Josephine April 2004

Josephine St. Joseph’s women’s magazine

April 2014

Outfits for every occasion How to apply fake eyelashes Rock rubber boots this spring Clean up and donate

Join us in celebrating good health and having fun doing it!

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editorial: (816) 271-8594 toll-free: (800) 779-6397 advertising: (816) 271-8527 fax: (816) 271-8686 josephine@ newspressnow.com

Our staff Editor Jess DeHaven jess.dehaven@newspressnow.com Presentation editor Paul Branson paul.branson@newspressnow.com Photo editor Todd Weddle todd.weddle@newspressnow.com Designer George Stanton george.stanton@newspressnow.com

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| 04/14

Josephine

St. Joseph News-Press P.O. BOX 29 St. Joseph, MO 64502

inside

Outfits for every 14 occasion Mix and match separates to create looks for any setting

Cookie cutter 20 love They don’t have to come out just for sweet treats A lunch lady’s 22 mission St. Joe woman brightens lives at alternative school Natural woman 26 Makeup can help you look great without being overdone

girlstuff

Cover photography by Todd Weddle | Josephine magazine

cover girl

Lash luster

5

Rock those rainboots

6

Clean up and donate

9

Fix a bad hair day

10

Saving you green

11

Got calcium?

12

Digital spring cleaning

13

Seciley Fleck didn’t have to get out of her comfort zone to shoot our centerpiece feature and cover this month. The St. Joseph native and University of Central Missouri student has been modeling since she was 12. In fact, she’s heavily into prep mode right now for a summer of working Editor’s note in the south.

Two guys “All summer long is usually traveling for me,” and a question she says. “I’ll be down in Florida and Georgia, Josephine calendar then back here a few days, then back there.”

Between school, where she’s studying fashion We’re loving it merchandising, and bartending in the Kansas City Average Joe area, most of Seciley’s free time is spent on fitGetting Real ness. She works out twice a day and also focuses on eating healthy.

Meal time While she’s enjoying modeling now, her ultimate goal is to go into fashion product development.

Check out Seciley’s photo shoot on page 14.

the regulars

newspressnow.com/josephine

| Josephine magazine |

April 2014

4 7 7 8 28 29 30

3

editor’s note

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By JESS DEHAVEN Spring is truly here, and it’s finally time to open the windows and put away those bulky winter coats.

But in to this season we all know a little rain must fall.

When those April showers come along, you’ll want to keep your feet dry in style. Crystal Wiebe checked out some of the options out there, and she’s got some fashionable choices for you on page 6.

At this time of year, lots of you will be doing a little spring cleaning. If you’re clearing out some unneeded things, you might consider donating those items.

Julie Love checked in with some local businesses who take clothing and household goods, and she has the details on what kinds of things they’re looking for on page 9.

If you’re up for cleaning of a more virtual kind, check out Andrew Gaug’s story on digital spring cleaning on page 13. He’s got all kinds of tips on how to bring order to and store all those old e-mails, photos and documents.

Perhaps you’re also cleaning out your makeup bag and looking for a fresher look this spring? If so, you’ll want to turn to Lindsay Laderoute’s story on page 26. She found some expert tips on the art of looking natural — and beautiful.

Happy spring everyone!

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girlstuff How to apply fake eyelashes Not everyone is blessed with luscious, thick eyelashes.

While there are dozens of mascaras that claim to give the illusion of more lash, wearing fake lashes may be the way to go. There are full sets to create that thicker look or individual lashes for filling in between your own.

And they won’t cost a fortune. In fact, fake eyelashes from your local drugstore will be just fine for a couple uses.

Women in the ‘70s loved the large and gaudy accessory for a big evening out. But unlike their predecessors, today’s fake eyelashes are designed to look natural.

They simply accentuate your look.

Whether you’re heading out for a night on the town or simply going to work,

applying fake eyelashes doesn’t have to be a big production.

Here’s how: 1.

Prep your eyelid by removing makeup and curl your eyelashes.

2.

Prepackaged lashes can be long, so you may need to cut them down. Do this at an angle and at varying lengths.

Longer lashes should be put toward the outside corners of the eye.

3. For individual lashes, place a few

drops of lash glue on a piece of paper until it’s tacky. Use tweezers to apply the lashes, dipping the root into the glue and attaching.

4. For full sets of lashes, apply the lash glue at the base with a toothpick, wait until tacky and attach.

5. Use the tweezers to negotiate your way around the eyelid, making sure to not go too close to the inside of the eye.

Stay close to the root and use an eyeliner to cover any inconsistencies.

6. Use an orange stick to press the fake

lashes into place and wait a few minutes for them to dry.

7. Once completely dry, apply some mascara to blend in all lashes, fake and real.

Once you’re done with your new lashes, take them off using makeup remover.

— Jennifer Hall | Josephine magazine

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girlstuff

Rock rubber boots this spring Whether you are walking the dog or headed to work, traditional spring weather can make footwear choices challenging.

Stepping in a mud puddle is simply no fun if you’re wearing dress shoes or even sneakers.

Fortunately, rain boots exist — and it’s possible to wear them with almost any outfit.

When you think of rain boots, the classic, fisherman-style black rubber galoshes may come to mind. Waterproof, these boots usually come to just below the knee, and they’re often called Wellington boots or wellies.

Another common rain boot variation is rubber around the foot, leather on the ankle and laces up. While extremely functional, this work-style boot is probably not what you’ll opt to wear out socially.

However, you can look stylish in wellies.

The Huffington Post even put together a whole slideshow of women wearing all-black and all-red galoshes — over their jeans, with shorts, with skirts and dresses.

The rule seems to be to wear your black rubber boots the same way you would any pair of black boots.

“I wear my rubber boots for rain or snow,” says Lacey Amador, a Kansas City lifestyle blogger at www.thelifewithlacey.com.

“To turn rubber boots into snow boots, I add warm thermal socks where the top of the sock peaks out of the boot. In the rain 6

April 2014

I wear them with shorts or even ripped jeans cuffed to right above the boot.”

A trip to the shoe section of almost any store this time of year will tell you that wellies also come in every color of the rainbow, as well as in bold patterns, including stripes, camouflage, polka dots and even paw prints.

An informal survey of Facebook users revealed that the more colorful wellies should be approached with caution.

“Only in the yard/barn or during rain and snow — also no to Crocs and UGGS,” says Nikki Martz, a graphic designer in Kansas City.

“I don’t think they’re a fashion statement. I have Sloggers, and I love them, but I only wear them when it’s raining or when I think I might get wet grass stuck to my shoes,” says Kathy Stringer, a pet professional in Overland Park, Kan. Kara Ames, a hairstylist at Edmond Street Parlor in St. Joseph, says she wears funky rain boots only if the forecast calls for rain for most of the day.

She wears her boots over skinny jeans or with tights and a dress or skirt. She reasons that rain boots are “way cuter than wet or muddy pant legs” but packs other shoes if she’s going to work. “I can’t feel very serious or professional in them,” she says.

— Crystal K. Wiebe | Josephine magazine

| Josephine magazine |

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The Josephine calendar

April2014 Every Monday 9:45 a.m. (weigh-in at 8:30), TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) a non-profit, weightloss support and education group, East Hills Church of Christ, 3912 Penn St., 244-7187.

5:15 p.m. to 6 p.m., Cardio Fit Boxing, Monroe’s ATA, 2221 N. Belt Highway, 671-1133, $3 a class.

Two guys and a question Two male staff members answer a question, one from the fresher end of the dating pool, one a bit more seasoned.

Hopefully one of them will know what he’s talking about.

The question: What do you think women bring to the workplace that men don’t?

April 7 7 to 9 p.m., St. Joseph Camera Club, Rolling Hills Consolidated Library.

Every Tuesday 7:30 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. Cardio Fit Boxing, Monroe’s ATA, 2221 N. Belt Highway, 671-1133, $3 a class.

April 22 10 a.m., Welcome Wagon Social Club of St. Joseph, general meeting, Rolling Hills Library, 1904 N. Belt Highway. For additional information, go to www.stjomowelcomewagon.com.

7 p.m., Introductory session to Creighton Model Fertility Awareness and Appreciation, Heartland Medical Plaza. Course is designed to help couples cooperate with their fertility in family planning. Call 232-2258.

Every Wednesday 7:30 a.m., St. Joseph BNI weekly meeting, Pony Express Museum. Call 2629684.

5:15 to 6 p.m., Cardio Fit Boxing, Monroe’s ATA, 2221 N. Belt Highway, 6711133, $3 a class.

Eric Bradley

In my experience, I haven’t seen many things a woman can bring that a man can’t.

I will say I have yet to see a man bring things to the workplace that a woman cannot. I have worked with males and females who I consider great leaders.

To answer the question, I have seen women bring a distinct “female perspective” that I have not seen in their male counterparts. I would also say I’ve seen a “woman’s touch,” by some women ... softer approaches, more dialogue and cookies! To me, these female-influenced assets are invaluable to any modern organization.

Eric is the general manager of Fox 26 KNPN / News Press NOW / CW 6 / Telemundo. He is 37 and married.

Every Thursday

Dennis Ellsworth

The easy answer is sensitivity, creativity and (especially if they are mothers) skills at multitasking. The better answer is a more balanced view of the world.

My experience is many women are more involved in life beyond the office than their male counterparts. They have family connections, church involvements, supporting roles in the schools. They may have had early encouragement in writing or some other creative pursuit and have kept that going into adulthood.

As far as workplace communication, a lot of times women are good listeners and are not the first to speak up at a meeting, which tends to make them better contributors because they know more before they do talk.

Dennis Ellsworth, News-Press executive editor, recently celebrated his 60th birthday and 35th wedding anniversary.

10:30 a.m., 3 p.m., 4:30 p.m. and 6 p.m., knitting classes, Keeping Good Company, $20 for four weeks, call 364-4799.

Please see Page 9 newspressnow.com/josephine

| Josephine magazine |

April 2014

7

We’re loving it A look at what Josephine staffers are crazy about this month

When I asked a friend recently if she was wearing false eyelashes, she said her long lashes actually were the result of L’Oreal Extra-Volume Mascara with Collagen. I bought my own at Ulta for $8.99 to try it out, and the results are fantastic. They make lashes appear thick, full and incredibly long, and the results last all day. It also has the most effective non-clumping brush I’ve ever used, so the bristles and top of the tube never get goopy.

— Brooke Wilson

The Midwest weather can play havoc with your footwear. When the rain or snow come down, I usually resort to wearing some unattractive but functional footwear to and at work because I don’t want to ruin my nicer shoes (and I want warm and dry feet when sloping through the stuff outside). Sure I’ve carried shoes to change in to, but that’s a hassle. So I was excited when I came across PYSIS (Protect Your Shoes In Style) overboots. They’re knee-high boots in a material similar to raincoats that are made to go over your regular shoes, and they’re slightly quilted inside, which is great for keeping warm. I’ve worn mine with heels (the makers say they also fit over regular boots), and several people mentioned what a great idea they are. The boots collapse down and come with a storage bag, so you can tuck them away when you get to your destination. You can find them at www.pysis.com.

— Jess DeHaven

I just read “Eleanor & Park” by Rainbow Rowell in two short sittings. A former columnist for the Omaha World Herald, Rowell uses the Nebraska city as her setting in this novel, as well as in her first work, “Attachments.” Not only did I get to picture my hometown when I read this book, but her character development and story line made for a tale that couldn’t be put down. Her fictional – but oh so real – story of a first love will stay with me forever.

— Kim Norvell 8

April 2014

| Josephine magazine |

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As someone who’s recently spent a lot of time looking at real estate listings, I can testify that there are a ton of websites out there to help in the search. But my personal favorite is Better Homes and Gardens Kansas City Homes, www.kansascity homes.com. It has home listings from throughout Northeast Kansas and Northwest Missouri and is very user-friendly in everything from its search mechanisms to the information it provides, which I found to be more extensive than what’s available on a lot of similar sites.

— Erin Wisdom

It seems like more and more clothes are hand wash only, and I often would let mine pile up for weeks before hand washing them because the whole process was time-consuming. I looked up alternatives to hand washing online and the Tide Wash Bag was recommended, so I bought one to try out. It’s made out of fi ne mesh that protects delicates from zippers and agitators and also can be used in the dryer. It’s nice to buy clothes without having to check the washing instructions anymore.

— Kelsey Saythany

girlstuff CONTINUED FROM Page 7

6:45 to 7:30 p.m., Cardio Fit Boxing, Monroe’s ATA, 2221 N. Belt Highway, 671-1133, $3 a class.

April 10 9:30 a.m., St. Joseph Garden Club meeting, Joyce Raye Patterson Senior Citizens Center, program

by Connie McGraff, Hy-Vee floral arranger. Guests welcome, call 232-9151 for information.

April 17 5:30 p.m., Third Thursday Wine Tasting, Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art. Cost is $10 per person. Call 232-9750.

Every Friday 5 to 8 p.m., Friday Night Wine Tastings, Smooth Endings Fine Wines, Spirits and Cigars, corner of Belt and Beck, (816) 7494WINE, $5 per person.

Every Saturday 9 to 9:45 p.m., Cardio Fit Boxing, Monroe’s ATA, 2221 N. Belt Highway, 671-1133, $3 a class.

75018638

Clear out and donate Clear out the closet and de-clutter the drawers. It’s spring and that age-old tradition “spring cleaning” calls us to do some sprucing up and moving out.

With that in mind, many look at giving away unwanted items. But there are some do’s and don’ts when it comes to giving.

Most clothes closets around advertise they are looking for clean, gently used items. But this doesn’t mean you have to wash them. In fact, many wash the clothes before they are put out for sale.

But clean does mean without stains and holes.

With that in mind, you might remember to consider dry-cleaning clothes for consignment places. As we all know, one time through a washer and that silk

doesn’t look so appealing anymore and may go from an adult medium to a small dog size.

Lots of area thrift stores look for gently used furniture and household items. But again, there are some nonos. No mattresses. No large appliances. No auto parts. No hazardous materials, which includes those half-empty cans of paint you may have lying around.

One of the financial benefits of donations are the tax writeoffs. Most places will give you a form of some sort verifying your donation, but putting a dollar amount on things may be difficult. The IRS has a Donation Value Guide to help with that.

So get to packing and make room! Your clutter-free summer is just around the corner.

Area donation centers ■ Community Clothes Closet, 1203 N. Sixth, 364-1131 ■ Goodwill Stores, 200 S. Eighth, 232-3108, mokangoodwill.org ■ Once Upon A Child, 1213 N. Belt Highway, 232-4669 ■ Red Racks Thrift Store, 3025 S. Belt Highway, 279-4900, redracksthriftstores.com ■ Salvation Army, 810 N. 22nd, 233-3155 ■ Second Season Shop, 702 Messanie, 279-9136

Consignment stores ■ Spotted Dog Consignment ■ Upscale Resale ■ Lil Pink Closet — Julie Love | Josephine magazine

girlstuff

Use these tricks to fix a bad hair day Bad hair day? We’re here to help.

Two stylists at A New Day Spa, 312 Illinois Ave., gave Josephine readers their secrets to cure those bad hair blues.

Oil

If you’re prone to naturally slickeddown hair, try using a dry shampoo — or even baby powder.

“It helps absorb the oil out your hair,” says stylist MaKayla Gard.

The product is used at the roots, as well as on individual strands that appear greasy. Gard cautions, however, that some of the dry shampoos (especially baby powder) can only be used on lighter hair because it is essentially a white powdery substance.

She suggests using Keratin Complex Volumizing Dry Shampoo Lift Powder, which comes in custom colors for blondes, brunettes and neutrals. For a cheaper alternative, Gard suggests Redken Powder Refresh.

Frizz

If frizz is your thing, try using an oil-

10

April 2014

based serum. Sarah May, stylist, says the product can be applied whenever your locks begin to crisp.

It’s best to rub a dime-size amount between your hands and then finger comb it through your hair. She suggests Goldwell Kerasilk Anti-Frizz Serum or Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum for a cheaper option.

For the frizzy-haired girls with curls, stick to a styling cream. Her favorite products include MoroccanOil Intense Curl Cream or TIGI Bed Head Foxy Curls Contour Cream for a cheaper option.

“These are more of a paste so you can define each curl,” May says.

Static

It may be spring, but on those cold days when static drives you nuts, consider using a dryer sheet. Gard says it can be rubbed over your head and scalp to reduce static cling.

She also suggests mixing conditioner and water in a spray bottle, and using it to spritz your hair. This trick will help

| Josephine magazine |

weigh down your locks.

Flat

For those whose curls fall flat, invest a whopping $6 in a teasing comb with nylon bristles. Gard suggests carrying that and a travel-size bottle of hairspray in your purse at all times.

She also advises investing in Indie Hair Powder Round2, which is small enough to carry in a purse. This product is spread on the roots, which helps add volume.

Hair accessories

Finally, consider wearing a hat, scarf or headband to disguise hair problems that just won’t go away.

Hats and silk scarves are a big trend for women right now. Gard says it’s so easy to cover any hair problem — greasy, frizzy or cowlicks — with either of those options.

“You can put some big curls at the end of your hair and you’re good to go,” she says.

newspressnow.com/josephine

— Kim Norvell | Josephine magazine

girlstuff

Environmentally friendly tips to save money We’re always looking for ways to save money, so why not kill spotless as any expensive cleaners with harsh chemicals could. two birds with one stone? There are plenty of opportunities to Baking soda, toothpaste and vinegar are just a few substitutions. keep your cash while also preserving the environment. Here are Grow your own food just a few tips to keep your Earth and your wallet happy: It may cost a little to get a garden started, but growing your Change up your commute own fruits and vegetables ultimately would save you money as As springtime approaches, make an effort to drive your car well as a few trips to the grocery store. less. Walk to work if you’re close enough, or ride your bicycle to a friend’s house. You’ll save money on gas and get in some exer- Shorten your showers Everyone has those days where they want nothing more than cise, all while keeping the air clean. to take a long, hot shower before or after work, but five to 10 minReuse or recycle your boxes utes is really all that’s necessary. Reducing your shower time by You may have a few (or 10) cardboard boxes that have been just a minute or two will save gallons of water while also making laying around for months after shopping online for the holidays. your bill look a lot less intimidating.

Those are great for mailing and storage purposes but also take up quite a bit of space. Whatever you don’t decide to keep could Turn off the lights Save energy by making a habit of turning the lights off when easily be recycled. you leave a room or the house. It’s a simple task that’s easy to Green cleaning forget, but its an easy way to save money on your energy bill.

— Emily Gummelt | Josephine magazine Everyday household items can to get your kitchen sink just as

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girlstuff

Got calcium?

For many of us, milk was our beverage of choice growing up — mostly because schools and moms made it our only option. But as adults, it can become a little more difficult to incorporate it into our daily diets.

Luckily, milk isn’t the only way to get the calcium and other nutrients our bones need to stay strong and healthy.

Bones 101

Bones are constantly under construction, no matter what your age, and calcium is an important component to this process. Women undergoing menopause have an even greater need for calcium, as menopause causes women to lose calcium from bones, says Sheri Caldwell, Hy-Vee dietitian. Calcium needs vary for each woman, so she recommends you see a professional for individual assessment.

The nutrients bones need

Many women, especially those who are lactose intolerant, may be happy to know dairy products aren’t the only way to get a good dose of calcium. Leafy greens and beans also are great sources of calcium, as well as other important vitamins, Caldwell says.

And it’s not just calcium our bones need. In fact, many vitamins work together for bone health, says Caldwell. Vitamin K, potassium, magnesium, protein and healthy fats also play an important role in maintaining bone structure. Caldwell cautions to avoid 12

April 2014

refined sugars because they are acidic and can leach from bones.

Put those bones to work

“A healthy diet and exercise is key to having strong bones throughout life,” Caldwell says.

Active people tend to keep calcium in their bones, while sedentary people lose calcium, according to an article by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. When bones are put to work, they respond by becoming stronger and denser, the article says.

Caldwell recommends getting at least 30 minutes of exercise every day.

Don’t forget vitamin D

Vitamin D promotes calcium absorption and is needed for bone growth and remodeling. Your body naturally produces vitamin D when your skin is exposed to sunlight, and Caldwell recommends at least 30 minutes of safe sun exposure a day. This can be difficult, especially in the winter, so getting the vitamin from foods or supplements may be necessary. According to the National Institutes of Health, small amounts of vitamin D can be found in cheese, egg yolks and the flesh of salmon and tuna. Milk and some breakfast cereals, yogurts and brands of orange juice are fortified with a good dose of vitamin D.

| Josephine magazine |

—Kelsey Saythany | Josephine magazine newspressnow.com/josephine

girlstuff

Spring cleaning your computer There’s nothing wrong with keeping your head in the cloud when it comes to digital spring cleaning.

When it comes to organizing your digital needs, be it files on your computer, messages in your e-mail, photos or files in your iTunes, taking it to the cloud is a good thing.

Cloud technology basically stores all of your data on an external third party platform on the Internet, allowing you to store everything in case a hard drive goes bad or if you need to access it on the road.

Josh Davis, a local computer repairman and self-proclaimed technology enthusiast, says while cloud-storing technology has been around for awhile, he constantly sees people failing to use it.

“Companies like Apple want you to buy a bunch of them for sometimes a more expensive price tag. There’s affordable storage out there that will allow you to store everything for a good price,” he says.

Plans can range from free services for an allotted amount, to mypcbackup. com and Sugar Sync that will charge about $5 to $7 per month for storage ranging from unlimited to hundreds of gigabites of storage.

“I can’t tell you how much people regret not having it when their computer crashes or an accident happens,” he says. “It’s a great way to throw everything you’ve organized on a third-party platform.”

So how do you organize everything before that? It may take several hours, but it’s worth the hassle.

For e-mail: You can filter all those marketing e-mails into one giant display via Shoplilly.

You also can organize all of your contacts, be it through e-mail or social media, through the app Cobook on iPhone or Contacts+ on Android.

“We are honestly in a high time of apps and programs

that can finally help get your e-mails together without taking hours of clicking and deleting,” Davis says.

Apps for that: Shoplilly (www.shoplilly.com), CoBook (www.cobook.co) and Contacts+ (www.contactspls.com) For your pictures: Davis says it’s good to go through pictures and separate them into different files, like years, seasons or special events. When you’re done, upload them to a cloud service or you can add them to something like Google Drive.

For pictures of sunsets or what you had for lunch, put it on Instagram or Facebook and think about deleting it to avoid taking up any more space.

“Unless it was a $100 meal or a sunset somewhere exotic, it’s probably not going to be something you’re going to treasure forever,” Davis says.

Apps for that: Facebook, Instagram, Trovebox (trovebox.com) For music: The rise in popularity of streaming music services like Pandora, Spotify and Rdio, which can conjure up basically any song you can think of (save for some high-demand, high-cost artnewspressnow.com/josephine

ists like The Beatles, some Beyonce and Led Zeppelin), has helped many get organized.

If you’re still attached to your Zune or play music from your iPhone, a $20 program like Tune Sweeper can help clean up an iTunes music list that may be riddled with duplicates, spelling errors and missing album artwork. While similar programs like Rinse and TuneUp ceased operations, this one still exists.

“Some people think something like iTunes Match will solve all of their woes, but it seriously underperforms.

Third-party programs can help out a lot from what I’ve seen,” Davis said.

Apps for that: Rdio, Spotify, Pandora, Tune Sweeper (www. wideanglesoftware.com/tune sweeper) For your documents: Cloud services work great for documents, even some as simple as Google Drive, formerly known as Google Docs, that allows you to upload and edit documents easily, without fear of them being lost.

Of course, Davis says, be selective.

“Keep the notes and documents for your current job

| Josephine magazine |

April 2014

because they provide a good timestamp of everything and are easily searchable,” he says. “But when you’re done with that job, keep the cover letter and resume and get rid of the rest.”

Apps for that: Google Drive, Zip Cloud (www.zipcloud. com/) For online: After graduating, Melanie Termine realized that over the course of high school and college, she opened a lot of online accounts, from photo sites like Photobucket to journals like Livejournal, and most of them were embarrassing.

“There were a lot of emo quotes and pictures of parties I don’t think I’d want others to see, but I was young and thought ‘Who would care?’” she said.

While they didn’t cause her any problems, she decided to organize her online presence by deleting old accounts she didn’t want to follow her around.

“I basically whittled it down to the usual stuff — Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn,” she says.

—Andrew Gaug | Josephine magazine

13

Sequins, rhinestones and embellishments are a must, and sparkles are a girl’s best friend. Have fun wearing that bright shiny top and pairing it with dark jeans and those stilettos that rarely leave your closet. Top with a little black jacket. Bold jewelry and a fun clutch complete this look. Outfit supplied

by Lil’ Pink Closet.

Special thanks to the staff at the historic Missouri Theater for this photo shoot location.

Todd Weddle | Josephine magazine

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April 2014

| Josephine magazine |

newspressnow.com/josephine

Outfits for every occasion Mix and match separates to create looks for any setting

W

By BROOKE WILSON Josephine magazine

ith warmer weather steadily approaching, the prospect of building a fresh new wardrobe is an exciting change to the dull, bulky clothes of winter.

Women need many types of outfits to fit their professional and personal needs, but that doesn’t mean you have to spend a fortune on all new clothes. Functional, affordable separates can be reworked and used in different ways to stretch your wardrobe and your wallet. Shelly Lemke, co-owner of Lil’ Pink Closet, and Lindsey Davis, merchandise operations leader at J.C. Penney, have tips to keep in mind when you go shopping this spring.

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Mixing and matching has become the name of the fashion game. It’s much more cost effective to buy pieces that serve multiple purposes than buying an outfit that can only be worn in one specific setting. Not to mention, this type of wardrobe can be a lot more fun.

“Cardigans are definitely my number one,” Davis says of a closet essential every woman should have.

Light cardigans, jackets and blazers are great because they can be thrown together with a casual T-shirt and jeans on the weekend, but they pair well with a dress, skirt or slacks for a more formal affair. Layering is the way to go when transitioning from daytime to nighttime, plus it’s smart to have

When it comes to date night, fun and flirty is what it’s all about. To get this look, we took a fun lace-covered dress with a pop of teal, layered it with mixed metal necklaces and paired it off with high-heel booties. Every girl has a little black jacket in her closet that is a statement piece for your wardrobe and works well with multiple outfits.

Outfit supplied

by Lil’ Pink Closet.

multiple coverage options in shifty spring weather.

The same is true of the always-divisive leggings. While many people scoff at the idea of leggings acting as actual pants, they are useful to wear with long tunics or short skirts and dresses. Black leggings and tights are now considered a wardrobe essential for layering purposes. They also come in hundreds of fun colors and prints to spice things up.

“A lot of people wear the long maxi dresses, and even some of

Special thanks to Bad Art Bistro for the photo location on these two pages.

your summer dresses, you can do the leggings and a jacket and wear them all year round so you get more wear out of your clothing,”

Todd Weddle | Josephine magazine

16

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Appearance is the first thing noticed in the workplace or heading to an interview. Keep it simple and stylish; stick to blacks, grays and blues. We chose a longer- length dress and layered it with an open-front cardigan. A lot of dresses can be layered to give a more classy look and make them more office appropriate.

Leave the stilettos at home, and make sure the shoe you chose is something that will bring confidence while wearing, like a pump.

A simple necklace completes this outfit. Outfit supplied by Lil’ Pink Closet.

Todd Weddle | Josephine magazine

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| Josephine magazine |

April 2014

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CONTINUED FROM Page 16

Lemke says.

Another wardrobe essential all women are familiar with is the little black dress. Depending on how you accessorize, it can be appropriate for the office, date night or girls’ night out.

“For work you might wear a black dress and black heels, but for a date night, throw in a pair of red heels or a fun statement necklace that maybe is bright and colorful. ... For an interview, say you had the black dress, you could add an open cardigan over it to kind of keep your arms covered,” Lemke says.

She and Davis agree that bold, colorful statement necklaces are an accessory that instantly can transition an outfit from day to night. Replace your dainty chain necklace and small stud earrings after you leave the office for jewelry that pops when you go out on the town. Colorful patterned scarves and sleek evening bags also help differentiate an outfit’s look and purpose.

Since many workplaces are developing a more casual attitude toward dress codes, Davis suggests getting at least one great pair of dark-wash, straight leg denim jeans because they can be dressed up or down. Straight and skinny cuts usually do a better job of making the wearer look taller Todd Weddle | Josephine magazine

It’s all about simple, comfortable and light colors like taupe and khaki for a casual weekend. This look is a lightweight long-sleeve top layered with a soft lace vest and paired with skinny jeans and a comfortable slip-on shoe. A simple necklace dresses up the outfit. You could go anywhere in this outfit — it’s simply lovely. Outfit supplied by Lil’ Pink Closet.

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April 2014

| Josephine magazine |

and thinner than flares and boot cuts.

If you’re looking for better

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exercise gear, Lemke and Davis think another wardrobe essential to mix and match would be a long tank top. They come in multiple colors and styles and are great to layer with dressy tops, but they do their best work in the gym or on the track. Many stylish leggings, yoga pants and tops now are both fashionable and functional. They have benefits like compression, slim pockets to store phones and keys, moisture-wicking fabrics and sometimes even built-in phone or iPod connection capabilities.

Although some women have difficulty learning how to pair separates properly, there aren’t any rules or right and wrong. The main piece of advice is getting past the urge to be too “matchy-matchy.”

“I think women struggle because whenever people are trying to mix and match outfits, they try too hard to match (the same colors). ... Instead, they should think in terms of what colors go together,” Davis says.

Rather than pairing shades of black and gray with a gray blazer, for example, think about other colors and textures that would pair well with gray, like formal navy silk or fun yellow cotton.

“It’s mainly about layering, you know, just trying to make pieces work. You don’t have to have a thousand pieces,” Lemke says.

Workout clothing is perfect motivation to get you moving. Yoga pants are a perfect example of what to wear if going to the gym or running around doing errands. Add a fun T-shirt and a comfortable tennis shoe to make this outfit stylish. A statement workout bag completes this outfit. Outfit supplied by Lil’ Pink Closet.

Todd Weddle | Josephine magazine

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| Josephine magazine |

April 2014

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April 2014

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Cookie cutter love

They don’t have to come out just for sweets

By CHELSIE KORMEIER

using cookie cutters on pineapple, mango, watermelon and cantaloupe for her children.

“They thought it was cool!” she says. et me start off with a “But they eat fruits and veggies anyway, so confession: I have an it wasn’t a game changer for this family.”

However, I bet some moms out there have obsession with cookie a child who is “the picky one,” and if it’s not cutters. something sweet, they don’t want it.

If your child attends school and is a There, I said it, and now I feel better. picky eater, you have no idea the amount I love all shapes and sizes! They are of food they are consuming, let alone the adorable! But just because I love cookie cutters doesn’t mean I use them all of the nutrients they are getting. Surprise them with a colorful lunch packed just for them time. Unfortunately, I’m not supermom. with food in the shape of their favorite Is it just me or does anyone else have animal or different designs. Every girl that “junk drawer” in their kitchen that overflows with every kitchen utensil that loves hearts, and boys love stars, espegets used once a year? Maybe twice if you cially if you write a note in his lunch box about Captain America. feel like rolling out a lot of sugar cookie When it comes to your child and food, dough. Moms have more things to worry it shouldn’t feel discouraging, but a lot of about than the overflow of cookie cutters the time it can be frustrating. Instead of shoved in the drawer.

I don’t know about you, but for me, spend- feeling disheartened when your child is not interested in his food, choose to turn ing time with my little girls ranks high on lunch into a 15-minute bonding opportuthe priority list. For my girls, it’s always nity. Don’t just slap that PB&J sandwich the little things that matter the most. As on the plate and watch him pick at it for a mom, how we choose to spend our time half an hour. Have him assist you in cutwith our babies, no matter their ages, matters a great deal. Kitchen creativity doesn’t ting out different shapes. Don’t miss out have to be dreaded. Simple is always better, on sweet moments like these that also can turn into learning opportunities. This right mommies? So having said all that, might be the very thing you have been here are a few great tips to help you put looking for to help interest your child in your cookie cutters to good use. food all over again.

Although the obvious thing is to make Kay Gibson is another mom who wantcookies with cookie cutters, there are far ed to get creative, and here’s what she had better and healthier ways you can use to say about her experience. them to make things with your child.

“When I used to do in-home daycare, When you can’t get your child to eat, it can seem like a workout just to make sure I would use cookie cutters to make fun shapes out of their toast, pancakes, they get the proper nutrition in their little bodies. Rachel Crawley, a mom of four cheese, etc. The kids always loved it,” she with a baby on the way, has experimented says. “I used stars, hearts and circles to help teach shapes in a fun way. using cookie cutters for different snacks.

“The favorite was always Mickey “We rarely have sandwiches because Mouse-shaped foods, though, rather than my 2-year-old is gluten intolerant and I just a geometric shape. It was a character just do simple and quick,” she says. they were familiar with so they loved it,” Instead, Rachel will do a lot of lettuce she says. “They would even pretend it wraps for her children since they don’t was Mickey and make the food walk/talk keep a lot of bread in the house. Rachel ... so much for teaching them not to play went the fruit route and experimented Josephine magazine

L

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| Josephine magazine |

with their food, right?”

Maybe your children attend school and you feel like you miss a lot of the day with them. Plan in advance and save this super easy activity for you and your little one together in the evening. Kaycee Gibson made Minnie Mouse pancakes — what little girl wouldn’t love that?

Change things up and plan an evening breakfast for you and your family.

There are countless activities any mom could create that fit her child when it comes to cookie-cutter creativity. The food options you can cut out are endless. Here are a few easy examples: cheeses, lunch meats, apples, cucumbers, breads, pancakes and a huge variety of fruits and vegetables.

Always think ahead before you go cutting away — some foods take longer then others.

Jessica Fediw is a mommy blogger who shares some of her adventures in life, the things she crafts and more. I found a scrumptious apple sandwich on her website. She uses a mini heart-shaped cookie cutter to make it. For a step-bystep tutorial, you can visit her website at www.happytogethercreates.com and search for “hearts in apple sandwich.”

My little girl loved the apple sandwiches, and I must admit that I did, too. Go ahead a try something new today. Put those cookie cutters to use.

Apple Sandwich 1 apple Chocolate chips Granola Peanut butter Mini heart-shaped cookie cutter Slice apple into thin slices. Put chocolate chips, granola and peanut butter in small dishes. Punch out center of apple with heart shape. Spread on peanut butter, chocolate chips and granola in that order. Take two apple slices and put together. Dig in! Remember to let your little ones assist in helping make the sandwich — a little mess is good for the soul.

April 2014

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Jessica Stewar t | Josephine magazine

Mary Caw tries to make school fun for the students at the Colgan Alternative Resource Center by dressing up. Mrs. Caw has worked in food services at the school for 10 years.

A lunch lady’s love St. Joe woman brightens lives at alternative school

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April 2014

| Josephine magazine |

newspressnow.com/josephine

By ERIN WISDOM Josephine magazine

M

ary Caw knows some kids need a hero, and she has no qualms about filling that role — even if it requires a costume.

The St. Joseph woman has worked in food services at the Colgan Alternative Resource Center for the past 10 years and has spent much of that time dressed as Batman in an effort to make the school a place kids want to be.

“I don’t know a child I don’t love,” Caw says. “I think that’s the one thing I’m here for. These kids need more love than anybody.”

According to the St. Joseph School District website, the Colgan Center works to help elementary, middle and high school students succeed when conventional methods have failed. Students who attend the school typically have experienced suspensions, low academic success, low motivation and a sense of not belonging or of having no significant connection to an adult at their traditional school.

Caw understands the factors that bring students to her lunchroom, but she doesn’t let these cast a negative light on any of them.

Rather, with her, everyone has a clean slate — as well as a chance to experience some levity in a life that might not

otherwise have much of it.

“It’s so hard for some of these kids to have the enthusiasm to come to school,” she says. “They need somebody to love them, all the time.

Whatever outfit I have to wear to do that is fine.”

On days she doesn’t feel like wearing her Batman costume — complete with special pants, a special shirt, a utility belt, a cape, glasses and a wig — she goes with a hillbilly costume instead.

But Batman is what the kids know her for, and their appreciation for her is evident in the abundance of Batman-themed gifts from them that she displays in her office area in the school kitchen.

For Caw, making school fun also calls for doing an occasional dance or leading an impromptu game of music trivia as students go through the lunch line (Although they aren’t necessarily familiar with her favorite songs, they do know she loves AC/DC and have learned that throwing out that band name is a pretty good bet). She even offers students a chance to dress up occasionally, perhaps in exchange for extra food at lunch or some other treat.

“I can get kids to do anything,” she laughs. “I got a boy who was on the verge of being in prison to wear a tomato suit around the buildPlease see / Page 24

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‘I don’t know a child I don’t love,’ Mary Caw says. This is obvious during lunch at Colgan Alternative Resource Center where she dresses up as Batman and dances and sings for the students.

casions, she’s had students come to her who were hiding from the police and has coning for a hamburger.” vinced them to turn themselves in. Although But at the root of this desire to make school these scenarios are at opposite ends of the fun is something more serious: what Caw spectrum, in both cases, they show how wants most of all is to see students earn much of an impact her efforts to connect their high school diplomas. with each individual student have made.

“Every day they walk through the door, we Dee Anna Kelly, the counselor at the Colhave to make it the best day they’ve had, so gan Center, notes that when parents visit the they’ll come back,” she says. “It’s important school, Caw often is one of the first people to me for them all to succeed.” they want to meet because they’ve heard so She adds that sometimes, students will much about her from their kids — although come by after graduating to show her their they’re sometimes still surprised to find out diplomas — even if it’s been a while since exactly who she is. they left the Colgan Center to return to their “They’re shocked a lunch lady can have traditional schools. On a couple of other oc-

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that much impact on their kids’ lives,” Kelly says. “Parents will say, ‘I thought Miss Mary was a counselor.’ I say, ‘Well, she wears many hats.’”

Outside of school, Caw also fills several rolls, including wife — she married her husband of 36 years when she was 16 — mother and grandmother.

She even has a family band in which she plays guitar.

But despite having a closeknit family at home, Caw still counts the staff and students at Colgan as family, as well.

They are so much a family to her, in fact, that when she injured her leg last year and had to take a month off of school, she missed everyone so much she came to visit in a wheelchair.

“It’s all about family for me,” she says. “I need for them to see me every day. I need to see them every day.

I try to never take a day off, because I really want to be there for them.”

Caw has been promised she can stay at Colgan until she retires — which she hopes is no time soon. After all, she has plenty of superhero power left to use.

“I think we as lunch ladies have a lot more pull than we give ourselves credit for,” she notes. “We’re all superheroes out here, because we have to be for the kids. It’s all about never giving up on them.”

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Natural woman

By LINDSAY LADEROUTE Josephine magazine

Makeup can transform your look in a matter of minutes. You can create a glamorous look or one that is retro and everything in between. But the best part about makeup is that it can highlight your natural beauty and make you look your best without covering it up. The art of looking natural but not overdone can be difficult, but with help from a top makeup artist it can be made easy and quick. Read on to find out the best ways to enhance your natural beauty.

Your skin is a huge factor when it comes to looking natural.

Laurie Ramirez, a professional makeup artist in Kansas City, Mo., knows that foundation is the key to building an even, nat26

April 2014

ural look. Before you even begin the hunt for a color match, it is important to know what type of skin you have to be able to pick the right formula.

“If you have dry skin you need to go with a hydrating liquid or crème foundation, and if you have oily skin you need to go with a mineral foundation or an oil-free liquid foundation,” Ramirez says.

It also is important to keep skin hydrated and to always use moisturizer because it “will make your makeup glide on smoothly,” Ramirez says.

When it comes to picking out a foundation color, Ramirez suggests seeing it in natural light. If you have a tester, try it out on your jaw line to see how well it matches.

“If you can’t get a tester, take the foundation bottle to the front

| Josephine magazine |

newspressnow.com/josephine

Makeup can help you look great without being overdone of the store where there are windows and there is natural light,” suggests Ramirez.

This way you can see what the color looks like in natural light. Fluorescent lights wash you out, so if you apply your makeup without any natural light you may put it on too dark, which you will notice once you get under a natural light source. For the best and most natural coverage for any skin type, Ramirez suggests using Bare Minerals mineral powder foundation.

Another way to keep your skin looking great is to utilize concealer.

“Using a little more concealer than foundation will give you a much more natural appearance; some foundations tend to give you that cakey look,” she says.

Blush can be a make-it-or-break-it part of creating a beautiful, natural look.

“One of the worst mistakes I have seen when someone is trying to go for a more natural look is when they add too much blush and you are able to see the streaks up their cheeks,” says Ramirez.

This blush blunder is easy to avoid by using two tips: apply less rather than more with each brushstroke and remember to blend.

“Blending is the key,” states Ramirez.

Natural-looking eyes that still pop all depend on your skin tone.

“To choose a natural looking eye shadow you need to find one that is neutral and matches with your skin tone,” Ramirez says.

Look for a base color that is about the same color as your skin and a crease color that is a few shades darker. Ramirez suggests using browns and creams. This will give your eyes dimension while not looking overdone.

“Earthy tones are great,” Ramirez says.

To achieve eyeliner that enhances but doesn’t detract, Ramirez suggests “using a medium or dark brown eye shadow and

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brushing it on with a very small eye shadow brush.”

To make this pop for night but still look natural, she suggests adding a little bit of dark brown eyeliner at the base of your top lashes. Try to stay away from black when going for a natural look.

“I have also seen some women try to achieve this look using black eyeliner and black eye shadows, but it is a little too harsh,” Ramirez says.

Finish off your look with lips that look natural, not painted on. “Red or darker shades for your lips can make you look

overdone if going for the natural look,” states Ramirez. Try using a tinted lip balm that is the same or one shade darker to give your lips some color without looking unnatural. If your lips are naturally dark, utilize clear gloss to enhance shine without adding extra color.

We all have natural beauty that is easy to embrace with these tips and tricks.

Wearing a natural look can help play up a bright outfit or help highlight specific facial features. Whatever your reason for wanting a natural look, Ramirez’s tips will help you look polished and natural.

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The relationship weight plan Partnering up can pack on the pounds ALONZO WESTON has been a columnist and reporter for the St. Joseph News-Press for more than 20 years. He and his wife, Deanna, have two children and a dog. The St. Joseph native is also a sports junkie who doesn’t pick up after himself. If you’d like to suggest an idea for this column, contact Alonzo at alonzo.weston@ newspressnow.com.

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April 2014

find many people who are pleased with the way they look. They either want to lose weight, put on weight, get plastic surgery or buy expensive weight equipment to look like what they think is ideal.

The ideal to them is what they see in movies and music videos. Beyonce and Channing Tatum are in movies and videos precisely because they don’t look like the rest of us. God blessed them with good bodies and talent. They also wear makeup. And they have the advantage of a crew that follows them around the set making sure they’re always presented in the most flattering light.

Of course there’s nothing wrong with trying to be fit for health reasons. But trying to be a knock-off, bargain-bin version of your favorite movie star never works out. It reeks of insecurity like a cheap cologne.

Weight-management companies and programs exploit this human weakness. The market is flooded with diet pills, grapefruit diets, apple cider diets, books and videos on how to lose or gain weight. Most of this stuff ends up living well past the expiration date in the back of your cabinet or gathering dust in the basement. You continue on a perpetual sludge through life waiting for the next big weight miracle thing to come along.

Well, save your money on that junk. Here’s a weight-management plan that works: if you want to gain weight, get married; if you want to lose weight, get a divorce. There’s nothing I know that works better.

Studies differ on the matter. Some say woman gain more weight after marriage and men put on the pounds after divorce. Other studies say both men and women lose weight after divorce.

Zhenchao Quian, an Ohio State University sociology professor, said in an ABC news story that after marriage or divorce both men and women gain weight. Women tend to gain more after a divorce.

| Josephine magazine |

“After marriage, women will take care of their families and maybe eat the way their husband does or their children,” Dr. Quian said in the article.

Men, he added, tended to eat a healthier diet after marriage.

In my observation, both men and women lose weight going through a divorce and gain weight after marriage.

With marriage, good or bad, complacency usually sets in. The vows of for better or worse provide added weight now, no pun intended.

Why should you work out and try to eat better? She vowed to never leave even if you ballooned up to 400 pounds and eat Cheetos and drink beer all day. Your woman feels comfortable enough to gain weight, too.

Nothing says you’re in love like getting fat together. Some would say it’s cute.

Divorce is another matter. Everyone loses weight. Nothing drops pounds like stress, worry and a loss of appetite.

For men, getting a divorce is like going into a boxing match where the woman is the reigning champ. If a guy wins custody and gets child support, it’s considered a major upset on the level of Pee-Wee Herman beating Mike Tyson. Unless she bites off an ear, the judges almost always scores in favor of the woman.

Women going through a divorce do lose weight faster than men, however.

That’s because they want to get down to fighting weight quicker. I heard it said like that anyway.

Guys, on the other hand, spend their nights drinking tons of beer on the hood of a car or on a barstool crying the blues with friends. We’re drunk before we even get punched.

After the divorce, both men and women keep the weight off to try and attract another partner. That only lasts until you two get close and complacent. That’s when the weight comes back. Either way, the cycle of marriage and divorce is a proven weight plan that works.

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Getting real

Easter is

a holiday full of meaning. It has incredible spiritual significance, it allows us to dream about a giant rabbit that brings us surprises, and it’s a sign that spring has returned once again. I have always loved this beautiful time of year, but recently I noticed this holiday seems to be losing some of its luster.

It used to be on Easter Sunday everyone got all dressed up. I still remember the glamour that surrounded us as we headed out the door for church on Resurrection Sunday.

My mother made sure my “Easter outfit” was perfect, complete with dress, bonnet, white shoes and white gloves. I was never quite sure why the gloves were standard attire on a holiday full of chocolate bunnies and gooey candies, but I proudly wore mine even though they were covered with smudges and stickiness.

Our house was filled with the smells of the baking ham and vinegar from the eggs we had dyed, but nothing distracted us from what we really wanted. The glorious Easter basket.

In today’s society, with a full-blown obesity epidemic, the memories of waking up to baskets overflowing with goodies are disappearing along with the fancy clothes. Sugar has become the enemy, and people everywhere are banning the exchange of candies and treats to encourage weight loss in children.

It saddens me to think the next generation will miss all of the incredible life lessons I learned from the overconsumption of sweets on Easter.

Falling into bed after a day full of church, boiled eggs and sweets not only provided me with some wonderful memories, it also taught me some great things.

For instance, I learned safety by putting marshmallow Peeps in the microwave and turning on the power.

Watching the little yellow confection quadruple in size before exploding taught me more about kitchen safety

than any warnings on the threat of fire my mother gave me. It also showed me that melted marshmallow is a lot like molten lava and will burn through your skin faster than you can say, “hippity hoppity.”

Jellybeans, the most neglected candy in our baskets, taught me how our atmosphere works. Those brightly colored, fruit-flavored nuggets remained in the bottom of the baskets until the moisture in the air (also known as humidity), fused them eternally with the green, plastic grass that lined our holiday gift. It was like a tasty science experiment as we peeled the grass from the chewy items, eating them only when everything else was gone.

Malted-milk-chocolate-covered eggs taught me how to be beautiful.

By licking the egg-shaped candy to moisten it and dragging it across my lips, the candy-coating left the most beautiful shade of white on my lips you had ever seen. I felt gorgeous as I pranced around the house after applying my sweet “lipstick.”

Easter egg hunts taught me optimism. When our parents said “go,” we climbed in trees, looked in the guttering, looked under the dog and scoured the yard in hopes of finding the elusive plastic egg full of goodness. This tradition showed us, “look up, look down, look all around,” because life is full of good things if you just search for them.

Then there was learning repentance. After sneaking in and eating one more coconut-filled egg, despite your mother’s warning, this rebellious act usually tipped the scale from “yum, this candy is so good,” to “hold my hair while I throw up.” As your mother stood over you saying, “I told you so,” you learned the valuable lesson of how to make a heartfelt apology and swear to never do it again.

Yes, Easter is a great holiday, full of fun, family and faith, and although those should be our main focus, sugar formed into the shapes of animals still can be a wonderful part of the holiday. Just remember, all things in moderation. There is a fine line between a life lesson and diabetes.

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| Josephine magazine |

Memories of Easters past Holiday taught many life lessons STACEY MOLLUS is a family-loving, fun-seeking, glitter-covered, chocolate-consuming humor columnist and author. She would love to hear from you, so e-mail her at queenofchocolates @live.com or find her on Facebook at “Stacey Jensen Mollus.”

April 2014

29

Meal time

Jessica Stewar t | Josephine magazine

The egg & I Eggs are responsible for some of the most pleasurable sensations of taste and texture in the culinary world. Yolks emulsify and thicken, and whites give poof and puff to an array of dishes, both savory and sweet. In cooking school, a student cook is judged on how he or she handles egg recipes, from omelets to soufflés.

You need to start with really good eggs.

I have very strong feelings about factory-farmed eggs stamped “best.” They are dreadful and usually inhumane. So, if I have to purchase eggs in a supermarket, I always look for organic, cage-free. The finest eggs usually come from your local farmers’ market.

I’m now raising my own heritage chickens again and am totally spoiled with rich-colored yolks sitting up high on the whites. P.S.: It is an old wives’ tale that brown eggs are better for you. The chicken determines the color of the egg, and what the chicken eats determines the quality. So, my blue eggs are just as organic and healthy as the white or brown.

Learn to make a good omelet and you have a meal at the ready. Fabulous frittatas (eaten hot or cold) are even easier 30

April 2014

than an omelet and can use up leftovers.

The variations are endless.

For a change of pace, a flaming dessert omelet can be a spectacular finish to a meal. Just don’t burn the house down!

Pineapple-Rum Omelet 1 cup diced canned pineapple, drained 1/4 cup apricot jam 6 eggs Pinch of salt 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 1/2 cup rum In a small bowl, mix pineapple and jam. In another bowl, whisk eggs with pinch of salt and 1 tablespoon of sugar until blended but not frothy.

In a large, heavy skillet, melt butter over medium-high heat until foamy. Pour in eggs and let cook, lifting sides as they begin to set to let egg flow underneath, until omelet is barely set in middle, two to three minutes.

Spoon pineapple jam mixture down omelet off center. Fold plain half over pineapple.

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Sprinkle top with remaining 1/4 cup sugar.

Increase heat to high. Pour in rum and carefully ignite with match. As soon as flames subside, cut into wedges and serve.

A favorite standby.

Frittata with Dried Tomato and Blue Cheese 6 eggs 2 tablespoons milk Salt and pepper 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped (the ones packed in oil are easier than having to rehydrate dried ones) 3 ounces blue cheese (I like Maytag blue), crumbled 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parley or basil if you have it Preheat broiler. Whisk eggs, milk, salt and pepper until blended.

Melt butter in a 10-inch ovenproof skillet. When butter foams, pour in eggs and reduce heat to medium. As edges of eggs begin to set, after

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about one minute, lift edges to let uncooked eggs flow under. Continue to cook until firm but still moist.

Sprinkle tomato, cheese and parsley all over frittata. Transfer to broiler and broil one to two minutes until frittata is puffed and cheese is barely melted. Serve hot or cold, cut into wedges.

While visiting Austria, I was served these big, billowy vanilla dumplings and have been a fan ever since. It made me feel like Heidi of the mountains.

Big Billowy Austrian Vanilla Dumplings 4 tablespoons unsalted butter 8 eggs, separated 1/3 cup sugar 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 vanilla bean 6 tablespoons flour (all purpose) Powdered sugar Set rack on lowest level of oven and preheat to 425.

Melt butter in a 6-cup baking dish or oval gratin in oven.

In a large bowl, beat egg whites until foamy. Gradually beat in sugar and continue beating to firm but not stiff peaks.

In another bowl, blend egg yolks with vanilla extract.

Scrape seeds from vanilla bean (see note) into yolks and mix well. Pour down side of bowl into whites, gently fold together.

Sieve flour over top of batter, fold until flour is incorporated and mixture is smooth. Don’t over-blend or batter will deflate.

With a large spoon, scoop out six even mounds of batter and drop gently into baking dish. Pull up on tips so sections become distinct.

Bake five to six minutes, until tips are brown and most of dumpling is pale brown outside and creamy inside. Serve immediately dusted with powdered sugar.

Note: I put the scraped bean into a container with regular sugar — it makes a great vanilla sugar.

LONNIE GANDARA TAYLOR is a St. Joseph native who has returned home after a prestigious career in the culinary field. She taught cooking classes in the San Francisco Bay area for years and was a professional assistant to Julia Child, James Beard, Martha Stewart, Simone Beck and Martin Yan, among others. She is a graduate of the Paris Cordon Bleu, the Academie du Vin in Paris and the first culinary class held in the Oriental hotel in Bangkok, as well as being the author of five cookbooks.

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