Todays Woman November 2010 Edition

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November 2010

She

thrives

giving back!

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Faces. Problems. Fab results!

Accessorize in style

Desperate to DIET?



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24 Work for fit, toned thighs 26 When you c an’t lose weigh t on your own 32 Parenting: M ake your l ife an ac 34 D t of lov ecor: e 33 May Deco 38 rate y o u Vid r ho like lida Mo eo y be the tip rN s: J fille atu oin dw re ith the wo s par vid ul kle eo 36 cr az ’T e is th e

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evaluate treatments l winners 2 Facia ow 2 nt longer lashes? to kn 18 Wa ngs Thi color 20 with t for the rich er not jus look y t int i our char sw py thi warm-up g to zu D inter atin Jaz on or w SA f : dy 4D nks be n 1 iveaways dri ca 4G t o ye res H asu ple

15 Bro ws: Fra 11 Savvy c me hicks 1 2 Cov yo er sto ur ry: V ey es olun teer 16 s ar E e th e ‘g 6 Winter fa lue shion: A ccesso ’o rize in ft he style co 8 Fa m mily act ivit ies for the wi nt 2C er ont ribu tor s3 Gu ilty

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2011

Please make it a Happy New Year Today’s Woman If you drink, please do it responsibly and please don’t let your friends and family drink and drive. The holidays are always fun and often include alcoholic beverages. As always, we also featured some spirited drinks in this magazine. But we ask that you imbibe responsibly and remember that if you are the hostess, make sure you don’t have inebriated guests leaving your party and driving.

We hope you enjoy the third edition of Today’s Woman. This quarterly magazine pays tribute to women and all that we do. Send your comments to todayswoman@idahopress.com. Visit us on the web at idahopress.com/todays_woman.com for more stories, ideas and photos. Follow us at Facebook.com/todayswomantreasurevalley

To advertise: Angela Sammons at 465-8136 For story ideas: Vickie Holbrook at 465-8110 For copies to display at your business: Shelley Thayer at 465-8185 Today’s Woman is a product of the Idaho Press-Tribune, 1618 N. Midland Blvd., Nampa, ID. Copyright 2010.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2010 | Today’s Woman

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We, the women of the Today’s Woman staff, promise that this magazine will: Foster conversations among Treasure Valley women. Celebrate local “she” power. Embrace community. Ignite, empower and liberate women. Delight in “she” things. And yes, even have a rip-roaring good time!

Today’s Woman staff

Vickie Schaffeld Holbrook, editor Angela Sammons, interim ad director Trish Usabel Grohs, marketing director Randy Lavorante, news editor and designer Greg Kreller, multi-media editor Mackenzie Johnson McFadden, designer and contributor Shantel Bugby, ad-visr and contributor Melissa Valencia, sales Shelley Thayer, customer service manager and contributor Betty Schober, sales and contributor Tabitha Simenc, writer

Remember the reason for the season

Other contributors

Sharon Strauss, reporter Machele Hamilton, columnist Debbie Kushlan, freelance writer Rhea Allen, Peppershock Media Sandy McDaniel, parenting expert Jennifer Deroin, Intermountain Bank Debra Holm, freelance writer

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Guilty pleasures

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If you live by glitter, then Brocato glitter spray may be the perfect finishing touch for the holidays. It comes in platinum and gold. Use it on your skin and hair. We found this at Classy Casuals at Treasure Valley Marketplace, Nampa.

C la ar andl m cl e u es el a s ick t nsaf are es sm et he e. alw s the all) of 9 rem For ays ca y a pil (3 ote an a l nd re lars lar . T ins uxu l va fo ge he tan ry es nil r , 3 se t fl bu la $3 m th ic t sc 0 r k fl en at ediu ee er, ame te Co m co jus s d! stc an me t o. d 3 in An d,

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Peppermint Bark Women regularly reach for chocolate of any kind, but the holidays just aren’t the same without Peppermint Bark by Ghirardelli. You can even rim your martini glass with this yummy delight.

Scarves and coats Anything warm and cuddly when it’s cold outside is a guilty pleasure.

iPad

The iPad may seem like a guilty pleasure, but once you own one, it’s a must-have! A 3G 16GB device runs $629 at Target. Be sure to get the screen protector $19 and a cover, starts at $24.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2010 | Today’s Woman

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Custom scarf Warm up with this fancy custom scarf donated by Brass Razoo, downtown Nampa. This was made with some old-fashioned lace and repurposed cashmere sweater. You won’t find any others like this, but there are plenty more where this one came from.

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2 bottles of Chocovine French Cabernet Sauvignon Chocolate flavored wine is the perfect hostess or thank you gift. It’s also something different to serve in a pinch. World Market $9.99. Diva bag Look like $1 million when you sport this special sequined purse donated by the gals at Classy Casuals. If you don’t win this, there are plenty more Diva bags at Classy Casuals, located at Treasure Valley Marketplace.

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Fashion

Accessorize in style Winter Fashion: Hats and Scarves Keep your ears and noggin warm this winter with a stylish hat or headband!

Customize your hat While there are a whole variety of fun hats out there, what better way to make it your own than by adding a clip-on detail? Idaho Bag Lady offers customizable hats with a variety of clips to spruce up your headwear. Or try making your own little something to add to your hat for a truly individual piece.

Special thanks to Story & Co., Idaho Bag Lady, Brass Razoo and Classy Casuals for providing these hats and scarves. Shantel Bugby received the headband as a gift.

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Fur

Whether you like and can afford the real thing, or want to go faux, try a fun fur accessory this winter like a cozy hat or scarf. You’ll stay warm and comfortable, with the added bonus of feeling incredibly stylish sporting one of this year’s biggest fashion hits.

Animal prints

Headbands

If you want to keep your ears warm but don’t want to mess up your hair, try a stylish headband instead of a hat. Find one with a focal point like a flower, bow or buckle.

Scarves with animal prints, especially leopard prints, are making an appearance this season, most in classic earth tones and some with a splash of color. If animal prints are a bit much, tone it down to a floral print scarf instead.

Today’s Woman | SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2010

Tabitha simenc

Scarves are one of those two-fold accessories that combine functionality and style. The right scarf can spruce up any outfit with the added bonus of keeping that little neck of yours toasty warm. With so many styles to choose from, you’re bound to find a scarf you like, so check out the selection at your local stores.


Tabitha simenc

Made famous by Australian brand UGG, sheepskin boots have seemed to grow in popularity each winter. And it’s not hard to figure out why. They’re insanely comfortable, have tons of variety and can look good with all kinds of outfits. The selection has expanded from UGG’s classic tan sheepskin, fleece-lined boot to boots of all colors and heights. And there are decorations galore with buttons, buckles, tassels, you name it! While the high price tag fits the high quality of UGG boots, many companies have ‘knock off ’ boots for lower prices. Look for a boot that works for you at a nifty price at a local department store.

Add some sparkle

For the perfect scarf to dress up a holiday outfit, try one with sequins or lurex threads to give it a party-like shine.

Fashion

Boots to combine comfort and style

Along with offering the classic styles, boots at reduced prices can be found with extra design details, like a button detail. Xhilaration Karenza Suede Button Boots, Black $24.99

The classic styles for UGG boots are in the tall, calf-length or the short, ankle-length varieties and feature earth tones. UGG Classic Tall Sand Boot $180 UGG and other brands also make ultra fancy fashion choices for those with a high fashion bar and deep pockets like this boot, a collaboration between UGG and Jimmy Choo. UGG and Jimmy Choo Mandah Boot $795

UGG also make some fun styles like this classic short boot with a sheepskin cuff. UGG Sheepskin Cuff Boot $200

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2010 | Today’s Woman

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Activities

Family activities f❄r the winter Get Outdoors!

By Tabitha Simenc • Today’s Woman ith cold temperatures driving kids inIdaho has some fantastic opportunities to enjoy the side in the winter months, they’ll soon become bored with craft activities and great outdoors so get the family together, bundle up and let your cheeks get rosy outside. board games. Keep kids away from the TV and make time to indulge in these fun winter activities. Not only will your kids love them, but you’ll enjoy Bogus Basin Want to hit the slopes? the family time you get to spend together. Head up the hill to Bogus Basin this winter and try your hand at skiing and snowboarding. Day passes: Adults: $48 The joy and festivity of the holiday season brings with Children ages 7-11: $20 it a host of opportunities for some fun family times. Children under 7 and seniors over 70: Free, but collect a ticket from the office for slope access Christmas at Sunny Slope Classes: The Orchard House restaurant hosts Christmas eveWalk-in group class: $30 nings every Sunday and Wednesday between ThanksPrivate lesson 1 hour: $52 giving and Christmas. The large patio and garden area Equipment rentals: outside the restaurant is filled with whimsical Christmas Ski package (skis, boots, poles): $25 decorations, Santa and Clyde the camel. The free 11 and under ski package (skis, boots, poles): $18 Snowboard package (board and boots): $29 family event includes Santa photos that are uploaded to 11 and under snowboard package (board and boots): Facebook. $25 Make a night of it and enjoy dinner at the Orchard Helmet: $6 House or enjoy a cup of hot cocoa from their espresso bar. ❄ Check BogusBasin.org for more prices, package deals and discounts. ❄ 14949 Sunny Slope Road, Caldwell, 459-8200

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Enjoy the holidays

Indian Creek lights display

Cross Country Ski/Snowshoe

Enjoy the snow

Next time we get snow here in the Treasure Valley, enjoy it! Get your kids outside and play together. Have a competition to see who can make the best snow angel or join together to make a snowman.

Want to stay indoors?

Snow doesn’t appeal to you so much? If you would rather stay indoors then try these fun activities with your family.

Idaho Ice World

Practice those skating skills and get some exercise at Idaho Ice World. Admission and skate rentals cost $7 for adults, $6 for children under 12 and $3 for children under 3. Try family night on Wednesdays from 6:308:30 p.m. For only $5 this is an affordable way for the whole family to enjoy spending some time together. Check the public skate schedule online. ❄ Check idahoiceworld.com or call 331-0044 for more information.

Wahooz Family Fun Zone

With indoor and outdoor activities such as laser tag and Go-Karts, Wahooz has something all kids will enjoy, whatever the weather. Prices vary based on the activity and hours vary based on the time of year. Both are listed online. Located at 1385 Blue Marlin Lane, Meridian.

Bundle up the family and head to downtown Caldwell to enjoy the Winter Wonderland lights decorating the area around Indian Creek and the beautiful Christmas tree. All ages will enjoy the wonderful display and a walk around is sure to get your family into the Christmas spirit. The lights are lit through the holiday season.

Idaho has lots of areas to get out into the wilderness on some cross country skis or snowshoes. Explore a new area and enjoy the snow on some fun trails. Rent equipment from a host of outdoor sports stores in the Valley then head out to the wilds for a fun day trip. Idaho Parks and Recreations lists Park n Ski locations on the Web site so check it out and plan a trip somewhere new.

❄ wahoozfunzone.com.

Winter Garden aGlow

❄ parksandrecreation.idaho.gov/recreation/parknski.aspx

❄ scidaho.org.

McCall Winter Carnival

Bowling

❄ mccallwintercarnival.com

❄ Nampa Bowl, 485 Caldwell Blvd., Nampa; Caldwell Bowl at 2121 Blaine St., Caldwell; Owyhee Lanes & Restaurant at 18 N. 1st S., Homedale.

Visit the Idaho Botanical Gardens for the annual lights display. Nearly 200,000 sparkling lights will fill the gardens to make for a magical evening visit. Along with hot refreshments, holiday music and bonfires, Santa will also be available for pictures from Dec. 16-23. His reindeer, Prancer, will also make some appearances. The event runs Nov. 25-28, and Dec. 3- Jan. 9. Open daily from 6-9 p.m. including Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day. Admission is $8 for adults, $4 for children ages 4-12 and $4 for members.

Christmas lights

Enjoying the displays other Treasure Valley families put on for the holidays is another great, free and fun family activity. So pile up in the car and go for a drive around to see some Christmas lights and decorations!

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Famous throughout Idaho for spectacular snow sculptures, the McCall Winter Carnival is well worth the two-hour drive north. View the amazing snow sculptures and enjoy other winter recreation activities at the carnival from Jan. 28-Feb. 5.

Winter Sleigh Ride

Snuggle in blankets with your family as you enjoy a ride on an old-fashioned bobsleigh with Bogus Creek Outfitters. Arrive at a cabin in the woods where you can enjoy a warm fire, hot drinks and a three-course, gourmet meal. Rides run from Nov. 28-March 6 and cost $74 per person. ❄ boguscreek.com, 887-7880

Today’s Woman | SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2010

Discovery Center of Idaho

Take your kids to learn some fun facts and have a great time at the Discovery Center. Open Tuesday-Sunday in the winter, full hours can be found online. Admission is $6.50 for adults and $4 for children ages 3-17.

Whether your average bowling score is 60 or 160, all ages can have a fun time bowling. With bowling alleys scattered throughout the Treasure Valley, you won’t have to search too hard to find a place for a fun time for your family to get together for some bowling fun!

Library

Libraries can be a fun place for kids to hang out, pick out some good books and look around. Find your local library and take your family along. Some have story time for young kids so look at your library’s Web site to see when you can take your children down to enjoy listening to a story.


xx

190 Medical Providers. 47 Locations. 18 Specialties. St. Luke’s Clinic is committed to providing high-quality, comprehensive care to Treasure Valley residents through a variety of convenient clinics and specialties. Bariatrics/Weight Loss Surgery 333 N. 1st Street, Suite 120, Boise .................................... 381-7190 222 N. 2nd Street, Suite 111, Boise ................................... 381-3915 520 S. Eagle Road, Suite 1237, Meridian ........................... 706-6212 Cardiology 287 W. Jefferson Street, Boise........................................... 343-7940 300 E. Jefferson Street, Suite 101, Boise ........................... 322-1680 315 E. Elm Street, Suite 350, Caldwell ............................... 322-1680 520 S. Eagle Road, Suite 3104, Meridian ........................... 322-1680 215 E. Hawaii Avenue, Nampa ........................................... 322-1680 Cardiothoracic Surgery 333 N. 1st Street, Suite 280, Boise .................................... 345-6545 Endocrinology 403 S. 11th Street, Suite 100, Boise .................................. 429-0300 Family Medicine 130 E. Boise Avenue, Boise ............................................... 345-4066 610 W. Hays Street, Boise ................................................. 345-3530 701 E. Parkcenter Boulevard, Boise.................................... 381-6500 1520 W. State Street, Suite 100, Boise ............................... 947-7700 3301 N. Sawgrass Way, Boise ........................................... 375-0862 3101 E. State Street, Suite 2120, Eagle ............................. 473-3275 1210 NW 16th Street, Fruitland ......................................... 452-8600 520 S. Eagle Road, Suite 1222, Meridian ........................... 706-2200 520 S. Eagle Road, Suite 1241, Meridian ........................... 288-2255 General Surgery 125 E. Idaho Street, Suite 202, Boise ................................. 381-7215 222 N. 2nd Street, Suite 111, Boise ................................... 381-3915 1210 NW 16th Street, Fruitland ......................................... 452-8600 520 S. Eagle Road, Suite 1237, Meridian ........................... 706-6212 Internal Medicine 300 E. Jefferson Street, Boise............................................ 381-4100 701 E. Parkcenter Boulevard, Boise.................................... 381-6400 4840 N. Cloverdale Road, Boise......................................... 706-8000 3101 E. State Street, Suite 2120, Eagle ............................. 473-3275 520 S. Eagle Road, Suite 3102, Meridian ........................... 706-5100 Maternal/Fetal Medicine 333 N. 1st Street, Suite 150, Boise .................................... 381-3088 3525 E. Louise Drive, Suite 220, Meridian.......................... 706-4636

Neurosurgery 125 E. Idaho Street, Suite 102, Boise ................................. 381-7300 Neurology 125 E. Idaho Street, Suite 300, Boise ................................. 381-7335 520 S. Eagle Road, Suite 2207, Meridian ........................... 706-6300 Obstetrics & Gynecology 100 E. Idaho Street, Suite 302, Boise ................................. 343-7501 100 E. Idaho Street, Suite 400, Boise ................................. 345-5250 300 Main Street, Suite 100, Boise ..................................... 381-9270 520 S. Eagle Road, Suite 3209, Meridian ........................... 884-3980 Occupational Medicine 703 Americana Boulevard, Suite 130, Boise ....................... 706-7500 1210 NW 16th Street, Fruitland ......................................... 452-8600 520 S. Eagle Road, Suite 2213, Meridian ........................... 706-5447 Orthopedics 125 E. Idaho Street, Suite 102, Boise ................................. 381-7399 1075 N. Curtis Road, Suite 300, Boise ............................... 323-2600 520 S. Eagle Road, Suite 3213, Meridian ........................... 323-2600 Pancreatic Diseases 100 E. Idaho Street, Suite 301, Boise ................................. 381-9250 Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine 125 E. Idaho Street, Suite 300, Boise ................................. 323-3767 2347 E. Gala Street, Meridian ............................................ 323-3767 Urology 510 N. 2nd Street, Boise ................................................... 381-4700 100 E. Idaho Street, Suite 200, Boise ................................. 381-4700 701 E. Parkcenter Boulevard, Boise.................................... 344-5757 3101 E. State Street, Suite 2107, Eagle ............................. 381-4700 520 Eagle Road, Suite 3112, Meridian ............................... 706-5800 Vascular Surgery 333 N. 1st Street, Suite 280, Boise .................................... 345-6545 Vein Treatment 333 N. 1st Street, Suite 280, Boise .................................... 333-8346

To find a physician affiliated with St. Luke’s Clinic call 381-9000 or visit stlukesonline.org/clinic.

Our experience makes your experience better.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2010 | Today’s Woman

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Hot drinks

What’s your favorite winter warm-up? This is what our Facebook friends said:

❄ Rhonda Thomas McMurtrie craves hot cocoa and peppermint schnapps ❄ Melissa Wilson Nodzu likes soy chai. facebook.com/TodaysWomanTreasureValley ❄ Paula Heath enjoys hot chocolate with amaretto. ❄ Tera Jones says the caramel apple spice from Starbucks is “to die for.” ❄ Denise Tyler recommends coffee with kahlua. ❄ Melissa Howard suggests Hot Buttered Rum. ❄ Laurie Kettle Boeckel remembers how good a Tom and Jerry is … “though it’s been a long time since I had one.” ❄ Nicole Holten says her favorite is a large cup of black tea (two bags) and “a monumental splash or French vanilla coffee creamer … tea is just an excuse to avoid drinking the creamer straight from the bottle.” ❄ Tara Bethke Holbrook prefers Swiss Miss Hot Cocoa. ❄ Terrie Britton sips Americano coffee with sugar free caramel and Splenda. ❄ Tiffany Schaffeld Cruickshank says the hot chocolate (regular and peppermint) from Williams-Sonoma is the “absolute best — make sure to buy the marshmallows, too!” ❄ Karen Wethered Niskanen drinks hot apple cider. ❄ Desiree Bell chooses hot mulled cider. ❄ Honey Goodman savors peppermint mochas.

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Today’s Woman | SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2010

1405 Industrial Way, Caldwell • 454-8702 338590


A & Q

Jennifer Swindell

Age: 46 Your dream job: Professional golfer. Your real job: I love working for the Caldwell School District as the public information officer because students and teachers here are doing amazing things and I’m the lucky one who gets to share the success stories. First dollar earned: Carhop for A&W Root Beer. Guilty pleasure: A good beer. For fun: I love to golf and watch college football. Bad habit you can’t break: Waking up for a midnight snack. Pet peeve: Americans who don’t take the time to become educated voters. Favorite places to shop: Online. When the packages come in the mail it’s like Christmas. Favorite vacation: Sharing a house on the beach in Mexico with my best friends. Life goals: Work hard, play hard and surround myself with positive people. What can’t you live without? A dog. Early bird or night owl? I love mornings in the mountains.

Melissa Close

(aka ‘Captain Safety’) Age: 29 plus shipping and handling. Your dream job: I have it! Your real job: Deputy Fire Marshal, Nampa Fire Department. First dollar earned: Feeding calves. Community involvement: Kiwanis Board Member, Nampa School District Safety and Advisory Board, lots of on-the-job-community outreach. Family: Wonderful, brilliant, handy, and tolerant husband Dr. Brian (handsome, too). Lots of four-legged children. Guilty pleasure: Food and drink. Bad habit you can’t break: Coffee. Pet peeve: Rudeness and unkindness. What product will you always buy because can’t you live without it? Coffee Secret fear? Video cameras Favorite quick-dinner with recipe: Grilled steak and Gorgonzola, pine nut, and cranberry salad. Seasoned lean cut of steak (Montreal steak seasoning works wonders) grill to medium rare. In large bowl, add 3 heads of sliced romaine lettuce, 1/4 cup of crumbled Gorgonzola cheese, pine nuts, and cranberries, toss. Let steak rest for 5 minutes then slice thin and add to top of salad, or leave on the side. We try to grill early in the week and use what we have grilled for the rest of the week.

Elite Repeats

Diana Register

savvy chicks

Savvy Chicks profiles have been edited for length. To read the full profiles, along with recipes, visit idahopress.com/todays_woman.

Age: Really? Dream job: A lady who lunches, or if being more practical — a novelist (who gets her books made into TV movies) Your real job: Caldwell Police community service officer, author of “Find Your Way Home” and “Saving Grace,” published by Champagne Books under the pen name Diana Stefano Community involvement: Anything from Girl Scouts to crime prevention. I have a hard time saying no. My mother is afflicted with this same problem, but at 68 is finally learning. I suppose someday I will, too. Family: My husband, Chad, kids – Stephen (17), Savanna (15), Shane (13), Kaitlyn (7) and one yet-to-be named Shih Tzu puppy. Bad habit you can’t break: Facebook, and chocolate – however, I do recall reading once that chocolate is good for you somehow. Favorite websites: www.caldwellpolice.org — watch for our new makeover coming soon. What product can’t you live without? Toothpaste. Early bird or night owl? I’m a night owl who has to be an early bird. Favorite quick-dinner recipe: Open box of Cheerios. Pour in bowl. Fill bowl half way with milk. Insert spoon and enjoy!

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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2010 | Today’s Woman

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COVER STORY

‘Volunteers are the ‘glue’

Activities allow me to keep my priorities in check teer outside the home, but the need to do so actually began with the growth of my family. With a newborn at home, after earning my master’s degree, teaching and developing a few of my own education programs, I felt a bit isolated and guilty that I was not using those talents and skills that I had been educated to do. Soon I found an outlet by helping out a few times a week at a child development center, where I could take my daughter with me while I volunteered. I was doing what I needed for me while my daughter was catching every “bug” under the sun. Soon I was have been enriched, energized, and amazed volunteering my mom-in-law to watch my daughby the wonderful people whom I have met ter, so I could volunteer at the center. I got involved through volunteering. I didn’t always volun- with a few other offshoots from that and was of-

Before we could sit down with the woman the Today’s Woman staff decided to feature on the cover, Leora Summers put in writing the story she wanted to tell. We chose Leora, the wife of Dr. Sam Summers, because she dedicates countless hours to the community in a wide variety of ways. Leora agreed to be featured as long as she could focus on the value of volunteerism. She does that with this personal perspective of her community involvement. We salute her for the inspiration and motivation she has provided for others.

I

Caldwell Centennial Band

Twenty years ago, I joined and became a charter member of the Caldwell Centennial Band to welcome the Centennial Train as it passed through Caldwell, celebrating Idaho’s Centennial. Today our volunteer band has quite a following as we perform free concerts every other week down at Memorial Park each summer. I’m more of a “social” player rather than a musician and really love getting together with these talented members to put out a good sound! It’s really fun to be a part of a group like that while creating an enjoyable activity for the community at the same time.

Rotary

About 15 years ago I joined Rotary. I really liked the idea of an international organization that worked together to accomplish a single goal, which at the time was to eradicate polio from the world, and through those efforts promoted world peace. I wanted to be a part of something that could really make a difference, and have been a member ever since. Through Rotary, I have had many opportunities to make a difference in our community through our efforts with the Salvation Army bell ringing at Christmas time, our Red Cross Memorial Blood Drive, our efforts of promoting literacy through our 3rd grade dictionary program, and our 2nd grade book program and others. Rotary is my most time consuming and major volunteer effort as it does so much good, with many wonderful dedicated people diversifying their volunteer efforts locally and internationally.

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Today’s Woman | SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2010

fered a job to teach the group of kids I worked with at the center when they were to enter the public school, which caused me to begin to look at daycare options for my daughter. I began considering the thought of paying someone to take care of my daughter, so I could “fill my cup” by pursuing an occupation worthy of my education and training. I still didn’t see what was wrong with this picture. Boy was I missing the boat. That was the fork in the road that “woke me up!” Ah-ha! I suddenly saw the light! If I paid someone to take care of my daughter, it must be a worthy job, too! I could have that job! What better job could I have than to raise my own daughter, in my own home, with


of the community’ my own family’s values? Many years have passed since I gave that “permission” to myself not to feel guilty about not earning that paycheck to validate the worth of my efforts, all brought on by a little baby girl that came into my life. Volunteering has allowed me to keep my priorities in check. We sometimes forget that our families need to be at the top of the list, while taking care of ourselves, and our communities, too. My volunteerism has grown and branched out accord-

ing to the changing stations in my family’s life. As my children went through the school system, my efforts went along with them and their needs and education. A friend and I used to joke about teaching each other to “Just Say NO!” Sometimes we bit off more than we could chew, and we needed a support group to monitor that. Once you became known to be a volunteer of sorts, people seemed to expect you do more and more. Now, at this point in my life, my volunteer activities center on my love of music, community, family and friends.

Local Legends

About 12 years ago, my husband and I “birthed” an idea that evolved into our community’s “Local Legends Concert” which continues to be a main fundraiser for our Idaho Youth Games, held in Caldwell each summer. We wanted an activity that would be fun for the adults of our community while benefiting the kids at the same time. This event has done much more for the community than simply raise funds. We used the excuse of raising funds for the kids to give permission to the adults of the community to “let their hair down,” to quit being “closet performers” and to perform publicly as someone other than themselves for a cause. After about eight years, I was getting burned out. To my amazement, the city of Caldwell and the Chamber came together to lift the load and join the effort, so I continued to be a part of the machinery while they became the engine! This event is such a great community builder, uniting community members from all walks of life together to create something really fun for everyone. Of all the activities I’ve been involved in, this is the one that really pulls our community together the most by having people put aside their differences as they have fun, working towards a common cause — the kids!

Commitment

Volunteers are the “glue” of the community and they do make a difference. There seems to be a myth that if you “volunteer” to do something, that you are not obligated to carry through with your commitment if something better comes along, because after all you are “just a volunteer.” As a volunteer, I would never ask anyone to do something that I would not be willing to do myself, unless it is outside my physical and mental abilities. Organizers of volunteers must recognize the talents each volunteer brings to the table, so they will be successful in what they are asking them to do. Being a good volunteer means doing what you say you will do and doing it the best you can. Am I doing something for nothing? No! I am reaping the rewards of community, good friends and knowing that I am privileged to be a part of something bigger than myself to make a difference. Leora Summers also helps out the Caldwell Farmer’s Market during the summer. z

LEORA SUMMERS Leora Summers is recognized as an entertainer and a great hostess. Here are two of her favorite recipes. This candied pecan recipe was given to me by Ellen Batt. It is sooooo goooood that I find it hard not to eat it all myself before I get a chance to put it on the table. Candied Pecans 1 teaspoon cold water 1 egg white 1 lb. bag of large pecan halves 1 cup of sugar 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon of salt Beat water and egg white until frothy. Mix well with pecans. Mix sugar, cinnamon, and salt and pour over the pecans and mix together until completely covered. Spread on a cookie sheet. Bake at 225 degrees for 1 hour. Stir occasionally. Everyone thinks they have the best hot buttered rum recipe, but this one is truly “out of sight!” A teaching buddy gave it to me over 30 years ago and it is still my favorite! Hot Buttered Rum Batter 1 lb. softened butter 1 lb. brown sugar 1 lb. powdered sugar 1 quart of softened vanilla ice cream Blend together the softened butter with the sugars. Fold in the vanilla ice cream. Beat with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy. Put in plastic storage container with lid. Store in refrigerator until use. To serve: Fill a mug 2/3 full of boiling hot water. Stir in 1 heaping tablespoon of batter until melted. Add 1 jigger of rum and stir (the flavor of the dark Meyers Rum is outstanding) Sprinkle nutmeg on top and enjoy!

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2010 | Today’s Woman

13


money matters

Donating to charity is not just for the rich

I

t’s the time of year when we enter into some stores with a bell ringer standing post, reminding us to dig into our wallets. Do we make a deposit, or do we choose to walk on by? Do we add a dollar at the check-out stand for the charity that retailer supports? Or perhaps serve a holiday meal at a shelter? Our giving options are many yearround but they’re emphasized during the holiday season when people have giving on their mind, and the needs are publicized daily. Deciding if you want to give, when to give, who to and how, are personal and unique to each Jennifer person. There is no guide to tell Deroin you how to listen to your heart, but that’s exactly what you should do. Jennifer Deroin is vice People often assume that individupresident and senior relaals make gifts for a tax benefit, but tionship services officer the No. 1 reason Americans give for Intermountain Comis because they were asked by munity Bank. Contact someone they care about. And her at Jennifer.Deroin@ give they do, in the billions every intermountainbank.com.

year. The nonprofit industry is not small potatoes and groups are very sophisticated in their approach to reach the masses. As new givers enter the market, they’re learning how to get creative in the online social stratosphere and learning how to engage donors in a new way. Do your homework. Get online to identify what their mission is and who they serve. Check on the IRS’s website to determine if they’re an actual 501c3 organization, which is the IRS classification for a nonprofit tax status (your gift will not be tax deductible if they do not have this status). Look on the Better Business Bureau’s list of accredited charities to validate the charity’s good standing. Determine if you want your money to stay within your community, of if you want to help a national or global organization. Decide within your budget how much you can afford. Some people think of gifts as a one-time offer-

ing, but now donors are given more options. If the charity of your choice doesn’t offer an auto-deduct option, you can simply set up a recurring gift through your bank’s online bill pay by inputting their name and address into the payee information. Sending in that monthly allotment helps with the organization’s cash flow and those dollars add up over a year’s time. If you make a donation online, ensure the site is secure, look for the padlock on the payment site, or for the “s” at the end of “https.” Another way to give is through your time. Nonprofits have matching grant opportunities and as a volunteer, your time is logged in at a rate of $25 per hour toward the matching raised funds. Some nonprofits run solely on a volunteer workforce and without the generosity of these individuals many in need wouldn’t have an opportunity for some of life’s basic needs, or a hand up. In the Treasure Val-

ley alone there are over 66,000 individuals living in poverty. There are programs help the individual to become self-sustaining, allowing them to break a cycle of dependency on social systems that utilize tax payer funds. During the holiday season our awareness of need is heightened, but truly these organizations need assistance year round. Find one or two organizations that speak to your personal passion and find ways to give direct to the charity or through an organization like the United Way. Being a donor is not just for the rich. Give in a way or in an amount that feels comfortable to you and is within your personal capacity. Being a donor is much like anything else in life - good deeds have a way of finding their way back to the source. You’ll find a deeper satisfaction in knowing you’ve made life a little better for another and enriching humanity.

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Today’s Woman | SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2010

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Challenge


AFTER

By Tabitha Simenc • Today’s Woman ell-shaped eyebrows frame your face, open up your eyes, and accent your cheekbones. Make the most of your face and keep your brows maintained. “Your eyebrows play a big role in how soft your face looks,” Lee Ortivez, owner of Salon Che in Nampa, said. “It makes you look like everything’s been lifted up when you keep them up. It’s much cheaper than a face-lift. It just keeps you looking and feeling better.”

W

Waxing It’s easier, but more expensive, to have a professional shape your brow. If you really struggle, this could be the option for you. Simply Stylin’ in Caldwell offers a brow shaping for $12. This includes a consultation with a stylist to determine what

To color or not to color?

Some prefer to dye eyebrows to match a new hair color. Simply Stylin’ offers this service for free with a hair color. Don’t go too wild with color; use it to accent natural features. Slightly darker brows to match a darker hair color works great; bright red brows to match a bold hair choice may not be a great idea.

Eye Brow Fashion

Beauty BEAUTY

BEFORE

First things first: Get a decent pair of tweezers with a sharp edge that grips well. Decide exactly what shape you want. Pluck slowly and check each time to make sure your brows match. Better yet, buy an eyebrow stencil to end up with exactly the brows you want. Don’t over pluck! Too much can stunt brow growth, and barely-there, patchy eyebrows are never in style. For women who have plucked too much in the past and now have patchy brows, Simply Stylin’ stylists recommend cosmetics and show women how a pencil can finish off your brow.

shape you want, what fits with your facial features, and the tweezing and waxing to get the desired effect. Stylist Gretchen Wallis recommends women maintain their eyebrow shape with monthly appointments.

Frame your eyes

Plucking

Simply Stylin co-owner Kathy Sewright said trends have moved away from past mentality of ‘thinner is better’ to a more prominent brow look. “It’s interesting to see how thicker the eyebrows are compared to how they were 30 years ago,” she said.

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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2010 | Today’s Woman

15


EYE CANDY

Jazz up your look with color By Miranda Petrie • For Today’s Woman

1) Evaluate your eye shape. If your eyes are large,

be more generous with eyeliner on the top lid. Don’t forget to line underneath the bottom lash line or top of the bottom lid. Those with smaller or deeply inset eyes should limit liner, especially dark liner to prevent the eyes from looking smaller.

2) Don’t be afraid of bright colors. Eyes can really

stand out if make-up is applied as an accent. Use your clothing as ideas for your shadow. If there are multiple colors in the fabric to choose from, pick the ones that flatter your eyes the most. I sometimes wear brown pants with a salmon colored top and to coordinate my makeup, use dark brown in the crease of my eyes and highlight with peach or pink/orange. It really makes my eyes pop and matches my outfit.

3) Mix and match color. Experiment with colors

that aren’t always perfect matches. I love to wear a light aqua with an awesome bright blue in the crease. They’re both blue but definitely not shades of each other. The effect is great!

4) Use your fingers. Make sure your hands are

clean, but use your fingers to help apply your makeup. Sometimes brushes and foam brushes just don’t work as well as your own fingers. Fingers are also really good for blending.

Dark Blue, Bright Teal, Purple

For this party look, I started with a teal cream shadow in the corner working most of it across the eyelid and applied a vibrant blue in the crease and halfway under the bottom lid. I continued the blue with a bright purple and added teal glitter to the teal shadow and silver glitter to the blue shadow. For the bolder look, I added a little purple and gold glitter under the lid with black liner accented my eyes with three blue glitter dots on each side. Buxon, Sephora

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Today’s Woman | SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2010


Purple, Teal, Bright Blue

Green-Yellow, Darker Green

Pink, Purple

Light Brown, Gold, Dark Brown

Light Aqua, Bright Teal

Light Gray, Dark Gray

This is a teal, purple and bright blue combo. I started with a light purple base adding a bright teal, a darker purple and finally bright blue in the crease making sure to extend them up toward the brow line. I blended the teal and blue with the purple. This color combination can be put in any order. I followed up with the same color order under the bottom eyelid and used black liner. Mary Kay, Covergirl

I started with a light brown as base and added a darker brown in the crease and below the bottom lash. I then used a gold glitter shadow just above the crease and a little in the corners of my eyes to make a shimmery effect. I used a very light tan powder as highlights on the eyelid and near the brow. Use dark brown or black eyeliner to finish the effect. Maybelline

I started with an apple green for the base with a greenyellow shadow for highlights along the brow and in the corners of my eyes. I then applied a darker shade of grass green in the crease and under the bottom lash. The final effect is a very bright green color that makes the eyes really pop! Apply green, brown or black liner for a more dramatic look. Mary Kay, Covergirl

I used a light aqua as base followed up with a darker teal powder in the crease. To give a more dramatic effect I used a deep teal blue in the crease. I love all of that color! You can always add a bright green here and there, blending for an interesting gradient effect. Finish with black eyeliner. Don’t forget to apply color under the bottom lash line to complete the look. Covergirl, Sephora

make-up or don’t have any brilliant ideas, google it! Some of my favorite colors range from brands such as There are many tutorials, YouTube videos and perCovergirl, Hard Candy to Mary Kay. When I shop for sonal blogs or websites that offer ideas and tips. shadow I’m always looking for the brightest colors. Experiment! Don’t be afraid to try something Look online. If you’re not sure how to apply out to see if it will work. Some of my best eye shadow

5) Expensive makeup is not always the way to go.

6)

7)

For this look, I used baked powder that can be applied dry or wet depending on the vibrancy desired. I used the pink as a highlight and as the base. I used a touch of water to make it brighter, then applied regular purple and a darker plum in the crease. I added a little water to make the colors more intense. I really liked this eye shadow that I found at Walmart. Hard Candy

I started with a silvery light gray or silver shadow and applied a darker gray to the crease followed up with a stormy gray or black shadow to make the effect more dramatic. This particular look can be made more intense for a smoky look or lighter to wear with your favorite black and white outfit. Mary Kay

results have been from spur-of-the-moment experimentation, and I’ve loved the results.

8) Last, but not least, have fun! Today’s world offers a literal palette of colors to choose from to jazz up your eyes. So try something new!

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2010 | Today’s Woman

17


Beauty

F

or women who want long, fluttery lashes, there are many options out there to fit a variety of budgets at varying levels of permanency. Here are the main options you have if you want to lengthen your eye lashes.

Drugstore Lengthening mascaras with base coat or BEFORE primer applied first can help create short term eyelash extensions for an affordable price. Drugstores offer products like L’Oreal Double Extend, Maybelline XXL Pro By EyeStudio: Extensions and Revlon Lash Fantasy Total Definition. All are double ended mascaras and provide similar results with a lengthening base coat and top coat for color. If you want to combine the effect produced by these with lash growth, try AFTER L’Oreal Double Extend with Lash BoostResults of eyelash extensions. ing Serum. The product costs a little extra How long does it last? Most products but has a serum in the base coat that helps claim results for as long as you use them. lashes to grow longer. It works well to give How long does it take? Products vary you great-looking lashes on a daily basis and can be applied from a few times a week and also better lashes over time. up to daily applications. Price range? $8-13. Risks? Varies between products so check How long does it last? Until you remove out a product for side effects before you buy your make-up. it. Lashipix seems to have no side effects How long does it take? A few moments recorded. to apply each morning. Who is it for? Women who’s lashes are Risks? None. short and brittle and who want them to Who is it for? Women who have nice grow healthier and longer. lashes and want a little extra length. Rating? 3/5 It’s expensive but some Rating? 4/5 It only lasts as long as you products do have great reviews. Just be sure have make up on but is affordable and has to check out a specific product online before a good look. you buy it. Too expensive? If these products are out of your price range try a drugstore alternaOver the counter tive like L’Oreal Lash Boosting Serum, Various products are available over-the(also sold as the serum added to a mascara counter that claim to grow lashes thicker mentioned above). At about $12.49 this and longer. Most products are touted as eyelash conditioners to improve natural eye might be a cheaper option to try before you splurge on a more expensive lash condilash health. Lashipix, which seems to have the best reviews, RevitaLash, LashFood and tioner. However, like the price, the results may also be less dramatic than with the many more are available online, with some other products. also available in stores. The products vary, but most are applied like an eyeliner at the base of lashes. Some can also be used on Prescription eyebrows to stimulate brow growth. Latisse is currently the only FDA-apPrice range? $50-150 for a tube. proved product that can be prescribed by

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Today’s Woman | SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2010

Other lash procedures:

Want longer lashes?

By Tabitha Simenc • Today’s Woman

Eyelash tint: For people with light hair color, this can darken the lashes to make them more visible. Eyelash permanent wave: Creates a natural curl, like a perm for your lashes. Each costs $40 at Salon Ché in Nampa

a doctor to stimulate your eyelash growth. The product is applied once a day to the base of your upper eyelashes and results can be seen in about a month. Price range? $120 for one kit. How long does it last? Eye lash growth will last as long as the product is used. How long does it take? Results can be seen in about four weeks and after 16 weeks lashes will achieve full growth. Risks? Can cause dark marks to appear on the eye lid. Who is it for? For women who have thin, light colored eye lashes and want to lengthen, thicken and darken their lashes. Rating? 4/5 It takes a while and is expensive but patience shows great results.

Extensions

Eye lash extensions can be attached to each eye lash by a trained professional to give long, fluttery lashes. Cindy Fergeson with Nampa’s Z Best Salon can administer the extensions and is trained with Novalash. There are a variety of different lash companies for extensions and Fergeson recommends researching a company before getting lash extensions. Price range? $150-300 for initial set of lashes. $25-65 for fill-in. How long does it last? About a month, depending on how well the lashes are cared for. Extensions fall out with natural lash growth so fill-ins are required to maintain full lashes. How long does it take? An initial set takes 2-3 hours to apply so lashes immediately have the effect. Risks? Some companies use harsh glues that can be harmful and human or horse hair that can trap bacteria. Who is it for? Anyone who would like longer, more dramatic lashes. Rating? 3/5 It is expensive to have the extensions and to maintain, but shows good results.


D

on’t dismiss it as just the winter blahs. You may be suffering from SAD — seasonal affective disorder — a form of depression that usually hits during the cold, dark days of fall and winter. Seasonal means that it usually hits every year when the days get shorter and darker and clear up when the days get longer and sunnier. If you suffer from SAD, you probably will feel moody, sad and lethargic. Other symptoms can include fatigue, hopelessness, anxiety, social withdrawal, oversleeping, loss of interest in activities and difficulty concentrating. Sufferers often overeat and crave carbohydrates, leading to weight gain, which will depress you even more if you’re like most women.

Who gets it? Up to four times as many women as men suffer from SAD, the majority of them over age 30. According to the National Institutes of Mental Health, women are twice as likely to suffer from depression as men, and SAD is a form of depression. Depression, including SAD, runs in families. If some of your blood relatives suffer from it, you probably are more likely to experience it. Geography is also a factor. People who live in far northern parts of the northern hemisphere and far south in the southern hemisphere are much more likely to develop the condition. In fact, the farther you are from the equator, the higher your risk becomes.

By Debbie Kushlan Bettencourt • For Today’s Woman

your brain chemistry can be off balance. Keep windows clear to let in light. Sit Add to that genetics, age and gender and near windows when possible. Rearrange your risk of developing SAD increases. your furniture to maximize your exposure to the sun. Plan winter vacations to warm, sunny How to help yourself spots. You should visit your doctor to deterExercise regularly to help relieve stress, mine whether your symptoms are SAD, which can contribute to SAD. more severe depression or something else. Try to stay with a regular sleeping One of the most common treatments routine. Avoid naps. for SAD is light therapy using special lights. By mimicking natural light, they Don’t use alcohol and unprescribed appear to cause chemical changes in the drugs for relief of symptoms. brain that elevate your mood and help Alternative treatments you may with other symptoms of SAD. It’s easy want to try include: and it’s effective. While sitting in front of ❄ Nutritional supplements such as St. the light, you can eat, watch TV, read, John’s Wort and SAMe may be helpful. work on your computer or perform other However, before you try these suppleactivities. Side effects of light therapy ments, be sure to check with your doctor are minimal; however, you should avoid about interaction with other medications, looking directly at the light when you are especially antidepressants. using it. ❄ Meditation can help relieve stress and anxiety.

More severe cases

❄ Yoga blends exercise and meditation, a great combination to lessen stress and increase your sense of well-being. ❄ Massage therapy can help loosen tight muscles and leaves you feeling relaxed and peaceful. ❄ Indulge yourself at a spa — facial, manicure, pedicure. Better yet, invite girlfriends to join you — you can’t help but feel better after a day of pampering. Remember, you don’t have to crawl in a hole to get through the winter months.

All about me

Don’t be SAD this winter.

How to pick a light box

1. Be sure you get a light box that is made specifically to treat SAD. 2. A brighter light box takes less time each day than a dimmer light box. The average length of a session for a system delivering 10,000 lux (a measurement of light intensity) may take 30 minutes vs. two hours with a 2,500-lux light box. 3. Look for light boxes that emit as little UV rays as possible. 4. Go online and do your research on light boxes to get more information about them.

For more severe cases of SAD, medications and psychotherapy can help. Talk to your doctor about the best plan of action for you. Here are some other things you can do to help head off symptoms: Try to get out in the sunlight any chance you get. Nothing helps lift your mood more than natural sunlight. Go for a walk. Even on a cloudy day, natural light can help lift Causes your spirits — and Although the specific cause of SAD is you’ll feel good about unclear, lack of natural light is a major factor. Why? Because sunshine increases yourself for getting the body’s natural production of melato- some exercise. Open drapes and nin, a natural hormone that affects sleepblinds to let sunlight patterns and mood, and serotonin, a brain chemical that affects mood. As the into your home as much as possible. days shorten and you get less sunshine,

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2010 | Today’s Woman

19


Things to know

e season For the Tis th king! ping, than p ti , g in iv g r fo s to those who y a special thank

sh Don’t forget to sa d your family. Ca rvices for you an se lar ld gu ou re sh t ide bu prov ended, to $30 is recomm always fits: $10 gular service. re the of st co the l also be based on weeks, a $20 bil ur fo y er haircut ev If you get a $20 is perfect. throughout the for each service If you regularly tip so necessary. A sh tip may not be ca al nu ies an an year, Homemade good be appropriate. s ay Alw small gift might et. dg bu won’t break the are popular and tude. ati gr of te no e yinclude a nic for postal emplo s are not allowed rd ca t gif or sh Ca chers. mmended for tea ees and not reco : ng wi llo fo e Don’t forget th loved ones: A re for you, your ❆ People who ca provider, private re pet sitter, day ca or ild ch lar gu re er, teacher nurse or caregiv l beautiful: ke you look or fee ❆ People who ma iner, massage tra al on rs urist, pe Hair stylist, manic l therapist. rvices: The posta liver or provide se lations) gu re l ❆ People who de sta po to t only, according bus carrier (small gif , house cleaner, er, lawn mowing rri ca r newspape driver post.com tailed list at emily n See a more de

Need gift ide

as? Gadgets for st uds? ❄ Cordless drill ❄ Leatherman Wa ve ❄ NFL goodies ❄ NASCAR stuff ❄ GPS ❄ Phone app for the ‘honey-do-list ” (constant remi nder) Gadgets for ga ls? ❄ Cricut ❄ Sidewinder ❄ Digital studfind er ❄ Grommets ❄ iPod ❄ Jewelery, includ ing diamonds ❄ Nook Book ❄ Spa-finder gift certificate ❄ Bath and Body Works ‘Stress re lief’ bath salts, eucalyptus and spearmint

Snowed in? Pla y these

games

There are plen ty of games to play and winter the perfect time is to bring kids an d adults together fun. These are for some of the favo rites of our Tod Woman staff: ay’s Scene It: Movie clips trivia with numerous catego ries, including T wilight. Apples to App les: A party ga me with hilariou comparisons. s Sequence: A lit tle bit of canast a, rummy, and poker. The obje ct? Get a “seque nce,” meaning of five poker-lik a row e chips on the ga me board. Rummikub: A set of 106 elegan t colorful tiles. Like Rummy, pl ayers build mel ds of run of the colors. same Phase 10: Ano ther twist on ru mmy. And don’t forget popular word ga mes including Bobble, Upwor ds and the classic , Scrabble. And this one fo r adults only se ems to be a re hit: Dirty Minds al . Also known as “The world’s cl est dirty game.” ea nThe dirtier a m ind you have, th worse you will be e at playing this ga me because all the answers are of clean!

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Today’s Woman | SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2010


? tmas mustsic of the 21st Got Chris the fir decade holiday songs in ide, the

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21, 2010 | Today’s Woman

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Beauty

Three women won the opportunity to receive free extensive facial treatments from Visual Effects Spa & Salon in Boise. Here are their reports along with information from Visual Effects staff.

Natalie Wilhite

Facial winners evaluate treatments

Age: 57 Concerns: Lines and wrinkles, skin tone, loss of elasticity Skin does not turn over as fast as we age so a series of peels and home treatments must be done to keep dead skin from settling in and making lines and deep wrinkles. Skin also loses its elasticity and suppleness because of poor circulation and the breakdown of collagen and elastin. Laser is an effective tool to immediately stimulate collagen production. Treatment: A series of treatments that consisted of 14 percent Jessner’s Peel with hydroquinone, 30 percent Glycolic Peel with Microdermabrasion and Ultrasonic, Salicylic Peel with Microdermabrasion and Ultrasonic, and a nonablativelaser treatment. Spaced 2 to 4 weeks apart depending on treatment given and recovery time needed for a period of three months. Home regimen: Cleanser, Vitamin C serum with antioxidants, scrub, heavy moisturizer, eye cream and sunblock. 3-month treatment: $320 6-month supply of home care products: $270 Visual Effects Salon and Spa: We absolutely achieved the desired results for Natalie. Her overall skin texture is smoother, her fine lines are reduced and her skin is healthy therefore the elasticity is better. She’s glowing. Follow up: Repeat every 6 weeks and stay on home regimen.

Here’s what Natalie reports What do you think of the results? Love them. Will you continue (need) treatment? I will continue. I am excited to think that I can age more gracefully. I’m looking forward to my skin becoming more firm and having less damage. Was the result worth the time invested? Definitely. If you had a friend who had simi-

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Breonna Morris

lar issues with her skin, would you recommend that they make their own investment? Of course. You can’t put a price on self confidence. Thanks Marti. What’s changed for you since having the treatment? My skin feels smoother and more firm. Do you have anything else to report on the process? As a licensed Realtor, I am always taking continuing education to set myself apart from others in my field. I love that Marti continues to educate herself and has so much knowledge to share. It makes it easy to trust her care and advice. I have learned a lot. This has been a great experience and I am so grateful to have been chosen to receive such a nice gift.

Today’s Woman | SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2010

Age: 17 Concerns: Active acne and acne scarring Skin is hormonal and over active oil glands need regulated. Blackheads must be cleaned out and products used to dry up active acne, taking caution not to overuse. The key is to regulate the oil production of the skin with glycolic, salicylic and lactic acids, benzoylperoxide as well as witch hazel and tea tree. When products are overused or products are used that contain alcohol it will have the opposite effect and stimulate oil production. Treatments: Treatment given every 2-3 weeks to clean out blackheads. Deep cleansing using the Ultrasonic skin scrubber, salicylic acid treatments as well as 7 percent Jessner’s solution treatments. Both treatments addressed acne as well as acne scarring. Home regimen: Rid skin of dirt and debris that cause acne. Common air pollutants cause daily damage. Cleanse two times per day with cleanser containing salicylic acid and benzoylperoxide. Tone skin two times daily, using salicylic and witch hazel toner. Spot treat with 10 percent benzoyl peroxide gel and moisturize with product that contains tea tree to kill bacteria. Sunblock to prevent acne scarring. Cost of treatments: $225 6-month supply of home care products: $149 Follow up care: Home products are essential and will have to be changed as a teenager ages and hormone levels change. Deep-cleansing treatment are needed every 4-8 weeks depending on acne activity. Visual Effects Salon and Spa: We are very happy with results of Breonna’s treatments. Acne activity has reduced by 50 percent with no more deep blackheads giving her face an overall smoother feel and appearance. Breonna will need follow up treatment as her hormone levels are changing. The main thing we have done is prevent her from having those huge red nasty acne scars as an adult.

Here’s what Breonna reports I am so very happy with the results! My face has NEVER been so clear and I feel more confident. I have struggled with acne for so long so this was such a blessing. Will you continue (need) treatment? I will do whatever Marti says I need to do! She has helped me so much and if it keeps my face clear I will do anything! Was the result worth the time invested? For sure! If you had a friend who had similar issues with her skin, would you recommend that they make their own investment? Most definitely! What’s changed for you since having the treatment? I am not worried about people seeing me without my make-up like I was before. I feel like I don’t have to hide my face anymore.


Patricia Walker White

Beauty

undergone and shared the contact number with her and many others since then. I was impressed enough to trust them with my Age: 48 own friends and family and my Concerns: Melasma, sun spots, and daughters are now clients as well. thin skin as well as wrinkles What’s changed for you since Treatment: a series of treatments that having the treatment? My skin consisted of 14 percent Jessner’s Peel having a younger and brighter with hydroquinone, 30 percent glycolic appearance gave me more peel , lactic peel , nonablativelaser treatconfidence to try some other ment and brown spot removal laser improvements and because the treatment. Spaced 2 to 4 weeks apart deresults were so affirming I was pending on treatment given and recovery reminded how important it is to time needed for a period of 3 months. keep yourself on the list. As women we Home Regimen: Cleanser, Vitamin tend to put everyone else’s needs before C serum with antioxidants, scrub, heavy our own but I realized I wasn’t setting a moisturizer, lightning serum with hydrovery good example for my daughters if I we will continue to treat her on a 2-4 Was the result worth the time quinone, eye cream and sunblock. week treatment schedule until we achieve invested? The benefit far exceeded the didn’t take care of my self as well. 3-month treatment: $620 Do you have anything else to report enough results that she can continue with time it took. 6-month supply of home care prod- just monthly maintenance. on the process? I was surprised at If you had a friend who had similar how much I learned along the way. I ucts: $310 issues with her skin, would you started modeling at a young age and Visual Effects Salon and Spa: Here’s what Patricia reports recommend that they make their have always tried to care for my skin and We are very happy with the results we own investment? I already have! When learn more about the changes to it but What do you think of the results? received from Patricia’s skin. Because of I told one of my friends of the removal I learned many new things from Cassie. chemotherapy and the stress on her body I was impressed and pleased with the results. of a few of the sun/age damage spots Her professionalism greatly impressed her issues were magnified. With that Will you continue (need) treatment? on my face she told me how she wanted me as well as the care she has taken to said, her photo damage has lightened to have this done but wasn’t sure if it I can see a marked improvement in my learn her craft well. It’s never too early 50-60 percent. Her overall skin texture overall skin and I would like to continue was worth the investment. I shared or too late to start taking care of yourhas improved and her tissue is healthier. self and the results I received are proof. Because of the damage from the chemo to see the healthier glow it brought. with her each step of the process I had

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GET FIT

1. Suitcase Dead Lift

3. Elevated Lunge

Begin standing with your feet hipwidth apart, toes and knees facing forward, knees slightly flexed and a weight in your right hand. Hinge (fold) at the hips while pushing the glutes back. Keeping the weight close to the body and body-weight in the heels, lower as far as possible without losing alignment. Return to start position in a slow controlled manner by contracting the glutes and lengthening spine. Do 12-16 repetitions then repeat on left side. Note: To demonstrate, Healy uses a kettle bell for weight; any kind of weight could be used in the exercises, such as a dumbbell or even a carton of milk.

Stand with your right foot forward on an elevated surface and left foot back three-four feet. Make sure that your entire right foot maintains contact with the surface throughout the exercise. Lift your left heel and flex both knees, lowering body. Keep the front knee behind the toes and be sure to lower straight down rather than shifting weight forward. Push through the right heel and raise your body to the starting position. Do 12-16 repetitions then repeat on left side. Note: Any elevated surface, such as a step, can be used in this exercise. To make the exercise easier, do the lunge on a flat surface.

4. Standing Band Hamstring Curls

Position a band around both your ankles. Shift your weight to your left leg and flex your right foot. Raise the right heel toward the glutes, keeping the knees aligned, and pause briefly. Return slowly, with control, to starting position. Repeat on left side. Note: Any kind of band or tubing can be used to hold the ankles together.

2. Stability Ball Hamstring Curl

Lay on the floor with your arms relaxed at your sides. Place the stability ball under your heels with your legs extended, knees slightly bent and hips raised. Drive your heels into the ball and roll toward the glutes. Hold briefly and roll ball back to starting position. Do 12-16 repetitions. Note: Stability balls are a versatile piece of home fitness equipment. Find them at a local department or sporting goods store for about $10-20.

5. Standing Hamstring Stretch

Stand with your right leg extended (foot may be on an elevated surface) and left knee flexed. Rest your hands on your left thigh (not on the knee) and hinge at the hips lowering your torso toward the leg. Gently rotate your tailbone upward. Pause and hold for 20-30 seconds. Repeat on the left side. Note: Since the exercises contract the hamstrings, it is important to end with this stretch to lengthen the muscles back out.

Fitness tip: Be sure to maintain spinal alignment, with shoulders retracted and core braced throughout all exercises. Hamstrings: The role of the

hamstring muscles is to bend the knee and to move the thigh backwards at the hip.

Work for fit, toned thighs By Tabitha Simenc Strengthening the hamstrings is a sure fire way to create stronger, more defined legs. Nampa Recreation Center Group Fitness Coordinator Jenn Healy demonstrates these exercises that will work the hamstrings to help you get firmer thighs.

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Today’s Woman | SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2010


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West Valley Medical Center is located at 1717 Arlington Avenue, on the corner of 10th Avenue and Logan Street in Caldwell.

Ronald Cornwell, MD Ryan Hardy, MD Richard Martin, MD

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WestValleyMedCtr.com SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2010 | Today’s Woman

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weight loss

When you can’t lose weight on your own

By Debra Holm • For Today’s Woman Whether it happens in front of the mirror or on the scales, in the doctor’s office or in a bedroom at 3 a.m., more and more Treasure Valley women face a critical moment of truth: “It’s time to get serious about weight loss.” Often, they’ve faced that moment more than once, responding with a variety of diet and exercise programs that ended in failure with the onslaught of temptation, stress and other factors. After walking that lonely road, how does a woman know when her own efforts aren’t enough and she needs to turn to a program that offers not only moral support, but also what could be called “the big artillery?” First, according to the National Institutes of Health, a person’s weight loss decision needs to be discussed with a physician in the following circumstances: 1. If a person is trying to lose more than 20 pounds. 2. If the person has any chronic medical conditions or is at high risk for medical conditions. 3. If the person is taking any medications for any chronic disease. 4. If the person plans on using medi-

If a woman makes the decision to go beyond regular dieting, should she choose a medically supervised prescription drug plan, HCG hormone treatments, hypnosis, gastric bypass (Roux-en-Y) surgery or gastric banding (Lap-Band) surgery? Do these programs work? And, how do they compare in terms of safety and cost? This article rates local programs using criteria set by the Weight Control Information Network, a service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), with one addition. These are: 1. Healthy eating plans that reduce calories but do not forbid specific foods or food groups. 2. Help to increase moderate-intensity Jamee Brinkerhoff shares her big pants physical activity. with her daughter. 3. Slow and steady weight loss. Depending on one’s starting weight, cines for weight loss. experts recommend losing weight at In the end, it is a highly individual a rate of one-half to two pounds per decision. After meeting these criteria, many women go some kind of a weight week. Weight loss may be faster at the start of a program. loss plan under a doctor’s care. Some 4. Medical care if losing weight by succeed while others do not. following a special formula diet, such Whatever course is chosen, there are as a very low-calorie diet (a program a few constants. A woman must do it for herself and not for others, and must that requires careful monitoring from realize that her mental outlook and eat- a doctor.) 5. A plan to keep the weight off after ing habits will need to change if she is it is lost, including a plan that covers to succeed long-term.

Shelley Thayer

the amount of glucose in the bloodstream and helps with weight loss. Before she started a medically assisted weight Shelley learned that overweight people proloss program, Shelley Thayer never ate breakfast. cess food differently than others. She also Now, at the least, she drinks a protein shake evlearned about nutrition, metabolism, behavior ery morning. patterns, and the psychology of obesity. “Dr. Rader really pushes eating breakfast. And Participants were challenged to keep a food I’ve learned a lot about my body chemistry and diary. about food. For instance, if you put a substance “We learned to eat palm-sized portions, and in a glass of water and it melts, don’t eat it — it’s to cut back on carbohydrates. The diet is similar high in sugar,” she says. to the Atkins Diet — high protein and low carbs Before she could even start learning, she un—only you get more carbs. Our goal is to get our derwent basic medical tests, including an elecsugar intake to seven to 10 teaspoons a day,” trocardiogram, to tailor a weight loss plan to her she noted. needs. This refers to sugar broken down in the bloodShe was prescribed phentermine, an appetite depressant, stream from carbohydrates. On his website, Dr. Rader says one chromium glucosumine, which is said to have a positive effect on cup of spaghetti yields eight teaspoons of sugar — so Shelley had the body’s glycemic function, and Metformin, which helps control to learn how to figure out the amount of sugar for every meal.

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Today’s Woman | SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2010

the psychological element; that the client will be helped to change thought patterns and habits that contributed to the weight gain. 6. Many programs are not covered by health insurance but can be paid with FLEX benefits or cafeteria plan dollars, but only if they have been prescribed by a doctor and the patient is under the care of a doctor, according to Tina Combs, assistant human resources manager for the city of Nampa. 7. What about long-term success at keeping weight off ? It’s hard to judge success rates for the programs, because some statistics are based on only those clients who complete a certain amount of time in the program, without taking into account those who drop out. No matter which plan is chosen, there are always some individuals who re-gain weight. Women who wish to lose weight with any program should study all options carefully before making a decision. With any program, all those who succeed at keeping weight off are deservedly proud of their accomplishment, for they committed themselves to changing eating behaviors, and succeeded. Those are hard-won triumphs. Local weight loss programs can provide help during that long journey.

In her first month on the program, she lost 13 pounds and has lost an additional five. She has been sidelined with medical problems but plans to get back on the program soon. “The weight just melts off. The medicines help you keep to a routine, but the clinic holds you accountable. They work toward weaning you from the medications,” she says. Does it take a lot of time from her work as customer service manager at the Idaho Press-Tribune? “The first time, it took an hour, but later you just get weighed and see the doctor and it takes 15 minutes,” Shelly says. The program was not covered by her insurance. She said each visit, including the medications (except Metformin), costs $80. (Metformin costs $4 (with insurance) for a 30-day supply.) “The main focus is that we have to change our eating habits. It’s a lot like Dr. Gott’s ‘No Flour, No Sugar Diet.’ I’m glad I’m doing it,” Shelley says.


Medically Assisted Weight Loss We spoke with Dr. Allen Rader of Idaho Weight Loss (formerly the Cudmore Clinic) in Boise. Healthy Habits in Meridian and Caldwell also offer programs for medically assisted weight loss. Certain prescriptions can provide powerful help in losing weight; however, medical professionals should monitor their use.

Statement from Dr. Rader: Our treatments are individualized based on nutrition, metabolism (or biochemistry), behavior patterns, and the psychology of obesity. To be successful, a weight control program must address all four of these. Over 400,000 Americans will die this year from being overweight and the diseases that go with it. In many people, it is biochemical and not a weakness or a failure. Once a person’s biochemistry is changed, their body can begin to shed pounds. Here is our niche: when you have a heart problem, you go to your family doctor and he helps to the limit of his ability. Then you go to the cardiologist, who helps until you need surgery—then you go to a cardiac surgeon. A bariatric clinic is like the cardiologist—where you go when your family doctor can’t help anymore, but before you see a bariatric surgeon. We try to prevent patients from reaching the weight where surgery might be considered, and to get their weight down if they are at that point. If they stick to our program for one year, half of those patients do as well as they could with bariatric surgery. However, some may eventually have surgery. It’s hard to know when to recommend that a patient should come to us. Obviously, if they come in at 180 pounds rather than 280, it is easier to lose weight. With diet medications I try to reproduce what happens with bariatric surgery. The prescriptions we use have been out for 50 years and we monitor our patients closely for side effects. One of those is phentermine, which decreases appetite. We choose not to use HCG—our results are better at one-third the cost. We treat obesity like any chronic disease, so our role isn’t over when the weight is lost. When it is as low as it can go, we set up a maintenance plan.” Four out of five patients that come for just three visits lose enough weight to reduce their long-term risk of diabetes over 50 percent. Patients that lose weight in the program have improvements in their lipid profile (cholesterol and triglycerides) equal to or better than commonly used cholesterol medicines. Many patients can come off of blood pressure medicines, lipid medicines and antidepressants. I won the “National Weight Loss Doctor of the Year” award in 2007 and have taught physicians across the country how to match our success rates.”

Stephanie Wyatt

Nine years ago, in desperation, Stephanie Wyatt of Boise sat down and wrote herself a letter. At more than 400 pounds, she was unhappy physically, mentally and emotionally. “I was depressed. I fit into the very last plus size there is in women’s clothing.” She says she masked her pain by being “large and in charge.” In her job, she decorated lovely cakes but that environment was not helpful in changing her weight problems. At a point where she felt that being overweight had ruined every aspect of her life, and in tears, she stayed up late one night and wrote herself a letter. “When I was finished, I said, ‘OK, this is it. This is the point where I need to change and become a different person.’” She eventually went to Idaho Weight Loss and followed a medically assisted weight loss plan. Over time, she lost more than 200 pounds. She gave up her job decorating cakes and began to study to be a personal trainer. She says she takes her life one step at a time now. Whenever Stephanie sees the framed letter on her wall, she remembers her promise to herself to never let her weight get in the way of her happiness again. “I’m so much happier,” she says. “My nine-year appointment with Dr. Rader is next month. Nine years later I’m still ecstatic! Not only because I’ve lost the weight but that I overcome the daily struggle to keep it off which I truly believe is much more difficult than losing it in the first place.”

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2010 | Today’s Woman

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HCG hormones We spoke with Kim Bowles of Healthy Habits in Meridian and Caldwell. “Please note that HCG is a very different form of weight loss that is only used for clients who are extremely obese,” Kim says. A dieter in this program gets injections of the HCG hormone — plus a 500-calorie per day diet, and lipo injections.

Statement from Kim Bowles: “We provide a free consultation to go over all the options with a new patient, and depending on their needs, we may recommend medically assisted weight loss or HCG hormone protocol. “The HCG plan is for those who need to lose weight quickly — it is a quick, but strict protocol. The aver-

age loss is 1 pound per day for up to 45 days. “HCG is a natural hormone produced during pregnancy which helps the fetus to access stored fat. It helps the mother’s skin snap back and burns 3,500 calories a day of stored fat. It resets a client’s metabolism. After one month, the patient is eating 500 oral calories a day but feels no hunger because stored fat is being burned. It is not a stimulant, and it does not cause the loss of muscle mass. “There are few to no side effects to HCG and it is prescribed through a local pharmacy. It is administered through daily injections or a twice-daily sublingual (under the tongue) liquid. After the treatment, your metabolism burns at a higher rate so you can take in more calories without gaining. We have a 97 percent success rate with those who follow the program, which

means a once-a-week visit and eating the correct menu. “After a patient has lost 30 to 45 pounds, she can wait four weeks and then start over, or do another option like nutritional counseling. “We give lipo injections to all of our patients (including those on appetite control prescription drugs) to boost nutrition, help with belly fat, give energy and help with digestion and metabolism. These are water-soluble vitamins: vitamins C, B12, B6, B complex, and amino acids. “For long-term care, we have a one-year maintenance package where you check in monthly to see that you stay within five pounds of the target weight. About 80 percent of our patients seem to make lifetime changes — you have to do your part, too. We always recommend that they exercise.”

jection course from the Healthy Habits clinic in Caldwell. If you have a considerable amount of weight to lose (more than 20 pounds) I would absolutely go to a clinic and pay for the injections if it is within your means to do so. I was extremely surprised that all the claims made by the HCG diet (providing you strictly follow the protocol) did indeed occur. Because of the cost, most are choosing the easier, cheaper route and simply ordering the homeopathic drops over the Internet. These drops seem to be effective, as there are happy dieters every-

where, but personally, I believe the drops to be more of a placebo, not the true HCG, and it is the 500 calories a day that is causing all the weight loss. The bottom line of course, is if it works, does it matter? The only flaw I can find in this logic is what happens when you run the course of HCG. It has been about a year and a half since I did the HCG injections, and I have had no problem keeping the weight off. This will always be the true battleground of any diet program, and only you can decide how important that advantage is.

By Machele Hamilton For women today, our society has created a multi-generational obsession with how we look, with the number one culprit being our weight. Whether we are 15, or 65, we seem to be all consumed in that magic number that appears when we hop on the scale. Because of this obsession, we are easy prey and have all seen the multitude of diets out there, each one claiming to be better than the other. So how do you know which diet is best? I am a firm believer that because we are so individual, what works for one person doesn’t necessarily work for another. However, the latest diet craze out there right now (HCG, Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) seems to be working for just about everyone, men included. It is easy to find someone who has lost a considerable amount of weight on this program in an extremely short amount of time. But how much of it is truly the product, and how much is the diet itself? The HCG diet is based on a pregnancy hormone which assists the body in protecting lean muscle mass while attacking abnormal body fat. The injections, or drops, of HCG are combined with an extremely low calorie diet. The idea being that you don’t get hungry while doing HCG, because your body is releasing fat into your system. The main issue with HCG is the injections vs. drops: Are they both as effective? But the truth is, it is not injections vs. drops so much as it is prescribed HCG vs. homeopathic. Real HCG can only be obtained with a doctor’s prescription. If you have purchased your drops of HCG over the Internet, or from a friend, you must realize this is basically a watered down version of HCG, if any at all, that you would obtain from a regular clinic. At the same time, the price you paid for your homeopathic HCG will be comparative in relation to the prescribed HCG. It is common to find a bottle of homeopathic drops from as low as $30, to as much as $150. The equivalent amount of doctor prescribed injections could run you several hundred dollars, from around $400 on up, depending upon the clinic you go to and the amount of support provided. I have experience with both injections and drops, and did a full in-

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Today’s Woman | SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2010


Hypnosis We spoke with Maria Thompson of Positive Changes. Hypnosis is an aid to weight loss when a person goes into a relaxed state where the subconscious mind is helped to visualize making changes in behavior, and the person later does make those changes.

Statement from Maria Thompson: “How are we different from other weight loss methods? n We don’t do the ‘diet mentality.’ Long term, people feel deprived on diets and they want forbidden foods. We feel that on other programs, people may lose weight too quickly and later gain it back. n We take the subject’s bad habits and replace them with healthy habits. We don’t weigh our subjects or count calories. n We pick and choose our candidates. You have to believe in this program and you can’t lose weight for another person. n It is 100 percent safe. You don’t put pharmaceuticals or unsafe substances into your body. Our approach is behavior modification, and we get lifelong results. The hypnotist talks about the client’s issues and helps them replace unhealthy behaviors with healthy ones. You’ve got to change your belief system and change your emotional relationship with food. We talk about healthy eating and exercise habits, such as portion control and drinking lots of water. We institute healthy behaviors of a thin person and get rid of bad habits like drinking too much coffee, eating for emotional reasons and taking seconds. Clinical hypnosis is different from entertainment hypnosis, where only about ten percent of subjects are truly hypnotized—those people want to be onstage. Clinical hypnosis is simple. The client is made relaxed. She wears glasses that emit light pulses to stimulate the optic nerve and wears earphones to hear soft music and affirmations from a hypnotist. Additionally, a client can listening to pre-recorded CDs in a class (usually twice a week.) Every person gets his or her own personal CD to listen to at home. There are some for whom it doesn’t work. We can’t cure a medical problem, only a behavioral one. It doesn’t work with people who have an IQ less than 70, who are on drugs or alcohol, or who are very resistant.

Louise Pryor

Louise Pryor’s husband loves her weight loss program from Positive Changes. Along with her, he has lost weight eating his favorite foods—like pork chops. In the past, along with yo-yo dieting, Louise had bad habits. She ate throughout the evening after work, and when there was stress at work, she ate soft candy. “I tried anything and everything — Weight Watchers, LA Weight Loss, TOPs, new products. I could lose 10 pounds every time but I was always losing the same 10 pounds — it was a revolving door. My husband didn’t like it because I wasn’t about to cook a separate meal for him, so he had to follow all those diets, too.” She saw an ad for Positive Changes in the Idaho Press-Tribune, and her husband said she ought to call them. “After a month of thinking about it, I met with them, and I knew it was for me. I never hit a plateau,” she says. Four days after her first session, she took a trip to Seattle and ate out, yet came home 5 pounds lighter. She had taken her personal CD to listen to. Within months, she lost 60 pounds and went from size 3X to size 12. What did Louise hear in her sessions? “The past is the past. You needed those things [eating due to stress] then, this is a new start.” Louise says that she learned to focus on her own problems, mostly changing portion sizes and cutting out snacks. “I eat three meals a day. If I have a small dessert after dinner that’s OK but I don’t eat during the evening. When I reach for a snack, it’s blocked. The idea of grabbing that snack may pop into your head but it goes out just as fast. It changed my behaviors.” Her cooking pattern changed. “I cook the same way, and the same foods, but I only cook the correct portions and enough for that meal so there are no leftovers.” Louise was pre-diabetic but she no longer needs those medications. “They decreased my blood pressure medication and soon may take away my cholesterol medicine.” In the past, she had doctors’ appointments and lab tests every quarter but now these come only annually. “It’s too bad hypnosis isn’t covered by medical insurance because losing this weight saved me a lot on doctor bills,” Louise says. Her exercise is walking because “it’s free.”

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2010 | Today’s Woman

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Lap-Band We spoke with Dr. Bryan Anderson of the Minimally Invasive Bariatric Program at St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center. A Lap Band System (trademarked name) is an adjustable surgical treatment for obesity that is often inserted laparopically. It induces weight loss by reducing the capacity of the stomach, by the use of a small inflatable implant device that restricts the amount of food that can be eaten. This procedure is adjustable and reversible.

How Lap-Band works “The band program is different from any other weight loss surgery. All others change the anatomy and can’t be reversed. With the band, none of the gut is removed. A flow restrictor is placed about 1 inch below where the esophagus enters the stomach, which restricts how much a person can eat. So this creates a smaller opening for the food to go through, according to Dr. Bryan Anderson. “Hormones tell the brain we are full, and release when the stomach is full — these stretch receptors can actually cause pain. With the band, we are stretching a small part of the stomach and those receptors tell us we are full. The food is moving through much slower and a person feels full longer. “We encourage our patients to eat right. The followup is very intensive. We do up to 12 adjustments in the amount of saline in the band during the first year. The amount of saline can be customized for what’s going on with the patient, such as pregnancy, high stress or whatever. “Research shows patients do better when we identify impediments to their success first. We are a McDonald’s society — we want gratification and we want it now. So before surgery, we work with a psychologist to find out what brought on the obesity: Stress? An eating disorder? “About 50 to 60 percent of our patients have significant depression. We want to make sure it is treated properly to help with their long-term success.” “We are concerned about other weight loss surgeries because they may contribute to certain nutritional deficiencies that happen when you alter the stomach’s anatomy. The stomach stretches, so after a few years, it can begin to stretch again, the patient can eat more and can possibly gain the weight back. “And, with bypass surgery about 33 to 35 percent of weight loss is nonfat — muscle or bone mass. This figure is only 15 to 17 percent with the band, which means 85 percent of what the patient loses is fat, and that’s what we want them to lose.”

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Today’s Woman | SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2010

Jamee Brinkerhoff

Jamee Brinkerhoff, 43, reached her weight loss goal of 100 pounds 13 months after having Lap-Band surgery in 2005, and lost another 25, going from 250 to 125 pounds. The secret? Her stomach has no room for a big meal. “With this surgery, after you’ve eaten for a while, you feel pressure in your chest that tells you to stop. If you don’t, you throw up,” she says. Lap-Band patients learn to eat slowly because the surgery provides only a tiny hole where food can go into the stomach, and if they eat too fast, it backs up into the esophagus. “By eating slowly, you eat a greater variety of foods and that’s important. The first 6 to 12 months are the hardest because you’re learning,” she says. The doctor fills or removes saline solution from the pouch depending on a person’s needs, she says. Once she was losing too much weight and the doctor removed saline; another time, she had three major life stressors at the same time and had to have some removed. Five years ago, food had become the comfort that got her through marital problems and severe depression. She had watched her children grow up from the couch, and was on Prozac. “I was overweight because I love food. I thought about it all the time,” she says. At that point, she saw an ad for a seminar on lap band surgery and decided to attend. The rest is history. Were there big dietary changes? No—Jamee eats the same foods but with smaller portion sizes. What about that old temptress, chocolate? “The temptations are still there. I eat chocolate every day. The difference is, five years ago, I could eat a whole cake and now I only have the ability to eat three or four bites.” She says she doesn’t feel the saline-filled pouch at all. “I feel better. There are no more pains in my hips, knees or back, my energy level is through the roof, I’m off the CPAP machine for sleep apnea, and I’ve gone from needing 10 hours of sleep a night to four or five,” Jamee says. She went off Prozac within four months of surgery, and has gone from being a couch potato to enjoying shopping trips with her daughters. She changed cars — to a smaller model — and changed jobs — from managing a photography office to being coordinator of the Lap-Band Program at St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center.


Q&A

Hypnosis Maria Thompson

Medically Assisted Weight Loss Dr. Allen Rader

Weight Loss with HCG Hormone Kim Bowles

Lap Band Surgery Dr. Bryan Anderson

Gastric Bypass Surgery Dr. Christian Oakley, general surgeon

Are there special foods/ limitations?

Yes. We don’t endorse a specific eating plan or focus on calories. We replace unhealthy and unwanted habits and behaviors that have caused people to be overweight with habits and behaviors of a naturally thin person.

Yes.

No, our HCG diet removes certain foods.

Absolutely.

Yes. We expect our patients to eat all types of foods by one year post operatively, to eat well-balanced meals on schedule, with an emphasis on plenty of water, high protein foods, and fruits and vegetables for variety. Each patient meets with a dietician at least three times.

Does your program include exercise?

Yes. If the client needs help with this, we help them change sedentary behavior to include exercise in their life. The difference? Now they want to, and do, exercise vs. knowing that they should, but don’t really want to.

Yes.

No, on an HCG diet, exercise is not recommended due to the low amount of calories eaten in a day. After the weight is off during a transition period, we encourage exercise.

Absolutely. It depends on where the patient starts. They are not recommended for surgery unless they meet the National Institutes of Health recommendations.

Yes. We encourage as much exercise as possible. They go from being incapable of exercise before surgery to being able to do many things afterward. About 50 percent of our patients eventually get into vigorous exercise. Morbidly obese people who do not have surgery are not able to exercise.

How fast does the program work?

Our proven programs are designed so a person will lose what is safe, right and natural for them, and that is different for everyone. On average our clients lose 1 to 3 pounds a week, some more. More importantly, our programs are designed to teach people how to sustain weight loss for life.

We watch rate of loss and do body compositions to confirm healthy loss if rate of loss is faster than average.

On an HCG diet, a client typically loses a pound a day. We want quick results so they can be motivated.

It varies with the age and size of the patient.

With any of our surgeries, a client typically loses 20 pounds in the first week. A woman who is 5’ 6” could easily lose 50 to 60 pounds in the first three months. The idea that fast weight loss is bad is false. They should lose as fast as possible, as long as they are getting the protein and vitamins they need.

Is it a safe program?

Not applicable.

We don’t use special formula diets.

Yes, all programs are monitored by a nurse practitioner.

We believe that every patient needs the support of a primary care doctor to monitor other issues along with the bariatric surgeon, who monitors the Lap-Band.

By the nature of our diet, they are only taking in about 600 calories a day — 60 grams of protein per day for a woman and 80 grams per day for a man. They take vitamins and drink plenty of water — if they do these things, they are very healthy. We would advise our patients to come in at least once a year for the rest of their lives so we can monitor their health.

Is there a maintenance program?

Yes. This is what we are all about! Everything we do throughout our programs is about life-long change and healthy habits for life.

Yes. This is what I feel is the most important part of our program. We talk about maintaining weight loss at the first visit, even before we talk about how to lose the weight.

Yes, all of our patients meet with a nutrition counselor weekly and continue with a course to help them maintain their goal weight.

Yes, this is one reason why we have the patient see a psychologist before we operate. And any successful weight loss program requires dietary counseling.

Not applicable.

What is the cost and how long does it last?

We have clients from different financial backgrounds. The length and cost of each program is dependent on a person’s specific needs and issues. Our programs are customized for each client.

The cost of a prescription drug weight plan varies according to the patient.

Depending on the individual’s needs, our programs (which also include appetite control prescription drugs as a different option from HCG) cost $89 to $200 a month. A program is customized at the first consultation to fit with their budget. For $99 we offer two weeks of appetite control medicine, two lipo injections, a complete metabolic blood test work-up and a consultation with our nurse practitioner.

If it were paid for out of pocket with no insurance, it costs from $12,000 to $13,000, which covers anesthesia, a hospital stay, the Lap Band, the surgery and one year of follow-up. (This price has gone down in recent years.)

Prices on all the surgeries have gone down in recent years. Out of pocket, a gastric bypass costs $19,350, which includes an overnight hospital stay, according to a St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center spokesperson.

Will insurance cover your program?

We don’t accept insurance but encourage clients to check with their insurance companies. Some clients take advantage of the flex-spending or cafeteria plan benefits they have through work.

In general, medical insurance companies don’t cover weight loss plans because they want statistical proof that they work. Bariatric surgeries have such statistics, so they are covered sometimes. Some insurance companies are starting to reimburse patients for the Idaho Weight Loss program because we have compiled convincing data. We are tracking over 9,000 patients who have used our services in Boise, Twin Falls and Fruitland.

None of our programs are covered by insurance but can be paid for with some FLEX and health savings accounts.

More Idaho insurance companies are paying for the procedure.

Yes. The operation is the tool they use to maintain their weight. A patient who loses 50 percent of their body weight is typically around the same weight 15 years later. In our program, we have psychologists who attend meetings of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgeons every year, and they are tuned in to the needs of bariatric surgery patients. They are always available to patients when needed.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2010 | Today’s Woman

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S

ometimes the most precious and loving gift you can give is a moment of kindness. In front of me was a young woman, clearly harried as she herded her two children through the check-out line of the grocery store. Her bill was more than the cash she had in her purse, so she began frantically rummaging through her pockets, her bag and the wad of money she had in her hand. The woman directly in front of me tossed something towards her feet then touched the woman’s arm, “I think you dropped some of your money,” she said. The young woman stooped down and picked up a $10 bill, clutched it dearly and paid her bill. When the woman in front of me moved up to the checker, she realized she had left her discount card in her car. I flicked my card toward her feet. She looked down, smiled as she picked it up and gave it to the checker. We exchanged a moment of appreciation that did not need words. When it was my turn with the checker I asked her how she was and she replied, “It’s feeling a

lot more like Christmas right now.” We exchanged smiles and I drove home nurturing the warmth I felt inside. We are in the home stretch of holiday gift-giving. Make coupons for a special time together, give a homemade gift. Remember to gather and treasure the love inside of each gift. Spread kindness and love as your daily gift to everyone. Happy Holidays! One Christmas, my daughter Kathleen worked overtime on extra chores because she wanted to give me a special gift. When I suggested Dad could help her buy the present, she vetoed that idea explaining, “Then the gift would be from Dad.” Because there is so much financial and emotional stress around gift-giving my family switched to homemade gifts. I treasure the walking stick that Scott carved out for me. I cherish the photo album filled with memories and get misty-eyed reading the quotes she said they had learned from me: “Happiness is like jam, you can’t spread a little without getting some on yourself.”

Another favorite quote: Make your life an act of love. Children want more time with you. My favorite gift is time with someone I love. Coupons provide the gift that people want most — more time with you. Here are some ideas for coupons you could give: A walk in the park or on the greenbelt Indoor pools Roller skating or iceskating Dollar movies Family movie night Family board games/card games Miniature golf A visit to local museums/historical sites Lessons or season passes for activities

Sandy Spurgeon McDaniel

Sandy Spurgeon McDaniel recently moved to Meridian. She brings 48 years of research and work with children to help the Treasure Valley families. Resources for more ideas: Sandy has written four REI-books and classes and rental equipment for outdoor books, is the founder of activities parentingsos.com, is an Department of Parks and Recreation: Classes and locations international speaker, of parks and public spaces discipline specialist, National Forest Service: Maps and trail guides parenting coach and the AAA: Tour books of your town people who know her call Library/bookstore: Idea books for activities for kids of all ages her the “kid whisperer.”

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Decorate like Mother Nature would

By Vickie Schaffeld Holbrook • Today’s Woman editor

C

hristmas is my favorite part of the year. I’ve decorated trees for the Nampa Festival of Trees nearly every year and could easily finish out two or three more trees with the “in case I need it” goodies I’ve purchased and stored in the past 10 years. And I always revel in the fabulous trees that so many people decorate and donate for the local festival that raises money for the Meals on Wheels programs in Nampa and Caldwell. I learn something new and steal an idea or two for future projects. And I’m sharing them with you now. Even though I prefer the elegant glitzy look during Christmas, the country and primitive styles are perfect for many homes and work well in cabins and getaways. I’ve picked up some really fun fabric and metal decorations from Nampa’s Lemon Tree for a full and country-looking tree.

LED lights are the new norm. They are energy-efficient, very bright and they are cool to the touch. But they are more expensive. Plan for 100 lights per foot of tree. It’s a lot, but your tree will shimmer (and ornaments will reflect the light) and guests will notice. White lights are best unless you have an eclectic, no-basic-color theme.

A few tricks of the trade:

If you can’t afford to buy all new ornaments or you are changing colors, grab spray paint and/or glitter to change color. You may not be able to buy all the ornaments at once. When I switched from a country pastel pink and purple tree to a richer brown-rustThere are some simple rules to follow: red-and-copper theme, I started with simple Be sure the tree you choose matches the decorations balls and a few fancier ones. I’ve acquired a nice and theme. You wouldn’t mix a glitzy look with a mixture over a 4-year period and most were purprimitive tree that you would find in the woods. chased after Christmas. Think about the space where your tree will sit. It Consider hanging some ornaments from the ceilshould be large enough for the room but shouldn’t take ing or in front of a mirror at varying lengths. This it over. helps bring the eyes upward and completes the Consider the tall “slim” 9-foot trees. Anything over 7.5 feet starts to take up too much floor space unless it theme throughout the living space. Pick a dominant color and build off that. I use is a “slim” version.

browns and coppers with pops of rich red and avocado green colors, and I carry that look throughout my great room. Unless you are a sentimental person who must keep everything that’s been handed down from generations upon generations, think about the overall look. Be selective about those special family pieces that are part of your traditions. My dad made me a wooden rocking horse for my first Christmas. It has bright red and green paint that doesn’t really match the rest of the room. But I have a special place for my 54-year-old heirloom and my snowman collection. And for goodness sakes, be sure to tuck a few angels here and there. If you celebrate the religious aspect of the holiday, the nativity scene should have a special spot. Make it a tradition and include the children in the set up. I have my mother’s precious set and it’s displayed in very visible place where little hands can’t break anything. It’s a special way to “Remember the Reason for the Season.” Turn to page 34 for more holiday decorating tips

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2010 | Today’s Woman

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May your holiday be filled with sparkle ❅

Size, shapes and textures matter

for a variety of ornaments, but remember that consistency is important. ❄ Aim Try round, light-colored balls with a matte finish and dark lean, vertical, shiny

ornaments. Find some larger pieces that can really make a statement. Decide if you want a garland that you can sweep up and around the tree, or if you want to use large bows. This is a good opportunity to blend your lights and darks together with a fun texture. Holiday floral picks and glittery sprays of leaves help fill out the decorated tree.

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Today’s Woman | SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2010


Some important finishing touches

Tree skirts and table runners are expensive and don’t always match. But holiday fabrics are affordable (wait for the special fabric sale) and offer plenty of coverage and a wide range of colors. I also arrange shimmery fabrics around clusters of small trees and the nativity to soften the look and hide things that detract from the holiday décor. Pretty beaded placemats provide a base for candles or a cluster of decorations. Just because an ornament has a hanger, doesn’t mean it needs to hang from a branch. I’ve inverted many — especially the new oversized pieces — and displayed them in special martini glasses. Don’t forget your windows. A garland with a few lights woven across the top of your windows make a simple, but glowing statement. My friend Cheryl convinced me to drape beads and ornaments from my chandelier. I was skeptical, but it turned out fantastic. n Vickie Schaffeld Holbrook

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2010 | Today’s Woman

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DIY DIVA

’Tis the season for Vickie Schaffeld Holbrook • Today’s Woman editor

Want to add some new appetizers to your favorites? Try Chocolate-dipped bacon or Cheese Apricot Bites. Cream cheese with some variations will turn some of your favorite meat, bread, vegetable slices into tasty make-ahead tidbits perfect for parties. i For more holiday recipes and ideas, visit my DIY Diva blog at http://www.idahopress.com/app/blogs/DIY_Diva/ or link to it from idahopress.com/todays_woman.

Brie Bites

Cut puff pastry into 2 x 2 squares and place in mini muffin tins with corners poking out. Put brie cubes (about 1 t.) in centers. Bake about 10 minutes at 400 F or when edges brown. Add about 1 t. warmed jalapeño jelly to each bite. Serve warm.

Holiday beverages

There are oodles of sparkling fruit juices, including pomegranate, and premixed drinks, such as eggnog with brandy.

Chocolate-Dipped Bacon

1 16-oz. package of sliced bacon – I used regular thickness 3 T. packed brown sugar 6 oz. bittersweet or dark chocolate ¼ cup finely chopped pistachio nuts, almonds, pecans and/or cashews. Preheat the oven at 375º F. Cut the bacon pieces in half and arrange (single layer) on baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Sprinkle the brown sugar over the bacon. Bake 20-25 minutes until bacon is crisp. Transfer bacon to wire rack to cool. Melt chocolate and dip bacon pieces, letting excess drip off, lightly coat with chopped nuts. Store refrigerated up to 3 days. k Better Homes and Garden Appetizers

(b)

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Today’s Woman | SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2010


tasty bites White Blizzard Chocolate Martini (a)

For a glamorous holiday drink consider this recipe: 4 oz. Absolute Vanilla vodka 1 oz. clear Crème de Cacao 2 oz. Godet White Chocolate liqueur 3 t. coconut flakes Rim 2 freezing martini glasses with coconut crème, edge with flaked coconut. Vigorously shake ingredients with ice for at least a full minute, strain into freezing martini glasses, sprinkle coconut on top of drink. k martiniart.com

Cream Cheese Tasty Tidbits (c) Mix well: 4 parts softened Cream Cheese, reduced fat 1 part pesto OR 1 part chopped green onion Season with garlic salt

Cheese Apricot Bites (b)

(a)

In a small skillet melt 2 t. butter, add 2 T. finely chopped walnuts and 2 t. sugar; cook and stir over med heat until walnuts are lightly roasted. Stir in ½ t. freshly snipped rosemary or ¼ t. dried crushed rosemary. Cool. Mix ¼ cup crumbled Gorgonzola, Roquefort or blue cheese with 1 oz. cream cheese until smooth and creamy. Spoon about ¾ t. onto 16 dried apricot halves, top with nut mixture, garnish with additional rosemary. k Better Homes and Garden Appetizers

(c)

1. Zucchini slices + cream cheese/green onion mixture + red pepper slices 2. Baggett slices + cream cheese/pesto mixture, topped with grated Parmesan cheese, broil until tops are golden, top immediately with chopped red pepper. Serve warm or cold. 3. Hulled large cherry tomatoes + cream cheese/green onion mixture. 4. Thin ham or turkey slices, cream cheese mixture (choose one of the above) blanched asparagus, rolled up and garnished with sweet pepper slices.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2010 | Today’s Woman

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video tips

Join the video craze, make your family stars! By Rhea Allen • For Today’s Woman ‘Tis the season for lengthy video clips of Grandma’s carpet and dark silhouetted noise coming from what appears to be a Christmas tree. I’d like to offer a few simple steps to avoid useless hours of digital video files taking up space on your computer.

1. Shoot with the end results in mind. What are you going to use this footage for? Who is going to see this? How much time can you devote to editing it, or are you just planning to make a YouTube video and post it for the world to see? 2. No need to feel like you’re on a boat in the middle of the ocean while replaying the footage. Use a tripod or some sort of level surface to stabilize your shots. 3. Low-light situation? Turn on a lamp! Light some candles, use your keychain light, and just get some light on the subject so you can see what you’re shooting. If the natural light is coming in through a window behind the subject, move around the room to get various angles so the subject is not a silhouette. If you’re looking to buy a new camera, spend the few extra dollars to get one with a built in light. It will be worth it! 4. Understand the difference between digital zoom

and optical zoom; digital zoom will blow up your image and the image just gets pixelated and grainy. Optical zoom actually moves the lens in such a way that the image is zoomed in on and not just “blown up.” In most cases, just avoid using a digital zoom. 5. Audio. Can you hear me now? How about now? If you can, plug in an external mic. If you’re just using the on-camera, built in mic, make sure you’re close enough to your subject to pick up the audio and remember to turn off the music in the background if you want to hear the conversations. 6. Add some variety for your viewers. Get some wide shots, medium shots and close ups to break up the scene. Also, don’t record while you are adjusting your shots unless you want to spend a lot more time editing later. 7. Hold still. Let the action happen in front of you. You don’t have to be zooming & panning constantly. A good tip we tell our newbies; set the shot, then count to 10 before you move the camera so you have a steady shot. Besides that, too much zooming and panning might eventually require motion sickness pills.

Two affordable video cameras: Flip Video cameras: $149 to $199 Kodak PlaySport (Zx3) : $189

n Rhea Allen, M.B.A., is an integrative marketing consultant and president/CEO of Peppershock Media in Nampa. www.peppershock.com

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Got 5 minutes? Hostess gifts: A Baker’s Dozen of ideas to say thanks!

1. Wine – Wine – Wine! A very popular thank-you gift, especially if you give a local label. But not if your hostess doesn’t drink wine or doesn’t drink at all! 2. A liqueur — don’t confuse this with liquor. It is an alcoholic beverage that is flavored with fruit, spices, herbs or crème. They are typically sweet. 3. Candle tarts or squares – most people have something that burns them 4. Flavored coffee, tea or chocolate in a mug that fits the holiday or party 5. A picture frame to capture a moment at the party 6. A box of fine candy or homemade candies 7. A pair of special cocktail glasses 8. Flavored salts or olive oil are popular and can be found at culinary stores 9. Homemade jams or jellies 10. Fresh baked bread or muffins for the next morning 11. A new popular book, movie or music 12. Coordinating dishtowels 13. Bath/spa products

When should I bring a host or hostess gift?

Dinner party: Yes, almost mandatory Casual get-together: Probably not, but offer to bring a side dish to complement what’s being served. Overnight guest: Absolutely! The longer you stay, the bigger the thank you gift. Cocktail party: Not necessary, but always enjoyed! Show up and buy party: No. Your “hostess gift” is showing up and buying something. Thank you notes and hostess gifts: You don’t have to do both. But you must do one. Regifting: This is becoming acceptable now that people are counting every penny. But don’t give something you wouldn’t want and use yourself, even if someone gave it to you. And make sure who you give it to. Your friend’s friend wouldn’t be very popular!

Package perfect!

Here’s a quick list of things to make your gifts look as special as they are: Wire ribbon: This is an absolute must! It’s so easy to bunch up and make a nice bow in minutes. Keep silver and gold in your supplies. They will dress up almost anything. Craft paper roll: You can rubber stamp, stencil the paper, or just use a nice ribbon to jazz it up. For a striking contract, consider a glitzy bow with long curled tails. Package tags: There are plenty of choices out there these days to mix and match or make your own from scrapbooking supplies. Burlap: For a fun way to conceal gifts, especially for men or to match your country Christmas tree, use burlap to wrap a special package Raffia, twigs, artificial berries: These

gifts of nature can finish off a gift wrapped in craft paper or burlap and it shows that you took the extra time to make a gift special. Foil wrapping paper: This shiny paper always classes things up. And it is stunning under a tree of lights. Coordinating paper and ribbon: If you are using special colors on your tree (browns and teal are popular this year) you may want to choose paper that doesn’t clash with your tree. Tree ornaments: Flat star/snowflake ornaments are fabulous on wrapped boxes and the recipient will remember the gift each time it’s hung on a tree. Beaded garlands: There are many kinds of beaded/wired garlands that can be used on a package.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2010 | Today’s Woman

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Women in Business

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@

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Today’s Woman | SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2010

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The General Motors Women’s Retail Network is launching a scholarship program to encourage women to consider a career in automotive retail. The GM Women’s Retail Network Dealer Development Scholarship is intended for women who are enrolled in undergraduate, graduate and non-traditional educational institutions that offer degrees in the automotive retail field. Several scholarships worth up to $5,000 each will be available beginning in 2011. “GM was the first automaker in the industry to establish a program to actively recruit women into the automotive retail field as part of our efforts to increase the number of women dealers in our network,” said Marina Shoemaker, director, GM Women’s Retail Network. In conjunction with the 10th anniversary of the network, the women’s Dealer Advisory Council agreed the time was right to offer a scholarship program that might help influence more women to consider a career as a general/executive manager or owner/operator of a GM dealership, Shoemaker said. Applications will be accepted beginning in January 2011 and scholarship awards will be announced in May. Applicants will be evaluated on the strength of their academic performance, community service and volunteerism, work experience, and a personal statement. Additional selection criteria include: • Acceptance and full-time enrollment in an accredited/recognized automotive program of institution (automotive retail and/or service management) • U.S. citizenship or the ability to accept permanent employment in the United States without the need for current or future visa sponsorship • Letter of recommendation from a GM dealer “It’s a well-known fact that women influence the majority of automotive purchasing decisions, which is creating more career opportunities for women in automotive retailing,” said Karen Miskimins of Hardin Chevrolet in Hardin, Mont., and a member of the GM Women’s Dealer Advisory Council. “We’re excited about being able to help women further their education in this area so they’re prepared to walk through the doors that are being opened to them.” More information about the GM Women’s Retail Network Dealer Development Scholarship is available at wrnscholarshipinfo@gmsac.com. Those wishing to make donations to the scholarship program should contact the CMS Foundation at 888-377-5233. -Metro Editorial Services

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New scholarship for women pursuing retail automotive careers


Rhea Allen, President and CEO of Peppershock Media is a rock star in her world. She runs a rock star hybrid marketing + creative agency, she’s a rock star in the community servicing local nonprofit groups and donating in-kind services. But most importantly, she’s a rock star mom balancing family, work and community. She’s got lots of fans including her husband Drew, her sons Emerson and Kaden, her employees and her clients. Rhea Allen, has a rock star banker, Jennifer Deroin. Jennifer helps Rhea keep her business running smoothly with customized cash management and solutions from Intermountain Community Bank.

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