SASSY Magazine July/August 2016

JULY & AUGUST 2016

NO47

free!

Summer Beauty on a Budget

Jump Start Your Mornings

can she do it all?

You Bethza she can!

Her story is an inspiring journey of unexpected turns and beautiful outcomes

Please take one!

“Tamika had been doing everything right. She had gotten her education, she was making positive changes, but every time she tried to get in front of an employer, she was striking out. That’s where Goodwill came in.

She needed somebody to believe in her when she was discouraged, who could help her make the connections with the employer.”

Debie Coble, President & CEO Goodwill Industries of Michiana

“Tamika was just looking for a chance to get back in there and hit the home run. It’s a win, win for everybody.

She hit it out of the park for us.”

Joe Hart, President South Bend Cubs

Goodwill-NI.org

JULY & AUGUST

/ contents

EVERY MONTH 4 From The Publisher 5 Contributors & Testimonials SASS FACTORY: STUFF WE LOVE 6 Sassy Time SASSY Recipe 31 Cookie Dough Ice Cream

By: Katie & Theresa Slott

SASS 8

The Art of Creating Atmosphere

By: Andrew Skipper

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Summer Beauty on a Budget

By: Christina Clark

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7 Laid-Back Looks for Summer

By: Rasonda Clark

HEALTH 14

Snooze News You Can Use in Midlife and Beyond

By: Sandra Gordon

16

I Came This Close to Doing a Color Run

By: Lisa A. Beach

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Celery: Nutritious, Delicious Summer Meals With a Snap

By: Ashley Talmadge

BALANCE 20 Jump Start Your Mornings

By: Rita Miller

WORK 22

5 Things I don’t Miss About Corporate Life

By: Lisa A. Beach

24

Job Searching in the Summer

By: Allison Boelcke Smith

ON THE COVER 26 Can She Do It All? You Bethza She Can!

On the Cover: PHOTOGRAPHY:

Amy Reinert Photography

By: Christina Clark

SCENE & BE SEEN 30 Drumming Up Women Leaders Who THRIVE

MAKEUP:

Bethza Professional Makeup Studio SASSY | JULY & AUGUST 2016

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SASSY

from the publisher

T

he long wait for summer is finally over. Summer is here at last yet it seems so fleeting. It seems like the 4th of July arrives, we have a cookout and watch the fireworks, and it’s time for back to school already. Before that happens, let’s talk about what’s happening in July and August since this is a combined issue.

President & Publisher: Sue Heinrich

Sue@MichianaFamilyMagazine.com

MANAGING Editor: Jessica Haviland

Jessy@MichianaFamilyMagazine.com

AD COORDINATOR & INSIDE SALES MANAGER Amanda Oiler Amanda@MichianaFamilyMagazine.com

GRAPHIC DESIGN Manager: Zuzanna Zmud

Zuzanna@MichianaFamilyMagazine.com

I love summer with the warm weather and blue skies along with occasional thunderstorms. There is so much to do outdoors in the summer time – boating and swimming, cookouts and picnics, softball and baseball, golf and gardening. Summer vacations are always so much fun. And it seems like you can find an art fair or a street fair nearly every weekend in one place or another. And there is nothing like a day at the beach.

I love to shop at all the little farm stands that spring up with fresh garden fruits and vegetables including everyone’s favorite, corn on the cob, along with tomatoes and peaches, blueberries, cherries and raspberries. My mom used to make the best fresh fruit pies in the summer and my favorite was peach although cherry and blueberry were close competition.

I love the long days when the sun comes up early and doesn’t set until late. You can get so much more done in the day and then wonder why you’re tired until you discover it’s 9 o’clock and the sun is still up. But, the warm sunny evenings are so pleasant you don’t want them to end.

Then suddenly, the summer that began with fireworks and fun on the 4th of July is coming to an end. School starts up again in early August for some cities in the area. Michigan students get a reprieve and don’t go back until after Labor Day, the unofficial end of summer. How sad it feels sometimes. We wait all year for summer to arrive, only to have it last such a short time. But, never fear, it will return again next year. Enjoy it while it’s here; fall will be here soon enough.

And, what better way is there to pass some time sitting in the summer sun than to read SASSY Magazine! In this issue you will find articles about Summer Beauty on a Budget and Seven Laid Back Looks for Summer. There is also an article entitled Snooze News You can Use Midlife and Beyond and another with Five Things I Don’t Miss About Corporate Life. And, of course, there is the story of our cover girl, Bethza entitled Can She Do It All? You Bethza She Can! So sit back, relax, enjoy the summer and enjoy this issue of SASSY!

MEDICAL EDITOR: Dr. Jesse Hsieh Distribution Managers: Chad Haviland

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

We would love to hear from you! Please submit press releases, event information and inquiries to: Jessy@MichianaFamilyMagazine.com The FAMILY Magazines P.O. Box 577 Granger, IN 46530 PH: 574.387.5420 • FX: 574.217.4700 www.MichianaSassy.com Permission from the publisher is required for any reproduction or reprint of this publication.

Read SASSY Magazine online each month!

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

JULY & AUGUST 2016 Volume 6: Number 6

LOOK WHO’s TALKING

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

JUNE

/ contributors

CYNDY SEARFOSS

ANDREW SKIPPER

ALLISON BOELCKE

Christina L. Clark

is a mom, fundraiser, writer, equestrienne, creative writing adjunct instructor, volunteer and insomniac (which is how she manages to fit everything into the space of 24-hour day). Her professional history includes stints as the managing partner of an advertising agency, director of creative services, director of alumni services at IU South Bend and director of advancement at a local independent school. She received her bachelor’s degree from Indiana University in journalism and her master’s degree in creative writing from the University of Notre Dame in 1995.

is an interior decorator and lifestyle expert who believes that life should be celebrated every day. 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.

He is also the official lifestyle expert for Elkhart County, IN, working with the Convention and Visitors Bureau.

is a digital marketing specialist for Indiana University South Bend, and a freelance writer who loves to focus on topics of career and personal finance geared toward working women and mothers. She resides in South Bend with her husband and toddler daughter. During any free time she can manage, she is a foodie whose goal is to actually make more recipes on her Pinterest boards.

is brunch lover and puppy snuggler.

She studies Communication at IUSB, works as a licensed Esthetician and Makeup Artist, and loves to write whenever given the chance!

On the cover Hoosier Harley-Davidson

Meet the cover photographer and stylist!

READER testimonials

JULY & AUGUST 2016

NO47

free!

Summer Beauty on a Budget

Please take one!

snooze news

“Each month, my boss brings in a few copies of SASSY Magazine and

Jump Start Your Mornings

shares it with all of her employees!”

can she do it all?

You Bethza she can!

Her story is an inspiring journey

of unexpected turns and beautiful

Amy Reinert is Michiana's Premier HS Senior, Teen and Fash-

ion Photographer. She grew up working in her father's studio and then decided to start her own. Her style is clean, modern and with a flair for fashion. She shoots a variety of sessions in her downtown Elkhart studio as well as on location. www.amyreinert.com amy_reinert@yahoo.com 574-903-6383.

outcomes

– Ginny R. “When I take a break from my hectic life, I enjoy sitting down and reading SASSY Magazine. It always reenergizes me!”

– Renee B. “SASSY Magazine always has something interesting to read,

Bethza Seminario is the Co-Founder, Creative Director, Licensed Esthetician and Head Makeup Artist of Bethza Professional Makeup Artist Studio located in Elkhart and has her own cosmetic company, Nethyel Pro Beauty. She worked as a freelance makeup artist in Chicago and Indianapolis. Her specialization in editorial, commercial and high fashion makeup inspired her to bring that style to her community. www.bethza.com (574) 226-5261

something that I can apply to my life and some wonderful recipes to try during the weekends.”

– Allie R.

Thank you!

SASSY | JULY & AUGUST 2016

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SASSY

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Indiana’s 2016 Bicentennial All-In Block Party, 1-4, History Museum

Insight in History: Top Moments of Indiana’s 200 Years, 1:30 – 3, History Museum SB

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A Sumer Evening in the Gardens, 6:00, Wellfield Botanic Gardens, Elkhart

Beer Walk, 5-9, Down Town South Bend

Krasl Art Fair, 5-9, The Bluff at St. Joe, MI

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Happy 4th of July!

Monty Python’s Spamalot, 7:30 Lerner Theater in Elkhart

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Pink Starburst Cosmo Must-See Movies This Summer

Need some time out of the sun? Grab a bowl of popcorn and stop by your local theatre to check out some of these great movies coming out this summer!

July: - - - - - -

Tarzan ( July 1st) Mike & Dave Need Wedding Dates ( July 8th) Ghostbusters ( July 15th) Bad Moms ( July 29th) Jason Bourne ( July 29th) Café Society ( July 29th)

August: - - - - - - - 6

Suicide Squad (August 5th) Nine Lives (August 5th) War Dogs (August 19th) The Space Between Us (August 19th) Max Steel (August 26th) Don’t Breathe (August 26th) Mechanic: Resurrection (August 26th)

JULY & AUGUST 2016 | SASSY

Ingredients: - 5 Red Starburst Candies - 5 Pink Starburst Candies - 1 ½ Cups Vodka - 2 Oz. Lime Juice - 2 Oz. Cointreau or Triple Sec Directions: Place red Starburst candies in one Mason jar and the pink Starburst candies in the other. Pour ¾ cup of vodka into each Mason jar. Screw the lids on and shake for at least 10 seconds. Let it sit overnight to infuse the candy flavor.

Pour one flavor into a cocktail shaker filled with ice and add one ounce of lime juice and one ounce of Cointreau. Shake and pour into glass. Repeat with the other flavor vodka and remaining ingredients. ENJOY! (Recipe found at www.delish.com)

Summer Nails!

4th Of July Nails

Anchor Nails

Glitter Nails

(www.ink361.com)

(www.spryliving.com)

(www.nailsupdate.com)

AUGUST 10

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Wine Walk, 5-9 Downtown South Bend

Taste of the Garden, 11:00 – 6:00, Wellfield Botanic Garden

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Spaniels Forever Doo Wop Review, 7:00, The Lerner Theater, Elkhart

Women Experience the Outdoors: Summer Night Sky, 9-11, St Pat’s Park

Artbeat 2016, 11:00 to 7, Downtown South Bend

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Creating A

Summertime Playlist Heading to the beach? Going on vacation? Road trip?

Create the perfect summertime playlist to keep you up beat!

5 Fun

4th Of July

facts

1. The 4th of July is the “biggest hot dog holiday of the year,” according to TIME Magazine!

Americans consume about 155 million of them on Independence Day! 2. The Liberty Bell hasn’t been rung since 1846.

3. Thomas Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence on what they called a “laptop” which was a writing desk that could fit on someone’s lap!

4. Three US presidents have died on the 4th of July: John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe.

5. Our 30th President, Calvin Coolidge, was born on the 4th of July in 1872.

The Boys of Summer By Don Henley Cruel Summer By Bananarama Paradise City By Guns N’ Roses Here Comes The Sun By The Beatles Good Vibrations By The Beach Boys Wipeout By The Ventures Call Me Maybe By Carly Rae Jepsen All Star By Smash Mouth Margaritaville By Jimmy Buffett Happy By Pharrell Williams SASSY | JULY & AUGUST 2016

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The Art of Creating Atmosphere By: Andrew Skipper Home is where the heart is and everyone wants their home to be welcoming. When decorating your home, there are many aspects to consider. What finishes will you use? What colors will you choose? What furniture, window treatments, and accessories will you purchase? Perhaps one of the most important aspects of creating a home, however, is atmosphere. Keeping in mind the type of atmosphere you want your home to have will help guide you along the way and influence certain decisions you make throughout the decorating process. Use your five senses as your starting point.

Here are five things to think about if you want to make your home more comfortable and cozy: Personal Accessories

Bring personalized accessories into each room. Display your collections—things that reflect your taste and personal style. A stack of coffee table books that speak to your interests is an ideal way to make your home reflect you. Little accessories you’ve picked up on your travels are another great way to showcase your style.

Adding in elements that are unique to you will help your home begin to feel special and these pieces also act as conversation starters.

Lighting

Lighting is one of the easiest ways to change the atmosphere of your home. Many people only use the overhead light in their room along with one or two lamps. The truth is that every room needs several light sources in order to create a desired atmosphere. Purchase unique table and floor lamps that reflect your style. Also pin-point lighting on focal points and architectural elements. Put everything on dimmers so you can control the mood. There is a huge difference between feeling like you’re in the operating room with bright overhead lights versus in a cozy living room where lighting is strategic and soft.

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Layers Atmosphere is all about the five senses. Layering different textures, colors, and patterns can change the way you see the room and the way you feel in it. Bring in pattern on window treatments and throw pillows for a visually stimulating space. Select natural fiber wool rugs underfoot for softness and durability. When it comes to upholstered pieces, opt for fabrics made from natural fibers that are soft to the touch and beckon you to sink into plump cushions. If you’re stumped when choosing colors, simply select one stand-out color and then two supporting colors. For instance have blue be the stand-out color you use boldly on accessories or in one pattern in the room, then let soft yellow and cream be the basis for the rest of the space.

Something Living Adding life to a room is as simple as purchasing a house plant or two. A beautiful peace lily or fern can make a space feel fresh and alive. If you don’t have a green thumb, keeping fresh flowers in the house is another sure fire way to add atmosphere. Flowers like carnations and alstroemeria are inexpensive and last for a long time when they are given a fresh cut and new water every few days.

Scent & Sound Perhaps two of the most overlooked components to creating atmosphere are scent and sound. While these senses are often on the back burner, they are extremely powerful! Dust holds smells so be sure to keep the house cleaned on a regular basis and vacuum consistently underneath furniture. Adding solid air fresheners that you simply open up and place in conspicuous places throughout your home is a foolproof way to keep the house smelling fresh. Of course, scented candles are a great way to enhance the atmosphere of any room. When it comes to sound, consider creating different playlists you can put on at different times of day. Perhaps one is for mornings and another is for dinnertime. Connect your smartphone to a portable wireless speaker and watch the atmosphere completely shift once your background music begins playing.

SASSY | JULY & AUGUST 2016

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SASSY

sass

Summer Beauty

on a Budget

Drug-Store Beauty for Summer Days and Getaways By: Christina Clark

T

he temperature is rising and the will to buy expensive products that may end up left behind or running down your face later is falling. Sometimes, it’s hard to make it to the makeup counter, the shop or salon where you normally purchase your staple products, and sometimes they just don’t make it into the travel bag on your weekend getaway. Fear not! There are lots of great makeup products hiding amongst the unpredictable finishes and coverages in your local drug-store aisle.

Summer beauty should be easy and breezy, like that one brand likes to say. Less is more, and luckily dewy skin is making a comeback!

Freckles are in (but don’t skimp on the sunblock), and a little dew adds radiance to the look.

Here are some recommendations and tips compiled from friends, professionals and the editorial pros for remaining the belle of the beach on a budget:

lips Tinted lip balms are an easy way to add a kiss of color to your lips (and your cheeks in a pinch!) when a day at the beach becomes a night on the town. Being able to swipe a little color on without the demanding pigmentation of a full lipstick is a great way to transition. Try Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Balm to carry with you on our casual outings, as it is both moisturizing and comes in colors to take your natural pout up a notch or two.

The matte lip and liquid lipsticks are also becoming increasingly available in an array of colors. Once thought as drying, they are becoming increasingly wearable. Combine a little sugar and coconut oil to gently exfoliate your lips before using, or gently use a soft-bristled tooth brush over your lips to smooth before applying. NYX Soft Matte Lip Crème is a smooth formula that is easy to apply, and comes in colors from pinky nudes to deep violets and blues for those wanting to walk on the bold and wild side.

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The matte lip and liquid lipsticks are also becoming increasingly available in an array of colors.

face eyes

Sometimes you don’t want to risk the harsh travel process on your best powder products, and that’s OK. Other times you might just know you’re a klutz and tend to leave things behind, and spending bigger money on the same palette you left at home (or hark! behind in the hotel bathroom) isn’t on your itinerary. For those moments, there are “dupes” to the rescue. For example, don’t want to travel with your Urban Decay Naked Palette? Just used it all up and the airfare happened to use up your bank account at the same time?

Maybelline has a palette called “The Nudes” with 12 shades to play with at a fraction of the cost. They may not be as highly pigmented, but they do blend quite nicely and won’t break your heart (as much) if something happens to them.

Eye liner can be tough, but if you have to have that wing: NYX Vinyl or Matte liquid liner is a great value. They’ll withstand some humidity (if you don’t wipe your eyes), and you can choose between a shiny finish for more drama, or a matte look for the more demure.

Blotting sheets can usually be found in the drugstore makeup aisle. Sometimes they are made of rice paper, others have their own proprietary way to soak up extra oil giving you an extra slick complexion.

Brands from E.L.F. to Clean and Clear and Boscia offer up this purse staple for quick face touch ups. They tend to be thin dispensers and will fit neatly in a small wristlet next to a bank cards and IDs.

If you find one in the aisle with a little added SPF as well you may be set!

A BB-Cream type product is perfect to stow in your getaway bag as well. A tinted-moisturizer that will give light coverage with a dewy finish is great, and if you find one in the aisle with a little added SPF as well you may be set! Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream, Physicians Formula Super BB, and Burt’s Bees BB Cream all made Elle.com’s “11 BB Creams Elle Editors Swear By” list.

lashes & brows Waterproof mascara’s that don’t “shed” throughout the day are hard to come by in a world of volume layering ingredients and fibers. A good standby is to go back to the beginning: the green and pink tube of Maybelline Great Lash. It doesn’t have a lot of bells and whistles, but it has an easy applicator, a smooth formula and now comes in waterproof.

Covergirl’s LashBlast mascara has some of the bells and whistles, and comes in its original “smudge proof and wear proof ” formula as well as waterproof for those extra humid (or emotional) days.

Maybelline Great Lash in clear also doubles as a brow gel, adding a bit of definition without a color that might smear or melt later, to keep brows full of character in place and looking polished.

SASSY | JULY & AUGUST 2016

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By: Rasonda Clark

7 Laid-Back Looks

R

esidents all around the Michiana area are beginning to feel the warm weather transition. As the temperatures climb into the dog days of summer, people are slowly starting to shed articles of clothing. This is the season where time begins to slow down and the lazy days of summer envelope us. Beach days and backyard bar-b-ques are taking precedence and no one wants to waste time stressing over what to wear. It is getting hotter, and comfort is a complete necessity. However, dressing comfortably for the season doesn’t mean you have to look sloppy and just because it is hot we should not stray from classy. Jeanne, from Inspire Me in South Bend, recommends wearing “breathable, natural fabrics in light colors” to beat the heat this year. Cotton and linen are essentials for laid-back summer looks.

for Summer

White T-Shirt and Shorts with a Black Scarf

Stay white hot throughout the summer in this super cute and casual outfit.

Find the perfect pair of white shorts by carefully evaluating what rise, length and wash compliments your body best. Break up the crispness of the white with a black belt and scarf.

The Chronicles of Her

Off-The-Shoulder Blouse, Skinny Jeans and Sneakers

Dress up dark blue jeans with a sexy off-the-shoulder top. Change up this look for different events by mixing up the accessories. Throw on stylish sneakers and leather bracelets for a day on the boat, or change into a pair of high-heeled sandals and a fun clutch for a girl’s night out.

Harper and Harley

Cream off the Shoulder Mini Dress, Boho Necklace and Crocheted Bag

Off-the-shoulder styles are back for 2016, and for good reason. “Open shoulder and flowy, comfortable pieces will keep you cool while staying stylish,” Jeanne from Inspire Me explains. The nude color will keep the sun at bay while keeping you in style. Pair this sweet dress with an oversized bag, wedge sandals and bohemian accessories and you have the perfect summer ensemble.

Nordstrom

Tulle Skirt, Chunky Necklace and Denim Shirt

Pastel Floral Print Dress and Fedora

An Anthropologie tulle skirt is not an everyday wardrobe staple, but it is hot for Summer 2016. Pairing the overly romantic skirt with a perfectly worn denim shirt and a chunky, feminine necklace creates a great balance between lady like and laid-back. With this outfit you can feel like a princess while staying comfortable.

Nothing says summer cool like a breezy and effortless slip on dress. This is an essential summer piece that can go from day to night with a switch of the shoes.

It also makes the perfect cover-up for a day on the beach. Adding a linen fedora makes it the ultimate in laidback summer chic.

With a City and a Dream

Live Give Love

Short Sleeved Denim Button Down and Tropical Pom-Pom Shorts

White Shell Top, Distressed Jeans and Leather Booties

Denim shirts are not going away any time soon. Whether with a tulle skirt or summer shorts, denim is a summer staple. A comfortable and casual top is a compliment to these brightly colored pair of pom-pom shorts. The key to laid-back summer style is balance and this outfit has it. Pom-pom fringe was big last summer, and is making its comeback for summer 2016.

A Mama in Love

With a City and a Dream

For a laid-back yet stylish 2016 summer, be sure to look for a few of these summer staples.

However, don’t be afraid to think out of the box and go for a super girly tulle skirt or a pair of shorts with an out there print. Remember, the key to pulling off these statement pieces is keeping balance in your outfit and finding ways to highlight your own personal style. 

While a perfect summer wardrobe will feature denim, anything white will be a major character for 2016. Play up this understated outfit with distressed jeans, brown booties and a matching leather watch for classic summer style.

While the shell is perfect on its own, finding the perfect sweater to coordinate is smart for venues where the AC may be blasting. Local wardrobe stylist Kathy Friend states that layers are important for the summer, “a cotton camisole under a silk blouse can help to keep you cool. There are some undergarment layering pieces that are moisture wicking,” which are guaranteed to keep you dry all season long.

SASSY | JULY & AUGUST 2016

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SASSY

health

snooze news

By: Sandra Gordon

You Can Use in Midlife and Beyond

Maybe you've heard that you need less sleep as you get older? Reality check: That’s just wishful thinking. The need for sleep doesn't diminish over the years. You still require the same amount you did when you were 25 or 30 years old—at least 7 hours a night.

Still, if you’re in perimenopause or menopause, dream on.

“Many women don’t get the sleep they need at that stage of life,” says Carmel Harrington, PhD, a sleep researcher and author of The Complete Guide to a Goodnight’s Sleep.

In perimenopause, sleep tends to become more fragmented due to diminishing levels of progesterone and estrogen.

Progesterone makes us sleepy, and the rapid fluctuations in estrogen cause temperature changes that can disturb sleep.

At menopause, which is defined as missing your period consecutively for a year at around age 51 (though it can happen anywhere from 30 to 59), hot flashes can wreak havoc on the sleep cycle. During a hot flash, your brain gets a rush of adrenaline, which makes you more alert. And, of course, you may be drenched intermittently during the night, which can mean getting up and changing your clothes.

About one in 50 women will also develop sleep apnea around menopause due to the natural loss of estrogen and progesterone, which help keep the airways open and responsive, Dr. Harrington says. The sleep disorder causes 14

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tissue in the esophagus to momentarily obstruct your airway, causing breathing to stop--sometimes briefly, sometimes for 10 seconds or longer up to 30 times an hour. When your oxygen levels plummet, you wake up, but perhaps not sufficiently to realize what has happened. Typically, normal breathing then starts again, sometimes with a loud snort or choking sound.

Other common sleep stealers in midlife include pain from arthritis, heartburn/GERD, low back pain, and medications with side effects that interfere with sleep as well as restless leg syndrome (RLS) and periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD). In RLS, unpleasant creeping, crawling, and tingling sensations produce the irresistible urge to move the legs, especially at night when you're lying down waiting to fall asleep. PLMD involves involuntarily kicking several times a night that causes you to hover in lighter stages or wake up.

“The majority of patients with RLS also have PLMD,” says neurologist Andrew L. Chesson, M.D., Jr.

Wake-Up Call The upshot is chronic sleep deprivation. A recent survey by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine showed that nearly half of women ages 40 to 65 in the U.S. wished they slept better. Skimping on sleep can be health hazard.

The latest studies link being consistently sleep deprived to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, depression, stroke,

heart attack, overweight and memory and attention problems. Moreover, without adequate zzzs, you may as well say good night to performing several work tasks concurrently, absorbing new information, or making sound judgment calls, especially in a crisis. All told, “Anything that’s not routine becomes difficult if you're tired,” says sleep researcher Andrew Monjan, PhD.

Skimping on sleep can be health hazard.”

If symptoms of RLS or PLMD last more than a month and interfere with the way you feel and function during the day, your bed partner says you snore or you often don’t feel refreshed during the day even though you swear you got a full night’s sleep, see your doctor. The solution may be as simple as switching to a medication that doesn't cause sleeplessness or treating a medical condition that does. For more complex problems, your doctor may recommend a sleep specialist at an accredited sleep center.

Read on to learn what else you can do to spend less time counting sheep, and more time getting the best possible night’s rest at this stage of the game.

Wear yourself out. “Exercise helps you sleep longer and fall asleep faster,” says Abby King, Ph.D., of Stanford University School of Medicine in California. King led a study on the relationship between exercise and sleep that randomly assigned 43 men and women over age 50 to exercise moderately (such as a brisk walk before dinner) for 30 to 40 minutes four days a week or to do nothing for four months. At the end of that time, she found that those who exercised generally slept an hour longer each night and also could fall asleep more quickly.

Dr. Harrington also recommends doing downward facing dogs and taking a few deep, cleansing breaths before bed. “Relaxation exercises like yoga can reduce the chance you’ll have stressful thoughts during sleep that can raise your body temperature to cause a hot flash,” she says.

Wind down with a hot bath or shower. Your body naturally experiences a slight drop in core temperature right before sleep, which helps induce slumber. Taking a warm bath or shower right before bed, even in the summer, can help coax the process along. Hot water raises your body temperature. “When you get out of a warm bath or shower, your body will need to cool off, which helps initiate sleep onset,” says Terry Cralle, a registered nurse, certified clinical and sleep educator, and national sleep

consultant says. As your body temperature falls by as little as a degree, you’ll feel sleepier so you’ll be primed to hit the sack.

Conversely, a cold bath or shower doesn’t achieve the same cooling effect, she adds.

Chill out. Temperature and sleep quality are closely related. “Sleeping in a cool room is really important,” Dr. Harrington says. The ideal sleeping temperature is 68 degrees, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. In cooler months, keep your thermostat on the cooler side. In the summer months, if you don’t have AC, no sweat. Pairing a window fan with a room fan can keep warm air circulating, enabling the window unit to blow hot air outside more efficiently. “If your partner complains, get him to wear an extra layer of pajamas,” Dr. Harrington says. Wear your summer pajamas year ‘round too. Or try Lusome pajamas (lusome.com).

They’re specially designed to move moisture move away from your skin so it can quickly evaporate, reducing the chances of rousing night sweats.

Designate a daily dark period. Invest in room-darkening bedroom shades that block moonlight and street lights. Darkness helps the brain produce melatonin, a hormone that helps you fall asleep.

“As much we need light during the day, we need darkness at night,” says Sonia Ancoli-Israel, Ph.D., a fellow of the American Academy of Sleep Medicinedirector. Turn off all electronic devices an hour before bed too. “The brain’s not smart enough to distinguish between the light of a computer and sunlight,” Dr. Harrington says. If you get up during the night to go to the bathroom, use a nightlight to show the way rather than turning on a bright overhead light.

Consider hormone help. When it comes to sleep, estrogen is a good thing. It helps you fall sleep faster and stay asleep longer. It enhances rapid-eye movement (REM) sleep, the stage during which dreaming occurs. Without adequate REM sleep, you’re apt to feel groggy and have difficulty concentrating. It also affects memory and learning ability. Supplemental estrogen isn’t recommended, however, if you have a history of cancer, stroke or heart attack, so talk to your doctor. If you’re prescribed hormone therapy, be sure to check back with your doctor every three to six months to make sure you still need it. To go off hormone therapy, work with your doctor to taper off the medication. “The current thinking is that hormone therapy is safe if taken for a short time in low doses,” says Mary Jane Minkin, MD, a gynecologist and co-author of A Woman’s Guide to Menopause and Perimenopause.  SASSY | JULY & AUGUST 2016

15

SASSY

health

By: Lisa A. Beach

I Came This Close to Doing a

Color Run

M

y 50th birthday had recently passed, and I wanted to make a change, something a little bigger than parting my hair on the opposite side.

I saw an ad for the Color Run pop up on my Facebook page. When a race bills itself as “The Happiest 5K on the Planet,” I want in.

“Less about your 10-minute-mile and more about having the time of your life,” the ad promised. Well, I liked the sound of that.

“Hey, this looks fun!” I exclaimed to my husband, Kevin. “I want to have the time of my life. Let’s do this!”

After the laughter died down, Kevin realized I was dead serious.

Surprisingly, this does not yet dissuade me.

I run and run and run. My heart pounds, my lungs burn, my T-shirt is drenched in sweat, and I gasp for air. Must. Keep.

Breathing.

Eight-week training schedule for beginners? (gulp)

I look back to see how far I’d gone. I had run the length of two driveways.

It looks like I might need to download The-Couch-to-5K-Running-Plan app.

Oh, dear God.

Three miles? Holy crap!

OK, I’ll just start out slow with short distances and build my way up, day by day.

I decide to warm up by walking around our neighborhood first. I’m huffing and puffing. Then I reach down to put on my other sneaker. Once I lace up both running shoes (the pretty-in-pink Pumas that have only seen action when I’m running late), I grab my iPod and head out the door.

“You don’t run,” he wisely reminded me.

“It’s not that I can’t run. I just don’t like to run,” I explained. “But I think I’d like this. Look how colorful it is.”

Yeah, ‘cause that’s what makes running fun – powdered tempera paint thrown in your face.

But, I like that the Color Run has no winners (and thus, no losers) because it’s an untimed race. I could even walk when I got too tired. This is so my speed.

If nothing else, I’d be doing a community service by making the other runners look good. ( You’re welcome!)

Kevin brushed it off, thinking it was just one more I-need-a-change thing I was going to start and not finish. But I was determined.

The next day, I started to prepare. First, I Googled, “How far is a 5K race in miles?”

(I never did learn the metric system back in 5th grade.)

I’ve got my keep-to-the-beat music pumping, everything from “Situation” ( Yaz) to “Waking Up In Vegas” (Katy Perry) to “This Is How We Do It” (Montell Jordan). I’m psyched! After a half-mile brisk walk, I’m all warmed up, ready to take off and hit my stride. I got this.

“It looks like I might

I alternate my pace to increase the chance that I will actually make it around the block. Walk for two driveways, run for two driveways, walk for two, run for two.

Heart. Still. Exploding. Walk for three, run for one, walk for four, crawl for one.

Besides my body giving out halfway around the block, my initially positive, kick-ass inner dialogue also fails me at this point.

What the heck was I thinking? My legs ache. I can’t breathe. Quick, smile at the neighbor and pretend you’re having fun. Crap, I still have half a block to go.

I could be at Panera having a bagel. This song sucks. You suck. Go back to bed.

In the distance, I see my front porch, beckoning me home with welcome anticipation, like a mom running out to meet her little kindergartener after his first day at school.

need to download

Slowly, one exhausted, quivering step at a time, I reach my house, open the door, collapse on the floor and vow never to do that again.

The-Couch-to-5K-

It wasn’t fun, I didn’t have the time of my life and it really is because I can’t run.

Running-Plan app.”

And, I’m OK with that, realizing that I need to buy this T-shirt that I saw online: Training For a Marathon (on Netflix). 

SASSY | JULY & AUGUST 2016

17

SASSY

health

celery: Nutritious, Delicious Summer Meals with a Snap

By: Ashley Talmadge

I

t’s the complementary crunch in a chicken salad. Or the savory supplement in a stew. The fact is, most of us use celery merely as an accessory in a tasty recipe.

But good-tasting, good-for-you celery is a veggie that has no problem holding its own.

While the ancient Greeks touted its medicinal properties, this versatile member of the parsley family is now used as a nutritious food source worldwide. Jonny Bowden, PhD (aka “The Rogue Nutritionist”) includes celery in The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth. All parts of the celery plant—leaves, stalks, heart, and root—may be eaten.

Here are 5 reasons your family should sing the praises of celery: Lowers blood pressure and stress levels.

Celery contains phthalides which naturally relax blood vessels.

Skylor Powell, certified health coach and founder of Sprout Health, says, “This creates more space within the vessels for blood to flow, and pressure decreases.” Powell adds that phthalides also work to decrease stress hormone levels. “This helps to decrease blood pressure, but more importantly helps to lower stress!” she says.

Fosters healthy bones. Celery is rich in Vitamin K, a nutrient important in both the development and maintenance of healthy bones. Just one cup of raw chopped celery (three 7-inch stalks) provides almost 40 percent of the recommended daily allowance of Vitamin K. Aids weight loss. Celery has often been cited as a “negative calorie food,” meaning that more calories are 18

JULY & AUGUST 2016 | SASSY

supposedly burned in digesting it than are actually contained in the food. While experts may not agree on the validity of this concept, there’s no question that celery is a good weight loss tool. At just 18 calories per cup, and with its high water and insoluble fiber content, celery can help you shed the pounds.

Conquers colds. Celery leaves are rich in flavonoid antioxidants and vitamins A and C. These nutrients help boost the immune system, and may protect against cancer too.

Vitamin A is also necessary for maintaining healthy mucous membranes and good vision.

Harmonizes happily. Celery is easily integrated into a wide range of specialized diets, from diabetic to caveman, and vegan to gluten-free. In Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone Deborah Madison notes, “The clean taste of celery is a surprise to those who have never eaten it cooked. It’s so readily available and easy to work with, I urge you to try it.”

Is Your Celery Stalking You? Like almost everyone, you often have a surplus of celery in your vegetable drawer, right? Here are some tips for saving and savoring those leftovers: Store it properly. Trim the base and cut off any blemished leaves. Rinse with water, and dry well. Wrap the celery in foil, being sure to cover the bunch completely by folding the foil over the ends. Properly stored celery can last up to four weeks.

Crown it “Queen of the Meal.” Use celery as a major component in a dish, rather than as a sidekick. Make a snappy slaw with lots of finely chopped celery, some raisins, and your favorite mayo or vinegar-based dressing. Or slice several stalks, and toss with whole grain pasta, fresh tomatoes, feta, and olive oil.

Go for the greens. Although often thrown into the stockpot as an afterthought, celery leaves shouldn’t be overlooked as a vibrant accompaniment.

Use them in combination with other leafy greens in salads, as a substitute for parsley or cilantro, or even as the base for a pesto or dip.

Make it kid-friendly. Think outside the basic “bugs on a log” snack.

Powell suggests, “Put celery in a smoothie with a cup of frozen mango, a banana, a cup of blueberries and 1 teaspoon of honey.” Or add finely chopped celery to peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

Grow it. Don’t discard the base! Your kids will love this simple gardening project. After you’ve cut it from the stalk, set the base in a shallow dish of water for about a week. When you notice that the new yellowish inner leaves have started to turn green, you can transfer it to a planter. Cover the whole base with dirt, except for the emerging green leaves. Water it well, let it flourish, and maybe you’ll be buying a lot less celery. 

Celery Radish Slaw  1 bunch celery, thinly sliced (about 5 cups)  1 bunch radishes, each halved and thinly sliced  1 cup grated carrot  ½ cup chopped green onion  ½ cup chopped red bell pepper  ¾ cup raisins  ¾ cup sunflower seeds

Dressing:

 ½ cup mayo  1 tbsp mustard  1 tbsp honey Combine vegetable ingredients. Chill.

Mix dressing ingredients and toss with veggie mixture just before serving.

Celery Trivia  It is alleged that the Romans wore wreaths of celery to protect against hangovers. So that stalk of celery in a Bloody Mary may be more than a stirring device.  The “holy trinity” (or “mirepoix”) in French cuisine consists of celery, onions and carrots.  Just one ounce of celery seeds is needed to produce one acre of celery plants.

SASSY | JULY & AUGUST 2016

19

SASSY

balance

Jump Start Your Mornings By: Rita Miller

They exist everywhere. The neighbors who mow their lawn at 6 A.M. and the friends who exercise before the sun comes up, all before they start a 10 hour workday. Where does their energy come from? How do they manage to be active for all but six hours of the day?

I asked five sassy women what their secrets are to jump starting a busy day. Here are their answers!

Dr. Lori Risser is a South Bend dentist and mother of two. In addition to her busy practice, she heartily supports Give Kids a Smile and Girls on the Run, both benefitting local children. Her dental practice “buys back” Halloween candy every year in an effort to improve dental health in our community. Her secret to managing all these areas of her life is to start the day out “with a big glass of ice water, stretches and a morning run.” She has already prepared her daughter’s backpacks and lunches the night before so she can reach the office early to review charts. This starts her day in a “calm and peaceful” manner.

Dr. Lisa Meyers is a chiropractor, located in Mishawaka. She is a new business owner, having purchased the practice from Dr. Pat Case. In addition to transitioning the practice, she has two children, and actively supports her River Park neighborhood. She is part of the WBOM, a local group of business owners who also offer charitable time and donations to local organizations. Her secret to the morning is “move!” She starts the day with stretching and exercise. Her motto is “move to improve your day!”

Lisa Wagler-Horvath is not only a mother of three young children, she owns two businesses: Lisa’s Ledgers (accounting) and she is a Roden and Fields consultant (skincare). If all that isn’t enough, she models for Ali’s On the Run, a local retail shop! To keep her energy up for the day, the first thing she does in the morning is “fill her water bottle with ice cold water” before heading out the door with the dog for some fresh air.

Adriana Macri is a recent graduate from IUSB and she works for her family business, Macri’s Italian Bakery, on Colfax. Every day, she greets people with a big smile, works the counter, makes deliveries and handles all aspects of the family business. At Easter, she packed me special boxes of goodies, making sure each had exactly what I wanted for gifts. She starts the day right at the bakery with an espresso and homemade biscotti. When she told me this I almost got up from my desk and ran over to the bakery to grab biscotti!

Erin Bonin is the Marketing Director at Kruggel Lawton, a public accounting firm in South Bend, Elkhart and St Joseph Michigan.

Her days are spent talking with clients, preparing news releases, working between the three offices and meeting with staff.

In her spare time, she loves to travel.

She starts the day with exercise! Every weekday at 6 A.M., she is at the gym for her workout. It makes her “more energized and productive at the office.”

She feels both accomplishment and relief at checking off an item from her long “to do” list.

“She starts the day right at the bakery with an espresso and homemade biscotti.”

Each of these sassy women is someone whom I admire.

I can see how each starts the day with some personal time, time well spent considering they have long days ahead of them. What is your favorite morning routine?  SASSY | JULY & AUGUST 2016

21

SASSY

work

By: Lisa A. Beach

5 Things I Don’t Miss About

Corporate Life

When I ditched my corporate life to be a freelance writer (and then a stay-at-home mom/ homeschooler), I expected some trade-offs. Looking back, the pros outweighed the cons by far. While I do miss the steady paycheck (admittedly, that’s a big one), I don’t miss much else from my days as a corporate worker bee.

5 Things I Don’t Miss About Corporate Life...

1. Dealing with weird co-workers and office politics.

I once worked with a woman who smelled like an egg. Literally, like a hard-boiled egg left sitting in the sun for days. And she smoked. And she believed in the power of crystals and a giant protective bubble that guarded her like an invisible force-field. And on top of all those pluses, she was a man-hating, scorned, bitter divorcée. She was one crazy, smelly lady. I don't miss that. I also don’t miss diving out of the way of that back-stabber in marketing. You know, that brown-nosing, blame-shifting, credit-stealing co-worker who will stop at nothing to get ahead? Yeah, her. Granted, as a work-at-home mom, I’m around two moody, hormonal, bickering teens. But that’s a different kind of office politics. And I can usually solve the bickering by withholding their screen time.

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2. Commuting. When I lived and worked in New Jersey, I had

5. Missing my boys grow up. I saved the best for last because

a 45-minute commute to one of my jobs – in good weather and normal traffic. Throw in a blizzard, blinding rainstorm, construction, or at least one traffic-snarling accident a week and my one-way trip would top out over an hour. One time, a record 3 ft. snowfall buried us overnight. My boss (who lived 5 minutes from work) called me at 10 a.m. wondering why I wasn’t at work.

Well . . . since there’s a snowdrift as tall as a 6th grader blocking my front door and I can only see the roof of my snowed-in car and the snowplows won’t get to my little neighborhood-in-the-woods for hours, why do you think I’m not at work? My Attendance Nazi Boss actually docked me a vacation day for this. Now, as a work-at-home mom, I simply walk down the stairs. Nice.

this is where the big payoff kicks in. Because I chose family over career, I didn’t miss my boys’ childhood. I relished being home with my kids to witness all their milestones: first steps, first words, first fights between brothers, first day of kindergarten, more fights between brothers, etc. Hearing the details of my boys’ childhood from a daycare provider would be like hearing that someone else hit the Powerball jackpot. If I’m not the one personally walking away with a fistful of cash, then it’s just a sound-bite about someone else’s good news. So being there for my boys? Priceless. 

3. Buying a work wardrobe. Bordering on tomboyish (minus the athletic skills), I never really liked wearing dresses. (This might date back to my toddler days wearing itchy Easter outfits, complete with white gloves, hats and itchy crinoline to poof out my little-girl dresses in the ‘60s.) Throw in a blazer, stockings and high heels, and I feel like I’m practically smothering in my own straitjacket layering of clothes and teetering on stilts. As a work-at-home mom in Florida, I’ve adopted a more comfortably casual style—jeans and no-iron shirts (winter wear) or shorts, tank tops and flip flops (the other nine months). My go-anywhere style translates well to working pool-side on my laptop, chauffeuring the boys to school or running to Costco.

4. Attending meetings. I don’t do mornings, so those 8 a.m. weekly departmental meetings were killer. I need at least 30 minutes for the caffeine to kick in before I can actively listen to sales forecasts, HR policy changes, committee reports and new dress code mandates. Plus, most meetings were nothing but a huge time-suck, where 90% of the discussions were irrelevant to my job, a rehash of old problems that never got solved or dominated by some blow-hard who tried to force-feed his opinions to everyone. And, if I was unlucky enough to be stuck sitting next to The Egg for the meeting, I might as well be in Corporate Hell.

I might as well be in Corporate Hell.

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WWW.BETHZASTUDIO.COM SASSY | JULY & AUGUST 2016

23

SASSY

work

Job

Searching in the Summer

By: Allison Boelcke Smith

There is a common misconception that companies take a break from hiring during the summer. And while it's true that many key influencers and decision makers are in and out of the office using up their summer vacation time, they still have positions to fill. Plus, since many other candidates take the summer off from job hunting, you'll likely find yourself faced with less competition.

Use these tips to establish your expectations and get your summer job search heating up: Be Patient and Flexible

Bring it Up at Social Events

Prepare yourself for the summer hiring process to not be as streamlined as you may be used to from past job searches. It may take longer for your application to be reviewed, to get an interview scheduled, and to hear back between each step in the process. Adjusting your mindset ahead of time can prevent you from unnecessary concern about why it's taking so long and fretting that you've been rejected. As an added bonus, your patience and flexibility will demonstrate to hiring managers that you're enthusiastic about the position.

Whenever you research job search advice, you’ll find networking at the top of the list of recommendations. From possible job leads to personal referrals, talking to other people can increase your chances of finding a great new position. However, many job seekers struggle with finding opportunities to network. Fortunately, summer is prime time for social events, so take advantage! When you're making small talk with a stranger or catching up with a friend, don't be afraid to bring up the fact that you're looking for a new job. Even in the context of an informal conversation, you could end up improving your job search.

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Be Open-Minded If you're trying to build up your resume, such as to avoid employment gaps or to change careers, you may want to consider seasonal summer positions. While the phrase "summer job" may make you think of a teenager working minimum wage for extra cash, there are actually many opportunities for professional seasonal jobs. Industries may experience an upswing in demand and need more people for specific projects, or they be in need of someone for vacation coverage. The right contract position can play an important role in your overall career advancement strategy by getting your foot in the door of a company/industry and allowing you to gain more experience in an area until you find your dream job.

Keep an Eye on Email It's summer and your life doesn't have to go on hold because you're searching for a job. In fact, dedicating yourself to a hardcore effort with no breaks could actually hurt your odds by making you burn out and lose motivation. So by all means, indulge in all of the summer fun activities or vacations you have planned, with one caveat: opt to remain accessible to communication from potential employers. Commit to regularly checking your email and returning phone calls or you could wind up missing out on the chance to pursue opportunities because hiring managers couldn't reach you in time.

“Regularly checking your email and returning phone calls or you could wind up missing out on the chance to pursue opportunities.”

Dress Appropriately Your interview attire is a major contributing factor to the first impression you give to hiring managers. Even if you have a go-to professional outfit, the scorching summer heat may not make it practical. Opt for an outfit that is temperature appropriate, but obviously still fitting in a professional situation. A simple way to dress for summer job interviews is to downsize the weight of the fabric, such as wearing a lightweight cotton cardigan instead of a heavy blazer. Avoid overly casual items like flip flops, thin-strapped tank tops, or cropped pants. If you're unsure of how conservative the dress code is at a place you're interviewing, you could even look up the employee manual online or simply ask Human Resources.

Don't let your job search motivation lose its fire this summer. If you’re serious about switching your job, taking an unnecessary break for the summer can cause you to lose momentum and make it challenging to start back up in the fall. With some adjusted expectations and strategies, you can make your summer job search a success!  SASSY | JULY & AUGUST 2016

25

SASSY

on the cover

PHOTOGRAPHY:

Amy Reinert Photography MAKEUP:

Bethza Professional Makeup Studio

Can she do it all?

You Bethza she can!

26

By: Christina Clark JULY & AUGUST 2016 | SASSY

I

n the heart of historic downtown Elkhart you’ll find in a neat little corner entrance right off of Main Street and Lexington Avenue for Bethza Professional Makeup Studio. Stepping inside, one finds oneself transported to a more fashionable place, perhaps something out of Chicago or New York, where the energy is high and the look is always on point. With the brick and wood construction, the white accents, the flood of natural and intentional lighting one finds oneself, fittingly, in a world of sleek beauty. Sitting down with Bethza Seminario, the namesake and co-founder of the studio, is quickly a very comfortable experience, and her story is an inspiring journey of unexpected turns and beautiful outcomes.

Coming to the United State from Peru at the age of 15, Bethza found herself settling into Elkhart with her parents, who had already discovered it and began to call it home. Discovering Elkhart was sort of a happy surprise, when one of her father’s clients moved to Elkhart. Her family took a few road trips from their original location in Illinois, and her mother fell in love with the area.

After graduating high school, Bethza went on to study at Indiana University of South Bend with the intention of becoming a doctor, with a Pre-Med degree in Biology. After three years of pre-requisites, however, a little burnout started to set in.

Her story is an inspiring journey of unexpected turns and

beautiful outcomes.”

“I started getting into dancing and I felt like I did so much chemistry and biology my brain was about to explode. I started dancing and I started relaxing, and I felt like life was back: the artistic part of me was back,” she said.

Taking lots of art electives and Middle Eastern dance classes, specifically belly dancing, for two semesters helped spark creativity. “It was about getting the best of a woman’s beauty,” she said of her Middle Eastern dance classes. Having practices and rehearsals harkened back to her childhood and upbringing with performance, but it also presented another challenge: makeup.

“I started doing performances with the dance troupe and my makeup would look really good but it wouldn’t last. I was always asking ‘how do professional dancers do it?’ I started researching a lot of makeup, and that’s basically how it all started. It’s how I started getting the opportunities to be a professional makeup artist and eventually to make it a career,” she said.

Around 2006, Bethza found herself going to Chicago to take professional makeup classes and workshops, taking a break from college. Working and taking classes in another state, however, “it was intense,” she admits. “I was able to travel to Chicago a lot so I was able to work there a lot doing runway and a lot of photo shoots. I started specializing in editorial and runway makeup. It was nothing like makeovers or beauty makeup or anything like that.”

SASSY | JULY & AUGUST 2016

27

She also found herself traveling to Carmel and Indianapolis as well, since there was always something happening in the bigger cities surrounding Elkhart, and with less editorial and runway opportunities locally she made her connections and jobs in larger ponds.

Becoming a mother shifted the priority in her work, not wanting to bring her son on location to be bored and off to the side in a strange new place every time she had a gig. So she again, adapted: she started working with more local photographers. “I made a lot of friends, a lot of my good friends right now are from whom I basically started working [more in the area]. A lot of salons, a lot of boutiques, a lot of photographers…they were wanting a shoot,” especially after they saw what sort of work she had done elsewhere. Bethza’s signature style was then born, from her background in editorial and her new training for professional wedding makeup to cater to the hometown needs: her combination of high definition makeup and effects with beauty has become what she is known for and the reason she is sought after.

Traveling on location was increasingly difficult with a small son, and after Bethza and her mother finished esthetics school, they were able to stop traveling as much and open the location in downtown Elkhart. Bethza’s mother brought her lash extension training to the business, and they were able to settle into the space more comfortably. The space allows her family to be close and her son a consistent place to be comfortable in and that he is familiar with.

Even with an impressive portfolio, it took time to establish locally.

I’ve been trying to work with lots of local businesses to

make something.”

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JULY & AUGUST 2016 | SASSY

“Right now, the work is recognized, but it was a lot of work for sure,” Bethza reassures me as we sit in the waiting area of her business. Fostering a sense of community also helped her grow in the area, “I’ve been trying to work with lots of local businesses to make something. Different photoshoots, different boutiques, different photographers, different jewelers…just come together and do amazing projects and we get it out there and everyone helps each other out, it’s everybody working at the same time. I feel like I’m doing it still, but before [when she was younger] I was going full power.” She is still sought after for larger commercial jobs, and has done work with CNN in the past, but it doesn’t have the same connection with her local and regular clients.

PHOTOGRAPHY:

Amy Reinert Photography

Bethza sees a future where she would like to be a motivation for other young girls inspired by makeup artistry.”

Keeping up on education is important to keeping current in the industry, and even just a month before this interview took place Bethza was in Chicago for a class with a celebrity makeup artist whom she sought critiques from on her current work, as she is always looking to grow her skills. As her website states, there is a focus on “bringing the big city fashion and trends of makeup in skin care to our Downtown Elkhart.”

Bethza sees a future where she would like to be a motivation for other young girls inspired by makeup artistry as well.

“The reality is that it’s not easy, and everything looks pretty and nice and

glamorous, but it’s a lot of work. I’d like to guide them the right way. Years ago I was thinking it would be nice to have a place where girls could come and get a more updated education, and there’s a lot of stuff that new artists could benefit from and make good money,” she said.

“I like to travel a lot, so even in the next five years while my son is still young, I’m going to try to start traveling with the girls I work for who are competing [pageants, etc] and now they’re taking me with them, so I want to find more education in bigger cities, discover what people have so I can bring it back here.”

With plans to return to IU South Bend to finish her studies, and convert her degree into a marketing or advertising degree, Bethza wants to set an example for her son that education is important.

She dabbled in marketing as her minor during her studies, and she has taught herself a lot of PR and marketing along the way, but still hopes to finalize her studies and take it even further. “I will definitely go back and specialize in marketing and advertising, so I can help my mom out and contribute to the other small businesses. We’re all going through the same thing, we all know the highs and lows.”  SASSY | JULY & AUGUST 2016

29

Scene Be Scene

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: Jessy@MichianaFamilyMagazine.com.

Drumming Up

Women Leaders Who THRIVE T

he Women’s Entrepreneurship Initiative ( WEI) at Saint Mary’s College hosted the 2nd annual “THRIVE: Engaging Women Conference” on Wednesday, May 25. The daylong conference was full of energy as women came together to hear local career women share their stories and offer points of connection, as well as empower one another.

Keynote speakers at the conference included WNDU-TV anchor Tricia Sloma, Regina Emberton of Michiana Partnership, and psychologist Milene Jeffirs, who spoke about their careers and the importance of speaking up as women.

The first Engaging Women Conference last year gained momentum and this year’s conference was completely sold out, said Joan McClendon, WEI associate project director.

“THRIVE creates a space for women to grow personally and professionally with actionable items for work and life,” McClendon said.

Sponsors of the event included 1st Source Bank, Saint Mary’s College, Gibson Insurance, Michiana Life, Ignite Michiana, Force 5, Beacon Academy, and Boling Vision Center.

At lunchtime, Nicole Williams drummed up the energy at the conference. Williams uses her musical talent and passion in her business “Rhythm to You” as a way of team building through interactive rhythm training.

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JULY & AUGUST 2016 | SASSY

Participants clapped and drummed along as Williams instructed, encouraging them to feel the beat as they came together to make one sound. Williams is a SPARKler, a former participant in WEI’s SPARK entrepreneurial program, who recently launched her business.

By Haleigh Ehmsen

McClendon said the energy in the room during lunch was impressive, and indicative of the power of bringing women together.

“Providing opportunities in which women are engaged with one another is powerful, and that power comes from a diversity of voices,” she said. “It is an honor to continue to expand this opportunity to a wider range of women from a multitude of professional, cultural, and social backgrounds.”

THRIVE participant Sherina Gonzalez has attended the conference the past two years and she continues to recommend the event to women in her circle.

"The Engaging Women Conference was an absolutely fantastic event,” Gonzalez said, “an opportunity to learn from local business owners and leaders, network with women in my community, as well as take the time to dwell on my own personal and professional goals.”

SPARK, an entrepreneurship training program for women, will launch their 11-week session in September. For more information visit saintmarys.edu/SPARK. Visit wei.saintmarys.edu for more information about next year’s THRIVE conference and other events. 

Photos Courtesy: Leanna Vite Photography

SASSY

recipe

Cookie Dough

Ice Cream

By: Katie & Theresa Slott

Time: 10 Minutes Prep + 2-4 Hours Chilling Time Makes: Half Gallon Ingredients:

Steps:

For the Cookie Dough: • 1 stick (1/2 c.) Unsalted Butter, Softened • ¼ c. Granulated Sugar • ½ c. Brown Sugar • 1 t. Vanilla • 2 T. Milk • 1 c. Flour • ½ t. Salt • ½ c. Dark Chocolate Chips, Coarsely Chopped

For the Cookie Dough: 1. Place the butter and the sugars in the bowl of a stand mixer.

2. Cream together on high for two to three minutes.

3. Stir in the vanilla and milk.

4. With the mixer on low, add in the flour and salt and mix until well blended.

5. Stir in the chopped chocolate bits.

6. On a lined baking sheet, press the cookie dough into a flat rectangle, about 1” high.

7. Place the baking sheet in the freezer for 30 minutes.

For the Ice Cream: • 2 c. Heavy Whipping Cream • 13 oz. Sweetened Condensed Milk, Chilled • 1 c. Milk • 1 t. Vanilla • Pinch of Salt

For the Ice Cream: 1. In a two-quart mixing bowl, place all the ice cream ingredients. Whisk together.

2. Place the ice cream mixture in the bowl of an ice cream maker and process according to the manufacturer’s instructions for 25-30 minutes.

Tips:

There are no eggs in this cookie dough or ice cream – so you can indulge without worry!

To Assemble: 1. In the last few minutes of the ice cream maker process, remove the baking sheet from the freezer and chop the cookie dough into irregular small bites.

2. When the ice cream maker has finished churning the ice cream, place it in the two-quart bowl and stir in the chopped cookie dough.

3. Freeze for two to four hours, until firm.

Katie and Theresa Slott are sisters-in-law who write the food blog, Cooking for the Fam, where they share lots of tips, family-favorite recipes and meal plans. For more recipes like this one, or to see step-by-step photos of this recipe, check out their website, www.cooking forthefam.com.

SASSY | JULY & AUGUST 2016

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