Haute Life Magazine, Issue 2

ISSUE 02 $8

A Portion of Proceeds Donated to P.I.N.K. of Terre Haute

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Welcome back to

Advanced heart care at Union Hospital.

Friends and family. Goals and dreams. Your life holds too much to lose it to a heart attack. That’s why Union Hospital has worked hard to become Wabash Valley’s premier chest pain center. In fact, Union Hospital is the only Indiana hospital to beat the national rate for survival after a heart attack two years in a row. From emergency heart care through cardiac rehabilitation, we’re here for you when you need us most.

myunionhospital.org

Welcome: This is the...Haute Life!

cover and welcome page photography by Ashlee Sappingfield

Welcome to a New Year and our second issue of Haute Life Magazine!

After a crazy filled holiday of running our businesses, attending Christmas parties, wrapping gifts, and baking cookies, it’s time to rest and reflect on 2016, and move into the New Year with a sense of renewal.

Who knew that we would be the heads of our own magazine and calling all the shots...seriously blows our minds. Looking back, what we know for sure is that there’s nothing like hard work, dedication, and determination that makes dreams come true. In every issue we will continue to focus on women and the community, and provide strength and courage to those that may be struggling to keep it all together.

In this issue, you will meet some amazing women here in the Haute, sharing their personal ideas and touches to decorate your space, to get you back in groove at the gym, or to start thinking about what YOU want to “renew” in 2017. We have some amazing stories of hope, strength, and courage, infused with some fashion and gifting for your loved ones on Valentine’s Day. We will also highlight the “bride-to-be” in a special section meant to inspire before they tie the knot, and introduce you to some local ladies influencing the organic movement.

As we move into the New Year, Haute Life Magazine will be growing leaps and bounds with hopes of a website and creating a digital version of the magazine, as well as growing our social media community and selling merchandise to represent our brand. Please continue to like, share, and tell all your girlfriends about Haute Life Magazine and what we stand for.

XOXO, Yvette & Lori Haute Life Magazine was created to celebrate, inspire, and uplift women in every aspect of their lives.

Our mission is to recognize r their courage and bravery in all that they do. We hope that Haute Life inspires you to seek your own passions.

We are Female + We are One

Amy Beth Bagnoche, co-creator of P.I.N.K. of Terre Haute February 9, 1967 to November 26, 2016 Your love and light will continue to inspire us to be the good in this world.

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We don’t need a pattern to create the perfect fashions for you.

812.223.1130 Monday - Thursday 9am to 5pm patternsoptional.com

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1645 S 25th Street Terre Haute, IN 47803

sarah@patternsoptional.com

CONTENTS...The Good Stuff Photo by Ashlee Sappingfield

FEATURES 5.

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Mission: P.I.N.K. - A Vibrant Life Remembered Our contributors Love Begins at Home Reinventing Mom Life With God is a Gift Enough Brave Mom’s Club: A Calling to Love New City, New Life Start With One Flight Janie’s Self-Discovery Gifts for Your Valentine Launch: A New Perspective Phantasy World Dream Chaser Make it Happen: Jilly Jack Designs Makers Gonna Make The Fabric Junkie: Winter Trends Boss Lady: Aleah’s Meals A Little Farmhouse Love Haute Sisters: Renovating the Haute In With the Old They’re Family Too What the Fork?

The Roots of Retail Haute Sycamores Unveiled: New Year, Same You

Editors: Allison Hunt, Erin Gregory, and Samantha Brown

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Charmed Life Sincerely, Millie Downtown Diva Haute Women in History Fan Girl Friday Hallie Hound Haute Dawgs

Special Feature: Going Au Naturale 46.

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Aracari: A New Way to Lunch Graceful Purpose Hair Salad Practice the Pause Got Balance?

Dream a Little Dream 58.

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A Castle Wedding Fairytale Hair Hello, Gorgeous Something MADE For You Wedding Wisdom Haute Bridal Trends Breaking the Mold

A Special Thank You to our Sponsor

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Peace of mind, from us to

Advanced imaging at the Clara Fairbanks Center.

At Union Health, we understand that early detection of breast cancer saves lives. That’s why the Clara Fairbanks Center for Women offers the most advanced breast cancer detection available: tomosynthesis 3D breast imaging.

This state-of-the-art technology pinpoints breast cancer at its earliest stages — before it can even be felt in a self-exam and when it’s most curable. For you, that means earlier detection. For us, that means being able to give you peace of mind in your healthcare. It’s just one more way we’re healthier together.

myunionhospital.org

To schedule your mammogram, call (812) 238-7766.

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Thank you to the donors who made this technology available through their charitable contributions to Union Hospital Foundation.

Mission: P.I.N.K.

A Vibrant Life Remembered Cindy Gerber’s country roots were strong. She was taught to drive a tractor at a young age, spent a lot of time out in the pasture with the horses, and helped her family raise chickens and pigs. She was on her high school basketball team, she played the trumpet in band and was the majorette, and she was also a 4-H member and Homecoming Queen.

“Mom was on the go from day one. She was born into a farm family in Cory, Indiana, and was the youngest of three. With two older brothers, she wanted to keep up,” says Cindy’s daughter, Cameron.

Cindy had a special relationship with P.I.N.K. of Terre Haute. April Roberts and Amy Bagnoche met with her often and checked in frequently. She was given gift bags, blankets, and gift cards throughout her battle. P.I.N.K. members Megan Higginbotham and Dr. Darren Brucken worked with Cindy’s daughter, Cameron, at Regional Hospital and were kept up to date. “P.I.N.K. was truly a blessing. Mom didn’t want sympathy from others. She was tough! But little gifts and ‘thinking of you’s’ from the group were all deeply appreciated,” says Cameron.

Filled with ambition and determination, Cindy flew through college.

She took several credit hours and extra summer classes, all while helping on the farm and working at Hallmark. She graduated early with a degree in elementary education, and on July 15, 1983, she married her husband, Joe. The majority of her teaching career took place at Clay City Elementary School, where she worked as their P.E. teacher.

After 8 treatments, Cindy had her tumor removed, along with a double mastectomy. When the year following was almost to an end, Cindy began experiencing shortness of breath and pain in her back, so she returned to the doctor. “We don’t think the doctor wanted to believe it was back,” Joe says. “He didn’t even want to scan her.” At first they were told the pain may have been from scar tissue or shingles, but after the third appointment of Cindy feeling as though something wasn’t right, a scan was ordered and the cancer was re-diagnosed at the end of March.

She coached elementary basketball and varsity volleyball, taught Sunday school, and was an active member in her church, New Hope Baptist. Even with all of the things she was involved in, Cindy was always present for her children. Her kids were active in gymnastics, sports, and 4-H, and she was always there to support them. “Looking back, we all kind of laugh. Honestly, we can’t figure out how she did it all,” says Cameron. “If we wanted to do something, we did it. How she wasn’t exhausted all the time is beyond us, but she never complained.”

Cindy didn’t know it then, but her ability to not complain and keep high spirits would be essential later on in life, as she was diagnosed with breast cancer in October of 2013.

Cindy was originally diagnosed after finding a lump. What followed seemed like a snowball effect, with the mammogram, biopsy, and finally receiving the news. Life expectancy with Cindy’s particular diagnosis is 20-30 months, but even still, Cindy continued to teach through all of her treatments. Her son, Cody, says, “Even when she was sick, she somehow found all of this energy. She just figured it out.”

Soon it was decided for Cindy to have a lung procedure to drain fluid around her lung to help her breathe. Though at first the treatment did help, after about four weeks, the fluid was building up again. Cindy went back to the hospital and repeated the procedure. Cameron and Joe met with the oncologist following the procedure to question how much time they had.

He reassured them that they weren’t “there yet.” He told them they would do three more rounds of chemo and then rescan. “That would’ve been at nine weeks,” Cameron says. “We took her home from the hospital on a Wednesday, and she passed away that Saturday, June 6, 2015.”

In January 2016, Clay City High School’s girls’ basketball team held a game to honor Cindy, called “Hoops from the Heart”. They raised over $6,000 for local groups, one being P.I.N.K. “Listening to the players and students speak about our mom was truly amazing”, her children say.

In addition, playground equipment has been placed at the elementary school in honor of Mrs. Gerber, as she strongly supported health and

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fitness for our youth, and in 2016, the Clay County 4-H Round Robin Award was given in memory of Cindy. Michael Owens, principal and co-worker at Clay City Elementary, had kind words to say about Mrs. Gerber: “Cindy was such a special person, because she made others feel special. From the students she had in class, to the athletes she coached, to the community members that knew her, Cindy made everyone feel important. Her inspiration, love, perseverance, and guidance affected so many people.”

The family has their special ways of remembering Cindy as well. Joe has had the tractor Cindy drove growing up restored, an International 1066. He also had welcome signs made of horseshoes in remembrance of Cindy, for family and close friends. During Cindy’s battle, her youngest daughter, Chelsee, was expecting her second child. Cindy’s services were held on June 12th and 13th, and baby Jozlyn arrived the day after, June 14th, on what would have been Cindy’s birthday.

Cameron (Gerber) Collins was a co-worker of mine at Terre Haute Regional Hospital. More importantly, she and her sister, Chelsee (Rash) are my friends. I remember hearing the news of their mother’s diagnosis, and when my eyes met Cameron’s, there was such a sadness and fear in her eyes - it was absolutely gut-wrenching. As a mother and daughter myself, I couldn’t even begin to try to understand her or her family’s sadness. As a volunteer of P.I.N.K of Terre Haute, I reached out to our founders Amy Bagnoche and Dr. Darren Brucken immediately.

They willingly provided the Gerber’s with all the financial and emotional support they needed and could provide. I remember Cindy as a very kind lady who always had the biggest and brightest smile on her face, and was absolutely crazy in love with her grandchildren. They were her world and her drive to keep fighting. The world lost a very kind soul, but they also gained a remarkable angel. She is loved immensely by her family and missed by everyone who was blessed enough have known her.

Cameron explains, “It’s such a cliché saying this, but you don’t realize what you have until it’s gone.” Cindy always had a smile on her face, and she loved being “Nana.” The house is quiet now, and the family says that is one of the hardest parts of losing Cindy. “When mom was with us, the house was alive. It felt like home. She was always humming through the house, making her famous sweet tea, dancing around… it’s just not the same without her.”

I was supposed to have written this article, but with the passing of my dear friend and P.I.N.K of Terre Haute’s co-founder, Amy Bagnoche, it was too hard… it still is. Breast cancer affects 1 in 8 women, so the chances of you knowing someone who has been affected by it is highly plausible. P.I.N.K.’s hope and desire is to help everyone and their families in the Wabash Valley who are battling this horrific disease, until one day a cure is found.

- Allison Hunt with Cameron Collins

“Grief is the last act of love we have to give to those we loved. Where there is deep grief, there was great love” – Unknown

- Megan Higginbotham

Connect with P.I.N.K. of Terre Haute through their website, www.pinkofterrehaute.com, or their Facebook page, www.facebook.com/pinkofterrehaute.

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C o n t r i b u t o r s

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Rayetta Gillaspy

Angela Tapy

Leah Singer

Union Health

Charm School

Leah’s Thoughts

Giovy Sanders

Janice Board

Samantha McGranahan

Terre Haute Church of God

Spectacular Soirees

Unveiled

Julie Manson

Angelia Eccles

Stephanie Pence

Venus & Vine

Makeup Artist

Hallie Hound Barkery

Samantha Brown

Sunny Workman

Kelsey Terry

Editor

Corporate Chef

Common Grounds Crossfit & Yoga

Erin Gregory

Nichole Hawkins

Lori Mitchell

Yvette Morgan

Writer/Editor

Nichole Hawkins Design

Millie & Maude

Modern Charm Charm School

Brittany Michaels

Barbie Fox-Moore

Cheyenne Harris

Craig Mitchell

Vigo County Public Library

Downtown Diva

Indiana State University

Graphic Artist

Susan Tingley

Ashlee Sappingfield

Samantha Ripperger

Allison Layton

Vigo County Historical Society & Museum

Unwritten Photography

Indiana State University

The French Hen Farmhouse & Decor

Ellie Templeton

Candi Snyder

Allison Hunt

Danna Andreas

Common Grounds Crossfit & Yoga

Gentiva Hospice

Launch Terre Haute Editor

Stylist - The Beauty Co.

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Love Begins at Home As we prepare to settle into February I am reminded that not only is it time to celebrate Valentine’s Day, but it is also American Heart Month.

According to Webster’s Dictionary the noun heart is, “A hollow muscular organ that pumps the blood through the circulatory system by rhythmic contraction and dilation.” It is the verb definition of heart that defines a woman: “LOVE, We love!”

Ladies, the good news is that spring is just around the corner. Spring is a time for transformation and renewal. No more holiday hustle and bustle and no more holiday cookies and dinners. Now is the time for new beginnings. According to the European Journal of Social Psychology, a new behavior can be automatic in 66 days. Don’t worry, you are allowed to miss a day during those 66 days and still be successful! The study states that you need to give yourself permission to make mistakes, and develop strategies for getting back on track quickly.

Changing your habits and creating a new healthy lifestyle not only changes you, but it will shape your family’s habits.

The success to being a good caregiver for others is being a good caregiver to yourself. Keeping your physical and mental health in check is the key to a balanced and a peaceful life. If you are wanting to make a change, tell a friend or ask a buddy to join you. Accountability will keep you on track. When you have someone to share your success and failures with, you will be less intimidated. Ask others for help and support during your journey. Take the leap to a healthier lifestyle. Ready, Set, Go! - Candice Synder

The action of love is certainly rewarding, however, it can also be exhausting. Love is expressed by consoling, cooking, providing, healing, homework, and the list goes on. Daily demands often do not give us time to step back and consider our own wellbeing. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States. The American Heart Association Go Red for Women reports that 80 percent of heart disease and stroke events may be prevented by lifestyle changes and education.

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“ ove begins by taking care of the closest ones – the ones at home.”

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Freelance Graphic Designer

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Reinventing Mom Motherhood is hard. Stay-at-home moms, working moms, single moms, whoever you are – it is hard. The days can be exhausting, endless and frustrating. I don’t mean to shed a negative light on motherhood, of course. There isn’t a mother out there who at the end of the day would change her decision to have children. But, that being said, it can wear you down. It can make you forget about who you are outside of your motherhood and household duties.

I have “reinvented” myself a number of times over the last three years.

I have gone from mother of one, no work schedule, completely devoted to my baby, to freelance writer, to fitness instructor, to mother of two.

I will have adapted more by the time this article comes out. With each day, week, month and year I am changing along with my family. I am the type of person who has to constantly be moving forward. When I’m not, and I get caught in the mayhem of my day-to-day, I forget. I forget who I am. I forget what it’s like to take time for myself and feel attractive both for myself and my husband. I forget what it’s like to have fun outside of Little People and princesses.

6:30 a.m. I hear Maggie cry. I wake up to get my 14-month-old her breakfast.

7:00 a.m. McKinley wakes up. At 3 and a half years old, she is more self-sufficient. Without guilt, I put a cartoon on the television for her so I can address Maggie and my empty coffee pot.

7:30 a.m. I drink coffee and prepare lunches for McKinley’s school day and my husband’s work day. McKinley is now ready for breakfast – pop a frozen pancake in the microwave, and serve.

8:00 a.m. I kiss my husband goodbye as he heads off to set displays and serve clients.

8:15 a.m. Fold the laundry in the dryer from the night before, throw more in the washer.

8:30 a.m. Dress for the gym, inevitably check the mirror. I look so tiredmore coffee. Shake it off. It’s worth it for my one hour of sanity today.

8:45 a.m. Throw the kids in the car, drop McKinley off at preschool, then head to the YMCA to run, or whatever is on my agenda today.

9:30 a.m. After delivering Maggie to the childcare and talking to likeminded mothers, I finally get around to exercising.

10:30 a.m. Pick up Maggie from the childcare room – at this age she is so excited to see me.

11:00 a.m. Arrive at home and put Maggie down for her nap. I shower, eat and address my work for the day.

12:30 p.m. Lay down for a quick nap before Maggie wakes up.

12:45 p.m. Maggie is awake and ready for lunch. I drag myself off the couch, pour a glass of tea, and get her out of bed. She kicks and giggles with excitement. Sigh. If only that could fuel my emptying energy meter.

1:45 p.m. Put Maggie back in the car and pick up McKinley from school.

2:00 p.m. Serve up snacks for both kids and allow McKinley to watch a cartoon so she relaxes for a half hour. She hasn’t napped more than an hour and a half her whole life and at 3 and a half, she doesn’t much at all any more. If I’m lucky Maggie will nap but, with sister home now, probably not. I need more caffeine.

3:45 p.m. Get McKinley ready for swim lessons.

4:00 p.m. Head to the YMCA once more for swim lessons and a little play time with Maggie.

5:00 p.m. Pack both kids back in the car, snacks provided, and drive home.

5:15 p.m. Bath time for Maggie and dinner for McKinley. Say hello to my husband and ask him how his day was. Grab a much needed beer.

5:45 p.m. Provide Maggie – my good eater, with a substantial variety of food for dinner including sweet potatoes, scrambled eggs, cheese, chicken, blueberries, really whatever I have available she will eat. And then some.

6:30 p.m. Put Maggie to bed.

7:00 p.m. Put McKinley to bed.

7:30 p.m. Eat whatever we have prepared for dinner tonight. Thankfully, my husband cooks so we take turns depending on the menu and day.

Make sure I don’t have an assignment due I may have forgotten about.

7:45 p.m. Clean…clean, clean, clean, clean. Then clean some more.

8:30 p.m. Settle in bed with my husband to watch whatever show is on the DVR or Netflix.

9:30 p.m. Sleep, hopefully.

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And this schedule is when nobody is sick, injured, or otherwise out of the ordinary. Throw those curveballs in and watch the rest dissolve into a mess of unproductivity and despair.

As a mother, it is important to have something for yourself. It isn’t selfish. It’s self-preservation. Our children become a reflection of us.

McKinley shows me signs every day that she watches me, appreciates what I do for myself and aspires to do those things one day. This doesn’t tell me that I’m not spending enough time with her, this tells me that I am showing her that I deserve respect and I care about myself –something I pray she does as a growing girl and will carry with her as an adult.

It is the hardest job. I’m sure there are plenty of individuals out there who could disagree, but until you’ve walked in the shoes, given up who you were to become who you are with a child, you can’t fully understand. But the moment you stop trying, stop caring about your needs, your appearance, your happiness – that’s when your family will notice.

Reinvent yourself. Do it time and time again. Never get tired of who you are – and if you are tired, change. Be happy with you. Be the best you that YOU can be for your family. They are little reflections of you.

- Erin Gregory

“ I will have

adapted more by the time this article comes out ”

photography by MG Photo Co

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Life With God is a Gift Kacie Feeney shares with us how “Persimmon Prints” was born. I have the pleasure of knowing this “sweet soul” and how she turned her gifts and talents into a faith based apparel and prints business. Her story will inspire you and give you hope.

Where are you from and where do you reside?

I am originally from Bloomington, Indiana (I’m a born-and-raised Hoosier!), and I now live in just north of Chicago with my husband Patrick, and our two malti-poos, Lucy and Rosey.

Tell us how Persimmon Prints started and what you sell.

I’ve always been an artist, and in the past few years, I’ve grown a stronger desire to use my artistic talents and to be purposeful in all areas of my life, including my career. Since we first opened, we’ve become a fully functioning, faith-based small business. Our primary focus is to create women’s clothing products that combine biblical promises with a functional and cozy, yet classic design.

Tell us about some of the work that you do around the world?

Over the last few years, God placed a love for India in my heart. In March of 2016, I travelled alongside The Archibald Project, an orphancare advocacy non-profit. We visited an orphanage called The Good Shepherd Agricultural Mission located in northeast India at the foothills of the Himalayan Mountains. After spending nearly two weeks with the precious children and amazing, God-honoring staff, I was excited to continue our relationship through Persimmon Prints. We now financially support Good Shepherd with every product purchased!

Who inspires you and what inspires your work?

I love companies who aspire toward high business standards, and create ethically made products. My friend Bethany at The Root Collective has such a beautiful heart, and partners with artisans from all over the world to produce the most beautiful, high-quality shoes. Ultimately, the inspiration behind my work comes from my faith in God. I am inspired by the beautiful promises found in the pages of scripture, and I am driven to share His love with others.

Giving back is close and dear to your heart. Can you tell us how this act of kindness has changed your outlook on your business?

Redirecting my actions, purchases, and business and family decisions to give back as often as possible has changed my outlook on life. I have changed as a consumer, constantly recognizing how my purchase power can have a positive impact on others. I’ve become more conscious of

How has your small business grown since 2013?

Persimmon Prints began solely as a tiny homemade ‘paper products’ business. Within the first year, my growing vision and passion for clothing design shifted our business tremendously. After learning about injustices within the global garment industry, I wanted to shine light on ethical fashion, and help consumers understand that where their money is invested is just as important as what they choose to purchase.

Where do you see your business in 5 years?

Oh, it’s so exciting to look wishfully into the future! In 5 years, we hope to increase product choices for customers, and phase in full collections of women’s clothing for each season. We plan to continue designing classic styles for all body types, ensuring that our products are ethically made, provide fair wages, and are sourced from high-quality textiles.

Additionally, we plan to continue giving back where God calls us, and financially supporting beloved ministries whose hearts and missions are in tune with ours.

What is your mission with Persimmon Prints?

Persimmon’s ‘heartbeat’ is to help others FILL their lives with God’s word, FIX their hearts on Him, and FIGHT for those in need. In every product we develop, and we strive to integrate this mission into the process. We also make every effort to weave our mission into our social media platforms, our business decisions, and our daily interactions with customers.

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where and how goods I choose to purchase are made, while also steering Persimmon’s focus to offer the same kind of experience for our customers as well. It just feels good knowing that those little decisions add up, and help make our world a better place.

Where can our readers find you?

Persimmon friends can receive updates on products, our mission, and our monthly themes on Instagram + Twitter (@persimmonprints), and our Facebook page. However, I share my heart most intimately with friends who receive our weekly email newsletter called “Outside the Inbox with Persimmon Prints”.

How do you find balance between work and family?

Oh, this is a tough challenge for us all, right? I’m the first to admit that I don’t have the best work/family balance, but I do my best to follow through with three ‘house rules’: First, we try to place all technology aside while we’re hanging out as a family in the evenings and on the weekends. Second, we always, always, always eat dinner at the table (except when the Bears football game is on, ha!). And third, we dedicate the first 20 minutes of our mornings to a simple family breakfast, mixed with a quick devotional, helping us each set our intentions and hearts for the day. It’s just my husband and myself in our household at the moment, but we find it so important to set these ‘family expectations’ early on, so they are already embedded, purposeful traditions as we transition into a family of three (or more!).

What advice would you give to new bloggers?

Community, community, community. That’s what blogging is all about, right? All blogs need creators and readers. If you hope to grow your blogging platform, or hone your writing skills over time, be willing to follow other bloggers like you, to carve out time reading their writing, and to write them encouraging comments. Before you know it, you just might have a new friend!

Is there another skill you would like to learn?

I love learning, and I truly believe in being a lifelong student. I find it so fascinating that I was led into this ‘clothing design’ world as a simple pen-and-paper artist.

Now, my goal is to grow in my sewing skills! I have those basic straight-line stitches down, and I can thread a sewing machine (thanks to my middle school home economics class!), but I this year, I hope to better understand sizing, patterns, textiles, and all-things-clothing-design more in depth.

- Yvette Morgan

photography by Abra Clampitt Gift of Today Photography

Join Persimmon Prints’ newsletter by signing up on their website www.persimmonprints.com

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I still remember the gasp that escaped my mouth as my eyes focused in on the mountainous deformity that had formed on my nose overnight; a giant pimple had sabotaged my senior picture day.

NOOOO! Oh, how I wish a simple wave of the hand would force the cosmos into an epic time out and demand that time go into an instant rewind.

I can only imagine what it would be like to have the power of time at my beck and call. I would redo that day if I could…along with many more. Hindsight has forced me to respect the bearded, winged old man that I once deemed frail.

I now understand the power of the scythe and the hourglass. Father Time is not a respecter of persons. He moves forward without any obligation to gander over his shoulder. Those moments once lost to procrastination, pride, and stubbornness would tick-tock so differently now. The sunrises missed and the forgotten sunsets would intentionally be etched in my mind. “I love you” would be stated much more often. Hugs would be stronger. Kisses would be many and as often as my lips would pucker and smack. A-cappella lullabies dedicated to my babies would have flooded the air waves, regardless of their lack of perfect pitch. Love would have propelled my laughter through the skies like a kite unleashed. My world would have been forged with trust and transparency. But for years I lived with regret. One thing had plagued me most of my childhood: the un-forgiveness that had claimed endless hours of my life.

Forgiveness was not something that came naturally for me. Pain, fear, and betrayal had created a boulder of resentment that was crushing me from the inside out. I hated it, but secretly had become addicted to the cause of my emotional discomfort.

That resentment had become a twisted sense of identity. I resented the girls that made fun of my skinny legs, my hair and my skin color. I resented the first boyfriend that dumped me, the second one that cheated on me, and the third one that belittled me. I resented my oily skin and my frizzy hair. I resented the relentless ridicule and bigotry. I resented the fact that I never beat up Joanna, the tomboy in 5th grade who beat me up in front of our whole class. But the source of all of my anger and pain went deeper than recess bullying and an uncoordinated puberty ridden body that struggled to fit in. My torture revolved around one man: my father. I resented him for leaving me and not ever needing me the way I needed him. His absence crippled me. Every one of life’s lesson strengthened me, but not in a healthy way; instead of growing stronger I grew harder.

Emotional distance became the fortress of my life.

It was not until my “father” died that I realized how much of my joy had been lost due to his dysfunction. As I processed his loss, my heart released the tears that had held me captive for years. Like a funeral progression, each salty droplet inched me closer to the grave of forgiveness. Somewhere along the journey, I had grown tired of carrying the load and God had given me the strength to forgive my father. Mercy had renewed my heart. Forgiveness paved the transitional road from father to daddy.

In His wisdom, God had initiated my healing by loving me and modeling unconditional love. I learned to love myself as He loved me. To this day I cannot explain it - how the irony in dad’s death was my rebirth. I came to accept that I was not unlovable, but rather understood that my dad struggled showing a healthy sense of love. The simple truth was that he loved me the best way he knew how.

Finally… that was enough. His death released me to live without regrets. No more emotional fortress. No more fear. No more un-forgiveness.God had given me the strength to not only love my daddy, but to truly learn to love daddies little girl: He had renewed my identity.

I was finally enough.

- Giovy Sanders

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photography by Ashlee Sappingfield

It would be an honor to meet you!

We love that our church is all about people and where every member of the family can experience the

fullness of God’s power. Everyone receives ministry and encounters God’s presence, regardless of their generation. Come worship with us and leave feeling refreshed, full of purpose and courage.

You won’t believe what you’ve been missing.

We would love to meet you!

2501 Thompson Street Terre Haute, IN 47802 (812) 235-4324 www.thchurchofgod.org

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Brave Mom's Clu b A Calling to Love

Terre Haute Mom Shares Her Experience with Foster Care Becoming a foster parent takes an exceptionally devoted, strong individual. With a growing number of children entering the foster care system, parents are needed more now than ever. Natalie Overton, Ashton Development Manager in Terre Haute, is one such parent who felt a calling to care.

Natalie currently runs an apartment complex the family owns on the East side of Terre Haute, along with other rental properties in the Valley.

She taught school for several years before having three children of her own, and saw the need for support in the lives of many children. Chad, Natalie’s husband, is an entrepreneur who owns several businesses in the local and surrounding areas and shares her passion.

When their youngest son was about six months old, she and her husband took over educational guardianship of a 15-year-old boy, Jordan, who needed help getting to school and graduating high school. Jordan is now 24 and remains a part of their family. After having such a successful experience with Jordan, the couple decided to look into adoption.

“I have always loved animals and children,” said Natalie. “I have fostered for the Sullivan County Humane Society for years. I have been on several mission trips to Haiti since 2011. I wanted to adopt from Haiti, but with the government changing the rules over the past several years it has made it very difficult and it takes many years.”

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The Overton’s parents were not in support of their adopting out of the country, because they felt there were so many children in the United States who needed good homes. So Natalie and Chad changed their plan to foster, with the option to adopt, if it would be possible.

“All children deserve love and security, and I felt our family could offer those things,” she said. “Despite the emotional tug of war of fostering, you can remain a resource in the child’s life if the parents so choose.”

The process of becoming a foster parent takes time, however. The Overtons had to enroll in the Resource and Adoptive Parent Training, totaling 15 hours. They also had to have four non-relative references sent in about their family.

“We took a blood borne pathogens class, a First Aid/CPR/AED class through the Red Cross and underwent background checks and fingerprinting for the entire family, and anyone working at the home,” said Natalie. “Upon completion of the above, we had a minimum of two home visits where they go through the home to make sure the child will be brought up in a safe environment, which is then sent off to the local and central office for licensing approval.”

It took the family about a year to get approval from the state. They accepted their first child in April 2016. “We currently have our second placement with us, which we took in September 2016,” Natalie said.

The challenges of raising a foster child are no different than those of raising your own children, Natalie explained. Becoming a foster parent is as challenging as it is rewarding. “You always have to expect behavioral issues, learning disabilities, emotional trials; all of which can be exhausting and trying when thrown into the mix of having your own family and work,” she said. “You become vulnerable to many possibilities, and it is important that you protect yourself and your family from the possible implications and investigations. You also have the added stress of communicating effectively with case workers, birth families, teachers, therapists and the court system. If all foster parents could come into it with well-rounded knowledge and the ability to work as team players fostering can be successful, but it does take a lot of time and patience.”

The rewards are immeasurable, though, when it comes down to it.

Since many of the children in the system have experienced significant interruptions in their emotional development and physical growth, many foster parents see momentous growth in a short amount of time in a supportive, nurturing environment.

“Knowing that you made a difference in a child’s life by removing them from poor environments and providing them some stability to help teach them lifelong lessons and set positive examples for how healthy families should function too,” said Natalie.

The need for more foster parents in the United States is quickly growing. Becoming a foster parent is not very difficult to do, but candidates need to understand they will not only be changing the life of their family, but that of another child. The adjustment if candidates have their own children can also play a role in the transition of adding a new member to the family. And the most challenging aspect to consider, is the inevitable point when the child is adopted and families have to give him or her up.

“All children deserve love and security, and I felt our family could offer those things”

“If you are going to become a foster parent and care for the child properly you will have to let yourself love him/her and cannot hold back your love for them because more than anything, (food, clothes, a place to sleep) these children need love,” Natalie stressed.

- Erin Gregory Those interested in fostering a child can contact the Indiana Department of Child Services at in.gov to find out more, or call the local DCS office at 812-238-8700. The Department of Child services sends out a Parent newsletter that has training opportunities, foster parent support groups, Resource Family Support Services, Respite Care Services, etc. Interested parties also have a CASA volunteer dedicated to be the child’s court appointed advocate. The help is available if the love is offered.

photos by Lori Margason Photography

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New City, New Life When I was a little girl growing up in San Diego, I idolized Laura Ingalls Wilder the way today’s kid’s do of Taylor Swift. There was nothing I loved more than watching the “Little House on the Prairie” television series, and reading in her books about the Ingalls family adventures as they moved from the Big Woods to Kansas to Plum Creek.

I was in awe of her bravery, compassion, and her dream of becoming a writer. Laura was my hero, and I wanted to be just like her (even going so far as wearing a bonnet to school a few times). What I didn’t realize at the time, however, is that eventually, I would be just like Laura and her family leaving home to start a new life in a “new land.”

In July 2016, I left San Diego – the place I’ve known since childhood – and moved to a new life in Terre Haute. My husband, Bryan Lubic, accepted an amazing leadership opportunity at Indiana State University.

So we decided to pack up our 8-year-old daughter, Sophie, two dogs, a cat, and all our belongings, and move to the Midwest.

In many ways, our journey was much like that of the Ingalls family as they ventured from one home to create a new life elsewhere. Of course we travelled by car and not covered wagon, and didn’t encounter bison along the way. But the experience of packing everything you have and leaving all your family, friends and community behind resonated deeply with me.

While I was excited to start a new adventure in the Midwest, I was sad to leave behind the life I’d known for 40 years.

When I told my dad we were making the move, he said it’s great to make this move while I’m young. I had confessed to him that perhaps I was too old to make such a life change. He laughed it off, and reminded me I had an entire life ahead of me (dads seem to put these things in perspective).

As the months went by, I sorted through my entire house – from books to holiday decorations to kitchen

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appliances. I packed what was meaningful and donated the rest. The feeling of taking only what we needed was liberating and I was growing more excited to embark on this new journey.

When I moved to Terre Haute, I didn’t know a soul in town. While it was scary to (literally) pull up to my driveway and not know the location of the closest grocery store, there existed a feeling of possibility that I hadn’t experienced since I was in college, when the world seemed young and full of hope. There is something to be said for going somewhere completely different and starting anew – being forced to find your tribe, and make new discoveries.

Since that day, every person I’ve met in Terre Haute has been welcoming and warm. Strangers have treated me with kindness. I welcome the slower, less crowded pace. I like that Terre Haute is made up of so many small businesses and entrepreneurs – people, like me, wanting to make their own destiny. I’m in awe when I see all the greenery surrounding me – the lush parks, gorgeous trees and open space - things that just don’t exist in Southern California these days. I love that I can experience a real fall and visit the pumpkin patch when it’s not 90-degrees outside, and that Sophie can play in the snow for the first time in her life.

When I tell people I moved to Terre Haute from San Diego, they say two things.

First, “Why would you do that?”, or “If I lived in San Diego, I would never leave.” It is certainly true that San Diego is beautiful with its year-around sunny temperatures, and having the Pacific Ocean only a short drive away is a luxury… but I’ve found this new life to be a gift.

Like Laura Ingalls Wilder, I already see how these new experiences will make me the person and writer I am destined to be.

And I can say with absolute certainty that this is exactly where I am supposed to be in life.

- Leah R. Singer

Photography by Grace Sarris

Start With One Flight

“YOU yourself, as much as anybody else, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve YOUR love and attention.”

- Prince Gautama Siddahartha

Being a mom and working full time is tough. I also work in an industry that can sometimes be very judgmental of physical appearance. It is honestly harder than I ever imagined it to be. But, if I have learned one thing through the years, it is how to take time for myself to be healthy regardless of what size I wear. It is not about appearance; it is truly about how you feel. It’s about being healthy physically and mentally on the inside. After all, who will take care of your family or loved ones if you are not healthy enough to do so?

Women have many misconceptions about working out and often feel they don’t have the time to spend in the gym or enough information to get started. Women frequently ask the following questions: • • • •

How often should I work out?

How long should I work out?

What are the best fat burning exercises?

How do I lose my midsection fat?

My answer to all of these is the same – don’t become overwhelmed with the specifics. Start by finding ten minutes in your day to spend alone, just for you. Once you have made a habit of reserving some time for yourself, start building from there. Before long, everything else will follow and will start to fall into place.

Research shows that women are more likely to experience health concerns and not know about them until it is too late. Symptoms are typically brushed off as anxiety, stress or chronic fatigue. Taking ten minutes of your day to focus on you can be key to reducing your risk, and will provide you a better foundation to strengthen your heart, lungs, and your bones.

Set realistic goals by starting simple. Get up ten minutes earlier each day.

It is as simple as doing some jumping jacks, stretching, non-weight bearing squats or leg lifts. Make it a combo and build from there by doing some exercise movements during commercials, purposely parking further away from your destination, or taking the stairs instead of the elevator.

Start with one flight and build to two. None of these things require a gym or much extra time, they just require dedication to yourself.

Eventually these things will become part of your everyday life. You will feel better and encouraged to do more. Don’t get sucked into fads or become defeated by unrealistic New Year’s resolutions - fitness is a life choice, however you choose to pursue it.

- Rayetta Gillaspy

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Janie’s Self-Discovery “Ships at a distance have every man’s wish on board. For some they come in with the tide. For others they sail forever on the horizon, never out of sight, never landing until the Watcher turns his eyes away in resignation, his dreams mocked to death by Time. That is the life of men.

Now, women forget all those things they don’t want to remember, and remember everything they don’t want to forget. The dream is the truth.

Then they act and do things accordingly.”

Immediately, Zora Neale Hurston’s novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God, addresses the differences men and women face in their most intimate moments: their dreams. Men’s dreams float in with the tide, or are lost in the horizon. Women’s dreams require action and a sense of agency.

They are in control of what they will choose to remember and what they will decide to forget. This sets the tone for Janie Mae Crawford, and her approach to fulfilling her dream and finding her sense of self.

Janie’s marriage to Logan, a prosperous farmer, is comfortable and Logan is initially very attentive to his new wife. Janie, being very young and guided by Nanny, waits to feel love develop for Logan, as she assumes it will. However, Logan begins to expect more work from Janie on the farm, and he belittles her for resisting helping him with hard, laborious chores, assuming she is too spoiled.

Janie realizes that she will never develop feelings for Logan, and the life of working a farm will not suit her dreams. Meanwhile, she begins a flirtation with Joe Starks.

After an argument, Janie leaves Logan for Joe, a charismatic and financially secure man with big dreams for the future. Joe, who Janie comes to call Jody, offers Janie the opportunity to live a life of possibility and adventure. He takes Janie to a newly developed town where he quickly establishes himself as mayor. Jody’s dominance and desire to secure more and more power leaves Janie with little opportunity to grow as anything other than the mayor’s wife. She remains silent as Jody dictates when she should speak and how to wear her hair. Eventually, Jody’s need for power and control pushes Janie too far. She publicly berates him in front of the town. As retaliation for humiliating him, Jody beats Janie. Eventually, Jody falls ill, and Janie berates him one last time on his deathbed.

Following Jody’s death, Janie develops strength and independence as she enjoys the freedoms of being alone for the first time in her adult life.

Finally, Janie recounts her marriage to Tea Cake, a creative, playful, and imaginative man 12 years younger. Tea Cake is not as financially secure or settled as her previous husbands, but he offers Janie the chance to be herself, and he challenges her to explore and self-discover. Through her relationship with Tea Cake, Janie realizes that she can be the source of her own happiness.

Although Janie reminisces on the past loves in her life, the novel is not a romance. Janie’s relationships are evocative of the self-discovery she experiences as she searches for a meaningful and mutually fulfilling partnership, only to end up alone and content.

Photo by Grace Sarris Hurston’s narrative begins with the novel’s protagonist, Janie Mae Crawford, a beautiful African American middle-aged woman who has recently returned to her hometown in Florida. Janie, aware of the gossip surrounding her return, recounts her uniquely brave and sad story to her only friend, Phoeby.

Janie’s story begins as a young girl being raised by her grandmother, Nanny. Janie has never met her parents, which leads to teasing from her peers. She is also teased for living on the Washburns’ land with her grandmother. The Washburns are Nanny’s employers, and Janie grows up with their white children, believing she herself is white until she sees a picture of herself. Nanny, a former slave, who experienced terrible hardships at the hands of her master and his wife, wants a better life for Janie, one that doesn’t include the suffering she endured as being a black woman or “mule” of society. Nanny’s determination to obtain a good and respectable life for Janie includes marriage to a much older and financially established man, Logan Killicks.

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Their Eyes Were Watching God was published in 1937 and is still one of the most important contributions to the African American literary canon.

Hurston beautifully illustrates African American vernacular in the Great Depression south.

Their Eyes Were Watching God is the NEA Big Read title for 2017. Free copies of the book are available at the Vigo County Public Library. Local theater company, Theatre 7 will feature Spunk, a play inspired by the works of Zora Neale Hurston at the Indiana Theatre in February 2017.

Check www.vigo.lib.in.us for more programs and events for the Big Read.

- Brittany Michaels

Read Alikes

Because Your Eyewear Should Be As Unique As You Are > Same Day Urgent Care > Advanced Contact Lens Fits: Digital Relaxing, Multi-focal, and Astigmatism > Surgical Co-Manage: iLASIK, PRK, Cataract, Glaucoma, Macular Degeneration > InfantSEE Provider > BLINC Cosmetics > LATISSE eyelash growth

Accepting Most Medical Insurances www.eyecarespecialists.org www.facebook.com/ECSpecialists

With LOVE in the air and Valentine gifting on our minds I thought I’d share some of my picks from a few of my favorite websites and small biz shops for those unique Valentine gifting ideas.

“Etsy” is one of my favorites for one of a kind handmade gifts from home goods, jewelry and baby gifting. This site offers a great selection and communication to the seller very easy.

“Uncommon Goods” is perfect for unique and quirky gifting from jewelry, scarves, home or kitchen. Be sure to check these out and gift for your family and friends, knowing your money will be paying for a quality handmade gift.

Locally owned “Brick & Mortar” shops are the heart of Small Business everywhere. Be sure to shop local any chance you can and support the makers who spend many hours perfecting their products.

- Yvette Morgan

Momma’s Kitchen 8oz candle: $16 - Anitque Candle Works www.antiquecandleworks.com

Jewelry by Hendersweet: $30 - Etsy www.hendersweet.etsy.com

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All My Heart Hand Warmers: $26 - Uncommon Goods www.uncommongoods.com

Hubby Mug: $16 - Etsy www.clickandblossom.com

Personalized Keychain or Necklace: $18 and up - Etsy Turn your child’s art into a personalized keychain or necklace. www.habitnationusa.com

Personalized Love Birch Cuff: $100 - Uncommon Goods Handmade Brass Cuff, made in the USA www.uncommongoods.com

Hand Embroidered Initial Necklances: $38 - Etsy www.merriweathercouncil.com

I Love Hearts Large Canvas: $36 - Uncommon Goods Perfect crossover bag to run errands or use for travel. Holds up to 60lbs and folds up nicely. www.uncommongoods.com

Route to Love: $130 - Uncommon Goods The perfect gift for Newlyweds, long distant family and friends, made in the USA. www.uncommongoods.com

“Mama Bear� t-shirt: $35 - Loved by Hannah and Eli Check her out on Instagram... so many choices! www.lovedbyhannahandeli.com

Gifts For Your Valentine 25

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Launch: A New Perspective When I think of the New Year, I think about second chances; or in some cases, thirds…or fourths…or fifths. It’s the same old story, but starting back at day one of 365 really does feel like a clean slate. While I’m a firm believer that every day is a new beginning, and that we should treat it as such, there’s something inspiring about people all across the world dedicating themselves to new things, reaching for different goals, and placing their energy in positive things. It’s always been comforting to me knowing that the people right next to me are trying to be better, too.

As a recent college graduate, though—just out here trying to “find my way” and all the other clichés that are so true, it hurts—it’s easy for me to feel stuck every now and then. There are so many projects I’ve started and never completed. There are several things I’ve wanted to do but never have. There are too many things I’ve done, but not done well, so I’ve pushed them to the back corners of my mind, where they sit untouched.

Enter Launch Terre Haute.

If I’m in a slump or feeling unmotivated, all I have to do is show up. Isn’t that crazy? I’ll say it again. All I have to do is SHOW. UP. In a space teeming with untapped potential and countless possibilities, and some of the most incredible and ambitious people in Terre Haute, it’s impossible to not feel driven toward something new, or even back toward something that was never quite finished—you know, back to those second, third, fourth chances… To be a creative, an independent, a freelancer, or a small business owner, and to surround yourself with like-minded, determined people, is to give yourself everything you need to be successful.

Launch is like a family; full of people who want to see you do your best. The members get to know one another, keep an eye out for projects that might interest each other, and are always willing to teach anyone something they don’t already know. As a girl who adored school and misses being in a classroom, there’s no better place for me to spend my time than at Launch. They don’t call it a co-work space for nothing!

On any given day, the space is full of members typing away at their laptops—completing work, proposals, and presentations, or possibly just shopping online... Guilty.

But Launch is a free-flowing space that encourages conversation, and it invites people to work in whatever ways allow them to thrive.

Night owl? No worries.

A membership gets you 24/7 access to the space.

Procrastinator? I mean, aren’t we all? Never fear.

There’s always someone around to talk with, even if it’s just about your favorite lunch spot. I can promise you, it’s a great place to be as you kick off 2017 and start seriously thinking about your goals.

I might be just a “twentysomething”, but the best advice I could give to someone within our community right now who is looking for a place to grow and be successful, would be to join Launch Terre Haute. If anything, I urge you to add to your list of things to do this year to simply check the place out—especially if you have an idea for a venture, run your own business, or are just looking for a place to feel supported and motivated. Plus, you’ll gain 60-some new friends…

Sounds like a great resolution to me!

- Allison Hunt

Center Photos by Ashlee Sappingfield

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Phantasy World

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One of our favorite local photographers, Ashlee Sappingfield, already has successful wedding, senior, and family photography businesses with Heart & Key Photography and Unwritten: Senior Photography. She’s adding yet another feather to her cap with Phantasia – Fine Art Creations.

We HAD to know more about her unique new venture, and where her inspiration for Surrealist Photography originated.

Tell us what your creative process is for finding your inspiration?

Inspiration comes from anywhere and everywhere. Sometimes it’s an idea I get from a song or a really gorgeous part of nature that I stumble into. Sometimes it comes from a book or movie. And occasionally the client suggests a concept that we build upon together. The latter is the most fulfilling, because it’s like the finished product is a piece of them.

Tell us about yourself and small business?

Who and what inspires you?

That’s a question with a broad answer (laughs). I have plenty of inspirations, both personal and professional. My kids definitely inspire me with their imaginations, and I have a few portrait concepts scribbled down that I’d love to create, thanks to something one of my children has said or shown me. I also follow multiple international photographers whom I draw inspiration from. But honestly I’d have to say my biggest source is nature.

Phantasia is named after the Greek word for “fantasy or dreamlike”.

That is basically what my work resembles, a fantasy environment.

I’ve always loved surrealism because there are no limits, unlike your typical portrait. You can create a setting that looks like another world if you want, there are no limits. I’ve always felt like I was limited in my creativity and photography, and truthfully I was. When I discovered surrealism it was like a lightbulb went off in my soul. That’s why I opened Phantasia, to share this type of art with our community, and give others the opportunity to become something they’ve always wanted.

Describe your work space...do you have a studio or work from home?

How did you develop your interest in photography?

What can someone expect to pay if they want to experience Surrealism photography?

Well, I’m afraid my story is pretty generic. Fell in love with photography at a young age, joined journalism club in high school, bought my first DSLR a few years later and here I am.

I do most of my work from my home office, but a studio is the big goal within the next 18 months. We’ll see what happens.

Where does your photography style come from?

That’s a tough one to try to explain. I just like things to look a certain way. Sometimes I’ll stray from my usual style into something more airy or moody, but for the most part my style is a solid in-between the two.

An experience with me starts at $149 and goes up to $595, for one piece of artwork.

Do you have any formal training?

What is the process when doing a custom order?

Other than having been mentored by a couple of more established photographers, I am completely self-taught. Traditional photography education is very outdated, and I couldn’t afford the Art Institute, so I’ve learned through abundant trial and error. I don’t know everything of course, a true artist never stops learning.

I’ll give the short answer: Consult, Conceptualization, Prep, Shoot, Digital manipulation, Reveal, Print, Delivery. I keep the client involved and updated, and I don’t print anything without written approval. I use only archival canvas art materials, which is insane quality and lasts forever.

How did you discover Surrealist Photography?

Who is your favorite Surrealist artist?

Completely by accident. I signed up for the wrong online course, and realized about 5 minutes in. But I was so intrigued that I ended up sticking it out through the whole thing. It lit a fire inside of me.

Brooke Shaden. She’s the first one I ever came across (that online class mix-up), and after getting to meet her in person she remains my favorite.

Can you tell me more about Surreal Photography?

Where would you like to see Phantasia a year from now?

It’s essentially a LOT of Photoshop. But I also have to shoot a certain way in-camera to make sure I achieve the desired effect during processing. The lighting has to be exactly right, or it will look more amateur rather than fantasy-like. I do a lot of manipulation in Photoshop, including light, but each component has to be shot correctly in order to come together. Each portrait is a meticulous process and I love it.

I’d love to enter my work in local art shows. But I’d have to say that if my creations can one day be found hanging in local businesses, and the homes of my clients, then that would be the best outcome I could ever ask for.

- Yvette Morgan

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websites to check out www.tatertotsandjello.com

musts of instagram

Jen Hadfield offers ideas all about home, DIY projects, and crafting

Becki @whippycake

Stylist, Confidence Promoter, and YouTuber

www.illustratedfaith.com

Joy Cho @ohjoy

your stop for all things faith-based journaling and scrapbooking

Designer, Blogger, Mama

Grace Sarris @fernwehhome

www.blogsociety.com

Small Town Creative, Handcrafted Goods

a global community and resource for bloggers and creative business owners

blogs to follow Lauren Conrad – www.laurenconrad.com

we love Lauren’s thoughts on what to wear, getting fit, dining, decorating, and more.

Evangelie Smyrniotaki – www.styleheroine.com the latest on beauty, travel, and fashion.

Dale Partridge – www.startupcamp.com

a fresh and honest look at turning your passion into a profession.

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Make It Happen: Jilly Jack Designs After graduating from Indiana State University with her Bachelor of Fine Arts in graphic design, Terre Haute native Jill Broadhacker, owner of Jilly Jack Designs, now lives in Carmel, IN with her husband, Dave and son, Jack. Once owner of a thriving stationary line since 2006, she decided going “old school” with letterpress design was her passion in 2008.

We were inspired to learn more about how Jilly Jack Designs came to be.

Find classes and workshops. Join online groups like Briar Press and Ladies of Letterpress. There are some great books available, too - one of my faves is “A DIY Guide to New & Old Printing Methods” by Jessica C. White. There are also a ton of how-to videos on YouTube.

What type of equipment do you use for printmaking?

Tell us what Letterpress is?

Letterpress is a form of relief printing where you use metal or wood type, metal cuts or polymer plates to press ink onto the paper.

Why did you printmaking?

Any advice for aspiring printmakers?

choose

As a designer, I had always loved letterpress printing. I never even thought it was possible to own my own presses.

When I started my stationery line, I exhibited at the National Stationery show. There were quite a few independently owned letterpress stationery companies exhibiting.

From that point on, I was on a mission to own my own presses, and haven’t looked back since. Having my own presses have allowed me to create a small-batch line of stationery and to expand into art prints and posters. I like having the mix of items.

Where can someone purchase your work?

Can you purchase online?

I sell from my studio. I have my prints in retail stores, like Modern Charm in Terre Haute, and Silver in the City and Homespun in Indianapolis. I do several shows throughout the year, including Mack’s New Market. I also sell online on Etsy at: www.etsy.com/shop/JillyJackDesigns, and on Amazon Handmade at: www.amazon.com/handmade/Jilly-JackDesigns.

How do you define your style and creativity?

My art style has a graphic approach that is type driven, friendly, and a little nostalgic.

I have several different types of vintage presses that I use. My Chandler & Price platen press is used for stationery and items that require thick paper. I also have a Vandercook Universal-I flat-bed press. It’s used for larger pieces that don’t require a deep impression, for example, posters and art prints. I design most of my work on my computer and send out for polymer plates that I use to print from. Additionally I have a collection of vintage metal cuts, wood type, and lead type that I print with. It’s fun to use both old and new materials to create something new.

Describe a typical workday for you?

Typically I’m in the studio from 9:30-3. I work on freelance design projects for a couple of hours, then I work on illustrations for any art licensing projects I may have going. I spend about an hour on social media promoting my work. I don’t print every day. If I have a custom project I’ll print that, or if inventory is low on a current item, I’ll print those. For my non-commissioned work, I design a collection of five or six prints to roll out 2-3 times a year. Those take several weeks of printing based on how large or complicated they end up being.

Do you have any future workshops or events coming up in 2017?

I’ll be at Mack’s Merry Market and the Yelp Bazaar this winter. I don’t have any workshops planned, but if someone is interested they can contact me to set something up!

- Yvette Morgan

Where do you get inspiration from?

I have a thing for vintage items and love representing them with a modern twist. I love things like Pyrex dishes, cameras, and vintage typewriters.

Who is your influence or artist you admire?

I love anything from Hatch Showprint in Nashville. They have an amazing vintage collection of wood cuts and type from all of the amazing country music artists. My favorite artist is Eva Ziesel. She was a designer best known for her ceramics.

Her work is simple and flowing, and she had an amazingly long and productive career.

center photos by Nathaniel Edmunds Photography

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makers

gonna make

“New Year, New You”… That’s what they always say, right?

But do you ever feel like it’s more like New Year, SAME you?

January doesn’t mean to stress us out, but the judgment and pressures coming at us from all directions (recovering from the holidays, eating healthy, working out, losing weight, going green, buying organic, budgeting, vacation planning, parenting styles, having one child, or nine, breastfeeding, not breastfeeding, using cloth or disposable diapers, the list goes on - you get the idea) overwhelm us and send us into a panic - so much so that we don’t even know where to begin. You are so busy making time for your significant other, kids, pets, friends, parents, and grandparents that you never just listen to “you”.

Let’s start by taking a few minutes (or hours) to breathe and focus on you. When was the last time you tried something new? When was the last time you participated in a girl’s night? When was the last time you had FUN… I mean REAL fun, where you actually laughed and weren’t worried about the million other things going on in your life at that very moment? Besides that glass of wine you had last night, when was the last time you were able to REALLY de-stress? It is certainly OK if January rolls around and you are in the “New Year, SAME you” situation.

There’s nothing wrong with the “same you” from December, or the rest of last year for that matter, it’s just time to hit refresh. I’m guilty of this EVERY year, without fail, and even I forget to “refresh” sometimes.

We all can relate to winter as a time for Mother Earth to take a “time out”, so it’s time we do the same. Would it hurt you to drop your leaves so you can bounce back bigger and stronger in the spring? Think of January as a time for rest, renewal, and rejuvenation. Bare it all (figuratively, of course), and let yourself be vulnerable; do something you don’t think you are good at, take a nap, travel, learn a new skill, start a journal or blog, join a club, create something, use your hands, take a class, read a book, color, doodle, take up yoga… you might just surprise yourself. Get a group of friends together to do some or all of those things. You might even have some fun along the way!

- Angela Tapy

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Winter Trends BRRRRRR! It’s cold out there! We’ve come to know and love Indiana weather. One day it’s 5 degrees, the very next it might be 60. Adaptable people, we are. These winter trends battle the coldest of cold Indiana days and nights.

- Lori Mitchell

Leather coats, skirts, trousers, and dresses were all over the winter runways, as well as leather accents on sweaters and even hoodies. Found in both synthetic and actual leather, the trend wears on.

One of the biggest trends for winter is quilting on clothing, particularly on puffer jackets. These coats are warm and cozy, but can be worn sleek and fashionable too.

Pairing a black overcoat or pea coat over a simple white sweater, with rich, velvet pants.

The cape makes a huge statement for winter 2017. More designers are experimenting with different looks and details. However you wear it, capes are always a classic.

The

Fabric

Junkie 34

Layering with a chunky sweater and puffy coat for a sporty look.

Shoe Trends

Oversized collars, whether attached or not, appeared all over the winter runways. Bows, fur, leather, jewel encrusted, and lace collars were prominent, and the perfect addition to many outfits Textures are big this year, and the reptile skin look is no exception. Reptile skin on a menswear-look loafer is classic, but it was seen on both booties and demure heels as well.

On these super cold days, chunky shearling coats come in handy.

Wear them short, long, or rugged – every look has that wearable feel.

Suede ankle boots aren’t going away anytime soon. The addition of platforms or laces updates them for 2017.

Modest, “midi” hemlines took over runways – usually stopping just over or just under the knee. This hemline elongates the figure and gives the illusion of being taller.

Western wear hit its popularity in 2015, but the western shoe still hangs on. Western ankle boots ruled the runway with buckles and studs, but some were even seen with velvet details.

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Boss Lady: Aleah’s Meals Girl boss and softball mom, Aleah Neal, is up and at ‘em bright and early, grocery shopping and preparing meals for over 100 people daily. We had the privilege of getting to know her better, and finding out just how rewarding her career is to her.

Tell us a little about yourself…

I am a 31 year old mother of two beautiful and spunky daughters, Zayley Jay and Farrah Lin, and married to my high school sweetheart, Wesley, for nearly 11 years. I am the typical crazy travel softball mom (Go Warriors 07!) who spends many of my days taking my girls to practices and tournaments nearly every weekend, within a 3 hour radius. I have a great circle of friends that make our lives fun and exciting and I love being in a big family. One day I hope to have another child, but my husband and I are putting that off just a little bit longer.

How did you get started in the industry?

I was originally working for a caterer who was contracted through Meals on Wheels. I was approached to take over the contract, and have been doing so ever since. Then, this past March 2016, word got out that the meals were nutritional and offered at a good price, so The Terre Haute Boys and Girls Club asked Meals on Wheels to start a meal program for their after school program. The contract was offered to me, and I gladly accepted it. It has been very rewarding for numerous reasons.

How long have you been doing this, and what drives you to continue?

I originally started catering in early 2013, and by July of 2014 I took over the contract alone. These are great programs for our community - there is a great need for seniors and young children to receive nutritional, freshly made meals. I take my job very seriously and I love what I do. Knowing that I am truly helping so many seniors and young children receive food 5 days a week makes my heart very happy.

What does your day to day routine look like?

Some call me crazy, but I literally go grocery shopping every week day! I have nearly outgrown the kitchen I rent from, so I can only stock pile for a day or two, plus the random essential things I keep on hand. People around the community recognize my girls and I as soon as we walk in. It’s not normal for a woman with 2 girls dressed in school uniforms to push around a cart full of groceries at 7am or earlier, so people quickly learn our faces. Over the years I have made many acquaintances who keep up with what’s going on in our softball world and our day to day routines. This is one of my favorite things about my day. I generally drop my daughters off to school around 7:40, and head straight to work by 8am. I cook approximately 70 hot meals, and around 40 cold sack meals, fresh every day.

This past summer was absolutely overwhelming, yet exciting - The Boys and Girls Club needed 3 times as many meals daily for their summer program! The total meals this summer was amazing - I’m still not sure how we pulled it off! I shop, cook, package, clean up my mess, and send all of the meals out the door for volunteers to deliver. After all of those meals have left, I deliver anywhere from 3-7 meals myself, and am home by noon. It’s a lot of hard work, but with the help of my mom over the last 2 years, and now a friend who works 2 days a week, it always gets done. My mom has since opened up her own business in Sullivan County. My friend still works two days a week, I work alone the other three.

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Photography by Ashlee Sappingfield

I would imagine your career is very rewarding. What is your favorite thing about your work?

This is one of the most rewarding things I have ever done besides becoming a mother. The first time I received a letter from a 92 year old woman who could barely write due to her shaking, I cried.

She took the time and pushed through her pain to write me a note telling me she appreciates the meals and she wouldn’t know what she would do without this program. That was truly heartwarming, and drove me to do the best I possibly can to make this program a success. When The Boys and Girls Club [opportunity] came along, I was unsure exactly what they did. I quickly found out that they do such great things for our community, and they recognized a large demand for a hot meal program. The kids there are always happy to see the food come in the door, and when it first started, I received many hugs and genuine, appreciative “thank you’s” from the kids.

The kids were all very happy to receive a hot meal before going home. I cannot find the words to say how that made me feel, but “complete” is a close way of expressing that feeling.

What is your biggest challenge in this industry?

The biggest challenge in this industry is budgeting food. The amount of money I am paid per meal sometimes doesn’t cover my expenses. Out of every meal I make, a dollar comes out in fees and rent. I am always looking for deals and buying in bulk when space permits. I have had some great months and some not so great months. When you see places donating to Meals on Wheels, that is not a donation to my program. I have never had any type of donation ever given to me - I run solely on a fixed budget that I have to plan as cleverly as possible. Someone once told me that in order to make a profit you needed to go 3 years without much of a pay check. This is very true in my line of work – I have learned that the hard way. I am always looking for new ideas and new strategies to help this program grow and prosper. Right now there is a need for volunteer drivers. One hour a week, every other week, or even a month can make a big difference in a lot of lives.

Where do you hope to be in 5 years? 10 years?

I hope to be doing this for the rest of my life. I absolutely love this job and the hours. It allows me to do a great service, make some money, be done around noon, and have the rest of the day to spend with my kids and husband, doing everything we need and want to do with softball, concerts and other activities. My dream job since I was a child was to be a mother. I wanted to be a stay at home mom, have lots of babies and be a great wife - so far, so good! Not many people can live by the motto “Do what you love, love what you do”, but this career has truly been a blessing.

- Lori Mitchell

What is your favorite thing about your life, and how do you like to spend your spare time?

My favorite thing in the entire world is being a mother. My daughters bring me more joy than I ever thought possible. My oldest, Zayley, is the most loving and eccentric person I have ever known.

She’s an amazing athlete and has a bright future ahead of her. My youngest, Farrah, is my little cuddle bug. She never meets a stranger and is a friend to everyone. She stands up to bullies, and makes me proud to be her mama. When I’m not being a taxi for my girls, my husband and I enjoy going to many concerts. I love music, and it has always had a huge influence in my life - music says what your soul can’t always say. If we aren’t on a softball field or at a concert, we are at family dinner on Sundays, which is something we all truly enjoy. I also enjoy becoming obsessed with TV series’ to the point most people don’t. I let myself indulge a little too much in the characters!

Who have been the most influential people in your life?

I am lucky to have had many influential people in my life. The first one that comes to mind is my hero, my Papaw J.D. Snider. He has taught me that if you work hard enough at something, you can achieve it. He has always been a father figure to me and has always made me feel that he loved me more than anything in the world.

My mom, Robin Croft, has always shown me that no matter what life throws at you, you fight back. She was a single mother raising my brother and I, working 2 and 3 jobs at a time. She wasn’t always able to attend things she wanted to, but she always made sure we had food on the table, a nice roof over our heads, anything we needed, and an amazing Christmas year after year. She is an amazing woman. Last but not least, my grandmother Linda Snider is a major influence in my life. She helped raise me, and showed me that life is too short to let people mistreat you. She taught me to stand my ground, to love what I do, and that a grandmother’s love is unconditional. I can never repay her for all that she has done for me.

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A Little Farmhouse Love We’ve all heard it: “When I was younger, things were so much simpler!” Heck, I’ve even said it myself, and I don’t consider myself THAT old! But it’s so true. Of course, we all know that things tend to come full circle, and home design is no exception. With that being said, simple is the new “new.”

The owners of this particular farmhouse wanted to bring back its original character. They restored the entire home back to its initial state and it was very important to them that the furnishings were in line with that concept. One of my very favorite parts of decorating this home was the children’s bedroom!

During the early 1900s, it wasn’t uncommon for all of the children in families to share one room. As this house isn’t the homeowners’ main residence, they wanted to use it instead as a place for their extended family’s children to stay when they’re in town for the holidays. I was so excited to hear this news because I knew I could actually transform this room back into its original look, and since this particular simple style is back, it was fairly easy to find the items I had in mind. We decided to keep the walls white and refinish the wood floors to preserve the authentic look of the time period in which the home was built (square nails and all…be still my heart!).

Anytime something comes back in style, whether it’s clothes, cars, or design, there tends to be an added flair to make it current and fresh.

I knew Jenny Lind beds were a must, and luckily, they now come in all sorts of amazing colors! When I paired the mismatched quilts with the colored wood beds, the vision in my mind started to come to life.

Now anyone who knows me as a designer or even on a personal level, knows what my next move was… time to hit the thrift stores. There is nothing that excites me more than the thrill of the hunt. Not only does it save my clients money, it also adds a personal touch that you just can’t achieve by purchasing at your regular chain stores. I was able to find vintage books, toys, and accessories for a fraction of the price. The silhouette prints above the beds were printed on regular crate paper and then I painted over the black ink with regular black acrylic craft paint to add that “imperfect” touch.

Even though this space is simple, it carries a lot of character with it. The new mixed with the old is one of my absolute favorite tactics to use as a designer. I am not into matchy or cookie-cutter looks, so this design project was so fulfilling. This bedroom is filled with so many colors, patterns, and textures that you can’t really go wrong. If I had the chance to do a room like this again, I would take it in a heartbeat!

- Nichole Hawkins

Photography by Grace Sarris

Sources: Jenny Lind Beds - www.landofnod.com Bedding - Pine Cone Hill

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Haute Sisters...

When others see an old, rundown home, they see the past and concentrate on the house’s flaws. For sisters, Monica and Claire Wilson, an old neglected home is a challenge and an opportunity for renewal.

Born and raised in Terre Haute, the Wilson sisters decided to use their talents to start a business known as the Haute Sisters. “Haute is a word typically used in high fashion so we thought we’d use that as a foreshadowing of the quality of our work. We always strive for ‘haute’ quality!” Claire said.

Renovating houses is in their blood. “Our parents have been doing this same thing for over 25 years,” Monica said, “so it really just came natural to use!” Monica has been fixing up houses during the summer since she was thirteen. When she graduated high school in 2015, she started renovating houses full time. Claire’s niche is real estate and has been selling homes for over a year.

Their first project, a home on Seventh Street, was a great success. The house had been ravaged by fire and every room needed redone. The sisters went to work turning the burned home into a thing of beauty.

Monica got to use her vision, do what she wanted, and design everything in the home. Claire received an offer on the home within a week.

Although they had great success on their first project, the sisters say they still have a lot to learn. Their advice for women wanting to get into the business is to not be afraid to ask for help. “It’s frustrating to feel like you are not good enough or smart enough, but if you keep asking questions and getting answers then you will keep growing,” says Claire.

Being young women in a male dominated profession isn’t easy.

Monica says she struggles with being taken seriously, even though she has been doing renovations for a very long time. Claire says her age has been an obstacle and she works extra hard to prove herself. Some say, however, that she has an advantage in the field because younger people tend to be better with technology. The Wilson sisters don’t let these obstacles hold them back. “Don’t feel like you have to apologize for being tough - business is tough!” Monica said. “If you take yourself seriously, others will take you seriously.”

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Renovating the Haute, One Home at a Time

The Haute Sisters are always looking for homes with potential and character to rehab. They are really drawn to historical homes, they said, but would also love to get their hands on a ranch style home. The Haute Sisters also respond to the calls they receive, and love working on any home that is in need of some care.

For anyone interested in beginning their own career in flipping houses, the sisters have one piece of advice, “Know what to buy, how to fix, and how to sell. You have to fix it up right in order to sell it right!�

- Yvette Morgan with Samantha Brown

In With The Old Everyone has heard the phrase, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” One person might see an old left for dead piece of furniture, but others might see something amazing and beautiful! It just takes a little imagination, creativity, and thinking outside the box.

Can you imagine the history that some of those pieces hold? That old shelf that someone once used to hold their most precious novels, or that old worn chair that was once sat in by someone you will never know.

You can find items anywhere: from Craigslist, yard sales, the alley dumpster (don’t be shy), or the local thrift shop. As long as it has “good bones”, it really is amazing what a little paint and distressing can do!

I tend to almost always overthink my projects. I have to do something over the top! But, sometimes it can be as easy as throwing on some white paint, changing the hardware, adding an adorable piece of material - and voila! Something left for the trash is now something amazing.

Other times you just need some contrast to offset your new piece to its surroundings.

My go to paint is Chalk Paint by Annie Sloan. It is super easy to use and there is no prep work needed. There are many types of chalk paint available at your local hardware store, but it is no comparison to this original brand. Chalk Paint by Annie Sloan is not available in just any store. To purchase it you must visit a “stockist”. These stockists are trained in painting with this brand and many different techniques that can be used. They are very knowledgeable and helpful and can answer any questions you may have. We at The French Hen, located on 123 South 7th Street, are proud to be your local stockist. Skipping the prep work like sanding and priming saves tons of time, which is a huge benefit! Let’s be honest, we have so much going on in our lives as women and mothers, who has time to sit around and watch paint dry? That is the lovely thing about chalk paint - it dries really fast! It takes no time to apply a second coat if needed. You can also use wax to seal it and the piece is ready to go without extended dry times.

Photography by Ashlee Sappingfield

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If you plan on distressing your piece, you don’t have to be too concerned about the paint being perfect – bonus! Distressing tends to sound scary to some people, but remember, distressing hides the imperfections of painting. It also highlights the details of the piece and makes the new paint look a bit weathered and loved. It’s easy to be intimidated...but the more you practice, the better you get!

When you start distressing, the most important thing to remember is you want to always make sure your distressing looks natural. Sand away the high points of the furniture or the places that would normally see wear.

Another key place is along the edges of the furniture. I always distress by hand and not with an orbital sander; I feel it looks more natural. It doesn’t leave the unnatural look of circular marks in the piece. I typically use 220 grit sandpaper or higher. Remember the more detail a piece has, the better it looks.

I very seldom make my pieces match. Many people believe that everything has to be the same color, or “matchy-matchy”. I say if you like it, go for it! It’s just paint. You can always repaint it. Different shades provide contrast and break up a room or area. Whites, greys and black are trendy and can always be added to any room, but don’t be afraid to go bold. Bold colors can really make a boring space come to life with one piece. Get those creative minds to work! Find a piece of furniture that needs a makeover, grab your brush, your paint, and a glass of wine and make something old and forgettable fabulous again!

- Allison Layton

They’re Family Too Sheryl Shaver has been an animal lover for as long as she can remember.

“Growing up, we had family dogs, horses, and cats. Dogs are just the perfect companion animals and I’ve spent a large portion of my life in canine rescue and care.” Thus, her idea for a canine campus has been swimming in her mind for years!

Sheryl says she knew she wanted to wait until her kids had left the house to start a canine campus, and after the 12-kennel shop she’d started in her home, Happy Dog Boarding, had been in business for several great years, she knew the time was right to grow the services she offered. “I made contact with a friend, Tom Kuhl, whom I’d met through the rescue I helped open. His adopted black lab is Ollie, and Vivian is my standard poodle, so Ollie and Viv’s is named after our dogs. I will say that part was a tough choice, though, since Tom has two dogs and I have four!”

must have the ability to handle dogs safely and confidently. “Policy and procedure can be taught,” she says, “but ‘dog sense’ is something you either have or you don’t.” In addition to certified staff, Ollie and Viv’s also uses a kennel management software that allows for the business to give owners a daily report via text message or email, and they also offer Online Doggy, which is a webcam service that allows owners to view their dogs in their dorms or suites using a smartphone app.

When it comes to advice Sheryl has for other women looking to open a business, she says, “Make a plan!

Do your homework and research, and ask yourself if there is a market for what you want to do. But mostly, if you believe in your idea, don’t let the fears of others get you down.” She also suggests utilizing The Indiana State Business Development Center as a resource, explaining that they will assign you an advisor to help you throughout the process of starting your business.

Quickly, Sheryl and Tom put their heads together to come up with the kind of business they felt was needed in the community. Ollie and Viv’s offers services in one location, like overnight lodging, day play, full service grooming, self-dog wash, and training. Sheryl says, “I’m so happy that we can offer a clean and safe space for what some call ‘doggie daycare.’ We call it Day Play, and the dogs that pass a temperament test get group play in indoor and outdoor areas, as well as time to relax. Our outdoor play yards are the best!

We have two large yards with room to expand, and they have K9 grass that’s designed for the needs of dogs, which allows for plenty of outdoor play without the mud.”

Sheryl’s love for dogs and desire to create a facility where they can thrive has been a vision she’s had for years. “For me personally, this transition is the realization of a long-term goal. It’s exciting, incredible, fantastic, fun, and overwhelming, all in the best way.”

- Yvette Morgan with Allison Hunt Follow Ollie & Viv’s Canine Campus on Facebook

Ollie and Viv’s also puts a lot of effort into selecting their staff carefully.

According to Sheryl, they

Photography by Samantha Ripperger

Headshot by Stephanie Photography

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What the Fork?

French Macarons...Oui!

Probably one of the most coveted cookies in France, French Macarons (not to be confused with the coconut filled macaroon) are making a wave across the United States. Mostly known for their bright, brilliant colors and bold flavors, they are adorable and trendy little treats. A little known fact about French Macarons is that they are actually Italian, and the word “macaron” comes from the origin of macaroni—maccherrone—which means “fine dough.” Macarons are incredibly delicate due to their fine dough and meringue.

Traditional French Macarons are made with almond flour and confectioner’s sugar, and are filled with a variety of tasty fillings. They key to making the perfect macaron is time. Each component takes a very particular process, and that’s why they are in such high demand these days. The perfect macaron is hard to master: a smooth outer shell, a bubbled “foot”, and the right ratio of a complimentary filling to cookie.

What I love about the macaron is that it has unending potential. There are so many flavor combinations, from savory to sweet. You can use them as decorations for cupcakes and cakes, give them as gifts, or just pop one in your mouth for a quick pick-me-up.

One tip I must encourage is to use room temperature egg whites for the meringue, and use emulsions for flavor, as well as food gels instead of food coloring for the right colors. The emulsions and gels can be found in most baking sections of grocery stores, but they are also available online.

For the recipes listed below, I’m going with a simple vanilla cookie, but you can alter that with any flavor you want and pair it with an almond butter cream filling.

You can also use curds, ganache, or preserves to fill the cookies.

As far as kitchen equipment goes, I recommend purchasing a silpat to bake the cookies on to keep them from sticking or burning. You will also need a flat rubber spatula, measuring cups, piping bags with tips, and a flat baking sheet. It is also preferred to use a convection oven, but don’t fret! If you don’t have one, simply place another cookie sheet underneath the one with the prepared cookies on it.

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Vanilla Macaron Cookies

Almond Butter Cream Filling

Ingredients

Ingredients

1 ¾ cups confectioner’s sugar 1 cup almond flour 3 large egg whites, room temperature ¼ teaspoon cream of tartar Pinch of salt ¼ cup superfine sugar 2 to 3 drops gel food coloring ½ teaspoon vanilla, almond, or mint emulsion

2 sticks of unsalted butter at room temperature 2 cups of confectioner’s sugar Sea salt to taste ¼ cup whipping cream 1 teaspoon almond emulsion

Preparation Preheat the oven to 300 degrees using the convection setting. Line baking sheets with silicone mats. Measure the confectioner’s sugar and almond flour by spooning them into measuring cups and leveling with a knife. Transfer to a bowl and whisk to combine. Sift the sugar and almond flour mixture a little at a time through a fine-mesh sieve into a large bowl, pressing with a rubber spatula to push as much through as possible. Note: this will take a while! Up to 2 tablespoons of coarse almond flour may be left over, but just toss that! Beat the egg whites, cream of tartar, and salt with a mixer on medium speed until frothy.

Increase the speed to medium high and gradually add the superfine sugar. Beat until stiff and shiny, or about 5 more minutes.

Transfer the beaten egg whites to the bowl with the almond flour mixture. Draw a rubber spatula halfway through the mixture and fold it in until fully incorporated, giving the bowl a quarter turn with each fold.

Add the coloring and extract. Continue folding and turning, scraping down the bowl until the batter is smooth and falls off the spatula in a thin, flat ribbon. (2-3 minutes). Transfer the batter to a pastry bag fitted with a 1/4 inch round tip. Holding the bag vertically and close to the baking sheet, pipe 1-¼ inch circles (24 per sheet). Firmly tap the baking sheets twice against the counter to release any air bubbles. Let the cookies sit out until they are no longer tacky to the touch, or for about 30 minutes.

Preparation Blend all ingredients in a standing mixer until thoroughly mixed, adding more confectioner’s sugar to stiffen if butter becomes too soft.

Pipe into the center of a cookie and lightly top with another cookie.

With very little pressure, sandwich the two pieces together.

Sunny Workman is the Corporate Chef for Stables Steakhouse, M. Moggers Brewery, and Richards Farm in Casey, IL.

Sunny’s Playlist “T.N.T.” - AC/DC “Tired of Being Alone” - Al Green “Baby I Love You” - Aretha Franklin “It Serves You Right to Suffer” -

Bake the first batch until the cookies are shiny and rise 1/8 inch to form a “foot” (the ruffle around the edge). This typically takes about 20 minutes. Transfer the cookies to a rack to cool completely. Peel the cookies off of the mats and sandwich with a thin layer of filling.

John Lee Hooker feat. The Avener

Makes 48 shells, or 24 cookies.

“Romeo and Juliet” - Dire Straits Photography by Ashlee Sappingfield

“Use Me” - Bill Withers “Flashlight” - Bonobo “Use the Force” - Jamiroquai “Chop Me Up” - Justin Timberlake “Beat Box” - Matisyahu “Wilder Mind” - Mumford and Sons “Delicate” - Damien Rice “Beach Ball” - Dave Matthews Band “Dare Devil” - Fiona Apple “Mannish Boy” - Muddy Waters “The Antidote” - St. Vincent

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Going Au Naturale 46

Aracari: A New Way to Lunch With the growing trend of clean eating and watching what we put on and in our bodies, it was the perfect time to open an organic, vegan restaurant that focuses on raw dishes and cold-pressed juice. We wanted to learn more about Aracari Kitchen, and what made Jennifer Hale, owner and entrepreneur, decide to open here in Downtown Terre Haute on the corner of 5th and Wabash.

Photography by Ashlee Sappingfield Tell us a little about yourself…

I was born and raised in Vigo County on a small farm. I have always enjoyed fresh produce but didn’t realize how fortunate I was to have it growing in my front yard until I moved to Chicago for a few years.

While in the city, I noticed that people didn’t really eat fruits and vegetables because produce was either too expensive or too scarce. So in coming back to Terre Haute, I’ve been involved in many local food movements and hope to educate not only my children, but others in the community on the importance of food security and the health benefits of eating “real” foods, as opposed to processed foods.

What sparked your dream of opening a restaurant, and what made you choose Downtown Terre Haute?

I have always wanted to be a small business owner. Becoming a restaurateur is a progression of my experience working with farmers, food producers, food co-ops, and being a proponent of eating “real” food.

In choosing a location, I feel that Downtown has traditionally been a proving ground for innovative startups and small businesses. I love the idea that most of the customers walk to our location whether from ISU’s campus or a downtown business as this creates more synergy and active motion in our town.

What can we find on your menu?

My goal when opening Aracari Kitchen was to fill a gap in the Terre Haute area by creating a unique menu with locally sourced and

unprocessed foods. As it turned out, vegetarian and vegan items became the top contenders for what I wanted to serve.

Where do you source your ingredients?

Our ingredients come from multiple sources. We strive to get the majority of what we serve from local farmers and producers in the area. We work a lot with Hale Farm, the Pickery, Harvest Bakery, Rex Roasting Co, Twilight Dairy, Vermillion Valley Produce, the White Violet Center and many more!

How will your menu change with the seasons?

The menu will change to reflect the changing availability of seasonally fresh local produce. As an example, we have farm to table dinners on the first Friday of the month. We also have Sunday Brunch to offer a change in our regular menu. These two meals always feature local and seasonal food and are items that are not found on our regular menu.

What advice would you give to other entrepreneurs wanting to open a restaurant?

My advice to other entrepreneurs that are wanting to open a restaurant would be to put together a good team of people and to be open to working with local producers. Having a solid support system is crucial to keeping up with the demands of the business, but knowing where your food came from and being able to share that with your customers is a beautiful feeling.

- Lori Mitchell

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It was November 2012 when my then 6-year-old daughter, Madeleine Grace, came to me asking if we could be a part of our local Farmer’s Market. Allow me to let you in on a little secret—we didn’t make or sell anything at the time. I mean we were crafty, sure. She was good with kid-level art projects and I had some experience with sewing, decorating, and baking, but we certainly weren’t making soaps, bath bombs, or lip chaps. The thought had never even crossed my mind.

About 4 months prior to this large-scale request, Madeleine’s baby brother had been born. From her perspective, there were two problems with his birth: the first being that he was a boy and the second being that he was not a girl. This caused some real tears in our household and when Madeleine asked me to consider starting a venture with her, because she liked how customers could interact with the makers and growers of their food and goods, I saw it as an opportunity to spend some quality time with her and grow our relationship. Don’t get me wrong, I knew what an undertaking fulfilling this not-so-simple request was going to be, but I was all in for my daughter. And that was how Pure GRACE Soap was born.

Due to a real-life need, we found ourselves having to find something to moisturize her dry and cracked winter lips, and I began researching all natural chap stick recipes. Having been a natural-type family for several years, it only made sense, and we tried a few recipes with good success. Our lips were better for it. Months went by with more and more research and trying of recipes and we honed in our what our initial product line would be—soaps, lip chaps, bath fizzies (our precursor to the bath bomb), and bath salts.

Our first show was not the Farmer’s Market but the local annual Herb Faire and it was great! Immediately following that show, we began the Farmer’s Market season. Part of my agreement with Madeleine, to fulfill her request to start a company and sell products at the Farmers Market, was that she would have to be involved in all of the aspects of the company, and more importantly, help me run it. Everything from getting a bank account, to shooting product photos, to choosing which ones to put on social media, to knowing how to relate to our new customers, she helped with, and she did a great job. Fast forward three years and Madeleine is now 10, active in school and busy with homework, and has decided to take a step back from the company for the time being. I hope it’s a short break and that when she’s older, she will want to pick up where she left off.

Graceful

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Our customers have been wonderful to us. They have watched our product lines grow to multiple all-natural products like soaps, scrubs, bath bombs, bubble bars, lotions, lip chaps, detergents, wool dryer balls, felted soap kits, and more. They have watched us grow both physically and emotionally as well. They started asking pretty early on how they could find us more often; they wanted access to the products on a daily basis and I begin thinking about the idea of a storefront.

My standards are high and my background is in event coordination so the location and physical building had to be just perfect. Except, of course, that place didn’t exist. So I found the next best thing: a cute little dentist office close to my home that was a good size to grow a small business, and I purchased it and began renovating it. That was in January 2016. I figured I’d be open by April…how foolish was I? I had no idea what it took time-wise or money-wise to completely renovate and open a small business. I am happy to report that by the time you are reading this article, our storefront will be open.

Lovingly named Venus+Vine, the brick and mortar shop, sells all of our Pure GRACE Soap products as well as several hand-selected authentic and inspired maker items not already found in this area. Much like how Pure GRACE Soap was named for my daughter Madeleine Grace, Venus+Vine was named for my son, who’s nickname is Vine.

2016 has been quite a journey for my small company, and as they say, it’s about the journey and not the destination. I have enjoyed watching Pure GRACE Soap evolve over the last three years, and evolve so much that it needed its own storefront and production areas. I have had a strong hand in much of the renovation of the building I purchased. I had very limited previous experience with demolition or rebuilding, so for me, it was a journey of physically breaking something down and then rebuilding it. In a sense, it was almost like starting over, both for the company and me.

Everyone is on a journey and I am so happy to have been able to share mine with all of our clients and our community. Their support of our small business has been more than I could have ever imagined and I hope they will feel renewed when they visit our shop. As far as Pure GRACE Soap goes, we have a lot of plans already in the works for 2017, including a line of face masks, a decadent skin moisturizing line, more bath bombs, and more kits. We might even try to squeeze some classes in the mix! While our products will still be available at many retail locations, online and at vendor shows, Venus+Vine will be our new home and we hope everyone will be able to come out and visit us there. Keep an eye out to where the journey might take us next!

- Julie Manson

Venus + Vine is located at 115 S. Fruitridge Ave in Terre Haute.

Follow their journey on Facebook and Instagram @puregracesoap and @venusandvine.

Purpose Photography by Grace Sarris

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Hair Salad Some people just love winter. The snow, the afterglow of the holidays, the anticipation of what the new year has to bring; but, it can also cause dry brittle hair. Salon treatments and products really are great, but aren’t always gentle on the pocket book. Luckily, there are some wonderful remedies that can be done in the comfort of your home that will liven up your hair and repair the damage.

Depending on individual hair needs, most of the ingredients for at-home treatments can be found at the local grocery store. In fact, they may even be at your home already. Below are a few things you can mix together for dried out hair, and the benefits they provide:

The best way to apply these products is to find a combination of the ingredients that best fit your hair needs and mix them together in a bowl. Start off by shampooing and rinsing out the excess water. Generously apply the mixture to your hair, making sure that it’s completely saturated, then wrap your hair in a shower cap, or scarf and allow it to sit on your hair for 30 minutes - 2 hours. After the mixture has had time to sit on your hair, rinse thoroughly, shampoo and condition as normal.

It may sound a little crazy to put food on your hair intentionally, but a combination of these ingredients can provide the same benefits of products that can be purchased at the salon. These solutions provide a safe, natural treatment for hair and will help you stick to your budget.

- Danna Andreas

NATURAL AT HOME REMEDIES FOR DRIED, STRESSED HAIR Coconut Oil – the vitamins and essential fatty acids naturally found in coconut oil nourish the scalp and help remove sebum build up from hair follicles – it also smells amazing!

Olive Oil – this light weight oil easily penetrates the hair for a natural moisturizing effects. It also adds shine and has anti-inflammatory properties that can prevent dandruff.

Eggs – yes, eggs. Eggs are high in protein – which is what hair is made up of. Eggs can act as a thickening agent for thin, lifeless hair; plus, it moisturizes!

Avocado – rich in proteins, amino acids and vitamins that promote moisture, strength and hair growth, avocado is an all-powerful remedy.

Lemon Juice – the acids in lemon juice help exfoliate the scalp, eliminate dandruff, treat oily and itchy scalp, and makes the hair appear thicker.

Apple Cider Vinegar – the acidity in this vinegar balances the PH level in your scalp, clarifies and acts as an anti-fungal agent. It also adds natural body and defines curls, detangles, reduces frizz, adds shine and stimulates hair growth.

Mayonnaise – this sandwich topper provides softer, shinier, and smoother feeling hair and seals in moisture.

Honey – sweet and sticky, honey locks in moisture, and is full of antioxidants and nutrients to promote healthy hair growth. Best if used with another liquid ingredient for easier application.

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Practice The Pause

As we enter a new year, it’s easy to feel a bit overwhelmed with ideas to make resolutions and be our best selves. Thankfully, much of this is not important to our kids. However, with colder weather and a busy backto-school routine, you may notice your family falling into a bit of a… well…slump. Literally. Perhaps you’re all logging a little more couch and screen time and less moving and shaking than you know you need.

It’s cold and wet, and it’s tough getting everyone up and out the door each dark morning, let alone leading the charge to bundle up again and go out for an evening walk. I see the New Year mindset as an opportunity for families to find fun ways to recharge with physical activities as often as possible, no matter the weather.

Children and infants in many Scandinavian countries are taken outside to play, explore, and simply be in the fresh air every day. No matter the weather, and in a part of our world where the winters are much longer and much colder than they are here, kids spend time being active.

There’s a Norwegian saying: “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.” I don’t think I’ve met a kid who doesn’t love to play in the snow, and while we all love a family trip to the Deming Park hill, your own yard is a great place to play creatively too. A little food coloring and water in spray bottles and a white canvas is the perfect way to let your little Picasso have at it! Break out the summer toys from the garage, too. Hula-hoop contests in winter layers is great exercise and harder than you think! Blow some bubbles when the temperature drops below 32 and watch them freeze right in front of your eyes.

As a yoga teacher and kid’s instructor, I would be remiss if I didn’t share with you some ideas to bring the practice I love into your winter activity routine. Not to mention that getting your kids into a short yoga “practice” may be one of the easiest ways to get them moving, breathing, and listening—to both you and them—this winter. The benefits will last long after spring starts, and further into their lives. One of the best times to consider incorporating some yoga into your family routine is before bedtime. Seek out a quiet space in your home, perhaps your child’s bedroom or a room that doesn’t house the toys or TV. Talk about

plan opportunities to run, stretch, and breathe, and help yourself and the little bodies in your home recharge a little bit each day.

- Ellie Templeton Bedtime Yoga for Kids (adapted from Good Night Yoga: A Pose by Pose Bedtime Story) Invite your child to sit “criss cross applesauce” near you on the floor, on a mat, rug, or towel. Ask them to close their eyes and take a few slow, deep breaths in through the nose and out through the mouth. As you inhale, stretch your arms out to your side and up toward the sky, then let them float back down to rest at your sides on the floor as you breathe out. Repeat this for several breaths.

Butterfly pose: Draw the soles of your feet together and your knees out wide like a butterfly’s wings. Relax your knees, legs, and hips down toward the floor.

Tabletop pose: Move onto your hands and knees and picture your spine and back being strong like a tabletop. As you breathe out, arch your back to the sky like a scared cat. As you inhale, let your belly drop back down toward the floor. Repeat 3 times.

Mountain pose: Move to standing and lift your arms high over your head. Clasp your hands together and inhale as you stretch your arms and fingers to the sky. As you exhale gently, bend to one side so that your body makes the shape of a crescent moon. Inhale back to standing straight up and exhale over to the other side.

how we can all help our bodies and our minds get ready for a really good night’s sleep so that we can wake up happy and refreshed, and introduce them and lead them through a short yoga routine.

Airplane pose: Take a step back a few feet with one foot. Draw your arms out to your sides and slightly behind you like airplane wings. Breathe in deeply and as you breathe out, see if you can lift your back foot off the ground and soar like an airplane. Hold for a few breaths. It’s okay if you fall, just try again! Repeat on the other side.

Whether it’s indoor outings, dance parties in the living room, evening yoga, or snow play, the important thing is that you keep your family moving regularly throughout the wintertime. Seek out and

Child’s Pose: Move back down to hands and knees, bring your big toes to touch and slide your hips to your heels for child’s pose.

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Photography by Grace Sarris

Got Balance?

It’s that time of year again. You know the one; when we begin to think about the changes we’d like to make in our lives. Whether you want to lose weight, start exercising, spend more time with family, or start a new hobby, the practice of yoga can help you be more successful in keeping up your resolutions.

Accept. Let go. Manage expectations.

Often we set ourselves up for almost immediate failure when we try to be someone we are not. We try to lose weight to look like someone we see in a magazine or on TV, we purge our houses and raid The Container Store trying to be organized like that friend who “has it all together.” We slave over home-cooked meals to have dinners like that neighbor whose family seems so tightknit. But the truth is, we are often times none of these people!

We are one-of-a-kind human beings, unique to this earth, and yoga teaches us that we must work to accept, understand, and appreciate our uniqueness.

It’s when we accept and love who we are, flaws and all, that we can begin to become the best versions of ourselves. Let go of trying to be someone else and instead, reflect on what the best version of you is. Spend time visualizing what you would look like, feel like, act like if you achieved your goals.

Discipline is about quality, NOT quantity.

We’ve all done it. We set goals and on the first of January, we wake up.

BOOM. We’re now a person who will never eat sugar again, will run 5 miles a day, will do meal prep, and will never let another closet become cluttered. And then we all live happily ever after, right? Most likely, this isn’t the case. A kid gets sick, our jobs get busy, and a myriad of other obligations get in the way of us achieving our goals. But what would happen if we gradually made changes? If instead of going from running 0 miles to running 5 miles a day, or eating sweets every day to never again, we set goals and benchmarks for ourselves that we could actually achieve?

Goals where instead of feeling defeated 10 days into our plans, we feel accomplished and hopeful every step of the way. It’s not about the quantity of things we do to help us work toward goals; it’s about the quality of every action we take that matters.

Here’s some great news… all of this is within you!

Yoga philosophy teaches us that everything we need, and everything we want to be is already within us—we just have to find it. This may seem like one of the many clichés you hear coming from the mouth of a yoga teacher, but it’s true, and it’s a comforting thing to remember when you’re on a journey to becoming a better version of yourself. IT is within you! It is. It may be covered up with years of neglect or buried under the façade of perfection, but it’s there. Your journey is about figuring out how to get it to the surface.

- Kelsey Terry

Photography by Grace Sarris

The Roots of Retail Heather Wolf, owner of Willow Gift & Home, was born and raised in Indy and went to school at Purdue, where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design. She got married and lived in the suburbs of Chicago in the early 90s, and soon, her husband got a job as a college professor, so they moved to Terre Haute in 2001 so he could take a position at Indiana State University.

By some work of fate, Heather, a hobby gardener, found herself at Bunch Nurseries looking for plant material following her move. It was there that she found Bunch of Ladies, and was hired on in 2003. “I worked there for 9 of the 10 years they were open, working my way up to managing for the last few,” she says. “When the ladies decided they were ready to retire, I knew I needed to take over, so I got help from the Small Business Development Center at ISU and they helped me write up a business plan, attain financing, and learn the statistics of the area.”

Before she knew it, Willow had become a reality. “The name for Willow came from my maiden name, Wilson, and my mirrored married name, Wolf. I also love willow trees, so it was just perfect. I’ve been open for 4 years now.”

stay-at-home moms, career women, retired people, and grandmothers.

Brides tend to come in now too because we have kitchenware they can register for,” she explains. Willow also just added a clothing boutique, and Heather says it has taken off! She recently remodeled, and now clothing, jewelry, and accessories are half of her business. “It’s bringing back frequent shoppers, too,” she says. “People aren’t always in need of gifts, but they’re always out looking for fashion.”

When asked how she defines success, Heather keeps it simple. “Success, to me, is creating the place I have in mind and making sure my customers feel the same way about it that I do.” In addition, Heather thinks it’s important to take pride in our community and what goes on within it.

Coming from the suburbs of Chicago, Heather says she’s met some of the kindest, most giving people here in Terre Haute. “I don’t think this community has to apologize for anything, so what I value most is for people to feel wanted and appreciated in my shop. One of my customers said once that they felt like I was inviting them into my home, and that was one of the best compliments I’ve ever received. That’s success to me.”

When it comes to the evolution of the business, Heather says she’s done a lot of outside training regarding retail. “It’s really about finding what your customers want to buy. I’ve hired a company that I work with every month and we do a lot of statistical analysis on what is selling and popular here. I also got hooked up with an affiliate of Management One called Retail Mavens.” Through that, Heather explains, she’s learned a lot about really focusing on what her customers want, which is the most important thing to her.

Success doesn’t come without its challenges, though, with location being one. As Willow is within a residential neighborhood, she says, “it’s beautiful, but people don’t always notice me.” As a result, she does a lot of advertising. Specifically, she is WTWO’s “valley expert” in gifting, so through that opportunity, Willow is able to promote that it’s a great shop that offers unique items. The great thing about having a small business to Heather is that she’s able to have personal relationships with the people in our community. “We also don’t have a generic façade or price points we have to hit. I can go out and find independent lines and artists, and I can make the decisions.”

Heather pays close attention to her customers and particularly to who comes in most frequently. “I see young moms in here since I expanded our baby department, but overall, it’s a lot of 30-65 year olds; lots of

When it comes to entrepreneurship, Heather works hard at staying on top of things. “The best advice I’ve ever gotten is focusing on what the customers want. It’s honestly the most important thing here. It’s easy to

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Heather’s Favorite Things: Food: Chocolate Shop For: Jewelry Hostess Gift: Nora Fleming table top dishware Entertaining: Small groups of people, intimate gatherings, and home cooking Vacation Spot: Europe – anything that has to do with castle or gardens, I’m a happy camper Style Icon: in home décor: Frank Lloyd Wright Color: Purple What’s Your Sign: Cancer Flats or Heels: Flats Music: Singer/Songwriters

get caught up in your own ideas, but in the end, it’s really about them.”

Advice to others looking to start their own business is simple enough, too. Heather says you have to be willing to do your homework. As often as you can, Heather suggests, seek out more information. “I have two meetings a year with the Mavens that I wouldn’t give up for the world.

I learn about what’s changing in the industry. You have to keep learning how to do better.”

At the end of the day, though, Heather continues to feed her personal passion. While she recognizes the value of prioritizing her customers, she’s not afraid to listen to herself. “I started Willow because I knew I didn’t want to do anything else. I was so happy working for Bunch of Ladies, I didn’t want to do anything else.” A friend told her once that Willow was for her, that it fit her personality perfectly, and that continues to mean a lot to her. “It really is all about the relationships with people here.”

- Yvette Morgan with Allison Hunt

Photo by Ashlee Sappingfield

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Spring Break Ideas:

Don’t Break the Bank for Fun The beginning of second semester has little to do with getting used to new classes - it’s mostly about preparing for spring break! Make sure you have a solid group of friends that are all on the same page about where you’re going, what you’re doing, and most importantly, what is affordable.

Go North: If your squad is unable to travel too far, Wisconsin Dells is a great location that will keep the whole group occupied. Kalahari Resort is African themed, super clean, and on occasion will have exotic baby animals for people to hold and take photos with. Great Wolf Lodge is another great place that really captures the mood of being up north. Both hotels have huge indoor waterparks and are approximately a six hour drive from Terre Haute.

Head East: If the East Coast is your thing, then Myrtle Beach is the beach for you!

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is a top destination spot on the East Coast. Outdoor activities vary from parasailing, jetpacks and fly boarding, kayaking, cruises, helicopter rides, zip lines, and more. Theme parks and water parks will definitely steer you away from boredom, and several bars and nightclubs will keep the whole group happy.

Take it to the West: Down South: Florida is the hot spot where Midwestern college students typically go for spring break. There are several destinations along the coast that may fit your style and budget: • South Beach Miami can be pricey, but it’s the perfect location for the wild spring breaker. There are art deco hotels, along with hundreds of restaurants, bars and clubs, with constant parties going on. Miami is one of the top fashion districts in America, so it’s also a great place for shopping.

• Panama City Beach has been one of the top spring break beaches in the U.S. for decades. It’s known as one of the best beaches in the world and, fortunately is very budget friendly.

• Daytona Beach is known for having beautiful weather in March, averaging around 80 degrees. Most of the hotels are student friendly and include some great values for rooms. Daytona has several dance clubs, beach front bars, and various beach activities. Hotel options include Hawaiian Inn Beach Club Hotel and Oceanside Inn, which have beautiful locations directly on the beach. Disney World, Universal Studios, and Sea World are only an hour away and are great options for day trips.

• Fort Lauderdale seems to be the place where ISU students roam. It offers a wild, fun-filled spring break with a lot to do, including “18 and up” clubs, and also has beautiful beaches.

Check out Lake Havasu, Arizona, known for its hot weather, desert sands, and a lake to cool off with friends. Another affordable spring break destination that is becoming more popular is South Padre Island, Texas. There is plenty to do with all day parties and awesome beach bars on the beautiful white sand.

Cheyenne’s Trip Tips: • Many hotels don’t accept students as guests for liability reasons. Be sure to check out the hotel or resorts website ahead of time and see if they are student friendly. Look for hotels that have activities through out the day on the pool deck such as music, DJ’s, and contests.

• Respect the hotel, or you will end up paying damage and cleaning fees (READ HOTEL POLICIES CAREFULLY).

• Use the buddy system; stay with your group.

• Drink responsibly and NEVER accept drinks from strangers.

• Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.

• Wear SPF 30 (30 is the new 15), you don’t want to burn on the first day.

- Cheyenne Harris

*All images are licensed for reuse under the Creative Commons.

HAUTE SYCAMORES

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Galentine’s Day on a Budget Valentine’s Day is either the most romantic day of the year or the most dreaded day of the year. Instead of being miserable, make the holiday memorable by spending it with your gal pals and celebrate “Galentine’s Day”. Just remember, no boys allowed!

Here are a few budget friendly ideas: A Girls Night Out Get together with your friends a few days before and go shopping for outfits! I recommend second hand stores because it gives new life to old clothes (one man’s trash is another man’s treasure). It helps the environment and community, and it’s less expensive than the mall. Popular colors for Valentine’s Day include red, pink, and white, but if you want to stand out, wear stripes, leopard print, or anything covered in sequins! Once you’re all dressed up, hit up your favorite restaurant. Gossip and catch up. Then, when you’re too full to move, head to see that chick flick you’ve been dying to see!

A Spaaahhh Night Have your girlfriends come over with nail polish, cucumbers, and everyone’s favorite music to jam to.

Once again, ask them to share the cost with inexpensive items – this helps you and your guests to not break the bank with one night of fun. Paint each other’s nails, put on face masks, and set up a pedicure station. A great night of pedi’s and girl talk will help you and your friends relax from the stressful week you’ve had at school! At the end of the evening, be sure to play uplifting, “girl power” type songs and have a dance party! Your friends will be too worn out to drive home so why not make it slumber party – FUN! Call your friends and start planning a memorable February 14th! You deserve to have a night off and a night out with your Galentine’s!

- Samantha Ripperger

A Cozy Night In Invite your friends over and tell them to wear their PJ’s. Ask your guests to bring ingredients, or do a carry-in so you don’t have to do it all. A fun idea is to have them help cook breakfast for dinner, including heart shaped pancakes, fresh fruit, and your choice of drinks - yum, my kind of dinner! Create a fun photo booth by draping different colored lace on the wall, add handmade garlands with pompoms, heart cutouts, and string lights to jazz up the backdrop.

Take lots of pictures to cherish the memories and to prove you can have fun without the boys!

Later on, play games and eat chocolate covered popcorn…or chocolate anything!

HAUTE SYCAMORES

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Dream A

Litle Dream With Me 58

A Castle Wedding

Courtney and Cody Strain, Wabash Valley natives, first met while partaking in an Indiana State University campus ministry in 2013. At the time, Courtney was a freshman at ISU and Cody a junior. Their love for each other grew over time as they shared their faith and family.

Since then, Cody has graduated college and began work in law enforcement in West Terre Haute. Courtney in in the process of earning her Bachelor’s in Family Studies at ISU and takes part in a work/study program at the Vigo County YMCA. After two years of dating, on September 15, 2015, Cody decided it was time to make a decision and proposed.

When asked how he knew she was the one, Cody explained that there wasn’t a definitive moment. It simply developed over time. “Courtney is the sweetest, kindest, gentlest and most genuine person I have ever met,” he said.

To ask the big question, Cody took Courtney to her favorite restaurant in Indianapolis - Iozzo’s Garden of Italy, and afterwards the couple went for a walk along the canal, where he then proposed. “He had asked my

best friend, who I hadn’t seen in months, to hide and take a picture of the proposal,” Courtney exclaimed. “I was so overwhelmed when he went to give me a hug I bumped into him and knocked the ring out of his hands and it almost into the water!”

The two spent the next year organizing the wedding at Courtney’s father’s church in Clay County. The wedding and initial reception took place on October 22 at Heritage Baptist Church in Coal City.

Clayshire Castle hosted the dinner and party that followed, located just outside of Bloomington, Indiana.

The bride wore a beautiful white lace gown designed by her mother. The day was simple, modern, and elegant.

- Erin Gregory Vendors Flowers: Poplar Flower Shop Cake: A Taste of Ever After Ceremony/Reception: Heritage Baptist Church Dinner Reception: Clayshire Castle Rings: Osterman Jeweler’s Photographer: MG Photo Co.

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Fairytale Hair There are few things that are more exhilarating than getting engaged. You find the man of your dreams; your Prince Charming, your knight in shining armor. After you come down off your fairytale high, reality sets in and it’s time to plan. Venues, bridal party, guest list, etc. But what the bride dreams of the most is that dress, and how she can look like a fairy tale princess on her special day, including every detail, from the shoes to the “up do”.

We all dream of that perfect bridal look. When it all comes together, it can take your future partner’s breath away. To help each you achieve her dream look, here are some “rules” you should follow when approaching your bridal hair: FIND A STYLIST WHO UNDERSTANDS YOUR NEEDS First, of course is to find a stylist. Depending on whether you’re having just your bridal hair done, or your entire wedding party, determines where you go from here. Stylists have become more willing to travel to do on-location wedding parties in recent years as demand has required. This is much more relaxed for the bride since it’s eliminating a portion of the time crunch for the day. As a stylist, I love doing wedding hair. And I love doing on-location parties. But Brides, please be aware of the time and cost involved to the stylist; packing up all the equipment, extra supplies, traveling to your location and losing a lot of our own comfort – such as our adjustable chair, a big mirror, convenience of our own space… this will all be considered in the overall cost.

PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE When you find your stylist and determine where the styling will take place, you then need to set up your trial run. This is very important, not only to your stylist to make sure they’re on the same page as you, but for yourself and your peace of mind. Your trial run should be done 3-5 weeks prior to your wedding day. I will often set aside about an hour to an hour and a half for this.

BRING PICTURES! We all have Pinterest. Go through and find ideas! The language barrier between stylist and client can sometimes be the difference between elation and frustration. Have a general idea in mind so it takes out the guess work.

FOCUS ON A STYLE When choosing your bridal hair, consider things like the style of dress, the cut, neckline, fabric, and your face shape. Do you want it all away from your face, or softened to cover it more? How thick or thin your hair is will determine whether or not it’s capable of doing what you want. Are you wearing a headband, clip, flower or veil? And will it hold up all day? I never suggest to my June brides to wear their hair down and curly. Heat and humidity, no matter how many products you put in it, will take its toll. Have these key things in mind when choosing your perfect style.

LAY IT ALL OUT ON THE TABLE Finally, be honest with your stylist. We got into this career because we love to enhance people’s outer beauty to match their inner beauty. Keep the lines of communication open. If you don’t like something, say so, but also be willing to hear some suggestions and alternatives. Every bride is different; each look, and each experience. This is the most magical day of your life. Trust that we want you to look perfect. If you develop a partnership with your stylist, you’re guaranteed to have a beautiful style that will complete your wedding day look!

- Danna Andreas

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Photography by Chris Pickrell

Hello Gorgeous As you are planning your wedding, it is important to find a makeup artist that is able to make you feel and look your absolute best.

Research artists near you to find someone that you trust and feel comfortable with.

Top five reasons to hire a makeup artist for your wedding day: 1. Be camera ready. Makeup for everyday is different from makeup for photography, and your wedding day is likely the day that you will be photographed the most in your life! A skilled makeup artist knows the proper techniques to make you look your best - whether you are photographed outdoors, indoors, or both. You want to look flawless, but still look like yourself. I like to say we do an “amped up” version of yourself.

2. A long lasting look. Hiring someone that knows the proper techniques and products to create a beautiful tear and sweat proof look is important.

3. It is one less thing to worry about! On the day of your wedding, the last thing that you want to think about is if your eyeliner is even, or if your foundation matches your skin tone! Hiring a makeup artist lifts one burden off your shoulder for the day, and it gives you a chance to relax with your wedding party before the ceremony.

4. You get a trial run. This is an opportunity meet the makeup artist and to hash out your ideas for your special day. Having a trial run is important as well, to be sure that your style and personality mesh well with the artist’s. You will want to make sure that you feel comfortable communicating your ideas and concerns. Additionally, take a look at their portfolio and if you like what you see - go for it!

5. You are worth it! You have the perfect dress, venue, photographer…

why would you skimp on your appearance?! It is important to budget makeup (and hair) at the beginning of your wedding planning, as many makeup artists and stylists book 9-12 months in advance. You will be looking at your photographs for many years to come. Hiring an artist that knows how to apply makeup for the camera is priceless, and ensure you look and feel confident and beautiful on your special day!

- Angelia Eccles

photography by Samantha McGranahan

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Something Old, Something New This smart and beautiful young lady was my intern at Modern Charm while she went to school at ISU. Not only is she crafty and talented, but she started her own small business on Etsy called MBmade, which focuses on gifting. Read more about Morgan Barbour and how she started her dream job!

What is your earliest memory of creating?

This will be embarrassingly funny... My first memory of being creative started when I failed 6th grade Religion. How you fail Religion class, I will never know. Needless to say, I was grounded from everything: our basic cable, the games Oregon Trail and Roller Coaster Tycoon, the land line, and most importantly, sleepovers with my friends for an entire semester. This was life shattering for my 12 year old self - what in the world was I going to do with my ample amount of free time after school? I came up with this “game” called Prairie Girl. I created this entire story line of a young girl during the Revolutionary War who lived in a small house next to a battle field and would have to care for injured soldiers. I played outside every single day. I like to think that is why I am creative today. Failing Religion forced me to use my imagination to entertain myself, to create new stories and ideas, and to have fun doing it!

Tell us a little about your creative business?

I am the owner of MBmade. I sell mainly on Etsy and my business social media accounts.

MBmade sells mainly drinkware: coffee cups, water tumblers, koozies, and some tote bags. The majority of my customers are brides or the bridal party ordering gifts, favors, or items for the bride herself, as well as folks looking for a great funny coffee mug or tote. My designs on the items are usually funny or inspirational quotes.

How long have you been in business?

August 22, 2015 was my first real Etsy sale ever, so about a year and a half.

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Tell me about yourself and where you reside?

I just bought my first home in Indianapolis, and work 9-5 at a creative firm in downtown Indy. I have a cat who is blind in one eye named Bonnie – she’s my little helper, even if she sleeps the whole time. My family, boyfriend, and best friends live in Terre Haute, so I tend to be in TH every other week! I’m 26 and enjoy trying out new restaurants, breweries, and wineries, binge watching Netflix, and constantly trying to improve my business.

Where do you find your inspiration?

Everywhere. The quotes I use for my designs can come from friends, a TV show, something that a customer has requested that I really like, or that is just a popular saying or quote!

Something MADE For You What advice would you give to another creative maker?

It is a lot of work to run a business, but extremely rewarding. Be open and prepared to have your business consume your life. If you don’t truly love what you do, you will burnout fast, and the business will suffer. Also, surround yourself with a community of people who are in the same business, share the same goals, and are willing and excited to help when you need them.

What are your design challenges?

I am awful at anything that involves Photoshop or Illustrator.

Creating new designs can be a challenge because I have to Google everything and have YouTube teach me. It’s on the To-Do list to take a class to improve this, but it’s been over a year and I still use Google daily.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever gotten?

“Hard work never killed anyone.” Running a successful business, working a full time job, and having a social life is challenging. It requires a lot of long nights and early mornings to fit everything in to my schedule. I want to be a successful business owner, achieve my professional career goals, and be a good friend all at the same time. But really all it takes is hard work, dedication, excellent time management skills, and the use of the calendar app on your iPhone.

Where do you see your business in 5 years?

In 5 years, MBmade will be its own website and slowly shying away from selling on Etsy. The brand will be established and continuing to grow and be successful. My life goal is to own a storefront, so who knows, in 10 years you might see my logo on the front of a building!

What is your creative dream?

Can I put to be Yvette Morgan? I mean, I already have one of the names ;) I’ve always wanted to own my own storefront business. I would love to sell homemade items from creatives like myself and support our local community. I think boutiques are just the best thing to happen to our community, and hope that one day I will have one myself!

- Yvette Morgan

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Not Your Ordinary Wedding

My bride was a beautiful, intelligent, successful dentist marrying a handsome, driven executive. After meeting the couple for the first time, the bride casually states, “Oh, by the way, my fiancé is a Prince of Nigeria.” Immediately my mind went to the infamous “Prince of Nigeria”, who has contacted most of us via email telling us we have all instantly inherited millions of dollars and we only need provide our bank account information to receive the funds! I quickly asked, “Wait, do you mean a real Prince?” To which the bride responded “Yes, his parents are a real King and Queen.” I knew at that moment that this was not going to be a run-of-the-mill client.

The design board was created, vendor meetings turned into selections, tastings and table mock ups were completed, Nigerian clothing was being made, master schedule was good to go; it was going to be a stunning wedding incorporating both American and Nigerian cultures. It was about four months before the big day, when in a conversation with the groom he stated, “I am worried about people showing up that were not invited. In our culture, everyone in the village comes to all weddings and usually brings food with them—they don’t need a formal invitation.” He also had stated that his mother, the Queen, was very active on social media and he would need to curb her enthusiasm for posting in advance the location of the wedding so we would not end up with uninvited guests. My worry was further heightened as he informed me that there was a very large Nigerian presence in Indianapolis. He assured me he would make it very clear to his mother that posting such information was not going to be acceptable for an American wedding, further explaining there are things called “capacity codes” and “regulations regarding outside food being brought in” that would not allow for the norms of a Nigerian wedding to occur here in the States. I was able to meet the Queen on a later date, and reiterated that we cannot announce location details about the wedding for the very reasons that her son/the groom, had previously stated to her. She smiled and nodded to me that she understood.

The wedding day arrived: the bride was a vision and the groom was handsome and stately. The ceremony was lovely and we all headed to the reception venue. The bride had assigned two of the groom’s cousins to attend to the framed, alphabetical seating chart, which showed all guests who rsvp’d in the affirmative where they were seated in the room. Guests began to arrive, the drinks started flowing… all was good. Then, one of the cousins manning the seating chart approached me and said “We have had some people trying to find their names on the seating chart but they were not there. They all happen to be Nigerians.” It was at that moment, I knew that someone in the royal family had posted the wedding information on social media, and we were in trouble. At first it was only a few guests, about 12 or so, but as the night progressed, that number grew exponentially.

Just then I heard, “Mrs. Board?” from the young bellman as he walked up from the lobby, “the lobby looks like a village in Nigeria and all of them think they are attending the wedding upstairs. The odd part is that they are all checking their phones frequently and once it rings, they leave the lobby and don’t come back. I don’t know where they are going but it is not out the front door.” At this point, I knew where they were going. They had been coming up the stairs to the ballroom area and filling in seats as people went to the restrooms or were on the dance floor. Suddenly, a bell went off in my head. I had witnessed the Princess, the groom’s sister, texting frantically all evening. It was then I realized - she was texting the uninvited people downstairs when someone left their seat, providing them the table number, and they then came up to occupy the temporary empty seat… much to the surprise of said invited guest when they came back to the table to sit. Then it hit me! In the Nigerian culture, they have something called

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Photo by Ashlee Sappingfield

“spraying”. It is a ritual of respect where the Royal getting married, or any member of the Royal family (in this case the King, Queen and Princess) passes by any Nigerian throughout the night, they get money thrown (or “sprayed”) above their heads. The couple getting married can get upwards of thousands of dollars on their wedding day from this tradition. The wedded couple had two trusted family members follow them with a large drawstring bag throughout the evening to gather the money for the bride and groom. Likewise, the rest of the Royal Family gets sprayed. Therefore, it was much better to increase the odds of receiving more money if you had more Nigerians in the room. Someone in the Royal family had figured this out and were bringing up Nigerians in large numbers. The last count we had was an ADDITIONAL 145 Nigerians that were not invited, up in the dinner and cocktail space. Not only did it send panic through the hotel and catering representatives because we had exceeded the capacity code by 145 people, but we also found out they were consuming alcohol at the “open bar” as well. At this point, it was impossible to decipher between who was invited and who was not, so the hotel and my team were in a quandary. We didn’t want to create a scene by asking people to leave unless we were certain they were not invited. Our hands were tied.

Photo by Ashlee Sappingfield

Wedding Wisdom

Sandy from Terre Haute, Indiana writes: Dear Wedding Wisdom,

I have a meddling future mother-in-law who has not offered to pay a dime toward our wedding, but has a lot to say about how it should look, who we should hire, what venue we need to select, etc. Her taste is not my taste, and my fiancé and I are beginning to resent how she is trying to take control. I don’t want to start my relationship off on bad footing with my future in-law, so what should I do?

Wedding Wisdom writes: Dear Sandy, Photo by Dream Eye Pictures At the end of the night, the bar tab was $10,000 OVER what was estimated because of the 145 extra guests who crashed the wedding. I could not bear for my clients to pay for something that was not under their control, so I managed to convince the gracious bar manager to reduce the amount owed for my clients. They generously agreed and reduced the bar tab to $4,000.

My clients were blissfully unaware that any of this happened throughout the night - it’s just what we do. We wanted them to enjoy their time and not worry about any issues going on behind the scenes. However, when the night was over and only the immediate families and the couple remained, I had to tell the couple about what had happened because of the bar tab balance. Upon hearing the story, the Prince immediately went over to his parents and sister and it was apparent, even from a distance that he was not happy. After what appeared to be a heated discussion, the Prince stated to me that his parents and sister were going to use some of their “spray” money to pay the remaining balance for the bar tab and apologized for what had happened.

The Prince and his beautiful new wife had an amazing day and one, they stated, exceeded all expectations, in spite of the very obvious situation that had occurred. At the end of the day, the wedding was stunning, the couple was thrilled, the guests had an amazing time, and it was a unique story that they will be talking about for years to come.

- Janice Board, CEO of Spectacular Soirees Wedding & Event Planning

I want to first begin my response by emphasizing the more inclusive you can be with the in-laws, the better bond you will form with them after the wedding. That being said, when couples pay for their own wedding OR when one set of parents pay for their child’s wedding, this issue is a recurring dilemma. Here is the advice I give my clients who have been in a similar situation: 1. To keep the peace among the parents: if there is an issue that involves a parent of the groom, for instance, then ONLY the groom should speak to his parent to resolve that issue, not their soon-to-be spouse. This keeps the arguing among family members and won’t adversely affect or taint the new spouse’s future relationships coming into the family.

2. I always encourage my couples to include both sides of the family in the process (such as tastings, going with you for final dress fitting, taking a tour of the venue after it is booked, etc.), so they feel they are a part of the process and can take part in the joy of the wedding planning without requiring any input from them. It is a small way to build a stronger relationship with the future in-laws and make them feel special and included. That being said, the old saying, “He/She or the side of the family who pays has final say” still rings true today. It is their signature on all the contracts, so ultimately they are responsible for the financial obligation. After all, the person(s) paying for the wedding knows the budget restraints, etc, and it will eliminate hard feelings and second guessing if this guideline is followed.

Good luck!

- Janice Board

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Bridal Trends 2017

Fashion trends change yearly, seasonally even, and bridal is no different. Brides search for THE gown in a zillion places, endlessly perusing bridal magazines, online articles, and Pinterest.

How did we even get married before Pinterest?? No, but really.

- Lori Mitchell The hot trends to look for this year in a wedding gown include off-the-shoulder gowns, plunging necklines, and plenty of lace!

Blush gowns started trending a few years back, and are still gaining popularity. It becomes more about what compliments the bride’s skin tone – white, ivory, or blush – or any other color for that matter – when choosing the color of your gown.

Reem Acra

Rime Arodaky Francesca Miranda

Romantic tiered skirts and cascading ruffle skirts set the tone with a beachy vibe. Feathers and floral accents, used on necklines and wrist cuffs, or as a 3-D detail have become a sneaky little twist on gowns and accessories. Big, bold earrings, tiaras, and hair pieces are making a comeback in a major way.

Vera Wang for David’s Bridal

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Odylyne

Sleeves showed up to the party for 2017, too! Flutter sleeves, billowing bishop sleeves, and long, lace sleeves are perfect for a boho look or for the winter bride. No matter your style, every bride is beautiful and there’s just no feeling like knowing you’ve found the “one”!

Oleg Cassini

What Bride doesn’t want a pair of fabulous shoes? Whether they’re blue, feathered, or metallic leather, you’ll find many shoe options to complete your look.

Don’t Forget the Littles Our flower girls and ring bearers want to feel special, too! Typically, flower girls coordinate with the bride, however, with the new mismatched trend, anything goes – they’re going to look cute as a button anyway!

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Haute Bridesmaid Trends Just a few short years ago, there were so many rules for bridesmaid’s gowns – they all have to match, they need to be long, they need to coordinate with the bride…. throw out those old school ideas, because you want your bridesmaids to shine as well – you chose them for your special day, right?!

- Lori Mitchell

One-shoulder gowns have surfaced as being one of the most popular bridesmaid trends this year. These help those of us feel not so exposed, and are flattering on most ladies.

Vibrant hues also make a comeback this year, with yellow being the fiercest look for the bold, bright wedding.

JLM Couture

Amanda Wilcher Photographers

In keeping with the “blush” trend, soft neutrals are a pretty and natural look for bridesmaids. Short and sassy seems to be the way to go for spring and summer, while mismatched gowns make everyone in your party feel comfortable in what they’re wearing.

Jarvie Digital Photography

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Katie Vowels for Annie McElwain

If you do not want your wedding or event to be like all the rest, then look no further, because we only do Spectacular Soirees! www.spectacularsoirees.com

812-841-4311

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Breaking the Mold I had the privilege of meeting and working with the ladies from Patterns Optional for several years while we were all at David’s Bridal. These ladies took a risk and went into business for themselves, so they could use their own passion to create one of a kind, unique pieces for your event. From wedding gowns to Cosplay costumes, if you can imagine it, they can accomplish it.

Tell us about yourselves…

Kathy Dillon, 63, is originally from Clinton, Indiana. She graduated from Indiana State University in 1975 with a degree in Home Economics. She then married Bob Dillon and raised two children - Elizabeth and Matt. Kathy was married 37 ½ years before Bob passed away unexpectedly. Kathy’s interests extend into baking, gardening, and raising her new blue Great Dane puppy, Walker.

Sarah Marchino, 40, lives in a tiny house with her husband Robert, teenagers Brock and Taylor, as well as their two cats and Husky pup.

Sarah’s interests include, painting, sculpting, and video gaming with her household full of boys.

What inspired you to go into business together and open Patterns Optional?

From the moment Kathy and Sarah met, they knew that their brands of crazy fit together well. Kathy’s classical training paired very well with Sarah’s more open interpretation of what should and should not work. Working within a corporate structure was very limiting. Often brides had less traditional ideas that could be made a reality, but not within the confines of corporate life. Starting Patterns Optional was a dream both ladies shared from early on in their working relationship.

Photos by Elizabeth Christjansen I think sewing is a lost art… How did both of you learn to sew?

Kathy started sewing in high school and went to ISU to teach Home Economics. Although she graduated with her degree, her short stint student teaching changed her mind about teaching. Instead she worked in Columbia House’s warehouse until it closed in 2006. During those years, she made lots of clothing for her daughter Elizabeth, in addition to quilts for friends and coworkers having new babies or events.

Sarah comes from a line of seamstresses several generations back.

At four she was pestering her grandmother to learn. Out of frustration, her grandmother handed her a pair of scissors and told her to cut off the buttons on a shirt. In high school, she focused more on her artwork, but sewing has always been a long-standing hobby. In college, she started making costumes for herself and friends to enjoy on Halloween. An opening at Lucia’s led her down the path of alterations.

Tell us about your background and where you got started as a seamstress?

Sarah has been sewing professionally since the early 2000s, when she started doing alterations at Lucia’s Bridal in Terre Haute. In 2005, she took a position as Alterations Manager at David’s Bridal. It was during her time at David’s Bridal that she met and hired Kathy. It did take a bit of coaxing as Kathy had spent the past 25 years working at Columbia House. When they closed operations, she decided to put her skills as a seamstress to work for her and applied at David’s. Her sewing skills are quite developed as she often created items for herself, and her coworkers over the years.

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How have you transitioned from alterations to custom work?

The transition from alterations to custom work has been extremely smooth. When you alter a gown, you are forced to decipher construction methods that were used by someone else. When creating a custom garment, we have had the opportunity to make those decisions based on a drawing before we ever lay scissors to fabric. Overall, making a custom garment is much easier. We can put it together anticipating what alterations may be needed. Kathy had a more difficult time transitioning to alterations in the beginning verses the other way around.

Tell us about your custom work – what sort of things are you creating?

Custom work is exactly what it sounds like. We sit down with a potential client and develop a sketch and plan to create a garment or item for them that would not otherwise exist. We are creating dresses for galas, wedding gowns for brides, and quilts for memories of those moments.

What has been your greatest success so far? Greatest challenge?

The greatest success we have had thus far is making it! We have survived in a relatively new niche market for five years. The idea of what we affectionately call “geek chic” weddings is usually something people expect to be mocked on the internet. We have pushed past the naysayers to bring consumers elegant alternatives. The biggest challenge has been advertising. In the beginning, we tried all the usual modes of advertising. Television, radio, newspapers. None of them worked. Trusting our gut and relying on word of mouth and Google, we are slowly building a solid reputation. There are still so many people we need to reach and let know that there are options. Everything isn’t cookie cutter and you don’t have to give up on an idea just because one person says no.

Photo by Images Photography A lot of the inspiration for our custom gowns comes from our customers. Anyone who is looking for a unique wedding gown or prom dress has a personality and story that reveals itself during our consultations. Even our customers who are cosplayers relate to the characters that they want to portray. When developing the concept for a custom design, the sketch evolves as the customer describes what they envision.

The custom work is extremely rewarding for us as well as the client.

Bringing to life the outfit that someone has dreamed of, helping them past their own body issues to feel comfortable and beautiful. Those are the days the inspiration flows.

How has showing at Comic-con (or others like it) changed the scope of your business?

When we set out to open our own shop we were already prepared to do camouflage and less traditional wedding gowns. Exhibiting at conventions plopped us into an environment that felt like home. All of the clients we have met with, and worked with in these communities are as excited about Star Wars or Superman as we are about sewing.

The creativity and imagination pours out of the attendees in a way that is truly contagious. Creating those relationships has inspired us to move beyond our original business plan and led us to work on projects we never dreamed of. Seriously, how many business owners can come home from work and say they made a cosplay outfit for a Care Bear, robes for kings and queens, or custom teddy bears for Chive Charities recipients?

What advice would you give other entrepreneurs wanting to open a business?

Research, research, and more research. There are so many legal, financial, and business related factors that opening your own business is a huge learning curve. Make sure you aren’t going after a market that is already saturated or running with a concept that you get but no one else does. Stay away from anything that is industry terminology in your name or advertising. Just because you understand it from being in the biz doesn’t mean everyone will. You would not believe how many people thought we machined parts in the beginning.

If someone wanted to learn to sew, where would you direct them?

If someone were interested in learning how to sew, we would recommend JoAnn Fabrics for classes or Wabash Valley Fabrics for quilting lessons. 4-H is still a good resource, and cosplay groups are developing new sewing groups all the time.

Where do you see yourselves in 5 years? 10 years?

Our goal is to exhibit at San Diego Comic Con within the next few years. It would be an amazing opportunity to exhibit at the mother of all conventions. Beyond that, in five to ten years, we hope to still be here doing what we love. We plan on sewing till our fingers curl!

- Lori Mitchell Patterns Optional is located at 1645 S 25th St. in Terre Haute, IN. Find them on Facebook @PatternsOptional www.patternsoptional.com Photos by Elizabeth Christjansen

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Unveiled

New Year, Same You Our lives—mine, yours, everyone’s—depend on three things: love, change, and renewal. We can count on loving and being loved just as easily as we can be assured that things will change. But renewal is trickier. It doesn’t happen on its own.

implies change. It says something is broken that needs to be fixed. We pick ourselves apart and find all the things we can improve in 12 easy steps. But why? The new year is supposed to be a time of celebration— not just of the lives we have but of who we are as individuals!

To be renewed, we have to be willing to open ourselves up to new ways of feeling and new ways of thinking. We have to be willing to take a risk. And we have to be willing to take the next step, even if we’re not quite sure where it will lead.

At UNVEILED, we preach “new year, SAME you.” Maybe you think that sounds crazy. Where’s the renewal if you’re still the same? It’s inside you. It’s in your thinking. It’s in accepting that you’re pretty amazing—today, tomorrow, this year, last year. We want to celebrate you as you are. And by shining a light on your natural beauty, UNVEILED will help you start the year with a renewed sense of confidence and selfacceptance that will touch each of your part of your life.

“But the winter is when I’m the least confident about myself and my body. I can’t do this right now.”

We know the feeling. But there’s no better way to beat the winter blues than to have the confidence to love our bodies and ourselves. In 2015, UNVEILED held a flash sale for gals who wanted to break that winter spell. It didn’t matter if the pictures from their sessions were gifts for a special someone or treats for themselves, each customer left feeling refreshed and renewed. Because when you feel comfortable in your own skin, you can do anything—from conquering that 12-step fix-it list to taking on a brand new year.

- Samantha McGranahan

I know because I’ve been there. In 2014, I launched UNVEILED after 10 years at the helm of the Roxy Studio. You might think, “wasn’t that just a change in focus?” In some ways, yes. But this a renewal of mind and soul—not just for my business but also myself. I reflected on where I was, where I wanted to be, and what I wanted to put into the world.

That spirit is the foundation of UNVEILED and we deliver that for our clients.

Raise your hand if you woke up on January 1 and thought, “It’s 2017!

New year, new me!” Okay, put your hand down. I’m going to let you in on a secret: you’re perfect just the way you are. “New year, new me”

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C har med L ife January is often the month we take everything into account, and try to get back on track and organized for the year ahead. With many failed attempts, we usually end up back to square one. As a small business owner and a creative mind, I find that the hustle and bustle of the holidays is usually welcomed by the month of January, where I can celebrate a New Year and reflect on the year past.

With that being said, owning a business has its up and downs with positive stories and lessons learned. Trust me - it isn’t for the faint of heart, but it has some rewarding moments and pushes you to do better for the next big thing. For me, it’s really important to surround yourself with like-minded people, and cultivate friendships with women who are supportive and encourage you to do what you love. Success didn’t always come easy. I have worked nonstop for 10 years trying to prove to myself - that I am worthy of being a successful business woman.

Success isn’t about how much money I make, it’s about the people I meet, the makers and artisans I get collaborate with, and the women I get to inspire. It’s honestly the best feeling, knowing you helped encourage someone to live out their dream and that you had a very small amount to do with their own success story.

We all go through different seasons in our professional and personal lives, but the one thing I’m certain about is to never give up hope. I could have on many occasions, but I never let myself get down…I knew it was my journey and that in time it would be my turn to shine. My talents are only a small portion of what you see in print - I experience the same things as you all do, but I’m fortunate to be on this platform to speak truth into your lives. I hope you’re ready to ride this wonderful fast track with me as I take you through the ups and downs of being a woman in charge - at work and my crazy world at home with my family.

As we look at the New Year ahead and our own separate lives, let’s not forget to put some things into perspective, and not set these crazy expectations for ourselves, friends, families, work, and home. Let’s focus on learning to love and be kind to ourselves first, and then make time to do what we were meant to do in our lives, which is live it to the fullest. Here are some of my tips that have helped me through the ups and downs of running a business. I refer back to these from time to time to remind myself to take it day by day.

Yvette’s Business Tips: Have a Vision: It takes vision to get what you want in your professional and home life. Sitting around wishing you had the gumption to do something about it isn’t going to make it any easier. I’ve known for some time now that I would do something creative - it’s in my blood.

I make vision boards to help me get everything down, right in front of me. The cool thing is, when you look back on it you will be very surprised with what you were able to accomplish.

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Learn to Unplug: Many of us are guilty here. But for me, learning to unplug means disconnecting myself from work, social media, and anything that takes time away from me and my family. I always make sure I take two days off a week to spend quality time with my son and family, and do something that I love. Whether it’s lying in bed all day reading, watching ALL the DVR’d shows, or cooking a homemade meal to share with my loved ones – of course with glass of wine.

Patience: Any dream that you try to achieve in your life takes hard work and determination. Nothing comes easy unless it lands on your lap - if that’s the case, that’s awesome. But for me and most of you, we are working hard to make it happen. I knew when I started my business it wasn’t going to be easy, but I was patient and hopeful that I could make a difference in our downtown. My advice to you is - if you’re tired of waiting just give it time and I promise you will be glad you did.

Get Involved: I can’t stress this enough. Getting out in your community and volunteering is key to building relationships, both for work and personal growth. Just pick one that your passionate about and follow where your heart leads you.

Change is Necessary: I know some readers out there can relate – change is hard, especially doing something different that you’re not used to, but in my experience you can’t grow until you make some big changes in your life. Sometimes it’s the fear that holds us back. Take a chance and make it happen!

Confidence: Stop comparing ourselves to other women. Stay focused on YOU!! Be positive and look for the good in any situation.

Passion: Work on something that gives you complete satisfaction and purpose. I love doing what I do, because it inspires me and fuels my soul. Hopefully, in turn, it inspires someone else.

I hope that these tips light the fire in you to do what you love. If you have an idea and want to share it with me, please send us an email at www.hautelifemag@gmail.com - Yvette Morgan

Photo by Ashlee Sappingfield

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Sincerely, Millie

“Have you ever seen anything like that?” I ask the woman at the Avon Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery office, as she shakes the test tube full of black, flaky muck in my face. At 7-months pregnant I may faint.

My husband, Craig, has just had a tooth pulled, and lays next to me completely disillusioned. We thought it was just an abscessed tooth. We were wrong.

What followed was a crazy whirlwind of events. By the time I was 8 and a half months pregnant, we’d found out that Craig had a rare disease that affects one in a million adults, called Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis. At the time, nobody knew how to treat it. While not considered a cancer, it acts like a cancer, and he had it in his jawbone.

We ended up seeing 16 different doctors that year.

The first doctor we met had suggested surgery. This meant that while I would be home on maternity leave from my demanding job as the general manager of a bridal shop, he would be at home with a feeding tube. They wanted to take a portion of his femur and replace the affected portion of his jawbone with it – he would be off work for nearly six months… with a newborn baby at home.

Needless to say, we were freaking out.

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Photo by Pat Allen

Photo by Ashlee Sappingfield

Photo by Samantha McGranahan That same doctor suggested we try radiation first. A myriad of questions raced through my mind – Can he be in the labor room? Can he even be around the baby? What am I going to do? Fortunately, he could. So he had radiation, two weeks before our daughter was born.

We spent three weeks together in new parent bliss. But now, with a permanent dent in his jaw from the radiation, the doctor informed us that the disease “laughed at the radiation”. Surgery was back on the table. We sat in the entry way of the doctor’s office, new baby in tow, and cried. It was our first of many breakdowns.

Craig decided he had to take his health into his own hands and called the Histiocytosis Association, who gave him phone numbers of doctors who may potentially know what to do. There was no guarantee the surgery would work and we didn’t feel that it was our answer. All the while, my aunt in St. Louis, our saving grace, had been searching for a doctor who knew something, anything, about Langerhans. She finally found someone – right there in St. Louis.

The next several months were spent driving back and forth to St. Louis, Evie in tow, to visit Dr. Bartlett. She partnered with Dr. Huh in Terre Haute, and started Craig on chemo. It was an emotional, exhausting experience. Being a new mother was no easy task, and having to watch your husband undergo scan after scan, lung biopsies – they feared it had moved into his lungs, and struggle with basic eating (he couldn’t open his jaw as normal), all while taking care of a new baby, was overwhelming.

One year later, Craig was in remission and we were relieved; until, three months later, the Langerhans was back in three places in his jaw. Craig started chemo again, and the emotional, physical roller coaster ensued.

Thankfully, a year and a half later in October of 2010, he was back in remission, and has been since.

I don’t often tell people this story. It was a hectic time in our lives. We realized that we are so blessed to have family near, and that it’s OK to rely on friends and family for help, even though, at times, we pushed them away. My co-workers became my counselors and confidants.

Craig’s co-workers, especially his supervisor, were more understanding than anyone should ever expect. I developed an even higher respect for Craig, watching him go through that – rarely missing work, if only to go to his treatment and head back to the office. I was back at work, and Craig would be home with Evie many evenings, after working a full day and getting treatment. I remember nights where I’d get home from the bridal shop and he’d tell me he fell with Evie, or he spaced out and had to bring himself back…it was slightly terrifying. Some of those same nights, I was so tired, I question how I made it home; then there were other times I would be driving and screaming at God in my car – WHY?!

Sure, there are things I would’ve done differently. I ask myself why I didn’t research doctors like my aunt did. I remember telling him once that I felt like a single mom – clearly one of my lowest moments ever – the stress was turning me into a different person. I wish I would’ve allowed our friends and family to help more when they offered, which was a lot.

I continuously had to put things in perspective, breathe and restore my faith in God, and our experience still grounds me. Things could always be worse, many have gone through much worse, and you never know what someone might silently be struggling with. It’s a constant reminder that life throws curveballs your way. It’s how you pitch them back that counts.

- Lori Mitchell

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Downtown Diva Do you remember what you wanted to be when you grew up?

Most kids have those “typical” responses, like policeman, princess, fireman, doctor, etc. But have you ever heard of a kid wanting to run a non-profit? Yeah, me either! I started out wanting to be a chef, but grew up to be a wedding and event planner. It wasn’t until about 5 years ago that my path brought me to downtown and gave my life new direction.

I began working at a business in downtown Terre Haute where part of my job was community involvement. I felt a new sense of purpose after immersing myself in the daily life of downtown. I joined committees, volunteered, lead initiatives, helped plan events, joined the Downtown Terre Haute Board of Directors, and grew to love each piece of downtown life the more I got involved. The business owners have a passion for success that you don’t always find at corporations. Not only do they care about their business’s success, but they also have a need to see the other local businesses around them do well. They all have a common belief in local business and have a confidence in what downtown stands for. Those who live downtown have a love for living in a place with a story and a vast neighborhood close by. Those who work in downtown have created a network among themselves.

The love I possess for downtown didn’t start when I started working there, though. It began long ago as a young child, when a trip to Terre Haute on the weekends meant a trip downtown. We didn’t frequent the mall or box stores. Instead, my family came downtown.

Photo by Ashlee Sappingfield

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We went to story time at the library and sat in the little yellow kangaroo rocking chairs. We ate somewhere within walking distance, we visited the Children’s Museum when it was on the 500 block of Wabash, and we always stopped in Headstones for a new record! I remember the bus station and the ice cream cart that seemed to always show up while we were waiting. I remember the stories my mom told of buildings and why they were so important to the city. Downtown Terre Haute holds many memories for me, and for so many others from the Wabash Valley.

I enjoyed serving as the Executive Director of Downtown Terre Haute Inc. from January of 2016 to January 2017. My new path had led me back to downtown and I enjoyed taking care of the neighborhood I have loved my entire life. My job was to revitalize, restore, improve, support, advocate for, and promote downtown through the work of our non-profit Main Street organization. My goal each day was to make the rest of the community love downtown as much as I do. Downtown Terre Haute holds the history of our city and the key to our future. I am excited to move on to the next for me, but will continue to support our downtown.

So what’s the moral of this story? Although you may not have dreamed of the career you end up in, that doesn’t mean that you were not meant to end up there all along. Sometimes the key to your future is held in your past.

- Barbie Fox-Moore

Haute Women in History Let’s travel back in time, to the first half of the 20th century, and meet a woman who not only influenced her students in Terre Haute, but had a major impact on education across the United States.

Born in 1895 to George & Margaret Dabney, Jane Dabney grew up in Logansport, Indiana following her family’s move there from Clarksville, Tennessee. Upon graduating from high school, she pursued her dream of being a teacher and completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1919 from Indiana State Normal College (now known as Indiana State University). She married Kyzer Shackelford in 1915 and stayed in Terre Haute, making it her hometown and a place where she would set about to change the lives of so many.

Jane Dabney Shackelford first taught in a one room city school with five grades, but eventually was assigned to teach third grade at Booker T. Washington School. As an African-American, she understood the discrimination her students faced in the segregated world of the decades prior to the Civil Rights Movement. Books to help teach black history were pretty much non-existent. Children’s books depicted African-Americans as stereotypes, depriving students of a way to relate what they were reading to their real-life experiences. Her frustration with the lack of resources and her desire to inspire her students led her to write her first book, The Child’s Story of the Negro, in 1938. The book achieved wide acclaim for its portrayal of African Americans in history, demonstrating achievements in literature, drama, music, fine arts, education, science and international relations.

Released in 1944, Shackelford’s second book, My Happy Days, is a photo-story of a middle-class black family, indistinguishable from its white counterparts. Imagine an 8-year old African-American child living in Terre Haute in the 1940s who read, for the first time, a book that depicted a family that looked like his - not a stereotype with degrading caricatures – in a loving home with progressive, hard-working parents.

Shackelford expressed the hope that this book would promote a feeling of belonging in the children who read it.

Shackelford’s books have been widely used in schools throughout the United States, and she is recognized as a pioneer of AfricanAmerican studies in elementary education. She taught for 43 years in Vigo County, and devoted 25 years to the Girl Scouts as a troop leader.

Dr. Crystal Reynolds, a local African-American author and educator, has written extensively about the works of Jane Dabney Shackelford. As she shared her stories with me, it became clear that Shackelford inspired many women, black and white, to be proud of who they are, to reach for new heights, and to make a difference in the lives of others, especially children.

- Susan Tingley

Photos courtesy of the Vigo County Public Library Classroom Photo found at Indiana Odyssey: Celebrating Our African-American Authors

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Fan Girl Friday When we ask for nominations for Fan Girl Friday, we expect to hear about some pretty awesome ladies. While it’s always a tough decision to choose a winner, we felt inspired by this young ladies story – someone who completed school against the odds, became a birth advocate, musician, Girl Scout Troop leader, surrogate mother, and has served our country. While we usually write an article based on what information was sent in, we couldn’t resist sharing with you the sweet words Bradley Uchytil wrote in to nominate his wife, Jessie.

- Lori Mitchell

I would like to nominate my wife, Jessie Uchytil. While I couldn’t possibly go over all the wonderful things she is and does, I can briefly touch on the highlights. She was a girl with tremendous musical talent who came from a poor family in Wisconsin. We met there, and she told me her dream of studying music under her muse from band camp, one Steve Prescot, who at the time taught at Saint Marry of the Woods. To pay for school we both joined the National Guard, and we relocated to follow her dream. Despite an interruption to her schooling for a one year deployment to Iraq (where she was injured in the line of duty), she graduated in 2012 with a music degree. She has been an active member of the community music scene in the Terre Haute Community Band, the Brazil Community Band, and the Terre Haute Sinfonietta.

After having our daughter Sylvana, Jessie knew that pregnancy was something she was good at, and wanted to be able to share the blessing of parenthood with those otherwise unable to. To that end, she has been a surrogate twice, and she is working on a third that is to start in January. With her help, two families were able to welcome a set of twin boys and an adorable little girl. We’ve discussed having more kids, and we are now fostering to adopt.

She is also an amazing mother and a Girl Scout troop leader. I would also add she is an amazing cook, gardener, costumer, and holiday decoration creator, and a great person in general. When we take walks, she picks up any garbage she passes; she also made a care package for a homeless man, and provided for him some necessities and information on shelters.

Seriously I could go on and on! Let’s just say I’m pretty sure she’s one of those people that is obnoxiously good.

Jessie’s greatest contribution, though, has not been in her sharing of music with the community, it has been her work with birth advocacy.

In 2009, she gave birth to our daughter, and she found their subsequent care to be less than stellar. She began working with an organization called ‘Improving Birth’, which advocated for informed consent and improved evidence based maternal care. She has coordinated and executed three Labor Day rallies and fundraisers to help advocate for women’s rights in maternal care. Believing that the birth experience is one of the most important of a woman’s life, she has been studying to be a doula, breast feeding educator, and midwife assistant, and will shortly finish her certification with Birth Arts International.

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SHE CAN BE Picture a little girl. Her mom tells her growing up she can be anything. She dreams big and believes it. She doesn’t worry about money, race, gender bias, taxes, regulations, religion or bills. She just wants to be an astronaut, a teacher, a doctor, a veterinarian or an artist.

How many little girls are dreaming of starting their own business or continuing a family business that maybe their mother or grandmother started? Not many I’m afraid.

As a female entrepreneur and new mother, the idea that the business I started 10 years ago could be continued on by my daughter gives me chills.

I never dreamed of owning a business when I was little.

I wish I would have. It has been one of the toughest and most rewarding endeavors I’ve taken on so far. Yes, I still work my 8-to-5 job to keep the dream alive and make ends meet; that comes with being an adult. But I’m not letting go of my dream.

I want my daughter to keep hold of her dreams and not let craziness in the world bog her down. I want her to know that if she breaks the mold, she doesn’t have to worry about breaking the glass ceiling.

- Stephanie Pence Stephanie Pence is the owner of the award-winning Hallie Hound Barkery. She is a Course Manager at Police Technical and an active volunteer with several community organizations. In her free time she loves saving manatees, designing cosplay costumes and all things geeky, including her husband Nathan. Together they have a baby girl, Mara Keene Pence, and four dogs Hallie, Guido, Roudy and Sam. There is never a dull moment in this business-owning, full-time-working, mother’s life.

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Haute Dawgs

th ella It's never an easy walk wi

The pit-bulliest pit ev er. . . moo

Kristine O’Hare

Stacey Burkitt

Rudy and the monster Randi Zwerner

Skeeter, Dreaming of ch eese....

One cannot simply lounge on the sofa without forming a mohawk with Lucy's fur.

Shad Vanatti

Lori Mitchell Fudge knows, Bunny ears never hurt anyone

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What does it mean that Union Health is an integrated health system? It’s actually pretty simple. It means that we work together during every stage of your care.

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y a a la m S N The SLay in Me • Recognizes • The Slay in You

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