Being Better in Siouxland Autumn 2017

Autumn 2017

27

ways to save money

Secondhand finds make

Great DIYs

yes

The that changed everything Tanzania bus tragedy heroes

Kevin Negaard, Manda Volkert, & Jen Milby

Recipes

Pumpkin & Spice The thing you don’t know that’s wrong with you Take this magazine with you. When you’re done, give it away.

Table of

CONTENTS BEING BETTER / Autumn 2017

BETTER HOME

47

15 . Secondhand finds DIY

Get creative with re-imagined finds.

20 . Grant funds for homes

Apply for free money to open doors.

20 . Home seller’s checklist Review your to-do list to sell fast.

21 . White is where it’s at

What’s trending for kitchen renos.

15

23 . Breathe easy at home Improve your indoor air quality.

24 . The fun rolls on

The new era of Volkswagen.

BETTER BODY 25 . Cool gadgets

Life changing tools with Dr. Sneller.

27 . A new & natural solution

A familiar problem has a new treatment.

Mother’s love By Dmitry_Tsvetkov and Skillet by Liliya Kandrashevich/Shutterstock.com

28 . Brain benders

Keep your noggin primed.

10

BETTER NOW 7 . Better inside

How to get your soul check up.

9 . Better stuff

Stuff to make you smile.

10 . Tips n’ Trends

29 . It’s hard to stop

a moving train

How to keep ahead of fall allergies.

31 . The thing you don’t know

that’s wrong with you

12 . Top 5

Getting to the real problem.

Keeping track of your kids.

32 . Walk it off!

13 . My best advice

How to get going when you’re hurt.

Three experts weigh in.

14. Opening doors

Local businesses you should know.

What people are talking about now. www.beingbettermagazine.com / Autumn 2017

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On the cover

41

39 . When everything changes When the right care is life-altering.

40 . Need a new roof?

How to avoid getting scammed.

41 . The “Yes” that changed everything

The heroes of the Tanzania bus crash.

BETTER FOOD

47 . A hearty harvest

Pumpkins are on the menu.

51 BETTER LIFE

36 . Ending the cycle

Photography

MARK KARRER

SALES

To contact us for any reason: Being Better Magazine P.O. Box 5105 Sioux City, IA 51102. 712-301-4341 www.BeingBetterMagazine.com Email@BeingBetterMagazine.com

Defining abuse and making the call.

37. Need a new computer?

Getting one without frustration.

©2017 ­Being Better magazine.

Please ask publisher’s permission before using content for other public purposes.

38 . It’s futile to resist

Puppies and kitties are way too cute.

50 . Sorry, it’s not a fad

Why gluten issues are here to stay.

A familiar sandwich, but what is it?

52 . Food trucks

The love affair is just beginning.

54 . Food focus

SUBSCRIPTIONS/ACCESS FREE PRINT ISSUE Being Better [in Siouxland] is available free to the general public in the Siouxland area. For a list of locations you may find it, go to our website at www.BeingBetterMagazine.com FREE DIGITAL ISSUE You may also view a digital version of the current or past issues online by going to our website.

MAILED ISSUE If you’d like to receive magazines by mail, send $19.99 [check, MC/Visa, or money order] for four issues.

Include your name, address, and phone number to the address above.

Apples are in season.

17

Special Thanks To

Dan & Roxie Nothdurft for use of their beautiful home

Kitchen by pics721 and Fish tacos by cobraphotography/Shutterstock.com

51 . A Midwest favorite

Being Better magazine /Autumn 2017

Copy editors

MIKARA BONHAM BARB MICKELSON

JESSIQUE STEELE jess@beingbettermagazine.com

Finding a reason and a way to save.

4

Editor-in-Chief

JENNIFER WINQUIST jennifer@beingbettermagazine.com

Account Executive

33 . 27 ways to save money

21

Publisher

BEING BETTER MAGAZINE Sioux City, IA

LETTER / From the editor

It’s okay. We’re all a little messed up.

O

ne thing I’ve learned in my 50-something years of life is that nobody has a perfect life. Everyone (yep, even that person you are thinking of that seems flawless) has something going on in their life they wish was better. A lot of times people try to fix the outside stuff in an attempt to better mask the mess that’s on the inside! That’s why we do this magazine. To let people know that they are not alone in their screwed-up-ness.

We’re all in the same boat. Some just hide it better than the rest of us.

We all want to have a better life - for ourselves, for our kids, for our family and friends, and for people we see struggling. This issue, we focus on so many aspects of how we can all move toward being truly better.

We are so blessed to be showcasing the story behind the Tanzania bus accident that claimed so many young lives. As I interviewed the key players in those heroic efforts, I was amazed at how humble and gracious these people are. This tragedy has shown what a great culture Siouxland is! So many people stepped up to help, gave generously of time, services, resources, and money without a second thought. It is a true testament to our community. You won’t want to miss the deep insights and details the STEMM team share in this gripping story.

This issue we’re sharing ideas on how to get kids back to school, keep them safe, and buy the right computer for them. We offer a slew of ideas on how to save money - and who doesn’t need that? - plus ways to be healthier and more fit.

For home ideas we got crafty with some second-hand shops and had a ball looking through all their stuff! So many DIY projects popped up that we will certainly be doing another issue with even more fun ideas. Then, Brown Wegher’s designer gets us into a classy trend for kitchens that I think you’ll love.

There is so much more so I’ll let you get to it. We pray you will find something that can aid you in your journey to being better.

Blessings!

Don’t you just love a good selfie? Too bad I’ve never taken one!

My daughter-in-law has been giving me pointers and her first suggestion was that I actually keep my eyes open.

I think I nailed it!

P.S. We’d love to get some feedback from you.

This is YOUR magazine and we want you to be included and be part of it. That means we want to hear from you. Let us know what you think, what you like, didn’t like, have an idea for, or who or what you think should be included in an upcoming issue.

Shoot me an email anytime ─ Jennifer@BeingBetterMagazine.com or write me at ─ P.O. Box 5105, Sioux City, IA 51102.

Jennifer Winquist, Editor-in-Chief And this is the way to have eternal life - to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth. -Jesus [John 17:3]

www.beingbettermagazine.com / Autumn 2017

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CAMP HIGH HOPES PROVIDES FUN, SAFE, AND ADAPTIVE RECREATIONAL EXPERIENCES FOR CHILDREN, TEENS, AND ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES.

6

Being Better magazine /Autumn 2017

Now

How to better the real you Spring [the one onfever the inside]

BETTER

WITH JENNIFER WINQUIST

“How are you?”

“Fine,” we say, but for many of us that is not really true.

Not totally. Or at all.

Maybe we’re not fine because we spend most of our time focused on the wrong things. What if we could really be fine? Better than fine.

Judah Smith’s book is really for anyone who feels less than comfortable with themselves deep down.

So, pretty much all of us.

It’s an easy read, clear and understandable.

He gets to the serious stuff and then has you seriously laughing. It truly is a book that could make your life better.

Here’s a little exerpt from the book: “We can be the most popular, prosperous, pretty people around, but inside we can still be empty. Until our souls are at peace, until our souls are stable, until our souls are healthy, those external things won’t bring us the satisfaction we long for.

“Our physical bodies get a lot of attention, of course.

We get annual checkups. We go to the dentist. We sign up for hot yoga and CrossFit and Pilates and pretend we like them. Similarly, our bank accounts and vehicles and children and lawns get regular attention. We invest in healthy finances, healthy families, healthy education, and healthy bodies.

We know it’s true.

Everything that matters starts with the inside “us.”

“But we rarely, if ever, focus on our souls. We don’t have routine soul checkups. We don’t go around asking each other, ‘so how’s your soul?’ But maybe we should.”

Give yourself a soul check up and get Judah’s book. www.beingbettermagazine.com / Autumn 2017

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BETTER / Now

I

f you ask teens sitting in juvenile detention facilities what their life goals are what do you think they’d say?

“I wish I had somebody to show me what to do next.”

-Troy, age 13

“I want to go to college and be a graphic designer.”

-Mikayla, age 16

Maybe it’s not what you think...

“I want to have my own place and have a good job.”

-Carlos, age 17

“I want to have a nice family and be a welder.”

-Mason, age 14

One of the ways Siouxland Youth for Christ (YFC) reaches lost 11-19 year old kids who find themselves in trouble is through a partnership with Juvenile Court Services.

Through a juvenile referral program, YFC meets with kids to give voice to their dreams and goals, then leads in the process and plan of how they can reach those goals.

These kids feel empowered when they have control of their destiny and they strive hard to follow through.

To find out more contact Jason Jackson, (712) 255-9599 or go to www.siouxlandyfc.org.

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Being Better magazine / Autumn 2017

Boy in sweatshirt by Dobo Kristian/Shutterstock.com

A key component to long-term success is partnering kids with adults in authentic Christ-sharing relationships, meeting together regularly. THE KIDS NEED YOU.

BETTER / Now

BETTER Stuff

Wet stuff

Everyone tells us we should be drinking more water. “But it’s so boring!” we cry. What if we made it un-boring and even more healthy? Slice some cucumbers - get some at the Farmer’s Market and toss them in. It adds a refreshing flavor and just looks inviting. Eat the cucumbers after you down the glass. Feel the healthy.

Funny stuff True story: “We were tearing down an old threeseater outhouse when my neighbor asked if she could have the single-plank, three-hole outhouse seat. I said sure. Six-months later, she invited me to her home. There she showed off her newly designed family room, complete with a single-plank, three-hole picture frame featuring her three grandchildren.”

Safety stuff The Sioux City and South Sioux City Police Departments have established “Safe Exchange Zones.” When you buy stuff online and are meeting up to swap money for stuff, you can feel comfortable with video surveillance cameras in a well-lit area.

Sioux City’s is downtown in the Wilbur Aalfs Public Library parking lot and South Sioux’s is in the police department parking lot at 701 West 29th.

[Good] Scented stuff

If you have cats but don’t want people to know it by smell when they walk in then you need a better litter. Try Tidy Cats® with Glade®. The LightWeight version is better yet. This stuff actually puts off a wonderful aroma when you scoop it! It’s a good day when you can get excited about cleaning the litter box!

Peaches by Tim UR/Shutterstock.com; Cucumber water by etorres/Shutterstock.com

Quotable stuff “Education is not the filling of a pail but rather the lighting of a fire.” ─ William Butler Yeats “Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak.

Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.” ─ Sir Winston Churchill “Failure is the opportunity to begin again more intelligently.” ─ Henry Ford

Fuzzy stuff

If you are reading this in August - and you love peaches - you are lucky!

Siouxland Youth for Christ is selling lugs of Colorado peaches for $35 to raise funds for their programs.

You can pick up your peaches in LeMars, Hawarden, or Sioux City. Call 712-255-9599 to order or find out more. Peaches will likely be gone by the end of August so call soon! www.siouxlandyfc.org.

Best-selling stuff While lots of groups put out their bestsellers list for books each week (like The New York Times), they leave at least one off because year after year it continues to be a best seller. The Bible blows away the competition especially when looking at best-selling books of all time. According to The Guinness World Records Book, they estimate Bible sales to easily be over 5 billion. Many lists put Don Quixote first at 500 million copies sold and A Tale of Two Cities at 200 million. www.beingbettermagazine.com / Autumn 2017

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BETTER / Now

Tips & Trends Guiltless(ish) snacking

We’re all about minimizing these days but we like to feel like we have “our” spot. Whether you’re working, paying bills, doing studies, or reading a book, a little space is all you need.

Floating shelves create vertical storage. Grab a table and a chair that suits your needs and you’re good to go.

Let’s admit it, we all still love regular ol’ french fries doused in a snowstorm of salt. Sigh. Since these will kill us eventually we need something else. Enter sweet potato fries. These are actually an interesting distraction from regular fries and you can find them at several Siouxland restaurants now. Prepared correctly they can be a good for you snack ─ even if you eat them often.

Make ‘em at home in a flash

Peel a sweet potato. Grab your Ginsu knife and chop it into fry-like pieces. Put pieces in a zip-top bag and drizzle with some olive oil, sprinkle with your favorite spices like garlic, Italian herbs, or chili powder. Shake the bag until well coated. Pour fries in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake at 425° for about 20 minutes or until tender inside and crispy outside.

Sweet potatoes are nutrition power houses! They’re an excellent source of vitamin A, a good source of vitamin C, B6, potassium, fiber, niacin, and so much more!

Fat’s big comeback Not too long ago we all shunned fat like a root canal or changing the litter box. Lately, fat’s been making a comeback. We figured out that fat can be our friend. Some fat.

What’s a “good” fat?

Monounsaturated fats are flavorful oils from plants. As a rule of thumb, these fats are typically liquid at room temperature. (Saturated and trans fats should be avoided ─ they are typically solid at room temp. Think bacon fat and butter.) For some heart-healthy fats, try nuts, avocado, olive or canola oil, salmon, and peanut butter.

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Being Better magazine / Autumn 2017

Home office by Milan Ilic Photographer/Shutterstock.com ; Sweet Potato fries by DronG/Shutterstock.com ; Cut sweet potato by Hans Geel/Shutterstock.com ; Healthy fats by JulijaDmitrijeva/Shutterstock.com

Take your book to your nook

BETTER / Now

Stop the fall out

There can be a number of reasons your hair can fall out. It could be because of diet, health problems, heredity, or stress. What if it’s something super easy to fix? Sarah Gentrup tells us about a product she uses to stop the fall out.

Mother’s love By Dmitry_Tsvetkov /Shutterstock.com; Middle aged man by Asier Romero/Shutterstock.com; Pumpkin girls by Asier Romero/Shutterstock.com; Apple girl by gorillaimages /Shutterstock.com

Make a day of it

WITH SARAH GENTRUP, COUNTRY CUTS

ever have a full head of hair again.’ Men seem to be a little harder to convice they should try it, but when one of my male clients did he too stopped the fall out and new hair came in.”

Is it worth it?

One of Sarah’s clients, Lori Huffman told us, “I started using Monat a year and a half ago after post-pregnancy hair loss and a severe reaction to Minoxidil that caused a lot of my hair to just fall out! I took a chance and started using Monat and my hair feels like it did when I was 20!! I used the Intense Repair Treatment shampoo, conditioner, and spray and have not touched another hair care line since I started! My confidence

What are you putting on your head?

“I have clients who are so health conscious and watch everything they eat, but then they don’t even pay attention to what they put on their head everyday.

Shampoos, conditioners, and styling products can be laden with all kinds of chemicals and scalp-stressing ingredients. It’s kind of not surprising your hair falls out. Let’s clean it up.”

Anti-aging hair care

“When I started using and then selling Monat hair products I couldn’t believe how much my hair changed. It was like I had two heads of hair! The one I had and then all the new growth. I wasn’t the only one. I have an 80-year-old client ─ I saw lots of new growth coming back.

She said, ‘I didn’t think I’d Country Cuts Hubbard, NE 712-490-5573 mymonat.com/sgentrup

WITH SMALLS FRUIT FARM

Fall is a great time to get outdoors and get some fresh air... and some fresh food. To get both, grab the kids or a friend and take a day trip to Mondamin, IA, to Small’s Fruit Farm.

It’s just an hour from Sioux City.

Smalls has all kinds of produce but they are probably best know for their apples ─ 25 varieties.

Pick your own

You can pick your own apples starting Labor Day weekend and in October

is so much better and I have really enjoyed helping other men and women who suffer from hair loss!”

Why it’s great

Sarah says, “All the Monat products are naturally based and give you shine, volume, and are made in the USA. It basically detoxes your scalp so your hair can grow and be in great condition. Pretty much everyone falls in love with it.”

There are several Monat products for every hair type. Check in with Sarah for which will suit you and how to get free shipping.

you can pick your own pumpkin. On October 8th is their annual Fall Fest with lots of fun activities.

Smalls is a fifth generation orchard and they’d love to have you stop by for a sample of cider, enjoy a piece of pie and ice cream in the pie parlor, or maybe just a walk around and look at the beauty of nature. They want to make you feel at home and they look forward to seeing you!

Smalls Fruit Farm 1844 194TH St., Mondamin, IA 712-646-2723 . smallsfruitfarm.com Open 7 days a week 9-5.

www.beingbettermagazine.com / Autumn 2017

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Top 5

BETTER / Now

1 3

2

ways to keep

Eoncore.

Eoncore is a GPS/GSM/Wi-Fi tracker watch with lots of features: An SOS emergency alarm, ability to set up a Safe Zone, real-time location positioning, monitoring, and tracking features, plus it has fitness tracking details too. One cool extra is it alerts the parent when the watch is removed. $36.99

AngelSense.

This set up is perfect for special needs kids (or adults). See all your child’s locations, routes, and even transit speed. Get GPS updates every 10 seconds with Runner Mode.

Follow your child’s route home on a real-time map. Talk to your child with AngelCall 2-way voice.

One feature we know will give peace of mind when your child is away is the ability to listen in.

Hear what’s happening on the bus, in class ─ anywhere! $99 for kit plus monthly subscription fee.

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Being Better magazine / Autumn 2017

4

tabs on your wee ones DokiWatch.

Perfect for kids 6-12 years. It’s a phone and locater. It has both voice and video calling, messaging, and location-tracking capabilities. You can receive alert notifications when your child enters or leaves a preset location. It also has an SOS feature to immediately notify preset contacts. $199.

AmbyGear.

AmbyGear was designed to survive the most demanding environment: a child’s wrist. They can swim in the ocean or play in the sand box and AmbyGear will not get damaged. Satellite and land-based GPS location services boost speed and accuracy over others. Establish designated safe areas where your child’s location will be monitored. You’ll receive notification if he/she enters or leaves the designated area. Text them and they can respond with preset messaging so typing isn’t needed. Starting at $109 + subscription.

5

Tile Mate.

Tile Mate isn’t actually designed to be a child tracker but for some situations it might make sense.

Just attach the 1" square tile to your kid’s backpack, jacket, or drop it in their pocket and they become trackable. The linked app on your phone can show you their location if they’re within range. Out of range you can put out an alert and when another Tile user is in range you’ll be notified. Starts at $24.95.

My best advice right now

BETTER / Now

experts in their field weigh in

ERIK NIEUWENHUIS, MS, PT, CAFS OWNER 3D LIFESTYLE ATHLETE™, LLC & PT at UNITY POINT HEALTH

MY BEST ADVICE:

“Walk with your head up, device down, stretch daily!”

“As a physical therapist, I specialize in WorkSmart ergonomics, posture habits, and dynamic stretching. Living with diabetes (T1D) since high school, and currently wearing an insulin pump, I see how daily choices are essential for resiliency and reaching goals. Life will certainly knock you down at times. I pray that you have the resilience with God as your strength to get back up, but set yourself up for success to start.”

Avoid the pain “Walking with your head down all the time, using your device, can lead to headaches, back problems, rotator cuff injuries, and even numbness and tingling in fingers and hands. Reverse these risk factors. Hold your head up and stretch a few times each day - reach for the sky, tuck your chin, and stretch your neck.

You’ll feel energized and reduce stiffness and pain in seconds.”

Don’t get distracted “Besides what you’re doing to your body, ‘distracted walking’ is a leading risk factor for serious injuries from falls and is the new leading cause of death for teenagers.”

www.3dlifestyleathlete.com. You can follow Erik on Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

Contact him at 712-574-5604 or via email at 3dlifestyleathlete@gmail.com.

DEB SYPERSMA

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR HER HEALTH WOMEN’S CENTER

MY BEST ADVICE:

DR. GILLETTE, MD, SM DEAN & ASSOCIATES

MY BEST ADVICE:

“Unplanned pregnancy?

Take a breath.”

“Prepare to get up”

“An unintended pregnancy is not the end of the world. Take your time and think through your situation before making any decisions. Your emotions may be all over the place.

You may feel isolated or anxious because your life feels out of control.

Educate yourself.

There is so much online information; don’t let yourself “fly blind” if you’ve never learned about parenting, fetal development, abortion, and adoption.

Discuss.

Respectfully talk with your partner how becoming a parent will affect your relationship. Seek input from your family and friends. Remember that the decision is ultimately yours.

Seek help.

At Her Health Women’s Center, we strive to transform your fear (and your partner’s) into confidence, by empowering you to make healthy, informed, and livable choices. Our purpose is to meet you with care and compassion, provide a nonjudgmental listening ear, and educate you about your options.

“We go through a number of steps to get kids ready for school in the fall ─ new clothes, school supplies and sports physicals are all on the list. But how often do kids return bleary-eyed from getting up so much earlier?

“Over the summer, the schedule is more relaxed for many of us and kids grow used to staying up later and sleeping in later. This can make a hard transition back to the school year and start kids out on the wrong foot if they don’t transition back to a school sleepwake schedule.”

Use the path of least resistance “The strongest biologic signal that sets this cycle is the time of waking up and especially exposure to sunlight.

Instead of arguing about earlier bedtimes, kids can be eased back into the school schedule by getting up and getting some sunlight at the earlier time they will need to get up for school.

Plan now “Children adjust to this sort of shift more easily than adults and a week or two is sufficient for them to be back to waking up in time for school and ready to go for the day.”

Her Health Women’s Center 5732 Sunnybrook Dr., Sioux City, IA 712-224-2000 (Answered 8am - 8pm) www.herhealthwomenscenter.org

Dr. Gillette is Board Certified in ChildAdolescent Psychiatry, General Psychiatry, and Healthcare Management.

www.beingbettermagazine.com / Autumn 2017

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BETTER / Now

Opening doors Take a peak at who’s open for business in Siouxland. Many are brand new, but others have been around the block for awhile. Take a look to see what you might be missing.

1.

1. Big Frig Cups and Coolers. Big Frig produces premium vacuuminsulated, stainless steel tumblers and rotomolded coolers. Get maximum performance and more features at a lower price. Ask about our in-house laser marking and wholesale pricing for your business or organization!

552 River Dr, North Sioux City, SD 605-540-0911 . bigfrig.com facebook.com/bigfrig

2.

2. Suing Studios. We truly treasure and believe in the value of captured moments. Specializing in premium senior and wedding photography in and around Sioux City we stay on top of trends and incorporate new knowledge into our classic, timeless style. Let us make your special days memorable.

Photo of Sarah, local high school senior www.suingstudios.com. 712-253-8016

3. Prairie Rose Equestrian Center.

Come ride with us! Prairie Rose Equestrian Center offers a positive, healthy environment for both horse and rider. Located just 1 mile north of Sioux City, we offer riding lessons and boarding options for horse owners.

32788 K22. Sioux City, IA 712-253-7825. www.PrairieRoseEC.com.

Visit us on Facebook.com/PrairieRoseEC

3.

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Being Better magazine / Autumn 2017

4. Scooters. Our goal is to provide our customers with an amazing experience every day. We strive to positively impact every community, one sip and one smile at a time.Three

locations in Sioux City: 1390 Hamilton Blvd, 3136 Floyd Blvd, & 675 Gordon Dr Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, & Instagram.

5. Food Dudes Delivery. Partnering up with restaurants, we now can deliver food to your office, home, or hotel in three simple steps. Enter your address, select restaurant, place your order, and Food Dudes will be there soon! www.FoodDudesDelivery.com Email: mcramer@fooddudesdelivery.com

6. Get Funky Gifts. We have things that you can’t find anywhere else!

Prices-Reasonable, Wine-Always, Jewelry-Unique, Greeting CardsThe Best, Wedding/Baby/Outdoor/ Gourmet Food-From Baby to Grandpa. We have it!

4273 Sergeant Rd, Sioux City, IA www.getfunkygifts.com. 712-224-3760

7. 1000 Degrees Neopolitan Pizzaria.

Build your own Neopolitan pizza or choose from one of our classics. Bread sticks, BYO salads, and appetizers too.

1388 Hamilton Blvd, Sioux City, IA 712-203-1661. www.1000degreespizza.com.

Visit us on Instagram.

8. The Academy of Fine Music.

Piano, voice, acoustic, bass and electric guitar, ukulele, violin, and double bass lessons. We also offer writing and tutoring classes and more.

1244 River Dr, North Sioux City, SD. 605-242-5053. www.academyoffinemusic.com.

Email: academyoffinemusic@gmail.com

9. Baja Signs. We can design a phenomenal sign for your business to get your message across to your potential customers.

505 Wesley Pkwy, Sioux City, IA 712-202-4613. bajasigns@live.com signsbybaja@gmail.com

10. Bespoke Salon. A full service hair salon committed to creating an unparalleled experience for every client.

Every detail of our service is uniquely tailored and meticulously crafted.

422 5th St, Sioux City, IA . 712-253-1835. www.bespoke-salon.com

Home

BETTER Secondhand shops, thrift stores, and consignment hubs are a treasure trove of ideas just waiting to come to life.

Secondhand finds make

Great diy’s

W

e visited several locations around Siouxland and found lots of inspiration for great do-it-yourself projects. We also discovered some already completed diy projects if you just want the cool without the work. Here are some ideas to get your creative thoughts flowing...

Warm and cozy pillows. One of the great things about these pillows is that they can be made in just a few minutes and require no sewing. The second great thing was that they only cost a couple of bucks each. www.beingbettermagazine.com / Autumn 2017

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BETTER / Home Secondhand finds make

Great diy’s

To create our warm and cozy pillows on the previous page, we headed to The Junior League Discovery Shop on W. 7th. (People sometimes think that you have to be member or something to go in to shop, but that isn’t true - anybody can shop there...and should!) We found some great sweaters and puffy, but dated pillows. In about five minutes we had updated pillows perfect for fall and cool-weather decorating.

Put a pillow inside a sweater and find the position you like based on the sweater’s pattern. Cut the sweater so that the top and bottom edges can easily touch on each side. Remove the pillow and hot glue three edges together. If edges are raw (and may unravel), turn inside out and glue with right sides together. With right sides out insert the pillow and glue the last side.

A new purpose in life

In its former life, this drawer (top) held printing press stamps. We added a coat of paint, trimmed away some dividers, and added a new handle and a piece of tin. You could just as easily use an old frame for an even simpler project.

We found already created button magnets at Secondhand Finds and Furnishings in Singing Hills. In fact, we found many great pieces there like the tins here.

The layout of their store is wonderful and it is so bright and full of every kind of thing. They have cool retro furniture, midcentury mod, vintage items (check out the felt hat on the previous page embellished with old buttons), Scrabble tiles to personalize projects, rusty letters and numbers, and a bazillion other things.

We loved that it doesn’t smell old.

Libbi Thompson, the owner, said they are very diligent about making sure that everything is clean before it’s put out.

Niki and Anita, who help Libbi,

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Being Better magazine / Autumn 2017

BEFORE

AFTER

BETTER / Home say they see a lot of people buying frames, jars, and baskets. Anita said, “All the old stuff thrown out by parents is stuff the kids want now.”

Secondhand Finds has a big selection of items that their vendors bring in daily, and they also have some who make diy’s ready to sell.

If you haven’t stopped by yet, you won’t want to miss the Outdoor Swap Meet that is held on the field next to the store. It’s held the second Saturday in September and will be a do-it-yourselfer’s dream!

Taking center stage

After we found the tins we headed to Habitat for Humanity’s Restore on TriView Avenue to create our centerpiece.

We found a lonely spindle, cut it down, and painted it. A few screws and glue hold it together. One tip: securing it all to a wood base or lazy Susan will make sure it’s sturdy. To attach the

two pieces of spindle together in the middle, drill a hold through the center of the tin. Drill a hole in the bottom of the top spindle piece and one in the top of the bottom spindle.

Insert a 3/8” piece of dowel into the bottom piece and slide the can and top spindle over it.

The Restore is great for finding home building type supplies - new or gently used - at a fraction of the retail price.

All proceeds are used to build homes in our community.

Vintage is back in style

Those old skeleton keys and doilies that grandma used can become display pieces today with so little effort.

We hit up several thrift stores to find a good variety of vintage doilies to create a bright table runner. Just arrange and whip stitch them together.

At Mission of the Messiah (MOM) on Transit Avenue, we found two matching

www.beingbettermagazine.com / Autumn 2017

17

BETTER / Home Secondhand finds make

Great diy’s

AFTER

pictures we didn’t like - but that was okay because we really just wanted to use the frames.

We ditched the pictures from the frames and a coat of gray spray paint later, a sheet of scrapbook paper, and a little hot glue to hold the keys in place, and we had nearly instant artwork.

BEFORE back room we found this old but sturdy chair. It was a mere $15. It had a cracked seat so no one wanted it.

We liked the selection at MOM and we really liked that they use some of the furniture and other items to help needy families get the things they need. They are a non-profit and all of their proceeds go to helping people.

To make it into a shelf, we cut off the legs, sanded it, and gave it a coat of paint. You could leave it upright but we decided to flip it on its head and added some fun knobs to hang stuff on.

Get outside

As your creativity takes over you’ll be thinking about all kinds of clever ways to transform secondhand pieces into things for inside and out.

One of the vendors at Secondhand Finds created this whimsical wind chime (below) using several reclaimed pieces.

Head out to the local secondhand shops to find items to recreate our projects or to find inspiration for your own diy.

Have a seat

In our pursuit of thrifty finds, we ventured into an antique store. In the

Second SATURDAY

OuTdoor Swap Meet ~

9 to 3

September

9th

4400 S York St., Sioux City . 712-233-2345.

Find us on Facebook! Open daily 10-6.

18

Being Better magazine / Autumn 2017

BETTER / Home Got stuff you don’t need?

We are always in need of donations (and volunteers).

We pick up donations twice a week.

What we do with your stuff.

The Mission of the Messiah (MoM) is a nondenominational, non-profit organization in Siouxland that helps families during times of need with furniture and household items.

Who we help.

Families in need who are victims of abuse, experienced a death in the family, suffered a house fire, or homelessness are some who qualify.

How someone qualifies.

With a community referral letter a family can be assisted with services. Letters can come from an agency that is working with the family and knows their immediate need (like a pastor, doctor, teacher, DHS worker, CSADV, WCCAA, etc).

As for me and my house we shall serve the Lord.

-Joshua 24:15

Come shop!

Visit us at our new thrift and outreach center─

MoM’s Thrift Store 2450 Transit Ave Sioux City, IA. (712) 224-2803

Magnifying glass girl by Kaspars Grinvalds/Shutterstock.com; Arm load MarijaPiliponyte / Shutterstock.com

Looking for some great stuff?

The Junior League of Sioux City’s

Discovery Shop

has gently used clothing, shoes, toys, books, housewares, and furniture.

The Discovery Shop is Open to the Public so come and shop our ever-changing selection.

Three Reasons why Shopping & Donating at our Shop is a Great Idea: 1. Your purchase of our quality merchandise at affordable prices (tax-free) benefits the community by providing funds for the JLSC projects.

2. We provide vouchers to agencies who give to clients to purchase workappropriate clothing when getting back into the work force with our Career Corner program.

3. When donating items you no longer use you receive a tax receipt.

Find your Treasures!

Discovery Shop 316 West 7th Street Sioux City, IA 51103 Tel: 712.255.0072

www.beingbettermagazine.com / Autumn 2017

19

BETTER / Home

Grant funds open doors for homeowners

and the costs—start to add up.

The good news is that many first-time homebuyers are eligible for additional grants and programs to help smooth out the home buying experience. Grant funds can be used as a down payment or applied to closing costs. These are two examples of how homebuyers have additional help available to make their dreams come true.

“The most important thing for prospective and current homeowners to remember is that we’re here to answer questions and provide guidance,” said Julie Schmidt, Vice President of Mortgage Lending at Security National Bank. “There are many loan programs, and

WITH SECURITY NATIONAL BANK

B

grants available, designed to make homeownership more accessible.”

From VA loans, which offer competitive rates and no-down payment options for eligible veterans, active duty personnel, and surviving spouses, to first-time homebuyer benefits from the state of Iowa, these programs help Siouxlanders achieve the American Dream. “There are several opportunities to maximize the benefits of homeownership while reducing the financial and emotional investment,” adds Schmidt.

When you are looking to purchase your first home, homeownership grants offer peace of mind.

Security National Bank can help you apply for additional funding as part of their lending services.

Visit Security National Bank’s website at snbonline.com/loans/mortgage to get pre-qualified for a loan or call them at (712) 277-6785 to speak with an experienced member of their lending team.

uying your first home can be an overwhelming process. From translating all the paperwork to deciphering all the financial terms to saving enough money for the down payment and other fees, the stress—

Security National’s mortgage team (L-R): Holly June, Julie Schmidt, and Janelle Noreen

Your quick home seller’s to-do checklist WITH CAROL HALSTEAD, REALTOR®

“

W

Your home selling checklist Declutter. It’s time to have a garage sale or donate some things.

Repair/update. Do those fix-it projects you’ve been putting off. Need to replace that fridge? Wait no longer.

Refresh, clean and clean again.

Clean everything. Neutralize, refresh,

paint and put extra belongings in storage. Clean again!

Curb appeal. Whether you sell in summer or winter you have to get buyers to walk in the door.

Choose your Realtor®. This will be your best chance of selling quickly and making sure all the “I’s” are dotted and “T’s” crossed.

Staging/Showings. Keep the house spiffy, remove pets and yourselves during showings.

Have a “what if” plan. If your house sells quickly, or not, where will you live? How will you keep things show ready? How will you deal with packing?

Carol Halstead (Licensed in IA & SD) is with CENTURY 21 ProLink and has been a Realtor® for 10 Years. Contact her for all your home buying and selling needs at 712-574-4600 or via email at Carol@C21ProLink.com.

20

Being Better magazine / Autumn 2017

Home front by romakoma/Shutterstock.com ; Open door by David Papazian/Shutterstock.com

hen it takes only eight seconds for buyers to decide whether to stay and look around a property or not, you need to be ready.” That’s advice from Realtor® Carol Halstead with CENTURY 21 ProLink. “If you are even thinking about selling your home within the next two years, start preparing now.”

Carol offers a quick rundown to get you thinking about the right things.

BETTER / Home

Doing a kitchen reno?

White is where it’s at WITH HILARY HAWKINS of Brown Wegher Construction

Lighten up!

Kitchen by pics 721/Shutterstock.com

White is the new, well, white. For kitchens people are embracing lighter hues.

So much so that kitchen renovations are going white on white. Designer Hilary Hawkins of Brown Wegher Construction shows us how to lighten up while keeping things cozy.

www.beingbettermagazine.com / Autumn 2017

21

W

BETTER / Home hite is a color that never goes out of style, keeps things fresh, and, surprisingly, radiates a warmth to your space. If white seems boring to you, look at how designers are incorporating it today and you may change your mind.

Local designer, Hilary Hawkins with Brown Wegher Construction, gave us some tips for doing white well.

The right white

“If you’re choosing white cabinets and are afraid of them looking too cold or sterile be careful not to pick a shade of white with cool or blue undertones. Instead, look for warmer tones of white that have more of a creamy cast without looking yellow.

“When choosing shades of white for cabinets and walls, make sure they’re from the same ‘family’ and you’re not choosing a cool white with a warm white – they’ll end up fighting each

Pick warmer tones of white to avoid a harsh light. Mix in other subtle hues to keep things feeling monochromatic yet interesting

other and you won’t have a cohesive look. Choosing a medium white and a lighter white from the same family will work well and provide subtle contrast.”

A white backsplash or counter top grounded with hints of beige or gray will give some contrast and give your eye a break.”

Mix it up

Truly lighten up

“Your white canvas doesn’t need to be, and probably shouldn’t be, solid white. Create interest by incorporating other subtle hues into some elements.

“With everything white, great lights play a big part in the feel of the kitchen. Choose ones that reflect the vibe you want your kitchen to have.

Don’t forget under-cabinet lighting too. Choosing warm bulbs vs. cool light bulbs make a big difference.

“White is truly timeless so don’t be afraid to lighten up. As styles evolve, white is one choice that will easily allow for new elements.”

We’re here for all your home or commercial construction needs. Check out our Learning Center for more great home insight and ideas at BrownWegher.com

22

Being Better magazine / Autumn 2017

Top and bottom kitchen photos by Breadmaker/Shutterstock.com

If all white is too much, incorporate one other color. White kitchens with subtle hints of gray can be very pleasing to the eye and give a crisp, clean feeling.

BETTER / Home

If you have a wood floor in your kitchen don’t stop at ground level.

Wood bar chairs, shelves, and other accents become statement pieces against the white palatte.

Q&A

Breath easy at home

Q. How can I improve our indoor air quality ─ or make sure it’s safe?

Hilary’s Favorite

WHITES BENJAMIN MOORE Bottom kitchen by Artazum/Shutterstock.com; top kitchen by pics721/Shutterstock.com; Dad with daughter by Monkey Business Images /Shutterstock.com

®

Decorator’s White Paper White

White Dove

SHERWIN WILLIAMS

Alabaster

Extra White

®

Snowbound

Pure White

Colors may not be presented exactly. See manufacturer’s swatches for most accurate representation.

A. BY SUTER SERVICES: That’s a great question, especially before we close ourselves in for winter.

1. Check the source. Ensure that gas appliances like stoves, fireplaces, and furnaces are operating properly to minimize the amount of emissions that are released into your home.

2. Know that radon is real. If your radon levels are too high you need to have it mitigated by a professional immediately.

3. Check or improve your ventilation.

Lower pollutants in your home by increasing the amount of outdoor air brought in. Most heating and cooling systems do not bring fresh air in.

Connecting air-to-air exchangers to existing ductwork allows fresh air in when pollutants are too high. These units work well and noticeably affect the quality of the air in your home.

4. Filter the air. There are many different types of air filtration devices at dramatically different prices. Keep in mind that the effectiveness depends on how well it captures pollutants. So an inexpensive unit may work just as well as a whole house system.

If you have questions or would like to have your indoor air quality tested give Suter Services a call at 712-490-9902.

1800 11th Street, Sioux City, IA. 712-252-3007 www.cwsuter.com www.beingbettermagazine.com / Autumn 2017

23

BETTER / Home

Fun rolls on

In the new era of Volkswagen the

WITH JENSEN DEALERSHIPS

VW Jetta starts at $$17,895

29/39 EPA

8.4 sec 0-60

150 HP

20/28 EPA

5.7 sec 0-60

280 HP

VW Golf starts at $25,595

I

Volkswagen produced over a million and a half microbuses from 1957 to 2013.

f you are more than a couple decades old, when you think of a Volkswagen, one of two images probably comes to mind: The iconic “Bug” or the hippie-mobile “Microbus.”

The name Volkswagen (German: Volkswagenwerks) means “The People’s Car Company.” They began by designing a car that would be both speedy and affordable. The VW Beetle was born.

Today, the Beetle has gotten a makeover, however it’s kept true to its unique form. While the microbus may have driven into history, there is some buzz about an updated version coming. In the meantime, newer members to the VW family have popped up over the years, and the

idea of “cars for the people” holds true. There seems to be a style of car for everyone, but somehow the idea of fun and adventure just lives on.

Bob Jensen, with Jensen Dealerships who sells and services Volkswagens says, “VW’s German engineering is terrific. Take the VW Golf for example.

It is just fun to drive and it’s the Top Safety Pick Plus by IIHS. It’s got a hatchback to access nearly 53 cubic feet of space when the rear seats are folded down. It was also picked as a 10 Best Winner by Car and Driver.”

How does he know? Because he’s Jensen.

If you are looking for a new or used vehicle, and aren’t ready to give up on fun take a VW for a test drive and let the fun roll on.

24/34 EPA

220

5.9 sec 0-60

HP

VW Touareg starts at $49,495

17/23 EPA

7.8 sec 0-60

280 HP

VW Beetle starts at $24,725

25/34 EPA

7.6 sec 0-60

170 HP

Jensen Dealerships treat the needs of each individual customer with paramount concern. We feature both new and used cars and offer financing and service on all our vehicles. Come visit us in LeMars or Sioux City on Stadium Drive, or online at jensendealerships.com

24

Being Better magazine / Autumn 2017

VW Microbus by Arcanse/Shutterstock.com; VW Passat by Grisha Bruev/Shutterstock.com; VW Golf by erkanatbas/Shutterstock.com; VW Jetta, Toureg, and Beetle by Teddy Leung/Shutterstock.com;

VW Passat starts at $22,440

Cool gadgets

that can change your life

This is the 21st century so how doctors do things is getting high tech. Dr. Scott Sneller’s team at Multicare Health Clinic has several cutting edge tools to find out quickly and painlessly (yeah!) what is causing us problems.

Digital foot analysis

“Step on it and it produces a 3D image of your foot including how and where you bear your weight. This helps us determine if your arches need some help and if there are problems with your foundation that may be negatively affecting your joints, posture, and stride.”

BETTER The doc is in

Chiropractor Dr. Scott Sneller, a Siouxland native, has been practicing for over 20 years and is Clinic Director of Multicare Health Clinic.

Body

WITH DR. SCOTT SNELLER Multicare Health Clinic

Dr. Sneller continually strives to create the best combination of expertise with genuine results at restoring your health and guiding you in a most personalized approach to overall wellness.

The result: “We see patients get back to having that spring in their step again and being able to stand and walk for hours on end pain free.”

Spinal (MyoVision) scan

“Just as a blood pressure cuff is used to track your cardiovascular health, the MyoVision is used to track spinal health.

Hand-held scanners measure naturally occurring electric activity in skeletal muscles which helps us see if your spine and nervous system are functioning optimally.”

The result: “We’re able to see a clearer picture of what needs to happen to give patients true relief.”

Motion X-Ray

“This machine doesn’t just take a still image x-ray, but also shows joints and bones in motion in real time. This gives us an inside look at stretched ligaments and more views than you’d ordinarily see with standard x-rays.”

The result: “We can view fractures or functional problems that are often missed.”

Multicare Health Clinic offers a well-rounded approach to health issues by compiling insight from their team of medical and chiropractic doctors and physical therapists.

Multicare Health Clinic 3930 Stadium Drive . Sioux City, IA 712-276-4325 www.MulticareClinic.com

25

BETTER / Body

Laughter Laughter is the

best medicine.

Timeless one-liners

Body of Knowledge

A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory.

[Go to the bar

At what age is it appropriate to tell my dog that he’s adopted?

Pump soaps that dispense a foam may be convenient, but studies show that people don’t wash as long. Much of the germ killing happens strictly because of friction. Using a bar of soap takes more time to work up a lather, so it’s more effective.

Want to hear a pizza joke…. nah, it’s too cheesy. What about a construction joke? Oh never mind, I’m still working on that one. Did you hear the one about the rope? Skip it. Have you heard the one about the one legged chicken? Never mind, it’s too lame.

[5 second rule

I used to be in a band. We were called ‘lost dog’. You probably saw our posters.

Yes, scooping up your pizza slice from the floor within five seconds is better than leaving it there longer, but it’s not great. Clemson University, in South Carolina, conducted a study and after just five seconds enough bacteria had latched on to potentially make someone ill. Since your floor may well be the germiest area in your home you may want to just grab another piece.

[Get a dog

We can be too clean. Scientists discovered that kids who grow up in less tidy environments end up with a lower risk of developing sensitivities to benign substances, like pollen and dog dander. Another study, published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, found that Amish children who were raised on farms were less likely to develop allergies and asthma than their peers.

Being Better magazine / Autumn 2017

Go outside - at least in your head A study shows that just 20 minutes outside energizes people. Can’t go out? The same holds true for simply imagining yourself in nature.

I childproofed the house… but they still get in!

In the know

[Almost] worthless facts.

The word “queue” is the only word in the English language that is still pronounced the same way when the last four letters are removed.

Put your heart into it

Studying 10,000 people for 50 years, scientists discovered that people who volunteered because they wanted to help others outlived people who didn’t volunteer... or those who volunteered for selfish reasons.

A cockroach can live several weeks with its head cut off. It only dies because it starves to death.

The average lead pencil will draw a line 35 miles long or write approximately 50,000 English words.

Like fingerprints, everyone’s tongue print is different.

Human babies blink less than adults - only a couple times a minute.

Hamsters blink one eye at a time.

26

Better yourself

The happiness drug

Researchers found that when people spent money on themselves they didn’t report being as happy as when they spent money on others. When the people who gave were given extra money, they were more likely to give it to help others. [Giving was so rewarding they wanted it to continue.]

Soapy hands by Luis Echeverri Urrea/Shutterstock.com; Girl & dog by atikinka/Shutterstock.com; Hamster by stock_shot/Shutterstock.com; Window gazer by racorn/Shutterstock.com; Raking crew by Syda Productions/Shutterstock.com

“I’m sorry” and “I apologize” mean the same thing… except when you’re at a funeral.

You know it’s true.

More people die from injuries sustained taking a selfie than by shark attacks.

new &

A natural solution

BETTER / Body

for a familiar problem WITH SIOUXLAND UROLOGY

BPH affects approximately 50% of men over age 50.

50/50

M Bathroom slippers by cliplab.pro/Shutterstock.com; Bladder graphics by Sedova Elena.pro/Shutterstock.com

What is BPH?

en in Siouxland looking for BPH relief now have a new treatment option: the Rezũm System.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a localized enlargemnt of the prostate gland in aging adult men. It affects approximately 50% of men over the age of 50, and up to 90% of men over 80. More than 12 million men across the U.S. suffer from BPH.

What are the symptoms?

BPH is an excess growth of tissue that compresses and obstructs the urethra, reducing the flow of urine from the bladder and sometimes blocking it entirely. As symptoms increase, they can greatly impact a man’s quality of life. BPH symptoms include waking up multiple times during the night to urinate, frequency, urgency, irregular and weak urinary flow, anxiety, challenges with sexual function, and limitations on daily activities.

What are the treatments?

In the past, BPH treatment required long-term use of drugs, which often

have significant side effects. But now, Siouxland Urology Associates is providing a minimally invasive option that’s transforming the BPH treatment experience.

How does it work?

Rezũm uses the natural energy stored in water vapor, or steam, to treat the extra prostate tissue that is causing the BPH symptoms. The water vapor is delivered into the targeted prostate tissue and when the vapor contacts the tissue it turns back into

Q&A Q. Why do men have a prostate?

A: A prostate is a walnut-sized gland between a man’s bladder and penis, in front of the rectum.

The urethra passes through the center of the prostate, from the bladder to the penis, allowing urine to flow out of the body.

What it does: It secretes fluid that nourishes and protects sperm. During ejaculation, the prostate squeezes this fluid into the urethra, and it’s expelled with sperm as semen.

water, releasing all the stored energy, causing the prostate cells to die.

How quickly does it work?

Over time, the body’s natural healing response removes the dead cells, shrinking the prostate. With the extra tissue removed, the urethra opens, reducing BPH symptoms. Most patients begin to experience symptom relief in as soon as two weeks and maximum benefit will occur within three months.

BPH is a pretty common problem but until now the treatment has been less than great. With this new, more natural approach, real relief is possible.

Bladder

Normal Prostate Urethra

Bladder

Enlarged Prostate

Urethra

Siouxland Urology Associates 455 N Sioux Point Rd., North Sioux City, SD 605-217-7000 . www.siouxlandurology.com

www.beingbettermagazine.com / Autumn 2017

27

BETTER / Body

Brain benders

The Lion and the Elephant

When’s my birthday?

The day before yesterday I was 25 and the next year I will be 28. This is true only one day in a year.

What day is my birthday?

Nuru came across a lion and an elephant on the Savannah and found they could talk. Stranger yet, he found out that the lion lies every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday and the other days he speaks the truth. The elephant lies on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, and the other days of the week he tells the truth.

The lion said, “Yesterday I lied.” The Elephant said, “Me too.”

Which day did they say that?

Really rapid riddles:

1. What are moving left to right right now? holes?

3. Carlos was out walking one day. He met his

father-in-law’s only daughter’s mother-in-law.

What did Carlos call her?

4. I can travel from there to here by disappearing, and here to there by reappearing.

What am I?

Phrase Jumble

Unscramble the words to decipher this common saying about a fall food.

NA PAELP A YDA EKEPS HET CDOROT WAAY. Decode the sequence

If you can understand the sequence you’ll come up with a common boy’s name: J, F, M, A, M, J...

J, A, _, _, _ 28

Being Better magazine / Autumn 2017

5 3 7 6 1 9 5 9 8 6 8 6 4 8 3 7 2 6 2 8 4 1 9 8 7 ANSWERS Lion and the Elephant: As there is no day when both would be lying, at least one of them must have told the truth. They both tell the truth on Sunday. However, the Lion would then be lying in his statement, so it couldn’t be said on Sunday. So one of them lied. If the elephant was honest, then it would have to be Sunday - but we already determined that can’t be. So, the Lion and the elephant must have said it on a Thursday, talking about Wednesday.

When’s my birthday: December 31st and he’s saying it on January 1st. He was 25 the day before his birthday, turned 26 yesterday, and will be 28 next year.

Riddles: 1. Your eyes. 2. A sponge. 3. Mom. 4. The letter “T” Phrase Jumble: An apple a day keeps the doctor away.

Decode the sequence: J,A,S,O,N. The letters are the first letter of the months of the year.

3 1 6 5 9

Lion & Elephant by d1sk/Shutterstock.com; Cupcake candles by Ruth Black/Shutterstock.com; Luggage by Natykach Nataliia/Shutterstock.com

2. What can hold water even though it has

[

Sudoku

Every sudoku has a unique solution that can be reached logically. Enter numbers into the blank spaces so that each row, column, and 3x3 box contains all the numbers 1 to 9.

BETTER / Body

Yep, it’s hard to

Stop a moving train

WITH DR. CHRISTOPHER TUMPKIN, MD

Avoid hanging clothes outside. Take a shower at night before you go to bed to remove the allergens that attach themselves to you during the day.”

Window girl by maroke/Shutterstock.com; Train man by Milkovasa/Shutterstock.com; Nose blower by Antonio Guillem /Shutterstock.com

When it’s not allergies

Y

ou know how bad the spring allergy season was, but that’s going to seem like a walk in the park (a park with no flowers, trees, or grass of course) compared to what’s coming this fall.

Dr. Christopher Tumpkin with Sioux City Allergy & Asthma Associates says, “We are special because of where we live. We have unique hurdles. Not only do we have to contend with normal things like ragweed, we also have harvesting that complicates things immensely.

“In August ragweed will be a big issue on it’s own, but then in September and October harvest season compounds it. That generates tons of mold so the air quality will get very bad very quickly.”

If you suffer from allergies this doesn’t sound very encouraging but Dr. Tumpkin offers some hope.

Dr. Christopher Tumpkin, MD

“As we move through allergy and harvest time, cold season is going to start being an issue. With this overlap it’s sometimes hard to know if you are suffering from allergies or if you are sick. There are a couple of markers that may give you the answer. If you have itchiness (eyes, nose, etc.) it’s likely allergy related. If you have a fever you’re sick. You don’t get a fever with allergies.”

has been practicing medicine for 25 years. He did his residency in Internal Medicine, completed a Fellowship in Allergy and Immunology, and has been specializing in asthma and allergy medicine since 1997.

Sioux City Allergy & Asthma Associates, P.C. 4280 Sergeant Rd. #230 Mayfair Center Sioux City, IA . 712-274-6884 SiouxCityAllergyAndAsthma.com

Decide not to be miserable

What to do now

“Start taking your allergy meds now.

Don’t wait for symptoms to show up.

You don’t want to play catch up. It’s hard to stop a moving train.”

How to protect yourself

“Pollen counts are higher first thing in the morning and at dusk so stay indoors as much as possible during those times.

“Do some proactive things like making sure your HVAC system has a clean filter, if you run an air purifier make sure that filter is clean too, and keep the windows closed.

“If your allergy treatment wasn’t working for you all that well last year, or if you aren’t getting sufficient relief, don’t assume that’s just the way it is.

“Get tested ─ the sooner the better.

It’s a lot easier to treat if we know exactly what the culprits are. Testing methods have changed in the last few years and it’s a relatively simple and painless process. You don’t have to suffer ─ there is relief.”

The allergy train is coming. Get on board with a plan and treatments now so you won’t have to try to deal with it when it’s already bearing down on you.

www.beingbettermagazine.com / Autumn 2017

29

BETTER / Body

World Class Cancer Treatment Close to You. The June E. Nylen Cancer Center provides you with convenient world class cancer treatment right here in Siouxland.

Visit us at www.nylencancercenter.com or call 712-252-0088.

Images/Shutterstock.com

30

Being Better magazine / Autumn 2017

The thing [you don’t know] that’s wrong with you WITH DR. STEPHEN PALLONE

Y

ou get sick or something goes wrong and you need to see a doctor. You get diagnosed and you get treatment for the problem, but the problem isn’t really the problem. Why? Because fixing the problem may not be addressing the deeper cause.

Don’t worry if you’re feeling confused. Dr. Stephen Pallone explains a new approach they take at Family Medicine Center called Integrated Behavior Health.

“Our patient, ‘Dave’ has been seeing

his doctor for awhile because he’s recently been diagnosed with diabetes.

At his checkup, Dave’s numbers are not where they should be. At all. He hasn’t been doing what he was told was necessary to manage his blood sugar.

The doctor asks Dave why.

Dave says, ‘I don’t like needles.’

Doc questions him, ‘Is it fear? Pain?’

Dave thinks about it. ‘Both.’

Doc asks Dave what he’s willing to do about those fears. ‘Can we train you to overcome those fears?’

Dave nods. He does the training and now manages his diabetes fine.”

Dr. Pallone adds, “There are a lot of physical health issues that don’t just involve our bodies. They affect the way we think, the way we react, how we live, and how we feel. It only makes sense to address the whole scope when we see patients.

“This can be especially true for

BETTER / Body people experiencing depression, substance abuse, new diagnoses of diseases, and chronic pain ─ the effects go beyond the physical.

“Getting into the deeper causes and how to deal mentally and emotionally with these life experiences is just as important. That’s why at Family Medicine Center, we include that as part of how we care for our patients.

That’s where true healing begins.”

Dr. Stephen Pallone is board certified in Family Medicine and Psychiatry. His professional focus is on chronic illness, integrated behavioral health care in primary care, resident physician education, and Natural Family Planning.

Family Medicine Center 2501 Pierce St. Sioux City, IA . 712-294-5000 www.thefamilymedicinecenter.org

Giving Back Through Volunteerism

Man w/Doctor by Alexander Raths /Shutterstock.com

Since 1922, New Perspectives, Inc. has been providing services to Siouxlanders with varying disabilities in countless ways. In May 2017, NPI implemented another way - a new volunteer program.

If you are associated with a not-for-profit in Siouxland and would be interested in more information please call 712-258- 3576 or email info@npi-sc.org.

This program is being offered to other not-for-profit organizations throughout the Siouxland area. The program not only provides opportunities for community inclusion but also new experiences for those deciding on a career path.

Volunteering in the community gives everyone a sense of unity and accomplishment.

Giving back feels great! www.beingbettermagazine.com / Autumn 2017

31

Walk it off!

BETTER / Body

Take strides to get past the pain and on the path to recovery.

W

WITH TRISHA WINQUIST

e can make a lot of excuses to get out of exercise, but what if you’ve got a really good one? What if you’re hurt?

What if you just had surgery?

You should get a pass... right?

While doctors used to let you languish on the sofa when you were literally laid up, that’s not the norm any more. After surgery it will be more likely the doctor will have you up on your feet within a day or two. Moving gets things back in gear and while it might not be comfortable at first, it will typically be a much quicker recovery time.

Fitness trainer Trisha Winquist knows first hand about rehabbing after an injury. After a bad knee injury from playing college soccer, she’s had a number of knee surgeries over the years. She recently had another procedure done but almost immediately started working it out again and a key component was walking.

Trisha says, “For some people, like me, with a bad joint, you have to take it slow. There’s no shame. Listen to your doctor and don’t overdo it. Pushing too much can set you back or cause more damage. Be okay with ‘slow and steady.’

“Walking seems pretty easy, but to get the most out of it warming up and stretching will help. Your physical therapist can give you some good stretches to do based on your injury.

“The more intentional you are while you walk, truly makes it a workout.

Walking will get your heart rate up so whether you’re rehabbing or just want to get in shape, this is a real workout.”

We found that out when we met up with Julie McElhany at Bacon Creek Park. Julie, who used to be an avid runner, had to have hip replacement a number of years ago.

“The doctor really recommended giving up running. It was just too hard on my joints, so now I walk... and just run when I come to a hill. I figure it’s less stressful on my joints then - and it’s actually easier.”

We walked with Julie, who by the way is 74, and we had a time keeping up with her. She walks fast!

Julie McElhany, 74, walking the trails at Bacon Creek Park, Sioux City, IA.

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Being Better magazine / Autumn 2017

Trisha and daughter Rylee hit the local parks, trails, or just make the rounds in their own neighborhood to get some fresh air and lowimpact exercise.

Julie loves the outdoors and walks the trails all the time. “It’s really nice this time of year, but I’m here even in the winter. It’s a little harder if snow is covering the trail, but it’s fine.”

Julie wasn’t the only one out at the park. There were several walkers couples, friends, and parents with their kids.

Trisha loves to walk with her family, but sometimes it’s just her or one of their kids. “My husband doesn’t love to walk so I might go by myself or grab a friend, my mother-in-law, or my daughter. Walking is great, because it can be a social thing. It doesn’t have to feel like therapy or exercise. When you’re with family or friends it’s just fun!”

27

Life

BETTER

Ways to save money and why you want to do it.

Pretty much everyone believes they should be saving money but few of us save enough...or at all.

One step to success is know WHY you need to or want to save. Think about how it would feel not having to worry when your water heater breaks because you have an emergency fund.

Dinner party by Jack Frog/Shutterstock.com

Write down what dream could be realized if you saved - maybe a new car, fun vacation, or just an I-don’t-have-to-cook-tonight fund.

Decide what’s important to you and then use the following tips to reach those goals.

Let’s go!

1 Stay home. Instead of going out to

dinner or clubs with friends invite everyone over. Play games and light the fire pit. Have everyone contribute to the meal and bring their own beverages. www.beingbettermagazine.com / Autumn 2017

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BETTER / Life

2 Sell your stuff. Look around.

we plan on using and then don’t and/ or we have leftovers that we don’t use.

The easiest way to eliminate waste is to simply plan your menu before you shop. Plan for leftovers. Making a roast in the crock pot? Great. Plan to make stew from the leftovers the next night.

It’s likely you have stuff you don’t use, don’t want, or don’t need. Take a photo, post it online, and sell it.

3

Say never. Vow not to pay full price for anything for the next year.

Buy it on Craigslist, go to secondhand stores, barter, or wait for a sale on it.

8 Know what things cost. Pay

4Exercise for free. You can sweat

attention to the price of items you buy often. If you see that breakfast sandwiches your hubby takes to work each day are $1 less at Store A over Store B then make sure to always buy them at store A.

at home just the same as a gym. Go for a walk, ride a bike, pull up an exercise video on TV or YouTube.

5

Evaluate spendy habits. The obvious one is smoking which would be a big savings to your health and wallet. But, what other habits can you replace or reduce? Daily trips to Starbucks or eating with friends for lunch or after work a few times a week?

Bring coffee and food from home most days and indulge on Fridays.

9

Have cheapo night. Get creative and see how cheap you can eat one night a week. Grilled cheese anyone?

12

Keep the change. If you budget $100 for groceries each week, use any excess to build up your savings. If you only spend $89.21, put the left over $10.79 in savings.

13Launder money. If your washer

broke what would you do? Go to the laundromat probably. It costs a few bucks to do a load of laundry.

If you have a washer now, put away $2 or more every time you do your wash and sock it in savings. This is especially smart if you don’t currently have an emergency fund. That washer will eventually break.

14

10 Assess your energy

6

Buy only what you’ll eat. This seems like common sense but how often do you buy things “just in case?”

If you’re not making spaghetti this week don’t buy tomato paste even if it’s on sale. You’re not saving if you’re buying things you don’t need.

11Move your money. Set up

7 Stop throwing food away. Want

to cut your grocery bill down? Eat what you have. About 40% of the food Americans buy gets thrown out for basically two reasons: We buy produce

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consumption. Can you take shorter showers? Run the dishwasher every other day? Adjust the thermostat while you’re away from home? Any device plugged into an outlet is drawing some power even if it’s not on. Unplug what’s not used frequently.

Being Better magazine / Autumn 2017

to have part of your paycheck go automatically into a savings account.

When it reaches a certain amount - say $250, move it to an account that you don’t have easy access to (no checks or ATM). Then you can’t spend it on a whim.

15 Reward good behavior. If you’ve

turned over a new leaf to save instead of spend can you save what you would have spent? If you would’ve spent the $20 (or $40) to go see the new blockbuster hitting the theaters this weekend, but you instead decide to rent a Redbox movie, reward yourself by putting the $20 you saved into your savings account instead.

Travel mug by Lithiumphoto/Shutterstock.com; Grilled cheese by Olga Miltsova/Shutterstock.com; Fishing guy by Sergey Ryzhov/Shutterstock.com

Set your limits. If you tend to buy things you don’t need or spend more than you should, set a threshold. This is good to do as a couple or family to have some accountability. Make a rule that if something costs more than say $25 you have to either get approval from your partner or at least think about it 48 hours before you buy.

16Leave no expense unturned.

Take a good hard look at EVERYTHING you spend money on. Could you get a cheaper cell phone plan? Is your insurance the right one for your needs? Would refinancing your home make sense? Does Jimmy need to be in Taekwondo and Soccer? Making choices that are best for your life will not only save you money, it will give you peace of mind.

17

Avoid fees. Late fees, overdraft charges, ATM usage fees. All of these are truly money wasted. Might as well line the bird’s cage with it. Learn to manage your money so you can avoid these.

BETTER / Life pedicure and paint your tootsies all by yourself.

20 Plan ahead. If you know that the cheapest gas is somewhere you only frequent once a week, make sure you fill up when you’re there... instead of having to fill up at the expensive convenience store down the block because your gas light just came on.

21

Get over yourself. Change where you shop. Remember, every $100 pair of jeans will eventually be on sale for $4 at a thrift store. How smart are you for not being the middle man? Pay the $4 and bank the rest.

Plumber couple by Blend Images/Shutterstock.com; Cowboy hat girl by Lena Sunny/Shutterstock.com; Money wallet by Normana Karia /Shutterstock.com

18DIY it. Pinterest, YouTube, HGTV,

and friends may have the insight you need to tackle some repairs and improvements so you don’t have to pay to have things done. With that said, there are definitely things you should NOT do yourself. Let’s leave electrical problems to the professionals!

get free tickets to their fun gala.

25 Give great gifts. Again, this is

putting your talents and expertise to the test. Instead of buying your friend [the hardworking single parent] a birthday gift, give coupons for a night of free babysitting or make a homemade lasagna and freeze it for when they don’t want to cook. Install their new bedroom light or repair their leaking faucet. Practical gifts are often the most coveted.

26 Create a budget. Having a budget is the one thing above all others that can truly help you get a handle on your finances. It’s basically spending your money before you get it. It’s taking control of it before it controls you. Buy a book, take a class, use online tools and learn how to do a budget. You’ll be glad you did.

22Don’t pay to unwind. Shopping

may feel relaxing but when the credit card bill comes it’s anything but. Stay home and take a bath, read a good book, pray. You’ll feel great in no time.

23 19

Challenge yourself. You can make saving more fun if there’s incentive.

This works great if you have a friend who is also trying to save money or do it with your spouse or family. At the end of each week compare to see who saved the most and how. Tom took lunch to work three times and saved $24. You trump him by saving $14 on groceries and $15 by skipping the

Find the free. There is free stuff to do, just find it. Go to the museum, parks, walk the riverfront, check out historic centers. It’s not unusual for people to never have visited their local free attractions - yet that’s where they go when they’re out of town.

in yourself. You have some 24talentInvest or passion that is just waiting to be used. Investigate how you could use your skills to make money. Love being outside? Do other people’s yard work for a fee. Good at networking?

Help a local charity get sponsors and

27Pay with cash. This can not be

stressed enough. If you know how much money you have and you don’t have your checkbook or ATM card you can’t overspend. The visual of the money leaving your wallet is a big reality check for most people.

With all these great tips you’ll be reaching your financial goals before you know it! Keep your goals in sight and refer to them when you feel tempted to give up or when you have a setback. Go after what you really want and you’ll see the reward of saving.

www.beingbettermagazine.com / Autumn 2017

35

Ending the cycle

BETTER / Life

WITH HAVEN HOUSE

just takes one call

Stopping it

When victims become silent about their abuse - whether out of fear, embarrassment, covering up, or something else, it is unlikely to end.

Where there’s help

Haven House is a private, nonprofit agency. They are part of a state and national network of domestic violence programs. Their mission is to empower, shelter, and advocate for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.

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Being Better magazine / Autumn 2017

G, IN & IZ G, IM IN G IN Y IN M EN AM D BL

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Making partner afraid by using looks, actions, Making and/or carrying out threats to do gestures . smashing things, destroying partner’s something to hurt his/her partner . threatening property . abusing pets . displaying weapons. to leave partner, to commit suicide, to report partner to welfare . making partner Putting partner down . making SEXUA drop charges . making partner do C AL L .V partner feel bad about himself/ YSI illegal things.

I H O LE herself . calling partner .P E NC names . making partner Preventing partner from NC think he/she’s crazy . getting or keeping a playing mind games . job . making partner humiliating partner . ask for money . making partner feel giving partner L G A guilty. an allowance .

IN N S O taking partner’s U TI SE Controlling O U money . not EM AB what partner POWER letting partner & does, who know about or CONTROL partner sees and have access to USING USING MALE talks to . what family income ISOLATION PRIVILEGE partner reads, Treating partner where partner goes like a servant . . limiting partner’s making all the big outside involvement decisions . acting . using jealousy to like the “master of the justify actions. castle” . being the one to define men’s and Making light of the abuse women’s roles and not taking partner’s concerns about it seriously .

Making partner feel guilty about the children . using the children to relay saying the abuse didn’t happen . shifting messages . using visitation to harass partner . responsibility for abusive behavior . saying threatening to take the children away. partner caused it.

G IN ION TS US RC REA E H CO D T AN

Abuse doesn’t start if you can see a bruise. In many cases, abuse starts with verbal, economic, or mental abuse before it escalates to physical violence.

Take a look at the Power & Control wheel. It exposes the truth behind an abuser’s desire for power and control in their relationships.

Defining abuse G C IN MI US NO SE O U EC AB

Defining abuse

Life can be different. Better Whether it’s you or someone you know, it’s time to get help. Even if you just need to talk to somebody, Haven House is there for you. Getting the help you need and discovering the life you were truly meant to live starts by making one phone call.

Haven House Locations: 509 Dearborn Street . Wayne, NE (402) 375-5433 . M-F: 8:30am to 5:00pm

email: hh@havenhousefsc.org www.havenhousefsc.org facebook.com/havenhousene

117 East 28th Street . South Sioux City, NE (402) 494-7592 . M-F: 8:30am to 5:00pm

24-HOUR CRISIS LINE: 1-800-440-4633 All services are free and confidential.

Phone girl by PhotoMediaGroup/Shutterstock.com. Power & Control wheel concept by Domestic Abuse Intervention Project, www.duluth-model.org

D

omestic violence is a pattern of assaultive and controlling behaviors, including physical, sexual, and psychological attacks against an adult as well as against children, property, or pets. These behaviors spring from the perpetrator’s need for power and control. Domestic violence can happen to anyone. It crosses all economical, educational, religious, racial, cultural, geographic, and lifestyle lines.

Take a first step If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse, call Haven House and speak to an advocate. Whether

you are remaining in a relationship or are ready to leave, advocates can help you come up with a plan that will help you remain safe. An advocate can help you develop a safety plan that will be tailored to your unique situation, and help you walk through different scenarios. They will also provide a list of resources to help you live a life free of violence. All services are free and confidential.

BETTER / Life

Need a new computer?

WITH BRIAN WELLS, TUDOGS COMPUTING

Let’s take a cringe-free approach

your new system. Yep, it’s awesome.

For the rest of you who want to go it on your own, here are a couple of basics Brian wants you to know to

get the right computer

1

Computer hugger by PhotoMediaGroup /Shutterstock.com

I

f you cringe at the idea of having to get a new computer, we get it. We all painfully remember the hours spent on the last computer purchase trying to figure out what to get ─ what CPU we needed, how much RAM to get ─ especially when we aren’t overly sure what those things are.

We eventually bought something only to discover all the junk loaded up on it we didn’t want. Ugh! We decided computer shopping just needs to be easier so we got some help from Brian Wells with tudogs computing, ltd. in Elk Point.

First, let me just say that if you want to skip the whole trying-to-figureit-out-yourself thing, stop reading this now [we won’t be offended] and just contact Brian. You tell him what you’re going to need a computer for, he tells you what you should get, he’ll order it for you, load all your programs (and remove any extras you don’t need or want), and you will smile instead of cringe as you boot up

The processor (CPU) This is the brains of the operation.

Depending on how much your computer has to deal with will determine how big of a processor you’ll need. This is the biggest key to your system functioning well.

Choose: An Intel I3 works for a basic setup ─ for things like emailing, Facebooking friends, and running standard office programs. The I5 is mid-level to handle the basics plus more intensive things like standard photo editing or playing music. For high-end users who’ll have multiple programs running simultaneously, want speed for uploading, downloading, and switching tasks, get the premium I7 ─ it’s the fastest.

Tip: You don’t want to skimp. If you find you need a faster processor later it’s expensive to upgrade after the fact.

2

Memory (RAM). RAM temporarily stores information for everything that’s in use. It helps your processor have access to the programs and applications that are running. The amount of RAM you have determines how many programs can be operating at the same time and how much data is available for each.

Having enough memory will ensure you can toggle between programs quickly and that things don’t bog down.

Choose: For the basics, 4GB to 8GB can suffice. For mid-level applications, 8GB to 12GB is good. High-end users should look at 16GB or more. If you’re doing intensive gaming, high-end design programs, or complex video editing you definitely want 16GB or

more of RAM. Tip: RAM is pretty inexpensive so getting a little more than necessary is wise. However, if you need to add more later it’s typically painless.

3

Video/Graphics card. This determines what you see, how fast, and the quality of the visuals.

Choose: High-end users will want to go with an add-in (not-integrated) card. That means it has its own processor and memory so it won’t take away from your system’s processor and memory so it’s much faster. Basic setups will probably have an integrated card which has to use the computer’s processing power and memory so it will run slower. Mid-level users might opt for HyperMemory™ or TurboCache™ which are a mix of integrated and not-integrated.

Tip: What monitor you choose will also determine your visual quality.

What should you budget? Brian says, “Realistically, you get what you pay for. You can pay anywhere from $300 to over $2000. On average, you can get a good setup for $600 - $800.”

Brian Wells, owner of tudogs computing, ltd. in Elk Point, SD, has over 25 years of experience in the computer industry. Brian is an authorized Dell reseller and will figure out the setup that suits you best. He helps individuals and businesses with all of their computer needs. Follow tudogs, ltd. on Facebook. Learn more at tudogs.biz.

www.beingbettermagazine.com / Autumn 2017

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BETTER / Life

It’s futile to resist

WITH THE SIOUXLAND HUMANE SOCIETY

so just hang with the kitties...and doggies

4

Most popular

ways to help

1

Hands on. “Coming in to socialize pets is important and crucial to the emotional health of the animals. It can be loud and scary. Animals can become depressed and put up a wall.

Volunteers who love and exercise the animals create calm, happy pets.”

Fun in fundraising. Since the shelter runs on donations, fundraising is a big component. Kelly says, “We have several promotions each year we need help with ─ and we have fun doing them. Sometimes it takes an army and we need all hands on board.”

E

ven big strong men melt at the sight of a furry friend.

We’re just a bunch of suckers when we’re around animals.

For those of us with pets at home, we can get our furry fix and our pets adore the care and affection. What about all those pets in shelters that don’t have a human to call their own?

Could you share some love with them? Don’t panic... we’re not suggesting you adopt any more pets (unless, of course, you want to).

Here’s another idea... a purr-fect one.

We talked to Kelly Erie, with the Siouxland Humane Society, who has a few different ways that people can get involved with the animals. Ways that help the animals cope while they’re waiting for their forever family.

Ways that will be as rewarding for the volunteers as it is for the pets.

Kelly says, “There are several ways to get involved with us and we need lots of helpers. Even if you are allergic or don’t want to have any interaction with the animals (perhaps out of fear you’ll be overcome by cuteness and take them home), we have options.

“It’s always amazing how many volunteers we have who come in because they want to help the animals but end up saying how much it positively affects them.”

Anyone 14 and up can volunteer and there are a lot of ways to help.

Plus, you can literally set your own schedule. To inspire, here’s a list of the Humane Society’s most popular options.

3

Pet-facilitated therapy. “We take dogs out to senior centers and residential therapy homes around the area. The volunteers love it almost as

much as the residents. The smiles on everyone’s faces say it all.”

4

Off-site adoptions. “We take pets to the pet stores and the mall so people see who’s looking for a home.

People can’t resist coming over.”

It’s futile to resist so just give into the desire to surround yourself with furry friends. The upside is you may end up getting more than they do out of that surrender.

Siouxland Humane Society, The Right Place, All the Right Pets, Always The Right Thing To Do! To check out all their volunteer options go to their website and click Get Involved, or call Kelly Erie at (712) 252-2614.

1015 Tri-View Ave., Sioux City, IA 51103, 712-252-2614. www.siouxlandhumanesociety.org

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Being Better magazine / Autumn 2017

Girl w/German Shepherd by ohrim /Shutterstock.com; Senior petting dog by Budimir Jevtic/Shutterstock.com; Kitty perched on man by Nathalia Nikolaenko/Shutterstock.com

2

BETTER / Life WITH Tammy Johnson, RN, TRI-STATE NURSING

Everything changes

The moment where

About to crash by michaelheim/Shutterstock.com

S

omething happens. Probably a bad something. A moment ago things were okay, but now everything is different.

What you do going forward can make a big difference whether you’ll be okay in the future.

Maybe it’s a car accident, sports injury, a stroke, heart attack, or you take a tumble that lands you in the E.R. Once your hospital stay is complete, you may be looking at time to rehab. It might be a week or many months. The quality of care you get at this point can make all the difference.

Tammy Johnson, an RN with Tri-State Nursing says, “We see that when people aren’t getting the proper care they can decline ─ mentally, physically, and emotionally. That’s why making sure care is improving each step is paramount.”

“While we provide RNs, LPNs, and CNAs to many facilities in the tristate area, we saw a need to make

direct home care available in all three states. We’ve been licensed in Iowa and South Dakota for years but hadn’t gone through the extensive process for Nebraska. Their standards are very high to make sure not just anybody can throw a sign on their door and offer care. We are happy to report we are now approved.

“We know how critical it is to have that professional, experienced care where health matters are concerned.

Sometimes proper care truly means life or death. We wanted to make sure we were going to be there for all of the Siouxland community.”

Ask anyone and the vast majority of people say they’d prefer to be at home instead of in a facility to receive care. Tammy says one of the up sides to their in-home care (beside the obvious one of having it at your home) is that if you don’t gel with your care-giver you can get someone else.

“Not everyone is going to work well together. People are different. We have an extensive staff so we’ll make sure it’s a good fit. Then everybody wins.”

If something happens and everything changes for you Tammy says, “With so many options for care, the big takeaway is to make sure there is a positive progression in your care. If something’s not working don’t accept that it’s just how it is. There are other options so make sure to explore them.”

Tri-State Nursing offers both flexible and personalized Home Care services. Whether you need some assistance after a stay in the hospital, help caring for a spouse, or have an elderly parent in need of a little extra attention, Tri-State Nursing is here for you.

Contact us at 712-277-4442 or online at TriStateNursing.com.

www.beingbettermagazine.com / Autumn 2017

39

BETTER / Life

Need a new roof?

How to avoid getting scammed

WITH CHARESE YANNEY, Guarantee Roofing, Siding, & Insulation Co., LLC.

A

person comes to your door telling you they noticed you need a new roof. Their truck is filled with ladders and bundles of shingles. They give you a quote and can start work right away.

You can probably guess how the rest of the story goes. The homeowner pays the roofers part or all of the money

and the roofers either never show up, do only half the job, or do a terrible job. If you think it doesn’t happen in Siouxland, well, it happens all the time.

Whether someone comes knocking or you instigate the call, getting the job done well, on time, and at a fair price is the goal. So how do we make sure we don’t get ripped off?

We asked Charese Yanney with Guarantee Roofing to give us some insight on how to protect ourselves.

She stressed, “Be as protected as possible. If someone is reputable they should be able to prove it.”

Check credentials. “Ask for a copy of their Certificate of Insurance. Don’t just let them show it to you - get a copy. This shows that they are covered in case somebody is injured or if there’s a problem later.”

40

Being Better magazine / Autumn 2017

Hire local. “If something goes wrong it’s a lot easier to deal with someone you can look in the eye. It’s all too common for out-of-towners to never be heard from again.”

Charese says, “Don’t feel pressured to do anything right away. Give yourself time to check into things so you feel confident about your decision.”

Guarantee has been

serving Siouxland for 90 years specializing in roofing, siding, insulation, and other home and commercial renovation and repair.

Guarantee Roofing, Siding & Insulation 2005 4th St., Sioux City, IA . 712-277-3981 www.guaranteeroofing.com

There are currently 41 Siouxland children waiting to be matched with a mentor. With just a few hours of your time each month, you can impact a child’s life for the better.

Forever.

CALL TODAY! 712-239-9890 Man on ladder by Illinois Images/Shutterstock.com

ARE YOU READY TO BE PART OF SOMETHING BIG?

Make two phone calls. First, call the insurance carrier and check if they are current on their policy. Sometimes they show a certificate that’s not currently valid. Second, call the Better Business Bureau to find out what kind of reputation they have.

The “

I

Yes that changed Everything

BETTER / Life

”

n the 1980s there was a movie with Jeff Bridges titled Star Man. Jeff played an alien who comes to earth, takes over a human body, and experiences life from our perspective. He tells the woman he’s befriended something he sees in the human race.

“When life is at its worst, you are at your best.” In May of this year, a group of people proved that to be true. In the course of one hour, three people did something few

can imagine and they set the stage for even more amazing events to unfold. Things that would involve two countries on opposite sides of the globe, different races, religions, and cultures working together to show us what is possible when we are at our best.

Kevin Negaard, Manda Volkert, and Jennifer Milby (above) were all doing normal life in Siouxland early in April. They had been invited to go on a trip with www.beingbettermagazine.com / Autumn 2017

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BETTER / Life

The “

Yes that changed Everything ”

STEMM to Tanzania, Africa. STEMM (Siouxland Tanzania Educational Medical Ministries) was founded by Siouxland native Dr. Steve Meyer 20 years ago. Each year he takes teams to this African nation on the coast of the Indian Ocean. Kevin, Jen, and Manda were each toying with the idea of going, but life was busy. Manda has a special needs son, Jen works two jobs, and Kevin was gearing up for the Miracle League ball season. They were all leaning toward waiting until another time.

Dr. Steve Meyer stressed the importance and need for the ladies to go - their medical skills were needed for a planned visit to a Tanzanian hospital. Surgeries would likely be needed and would not happen if he didn’t have nurses. Kevin, with

a sports medicine background and as the current executive director at Sunnybrook Community Church, was pretty much told by his church team that he was going. Though they each had a desire to go, it was others who got them to finally commit. They each signed on just three weeks before the team was to leave - the last three who committed to the trip.

Once they were there, the three of them traveled to Singida with Dr. Meyer. They planned on seeing patients in the clinic and setting up any necessary orthopedic surgeries for the next day. A new doctor had just taken over the clinic and he wasn’t aware of their plans, so only a few patients were there - and none that would need surgery the next day.

With their plans upended, Kevin, Jen, and Manda decided to go on safari the following day.

Dr. Meyer encouraged them to get an early start so they’d have the best

Villagers form a human chain to bring crash victims up from the slippery ravine just moments after the accident.

42

Being Better magazine / Autumn 2017

Bus crash photo by Steve Magee

chance of seeing wildlife in the cool of the day. But that didn’t happen.

Besides the three of them, four other team members were going on safari that Saturday. One thing and then another delayed their expected departure by an hour. Once they were on their tour bus with a local driver, Kowaga, they came upon a scenic area and got out to take a look.

They were quickly overtaken by merchants selling jewelry and other souvenirs. After another half an hour, they were definitely getting a late start.

It was a rainy day, but everyone was excited for the safari. As their bus came around a bend they noticed a gathering of several people standing near a deep ravine. So many people seemed out of place in the middle of nowhere.

Jen looked down the ravine and saw that a school bus had gone off the road and down into the ravine. They would later learn that the bus, which should have held 30 kids, was filled with 36 children and 3 adults.

On the rain-slicked road, the bus driver lost control and the bus became airborne as it left the edge of the ravine, crashing nose first some 30 feet below.

The impact tore the benches from the floor and passengers and seats hurtled forward.

Jen shouted for their driver, Kowaga, to stop. She could see the driver hanging out the front of the bus and knew it was going to be a very bad sight. Kevin, Manda, and Jen went first to see what was going on. Jen told the others on the bus to stay put: “You’re not going to want to see this.”

She thought, “I don’t want to see it either - to have that stuck in my head forever.”

The scene was as bad as they imagined. Jen said, “The local villagers who were there were so brave! They didn’t have anything, so they formed this human chain and started bringing the kids up from the bus. They had a cattle truck and were going to load all the kids on that and take them

BETTER / Life all to the hospital. None of the kids appeared to be alive. That’s when we stepped in.”

With the help of an Englishspeaking local, Jen explained that they needed to check each child to see if they were alive and focus only on them. Jen, Kevin, and Manda quickly set up a triage area instructing the locals where to place the kids.

As each child was brought up, the three checked for signs of life. All had broken forearms from bracing

Manda and Jen assess each child as they are brought from the bus. Here they tend to Sadia with Wilson lying close by.

themselves for the impact and multiple other fractures. Others had severe, gaping wounds that left no doubt whether they were still alive.

All had broken arms from bracing themselves for impact.

As they pronounced body after body dead, they gently straightened their battered bodies, closed their eyes, and covered them with articles of clothing.

Kevin reflected, “We just tried to give as much dignity to their death as we could.” Manda added, “We knew their parents would be coming to see them and we wanted to make it as painless as possible.”

The children on the bus, 7th graders from Lucky Vincent Primary School, were headed to another school to take a practice test for their finals. This test determines whether they’ll be able to go on to secondary school.

Suddenly there was a bright spot.

A young boy was brought up who was conscious. He had several broken bones including an open femur fracture - but he was alert. The team found two girls who also had a pulse, but neither was conscious. One had a severely broken jaw. The other looked the most serious. Her eyes indicated she had a serious head injury. They feared she would not make it.

Before the bus was emptied, officials and doctors arrived. The kids that were alive had been taken to the hospital and the team felt they could leave the rest in the hands of the locals. The few remaining passengers were those at the front of the bus and they knew survival was not possible. The team headed out to their forgotten safari.

The team spent the night in Arusha, an hour or more from the crash site.

The next day, they went to church and then shopping at the Masai Alley Shops. Kevin noticed a man reading a newspaper and wondered if there would be information on the accident.

He grabbed Kowaga to translate. The accident was front page news and, to their surprise, their pictures were in the article. They couldn’t believe it when they heard that the three kids were all at a hospital just minutes away.

The team told Kowaga to take them there, but he said visiting hours had ended and they wouldn’t be able to get in. They insisted on going anyway.

Because of the national interest of the story, security was tight around the hospital. As they stood in the parking lot wondering how they would get in, a very well-dressed Tanzanian man approached them.

“Aren’t you the three Americans who helped save our children at the accident? I recognize you from the pictures.” The man introduced himself. He was the government’s Minister of Health. He asked them to come with him to visit the children.

They immediately recognized Wilson’s smile, and he recognized them. They knew Doreen by her badly fractured jaw and they were amazed that Sadia was alive.

The tragedy of that day was suddenly lightened for all of them and

they felt a deep bond to the children who all too much reminded them of their own kids. Manda has two sons, 11 and 17, and Jen has 13-year-old and 16-year-old daughters.

Seeing the kids at the local hospital with its lack of resources opened the eyes to the team. They knew the kids needed to get to America for the serious care they required. They called Dr. Meyer back at STEMM. Steve, who was at the STEMM compound, had no idea what was unfolding. He headed to Arusha the next day to meet the kids as well.

Steve saw the gravity of their injuries and of the situation. There were great doctors and nurses in Tanzania, but they lacked the tools and resources to deal with these traumatic injuries. His prognosis for the children was grim, but getting them to the U.S. would be a million to one odds.

Regardless, it was unanimous to try.

Steve recounts what came next.

“The first and highest hurdle was to convince an increasingly independent and proud Tanzanian government to support the children’s transfer. I enlisted the support of fellow STEMM co-founder (as well as a member of the Tanzanian parliament) Lazaro Nyalandu. By seven the next morning, the two of us were meeting with the Vice President of Tanzania.

“A national memorial service for the children was being held and we were all invited. On our way, we stopped with the Vice President to see the children. She was obviously moved by their plight. While she was there, she got a call from the President, John Magufuli. They spoke, but she shared nothing about the children’s fate.”

Kevin, Jen, Manda, and the entire STEMM team were invited to attend the service as well, and as they arrived at the Arusha soccer stadium they weren’t sure how this was going to go. It was raining and they knew it would be hours long and it would be in Swahili.

To their delight they were seated in the section with the Minister of Health and the Vice President.

In a soccer stadium that typically seats 15,000 people, 30,000 plus

www.beingbettermagazine.com / Autumn 2017

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BETTER / Life

The “

Yes that changed Everything ”

crammed in and another 75,000 surrounded the stadium outside.

Steve said, “During that emotionally overwhelming memorial, 36 caskets were paraded in front of the attendees and lined in a row reminding everyone of the unfathomable tragedy that had occurred. The final speaker was the Vice President.”

Kevin reflected, “As we listened to her address in Swahili, suddenly everyone turned and looked at us. We asked our translator what was going on. He told us what she said. “Before we honor our children we must recognize the three American heroes.

If not for them, there would have undoubtedly been three more caskets present.”

“If not for them, there would have undoubtedly been three more caskets present.”

Steve added, “She then thanked us for our promise to take their children to America for medical services.

“While I hadn’t promised anything, the pressure was on to make it happen.

An entire nation was expecting it.

“Anticipating the worst but praying for the best, I had already contacted Dr. Steven Joyce, Co-Medical Director of Mercy Hospital along with Dr. Larry Volz. After some meetings there, I was assured that Mercy Hospital in Sioux City would provide all of the medical services free of charge.

“Now we needed a way to get critically hurt kids all the way to Sioux City. That inspired a 60-hour ordeal of phone calls, prayerful pleading, governmental lobbying, and faith beyond reason.

“My first call was to my trusted friend, Congressman Steve King. This ultimately was the difference maker.

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“Despite being on a political tour of the Balkan countries, Steve King pledged his complete support.

Impassioned phone calls were made to senators, congressmen, friends of legislators, state and defense departments, the embassy, and anyone who had any potential connection.

By Tuesday night, I was told Vice President Pence would review it.”

His answer was no.

Kevin said, “I get it. These aren’t U.S. citizens and if you do it for one country you have to do it for everyone else. Most people who get a no from the Vice President of the United States would give up. Dr. Meyer didn’t.”

They found out another agency would be willing to fly the kids at cost but that cost was $300,000. They didn’t have time to fund raise that kind of money - the team was leaving Tanzania the next evening.

Frustrated and discouraged, Steve packed - despite his wife, Dana, and colleague, Lazaro, telling him he wasn’t going anywhere. If he couldn’t get the kids out, he’d need to stay to perform the surgeries.

Steve was burned out. He said, “I

The funeral for the 33 children and 3 adults killed was held at the Sheikh Amri Abeid Soccer Stadium in Arusha. More than 100,000 people came to pay their respects.

just wanted to go home. I didn’t want to do this anymore. I was totally spent.

That’s when the phone rang.”

A voice on the other end of the phone, with a slightly southern drawl, identified himself as Franklin Graham (son of Billy Graham and President of global mission outreach Samaritan’s Purse).

Steve couldn’t believe it. “He told me that they genuinely wanted to help, but he also said that their DC-10 had never done a medical evacuation before - they were in the business of bringing help in. He wasn’t sure if they could pull it off.

“We all got on the plane the next

Samaritan’s Purse DC-10 lands in Arusha, Tanzania to pick up the children for transport to the United States.

BETTER / Life day with renewed hope, but really not knowing what was going to happen.”

Jen, Manda, and Kevin had some time to reflect on what they had seen and done. They didn’t even know each other before this trip, but they saw how even their brief relationship over

Steve later found out that Congressman King had initiated the call from Franklin Graham who was a good friend of his.

The Tanzanian government and U.S. Embassy had been busy and had expedited passports and visas

Sadia, Doreen, and Wilson with their family and friends as they leave Mount Meru Hospital to board their flight to the U.S. with their mothers.

a few days was critical. They knew they could count on each other in that hard moment. They knew that they were now bonded together for life.

Kevin said, “Manda, Jen, and I are three normal people. None of us deal with trauma. Manda works in a clinic in Ponca. People don’t come into her clinic mangled. God used three ordinary people who were a lot out of their comfort zone. For that hour we were like the Masai warriors - we were fearless. We did something very difficult. No one should ever have to declare 12- and 13-year-olds dead. But that was our task for that time.”

Dr. Steve Meyer at a press conference at Mercy Medical Center after the surgeries.

for all three children, as well as their mothers, a nurse, and an orthopedic surgeon to accompany them.

After a week of multiple miracles, the children headed to the U.S. Jen said, “The reason I went to Tanzania in the first place was for a lot of selfish reasons. Sure, I wanted to help the people there and support what Dr. Meyer was doing. But I’d been feeling really far from God and a need to work on my own faith.

Everything since then has been one miracle after another. Watching the kids get off the plane here was just like, WOW! I saw how God had lined it all up. From getting us to go, to making sure we were running ‘late’ that day....but we were right on time.”

Arriving in Sioux City, Doreen, age 13, was the most critical.

Steve said, “With multiple extremity fractures, a shattered jaw, and multiple thoracic spine fractures with near complete neurologic loss, her survival was in question.”

Within two hours of arrival to Mercy Medical Center, she was taken to the operating room. Dr. Dan Kensinger and Dr. Meyer with CNOS reduced and stabilized her hip and shoulder fractures. Following that, Dr. Jeffrey Dean spent four hours meticulously reconstructing her shattered jaw.

Dr. Meyer reported, “Sadia and Wilson, both 12, arrived with multiple extremity fractures that

“No one should ever have to declare 12 & 13-year-olds dead.

But that was our task for that time. ” As they traveled home, the group had a layover for their plane to refuel. Steve said, “When we landed in Amsterdam, I had an email from Franklin Graham’s team. They were in.

“We just all fell to our knees praising God!”

Tanzanian Dr. Elias Mashala behind Sadia, Congressman Steve King (who presented the kids with a special coin for their bravery) with Wilson, and Dr. Steve Meyer pushing Doreen, and Mama Doreen.

www.beingbettermagazine.com / Autumn 2017

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BETTER / Life

The “

Yes that changed Everything ”

took a combined 15 hours of surgery.

Between the three children, over 20 broken bones were discovered.

“Doreen had to have a second round of surgery to put screws and rods in her back by myself and Dr. Quentin Durward to address her unstable thoracic spine fractures.”

As of mid-July, all three children are now doing incredibly well. Wilson (who has embraced gaming) and Sadia (whose favorite is chocolate cake) are convalescing and rehabilitating at the Ronald McDonald House. Doreen, who was paralyzed when she arrived, was able to stand in June and is now starting to walk. She will go to Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital in Lincoln for more intensive physical therapy.

The children will be returning to Tanzania in mid-August to take their national exams. They have been getting tutoring here to prepare.

Wilson wants to be an engineer.

Doreen wants to be a science teacher (her favorite teacher was a science teacher and was killed in the crash) or a physician. Sadia wants to be a pilot.

So now that things are winding down, what perspective do the three

Kevin, Jen (left), and Manda visit Doreen in the Mt. Meru hospital before departing Tanzania.

Siouxland “warriors” who launched this global adventure have?

All three said they wouldn’t have missed it for the world. They know they may need to deal with the serious trauma they experienced, but they are looking to God for help.

Kevin shared, “Early on Dr. Meyer said, ‘This only happened because people said, ‘yes.’ Us, Franklin Graham, Mercy, all the doctors...

“Five years ago, I did a lot of churchy things - being on church boards, going to all the stuff, and I had said yes to God in a lot of easy ways -

teaching Sunday School, helping with youth events. But when I started saying the hard, yeses God totally opened up my life. Because of the hard yeses, I have no fear now.”

Manda, Jen, and Kevin all commented on how happy the Tanzanian people are and how loving they are toward everyone. Manda says, “People are poor and they share what they have. They aren’t petty. They aren’t racist. They are very welcoming and we didn’t feel anything but love.”

Jen adds, “The Christian kids play in the street with the Muslim kids and nobody is weird about it. All of the mamas are friends and two of them are Christian and one is Muslim. I think we learned more from watching them then they got from us.”

“Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” -1 John 4:8

Kevin sums up the whole experience, “I see for a moment in time that so many people acted how Jesus would act. He didn’t care about

“I see for a moment in time that so many people acted how Jesus would act.” color. About religion. Anybody’s past.

He just loved and reached out to help.

I’m glad people saw Jesus in us.”

By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

-Jesus [John 13:35]

When Kevin returned from Tanzania, his wife, Gail, gave him a bracelet with two words: Say Yes. It’s just a little way to remember what can happen when we say “yes” to God. A “yes” that can truly change everything.

It’s a thumbs up for the future of Sadia, Wilson, and Doreen (front). Second row: Mama Sadia, Mama Wilson, Mama Doreen, and Tanzanian nurse Simporosa Silalye. Back row: Kevin Negaard, Tanzania Dr. Elias Mashala, Manda Volkert, Jennifer Milby, and STEMM’s executive director, John Gerdts.

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Being Better magazine / Autumn 2017

If you’d like to help the kids and be part of the work STEMM is doing in Tanzania, you can make a donation or find out more on their website: www.STEMM.org or text to give: Text 28950 and then type STEMM in the message area.

Food

It’s a hearty harvest

BETTER

and pumpkins are on the menu

We’ll have pumpkins for decorating and serve some pumpkin pies this fall, but more and more pumpkins are showing up on tables in new and interesting ways.

Delicious ways.

Scharfsinn/Shutterstock.com

Pumpkins may be big and bulky, but they are pretty easy to deal with using a few tricks. As summer turns the page to fall, we’ll turn the page to uncover great recipes that create hearty harvest dishes featuring those happy orange orbs.

www.beingbettermagazine.com / Fall 2017

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BETTER / Food

The warm up

Quick Pumpkin Spice Latte

A great start to your day on brisk autumn mornings or end-of-day treat.

Ingredients: 1 cup milk, divided 1 T sugar (or more as desired) 1 T pumpkin puree 1 t pumpkin pie spice 1/2 t vanilla 1/4 cup brewed espresso, coffee, or black tea 1. Whisk 1/2 cup milk, sugar, pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, and vanilla in a small saucepan over low heat. Simmer for 5 minutes.

2. Whisk in remaining milk then strain using a fine-mesh sieve, removing pulp.

3. Return milk mixture to saucepan and simmer, 2 minutes, whisking constantly.

4. Add coffee or tea and whisk briskly to create foam, 1 minute.

Serve: Top with whipped cream and a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice.

Take a dip

Pumpkin Hummus

Ingredients: 1 3/4 cups dry garbanzo beans (Or 32-oz of hummus) 1, 15 oz can pumpkin puree (NOT pumpkin pie filling) 5 oz lemon juice 1/3 cup olive oil 1/2 cup tahini paste (Sesame seed paste)

3 cloves minced garlic 1/2 t cinnamon 1/2 t nutmeg 1/2 t allspice Salt to taste

1. Cover the garbanzo beans in several inches of water and soak overnight. Or, in a large pot, bring the beans and water to a rolling

Latte by Fortyforks/Shutterstock.com; Pumpkin dip by zi3000/Shutterstock.com

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BETTER / Food boil over high heat. Turn off the heat, cover, and let stand one hour.

Drain and rinse.

2. Place the soaked beans into a large pan and cover with several inches of water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer until the beans are tender, 11/2 to 2 hours.

3. Refrigerate the beans and liquid until cold.

4. Drain the beans, saving the cooking liquid. Place the beans and 1/2 cup of the reserved cooking liquid into a blender. Puree until a smooth paste forms.

5. Add pumpkin puree, lemon juice, olive oil, tahini, garlic, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice.

Puree again until combined. Use additional cooking liquid as needed to get a smooth consistency.

Blend in a little salt to taste.

Peeling and cooking pumpkin made easy Clean. Cut your pumpkin in half and use a big metal spoon to gut it (scoop out all the seeds and goo).

Peel. You only need to peel the pumpkin if you are going to cook chunks of it ─ like in the skillet recipe below. You can cut the rind away raw, but if you soften it a bit it will be easier. After gutting it, add a little water to a microwave-safe dish 1. Peel and cut veggies into similarsized pieces.

2. Brush pieces with oil and put into a cast iron skillet. Scatter herbs on top.

Season with salt and pepper.

3. Cook over low heat for about an hour stirring once in a while. If you

and put one half cut-side down on the dish. Cook on high at 3 min. intervals. When a fork pierces the skin easily peeling will be much easier. Let it cool before you peel.

Puree. To make your own puree, use the above method and increase cooking time. Cook until flesh is soft - 10-20 min. When cool, scoop flesh out and puree in a blender. want to throw in some onion, toss it in about halfway through so it adds flavor but doesn’t get over cooked. Veggies will get deeply golden and should poke easily with a fork when ready.

Serve: Put it on a plate and dig in!

Serve: Drizzle with a little olive oil and sprinkle with paprika and chopped parsley. Dip veggies and pita chips.

Raid the garden

ISkillet by Liliya Kandrashevich/Shutterstock.com; Pumpkin by topseller/Shutterstock.com

Skillet roasted autumn vegetables with herbs

Ingredients: 5 lbs. assorted vegetables (Try pumpkin, squash, parsnips, beets, carrots, turnips, potatoes, sweet potato, and rutabagas) 3 T olive oil Fresh thyme, rosemary, or sage Onion Salt and pepper Do it right: You and everyone you feed this to will love it if you follow a few pointers.

• First, use a cast iron skillet. Cast iron handles and distributes heat perfectly so you can cook it without worrying about just burning it all.

• Cut your veggies all about the same size and choose ones that will cook in about the same time (see ingredient list). www.beingbettermagazine.com / Autumn 2017

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BETTER / Food

Gluten. Sorry, not a fad why Gud n Free exists

WITH MIKE ORLANDO

it was so hard to find a place where we could eat out, we thought we could do something about that. We created a restaurant where people with food allergies and sensitivities could go and not have to worry.”

Mike says, “For some people it’s life and death. Some places try to have some menu items, but contamination is such a risk.

Some people are so highly allergic that even a speck of wheat can be a problem.”

We do comfort food

People think because we are gluten and allergy free dining that our food is either weird or healthy. We actually make fast-food-style-items. When our kids want to go out to eat they want burgers and fries too.

One of Gud and Free’s signature items is their cheese balls. Delicious!

M

ad. Annoyed. “Gluten! Come on! That’s just a made up thing. A fad. It’s not real!” That’s how Mike Orlando felt when his daughter was diagnosed with celiac disease and told they would have to avoid gluten.

In the years since their 8-year-old daughter’s diagnosis of celiac disease, the Orlando family has learned a lot about food allergies.

“A lot of people think they have ‘a bad stomach,’ but a lot of times it’s due to a food allergy or they are food sensitive. My wife actually has an autoimmune disorder and we discovered that our older daughter had celiac too but was asystematic. Once we started eating the right things - avoiding the wrong things everybody was fine.”

When the Orlandos cook at home they don’t need to worry.

But who wants to eat at home all the time? “When we realized

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You can find Gud n Free on an app called Find Me Gluten Free. Mike says, “We get hugs all the time and people come from all over the country when they’re traveling through.

When people find out we are allergy free they can’t believe it.

We’ve had moms just cry. It is that hard to take your kids to eat somewhere.”

What is one misconception people have? “While we offer a variety of gluten-, nut-, and fish/shellfish-free foods, our food is for everyone and made fresh daily. We use quality ingredients to make sure it’s the best tasting.

So what’s Mike shooting for? “I’m a pretty simple guy. I love my family and I saw a way to help other families too.

That’s the kind of legacy I want to shoot for.”

Mike and Brenda with their three daughters.

Gud n Free is located in Leeds at 3120 Floyd Blvd, Sioux City, IA 712-226-3733 . Open Mon-Sat 11-8 pm. Sun 12-5 pm.

A Midwest favorite

Images via Shutterstock.com: Crockpot by Devrim PINAR; Browning meat by schankz; Onions by spaxiax; Ketchup&Mustard by Sergey Zhukov; Tavern by Brent Hofacker; PB Toast by Anna Mente

But what is it?

BETTER / Food

Fuel your body.

Snacks that do your body good.

Q&A Food

Q. Can I snack if I’m trying to lose weight?

A. You betcha. Eating between meals can actually help you lose weight if you do it right. This will boost your energy, fuel your brain, and kick your metabolism in gear. Plus you won’t feel cheated.

What is this popular Midwestern sandwich called?

Sloppy Joe Loose-meat

Plan a snack of less than 200 calories that has protein, fiber, and good carbs.

Tavern

Protein digests slowly which helps you feel satisfied longer. Try cheese sticks, yogurt, PB, nuts, eggs, chicken, or fish.

Maid-Rite

Fiber helps slow the release of energy you get from carbohydrates. Think berries, veggies, avocados, and beans.

T

he correct answer all depends on you. If you grew up in the Siouxland area you probably call them loose-meats or taverns. If you have connections to Des Moines and other parts of Iowa you eat Maid-Rites. If you go to Chicago and order any of those three they will have no clue what you’re talking about. There, it’s a sloppy joe - which strikes us here as strange since they aren’t drenched in tomato sauce. Not sure what they call a “real” sloppy joe.

Maid-Rite is actually a restaurant franchise whose specialty is the seasoned ground beef sandwich.

When a butcher developed the first sandwich a customer said, “Now that’s made just right!” and the name stuck.

Feed-a-crowd sandwiches

No matter what you call it, you can make these so easily and your friends will eat it up! This recipe makes about 25 good-sized sandwiches.

BROWN. Chop one large onion and put it in a large pan with 5 lbs. lean ground beef.

Cook until meat is browned. Drain fat.

Good Carbs. Whole grains, which also contain fiber, don’t burn off like overly processed grains so you stay energized longer. On the label it should list “whole” oats, wheat, etc. Veggies and fruit are also good carbs. Grab a whole wheat tortilla, fill with grilled fish, veggies, and a Greek yogurt dressing.

STIR IN. Add 1/2 c. ketchup, 3 T mustard, 2 t salt, 1 t pepper, 1 T accent, 3 T Worcestershire sauce, 1 c. water, and 3 T horseradish (optional).

COOK. Put meat mixture into a crock pot and cook on low for 5-6 hours.

Serve on hamburger buns. Add your own ketchup, mustard, onions, and pickles. www.beingbettermagazine.com / Autumn 2017

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Food Trucks

BETTER / Food

the love affair is only beginning

Food Truck Fridays downtown may be ending soon but your favorite mobile food vendors will still be around.

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Being Better magazine / Autumn 2017

usually be found in the Morningside area and our menu is constantly changing with new smoked treats.”

On the weekends they do catering for weddings and special events. As far as how long they’ll be out and about, Jeremy says, “It all depends on the weather. If it stays nice we may be out into November. But, even in the winter we are still smokin’ and we can bring it to you if you need something for an event.”

Food truck girls by nenetus/Shutterstock.com

year ago, Sarah Fish and four other working professionals came up with the idea for Food Truck Fridays and Sarah’s employer, Downtown Partners, made it a reality. Thanks to lots of community partners and sponsors it has grown tremendously in a year!

When it began last year, if you came to get some grub at lunchtime you had a choice of just four different trucks and you wouldn’t have to wait too long in line. Only around 75 people came to check things out. But each week it grew - both in truck vendors and customers.

This year, it’s a party every Friday!

Lunch starts at 11:00 and you better be in line if you don’t have a leisurely

lunch schedule. Around 800 to 1,000 people will be waiting for their favorite truck delicacies at more than a dozen vendor vehicles. It’s a fun time and the food is terrific.

Each vendor has focused cuisine and specialties. You can find food styles from south of the border to halfway around the globe. Tortillas, Indian tacos, pulled pork, specialty salads, sweet treats, and coffee are just the start.

But what’s a hungry, hardworking guy or gal to do when the trucks drive off at the end of August?

Not to worry, your favorite truck may just be around the corner. Most of them told us that finding them is easy with a quick click to their website or Facebook page.

Jeremy and Chris Baltushis, owners of Killer B’s BBQ, started their food truck when Jeremy retired from the Navy after 20 years. They told us they’ll be busy through the fall.

Jeremy says, “During the week we can

BETTER / Food created a cool, edgy environment at his spot. You may even see his crew dancing to the music belting out of the truck.

In addition to his mobile presence, Tyson actually has a Daga’s that’s a brick and mortar building. You can get the same great food at his restaurant in Winnebago, Nebraska anytime. He’s seriously considering opening a Daga’s in Sioux City next.

With the popularity of the food trucks, having them at your wedding or family reunion is booming. Jeremy, Stacy, and Tyson all stressed the importance of calling plenty early to book a food truck for your event.

Stacy Orndorff, owner of Heartland Coffee & Nosh, is passionate about giving opportunities to rural kids. Her truck is filled with young smiling faces eager to serve. Stacy’s truck will likely be out and about until the snow flies.

She says with a smile, “People love the food trucks, but realistically no one wants to stand in the cold to get coffee.”

“We’re at the Farmer’s Market through October and we’ve got some weddings we’ll be on site for. We are always talking about fun stuff on our Facebook page and we do weekly giveaways too.

Sometimes we even do some yoga at the truck before we get busy.”

Daga’s Mexican Grill keeps things fun too. Owner Tyson Sanchez has

So, no need to be sad that the Food Truck Fridays will end for the season.

The trucks aren’t leaving, they’re just finding new roads to keep things interesting. See you there!

Top: Jeremy Baltushis of Killer B’s BBQ suggests the B-Sting. It’s a smoked cheeseburger topped with pulled pork. Jeremy says everything is smoked on site. Except the water.

Above: Heartland Coffee & Nosh’s proprietor Stacy Orndorff offers healthy alternatives for snacks and light meals. The must try at their truck is the Avocado Bowl - get it with an egg for breakfast.

Left: Daga’s Mexican Grill is owned by Tyson Sanchez. Their specialty is the Taco Queso - not your normal taco.

Food Truck Fridays is held on 4th Street between Jackson and Jones through August 25th. Check out their Facebook page for more information www.facebook.com/Siouxcityfoodtrucks. Find your favorite trucks on their websites or Facebook pages to find their next location. www.beingbettermagazine.com / Autumn 2017

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BETTER / Food

Food focus

[

25 percent of an apple’s volume is air ─ that’s why they float.

Abundant Apples There really was a Johnny Appleseed. His name was John Chapman. His dream was to produce so many apples that no one would ever go hungry. Historians believe he was actually a businessman who spent nearly fifty years developing land for thousands of apple trees. That was in the late 1700s. Today, apples are in abundance and are the most consumed fruit in America.

Apple facts

• 2,500 varieties of apples are grown in the United States. 7,500 varieties throughout the world.

• Most apples are still picked by hand.

• Apple trees originated in Central Asia.

• China is the leading apple producer.

• A standard-size apple tree starts bearing fruit 8-10 years after it’s planted. A dwarf tree starts bearing in 3-5 years.

• Granny Smith apples are named for an Australian woman named Maria Ann Smith.

Eat it or have a facial

Apples with oatmeal and honey makes a great breakfast, but it also makes a great facial. The apple’s pectin is great for inflammation and wrinkles, and its alphahydroxy acids also work wonders on skin.

Grate half a peeled and cored apple and mix with one tablespoon each rolled oats, plain yogurt, and honey. Slather on your face and let sit it for 10 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

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Crockpot apple dessert just 3 ingredient

Great for a crowd

This is a really quick dessert and nearly impossible to mess up. Enjoy! *Plan ahead and freeze sliced apples in a gallon freezer bag to serve 10 or more.

Want less, just cut everything in half.

Ingredients: 8-10 apples* peeled, cored, and sliced 1 box spice cake mix 1 stick butter Directions: Spray your Crockpot with non-stick cooking spray. Add sliced apples.

Evenly sprinkle dry cake mix over the top. Cut butter into chunks and toss on top. Cover and cook on high for about 21/2 hours. Don’t stir.

Serve with ice cream or whipped cream.

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Being Better magazine / Autumn 2017

Apple basket by RadVila/Shutterstock.com; Apple mixture by Julia Sudnitskaya/Shutterstock.com; Applesauce by Brent Hofacker/Shutterstock.com; Apple dessert by Denise Torres/Shutterstock.com

A bushel of apples weighs 42 pounds, and yields 20-24 quarts of applesauce. A peck of apples weighs 10.5 pounds.

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