Sassy Magazine December 2012

DECEMBER 2012

NO8

why we give NOW

stephanie

KROL

Clothing with

a Cause Learning to Shop Ethically

Awake &

Alive

2013 Class of Women to watch!

The Grand Approach

decorating for

the holidays

Women in Science

michiana's Maker Movement

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/ contents

COVER

MODEL: Stephanie KROL Photography: CLASSIC IMAGE Photography Stylist: Maria Gonzalez

ON THE

DECEMBER

EVERY MONTH 04 letter from the publisher 05 contributors, letter from the editor STUFF WE LOVE 06 sassy time SASSY ADVICE FROM A BUSINESS COACH 08 dear charrise...

Answers from Charrise McCrorey

SASSY FASHION 10 all about boots

By Kathy Friend

HOLIDAY EXCLUSIVE 12 why we give now

DESIGN 14

ART 16

18

The Psychology of Corporate Holiday Charity

By Thom Villing

the grand approach

Decorating For the Holidays

By Andrew Skipper

women of mettle

Two Sculptors Casting their Shadows over History

By Cheryl K. Snay

michiana's maker movement

By Jennifer Warfel Juszkiewicz

ADVENTURES IN SASSYDOM 20 the iguana diet

By Jane Suter

SASSY BUSINESS FEATURES 24 awake & alive

By Meagan Church

26

women make strides in science

28

clothing with a cause

By Jennifer Warfel Juszkiewicz

By Chelle Costello

SPECIAL SECTION 30 2013 Women to Watch 46

2012 Glitz & Sass Boutiques

THE DATEBOOK 41 sassy events to put in your datebook SCENE & BE SEEN 54 read about events around town

Photography: CLASSIC IMAGE PHOTOGRAPHY

SASSY | DECEMBER 2012

3

LETTER FROM THE

publisher

Photography: Classic image photography Makeup: Camellia Maalouf, Camellia Cosmetics Granger

Publisher & Editor-in-Chief: Betsy Tavernier Betsy@MichianaFamilyMagazine.com

EXECUTIVE Editor: Stephanie J. Salisbury

Stephanie@MichianaFamilyMagazine.com

Advertising Account Manager: Nicky Graham Nicky@MichianaFamilyMagazine.com

Merry Christmas, Sassy Gal...

I have a gift for you...

Creative Promotions Manager: Jena Bontrager Jena@MichianaFamilyMagazine.com

GRAPHIC DESIGN Manager: Zuzanna Zmud

Zuzanna@MichianaFamilyMagazine.com

MEDICAL EDITOR: Dr. Jesse Hsieh Distribution Manager: John Ferguson

Sassy Magazine is now MONTHLY! Thanks to your loyal readership, positive feedback and patronage to our partnering advertisers, I am thrilled to bring you the Sassy Magazine every single month starting with this special Holiday edition. We have much to be thankful for this season and this specific achievement is towards the top of our magazine list of gratitude.

SASSY Magazine is a division of Michiana Family Magazines, LLC established in 2006. All rights reserved.

This special edition includes the mother lode of all Sassiness as we share some seriously sassy and classy gals from our community that have been selected to represent the 2013 class of Women to Watch. Read their bios and spotlights and you will uncover a few common denominators among them all: focus, ambition, humor and style. I was so impressed by many of the stories and successes that were shared in the nominations - what a fabulous group of leaders.

The FAMILY Magazines 1233 E. University Dr. Granger, IN 46530 PH: 574.387.5420 • FX: 574.217.4700 www.MichianaFamilyMagazine.com

I did mention the mother lode ... don't miss the special section in this issue dedicated to all of the fabulous fashion-forward business partners that helped us kick off the very fabulous Glitz & Sass Holiday Fashion Show on November 15th. Wow is about all I can say. Our first Sassy Magazine fashion show was a tremendous success and we had a very full and festive house of guests, stunning fashions, exquisite models and many delights throughout the night. Seven local boutiques came together to share a stage for the evening and rocked the catwalk. We had many guests tell us they felt like they were at a NYC fashion show! If you weren't there, you won't want to miss the next one ... stay tuned for a possible encore in the spring.

We would love to hear from you! Please submit press releases, event information and inquiries to: Media@MichianaFamilyMagazine.com

Permission from the publisher is required for any reproduction or reprint of this publication.

Read SASSY Magazine online each month!

Go to www.MichianaFamilyMagazine.com and flip the pages, cover-to-cover the organic and green way!

December 2012 Volume 2: Number 7

See you much sooner than usual - just after the sparkle of the new year rejuvenates us all and hopes for a healthy and promising 2013.

Stay Sassy & Merry & Bright,

Betsy

LOOK WHO’s TALKING

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

4 DECEMBER 2012 | SASSY

DECEMBER

/ contributors

LETTER FROM THE

editor

Thom Villing is president and co-founder of Villing & Company Marketing Communications. He is also a frequent blogger and writer on business and marketing and serves as vice president of programming for the American Marketing Association.

Heyyyy, Sassy Lay-days!

(You should have been singing that in your head to the Gangnam Style tune…)

Andrew

Skipper

is an interior designer and lifestyle expert who believes that life should be celebrated everyday.

His company, Andrew Skipper Everyday, focuses on helping people elevate the everyday tasks they perform and objects they live with. He is the lifestyle expert for NBC affiliate WNDU TV in South Bend, IN, giving decorating and entertaining tips on Saturday mornings. To view past segments, log on to youtube.com/andrewskipperhome. Born and raised in Michiana, Skipper is proud to work with Elkhart County’s Convention and Visitor’s Bureau as Elkhart’s official lifestyle expert, showcasing locally owned retail stores throughout the region. Get design tips and read about his experiences on his blog for the CVB at amishcountry.org. With a passion for history and antiques, Skipper enjoys being Ruthmere Museum’s exclusive interior decorating consultant. Skipper also enjoys his role in event design and production for corporate and private events in Michiana and Chicago. He has been honored to work with clients such as Macy’s Department Store on State Street in Chicago for their annual Flower Show. Through a commitment to quality, Skipper strives to bring his clients the very best products, services and ideas to enhance their everyday lives. To learn more, like his page, Andrew Skipper Everyday, on Facebook.

Photography: Classic image photography Makeup: Camellia Maalouf, Camellia Cosmetics Granger

Well, it’s here: December. Crunch-time (not just the crunch of the dreaded snow under your feet, either). Holiday craziness, shopping, candy, family, and oh – we have to work and take care of our kids and tackle all of our regular obligations, too!

How do we manage it?

Like we always do, ladies: with style, grace, class, balance and sass. Take some inspiration from the art world, why don't you? Cheryl Snay from the Snite Museum of Art tells us the stories of two female artists who ‘broke the mold’, so to speak, in “Women of Mettle”. If they can do it, we certainly can, too.

This season, especially, we seem to be more charitable, more generous and more filled with a desire to change and make the world a better place. That’s the theme for businesses, as you’ll see in Thom Villing’s “Why We Give Now,” but also the theme for individuals, which you can read about in Meagan Church’s interview with the “Awake and Alive” non-profit founders.

Something you might also notice: phenomenal pictures of our spectacular Glitz & Sass Fashion Show. I can’t tell you how much positive feedback we’ve heard, what a great night it was, how much fun we had, or what surprises threaded their way through the evening. From food to friends to fashion, it was one Sassy Night Out. If you didn’t get a chance to come, you’ll have to be sure to attend the next one…

Oh, and did I mention the 2013 Class of Women to Watch was announced at Glitz & Sass? I didn’t? Well, read on, women. You’ll get to meet them all right here in this very issue.

Happy Christmas to each and every one of you – be safe, be warm, be good to one another.

Stephanie

Charrise McCrorey, a certified business coach/

consultant and certified transformative coach, is a sought-after professional speaker and writer, recently honored as a guest lecturer for the US Naval Academy. She is well known as Coach Charrise and the founder of Emergence Business Coaching, LLC. SASSY | DECEMBER 2012

5

THE SA S SY FACTORY

stuff we love

SASSY Time 8,9

2

Christmas

A Lerner Christmas opens

Salon Rouge Open House (Both Locations)

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New Year’s Eve

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Nutcracker Ballet

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Holiday Treasure Hunt, Oliver Mansion

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A 24/7 Christmas, New World Arts Goshen

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Holiday Latte Flavors to Request: Caramel and Vanilla (Dulce de Leche)

Crème de Menthe and White Chocolate Mocha Peppermint and Chocolate (Tastes like a York Peppermint Patty!)

Cherry, Chocolate and Vanilla (Tastes like a Chocolate Covered Cherry!)

Cozy Indoor Nights Hot cocoa by the fireplace

Reading your favorite book for the 20th time Really getting the meaning of “A Charlie Brown Christmas” Snuggling with your pet on the sofa Taking advantage of pizza delivery!

Random Acts of Kindness

Pay for your daily coffee with a ten dollar bill – have the barista pay for the next person’s drink and keep the rest as a tip.

Shovel or snowblow your neighbor’s drive before they wake up.

Bake a batch of cookies for the police or fire station.

Recruit some friends to make and take Christmas cards to a retirement home.

6 DECEMBER 2012 | SASSY

Th

What’s Up with Wassail?

Start with apple cider – a quart at least should do Add a cup each of orange juice and pineapple juice

Merry Christmas Quotes

“Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.” ~ Calvin Coolidge

Add a squirt of lemon juice Stir in a tablespoon of brown sugar Drop in a teaspoon each of cinnamon and cloves Stir, stir, stir while warming in a pot on the stove until boiling.

Simmer for 20 minutes, then serve hot!

(Add your favorite liqueur for a little kick when the kids aren’t around…)

“I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.” ~ Charles Dickens “Christmas waves a magic wand over this world and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.”

~ Norman Vincent Peale

“He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree.” ~ Roy L. Smith “Christmas is a season for kindling the fire for hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart.”

~ Washington Irving

Ice Carving at Heritage Square!

Heritage Square Ice Carving Festival

Heritage Square Mall

Saturday, January 26th, 2013 Free-style Carving: 10am-12noon Ice Competition: 1pm-4pm For details visit shopheritagesquare.com or find Heritage Square on Facebook.

Corner of SR 23 & Main/Gumwood Road • Mishawaka, Indiana • www.ShopHeritageSquare.com

Heritage Square is presented by:

Heritage Square Guest Services Office, 7321 Heritage Square Drive, Suite 150.

For more information, call 574.855.3774.

SASSY | DECEMBER 2012

7

THE SA S S FACTORY

advice from a business coach

Dear Charrise...

Have a co-worker who’s driving you batty? A boss who just won’t listen to reason? Or maybe you’re wondering if this is your time to breakout and show the business world what you’re really made of – but you don’t know exactly how to go about it. Sounds like you need some sound business advice! Send your questions to Charrise, our SASSY business coach, and have them answered here. It’s time to get a fresh perspective!

I grew up in a family that was constantly taking road trips and these trips are some of my best childhood memories. I have dreams of showing my kids the world but don’t currently have a job flexible enough for me to travel.

Plus, I never seem to be able to find the money to take them anywhere fun.

How can I break this cycle?

One of the coolest things about life is the ability to celebrate our own diversity.

Our life experiences accumulate to create in us varying levels of consciousness, degrees of learning, ways to cope with what life hands us. We each have exactly what we need to navigate our own challenges. So, you see, it’s not productive to compare because it’s not an apples to apples comparison.

Charrise Says I sense this has become bigger in your mind than it practically could be. So, right now you don’t have as much flexibility in your job as you’d like? Perhaps you can’t take several days off at once? You’re feeling the tug between being a good employee and being a good mom. Could you shave a few hours off of a Friday to extend your weekend? Get creative with your schedule. Make a deal with your boss? There are ways to find the time. There is always a solution, if you’re willing to get creative.

Our urge to compare comes from our need to validate our own self worth. In reality, this true sense of self worth comes from the inside, rather than outside forces. You must learn to love yourself for all your perceived flaws, as no amount of outside validation will ever sustain you.

What if you simply start from where you are right now? Kids love spontaneous adventures, even if it’s just a few hours at a time. It’s not as much the places you see when you travel that leave a lasting impression as it is the memories you make together as a family. It’s about the relationships you create and the trust you build.

There may be a bigger issue at play here, and that is – you guessed it – ‘Mommy guilt’. It seems we set such high expectations for ourselves. Whatever you do, it doesn’t quite measure up to the perfect image you have in your head - the mom your mom was to you, or the mom you’d always dreamed of being.

All you can do is to show up for your children when it matters. Let them know you adore spending time with them. Turn ordinary time into a last minute funfest. Be silly. Some of my favorite times with my now grown children happened in the car. There is something about being able to look out the window, rather than make eye contact, that opens up the possibility for meaningful discussions.

There may be nothing more important than talking to your kids in ways that have them feeling truly heard.

They will remember those moments, wherever they occur.

I’m a busy working mom, though I usually manage to keep everything going along smoothly. I will admit that it’s often difficult to juggle all my priorities. I am in a circle of friends who I can’t help but envy. They always look like they have everything together. The other day I forgot to put lunch money in my child’s bag. I was so disappointed in myself! I know my friends aren’t so scatterbrained. How can I be more like them?

Charrise Says It would be a great disservice if you made an effort to be more like your friends.

After all, who would be YOU? It’s so very tempting to compare ourselves to others. What we don’t know, even though we’re doing all that comparing, is what their life is really like on the inside. They have worries, fears, doubts and anxieties just like we do.

Believe it or not, there is a benefit to leaving important stuff out of backpacks occasionally. Your children will learn self reliance, independence and critical thinking - all three quite valuable life skills to develop. You won’t always be there for the lunch money.

As the holidays get closer, can you give any tips on how to make life less frantic? It seems like each year they come and go and it’s all just one big blur.

Charrise Says I love this question. The holidays are my favorite time of year! Baking, buying gifts, wrapping, school programs, family gatherings...it’s always a warm and fuzzy few months.

And... I get that it can stress you out, if you allow it. Sometimes people don’t play well together, and the family gatherings are, shall we say, less than enjoyable?

If this is true for you, make a clear decision about whether or not you want to participate. You always have a choice, even when it doesn’t quite feel that way. Set boundaries and stick to them.

As for the shopping, we’ve become such consumers! You can again choose to participate, or you can choose not to. If you choose to buy things, I’m a stickler for lists and an organized plan. And hopefully you’ve already started your shopping so you’re not doing it all at the last minute. That’s not good for the pocketbook!

Some of my favorite presents are handmade and simple. I love knowing someone took the time and energy to make something just for me. It may seem like this takes more time - and it may. It really can be something quite simple. Google simple handmade gifts and you’ll be shocked at the search responses.

Set an intention for a peaceful, simple holiday and communicate your intention to your family. Ask them for ideas to help you simplify, returning to what you all find most important in the grand scheme.

When I was a little girl, I used to write stories. I even entered a writing contest once, and when I never heard a word back, I was so disappointed I stopped writing. Now I’m a grown woman, and the dream of becoming a published writer still lingers. How can I re-start my dream, while guarding myself from the fear of rejection?

It’s funny how easily we let our dreams slip away, isn’t it? The fear of rejection

8 DECEMBER 2012 | SASSY

is undoubtedly daunting. Worse yet, we allow it to inform us well past the first incident and into our adult lives. It happens to the best of us.

Good news: unless you’re dead, your dream of writing can be re-awakened. Your dream shook the sleep out of its eyes the moment this question formed in your mind. It’s your spirit rising up asking to be heard.

The key to creating anything new is simply to start where you are. Write something. Write without judgment or censoring. Have fun with it and give yourself permission to be the little girl in you, full of imaginative ideas.

We seem to be our own worst critics. These days, getting published is easier than ever before. You can create a blog within just a few minutes for free.

The barriers of entry to the world of writing and publishing have come tumbling down. You can use technology to jumpstart your dream.

One last thing: rejection isn’t real. It’s not a real emotion. It’s something we made up. It’s a fearbased thought. Fear doesn’t stand a chance when you’re doing what you love. Love melts fear just as surely as water melted the Wicked Witch of the West.

Trust me on this and allow the world to know your truest gifts. 

YOU RIGHTFULLY EARNED IT.

NOW RIGHTFULLY KEEP IT.

Edward Jones

Looking to keep more of your income and cut your taxes?

Then tax-free municipal bonds* may be for you. *Bonds may be subject to state, local or the alternative minimum tax.

Call or visit your local financial advisor today.

Scott Puckett, AAMS® Financial Advisor

www.edwardjones.com

Member SIPC

.

209 Concord Mall Drive Elkhart, IN 46517 574-875-0828

Charrise McCrorey is a Certified Transformative Coach, business consultant, writer, and speaker. She works with individuals and business leaders worldwide, with offices in Elkhart and Chicago. She is a catalyst for assisting others in creating a magnificent life and rewarding work.

Glance Eyewear exclusively at

Heritage square | Granger | 574.271.1000 | www.glanceeyeweargallery.com SASSY | DECEMBER 2012

9

SASSY

fashion

Boot s

All About

By Kathy Friend

I count down the days until temps dip below 60 so I can break out my boots. Generally from sometime in late August until Spring I’m in boots. Hello my name is Kathy, and clearly I am a boot addict!

The trends for this season have me salivating. I’m considering implementing a no-cash option in my business… just buy me boots!

DETAILS IN THE BLOCK Color block, texture block, shine blocking – all are big trends in boots. Look for a contrast heel, or a pop of color on the foot of the boot.

10 DECEMBER 2012 | SASSY

RIDE ‘EM COWBOY Western influence is seen all over feet on the runway. If you don’t have a western feel boot in your shoe wardrobe, this is the season to add one.

GIVE ME SOME SKIN Animal skins are crawling into boot trends this winter. Look for alligator, snake and pony. The faux versions of these skins are just as big of a trend as the real thing.

I can help you reach your milestones and all the mile-pebbles Our Advisors. Your Dreams. MORE WITHIN REACH®

Call me today at (574) 246.0869 Sherry Cummings, CPA, ChFC®, CLU® Financial Advisor An Ameriprise Platinum Financial Services® practice

904 E Jefferson Blvd South Bend, IN 46617 574-246-0869 sharlene.k.cummings@ampf.com www.ameripriseadvisors.com/ sharlene.k.cummings

Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC. Ameriprise Financial cannot guarantee future financial results. © 2012 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. All rights reserved.

574.232.1798 520 E Colfax Ave South Bend, IN 46617 www.inspiremeonline.com www.facebook.com/InspireMeOnline

RIDE OVER THE KNEE Riding boots are not only practical, but trendy too. This office-to-weekend boot is being seen in the over-the-knee variety this season.

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SASSY | DECEMBER 2012

11

SASSY

holiday exclusive

Why We

Give Now

The Psychology of Corporate Holiday Charity

By Thom Villing

Michiana businesses are incredibly giving. And even though they make donations to charities throughout the year, there’s no question the spirit of generosity is especially obvious during the holiday season.

There are a variety of reasons for corporate giving at this time of year. Some companies see supporting the same charities as their customers as a means of creating goodwill. Of course, many organizations are on a calendar fiscal year so there may be tax implications involved. But most year-end giving is driven by decidedly less cerebral factors.

This is, of course, the season of festivity and heightened sense of spirituality – it is the season of giving, after all. It is estimated that charitable donations increase by 42 percent during the holiday months of November and December and that three times as many people make donations at this time of year. Anne Watson-Hosinski, director of development for St. Vincent de Paul Society of St. Joseph County, confirms these statistics. “The 4th quarter of the year is our largest in terms of public support. December alone is the greatest month, more than doubling any other month. In some cases, we receive more than ten times the amount of charitable contributions during December than other months of the year.”

The reasons businesses and organizations make charitable contributions are the same as the reasons individuals do. It makes us feel good. One charity researcher put it this way, “Giving is largely a way for us to indulge the desire to feel virtuous and happy about our role in the world.” And, in fact, research has shown that those who give to a charity are 43 percent more likely to say they are ‘very happy’ about their lives than those who do not give.

12 DECEMBER 2012 | SASSY

While Christmas brings its share of stress, it is still inherently a happy time for most people. This would tend to validate the happiness factor in charitable giving. Charlie Thompson, executive director of St. Vincent de Paul, has a slightly different take on the situation.

“I think that people tend to be more generous during the Christmas season in general because of a sense of duty to help others at Christmas. Whether it is out of a sense of community, religious beliefs or maybe simply because at Christmas they are spending more as general consumers, I'm not sure. I believe people have a sentimentality at Christmas time that obligates them to give more of their time, talent and treasures to others.”

Peer pressure and the desire for recognition are also cited by experts as reasons for charitable giving. Thus, one could aptly describe increased giving during the holidays as a snowball effect. If an executive observes others making contributions (or worse, her competitors), the more likely she is to step up her own company’s level of charitable giving.

Certainly, there is no shortage of worthy causes to support with corporate generosity. So how do you decide where to send your donations? According to Eileen Heisman, CEO of the National Philanthropic Trust, most donations are not based on tax considerations or media pressure but rather to support an organization’s mission that resonates with them. “The best giving is done for a cause that deeply touches the donor’s heart,” she says.

St. Vincent’s’ Thompson adds this perspective on corporate giving: “One should

consider how the mission of the organization aligns with your values as a company. If it is important to you to support causes that benefit neighbors, look for charitable organizations that serve locally.”

Finally, works of corporate charity don’t need to be limited to monetary donations. Many organizations can benefit greatly from volunteer assistance or donations ranging from food, clothing and other gently used merchandise to in-kind services.

Many companies are actually bundling support by encouraging employees to volunteer at the same charities which they are supporting financially.

Are you moving or renovating?

ted!

Magical Does yourHoliday space needHome a spruce?Decor

Fun and Unique Gift Ideas for Everyone!

Still searching for the perfect gift?

a v i t o Interior M ET

G

Without a doubt, there is an abundance of nonprofit organizations in this area whose missions are worthy of support. From social service providers to education, arts and environmental groups, the opportunities to make impactful contributions are great and the needs are often greater. Some simple advice to would-be benefactors is to look at the company’s core values and match those with the needs of area non-profits. But appropriate due diligence is always in order. Study the charities your company is inclined to support and determine how much of their fundraising goes directly to fund the primary mission in your local community.

Interior Design Furniture/Accessories Gifts Visit our showroom!

Cobblestone Crossing 4000 E Bristol St, Suites 4 & 5 Elkhart, Indiana 46514 574-262-9616

The holiday season is an especially good time to consider one’s corporate gift giving. As the old expression goes, “If it feels good, do it.” 

www.GetInteriorMotivated.com ®

YOU HAVEN’T SEEN A RESALE STORE LIKE THIS

ted

a v i t o Interior M

Cash on the

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What women say about getting CASH-on-the-spot: “It’s fun to get some running around money” “I get paid to clean out my closet!”

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I always find something I like!”

Monday-Saturday 10:00 am - 8:00 pm Sunday Noon-6:00 pm www.clothesmentor.com SASSY | DECEMBER 2012

13

SASSY

design

The Grand Approach

Decorating for the Holidays

By Andrew Skipper

The first time I set foot in Ruthmere Museum I was just a small boy. I was mesmerized by the detailed architecture and intricately painted ceilings. Never did I imagine that, years later, I would be collaborating with Ruthmere to decorate the historic 12,000 square foot mansion for the holidays. After we settled on "The Twelve Days of Christmas" as the theme, we embarked on the task of transforming the grand rooms into gracious welcoming spaces for holiday guests. To me, more is more and the Christmas decorations needed to coincide with the opulence of the mansion.

As with any Christmas decorating job, I took inspiration from the rooms themselves. For instance, the foyer boasts deep red draperies and a stunning gold gilded console table. The tree and garlands in this space complement the existing scheme with gold and red ornaments and gifts wrapped in shiny colors of the same hues. A closer look at the tree reveals nine ladies dancing up its branches. Attention to detail is key. A theme doesn't always have to take over a room; subtle hints can sometimes be more effective.

14 DECEMBER 2012 | SASSY

Steps away, the French drawing room's luscious gold wall coverings and layered draperies led me to use gold ribbon, beading and sparkling ornaments on the tree in this room. The mantel is adorned with five golden rings interwoven in the garland along with gold leaves and berries.

The morning room is part of Mrs. Beardsley's suite of rooms situated at the front of the house. It is said that she kept a bird in this room, so I used beautiful glass birds in the tree and mantel garland. Rose colored silk wall coverings by Scalamandre inspired the pale pink and pearl tones used in the decorations. The carved fan and roses in the mantel are complemented by delicate fan ornaments and artificial roses in the tree and garland as well.

No matter what the style of your house, do try this at home! Take a look around and be inspired by the colors and style you already have. The result will be a cohesive look and will set the backdrop for a splendid holiday season with friends and family. ď ¨

SASSY | DECEMBER 2012

15

SASSY

Women of Mettle

art

Two Sculptors Casting their Shadows over History

By Cheryl K. Snay

Hot!

HOT! HOT! Bronze casting is a difficult and dangerous art form and not for the faint of heart. It requires a lot of teamwork. Part vision, part alchemy, part brawn, it is a long, arduous process during which any number of things can go wrong with devastating consequences, which is why throughout history it has been a creative enterprise largely dominated by men. Here is the story of two of the women who broke that mold.

Princess Marie d’Orléans was born in 1813 to the king and queen of France, Louis-Philippe and Maria Amalia. While it was typical for an aristocratic girl to receive an education that included lessons in drawing and painting, practice was usually restricted to making miniatures (tiny paintings on ivory, bone or enamel that could easily be carried) or watercolors. Sometimes women ventured into painting landscapes, still lifes and portraits, but rarely did “amateurs” attempt anything grander. This is what makes the table-top bronze sculpture of Joan of Arc created by a 22-year-old princess on display at the Snite Museum remarkable.

Louis-Philippe gave the commission for a life-size marble sculpture commemorating France’s patron saint, Joan of Arc (which was destined for installation at the palace in Versailles) to one of the leading sculptors of the time: Jean-Jacques Pradier. It bears stating that this was a politically charged commission. Louis-Philippe had been king only since 1830 and was put on the throne after yet another of France’s successive upheavals, the July Revolution. Images of Joan of Arc were popular because they appealed to the nation’s sense of patriotism. Liberal or conservative, republican or royalist, everyone Princess Marie d’Orléans (French, 1813-1839), Joan of Arc in Prayer, modeled 1835; cast 1845. The Snite Museum of Art: Acquired with funds provided by The Butkin Foundation, 1993.043.

recognized Joan of Arc as the country’s heroine. By commissioning such a large sculpture made of expensive material, the king was invoking unity with the people and proclaiming his position as the “Citizen-King.”

None of Pradier’s proposals for the important monument suited the king, so in 1835 he turned to his youngest and favorite daughter, Marie. (Royalty has its privileges.) Working with her teacher, the painter Ary Scheffer, she molded the figure of the meditative warrior saint out of wax. The wax model was then turned over to another male artist who carved it in marble, and the finished sculpture was displayed at Versailles.

Both the sculpture and Princess Marie were widely celebrated. The monument to Joan of Arc became the princess’s signature work, and people began to equate the qualities of the heroic saint with the artist who had portrayed them. The sculpture was a success, they believed, because she was able to channel Joan’s virtues. When the princess died just four years later, the mayor of the city of Orléans asked the king if he could have a replica of the sculpture to erect in the city. The king granted his permission and extended it to the production of small-scale bronzes that could be more broadly distributed to those wanting to demonstrate both their patriotism and their loyalty to the royal family. The Snite’s example is one of these replicas cast in 1845.

Although the physical task of carving the marble and casting the bronze was carried out by men, Princess Marie d’Orléans advanced the cause of women artists in nineteenth-century France, when opportunities for participation were few and far between. It’s not until the end of the nineteenth century when Camille Claudel (1864-1943) takes up with Auguste Rodin that another woman sculptor achieves public acclaim.

Deborah Butterfield (American, b. 1949), Tracery, bronze, 2010. The Snite Museum of Art: Acquired with funds provided by the Humana Foundation Endowment for American Art, 2011.041.

16 DECEMBER 2012 | SASSY

Like Princess Marie, Deborah Butterfield’s success as a sculptor is attributed to her sensitivity to her subject. Butterfield has been making sculpture for over thirty years and every one of them is a horse. A native of California, she now lives in Montana on a ranch where she keeps her own horses.

What is it about women and horses? Aside from the lewd stereotypes that prevail on the internet,

women’s psychological connection with horses is recognized as a very real phenomenon. (Does anyone remember the Steve Martin-Lily Tomlin comedy All of Me (1984). In the end, the wayward niece whose body was meant to be the receptacle for Tomlin’s soul after her death finds solace when her spirit is transferred to her favorite horse. But I digress. . .)

Butterfield’s genius does not lie exclusively in the treatment of her subjects, but in the way that she executes them. She often fashioned her monumental horses out of metal. Sometimes it’s reclaimed sheet metal stripped from cars, scrap metal scavenged out of junkyards, rusted barbed wire collected from abandoned pastures, all gathered and stretched over an armature. For a while, she made her horses out of wood, but the material wasn’t durable enough, so she devised a new process.

In Tracery, for example, Butterfield gathered and assembled driftwood, twigs, and branches to form a standing horse. Once she finished the composition, she photographed the sculpture, detail by painstaking detail. The branches were disassembled and each one was cast in bronze. Bronze is made of copper, tin, and sometimes other alloys. The metal is heated in a crucible to 1700 degrees. Once it becomes liquid, the “dance of the pour” begins.

This requires several people, one of whom is called the “Dead Man” (lest we forget just how dangerous this is) and a crane to manipulate the crucible and pour the molten metal into the mold. Once the molds were filled and completely cooled, they were broken away revealing the bronze copies of the wood. Each piece was then chased (imperfections filed down) and given a patina, or surface treatment, that simulated the original piece of wood. Then the whole thing was reassembled and welded together.

This is the technique Butterfield has been using for her most recent iterations of horses. It is uncanny how well she captures their horsiness. The arc of a neck, the stretch of a leg, the swelling abdomen betray a lifetime of observation. Historically, men who have wanted to convey their power and authority frequently did so by being depicted on the back of a rearing steed. “Hi-ho, Silver! Away!” Ford Mustangs are the original “muscle car” that spawned a new class of vehicle called the “pony car.” How about the Denver Broncos or the Indianapolis Colts?

Butterfield reclaimed the horse’s gentler nature from power-struck men and reclaimed the very material (scrap metal or found wood) and techniques (welding) with which she made them.

Come December, weather permitting, Tracery will be trotted out and put to pasture in the new Snite Museum Sculpture Park near Angela and Eddy Street.

As you drive by, think about the women whose careers emerged from the crucible. 

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SASSY | DECEMBER 2012

17

SASSY

art

Michiana’s

Maker

New Salem Tavern Table Don DuBois

“I don’t know what art is, and I don’t know what an artist is,” Don DuBois of Elkhart says when I ask what I should call him and his woodworking. “What’s most important to my work is the finishing,” he muses, “I’m interested in history, and I want my pieces to look old and warm the heart. I want them to make peace.” He carefully treats each piece to look used and loved, creating a usableprimitive style.

Natasha Wiegand of Plymouth finds her inspiration in her materials as well: “Crocheting is an amazing craft. I find something so wonderful about picking up a ball of yarn and making it into a usable item. Sometimes the yarn even tells me what it wants to be, a hat, a pair of baby booties, an afghan or even an egg.” Her pieces are soft and cozy; they often feature non-commercialized designs of animals, fruits and vegetables, such as a child’s hat that is shaped like an elongated squash.

These works are each original and reflect their creators. Aleah Dechant of Goshen finds a release in her work. “For some reason during my maternity leave I was baking and crafting non-stop... I had found a new passion: creating things with my hands.” She now creates formal and bridalwear accessories and children’s custom clothing of her own design.

These three people, who variously characterize themselves as crafters, artists or woodworkers, are all part of Michiana’s own Maker Movement. Makers are from all walks of life: they are artists, inventors, home-canners, eco-aware up-cyclers and growers, and they are becoming a noteworthy part of the United States’ neotraditional manufacturing sector.

So what are their goals? According to Doreen Lorenzo of CNN Money, “Today, consumers want to participate in forming and promoting their concepts in a very personal way, with themselves in the spotlight. They want to nurture and develop their own individual creative visions. And share them on a world stage via social media.”

Home-Makers

Michiana has long had a strong association of artists and craftspeople. CircaArts, FireArts and ArtsEverywhere, alongside private galleries and public museums, have regular shows of area artists in all media. One of particular note was the recent 70th anniversary show for the Northern Indiana Artists, Inc. (NIA) held in October at the South Bend Museum of Art. NIA has supported and provided a community for area artists for generations.

Makers, while they can be members of such organized groups, are often returning to or finding ways of solving problems; often, they don’t intend to sell their art, they initially just make it for their own pleasure.

Consider Dechant as an example. She was an artistically minded person, but 18 DECEMBER 2012 | SASSY

Movement

Area Artists Set Up Shop Online

By Jennifer Warfel Juszkiewicz

never had time to focus on her work until her second pregnancy. Then, as she spent time at home with her newborn, she realized that her crafting was giving her more joy than her full-time job. She wanted to find a way to make the fine needlework she was doing profitable enough that she could stay at home with her children.

Similarly, DuBois had used his carpentry skills as a way to supplement his income while he was a science teacher at area high schools. Only when he retired from teaching in 1999 did his work become his full-time focus. He set up his workshop in his barn, and then approached some area vendors and began selling his work at places such as Burkholder’s Country Store in Nappanee and the Old Bag Factory in Goshen, among others.

Both of these makers see their work as personally expressive of their aesthetic preferences – they don’t make what they don’t like – and they make it on their own terms, on their own time and in their own space.

Made with Love

The most noted writer about the Maker Movement is Chris Anderson, editor of Wired Magazine and a tech maker. While Anderson generally focuses on those using technology to make new products, he acknowledges makers like Dechant, DuBois and Wiegand are also part of this culture, which builds on skills from the past as much as technology of the present: "Makers have always been out there, they just didn't have a name for themselves. People often tell me proudly how they had a family member who was a maker; they see it as a tradition rather than a trend," he said to the BBC’s Jane Wakefield in September 2012.

Wiegand is just such a maker. She reflects on her place in a long line of creative women. She re-taught herself to crochet by watching YouTube videos – a clear melding of traditional craft and modern information technology. She takes her materials to her kids’ sports and school events. “My kids are involved in a lot of activities; if I am waiting for my daughter's swim practice to end or my son's wrestling match to begin, you can bet I have a ball of yarn in my hand.” And her kids are even her best models for her work, which she sells online. Her work connects her to her mother and grandmother, as well as to her children.

In fact, Wiegand is most proud of the work she has made for her own family, particularly a lap afghan (a lapghan) she made for her mother, who is in the nursing home with early-onset dementia. “Even when I'm not there with her, a piece of me is,” she says.

Making The Most of Technology

One of the core components of the modern Maker Movement that sets it apart from previous cottage industries is the connection with new technologies. “Until

recently, the ability to manufacture was reserved for those who owned factories,” Anderson told Time Magazine in October. “What’s happened over the last five years is that we’ve brought the Web’s democratizing power to manufacturing. Today, you can manufacture with the push of a button.”

All three of the makers we interviewed have chosen to use Etsy, an online personal selling website. They could have also used sites such as Makeably or attended events organized by Maker Faire or State of Unique as well. However, Etsy is the largest seller and it’s growing at a remarkable rate. Plus, as a buyer, you can search Etsy for items made in your particular region should you want to support local makers. This model has proven enormously successful: the site sold more than $60 million in goods in just one month, March 2012.

This is all the more remarkable as the number is 41.5 percent higher than March 2011.

The Etsy goals clearly align with Anderson’s descriptions of Maker culture. Etsy claims that “our mission is to empower people to change the way the global economy works. We see a world in which veryvery small businesses have much-much more sway in shaping the economy, local living economies are thriving everywhere and people value authorship and provenance as much as price and convenience.

We are bringing heart to commerce and making the world more fair, more sustainable and more fun.”

Ladies Newsboy Hat Beanie with Flower - Custom Colors Natasha Wiegand

Admittedly, for some, the shift to online selling took some time and research. Don DuBois, who says he didn’t even know how to turn a computer on a year ago, asked his grandson, a Notre Dame graduate, to help him branch out from his brick-and-mortar stores. “Etsy is America’s website for people who make things by hand, American artists. I’ve been very happy with it,” he says of his online Old Barn Workshop. He maintains his relationships with four stores, but says Etsy has been a great addition.

Similarly, while Dechant hasn’t had enough business from her online BabyButtercups site, she and her husband found another way for her to leave her job to stay home with her young children. She uses her Etsy site to supplement their income, as does Natasha Wiegand, with her shop LoopedWithLove4U. Sometimes the results can be unexpectedly successful. When Wiegand designed and made crocheted bunnies for Easter last year, “I could have never imagined how popular they would be. I sold hundreds, even joked the bunnies were reproducing like real rabbits.”

An additional advantage of these sites is the ability for the buyer to contact the Maker for custom orders.

Dechant creates custom accessories such as beaded bracelets, which are ideal for an entire wedding party, should buyers want to contact her with information on colors or design.

And since these items are not made by invisible creators, buyers may have more confidence in the product’s quality. “I make everything out of pine, to last for generations,” says DuBois with clear pride.

Spoken like a true Maker. 

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• Archery lesson at Glamis Castle • Horseback riding • Participation in a special version of the Highland Games • Mountain biking at Rothiemurchus Estate • Canoe on Loch Ness in search of the Loch Ness Monster • Scottish dancing and making scones

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574-534-1521 1-800-635-0963 www.mennotrav.com SASSY | DECEMBER 2012

19

sassydom

t e Di

The Iguana

It’s not just for reptiles anymore

By Jane Suter

For the last month, my friend has been bugging me to try the latest health craze: the 3-day organic juice cleanse.

I know what you’re thinking, I need new friends. I’m aware. Anyway, up to now I have placed her idea in the ‘shenanigans’ category, but she’s relentless. I even tried to explain to her I already eat healthfully, if by healthfully you mean chowing down handfuls of Gummy Bears and downing enough caffeinated beverages to light up the eastern power grid. I also exercise, if by exercise you’re counting vacuuming and ‘running’ to the grocery store. See. I’m good! Well, for some reason my buddy wasn’t buying it, so she nagged me to death. of organic apple juice and snacked (?) on romaine lettuce, raw carrots and celery.

That’s right, the Iguana food. By 3 PM, I was feeling dizzy and my stomach was roaring like a lion. I tore off another celery stalk and slammed the refrigerator door. Curse you, cold receptacle filled with all the lethal yummies I can’t eat!

By the time my boys got off the school bus at 4 PM, my belly had twisted into knots and I was a permanent resident of the bathroom. I must have been packed with decades of poisonous chemicals based on the spectacular exodus I was now experiencing. Which brings me to this sidebar: Ever marvel at the way a carefully chosen word can make the most horrific of circumstances sound surprisingly pleasant?

I remember a recall notice I received a few years ago regarding my car. It read: “Please take your vehicle to your dealer in the next 30 days as your steering wheel Week after week, she assaulted me with horrifying facts about toxins building up in my body, poisoning me from the inside out. She also proclaimed this amazing cleanse would increase my energy, make my skin glow, cure any aches and pains I may have and allow me to sprout wings and fly. Okay, I made that last part up, but her endorsement was pretty darn close to that. So I caved, and she handed me a list of organic juices and raw foods to buy. She also squealed with delight at my upcoming whole body transformation. Note to self: Seriously, new friends.

The items on the menu she gave me mirrored precisely what you would feed a pet Iguana. In fact, knowing I was soon going to be power-eating and drinking these foods made me feel like an animal – one that lost its mind due to years of captivity. Nonetheless, I went shopping and filled my cart with organic stuff and tried to ignore the sky-high prices. Tomorrow was the big day.

From the moment I awoke, I started chugging fruit juice like a frat boy on a Saturday night after finals. Thankfully, the tart cherry drink was delicious. I bet it would make a great martini, but that would probably negate the whole detox part of the cleanse, so I resisted the urge. After polishing off a full quart of this nectar by noon, I realized I was already behind. You see, the plan called for me to drink an entire gallon of various juices by day’s end. So I cracked open the half gallon 20 DECEMBER 2012 | SASSY

may become disassociated with your steering column.” What a wonderfully clever way to tell me I could be cruising down the interstate with my children and, whoopsie-daisy, my steering wheel might just snap off. So perhaps the word “cleanse” in this diet was just like that. A sugar-coated phrase in an anti-candy community. So I dragged my computer into the bathroom with me and Googled juice cleanse side effects. What popped up was this charming paragraph:

Depending on how overweight and toxic you are, fasting side effects may include: skin eruptions and boils, dizziness and headaches. You may have bad breath, a metallic taste in your mouth and very strong body odor. Nausea, fever, weakness, irritability, diarrhea, vomiting, white paste-like film in the tongue, headaches and dizziness are all symptoms related to fasting and detoxification.

OH … EM … G …! That’s it. I’m out. “Honey, could you bring me some cheese? I shouted to my husband from the loo, “… and some wine …”

I’ll admit it, I had myself a little cocktail party in there (don’t judge). And when I finally emerged I felt remarkably good. So good in fact that I stuffed a fistful of Gummy bears in my mouth and chased them with a Coke. I guess all that’s left to do now is find less crazy friends …

Compared to this, how hard can that be? 

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21

Classic Image Photography

22 DECEMBER 2012 | SASSY

We're all about giving back -- in our local community, of course, but also around the world.

In the next several pages, you'll read about how women have made a difference in the field of science and even how a small movement or idea can become something global. You'll also see how the choices we make here at home, choices so simple as what we wear on our bodies, can affect lives across the world.

Womanď § SASSY

THE

With business and entrepreneurs close to our hearts here at Sassy, we love to hear about new and innovative business concepts, about advances being made in every arena imaginable and about what we're doing with the benefits we've reaped from our successes as women.

Business

Michiana Business Women Striving for Work, Life, Balance.

What does your business heart beat for?

SASSY | DECEMBER 2012

23

THE

Woman

SASSY

&

Business

Awake

Alive

Two Local Women Awaken a Passion and Build a Non-profit

By Meagan Church

When Jolene Shrock traveled to Ethiopia to adopt two children, her eyes and heart were opened. “I, of course, was overwhelmed with a sense of the world being in so much need. So I decided to do something more right where I was.”

She started by volunteering to serve lunch at a local homeless shelter. “It was great, but it was not my passion.”

While she searched for a way to do more, her friend Danielle Black was also feeling moved to make a difference. Danielle had traveled to Kenya on a mission trip when she was eighteen years old. Less than two years later, she returned for a semester abroad through her university.

“To say Africa got into my heart and soul would be an understatement,” she said.

“I even have a tattoo of Africa and a heart on my foot. I thought I would live there one day, but then life continued happening, including my marriage and having babies. I still found myself in Northern Indiana and time continued to pass. Then, in 2007, a decade after my semester in Africa, we began the adoption process and decided on Ethiopia. After a fairly painless process, we traveled in February 2009 to pick up our precious daughter, Selah Joy Gelila. All of these three trips played a part in making me take action, along with other books and conversations I had along the way, and my personal faith journey.”

A conversation at a play date made Jolene and Danielle realize they had a common passion. With the encouragement of others, they moved beyond just wishing to do more and took action by starting the non-profit organization Awake & Alive. I had the opportunity to speak to Jolene and Danielle about their experience, their common passion and the difference they are making half-a-world away.

Question: What inspired you to start Awake & Alive?

D: Awake & Alive started with a dream by two adoptive moms to make the world a better place. We were just hanging out as friends and talking about how to live out our Christian faith with our little ones, both adopted from Ethiopia, playing around us. After talking about it and what we were passionate about, Jolene's husband Darin suggested we start a non-profit. From there, we started visioning and planning and, in January 2011, maybe three months after the initial idea took hold, Awake & Alive was incorporated.

Q: A lot of people are moved by seeing extreme poverty for themselves, but what made you actually take action?

J: There were a lot of very clear God-given contacts here and in Ethiopia. It made it clear that not stepping out and stepping up was wrong. So many things happened so naturally and the passion was there to jump in feet first.

Q: Where did the name come from?

J: The name came from the fact that Danielle and I felt the most "alive" when we were "awakened" to needs and we were actively doing something to help.

I honestly think it came from me saying that while I was in Kechene, Ethiopia, I felt so alive.

Q: What has your organization done so far?

J: So far we have opened a school for thirty of the most vulnerable children in

a slum community called Kechene, Ethiopia. This school not only provides an education, but it provides two meals a day, medical care and peace-of-mind for many widowed mothers. These mothers were leaving their child at home for up to ten hours a day while they went out and did very hard labor to provide enough money to provide one meal for the family and whatever else they needed to survive. We are the only school in this area of Kechene. Without our school, these children that we have reached would have no other option for education. They would grow up and continue this horrible cycle of poverty with no other way out.

Q: What are your goals and aspirations for the future?

J: To grow and reach hundreds, maybe even thousands, of children. We have started with a kindergarten. The kiddos in our school are four to five years old.

We plan on providing an education for these children all the way through high school, and then continue growing by adding grades under them, so that next year we can add new children to the kindergarten and follow them up as well, and so on and so on. We believe that the slum of Kechene will develop and thrive because of this school.

Q: What are a few lessons you have learned along the way, both personally and professionally?

D: On a very personal level, I have learned that if God puts something on your heart – or, in more secular language, if you have something on your heart – that you should not be afraid to act on it. I was terrified that we would undertake this project to fundraise for Bright Future Academy and would fall short of the $44,000.00 goal. How could two moms with no non-profit experience accomplish such a feat? However, we stepped out in faith and accomplished what we set out to do. It's truly inspiring and amazing to us. Professionally, I have learned a lot from our very capable board members. I have learned that surrounding yourself with people who know their areas is crucial in learning and growing. I have learned that it's okay to ask questions and admit mistakes. I have also learned that

the need is astronomical and if I focus on the need as a whole, it will completely immobilize me, but if I focus on one decision, one child at a time, then maybe I can actually be a part of something amazing.

Q: As moms, I know your days are busy enough. How do you find the time to devote to your organization?

J: This is a funny question. At first when we were just

starting, I did not know how to manage my time. I would flip an egg and then start an email, pour some juice and continue the email, clean up after breakfast then send out the email. The quality of both breakfast and the email were sub-par. So now I get work done before they wake up and then all three of my kiddos take good naps, so I have two solid hours to get stuff done during that time…. I’ve learned to try to keep business and your kiddos separate or, like me in the beginning, you will just end up doing both things half-hearted.

D: This has always been a tough one for us because we are busy moms with seven children between us, but somehow – we believe with God's help – we've managed to do both. I think we've tried to make our children part of the vision of Awake & Alive. They know what we're doing and share in our excitement.

My son's school, for instance, had Selah and I come and talk to the student council and they did a fundraiser for Awake & Alive with their Valentine lollipops. Again, it's a challenge, but we just make it work. We have laughed many times about how we try to conduct business in the midst of crying children and diaper changes and sibling rivalry. We do our best thinking in the peaceful shower. But it's all worth it to be a part of something bigger than ourselves. 

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25

THE

Woman

SASSY Business

Women Make Strides in Science Three Female Scientists Reflect on the Field

By Jennifer Warfel Juszkiewicz

Something is happening in Michiana. Bethel College has undergraduates, led

by Professor Lynne Cary, Ph.D., doing advanced research on breast cancer.

Saint Mary’s College received the largest grant in its history – to remodel its Science Hall. They also received a National Science Foundation grant to promote scholarships for their students in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). This past spring, IUSB hosted a panel discussion about women in science and women’s prehistory.

What’s going on? Don’t women traditionally avoid math and science?

That’s the stereotype, of course, and it’s one that many women are working to change. A recent National Public Radio story discussed the way in which the stereotype about women not being capable in math and science has modern repercussions, even though women have made progress in STEM fields.

Psychologist Claude Steele and his colleagues found: “When women were reminded, even subtly, of the stereotype that men were better than women at math, the performance of women in math tests measurably declined. Since the reduction in performance came about because women were threatened by the stereotype, the psychologists called the phenomenon ‘stereotype threat.’” The story argues that this may be one reason why many tech companies and university math departments often have more men than women in STEM fields.

So what are women in our area doing to keep the progress of women on track and move beyond this stereotype threat? We talked to three female scientists to find out.

But since the 1960s and 70s women’s movement, new names are being added to the lists, and those women who are in science are helping others along the path.

The Association for Women in Science (NWIS) was founded in 1971 by 27 female scientists, and they now offer scholarships and grant opportunities for women scientists nationwide. Their local chapter is NWIS Notre Dame.

Their work, plus good teaching and good parenting, has made a great difference in the lives of young scientists. For example, Saint Mary’s biology assistant professor Cassie Majetic, Ph.D., first developed an interest in science, particularly ecology, because of her time with the Girl Scouts, her family’s support and her teachers’ encouragement. Even in high school, Majetic was fascinated by Rachel Carson, author of Silent Spring, a landmark book that helped launch the current environmental movement. “In high school, I was always encouraged by my teachers in the sciences. There was no sense of ‘You're a girl and girls can't excel in science or math.’ Instead, my teachers recognized that I had an aptitude and was stimulated by science, so they encouraged me to go for it. In college, I was surrounded by both male and female biology professors, and I never had a feeling of gender discrimination.”

Similarly, Stephanie Dolph, a technical expert in spectroscopy (how instruments work) and a New Carlisle native, was inspired by her New Prairie high school chemistry teacher, Kim Holifield: “She got me excited about this type of science and I enjoyed balancing chemical equations, learning about pH and all the other basic chemistry concepts taught in high school This class intrigued me enough to pursue chemistry in college.”

Rewriting History

Building on the work ethic she learned from her father, a baker for Dainty Maid, Dolph sought and gained a summer internship with a perfume company in South Bend. This better prepared her before graduation, when she was offered a position with industry-leader Pfizer at their office in Connecticut. She’s been with them since 2006 and has nearly completed her Master’s degree in clinical laboratory chemistry and biotechnology from the University of Rhode Island.

The bag is mixed, though, especially when one takes a longer view. A glance through the history books of science reveals few recognizable female names: Marie Curie, Rachel Carson, S. Josephine Baker and Florence Nightingale are a few, but they are far outweighed by the Newtons, Franklins and Bells. In fact, only two women have ever won the Nobel Prize in physics, four in chemistry and ten in physiology/medicine.

Creating a Future

Women make up 46.6 percent of the U.S. labor force today, according to the nonprofit organization Catalyst, which works to expand opportunities for women in business. It’s difficult to find an exact figure on how many participate in the math and science fields, but Newsweek reports that 48 percent of all medical degrees are now earned by women.

26 DECEMBER 2012 | SASSY

So what are women doing in the sciences? Take Cary’s work at Bethel as one example. When she came to Bethel in 2004 after a career as a research scientist at The University of Notre Dame, she knew she wanted to revolutionize the college’s program. Using a Lilly Endowment QUEST grant and after the construction of the new science wing in 2007, all the pieces were in place. Inspired by the

plight of her friend who was suffering from breast cancer, Cary and her students started studying the biomarkers of BRCA1, a gene linked to the disease.

In particular, they focus on the fact that not all patients respond to chemotherapy treatments in the same way, possibly because different tumors have different biomarkers. This is revolutionary work, especially for undergraduates, but Cary has high goals: “I want to grow the research experience so students can compete with other students from top schools,” she says.

Because you deserve the

BEST! TH E J O R DAN WAY

Majetic’s work is more centered on plant biology than human. She studies potential connections between the odors and colors of flowers and their pollination. Recently, her work “branched out to consider how other aspects of the environment might shape floral scent production, a phenomenon called phenotypic plasticity.” Like Cary, Majetic is an instructor, but at an all-women’s college. She says, “Part of the fun for me is convincing [my students] looking for options beyond health care that plants are really amazing and/or the environment is vitally important, so you should consider exploring those fields for careers!”

In the past ten years, there has been additional national support for women’s research in the sciences. The National Science Foundation’s (NSF) ADVANCE program has the goal of increasing the “representation and advancement of women in academic science and engineering careers, thereby contributing to the development of a more diverse science and engineering workforce.” In its more than ten years of existence, the NSF has given over $130 million to ADVANCE projects.

A New Image

Female scientists are becoming a Hollywood and media trope as well. They are lead or featured characters on the “The Big Bang Theory,” “CSI,” “NCIS” and “Bones,” among others. And a female character played by Jessica Chastain is the featured analyst in the new movie about the hunt for Osama bin Laden, “Zero Dark Thirty,” directed by Kathryn Bigelow. In fact, Chastain’s character is based on a real female analyst, codenamed “Jen” in the memoir No Easy Day. Women have made great inroads in this role at the CIA. The first team assembled in the 1990s to analyze data about Al Qaeda was staffed almost entirely by women, according to a September 2012 Newsweek article.

While Cary, Dolph and Majetic may not be on the big screen any time soon, their work is changing people’s lives. They encourage other women to join the sciences as well, if that’s where their interests lie.

“I'd say that ecology and evolution today, within plant evolutionary ecology, is a pretty open space in which women can thrive,” reflects Majetic, “The general trend in all of biology seems to be in that direction.”

“The sciences are always changing,” says Dolph, “and this promotes constant learning and always makes the job interesting and enjoyable. Each day is something new, and I never feel bored. I am constantly stimulated and having to think on my toes.” 

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27

THE

Woman

SASSY Business

Clothing with a

Cause

By Chelle Costello

The Problem

During the holiday seasons, we’re all looking forward to the great sales on the clothes rack, but do we ever think about where our clothes are coming from?

How and where they are produced? Many of us would agree that we’d rather buy from a company that gets it right—environmentally, ethically and socially—even if we have pay a few dollars more, or buy a bit less. Unfortunately, we haven’t been introduced to the tools that can help us find out if our favorite pair of jeans were sewn with forced labor, or if those jewels were really conflict-free.

The good news is that technology is bringing us lots of new, easy ways to find out, and plenty of companies that cater to consumers whether they’re looking for slavery-free (ethical), animal-free (vegan), vintage, recycled or artisan products.

For the sake of simplicity, in this article, we’ll focus on the ethical parts and get some apps, websites, resources and pointers for voting a bit better with our dollar.

London’s ethical fashion Victoria and Albert Museum says, “Ethical Fashion aims to address the problems it sees with the way the fashion industry currently operates, such as exploitative labor, environmental damage, the use of hazardous chemicals, waste and animal cruelty.” The UK’s International Labour Organization says that, currently, there are an estimated 21 million people – mostly women in Asia – working in modern slavery. Ethical fashion tends to raise concerns about the exploitative working conditions that create cheap clothes. And because these bargain clothes are cheap, often not lasting more than a season in our closets, their disposable nature means that more and more are destined for the landfill.

The Apps

The first thing to do is get a handle on the situation. Accept that slavery is not something that was wiped out a hundred years ago, and find out where you might unwittingly be consuming its products. Slavery Footprint’s website and app are a great way to get started. I filled out a questionnaire asking me what I owned, ate and drank, what I lived in and what I drove. As it turns out, I am indebted to an estimated 34 slaves, mostly because of my amount of clothes. slaveryfootprint.org GoodGuide is a fabulous website and app that allows you to create a personal standards filter. Any product you search is then passed through that filter to see if it meets your standards. This is great because, while all of us might be opposed to child labor, at least some of us don’t mind animal products. You can also sync with online stores. Hello, convenience. GoodGuide.com Free2Work’s website and app can “help us as consumers to translate our good intentions into action.” Simply scan the barcode of what you want to buy, which will be given a “grade” from A to F. I find that this is super helpful because while I can’t just quit buying products, I can choose a “B” brand over a “D”. free2work.org Not content with a “B”? Check out Ethisphere, which lists the top 100 most ethical companies every year (ethisphere.com) or Ethical Consumer, which acts as a buyers’ guide for everything from baby formula to bread machines. ethicalconsumer.org 28 DECEMBER 2012 | SASSY

The Pointers

The thing is, we’ve been conditioned to accept cheap clothing, and we’ve gone hog wild with it. Sometimes it seems impossible not to snatch up that cute $10 sweater even if the small part of my brain unaffected by the mania of clearance sales knows that it will pill after the first wash. But part of the reason these clothes are so cheap is because the workers who make them sometimes don’t get paid.

Elizabeth Cline, the author of new book Overdressed: The High Cost of Cheap Fashion, has some advice for people who want to clothe themselves for not-toomuch money without contributing to waste and exploitative labor.

Buy less. Cline tells us that first, we need to figure out an annual clothing budget, and shop strategically to eliminate impulses. When you do buy clothing, buy it from companies that respect their workers and support the local. Cline sums it up by saying: "Buy what you need, buy things that you love and take care of what you own."

Buy quality. “People are so trained to want quantity over quality, and prize having a lot of clothes,” Cline says. Garments that are made with good materials and fair wages aren’t going to be cheap, but they will last longer and won’t contribute to the problems we’re facing.

Learn to sew or hire a tailor. Recently, I’ve lost a bit of weight and, although I was happy about it, I groaned inwardly at the thought of buying new apparel.

I’m so accustomed to a consumerist lifestyle that just having my clothes taken in hadn’t crossed my mind. How many of us have done the same thing when five cents worth of needle and thread could fix the problem?

Swap. Try Closet Swap, an iPhone app that allows fashionistas to turn Facebook pictures into an online closet that others can borrow from and vice versa. Or, you know, swap with a real live friend. Either way, this extends the life of your clothes and keeps you from buying more.

Buy secondhand. As recently stated in Cline’s article on Salvation Army and Goodwill, “The Afterlife of Cheap Clothes,” charity threads only stay on the rack for a month, tops, at secondhand stores.

From there, they become rags, are shipped to Africa (where they aren’t as prized as we imagine) or end up in the landfill. Do the planet and your wallet a favor by checking out secondhand stores before spending more money than you need to.

Buy indie. “Supporting indie designers that are based in your community is a great solution to the fashion problem,” says Cline. Websites like Etsy, Folksy and Bonanza connect consumers to indie designers and Michiana retailers can usually be found by location on their websites, or through Social Impact, an app that connect you to ethical stores nearby. Bonus: when you buy indie, your clothes are not created and shipped en masse, so your look will contain more unique nuances.

The Stores

Okay, you’ve swapped and you’ve sewn. Now, where do you turn when you want to actually buy new fairtrade clothes? Are there even stores that sell highquality clothing, makeup, jewelry and accessories?

Never fear, dear reader. There are hundreds. Here are just a few of my favorites: Shabby Apple: chic and retro apparel, jewelry, shoes and accessories.

Francesca’s: many of their adorable dresses are made in the USA, reducing the likelihood of exploitation.

Modcloth: Have you already fallen in love with these cute, vintage-inspired threads? Again, these aren’t fair trade, but they are made in the USA. Pure Citizen: Pure Citizen offers daily deals at dozens of ethical companies at up to 90% off, but you must enter an email address to get started.

People Tree: the pioneers of the fair trade industry are still rocking it up to size 18.

Raven and Lily: This company is astoundingly ethical. Slender earrings, necklaces and bracelets are created from melted down bullets from past wars

by HIV-positive women in Ethiopia. The proceeds are also returned to fund healthcare and literacy programs.

Radiant: buy your make-up here and support rescue and rehabilitation of trafficked women!

Trade as One: You'll find everything from food products to jewelry to cosmetics here, including soaps, lip balms and facial products.

Lush: Fun, eco-friendly, handmade cosmetics.

Christmas is for giving. Giving gifts to loved ones. Giving thanks for the blessings we’ve received. Giving feels good. Especially at this time of year. But nothing feels better than giving hope to those who are struggling or are in real need.

Although monetary donations are always appreciated, gifts can also come in the form of donations of used clothes, furniture and household items to our thrift stores. These donations are either given directly to those in need or are sold in our stores to help support our mission of service to the poor. Thank you for your kindness.

Bring your donations to one of our conveniently located drop boxes or our stores at LaSalle Square and Greenwood Shopping Center.

Now, get shopping – ethically, of course!

SASSY | DECEMBER 2012

29

2013

Women to

WATCH a S A S S Y special promotion.

Proud to announce for the second year,

a panel of Michiana Business Professionals and SASSY staff met and selected a group of successful women in the Michiana area known for their commitment to excellence. Whether running their own business, leading a team, or volunteering tirelessly, this second class of Women to Watch are making an impact, and they are certainly worthy of praise and recognition.

Congratulations to these extraordinary women!

30 DECEMBER 2012 | SASSY

We are happy to announce the very special 2013 class of Women to Watch! Over 200 special women from Michiana were nominated by their peers, colleagues, friends and family because they are known for their commitment to excellence. These phenomenal top eighteen were specifically selected for running their own business, leading a team or volunteering tirelessly while making an impact in our community, and they are deserving of praise and recognition.

Up Close and Personal Meet 9 of our Women to Watch, up close and personal on the following several pages:

In The Spotlight

Meet 9 of our Women to Watch, in the following bio spotlights:

Kim Chappell

Reporter at WECT in Wilmington, NC 2006-2008. Reporter at WXII in Winston-Salem, NC 2008-2010. Reporter/anchor WTVF, Nashville, TN 2010-2012. Anchor, WBND South Bend. Graduate of University of Georgia Magna Cum Laude, 2006. Attended University of Edinburgh in Scotland and University of Innsbruck in Austria. Interned with Anderson Cooper at CNN in New York, WNBC in New York and WSB in Atlanta. Eight Emmy Nominations. Eight AP Awards. One Murrow Award.

Gail Getz

Gail Getz is president of Salon Rouge. After employment at a worldwide leader in the industry of fifteen years with Vidal Sassoon, she was taught a level of professionalism that she brought back to the Michiana area. It includes training as well as hairdressing, and Gail’s Salon Rouge sets itself apart from other salons in the area by its customer service and training program. She enjoys everything about her job, including, in her words, “Being creative, surrounding myself with all the beautiful people; making people happy!”

Lorraine Bruce

Jill Hurst

Interior Designer C. Kramer Interiors

Jill Hurst, LCSW, has a Master's Degree in Social Work from Western Michigan University. She practiced working with children in need for over 15 years. She was a Director over a Children's Residential Unit at Family and Children's Center and also practiced outpatient treatment with children. Jill is a certified child trauma specialist.

pam chaney

Lisa Knox

C-Medical Esthetic Practitioner/Advanced Nurse Injector The Centre P.C.

laura guy

Corporate Events Director American Heart Association

jennifer king

RV OEM Industry Manager ASA Electronics

Stephanie krol

Founder Stephanie Krol Public Relations

shelley lesniewicz

Executive Director of Operations Ronald McDonald House Charities of Michiana

kathy sears

Vice President, Business Banking MutualBank

tracy schrimsher

Owner Once Upon a Child & Clothes Mentor

tracy Vaughn

Founder/General Manager/PT/Instructor Rockstar Gym

Lisa Knox is the Associate Director of Development at the Center for the Homeless, a 215-bed residential facility. Each day, Lisa works to improve the lives of those living in poverty by raising money for the programming at the Center. Her public advocacy for the mission has created hundreds of opportunities to speak to donors, students and volunteer groups. Prior to her work at the Center, Lisa was an editor at Lake Magazine as well as Aesthetic Trends and Technologies, an international trade publication for cosmetic surgeons. For more than 20 years, she has worked to promote this region. A Michigan native, she has a dual degree in Public Relations and Political Science from Western Michigan University.

Paula Lambo

Paula Lambo serves as the Executive Director of the Literacy Council of North Central Indiana, promoting awareness and advocating for literacy in the community. She has been associated with the council since 2000, serving on the board of directors, in several committees and as board President. Prior to serving the non-profit industry, Paula’s corporate work was primarily in the banking & credit union arena, most recently as a vice president in the area of marketing. She has also been a small business owner of a marketing/advertising consulting firm. In addition to this post she serves as the director of English for Adults at St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Elkhart Indiana.

This program provides English instruction for non-native English speaking adults from the very beginning of language learning up to and including GED preparation. Ms. Lambo has served for many years on the board of the Michiana Chapter of the American Marketing Association, with several terms as the board president. Paula is a resident of Elkhart Indiana, and has a cat named Carmella. Ms. Lambo holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Bethel College.

Amanda Miller

Amanda Miller is the Director of Development and Membership at the Center for History, a regional history facility named the 2013 Leighton Award Winner for Non-Profit Excellence. She loves connecting community members with the rich local history of the area, and she's glad to be able to give back to a community that has given her so much. Before the Center for History, Amanda worked in development at the Center for the Homeless and the Family Justice Center. Amanda specializes in fundraising events, annual campaigns, board development, non-profit marketing and grant writing. She is particularly interested in the role philanthropy plays in the lives of young professionals. She is also an active volunteer, coaching mock trial at John Adams High School and serving on the board of directors of the Morris Performing Arts Center and the Association of Fundraising Professionals. A native of South Bend, Amanda has dual degrees in Sociology and English from Northwestern University.

Jamie Stafne

Jamie Stafne is a member of the Midwest Ski Area Association, a scholar/graduate of Marshall Leadership Academy and works in Marketing/Media, Public Relations, Event Coordination and General Operations Management at Swiss Valley Ski Area in Jones, MI where she has been since 1987. She directs or assists various positions and all levels of management at this family-operated business.

Jamie provides leadership to all aspects related to successful operations of a seasonal business and representation and community presence within the local and regional districts including establishing relationships, marketing and market analysis and focusing on public relations (to name a few things). “People come here to have fun, and we get to be a part of it!” says Jamie. “Success is loving what you do and being surrounded by great people, family and friends. My career does not feel like a job; it feels more like a lifestyle.”

Kate Willson Voelker

Kate Willson Voelker, a native of Rockford, IL, graduated from Saint Mary’s College in 1981 with a degree in English Literature. After graduation, she worked in the for-profit world in computer sales and management. In 1990, Kate and her husband, Mark, moved to the South Bend area where they have raised four children. Over the next twelve years, Kate spent her time raising a family and volunteering for school and civic organizations including RiverBend Cancer Services. In 2003, she went back to work in the non-profit arena first with the American Red Cross, then as a consultant writing grants. In 2006, after years of volunteering, she became the Executive Director of RiverBend Cancer Services.

SASSY | DECEMBER 2012

31

2013

v

Quick Look

Bachelors degree in Business Management and Interior Design, Davenport University Grand Rapids MI. Sr. Interior Designer at Luxe Home Interiors 2005-2012.

Married to Todd Bruce, Sr. Vice President Lake City Bank

*

WHEN I GREW UP I WANTED TO BE...



HOW DID YOU CHOOSE THIS LINE OF WORK?

Women to

WATCH

a S A S S Y special promotion.

A designer, either clothing or interior.

It's a creative challenge, I am high energy and driven – and this profession is always changing.

Lorraine Bruce

TITLE: Interior Designer COMPANY: C. Kramer Interiors

C.Kramer Interiors has 23 years in the Interior Design Industry and fourteen years with Graffis Furniture. This new business is showcasing the Granger/Mishawaka area with unique and exclusive home furnishings and accessories, interior design services and textiles.

Recent accomplishment: Just opening the showroom!

lorraine

BRUCE

Treat people the way you want to be treated. Like attracts like.

Think positive things and you will attract the same.

→ why i love my job

Working with clients to create the home of their dreams. Every day is different and working with all the beautiful furniture, fabrics and finishes I get to be around each day. I so enjoy the people I work with!

Stylist: Maria Gonzalez Photography: Classic Image Photography

→ career goal

FAVORITE WORKPLACE EXPRESSION

To perfect, evolve and expand my design expertise from the last seven years. I would also like to mentor new designers in this profession. Laptop At Home: At Work: Briefcase Heels Coffee

Tablet Jeans Skirt Tote Wedges Soda

Smartphone Yoga Pants Dress Pants Flats

Hours a week? <40 40+ 50+ 60+

Chef

OR

Maid

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Google + Myspace Maintenance? Hi Low

m

What does success looks like to you?

The reward of a job well-executed. Peace and happiness — going to a job you love makes it not feel like work!

Do you serve on any charitable organizations' boards or committees?

Granger Community Church Department of the Interior (2005 to present) Knollwood Country Club Board of Directors (2009 to present) Rewards or continuing education?

Highest Sales Awards 2010 and 2011

ADVISORY BOARD Best business advice you ever received and who gave it? From my father: get your business degree!

My translation: If you know and understand business fundamentals and are creative, you can be a successful designer. Using both side of your brain is a win-win in this profession. Who professionally inspires you?

Locally: Chris Kramer. Nationally: Barbara Barry, Ralph Lauren, Candice Olson. What is your biggest pet peeve? An unorganized work space – yes, I'm a type 'A'! What was your first job? Working in my father's company office. I was 13 and it taught me that hard 32 DECEMBER 2012 | SASSY

That rocks! Bring it!

work pays off. Where would you go on your dream vacation if cost and time were not a factor? Back to Paris and Europe – the influence of fashion trends and design is incredible! What is your favorite stressreliever? A beach on turquoise water, and throw in a massage – good to go! If you were to describe yourself as a shoe, what kind would you be and why? A pointy-toed Stiletto of any kind--preferably in leopard!

2013

Women to

WATCH

a S A S S Y special promotion.

pam

chaney

*

WHEN I GREW UP I WANTED TO BE...



HOW DID YOU CHOOSE THIS LINE OF WORK?

I wanted to be a nurse. I loved the candy doctor kits my mom used to buy me at our small town department store. It was so fun to pretend to give shots and medicine. I never had trouble getting a patient, because the candy medicine was so good.

I have always been titled by my family as "the peacemaker." I never liked hurting anyone’s feelings, I always wanted to fix problems and I always wanted to make others feel better. I guess you could say I was destined to be a nurse. I get great satisfaction in giving of myself to help others. I love people in general, love the relationships that have been formed because of my profession and hope that, before I leave this life, I will have made a difference in the lives of others, as so many have made in mine.

pam chaney

TITLE: C-Medical Esthetic Practitioner/ Advanced Nurse Injector COMPANY: The Centre P.C.

"All our dreams can come true-if we have the courage to pursue them."

Stylist: Maria Gonzalez Walt Disney Photography: Classic Image Photography

FAVORITE WORKPLACE EXPRESSION

m

The Centre, P.C. is a unique plastic surgery practice providing patients with both surgical and non-surgical solutions. Our locations are in Elkhart and Mishawaka, Indiana. Our heartland values of compassion and concern for our patients’ needs are complemented by the professional expertise of our plastic surgeons and staff. Our medical spa, Centre Yourself Medical Rejuvenation Spa, is an oasis of unparalleled luxury and personal attention; a place where professional, licensed skin care experts will help you rediscover a more beautiful you. Whether you need the benefits of a new skin care regime, the delightful results of professional cosmetic procedures and services or the soothing effects of massage therapy, The Centre, P.C. ensures that your experience with us is sublime, every time. I am an Advanced Nurse Injector and a Certified Medical Aesthetic Practitioner at the Centre Yourself Medical Rejuvenation Spa. I perform Laser treatments for veins, pigment, skin resurfacing, hair removal, Micropigmentation-Permanent Makeup, for Reconstructive Breast Patients. I am an Advanced injector of Botox, Dysport, Fillers such as, Juvederm, Restylane, Perlane, Radiesse and Sculptra. I am able to perform lifting of facial features with the injection of fillers. This procedure is called the Liquid Face Lift. Recent Accomplishment:Top Radiesse Injector.

Gotta Have Retin-A!

(The product that should be in everyone’s bathroom cabinet.)

What does success looks like to you?

Success is happiness in knowing that you have made a difference in the lives of others. That being said, I feel very successful.

Do you serve on any charitable organizations' boards or committees?

I belong to the American Academy of Medical Esthetic Practitioners, American Academy of Aesthetic Medicine and the American Society of Plastic Surgery Nurses. I have been a Tri Kappa Member for twenty years and our organization raises money for Riley Hospital. I am currently working on a notfor-profit organization that will provide micropigmentation to those affected by breast cancer or any type of cancer, where they need eyebrows pigmented because of hair loss, or areola pigment, after breast cancer.

ADVISORY BOARD Best business advice you ever received and who gave it? My parents always said, "You can do anything, if you put your mind to it." So true! I love to be challenged, because the competitive side of me kicks in and I am motivated and determined to win the challenge. I generally do! Ha! Who professionally inspires you? My family, friends, coworkers and patients. I receive inspiration and encouragement a little every day from those I have known or have just met.

I am very blessed! What is your biggest pet peeve?

Space and Location. Our practice is growing so fast

that we our outgrowing the space and location.

What was your first job? I was 16 years old and worked for a nursing home. I worked at The Methodist Memorial Home in Warren, Indiana.

I made $3.75 an hour working on the Alzheimer's unit. I loved the people, their stories and the care I provided. I still remember the patients that made a difference in my life. Where would you go on your dream vacation if cost and time were not a factor?

I would love to go to Bora Bora and stay at the Four Winds Resort. The island pictures are breathtaking. The

→ why i love my job

I love the versatility of my job. I am able to meet wonderful people, provide a plan that meets their needs and achieve the outcome they desire. I love knowing that I am able to offer my patients the newest in aesthetic procedure enhancements for face and body, in a non-invasive manner.

→ career goal

To Stay Ahead of The Rest! I have a unique concept and design that will take the Medical Spa in a new direction. Stay Tuned! Laptop At Home: At Work: Briefcase Heels Coffee

Tablet Jeans Skirt Tote Wedges Soda

Smartphone Yoga Pants Dress Pants Flats

Hours a week? <40 40+ 50+ 60+

Chef

OR

Maid

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Google + Myspace Maintenance? Hi Low

spa offers luxurious treatments in the privacy of your bungalow, while facing the Pacific Ocean. If you were to describe yourself as a shoe, what kind would you be and why? I would have to say a classy red wedge. It is bright in color, it makes a statement, shows strength and boldness and is versatile.

SASSY | DECEMBER 2012

33

2013

v

Quick Look

Laura Guy is the Corporate Events Director for the American Heart Association - Michiana Chapter, where she manages an annual fundraising campaign led by community volunteers to further the mission to build healthier lives, free of cardiovascular disease and stroke. Laura has been in leadership in nonprofit management and development for over twenty years in Illinois and Indiana communities. She graduated with a B.A. in Political Studies from University of Illinois – Springfield. She is married to Jeff Guy and has two children, Claire and Richard.

*

Women to

WATCH

a S A S S Y special promotion.

laura

guy

WHEN I GREW UP I WANTED TO BE...

I wanted to be a Veterinarian. As a kid, I loved being outside and was always bringing home stray animals to take care of them. I became aware pretty quickly that you should leave nature alone sometimes.

laura guy

TITLE: Corporate Events Director COMPANY: American Heart Association

The American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association mission is to build healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke. Through the tireless work of volunteers and supporters, we fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat these diseases.

Founded in 1924, American Heart Association is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting the No. 1 killer of Americans – Heart Disease.

→ why i love my job

I have been fortunate to have the opportunity to meet and work with a number of passionate volunteers made up of survivors, health professionals, community leaders and like-minded individuals who work tirelessly to further the mission of the American Heart Association.

“People grow through experience if they meet life honestly and courageously. This is how character is built.” Eleanor Roosevelt

Stylist: Maria Gonzalez Photography: Classic Image Photography

→ career goal

FAVORITE WORKPLACE EXPRESSION

Continue to identify new opportunities and partnerships in the Michiana community to further our mission and, eventually, take more of a leadership role on a regional level. Laptop At Home: At Work: Briefcase Heels Coffee

Tablet Jeans Skirt Tote Wedges Soda

Smartphone Yoga Pants Dress Pants Flats

Hours a week? <40 40+ 50+ 60+

Chef

OR

Maid

m

"Where there is a will, there is a way."

What does success looks like to you?

Health and happiness for myself and my family, and an understanding that success is never final, but always evolving.

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Google + Myspace

Do you serve on any charitable organizations' boards or committees?

Michiana Chapter - American Heart Association Board of Directors

Maintenance? Hi Low

Rewards or continuing education?

2012 Most Valuable Player - Indiana Field Operations Team - AHA 2012 Breakout Performance - Indiana Field Operations Team -AHA

ADVISORY BOARD Best business advice you ever received and who gave it? Realize life is cyclical and what is "in" today might not be "in" tomorrow. So continue to stay focused on your goals and what you believe in and your moment will come. (My Father-in-Law, Rich Guy) Who professionally inspires you? My husband, Jeff Guy. He has been my greatest advocate and provides me with guidance when needed. He also has a certain charisma about him that inspires me to think big.

What is your biggest pet peeve? Clutter. What 34 DECEMBER 2012 | SASSY

was your first job? My first job was working at Dairy Queen. I was 16 years old. I gained 20 pounds when I worked there and lost 20 pounds when I quit. It was a good thing a better opportunity came along. Where would you go on your dream vacation if cost and time were not a factor? I would love to travel to Italy and experience Tuscany, Rome and Capri, taking time to relax while experiencing great wines and Italian cuisine. What is your favorite stressreliever? Walking. If you were to describe

yourself as a shoe, what kind would you be and why? Riding Boots - When I wear my boots, I feel confident, stylish and ready to take charge.

2013

Women to

WATCH

a S A S S Y special promotion.

v

Quick Look

*

WHEN I GREW UP I WANTED TO BE...



HOW DID YOU CHOOSE THIS LINE OF WORK?

Jennifer King serves as RV Industry Manager at ASA Electronics. She also serves as a Member on the Board of Directors for the Humane Society of Elkhart County, and participates in children's ministry at Crossroads Community Church.

Growing up, I insisted to everyone I knew that one day I would be President of the USA. While I still have a passion for politics, a presidential bid, fortunately, isn’t in my cards.

I didn't choose Electronics Sales, it chose me! I've been working in Electronics in one form or another from the beginning of my career. I've always had a knack for talking, presenting and persuading, and a career in sales was a natural fit. The world of electronics is an ever-changing, broad and diverse category that offers so much excitement and change.

The ever-evolving world of electronics appeals to my enthusiasm for technology. Being a Michiana girl, the RV industry has always been a part of my life. Being able to serve an industry that provides a product that enhances the consumer's vacation, recreational and family time is genuinely rewarding.

jennifer king

jennifer

king

Nobody plans to fail, they fail to plan.

Stylist: Maria Gonzalez Photography: Classic Image Photography

FAVORITE WORKPLACE EXPRESSION

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ASA Electronics is a manufacturer of electronics and appliances for the mobile, specialty markets. ASA Electronics builds under the Jensen, Voyager and Advent brand names.

We provide high-quality custom electronics and appliance solutions for the mobile market. ASA Electronics recently again achieved ISO 9001 certification for quality standards. ASA Electronics also recently signed the prestigious Polk audio line for our market distribution.

I don't want excuses, I want results.

What does success looks like to you?

Success is manifested through inner peace and satisfaction in doing what you were meant to do and following God's plan for your life. True success is peace in who you are and the life you lead.

Do you serve on any charitable organizations' boards or committees?

Humane Society of Elkhart County Board Member

ADVISORY BOARD Best business advice you ever received and who gave it? The best piece of sales advice I received was from my original business mentor, a local banker. He stated to me, "Jennifer, whatever you plan to do in business, plan on it taking twice as long and costing twice as much as you originally figure." Who professionally inspires you? There is a long list of women within my industry who have successfully achieved top leadership within a male-dominated industry. They are my heroes for breaking the mold and going before me. Within my organization, our own CFO, Julia Willis has been an inspiration to me professionally. What is your biggest pet peeve? Nail-clipping! Working with an office full of men, it’s astonishing to me the prevalence of men who will unabashedly clip their fingernails in the midst of

TITLE: RV OEM Industry Manager COMPANY: ASA Electronics

an open-office environment. Gents! I don't shave my legs at my desk, don't clip your nails! Keep hygiene in the bathroom where it belongs. What was your first job? I was 15 years old and took a position at a local Bait and Tackle shop. I was paid $4 an hour, cash. I recall spending hours dusting lures, cleaning guns and, worst of all, packaging crickets. The ghastly smell of the cricket cage still haunts me. I remember stifling the urge to vomit each time I had to get crickets for a customer. What is your favorite stress-reliever? Cutting loose with my two darling children who, if not for them, I would not do what I do. Playing and funning with them makes all the headaches of whatever professional troubles I am facing fade away. If you were to describe yourself

→ why i love my job

I love the challenges faced on a day-to-day basis. I love the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat when it comes to the sales process. I revel in solving customer problems and providing solutions to benefit everyone, including the manufacturer, dealer and consumer.

→ career goal

I endeavor to continue to build upon the momentous growth of a wellpositioned organization and deliver increased top and bottom line results to the RV division at ASA Electronics. I'm excited to be developing many new products and leading a team of exceptional sales performers.

Laptop At Home: At Work: Briefcase Heels Coffee

Tablet Jeans Skirt Tote Wedges Soda

Smartphone Yoga Pants Dress Pants Flats

Hours a week? <40 40+ 50+ 60+

Chef

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Maid

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as a shoe, what kind would you be and why?

Flat black, closed-toe, 4-inch skinny and pointed toe and heel. Practical, utilitarian, sexy and subtle all in one.

SASSY | DECEMBER 2012

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WHEN I GREW UP I WANTED TO BE...

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HOW DID YOU CHOOSE THIS LINE OF WORK?

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Stephanie Krol's diverse background in public relations and marketing enables her to offer clients a wide range of expertise. In May 2006, with the belief that everything has a story, Stephanie took her years of experience and embarked on an adventure called Stephanie Krol Public Relations.

Stephanie earned a Journalism degree from The Ohio State University.

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I always knew I would be in a creative field or a journalist.

I started Stephanie Krol Public Relations after I moved to the Michiana area for my husband's job in the RV industry. I left a public relations agency in Chicago to form my own business. Now I have clients all over the country.

Stephanie krol

TITLE: Founder COMPANY: Stephanie Krol Public Relations

To pitching media to cover clients, from calming a protest at a major retailer as a spokesperson, to making the final preparations for a publicity stunt, Stephanie Krol Public Relations has no limits! When you need a seasoned public relations executive to jump in and go – look for us. We specialize in a variety of industries. However, there is one aspect that all of our clients have in common: Stephanie Krol Public Relations only works and surrounds ourselves with smart people….we are proud to say for the last six years all of our clients are organizations making a difference in their community.

→ why i love my job

I love to tell the story of entrepreneurs and help small businesses grow.

stephanie

krol

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.

Indeed it's the only thing that ever has. -Margaret Mead Stylist: Maria Gonzalez Photography: Classic Image Photography

→ career goal

Two big ones: in Elkhart County, to do my best to help raise money and build a new shelter for the Humane Society of Elkhart County.

While I'm a volunteer there, this will use everything I’ve got in my professional toolbox! And to continue to help build the very best next generation of public relations professionals. Laptop At Home: At Work: Briefcase Heels Coffee

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Hours a week? <40 40+ 50+ 60+

Chef

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Maid

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FAVORITE WORKPLACE EXPRESSION

What's the Worst that

What does success looks like to you?

Can Happen? Just Try. Work Hard, Play Hard. Success is a balanced life for me. I love my family (friends that turned into family along the way, too) – especially thankful for Mark Krol (my husband) that always challenges me, along with my career and volunteer ventures. Success feels like you might have made things a little bit better for someone else at the end of the day. A friend recently sent a message and said I don't recall ever seeing someone love their job so much. This comment really touched me.

m

Do you serve on any charitable organizations' boards or committees?

Humane Society of Elkhart County, Board President Public Relations Society of America (one of the youngest board presidents in the chapter's history), Chicago Chapter, Step Up Women's Network

ADVISORY BOARD Best business advice you ever received and who gave it? "Work hard and they will notice." This advice is from my dad, Jack Feher, who is the hardest worker I know and helped instill a great work ethic into my brother and I. We were also raised to give more back than you have when it comes to others in need – it always comes back in other ways. Who professionally inspires you? Too many amazing women to list! My mom (Freida Feher), who didn't get to go to college but made sure I always had my eye on the prize. My very first boss in public relations is a big inspiration. Jane Van Bergen, who is now the director of PR at the Western Reserve Hospice 36 DECEMBER 2012 | SASSY

in Cleveland taught me everything in PR. However one of the best lessons was sometimes you just have to go with the flow but always be over-prepared. Gini Dietrich of Arment Dietrich in Chicago is another inspiration. She has an amazing blog called "Spin Sucks"and helped give me confidence to get paid for what I love doing! And, of course, Anne Reel, the director of the Humane Society of Elkhart County is another big source of inspiration. She has an amazing leadership style. I have never felt so fulfilled as a volunteer. What is your biggest pet peeve?

An unorganized work space – yes, I'm a "Type A" personality.

What was your first job? My first job was at 15, working at

a holiday toy store. It was so frustrating to build a mountain of toys and watch kids run into it and it all fall down. Ha! Where would you go on your dream vacation if cost and time were not a factor? Safari to South Africa! If you were to describe yourself as a shoe, what kind would you be and why? The timeless and classic 3-inch heel pump – it can be worn with nearly everything and any colors and never goes out of style.

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WHEN I GREW UP I WANTED TO BE...



HOW DID YOU CHOOSE THIS LINE OF WORK?

Attended Ball State University. Awards: American Cancer Society certificate of Appreciation - 1999, National VIP Sales Awards - 1993, 1996, 1998 and 2000 – 2007. Work Experience: RMHC of Michiana - Family Room Director, 2006 - 2007; Executive Director 2007 to present. Self-Employed Independent Sales Consultant 1998 to 2010, Independent Branch Leader 1993 to 2010 National Sales Leader, The Longaberger Company 2004 to 2010.

An Accountant

I didn't choose it; it chose me. As the mother of two special needs children, I believe our community is blessed to have a Ronald McDonald Family Room, something we never had the opportunity to use.

shelley

shelley lesniewicz

lesniewicz

TITLE: Executive Director of Operations COMPANY: Ronald McDonald House Charities of Michiana

"Very few burdens are heavy if everyone lifts."

- Sy Wise

Stylist: Maria Gonzalez Photography: Classic Image Photography

FAVORITE WORKPLACE EXPRESSION

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It's a good day when no one needs us, but it is a better day that we are here for our families when they need us.

What does success looks like to you?

Doing what you love while making a difference in your community.

Do you serve on any charitable organizations' boards or committees?

Psi Iota Xi sorority for the past 20 years Rewards or continuing education?

Executive Leadership classes from Kellogg School of Business and Mendoza College of Business

The birth of Michiana’s Family Room (a house within a hospital) began in 1994 when Kathleen Sparks met with Memorial Hospital to discuss creating a facility for Michiana and surrounding communities. The “house in a hospital” has three bedrooms, a living room, dining room, fully equipped kitchen, library, laundry room, bathrooms with showers and a Director’s office. Nineteen area hospitals send pediatric patients to Memorial Hospital by ground and air transport systems.

Memorial Hospital is chosen by area hospitals because of its unique clinical excellence in the high-risk OB facility and the pediatric units, which include newborn and pediatric intensive care as well as the children’s cancer unit. The Ronald McDonald Family Room at Memorial Hospital of South Bend opened November 5, 2002. The Ronald McDonald Family Room is an oasis for families of children receiving medical care on inpatient or outpatient basis. The Ronald McDonald Family Room is a temporary residence.

→ why i love my job

I love that I am able to connect my personal passion and my work on a daily basis, helping families when they need it most.

→ career goal

To continue learning the best practices from leaders in the non-profit sector.

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Hours a week? <40 40+ 50+ 60+

Chef

OR

Maid

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ADVISORY BOARD Best business advice you ever received and who gave it? Have a passion for your mission; you can learn what you need to know. —Peter Brinckerhoff Who professionally inspires you?

The parents we serve inspire me to do and be my best every day. What is your biggest pet peeve? Lack of time to get everything done

and leave with a clean desk. What was your first job? I worked in the bakery at Thrif-T-Mart when I was 17. Where would you go on your dream vacation if cost and time were not a factor? I would take my family on a cruise in the Mediterranean. What is your favorite stressreliever? A cup of tea and quiet spot. If you

were to describe yourself as a shoe, what kind would you be and why?

A flip-flop on the beach.

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A life-long Elkhart county resident, Kathy Sears has served clients’ financial needs for nearly twenty-five years. Her experience in accounting, private client services and commercial loan underwriting is wide-ranging and, as a result, she has a commanding knowledge of the varying needs from small to large businesses. Kathy brings attention to detail and devotion to conscientious customer service.

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WHEN I GREW UP I WANTED TO BE...

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HOW DID YOU CHOOSE THIS LINE OF WORK?

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kathy

sears

If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.

I took ballet for a number of years, and dreamed of being a ballerina.

Math was always my best subject in school, so I majored in Accounting at Ball State University. Upon graduating, I worked in public accounting and quickly realized that tax season was not for me. I had the opportunity to change careers and use my accounting skills in the banking industry and I’ve been here ever since!

kathy sears

TITLE: Vice President, Business Banking COMPANY: MutualBank

MutualBank was formed in 1889 and today, they are a full-service financial institution with assets of more than $1.4 billion and 32 full-service banking offices and four trust offices serving Delaware, Elkhart, Grant, Hamilton, Kosciusko, Montgomery, Randolph, St. Joseph and Wabash counties in North and Central Indiana. They are positioned to help clients realize their dreams – whether managing daily finances, owning a home or business, retaining accumulated wealth or leaving a family legacy. To MutualBank, it’s all about living a better life.

Stylist: Maria Gonzalez Photography: Classic Image Photography

→ why i love my job

Discovering the diverse companies that are so abundant in our community, and forming relationships with business owners and their employees.

→ career goal

I’m happy where I am! I have a career which enables me to challenge myself while helping our clients meet their business objectives. Laptop At Home: At Work: Briefcase Heels Coffee

Tablet Jeans Skirt Tote Wedges Soda

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Hours a week? <40 40+ 50+ 60+

Chef

OR

Maid

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FAVORITE WORKPLACE EXPRESSION

Keep smiling!

m

What does success looks like to you?

I feel that I am successful now. I have a son that is my pride and joy, and a career that is challenging and rewarding.

Do you serve on any charitable organizations' boards or committees?

Boys & Girls Club of Elkhart, Board Member Elkhart Rotary Club CARES mentor for Elkhart Community Schools

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ADVISORY BOARD Best business advice you ever received and who gave it? A co-worker once told me to ask myself this question when I face a challenge: “Does it make sense?” …and then do the right thing.

Who professionally inspires you? My parents. My mother, who inspires me every day with her grace and kindness and my father who taught me to be respectful and tenacious. What is your biggest pet 38 DECEMBER 2012 | SASSY

peeve? Running late for an appointment. What was your first job? When I turned 16, I worked at The Posey Patch at Concord Mall. It was a clothing store.

Most of my paycheck never made it home! Where would you go on your dream vacation if cost and time were not a factor? I would like to travel Europe.

What is your favorite stress-reliever? Working out at the gym. If you were to describe yourself as a

shoe, what kind would you be and why?

A black patent leather pump. Classic, but with a bit of flair.

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WHEN I GREW UP I WANTED TO BE...

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HOW DID YOU CHOOSE THIS LINE OF WORK?

Tracy Schrimsher graduated from Lawrence Central High School in Indianapolis in 1974, then went to Ball State University and graduated from there in 1978. She started with JCPenney right out of college and was a manager with that company for almost 29 years. Tracy was at five different JCPenney stores throughout her career. Her last assignment was the Home Store Manager in Mishawaka. In Aug. 2007, she opened the Once Upon a Child store in Mishawaka. In May, 2009 she opened the Once Upon a Child store in Goshen. In Dec, 2011, she opened Clothes Mentor.

I always wanted to own my own store. My college roommate reminded me that, our freshman year, I talked about owning my own store and even had a name for it: T.L. Tuckers (which was my maiden name). But Once Upon a Child and Clothes Mentor work just fine for me!

I had been in retail for 28+ years. Then, five years ago, my daughter, Stephanie told me about this franchise. After checking things out, I believed my dream could come true of owning my own business. I thank her every day for leading me to these businesses and for all of my friends’ and family's support.

tracy

schrimsher “If you can dream it, you can do it.”

-Walt Disney

Stylist: Maria Gonzalez Photography: Classic Image Photography FAVORITE WORKPLACE EXPRESSION

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tracy schrimsher

TITLE: Owner COMPANY: Once Upon a Child & Clothes Mentor Once Upon a Child buys and sells gently used and new kids' stuff, or "Kids' stuff with Previous Experience." OUAC pays cash on the spot for items accepted. They buy clothing, toys, books, equipment, furniture and more.

Clothes Mentor is "A totally new kind of resale store for women," that also pays cash on the spot. They buy clothing sizes 0-26, maternity, shoes, designer handbags, jewelry and much more.

Things happen for a reason!

What does success looks like to you?

Success, to me, means enjoying what you are doing and doing the best you can do.

Do you serve on any charitable organizations' boards or committees?

Member of WBOM; Member of St. Joseph County Chamber of Commerce; Member of Elkhart County Chamber of Commerce; Member of Goshen Chamber of Commerce.

Rewards or continuing education?

Once Upon a Child in both Mishawaka and Goshen received the "Fast Start" award for their first twelve months opened. This award goes to the store that does the most volume within the first twelve months. Mishawaka was awarded this in 2007 & Goshen was awarded it in 2009.

Once Upon a Child has also been awarded the South Bend Tribune Readers' Choice "Favorite Kids’ Consignment” for the last three years. October 2012, Once Upon a Child in Goshen was awarded the “Small Business of the Month” from The Goshen Chamber of Commerce.

→ why i love my job

What I love most about my job is that it is a FAMILY business. I do not look at the business as "my business", but "our business." I could never do all of this without my wonderful husband, Roy, of 32 years, our daughter and son-in-law, Stephanie & Dan McCoy, and our son and daughter-in-law, Steven & Lauren Schrimsher. Nor could I do it without wonderful employees. They all have a special part in the business.

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Hours a week? <40 40+ 50+ 60+

Chef

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Maid

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ADVISORY BOARD Best business advice you ever received and who gave it? Being your own boss is the only way to go. My father told me this for years! Who professionally inspires you? My mom always inspired me growing up to be a professional business woman. Now, other business owners inspire me! And I LOVE being

a mentor to anyone who wants to do what I am doing. What is your biggest pet peeve? When no one cleans out the refrigerator. What was your first job? 16 yrs. old - Photographer's assistant. Where would you go on your dream vacation if cost and time were not a factor?

Australia, because I have never been there. But

I can be happy on any vacation. What is your favorite stress-reliever?

Going on vacation! If you were to describe yourself as a shoe, what kind would you be and why?

Tennis shoe because everyone loves tennis shoes!

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I have been in the fitness industry for over 25 years. For 14 years, I was the Director of Fitness for a few large health clubs in the Michiana area.

In starting Rockstar in 2008, it was a personalized training studio with an emphasis on kettlebell training. I have lived in Elkhart all my life and am married to Mike, with two wonderful sons Nick (18) and Tony (16).

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WHEN I GREW UP I WANTED TO BE...

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HOW DID YOU CHOOSE THIS LINE OF WORK?

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tracy

vaughn

"I'm not interested in the money.

I just want to be wonderful."

-Marilyn Monroe

An artist. I loved to be creative in every way imaginable.

I chose this profession because I love to make people feel better, look better and have confidence in everything they do. I love instructing classes in the hopes that I thoroughly entertain you into burning lots of calories and achieving your best.

tracy Vaughn

TITLE: Founder/General Manager/PT/Instructor COMPANY: Rockstar Gym

Rockstar Gym is dedicated to making clients better through functional training. At Rockstar, you're not just a member of some gym or club. You are part of an elite group of individuals. YOU are a ROCKSTAR! Since 2008, Rockstar has prided itself on personal attention. From private training, group training, workshops or classes, we want you to feel like a Rockstar! Our most recent accomplishment is the expansion of Rockstar to a new facility that is three times our prior size, and the sale of Rockstar Gym to new owner Steve Stahl.

Makeup: CamellIa Cosmetics, Granger Photography: Classic Image Photography

→ why i love my job

Changing peoples’ lives and also mentoring other trainers/ instructors to do what they do best!

FAVORITE WORKPLACE EXPRESSION

→ career goal

To step back and enjoy, once again, what got me to where I am today.

Motivating others to be their best or want more for themselves.

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Tablet Jeans Skirt Tote Wedges Soda

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Hours a week? <40 40+ 50+ 60+

Chef

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Maid

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m

ROCKSTAR!

What does success looks like to you?

Not sure...I can't imagine not striving for it day in and day out.

Do you serve on any charitable organizations' boards or committees?

Rockstar raises money yearly and participates in events for March for Babies (March of Dimes), JNS Foundation and American Heart Association.

Rewards or continuing education?

Continuing education is a very important aspect of the fitness world. I attend yearly conventions on new and/or improved methods of training, equipment and other business related topics.

NATIONAL CERTIFICATIONS: AFAA CPT, AFAA Primary Group Fitness, Johnny G. Spinning, Lemond Advanced Cycling, Kick Fit Kickboxing, Body Pump, Pre/Postnatal by Healthy Expectations, CPR/ AED Certified and AOS Certified Kettlebell Trainer.

ADVISORY BOARD Best business advice you ever received and who gave it? Go for it! (From my husband, Mike.)Who professionally inspires you? Todd Durkin - very sucessful gym owner, trainer and motivator. Pink!

The right attitude and hard work go a long way.

What is your biggest pet peeve? Laziness and not being prepared. What was your first job? Assistant Credit Manager for Riblet Products, Elkhart, IN at age

Why Be A Groupie When You Can Be A

21 Where would you go on your dream vacation if cost and time were not a factor? Some tropical area where only the famous people go! What is your favorite stress-reliever? Riding my Harley. If you were to describe yourself as a shoe, what kind would you be and why? A black leather boot with fringe. It's chic, stands out and it’s edgy!

The

Datebook December 2012

December 2012 Events Everyday

Mishawaka-Penn-Harris Public Library All Branches

Accepting donations for the Center for the Homeless through the “Sole Food” Project.

Collecting new hats, gloves, scarves, socks and slippers. Patrons are encouraged to knit or crochet winter gear items, but new store-bought items are also accepted. Donation boxes will be located at the Downtown, Bittersweet and Harris branches.

For more information, contact call 574.259.0392.

Weekends Christmas Tree Sale / Craft Show Mishawaka Res, Mishawaka

The Annual Christmas Tree Sale at The Res begins Thanksgiving weekend and continues thru December. Choose from soft needle White Pines, or short needle Scotch Pines, freshly cut from Eby Pines. $20 donation per tree. 9 AM to 3 PM. Free.

For more information, call 574.259.1850.

Everyday Michiana Chefs' Best Kept Secrets Calendar

Area Chef's "Strike a Pose" to benefit Corvilla in 2013 Calendar. Calendar will include photos and showcase area chefs and provide information, recipes and secret cooking tips. Each calendar will also contain coupons from each participating restaurant so you can visit and enjoy some terrific food. All proceeds benefit Corvilla and provide care and homes for people with developmental disabilities. Donation of $20. Call Diana at 574289-9779 or e-mail ddolde@corvilla.org for information.

November 30 – December 16 She Loves Me

South Bend Civic Theatre, South Bend

A Christmas setting with old world charm, this holiday offering is an elegant treat. Perfume shop co-workers Georg and Amalia dislike each other at first sight. Arguing and feuding, each only takes comfort in growing affections with their respective anonymous pen pals – unaware they are corresponding with each other! Lovely music by the team who created Fiddler on the Roof makes this a delightful gem of true romance and holiday cheer. Tickets range between $18 and $21. Times vary depending on date. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.sbct.org.

42 DECEMBER 2012 | SASSY

1A Laura– Ingalls 15 Wilder Christmas

South Bend Civic Theatre, Warner Studio Theatre, South Bend

“A Laura Ingalls Wilder Christmas” written by Laurie Brooks draws from the stories read by millions worldwide and made famous on television as “Little House on the Prairie.”

The play finds the Ingalls family forced to relocate after a harsh winter to work at a hotel in Iowa.

Laura is forced to make a decision that could mean relief for her loved ones but separate her from her beloved family. Sara Bartlett directs this show for the whole family. 7 PM or 2 PM depending on performance date. $10 (or 4 for $32). For more information or for tickets, call 574.234.1112 or visit their website at www.sbct.org.

1Goodwill Donation Drive

Masonic Lodge, South Fifth Street, Goshen

During this winter season, remember those in need. You can help our community by bringing your gently used clothing and household items to the Masonic Lodge at 301 South 5th Street in Goshen .This donation drive is sponsored

by Dark Phoenix Publishing and the Goshen Masonic Lodge. Goodwill also accepts computers – working or not – to be sold in their stores or responsibly recycled. 10 AM to 3 PM. For more information, call 574.472.7300.

Winter in the Woods Bazaar Woodlawn Nature Center, Elkhart

Find unique holiday gifts and decorations. Santa will be here to greet kids of all ages and photo opportunities (bring your own camera). Make and take holiday crafts for kids and adults (1 PM to 3 PM). 9 AM to 3 PM. Free. For more information, call 574.215.6482 or visit their website at woodlawnnaturecenter.com.

Tap Dogs

Morris Performing Arts Center, South Bend

TAP DOGS are currently taking the world by storm with their unprecedented tap show that combines the strength and power of workmen with the precision and talent of tap dancing. TAP DOGS was the instant hit of the Sydney Theatre Festival where it had its world premiere in January 1995.The stage show continues to wow audiences all over the world now touring for 18 years. For ticket prices and purchase, call the Morris at 574.235.9190 or visit their website at morriscenter.org.

2Christmas at the Oliver Mansion: A Holiday Treasure Hunt

Center for History, South Bend, IN

As you tour the Oliver Mansion, actors dressed in period costume portray the Oliver family as they greet you with clues for a treasure hunt of holiday decorations. Over ten Christmas trees can be found on all three floors, and the fireplace mantels are beautifully decorated. 12 PM. $10/ adults; $8/seniors; $6/youth 6-17; $5/members.

Tickets are limited. Reservations are strongly recommended. For tickets or more information, call 574.235.9664.

Doug Kinsey: The Displaced

South Bend Museum of Art, South Bend

Artist Doug Kinsey returns to the South Bend Museum of Art with this solo exhibition of recent work. Kinsey taught at Notre Dame for 31 years and has exhibited throughout the United States and abroad. “This exhibition of oil paintings and monotypes relates to the idea of the refugee.

Being displaced is a metaphor of the human condition. Most of the work is recent. It reflects many cultures and is motivated by my desire to find an image that can resonate both for me and for others.” 12 PM to 5 PM. For more information, call 574.235.9102.

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Half Stitched: A New Musical Blue Gate Theater, Shipshewana

Based on Wanda Brunstetter's book, "The HalfStitched Amish Quilting Club." Amish widow Emma Yoder's first quilt class brings the most unlikely people together: a young woman yearning for stability, a struggling couple at odds in their marriage, a young widower hoping to find solace in finishing a quilt, a rough and tough biker doing some creative community service and a preacher's wife looking for relaxation when parish problems mount. 7:30 PM. For more information, call 888.447.4725.

4Ho, Ho, Ho: Tickle Your Brain Memorial Brainworks, South Bend

Psychologist William James said, "We don't laugh because we are happy. We're happy because we laugh." Increase your understanding and appreciation for humor's impact on total wellness with a focus on brain health. You will even learn where your brain's funny bone is located. 6 PM to 7:30 PM. For more information, visit their website at www.memorialbrainworks.com.

The following listing includes events around town. Always call ahead for updates.

6Salon Rouge Open House

Salon Rouge, Mishawaka & South Bend

Gift card promotions, complimentary Kerastase treatments for scheduled hair services that day, 20% off all retail products! For more information, call Salon Rouge at 574.271.8804.

7Theatre IV presents "'Twas the Night Before Christmas"

Century Center Bendix Theatre, South Bend

Inspired by the timeless poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas” and by the real life of its author, Clement Moore, this hilarious musical introduces Santa in a particularly beneficent light. This classic from Theatre IV has been charming audiences nationwide for many years. (K - 5) 9:30 AM. $8 $12. For more information, call 800.275.5005.

8Trinity Annual Holiday Cookie Walk Trinity Episcopal Church, Niles, MI

Let us do your holiday baking! Choose from our large assortment of home baked goods. 9 AM to 1 PM.

8, 9 Nutcracker Ballet

Morris Performing Arts Center, South Bend

This timeless holiday classic returns to thrill and enchant audiences of all ages. Delightful sets and costuming will enhance your travels with Clara as you watch her Nutcracker come to life, see her Christmas tree grow and travel with her to faraway places. The magical production is sure to awaken the child in you as you join Clara in her Christmas journey. Southold's Nutcracker is the largest and the only full, unabridged Nutcracker production in the Michiana area. Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker is one of the most recognizable pieces of classical music ever penned, with the stunning range of emotions and power. So warm up to the holidays with an evening of one of the most charming performances choreographed to one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever composed. 2 PM or 7 PM depending on performance date. $8 - $50.

For more information, call 574.233.9841 or visit their website at www.southolddance.org.

9Cookie Walk & Craft Show

11 Silence the Mind Chatter

Beaded Badges Holder, Books, Homemade Candy, Ceramics, Christmas Trees, Diaper Cake, Fleece Blankets, Fired Glass Art, Holiday Wreaths, Baked Goods, Piggie Raffle and more! 9 AM to 2 PM.

The negative ramblings in your mind cause brain drain and mental anguish, keeping you from being able to think clearly. Find relief by learning how to take control, reigning in the vast array of conflicting or combative thoughts to create the peaceful mind space that your brain needs in order to perform at its best. 6 PM to 7:30 PM. $35.

For more information, visit their website at www. memorialbrainworks.com.

St. Peter's United Church of Christ, South Bend

Knowing When It’s Time to Let Go Memorial Brainworks, South Bend

This discussion will draw on our collective experiences and wisdom. We have all had experiences of having to decide when and how to let go of something or someone we value.

Together, we will identify the indicators that tell us it is time to make changes and the strategies that will enable us to successfully and respectfully make the transitions. 3 PM to 4:30 PM. For more information, visit their website at www. memorialbrainworks.com.

Christmas Past and Christmas Present

Pentecostal Cathedral Church of God In Christ, South Bend

Fun filled performance for the whole family. A musical and dramatic celebration of Christmases past to present. 7:30 PM. For more information, call 574.232.4252.

Christmas Concert and Benefit The Morris Estate, Niles MI

Enjoy harmonious music and holiday festivities in the charming Chapel at The Morris Estate while supporting programs for local children. Sleigh rides by Dream Coach Carriages. Proceeds from tickets will be donated to Five Pines Ministries in Berrien Center, Michigan. Concert ticket: $30 donation. Sleigh ride: $10 donation (or $40 for a private ride for four!) Coffee, hot chocolate, local food tastings, carolers at 3:30 PM. Concert 5 PM including piano, strings and vocal music. For more information, call 269.684.4443.

Annual Messiah Sing-Along

First Presbyterian Church, South Bend

You are invited to join in the traditional singalong of the Messiah Christmas portion & Hallelujah Chorus. It will include: a small chamber orchestra and featured soloists (directed

by Bradley Krueger). Bring your scores or some will be available. This is a wonderful way to begin your Christmas season. Door open at 5:30 PM. Free. Parking is behind the church. For more information, visit www.fpcsouthbend.org.

Memorial Brainworks, South Bend

13 Miracle on 34th Street

Round Barn Theatre, Nappanee

Adapted from the beloved classic Holiday film.

Filled with traditional Christmas Carols, it is the story of Kris Kringle, and old man residing in a retirement home, who gets a job working as Macy's Department Store Santa. One hitch: Kris believes he is the real Santa Claus, and unleashes waves of good will with Macy's customers and the commercial world of New York City by referring parents to other stores to find exactly the toy their child has asked for. 2 PM. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 574.773.4188.

14 – 16 A Lerner Christmas by Premier Arts Lerner Theatre, Elkhart

Experience the Christmas season with all the charm and enthusiasm of days gone by! Take a break from the hectic pace of the season. Come, relax with us and recharge those Christmas season batteries! Ticket prices between $12 and $18.

7:30 PM or 3 PM depending on date. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www. premierarts.org.

15 Saturday

Seminar: A Martha Stewart Christmas Revisited!

Linton's Enchanted Gardens, Elkhart

Our designers will help you create a picture perfect holiday! Join us for ideas on festive decor that will make this season even merrier. Our Saturday Seminars are FREE and open to the public. Seating is limited. 10 AM to 11 AM. For more information and reservations call 574.293.9699.

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December 2012 Events 15 Lee Greenwood Tennessee Christmas

Mendel Center, Lake Michigan College, Benton Harbor, MI

Have yourself a merry little Christmas with singer/ songwriter Lee Greenwood. He will deliver a selection of seasonal songs such as “White Christmas,” “Little Drummer Boy” and “Joy to the World.” This Grammy®-award winning artist has been honored as Male Vocalist of the Year by the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association. He won CMA Song of the Year for ‘I.O.U.,” and his song “God Bless the USA” has been voted the most recognizable patriotic song in America. Tickets range from $38 to $48. 8 PM. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 269.927.1221.

16 Soundsations

American Legion Post 357, South Bend

The American Legion Post #357 is sponsoring another Sunday afternoon Christmas dance featuring music by the SOUNDSATIONS 3PM to 6 PM. For more information, call 574.234.5073.

La Fiesta de la Posada

Grace United Methodist Church, South Bend

The story of Mary's search for a place for the birth of the Christ child, told through vocalist and music.

La Fiesta de la Posada (The Festival of the Inn) is a joyous choral extravaganza. 9 AM. Free. For more information, call 574.288.4789.

Community Holiday Hymn Sing

Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ Catholic Church, Lakeville

Come and join the parishioners of Sacred Heart and St. Jude as we celebrate the season in song. If you like to sing, come on out! The choir and also some soloists will present several pieces on their own.

However, the purpose of this is to bring people in the community together to share in the joy of the season. 1 PM to 2 PM. For more information, call 574.291.2826.

17 Come Out on Top and Beat the Holiday Stress Memorial Brainworks, South Bend

In the whirlwind of this season’s preparation for all the holiday festivities, do you find that you are so frazzled it's hard to enjoy the actual time spent with family and friends? Make this class a gift to yourself and learn some tips for how to build in some relief from the extra stress so you enjoy this time with family and friends. 5:30 PM to 7 PM. $35.

44 DECEMBER 2012 | SASSY

For more information, visit their website at www. memorialbrainworks.com.

19 Under The Streetlamp with Special Guests: Gentlemen's Rule

Morris Performing Arts Center, South Bend

"Strike the harp and join the chorus." The Goshen Community Chorale, under the direction of Lee Dengler, joins the ECSO with guest conductor Bruce Uchimura for a celebration of Yuletide. A selection of choral and instrumental works including loved choral works by John Rutter, and "Joy to the World," "Angel Carol," and "Star Carol," will bring a glow to the holiday season. 8 PM. For more information, call 574.293.4469.

Fans of PBS are in for a special treat when UNDER THE STREETLAMP, the new quartet consisting of the dreamy voices of four young lead singers, bring the early rock & roll, doo wop and Motown classics to South Bend! All four members of Under the Streetlamp - Shonn Wiley, Michael Cunio, Michael Ingersoll and Christopher Kale Jones – appeared at one time or another in the Chicago or national company of Jersey Boys. Special guests, GENTLEMEN’S RULE, the Chicago-based a cappella group, have been working hard in the studio and on stage to prepare for the launch of their debut album which includes music made popular by David Guetta, Bob Marley, Nelly, Stevie Wonder, Bruno Mars, B.o.B., Gavin DeGraw, Wild Cherry, One Republic, Peter Gabriel, Jake Owen, The Script, Outkast, plus 2 original songs. 7:30 PM. For ticket prices and purchase, call the Morris at 574.235.9190 or visit their website at morriscenter.org.

Tribute to the Motown Greats

Lose Weight, Find Health

Twin City Players Playhouse, St. Joseph, MI

Lakeland Comprehensive Weight Loss Center, Niles, MI

Free seminar to learn about solutions to permanent weight loss. Dr. Michael Schuhknecht, one of Michigan’s most experienced bariatric surgeons, and staff members of the Lakeland Comprehensive Weight Loss Center will discuss programs available for losing weight and maintaining a healthy weight for years to come. The Lakeland Comprehensive Weight Loss Center specializes in working with each person to create a customized lifestyle plan, including medical weight loss management through diet or bariatric surgery, nutrition counseling, individualized exercise programs, and monthly support groups. 6 PM to 8:30 PM. Free. For more information, call 269.687.4673 or visit their website at www.lakelandhealth.org/weightloss.

22 A 24/7 Christmas

New World Arts, Goshen

The popular festival takes a festive spin as 7 playwrights, 7 directors, and 14 actors will be asked to create winter tales you're unlikely to forget anytime soon. 8 PM.

Elkhart County Symphony Holiday Choral Celebration Lerner Theatre, Elkhart

Morris Performing Arts Center, South Bend

Tribute to the Motown Greats is a celebration of the music, costume and showmanship from the 60s, 70s and 80s. The show is a high power live concert production of eleven different acts that can be enjoyed by the entire family. Includes hits by artists such as: Gladys Knight & the Pips, Marvin Gaye, Tammy Terrell, Mary Wells, Stevie Wonder, The Four Tops, The Marvelettes, The Temptations, Diana Ross & the Supremes, Martha Reeves & the Vandellas, Smokey Robinson & the Miracles. 8 PM to 10:30 PM. For ticket prices and purchase, call the Morris at 574.235.9190 or visit their website at morriscenter.org.

23 Christmas Belles

It's Christmas-time in the small town of Fayro, Texas and the Futrelle Sisters are not exactly in a festive mood. As they try desperately to keep the Christmas Program from spiraling into chaos, the feuding sisters find a way to pull it together to present a show the citizens of Fayro will never forget. 4 PM.

27 After Holiday Bingo Tournament

It’s National Bingo Month! All ages are invited to the downtown Mishawaka Library Bingo Tournament to have fun and win a prize. 2 PM to 4 PM. Registration is required and is going on now. For more information stop by the Children’s Services desk or call 574.259.5277, EXT 242.

Auld Lang Sine Tea Cup Exchange Stuart Manor, Portage, MI

Ring out the old and bring in the new, celebrate the upcoming New Year with friends and family by joining us for a nice, relaxing four-course tea at Stuart Manor. Each guest is asked to bring a wrapped teacup to include in a form of a whiteelephant game. Many tasty treats and surprises are in store for all. 12 PM. For more information, call 269.329.4522.

29 Hope for Tomorrow Winter Bazaar Century Center, South Bend

Hope for Tomorrow Winter Bazaar features crafters, artisans and vendors selling handmade and commercial items. These items are both new and used. We will have a wide variety of items including clothing, household goods, arts/crafts and others. Raffle drawings are scheduled and musical artists will perform. 10 AM to 3 PM.

31 2012 New Year's Eve Gala: A Miracle on 34th Street and a Cabaret

This package includes: 5 PM to 6 PM - arrive for Amish Acres Family Style Threshers Dinner 7:30 PM - The final performance of A Miracle on 34th Street 9:30 PM to 10:20PM - An after show Reception at the Restaurant Barn 10:30 PM to 11:50PM - A Cabaret performance in the Round Barn Theatre 12AM - Fireworks over the historic farm's pond For more information, call 574.773.4188.

Diamond Rio New Year's Eve Concert Wagon Wheel Theatre, Warsaw

Have you made plans for New Year’s Eve? Here’s an idea: set to play two concerts on New Year’s Eve (7pm and 9:30pm) is one of country music’s most successful bands, Diamond Rio. 7PM and 9:30 PM. $47 - $65. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit their website at www. wagonwheeltheatre.org.

THANK YOU to our monthly SASSY distribution partners

South Bend Chocolate Company Memorial Hospital Biblers Pancake House Midwest Orthotics The Centre PC St. Joseph Regional Medical Center Villa Macri Victorian Pantry Fit Stop Jordan Automotive South Bend Medical Foundation MutualBank Ja Ross Salon Sorella Boutique Glance Eyewear Gallery Flourish Boutique Verandah Shoes Salon Nouveau Salon Rouge The Beehive Salon Camellia Cosmetics Nicolas J Salon ICE Athletics Luxe Home Interiors Crowe Corporate Offices CB Richard Ellis Corporate Offices Meridian Title American General Corp Office TireRack Corp Offics Steel Warehouse Corp Office Holliday Properties Corp Office Cressy & Everett Corp Office TCU Corp Office/Main Branch ABC57/Weigel Corp Office

Bangs Salon Salon Fusion The Vine Downtown SB Ruth's Chris Unity Hospital Edison Lakes Dr. Banks Office/City Plaza Martin's Corp Office Small Business Development Office Re-Max Offices Max Black Uptown Kitchen Basney Honda Tippecanoe Place Café Navarre Dean's Place/Dean Loucks Art Gallery Allegro Audio The Kroc Ctr Solace Yoga Gloria Jeans Coffee Temper Grille White House Black Market Poodles Boutique Interior Motives The Picture Show Stephenson's Inspire Me! Jules Boutique Sorg Jewelers East Lake Fitness

If you would like to receive SASSY Magazine at your Sassy business or organization each month, please email your request to: media@michianafamilymagazine.com.

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Boutiques

Love The Experience Blushing Bride Owner: Julie Delorenzo

56112 Parkway Ave Ste 2 Elkhart, In 46516 (Off Cr 17)

www.blushingbrideon17.com 574-294-2217 julie@blushingbrideon17.com Hours: Sun & Mon Closed Tues - Fri 11 AM - 6 PM Thurs 12 PM - 8PM Sat 10 AM - 4 PM

Fashion Advice?

Whether you are a bride, mother of the bride/groom, or looking for a formal occasion dress, get what you want and feel beautiful in – not what someone else thinks is good for you.

It will show on your face and in your body language if you love what you are wearing.

Fashion Trends for 2013?

In bridal, lace and romantic is really in!

Categories: Trendy Classic Bridal Kids' Women's Mens Juniors Plus Sizes Everyone Baby Accessories Online Sales Glamorous Upscale Cutting-Edge Resale Consignment Services offered: Private Fitting Bridal Consultation Private Bridesmaids’ Appointments 46 DECEMBER 2012 | SASSY

Your STORY I had worked in retail off and on for over thirty years. I had just come out of a position with another bridal store that had closed. I missed what I did so very much. After much though and encouragement from family, friends and business owners, I decided to set into motion the “looking” process. Everything just fell into place for Blushing Bride on 17 to become a reality. I am very blessed to be doing what I love!

What sets you apart from the rest?

We are small, personal, with a classic look to the boutique. We become ‘family’ with our customers and go above and beyond to help them with their needs.

What motivates you in this economy?

Paying my bills on time! Hah!

juicy dETAILS What are some of the most successful brands you carry? JUSTIN ALEXANDER, SINCERITY by JUSTIN ALEXANDER, ALLURE-ROMANCE, BEAUTIFUL by ENZOANI, NIGHT MOVES by ALLURE and we are very excited to be carrying HEATHER FRENCH HENRY formal wear. What has been a distinct turning point for your business? Starting to get our name out through editorials, ads, fashion shows and bridal shows – nothing beats the power of word-of-mouth! What fashion designer inspires you the most? Right now, probably HEATHER FRENCH HENRY. Miss America 2000, taking a dream to a reality and understanding styling, fabrics and hemlines. As a business owner, what makes you feel SASSY? First, I feel younger than my calendar age; I can relate to women of all ages and, hey – I love to laugh and have fun! What staple item should every Sassy Gal have in her closet? A great pair of black shoes, and Spanx. What's your favorite Sassy shoe? Right now, I’m loving my black boots! What is your favorite item available in your store right now? Tough choice between our JULIE FRANCE bodywear or our IN BLOOM by JONQUIL lingerie. What is the price range of your clothing? $75-$1800.

Boutiques

A totally new kind of RESALE store for women.

Clothes Mentor Owner: Tracy Schrimsher

5930 Grape Road (Indian Ridge Shopping Center) Mishawaka, IN 46545

www.clothesmentor.com 574-855-4493 CMmish@mail.com Hours: Mon - Sat 10 AM - 8 PM Sun 12 PM - 6 PM

Fashion Advice?

Pay attention to when people compliment you on what you are wearing. It means that the color and style are good for you.

Favorite Fashion Diva?

Princess Kate - She is a down-to-earth gal with some great fashion looks.

Fashion Trends for 2013?

Bright colors, stripes.

Categories: Trendy Classic Bridal Kids' Women's Mens Juniors Plus Sizes Everyone Baby Accessories Online Sales Glamorous Upscale Cutting-Edge Resale Consignment Services offered: Personal Shopper Private Fitting Custom Tailoring

Your STORY I was a Manager with JCPenney for 28 years. I had always wanted to have my own business. I had the retail and marketing experience and when my daughter suggested this franchise to me, I got very excited. After I retired from JCPenney to open up the first store, my husband was laid off from his job. He joined the business with me, as well as my daughter who moved back to the area after college. We opened up the Mishawaka Once Upon a Child store in Aug. 2007. Then, 18 months later in May 2009, we opened up the second Once Upon a Child store in Goshen, which our daughter-in-law manages.

Five years after opening the Mishawaka store, we knew that we needed to expand that store. We decided to also open Clothes Mentor, which is a different franchise, and put it next door to Once Upon a Child. Clothes Mentor opened in Dec. 2011. It has all worked out so well for me.

It is a fun business and having my family in the business with me is more than I ever dreamed of.

What sets you apart from the rest?

We pay CASH on the spot for gently used items.

Customers don't have to wait until their items sell to get their money. The other thing that sets us apart from other retail businesses is our everyday low prices.

juicy dETAILS What are some of the most successful brands you carry? Ann Taylor, Chicos, Banana Republic, Talbots, Lane Bryant, Motherhood, Coach. What has been a distinct turning point for your business?

Expanding the Once Upon a Child in Mishawaka and bringing Clothes Mentor to this market. It is a store that this area was in need of.

What fashion designer inspires you the most? A fashion designer that inspires me the most would be Ralph Lauren. His labels have been around for years for top quality in both Women's and Kids’ clothing.

As a business owner, what makes you feel SASSY? What makes me feel SASSY is when I set a goal and then reach that goal. At my first Once Upon a Child conference, the focus was on goal-setting. I wrote down my five-year sales goal for the Mishawaka store and this year (five years later) we will reach that goal. What is the price range of your clothing? Clothes Mentor - Prices range from $3.50 - $50.00.

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Flourish is a fashion-forward women's apparel store. We strive to help women flourish in fashion and feel better about themselves as a whole. We love helping our customers feel beautiful and confident.

Boutiques

Flourish Boutique Owner: Vanessa Cooreman-Smith 16021 Cleveland Rd. Granger, In 46530

www.FlourishBoutique.com 574-277-PINK (7465) or toll free at 1-855-788-PINK (7465) vanessa@flourishboutique.com Hours: Mon - Wed 10 AM – 6 PM Thurs 10 AM – 8 PM Fri & Sat 10 AM – 6 PM Sun 12 PM – 4 PM

Your STORY Fashion Advice?

My best fashion advice is to learn what styles, cuts and colors look best on you but, after that, look for items you love. Never buy anything because you think you should; rather, always look for something that makes you smile but still falls within your ‘rules’ for what looks good. Fashion really is a form of self expression, so make sure what you are saying with your outfit is true to your spirit and personality.

Flourish opened in 2008 in a small location on the northwest side of town, outside of the typical retail zone.

We got a great response from our loyal customers, though, and developed a ‘cult following’, so to speak. We began looking for the perfect location close to the Grape Road & Main Street commercial area, and moved the store in the spring of 2009. Since that time, we have twice expanded our store and also launched a full service website where you can shop 24/7 at www.FlourishBoutique.com.

Over time, we have also added new product specialties including denim, shoes and a plus-size section.

What sets you apart from the rest?

Categories: Trendy Classic Bridal Kids' Women's Mens Juniors Plus Sizes Everyone Baby Accessories Online Sales Glamorous Upscale Cutting-Edge Resale Unique & Feminine Services offered: Personal Shopper Private Fitting Custom Tailoring

Customer service is something we are so committed to. We know many of our customers by name and are blessed to call them friends. We love to go the extra mile and offer special services like in-house alterations, free in-store pickup for local web purchases, lay-a-way and much more. And, not to be overlooked, I think we are unique in the value we offer our customers. Our products are hand-selected, always on trend and consistently unique with boutique flair, but we are surprisingly affordable and still offer that outstanding customer service. It's rare to get the type of displays and selection Flourish offers without sacrificing customer service and affordability. It's important to us to offer clothes and accessories that people love but don't feel guilty buying.

juicy dETAILS What are some of the most successful brands you carry? Some of our customers’ favorite brands are our denim lines: Seven for All Mankind, Miss Me, NYDJ and Kut from the Cloth. We also carry Oprah and celebrity famous Spanx undergarments. Customers also love some of the brands we hand-selected including Ya, Papillon, Ryu, A'reve and Mystree. We also carry scarves and jewelry by local designers including Ali Oesch, Rejeana Crown Jewels and Saffron & Nutmeg. What has been a distinct turning point for your business? Moving our store to a prime retail location was definitely the right move and helped us take root in the community. What fashion designer inspires you the most? The feminine looks of Chanel and Dior are at the heart of our aesthetic at Flourish. But we also are inspired by modern designers such as Kate Spade and Tory Burch. As a business owner, what makes you feel SASSY? As a business owner, I feel sassy when I feel confident that my mission and business are really reaching and resonating with other women. When I walk around in the store and hear women ‘oohing and ahhing’ over things and see them smile, it builds my confidence and makes me feel genuinely happy and alive.

Boutiques

Limited edition and luxury eyewear.

Glance Eyewear Gallery Owner: Lenore Tracey

7220 Heritage Square Drive Suite 560 Granger, IN 46530

www.glanceeyeweargallery.com 574.271.1000 glance@glanceeyeweargallery.com Hours: Mon - Fri 10 AM – 7 PM Sat 10 AM – 4PM

Fashion Advice?

Your face is a work of art....you deserve a great frame!

Fashion Trends for 2013?

Color, color, color!

Categories: Trendy Classic Kids' Women's Juniors Plus Sizes Baby Accessories Glamorous Upscale Resale Eyewear Services offered: Personal Shopper Private Fitting Custom Tailoring

Your STORY Bridal Mens Everyone Online Sales Cutting-Edge

Founded in 2001 - We wanted to bring the distinctive European eyewear designs to our hometown.

What sets you apart from the rest?

Glance is the area’s first and only true optical boutique.

Founded in 2001, Glance offers the most current fashions from European eyewear designers as well as the world’s latest technology in lenses and treatments.

The Glance criteria is simple…it must be quality. It’s not only about the frames and lenses, but your experience.

juicy dETAILS What are some of the most successful brands you carry?

Chrome Hearts. What has been a distinct turning point for your business? When we stayed true to our goals and accepted that sometimes you have to go against the grain, against what you are told, and parlay your instincts into what you believe. As a business owner, what makes you feel SASSY? Hearing from our clients how true this is.... "One glance... is all it takes to get noticed." What staple item should every Sassy Gal have in her closet? At least one pair of GREAT eyewear! What's your favorite Sassy shoe?

Lenore - Cowboy boots; Jennifer - Dalbello ski boots What is your favorite item available in your store right now? The new Theo collection.

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We have been styling some of the most fashionable women in the Midwest since 1993.

Boutiques

Inspire Me Owner: Jeanne Skelton

520 E Colfax Ave., South Bend, In 46617

www.inspiremeonline.com 574-232-1798 inspireme@inspiremeonline.com Hours: Mon-Sat 10 AM – 6 PM

Fashion Advice?

It is all about quality not quantity.

Spend a little more for your wardrobe so that you will have it for many years to come.

Favorite Fashion Diva?

I think of a Diva as being in the music industry, so I would choose Beyonce.

Always looks gorgeous!

Fashion Trends for 2013?

Lots of color and prints!

Your STORY I moved back to the midwest after living in Los Angeles for eight years and ended up moving to South Bend to manage my store in Granger (after having a chain of four gift stores with my parents in Illinois and Indiana) because it was a nice place to raise my son. I changed it into a clothing store because of the need for a unique and upscale clothing store.

Categories: Trendy Classic Bridal Kids' Women's Mens Juniors Plus Sizes Everyone Baby Accessories Online Sales Glamorous Upscale Cutting-Edge Resale Consignment

A very concentrated collection of designer labels that you can't find in the area, many of them European because I like the sophistication.

Services offered: Personal Shopper Private Fitting Custom Tailoring

Finding pieces that make my customers feel beautiful; they come in and tell me that they get tons of compliments wherever they go every time they wear something from my store. That is what makes me keep going!

What sets you apart from the rest?

What motivates you in this economy?

juicy dETAILS What are some of the most successful brands you carry? Nicole Miller, Chan Luu and Free People What has been a distinct turning point for your business? Changing from a gift store into a clothing boutique because all my customers were begging for me to do that back in 1997. Also, relocating my store of 18 years in Granger to downtown South Bend last year! What fashion designer inspires you the most? Karl Lagerfeld of Chanel. As a business owner, what makes you feel SASSY? Being able to understand a client and know what works for them. What staple item should every Sassy Gal have in her closet? The perfect-fitting black pants and an Only Hearts camisole because you can put any top on with those two items.

What's your favorite Sassy shoe? Chanel and AGL. What is your favorite item available in your store right now? My current favorite item is a 2-piece flowing top by Nally & Millie. What is the price range of your clothing? $45-$650.

Boutiques Sorella provides a comfortable and approachable environment that showcases high quality fashion. Sorella provides our customers with a unique and innovative experience that focuses on both a woman’s inner and outer beauty.

Sorella Boutique Owner: Jill Hurst 7220 Heritage Square Drive Granger, Indiana, 46530 sorella-boutique.com 574.855.1475 sorellagranger@gmail.com Hours: Sun 12 PM – 5 PM Mon-Sat 10:30 AM – 8 PM

Fashion Advice?

Always wear what is going to make you feel good about yourself.

Favorite Fashion Diva?

Cameron Diaz Fashion Trends for 2013?

Colored denim seems to still be going strong in popularity, as well as accessorizing with scarves and cross body purses.

Categories: Trendy Classic Bridal Kids' Women's Mens Juniors Plus Sizes Everyone Baby Accessories Online Sales Glamorous Upscale Cutting-Edge Resale Consignment Services offered: Personal Shopper Private Fitting Custom Tailoring

Your STORY Sorella began in June 2011. I have an interest in fashion as well as helping women feel good about themselves. Our sister store in Goshen Indiana, Jules Boutique, inspired us to begin our store in Granger, Indiana

What sets you apart from the rest?

Sorella offers a high-end experience without the high-end costs. Sorella’s unique displays and creative environment offer a fun-filled shopping experience.

What motivates you in this economy?

Sorella tries to focus on keeping our price points low in order to help our customers have a good shopping experience. We continue to try to support our community because we know without community support it is difficult to maintain a successful business.

juicy dETAILS What are some of the most successful brands you carry? Vera Bradley, Rock Revival, Miss Me, Brighton, Kenneth Cole, Mudpie, Mystree, Lucky Brand, Hudson Denim, Citizens Of Humanity. What has been a distinct turning point for your business? We are soon getting ready to launch a full-retail website. What fashion designer inspires you the most? That is a tough question. I have to say Max Azria of BCBG. As a business owner, what makes you feel SASSY? I feel SASSY when I dress how I feel and when I feel good about myself,especially when I am in my cowgirl boots. What staple item should every Sassy Gal have in her closet? NIKI BIKI cami.

What's your favorite Sassy shoe? CHANEL heels. If you could style any celebrity, who would it be? Sandra Bullock. What is your favorite item available in your store right now? ROCK REVIVAL denim. What is the price range of your clothing? $20-$75.

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Quality, Value and Service since 1900.™

Partner

Sorg Jewelers Owners: John Sorg & Darin Sorg Two locations: On County Road 17 in Elkhart: 56112 Parkway Ave. Elkhart, IN 46516 Ph: 574.294.5406 Downtown Goshen, 120 South Main Street Goshen, IN 46526 PHONE: Ph: 574.533.1312

www.SorgJewelers.com diamonds@sorgjewelers.com Hours: Mon - Fri 9 AM – 5:30 PM Sat 9 AM – 3 PM

Call for extended Holiday hours.

Fashion Advice?

Wear one big statement piece – it can really set off an outfit! Also big, flashy rings and bangle bracelets (stacked) seem to be hot, whether in sterling, gold or even black rhodium. The key is to be comfortable in what you wear. You will end up wearing it with confidence and it will show!

Favorite Jewelry Diva?

Elizabeth Taylor. She knew high quality jewelry and she wasn't afraid to wear it! In fact, we believe we read that even as she got older and stayed home more often, she still wore at least one piece of expensive jewelry around the house. She said wearing her jewelry brought her joy and made her feel better.

Categories: Trendy Classic Bridal Kids' Women's Mens Juniors Plus Sizes Everyone Baby Accessories Online Sales Glamorous Upscale Cutting-Edge Resale Unique & Feminine Services offered: Full Service Jewelry Repair Watch and Clock Repairs

Your STORY Our founder, Sigmund Sorg, started Sorg Jewelers in 1900 in Roanoke, Illinois. Now, 112 years and four generations later, it is still a busy, family-owned business where we take pride in each and every client that entrusts us with their gift-giving or repair needs.

What sets you apart from the rest?

We are a 112-year-old family-owned business with the third and fourth generations at the helm. Throughout all those years, we have never wavered from our path of high quality jewelry with exceptional client service. We are Elkhart County's only American Gem Society member. That membership is awarded only to select jewelers who possess proven gemological knowledge and the highest ethical standards. We have to re-certify and re-test each year with them. We also offer free gift wrapping with hand-made bows...a tradition of ours for over a century!

juicy dETAILS What are some of the most successful brands you carry?

Southern African Diamonds, Parade, Ostbye, Cordova, Rego, De La Luz, Seiko, Citizen, Tissot, Hamilton, Chamilia, Waterford, Lladro' to name a few. What jewelry designer inspires you the most? There are several, but the leader for us is our own Master Jeweler, John Okleshen. We have his own quote prominently and tastefully displayed on the wall above his work bench where he creates custom jewelry for our stores as well as for our clients. The quote reads, "A custom piece has a certain soul, a spirit, and that comes from inspiration." That sums up his passion for jewelry and his work – you just can't fake that. Our business profession is based on emotion, "symbols of love" if you will, and John delivers that in each and every piece he creates. That's what we call inspirational!

What staple item should every Sassy Gal have in her jewelry box? Well, if you are truly a Sassy Girl, that jewelry box will contain several staple items! Diamond stud earrings are a must! Also, a diamond pendant that contains one or more diamonds, trendy (less expensive) watches in various colors as well as a few nice (more expensive) dress-up watches are some items to mention.

Boutiques Your special occasion destination... celebrating 81 years in fashion!

Stephenson's of Elkhart Owner: Danny Reynolds 211 S. Main Street Elkhart, IN 46516

www.stephensonsofelkhart.com 574-294-6486 info@stephensonsofelkhart.com Hours: Mon - Sat 10 AM - 5:30 PM Thur 10 AM – 8 PM

Fashion Advice?

Don't be a victim; develop your own style. Fashion has a place, as long as it relates to and enhances your personal style. Fashion is avant garde conformity. Style is individuality. Fashion is about what everyone is wearing. Style is about what you are wearing.

Fashion Trends for 2013?

The ones that complete you.

Categories: Trendy Classic Kids' Women's Juniors Plus Sizes Baby Accessories Glamorous Upscale Resale Prom Services offered: Personal Shopper Private Fitting Custom Tailoring

Bridal Mens Everyone Online Sales Cutting-Edge Shoes

Your STORY Stephenson's opened in 1931 as a very upscale, appointment-only dress shop right on Main Street in Elkhart, where we still are today. The store has grown to include sportswear, dress, coat, accessory and men's departments. In 1982, the bridal salon was opened, offering unparalleled service for the entire wedding party. In this age of super-stores, Stephenson's has steadfastly offered the epitome in personal service and ageless fashion direction.

What sets you apart from the rest?

Stephenson's specializes in offering individualized personal customer service. We are small enough to offer a personalized experience, yet large enough to provide our customers with fashions from around the world. With a buying office in New York and buyers based Elkhart, we are global and individual at the same time.

What motivates you in this economy?

Our business was started during the Great Depression (1931), and has encountered and survived many cultural and economic conditions through the years including catalogs, the internet and the recent 'Great Recession'. Finding ways to continually reinvent ourselves and stay relevant in a changing world is our daily challenge. And it always comes back to the same thing: Treat the customer right and give her what she wants.

juicy dETAILS What are some of the most successful brands you carry? Joseph Ribkoff, Ming Wang, Donna Karan, Calvin Klein, Michael Kors, Lucky, Guess, NYDJ, Jag, Maggie Sottero, Flirt, Alyce. What has been a distinct turning point for your business? Identifying the opportunity to become a special occasion destination for women a couple decades ago. Changing our direction from being a small department store, to a very large boutique! What fashion designer inspires you the most? Marc Jacobs, Alexander Wang, many more. What staple item should every Sassy Gal have in her closet? Confidence. What is your favorite item available in your store right now? Fur boot topper.

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Scene Be Seen

The FIRST EVER Glitz & Sass Fashion show!

The Sassy Magazine staff came together with seven boutiques and several fashion-forward businesses to put on the event of the holiday season! From incredible trendy and cuttingedge fashion to Sassy t-shirts, fantastic prizes and giveaways, rockin' music from the DJ, hors d'oeuvres, Sassy-tinis -- the show was a hit, and everyone had a blast. A portion of the proceeds was donated to the American Heart Association -- a cause that is near and dear to our own hearts! Check out our pictures here, and find more on the Sassy Magazine Facebook page!

SASSY 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 SASSY 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 SASSY Magazine!

We prefer snapshots of people that are full of life and enjoying the moment, so please send them our way: scene@MichianaFamilyMagazine.com.

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Trust your heart to Elkhart General Hospital.

A place that provides collaborative care, and always has. A place that’s the leader in the region for clinical research of the heart. A place with diagnostics on par with anything you’ll find at a major university. These are the things that should be important to you.

This is your heart we’re talking about.

To learn more about the only hospital rated #1 for Cardiac Surgery in all of Indiana, visit www.egh.org.

600 East Boulevard • Elkhart, Indiana 46514