A N O M A H A W O R L D - H E R A L D P U B L I C AT I O N
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014 INSPIREDLIVINGOMAHA.COM
inspiredlivingomaha.com 1
Backsplash detail in a kitchen remodel by designer Joanie Fredenburg of Millard Lumber's Design Gallery. Story, page 20. Photo by Daniel Johnson.
Contents 8
The Big See Events you won't want to miss
10
Design Done Right An artful Cape Cod
20
Before + After Rustic kitchen update
24
Homespiration
A home filled with heart
30
Au Courant Brass is back
33
Threads Man's many moods
40
Profile Steve Gordon, a cool mentor to teens
44
Destinations Puerto Rico on a budget
48
Dish Oscar party goes Chinese
50
Host Be mine, Valentine?
52
Connoisseur Ace of Spades
54
Craft Art Wood with a story to tell
58
Be Well And stay well
60
Get Organized 12 steps to a clutter-free life
inspiredlivingomaha.com  1
2 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014
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HOOTON IMAGES
Editor's Note
CHRIS CHRISTEN editor-in-chief
Admitted clotheshorse. White wine lover. Singer; dabbles in musical theater. FUN FACT: Once raced a Corvette on a drag strip.
INSPIRED, FOR THE WAY YOU LIKE TO LIVE We’ve made a subtle
departments, while we debut:
change. Did you notice? Inspired Home
• Be Well, a health and wellness feature
Omaha is now Inspired Living Omaha,
by Sandra Wendel. Wendel is an expert
or “ILO” for short.
contributor on the topic for the Omaha
As my husband observed, the acronym could very well stand for “I Love Omaha.” Indeed, Inspired Living Omaha is a celebration of our community and the lifestyles we enjoy as Omahans and Nebraskans. The home features you love are still here: Design Done Right, Before &
World-Herald and other local and national publications. • Connoisseur, a look at life's little luxuries. There’s more. A new website is coming soon, along with a weekly blog, InspiredLiving.Omaha.com. Indeed, Inspired Living is a labor of love
After and Au Courant (trends in home
for our small but mighty magazine team
accessories). Ditto for The Dish, which is
at The World-Herald. We pride ourselves
our recipe series for the home cook who
on providing fresh, local, original content
wants to kick it up a notch; and Host, our
that you enjoy reading and sharing. As an
how-to for easy entertaining.
editor, I have never had so much fun in
But now, wine and spirits, fashion and travel have higher profiles as regular
a job. And when you’re having fun, it’s not work. We look forward to bringing you more ideas for the way you like to live: Inspired.
ON THE COVER
Happy New Year!
Home of Mary Zicafoose. Photo by Jeffrey Bebee.
LETTERS WELCOME Send comments to inspired@owh.com, or mail to Editor, Inspired Living Omaha Magazine, 1314 Douglas St., Suite 600, Omaha, NE 68102. Please include your full name, city and daytime telephone number. Letters must be signed, and we reserve the right to edit them for clarity and space reasons.
DON'T MISS AN ISSUE! Subscribe for $9.99 for a full year (six issues) at inspiredlivingomaha.com.
4 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014
Chris Christen editor-in-chief
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014
Editor-in-Chief Chris Christen 402-444-1094 Chris.Christen@owh.com Assistant Editor Amy LaMar Creative Director/Designer Heidi Hoffman Photo Imaging Specialist Patricia “Murphy” Benoit Content Contributors Krystal Overmyer, Heather Winkel, Sandra Wendel, Suzanne Smith Arney, Cara Pesek, Ananda Spadt, Brian O'Malley, Cathy Curtis, Amy Tokos, Meghann Schense, Kurt A. Keeler Photography Contributors Jeffrey Bebee, Hooton Images, Daniel Johnson, Meghann Schense Sales Manager Carrie Kentch 402-444-1448 Carrie.Kentch@owh.com Account Representative Cathleen Vanhauer 402-444-1209 Cathleen.Vanhauer@owh.com Account Representative Kristine Buhman 402-444-1442 Kristine.Buhman@owh.com Events & Custom Publishing Manager Tam Webb 402-444-3125 Tam.Webb@owh.com
Proudly published by
1314 Douglas St., Suite 600 Omaha NE 68102 402-444-1094 Inspired Living Omaha (ISSN 7447026659) is a publication of the Omaha World-Herald. ©2014, Omaha World-Herald Co. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the specific written permission of the publisher. The opinions expressed by those interviewed are their own. While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information, no responsibility can be accepted by the publisher for content, opinions or practices, or how the information herein is used. All materials submitted, including but not limited to images, logos and text that appear, are assumed to be the original work of the provider, and the publisher is not responsible for unintentional copyright infringement.
Cultured Stone
®
inspiredlivingomaha.com 5
THE CONTRIBUTORS
AMY LaMAR
HEIDI HOFFMAN
JEFFREY BEBEE
creative director & designer
photographer
Mom to Zoey and Elliot. Organized, organized, organized. Food is her favorite topic.
Amateur photographer. Has a thing for giraffes. Creighton University graduate.
Usually shows up on assignment with a new camera gadget. Western Nebraska roots.
FUN FACT: Amy was a competitive roller skater as a kid.
FUN FACT: Heidi rode her bike seven miles every day to her first job.
FUN FACT: Jeffrey once traveled to Ecuador with his wife, toddler – and two months worth of photography equipment.
CORA COPPOCK
THE HOOTONS
KATE LUCHSINGER
photographers
hair & makeup stylist
Bag maker and accessory enthusiast at Artifact Bag Co. Roamed the world in her 20s.
Husband and wife team. Specialize in weddings, portraits, boudoir and fashion editorials.
Beauty is her art. Her passion is to enhance one's uniqueness. Her moniker is Picassa.
FUN FACT: Cora's hair color – subject to change.
FUN FACT: Heather sang in an opera in Rome, and Jameson used to be the bass player for a hard rock band.
FUN FACT: Kate enjoys creating and sketching custom dream wedding dresses.
assistant editor
fashion stylist
PHOTOS: HOOTON IMAGES, DAN THORSON PHOTOGRAPHY, JEFFREY BEBEE, REBECCA S. GRATZ, CHRIS CHRISTEN, KRISTA LEIGH HURST, JAMES R. BURNETT, WYN WILEY
6 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014
KAREN BLANC
DANIEL JOHNSON
KURT A. KEELER
Wife, mother and "Grandma Bunny" to eight girls. Blogger. Photo organizer.
Married to Rebecca. New dad to Harvey, apple of his eye. Loves eating and cooking.
Retired financial advisor. Occasional theatrical performer. Married to our editor.
FUN FACT: Karen stayed in a tree house on Maui island in Hawaii last summer.
FUN FACT: Dan usually mixes up idioms.
FUN FACT: Kurt once spent 46 hours in a shower – setting a world record!
writer
CARA PESEK
photographer
photographer
MEGHANN SCHENSE
ANANDA SPADT
merchandise stylist
writer & photographer
Works for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Enjoys running, biking, baking and thrifting.
Owner/creative grit of Esoteric Velvet. Event planner. Personal and commercial stylist.
Illustrator, art director, travel enthusiast. Wife to Ben; mom to Leona.
FUN FACT: Cara is expecting her first child in February.
FUN FACT: Meghann bakes for the holidays; otherwise uses her kitchen as a closet.
FUN FACT: Annie is our former creative director and designer.
writer
PAT WATERS
SANDRA WENDEL
HEATHER WINKEL
Nebraska farm girl. Married with two children. Has a dog named Jeeves.
Book editor. Lives in a log cabin with the "catch" of her life. Kayaks daily.
Designer, crafter and stylist. Wife and new mom. Has a passion for pretty things.
FUN FACT: Pat has a Palomino Quarter Horse, Biscuit, whom she rides in the English style.
FUN FACT: Sandra upcycles vintage books into journals.
FUN FACT: Heather has explored the Gros Piton in Saint Lucia from below sea level to summit.
writer
health writer
writer & photographer
inspiredlivingomaha.com  7
The
Big See
[ SAVE THE DATES ]
HAVING OUR SAY Jan. 17- Feb. 9 Omaha Community Playhouse omahaplayhouse.com Bessie and Sadie Delany, ages 101 and 103, are African-American sisters who have lived through historic events such as the Civil Rights Movement, Jim Crow laws and women’s suffrage. These cultural pioneers pursued education and careers even though it was unheard of at the time. Their stories are humorous and historical as they invite the audience into their home. The biographical, two-person play stars real-life sisters Camille Metoyer Moten and Lanette Metoyer Moore. Hours: 7:30 p.m. Admission: Adults $35; students $21
MIDLANDS INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW Jan. 23-26 CenturyLink Center omahaautoshow.com The show features the latest cars, trucks and SUVs from every major manufacturer. Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday Admission: $9 for ages 13 to 64; $6 for ages 65 and older or for those who have a military ID; $5 for ages 7 to 12; and free for ages 6 and younger
'APPALACHIAN SPRING' Jan. 26 Orpheum Theater ticketomaha.com The signature ballet is part of Omaha Performing Arts’ Dance 13/14 Series, and is being presented by the Martha Graham Dance Company, the oldest dance company in the United States. "Appalachian Spring" was created in 1944, and its score was composed by Aaron Copland. The dance is a hopeful tale about a new life in a new land. Hours: 7 p.m. Admission: Tickets start at $20.
8 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014
'APPALACHIAN SPRING'
COUNT BASIE ORCHESTRA FEATURING NEW YORK VOICES Feb. 14 Holland Performing Arts Center ticketomaha.com Nearly 20 years after their Grammy-winning collaboration, the Count Basie Orchestra and New York Voices unite again. Formed in 1935, the orchestra has helped define the big band sound, while the vocal ensemble is known for its excellence in jazz and group singing. Hours: 8 p.m. Admission: $25 to $65
12TH ANNUAL MURDER MYSTERY DINNER THEATRE: “FOR KILLING OUT LOUD” Feb. 20-22 Joslyn Castle Joslyncastle.com The plot of the play has something to do with the Titanic (the details of the plot aren’t divulged in advance). Doors open at 6 p.m., with the show and dinner to follow. Hours: 6:30 p.m. Admission: $80 for a Titanic dinner and two drink tickets.
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inspiredlivingomaha.com  9
Design Done Right
The TV room, where the Zicafooses enjoy quiet time. A balcony provides a shady reading spot.
10  JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014
Rooms with a story Artful home reflects fabric of life. STORY BY CHRIS CHRISTEN PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFFREY BEBEE
J
esse, a chocolate lab the size of a small walrus, sprawls on the cool slate floor by the front door as Mary Zicafoose welcomes me to her artful Cape Cod-style home in Omaha’s Rockbrook neighborhood. We laugh as we sidestep the old gal, and then I pause to scan the front room. Two things are immediately apparent: My host has a keen eye for color and detail and an affinity for handmade art objects. “I love this house,” Mary says. “So much of it is an extension of who I am as an artist.” Mary, an internationally known textiles artist, and her husband, Kirby, have surrounded themselves with handcrafted works by local, regional and national artists. Intermixed are artifacts and art from their travels to Turkey, India, Uzbekistan, Indonesia, Alaska and all parts of Latin America. “We have a similar sensibility about what we like,” Kirby says of the unique elements that make their house a home. “We’re not a show house. We want a comfortable home with rooms that tell a story.” The calming interior palette is reminiscent of the vibrant, warm hues found in the resident artist’s tapestries, rugs and monoprints. The Zicafooses bought their home in 1996. The architectural style and neighborhood with its glorious trees are reminiscent of the home that the couple and their then-young daughter, Kale, left behind in Portland, Ore. “We lived in a charming old two-story with a walk-out basement on Terwilliger Boulevard on the edge of a city forest,” Mary explains. “Portland and Terwilliger were a hard act to follow. You can still see my fingernail marks etched on the pavement from when they pulled me down the street saying, ‘No! No! I won’t go!’”
And today? “I wouldn’t have been pulled here (They moved because of Kirby’s job with Tenaska) if there wasn’t a bigger picture,” Mary says. “Every place – and I do mean EVERY place – has its jewels.” A structural addition in 2005 gave the family a TV room, which doubles as a meditation room. “It’s where we go to burrow and escape in one form or another,” Mary says. “It has a delightfully restorative and renewing feng shui feel going on.” Her work as an artist has taken place at home in a light-filled lower-level studio. The exception was in 2008, when she moved her looms to the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts for an extended five-month residency. Her workspace is remarkably tidy, given her medium of fibers and dyes. “There is a tendency among textile people to be pack rats,” Mary admits. “I know what my medium requires, and I don’t tend to collect excess materials to tell my stories.” As we tour the home, I am struck by the stories that connect the homeowners with the art and artifacts they’ve collected. Nothing has been acquired merely for the sake of acquisition. Everything has special meaning to the couple. Case in point: A George Gulli totem pole in the hearth room. It was purchased 30 years ago on a vacation in Victor, Mont. As Mary tells it: “We made a wrong turn and ended up driving about an hour in the wrong direction. We were about to strangle each other when we came upon the workshop of this famous Northwest totem maker. Our purchase salvaged the day.” The art piece that carries the greatest sentimental value, however, is a self-portrait of a swimmer – daughter Kale. If the house were on fire, that’s the treasure they’d grab on the way out the door.
inspiredlivingomaha.com 11
Self-portrait of a swimmer by Kale Zicafoose, created as a 10th-grader at Westside High School. “That’s when I realized she was a talented artist,” her mother says. Today, Kale lives in Chicago and works in publishing and media.
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The “Art Room” has the feel of a Santa Fe gallery. “Everything has a story, and none of it has been purchased with great wealth,” Mary Zicafoose says of the art.
GET THE LOOK SMOKEHOUSE, SHERWIN-WILLIAMS
LAMBSWOOL, PRAT T & LAMBERT
• Contemporary mask, Juneau, Alaska. • Mary Zicafoose prints, "The Blue Moon" series, 2004. • Turned wood vessel and stone-like sculpture by Michael Bauermeister. • Longhorn skull from Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. • Primitive pitchfork from Turkey. • Rabbit head sculpture by Deborah Masuoka. • "Blue Sky/Black Star" by Mary Zicafoose.
inspiredlivingomaha.com 13
Woven tunics called “Huipils” by an indigenous weaver in Guatemala are displayed as slipcovers on Stickley chairs in the “Art Room.” The tunics were purchased on a textiles trip as a 50th birthday present to Mary from Kirby and Mary's mom. “Offering Time,” an accordion book by Karen Kunc, is framed as wall art.
14 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014
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Symbolism in Mary Zicafoose’s artwork is seen in grass blades and mountain peaks – both of which are triangular, like her family unit. A Zicafoose rug is featured here.
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Lithographs by H. Joe Waldrum, a beloved New Mexico artist, hang in Mary's home office. "The art world was crazed when Joe died," Mary says. "We bought the prints the day of his death."
inspiredlivingomaha.com  17
George Gulli totem pole.
"Grass on Fire," colorgraphic monoprint, 2010, by Mary Zicafoose.
Mark Shapiro teapot and an earthenware vessel by potter Meredith Brickell.
Amish bentwood rocker, purchased in 1979 from a traveling salesman in Tennessee.
A hammered copper container from a mail-order catalog shares the hearth with baskets from Bali and textile wood blocks from India.
18  JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014
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inspiredlivingomaha.com 19
before+After
Stay Awhile Kitchen remodel adds life – and a lot more – to ho-hum space. STORY BY CHRIS CHRISTEN & AMY LaMAR PHOTOGRAPHY BY DANIEL JOHNSON
Carmen Augustus had her heart set on granite for the countertops. She says she was a “granite stalker” until she found what she wanted – a polished double-thick custom-etched slab with a chiseled edge.
20 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014
BEFO
RE
The Italianmade bronze hardware has a “living finish” patina that changes with age.
W
e all want guests to feel welcome in our homes. Thanks to a recent kitchen remodel, Bob and Carmen Augustus’s lake home goes a step further, encouraging guests to “stay awhile.” “I didn’t really like having people over (before) because the kitchen seemed so closed off,” Carmen says. Designer Joanie Fredenburg of Millard Lumber's Design Gallery attributes the new open feel, in part, to a logical placement of elements that draws you into the space. Among them are bay windows, flooding daylight into the kitchen to allow a bird’s-eye view of other year-round lake homes in Sarpy County’s Hawaiian Village subdivision. The windows, installed a year in advance of the new cabinetry, frame an inviting seating area with three armchairs made of leather and cowhide and glass- and stone-topped side tables. Capping the nook is the ceiling, which is constructed of prefinished, hand-scraped and distressed tongue-andgroove flooring planks. In another key structural change, a wall between the living room and the kitchen was redesigned and reconfigured to open up the two spaces. It improved the traffic pattern throughout the main level. Finishes were among the toughest decisions, Carmen says. For the kitchen cabinets and center island, Fredenburg and Carmen decided on a rustic knotty cherry wood species. The perimeter cabinetry was created with a Covington door style in a java-tinted varnish finish, while the island was created with a Castlebarry door style in a chestnut and ebony-tinted varnish finish. The 27-step finishing process is known as the Chateaux Old World textured and distressed artisan look. Contrasting finishes play into Carmen’s desire for an overall rustic aesthetic. A three-ring binder filled with magazine clippings of rooms and décor elements helped with decisions throughout the process. Reviewing the pages now, “It’s amazing how the actual space resembles the ideas that I originally had,” Carmen says. She trusted her contractor, Rick Derry of Derry Construction, and she relied on Fredenburg’s expertise during the six-week-long project. “She wasn’t afraid to tell me ‘no’ if something wasn’t going to work,” Carmen says. “Her style is to lead you to the right choices.” As with any remodel, this project, which was completed in January 2013, required patience. But Carmen is no stranger to all that goes into a home project. She and Bob have a vacation home in the Ozarks, and Carmen has both remodeled and redecorated it. Carmen doesn’t pull any punches when asked what’s next on her list of home improvements: “I want to pretty much gut and update the master bath,” she says. The current bathroom has “movie star” lighting, among other outdated features. Look out, binder, here she comes!
inspiredlivingomaha.com 21
Reclaimed from a salvage yard.
Slate flooring – among the homeowners’ favorite features.
22 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014
6 issues for
$9.99 PER YEAR
Staying the course: Joanie Fredenburg of Millard Lumber's Design Gallery offers these tips for remodels large and small. • Keep outsiders out of the decision-making process. Everybody’s tastes are different, and their opinions could lead to confusion. • We are creatures of habit. Sometimes it takes time to accept new concepts. Sit back and digest what is being proposed. • Start a binder – an inspiration book. Pictures help when you can’t adequately describe or articulate what you want to contractors. • Focus on one decision at a time to keep yourself and the project under control and on track. • Your design scheme will come together when you buy only what you love.
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homespiration
Handwritten poems by Lindsey Kreber's great-grandmother, Anna Klatt Hunt.
24  JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014
Everything has
a history
Homeowner goes to great lengths to fill her home with heart. STORY BY AMY LaMAR PHOTOGRAPHY BY DANIEL JOHNSON INTERIOR STYLING BY FLUFF YOUR STUFF
I
f Lindsey Kreber could travel back in time, she would do it in a heartbeat. The next best thing? Antique shops. And estate and garage sales. “If you love something, you will find a spot for it,” she says. There are memories attached to everything in her family’s home. Most of them are rooted in the hearts of her extended family, while others began in the hands of complete strangers. Their stories come alive as soon as you walk in the door. Poems by Kreber’s great-grandmother, with titles such as “For World Peace” and “Be Careful, My Darling,” are framed in the entryway of the 1930 brick Tudor in Omaha's Country Club neighborhood. Take a few more steps and you’ll find an early-1920s sheet music cabinet. A neighbor died and left her house and its contents to another neighbor. Kreber bought the cabinet for $30, and repurposed it into a shoe holder for her kids, ages 11, 8 and 5. Hanging above the cabinet is a reproduction of a 1920s doorbell. “I couldn’t find an original,” the speech pathologist says. But it wasn’t for a lack of trying. Kreber has been known to spend months looking for just the right china plate, vintage mirror, light fixture – or vintage cocktail glass for the 1920s-’30s bar cabinet that she found online. Even her mom got in on the action, searching high and low for glass swizzle sticks. They lay among old bar books and liquor
bottles against a backdrop of aging mint green paint. More often though, the Waterloo, Iowa, native has only to look through her own things to find something she loves: seashells from North Port, Fla., collected when she was 12; a picture of her mom in 1952; her great-grandmother’s cabinet pull. More recently: A starfish and shells that her kids collected during their “first taste of the ocean” in Delaware in August 2013. “I have always saved things. I think you’re hard-wired that way,” she says. When she was a child, she begged her parents to take her on historical home tours. Now she is discovering her own home’s history, and she loves to think about the stories the house could tell. “I don’t know exactly what to do with this stuff,” Kreber says as she points to an old cream of tartar can that she and her husband found in a windowsill and a 1928 penny found in the floorboards during the kitchen’s remodel. When they renovated the attic, they discovered a car registration and a 1967 prescription receipt from Hamilton Pharmacy at 50th and Hamilton Streets. “I am saving it,” she says. “You can tell a lot about people by the things you find.” Her own family’s story will wait to be discovered in the kitchen wall. Kreber stashed a time capsule containing a family picture, a newspaper, a handwritten note – and a 2012 penny.
inspiredlivingomaha.com 25
Charming vintage wicker from Walnut – Iowa's "antique city."
26 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014
Finessing that 'MODERN VINTAGE' Look Lindsey Kreber may love to shop at antique stores, but she doesn’t want her home to look like one. “I am attracted to vintage, but I want the house to look young. I like to add to it in fun ways.” Her home’s sun-filled attic is beautifully modern with its high ceiling, flat-screen TV and brightly painted walls, yet old-fashioned with its replicated doors, antique wicker furniture, milk glass doorknobs and tile that looks like it's straight out of the 1920s. Originally unfinished and used for storage, the attic was renovated in 2007. The goals: Make it look like it belongs with the rest of the house, and give the growing family more room. The renovation allowed Kreber and husband, Jerry, to move their bedroom to the new space, and to convert the former main floor nursery to an office/ craft room. But they wanted the attic to be more than a bedroom. “The kids come up here to watch movies,” she says with happiness in her eyes. “Sometimes we all lie in bed and watch TV together.” The window seat is used to store linens, which Kreber, who admits to having a hard time parting with things, has collected over the years. She did have a very specific reason for keeping back issues of This Old House and Better Homes & Gardens magazines, however. By the time the work began on the attic, she knew just what needed to be done. “It’s exactly what I was envisioning.”
inspiredlivingomaha.com 27
How do you incorporate heart into your home without it feeling cluttered? Lorrie Williams of Fluff Your Stuff Interior Redesign helped Lindsey Kreber make it happen.
Here are her tips: 1. Surround yourself with what you love.
2. Incorporate items that have memories attached: souvenirs of family trips, kids' artwork, photographs. But make sure they have visual appeal. 3. Mix old with new items. 4. Edit and properly display your treasures. A couple of things will take on more importance than when you fill a room full of stuff. 5. Rotate sentimental items. It keeps the space feeling fresh, not fussy. You'll enjoy your treasures more if you haven’t seen them for a while.
Sentimental items fill the shelves above the bathtub. Among them: a framed poem from her husband.
28 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014
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au courant
Brass & Gold: Refining the mold Simple accents add sophistication to any room. STORY BY AMY LaMAR PHOTOGRAPHY BY HEIDI HOFFMAN & MEGHANN SCHENSE
B
rass is back! But it isn’t the shiny, plastic-looking brass of the ’70s and ’80s (Most of us were eager to change out those ugly faucets, light fixtures and door handles). Today, it’s warmer and darker. Even burnished brass is acceptable in an aged or dull finish, says Julia Russell of Julia Russell Designs. Antique lovers would argue that brass never went away. That’s because brass antiques add elegance and tranquility to the atmosphere of a room, Russell says. “Brass has always been seen as a sign of quality.” It’s the simplicity of the metal that gives it a modern feel. Try mixing several eras in one room, such as pairing a 1970s table with a ’40s chair and a modern rug. “Brass can warm up a room and create interest in the smallest of details,” Russell notes. “It can also help calm a room that has too many patterns or colors. Use brass as your new neutral!”
Incorporate brass-toned fabrics into your home's décor with gold medallion or floral fabric, which can add sophistication to a neutral couch. Not your style? Stripes can add structure, and help tie together solid-colored furniture. Dramatic shapes on a dark background add punches of interest and drama to a room.
30 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014
Serving tray, $90, and knife, $24 (comes with a matching cutting board), Julia Russell Designs
Lantern, $44, Julia Russell Designs
5 WAYS to bring brass and gold into your home’s design and personal style • Pair brass with silver. • Change out ordinary cabinet hardware in the kitchen for instant glamour. • Add a brass hanging light fixture to a bathroom. (It doesn’t have to be functional.) • Decorate tabletops and bookcases with small accents such as brass candlesticks and trays. • Give an outfit that finishing touch with a statement piece that drips in gold.
Sigerson Morrison calf hair bootie, $475, The Mix
Bowl, $67, Juila Russell Designs
Miu Miu pentagon-shaped sunglasses, $390, Robert Max Opticians
Sapahn woven metal pouch/ clutch, $225, The Mix
inspiredlivingomaha.com 31
It’s Sandal Season.
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32 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014
DINING Bonefish Grill Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar Paradise Bakery & Cafe MALL HOURS M-F 10 am - 9 pm Sat 10 am - 8 pm Sun 12 pm - 5 pm
threads
The
of Man
THREADS
Merchandise details, page 39.
ART DIRECTION | Chris Christen PHOTOGRAPHY | Hooton Images STYLING | Cora Coppock HAIR & MAKEUP | Kate Luchsinger MODELS | Nayef, independently represented; Lucas and Devin, Develop Model Management inspiredlivingomaha.com  33
Folding leather stool, $399, Pottery Barn.
34 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014
On Devin of Develop Model Management: Horny Toad shirt, $78, Swiss Army jacket, $195, Kuhl pant, $80, all from Bel Air Fashions; TOMS Aviator shoes, $98, Post & Nickel; Tissot "T-Race Touch" watch, $575, Borsheims; Belt, $75, wallet, $65, Artifact Bag Co.; William Henry knife, $1,800, Elisa Illana.
inspiredlivingomaha.com  35
On Lucas of Develop Model Management: Hugo Boss shirt, $125, Hugo Boss cardigan, $195, Hugo Boss sport coat, $545, Satire Sandro trouser, $245, Hugo Boss tie, $89.50, Donald Pliner shoe, $298, all from Post & Nickel; Raymond Weil watch, $1,450, Borsheims; Briefcase, $900, Artifact Bag Co.; William Henry money clip, $234, Elisa Illana.
36  JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014
Carter Furniture’s “Angelo” chair, $1,560, Dice cube, $327, both from Oriental Rug Palace; Chess set, $99.95, Pier 1.
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Teak and chrome bar stool, $225, Rug, $1,575, both from Oriental Rug Palace.
38  JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014
Henley shirt, $55, Sapahn scarf, $16, Howe pant, $92, 3rd & Army jacket, $131, all from Denim Saloon; J Shoes Operator boot, $190, Post & Nickel; Fits socks, $18, Bel Air Fashions; Shinola "Brakeman" watch, $625, Borsheims; Personal Effects bag, $89, Artifact Bag Co.; William Henry pen, $700, Elisa Illana.
inspiredlivingomaha.com  39
profile
40 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014
Business owner, Apparel designer,
athlete, Coach: Fitting together like the pieces of a puzzle. STORY BY CARA PESEK PHOTOGRAPHY BY HOOTON IMAGES
S
teve Gordon’s sunglasses, like many things he wears, are customized. They started out as a pair of bamboo frames, painted red. Gordon liked them, but they weren’t quite right. So using a Dremel tool and a steady hand, he carefully removed the paint to expose the grain of the bamboo. He snapped a photo on Instagram and tagged Rogue Eyewear, the designer of the frames. He ended up collaborating with the company to create a new pair. This is often the way things work for Gordon, who founded the branding and consulting firm RDQLUS Creative eight-and-a-half years ago. After several years of working in corporate marketing and graphic design, he went out on his own. He has since worked nationally with MSN, ABC and T-Mobile, and locally with Batch-At-A-Time Granola and River City Social Club, among other clients. Gordon also designs sweatshirts, T-shirts, scarves and other casual apparel that veers a bit more tailored and understated than the street wear and athletic clothing that inspires many of his designs. Gordon himself tends to favor a tailored-meets-
athletic-wear look, which is a nod to the 39-year-old Omaha native’s other life. In high school at Creighton Prep, Gordon was a standout jumper on the track team. He continued his track career in college, first at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and later at the University of South Dakota. After college, he competed nationally and internationally until an injury sidelined him in the mid-2000s. Since then, he has continued to work with promising young track-and-field athletes as a coach for Omaha-based Tachyon Athletik. Gordon practices with the kids he coaches, and he still runs and works out and identifies himself as an athlete. His background, along with his 200-pound, 6’3” frame and African-American heritage, make him stand out in the world of design, he says. And his clothing reflects those attributes. “I don’t want to not tell people that story,” he says. To Gordon, the worlds of track and branding are not so different. Both are about solving puzzles, he says. Gordon realized that he was a fast runner when he raced some other little kids after church one Sunday in north Omaha where he grew up. As he dashed
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42 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014
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around with the other kids, he spotted his mom headed in his direction with a look on her face that meant he was in trouble. Another woman from church intercepted her and suggested that she enroll Gordon in an after-school track program. She did. Gordon was fast, but he quickly learned that field events held a greater appeal. He particularly enjoyed the challenge of the long, high and triple jumps. Figuring out the technique and perfecting the execution excited him as much as the athleticism that the sport required. His grandfather ran a garage, which fascinated Gordon as a kid (He still likes to work on cars). In school, he liked math and science. He found that he relished the solitary aspect of track – the idea that his event was riding entirely on his shoulders. “It was an individual sport where I could lend myself to the team,” he says. Track led him to design; had Gordon not attended college on a track scholarship, he doubts he would have attended at all. He studied architecture at UNL. He switched his focus to graphic design at the University of South Dakota, which didn’t offer architecture as a major. The right logo, the right branding, the right colors for a given client – figuring those things out was another kind of puzzle, Gordon says. And the field was changing quickly at the time. Companies were beginning to hire in-house designers instead of outsourcing projects to marketing firms. Branding was becoming more important. So since college – on and off the track – Gordon has solved puzzles. His days are dedicated to finding the right words, the right art and the right audience. They are also dedicated to helping kids find the right training regime, the right technique and, if all goes well, success. That’s the most rewarding part. “There are very few things that bring me to tears,” Gordon says. “Seeing my kids excel is one of those things.”
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Destinations
Puerto Rico A thrifty girl’s no-fuss guide.
STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANANDA SPADT
44 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014
KAMOLI KAFE
I
am a low-maintenance traveler. I take one carry-on bag so there is no chance of it getting lost during a flight. My traveling outfit is chosen based on what will easily get me through security checkpoints. So when planning a vacation, I look for destinations that will be the most fun with the least amount of stress. Puerto Rico wasn’t at the top of our list for a post-tax season vacation (My husband is an accountant). But after a little research, it was clearly the best choice for several reasons.
Reason No. 1 No crowds and nice weather. We traveled in early May, which is off-peak tourism time in Puerto Rico, but it’s not the rainy season either.
Reason No. 2 Reasonable price tag. Flights and accommodations were consistently less expensive than several other destinations.
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Reason No. 3 Variety of entertainment. Once I had my share of lying on the beach, I knew Puerto Rico would offer interesting food, music, architecture, history, nature and sports to fill up our days.
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Puerto Rico (continued from page 45)
No-fuss destination
money-saving Pointers
NO PASSPORT NEEDED I have a passport … three in fact. But I have a tendency to lose passports. I knew that if this all-important document was missing in action at boarding time, Puerto Rico would still be accessible.
STAY IN A CONDO, NOT A HOTEL For $80 per night on airbnb.com, we booked a clean, roomy condo with a private porch and kitchenette a half-block away from the beach. The nearby Marriott at $279 per night exceeded our budget and was much farther from the beach.
AMERICAN CURRENCY Cash, credit cards, checks … they are all accepted. BRANDS YOU LOVE You’ll still be able to eat at your favorite American food chains. A Walgreen's is on every corner, which came in handy when one of our prescriptions ran out while we were on the island. The clerk was able to pull up our account and give us a refill right away. NO LANGUAGE BARRIER Everyone speaks English. And if you are 6-foot-tall and ultra-pale like myself, no one even bothers to speak Spanish to you. LIMITED TRAVEL TIME We knew there wouldn’t be a direct flight from Omaha to San Juan. But with just five-and-a-half hours in the air, we arrived in time to get settled and head out for our first Piña Colada.
46 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014
EAT IN Stop by a grocery store and pick up some breakfast and lunch essentials, then focus on eating at a different restaurant each night. This way, we weren’t hungrily searching for a lunch spot when we should have been lying by the beach sipping an ice cold Medalla Light. We picked up a cooler and ice from a nearby convenience store for our food and beverages. STICK TO ONE SIDE OF THE ISLAND Since we spent all of our time in San Juan, we were able to see the sites on foot or by bus using only pocket change (just 75 cents per ride on the public bus system). There are amazing sites in the rural areas, so plan a few days in a rental car to explore.
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Must-see Attractions Exclusively at: OLD SAN JUAN You can experience this picturesque area in one day. Though hilly, its attractions are easiest to access on foot. Remember to look down at your feet to see the famous bluestone cobbled streets. • Visit El Morro, a fort on the edge of the city that took more than 200 years to build. • Order the local favorite, Mofongo, and a Piña Colada at Barrachina (barrachina. com). It’s the “birthplace of the original Piña Colada.” • Take photos of the colorful building facades – the trademark of the area.
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OCEAN PARK BEACH • Lounge like a local on the clean, beautiful and sun-bleached Ocean Park Beach. The area has some of the best kiteboarding conditions in the Caribbean, so enjoy the free entertainment. • Sip cocktails on the sleek deck of Oceano (oceanopr.com), a trendy hotspot in an area of town called Condado. The location right on the beach near hotels, shopping and restaurants can’t be beat. Stop by for a free salsa class (check the schedule), or lounge during off-peak hours. SKIP IT: Avid fans will enjoy the Bacardi factory tour, but the ferry and van ride to get there didn’t fit into our no-fuss agenda.
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dish
CHEF'S DISH: Sesame-soy oil blend, garlic, shrimp, onions, green beans, red peppers, yellow peppers, bamboo shoots, orange juice, rice wine vinegar, basil, soy sauce, pinch of sugar
48 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014
EDITOR’S DISH: Vegetable oil, ginger, one dried chili, Napa cabbage, tofu, sesame seeds, onion, chicken stock, touch of orange juice, oyster sauce, soy sauce, Chinese lo mein noodles
PHOTOGRAPHER’S DISH: Pork, mushrooms, onion, garlic, chilies, rice wine vinegar, vegetable oil, chili oil, pinch of sugar, soy sauce, ginger, chicken stock, rice noodles
Made-to-order
Chinese feast The wok takes center stage at Brian O’Malley’s Oscar night party. Heat up some fun in your own home – and your guests' mouths – with these tips. RECIPE BY CHEF-INSTRUCTOR BRIAN O’MALLEY & STUDENT CATHY CURTIS PHOTOGRAPHY BY DANIEL JOHNSON
F
or years, the Metropolitan Community College chef has cooked made-to-order Chinese dishes for his children and guests on Oscar night. The process demonstrates one of the Institute for the Culinary Arts’ principles: “mise en place,” or “everything in its place.” Having everything prepared and in its place is especially important in order to execute this particular concept: At a typical party, O’Malley will have more than 40 ingredients from which guests can select. During commercial breaks, O’Malley cooks a handful of guests’ dishes on a “wicked hot” wok. “Because of the speed and intensity of the cookery, mise en place is incredibly important,” he says. Each individual dish takes only a minute or two to cook. The advantages of made-to-order dishes? The hostess-chef can have everything prepared and in the refrigerator before the party begins, and she is only actively cooking as the food is ordered. But O’Malley cautions to only start cooking when those who have placed their orders have all of their ingredients ready. Once you start, you have just a couple of minutes to finish. “There’s a really rapid-fire piece to it."
GET 'WOK-ING' 1. Heat a large wok to “wicked hot,” or until it’s smoking a bit. 2. Add desired oil. Season oil with aromatic vegetables, if desired. Strain the mixture through a fine strainer; reserve the aromatic vegetables. Return the infused oil to the wok. 3. Add proteins. Cook until 80 percent done – less than 1 minute. 4. Remove and set aside animal proteins before cooking vegetables. (If using tofu, you may leave the tofu in the wok.) 5. Add vegetables to wok. Add longer-cooking vegetables first
(such as onions and mushrooms); shorter-cooking vegetables later (such as green beans and bell pepper). Add sauce as desired (oyster, soy, etc.) and chicken broth; add more oil if needed. Add a bit of the cornstarch-water mixture to slightly thicken the sauce. Cook for one minute or so. 6. Add noodles, cooking very briefly. Return protein to wok, cooking very briefly. Add previously strained items as garnishes. 7. Serve in individual Chinese takeout boxes with chopsticks.
Ingredients for made-to-order Chinese dishes: Oils and sauces Vegetable Soy/sesame oil blend Chili oil Sriracha sauce Rice wine vinegar Oyster sauce Soy sauce Cornstarch-water blend Aromatic vegetables Ginger, finely minced Garlic, finely minced Orange zest Lime zest Onion, finely diced Dried chilies, whole Proteins Chicken tenders, cubed Firm tofu, cubed Pork, briefly seared and cut into thin strips Shrimp, peeled, deveined and halved Vegetables Edamame, blanched and shocked Red bell pepper, julienned Bamboo shoots Snap peas Carrots, finely diced Onion strips Mushrooms, sliced Napa cabbage, julienned Yellow bell peppers, julienned Green beans, trimmed Sauce ingredients Chicken stock Orange juice Lime juice Peanut sauce Sugar Honey Noodles Rice noodles, cooked and chilled Chinese lo mein noodles, cooked and chilled Garnishes Sesame seeds Sweet basil sprigs Roasted peanuts, chopped
EXPERIENCE STUDENT-LED FINE DINING AT THE SAGE STUDENT BISTRO. MAKE RESERVATIONS ONLINE AT MCCNEB.EDU/BISTRO.
inspiredlivingomaha.com 49
host
Special Delivery A sweet treat to greet your Valentine at the mailbox. WRIT TEN & PHOTOGRAPHED BY HEATHER WINKEL
50 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014
Brown Sugar Cookies
You can stick postage on just about anything and send it through the mail. In fact, if your parcel weighs 13 ounces or less it can be sent First Class via the United States Postal Service. So why not send your Valentine on a treasure hunt to the mailbox this year? HERE'S WHAT YOU DO: 1. Think of a trio of items that contribute to a bigger picture. For example, send ingredients to make Valentine’s Day cookies – cookie cutter, hot pads, decorative candies, favorite recipe, gift card for ingredients, apron. 2. Make sure each item weighs 13 ounces or less. 3. Package each piece (You may want to wrap some things in plastic to protect them in the mail). 4. Create a mailing label area, clearly marking who the package is going to and who it’s coming from. 5. Affix the proper postage based on each package’s weight. 6. Send the packages off over three consecutive days and wait for a delighted response! Get creative and give it a whirl. But don’t be surprised if the postal worker gives you a strange look when you bring candy sprinkles to the counter ...
WHAT YOU NEED 1 cup margarine, softened 2 cups brown sugar, packed 2 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 teaspoon baking powder 3 cups flour, sifted (measure before sifting) 1 cup or more powdered sugar for rolling WHAT YOU DO 1. Cream margarine and brown sugar. 2. Add eggs and vanilla; stir to combine. 3. In a separate bowl, combine baking powder and flour. Add gradually to creamed mixture. 4. Cover dough and refrigerate overnight. 5. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 6. Roll dough to 1/8-inch to ¼-inch thickness on powdered sugar-coated board. Keep unused dough in refrigerator until ready to use. 7. Cut out with cookie cutters. 8. Bake on generously greased cookie sheets until lightly browned, 5 to 8 minutes.
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connoisseur
FORMAL NAME Armand de Brignac Brut Gold NICKNAME Ace of Spades WINE & SPIRITS MAGAZINE RATING 94 points INTERNATIONAL WINE CELLAR RATING 91 points SUGGESTED RETAIL $300 ENJOYED BEST With a bag of potato chips. “Seriously, the salt enhances the flavor of the champagne,” says fine wine consultant Elizabeth Cannon. At about $75 a glass, you might want to wait for the right moment to pop the cork.
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I’ll Have Ruffles With Mine ‘Racy’ cult champagne worth its weight in gold. STORY BY CHRIS CHRISTEN PHOTOGRAPHED BY DANIEL JOHNSON
T
hanks to Jay Z, you’re looking at a globally recognized bottle. The hip-hop superstar is notorious for his expensive publicity stunts for Armand de Brignac, the maker of the Brut Champagne with the sexy gold packaging. Only Jay Z would walk into a Paris nightclub carting 30 bottles of Ace of Spades (reportedly valued at $26,000) for himself and a few of his friends. But there has to be more to this cult champagne than a celebrity-backed label and a celebrity-sized price tag, right? The answer is yes, according to wine.com. Its tasting notes: "Armand de Brignac is marvelously complex and full-bodied, with a bouquet that is both fresh and lively. Its sumptuous, racy, fruit character is perfectly integrated with the wine’s subtle brioche accents. Its texture is deliciously creamy, and the palate has great depth and impact with a long and silky finish. A superb and singular example of a prestige champagne."
WHY WE LIKE IT: The signature gold bottle with a hand-applied and polished pewter label makes an impressive gift. Bonus: It’s packaged in a black embroidered velvet bag. (It's also available in Brut Rose in a pink metallic bottle.) If you’re feeling especially generous, there’s the Midas, the world’s largest champagne bottle. It sells for around $100,000.
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craft art
If Furniture Could Talk … Memories abound in woodworker’s creations. PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFFREY BEBEE
54 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014
distinction warmth sophistication CUSTOM-DESIGNED HAND-KNOTTED CARPETS
D
usty Reynolds, the Greater Omaha Chamber’s director of entrepreneurship and innovation, loves to talk about his latest project. “It’s a totally organic process,” explains the man contributing to a bold vision for economic growth throughout the metro. “It’s about being able to see things in new and creative ways – to see the innate potential often overlooked by others.” Only Reynolds isn’t talking about business start-ups, investor angels or job initiatives. He is talking about his passion for woodworking. He loves to assess the possibilities of raw slabs of wood while standing in his cramped workshop – a sawdust-strewn corner of the garage of the Rockbrook home that he shares with his wife, Julia, and their 1 ½-year-old son, Hudson. One of these slabs was recently morphed into a rough-hewn cutting board for a newly married friend. To understand the provenance of the scrap material used in the cutting board project requires a visit to his home’s master bedroom. Here, Reynolds fashioned sliding closet doors out of wooden bleachers rescued from a gymnasium in Dodge, Neb. The gymnasium was the site of many a road game during the Hooper, Neb., native’s high school basketball years. Just as the ability to turn convention upside down is often a key to success when launching a new business, Reynolds flips his bleacher-turned-closet doors over to reveal the underbelly. “This patina,” he says, while stroking the shadows that run along one side of each board, “is from the skin oils of people gripping the edge of these bleachers. Over here,” he adds upon inspecting another section of the rusticated surface, “is the halo left by a piece of bubblegum.” It’s the entrepreneur’s trademark: Putting to use the simple idea of employing available resources in new and creative ways. With a screen-printing company already well-established, his latest venture is RaceNote. The secure online platform is for the collection, analysis and sharing of motor sports race data. “I’ve been a fan of motor sports since I was this high,” Reynolds says while holding his hand only a couple of inches above his toddler son’s head. “I was once a crew chief for a local motor sports team, and we were always taking tons of notes about all of the various aspects of racing. But we had no way to really organize or make
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These three words are what the family’s dinnertime prayers are centered on each evening.
Midland University gym
Fremont Area Medical Center
Christ Community Church
Dodge High School gym
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efficient use of all of that data. RaceNote addresses those needs.” Knowing when and how to delegate is a vital skill for any manager. But even seasoned veterans may have difficulty doing so, especially when it comes to pet projects that carry deep, personal meaning. And so it was that his mettle was tested when it came to the centerpiece of the Reynolds home – a patchwork dining room table made from repurposed wood. It was a birthday gift for Julia in April 2013. “There was just no way to keep it in stealth mode,” Reynolds says of the table, which represents milestones in their lives. So he had his buddy, Ben Petersen, build the table at Bench, The People’s Workshop, in downtown Omaha. Delivery was
56 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014
done on the sly, too, on a night when Dusty and Julia were dining out with friends. Reynolds, who learned carpentry from his grandfather, spent two months gathering the wood for the table. It was a labor of love, he says, because “Julia is the easiest person in the world to love 360 days out of the year.” The couple met at Fremont Area Medical Center, where Julia was a nurse's aide and Dusty was visiting a seriously ill friend. Instantly attracted, Dusty cornered Julia in an elevator and posed a question: “What do you want to do with your life?” She replied, “Be a nurse in Africa.” They lived there for two years shortly after their marriage in March 2007. Dusty’s friend died shortly after the couple's honeymoon. “I met him as a teen. He was a mentor, best friend and second dad all at the same time,” Dusty recalls. “He taught me not to
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e r a w d r Ha collect things but to collect experiences.” Like those represented in the table. “Each piece tells a story,” says Julia. The table includes flooring from the Fremont Area Medical Center; wood from the gym at Midland University, where Julia earned her nursing degree; and wood from the church where the couple was married. “And this is from the kitchen table I grew up with,” Julia says. “When I get emotional, it’s usually a delayed reaction kind of thing,” she says as she gently caresses the table’s variegated surface. “But this is … this is just …”
IT’S AN EASY UPDATE!
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13817 Industrial Road 402.445.2596 • www.MoreThanKnobs.com inspiredlivingomaha.com 57
Be Well [ COMPILED BY SANDRA WENDEL ]
THE BEAT By keeping track of your resting heart rate every three months when you’re the least active, you can measure an exercise program’s progress over time. The lower your resting heart rate, the better the condition of your heart. Most adults should be within 60 to 100 beats per minute – unless you’re an athlete. Then you should strive to be within 40 to 60 beats per minute. Before you get out of bed the next two days, take your pulse. Count the number of times your heart beats per minute. Average the numbers from each day. This is your resting heart rate.
EXERCISE WHEN SICK? When you’re coughing and sneezing, your job is to get better and not infect others. • If you have above-the-neck symptoms such as a runny nose, sneezing and a scratchy throat, it's OK to try exercising. But slow your pace and drink plenty of water throughout the day. • If you have below-the-neck symptoms such as a fever, sore muscles or joints, vomiting, diarrhea or a nasty cough, just take care of yourself and let the illness run its course. Don’t run yours.
SORE THROAT REMEDIES If that scratchy throat hurts when you swallow, try this: • Drink hot tea with lemon or eat hot soup. • Keep your throat moist with lozenges or hard candies (This is not for young children). • Gargle with warm saltwater. • Consume cold liquids, ice chips or popsicles to numb the pain. Throat sprays and over-the-counter pain relievers may help, too. • Use a humidifier or vaporizer, especially in your bedroom when sleeping, to keep the air from getting too dry. If your sore throat is severe or if you have a fever or swollen glands, you might have strep throat, which is a common bacterial infection. Contact your doctor.
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SOOTHING & HEALING Ah, a bath will relax your muscles after an especially tense day. Make that bath even more soothing by adding two cups Epsom salts and five drops each of these essential oils: lavender, lemongrass, tea tree and orange. Buy quality oils in a specialty store staffed by people who have aromatherapy training. The label on the bottle should list both the common and botanical names for the oil. Quality oils, which are light- and heat-sensitive, will be in blue or brown light-protective glass bottles.
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DASHBOARD DINING
Do you dine and drive at the same time? Most people do. The cup holder has become standard, and now food manufacturers are designing to-go food cartons! And have you noticed the growing number of double drive-through windows at many fast food establishments? That’s because 22 percent of all restaurant meals are ordered through a car window and are eaten in the car.
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CLEAN PLATE CLUB About 40 percent of all food in the United States goes uneaten. That’s about 20 pounds of food wasted per person each month. Consumers buy more food than they need or can be used before the expiration date. You may not want food to go to your waist, but don’t let it go to waste either. Pay attention to the expiration date before you buy something. Purchase a smaller package; freeze what you don’t eat right away; and serve lighter portions on small plates.
Floral Arrangements for your Special Occasions
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inspiredlivingomaha.com 59
Get Organized
Strategy
MONTH-BY-MONTH 12 steps to getting – and staying – organized. STORY BY AMY TOKOS
January Look Ahead
At the beginning of each week, review your calendar. What are the stress points? Make a plan to work ahead, and minimize the opportunity for chaos.
May Be Consistent
February Get Busy
March Understand Time
Note It
Try to keep your days scheduled. If you have free time, select a project to tackle. This will make you more productive and less likely to procrastinate.
Do you overestimate or underestimate how long it takes to do things? Time your daily activities and budget for them accordingly.
What things do you need to remember? Having a journal or to-do list to get these tasks out of your head can give you mental relief. You will also be less likely to forget.
June
July
August
Minimize Stuff
Nip Distractions
Be Accountable
Consistency is the key to being organized. Having the same process or place for an item will help you know what to do with it – and where to find it when you need it again.
Your boss, your friend, your spouse or maybe your children can all help in that regard. Ask someone to hold you accountable for keeping an organized space.
You’ve heard this: “The less you have, the less you have to maintain.” Let go of things that no longer fit your taste or your space. Minimize.
September
October
November
Live by a Calendar
Know Your Priorities
Find one that works for you. It may be a digital or paper calendar. Keep it with you at all times. Note every appointment, deadline and invitation.
April
Make sure everything you say yes to is aligned with your priorities. Saying no frees you up to say yes to things that are important to you.
Turn It Off
Yes! We said it! Turn it off. Spend time without electronics each day. You will find yourself available to talk to your spouse, read a book or work on a project.
Spinning your wheels due to distractions? Step away, or even close the door. Give yourself space and time to focus on one thing and you will be much more productive.
December Maintain Order
Daily maintenance can help you avoid feeling overwhelmed. Spend five minutes going through mail; 10 minutes doing dishes; or 10 minutes cleaning your desk.
Know thyself: What works for a friend might work for you – or it might not. Embrace your individuality and find processes or products that meet your needs.
60 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014
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/inspiredomaha
@inspiredlivingmag
@inspiredomaha
“Shipping Oars: Blonde” by Illinois artist Tim Garvey, a case in study for repetition of design elements, from the handmade art collection of Mary and Kirby Zicafoose. See their home, page 10. Photo by Jeffrey Bebee.
62 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014
TAKE NOTE From the marketplace to your place: Great local products, services and discoveries.
Lewis Art Gallery An incredible selection of over 500 lamps in stock. Art, custom framing (1 week service), decorative accessories & tables. Celebrating 43 years of service to the region. 8600 Cass St. 402-391-7733 lewisartgallery.com
Sweet D's
GC Gems
Freshly Organized
Inspiring decor, vintage pieces, custom upholstered furniture, exquisite floral arrangements and so much more. Check out the cozy boutique for making your home your sanctuary.
Repurposing your unique heirlooms for generations to come. If you're looking for that one-of-a-kind piece, call Georgy Collier for a private appointment.
We offer professional organizing services for your home, office, children & life. Our team will help create customized systems to make your space fun, fresh & functional.
920 N. 204th St., Elkhorn 402-884-7804 facebook.com/Sweet-Ds-Design
8420 West Dodge Rd., #109 402-210-9091 gcgemsomaha.com
402-670-3271 freshlyorganized.com
Deb's-tique
Interiors Joan & Associates
Find the latest fashion trends, antiques, jewelry and home décor at Omaha's finest specialty boutique. Shop our second annual January sale for many irresistible items. 617 N. 98th St. 402-934-3770 debstique.com
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Le Peep
Celebrating 50 great years of award-winning interior design! Visit us in our retail showroom and meet your designer today.
A clever and original culinary concept with a menu that reads like a cookbook. Our food is prepared fresh daily. Voted Omaha’s Best Breakfast four years in a row!
13130 W. Dodge Rd. 402-330-0685 interiorsbyjoan.com
Three area locations lepeep.com
CONTACT US TODAY TO PROMOTE YOUR VERY SPECIAL BUSINESS IN INSPIRED LIVING OMAHA; 402-444-1209.
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“Some people look for a beautiful place. Others make a place beautiful.” - Hazrat Inayat Khan, spiritualist, poet and musician
NEXT ISSUE
SMALL SPACES WITH BIG STYLE.
64 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014
2 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014
More people are leaving other luxury brands for Audi. Come see why.
Stan Olsen Audi
808 North 102nd Street - Omaha, Nebraska 402- 397- 8200 - www.stanolsenaudi.com
2  JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014