Smart Living An Exclusive Publication of
ICONIC MODELS
Take Center Stage
UNIQUE & FUN
CRUISES
PILATES VS. YOGA HEALTHY & TASTY
APPETIZERS
Smart Living An Exclusive Publication of
ICONIC MODELS
Take Center Stage
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A shift is under way in this most imageobsessed of businesses. Mature models, once an afterthought of the youth-crazed, wrinkle-resistant beauty industry, but suddenly they are on center stage.
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EUROPEAN RIVER CRUISES Off the Beaten Track
DON’T MISS . . .
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Smart Living Recipes & Pe Ople
PILATES VS.YOGA
The Love Affair with
VALENTINE CARDS
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WelcOme tO the first editiOn Of Smart Living. This is a monthly publication for smart and stylish women and men who look to Orchard Brands for clothing, footwear, household and health products. The magazine touches on your interests and needs: stories about lifestyle, fashion, health and fitness, food, travel, finance, and community. We see Smart Living as part of the mission we embrace every day, to give you world class products, service and satisfaction through out many brands. There will also be lots of opportunities to send in your recipes, travel photos, and more to earn great discounts from your favorite product lines.
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– Neale AttenbOrOugh
Chairman and CEO Orchard Brands
YOUR FINANCES Pay Now or Pay Later
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Healthy & Tasty
APPETIZERS
ICONIC MODELS
Take Center Stage For the fashion model, professional life expectancy is short and sweet. When asked about the prospects of a group of twentysomethings, Cathy Gould, the renowned director of Elite Model Management, once famously said: “They are too old to succeed in a field where much of the talent is recruited out of school.”
Times are Changing.
In fact, a shift is under way in this most image-obsessed of businesses. Mature models, once an afterthought of the youthcrazed, wrinkle-resistant beauty industry, are suddenly on center stage. Detroit-born Christie Brinkley (pictured left), 56, has become a Cover Girl again, saying in ads, “ I don’t want to be younger. I just want to look it.” “The market for older models has exploded,” says Ginni Conquest, co-director of the sophisticated women’s division at Wilhelmina Models in New York. “It’s our fastest-growing area, and it’s a first for the industry.”
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Christie Brinkley, 56
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Karen Graham, 55,
was the face of Estée Lauder from 1970 to 1985 but quit at age 40 because “I didn't want to see myself going downhill in the profession,” says Graham. Two years ago, however, the Estée Lauder company asked her to come back. “She embodies everything beautiful about this stage in a woman’s life—vitality, intelligence and, most of all, a passion for life,” says Lauder president Dan Brestle. Graham now models for a line devoted to older women. It's insulting when products for someone my age are modeled by 17-year-olds,” says Graham. “You don't have to be flawless to be beautiful. Laugh lines are good.”
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ICONIC MODELS Take Center Stage
Lauren Hutton
Twiggy
After being discovered in 1966 by Diana Vreeland, Vogue’s then editor-in-chief, Hutton became a regular cover girl for the magazine. She would go on to front the fashion bible more than 25 times. It's been over 40 years since Lauren’s first photograph. Now, busier than ever, she is still practicing her craft appearing in commercials, catalogs and magazines.
Another welcome comeback is that of Britain’s original supermodel Twiggy, 57. Last year she helped to revive one of the island nation’s most enduring High Street retailers. Marks & Spencer's fortune began to improve last October when Twiggy – four decades after her discovery as a 16-year-old in 1966 — was hired for tv spots and billboards promoting the store's new range.
Why the mO ve tO mature mO dels? It’s all about demographics and style. The trend is driven, first, by the $2 trillion spending power of these experienced women who make up a high-spending 26 percent of the population. After all, what woman wants to buy moisturizer from a model who’s too young to order a martini? And, second, notions of age are becoming turned on their head as women live smart, look good, and age with a style, grace and energy that past generations have not known. 6 SMART LIVING
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EUROPEAN RIVER CRUISES
Off the Beaten Track
Vacationers can tour European cities by traveling through the shallow waters of France, Germany, Austria, and Hungary. The advantages of such cruises, which can run from luxury to discount, include smaller groups, a slower pace and a more textured look at European countrysides off the major tourist routes. 8 SMART LIVING
Think you're ready for a river cruise?
Ask yO urself if are yO u a . . . Hare or tortoise? River cruises are ideal for those seeking slowerpaced trips, says Nancy Yale, owner of Cruise Resort & World Travel in Fairfield, Connecticut. Since they have fewer passengers than cruise ships (the average is 100 to 300 people), you won't feel rushed along in large groups.
Spring breaker or mature vacationer? River cruises typically appeal to those over 50 who've seen major tourist attractions and now want to delve into the countryside, says travel specialist Jamison Bachrach, owner of Wandering Puffin in Plymouth, Minnesota. When cruising a river, you probably won't have to contend with rowdy college kids tossing back shots at the bar. Another bonus: You won't experience motion sickness, because ships sail in shallow waters devoid of waves. But you should know that river cruises include fewer onboard amenities than ocean cruises, Yale says. River ships are floating hotels, not floating resorts, so don't expect midnight buffets, Broadway revues, or casinos.
Unathletic traveler or outdoor enthusiast? Forget about spending your days inside playing bridge—river cruises can include excursions that involve lots of physical activity. Peter Deilmann Cruises is known for theme trips that appeal to nature-loving types, from cyclists and gardeners to hikers and golfers. Just think about the bragging rights you'll gain when you
tee off at Gouverneur Golf Resort, an 18-hole course built around the moated Château du Breuil in Monthieux, France. And both AMA Waterways and Uniworld provide free bicycles you can grab for a quick countryside pedal.
Spendthrift or smart shopper? Excluding discounts and airfare, and depending on the ship and itinerary, expect to spend $200 to $300 per day. Though it may seem high, that price includes your stateroom, gourmet meals onboard, and shore excursions (which last from half a day to a full day). That rate may also include Wi-Fi service, lectures, and cultural activities such as tours or wine tastings in each port—so if you book a river cruise, you can end up with a nice package deal. Plus, you'll be treated to spectacular views that are included with your booking, since these cruises offer glimpses of multiple cities. Instead of miles of ocean between ports, you can see castles, monuments, pretty countryside, or charming villages as you sail.
Homebody or adventurer? River cruises aren't for those who prefer the familiar; plan on lots of walking during trips and expect to immerse yourself in cultural shoreside activities. Many cruise lines, including Avalon Waterways and Uniworld, boast winetasting excursions in regions such as Burgundy and Provence. And a 14-night trip from Amsterdam to Budapest with Viking may feature glass-blowing demonstrations and a visit to the site of the Nuremberg trials. Plus, one of Tauck World Discovery's Danube trips offers a private dinner in a Viennese palace.
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Smart Living Vacation “ My husband and I tO O k our first trip in 20 years to the South of France. This dress is cO O l and cO mfO rtable. It has the rO O miest, mO st carefree fit. And the best part is it dO esn’t wrinkle!” —Tammy WinsO n, BangO r, Maine Tammy received a
$10 GIFT CERTIFICATE to use towards her next Tog Shop purchase.
Send us your favorite photos and stories from your travels and we will send you a gift certificate towards a purchase from your favorite Orchard Brands catalog!
“ I bO ught this UV-prO tective shirt from Sahalie befO re my trip tO Bermuda. It is a great cO ver up with sun prO tectiO n all rO lled up in O ne. It is a must have fO r an vacatiO n! —Beth Parker, Austin. Texas
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At first blush, the two exercise regimens seem quite similar. They do share some commonalities. Both use a similar posture, both focus on breathing, both believe that you must think of the body as a whole, understanding how the many parts that make up a human being are linked together, and both have respect for the mind-body connection. Both are done barefoot and both firmly reject the traditional exercise approach of focusing on one muscle or muscle group at a time. The differences between Pilates and Yoga, however, are even greater than the similarities.
Pilates vs. Yoga
There is a tremendous amount of excitement about Pilates and about Yoga, and even about doing these two systems together. There is also a lot of confusion about how they differ.
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pilates
yO ga
The primary goal of Pilates is to improve the
This contrasts with Yoga, which is centered
core strength of the body: the abdominal
on the spiritual and is more of a lifestyle
muscles, the lower back and the buttocks.
than an exercise regime. Yoga is essentially
To that end, Pilates incorporates lots of
the attempt to unify mind, body and spirit,
workouts on both mat and machines. The
with attention to diet, breathing, relaxation
progression of exercise consists of twisting,
and meditation. Clearly, one could write
stretching, pushing, pulling and rolling
a book about the religious and spiritual
movements. The excercises are meant to
nature of Yoga and its “eight limbs� approach
build strength, increase flexibility and
to reaching greater knowledge of being
promote mind and body control. There is
and enlightenment. Staying in a fitness
an emphasis on concentration intended to
setting for purposes of this article, Yoga
assure proper positions, prevent injury,
focuses more than Pilates on the importance
and increase the exercise’s effectiveness.
of flexibility and strength through stability
Again, the emphasis for founder, Joseph
and mobility. The body is placed in various
Pilates, is on physical change, even when
positions, often named after nature, that
the mind is being trained. The promise is a
increase strength in parts of the body and
new sense of body control and strength
flexibility in other parts.
after 10, 20 or 30 sessions.
An interesting new development in the Pilates versus Yoga debate is the growing movement among fitness experts to recommend that people use both systems. Here, they accentuate how Pilates and Yoga can be complimentary in building strength for mind and body.
Create yO ur O wn custO mized yO ga/pilates wO rkO ut here SMART LIVING 13
THE LOVE AFFAIR WITH
Valentine’s Day
One billion valentine cards are sent each year, making Valentine's Day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year just behind Christmas. So says the Greeting Card Association. In the United States, this phenomenon is not the result of Cupid but can be traced to a single female entrepreneur named Esther Allen Howland. Howland, who lived from 1828-1904, is known as the Mother of the American Valentine’s Day. Her efforts sparked a century-long tradition of expressing your love through champagne, chocolates, flowers and all things sweet. Here is the love story and a uniquely American one at that. The Howland family operated a book and stationery store in Worcester MA. As a young student at Mount Holyoke seminary, Esther had been exposed to the annual Valentine celebrations. After graduating at the age of nineteen, she received an intricate English Valentine from one of her fathers’ business acquaintances, and felt confident that she could make a better one. Howland persuaded her father to order paper and supplies, she whipped up a dozen samples, and her brother included them in a catalog for his next sales trip. Hoping to recoup their couple of hundred dollar investment, the family was shocked when the brother returned with thousands of dollars in advance sales. To fulfill these sales, Howland hired four
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female friends to assist her, setting up shop in her parents house. An assembly line was set up: seated at a long table one person would cut out small colored lithographs of sentimental objects, the next person in line would lay them onto a glazed paper background, the third person assembled the layers of lace paper that framed the central design, and the fourth person pasted down a printed sentiment, normally inside the card or underneath a flap where only the recipient could see it. Howland was in charge of quality control and getting them to the store. By the end of 1849, Esther Howland was firmly launched in the valentine business. As the years passed, the business flourished.
Esther Allen Howland is knO wn as the MO ther O f the American Valentine’s Day. A few O f her many creatiO ns can be seen belO w. The valentines were beautiful — and successful. The work force kept increasing and had to move to larger quarters on the Howland’s third floor. Among her ingenious innovations are the “lift-up” design, which combined several layers of lace paper to give a sense of depth to the central picture, and the use of small pieces of folded paper that acted like an accordion pleat, lifting up the lace from the main body of the valentine and holding it there. This growing cottage industry touched a responsive chord in sentimental nineteenthcentury Americans and became increasingly popular. In 1880, Howland sold out to the George C. Whitney Company, which became the largest valentine factory in the world. She lived until 1904 — unmarried, ironically — but with an enormous legacy of having spread the gospel of romance and Valentine’s Day to her countrymen.
Our readers share their cherished Valentine’s Day cards with us. Send in a picture of a card from your most memorable occasions to share with the Smart Living community !
“My first bO yfriend gave this tO me and I’ve kept it all these years!” – Stella Pritchard, Santa Fe, NM
“My grandsO n gave me this card last Valentine’s Day. It was a total surprise and the best gift I’ve ever received.” – Molly Lewis, MontgO mery, Alabama
A lot of financial pros are eager (maybe too eager) for you to switch, and the government has chipped in with a one-time incentive.
YOUR FINANCES
The ABC’s of the RO th IRA
If your banker, broker, or tax adviser hasn't yet pitched you on moving money from your individual retirement account to a Roth IRA, expect a call. As of January 1, anyone, regardless of income, can transfer funds from a traditional IRA, whose withdrawals are taxed, to a Roth, whose withdrawals aren't.
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It works like this: if you withdraw money from your IRA to transfer it to a Roth in 2010, you can choose to pay the income taxes on that withdrawal over two years, with the tax returns you'll file for 2011 and 2012. Postponing payment blunts the immediate cost of conversion but carries its own risk—that your income tax rates for those years will turn out to be higher. While deciding on the wisdom of a Roth retirement account can get complicated, its main selling point is simple: if you follow the rules, your withdrawals will be tax free. With a traditional IRA, by contrast, you pay no income tax on amounts you contribute, but your withdrawals in retirement
will be taxable. In effect, the government is your silent partner in a traditional account, its stake in your money growing along with yours. By converting a traditional IRA to a Roth, you buy out that partner and become the sole owner of your nest egg: all its future growth will belong to you.
Three Questions to Ask
Whatever you may hear about the appeal of turning a traditional IRA into a Roth, there's no one-size-fits-all answer. Basically, you're determining if you should pay taxes on your nest egg now or later. CONSIDER A ROTH CONVERSION ONLY IF YOU ANSWER YES TO THESE QUESTIONS:
$100,000 IRA. That leaves only $75,000 to earn tax-free income in the Roth.
3. Have yO u taken care O f higher financial priO rities? Consider your entire situation. If your spouse was just laid off or you're still paying tuition bills, don’t spend your cash on a Roth conversion. If you’re under 59 1/2, you'll pay a 10 percent penalty for withdrawing converted Roth funds within five years of setting up the account.
Many free online calculators aim to help you gauge the wisdom of a conversion. But you really need a professional’s help to make this
1. Is your persO nal tax rate likely to rise in retirement? For many people the answer is no. If you’re in your late 50s and earn a substantial income, you're in a high tax bracket now, but your rate may decline after you stop working. You don't want to pay hefty taxes now on money you can withdraw less expensively later
2. DO yO u have cash O utside the IRA tO pay the taxes you'd O we? You defeat your purpose if you steal from your retirement savings to pay the taxes. Let’s say you pay the tax with $25,000 from a
decision. Online calculators give you at best a rough idea of whether you would come out ahead. The bottom line: If you’re seriously considering a conversion, consult with a certified financial planner or tax accountant.
Click here fO r the key cO nversion rules tO fO llO w Click here fO r a RO th IRA cO nversiO n calculatO r
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Appetizers
healthy & tasty
Tasty, diverse, fun, and you’re usually allowed to eat them with your
hands. Many of our friends would rather munch on them all night than sit down to an entree. Unfortunately, they are often fattening, salty, greasy and, in our health-obsessed society, are seldom served any more.
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1. 2.
Here are sO me thO ughts abO ut hO w tO keep appetizers O n the menu as part O f a healthy meal.
4. 5.
3.
Instead of crackers or chips as the base for spreads, find lighter alternatives. Pita, tortilla chips, lettuce leaves, and sliced squash or cucumber do the job nicely.
use fat free yogurt instead of sour cream as the basis for dips or when making finger foods such as deviled eggs.
6.
Homemade fresh salsa is a big favorite; again, team up with low fat tortilla chips.
Be creative with a tray of raw veggies. Mix and match in colors, and use a variety of shapes and sizes such as cherry tomatoes, long cut cucumbers, bell paper squares.
For quiches and similar dishes, skip the crust. There are plenty of crustless recipes.
serve cold shrimp or a variety of sushi rolls; they’re light, easy, portable and everyone loves them.
Almost every popular appetizer, from veggie pizzas to pigs-in-blankets, can be prepared in a low call way; check out recipes in books or online. While you’re thinking healthy, why not pair the appetizers with low calorie drinks like unsweetened ice tea, bubbly water or even diet soda or wine — instead of sugary drinks, beer or calorie-packed hard liquor and cocktails.
On the next page are sO me reader favO rites O r click here fO r additional healthy appetizer recipes SMART LIVING 19
Smart Living Reader’s Recipes
Here are some favorite recipes we’ve collected from readers.
Directions Place the eggs into a saucepan in a single layer and fill with water to cover the eggs by 1 inch. Cover the saucepan and bring the water to a boil; remove from the heat and let the eggs stand in the hot water for 15 minutes. Drain the hot water and cool the eggs under cold running water in the sink; peel the cooled eggs.
Perfect Deviled Eggs Ingredients
8 eggs 1/3 cup mayonnaise 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce 2 tablespoons cream-style horseradish sauce 1 drop hot pepper sauce, or to taste salt and pepper to taste 1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes, for garnish 1 teaspoon paprika, for garnish
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Cut the chilled eggs in half lengthwise. Place the yolks into a mixing bowl and set the whites aside. Mash the yolks with a fork until smooth; stir in the mayonnaise, Worcestershire sauce, horseradish sauce, hot sauce, salt, and pepper. Spoon the yolk mixture into a heavy plastic bag; snip a corner off the bag to create a 1/2-inch opening. Pipe the yolks into the egg white halves. Sprinkle with parsley and paprika to garnish.
This recipe was sent in by lucky winner Amy Frankel of Nashville TN. For sending us her recipe she received a
$25 GIFT CARD. Send in yO ur favO rite recipes and receive a $25 gift card tO yO ur favO rite Orchard Brands catalO g.
Easy Mini Quiches
5-Minute Guacamole
12 slices bread 1 onion, grated 1/2 cup shredded Swiss cheese 1 cup milk 4 eggs 1 teaspoon dry mustard 1 pinch black pepper
1 medium ripe avocado, peeled and cubed
Ingredients
Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease 12 muffin tins. Trim or cut bread into circles. Place circles in bottom of muffin tins. Distribute the onion and shredded cheese evenly between the muffin tins. In a medium bowl, combine milk, eggs, mustard and pepper. Divide between the muffin tins.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon salsa 1 clove garlic, peeled 1/4 teaspoon salt
Directions
In a food processor, combine all ingredients; cover and process until smooth. Transfer to a small bowl; serve immediately.
Sent by Mandy Siegel, Brookline, MA Party Traveler Carrier
Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a quiche comes out clean.
Sent by Laurie RichardsO n, MinneapO lis MN
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No need to spend money on separate carriers for chips and dip, deviled eggs, cookies or muffins that crowd your cupboards. This one party traveler carrier has interchangeable inserts so you can change it as your needs change.
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Smart Living PEOPLE
Share yO ur favO rite family phO tO s and memO ries with the Smart Living cO mmunity! If we run yO ur picture O r stO ry yO u’ll receive a $10 gift certificate tO O ne O f the many Orchard Bran ds!
Grandma gO es G rO uchO
The ScO tt Family ReuniO n Christ mas a t Memories of Mama’s Perpetual Pesto
the BO
rellis
“My mO m grew cO piO us amO unts O f basil and this was a summer staple. She’d alsO freeze it and we’d have it during the cO lder mO nths as well.”
– LUCY SIMMONS. ATLANTA GA
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