inspiring active women
readbreathe.com
mess code
nov-dec 2011 free!
KATH YOUNGER TALKS CLUTTER
ISSUE-WIDE HOLIDAY
gift guide
HEALTHY COMFORT FOODS
Ways to Save Energy PUT YOUR HOME ON A POWER DIET
Eco-celebrating YOUR GUIDE TO GREEN WINES
NIGHTTIME BEAUTY
WINTER WEEKEND ADVENTURES
Cannon Mountain New Hampshire, USA. New Crystal Mountain Tall Lace Boot. 100% Waterproof. 42% Green Rubber™ recycled outsole. New Earthkeepers® Lightweight Zip Jacket. Water resistant. 100% recycled nylon. See the collection at womens.timberland.com Also available at Timberland® Specialty Stores.
Timberland,
, and Go out and be you are trademarks of The Timberland Company. Green Rubber is a trademark of Elastomer Technologies Ltd. © 2011 The Timberland Company. All rights reserved.
breathe ONLINE
Find fresh online content at readbreathe.com
breathe magazine editor in chief
November - December 2011
the nest issue
features
Lindsey Grossman lindsey@readbreathe.com
contributing writers
17 From House to Home
Aleigh Acerni Kara DiCamillo Jodi Helmer Kelly Love Johnson Lisa Maloney Jayme Moye Colleen Oakley Laura Purcell Caroline Shannon-Karasik Kath Younger
Settling into a new space.
18 Mess Code
Kath Younger shares her clever clutter solutions.
copy editor Brooke Edge
art director
18
Megan Murphy
senior designer Amanda Powers
associate designer
24 EcoCelebrating
When it comes to earth-friendly wines, there are plenty of ways to fill your glass. The first step: Knowing what to look for on wine labels. Here’s a quick guide.
Lauren Walker
contributing photographers Tom Daly
IT director Craig Snodgrass
27 9 ways to save energy
digital media coordinator Jack Murray
publisher Charles Leonard charles@readbreathe.com
Putting your home on an energy diet.
Congratulations to Lindsay Curren!
president Blake DeMaso blake@readbreathe.com
senior account executive Martha Evans martha@readbreathe.com
account executives Dusty Allison dusty@readbreathe.com Charles Leonard charles@readbreathe.com Leah Woody leah@readbreathe.com Nick Noe nick@readbreathe.com
business manager Melissa Gessler
distribution manager Chuck Grigsby: chuck@readbreathe.com
contact us 116 West Jefferson Street Charlottesville, VA 22902 434.817.2755 56 College Street, Suite 303 Asheville, NC 28801 828.225.0868 © 2011 Summit Publishing, LLC. To carry Breathe in your store call 434.817.2755.
cover © Tom Daly, tomdalyphotography.com OOPS! In our Sept-Oct issue, we unwittingly overlooked a shout-out to our amazing cover crew: Redken Artist Lucas Shaffer (bellahairstudio.com) and our models Gina Del Priore and Will Menke. A very special thanks to you all!
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Because she had our favorite
departments 5 Open air + contributors 6 nutrition Healthy comfort foods.
Issue-Wide Gift Guide
8 Fitness Sweating the holidays. 10 health The science of sleep. 11 Family Cold play.
OPEN AIR answer, she’s won a one-year subscription to Breathe!
GG
Breathe picks in every department!
12 Breathe In Home style, nighttime beauty and snow gear. 16 Green Living Bringing the outside, in. 28 travel Choose your own winter adventure. 30 Breatheability Lianne Jackson, Adaptive Ski and Snowboard Instructor with Challenged Athletes of West Virginia.
16 November - December
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Apple & Bee toiletry kits and accessory bags that speak to your softer side.
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See You in january!
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contr ibutors
food Lust
Open Air your words. be heard.
our must holiday foods
Reader Feedback: nov/dec 2011
How do you go green for the holidays? winner!
Bourbon Balls!!!
Ham biscuits. Yum!
Kath Younger
Megan Murphy
Countributing Writer
Art Director
Sweet potatoes, in any way, shape, or form! Jayme Moye Contributing Writer
Most of my family is Italian so at Thanksgiving and Christmas there is usually a little ham and turkey, and A LOT of lasagna. It's the best. Oh, and my mama's corn pudding!
I’m not usually a meat person, but my husband rules the roost every Thanksgiving with his famous fried turkey.
My mom's "casserole" with my dad's homemade ketchup!
Lindsey Grossman
Senior Designer
I love beautifully decorated gifts under the tree. But I am a very conservation-minded person who hates wasting our world's precious resources. I try to find ways to wrap that offer a second gift—a cooking item wrapped with a linen dish cloth and tied off with a wooden spoon and a sprig of greenery; or cutting out images from old Christmas cards and afixing them decoratively to plain brown paper from recycled bags. I never skimp on bows, but I always use recycled ones. A little imagination and you can make any package look enticing without spending more or using more resources. —Lindsay Curren, Staunton, VA
Amanda Powers
Editor-in-Chief
Leah Woody Sale Executive
There is a lovely nandina bush on the side of my house that produces beautiful red berries in the winter. The foliage and berries make the prettiest arrangement on my mantle during Christmas. Unique, breathtaking and right from my yard! —Emily Holden, Decatur, GA We use a real tree and I make my own wreathes with natural things I've picked up at our camp. —Laura Abshier, Beaumont, TX
There's no question—my favorite holiday food is pumpkin pie. I love it because it's such a celebratory, seasonal treat. Plus, I usually head straight for the savory food, so a big slice of pumpkin pie is my annual sweet indulgence. Aleigh Acerni Contributing Writer
My favorite holiday food is my mom’s cranberry gelatin mold with cream cheese and pecans. One of my sisters is allergic, but Mom makes it every year anyway (just for me). Kelly Love Johnson Contributing Writer
My Nana's baked apples on Christmas morning. They're swimming in cinnamon and brown sugar (and I'm sure there's plenty of butter in that sauce), then topped off with a "healthy" dose of heavy cream. Sheer decadence, and perfect paired with Christmas morning mimosas! Brooke Edge
What’s your secret for beating the winter blahs? Submit your response by December 7, and you could see your answer in the next issue of Breathe. The writer of our favorite response will win a one-year subscription to Breathe. Give it as a gift or get Breathe delivered to your door! Email us at openair@readbreathe.com.
Copy Editor November - December
5
nutr ition
Healthy comfort Foods
cook me comfort By Kath Younger, RD
What comes to mind when you think of comfort foods? Warm? Rich? Filling? Most people associate comfort food with dishes that are good for the mouth but bad for the waistline: fried chicken, mac and cheese, beefy stews. Your favorite nostalgic recipes need not be the only foods that provide that filling comfort—choose the right combinations of vegetables and flavors and you’ll soothe your way into new nutritious family favorites.
Not-SoLoaded Baked Potato Soup
Simple Swaps For Healthier Comfort Foods Reduce the fat, add veggies. Many recipes taste just as great with half the fat. If a potato salad calls for a cup of mayonnaise, start with half a cup and see if you like it. Mix in some greek yogurt or extra mustard. You might find you don’t even miss that extra half cup. Have a smaller portion and pair with a salad. This trick works especially well if Mom actually made her fried chicken from scratch. Have some. Enjoy it. But don’t eat the whole plate! Double up on veggies in the form of a salad or side dish and fill up on that first. Then savor that fried chicken to the last bite. Swap in similar textures. Foods like pumpkin, yogurt and applesauce make great substitutes for cream, fat and butter. Rather than cutting out all of the fat, take out half and substitute a smooth food to add nutrients without taking away all of the flavor.
Kath Younger, RD, writes a popular healthy food blog read by more than 10,000 visitors a day from around the world, Kath Eats Real Food, which you’ll find at KathEats.com. She's a registered dietitian and runs Great Harvest Bread Company with her husband in Charlottesville, VA.
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Photo by Kath Younger
Recipes:
Roasted Squash with Coconut Butter Any squash works with this recipe. Many love the butternut for its subtle sweetness, but acorn squash, kombocha squash and even pumpkin are other roasted favorites. Look for coconut butter at specialty stores near the nut butters. It’s just like peanut butter but it’s made from coconut meat. It will be solid at room temperature, but it melts beautifully on hot food! Serves 3-4 Prep time: 5 minutes | Cook time: 45 minutes Ingredients 1 whole squash, butternut, acorn or other winter gourd 1 tsp kosher salt ½ tsp cinnamon 1 tbsp neutral oil (canola or coconut) 2 tbsp coconut butter Method: Preheat oven to 400˚. Carefully cut squash in half with large chef’s knife. Remove seeds and strings like you would a carving pumpkin. Slice squash into half moons or strips, leaving peel on for ease or discarding if you choose. Toss squash with salt, cinnamon and oil, and spread onto baking sheet. Bake for 45 minutes, or until squash is completely tender to a fork. Scrape coconut butter out of jar with spoon onto squash and allow to melt.
Baked Potato Soup This potato soup is everything you love about baked potatoes – bacon, cheese, “sour cream” – but lighter on fat than a massive spud with all the works thanks to low-fat milk, Greek yogurt and a sprinkle of cheese. Serve a cup along with a side salad and a slice of whole grain crusty bread. Serves 4 Prep time: 10 minutes | Cook time: 30 minutes
GG Gardeners and foodies will go gaga for these indoor herb kits, made from recycled wine bottles. Growbottle, $35, pottingshedcreations.com A thoughtful twist on the typical “gift of the month” club, you can provide health conscious kin with a full season of fresh produce from their favorite local farm. CSA membership, prices vary, localharvest.com
Ingredients 2 thick slices of local bacon 2 big russet potatoes, chopped into cubes 2 cups 1% milk 1/3 cup all purpose flour 2 cups vegetable broth 1 tsp kosher salt 1/4 tsp smoked paprika 1/3 cup freshly grated cheddar cheese Greek yogurt to garnish as “sour cream” Method: Brown bacon in a big pot until crispy. Remove and set aside. Add potatoes and sauté until they begin to soften, about 7 minutes. Meanwhile, whisk flour into milk. Add milk mixture to pot along with broth, salt and paprika. Simmer, covered, stirring occasionally so bottom does not brown, about 20 minutes. Serve in bowls topped with bacon, cheese, a dollop of yogurt and a sprinkle more paprika
November - December
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fitness
stress busters
sweating the holidays By Lisa Maloney
The super-light, low- profile designs get you closer to the earth and deliver a number of positive benefits while you are having fun outside
HOW IT WORKS:
Not only are regular workouts good for your health and proven to reduce stress levels, exercise also serves as an oasis of “me” time during holiday chaos. So go ahead and carve out a little sweat break amidst the madness. Minute to win it
Get Out of the House
Exercising in 10-minute bursts provides similar cumulative benefits to those of one long exercise session, and the short intervals are easier to squeeze into a busy day. Even if you only have five minutes to work with, you can still trim your stress levels by taking the dog for a quick walk around the block, putting on your favorite music and rocking out to a couple of songs, bouncing on a mini trampoline, or jumping rope.
If you have a house full of relatives or holiday clutter, a brief change in scenery can disrupt the stress pattern. Taking time for a light-hearted group fitness class like boinging, hip-hop or Bollywood aerobics, rebounding or hoop dancing can change the course of your entire day. If friends and family frown upon your attempt to flee, invite them to come with you
GG
Punch it Out A few minutes of cardio kickboxing can be quite therapeutic. Stand between a light source and a wall to box your shadow, or picture the source of your stress right in front of you as you punch and kick. Start with these combos then make up your own moves. Anything goes as long as you don’t lock or “snap” your joints. Go ahead and scream when you hit—it feels good! Combo One: Stand with your knees slightly bent, left leg forward, hands up to protect your face. Jab twice with your left hand. Then follow up with a right cross. Lift your right heel and pivot slightly on the ball of your right foot, driving the punch with your entire body from the legs up. Do this three times in a row, followed by two uppercuts: Left, then right. Combo Two: Stand square and imagine there’s a big bully of a stress monster right in front of you. Mime grabbing the monster by the shoulders and pulling it down as you bring your right knee up to meet it. Repeat three times. Then, take out another stress monster with a sidekick to your left. 8
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A running buddy for your running buddy. Armpocket, starting at $26.95, armpocket.com
For the eco yogini on your list, it’s the only thing that’ll come between her and her mat. Prism Skidless, $69, yogitoes.com
© Wolverine Outdoors 2011
MEN’S REFUGE CORE WATERPROOF t and shock absorption, When the conditions call for serious dry comforTM heel technology and full Split stable reach for the Refuge Core. Super waterproofing make you practically terrain proof. So wherever you want to go, Merrell shoes and clothing will get you there. Find out how at merrell.com
health
sleep
pillow talk
Counting sheep to fall asleep? You’re not alone—but there is something you can do about your sleep-deprived state. By Colleen Oakley
Most mornings I wake up, look in the mirror, and wonder if The Walking Dead needs extras. I’d be a perfect zombie, even after my three morning cups of coffee. I’m a mom to a 14-month-old son, which explains some of the fatigue, but according to the National Sleep Foundation, it’s not just moms who aren’t getting shuteye. On average, women are twice more likely than men to have difficulty falling and staying asleep. Women are also two-anda-half times more likely than men to interrupt their sleep to care for others, according to a University of Michigan study. And once they’re up, women are awake longer: 44 minutes, compared to 30 minutes for men.
GG Eyes Wide Open. If you’re one of the millions of women struggling with insomnia, try these tips for a more restful night: Seasonal salve-ation: a blend of essential oils that fights fatigue and the flu. I Booster Salve, $24, buddhanose.com.
1
Don’t drink alcohol within 3 hours of bedtime. You might think that a glass of wine helps you fall asleep faster, but a University of Michigan study recently found that women who drink before bed actually tossed and turned more, woke up more often and got fewer hours of sleep than those who abstained.
2
Skip the late-night workout. While you want to get at least 20 minutes of exercise a day to sleep better at night, timing is important. If you work out within a few hours of bedtime, the energy boost your body gets makes falling asleep a challenge.
3
Pop these pills. Calcium alone is a great sleep aid (see: glass of warm milk), but when combined with magnesium, it’s a one-way ticket to dreamland. (Be sure to consult your doctor about vitamins and supplements.)
You Snooze, You Win!
This therapeutic massage mat can increase energy, relieve stress and reduce muscle pain. One in each color, please! Pranamat Eco, $99, pranamateco.com
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Getting enough shut-eye every night can help you: Lose weight. A University of Chicago study found that dieters who were well rested lost more fat—56% of their weight loss—than those who were sleep deprived. Be a better athlete. A Stanford University study found that college football players who tried to sleep at least 10 hours a night for seven to eight weeks improved their average sprint time and had less daytime fatigue and more stamina. Ward off heart disease. People who get less than six hours of sleep a night have more C-reactive protein, which is associated with heart attack risk. Be more creative. The emotional components of your memory are strengthened during sleep, which may help spur the creative process, say researchers at Harvard. Avoid accidents. When you get less than five hours of sleep at night and get behind the wheel, it’s as dangerous as driving drunk, says Dr. Hope Ricciotti, co-author of The Real Life Body Book.
family
winter fun
cold play By Caroline Shannon-Karasik
It’s inevitable: The winter months mean your family is spending more time inside. But unruly weather doesn’t mean healthy living has to take a back seat. Cut back on the couch time and log in more quality time with these activities that involve the whole crew. Start an indoor garden. Bring the bountiful plant life of spring and summer indoors by growing your own plants. Not only will it bring new life to your home, you can also use it as a tool to help teach children about the importance of nature and fresh, healthy foods. Potting Shed Creations (pottingshedcreations.com) has a line just for kids with kits that can grow indoors and year-round.
Make household organization projects a family affair. “Spring-cleaning is a pain in the neck,” says Angela Ardolino, founder of ParentingWithAngela.com. “But if you get the whole family together to do a project it will ensure that you spend time together and will allow you to get things done much quicker.” Ardolino suggests making chores fun by using a reward system where a special event, like a family outing for ice cream, is the “bonus” for a hard day’s work.
Bundle up and head outside. Chillier temperatures don’t have to be the end of outdoor adventure, says Catherine Holecko, the guide to family fitness at About.com. “Our family loves geocaching,” she says. “With a handheld GPS (or GPS-equipped smartphone), we can turn any walk or hike into a treasure hunt.” Holecko also suggests taking a long hike and playing walking games, like “Poetry to Go,” where the whole family takes turns contributing to a poem. For example, start kids off with a simple line like “I really love to take a walk” and have them add their own rhymes in turn (i.e. “except when I forget my sock” ... “and then I step upon a rock” ... and so on).
GG
Make your own wrapping paper. Add personal flair to gift wrap by drawing, painting or ink-stamping on newsprint, recycled brown grocery bags, or even directly on a shipping box or store gift box, Holecko suggests. Take the opportunity to explain to kids why the activity is not only creative, but eco-friendly.
Chewable, squishable. Drooled over by babies, toddlers (and parents!) everywhere. Snug Bugs, $11.99 , justb-byou.com
Saving Mom and Dad’s good sheets, sparking kids’ imaginations. The Fortamajig, $55, thehappykidcompany.com
November - December
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breathein
BEAUT Y
nighttime skin treatments They don’t call it “beauty sleep” for nothing— your skin works hard overnight to recover from the yucky things it’s exposed to during the day, like dust, smoke, sun, wind and pollution. Check out these products to help renew your skin while you’re off in dreamland.
We adore Max Green Alchemy Scalp Rescue Pomade. Massage a dab of this vegan pomade into your scalp at night, then wash and style as usual the next morning for shinier tresses and a healthier scalp. $19.99, MaxGreenAlchemy.com
Natural Organic Edible Cosmetics Deep Moisturizing Night Cream’s lightweight formula is packed with mango, grape seed, almond, shea and cocoa butters. It penetrates your skin to heal and moisturize overnight. $30, NOECosmetics.com
fake a good night’s sleep:
Trilogy Age Proof Replenishing Night Cream is easily absorbed into your skin and helps restore elasticity and suppleness while smoothing fine lines and wrinkles. As it sinks in, you can practically hear your skin sigh with relief. $55, Beautorium.com
“Wash your face in cool water with a cool, wet washcloth. If you have the time, store the washcloth in the freezer for five to 10 minutes prior to applying to the face. The cool temperature will restrict blood vessels and reduce puffiness.” —Constance Dunn, author of Practical Glamour: Presenting Your Most Beautiful and Polished Self to the World
With cotton and rice extracts to soften and moisturize, plus aloe to soothe, Burt’s Bees Sensitive Skin Night Cream is fragrance-free and hypoallergenic—a calming formula perfect for tender or irritated skin. $14.99, BurtsBees.com Models love Vapour Organic Beauty Clarity Makeup Removing Cleansing Oil because it dissolves makeup, dirt and impurities without over-drying skin. We love that it calms, brightens, balances and tones the skin all at once. $28, VapourBeauty.com 12
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Soap and washcloth in one! Felted Soaps, $9, etsy.com/shop/ fuzzyleaffelting Natural nail polish pens— fun for girls, ages 9-99. $8.99, piggypaint.com
GG
breathein
style
home A home makeover doesn’t have to be extreme. Updating decor and chic storage solutions make all the difference!
Stripes are always in style! Spruce up an old sofa and cozy up with this modernmeets-classic throw from DwellStudio. $150, dwellstudio.com
Make clean-up time fun (“let’s feed the monkey!”) with these sweet organic storage bins. $39 each, bambeco.com
GG Perfect for pens or toothpaste, this “green” organizer works just as well in a home office as it does in your bathroom. $9, umbra.com
Paper Cloud prints all of their nature-inspired designs by hand, using water-based, solvent-free inks for a look that’s easy on the eyes and the environment. $68, paper-cloud.com
hang time
“Don’t be afraid to hang pictures on top of each other or to hang a mirror vertically instead of horizontally—it immediately adds height to a room.”
You’ve heard of a spare for your flat. These are spare flats! In a convenient to-go bag when you need to slip into something more comfortable. CitySlips, starting at $20, cityslips.com
— Angie Fowler, Interior Design Consultant, Greenville, SC
Turn family photos or travel pics into works of art when placed in a recycled wood frame from Matahari. $120, saffrontradingcompany.com
A vegan suede catch-all pouch for the impossible yet posh person on your list. $20, etsy.com/shop/ MilkandHoneyHandbags
November - December
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breathein
gear
snow
Your feet will stay warm and dry inside Chaco’s snuggly Arbora Tall Waterproof Nurl boot, whether you’re walking the dog or shoveling snow. The fashion-forward Nurl also looks great out on the town. $240, www.chacos.com
Our picks for playing in the powder.
layer, lady, layer
“The key to layering for winter sports is having layers that wick and dry quickly, especially the base layer. I’ve found wool dries the fastest. Before you start moving, take a layer off. When you stop, put a layer on.” —Lindsay Fixmer, Fox Mountain Guides and Climbing School
Protect your skin from harsh winter weather with the all-natural organic Winter Stick by Joshua Tree. Roll it on your face like lip balm to combat chapping, windburn and sunburn. $6, jtreelife.com
Don’t let the name fool you, the Downlight Sweater is a coat—an 800-fill goose down puffy, to be more precise. Ultra light, ultra warm and ultra compressible, the latest from the coveted Eddie Bauer First Ascent line also sports a waterrepellent shell. $179, www.eddiebauer.com
GG
For the gear-obsessed guy or gal on your list who has everything, give them a place to put all of their stuff to good use. America the Beautiful - The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Annual Pass, $80, store.usgs.gov/pass We love the clean design of the new Origin Hydration Pack from Platypus. Sized according to water and gear capacity, for quick outings to multiday adventures. $79.95-$160.95, cascadedesigns.com
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Keep it functional, even underneath, with 356’s Performance Underwear. $25, polarmax.com
For all-purpose, all-mountain resort skiing, look no further than Tierra, Volkl’s hot new women’s ski. Just a bit wider on the tip and tail, the geometry and flex were engineered for confidence and grace. $1065, volkl.com
®
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Up here yoU’ve a lot more to worry aboUt than dropped calls.
The new inReach.™ Reach anyone, anywhere, anytime.
Two-way messaging via Iridium® satellites means you can send and receive texts, interact with rescuers, and know your message was received. Without it costing an arm and a leg.
11-DELO-0998_RockClimb_Breathe_Nov4_FNL.indd 1
10/7/11 5:59 PM November - December
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green living
indoor plants
outside, in. By Kara DiCamillo
A little green goes a long way when fighting the winter blahs. Make your home a natural haven by decorating with plants that are flourishing with color, textures and scents. With a whole pile of pluses, you’ll want your newest indoor inhabitants sticking around through spring and beyond.
green with envy
We are coveting these mason jar wall planters—a project DIY and Home Décor Blogger Stacy Risenmay put together for less than 20 dollars! Get the howto at her amazing blog, notjustahousewife.net.
Let there be light. Letting in natural light is one of the best solutions, not only for your psyche, but for your new plants as well! Replace heavy drapery with light fabrics and sheers and, if you have blinds, consider putting them just on the bottom half of your window so that the natural light pours in through the top while still providing privacy. Make sure those windows have a view by trimming overgrown bushes.
Branching Out Designing with natural materials can be a beautiful way to accent a room. Curly Willows, Pussy Willows or Birch bark can be used in a planter to stake stems straight (particularly with orchids), or can be used on their own for dramatic centerpieces. We also like the idea of placing orange or lemon peels in small bowls around the house for a fresh, natural fragrance.
Geography Avoid floor and ceiling vents when choosing a place for your plants. These heated areas cause plants to dry out, making them more susceptible to insects.
room(s) to grow These plant picks are easy to care for and need watering about once a week in the winter… some even less depending on the ventilation and the size of the container (smaller plants dry out faster!). Sunny rooms: colorful Bromeliads, Ficus and Fig trees, Shefelerra, Kangaroo Ferns, Orchids, Dracenas, textured Begonias, Birds Nest Ferns, Jade plants, and citrus trees Dark rooms: Peace Lilies, Chinese Evergreens, Pothos, ZZ plants, lucky bamboo,
Philodendrons, Alocasias, Arrow plants and Maidenhair ferns.
readbreathe.com
More than decor—what indoor plants can do for you: 1. Reduce cold-related illnesses by more than 30 percent 2. Decrease dust and allergens 3. Help remove airborne contaminants while cleaning the air at the same time 4. Improve your mood and inspire creativity
Bathrooms: Spider plants, Snake plants, Philodendrons and Boston Ferns like low light, and Orchids, Asparagus Ferns, Begonias, Crotons, and Azaleas for sunnier spots.
—Courtesy of Anne Cothran, master gardener and owner of Anne Cothran Garden + Floral, Charleston, SC
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ferns with benefits.
GG The design of this bamboo bottle holds water… and hot tea. $25, bamboobottleco.com Tree-free gift bags made from stone! Wine bags, $2.99, earthbalancebag.com
From House to
Home by Kelly Love Johnson
Almost two years ago, I moved halfway across the country from Charleston, SC, to Austin, TX. In early 2010, some 1,200 miles away from my family, in a different time zone, I found myself living out of boxes. Essentials were unpacked during the first week of January (kitchen, bath, bedroom). The boxes labeled “books” (I culled down to 200-something from more than 400 before the move) and “home office” (because I no longer had one) remained stacked in what was to be my dining area for weeks that turned into months. I was living a new life— working for a digital media agency and adjusting to a new city, away from my family for the first time. After a while, I didn’t even see the boxes anymore—they had become a permanent fixture in my house. I had the attention span of a gnat and no urge to read. I spent my evenings watching television. I’d come to terms with the fact that I had moved away from home without leaving a forwarding address for my muse, so writing was the furthest thing from my mind—at least until I tried. I had been using a laptop to work at home occasionally, sitting on the sofa or cross-legged in my bed. When I found myself staring at a blank Word document that I’d opened because I felt like I needed to get something off of my chest, the words wouldn’t come. I turned to my notebook and wrote in pen, but it was “journaling” and not writing for publication—even on my own website. What was I waiting for? The far, far away move still felt temporary because half of my life—the reading and the writing part—remained in boxes in my dining room. If I unpacked, I’d have to admit that
Bookshelf Inspiration:
I was far, far away for real, that the move wasn’t temporary, that I wasn’t going home tomorrow or next week, that I’d have to start calling this new place “home.” A full six months after my move, irritated and creatively uninspired, I finally decided to tackle a few boxes. I decided that my dining area would be my new “home office.” I found my magnetic whiteboard and hung it on the wall. I hooked up my desktop computer and printer. I put a lamp on my desk. I found my clips books, bits and pieces of inspiration, my desktop Buddha, postcards and notes I’d kept over the years, my sketchbooks, my colored pencils and pens, notebooks full of ideas, familiar book after book after book—all of the things I’d been hiding from myself for half a year. It was that day, the day I put my photos and quotations and essay notes on my mood board and hung it over my desk, the day I spent sitting on the dining room floor surrounded by boxes and sifting through them one-by-one like an archaeologist, that was the day my “new place” became “home.” The day “I’ll give it a try” turned into “I’m here for a while.” The day “maybe a year” turned into “this is where I live.” My heart didn’t break, my muse woke up, and I sat down in my new workspace for the first time and began writing. I wrote until my wrists were sore and my eyes burned from staring at a computer screen. And for the first time, that night I slept without waking up and wondering how I got here. For the first time in months, I slept at home.
A Room of Her Own: Women’s Personal Spaces (Clarkson
Potter, 1997) by Chris Madden and Jennifer Levy. The 12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women: A Portable Mentor (Conari Press, 2000) by Gail McMeekin. Creative Time and Space: Making Room for Making Art (North Light Books, 2009) by Rice Freeman-Zachery. Kelly Love Johnson is a writer who lives and works in Austin, Texas. She believes that home is wherever her books are.
November - December
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mess Code Clever clutter solutions.
Perfect homes don’t just exist in the movies or the pages of home and garden magazines. Real people have organized homes that are serene, clutter-free and functional. Your home can be, too! The secret is thinking outside of the [small] boxes of your rooms and brainstorming ways to pinpoint problem areas in your home and creatively organize them to fit your lifestyle. Here are some tips to help you store, collect, weed out and maintain a clutter-free, clean home. by Kath Younger, RD photos by TOM DALY 18
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Problem: Half-used packages of a wide variety of foods in big boxes that take up space. Ball jars make excellent food storage and are much less expensive than the fancy food storage containers you’ll find at bed and bath stores. I collect jars of all sizes as I finish off jams and sauces to house different types of food. Fill them with all kinds of dry goods such as rice, beans, grains, cereals, granolas, pancake mix, pastas, nuts, seeds, spices and more. You can label the side or lid with a label or sticker (chalkboard stickers are particularly chic these days!) or just trust your gut that you’ll be able to identify what’s inside. If you have a little wall space, install a few shelves where you can house the jars in a rainbow of contents. Or you can tuck them neatly into your pantry. Look for wide mouth Ball jars for easy scooping, and a collapsible canning funnel makes filling them mess-free.
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In The Kitchen Problem: Cabinets packed so tightly that you never know what will fall out. Start by minimizing what you have. Just like you might weed out your closet every season, weed out your kitchen and donate any single-use dishes or cookware that you don’t use often enough to warrant their space in your kitchen. Don’t be afraid to move things out of the kitchen. If you have a basement or garage where you can stow away the Thanksgiving turkey pan or mini muffin tin you use a few times a year, send them there so your everyday kitchen feels more open. I have a smallish kitchen, but our dining room is bigger so we keep bowls and platters we use less frequently out of the prime real estate kitchen cabinets, a short trip away. Your kitchen space should be filled with everyday items used the most frequently— and only one of everything! Ask yourself: do I really need two kinds of ice cream scoops, five cutting boards and 10 spatulas of the same size? Chances are you have a favorite that you use more than the rest. Keep that one plus one more and you’ll be set.
In your living areas Problem: Piles of clutter in every room. If you know you have spots in your house that tend to collect clutter (foyer table, kitchen counters, desk, dresser top), put something there to collect the mess. Clutter is a necessary part of life, but seeing it doesn’t have to be. Find pretty baskets, bins, containers and hooks to contain the mess. I have a basket for keys and sunglasses in our foyer, a drawer for winter weather scarves and gloves, a slot holder for mail, a basket for my desk supplies, a catchall for jewelry, and everything inside goes out of sight. Hooks are great for clutter, too. From the inside of cabinets to walls and closet doors, you can put hooks everywhere! Hang up the dog’s leash, your purse, your keys, hats and coats, and all those things that usually end up on the kitchen table, floor and furniture. November - December
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In The BATHROOM problem: Maintaining cleanliness is a pain!
In YOUR BEDROOM problem: Laundry never gets put away. Sorting and folding laundry is a pain, but one way to quickly get your laundry from dryer to bedroom is to sort clothes and then toss the piles of clothes into drawers or bins unfolded. You might think a neat freak like myself has all of my underwear neatly folded and colorcoded, but that would take way too much time to maintain! Putting away my laundry takes about three minutes. I quickly sort the clothes into groups (socks, underwear, workout tops and bottoms, pajamas, and hanging nice clothes) and then drop those groups into baskets and canvas cubes by category. I don’t care if my underwear, workout shorts or pajamas are wrinkled so there’s no need to fold them. And I’ve found when I need something it’s no more difficult to sort through a pile than a folded stack. Of course my nice clothes get hung up and my t-shirts do get folded, but the bulk of my regular casual wear just gets sorted and tossed away. Laundry has never been so easy. 22
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If you have to trek up and down your house to the laundry room, basement or kitchen to get your cleaning supplies, you’ll be less likely to do a quick clean on a regular basis. Keep cleaning products easily accessible and have a set in each bathroom. Once a day (after a shower is a good time) you can spend two minutes freshening up. Find a pretty bottle (pretty bottles make cleaning more fun, I promise!), fill with a cleaning solution and store under the sink or in a pretty basket so you can quickly grab it when you need it. I store a few cloths in my basket to use for wiping down the sink and some flushable wipes for the toilet seat. A hand vacuum tucked in a corner or in a close-by closet also makes tidying up the floors quick and easy. There’s no need to break out the vacuum and mop—just hand vac and then wipe the floor with a cloth or paper towel. Since the bathroom floor area is small, it’s just as easy to get on your hands and knees and have the floor shine in less than a minute.
Problem: Stuff tumbles out of every cabinet and corner. Homes that are uncluttered have an airy feel. There’s space left open for your home to breathe. Rather than fill your medicine cabinet to the brim, leave a shelf halfway empty so your most-used items won’t tumble out, and they'll appear orderly when you peek inside. Seriously ask yourself: do I need to keep this medicine I took a year ago? Do I use this curling iron more than twice a year? Do I need to keep cosmetics and toiletries that are 90 percent empty? Reduce, reuse and recycle everything in your bathroom until you only have the basics you use every day. Repurpose some of those less-used bowls or mugs from your kitchen to act as cute containers for bathroom supplies like Q-tips or soaps.
So Fresh and So Clean
Once your home is neat, it’s time to bring out the sparkle. These cleaning products have won me over: Shaklee’s Basic H: This green cleaner sold through distributors is a favorite of Oprah and is used in the White House. A few drops of Basic H concentrate will create enough cleaner to fill a 16-ounce bottle that can be used to clean everything from windows and mirrors to gunky stovetops. Shaklee works as a surfactant to break the surface tension and sweep away dirt and grime. Add a few drops of essential oils to the pretty bottles to create a scent you know you’ll love. I like LavenderPeppermint-Vanilla. Method Laundry Detergent: Great in smell and effectiveness, Method’s laundry detergent line is challenging older brands with a modern-eco vibe. Containers are sleek and slender, and concentrate means you don’t have to use a lot to get clothes clean. The marshmallow-rice dryer sheets are one of my favorite scents of all time! After my laundry is done I tuck the used dryer sheets into my pillowcase for sweet dreams. The Shark Steam Vac: Mopping my floors used to be my most hated household chore. The sloppy bucket of brown water that I had to drag around my house made it a heavy, wet hassle – not to mention gross mop heads. But since I discovered steam mops, I will never go back to a soapy bucket! Steam mops clean with high temperature steam that lifts dirt from the floor. Because minimal water is used, floors dry quickly, and the pads that collect dirt underneath are machine washable. I’ve found my steam mop works best with a little help from a cleaner that I spray onto the floors as I go. Shaklee’s Scour Off: Made from cherry pits, this natural scrub cleaner buffs out scuffs and caked-on dirt and grime with just a little bit of water. I was amazed as smudges, scuffs and “permanent” dirt in my house came up with a light layer of Scour Off and a damp cloth. It works wonders around burners of the stove as well as on soap scum, and it’s safe to use on most surfaces that are not shiny (like stainless).
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Raise a
Glass the Breathe guide to eco-friendly wine by aleigh acerni
You’ve dressed a beautiful free-range turkey you purchased from a nearby farmer. There are beautiful, local veggies on the table. Your special-occasion china and linens are set. Maybe you even stayed home this year to reduce your carbon footprint (and save yourself a little anxiety on one of the busiest-traveled times of year). You’re ready to sit down to a lovely eco-friendly meal with family and friends to celebrate the holidays. All that’s left? A toast. 24
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When it comes to earth-friendly wines, there are plenty of ways to fill your glass. The first step: Knowing what to look for on wine labels. Here’s a quick guide. 100% Organic: Certified by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), wine labeled as “100% organic” carries the USDA seal and must be made entirely from organically grown ingredients. This wine can contain only naturally occurring sulfites (natural preservatives) in less than 100 parts per million— adding sulfites to help enhance the wine’s longevity is not allowed. Organic: Organic wines also display the USDA organic seal, and must contain 95 percent organically grown ingredients. The remaining 5 percent must be ingredients that aren’t available organically, and no added sulfites are allowed. Made with Organic Grapes: Sometimes labeled “made with organic ingredients,” these wines must contain at least 70 percent organic ingredients, although they either don’t meet the criteria for a USDA organic seal or they’re produced outside of the U.S. Some organic wineries choose this phrase for their label because obtaining the “organic” or “100% organic” certification can be very expensive—or the wine maker has decided to add sulfites. Biodynamic: Vineyards and wineries that produce biodynamic wines use farming techniques that are in tune with nature, a concept created by early 20th-century philosopher Rudolf Steiner. These wines are 100 percent organic; biodynamic wine growers make their own compost and plan their harvests according to the movement of the stars and planets. Sustainable: Sustainable wines are created with respect for the environment, including an adherence to organic farming techniques, carbon neutral wine making processes and earth-friendly packaging.
We’ve rounded up a selection of delicious, earth-friendly recommendations to pair with your holiday feast. Salut! Sparkling Sparkling Vouvray Brut Dom Petit Coteau This sparkler from Vouvray, France is a delicate, vegan wine made with Chenin Blanc grapes. $18.99, TheOrganicWineCompany.com Albet I Noya Cava Brut Nature Gran Reserva This vegan Spanish cava is made from organically grown Chardonnay, Macabeu, Parellada and Xarello grapes according to traditional champagne-making methods. $16.99, HopsAndGrapesOnline.com
whites Wente Morning Fog Chardonnay A buttery Chardonnay made by a winery that’s been family-owned for more than 125 years, this wine bears a Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing certification and is made from sustainably farmed grapes. $12.99, WinestoreOnline.com Parducci Sustainable White A blend of white grapes including Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc, this California-made wine is grown using sustainable practices, including 100 percent green power and earth-friendly packaging. $10.99, Parducci.com
Reds 2009 Phillippe Cambie Calendal An organic wine from France, this full-bodied red wine is 80 percent Mourvedre and 20 percent Grenache, with flavors of cherry, blackberry and blueberry. $24.99, Winestore-Online.com Yellow+Blue Organic Malbec Packaged in environmentally friendly Tetra Pack cartons, this isn’t your typical boxed wine. Made from Argentinean grapes, this medium- to full-bodied wine is 100 percent organic and farmed using biodynamic techniques. $11.99, YBWines.com for locations
Aleigh Acerni is a Charlotte, NC-based writer and editor who loves writing about green living, travel and food. When she’s not interviewing one of her heroes (like pioneering chef Alice Waters or playwright Eve Ensler), you can find her writing about natural and organic beauty on her new blog, IndigoandCanary.com. November - December
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Nov. 1, 2011 through March 31, 2012!
by jodi helmer
Baby, it’s cold outside. Staying warm and toasty this winter means your utility meter is working overtime. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that heating accounts for 34 percent of annual utility use! Follow these nine tips to minimize your energy use— and your impact on the planet—all winter long.
#1
Control the Flow.
Clogged furnace filters reduce airflow, forcing the furnace to work harder to heat your house. Replacing furnace filters on a regular basis helps boost energy efficiency up to 5 percent.
#4
Embrace Automation.
Setting the timer on the treadmill helps keep your workouts on track. The same logic applies to saving energy: Installing a programmable thermostat means you’ll never forget to turn the heat down before work or overnight.
#5
Choose Cold.
The cold water setting on the washing machine will ensure your favorite sweater doesn’t shrink while your monthly utility bill does. The reason? Roughly 90 percent of the energy consumed by your washing machine is used to heat the water. Remember: Bed linens should be washed in hot water to kill dust mites.
#2
Switch Settings.
Lower the setting on your hot water heater to 120 degrees. The switch will leave plenty of hot water for baths and showers but can help cut energy bills up to 5 percent, according to the EPA.
Win it!
Make 2012 a green year with easy, everyday tips just like these from Jodi’s book, The Green Year: 365 Small Things You Can Do to Make a Big Difference. Enter to win your copy online at readbreathe.com.
#6
Switch on the Fan.
#8
Turn Down the Temp.
The ceiling fan isn’t just for cooling the house during the summer. In the winter, change the blades’ direction and ceiling fans re-circulate heat into the living areas, reducing energy bills up to 10 percent.
Set the thermostat at 68 degrees (or lower, if you’re comfortable with cooler temps) when you’re at home. In addition to reducing CO2 emissions, each degree down saves up to 3 percent on your heating bill. Remember: Never turn the thermostat below 55 degrees or your pipes might freeze!
#3
Seal leaks.
#7
Schedule an audit.
#9
Love Layers.
The biggest threat to your energy efficiency may be one of the hardest to see. To find leaks, light a candle and hold it in front of window and door seams. The flame will flicker in drafty spots. Quick fix? Caulk cracks around windows and doors or buy self-stick weather-stripping at a home improvement store and follow the instructions for easy installation.
Audits aren’t just for taxes. A home energy audit, also called a home energy review, is a room-by-room evaluation of your home to evaluate how much energy you’re using and offer suggestions for becoming more energy efficient.
Invest in a cozy pair of slippers and a cute, comfy sweater. Dressing in layers will keep you warmer, allowing you to save energy by lowering the thermostat. November - December
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travel
Five Forays
A little cold-weather hibernation is good for the soul. But when you’re ready to come out and play, choose one (or more!) of these five fabulous winter weekend getaways. By Jayme Moye
Vine hopping
Traverse the trails
play: Steer clear of the droves of warmweather tourists by doing your wine tasting in the winter. The 20+ wineries clustered around Charlottesville make for an ideal day trip or a weekend wine extravaganza. Plan your route using MonticelloWineTrail.com, which details the trail named for Thomas Jefferson’s estate where he started making wine in the 1770s. The trail is divided into four sections of about a half-dozen wineries, each section doable in a day by car. Central Virginia wineries produce all your favorite varietals, from Chardonnay to Zinfandel, and about a dozen rarities like Muscat of Alexandria, a white grape believed to be one of the oldest unmodified vines still in existence.
play: You don’t have to be a downhill skier or snowboarder to go play in the powder. West Virginia’s Elk River Touring Center (ertc.com) offers 150 acres chock full of scenic trails for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Nestled at the headwaters of the Elk River adjacent to the Monongahela National Forest, the center provides all the rental equipment you need for $20 a day. Check their website for the latest seasonal specials. If you’re new to either sport, start with the 5-kilometer trail bordering the national forest next to the center. For more of a challenge and picture-perfect mountain views, you’ll find 35 kilometers of trails criss-crossing the Highland Scenic Highway (closed to motor vehicles during winter).
stay: Spend the night at the Barboursville Vineyard (barboursvillewine. net). The estate’s one-of-a-kind inn, built in 1804, offers four stunning suites outfitted with priceless furnishings and art. Or choose from one of three charming cottages complete with wood beam ceilings and fireplaces.
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stay: Make a winter wonderland weekend of it with an overnight stay at the charming Elk River Inn, dinner at the Inn’s gourmet restaurant, a Nordic skiing or snowshoeing lesson, and equipment rental, starting at $160. The charming cedar-built Inn has five guest rooms, each featuring a spacious deck. Or grab a
Sip by the fire while soaking in the mountain views from the tasting room at Veritas.
group of girlfriends and book one of Elk River’s four comfy cabins ranging from quaint to modern.
Go with the flow play: Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina, you’ll find the Highland Lake Inn (hlinn.com), an ideal place to relax and rejuvenate. Only five minutes outside of Hendersonville, this intimate retreat, tucked into 26 wooded acres beside a lake, offers yoga classes up to three times a day. Fred Brown, the director and primary teacher, has been teaching for nearly 40 years. His classes, attended by guests as well as locals, are appropriate for all ages and ability levels. If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, one of Fred’s specialties is the use of yoga “furniture”, including a Whale back-bending bench, yoga swings by Gravotonics and slacklines. stay: Choose from a romantic hidden cabin, a room in a mountain lodge or a poolside cottage. Each accommodation, from the smallest room in the historic lodge to the 16-room Woodward
PHOTO: Steven Morris
choose your own winter adventure
clinics run from 9:30am-2pm every Friday, cost $109 and include lunch. For a full weekend of instruction, register for the annual Wintergreen Women’s Weekend (February 4-5) with World Champion Extreme Skier Alison Gannet. Après ski spa specials change monthly (check the website) and include therapeutic massages, body wraps, hydrotherapy baths, reflexology, skincare treatments, and hair and nail care. Or make it a whole day in the spa, starting with a steam or sauna followed by a facial, mani and pedi, all for $250.
The spa at Wintergreen.
House, has been lovingly detailed by the owners, Jack and Linda, who live on the property.
Ski + spa play: For the best of Blue Ridge Mountain skiing, head to Virginia’s Wintergreen Resort (wintergreenresort. com) offering 26 slopes and trails suitable for all ability levels. Make it a three-day weekend in order to catch one of the resort’s Friday women’s clinics starting in January. Geared for gals looking to improve their skiing and riding skills, the
stay: You’ll be fully equipped in one of Wintergreen’s 300 villa-style condos or rental homes. From studios to houses big enough to hold all your friends, each comes with a full kitchen and fireplace
Cool running play: Travel south to a happening (and warmer!) city hosting a race this winter. One such run is the crowdpleasing Savannah River Bridge Run (savannahriverbridgerun.com) on
December 3rd. The race draws more than 2,000 runners looking to tackle the Talmadge Memorial Bridge spanning 1.4 miles across the river. Choose from a 5K or 10K course, or make it a “Double Pump” by racing the two routes backto-back. The post-race party starts when the first 5K finisher crosses the line, and includes live music by The Train Wrecks and complimentary Brunswick stew and brew. A costume contest dangling a $400 first place prize, $200 second, and $100 third, brings out the zany side of Savannah locals better known for their Southern charm. After the race festivities, enjoy Savannah, a city internationally known for its architecture and history, and rated one of the Top 10 Favorite American Cities last year by Travel + Leisure. stay: The race is in the Historic District, full of boutiques, galleries and restaurants. For an unforgettable stay, splurge for the chic Mansion on Forsyth Park (mansiononforsythpark.com), a historic 1888 manor retrofitted with all the modern luxuries.
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Because backpackers and businessmen both pack a toothbrush. Taquito, $25, timbuk2.com
The foldable, packable, hereto-there comfort shoe. (Think flip-flops for winter.) Mush Frio MJ Mesh, $45, teva.com
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breatheability Photo courtesy of Lianne Jackson
q&a: Lianne Jackson Instructor, Challenged Athletes of West Virginia
Lianne Jackson (right) and another instructor work with Kate.
By Laura Purcell
Lianne Jackson believes that skiing is a sport anyone can enjoy. “Sometimes, people think they’ve gotten too old to learn, or they let the fear of falling take over any desire to try. But with the right instructor, the right amount of patience, and the passion to learn, anyone can do it.” Lianne uses her skills on the slopes to teach with the Challenged Athletes of West Virginia program at Snowshoe Mountain Resort, which provides adaptive sports opportunities to children and adults with physical and cognitive disabilities. “Every day at Challenged Athletes, we see people accomplish tasks and overcome obstacles they never thought possible,” she says. “That feeling of empowerment is absolutely priceless.”
gloves, coat or hat. So she never really played in the snow or enjoyed winter. On her first day with Challenged Athletes, our goal was just to get Kate out on the snow and maybe put on her first pair of ski boots. With lots of support from everyone around her, Kate put on a pair of ski boots, a hat, a coat and gloves and walked out the door onto the magic carpet! Kate returned to Snowshoe almost every weekend that season, making progress with every lesson. By the end of the season, she was skiing down her first green on tethers, and riding a chair lift back up to the top! It has been an amazing experience to watch Kate grow into the skier she has become, and I can’t wait to see her again this year!
also learned so much about skiing and snowboarding, and how these sports can truly be adapted to be experienced and enjoyed by all.
Tell me about working with a student who really made you smile. One student I will always remember is a 7-year-old girl named Kate. Kate is autistic, and came to Challenged Athletes of West Virginia two years ago with her parents and sister—all avid skiers. Before Kate’s parents brought her to Snowshoe, they had tried to get Kate to go outside in the winter, but Kate did not like the feeling of being confined by her
What do you like best about working with Challenged Athletes of West Virginia? My experiences being an adaptive ski and snowboard instructor for Challenged Athletes have been more inspiring than I ever imagined. With every lesson, we are introduced to amazing, motivated individuals who have a true passion for the sport, and who seek to take their abilities as far as they can go. I have
Who inspires you? This question is a difficult one to answer, because I have met so many amazing people in my life so far. Each year through my work, I meet people with incredible stories to tell and experiences to share. Some people I have met have been given a second chance at life and their outlook on their new life is so positive and amazing. It reminds me how lucky we are to live everyday with what we have.
What gets you going in the morning? Coffee, sunshine and fresh air. How do you unwind? I love going to a yoga class whenever I get the chance. Yoga is something I can do that really relaxes me and truly calms me from the inside out. I also love walking in local parks and walking the dogs at the local shelter when I can find the time. Who’s on your playlist? Dispatch, SOJA, John Butler Trio, Pretty Lights, Grace Potter, moe. The list goes on.
For more information about Challenged Athletes of West Virginia, please visit cawvsports.org 30
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The 2011 Outback. The adventurer’s vehicle of choice. Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive grips whatever comes your way. An efficient transmission gives you an enviable 29 mpg.* Best of all, it’s built in a zero landfill plant, so you can indulge your urge to explore, responsibly. Love. It’s what makes a Subaru, a Subaru.
Outback. Well-equipped at $23,195† ®
*EPA-estimated hwy mpg for 2.5i Continuously Variable Transmission models. Actual mileage will vary. †MSRP excludes destination and delivery charges, tax, title and registration fees. Dealer sets actual price. Outback 2.5i Premium pictured has an MSRP of $24,495. Vehicle shown with available equipment.