M c G o u g h & C o ... W h e r e M o n ta na G e t s E n g ag e d www.McGoughandCo.com
131 Central Avenue Whitefish, MT 59937 406-862-9199 800-862-9199
406 contents
outdoor woman 16 Savannah Matyas 20 RMEA
406 Love 24 Sean + Meghan 26 Andrew + Caitlin 28 Jackson + Paige 30 Mark+ Paisley
Getaway
32 Blue Mountain
Food & Flavor 34 Three Cooks
36 Barbeque is Best
Home 40 Sage 42 experience
HEALTH 46 your teeth 48 skincare answers 50 Balancing Act 52 health care answers 54 Buzzed
Wellness 56 Couples
Family
60 Summer 62 family time
Art
66 Festival Amadeus 70 John Pizzarelli 72 DIY Furniture 74 Book Review
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w o m a n
406 publisher
Cindy Gerrity cindy@montanasky.net
business manager
Daley McDaniel daley@montanasky.net
editor
Kristen Pulsifer Kristen@whitefishstudycenter.com
director & design
Sara Joy Pinnell sara@mrsandmrpublishing.com
photographers Scott Wilson scott@scotteilson-photography.com Molly Claridge mclaridge@bresnan.net Daniel Seymour montanasharpeye@gmail.com
Cover Girl
St eph B u zzel l Steph Buzzell grew up in Polson, Montana until she moved to K alispell at the age of 16. After attending MSU, she came back to the F lathead V alley and still lives here with her amazing husband Gabe and their three kids Piper (7), O liver - "O llie" (5), and Elsie (2). S he is an Elementary School Librarian by day , and an Arbonne C onsultant , exercise junky, and lover of all things Montana by night . photo by: Molly Claridge (www.bestillphotographymt.com.) creative assistant: A m a n d a W i l s o n clothing by: Fawn Boutique makeup by: M e l a n i e H o b u s
Published by Skirts Publishing six times a year 6477 Hwy 93 S Suite 138, Whitefish, MT 59937 info@406woman.com CopyrightŠ2013 Skirts Publishing
View current and past issues of 406 Woman at w w w . 4 0 6 W o m a n . c o m
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contributors
Er i n B l air
licensed Esthetician, is owner of the Skin Therapy Studio. Specializing in the effective treatment of acne and aging, Erin helps people have skin they can be proud of. She has trained with the best Acne Specialists in the country, and now brings world class acne therapy home to the Flathead Valley. Erin resides in Whitefish with her husband and daughter, where they enjoy nine months of winter and three months of company every year. For help with problem skin, visit SkinTherapyStudio.com.
Mo l l y Si pe C lar idge
was born and raised in Whitefish, MT., and has been a photographer for about 4 years. After graduating from WHS, she moved to the Pacific Northwest for several years, Molly moved back to Whitefish and met her Husband Jeff Claridge, who had also just moved back to his home town of Kalispell after living in WA. as well. Molly and Jeff have two children, Stella age 8 and Sullivan "Sully" age 5. Also two Bernese Mountain dogs that are very much a part of the family as well. Molly enjoys family time over anything. Spending time on Flathead lake, boating, golfing, skiing, and doing anything outside. "We live in a beautiful place, get out there and enjoy it, capture it! Life is too short not to". www.bestillphotographyMT.com
Thomas deHoo p, MD
Dr. deHoop moved to Kalispell from Cincinnati, OH in 2011 to join Kalispell Regional Medical Center and practice with Kalispell OB/GYN. Dr. deHoop attended medical school at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee and completed his internship there as well. He completed his residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center and served as an Associate Professor of obstetrics and gynecology. While in Cincinnati, Dr. deHoop was named among “Best Doctors in America” and “Best Doctors in Cincinnati” since 2006, as well as being recognized with several teaching awards from the College of Medicine. He practices general obstetrics and gynecology, with a special interest in robotic and minimally invasive surgery. He came to Kalispell with more than five years of experience using the daVinci® robotic surgery system. Dr. deHoop has family ties to the Flathead Valley and completed a rotation here during his medical school training in the early 1990’s. Since then, he had made it his goal to one day return to Northwest Montana for private practice. He and his wife, Betty, have three sons.
C had P hil l i ps
I love to be in nature exploring the majesty of our lives. Also being in nature has given me the passion to ensure that future generations live with clean water, earth and air. One of the areas I commit my time is Architecture and planning. In creating homes, buildings and developments we can clean our environment. I once thought by recent examples we could not clean our environment while being human but now I know the ways to clean up our act. Like anything it is easy when you know how and innovation along the lines of care is possible always.
Del ia B uckmaster
Mom, fitness addict and health coach, Delia Buckmaster is the owner of Exhale Pilates Studio, a boutique fitness studio located in the beautiful resort town of Whitefish, Montana. Delia received her Full Pilates Certification in LA through STOTT ® Pilates. With over 10 years of fitness experience and a background in competitive sports, her belief that Pilates is the foundation for fitness makes her a leader in training your body and your mind. Living outside of the mainstream has not stopped her success in bringing the latest trends in fitness to Montana, including TRX ® Suspension Training ™ and Barre Fitness. Delia believes that the key to optimal health is not only fitness but a balance between healthy relationships, a fulfilling career, healthy eating, and spirituality. This belief led her into a career in health coaching through the Institute of Integrative Nutrition in New York City, a cutting edge leader in holistic education.
Alex M. Neil l , Esq.,
is a lawyer, and blogger. Originally from Kalispell, Alex received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies from the University of Otago in New Zealand in 2004. Alex later went on to receive her J.D. from Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland, Oregon, and became a member of the Montana Bar in 2011. Alex owns her own law firm, Neill Law Firm, PLLC, where she specializes in Family Law. Alex also owns and writes a blog about vacationing in Montana from a local’s perspective, called Montana Vacation Blog. Alex grew up competing in the sport of Freestyle Skiing, and loves the outdoors. Her husband, Matthew Neill, is a lawyer and Partner at Johnson-Gilchrist Law Firm, in Whitefish. They have a baby girl who is almost one, and reside in Whitefish. www.montanavacationblog.com info@montanavacationblog.com, neill.lawfirm@gmail.com
El izabet h Michelsen-Jonas
From birth I was surrounded by the sights, smells and the sounds of artisans and the finishes that flowed through their hands. My mother is a Danish immigrant, from a family of woodworkers, painters and tailors. Her father, 'Hans' was gentrifying old barns into homes before it was fashionable. A renaissance man of vision and enormous talent, he and my gifted mother were my inspiration. I love the smell of linseed oil, the look of a good brush, and the awesome gift of color. I learned the subtle art of a good plaster finish, the beauty and value of natural antiquation, and to not only 'see' color but to absorb it. I started 'Patina' in 1998 here in the Flathead, and have given acres of walls, miles of trim, and mountains of furniture and cabinets a new skin and a look that embraces the home and it's owners. From Milk Paint, to acid washed metal, ornamental motif, to industrial modern stains, Patina uses old world products and progressive techniques to create finishes that hum with warmth and exude the sublime.
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C r isMar ie C amp bel l
has been a consultant and coach for over 17 years, working with teams, couples and individuals. She also enjoys being on stage, painting and writing. As a result, her coaching specialty is working with actors, athletes and executives as a Performance Coach, helping people bring more of who they are to what they do, to create the results they want. For the last decade she has had her own Management Consulting and Coaching business, Thrive! Inc., with her partner Susan Clarke. CrisMarie is an Olympian who participated in the 1988 Olympic Games. She is a Master Certified Martha Beck Coach, has her Diploma in Counseling from The Haven Institute, an International Training Center in BC, Canada, and an MBA from the University of Washington. You can contact her at: crismarie@thriveinc.com.
note} from the editor
It’s here. Summer! Well, maybe not quite yet, but it is right around the corner. June rain is beginning to lighten, while the boats are heading to the lakes, and the campers to the various week end spots. It’s great to see bikers on the roads and runners everywhere. These things are truly a sign that summer is working its way in. 406 Woman has some great reading to usher in summer days. Look to our article on Savannah Matyas and discover what it takes to whip that booty up off the couch and motivate to be a true athlete. Matyas is an inspiring force that has what it takes to be a true athlete. And, after that hard work out, join friends and family for a traditional summer BBQ; but, add some new twists with some new recipes. See what John’s Angels Catering has to offer everyone’s summer rendezvous. 406 Woman also has some informative articles on what women are continuing to do to maintain their strength. The Women’s Foundation of Montana describes what they work to do to connect women with resources that enhance their success. The Women’s Foundation of Montana works diligently to foster leadership among not only grown women, but young girls who are just beginning their lives and careers. Then, of course, we offer the ‘same old, same olds’check out our book reviews for some relaxing summer reading, and our love stories for some ways to feel romantic. The wedding stories always force a person to remember what started their marriage. These stories force us to reconnect with the roots of our marriage and what it is truly all about. Enjoy our thoughts and find something to engage your mind. Whether it’s some light reading by the lake, or more thoughtful reading while curled up in a chair with a blanket, enjoying the last cool evenings of spring, 406 Woman has something to offer.
Kristen Kristen J. Pulsifer Editor
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Savannah Matyas
The Outdoor Woman:S a v a n n a h By Jamie Lober
Savannah Matyas’ active lifestyle led to opportunities like never before after she moved to the Flathead Valley five years ago and never looked back. While she was not a stranger to competing in triathlons, she felt inclined to get more involved and take up mountain biking and other rigorous activities after the move. She credits working at Sportsman for giving her some motivation and opportunities. “It is hard not to get into the things we have here hobby-wise, like alpine touring and cross-country skiing,” said Matyas. She finds that if you have the right start, you can go anywhere, but it does not come without effort.
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Matyas knows that nobody becomes an Olympian overnight. “Learning how to alpine ski and mountain bike turned into mountain bike racing, and then I went into the direction of XTERRA which is an off-road triathlon,” said Matyas. Matyas prefers the activities that are engaging and offer adventure. “It is more fun to trail run and mountain bike than it is to run on pavement and on the road, in my opinion,” said Matyas. Matyas got her start in college, did
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an Ironman in 2010 which was a huge accomplishment. She feels she is just getting started. “The nerves and excitement are part of the thrill and that is something I crave because I love the feeling and continue going back for more,” said Matyas.
While it may seem out of reach for a beginner, Matyas says that women of all fitness levels can participate. “I love racing and the challenge but equal to that, I love encouraging new people to come with me. I want to spread my love of the outdoors and my knowledge and skill set to grow the sports, whether it’s swimming, triathlons or mountain biking,” said Matyas. It can help to have someone cheer you on. “My mom is my number one fan and is incredibly supportive; her job of carting my equipment around and being at the transitions to help my race go smoothly is just as hard as my race, because she takes it very seriously and also gets nervous to help which is awesome,” said Matyas. You can make great memories as you travel and experiment with various sports. “At the XTERRA national championships these past two years my mom came with me because she wants me to
M at y a s
do well and she is extremely proud of me,” said Matyas.
When you are determined, there is no limit to what you can accomplish. “I think that anybody can do anything if they put their mind to it,” said Matyas. She understands that it can be easy to feel discouraged, but you have to keep going. “A lot of things seem daunting, but if you go about them the right way, any person could get off the couch and do it if they have the drive and the motivation,” said Matyas. Sometimes the buddy system can make a difference. “Find a friend to go with you and hold your hand for awhile because that is an unintimidating way to start any sport,” said Matyas. You will be pleasantly surprised at the great people you will encounter in these endeavors. “There is a friendly community in the Flathead Valley for running, riding and even racing, because it is more about fun, camaraderie and having a burger and drinking a beer than being the best,” said Matyas. There is a sense of belonging for these daredevils. “It is rewarding to push yourself to your limits and try to better yourself; but, the com-
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munity makes it fun because you see familiar faces wherever you go. Even if you travel long distances, it is extremely easy to make friends and meet new people because everybody is so welcoming,” said Matyas. Matyas acknowledges that there are a higher number of men who race, but she feels women definitely have a presence. “The number of women who are gaining confidence to race is growing,” said Matyas.
Try to be lighthearted about it. “The best thing for you if you want to do well is to have fun with it and not take it too seriously or beat yourself up,” said Matyas. Find what you like and stick with it. For Matyas, she likes teaching spinning and does more cycling than anything else. “I love riding the best, specifically mountain biking but try to get a swim and run in here and there to even it out,” said Matyas. She emphasizes that anybody can come in to spin. “It is a group fitness class and as an instructor, I provide an outline of what we are going to do along with some amazing music with a good beat,” said Matyas. You can ride as hard or easy as you wish.
For Matyas, the typical workday means having a nice, long morning to get up, followed by working out, having breakfast and doing some errands. The rest of the day she is working and sharing her passion for kayaking and mountain
biking. On her days off, she stays active even if it is a rest day. “I go 100 percent active and then 100 percent resting,” said Matyas. The hardest thing for her is finding a balance. “I think I have developed an internal motivation of wanting to be the best version that I can be of myself, and I try to better myself a little bit each year and appreciate my accomplishments. Even if it is just that I felt good or if it is three seconds, I try to appreciate it and be happy with how far I have come,” said Matyas.
The biggest piece of advice is not to be intimidated. “If you want, start something, do not be afraid of what people will think of you being a beginner,” said Matyas. Focus on the positives. “The number 1 benefit, aside from having improved health, is that you can build confidence which is hard to come by,” said Matyas. By achieving small goals, you will have a better sense of yourself. Matyas notes that it is hard to find time for people who are not involved in her regimen, but she likes her life. “I feel like I have my priorities in line, and I love everything that I do,” said Matyas. Her friends who do not race choose to come and cheer. “It means a lot to have a great support network of people thinking about you and wishing you well,” said Matyas. When she is not racing, she enjoys spending time with her Standard Poodle who makes her
Savannah Matyas
laugh. She tries to focus on a healthy lifestyle as much as she can. This means warming up to make races more pleasant so she does not go anaerobic immediately. She prepares her muscles for whatever she is going to do. “I try to eat clean, unprocessed foods like meat, vegetables, fruit and some dairy and whole grains that are primarily non-gluten,” said Matyas. She stresses that these are personal choices that are not necessary for everybody. “Eating as unprocessed as possible makes you feel good and is great for your body,” said Matyas. Matyas asks that people get moving. “You can go to the gym if you have a gym membership or any bike shop in the Valley, and people can help you get started,” said Matyas. Making sure that you have the proper equipment and are comfortable should be top priorities. “Be careful to gradually increase your mileage and intensity when starting a new sport so that you won't be injured and be smart about your training,” said Matyas. If you are outdoorsy and athletic, our state is a prime place to live. “It seems like northwestern Montana is more active, healthier and aware of the outdoors than other places I have visited, and there is a great community for any outdoor, recreational sport,” said Matyas. There is a lot of pride here as well. “Lots of people are getting out and having fun, so Montana is home for me, and I am here to stay,” said Matyas.
Photos on page 16, left: Savannah Matyas, by Scott Wilson. Photo on right: Pole Pedal Paddle 2012 by Mountain Life Photography at Whitefish Mountain Resort. Page 17 left: Pole Pedal Paddle 2012 by Mountain Life Photography. Right top: Getting ready to race with my best friend and Pole Pedal Paddle race crew, Krista Oge-Kober photo by Mountain Life Photography. Bottom right: Wearing the leader's jerseys at the Hellroaring Mountain Bike race with Rose Grant and Stella Holt.
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Model By Dalon Pobran
As a little girl from Missoula, Montana, Madeline Pace dreamed of becoming a model. She asked herself the questions that many young girls like her have asked: “How can I be from Montana and be a successful model? What are the chances? How do I get started?” Rocky Mountain Entertainment Agency (RMEA) is answering those questions and giving real opportunities to make those dreams of becoming a professional model into a reality.
RMEA opened its doors in Western Montana in April, 2012, providing talent and client services regionally, nationally and internationally. Only one year later it has become the leading agency to numerous talented models and actors, and recently launched a Montana DVD production division. Services to clients include local gigs, international contracts, talent development, portfolio build-up and personal coaching. RMEA provides professional representation while working closely with large agencies, educators and managers. Their integrity and dedication to growing a strong network of professionals consistently opens doors for increased exposure and real life working opportunities. They represent a variety of talent from eager beginners to seasoned professionals. They also serve local and out of area clients with ready to travel talent, casting calls, choreography, and much more. Casey and her team are committed to providing high quality services and easy to work with talent. Owner Casey Pobran has been involved within the pageant and entertainment business for over fifteen years. She has a strong passion for the business and the success of all those participating and working within this multibillion dollar industry. It is the gain of life opportunities, relationships and travel experiences that drive Casey's excitement and passion for the industry. Working for some of the top modeling agencies across the world since she was 12, Casey has spent the major-
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ity of her time growing up in front of the camera. In 2001 she was Miss California Teen USA, and continued on as a finalist for the Miss Teen USA 2001 competition. She has since been involved with every aspect of the entertainment industry and has built impressive business relationships. Though Casey has said goodbye to her own days of competing for a crown, she now spends her time training and educating those looking to become successful in pageantry and modeling.
Casey has worked for Donald Trump's Miss Universe Organization at Miss USA, Miss Teen USA pageants, and the Miss California USA pageants as a choreographer. Though well experienced in pageantry, her passion and experiences are found deep within the industries of modeling, competition, photography, media, arts and more. Starting Rocky Mountain Entertainment Agency (RMEA) has been a dream come true for Casey.
“I am truly blessed being able to do what I am passionate about while living in the most beautiful place, working hand in hand with my wonderful Husband and our amazing business associates. It's very exciting to work with our talented models and being able to watch their careers grow. Creating long lasting business relationships with local professionals is very important to me. As a proud mother, wife and business owner I feel that God has blessed me in every area of my life, and I feel that it's important that I share and help others in the start of their own careers.” Madeline Pace, the teenager that dreamed of becoming a model, is now living her dream. She recently received a full contract with a top modeling agency in Milan Italy. She is currently modeling internationally and will be staying in Italy for about 3 months. Maddy is actively working with other teenage and young adult females from all around the world, interviewing and attending casting calls to be hired by top companies in the fashion industry. Milan is one of the top modeling cities in the entire world. “Maddy has
been working hard building up her portfolio and practicing runway, interview skills and scripts which will play a major role in her success over there,” says her agent Casey Pobran. She adds, “Maddy has an exotic and stunning look with great poise and focus...she definitely has what it takes to make it big. The agency in Milan liked her so much so that they offered to fly her out within weeks of their initial contact with us. Maddy flew out there in March. She’s been keeping busy and working a lot. Earlier this month Maddy was involved with an editorial shoot for Vogue.” Maddy’s family is very supportive and thrilled to be seeing her dreams coming true. She is keeping up on school commitments and is able to remotely do her school work online while abroad. Her agent Casey says, “Over the past two years Maddy and I have worked really hard and her time has now come to be the model she always dreamed of being. We are so very proud of her and believe that she will continue to be a success. It’s an exciting time for all of us to see what transpires in this new journey she has embarked on”.
After Maddy returns from Milan, she’ll be back home in Montana for a few short weeks before leaving again, this time for New York where another agency recently signed her. There, she will be attending more castings for fashion designers and commercials. Having her experience in the Italian market will definitely give her an edge in New York. Don’t be surprised if you see Maddy featured in national commercials and glamour magazines this summer. You will probably also be able to spot her floating down the Clark Fork River this summer as well. She’s a Missoula girl that’s going places but will always call Montana home. Rocky Mountain Entertainment Agency does offer summer modeling workshops for young ladies and will be having its Second Annual Miss Model Montana competitions. September 28th and 29th in Missoula, Mt. If you would like more information on how you can be a part of RMEA or to register for upcoming events then please visit www.rm-ea.com or call 406-544-5186.
Photos of Madeline Pac starting on page 20 from left to right: Left photo by Nicola Casini during a videotorial in Italy. Middle photo by Mark Cluney with Cluney Photography in Missoula Montana. Right photo by Mauro Poltronieri shot in Italy. Photo on page 21 of Madeline is by Cluney Photography.
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RMEA
Q& A – Our most common business and industry questions. Answered by RMEA owner and agent Casey Pobran
Q-How does someone get signed with RMEA? A-The initial step is to send non-professional snapshots to Casey@RM-EA.COM. Photos should show natural makeup and form fitting clothing. Include height and measurements in the email
Q- How tall does a girl have to be to make it as a fashion model? A- There are models of all shapes and sizes. There is a fit for all of them in this industry. High Fashion Models height standards are 5’8 and over. It is more common for them to be 5’9 and taller. Commercial Modeling Height is 5’6 and taller.
Q- What about their weight and measurement? Is there an industry standard? A- There is, but there are opportunities for all sizes including plus size. A part of the industry that is really precise on measurements is Runway.
Q-At what age can girls get started? A- The answer varies for everyone. They need to have a passion for the industry and want to succeed. I have seen passion start as early as 10 years old. I always encourage young girls to make it more of a hobby until they reach the age of 14+, and that’s when we can really start looking to build them up nationally. Until then the girls have the opportunity to compete in RMEA’s annual “Little Miss Model Montana Competition”, do local work and participate in modeling workshops. Then we move forward and take them to Conventions. Starting at 16 we can push for International Modeling Contracts. Q- What is “Little Miss Model Montana?” A- RMEA started the “Miss Model Montana Competitions”. We have 3 divisions. Little Miss Model Montana is for girls 1013. Miss Teen Model Montana is for girls 14-18 and Miss Model Montana for women 19-25. This competition is supported by local businesses along with some national sponsors that give the winners the opportunity to be local spokeswomen for companies and have the opportunity to compete at the GSN International Talent Convention
at the Holiday Inn Downtown at the Park in Missoula, MT. Girls can download the application and register on our website or by calling our office.
Q- What is the GSN International talent Competition? Twice a year RMEA builds a team of Models, Actors and Singers to take to Convention. Global Stars Network has created an amazing atmosphere where young talented hopefuls can have the opportunity to cast, audition and compete in front of some of today’s top casting directors and agents. RMEA builds up portfolios and trains all year long for these events to get national and international contracts for Montana’s talent. There are a lot of conventions out there, and coming from a small town and market, models need to travel and be seen by the real decision makers of the industry. This gives them the best opportunity possible and also gives them the opportunity to learn about the industry from top professionals in the field. The convention is held on a cruise ship and allows the talent to have a vacation while learning and furthering their career.
Our next Convention we are going on is in the Fall. Our recent one (May 8th14th) we went on a cruise from Florida to Cozumel Mexico, Key West and back to Florida. RMEA’s Spring 2013 Team included 11 models/actors/singers. We are scouting now for our Fall Convention which is October 31st – November 4th in the Bahamas. Email or contact our office and we will set up an interview and audition.
Q- What other events does RMEA have? We have our Summer Workshops. Once a month during the summer we have a Winning Workshop camp located in Bigfork. Our dates this year are June 10th-12th, July 15th-17th and Aug 1921st. This is a fun filled time of preparation for competitions and pageants where the girls learn, experience and have a blast at Flathead Lake. We focus on stage presentation, runway, health, fitness, proper nutrition and how to have a winning interview with your judges, agents and Casting Directors so the girls can shine.
Workshop Includes: -Interview Workshop
-Stage Presence and Runway -On Stage questions
-2 nights stay at the Marina Cay Resort -Healthy and Yummy Meals provided - Photo-shoot
- Outdoor excursion
It’s a fun filled experience and so much more.. Limited space available. Girls can sign up on our Website or they can call our office to register.
Other key points – ·We never promise a model they are going to be a super model but we guide, teach, educate and push each model to their full potential. ·We encourage all of our girls to be realistic and have a backup plan if modeling does not work out for them.
·We want to be part of their journey and see the girls become successful in life.
You can contact RMEA at Casey@RM-EA.COM and WWW.RM-EA.COM
Right now our titleholders are: Kelsey Estabrook – Miss Model Montana Lauren Clairmont – Miss Teen Model Montana and Amelia Beard- Little Miss Model Montana . Our 2013 Miss Model Montana Competitions will be held September 28th & 29th
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Wedding
Sean and Meghan
Photographed by Treehouse Photography treehousephotography.org
"They say that 'distance makes the heart fonder'. Well, after 8 years together, 4 spent in the same state, 4 spent 2,000 miles apart, Sean and Meghan developed a sense of trust, patience, and commitment that goes along with distance. After meeting just as they graduated from high school, Meghan knew within a week that she would marry Sean. Separate schools took them 2,000 miles apart, as Meghan studied to become a Speech Pathologist, and Sean and English Professor. After 6 years of dating, 2 years of engagement, they were finally reunited and eagerly planning their wedding.
The Wedding
Sean's style is laid back and inclusive of those around him. His desires for the wedding were simple - he wanted everyone to enjoy themselves. Meghan felt the exact same way...with the addition of wanting a tree-lined drive, mountains in the background, and a beautiful venue. As a child, she had been enchanted with Hamilton's Daly Mansion, and spent countless hours running around the grounds. On top breath taking views of the mountains, a tree-lined drive, and fairy-tale feel, it held some of Meghan's most beloved memories. Planning the wedding was made incredibly stress-free by the assistance of Becky Mildenberger, owner of Red Rooster Catering. She dedicated an incredible amount of time toward creating a menu that contained the freshest ingredients that we were excited about for months. The cake was a combination of a magazine picture and Meghan's imagination, which was flawlessly brought to life by Red Rooster Bakery's head baker, Alison Bowcutt.
The day of the wedding began with clear blue skies, and a gentle breeze. About an hour before the wedding, dark thunder clouds threatened the outdoor wedding, only to dissipate and create a beyond beautiful backdrop for the wedding photos. Beyond ensuring that everyone enjoyed themselves, Meghan wanted pictures from the day that captured the moments just as she saw them in her mind. Treehouse Photography went above and beyond capturing the day just as it was felt and seen by everyone present. Their unobtrusive style allowed them to capture the tender moments between family members, friends, and the bride and groom without detracting any from the intimacy of the moments. The ceremony, performed by David Shockey, best friend of the bride and groom was light and emotional drawing equally as many laughs as tears. A highlight included the bride and groom being ushered in by the "flower girls", brothers of the bride and groom. The reception was relaxed and peppered with toasts, good food, and dancing late into the night.
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Story
Jackson+ Paige Who are you? Jackson Pisk and Paige Pluid
How did you meet? Jackson- She was my sister's friend
Paige- My friend Mallory's (Jackson's sister) birthday party at Wasabi.
The proposal? Jackson- We went up to Banff for the weekend and I tried to surprise her.
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Paige- Jackson took me to Banff on a weekend getaway, and we were riding the gondola up the mo,untain and he asked me to grab the camera out of the backpack. There was no camera, I just felt the ring box. When I pulled it out he said, “Will you marry me?” I hugged and kissed him and said yes. He then asked me if I was going to look at the ring. Haha.
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Photos by: Molly Claridge bestillphotographymt.com
What is love? Jackson- I think it’s like figuring a big puzzle out. Paige- Love is something I can't really describe. It seems so natural with Jackson. I think a lot of times people want to be loved so badly they try and force love - you just have to let it happen!
What do you love most about each other? Jackson- Pretty much everything. I look forward to seeing her every day
Paige- I love that he is my best friend and that everything we do, we do is as a team! I love that he tries to make me feel better when I have a bad day, by cleaning the house or doing projects that make our home nicer. When did you know you were in love? Jackson- I don’t really have a specific time I knew. I feel like I knew I loved her the whole time.
Paige- I think I knew I was in love with him, when I couldn't stand being away from him. I am not normally someone who spends every minute with my significant other; but, when he left for Bozeman to go back to school, I was miserable. I literally couldn't wait to drive down to see him or for him to come back. Nothing else ever seemed as important as being with him. Fun Facts: Jackson- Paige loves guns. We have two dogs and love to fish and hunt. Paige’s favorite band is ACDC....
Paige- We love to order a pizza box every Sunday and just watch movies all day on Netflix - like every episode of Sons of Anarchy! We always play words with friends when we are bored in the evenings!
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Story
Mark+ Paisley Photos by: shannon hollman photography shannonhollman.com
Who are you? Paisley- I am Paisley Loren. I grew up in Kalispell, and went to high school in Darby, MT. I graduated in 2009. I attended Flathead Valley Community College for a couple of years while running cross-country. I’ve been working off on and on for the past year for Child Development Center in Kalispell, where I have discovered how much I love working with children on the autism spectrum. I graduated this May from the University of Montana in Missoula with my B.A in Psychology, and I will begin a Master’s program in the fall through the U of M for Special Education. I love running, reading great books, eating cookies, my sisters, and my Marko. Mark- I am Mark Schuman, and I have lived in the Flathead Valley most of my life. I attended Flathead High School and graduated in 2008. I then spent the next three and a half years attending FVCC where I received two associate degrees and mixed up the best coffee in town at City Brew Coffee. This May, I graduated from the University of Montana with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. I plan on pursuing graduate school to become a school counselor. I enjoy soccer, skiing, running, the outdoors, and most of all, my love, Paisley.
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How did you meet? We met through mutual friends. I saw her walk into the library for the first time at FVCC, a year before we actually met. I leaned over to my friend, Cory, and asked him who she was. He simply informed me I didn’t have a chance with her. A year later, while sitting in the library, I looked up and saw her sitting at a table in front of me. I knew there was something special waiting for us at that point. I decided to get in contact with her through some friends. We started hanging out and became great friends right away.
The proposal? Mark- June 27th, 2012 was our one and a half year anniversary. I rode my bike over to Paisley’s house in the morning because I was planning on taking her on a bike ride up Lone Pine to look over the city of Kalispell. Once I arrived at her house, I woke her up, presented her with a single rose, and made her breakfast. We had ourselves a lovely bike ride up Lone Pine as we discussed the thought of eating at our favorite place in town, Bonelli’s Bistro. After we embraced the beautiful views of the valley, we made our way down the mountain and back to her house. I raced home, showered and dressed, and picked her up in my car to go to
lunch. We had a wonderful lunch and our favorite cinnamon chip cookies for dessert. Along with the dessert, a gift was presented, which I had dropped off on my way to her house. This gift was a diamond bracelet meant to be a decoy gift, just in case she had any suspicions of me proposing. On the way to City Brew to get coffee with our cookies, I took a detour to Woodland Park where I originally asked her out. When I asked her out (18 months previous), I did it through a song that I wrote for her. Once we were at the spot, I pulled out my guitar and started to get really, really nervous. This time around, I added an extra verse to our song in which I asked her to marry me. As I sang the song for her, she seemed a bit confused and didn’t quite get it yet. When the song was finished, I set down my guitar and pulled a handful of rose petals from my guitar case and spread them across the ground. With hands shaking I pulled out a wooden box and got down on one knee where I told her how much I loved her and wanted to spend the rest of my life with her. I asked her if she would marry me. After the longest seven seconds of my life…she said yes. Paisley- He had it all very well thought out. Waking me up with a rose, getting work off for me, forcing me
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Story
Love is...choosing to continue building a relationship and bond when you’re having a great day, a bad day, and even when you’re tired or crabby. Love is when he makes me food way more often than I make him food. Love is a daily choice and a great blessing.
to get up and get ready to bike up Lone Pine, taking me to Bonelli’s Bistro for lunch, a diamond bracelet, singing me the song he wrote for me when he asked me out at Woodland Park, rose petals, my sister and her boyfriend in the bushes taking pictures, down on one knee, the nervous voice, and the perfect ring. I was a little bit shocked but quickly came to my senses and said yes (yes, seven seconds is quick)! What is love? Mark- Love is waking up each morning and making Paisley breakfast because I know it is her favorite meal. Love is writing little notes and putting them in all of her belongings so for the next few weeks she can have a reason to smile. Love is something that is always growing and gives me a reason to wake up each day.
What do you love most about each other? Mark- I love how much depth there is to Paisley. I love how she makes me be my real self. I love her passion for kids. I love her smile. I love how she takes care of me when I am sick. I love that she doesn’t wear heals because then she would be taller than me. Most of all, I love the way she loves and accepts me.
Honeymoon plans:
Since this year has been crazy with being a full time student, applying for graduate school, graduating, and wedding planning, Mark and I decided to take a really wonderful and long vacation to enjoy each other for once, away from our busy lives. We are going to a beautiful resort right outside of Cancun, Mexico for two weeks. We plan on lying on Paisley- I love how fun-loving, joyful, and caring Mark is. the beach, dinning and drinking, parasailing, zipHe brightens everyone’s day. He continually reminds me lining through the jungle, and touring the Mayan of how great life is and always focuses on the positive. ruins. I completely admire and adore how genuinely well he loves me. When did you know you were in love? Mark- It was love at first sight for me.
Wedding details:
We are getting married in the late afternoon on July 27th, by the river in Lower Valley. Mark will Paisley- I think we both knew very soon after we started have three groomsmen and Paisley will have six Paisley- Love is when you can sing in the car together or dating, but we didn’t want to say it too soon. I just wanted bridesmaids. We are going to have a wonderful look at each other and know what the other is thinking. to be with him as much as I could because he made my reception on location right after the ceremony It is choosing to continue building a relationship and days happier. Three months into our relationship, Mark where we hope to see our countless friends and bond when you’re having a great day, a bad day, and even left to go backpacking in New Zealand for two months. family. Paisley is looking forward to the almond when you’re tired or crabby. Love is when he makes me The night before he left we were sitting on my bed and paste wedding cake that her mom is making, and food way more often than I make him food. Love is a daily he said, “I have to tell you something. I love you.” I was so we are both excited to make this life-long commitchoice and a great blessing. ment of love and faithfulness to each other. relieved to be able to tell him the same.
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getaway} Blue Mountain
Blue Mountain Bed and Breakfast By Alex M. Neill, Esq.
My family spends all of our free time traveling the state of Montana, enjoying the friendly people and places of our beautiful state, and I write about it in a blog called Montana Vacation Blog. You can read my blog at www.montanavacationblog.com, and follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ montanavacationblog. Most recently, we enjoyed a trip to the Blue Mountain Bed and Breakfast in Missoula, Montana. Missoula may slip your mind when you think of a “weekend getaway,” but it is a place that should not be overlooked. Missoula is a quick drive from Whitefish; you simply hop on Highway 93 South until you merge onto I-90 East heading toward Missoula. Highway 93 South is one of the most beautiful drives in the state of Montana, offering panoramic views of Flathead Lake, and the Mission Mountains, with many places to pullover for photo opportunities.
You will pass the National Bison Range, and can make a stop for some licorice in Arlee, at the Hummingbird. The Hummingbird is in downtown Arlee, just off of Highway 93 South. You can’t miss the sign, showing where to turn. This store offers over 35 different kinds of licorice for sale, not to mention the t-shirts, jewelry and chocolate you can also purchase.
Once you merge onto I-90 East, you will drive until you reach the Reserve Street exit, Exit number 101, toward Hamilton. Take a right hand turn after taking this exit. Reserve Street features a variety of box store options to stop for some quick shopping, and plenty of restaurants to suit any taste. This would be a great place to grab a late lunch or dinner on your way down.
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Follow Reserve Street for just over five miles until you take a right turn onto Brooks Street/ US-93 / US-12, toward Hamilton. You will know this turn by the Safeway on the
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corner. Follow US-12 for just over three miles south of Missoula, until you take a right onto Cochise Drive. The turn to the Blue Mountain Bed and Breakfast is not to be missed by the large “BED AND BREAKFAST” sign off of the highway. Follow the signs once you turn off of the highway, including the fun, “You’re on the right track!” sign. A charming wagon full of flowers greets you at the gate, and then you continue to wind up the narrow dirt road to reach the Blue Mountain Bed and Breakfast. As you arrive at the Bed and Breakfast, you will see the three-story log Lewis and Clark Lodge on your right hand side. If you continue ahead, you will park in front of the main lodge, the Hawk Hill House, to check-in. Check-in is between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., and it is helpful to call ahead and let the owners know what time you will arrive. There is also a phone available to call the owners just outside of the Hawk Hill House, in case you should arrive and can’t find anyone. Upon our arrival, we were greeted by one of our smiling hosts, Brady. Brady and Elaine are the owners of the Blue Mountain Bed and Breakfast, and in true Montana fashion, are warm and they aim to please. Genuine and kind, they truly want to make your stay at the bed and breakfast enjoyable and memorable.
We were immediately pleased with the view: the hillside location provides stunning panoramas of the surrounding Missoula Valley, and the Bitterroot River meandering below.
Brady immediately took us on a tour of the property, starting with the Hawk Hill House. Brady, Elaine, and their family live in the downstairs of this lodge. The middle level of the lodge features a kitchen, large living room and dining room, and a gift shop. The gift shop features books, stationary, stuffed animals, and some great gifts to bring home to remember your stay. Our daughter immediately picked a stuffed bear to bring home with us. We fondly named him, “Brady the Bear,” after our kind host.
Upstairs in the Hawk Hill House is where we stayed. There is a common area, also known as the “library,” where you have a view of the Bitterroot River, with music and reading materials. Just down the hall is where you will find some of the guest rooms.
We stayed in the pet friendly room, where dogs are welcome and there is a king size bed. While we had planned on bringing our dogs, we opted to leave them with family to allow us more flexibility on our trip. Our room had a stunning view: a large private patio with a table, overlooking the valley below, with a large window. We next walked a short distance down the road to see the Lewis and Clark Lodge. This lodge would be a fun, private getaway for two couples, or a larger family. Upstairs features one large living room, with a sitting area, a pool table, a wide-screen movie player, and a closet filled with board games to play, movies, and clothes to play dress-up. Downstairs are two of the rooms available to rent, the Sage Brush Suite and the Bitterroot Room. Of course, if you don’t know the people staying in the opposite room, you can make new friends and have a great time.
There are four guests rooms available to rent, all featuring queen or king beds and a suite bathroom in each. Every room has wide open windows with views of the hillside forest, or the river and mountains across the valley floor. While most of the rooms are decorated with a rustic elegance that feature a Montana western feel, there is also a Victorian room available for those looking for different flavor.
The rooms are scattered with family heirlooms from early homesteading days in the area. The rooms do have information on the heirlooms on display, but if you get a chance, ask Brady and Elaine about their family history and any questions about their family treasures you have. There are also televisions in each room, but no cable. I prefer not to have television while on vacation, making the
lodge quieter and more relaxing. There is an entire closet of DVD’s available to watch on your television down in the Lewis and Clark Lodge.
The Blue Mountain Bed and Breakfast is both child and pet friendly, and the owners will do their best to accommodate any request. Additional fees may apply for pets, so it is best to discuss this with Brady or Elaine beforehand. There is a Pack-and-Play available to use for those with small children.
The wonderful thing about the Blue Mountain Bed and Breakfast; is that it offers more than a hotel. Common areas provide opportunities outside of your room to relax and read a book, or strike up a conversation with other guests. The various outdoor spaces give you a place to enjoy the outdoors, and the mountain location offers various hiking opportunities literally right out the back door.
a.m. and 9 a.m. He will also have coffee waiting in the kitchen early in the morning for their guests. We woke up Saturday morning to the smell of freshly brewed coffee, and a grapefruit waiting on the kitchen table. Breakfast is served in the kitchen and living area in the Hawk Hill House. Brady starts out by serving you a piece of fruit, followed by a gourmet breakfast. Saturday morning, our breakfast began with half a grapefruit for each of us. This was followed by German Puff Pancakes with a huckleberry, blueberry, and apple sauce topping. On the side we had chicken maple sausages, and scrambled eggs with parmesan cheese. There is also coffee, juice, and water available to drink.
log building offers a large menu, with incredible steak and very nice hosts! They don’t take reservations, and the line goes out the door, so I would go early if you don’t want to wait long. Sunday morning we woke up to a gourmet breakfast of strawberries with homemade apricot jam, followed by asparagus gratin, bacon, and a blueberry, blackberry, and raspberry scone. I could not make up my mind as to which item I liked the best. I ate every last bite of breakfast, thinking that I should learn how to make these scones at home!
This is a wonderful place to get away for a weekend to relax, and to read a good book. This is a great place for a small corporate retreat, or an opportunity to just sit on a peaceful hillside and read a book. Elaine also plans on having some “mystery murder weekends” in the future… stay tuned! We left with a few decadent moose-shaped homemade chocolates; and a smile on our face. We will be back to visit again! Don’t overlook this local gem.
Let me tell you, this man knows what he is doing in the kitchen! His delicious gourmet breakfasts wowed us each day, leaving us full beyond lunchtime. I didn’t stop talking about the decadent meals Hummingbirds feed off the front deck, chipmunks bounce for hours after. Breakfast is a set menu, but Brady in the underbrush, and butterflies feast on the beautiful flowers surrounding the property. You can enjoy your does cater to special dietary needs, as long as you If you wish to book your stay at the Blue Mountain Bed morning coffee sitting next to the waterfall just outside let him know in advance. of the kitchen, while watching the Goldfish and Koi swimming under the lily pads in the pond.
The first night after driving to Missoula, we picked up food to go from the south edge of Missoula, and ate it in our room, while watching a movie on the DVD player. Our plan was to relax after the drive with our baby – which we did by ending the night with an aptly-named dessert item – the Big Fat Chocolate Cake. Brady will ask you the night before what time you would like to eat breakfast. He serves breakfast between 7:30
We went for a drive around Missoula on Saturday, walking along the Clark Fork River to Caras Park, and stopping for a homemade ice cream cone at the Big Dipper on our way back to Blue Mountain. Another option if you wanted to get out for the day would be to head just south of the Blue Mountain to Lolo Hot Springs, to take a nice soak in the springs. The Clark Fork and Bitterroot Rivers are easily accessible for a day of fly-fishing. The second night we went out to eat just down the road at a local favorite, the Lolo Creek Steakhouse. A beautiful
and Breakfast, you can reserve a room online at http:// www.bluemountainbb.com/, or they can be reached by phone at (877) 251-4457. You won’t be disappointed with the hospitality, tranquility, and food at this Missoula mountain retreat. If you have any questions, or suggestions for future getaways you would like to see in 406 Woman Magazine, I can be reached at info@montanavacationblog.com. Thanks for reading, and happy getaway!
Blue Mountain Bed and Breakfast information: Pet Friendly -Kid Friendly (Pack and Play available to use) -Open year-round -142 miles one-way from Whitefish -Gift shop on site -Breakfast included -4 Rooms available to rent -Library, pool table on site -Pond and waterfall with Koi and Goldfish -Hiking Opportunities -Check-in: 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. Website: www.bluemountainbb.com -Phone Number: (877) 251-4457
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food}
Cook Books
Three Cooks & A Book
by Jennifer, Sally & Peggy at Rising Sun Bistro photo by Scott Wilson Photography
Salad as a Meal by Patricia Wells Summer really is coming!! And, you’ll notice there is a plethora of weight loss ads to entice us to get ready for the “swimsuit season.” We, on the other hand, think of picnics, summer meals, and entertaining friends and family.
impromptu guests. The Marinated Olive Quartet, Black Olives Tapenade with Lemon Confit, and the Spicy Basque Mixed Nuts will empress your guests and give you time to enjoy their company! You can also use the Olive Marinade in a salad dressing.
Salad as a Meal, is a fabulous addition to your cookbook library for appetizers, salads, dressings and wine pairings, to make your summer entertaining easy and carefree.
We feel all the recipes are a “must try.” We hope you will try the following recipe and use it for your next picnic, get together with friends or even a quiet evening at home with family.
Summer is a time when we have friends over, spend time outside and “try” to take life easier and simpler. A time we want to enjoy our guests and not spend too much time in the kitchen.
Raoul’s Shrimp Salad
The word “salad” comes from the Latin word for salt, ‘sal’, and ‘salare’, to salt. Originally a salad was just greens with salt. Thankfully, salads have expanded to unlimited boundaries. But, however we make our salads, they must depend on having fresh, flavorful and seasonal ingredients.
½C tomato juice
In a large bowl, whisk together the tomato juice, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco, and salt. Taste for seasoning. Add the red peppers and celery. Stir to blend. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to let the flavors develop. Toss the shrimp with just enough sauce to lightly and evenly cost the ingredients.
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
Add the chives and toss to blend. Taste for seasoning.
Fine sea salt
Mound the shrimp salad on plates or in a bowl for your picnic basket.
1 Tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice Several drops of Tabasco sauce 1 to 2 red bell peppers, trimmed, seeds removed, cut into ¼ inch cubes (about 1 ½ cups)
Wine Suggestion - A white wine with an atypical blend of 50% Viognier and 50% Marsanne. This blend of white 2 celery ribs, cut into crosswire slices (about wine will have the vivacity and com1 ½ cups) plexity to stand up to the flavors in the The first chapter in the book is devoted 1 ½ lbs (25-30) cooked large shrimp, peeled salad. to Appetizers and Sides. They are an easy addition to your Appetizer menu and can be made ahead to have ready for those
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and deveined
½ C minced fresh chives or cilantro
Bon Appétit!
P.S. Rachel Khoo (last issue’s
book review “My Little Paris
Kitchen”) has a cooking show on the Cooking Channel and a
website www.rachelkhoo.com. Be sure to check it out!
Editor’s Note:
Our authors
own and operate the Rising
Sun Bistro in downtown Ka-
lispell. Stop by and try some
delicious creations. Open for
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. Rising Sun Bistro
25 Second Avenue West,
Kalispell
406-890-2600
www.risingsunbistro.com
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food}
bbq
Barbeque is Best By Kristen Ledyard Owner/Executive Chef of John’s Angels Catering LLC
The weather is amazing and smoke is in the air. Oh yes, BBQ smoke that is, and it’s on every patio as far as the
eye can see and nose can smell. The mystery of BBQ is
the most infectious part of the cooking process. Every
grill or BBQ owner has their own theories and methods. Now, just to be sure, BBQ is different from grilling. Do
not make the mistake of confusing the two, especially to
your neighbor who may deem themselves a “Master”. Of course, a combination of the two is the most widely utilized. Sauce, meat, and method are the three definites. I had the pleasure of living down in Mississippi South for
three months of every year, and I learned their methods while adapting them to Montana meats and flavors. To
truly top off the meal, wine has become a powerful vessel to enhance the BBQ flavors. Let’s explore a few of my
go to recipes while keeping our pantries greatly organized. Do not forget to go to your local farmer’s market to Start with a great meat. Always utilize your local butcher
for the best quality and advice. A pork loin is not only inexpensive, but a fantastic choice for a first time BBQ Chef.
Chef Kris’s Maple Apple Glaze Pork Loin
Pork loin with at least 6oz. per person Grade A maple syrup
Minced garlic ½ tablespoon
Diced apples (Macintosh are my favorite) Unfiltered apple juice Salt and pepper
Combine all of the above ingredients. Pour half into the bottom of a glass casserole dish and place the pork loin in the dish. Cover the pork loin with the rest and refrigerate for up to a day. Heat up your grill or smoker (I prefer apple wood if you are smoking) and let the pork go until 145 degrees. I do like a little pink in mine, which is now FDA safe. Save your marinade. You may make a sauce with the leftover as long as it is brought to a boil for the reduced sauce. It should be of a thicker consistency. Enjoy with a pinot noir, which is my preferred choice. Be sure to consult your local beverage store for their professional option.
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Now, for true BBQ you need a sauce. I cannot give up my secret sauce; however, I cannot leave you without a base. Tomatoes are the best, and I really do not prefer vinegar or liquid smoke. Take the time to smoke your own sauce on your “grill”. I will tell you that the favorite bourbon of choice in our area is a great addition, when smoked out. Remember that acids need to be balanced with sweet, salt, and pepper. Pepper can be of the vegetable variety as well, and blended into the sauce. To accent a spicier BBQ sauce, balance with a softer wine in the white range. A sauvignon blanc is not only a tasty choice, but perfect to cook with. Perhaps you would like some shrimp as an accent, which cook well with white wine, butter, and lemon juice. Always try to connect all of your ingredients to create a perfectly balanced meal. How about a great side for your backyard BBQ? Who does not like mac and cheese or corn on the cob? Create something special by mixing your butter with seasoning. Simply soften a salted butter stick and add a Southwest seasoning, Cajun, or even a small amount of truffle oil to your butter and refrigerate. Once hardened, cut into squares and enjoy on your grilled corn on the cob or add into mac and cheese for added flavor.
BBQ is about family and friends getting together for a great meal and creating your own memories. Even if the
weather does not cooperate, make your indoors the outdoors by creating a picnic theme for the dinner table. A bouquet of fresh herbs adds a colorful touch and flavor with conversation for your meal. This has been a hit for my dinner parties.
BBQ is a great way to celebrate summer and bring people together. Never forget to add your own touch and create a complete meal. Your pantry is perfect and full of ideas for you. Let the sun shine!
Photo by Alisia Cubberly
pick up some fresh vegetables and greens for side dishes.
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Spring Redesign Yes, spring has finally arrived in Montana, and you can see peo-
ple getting excited about the big blue sky that we are known for,
organizing their house inside and out, and getting ready for the summer season. Here in Whitefish, the boats are docking, people are mowing their lawns, and putting out the outdoor furniture for
outdoor living, This is one of my favorite times of year bringing outdoor living into the natural element of our home. Spring Redesign is so inviting, changing a wall color rearranging furniture, changing knobs, or buying a simple antique to spice up a room.
Above is a great concepts of how we did a simple before and after of a residence in Vail, Colorado.
We were extremely happy with the finished product, As you can
see we made changes to the bar to create the visual flow that
adds the invitation to the kitchen, Our team re-stained the cabinetry, added a rock backsplash that creates a mountain-modern look, and replaced the floor with a smooth slate, Lastly, a quartz
counter top created a seamless look. Sometimes changing out the knobs and just giving a space a quick redesign, not only adds value to your home, but gives a smile that won’t break the bank.
Picture above and on left is a villa that was built in the late 70’s. When we viewed the residence, we saw it needed a lot of work, but we were dealing with a small budget, like most of us do, so we redesigned it, keeping the cabinets and appliances, and made some small changes to make it inviting, and creating a visual flow throughout the residence,
home}
experience
The experience of Befriending Life By Chad Phillips
To experience the moment with a friend and space simultaneously may be to notice the light coming into the room or the light that captures the shades silhouette. Feeling the air in the room and the softness of each breath adds to our joy. It is with utter respect and joy that we attribute our lives to the fabric and sun that serves us now. To notice and adore the way a room fits your comfort and cherishes you day to day is time worth remembering. Life is well and appreciated every time we notice the joy in making the wall, window and fabric. Life stands still when we experience the chagrin and care that so many labored to bring us. No other moment feels more satisfying then caring for the ones that cared enough to support our lives. Our lives are one with the labor and gifts of others each day. To pass judgment by not noticing the efforts and care giving of others is a tragedy and builds a mind to be ungrateful. Time is alive, full of opportunities to cry to give someone a leg up or your hand to survive. Life is surreal and glamorous every time one steps into great care giving and nowhere is life grander then cherishing a home that someone else built for us to live in.
A home is quintessentially the gift of heaven. To cherish the life that is sheltering us now is simply a time that feels well. Nowhere do we shine brighter then adoring the way our room is lifted every time we appreciate the walls, windows, fabric, trees, stone, water and air. We are enhanced when we experience the care of men working on our home or the women that brought us the details in the interiors. We are ever altered and changed when we express gratitude to the ones that made our time on earth healthier, better and more comfortable.
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No other place is time well spent then taking a moment to admire the care somebody put into our lives and home. We are a fountain of exuberance when the women and men in our lives are cherished day to day. We cannot belong to sadness or despair when the people that have served us well are recognized and cherished. Time is also our call to freedom and lightness of breath every moment of the day when considering the life of others.
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Others require our time, our devotion to feel in betterment as well. We better the lives of an aunt or grandparent by inviting them to enjoy our home and the feeling of our air. Feeling grateful for our family’s care brings us the joy of living with respect. Respecting the lives that turn to hold us in our home is essential to living in trust. Love and trust the company that comes to your door step and love the way they hold you in embrace. Love the way they smile as you hold them graciously in your thoughts. Honor the time you felt when they came to your aid the day you were born. Time is marked by care giving and to live gratefully is the way we know our uncle, aunt, father and mother.
We embrace the life of another human being every time we express to them the way we felt when they gave us something out of love. Caring for someone is felt and it is clear. We are the one that may express love willingly. Love doesn’t hold out or on to past complaints. Love willingly expresses the moment in care blind to what may have occurred. Love is also the opportunity to glance at an uncle or aunt and send a signal of believing in their dream in life. To believe in a person's care in the world is our way to believe we all adore life serenely.
An uncle may not love to dance as you but they will feel welcomed when you cherish the way they adore time. We all get along in the moment when we express to the other our wishes and dreams. We may exclaim, “I love the time we met for dinner at the lodge.” Or “I can’t wait to come together to celebrate Sally at her going away party.” To dream a time we adored and one to come is what keeps us laughing in the long run.
Time committed to celebrating the other and their dreams is time well remembered. To offer a celebration to an aunt or uncle to commemorate their accomplished dream marks a moment that lasts. Commemorating another dream and accomplishment is singularly the way to enjoy time. We all better the other when we dream a dream of care giving and act on it all the way. We are not alone when we express our dreams to our family and willingly act on those dreams with every detail. We are better served by humanity when we all celebrate the moment one triumphs in his or her personal dream to give someone love. We are our creator’s child and to be like our beloved creator, life giver, breather and nurturer is to add to our homes and family. We are cherished with absolute conviction every time we breathe in clean air, or are quenched by clean water. We are heaven in the making when we give back to that which breathed us and fed us well. We are able to do that when we express our grateful tears to a life that sustains our every move and our every whim. We no longer need to be defined by right and wrong when we experience the bliss of giving someone what they require to live better or what they need to be their dream inside. Time is adored when we live to be simply caring and caring is always happening now. With Adoration,
Chad
health}
your teeth
Your Mouth is the Window
by Dr. John F. Miller DDS
As the saying goes, the eyes are the window to your soul. A simple glance will reveal one’s delight or anger, contentment or anxiety, admiration or disdain, honesty or deceit. As a dentist my main concern is the comfort of my patients and their eyes tell me everything I need to know. There is however another window adorning your temple and that of course is your mouth; the window to your overall health.
Close examination of one’s mouth will reveal habitual concerns such as illicit drug abuse, grinding or clenching of teeth, GERD or bulimia, destructive dietary behaviors, and of course poor oral hygiene. The mouth will also manifest systemic problems such as illness or disease, hormonal or nutritional imbalances, etc. In addition to making sure your teeth are strong and healthy, your dentist also looks for the signs and symptoms of these systemic problems during your routine dental exam. This article, however, concerns itself with an oral disease that has negative effects on our bodies and overall health.
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Periodontal Disease (aka Gum Disease) doesn’t garner the same mainstream media attention as Dental Caries (aka cavities/tooth decay). This is unfortunate considering that approximately 50% of American adults suffer from some form of the disease. The earliest manifestation of gum disease is gingivitis, a REVERSIBLE inflammation of the gums caused by poor oral hygiene. The symptoms of gingivitis are red swollen gums that bleed easily upon contact,
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such as flossing. If your gums bleed during brushing or flossing, you have inflammation in your mouth.
If this inflammation is not addressed by a dental professional, bacteria-infested plaque will accumulate below the gum-line triggering a toxin-induced chronic inflammation of the gums. In other words the body turns on itself. Bacterial toxins in addition to the body’s natural response to infection start to break down the bone and connective tissue that hold teeth in place. At this point gingivitis has progressed to periodontitis. If not treated, the bones, gums, and tissue that support the teeth are IRREVERSIBLY (I apologize for yelling) destroyed. The teeth will eventually become loose and have to be removed.
Diagnosis of periodontal disease requires radiographic x-rays that show the bone level relative to the crowns of your teeth in addition to the measuring of your gingival pockets between your gums and your teeth. Healthy gums appear firm and pink with pockets measuring in the 1-2 millimeter range. Pocket depths reflect the amount of bone-loss that has occurred due to gum disease with the base of the pocket being approximately 2 millimeters from the bony crest. As bone loss occurs, our gingival pockets become deeper and more difficult to clean. This sets in motion the destructive chronic inflammation of periodontal disease. This disease is not limited locally to the mouth and gums. Chronic inflammation has become a hot topic
related to overall health and well-being. It is now widely believed that chronic inflammation that goes undetected for years contributes to many serious illnesses such as type II diabetes, heart disease, stroke, some cancers (e.g. colon cancer), neurological diseases (e.g. Alzheimer’s and Dementia), autoimmune diseases (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis), inflammatory bowel diseases (e.g. Crohn’s disease), as well as other diseases which have unknown causes, like allergies, fibromyalgia and migraines. Reducing inflammation is also the driving force behind nutrition trends such as gluten-free and Omega-3 fatty acids. In a recent article titled “Attack of the Immune System,” author Ethan Watters (not a dentist) describes the subtle short-term symptoms of chronic inflammation “including weight gain, fatigue, aches and pains, indigestion, and...low-grade depression.” He goes on to quote, “Perhaps the most established way to court chronic inflammation is to ignore proper oral hygiene. People under 65 years old with periodontal disease like gingivitis, or gum inflammation, have a higher level of inflammation... having a chronic infection in your mouth, even if it's a small one, fires up your immune system and keeps it fired up for as long as you have the infection. What to do? Brush twice a day, floss, and see a dentist every six months.” Chronic inflammatory periodontal disease is a painfree disease. This destruction of your oral tissue sounds like it should hurt, but it doesn’t. There are two types of patients I see on a day-to-day basis,
health}
your teeth
Risk Factors Age
Smoking Genetics Stress Medications Clenching/ Grinding of Teeth Systemic Disease Poor Nutrition / Obesity
those who maintain a routine dental hygiene appointment and those who come in when something hurts. I am happy to treat both and understand that life happens and priorities will dictate behavior. However, if something hurts it has more often than not breached the point of simple intervention and a more complex effort is required to save the tooth and alleviate pain. I would ask you, the reader, to ask yourself right now: “Do I want to have my ‘real’ teeth forever?” This will simply not happen if you do not visit a dental professional on a regular basis. I’ve said this before, oral health decline whether it be tooth decay or gum disease is a slow process that doesn’t hurt. With routine dental care these processes will be identified and treated before any permanent damage occurs. In other words, before it hurts.
Thank you for reading and I hope that my passion for this topic comes through in my writing. Summer has arrived in Montana. Let’s make sure our overall health doesn’t prevent us from enjoying this amazing season.
Like always I can only scratch the surface of these topics and encourage you to learn more from the American Academy of Periodontology at Perio.org. Next time you see your dental provider ask them about periodontitis and ways that you can maintain healthy gums and manage inflammation.
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Answers
Q:
s k i n ca r e
answers
By Erin Blair, Licensed Esthetician
I have noticed small, flesh colored skin growths, mainly under my arms. They don’t hurt,
A:
but the appearance bothers me. Should these be removed? Could they be cancerous?
From your description, it sounds like you have developed skin tags. These are common, finger-like fleshy eruptions which are not dangerous, but can certainly be unattractive. The small, skin colored, soft lesions grow typically on the neck and underarms. They are benign, and until a few years ago, what causes them was somewhat of a mystery. But recent research actually points to dietary sugar in association with skin tags, and that they may even be an indicator of diabetes.
Q:
I prefer waxing for hair removal, but I always get bumps, ingrown hairs or breakouts afterwards. Am I just not a good candidate, or is there something I can do to prevent the issues that pop up after waxing?
A:
Research published in December of 2009 in Clinical and Experimental Medicine shows a direct correlation between skin tags and increased insulin levels, which is a possible precursor to diabetes. Interestingly, people with more than 30 skin tags were shown to have Many people have zero issues after waxing…and then, there are a significantly increased risk of type 2 diabetes. the rest of us. While bumps and ingrown hairs are unsightly and uncomfortable, any of the side effects you described can usually be Removal of skin tags can be done by your doctor in a simple, in- lessened with some preventative measures. office procedure. If you have many of these growths, it might also be wise to explore whether you are at risk for heightened insulin First of all, the wax may be at fault. Many people find that ‘hard wax’ is gentler on their skin than the stickier, soft ‘strip wax’. Othlevels, or diabetes. 406
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Many people have zero issues after waxing… and then, there are the rest of us.
ers have found sugaring, an alternative to waxing, to be beneficial. The area to be waxed should be cleaned and prepped by your esthetician. If you’re prone to inflamed breakouts, ask if you can have a cold towel or compress to apply after waxing. They also may be able to offer an anti-inflammatory post-waxing product for immediate use. From there, you’ll need to take some home care measures for best results.
When your primary hair removal is waxing, there is more dead skin buildup on the surface, because you’re not getting the exfoliating action of a razor against your skin. When a new baby hair is sprouting, it can get trapped under layers of dead skin. If ingrown hair is your primary concern, a gentle buffing with body scrub or gloves will help alleviate your problem. Also consider a moisturizer such as Amlactin, which contains lactic acid to help prevent dead skin cell buildup. If you typically get bumps or pimple-like breakouts, try a gentle alpha hydroxy acid in a non-comedogenic, water based formula, applied to the area on an ongoing basis. At my studio I carry a roll-on alpha hydroxy cocktail that can be applied after waxing (or shaving) to help keep the pores clear, and it’s a good preventative for ingrowns, too.
Benzoyl peroxide, an acne medication, can also help with pimples and red bumps that pop up after waxing. My issue with that, though, is that all formulas I’ve found over the counter in drug stores, etc., have also contained pore clogging ingredients that will only serve to break you out a month or two down the road. So, you’ll want to make sure you’re choosing a decent formula, most likely from a skincare professional. If you try incorporating these suggestions and still find yourself suffering, then it’s possible you aren’t a good waxing candidate. Fortunately, most people find that making just a few changes really helps alleviate the typical negative side effects of this form of hair removal.
Erin Blair, LE specializes in acne treatment and holistic nutrition, and is the owner of Skin Therapy Studio. Please submit questions for Skincare Answers to skintherapystudio@gmail.com.
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fitness
Balancing Act
By Delia Buckmaster Photo by Kat Mendoza. Lot 22 photogrpahy
For lots of women, an hour workout is necessary ‘me-time’. It’s time away from the demands of motherhood. After having my first child, one of the biggest challenges was finding time for myself. I thought it would be no big deal to find one hour a day to get in a run. Seriously, how hard could it be? Until you’ve experienced this unbelievable vortex that sucks your time and energy away, it’s difficult to understand. It’s different for everyone. Some women just can’t get a babysitter, while others want the bonding time with their little ones, since so many other commitments force them to be away. Although working mothers find it difficult to make time to exercise, it’s an important part of a healthy lifestyle. For this reason, finding the best time for exercise is essential.
I’ve looked into the eyes of many clients who walk into the studio, baby carrier in tow, with a look of desperation that says, “Please, please, please, can my baby stay if I promise to keep him/her quiet?” Knowing that feeling of needing just that one hour to workout, saying no isn’t an option. You name it, we’ve tried it. We hold the newborn in one arm, and change springs on the Pilates reformer with the other. We have mom hold their child and use it for additional resistance for crunches. And then there was the Johnny Jumpup hanging from the door jam. Round and round, up and down that little boy went for an hour, two times a week. Unfortunately, these accommodations are not ideal nor always an option.
The key is finding an activity that you enjoy and one that meshes with your schedule and lifestyle. If you like what you do during your workout, you'll view it as a necessity rather than an option. For starters, try these suggestions:
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• Go for a hike with your baby in a front carrier or sling, or, if he can sit up already, a backpack. Make sure your baby is well supported — a sling is fine for a walk around the block but not for a more rigorous urban walk or hike through the hills. Whatever carrying device you choose, make sure it doesn't strain your shoulders, neck or back.
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• Put your baby in the stroller and go for a walk. When your baby is at least 6 months old, you can put him in a jogging stroller and go for a jog.
• Have your partner or another caregiver watch the baby for 30 minutes so you can get out for a walk around the neighborhood — and enjoy some precious time to yourself. If you're working outside the house, try getting up about an hour before you need to leave in the morning and head to the gym or go for a walk. If you're a stay-at-home mom, get up before your partner leaves and exercise. Also, try trading with another mom who would love the favor reciprocated. • Bring your athletic shoes to work and go for a stroll during your lunch break. Ask a co-worker to join you to pass the time and make it more fun.
• Check out local health clubs or fitness studios. Many offer postpartum exercise classes suitable for new moms — as well as day care and even classes you can take with your baby. Exhale Pilates Studio recently offered a Pee Wee Pilates class where moms used their baby as a prop while they did some bonding. Some also have day care. However, no promises that no sooner then your treadmill speed hits a comfortable pace, your name won’t be called on the loud speaker to come get your screaming child. But hey, at least you tried!
• Join a mom-and-baby stroller exercise program. It's a great way to get outside, exercise, meet other moms, and spend time with your baby. Don’t have one of those in your area? Start one! Call a few new moms and ask them to routinely meet you for a scheduled walk or jog.
• Consider investing in some home exercise equipment that you can use when your baby is napping or otherwise occupied. Even something as small as a jump rope or some dumbbells will help you get into shape.
• Work it out at home. Whether you're looking to sweat it out with aerobics or kick some butt with kickboxing, there's an exercise DVD out there to suit your needs. If you're feeling adventurous, check out the Wii Fit exercise system and put a modern spin on your exercise routine. There are plenty of online workouts to choose from. Barre workouts are a great way to get your body in shape, and all you need is a counter top or chair. •Grab Short Chunks of Workout Time
Walk or bike to work or school or when doing errands. Remember the old stand-bys: Take the stairs instead of the elevator; park at the far end of the lot; and so on. They play, you sweat: Walk briskly around the playground's perimeter while your kids hang out in the middle, or do lunges and squats while refereeing in the family room. Multitask. Do crunches, planks, or push-ups while you watch TV (or, as I used to, while you're stuck in a dark room with a kid who won't fall asleep without you nearby). “If mama ain’t happy, nobody is happy”
Don't view working out as a chore. Instead, think of it as a luxury. Exercising is time spent by yourself while working on your own needs and goals. It gives you a chance to either get back into those jeans you love or reach your ideal mile time. Also, the healthier you are, the more energy you'll have to handle the demands of your new baby.
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Answers
h e alt h
Q:
ca r e
answers
By Dr. Thomas deHoop Kalispell OB-GYN
I am having a hysterectomy as I have a prolapsed uterus and want to know if
A:
it is wise to have my ovaries removed. I am 67 years old and feel if I am having surgery they should come out.
The answer is dependent on a few factors such as age, family history, risk of heart disease and osteoporosis with age being the most significant. You have to balance the risks of removal (premature menopause) against the risks of leaving the ovaries in place.
shown that long-term survival is improved by keeping the ovaries at the time of hysterectomy in a premenopausal woman. Some studies even show benefit when the ovaries are preserved until 65 years of age. Therefore, ovarian preservation provides many benefits in the premenopausal woman. If the ovaries After ovarian removal, ovarian hormones lev- are removed in a postmenopausal woman, els diminish and fall to the levels found in a the reduction in hormones is less significant. postmenopausal woman and this is considered surgically induced menopause. This loss So what are the risks of ovarian preservaof ovarian hormones in the premenopausal tion? When ovaries are retained, the risk of woman will lead to hot flashes and vaginal ovarian cancer still exists. This is true for pre dryness. More importantly, since ovarian es- and postmenopausal women. Although it is trogen helps prevent bone lost and has pro- impossible to predict who will develop ovartective effects on the heart, premenopausal ian cancer, women with a strong family hiswomen who have their ovaries removed will tory of ovarian cancer or who have additional have accelerated bone loss, increased risk risk factors, should strongly consider ovarian of osteoporosis (weakened bones) and in- removal at the time of hysterectomy. For precreased risk of heart disease. Studies have menopausal women, the risks of ovarian re-
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moval, such as osteoporosis, can be reduced by estrogen replacement therapy. Removal may also be recommended in women who have gynecologic conditions, such as endometriosis or pelvic pain from scarring which may worsen or recur with ovarian preservation and require future surgery. There is approximately a 2-3% lifetime risk of reoperation for other benign ovarian conditions such as ovarian cysts, pain or scarring in women who choose to retain their ovaries at the time of hysterectomy. So it appears that postmenopausal women derive some benefits from ovarian preservation, while premenopausal women may benefit greatly if there are no additional risk factors. This decision should be made with your surgeon after careful consideration of your individual risks and benefits.
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Buzzed
Here are a few simple tips for a safe Fourth of July:
Don’t Start the Celebration Without Planning Ahead. Remember Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving. By Kristen Hamilton
An Important Reminder from Flathead City County Health Department
-Plan a safe way home before the festivities begin; -Before drinking, designate a sober driver; -If you’re impaired, use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation so you are sure to get home safely; -If you happen to see a drunk driver on the road, don’t hesitate to contact your local law enforcement; -And remember, Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving. If you know someone who is about to drive or ride while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to where they are going safely. -Remember, whether you’ve had way too many or just one too many, it’s never worth the risk to drive impaired. Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving. Planning ahead can mean the difference between life and death.
l Across the country, impaired driving fatalities spike during nighttime. In fact during the July 4th holiday in 2010, more than 80 percent of alcohol-impaired driving fatalities took place at nighttime between the hours of 6:00pm and 5:59am. The proportion of alcohol impairment among drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2010 l That’s why this Fourth of July; the Flathead was almost five times higher at night than durCity County Health Department is reminding ing the day for the Fourth of July holiday peeveryone that Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving. riod. l The Fourth of July is a celebration that brings friends and family together to enjoy all the delights of summer, including cookouts, fireworks, and time by the pool. So most Americans don’t realize it’s one of the deadliest holidays of the year due to alcohol-impaired driving crashes.
l Impaired driving crashes killed 10,228 people in 2010, accounting for 31 percent of all trafficrelated deaths in the United States. That’s an average of one alcohol impaired driving fatality nearly every 51 minutes. l The Fourth of July holiday period (6:00pm July 2- 5:59am July 6) is particularly deadly. During the 2010 holiday, 392 people were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes.
l Young (18 to 34 year old) people still don’t get the message that drinking and driving kills. During the 2010 Fourth of July holiday period, 50 percent of young drivers killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes were alcohol impaired (BAC of .08 or higher.)
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l Death is not the only consequence from impaired driving. Violators often face jail time, loss of their driver’s license and it could cost up to $10,000 in legal fees, fines, and higher insurl Of those fatalities, 39 percent were in crashes ance rates. that involved at least one driver or motorcycle Plan Ahead to Save Lives. operator with a blood alcohol concentration More information can be found at (BAC) of .08 or higher. www.nhtsa.gov/impaired.
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The Flathead County DUI Task Force reminds you to drive sober and buckle up. The life you save could be yours.
wellness}
Couples
C ouples :
talking about “ hot topics ”
Written by CrisMarie Campbell
“We don’t have enough long-term savings. We have to save more.” Cindy brought up the hot topic while driving home from their accountant’s office. It wasn’t the first time she had broached this sensitive topic.
Sound familiar? Maybe not the content or the roles, but most couples can quickly go from an important topic to escalating war in a matter of minutes.
Dealing with Couples
“We are doing the best we can with the business right now.” Steve replied as he drove the Susan Clarke and I work primarily with business teams at thrive!, but about three years ago we also started truck down Twin Bridges Road.
“But I can’t stand to see how little we put away each year. When I had my corporate job in San Francisco I was able to save so much more. Plus, my employer matched it, and I could see it grow so fast,” Cindy said, her voice full of lament.
working with and leading couples workshops. There are similar challenges of setting common goals and dealing with differences in both teams and couples. If you think about it, a couple is a mini-team. While your couple may be your smallest team, it is probably the one closet to your heart and the most important.
“Listen, I am doing the best I can! I am not some It is not unusual to think that if your relationship is big corporation you know,” Steve responded. “good” everything will be smooth and you won’t fight. Wrong! He sped up while going around the curves.
out and in a matter of minutes the conversation disolves, and you are left wondering, “How did we get here?”
It is natural that we bump into each other and want different things. Couples are made up of two different people. Some people believe it all comes down to the Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus thing. While we generally agree that men and women are wired differently, and while knowing some of those general differences may help us understand each other, the picture is incomplete. We find that no matter whom we work with, men and women, or same sex couples, we see that we are dealing with two different individuals who think and feel differently and want different things at certain points in their relationship. So how do we bridge the gap?
“Whoa! Slow down. The deer are out. You’re The Good News is that it is natural and healthy to fight. going to get us killed!” Cindy grabbed the han- The couples that are the most at risk are the ones that How To Talk About Hot Topics dle above the door. don’t fight. It usually means they have given up. These couples are often disengaged and are in apathy mode,
“Stop telling me how to drive! You are so con- which deadens the relationship. trolling. I’m 51, and I know how to drive a frickin’ car!” Steve snapped. How Do We Get So Off Track? “I am not controlling!” Cindy turned and stared We all lead busy lives and have important issues to disout the window. They drove on in steamy silence.
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Cindy crossed her arms and looked straight ahead. “Fine. Never mind. It is clear you don’t care about what is important to me.”
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cuss. We often try to have these important conversations about money, the kids, sex, or the in-laws while we are in the middle of something else, like either driving after a stressful meeting, brushing teeth before bed, or getting the kids ready for school. One person throws something
All couples have those “hot topics”. You know those topics that you try to bring up in several different ways, but somehow wind up at the very same place—getting nowhere and feeling horrible.
When we met with Steven and Cindy it was clear they were both distant and shut down from their “long-term savings” conversation. So we suggested an old stand-by when couples are in something deep.
wellness}
Couples
Tool One: 5-5-5, Make the Space
Tool 2: Check Out Your Story
With hot topics, each person is so sensitive that they react quickly, jumping in to defend or to interrupt, going back and forth, ultimately getting nowhere. So Tool One is designed to create clear boundaries, providing time and space for each person to be heard.
In the course of one of these “hot topic” issues, quite often we hear our partner say something and assume that we know what they are insinuating; however, most of the time we actually don’t. We often jump to conclusions based on how we are feeling about ourselves or what we have heard before.
First, find the time and space without outside interruptions to have a conversation. This does NOT mean several hours. Start small. Take 15 minutes. Yep, just 15 minutes – that’s it. Here is how it works:
1. Figure out who goes first. Just flip a coin if you are having trouble deciding.
First 5 minutes:
·Person A talks about the issue. ·Person B just listens and does not interrupt.
Second 5 minutes: Reverse it.
Third 5 minutes:
We suggest you slow it down, break it down and check it out.
Break it down specifically to what you heard or saw (the data) and separate that from your interpretation or assumption (your story). Then, proactively ask if your partner agrees with your story (check it out).
One of the assumptions Steve made was that Cindy wished she had never left her job in San Francisco to start the business with him here in Montana, which is why he felt defensive in the car. So here is how he checked out his story.
The Data: “I heard you talk about how much you could save Five minutes can seem like a long time long-term with your old corpofor some, but others need that time rate job.” You both engage in a dialogue.
to think out loud. It doesn’t mean you need to talk non-stop, but that five minutes is yours to have the space to reflect and say what you need to say on the topic.
Steve’s Story: “My assumption is that you wished you had never left your corporate job to start this business with me.”
2. Don’t expect to resolve the issue in Check It Out: “Do you agree one sitting. We suggest your objective or disagree?” (Then shut up and be listening and understanding each let the person respond.) other, NOT problem solving.
When Steve did check this out, he was
3. Use a timer. The key to success is surprised by Cindy’s answer. to stop when the timer goes off. No exceptions—even if you aren’t done with making your point or even completing your sentence. After the 15 minutes are up, don’t carry on. Give yourself a break from it and do something else. Really. Cindy and Steve did the 5-5-5.
Cindy realized during her five minutes, that the reason she was so worried was because two other couples close to them were struggling financially due to unexpected health crises. Cindy saw what tremendous pressure it was putting on both of those relationships. She did not want that to happen to her and Steve. Before they did the 5-5-5, Cindy was unaware of the impact that watching her friends’ struggle was having on her.
“OMG, of course not! I hated that job and I love our business. I just don’t want to end up like Joe and Mary or Chris and Jake.”
Steve was surprised and relieved. At the end of a few more conversations, Steve and Cindy resolved to look at their financials overall, enlisting the aid of a financial planner who could help them look at investing as well as saving in order to support their longterm financial picture. They felt like they were on the same team headed towards a common goal versus feeling like enemies.
family}
summer
Keep Kids Learning Over By Gretchen Knuffke
When that final bell rang announcing the start of summer as a kid, I raced out the school doors amid a frenzy of flying papers and forgotten essays to ride bikes, explore parks, and string faded fishing poles for long dreamed of adventures far from four confining walls. Summer meant dirty knees and independence, trips to visit and play with cousins, summer craft classes at the local library; but most of all, it meant spending time outdoors interacting with friends and the community. As adults, we know a well rounded education is filled with new life experiences that challenge our boundaries, and allow us to test our skills and learn who we are as individuals. Creativity and interaction are an integral part of that education, even if we are not tested on these concepts in school. Keeping a spirit of investigation alive and well over the summer can be challenging, but fortunately we live in a state with plenty of resources and opportunities. Through self-directed projects, volunteering, and some simple supplies, you can stimulate your child’s curiosity to learn over the summer and keep that link with education and community alive.
often remember a summer in Florida where I witnessed a family of four walk a white sandy beach near an aqua blue ocean as their two kids furiously played hand held video players. They never looked up or even bothered to take off their shoes as they strolled into the distance. To get your kids off the couch, start the summer by limiting tv and computer time and actively encourage more creative projects and the opportunity for social connection. This cold turkey reduction may lead to a revolt at first, but an active brain will soon seek out other recreational options if they are made available. Here are some suggestions to help get started; don’t forget
to check community calendars on-line, the local newspaper, and the Chamber of Commerce for activities.
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If a picture is worth a thousand words, a digital camera might be considered a novel. With their availability and relatively cheap cost, digital cameras are a great way to introduce young adults to Let me confess up front, that yes, I do in fact have framing topics and seeing differences in light and a blog, several e-mail accounts, a very active Face- shade. After becoming familiar with the basic funcbook account, as well as Twitter. Plus, I am not tions, you can introduce themes such as neighborready to the throw out my television just yet, before hood flower gardens, biking adventures, or their NCIS and The Big Bang Theory see their final sea- best friend. sons. However, it is important for parents to realize that the average American home has the flicker of a Two projects I’ve really enjoyed using with kids television on 5 hours of each day, and this is at least are picture poetry and collage postcards. Picture partially responsible for childhood obesity rates poetry involves selecting a favorite (recent) phoclimbing from 6.5% in the 1990’s to nearly 20% to or series of photos (i.e. my cat’s day) and then in 2012. Engaging our children’s brains has never producing a poem about the topic or experience. been more vital, and at the very least, we can try Play with different formats such as one line of the to keep children’s hands out of a potato chip bag poem under each photo, or orienting the photos in for part of each day. Video games and “facebook- different positions on one page. If they enjoy this, ing” compete with those things that can improve they might even try their hand at telling a story health, outlook on life, and our seeing the world. I with a series of photos and a short poem on each
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the
Summer
page. The collage postcard involves finding an old postcard, or cutting out the appropriate size from cardstock before filling it on one side with cutouts from your own printed photos, magazines, or advertisements. Then write in favorite quotes, a poem, or make sketches in the blank areas. Highlighter pens or colored pencils can really add to the mix before mailing it to a friend or relative with a request they retaliate with their own version. If you’re lucky, this could lead to an “art war” where friends try to one up each other with the quality of their work.
Recently, while looking for ideas at the local library, I ended up losing track of time and started researching some of my own creative projects. There is a broad selection, and I particularly enjoyed John Lithgow’s, A Lithgow Palooza in which he shares several categories of creative ideas, many that can be shared with the entire family. Here’s a taste: Junk gardens involve taking old toys, dishes, planters, or whatever you can dig up in the basement before half planting them in a specific spot in the yard with flowers stuck in-between and inside each item wherever possible. Another idea? Create a sundial out of cardboard in your yard and live one entire day by it, making sure to unplug and hide every clock in your house before beginning. This will not only make your family aware how closely tied our schedules are to the clock, but hopefully lead to a discussion on how mechanical clocks were only a recent discovery to human history. What other creative ways did world cultures find to track their day? Finally, I love the Tableaux Vivant chapter which involves the whole family tracking down props and costumes to create a living statue for a favorite scene from history or a poem. I’ve seen this performed in high school history classes and must say it is not only informative as to the details of a specific scene, such as Washington crossing
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summer
There is no better way to integrate a sense of place, community, and service than volunteering with one of a variety of local non-profits or agencies. Young adults can see the workings of different organizations as they think about their own future, and have the opportunity to socialize with adults outside of a school setting. Opportunities abound, and offer a range of real life experiences.
the Delaware, but almost always leads to everyone in the room erupting in uncontrollable laughter. Take a photo and frame it in your kitchen as a reminder of your creative summer.
While at the library, make sure mom and dad pick out a few of their own favorite selections as well. Experts share (Swagger by Lisa Bloom) that creating a positive reading environment where children observe their parents reading actively and on a regular basis, that children are six times more likely to read for pleasure. Reading correlates with almost every measure of positive personal and social behavior surveyed by the National Endowment of the Arts. Readers are more likely to vote, exercise, have happier personal lives, and even live longer.
search for zines and comics). Subjects include a broad range of topics, from repairing your own bicycle, to starting your own business on e-bay. Some of the humorous topics are not suitable for children, so be sure to read descriptions carefully.
Don’t forget, we live in one of the most beautiful natural areas in the world, and there are many ways to explore it. Get a map (I recommend Jake Bramante’s blog at www.hike734.com) and pick out a section of the park you have never seen and commit to taking a nature day. Multiple studies show that a day in nature can significantly reduce stress and improve our outlook. Activities such as birding or identifying wild flowers can greatly improve a child’s attention to detail and instill a greater appreciation of where we live. Outings to the Jewel Basin and the trail from Herron Park to If you have a child that can combine these various Blacktail are other fun options. skills and talents into one format, they may even attempt creating what are known as “zines.” Zines Finally, there is no better way to integrate a sense are not well known in Montana and seem to have of place, community, and service than volunteervarious definitions and functions, but at a most ing with one of a variety of local non-profits or basic level they are personal magazines featur- agencies. Young adults can see the workings of difing sketches, photos, poems, quotes, doodles, cut- ferent organizations as they think about their own outs, and experiences around a theme. Making a future, and have the opportunity to socialize with trip to Seattle or Bozeman this summer? Travel adults outside of a school setting. Opportunities zines are by far the most popular to produce, and abound, and offer a range of real life experiences. can even be entirely hand crafted and written without the use of a computer. The decorative in- •The Flathead Foodbank offers students the chance to side of business envelopes are often used as page help those less fortunate than themselves by organizing backgrounds, and if your child catches the bug, and distributing food from their Kalispell location. Stuthere are many small bookstores in Portland and dents under 15 will need to be accompanied by an adult, Seattle that will consider selling works, including so contact Janette at 752-3663 with questions or times. Powell’s Books in Portland where I’ve sold a few. You may wish to consult, Stolen Sharpie Revolution by Alex Wrekk, or The Creative License by Da- •Habitat for Humanity will be working on a build in Covid Gregory. If you care to mix zines into your per- lumbia Falls this spring starting May 18th, so call Cansonal library and begin popularizing them in our dice at (413)335-5297 to polish your building skills and area, you can find a zine section on etsy.com (just provide a new home for a family in need.
•Also, we often forget about those who helped make our
community what it is today, so chat, read, or play games with a piece of local history by volunteering at the Bren-
dan House retirement community by calling Carmen Moyer at 751-6516.
•Like more time in nature? Contact Sonny at the Mon-
tana Conservation Corps about trail clearing dates at 755-8089, or Chad at Kalispell Parks and Rec. 758-7975 for park projects.
Your family will leave with a few stories of their own, and the possibility of some new friends.
Local museums and FVCC have great activities listed on their websites. The Museum at Central School allows children under twelve in for free, while the Hockaday Museum has summer art camps available for a fee. Conrad Mansion has child rates, and the Dig Into Reading Program at the Flathead County Library begins in June. The Kid’s College program at FVCC features a variety of learning experiences with class titles and descriptions listed on their website (click Continuing Education, then Kid’s College). Keep kids involved in their communities and learning new things, and you will help inspire your children to learn and create more and more. Summer doesn’t have to be a steady diet of television and texting. Set powerful examples through your own interests and use of time, then bring your family along for the ride. Create, investigate, and have fun.
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Summer Family Time By Kristen J. Pulsifer
Most of us in the Flathead Valley start dreaming about warm weather and sun as soon as the mountain closes for the season. This is especially true when spring is just winter with wind. Our family is so busy with sports, school and schedules during the year, that we all really look forward to freedom from commitments and some free time to savor things. Summer is the perfect time to devote to building the foundation of your family. The days are longer and everyone is a little more relaxed. You may even have vacation time and a couple of summer holidays to enjoy one another more. Here is a list of 5 things you can do this summer to build a stronger family which has the great benefit of making secure, happy, successful kids.
Make a Tradition
Family traditions are what we build our memories on. These are the things that kids remember and they don’t even have to be elaborate. This summer have a marshmallow roast every Saturday night or a family baseball game on Sunday afternoons. Our kids know that Tuesday night is always ice cream night. They know that we have a unique, silly birthday song. They can count on the fact that we always go to church at 8:00 and have biscuits and gravy afterward. Traditions are the things that make little kids feel secure but I think they are even more important for teens. They offer a sense of belonging to the family unit and being valuable and that, in turn, makes kids less likely to do drugs or fall to peer pressure. Traditions tell kids what your family values and become part of their identity. Building family traditions is one of the most important things you can do to build a strong family and successful children.
Have a Staycation
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One summer we lived in the bay area and gas prices were $5 a gallon. There was no way we could afford to take a big family trip that summer, but we still wanted to have a vacation. We had a staycation in the city, and it is still one of the most memorable summers we have ever had. There is so much to do around Glacier, but a lot of times we don’t do the tourist stuff because we live here. Have you been horseback riding at the Bar W or on a raft trip down the North Fork? How about staying at the Lodge one night and enjoying the pool for the afternoon and evening. You can take daytrips to
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some of the sites around the state. We have the Lewis and Clark caverns, the Smokejumper museum, the Capital, the Museum of the Rockies and two national parks. Take a week off and spend a vacation around here, enjoying the things that people come from all over the world to see and do.
Get Outside
After the long, dark winter everyone needs some Vitamin D. Get yourself and your family outside. Take up hiking together and get in shape. Glacier is full of great hikes from the easy Logan Pass Trail and the Trail of Cedars that even little ones can do to the strenuous Huckleberry Lookout or Grinnell Glacier hikes that can be a great challenge to do with your teens. How about learning survival skills together and then making a camping trip out of it? Fishing, camping, swimming, rafting or geocaching - it doesn’t matter what you do, just get out there with the kids and be active.
Read Aloud
“The single most important activity for building knowledge for their eventual success in reading is reading aloud to children,” stressed Becoming a Nation of Readers, a 1985 report by the Commission on Reading. Reading aloud to your kids, not only helps them build the knowledge they need to become lifelong readers, but also becomes a family tradition. I was given a love of reading by my 5th grade teacher who read aloud to us every day and opened the door to another world. All kids love to be read to and summer is a great time to do it.
Longer evenings make bedtimes more relaxing and mornings with no schedules are perfect for sharing a book. If you have older kids, take the Lord of the Rings outside and read by the lake. Everyone loves to hear a good story. Also use summer to foster a love of books in your kids. Go to the library every week and build reading time into each day. Kids who are good readers do better on standardized tests like the SAT and are better students in all subjects.
Unplug
Unplug your kids and yourself from media this summer. It is hard to do any thinking at all when you are constantly bombarded with other people’s ideas and input. We are interrupted all day long with people needing to tell us something. They don’t want to have a conversation either they just want to say something in 140 characters or less. All of that input is taking up valuable brain space and time. Researcher and doctor Arnold Ludwig, studied 1006 eminent luminaries of the past and found that the “capacity for solitude and aloneness was one of nine major predictors of creative achievement.” Imagine what you could do if you had a little solitude.
Take this summer and do these things that will benefit you and your family. By September you will have made some great memories, gotten in shape, read a lot of good books and had time to do some deep thinking without interruption and isn’t that what summer is all about?
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Music
Festival Amadeus promises a musical feast this summer By Marti Ebbert Kurth Photos by Philip Pirolo
that she wanted to play the violin, and at the ripe old age of 10 made her solo debut with the Seattle Symphony. She will be featured in two Festival concerts performing solo and in duet with pianist Andrew Staupe in the "Emerging Virtuosi" chamber night on Wednesday, August 7. Both artists will then play as soloists with the Festival Amadeus Orchestra on Saturday, Aug. 10. Simone spoke about her whirlwind music career in a recent phone interview from Los Angeles where she is a senior at the Academy of The Colburn School, a private music school that offers high school through college courses for musical prodigy students. She came to Colburn to study with the renowned violin teacher, Robert Lipsett, upon the recommendation of her respected mentor Margaret Pressley, with whom she had been studyThis year, as in past Festivals, Glacier Symphony ing since age five. Ms. Pressley had recognized and Chorale's Music Director, John Zoltek, has that Simone's skill had expanded beyond what she invited a young,musically gifted, up-and-coming could teach her. artist to the lineup. During her seven years of study with Pressley in Seattle, Simone's star began to rise. In 2007 at Simone Porter is a 16-year-old violinist from Seage 11 she appeared on From the Top, a nationattle, Wash., who says she knew at the age of two
The Festival Amadeus music event on August 4-10 in Whitefish is shaping up to once again be a highlight of summer, offering a delightful banquet of classical music ranging from the Baroque of Bach to a rare and quirky concerto by Mozart. Eight distinguished guest artists will perform during the week of music-making including the internationally acclaimed Fry Street Quartet, comprised of Robert Waters, violin, Rebecca McFaul, violin, Bradley Ottesen, viola and Ann Francis Bayless, cello. Brant Bayless, viola, Catalin Rotaru, double bass, and Andrew Staupe, piano will join them in chamber ensemble and orchestra performances.
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ally syndicated NPR radio program featuring America's best young classical musicians, hosted by acclaimed pianist Christopher O'Riley. Three months later she made her Carnegie Hall debut on the Emmy Award winning TV show From the Top: Live from Carnegie Hall. In June 2009, she was featured on a British Broadcasting BBC documentary, The World's Greatest Musical Prodigies, which aired in the United Kingdom. Later she was featured on Seattle's Kiro 7 TV Quarterly Magazine, In Color and in August 2011 she was selected as the only Aspen Music Festival and School student to be featured on the popular national APM radio program Performance Today recorded live at Aspen's Harris Hall. More recently, in April 2013 she achieved one of her life dreams by performing solo with the New York Philharmonic. Simone says she doesn't really know why the violin appealed to her at such a young age, but she remembers begging her parents to let her learn the instrument. "I do not come from a musical family. My parents, both professors of International Studies at the University of Washington, were not exposed
"Learning to play an instrument can be beneficial because the more you give to your instrument the more it gives back. It is absolutely a perfectly balanced relationship."
much to classical music growing up. When I was very young, they had only a few classical music CDs, including one titled Puccini for Saturdays. They noticed that I showed great interest in this particular CD - I played it over and over again, and even quoted my favorite arias!
my studies with Robert Lipsett. I'm so very grateful to them," she says. And she has high praise for her teacher who worked to dispel Simone's "jerky" technique. "I would fly down to L.A. and I would play just one note and scales, only scales, for hours a day. It definitely was hard. But I knew, this is going to help me so much in the future with everything I want to do," she says. "When I look back at where he has taken me as a violinist and a person in these five years it has been unbelievable. The integrity of his commitment to his teaching is just breathtaking." She will continue working with Lipsett at the Colburn Conservatory to complete her college courses.
"One day, after I had heard Tosca wail 'Mario, Mario!' for the umpteenth time, I strode into the kitchen, held out my sippy cup, and sang, 'Mamio, Mamio, I want more milk!' After this incident, my parents took note of my musical interests, and began to expose me to operas, ballets, and symphony concerts," she reSimone says her favorite music calls. is still opera, with Madame But Finally when she was three and a half terfly leading the list, but she they relented and enrolled her in a Su- also enjoys Mozart. "Every time zuki music program and she's never I come back to Mozart, the conwanted to play another instrument certos or the sonatas I get hapsince. py." For Festival Amadeus she "I still don't know to this day what will play Mozart's Violin Sonata it was that drew me to it, but I can't in Bb Major with the orchestra. imagine playing a different instrument "It has so much depth. I am reor having a different career. The violin ally looking forward to it."
is truly my personal voice. I don't know if I picked it because it was my voice, Simone's list of previous concert recitor if it has caused me to develop my als and performances is gigantic - and voice," she ponders. remarkable for one so young. They range from a 2010 performance with Her mother, Deborah, says that there the London Royal Philharmonic, to was no pressure on Simone to con- gigs with orchestras in Hong Kong tinue with the instrument. "We know and Singapore, even a performance of some kids who were pushed by their before the Dalai Lama at a sympoparents at age two or earlier. Not Sim- sium in Seattle, Wash. This summer one - it was she who was pushing. It's her busy schedule will include perforso foreign to me; I would never have mances with the Nashville Symphony, dreamed of this. My whole family is the Utah Symphony, a chamber music filled with lawyers!" Deborah said in an recital in Miami, plus several weeks interview with online columnist Janet studying and performing at the Aspen Pelz. Music Festival, and of course Festival Amadeus in Montana. "It's going to Simone attributes much of her suc- be a whirlwind of new opportunities cess as a musician to the support of her this summer," she says with youthful parents. "For the past 13 years that I've exuberance. been playing the violin I can't imagine more supportive parents. For three Ms. Porter plays a 1742 Camillus Camilli years my mom flew with me every violin that is generously loaned her by The week from Seattle to Los Angeles for Mandell Collection of Southern California.
What does Simone think about how classical music fits into our culture today? "The reason that a lot of teenagers don't listen to classical music is because they have a misconception that it's hard to reach. They think it's highbrow and untouchable. But the music isn't that at all. It can be a multitude of emotions - passionate, romantic, angry, scary, and funny. A lot of people don't recognize that about (classical) music because they haven't had the correct exposure which is why I think music education is so important." She is passionate about using her musical gifts to help young people. "Music can dissolve boundaries and eradicate divisions and establish connections in a world which can be rather divisive. One of my ultimate dreams is to use music as a form of rehabilitation for young people who have suffered a traumatizing event. Learning to play an instrument can be beneficial because the more you give to your instrument the more it gives back. It is absolutely a perfectly balanced relationship." Does she like other music beside classical? "I like the band Radiohead, which a lot of my musician friends seem to be drawn to. Also the Arctic Monkeys and the classic rocker band Queen."  67
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Festival Amadeus will open with a free concert in Whitefish Depot Park on Sunday, August 4 with gates opening at 6 p.m. for the 7:30 p.m. concert. During the week all concerts will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the Whitefish Performing Arts Center. There will be several opportunities for the public to get acquainted with the musicians during the week via North Valley Music School's annual Camp Festival Amadeus youth strings camp, where several guest musicians will hold master classes with the students. The public is invited to observe a piano master class and selected ensemble rehearsals plus a recital by students at week's end. A schedule of the free public events will be available online at www.gscmusic.org. and tickets can also be purchased on the website. Call 406-257-3241 for a Festival brochure.
Festival Amadeus Music Schedule
Chamber Night 3
"Emerging Virtuosi" Wednesday August 7 Simone Porter, violin and Andrew Staupe, piano
Two young emerging virtuosos are featured in an evening of solo chamber music ranging from Scarlatti to Bloch including Mozart's Violin Sonata in Bb Major and violin showpieces by Ernst Block and Pablo Sarasate.
Orchestra Night 1
"Festival of Concertos" Thursday August 8 Festival Amadeus Strings Fry Street Quartet
The Fry Street Quartet will appear in turn as soloists in Baroque concerti by J.S. Bach, Telemann and Vivaldi accompanied by the Festival Amadeus Strings in Mozart's tuneful and quirky Serenata Notterna.
Orchestra Night 2
"Mozart, Botessini and Bizet" "Open Air Concert" Sunday, Au- Friday, August 9 gust 4, 6 p.m.Whitefish Depot Festival Amadeus Orchestra Catalin Rotaru, double bass Park. Concert at 7:30 p.m. The Festival Amadeus Orchestra, John Zoltek, conductor. Admission free, bring a lawn chair or blanket and a picnic. Vendors on site offering food, wine and beer.
Chamber Night 1
"Sonorous Voyage" Monday, August 5 Brant Bayless, viola, Catalin Rotaru, double bass and April Lane, piano.
Two Paris-inspired symphonies: Mozart's, No. 31 in D, and Bizet, No. 1 in C Major. Master doublebassist Catalin Rotaru is featured in the haunting Concerto for Double Bass in B minor Italian composer Botessini.
Orchestra Night 3
"Mozart and Beethoven Grand Finale" Saturday, August 10 Festival Amadeus Orchestra A collection of sonorous works Simone Porter violin, Andrew by JS Bach, Telemann, Schumann, Staupe piano Stravinsky, Faure, Chopin and Two dynamic solo concertos others. from the Viennese Classical repertoire. Young violinist Simone hamber ight "Quartet Quintet Rhapsody" Porter will play Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 3 in G Major and Tuesday, August 6 pianist Andrew Staupe will inFry Street Quartet in full recital fea- terpret Beethoven's Piano Conturing string quartets by Franz Jo- certo No. 1 in C Major plus Rossef Hayden and Mozart's elegantly sini's humorous Italian in Algiers Overture! musical Quintet in C Major.
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Top photo of Andrew Staupe. Bottom photo of the Fry Street Quartet photo by Donna Barry.
Celebrating 40 Years in 2014
1895 home of Kalispell’s founding family, Charles and Alicia Conrad, filled with original furnishings, books toys, clothing and effects. Guided Tours • Tuesday-Sunday • 10am, Tours on the Hour (last at 4pm)
2013 Special Events ALL Benefitting the Mansion NEW - Nooks and Crannies Tour - June 27, July 25 & August 22 Old Fashioned Ice Cream Social - July 4th C.M. Conrad Buffalo Bash & Sideshow - September 12 Ghost Tours - October 4 & 5 30th Annual Christmas at the Mansion - October 25, 26 & 27
406-755-2166 • www.conradmansion.com
Unique Gift Shop & Beautiful Gardens Open to All! Located on Woodland Ave. between 3rd & 4th Streets East in Kalispell Like us on Facebook ~ facebook.com/ConradMansion
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music
I’m Hip -- Please Don’t Tell My Father John Pizzarelli Quartet-September 7th at The Whitefish Performing Arts Center and September 8th at Bigfork Center for the Performing Arts. By Miriam Singer Photo by Andrew Lepley
John Pizzarelli is a great storyteller, and that’s a tremendous asset for an entertainer. But he’s also a terrific jazz guitarist fond of playful and frisky musical conversations as well. Add to that, he sings, respectfully interpreting the Great American Songbook with easygoing crooning and occasional wisecracking humor.
John Pizzarelli is the son of journeyman swing guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli. He still occasioinally performs with his famous father Bucky, who is now late into his 80’s. John’s first release was entitled, I’m Hip -- Please Don’t Tell My Father (1983). John Pizzarelli has recorded over twenty albums since 1990, and he’s appeared on more than forty albums of other recording artists including Sir Paul McCartney, James Taylor and Rosemary Clooney. The John Pizzarelli Trio opened several dates on Frank Sinatra’s 1993 tour, and he was part of the legendary vocalist’s 80th birthday celebration at Carnegie Hall.
“madly creative” -- Los Angeles Times
“the genial genius of the guitar” -- The Toronto Star.
“a rare entertainer of the old school.” -- Seattle Times
Pizzarelli received the 2009 Ella Fitzgerald Award from the Montreal International Jazz Festival, joining a select group of past winners including Aretha Franklin, Tony Bennett, Harry Connick, Jr. and Diane Schuur.
In November, Judy Carmichael will return and perform two shows, Saturday, November 9th at Bigfork Center for the Performing Arts and Sunday, November 10th onstage in the dining room at Whitefish Lake Restaurant. Judy is a warm and engaging natural performer. Count Basie nicknamed Judy Carmichael Stride. George Shearing called her Miss Strideville. That’s because, when it comes to stride pianists, Judy is one of the very best. Her passion for jazz is unbridled, she’s got wit and virtuosity to match and she sings too! Besides all that, she’ll be performing with her trio, world famous tenor saxophonist Harry Allen, and guitarist Chuck Flory who was in Benny Goodman’s band for six years.
Don Heckman, reviewing one of Judy’s shows for The International Review of Music wrote: She Pizzarelli performs annual engagements at the Café Car- was as improvisationally inventive with words lyle with his wife Jessica Molaskey and at Birdland with his as she was with her piano. A helluva perforjazz combo. He continues to tour throughout the United mance, on all counts. To learn more about Judy States, Europe, South America and Japan, performing clas- Carmichael or to listen to her radio show please sic pop, jazz and swing and delighting audiences wherever visit JudyCarmichael.com. Tickets for Judy CarJohn’s a lucky guy because work and play for him are michael will also be available at SingerandSimppretty much the same thing. He likes to describe his sound he goes. son.com. as updated old-school. He’s quite the showman who has
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appeared on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” “The Late Show with David Letterman,” “Live With Regis & Kelly,” and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
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Tickets for The John Pizzarelli Quartet will be on sale at SingerandSimpson.com by July 1st. To learn more about John Pizzarelli please visit his website at JohnPizzarelli.com.
Sponsored by Don “K” Subaru and brought to you by Singer & Simpson Productions.
art} DIY
DIY Furniture refresh.... By Patina Inc.
One of my favorite things is finding a really great piece of furniture at a yard sale or some random antique store or flea market that I bumble into in my travels. It's unexpected, most commonly unneeded, but always something charming that steals your heart and shouts out, “Make me look pretty!”So now that summer is in full swing, there is probably a whole page dedicated to yard sales in the paper—and you can actually schedule a whole day of it. So grab a friend, arm yourselves with some good coffee; and hit the streets. Be prepared to fall in love with that perhaps rickety, seen-better-days, character filled iconic furniture piece of your dreams. The finish in this article was done on a vintage five drawer dresser, but could easily translate to a headboard, a chest, a rocker, a coffee table...
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Okay, so now that you have found your treasure; set yourself up in your garage or shop space. Make sure you have good ventilation, put a dropcloth underneath and get some great lighting set up. Sand your piece, with 100-150 grit; evenly and with the grain. You just want to get the “shine” off. Make sure you wear a mask so you don't breathe all that dust. Wipe off your dust, and then wipe with a rag wet with Denatured Alcohol. Note: I worked on a dresser that was a nice shade of cream—so I used that undercoat to 'peek' thru a little. If you like the existing color—use it! If not, go ahead and prime over it now with a basic cream color.
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Sherwin Williams makes a good product called “Adhesion Primer”. Okay, now she is ready for the base coat. I used a color called “Really Teal”in an eggshell finish, stroke on an even coat following the grain. Let this layer dry for at least a couple of hours. Next is the top coat, I used “Ivy League” in a matte finish- a very hot emerald green color. Stroke on an even coat, with the grain. Now, we are going to do something to the paint before it dries—so you might want to do this step in stages. When you see that the paint is almost dry, when there are just streaky patches about the size of a finger that are still wet; take
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a wet rag and wipe lightly and quickly over the wet spot. This will lift that wet paint spot, effectively “cleaning” it off. The affect is a 'peeled' look. Be sure and be confident with this step— remember, the shape will be organic automatically, you don't have to 'make it' anything. You'll want to 'compose' where your 'peeled' spots will be—keep it random, and simple— just a few here and there over the piece. A little on a leg, 3 spots on the top, etc. Practice on a smaller area until you feel good about tackling the bigger surfaces. Let dry thoroughly, at least 4 hrs if not overnight. Now you are ready to sand. Get your mask back on, and use 220 grit sandpaper. Using a strong
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Finally we are getting to the 'patina' step. I used an Old Masters Gel Stain in Provincial. Use a china bristle brush, and apply an even generous coat to a section, and then use a soft cotton rag to wipe off gently. I go section by section, one drawer at a time—then one end and the other, finally the top. Let your wipe-off be a soft touch so you don't take it all off, you are just evening it out. A large sponge brush is a good tool for this too. Allow the gel stain to 'hang up' in the recesses and corners—this adds dimension. Let dry overnight. Last step!! You'll want to protect the piece with a layer of clear coat. First, I use a product called, “Seal Coat” by Zinsser; it is a wax free shellac that is excellent for sealing in all your hard work, and for providing a beautiful surface for your clear coat to go on. Use a foam brush, dip in about 3/4” and then lightly scrape the brush over the edge of the can allowing excess to drip back into can. Spread over surface evenly, watch for drips, this stuff is thin. It is also shiny, don't be freaked out. Allow an hour to dry, then apply a clear coat. I have been using a Sherwin Williams Waterbourne Varnish in satin sheen. Brush on evenly, using sure and firm strokes. You do not have much time to backbrush—so get it on even the first stroke or two, then dip and immediately work where you left off. Be careful for divets or cracks where the material can pool up and may run. Let dry overnight.....and she is done!! Send your results to my Facebook page, would love to see them! You can reach Patina by email: patinamontana@gmail.com You can also follow Patina on facebook or pinterest.
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and even pressure, give the whole piece a once over. You'll want to pay special attention to the “peeled spots”, so soften and even out any ridges or bumpy spots—don't sand them all away, bumps are part of age! Give the edges some extra elbow grease, releasing the paint down to the original color or primer—it will give the piece some dimension. Vacuum or dust off. This is the fun part....I added an image to the front and top using a projector. You can draw something, or use some clip art, or find a cool swirly image online. Mine was on a 5” x 7” card, and I use an art projector. You need a dark place to do this, so you can see the image projected on! Use a piece of chalk, and trace over the pat-
tern. Now, I used a soft grey blue paint—you can use the craft paint “Ceramacoat”, any color you wish! Cream, clay, aqua, pale yellow—just make sure there is a nice contrast. Use an angle brush—I used a 1/2”--and use the 'one stroke' method just to lay the pattern on in color. When it is dry, use the 220 grit sandpaper again, and gently sand off the design lightly to age and distress. Don't worry about losing edges here and there—if you wrap your sandpaper around a sanding sponge, and use an even pressure, you will get a 'natural worn look'. Okay, wipe your piece clean. Note: If you don't have access to a projector, you can free hand a pattern on with chalk, or find a pattern you like and have it enlarged (you can do this at Kalispell Blue-
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print) and then tape white carbon transfer paper to the back, tape onto your piece, and trace over the pattern—it will transfer on! Now I added a light bronze wash to age it further. I used a Ralph Lauren Regent Metallic paint in the color “Banded Agate”. Wet a cotton rag, dip into the paint that is in a paint tray, and evenly wipe across the surface. I like to go from the edge toward the center of each area. Turn the rag, and wipe-evening out the stroke pattern. You can use another lightly damp rag to 'feather' with. If you need to, use a brush to apply and then the damp rag to wipe out. You are just looking for a sheer feathery wash of tone, deeper on the edges. Let this dry for an hour or two.
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art} books
Book Review Sponsored by
The Expats By: Chris Pavone BOOK REVIEWS BY JOAN G. SMITH Chris Pavone was a book editor and ghost writer for decades. This is his first novel, and what a thriller it is!
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Kate Moore and her husband Dexter move to Luxemburg from big time America, because Dexter has been offered an extremely lucrative contract from a private bank. Kate has been the main bread winner for five years of their ten year marriage. For the last five years, after the birth of their two sons, she had been scaling down her career when Dexter became the main provider. After much discussion they decided to give the new plan a chance – go to Luxemburg as headquarters, raise their boys and have the money to ski the Alps and take week ends in Paris. This married couple loves each other and their children, but they both have life-defining secrets. The truth has never been told about Kate’s real career.
Double Cross: The True Story of the D-Day Spies By: Ben Macintyre Ben Macintyre is famous for telling the true stories of one double agent in World War II in Agent Zigzag. However, in Double Cross, just out in 2012, he tells the untold story of the brilliant spies that managed to make D-Day the success it was and therefore change the outcome of World War II. There is quite a list of men and women from many countries that became double and triple agents for a multitude of reasons. I found myself putting this book down to read something else so I could simply rest my brain; but, I returned to it constantly to find out what happened next! These people are charming – big spenders, sophisticated, womanizers and brilliant. They were the best at the trickery and manipulation involved in convincing the Nazis, turning some to their side, and running Operation Fortitude, always against all odds, that the big invasion in June 1944 would be an attack at Calais and Norway, rather than Normandy.
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Many books have been written about the soldiers who fought, the tacticians who planned it, and the generals who got them there. However, the story of the key agents in the Double Cross system has never been told. They were the strangest gallery of military units ever assembled. This gallery included a Polish fighter pilot, a Serbian playboy, a Spaniard specializing in chicken farming and a party-girl from Peru. The French woman with the pet dog is not to be forgotten, and there are too many more to mention. Both German and British spy masters kept things together and rolling, but it was not easy. There is a section of photographs of the main players that I had to keep referring to in order to keep all of these volatile actors straight in my head! Macintyre is a writer at large for The Times of London and has an eye for the absurd, researching the story telling. What a story it is!!
Kate’s secret life in espionage is a huge part of her life and follows her to Europe. She is afraid her past is catching up with her, and Dexter seems to have secrets as well. This is a sophisticated novel, full of deceit and suspense from the past. Their marriage became more and more complicated and people show up in Europe from their former lives that make this thriller intelligent, stylish and not one you want to put down. This is a work of spy fiction that is right up there with the best. John Grisham writes: “Smart, clever suspense, skillfully plotted, and a lot of fun to read.” Chris Pavone did live in Luxemburg, as an expat, with his family when he wrote this novel. He now lives in New York City with his family. The copyright in this book is by Christopher Pavone - 20122013. The publisher is Broadway Paperbacks, a division of Random House, Inc.
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Owls Author: Gail Gibbons Children's book Reviews By Kristen Pulsifer
Gail Gibbons, author and illustrator of over 170 nonfiction books, works hard to educate her readers in fun and interesting ways. She writes for adults and for children. I have found her children’s books to be quite delightful. She has beautiful books on everything from bats, and owls to how houses are built. There are also books on coral reefs, horses and hurricanes. This amazing woman has not missed a beat! My daughters have found her book, Owls, to be one the most interesting Gibbons books. It covers everything about owls from all of the different species and their habitats, to what they eat and how they eat it. The illustrations are fun and interesting for kids, and also quite accurate. My daughters learned all of the parts of the owl through the simple diagrams that Gibbons uses to teach her young readers about the various animals that she writes about. They are also great books to travel with, because you can find books to depict animals, foods or habitats of just about anywhere you may be going. Take her book on Grizzly Bears on a drive through Glacier National Park this summer, or bring her book on coral reefs to the beach over spring break. There are also books on baseball, football and soccer to help and encourage your young ones as they start their new sports this spring. Several books by Gail Gibbons can be found locally, at Book Works, as well as many other book stores throughout the Valley. Also, order any of her books with ease online. Enjoy some spring learning and reading with these fantastic reads. If you are looking to use them as a more formal teaching resource Gibbons has also put together study guides for many of her titles. Have fun! 406
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