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VOLUME 2, ISSUE 1
The Magical Secret page 14 We Do So Much More page 22 4th Annual Chocolate Walk page 24
YOUR SOURCE FOR COMMUNITY NEWS
In this issue...
From the Editor
The Inbe"tween" pg 12
Welcome! If this is your first time reading Hendricks County Home Magazine then please let me tell you how much we appreciate you taking a moment to enjoy what we hope you will find to be high quality and informative content. We are now into our 2nd year of publication and are looking forward to finding new ways of serving the community. Once you’re finished reading, give the magazine to a friend or loved one to enjoy as well!
We want to thank you all for telling your stories to us and for allowing us to share them. We are incredibly blessed to be a part of this community and appreciate being able to bring to light the amazing organizations and people that live and work here.
Technology & Service: 136 Garage pg 15
Artist at Work: Avon Barber pg 20
Making the Most of your Closets pg 31
Reminder Don’t forget that Hendricks County Home Magazine offers a new way for employers to reach candidates and for candidates to find great employers! “Hendricks County Home Magazine works tirelessly to serve our community. Offering a reasonably priced, results-driven approach to get local businesses the people they need to be successful and getting local people the work that they need to prosper is a natural evolution for the core values we have as a company – buy local, support local, and now… employ local.” A Call to Writers and Bloggers! Categories: • Home Improvement - Seeking Hendricks County carpenters, do-it-yourselfers and those that are handy or skilled in home improvement – We would like to hear from you. • Parenting – Fathers, Dads and Grandfathers – If you like to write, have parenting advice or insights to share with the world, then we would like to hear from you. • People involved with the community - If you are someone who goes to the many wonderful events, places and happenings here in Hendricks County and want to share those stories, let us know. Contact us at editor@ hendrickshome.com
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thousands of homes throughout the county with your message. Please contact advertising@hendrickshome.com or dial 317-609-0225 and ask for Dave or visit our advertising page for details and to complete an easy form. Story Ideas! If you or someone you know is working on something that you believe makes the place we live better for everyone, then please contact us at editor@hendrickshome.com so that we can share their work with everyone. Follow us! We encourage everyone to follow us on Facebook, on Twitter/hendrickshome (@ hendrickshome) and to visit the website at www.hendrickshome.com. Wiping Egg Off of Our Face Try as we might, sometimes there are some gaffes, errors, and hiccups. We are obviously no different. The solution is to acknowledge them, correct them whenever possible and then attempt to improve performance continuously. This is our approach. If you should find any such error or blunder, then please let us know at: editor@ hendrickshome.com. Latest Egg Literally… In the last issue, we provided a recipe for eggnog that was described as “Wow! That will knock your socks off!” We knew the recipe was great but when we went back to investigate further, it appears that a remnant ingredient from the previous month’s “The In-Laws-Are-Coming-toThanksgiving Sangria” remained behind. For those of you not familiar with eggnog, it turns out “2 bottles of Riesling of your choice” are not very standard ingredients but would certainly make for an unusually strong nog. Support Finally, as you enjoy the content of this magazine and as you wish to continue to receive each issue month after month, please patronize our advertising partners and tell them that you found out about them through Hendricks County Home Magazine. Be sure to share this issue with others both in print and through our social media.
A Call to Homeowners! We are seeking owners of unique, unusual or historic homes/buildings here in Hendricks Our greatest desire is for your peace and County. We would like to feature your prosperity and for the health of you and building in an upcoming issue. Please those you love. contact us at editor@hendrickshome.com Become an Advertiser! Join the growing list of advertisers and reach
Dave Giltner
Editor/Publisher
Local Updates
Two Local, Kid-Centric Organizations Join Forces
Hendricks County Youth Sports Fair Coming to Danville
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Our friends at Macaroni Kid and They’re our “When I’m out in the community meeting Kids have teamed up! parents, the No. 1 question I get is ‘Do you have information on sports clubs?’” said Here is what they say in their recent press Stritar. “Hendricks County has numerous release: amazing events for families, but an activity like this isn’t being done, and the need is “The two go-to websites for parents in there. I love bringing the community Hendricks County are joining forces to host together, and this is one of the ways that Eric the inaugural Hendricks County Youth Sports and I can do that.” Fair on Saturday, Jan. 24 from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Danville Community High School Ivie said that parents will likely be surprised gymnasium. by the wide variety of youth sports available to kids in Hendricks County. In addition to Meghan Stritar of Macaroni Kid – Hendricks popular sports like basketball, baseball, and and Eric Ivie of They’re Our Kids are inviting football, there are organizations in the area youth sports organizations from all over the that offer more uncommon sports like area to set up informational booths at this lacrosse, rugby, wrestling, swimming, event to showcase what they have to offer skateboarding and martial arts. Hendricks County kids, to sign up athletes, and to add people to their mailing lists. “If you’re new to the area, or if your kid is like Organizations are also encouraged to mine and hasn’t found a favorite activity yet, provide activities for kids while parents speak this is a great way to get a taste of what’s out with representatives from each team or there in the Hendricks County youth sports league. world,” said Ivie.
Hendricks County Home
Editor in Chief Dave Giltner
Creative Director J.D. Nesbitt
Staff Editor Hannah Harp
Meghan Stritar
Contributing Writers Lynn Clinton
Alicia Chrapek
Susan Young
April Westcott
Dr. Michele O'Mara
A.J. Schneider
Claire-Anne Aikman
Chrissy Larkin
Dawn Grimes
Marla Laystrom
MeChelle Callen
Katy (Baldwin) Portwood Contributing Photographers Lisa Blythe Eric Thomas Published by 111 Publishing, LLC (317) 609-0225 Editorial Questions editor@hendrickshome.com Advertising Inquiries advertising@hendrickshome.com
General Inquiries info@hendrickshome.com Job Posting Inquiries jobs@hendrickshome.com
Find us online www.hendrickshome.com www.facebook.com/hendrickscountyhome
www.twitter.com/hendrickshome plus.google.com/+Hendrickshome
They’re Our Kids maintains an online list of a multitude of youth sports organizations serving Hendricks County children. This event allows parents to speak to representatives face-to-face, compare and contrast sports, teams and leagues, and ask questions to gain more information that may not appear on an organization’s website.
Admission to the Hendricks County Youth Sports Fair is free. Youth sports organizations interested in participating in this event are encouraged to contact Stritar at meghans@macaronikid. com.”
Point of Interest Contributing writer and Avon resident, April Westcott turns interesting photos, historical facts, fascinating places and nostalgic memories into must see, must share Facebook posts on her page “Only Indiana” (www.facebook.com/onlyindiana).
people do that makes others smile. I started this page to share with everyone (not just my personal friends) all of the unusual, inspirational and quirky things I find in Indiana. This page is geared to be positive and motivational and make people smile at the little things. Please feel free to share on She writes, “This page is a fun look at the here as well. Stop and smell the roses and whimsical and original things people do in look at things in a different way.” Indiana and celebrates the everyday things
Local Updates Hendricks County Health Department Warns About Harsh Flu Season They recently advised: symptoms of the flu. According to the • Cover your coughs and sneezes with a Centers for Disease Control and tissue or shirt sleeve. When possible, Prevention, symptoms of influenza cough and sneeze into your elbow include fever, muscle aches, headache, instead of your hands. Wash your and lack of energy, dry cough, sore hands after throat, and coughing runny nose. or • Visit sneezing. your doctor as • Frequently soon as wash possible after hands with becoming ill to soap and be tested for water for the flu. If it is 20 seconds not the flu, your after doctor can coughing p r o v i d e or a n o t h e r sneezing; treatment to before get well. eating; R e m e m b e r, after using the bathroom; after antibiotics will not cure the flu, but there touching heavily-used objects like are other prescription medications that door knobs and keyboards; before can help reduce and relieve symptoms. giving care to someone; and after caring for someone who is sick. To find out more, visit our website: • Stay home from work, school, and other w w w . h e n d r i c k s h o m e . c o m / activities when you are showing flu-prevention-needed-during-harsh-season
Project A.N.G.E.L. Challenge Followup
Following up on local fundraising champion, Ryan Gorman from last issue, the young man completed his end of the bargain by bleaching his hair. We applaud his demonstration of character and compassion. Thanks, Ryan!
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Kiwanis Club of Danville to Host Daddy-Daughter Dance According to their Press Release:
More information about the event, including “The Kiwanis Club of Danville will host its how to register, can be found at the club’s website, DanvilleKiwanis.org, or by sixth annual Daddy-Daughter Dance contacting Danville Kiwanian at Danville Community Middle Nola Crouch at (317) School on Saturday, Feb. 21 358-6895. from 6 to 8 p.m. This event is for girls Founded in 1915, ages 3-12 and their Kiwanis is a global dads, grandfathers or organization of other significant volunteers dedicated adult male figures in to improving the their lives. Girls are world one child and not required to live in one community at a Danville to attend, but time. It will be preregistration is celebrating its 100th necessary. Anniversary of service at its International Convention in Registration is $25 per couple Indianapolis in June. for the first daughter and $5 per additional daughter. Girls will receive a corsage upon arrival, and free photos will be The Kiwanis Club of Danville is in its 14th year taken and made available online after the of service and meets on Tuesdays at noon at dance. The Kiwanis Club will also provide Dave’s All-American Pizza and Eatery in complimentary snacks and drinks, as well as Danville. Beginning Jan. 20, the club will door prizes that will be given away meet at Danville Friends Church at 7 p.m. on throughout the evening. A DJ will provide the third Tuesday of each month. Anyone is welcome to attend meetings.” family-friendly dance music.
Apple Rings 6 hendrickshome.com
Time Prep: About 25 minutes Eating: Adds another 30 seconds or so
Difficulty Level
3/10 – This does require you to peel an apple, dry it off, discard the scraps, mix a batter and fry something in oil.
Directions: Batter 1. In a dry bowl add flour, sugar, cinnamon, baking soda, salt and flaxseed. Mix completely. 2. In wet bowl, add milk and vinegar and mix – set aside for about 5 minutes. 3. Stir milk and vinegar mixture completely and then mix dry ingredients into wet ingredients and– much like you might to make pancake batter. The consistency should be similar. Adjust flour and milk accordingly. If too dry then thin by adding a tablespoon of milk in at a time. If too wet, then add in a tablespoon of flour in at a time. 4. Preheat oil on medium 5. Place each slice quickly into the batter mixture and then into the pre-heated oil. Do not crowd the pan. 6. Turn when golden brown. 7. Remove from oil and place on paper-towels to dry. 8. You may need to add additional oil to the pan. Use your best judgment. 9. Repeat process until all apples are cooked. 10. If you wish – in dry mixing bowl, add the optional sugar and cinnamon and mix together completely. Then, take the cooked and drained apple rings and coat in the mixture. Eat Immediately! Tools Ingredients Bowl Apple Butter Whisk Cinnamon Jelly Spoon Serving Dish Time Prep: About 2 minutes Eating: Adds another 30 seconds or so. Directions: Sauce 1. Add 3 parts apple butter to 1 part cinnamon jelly – depending on how many apple slices you’ve made and how much you like to dip them. If you use 3 tablespoons of apple butter then mix in one of cinnamon jelly. If you use 3 cups of apple butter then mix in one cup of cinnamon jelly. 2. Mix completely. This may be easier if you heat the jelly slightly. 3. Place in serving dish and eat immediately.
Tools Dry bowl Wet bowl Whisk Measuring devices like cups and spoons Sharp knives Apple peeler Cutting board Frying pan Ingredients Batter 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon ½ teaspoon baking soda 2 teaspoons granulated sugar ¼ teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons milled flaxseed 1 cup milk 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar Apples 5 cooking apples peeled and sliced into ¼ inch sliced rings and towel dried Cooking Canola Oil – Enough to cover the inside of the pan completely OPTIONAL: 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon 1/3 cup granulated sugar
Burnt Toast
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...Just kidding - It's Banana Pudding! Tools Sharp Bread Knife Cutting board Mixing Bowl Mixer Clear serving dish or trefoil dish Television or Smart Phone 3 packages of dry banana pudding mix 6 cups cold milk 1 box of either gingersnaps or vanilla wafer cookies (or just about any cookie of choice – in fact, rather than cookies, you could use peanut butter brownies or shredded chocolate cake) 1 large tub of whipped cream Approximately 4 medium bananas cut into 1 inch slices Time Prep: About 20 mins. Chilling time adds another 2 hours or so
Difficulty Level
3/10 – If you can cut and toast bread in a pan without burning it or yourself, congratulations. Now you can eat some yummy banana pudding.
Directions 1. Open packages of dry pudding mix and place in mixing bowl. 2. Add milk and follow directions on the package – set aside. 3. Place a layer of cookies down first 4. Cover with a layer of pudding mix 5. Cover with a layer of bananas 6. Cover with a layer of whipped cream 7. Repeat this process until all pudding, cookies, bananas, whipped cream are gone. Whipped cream should be the top layer. 8. Refrigerate for approximately 2 hours. 9. Get on your smart phone and surf the internet or your favorite social media site or watch TV while you wait. See – Cooking can be fun! 10. Once the two hours are up, serve – unless you cannot wait that long.
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By Alicia Chrapek You may have just read the title of this article and shifted into a better position in your chair. What this should teach you is that your posture is often forgotten which leads to many body issues. From back, knee, and neck pain to some issues that we may not even feel that are happening. Our body position when we sit in our car on the way to work, at our desk during work, on the couch relaxing once we get home from work, or when we are exercising and even sleeping all play a part in how our body stands itself up. The human body reacts to all three dimensions of positioning to contract or relax our muscles to keep us balanced and upright. The brain does this subconsciously, so we don’t really even have to think about where our body is in space. This can lead to muscle imbalances, strained joints, and more vulnerable body positions when we do get moving at work or in the gym. The two main culprits, which cause postural issues are the inventions of chairs and technology, more specifically the computer and smart phone. We spend many hours a day sitting down, which our body really wasn’t designed to do. Our bodies were designed to stand up and walk to get things done, squat down for various activities, and lay down to sleep. The Piriformis muscle located in the hips can get tight and cause things such as sciatic pain (known as the “sitting disease”) and other muscular issues up and down the kinetic chains of our bodies. For both work and entertainment we spent many hours either sitting at a computer and typing on a keyboard or holding a phone doing a million and one things. That, combined with all the other daily activities that occur in front of us, cause a multitude of issues with the shoulder and neck as well as alters breathing patterns. Luckily there are a few steps you can take to improve your posture. One important thing, to be aware of, is that if you spend just an hour a day with better posture, but you spend the other 23 hours a day in bad posture, results will be limited. The awarer of your body position at any given time, the more that you will start to live naturally in a better position.
Why You Should Change Your Posture Immediately Life/work just makes us sit down, so we can’t avoid it. Luckily most office chairs have pretty good lumbar support. Make sure your entire spine is in contact with the backrest of your chair from your tailbone, all the way up to the back of your neck.
Walk and stand tall. Pretend there is a helium balloon attached to the top of your head that is pulling your head up. Do this consciously, and you can instant feel the spine lengthening and relieving some tension.
Always sit with your feet flat on the floor. This tip alone will ease many lower back or hip issues you may be having.
6 Steps to Postural Success Develop an awareness of your body. In whatever your body position, laying down, sitting, standing, or moving, make sure that your ears are directly over your shoulders, and your shoulders are directly over your hips. Write a post-it note and put it on your computer screen, develop a ritual every time you stand up. Whatever it takes to bring your posture into the forefront of your mind.
Look more confident! Confidence affects posture. Even better news, posture affects confidence! Confidence, as well as posture, is nothing more than a habit. It can be learned.
I’s, Y’s, T’s and W’s. There are plenty of YouTube videos that demonstrate these exercises to help strengthen the upper back, which is usually weak compared to our chest and shoulder. Lay facing down on the ground and place your arm in front of you to form the letter I, then pull your hands up off the ground and squeeze the shoulder blades together. Do about 8 or 10 repetitions and repeat for the other three letters. In just a couple of weeks, you will see a big difference in your posture and start to feel all the benefits of correctly positioned body.
Alicia Chrapek is a Tri-West High School alumna and a native of Pittsboro. She received her Bachelor of Science in Dietetics and Nutrition, Fitness and Health with a minor in Psychology from Purdue University. She's a personal trainer and nutrition counselor at Anytime Fitness of Brownsburg. She can be reached at aliciachrapek@gmail.com.
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Make Sure you cut each of these coupons. Even if you do not think you will ever use the coupons, still cut them. (You will be surprised what you will use). If you do not plan to cut every coupon DO NOT throw the rest of them away. You never know what will go on sale in a week or a month. If you throw away the coupons, you are missing out on deals. Keep all of the coupons until they expire. Get organized with your coupons. There are
Couponing Blog Sites. Blog sites play a big part of becoming a couponer. Some of my favorites are The Krazy Coupon Lady, Money Saving Mom, Coupon Pro, and Kroger Krazy. The blog sites do the dirty work for you. Each week they are going to go through the ads, tell us the best deals, tell us where to find a coupon to go with the deal, and how much we will pay out of pocket to get the deal (if any). The blog sites will also tell us what products will be FREE each week with coupons or what will be a Money Maker each week with coupons. (Yes some stores actually pay you to walk items out of the store). All of these blog sites have Facebook pages, so like their Facebook page as well. Whenever they post a deal on Facebook, it will start showing in your newsfeed. Once a blog site tells you about a deal, all you have to do is cut your coupon and go to the store and take advantage of the deal. Don’t be afraid to stockpile. If the blog sites tell you toothpaste is $1 at Kroger, you have 10 $1 off coupons for that toothpaste, go to the store and use all 10 of your coupons. Now toothpaste is cut out of your budget for the next few months. The more items you add to your stockpile the cheaper your grocery bill is going to be each month. On an Average you can get 5-10 items absolutely free, really cheap (stock up worthy prices) or get paid to walk an item out of the store each week. If you are interested in learning more about being an Extreme Couponer, like my page on Facebook. I teach classes throughout the month and teach people how to cut your grocery budget easily in HALF within six months.
Chrissy Larkin is a Homemaker, wife, stay at home mom of 3. When she is not busy helping in the local PTO or the Danville Kiwanis Club (an amazing organization which you should consider joining), she is teaching others how to cut their grocery budget in half section and see by using coupons through her company, every coupon you have for spaghetti sauce. Coupon Class by Chrissy. Interested? Email her at: clarkin9893@aol.com. Or find Coupon Class Next you want to become familiar with by Chrissy on Facebook.
How to Become an Extreme Couponer
First you n e e d coupons, lots of coupons. S t a r t spreading the word to your friends, family, cowo r k e r s, Church members, everyone you know to start saving their coupons for you. You will need more than one copy of each coupon in order to become an extreme couponer. Coupons come out each week in the Indy Star, Hendricks County Flyer, Banner Graphic and other local papers. If you plan on buying a copy of the Indy Star each week check out your local Dollar Tree. Most Dollar Trees carry the Indy Star for $1. (It is the cheapest place to buy the Indy Star).
many different coupon organizers or holders you can buy. My favorite way, to organize coupons, is with a three-ring binder. You can find collector card inserts (or baseball card clear inserts) at stores like Wal-Mart and Target. They are normally up front where the registers are. These are perfect for holding your coupons in. I also bought tab dividers and made my own categories (oral care, hair care, boxed food, dairy, etc.). This system makes it easy when you are in the store looking for a coupon. You can go right to your spaghetti s a u c e
By Chrissy Larkin
We have all seen or heard of the Extreme Coupon Show on TV, where the customer has 4 carts full of stuff and walk out of the store spending $50. Our first thoughts are normally yeah right! There is no way! Well, there is a way to get many items for very little money. Here are a few easy steps to get you started to become an e x t r e m e couponer.
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Nutritional Deficiency Disorder in Children Did you know that food can g r e a t l y influence how your child learns, behaves, and feels? Are you familiar with a disorder called Nutritional Deficiency? Dr. William Sears has identified and studied this epidemic of nutrition related illness.
more bad carbs and fake fats he is calmer after lunch, but way too sluggish to play and he will be too tired to concentrate in the classroom. If he continues this cycle, his immune system will be out of balance. His sleep schedule will be off. His allergies will flare up. He will start missing more days of school and fall farther behind in school. If his grades suffer, so will his self–esteem. If things get so bad that his parents take him Children with NDD can exhibit frequent to the doctor, he mood swings or temper tantrums, have may be put on behavioral problems at school, be prescription restless sleepers, have poor attention spans or have difficulty learning. Other signs are frequent infections, vision problems, frequent allergies, and brittle skin, hair, and nails. If you think some of those symptoms sound like ADD/ADHD, you are correct! While ADD/ADHD is a very real condition, sometimes it is misdiagnosed, triggered by, or made worse with nutritional deficiencies. medication. His brain will Children have gotten sicker, sadder, and then be more out of fatter in the past decade. The incidence of balance because of the drugs on top of the Type 2 diabetes, obesity, chronic illness, high nutritional deficiencies. cholesterol, asthma, prescription usage, and reflux disease are all on the rise! I am not against prescription medication. During my 12 years as a special education Let’s take a look at how improper nutrition teacher, I have seen many cases in which affects a child’s body. When a child eats too medication was beneficial for those students many bad carbs for breakfast, such as sugary who truly had ADD/ADHD. I believe that cereal, his biochemical balance will be off. parents should address a child’s nutrition He will go to school feeling tired and with a before or during treatment with medication. bit of a brain fog. Around mid-morning, he My eight-year-old son has ADHD. When he will get hungry again because the cereal was 5 years old, I started noticing that his wasn’t filling. His blood sugar will drop behavior would get a lot worse when he because the carbs eaten at breakfast are all consumed artificial food coloring, high used up. Now he will have an even harder fructose corn syrup, or preservatives. We saw time concentrating. Meanwhile, his brain is a huge improvement in his behavior when telling his body that it needs more fuel. His we eliminated foods containing those adrenal glands will then start pumping out ingredients from his diet. Certain children, stress hormones, which will squeeze some of especially those children diagnosed with the stored fuel out of his liver to feed his ADHD, ASD, ODD, or a mood disorder, are hungry brain. These stress hormones will get particularly sensitive to sugar and other food him hyped up, so he starts to fidget. He looks additives. out the window, but his stress hormones tell If you would like to start addressing your him that he has to move. At lunchtime, he child’s nutritional deficiencies, the first step goes through the cafeteria line. If he eats is to avoid the following ingredients:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
High fructose corn syrup Hydrogenated oils Numbers ex) Red 40 Monosodium glutamate (MSG) Aspartame
At first it may seem like an impossible task to eliminate these ingredients from your child’s diet. You can start with one ingredient at a time. Expect your first few shopping trips to take a little longer while you read labels and find brands that will work for you. Once you have eliminated the harmful ingredients from your child’s diet then, you can begin to add in the most beneficial foods for your child’s brain. If you can afford it, organic dairy, produce, and meats are best. Here is a list of foods your child should be consuming. • • • • • • • • • • • •
Fruits Veggies Eggs Flaxseed oil Lean meat Low-fat milk and cheese Nuts and seeds Nut butters Olive oil, grape seed oil, coconut oil Salmon Whole grains Yogurt
If your child has spent many years eating artificially sweetened or processed foods it may take a while to reshape his taste buds to like whole, unprocessed foods, but it will happen! It is important to make sure your child is getting plenty of good fats, fruits/ veggies, and lean protein. It has made such a positive difference in my children. If you would like more information I suggest reading The NDD Book by William Sears, MD. Dawn Grimes is a Chicago native who feels right at home in Plainfield, Indiana! Formerly a special education teacher, she received her health coach certification from The Dr. Sears Wellness Institute so she could help kids eat healthier. Dawn loves organic food and essential oils and is a busy mom of 3 energetic kiddos. You can find her watching her children on the soccer field or blogging at namasteneighbor.com.
By Dawn Grimes
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Finding the Best Skin Care By Marla Laystrom
To start off, let me just say how thrilled I am for this opportunity to write for the fantastic Hendricks County Home and to share with you my knowledge on various health related topics. With it being a new year, I thought it would be the perfect time to address something that might not necessarily be on your radar as a health concern. We all know, for the most part that it’s important to eat well. I mean, it’s pretty obvious that we shouldn’t eat cookies and chips for breakfast, lunch and dinner-right?! Now, how about what we put on our skin. Did you know that the skin is our body’s largest organ and that it absorbs a large percentage of the products that we apply on it daily? So, should we be mindful and aware of what ingredients are in our beauty and skincare products? Absolutely. Here is why: “Companies and individuals who manufacture or market cosmetics have a legal responsibility to ensure the safety of their products. Neither the law nor FDA regulations require specific tests to demonstrate the safety of individual products or ingredients. The law also does
not require cosmetic companies to share their safety information with the FDA.” via FDA website (http://www.fda.gov/Cosmetics) So, we are to trust that each company, that produces personal care products, are truly testing their products and the ingredients they use for safety.
considered “green-washing”. In this instance, this is where the company puts much effort in making them seem “green” through marketing and so on but they and their product(s) really aren’t. Crazy-right! The David Suzuki Foundation (www.davidsuzuki.org) has a list of 12 ingredients that you might It wasn’t until this past March that I started to just want to avoid using, the “Dirty become aware of this. For the most part, I Dozen”. It includes Fragrance, Parabens, trusted the companies that made the Sodium Laureth Sulfate and Triclosan. products we were purchasing for our family Triclosan has been getting much face that they wouldn’t put questionable time recently in the news. This ingredients in the products that could affect ingredient is added everyday to use our health. Our eyes have been opened and, household products like “antibacterial” thankfully, we know better now. Here are a liquid hand soaps. It might just be couple steps you can start taking today to lurking in your toothpaste too. No help minimize the amount of toxic chemicals thanks! you are putting on your body through the 3. Gather up your products and check out use of beauty and skincare products: the Environmental Working Group (EWG) website, www.ewg.org. What is 1. Become a label reader. Turn your this? EWG is a non-profit and nonpersonal care products around and partisan organization that does research check those labels. and investigations on toxics, 2. Even if the products claim to be “allenvironmental health and more. They natural”, the company could be pulling are an amazing resource. The two a fast one on us and doing what is consumer guides of theirs, that I
frequent, are the “Skin Deep Guide to Cosmetics” and the “Guide to Healthy Cleaning”. How do this work? Simply type in the product name and see how EWG rates it in safety. I leave you with one last word of advice. If you can't pronounce the ingredients listed on the label of your face wash…there is an ingredient name that has more letters then the alphabet, you might want to not use that skincare product anymore. Grew up in Putnam County, a Boilermaker, married to a Bears fan, and a mom of two amazing and energetic young boys. She has called Hendricks County home for over five years. Having had various health concerns occur the past few years, she is focused on making more informed choices for family in order to live healthier lives. You can learn about her efforts over at namasteneighbor.com.
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U r b a n Dictionary defines the word “tween” from the longer “tweenager” as, a person who has entered the "in between" years before adolescence; children between the ages of 10 and 12. Though they list 10 to 12, it seems like the tween is getting younger and younger. My boys are 6 and 8, and while I fight it, I feel like they’re already in the between. From their clothing options to their play, my boys aren’t allowed to be young children anymore, but they’re not ready to be anything else. My son is one of the few in his class that still believes in Santa. Apparently, the consensus
The Inbe"tween" is that 8 is too old for the magic of Christmas. the bleary eyed sight of stockings stuffed, I get the ease in ditching the fat man. No cookie crumbs, and confirmation that they more trying to remember to move the elf were on the nice list after all. every night. No more hiding Santa’s gifts. We have children content to Just buy, zombie out to video games, wrap, and and when encouraged to right play a game rooted in under imagination, it’s t h e considered tree. b a b y i s h . Children are immersed in the digital world of M inecraf t, but unable to play by playac ting t h e characters inside of the game? We push so hard on a d v a n c i n g However, educational standards the downside and increasing sports skill is no more awe. requirements, but where do No more giddiness at we increase the joy and happiness?
Lynn Clinton
Without exercising the imagination muscle, will we ever have a future Dr. Seuss or Nora Efron? Who will dream up new worlds full of storm troopers or Vulcans? Who will envision new inventions when we teach our children to stop dreaming? We’ve created a tween category and are putting more and more kids into it. We are moving our kids from toddler to tween, and will create a generation of kids that miss all the glorious wonder that happens during the in between. Lynn Clinton is an Avon woman who traded her career and stilettos for children and sneakers. She almost never looks back. Would you like to read more? Lynn also writes over on her own blog, Love, Laughs and Lice...Stories from my life.
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Calendar of Local Family Events Youth Sports Fair
Cardboard Cactus & Cowboys
A Walk in the Woods
A Macaroni Kid and They're Our Kids event! Come check out all the sports opportunities that Hendricks County has to offer. Vendors are encouraged to have activities for your kids while you research and even sign up on the spot if you want to. Where: Danville HS Gymnasium When: 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM Who: Everyone How: Just Show Up Cost: Free to attend
Make yourself a nice low-maintenance (cardboard) cactus houseplant for your room and hear a couple of funny cowboy stories.
The intent of this program is for our preschool age Parkies to be able to enjoy an interactive/hands-on nature experience! The program will be led by either our Special Programs Coordinator or select special guests! Where: Avon Washington Twp Park Pavilion When: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Who: Preschool age & caregiver How: Just show up Cost: Free
Saturday, January 24
Monday, January 26
Where: Plainfield Library When: 6:30 PM - 7:00 PM Who: 5-8 year olds How: Just show up Cost: Free
For more information visit Interactive Movie: Ghostbusters Wednesday, January 28
Enjoy popcorn, drinks, and an interactive movie! We will be watching Ghostbusters, rated PG. When you arrive, you will be given a bag of props. Throughout the movie, we will have you say lines and use the props to interact with the movie. Where: Brownsburg Library When: 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM Who: Ages 13-19 How: Call to register: 852-3167 Cost: Free
Tuesday, January 27
hendricks.macaronikid.com Gadget Garage
Friday, January 30 Did you get a gift this holiday season that's got you confused? Get help setting up your new eReader, tablet, iPad, or smartphone. Learn how to make the most of your new device by loading it with the library app, eBooks from Overdrive, magazines through Zinio, streaming music and movies and more. Where: Plainfield Library When: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM Who: All Ages How: Just show up Cost: Free
MK
Birds in Winter Workshop Saturday, January 31
Learn about being a citizen scientist and the Audubon Christmas bird count then go on an interpretive hike or help decorate our outdoor space with edible treats for park critters. Where: Avon Washington Twp Park Pavilion When: 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM Who: All ages How: Call to Register 745-0785 Cost: Free
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Our Elf on a Shelf is named Dandy. He arrives each year just after Thanksgiving, and he stays with us through Christmas. The boys delight in looking for him as he magically moves around the house. He’s not particularly mischievous, or even hard to find (and, eh hem, sometimes he forgets to move at all until one of the boys points out that he has been in the same place for a couple of days). Yet somehow he manages to generate over a month of little joys that string together into a magical anticipation of the big day. When he leaves for the year at Midnight on Christmas, he always leaves a note. This year his note revealed a very important secret that I thought I’d share with you. He’s a wise old elf indeed. When we look for things that bring us joy, we are happy. As you move into 2015, if you have only one resolution to make it a better year, resolve to look for something, even just one thing, that brings you joy for the next 365 days, and I predict you will have a very joyful year no matter what lies ahead for you. As a Board Certified Sex Therapist and a Certified Imago Relationship Therapist, Dr. O’Mara brings expert help to the Hendricks County area by providing men and women with supportive relationship care. With a nontraditional style of counseling that is heavily influenced by the field of life-coaching, Dr. O’Mara applies a non-judgmental attitude in all of her work, and seeks to understand who you are, who you wish to become, and how you want your life and relationships to look.
The Magical Secret Dr. Michele O'Mara
Hi Boys , Thank y ou f time of y or playing with m ear ea a secret a and hold that ma gain this year. I h bout wha g t makes m ic in your heart f ope you enjoy the orever. T magic of e so magi this spe h c i a s l y . When yo ear I am u look for going to t cial m ell you expect to find me. e, you do so with e xci W for your discovery hen you do find m tement, hope and enth , an e, y for you so mething d you show excite ou smile and lau usiasm – and you g very fun ment to s and very ee me, be h and feel proud always of yourse c playful. The real lf Looking ause I have come secret tha f t o o r r m t e pr I e makes y inside of me, it is a want to share with ou happy esent lre . yo joy, whic h is sitting ady always inside u is that the JOY , yo of y ins believe in me. I am ide of you, is brou ou. When you l u feel, does not com oo gh e who do n o ot believe nly magical beca t to life. Moreov k for me and find from er u in me. I m am so gla se you believe in m , it is kept alive be e, the d you bel c I am pla ieve in m e. I am not mag ause you yful, fun e. ical to tho , fu that you f se eel when y ll of surprise, and I ou look fo r me, and am everywhere, al I am the Even tho happines l around you. I ugh you s inside of a wil everythin you when m the joy g, all of th l not see me agai I am fou n until n e time. K a million nd. e xt year, t eep lookin little thing h e g s m th for these t f hings – n at can make you or things that brin agic secret still w ha eve or g if you loo k for joy r stop looking for ppy. Moreover, t you joy. I am on ks on l in your li fe every d things that make y he magic comes fr y one of o ay you w ill always ou happy. I prom m looking find it. ise you th is, I love you , Dandy
hendrickshome.com 15
Technology & Service : 136 Garage
By Dave Giltner
works," he said. "It goes back to helping people and being honest and doing what you say. I don't have a slogan for the business, but it is kind of 'Today's technology with Yesterday's service' is what I try to shoot for. I am concerned about the safety aspect when something is wrong -
It never fails; you’re in the middle of your swamped day when suddenly the Check Engine light casts its golden amber glow across your dashboard. [Groan] “Now what?” you exclaim. There is nothing worse than dealing with a car that is acting up. You rely on your car to get you from point A to point B, day after day. In our always busy lives, we never schedule in a car problem. “Oh, let’s pencil in that breakdown for next week. This week is no good for me.” It’s an ugly reminder that our steel workhorses sometimes need love and attention, too. In the realm of things, having a good, honest mechanic is worth its weight in gold. If you find a good mechanic, you’ll likely hold on to them for dear life. One of the hardest things about moving to a new town is where to find a good mechanic. Lucky for you, there are good guys out there…moreover, they may be closer than you think! Bradley King, Danville resident and owner of 136 Garage, spoke with us about the opening of his new shop on 136 in downtown Brownsburg. When describing the business he said, "We are an A to Z Auto Repair and Detail Shop."
ability to work with customers directly and honestly was part of that decision. “Everybody gets treated the same way. It doesn't matter if you're coming in for a $20 oil change or a $2,000 whatever you are just as important as the next person here. About The official opening date was October 1st, 2014, but Brad has been in the auto industry for a decade. He said, "I feel like it is a way for me to help people. Pretty much everybody has a car. Pretty much everybody hates going to an auto repair business. My mantra is that we are small - you’re going to talk to the owner. I care about your car. I care about your family. I care about your safety. You're not a number here. I have been a gearhead since I was a kid. Cars are insanely expensive now. So, instead of spending $50,000 on a new car, maybe keep that $10,000-$15,000 car running and put your money into a nondepreciating asset." He went on to say that he and his family drive used cars and that their cars have over 100,000 miles. The key is to keep them well maintained.
"It goes back to being able to help people. A woman came in that had some problems... maybe it was time to buy a new car. Turned out to be a cheap and easy fix for her." He noted that Local not all repairs are inexpensive or easy, but, addressing Brad said that he opened up shop here "It’s great to give people good news like that. If you've because he believes in keeping local dollars that." got an additional problem that maybe local. Brownsburg is a growing and thriving doesn't need to be fixed, then I am not going community, and he likes the hometown feel. About the People to force you or pressure you to do it. That's He told us that he opened his shop because Brad told us that many people hate going to not how we want to do business here." he felt as though he had the right amount of the repair shop because people do not know knowledge and experience and that he is an what things cost or how long it should take Tech entrepreneur at heart. He felt as though his to fix them. "I love explaining how a car Active in social media and communication
with his customers, Brad said that he provides many links to articles that discuss how to do simple repairs or how to spot red flags on safety issues. He intends to begin implementing classes for people to take to show them how to do basic maintenance and repair work themselves as well. "You don't always have to come and pay someone to do [repairs and maintenance]. You can do it yourself. I want well-informed customers that make the best decisions for themselves." Similarly, when some repairs are needed, and customers are not there, he does not just call them up and tell them the laundry list of items that ought to be repaired. He takes photos and video of the problem, texts or emails it to them and discusses what the solution options are for the issue. He said that gives the customer the opportunity to do their own research, if they choose, so that they can make the best possible, most educated decision on how to proceed. Something Extra 136 Garage also has a pick-up and delivery service for Brownsburg and Avon. If customers have an appointment scheduled because people are busy, then that is something he wants to be able to do for them. He feels that it is just another level of service for his customers. You can find 136 Garage at 128 ½ E. Main Street, in downtown Brownsburg east of St Rd 267. You can reach them by phone at (317) 938-4757, on their Facebook page (www.facebook.com/136garage), on Twitter (www.twitter.com/136garage) or their website at www.136garage.com.
136 Garage 128 1/2 E. Main St. Brownsburg, IN
(317) 938-4757
Bradley@136garage.com
16 hendrickshome.com
JobNetworking 3 Steps to that next great opportunity MeChelle Callen
It is generally the case that most of us find our dentists, doctors, and even our hair stylists through our networks - but now it has also become the way that many of us find our jobs. This recently was a conversation topic at a dinner meeting, and at least half of the attendees said they had held jobs as a result of “knowing somebody who knew somebody”. Matt Youngquist, the president of Career Horizons, says, “At least 70 percent, if not 80 percent, of jobs, are not published.” So how do people discover these opportunities? Networking! Here are three simple steps to building your network and increasing your chances of finding that next great opportunity: Step One: Get Ready. Always be prepared – every interaction is a potential opportunity to expand your network. Being prepared means having your “elevator speech” ready to go. An elevator speech is the brief 10-15 seconds of memorable content to help the other person remember who you are, what you do and/or what you hope to do. Here is my elevator speech, “Hello, I am MeChelle Callen, and I assist people in developing their knowledge and skills so they can live their career dreams.” Being prepared also means having business cards in your wallet, pocket or purse. Even if you aren’t currently employed or in college, you still need a business card to share with
those you meet so you can connect at a later time. Create a business card with your personal email address and any professional social media contacts so people can reach out to you. A word of caution, make sure your social media is appropriate to share with professional contacts. (We will take a closer look at social media and professionalism in an upcoming article).
can find more information on these and • other clubs on the Visit Hendricks County Website.
There are also networking opportunities with a large number of not-for-profit and civic organizations. Civic groups such as the Hendricks Symphonic Society, Hendricks Civic Theatre, and the Hendricks County Arts Council have volunteer opportunities. Step Two: Get Set. Create a Not-for-profits such as The networking plan and begin by Hendricks County Community asking yourself what your Foundation, United Way of goals are for expanding Hendricks C o u n t y, your network. You may Sheltering Wings, the have a goal to find the Humane Society and many next great job opportunity other not-for-profits have or to connect with other volunteer opportunities. parents in your child’s Moreover, don’t forget school, or to become a more about the schools and their active member of your opportunities. Volunteering is community. Once you have a great way to network and a great determined your goals then, it becomes way to build knowledge and skills for easier to select the networking groups you your resume. will want to attend. Step Three: Go! After developing your There are many opportunities in Hendricks networking plan, it is time to get out there. County to expand your network. There are Chamber of Commerce meetings in Avon, A few tips for going: Danville, Plainfield and Brownsburg. There are service clubs such as the Lions Club, • Visit as many groups as possible that Hendricks County Exchange Club, Kiwanis spark your interest Club, Optimist Club, Rotary Club and the • Practice your elevator speech before Westside Professional Women’s Association, you get there so you are ready to deliver and many other service clubs as well. You it when asked what you do
•
• • • • •
Arrive a few minutes early and take a couple moments to scan over the name tags of the other attendees. This is a great way to identify some participants that you may want to connect with during the event. Ask open-ended questions and remember networking is about giving as well as receiving, so offer to help when appropriate Don’t hijack the conversation Follow up and contact those individuals you meet at the events Follow through quickly and efficiently on referrals, you are given Share your passion Smile and have fun
Expanding your network in the New Year is a great way to improve your knowledge of the Hendricks County Community, build your communication skills and open your life up to new experiences and opportunities. MeChelle Callen, a born and raised Hoosier, has been a member of the Avon community for 21+ years. She has nearly 25 years of experience in Human Resource Development and currently serves as the Vice President of Organizational Development for a credit union in Central Indiana. She has been married to Todd for 26 years and has two children – Grant, a senior at Indiana University and Abbey, a junior at Avon High School. You can reach her at her office at 317-558-6447.
Communication
hendrickshome.com 17
Customer Service - Keeping out of Trouble
Failure When it comes to creating satisfied customers, ambiguity is one of the quickest ways to ensure failure. More often than not, saying something is better than nothing at all. Silence will leave your customer with the feeling they’re floating in the ocean without a life raft.
their food is taking too long. The frustration on their faces is obvious. There’s fidgeting, toe tapping and craning of necks to catch a glimpse of the missing server in the hopes of making eye contact. All easily rectified with information from the server about what’s going on. More than once I’ve wanted to call my server to the table to say, “Hey, can you help those people? They’ve been waiting In the transportation business, we rarely have forever, and no one has come back to tell true service failures, although they do them what’s going on.” For the record, I’ve occasionally happen. More often than not, always restrained myself. we have communications failures. Someone forgot to call to the customer to say we’re A New Plan going to be late or that a truck was delayed Of course, as important as information is to due to weather. What should have happened the process of keeping customers from is that we called the customer to say: becoming prematurely dissatisfied with your product or service, it will only get you so far. “Mrs. Smith, I wanted to let you know that the If there’s truly a service failure, you’ve got to truck is en route. We’re experiencing some have a backup plan and a course of action. bad weather out there, and we need to make sure the driver proceeds safely to your house. In transportation, it could be a delay That means we’re going to be a few hours guarantee – if we don’t deliver by a certain late. We’ll do whatever we can to speed date, we owe you a certain dollar amount. In things up when we get there, but I wanted the restaurant, it could be as simple as a free to let you know, so you weren’t worried or appetizer or dessert. I think too often we try waiting needlessly.” too hard to avoid the cost involved in those decisions. Be careful – ask yourself about the Bad News - Translation true cost. If a free Crème Brule is the How does that translate to your business? difference between an angry customer What would proactive communication look unlikely to recommend your establishment like at a hardware store? At a “Big Box” to their friends and colleagues, and a satisfied retailer? How about a restaurant? That latter one who will say, “at least they recovered is my go to example because everyone likes well,” you might reconsider. to eat: While margins in many businesses are as “I hope your appetizer was to your tight as ever, the power of customer satisfaction. I wanted you to know that your satisfaction is becoming more important meals are being prepared as we speak. every day. As referenced in past installments They’re taking a little longer than normal this of this column, your reputation, and future evening and for that I apologize. In the revenues may be tied to an unfortunate meantime, is there anything else I can get for mouse click on the Internet. (See my previous you? Another glass of wine? More bread?” article, “With Great Power Comes Great Social Responsibility”) No one likes to deliver bad news, and few people enjoy conflict, especially with a In my business, we do our best to avoid those customer who is in danger of becoming issues by attempting first to communicate dissatisfied. However, I’ve seen it over and with our customers in a way that leaves over again – letting customers know what’s nothing to chance – even when there’s some going on, proactively, honestly and quickly, uncertainty brewing. Moreover, once we’ve makes up for a lot of other potential covered our bases, we consider the challenges. The converse also is true. customer’s overall experience. If we’ve delivered on our overall promise, then we Take the restaurant example. If you’ve ever should expect a reasonable level of customer been out to eat, you’ve seen it. It’s not your satisfaction and a loyal customer who won’t meal that’s late; it’s the table next to you. hesitate to recommend us in the future. There’s nothing more uncomfortable than when you’ve been served, and your If we haven’t, we quickly consider what we neighbors are growing impatient because need to do to recover from that situation. Is
the resolution financial? One that simply requires further communication? Extra service? We carefully consider what it means for that customer to walk away dissatisfied and what that means for future business. In the end, try to avoid the issue entirely by keeping your customers informed – even when things aren’t going so well. Throw them a lifeline so they can swim into calmer waters where they’re more likely to finish their experience with you as a satisfied customer.
By AJ Schneider
A.J. Schneider is the executive vice president of Indianapolis-based Wheaton Van Lines (the parent company of Wheaton World Wide Moving, Bekins Van Lines and Clark & Reid) one of the largest household goods moving companies in the United States. Schneider brings more than 20 years of experience in communications, marketing, sales and customer service to the moving and storage industry to ensure customers get where they’re going. The father of two young girls, he and his wife live in Avon. Schneider can be reached at 317.558.0746 or at: aj_schneider@wvlcorp. com.
Did you know? You can get a digital copy of Hendricks County Home magazine directly to your email inbox.
Perfect for reading on the go!
p u Sign
! e t i s b e w r u on o
Senior Pets
18 hendrickshome.com
Part One
By Katy (Baldwin) Portwood
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W h i l e trying to generate topics that people really want to learn about I discovered that I had many friends with questions about senior pets. I think the reason for this is that our pets are living a long time. We have pets that are integral family members, and we notice changes in behavior patterns or how they go about their day to day life and seek care for them. I’m going to address mostly dogs and cats, but there are definitely principles that apply across species. What is a senior pet anyway? The easiest answer is that it depends on. In our office, we require blood work in any pet over 7 years old or over 5 years old in a large or giant breed dog. If your pet’s age is an estimate, such as an animal that was adopted from a shelter, rescue, or with an unclear history, it is often best to err on the side of older than younger. When a veterinarian estimates age of a pet it is usually based on how much tartar they have on their teeth, but this depends on a plethora of factors as well, so may be off the mark. We watch for masses, graying, and reports of accidents in the house or trouble getting around signaling that age estimates may be off.
arthritis. I often recommend a joint supplement as a first line of treatment for my patients because they are likely to help them feel better without big problems. There are options for pets that will not take pills well, and there are prescription diets that have supplements built in. Most over the counter diets do not have enough joint supplement included to make a therapeutic difference. If a pet gets to the point where a supplement is not enough then a pain medication or Non-steroidal (NSAID) medication is often added as they work best together. This addition usually comes with monitoring blood tests because any medication or therapy, we give, has the potential to cause side effects, and monitoring is targeted based on this idea. We also love our therapeutic laser for help in treating arthritis. We see tumors and masses daily. I was taught that, “You can’t make a microscopic diagnosis without the aid of a microscope, “which means that many tumors look alike and you can’t tell what it is just by looking at it, but some appearances are more worrisome than others. As much as we would like to think, so life doesn’t usually behave predictably, so testing is nearly always recommended. We often do fine needle aspirate with a test called cytology to check some cells in a mass to determine what the lump is which may help to plan surgery or let us know that the mass may be monitored if the owner prefers. Histopathology is where we submit the entire or pieces of a surgically removed mass to determine what type it is. Spays, neuters, and mass removals are our three most common surgical procedures. February is Veterinary Dental Health month, so I’m going to talk about dental care and more about organ system dysfunction in senior pets next time.
Blood tests, or blood work, are a great tool to start when your pet is healthy, the reason being that they are the best comparison to themselves instead of a number of healthy animals that are used to generate the normal values on a blood panel. This idea helps us to catch changes earlier. In our practice, we love to see older pets every 6 months with their exam and vaccinations at one visit and exam and blood work at a second visit. Also, our veterinary patients don’t talk. I often tell owners this makes them great companions, but often covers up potential problems, especially those that could be early signs of Katy (Baldwin) Portwood is a veterinarian born and raised in Danville, IN. She loves to give illness. practical advice to pet owners. She currently Some of the most common problems we see shares her home with her husband, two in older pets are arthritis, tumors or masses, children, dogs, cats, horses and a miniature dental issues, and organ system dysfunction donkey. She loves meeting pets and their including liver, kidneys, and thyroid. The people and forging a lasting relationship with common nature of organ system dysfunction them. She is an associate veterinarian at is why we require blood work in older pets Danville Veterinary Hospital, LLC. She can be because these organs are extremely reached HERE. (317) 745-2500 important to filtering anesthesia out of the body. Most senior pets will have some degree of
Designed to Organize
hendrickshome.com 19
Getting Organized in the New Year By Susan Young About this time of year, hundreds of articles circulate online about how to de-clutter, organize your home and streamline your life. But rather than tell you that you have too much stuff (which most of us do), and that you have one too many junk drawers, I thought I’d take a different spin on the traditional organizing tips article. What about this year, you look at ways to organize that are inspired by your design style?
you need to do now is find a creative way to store your stuff in a way that adds to your home’s overall décor. So let me give you an example. My daughters, Elaina & Evelyn, love to create art pieces, which they expect me to display around the house. However, their art began to take over my kitchen fridge, so I researched online
Don’t have a design style? Look around your home. Are your furniture pieces and décor more traditional or modern and classical? If your answer is none of these, take some time browsing websites like HGTV, Houzz and Pinterest, home magazines or even your local home improvement store to find what home design and decorating themes speak to you. (See Exper t I nterior Designer and contributing writer J.D. Nesbitt, of Aesthete Designs, www.aesthetedesigns. com, for help with design and décor advice.) Once you’ve established your design style, start by reviewing the rooms that you live in the most (probably family rooms, kitchens or other high-traffic areas). Tackle your clutter problem first by removing unused, broken or unnecessary items, and recycle, sell or donate them. Then figure out a way to maintain order with what’s left. For instance, do you have too many magazines on your coffee table? Keep the last three issues, but put them in a nice basket underneath your coffee table, and recycle the rest.
for a solution. I found these cute wall art clips several years ago and put one set in each child’s room. Now they can display their most recent creations in their own rooms, and my refrigerator is free of magnets and paper. I display their most frame-worthy Browse online or in local stores for beautiful pieces in my home office. or creative ways to solve your organizing problems. Here’s where the fun comes. All Don’t be afraid to DIY. If you can’t find a
solution for organizing with what’s available, try building it yourself. During the process of remodeling our kitchen this summer, my husband expanded our small, builder-basic kitchen island to include extra shelving and cabinets, plus a pull-out drawer for our recycle bin. I love the finished result, and it allows us to store so much more underneath our island than we could before. I purchased some inexpensive fabric bins to store extra paper, notebooks, pencils and crayons for the girls, while the
art closet that makes me want to open it just to enjoy how organized it is. I sure hope it stays that way!
Creative storage comes in many forms. I love finding creative ways to organize my home that also add to my home’s overall design. Look for pretty items that also serve as storage. Here are some ideas that might work for you: • Use pretty canvas bins to store everything from nightstand books to toiletries and medicines. • Use storage ottomans as clever seating that stores your extra throw blankets, magazines or other items. This works in bedrooms as well as family or living rooms. • Put a storage bench with decorative hooks near your main or garage entry for your family to remove shoes and coats as they come into the house. You’ve just added seating, but now you also have an extra place for hats, gloves, and other items in the bench. • Use a decorative bowl as a catch-all to store keys, loose change or eyeglasses – much better than leaving them sitting on the counter or table! • Corral your kids’ outdoor toys and sporting goods in a mesh bin that matches with your garage organization cabinets system (found at most home on each improvement stores). side store my recipe I hope I’ve inspired you to think more books and extra creatively when it comes to home kitchen appliances, organization. With your design style in mind, getting them off the you’ll come up with clever ways to stash your kitchen counter. stuff while adding to your home’s overall design. Good luck! Another clutter issue for our family was where to store the girls’ art and school Susan Young is a Brownsburg homeowner, supplies. We wanted to keep them accessible wife, and mom. When she’s not browsing on for the girls to use, but keep them out of Pinterest or playing chief household officer, she sight. A shoe organizer was a good start, but helps small businesses outsource their our hall closet was still overflowing with marketing, website management, blogging boxes of craft projects, coloring books and and social media through her company, other items. So my husband purchased $100 AimFire Marketing. She can be reached at (317) worth of lumber from Lowe’s and built a 456-2494 or by visiting www.aimfiremarketing. shelving system. Now we have a designated com.
Experience the Difference
20 hendrickshome.com
Avon Barber Shop Artists at Work
By Dave Giltner
Through the glass in the door, you can see just about every guy you know, sitting on the perimeter, in a room with a black and white tiled floor. You reach forward and open it, and you hear the familiar bell ringing. That's a sound that you've heard every couple of weeks since you could walk. A few heads turn and look over at you, and the conversation continues on and some of the other guys go back to reading. As you walk in the room, the scent of talc and aftershave greet you.
performance of razor and steam. When the gentleman got up from the chair, he couldn't stop smiling.
Not too many places to get a haircut and a shave around anymore. Men are pretty much left to do it themselves. This may explain why some men prefer beards and why so many commercials on television are for electric razors. Owner of the recently opened Avon Barbershop, Dave Collins has been a barber for 11 years. He said, "When I was about 14 years old, I cut my friend's hair every weekend - just playing around with clippers. Then, one day, I had the idea to make it official and get the license and go." Dave likes to serve the local community, which is in part why he chose to open his shop here in Avon. "[I want to be able to] provide a service that is kind of a dying breed these days to an area that is without that." He said, "A thing of the past is definitely the straight razor face shave - hot steam towel, hot lather - lay back in the chair, just like grandpa used to get. That is the stuff you see in western movies now or something outdated. We still offer that. It is an oldfashioned procedure that we've carried on to the modern world. [We have] a little more high-tech way of doing the old way." We wanted to know why is that something so difficult to find anymore - why has it disappeared? "The reason it is dying off over time has been the price. It takes a long time to do a full-service straight razor shave. Many barbers feel like they don't have the time. We think it should be something that is in the barbering world, and we are going to keep it." Dave said. You're probably curious by now how much it is to get one of these shaves. The answer? Only $20. We sat and watched one being performed. Fact: It was a masterful
Avon Barber Shop 8401 E. US 36, Suite E
(317) 345-6613 Monday - Friday 8:30 AM - 6:30 PM Saturday 7:30 AM - 3:30 PM Sunday 12:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Dave characterizes what they do there as art. We would agree. In fact, like watching a baker bake, a sculptor chip away at stone or a glassblower produce glass, the process is like watching someone handcraft a haircut and a shave. "Haircuts have been so cheap for so long, and maybe you're getting a $10-$12 haircut up the road somewhere [but] you're not comparing apples-to-apples anymore. What we offer is above and beyond. That is where the big price difference comes in. Our haircut’s quality is second to none. It is reflected in our passion for the business and the art of barbering. When you talk about value, you can't compare [this service] to other services [because of] quality." Dave said that the hardest part about opening the shop is finding like minded barbers because it is becoming such a rarefied art. Along with Dave, both Nick Maga (Master Barber) and Christina Raymer (Cosmetologist) work to make the shop successful. With the achievement of opening under his belt, Dave credited his faith in God. He said that that being right on 36 has been great for them and is clearly convenient for customers and that as time progresses, he looks to grow the shop to handle even greater volume. You can find Avon Barber Shop at 8401 E. US 36, Suite E, Avon, IN between Dan Jones and west of the YMCA. You can reach them by phone at (317) 345-6613, on their Facebook page (www.facebook.com/avonbarbershop) or their website at www.avonbarbershop.net.
Fun & Patches
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Perfect for Parents of Scouts "One of the offerings we have are for scouts - that could be a boy scout or girl scout. The kids can come in with their troop or den and golf. With their golf, they can earn a patch. The way we like to administer the patches is, we will count them out for the troop and then we hand them over to the troop leader. Then the troop leader decides if and when the scout has earned their patch. If a scout leader or a troop leader wanted to bring their scouts in and called ahead and let us know. We can set them up for $5.00 a golfer (which is $2.00 off.) If they wanted to earn a patch at the same time, then that would be $7.00 a child." Candice Reim, owner and managing operator of Monster Mini Golf in Avon told us. She went on to tell us, "I think it is a really neat program and something exciting for the kids to come in and do that is fun, but still be able to work in a team environment with their troop and earn a patch."
She told us that they had a troop of Brownies visit. The den mother had a fairly large group of kids with a number of parent helpers with her. They had a very fun experience, using the party rooms, sang songs and conducted normal meeting activities, along with snacks. Then the groups broke down into teams and moved through the course one after the next. Afterward, the leaders handed out patches for exercise. She said that in addition to scouting groups, she added that field trips, church groups, and youth organizations have all had events there with unlimited golfing, with packages tailored to group needs and time constraints. For more information, contact Candice and her staff at (317) 268-4946. Monster Mini Golf is located at 7591 E. US Highway 36 in Avon just east of Avon Middle School by Bob Evans. Find them on Facebook by searching "Avon Monster Mini Golf" or online at www. monsterminigolf.com/fran-in-avon.
Jeremy Eglen (317) 451-9124 Attorney at Law
BUSINESS & CONTRACTS
LICENSING & TECHNOLOGY ESTATE & FIREARM TRUSTS
6781 E US Hwy 36, Ste 220, Avon
jeremy@eglenlaw.com
www.eglenlaw.com
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We Do So Much More Plainfield Optimist Club
John Reel, current member and former International President of the Optimist Club also spoke with us. He told us about the experience. "During the time I was president, we were the 4th largest service organization in the world. My role was to serve as chairman of the board and president of the organization. We visited all of our districts (54 at the time) - basically the United States, Canada and about 14 other countries involved. We were required to visit to visit throughout the year. The organization is broken down into districts and Indiana is one of the largest of the districts. That is the reason that the Plainfield club is such a standout. Our club, we number between 135 and 150 members every year. Our membership is fed from our sports clubs and our other activities."
"We serve youth - it's about serving youth and all of those who also affect youth. We have programs that we honor - teachers of the year, youth of the year, our firefighters, respect law... we have a lot of different programs that honor those who also give back to our youth. Primarily our programs [involve] youth sports - that is what we are known most for because we serve over 2,000 kids a year. We also have oratorical contests; we have essay contests. There is the Needy Families Christmas [as well.]" Bill said. "There are about 26 different programs throughout the year. Our Junior Optimist program which is our middle school program and there are about 50-60 members. Our Octagon program is for high school and we have over 100 students that participate. They work together with our club membership but we try to collaborate all of those [people] John told us about what made him decide to together in order to serve our community." get involved. "We moved here in 1958 and I was a high school certified baseball official. Bill talked also about the new Miracle Movers They had a baseball tournament going on. facility and the club's role of support. Miracle They came back and asked me if I would movers serves those with special needs. umpire the championship game. We had Plainfield has built a beautiful facility off of something like 40 teams. I said I would, not US40. The state-of-the-art facility is synthetic knowing what it was going to lead to. From and one of the finest facilities of its kind in that point on, I liked what I saw and I got the State of Indiana. involved." The size of the programs have grown over If you are interested in becoming a member, the years. John said that even though they visit the website (www.plainfieldoptimistclub. emphasize the sports aspect of the com) and click on the “membership� tab. Find organization, he said, "We do much more them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ than baseball, football and soccer." plainfieldoptimistclub. Current Optimist president, Bill Verhonik said,
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Optimist International in a Nutshell The following is information from materials provided by the club regarding some of the many community programs that they offer: ACADEMIC • • • •
• • • • •
Distinguished Young Woman - The DYW program awards college scholarships to young women who have distinguished themselves at school and in their communities. Essay Contest - POC sponsors an essay contest for high school students. The theme of this contest is based upon "optimism" and is part of a larger District competition which awards a $2500 scholarship. Junior Optimist (grades 6-8) - Provides opportunities for middle school students to participate in community service projects and to develop leadership skills. Octagon Club (grades 9-12) - Provides opportunities for high school students to participate in community service projects and to develop leadership skills - Recent projects: Reading with elementary students, Buddies for kids with special needs in the Optimist Miracle Workers programs, "Rake & Run" service for the elderly, Needy family support, Childhood Cancer, fundraising efforts for Sheltering Wings Women's Shelter and Red Cross Foundation Oratorical Contest - Students present a 4-5 minute speech on a given topic as part of a District competition. Winners are awarded a $2500 scholarship. Respect for Law Camp - POC sponsors youth participants in Respect for Law Camps conducted by the Indiana State Police. Senior Scholarships - A committee of Optimist members determines recipients of three $1000 scholarships based upon academic achievements, community service, extracurricular activities, references, a short essay and need. State Candidates (Boys & Girls) - POC, with support from Plainfield High School and the local American Legion, annually sponsors a high school junior boy to attend Hoosier Boys State and a high school junior girl to attend Hoosier Girls State. Youth Appreciation - Recognition for youth who are making a positive contribution in their schools, community, churches, youth organizations, etc. POC recognizes one boy and one girl in each of grades six through twelve as selected by the counseling staffs at the Plainfield Community Middle School, Plainfield High School, and St. Susanna School.
COMMUNITY • • •
• •
Childhood Cancer Campaign - Family walk fundraiser Firemen's Appreciation - Banquet held for all fire fighters and EMT's of the Plainfield Fire Department. Club presents a Fireman of the Year Award to a fire fighter or EMT. Needy Family Christmas Program – Plainfield Optimist Club coordinates with Plainfield Schools to identify families in need during the holidays. The Club then partners with other local organizations in meeting specific needs of those families, ensuring food, clothing and gifts for the families over the holidays. Partners in Education - POC partners with schools in Plainfield to recognize one teacher from each school for outstanding and dedicated service to youth through their efforts in the classroom. Respect for Law - Banquet held for all officers of the Plainfield Police Department. Club presents Law Officer of the Year Award.
SPORTS • • • • • • •
Little League Baseball - Ages 9-12, Minor and Major Leagues Junior Golf Championships – Ages 10-18 Youth Cheerleading - Grades K-6 Youth Football - Grades 1-6 Junior Golf - Ages 10-18 Youth Soccer (Fall/Spring) - Ages 4-17 Tri-Star Skills - Basketball, Ages 8-13 Tri-Star Skills - Football, Ages 6-13 Tri- Star Skills - Soccer, Ages 8-13
4
th Annual Chocolate Walk
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We all know that Valentine’s Day is that special time when love is in the air. Chocolates are obviously the traditional gift of choice to give your sweetheart and in keeping with that tradition, the businesses of Downtown Danville have pulled out all of the stops yet again this year for the 4th annual Chocolate Walk. Pamela Powell-Warden of Confection Delights in Danville: "We are calling all chocoholics to come and plan a visit to Downtown Danville and to sample a variety of chocolate treats that will be provided by the participants." She said. Not just about the chocolate, "Some vendors may have a chocolate walk special!" She said. According to Pamela, there will be no cost
in Downtown Danville
involved and is completely free to the public. that are with you and the like/follow/tag the How it works: merchant as well! This year, the following merchants are 1. Pick up an entry form at any of the listed participating, and entry forms can be picked business. up at: 2. Any day from February 1st through A. Arcane Coffee February 14th (Valentine's Day - the big B. BallyHoo day) visit the shops C. Bread Basket Café & Bakery 3. The merchant will mark your visit. D. Confection Delights 4. If you visit 10 out of the 12 locations, E. Court House Grounds you’ll be able to submit for a drawing F. Danville Public Library G. D’s Cleaners Simple! H. Gallery on the Square I. Jane’s on the Square However, here is your big chance, selfie fans! J. Mayberry Café "Increase your chances by making a K. Melissa Cain Art Studio purchase, share on social media or posting L. Outta the Shed your selfie on the walk at M. Locker Room #danvillechocolatewalk." Be sure to tag those N. Seize the Night
O.
The Beehive
(See Map Below for Location Markers)
Chocolates on display at Confection Delights, one of many participants in the Chocolate Walk. Photo courtesy Lisa Blythe.
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Starting Indoor
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Prepping your plants for There is still plenty of winter left. According to the Purdue Department of Horticulture, “Vigorous plants started indoors and then transplanted will flower sooner and produce an earlier harvest than those started directly outdoors.” For those with a green thumb or looking for an indoor winter hobby that put you in touch with nature, planning for your spring gardens is a great activity. Starting seedlings indoors can be a great family activity and add life and activity to a home in the winter The most important thing, to k n o w a b o u t starting seedlings indoors, is to plan ahead. Crops in Indiana can take between 4-12 weeks indoors to grow depending on the plant. It is important to know the anticipated last frost date of the area and work backward depending upon each plant. The 2015 Farmer’s Almanac is indicating the last frost date in the Hendricks County area to be April 18, 2015. The probability of frost is still 50%, but this is a good date to use as a guideline. The information on the back of the seed packets can be invaluable to determine the number of weeks indoors required to successfully grow seedlings. Do not throw them away! Choosing Seed Containers Seedlings require very simple growing space. A container that holds a few inches of soil mixture that will not become waterlogged, can be as simple as an old egg carton with holes in it or prefabricated tray. However, when the seedlings start to leaf and develop larger roots systems, the plants will want a room to grow. Containers that are organic
such as peat pots are good because they go right into the soil later without disturbing the root ball. Recycled newspaper pots are fun and easy to make and are biodegradable as well as soil blocks.
require a small amount of coverage of soil (three times their size). Some seeds require light to germinate and can be planted on the surface. For the extremely tiny seeds, you can mix them with a small amount of sand and place them in a salt shaker to spread Selecting a evenly throughout the planting area. Cover Starter the seeds with dry vermiculite or milled Soil sphagnum moss. Write a label for each kind of seed you plant and put it in the flat or pot as soon as the seeds are planted, before any mix-ups occur. After all of the seeds have been planted, label each variety with the name and date as well as a sun or shade requirement for germination. This will allow for quick reference later. Mist or water them evenly well for optimal growth. Bottom watering can be done by placing the
N e ve r use regular garden soil for seedlings. Seed-starting mixtures are a pre-mixed composite of vermiculite, peat moss, milled sphagnum moss, and fine mixtures of sand and soil. Most starter mixtures contain no fertilizers. Until the plants begin to leaf, they will not be ready for potting or garden soils. Premoistening the mixture before sowing guarantees the entire growing space is balanced for optimal growth. Do not press down or compact the mixtures into the containers. Sowing the Seeds Depending upon the crop, the seeds could be a variety of sizes. Read the packets carefully for optimal sowing. Some seeds can be planted individually with fingers or tweezers. Some require being planted in tiny furrows or rows. Use a pencil to create the holes or spaces for each seed. Seeds only
container in a pan of warm water to absorb moisture from the bottom of the container. Do not place containers in deep water that will run over the top of the container or flat. Bottom watering helps to keep the soil surface dry and prevent compaction while
encouraging root growth. Cover the container with clear plastic or a clear cover for plants that need light. For those that prefer the dark, use black plastic, damp newspaper or burlap. Locate the containers in a warm and accessible place where they can be checked upon daily. The optimal temperature is 65-75°F. It is important to keep the containers moist but not saturated. As soon as you can see the seedlings begin to germinate, it is time to expose them to light and begin to give them critical fertilizer and water. Continue to follow the species' directions and mark the progress on calendars. It is critical to remember when each plant prefers to be placed in the ground, and many are not at the same time in the spring. By establishing a plant spreadsheet or calendar, you can have seedlings ready for the ideal planting season. The Beanstalk Grows! When the plants have
grown enough to have measurable leaves, they need to be thinned or transplanted into individual pots to establish strong root bases. Carefully dig up the plants to allow the roots to fall apart gently from each other. Some plants are more sensitive to root disruption and would be better planted
rs with Seedlings
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r future Spring plantings individually from the seed. After the seedlings have successfully been grown indoors, begin to follow the o u t d o o r requirements for each plant in regards to planting times, soil, sun, water, fertilizer and c o v e r requirements. Acclimating plants to the outdoor conditions can be done by relocating the plants to a shady outdoor location to begin to “harden” for the outdoor temperatures.
Recording the successes and failures are a great way to learn and be more s u cce s s f u l the following year. Choosing a few plants to start is a great idea for beginners and visiting many of the local Hendricks County Garden Centers for starter systems and expertise advice will help ensure the success and enjoyment of your indoor gardening experience.
Resources http://www.almanac.com/content/frost-chart-united-states/IN/Indianapolis
By April Westcott with Photos by Lisa Blythe April Westcott, ASLA, is an Avon mother of two and a landscape architect working as the Manager of Design and Specifications at Irrigation Design Source in Fishers. She's a MemberAt-Large and National Public Relations Rep for the Indiana Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects where she also serves as the Continuing Education Chair. Question for April? Send them to us at editor@hendrickshome.com.
Seedling Starter Shopping List Notebook for recording information
www.organicgardening.com “Sowing Seeds Indoors”
Calendar
www.statebystategardening.com “The Edible Garden: What to Do When” by Beth Botts 2-29-2012
Pencil or tweezers
Purdue University: Department of Horticulture: “Starting Seeds Indoors” Michael N. Dana and B. Rosie Lerner
Small ruler to record results Folder to store empty seed packets Plant seeds Organic or reusable containers to preference of user, plant preference and quantity Starter soil mixtures Used newspaper Clear and black plastic wrap Plant labels for small containers Plant watering misting bottle
Overcoming Your Fear of Public Speaking
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By Joseph Johansson
break one's career. Technical briefings, sales proposals or straightforward presentations to inform, can cause professional panic or talk trauma if handled incorrectly. Presentations often involve high stakes and are sometimes given to busy people with the power to influence careers.
Sometimes we find ourselves in a place where we must speak in front of others – certainly not by choice and not with a feeling of joy in our heart. The reasons are many, and the struggle is real but for many, circumstances simply require them to get up and talk to audiences great and small. To many of us, this can be a terrifying experience. Actor George Jessel once said, “The human brain starts working the moment you’re born and never stops until you stand up to speak in public.” How true that is for many of us as we stumble through presentations and speeches, which are often so important in our work and social lives. Different business presentations can make or
ability, hearing others make speeches, and by helpful evaluation, members are prompted to: • Organize their speech in a logical manner • Create an attention-grabbing opening • Rehearse! • Visualize success • Concentrate on the message; not the audience • No matter how nervous they may feel, not to tell the audience! • Speak clearly and audibly
Toastmasters International, an organization, committed to educating people in the art of effectively speaking before an audience works through local clubs, and conducts meetings according to defined protocols, with developmental paths using standardized material. By following these Three clubs exist on the west side of procedures, members can hone their skills in Indianapolis. Each club has members who a “sandbox” environment. are committed to learning the art of public speaking and helping others become more A toastmaster, chosen in rotation runs each proficient and less fearful of speaking in meeting. This person then fills the various public. roles of the meeting from the membership. In each meeting, members volunteer to Twin Bridges Toastmasters make prepared speeches using Toastmaster Meeting Times: Monday 6:45 – 8.00 pm International guidebooks. Each meeting also Location: Hendricks Regional Health Building has a session when attendees are asked to 2, 8244 E US 36 Avon make impromptu speeches. Since the Contact: Ginger Harrington feedback is valuable, all speeches are Phone: 317-626-0302 evaluated by the attending group. This all happens in a friendly environment. Northwest Toastmasters By systematically working on one's speaking Meeting Times: Tuesday 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Location: Hope Baptist Church, 1055 N Girls School Rd Indianapolis (park at northwest side of the building) Phone: 317-430-6510 Brownsburg Toastmasters Meeting Times: Monday 7:00 AM Location: Quality Inn & Suites, Conference Room, 31 Maplehurst Dr, Brownsburg, Website: http://brownsburg. toastmastersclubs.org/ These clubs hold weekly meetings at the given times and are open to all visitors. On a regular basis, inter-club speaking competitions are also held. Further information about the Toastmaster program can be found on the website at www.toastmasters.org Joseph Johansson - Newly retired as an engineer from Allison Transmission. Settled in Danville some 25 years ago after moving from South Africa. Being a new retiree, he is still trying to find his "groove", but is hoping to sail his Zuma more on Eagle Creek, read more and bike more. He has also found Toastmasters of great benefit in enhancing his presentation abilities.
New year, new resolutions
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By Claire-Anne Aikman
introducing color throughout our home (I can hear you gasping now...stop it). As a side note, project planning (painting included), has become infinitely more fun since I discovered the Handyman Calculator app – look it up, it’s free! How much paint will you need? Put in the rooms' measurements, and it will calculate it for you – how awesome is that?! No more pondering or second guessing. Tons of other calculators are in this app: Brick Calculator, Carpet Calculator, Crown Molding Calculator, even a Milling Machine Horsepower, Torque, and RPM Calculator - I don't even know what that is but I can now sleep easier knowing I can calculate it. I will perform an insurance check up. For the car. For the family. For the home. I want to make sure I have the right coverage on all bases. Part of this process will be to take an inventory of all household items. Actually, I won’t do this one; I will enlist Hartman Inventory to do this for me so it can be done right and stored in the unfortunate instance I need to make an insurance claim. And finally, while I am moving along on house projects and taking stock and inventory of what items to keep, I will take it one step further and update our will to determine what should be done with the remains....the stuff...well, everything. For hubs and I we stumble around this topic of conversation because well, it is unpleasant. Why is that? It is one of the best things that can be done for your loved ones. After the recent loss of my father, I was amazed to discover just how much planning he did preparing for the moment when he could no longer make plans. It sounds so odd to say it like that but what a great gift to give, the removal of worry over how to deal with all the stuff. Updating the will ... that is the biggest will for me this year. Claire-Anne Aikman is an Award Winning, Top Producing, Associate Broker/Realtor ensuring her clients receive the service they deserve in achieving their home goals. Follow her on twitter: twitter.com/IndyHomeSeller Visit her online: www.callcarpenter.com/claire-anneaikman
"Next time don't be so wasteful and eat the whole thing!"
Woohoo! Here’s to the New Year and I will have a garden. This one has eluded me resolutions! for years. I work to eat healthier, and I would love to be able to grow some basic produce This year I resolve to write some wills: in my back yard but the battle of the critters is daunting. One year I had every tomato I will continue to declutter my home. Going plant stripped of almost-ripened tomatoes from room to room is exhausting and by a rascally band of raccoons. They took a overwhelming. I had no idea I could layer bite out of EVERY one and left the carnage on stuff within stuff. Stuff that has lost its heart my deck. That prompted me to throw the worth to me and has, therefore, become an remains deep into the yard while yelling indifferent part of the household. The "Next time don't be so wasteful and eat the shedding of unneeded items is so uplifting whole thing!" Not my most rational moment, and with so many great organizations out I admit. That was the last time I had a there to help I now find myself with no remotely successful garden. I do not know excuses. Old kids' items get shuttled to Kids how to beat these critters, maybe this is the Go Round and Goodwill. St Mark’s Thrift year I figure it out (and I am open to tips!) Store in Plainfield also gets our usable items. Hendricks County Solid Waste gets the stuff I will commit to color! I LOVE color on walls, that is trash but shouldn’t be tossed in with and I am always impressed when others ‘normal’ trash – things like old paint, make a choice beyond a varying shade of electronics, chemicals – they get special white but alas, I operate in an analysis attention and dropped off during a Tox-Away paralysis mode and can ponder a color for Day (the next one is on April 11th at the weeks…and really, let’s be honest, years. My Brownsburg High School.) first commitment was the laundry/craft room. I literally got online, picked a shade of I will get a physical. I’ve got a checklist for my blue and committed to it. Guess what? home, and it is a mile long – I am going to Nothing bad happened. Even more amazing, need to make sure I am healthy in order to it looks pretty darn good (thanks to hubs’ get all this stuff done! painting skills). I am encouraged and will be
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Making the most of your closets By J.D. Nesbitt It seems that no matter how large or the number of your closets, there never seems to be enough space. Even though we can't all have closets as large and luxurious as the one pictured above, let me share with you some tips on making the most out of your closet space. 1. Keeping Things Organized - Linens It never fails, you go to prepare for overnight guests and you can never locate the pillow shams that go with your sheet set or vice-versa. The next time you wash your linens, match up your sheets with their coordinating shams. Fold up the sheet and other linens and store them in one of the pillow shams. This way, even if your guest is last minute or unplanned, you're always prepared and looking like the consummate host! You're guest will be impressed and you'll be less stressed. 2. Keeping Thing Organized - Footwear Have too many shoes, but can't bear to get rid of a single pair? Make morning shoe selection easy on yourself. Simply store each pair in its own box with a photo of the shoes attached to the outside. This way the shoes not only stay free of dust, but they are easily stacked and kept neat and organized. The photo box storage works great for typical pairs of shoes; but, what about all those fashionable calf-high boots? Pick up some hangers with clips and then clip each pair of boots to a hanger by attaching the
items that may require hanging. Large tablecloths or easily wrinkled/creased draperies will benefit from being hung over the rods. The rods can be mounted on the inside of a closet or cabinet door. On most hall closets, there is ample space between the back of the closed door and the hanging rod to accommodate your new rods. Get creative with your spaces and maximize your storage.
clips in the center of the pair. This will not only help keep your floor clear, but will also keep the calf portion of your boots from prematurely creasing from the tops folding over when they're sitting on the floor. 3. Baskets Make Everything Easier Simple and clean baskets make great organizational tools. They're easy to label, with either stickers or butterfly clips, and they're easy to transport. Baskets are great for quantities of smaller items that are
5. If All Else Fails, Use a Manufactured System If you run out of organizational ideas for your closets or you can't come up with anything at all, you can always purchase a closet organization system. An organizational system will typically cost you more money than the other tips we have given you, but typically some people may be interested in someone difficult to else's created solution wrangle, like socks or towels. The next time you find yourself complaining Baskets are also an easy about a lack of storage in your spaces, try way to allow you to distribute some of these tips to get organized and items when in use. It's much easier to make the most of your closet space today! grab a basket of table linens when you're ready to set a table for guests. J.D. Nesbitt is the Co-Founder and Lead Interior Designer at Brownsburg residential interior 4. Utilize All Available Spaces design firm, Aesthete Designs. J.D. can be When space is at a premium, you've got to reached at (317)286-3521 or at info@ utilize every available inch of space. Using aesthetedesigns.com. You can find lots of storage baskets mounted to the inside of design inspiration by following him on cabinet doors will help increase your space Pinterest. He's available for everything from full and put regularly used items right at your remodel projects to hourly consultations. fingertips. Mounting towel bars, or even small curtain rods, will allow you to easily store longer
Find your truth Truth can be found through many religions...find yours here
Come join us! Credo Discussion 9:00 am | Sunday Service 10:00 am | Coffee & Conversation 11:15 am
Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Hendricks County 95 North Jefferson Street Danville, IN 46122 (317) 745-9978
WWW.UUCCHC.ORG