime) 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar ½ teaspoon white sugar ½ teaspoon sea salt 2 tablespoons olive oil 1-15 ounce can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained ½ cup each red and yellow bell peppers, chopped ½ cup chopped red onion (or less, if you're not a big onion fan) 3-4 green onions, with greens, sliced Whisk together dressing, pouring olive oil into other ingredients slowly to prevent separation. Combine beans, peppers, and onions in a large bowl. Pour dressing over the beans and vegetables and mix well. Serve by itself or on a bed of spicy greens. (Two Bean and Pesto salad excerpted from Crime Rib by Leslie Budewitz, published by Berkley Prime Crime, a division of Penguin Random House, July 2014) "It takes a village to catch a killer." Leslie Budewitz writes the nationally-bestselling Food Lovers' Village Mysteries, set in fictional Jewel Bay, Montana. The first book, Death al Dente, won the 2013 Agatha Award for Best First Novel. Crime Rib will appear in July 2014, from Berkley Prime Crime, part of Penguin Random House. The light-hearted mysteries feature Erin Murphy, proprietor of The Merc, a market specializing in regional foods, located in her family's century-old former grocery. Erin's passion for pasta, retail, and huckleberry chocolates lead to an unexpected talent for solving murder. Leslie lives in Bigfork, Montana with her husband, Don Beans, a musician and doctor of natural medicine, and their Burmese cat, Ruff, an avid birdwatcher. Visit her at www.LeslieBudewitz.com or on Facebook as LeslieBudewitzAuthor.

food}

beer

Gettin’ Crafty ?

is craft beer becoming the new wine By Karen Sanderson, Brix Bottleshop

Usually, my articles are about wine. But as we head into autumn, I can’t help but get excited about all the seasonal craft beers coming our way. Perhaps it’s because I’m so in love with cooking with pumpkin ales and stouts? If someone asked you, “what’s the difference between beer and wine?” the answer is easy. The flavors and texture are totally different. The demographics of their consumers may be quite different as well. It seems like comparing apples to hot dogs, right? Indeed. So what, then, are their similarities? Pause. Hmm. Well, they both have alcohol? Of course. While wine drinkers sip their pinots, and others gulp ice cold, low alcohol frothy water, there seem to be no similarities whatsoever. But craft beer, now that’s a different story. Like wine, most craft beers are being sipped and savored instead of gulped and shot gunned. These days, craft beer is going so far above and beyond the status quo, that its consumers are now drinking beer in a similar way that wine drinkers are drinking wine. Craft beers don’t have to be ice cold to make them taste better. They are savored, sipped, and often analyzed for their unique characteristics. And they are only getting more and more interesting each year, if not each season. According to the National Brewer’s Association, 2013 craft beer sales increased 20% over 2012. 2013 also saw a market share increase of U.S. craft beer from 6.5% to 7.8% in 2012. To put things into a broader perspective, consider this: In the past 10 years, overall US beer sales have hovered just over $100 billion. In 2007, craft beer sales represented $5.74 billion of that pie, and by 2013, craft beer sales have carved out $14.3 billion. Why the rapid climb? Perhaps it’s because once the early American craft breweries were able to grow their production and distribute nationally, it took a bit of the stronghold away from the tightly connected mass producers, and this feat finally allowed us to try something new. And consumers love it.

So, what’s so special about craft beer? Let’s start with taste. Beer-beer tastes like, hmm, beer. (You’ve all heard the joke, “Light beers are like getting frisky in a canoe,” right?) Craft beer can taste like citrus or floral hops, caramel, chocolate, coffee, fruit, smoke, oranges, nuts, and sometimes even more unique flavors like bacon, bananas or the salinity of seashells. Usually, beer-beer usually needs

to be ice cold to be palatable. Craft beer, however, can still be drinkable even as it loses its chill. Now let’s talk ingredients. Regular beers are usually made with inexpensive ingredients such as corn, rice and water. These quaffers may add malt and hops, but in much lesser amounts than specialty beers. Craft beer, on the other hand, will contain hops, malt, and water, and possibly a variety of other ingredients. Craft brewers have specific characteristics and styles they want to create. Like wine, certain beers can be poured into their own special glass to offer beer geeks something that regular beer doesn’t: different forms of clarity, intense aromas, varying thickness, and layered flavors. Sound familiar, wine geeks? One of the most intriguing aspects of craft breweries is how frequently their seasonal/limited beers are offered. Every time you go to a retailer for beer, you are guaranteed to find something new. Sure, wine connoisseurs get enthusiastic about a yearly release of a specific vintage wine. But beer connoisseurs get excited about monthly releases of the latest non-vintage beers. I.e.: in Winter we covet the Abyss Imperial Stout and people line up for Big Sky Brewing’s Ivan the Terrible. In spring, beer enthusiasts eagerly wait for the Bock releases. Summer brings a series of new pales, fruit, and sour beers. (Huckleberry Honey from Bitterroot Brewing flew off the shelves this summer!) By autumn, the Oktoberfest lagers, stouts, and pumpkin beers arrive. Don’t get me wrong, I’m nuts over the 2012 Oregon pinot noirs. But there is a certain mystique about beer. It’s nearly impossible to keep up with the weekly changes. Perhaps this is why craft beer sales have skyrocketed. There is always something new and limited in the works. In a day and age of our need to be wowed and stimulated, the craft beer formula seems to be a perfect fit. And we couldn’t be happier about that.

Go Local!

Want to try something new? The Flathead is lucky to home several top notch craft breweries. Maggie Doherty from Kalispell Brewing says their new brewery in Kalispell has been an overwhelming success. Their labor intensive lager is a must try, and the Two Brewski pilsner has been very popular as well. When asked if they were planning anything special for Fall, she answered that Brewer Cole Schneider is planning an Oktoberfest style beer for the Fall. Can't wait!

food}

beer

Chili Recipe

From Craftbeer.com Ingredients

1 lb. lamb stew meat (or whatever cuts are on sale), cubed 1 lb. beef (eye of round or stew meat), cubed 4 slices of bacon

1 green bell pepper, diced 4 poblano peppers, diced 2 red onions, diced

4 cloves of garlic, finely diced

3 jalapeño peppers (fresh), diced 3 serrano peppers (fresh), diced

1 habanero chili (fresh), finely diced

2 (16 oz.) cans of stewed, diced tomatoes 1 (15 oz.) can of tomato sauce 2 (8 oz.) cans of tomato paste

12 oz. of beer (Stout, Porter or Brown Ale) 1 (15 oz.) can of kidney beans, drained 1 (15 oz.) can of black beans, drained 1/4 cup of chili powder

3 tsp. black pepper (or to taste)

3 tsp. of kosher salt (or to taste)

2 tsp. cayenne pepper (or to taste) Directions In a large pot, fry the bacon over medium-high heat. Remove the bacon and add the red onions, bell pepper, poblano peppers and garlic. Cook until the onions are translucent, about five minutes. Add the lamb and beef, and cook for five minutes. Stir in the tomato sauce, tomato paste and stewed tomatoes. Then add the chili powder, salt, black pepper, cayenne, jalapeños, habanero, and Stout. Put the lid on the pot and reduce the heat to low. Allow the chili to simmer for an hour, stirring occasionally. After an hour, crumble the bacon and add it, as well as the kidney and black beans to the chili. Taste and adjust the heat and seasoning to your liking. Cover the pot and allow it to simmer another two hours, stirring occasionally. At this point, the chili is ready, but two more hours of simmering will make it taste even better. Karen Sanderson is the proprietor of Brix Bottleshop at 101 E Center St #102 in Kalispell. (406) 393-2202, www.brixbottleshop.com  47

health}

fitness

Improve Your Posture

Stand up straight, pull your shoulders back, chin up, chest out, stomach in. By Delia Buckmaster Photos by Scott Wilson Photography At some point in your life, someone has told you to straighten your posture, and it was probably your mother. But did she really know what good posture really is? Is it at easy as just doing all of the above?

and fatigue. Being in good general health and standing (or sitting) tall will also boost your bearing and self-confidence.

A good posture has to be trained, just like you would train your muscles for strength or endurance. Most of us haven’t developed the patience to work on our posture. It’s certainly not as motivating as running a race, or looking great in your bathing suit. However, when you practice good posture, your body is in alignment with itself. This can alleviate common problems such as back or neck pain, headaches

Train your muscles to do the work. It is important to build "muscle memory" so that you unconsciously and naturally maintain correct posture without fatigue. When you lift weights, you should exercise the agonist and antagonist muscles evenly. This means that you should exercise your hamstrings as much as your quadriceps, chest as much as your back, and so on. This will help with correct posture.

Dynamic Posture vs. Static Posture

I will always remember the day my mother complimented my posture for the first time and told me to keep doing whatever I was doing Static posture usually refers to the because it was working. standing or sitting position held for a long time and may result in fatigue I could give all the credit to Pilates and even injury over time. Dynamic (smart marketing move). But was it posture is the alignment of your just doing Pilates that corrected my body while you are moving, and posture? Or was it the repetition of maintaining good posture while the correct core exercises and im- you walk, run, lunge, squat, lift and proved awareness. jump.

Dynamic Movement Pattern for Better Posture STOTT PILATES ÂŽ

The following six muscle balance and movement patterns can help with body awareness. Hip Extension Keep your pelvis as still as possible and reach one leg off mat. Keep your knees extended and focus on movement happening at the hip. Alternate legs. Hip Abduction Lift top leg as far as you can maintain pelvis stability. Keep your spine long and avoid tension in the lower back and shoulders. Repeat on the other side. Neck and Head Flexion Keep you spine rounded as you move away from legs as far as you can maintain a flexed lower back and feet on the mat. Focus on keeping your abs connected. Avoid pinning your chin to your chest.

Curl Up (Pelvic Curl) Roll spine up to a shoulder bridge position, moving through each vertebrae until you are in an extended hip. Return back to the mat starting at the upper back until you return to a neutral spine. Focus on your abs, glutes and hamstrings. Push Up Flex elbows and angle them behind you keeping your spine straight and your head aligned with your spine. Focus on neutral spine and your breath, inhaling as you lower and exhaling as you lift. Shoulder Abduction Sitting Move your arm in abduction (away from the midline of you body). Focus on keeping your spine still and stabilizing your shoulder blade. â&#x20AC;Ż51

3 Mistakes Even Smart Women Make

that Keep Them Frustrated, Resentful, and Doing Too Much! Written by CrisMarie Campbell

Meet Tammy

Tammy is a smart, accomplished woman currently living in Chicago managing her consulting firm. She’s married to Paul and they have two young boys. Paul just got a job offer in Atlanta, and though Tammy is happy to move back to her hometown, she finds herself overwhelmed with getting the boys finished with school for the summer, getting the house ready to sell, and ensuring that her own business can make the move. Paul, in the meantime, has found the house of his dreams in Atlanta, and Tammy suddenly realizes she’s doing too much and feels frustrated and resentful. Can you relate? Let’s look at three of the most common (and painful) mistakes smart women make.

First mistake: Disconnecting from Ourselves

When we’re disconnected from ourselves, we’re not in touch with what we really think, feel, and want. I know this sounds crazy. How could we not be connected, right? Often, as women, we’re so busy thinking about how to be a “good ________” (fill in the blank: employee, mother, daughter, wife, boss). This constant drive to be “good enough” to others can trump our connection to ourselves.

Yes, of course, our relationships matter to us, but sometimes so much so that we ignore what we’re really thinking, feeling, and wanting. The problem is that when we don’t include ourselves, we wind up doing things for others but ignoring what’s truly important to ourselves.

Second Mistake: Avoiding

What Did Tammy Do?

We all have those topics with our important people, topics that make us think, “It’s just easier if I don’t bring this up.” Maybe we want to avoid a negative reaction or not get into a fight. We think, “It’s no use, so why bother?!”

Tammy noticed that every time Paul talked about his dream house, she got a pain in the bottom of her stomach. She liked the house, but thought it was too expensive, even though it wasn’t much more than they were currently paying.

Sound familiar?

She didn’t want to tell Paul about her issues with the price because he had a habit of getting defensive when she brought up money. So, instead, she complemented him on how well he did with finding the house, but said she didn’t like the house’s style.

In the beginning, avoiding a topic may seem like a good strategy, but over time it becomes an issue because a key topic we care about is not getting resolved. In fact, we’re spending precious heartbeats, which are in limited supply, working around and avoiding those topics. Whew! What a lot of work!

Third Mistake: Being Too Nice or Polite

When we finally do approach those previously avoided key topics with someone, our attempts to say what we really think, feel, and want may come out so nicely or politely that the other person misses the point completely. We get into the habit of sugarcoating our messages or watering them down to the point that they lose their original content and intention. Then, of course, we get upset that the person isn’t getting our message!

If we make any one of these three mistakes, it’s a problem. If we make them all, we wind up doing too much and feeling frustrated and resentful!

What did Paul do? He promptly went out and found three other houses, all in the same price range. Tammy groaned inside. Tammy is a classic example of a woman who’s frustrated, resentful, and is doing too much. She still needs help.

What You Can Do Step One: Pause and Connect To You In the last issue of 406 Woman magazine, my article, Confessions of a Chameleon, included a stepby-step approach about “How To Ground in Your Body.” You can find that exercise here: http://issuu. com/406woman/docs/406_woman_vol.7_no.1/63?e=0

Tammy started coaching with me, and we worked through this first step. She used her body as a guide. She realized that the pain in her stomach was an indicator that something was off. Then she recognized that paying that much for the house felt like a burden.

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mistakes

Step Two: Determine What Is Driving You We don’t want things willy-nilly. Our wants are usually connected to something deeper inside. Our wants are driven by what matters most to us, our core values. It’s helpful to know what core values drive your want if you’re trying to stop avoiding those important topics. Knowing why a topic means so much to you will give you more courage to stay connected to what matters to you. Here’s how you can find out what core value is driving you. Ask yourself: Why is this so important to me? What am I making this mean? Why am I upset about __________ (fill in the blank)? Tammy needed to get clear inside herself as to why paying that much for a house felt like a burden when it wasn’t much more than they were already paying. When she asked herself, “Why am I upset about this price?” she recognized that in the back of her mind she’d been thinking of scaling back her business to spend more time with the kids. Taking on this size of mortgage would not allow her to do that. Step Three: Be Real, Be Courageous, and Speak about Yourself Once you understand why a topic matters to you so much, the next step is to be direct, talk about yourself, and own what’s important to you. I can just hear you saying, “No frickin’ way!” Breathe.

The goal is not to change the other person. No. It’s to have the courage to stand firmly in your own shoes, be real, and speak about what matters the most to you. Often, this allows the other person to more clearly see you and to understand why something matters so much to you. Here’s how Tammy approached her issue with Paul: Tammy said, “I have something to tell you that’s hard for me to say because I think you’ll get upset. So I’m just going to be frank and say it. Okay?” Paul said, “ Yes.” “I am not comfortable spending this much for a house.” Paul started to object. Tammy put her hand up and said, “Give me a minute.” “The reason is that I don’t want to support that large of a mortgage when what I actually want is to scale down my work and spend more time with the kids and maybe even have another baby.” Paul did not see that coming.

In Closing It’s not always easy to connect to ourselves, find out what’s driving us, be real, be courageous, and speak about ourselves. I do believe, however, that the payoff is powerful and priceless. As for Tammy, Paul was surprised, but he appreciated Tammy for being so straightforward. They talked and decided they could get a slightly less expensive house. Tammy felt heard and respected because she had made what she wanted important. (I have to say, though, that they’re still chatting and undecided about whether to have another baby).

CrisMarie Campbell

CrisMarie Campbell is a coach who specializes in helping women who are frustrated, resentful, and doing too much take back their lives and create the work, life, and relationships that matter most.

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make bed pick up toys and books put laundry in hamper help feed pets help wipe up messes dust (put socks on hands)

4-5 Years

Chores by Gretchen Knuffke

I have been feeling slightly nostalgic for the good ole days. Remember those? You probably have to be over 40 to remember them at all, but they were some good times. Remember when Saturdays were spent doing chores with your family? You got up in the morning and watched a few Tom and Jerry's and Scooby Doo's while your mom made you pancakes for breakfast. Then, she sent you to clean your room and not just shove things under the bed, but dust and vacuum. Then, you probably got sent to weed the garden, clean the garage, mow the lawn, rake the leaves or at our house, shovel snow. I grew up at 7600 ft. in the mountains of Colorado, so there was a lot of snow to shovel, feet and feet of snow for months on end. If you were really lucky though, you got the job of knocking icicles off the eaves of the house. This job wasn’t for wimps; you would have to be extremely careful because those things have been known to kill people. That was the warning my dad would give before handing you the shovel. And to think this was a coveted job at our house!

After a really big snow we could sometimes walk right onto the roof and then we might get to shovel all the snow off so it wouldn't collapse, crush us, and kill us dead in our sleep. No, my dad didn't really say that, not in so many words, but it was understood. Growing up in Colorado had all sorts of risk in the old days. We didn’t wear helmets to ride our bikes. We drank out of the garden hose, rode in the back of the truck,

and I don’t think sunscreen was even invented.

Chores in the good ole days were different, too. They required something they don't make anymore. At least I haven't seen it in stores and most kids haven't had the luxury of using it.... it is called elbow grease. If you were having trouble completing your job, which was most likely something really tedious like scrubbing the bottom of the boat, it was probably due to the fact that you weren't using the proper amount of elbow grease. Who scrubs the bottom of their boat anyway? I’ll tell you who, men like my dad who grew up in the 1940's and 50's, when there was still a lot of elbow grease around. I usually got to daydreaming a lot while trying to finish cleaning the hubcaps on my dad's car. He had a lot of crazy jobs that could not be done without a healthy application of elbow grease. Whenever I got a little lost in dream world, he would say, "For Pete’s sake, hurry it up! Let's not make a career out of it!" I didn't know who Pete was, but he sure was referenced a lot and no, I did not want to make a career out of cleaning hubcaps or stacking firewood.

Once I sent my four-year-old son to spend 3 weeks with his grandpa. He learned a lot about chores and elbow grease. I took him shopping with me when he got back and while I was looking at some clothes, he said, "c'mon mom, don't make a career out of it!" Glad to hear that things at the homestead had not changed since I was a kid.

clear/set table load dishwasher empty silverware from dishwasher take laundry to laundry room match socks & fold put away laundry straighten room get the newspaper/mail

6-8

Years

empty dishwasher clean bathroom sinks and counters sort laundry by colors help pack school lunches pull weeds & rake leaves water plants/flowers collect trash from wastebaskets

9-11 Years clean toilets take trash to curb vacuum mop floors mow grass food preperation (wash, cut, dice, measure) walk pet

12+ Years

baby-sit siblings wash windows iron clean interior/exterior of car cook simple meals laundry clean refrigerator make grocery list

age appropriate chores......

2-3 Years

chores

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chores

Nowadays, kids don't know what a Saturday is supposed to look like. They don't know what chores are anymore. How are they supposed to grow any character? What is going to put some hair on their chest? Well, in my dadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s house, either cleaning out the fireplace or eating jalapenos. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t ask me why having hair on your chest was a good thing, either, I never figured that out. Now kids spend Saturdays with a whole lot of adults watching them play. There is never a time when kids do not have adults watching their every move. The whole glory of finishing your job right, the first time, so you didn't have to do it again, was so you could go down to the woods or the river without any adults watching you. Can you imagine your mom and dad tagging along to the Capture the Flag game and then chasing you around with a water bottle? No, the best part of Saturday was going to play WITHOUT your parents watching. Things are all backwards now. It used to be that your parents would go do things with their friends, like go fishing or have a BBQ or get together for a picnic and the kids just tagged along and played with whatever other kids were there, too. Today, kids have all the activities and the parents tag along. Although I didn't much like chores when I was a kid, I look back fondly on Saturdays because they were spent with my family. We were learning important things during that time, like perseverance, honesty, loyalty, work ethic, and pride in our homes and our families. Our lessons were learned with our siblings and our parents.

I sure do miss those good ole days with my dad as foreman of the job. So, I made up a list of great character building chores for my kids to do this weekend. Who knows they might even want to make a career out of it.

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S af e K e e p i n g

By Kristen Pulsifer, Whitefish Study Center

It’s the middle of summer. The weather is wonderful, the sun is out and everyone is playing. That’s how it should be. More swimming, boating hiking, biking… whatever everyone enjoys, there is more of it happening because it’s the summer. My family and I are doing the same. We have enjoyed the boat, the raft, the bikes, the horses… it has been wonderful. I even took my 6 year old on her first town bike ride so she could practice riding where there was more traffic and learn the rules of the road’, and how to get to Sweet Peaks ice cream shop for a delicious scoop of ice cream- the most important part, of course. The two of us rode directly through the center of town, past the middle school, stopping at every intersection. I reminded her to look both ways each time. She disregarded my instructions, each time. I believe I must have had several heart attacks on that 30-minute ride! But, the worst one came when we headed down the bike path. I figured this would be the most peaceful part of the trip as we were riding by the river and happily checking out all of the ducks. We came around the bend by the bridge and wrapped our way around the pond. She was doing so well! I then turned to head back up the path and there it was, crash! My sweet little one missed the turned, forgot she had breaks, and took a header into the brush on the side of the pond. Screaming, crying… that’s all I heard. I dropped my bike and rushed in to pull her out of sharp angry branches, a large, menacing spider ‘s web, and many a dirty leaf. I brushed her off, and to my surprise, relieved surprise, there were just a few bumps, bruises, scrapes and several scared tears. All I could think was, ‘Thank goodness she was wearing her helmet.” Several hugs and a very direct route to ice cream ensued. Ironically, that evening, I received an email from a friend telling me to contact one of my dearest friends in Minneapolis, because her fourteen-year-old son had not been so lucky. I texted my dear friend, immediately, only to find that her son had simply been skateboarding, on his way home from a friend’s house, and fell. But, just hours later her was transported from one hospital to another for a craniotomy to treat an interior hematoma on his brain. “The Boy” as his father endearingly refers to him in so many of his CaringBridge entries, is alive and out of his coma, but there is a long road of rehab and recovery ahead for this sweet kid. Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is horrific, and they are fortunate of have a wonderful team of doctors and therapists to help with this daunting endeavor. Thankfully he is responding pretty well, and things are moving along, but regardless it is devastating and what he is going through sounds…. well…. tough (understatement). 58

The educational part of this article is simple. Please, in all that you do, do it safely. Think and plan ahead the best you can. Life jackets, helmets, kneepads, and a suit of armor, all of the safety equipment is out there. Kids sometimes feel silly or ‘not cool’, but what is not cool is what this awesome kid, my friend’s son, has to go through… is going through… right now. He has been in the hospital for just over a week, and they are looking at about another 6 months, at least. So, as ‘the boy’s’ father has says, many times, at the end of his supportive and loving updates about his son’s progress, “Wear a Helmet”. The boy’s mom reports, in her attempt to find just a slight bit of humor to keep her sane, ‘ironically the kid will be fitted with a helmet that he will have to wear 24/7 for the next several month’. Ask your kids, when whining about their safety equipment, which they would prefer? Also, I know cell phones get to be a bit much, but for my friend’s son, his iPhone saved his life. He knew to call- he knew he needed help and that something wasn’t right. Educate your children on what to do if an accident happens. That’s part of the safety training and equipment our kids also need – knowledge. My friend and her family are a careful and thoughtful family, just like most of us are fortunate to be a part of; but we all have moments. My family and I were reminded just last week end, by a park ranger, that our kids needed their life jackets on at all times, while on the raft, floating the river. Of course they do! I felt like the negligent mother. I thanked them later, after fishing our daughter out of the river, for the first time ever on one of our floats. Play, have fun and enjoy all there is to enjoy; but, remember the safety equipment that we are so fortunate to have at our disposal. It was made and put out there for us for a reason. Just like the crazy warning labels on so many boxes that my kids always laugh at. I quickly remind them that picture of the child putting a plastic bag over their head, with a large red ‘X’ was put there because it happened, and the ending was not good. Their blank stares tell me they get it.