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STYLE 2016
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THE VOICE OF NORTHERN COLORADO FOR
32 YEARS.
s t y le me d ia a n d d es i g n , i n c .
| 970.226.6400 |
w w w. s t y l e m a g a z i n e c o l o r a d o . c o m PUBLISHER/MANAGING EDITOR Lydia Dody lydia@stylemedia.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR Scott Prosser scott@stylemedia.com SENIOR DESIGNER Lisa Gould lisa@stylemedia.com DIGITAL DIRECTOR / BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Austin Lamb | austin@stylemedia.com ADVERTISING SALES EXECUTIVES Jon Ainslie (970) 219-9226 Debra Davis (917) 334-6912 Lydia Dody (970) 227-6400 OFFICE MANAGER/ABOUT TOWN EDITOR Ina Szwec | ina@stylemedia.com ACCOUNTING MANAGER Karla Vigil CIRCULATION MANAGER Trisha Milton CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Rob Pentico, Pentico Photography CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Malini Bartels, Lynette Chilcoat, Kyle Eustice, Heidi Kerr-Schlaefer, Austin Lamb, Kay Rios, Michelle Venus AFFILIATIONS Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce Loveland Chamber of Commerce Greeley Chamber of Commerce 2016 STYLE MAGAZINES January-Style February-Style March-NOCO Wellness April-Style May-Style June-Style July-NOCO Wellness August-Style September-Women’s Health & Breast Cancer Style October-NOCO Wellness November-Holiday Style December-Best Of Style Style Media and Design, Inc. magazines are free monthly publications directmailed to homes and businesses in Northern Colorado. Elsewhere, a one-year subscription is $25/year and a two-year subscription is $45. Free magazines are available at more than 300 locations throughout Northern Colorado. For ad rates, subscription information, change of address, or correspondence, contact Style Media and Design Inc., 211 W. Myrtle St., Suite 200, Fort Collins, Colorado 80521. Phone (970) 226-6400, ext. 208. Fax (970) 2266427. Email ina@stylemedia.com. ©2016 Style Media and Design Inc. All rights reserved. The entire contents of Style Magazine are copyrighted and may not be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the publisher. Style Media and Design Inc. is not responsible for unsolicited material. All manuscripts, artwork, and photography must be accompanied by a SASE. The views and opinions of any contributing writers are not necessarily those of Style Media & Design, Inc.
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WE LOVE TO HEAR FROM READERS. SEND YOUR COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS TO:
info@tylemedia.com Phone: 970.226.6400, ext.215 Fax: 970.226.6427 www.stylemedia.com
BIG THANKS!
Thank you for the opportunity to be featured in the September issue of Style as a breast cancer survivor. A lot of people have commented they saw me in the issue. My neighbors brought copies of the magazine over and told me how honest my story was about my cancer journey and how touching it was. Thank you, Ali Gessler Breast Cancer Model I just wanted to let you know how much fun the whole modeling experience has been! I’ve heard so many positive comments; lots of great feedback from people who saw me in the September issue and read my story.
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It meant a lot to the people who read it and they all said it was very touching. Thank you for the opportunity. Valerie Weide, Breast Cancer Model Thanks for dropping off the magazines. The ad looks yummy! I think consistent ads in Style have helped increase my business this year. Susan Kirkpatrick Owner, Savory Spice - Fort Collins 123 N. College Ave. #100a Fort Collins, Colorado 80524
GRATITUDE
“Vessey Funeral Service is in the business of family.” This quote from the October NOCO Wellness couldn’t be truer. Steve Vessey and his incredible staff were with my family every step of the way during our time of need. Mr. Vessey provided immediate comfort, professional advice and knowledge and continued to provide his expertise for as long as it was needed. The office staff interfaced with the Coloradoan, VA, SSA and other agencies and at this time of incredible grief removed the anxiety and burden of additional phone calls. Thank you NOCO Wellness for highlighting this valuable community asset. Cindy Williamson
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NOVEMBER 2016
CONTENTS
features
24 12
Adoption Creates Strong Families
32
The Secret Life Of Food Trucks
44
Coming Home
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NOVEMBER 2016
CONTENTS 22
60
53
56
around town
18 Style Files Spotlight 20 Business Wilbur's Total Beverage Wine & Spirits
Personality 22 NOCO The Rise of Sonata "Nani" Ross
noco style
36 Holidays 2016 Holiday Gift Guide
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53 Decorating Home For The Holidays Out 56 Dining Decadent Desserts the Town 60 On Make Mine A Mocktail
66 What's In The Cupboard Cooking
For Holiday Baking
68 Healthy Holiday Fitness Tips 14
70 Travel Explore The Colorado Historic Hot Springs Loops 74 Family Family Holiday Activities departments
10 From Our Readers 16 Publisher's Letter 78 About Town A Vintage Affair
Western States Burn Center Golf Classic Cattle Baron’s Ball Top Cat & Tails Firefighters’ Golf Classic 2016 Chili for Ta Tas Lucky Hearts Gala
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PUBLISHER’S LETTER
BLESSINGS OF THE SEASON The holiday season and the upcoming close of another year is the perfect time to reflect on my many blessings of health, family, friends, employees, clients and community. Even though I do say a prayer of gratitude for each new day, the end of the year is a good time to reflect and remember to appreciate all the celebrations and good things in my life Speaking of family and celebrations, I was fortunate to be able to capture a quick photo with both of my daughters at the Hope Lives gala October 29th to use for my letter. It’s always extra special when my family can join me at this annual event. This 16th benefit gala is the annual highlight of Hope Lives as it honors and celebrates Northern Colorado breast cancer survivors and raises funds to continue providing free services for women diagnosed with breast cancer. The event was a huge success this year and I want to extend my deep gratitude to the sponsors, donors, volunteers and board members who contributed their time, talents and treasure for this important cause. It is because of everyone’s collective efforts that Hope does live in Northern Colorado My daughters know how important this cause is, so both made a special effort to come celebrate with me. Meredith and her husband Joshua, are medical residents in Saint Louis and hope to relocate to Northern Colorado when finished with their residency. They are
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very busy in residency but still take time to enjoy their two adorable Shih Tzu’s, Lily and Violet. My youngest daughter Ali continues to live and work in Denver. She is excelling as a solutions manager for Swisslog, a medical technology firm. She loves the pet that greets her after work; Goose is a beautiful longhaired Persian. I’m so very proud of my two girls and feel so very lucky to be their mom. The holiday season is the perfect time to reflect on blessings of health, family, friends, work and community. And, speaking of blessings, this time of year also marks our 32nd anniversary of publishing Style magazines for the Colorado front range. And after all these years, we still continue our commitment to bring you the most interesting, informative, and visually exciting magazines in the region. Our exceptional team strives for excellence and I feel blessed to have such a creative and dedicated team of professionals bringing you Style magazines each month. For my family, seeing the The Nutcracker Ballet was always our tradition. In fact, both girls danced in Canyon Concert Ballet’s production for several years. Recently, I became aware of a bright new star at CCB. Be sure to read “The Rise of Sonata ‘Nani’ Ross” to learn about the dancer selected to be Clara in this year’s production. The holidays are the perfect time to
reconnect and share some holiday cheer with old friends. That get together often means a glass of wine or a glass of bubbly, but for many, non-alcoholic is their drink of choice. We found that most restaurants and bars offer tasty non-alcoholic choices. Read “Make Mine a Mocktail” to learn about several very delightful holiday drink options to order out or make at home. I have always enjoyed decorating for the holidays. When the girls were younger, in some years I really went overboard decorating five trees along with Christmas decorations in each room; but no more. Many of us probably pull out our last year’s holiday decorations and put them up as before. But this year let’s consider updating our holiday decor and change it up by adding some new ornaments. Read “Home For the Holidays” for ideas on what’s trending this year to freshen up your holiday look. An annual tradition in Style is our Holiday Gift Guide which highlights unique and fun gift ideas. Look over our expanded pages for inspiration this season! We deeply thank you for your support these past 32 years and look forward to 2017! Wishing you and your family a joyous and safe holiday season. With gratitude, lydia@stylemedia.com
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files HOT: Gilmore Girls, A Year in the Life (Netflix)
not: The Walking Dead (AMC)
HOT: Office Christmas Party In Theatres December 9th
not: Bad Santa 2 (Nov. 23rd)
HOT: My Burberry Festive Eau de Parfum Women
not: Rosewater Crabtree & Evelyn
HOT: Nintendo Switch
not: Microsoft Xbox One
HOT: This Is Us (NBC)
not: Grey's Anatomy (ABC)
HOT: Chris Young It Must Be Christmas
not: Christmas with the Colonel
HOT: Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille Eau de Parfum Men
not: Polo by Ralph Lauren
HOT: Nike HyperAdapt 1.0 Self-Lacing Shoes
not: Kanye West's Yeezy
The Hot or Not List Style Magazine staff members tell you what they are into right now...
HOT: American Housewife (ABC)
not: Westworld (HBO)
HOT: iPhone 7 Plus
not: Samsung Note 7 (not literally)
HOT: eos Custom Lip Balm
not: Burt's Bees Lip Balm
HOT: Apple Watch 2.0
not: All Fitbits!
HOT: Black Mirror (Netflix)
not: The Good Place (NBC)
HOT: Beats by Dre Solo 2 Wireless
not: Beats by Dre Solo 2 Wireless
HOT: Bevel Shave System
not: Dollar Shave Club
HOT: Google Daydream VR
not: Samsung Gear VR
Agree to DISagree? We would love to know what you think. Email us at info@stylemedia.com 18
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BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
By Kyle Eustice
Mat's daughter, Olivia, and son Parker help stock the shelves, carrying on the third generation in the store.
ON THE JOB
Wilbur’s Total Beverage General Manager/ Co-Owner Mat Dinsmore was born into the liquor industry. In the 1970s, his father Dennis Dinsmore was a manager at the Out of Bounds restaurant, which was the second establishment in Fort Collins to obtain a liquor license. In 2000, three months before Mat turned 21, his father left his job as an importer and the two of them purchased a small liquor store. “I grew up in the business,” Mat says. “In many ways, it’s in my blood. We’d always talked about opening a liquor store together. My dad had 30 years in the liquor industry
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and I was kind of good at drinking at that time, but didn’t know much about the industry [laughs]. My father, and I decided to start Wilbur’s Total Beverage.” In 2000, they bought an existing store called Beverage Nation, former neighbor of the now defunct Wild Oats. Four years later, Whole Foods Market announced their entry into Fort Collins, prompting Wilbur’s to move a mile north on College Avenue, which is where it has remained for the past 12 years. Although his father officially retired in 2014, his downtime didn’t last long. There are weekends that Mat’s 9-year-old
daughter Olivia and 6-year-old son Parker come to work with him, resulting in three generations of Dinsmores present at the store, which he hopes to pass on one day to his children.
TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS:
Wilbur’s Total Beverage features approximately 12,000 different items at any given time. It has an extensive selection of wine, beer and spirits, as well as impeccable customer service, making every trip to Wilbur’s a pleasant experience. Mat and his dedicated STYLEMEDIA.COM
staff pride themselves on taking the “intimidation out of wine shopping,” and boast several employees who are bonafide experts in the wine category. Although the store occupies over 24,000 sq. feet, it manages to retain a family oriented feel. “My goal was always to create a big box feel with a family owned company,” he explains. “We strive with service, selection and price. We try to take the intimidation out of wine shopping. Like anything, the industry is evolving. What was popular five years ago is not anymore, and so how do you continually adapt your product selection and stay competitive? That’s what we’re about.” Wilbur’s aims to provide the best customer service at all times. Considering it is between the seventh and tenth largest in volume in the state of Colorado, it must be able to accommodate the needs of hundreds of thousands of people. The number of awards and accolades they’ve collected over the past several years is a testament to their popularity and outstanding customer service. “In 2013, we were written up in ‘Market Watch Magazine,’ which is the same company that does Wine Spector,” he says. “We were the retailer of the year for Colorado from Jack Daniels in 2012. In 2014 my mother and I were on the cover of ‘Beverage Dynamics’ magazine as a market leader for the entire country. For us, it was a big deal.”
community,” he says. “I sit on the board of the Chamber of Commerce in Fort Collins, the McKee Medical Center Foundation board and I am the president of Coloradans For Safety in Denver, and treasurer of ABL in Washington D.C., which has over 20,000 industry members. “If we’re going to take from the community, we better give back,” he adds. “If we’re going to be market leaders, we have to lead and help shape the industry. We’d like to be in the conversation of what the future looks like.”
HOW TO FIND THEM:
2201 South College Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80525 970.226.8662 www.wilburstotalbeverage.com
WHEN TO GO:
Monday to Saturday 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
CLAIM TO FAME:
Due to a massive inventory, people flock to Wilbur’s because of its vast selection. Its beer cooler alone is 62 doors long and holds over 1300 beers, however, it’s Wilbur’s commitment to giving back to the Fort Collins community that sets it apart from the competition. “The amount of community oriented events we do is huge,” Mat says. “We work with literally 400 different non-profits every year. We can’t donate to everybody, but we are friend builders. We sell a product that’s fun. It’s different than selling tires or aluminum siding.” Wilbur’s recently hosted “A Vintage Affair” with Pathways Hospice and raised $50k in 2015 in about four hours to benefit hospice care, palliative care, and grief and loss bereavement support. It also started Wilbur’s Breast Cancer Fund and do a lot with Children’s Hospital, St. Jude, The House That Beer Built, and Habitat for Humanity, a huge point of pride for the Dinsmore family. “We are really proud of our civic engagement and what we’re able to give back to the STYLE 2016
WORDS OF WISDOM Over the past 14 years, Mat has learned countless lessons about
business and life in general (he jokes he “was skinny and had hair” back then). He takes customer service and age identification very seriously. Above all, he realizes every day how lucky he is to do what he loves.
“First of all, we are truly blessed to live where we do,” he says. “Fort Collins is amazing and our customers are awesome. Last year, we had something like 800,000 people through our door. Without
great customers, you have nothing. Our team members are truly
incredible. We’re very blessed to do business where we do. I love my job. It is a family business and I’m proud to be a part of our community.”
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personality
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The Rise Of Sonata “Nani” Ross Canyon Concert Ballet Finds Local Hidden Gem By Kyle Eustice For years, 14-year-old Sonata Ross (known to her friends and family as “Nani”) was simply a member of the audience, watching the Canyon Concert Ballet’s (CCB) production of the holiday classic, The Nutcracker, from afar. While she had always been captivated by dance, it was nothing she really contemplated doing professionally. As fate would have it, Nani’s mother Melissa Cody and stepfather Rowland Wasgatt won a free month of dance lessons at Canyon Concert Ballet while attending a silent auction, and gave it to Nani. That was one year ago and miraculously Nani is playing the lead role of “Clara” in the upcoming annual production of The Nutcracker, something nobody saw coming— not even Nani. “When I walked in that first class, I fell in love instantly,” Nani says. “From the self-expression of the ballet and to the discipline, I loved it all. I was really surprised at all the attention I was getting from people at the studio and I didn’t think I would get this far so fast.” The speed at which she’s progressed is remarkable. Most professional ballet dancers begin lessons as toddlers. However, much like Misty Copeland, who began her ascent to superstardom at 14, Nani is taking a non-traditional route. It wasn’t long before the instructors at Canyon Concert Ballet took notice, including Ballet Mistress Melissa Corr and executive producer Jody Touchton. “Nani’s initial teacher saw some natural talent,” Touchton explains. It went around the studio and came to Melissa’s attention. “We do assessments several times a year, where instructors will come in and watch the students, very much like the concept of standardized testing. We do the same with STYLE 2016
our ballet curriculum.” “Nani was achieving those at breakneck speed,” she continues. “For her to start literally a year before—having never really danced—take a class, and start showing these proficiencies was incredible. We challenged her, did private lessons, cultivated her talents, and it’s been amazing.” Although Nani took a few dance classes through her local 4-H chapter, she never thought of doing ballet. She admits she was incredibly intimidated being in a room with girls who had been doing it their entire lives. Her mother, who also happens to teach at Canyon Concert Ballet, was unaware of her daughter’s natural talent, but quickly realized the studio was buzzing about Nani’s skill level. [In ballet, the levels range from 1 through 7.] “It wasn't until end of the season that I knew they had a plan to fast track her,” Cody says. “If we were willing to do the extra private lessons and extra time, they wanted to bump her up two levels over the summer. She was level 4 the first year. That level gave her a solid foundation. Over the summer, they put her into level 5 and now she’s in ballet 6.” “It really came as a huge surprise to me,” Nani adds. “I don’t cry very often, but when my sister told me I started to cry. I was really excited that I had made it to level 6.” Cody has also been cast to dance as her mother in The Nutcracker this year and funnily enough, her stepdad will also play the role of her father. According to Nani, her mother cried when she nabbed the part of Clara. “Clara is a role that I had always wanted to dance,” she explains. “I never even auditioned when I was younger. It’s just really exciting. Canyon Concert puts together
the most beautiful ‘Nutcracker’ every year.” While Nani’s accomplishments are nothing short of awe-inspiring, Touchton points out that timing and the expertise of the Canyon Concert Ballet also played crucial roles in how everything panned out. In the last 30 years, CCB has executed 110 productions and 45 dancers from CCB went into professional ballet. It is a lot like Colorado Ballet in the way it structures its academy and the instructors have a keen eye for outstanding aptitude. “It’s an amazing story, but it’s not just about Nani,” she says. “It’s about being in the right place at the right time. We had a team of people who knew how to recognize the talent, including production director Erica Mugoye. Our school cultivates the talent so dancers like Nani can get these roles.” However, it also takes steadfast ambition and a relentless drive from the dancer. Currently, Nani does eight hours of ballet a week, takes a weekly jazz, modern and lyric class, a one hour pointe class, an hour of variation, and spends eight hours at the studio on Saturdays while juggling her school work as a high school freshman. In the future, she hopes to dance with a prestigious dance company. “Everyone dreams of the New York City Ballet, but even if I end up at Colorado Ballet, that will make me happy,” Nani says. “For now, this is really an invigorating experience.”
Kyle Eustice moved to Fort Collins from Santa Fe, New Mexico, where she continues her freelance writing career. She lives with her husband Paul Lukes and two Chihuahuas, Paco and Petey.
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By Kay Rios
Adopti n Creates Strong Families By Kay Rios
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The number for adopted children under 18 in the United States registered at 1,527,020 according to the 2010 Census (2.4%). In Colorado, that number for under 18 adoptees showed 30,503, ranking at 2.8%. Many families have discovered adoption as a viable option. “Adoption is an amazing way to create a family,” says Cindy Sarai, founder and executive director of Adoption Dreams Come True (ADCT). “It takes strength to both relinquish and to adopt. The reality is that someone’s happiness comes from someone’s pain. I’m very fortunate to meet people who make the decision that’s right for the child and to walk alongside them during the process.” ADCT supports birth parents with decisions about their unplanned pregnancy and aids adoptive parents in their process to adopt. For adoptive parents, ADCT provides designated, open, semi-open adoptions both domestically or across state lines. The focus is on infants but ADCT can also assist with placing children up to one year old. Adoptive families are walked through the entire adoption process, including applications, acceptance, hospital support, counseling, and introduction to the birth parents. The adoption costs in Colorado average around $35,000, Sarai says. “But our adoptions range from $14 to $24,000 because we try to keep it affordable.” The process includes a home study on each adoptive client, along with a full background check, financials and multiple documents such as marriage/divorce papers, and discharge from the military. “They also
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undergo five psycho-social interviews and take adoption classes, CPR and first aid, and after they pass all that, they receive a license to adopt.” In an open adoption, the adoptive family can meet the birth parent(s), attend doctor appointments and create a relationship. If there are any issues with, for example, finding the birth father or if the mother is unsettled about relinquishing, the baby is placed in Cradle Care where foster families take a baby into their home for interim placement; if there’s a difficult situation, interim care can take anywhere from four days to five months. “Each case is different,” Sarai says. Kristin and Josh Slattery adopted daughter Ryan through ADCT almost 5 years ago. “We had our biological son, but had trouble getting pregnant again,” Kristin Slattery says. Rather than fertility treatments, they decided to adopt. “We picked ADCT for a couple of reasons. They council the birth mothers and help them find assistance regardless of their decision. If they decide to adopt, they help match them to the family. In our case, we met the birth mom when she was only 14 years old and 22 weeks pregnant. I went to the appointments, saw the ultra sound, and we were in the waiting room when she was born. But then the birth mom changed her mind. So we left the hospital without the baby. It
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Kris Kissel and her son, Tennison, feeding a Cradle Care baby.
was heartbreaking,” Slattery says. “You plan for it just like when you have a baby, so we already had the nursery.” The mom again changed her mind and the Slatterys took ten day old Ryan home to meet her 5 year old brother, Keagen. Things were still a bit rocky. “We planned an open adoption, so for a while, the birth mother came to our home but she would just sit there and cry." There were other issues as well because the mom had a history of drug use. The Slattery family set limitations. “If she wanted to see Ryan, she needed a drug test and had to go to counseling. But she refused. So I said, ‘I can’t have you around here when you are using and not in counseling,’” Slattery says. “That was easy for me to do because I also had a son I needed to consider,” she explains. The birth mom never contacted them again. Ryan knows she’s adopted. “We’ve told her from the start. She would say something like ‘when I was a baby in your tummy and I would tell her, ‘no, Keagen was a baby in my tummy but Ryan was a baby in her birth mom’s tummy. Remember, you were adopted. Your birth mom did
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that because she loved you and didn’t want you to have the life she has; she wanted something safer. God makes families and he made this family for us and gave us these two kids in two different ways.’” Ryan may choose to find her birth mom in the future and Slattery isn’t concerned about that affecting their relationship. “Someday, when Ryan is a mother, she’ll understand that it’s more about mothering than about the actual birth.” Adopt Colorado Kids (ACK) offers another adoption option. ACK is contracted with Larimer County Department of Human Services as recruiters for foster care and adoption. In that role, it recruits foster and adoptive families, and supports youth aging out of the foster care system. Kristy DeAnda has been recruiting for ACK since March of 2016. She advocates for foster families and educates the community about foster care. “We also target kids in urgent need of placement. The majority of kids are in foster care with the goal to reunite with their birth families but, in some cases, they need adoptive placement because the families have lost parental rights.”
She and husband, John, adopted two sisters through foster care at ages 12 and 13. “We started visitations in October 2012, and in June of 2013 they moved in with us. We fostered them for six months and in January of 2014 the adoption went through.” The DeAndas chose this route because they knew that kids who are older often age out of the foster care system without connections to family. “That can be difficult,” DeAnda says. “People looking to adopt or even foster are generally looking for younger kids often because they have younger kids themselves. We didn’t have any children so we wanted to open our lives up to kids who might have a harder time being adopted.” It was a good choice, she says. “Our girls are resilient. They were in a foster family for over two years before us. This family was very loving and caring and a lot of healing took place in their care, so we were fortunate. That’s why I’m passionate about recruiting foster families. Whether it’s temporary care for kids in crisis or permanent placement, you can make a huge difference in somebody’s life,” DeAnda STYLEMEDIA.COM
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Tennison, daughter Whitney, husband Scott, daughter Reagan and Kris.
says. “These are normal kids going through abnormal circumstances. If they are placed in a loving and caring family, they can begin to heal and not just be in survival mode.” After orientation, 20 hours of face-toface trauma informed training provided by Larimer County, additional on-line training at home, a home study and background checks are completed. Once approved and foster care begins, a monthly stipend is provided for the expenses of foster care and includes food, clothing, and school supplies. “You have unique challenges,” DeAnda says. “But there’s a lot of support, good education, and training that gives you the tools to be successful.” Kelli and Dean Barber found success internationally. “Even before we got married, we always said we would adopt.” They had one biological child, so when son, Mason, was five they began working with AAC Adoption and Family Network. After requisite training and paperwork, the Barbers traveled to China in a group of ten families. “The first day we were all given our daughters in Nanking. We were also able to travel to the area our daughters
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came from. The babies had been in foster care because they were building an orphanage and it wasn’t finished. A lot of people hadn’t seen a Caucasian family so we were superstars. We drew crowds. We got to meet with the foster family and that doesn’t usually happen. Then, immediately when we landed in the U.S., she became a citizen. But we still had to go through court to finalize the adoption.” Mason was enamored with his new sister, Maelyn, Barber says. “There was a bit of a transition stemming from being an only child, but he easily became a great big brother. I see no difference between my daughter and son – she is as much part of me as he is.” Of the ten families from the adoption trip, nine continue to have a reunion every year. “These are her China sisters,” she says. Maelyn is now ten and has been given access to her cultural background through the Asian Pacific Islanders Club. “It’s a great program,” Barber says. The adoption cost around $25,000 including travel. Another perspective is that of the child. Kris Kissel was adopted forty-five years ago when she was only days old. “My adoptive
mother had ovarian cancer when she was 16 and couldn’t have kids because of the chemo. She and my adoptive dad were high school sweethearts and always knew they would adopt.” They first adopted a boy, then six years later, a girl, and four years after that, Kissel was brought into the family. Of the three, she was the only one wanting to find her birth mom. “I always knew I was adopted and sometimes I’d lay in bed and wonder what she was like. I started with a private investigator in August of 2009. In February of 2010, he called to tell me he found her and she wanted to talk to me. I spoke to her for the first time in March of 2010, a couple months later, she and her husband flew out from Iowa to meet me.” Kissel’s birth mom was 20 when she had her and realized she couldn’t raise a baby on her own. “My birth mom said she didn’t try to find me because she didn’t know if I knew I was adopted.” Later, Kissel met her half-brothers. The experience filled a void she had carried. “It’s not that you don’t love your family that you’re in, but there is a sense of loss. I’m so grateful I have my parents. People used to ask, don’t you STYLEMEDIA.COM
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Legacy of An Adopted Child Once there were two women, who never knew each other. One you do not remember, the other you call mother. Two different lives, shaped to make yours one. One became your guiding star, the other became your sun. The first gave you life, the second taught you to live in it. The first gave you a need for love, the second was there to give it. One gave you nationality, the other dried your tears. One saw your first sweet smile, the other calmed your fears. One gave you up it was all that she could do. The other prayed for a child, and God sent her straight to you. And now you ask me through your tears the age old question through the years. Heredity or environment which are you a product of: Neither my darling, neither. Just two different kinds of love.
- Anonymous -
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want to find your real parents?’ I already know my real parents. I lived with my real parents. They experienced all the blood, sweat and tears of child rearing. I’m super fortunate I was adopted into a superior family.” Kissel has three biological children (Reagan, Whitney, and Tennison). Because she understands the adoption situation first hand, she began to volunteer for ADCT’s Cradle Care. “It’s been perfect for our family. We’ve had five babies over five years and I’m glad our kids could do something bigger than themselves and develop an understanding for birth moms and the process. www.adoptiondreams.org www.adoptcoloradokids.org www.aacadoption.com Note: In some of the above stories, the children and the birth moms’ names were not used at the request of the family. Kay Rios, Ph.D., is a freelance writer based in Fort Collins. She is working on a mystery series set in the 1970s Fort Collins area and based on unsolved cases at the time.
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You can find food trucks almost anywhere along the Front Range. Here in Northern Colorado, they’re serving up gourmet waffles in Old Town, designer corndogs and vegetarian fare at local breweries like Odell’s and WeldWorks, and there are even taco trucks on a whole bunch of corners.
D TRUCK
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By Michelle Venus
STYLEMEDIA.COM
Photo Courtesy of Anthony Cross
The popular Silver Seed food truck.
Food trucks are the not-so-new upscale option to take-out. Even though it’s easy for the diner to stroll up, order up something delicious and walk away a few minutes later with a meal, there’s a lot that happens behind the scenes that the consumer never sees. It Isn’t Easy Being Mobile First, it’s not as easy at it seems to get a food truck up and going, but it’s much easier (and much less costly) than opening a brick and mortar restaurant. Taylor Smith, owner of The Silver Seed and a second truck, The Silver Seed, Too, remembers the days before he started his rolling business. “I had no idea what I was doing,” he admits, “and for every hour spent on the truck, we spend the same number of hours prepping and cleaning.” Three years later, he says he learns something new every day. Regulations regarding preparation and STYLE 2016
clean up, and how often and where food trucks can set up shop vary from one municipality to the other. Vendors working in Fort Collins, for instance, need to acquire at least six different permits in order to operate their businesses. Greeley requires food truck vendors to report where they intend to park. Under older regulations, those vendors had to pay an additional $100 for each location, which could get very costly if the truck went too several locations in the course of a single day. Secondly, food truck owners are required by law to find a licensed commercial kitchen for their prep and clean up. “There is a common misconception about food trucks having it easier than restaurants. In reality, we have it harder,” explains Taylor. “The hardest part of the first year was realizing we had to have a brick and mortar kitchen when we couldn’t afford one.” Food truck owners turn to commissary and restaurant kitchens to fulfill those
legalities. Sharing a kitchen with a number of other trucks can prove challenging. Oftentimes, food truck owners work with restaurants, scheduling their work around the establishment’s off times—and that can get tricky with a busy restaurant. Taylor had originally developed a relationship with a busy Fort Collins coffee shop, but found it difficult to get in because the kitchen was never free. That led to a scramble to find an available kitchen at the last minute when his needs clashed with the coffee shop’s needs. Eventually, The Silver Seed partnered with (now closed) Fiddletown Bakery. After Fiddletown closed, he found a shared kitchen with Umami Mobile Eatery. But the space was limited in what it offered and Taylor found himself struggling and frustrated. The Waffle Lab, the popular truck serving up “highly evolved” Liège-style waffles, since 2012, solved its kitchen problem earlier this year by opening a permanent
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Photo Courtesy of Anthony Cross
restaurant on Olive Street. Since opening, the truck works catered events and festivals, but is able to do all the prep and clean up in the restaurant’s kitchen. If all goes well, The Silver Seed trucks will be the little siblings of a brick and mortar restaurant, The Gold Leaf, Taylor reports. Like The Waffle Lab, the trucks will have a kitchen of their own once The Golden Leaf opens. Taylor plans on keeping his food truck business open, as well as partnering with other food trucks looking for a kitchen to call home. Call the Kitchen An adjunct industry is finding its niche as food trucks continue to grow in number and need more resources in order to be successful and safe. Commissary kitchens, which can be rented by the hour, provide not only a completely outfitted and licensed commercial kitchen, but cold and dry storage as well are popping up. Catering to mobile food vendors and catering companies, commissary kitchens solve big problems for little trucks. Evolved Kitchen, located at Drake and Shields in Fort Collins, was developed out of necessity. Owner Beth Sharp was a personal chef, cooking for clients with dietary concerns and had difficulty finding a commercial kitchen that was affordable
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and available. A friend’s husband noted that if she was running into these problems, then others must be as well. He suggested that she might consider opening a commissary kitchen. Two years later, Beth is working with not only food trucks but culinary artisans such as a chocolatier, bakers, and a kombucha brewer. Evolved Kitchen provides a commercially licensed and insured kitchen complete with convection and standard ovens, a large range with flat top, a sanitary dishwashing facility and food storage. The last two are among the most important components to food truck owners, whose limited space in the trucks makes accommodation of these requirements difficult, if not impossible. Beth works with Fort Collins startup, The Food Corridor, to administrate scheduling and payment. Cofounded by partners Ashley Colpaart, Dan Moore, and Ben Nelson, The Food Corridor provides an online marketplace with a nationwide network of resources for culinary entrepreneurs that directs toward not just kitchens, but equipment, processors, co-packers, food storage space, and even label printers. Founded just a year ago, the company has garnered several entrepreneurial awards. The Food Corridor has developed
online tools that allow for scheduling and payment processing, making it easy for all parties involved to be able to work on the fly and lock in kitchen times. “So many food truck owners conduct their business on their smart phones,” says Ashley. “Being able to pull up a schedule while they’re working at a remote location is invaluable.” In addition to the online tools and network, The Food Corridor moderates a private group called NICK (Network for Incubator & Commissary Kitchens), where members share data, best practices, and technical know-how to build and grow their businesses. “Food trucks are here to stay,” says Ashley. “They’ve become an important part of the restaurant industry and will only continue to grow.” Taylor agrees wholeheartedly with Ashley: “Oh, we’re not going anywhere. Between the two trucks and the new restaurant—it’s all good.”
Michelle Venus is a freelance writer and the Development Director at KRFC 88.9 fm. She shares a home office with a Basset hound, a mutt, and a sweet little cat. Her two kids are brilliant and beautiful. STYLEMEDIA.COM
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A fun twist on our classic star pendant, the Illa Cosmic Diamond Necklace is comprised of perfectly cut Hearts On Fire diamonds and is perfect paired with other necklaces or worn alone. Starting at $1490. Available at Sather's Leading Jewelers, Fort Collins. www.sathersjewelers.com
Up your game before next golf season with a golf lesson package from GolfTEC. Package includes a 90 minute swing evaluation, 1 follow-up lesson and 1 video practice – All for only $199. Avaliable at GolfTEC, Fort Collins. www.golftec.com/FortCollins
The all new 2017 Cadillac XT5 AWD features advanced safety features like lane-keep assist, pedestrian detection, front and rear automatic braking and surround vision, and a 360 degree birds-eye view camera. A smart and spacious interior with unparalleled refinement, and class leading legroom for front and rear passengers. AWD models starting at $48,388. Available at Dellenbach Cadillac, Fort Collins. www.dellenbach.com
This Holiday season give the Gift of Luxury from TEN Salon and Spa for all your hair and skin needs. Customized Gift Cards are a great way to pamper your loved one with a service experience like no other. Available at TEN Salon and Spa, Loveland. www.tensalonandspa.com Bed Stu Overnight Purse $295, Himalayan & Capri Blue Candles ($20-$30), Stackable Bracelets ($8-$31), Khloe Earrings ($10-$24). All available at Coast to Coast Styles, Windsor. www.coasttocoaststyles.com
Almond Toffee handcrafted in Fort Collins from all-natural ingredients in copper kettles. Gluten-free, pure toffee perfection! Gifts from $6 to $115. Gift Tower $59.95. Available at Vern’s Toffee House, celebrating 40 years in business, Fort Collins. www.vernstoffee.com
A perfect gift for the cat or dog lover. Holiday gift basket to keep your pet’s teeth clean, fur clean and healthy, and joints in good shape, priced at $100. Available at Moore Animal Hospital, Fort Collins. www.MooreAnimalHospital.com
Donna Sena Keirns sterling silver fabulous & turquoise flower petal necklace, $150. Available at Blue Moose Art Gallery & Gifts, Fort Collins. facebook.com/ BlueMooseArtGallery
Keep your resolution to get fit! Two weeks of unlimited boxing and kickboxing classes with gloves and hand wraps. Starting at $60 depending on choice of gloves. Available at Title Boxing Club, Fort Collins. www.fortcoilins.titleboxingclub.com
Locally, hand-crafted cookbook holder with our favorite baking cookbook to warm holiday hearts - Cookbook holder $80; Cookbook $27.50. Available at Fort Collins. www.savoryspiceshop.com/ fortcollins
The MANdle Scented Candle by Eco Candles, fresh cut grass & leather fragrance. Pigskin and grass stains...bringing the smells of the field to your couch. Priced at $17.99. Available at Downtown Ace Hardware, Fort Collins. www. AceDowntown.com Our Zapotec runners and rugs are hand-woven in Teotitlan, Oaxaca. These unique one of a kind placemats, runners, pillows and rugs are 100% wool and brighten any room in your home! Prices vary from $39.95 to $1699.00 for large rugs. Available at Roughing It In Style, Fort Collins. www.roughingitinstyle.com Tidings to the tippler with this Moscow Mule Gift Pack. Everything you need to make a Moscow Mule. Saranac Ginger Beer, Spud Vodka, limes and a copper mug, $24.99. Available at Wilbur's Total Beverage, Fort Collins. www.wilburstotalbeverage.com
Uno de 50 “Another Round Oh, Oh, Oh" Pearl Bracelet $125.00. Unique elastic bracelet made with rounded beads, a silver-plated hoop and a white pearl. Handcrafted in Spain. Available at Cloz to Home, Loveland. www.cloztohome.com
Be proud to buy an American made product again. This 2017 Buick LaCrosse Sedan is available in AWD. Has a sleek parking assist feature which allows the vehicle to park itself, from $32,065. Available at Markley Motors, Fort Collins. www.markleymotors.com
The newest German made Miele vacuum will last a lifetime. Powerful suction, lightweight, captures and retains more particles per minute than other leading brands, 12 foot integrated hose, and many more features priced at $399. Foothills Vacuum & Sewing Center, Fort Collins.
WeatherTech builds state of the art interior and exterior accessories for your vehicles needs. WeatherTech offers a wide variety of products including: digital floor liners, rubber floor mats, bug shields, window visors, bug shields, no-drill mud guards, and many other products., $44.95 and up. Available at Bullhide 4x4, Fort Collins. www.bullhide4x4.com
Liberty Safe, America's #1 producer of heavy duty home safes, gun safes, and fire safes. Made in the USA, lifetime warranty, Prices at $695 - $5200. Rocky Mountain Shooters Supply, Fort Collins. www.RMSS.com
Add a new member to your family this holiday season with a Soft Coated Wheaten puppy.All puppies are up to date on vaccinations and come with a health guarantee. Prices vary. Available at Pet City, Fort Collins. www.petcityfortcollins.com
This Christmas bring tech, style and efficiency to all of your adventures. With RAV4 Hybrid’s advanced innovations and Toyota's proven hybrid powertrain getting more than 30 MPG, you can make the most of any trip. Available at Pedersen Toyota, Fort Collins. www.pedersentoyota.com
Share your heart with someone special this holiday. Beautiful hand blown glass hearts crafted in Mexico in an array of sizes and colors. Hang them or display several in a bowl. From $16.95 to $47.95. Available at The Light Center, Fort Collins. www.lightcenterinc.com
HERO5 Black is the most powerful and easy to use GoPro ever, thanks to its 4K video, voice control, one-button simplicity, touch display and waterproof design. From $299. Available at Outpost Sunsport, Fort Collins. outpostsunsport.com
This elegant ensemble bestows the soft warmth and glittering colors of a frost kissed sunrise. Clothing, jewelry and accessories that are inspired by the natural splendor of winter. Bracelet $14.99; Scarf $19.99; Purse with detachable shoulder strap $21.99; Two layer sweater $64.99. Available at Bath Garden Center, Fort Collins. www.bathgardencenter.com
The biggest holiday decorating trend this year is metallics, mixed metals, and geometric shapes. Pick up a few beautiful ornaments to update your tree, from $3.99. Available at Palmer Flowers, Fort Collins. www.palmerflowers.com
OUR BUSINESS IS BUILT ON REL ATIONSHIPS AND TRUST
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SERVICE YOU DESERVE PEOPLE YOU CAN TRUST SERVING YOU WITH 6 OFFICES IN NORTHERN COLORADO
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Happy Holidays from The Group! W W W. T H E G R O U P I N C . C O M
By Lynette Chilcoat
For different people, those two words hold a variety of meanings. Overall, though, they evoke a sense of walking into a place of comfort, personal style, and most importantly, belonging. Such is the case with the distinctive home built by Schroetlin Custom Homes for Theresa Branney and her husband, John Bradford Branney within the heart of Redstone Canyon. John’s retired from his initial career as a geologist, and now uses a segment of the new house as an in-home office for his follow-up avocation as an author. Theresa continues to work in natural gas marketing. The Branneys have found their luxurious retreat to be an out of the way haven as they shift into a more leisurely lifestyle. “This is kind of a sanctuary,” mentions Theresa Branney. “We listen to the coyotes at night. Their yipping is like a concert. We can see all the stars and often fall asleep watching them. You forget how powerful and fresh the smells are, like the scent of sage. It’s a place to regenerate your soul.” John Branney adds, “There isn’t a bad view here. The back
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patio is phenomenal and we have a lot of fun entertaining.” The 40 acres the house is situated on ensures those views will remain consistent. “We are close enough to town and culture, yet still far enough away,” says Theresa about the mere 15 miles from Fort Collins that separates city from rustic backcountry. A plethora of wildlife abounds, from deer to bears, with an occasional glimpse of either bobcat or cougar. The terrain is prime rattlesnake habitat, too, so the Branneys are cautious. They take care where they step and keep a close eye on their three German shepherds. The drive itself follows a meandering route from modern civilization into a glimpse of prehistoric times, a theme John embraces in his writing. After turning off a paved two-lane and venturing north into Redstone Canyon, the hard-packed dirt road narrows,
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red rock formations rimming the way. A creek parallels curvy switchbacks. Copses of cottonwoods in their autumn garb of green, turning to gold and bronze, offer a colorful passage as well as roadside shade. Through a coded gate and up a hill, the Branney’s home sits innocuously on a level expanse of property. The natural rock and wood elements of the exterior blend well with the landscape. Builder, Mike Schroetlin, found few challenges, but one was the approach to the site. “It was tough, it’s definitely up there a ways,” says Schroetlin. “In addition to the distance, each contractor and vendor needed the security code and directions. We had to have good communication. But the Branney’s were fun to work with. A lot was spelled out in the original plans, so I just needed to get to know them and figure out their preferences in colors and materials.” Walking through the front door is like stepping into a sturdy structure that somehow, miraculously, is a mere extension of bringing the great outdoors inside. Designed by John Dengler and Associates of Fort Collins, the overall feel of the interior is immediately one of flowing, continuous movement. A great room greets the eye, with floor to ceiling windows sweeping across the entire southern wall. An open floor plan presents the living room, dining area and kitchen as a whole. Each room sports an attention to detail highlighted by soft, neutral tones. Beyond the thick glass, a patio inlaid with water features and a firepit are in evidence, highlighted by a xeriscape garden full of indigenous plants. Open to the prairie, with forested foothills and red mesa beyond, the entire scene is a sweeping live canyonlands portrait. “The house fits the land. They go together,” says Theresa. A sentiment echoed Schroetlin, who from a practicability standpoint thinks the house wasn’t difficult to build. “There was a clean, flat surface site,” says Schroetlin. “The rear patio is really nice, mixing the indoors with the out. The house has a geothermal heating system, which is complex, but very energy efficient and green.” On the western side of the great room, a gas fireplace takes center stage. Influenced
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by both the Branney’s backgrounds, the structure is constructed of quarried stones in beautiful shapes and hues. As selfdescribed rock hounds, John and Theresa are especially proud of this feature. On either side are a series of built-in shelves intended to host the Branney’s recently acquired hobby of bronze and pottery collecting. The same fireplace also offers heated ambience in John’s office space, then ties into the master bedroom and basement great room as well. In the kitchen, the cabinets are made of alder, a light brown wood so mellow the brushed tint resembles a doe’s pelt. From there, the floor plan circles through a hallway to the east, where Theresa’s office space is tucked into a cubbyhole next to the master suite, which exhibits a continuing extension of the south-facing glass wall. Moving north, the walk-in closet holds a hidden treasure — a door on the opposite end that leads into the expansive utility and mud room. In the western portion of the house is a guest suite and John’s office, where a single wall is constructed of pine-beetle wood, a lovely bluish pine with intricate whorls. The room is filled with displayed southwestern artifacts that John has collected. “All were surface-found on private land of the high plains of Rocky Mountain states,” notes John. Although the upper level was designed to contain everything necessary to accommodate their aging process, the basement has been fully finished. The floor is sheathed in large square granite tiles with a swirling gray and white pattern. An inviting great room, kitchenette, wine cellar and weight room complement the main level amenities. There’s also a storage bunker capacious enough to house an elk herd, an asset when heavy Colorado snows fly and going back and forth to town becomes an issue. Of the symbiotic relationship between the Branney’s and Mike Schroetlin who served to create a quality home built to last a lifetime, Theresa says, “We felt we could trust him and could work with him.” Lynette Chilcoat, owner of Chilcoat Custom Literary, is a freelance writer living in Loveland who adores the Branney's new home. www.lynettechilcoat.com STYLE 2016
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decorating
By Kyle
STYLE 2016
Eustice
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For 40 years, Fort Collins mainstay, Palmer Flowers, has been brightening up homes and businesses for the holidays with its expansive selection of flowers, decor, blooming plants, ornaments, garlands, and more. Manager, Michelle Adams, who has been with the company for 39 years, has been a valuable resource for countless customers looking to add a little spark to their holiday decor. Popular looks this season include mixed metals, geometric shapes and warm hues. “Coppers, pewters, silvers and a lot of industrial metals in different shades and colors are “in” this year,” Adams explains. “We’ve also been seeing a lot of geometric shapes going along with that. It provides a modern industrial look, but very warm at the same time.” Whether squares, circles or diamond shapes, geometric designs embedded in the glass of a vase have also been sought after this season. Once flowers in a variety of harvest colors— red, orange and yellows—are added to it, the arrangement is ideal for fall, and instantly gives any room a touch of elegance. “Even distressed looks have been popular this year,” Adams says. They aren’t shiny, but more muted.” Specifically for Thanksgiving, Adams recommends a contemporary look, as well, which includes natural grasses and fall colors. “To give them a more modern look, maybe using a container that’s more metallic and putting in some different kinds of floral orbs that can add a different dimension to the overall feel.” For Christmas, a natural Colorado look has always been at the forefront of style choices and continues to be a popular option this year. “We see a lot of natural evergreens, berries, pinecones, red brick colors, muted golds, and natural tans,” she explains. “It’s a real Colorado, outdoorsy look. It’s been in high demand over the last several years. It provides a more botanical look—almost woodsy, but not so rustic.” It’s important to note that nostalgia always runs deep during the holidays and many families continue the traditions set in place by their relatives. Trees and ornaments
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are routinely used to capture the spirit of holidays gone by. “When the holidays come around, you remember the smells in the kitchen or how the tree looked when you’d come home,” she says. “Nostalgia transcends all generations. You get out the tree and you remember, ‘Oh I got that ornament one year from my
grandmother.’ People collect things that are special to them. The kids carry on the tradition.” “A lot of people like to do a designer tree, where they have a theme for their tree,” she adds. “They’ll pick out a selection of things that go together and each year add to it. They might add a newer take on the theme they picked out a couple years ago. It keeps evolving into something current.” Choosing a handful of new ornaments every year can instantly add fresh life to a more dated look. Lights and ribbons are also inexpensive and easy ways to invigorate old decor that may have been laying around in a dusty basement cabinet. Tea lights, strands of lights, candles, and a variety of LED lights are all simple solutions. “A lot of people like to run a ribbon through their garland,” she says. “Ribbons can get worn over time, so a brand new one can make a big difference. Specialty lights are also great for garlands that run down the dining room table. Instead of a centerpiece, you can buy a six-foot garland and spruce it up with pinecones, little cube or
star lights.” With all of the emerging LED technology, lighting up a tree, flower arrangement or garland is more effortless than ever. Palmer Flowers has an expansive selection. “The LED technology is really cool,” she says. “Sometimes people will use that for their Christmas trees. You can run lights through the tree to give it a pop of soft light that really catches your eye. It can add a lot to the look. You can even use them in a floral arrangement, the wreath above the fireplace or a garland on the mantel. It always looks magical.” Adams suggests whatever the desired look is, try to incorporate new decor into whatever theme is done each year, to match the already existing home decor. It will lend it a more current, industrial feel. “Historically, burgundies and golds are pretty traditional, and go with a lot of home decor,” she says. “Add a new shade of metal—like copper or gold—just to tweak it a little bit.” Another way to really give a home a welcoming, traditional holiday feel is to use potpourri, scented candles (in either the pumpkin spice or cinnamon smells), poinsettia plants, and mini pumpkins. “You can always use gourds and mini pumpkins in an arrangement,” she says. “A lot of people use a carved out pumpkin as a container for their harvest colored flowers. You can also add cranberries to a vase, which adds a gorgeous color to the water. It works very well.” “Something about the holidays makes people want to remember a simpler time,” she continues. “We want to remember our happy childhoods. Decorating is a great way to do that. You can make it more contemporary, but at the same time preserve the traditions you’ve had all along.” Kyle Eustice has an extensive writing background and covers everything from music to organic farming. She lives in Fort Collins with husband Paul Lukes and two chihuahuas, Petey and Paco. STYLEMEDIA.COM
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dining out
Decadent Desserts By Malini Bartels
The wonders of desserts created with simple ingredients can surprise the palate and satisfy cravings. A few favorites from local restaurants made the top of the list when it comes to the most decadent of them all. A meal is not complete unless topped off with something sweet at the end. Some of the best of the best in local fare have it down to a science and are willing to share their secrets.
The sizable English style pub at 134 South College Avenue in Fort Collins is known for their traditional pub menu serving into the wee hours of the night. A favorite spot for an evening burger craving or a plate of calamari, The Crown Pub is also home to the most delicious bread pudding in town. Originally created as an interesting way to consume day-old bread, the traditional UK dessert has taken on many flavors and forms over the years. However, just as most of The Crown Pub’s menu items are authentic English & Irish pub fare, so is their most popular dessert. “Whiskey and bourbon pair well with our entrees,” says the pub’s head chef Brenden McEvoy. “As a pub, we try to incorporate some of our spirits into the dishes we serve.” The bread pudding has been on the menu for over ten years with no changes to the recipe. The greatness, however, lies in the sauce that’s drizzled over the custard-baked bread. After all, a little Beam can make anything better, even hoagie bread!
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TRADITIONAL BREAD PUDDING
Serves 6
INGREDIENTS:
• • • • • • • • •
1 ¼ cups sugar 1/3 pound butter (softened) 6 whole eggs 1 2/3 cups heavy cream 3/4 cups milk 3 Tbs. vanilla 1 Tbsp. Cinnamon 1/3 cup raisins 1 pound hoagie bread – cut into ½ in. cubes
DIRECTIONS: 1. Combine heavy cream, sugar and butter in large bowl 2. Add milk, vanilla and cinnamon 3. Mix with a small stick blender 4. Slowly add one egg at a time until a custard is achieved 5. Grease a casserole dish 6. Place bread cubes in dish 7. Slowly add custard into the bread cubes in the dish gently fold 8. Fold in raisins 9. Bake uncovered at 350 for 1 hour 15 minutes
BOURBON CREAM SAUCE INGREDIENTS
• • • •
1 quart heavy whipping cream 2/3 cups brown sugar ¼ cup Jim Beam 2 tbsp. vanilla
DIRECTIONS:
1. Mix everything together in a heavy based saucepan. 2. Heat on medium, reduce heat and stir constantly until the desired consistency. 3. Dip spoon into sauce, it should have a thick coat on the back of the spoon when ready.
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TOFFEE DATE CAKE WITH FIG NEWTON ICE CREAM Out of the ordinary and astonishingly mouthwatering, is a cake served warm with bits of candy and fruit. Placed beside an outof-box ice cream that uses a fruit filled cookie for flavor, and voila! You’ve got the Toffee Date Cake from Café Vino at 1200 South College Avenue in Fort Collins. “The toffee date cake has been a staple on the Cafe Vino menu since 2010,” says Maggie Franz, the restaurant’s manager. “It has evolved throughout the years and many chefs, including current head chef, Brie Feilmeier, have had a hand in making it the amazing cake we serve to our guests daily.” The cake is their unique spin on English sticky toffee pudding and instantly became a customer favorite. The distinctive Fig Newton ice cream that accompanies the moist dessert is an all natural, local ice cream made by Ice Cream Alchemy in Boulder, CO. “We change our dessert seasonally, however the toffee date cake remains the same,” mentions Franz. After all, why change a good thing…. CONT. PG. 58
TOFFEE DATE CAKE Yield 2 Bundt cakes
INGREDIENTS:
• • • • • • • • • •
3 ¾ C Chopped Dates 6 ¼ C warm water 1/8 C baking soda 1 lb. Butter 1 ½ C sugar 8 eggs 2 ¼ tsp vanilla 3 1/3 All Purpose Flour 2 ¼ tsp salt 2 Tbsp. baking powder
DIRECTIONS: 1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees. 2. Combine dates and warm water in a medium sized bowl. 3. Cream butter and sugar. Slowly add eggs and vanilla until combined. 4. Add flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda until incorporated. 5. Slowly add date mixture. Batter will be a soupy consistency. 6. Pour evenly into prepared pans, making sure there are an equal amount of dates in each pan. 7. Bake for 40 minutes. Turn cakes out after they have cooled at least 15 minutes. 8. Drizzle with toffee sauce and serve.
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MOCKTAIL out on the town
AKE MINE A By Michelle Venus
Fall Rhubarb Spritz 2-3 dashes orange bitters 2-3 dashes rhubarb bitters 1/2 oz rosemary simple syrup half fresh lemonade half sparkling water Combine all ingredients except sparkling water in a shaker with ice and shake. Pour into glass and add sparkling water. Garnish with lemon twist and rosemary sprig.
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As the holidays loom high on the horizon and parties are filling calendar slots, the home bar is getting the once over. In a world of elevated gourmet tastes, coupled with concerns about driving after imbibing or just not drinking, more revelers are opting for cocktail’s less spirited cousin: the mocktail. But don’t think that leaving out the alcohol is tantamount to a squeeze of lemon in a glass of club soda. Say goodbye to Shirley Temples, Virgin Marys, and Fauxjitos. Today’s mocktails offer sophisticated and complex culinary experiences, often borrowing ingredients from the kitchen and the garden. It’s not hard to find enticing alcohol-free adult beverages when out on the town, nor is it difficult to whip them up at home. Go ahead and Google “mocktails" for hundreds of recipes, or visit your favorite watering hole and take advantage of local talent. Here, three bartenders offer up their best advice. FROM THE MOUTHS OF MIXOLOGISTS Rule Number One: Do not be intimidated. Lauren Mihalko, head bartender/ assistant manager at The CopperMuse, just north of downtown Fort Collins, recommends ponying up for “The Flavor Bible” by Karen Page (there is also a vegetarian version). “The most beautiful book ever published,” she says. “It gives you flavor pairings for everything. Look up plums and it lists everything that plums pair well with. It gives you ideas—what’s the right thing to do with plums; what are good avenues to take plums into; what doesn’t pair well with them. And for any ingredient you can think of, it makes you cry a little bit inside.” Lauren states that any drink made with alcohol can also be made without. The trick is to make it fun, use great garnishes, make it balanced and not too sweet, and always use the freshest ingredients. Be inspired and let your creativity shine. For vodka drinks, Lauren substitutes the liquor with a neutral juice, such as pear juice. For rum, she goes with apple juice or cider. And don’t forget the sparkling water for, STYLE 2016
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Strawberry Fields 2 oz pear juice* 3-4 muddled strawberries* 1/2 oz lime juice 1/2 oz balsamic vinegar 1/2 oz simple syrup 1/2 oz grenadine Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Strain into a martini glass over ice. *R.W. Knudsen makes a nice, neutral pear juice. If you don’t have a muddler, use frozen strawberries and let them defrost into a soft, juicy pulp.
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well, sparkle. Invest in a Soda Stream for your counter top and make your own club soda as a base for your mocktails. Bitters are a go-to ingredient. Consider them the spices behind your bar, adding interesting background flavors for your drinks. The selection of bitters is so broad these days, going far beyond the standard Angostura and Peychaud’s. Golden Poppy Apothecary (right across College from CopperMuse) carries their own line of custom blended bitters, ranging from lavender or cherry vanilla to a warm, roasty nut bitters containing toasted walnuts and pecans. Other brands, such as Fee Brothers or Bitterness offer up flavors like sprightly grapefruit or tongue-teasing black pepper. Keep in mind that bitters do contain a minute amount of alcohol, so for a true mocktail, skip the bitters. Or try flower waters—rose water, orange flower water, or elderflower water—to add interest and depth. Social’s, Lee McGowan, manager and server, finds inspiration in the herb garden. He lets his garden grow a bit wild, with thyme and mint entwining themselves together, and infuses simple syrups that he makes at home. Simple syrup is just that—simple. Add equal amounts of sugar and water in a saucepan and bring to a boil on the stovetop. Whisk until the sugar is completely dissolved. Add the herb of your choice (basil, mint, thyme and rosemary work especially well) and boil for another minute or so. Then remove the pan from the heat and let it cool. Fish out the herbs and pour into a bottle, which can then be stored in the refrigerator indefinitely. This Mississippi native’s fridge is always stocked with sweet tea, home-brewed kombucha and ginger beer, which serve as the foundation of many a beverage. Lee also finds inspiration in Rocket Fizz’s soda selection. The candy store located in the Opera Galleria carries an eclectic mix of pop. “Buy something really weird,” he advises. “Play around with it. If you don’t like it, all you’ve invested in is a can of soda. But add some lemon, add some herbs. Make it fun.” STYLE 2016
NEW STRATEGIES YOU NEED TO KNOW TO
MAXIMIZE
SOCIAL SECURITY • Timing is everything - filing too early or too late • How to best coordinate other income sources • How to plan for inflation (you’ll need twice as much income in 20 years) • How married couples miss out on substantial benefits
Join us for this FREE EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOP and learn!
RSVP TODAY!
•
(970) 377-1705
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17 TH
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9:00AM
Fort Collins Senior Center • 1200 Raintree Dr. Significant changes in social security benefits. Learn strategies to avoid mistakes.
Robert M. McCulley, CFP®, MAFM CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Masters Degree Accounting & Financial Management
www.mcculleyassociates.com Securities and investment advisory services offered through Cetera Advisors LLC, MEMBER FINRA/SIPC. Cetera is under separate ownership from any other entity.
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Limonade de Provence 2 oz cranberry juice 2 oz fresh lemon 1 oz rosemary simple syrup 1 oz soda water 3 drops orange flower water Combine cranberry and lemon juices and simple syrup in a shaker with ice. Shake and pour into a tall glass. Add soda water and orange flower water and stir. Garnish with lemon slice and rosemary sprig.
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Lee is also an advocate of incorporating juice into his mocktails. What if you have too much of a good thing and the juice starts to go bad? Pour it into an ice cube tray and when frozen, pop the cubes into a labeled zip-lock baggie. Each cube should provide enough juice for one drink, and nothing goes to waste. Britney Metzo-Smith, a bartender at Cafe Vino, is always excited when a customer asks for a mocktail. She loves crafting sophisticated and complex drinks for customers who are looking for a nonalcoholic beverage that is delightful and satisfying. She, too, stresses using the best possible ingredients. Her recipes include citrus, something to sweeten up the drink, and something to make it sparkle. Britney often takes cues from the season. Summertime drinks are light and refreshing, like Cafe Vino’s Specialty Iced Tea which is an Arnold Palmer with muddled mint and a squeeze of lime. She makes shrubs, an old-timey fruit syrup preserved with vinegar. Shrubs have been around since the 15th century and have been making a recent comeback. Like a simple syrup, they are easy to make. An autumnal drink might feature spices that give a nod to Thanksgiving. Wintertime drinks could pair up steamed milk (almond or soy milk for vegetarians or the lactose intolerant) with white pepper, cardamom and a few drops of Golden Poppy’s toasted nut bitters to provide warmth from the inside out. Presentation is important. Just because a drink doesn’t contain any alcohol doesn’t mean it can’t be special. Give your cocktail the respect it deserves by serving it in a champagne flute and garnishing it with a sprinkle of lavender buds or a slice of cucumber. The mocktail is the grown-up in the room, and should be treated as such. Bottoms up. Michelle Venus is a freelance writer and the Development Director at KRFC 88.9 fm. She shares a home office with a Basset hound, a mutt, and a sweet little cat. Her two kids are brilliant and beautiful. STYLE 2016
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cooking W H AT ’ S I N
THE
CUPBOARD FO
G RH N I K O LIDAY B A
By Malini Bartels Check that list not once, but twice. Cookies are not just Santa’s favorite treat, they’re everyone’s handheld morsel of goodness! The annual neighborhood Cookie Exchange is just hours away and you want to make something extremely unique and eyecatching enough for everyone to want, but have no idea where to start… sound familiar? With the right tools, essential ingredients, and a little bit of inspiration, holiday baking woes can be a thing of the past. Cookies are the desired delectable that’s fun to make, enjoyable to eat, and easy to gift. Cellophane gift bags are your friend when packaging up some cookies. Even a cute ribbon and bow can add a customized touch when entertaining friends or presenting gifts to coworkers. Soft, chewy, crispy, or crunchy, there’s definitely something for everyone. There are unlimited options for shapes too; some are scooped, some are even rolled into balls and dusted with sugar. The
Holiday Cookies: Prize-Winning Family Recipes from the Chicago Tribune.
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potential for creativity is bound only by your ingredients and the equipment you have for your creations. Jim Hewitt, owner of The Cupboard in Fort Collins has fond memories of his childhood and the holidays. “The holidays for us growing up were all about tradition,” mentions Hewitt. “All my recollections are about food and the things that were baked. Ever since I was a kid, my parents would bake the same things every year. This gave us kids something we could look forward to.” Some of Hewitt’s favorites are his mom’s pumpkin pie, festive ginger bread loaf, and apple-blueberry cobbler. “But, the most scrumptious of all were the Madeleine cookies my parents used to make.” Madeleines are elegant shell-shaped sponge cookies originating from France. Their cake-like batter creates a unique consistency for a cookie and their delicate shape
The Christmas Cookie Cookbook: All the Rules and Delicious Recipes to Start Your Own Holiday Cookie Club by Pearlman and Bayer
The Ultimate Cookie Book by Better Homes and Gardens
make them desirable for entertaining. But just as with the creation of any dessert, precision is important. “With baking, it’s important to have the proper equipment on hand,” emphasizes Hewitt. “Baking is more of a science than other types of cooking. Ingredients need to be exact; the temperature has to be correct.” When making an abundance of holiday cookies, Hewitt recommends the siliconecoated USA pan. It’s an aluminum pan with a food-safe silicone coating to make it extremely non-stick. The owner of the “baker’s paradise” insists that proper tools can make the baking experience more enjoyable and sometimes an investment up front will pay off in the long run, “Because good quality baking equipment can last for generations and generations.” Malini Bartels is a freelance writer, chef, mother, radio host, and actress living the good life in Fort Collins.
We Love Madeleines by Nicols, Tran, and Miss Madeleine
Christmas Cookies: 50 Recipes to Treasure for the Holiday Season by Lisa Zwirn
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Check before you bake! Do you have these items in your kitchen for the ultimate cookies? o Electric Mixer – stand or handheld o Pans (Bundt, loaf, etc.)
o Rimmed Baking Sheets o Cooling Racks
o Measuring Cups & Spoons o Spatulas
o Rolling Pin
o Cookie Cutters
o Parchment Paper
o Mixing Bowls of all sizes o A Fun Apron
o Frosting/Piping kit if decorating cookies
o Ingredients needed for your recipe
USA Pan Nonstick Bakeware
Professional Madeleine Pan
Cookie Cutters in holiday shapes (for sugar cookies and gingerbread people)
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healthy
y a d i l o H Fitn
s p i T ess
lping or he ive f p a r s bad xces has a and for e ay! n o s y sea d pounds be that w you d olida e to The h n unwant n't have oliday lea althy e s i h h e a n g o g td rts. du vin us ing. I Thanksgi ating an cal expe g r u l e o r e l sp e h t v m let to o ps fro Don't the path me ti o s n e dow . Here ar s habit
1.) Make a conscious effort to stay active every day. It doesn't matter if its a leisurely walk, yoga class or a brutal hour of kickboxing. As long as you set your intentions to stay moving for at least 60 min a day. 2.) Portion your plate for success. Thanksgiving dinner doesn't have to end with a slow waddle to the couch for a nap. Fill 1/2 your plate with veggies, 1/4 with protein and the remaining 1/4 with carbs. Skip seconds and do save room for a small sliver of pie. After all it wouldn't be thanksgiving without pumpkin pie. 3.) Don't stress! Its easy to get wrapped up in whose cooking what, how to prepare the turkey just right or last minute shopping. Take a deep breath because stress increases cortisol, one of the hunger inducing hormones.
Ashley Talebi RAC Personal Trainer and Nutrition Specialist
4.) Watch your sugar intake. This time of year the holiday treats are marketed everywhere. Pumpkin spice lates, pie, peanut brittle, caramel apples, etc. From Halloween until Christmas, it's truly the season of sugar. When a sugar craving hits try herbal tea with a bit of honey or a sliced apple sprinkled with cinnamon. 5.) Its ok to say "no thank you." Your Aunt won't forever hold a grudge if you say no to her famous fudge. Eating is a choice and you have the ultimate control of what goes into your mouth. Stay strong!
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Lisa Talamini Registered Dietitian Nutritionist
Alyssa Hochfelder Head Coach
Kelsey Wiebe AFAA Certified Personal Trainer CrossFit Level 1 Trainer TRIBE Team Trainer
Josh Slattery Certified Personal Trainer
Nancy Stilson-Herzog Certified Personal Trainer & Health & Wellness Coach
The holidays can challenge the best of us because of an over abundance of food. The key to maintaining weight or staying on a controlled diet may seem counter intuitive: Eat. Yes, you want to stay with your routines, eat your normal meals at the normal intervals in order to avoid over-indulging at holiday meal times. Lisa Talamini, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Senior Science and Behavior Expert for Curves/Jenny Craig, recommends loading up on veggies and fruit. The Jenny Craig program encourages members to add fresh and free additions - which are seasonal non-starchy vegetables, low calorie condiments, herbs and spices to meals. If you attend a party, bring your own healthy platter of roasted and herbed winter veggies (carrots, eggplant, broccoli, cauliflower). These are not only delicious, but rich in water and fiber, to help keep you feeling full for a longer period of time.
"Boxers benefit by developing strength, cardio, agility and balance. If you plan your workouts, you're more likely to hold yourself accountable, especially with a friend! No experience necessary to come learn from the pros."
1) Make it a Family Thing Staying active not only keeps us healthy, but boosts metabolism, which is particularly important before sitting down to a big holiday meal. Make being active a family event by signing-up for a local Turkey Trot, going for a walk, hike, or snowshoe as a group, or putting together a quick Tabata workout that everyone can do. A Tabata is done by performing a bodyweight exercise for 20 seconds at an all-out, balls to the wall pace, followed by 10 seconds of rest. Repeat for 8 rounds (4 minutes total time). 2) Healthy Alternatives Take a healthier spin on traditional holiday foods. Make mashed cauliflower in place of mashed potatoes, choose Greek yogurt dip over heavy salad dressings, skip the green bean casserole and serve fresh green beans instead. Also, be wary of liquid calorie! Wine, eggnog, and sugary drinks all add up. Consider drinking sparkling water or mixing your alcohol with club soda.
Make fitness a way of life. Find something you love to do, a community you love to be apart of, and you will forget it’s a workout. Squat heavy twice a week, deadlift once. Abs are made in the kitchen. You can’t out work a bad diet. If you don’t know where to start in the gym or the kitchen, hire a professional to help. The longer you wait, the harder it gets. Start now.
1) Make a non-negotiable commitment to yourself to get at least five servings of fruits and vegetables each day. 2) Always contribute a healthy holiday dish to a party so you have something to indulge in. 3) Stand more than an arms length away from the munchies. 4) Eat best-for-you options first.
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travel
Iron Mountain Hot Springs and Bathhouse at Sunset
Explore the
Colorado Historic Hot Springs Loop By Heidi Kerr-Schlaefer
The Historic Hot Springs Loop features five destinations, 19 hot springs venues and 720 scenic miles of Colorado driving. Let’s face it, most of us will only be able to take weekend trips to these hot springs havens, however, putting all 19 on your travel agenda is a must. The places on the hot springs loop are delightfully different. Some have ski slopes and nightlife nearby while others are so remote that the stars will shine like you’ve never seen them before. I’ve been to all five destinations on the loop and nearly all 19 of the hot springs facilities, so let’s dive into the deep end and explore which should be first up on your must-visit list this winter.
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Steamboat Springs Today, Steamboat Springs is famous for its champagne powder, but its hot springs were what originally brought people to the area. Native Americans and pioneers flocked to the region to partake in the healing powers of the hot water that gushed up from below ground in Routt County. Today, there are two hot springs facilities where visitors can experience what the founding fathers of Steamboat Springs so revered. Old Town Hot Springs is conveniently located in downtown Steamboat Springs and offers a number of small hot pools as well as larger pools including a lap pool. Perfect for vacationing families or après ski. Strawberry Park Hot Springs, is 18 minutes from Steamboat Springs, has recently
undergone renovations to improve the venue as it has become more and more popular over the years. Despite the improvements, Strawberry Park still retains the “wild” and “natural” that has always set it apart from other Colorado hot springs. Glenwood Springs One hundred and fourteen miles south of Steamboat Springs, Glenwood Springs offers an historic hot springs pool, an 84-year-old hot springs spa and a brand new hot springs venue with historic roots. For 128 years, visitors and residents have been soaking away their cares at Glenwood Hot Springs. This iconic destination plays a part of many Colorado natives’ childhood STYLEMEDIA.COM
memories. The 107-room lodge at Glenwood Hot Springs makes it one of the few destinations on the loop a large onsite hotel. Iron Mountain Hot Springs, perched on the banks of the Colorado River, is a brand new venue in Glenwood Springs, and has quickly gained a loyal following. It sits on a location that was once home to a hot springs facility built out in the early 1900s. Those pools remained active until 1996, when the site was torn down to make room for a water park that was never built. Iron Mountain has 16 mineral soaking pools, a family swimming pool and a cafe featuring food and adult beverages. An evening soak here affords unforgettable sunset views. Yampah Spa, also in Glenwood Springs, offers something that’s rare in the Colorado hot springs world - vapor caves. These are natural underground hot mineral water baths. In addition to the caves, Yampah Spa offers a variety of health and beauty treatments. Ridgway & Ouray Head south from Glenwood Springs to Ouray County, where you’ll find five locations with hot springs offerings. The largest, Ouray Hot Springs Pool is closed for the winter while it undergoes a large renovation. Operating since 1927, the new and improved pool is set to reopen in summer 2017. Travelers should not be detoured by the pool closure as there are other places to soak in Ouray, including The Historic Wiesbaden Hot Springs Spa & Lodgings, which also has a vapor cave, Box Canyon Lodge & Hot Springs and Twin Peaks Lodge & Hot Springs. In nearby Ridgway, Orvis offers a Garden of Eden type of hot springs experience, right down to the clothing optional policy. This is one of the most serene hot springs venues I’ve encountered during my travels around Colorado. There is lodging available at Orvis, and children 18 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Pagosa Springs Continue south into one of the most laidback areas of Colorado, Pagosa Springs. Life moves at a slower pace in this region and that’s why people love it. Pagosa Springs is a true playground for visitors year round whether they like to golf, ski or soak. Visitors have three very different hot springs venues to choose from in Pagosa Springs. The Springs Resort & Spa offers an upscale experience that’s worth every penny. On my first visit, I felt as though I’d been transported from Colorado to a Mexican resort. STYLE 2016
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The Springs Resort & Spa offers multiple lodging options. plus 25 hot springs pools that terrace down to the San Juan River. We love the Relaxation Terrace that offers five pools for those 18-years-old or older. This area, accessible by hotel guests only, offers a true escape from the real world. Overlook Hot Springs Spa is popular with locals and offers something quite unique from the rest of the venues in this article. Most of their pools are located inside, and features Roman Tubs for soaking. I felt like royalty as I sipped my red wine during my soak in a deep hot pool at Overlook. Healing Waters Resort & Spa is a hotel featuring an open air hot springs swimming pool and large hot tub. It’s an ideal location for exploring downtown Pagosa Springs.
Photo courtesy of Visit Pagosa Springs
Photo Courtesy of Glenwood Hot Springs
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Chaffee County From Pagosa Springs head north towards Chaffee County, the site of six hot springs destinations. Whether you’re looking for a spa-like hot springs environment or something more rustic, Chaffee County’s got it. We’ve visited Mount Princeton Hot Springs a number of times, and this remote venue located between Salida and Buena Vista near Chalk Creek, is a great destination for families or a romantic getaway. The Day Spa & Club is for hotel guests only and is my favorite spot on the large property. And, the Princeton Club Bar onsite is a fun place to catch the Broncos game. Cottonwood Hot Springs Inn & Spa is a peaceful and rustic hot springs option located in the woods outside of Buena Vista. A few of the “Creekside Cabins” here have private hot springs soaking pools. Alpine Hot Springs Hideaway, Creekside Hot Springs Cabin and Antero Hot Springs Cabins are all secluded vacation homes located along Chalk Creek and featuring private hot springs pools. Salida Recreation & Hot Springs Aquatic Center rounds out Chaffee County’s offerings. It’s the largest hot springs facility in the country and is an active recreation center for the town, plus a fun touristy stop for families who love to swim. So there you have it, 19 unique destinations to put on your Colorado hot springs bucket list. Just don’t forget to pack your swimsuit. Visit the Colorado Historic Hot Springs Loop online at Colorado.com/hotspringsloop. Heidi Kerr-Schlaefer is a freelance writer from Loveland. She is also the founder of HeidiTown.com, an entertaining source for Colorado travel and festival stories. STYLEMEDIA.COM
Big Smiles in the Family Pool at Iron Mountain Hot Springs
Mt Princeton winter courtesy of Mount Princeton Hot Springs
Yampah Vapor Caves, Glenwood Springs
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family
FAMILY HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES HAVE GUESTS FROM OUT OF TOWN? STARTING TO FEEL A LITTLE COOPED UP IN THE HOUSE? MAYBE IT TIME TO GET OUT AND TRY SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
Welcome to Saratoga Hot Springs Resort in beautiful Saratoga, Wyoming. Nestled between the Snowy Range and the Sierra Madre Mountain Range and on the Upper North Platte River, this is the perfect getaway with every amenity. You can truly enjoy it all here–where rustic elegance meets the great outdoors. Feel 10 Years Younger. Since their discovery, the mineral hot springs at the Saratoga Hot Springs Resort have been revered by many for their naturally healing benefits. Come soak away your cares in teepee-covered hot pools and the 70-foot-long mineral hot springs pool. The incredibly high mineral content and low sulfur odor ranks these mineral hot springs with the world famous German springs.
Holiday Open House November 12th and 13th. 25 decorated Christmas trees, gourmet food samples, holiday treats and cider. Offering the inspiration you need for decorating during the holidays and special unique gifts for loved ones. Cost is $5.00 per family. Children can make an ornament, sip hot cider and enjoy fresh popped popcorn while waiting. The Photo Shop will be here for professional photos with Santa at an additional cost.
Visit Santa: November 26th 11-3 December 2nd 2-6 December 3rd 11-3 December 9th 2-6 December 10th 11-3 December 16th 2-6 December 17th 11-3
2000 E. Prospect Rd. Ft. Collins, CO 80525 970-484-5022 :: www.bathgardencenter.com www.saratogahotspringsresort.com 1-800-594-0178
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Warmest Holiday Wishes to our clients, care providers, and our community. We wish you all a joyous Christmas and Healthy New Year!
A Full Service Agency You Can Trust!
LICENSED FOR NON-MEDICAL AND MEDICAL HOME CARE
• • • •
Personal Care Companionship Dementia/Alzheimer’s Care Overnight Stays (24 hour care)
Seniors Helping Seniors® is dedicated to the safety and health of all loved ones who want to maintain their independence.
PAINT. DRINK. HAVE FUN. Come to Pinot’s Palette for great fun, friends and fine art! Enjoy an evening of painting, sipping and entertainment. Let us open a bottle of wine or enjoy a locally brewed beer while you paint your masterpiece! Come in to paint with friends and family or come alone to meet new people. Plan your parties with us! We take care of everything! Located in Old Town at 159 W Mountain Avenue on the corner of Mountain and Mason. We offer a unique night out. Girls Night Out. Date Night. Corporate Events. Team Building. Birthday Parties. Our Elite Private Party Studio is available 7 days a week for your unique event. Let an artist guide you step by step while you paint, drink some wine or beer, listen to cool music and have a fun night out! Wednesday Night is Ladies Night (lots of men come too!) – first drink is free. First Sunday Funday – complimentary mimosas. Family Days – share the canvas with your loved one. We have it all – come and check us out.
Services include:
Coordination of Care Services VA Coordination Experienced Staff Including RN to Plan and Manage Care
Contact us today at 970-631-8251 We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
2290 E. PROSPECT RD., SUITE 4, FORT COLLINS
www.seniorcarefortcollins.com
©2016 Seniors Helping Seniors. Each office is independently owned and operated. All trademarks are registered trademarks of Corporates MutalResources Inc. Not all services are available in all areas.
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Linda Gabel, CSA “Leaders in Dementia Care”
License #04N661, #04O237
159 W Mountain Ave. Fort Collins, CO 80524 (970) 214-5208 www.pinotspalette.com/fortcollins
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about town
A VINTAGE AFFAIR
September 10 Embassy Suites | Loveland
More than 300 guests, beverage vendors and volunteers came to celebrate the 15-year anniversary of this classic wine and beer tasting event presented by Wilbur’s Total Beverage. The elegant evening featured more than 275 wine and beer varieties from around the world, paired with distinctive cuisine, silent and live auctions and more. Proceeds raised at the signature event will benefit Pathways Hospice and their programs to offer expert hospice and palliative care and grief and loss support to all families in need in Northern Colorado. Photos courtesy of Compelling Images Photography.
Anthony & Heather McNeill
Susan Beck, Carla Novak
Connie & John Hanrahan
Michael & Monique Rodriguez
Tammy Brannen-Smith
WESTERN STATES BURN CENTER GOLF CLASSIC September 15 Eaton Country Club The NCMC Foundation hosted the 26th annual Western States Burn Center (WSBC) Golf Classic, one of the region’s most popular golf outings. A beautiful fall day provided the perfect backdrop for nearly 300 golfers, sponsors and volunteers participating in the golf classic, sold out for the seventh consecutive year. Players rallied to hit the best shots during the fun, friendly day of play and helped to raise over $60,000 in net proceeds for the Western States Burn Center. In its 26-year history, this golf classic has raised more than $1,000,000 in net proceeds to benefit WSBC. Photos courtesy of Juan Leal.
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Kent Kennedy, Mike Schweizer, Jason Miller, Billy Myers, Quade Smith, Neil Belohlavy, Ryan Hawkins, Beau Hastings - PDC Energy Teams 1 & 2
Gary Cantwell, Troy Robinson, Keith Froelich, Mark Peterson - Team Western States Fire Protection Co.
Greg Becker, Allison Bruce-Miller, Lyndsay Deeter, Rebecca Garger
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about town
CATTLE BARON'S BALL September 17 Duran Enterprises | Greeley
Nearly 1,000 guests and more than 300 volunteers came together under the big tent at Duran Enterprises for the 24th annual Cattle Barons Ball, “Diggin’ in Blue Jeans” event. Guests enjoyed a spectacular evening and celebrated northern Colorado’s Western heritage at this premier Northern Colorado event with gourmet steak dining, silent and live auctions, raffles and headline entertainment by American country western star Sawyer Brown, who rocked the house into the night. The event netted a record breaking $540,000 and will benefit the American Cancer Society and their programs of research, education, advocacy and patients services. Photos in part, courtesy of Flair of Art Photography.
Back: Ellie Duran, Lorri Duran, Harry Lozoya, Nicole Duran, Dustin Duran, Sandra Duran. Front: Marlene McCracken, John McCracken, Cecelia Duran, Ernie Duran
Jenny & Beau Ward
Dan Dennie, Cyndi Dennie, Julie Johnson Haffner, Gene Haffner
Standing: Kenny Monfort, Mark Jarman, Sarah Jarman, Sara Martin, Darrel Martin, Christian Dinsdale, Bob Ghent, Erick Ghent. Seated: Ann Ghent, Tim Ervin, Stacey Miller, Ty Miller
Jill Anderson, Pat Hess
Bill & Theresa Hertneky
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Paul & Christina Cooley, Amy & Nick Simmons
Eric Creed, Trista Anderson
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about town
TOP CAT & TAILS GALA: CIRQUE du CHAT September 17 Embassy Suites | Loveland
Karen Horak and Ultimate Package winner Brandon Keenon with his forever home pet, Satine.
A tail waggin good time was had by all at the 18th annual Top Cat & Tails: Cirque du Chat event. Guests enjoyed bidding on silent auction items during the social hour, a savory gourmet dinner complete with Cirque entertainment, and were introduced to ten adorable adoptable pets during the “paw-studded� pet parade. The cat-tauclar evening found forever homes for two kitties and raised nearly $150,000 to benefit Larimer Humane Society and their programs to help the upwards of 6,000 homeless, ill, injured and abused pets that come through their door each year.
Jeff & Linda Williams, Abbey & Ben Kramer
Elise Gingrich, Michael Costello
Ali & Ben Barnhart
Brooke & Bo Walser
Stephanie Schultz, Beth McGregor, Janet Urban, Kathi Zimmerman
Nathan Kettle, Ralph Kettle, Tom Overton
FIREFIGHTERS' GOLF CLASSIC September 22 | Golf Club at Fox Acres | Red Feather Lakes Gratitude to our local firefighters was in the air at the First Annual Firefighters' Golf Classic, hosted by the Northern Colorado Wealth Management Group of UBS Financial Services. Firefighters were treated to a round of golf, as a thank-you for their service to our Northern Colorado communities. The event was attended by nearly 100 local business people, community members and firefighters who contributed over $3,000 in donations, benefitting three local firefighters' charities: the Firefighter Community Compassion Fund, the Terry Farrell Firefighters Fund and the World Trade Center Steel Fund.
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Jason Mantas, Brian Parker, Rich Yonker, Brian Schultz
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2016 CHILI FOR TA TAS September 30 | Crop Production Services | Loveland
The spirit of fundraising was at the heart of this second annual event to help promote breast cancer awareness. Hosted by the Northern Colorado Chapter of Agrium’s Women’s Inclusion Network (WIN), the event featured 24 pots of chili contributed by 18 teams and numerous volunteers. In addition to the chili competition and popular silent auction, 72 custom-designed hats, Jeans Day Tickets and custom designed Guest Book Photo Frames added lots of innovation and fun at this employee driven fundraiser. Proceeds raised will benefit Hope Lives! The Lydia Dody Breast Cancer Support Center.
Scott Charbo, Nathalie Rachline, Bahadir Demirorz, Sandra Neely, Tim Guthrie
Jason Marshall, Stephan Troup, Colton Stegeman
LUCKY HEARTS GALA October 1 Embassy Suites | Loveland
Arielle Boone, Keera Brown
Whitney Semmens, Billy Pirkle
A fun evening greeted the more than 620 guests, 65 sponsors and many volunteers attending the 16th annual Lucky Hearts Gala. The evening included a 300 item silent auction, a photo booth and the premier showing of the video “The Science Behind the Magic” speaking to the benefit of equine therapy and the profound effect it has to help people with special needs. A record-breaking $240,000 was netted and will benefit Hearts & Horses and their many equine assisted activities and therapies designed to promote the physical, cognitive, emotional, and social well-being of individuals with special needs and at-risk youth. Photos courtesy of Hearts & Horses.
Bob Dehn, Jan Pollema, Bruce Hemmings
Jared Goodman, Molly Goodman, Kate Baker, Jake Arnold, Brook Arnold, Russell Baker
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Meredith Hodges, John Clatworthy
Kathy Woods, Jen Woods, Anne Skrobacz
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