Kansas Farmers - Fall 2021 by KS Women's Lifestyle

KANSAS FARMERS WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE OCTOBER 2021

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Writers OCTOBER 2021

MANAGING EDITOR

OLIVIA BRIEN

JAYNI CAREY

Entrepreneur and Communicator

Cookbook Author / Former Cooking Show Host

LONITA COOK

TRACEY ENGLISH

Ann Niccum DESIGNER / ART DIRECTOR Joaquin Miles DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Trenton Bush CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER Jason Dailey

Film Critic

Personal Fitness Trainer

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Olivia Brien Jayni Carey Lonita Cook Tracey English Kim Gronniger Cathy Hamilton Priti Lakhani Heather Perry Sydney Shrimpton Jennifer Smith SOCIAL MEDIA Tracey English

KIM GRONNIGER

Writer / Marketer / Explorer

PRITI LAKHANI

CATHY HAMILTON

Old Journalist / New Grandma

ANN NICCUM

Global Citizen

Managing Editor / Peacemaker

HEATHER PERRY

SYDNEY SHRIMPTON

EMAIL COMMENTS TO editor@LWomensLifestyle.com ADVERTISING INQUIRIES Meredithe McCormick VP of Business Development Meredithe@LWomensLifestyle.com SUBSCRIPTIONS LWomensLifestyle.com/subscriptions

Fashion Blogger

PUBLISHER KMG Marketing L Magazine is published quarterly by the Kern Marketing Group Inc. It is distributed via US Postal Service mail to households inTopeka, Lawrence, Eudora,Baldwin,DeSoto,LenexaandShawnee,Kansas.Allrightsreserved.No portionofthismagazinemaybereprintedorreproducedwithoutwrittenconsent fromthepublisher.Articlesandadvertisementsdonotnecessarilyreflectthe opinionsoftheKernMarketingGroup.TheKernMarketingGroupdoesnotassumeresponsibilityforstatementsmadebyadvertisersoreditorialcontributors. InformationinLMagazineisgatheredfromsourcesconsideredtobereliable, but the accuracy of all information cannot be guaranteed.

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To learn more about our writers, visit LMagazineKS.com/writers

JENNIFER SMITH Horticulturist

INSIDE

October 2021

8 | Perks and Pleasures of Homemade Baby Food 12 | Joy through Lighting 26 | Paper Cuts

Pg. 26

Artist Spotlight on Angie Pickman

36 | Celebrating Diwali 46 | A Recipe to Fall For Apple Hand Pies with Rosemary Caramel Sauce

58 | Spoken in Whispers Living with Menopause

Pg. 36

Pg. 46

62 | The Last Word

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Melanie Gieringer

COVER

features 19 | Food. Farm. Connection. Three Northeast Kansas Farmers Share their Stories

30 | Selling with Helling Mentoring and Motivating

38 | Crowning Achievements Inner Power from Prestige

50 | Resources for Remodeling Renovating your Home Inside and Out

Perks and Pleasures of Homemade Baby Food BY S YDNEY

SHRIMPTON

PHOOTGRAPHY

BY T RNEOT

BU sH AND

sON

AI LE Y

9 My 10-month-old has learned to spit out his food. Every store-bought can of baby food I’ve opened has resulted in a spewing fountain of pureed produce, much to the delight of my sweet boy. Needless to say, he thinks this is hilarious.

Gus Miller

Convincing an infant to eat is not always easy. Some find their baby is enamored with food. Others have to work a little harder to convince theirs to enjoy anything other than milk. Baby food aisles are packed with pre-blended mashes ranging in texture, taste and complexity, yet sometimes even the most delicious combinations don’t provide the taste your child is seeking. Like all things parenting, there is more than a little controversy surrounding the health of storebought baby food. We parents tend to become a little obsessive when it comes down to our children putting anything into their mouths and, when added to the actual task of convincing your baby to eat it, sometimes it feels like transitioning to solids is impossible. After tossing yet another container into the trashcan, I decided to take a different approach to the process of convincing my son, Auden, to try something new. Enter homemade baby food. Tons of recipes exist, offering versatility and flexibility to suit every infant’s needs. There are so many tools and resources available that the task can seem fairly daunting. Often, the thought of finding time and energy to perfect recipes can stop the project before it starts. There’s no need to be intimidated, though, as Megan Miller, mother of 10-month-old Gus, has found. “His [Gus’] absolute favorite meal so far has been roast, potatoes and carrots,” she says, “proving already that he’s a good Midwestern boy.” Miller chose to make her own baby food based on several factors. With homemade fare, she’s able to control the ingredients, ensuring her baby is getting the best quality nourishment possible. She also wanted Gus to learn to enjoy the types of foods he’d be eating when he graduated to solid food.

“It’s significantly

cheaper and overall more nutritious.”

- Megan Miller

“It’s significantly cheaper and overall more nutritious with less additives and chemicals,” she says. “Plus, I’m exposing him to the kinds of food and meals he’ll be eating when he transitions from formula.” CONTINUED P.10 »

Auden Shrimpton

There are many different products that can be utilized when making your own. These products range from the humble blender to the dehydrating, steaming, blending, reheating specialty machines. In the end, though, all you really need is something that will chop or blend the meal into a smooth puree. Kimberly Burbank, mother of four, laughed out loud when I mentioned the blending-dehydrating-steaming contraption. Burbank made her own baby food for each of her children, simply blending the food, mixing it with a little breastmilk to create a creamier puree and then freezing it in silicone ice cube containers. “It was so easy!,” she says. “We were already buying the ingredients, so there wasn’t any extra expense. Maybe just the prep itself, but it wasn’t even that much.” There are tons of recipes for baby food – some that sound delicious (hello, cherry and mint Greek yogurt puree), and some that don’t sound like quite as much fun to taste-test (pea puree, anyone?). These can be as complicated or as simple as you’d like to make them.

Burbank enjoyed making her own food because she liked knowing exactly what her children were getting. Though she did appreciate the convenience of the store-bought products, in the end, taking a bit of extra time to make her own added far more benefits. “They’re getting whole foods – so they’re getting all the vitamins and all the nutrients that could be lost in the canned baby food,” she says. “I’d use Tupperware while we were traveling and would just allow the frozen baby food to defrost on the go.” Making baby food is not for everyone. Though the process as a whole is simple, it does take extra time and a bit of planning, and not everyone has that to spare. “Don’t be too hard on yourself if you have to give them store-bought food,” Miller says. “Today we see a lot of ‘perfect Instagram moms’ and think we’re failing if we don’t meet those expectations.”

Something Yummy! Pumpkin-Thyme Puree (4-6 months) Recipe adapted from healthline.com. Gus Miller

One small pumpkin (or butternut squash) 1 tsp olive oil (or coconut oil)

“We were already

buying the ingredients, so there wasn’t

any extra expense” - Kimberly Burbank Making food for your baby doesn’t have to be a stressful experience, and, in many ways, can be more rewarding than simply buying the premade food. Miller loves the fact that Gus already thinks she’s a great cook. “It may seem silly,” she says, “but I like knowing that he enjoys the things I cook for him.” I would have to agree. After giving homemade baby food a try, watching Auden dig into a new recipe I’ve made especially for him, turning himself into a sticky mess while I find the combinations he likes best, I can’t imagine doing it any other way. By keeping the experience light and adventurous, you too can enjoy the process, remembering the reason you’re doing it, which, in the end, is to help your sweet baby grow.

½ tsp fresh thyme or sage, roughly chopped 1-2 cups of liquid (breastmilk, formula, water or stock) Preheat oven to 350 degrees Line a baking sheet with foil. Cut up the pumpkin or squash. Cut in half first, scraping the seeds and innards, not worrying too much about removing all of the insides. Leave the skin on. Cut the pumpkin into small ish pieces, then brush with olive oil. Roast for 45-60 minutes, long enough for the flesh to become soft. Peel the skin off of the pumpkin. Place the pumpkin into the blender (or you can use an immersion blender). Add the thyme and begin blending, adding liquid in ¼ cup incre ments until you achieve the desired consistency. Serve, or freeze in silicone ice cube trays.

Joy Through Lighting

by Lonita

Cook

Photo courtesy of Creative Displays

13 There are the elves that tinker their little fingers to the bone, the reindeer that gallop across the star-dotted sky and the jolly red gentleman who orbits the earth on that faithful night delivering Christmastime cargo whether be toys, candies or coal. But what about the designer who makes the night sparkle with splendor and light? Angela Primavera, owner of Creative Displays, is one such yuletide creative. Her specialty? Elaborate light installations for families and communities around the world to celebrate the holidays and the most memorable moments of our lives. Creative Displays has a tradition of merriment. Primavera, along with her husband, purchased the Stillwell, Kan., company and preserved its festive conventions. With a background in international business, product development and design, Primavera ventured out of the corporate world and into a new purpose: being an agent of good tidings for her customers so they can deliver exceptional experiences to their own personal and community loved ones.

STUCK

ANGRY

LONELY

“The holidays are always special each year,” Primavera says. “Cheer is what we strive for as we help create memories. That feeling you get when you bring joy — that’s what motivates and drives us.” These are not everyday decorations. These are super wow-wow-wow stunning exhibits. Massive, personalized art pieces with white lights and colorful, sometimes animated details like a 25-foot fluttering flag for the Fourth of July, a basket of colored eggs for Easter, a drive-through tunnel with flapping-winged bats for Halloween or a 30-foot waving Santa to welcome all from sugarplum faeries to grinches into the enchanted season. Primavera gets caught in the magic too. “I love to nerd-out on the business stuff, but I also love the design. That’s what feeds my soul. It’s the size and type of light, it’s the color and how unique each project is in capturing the joy and excitement of the festivities. I think of it as art,” she says. CONTINUED P. 14 »

IT’S OK TO NOT BE OK. IT’S OK TO ASK FOR HELP. Stress, isolation, anxiety, job loss, and depression are hard on all of us. Reaching out to someone can

SCARED

BLAH

WIRED

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NUMB

8/23/21 7:47 AM

14 She says, “I’ve worked in the corporate world, and now I own my own company. I’m very motivated to be an example for my daughter and women who are thinking about entrepreneurship and about taking a chance on themselves.” Even in this snowy swamp of success where every elf can have a workshop of her own, a stock portfolio and out-Christmas even Santa, it feels like the marketplace is oversaturated. Can we truly have a place of our own? Primavera is adamant that with steady hard work, owning our own company is achievable. “Show up and compile what we learn each day,” she advises. Though the Creative Displays tinkershop exists in Kansas, the business exists in an industry, one that has been primarily controlled by men. “This is a male-dominated industry, especially when it comes to company ownership. Being a woman gives me an edge with the design, in understanding that design itself turns the industry upside down and makes lighting exhibits cutting edge,” she says. “It’s taking that basic part of lighting one to 10 steps further, being a little more visual and allowing the presentation to the customer be about connection, relationships and depth of experience. We minimize the part of what we do that’s transactional.” Creative Displays is about a jingle-good time with friends and family, but there is the serious component for Primavera of being, not just a role model for her daughter and son (as well as other women), but an example of success through hard work.

“I’m very motivated to be an example for my daughter and women who are thinking about entrepreneurship.” - Angela Primavera

It’s this commitment to solid effort, leading with both business and heart, and designing with the latest technologies that allows Primavera to grow Creative Displays into an international service and to touch lives as she goes. She works with customers on two islands in the Bahamas, has clients in West Africa as well as a host of domestic buyers, including Lawrence Parks and Recreation. It may seem like a seasonal business, but she is jingle-belling year-round.

15 One cherished design for Primavera is when Creative Displays was able to help a mother memorialize her 16-year-old daughter. She was remembered with an animated butterfly box. The girl’s favorite color was purple, so when it opened, purple butterflies flew out. “You never know what’s going to happen, but you never forget these kinds of custom projects,” she says. These projects exemplify the best of what makes Christmas so special. It’s the wonder but also how we’re able to hold each other and to hold memory in such a magical way. It’s not just Christmas, it’s not just holidays, it’s the moments of our lives being celebrated through lighting design.

Photos courtesy of Creative Displays | Kansas City’s Country Club Plaza

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Farming. Food. Connection.

Three Northeast Kansas farmers share their hardworking stories by Jennifer

Smith // photography by Trenton Bush

Susie Mackey

Farming is both a profession and a lifestyle, and it may seem more attractive after the quarantines and food security concerns experienced with the pandemic over the past 18 months. Growing your own food and providing it for others sounds romantic but is hard work, too. Those who are most successful at farming learn the craft of whatever they wish to grow or produce and find innovative ways to be profitable selling it. Opportunities for success are out there, regardless of your experience level and whether you are doing it individually or with a partner. Getting started Erica Gruebler operates Limestone Gardens near Overbrook with her husband, Victor, and their three children. They raise sheep, chickens and organic vegetables and started the farm eight years ago after feeling inspired by farmers market vendors they met while shopping.

Gruebler was interested in agriculture, but the acquisition of land and equipment needed for conventional farming made it seem unattainable. “I’ve always liked being outside and working outside. Some things that have also always been of interest are the environment, sustainability, helping people and community. When I learned about this style of farming, it all came together,” Gruebler says. She and her husband worked together to research organic vegetable farming and make a business plan. They eventually found the property where they farm and live today. Gruebler manages the day-to-day operations while her husband continues to work off the farm. Melanie Gieringer also got into farming after working elsewhere.

CONTINUED P.20 »

Melanie Gieringer

“I was a city girl,” she says. Her husband, Frank, worked for a farmer in high school and started farming for himself soon after. He raised cattle, pigs and conventional crops near Edgerton when they married, and she maintained her job in town. In the late ’90s, the Gieringers planted peach trees on their property with plans of selling the fruit. She says, “I worked for the school district at the time and had my summers off. We thought it would be good for our kids to help and earn money over the summer. The next year we added tomatoes. Then blackberries. It just continued to grow.” Gieringer’s son, Brice Wiswell, came back to the farm a few years after college and wanted to plant pick-your-own strawberries. That led to further expansion with blueberries, a pumpkin patch, a sunflower field, a corn maze and trellised apples. The farm became Gieringers Family Orchard and Berry Farm, and with the growth, Gieringer quit her other job to work full-time on the farm. Susie Mackey grew up in the cattle business and loved it but

“The next year we added tomatoes. Then blackberries. It just continued to grow.” - Melanie Gieringer

Susie Mackey

also dreamed of writing for “Drovers,” a journal focused on beef production. She studied Animal Science and Communications at Kansas State University, then she worked for the Livestock Exchange, a livestock association and the American Royal in Kansas City before getting her dream job of writing. While working in the city, Mackey purchased a few cows to start SMM Cattle Company. “I would get up early to feed the cattle before work,” she recalls. Her farm is located near Gardner now, but she has rented pasture in various places to maintain her herd over the years. Over time she built the cattle business to become her primary income and quit writing. Currently she raises and sells registered Angus cattle; sells premium aged Angus beef; provides AI (artificial insemination services); offers consulting services for breeding, sales, feeding and corral design; and judges livestock shows. Finding success

Gruebler’s farm uses an intensive cropping system for vegetable production with high tunnels (unheated hoophouses) for season extension. Chickens provide eggs and the sheep provide lamb meat. Gruebler sells and markets farm products through Topeka and Overbrook Farmers Markets, a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture), social media and a website, a Topeka Growers Group and the Kansas City Food Hub. Gruebler says in the past year they have had more people reaching out directly to them wanting certain products or large quantities of items for processing. The production, multiple sales outlets and children are a lot to handle. Gruebler has one full-time and two part-time employees that work on the farm when labor demands are highest. “I do a lot of the harvesting, and we have the CSA so I manage

CONTINUED P. 22 »

Erica Gruebler

that and marketing and payroll. The sheep are also definitely my thing. Victor likes planning so he takes care of that. Our full-time person handles the day-to-day chores, and the kids hop in wherever needed.” “We’ve added a little each year we’ve been here, but we are finally at the size we want. Now we are just refining the infrastructure and consistency in production,” Gruebler says. Gieringer also notes that their farm grew year-by-year rather than all at once. Sales and marketing shifted also – they initially sold produce at the Overland Park Farmers Market. As things progressed, they added an on-farm store, pick-your-own options and other agritourism ventures. They quit raising livestock and last year quit going to the farmers market. Now they rely on repeat customers, word-of-mouth, an email newsletter and social media to get people to the farm. The farm’s “Farmer Frank” videos are a hit on Facebook. Peaches, the crop that got the Gieringers started, have been less successful than most of their other crops. Late spring frosts and exceptionally cold winter temperatures damage the buds and prevent trees from producing much, if any, fruit some years. They mostly keep the trees out of love for the fresh fruit. Now, in addition to Gieringer, her husband and son, the farm

has three full-time employees, two employees who work April to October and up to 20 part-time staff in the fall to help with the pumpkin patch and corn maze. Mackey may have come into the cattle business with a lot of connections and experience, but she worked hard to make her own way also. Her off-farm employment gave her opportunities to network with other farmers, learn valuable skills and recognize opportunities in the field. One innovative addition to Mackey’s business was providing AI services. AI gives producers a way to breed cattle without the risks and costs of transporting bulls around the region. Still, there were only so many people who could provide the service. “I didn’t have time to wait around on someone to come. I went to a school to learn how to do it and just started doing it myself. I do my own cattle, and I also do it for other people.” Mackey handles almost all the farm work on her own. “When I need it, I hire help or friends. But I do as much as I can

myself. Sometimes you spend more time teaching someone than it takes to do the work yourself. I figure out ways to get things done,” she says. Most of Mackey’s business comes via word-of-mouth, but the pandemic and social media have boosted sales of meat. She is focused on quality and customer service and says she goes out of her way to ensure customers get the cuts of meat they want. Connection All three women spoke of connections made with farming – with customers or clients, other farmers, others in the industry and with the land and animals. Gruebler says meeting the people to whom she provides food and feeling their gratitude for it was a benefit of farming she didn’t expect. “Our repeat customers have become friends,” Gieringer says. “They share recipes and stories about the food.” She’s also happy to see kids come out and start connecting with where their food comes from, and enjoys when their workers watch “Farmer Frank” videos and start passing the information along to the farm’s visitors. “I get kind of emotional thinking about all the relationships I’ve built through the cattle business,” she says. “And the cattle. The docility and nature of these animals. There’s a connection there. Dad always said don’t fall in love with your cattle, but you have to love what you do. I’ve been fortunate enough to find ways to make it sustainable.” Final words of wisdom Gruebler: “Focus on the non-monetary benefits. If you get into it thinking you’ll make a lot of money, you will quickly lose interest. Start small, plan and adapt.” Gieringer: “Go to conferences, visit farms, meet successful farmers. Find resources online. Join grower/producer groups related to what you want to do. Starting out, partner with other growers to share equipment and resources. Make trades. Add a little at a time.” Mackey: “Get involved with professional associations, even at state and national levels. Read newsletters and farming magazines such as ‘Progressive Farmer’ to keep up to date on everything. Go to meetings and county fairs. Ask questions and talk to people who are in the business. Build relationships.”

Women farmers/producers by the numbers (according to the 2017 Census of Agriculture conducted by USDA)

There are 1.2 million female producers in the U.S. (36 percent of total producers and 27 percent increase from 2012)

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56%

Only 9 percent of farms are run entirely by women

Average age of female producers is 57

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Angie Pickman

Paper Cuts Artist Spolight on Angie Pickman BY

CATHY HAMILTON // PHOTOGRAPHY BY JASON DAILEY

When Atchison native and cut paper artist Angie Pickman received her master’s degree from the prestigious Tisch School of the Arts in 2004, she had a master plan. “I thought, ‘Well, I want to be an artist, so what I need to do is open a restaurant so I can be independently wealthy and make art in all my free time,’” she says, laughing in hindsight at the irony. So, with a business partner, Pickman took the plunge into the (ahem) leisurely world of start-up restaurant ownership. In New York City. With a baby imminently on the way. “First, we tried to open a wine and dessert bar. We studied and signed the lease without consulting a lawyer, which was a mistake, and thought everything was legit,” she explains. “When I went to get the liquor license, it turned out the building wasn’t even zoned for commercial use! I had to jump through all these hoops, and the owner of the building ended up being fined $28,000 for violations. We couldn’t get out of the lease, so we switched to running a wholesale bakery and sold to coffee shops and other places around the city.” The bakery business actually fared well, but Pickman — now a new mom — knew it wasn’t sustainable because her heart just wasn’t in it. But she carried on and carved out what little time she had at night to return to her first love and her roots. “I wasn’t doing a ton of art. It was more of a nighttime stress relief,” Pickman recalls.

“A flower that would ordinariyl be miniscule would tower over a whole block of buildings.”

- Angie Pickman

Though she lived in the concrete jungle of Brooklyn, she kept creating intricate images depicting the wilds of the Midwest. “I actually did a couple of buildings, but I made the nature around them have the focus,” she says. “A flower that would ordinarily be miniscule would tower over a whole block of buildings. That was my nod to living in the city while knowing nature is so much bigger. In the end, I wanted something to make me feel like Kansas.”

CONTINUED P. 28 »

She hit on the name “Rural Pearl,” which would become her alias and studio name. Soon a simple, symbolic image emerged. “I came up with my logo, which is this little bird. It was the very first paper cutting I ever did. That image has been the springboard for the style of all of my stuff,” Pickman says. Then in 2009, Pickman, her young daughter Miri and that little bird winged their way back to Atchison, where they moved in with the artist’s mother to reset. “I came home with my daughter and just the shirt on my back because everything had been invested in the bakery,” Pickman recalls. “I started ramping up my art and getting attention online from people. And I thought, ‘I’ve probably already done the hardest thing I’ll ever do in my life and worked harder than I ever will work again.’ So there was no fear in diving off that board and trying to make a living as an artist.” Her reputation, portfolio and profits grew, and by 2011, Pickman and daughter moved to Lawrence. “I started doing art fairs and felt like I was establishing myself with enough opportunities down the road to be able to maintain. I felt confident to go for it. I’m lucky to have a supportive family, so I knew I’d have something to fall back on if something happened.” Phoenix Gallery director Sue Shea was impressed by Pickman’s talent and positive spirit when she walked through her door 10 years ago. “She was unique and so bubbly, and we’d talk forever,” Shea says. “What’s cool about Angie is her work hasn’t deviated much from what she did 10 years ago, yet somehow it’s always fresh and new. Everyone knows an ‘Angie Pickman’ when they see it.” Fast forward to 2021. Now housed in a spacious studio with gallery space on Delaware Street in Lawrence’s east warehouse district, Pickman is a nationally recognized, sought-after and busy working artist. Miri, now 16, is thriving — and driving! — as a high school student, musician and athlete.

Pickman’s art show schedule, pinched back by COVID-19, jumped back on track in late summer. She has shows lined up through the fall all over the country and plenty of orders to fill. “People are out and really excited about buying art right now. It’s been great,” Pickman says. But Pickman will never let a little prosperity go to her head. “I’m an insane super-saver because I watched my restaurant fold in New York, opened the bakery, shed money like crazy, borrowed money and paid off loans,” Pickman says. “Now I really want to have my security blanket. I always say I went to New York to get my master’s — before the whole restaurant thing — but the best education I got was all of those hard business lessons and having to figure out what I want to do. You can’t get that from an institution.”

“The best education Igot was all those hard business lessons and having to figure out what I want to do.”

- Angie Pickman

Angie Pickman will be exhibiting at the Maple Leaf Festival in Baldwin City, Kansas, October 16 & 17. Go to mapleleaffestival.com for more information.

Selling with Helling Mentoring and Motivating by

Ann Niccum // Photography by Trenton Bush

Kristen Helling

Although women make up nearly half the sales force in the U.S., there are numerous industries and positions where they remain underrepresented (and often underpaid). Kristen Helling is working diligently to overhaul that.

“Some people joke and say I’m almost a matchmaker,” she says. “I’m trying to find the right students who are looking for a career in consultative sales. I work with our industry partners and companies to help educate and create the next generation of sales professionals, helping them see the great opportunities when they come together.”

“It is absolutely changing,” says Helling, a lecturer at the University of Kansas School of Business and also the school’s director of certificate in professional selling.

The California native and KU grad says women (generally) have certain skills they bring to the profession that make them ideal for positions such as consultative sales, for example.

“Certain industries are still heavily male-dominated. Tech, for instance, is aggressively hiring females for selling cloud space, laptop computers and/or cybersecurity. It’s basically teaching young women another language. It’s not hard, just different.”

“Women often bring to the table a really great listening ear and are able to be very adaptive salespeople. So they might walk into a meeting thinking, ‘Oh, I’ve done some research. I think this is their problem’ — yet they find out in the meeting that the problem actually lies over here. Women are fantastic at pivoting and being able to quickly adapt to whatever’s happening in that current environment,” she says.

The longtime sales professional-turned-mentoring expert explains her goal is to bring students together with businesses as a way of benefiting both parties.

“I can’t think of a single career that is not selling every single day.” - Kristen Helling

It’s not always an easy “sell.” She notes half of her job involves attempting to convince students that consultative sales could provide a viable career. “A lot of people think of sales as selling used cars or clunkers, and you’re trying to pull one over on somebody to make a quick buck. The type of consultative sales I teach is very value-added in terms of realizing your business has a problem, and I have within my product or my service a solution for that,” she says. “It could be a myriad of things, but we find where to add value and lighten your load, save time, money, avoid stress, headaches, etc.” According to the Harvard Business Review, more than 50% of college graduates, regardless of their majors, are likely to work in sales at some point. But of the 4,000 colleges in the U.S., less than 100 offer sales programs or even sales courses. Helling believes many people break down their jobs into: “I am a salesperson or I am not.” But she argues that everybody is selling every day. “It doesn’t matter if you’re a pediatrician, you’re selling to the parents trying to convince them that you’re knowledgeable and worthy of treating their child. If you’re an architect, you’re selling your designs. If you’re an engineer, you’re selling your new product or idea to get funding for that piece. If you’re a teacher, you’re selling in the classroom that your lessons matter and what you’re doing is important. I can’t think of a single career that is not selling every single day,” she says. Last fall, Helling spoke to various sororities on the KU campus — including more than 800 new members participating in sorority recruitment — to share her message of “selling yourself.” The goal was to make sure these young women were more prepared to add value to any conversation by promoting themselves, whatever the situation.

CONTINUED P. 32 »

32 She says, “I’m trying to help students understand that you may not choose to go into a career in consultative sales, but you might start there and venture off to something else in finance or accounting. However, you’re still selling. You’re selling to your team. If you’re lucky enough to be CEO one day, you’re selling back down to your board and your senior vice presidents. We’re all selling.” Helling admits there have been a number of success stories. She singles out KU student Anna Dierks as a particularly shining example. “Anna was coming to sales competitions and being a leader within the program, and I encouraged her to look at tech,” Helling recalls. “She was nervous about it, just because it tends to be male-dominated. Tech sales can be hard. You’re learning and working with engineers. Often the product costs $3 to $4 million, so you’re selling something really expensive and complex, and you have to be able to negotiate with a whole team of people.”

The professor urged her to apply to an internship with Dell Technologies, based in Round Rock, Texas. She not only got the internship, she was offered a full-time position with them by the end of the summer. “Kristen made a point of encouraging me to pursue the opportunity and made me believe that I was smart enough to conquer such a technical field,” Dierks says. “After accepting the position, I now know she was correct and that I am capable of so much more than I thought possible. Without her belief in me or her consistent encouragement, I would’ve likely spent much of my early career underestimating myself.” It was while attending KU for her undergraduate degree that Helling met her future husband in a calculus class. (“How dorky is that?,” she quips.)

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33 She began her career with the French cosmetics company Lancôme. Then she spent a dozen years with Kansas City’s Hallmark. While at the greeting card titan, Helling emphasizes she was able to hone her skills and “develop a gut instinct” as an inside sales rep and an outside field sales rep. Helling also found time to raise a family. “I really want to see women living fulfilled and happy lives, regardless of what that looks like,” says Helling, who earned her MBA at the University of Missouri. “I want them to know if they need to pause for a couple of years when they have young children, that’s okay. They can restart their career again. I’m very open about when I had young kids. I went to part time on call for a couple years. It was the right thing to do for my family, and it didn’t hurt me in my career path. I want women to know there’s not one certain path that is the right path, it’s what’s right for you.” As for her own mentor, Helling praises Julie Branstrom, the chief development officer for Heartland Community Health Center. “She was really great at connecting me within the community and helping utilizing my strengths,” says Helling, who served on Branstrom’s board at the Douglas County Dental Clinic (DCDC) before it merged with Heartland. “Kristen is an excellent communicator and connector of people,” Branstrom says. “She is a strategic thinker and also knows how to ask great questions that others may not have thought of.” The pair helped concoct a DCDC fundraising event called The Hoedown for Healthy Smiles, which was held at Circle S Ranch, north of Lawrence. Branstrom says, “Kristen led this group of women well — facilitating meetings, delegating work and keeping things organized. The level of commitment was evident when five days before the first fundraiser, she gave birth to her son, Thomas, and still attended the event!” For Helling, the single most crucial strategy for selling yourself is being a good listener.

CONTINUED P. 34 »

34 “If you really listen to what others value and what their problem is, you can respond and present a solution that has meaning to them. ‘What hurdles do you have?’ ‘What challenges are you facing right now?’ ‘How can I help you?’ If I can listen to what you value or what your pain point is, then I can pivot my presentation to make sure it speaks to what’s important to you,” says Helling, who’s been teaching at KU for seven years. The professor often references an example in class involving wanting to buy new furniture for her home. But her husband was not initially onboard with this potential purchase. “We had a couch that was perfectly fine, I just didn’t like the fabric,” she says. “I thought it was a little small in the room. We’d had it for 18-19 years. I knew if I came to my husband with a swatch of fabrics, he would say, ‘Do we really need this?’ But instead I talked about, ‘You know when you watch games and like to stretch out your legs, and they are flopping over the end … what if we got a little bit bigger, wider couch?’” Helling never talked to him about what was important to her; no talk of fabrics or swatches or the shape or the style. “I just talked to him about what he valued. I didn’t pull one over on him, I just knew he didn’t care about those other things. So I chose to listen to what he cares about and present a solution to his problem, not mine,” she says.

“If I can listen to what you value or what your pain point is, then I can pivot my presentation to make sure it speaks to what’s important to you.” - Kristen Helling HERE FOR YOU EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. Whether you are in the planning stage of your dream pursuit or you’re looking to safeguard all that you’ve accomplished, I will meet you wherever you are in your journey.

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What advice does Helling wish she could have given herself back in college? “The best advice is to trust my gut,” she replies. “You know that gut feeling a lot of us women have? I think it developed over the years, and I think I had a good gut even in my 20s because there were certain projects that I would pro/con, almost overthink. And now I realize that initial first response was probably the right one. I listen to that gut instinct a lot more now.”

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PRITI L

AKHANI

Imagine Christmas presents, Independence Day fireworks, Thanksgiving feasts and New Year’s fresh starts all rolled into one festival. This is Diwali, India’s largest festival, happening on Nov. 4. Diwali is celebrated by most major religions in India. It is a national holiday in Fiji, Guyana, India, Myanmar, Pakistan, Mauritius, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Trinidad and Tobago.

Brij Samir (from left), Neha Sharma, Dhruv Ram Doshi

Diwali is a five-day festival, filled with joy, prayerful reflection and new beginnings. The first day is spent cleaning the house and buying gold or kitchen utensils in the hopes that the new year will be prosperous. The second day clay lamps (diyas) are lit in rows (avali), and beautiful intricate colored sand patterns (rangoli) are created in entrances indicating the enlightenment of souls and welcoming family and friends. The third day is the zenith, with prayers, feasting and fireworks well into the night to indicate gratitude and celebration. The fourth day is considered New Year’s Day, and gifts and sweets are exchanged to represent the bountiful harvest. The final day celebrates the bond of siblings, with a large feast and brothers and sisters eating together. Even on the Indian/Pakistan border, which has been contested since 1947, soldiers from both sides offer each other sweets. For people of the Indian diaspora, no matter where they are or what their spiritual tradition may be, Diwali is a celebration (mela) of good over evil, light over dark and knowledge over ignorance.

Happy Diwali!

The Need for Power of Attorney

POAs and other advanced directives are becoming more important. Provided by Christopher A. Adams

BRUCE

Your Financial World In Order

The point of the POA. A power of attorney (POA) is a legal instrument that delegates an individual’s legal authority to another person. If an individual is incapacitated, the POA assigns a trusted party to make decisions on his or her behalf. There are nondurable, springing, and durable powers of attorney. A nondurable power of attorney often comes into play in real estate transactions, or when someone elects to delegate their financial affairs to an assignee during an extended absence. A springing power of attorney “springs” into effect when a specific event occurs (usually an illness or disability affecting an individual). A “durable” power of attorney allows an assignee, or agent, to act on behalf of a second party, or principal, even after the principal is not mentally competent or physically able to make decisions. Once a principal signs, or executes, a durable power of attorney, it may be used immediately, until it is either revoked by the principal or the principal dies.1 Keep in mind this article is for informational purposes only. It’s not a replacement for real-life advice. Make sure to consult your legal professional so you can better understand what type of powers of attorney is a best fit for your situation. What the POA allows in financial terms. Financially, a Power of Attorney is a tremendously useful instrument. An agent can pay bills, write checks, make investment decisions, buy or sell real estate or other hard assets, sign contracts, file taxes, and even arrange the distribution of retirement benefits. Advanced healthcare directives: HCPOAs and Living Wills. Some illnesses can eventually rob people of the ability to articulate their wishes, and this is a major reason why people opt for a Health Care Power of Attorney (HCPOA) or a living will. There are differences between the two. A Health Care Power of Attorney (also called a “healthcare proxy”) allows an agent to make medical decisions for a principal, should they become physically or mentally incapacitated. A living will gives an assignee similar powers of decision, but this advanced directive only applies when someone faces certain death. The assignee has the authority to carry out the wishes of the incapacitated party. Would you like to learn more? It may be time to meet with an attorney who specializes in these issues. You can find one with the help of an insurance or financial professional who has assisted families with legacy planning. Citations 1. AgingCare.com, August 23, 2021

This material was prepared by MarketingPro, Inc., and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting party, nor their affiliates. This information has been derived from sources believed to be accurate. Please note - investing involves risk, and past performance is no guarantee of future results. The publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional services. If assistance is needed, the reader is advised to engage the services of a competent professional. This information should not be construed as investment, tax or legal advice and may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any Federal tax penalty. This is neither a solicitation nor recommendation to purchase or sell any investment or insurance product or service and should not be relied upon as such. All indices are unmanaged and are not illustrative of any particular investment.

Christopher A. Adams may be reached at

785-832-2600 Securities offered through Registered Representatives of Cambridge Investment Research, Inc., a broker-dealer, member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services offered through Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc., a Registered Investment Adviser. DM Bruce Associates and Cambridge are not affiliated.

chris@dmbruce.com

Deja Brooks

Nora Stoy

Randi Cole

Crowning Achievements Inner Power from Prestige BY

HEAThER PERRY // phOTOGRAphY BY TRENTON BUSh AND JASON DAILEY

For an admiring audience, the happiest of endings for a pageant queen is being crowned and bestowed a title. It’s awesome, of course. Who doesn’t crave a little prestige with a side of bling? But the real story begins once the stage lights dim and the glamour fades. That’s when a queen uses her voice to fulfill her pageant promise of making the world a better place. “My voice just happens to be in a big wig, heels and a gown,” says Deja Brooks (aka Brandon Eisman), a Lawrence-based drag queen who hosts charity events. “If our local non-profits are able to step up and support those individuals who are in need, and I have a part of that, then it’s winning. You don’t have to have a crown in order to make those differences, but the crown certainly helps.” Brooks has performed in drag since 2004 and spent several years competing in pageants before creating Transformations, an event that summons female impersonators to makeover contestants who then compete to win $10,000 for a local charity. She also reads to kids as part of her 5-year-running Deja’s Reading Rainbow program at the Lawrence Public Library. The program recently won “Best Virtual Event” for the annual Best of Lawrence competition, and Brooks is appreciative of the support her community provides.

“Lawrence is a sapphire in a ruby state, and we have to shine even brighter,” she says. “Our community embraces the fact that it doesn’t matter if you’re a princess or a drag queen or a librarian or a clown. Children can hear stories about love or acceptance and being different.” Brooks was crowned the first-ever Miss Gay Kansas United States in 2020. When the pandemic shut down in-person events a week after she won, she continued to host virtual events to help raise funds. “As we leave our house each day, you have to ask yourself, what are you going to do differently and how can you make a difference in someone’s life?,” she asks. Michelle Roberts certainly made a difference when she brought the Miss Amazing program to Kansas. Roberts learned of the platform while helping her daughter find participants to model an inclusive bridal line for women with disabilities at Kansas City Fashion Week. “Not only is it empowering women with disabilities, it is also educating women with disabilities about who they are in their community, and then also educating the community as to what women with disabilities can actually bring to their community,” she says.

CONTINUED P. 40 »

40 Activities like open mic nights, book clubs, monthly dances and educational summits encourage participants to take pride in their identities. This November will be the fourth year for the Kansas AMPLIFY event, which draws inspiration from pageantry to embolden girls, teens and women. Kirstianna Guerrero

With three categories — an interview to work on public speaking skills, an on-stage introduction for confidence and a passion presentation to display interests — it’s all about self-advocacy and camaraderie. At the end, each participant receives a crown and is dubbed a Princess. In addition, representatives are chosen from each age division to compete at national events.

“i’m able to be that reminder to others that you can succeed, you can love yourself, you can impact your community even if you do it in another way.” - Kirstianna Guerrero

Kirstianna Guerrero, the newly crowned National Miss Amazing Teen, was “completely flabbergasted” upon winning her title. She never dreamed of being a pageant participant, let alone a winner, and strives to use her platform to inspire others to find courage and inner strength. She says her purpose is not just to tell the disabled community that they can do something but to pave the way through charity work and achievements. “I’m able to be that reminder to others that you can succeed, you can love yourself, you can impact your community even if you do it in another way,” she says. “Not to be ashamed of the things that you have to do differently, ashamed of the mobility aids you might need, but just being able to be happy and successful as you are by embracing who you are.” Although the AMPLIFY event is technically a competition, participants don’t see it that way, and are there to lift each other up. “I actually went to nationals to support just my sister one time,” says Nora Stoy, Kansas Miss Amazing Princess 2019, 2020 and 2021. “I offered to help my friend Jennifer Jennings because I love her.” Alison Brown, Kansas Miss Amazing Senior Miss 2021, says even though she didn’t win, she was happy for the ones who got the crown at nationals. Brown is just as selfless in her everyday life working as a bus para helping students with disabilities feel comfortable when traveling. “It makes me happy knowing I make a difference for people with disabilities,” she says.

Alison Brown

Jennifer Jennings

Michelle Roberts (from left), Nora Stoy, Alison Brown, Kirstianna Guerrero, Jennifer Jennings

Jennifer Jennings, Kansas Miss Amazing Junior Teen 2019 and Kansas Miss Amazing Princess 2021, appreciates that she’s able to encourage others. “What I love about it is that I’m able to share Miss Amazing to all the parents and families of people with disabilities,” she says. “It definitely makes them feel lifted up, and they see how ’if those girls were able to make a difference, maybe my kid or friend can too.’” An avid singer who experienced “a dream come true” when she performed the opening song for Special Olympics Kansas 2019, Jennings wrote a song for her latest passion presentation. A line from it goes, “Look into your heart and what do you see? An amazing girl who can be anything.” A mission of the organization is to create opportunities for members to build self-esteem, because once confident, they can dismantle stereotypes and open new pathways for themselves and others.

Negative stereotypes impacted Roberts, whose disability is hereditary and didn’t present itself until it surfaced in her thirties. When Roberts’ husband gifted her a Mustang for their 25th anniversary, she rightfully parked in accessibility spots, but her accessibility sticker didn’t stop strangers from making rude comments and publicly accusing her of not having a disability. “It wasn’t until I became secure with who I was, and my disability, that I didn’t care anymore,” she says. “I park in those spots with my fancy car because a disabled person can own a fancy car. A disabled person can have a nice house and have jobs. They can become millionaires. That’s just how it is, and some people just don’t understand that.” Randi Cole, Elite Ms. United States Agriculture 2021, is on a similar mission to destigmatize the need for hearing aids. Because Cole grew up in

CONTINUED P. 42 »

42 Iowa on a small farm, she recognizes the dangers farmers face from their working conditions and the work-oriented determination that prevents some from seeking the help they need. “From the time they are kids, day after day, year after year, they’re exposed to high levels of machinery and equipment, and over time they have irreversible hearing loss,” she says. Cole’s platform is “Until the Whole World Hears.” She works with Hearing Charities of America, an organization based out of Kansas City, to encourage donations of used hearing aids so they can be refurbished and given to a person in need. “Hearing aids are basically the price of a used car,” she says. “A lot of times, insurance doesn’t cover it, or it doesn’t scratch the surface. The average is 15 years that a person goes from diagnosis to the time they get a hearing aid, and nine times out of 10, it’s because of cost.” After advocating for hearing aids, Cole was shocked to discover that she needed one herself. It was another unexpected medical revelation that was tied to her new love of pageantry. After competing and winning Mrs. Kansas United States 2019, Cole began to feel ill while training for nationals. Following a blood test, it was determined she had Lyme disease, a tick-borne illness that can cause flu-like symptoms, joint pain and weakness in the limbs. Cole says the disease affected her performance at nationals, but once she was home, she longed to find another way to compete and use her platform for good.

“My motto through all this has been: Put this crown to work.” - Randi Cole

Going back to her roots, she researched agriculture pageants and won state and national titles. She uses her diagnosis to raise awareness and encourages others to get tested if they aren’t feeling well, listen to their bodies and find a support system if diagnosed. “My motto through all of this has been: Put this crown to work. This is not just something pretty to sit on a shelf. There is dirt under my manicured nails. I’m out doing things, and that’s how I want it to be,” Cole says. For these queens, putting in work is not just for the public.

Randi Cole

43 “You’re not able to be a voice to others until you have a voice yourself,” says Guerrero, who views self-love as an important part of daily life and something that strengthens her relationships with others. “I really love looking at life with the aspect of impacting one person a day in a way that’s meaningful to them.” Brooks’ impact channels its way into the hashtag #DragYourselfOut, a response to being told that her drag persona inspires others to literally drag themselves out for a night on the town. She says if you can take a moment to do something special — whether it’s putting on lipstick, mascara or even a necklace – it will inspire you to feel good about yourself. Cole gets inspired when sharing her crown with others. “I get the biggest kick out of putting that crown on little heads and watching girls light up, watchCONTINUED P. 44 »

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ing their mom light up,” she says. “A lot of times you don’t hear agriculture and beauty queen in the same structure, and I think there are a lot of young farm girls who dream of it quietly but don’t express that it’s something they want to do. That was me. I see a lot of myself when I go out and see these young girls, and I just want to keep pushing. The sky’s the limit.” When a queen’s love for herself mingles with her love for community, there’s no stopping her. Brooks encourages others to educate themselves on their local non-profits and do what they can to support. “Be accepting. Open your eyes, open your mind, open your heart to different walks of life. You never know when you’ll have to call on someone to help you,” she says. When the spotlight dims, these queens shine brighter than their tiaras. They make a difference within their communities, not just with a smile and a wave, but a lot of action.

Give Me a Chance By Jennifer Jennings Give me a chance that’s all I ask You’ll be amazed when I complete the task I’m always happy and have a heart of gold I’ll do my best and do what I’m told Let me shine, let me be me I’ll make you proud, just you wait and see Look into your heart and what do you see An amazing girl who can be anything Give me a chance you will see An amazing girl who can be anything

“be Accepting. Open your eyes, open your mind, open your heart to different walks of life.” - Deja Brooks

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A Recipe to Fall For

Apple Hand Pies with Rosemary Caramel Sauce YB

AYNI

C AREY /

PHOOTGRAPHY

RENOT

S U H

The cool, crisp days of autumn remind me of trips to the apple orchard with my mother many years ago. There is nothing on earth like the joy of walking through an orchard loaded with fruit, plucking a ripe apple off a tree and biting into the first taste of fall. The aroma, the crunchy sweetness and the juice running down my chin reminds me that the taste of a fresh-picked apple is one of life’s fundamental pleasures. Last fall, a friend gave me a half bushel of apples from his small orchard. I was overjoyed by this generous gift. I had the time to bake, but with so many apples, my challenge was what to do with them while they were still fresh. The memories of my mom’s homemade apple pies, apple cakes and warm chunky applesauce came to mind as I tried to decide just what I would make first. I baked a few pies, made some applesauce and chutney, but I searched for another way to extend this fall treasure into the winter months. I started experimenting with making apple hand pies. A hand pie is a semilunar-shaped pastry filled with sweet or savory ingredients. Nearly every culture has their own variation. Keeping it simple, I enclosed sweetened chopped apples in individual pastries and baked them. It couldn’t be just any pastry, it had to be a flaky, rich butter pastry to do justice to these local beauties. To make the hand pies special enough to serve dinner guests, I whipped up a quick caramel sauce infused with fresh rosemary to drizzle over the warm pies. A scoop of vanilla ice cream doubles the pleasure. The pies also make a delicious breakfast or afternoon snack with a hot cup of tea or coffee. Apple hand pies can be assembled and frozen before baking so extras can be made to enjoy throughout the winter. They come in handy when a quick dessert is needed for unexpected company. Just transfer them directly from the freezer to a baking sheet and bake for a few extra minutes. The aroma of the apples and pastry will have your guests counting the minutes until dessert.

CONTINUED P. 48 »

Apple Hand Pies

Rosemary Caramel Sauce

Pastry: 1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour 3 teaspoons sugar Pinch of salt 7 tablespoons cold butter, cubed 3 tablespoons cold water

¼ cup butter 2/3 cup brown sugar 1/3 cup Lyle’s Golden Syrup 6 sprigs of rosemary, each about 2-inches long 2/3 cup heavy cream ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Filling: 5 tablespoons sugar ¼ teaspoon cinnamon 2 teaspoons all-purpose flour 2 medium apples (about 2 cups), peeled, cored and cut into small dice

Heat the butter, brown sugar and golden syrup in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the sugar is dissolved. Add the rosemary sprigs, reduce the heat to low and simmer gently for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Off heat, slowly stir in the cream and vanilla extract. Remove the rosemary sprigs after 10 minutes and cool the caramel to warm or room temperature before using.

Egg wash: 1 egg yolk combined with 2 tablespoons water Pastry: Place the flour in a bowl. Stir in the sugar and salt. Add the cubed butter. Using a pastry blender, cut the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs. With a fork, stir in 3 tablespoons of cold water or more if needed. Divide the dough into 5 equal portions, about 2 ounces each. Lightly press each piece into a small disc. Wrap the discs in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour. Filling: When ready to make the hand pies, combine the sugar, cinnamon and flour in a small bowl. Place the diced apples in a separate bowl. Stir in the sugar mixture. To make the hand pies: Roll out each pastry disc on a lightly floured surface to a 6- to 7-inch circle. Spoon some of the diced apple in the center of the pastry, fold the pastry over and crimp the edges with fingers or a fork to seal. Brush the top of each pastry very lightly with the egg wash before placing on a lightly oiled baking sheet. Using a wooden skewer, poke three small holes in each pastry to allow the steam to escape. Bake the hand pies in a 375 degrees oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until browned and bubbly. Serve the pies warm or room temperature. Drizzle with Rosemary Caramel Sauce, or serve a small container of the sauce on the side. Makes 5 hand pies. To Freeze: Assemble the pies (do not brush with the egg wash) and place them on a baking sheet. Place in the freezer for about 20 minutes to freeze lightly, then transfer the pies to a container and store in the freezer. Brush with the egg wash and bake as directed for 30 to 35 minutes.

Bon Appetit!

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Resources For Remodeling Renovating Inside and Out by

Kim Gronniger // photography by Trenton Bush

Regardless of a house’s condition or configuration, homeowners often seek upgrades to make their living spaces more fashionable and functional. With a proliferation of HGTV shows, home décor magazines and lifestyle brands showcasing possibilities at any price point, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by options. Monica Parsel, a designer with Winston Brown Remodeling, helps clients make selections that appeal to their aesthetic aspirations while maximizing their budget allocations. The Topeka native began honing her expertise working on “creative and design-geared projects” with her mom and aunts. “As a child, I would get in trouble for dragging demoed materials home from neighbors’ trash piles to make clubhouses in the backyard or in our tornado shelter,” she says.

She constructed floor plans with Lego sets and watched “This Old House” with her mother on Sunday mornings. Her mother became a designer when Parsel was in high school and participated in the Designers’ Showhouse, an extensive home makeover fundraiser facilitated by area stylists assigned to individual rooms. “Our local designers became celebrities to me, and I coveted the spaces they would work on yearly,” she says. “When I did my first room at the showhouse at 19, I had accomplished a dream of working alongside them.” Two of those celebrity designers are Leslie Hunsicker, CEO and principal designer of Leslie Hunsicker Interiors, and Chris Grandmontagne, owner of Topeka’s Warehouse 414, a high-style online resource for furnishings and accessories recreating mid-century modern simplicity and Hollywood regency glamour.

Photo courtesy of Winston Brown Remodeling

Hunsicker’s involvement in the Designers’ Showhouse began in 1983 as a student at Washburn University. She has served as chair of participating designers the past few years. Her career interest was set in second grade when she became fascinated by her sister’s college design drawings.

“I grew up junking with my mom, my aunt and my cousin,” recalls Grandmontagne. “We’d jump in the car on a summer day and head to the dump and the junk stores to dig for treasures that my mom would refinish to use or sell. I’m lucky I married a man who’d done this all of his life, too.”

“We went to western Kansas that summer to visit my grandparents, and I spent the whole time creating house plans,” she says.

All three women have learned tips and tricks for adding flair.

Since 2006, Grandmontagne, a former designer, and her husband, John, have focused exclusively on curating collectibles sought by pickers and designers from coast to coast and even abroad. They are also dealers for prestigious sites Chairish.com and 1stDibs.com.

“For bathrooms and kitchens, splurge on custom cabinetry,” Parcel says. “It may be an added cost of 20-30 percent, but the storage benefits and quality construction are considerable advantages.”

CONTINUED P. 52 »

She said custom cabinets in a kitchen allow a client to select amenities like dinnerware stacks, rollout or adjustable shelves and a built-in lazy Susan, spice rack and cutting board. To balance cabinet expense, she suggests simpler granite or quartz countertop selections, using a higher-end material like marble as an accent, Hunsicker says luxury vinyl tile “is the best kept secret right now. Tile is often expensive to install because of sub-floor prep work and grout, but you can find vinyl patterns or wood plank styles to provide the look you want for less.” Hunsicker encourages clients to factor in flooring expenses early. “You walk on your floors every day and you don’t want to spend all your money before you figure that piece out,” she says. “Hard surfaces may be more expensive than carpet, but they also may last longer, especially if you have pets.” Wallpaper is making a comeback. Parsel recommends using wallpaper to add a pop of color to small spaces instead of tile for a more affordable, easy-to-remove option. “Go upscale if you need more than a six-foot section, but peel-and-stick applications are fine for smaller spaces,” she says. Hunsicker works with an artist in North Carolina who creates affordable custom wallpaper with horses, Japanese herons, pet portraits and other items that have significance for a client.

Winston Brown Remodeling

53 “It can be a fun way to add personality to a room,” she says. Parsel is partial to remnants for bathroom vanities “because you can get great deals on beautiful marble.” Hunsicker says big-box stores offer affordable lighting fixtures and advises clients to plan for wattage and illumination that will accommodate them as they age. While remodeling clients have always coveted better bathrooms and spacious kitchens, Parsel confirms outdoor entertainment areas are becoming just as popular as people spend more time working and entertaining at home. “Clients want help with everything from refurbished decks and patios to three-season screen rooms,” she says. Screen rooms, more flexible than sunrooms, extend a kitchen’s footprint into a well-appointed outdoor space usually equipped with a fireplace and grill for integrated entertaining. “Phantom screens are great for parties and expand a home’s square footage. They often have translucent thermal panes that retain heat in winter but still allow you to see outside,” she says. Parsel reveals some clients layer in outdoor amenities over time to stretch their budgets. They may install a fireplace first, then gradually invest in screens, electrical wiring and low-maintenance landscaping. New materials and applications have also made it easier and more affordable to incorporate decorative flourishes. “We do a lot of stained or stamped concrete, which creates the look of pavers but costs less,” she says. “There are many different textures and colors we can work with.” Many of Hunsicker’s clients are seeking larger laundry rooms that incorporate wall-hung dry racks, hanging poles and floor-to-ceiling backsplashes. Some also want deep sinks for bathing pets and kennel nooks. “A recent client requested a Dutch door so her pets could feel included even when they were contained,” she says.

CONTINUED P. 54 »

54 Like many of her clients, Parsel seeks design inspiration on Houzz and Pinterest. “At the start of any project, I like to share idea boards and magazine photos so clients can show me what they like,” she says. “Is it the tile pattern, the color of the room, the cabinets or the accessories? Once I understand the specific features they’re drawn to, I can find products that reflect their preferences.” Parsel and Hunsicker work with clients to create detailed budgets with specific line-item allowances to keep expectations and expenses in check. A bathroom might have a lighting fixture allowance of $150, but the client may be drawn to a $400 option. Extra expense in one area can be offset by choosing an item in another category that comes in under budget, such as simple subway tile for a shower. “The budget is a guideline we strive to adhere to, but clients can adjust expenditures up or down depending on what project features matter the most to them,” Parsel says. To help clients create their dream spaces, Parsel and Hunsicker rely on relationships with regional entrepreneurs and regular research into products available through multiple venues.

Warehouse 414

“Build.com provides dozens of options, whether it’s a suite of bathroom faucets and accessories or kitchen appliances and ceiling fans,” Parsel says. “You can use the filters to shop by brand or budget to find the finishes and functionality you want.” For mirrors and other accessories, Parsel says, “I’m always on the hunt for a fresh find that has a unique shape, color or finish to polish a room off.” Her go-to stores and websites include Kirkland’s, Pottery Barn, West Elm and World Market. Her Topeka favorites include Two Days Monthly Market and 4 Girls’ Garage in the NOTO Arts District and Owl’s Nest Topeka Antique Mall and Flea Market. In Lawrence, she frequents Amy’s Attic Interiors and Antiques for gems. Hunsicker has worked with the same “tried and true tradesmen” since the 1990s to fulfill her clients’ remodeling aspirations. She visits Good Ju Ju and The Painted Sofa in the West Bottoms to score retro finds and frequently checks out Chairish.com, 1stdibs.com, ebay Collective and Facebook Marketplace. “You can find great deals on wooden tables, chairs and bookcases, especially now when so many manufacturers are a year or more out on deliveries,” she says.

55 Hunsicker enjoys the creative challenge of displaying a client’s keepsake pieces in unexpected ways.

“I can’t keep velvet sofas and chairs in stock, and if I get an Eames lounge chair, it’s gone in five minutes,” she says.

“I always ask what special items need to be integrated into the design,” she says. “If grandma’s pie cabinet won’t work in one room, but I need to use it, then maybe that piece shows up in a guest bedroom with an antique quilt. As long as it has a rhyme and reason to it, we can make it work.”

Other popular items include “frilly, boho chic” accessories, coffee tables that provide storage, novel lighting and distinctive barware.

Grandmontagne estimates that 95 percent of her featured furnishings and accessories come within a 100-mile radius of Topeka, although she travels to Wichita, too. “Because we’ve been doing this so long, we get calls from people who are moving a parent into a nursing home or moving themselves and think I might be interested in something they have,” Grandmontagne says. “We get inundated with calls, often from people in New York and California, but we’ve made it a practice to stick with our region.” Grandmontagne says designers are forgoing captain’s chairs in dining rooms, opting for matching seating sets of six to 12 instead.

Grandmontagne chooses everything on the site, which displays only a fraction of the couple’s extensive, eclectic inventory. She can envision each item’s use in a person’s home, including a 1/20th scale covered wagon that a buyer bought for a dog bed. In her own home, two of the pieces she’ll never part with include an Eames lounge chair and ottoman and a 1960s, futuristic cabinet designed by Raymond Loewy, whose clients included NASA and Studebaker. “It looks like a car with molded plastic in bright orange and red that fades top to bottom,” she says. “I’m drawn to the unusual.” CONTINUED P. 56 »

56 Top Trends in 2021 for Harmonious Homes The goal of any design challenge, big or small, is to configure spaces and collect items that reflect your style and personality. Whether you’re remodeling with a professional firm or redecorating on your own, check out these trends touted by design experts to transform any area you want to tackle. Color Dark blue is a top color for its calming properties, and bold accessories (lamps, throw pillows, artwork) in bright hues can enliven a room. Divided Rooms While open-concept floor plans are still desirable, designers are using decorative dividers to create quiet areas for independent pursuits for work or play. Formal Dining Rooms Formal dining rooms are being repurposed as craft stations, playrooms, offices and libraries. Natural Elements House plants are popular for their beauty and proven health benefits. Designers are using lighter wood shades, neutral fabrics and airy wicker and rattan chairs to bring the outdoors in. Natural Light Heavy fabric curtains are being replaced by naked windows, blinds and sheer curtains to infuse living spaces with more light. Storage Incorporating storage with built-in units, baskets or furniture is an attractive way to contain clutter and assure easy access to everything from board games and barware to linens and LPs. Vintage Charm Sustainable “granny chic” involves integrating disparate antiques into a design scheme. Think painted buffets paired with patina pieces. Wallpaper Wallpaper is making a comeback, particularly in foyers, bathrooms and small spaces, to replace backsplashes or brighten shelves. Find Your Flair National chain stores, specialty shops and websites can spark ideas. Whether you prefer to browse online or in person, the following resources will inspire you.

Area Décor Boutiques Lawrence • Amy’s Attic Interiors and Antiques • Winfield House Prairie Village • Create Modern Home Décor • Golden & Pine • Growing Days Home by Tamara Day • J’adore Home and Garden • Prairie Village Place • Spruce Home Sabetha • Brick Street Furniture Co. + Wine Lounge Topeka • 4 Girls’ Garage • Home at Last • Owl’s Nest Topeka Antique Mall • Pinkadilly • Red Door Home Store • Soho Interiors • Two Days Monthly Market Big Box Bang for Your Buck • Lowe’s • The Home Depot National Retailers • Crate & Barrel • Kirkland’s • Pottery Barn • West Elm • World Market Online Inspiration • 1stdibs.com • Build.com • Chairish.com • Ebay Collective • Facebook Marketplace • HGTV.com • Houzz.com • Pinterest • TheSpruce.com • Warehouse414.com

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Spoken In Whispers Living with Menopause BY TRACEY

It’s often a conversation spoken in whispers. Spoken with little to no legitimate information, but instead inundated with a plethora of misinformation. Frequently pushed aside as something embarrassing, something to simply “live” with. To put it bluntly, menopause is surrounded by a culture of shame, despite it being a normal part of life. Intelligent and educated women have little to no information about it, how to address it, what proactive steps they can take to ensure they can still feel their best self and navigate through this phase of their lives. But that’s changing. “Women are demanding a higher quality of life,” Dr. Michele Bennett says. “They are staying in careers longer, living longer and demanding a higher level of understanding about menopause. The conversation is shifting.” The technical definition of menopause is the permanent cessation of menses resulting from loss of ovarian function due to aging, usually occurring between 40 and 58 years of age. It’s a natural, normal evolutionary response to aging. However, with menopause being such a sentinel event for many women, it becomes a placeholder for the onset of multiple issues.

ENGLISH

Issue No. 1: Libido Let’s address the elephant in the room: A woman’s libido can definitely be affected by menopause. Testosterone and estrogen get flipped in the initial stages. Physiological changes can make intercourse with a partner painful, and other physical changes in a woman’s body, such as fatigue, hot flashes, sleeplessness or depression can alter a woman’s desire for intimacy. Pelvic floor dysfunction can also play a role in altering a woman’s sexual desire.* See resources section. Of course, communication with your partner is the first step. But beyond that, women have some options. Take the app called Meet Rosy. This tool includes everything from sexual wellness quizzes to education regarding sexual health. Topics include over-the-counter options to increase libido, the affect of sleep on sex, understanding low libido and more. There are also erotic stories available, which, according to Bennett, often help couples achieve a more fulfilling sexual partnership. “Our ideas of libido are rooted in social norms we have grown up with,” she says. “A lot of times, women are distracted, pulled in so many directions, and need guidance on how to slow things down. Women deserve to experience a satisfying sex life their entire lives. Sometimes it’s just a matter of getting her partner involved in the discussion.”

Irene Unger

Issue No. 2: Hot flashes Around 75 percent of women experience these at some point or another. They are the second-most common symptom beyond irregular bleeding. Usually lasting one to five minutes, hot flashes are accompanied by increased heart rate, sweating and increased skin temperature (1-7 degrees Celsius). They usually are the most severe within the first two years of the final menstrual period and then decline over time. Most women have them for six months to two years, but they can last considerably longer. Why hot flashes happen is unclear, but there are some nonpharmacologic strategies that have been shown to help, such as meditation, yoga, massage, lukewarm bath before bed, regular exercise, dressing in layers, chilling towels or pillows, wicking pajamas and sheets, bed fan, cool room temps at night, maintaining healthy body weight and avoiding smoking. Your primary physician and/or OB/GYN can also work with you to determine if prescribed supplements may help with hot flashes. But proceed with caution, recommends Dr. Jen Gunter, OB/GYN and author of “Menopause Manifesto.” Don’t assume that the active ingredients in supplements are helping you. Make sure you know they have been studied and are safe and effective for your particular medical needs. Bennett adds, “Some people take these because they think they are safer since they are ‘natural.’ However, they are still medications, and while their active ingredients may be less concentrated than prescriptions, they can still have adverse events and interactions.”

Changes in libido and hot flashes are two of the most prevalent symptoms women in perimenopause (which begins with the onset of intermenstrual cycle irregularities) and menopause experience. In part 2 of this article series, we will address other physiological changes such as weight maintenance, depression and sleeping patterns. The most important thing women can do is advocate for themselves. “Identify a physician who you trust,” Bennett says. “From there, identify things that you want to avoid based on your family history, and be proactive. You can’t turn back the clock, but there are things we can do to age well.”

“Women deserve to

experience a satisfying sex life their entire lives.”

-Dr. Michele Bennett

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Last Word As women, we are always thinking about others: our children, our partners, parents, siblings, friends, co-workers, employees and more. We can easily see what we love about other people, but rarely do we turn the lens on ourselves. I asked four incredible women to answer the difficult question, “What do you like the most about yourself?” Tamra Price, Topeka “What I like most about myself is my resilience. Life has dealt me some tough blows with multiple health issues and chronic pain, but I haven’t let this defeat me. I keep smiling, keep putting one foot in front of the other and keep finding things to be grateful for and joy in even the ordinary moments of each day. I hope I’ve been an example to my kids of perseverance in the face of challenge.” Annie Gnojek, Lawrence “I have always been grateful for my ability to talk and connect with others easily. It doesn’t matter if you’re one of my students, a parent of one of my kids’ friends or someone I just met in line at the grocery store, I will chat you up and be your friend in a matter of minutes. I truly believe that human interaction makes your day happier, even if it’s only for a moment or two. Everyone wants to feel seen and appreciated, and I love having those moments of connection.”

Lacy Christensen, Overland Park “The thing I like best about myself is the type of mother I am to the people I am fortunate enough to have call me mommy.”

Michelle Stubblefield, Topeka “My ability to see challenges as opportunities. Challenges in life can be used to your advantage, when you see the opportunity, you also see solutions, one’s own growth and development, and the chance to make a difference in the lives of others.” After reading these inspirational answers, it is your turn! Take some time to think of what you like the most about yourself, and write it in the space provided below.

Sound advice in uncertain times: Call us. Ameriprise has helped clients navigate challenging economic times for over 125 years. Now as always, we’re here to inform and support you with ongoing market updates, investment recommendations and personalized advice to help keep your plans on track and your goals clear. Together, we’ll focus on what matters most to your financial life.

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Diane Fry and Team on Reaching $500,000,000 in LOAN VOLUME in Nine Years at Fairway!

This milestone is a testament to Diane’s focus on customer service and mortgage expertise. Her clients know Diane always has their best interests in mind, and that client satisfaction is why Diane’s branch in Lawrence has grown organically over the last nine years. At Fairway, $500 MILLION in LOAN VOLUME means more than a dollar amount. It means we have been able to help thousands of families realize their homeownership dreams along the way, and we’re proud of that.

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