Omaha Home Life Style - August 2013 by Omaha Marketing Solutions

Celebrating

the Last Weeks of Summer

Strawberry season is over and back-to-school sales are underway. It’s that time again: August. This is the time to savor all that summer in Omaha has to offer. Midtown and Downtown are bustling, and The Big O is practically begging us to come outside and play! With so much activity in the Metro this August I’ve decided to put together a “late-summer bucket list” of five things you should make a point to get in before the autumn buzzer. 1. Experience the Nebraska Balloon & Wine Festival August 9th and 10th. While you’re there be sure to stop by Dante’s (this month’s featured restaurant) and enjoy a slice of Italy from their mobile kitchen, the Inferno. 2. The last two Jazz on the Green performances at Midtown Crossing coupled with the unseasonably cool weather we’ve enjoyed lately make this a “can’t-miss” event. 3. Take a stroll across the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge. Not only is it the longest state-to-state pedestrian bridge in the country, but the views are fantastic and it’s a great place to catch up on the latest as you walk and talk with friends. 4. Dog Days of Summer got you down? Beat the heat and connect with your inner-artist at the Joslyn Museum, where the featured Renoir to Chagall: Paris and the Allure of Color exhibit explores how Paris emerged as the center of the art world in the nineteenth century. Admission is free! 5. Stir Cove is now an all-ages venue. The August lineup features a family-friendly roster of classic rock giants like The Doobie Brothers, Peter Frampton, and Chicago that the whole clan can rock out to! Fall is quickly approaching and we’ll all be caught up in college football mania before we know it. Our editorial spotlight for this August edition of Home*Life*Style is focused on our friends at Lifestyles by 3E, Professional Glass Tinting, Lusterstone, and Invisible Fence who all have some great ideas to enhance your home in as little as a day. Stacey Penrod HLS Managing Partner Omaha Marketing Solutions

Reach me at: stacey@omahamarketingsolutions.com

P.S. Congrats to our contest winners from July! Home • Life • Style •August 2013 • For Advertising Inquiries Call 402.763.9491

Home • Life • Style • August 2013 • For Advertising Inquiries Call 402.763.9491

Varicose Vein Solutions

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Written by Jeffrey Himmelberg, MD, Pura Vida Vein Center Medical Director

Varicose veins are an old problem - Hippocrates and the ancient Egyptians wrote about them - and for many people, they are an unfortunate rite of passage. The problem is far more than cosmetic – the pain, swelling and leg fatigue can discourage an active lifestyle, and severe varicose veins can cause chronic infections and skin ulcerations. Varicose veins generally occur when the valves fail in the primary superficial leg vein, which is called the greater saphenous vein. Until the past 10 years or so, the only surgical treatment was vein stripping, a painful procedure that required a general anesthetic and weeks of recovery. Needless to say, most patients avoided that operation if possible, and I still see many patients who have been suffering for decades and think vein stripping is the only alternative. They are delighted to find out that medical technology has finally caught up with varicose veins, and we now have minimallyinvasive office procedures that can deal with the problem in minutes. Under a local anesthetic we thread a small catheter into the vein and heat it from within to seal it off rather than removing it. The device is pulled through the vein, using either radiofrequency (RF) energy or laser to heat the vein walls and cause them to close. Once the vein is sealed, the body automatically re-routes blood flow through healthier vessels and normal circulation is restored, while varicosity symptoms quickly dissipate. We encourage patients to get up and walk immediately after the procedure, and most return to normal activity the same day. The pain and fatigue disappear almost instantly, and the swollen veins begin to resolve within a few days. This procedure is considered a medical necessity rather than cosmetic surgery, so it is covered by Medicare and most insurers. For nearly one hundred years progress in the treatment of varicose veins was, much like the surgery itself, slow and painful. Now we have a fast and virtually painless way to change a patient’s life in just a few minutes, and that’s a great feeling for a physician. Call Pura Vida today for your Free Vein Evaluation.

Home • Life • Style • August 2013 • For Advertising Inquiries Call 402.763.9491

Bringing a new light TO YOUR HOME

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Written by Nicholas Kinney

With over nine decades of experience in providing quality decorative indoor and outdoor lighting, Lifestyles by 3E has become Omaha’s foremost expert when it comes to intelligent electrical solutions for the modern home. Lifestyles by 3E offers turnkey residential packages for new construction and remodeling lighting projects. Boasting one of the largest lighting showrooms in the Metro, Lifestyles by 3E allows homeowners to browse a variety of lighting styles at every price point to realize their own unique vision. Corporate Marketing Director Tim Pruch says the specialists at Lifestyles 3E Showroom on Industrial Road by 3E give homeowners the support, service, and education they need to maintain an efficient and comfortable lifestyle not only today, but into the future as well. As electricity costs continue to rise, so will the trend toward controlling those costs. New innovative energy management products from Lifestyles by 3E bring relief and provide solutions to homeowners. The biggest and most exciting energy-saving product today is LED technology. Once a very obscure piece of equipment confined to uses by ham radio and computer hobbyists, LED lighting has now become a practical and affordable product that will change the way we manage and control our energy costs in the future. Research and development dollars from government have aided rapid advances in LED lighting, reducing manufacturing costs and taking LED’s from its niche usage to a must-have component in our homes. Not only do LED’s last about 50 times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs and offer reduced energy consumption, they also provide a greater light spectrum. This gives consumers greater flexibility and more color choices when selecting lighting to truly create a sense of ambiance. If you are dreaming of the possibilities for your home to reflect who you are, LED’s from Lifestyles by 3E are the perfect resource to bring your visions to reality. Whether building or remodeling, Lifestyles by 3E can guide homeowners through the entire process from wall switches to entire home control systems. Other products and services they provide are home theater, security systems, furniture & décor, home generators, and music distribution products.

Home • Life • Style • August 2013 • For Advertising Inquiries Call 402.763.9491

Home • Life • Style • July 2013 • For Advertising Inquiries Call 402.763.9491

Home • Life • Style • August 2013 • For Advertising Inquiries Call 402.763.9491

A Little Slice of Italy in West omaha

dine

Written by Nicholas Kinney

To celebrate the culmination of his culinary adventures, Owner/Chef and Omaha native Nick Strawhecker fulfilled a lifelong dream by opening Dante Pizzeria in December 2010. A year after introducing world class Neapolitan pizzas to The Big O, he was honored by Midlands Business Journal as one of Omaha’s 40 Under 40. Strawhecker’s tastes were initially shaped during his teenage tours through Europe. After high school he enrolled into the prominent culinary program at Johnson & Wales in Providence before studying in the Piedmont and Tuscany regions in Italy to learn more about the country and its beautiful cuisine. Throughout all of his travels in the US and Europe, none have been more influential than his time spent in Southern Italy. Wood fired pizzas from the southern port city of Naples have been recognized as one of man’s great food achievements for centuries, and Dante is the Nebraska’s only restaurant certified by the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana (VPN). The VPN is headquartered in Naples, Italy, and its sole duty is to preserve the traditions of Neapolitan pizza making worldwide. There are less than 70 VPN certified restaurants in the US, and outside of Dante the next closest pizzerias that meet the VPN standards are in St. Paul, MN, Denver and suburban Chicago. Dante’s pizza and rustic Italian cuisine feature ingredient-driven dishes with fresh produce from local farmers. Fresh organic ingredients are paramount to the Naples style of pizza. Strawhecker hand selects all of his produce from local sources because he believes in working with local farmers to source the freshest ingredients. This practice not only ensures the superb quality of his finished product but protects the futures of independent Nebraska farmers. It also gives him the flexibility to update his menu almost daily. Dante is a true scratchfood kitchen. The dough is kneaded by a low-speed mixer and all crusts are stretched by hand. Sauces are prepared from San Marzano tomatoes and topped with fresh cow milk mozzarella cheese from Branched Oak Farm in Raymond, NE. Dante’s wood burning oven provides a hearty 90 second sear at 800 degrees

which enhances the flavor of every pie they serve. Beyond pizza, their scratch food approach extends to the hand fashioned rustic pastas, wood fired sandwiches, fresh salads and house-made meats. Italians have been making wine for over 3,000 years, and even today Italy is the world’s largest producer of wine. Though France, the US, and Australia all yield excellent wines, Strawhecker chose to honor the rich history of Italian viticulture with an all-Italian wine selection. It includes a bottle list of over 100 wines, 35 wines by the glass, and even a 5-bottle argon tap system. Craving some Dante on the go? No problem! Their mobile oven, Dante’s Inferno, is an exact replica of their inhouse oven that takes them beyond their Shops of Legacy base. It’s helped them become a perennial crowd pleaser at the Omaha Pizza Review, College World Series, Balloon & Wine Festival, Taste of Omaha, and Summer Arts Festival. The available full bar has made Dante’s Inferno a catering sensation at wedding rehearsal dinners, corporate events and neighborhood parties. Beyond the top notch food and drinks, Dante also boasts the Metro’s only indoor bocce court. Bocce, the Italian version of lawn bowling, is similar to shuffleboard or curling. Dante’s court is one of only a handful of indoor courts in the country and features authentic “Bocce Turf ”. The restaurant hosts year round leagues Monday through Wednesday, and the friendly staff is always ready to help newcomers learn the game. Dante runs happy hour specials weekdays from 4-6:30 p.m., and all day on Sunday with reverse Happy Hour Friday and Saturday from 9-Close. They also feature halfpriced wine Thursday and Sundays, $10 pizzas after 10:00 Friday and Saturdays, and have exclusive offers for Facebook followers. Conveniently located off 168th & Center in the Shops of Legacy, there’s always a reason to treat yourself to a little slice of Italy, West Omaha Style.

Home • Life • Style • August 2013 • For Advertising Inquiries Call 402.763.9491

There’s No Stone LIKE LUSTERSTONE Written by Nicholas Kinney

Home • Life • Style met with Steve Myers, owner of Lusterstone, to get the inside scoop on pebble paving.

How did you get into the pebble paving business? My father, Bill Myers, pioneered Steve Myers his Epoxy Stone construction business in Kansas City in 1980. My brothers and I worked for him doing installations until we branched off in the early 1990s. My older brother now runs KC and my two other brothers operate in St Louis. Lusterstone is an extension of our family business and together the Myers have installed millions of feet of Pebble Paving, including over 1,000,000 feet of Lusterstone in Omaha alone. Where do you typically install your products? Most of our work is resurfacing patios, driveways, pool decks, garages, walks and entryways for homeowners. We’ve been covering more basement floors lately because it looks great, is easy to install and costs less than most tile. Resurfacing a driveway, walkway and porch increases curb appeal more than anything else. You can have a beautiful home with a nice yard and landscaping, but if the concrete is cracked and peeling, it’s like getting all dressed up and wearing a bad pair of shoes. We often take the ugliest driveway on the block and turn it into the prettiest driveway on the block in one day. What advantages does pebble paving have over stamped concrete and overlays? We don’t have to tear up and remove old concrete which can damage lawns and landscaping. Our system creates no mess and we focus on being extremely clean from start to finish. Lusterstone is installed between 1/2”-3/4” thickness and weighs over 5lbs per sq. ft. Our product can be installed with a non-skid surface, making it safe for older customers. Lusterstone can save home owners over 30% over stamped concrete. Products aside, how is Lusterstone different from other concrete finishing companies? Lusterstone has been around for over 30 years, and we carry an A+ Rating with the BBB. We’ve had several competitors over the years but none are still in business. Stone and epoxy resurfacing is all we do, and we don’t use subcontractors. Our current crew is our best ever and they’re wellpaid to maintain the highest quality of workmanship. We’re a Christian company with very high standards and it shows not only in our finished product but also in how we conduct ourselves every day. We are truly blessed and look forward to serving the Omaha area for many years to come.

Home • Life • Style • August 2013 • For Advertising Inquiries Call 402.763.9491

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Home • Life • Style • August 2013 • For Advertising Inquiries Call 402.763.9491

Giving Pets Safety, Giving Pet Owners Peace of Mind

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Written by Nicholas Kinney

Home • Life • Style sat down with Brett Fickler, owner of Invisible Fence of the Heartland. How did you get involved with Invisible Fence? By accident, really (laughs). When I stumbled upon Invisible Fence I needed a job, and I saw an ad in the newspaper for a salesman. My sister purchased an Invisible Fence system about 6 months earlier and claimed it was one of the best investments she had ever made. This boosted my confidence in the company and their products. I got the job with Invisible Fence and few years down, the road the chance to buy the Omaha franchise came up, so I seized the opportunity. How does the dog know how to stay in the yard? The biggest fear people have is that their dog is going to run through the fence. With the innovative new Boundary Plus system from Invisible Fence with its virtually endless correction zone, there is no longer a small signal field that the dogs are tempted to go beyond. Before we install anything there is a product and pet evaluation process to make sure that Invisible Fence is a fit for the family and their pet. After installation our certified training experts work with pets over a two week span so they learn, understand and respect their new boundaries. What sort of success rate do your customers have with the product? Over the past 40 years Invisible Fence has trained over 2 million dogs nationwide and our success rate is 99.5%. We’ve been in Omaha for about 30 years and our franchise has trained over 10,000 pets in the metro alone. What are some common misconceptions about Invisible Fence? The biggest misconception is that we are the same thing that people can buy at a hardware store and install themselves. The Invisible Fence technology has been perfected over a 40 year period. There is a lifetime warranty on the equipment and we also guarantee our training. Our product is guaranteed against everything except for loss and abuse. Is this strictly an outdoor solution? We have solutions for trash cans, furniture, and anything else that you would want to secure indoors. We offer an electronic dog door that works with the Invisible Fence computer collar to allow your pet access to the yard while keeping other animals out of your home. The door is programmable for various hours of operation so you have complete control of when your pets can be in the yard. Home • Life • Style • August 2013 • For Advertising Inquiries Call 402.763.9491

Home • Life • Style • August 2013 • For Advertising Inquiries Call 402.763.9491

Go Green & Save Green with glass tinting

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Written by Nicholas Kinney

Home • Life • Style sat down with Professional Glass Tinting Owner Jay Heffelfinger. What are the benefits of having the windows in my home professionally tinted? Heffelfinger Family Photo Homes being built today have more glass and windows than ever. Window films control the amount of sun that comes through the windows, which heats up the house. This causes an AC unit to work harder in the summer months and drives up utility bills. The films I install also block out 99% of UV light, which helps protect expensive furniture, artwork and hardwood floors from sun damage and fading. How is your product beneficial in the winter months? The advantage in the winter is that it will help retain the heat in your home and prevent heat loss. During winter in the Midwest, we can only use the sun’s heat to warm our homes about 10-20 days. It costs more to cool a house in the summer than heat a house in the winter. The film helps balance the temperature throughout the house, not just one room. What makes you different from other window tinting companies? A lot of auto window tinting companies try residential window tinting, but they don’t have access to the films and warranties that I do. My films are completely different, carry a lifetime warranty, and many times the products I install outlast the windows they cover. I’m the owner and I also do all of the work myself, which gives me complete control. I put my name and reputation on every window I cover. I’ve been a BBB member for 15 years, I carry an A+ rating, and I’ve never had a complaint in 20 years. Why should a homeowner choose window tinting over blinds? Blinds are good for privacy and collecting dust, and they only work when they are closed. When blinds are closed you can’t see out of your windows. With window film it is always working and you can see out. Blinds don’t keep out the heat, they slow the heat. The films I use stop heat before it gets a chance to enter a home. Tinted windows are much easier to clean than blinds. Window tinting is much less expensive than blinds, and in most cases my films will provide a return on investment in less than 5 years. Home • Life • Style • August 2013 • For Advertising Inquiries Call 402.763.9491