Boom Magazine December 2013 January 2014 by FAMILY Magazines of Michiana

December 2013 â&#x20AC;˘ January 2014

Overnight

Egg Nog

Fre nch Toast

Christmas Festivity in Hammond

German

Christmas Markets

Winter Wipeout: Preventing Winter Sports Injuries

Holiday

Events

Historic Homes in Michiana

Savor the MoMent Morris Inn proudly offers a distinctive blend of classic elegance and casual dining options. Morris Inn guests and visitors are invited to join us for exceptional wine and inspired cuisine at the heart of Notre Dame’s campus.

Sorin’s is the University’s classic fine dining restaurant. With seasonally changing menus and fine wines served in an atmosphere of quiet elegance, Sorin’s is the perfect setting for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Daily 6:30 am to 2:00 pm Tuesday – Saturday 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm SorinsRestaurant.com 574.631.2020

The newest dining option at Notre Dame, Rohr’s serves casual but enticing food in a warm and welcoming environment. Ideal for game day gatherings and relaxed dining with friends or colleagues. Weekdays – 11:00 am to 1:00 am Weekends – 11:00 am to 2:00 am RohrsNotreDame.com 574.631.2018

Free Valet Parking 130 NOTRE DAME AVENUE

NOTRE DAME, IN 46556

574.631.2000

MORRISINN.ND.EDU

For your convenience use this address in your GPS. 1399 Notre Dame Avenue // South Bend, IN 46617

boom

CONTENTS EVERY MONTH 4 6 Things We Learned Making This Issue 5 Contributors, Testimonials 6 BOOM Time 8 Things we Love: Holiday Dazzle 12 Apps to Keep you Savvy boom BOOK REVIEW 11 “The Total Money Makeover: Classic Edition: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness”

Reviewed by James Facer

boom HEALTHY LIVING 14 The Coconut, A Tropical Treasure By: Margo Bell

16 20 22 24

Winter WipeOut: Preventing Winter Sports Injuries

By: James Sieradzki, M.D.

Flu Shots

By: Maggie Scroope

Winter Woes? Have Some Honey for Your Health

By: Ashley Talmadge

How I Changed My Health...For The Better!

By: Rita Miller

boom THE TRAVELER 26 Christmas Festivity in Hammond

By: Phyllis Rose

boom HOLIDAY 28 German Christmas Markets

By: Phyllis Rose

Christmas Decor

Holiday Events & Historic Homes in Michiana

By: Kay McMullen By: Phyllis Rose

boom LIFE 34 The Circle of Resolutions

By: Thomas Saelens

36 Unplugged

By: Dylan Lemert

A Place For Your Aging Parents

The Importance of Funding Your Living Trust

By: Evie Kirkwood By: Chris Godfrey

boom BUSINESS 42 Executive Forum - Toni Hutti boom HEART-HEALTHY RECIPE 44 Overnight Egg Nog French Toast THE PLANNER 45 Boom Events To Put In Your Planner THE SCENE 48 Elkhart Salvation Army & Rotary Club Thanksgiving Dinner 49 Winter Wonderland at St Mary’s - Gwen O’Brien

boom | December 2013 & JANUARY 2014

letter from the

publisher

Things

PRESIDENT & PUBLISHER: Betsy Tavernier Betsy@MichianaFamilyMagazine.com

Managing Editor:

We Learned Making the Jessica Haviland Jessy@MichianaFamilyMagazine.com December Issue

Photography: Classic Image photography Makeup: CamellIa Cosmetics, Granger

Assistant Editor:

Chaunie Bruise Chaunie@MichianaFamilyMagazine.com

Creative marketing director: Jena Bontrager Jena@MichianaFamilyMagazine.com

Betsy Tavernier Publisher & Editor-in-Chief

Marketing Coordinator: Jill Ludwick Jill@MichianaFamilyMagazine.com

GRAPHIC DESIGN Manager: Zuzanna Zmud Zuzanna@MichianaFamilyMagazine.com

1. Christmas in Michiana is beautiful! Take a festive, holiday home tour without leaving your couch on page 33.

GRAPHIC DESIGNer:

Katie Brenneman Katie@MichianaFamilyMagazine.com

2. Coconut isn’t just for your cream pie. Learn about some surprising health benefits of this elusive tropical food. Page 14. 3. Winter sports can mean injuries. But you can protect yourself—and seek treatment when needed with our helpful guide on page 16. 4. How to have a German Christmas. Our new travel writer, Phyllis Rose, takes on a Christmas walk—through Germany! Page 28.

MEDICAL EDITOR: Dr. Jesse Hsieh

Distribution Managers: Mike Trentacosti Kevin Reynolds

BOOM Magazine is a division of Michiana Family Magazines, LLC established in 2006. All rights reserved. We would love to hear from you! Please submit press releases, event information and inquiries to: Media@MichianaFamilyMagazine.com The FAMILY Magazines 1233 E. University Dr. Granger, IN 46530 PH: 574.387.5420 • FX: 574.217.4700 www.MichianaFamilyMagazine.com Permission from the publisher is required for any reproduction or reprint of this publication. Read BOOM Magazine online each month! Go to www.MichianaFamilyMagazine.com and flip the pages, cover-to-cover the organic and green way! December 2013 & January 2014 Volume 2: Number 8

5. Holidays mean food. If you're hosting overnight guests this year, try this easy (and delicious) recipe for egg nog french toast. Page 44. 6. Taking care of your aging parents isn’t easy. But we have some resources, tips and experience from one writer on how to choose the best senior living facility for your parents. Page 38. 4

DECEMBER 2013 & JANUARY 2014 | boom

LOOK WHO’s TALKING

follow us on Twitter, and become our fan on Facebook. @FAMILYMagazine www.facebook.com/Family-Magazine pinterest.com/familymags/

December & January /

contributors

boom / testimonials

Phyllis Rose Phyllis Rose is a freelance writer and editor from Vicksburg, Michigan. For nine years, she wrote a day trip column for the Kalamazoo Gazette, visiting hundreds of places in the Michiana area.

Tony hutti Tony Hutti brings over 40 years of leadership and management experience and has been the CEO/Owner of five separate companies. He attended the University of Notre Dame where he received a Master of Business Administration degree. Tony has helped over 60 companies on problem solving and change solutions.

Maggie Scroope Maggie Scroope is the Manager of Media & Community Relations at Beacon Health System, the affiliation between Elkhart General Hospital and Memorial Hospital of South Bend.

Margo Bell Margo Bell, a first-wave Boomer, has a B.S. degree in Biology from Arkansas State University and worked in medical and marine biology research before making a midlife career change to writing for adults and children. Margo is a former magazine editor and has published over 50 articles and features in newspapers and magazines. She and her husband Jim live in South Bend and have two grandchildren. Photo Credit: Classic Image Photography

Loved the article on what baby boomers can teach the next generation! Wisdom can be passed down to the next generation.” —Nora S.

“Thank you for Boom. I look forward to reading the articles every month!” —D.T.

“I'm so glad to be on board! I look forward to writing more for BOOM!” —Phyllis Rose

boom | December 2013 & JANUARY 2014

December Events Su

A Christmas Carol

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Free Tax Classes, Liberty Tax Services 1 Wellness Workshop, Ferry Street Resource Center

What We’re Pinning This Month...

A Christmas Carol, Lerner Theatre

Breakfast With Santa, WSBT Studio B

Su M

W Th F Sa

18 20

Notre Dame Children’s Choir Concert, Saint Mary's College, Church of Loretto Lessons and Carols, Church of our Lady of Loretto

Friendship Group, Charles Martin Youth Center Straight No Chaser, Morris Performing Arts Center Friday Night Swing Dancing, The Music Village

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Christmas Eve

Christmas

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"Annie," South Bend Civic Theatre

Free Mediation Yoga, Elkhart Environmental Center

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BellaNova Women's Health Holiday Spa & Open House

Take in that Christmas classic this year December 13-15 at The Lerner Theater. Mr. Ebenezer Scrooge, played by local treasure Paul Hanft, is awakened on Christmas Eve by spirits who reveal to him his own miserable existence, what opportunities he wasted in his youth, his current cruelties and the dire fate that awaits him if he does not change his ways. Scrooge is faced with his own story of growing bitterness and meanness and must decide what his own future will hold: death or redemption. Featuring songs written by Alan Menken (music) and Lynn Ahrens (lyrics). Ticket prices begin at $18 for adults and $15 for senior citizen. The show is underwritten by Brian and Jeanelle Brady and Family, who own the original “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens, first published in 1843. Call the box office (574) 293-4469 for tickets.

Public Open Skate, Compton Family Ice Arena

New Years Eve Dinner Dance, ZB Falcons Hall

pinterest.com/familymags

Baked Raspberry Brie Appetizer

On one wheel of brie cheese, scrape off most of the white rind. Brush two tablespoons of raspberry preserves or jam in the middle of the cheese wheel. Wrap one unthawed package of pastry crust around the brie and pinch the dough to close in the middle. Brush with melted butter and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with crackers or bread for dipping.

“

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the things you did do.” ~ Mark Twain

January Events 1

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Sa Su

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F Sa

June H. Edwards: Beethoven, DeBartolo Center, Notre Dame

New Years `Round The World

This New Years, remember the traditions that help us ring in the new—with a bit of the old! (From Almanac.com) • In ancient Thailand, guns were fired to frighten off demons.

Notre Dame Basketball Game vs. Duke, Joyce Center

• In China, firecrackers routed the forces of darkness. • In the early American colonies, the sounds of pistol shots rang through the air.

New Years Day

Why Did Studebaker Close? Exhibit, The Studebaker Museum

• Eating any ring-shaped treat (such as a donut) symbolizes "coming full circle" and leads to good fortune. In Dutch homes, fritters called olie bollen are served. • In Swiss homes, dollops of whipped cream, symbolizing the richness of the year to come, are dropped on the floors (and allowed to remain there!)

Clutter Support Group, Aladdin’s Eatery

The Winter Night Sky, PHM Auditorium

Wolf Moon Snowshoe Walk, St. Patrick’s County Park

• In Scotland, the custom of first-footing is an important part of the celebration of Hogmanay, or New Year's Eve Day. This practice holds that the first foot to cross a threshold after midnight will predict the next year's fortune. Although the tradition varies, those deemed especially fortunate as "first footers" are new brides, new mothers, those who are tall and dark (and handsome?) or anyone born on January 1.

Pass The Bubbly! 4 Things You Didn’t Know About Champagne

From Tiedemann Wines

According to Marilyn Monroe’s biographer, she once bathed in 350 bottles of Champagne.

Legend has it that Dom Pierre Perignon, a Benedictine monk, invented Champagne.

One bottle of Champagne has 56 million bubbles in it, give or take a few. True Champagne comes from the region in France called Champagne and may only be made from three grapes: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier.

boom

Holiday

things we love!

Dazzle

Accessorize with Sparkle On-The-Go, Multi-Purpose Bucket!

Put these on your bucket list! They're lightweight, watertight, and space saving. This collapsible bucket holds 2.9 gallons and comes with a matching storage case. It’s a perfect idea for gardening, tailgating and so much more. Backyards Furniture & Embellishments, Mishawaka 574-968-7087

A Chan Luu wrap bracelet is our favorite sparkle to wear! Available in hundreds of colors! Inspire Me, South Bend 574-232-1798

Reindeer Sleigh Ride Bouquet™ Metallic Dazzle Necklace Scarf

Is it a necklace or scarf? With shimmery silver, dress up jeans or dazzle up your little black dress. Achieve the illusion of metal with the charm of a scarf. Crocheted by hand in Bangladesh. Ten Thousand Villages, Goshen – $24 574-533-8491

This holiday fruit bouquet, filled with a variety of fresh fruit favorites, features reindeer-shaped pineapple dipped in semisweet chocolate. It’s artfully arranged in a keepsake, ceramic sleigh that you can use year after year. Edible Arrangements, Granger & South Bend www.EdibleArrangements.com

New Year's Sparkle

This silver sequin dress will start your New Year's off right! Pair it with tights and black heels and it will instantly transform you into a dancing queen. Jules Boutique, Goshen - $48 www.jules-boutique.com

Zipped Up in Sequins!

This black zip-up sequin jacket will get you ready for any holiday event coming up! Pair it with jeans, dress pants or a little black dress and you'll be sure to look dazzling with some holiday flair. K.E.Y. Boutique, Nappanee â&#x20AC;&#x201C; $59 574-773-0100

The Ultimate Wrist Party

Don't forget your wrist party this holiday season! No one creates sparkle like Swarovski! Touchstone Crystal is proud to be a Swarovski company that makes sparkle beautiful and affordable. Touchstone Crystal a Swarovski Company, Granger - $39-$89 www.mytouchstonecrystal.com/ sparkles

Silver & Gold!, Silver & Gold!

Everyone wishes for sparkle and more. Shine for the holidays in a dress from Blushing Bride on 17 in Elkhart. Did you know we are NOT just bridal? Blushing Bride on 17, Elkhart www.blushingbrideon17.com

Looking for that Special Something in Assisted Living? “I absolutely love living here. It’s like Heaven to me. I love that it is all on one floor... no steps to worry about. Everything is taken care of in my new home and the food is delicious. I would like everyone to live in a home as wonderful as this!” - Alice, Assisted Living Resident

Alice loves her: • Delicious meals • Caring nursing staff • Safety and security • Stylish courtyard • Events and activities • Spacious apartment • No hassle living • Vibrant community ...AND, all HER new friends!

MOVE-IN SPECIAL

Get Your 2nd Month

FREE!*

*Offer valid on Move-Ins from Dec. 1, 2013 through March 31, 2014

Do you want to live life like Alice?

Call 574.222.1234 today to take a tour, have lunch with our administrator and learn about our move-in special.

60257 Bodnar Boulevard, Mishawaka, IN 46544 10

boom View directions |to the care center, video and photo gallery at: www.rehabinsprenger.com DECEMBER 2013 & JANUARY 2014

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book review

Dave Ramsey,

“The Total Money Makeover: Classic Edition: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness” Reviewed by James Facer, Reference Librarian, Mishawaka-Penn-Harris Public Library

New York Times Best Selling Author Dave Ramsey returns with another installment of financial management tips and strategies in his latest book, The Total Money Makeover: Classic Edition: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness. With over 7 million books on financial management sold, as well as a popular weekly radio show, Dave Ramsey has established himself as a leading expert in the field of money and business. In his latest book on obtaining financial security, Dave Ramsey focuses on the mental and social aspects that act as hurdles for people looking to be more financial responsible. After detailing the emotional and mental hurdles that people have as well as how to overcome them, he then spends the latter half of the book outlining a step-by-step plan for setting and reaching financial goals that will enable readers of all backgrounds to be more financially competent. Dave Ramsey’s combination of financial advice coupled with his knowledge of personal finance pitfalls gives the Total Money Makeover its unique appeal and proven effectiveness.

Apps to

Keep you Savvy Diabetes Manager

The iBGStar® Diabetes Manager app puts diabetes management into your hands to help you manage your diabetes. Download it for free today, and start managing your diabetes information — anytime, anywhere. Tag readings according to mealtimes and add customized notes about each meal or exercise — anything that might be affecting your blood glucose levels.    With the iBGStar® Diabetes Manager app, you can view and analyze your data in three different ways:  Trend Chart — Plots readings on a graph, giving you a visual representation of your blood sugar levels over time ; Logbook — Shows a detailed record of readings, organized by meal-relationship tags ; Statistics — Displays average results for a period of 7, 14, 30 or 90 days (settings can be customized to meet your individual needs) .

SunSkin SunSkin is a personal interactive app that provides you with information about protecting your skin from the sun. The app allows you to check the UV index in your location and tells you what your risk of harm is from unprotected skin exposure. You can check your UV index locally or in another city or state if you are travelling. The UV index information is sourced directly from the National Weather Service and EPA and indicates the strength of solar UV radiation on scale from 1 (low) to 11+ (extremely high). You can use the UV index to take appropriate sun-protective behaviors and avoid overexposure to UV radiation. Features: Check the UV Index locally or anywhere in the US to check your risk from solar UV radiation. Optional reminder alerts to help you manage your Carac treatment regime. Prescription savings card. Tips on sun protection and using Carac, a prescription medication.

Language Translator

Translates words, phrases, sentences and whole paragraphs of text between different languages using Google’s language translation service. It can even detect your source language (except Chinese). Whether you want to learn a foreign language, freshen up your skills, travel abroad or are just curious, this iPhone web application will help.  Use the switch button to quickly flip source and destination texts.   It's also easy to create a new email with the translated text.

DECEMBER 2013 & JANUARY 2014 | boom

Morse Code

Boomers who enjoy history may have some fun with this app that brings the tradition of Morse Code to today’s technology. This app translates text into morse code and sends the message with a blinking iPhone. The speed (WPM) and the color can be changed.   You can use the characters A..Z, numbers 0-9 and special characters.

Thesaurus App

Retrieve the synonym for every word. If available, you will get antonyms, related terms, similar word and user suggestions too. Tap one of the results to start a quick new search for that term. It keeps a history list of your search terms as well.

New York Times Crossword Puzzle

What’s the most famous crossword puzzle in the world? The New York Times’ crossword, of course! And hey, you might be able to put that thesaurus app to good use with this one! You can now buy collections of hand-picked puzzles selected from the NYTimes archives. Get started with your complimentary puzzle pack by visiting the in-game puzzle store.   Play tomorrow's puzzle today with a subscription. All daily puzzles are available on the previous day at 10 PM EST. The hardest puzzles are on Saturdays & Sundays and the easiest puzzles are usually on Mondays & Tuesdays.   With The New York Times Crosswords, you can play the same puzzles that are published daily in the print newspaper!  • Native support for iPad, iPod Touch and iPhone (with Retina graphics) • Play the daily puzzle from The New York Times newspaper  • Play more than 6,000 classic puzzles from The New York Times archive  • Compete against top players via the online leaderboards  • Listen to the in-game soundtrack or your favorite tunes from your iPod  • Write in ‘pen’ or ‘pencil’  • Solve puzzles on the grid or directly from the clues list  • Automatically highlight related clues  • Check or reveal letters, words or the entire puzzle   The New York Times Crosswords comes with a one week free trial of the official daily puzzles from The New York Times and its archive of more than 6,000 classic puzzles! After the initial free week you can purchase a subscription to continue playing the daily and archive puzzles.

AARP

Now you can take the AARP experience with you on the go. With the AARP app, you can save money, stay informed and share favorite content with your friends.   This app provides easy access to AARP member benefits and discounts now with a stored copy of your membership card on your mobile device!   Read the latest articles from AARP in a mobile-optimized format and access offline or   watch video clips from AARP’s video library. Stream and listen to music from one of their stations while you browse.   Share interesting content with your friends on Facebook and Twitter.   You can also join AARP or renew your membership through this app.

boom | December 2013 & JANUARY 2014

boom

HEALTHY LIVING

Another Tropical Treasure The Miraculous and Versatile Coconut By: Margo Bell

t Christmastime during my childhood and teen years, my mother would always make a special cake for my Dad’s bosses, the publisher and editor of our local newspaper. The cake was a special treat featuring three-layer white cakes with coconut icing. These were made from scratch, from hand-beaten egg whites (even a drop of egg yolk contamination was a no-no), to the Swans Down® cake flour, to the seven-minute icing topped with freshly grated sweetened coconut. It was quite a chore but the results were heavenly and appreciated by the recipients. When I reached my teen years, my mother decided I could help make the cake. That meant standing over a hot double boiler beating the icing for seven minutes with a rotary beater. It also meant a harder job of using an ice pick to pop holes in a whole coconut, draining the water (or milk as we erroneously called it), cracking the hard shell open, and prying out and hand grating the meat before mixing it with sugar. To me getting to the coconut meat was like trying to break into a wall safe. I finally got the idea of putting the coconut outside overnight, hoping the freezing temperature would make the shell brittle enough to easily open. (That didn’t work out so well.) But after much effort with an ice pick, screwdriver, hammer and plane grater I got the desired product—and a good workout for my arms and hands as well as a few skinned knuckles. NOTE: Today whole coconuts in supermarkets have a groove that helps you open them with a hammer, but you still have to use an ice pick to poke the “eyes.” As I look back fondly on those days, I reminiscence on my friend, the coconut.

Sometimes You Feel Like a—Huh?

The coconut is not a true nut. Nor is it strictly a fruit like an apple or pear. It’s a drupe: a fruit with a hard covering enclosing the seed. It’s made up of three layers: the exocarp (outer layer), the mesocarp (meaty middle layer, or husk), and the endocarp (hard, woody layer surrounding the seed). The coconut we purchase at the store is only the endocarp. Also, coconut has no relation to cocoa. It’s from the 16th-Century Portuguese and Spanish word coco, meaning “grimacing face,” because the brown hairy husk and three dimples on the shell resemble the head of a ghost or witch. The English added “nut” to “coco.”

Bobbing Around the Oceans

The coconut predates mankind and is believed to have originated in the South Pacific. Because of its water resistance, coconuts could float on ocean waters and were carried, either by water or by seafaring people, to Africa and regions in the Indian Ocean. 14

DECEMBER 2013 & JANUARY 2014 | boom

Specimens have been plucked from waters as far away as Norway! But the plant itself is fussy in its cultivation, requiring lots of sunshine, warmth and regular rainfall. The palm loves sandy soil and tolerates high salinity, which is why we see them near tropical coastlines. The Tree of Life Although botanically not a tree—it has no bark, branches or secondary growth and is actually a monocotyledon—the coconut plant is called the “Tree of Life” because virtually the entire plant is useful. The coconut is an important part of the daily diet for many people in Oceana and parts of Asia. “We use coconut in many Vietnamese dishes,” says Wan Nguen, former co-owner of the Saigon Market in downtown South Bend. “Our coconuts have the entire three layers, and that helps make the water inside sweet and good.” The white meat we’re familiar with is used either dried or fresh in cooking many dishes from soups to desserts and confections. Coconut flour is useful in baking and serves as a nutritious supplement. Coconut water is a refreshing drink; take my word for it. Coconut milk is derived from grated coconut. When sitting for a while in the refrigerator, coconut cream will separate from the milk and is used in food and drinks. Both coconut meat and water contain B vitamins, Vitamin C, calcium, manganese, phosphorous and iron and are high in fiber. Heating the milk also allows extraction of coconut oil, used in frying and cosmetics. Contrary to opinion, coconut is not bad for your heart. Its medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) produce healthier blood lipid levels and may also destroy bacteria that cause plaque formation in the arteries. Moreover, coconut milk also contains lauric acid, which boosts the immune system.

Put the lime in the coconut

A surprising benefit of coconut water is its use in intravenous solutions. It’s sterile in the husk until opened and easily mixes with blood. This property, along with natural electrolyte content, made it useful during World War II in emergency transfusions and also served as hydration fluid. Coconut oil is also being investigated as a potential aid to weight loss and treatment of dementia. Historically, the coconut has been used as a cure for nausea, rash, fever, ear/ nose/throat ailments, kidney stones, asthma, syphilis, ulcers, toothache, rat bites and other maladies. Non-edible products of the coconut, such as the husk fiber, are used for mats, ropes, brushes, mattress stuffing and in potting compost, especially orchid mix. Coconut leaves can be made into broom brushes, baskets, roofing thatch, lime (from burning to create ash) and even toys. Shells can become birdhouses and feeders, drinking cups, bowls, shirt buttons, floor buffers, body scrubbers and mosquito repellent (when burned). Shells also provide the bodies of certain Asian musical instruments and are used in Foley sound effects because banging two coconut halves together mimic horse hoofbeats. Interestingly, the coconut John F. Kennedy used in World War II to convey a message is now housed in the presidential library.

Try this version of a popular holiday classic using coconut:

CREAMY AMBROSIA 1 (20-oz) can pineapple chunks in juice ¾ cup cream of coconut ½ teaspoon ground ginger 2 large seedless oranges or 4 clementines, peeled and sectioned (see note) 1 cup sweetened flaked coconut ¾ cup mini marshmallows 1 cup broken walnut pieces In a small bowl drain pineapple to reserve juice. Take ¼ cup juice and pour into another small bowl. Add cream of coconut and ground ginger, stir to blend. Set aside. Place drained pineapple chunks in a large glass or ceramic bowl. Add orange or clementine sections, coconut, marshmallows and walnut pieces. Add the cream of coconut/pineapple juice and gently mix until fruit mixture is covered. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and place in refrigerator until chilled. Serves 4-6. NOTE: To easily peel an orange, roll it around the counter for about 10 seconds to help loosen the peel. With a sharp paring knife cut one end of the orange. Use a citrus peeler or end of a small spoon to strip away lengths of the peel. Remove membrane if desired and separate sections. Don’t worry if some of the sections are cut; in fact, you may cut the sections in half if desired. They will add more juice to the ambrosia. You can substitute one or two 15-oz. cans of mandarin orange sections, but drain them first and dispose of the liquid.

Straightness, strength and salt resistance make coconut trunks ideal for small bridges, huts, furniture, drums and canoes. Roots are employed in dyes, mouthwash, toothbrushes and antidiarrheal medicine. So you see why the coconut is aptly called the “Tree of Life!” •••

| December | december boom boom 2013 & JANUARY JANUARY 2014 2013

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HEALTHY LIVING

Winter Wipeout:

Preventing Winter Sports Injuries By: James Sieradzki, M.D.

intertime brings a whole new set of outdoor sports and activities. Kids put the soccer and football cleats away and bring out the ice skates. Mom and dad dig out the skis and prepare for some cross-country excursions. These cold-weather activities are a great way to get some fresh air and exercise during those long, cold and snowy months. This is also around the time where snowflakes and icicles can lead to injuries as well. The majority of winter sports injuries are a result of impacts—usually our bodies making contact with a hard winter surface like ice or hard-packed snow. But that doesn’t mean we should avoid enjoying the fresh winter air; we just need to use some common sense, take some safety precautions and pay attention when we are out having fun.

An Ounce of Prevention

My mother always said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” It wasn’t until I became an orthopedic surgeon that I fully understood the wisdom in this statement. During the winter months, we see hundreds of outdoor sports injuries in our practice and most could have been prevented with these simple tips.

Warm up prior to activity.

Regardless of age, our bodies need to be warmed up and our muscles stretched before engaging in sports activities. Cold muscles, tendons and ligaments are more vulnerable to injury. Start with some light exercises followed by gentle stretching. Make sure to hold each stretch for at least 30 seconds. An efficient warm-up may include marching, walking in place while swinging your arms or mimicking the sport you are about to participate in. The goal is to get your heart rate up and your muscles warm and flexible.

Layer your clothing for effective wind-resistance and warmth.

The base layer is in contact with your skin, so a tightfitting and wicking material is best to keep you warm and dry. Synthetic materials like polyester, or natural materials like silk or wool, are good choices Avoid cotton because it traps moisture, so it stays wet and draws heat from your body. Select the weight of material 16

DECEMBER 2013 & JANUARY 2014 | boom

based upon the outside temperature and your activity level. A lighter weight material is better at wicking while a heavy weight has more insulation. The mid-layer provides insulation and should be a bit looser than the base layer. Mid-layers also carry moisture away from the base layer to the outer layer. Common materials include down, polyester, fleece, wool and newer synthetic/natural blends. And lastly, the outer layer blocks wind and allows moisture to escape. Typical outer layers include jackets made of Gore-Tex or a similar material. Outer layers should also be tough enough to withstand tears and abrasions.

Wear appropriate protective gear.

Don't forget your hands, feet or head. You and your family should wear the correct gear and equipment for your preferred sporting activity. This can include helmets, goggles, thick gloves and safety pads. According to the American Academy of Sports Medicine, the use of protective equipment has resulted in a 43% decrease in the rate of head, neck, and face injuries. Make sure your equipment is in good working order and properly adjusted for your body type. Bindings that are too loose or too tight, as well as poor fitting equipment can result in unnecessary injuries. Kids grow quick and last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ice skates may not fit or provide the proper support.

Be aware of your surroundings.

If skiing or snowboarding, look out for obstacles such as rocks, fences and trees. If sledding, make sure the hill doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t end at a street or pond. When ice skating, always check the ice on lakes or ponds. It is best to never skate alone and always avoid rivers, creeks, or ponds with running or open water. Regardless of the activity, keep your eye out for other participants. Many impact injuries are a result of two people colliding.

Slip Sliding Away!

The very condition that makes these activities possible and enjoyable, slick ice and snow also makes falls and injuries very common. According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 440,000 people were treated for winter sports-related injuries in 2010. The most common injuries include sprains, strains, dislocations and factures but there are injuries particular to different winter sports pursuits.

Wrist injuries.

Falls onto outstretched upper extremities can result in wrist fractures, or even dislocation of your shoulder or elbow. A broken bone may require casting or surgical treatment depending on the severity of the break. A joint dislocation, or luxation, occurs when there is an abnormal separation at the joint where two or more bones meet. With each dislocation, the ligaments, tendons and muscles keeping the bones fixed in the correct position can be damaged or loosened making it easier for the joint to be dislocated in the future.

Knee injuries.

Because of the independent movement of each leg, skiing injuries often involve the knee. Ligament injuries can range from mild stretching, or sprains, to complete tears where the ligament is no longer functional. Your ACL, or anterior cruciate

boom | December 2013 & JANUARY 2014

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healthy living

ligament, can be injured while skiing when the upper leg twists one way while the lower leg rotates the opposite way. Depending on how severe the ligament injury is, treatment can be conservative with rest, bracing and anti-inflammatory medications or may require surgical repair.

Thumb injury.

There is a characteristic skiing injury of the thumb called, appropriately enough, “skier’s thumb.” This ligament injury of the thumb is a result of falling onto your hand while holding a ski pole so that your thumb is bent in an awkward way. Surprisingly, this injury can be serious requiring a protective cast in nearly all cases.

Arm/hand injuries.

In snowboarding, both feet are strapped onto the same board and pointing the same direction. This protects the knee from any twisting, making lower extremity injuries less likely. Upper extremity injuries are more common with the wrists often fractured due to falls on the outstretched hands. Other upper extremity injuries include clavicle (collar bone) fractures and shoulder or elbow dislocations.

Ankle injuries.

Ice skating shares some of the injury types of both skiing and snowboarding. Lower extremity injuries can involve the knee with trauma from a twisting force but ankle injuries are also common. A sprain is a stretch injury of the ligaments that support the ankle. The ligaments on the outside of the ankle are most commonly injured when the foot is turned inward. Usually the ankle will be swollen and tender on the outside, below and just in front of the ankle bone.

Kids’ injuries.

Whether they’re gliding on plain plastic saucers or hightech snow tubes, kids on sleds account for more than 20,000 winter sports injuries each year. Many are just simple cuts and bruises but a quarter of these injuries include broken bones. Over half of these injuries are due to collisions with trees, rock or other sledders. Watch those grandkids carefully!

Treatment

A sprain may be mild causing only modest pain or discomfort, or severe enough to prevent weight bearing. Mild sprains should be treated with rest, ice, compression and elevation. Other treatment options include protecting the area from further injury and anti-inflammatory medications such as aspirin or ibuprofen. If you are unable to bear weight or if the ankle fails to improve within several days, it is time to see a physician. Winter is a great time to enjoy exciting outdoor activities in the cool, crisp Michiana air. Just remember to follow these common sense tips: warm up before participating, dress in layers, make sure your equipment is in good condition and be aware of your surroundings. Play safe and enjoy the great winter weather. ••• 18

DECEMBER 2013 & JANUARY 2014 | boom

For the Holidays select...

Made in Napa by Elkhart businessman Carl Tiedemann and distributed in Michiana, ask for the Tiedemann Signature Series Red Wine, and the Glenwood Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc at your favorite wine shop, country club or restaurant! www.tiedemannwines.com or 574-296-1300 boom | December 2013 & JANUARY 2014

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healthy living

Is This

The Flu Or

A Cold?

By: Dr. Kristine Smith

Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve just come down with a sore throat, cough and high fever â&#x20AC;&#x201D; could it be the flu that's been going around or is it just a common cold? Although the flu (or influenza) usually causes symptoms that make someone feel worse than symptoms associated with a common cold, it's not always easy to tell the difference between the two.

DECEMBER 2013 & JANUARY 2014 | boom

Symptoms Guide

The answers to these questions can help determine whether you’re fighting the flu or combating a cold: Flu vs. Colds: A Guide to Symptoms Questions:

 Flu:

 Cold:

Was the onset of illness.......................  sudden?..................... slow? Do you have a....................................  high fever?................  no (or mild) fever? Is your exhaustion level......................  severe?......................  mild? Is your head..........................................  achy?.........................  headache-free? Is your appetite....................................  decreased?............... normal? Are your muscles..................................  achy?.........................  fine? Do you have........................................  chills?.......................... no chills?

If most of your answers fall into the first category, chances are that you have the flu. If your answers were more in the second category, it's likely a cold.

Remember;

don't be too quick to brush off an illness as just another cold. The important thing to keep in mind is that flu symptoms can vary from person to person and often can change as the illness progresses. If you suspect the flu, call your doctor. Even doctors occasionally need to run a test to verify if a person has the flu or not since the symptoms can be so similar. Some bacterial diseases, like strep throat or pneumonia, also can look like the flu or a cold. It's important to get medical attention immediately if you seem to be getting worse, having any troubles breathing, a high fever, bad headache, sore throat, unable to keep fluids down or seem confused. While even healthy people can have complications of the flu, those with certain medical conditions are at more at risk. If you think you might have the flu, contact your doctor.

Treatment

Some people with chronic medical conditions may become sicker with the flu and need to be hospitalized. For severely ill people or those with other special circumstances, doctors may prescribe an antiviral medicine (Tamiflu) that can shorten the course of the illnesses flu symptoms but only if it's given within 48 hours of the onset of the flu. Pregnant patients should seek medical attention if they are concerned about the flu. In most circumstances, you can care for yourself by getting plenty of fluids and rest. If you haven’t already, go talk to your physician about the flu vaccine to prevent cases of the flu. It’s not too late to get immunized! ••• boom | December 2013 & JANUARY 2014

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healthy living

Winter Woes? Have Some Honey for Your Health

By: Ashley Talmadge

The holidays may be over, but long weeks of winter still lie ahead. Chilly weather

and decreased daylight can be harsh on the body and spirit. Thankfully, a little pick-me-up is no further away than the honey jar in your cupboard. We love it in our tea and on our toast. But honey has a long history beyond its popularity as a sweetener. It was valued by the ancients for its healing and rejuvenating properties and sealed combs of honey have been found in Egyptian tombs, fully preserved and still edible. Now recent studies suggest that for certain maladies, honey may be more effective than modern medicine as a treatment option. Rosanna Mattingly, author of “Honey Maker: How the Honey Bee Worker Does What She Does,” says that honey can be used as a wound treatment, a cough suppressant and a source of energy—just a few examples of “the benefits of honey for which scientific evidence exists.” Take a look at what this age-old golden elixir can do for your family.

A Word of Caution

Honey should not be given to children under the age of one. The American Academy of Pediatrics warns that very young children, with their under-developed immune systems, are at risk for contracting botulism from spores sometimes present in honey. Honey is not safer for the diabetic than table sugar. The American Diabetes Association warns that, as with any sugar, honey should be used in moderation in the diabetic diet, and its effects monitored closely.

DECEMBER 2013 & JANUARY 2014 | boom

Energy booster. Honey is full of carbs, and research shows that consuming honeyed water before, during and after a workout increases energy and promotes muscle recovery. Your kids can add that much-needed oomph to the middle of their school day by eating a peanut butter and honey sandwich, or using the sweet stuff as a dip for apple slices. And be ready with a mug of steamed milk and honey as an after-school treat. Cough control. Mixing honey with lemon and warm water has been a longtime home remedy for soothing a sore throat and quieting a cough. But a recent study found that a spoonful of honey was actually more effective than dextromethorphan (the cough suppressant typically added to over-the-counter cough medicine) in treating night-time coughing.

Wound treatment. Honey has been used to treat wounds for centuries, and now there’s plenty of science to back up this remedy of yore. Honey contains an enzyme that produces small amounts of hydrogen peroxide, a mild antiseptic, when diluted by exodus from a wound. So when skin becomes dry enough to crack at the knuckles or lips, a topical application of honey makes the wound less hospitable to bacteria and fungi. Skin softener. Dry winter air can wreak havoc on skin and hair, and there’s a good reason so many beauty products tout honey as an ingredient. Honey is a natural humectant; it attracts and holds water from the atmosphere. When applied to the skin or hair, it acts as a moisturizer. So drizzle a little honey straight from the jar onto your face or hair, smooth it in and rinse after 10 minutes. Or try mixing honey with coconut oil and heated beeswax for a rejuvenating homemade cream for lips, face and hands.

Antioxidant advantage.

Ounce for ounce, honey packs the same powerful punch as popular antioxidant-containing fruits and veggies. In addition to eating plenty of greens, strengthen your defense against cancer-causing free radicals by replacing other sweeteners with honey. Applied topically, the antioxidant therapy may restore vitality to your skin.

Mellowing agent.

Winter is the time for chillchasing soups and stews but a batch is made bitter by cold weather veggies like cauliflower and broccoli. Try tempering the flavor with a bit of honey. Ditto for the five-alarm chili that has you sweating bullets. Whether banishing the bitter or softening the spice, what could be sweeter than some honey in the pot?

How to Buy Honey Read labels.

Look for descriptions such as: raw; unprocessed; 100% pure; minimally processed. When honey is overheated during pasteurization or filtration, the nutritive value is reduced and antibacterial effectiveness decreases. And don’t pay more for honey labeled “organic.” Bees may forage up to five miles from their hive, an area over which the beekeeper almost certainly has no control.

Shop local and natural. Mattingly says that in order to avoid buying honey that has been overheated, ultra-filtrated or diluted with other sweeteners, “it’s important to get honey from a known source whenever possible.” She warns that ultrafiltration “removes pollen and makes tracing the source of the honey impossible… [and] often enough, such honey is contaminated with some pretty yucky stuff.” Indeed, a study sponsored by Food Safety News found that most honey sold by large grocery chains was completely pollen-free due to filtering. In contrast, “every one of the samples Food Safety News bought at farmers markets, co-ops and ‘natural’ stores like PCC and Trader Joe’s had the full, anticipated, amount of pollen,” according to the report. Color counts. Mattingly says, “Some honeys, such as manuka honey, may have additional medicinal properties.” Studies suggest that darker honeys (e.g. manuka and buckwheat) generally confer better protection against infection and disease than lighter honeys (e.g. acacia and clover). •••

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healthy living

How I Changed My

Healthâ&#x20AC;Ś

! r e t t e B e h For T By: Rita Miller

DECEMBER 2013 & JANUARY 2014 | boom

eriodically, large buses of diagnostic medical equipment make random stops in South Bend. These buses promise to evaluate patients for multiple medical problems. They conduct heart tests and check lipid panels and they do it all in an area the size of my living room. One day last year, I had the good fortune to be evaluated at one of these mobile medical stations. That day changed my life. My medical tests were normal—with the exception of my triglycerides. That report found its way into the hands of my primary physician. He had been basically sick of hearing me complain about my post menopausal weight for the last few years and pounced on the triglyceride issue. His recommendation was to lose weight and exercise more! First step was to see a registered dietician. My visit with the dietician happened at the South Bend Clinic in January of 2013. Prior to the visit, I kept track of what I was eating so that she would have an idea of what my daily food intake was. I was mainly a fruit person, no interest in proteins or bread products. I thought I was eating healthy….until I confronted reality.

Replacing Sugar

The dietician reviewed my diet and promptly told me that high triglycerides can be a result of too much sugar! She took one look at my fruit intake and cut me off at the knees. Painfully, she told me I was limited to two fruits a day. Gone were my morning, noon and night snacks of grapes, melons and berries. Fortunately, during the winter months, it was easier to cut back on fruit when only apples and oranges were on the produce shelves. Fruits were replaced with vegetables and proteins. I found out that I need a salad every day, sometimes sprinkled with black beans or chicken pieces. I also discovered that I needed to add fish every week. Hello Whole Foods Market!

Counting Calories

She didn’t stop with just those recommendations. She used her computer and calculator to come up with a daily calorie allowance for me. This allowance was 1,200 calories per day, a ridiculously low amount in my mind. To add insult to injury, she went to her cabinet of fake foods (she maintains a large inventory of empty boxes, plastic foods and labels) and showed me exactly what 1,200 calories of food looks like. It did not look like what I was normally eating. Once I could picture my daily grind, she showed me how to use an App on my iPhone to track my calories daily. “My Fitness Pal” quickly became my daily pal, helping me keep on track. I was able to log in my meals, search for calorie counts and come up with reports for my doctor to review. Daily, I was able to see what parts of my diet were over budget and what was under budget (made sense to my CPA mind).

Getting Real About Exercise

With the calories under control, it was time to address the exercise issue! My son had long told me that a real workout involves work, not just walking around the block and sitting the rest of the day. He got me to commit to the treadmill, for 30 minutes at a time, and watched TV as I exercised. I was not allowed to get off until the 30 minutes was done, even if the only thing on TV at the time was “Ice Road Truckers.” I quickly discovered that once I got going, it wasn’t bad at all and I was able to work my way through several good James Bond films over the course of a winter.

Making Progress

My first check-up was three months later. I thought I already knew the answer, but when I saw the dietician’s face, I was thrilled. I had lost 20 pounds; the dreaded menopausal weight was gone! She was very pleased with my progress and agreed that I was following her plan pretty well. To maintain my weight, she added 100 calories/day….woohoo! A later visit with my doctor was icing on the cake. He had been right all along….eat less and exercise more. I’m really grateful that I’ve been able to get a handle on my weight and my latest tests showed that my triglycerides are totally normal. I owe this all to the tools that my medical professionals showed me. It is nice to have such competent medical resources right here in our area! •••

boom | December 2013 & JANUARY 2014

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The traveler

Day Trips

With Phyllis

By: Phyllis Rsse

Christmas Festivity in Hammond, IN The staff at Boom is excited to introduce our new monthly column, “Day Trips With Phyllis,” where experienced travel writer Phyllis will be sharing some hidden travel day trip gems that you can take right here in the Michiana area!

Crime doesn’t pay, but Christmas does! That’s what you’ll discover on a day trip to the Indiana Welcome Center on 7770 Corinne Dr. in Hammond, for its John Dillinger Museum and its seasonal exhibit of “A Christmas Story” Comes Home.

Not a Cookie Cutter Center

A Christmas Story

My best-ever friend Dave Hager and I, history buffs and fans of mysteries and true crime stories, were looking forward to the John Dillinger Museum. But arriving at the Indiana Welcome Center, we were, first of all, amazed at the beauty of the building itself. It’s not your cookie cutter style visitor center. From the silo at one end to the undulating roof simulating the waves of Lake Michigan at the other, the building reflects life in Lake County. It’s breathtaking. Then, we noticed the brand new statue outside the center. It’s Flick from the Triple Dog Dare scene in the movie, “A Christmas Story,” getting his tongue stuck to a freezing cold flag pole. Of course, Dave, who loves the movie and introduced me to it years ago, was willing to have his picture taken with his tongue easing toward the pole. Fortunately, it wasn’t a cold day.

John Dillinger Museum

Inside the building, friendly greeters directed us to the gift shop to purchase our tickets for the John Dillinger Museum, which traces Dillinger’s life from his birth in Indianapolis in 1903 to his death in Chicago in 1934.

www.dillingermuseum.com 26

DECEMBER 2013 & JANUARY 2014 | boom

The first section of the museum introduced us to life in the early 1900s from popular music to historical events. Then, we flipped through the pages of a family album to see Dillinger as a baby and to learn about his family life.

Nearby, his baseball spikes are on display, with the notation that he was good enough to have had a career in baseball. But his life was to take a decidedly different path.

contest, Mommy’s Little Piggy contest to see who can eat the most mashed potatoes and an Oh Fuuudge Relay Race. Sounds like fun!

Bored with life on the farm, he joined the Navy but went AWOL because the discipline was too confining. A former convict, Ed Singleton, then took Dillinger under his wing, which resulted in a botched grocery store robbery and Dillinger being sentenced to 10 years in prison, leaving him angry and bitter. In prison, he got his education in crime, specifically robbing banks.

The exhibit runs through January 5. (If you missed it this year, don’t worry. It will be back during the 2014 holiday season.)

Released in 1933, he began his bank robbing career, using tactics his fellow inmates had taught him. A map on the wall traces the route he and his gang took as they robbed one bank after another. Surprisingly, he and his gang were polite to the banks’ staffs and customers, since they weren’t the enemies. The banks themselves were seen as the enemies during this time of the Great Depression. Lifesize mannequins of Dillinger and his gang allow you to come face to face with them as you learn about their lives and fates, including dramatic jailbreaks. You can see Dillinger’s lucky rabbit’s foot, the pants he was wearing when he died, and the saxophone case the gang left behind at a bank robbery. At various interactive stations, you can learn about crime fighting and detective work in the 1930s from fingerprinting to the FBI. Of course, Dillinger meets a bad end, which you can see in photos and a lifesized re-creation in the last section of the museum. Push the button to light up the room and you’ll see the payment Dillinger received for his crimes. (Probably not for the faint of heart!)

A Christmas Story Comes Home

Exiting the museum, we made our way to a happier exhibit, “A Christmas Story” Comes Home, in the W. F. Wellman Exhibit Hall, a few steps away. On display here are the iconic scenes from the movie as portrayed in animatronic window from the Macy’s Department Store in New York City. The scenes “come home” because the movie was based on the stories of Jean Shepherd, a Hammond native. The windows, purchased from Macy’s, portray several iconic scenes from the movie, including Ralphie peering at all the toys in the department store window, the dogs eating the Christmas turkey and Dad instructing his embarrassed wife where to put the brothel-style naked leg lamp he’d won in a contest.

Santa Mountain

At the end of the exhibit is Santa Mountain where children can climb up to see Santa and then slide down just like Ralphie in the movie. Several other fun events are scheduled in conjunction with the exhibit including an appearance by actors from the movie, an ugly lamp

Lunch!

One last thing to do on our visit was to have lunch. The staff at the Welcome Center recommended Round the Clock Restaurant on 9010 Indianapolis Ave. in Highland, just a few minutes away. The rustic decor, with a fireplace and cozy booths, fit right in with our day of exploring the past. And the food was just great, just like Mom’s good home cooking. We had hot and tasty vegetable beef soup to start, followed by luscious lasagna for me and marvelous meatloaf for Dave. Dessert was chocolate peanut butter pie for me and ice cream for Dave. And the bill, based on senior pricing, was less than $20 including our soft drinks! While crime doesn’t pay, you can sure get more than you bargained for on a day trip to Hammond and you don’t have to worry about getting shot by John Dillinger’s gang or shooting yourself in the eye with your Red Ryder BB gun. •••

For more

information: Indiana Welcome Center

John Dillinger Museum “A Christmas Story” Comes Home 219-989-7979 www.southshorecva.com

Round the Clock Restaurant 219-923-4546 www.roundtheclock.com

boom | December 2013 & JANUARY 2014

boom

holiday

By: Phyllis Rose

German Christmas Markets Oh, the Christmas memories!

Bundled in my red, hooded, down-filled coat, I must have looked like Mrs. Claus as I wandered through the German Christmas market with its colorfully decorated booths. I tasted sweet, spicy gingerbread; crunched on warm, roasted candied cashews; admired the traditional hand-painted glass-blown ornaments and decided which embroidered table linens to buy. Overhead, colorful lights twinkled through the snowflakes while from the steps of an ancient church nearby, the sweet voices of a children’s choir singing traditional carols wafted through the night air.

On my very first visit to the German Christmas markets, known as Christkindlmarkt, I fell so in love with them that I’ve been back five times to explore not only the German markets but also those in Austria, Switzerland and France. When you read this, I’ll be in Bremen, enjoying northern Germany’s markets. What makes these markets so special? Based on ancient traditions, the open-air markets are held in the town squares. All during Advent from late November until Christmas, locals and tourists crowd the markets buying traditional ornaments and handcrafts, munching on holiday treats or sipping a mug of gluhwein (hot mulled wine). Surrounding the markets are ancient town halls, cathedrals and narrow streets of medieval Europe. It’s truly an Old World Christmas setting. There are so many markets that you simply can’t see them all. So for your first visit, here are my top three recommendations. Munich, Germany Munich, the first Christmas market I visited, sets the standard in my mind for the others. My friends and I entered Munich’s Old Town through the Karlstor, the city’s fourteenth century gate, and strolled the pedestrian-only streets past department stores and shops beautifully decorated for the holidays. 28

DECEMBER 2013 & JANUARY 2014 | boom

Munich, Germany

We could see the lights of the market booths ahead in the Marienplatz (Mary’s Square). Soon, holiday lights stretching overhead announced we were there: “Munchner Christkindlmarkt.” Towering over the square is the New Town Hall, built over 100 years ago, with a glockenspiel, which plays every day at 11 a.m. Each evening, choirs perform traditional carols from the town hall balcony. Even though they are sung in German, the tunes are familiar. If it’s snowing, as it was when I was there, it’s even more magical. The Munich Christmas market itself is even older than the New Town Hall, dating back to at least the fourteenth century, the same age as the nearby Old Town Hall. If you can tear yourself away from this main market, there are several others around town including the Kripperlmarkt, specializing in Nativity scenes and all the accessories. Munich is definitely a must-see on your Christmas market tour. Nuremberg, Germany Entering Nuremberg’s Old Town through the Frauentor, a medieval tower, we soon found ourselves in Old Market Square, site of the annual Christmas market, which dates back at least 400 years. The vendors’ stalls are all topped with red and white

Nuremberg, Germany

striped awnings, creating a festive candy-cane atmosphere. Be sure to go up on the outdoor balcony of the nearby restaurant for a bird’s eye view of the colorful awnings. Nuremberg is known for its gingerbread, “lebkuchen,” so try some—either plain or chocolate-covered. A music box tin filled with gingerbread makes a nice souvenir. Mine (quickly emptied of its gingerbread) is part of my holiday decor each year. If you’re lucky, the Christkind Angel will make an appearance. Dressed in a gold crown, gold wings and white dress, she is the symbol of the Nuremberg Christmas market, handing out treats to children. For a special treat, we rode on a historic horse-drawn postal coach courtesy of the German Post Office. The inside of the coach was full so we sat on top with the driver. As we clipclopped around town, we waved to everyone—just like celebrities. For extra luck, spin the ring at the Beautiful Fountain on the edge of the square because legend says doing so will bring you good luck so you’ll return to Nuremberg once again for its Christmas market. (If you can’t go to Nuremberg, don’t despair. Experience the Christmas market on Chicago’s Daley Plaza, which is patterned after Nuremberg’s market.) Rothenburg-ob-der-Tauber, Germany To step back in time to the middle ages, visit Rothenburgob-der-Tauber, a walled town with cobblestone streets. The Christmas market is located on the main square, but there are also markets throughout the town. It’s a small town so you can easily wander from one market to another while also visiting the historic churches and shops. The medieval architecture is the perfect backdrop for the Christmas market, named the Reiterlesmarkt, after a legendary Teutonic figure who gave gifts to everyone. We liked Rothenburg so much we spent two days there. That gave us time to do justice to the Christmas markets, to enjoy some local restaurants and to visit the Kathe Wohlfarht Christmas Village Shop and the German Christmas Museum.

Kathe Wohlfarht and her husband established their Christmas Village Shop after fleeing East Germany following World War II. Entering the shop, you are immersed in all things Christmas, including an 18-foot Christmas tree and a 13-foot nutcracker. It’s a wonderful place to find that Christmas stein you’ve been looking for or an iconic German nutcracker. The Wohlfarhts’ son, Harold, established the Christmas Museum, which displays holiday items from the fourth century to the present day. The Village Shop and the museum are perfect complements to your Christmas visit to Rothenburg. Before leaving Rothenburg, try the local specialty, the schneeball (snowball), a ball of sweet dough strips fried and then dipped in either sugar or chocolate. Also, go up on the town wall and look back over the snow-covered medieval roofs. It’s magical. So if you are seeking an Old World Christmas, head to Germany, where towns, large and small, are “dressed in holiday style,” which for them is a centuries-old tradition. •••

Rothenburg-ob-der-Tauber, Germany

For more information:

German Christmas markets www.germany-christmas-market.org.uk This comprehensive site lists all the German markets. Click on a city for dates, times and tourist information.

Tips for Travel:

Many tour companies offer guided tours to the most popular Christmas markets such as Munich and Nuremberg. Some offer river cruises on the Rhine or Danube which focus on Christmas markets. You can visit the markets on your own with a German railpass. If you stay at a Nuremberg hotel, you can reach Munich (1 1/4 hours) and Rothenburg (1 hour, 50 minutes) by train. We stayed at Le Meridien Grand Hotel, Bahnhofstrasse 1-3, Nuremberg, directly across from the train station and adjacent to the Frauentor. For more information, go to www.starwoodhotels.com. For railpass information, go to www.raileurope.com. For a German train schedule, go to www.bahn.com. For information on Chicago’s Christmas market, go to www.christkindlmarket.com. Most markets, including Chicago, have a souvenir mug, which you can get filled with gluhwein or warm fruit juice!

boom | December 2013 & JANUARY 2014

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holiday

Holiday Décor Clean-up

By: Kay McMullen

Plastic storage containers can save your life, or at least your holiday décor! `Tis the season to be jolly....and shop...and wrap...and cook... and bake...and decorate. Don't forget the after-holiday fun; un-decking the halls and deciding what to do with all of your decorations. This is where plastic tubs become your best friends. These tubs come in many different sizes and colors depending on what you want to put inside them. You can even use different colors for different rooms in your home to make it easier to reference back to. There are plastic storage containers for ornaments to keep them safe from breaking, Christmas trees, wreaths and even wrapping paper! Here are a few tips to stay organized as you start packing away your holiday décor.

Labeling:

As you remove all of your beautiful decorations from around your home, place each one of them into the tubs. On the front or sides of the tubs, you can list everything you are putting inside to help identify what each one contains. A label maker is a useful tool to have on hand to mark what is in each tub. If you do not have a label maker, put some masking tape on the front or sides of the tub and write on the tape what is inside.

DECEMBER 2013 & JANUARY 2014 | boom

Christmas Trees:

There are many different sizes and types of storage containers for your artificial tree. Some of the containers have wheels on them, making it quite easy for portable storage. There is no need any more to duct tape and carry the heavy cardboard boxes that the tree originally came in. The tub will help keep mice and other insects from getting into your tree and damaging it. The portable tubs are much easier and safer to use.

Wreaths:

One great plastic container to have in your home is a tub to put your wreaths in. This will help preserve the needles, pinecones, and other decorative pieces. This will also help keep all bugs and insects away from the wreaths. You can also lay them flat or hang them in your storage area but that won't guarantee that they will be looking good the following year!

Wrapping Paper:

There are also great plastic storage containers for your holiday wrapping paper, bows, name tags and also for your extra holiday cards. No more looking around to where they might be when they are all stored together.

Outdoor Décor:

Sometimes the outdoor décor, especially the outside lights, can be a pain to not get tangled up or even broken when being stored. This is where your new best friend will come into play. You can take all of your outdoor décor and put it into one tub and label it as "Outside Christmas Décor.” Your outdoor lights can be stored in a separate plastic container that has a rack so you can carefully wrap your lights around it tangle-free for the following year.

Stay Cool, Dry,

Comfortable and Asleep with our Hot Flash Pajamas! Sheets sets also available.

As each holiday passes, everyone’s taste of decorations changes. When you come across any of your old ones that you haven't used in years, you can always donate to a local charity organization for them to use the following year. Spreading your Christmas joy doesn’t have to stop right when you take down all of your decorations. Something old to you can be something new to someone else. •••

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

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boom | December 2013 & JANUARY 2014

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holiday

Holiday Events&

Historic Homes

in Michiana By: Phyllis Rose

ichiana is beginning to look a lot like Christmas, so it’s time to immerse yourself in everything you love about Christmas. But if you especially like old-fashioned Christmases, you can savor the simple holidays of the past in Michiana’s historic homes and villages. Throughout December and even into January, special holidaythemed events allow you and your grandchildren to delight in an old-fashioned holiday. Don’t tell the kids, but they’ll also be learning about history.

Here’s where you can enjoy the spirit of Christmas Past.

Indiana Berne Berne was founded in 1852 by Swiss immigrants, a heritage preserved at the Swiss Heritage Village & Museum on 1200 Swiss Way. One of the dozen historic buildings is the Baumgartner Mennonite Church, built about 1860, which hosts Christmas Eve services at 6 and 9 p.m. Greeters dressed in old-fashioned attire welcome guests into the candlelit church. “Back then, the tradition was that men and women sat on opposite sides,” says Debby Neuenschwander, Executive Director. “That tradition is followed here, too—women on left, men on right—as you come in from the back.” The Christmas story from the book of Luke is read in both German and English. A wood stove provides heat as worshippers sing traditional Christmas music either a cappella or accompanied by a violin. A local minister delivers a short devotional message. “It’s something special,” says Neuenschwander. “It’s more of an intimate setting. If we’re lucky enough, it snows and [the snow] adds to it.”

Holiday tip: The church can only hold about 75 people so it’s best to arrive early. For more information, call 260-589-8007 or go to www.swissheritage.org. Elkhart Ruthmere House on 302 E. Beardsley Ave., built in 1908 by Albert and Elizabeth Beardsley, is now a museum filled with artwork and furnishings actually owned by the Beardsleys. Every year, Ruthmere is decked out for the holidays with special-themed decorations that visitors can enjoy on tours between November 30 and December 30. The holiday decorating theme this year is “Currier & Ives Visits Ruthmere: Holiday Decorations by Andrew Skipper,” says Executive Director Bill Firstenberger. Skipper is an area designer and a trained Ruthmere volunteer. Skipper’s holiday decor at Ruthmere will feature imagery, memorabilia and other items from the Currier & Ives era. This exhibit is a partnership with the Midwest Museum of American “Art in Elkhart which will have a number of pieces from their Currier & Ives collection on display,” says Firstenberger. Special evening tours are offered on December 27 and 28 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Reservations are required for these tours. “It’s a different experience to see the home at night,” Firstenberger says. For tour schedules and fees, go to www.ruthmere.org or call 574-264-0330. Geneva Fans of Gene Stratton-Porter’s books, such as “Freckles” and “A Girl of the Limberlost,” can enjoy a holiday event at the home where she wrote those books, the Limberlost State Historic Site, 202 E. 6th St. Built in 1895, the home is described as a Queen Anne rustic log cabin.

On December 14, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., visitors will experience “Christmas at the Cabin” where they can visit with Santa, see a wildlife presentation, listen to holiday music, make crafts and enjoy refreshments, says Curt Burnette, naturalist and program developer. The event costs $3 per person. On December 21, everything in the nearby Visitors Center Gift Shop will be discounted 20 percent, he says. The shop has a large collection of Stratton-Porter’s books along with nature books, recipe books and Limberlost apparel. For more information, call 260-368-7428 or go to www.indianamuseum.org/limberlost. Michigan City Completed in 1905, the Barker Mansion on 631 Washington St., was the home of John and Katherine Barker whose family fortune came from building railroad freight cars. Each year the mansion is decorated in a different theme, says Cecilia Zubler, Executive Director. This year’s theme is children’s classic stories at Christmas. Each room will showcase a different story. For example, the library will feature “Alice in Wonderland” and the dining room, “Treasure Island.” “The Staff will be creating all this,” Zubler says. “It takes us the whole month of November to do it. It’s a big undertaking.” From December 7-22, the home will be open for guests to wander through each room at their leisure, she said. The home is open Monday through Friday from noon to 3 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. From December 23 to January 15, guests can see the home on hour-long guided tours, offered Monday through Friday at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday at noon and 2 p.m. Entrance fees are $5 per adult and $2 for those 18 and under; three and under are free. Barker Mansion will also be open December 13 from 5 to 8 p.m. for “Christmas After Dark.” For more information, call 219-873-1520.

Michigan Hastings Historic Charlton Park, a turn-of-the century village at 2545 S. Charlton Park Road, hosts “Of Christmas Past” every year, where activities celebrate the season in a Victorian setting, says Stacey Graham, Office Manager. While touring the 15 historic buildings, visitors can enjoy roasted chestnuts, wassail, wagon rides, popcorn, cookies, cinnamon apples and plum pudding. There will also be crafts such as making candles, cornhusk dolls, ornaments and sachets. Songs of the season will be performed by the Thornapple Brass Quartet and the Coldwater Brass.

The event takes place Saturday and Sunday, December 14 and 15, noon to 5 p.m. Admission is $5 for ages 13 and older; $3 for ages 5 to 12; ages 4 and under are free. “This is an annual pilgrimage for many families,” says Graham. “It gets everybody in the holiday spirit.” For more information, call 269-945-3775 or go to www.charltonpark.org. Marshall Two annual events bring visitors to Marshall to savor the season. The Governor’s Mansion, owned by the Daughters of the America Revolution (DAR), will host a tea, Sunday, December 8 from 1 to 5 p.m. where guests can enjoy treats provided by DAR members. They can then tour the Greek Revival Style mansion, built in 1839 and intended to be the governor’s home before Marshall lost out to Lansing The event is free as a thank you to the community for their support, says Margaret Parker of the DAR. The mansion will be decorated for the holidays and guests can also receive information about events related to the 175th anniversary of the house in 2014. The 33rd Annual Candlelight Walk, December 7 and 8, will allow visitors to see several private homes, mostly from the late 1800s, decorated for Christmas. “It’s like being invited to someone’s home,” says Cathy Galloway, from the Marshall Historical Society, sponsors of the event. Two tours are scheduled each evening, at 4:30 and 6:45, each limited to 150 people. Divided into groups of 30, visitors are led by a guide, with each group starting at a different home. Groups spend about 20 minutes in each home talking to the homeowners and viewing their holiday decorations. The event frequently sells out early since it is limited to 600 people. Cost is $20 per person. Holiday Tip: Since shoes are not allowed inside the homes, wear shoes easy to slip on and off. For more information, call 269-781-8544 or go to www.marshallhistoricalsociety.org. So, if the hustle and bustle of “city sidewalks, busy sidewalks” make you dread the holidays, leave them behind and head for the quiet byways of yore in one of Michiana’s historic homes or villages. ••• boom | December 2013 & JANUARY 2014

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life

The Circle of

Resolutions By: Thomas J. Saelens

What a wonderful world it would be if the New Year resolutions our

minds create would transform into a celebratory reality. Much like the euphoric optimism that is created when one attends a motivational seminar, the resolutions of the new year often follow the same familiar trajectory; a searing, blinding blaze of unbridled motivation that is slowly pulled down by the gravity of the relentless, recurring and powerful reality of our daily life. We watch with human frailty as our comet of commitment blazes through the month of January on its way to a destructively hard landing in the world where our collective voices sing, “Just wait until next year”. Why do we fail so often in our quest for annual change and perfection? Let me relay some of my wisdom to this undeniable and persistent human tragedy that has tarnished many and leaves each New Year replete with resolutions vanquished by the fine line between zero and hero—a circle of resolutions that connect each year to the next.

Don’t believe the hypes. We actually believe the 30 minute infomercial that convinces our New Year’s brain that the “magic fat burning pill” that can be ordered for $9.99 and comes with a set of self-sharpening ginzu knives really is a scientific breakthrough. It will burn away 15 years of super-sized sin, Ben & Jerry binges and trans fatty transgression without the stain of sweat or the ache of exercise.

Success can be difficult. If I do succeed I am only raising the bar higher for my next

goal. Higher is great for my salary, my vertical height, my IQ and the number of Facebook friends that I really never talk to, but do I really want to push the limits on my personal goals? I say keep your goals like the limbo…how low can you go! Low expectations are always easier to match or exceed the next year. If a baseball player can be paid millions of dollars for succeeding only about 25% of the time, I think I am not doing half bad!

Make a mental resolution. We concentrate too much on the physical attributes and not enough on our mental wellness. So many of our resolutions are weight and exercise related. I really feel we are discriminating against our cerebral side, so resolutions that align to the lighter side of our humanity should be cultivated. The “healing hammock “ where one spends time each day in silent meditation between two large shaded trees rocking with the natural rhythm of the wind. Becoming one with nature through introspection and REM therapy. (Yes, this might look like an afternoon nap, but it’s the thought that counts, right?)

Failure the underappreciated.

How bad can failure really be? During the great financial crisis every CEO on Wall Street lost billions of dollars for their banks and investment firms but this obvious and incredible incompetence was rewarded with huge bonuses and stock options. Perhaps this is a lesson to find the silver lining?

Redefining our boundaries is good. As humans we are very judgmental and that

sometimes puts us in a drive to be perfect and view people narrowly; this is a contributing factor in our resolution retreat each year. Open your heart and let in the light and maybe you and your world is not as bad as you think. Maybe you only need to a new perception and not additional perspiration; a new outlook and not a new way to cook; a new practice of empathy and not the new P90X videos. Goodness and kindness comes with acceptance and outreach. Be less critical and more accepting of those that act, believe or live differently from you in a responsible and friendly manner. Maybe the darkness you see in the world is the shadow your own judgment is casting. •••

Three cheers for a new type of New Years— and the circle of new resolutions! boom | December 2013 & JANUARY 2014

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life

Why

Unplugging is

Essential This

Holiday Season By: Dylan Lemert

In this day and age, it’s virtually impossible to escape the effects of technology. In our homes and offices, portable devices like smartphones and laptops are making it easier and easier to stay connected anytime, anywhere. Certainly, these advances have been nothing if not convenient. But all this easy access to the digital world doesn’t necessarily mean we need to be connected all the time. In fact, there are several benefits to taking conscious moments away from our devices, away from Facebook and emails, and using that time to instead focus on ourselves and on others. Especially during the holidays, taking some time to unplug may be one of the most realistically rewarding things you can do this season. Here are a few practical ways in which unplugging from technology may be the right move for you as the year wraps up. Admitting There’s a Problem Technology is supposed to make the world better, right? For the most part, it has. However, for many folks the ability to be constantly plugged in has proved to be a curse rather than a blessing. Often this happens without them even realizing it, robbing them of precious time and productivity. Look around any doctor’s office waiting area, workplace break room, airport or cafe these days and what you will witness are people glued to their smartphones. Whether they’re surfing the web, texting or simply checking the day’s stocks or tomorrow’s weather, portable devices are essentially attached at the hip for many people—so much so it seems some of us have forgotten how to interact with others in a public setting! While it’s easy to generalize, it’s not hard to see that many Americans are addicted to their devices. This habit can prove a costly one indeed. Timing is Everything Knowing when to set aside time for unplugging is half the battle. In an ideal world, it would be nice if we could all just take an hour or so of quiet time each morning for the purpose of stepping away from our devices. However, for those of us with kids, jobs, and other similar responsibilities (which, let’s face it, is just about everyone these days), it may not be so feasible to allocate time every day for unplugging. 36

DECEMBER 2013 & JANUARY 2014 | boom

So if you can’t seem to find time to unplug on a daily basis, consider creating for yourself a “personal day.” A few times per year (or once a month if you’re especially zealous), set aside a day for the sole purpose of stepping away from the trappings of modernism. Spend the day with family, catch up on some projects around the house or take a trip to your favorite local spot. Simply distancing yourself from electronic devices and the Internet for even a few hours can prove crucial for feeling refreshed and recharged, ready to jump back into the digital world when the time requires. Out With the Old, In With the New Now, unplugging would be all for naught if there was no replacing the time you would normally spend connected with something more beneficial. This may be an opportune time to begin reading an intellectually stimulating book or exercising each morning before even think about picking up your smartphone or iPad. Or spend some precious time with the kids or the spouse—no electronics allowed. Since it’s the holiday season, spiritual people may find this an opportune time to focus on prayer or meditation. Others may simply find the peace and quiet of an early morning without distractions calming and effective in itself. It may be difficult trying to decide what else to fill your time with if you’re so used to passing the time on a digital device, which is why this part of the process may require a bit of creativity on your part. Just remember, the point is to do something that will be beneficial to your mind, body and spirit, thereby replenishing any energy technology may have zapped from you over time. Ask Why There’s no doubt technology has made our lives easier, from wireless Internet access to connecting with long-lost friends via social media. But ultimately, it’s crucial we ask ourselves if our constant attachment to technology is really all that beneficial. Yes, technology is fun. But when it becomes the thing that drives us, the thing that we can’t live our life without—that’s when we know it’s probably time to take a break. So this holiday season, consider taking a step back to ask yourself what the purpose of technology really is, to ask if it’s really working for you. Whatever you do, don’t forget that technology is there to supplement your life, not become it. Happy unplugging! •••

boom | December 2013 & JANUARY 2014

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life

Place For Your Aging

Parents Selecting a Senior Living Facility By: Evie Kirkwood

our parent or loved one needs help with daily living. Perhaps they are having trouble walking or fixing meals. They are dependent on others for shopping and doctor appointments. They no longer seem to be able to keep track of their medications. While older adults may want to stay in their home, it may not be a feasible option for everyone, and living alone can be isolating. If you are considering a senior living facility for your parent, how do you choose one?

Ask co-workers and friends for recommendations.

Today, new senior residences seem to sprout up weekly. Your local Council on Aging or Real Services agency can also provide you with a list.

Narrow the list based on needs. The key at the end of

this article defines the types of communities that are available. Does your mom need a smaller, single level home and is she capable of living alone? Does she need 24-hour care? Are you interested in a community where your parent can transition from assisted living to skilled nursing if the need arises? Once you have narrowed the field to a few locations, visit them. When choosing a senior community for each of my in-laws, I dropped in unannounced and walked through the units. My favorite times to visit were hectic meal times and quiet early evenings. Unless it is a memory care unit, most assisted living communities allow visitors and residents to come and go. 38

DECEMBER 2013 & JANUARY 2014 | boom

Get a feel for how well the facilities are maintained.

Try to visit again at a different time of day. If it is appropriate, bring your relative with you, so he or she can be a part of the decision.

You should be able to sense if the residents seem happy and are interacting with each other. Are there group activities? Is there a calendar of events posted? Check out the dining area and the menus. Explore outdoor spaces for sitting or walking.

When you've narrowed the field to one, review the fees. Most sites have fees that increase as a resident’s needs,

Are there odors? Does the décor seem dated? Check out the public restrooms which are often near a dining hall or lobby.

Observe the staff to see how they interact with the residents and each other. Are call bells in the skilled

nursing unit ringing constantly? How do they serve meals?

If you like what you see so far, stop at the admissions office and ask for a copy of the admissions contract. It should outline fees, services and residents' rights, when reassessments take place and when a resident might be asked to leave because he or she needs more services than the facility provides.

Next, tour the facility with the admissions staff.

Ask questions specifically related to your loved one. If your parent needs insulin injections, who administers medications and what is their training? Is there a licensed nurse on duty at all times? What is the staff-to-resident ratio? Is there a doctor on call? Do you have a choice of doctors? Ask who will draw up the care plan for your relative and how much input he or she and the family will have.

such as laundry, bathing or toileting increase. Note policies regarding the return of a down payment, room-hold costs during hospitalizations and the frequency of rate increases. Usually costs for assisted living are “private pay,” meaning they are not covered by health insurance or Medicare. This can be the case for skilled nursing as well. The admissions manager can address all your questions on these topics. Finally, if you want help, or if you are an out-of-town caregiver, geriatric managers and consultants can assist you with navigating the choices. It’s a big decision. But with so many options today, you can find personalized, quality resident-centered care suited to your loved one’s needs and interests. •••

Key to Retirement and Senior Living Communities ► Senior independent living is designed for those that can take care of all

their daily needs, but may want a smaller place. Some have community activities and options for shared meals.

► Assisted living provides a range of care, from medication reminders to aid

with bathing, toileting and mobility. Meals, housekeeping and group activities are usually provided. Laundry and transportation may also be included, or offered at an additional fee.

► Memory care facilities are secure units with a structured environment specializing in care for residents with Alzheimer’s or dementia.

► Long-term care or skilled nursing units have nursing staff and

certified nursing assistants on duty around-the-clock for residents whose medical and personal needs are more advanced.

► Continuous or comprehensive care retirement communities

offer a full spectrum of care, from independent living to skilled nursing. They allow adults to transition from one level to another, while remaining in the same general and familiar setting instead of moving to an entirely different community. They may require enrollment fees.

► More sources for information:

Assisted Living Federation of America and Leading Age have checklists and information on selecting senior living communities: www.alfa.org www.leadingage.org The Medicare website posts ratings and inspections data for nursing homes: www.medicare.gov/nursinghomecompare boom | December 2013 & JANUARY 2014

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life

The Importance of Funding

Your Living Trust By: Chris Godfrey

You just brought home your brand new living trust. It looks great, and you got it at a bargain price. But like everything else in life, you wonder if you get what you pay for. And like everything else, there are things that work and things that donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t. So how do you know if your plan will work?

Trusting your fund

You may have been told to fund your trust. Good, because in order for your trust to control your assets, your assets must be in your trust. This process is called â&#x20AC;&#x153;fundingâ&#x20AC;?. Fully funding your trust is critical in making your estate plan work. Funding includes the proper titling of assets and beneficiary designations.

Titling your assets

Every asset type is different and is handled differently when it comes to titling. For example, checking accounts are titled by the name on the account signature cards, houses are titled through property deeds, cars and boats through certificates of title and so on. Retirement plans and pensions are funded through their beneficiary designations, whether as a primary or contingent beneficiary. Failure to properly fund your trust will cause unintended results, which could include probate, loss of trust protections, distributions not in accordance with your instructions or additional taxes and administrative and legal expenses.

Reasons for incomplete funding

There are many reasons for unfunded trusts. Sometimes people are not told that they need to do it and may have received very limited instructions. Perhaps their estate planner even helped by creating new deeds for their real estate, but left them to fend for themselves on everything else. And lastly, some people get so focused on upfront costs that they fail to consider the overall cost of their plan.

Costs of estate planning

If you have property and loved ones, you will need an estate plan. But what will it cost? Generally, there are three costs in estate planning: • the cost of creating your plan. • the cost of updating your plan (or the cost of failing to update it). • and the cost of mental disability or death. A fully-funded living trust-based estate plan might cost more up front than an unfunded trust or a will based plan. But the overall cost of a fully-funded living trust-based estate plan is substantially less than an unfunded trust or a will. An unfunded trust or will-based plan can be cheap to set up, but they will result in substantial fees after your death, including probate. Average probate costs in the U.S. are reported to be 3 to 5 percent of the value of your gross estate. The overall cost of a fully funded trust-based estate plan is closer to 1 percent. And yet rare is the person who asks their attorney how much their estate will be charged after they are gone. In an effort to save up-front estate planning costs, we might be tempted to fund our own trust without the assistance of a qualified estate planning professional. This is unwise. Experience has shown that it is never done well. Like cleaning closets at home, the complete funding of trusts just never seems to get done. For example, during our lifetime we accumulate stuff. And while the stuff does get put away, it is rarely organized. Soon the closets are full and something must be done. Occasionally we make an attempt to clean them, but before we can finish the job, we get distracted by something else and we never return to it.

Powerful incentives

Fully funding our trust during our lifetime provides us the valuable incentive to clean out our financial closets. We can consolidate, simplify and combine our financial assets to make it easier for us to control our affairs while we are alive and well. And make it easier on our loved ones if we suffer a period of disability, or upon our death. Funding a trust can be a tedious, time-consuming process that requires a lot of follow-up and follow-through. We often hear about how much work it is to gather and assemble asset documentation and that is before the work of the actual funding process itself, including our own stuff too. Imagine how difficult it would be for our loved ones to do this without us! By fully funding our trust, you can make sure to stay in control of your property while you are alive and well; that you and your loved ones are provided for in the event of your mental disability; and when we are gone, we can give what we have to whom we want, when we want, the way we want. •••

That’s the plan. Now make sure it will work. boom | December 2013 & JANUARY 2014

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business

boom Advice from Area Execs

oom Magazine and the Renaissance Executive Forums have partnered up to bring you this monthly business column, The Boom Executive Forum. Feel free to submit your business questions to info@michianafamilymagazine.com and your question just may be answered in an upcoming issue of Boom Magazine.

“

This article is provided by Executive Forums which helps executives achieve their goals and reduce risk by providing input from a confidential team of their peers and tools from thought leaders. For information, contact them at 574.243.0175 or visit their website: www.ExecutiveForums.com.

This Month's Question:

It is that time of the year when we make the futile attempt to improve our life through ‘New Year’s resolutions.’ Does anyone have proven steps to making these ‘resolutions’ a reality? After 50 years of trying, my success rate has been very dismal.

”

DECEMBER 2013 & JANUARY 2014 | boom

ANSWER:

I understand your frustration of making a sound resolution then watching it evaporate due to the time demands and unforeseen circumstances of tomorrow. For the past 12 years, I have seen several local CEOs / business executives (even members of these executive forums) make and keep their resolutions. Annually, the members attend a two day retreat called Strategies for Success, where they set three personal and three professional goals. Using the following three steps, our members attain around 70 percent of their goals:

1. Goal – Purpose 2. Ritual – Routine 3. Peer – Partner One of the best books on keeping resolutions is SWITCH: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard by Chip & Dan Heath. “The primary obstacle,” say the Heaths, “is a conflict that’s built into our brains.” Psychologists have discovered that our minds are ruled by two different systems; the rational mind (the rider) and the emotional mind (the elephant) that compete for control. Below are three steps to help keep your mind on track. 1) Create a clear vision of what the final outcome will be when the resolution is kept. Place this vision in a spot where you will be continuously reminded, such as your phone, refrigerator or bathroom mirror. We create a card for our members to carry in their wallets to remind them of their goals 2) Establish routines or rituals that will occupy the rational mind. Set daily or weekly goals that can be measured and recorded. These can be placed in the same spots you selected for your vision. Our members are reminded regularly of their goals at their monthly meeting 3) Select an accountability partner who reminds you of your goal and of your rituals or routines. They will praise you for your successes and encourage you to move forward when you are challenged by outside constraints. Our member’s accountability partners are their fellow CEOs in their executive forums peer group. Limiting your resolutions to no more than two or three is one additional way that leads to success. If you improve just two or more items every year, over time you can impact 50 to 70 items in your life. I have personally benefited from the above steps. I have three grandsons who have different personalities. A member shared that each quarter he spends a part of a Saturday with one of his sons doing what that son wants to do. So I decided to take three Saturdays a quarter and spend two to three hours with each of one of my grandsons. One of my grandsons was heavy into video games, which was not something I embraced. However, spending a few Saturdays with this grandson, I uncovered his love for theater and movies. We now have a common link when we go the local plays and see some old classic movies. Using these simple, yet effective, steps can help you change your life one year at a time. Making your New Year resolutions more visual and be constantly reminded of what you want changed, will help encourage you to achieve them. Always remind yourself that a setback is only a setback and you can always get back on that bandwagon and try again. •••

Cheers to the New Year and to new changes to come!

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Faith Based – Locally Owned – Non Profit

574.295.6260 866.295.6260

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www.hubbardhill.org boom | December 2013 & JANUARY 2014

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recipe

Overnight Egg Nog French Toast Feed that houseful of holiday guests with this easy and festive overnight French Toast recipe! Ingredients: • 1 cup brown sugar • 1/2 cup butter • 2 tbsp. light corn syrup • 6-8 French Bread • 1 cup egg nog • 1 cup half and half • 8 eggs • 1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Directions:

1. 2.

Whisk the egg nog, half and half, eggs and cinnamon in a medium bowl.

In a small saucepan, heat the brown sugar, butter and corn syrup until the mixture begins to boil; remove the mixture from heat and pour into a 9 x 13 greased baking dish.

3. 4.

Layer the slices of French Bread on top of the mixture in the dish.

Pour the egg nog mixture over the bread and cover the baking dish with aluminum foil; Refrigerate overnight (or for at least 8 hours.)

To cook the next morning, bake at 325 degrees Farenheit for about 35 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 5 minutes until the topping is crispy brown.

The

Planner December 2013 & January 2014

December 2013 & January 2014 Events The following listing includes events around town. Always call ahead for updates. December 15th

December 19th

12:00-4:00 p.m. College Football Hall of Fame

8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. Morris Performing Arts Center

Downtown for the Holidays Spend some time with the family in Downtown South Bend. There will be unique shopping, dining, events and much more. Also, keep an eye out for a red and white house next to The South Bend Chocolate Café where Santa will be at. CCD Christmas Bake Sale 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. St. Patrick Parish Center

There will be a CCD Christmas Bake Sale happening at the St. Patrick Parish Center. If you have any children with you, Santa will be there for a meet and greet. For more information please contact the Parish Office at 574-287-8932. A Christmas Carol

3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. The Lerner Theatre

The Premier Arts is doing a production of A Christmas Carol at the Lerner Theatre. Tickets range from $12-$18 depending on age. For more information, please contact Sue Frost-Mayse at 574-293-4469.

December 16th

Straight No Chaser

STRAIGHT NO CHASER’s “Under the Influence North American Tour” will be stopping by the Morris Performing Arts Center. This a cappella group will be singing their all-time favorite songs made famous by music icons. Ticket prices range from $29.50 to $48.50, depending on seating. You can purchase your tickets at the Morris Box Office, by phone at 800-537-6415 or online at www.morriscenter.org. Dinner and show ticket packages are available. Please call for more details.

December 21st

Studebaker: Preserving the Past… Pursuing the Future 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Studebaker National Museum

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Studebaker plant closing. The Studebaker National Museum is having an exhibit showing South Bend’s growth and development from the 1860’s to when the plant closed fifty years ago. $8 for adults and $6.50 for seniors and children.

Senior Co-Ed Volleyball 8:00 a.m. Battell Community Center

This will be located in the Battell Community Center’s gym every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. You must register before attending a class. Euchre

1:00 p.m. Battell Community Center

Enjoy playing a card game that makes you think? There are a couple Euchre Groups at the Battell Community Center for you to join. Please register before you play.

DECEMBER 2013 & JANUARY 2014 | boom

December 26th The Wizard of Oz 8:00 p.m.

Amish Acres Historic Farm and Heritage Resort

At Amish Acres, the Wizard of Oz will be performed. Tickets are $27.95 per person. For more information, please call 574-773-4188.

December 30th Compton Public Skate

5:00 p.m. Compton Family Ice Arena

The Compton Family Ice Arena on Notre Dame Campus is opening up to the public

for people to go ice skating. It costs $7 for the public and an additional $3 for skate rentals. For more information, please visit www.comptonice.nd.edu.

December 31st

New Years Eve Dinner/Dance Party 7:30 p.m. Palais Royale

Celebrate this New Year’s Eve at the Palais Royale. This year’s event will feature The Tom Milo Big Band. Dinner, drinks and dancing will all be a part of the big night. A photographer will also be at the event to take pictures. Hotel packages are also available upon request. Tickets are available at the Morris Box Office. You can purchase them by phone at 800-537-6415, online at www.morriscenter.org, or going to the Morris Box Office.

JANUARY EVENTS January 3rd

Fire and Ice Festival 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Downtown Goshen

Goshen’s First Fridays theme this month is the Fire and Ice Festival. Ice carvings, marshmallow roasting, and several other events are happening January 3rd and 4th. Please visit www.cityonthego. org and click on “First Fridays” for more information. Free Art Friday

Downtown South Bend

Several art work pieces donated by local artists will be hidden around Downtown South Bend. There will be clues for people to follow to help locate them. If you find a hidden art piece, it is yours to keep. For more information, please email cdietz@downtownsouthbend.com.

Jan 5th

The Bridal Spectacular Noon – 5:00 p.m. The Century Center

The Bridal Spectacular is the place to go for the soon-to-be brides to start planning their big day. Tickets are $5 at the door. You can visit their website at www.indianabridalspectacular.com for more information.

Jan 8th

Friends Writing Group

9:30-11:30 a.m. Mishawaka Library-Downtown

The Friends Writing Group welcomes new writers of every genre and experience level. If you enjoy writing poetry, prose, essays or letters, attend the meeting to share tips and techniques with other writers. For more information, contact the Reference Services at the downtown Mishawaka Library at 574-259-5277 ext. 218.

January 11th

New Albany Indoor Farmers Market 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. New Albany Church of the ResurrectionMinistry Center

Attendees will find locally grown produce and homemade goods. For more information please email manager@ nafarmersmarket.com. Girls Day Out

10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Old Bag Factory in Goshen

Every second Saturday of each month, the Old Bag Factory has Girls Day Out where women can come out and see what their small businesses have to offer. More information can be found on their website at www.laughablenewsmichiana.com/ girls-day-out.

Jan 13th eBay 101

7:00 p.m. Harris Branch Library

Wanting to clean out your basement and attic and sell the items you don’t want anymore? Not sure how to sell them online? The Harris Branch Library is having an eBay 101 class to teach you how to sell your items and get the most money out of your items. For more information, contact the library at 574-271-3179.

Fighting The Winter Blues Five fun things to do that will keep you from feeling blue!

1. Join a book club. Call your local library and see if you can join. 2. Start a scrapbook. Create memory books for your children and grandchildren! 3. Have a weekly or bi-weekly girls night out. Add a bit of jazz and create a different theme each night. 4. Buy a gym membership. Feeling healthy can keep you motivated and energized. 5. Volunteer at a local charity. Even though the holiday season has ended doesn’t mean you have to stop giving. Call a local charity and see how you can help.

Scene

BOOM Magazine promotes Michiana’s cultural offerings, personalities, attractions and local businesses, with a special emphasis on non-profit organizations’ events and activities. We expect this section of BOOM to grow significantly and we’d like your help to get it rolling! Please send us some of your favorite photos from your organization’s or charity’s best events and fundraisers. They just may make the next issue of BOOM Magazine! We prefer snapshots of people that are full of life and enjoying the moment, so please send them our way: Info@MichianaFamilyMagazine.com.

Salvation Army Thanksgiving When the line started forming around 10:30 a.m. that Thanksgiving morning, we had no idea that within an hour we would have already served over 400 families a deluxe, carefully prepared Thanksgiving meal served on china and linen tablecloth's from the Matterhorn Restaurant. The Salvation Army partnered with The Matterhorn Restaurant, the Elkhart Noon Rotary, United Pie Company, ADEC & ECSchool buses and several other community volunteers to help the needy. We served around 1,300 people that day and we can hardly wait until next year! We are thankful and appreciative that the Elkhart community came together to give thanks!

DECEMBER 2013 & JANUARY 2014 | boom

Four-year-old Will and his parents Jennifer and Tim get their photo taken with Santa Claus (aka history professor David Stefancic) at the Winter Wonderland event at Saint Mary's.

Saint Mary's College senior, Shanlynn Bias, helps four-year-old Will with a Christmas craft at Winter Wonderland. This is the fourth year that students put on the event for children affiliated with South Bend Community School Corporation, the Center for the Homeless, Robinson Community Center, and the Early Childhood Development Centers at Saint Mary's and Notre Dame.

Saint Mary’s Winter Wonderland O n December 7th, Saint Mary’s College students hosted a Winter Wonderland, a Christmas event for children who are part of the South Bend Community School Corporation, the Center for the Homeless, and Robinson Community Center. College employees were also invited to bring their kids to the event. Around 50 South Bend area families came out for the fourth annual Winter Wonderland.

By: Gwen O’Brien

Doris Komisarek brought her seven-year-old grandson Cooper to the event. Out of all the activities, which included cookie decorating, visiting with Santa, and ornament making, Cooper mostly enjoyed the crafts that required painting. He painted an ornament and a picture frame for his grandma to display in her home. “It’s great that the Saint Mary’s students do this for the South Bend community,” she said of the event. “It brings families and their kids on to a college campus and that gets everyone thinking about college as a possible part of the children’s futures.” The Student Activities Board and Co-Campus, an organization with representatives from area universities and colleges, sponsored Winter Wonderland. boom | December 2013 & JANUARY 2014

Centre Yourself

Wher . e t i n e Beauty and Technology U Y

ou have more non-surgical and surgical options for your beauty goals today than ever before. Thanks to amazing advances in technology, there’s a treatment for nearly every cosmetic need you can imagine. Centre Yourself™, a state-of-the-art luxury medical spa, located at The Centre, P.C., is dedicated to providing patients with advanced treatments that will deliver the results they need to achieve the beauty goals they desire. The skilled staff, led by board-certified plastic surgeons, provides a wide range of non-surgical procedures, including: *Acne Treatments *Botox® Cosmetic and other Injectables *Chemical Peels *Dermal Fillers *Endermologie® Cellulite Treatment *Exfoliation Treatments *Facial Treatments *Laser Hair Removal

*Laser Skin Rejuvenation & Tightening *Massage and Body Treatments *Permanent Makeup *Venus Freeze® *Visia® Complexion Analysis *Laser Tattoo Removal *Zero Balancing From simple lunchtime procedures to full body contouring, the possibilities of medical spa treatments at Centre Yourself™ are virtually limitless. Whether you’re interested in our nonsurgical or even surgical options, our team of skilled and discreet, licensed professionals will help you explore your options with a no-commitment consultation. The Centre, P.C. is a unique plastic surgery practice providing patients with both surgical and non-surgical solutions. The Centre, P.C. has two convenient locations: in Mishawaka and Elkhart, Indiana.

611 East Douglas Road, Suite 108 Mishawaka, IN 46545 Phone: 574-968-9100 500 Arcade Avenue Suite 300 Elkhart, IN 46514 Phone: 574-296-9100 Pam Chaney, RN, BSN, MEP-C, is an Advanced Nurse Injector and Certified Medical Aesthetic Practitioner at The Centre, P.C.’s medical spa, Centre Yourself TM.

The Centre, P.C. features board certified plastic surgeons Ronald K. Downs, MD, FACS and Patrick J. Viscardi, MD, both members of the American Society of Plastic Surgery.

Toll Free Number: 800-909-9100 TheCentrePC.com

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boom | December 2013 & JANUARY 2014

Knee replacement kept me racing. Terry McMillen, NHRA Drag Racer When knee pain was threatening to keep NHRA Drag Racer Terry McMillen from doing what he loved, he turned to the professionals at the Elkhart General Hospital Center for Joint Replacement, a HealthgradesÂŽ Five-Star Recipient for Joint Replacement five years in a row. Thanks to Elkhart General, Terry was back on his feet and in his race car in less than two weeks. For more information on why joint replacement may be right for you, visit us online at www.egh.org/yourjoints.

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