Josephine December 2012

Josephine St. Joseph’s women’s magazine

Sometimes the best ideas are the simplest Deborah Rafter has found success creating an alternative to paper

December 2012

More inside: Tea has multiple health benefits Volunteering doesn’t just benefit those in need Technology helps make staying in touch easier Protect your body from winter exposure Take your holiday decor up a notch with these tips

Emily Esparza

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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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Josephine

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

J

Josephine website:

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editor’s note

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events calendar

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the 5

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average joe

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getting real

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meal time

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inside

Deck the halls Take your holiday decor up a notch with these tips

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Save your skin Protect your body from winter exposure

12

Move over, Santa It doesn’t take a jolly old elf to stuff a stocking with Christmas cheer

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Simple and smart Deborah Rafter has found success in creating an alternative to paper

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Health-tea Tea has multiple health benefits

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Say yes to the dress And don’t forget the right bra, and that shapewear and your perfect shoes

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Helping others — and yourself Volunteering doesn’t just benefit those in need

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Closing the distance Technology helps make staying in touch easier

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Cover photography by Matt Reid/Josephine magazine

cover girl Deborah Rafter is no stranger to turning lemons to lemonade. When the St. Joseph woman was laid off several years ago from a long career in sales, she created a new career based on what she most wanted.

“I really wanted to be able to work for myself and still meet people,” she says, “and I love children.”

Out of this ambition came an invention: A dry-erase mat that’s appealed to teachers and other professionals due to both its practicality and environmental friendliness. Rafter has drawn attention to the mats on the craft show circuit, as well, and has high hopes for growing her business in 2013. Read more about it and Rafter herself on page 16.

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the regulars

| Josephine magazine |

December 2012

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editor’s note DOES YOUR BUSINESS INSURANCE WORK WITH YOU TO BUILD YOUR DREAM?

By JESS DEHAVEN The holidays are upon us, and I’m sure many of you are running around trying to get all the shopping, decorating and party planning done. Stop and take a breath.

We can help with all of that.

Sometimes the under-the-tree items can be pretty easy to figure out, but when it comes to filling those stockings, coming up with items that are fun and inexpensive can be hard. We asked Cathy Woolridge to do a little bit of the elf work, and she came up with some great ideas to stuff those socks.

Turn to page 14 for more.

If you’re wanting to get away from the commercial look you see in all the malls and big stores but still want to make it feel like the holidays in your home, why not take your decor up a notch? Sylvia Anderson talked to the experts for a few tips on sophisticated styling that will get you the feel of the season without all the Santas and snowmen. Check out page 10.

If finding the right outfit for that special celebration is your problem, turn to page 22. There you’ll find Kristen Hare’s report on formal wear perfect for the occasion.

So sit back, relax and enjoy a warm drink. We’ve got you covered.

Our business insurance does more. We protect your dreams.

We’re the only insurance company with an award-winning Business Accelerator Program that offers results-driven business coaching at no extra cost. This program is available to anyone living the dream of being their own boss, even if you don’t have a policy with us.

To learn more about this program or for a competitive business insurance quote, call today.

Your dream is out there.

Go get it. We’ll protect it.

Tom C. Lemmon, Agent 2524 Saint Joseph Ave. (816) 279-2606 tlemmon@amfam.com

Rick Hopp Agency 3201 Ashland Ave. Ste. E (816) 364-1798 rickhopp.com

Dave R. Price, Agent 910 N. Woodbine Rd. (816) 233-5632 davepriceagency.com

Matt Thrasher Agency, Inc. 301 Illinois Ave. (816) 238-1121 mattthrasher.com

Lee Butler Agency 2721 Pembroke Ln. (816) 279-7770 leebutleragency.com

Scott Wineinger Agency 1805 Oak Ridge Circle (816) 233-5659 scottwineinger.com

Cari Rich, Agent 102 E. Clay Ave. Plattsburg, Missouri (816) 539-3751 caririch.com

Carolyn Sampson Agency 6120 King Hill Ave. (816) 238-5201 csampsoninsurance.com

Stephen D. Lorenz, Agent 1109 N. 26th St. (816) 901-9200 stephendlorenz.com

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december 2012 area events

SUN

MON Every Monday

9:45 a.m. (weigh-in at 8:30), TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) a non-profit, weight-loss support and education group, East Hills Church of Christ, 3912 Penn St., 2326858.

TUE

WED

Every Tuesday

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 3644799.

7:30 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. Cardio Fit Boxing, Monroe’s ATA, 106 S. Belt Highway, 671-1133, $3 a class.

5:15 p.m. to 6 p.m., Cardio Fit Boxing, Monroe’s ATA, 106 Dec. 4 S. Belt Highway, 6:30 p.m., Pony 671-1133, $3 a Express Chapter class. of Cowboys for Christ, Pony ExDec. 3 press Saddle and 7 to 9 p.m., St. Bridle Club, north Joseph Camera of K Highway Club, Rolling on County Road Hills Consolidat- 371. Call 238ed Library.

7503.

Dec. 18

Every Wednesday

7 a.m., Farmer’s market, 3821 Eastridge Village.

December 2012

Every Thursday

7:30 a.m., St. Joseph BNI weekly meeting, Pony Express Museum.

Call 262-9684.

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.

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

6:45 to 7:30 p.m., Cardio Fit Boxing, Monroe’s ATA, 106 S. Belt Highway, 671-1133, $3 a class.

5:15 to 6 p.m., Cardio Fit Boxing, Monroe’s ATA, 106 S. Belt Highway, 671-1133, $3 a class.

Dec. 20

6:30 p.m., Pony Express Chapter of ABWA meeting. To find out more and to make reservations, please call Vickie at (816) 244-5648 the Friday before the meeting.

6

THUR

FRI Every Friday

5 to 8 p.m., Friday Night Wine Tastings, Smooth Endings Fine Wines, Spirits and Cigars, corner of Belt and Beck, (816) 749-4WINE, $5 per person.

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

Dec. 27

6:30 p.m., St. Joseph Aglow Community Lighthouse, St. Joseph Library at East Hills. Call 3512139.

| Josephine magazine |

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SAT Every Saturday

7 a.m., Farmer’s market, 3821 Eastridge Village.

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

9 to 9:45 p.m., Cardio Fit Boxing, Monroe’s ATA, 106 S. Belt Highway, 6711133, $3 a class.

Happy Holidays from Northwest Health Services!

ST. JOSEPH LOCATIONS: Family Medicine Associates • 2303 Village Dr. • 816-232-6818 North End Health Center • 1515 St. Joseph Ave • 816-233-3338 Northwest Family Dental • 2911 S. Belt Hwy • 816-364-6444 South Side Health Center • 5001 Lake. • 816-238-7788

Northwest Behavioral Health Services (Located at Family Medicine Associates)

816-232-4417

RURAL LOCATIONS: King City Clinic 660-535-4347 Hamilton Medical Clinic 816-583-2151 Northwest Pharmacy Services 816-583-2881 (Hamilton) Oregon Clinic 660-446-3307 Cainsville Medical Clinic 660-893-5750

Braymer Clinic 660-645-2218 Mound City Clinic 660-442-5464 Mound City Dental 660-442-5507 Savannah Medical Clinic 816-324-3121 Savannah Dental Clinic 816-324-5644

We’re proud to be a non-profit, community-owned organization.

Unlike traditional healthcare providers, Northwest Health is governed by a board of volunteers–at least 51% of whom are consumers of our services. That’s why no matter where you go, you can be sure that all Northwest Health locations…

• Are open to all residents, regardless of insurance status • Provide reduced cost care based on ability to pay • Tailor services to fit the special needs and priorities of local communities • Provide services based on the advice of local residents, businesses, churches, and other organizations • Offer services that help everyone access health care, such as translation, health education, and chronic disease management.

Dedicated to Quality Healthcare, Available to ALL. Medicare, Medicaid & Commercial Insurance Welcome.

Discounts available to those who qualify.

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The

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tips for life Healthy holidays Health. The holidays can turn your diet upside down with so many invitations for temptation. Avoid being led astray with these ideas from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (formerly the American Dietetic Association).

■ Don’t starve yourself beforehand. Start your day with a small balanced meal that includes protein such as eggs, ham or peanut butter. Later on, eat a small, lower-calorie meal or snack such as fruit or a bagel.

■ Don’t rush to eat. Socialize and settle into the festivities first.

■ Move away from the buffet or appetizer trays. This will minimize the unconscious nibbling.

■ If you will be drinking alcohol, start with a calorie-free, nonalcoholic beverage to satisfy your thirst before having an alcoholic drink. A moderate amount for women is considered one drink. If you drink more than that, make sure you have a designated driver who will not be drinking.

A new view

What is he thinking? Here’s a fresh male perspective from our newest addition, Andrew Gaug: There’s an article on the Internet called “16 Ways I Blew My Marriage” written by a single dad looking back on the failed relationship with his now ex-wife. In it, the guy shares what he did wrong and how it could have been fixed. It’s an important and insightful read for men to realize what they’re doing wrong with their significant other before the bottom drops out. As a man, I feel like I know everything and have it all under control — until I find out I don’t. I’ve always found a little self-reflection and advice from those who have been there helps provide that clarity.

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December 2012

| Josephine magazine |

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Beyond face value

Office politesse

Beauty. Although summer is gone for another year, protecting your skin from sun damage is still important — and not just the skin on your face. Glamour magazine notes that one of the best ways to maintain a youthful appearance is to apply sunscreen to your neck and hands, as well, which tend to show signs of aging even before faces.

Relate. Asked to do something outside of your work responsibilities? Think twice before you reply “That’s not my job” says Real Simple writer Krystn Kusek Lewis. Instead, express how that you feel that shouldn’t be your main focus right now. Chances are, if the request comes from you boss, it is going to be part of your job. Find some time later to talk to your supervisor about what your job duties entail to clear up any future confusion.

A biker’s best buy Money. If your bicycle took a beating this summer, now is the time to purchase a new one. According to The Best Time to Buy Guide, new bicycle models are released in September and October, and dealers slash prices in the following months because they don’t want old models haunting their showrooms. Bike manufacturers make updates to new models, so educate yourself on those changes. Sometimes the updates are minimal or limited to design tweaks, making the older models a very smart buy.

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Deck the halls

Take your holiday decor up a notch with these tips

By SYLVIA ANDERSON

Sophisticated doesn’t have to be expensive, say home decor experts Angie Hummer, co-owner of Rusty Chandelier, and Tabitha Yount, owner of Elegant Interiors. Here are a few tips:

St. Joseph News-Press

I

Matt Reid/Josephine magazine

t’s easy to get carried away Owls are popular for holiday decorating this year. with the magic of ChristChristmas, then remove them afterwards Monochromatic color scheme mas when it comes to and you can keep the winter look until “I think white and neutrals are very spring. decorating your home with elegant,” Ms. Hummer says.

You don’t have to toss everything out holiday cheer – especially when and buy new, though. With spray paint, Less is more “Some of the most sophisticated rooms you have children at home. anything can be white, from brass lamps are the ones that have less,” Ms. Yount to chandeliers.

She likes to save money by They love those wreaths with says. using a low-cost spray paint for the first She has decorated all sizes of homes for talking deer heads, the dancing coat, then finish with a more expensive the holidays, including some million-dolpenguins and electronic Santas paint. You also can buy spray paint that lar estates.

All those little knick-knacks looks like stone, to add some texture. doing anything silly. But for actually detract from a luxurious feeling Or to give it that distressed, rustic look, to a room, she says. tweak it with a little brown wax. Use a home you can live with all clear lights on your Christmas tree, manseason long, it’s best to go with tle and around the stair banister to create Bring in nature “This year, in particular, the trend is to something a little more sophis- a winter wonderland. You can add some bring the outside in,” Ms. Hummer says. red and green pieces when it gets close to ticated.

She likes to make arrangements with sticks, branches and driftwood, which you can leave natural or paint, flock or add glitter to. Add some decorating picks that have a little glitter or pine cones, then pot the branches in a tin can or container sprayed white. Add an owl (which she says is very big this season) or maybe a concrete squirrel painted white, for extra interest.

Great garlands

Matt Reid/Josephine magazine

Holiday decor from the Rusty Chandelier shows color isn’t necessary to celebrate the season.

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December 2012

| Josephine magazine |

Invest in some high-quality garlands, Ms. Yount says, such as a long needle pine, which is the best seller at Elegant Interiors. They look real and can be used every year. You want the needles or leaves to have wires so you can fluff them to give a look that’s natural, not flat.

Then add some ribbon and big bows, also wired.

“They’re not cheap, but it gives you a big bang,” Ms. Yount says.

If you don’t have time or money for decorating the whole house, concentrate on

newspressnow.com/josephine

Matt Reid/Josephine magazine

Monochromatic decor is shown at the Rusty Chandelier in St. Joseph. the entryway and staircase, she says.

Glass blocks

Glass blocks purchased in hobby or building supply stores make a great base for any winter display because they look like ice, Ms. Hummer says. They also make attractive faux presents under the tree when wrapped with ribbon. Buy them in different shapes and stand them on end, and they will reflect the lights from the Christmas tree.

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Add some shimmer

Silver and gold really make a white or neutral color scheme pop, Ms. Yount says.

Or what’s become very popular this year is the champagne color, which is a blend of both. Both of our decorating experts are seeing a lot of mercury glass as accent pieces. It has the look of old silver with the reflective quality of a mirror.

Let it snow

Snow looks so beautiful when it reflects the twinkling of Christmas lights. You can’t bring the snow indoors, but Ms. Hummer discovered a good substitute: Epsom salt.

“It’s ‘crystal-y’ and looks like snow and ice, and it’s super cheap,” she says.

She likes to fill old vintage jars with it, then add a white bird, ornament or candle. It’s elegant and inexpensive, and when Christmas is over, you can put it in your garden or soak your feet.

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Save your skin Protect your body from winter exposure photos.com

By LINDSAY LADEROUTE Josephine magazine

W

inter is on its way. It’s about time to pull out the hats, scarves and sweaters to protect your body from the cold. But should you protect your skin?

Of course!

Winter can create some annoying skin problems, but they can be treated or even avoided with these tips from skin specialists. Prepare your skin for the cold the right way.

The cold and dryness of winter can cause your face some discomfort from the very beginning.

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December 2012

“It will deplete moisture from the skin, in return your skin may become red and irritated, tight and itchy,” says Nicole Shute, esthetician at The Spa At North Pointe in St. Joseph. Summer air is generally more humid, which leads to more oil in our skin, but winter brings forth dryer conditions which lead to the dehydration of skin.

“Water loss can cause skin to feel tight, become chapped or irritated and begin to show fine lines,” says Meena Heartsong, a Clinique associate, makeup artist and licensed esthetician from Columbia, Mo. Protecting your skin from dehydration is simple.

“Richer moisturizers and night creams can prevent dehydration and discomfort,” Heartsong says.

Keeping your skin hydrated with a moisturizer can help eliminate dryness, cracking, irritation and blackheads.

“The best moisturizer for the winter

| Josephine magazine |

months is the Hydro-dynamic Ultimate Moisturize cream by Murad. It locks in optimal moisture levels for eight hours,” Shute says.

She also suggests using an SPF 30 cream for maximum moisture and protection against damaging UVA/UVB rays. It is important to use a moisturizer with SPF, even in the winter months.

“SPF 15 or higher is recommended even for basic exposure like walking in and out of buildings, being by windows, in the car, etc... If there is natural light, there is UV aging your skin,” Heartsong says.

Besides using a moisturizer, you can create your own moisturizing mask at home to help hydrate skin.

“You can make one from household ingredients like oatmeal, aloe, honey, plain yogurt and extra virgin olive oil. Just blend, apply to clean skin and leave on for 10 minutes,” says Heartsong.

Shute recommends a Hydrolyte facial

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to help replenish skin’s moisture. If you wake up in the morning with a dry throat, eyes and skin, “using a humidifier in your home will help put back moisture in the air depleted from the having the heat on and will help your skin’s moisture levels as well,” Shute says.

Remembering to drink water throughout the day also will help keep skin moisturized.

Along with moisturizing, it is important to exfoliate skin in the winter too.

“Enzyme masks, peels and cleansers are fantastic and gentle exfoliates,” Heartsong says.

Only exfoliate once or twice a week; more then that can cause more skin irritation or redness. Shute recommends a AHA/BHA cleanser. If your skin is red, sensitive or irritated, Shute says to, “come in the spa for a Redness Therapy facial to help hydrate, calm, reduce sensitivity and tightness.”

Lips also can cause winter skin problems by becoming very chapped and cracked. To help protect them, Heartsong recommends using a heavy

SPF 15 or higher is recommended even for basic exposure like walking in and out of buildings, being by windows, in the car, etc... If there is natural light, there is UV aging your skin.

Eating well in the winter months can also help keep your skin clear, bright and moisturized.

“Eat your water, which means eating fruits and veggies that have lots of stabilizing water in them to hydrate your cells in your body, keeping you hydrated and healthy,” Shute says.

Try not to cut out all fats, since our brains are made from fat and we need it to run efficiently, Heartstrong says.

Cutting out too much fat can also lead to — MEENA HEARTSONG, dry skin.

Clinique associate, makeup artist and licensed esthetician “Get healthy fats from nuts, eggs, and oils from olives, coconut, avocado and nut butter or petroleum. Use a chapstick especially flax and fish. These actually with SPF to help protect from the sun support your brain function and metaband wind. olism and will have your hair, skin and To keep your lips smooth, “exfoliate nails, glowing,” Heartstrong says. them with a sugar scrub at night followed As long as you take care of your skin by a lip balm,” Shute says. by moisturizing, exfoliating, using SPF Your lips, nose and area above the lip and drinking plenty of water, the winter can take quite a hit with the use of Kleen- months will be easy to weather for your ex in the winter. To cut down on irritaskin. By protecting your skin with these tion, Heartsong says to “dab, don’t wipe tips, you can help create healthier, more or rub as much as possible.” She also beautiful skin. Put your best face forward recommends investing in the lotion-inby protecting and maintaining your skin fused tissues. this winter.

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Move over, Santa

It doesn’t take a jolly old elf to stuff a stocking with Christmas cheer

By CATHY WOOLRIDGE Josephine magazine

Y

ou hang up the Christmas stockings and wait for Santa to fill those socks during his Christmas Eve fly-by with his magical reindeer. How’s that working out for you?

Nothing against the big bearded one (he’s a holiday icon, after all), but it doesn’t take an elf to stuff a stocking with Christmas cheer. You can do that on your own with a little imagination and maybe channeling the spirit of Martha Stewart.

And the best part is that stuffing a Christmas stocking doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Here are a few tips on how to spend a little to make a big impression.

If you’re crafty or at least game to try your hand at homemade, head over to marthastewart.com. Like her or not, it’s hard to deny that Martha is the queen of homemade how-to. Her site is a treasure trove of ideas, and there are 39 stocking stuffer ideas alone. There are food gifts, gifts for men, women and children, gifts for book lovers, gifts for your pets — well, you get the idea.

Try making peppermint-scented soaps in mini loaf pans, a sequin-wrapped bauble ring or textured string bracelets, a needle-felted polar bear or a stuffed pig, custom cufflinks, velvet-ribbon belts, scented sugar (to add extra flavor to drinks, baked items, etc), turn a photo of a pet into a glitter painting, make a baby sock cat toy, make a bound envelope book ... and make and make because the list goes on and on.

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December 2012

Of course, if you’re not feeling the Martha Stewart vibe, you still can find unique items, including homemade that someone else has made. Andi Hartman Orban, owner of Kat & Co. Antiques and Gifts in the Kmart Plaza in St. Joseph, says “there is not a vendor who wouldn’t have something in their booth” at her business.

Orban, who purchased Kat & Co. from its founders, Kathy and Mark Boatright, in August, points out that with 50-some vendors, there is a lot of variety to choose from.

“I absolutely love to walk through and help somebody find their treasures,” she says. “Every single day there is something new.”

Orban’s stocking stuffer ideas include ornaments, little toys, homemade hairbows, homemade candy, homemade soaps, lotions and body sprays, black and white wood art, homemade jewelry and retro jewelry.

Again, the list is endless.

Jewelry seems to keep making the list, doesn’t it?

“My gifts to family and friends are almost always jewelry,” says Donna Long, a St. Joseph resident who began making her own jewelry about eight years after being diagnosed with cancer at age 32. “I enjoy making something special for them, and I think they enjoy receiving something knowing I was thinking specifically of them while I was making it.”

Long says that jewelry can be a relatively inexpensive stocking stuffer (she charges

| Josephine magazine |

$5 for earrings, $10 for bracelets and $15 for necklaces), and that jewelry makes the recipient feel pampered by something she probably wouldn’t have bought for herself.

“It’s also fun to surprise the receiver with colors or styles that are a little ‘outside the box’ that the wearer can have fun with,” she says.

Long’s jewelry making started from health concerns but has turned into a hobby that she enjoys. And that also can be a clue when looking for stocking stuffers. If you know someone who likes to bake, stuff their stocking with a fun-shaped utensil.

Amazon.com offers Fred and Friends, Boston Warehouse and Head Chefs gadgets (yes, you can really use them) like a chainsaw pizza cutter, a monkey veggie peeler or a mixing spoon with legs and arms. How about skeleton gingerbread men cookie cutters for a twisted turn on a holiday staple?

Fill a pet lover’s stocking with Friends of the Animal Shelter T-shirts, a cookbook or any other number of items for sale at St. Joseph Animal Control and Rescue shelter.

All proceeds benefit the animals. Log on to the Humane Society of St. Joseph and Buchanan County website at www.humanestjoseph.org and make a purchase from the Pet Junkie store, and 35 percent of the sales go to the local organization.

For the home improvement fan, stuff a stocking with little tools of the trade, many come in pink. Even cold-weather items like mittens, a scarf, hot chocolate packets, ear-

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muffs, lip balm and hand cream are easy to fit into a stocking. For someone missing warm weather, toss in suntan lotion, a funky pair of sunglasses and a rolled up sun hat as a reminder of things to come.

You can stuff the stocking of a person who has everything with something that keeps on giving. How about a donation in their name to a charitable organization?

Groups, whether they serve human or animal needs, rely on donations to fund their work.

Any amount is appreciated, says Laurie Salanski, executive director of the Humane Society of St. Joseph and Buchanan County.

“We survive on donations,” Salanski says. “We do not receive funding from any other humane organizations. We do not receive funding from state, county, federal or municipal sources. We are supported solely by contributions.”

When a donation is made, whether online or by mail, Salanski sends a card to the donor for tax purposes and a card to the person whose name the donation was made in to let them know who made a donation in their name.

Whew, are you starting to feel a little overwhelmed by all the options and wish that Santa was the one filling all the Christmas stockings? To counter that, next year start early on gathering stocking stuffers (store them in one place, like a labeled tote so you won’t forget you have them).

“My mom, sister and I used to pick up little items throughout the year,” says Tracy Tietjens of St. Joseph.

Find items at thrift stores, end-of-season clearance sales at big-box retailers, flea markets, fundraisers and at garage sales.

“We are not afraid to buy garage sale items, if that item is something the person collects or really ‘has their name written all over it’,” she says.

See, you don’t need Santa to deliver the magic.

LEARN MORE

■ To learn more about how the Humane Society of St. Joseph and Buchanan County and the Friends of the Shelter make use of donations, log on to the respective websites, humanestjoseph.org and petforu.com ■ Donna Long sells her homemade jewelry at three open houses she holds for neighbors and friends. She also will bring her jewelry to someone else’s home if they want to host a jewelry party for five or more guests. For more information, call her at 344-2776.

■ To learn more about the vendors at Kat & Co., call 749-4232 or visit facebook.com/ katandcompanyantiques or katandco antiques.com

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Simple and smart

Deborah Rafter has found success in creating an alternative to paper Story on page 18

Matt Reid/Josephine magazine

Deborah Rafter and her mother, Betty Perkins, share their messages using Mrs. Rafter’s full-size mats.

By ERIN WISDOM Josephine magazine

W

ith a single, simple invention, Deborah Rafter filled a need in the world — and a need in herself.

The 59-year-old St. Joseph woman had a long career in sales before a layoff several years ago left her with a lot of free time. This quickly became lonely, with her husband being an over-the-road truck driver who’s home only a few days each month and with their children grown and gone. Wanting to work for herself and to have more human interaction, Rafter decided to build a business with the sewing skills passed down from her mother and grandmother. Eventually, this led to a big break of sorts, in the form of dry-erase mats that can be used in lieu of paper.

“We’re always throwing away paper.

Always. My grandchildren bring home bookbags full of paper,” says Rafter, whose business is Penny Pinchers Crafts and Gifts and who can be reached at (913) 961-3372 or deborah.rafter@yahoo.com.

“These can save school districts money, and they’re friendlier to our Mother Earth.”

Made with a flexible, plastic-like front sewn into a fabric backing, the mats

contain a sleeve on one side for slipping in worksheets or other paper. Users write on the front of the mats with dry-erase markers, and this writing can be easily wiped away with a Kleenex, paper towel or Mr. Clean Magic Eraser — allowing for the paper inside to be “reused.”

So far, Rafter has found fans of the product among parents, teachers and even occupational therapists, who use it with patients relearning to write. (And, of course, among kids — including some at a birthday party who all wanted to try the birthday girl’s new dry-erase mat despite all the higher-tech gifts she’d received.)

One person locally who’s found a use for the mats is Michele Thomason, principal at Colgan Alternative Resource Center. She learned about them through a booth Rafter had at this year’s Trails West! festival and saw them as a good fit for her students.

“Here at the Colgan Center, we have a lot of kids who struggle with writing on paper, so I thought this could be a good

intervention,” Thomason says, adding that some of this struggle results when students tear paper while erasing, then become frustrated and carry that into future encounters with pencil-and-paper work. “Once a kid reaches a certain point, they shut down. So we’re just kind of reframing the task” with the dry-erase mats.

It’s a simple and inexpensive solution, given that Rafter sells the 9-by-13 inch mats for just $5 each (or $4 for educators, whom she knows often spend their own money on classroom supplies). She also sells smaller, 6.5-by-9 inch mats for $3 each. And she sprays the backs of all of them with Scotchguard, which allows for also using them, fabric-side up, as placemats.

Rafter admits the low costs she’s set aren’t bringing in a lot of money, but she has experienced a big payoff, all the same.

“You can’t do this and expect to get rich,” she says. “You have to do it because you enjoy what you’re doing.”

She adds that as far as she can tell from her research, no other product exists that’s exactly like her dry-erase mat, and she’s working on patenting it. She also makes and sells several other products, including mats with chalkboard-like material and purses made from old jeans.

Also in the works for next spring is a line

Matt Reid/Josephine magazne

Deborah Rafter makes crafts from old jeans as well as her dry-erase mats.

18

December 2012

| Josephine magazine |

newspressnow.com/josephine

of mugs sprayed with chalkboard paint, which Rafter envisions people could label with their names and use at work in lieu of disposable cups. In addition, she’d like to modify her dry-erase mats to make smaller, magnetic versions for teens to hang in their lockers.

Another hope Rafter has for the future is for her dry-erase mats to make it into the hands of children in third-world countries who may not have abundant access to paper. A member of Word of Life Church, she hopes some of the missionaries it supports might someday provide an avenue for this.

But in the meantime, she’ll continue working the craft-show circuit and building on the word-of-mouth advertising she’s generated — and just generally enjoying herself.

“Things just kind of evolve,” she says.

“I get ideas in my head and think ‘What else can I do?’”

You can’t do this and expect to get rich. You have to do it because you enjoy what you’re doing.

— DEBORAH RAFTER,

owner of Penny Pinchers Crafts and Gifts

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Deborah Rafter with her dry-erase mats.

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Health-tea

20

December 2012

| Josephine magazine |

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Tea has multiple health benefits

By Jourdan Ryan Josephine magazine

T

here’s oolong, white, Masala chai, green and rooibos.

No, these are not words that are part of a made-up language. They are actually varieties of common winter teas.

When it gets cold outside, that’s the perfect time to get warm on the inside with a steaming cup of your favorite hot tea. One interesting property of tea is that most scientists believe it is actually able to both relax and revive the body at the same time. In fact, Buddhist monks used to drink tea to hold them over through long meditation sessions.

“People are looking for ways to make themselves feel better, whether or not they are on medications,” Simply Tea owner Shiang Johnson says. “Tea is a natural resource to help us fight off infection, to help us live healthy and live a better life.”

The health and relaxation components of tea are all contained in one tiny amino acid that can be found in all tea varieties called L-theanine. This amino acid promotes relaxation and mental clarity.

When it is mixed with caffeine, it provides a gentler “lift” of energy, which most caffeine drinkers find more appealing than the jolt of energy that comes from other caffeinated beverages like coffee and energy drinks.

“Tea contains amino acids that have been proven to promote relaxation,” Word of Life Church’s Solomon’s Porch Bookstore & Coffee Shop manager Megan

Taylor says. “I would recommend trying a green or white tea, as those options are the least processed and have low levels of caffeine.”

Tea comes in many shapes and sizes, but the most popular winter teas are oolong, chai and Japanese Green tea.

Most teas contain caffeine, though only half as much as what can be found in most coffees. Green tea tends to have less caffeine than black tea, because green tea is processed differently. Green tea leaves are steamed. By contrast, black and oolong tea leaves are fermented. This fermentation process is what produces a higher caffeine content.

“All teas come from the same tea plant, called camellia sinensis,” Johnson says.

“What makes them all different is the process they undergo after the tea leaves are picked.”

Johnson says that in order for a tea to

qualify as a winter tea, it must have some specific herbs and spices in it, like cinnamon, vanilla, orange, ginger, cardamom and clove.

Green tea comes from Japan and it is very low in caffeine. It contains the highest level of antioxidants and it can treat cancer, high cholesterol levels, heart problems, arthritis, tooth decay and cardiovascular disease. Masala chai is a traditional Indian tea. Its name literally means “spiced tea.”

“We sell a lot of our chai tea, especially our chai tea lattes,” Taylor says. “People love the warm cardamom, cinnamon and ginger flavors.”

Oolong tea has a honey-sweet flavor with notes of peach and rose. It has a high oxidation level which, according to Chinese medicine, makes it more warming to the body. Oolong tea also aids in digestion and helps to treat type 2 diabetes. Rooibos tea is non-caffeinated and it contains no oxalic acid, so it’s great for people with kidney stones or acid reflux.

It is known to treat eczema, allergic bronchitis and hay fever.

“The special blends that we carry for the winter are Pumpkin Spice, Gingerbread Spice, Christmas tea, Hot Cinnamon Spice, Cinnamon Orange Spice, Masalai Chai, Rooibos Nutcracker, Rooibos Autumn and peppermint tea,” Johnson says.

With snow, scarves and red noses just around the corner, now is the perfect time to stock up on some drinks to keep you warm this winter. Grab your favorite mug and fill it with hot water. Add a tea bag or steeper and let the warmth tide you over until the summer sun peeks back through the clouds.

Say yes to the dress (And don’t forget the right bra, and that shapewear, and your perfect shoes)

By KRISTEN HARE Josephine magazine

T

ucked into most women’s closets are garments that tell small stories from their lives. The ice blue prom dress that poured out in shiny silk to the ground, the sleeveless white wedding dress with thousands of tiny pearl beads, the little black dress worn to the high school reunion, then for New Year’s Eve, then for that special night out.

Some can be worn again, some can’t.

But for most women, those dresses are the perfect thing for that time. And finding the perfect one isn’t so hard. You just have to know what to do.

Begin with the dress, says Phyllis Fetter, owner of Bridal Boutique, and think about the event. Is it a country wedding?

A formal ball? Would vintage work? Will you be doing a lot of dancing?

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December 2012

Obviously you don’t want to wear a straight, tight gown and spiky heels to a wedding on the beach. And a simple black dress might not be enough for a black-tie event. So consider the event as you consider your style.

Next, do your homework. For whatever your event, look through magazines, clip out photos, pin images on Pinterest and start to get an idea of what you want.

| Josephine magazine |

Then, head to the dress shop with your clips, an honest friend and an open mind.

Megan Schuman, gown designer and manager of Shannon Renee’s Formal Wear and Accessories, definitely recommends a little pre-shopping.

“A lot of girls come in and they’re like, ‘I have no idea what I want,’” Schuman says.

She also sees women come in wanting something very specific, like flowers and lace, and walking out with something very simple.

That’s why you have to try all those dresses on.

“They have to see it,” Schuman says, “and they have to see it on.”

Styles now include lots of lace, says Fetter, high-low gowns, Schuman says, asymmetrical cuts and two-toned dresses.

newspressnow.com/josephine

Don’t get stuck in a trend, though, if it doesn’t work for your body.

Not everybody can pull off every look, like the ever-popular strapless gowns, Fetter says. But if your arms aren’t your best feature, don’t discount the styles too fast. Throw on a shawl or a fur shrug and you may still be able to pull off the look.

Also, whether for the first shopping trip or additional fittings, bring the right garments, including, possibly, shapewear, pantyhose and the right kind of bra.

And bring the right person, Schuman says.

“Bring that person that you know is going to let you pick your dress,” she says, and not someone living vicariously through you.

Finally, look to your date.

Or, rather, have him look to your dress.

“That’s one of the first things that we’ll usually ask,” says Rob Holp, owner of AJ August Tuxedo.

Whether it’s weddings, proms or just formal events, couples usually want to coordinate, and that can be done in several ways, Holp says, from matching the vest and tie to the dress color to a simple pocket square that coordinates. If your date is into it (and you are, too,) he could even match your colors with some bright tennis shoes.

Whatever your style, whatever your event, don’t freak out when it’s time to hit the stores. Don’t think of finding the right dress, trying it on and finishing it out with the perfect accessories as a chore, but rather the necessary footwork for building that future memory, where you may not remember what you wore, but how great you felt in it.

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Helping others — and yourself Volunteering doesn’t just benefit those in need

By LISA HORN Josephine magazine

W

hen he greets Calvin Center Food Pantry patrons, Mike Hollan knows firsthand what it’s like to be in their shoes. Two years ago, health problems and a poor job market left Hollan out of money and wondering how he was going to survive.

“I was using all the money I had to stay alive,” says Hollan, who lost his home and moved in with his daughter for a while.

When the money ran out, he was just 10 months away from a pension and Social Security benefits.

“I knew if I could make it that far,” he says, “I’d be all right.”

InterServ helped Hollan get by during those months by taking care of his rent and utilities. A pantry near his apartment helped with putting food on the table.

24

December 2012

Thanks to the assistance he received, the former electrician was able to officially retire in September 2010.

Now, Hollan volunteers three afternoons a week as part of InterServ’s Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) at the Calvin Center Food Pantry. He helps pickup go smoothly by greeting patrons, separating and bagging food items, double-bagging sacks and other tasks.

Hollan says he has no plans of quitting.

“I am going to keep doing it,” he adds.

| Josephine magazine |

“They have done so much for me. I don’t know if I could ever pay back what they did.”

Pat Meyer also was helped by InterServ and decided to give back to the same program that helped her, RSVP’s tax preparation program. It was just the start of a retirement that continues to keep her busy.

In RSVP’s tax program, she linked seniors with the appropriate tax preparer.

Not long after, she found herself helping to rekindle RSVP’s Handyman Group.

She now connects volunteer handymen with senior homeowners in need of help — everything from changing light bulbs to installing handrails and mowing. The service, she says, is all in an effort to help seniors stay independent for as long as possible.

“Anything you can do to help keep seniors in their homes, the better,” says Meyer, who worked in nursing homes for most of her career. “The things we do can help make the difference for them to stay in their homes.”

Meyer says she first started volunteering to give back and keep herself busy.

“I wouldn’t trade it,” she says. “I thoroughly enjoy it.

“It keeps me busy … a little busier than

newspressnow.com/josephine

I want to be at times,” jokes Meyer, who, when she’s not volunteering, often can be found washing dishes or doing laundry for her adult children when they’re working long hours.

“After you shampoo the carpet, wash the windows, there’s nothing left to do,” she says with a laugh. “Especially if you’re a single person, we all get tired of our own company.”

Nancy Janicek helps at two InterServ programs, the food pantry and delivering mobile meals to homebound residents.

Her grandson, Xavier Janicek, 9, often accompanies her.

A 104-year-old client particularly enjoyed their visits.

“He met her and drew her pictures and would take them to her,” Janicek says.

“She always knew who he was and asked about him.”

Xavier has learned a lot by his grandmother’s example.

“Most people don’t have a lot of money and they need food to feed themselves and their families,” he says. “It makes me feel like, ‘Yeah, I want to help them.’”

“I always feel like if you are fortunate enough to not need help, you should help those who are in need,” Janicek says. “(I think) that could be me tomorrow, six months from now. Illness can strike, financial disaster … you just don’t know.”

Meyer agrees.

“Every time you help someone else, you help yourself, too,” she says. “Volunteering sure can cure the ‘woe is me’ feeling.”

Hollan agrees and says that with everything he’s been provided, it’s the least he can do.

No time to volunteer? Hollan encourages people to donate. Even a few cans of food can help a lot.

“We can always use food,” he says, “darn near any kind.”

“If somebody is just thinking about volunteering, they ought to just try it,” he adds. “If you give a little bit, you get a lot back.”

They have done so much for me. I don’t know if I could ever pay back what they did.

— MIKE HOLLAN, retired electrician

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Closing the distance

Technology helps make staying in touch easier

By JENNIFER GORDON Josephine magazine

L

ong-distance relationships aren’t easy. They put a lot of pressure on other forms of communication like phone calls, e-mails and video chatting. A missed phone call might mean you find out a friend’s big news via Facebook. A computer screen replaces the catch-up lunch you used to have once a week with a college friend.

When the distance comes from a military deployment, the natural tension of a long-distance relationship gets ratcheted up a notch. It becomes, if possible, more complicated.

Susan McGarry’s husband, Ted, deployed to Iraq last year for six months.

McGarry, a Senior Master Sgt. in the 129th 26

December 2012

Airlift Wing, knew what to expect. Communication wouldn’t be consistent. Letters would take several weeks to reach their destination. Whether she could Skype with her husband depended on the connectivity.

Their kids, Addison, 7, and Nolan, 4, had a harder time understanding where their dad was. Skype made more sense to

| Josephine magazine |

them than writing a letter.

“They wanted to see what he was wearing,” she says. “They wanted to see him do goofy things on the computer screen.

They wanted to see his room. Anything they could actually see left a big impression with them.”

The screen time didn’t replace the more traditional form of communication, McGarry says. She still sent her husband weekly packages. The kids included things they had made and pictures he could hang up in his room that they could later see during a Skype session.

Jennifer Halter also used mail on top of other forms of communication when her husband deployed. Care packages are always appreciated she says, even if you communicate with your spouse every day.

Technology has made a big difference,

newspressnow.com/josephine

the St. Joseph woman says.

Her husband served in Desert Storm, and other than mail, they communicated through phone calls.

“It was very hard with the phone,” Halter says. “The missed call was almost worse than him not calling.”

McGarry was able to be more connected with her husband. With her Skype app she never worried she’d miss a call. Still, the increased connectedness came with its own limitations.

When asked whether Skype made deployment any easier, McGarry hesitates.

“That’s a tough question because sometimes when you see your family more regularly and you see what you’re missing out on and you’re not able to be there and be helpful, it can cause a lot of homesickness,” she says.

With anyone at a distance, you also have to negotiate what you’re catching the other person up on. Halter worried about what issues she would come to her husband with while he was overseas. She didn’t want to add to his stress, but she wanted him to know what was going on at home, too. When one of her kids lost a tooth, she didn’t know whether to relay the information to her husband.

“I didn’t want to make him sad because he wasn’t here for the first tooth,” Halter says.

At the same time, news from home can help the person away feel more connected, still part of a family unit.

She recommends families share as much as possible with one another when they’re separated, even if it’s hard to hear.

“If you know what’s going on on a daily basis, it makes it easier being gone,” she says.

They wanted to see what he was wearing. They wanted to see him do goofy things on the computer screen. They wanted to see his room. Anything they could actually see left a big impression with them.

— Susan McGarry,

on her kids Skyping with their father, who was deployed with the military

average joe

I

It’s great to be male There are some upsides to being a guy ALONZO WESTON is a columnist and reporter for the St. Joseph News-Press staff 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.

28

never wanted to be any gender but male. Even though we die earlier, have to fight bullies, have to get up and check on noises at night and bear the brunt of family sitcom jokes, it’s still a good gig.

We don’t have to wear makeup or watch our figure or how much we eat. We can spit in public. And it takes being male to fully appreciate the beauty of women.

Actually being male is such a good gig that lots of females want to join us. They want to join our golf clubs, our lodges our teams.

They call it discrimination if you don’t let them in.

But you never see us kicking and screaming, trying to get in the doors of Junior League, LPGA or the YWCA. Many of the cool people are guys. It just wouldn’t work if Clint Eastwood, Miles Davis, Jack Nicholson and Muddy Waters were female.

Now there are cool females like Angelina Jolie, Joss Stone, Erykah Badu and Nina Simone.

But woman cool is different than man cool. Woman cool sometimes comes uncomfortably close to being catty and confrontational.

Cool women don’t often get dates.

Cool men get lots of dates.

I was reading this thread on the askmen.com website where a poster asked what’s so great about being male. The guy said at times he hates being born male since we have to do most of the chasing, initiating and leading in relationships. And the list of things men do that turn women off is way

newspressnow.com/josephine

| Josephine magazine |

longer than the list of things that women do that turn men off.

It’s true that women do look better at closing time. Guys by comparison look desperate and pathetic when the bar lights flicker off and on.

After whining for three paragraphs, this online poster goes on to ask women to comment on why they think being a male is easier.

Here are a few of the female responses: Guys have shorter lines in the public toilets, they don’t have to compete in beauty contests, they don’t experience childbirth and don’t have to worry about menstruation.

Not that I want to switch places, but here are the ways I think women have it easier.

It’s OK for the woman to take off work when a couple has a baby.

It’s even OK for a woman to be a stay-at-home mom. Let a guy try staying home even if he’s the more nurturing parent and he’s labeled a lazy deadbeat.

Women are encouraged to express their femininity. It’s cool if a woman reads books like “Fifty Shades of Grey” and goes to the movie “Magic Mike.” If guys read Hustler magazine and watch “Debbie Does Dallas,” we’re sexist pigs.

Boys are told to be nice, don’t fight and act like girls until they’re 18. At 18, we give them a gun and ship them off to war. If you don’t fight, you’re a sissy.

Women never have their womanhood questioned by other women. Men constantly have to prove their manhood to women and other men.

There’s no pressure for a girl to have a cool car to get dates. If a guy drives up in a Vista Cruiser, he ain’t getting anywhere.

December 2012

A

nother change in temperatures is about to occur. In nature, we call those changes seasons. In women, we call them hormones.

The female body is at the mercy of an unpredictable internal thermostat. We can go from being a bit chilly to “I’m burning up” in a matter of seconds, all because our bodies just decided to crank up the heat without any advance notice.

This faulty thermostat could be part of the reason we declare the temperature of a room once we walk into it. (Please notice this often overlooked gift the next time you are in a crowd.) I feel this need to announce if the room is hot or cold is part of a subconscious warning system that females are born with. Due to our super sensitivity to any temperature change, we feel it’s our duty to announce it as a service to those around us.

We also come up with coping skills to help us overcome these fluctuations. One example of those skills is the “slowly-slide-your-feet-againstyour-husbands-legs-while-he-is-sleeping” move. This move is used in an attempt to quietly “steal” the obvious extra heat that your partner is emitting. Let me describe how it is done: The female who has frozen tootsies slowly slides her feet across the bed, careful not to wake the unsuspecting male. She keeps sneaking up on the man until she reaches his warm legs, where upon arrival she presses her chilled extremities against his warm, unsuspecting skin. Once the move has been accomplished, the female will begin to purr, while her partner jumps from bed like he was shot from a cannon.

Temperature changes are usually subtle until we reach middle-age, when the female goes from being a little cool to HOT FLASHING in a second! I have seen grown women during a hot flash strip down to their unmentionables, grab a dinner plate

from the table and begin fanning themselves with it as if they must wave fast enough to take flight.

The spouses of those women tell horror stories of shivering at night, trying to cover up with their pillows for extra warmth because the flashing wife has opened all the windows in the dead of winter and snow was blowing in.

The flashing woman carries purses full of tissues for blotting the inevitable sweat that will run down her cleavage during a simple conversation, a small fan she can pull out and blow under her arms and skirt to try and cool off and deodorant to touch up after an “episode.”

You also can expect one or all of these common reactions from a hot-flasher: grabbing ice from her dinner glass and running it down her neck to cool the fire; buying clothes with lots of patterns to help hide “pit stains”; making snow angels in her nightgown and nothing else; stripping (not the occupation, but the ripping off of everyday clothing at strange times); and lots of fanning.

And just when her family and friends get this “hot mama” figured out, the hormones calm down and so do the power surges. Suddenly, Mrs. Thermonuclear begins to get continual goosebumps, and she can’t go anywhere without a jacket.

She buys sweaters in every color and keeps one in the car, one on the couch along with the afghan that she uses every night and even a small one she folds up and keeps in her purse.

We all have seen this woman. She is the one who can sit anywhere in a restaurant and still somehow be in the direct line of the air vent. Her poor hubby has now become the guy who is constantly being sent to the car to get her wrap. Even in the middle of August.

Yep, just like nature, the woman goes through many “seasonal” changes. Just let me warn you. Ice storms are never good. In nature or in women!

newspressnow.com/josephine

| Josephine magazine |

getting real

One hot mama You can never tell which way a woman’s thermostat is going to go

STACEY MOLLUS is a humor columnist who believes laughter is the best form of exercise and happy people are the best looking people.

She loves her family, chocolate, clothes that are stretchy and things that sparkle. You can contact her at queenofchocolates@live.com or follow her on Facebook at “Queen of Chocolates.”

December 2012

29

meal time

For the birds

One of my most embarrassing foodie moments came when I was culinary chairman of the San Francisco Gourmet Gala for the March of Dimes, a star-studded black tie event. Various celebrities would submit their recipes to be judged by a food panel. Most of the recipes were prepared by my volunteers in the hotel kitchen. The reality was that most of the recipes were also developed by my consulting company for the celebrities.

Tippi Hedren, famous for her roles in Hitchcock movies (i.e. “The Birds”) was an ardent wildlife animal rights activist.

She told me that anything I wanted to use for her presentation would be fine.

Great, except I was trying to be clever and named the chicken sate Wildebeest Sate. When she saw that name on the menu, she went ballistic, thinking that I was mocking her activist leaning. After practically crawling over broken glass, she accepted my apologies. The recipe won second place!

Wildebeest Sate 4 chicken breasts, skinless, boneless Marinade (see below) Peanut sauce (see below) Cut chicken into strips, then thread onto bamboo skewers that have been soaked in water for at least one hour. (Reserve small amount of marinade for brushing chicken on the grill) Cover and marinate for one hour at room temperature or two hours in the refrigerator. Grill, basting occasionally with the reserved marinade.

Marinade 2 garlic cloves, minced 2 slices ginger (quarter-sized) crushed 3 tablespoons dry vermouth 3 tablespoons peanut oil 2 tablespoons oyster sauce 2 tablespoons soy sauce 2 tablespoons chili sauce 1 tablespoon Hoisin sauce 1 tablespoon sesame oil 1 tablespoon hot pepper sauce 1½ teaspoons sugar 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoon water 30

December 2012

1/4 cup peanut butter mixed with 1/3 cup warm water Peanut Sauce 2 tablespoons peanut oil 1/3 cup minced onion 2 garlic cloves, minced 18 ounces crunchy peanut butter 2 tablespoons soy sauce 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1 cup coconut milk 1/4 cup finely chopped cilantro

3 tablespoons all purpose flour 1 cup cream Paprika Fresh watercress for garnish Season chicken with salt and pepper. Place in a single layer in pan, cover with champagne and bring to a simmer over low heat.

Simmer until chicken is just cooked through, about five to seven minutes. Skim off any foam that rises to the top. Use a slotted spoon to lift chicken to a warm platter.

In a small bowl, cream butter and flour into a paste, then whisk into the simmering liquid. Continue cooking, whisking until liquid begins to thicken. Gradually whisk in cream, simmer until thickened, about five minutes.

Taste sauce and salt and pepper as needed.

Pour over chicken breasts, dust lightly with paprika, garnish.

Heat oil in a medium-sized skillet over low heat, add onion and garlic, sauté until soft but not browned. Stir in peanut butter, soy sauce and cayenne. Simmer about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. When the oil begins to separate from the mixture, gradually stir in coconut milk. Remove from heat and stir in cilantro. Serve warm or at room LONNIE GANtemperature. If made ahead and chilled, DARA TAYLOR is sauce may need to be thinned with a bit more a St. Joseph native who coconut milk. has returned home after

Another bird recipe (again developed by me) and submitted by Donald Johanson, the discoverer of the fossil hominid Lucy in Ethiopia, and his date, Morgan Fairchild, won honorable mention at this same event.

a prestigious career in

Chicken Breasts in Champagne Sauce

professional assistant to

6 chicken breasts halves, skinned and boned Salt and freshly ground white pepper 2 cups champagne 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

| Josephine magazine |

the culinary field. She taught cooking classes in the San Francisco Bay area for years and was a 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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