LOOKING GOOD Your Guide to Beauty, Health & Fitness
August/September 2014
CELEBRATE
FITNESS WITH MOLLY SHAT TUCK
NEW FALL COUTURE AWESOME ABS MEN, TAKE FLIGHT COUNTRYSIDE WEDDING August / September 2014
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Open Your Eyes to the Possibility
With 25 years on the Johns Hopkins eyelid surgical faculty, Dr. Pacheco combines consummate experience with the artistry of subtlety and detail.
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One of your most important features is your smile!
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Wedding Day In this Issue 9
Herbal
Rosemary
18
Allure
26
Doctor’s Visit
28
Vixen
30
The Science Behind the Six-Pack
36
A House That Heals
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Mr.
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Vows worthy of Walt Whitman
Jewelry inspried by flowers Get younger looking skin Accessories for a Mae West inspired evening We all have them, read on to find yours Wellness House opens its doors Volitant—What every man in motion needs
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On the Cover Molly Shattuck, author of Vibrant Living
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Runway
Christian Siriano’s new Fall/Winter couture
Contents Eat to Live Eat to Give Molly Shattuck shares tips from her book Vibrant Living
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LOOKING GOOD Publishers Kymberly B. Taylor Robert E. Haywood Creative Director Ryan Gladhill Senior Designer Samantha Gladhill Contributing Photographers Geoffrey Hodgdon Christine Fillat Julie Soefer Mia Cranford Contributing Writers Christine Fillat Jayne Thompson Copyeditor Katie Pierce Vice Presidents, Marketing & Business Development Taryn Chase Mia Cranford Advertising in LOOKING GOOD Through its advertisements LOOKING GOOD strives to showcase businesses that possess a strong commitment to high standards of professional integrity and customer service. We seek advertisers who share our business philosophy. For advertising inquiries, please contact Robert Haywood at robert@annapolishomemag.com or please call 443.942.3927 LOOKING GOOD: Your Guide to Beauty, Health & Fitness P.O. Box 6560, Annapolis, MD 21401 LOOKING GOOD is published bimonthly by T/H Media, LLC. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without express written consent of the publishers. Publishers disclaim any and all responsibility for omissions and errors. Publishers disclaim any and all responsibility for an advertiser’s products, services, or claims. The views expressed in this magazine are solely those of the writer. All rights reserved. If you would like to be removed from the mailing list, please put your request in writing via an e-mail to robert@annapolishomemag.com. Š 2014 by T/H Media, LLC.
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LOOKING GOOD
Your Guide to Beauty, Health & Fitness
Welcome to LOOKING GOOD magazine. As the publishers of Annapolis Home, a shelter magazine that showcases fine homes, cars, and yachts, we present here a complement bimonthly publication that focuses on the body, with an emphasis on fitness, health, and beauty. In LOOKING GOOD, you will meet top doctors, fitness, fashion, and wedding experts as well as gather tips to live the healthiest life possible. Our mission is straightforward: to discover and share ways that will inspire you to live a joyful life grounded in good health. Kymberly Taylor & Robert Haywood, Publishers, and all of us at LOOKING GOOD
HERBAL
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
With its slender, deep green needles, rosemary is the belle of the kitchen, revered for its elegance, distinct aroma, and flavor. Its culinary star power is so bright that often its medicinal advantages are overshadowed. Rosemary is a good source of vitamin A (beta-carotene), vitamin B6, vitamin C, and folate and has powerful antioxidant properties, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Antioxidants can neutralize harmful particles in the body known as free radicals, which damage cell membranes, tamper with DNA, and even cause cell death. Lab tests reveal that rosemary oil appears to have antimicrobial properties (killing some bacteria and fungi in test tubes).
Holistic practitioners use rosemary to help alleviate muscle pain, boost the immune and circulatory system, and promote hair growth. For centuries, rosemary was used to treat nervous system ailments and, since the time of the early Greeks, was believed to aid memory. Since we are on the topic, one must not forget that rosemary is an herb with literary depths, invoked by William Shakespeare (1564–1616). It appears in five of his plays. Notably, Ophelia says in Hamlet, act 4, scene 5: “There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance. Pray you, love, remember.”
August / September 2014
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10 LOOKING GOOD
WITH MOLLY SHATTUCK
BY KYMBERLY TAYLOR PHOTOGRAPHY BY JULIE SOEFER August / September 2014
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Photo by Napoleon Martinez
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With an extra-high dancer’s kick, former Baltimore Ravens cheerleader Molly Shattuck is turning a corner in her life. Luckily for us, she shares her personal strategies and time-tested techniques in Vibrant Living, an interactive book on health and fitness. Her cheerleading days may be behind her, but they helped her get to where she is today: in a position to share invaluable methods and a unique perspective on wellness. Shattuck was surprised when, in 2005, at age 38 and a mother of three young children, she made the Raven’s cheerleading squad’s first cut after auditioning with several hundred girls some twenty years younger. “I couldn’t believe that I got that call. When I showed up the next day, I thought ‘Oh, OK, I’m getting this,’ and then it was a month of trials, and I made it.” Because she was the oldest woman to make an NFL cheerleading team, her hometown paper, The Baltimore Sun, wrote an article about her that sparked a flurry of publicity, articles, and appearances that include Sports Illustrated, The Today Show, Good Morning America, HBO, and USA Today. Shattuck remembers that the first week of practice was rough. “I was using muscles I hadn’t used in twenty years. My knees were so sore, and I thought, ‘Maybe I really am too old,’ but by the second week the pain lessened, and then the third week came along. It had been almost a month, and I realized that I was fine, that the muscles had built up.” Focus is Shattuck’s strength, and she found herself helping the younger girls on the squad during weigh-ins, which were once a week. She would help
Top left: Molly in action cheering at a Ravens game. Bottom left: Molly takes a break with her three young children. Center: Molly suggests shopping for healthy nonprocessed foods. August / September 2014
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those who were having trouble shift their focus to the small decisions they made each day about what to eat. “When girls were gaining weight, I asked them what they were eating. I helped them, I didn’t treat them like kids, I just shared my knowledge.” After retiring from the squad in 2007, Shattuck used her experience to coach the Ravens cheerleaders parttime for the next six years. Today in Vibrant Living, Molly synthesizes her accumulated wisdom to set forth a 21-day action plan, the time it takes for the body to change, and for new habits to replace the old. It is not complex, and does not require a gym or counting calories. Her energy-boosting formula is based on what she calls the four pillars: drink water (and this means plenty!), eat real, exercise daily, and live for others. What distinguishes her methods from all of the others? Her program has as spiritual component, a requirement that none other has: kindness. Shattuck volunteers for many causes and, over time, has observed a phenomenon. When you are kind, when you connect with others even in the smallest way, you generate a positive energy far more powerful than the act itself. “When life is coming at you hard and fast, reach out. Anyone can do it at any time, it can be as simple as saying hi to someone or smiling at someone you don’t know. It can improve the situation, almost immediately.” You need not believe in God, but that is what she calls the power that begins to help you instantly when you are overwhelmed. “I believe we are placed here on this earth to connect with others, I believe in the godly connections.”
Molly Shattuck believes that focus on health is essential, that leading a healthy lifestyle is still not elevated enough in our society, and should be just as important as going to college or succeeding at your job. August / September 2014
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Molly’s program is creative in that it incorporates not just simple meals, but also exercises that save us time. For instance, we learn that push-ups are far more productive than sit-ups, when it comes to toning your abs and core. Her exercises are brief, but intense, and can be performed during TV commercials or with the Vibrant Living Workout CD. And, there are lots of variations; you will never be bored. Most important, Shattuck teaches not just how to eat to live, but also how to eat to give. “You fuel your body with goodness. You give yourself this gift and then you can become a gift to others,” she believes. When people try to get fit, they must change their eating habits, so things will be difficult, but for just twenty-one days, says Shattuck. You may be skeptical and wonder, “what does smiling at people have anything to do with losing fifty pounds?” Don’t get grumpy, at least until you try the 21-day program. You just may find out: everything. Resources: Vibrant Living, www.vibrantliving.com 16 LOOKING GOOD
Molly Shattuck and Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake at Go Red Conference. Top: Healthy Food Week Executive Showdown Healthy Cook-Off. Bottom: Wyatt, Lillian, Molly, and Spencer Shattuck. Family photo courtesy of Photography By Sharon.
“You’re on a mission to lose weight and get healthier and each healthy decision you make matters.” — Molly Shattuck, author of Vibrant Living
10 WEIGHT LOSS TIPS 1.
Write down your weight loss goal and the date you want to reach it (birthday, wedding, or vacation). Next, record the action steps you’ll need to take in order to make progress, therefore creating weekly mini goals.
Quality Timeless Distinctive
2. Clean out your pantry by eliminating the junk. Grocery shop for snacks and items to prepare your meals, aiming to be in charge of the food you’re putting in your mouth 90% of the time. 3. NEVER eat out of a bag or jar. Read the label for serving size and put the portion in a small bowl. 4. Strive for five! Eat a minimum of five servings of vibrantly colored fresh vegetables and fruit each day. Record your intake at the end of each day. 5. Buy a re-useable water bottle and keep it with you at all times to help prevent you from grabbing food you don’t need. 6. Begin drinking water when you wake up in the morning and continue throughout the day and up until an hour before bedtime. 7. Eat breakfast AFTER you drink 30 ounces of water. It gets your bodily systems started. 8. Plan! Plan! Plan! Schedule workouts for the week on your calendar. If your exercise doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you. 9.
Get out of your comfort zone for 30 minutes and increase your heart rate six days a week. Intervals of walking with bursts of energetic moves (sprints, jumping rope/jacks/squats) are an ideal combination to rev your metabolism and get you fit.
10. Remember to forgive yourself when you’ve not done well. Do better the rest of the day and as many days thereafter as is possible. Strive for progress, not perfection.
guilford & Company fine jewelry • antique and estate
101 NORTH TALBOT, ST. MICHAELS, MD 410.745.5544 Open 7 days, Sunday thru Thursday, 11am to 5pm, Friday and Saturday, 11am to 6pm www.guilfordandcompany.com
Les
Fleurs Jewellery Theatre’s collection aptly called “Flowers” showcases the many colors and facets of the intricate designs in actual flower petals. Each piece bursts with exhuberence and calls out to the eye to be noticed. These are not discreet gems. Jewellery Theatre’s design for all of their rings incorporates a flat bottom so that the wearer may display the ring as the masterpiece that it is.
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2
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ALLURE
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1 ‘Peony’ Tourmaline Ring 2 ‘Poppy’ Tourmaline Ring 3 ‘Amaryllis’ Ruby Necklace 4 ‘Amaryllis’ Ruby Earrings
www.jewellerytheatre.com
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RUNWAY
CHRISTIAN SIRIANO
FALL/ WINTER 2014
Christian Siriano was born in Annapolis in 1985 and attended Broadneck Senior High School before transferring to Baltimore School for the Arts. Since winning Project Runway in 2008 at the prodigal age of twenty-one, his striking evening gowns and modern-art inspired creations have helped him skyrocket to fashion fame. The twenty-seven yearold designer now has a store on Elizabeth Street in NYC, developed a limited-edition makeup line for Victoria’s Secret, and is at work on a fragrance. His impressive client roster includes Michelle Obama, Sarah Jessica Parker, Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Taylor Swift, and Heidi Klum. Keep an eye on this fast-rising star from Annapolis. 20 LOOKING GOOD
Lace turtleneck trumpet gown.
August / September 2014
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Silk marble tea length circle dress.
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August / September 2014
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Furry knit coat paired with leather trouser.
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August / September 2014
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As with the restoration of a beautiful piece of art, facial rejuvenation is obtained when the treating physician is able to visualize the way a face has changed over time.
radiotherapy), and Ulthera® (which uses focused ultrasound) are especially effective non-invasive lifting options that yield impressive results.
Thanks to advances in technology, from lasers and non-invasive treatments to injectable options and to newer surgical approaches, a fresh palette of possibilities is now available to accomplish that restoration.
These non-invasive technologies stimulate the tightening and contraction of the skin’s collagen and also induce new collagen production. This results in truly thicker and younger skin, which cannot be achieved through a surgical face lift.
Lift, volume, skin surface quality, facial expression, and contours are all equally important when it comes to rejuvenation. It is all science, yet more like magic when blended to create artful rejuvenation. We start by looking at a high school graduation photo to help guide the rejuvenation process.
Lasers & Light Sources Wrinkles and lines can arise from many sources, with sun damage the most common offender. Lines are fine or deep and dynamic (caused by the action of a muscle) or they are static (visible at rest). Lasers or other light sources, such as CO2, Erbium, Thillium, Fraxel® Dual,
Possibilities A Palette of
for Younger Looking Skin | By Dr. Elba Pacheco
Sometimes, simply adding back the volume that has been lost over time can be enough, but the artistry of the restoration lies in the what, where, and how much. Softening folds and marionette lines or erasing circles under the eyes can often be achieved with lighter fillers. Light Fillers These newer fillers use natural gels that can be applied and threaded safely near the skin surface (Juvederm®, Restylane®, and Belotero®) to restore volume or eliminate fine lines above the lips and around the mouth without concern for rejection or allergic reaction. Thick Natural Gels Thicker natural gels (Perlane®, Juvederm Ultra Plus®, and Radiesse®) allow for deeper fold or contour correction. Larger areas requiring volume, such as sunken cheeks and temples, require different kinds of filler of larger molecular size, such as Voluma™, Sculptra®, or fat. The recent introduction of Voluma™ has revolutionized cheek volume restoration and three-dimensional rejuvenation by providing a safe and two-year-lasting deep filler right off the shelf. Non-Surgical Face Lifts Non-invasive lifting and skin tightening techniques have become increasingly popular when a milder lift is needed, when surgery is not desired, or to rejuvenate a previous face lift. Thermage® (which uses 26 LOOKING GOOD
and Intense Pulsed Light photo rejuvenation, are used to minimize the appearance of lines and return the skin to its youthful glow. Fillers Such as Botulinum-A We cannot forget the unique and crucial role that botulinum-A injections (Botox®, Dysport®, and Xeomin®) continue to have. Just the right amount of botulinum-A creates a relaxed, natural look that is easily addicting. Used in small, safe doses and placed strategically, it can weaken the muscles responsible for an unwanted expression, such as frown lines. The term “liquid face lift” has been popularized in recent years to describe the use of botulinum-A when it is combined with other treatments. Stem-Cell Injections Injections of blood-derived serums containing stem cells and growth factors have been recently advertised as “vampire lifts,” but are not recommended due to the lack of sound scientific support. There is much to consider when venturing into the realm of rejuvenation. Like an artist, the doctor examines the face, for it is a canvas. The core treatments are much like primal colors that the best doctors combine and manipulate for the unique creation that is you.
DOCTOR’S
VISIT
Dr. Elba Pacheco, who specializes in oculoplastic (eye) surgery and facial rejuvenation, has a practice in Severna Park. August / September 2014
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VIXEN CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN Pina Spike | $1,045
DIANE VON FURSTENBERG ‘Flirty’ Clutch | $345
TRYST TWIST WITH A
SPICED APPLE MARTINI
*SPICED APPLE SIMPLE SYRUP
2 oz Vodka 1/2 oz Lime Juice 1/2 oz Spiced Apple Simple Syrup* 2 dashes Angostura Bitters
1 tsp Ground Cinnamon 1 tsp Ground Ginger 1 tsp Ground Allspice 1 tsp Fresh Ground Nutmeg 1 cup Granulated Sugar 1 slice of Apple 1/4 in thick 1/2 cup water
Combine in shaker with ice and pour.
Combine in sauce pot and bring to boil. 28 LOOKING GOOD
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“There are no good girls gone wrong—just bad girls found out.” – Mae West Check out our recommendations below. If you do get found out, as least you will be dressed for the occasion.
NEST EAU DE PARFUM Midnight Fleur | $65
CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN Rouge Louboutin | $50
August / September 2014
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The Science Behind the
Six-Pack By Jayne Thompson
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August / September 2014
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How Do I Lose the Stomach Fat? The age-old advice for ditching belly fat is endurance-based, fatburning cardio—something like long distance running. This advice is wrong. In fact, too much constant-state exercise actually decreases levels of testosterone in the body, and testosterone is essential for laying down muscle and burning fat. What’s more, endurance training encourages your body to release the stress hormone cortisol. Cortisol prompts the body to store energy as fat, and to break down muscle for energy, so the body can keep going for longer: great if you’re a marathon runner, not so great if you’re trying to get ripped. Cardio is essential for fat-loss, but to effectively burn away excess stomach fat you need to focus on high-intensity workouts. Sprints (running, cycling, or swimming) work well, but any short bursts of intense activity that significantly increase your heart rate will burn off your fat stores as fuel. Combine with a high-protein, restricted carb diet, and you should see an improvement within weeks. Struggling to reveal a six-pack despite your best efforts in the gym? Genetics may be holding you back, or you may be doing the wrong exercises. Here’s everything you need to know about crafting perfectly sculpted abs.
What Is a Six-Pack? The abdominal muscles actually comprise four distinct muscle groups, each with a different function: • Rectus abdominus is a paired muscle that runs vertically down either side of the front of your abdomen. It flexes the spine, aids breathing, and protects internal organs from impact. • Transversus abdominus runs across your torso from side to side. Functionally, it holds the ribs in place and keeps your pelvic area solid. • Internal obliques sit on top of the transversus abdominus and provide forward bending and rotational movement. • External obliques run the opposite direction to the internal obliques and provide counter-rotational movement. The rectus abdominus muscles are split down the middle by a band of connective tissue called the linea alba. This central line, together with the linea alba that runs horizontally across the core abdominal muscle groups, create the distinctive segments of the six-pack.
Why Don’t I Have One? You do have one; everyone does. But, most people can’t see theirs because it’s hidden under a layer of fat. Men, in particular, are predisposed to storing body fat around the stomach, which hides the abs from view, no matter how many crunches they perform. 32 LOOKING GOOD
Which Exercises Should I Do to Boost My Six-Pack? Don’t fixate on the crunches. Exercises that directly target the abs are crucial to a six-pack boosting workout, but sit-ups, despite popular opinion, allow the hip-flexor to carry most of the load. Your abs get a peripheral workout at best, and will never be worked hard enough to build a six-pack, no matter how many reps you do.
Exercises that drill deep into the core include: • Planks: great for building stability and core strength. Tax the muscle fibers by elevating your legs or placing your elbows on a stability ball. • Heavy compound lifts like squats, dead lifts, and shoulder presses force the abs to work hard to keep you stable when you lift or move the load. The heavier the weight, the harder the abs work to lock your torso in a stable, secure position. • Hanging leg and knee raises target the lower abs. Hang from a dip bar or use elbow straps to take your weight. • Jack knife crunches are a reasonably advanced move that builds up muscle while increasing flexibility. Lie on the floor with your arms and legs extended and, contracting your abs, jack knife sharply up so your arms touch your legs. Lower slowly. Before you get started, think of something encouraging: You already have the perfect six-pack you crave. Your work now is to eliminate the fat hiding it. Commit to doing the exercises mentioned here, eat sensibly, and soon you will be strutting your stuff.
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Yo u r P r e m i e r Wa t e r f r o n t R e a l E s t a t e S p e c i a l i s t www.StMichaelsMdWaterfront.com Cornelia C. Heckenbach Associate Broker Lacaze Meredith Real Estate 109 South Talbot Street St. Michaels, MD 21663 Premier Professional Service
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Call me direct at 410-310-1229
Certified Eyelash Extension Specialists www.LashMoi.com Convenient Crofton + Bowie Locations
Arts Alive! “All The World’s A Stage”
Join us for this theatrically-themed fundraising event to support Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, where all the arts take center stage.
Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts Friday, September 5 | 6 - 11 pm
Tickets: $150/person; Sponsorships begin at $1,500. 410.263.5544 ext. 10 | www.marylandhall.org 34 LOOKING GOOD
Your Personal Choice for Your Personal Beauty...
Cosmetic Medicine & Surgery at Mercy The doctors and clinical team of Cosmetic Medicine and Surgery at Mercy are committed to providing an advanced, innovative approach to cosmetic and plastic surgery.
Cosmetic Medicine & Surgery at Mercy offers women some of the area’s recognized experts in cosmetic and plastic surgery. Dr. Craig Vander Kolk, Medical Director, Dr. Brendan Collins, Dr. Bernie Chang, Meg Fox, PA-C, and Donna Chang, RN, are proud to offer their clients leading-edge care all in a soothing atmosphere indelibly marked by Mercy excellence and compassion. The team’s expertise in surgical and non-surgical body, breast and facial cosmetic procedures helps patients realize natural, rejuvenating results. Surgical Options: • Breast Augmentation • Tummy Tucks • Liposuction • Facelifts Non-Surgical Options: • Injectible Fillers • Botox® • Laser skin resurfacing Our cosmetic coordinator serves as a concierge to help patients navigate through the cosmetic process from inquiry and consultation to post-operative needs.
OFFICE LOCATIONS Mercy Medical Center 301 St. Paul Place Baltimore, Maryland 21202 Overlea Personal Physicians 7602 Belair Road Baltimore, Maryland 21236 Lutherville Personal Physicians 1734 York Road Lutherville, Maryland 21093 Annapolis 802 Bestgate Road, Suite A Annapolis, MD 21401
The Medi-Spa at Mercy – a center for Integrative Care – offers luxurious spa treatments to enhance physical, mental and spiritual harmony as a way to complement procedures done through Cosmetic Medicine and Surgery at Mercy.
For a complimentary cosmetic consultation, please call
410-332-9700
www.cosmeticmedicineatmercy.com
August / September 2014
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At right: Wellness House founder, Dr. Kelly Sullivan. The Wellness House is a part of Mas Que Farm, which offers visitors a pastoral view of this equestrian facility. 36 LOOKING GOOD
A House That Heals The Wellness House of Annapolis
By Christine Fillat Photography By Mia Cranford August / September 2014
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Just off the chaos of Forest Drive, down a quiet, gated country lane, past a sprawling equine facility, horses graze and wander generous pastures. This is the setting of the Wellness House of Annapolis, a very old farmhouse set upon a rise. It exudes a cozy charm, a quiet, well-maintained stability. This house has a special job to do. It’s a place where cancer patients and their families can go to receive therapeutic body work from licensed practitioners, speak with professional counselors, meet other folks, knit, sit, read, and simply have a place to go. Kelly Sullivan, MD, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon in Annapolis, came up with the idea for Wellness House when she had two patients with breast cancer at the same time, in two different examining rooms. They were voicing similar concerns about childcare and asked for advice on how to communicate painful truths about their illness to family members and friends. Both women needed something essential: good old-fashioned camaraderie and support. However, due to privacy laws, Sullivan could not introduce her patients to each other. Clearly, there was a gap. So, she devised a plan for a non-traditional alternative to health care, a retreat where cancer patients and their families could talk to those who understood them. In a healing environment that fostered wellness, those touched by cancer could receive support and special care. With the Annapolis Rotary Club and others, she raised the money and searched for a location. Interior designer Janet Richardson-Pearson stepped up and donated a home upon Mas Que Farm. Wellness House moved in, redesigned the space, and has been serving Annapolis officially since 2009. Wellness House operates with a tiny yet talented staff and volunteers. All professional services are free. There are programs like a gardening club, healing music, Healing Touch, meditation, nutrition, massage, Reiki, yoga, art, a caregiver support group, individual and family counseling, a patient support group, and many programs for children. A Reiki practitioner recently conducted a cleanse to rid the building of negative energy. Using sage, crystals, and chanting, she went into every room, the attic, the basement, and upon the grounds. Any negative energy was displaced, and replaced with positive energy. This is a ritual they will repeat every month. This cleansing must work; the atmosphere in the building is serene. The first floor has a large living room with comfy couches, a library of books on cancer and healthful living. People are encouraged to drop in, hang out, chat. There are business cards for practitioners for wellness and support services. Batik silk scarves are offered for free. A giant plush bear sits in an overstuffed chair, awaiting a child’s company. The kitchen is stocked with healthy snacks. There is a screened-in porch with wicker seating to enjoy the breezes and the views of the surrounding horse farm. A flagstone pathway meanders through a garden of roses, grasses, flowers, and trees. There are many tributes to loved ones: a bench is “dedicated to my sista warriors.” The second floor houses a treatment room for body work and a group therapy room for yoga and meditation. When Mike Syran, weak from treatment for pancreatic cancer, could not make the trip up the stairs for massage, the staff of Wellness House created a special private treatment room in the house’s kitchen. He attended much-appreciated counseling sessions as long as he was able.
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Louise Nielsen, an instructional specialist in the Hotel, Culinary Arts and Tourism Institute at Anne Arundel Community College, came to Wellness House when she learned she had breast cancer. She and her family participated in youth support groups and received massage and Reiki treatments. To give back, Louise offered her services as a chef. She has conducted a series of nutritional seminars, addressing such issues as how to enhance food flavors when dealing with metal mouth or nausea, and using food to help keep healthy while undergoing treatment. “The great thing about the Wellness House is that they recognize that cancer is not a one-person show,” states Louise. “The whole family is involved in the battle and they address the needs of everyone: patient, caretakers, and families. It is a wonderful, warm, and welcoming place to be when fighting the beast of cancer.”
While all of the therapies and services are free, someone still has to pay the electric bill. A series of fundraisers are scheduled for the future. The first Celebrity Chef Series featured Top Chef finalist Carla Hall on August 1, 2014. That event has passed but there is time for you to attend La Fiesta Americana on Saturday, August 23, hosted by Homestead Gardens in Davidsonville.
For more information and tickets to these events, visit the Wellness House website: www.annapoliswellnesshouse.org.
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Love & Umami at Annapolis’ Wellness House Celebrity Chef Carla Hall By Christine Fillat
For the inaugural Celebrity Chef benefit on August 1, the Wellness House in Annapolis chose Top Chef finalist and co-host of ABC’s The Chew, the delightful Carla Hall. Resonating with the Wellness House mission to provide support and a healing, homelike atmosphere for those touched by cancer is Carla’s strident belief in healthful food for recovery and, not the least, her credo to cook with love. In her cookbook Cooking with Love: Comfort That Hugs You, first published in 2012 and reprinted in 2013 in paperback, Carla uses fresh, whole ingredients to reinvent classic recipes while sharing her heartfelt experience of the cooking process. “I believe food is medicine,” says Carla. “It can be very healing. I have a friend who was diagnosed with cancer six years ago. She has kept herself going with food. The benefit for the Wellness House was my way of giving back.” Carla is such a sensitive chef that she will not cook if she is in a bad mood. She believes one’s emotions influence the meal you are making, whether you mean them to or not. In fact, she says the only thing you should make when you’re having an off day is reservations. What she does prepare is infused with love and care and somehow or other, she manages to put a hug in there too. Don’t ask how. That is part of her magic. Certainly, anyone just out of radiation or chemotherapy could use this special ingredient stirred into their soup, or rather, chowder. And we could all use some of this. Cancer treatments can also change the way food tastes. This is when umami, the fifth flavor element in food, becomes important. Umami is a savory flavor that as we age or loose sensitivity to taste subtleties, help us enjoy food. Sources of umami include mushrooms, celery, and ripe tomatoes and abound in Carla’s Seersucker in Summer Corn Chowder.
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Seersucker in Summer Corn Chowder with Tomatoes — From Cooking with Love Chowder
4 ears corn, husks and silks removed 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 1 medium leek (white and pale green parts only), trimmed, cut into ¼ inch slices, and thoroughly rinsed 1 garlic clove, minced 3 sprigs fresh thyme 1 quart chicken stock or store-bought unsalted chicken broth 2 cups water 2 large red-skinned potatoes, peeled and cut into ½ inch dice Kosher salt Freshly ground black pepper
Garnish
1 cup grape tomatoes, cut into quarters lengthwise 1 tsp minced fresh flat-leaf parsley stems 3 tbsp minced fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves 1 tsp unsalted butter 1 sprig fresh thyme 1 garlic clove, crushed 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 16 small shiitake mushroom caps, cut into ¼ inch dice 1 celery rib, thinly sliced Kosher salt
1. To make the chowder: Hold an ear of corn flat on a cutting board, resting on its kernels, not upright. Using a sharp chef ’s knife, slice the kernels off the cob, cutting about halfway through the kernels. Continue rotating the cob and slicing until all the kernels are cut off. Hold the same ear of corn over a dish. Using the blunt back of the blade, scrape the pulp and milk from the cob. Repeat with the remaining ears; reserve the cobs. You can cover and refrigerate the kernels, corn pulp and milk, and cobs separately up to 1 day ahead. 2. Heat the oil in an 8-quart saucepot over low heat. Add the leek, garlic, thyme, and 1 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the leek is tender, about 3 minutes. You don’t want any color on the leek, but you also don’t want a raw leek flavor in the soup. 3. Add the stock and water. Add the cobs and corn pulp to the pot.
Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to maintain a steady simmer. Simmer for 30 minutes.
4. Remove and discard the corn cobs and thyme sprigs. Stir in the potatoes. Simmer until the potatoes are tender, about 30 minutes. 5. To make the garnish: In a small bowl, toss the tomatoes with the parsley stems and 1 tablespoon of the parsley leaves. 6. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the butter, thyme, garlic, and 1 tablespoon of the oil and swirl to coat the bottom of the pan. Add the mushrooms in a single layer and cook,
without stirring, until browned, about 5 minutes. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute more, then stir in the reserved corn kernels and a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the corn’s yellow becomes a little brighter, about 1 minute. You want to do the corn at the very end (what I call ticky boo!) because you don’t want the kernels to get tough. Discard the thyme sprig and garlic. Stir the mushrooms and corn into the chowder.
7. Wipe out the skillet and heat over medium-high. Heat the remaining tablespoon of oil. Add the celery and a pinch of salt and cook, stirring, until just bright green, about 1 minute. Add to the chowder. 8. Stir ¼ teaspoon salt and the remaining 2 tablespoons parsley into
the chowder. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Divide the soup among 6 serving bowls. Top with the tomatoes and serve immediately. Feel free to use chanterelles here if you want to splurge, but I think it’s just as tasty with the less-cost-prohibitive shiitakes. Also, this can easily transform into a heartier main dish. The flavorful, satisfying broth is a great backdrop for fish or shrimp. Simply add chunks of white fish or shrimp to the broth during the last minute or so of simmering to lightly poach them.
Carla Hall, with Genevieve Ko, Cooking with Love: Comfort Food That Hugs You (New York: Atria Books, 2013), 70–72. Carla Hall attended L’Academie de Cuisine in Maryland and is owner and executive chef of Carla Hall Petite Cookies, an artisan cookie company based out of Washington, DC. Her newest cookbook, Carla’s Comfort Foods: Favorite Dishes from Around the World was published this year. August / September 2014
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WEDDING
DAY
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n i d d g e W e d i s y r t n u o C t n An Elega
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Mike Steranka, Katie & Blake Hocker, and Jane Sinclair, mother of the bride.
An Elegant Country Wedding at Walker’s Overlook | May 16th, 2014 The sunlight awakens the hues in Katie Russo’s jewel-encrusted gown. The tulle beneath is luminous against the emerald fields of Walker’s Overlook. At the nuptial feast, held en plein air, there is much to admire—pit beef, cucumber sandwiches, s’mores, signature margaritas. For Katie and groom Blake Hocker, the best part of their wedding was their simple handwritten vows. The couple chose a passage from Walt Whitman’s Song of the Open Road, a poem rough and real as the massive tree just behind them, presiding majestically upon the day.
“Camerado, I give you my hand! I give you my love more precious than money, I give you myself before preaching or law…” It was only after the ceremony that Katie learned from her grandmother that her grandfather chose the same passage from the same poem, decades ago. Photos courtesy of Samshots Photography In lieu of a veil, custom-made combs of Swarovski crystal adorn the bride’s hair.
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Tara Grier, sister of the bride, and Colton.
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Ultimate Wedding Giveaway | The Winning Couple The River House Club in Easton and Weddings 411 partnered this past spring on the Ultimate Wedding Giveaway. With donations and help of numerous vendors, the River House hosted a dream wedding valued at roughly $65,000. The lucky couple, Brooke and Joshua Milewski, was married at the River House on May 1, 2014. Photos courtesy of BRADLEYIMAGES.COM
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130 Lubrano Drive | Annapolis, Maryland www.dasalonandspa.com | 410. 224. 0519