WOW Spring 2012 by Globe Gazette

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DIABETIC SHOES We carry a large selection of styles to choose from. Can’t come to us? We’ll come to you for an in-home ﬁtting! Call the Home Medical Dept. today to set up an appointment. If you have diabetes and Medicare, you may be eligible for diabetic shoes at NO OUT OF POCKET COST!

OXYGEN & CPAP SUPPLIES We offer oxygen and CPAP supplies. If you or someone you know suffers from sleep apnea or other respiratory problems, we can help!

HOME CARE EQUIPMENT We also carry a large selection of wheel chairs, scooters, rolators, canes, and aids for daily living!

Our highly trained and professional staff is here to assist you! 875 4th St. SW, Mason City, IA 50401 MS-68217

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contents SPRING 2012 On the cover The Beehive Waxing and Skincare Studio in Forest City also offers Vajazzling. — Photo by Jake Rajewsky

features

15 26 Preparing for baby

In Every Issue 29 Columnist Michelle Sprout Murray writes about Saturday nights.

About Us EDITORIAL and BUSINESS OFFICE WOW magazine 300 N. Washington Ave. Box 271 Mason City, IA 50402-0271 800-421-0524 www.GLOBEGAZETTE.COM/WOW Publisher/Editor: Howard Query 641-421-0507, howard.query@lee.net Advertising Director: Greg Wilderman 641-421-0545, greg.wilderman@lee.net Advertising Coordinators: Lynette Harrington 641-421-0586 lynette.harrington@lee.net Linda Hawk 641-421-0522 linda.hawk@lee.net Managing Editor: Karen Jacobs 641-421-0529, karen.jacobs@lee.net WOW is published four times a year by the Globe Gazette.

36 Columnist Ann-Marie Berg addresses relational aggression. 30 What’s Up, Down There? Medical experts answer questions women often are too embarrassed to ask.

2 You look fabulous! Three lucky women win head-to-toe makeovers.

20 15 Taking the cake Cupcakes have come a long way over the years.

20 Date night revival Goodbye, fuzzy slippers and hello to a fun night out.

GLOBE

24 Secrets of dietitians Health care professionals share what makes them love their jobs, what they’d like to change.

32 2

A music teacher by day, Betsy Neerhof uses her talents to entertain crowds across North Iowa.

34 34 Wax it ... dye it ... bling it

GA Z E T T E

1 GLOBEGAZETTE.COM/WOW SPRING 2012

32 Musician extraordinaire

7 Food Fight Three teams bring their best recipes to the WOW Women’s Expo Food Fight Competition.

Planning for the arrival of a child also includes planning to be away from work for a period of time for many women.

While facial waxing remains the most popular service, women are getting more creative.

39 The nose knows ... What does your choice of perfume or candle say about your personality?

You look fabulous! Three lucky women win head-to-toe makeovers at the WOW Women’s Expo 2

GLOBEGAZETTE.COM/WOW SPRING 2012

By CAITLIN HAMILTON photos JAKE RAJEWSKY

Melissa Abele 28, stay-at-home mother of two young children

For Melissa Abele, the answer was simple. “What’s my current beauty routine? Nothing,” she said. Abele, a stay-at-home mom of two young children, said the makeover she won from WOW magazine was needed to provide some much needed “me time.” “The only thing I ever do is hair cut and a box color at home,” Abele said. “I go to church weekly, but that’s about all I get out and do.” While Abele said she wants to be comfortable at home, she was ready to improve her personal style from sweats and tank tops. “When I do get dressed up, I wanted something different,” she said. Abele described herself as “pretty easygoing,” but said she was nervous about the drastic change to her hair. “I’ve never done anything like this,” Abele said. “I’ve dyed my hair dark one time.” Jan Thilges, owner of Head Quarters salon in Mason City, said she kept Abele’s youth and lifestyle in mind. “We want to work with her curls and bring richness,” said Thilges of Abele’s former box blonde, straightened locks. The length of Abele’s new look was determined by how much needed to be cut off to donate to Locks of Love, a charity that provides wigs for cancer patients. Abele donated a total of 12 inches of hair. “That’s part of the reason why I’m cutting it,” Abele said. “I can’t imagine if my child didn’t have any hair. I want to give someone a chance at a normal life.” Because of the dramatic cut, esthetician Jenna Krueger said Abele’s makeup was kept more natural, with bronzer and a plum lip color to prepare Abele for spring. Lillian’s of Clear Lake outfitted Abele for her makeover, with a light pink, long-sleeved Kavio burnout T-shirt under a sweater top by M. Rena. She wore denim by LA Idol, a welcome change for the mom, said Twyla Steenblock of Lillian’s. “She had been in sweats for so long she said it was nice for her to be wearing jeans again,” Steenblock said. “The jeans have just enough stretch to make them move easily and resemble that comfortable feeling.” Abele accessorized with a heart necklace and Lillian’s handbag. Abele remained her happy self after her debut. “I’ve never had short hair. This is the shortest it’s ever been,” she said. “But am I really going to miss it? No.” But Abele’s family wasn’t far from her mind. “I’m interested to see how my 2-year-old reacts,” she said. “It’ll be fun for all of us to experience this together.” GLOBEGAZETTE.COM/WOW SPRING 2012

Danielle Hutchison 22, elementary teacher

Danielle Hutchison is only 22, but she has 18 kids. As the new kindergarten teacher at Newman Catholic Elementary School, Hutchison kept her class of 18 in mind. “I wanted to have a new, more professional look,” Hutchison said. “For teaching I want to look older.” When she’s not teaching, Hutchison said, her style is very casual, and when in front of the classroom she sticks to basic sweaters and dress pants. Brandis Turnbull, owner of Designs on the Plaza in Mason City, provided a new beauty regimen for Hutchison. “We thought she was a little too pretty for a makeover,” Turnbull said. “But now I think she looks amazing.” Turnbull cut off 6 inches of Hutchison’s formerly long, dark hair and brightened it up with ombre highlights. “We put in tons of highlights,” Turnbull said. The team at Designs on the Plaza also tossed some old makeup habits of the recent college graduate. “She was still doing the college, black eyeliner,” Turnbull said. Hutchison’s makeover outfit was provided by Lillian’s of Clear Lake, and pushed the teacher to try a colorful, breezy style, said Twyla Steenblock. “We were keeping it a little more dressy,” Steenblock said. “Fun, yet dressy. She’s a gorgeous girl.” Hutchison wore a multicolored Bhag’s Boho tunic with a charcoal corset camisole by M. Rena underneath and jeans by LA Idol. A long, orange metallic necklace and gold, black and grey zebra print handbag by Lillian’s completed Hutchison’s new look. “I feel awesome. I love it,” said a glowing Hutchison as she clutched her “before” photo from that morning, that showed a pony-tailed brunette in a sweatshirt. Hutchison complimented her stylists for the fresh look achieved for her “new chapter.” “The girls did a great job,” she said. “I’m definitely going back to that salon from now on.”

GLOBEGAZETTE.COM/WOW SPRING 2012

Sheila Wolford 40, accountant, mother of 3

After losing 50 pounds because of a medical condition, Sheila Wolford said she altered a lot of what entered her body. By winning a makeover from WOW Magazine, Wolford was able to fix up the outside, too. “I’m ready to change, grow and learn how to accentuate my new body,” Wolford said in her application for the makeover. As an accountant, Wolford said it is no longer appropriate to wear her size 16 clothing on her new size 10 frame. “Everything I have is just baggy,” she said. “I don’t really know how to dress this new body.” For Wolford, her day of pampering was as much about learning as it was about relaxing. “I grew up on a farm with an outhouse until I was 12,” she said. “I never did makeup. I didn’t really know how to put it on.” Brenda Adams, the owner of Color Couture in Mason City, was Wolford’s stylist for the day. Adams said Wolford’s willingness to learn was a huge asset during her consultation. “She was a quick learner and asked good questions,” Adams said. “She was a great client.” Adams chose to keep the majority of Wolford’s length, adding some long layers throughout. An ombre technique was used for new hair color. “The hair is darker toward the scalp and melts into a sun-kissed blonde on the ends,” Adams said. After a full beauty consultation for the beauty beginner, Adams discovered warm makeup colors to highlight Wolford’s “fantastic features.” “The first thing I noticed was how pretty her eyes were,” Adams said. Wolford made her debut in a light tan, two-piece Alfred Angelo dress with ruching across the midsection. Dyeable Touch-Ups shoes in silver completed Wolford’s new look. Formalities owner Angie Lien, Wolford’s wardrobe stylist for the day, chose a timeless, dressier look to equip Wolford for any future weddings for her three children, ages 22, 11 and eight. “At her age, it’s something we could all shop for,” Lien said. “It fit her perfectly.”

GLOBEGAZETTE.COM/WOW SPRING 2012

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Food Fight! Judges were Jeff McLaughlin, Lisa Lane, Kathy Barlas and Laurie Buchanan. Team Hy-Vee (top) included Dave Clark and Bill Kingston. Team Pro-Build (above right) included Kim Moray and Seth Thackeray of A Delish Dish catering in Clear Lake. Team McCloskey Appliance included Joe and Kim Beland of TippyCanoe BBQ Crew in St. Ansgar.

By KRISTIN BUEHNER photos JAKE RAJEWSKY

Cooking competition takes center stage during WOW Women’s Expo

Southwest Steak Salad with Sweet Potato Chips and Tomatillo Salsa won the day for chefs Joe and Kim Beland in the 2012 WOW Women’s Expo Third Annual Food Fight competition. The Belands, of TippyCanoe BBQ Crew in St. Ansgar, were sponsored by McCloskey Appliance in Mason City. They received a trophy, a $100 Hy-Vee gift card and a full-page, black and white ad in the Globe Gazette for their charity, Opportunity Village, courtesy of Hy-Vee.

GLOBEGAZETTE.COM/WOW SPRING 2012

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“We took a pretty simple approach,” Joe Beland said after the event, held in Center Court in Southbridge Mall. “We made something you could make at home and have it taste really well. There were no fancy ingredients. It was pretty straightforward.” Second place went to the Hy-Vee team, Dave Clark and Bill Kingston, competing on behalf of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Their menu consisted of Blackened Flat Iron Steak with Cabernet Sauce, Sweet Potato Bisque and Fried Green Tomatillos with Salsa Verde Fresca. Third place was won by Kim Moray and Seth Thackeray, of A Delish Dish catering in Clear Lake. Sponsored by Pro-Build, they competed on behalf of the Mason City YMCA. They prepared Flat Iron Steak and WOW Relish with Horseradish Cream on Wilted Collard Greens and, on the side, a Sweet Potato Pie Shake. Teams were provided flat Iron steak, collard greens, tomatillos and sweet potatoes, courtesy of Hy-Vee, and challenged to come up with their own recipes for a two-dish meal. They were allowed to use other ingredients, such as spices, as needed. The chefs had just 40 minutes to cook and present the results of their efforts on 11-inch white plates for judging. The aroma of sizzling seasoned beef drifted through the demonstration area before an appreciative audience throughout the event. The McCloskey team, the first to begin the staggered competition, was the first to submthe team’s finished dinner to the judges. Beland, a master barbequer, said he put a lot of seasoning on the steak to give it flavor. “The collard greens have a ton of flavor, too,” he said. “We cooked

How the food was judged The judges scored the food by assigning a number between 1 and 9, with 9 being the highest. The food was judged on four criteria: taste: flavor, texture; appearance: presentation on the plate; creativity: ingenuity of use of ingredients with seasonings; preparation: easy enough for a regular person to make.

them in the same pan as we cooked the steak.” Judge Kathy Barlas, formerly of The Hanford Inn and Prime ‘N Wine, said she liked the presentation and that she could taste the cilantro in the Sweet Potato Chips. “It’s wonderful,” Barlas said. “It’s a nice, varied menu. I like it a lot. Everything is tasty. It’s not really bland and not over-seasoned.” “It’s very good. It’s awesome,” said Judge Jeff McLaughlin, head chef at the Clarion Inn. Judge Laurie Buchanan, owner of Butchers Steakhouse, said the food was colorful and had lots of different textures. “It’s not overpowering,” she said. “Mystery judge” Lisa Lane, who was recruited from the audience, said she especially liked the Sweet Potato Chips. The judges liked the “gorgeous” presentation of the Hy-Vee team’s menu, too, and raved about the Sweet Potato Bisque. “A lot of thought went into their recipes,” they said.

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The panel of judges The judging panel was a mix of professionals and food aficionados. • Returning judge Kathy Barlas is best known as head cook of banquet facilities at the former Hanford Inn. • Jeff McLaughlin is head chef at the Clarion Inn with restaurant and banquet experience. He is also a member of the Army Reserve Culinary Arts Team that competes and has earned numerous medals. • Laurie Buchanan is owner of Butchers Steakhouse and has worked in the food industry for several years. • Mystery Judge Lisa Lane, owner of Styling Lane in Mason City, was chosen at random from the crowd.

“Definitely the bisque is the best part of the dish,” said Barlas. Of the menu presented by the ProBuild team, McLaughlin said, “It’s all good. It’s very good.” But the Sweet Potato Pie Shake, with toasted marshmallow slices, was everybody’s favorite item on the plate. “This is awesome,” Buchanan said of the dessert. Announcer Wolf Bowers, of KIA-FM “The Country Moose” Radio, kept things moving throughout, kidding with the chefs, the judges and the audience. “It has been a very tense and tough competition,” he told the audience. Mason Cityans Georgia Clark and Brenda Currier said they had enjoyed watching the Food Fight and sampling all the food.

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“They’re all very tasty,” Currier said of the menu items. “The textures are different. It’s interesting the variety of ways you can fix one item.” “I think it’s fun to see how different groups use the same ingredients to come up with different foods,” Clark said. “It would be hard to have that time crunch. I couldn’t do it.”

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Joe and Kim Beland took home the first-place trophy.

Heat oil in heavy skillet to approximately 325 degrees. Peel sweet potatoes and thinly slice with mandolin slicer. Cook in oil until golden and firm but do not over brown. Drain on paper towels and sprinkle with the southwest seasoning. Let cool. In bowl mix together pepper, onion, tomatillos and cilantro. Squeeze the juice from the lime over the ingredients and mix together. Serve with the sweet potato chips. — Joe and Kim Beland, competing for McCloskey Appliance

Blackened Flat Iron with Cabernet Sauce 8 ounces flat iron steak 1/4 cup butter, unsalted Deck Project Steakhouse Seasoning Season flat Iron thoroughly on both sides and let set out at room temperature until ready to cook. Heat cast iron skillet to medium high heat. Add butter to coat pan. Place flat iron in pan once butter is melted and cook 3-4 minutes per side.

Team McCloskey Appliance’s South west Flat iron Steak Salad and Tomatillo Salsa with Sweet Potato Chips.

Southwest Flat Iron Steak Salad 2 Flat Iron steaks Deck Project Spices Southwest Seasoning 1 bunch Collard greens 10 grape tomatoes, halved 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese 1/4 cup white onion, diced 1/2 teaspoon roasted garlic Juice of 1/2 lemon Season steak with southwest seasoning. Cook to medium (about 150 degrees internal temp) in pan and set aside to rest — tent meat with foil to keep it warm. Cut collards into 1/2-inch strips by removing the stem, rolling up and slicing. Add collards, lemon juice, onion and roasted garlic to the same pan the steaks were cooked in — cook for 1-2 minutes until the greens wilt down a bit. Add parmesan and tomatoes to greens and remove from heat. Slice steak across the grain in 1/4-inch slices. Serve steak on a bed of the collard greens salad. — Joe and Kim Beland, competing for McCloskey Appliance

Tomatillo Salsa with Sweet Potato Chips 1/2 yellow pepper, diced 1/2 white onion, diced 4 tomatillos, diced 1 tablespoon cilantro, minced 1 lime 2-3 large sweet potatoes Peanut oil Deck Project Spices Southwest Seasoning

Cabernet sauce 2 cups Cabernet wine Olive oil 1/3 cup minced shallots 1/2 cup diced mushrooms Thyme, fresh herb 3 cups beef broth Corn starch slurry to thicken Salt and pepper to taste

Team Hy-Vee’s Blackened Flat Iron with Cabernet Sauce, Sweet Potato Bisque, Fried Green Tomatillos with Salsa Verde Fresce and Col lard Bacon Creme Roll.

Heat saute pan. Add oil, shallots and mushrooms. Stir to prevent burning and until aromatic. Add Cabernet wine and reduce by half. Add beef broth and fresh thyme to pan. Bring back to a simmer and thicken slightly with corn starch slurry. Salt and pepper to taste. — Dave Clark, Bill Kingston, competing for Hy-Vee

GLOBEGAZETTE.COM/WOW SPRING 2012

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2 sweet potatoes, peeled and diced Olive oil 1 large yellow onion, diced 1/2 cup minced shallots 1 quart heavy cream Minced garlic 3 cups sherry wine Butter, unsalted All-purpose flour 1/2 cup Parmesan, grated 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese Deck Project Southwest Seasoning

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In stock pot add olive oil and sweat garlic and onions until aromatic. Add wine and diced sweet potatoes. Simmer until potatoes are soft and wine is reduced by half. Combine flour and butter to form a roux in a separate dish. Add heavy cream to stock pot and bring to a simmer. Add Parmesan and thoroughly combine. Once it’s a smooth texture, add roux to thicken. — Dave Clark, Bill Kingston, competing for Hy-Vee

Fried Green Tomatillos with Salsa Verde Fresce Tomatillos, sliced 3/8-inch thick 1/2 cup flour, all purpose 1/2 cup Panko bread crumbs 1/4 cup grated Parmesan 1/4 cup Deck Project Southwest Seasoning Egg whites Preheat deep fryer to 350 degrees. Combine flour, Panko bread crumbs, Parmesan and seasoning in a shallow dish. Egg wash tomatillo then dredge in above mixture. Carefully place in deep fryer. Fry until golden brown.

Salsa Verde Fresce

GLOBEGAZETTE.COM/WOW SPRING 2012

1 cup diced tomatillos 1 cup diced Anaheim peppers 1 cup diced yellow onion 1/2 cup minced garlic 1/4 cup fresh thyme leaves Combine and season to taste with Deck Project Southwest Seasoning. — Dave Clark, Bill Kingston, competing for Hy-Vee

Team Pro-Build’s Flat Iron Steak and WOW Relish with Horseradish Cream on Wilted Collard Greens, Sweet Potato Pie Shake.

Collard Bacon Creme Roll 8 collard green leaves, julienne cut 1 ham shank Olive oil 1/4 pound bacon Yellow onions 1 cup sliced mushrooms 1/2 cup minced garlic Crab Pimento Dip Egg roll skin Egg whites Boil ham shank in shallow water until stock is formed and meat is tender. Remove shank and reserve stock for later use. Dice ham. In stock pot add olive oil, diced bacon, mushrooms and onions. Once onions are tender, add small amount of stock and simmer until collard greens are tender. Strain any excess liquid from pot. On an egg roll skin, place above mixture and an equal amount of crab Pimento Dip in center. Egg wash all edges before rolling. Fry at 350 degrees until light brown.

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For the steak: 2 pounds Flat iron steak 1 Tbsp. oil 1 tsp. sugar 2 Tbsp. soy sauce 1 tsp. ground black pepper 2 Tbsp. green onions, green and white parts included, chopped For the collard greens: 1 bunch collard greens 2 Tbsp. sea salt For the relish: 10 tomatillos 1 roasted jalapeno, seeded and diced 4 cloves roasted garlic puree or 1Tbsp. minced fresh garlic 1/2 cup roasted red onions, diced 1 Tbsp. fresh ginger, grated or 1 tsp. ginger powder

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GLOBEGAZETTE.COM/WOW SPRING 2012

1 avocado, diced 1/4 cup fresh cilantro chopped 1 tsp. hot curry powder 2 tsp. lime juice For Horseradish Cream: 1 cup sour cream 1/4 cup prepared horseradish 1/4 tsp. lemon peel, freshly grated salt and white pepper to taste 1. Combine the oil, sugar, soy sauce and pepper and rub onto steak. Let sit at room temperarture. 2. Combine Horseradish Cream ingredients and refrigerate. 3. Wash and dry the greens. Remove the thick center stem by holding with one hand and pulling down and toward you with the other. 4. In a large bowl gently rub both sides of the greens with the sea salt. Let stand about 15-20 minutes until the greens begin to release water and soften. Rinse throughly with cold water and dry. 5. Blanch, peel and dice the tomatillos. Add the remaining relish ingredients and gently stir. 6. Heat a non-stick skillet or grill to medium high. Cook on each side 3 to 4 minutes so the steak is medium-rare. 7. Tent with foil and let rest 5 minutes. 8. Slice thinly. 9. Arrrange a bed of wilted greens on plate. Top with slices of steak. Garnish with relish and horseradish cream if desired. Servings: 6

Sweet Potato Pie Shake 1 cup cooked sweet potato 1 tsp. orange juice 1 tsp. brown sugar, packed 1 tsp. butter (optional) 1/6 baked pie shell, crumbled (optional) 1/8 tsp. salt 1/8 tsp. cinnamon 2 cups vanilla ice cream, softened milk 1. Place sweet potato in blender and mash. 2. Add the rest of the ingredients except for ice cream and milk. 3. Blend well. 4. Add ice cream and milk for desired thickness and blend. Servings: 4 Nutrition Facts Serving size: 1/4 of a recipe (3.5 ounces).

This dog was constructed with cupcakes.

By JULIE BIRKEDAL Photos JAKE RAJEWSKY

taking the cake Cupcakes have come a long way over the years from plain, single cakes to pullapart cupcake cakes and cupcakes joined to look like dogs

Rapidly swirling colored frosting, professional cake decorators make covering cupcakes with brightly colored frosting look nothing like the sticky business one might experience at home. “We’re doing basic decorating for Valentine’s Day,” Shelby Harris said as she took the microphone at the annual WOW Women’s Expo in Southbridge Mall. Harris, 22, pastry chef at Hy-Vee East, and McCayla Welp, a cake decorator at Hy-Vee West, chatted amiably as they offered tips for decorating cupcakes to an audience of about 40, mainly women with a few children in the mix. When decorating cupcakes, a star tip on the pastry bag creates that soft-serve ice cream cone effect with the frosting on top of the cupcake, Harris said. “Primary colored sprinkles really pop on cupcakes,” Harris said. “It’s easy. It’s quick and it looks great when you’re done.”

GLOBEGAZETTE.COM/WOW SPRING 2012

She’s enjoyed decorating baked goods since she was a young girl. “My babysitter introduced me to it. During the summer she let me decorate cookies and we’d decorate them any way we wanted,” Harris said when interviewed before the program. Three years ago she earned certification as a pastry chef at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in St. Paul, Minn. It was a 15month program, five days a week, eight hours a day. “They piled every little bit of information on us and we’d go out and specialize in what we like to do,” she said. Welp, 21, started working at HyVee West as a cake decorator about six months ago. She previously decorated ice cream cakes at Dairy Queen. The duo arrived for the demonstration well-supplied with decorated cupcake samples and some decorated pull-apart cakes. The pull-apart cupcake cakes were frosted to look like a typical birthday-themed sheetcake except the cake was comprised of individual cupcakes that just pull away to serve. They also brought dozens of plain white, chocolate or red velvet cupcakes to frost. Their nimble fingers added flair to many a cupcake while they explained the process and then offered their pastry bags so audience members could try their hand at the art. If two contrasting colors go into opposite sides of a single pastry

Shelby Harris, pastry chef at HyVee East, and McCayla Welp, a cake decorator at Hy-Vee West, wow the crowd with fancy cupcakes.

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GLOBEGAZETTE.COM/WOW SPRING 2012

bag, it will give a swirl effect on top of the cupcake, Welp said. The contrast will be more distinct if two separate pastry bags are used, each containing a different color, Harris said, as she deftly spritzed two frosting colors on opposite sides of a single cupcake in a yin and yang shape. A plain decorator tip gives a smooth ghost effect to the frosting, Welp said. More than one color and texture can be combined for variety. Jane Morris of Clear Lake said she bakes for the Farmer’s Market in Clear Lake. “How does the frosting stand up in the heat?” she asked. Either traditional butter cream frosting made of butter and shortening or whipped frosting can be used, Harris said. But whipped topping must be refrigerated. Butter cream frosting stands up better but even then may be challenged by warm weather. Pastry bags, tips and books providing instruction on cake decorating can be found in hobby stores, Harris said. It is important to shake the frosting down into the bag to help eliminate air bubbles and allow frosting to go on smoothly. “I’m going to get a (pastry) bag,” Thelma Borger, of Mason City, said after the demonstration. She planned to make red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting for about 30 people attending a program at her church. About 20 cupcakes can be frosted together to create a pull-apart heart cake for Valentine’s Day , Welp said. They can be grouped to form other holiday or animal shapes as well. One of the features that Welp especially enjoys making is a cupcake dog. She demonstrated how she creates a little cutie by connecting the bottom of two cupcakes with frosting. Then, placing conjoined cupcakes on their sides, she drew her pastry bag upward from the base to the top of the sides to cover them with frosting fur. Giving the dog a frosting tail, two little ears, a nose and feet, she said she usually uses two chocolate chips for eyes. A few sprinkles on top and within minutes a dashing little Scotty dog appears on the plate. “I do them in chocolate, in white, and they sell out very quickly,” Welp said.

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I hate to say it, but I must be getting old. I’m noticing a new fashion trend that I just don’t get — pajama pants in public. REALLY? Next time you’re out, I challenge you to count how many people are wearing nightclothes at noon.You know — the baggy flannels with big, obnoxious cartoon characters all over them. I’ve seen them everywhere — the mall, grocery store, even the post office. My teacher friend said one of her parents recently wore them to school when she dropped off her child. Pajama pants in public scream out, “Look at me. I didn’t get dressed this morning.“ This is also code for, “I haven’t showered.” Granted, they look as though they’d be comfortable getting cozy on the couch. But on a cold, winter day in Iowa, you’d think the wind would whip right through them. I’m all for expressing oneself in public. In fact, I’m guilty of trying a few trends back in my day. My mother rolled her eyes when I tied the legs of my jeans into knots and splattered bleach all over them. That was in the mid-’80s. Later in college, I pleated my pants at the bottom and rolled them up under legwarmers and drawstring boots. But that was fashionable, right? There are other recent fashion trends that I would never attempt to carry out

myself, but I can understand the image some of these individuals are trying to convey. For example, the person with the purple, spikey hair might be trying to have fun and stand out in a crowd. Even the poor, misguided soul with his pants hanging down to his knees is trying to convey he’s “bad.” But what is the person in pajamas trying to say? I’m tired? I’m not really going to try anything today? I’m showing up, but I’m not really here? My 16-year-old niece just laughs at me and said I’m making a big deal about nothing. Here’s what she said about pajama pants in public, “They’re comfortable and it’s only Mason City.” I wonder if the slow economy and loss of jobs doesn’t have something to do with this fashion faux pas. After Googling pajama pants online, I found a green pair chock-full of Mountain Dew logos. They’re only $7 at Walmart. That’s a lot less than the cheapest pair of jeans I could find online… Wranglers for $15.98! Maybe pajama pants are all some can afford. And for these folks, I apologize for this trivial tirade. But for those who just want to be comfortable, I hope this latest fashion trend gets put to bed sooner rather than later! Stephanie Scholl is a free-lance writer who lives in Mason City.

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date night revival Goodbye, fuzzy slippers, couch and snoring husband; hello to a fun night out

Going out with your significant other used to be carefree and easy. Dinner and a movie or drinks and dancing were always fun. Enter the recession and times became tight, and maybe the two of you decided that staying in was the way to go. After months (or even years) of staying at home and renting yet another movie, it’s time to change things up a bit. Here are some ideas that go beyond the “traditional” night out ... and they are cost-effective besides. Goodbye, fuzzy slippers, couch and snoring husband; hello, Date Night!

By MICHELLE SPROUT MURRAY

GLOBEGAZETTE.COM/WOW SPRING 2012

Heat up the kitchen! You and your honey can learn to cook up a romantic meal together. Hy-Vee East offers a variety of classes for $10 to $15 a person. They go from 5:30 to 7:30 Monday nights. Call 641-424-9741or email 1413clubmgr@hy-vee.com or 1413clubmgr@hy-vee.com for more information. Also, items purchased in-store can be enjoyed in the club room during class, including wine and spirits.

Explore your cultural side

Linda Willeke, coordinator of education, tells people that visiting the MACNIDER ART MUSEUM is the cheapest date in town. “You can have a date for under $10,” Willeke said. Go to the museum (for free) and then go out for a cappuccino afterward.” If you prefer an afternoon date, try the MACNIDER FILM SERIES on Saturdays at 2 p.m. through March 10. Admission is free; donations are welcome and there’s even free popcorn. GLOBEGAZETTE.COM/WOW SPRING 2012

Take a spin

Try an afternoon on the ice You know you’ve always wanted to twirl around on the ice, and what better way to burn off calories together than ice skating? OPEN SKATE TIMES AT THE NORTH IOWA ICE ARENA ARE Sunday afternoons, and if you and your significant other happen to have mornings off, go Monday or Thursday mornings to start your “date night” during the day! Cost is $3 plus $2 for skate rental. www.niisa.org, 641-424-3547 or 641423-3811.

Relax with a couples massage Let the stress of the day melt away as you and your significant other enjoy a FULL-BODY MASSAGE TOGETHER. At Salon 220 in Mason City, experience a one-hour massage together in a large room with two massage tables and two massage therapists working together. Your massage will be custom-tailored to each person. Salon manager Ciar Carnall said, “Come comfy and ready to relax!” Cost is $118. Joy Edwards, co-owner of Kush Salon and Spa in Mason City, suggests starting with a 30-minute soak in a jacuzzi tub filled with aromatherapy blends and then a full-body massage in your own separate massage room. Ask for the Sweetheart Package, $130 for 80 minutes for both the jacuzzi soak and massage, anytime. “Valentine’s Day may come once a year, but romance is needed all year long!” Edwards said.

Remember the pottery-making scene in “Ghost” that had every woman yearning to get their guy to a pottery class? Expand your skills and renew the romance by TAKING A CLASS TOGETHER AT YOUR LOCAL ART CENTER. You can learn how to make stained glass, work on a mosaic project together, brush up your digital photography or drawing skills or expand your ceramics skills. Make sure to either call or check the website for specific class times, dates and costs as each varies.

Rediscover your skating moves Remember how you used to be thrilled just holding your boyfriend’s hand and taking a spin around the ROLLER SKATING RINK? Try it again at Roller City, 600 Second St. N.W. in Mason City. Just like riding a bike, your roller skating skills will come right back to you. Check out their website and their Facebook page for their weekly schedule. Roller City co-owner Tyler Anderson, said, “It’s been incredible the response we’ve had.” Make sure to check out “Cheap Skate” Tuesday nights, Wednesday afternoons, Fantastic Fridays that have a weekly theme (such as Decades Night or Country Night) and Saturday night open skate. Cost is $5/person on Tuesday and Wednesday and $7 a person Friday and Saturday. Visit www.myrollercity.com or call 641-423-2000 for more information, including Tiny Tots and family skate times.

Enjoy the great outdoors GRAB YOUR SNOWSHOES OR CROSS COUNTRY SKIS and head to Lime Creek Nature Center where there are specially designated snowshoe and cross country trails. Trails open 6 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. daily. If you’re a novice skier or snowshoe enthusiast, Evan Peterson from Wayne’s Ski and Cycle in Mason City recommends researching YouTube first for instructional videos. “We’ll give people the basics,” he said, but basically he recommends just getting out there and trying it. And as long as there is decent snow for the trails, you also can rent the gear, Peterson said.

GLOBEGAZETTE.COM/WOW SPRING 2012

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Ever wonder what goes through the minds of health care professionals, in particular registered dietitians? What makes them tick? Why do they do what they do? Do they really eat healthy 100 percent of the time? I quizzed some fellow RDs and got the scoop, just for you. For Mary Brunner, a dietitian working with Family Fresh Foods in Minnesota and Wisconsin, an older sister’s college nutrition class sparked an interest. Often, what she learned was “against what we had thought, since we were originally misinformed.” That got her thinking: What else didn’t she know? For Heather Pape, a dietitian working in Mason City, work as a nurse’s aide kicked off a lifelong interest. “I didn’t mind working with people. I enjoy cooking, and being healthy is an interest to me.” Kristi Zwiefel, a dietitian working in Webster City said, a job perk is “helping people learn about eating better, to lose weight, manage diabetes or just stay healthy.” Brunner loves hands-on teaching at the grocery store. “(I love) teaching people about the ingredients and nutrients in food. I get to walk up to products in the store, hold on to them and really explain things to people.” Teaching is a big part of nutrition therapy, whether in the office, the hospital or out where the consumers are making their food choices. Trends — in fashion, in economics and in weight management — are common, and there are some that RDs wish would go away for good. Pape is not a fan of diet pills. “There’s always something out there being advertised heavily. It’s usually a ripoff (for the consumer).” Zwiefel seconds that. Diet pills and extremely low-calorie diets are on her list. “Most of us need at least 1,200 calories to maintain health while losing weight. Some people need even more depending on fac-

tors like gender and activity level.” Even a “couch potato” needs more than the ever-popular 400 calories (popularized in one particular eating plan). And the word “diet”? Forget it. Everyone’s got pet peeves. RDs have some in common. Brunner states, “People judge me for what I eat. I can’t win. Either they say, ‘Oh, you eat too healthy,’ or ‘You know that’s not healthy, you can’t have that.’ I preach moderation and I fully practice it.” For Pape, her role in clinical nutrition therapy is often misunderstood. “There is a misconception that I’m a waitress. A lot of times in the hospital, people think I’m just there to take their food order.” That can be frustrating for a professional who often calculates what specific nutrients go into IV nutrition or someone’s specific tube feeding prescription. Above all, dietitians just want to have fun but get some respect. What these professionals most want their clients to know? The answer echoed similarly among the three. According to Zwiefel: “I’m human! I love food just as much as the next person. I struggle with the temptations of not-so-healthy foods, too.” It’s true what they say: You can’t judge a book, or in this case, maybe a piece of fruit, by its cover. Annette Snyder is a registered dietitian who works in Clarion.

recognize relational aggression Encourage your child to make friends across all social circles to help her avoid either becoming a victim of, or becoming, the Mean Girl By ANN-MARIE BERG

fore start gossiping about her to make others not like her. Control of the group is another motivation for nasty behaviors. Mean Girl may assert her control by getting friends to stop talking to the targeted girl. The worst is when these behaviors result out of boredom. Mean Girls sometimes get bored and decide to stir the social pot to see what happens when a few rumors are started. To reduce the chances that your child will become either a victim or the Mean Girl, it is essential that you encourage her to develop a wide circle of friends. Start early, in the preschool years, so she learns how to mix between social groups. The idea of a best friend may sound attractive, but remember it carries the risk of being excluded with no one to turn to down the road if her BFF turns mean. Sign your daughter up for activities outside of school so she is exposed to more friends and so she develops independent interests. Build her selfesteem by recognizing and supporting her natural talents. Like mother, like daughter. Do not encourage Mean Girl behaviors. Do not feel proud of your daughter if she is popular because she excludes others, uses friends or exhibits mean behaviors. Do not buy into the social status mentality by encouraging her manipulative quest to be the best. Do not buy her popularity by trying to keep up with and surpass the Joneses. Remember, mean girls turn into mean adults. Who wants that? Instead, teach her to play nicely by modeling

honest, healthy friendships. Whatever happens, do not make the mistake of downplaying the effects of relational aggression. If your daughter tells you she is being excluded at school, someone is spreading rumors about her or that she is being targeted online, take action. Most schools recognize relational aggression as a form of bullying and have programs in place to deal with it. Victims of Mean Girl often feel lonely, anxious and depressed, which can lead to eating or sleeping disorders, giving up on school work and withdrawing from family and interests. Talk to a counselor before things get out of control. Mean Girls may be everywhere, but nice girls still exist. Help bring out the best in your daughter by teaching her to navigate the social circle honestly and respectfully. Now, back to the guessing game. There is a girl like this in every school. She is wildly popular because she is sincere and treats people nicely. Any guesses? Your daughter. Ann-Marie Berg is a pediatric nurse practitioner and freelance writer who lives in Cedar Rapids. She can be reached at amhberg@mchsi.com.

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Let’s play the guessing game. I will describe a person and you try to figure out who it is. Ready? There is a girl like this on every playground, in every school and in every neighborhood. She is wildly popular, because if you don’t like her she will spread mean rumors about you. She is president of the back-stabbing club and captain of the gossip squad. She firmly believes that girls have a right to change their minds, and executes this liberty by being BFF with you on Monday and ignoring you on Tuesday. She will happily talk to you when it is convenient, but only until someone better comes along. She’s cute as a button, can sweet-talk parents but puts her friends down, excludes them and tells secrets about them. Any guesses? It’s Mean Girl, of course. She is timeless and almost everyone has dealt with her at some point. She used to rely on exclusion tactics and rumorspreading to make her way to the top of the social circle, but now uses cyberspace to cyberbully and texting to target her victims. Nice Girl used to turn into Mean Girl around age 10, but now transforms as young as age 4. Her mean behaviors naturally inflict heartache onto her victims, but don’t discount the headaches, stomachaches, anxiety, depression and eating disorders that often ensue. In fact, an estimated 160,000 kids miss school daily out of fear of being victimized by her behaviors (National Education Association). Relational aggression is the term used to describe these Mean Girl actions and includes any behavior that intentionally harms another person’s self-esteem, friendship or social status. Unfortunately, these behaviors often occur between close friends. One reason is to gain popularity. Mean Girl may accomplish this by telling her friend about an amazing party she attended, summing it up with, “too bad you weren’t invited. It was awesome!” Or, she may feel jealous of her friend’s accomplishments and there-

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preparing for baby Planning for the arrival of a child also includes planning to be away from work for a period of time for many women

GLOBEGAZETTE.COM/WOW SPRING 2012

Now more than ever, women are expected to wear many hats: employee, homemaker, volunteer. But what happens when “mother” is added to the list and suddenly those other priorities and expectations are put on hold? “I did feel a little guilty taking time off of work,” said Jen Weiland, a nursing supervisor at Hancock County Memorial Hospital in Britt. “I just keep thinking about how the nurse filling in my spot was going to be really busy.” Weiland opted to work right up until her due date with all three children. “I didn’t want to be off prior to giving birth,” she said. “I wanted to have as much time with the kids as possible.” Assistant professor of psychology at Waldorf College and first-time mom Cassie Eno did not return to the classroom last month for the first time in four years. “It was very different to start the semester and not be in the classroom,” Eno said. “What I really tried to do last

semester was to get anything I could complete in advance done in advance.” More than 50 million people have taken time off with the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) since its inception in 1993. It supplies 12 weeks

of unpaid, job-protected leave to juggle the new responsibilities that come from changes in their families. For Weiland, preparing her co-workers for her leave was more difficult than setting up for her new daughter,

who arrived on Nov. 18. “There was a lot of prep work (at the hospital); making sure the schedule was completed and quality measures were up to date,” she said. “With the third child, there was a little less prepa-

Family Medical and Leave Act According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the FMLA’s purpose is “to allow employees to balance their work and family life by taking reasonable unpaid leave for medical reasons.” Both men and women are eligible for the leave, which covers employees who have worked for a company for 1,250 hours in non-consecutive 12 months. FMLA covers the birth of a new child, but also adoptions, serious health conditions and other situations requiring extended time off.

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ration. We had what we needed.” Eno said she taught a full course load while setting up online courses and a modified curriculum prior to her son’s birth on Dec. 30. “Toward the end of my pregnancy, there were certainly times when working all day felt a little bit physically exhausting,” Eno said. “I tried to keep in the back of my mind that anything I get done this semester I don’t have to do next semester and I can spend more time with my son.” Weiland said the leave was helpful for her husband, 4- and 2-year-old daughters and newborn daughter, but was vital to welcome their first child. “The first time around it (preparing for motherhood) was very difficult,” Weiland said. For Weiland, gathering all of the nursery supplies and adjusting her schedule for her first child was a major challenge, especially when also juggling a demanding career. “For our first child, we had a lot of items to purchase and had to get the room prepared. I asked a lot of questions of friends and family who had kids and did a little shopping around,” she said. “Before I had kids, if I needed to stay late or go in early, I’d pick up shifts. I would always say I’d do it. But now I have to be off work at a certain time and get them ready in the morning.” Eno’s son is the first grandchild for both her and her husband’s family, which comes with a few perks. “I was blessed with a couple of baby showers,” she said. “Our parents were very generous as well.” Eno said she researched her baby equipment extensively, consulting Consumer Reports and safety information. Then she and her husband watched for sales. “I’m a researcher by nature,” said the professor. “But we made a few online purchases after he was born for things we should have had.” Weiland’s strategy for her third round of maternity leave has adapted for their new situation. “This time around I’m focusing on trying to spend a little quality time with each child individually and playing together as a group,” she said. All the preparation does not end when the baby arrives, however. Finding a trustworthy and convenient day care provider was also a large task, Weiland said. “Do your research with the day care provider and call well in advance,” Weiland

Maternity

Leave Facts From the American Association of University Women website: Currently, 62 percent of the work force is eligible for FMLA. Men use a narrow majority of leave time, at 52 percent to women’s 48 percent. Of those who take FMLA leave, 26 percent do so for the birth of a child. Caring for a serious illness is the No. 1 reason: 52 percent. About 78 percent of those who qualified for FMLA opted not to because they said they could not lose the income. The majority of FMLA users make between $30,000 and $75,000, at 51 percent. The leave proves to be job-protected, with 98 percent of employees returning to the job they held before leave. While FMLA leave is available for 12 weeks, or three months, out of a calendar year, 80 percent of workers take 40 days or fewer. Paid annual leave is mandated in 137 of 173 countries, said a 2007 Project on Global Working Families report. Of those 173 countries, 121 mandate two weeks of paid leave. Paid leave for new mothers is granted for 169 of 173 countries, with 98 countries offering at least 14 weeks paid. New fathers can get paternal leave in 66 of those countries, including 31 countries offering 14 weeks or more. The United States does not offer any guaranteed paid medical leave, one of four countries in the study which do not, along with Liberia, Papua New Guinea and Swaziland.

advised. “Visit the home or center and ask lots of questions. Now I know my girls are going to a very good provider. It makes the second time around so much easier.” Eno has already booked her day care provider, even though her son just celebrated his 5-week birthday and her job includes summers off. “Once I get through my obligation for this semester, I get three months off again. I just really feel fortunate to get this opportunity to spend this extended time with him,” she said. “Right now I’m not feeling anxiety, but I’m six months away. I’m sure it’ll be very difficult, tearful.” Eno added that telling your employer early about your pregnancy and any leave you plan to take helps to make scheduling a smooth transition. “The earlier they know, the better they can plan for your absence,” said Eno, who found out she was pregnant two days after Waldorf’s graduation last spring. These mothers said prioritizing is important with a young child at home. “Ultimately I don’t feel a whole lot of guilt,” Eno said. “My first responsibility needs to be taking care of my son.” “It’s been really nice having the time off. I certainly don’t regret it,” Weiland said. “(New mothers should know) don’t feel like you have to do it all. If the laundry sits for a week, it’s OK. It’ll get done another time.”

Maternity Leave: Frequently Asked Questions 1. How can women prepare to take maternity leave? While still at work, preparing a list (in detail) of everyday tasks that someone will need to do in your absence. Training someone on those tasks if appropriate. Telling your direct supervisor of tasks that will need to be completed while gone and just going over your workload and where the work was left off and if it needs attention while you are away. 2. What would you tell a woman who feels guilty for taking time off of work? Women should leave work guilt-free and be able to focus on their newborn. This is an important part of life that will not be able to be recaptured. Prepare your workload prior to leaving so that things are in order and you can feel more at ease. 3. When should a woman return to work after maternity leave? The Family Medical Leave Act allows up to 12 weeks and provides protection for the mother to keep her job. Each woman should check with her company’s HR department regarding her employer’s specific guidelines and policies. Another important aspect is making sure the baby is covered by health insurance. Most companies require that the necessary files be completed within 30 days of the birth. Again, it would be good to check with the HR department. — These questions were answered by Jackie Luecht, OTE/human resource director, Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa

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GLOBEGAZETTE.COM/WOW SPRING 2012

what’s up, down there?

Medical expert answers questions women often are too embarrassed to ask

By CAITLIN HAMILTON

I think I have some symptoms of a yeast infection but cannot afford to go to the doctor. Is there any way I can take care of this on my own with over-the-counter remedies? Or will it just go away if I stay clean? Dr. Angela McGregor, Hancock County Memorial Hospital: A vaginal yeast infection is a common problem that women encounter. Yeast infections occur mainly in women who are menstruating, and are less common in postmenopausal women who do not take estrogen. The most common symptoms of a yeast infection include: • Itching or irritation of the vulva around the vaginal opening. • Pain with urination, vulvar irritation or soreness. • Painful intercourse. • Swollen and reddened vulvar and vaginal tissues. • Some women have no discharge and others

GLOBEGAZETTE.COM/WOW SPRING 2012

PHOTO JAKE RAJEWSKY

may have white clumpy or watery vaginal discharge. These symptoms are similar to many other conditions, which can make it often not possible to know if itching is caused by a yeast infection or other cause. Self-diagnosis and treatment is not recommended. Self-diagnosis and treatment can waste money, waste time and can make you more itchy and irritated. Krista Hartwig, The Gabrielson Clinic for Women: Yeast infections are a common vaginal irritation that many women can get and at times treat with the OTC preparations. Using a longer treatment (3-day suppositories or day cream) would be more beneficial. If the symptoms return following the OTC treatment than it would be best to see your OB/GYN as there are stronger prescriptions that are available.

Sometimes I get this strange and immediate urge to urinate but it

does not smell like or come from where urine should. What is going on? AM: First it is important to have an examination to determine if this is urine that you are excreting. Women can have urogenital tract fistulas. These fistulas are typically related to gynecological surgery, severe pelvic pathology, radiation therapy or injuries incurred in the healing process. Fistulas between the urinary tract and vagina are painless and result in leakage of urine from the vagina. Ureterovesical fistulas can cause intermittent leakage or positional leakage of urine. Continuous urine loss is more characteristic of vesicovaginal fistulas. These fistulas could lead to secondary effects including chronic pyelonephritis, leading to renal insufficiency.

fessionals. Individuals with STDs are usually urged to speak to their partners themselves as well. KW: If you every think that there is a chance that you have an STD then you must see a provider for testing. This is not only to protect your sexual partner but also you and your future fertility. If you are positive for a STD it is necessary you tell your partner or partners because they will also require testing/treatment.

I am interested in some of these pills and powders that promise rapid weight loss but am worried about consulting my doctor about them. Are they truly dangerous?

AM: It is always important to consult your health care provider before starting any new medication or supplement, including all over-the-counter weight-loss supplements. Drug therapy for weight loss has been questioned because of concerns about efficacy, safety and the observation that most patients regain their weight when their weight-loss drugs are stopped. Patients need an evaluation of the risks AM: The government has a program for reporting of sexu- and benefits of the supplements. Safety issues are a concern ally transmitted diseases (STDs). The program is contact with dietary supplements. Many of the dietary supplements tracing. This program of partner notification is a technique to can cause adverse effects, such as increasing the heart rate try to limit the spread of diseases. When a patient is diagand blood pressure. If patients choose to use these supplenosed with a trackable disease, they are asked for the ments after being informed of the risks associated with names of any person who they may have gotten the disease them, they need to be monitored closely. from or given it to. Patients who are diagnosed with an STD are asked to identify any individual whom they’ve had sex Is there any link between the chemicals in with since their last negative test. After the health care kitty litter causing harm to pregnant women? provider obtains this list, public health My husband and I are trying to have a baby officials attempt to get in touch with but have a cat. Am I putting myself at risk or the partner(s) and bring them in for testing and treatment. Partner notifica- is this another embarrassing myth? tion laws vary from state to state and KW: Cats are carriers of the parasite that causes toxoplasare administered by public health promosis. The parasite lives inside of the cat’s intestines and is passed into their feces. It is more commonly found in cats that are allowed outside that might eat contaminated rats or mice. Changing cat litter may expose you to the parasite that causes toxoplasmosis. It is also found in raw meats or unwashed root vegetables. So it would be in your best interest to have another individual in the household change the cat litter because of the effect toxoplasmosis can have on a fetus if you would become infected.

Is there any STD etiquette? I think I may have one, so do I have to share that with current or former sexual partners? Do I have to try to track down who it came from to let them know they are passing it on?

About the experts KRISTA HARTWIG, women’s health nurse practitioner/advanced registered nurse practitioner, works in collaboration with Dr. Daniel Gabrielson for all services related to women’s health including physical exams, pap smears, health and wellness counseling, contraceptive care, care before and after menopause and much more.

She holds clinics in Clarion, Humboldt, Belmond and Webster City. DR. ANGELA MCGREGOR has a strong interest in women’s and children’s health. She is a member of the health care providers at Hancock County Memorial Hospital and the Wesley Medical Clinic.

GLOBEGAZETTE.COM/WOW SPRING 2012

musician extraordinaire A music teacher by day, Betsy Neerhof uses her vocal and instrumental talents to entertain crowds across North Iowa

By MICHELLE SPROUT MURRAY

PHOTOS BY MICHELLE SPROUT MURRAY

Mason City music teacher Betsy Neerhof not only loves her job teaching preschool through fourth-grade music at Harding Elementary and fifth-grade music at Lincoln Intermediate, but she takes her talent “on the road” when not in the classroom. Whether she is performing at a coffeehouse or a wedding, Neerhof’s easy-to-listen-to lyrical style leaves audiences wanting more. How did her love of music begin? Neerhof can’t remember a time that she wasn’t interested in music, growing up in St. Ansgar with “a lot of music around the house.” Her father was a band teacher and her mother was an elementary teacher who noted her daughter’s singing ability in her baby book. When Neer-

GLOBEGAZETTE.COM/WOW SPRING 2012

hof was about 2 or 3 years old, her mother wrote, ”We are starting to notice that Betsy is really starting to SING!” Neerhof remembers singing to music that her parents played around the house, such as gospel and Christian music. Because her father also played trumpet in the Austin Symphony, she also recalls hearing a lot of classical music. Her mother also was influential, Neerhof said. “I think I inherited the ability to pick up good tone from Mom,” she points out. A former director of church Sunday school programs, Neerhof’s mother also made sure that Betsy was able to take piano lessons about the age of 4. Neerhof’s piano lessons continued into high school, when like so many other children she wanted to quit taking them. It was her parents who helped her think about this decision and how it would affect her future plans. She “stuck it out” and continued taking lessons into her college years. Not to be forgotten, Neerhof’s vocal skills were challenged when she began to take voice lessons in sixth grade. She credits her “wonderful music teacher” in seventh through 11th grades as having a huge influence on her. “I wanted to BE her!” Neerhof laughs. “She gave us some wonderful opportunities.” Another music teacher entered her life during her senior year. Neerhof said, “She was also awesome. She was a work of God — exactly what I needed for my senior year.” It was this special teacher who taught her to sing jazz. To round out her skills as a musician, Neerhof also played the oboe and flute in band “and also percussion for marching band,” she said. Her high school band teacher wasn’t her father, as he moved into financial advising, but a woman who was “the model of patience that I needed to see.” “She had this quiet drive about her,” Neerhof remembers. A music education major at Wartburg College, Neerhof met another voice teacher, Rosemary Gast, during her junior year. Gast stopped her after singing two bars, saying, “Stop! That’s not your voice!” Apparently, Neerhof had been “singing incorrectly” for the

first two years of college, and that was about to change. As a music teacher at Harding Elementary, Neerhof said, “Tthe concerts were the most stressful part of the job, yet the most rewarding!” She recalls a retired music teacher putting it into perspective: “They’ll come, they’ll sing and they’ll leave.” Neerhof said the vocal concerts are unpredictable, but there’s always something to smile at. Another opportunity just fell into Neerhof’s lap where more “teachers”

tain,” one of Stebens’ touring shows. The acting bug had bitten and she also took to the Mason City Community Theatre’s stage for the musical, “All Shook Up.” The teachers in Neerhof’s life have brought her to where she is today, and she is still evolving as a musician. She follows Ingrid Michaelson, her “favorite singer/songwriter of all time,” and received a ukulele as a Christmas gift, just like Michaelson uses in many of her songs. It’s the songwriting that draws Neerhof in. Whether she is listening to MichaelTeaching IS performing. I do son or The Beatles, it because I like it and I like “it’s the words, chord to sing. I get to bring the kids structures and chord progressions” that she along with me. It’s the best focuses on. job in the world.” Now she writes her own songs and perpresented themselves. forms solo gigs. Besides singing for “I went to the mall to see these weddings, she has also appeared at three guys perform and one guy said, Coffee Cat and the Mason City Farm‘Betsy, go grab that mic,’ and I started ers Market. She hopes to perform singing ‘Silent Night’ with them.” some day at the Mason City Public Soon after that, most of the group Library, Jitters and out of town, preferand Neerhof formed a band named ably in Minneapolis. Open Road, playing together for about Neerhof said that different lyrics go three years. Neerhof learned how to through her head at all times, and it’s play the bass guitar “because the band a goal to write her own album, “not so needed one.” much to sell but to have all of my I like being the texture in between — songs together.” and it’s easier than playing the piano Which does she prefer — her “day and singing,” she explains. “Without job” as a teacher or her “other” job as the band, I wouldn’t have had the guts a performer? Without a beat, Neerhof to (perform) on my own.” answers, “Teaching IS performing. I do Yet another teacher was found in it because I like it and I like to sing. I Tom Ballmer, director of Stebens Chilget to bring the kids along with me. dren’s Theatre. He asked Neerhof to It’s the best job in the world.” be musical director and pianist for For more information about Neer“Grease” and this is where she hof, see her Facebook page at Elisalearned to improvise. She also acted beth Leigh Neerhof. and sang in “Smoke on the Moun-

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The Beehive Waxing and Skincare Studio in Forest City also offers Vajazzling, which involves applying glitter or jewels to a woman’s nether regions. The decorations can last for two to 10 days.

wax it ... dye it ... bling it While facial waxing remains the most popular service for men and women, the ladies are getting more creative by adding glitter or jewels, combining stenciling and waxing, even dying the hair “down there” By CAITLIN HAMILTON

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PHOTOS JAKE RAJEWSKY

A surprise after a couple’s long separation. Something to spice up a marriage. The last touch for a tropical vacation. Waxing in North Iowa has become a necessity for the many clients that visit salons in the area, despite tightened personal budgets and the initial hesitation. Kristen Schoon, who owns The Beehive Waxing and Skincare Studio in Forest City and a new salon location in Clear Lake, has offered spa services in Forest City since 2006 and has recently seen waxing “take over,” she said. “My services used to be 80 percent facials, 20 percent waxing,” Schoon said. “Now it has totally flip-flopped.” The Beehive offers a full range of waxing services for women and men of all sizes and ages including facial, underarm and three different kinds of bikini waxing, including the provoca-

The application process includes peeling the clear film carefully from the white backing, leaving the top of the Swarovski crystals stuck to the clear film. The bottom of the crystals, with the adhesive, is then applied to the skin.

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tive and ever-popular Brazilian bikini wax. The demand for bikini waxes, which run the spectrum of a basic wax of only the hair visible outside of the bikini line to a gradual inching inward to a Brazilian, which removes all hair or could leave a strip or shape depending on the client’s wishes, has surprised Schoon. “I didn’t think it (waxing services) would take off in the area because people are more conservative,” said Schoon, a Chicago native. “It’s become really mainstream.” Schoon often does four or five Brazilians a day. The day before the Fourth of July last year, she performed 12 of the waxes. The Brazilian costs $40-$50. Schoon also offers other services for the bikini line, like stenciling a shape that is then waxed around, at-home dye kits and possibly the newest upand-coming trend: glitter. Those services cost an additional $15. The Beehive has offered Vajazzling for a while with positive results. Vajazzling is defined as, “The act of applying glitter and jewels to a woman’s nether regions for aesthetic purposes” by vajazzling.com. Initials, shapes and symbols and lace for a “French look” all are available. The decorations can last for two to 10 days. “We have had customers get Vajazzled in this area,” Schoon said. “A local girl had her boyfriend’s initials put on after a long separation. It looked really nice.” At both The Beehive and Innova-

What to Know Before You Go Prepare to alleviate the pain before your appointment Both Kristen Schoon, who owns The Beehive Waxing and Skincare Studio in Forest City and a new location in Clear Lake, and Alicia Sherland, senior stylist at Innovations Salon and Spa in Algona, said taking ibuprofen about an hour before arriving will help take the edge off of the experience.

Just ask “Anywhere you have hair, we can wax it,” Schoon said. For Sherland, having an open conversation with her clients about what can be waxed is important to erase hesitation about asking for an area to be waxed that may not be mainstream. “People aren’t aware of it (some services). Education as to what services are available is so important.”

Let it grow Hair needs to be about a quarter inch long or have about two weeks’ worth of growth to insure a clean removal of hair. “If the hair’s too short, it won’t pick up on it and it won’t be guaranteed to get it.”

There is no one waxing client “People always ask me, ‘Am I too old to do that?’ but I see all different types of men and women,” said Schoon, who has clients that range in age from 18 to their late 40s.

The first is the worst “The first time has the most anxiety,” Schoon said. “It’s a different sensation, but as fast as it’s there it’s gone.”

It’s just another day at the salon Schoon and Sherland said they assure clients that their job has become routine for them. “People say, ‘How do you do this? Isn’t it awkward?’ But for me, it’s kind of like going to the hairdresser.” Sherland said, “If we feel comfortable, they are comfortable.”

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tions Salon and Spa in Algona, facial waxing remains the most popular option. “At least half of our clients do facial waxing with our hair services,” said senior stylist Alicia Sherland. Eyebrows and lips are often waxed, but a new trend has become nose waxing, Sherland said. “Nose waxing is a newer hit,” she said. “One of our clients thought it was the most bizarre thing ever, but once they do it they want it every time.” Waxing customers come back faithfully every four to six weeks to get the best results, said Schoon and Sherland. “The more you keep it up, the less hair grows back. Fewer hairs make it less uncomfortable,” Schoon said. “I always say you should do it twice before considering whether you want to have the upkeep.” Sherland said Innovation’s male clients are “definitely loyal.” “We have some male customers that come in every four weeks on the

dot,” said Sherland, whose male tomers despite the cost and pain. clients often get back or neck waxes. “ ‘That wasn’t as bad as I thought’ “I think people would be surprised by … I get that all the time,” Schoon said. the amount of men that do come in.” “Once you experience what it’s like it Schoon offers all of her services to does become a necessity. They make men. She has men traveling from sure they have that expense covered.” Osage and Mason City for the service, At The Beehive, prices range from she said. $10 for chin, eyebrow or lip waxes Waxing has traveled from taboo to monthly “It makes them feel liberated tradition when popular and more sexy. It’s just such culture began discussing a surprise.” it with ease and modern bikinis started to demand up to a Brazilian, which costs $50 for a more groomed appearance, Schoon the first wax and $40 for maintesaid. nance. Many clients visit salons on schedInnovations charges $20 for a full ule because they are wary of performfacial wax. Bikini waxes begin at $25 ing the service as amateurs, Sherland with a Brazilian costing $75. said. For Schoon and Sherland, the most “They can trim their bangs at home, important factor is how their customer but waxing is something people are feels as they leave the salon. afraid to do at home,” she said. “It makes them feel liberated and The results seen from waxing as more sexy,” Schoon said. opposed to shaving, namely how long “It’s one of those things that makes it takes for hair to grow back after them feel good,” Sherland said. “It’s being fully removed from the root, just such a surprise.” also helps the service retain loyal cus-

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Saturday nights sure have changed. More often than not I can be found on my computer, working away into the evening at home while my family is spread out all over. Each of my boys is most likely in his own room, battling some alien or going on some endless mission on a video game. My husband is most likely on his way home from work across town. It’s in these short moments that I realize how different my weekends are now than when I was a kid. Different isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I’m in my own house, at my own dining room table, hearing sometimes a little too much of my own boys’ voices emanating from different floors. It’s just at the time of day that quickly turns into night but still lingers on, like a young child trying so desperately not to succumb to falling asleep. It’s at this point that I sometimes need some “company” as I work, so I hit the remote and do a little channel surfing. Lo and behold, there on my TV screen is a familiar Saturday night face — Lawrence Welk, of all people! I have hit the jackpot of the evening as I ♥♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ TRY IT FOR K ♥ ♥ ONE WEE FREE ! DIET+EXERCISE+MOTIVATION. ♥ ♥ ♥ One plan. One place. Curves. ♥ ♥ ♥ With Curves Complete, you can ♥ ♥ lose up to 20 lbs. of body fat and 20 ♥ ♥ inches in just 90 days. ♥ ♥ 641-424-1844 ♥ ♥ ♥ 339 S. Delaware, Mason City ♥ ♥ ♥ masoncitycurves.com FB ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ curves.com ♥ ♥ ♥ Valid only at certiﬁed Curves Complete locations. See club for details. Some restrictions apply. ♥ ♥ Free trial offer is good for one week. Not redeemable for cash. © 2012 Curves International, Inc. ♥ ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ MS-68011

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become enthralled by watching Cissy and Bobby dance yet another “wunnerful” number. More than 30 years have passed since I’ve watched this show with my family at my grandma’s house, and it feels like just yesterday. I have a sudden yearning for homemade popcorn and Squirt as this was the snack we always had when we were staying overnight with Grandma. As the orchestra cues up for a featured song, I’m not surprised that my face has become wet with tears. Do I miss this show so much that I’ve become emotional just happening upon it tonight? No, it’s not the show, but the time spent with my family that just went by so very quickly. Everyone was in one room watching the same show. Even though my little sister and I would probably have rather watched something like “The Brady Bunch” or “Gilligan’s Island,” we were content to share the hour on the floor in front of Lawrence Welk. What shows from this generation are watched by entire families? Even if there is a show that interests everyone in the family, people have so many TVs that they may each be watching the same thing — but from different rooms of the house. I want to bring back the Saturday nights of my childhood. I felt safe and loved and knew that there was a neverending supply of Squirt at Grandma’s house. All I had to do was sit back and enjoy a relaxing “old person’s show” with my family. I wasn’t in a hurry to

finish anything nor was I worried about wasting time just watching a TV show. There have been shows that look promising for families to enjoy today, but they are few and far between — and most of them deal with some sort of dysfunctional behavior that almost mirrors real situations so vividly that viewers don’t know whether to laugh or to cry. Technology is trying to bring the world a little closer together, yet it’s also making the world seem farther apart. Connecting with our loved ones on a Saturday night is priceless, and yet we’re still so busy finishing up one week and gearing up for the next that there is no time to sit down, grab a little snack and spend some time together. What will my boys remember as “that show we used to watch as a family?” What will spark their memory 30 years down the road as Lawrence Welk did to mine? What stories will they have to share with their kids about the “old people’s shows” that they watched with their grandparents? Maybe I should stock up on some Squirt and popcorn and see what happens. Michelle Sprout Murray is a freelance writer who lives in Mason City with her husband and sons. She may be reached at queenmom@mchsi.com.

the nose knows... What does your choice of perfume or candle say about your personality?

By MICHELLE SPROUT MURRAY

Everyone yearns to have that one “signature scent,” the one that smells so good on them that people’s heads turns to the person as they walk in the room. How do you begin to find a scent that clicks with your body, sense of smell and style? Camille Lee, owner of Soyphisticated Candles in Mason City, is well-versed in using premium fragrance oils in her candles and other items she manufactures. “What draws a person to a particular scent is as individual as the person,” she said. “In fragrances, you have top, middle and base notes. The top note, or the ‘sparkle,’ is what a person would first notice in a fragrance. It’s like the bow on a fabulous gift. Untie that bow and start to tear off the wrapping paper — that’s what the middle note is. It’s still leading up to something. Open that box to see what’s inside; there is your base note. You will wear that base note for hours. It is not possible to choose a perfume scent by sniffing the bottle or spraying a bit into the air. It really needs to be

applied to a testing strip, and whiffed many times over at least 30 minutes to get a good idea of the whole fragrance. If you are feeling brave, apply a small bit to your skin instead. It takes time to find a wonderful blend for you.” Maybe you’re interested in using fragrance to boost your mood. According to scribd.com, studies have been done with the help of MRIs (magnetic resonance imaging) so scientists were able to confirm that certain smells affect certain moods. Examples of this are the smell of lily of the valley, which has the potential to increase both relaxation and stimulation. A Douglas fir scent consistently induces relaxation and lowers depression, while tuberose promotes happiness and relaxation with the added benefit of invoking a sensual romantic atmosphere. Different smells can evoke different reactions in all of us. Depending on our life experiences, we have positive associations with certain smells (like chocolate

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