Come Discover Southside Consignment II The Place to Bring your friends and family!
Best place to shop for antiques!
2699 hwy 93 south, kalispell 406.756.8526 - Create your own individuality
SouthsideConsignment & antiques
Celebrating 27 Fabulous years!
Over 6,000 Square Feet of recycled Decor & Fine Collectibles
treasures mixing old with new!
Let us consign your treasures - Let the gals help you with decorating ideas
406 contents design 16. Tablescaping Stay Awhile 22. HOT Trends 28. VELVET
travel 30. Upstate Unveiled
love
36. Hayley & Eric 42. Margaret & Brad
fashion
48. The Village Shop
36...
food & flavor 50. Asparagus Soup 52. I love Bread! 54. Tangerine Loaf 56. Ketosis & Kalamata
Education 58. 'Ok' the Fear
history
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60. Nicolette Larson
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406 w o m a n
Cover Girl
publisher
Cindy Gerrity
cindy@montanasky.net
business manager Daley McDaniel
daley@montanasky.net
executive editor Mary Wallace
montanamry57@gmail.com
design
Sara Joy Pinnell
sara@mrsandmrpublishing.com
Brandi Westover
Brandi Westover
proves that
406
both versatile and full of mischief. native
Montanan
Montana
of
from the
Brandi
is a
who grew up on the hi-line
and spent her summers gathered
together with her family on
Brandi
women are
earned a
BA
Flathead Lake.
in elementary education
University of Montana. After meeting Darin, in Australia, they settled in
her husband
Kalispell where he practices law at the law firm Best and Westover. Brandi finds her greatest joy in raising their three beautiful children. To-
of
gether they enjoy all that the valley has to offer including summers on
Big Mountain,
Flathead Lake, winters on Glacier Park.
and exploring
photographers
Daley McDaniel Photography Amanda Wilson Photography Alisia Dawn Photography Kelly Kirksey Photography Carrie Ann Photography Kathryn Hayes Media Green Kat Photography Jennifer Mooney Photography
P h o t o b y A m an d a W i l s o n P h o t o g r aph y ( www . a ma n d awi l s o nph o t o s . c o m )
Business Girl
Published by Skirts Publishing six times a year 704 C East 13th St. #138 Whitefish, MT 59937 info@406woman.com Copyright©2019 Skirts Publishing
View current and past issues of 406 Woman at
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Discover
Riley Polumbus
Riley Polumbus came to be the Big Mountain’s Communications Relations Department, along with
how
voice behind and
Public
an exciting recap of the finely orchestrated but high-risk evacuation of the
by
Chair 3 lift well-trained team of Whitefish Mountain Resort staff this past December.
P h o t o b y A m an d a W i l s o n P h o t o g r aph y ( www . a ma n d awi l s o nph o t o s . c o m )
Want to know about great events, open houses, and more? Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/406 Woman 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.
Editor’s Note Cindy says I must introduce myself, so here goes: First - I am incredibly pleased to step into the role of Editor of this awesome magazine! I have enjoyed being a contributor at 406 WOMAN for several years, and it has allowed me to meet some of the nicest people! I reside in the Creston area with my husband of...well, more years than seem possible. We have three grown children, two grandkids, two dogs, two cats, and three horses. The things I am passionate about are (in no particular order), family, storytelling, travel, the 406 (Montana), friendships, wine, and coffee. What I didn’t expect when I took this on was the warm welcome I’ve received and the patience everyone has shown on this first attempt to fill Kristen Hamilton’s very capable and yet stylish shoes. It’s definitely been a bit of a learning curve and what I am feeling right now is probably best summed up in this quote by Jen Sincero, in her book You Are a Badass: “No matter how clueless you may feel right now, pay attention to suggestions and opportunties that suddenly present themselves… Take the first step in the direction toward something that feels right and see where it leads you. And do it NOW.” It surely does feel right, and I am beyond excited to be a part of my awesome new 406 tribe! I hope you enjoy this issue of 406 WOMAN!
Mary Wallace
{
In this issue you’ll find…. A fun story about the girl behind DELISH - the digital and video blog that’s perfect for people who love to eat (but don’t necessarily love to cook). Find your own inspiration in I WANT HER JOB – Joanne Saltz – Editor Director of DELISH and House Beautiful, on page 12. Eleven things you never knew about about women’s health issues, meditation, the keto diet, natural remedies, and skin care in some rather interesting articles from local experts Dr. Charles Basler, Dr Austine Siomos, Dr. John Miller, Mollie Busby, Cassie Adams, & Erin Blair. Insights from a very tiny 406 Woman Warrior – Sofia the Brave & Strong. A Girl’s Guide to great places to visit and eat if you have been thinking about a Fall Colors trip in the New England area.
{
Our Talented 406 Contributors Dr. Esther Barnes, DPM, FACAS
Board certified foot and ankle specialist practicing at Step Ahead Foot & Ankle Clinic in Kalispell
C. Claude Basler, D.C.
Family chiropractor, allowing you to express your true potential
Erin Blair
Licensed esthetician and owner of Skin Therapy Studio
Delia Buckmaster
Owner of Delia's Pilates™, PMA®-CPT, International Educator, bootybarre® master trainer, health coach, mom, Montana obsessed.
Brian D’Ambrosio
Accomplished writer and newly published author of “Reservation Champ’
Kalispell OB/GYN Doctors & Practitioners
Board certified OB/GYN professional offering expert advice
Allison Linville
Community Relations Coordinator at North Valley Hospital
John Miller, DDS
Specializing in general dentistry, Dr Miller provides expert advice
Carole Morris
Instructional Specialist, Author and Adjunct Professor. The proud mom of two perfect children and grammie to three flawless grandchildren.
Kelly O’Brien, Esq.
Business law specialist with Measure Law Office, P.C.
Brianne Perleberg
Founder of I Want Her Job and marketing director at NASCAR track Phoenix Raceway.
Kelly Pris
Marketing Director at Mountain Meadow Herbs with over 12 years of experience in the dietary supplement industry.
Kristen Pulsifer
Writer, editor and owner of Whitefish Study Center
Dr Austine Siomos
A pediatric cardiologist at Rocky Mountain Heart & Lung plus a wife and mother
Jaymee Sire
Jaymee grew up in North Central Montana and is an Emmy Award winning sports broadcaster. She writes a food and travel blog called “e is for eat.” (eisforeat.com)
Mary Wallace
Mother of three and grandmother to two, is still trying to figure out what she wants to be when she grows up.
For full bios for our contributors, please visit www.406woman.com.
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oman.com
Meet June Jeffries…
June Jeffries, the mastermind behind the 406 Tablescaping feature, resides in Vancouver, BC but grew up in a farming community 2 hours north of Whitefish. Her sister, Lynn Malmberg is a Columbia Falls resident. Staying connected with family is high on her list of priorities which is why Montana feels like a second home. June has a vast knowledge founded in her love of reading. She loves to discuss history, politics, geography, literature, design, gardening and obscure fun facts - making it easy to have a conversation about anything with anyone. She is truly a jack of all trades; she will give anything a try. She loves to learn new things from making candy, upholstery, building a cabinet, designing costumes, floral design, painting and drawing, electrical to plumbing to master gardener. Her greatest passion is writing. She has written journals for her children, hopes to dust off the stack of unfinished manuscripts, and is currently writing a screen play and dabbling with a manuscript.
Her secret passion is architecture; she would love to design a house or restore a historic building. She has a collection of architectural design books written by Andrea Palladio, whose work is strongly based on symmetry. (Building a flying buttress is on her to do list) She gravitates towards old things; perhaps it’s the history in their bones. (or her BA in History). She loves holidays and special events; it gives her great joy to make others feel loved and appreciated. Today, her time is spent planning weddings, arranging flowers, designing custom art and invitations, honing her calligraphy skills, devoting endless hours to her garden, working towards getting published and spending as much time as possible with her family.
design}
Stay Awhile
Tablescaping
By June Jeffries for Empress Tents and Events Photographed by Kelly Kirksey Photography
Design is purposefully influenced by personal taste, as well as by trends. There are key elements to any design process: color, pattern, texture, furniture, lighting, and accessories.
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Selecting a color is a big part of the design process; it makes a stylish statement. The Pantone Color Institute reports and forecasts on the movement of color across current and future seasons. Pantone began in New York City in the 1950s, when Lawrence Herbert systemized and standardized color by creating a system whereby designers could ‘color’ match.’ Every year, Pantone announces its color of the year, and Living Coral is the color for 2019. It is a bright, sunny, pinky-orange. It’s perfect for weddings; it is great to blend with everything from flowers, dresses, makeup, and cakes.
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design}
The versatility of greenery is boundless: its lush foliage adds dimension, always the perfect filler and a fabulous canvas for flowers.
Tablescape design or wedding design, as with all design, come together with greater ease if the key elements are applied and considered. The first goal is to begin with an object of inspiration or color and, of course, color is one of the most influential elements in any decorative scheme. When it comes to figuring out the colors you love, the easiest thing to do is take a long look around you. Bringing the outdoors in remains a trend for 2019; greenery continues to be a classic go-to, so mixing foliage and flowers or fruit is always popular. Indeed, food, in itself, is a piece of art offering vibrant colors and different shapes and sizes. Historically, the symbolism of fruit in art represents vitality, youth, and abundance. The versatility of greenery is boundless: its lush foliage adds dimension, always the perfect filler and a fabulous canvas for flowers. Flowers in all arrangements, whether they are designed to appear natural, whimsical, or romantic, are structured to look unstructured – it is the beauty of great design: to emulate nature – to appear natural and untouched. A few other trends to watch for in 2019: banquet tables with low floral arrangements allowing guests to see one another such as grasses – we chose wheat – is a great substitution for greenery; its neutral palette has a Bohemian air about it. Candles, in all shapes and sizes, continue to be popular; candlelight is essential in the designer’s bag of tricks for ambience and romance. Whatever the season or occasion it is rewarding to create a beautiful tablescape, one that is inviting and sends the message: ‘stay awhile.’ All dishware, linens, and props provided by Empress Tents and Events. (www.empresstentsevents.com) For all your event planning needs contact Lynn Malmberg. And for a vintage flair visit www.vingtagewhiteweddings.com And a huge ‘Thank You’ to Kelly (www.kellykirkseyphotography.com) always!
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design}
Looking for a kitchen that can last the test of time... White cabinets will do just that. Not only are they timeless in style, they offer clean, simple lines.
With minimalist trends for bright and airy kitchens, the Shaker Door continues to provide a contemporary, clean crisp look that homeowners are looking for.
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Direct Source and Imperial Granite & Quartz
Open shelving is quickly becoming a focal point not only in kitchens, but spaces such as fireplaces and wet bars too. You can store your favorite dishes, and also provide decorating space that is functional. Having a beautiful functional kitchen is best when it is correctly organized. Working one-on-one with our experienced designers, we customize the interior of your cabinets for best function and storage. And no clutter!
design}
Looking for a unique, multi-purpose focal point of the kitchen?
The island provides the best solution. At Direct Source, we design islands with each homeowner in mind. Whether you are looking for extra storage or a furniture style piece, we can create it. To really make it pop, we suggest your island in a contrasting color or style to make it one of a kind.
Top countertop trends for sleek and stylish spaces
Looking to add a twist to your cooking? A full height backsplash is an appealing visual background and a great way to spice things up. Backsplashes are not the only way to add flavor to your kitchen. Waterfall edges provide a modern, sleek look while making a statement in any home. Homeowners have endless possibilities of materials, styles and finishes to take any space from eh to WOW.
Hate losing items to the back of your cabinets? Designing a home to age in place?
We recommend drawers versus roll outs and standard shelves. Drawers are more ergonomically correct and easier to access. Direct Source Cabinets 160 Kelly Road, Kalispell, MT. 406.728.8099 3495 West Broadway Ste B, Missoula, MT.
Imperial Granite & Quartz 3495 West Broadway Ste B, Missoula, MT. 406.926.1920
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Luxurious Comfortable Stylish VELVET
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By Wright’s Furniture
Cold winter nights are upon us. You can add warmth, comfort, and style to any space with rich velvet fabric. Luxuriously soft to the touch, velvet is the ideal texture if you are looking to add a bold accent and create a cozier space.
design} Velvet has made a comeback in the design industries and is remaining a popular current trend. Designers are using it to add a touch of elegance and class to any space. Velvet works well in many styles and is often being paired with gold, brass, chrome and glass accents.
Velvet is eye-catching, unexpected and bold. Just one velvet statement piece could completely transform a space. It is an extremely versatile material and works with both traditional and contemporary styling. We love how velvet can put an entirely new spin on a traditionally framed model of furniture.
If a fully upholstered velvet piece of furniture is too much for you, consider smaller velvet accents on toss pillows, blankets, benches, and ottomans. Easy to clean velvet materials are now available, as well as many different types, textures, and colors. Visit our Wright's Furniture Showroom in Whitefish for the many velvet options available. Sit, touch and feel our in-stock selections or browse hundreds of velvet fabric samples and product options that are available for Special Order in our Design Center.
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FREE DESIGN SERVICES | Open Daily | 6325 Hwy 93 South, Whitefish MT 59937 | 406.862.2455 | www.wrightsfurniturestore.com | FREE DELIVERY*
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travel}
Upstate Unveiled By Jaymee Sire Photos by Justin Aharoni
While NYC is the city that never sleeps, Upstate New York provides a sleepy escape from the bustling metropolis. Generally, when people think about a “New York vacation,” they think NYC, the largest city in the country, with endless options for theater, museums, entertainment, food, drink, and activities. But what many don’t realize is… a short drive upstate opens up a whole new world for hiking, antiquing, apple picking, concerts, wine & beer tasting, world class eating, and much, much more. AirBnb named the Hudson Valley a Top-20 worldwide travel destination for 2019, so now is the time to experience what the area has to offer. When to visit Much like Montana, you can pretty much visit anytime of year depending on what kind of vacation you are looking for. That said, the fall is especially beautiful there, with a bright palette of reds, oranges and yellows painting the countryside during the autumn months. It’s a tricky thing to plan out ahead of time, as leaf peeping season started later than normal in 2018 (and varies depending how far north you venture), but early October is generally a safe bet if you are looking to see some fall color. To
satisfy the music lovers, there are plenty of concerts and festivals, and 2019 marks the 50th anniversary concert of Woodstock, which will be held at Watkins Glen August 15-17th. Bonfire Cookout is a unique event for the adventurous foodie, featuring open
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fire cooking in an intimate, outdoor environment. The 2018 slate included three different dates and themes from August to October, so be sure to check out bonfirecookout.com for updates on 2019 dates. Where to stay If you are looking for a truly unique vacation, consider finding your accommodations on AirBnb. According to the website, the Catskill Mountains and the Hudson Valley saw a 100-percent yearover-year increase in bookings and a 130-percent year-over-year increase in searches between 2017 and 2018. Everything from restored barns to tiny houses to old castles to tree houses are available in the vast area of Upstate New York. (The website HVHappenings.com and its corresponding IG page, @hudsonvalleyhappenings, is a great place to start for lodging and activity ideas.) The following represent a very small sampling of places I’ve personally had the pleasure of experiencing, but this barely scratches the surface, so definitely use this as a starting point and do some of your own research!
Saugerties, NY The town of Saugerties is about a 2 hour drive from New York City, which is the perfect mix of "let's go for a beautiful drive" and "let's really escape for the weekend." The town itself is home to plenty of
restaurants, boutiques and art galleries. During your stay, you can also visit the Saugerties Lighthouse, which is an 1869 landmark on the Hudson River that houses a living museum and a renowned bed and breakfast. Another top attraction in the area is Opus 40, an earthwork sculpture park and arts center. This unique location was founded in 1978, and features over six acres of winding walkways, some 16 feet below ground, as you make your way
through the quarry with Overlook Mountain as a majestic backdrop. The site often hosts concerts, art exhibits and lectures, so be sure to check their schedule before you visit.
For the ultimate country escape, consider hunkering down at Barn on the Pond, which is actually just a short walk from Opus 40. That said, once you step foot inside, you may never want to leave.
Barn on the Pond is a stunning converted barn, and if you visit during the cooler months, you will be greeted with a warm hug emanating from the fireplace, and the smell of a delicious home cooked meal awakening your senses if you decide to utilize their catering package. High ceilings, exposed beams, a state-of-the-art kitchen and beautiful art pieces and furnishings turn this rustic barn into a true luxury accommodation, with room for 12 of your closest friends. No expense has been spared in preserving the history of the gorgeous building, while also adding the necessary modern conveniences you would expect and need for a relaxing country escape. As the name suggests, it's set above a serene pond, complete with a stone fire pit (perfect for those late-night s'mores cravings!) Patios and decks wrap around most of the property, allowing for outdoor entertaining on warmer evenings and days. A cozy Airstream sits nearby to accommodate overflow guests. There’s a reason this property is the second-most rented converted barn on Homeaway.
for the holiday season. Each dish was as delicious as it was beautiful and everything was fresh and locally sourced. Olsen & Company also has a small grocery store and cafe in town, so even if you don't elect the catering option, be sure to stop by and pick up a few things for your weekend away.
If you want the ultimate pampering experience, Barn on the Pond offers a service where they will personally arrange a chef or caterer to prepare a meal (or meals) during your stay so you don't have to lift a finger. On this particular night, Olsen & Company provided a family-style dinner complete with a beautiful tablescape decorated
If you are in the mood to enjoy a dinner out, be sure to check out Black Eyed Suzie's. It's a cozy little spot, but don't let the size fool you... this restaurant is pumping out some big-time flavors and dishes! Fridays are fried chicken nights, and for just $20, you get 2 pieces of buttermilk fried chicken, mashed potatoes, slaw and a piece of cornbread (and you can add a third piece of chicken for just $4.50.) Also do not miss the parker house loaf! Pillowy soft bread topped with crunchy sea salt is what carb dreams are made of. The macaroni was a perfect accompaniment to the chicken, and washed it all down with a cider flight and session cocktails. Coxsackie, NY About 130 miles north of NYC, you'll find West Coxsackie, NY, a quaint and peaceful community, perfect for a restful weekend away. If you are an antique collector, you will love the Coxsackie Antique Center, which features over 100 dealers in a 15,000 square foot space at much lower
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Upstate
prices than other places in the valley. If you happen to visit during the spring or summertime, be sure to take in some cinema under the stars at Hi Way Drive-In, one of the last remaining drive-in movie theaters in the state. The theater is located just 5 miles south of Coxsackie, and is open from Spring until Labor Day. Prior to Memorial Day, movies are only shown on the weekend, but after that, it’s 7 nights a week! Also be sure to check out the schedule for Lumberyard, a women-led non-profit center for film and performing arts located just down the road in Catskill.
For lodging, consider a stay at Circa 1804 Farmhouse, which is set on a 10-acre farm that is also home to Owls Hoot Barn, a gorgeous wedding and event space. If it’s not booked for a wedding, you can actually rent out the farmhouse and adjoining cabin for a weekend getaway. Opening the front door is like taking a step back in time, with thoughtfully selected antique pieces at every turn and you will immediately fall in love with the gorgeous farm-style kitchen. The rustic feel of the original wood floors & cabinets paired with a farm
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sink blended seamlessly with modern appliances including a Viking range, a commercial refrigerator and an espresso machine. If you visit in the winter months, Circa 1804 will provide you with plenty of firewood and a prepped fireplace so you can easily curl up and enjoy a glass of wine with the flames flickering and crackling in the background.
The farmhouse can sleep 10 comfortably, making it an ideal spot for a girls weekend getaway. Next door to the house, you'll find a 2-person cabin which is also available for rent. The space is perfect for couples or to add on extra space to the farmhouse rental. There's also a second house next door that is being remodeled and soon the property will be able to accommodate 40 guests.
Whether you're looking for a quick breakfast or a full sit-down meal, definitely check out the newly-opened Cottage 81, just down the road from Owls Hoot. It's housed inside a beautifully restored farmhouse on Green Valley Farms and is the epitome of farm to table cuisine. All pastries are made daily from scratch (the chef is a son of
a baker!) Chef Sean also smokes and cures all of the restaurant's meats in house. The farm just acquired 200 head of Montana Angus beef cattle to source from, as well as pasture-raised chickens for meat & eggs. Whether paired with a NYC vacation, or a standalone destination… the Hudson Valley and Catskills Mountains should definitely be on your 2019 travel list!
Jaymee Sire
Jaymee grew up in North Central Montana and is an Emmy Award winning sports broadcaster, former ESPN SportsCenter anchor, and occasional Food Network contributor. She also writes a food and travel blog called “e is for eat.” (eisforeat.com)
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love}
Hayley& November 10, 2018
Eric
Photography by Victoria Carlson Photography Location: Great Hall, Sunriver Resort, in Sunriver Oregon
Who are you?
Hayley grew up in gorgeous Whitefish, Montana and now calls Bend, Oregon home. Eric was born and raised in beautiful Bend. The pair work at Humm Kombucha - Eric as a Research & Development Brewer and Hayley as a Project Planner. Both love to ski and snowboard, explore the outdoors, paddle board, and see live music in their free time.
How did you meet?
While going to school at University of Oregon, Eric studied abroad in Costa Rica. During that time, one of Hayley’s good friends began to date Eric’s close friend and a new friend group was formed. Hayley first laid eyes on Eric after he got back from his travels. They were introduced on a sunny Eugene river day that was then followed by some much needed pizza.
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love} stories
The thing I love most about Eric is his joyous spirit, which he is constantly sharing with others. He is always the first to smile or laugh and wants to make those around him feel loved and happy.
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love} stories
Eric is always the first to smile or laugh and wants to make those around him feel loved and happy. The Proposal? Midway through a hike, in a secluded spot along the Salmon River, Eric asked Hayley to marry him. An enthusiastic, “YES” was followed by much hugging, crying, and calling their respective parents. Afterwards, the couple headed to Portland to celebrate their engagement (along with ringing in the New Year 2018), all while enjoying dancing to one of their favorite bands with some of their best friends!
What is love?
Hayley: I feel that love is ever changing and growing. Today, love means being supported emotionally and physically in my dreams, daily life, and long term aspirations. I’m looking forward to what love will mean in 5 years, 20 years, or 50 years…
Eric: It’s hard for me to sum up what love is in a few sentences. I will simply state that I am ready to spend a lifetime learning what love is.
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What do you love most about each other?
Hayley: The thing I love most about Eric is his
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joyous spirit, which he is constantly sharing with others. He is always the first to smile or laugh and wants to make those around him feel loved and happy. He’s adventurous, creative and generous with his time and thoughts.
Eric: I would say most people who know Hayley well understand her power in facilitating genuine, honest, clear and loving relationships. Her level of ability to connect, play, and generally have a great time, is unmatched.
When did you know you were in love?
Hayley: Although I may not have realized it was love at the time, the first concert I went to with Eric was a real turning point in my life. It opened my eyes to a whole genre of music that would become a huge part of my life, and I never wanted the night to end. I knew in that moment that I could spend my whole life having fun, laughing, and dancing with Eric. Eric: I cannot recall a definitive moment I knew I was in love with Hayley. I just knew that I wanted to be around her all the time
after we first met. Quickly, my plans for the future with her moved from the next week, to the next month, to the next year and so on.
Wedding Details
One of the most powerful parts of the wedding was the Blackfeet Native American blessing during the ceremony. Joe Anderson, a relative of Hayley’s, blessed the couple with a traditional Blackfeet song accompanied by drumming. Hayley and Eric brought much of their personality into the day with Huckleberry pie for dessert, a tipi outside, and a live band, Cascade Crescendo, to dance the night away.
Honeymoon
Eric and Hayley traveled to Kauai, Hawaii after the wedding for some sun and relaxation. The trip was filled with wild chickens, delicious food, beach hikes, fresh juice and even a visit from a monk seal. It was the perfect place to enjoy each other’s company and talk about all of the amazing wedding memories. Eric and Hayley currently reside in a tiny home they built together in Bend, Oregon.
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love} stories
Margaret & December 1, 2018
Photography by Amie Smith Photography Location: Priest Lake, Idaho
Who are you?
Brad
My name is Margaret Russell and I have three kids ages 25, 23 and 22. I have been in the construction sales industry for 15 years and love the people and the territory I cover in the Pacific Northwest. I love to spend time at the lake and in the mountains.
My name is Brad Fasbender and I grew up on a malting barley farm outside of Great Falls. I have lived in Spokane, Washington the last 26 years. I have two kids, Cate who is 17, and Cameron, who is 14. I love the outdoors, specifically spending time in the mountains and on the lakes with the kids and Margaret.
How did you meet?
We were introduced by our sisters, who mutually decided that we might be a good match and persuaded us to go on a blind date.
The Proposal?
It was so sweet! We went up to Priest lake and I turned around and Brad was on one knee and asked me to spend the rest of my life with him. He proposed in the very same spot we later exchanged our wedding vows.
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What is love? Margaret: Love is the ability to put ones needs ahead of your own. To help someone be the best person they can be and cherish and grow the friendship and devotion for one another. And what comes with love is that amazing feeling of excitement and happiness that makes you feel so alive and grateful.
Brad: Knowing that your heart is full while you intend do everything humanly possible to fill up another’s.
What do you love most about each other?
Margaret: What I love most about Brad is the positive and fun way he embraces each day. He reminds me each day is a gift and to enjoy it to the fullest. Brad: Her ability to see something positive in every situation and every person.
When did you know you were in love?
Margaret: I knew I was in love when he looked me in the eye and said that a life together was "just going to get better" and it was already fantastic.
Brad: It was a combination of a number of things, but ultimately, I knew I was in trouble when every time I thought about her, I smiled uncontrollably.
Wedding Details
Elkins Resort, Priest Lake Idaho. Our families and a few close friends gathered at the lodge for a weekend celebration that was amazing. It was a special time where both family and friends were able to spend time together relaxing in a beautiful setting. Everyone dressed up for the wedding and the winter setting was spectacular.
Fun facts Both of our best memories are of family time spent at the lake. His lake was Swan lake in Montana and mine was Priest Lake in Idaho. When we met we only lived 5 blocks from one another and never crossed paths before! Honeymoon: We are spending time together in Hawaii soon and hopefully will be traveling to Europe in the Fall.
love} stories
What I love most about Brad is the positive and fun way he embraces each day. He reminds me each day is a gift and to enjoy it to the fullest.
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201 Central ave. whitefish Montana 59937 - 406.862.3200
@thevillageshop_mt
villageshopwhitefish.com
fashion}
Mix It Up!
at the village shop
When it comes to all things classic & timeless, Erica has made it simple. Her fine Jewelry collections keep in step with luxury essentials that should definitely stay on your radar! Beautiful keepsake double sided charms available in 14k gold, oxidized sterling silver, or 18k/sterling 2 tone charms embellished with diamonds & inscribed with inspirational quotes.
The Erica Molinari Couture collection clearly respects the integrity of her love for old world charm. Her semi-precious colored rings, earrings, and pendants in 18k gold show case the best in fine jewelry.
Available at The Village Shop in Downtown Whitefish. 406-862-3200 @thevillageshop_mt
Photos by Carrie Ann Photography
Latin translations The Flower "To know life is it love many things." "Il modo per conoscere la vita e amare molte cose." The Tree "Life is changed, not taken away." "vita mutatur, non tollitur"
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The Wing "to love" "amare"
Asparagus Soup Ingredients
By Carole Morris
This soup is the perfect remedy for the winter blues. You will be dazzled by the unmatchable flavor of this incredible soup. If you want to influence and impress your friends (and enemies) make this delectable soup for them! Did you know that asparagus is a member of the Lily family and California grows about 70% of all the asparagus grown in the United States?
Asparagus was valued as a food and a medicine by the ancient Egyptians. The numerous medicinal qualities of asparagus are; a natural diuretic, remedy for kidney troubles and prevents capillary blood vessels from rupturing. According to the National Cancer Institute, asparagus is one of the most tested foods containing Glutathione (one of the body's most potent cancer fighters).
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1/2 stick of butter 1 bundle of asparagus, sliced (approximately 2 cups) 1/2 cup sliced almonds 1 teaspoon black pepper 1/2 teaspoon red pepper 6 cups of chicken stock 1 cup of cream cheese 2 tablespoons cornstarch 1 cup half and half cream
Directions
1. Melt butter in a large saucepan over mediumhigh heat. Add asparagus and almonds, then sauté for 15 minutes. Season with red pepper and pepper. Add the chicken stock and bring to a boil, then simmer for 30 minutes, until asparagus is tender. Stir in the cream cheese and season with salt to taste.
2. In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch with water to make a watery paste. Stir into soup mixture until desired thickness is achieved. Transfer to serving bowls. 3. Serve with the home-made croutons (recipe below) …the combination is divine and simply irresistible!
Parmesan and Garlic Croutons
(a match made in heaven)
Ingredients
6 tablespoons melted salted butter 1 clove minced garlic 3 cups bread (your choice) cut into 3/4-inch cubes 3/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 6 tablespoons Parmesan cheese
Directions
Heat oven to 375°F 1. Make sure your oven rack is in the middle position.
2. In a bowl, stir together melted butter and minced garlic.
3. Stir the salt and pepper into the butter mixture and brush the mixture onto the bread cubes, until they are evenly coated. 4. Place the croutons onto a baking sheet and bake 15-25 minutes, stirring and turning them over…every 10 minutes. 5. Bake until golden brown and crispy. 6. Sprinkle croutons (while hot) with grated Parmesan cheese.
7. Allow to cool, then sprinkle on top of your amazing soup.
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I love
Bread!
By Cindy Della Monica, Cheesemonger
and Owner, Cheese Central in Lodi, CA.
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There, I said it! I LOVE BREAD! Certainly not politically correct in this trendy time of carbskimping and gluten-nixing. I have been a bread baker since I was nine. My first experience kneading bread dough was to make French baguettes, since my dad had just watched Julia Child do it on PBS in 1966. He decided we should have some freshly baked bread with our dinner that night—so, little “dad-shadow” that I was, WE made freshly baked bread for dinner that night! It fascinated me to feel this puddle of gloopy flour/water/yeast turn into a smooth-as-a-baby’s bottom ball of dough, watch it rise and become filled with bubbles, bake to dark golden crusty yumminess, and smell like heaven throughout the house! I couldn’t wait to repeat the process, and I’ve been hooked since. My caterer/chef/restauranteur days have brought me in contact with a LOT of awesome food through the decades, here and abroad. I am asked all the time what’s my favorite—and my answer is always the same—toast. Perfectly crisp and browned (no burnt crumbs, please), soft and yielding in the middle, with crunchy crust. I don’t NEED butter, but everything is better with butter, right? With any flavor of marmalade or jam, please and thank you. The disappointment reflected in all faces with my answer belies the beauty of proper toast! It is no different than the cooking proper egg. If you don’t do it right, it isn’t worth the calories. My husband realized this early in our marriage, and after a holiday in England, Santa brought the “Mercedes” of toasters for my gift. Hand-made, stainless steel British craftsmanship—I actually need to designate this treasure to the most deserving person who will receive it in my will, as it will function long after I’m gone! From croissants to naan, cornmealmolasses rolls to egg-rich challah, friendship bread starter to sourdough starter—bread is part of the fabric of human life. It has been used as a welcome gift, a peace offering, a tummy-filler in times of want, sacramental wafers, and daily school lunch fare. There is rarely a meal or occasion that doesn’t call for the satisfying comfort of bread. My favorite recipes include a nononsense white or wheat sandwich loaf; a rolled bread filled with cooked Italian sausage/broccoli rabe; a quick batter bread (no-knead) fragrant with onions and dill to serve with soup. Spread with cream cheese or fresh ricotta, sweet breads flavored with citrus, or cinnamon and nuts, or with a crisp sugary glaze—not frosting—will get me out of bed early
any morning! (I’ll be back in a minute, I have to put some bread on to rise. Aren’t you hungry?) There are some great bread baking shortcuts, too. Before every household had a microwave oven in the kitchen, a slam-dunk star of a recipe came from a magazine ad for Fleischman’s yeast… English Muffin Bread, risen and baked in the microwave! More nooks and crannies than any Thomas’ muffin, to be sure. Facebook had a posting for Two-Ingredient Bread, and you can find on the internet the variations of the Weight Watchers Two-Ingredient Dough recipe: just self-rising flour and Greek yogurt, turned into bagels, pizza crust, cinnamon rolls and garlic knots. Creative baking in terra cotta flower pots, mason jars, paper bags, coffee cans or cardboard loaf pans allows for pretty packaging for school or church bake sales! See my best basic recipe for buttery scones and let your imagination roam to concoct new flavor combinations, either savory or sweet. A Starbucks scone will never again cross your lips, trust me! And, since it is full rainy winter, I have to share a luscious, citrusy breakfast bread with you. From a friend’s recipe box years ago, the tangerine loaf below is the epitome of easy—quick enough for this morning’s breakfast, for a hostess gift, or to nurse a cold with a cup of tea. The mixing process is just two steps, and the oven does the rest of the work! Feel free to substitute out the coconut for toasted almond slivers—or mini chocolate chips--or both! Happy Baking… Next time you head to Northern California and specifically Lodi, you must visit CHEESE CENTRAL. Cindy and the entire staff are ready to help you with samples of their 100+ cheeses. Visit www.cheesecentral.com for more information.
Ingredients
buttermilk, and stir with a large wooden spoon just until dough forms a ball. Dump out onto floured board.
Directions
Knead dough 8-10 times, just to hold the ball together. Pat out into large round, about 1” thick. Brush top of dough with a bit of buttermilk, and sprinkle with raw sugar, if desired. Cut the round into 12 equal triangles and place them on greased baking sheet. (Can be frozen at this point, and bagged in ziplocks when solid. While still frozen, bake as directed, adding a few minutes to total time). Bake 18-20 minutes. Serve immediately.
Basic Butter Scones 3 C all-purpose flour 1/3 C sugar 1 T baking powder ½ t baking soda ¾ C cold butter 1 C buttermilk 2 T raw sugar Preheat oven to 400* Place all dry ingredients and cubed butter into the processor bowl. Lock on lid, and pulse mixture until it looks like very coarse meal with a few pea-sized bits of butter visible. Pour mixture into a bowl, add
Sweet Variations
Add one or more of the following to the dry ingredients: 2 t grated citrus zest, ½ t freshly grated nutmeg, ¾ C rehydrated dried fruit (currants, golden raisins, dried cranberries, snipped apricots, dried blueberries, dried pears) 1 t cinnamon. Continue as directed.
Savory Variations
Reduce sugar from 1/3 C to 2 T. Add one or more of the following to the dry ingredients: 1 T dehydrated onion flakes, 1 t dry dill weed, 1 C shredded cheese of choice, ½ C thinly sliced green onions, ½ crumbled crisp bacon, 1 T freshly chopped rosemary. Continue as directed, patting out the round. Brush with beaten egg, and omit sugar. Instead, sprinkle with poppy seeds, sesame seeds, shredded parmesan or pecorino cheese.
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Tangerine Loaf By Cindy Della Monica, Cheesemonger and Owner, Cheese Central in Lodi, CA.
Love to spread these slices with cream cheese, or freshly made ricotta.
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In large bowl, combine and set aside:
In blender container, blend until smooth:
2 C flour 1 C sugar 1 T baking powder 1 t salt 1 C coconut
2 “cutie� tangerines, halved (rinds, meat and juice) 1/2 C milk 1/4 C vegetable oil 1 egg 1 t vanilla
Combine with a spatula the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Pour into greased 9x5 loaf pan. Bake 325* for 60 minutes. Cool completely.
food}
Ketosis &
Kalamata By Austine K. Siomos, MD – Pediatric Cardiologist at Rocky Mountain Heart & Lung
I have been resisting it, but I finally have realized it is time for me to learn more about the ketogenic diet. Or rather, to relearn it as it relates to lifestyle. This diet has been popular for a few years now, and I have heard about it much more over the past few months. So I have been motivated to read the recent research and scientific data and come up with a summary as well as my opinion on this trend. Like most pediatricians and medical providers who care for children, I first was trained in the ketogenic diet as a treatment for childhood neurologic disorders. The most common indication for a ketogenic diet in children is seizures. The ketogenic diet is more than putting butter in coffee, although that is its most memorable aspect for many, including myself. How does the ketogenic diet work? Essentially it is a low carbohydrate, high fat diet that forces the body to use stored glycogen to maintain normal blood glucose levels. When glycogen decreases the body will then use ketone bodies that are generated by breakdown of fat as the main source of energy.
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The three macronutrients available to use are carbohydrates, fats and protein. An average
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macronutrient breakdown for all comers (not necessarily dieting) is 45-65% of calories from carbohydrates, 20-35% from fats and 10-35% from protein. For a ketogenic diet, the breakdown is drastically different, with a recommended 75% of calories from fat, 20% from protein and 5% from carbohydrates. This usually comes out to a limit of 20-50 grams of carbohydrates daily, depending on your body fat percentage and individual metabolism.
In order to know whether someone is actually in ketosis, ketones can be detected in the urine or blood. Ketone strips are available in stores and by internet and they vary in quality. The three ketones produces in ketosis are acetoacetate, beta-hydroxybutyric acid and acetone. The ketone that circulates most in the blood, betahydroxybutyric acid has anti-inflammatory properties. So does the ketogenic diet work? And what does it work for? There is well-established evidence suggesting that a ketogenic diet reduces seizures in children. In some studies this diet has been as effective as medication or has worked for seizures when medication does not. Regarding the ketogenic diet and weight loss, studies over various time periods have shown weight loss in obese patients, and have also shown an improvement in blood pressure. Other
more subjective benefits have included improved mood, mental clarity and improved appetite control.
Some caution should be used with this diet, if it is something you or a friend are considering
1. In a study in 2013 of children on a long term ketogenic diet, bone density was decreased. This would be a concern in those already at risk for osteoporosis
2. If this diet is taken to an extreme, it can be dangerous due to extreme acidosis and water loss as well as loss of sodium and potassium 3. There are side effects that are common such as constipation, leg cramps, fatigue and bad breath. 4. The ketogenic diet is difficult to maintain over time, and there is also no evidence that it works long term for weight loss My conclusion after reading medical studies over the last decade is that short term, the ketogenic diet can result in weight loss and improvement in inflammation as well as improvement in blood pressure and diabetes. This is true of almost any diet, however, when it is followed closely. The challenge comes in keeping these positive changes. The ketogenic is difficult to maintain because it restricts many common foods as well
The olive tree is one of the oldest cultivated trees on food}
earth. Fossil evidence dates the olive tree back to 20-40 million years ago.
Ketogenic olive spread as foods that are usually considered healthy, like vegetables and fruits.
Like any diet, if it is not maintained, the ketogenic diet will not help in the long term. Interestingly, if it IS maintained, we do not actually know the long term effects. There are no studies of patients who are on this diet long term, aside from children. It would be interesting to know how the high amount of saturated fat and cholesterol is handled over time.
Olives
So what does this have to do with olives? Well, olives are a fruit, and are one of the only fruits that works with the ketogenic diet. The olive tree is one of the oldest cultivated trees on earth. Fossil evidence dates the olive tree back to 20-40 million years ago. It was first cultivated about seven thousand years ago in the Mediterranean. Olive trees can be quite old, and carbon dating has demonstrated that some olive trees in Crete are over 2,000 years old. There are many types of olives. Real Kalamata olives are found only on the Peloponnese peninsula in Southern Greece. Kalamata trees have much larger leaves than other types of olive trees and absorb more sunlight. This results in dark purple fruit. Usually Kalamata olives are brined in water, salt and red wine vinegar. There are a few types of olives that can be eaten without curing and fermenting, but these are rare and are found on remote Greek islands (of course).
Olives contain monounsaturated fats, which are beneficial to health. Regarding the ketogenic diet, they are 75% water, 15% fat, 4% carbohydrates and 1% protein.
Health benefits of Olives Promote gut health: Just six olives contain about
3 grams of fiber. Fiber is an important nutrient
for intestinal health. Since olives are one of the plants that work with the ketogenic diet, they can be useful. This is especially important during a ketogenic diet, as one of the common side effects is constipation.
Prevent cancer: Olives are high in fat, and 75% of the fat in olives is oleic acid. This is a monounsaturated fat. Multiple studies have demonstrated that oleic acid and other monounsaturated fatty acids can interact with the human genome and can suppress the overexpression of cancer genes such as HER2.
Improve heart health: High blood cholesterol and high blood pressure are both well known risk factors for heart disease. Oleic acid has been associated with lower cholesterol and also may protect LDL cholesterol from oxidation. Olives and olive oil may also lower blood pressure.
Adapted from a recipe by Rich Roll
This may be the easiest crowd pleaser ever. If you or someone in your family is on the ketogenic diet, this can be eaten with a spoon. If not, it is beautiful spread on crusty bread or a cracker. Ingredients: 1 jar between 5 and 8 ounces of kalamata olives (or other olives) 2 cups walnuts 2 cups leafy greens of your choice (I used a mix of spinach, kale and arugula) 1 lemon 1 clove of garlic, peeled bread or crackers
Instructions 1. Roast the walnuts in a 350 degree oven, or brown in a pan over the stove 2. Drain the olives and rinse if you find them too salty
Austine K Siomos, MD I am a pediatric cardiologist at Rocky Mountain Heart & Lung in Kalispell. I trained first to become a pediatrician and then specialized in the study of pediatric hearts. I see and treat children from before they are born until they are ready to see an adult cardiologist. I am passionate about the health of all children and families. My goal for all children is to promote healthy habits and avoidance of those types of heart disease that are generally considered to be adult problems.
3. Using a food processor with a blade, place the greens first, then the walnuts, then the olives and garlic 4. Pulse until the texture is rustic, not too much
5. Spoon into a bowl and squeeze lemon juice before serving
6. Enjoy with friends on bread, crackers or with a spoon!
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‘
OK
’the Fear By Kristen Pulsifer
One beautiful day, several years ago, I was playing in our sandbox with my daughter who was only a year old at the time. As we finished filling our buckets and shaking sand from a diaper, (hers, not mine), we walked up the steps towards our house to call it a day. As I reached for the door, my not so articulate one year old started yelling, “nak,” “nak!” “Yes,” I said, as if I understood. “A ‘nak.’ Wait….what?” I looked to where she was pointing, and sure enough, a ‘nak,’ translated was… a snake. Granted, it was a simple garter snake, no poison, no fangs; but regardless, it was a snake! I have a huge fear of snakes, so I did what any caring mother would do- I pushed my daughter to the side and ran into the house. Now, before anyone passes any judgments, I did catch myself rather quickly, but only after the snake entered the house. After I regained my composure, I made it back to my daughter, brushed the little squiggly friend back out the door and closed us both, together, inside. I can’t say I would do anything any different if it happened again, and it has become a huge joke with my whole family regarding how afraid I actually am of snakes. I tell you this to express a fear that I have. We all have fears and encounter many of them every day. But what keeps those fears under control and managed, especially in our children? I watch my own children, and those I work with as clients, and I cannot really identify any logic behind why people have certain fears at a young age. I know that some children fear things because of negative experiences they have had with situations, while some seem to simply develop them instinctually. Or, children may see either an adult or friend (someone they trust) react fearfully towards certain things and adapt that fear because they trust the adult’s reactions. Regardless of why they develop particular fears, I am in the business of helping to manage the fears and anxieties of my children and clients as they walk through either my home or office
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door. The best tool I have found in managing fears and anxieties is acknowledgement. When a child cries because they are scared, part of that fear comes from the unknown. Also, fear is something so few people truly understand, so the reaction of fear itself creates a great deal of anxiety. When my child is scared, I am quick to say, “I understand why you’re afraid – that is scary.” When working with students who are afraid of school, teachers or tests, I question them a bit as to why they feel afraid and then, once again, am always quick to say, “I understand. That is a valid fear and concern.” As soon as I calmly acknowledge and ‘OK’ their fear, it is amazing the change in disposition that I immediately see. The tears subside, worry lines decrease, and an acceptance of guidance and help ensue. Sometimes empathizing and telling a story of a time you feared a similar situation might help. Fear is a lonely place, and if you can provide constructive assistance, in that place, the anxiety associated with particular fears can be greatly reduced. Eliminating anxiety associated with fears is part of the battle. School related fears, such as test anxiety and fear of seeking assistance from a teacher are similar. Most of the time the fear comes from not knowing what the outcome will be or building up a negative outcome as a way to attempt to manage something a person may
have very little control over. Helping validate and acknowledge these anxieties is truly the first step. Letting students know it is ok to feel this way is a must in order for them to open the door to help. As fears deepen and become more serious, many other steps may need to take place in an attempt to manage and control those fears, But first, a person has to feel safe in order to allow someone in to assist them in managing what they fear. Acknowledgement and a feeling of validation is a solid starting point. People, young and old, like to feel ‘ok’ or validated when anxiety, fear, and frustration are being felt. Most people want to be either calmed or know that what they are feeling is not foreign. Feelings of fear, in particular, function this way. If there had been a friend close by when I attempted to ditch my child to the fate of a monstrous snake, that sunny day after the sandbox, maybe I would have reacted more calmly and therefore avoided having my own child now fear snakes. But, I am working through my own fear now – every time I see a snake I strive to remain calm for my daughter and even to help her understand snakes, and how they truly are just as afraid of us as we are of them. Their fear is a defense mechanism, just like it can be with humans. Helping her has forced me to talk through my own fear, to acknowledge and validate it, and to work through it. We both can laugh a little each time we shiver scream and run… and thankfully, finally face the fear together.
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Nicolette Larson By Brian D’Ambrosio
Born: July 17, 1952, Helena, MT Died: December 16, 1997, Los Angeles, CA Born in Helena, Nicolette Larson is best known for her 1970s cover of Neil Young's “Lotta Love.” At the zenith of her stardom, she died at age 45 of complications from cerebral edema – a swelling of the brain – at the UCLA Medical Center, leaving behind a seven-year-old daughter. Nicolette’s father worked with the Treasury Department and moved the Larson family's six children to a different U. S. city about every two years. Consequently, Nicolette’s adult life was spent far from Montana, in California, where she built a long musical career.
Brought up in Kansas City, Kansas, Larson was working as a waitress when a trip to San Francisco in 1973 changed her life. “I got to see Tom Waits and Commander Cody and all sorts of bands,” she said in 1978. “It was great. I’d get up every morning and say, ‘California! I’m in California!’ It was like Mecca.” She moved to Berkeley soon after that and got a job as a backup singer for a short-lived band. Next, she sang backup for Hoyt Axton (who later settled and died in the Bitterroot Valley) for a year and then joined Commander Cody.
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After so many years of moving around as a child, Larson settled permanently in California when she was 21 and started her oman.com
career singing backup for renowned artists such as Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, Neil Young, Christopher Cross, and the Doobie Brothers.
Her great leap forward came in 1978 when she recorded the chart-topping hit "Lotta Love," a song she discovered on a tape lying on the floor of Neil Young's car. "I popped it in the tape player and commented on what a great song it was," Larson told the Los Angeles Times. "Neil said, 'You want it? It's yours.''' Linda Ronstadt once warned her protégé Larson not to get involved with Neil Young. “He doesn’t live in the real world,” she said. However, Larson ignored Ronstadt’s advice and had her biggest hit with “Lotta Love.” Indeed, “Lotta Love" quickly established Larson, who soon was named best female singer of 1978 by Rolling Stone magazine.
In her 20-plus years in the music industry, Larson performed with Jimmy Buffett, The Beach Boys and Willie Nelson and released six critically acclaimed albums during her career. Larson’s hits included “Rumba Girl,” “Fool Me Again” and “That’s How You Know Love’s Right.” She was named “best new vocalist” by the Academy of Country Music in 1984. At the peak of her productivity, she had divided her time between a grueling concert schedule and acting. Among her television and film credits, she played a nightclub singer in "Twins," starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito.
Larson moved from Helena with her family when she was just six months old but returned there often while she was a child to pass her summers with her grandmother, Elsie Hoffman. In 1989, Larson told an Independent Record reporter that while growing up her parents moved often and that Helena was the “only home place I knew.”
In her 20-plus years in the music industry, Larson performed with Jimmy Buffett, The Beach Boys and Willie Nelson. In 1989, when she returned to Helena to perform for a hometown crowd, Larson reflected on memories from there. “I can’t believe I’m playing the Civic Center,” she said at the time. “I used to walk by it on my way to the swimming pool. I could never figure out the Moorish architecture.” Even during concerts in other places, Larson’s memories of Helena would surface with fans hearing stories between songs of the annual painting of the “H” on Mount Helena and the once-annual MacDonald Pass picnic. During another visit to Helena in 1994, when she brought her then three-year-old daughter, Elsie, to see her greatgrandmother and namesake, Larson described Helena as “The real touchstone of my childhood.”
Her premature death was attributed to be “caused by barbiturate overdose.” “We were truly devastated when we heard the news...it is a very sad day for music," said Graham Nash of Crosby, Stills and Nash in a press release at the time.
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Going to the Sun Gallery proudly features James Corwin and Brent Flory James Corwin primarily paints wildlife. He aims to engage the viewer to feel emotion as they look at his artwork. James has established his career as an artist at a young age and is collected worldwide. James's love for animals has driven him to help with conservation efforts.
Brent Flory
is a well seasoned artist who has done many shows and received numerous awards for his art. His art is collected worldwide. He paints western people, scenes, and animals. When he isn't painting he is managing his ranch with his family.
406 contents featured 8. Riley Polumbus
business 12. I Want Her Job Joanna Saltz
profiles
18. Meredith Hanson
legal 24. Planning after Remarriage
36...
review
health
26. Being Mortal Atul Gawande
30. Sofia Strong & Brave
non-profit
36. Natural Solutions 42. Menstrual Migraines
34. Changed Lives What Does a Foster Family Look Like?
44. Strength in Numbers 46. Inflammation 48. Master meditation 50. The ‘Other’ Acne 52. First Impressions
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Meet Riley
Polumbus
Storyteller Behind the Scenes at Northwest Montana’s Biggest Ski Resort
By Clare Menzel
When Riley Polumbus heard that the East Rim chairlift at Whitefish Mountain Resort would need to be evacuated on a squally December afternoon, she loaded Chair 1 and rode to the summit. Personnel across the resort were springing into action, each employee smoothly executing their unique role to mitigate this rare, but high-risk, scenario. Polumbus posted up in a corner of the ski patrol headquarters. She settled in for more than three hours, until 140 skiers and snowboarders had been lowered safely to ground from the resort’s most exposed chairlift. In the small patrol building, Polumbus, the resort’s Public Relations Manager, kept her ears pricked for critical information about the evacuation effort. She took notes. She double-checked facts. She anticipated the questions journalists would ask her in the coming days, so that she would have accurate, pertinent information at the ready. Members of the ski patrol and lift maintenance staff had undergone numerous
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trainings in preparation for this kind of incident, and Polumbus had attended two trainings to familiarize herself with the procedure. Once, she had even volunteered to be lowered 30 feet from the chairlift during a demonstration, just so she’d be able to explain precisely how the equipment works.
line of communication with the visitors who are Big Mountain’s lifeblood.”
“I think one of the reasons Riley is so effective in her position is that she cares deeply about both the community and the ski area,” says Tristan Scott, the Flathead Beacon’s senior writer, who reported on this chairlift evacuation. “She recognizes the importance of maintaining a clear
“You need to be a good writer. You have to have communications skills: You have to know when to say what,” Polumbus explains. “Some of it’s proactive, some of it’s reactive. It’s about being able to help your company. I get to talk about skiing, and snow, and being outside, and enjoying
There were two other chairlift evacuations that same day—one in New Mexico, and another in Colorado—but it was the story about Montana’s high-stakes evac that spread across the country, even as far as Boston, Massachusetts. But the dominant narrative didn’t focus on the fear factor or brutal weather. Thanks to Polumbus’ attentiveness and direct knowledge of the evacuation procedure, storylines emphasized the preparedness of Whitefish’s dedicated employees.
Polumbus’ experience in this field dates back to a different mountain town not unlike Whitefish, in northwest Colorado. In 2000, she moved from Denver to Steamboat Springs, leaving behind a teaching career to be closer to the mountains. Soon after beginning an entry-level job at the resort’s reservations desk, she earned a promotion into a supervisory role. She also loaned her writing skills to a friend who produced the “straight-talk snow report.” Steamboat’s public relations manager took note of improvements in the report, and the following season, Polumbus landed a job in the PR department—even though she didn’t quite understand, yet, what that entailed. She learned quickly, thanks in part, she says, to attentive mentors.
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Riley Polumbus
“I fell in love with this mountain, and everything about it,” she says. “This area has so much more to offer in terms of accessibility to rivers, and lakes, and hiking... I like a simple lifestyle, but an outdoors lifestyle. I want to be outdoors as much as possible.” time with your family. There are days when things go wrong and tragedies happen... but the hard work that goes into what everybody does [at a ski area], that’s fun to talk about.”
In Colorado, Polumbus broadened her experience by working as PR Director for Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Association, and Communications Specialist for the Yampa Valley Medical Center. She also volunteered for the Routt County Search and Rescue, which gave her an education in crisis response. Eventually, she put her professional skills to work for the SAR team as a spokesperson.
In the early 2000s, Polumbus’ brother, Nick, moved to Whitefish from Killington, Vermont. In 2008, he and his wife, Kim, welcomed their third son to the family. Within days, Polumbus flew north to visit her nephew. That trip was the first of many. “I fell in love with this mountain, and everything about it,” she says. “This area has so much more
to offer in terms of accessibility to rivers, and lakes, and hiking... I like a simple lifestyle, but an outdoors lifestyle. I want to be outdoors as much as possible.” In 2011, Polumbus moved to the Flathead Valley with her golden retriever, Maizy. She wanted be closer to her growing family, and a position had opened up in Whitefish’s Press Room. “That’s a fun thing to be able to tell people, as a PR person: I moved to Montana from Colorado,” Polumbus says. “While I may have gotten more powder days in Steamboat, the day-to-day skiing is better here.”
Her workload these days includes managing the resort’s two snow reporters, writing a weekly summer and winter advertorial column that publishes in the Flathead Beacon, composing a bi-weekly email newsletter, and putting out press releases. She arranges interviews for local media, and she acts as tour guide for any visiting press. If there’s anything impacting resort
operations, she’s the one figuring out how to best communicate it to the ski community. More than anything, she loves opportunities for positive storytelling, like during last winter’s season-long anniversary of the Big Mountain’s 70th year in operation. This year, she’s enjoying a campaign that highlights the unique characters working on the resort. “The entire ski area relies on Riley for being the curator of the mountain’s history,” says Collette Stroia, Whitefish Mountain Resort sales manager. “She’s really knowledgeable and invested. If I need any information, ‘hey, Riley, do you happen to know?’ She usually does, but if she doesn’t, she’s excited to go find out.” In 2012, Polumbus began coaching her nephews’ hockey team, and quickly took to being a mentor in the learn-to-play hockey “Hot Shots” program. When her nephews moved on to the next level, she stayed on as head coach. It’s a way to get back to her roots as a teacher.
“Even though there’s days where I have to leave work early, and I have all this stuff going on, when I get there, I’m surrounded by these little kids who just want to have fun, and skate around,” Polumbus says. “Coaching is a way to take some of the fun in your life and share it with others.”
There’s a lot of fun in Polumbus’ life. In 2016, she adopted a second golden retriever, Max, and fills her summer days playing with the dogs on the shores of Whitefish Lake, or wandering the vast network of hiking trails in the Flathead Valley. On cold winter days, she wakes up far before dawn, resisting the snuggles of her dogs, and floats down through fresh powder as the morning’s soft alpenglow washes over the mountains.
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“This is a special place,” Polumbus says. “I’m continuously learning more stories, meeting more people, and happy to be a part of it.”
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I Want Her Job
Joanna Saltz
Editorial Director, Delish and House Beautiful By Brianne Perleberg This article originally appeared on IWantHerJob.com.
What I always tell people is that you have to be enterprising. You have to assume that no one wants to give you a chance – that no one wants to give you permission. I got where I am because, over and over, I raised my hand and shouted, “I CAN DO THAT! LET ME TRY!” author of the brand’s just-released cookbook, Delish: Eat Like Every Day’s The Weekend, which features more than 300 mouthwatering recipes for kitchen novices.
Who loves to eat? (Let’s visualize many hands going up in the air.) Now, who loves to cook? (Let’s visualize only a few hands still raised.) Chances are, for many of us, the two aren’t mutually exclusive. Enter Delish – a hugely popular digital brand that speaks to those of us who aren’t so savvy in the kitchen. Better yet, the brand’s website doesn’t just appeal to non-chefs, but it sparks to our appetites too as it encourages its 30 million readers to do one thing: eat like every day’s the weekend.
One of the driving forces – and faces! – behind Delish is Joanna Saltz, who serves as editorial director overseeing the site’s recipes and video tutorials. And most recently, she serves as the
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In today’s interview Joanna discusses how she went from serving as an editor for other brands, including The Knot and Seventeen Magazine, to envisioning and creating the ultimate digital destination for foodies everywhere. And she’s doing it with results! Prior to publication of this interview, Joanna was promoted to become the editorial director of House Beautiful, too. Could she be the everyday Martha Stewart? Read on and decide for yourself.
How would you describe Delish to our readers who may not have been lucky enough to discover it yet?
You’ll hear me say this over and over again: We’re a food brand for people who love to eat more than they love to cook. We create recipes and content that’s meant for sharing – we’re not interested in slaving over the stove, or anything that’s too precious. We want to talk and laugh about food; we want to give you inspo for dinner tonight and cocktails this weekend, but we also want you to be okay grabbing Chipotle tomorrow.
Clearly people are into it—we get 25 million visitors a month, and over 500 million video views. We really just want people to gather around and dig in.
With so many incredible recipes, a cookbook was bound to happen! We’re excited to see the launch of the Delish cookbook. How long did the process take from idea to publication? What was that process like? And how did you possibly narrow down from so many recipes?
When we relaunched Delish three and a half years ago, we were just a small group of 6 people – and there was this massive food media space that was so crowded. We really worked to create a brand that sounded and felt different than anything that was out there. But we also knew that if we wanted to have credibility, we needed a cookbook. So, a little over a year ago, we wrote a proposal for Eat Like Every Day’s The Weekend and, thankfully, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt jumped at it. The development stage was crazy – we wanted the book to include some of our favorite and most popular recipes, but also a ton of new ones. So, we figured out which ones felt really close to the DNA of the brand, and then we dreamed up others that our audience would go crazy for (like Reuben Egg Rolls … they’re SO DELICIOUS). We definitely went too far – I think the book was 20 pages over, originally. And cutting down the
business} recipes was IMPOSSIBLE – as we were cutting, we were making ourselves feel better by saying, “Okay, fine, we’ll save it for the next book!”
The cookbook itself is hefty – 3 pounds and 416 pages of pure delicious inspiration. Out of every recipe, which one is your favorite and why?
of the lenses. (I think we’ve approached pickles from 300 angles at this point.) What’s different, as everyone will tell you, is the pace and the engagement. When you’re in magazines, you put something out and you don’t get any immediate
Ugh, this is like picking a favorite child. I loved every recipe in this thing. But I’m a sweets person, so I am particularly OBSESSED with the dessert chapter. I think my favorite recipe in there is the Cookiedilla. The whole concept feels so intrinsically Delish: It’s a familiar food, but done in a totally crazy way with ingredients that are easy to find. And the end result is something you want to take a picture of and tear into. It’s just the perfect storm of amazingness.
You made the pivot to Delish after a long career working in print magazines. What inspired you to take on this new opportunity?
I knew I wanted my next step to be a digitalbased position, and when Hearst decided to revamp Delish and was looking for a site director, I went for it. I really felt like there was so much potential to create something new and different; and I felt like we’d be given autonomy to build something amazing. And that’s exactly what happened: We were allowed to experiment and make crazy stuff, and we gained an audience. My deputy editor Lindsay Funston, my director of content operations Lindsey Ramsey, and I talk about it all the time: If we weren’t given the room to grow and fail, we don’t know if Delish would be what it is today.
What similarities does your role now have to your days working at a magazine? What is different?
I love to create content. I see content EVERYWHERE. I’m annoying about it. When I was in fully in print, I lived for packages. I loved thinking of a story idea and then coming at it from different perspectives. So that’s really the same. At Delish, we like to look at everything through all
what I wanted, so I started writing for my college paper, and I ended up becoming a journalist. But what I always tell people is that you have to be enterprising. You have to assume that no one wants to give you a chance – that no one wants to give you permission. I got where I am because, over and over, I raised my hand and shouted, “I CAN DO THAT! LET ME TRY!” When I was an assistant right out of school and the position above me opened, I had to stand up and yell that. And then, after years of working, when I became an established editor at established brands, I STILL had to stand up and yell that. Even to this day, I’m still taking chances and trying to prove myself. Sometimes I don’t even raise my hand – I just go and try it, and prepare to apologize later.
What is a trend in the food or food/online space that excites you?
I’m excited about events – bringing Delish food out into the world and seeing people respond to it in real time. In 2019, we’re launching Delish’s Hidden Dinners, which will be a series of popup experiences in the most random, fun places. Everyone’s doing activations right now, so it’s kind of cliché, but I can’t wait to actually engage with our audience and get in-the-moment reactions to the things we create.
As you mentioned, Delish is for people who love to eat more than they love to cook. With that in mind, how do you decide what makes a recipe simple enough for us foodies who aren’t super-chefs? How does a recipe make the cut to be featured on your site?
I hate anything that’s fussy, that requires special tools, or involves ingredients that are hard to find. So, I generally try to make sure that we stick to those rules. But that also speaks to the whole principle of our videos – we want to show it from a first-person perspective so that it looks like YOU can do it.
Joanna Saltz
As someone who constantly needs to create fresh content and ideas, what sources do you turn to for inspiration? What do you do when you feel a lack of inspiration?
feedback. In digital, there’s this really beautiful dance with the audience: We put something up, the people respond, you learn something new and you make it better next time.
Your team has also grown since you joined Delish. What qualities do you look for in those you hire? What makes a candidate really stand out to you?
PASSION. Do you feel something for this brand? Do you feel something for this reader? Can you connect with the content you’re creating? Experience is great – I love people with knowledge and vision. But you have to have that drive. I like to think I can sense it in people. I don’t actually know if that’s true.
When others ask you for advice about how to get a job like yours, what question do they most often ask you? And please tell us the advice you share with them too!
People always ask me how I got my job. There are days I wonder how I even got here! I was supposed to be a music teacher. I was a violist and I was being formally trained in music education. A few years in, I realized that that wasn’t
I’m not someone who goes searching for inspiration – that feels like you’re watching a pot waiting for it to boil. My antennae is just up all the time. My favorite place to go is the mall. Seriously. I like walking around and seeing what people are eating, what they’re buying, what’s on sale or what’s not selling. I like feeling connected to the rest of the country in that way. Everyone says it, but we do live in a bubble in New York. The fanciest new restaurants and shops open here, but meanwhile, America is eating Auntie Anne’s. I need to remind myself that people want Funfetti, not kimchi … or that yes, Yankee Candle DOES need 12 different pumpkin-themed candles because America is THAT obsessed. The mall is great for those kinds of epiphanies, and I always end up leaving with some insane idea.
What is an aspect of your job that might surprise someone?
Sometimes, those recipes videos are made with my hands. Not really as much anymore, but there was a stretch when I was actually bringing some of those recipes to life. My favorite was the football dip, which is in the cookbook. I didn’t have any expectation that that recipe would work out, but it totally did. And when that video killed, I thought I was like the king of
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Joanna Saltz
the universe. Our senior food editor, Lauren Miyashiro, and our food editor, Lena Abraham, bring our videos to life now. They’re so amazing and efficient at it.
What is something you want to learn more about?
I would love to learn more about consumer revenue, and how our brands can get better at it. I also wish I could learn video editing. My team is fantastic at it, and I have no idea what they’re doing.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I think it’s important to be okay at failing. I really like winning, but at some point I realized that if you’re always trying to win, you’re never trying to learn. When we started Delish, we had the luxury of playing like we had nothing to lose because we had no audience, no brand awareness. But ultimately, I think that’s why we grew as fast as we did: We took chances that maybe we wouldn’t have felt comfortable taking if we were afraid to fail. After Hours: Beyond the 9-to-5
+I’d love to have coffee with: Joanna Gaines. Just, like, how in the world did she become this thing? +The books on my nightstand are: Magazines, lol. I try to read O, The Oprah Magazine, Country Living, and Popular Mechanics every month. +My current favorite saying, or mantra, is: Use criticism as fuel and you’ll never run out of energy. +My favorite way to spend my day off is: Going for a morning run, a bit of shopping at an antique mall, baking something with my daughter (probably banana bread, if she has her way), a latte in the afternoon, and then a pizza dinner with my family in front of the fire. And then hitting Dairy Queen for dessert. +One lesson I’ve learned lately is: It’s okay to be afraid. Fear can be a great motivator. +I can’t live without: My family, my Apple Watch, my Diet Cokes. +I feel my best when: There’s a challenge in front of me.
Brianne B. Perleberg
Brianne B. Perleberg, a born-and-raised Montanan, is the founder of I Want Her Job, an award-winning website featuring curated career conversations with women changing the future of business. She also is a marketing director at NASCAR track Phoenix Raceway. You can follow her on Twitter @iwantherjob and read more interviews like this on iwantherjob.com.
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The Further Adventures of
Meredith Hanson
And How She Went from MED to RED By Mary Wallace - Photo by Amanda Wilson Photography
Meredith Hanson always seemed destined to join the medical field. Her great-grandfather was a traveling physician, her grandfather a surgeon (now retired), and her mother a family physician at Northern Montana Health Care in Havre.
Meredith grew up in Havre, along with her twin sister, Avery, and younger sisters Madie, Bryn, Sylvie, Finley, and Emme. They were a 4-H family, and they always had horses, chickens, and sheep. She knew she wanted to be in the medical profession, but with her love for animals, she often dreamed of being a veterinarian. Nonetheless, following in her family’s footsteps, she spent five years in the trenches earning her Pre-Med and Cell Biology degree from Montana State University in 2013 on her way to becoming the 4th generation doctor in her family. So how did she come to establish a popular winery in an old art gallery in Northwest Montana?
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Deciding she needed a bit of a hiatus after graduation, she moved to Billings to spend some time before going on the medical school. A twist of fate led her to a bottling night at Yellowstone Cellars in Billings and took her on a completely different path. As luck would have it, the owner, Clint Peck, was looking to hire someone, and Meredith ended up landing a job and spending three years learning the fine art of blending & bottling wines. Clint was a retired cattle rancher who was self-taught in the wine business, and it was he who showed her the ropes. What she didn’t expect was how deeply she would fall in love with the chemistry of wine making and the comradery of the diverse range of people she met while working there. Clint encouraged her to pursue her new passion and consider opening a winery of her own. Oh! The possibilities! Meredith began searching for the perfect place to launch a wine career and optimistically formed a limited liability corporation - Tailing
Loop Winery, LLC. She had a clear goal in mind – to emphasize the astounding natural beauty of Montana along with its rich history by preserving and building upon the honorable traditions of the Montana west.
Northwest Montana was figuring prominently in her search, and when her dad randomly sent her a link to a real estate listing for the former Glacier Gallery, she knew she had found the perfect embodiment of her vision and what she wanted her winery to be. She felt the grit of the structure’s long history was a testament to the devotion of the previous owner, Dr. Van Kirke Nelson and his family, and she vowed to honor it. Meredith’s goal was to select wines produced from handpicked red and white grapes at well established family vineyards located throughout the Pacific Northwest and transport them to the main facility in Kalispell, where each
“I may not be helping people in the way I started (medicine), but I like to think I am improving the lives of everyone who walks through the doors, one glass at a time,” laughs Meredith. profile}
Meredith Hanson
would be processed, bottled, labeled, and aged. Eventually, small quantities of heritage grapes from the Columbia Valley region would be sourced and brought to the Kalispell facility to be crushed, fermented, cellared, and finally bottled into 100% Montana-made wines.
“I envisioned a place that would bring together people of all different ages and backgrounds,” said Meredith, “Couples, coworkers, and old friends gathering to enjoy a glass of wine and the company of those around them… a comfortable space where guests can slow down the endless churning of the world outside and find a much needed reprieve.” The first step to Meredith’s dream was coming up with the down payment and financing for her project. Her father, a business consultant, helped her form a solid business plan and with that in hand, she applied for a small business loan and launched a Kickstarter campaign. Clint & friends at Yellowstone Cellars helped launch her new career with a fundraising BBQ and send-off party.
Once they closed on the property in October 2016, she moved into the open studio apartment upstairs and began the challenging process of obtaining all the proper permits and the somewhat satisfying remodeling process. Her childhood home was in the building that used to house the old hospital in Havre, so Meredith was no stranger to the remodel mindset. The former gallery was built in 1930, and she knew she wanted to preserve the look and feel of the building. She simply took on one remodel task at a time, and then moved on to the next. Her dad showed her how to hang a door and install a toilet, but all of the rest of the interior remodel work was done by Meredith’s own hands. There were trials and tribulations to be sure! The property was abruptly discovered to be in a flood zone, which required that she obtain flood insurance. Updating the plumbing cost more than originally budgeted for. The old building had heating in the back room only, so vents had to be installed to bring heat to the front of the house. A sudden requirement to hook up to the Kalispell City water and sewer nearly brought the project to a screeching halt. Meredith went back to the bank and even took
on a paper route to help fund the cost overruns. Being a firm believer that anything worth having may not come easily, Meredith says that all of the setbacks simply made it all the sweeter . . . that moment in early 2018, when she was finally able to open the doors to her customers.
Now, with nearly a year behind the hand-hewn bar, she is relishing the fact that the walls have started to collect memories, and she looks back on every laugh shared, every live music night enjoyed, every connection made, and every story told with so much happiness. “I may not be helping people in the way I started (medicine), but I like to think I am improving the lives of everyone who walks through the doors, one glass at a time,” laughs Meredith. “And my mom is pleased that I am, at least, using my chemistry degree to some extent – wine chemistry, that is.”
When she is not serving at the winery, you might find Meredith playing her piano keyboard (jazz mostly), painting, or planning so many more things for her favorite people in the world – her customers.
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Meredith Hanson
HIGH-QUALITY, ARTISAN STYLE WINES SERVED IN A RUSTIC ATMOSPHERE THAT HONORS THE NATURAL BEAUTY & TRADITIONS OF WESTERN MONTANA.
#DrinkKalispell
#DrinkKalispell is a collective of local drinking establishments dedicated to supporting and promoting craft alcohol producers in the Flathead Valley area. Their purpose is to support the local craft alcohol producers in the area, highlight where they are all located, and promote the fun events they have going on. The participating producers have joined forces to offer a collaborative rewards program to local customers, which has taken on the form of the #drinkkalispell punchcard - a fun way to get out to all of the participating locations, grab a drink and earn $10 off a future visit after all the locations have been punched. Ask for your free #DrinkKalispell punch card at any of these participating merchants: Future plans? Oh yes, there are many! 2019 will see the addition of charcuterie boards and desserts to go with the Tailing Loop signature wines and wine blends. She plans to develop the extended grounds and rustic outbuilding into an event venue where weddings, family reunions, class reunions, and graduation parties can be held. She loves to host family friendly activities (like the Loop’s recent Disney & Dress Up parties), and the schedule will include live music, picnics, outdoor movie nights, and a Sunday Farmer’s Market when the Flathead Valley weather allows it. An old fashioned Wine Stomping is on the docket for the fall – Imagine that! The first Tailing Loop batch from scratch! Meredith also hopes to share her love of all things wine with local wine classes, as well as organizing a still-to-be-determined destination Food & Wine tour (Napa Valley, Columbia Valley, or possibly even Europe).
Meredith and her business have established a firm foothold in the community. She is a member of the Kalispell Chamber, the Evergreen Chamber, and the Evergreen Rotary. A project close to her heart is local effort to build a bike path that extends from the new Rail Park all the way to the Evergreen area, and eventually to Glacier International Airport. Another source of excitement is the gathering of local craft alcohol producers, who, instead of a competitive and cutthroat affiliation, have formed a beautiful network of driven, business-savvy people who want to work together to improve the future of their unique niche in the Flathead Valley. Please see the sidebar for more information about #DrinkKalispell. Most people seem to struggle with a response when I ask what makes their heart sing, but for Meredith, there was not even the slightest hesitation. She says she loves when people come in at the end of a rough day, and they begin to relax and open up. She loves seeing the human connection and the way the wine and friendship help melt away the stress of the day. She loves seeing everyone happy in the tasting room!
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Tailing Loop Winery Glacier Sun Winery Rough Cut Cider Bias Brewing Kalispell Brewing Company Sunrift Brewing Company Whitefish Handcrafted Spirits Vilya Spirits Dark Side Fermenters Sacred Waters Brewing Big Mountain Ciderworks Cheers!
Upcoming Tailing Loop Events
Visit https://www.facebook.com/tailingloopwinery/ for details
Open Mic Night
First & Third Wednesday of the month 6-9 pm
Wine & Paint Night with Artisan Oyster
Second & Fourth Wednesday of the month – 6-8 pm
Mimosa Sunday
every Sunday from 1-6 pm Feb 23 – Bluesfest – 7-11 pm
Live Music Every Friday & Saturday From 7-9 pm
Estate Planning after Remarriage
By Kelly O’Brien, Attorney at Law
When Wendy and Nick came to my office to discuss updating their estate plan, the first thing they said to me was that their family was not the “usual” family, so it was complicated. Wendy and Nick had both been previously married. Wendy’s former husband had died several years before she met Nick. Wendy had a daughter from her prior marriage. Nick had been divorced before meeting Wendy, and he had three kids from his previous marriage. As Nick explained, his kids did not exactly get along with each other. Wendy and Nick met late in life but quickly fell in love and decided to get married. However, as they soon learned a second marriage later in life can often mean discussions of death, incapacity, and assets rather than simply how much they loved each other.
Blended families and remarried couples may deal with different issues when it comes to estate planning. Nonetheless, blended families should take extra precautions to adequately consider what would happen to the family upon the death of one spouse. It is necessary to take certain steps to avoid disinheriting a spouse or children and avoid internal disputes.
I explained to Wendy and Nick their family situation was not unusual at all. While a second marriage may require some additional planning, they were more normal than they thought. The typical American family has changed significantly over the last several decades from the traditional nuclear family to blended families of countless variations. It is actually more common for clients who meet with me to have a situation like Wendy and Nick’s than a family where the husband and wife have been married for decades, they have children together, and everyone gets along.
Joint Ownership
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Rights of a Surviving Spouse
In Montana, a surviving spouse has a right to make a claim against an estate for a certain elective share of the estate and allowances under the law. This means that if you intend to leave most or all of your estate to your children from a prior marriage, you must plan carefully. It is also essential that your spouse specifically agrees to waive the right to make a claim against your estate. Otherwise, the estate is subject to claims from your spouse, which can include other disputes between family members that can have lasting impacts on a family.
Another common problem occurs when the children are disinherited by virtue of joint ownership of property. This commonly occurs because married couples decide to hold property such as houses, bank accounts, or cars jointly. However, if a couple holds all of their assets in joint ownership the surviving spouse obtains sole ownership of the property by operation of law upon the death of the first spouse. Accordingly, this can completely exclude the predeceasing spouse’s children from receiving assets or otherwise inheriting from the estate.
Open Communication with your Family
To reduce the potential conflict for your family, it is necessary to discuss your wishes with your spouse and children, both separately and all together. While this can often bring about some uncomfortable conversations, it is better to have an open discussion and understand the points of conflict while you are alive and have sufficient mental capacity. Often time a parent may not be aware of a specific concern of a child, or a concern of a spouse. By openly discussing these issues and engaging your entire family to determine the potential source of conflicts you may be able to have some impact on the overall outcome of your estate and reduce disputes later.
Update your Estate Plan to Reflect Your Current Family Situation
At a minimum, each spouse should have an estate plan containing a Last Will and Testament with Powers of Attorney for financial decisions and health care decisions. However, a Last Will and Testament only goes so far with a blended family. Even if you did not want anything to change in your estate plan, it is essential to update your will or trust to acknowledge a re-marriage, a pre-marital agreement, and the rights, waivers or distributions to a new spouse. It is also critical that each spouse updates their estate plan and beneficiary designations to ensure that ex-spouses are disinherited or the plan reflects the death of a prior spouse and subsequent remarriage. Further, it is important to ensure that ex or deceased spouses are no longer listed as beneficiaries of assets. Review your beneficiary designations to make sure
legal} that the proper beneficiaries are named, and the beneficiary designations fit within your overall estate plan. Remember, a beneficiary designation trumps the terms of Last Will and Testament, so keeping your beneficiary designations updated to reflect your current life situation is essential. A common concern after remarrying is what happens in the event you predecease your spouse, and your spouse survives you for a significant period of time. Here a concern is that the spouse may need to utilize all the assets during his or her lifetime leaving the children from the prior marriage with nothing to inherit. Another concern is that your spouse may remarry after your death, or simply not get along with your kids, and decide to change his or her estate plan to remove your children. While there is not always one easy way to address these issues, there are several estate planning techniques such as the use of specific gifts or trusts to help avoid some of these issues and concerns.
Specific Gifts
One simple technique is to provide a specific gift to your children from a prior marriage immediately upon your death. You may decide to give a certain asset, such as a particular parcel of real property, or a specific gift of a certain dollar amount to your children from a prior marriage regardless of whether or not your new spouse survives you. This ensures that your children receive something even if your spouse needs to utilize all of the remaining assets of your estate during his or her lifetime or decides to make changes to his or her will to remove your children. This also ensures your spouse receives something and avoids a potential claim against your estate by your spouse.
Life Insurance
You may also accomplish providing for your children outside of the Last Will and Testament or estate plan with the use of life insurance. By specifically naming your children as the beneficiaries of a life insurance policy it creates an immediate benefit to children upon death, rather than potentially having to wait many years for inheritance. With the life insurance proceeds going to children, the remainder of the estate may pass to the surviving spouse, thereby eliminating or reducing potential inequities.
Life Estates
Another option to consider is to provide your spouse with a life estate in your home. A life estate allows your spouse to live in the house for his or her lifetime but provides the remainder interest in the home to pass to your children.
The Use of Trusts After Remarriage
If you came into a second marriage with significant assets of your own, it may be beneficial for you to create a revocable living trust that will provide for your spouse during his or her lifetime with the balance going to your children upon your spouse’s death. The specific trust commonly used for this purpose is known as Qualified Terminable Interest Property Trust “QTIP” Trust. A QTIP provides that your surviving spouse receives all of the income from the trust annually, and payments of principal
as necessary, for your spouse’s care during his or her lifetime. However, upon the death of your spouse, the remaining assets in the trust can be distributed to your children according to your wishes. A QTIP also helps to ensure that you take full advantage of the applicable estate tax exemptions and the unlimited marital deduction. A QTIP allows your spouse to receive the benefit of income for his or her needs during his or her lifetime while deferring any estate tax until the death of your spouse. QTIPs also can provide creditor protection benefits to your surviving spouse as assets in a QTIP only provide a benefit to your spouse, rather than your spouse owning the assets outright. Ultimately, a QTIP trust can provide the benefit of income for your spouse while providing the ultimate distribution of your estate for your children in a manner that can reduce conflicts.
Premarital Agreements & Spousal Waivers
While it can be difficult to discuss issues of death or divorce before getting married, it can be essential in a situation of a remarriage to have a prenuptial agreement in place that prevents unwanted claims against your estate. A key to overall proactive planning for a blended family is to execute a prenuptial agreement prior to the marriage that addresses estate planning issues and waives claims by a surviving spouse against the terms of your will or trust. By clearly defining which assets you want to remain separate after the marriage and which assets you agree will pass to each of your children, you can reduce family disputes later. Moreover, premarital agreements allow you to maintain more control over the how and when your assets are distributed. If you and your spouse did not execute a premarital agreement prior to your marriage, at a minimum, you should execute an agreement in your estate plan that acknowledges the terms of each other’s plan and agrees to waive a right to claim against the other estate.
Communication and Advice are Essential
These are just some of the techniques to consider when planning an estate with a blended family. It is critical that you and your family discuss these issues together and have an overall plan to addresses any potential disputes or inequity problems. Your particular estate may also have an estate tax or other considerations, so I always recommend seeking the professional advice of your attorney, CPA or financial planner. These types of estate planning issues may not always be easy issues to talk about, especially with a blended family. However, communication and planning now can provide peace of mind that you are sparing your family from conflicts or hurt feelings down the road. If you have any questions about estate planning, wills, trusts, or estate administration contact Kelly O’Brien, Measure Law P.C. at (406) 752-6373/ www.measurelaw.com
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This article is intended for educational and information purposes only, it is not intended to act as legal advice.
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review} 2014 Metropolitan Books
Being Mortal Atul Gawande
Review by Susan Schnee, Voyageur Booksellers
BEING MORTAL is a heart-wrenchingly moving and important story. It speaks directly to our culture’s strained and distant relation to aging, the elderly, death, and dying. Rarely, if ever, have I heard a medical clinician speak with such vulnerability and humility about the limits of modern medicine. It’s about “That Conversation,” or what Gawande calls in one chapter “Hard Conversations.” The subject is how we want to live out the end of our life. Gawande is a surgeon, and one of the best parts of the book is that he is learning how to have this conversation himself. He’s learning how to do it as a medical professional with his patients, and he’s not shy about telling us where and how he has screwed up. He is also learning how to do it as a son to his father, who also a surgeon, and who has been diagnosed with a rare spinal tumor.
to be safe but empty of anything they care about.” The trick now is to make sure our aging populations are not just safe (or even not safe at all) but living a life that achieves quality of life, not just quantity.
The difficulty, he writes, is that in the last fifty years we have learned how to prolong life. As recently as 1945, most deaths occurred in the home. By the 1980’s, just 17 percent did. Across not just the United States, but also the entire industrialized world, the experience of advanced aging and death has shifted to hospitals and nursing homes. You don’t have to spend much time with the elderly or those with terminal illness to see how often medicine fails these people it’s supposed to help. Our reluctance to honestly examine the experience of aging and dying has increased the harm we inflict on people and denied them the basic comforts they most need.
The good news is, things are changing. Keren Brown Wilson built the first assisted living facility in Oregon in 1980. When that concept became a formula for warehousing people, rather than adding to quality of life, people like Dr. Tom Wilson revolutionized an assisted living facility with two dogs, four cats, 100 parakeets and child care for employees, which brought children back into the lives of the inmates (using that word deliberately, as Gawande does himself ).
“A few conclusions become clear when we understand this: that our most cruel failure in how we treat the sick and the aged is the failure to recognize that they have priorities beyond merely being safe and living longer, that the chance to shape one’s story is essential to sustain meaning in life. The book further illustrates that we have the opportunity to refashion our institutions, our culture and our conversations in ways that transform the possibilities for the last chapters of our lives.”
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“Researchers studied the effects of this program over two years, comparing a variety of measures for Chases residents with those of residents at another nursing home nearby. Their study found that the number of prescriptions required per resident fell to half that of the control nursing home. Psychotropic drugs for agitation decreased in particular. The total drug costs fell to just 38 percent of the comparison facility. Deaths fell 15 percent. From inmates locked away from life, warehoused until they died, Dr. Wilson’s patients became once again members of a community. And as Gawande goes on to say, this experiment and others like it are beginning all across the nation. There is also Hospice, the organization Gawande’s father chooses to help him through the end
of his life with palliative care. For Hospice, it’s all about making the end of life for each individuals story as valuable to them as is physically possible for them. Hopefully, your doctor has read this book and knows how important first asking those essential questions are. ‘What do you want? What is most important to you?” According to Gawande, “The ultimate goal, after all, is not a good death but a good life - to the very end.” BEING MORTAL is a profoundly enriching book. It should be required reading for all health care professionals who work with seriously ill patients and for those who work with the aged. Also for those who run our health care systems, for those who have aging/ill parents/relatives, and for those who are embarking on those final passages, and in ways, especially for those who haven’t yet reached these phases, so that they will be better prepared. It is intelligent, rational, touching and very profound.
Copperleaf Chocolat
company
239 Central Ave. Whitefish Mt. 406-862-9659
Books Bought and Sold locally made artisan chocolates, chocolate bars from around the world, time tested books & leather bound journals. Artie Yellowhorse Native American Designer of Collectible Silver, Turquoise & Gems Jewelry Mary Frances Hand Beaded Embellished Handbags and Scarves. Fabulous Cashmere Sweaters, One of a kind Copper and Enamel Pieces by Swan Valley Copper Company and Vintage cowboy boots.
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Sofia
the Strong & Brave By Mary Wallace
Today, Sofia Moss looks like any normal 4-year old girl. One might not even realize that Sofia is a warrior and cancer survivor. Her beautiful Shirley Temple style locks belie the fact that she lost nearly all of her previously straight hair during her chemotherapy treatments.
The truth is that none of the children in the Moss family likely remember a time when Sofia wasn’t sick. All four of the Moss children (who also include 3-year old twins Charlie & Savannah, and 1-year old Sadie Mae) exhibit extraordinary resilience and seem to have taken things in stride. When Sofia is having one of her nearly daily nausea spells (a side effect from chemo), even tiny Sadie is supportive, and she knows to find Mommy in the laundry room when Sofia needs her. The good news is that Sofia’s latest results showed no sign of cancer after 18 months of ongoing chemo treatments. Zeremy and Jamie Moss and their family were fairly new to the Flathead valley and had just moved to their two-story home in Columbia Falls when they received the news about 2 ½ year old Sofia’s leukemia. Jamie was 8 ½ months pregnant with Sadie Mae. Sofia had been running fevers nearly non-stop for a month. She was initially seen by their family physician, Dr. Chris Gill, for anemia and thrombocytopenia. Still, the fevers persisted, and Dr. Gill ordered a blood work up. They were not even home from the blood draw appointment when they received a call — Sofia had pre B-cell lymphoblastic leukemia, and they were being referred to a pediatric oncologist for
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further tests including a bone marrow needle aspiration to determine the extent that the cancer had invaded Sofia’s bones.
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia is the most common type of cancer in children, and it was affecting the B-cells in Sofia’s immune system. The disease starts in the bone marrow, which is the spongy center of the bones where new blood cells grow. The leukemia cells grow very fast and crowd out the bone marrow’s normal cells. B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia makes patients more prone to get infections because they don’t have the normal immunity of those missing B-cells. The good news is that most children can be cured of the disease. Sofia was started on chemotherapy immediately and continued for several rounds until tests showed no sign of the cancer. Sofia is currently in her fourth round of maintenance chemo, which is to make sure every bit of cancer is gone, and to keep it from returning. It is unknown how many courses of maintenance chemo she will have. Every three months, Sofia has a lumbar chemo procedure to make sure the
chemo has gotten to every single place that the cancer might decide to go. She will continue to be monitored, even after she finishes all of her rounds of maintenance chemo, to make sure the cancer has not returned and to monitor for any problems that may have been caused by the either the cancer or the treatment.
Sofia spent the first several minutes of our time together being shy and busied herself helping her mom wipe down the fresh eggs they had just collected from their five laying hens. The
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Sofia M oss
The doctors and staff at the Northwest Oncology & Hematology – Pediatrics have been with them every step of the way. They are so grateful that they were able to obtain treatment for Sofia locally. Zeremy and Jamie Moss, who have been married approximately five years, seem to have weathered the storm with patience and grace. No question, both agreed that this has been no walk in the park. They are grateful that both have been able to be by Sofia’s side through nearly all of her procedures and treatments, but naturally this has taken a toll on finances due to missed work. They have four small children, and there has been anxiety and stress, and they have had to purposely isolate their family to reduce the amount of exposure to any outside illnesses while Sofia’s immune system was compromised by chemo.
other children were all happy to have a visitor and glad to show me their toys and their five dogs and talking parrot. Sofia eventually warmed up to me and invited me to her room to see the support banners made for her by family and to show me her Beads of Courage necklace. Children fighting cancer receive colorful beads from their health care team, which serve as meaningful symbols of courage and to celebrate the fact that they have completed another step in the road to their healing. Sofia’s own beaded necklace consists of four somewhat alarmingly long strands for someone so little.
The doctors and staff at the Northwest Oncology & Hematology – Pediatrics have been with them every step of the way. They are so grateful that they were able to obtain treatment for Sofia locally.
And Sofia? Sofia, the Brave & Strong, is doing what it takes to arrive at a point where she is declared cancer-free and embracing the normal pursuits of a four-year-old.
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(A GoFundMe campaign has been set up for Sofia and her family. Information is available at https://www.gofundme.com/sofias-angels)
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Changed lives
What Does a Foster Family Look Like? By Mary Bryan
Child Bridge gets asked this question all the time, “what does a foster family look like?” It’s a great question, and the answer isn’t simple. It’s not a one size fits all kind of adventure. Foster and adoptive families come in all shapes and sizes. I think the best way to illustrate that is to introduce you to a few of the families that Child Bridge works with on an ongoing basis.
The Bergren family Jacqueline Bergren first felt the call on her heart for foster care and adoption while listening to a Focus on the Family radio broadcast over a decade ago. She and her husband, Titus, Director of Chi Alpha Campus Ministries at Montana Tech, had just had their first son, Isaiah. As a family, they began praying that when the timing was right, they’d be led to begin the process of foster care to adoption. The Bergrens had added two more biological children to their family when Isaiah, who was now in fifth grade, urged them to follow the foster/adoptive path their family had been talking, planning and praying about over the past 11 years. At about the same time, Child Bridge was presenting at a local church in Butte…and word spread to the them about the organization. The Bergrens walked through the licensing process with the Child Bridge team and have been supported all the way with every placement they have received since. “Child Bridge has been instrumental in our whole journey with their training, resource groups, and support. We would have been really lost had the team at Child Bridge not been there for us,” said Jacqueline. As of today, the Bergrens have had nine foster placements and a very special placement, Milie – who they went on to adopt in December of 2018. They have actively maintained relationships with each child’s biological family when safe to do so. Jacqueline, a photographer, sends home professional photos and memory albums for each child that has been placed with them. The Bergrens believe their call isn’t just to care for the children, but also pray for and help the biological families when appropriate to do so.
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The Bartlett family
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The Ort family
They were willing to look at the world from that child’s point of view and not ask what it will cost them if they do it, but what will it cost the child if they do not. Next, meet the Bartlett family. Jenn is the Executive Director of Care Net, the local pregnancy medical center in Missoula. As she was having coffee with a friend one day, she mentioned that she would like to foster children. Her friend asked her had she prayed about it, and she said no, she hadn’t. So, she offered up a simple prayer and did not think too much about it that Friday night. The following Sunday morning, she attended her church and Child Bridge founders, Steve and Mary Bryan, were there and spoke of the plight of local children in foster care. Jenn smiled to herself and knew that God was speaking directly to her. She knew that she was being called to act and connected with Child Bridge that day. Little did she know, that within a year she would take in two young girls who would change her life forever. Did she plan to be a single mother? She’ll quickly tell you no, but now she can’t imagine her life any other way. There has been joy, and there has been pain, but they have done it all together, as a family, joined at the heart. She is mom, and they are her daughters, and you will find no truer love than that. Then there is the Ort family. While busy raising a bustling family of 6 children, ranging in age from 4 to 17, they received a call from a member of the Child Bridge team. He knew the Orts were involved in the local special needs community, and he was calling to ask if they could help him find a family for a young boy, one who had some very special needs.
Jeff Ort had no idea that by simply answering the phone that day that it would dramatically alter their lives forever. As Jeff prodded for information on the call, he learned that, because of the horrific abuse that the child endured as an infant, he would always function with the physical and cognitive abilities of a 10-monthold baby. Even though his body had grown, he would be wheel chair bound, non-verbal, and unable to care for his most basic needs of feeding and toileting. Barring a miracle, this boy would become a man while remaining infantile. Child Bridge asked Jeff if he knew of someone from their special needs community through Camp Promise, who would be equipped to care for him and possibly adopt him? Jeff promised to pray and share the need. He vowed to let his wife know and that she’d do the same. Jeff admits that after he hung up the phone, he thought “good luck with that.”
So, what does a foster family look like? There are no cookie cutter answers; no two foster families look alike as a typical family structure. Yet, they all do have some things in common. They were willing…willing to be available for a child who needed them. They were willing to look at the world from that child’s point of view and not ask what it will cost them if they do it, but what will it cost the child if they do not. They were willing to open their hearts to the unknown and found that their hearts grew in size and capacity as their compassion became action. And all of them will tell you that now, they cannot imagine life any other way.
Jeff told his wife Emmy, and she did exactly that…she prayed. Then, at 6:30 a.m. one morning, she called Child Bridge co-founder, Mary, and said, “I was made for this.” Over the next few weeks, the Orts learned about this boy’s needs and learned the logistics of the day-in and day-out care of this beautiful boy. After much thought and prayer, the Orts began the journey of adding this special young man into their already flourishing family. They now cannot imagine life without Orion as their son.
Child Bridge knows that the journey can be challenging, and is ready to support you as you step into foster care and adoption. Why not say a prayer today, and see if foster care is right for your family, no matter the shape or size? You too may find that after you have taken the big leap of faith, you’ll say that you cannot imagine life any other way. If you want more information or would like Child Bridge to speak at your church or group, contact them at info@childbridgemontana.org or at 406-2-Foster.
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Natural Solutions
your kids will love! By Kelly Pris
When you hear the word Elderberry, what comes to mind? Do you think of a sweet jam or syrup that you drizzle over fluffy pancakes? Or, do you think of a small berry that has bountiful health properties and is packed full of antioxidants? And, would you believe me if I said that 100 grams of European Elderberries contain 60% of the recommended daily intake of Vitamin C? European Elderberry, also known as Sambucus nigra, is all these of things and more!
Having four kids, all in the school system, cold and flu germs come through my home regularly. It feels like as soon as we get rid of one, here comes another.
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My mom was the first person to tell me about this pill you can get that is filled with Elderberry. I remembered hearing other people
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talk about Elderberries and how it was this “magical” fruit that they would take when they weren’t feeling well, but I had never really thought to try it, or even to read up on it. But, when your mom tells you something, you listen up (or at least pretend to).
When I got to the store to buy this “magical” pill I could only find it in syrup-form. I figured it was just as good, right? And better yet, my kids could take it—no problem. My 15-yearold was the one who was sick at the time, so I figured he could be my guinea pig. I filled up that little plastic cup and watched as he gulped it down. I was shocked by his reaction as he almost spit it out! He said it was way too sweet and that he almost couldn’t drink it. Thinking he was being dramatic, I tried some for myself. Turns out he wasn’t being dramatic. It was disgustingly sweet. It tasted like I had just put a spoon full of concentrated liquid sugar in my mouth and my stomach was queasy for hours afterwards. The rest of
the bottle ended up sitting unused in my cupboard for years. Actually, I’m pretty sure it’s still in there, banished to the back corner.
That was my first and last experience with Elderberries, and I went back to buying the same old cold medicine that I knew my kids would at least take and not spit back out. That is, until I discovered Mountain Meadow Herbs and started to learn more about the benefits of herbs and their leaves, berries, flowers, roots, and even their bark. I also discovered that if there is one thing MMH customers love, it’s their Elderberries; so I decided to give it another chance. I quickly learned that pure European Elderberry extract isn’t this intolerably-sweet syrup. While still on the sweeter-side, it is not at all overpowering and is quite pleasanttasting. When I took the bottle home to give to my sick teenager, the same one who almost spit out the syrup, his eyes just about doubled
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Elderberry
Packed with antioxidants, vitamin C, fiber, phenolic acids, flavanols, and anthocyanins, it’s not surprising that this plant is used in many Mountain Meadow Herbs products—especially those for immune support. in size and he refused to try it. After basically forcing it into his mouth, his scrunched-up face of disgust soon relaxed. He looked at me and said, “Oh, not bad.” Finally! Something my kids will take willingly—almost happily—that is all-natural and just as effective as the drugstore remedies.
While new to my family, the Elderberry is far from new to the scene of health and healing remedies. For thousands of years people have used this fruit and its flowers for medicinal purposes. Native Americans used them to treat infections and the ancient Egyptians used them to improve their complexion and to heal burns. In folk medicine, they were thought to be a cure all for anything that ails you. Today, the Elderberry is mostly taken as a supplement to help boost the immune system. Packed with antioxidants, vitamin C, fiber, phenolic acids, flavanols, and anthocyanins, it’s not surprising that this plant is used in many Mountain Meadow Herbs products—especially those for immune support. So, before you reach for that bottle of over-thecounter medicine and start the inevitable battle of trying to get your kids to take it, why not give nature a try? And get to the root of the problem with herbs, from Mountain Meadow Herbs. Visit us online or stop by our newly remodeled retail store in Somers. With over 40 herbal formulas and even more single extracts, we’ve got something for everyone!
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www.mmherbs.com - 1019 Hard Rock Rd., Somers, MT 1.888.528.8615
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Menstrual Migraines By Thomas A. deHoop, M.D.
Few women look forward to their period (menses), as it is both physically and mentally demanding. Bloating, mood changes, food cravings, cramping, nausea and back pain are just some of the symptoms women must endure every month with their periods. Imagine, in addition to one or more of the aforementioned symptoms, anticipating a migraine headache. For many women, this is a reality and every period brings a migraine for those who suffer from Menstrual Migraines.
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During the typical 28-day menstrual cycle, the female hormones estrogen and progesterone rise to sufficient levels to grow the lining of the uterus. This is done to prepare the uterus for a pregnancy. At the end of 28 days, if a pregnancy doesn’t occur, the hormones decrease and the lining is shed. As the lining sheds, a class of chemicals, prostaglandins, are produced which cause some of the symptoms noted above. It is well established that the decline in the circulating hormone estrogen can trigger migraines. Why does the decline in estrogen either naturally or medically cause headaches in some women? Estrogen has several important actions in the central nervous system that may account for its association with migraines. Through complex interactions, estrogen deficiency can lead to dilation of blood vessels in the brain, as well as sensitization of the nerves that send pain signals to the brain both of which can trigger or worsen symptoms of a migraine. Estrogen’s role in headaches is supported by studies showing that prior to puberty, boys have a higher frequency of migraines. This prevalence changes after hormonal changes leading to puberty in young girls causes a rise and fluctuation in circulating estrogen. Migraines in women peak in the 40’s, with as many as 40 percent of women experiencing a migraine by age 50. Predictably then,
the prevalence of migraines declines sharply after menopause when estrogen levels decline to their lowest levels. In addition to estrogens, prostaglandins are produced as the lining of the uterus sheds each month. Prostaglandins are inflammatory chemicals that play a very important role in the symptoms of migraines. Most anti-inflammatory medications inhibit prostaglandin production. The strict diagnostic criteria of menstrual migraines are: 1) the migraine must have an onset within 2 days prior to or 3 days following the onset of menses and 2) occur in over two-thirds of menses. Pure menstrual migraines occur in women who have migraines only at the time of their menses, while menstrual-related migraines occur in women who may also have migraines at other times in their cycle. Also unique to menstrual migraines, is that sufferers don’t have the typical visual changes (aura) that occurs with classic migraines. Compared with non-menstrual attacks, menstrual migraines tend to be more severe, last longer, and are less responsive to acute treatment. Up to 70 percent of female migraine sufferers report a menstrual association. Pure menstrual migraines are less common than menstrual related migraine (7 to 21 percent versus 35 to 56 percent).
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Migraines
Keeping a migraine diary can be very helpful in determining migraine triggers such as certain foods or activities that can be avoided. Treatment consists of three distinct strategies: acute treatment, short-term, and long-term prevention. Acute treatment is the same for a non-menstrual related migraine. The primary goal is to treat the acute symptoms of a current migraine. This is best reserved for women who suffer from infrequent menstrual migraines. Tryptans, a class of medications, are used to treat an acute event. They work to counteract the dilation of blood vessels and sensitization of nerves that led to the symptoms of a migraine. In clinical trials, they have been shown to be statistically superior to placebo in their ability to resolve symptoms. In addition to medications, all migraine sufferers may find some relief from many other conservative measures such as massage, acupuncture, meditation, ice packs, magnesium, limiting salt intake, stress reduction, or biofeedback. For women with regular, predictable menstrual cycles experiencing menstrual migraines, short-term preventative therapy beginning a few days before menses can be the mainstay of therapy. Preemptive medication has been shown effective in reducing the frequency and severity of migraines. Frovatriptan, a type of tryptan, has been shown to be very effective in preventing menstrual migraines when initiated
two days before menses and continued for a full six days. After clinical trials showing efficacy, shortterm prevention with frovatriptan has received an “A� rating for prevention from the American Headache Society and American Academy of Neurology for migraine prevention. Other tryptans have also shown varying efficacy in short-term prevention. In addition to tryptans, or for woman unable to take tryptans, beginning a non-steroidal antiinflammatory (like ibuprofen/naproxen) has been shown to be beneficial in preventing migraines by decreasing the amount of prostaglandins. Lastly, taking magnesium at day 15 of the menstrual cycle until menses begins is another method to possibly prevent or lessen the severity of menstrual migraine symptoms. For women who have frequent migraines associated with and without menses, a daily method of prevention would be ideal. As of yet, there are no clear, effective long-term prevention methods. So, if a decline in estrogen can cause changes in the brain that lead to migraines, it stands to reason and the evidence supports stabilizing estrogen may be effective in reducing the frequency and severity of migraines. Birth control pills work by supplying estrogen and progesterone for 21 days and then stopping them for 7 days (the placebo, sugar pills at the end of a pack) mimicking a natural cycle. Bypassing the reduction of estrogen in a natural cycle
or eliminating the hormone free interval of a birthcontrol pill, women with hormone related migraines can avoid or lessen the severity of a migraine. Women can avoid the symptoms of the menstrual period by taking the active pills continuously and preventing the decline in hormones that cause menses and the other symptoms associated with it. Women who practice menstrual suppression (eliminating the menstrual period) by extending the active pills of their birth-control pills may prevent the onset of menstrual migraines. This is already a common practice for treatment of other menstrual related events like painful periods, the pain of endometriosis, menstrual related seizures or menstrual related bowel issues. It should be noted that estrogen therapy may not be recommended in some women who suffer from visual changes associated with migraines as they may be more prone to strokes. Keeping a migraine diary can be very helpful in determining migraine triggers such as certain foods or activities that can be avoided. Knowing the timing and frequency of your migraines can aid in choosing the most efficacious therapy. If you find that migraines appear to be associated with your menses, then in addition to the conservative and acute measures listed, you may consider hormonal therapy to help reduce the frequency and severity. As always, collaborate with your provider to help establish a regimen that best suits your needs.
Strength in Numbers The Power of Pilates for Two By Delia Buckmaster, PMA®-CPT Photos by Amanda Wilson Photography
Whether you’re looking for ways to pair up with a friend or need a little help getting through a few Pilates mat exercises, having a partner is a great way to get a great workout. Friends can provide an extra boost of motivation when it gets difficult and assist you through some of the challenging exercises. Everyone has those days when they just don't feel like showing up. Friends are partners that can offer encouragement to keep you going. Grab your friend or partner and try some of these moves suitable for all levels.
1. THE ROLL DOWN Stand with your back to-
wards each other. Get as close as you can without touching. Start rolling down slowly staying centered on your feet. Goal is to not push each other over while rolling evenly through your spine. Inhale to start the roll down and exhale to complete it. 3 repetitions. Tip: Keep yourselves paced by using a 4-count roll down
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2. ROLL-UPS Take turns on this one. Start by sit-
ting upright on your mat with straight legs. Your partner can hold onto your ankles to help support you to slowly roll down onto the mat, vertebrae by vertebrae. From a lying down position round the head and shoulders up to a seated position. 5x each Tip: Push against your partner to roll up. Partner can gently pull the ankles toward them as you roll down. Keep your feet pressing together throughout the exercise to feel a deep inner thigh connection.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED: · Yoga/Pilates Mat · Partner in spandex
3. CRISS CROSS/OBLIQUES Lie down on the
mat with feet facing each other. Start in tabletop position holding your head with interlaced fingers. Flex your upper body off the mat and rotate the torso in the opposite direction. Inhale to rotate and exhale to pass through center. Repeat 5x in each direction. Tip: This is a great timing exercise and fun when you find your rhythm. Gently press your feet up against your partner to feel a connection in your glutes.
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6. JACK KNIFE 5. TEASER PRESS 4. SWIMMING
Start on all fours placing one hand gently on each other’s shoulders (don’t rest your weight on them) and the other hand on the mat under the shoulder. Reach the opposite leg away and slowly switch sides. Repeat 5-10 times. Tip: Key is to barely rest your hand on your partner’s shoulder. Keep a long spine with the shoulders stable and hips square to the floor. Movement of the leg in extension comes from the glute not the lower back.
Lie down on your mats, soles of your feet touching. Both of you lengthen your legs out to a 45 degree angle simultaneously, pressing into one another’s feet. Reach your arms out at the same angle as your legs while curling the upper body off the mat. Roll back down to the tips of your shoulders blades. Repeat 5-10 times. Tip: Might take a few tries and laughs to get the right distance away from each other. Keeping your feet pressed together will help with the exercise. You can modify this exercise by bringing your hands onto your legs to help curl up.
Lie down on your mat and hold onto your partner’s ankles as they stand behind you. Hinge your legs toward them and peel the spine off the mat reaching your legs toward the sky. Resting on the upper back, have your partner grab onto your ankles. They will assist as you slowly roll down one vertebra at a time until your low back / sacrum reaches the mat. Repeat 3 – 5x then switch. Tip: Make sure that your partner doesn't pull your legs into the jack knife position. They are only there for a little bit of assistance. This is the most difficult exercise in this series. Eliminate it if it’s too hard. Do not rest any weight on your neck or force your partner into a jack knife positon!
7. SPINE STRETCH FORWARD
Start seated with the soles of your feet touching and legs mat width apart. Grab onto each other’s wrists or hands. One of you rounds the upper back to reach forward as your partner slightly pulls your hands towards them to increase your stretch. Repeat 5-10 times each. Tip: Keep your low back flat – the rounding comes from the upper and middle spine.
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Getting to The Source of Your
Inflammation By Dr. C. Claude Basler, DC, Basler Family Chiropractic
Inflammation is becoming a growing concern among our society due to a more general awareness and understanding of what the body is attempting to accomplish. Most people assume inflammation is associated with the older population whose knees, shoulders, and general joints just become worn down over time. While that does occur, inflammation can manifest at any stage of your life. Inflammation is the body’s response and attempt to adapt and heal from a stressor that is placed upon it. Whether this inflammation is spurred on by an accident, injury, trauma, or prolonged illness the body is still fighting to adapt.
Contrary to popular belief, inflammation is a normal and healthy response. The true testament of a healthy individual is how your body can adapt and respond in a reasonable time frame to the stressor placed upon it. Often times, we are told to suppress the inflammation with medication or cover it up with avoidance like it
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never happened. If you choose these routes, your body will never learn and properly adapt. Think of a fever for instance. A fever is a regulated, controlled heat that the body produces to fight infection. Providing it does not exceed a certain temperature, these toxins, created by the fever, help the body build its immunity for the next occurrence of a foreign invader.
The Source Is Within
The spinal column consist of vertebrae and tissues that protect your spinal cord. The spinal cord is a direct extension of the brain itself and your information highway. The spinal cord utilizes nerves to communicate to every cell, tissue, and organ within your body. When your body fails to adapt or heal from external stimuli, dysfunction can occur within the spinal column creating an autonomic imbalance within the entire central nerve system. These are called subluxations (a misalignment within the spine creating undue stress on a spinal nerve) and will often exist unchecked and uncorrected for years. The inflammation is your body’s response to an irritated nerve.
The body’s defense system is activated when a subluxation exists and enters into a sympathetic state (fight or flight) of dominance. The biggest takeaway is that a subluxation will exist without pain for some time depending upon the person’s fight or flight system. This is no different than a heart attack, toothache, or anything else that takes time in the body to become noticeably “painful.” Your body creates a chemical cascade of events to protect the spinal irritation to make sure your body is still functioning. We understand that certain disease processes are greater or less according to the greater or less nerve disturbing anatomical dis-relation to the rest of the body. We are talking about proper structure and spinal stability. Subluxations create structural changes within the spinal column which, in turn, directly affects the central nervous systems output to keep you healthy and free of inflammation. Without a sound and strong anatomically correct spinal column, the neural pathways will be under constant bombardment of interference, creating chronic inflammation throughout the body. The amount
health} With chronic inflammation the disease process begins and the first signs and symptoms of irritation from a subluxation will be allergies, IBS, irregular cycle, ear infections, migraines, etc. Symptoms will appear. Symptoms are painful, and we just don’t recognize them as such. of irritation due to the subluxation will produce ample amounts of inflammation that will begin to interfere with the body’s ability to function in an ideal state. When a spinal nerve is inflamed you have to understand that the cells, tissues, and organs that the nerve supplies will as a direct result function at LESS than ideal. With chronic inflammation the disease process begins and the first signs and symptoms of irritation from a subluxation will be allergies, IBS, irregular cycle, ear infections, migraines, etc. Symptoms will appear. Symptoms are painful, and we just don’t recognize them as such. We have been told that they are “normal” or that there is a special medication specifically designed for that symptom. NEWS FLASH: it’s not normal. Chronic inflammation confuses the central nervous system and inhibits the body’s ability to adapt properly. Every cell, tissue, and organ is constantly receiving information from the spinal nerve to analyze its environment and adapt and heal when needed. This process of analyzing and re-analyzing environmental stressors is interrupted when subluxations exist. “90% of the stimulation and nutrition to the brain is generated by movement of the spine,” says Roger Sperry, neurobiologist and Nobel Laureate in Medicine. Healthy spine
= a healthy and functional body. Don’t settle for suppressing the inflammation. Get to the cause of the problem.
Dr. Claude Basler, DC is a Chiropractor and Dad of three. His office, Basler Family Chiropractic, is located in downtown Kalispell. His mission first and foremost at Basler Family Chiropractic is to serve God and the people He created through specific Gonstead Chiropractic care. Dr. Basler wants the Flathead Community to be the healthiest place to live and is committed to seeing the next generation of children being raised healthier than the past. He raises the value of health in our community and it is his passion and commitment in his office to serve you and the next generation to come.
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How you do one thing is how you do
everything
Commit to a simple meditation routine and see how your commitment to the rest of your life improves naturally. By Mollie Busby
My alarm went off at 6:30am, and when I opened my eyes, I couldn't see anything. It was my first morning back from spending weeks in India for an advanced yoga/meditation training, and our cabin was still pitch black when I woke. Bleary-eyed after five flights (yes, 5!) and 35+ hours of travel, I laid there and started negotiating. ... with myself. You've totally done this too, haven't you? Thought to yourself, "If I get to lay here for 5 more minutes with my eyes closed, I'll make 5 extra minutes for 'me time' later this afternoon. AND I'll go to bed early… and… Zzzzzz." Then you wake up an hour later, you missed your first appointment, the dogs are barking like crazy, and you make the mistake of looking at the 14 text messages you've received before 8am. Yeah. This was NOT going to be one of those times.
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couch. I put in my ear buds in and ignored every fiber of my being, BEGGING me to crawl back into bed. I dove into my daily 30-minute meditation. That decision and commitment has set the tone for 2019. After living with a routine in India from 6am to 9pm, out of my comfort zone, totally immersed in the yoga and meditation, I figured if I could bring home just 60 minutes of routine to my life, my world as an entrepreneur, wife, sister, daughter etc. would change for the better. I was right. Change is the operative word. For the last 10 years of my life,I was one of those people who, when asked about my daily routine, would laugh and admit nothing about my daily life was "routine." Every day was different, and that’s how I liked it! Or... that's what I thought I liked. Flash forward to today, I've integrated a few simple rituals into my day, including meditation for 30 minutes in the morning, and 20 minutes in the evening. As simple as it sounds, committing to those rituals has helped me commit to other things, too. It's
like the saying, "How you do one thing is how you do everything." Logic follows: Being committed to a least an hour of daily quiet time teaches me to be committed to other parts of my life. This shift is liberating, and I'm inviting you to change with me. And here’s the catch: The hardest part won’t be sitting there for 30 minutes in the morning, and 20 minutes at night. I promise you. The hardest part of this practice is showing up; having the courage, strength and tenacity to get out of bed (which is crucial—we don’t meditate in bed!), sit on your cushion or chair, and commit to whatever arises.
Remember: how you do one thing is how you do everything. If you can do this, you can do anything. And when you’re struggling to commit, just remember to always do your best, and hold yourself accountable to that. If I can do it, you can too!
For more on upcoming meditation courses, as well as private meditation coaching, email Mollie directly at mollie@yogahivemontana.com.
Master meditation
with 11 these
health}
mindful moment
1. Set aside 30 minutes each morning for
meditation. If you struggle with the permeance of that commitment, then commit for 21 days. If you don’t have time, wake up earlier and go to bed earlier. Our subconscious mind is good at keeping us from evolving and trying new things—it doesn’t like change. So always remember: Do your best.
2.
Brush your teeth, splash water on your face, and blow your nose before sitting down to meditate.
3. Create a cozy space for meditation, including an altar — a grouping of sacred items arranged in a beautiful way. The items should remind you to drop into a space of gratitude and abundance, like photos, stones, or knick-knacks from places you’ve visited... there’s no wrong item to place on your meditation alter, so long as it’s beautiful to you.
4. If you can sit on the floor cross legged on a pillow, sit on the front edge of the pillow so your pelvis tilts forward and it’s easier to sit tall. If it’s difficult to sit on the floor, grab a chair, and work on keeping your spine tall and cross your legs at the ankles. Do not meditate in bed. I repeat! DO NOT MEDITATE IN BED! Once seated, rest your hands in your lap, left hand cradled in the right with the palms facing up, thumb-pads touching. 5.
Face the East (representing light and illumination) when you meditate. As an alternative, you can have your alter face East, and you face the alter.
steps
is Alternate Nostril Breathing, and for evening, Breath of Light. How-to videos for both of these practices can be found at http://yogahivemontana.com/practice.
8. For the rest of the meditation (ideally 30 minutes in the morning, 20 minutes in the evening), you’ll repeat a mantra silently in your mind to keep focused. Whenever you notice that your thoughts have taken you elsewhere, innocently come back to the mantra. Eventually, you may have the mantra repeating and hear messages from your own intuition at the same time— and that’s great! Always innocently come back to repeating the mantra. It’s helpful to use a Sanskrit Mantra because they’re fresh to your mind, and extremely powerful on a vibrational level. Plus, if you refrain from Googling it and looking into it too much, it’s a neutral mantra which prevents your mind from doing what it LOVES to do: Think and assign meaning! Favorite mantras of mine are: Aham Prema (ah-ha-m prey-mah) So Hum (so hum) Sat Chit Ananda (sah-t chit anan-dah) Aham Bramasme (ah-ha-m brah-mah-s-me) Choose whichever one calls to you, and don’t over think it. Remember, we’re working to STOP thinking so much!
9.
Once the meditation is complete, bow to the East as a sign of reverence, similar to how we say Namaste at the end of yoga. This shows gratitude to yourself and whatever you believe in.
6. Download the Insight Timer app (it’s free!) and create a 30-minute meditation with an ambient sound that’s charming to you, so you don’t need to keep your own time. If you love to see progress in charts and gold stars, then you’ll love that the app logs your daily meditations so you can keep track of your consistency! Remember: Nature rewards consistency.
10. Finally, set an intention for your day and
7. Start with 2 minutes of your favorite breath
evening. That version can be shorter, 15-20 minutes, and you can skip the breath practice and go straight into mantra. It’s a gentle transition from day into sleep. Refrain from doing anything on your phone, TV or computer after meditation, and go straight to bed!
practice. You can set an interval bell on the Insight Timer to go off after 2 minutes so you’re not checking the clock. This step is important, as it helps the body and mind become radically present for meditation. One I like for morning
write it down in a spiritual journal. I keep mine right near my alter. Sometimes an intention will arise naturally—a word, a phrase, a goal. There’s no “bad” intention. Go with your instinct! If you feel the desire to journal about your experience or your insights, go for it!
11. Bonus points for meditating again in the
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ask the skin coach
health}
Q.
The ‘Other’ Acne
By Erin Blair, Licensed Esthetician + Certified Health Coach
I’ve started getting bumps under my skin. Unless I stretch my skin tight, they’re not really noticeable. I haven’t always had these. I really only noticed them in the past couple months. What are they, what causes them, and what should I do?
A. It sounds like you’ve got non-inflamed, or comedonal acne. The bumps you’ve discovered are closed comedones (aka whiteheads) which is a form of deep congestion in your pores. Either something you’re using is clogging, or you need stronger exfoliation inside your pores or both.
impactions that have been growing inside their pores...completely unnoticed!
Most people think of acne as red, inflamed bumps and pustules. It’s actually most common to have a mixture of both inflamed and noninflamed breakouts, but it’s possible to have just one or the other.
After seeing this pattern repeat itself, I decided to start teaching what I call bump awareness. It’s always easier to correct a problem in its early stages. I ask people to pay attention to what’s going on below the surface. Notice changes in texture when you’re cleansing and applying products such as serums and moisturizers. Stretch your skin a little and observe what you see in the mirror. Taking care to not pick at imperfections, feel for bumps. Notice where they are. Hairline and forehead? It’s probably from your hair products or a hat or helmet.
Often, people will make an appointment with me because they ‘just started breaking out’. Almost without fail, they indeed have a few inflamed breakouts that are probably new. However, when I stretch their skin a little, I’ll find months, even years worth of non inflamed
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Nope, these did not just start. They have been brewing and building up over time, and it’s going to take some serious work to clear them.
Around and below your mouth? Maybe you’re messy when you brush your teeth, or your lip products are cloggy. Do the bumps seem to be increasing over time? Observing subtle changes in your skin can help prevent conditions from getting out of hand! For most people I see, those bumps are the telltale early stage of what will become much worse if left unattended. While non-inflamed closed comedones are of the less obvious variety of acne, they are deep in the tissue. This condition takes a considerable amount of diligence to clear. Home care products with active ingredients for exfoliation are necessary, as is a moisturizer that won’t make matters worse. Once the clogs are softened with proper daily products, extractions are then possible during
Although the most challenging type of acne to treat, it is doable, and this is accomplished more easily if it’s caught early. Unfortunately, I have found that people turn a blind eye to bumps and allow the situation to get pretty advanced before seeking help. a facial service. When done correctly, the impaction is removed quite easily, without much risk of the inflamed flare ups you will experience when attempting this at home. This is a process. Once all the adequately softened clogs are removed, new ones continue to surface. You’d be surprised how much is lurking, out of view! Lactic acid and retinoids are my favorite exfoliants for clearing this type of acne. As long as a non-clogging, gently exfoliating regimen is maintained, your skin should remain clear. In addition to the right topical regimen, I’ve also found that clients who take a high dose of premium quality fish oil, such as Nordic Naturals brand, experience more productive extractions and fewer closed comedones. The United States FDA is behind the times in setting a recommended dosage for Omega 3 fatty acids. However, the European Food Safety Administration is currently recommending up to 5000 mg/day of high quality, pure fish oil. Although the most challenging type of acne to treat, it is doable, and this is accomplished more easily if it’s caught early. Unfortunately, I have found that people turn a blind eye to bumps and allow the situation to get pretty advanced before seeking help. My best advice is to take action, early on. Pay attention to changes in your skin, and seek professional help if you notice something amiss. A simple course correction may be all that’s required if you catch it in time.
Erin Blair, LE CHC owns Skin Therapy Studio, where she embraces a creative method of treatments, products and coaching to get skin clear... and keep it that way. It's a 'whole person' approach to difficult skin concerns. Visit SkinTherapyStudio.com for more info, and to submit questions for Ask the Skin Coach.
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First Impressions 2.0 I am approaching my 8-year northwest Montana anniversary. I vividly recall steering the uHaul north onto the Golden Gate Bridge while tears streamed down my wife’s face. We loved our 3 year San Francisco adventure and we were sad to say goodbye. But greater than our sadness was the excitement and accomplishment we felt finally putting our stake in some Montana soil, where our hearts had been all along. While it feels like it was just yesterday, when I look back on all that has transpired I find it hard to believe that it has only been 8 years. When I arrived and got to work on building my career as a dentist I had a crystal clear vision of what I needed to accomplish. I would have an dental practice that strived to eliminate obstacles that people faced when deciding to receive dental care. It would be EASY to be in my care. My prices would be fair and my hours convenient. I would work with the patient’s insurance provider. My office would have an atmosphere of community that reflected my laid-back nature while remaining professional. I would treat my staff as equals and ensure that all of us put the patient’s needs first.
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by Dr. John F. Miller DDS
Reflecting back on these goals now, eight years later, I feel like I have succeeded. I feel a strong sense of gratitude towards the Flathead community of which we serve and towards my Smile Montana team that I am privileged to work alongside everyday. Thank You! I named our practice Smile Montana, but it has been revealed to me that out in the community we are simply referred to as “SMILE.” This is perfectly fine with us. And since we are on the topic let’s talk about smiles for a minute. The word smile can be used as both a noun and a verb. Smiles are powerful. They come in all shapes and sizes and for different reasons. Society has, as it seems, placed a lot of value on a nice smile. Famed social scientist and one of my favorite authors, Malcolm Gladwell, has concluded that our smiles have a definite influence on our social mobility. He explains that bad teeth and obesity are part of “the next wave” of physical discrimination in society. In a nutshell, your smile will greatly influence your personal and professional relationships. An important component of any relationship, perhaps the most important, is the very first
meeting. Also known as The First Impression! Dale Carnegie, who wrote How to Make Friends and Influence People says that smiling is one of the best ways to make a good impression. “Actions speak louder than words, and a smile says, ‘I like you. You make me happy. I am glad to see you.’” In The Def initive Book of Body Language, the first of six secrets of attractive body language is, “have an animated face and make smiling a part of your regular repertoire. Make sure you flash your teeth.” I conducted my own little experiment for this article and googled: “great first impressions.” In 0.34 seconds 46.6 million options were at my fingertips. But, as any googler knows, you're only interested in the first page of organic search results. This first page had 10 results from respected sources such as Forbes, Psychology Today, etc., and all were focused on First Impression instruction. Here is the data from reading all 10 sources: 7 reference having a pleasant smile directly, 2 reference physical appearance without a direct reference to smiling, and one was focused on first impressions over the phone so smiling was not applicable.
We are told to dress for the job you want, and I hope it’s not too cheesy to say, “smile for the life you want.” Life is full of challenges, make sure your smile is one that opens doors, not one that closes them. health} My research also taught me that it takes mere seconds for the first impression to be made, and that the first impression is formed entirely off of what are labeled: Non-Verbal Cues. Remaining in the context of first impressions, important nonverbal cues include posture, eye-contact, dress and grooming, your smile, etc. All of these cues have the good and the notso-good. It is not lost on me that I’m a dentist and that I have a vested interest in your smiles, but this is one of those “don’t hate the messenger” scenarios. We are told to dress for the job you want, and I hope it’s not too cheesy to say, “smile for the life you want.” Life is full of challenges, make sure your smile is one that opens doors, not one that closes them. Poor oral hygiene, if left unchecked, will reveal itself in your smile. If you are unhappy with your smile please visit a dentist and see what options you have for improving it. It might be easier than you think. I have been at this for 8 years and I still feel the same amount of excitement for dentistry that I did when I started. Actually no, I feel way more excitement because now I have the confidence that only comes with experience. I love helping people through my talents as a dentist. There is rarely a day that I don’t show up early or stay late to help someone in an emergency. I’m a dentist in a small town, that’s my responsibility and privilege. Smile Montana has experienced a lot of growth, and to maintain my vision of making it EASY to be in our care I’ve added some great Doctors and team members. There are exciting plans in the works for continued expansion throughout the Flathead Valley and beyond that I hope to share with you all soon. Thank you for your continued support!
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