The Wells Fargo Advisors’ Carbondale office team wishes you and your family a happy holiday season and prosperous New Year. Now is a great time for you to let us help you review your current financial situation and find out how our EnvisionŽ process can provide you with a plan designed to achieve your highest priority investment goals for the New Year. Please contact us today at (618) 457-8145 to schedule a confidential, no-obligation appointment or portfolio review.
2 Life & Style : Winter 2012
Life & Style : Winter 2012 3
710 North Illinois Avenue P.O. Box 2108 Carbondale, Illinois 62902 618-529-5454 • 800-228-0429 fax 618-529-3774 www.LifeandStyleSI.com cara.recine@thesouthern.com Publisher Bob Williams Executive Editor Gary Metro Editor Cara Recine Niche Lacey Thompson Advertising Manager Graphic Rhonda M. May Designer Circulation Mark Romanowski Online Lauren Siegert J.C. Dart Photographers Aaron Eisenhauer Joel Hawksley Paul Newton Les Winkeler Contributors Shawn Connelly Rana Daunis Joanna Gray Poornima Jayaraman Les O’Dell Martha Peebles Cara Recine Adam Testa Les Winkeler Copy Editing Mary Thomas Layton Jeff Wilson Advertising Rose Baffi Design Sharon Haege Andrew McBride Jay Stemm Leah Weil Advertising Kelly Caudill Sales Marin Eovaldi Brian Flath Alicia Lorenz Tina Moon Meagan Murray Lacey Thompson
Life & Style in Southern Illinois is a publication of The Southern Illinoisan. Contact us at 710 N. Illinois Ave., Carbondale, IL 62901, or at P.O. Box 2108, Carbondale, IL 62902. Reach us on the Internet at www.LifeandStyleSI.com. Life & Style in Southern Illinois is published four times per year and is distributed free of cost to a variety of businesses and hotels in Southern Illinois. © 2011 by The Southern Illinoisan. All rights reserved. For more information call 618-529-5454 or 618-997-3356. Visit us online at www.thesouthern.com.
4 Life & Style : Winter 2012
welcome
Letter from the executive editor My parents provided my sister and me with wonderful Christmas memories during our childhoods in industrial Rockford, which looked like fictional Hohman, Ind., in the warm and funny movie, “A Christmas Story.” Christmas Day included visits from our grandparents, a great ham dinner and the best homemade apple and lemon meringue pies you ever tasted – made with love by my grandma. Her pie crusts were exquisite, capable of producing a trance-like effect on my dad and enjoyed by all. Our holidays changed little during our childhoods. We were allowed to open a gift or two on Christmas Eve, and then woke the next morning to a decorated tree nearly obscured by gifts. Wrapped presents for Mom and Dad always were opened last, as traditional as the manner in which the gifts were purchased. My dad picked a day when he would take Karen and me shopping for a gift for Mom. Downtown department stores were open at night during the Christmas shopping season, so we’d make a night of it — even though my dad worked a full day at the factory. Our shopping trips with Dad began before Karen and I had money, but he knew what to buy and then said it was from us. One very early Christmas included the selection of a gift my mother really
wanted, a jewelry box. My dad took special pains to explain the gift was a secret, probably because I talked constantly as a child. He didn’t want me to spoil the surprise. I remembered to stay quiet all the way home, but somehow spilled the beans as soon as I saw my mom in the house. I wanted her to be happy and was proud of what we’d picked out! Actually I grew embarrassed by gaffe and didn’t do it again after future shopping trips. Traditions make the holidays special, as you’ll see in this issue of Life & Style in Southern Illinois. Martha Peebles, who writes the amusing and popular “She Said” column Sundays in The Southern Illinoisan, shows her abilities as a feature writer in our cover story. Peebles tells us some people enjoy creating a themed Christmas in their homes, offering a joy that lasts throughout the season. Others make the holiday sparkle through special collections of glittering Christmas trees, miniature villages, Santa Claus figures and lavish table settings. Not everyone spends the holiday at home, however. Some people find the season just perfect for what growing numbers consider the ideal vacation — an ocean cruise that provides a break from telephones, computers and the cascading duties of working life. The
Paul Newton
Keeping traditions is a big part of our holiday experience
Southern’s Pete Spitler takes you on the high seas in this issue. We also have more on personal holiday traditions, local wine and cheese pairings, secrets to great holiday photographs and the latest “Social Seen” collections of your friends and neighbors enjoying the good life in great events across Southern Illinois. We hope you enjoy this issue of Life & Style and that it adds to your enjoyment of the holiday season. May all your days be merry and bright! — Gary Metro
Life & Style : Winter 2012 5
contents Winter 2012
10 Social Seen
More events, more photos! See who you know this issue
40
A merry (themed) Christmas
Traditions, old and new, abound in the homes of Southern Illinois
48 Where We Live
Kirk and Karla Rueter’s home is a strikingly beautiful combination of recreation and relaxation
30 Gifting
Consider this alternative: Shopping locally
33 Self: A day at the spa
A working mom gets a day of pampering and rejuvenation
93 Getaways
Tips make cruising easier if you know them before you go
cover photo Greenery and cloth adorn the chairs in the dining room at the home of Sharon Jones in Murphysboro. (Aaron Eisenhauer / The Southern)
38 Wine: Perfect Party Pair
Bring wine and cheese parties home with local varieties
60 Artist: ‘Painting with Paper’
Polly Mitchell makes a tradition her own artform
71 Profile: Tuning in to success
Benton native at the top of Chicago’s radio market
83 How To: Holiday snapshots
Local pros give us their tips for terrific takes every time
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this issue Don’t Miss This My Favorite Things Apps Fitness Gear Work Spaces Sports
27 29 56 58 64 66 68
Entrepreuneur Scenic Beauty Style Cheers to Beer Trends Heritage Parting Shot
76 78 80 84 86 88 96
Life & Style : Winter 2012 7
contact us Life and Style in Southern Illinois 710 N. Illinois Ave., Carbondale, IL 62901 618-529-5454
EDITORIAL Cara Recine editor 618-351-5075 cara.recine @thesouthern.com
ADVERTISING Lacey Thompson niche advertising manager 618-351-5001 lacey.thompson @thesouthern.com
SUBSCRIPTIONS Kim Fowler circulation manager 618-351-5035 kim.fowler @thesouthern.com Subscription 8 issues for $17.95 rates: 4 issues for $9.95
“Like�us on Facebook. Attending or hosting an event? Post your pictures on our page and your event could be included in an upcoming edition of Life and Style in Southern Illinois. www.facebook.com/LifeandStyleSI
8 Life & Style : Winter 2012
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social seen
Du Quoin Lawn Party John Rednour Sr. and his wife, Wanda, didn’t disappoint when they hosted their annual Du Quoin State Fair lawn party Aug. 24. The event is considered the social event of the year, and hundreds of invited guests attended, kicking off the Du Quoin State Fair, which officially opened the next day.
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1. Lee and Stacie Crisp of Marion, Angie and Barry Henson of Carbondale, and Fred and Ann Huff of Du Quoin 2. John Rednour Sr. and wife, Wanda
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3. Anna Mae DeRossett of Murphysboro 4. Barb and Richard Brown of Chester 5. Phyllis Vandermark and Janice Pyle, both of Du Quoin 6. Lowell and Mary Lou Hall of Herrin with Gary Forby (center) 7. Keith and Karen Griffith of Bonnie 8. Caitlin Dugger and Timothy Crosby of Marion 9. Judy Erwin of Elkville, Rich and Cathy Youngman and Janet Crews, all of Du Quoin
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10. Ken Gray, former U.S. representative, and Jim Rea of Christopher, former Illinois state senator 11. Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon and her husband, Perry Knop, of Carbondale 12. Robert Barron of Ashburn Virginia, formerly of Du Quoin
14. Illinois Supreme Court Justice Lloyd and Mary Karmeier of Nashville, and Wayne Alstat of Vergennes 15. Bill Redshaw of Rushville, Brittani Schisler, Miss Illinois County Fair Queen 2012 of Fox Lake; and Helen Miller of Clinton 16. Dr. Susan Shea, SIUC graduate and director of aeronautics IDOT Springfield; Cathy Redshaw of Rushville, pageant director Miss Illinois County Fair; and Merle Miller of Clinton, former Illinois State Fair manager 17. Denny Hepp of Percy
10 Life & Style : Winter 2012
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12 Michelle Goolsby and Rhonda M. May
13. Carolyn Ihle of Murphysboro; Johnny Allard of Carbondale; Lisa Madigan, Eden Thorne of Murphysboro; Shannon Reickenberg of Ava; and Lucas Liefer of Red Bud
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Life & Style : Winter 2012 11
social seen
Illinois Art and Wine Festival This annual event, which takes place on the grounds of the Illinois Art and Artisans Center at Rend Lake in Whittington, featured 13 local wineries and 50 Illinois artists. On the last weekend of September, 5,000 to 7,000 people people from Southern Illinois and beyond converged to sample regional wines and shop the wares of the state’s artists and craftsmen. ‘We’ re seeing a lot of our friends coming back year after year,’ said Mary Lou Galloway, event organizer. 1. Paul and Peggy Juergens and Michael and Kim Dahlen, all of Carbondale
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2. George Majka of Pomona and Kevin Little of Centralia 3. Sally Cherry and Becky Bechtel both of Mount Vernon, owners of BasketCase 4. Darrell Peek of Carlyle, Carol Dickerson of Mount Vernon, Beverly Gilbert of Waltonville and Becky Whisenart of Waltonville 5. Kathy Davis of Harrisburg and Rosemary Ephgrave of Crete 6. Jason and Christna Keck of Swansea
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7. Sheila Fredman and Gloria Krause, both of Marion 8. Kellie Leek and Marlene Loera, both of Irvington, and Cindy Hanson of Ashley
10. Bonnie and Rod Sievers of Carterville 11. Bo, Elias and Abbi Cook of Albion
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Rhonda M. May
9. Jim and Sandy Cooper of Carterville
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Lions Club Pancakes
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This event is always packed with people lining up for pancakes and sausage and to contribute to good causes. Twice a year, the Carbondale Lions Club offers the fare to feed residents and raise money for their many projects that help others. The fall breakfast was Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 29 and 30.
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1. Charlotte West, Marie Ballard and Blanche C. Sloan, all of Carbondale
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2. Bob Bahr of Carbondale 3. Don Lawrince of Carbondale 4. Doug Bedient of Murphysboro 5. Sharee Langenstein and Tom Hippensteel of Carbondale 6. Juh Wah and Han-Lin Chem of Murphsyboro 7. John and Susan Corker of Carbondale
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8. M.T. and Rene Poiter of Carbondale 9. Jeff and Gail O’Dannell of Carbondale 10. Leticia and Steve Bracewell of Carbondale 11. Lions Club members preparing pancakes are Tom English, Gary Metro and Elizabeth Spees Robinson
be seen
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Provided by GREG KUPIEC
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Have you been to a great event lately? Did you take photos?
If you would like to have the photos considered for publication in our magazine, call for details and image specifications: Cara Recine 618-351-5075
Life & Style : Winter 2012 13
social seen
Cedarhurst Craft Fair Friday Night Preview The Cedarhurst Craft Fair Preview Party on Sept. 7 offered a chance to shop the annual Cedarhurst Art and Craft Fair from 5 p.m. to dusk. The entertainment portion of the evening, with music by the Bob Kuban Band, was cut short due to a thunderstorm. The preview was sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. David Bayer and Dr. and Mrs. James Chow. 1. Sherry Bingamon or Vienna, Mo., and Mary Hoar of St. Louis
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2. Wayne and Alice Malzahn of Centralia 3. Kayla Hanagan of Houston, Texas, formerly of Mount Vernon; and Riki Jenkins of Mount Vernon 4. Steve Martin of Carterville and John Quick of Cunningham, Tenn. 5. Rick and Monica Akes of Mount Vernon 6. Christine Webb of Mount Vernon and sons Luke, 2, and Jay, 4
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Marilyn Halstead
7. Pam Grotefendt and Cynthia Thomas, both of Mount Vernon
s busines tion for and any lu o s t ns rfec The pe ings, celebratio ’t cut it. d n d o e w w , a s z a meeting subs and piz ng or ri e th t a a g , ll le a b a m time th s rd affo ’s a r it u o r e lp th Whe nquet, an he on ba tions c 500-pers ble menu op ettable. iza t unforg custom ext even n r u o y make
2310 North Reed Station Road Carbondale, IL | houlihans.com
Live full full. Celebrate Celebrate.
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The Queen’s Tea
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The annual Queen’s Tea for the Miss Apple Festival Pageant was Aug. 25 at the home of Debbie Tindall. The tea raises funds for the scholarship given to Miss Apple Festival in honor of longtime pageant director and Apple Festival founder Pauline Althoff.
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1. Emily Wece, Rosie Wece and Miss Apple Festival Pageant Co-director Gaye Youngman 5
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2. Pauline Althoff and her daughter, Cindy Stoll. Althoff is sister-in-law of Pauline Althoff who was an Apple Festival founder and longtime pageant director.
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3. Sarah Doerr and 2011 Miss Apple Festival Abby Bateman 4. Past Miss Apple Festival Queens Jessica Herring, Erica Sealy and Kate Jones 5. Jenise Wilson and Miss Apple Festival Pageant Co-director Patty Thrailkill 8
6. Arlene Norvell and Barbara Dallas
Marilyn Halstead
7. Faye Landess Tunnicliffe and Amy Mills Tunnicliffe
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8. Contestants in the 2012 Miss Apple Festval Pageant are pictured at the Queen’s Tea with 2011 Miss Apple Festival Abby Bateman (center back). Contestants are (back from left) Ashton Oller, Emma Dillow, Sara Streuter, Bateman, Haley Nichols and Audrie Korando; (seated) Isabela Campos and Sarah MacFarland
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social seen
First tailgate of the season Saluki football fans were eager to attend the first home game, and it seemed they were just as eager to take advantage of the first tailgate of the season, too. The party started at 3 p.m., three hours before the Dawgs took the field at Saluki Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 15.
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1. Mike Hinz, Marty Hinz, Fran Thorne, and Phil Thorne, all of Lake of Egypt 2. Denise Rutherford, of Carterville and Anna Wright of Marion 3. Julie Young and Reece Kruse of Carbondale
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4. Gary Tisdale of Carbondale, Dee Donaldson of Marion, and Denny Donaldson of Marion
SIU Women’s Club SIU Women’s Club celebrated its 65th anniversary Sept. 6 at the club’s annual tea, hosted by SIU President Glenn Poshard and his wife, Jo, at Stone Center. The guest of honor was charter member Leota Klingberg.
Aaron Eisenhauer
5. Wally King of Anna, Andy Klein of Host Springs, Ark., Bob Campbell of Carbondale, Barb Smith of Murphysboro, Ed Buerger of Lake of Egypt, and Mike Munge of Peoria
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2. SIU Chancellor Rita Cheng and Barbara Lesar 3. Vivian Ugent and Leota Klingberg 4. SIU Women’s Club President Marianne Lather and Jo Poshard
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Marilyn Halstead
1. Sue Whitlock, Nancy Taylor, Nancy Pfaff and Mary Jo Hanes
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The Kroger Big K Poker Run for the Coach Kill Cancer Fund was Aug. 25 at the Du Quoin State Fairground. The partnership between Kroger and SIH has raised more than $260,000 to help local cancer patients.
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1. Odum Concrete’s barbecue team (front, from left) Jeffrey Wehrle, Megan Odum, Tim Odum and Kim Odum; (center) Jennifer Hosman, Valerie Beal, Bruce Plummer and Tony Bowers; and back, Ron Taitt and Eric Poblick Marilyn Halstead
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Big K Poker Run
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2. Big K Poker Run Chairman Jim Clark of Kroger 3. Little Miss Kroger Jenna DeWitt of Ullin and Kroger District Manager Gina Sherland 4. Rebecca Kill 5. Murphysboro Key Club members Erin Cotter, Michaela Pendleton and Adam Oller
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From Our House to Yours... Have a Safe & Wonderful Holiday Season!
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Life & Style : Winter 2012 17
social seen
Little Black Dress Party Wearing black after Labor Day has become a tradition at this event, which raises money for The Women’s Center in Carbondale. The year, the Sept. 14 festivities moved to new and bigger location, Rent One Park in Marion. Known as the home of the Southern Illinois Miners, the ballpark offered expanded parking, patio seating on the stadium concourse and an opportunity to get down on the field, where St. Louisbased band Dr. Zhivegas provided live music. It was catered by the Diamond Club, and Larry’s House of Cakes offered a dessert bar. 1. Mary Jarvis of Herrin, Linda Falat, Laura De Palo and Kathy Carlson, all of Carbondale 2. Donna Ketring of De Soto, Debbie Upton of Cambria and Ronda Batka of Carterville
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3. Dani Bosten of Christopher and Alison Vigiano of Herrin 4. Monica Tichenor and Jackie Cumings, both of Carbondale 5. Alicia Kessel and Jennifer Gee, both of Marion 6. Joanna Wells, Lisa Smith, Linda McAnelly, Marlene Thompson, and Rita Williams
8. Jennifer Coher of Carbondale and Brooke Armstrong of Metropolis 9. (Front row), Alisa Perrino of Arthur, Kayla Szczeblewski of Carbondale and Sahron McCreight of De Soto. (Back row), Fern Martin of De Soto, Nicole Colvin of Du Quoin, Leslie Stroud and Dana Banks, both of Carbondale 10. (Front row), Jeanne Bernet of Carterville, Teri Ingram of Carterville and Sharon Skelcher of Carterville. (Back row), Jennifer Allen of Carterville, Mindy Combs of Carterville, Dee Kernosky of Carterville and Debbie Adams of Carterville 11. Lacey and Logan Dunn of Perks
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7. Shara Crummel, Molly Parrish, Lynn Mille and Kay Benard
12. Lorri McKinney, Ashley Hannan and Danielle Laster, all of Anna
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13. Julie Copher, Missy Brown and Joni Gravatt, all of Marion 14. Heather Wepsiec of De Soto, Kandi Chapman of Herrin and Dawne Baril of Murphysboro 15. Dawn Sisk and Sheila Hicks, both of Carterville, Sarah Mitter of Hurst and Amy Hicks of Carterville 14
16. Bev Bolanowski of Anna, Patti Edwards and Dianna Gaultney of Cobden
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17. Joyce and Maria Tally of Carterville and Jessica Hays of Marion 18. Valinda King of Reddick, Danielle King of Herrin and Linda Herron of Morris 19. (Front row), Maggie Adcock, Rachel Dent and Sara VanHorn. (Back row), Carolyn Phillips, Janet Estes and Michelle McGovern, all of Waltonville 16
20. Ashla Estrada, Sylvia Chalem, Lori Weiss and Mary Rowe Hutsch, all of Carbondale
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21. Michele Hubbard of West Frankfort and Debbie Wright of Macedonia
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Little Black Dress Party
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22. Julie Connor and Meliea Farrell, both of Herrin, Tina Holland of Carterville, Paula Beattie of Plainfield and Kathy Budde of Herrin 23. Andrea McNeill and Judy Cates 24. Keshis Davis, Veronica Keene, Teresa Payne and Jacinta Gamble, all of Carbondale 25. Jamie Sheffer of Murphysboro, and Laura Harness
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26. Maria Trapani, Stormi Bailey and Susan Brandon, all of Herrin 27. Erica Brandt of Carbondale, Alison Fuhrhop of Ava and Donna Smith of Harrisburg 28. Andrea Elliott, Karla Blake, Kim McVicker, Nancy Lindsey, Kandi Chapman, Leah Fiorina and Lynda Lainitzer, all of Herrin; and Dawne Baril of Murphysboro 29. Razan Tovmani, Stefani Motkar, Monica Young, Estoray Nekzad, Mikeal Kos, Dr. Cynthia Aks, Sharon Brewer and Brenda Starr
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Michelle Goolsby and Rhonda M. May
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This benefit was Saturday, Aug. 25, at Southeastern Illinois College’s Foundation Center. Money raised helps support services for Southern Illinois children.
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1. Jason and Marcia Casteel with Alayna and Aaron Castros, all of Harrisburg 2. Dorothy, Helen and Beecher Williams, all of Herod 3. Judge David Overstreet and wife, Suzanne of Mount Vernon 4. Lisa and Brett James of West Frankfort
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5. John Mayers of Marion and Cheryl Mayers of Johnston City 6. Melissa and Rodney Smith, CEO, Harrisburg Medical Center in Harrisburg; and Kasey Shackleford and Matt Buckman of Eldorado Provided
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7. Dr. Verlinda Henshaw and husband, Brad of Harrisburg; and Greg Taake of Marion
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Von Jakob Oktoberfest
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Oktoberfest at Von Jakob Vineyard and Brewery in Alto Pass on Sept. 6 featured wines, craft beers, German food and music by the Waterloo German Band. 1. Shannon Stahl of Carbondale, Oskar Gasecki of Gurnee and Julie Jacquot of Murphysboro
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2. Pam Hunter of Sikeston, Mo., Tam Uhles of Jackson, Mo. 3. Scott Milhouse of Franklin, Tenn., Susan Dietrich of Bloomington, Ind. 4. Geri and Dave Smith of Aviston 5. Ken and Debi Robinson of Carbondale 6. Susi Vacek, Carrie Collins and Victoria Miller, all of Carbondale 7. Lois Waelty of New Athens, Ruth Waelty of Steeleville
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8. Michael and Deb Winkeler of Carterville (standing), Priscilla and Dale Gray of Johnston City 9. Emily and Dan Harkosky of Champaign, celebrating their first wedding annivesary in Southern Illinois 10. Ralph and Shirley Howell of Herrin 8 10
Cara recine
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618.549.6400 | 201 E. MAIN ST. • DOWNTOWN CARBONDALE 61 22 Life & Style : Winter 2012
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Annual Appreciation Party
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Every year in early October, Dr. Fred Gustave, an oral surgeon with offices in Carbondale and Marion, hosts an appreciation party for Southern Illinois dentists. Organized by his staff, this year’s Oct. 11. party was the biggest yet and took place at Legends restaurant at Walker’s Bluff in Carterville.
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1. Dr. Fred Gustave of Carbondale; Dr. Dan Rangitsch, Dr. Andrew White and Dr. Alaba Adelakun of Shawnee Dental Center in Murphysboro
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2. Tara Tasky of Mulkeytown, Sherry Jenkins of Carterville, Molly Pierson of Vergennes 3. Vicki and Dr. Chris Hughes of Herrin 4. Jennifer Meyer, Heide Schiff, Dr. Dianna Gualtney, Samantha Christopher and Allison Grunloh, all of Carbondale
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6. Jan and Dr. Bill Todd of Marion 7. Dr. Rusty Klein and Becky Klein, SIU Student Health Center, Carbondale Leigh Bedokis Photography
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5. Cindy Cline and Dr. Geoff Partlow of Carbondale
8. Carson, Nikki and Dr. Doug Teel; Cathy Rakers and Amanda Wilson; all of Du Quoin 9. Erin Pinkston of Hurst, Connie Mueller of Murphysboro, Dusty Finley of Marion
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Life & Style : Winter 2012 25
Le as ed Le as ed
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A Big ce: Winter Image 26 Offi Life & Style 2012 Without the Big Start Up Price Office suites $700
don’t miss this Holiday House at Magnolia Manor When: 1-4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 23-Dec. 2 (daily) Where: Magnolia Manor, 2700 Washington Ave., Cairo Cost: $10 What else: Luncheon and tour, $22 When: 11:30 a.m. Monday-Friday, Nov. 26-30 Info: 618-734-0201, www.magnoliamanorcairo.org The historic mansion is specially decorated for the holidays in the period of its 1800s heydays; unique decorations will be for sale to help maintain the mansion, as well as proceeds from the luncheons and tours.
Christmas in the Village When: Saturday, Dec. 1 Where: Downtown Cobden Info: 618-833-9928 Enjoy fresh-roasted nuts while listening to strolling Victorian carolers and madrigal players, take an old-fashioned horse-drawn surrey or wagon ride around the village, and visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Feed Store, where handcrafted wreaths and gingerbread houses will be on display. Businesses will be hosting open houses and bazaars throughout the town.
Buon Natale! The Holidays from Italy When: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 4
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Where: Shryock Auditorium, SIU Carbondale Tickets: Adults $12, Students $6 Info: 618-453-6000 Celebrate the season with the SIUC Choral Union, Concert Choir and Southern Illinois Symphony Orchestra in performances featuring Gabrieli’s Hodie Christus Natus Est, the Kyrie and Gloria from Puccini’s Messa di Gloria, and a selection of Italian holiday favorites, this concert is certain to get you into the holiday spirit.
Celebrate the new year at Cedarhurst When: 3 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 29 Where: Cedarhurst Center for the Arts, 2600 Richview Road, Mount Vernon Info: 618-242-1236 Happy New Year! The entire family can be involved in this special celebration welcoming 2013; activities and programs complementing museum exhibitions and the holidays will be offered at Shrode Art Center.
For more information on these events and activities across Southern Illinois, go to www.LifeandStyleSI.com
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Christmas Parade and Walk in Mount Vernon What: Christmas Parade Where: Downtown When: 1-5 p.m. walk, 2:30 p.m. parade, Sunday, Nov. 25 Info: 618-244-6868 This year’s theme is Christmas Parade — 1950s style, and you’re sure to be transported back to a simpler time of bubble lights and Sno-Flock.
Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Ballet When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15 and 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 16 Where: Shryock Auditorium, SIU Carbondale Tickets: Adults $12, Students $6 Info: 618-453-6000 The Southern Illinois Symphony Orchestra presents Tchaikovsky’s holiday classic, along with the Southern Illinois Music Festival Dance Company and several professional principal dancers from major ballet companies. Both performances of this production two years ago were sold out, so order your tickets early!
A Miracle on 34th Street When: 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 17 Where: The Carson Center, 100 Kentucky Ave., Paducah Tickets: $15, plus purchasing fees Info: 270-450-4444 See Santa take the stand in defense of Christmas! With a script and score by Meredith Wilson (Music Man and The Unsinkable Molly Brown), this traditional holiday story is brought to life by the nationally touring company. When Kris Kringle brings about a season of goodwill at Macy’s Department Store in New York City, he finds himself the subject of scrutiny and on trial for claiming to be the real Santa Claus. Under oath, can Kris convince the judge and a skeptical 6-year-old Susan that magic is in the air this holiday season?
Coming in January Hospice of Southern Illinois’ Red Carpet Gala When: 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26 Where: The Pavilion of Marion, 1602 Sioux Drive, Marion Tickets: 62.50 individuals, $500 table of 8, $750 table of 12 Info: 618-997-3030, jvinyard@ hospice.org This annual extravaganza benefits the work of Hospice of Southern Illinois. The group invites you to step back in time to the Roaring ’20s. The Red Carpet walk begins at 5 p.m., accompanied by a pre-show performance by the Marion Junior High School Jazz Band. A full, sit-down dinner catered by Great Boars of Fire will begin at 6 p.m. The show — featuring singing, dancing and comedy routines by regional celebrities — begins at 7. You’ll see politicians, CEOs, doctors and more giving their all! Back by popular demand is the after-party, which features a live DJ show, dancing, and live and silent auctions.
Life & Style : Winter 2012 27
my favorite things
Aaron Eisenhauer
Corene McDaniel
28 Life & Style : Winter 2012
Corene McDaniel was elected to Carbondale City Council in 2001 and has served ever since. She has served as Mayor pro Tem for 11 years and was instrumental in expanding the council from five to seven members in 2002, increasing the diversity and representation. She has been active in the community and was the driving force behind Carbondale’s African American Museum of Southern Illinois. In 1997, Corene founded Southern Illinois Achievers, a group of residents and university faculty dedicated to promoting the history of African Americans, which began work to bring the African American Museum to life. This busy woman is also city council representative to the Planning Commission, is a volunteer for American Red Cross, Memorial Hospital of Carbondale and Thomas School, and is a life member of the Girl Scouts of the USA and the NAACP. She is the recipient of many community awards, including the Studs Terkel Community Leadership Award. Corene was born and raised near Cairo, Ill., with seven sisters and two brothers. She attended John A. Logan College and SIU Carbondale, was a longtime business owner and has been a member of the Carbondale community for over 45 years. She is married to Milton McDaniel Sr. They have two children and three grandchildren. Here are some of her favorite things about the holidays:
Tradition: Cooking dinner on Christmas Eve and sharing it with my family on Christmas Day Outdoor decoration: Mr. and Mrs. Santa with candles
Christmas character: Santa Claus Food: A traditional family meal turnip greens, cornbread, fried corn, okra, turkey and dressing, ham, black-eyed peas, chitterlings, candied sweet potatoes, Wardolf salad, cranberry sauce, green beans and mashed potatoes Activity: Decorating the Christmas tree, playing Scrabble and watching “Law and Order,” “Matlock” and Lifetime movies throughout the day. Song: “O, Holy Night” Present you’ve received: My first grandchild, born Dec. 27. She was truly a gift beyond all material gifts. Cookie: Oatmeal Raisin
Memory: My dad loading us up in his beat-up truck to take us to Horseshoe Lake to hunt for pecans. What a time! We picked up pecans by the Croker sack full, very meaty and large. We had to shell the pecans for the cakes, cookies and pies. Mom didn’t care about us eating as many pecans as we put in the bowl. After all, at Christmas, we could get away with almost anything. Tree – fake or real? We traded in the traditional live tree for an artificial one, for the safety of all. The grandchildren have the greatest time decorating it! Favorite way to wind down the day after Christmas: When our children were old enough to drive, we gave them enough money to take advantage of the day-after and the day-after the day-after Christmas sales so the house was peaceful and quiet! That has now become their own tradition, and my husband and I enjoy time with one another. Way to celebrate New Year: Spending New Year’s Eve in church and eating our traditional beans and ham with a side of cabbage New Year’s Day. My family was brought up believing that these foods would provide good health and prosperity in the New Year.
BRING THE INDOORS, OUTDOORS THIS WINTER
Christmas thoughts: Christmas is about celebrating the birth of Christ, the love of family and the fostering of peace and goodwill. My memories of the holiday are warm and plentiful. It is my prayer that the holiday memories being built by my family and friends today will be the same.
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Life & Style : Winter 2012 29
gifting
Gifting Locally story by Rana Daunis For many of us, Christmas shopping requires many trips to the mall and other mass retailers. Consider this alternative: Shopping at locally owned, small businesses. In Southern Illinois there are plenty of businesses owned by your friends, family and neighbors. Not only do you support the local economy, you are sure to delight your loved ones with your thoughtful, unique gift. Here are some of our favorite options for local holiday shopping. (P.S. We won’t tell if you go shopping for yourself instead!)
two to get to These two upcoming shows are always a favorite with shoppers. You won’t want to miss the unique items found here. Southern Glass Works Annual Holiday Sale at ‘The Glass House’ 1002 W. Whitney St., Carbondale 4-7 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 28 and 29
Southern Clay Works Presents the Annual Holiday Pottery Sale Pulliam Hall Industrial Wing Room 102 Ceramics Studio 4-9 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 28 and noon-5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 29
Unique Jewelry by Allan Stuck Description: Inspired by a lifetime love of paleontology and geology, Allan Stuck’s creations are a breathtaking combination of natural materials that will leave you breathless. Not limiting himself to silver and gold, Stuck often uses stones and gems from Afganistan to Australia, and, of course, many from the United States. There are even pieces available made out of fossilized dinosaur bones and boar tusks. His sword necklaces are perhaps his most famous work. So famous, in fact, that his patrons include Lindsay Lohan and Angelina Jolie. Miley Cyrus was recently spotted wearing a sword necklace that she purchased at Roseark, in West Hollywood, where many of Stuck’s pieces are sold on a regular basis. If the high prices seem intimidating at first, keep in mind that most of these pieces take years to complete, and, from an investment perspective, they will last generations sure to become a family heirloom. Cost: prices vary Where: Allan Stuck Studio Near the Boardwalk, Makanda Open by appointment; call 618-529-2341
30 Life & Style : Winter 2012
Embellished Stemware by Sharon Kippenbrock of Beadzilla Description: For many Main Street mavens, Dayshift has been a go-to gift shop in Carbondale. If you aren’t familiar with the store, you will be amazed at the variety of delights for women, men and children. Shopping here is a local double-whammy: Both Dayshift and artisans profit from each and every purchase. Here you can find clothing, jewelry, accessories, hats, purses and bags, ceramics (both functional and decorative), glassware, leather goods, child and infant clothing (including some adorable tutus), body care and soap, candles, decor, artwork, products for pets, holiday items and even more. Keep an eye out for their seasonal events, including Ornament Day which features handmade ornaments by local artists. Cost: prices vary Where: Dayshift Handmade Boutique 101 W. Monroe St., Carbondale 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday
Vera Bradley Grand Traveler, Ditty Bag and Hanging Organizer Description: Luxury lovers, rejoice! Tickled Pink has a great selection of Vera Bradley items, including luggage, purses, backpacks, stationary and jewelry. New jewelry additions include Pandora, Brighton and Treska. Other great gifts (and wish-list items for yourself) include Frank Lyman’s clothing line, Tyler candles and wine accessories. Pick up a greeting card and ask for their free gift wrapping. Voilå! Shopping made simple. Cost: $120, $28, and $48 Where: Tickled Pink Boutique and Gift 1821 W. Main St., Murdale Shopping Center, Carbondale 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday
Blessing Mother Mary Pendant Necklace with pearls, moonstones, and Swarovski crystals Description: This unique shop features jewelry and artwork from local and worldwide artisans, organic clothing, decor, wind chimes, candles, books, herbal teas, and giftable food items. Also available are Fuzzy Friends slippers, a cute gift for both kids and adults. Shopping online (atimetoharvest.com) is a great way to browse before you go, as well as shopping for gifts in Illinois without having to leave home. Cost: available online and in-store, $155 Where: A Time to Harvest 13525 Hwy 45 Ozark 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursday-Saturday
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32 Life & Style : Winter 2012
self
Give yourself the gift
a day at the spa
Aaron Eisenhauer
of
Freelancer and busy mom Poornima Jayaraman gets the opportunity to relax and recuperate – and be pampered – at the Green Door Spa in Mount Vernon.
story by Poornima Jayaraman “How would you like to experience a day of beauty and write about it?” asked my editor, Cara Recine, recently. A whole day at a luxury spa, where skilled estheticians pamper and rejuvenate with a facial, massage, body scrub, pedicure, manicure and a hairstyling session? I had to restrain myself from letting out a whoop of joy and planting a kiss on her cheek. I couldn’t wait to start — to sample the goods, so to speak — and tell you, my readers, about the experience. So, I found myself at Green Door Spa in Mount Vernon at 10 on a rainy Wednesday morning. Currently Southern Illinois’ only luxury day spa offering a variety of massage therapies, manicures and pedicures, skin care therapies, signature facials, specialty body treatments and special spa packages, Green Door Spa also offers a medically directed weightloss center, laser treatments, Latisse and facial fillers such as Botox, Juvederm XC, Radiesse and Restylane. Green Door Spa’s slogan says it all: Give us an hour; we will give you back your mind. I sure would like my mind back, I thought. With a 3-year-old running around my house, I’ve been feeling pretty exhausted and stressed out of late, juggling a bunch of responsibilities.
This working mom discovers the beauty of being pampered and rejuvenated at Green Door Spa
As I walked into the facility, the first thing that struck me was how friendly and welcoming everyone was, and the second, how clean the surroundings were. Business first. I had to fill out a few forms outlining my skin care goals (for the facial), where I had any muscular aches and pains (for the massage) and if I had had any previous surgeries. Then, I got to pick what I wanted for lunch from a delicious-sounding menu from the 9th Street Grill. “Enjoy your mom’s day out!” said Vel Green, director of Green Door Spa, as she escorted me to my locker in the same area as a steam room, showers and restrooms. “Our steam room is complimentary with any service and can be used inbetween, before or after therapies,” she said. I changed out of my street clothes and got into a luxurious spa robe and slippers. “Ready for your custom deep pore facial?” asked medical esthetician and certified laser technician Randa Basden. You bet I was! As I lay on the spa table, Randa kept up a cheerful, informative banter about the state of my skin, while she designed a signature custom facial based on my skin type (dry) and needs described (lack of hydration). She first performed a deep cleanse and looked at my skin through a magnifying loupe. Discovering a lot of congestion in my T-Zone (forehead, nose and chin), she decided an enzyme peel would be best to help loosen the pores. Randa declared it a success when extraction of the milia (tiny
white bumps which occur when dead skin becomes trapped in small pockets at the surface of the skin) was easy, following the peel. Then, it was time for a collagen mask, which helped to hydrate my skin. Because I was curious about dermaplaning, a safe and painless procedure (with no downtime) for exfoliating the epidermis, stimulating new skin development and ridding the skin of fine vellus hair (peach fuzz), Randa gave me a sampling of it. She held a scalpel, with a No. 10 blade at a 45-degree angle, and started abrading the surface of my facial skin with precise, gentle movements in the opposite direction of hair growth. The end result: a more refined, smooth, glowing appearance. I was escorted to the Relaxation Room next door, where I waited for cosmetologist Lindsay Ann Cecilia Helpingstine. “You are going to love the Body Salt Glow experience,” Lindsay said as she took me to a room with a special Vichy bed (with drainage) and a Vichy shower system on top. Any awkwardness I felt about disrobing, and getting into disposable underwear and a modesty towel for the upper body, was quickly dispelled by Lindsay’s great attitude. I received a whole body exfoliation with a special blend of natural sea salts and essential oils. This was followed by a shower, which involved me doing nothing more than continuing to lie on the bed, while a metal arm with a bunch
Life & Style : Winter 2012 33
self
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of shower heads sprayed large quantities of warm water on my back for about five minutes. The rainwater-like shower experience was strangely calming and left me feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. A bonus? I had super soft, shiny, glowy skin afterward. By this time, it was past noon and time for lunch. Vel escorted me to a small and charming room with floor-toceiling windows overlooking a lovely patch of green. On the dining table lay a vase with a dozen freshly cut roses, my lunch that I had chosen earlier in the day â&#x20AC;&#x201D; thick slices of mozzarella cheese, fresh tomatoes and basil in a pita wrap, fresh cut fruit, a slice of cheesecake and a glass of white wine. As a mother to a preschooler, I cannot honestly remember the last time I sat down to a nicely laid out meal all on my own. It was wonderful. It felt special, and I enjoyed the solitude, the meal itself and the great view.
34 Life & Style : Winter 2012
Supplies are laid out for a pedicure. Above: Ellen Silverman receives a pedicure from Lindsay Helpingstine at the Green Door Spa in Mount Vernon.
p i s
NO MORE EXCUSES
([SHULHQFHĂ&#x152; &URVV)LW The second week of November, 2010,1 did my first CrossFit workout. It was hard, but I loved it and it was over in 10 minutes 37 seconds. I was very encouraged when on workout #12,1 repeated the same workout to check improvement - my time was 7 minutes 5 seconds! I was hooked. I continue to be wowed by the things I am able to accomplish. This is by far the best, most fun exercise I have ever done! It is never boring or monotonous, and the camaraderie and encouragement I have received has been another great reason to keep coming back for more. After nine months, I have lost 15 pounds and 20 inches! I am seeing the kind of changes in my body both physically and mentally that years of doing other exercises had never accomplished. Despite having a knee injury, I am still able to perform. My knee has actually gotten stronger. I love doing CrossFit and canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wait to see what I accomplish in the next 9 months! - Amy P. Carterville, IL
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self Left: Robes hang in one of the changing areas.
Aaron Eisenhauer
A veil hangs over the Hydratone Bath.
Next, it was time for a hot stone massage with massage therapist Susan Simmons. Now, I consider myself a connoisseur of sorts when it comes to massages. Over the years, I have had a variety of massage treatments ranging from ayurvedic massage in India to Thai Massage in Thailand to Deep Tissue, Swedish, and prenatal and post natal massages in the United States. To be honest, the hot stone massage was pleasantly relaxing. Susan provided a healing experience by placing several water-heated stones at key points on my body. She also incorporated the hot stones into a customized massage. I felt my neck, shoulders and back (chronic problem areas for me) go into deep muscle relaxation as the direct, soothing heat of the smooth, flat, organic stones released hard tension knots. The massage ended with the placement of ice-cold stones on my eyelids, especially effective for relieving migraines and sinus pressure. I walked out feeling terrific. Next, I was given a signature spa manicure by cosmetologist Leamber Brody and a spa pedicure by Lindsay, where my hands and feet were dipped in
36 Life & Style : Winter 2012
warm paraffin wax to soften the skin and lock in hydration. I got to sit in a massage chair and soak my feet in a tub filled with cranberryflavored water. My feet were exfoliated with a blend of sea salts and essential oils and gently massaged with organic, hot stones. In next to no time, my nails were shaped, excess cuticles trimmed, hot pink nail paint with a hint of shimmer applied, and I was ready for my final appointment. Enter the flamboyant, gregarious and talented Richard Cox, director of education at Green Door Spa. At the most basic level, he washed, dried and styled my hair with élan. On another level altogether, he gave me a professional style consultation and advice on the kinds of hairstyles suitable for me, based on my facial structure, body shape and lifestyle. “Here’s my rule. The larger the body, the more the hair,” he said. “The smaller the body, the less the hair. That’s what is most flattering.” Declaring my face round shaped, Richard said the worst thing to be done
was a full set of bangs because then I would be left with only a small square for a face. “So what I can do, instead, is take your hair to more of a side part and bring it over, so I give you more room. And, then to lift your cheekbones a bit more, I’d put a bit of height in the crown area,” he said. “If I were to color your hair, I would use lighter pieces on top to make it look higher. I would darken the pieces near your face to make it appear to hang flatter and hang close. I customize color for facial shape.” Listening to him speak and watching him style my hair was educational and fun. He left me with this advice. “Make it easy. Keep it simple. With a good cut and color, you don’t even need a blow dryer. We have enough products in the market today to make your hair look great!” And, with that I was done, just like that! Seven hours of pampering, beautifying and relaxing over in a flash. I’d just had a mini vacation from the world.
Life & Style : Winter 2012 37
wine
Perfect Party Pair
Wine and cheese parties aren’t anything new, but you can bring them closer to home with regional selections
story by Cara Recine Wine and cheese: It’s a pairing as old as history. As a matter of fact, both were everyday foods before people even began to formally record history. So, when you see movies depicting Roman emperor Julius Caesar entertaining family and guests more than 2,000 years ago, lounging before a table spread
with wine, cheese, fruit and bread, it’s actually pretty accurate. Your wine and cheese party doesn’t have to be as elaborate as this ancient Roman ruler’s were. You don’t even have to don togas — unless you want to. Keep it simple, even when it comes to pairing the “right” wine with the “right” cheese. What you like is the most important rule to follow. Experimenting with the coupling is a big part of the fun. Conformity to rules isn’t invited to the party. But, as with all wine and food pairings, a little bit of background helps. The main concept behind pairings is that certain elements (such as texture and flavor) in both food and wine react differently to each other, and finding a good combination of these elements can make the tasting more interesting and enjoyable. And will you really mind drinking some great wines and eating gourmet cheese to discover what you like? Didn’t think so. What you’re looking for is balance. You don’t want the wine to overpower the cheese, and you don’t want the cheese to overpower the wine. The pairing should ideally bring out the best in each other, even bringing out a flavor in each that you might not have noticed otherwise.
Reds and whites
Just like pairing with any other food, lighter wines tend to go better with lighter cheeses, and heavier wines tend to go with heavier cheeses. Red wines are higher in tannins (the stuff that makes your mouth pucker!), so they’re pretty
38 Life & Style : Winter 2012
powerful. A regional Cabernet Franc or a Norton can handle a cheese that’s just as robust and flavorful as they are. In general, their best partners are hard cheeses that are heavier and higher in fat content, a Cheddar, Parmesan or Pecorino, for instance. White wines are higher in acidity, which has a similar effect in terms of cleansing the palate. They tend to be a little more delicate and go nicely with more delicate, creamy cheeses, such as Brie or Gruyere. Try a regional Seyval or a traditional Sauvignon Blanc.
Don’t forget fruit wines
If you visit Pomona Winery in Pomona and listen to co-owner and vintner George Majka talk about pairing his wine with cheese, you’ll want to host a party just to try the combinations he recommends. “We have the perfect wine to match up with cheese,” he said. “Our Jonathan Oak Aged Reserve.” That particular wine, made from Jonathan apples and aged in medium toasted French white oak barrels, won the Governor’s Cup for best Illinois non-grape wine at the 2012 State Fair in Springfield earlier this year. “It’s on the dry side and can be compared to an oaky Chardonnay,” he said. “It’s lighter, with very earthy characteristics. It pairs beautifully with Brie, Gruyere, Swiss, but especially the Brie.” But Majka’s next suggestion might inspire your party, too. “We like to make a fondue,” he said. “Sautéed mushrooms, sautéed onions, Brie and Jonathan Oak Aged Reserve. Serve it with crusty French bread. Delicious.”
Sweet and salty
Mixing salty and sweet is nothing new. If you like a PayDay candy bar, you know it’s true, proof that contrasting flavors can be complementary.
Preparing a wine and cheese party Purchase your preferred wines. This is a great opportunity to try regional wines. It’s easy to visit a few wineries, talk to the vintners and then choose what you and your guests might like. Choose wines that pair well with a variety of cheeses. For instance, regional Chardonels (white), Chambourcins (red), sparkling wines and fruit wines all go well with Brie and Gruyere. Have guests try each of these wines with a Brie; have fun discovering how the cheese tastes with each of these wines. Choose your cheeses. Use the list at right and decide on the cheeses you need to complement the wines you’ve chosen. Your local deli would be a good place to start. Ask for recommendations. If you can, splurge on gourmet cheeses and/or imported cheeses. Choose accompaniments. Fruit trays would be excellent with this spread. And don’t forget crackers, crostini or crusty breads. Make place cards. Create cards to identify each cheese, and create a card to display with each wine, suggesting the cheeses to try with them. For instance, with a Cabernet Franc, the card will read “Try with Camembert, Cheddar and Fontina.” For a Vignoles, the card will read “Try with Edam, Gouda or Muenster.” Prepare to serve. Serve white wine at about 45°F, red wine at 60°F. Remove the cheese from the refrigerator 30 to 60 minutes before serving. — Cara Recine; Additional source: Wine Enthusiast magazine
A sweet wine can take the edge off the salty strength of a cheese like Roquefort. And the salty flavor of blue cheese and some washed rind cheeses balance out the sweetness of ports and dessert wines. “We like to recommend our ports with a heavy, salty blue cheese,” said Corey Peters, tasting manager at Alto Vineyards and Winery in Alto Pass. “It’s a great combination.” Try Alto’s award-winning Heartland Port with Stilton cheese, one of the winery’s recommendations. “We did a tasting earlier this year that was very successful and popular,” Peters said. “We offered a blue cheese dip with our ports.”
Rich and creamy with bubbles
Pairing Champagne or any sparkling wine with a rich, creamy cheese is one of life’s great — and decadent — culinary pleasures. And you can keep it local by trying a couple of sparkling wines produced at Pheasant Hollow Winery in Whittington. “Cream cheese is a great cheese to have with either of
our sparkling wines,” said Bob Travelstead, sales manager at the winery, which produces Muscat Canelli, a sparkling, semi-sweet wine, and Sparkling Cranberry, a popular mix of sweet and tart. “The Sparkling Cranberry can also stand up against a garlicy or spicy cheese dip,” Travelstead said. “It’s a great wine to serve with a cheese ball, too. The Muscat is terrific with soft, buttery, creamy cheeses with Brie or Gruyere.” If you like the salty and sweet combo, don’t be afraid to try bubblies with a nice Parmesan, Travelstead said. “I prefer the creamy cheese, but combining with something like a Parmesan is nice, too. — Additional sources: about.com, presidentcheese.com, Wine Enthusiast magazine, Food and Wine magazine
CARA RECINE is editor of Life & Style in Southern Illinois and features and special projects editor at The Southern Illinoisan. Email her at cara.recine@ thesouthern.com.
Consider these pairings Here are some suggestions for pairing wine and cheese. In parentheses are the local varieties; some of the traditional varietals are grown and produced in Southern Illinois. Beaujolais Brie, Camembert Cabernet Franc Blue, Camembert, Cheddar, Fontina, goat cheese, Gorgonzola, Swiss Cabernet Sauvignon (Norton) Blue cheese, Camembert, Cheddar, Colby, Gorgonzola, Gouda, Parmesan, Roquefort Chardonnay (Chardonel) Brie, Camembert, goat cheese, Gouda, Gruyere, Provolone Champagne/Sparkling Wines Brie, Camembert, Chevre, Colby, cream cheese, Edam, Gouda, Gruyere Chenin Blanc (Seyval) Camembert, goat cheese Chianti (Chambourcin, young) Fontina, Mozarella, Parmesan or Provolone Dessert Wines Crème Fraiche, Marscopone, or shake it up with a salty/sweet combo and consider a crumble or two of blue cheese Fruit Wines Brie, Gruyere, Swiss Gewurztraminer (Traminette) Boursin, Camembert, Chevre, Muenster, Swiss Merlot (Chambourcin) Brie, Camembert, Cheddar, Edam, Gorgonzola, Gouda, Gruyere, Jarlsberg, Parmesan Pinot Grigio (Vignoles) Asiago, Edam, goat cheese, Gouda, Mozzarella, Muenster Pinot Noir (Cabernet Franc) Brie, Camembert, Feta, Gruyere, Monterey Jack, Muenster, Swiss Ports Gorgonzola, Stilton Riesling Brie, Edam, Gouda, Monterey Jack Sauvignon Blanc (Seyval) Asiago, Brie, Feta, goat cheese, Gruyere, Neufchatel, Parmesan Zinfandel (Chambourcin) Asiago, Blue, Feta, goat cheese, Gouda, Gruyere, Muenster — Regional vintners, about.com
Life & Style : Winter 2012 39
cover
Have yourself a merry
Christmas Traditions, old and new, abound in the homes of Southern Illinois
hat is more inviting than a festive holiday table setting for the Christmas season? Nothing gives guests a warmer welcome, except for maybe the delicious smell of good food wafting from the kitchen. Beverly Smith, owner of Aunt B’s Bed and Breakfast (auntbsbandb@egyptian. net), feels her large dining room table for 12 is the focal point of her hospitality. So is her delicious down-home cooking, but that’s another story all in itself. Her antique reproduction dining table is decorated for every season and is often overflowing with family and friends. Christmas is her favorite time, when the replica 1800s log home comes to life in the Shawnee National Forest outside Ava. Beverly retired from her career as a rural mail carrier three years ago to pursue the creation of Aunt B’s Bed and Breakfast, among other things. She and her husband, Dr. Robert Smith, love to check out antique shops where she searches for Ruby Red Depression glass to adorn her home. That’s how she found the antique punch bowl and a beautiful lamp that adds grace to her themed dining room table of poinsettias, cardinals and ivy. Red is her favorite color, and this is evident throughout her home. It helps create a warm atmosphere full of elegance and oldfashioned charm. What makes her holiday table so special? “Details, details, details!” she exclaims. Beverly admits to being a little obsessive about her displays. For instance, each place
40 Life & Style : Winter 2012
story by Martha Peebles photography by Aaron Eisenhauer
Christmas decorations are pictured at Aunt B.’s Bed and Breakfast in Ava.
Places are set on Sharon Jones’ holiday table, which includes a bowl with the image of Santa Claus that makes up part of the centerpiece.
setting includes an antique ruby red salt cellar that she uses for individual pats of butter. Everyone also gets a place tag that her teenage granddaughters, Samantha and Emma, created many years ago when they were youngsters. Even though the bed and breakfast is not officially open, she welcomes her family and friends throughout the year. “It’s good practice,” Beverly says. In early October, her bedrooms are filled with guests as she hosts her annual two days of apple butter cooking, which results in delicious apple butter samples on homemade bread, followed by pumpkin decorating and a guitar sing-along hayride. Likewise, Sharon Jones of Murphysboro loves to create a beautiful tablescape in her vintage, Ethan Allen dining room. Along with her husband,
Mike, who is director of General John A. Logan Museum, she loves to entertain at Christmas with family and friends. Each year on Dec. 23, Mike fires up the grill, and they treat their guests to a traditional Eve of Christmas Eve dinner of filet mignon from Arnold’s Market in Carbondale. On Christmas Day, dinner can be anything from Creole to Italian, but it is never the same from year to year. Her secret to a beautiful holiday table? Sharon admits she had some help from a friend who is an interior designer, but the chair cover decorations were her own creation, and she adds something new and different to her holiday décor every Christmas. Sharon and Mike laugh about their decision to stop using live Christmas trees. It seems many years ago, they cut
down a large 10-foot evergreen they spotted on their land. As Sharon was decorating, the tree started to fall. “I held it up for at least 15 minutes while one of the kids called Mike home,” she recalls. His solution? He nailed it to the floor. History and tradition are important to the Joneses. Stained-glass windows from the old Sallie Logan Library grace their family dining room, and, nestled beneath the windows, a woodsy St. Nicholas stands watch over the festivities. Even though the Jones children are grown, Sharon, a retired teacher, continues the tradition of reading “The Night Before Christmas” and “The Polar Express” on Christmas Eve. Best of all, everyone gets a stocking, even Sugar, their pet chocolate Lab.
Life & Style : Winter 2012 41
42 Life & Style : Winter 2012
cover A whimsical Christmas village
Speechless is the only word to describe how it feels to be viewing the magnificent Christmas village on display in the Chester home of Pam and Kenneth “Yogi” Schultz. Yogi’s nickname was given to him because he loved to watch Yogi Bear cartoons as a child, and you could say that he hasn’t lost his childhood spirit and excitement for Christmas. He built on an extra room in his home especially for his village collection. His city room, as he refers to it, overlooks the street below. As their village comes to life for the season, so does the passing traffic. Pam and Yogi delight in people who drive by each year to view their village from the windows lining their city room walls. Their village was listed on the Chester Christmas Home Tour a few years ago. While Pam joined Yogi in his hobby after they were married in 2001, he actually started the collection in 1986 with only three pieces given to him by his mother, Barbara Draves. The village, most of which is Hallmark Department 56 series, started out in their computer room but has continued to expand. Four years ago, Yogi, a heavy equipment operator, decided it needed its own permanent space; thus, the city room was created. At present, there are 196 structures on display. Pam says they are now being selective about what they add each year and purchase only very unique selections to their already busy village. In addition to the usual homes, churches and community buildings, this miniature city is a true metropolitan paradise featuring many well-known franchises, such as McDonald’s, Lowe’s and Wal-Mart, as well as several auto dealerships. There are even sections of the city dedicated to Harley-Davidson, Dale Earnhardt and Coca-Cola. There’s plenty of recreation for the little city folk, too, including a drive-in movie theater, football stadium, airport, train, moving ice skating rink and an ice palace. Best of all, Elvis fans can delight in the miniature Graceland. The real thrill of such a magical place is that it makes most people feel like children again, wishing to shrink down to scale size and become a part of this perfect little city. When asked where he would place himself, Yogi smiles and says without hesitation, “If I were a kid, I would be riding rides at the carnival.” The working
A christmas village scene stretches across tables in the spare room at the home of Kenneth and Pam Schultz in Chester. Right: A figure of Santa on a motorcycle sits in a Harley-Davidson-themed section of the Christmas village at the Schultz home.
carnival, complete with a Ferris wheel, Scrambler, Tea Cup ride and even a hot-air balloon, is his favorite place. Pam, a cosmetologist who runs her own hair, nails and tanning business on site, would put herself in a cabin on the peaceful Christmas mountain that Yogi carved out of a large piece of Styrofoam.
What inspires Yogi and Pam to create and maintain an eternal Christmas? It’s evident they delight in the joy their village gives to others. Watching the faces of children and adults as they view the display for the first time, Pam says, “They are amazed!” And, that’s when they remember it is definitely worth the effort.
Life & Style : Winter 2012 43
cover Christmas trees and Santa Claus
In Gay and Allen Bachmann’s beautifully decorated Murphysboro home, no room goes without a Christmas tree, and no one leaves without being filled with holiday spirit. Gay’s tree decorations are unique to each room and absolutely exquisite. For instance, in her dining room, her theme is fruit and china tea cups. Many of the ornaments adorning the tree were gifts purchased by her brother, who lives in Los Angeles. Her youngest daughter, Karlee, has a vibrant room with a colorful tree in pink and purple hues that includes ornaments unique to Karlee herself. Each year, Gay carries on the tradition of giving her three daughters two Christmas tree ornaments that correspond to the girl’s interests. A Murphysboro High School student and talented musician, Karlee plays many instruments including the piano, keyboard and guitar. She’s also an Audrey Hepburn fan and owns a replica of the tiara the star wore in the movie, “Roman Holiday.” This was the inspiration for the tiara tree in Karlee’s bathroom. Adjacent to Karlee’s room is the guest room, where the Bachmanns’ niece, Ella, often sleeps when she is visiting from Milwaukee. This tree is an enchanted display of white doves against a castle-designed wall mural. Any little girl would feel like a princess here. In the living room, Gay decorates her fireplace mantel and displays her most precious sentimental ornaments. Many of the decorations are vintage pieces from the 1940s and 1950s that were given to Gay by her father. Her favorite ornament is a red tambourine, reminiscent of the 1970s TV show “The Partridge Family,” which Gay received from a close friend and fellow childhood “Partridge” fan. The lower-level family room has a sportsman and sportswoman appeal. Gay’s husband and daughters love to fish and hunt whitetail deer on their 40 acres of land near Kinkaid Lake. The tree displayed here has an outdoorsy theme, complete with antlers from past hunts adorning the base.
44 Life & Style : Winter 2012
Gay, who has been decorating for almost 30 years, says her creative skills come naturally. Everyone in her family decorates for every holiday. Her mother, Judy Grissom, was an avid decorator and, at one time, had a Santa Claus collection of more than 500 pieces. A life-sized vintage Santa greets holiday guests each year when they enter the Bachmanns’ foyer. This particular Santa started out in a 1940s Foley’s department store (A Macy company) and was a gift from Gay’s uncle. Gay is proud to know she has passed her flair to make the holidays beautiful and bright on to her three daughters. To her, family gatherings make Christmas magical. Whether it is the pre-Christmas party to make gingerbread houses, the gag gifts for Bingo prizes, the Advent calendar or the suet pudding, her home is always the hub of excitement. Paula and Jerry DuVardo, who reside in a beautiful wooded area of Puxico, near Willisville, have been holiday decorating since they were married 38 years ago. They usually start their Christmas decorating in October. The DuVardos’ home is illuminated with Christmas spirit each year with no less than eight large trees and six or seven small ones, each with its own unique theme. Jerry, who is employed by Knight Hawk Coal, is always happy to assist with the tree decorating. For Paula, a homemaker and part-time decorator/ floral arranger for Garden Gate Florist in Percy, her knack for interior design seems to be instinctive. She especially loves the purple tree she decorates for their daughter Carrie’s room. “Conventional tree skirts just won’t do,” says Paula, who prefers the draping effect of scarves and beautiful material. This year, she used Carrie’s old sequined purple prom dress. Their son, Ryan, is an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan, thus, a Cardinal tree greets guests in the hallway. Complete with Cardinal baseball player ornaments, memorabilia, a baseball hat tree topper and, of course, a Cardinal sweatshirt tree skirt, this is a Red Bird fan paradise. Paula and Jerry have a gift for creativity, as well as entertaining.
A cardinal made from a bell hangs on a sports-themed tree at the home of Paula and Jerry DuVardo in Puxico.
Nothing gives them more joy than celebrating Christmas with family and friends in their great room. “Everyone expects it!” Paula beams. She is often inspired by many of her close friends in the nearby communities, and this year’s elaborate Santa display actually became a group project when many of her friends added to her collection. Deb Rohlfing of rural Ava, has more than 30 exquisite Jim Shore Santas, a few of which she loaned Paula for display in her china cabinet. Kim Parsons, Sandy Goetting and Noni Doerner of nearby Willisville and Sheila Alms, Lari Mulholland and Jo Ann Mevert of Steeleville enjoyed finding just the right place for their favorite Santas in Paula’s décor. These decorations will stay up well into January, when Paula will host an all-girl gettogether party after the Christmas rush is over. Paula’s inspiration for decorating? “The more I decorate, the more I feel like I’m celebrating the birth of Jesus!” Paula exclaims. She likes to keep the true meaning of Christmas in her heart. Jerry says she puts “a lot of joy and a little glitter in all she does.”
Above: Decorations surround the tree at the home of Gay Bachmann. Left: A Tiffany & Co. box and tiara sit beneath a ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ themed tree in Bachmann’s home.
Life & Style : Winter 2012 45
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46 Life & Style : Winter 2012
Life & Style : Winter 2012 47
where we live
‘Giant’ story by Martha Peebles photography by Joel Hawksley
48 Life & Style : Winter 2012
Kirk and Karla Rueter’s home is a strikingly beautiful combination of recreation and relaxation for a real family
The Rueter family â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Halle, 8, Kirk, Karla and Hope, 12, and feline friends â&#x20AC;&#x201C; at home near Nashville, Ill.
Life & Style : Winter 2012 49
where we live t’s a typical Monday evening in the Rueter home, south of Nashville, Ill., Karla is helping the girls — Hope, 12 and Halle, 8 — with their homework in a cozy corner off of the kitchen. Their cats, named Miley and Hannah after Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana, are lazily sleeping on the family room rug. Kirk, full of energy and enthusiasm, greets us at the front door and directs us out to his “shed.” The tall, lanky Kirk, better known as “Woody” to all of his friends, was a former professional baseball player and well-known pitcher for the San Francisco Giants. The shed is called Woody’s Shed, and its appearance is a testament to the fact that Rueter likes things organized, neat and clean. “I’m a neat freak, I also like things balanced and symmetrical,” he says, pointing to all of his sports memorabilia lining the walls. Even though he has an extraordinary collection of celebrity autographed baseballs including Giants fans such as Arnold Palmer, Robin Williams and Billy BobThornton, baseball is not his only passion. He loves basketball and football too, with displays of autographed footballs and countless framed sports jerseys ranging from Michael Jordan to Joe Montana. He is also a devoted Dallas Cowboys fan. Woody’s Shed features an indoor theater specifically for sports viewing, with comfortable leather recliners for all of his buddies. He’s even had their names imprinted on their seats. When the Giants are playing the St. Louis Cardinals, he invites his friends to relax in the shed on their off days. “I was never a big Cardinals fan until Matheny came on board,” Rueter says. Mike Matheny, a former Giant and now the manager for the Cardinals, is one of his close friends. “I even have his golden glove,” Rueter says proudly. He laughs when he tells the story about how Tony LaRussa, the former Cardinal manager, was never happy when the team visited the shed because it seemed after these visits the Giants would always win. Complete with a full kitchen, bar and “his” and “hers” restrooms, it’s the perfect spot for entertaining. Guests can play pool, shuffleboard, video games, listen to the jukebox or just relax. There’s even a game room upstairs for the kids to have fun and lots of room to run. Speaking of fun, Rueter proudly displays the life-size “Woody” bobble-head that
50 Life & Style : Winter 2012
Guests love to visit ‘Woody’s Shed,’ where Kirk entertains baseball legends, former players and friends. Kirk, a former pitcher for the San Francisco Giants, keeps his sports memorabilia there.
was a retirement gift from the Giants. He definitely has a knack for collecting things. In fact, his hobby of collecting sports memorabilia was the reason he built his original shed. “Before we built this house, we lived just down the road,” Rueter says. “That’s where the first shed was located. We started building this house in 2006, and it was finished in 2008.” The Rueters could have chosen any location to build their dream home, but, “This is home,” Kirk says. “Karla and I grew up here, we went to school in Nashville, Ill., our families and friends are here, and it just seemed natural that we came back home. We also wanted to raise our girls in Southern Illinois.” Karla’s father and stepmother, Ron and Linda Gill, live close by, and her father was instrumental in helping design the basement of the home, which is truly a work of heart. Using old barn wood, tin and logs, he gave this living space the feeling of being outdoors, recreating the exterior of barns, log cabins and even a wishing well. Many antique farm implements, which belonged to Gill’s father, are on shelves lining one wall. The basement is Karla’s favorite part of her home.
“My dad has even offered to tear down barns for people just to get the wood,” she says. The basement also features a large work-out room filled with weight machines, treadmills and other exercise equipment. Here, Karla had the walls painted a bright blue. “I love color,” she says. The Rueters stay in great shape with healthy eating and exercise. Karla enjoys playing tennis on their backyard sport court, which also serves as a basketball and volleyball court with only a change of nets. An in-ground swimming pool completes their outdoor recreation area. Adjacent to the work-out room, their daughter Halle has created her own little spa, featuring a massage table and pedicure/manicure service. At 8, Halle has a great imagination and when asked what is her favorite room in the house, she says without hesitation, “The playroom upstairs.” The playroom, nestled into one eave of the house, is a bright and beautiful child’s dream with green chairs, a striped sofa, pink shag rug, colorful floor tiles and a cozy window seat. Hope’s artwork, done while she was a preschooler in San Francisco, decorates one area.
The indoor theater is used mostly for sports viewing and features leather recliner seating.
Life & Style : Winter 2012 51
where we live Halle’s bedroom features a carousel theme; Hope’s room (below) has a Holly Hobby theme. Hope is a big fan of Justin Bieber – a poster of him is on the wall – and she’s attending an upcoming concert in Oakland, Calif., with her family. The couple’s master bedroom (center) is soothing and tranquil, with touches of gold.
Here, the girls can read, do craft projects or “play school,” which is Halle’s favorite pastime. She has apparently taken after her father when it comes to collecting, and she has several American Girl dolls. When Halle’s playroom school is in session, she is the ultimate organized teacher. Each doll has her name on the bulletin board and her own school supplies. Halle’s bedroom is decorated in pink with a carousel theme. One wall is a painted mural of a carousel scene done by the O’Fallon interior design artist Heidie von Weitzer. A beautiful painted pony stands in the corner of the room.
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It was hand-carved and painted in Branson Mo., where Karla purchased it. Hope’s room has a Holly Hobby theme with a von Weitzer wall mural to match. Turquoise and cream give this room a cool and calm feel, while a poster of Justin Bieber adds a little pre-teen excitement. Hope admits to being a Bieber fan. In fact, she and her family plan to attend an upcoming concert in Oakland, Calif., followed by a trip across the bridge to San Francisco. They travel to San Francisco several times a year, where Kirk attends many Giants events,
such as celebrity golf tournaments. They also love to visit Disney World. Hope collects Disney pins and has an awesome collection of erasers. Hope likes sports, too; she plays volleyball for her school.
The upstairs is also home to Karla’s study, under the eave opposite the playroom. It has a feminine flair in mint green, white and pink. Bird and floral designed wallpaper catches the eye, along with the dormer window, which gives Karla a bird’s eye view of Illinois 127. The master bedroom is a soothing and tranquil area, with gold decor and cream carpet. It opens into the master bath. A garden Jacuzzi tub lies beneath a gold, faux-finish ceiling, and two large columns which give the room a Roman feel. A large shower spans the wall behind the tub. Space is abundant in both Kirk and Karla’s walk-in closet/ dressing rooms, which were designed by New Space Closets, a company Joe Buck, St. Louis sports announcer, frequently talks about. Downstairs, the main floor’s marble foyer opens up to the great room. A large chandelier and cathedral ceiling give a grand welcome to all who enter. Just down the hall, the kitchen and family area is an open design. Kitchen cabinets from Herzog Kitchen and Bath, feature a hidden refrigerator and refrigerated drawers. The granite countertop, European style range hood and breakfast bar compliment the cabinetry and provide a perfect space for the family of four to gather. “This is where we live,” Kirk explains. On the family room wall, Karla points out a beautiful, hand-carved, hand-painted mantle she bought from the same couple who created her daughter’s carousel pony. A collection of original paintings by Amy Rice, a mixed-media artist out of Minneapolis, are placed strategically throughout the home. “I like an eclectic mixture of old and new,” Karla says. “Every level of the house is different; there is not just one theme.” In the Rueter home, every room has a television. Kirk says he wouldn’t want to miss anything happening in the world of sports, so there’s even a TV hidden in the bathroom mirrors. But technology doesn’t stop there. The home is heated with several Geo-thermal systems that are buried in the nearby lake. A high-tech lighting system throughout the home makes it a snap to turn off all lights at the same time with one touch.
‘Woody’ From baseball fame and home again Kirk Rueter is better known to his friends as Woody. He got the nickname when he was pitching for the San Francisco Gaints and a sports announcer said, “If you put a cowboy hat on Rueter, he would look just like Woody in the movie ‘Toy Story.’” The name stuck. Kirk decided on a professional baseball career when he was in college. “I was playing college ball at Murray State and studying finance, but I loved sports too much,” he says. His talent and love of the game got him drafted in 1991 at age 23 by the Montreal Expos, and he broke into the majors in 1993. “Montreal would call up younger guys and give them a chance, if they were doing well,” Kirk said. He lost his parents early, his mother in 1994 and his father in 1996, to cancer,
and says he is grateful they got to see him make it to the majors. Kirk says the highlight of his career was the nine seasons he pitched for the Giants, including in the 2002 World Series, He is the winningest left-handed pitcher in Giants history. Officially retiring in 2006, he was known for his ability to “paint the corners” of the strike zone. “I had to rely on control rather than speed,” he admits. When asked if that skill carries over to things like painting the house, he laughs. “It does not carry over at all,” he says. “My wife, Karla does the handy work around here, but I am pretty good at cleaning.” — Martha Peebles
Life & Style : Winter 2012 53
where we live
The home’s kitchen cabinetry hides a refrigerator and refrigerated drawers. Granite countertops complement the cabinetry. It’s a favorite gathering place for the family. A large, formal dining room is nearby.
Changing light bulbs in the great room chandelier is simple too, because a pulley system extends and retracts the fixture at the push of a button. Karla and Kirk worked with Mim Phillips, an interior design coordinator from O’Fallon, to create the home of their dreams. “We had never built a house before so we were really out of our element,” Karla says, who keeps busy doing volunteer work for the girl’s school, keeping up with the girl’s activities and keeping up with the house. The couple do all of their own housekeeping, which is no small task. The home was designed and built by the Stiegman Brothers, local Nashville contractors. The Rueters purchased the property in 1998, which was originally slated to be a subdivision. Kirk found the house design while studying home plans. “I knew that it had to be a symmetrical design,” Kirk says. The symmetry of the house, the pitch and angles of the roof line, the brick and stone, the windows and overall setting, make one beautiful statement, especially when seen at night with all the rooms aglow.
54 Life & Style : Winter 2012
As the Rueters settle in on their sofa for a Christmas card worthy family picture, complete with felines, it’s evident they are close. Watching this family in action, there is no doubt their home was built with love, not only for love of sports but, more importantly, love of family. After the photo, Karla and Hope return to the homework table, Halle plays with her cat, and Kirk? Well, after all, it is Monday night, and the Cowboys are playing the Chicago Bears. Woody makes his way out to the shed, because there’s a seat waiting there with his name on it.
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apps
Happy New Year! Time to get
organized
As people begin to look beyond the holidays, a new year comes into focus. And along with the perennial tossing away one calendar and hanging another comes the age-old tradition of making a New Year’s resolution. While some try to be clever and original, there are a few fallbacks that have become classics through the years. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. Setting goals of fitness, better budgeting money and committing to devoting more time to yourself are all admirable. Another popular choice that comes around Jan. 1 is dedication to getting life better organized. And as they say, there’s an app — or 100 — for that. Here are some popular recommendations: Chomp: This app isn’t exactly an organization tool in itself, but it can help make your search for others easier. Using an algorithm that learns the functions and topics of different apps, you can search for new ones based on what they do rather than what they’re called. Search for “calendar,” “to-do list” or “personal finance” and discover a litany of other apps at your fingertips. eWallet: In an era where almost everything is password protected, this app can simplify the process of remembering these different access codes by storing them all securely in one place. The app encrypts information, ensuring no one else will be able to access it, and a timed lock out system will keep your info safe. You can organize the information as you choose and set security questions to add another layer of protection.
56 Life & Style : Winter 2012
Pageonce: This app helps organize financial matters. It brings together banking info, credit cards, bills and investment accounts in one place. The app will provide real-time updates and alerts for things like due dates, overdrafts and suspicious activity. It also can be used to track other data, such as frequent flyer miles, mobile minutes and text and data usage, which can have an ancillary effect on your monthly finances. reQall: This free app turns your smartphone into the hub of your life. Users can store tasks and ideas using voice or type, and the system will automatically organize information and integrate it with Microsoft Outlook or Google calendars. You can also receive reminders via email or instant message, as well as share them with friends in your contact list. A paid version offers advanced features, such as GPS mapping to organize tasks by location. TeuxDeux: This app organizes a traditional to-do list in a calendar format, but it has more capability than just storing your list. As you complete items you can either mark them off as complete or delete them, and any tasks that were left uncompleted at the end of the day are automatically moved to the next. In addition to Sunday through Saturday, there’s also a “Some Day” category for those projects you just need to get out of your head and onto paper.
l a n o s Sea s r e n Stfour mnen & women Todoist: While the minimal white platform of this app may seem overly simple, it’s the power behind the tool that makes it a great low-key alternative to other comparable programs. The app can hold a nearly infinite task list, whereas others have smaller data limits. Once a project is developed, it can be broken down into sub-project, which can be broken down even farther into sub-tasks. Deadlines can be entered, and color coding can help keep tasks organized. There’s also an overview mode that lets the user take a wider look at the week ahead. Workflowy: A simple to-do list isn’t enough for some people. If you are one of those who take extensive notes on tasks at hand, pilling pages of paper or Post-It pads with details, ideas and project notes, this app will help keep you organized. Users can create different sections and fill them with tasks, sub-tasks and more. Unlike other, more basic programs, this app offers increased functionality, as well as a permanent archive so that nothing will ever be lost. — Adam Testa
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fitness
Now that’s
intense! CrossFit workout wards off boredom and gets big results
story by Les O’Dell Adam Byrne is into thrusters, WOD, burpees, AMRAP and tabata. While it may sound as though he likes exotic drinks or even some cuttingedge musical acts, to the 23-year-old Marion resident and many other fitness buffs, these words mean one thing: CrossFit, a style of working out that is gaining popularity across the nation and Southern Illinois. “To say the least, I am sort of addicted to CrossFit,” Adam says of the program, which he started two months ago. “Every day is a different workout with new complex movements, so every day you are pushing yourself.”
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The exercise program is unlike any other, says Jeff Hickam, owner and head trainer at CrossFit of Marion, where Adam works out. “It’s a totally new style of workout,” Jeff says. “You could sum it up as constantly varied, high intensity, functional movement. It’s short, intense workouts of 10 or 20 minutes. The idea is that you are going as hard as you can.” Rhonda Barrett, co-owner of CrossFit Simple, in Sports Blast in Carbondale, says CrossFit is a strength and conditioning program that is always changing. She says workouts cover 12 different fitness domains — from cardiovascular exercises to weight training.
“None of the workouts is the same, so you don’t get bored, and your body doesn’t get used to a routine of exercise,” she says. Trainers say most CrossFit members exercise three to five times a week, participating in the workout of the day or WOD — a plan of exercises or movements developed by a trainer. Every participant in the gym will do the same WOD during the day. “People like it, because they don’t have to think about their workout plan. We have done that for them,” Rhonda explains. “It’s not like at a typical gym, where you spend your time trying to figure out what to do next or how to use a machine.”
Paul Newton
Adam Byrne of Marion gets his workout in at CrossFit in Marion. The 23-year-old is among many who are embracing the CrossFit style. ‘Every day is a different workout with new, complex movements, so every day you are pushing yourself,’ he says.
CrossFit members gather for classes, scheduled times where each participant goes through the WOD, where they have friendly competitions and encourage one another. “Other people in your class will be doing the same workout, so it can be a little competitive,” Jeff says. “It’s not somewhere that you go and do your own thing. Everyone has the same workout and the same goals. The atmosphere helps each member develop a sense of community and a passion toward their workout. It becomes something that they look forward to.” The workouts, despite being short on time, are long on intensity, with activities ranging from running to weight lifting to
burpees, also known as squat thrusts. In every exercise, the goal is “AMRAP” or as many repetitions as possible. Rhonda says each exercise, such as thrusters — where a person repeats squats with a barbell, moving to a standing position with the weight overhead — is scalable — meaning that an appropriate method is available, no matter what level of fitness a person may bring. “Maybe, instead of 50 shoulder presses using 50 pounds, 100 sit-ups and 200 squats, for example, we’ll have a person who is just starting doing 10-pound shoulder presses and fewer reps of the other exercises,” Rhonda says. The key is always high intensity, meaning participants burn more fat and
make more lean muscle mass in a short amount of time, she says. Some sessions follow a technique called tabata, a series of high-intensity bursts of activity as short as 20 seconds followed by 10 seconds of rest. Participants are measured with benchmark workouts every few months to determine progress. “We generally see huge improvements, maybe even in just a few weeks,” Jeff adds. Adam says he’s a believer in the system. “The two months I’ve been doing CrossFit has blown my mind. I’ve never seen gains this quick, and I’ve been lifting weights a long time. I’ve actually had people comment on how I’ve lost weight, but also gained muscle. I’m hooked on it.”
Life & Style : Winter 2012 59
artist
‘Painting with Paper’
Aaron Eisenhauer
Artist Polly Mitchell has made this traditional artform her own
story by Adam Testa
It might not look like it, but each of these pieces was created by cutting paper. Polly Mitchell does several kinds of ‘papercutting’ art, including the traditional German-style (left) and a winter scene (above).
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When Polly Mitchell accompanied other SIU University Museum patrons to Saint Louis Art Museum many years ago, she didn’t walk away as much in awe as her traveling partners. The group had traveled to the city to view an exhibit of works by Henri Matisse, who began paper cutting as an artform near the end of his life, when surgery to remove cancer from his body left him confined to a wheelchair. Matisse’s works, mainly abstract designs crafted from cutting various colors of paper, left the others captivated, but they simply weren’t for Polly. When she left the museum, she decided she could do something similar — yet very different — herself. “I don’t care for abstract art,” Polly says. “I said, ‘I think I could cut pieces of paper that people could enjoy and recognize immediately.’”
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Mitchell also creates art in the traditional Polish style.
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62 Life & Style : Winter 2012
artist
Aaron Eisenhauer
NORMAN
And, that’s what she’s done for the last four decades. Polly has studied practiced scherenschnitte — German for “paper cuts” — since 1970. She began with the traditional German style of the artform, which involves cutting from only black paper. Using a single sheet, she creates different designs, although her specialty is an elaborate and intricate triple-leveled heart. In 1993, inspired by flooding of the Mississippi River, Polly tried her hand at a different style of paper cutting. In its Polish variation, the artform usually involves vibrant colors, and the designs tell whimsical tales or aspects of high Jewish tradition. When the rains came and caused the river to flood, the skies remained gray and cloudy for several days, creating a drab atmosphere in Southern Illinois. Polly saw a way to brighten it up, at least in her home. “It was very dreary cutting only paper,” she says, which motivated her to expanding her horizons. But, not even the Polish style could contain Polly’s abilities and drive. She continued exploring different means of presenting her works and finally developed a unique style — her own. Polly creates elaborate scenes with stunning detail, and most of the pieces tell a story, whether it’s a true historic event or an imagined scene. The paper cuttings on the walls of Polly’s Carbondale home depict everything from the arrival of the Illinois Central Railroad in Carbondale to the May 8, 2009, derecho.
Aaron Eisenhauer
“I call it painting with paper,” she says. “You have to be able to create images. There are a lot of craftsmen who buy a pattern and cut it. I hope they eventually start making their own.” While Polly occasionally goes back and uses a past pattern she’s already created, most of her works are completely original and freehanded. Through the years, she’s perfected not only the style of her artwork, but also the practice of actually doing it. Polly said she can create a small cutout in as little as four minutes; the more elaborate ones take about six to eight hours. For several years, Polly and her husband, Marion, a crafter who bends cherry and walnut boards to make baskets, have conducted demonstrations of their work at places like Silver Dollar City in Branson, Mo., and Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., and amazed patrons with the quality of their work. The Mitchells dress in period clothing from the mid-18th century to the mid-19th century and transform themselves into characters, sharing stories of the day. They have even been fortunate enough to have Dolly Parton sign one of Marion’s baskets, though a contract they signed prohibits them from selling it, so it sits underneath the couch. Where one Mitchell goes, the other does, too. And, they can go anywhere they desire. “We’re a pair. Neither of us will do a show without the other,” Polly says. “At our age — we’re in our 70s — we don’t really answer to anyone. We just do what we want to.” “We haven’t made a lot of money, but we’ve had a lot of fun,” Marion adds. What the Mitchells want to do is simple. They both want to keep making art. The skills they possess are a rarity, and they worry about the fate of their artforms. “They’re old traditional arts,” Polly says. “If a few young people don’t pick them up, they’re going to disappear.”
Mitchell particularly likes to create scenes that incorporate historic Southern Illinois events or places. The piece at left depicts the derecho that hit the region in May 2009; the piece above recreates a train arriving at the Carbondale depot.
Life & Style : Winter 2012 63
gear
Pack it up Modern briefcases make it easy to stay on the move
story by Rana Daunis Briefcases are a longstanding work essential, but that doesn’t mean yours has to be the same humdrum rectangular box we’ve been seeing for the last century. With the addition of laptops and smartphones into our everyday lives, briefcases get a modern update to accommodate technology and lifestyle. Kenneth Cole New York Flap Portfolio Durango Briefcase Description: This stylish, yet simple, briefcase features a messenger design for business people on-the-go. The removable, adjustable shoulder strap allows for effortless travel. The interior pockets are spacious enough for paperwork, a computer and anything else you might need. Two front exterior pockets are just the right size for your tech gear, and a zippered back pocket is great for anything. All Kenneth Cole New York luggage items come with a limited lifetime warranty. Cost: Macy’s, $350
WWW.ALTOVINEYARDS.NET 64 Life & Style : Winter 2012
Leather Double-Compartment Briefcase Description: This is perhaps the most classic of our featured briefcases, but donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t let the sleek design fool you. This case is incredibly practical and spacious. It includes a detachable shoulder strap and can hold up to a 17-inch tablet or computer. Other attributes include a ticket pocket, supply organizer and multiple, zippered storage areas. Also available in brown. Cost: Target, $112
McKlein USA Willowbrook Detachable Wheeled Briefcase Description: What makes this briefcase great is the detachable wheel unit, which is perfect for airports or the daily commute. The double interior compartments feature an interior organizer to hold all of your office essentials including keys, pens, business cards and media. The Italian leather may look sweet, but it is toughas-nails with the ABS honeycomb impact system to protect your laptop or tablet.To top it all off, this item is available in a variety of colors including black (shown), blue, pink, red, orange, and green. Cost: JCPenney, $220
Life & Style : Winter 2012 65
work spaces Kimball’s classroom is filled with trophies and plaques, marking accomplishments she’s achieved in her 32-year career at Benton high school. ‘This is only part of the collection,’ she said. ‘I have more in my car.’
WORK SPACES
At the top of her class
Benton’s Pam Kimball is Teacher of the Year Pam Kimball wanted to pursue a career in theater, but her mother gave her valuable advice early on. “She said, ‘If you actually want to have a job, you’d better get a teaching certificate,’” Kimball, a 32-year veteran teacher at Benton Consolidated High School. She followed her mother’s advice and hasn’t regretted it. In addition to teaching theater, speech and some English, she also coaches the school’s competitive theater and speech teams — and with much success. Six of her speech team students have captured top honors in the state, which she said is significant because there are no class divisions and a school like Benton competes against much larger schools in Chicago. Her competitive theater team has also placed in state competition several times. She credits a lot of the program’s successes with the support she receives from the school district and the community. “I think we have one of the best arts programs in the area,” she said. “They give me the support to do what I need to do to give students these opportunities.” As much as she enjoys spending time with her students, though, the best part of Kimball’s job is seeing them succeed after they’ve left her classroom. “The most rewarding part is working with the extremely motivated students I coach,” she said. “The hours spent with them is all worth it when you see them come back and they’ve landed a show on Broadway or have a job in the field.” And her work doesn’t go unnoticed locally, either. Last year, the Benton-West City Chamber of Commerce named Kimball as Teacher of the Year. — Adam Testa
Textbooks for Kimball’s classes are on a bookshelf in her classroom.
The comedy and tragedy mask memorabilia in Kimball’s room is a sign of her love for theater. Before she directed high school musicals at Benton, she starred in productions herself while growing up in Carterville.
photography by Paul Newton
‘I can’t live without my smart board,’ Kimball said. Another addition to the classroom because of grants the school received, the screen supplements traditional wipe boards and makes digital presentations easier for her classes. Part of Kimball’s lesson plan is written on the wipe board in her classroom. She teaches theater, speech and some English. Her background image shows the SIU Department of Theater’s production of ‘White Christmas,’ which her son, Josh, starred in.
66 Life & Style : Winter 2012
Grants have allowed the school to upgrade technology, and Kimball is proud of her computer lab. For a school the size of Benton, technology like the kind they have allows the school and its students to stay competitive.
Kimball’s husband, Allan, is part of the Pyramid Players theater troupe. This cutout of the Grinch was left from a production of the musical ‘Seussical.’ Kimball brought it to school as part of a hallway decorating contest, and it’s never left.
Play scripts nearly fill an entire bookshelf in Kimball’s classroom. ‘The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee’ has been her favorite musical to produce, while Neil Simon’s ‘Brighton Beach Memoirs’ has been her favorite competitive production. ‘We took third in the state, and I just loved it.’ These commemorative posters capture memories of Kimball’s theater teams competing at the state competition. She has three of these posters framed and hanging in her classroom.
Kimball’s competition theater team has taken home third place in state twice in recent years. Her younger son, Josh, was a member of one of the award-winning teams. Her older son, Justin, won state in the humorous interpretation competition.
Life & Style : Winter 2012 67
sports
John A. Logan College men’s varsity basketball head coach Kyle Smithpeters grew up in McLeansboro and Harrisburg and is no stranger to basketball. His father, Randy, is assistant principal of Harrisburg High School and men’s varsity basketball coach. Smithpeters, who returned to Southern Illinois after coaching in Missouri, says ‘It’s great to be back in Southern Illinois.’
Hoops holidays
Aaron Eisenhauer
for the
JALC coach Kyle Smithpeters talks about basketball traditions in Southern Illinois story by Joanna Gray Decorating the tree. Singing carols. Opening presents. Basketball. Wait, we’re talking about holiday traditions, aren’t we? Yes. For many people who live in Southern Illinois, the local holiday basketball tournaments are just as much of a family gathering place as grandma’s house on Christmas Day. Just ask Kyle Smithpeters, the recently hired men’s basketball head coach at John A. Logan College in Carterville.
68 Life & Style : Winter 2012
“Ever since I was little, our holidays revolved around a holiday tournament on the day after Christmas,” Kyle says. “My dad coaches at Harrisburg High School, and my brothers and I all played basketball. One of my brothers still plays on the high school team, and my sister is a cheerleader, so everyone in the family still gets together to watch the tournament and just be together. It was a thrill to see my dad’s team win the tournament the year before last. As large as our family is, and the older we get, we cherish this time we spend together.”
Kyle, 29, grew up in McLeansboro and Harrisburg, so he knows firsthand the excitement that builds around local sports teams in these Southern Illinois communities every fall and winter, not to mention that he grew up in a “basketball family.” He is the son of Patricia and Randy Smithpeters, the assistant principal of Harrisburg High School and men’s varsity basketball coach now in his 20th season. Basketball is big in Southern Illinois, and Kyle believes one reason is that the sport has become a family tradition.
Maybe a father or grandfather played or coached, and the next generation continues on with the sport. In Kyleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s case, he has followed his fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dedication to coaching with an already successful career, which he began in assistant coaching roles at Southeastern Illinois College and JALA. Last year, he was an assistant coach at Missouri State University. Now, he has returned to JALC as the head coach for the menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s basketball team and home to his Southern Illinois roots to settle in Harrisburg with wife, Carrie, and 10-month-old son, Tobey. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s great to be back in Southern Illinois and to be closer to my family at Christmas,â&#x20AC;? he says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Last year, I got in the day before Christmas and had to leave the next morning to get back to Missouri for team practice. This year will be more fun for me and the entire family because weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll all be together to watch my son, Tobey, open his presents. He will definitely steal the show.â&#x20AC;? Looking ahead, Kyle believes that basketball will always be an enduring tradition in Southern Illinois, mainly because of the way the communities rally to show their support of the teams and coaches. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The game changes all the time, but the one thing that always remains the same is the ongoing support from the fans and local businesses and the family traditions around local sports events,â&#x20AC;? Kyle says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Just four days after the recent tornado in Harrisburg, the community came out to rally behind the basketball team. People just love watching the kids compete and play hard, and they didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to let them down.â&#x20AC;? Kyle also credits the love and support of his family and friends for his own success as one of the youngest head basketball coaches in the region. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m very fortunate to have a great wife, family and friends, and I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t thank them enough,â&#x20AC;? he says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Here at John A. Logan, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m also lucky to work with a great administration and board and so many others â&#x20AC;&#x201D; from the athletic director and faculty to our secretaries. You can be a good coach and have great players, but when you have the support of your family and school administrators, it makes it so much easier to reach your goals.â&#x20AC;?
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Andrew Hart began working in the radio business at the age of 14 at a local Du Quoin station. He now works for WTMX, one of Chicago’s top stations.
Tuning toinsuccess story by Adam Testa Andrew Hart wasn’t a normal teenager. He did homework, attended classes at Benton Consolidated High School, played in the school band and tried to find time to hang out with his friends. More often than not, though, he found himself locked away in a small studio, sharing his free time with both peers and an audience much his elder. But it was within the confines of those quarters at a small-town radio station that Hart underwent a transformation. He found himself channeling both his inner drive and personality. Little did he know that what started as a job-shadow would become a career taking him to new heights. “It was almost immediate for me,” Hart said of discovering his passion for
Benton native goes from hometown station to the top of Chicago’s market
radio. “It’s just the concept of sitting around a desk, literally just having a conversation with your friends, except with a microphone in front of you. The microphone has this little wire and the wire goes into the rack room and then up to the transmitter and the next thing you know, it’s in everyone’s cars. That very simple concept still to this day intrigues me. Hart’s journey, which began as a teenager in Southern Illinois, has taken him to the airwaves in Chicago, where thousands of listeners tune into his program every weeknight on 101.9 FM, “The Mix,” one of the city’s most popular and listened to stations. Those who hear the 24-year-old’s voice on the airwaves know him as “Finnigan,” but to the people at home in Benton, he’ll always be a local celebrity.
How did you get your start in radio? I grew up next to a radio station, WQRL-FM. My dad actually worked then when he was in high school and college, when it was WQRX. It was the summer before my freshman year of high school, and I guess I was sick of playing golf all summer, I wanted something to do. I can’t really put a finger on what it was that interested me and encouraged me to go to the radio station but something had always intrigued me about it. I think it was probably this picture of my dad in the bell bottoms in the studio in the late 1970s that was in my house. I went in and hung out during the morning show as kind of a job shadow for one day. I absolutely fell in love with the whole concept of radio. I didn’t want to leave. I went back the next day and ended up staying all week long.
Life & Style : Winter 2012 71
profile Then they wanted to bring me on in as a full-time intern. My entire freshman year of high school, I went in there every day before school started. I was there at 5:30 in the morning, and I was probably late for school every day because I didn’t want to leave. How did you balance that with the typical teenage lifestyle? I literally had two different lives. In the morning, I was this professional, and then it would be “Oh yeah, I’m a high school kid.” I did the normal high school things, but where most kids would have been doing nothing after school or just hanging out being with friends, I chose to take that time and put it into the career. I was the only kid in high school who was deeply involved in his job. My job was a part-time job just like everybody else, but the other kids were doing things just to make money, and I was already set on my career and moving up, so it was a different situation. I didn’t plan on stumbling into what career would be at age 14. It just kind of happened, and I fell in love with it. It’s a very rare and unique situation. How did things progress from there? The next big step took place during my junior year of high school. I ended up taking an internship class. Everyone is in there and people are trying to figure out what they want to do with their lives. Well, I’d been doing what I want to do with my life for the past two years. The instructor said to me, “There are more things outside of Benton radio. There are big radio stations in the city; you need to explore.” WQRL was and still is an oldies format station, which meant my friends didn’t listen to it. Down in Carbondale, WCILFM, which is the heritage Top 40, is the station everyone listens to. They were looking for an intern, and I thought, “If I go down here, I’ll be working for the radio station all the girls in my school listen to. This may be good for me in the future.” I went in there with two years experience, and they loved it. They actually offered me a part-time job on the second day of my internship. They wanted me on the air. Up until this point, I hadn’t really been on the air. Ten o’clock rolled around that Friday night, and I was freaking out; I didn’t know what I was going to do. It was probably the worst four hours of radio ever recorded. It
72 Life & Style : Winter 2012
A young Hart works in the WQRL studio in Benton. He balanced school and work for several years duing his high school and college days.
was a train wreck, but they listened to it and they said, “You need to work on this; we like this, we didn’t like that.” They thought I had potential and wanted to put me on again the next week. About five or six months later, their position on nights opened up after their guy left, and they asked me to fill in until they found someone. After about four weeks of doing it, they offered me the job. Without hesitation, I took it. So now I’m in high school, I have the job at Q106 in the morning and then I’m on the air from 7 until midnight Monday through Friday after school. I’d be up at 5:30 or 6 in the morning, I’d go to the radio station, I’d go to school. I’d go home, do my homework, have dinner with my family and then be on the road. I wouldn’t get home until almost 1 in the morning. Then I’d do it again. I did it for two years straight, and I never looked back. When did the next big break come? My freshman year in college, I was on a piano scholarship at Rend Lake, and they moved me to the afternoon spot on CIL, so I was able to go to college and work around my schedule. It was around then that I got good enough to where I was getting attention from some bigger radio stations. I had always wanted to work for KSLZ in St. Louis, which is the big Top 40 radio station in St. Louis. I sent my demo to the program manager, and he said I wasn’t good enough yet. He worked with me for several months, and gave me an opportunity when I was 19 and offered me a job to come on air there. It was a big deal; I was the youngest person to ever be hired there, still to this day. What has the transition from Benton to St. Louis and now to Chicago been like? Without even knowing anything about the industry, you can look at the cities and know it’s going to be a different vibe. The concept of radio never changes; I’m talking to the audience and keeping them
intrigued. It’s just your doing it in front of many more people, and there are a lot more zeroes behind the commercial advertising rates. KSLV was and still is the station in St. Louis, so we were involved with every single dance club and every bar and every major event. Years before I was in St. Louis, I set the goal of being on air in a major market before I turned 21. St. Louis was considered a medium-to-large market. I went for this job in Chicago, and they officially hired me two weeks before my 21st birthday, so it was really weird. I was the youngest person to ever be hired at KISS-FM. Coming to a city like Chicago, you’re competing with people on WGN, people like Mancow or Eric and Kathy — major radio personalities that now I am in their circle. It was just amazing to walk into it and very, very different. It’s one of those thrill rides where you sit back and just wonder, “What’s going to happen next.” How do you describe your style as a DJ? I think I’m approachable; that’s what I try to be on the air. If I’m going to be on the air talking to the audience, I want them to think, “Hey, he’s a cool guy. I want to hang out with him. He seems normal and down-to-earth.” That’s my goal, and that’s how I try to be in real life. I don’t like to separate who I am on the radio from who I am as a person because it takes really good acting. I’m not the best actor in the world, so if I’m going to be on the air, I need to be as close to who I am as a person as I can. What are your plans for the future? The position that I just recently accepted is one that I could see myself doing for a really long time. I would love to one day crack the mic at KIIS in Los Angeles, which is the platform for so many guys —Ryan Seacrest, Casey Kasem, Rick Dees, Dick Clark and all these major personalities. That would definitely be a goal of mine, to make it out to LA for a little while. But I’m very set here. I do a lot of charity work. I work closely with The Primo Center for Women and Children here in Chicago, and the founder of the charity is a successful real estate developer. He and I have plans of maybe getting into radio real estate. I would love to own and operate radio stations. I’m a huge foodie. I love everything about Chicago and the food. I may be
getting involved in some restaurants down the road. I want to dabble in everything. While my career, my love and my passion is radio, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll always have a business mindset and the entrepreneurial stuff is a big deal for me. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m learning how to balance that and juggle it. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m still young, and if I can do a few things before Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m 30, that would be great. Looking back on your relatively short career, is it hard for you to believe youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve made it so far from those early days at WQRL in Benton? Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s definitely surreal; thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s for sure. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve always had incredible work ethic; Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve always been that person who says it has to get done, no matter how it gets done. I never procrastinated, and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what they loved about me throughout my career. I never had a problem being that guy, being on call all the time, answering their call when the station goes off the air at 3 a.m. That work ethic is what set me apart from other personalities out there.
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more Eccentrics by Lauren 209 W. Commercial Drive Carterville, IL 618-559-2308 www.eccentricsbylauren.com Lauren Craig of Eccentrics Boutique in Carterville.
Passion
for fashion
Eccentrics owner Lauren Craig shares how to show off your uniqueness 76 Life & Style : Winter 2012
Photo by Jason York Photography
entrepreneurs
story by Joanna Gray If you’re looking for a special holiday present for the woman who has everything, or if you want to jazz up your own holiday style with some serious, one-of-a-kind bling, Lauren Craig, owner of Eccentrics by Lauren fashion accessory boutique in Carterville, can help. “I’m always doing research to find the latest gifts and fashion accessories that no one else in the area offers,” Lauren says. “I try to offer one-of-a-kind, fashion-forward items and a variety of brands, so that customers can always find something unique. But, merchandise at Eccentrics moves very quickly, so if you see something you love, you’d better grab it, especially if it’s one-of-akind.”
Lauren has had a passion for fashion and the retail industry ever since earning a degree in fashion merchandising at Southern Illinois University and then working for large retailers CHANEL in Tampa, Fla., and Four Seasons in St. Louis. In 2010, she realized her dream of opening her own boutique of women’s fashion accessories, online on Facebook and at www.eccentricsbylauren.com and in a storefront located upstairs inside Your Jeweler on Illinois 13, just south of the Carterville crossroads. Large, chunky handbags in vivid colors and metallics line the wall along the carpeted staircase that leads up to Eccentrics and its unique mix of sparkling costume jewelry, scarves, handbags, belts, hats, faux fur, bath and beauty products and more. However, it’s Lauren’s dazzling smile and warm personality that gives Eccentrics its welcoming atmosphere and makes it the perfect day out shopping experience for women of all ages. Many customers bring their outfits into the store, so Lauren can help them choose the perfect accessories to accent their personal style. “I love to see how happy and excited they get when they find the fabulous piece they’ve been looking for,” she says. “Also, it’s the best feeling when I see a customer out somewhere in accessories that I helped them put together.”
Aaron Eisenhauer
Eccentrics carries a unique mix of sparkling costume jewelry, scarves, handbags, belts, hats, faux fur and bath and body products.
Eccentrics accessory tips for holiday style Lauren emphasizes that accessories are necessities, not just add-ons, for every woman to create a signature style all her own at the holidays and year ’round. Many of the one-of-a-kind accessories at Eccentrics have been showcased in popular fashion magazines and others, such as “O, The Oprah Magazine.” “Accessories can pump up your favorite outfits from so-so to amazing,” Lauren says. “Layer on scarves, necklaces, or anything that makes you feel beautiful and confident. Mix metals, clash colors or stack bracelets to turn your arm into a bangle bar. Wearing accessories you love and that express your unique personality can make you feel beautiful inside and out.” This holiday season, Lauren suggests starting with a classic black dress that you can transform from an at-work outfit to evening attire just by changing your accessories from conservative chic to major bling. It’s an easy and low-cost
way to stretch your fashion budget and still sparkle at holiday events. “Another big holiday trend will be colorful handbags, especially a red show-stopper look to add shine and color to an outfit,” Lauren says. “Huge chunky necklaces and brooches will also be big. Yet another huge trend for fall and winter is layering necklaces and bangle bracelets. More is fashionably more, so don’t be afraid to accessorize!” And, what about the gift for the woman who has everything? “I would recommend that you look for accessories that fit her personality and unique style,” Lauren says. “Is her style classic chic? Or, would you describe it as bold with a little sparkle? At Eccentrics, we have something for everyone and at all price ranges. My goal is to have something different and unique every time you shop Eccentrics, so holiday shoppers can expect a new experience every time they come in to find the right gift.”
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scenic beauty
What will be your favorite thing about
Cave-in-Rock
The answer is likely to be, ‘Everything!’ story by Les Winkeler photography by Joel Hawksley What’s the best part of Cave-In-Rock State Park? That question is a rarity. It’s a multiple choice query without an incorrect answer. If you said the cave, that’s perfectly understandable. The 55-foot opening in the limestone rock bordering the Ohio River in Hardin County, is one of the natural wonders of Illinois. Used for centuries by Native Americans, the cave was “discovered” by the French explorer de Lery in 1729. It is humbling to sit in the back of the cave and marvel at the history, knowing Meriwether Lewis and William Clark floated past the natural landmark on their historic voyage of discover. It is equally humbling when you consider the power of the Ohio River. The size of the cave makes you feel insignificant, especially when you consider that floodwaters have frequently filled the cave. And if you enjoy pop culture, it’s also fun to imagine scenes from the 1962 movie “How The West Was Won” being filmed at the cave. If you think the river is the best thing about Cave-in-Rock, that’s perfectly understandable. Even when the river is low, it is impressive to stand on the rocky, driftwood-strewn banks and witness the volume of water flowing by. That river provided food and transportations to early settlers of Illinois and all points west. Finally, if you said the view from atop the bluffs was the park’s best asset, no one could argue. Standing atop the bluffs you can see for miles up and down the river and well into the neighboring state of Kentucky. And, it is from this vantage point, where barges look like toy boats passing by, that one truly appreciates the massive scale of the river and the surrounding area. There may be no more spectacular place to picnic in all of Illinois. And, if you answered “all of the above,” that’s probably the best answer of all.
more Cave-in-Rock State Park is on the Ohio River in Hardin County; for info, call 618-289-4325
Visit www.LifeandStyleSI.com to find more photos in our gallery. 78 Life & Style : Winter 2012
Life & Style : Winter 2012 79
style
It’s about
Time!
story by Rana Daunis With Christmas just around the corner, most of us are wondering what to get that special someone. Watches are a great choice because they offer both function and style, and with the wide range of looks available today, you are sure to find just the right one. Of course, you may end up wanting to keep these great finds for yourself!
Citizen Stiletto Watch Description: Monotone has never been more appealing than in this modern watch by Citizen. The black, ion-plated stainless steel gives off a sleek grey look, and the eco-drive battery will never have to be replaced.
Designer watches to give (and receive)
For women, bracelet-like watches are all the rage. Lightweight or bold, watches are getting feminine twists at every turn. Gold and silver are still classics, and now more than ever designers are choosing to use both gold and silver, together. Mixing the two metals is no longer taboo, but encouraged, and this trend is popping up in men’s jewelry as well. Another modern trend is the abundant use of the colors white and
Emporio Armani Classic Brown Leather Watch Description: The rich brown color of this watch is noticeable from across the room. Even the stainless steel has the chocolaty hue, which is something you don’t see very often. Emporio Armani is one designer you can rely on for lavish products that will last a lifetime.
Fossil Grant Watch Description: Stainless steel, a round face and Roman numerals make this watch quintessentially classic. This is the exemplary accessory for men who enjoy luxury but don’t want the glitz. Cost: The Buckle, $125
Cost: Dillard’s, $345
Cost: Kay’s, $475
Brighton Joliet Bracelet Watch Description: Tickled Pink in Carbondale’s Murdale Shopping Center has recently added a plethora of new designers and brand names to their collection, including watches and jewelry by Brighton. The Joliet Bracelet Watch is especially desirable because it features bracelet-style band with geometric circles two trends that are increasingly popular and, when combined, absolutely gorgeous. Cost: Tickled Pink Boutique and Gift, $120
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grey, something we are seeing in watches for both men and women. And, bright colors and plastic bands aren’t only for kids anymore. Coach and Ed Hardy, for example, have released eye-catching watches for active adults. Monotone watches — one solid color on both the band and the face — are popping up in collections by Fossil, Emporio Armani, and Kenneth Cole to name just a few.
Coach Boyfriend Watch Description: Known around the world by fashion enthusiasts, Coach is effortlessly stylish. This particular watch offers both refinement and comfort, a perfect combination for the country club, running errands or hanging out with the family. Cost: Macy’s, $158
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Bulova Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Dress Watch Description: More than 60 shining Swarovski crystals are used in this elegant watch from Bulova. Two-tone yet understated, this piece is perfect for the subtly glamorous woman. Cost: JCPenney, $210
Juicy Couture Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Queen Watch Description: Embossed leather, rose-gold, stainless steel, Swarovski crystal this beautiful watch has all the right elements. Then again, one can never go wrong with Juicy Couture. Cost: Macyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, $395
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how to
Holiday snapshots
Local pros give us their best tips for creating terrific takes every time
Though digital camera technology is advancing at an exponential pace, amateur photographers are still asking, “What can I do to improve my photography?” Here are a few things the professionals consider before creating an image and some adjustments to inspire creativity.
Photography by lori
J Fortune Photography
Lighting is the very first element we consider. Avoid high contrast situations. Placing your subject in bright sunlight creates harsh, unflattering shadows. Stick to areas with open shade. Background. Look for interesting colors, shadows, textures. Colors should complement the subject rather than distract the viewers’ attention. If the background is less than desirable, throw it out of focus by using an aperture of 4.0 or 2.8. ISO. In a dark lighting situation? Bump up your ISO! Changing the ISO setting on your camera changes the sensitivity to light of the image sensor inside of it. The lower the number you select, the less sensitive the sensor is to light; conversely the higher the number the more sensitive it becomes. This is useful when you’re shooting in different lighting situations — particularly when there’s low light and you might not be able to use a flash. You would bump up your ISO setting in this case. Expression. Skip the “Cheese.” Smiling is wonderful but tends to make the subjects eyes smaller. Wide open eyes are more intriguing. Capture relationships. Look for spontaneous moments. Change perspective. Lie on the ground, climb up on a chair. These subtle angle changes can create a completely different appearance. Get out of the box! Play with different aperture settings and shutter speeds! Try something new! Keep track of what you do so you can recreate the desired look. — Lori Sweitzer
Use light as your friend. Scout your area to find the best light source, hold up your hand to see where the light is reflecting best and start shooting. Composition is key. You want to frame your shot with what is pleasing to the eye. Feel free to move distracting things out of the way. Look behind your subject to see if there is a tree branch or a pole behind them. No one wants a pole growing out of their head in photos. Be creative. Spend time on social media sites and be inspired by those around you. Think of fun ways to put a twist to your holiday photos. Use props sparingly. A key to “clean” photos is to use one prop, not many. Incorporate a pumpkin pie or mistle toe into your shots. Have fun. You are capturing memories that will be cherished for generations to come. Not every photo will be perfect, but let’s be honest, sometimes the bloopers are the best ones. — Jennifer Fortune
Bedokis Photography Give yourself plenty of time to get ready. If you are running around in a frenzy, the rest of the family will feed off that crazy energy and become frazzled and stressed Get your clothes together ahead of time. Do dress appropriately for the weather. Nothing is worse than an outdoor winter scene with a sleeveless dress. Always be cautious that if someone in the group wears a print or plaid, that there are some solids with it to not keep it busy. Keep the photos fun. With little ones involved, you want to keep the mood light and entertaining to keep the children from getting tired and distracted. Enjoy every moment. These are photos you are going to cherish for years. Relish this time with your family and the moments you are capturing together. — Leigh Bedokis
Photography By Lori
Life & Style : Winter 2012 83
cheers to beer
Tasting fall
Pumpkin ales offer a taste that is uniquely American
story by Shawn Connelly There are very few genuinely American beer styles. The Pilsner, for example, is the style the most popular beers in the world (by sales) are modeled after, but Budweiser, Miller and Coors owe their inspiration, as far removed as they might be from modern examples, to the lagers of Bohemia (Czech Republic) and Germany. Prohibition largely killed off any innovation in the American brewing industry, at least until the craft beer revolution of the 1980s. Tired of bland, pale, fizzy beers with little character, small batch brewers began experimenting independently and even started to resurrect obscure ale and lager styles that were all but extinct for more than 50 years. Craft breweries like San Francisco’s Anchor Brewing Company revived their all-American “steam” beer, and beers such as Genesee Cream Ale kept the ale-brewer’s answer to the light, pale
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lager alive. Nothing, however, could be more authentically American than a beer originally brewed during the time of our nation’s founding, and, possibly by George Washington himself. This is what Bill Owens thought anyway, and his Buffalo Bill’s Pumpkin Ale brewed at his brewpub in Hayward, Calif., in 1985 is credited with being the first pumpkin ale since Washington’s time. It is believed that Washington, and other 18th century American brewers, found it difficult to acquire the high quality malts and hops needed to make the kind of beer found across the pond, due to high taxation on exported goods, so they improvised. Early American brewers used all manner of fermentables and bittering agents to make beer, including corn, molasses and, yes, even squash. While these early American beers had little, if anything, to do with modern examples of the style, they were certainly the inspiration for a trend that has only grown in popularity since Bill Owens’
’80s-era idea. Pumpkin meat itself is rather bland, so the popularity of pumpkin beer likely lies in the spices generally associated with pumpkin and, more specifically, pumpkin pie. Cinnamon, cloves, ginger and nutmeg added to a nice, malty beer call to mind the sweet, spicy and festive nature of the harvest and holiday season. This fact is not lost on American craft breweries, and they almost always schedule the release of these seasonal beers to coincide with the fall and winter months, and just as they arrive, they’re gone again for another year. Each year, anticipation grows more and more for the most popular and highly rated pumpkin ales, and finding them on retailer’s shelves and coolers can sometimes be difficult. Fortunately, more than a few of the most sought-after pumpkin ales produced by American craft brewers can be found in Southern Illinois stores, but there are several of the most notable that don’t make it into this market because of the lack of local distribution. Delaware’s
Dogfish Head, for instance, makes a very popular beer called Punkin Ale, but if you live in Southern Illinois, you’ll have to drive to Paducah or further to find it. Arguably, the most anticipated pumpkin ale of them all is brewed by Southern Tier Brewing Company in Lakewood, N.Y. Simply known as Pumking, this “pumpkin pie in a bottle” is offered only in 22-ounce bomber bottles and weighs in at 8.6 percent ABV. You can find it locally, but be warned. It goes fast. Regional breweries seem to be going for the gourd, as well, and Missouri’s Schlafly (The Saint Louis Brewing Company) and O’Fallon Breweries both make a nice, spicy version of this festive ale. This year, our lone local production brewery, Big Muddy Brewing, in Murphysboro has joined in on the action and spiced things up with Pumpkin Smasher, which is available on draft and in 22-ounce bottles throughout the region and the state for that matter. Once you’ve found your pick of the pumpkin ales out this season, why not try pairing one up with an array of holiday fare like butternut squash soup, turkey and dressing or even mincemeat pie. The holiday spices complement many of the seasonal favorites quite well, but the real fun is in opening up a bottle, decanting into a nice glass (no drinking from the bottle, please!) and taking in the aromas and flavors of the holidays all brewed up in one convenient, if fleeting, package. Pumpkin ales are an American original through and through. Toast to one with friends this year and celebrate American ingenuity! SHAWN CONNELLY is best known for authoring ‘Style Studies’ – a regular feature on world beer styles in the nationally-distributed Beer Connoisseur Connelly Magazine. Shawn is also a craft and specialty beer retail consultant and event host, who has introduced countless Southern Illinoisans to better beer over the last several years. Shawn is also an award-winning home brewer. You can follow Shawn on his blog at www.beerphilosopher.com.
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trends
Get your glam on with
holiday nail designs
story by Rana Daunis Rana Daunis
If the weather outside is getting you down, pick yourself up and prepare for a treat. Whether you’re the do-it-yourself type or love to get spoiled with a professional manicure, let the latest trends inspire something magical on your fingers! Jesaka Brooks, an independent nail-art designer and SIUC Who says every nail has to be the same? Jesaka Brooks, an independent nail-art art student, says she has been seeing a lot of unique colors this designer and SIUC art students, recommends keeping nails casual for every-day wear. Each nail can feature a different design, too. season, including grey and mint. She recommends keeping nails casual, yet trendy, for everyday wear. Try painting one nail a unique color from the rest. For example, paint all of your fingernails grey, except the ring finger, which would look cute in mint, white or a soft pink. Melissa Garcia, beauty consultant at Macy’s at Carbondale’s University Mall, says the hot colors for winter are deep, sultry purples and blues. Rich shades of brown have also been flying off the shelf. Metallic hues including gold, silver and emerald (as seen in Estée Lauder’s line, Vivid Shine) can be dressed up or down. An added Maybelline Color Show Polishes bonus: These warm hues also compliment the winter makeup trends popping up on runways and in stores. Description: Tenacious Teal, Green with Envy, Tony Tran, nail artist at Studio Day Spa in Carbondale, enjoys using airbrushing Iced Queen and Born with It These brand-new colors were inspired by the latest techniques on clients’ fingers and toes. Popular airbrushing designs for the winter runway trends. Maybelline boasts a chip-resistant holiday season, according to Tran, are snowflakes, stars, ribbons and, of course, lots formula and an easy-flow polish brush. of glitter. Cost: $4.99 at Walgreens If painting your own nails isn’t your forté and you don’t want to fork over the cash to have them professionally done, consider alternatives that do the trick for you. One of the best-selling products is Sally Hansen’s Salon Effect Nail Polish Strips, which range from simple colors to elaborate patterns. You can find Sally Hansen nail design products and more at Sally Beauty Supply, Walgreens, Walmart, and Claire’s.
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Estée Lauder Vivid Shine Collection Description: Estée Lauder is known for quality and class, and these polishes are guaranteed to be ‘incredibly long lasting.’ With names like Purple Velvet and Enchanted Garnet, it’s no wonder this brand-new line is so popular. Cost: $20 at Macy’s
Butter London Heavy Metal Trio Description: Get all of your classic metallics in one place with the trio set from Butter London one of the best selling brands of nail polish worldwide. Cost: $36 at Dillards
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New, Used & Antiquarian Books Irish Giftware & Jewlery 3249 N. Reed Station Rd., Carbondale Halfway to Walker’s Bluff
Open Saturday 10am-5pm • CoramDeoBooks.com • 618-457-5282 �
Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips Description: These stick-and-go strips are a great way to get the designer look without spending a lot of time or money. Each box comes with 16 pieces in case of mistakes and early blemishes, and also includes a cuticle stick, mini-file and buffer. Cost: $8.99 at beauty retailers and drugstores
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Funky Rocks Jewel
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315 S. Park Av
618.889.4467
Life & Style : Winter 2012 87
Aaron Eisenhauer
heritage
joy of Christmas Rekindling
the
story by Martha Peebles
For most people, Christmas is a holiday that holds childhood memories near to the heart, especially in this era of high-speed technology, many of us long for the slower pace of days gone by. As the holiday season approaches, our hearts and minds turn toward faith, family and familiar traditions that make us feel secure and loved. Paula DuVardo literally puts joy throughout her home in the small Willisville suburb of Puxico (pop. 74). Her tradition of using the word joy in all of her decorating began as a tribute to her late mother, Imogene Spiller, who collected joy pins to wear at Christmastime. Each year, Paula adds more joy with themed decorations that are usually gifts from family and friends. She’s proud of her colorful joy tree, which she decorates each year in honor of her mother. She laughs and says, “One of my friends even thought my mother’s name was Joy!” She feels that there should be no greater joy than that of celebrating the birth of Jesus. Paula Du Vardo follows a tradition of using the word “joy” in the holiday decorating of her Puxico home. It began as a tribute to her mother.
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Joel Hawksley
Likewise, Beverly Smith of rural Ava finds joy in being her church pianist and youth Sunday school teacher. Holiday tradition is kept alive at her home with a Christmas hymn sing-along as her family gathers around her piano on Christmas Eve. She saves “The Twelve Days of Christmas” round as the grand finale. Twelve lucky people each choose one of her beautiful “Twelve Days” ornaments to hold up when their solo comes around. For the last 25 years, Francis and Wayne Taylor of Percy have spread joy by putting together Christmas treat bags for First Baptist Church of Percy. Even though church members delight in peeking into the bags to find the usual apple, orange, candy canes, chocolate covered peanuts, chewing gum, candy bars and those chewy candy orange slices, they are excited to find the treats have not changed. That’s exactly what makes them special — the
Beverly Smith of rural Ava sets her holiday table with special touches, such as the antique, ruby red salt cellars she uses for individual pats of butter.
let us make this holiday
extraordinary 1258 East Main, Carbondale, IL | 618.351.1200
why buy ordinary when you can buy extraordinary Life & Style : Winter 2012 89
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Sharon Jones of Murphysboro likes to create a beautiful tablescape in her vintage Ethan Allen dining room. She created the holiday chair covers.
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sameness. Churchgoers, as well as the elderly who cannot attend, can count on the treats year after year. Mike Jones of Murphysboro loves traditions, too. He enjoys sending and receiving Christmas cards, even though it seems to be a fading tradition. With email, texting, Facebook, Skype and all electronic communication, Christmas cards seem to be a thing of the past. There’s still something magical about finding a stack of cards in your mailbox on a cold winter’s day. Spending some family time around a warm fireplace, drinking hot chocolate while holding and reading each card from loved ones, friends and neighbors, just can’t be replaced with technology. Each year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, Gay Bachmann and her family fill their Murphysboro home with laughter and aroma of gingerbread as the children gather to create gingerbread houses. She says that her family being home for the holidays makes Christmas magical for her. What brings you and your family joy? What rouses your most cherished Christmas memories? The smell of freshly baked cookies? The anticipation of a blanket of fresh snow on Christmas morning? The sound of carolers at your door? That snapshot in your mind of your kids unwrapping gifts under the tree? Traditions are part of our past, bring us joy in the present and secure our legacy for the future.
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getaways
Smooth sailing Tips make cruising easier, if you know them before you go
story by Pete Spitler As the cold winds of winter swirl across Southern Illinois, thoughts turn to warmer climates, soft beaches and an area of the world where the passage of time slows considerably. I embarked on my first cruise in midJuly, high season for most of the cruise companies, sailing aboard the Carnival Conquest on a seven-night excursion with ports of call in Jamaica, British West Indies and Mexico. Like all first-timers, I discovered some do’s and don’t’s of cruise ship travel. From the 15 percent gratuity on all alcoholic drinks to the high cost of voice and data roaming, stealing away to the Caribbean isn’t as easy as it sounds. Book early and late: I used CruiseCompete.com to search for the best deal on cruises and rates. CruiseCompete lets you select the dates of your cruise and then travel agencies will e-mail you competing rates, with some deals including onboard ship credit. I booked my cruise a year in advance, with my travel agent, Cruise Adventure Travel, promising onboard ship credit if the price dropped. Last-minute deals can also be found by companies seeking to fill staterooms. Upgrade if you can: When exploring stateroom options, there is the obvious tendency to select the cheapest options, which are usually interior cabins. But those with a little financial wiggle room should upgrade to a junior suite, which sleeps four and includes a couch, work desk and private balcony. I chose a starboard-side junior suite on the Lido deck, a location far enough forward to avoid the noise and traffic of people heading to the pools and buffets located mid-ship.
Junior suites also include a Jacuzzi tub and a vanity table separate from the bathroom. I had a chance to view a standard balcony cabin, which is much more cramped with only a standup shower and much less open space. Trade the plane for the train: Getting to the port of embarkation can be a bit of hassle in itself. A round trip flight for two to New Orleans, where the Conquest was set to depart, cost $740 on Southwest Airlines. In comparison, a round trip ticket on Amtrak’s City of New Orleans could be purchased for less than $540, including a two-person roomette in the sleeper car. Sleeper car passengers get the added luxury of having their meals included, as Amtrak offers breakfast, lunch and dinner service in its dining car. The City of New Orleans runs daily through Carbondale and with a 1:26 a.m. departure on the southbound run and a 1:45 p.m. return departure, you are assured to sleep through a significant chunk of the 13-hour trip. Factor in the savings in gasoline, parking fees ($16 per day at the terminal) and general driving weariness and rail travel doesn’t seem bad at all. Plan a digital detox: With international roaming at $2.49 a minute on Verizon Wireless and data roaming up to $20.48 per megabyte, those with cell phone addictions may get a bit of sticker shock on their next bill. In terms of Wi-Fi, Carnival offers fleet-wide, bow-to-stern satellite access for 75 cents per minute or plans can be purchased (I.E. 45 minutes for $29) in the ship’s 24-hour Internet Café. All onboard purchases are linked to your onboard Sail & Sign account, which is created for you before sailing.
Watch out for the extras: Trips to the spa, drinks at the bar and entry into Carnival’s $750 Bingo or $10,000 casino slot tournament all cost money. The 15 percent gratuity means alcoholic drinks run between $4 and $11 per glass, depending on the type. For those under the legal drinking age, Carnival offers its unlimited fountain program called “Bottomless Bubbles.” Costing $6 per adult (18 years of age and older) and $4.50 per child per day, the plan is a more convenient option for soda drinkers. For the budget-conscious passengers, lemonade, coffee and ice tea are complimentary. The food, including the 24-hour pizzeria and ice cream station, is included and Carnival has an exceptional turndown service at night with a towel animal and a “Fun Times” newsletter detailing the next day’s activities awaiting you in your stateroom. For your convenience, gratuities to the cabin stewards and dining room staff are automatically billed to your Sail & Sign account. For my trip, gratuities amounted to $80.50 over the seven-day itinerary. Don’t be afraid to shop around for excursions: Carnival offers, through both its online and onboard excursions desk, a variety of activities in each port of call. I scheduled just one excursion, “A Day of Beach Bliss,” at the all-inclusive Playa Uvas in Cozumel for $6 per person cheaper than Carnival on ShoreTrips. com. Located a 10-minute taxi ride from the cruise pier, the excursion included a 35-minute guided snorkel, Mexican tortilla lunch and an open bar for $56 per person.
Life & Style : Winter 2012 93
getaways Located across the street from Heroes Square, the historic Cayman Islands Public Library was built in 1939.
The Jamaican skyline is shown while the Carnival Conquest Bay. prepares to dock in Montego A garden plaza showcases a variety of local plants in the heart of San Miguel, Cozumel’s waterfront shopping district.
The Carnival Conquest staff is skilled in the creation of many towel animals that await you following turndown service. Cruisers can even learn how to make them themselves thanks to an on-board class offered during the trip.
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Montego Bay, Jamaica: After a twoand-a-half day steam south through the Gulf of Mexico, the Conquest’s first port of call was Jamaica. Like most places in the Caribbean, the shops are duty and tax-free compared to those in the U.S. Moderately-priced T-shirts, cigars, watches, jewelry and other Jamaica-themed apparel can be bought at the Shoppes at Rose Hall, a short bus ride from the cruise pier. Cheaper items can be purchased at the local craft market. Those who have a tough time saying “No” should avoid this area. A visit to Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville in Montego Bay is recommended, as well as a trip to the Rose Hall Plantation, a location believed to be haunted by the ghost of Annie Palmer, known to local legend as the “White Witch.” Grand Cayman, British West Indies: A short trip west from Jamaica is Grand Cayman, an overall much cleaner and safer place than Montego Bay. Here, tourists can bask in the sun on Seven Mile Beach or travel to the town of Hell to send “Greetings from Hell” postcards to relatives. The island is also home to 43 of the 50 largest banks in the world and the shopping is much more expensive compared to Jamaica. Cozumel, Mexico: Located off the eastern coast of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, Cozumel has fully recovered from being directly hit by Category 4 hurricanes Emily and Wilma in 2005. Tourism and charter fishing drive the local economy here, with a large mall of shops awaiting visitors at the cruise pier. Although not as pushy as the merchants in Jamaica, shopkeepers in Cozumel do whatever they can to grab your attention.
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parting shot
p.s. photo by Les Winkeler
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A Northern Cardinal sits atop a snowy fence in Harrisburg.
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