Upgraded Living Magazine - December 2013 by Upgraded Living

DECEMBER 2013 UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

NORTHERN VALLEY LIFESTYLE

Happy Holidays!

ROCKSIDE RANCH

GINGERBREAD DIY

POWELL’S SWEET SHOPPE IN CHICO REVEALS THE BRIGHT CHRISTMAS SECRETS TO GINGERBREAD GET TO KNOW THE FOLKS BEHIND HOUSE PERFECTION A NEW TAKE ON RANCH LIFE

CHICO’S CHRISTMAS LIGHTS

RESIDENT

UPGRADED LIVING | DECEMBER 2013 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

Glasses provided by North Valley Eye Care/Ridge Eye Care Men styled by Formal Education Women styled by PB&J Boutique Hair and Makeup by The Poison Apple Salon Photo by Frank Rebelo

Have a very Gatsby Holiday Season

UPGRADED LIVING | DECEMBER 2013 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

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Our 2013 Holiday Buyer’s Guide contained an advertisement for Johnson’s Shoes in Chico which incorrectly stated a 30% discount on all fashion boots and featured images of UGG boots in the advertisement. Unfortunately, these images were incorrectly transposed from a previous advertisement and were not meant to be advertised as applicable to the promotional discount. This error was wholly and completely an error on our end and in no way, shape, or form was directed or instructed by anyone at Johnson’s Shoes.

We hope this doesn’t inconvenience your shopping experience, and wish you a happy holiday season!

CHICO MALL

IN THE FOREVER21 COURT

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DECEMBER 2013 UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

NORTHERN VALLEY LIFESTYLE

Happy Holidays!

TABLE OF CONTENTS FOOD TRES HOMBRES RECIPE ROCKSIDE RANCH

GINGERBREAD DIY

POWELL’S SWEET SHOPPE IN CHICO REVEALS THE SECRETS TO GINGERBREAD GET TO KNOW THE FOLKS BEHIND HOUSE PERFECTION A NEW TAKE ON RANCH LIFE

BRIGHT CHRISTMAS

CHICO’S CHRISTMAS LIGHTS

HOME & GARDEN

RESIDENT

FEATURES LOCAL LEGEND

Meet Marilyn Warrens: Chico’s Sweetheart

INCREDIWEAR

ROCKSIDE RANCH

Local entrepreneur Jackson Corley’s product is a winner with olympians, professional athletes, and average Joes alike.

Craig and Jen Thompson have created a ranch worth putting heart and soul into.

DREAMING OF A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS

Mountain View Christmas Tree Farm keeps a favorite tradition alive with plenty of trees to choose from and the tools for you to cut down your own.

UPGRADED LIVING | DECEMBER 2013 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

REAL ESTATE

Powell’s shows us how to perfect the art of gingerbread house making.

Tour a number of Butte County’s most sought after properties currently for sale.

MAMAN, MAMAN

HOLIDAY BUYER’S GUIDE

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

A Christmas memory reminds us all to take a moment for our mothers.

Part 2 of our annual Holiday Buyer’s Guide is here!

Our December community calendar has something for everyone this holiday season!

PROFILE FARM FRESH

DIY: GINGERHOME

COMMUNITY

Meet some of the Christmas-spirited locals who brighten our community each December.

Tres Hombres’ Chef Val lets us in on a delicious secret.

ARTS ART MAP

ArtAbout heads to SOPO

ARTIST PROFILES

Orland artist Marty Schulps gives us a tour of his family trade and art legend, Sally Dimas lets us into her world.

UPGRADED LIVING | DECEMBER 2013 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

As I walk into her home, and shake her warm hand; there is an immediate recognition of grace and timeless beauty in this woman. Marilyn Warrens has been involved in countless philanthropic events and clubs in Chico for over 50 years, and her story is one for the books. Her cheeks turn pink as she tells the tale of meeting her husband, Ed Warrens, who was one of the only forensic pathologists in our area. It all started in San Antonio, Texas at a dance where Marilyn waited patiently with her friend to be asked onto the floor. Ed approached her, and it only took one night for them to quickly become a happy couple. After swaying arm in arm, he escorted her home where he proceeded to play the piano in her living room. “We fell in love on a piano bench!” Marilyn exclaims. While he played, she sang along, note by note. (Feel free to interrupt anytime with an “aww… that is so cute,” because that is exactly what I wanted to shout while interviewing her.) She went on to tell me the story of their marriage. After waiting years, while Ed was in the army, she thought he had grown tired of her. Then, one day she received a package in the mail from him that turned out to be pearls and a letter telling her he would be home soon. They were married on his return and honeymooned to 16 different countries. On their trip, Ed met some of the most famous pathologists in the world! They then moved to San Francisco where she worked for American Airlines. Finally, for the first time in her life, Marilyn would experience California in all its splendor. She became “very pregnant” with her first son Wade, and then moved to Marin County, where her second son Grant was born. She always wanted to get her “roots settled” in a smaller, more community-oriented town. Ed’s family was originally from Durham, so they headed north. She has been gracing our beloved Chico with her presence since 1961. 14

Describing herself as kind of nosy and extremely eager to get involved, Marilyn attended a meeting called “Doing What You Can For Your Community.” After soaking in the information there and brainstorming things to jump into, she came across John Bidwell’s book on how our community was founded. He built the mansion for his bride in 1868. “Oh my gosh! That mansion’s going to be 100 years old this year!” she thought. Marilyn then concluded that was something to celebrate. “You know, in Texas they celebrate everything,” and if Texas does something big, so can we Californians. She got together a group of 4 or 5 women who were recognizable figures in the community at that time, and started the group fondly named La Señoras. Even more recognizable were the bright pink dresses each member wore! They organized an event around the

100th year of the mansion’s existence: there were antique cars, music, booths from places around Chico, a parade, and big dance at the old Elks Hall downtown. It was the first getting-her-feet-wet event, but she was addicted for years to come. If you enjoy the Independence Day fireworks show put on every year, you can thank Marilyn. If you don’t enjoy the traffic jam afterwards, you aren’t alone in that. She laughed and commented “Ya know, it was the first big traffic issue in our town…which I believe insinuates great success!” One Fourth of July she was lying on the hood of a neighbor’s truck, watching the sky light up in bursts, with her son Grant. The show was advertised as spectacular, and it really was! Sometimes in the spring, you might notice sporadic groups of orange poppies on the hill-

side of the Oroville Dam. Marilyn, in 1969, really thought that area needed something special. Hughes aircraft and a seeding company agreed to help plant the flowers, and even after accidental weed spraying killed off many of the poppies, some held on and still thrive today! Everywhere she goes Marilyn brings a color and energy unlike any other woman I have ever met. With an 89th birthday coming up December 5th there is one big thing left on her bucket list that has yet to be achieved. Devoted to roses, she is in the planning stages of how to create a rose garden for people to enjoy near lower Bidwell Park. People could buy one rose bush in honor of, or for, somebody and have it planted. The process is kind of in limbo right now but we all hope that at some point in the near future, plans can move forward. What a great birthday present that would be. In the true character of Marilyn, celebrating her birthday means giving even more back to her community.

After owning a PR Agency called Warrens Associates and then opening boutique, La Bellarosa, that sold unique kimonos, dresses, and gifts; while also helping with children’s theater at McManus Elementary, there is not much Marilyn hasn’t connected with. She feels utterly blessed with the opportunities and recognition received here. She won the Honorary Doctorate Award from Chico State in 2006, but tells me that “in the pit of her stomach, she feels indebted to the town.” It is almost incomprehensible that a woman who has done so much for our town feels that way, but it is just her giving personality that also makes her one of the most humble and outstanding women I have been lucky enough to meet. Thank you for all that you have done, and Happy Birthday Marilyn!

Alyssa Worley Michelle Camy

UPGRADED LIVING | DECEMBER 2013 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

California Regional Theater Kids stomping to the beat and singing loudly is the scene we enter at California Regional Theater. The smiles around the room are contagious and we can’t help but clap along to their rendition of a song from The Jungle Book! The California Regional Theater staff was hand chosen, by owner Bob Maness, to be the best compilation of talent and enthusiasm in bringing out the actor in anybody who walks through the doors. Bob was born here in Chico but grew up in East Los Angeles where there were programs to help kids in that area. The programs would bring in professional theater majors to work with the kids and that is where Bob’s passion began! After being trained by college professors in high school, he felt that was the key that opened the lock to his insight and inspiration. Finally realizing that what he wanted to do with his life was theater, he began working at community and professional theaters in LA, Bakersfield, and San Francisco. Later, he found himself at the position of the youngest corporate manager for Miller’s Outpost, flying all across the state. In 1998, he decided a break from corporate America was desperately needed. He moved to his father’s ranch back in Chico with his family. During the 6 year period of ranching and not much time for theater, the absence rejuvenated the drive he had always felt was within himself and he brought theater back into his life. California Regional Theater opened for business with its first show debut of Peter Pan. It was a flying success. The theater is comprised of three

branches. The first being regional; these are Broadway shows that involve people of all ages. Having been involved in one of these productions myself, I cannot begin to describe the tremendous amount of fun and talent each cast brings. Not only does acting help people gain confidence and express themselves in unique ways, but it is also a gateway to getting to know who you are in a safe and inviting environment. CRT Kids is the second part of the theater. This branch has grown tremendously. What started out as 15 students has grown to 65! The children’s program does two to three shows simultaneously: right now keep an eye out for The Jungle Book and Mulan. The Murder Mystery Dinners are the last branch. They involve an entirely separate production crew and cast and many large companies, including Sierra Nevada Brewery, hire them for holiday events. You can find more information about all of these at www.CRTshows.com. Although each branch has been tremendously successful, there is another reason Bob loves what he does. You may have recently seen Les Miserables (which understandably had standing ovations at ten out of ten showings), or one of the many other shows California Regional Theater has produced. If this is you, California Regional Theater thanks you for giving back to the community. Every CRT show has a sponsor, and that sponsor picks a local charity or organization to give back to. For example, $4,000 of Les Miserables ticket proceeds went to the CSUC Arts Program. Bob’s main mission in opening a theater is

to “work together for a greater cause for the greater good.” Every cast member who walks in those doors for rehearsal is aware that they are doing something excellent for themselves, but also for people less fortunate in our town. Bob explains “I have nobody who works for me, but many who work WITH me.” That is the reason I love this theater. Yes, they have incredible productions, and yes they are a cut above the rest with live orchestras; but what really sets California Regional Theater apart is its love for its community and the people involved in each show.

Alyssa Worley Michelle Camy 17

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UPGRADED LIVING | DECEMBER 2013 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

Bidwell Park is the brilliant thread that runs through the fabric of Chico. At Park Forest, l o c a t e d d i r e c t l y a c r o s s f r o m t h e C h i c o N a t u r e C e n t e r, e v e r y t h i n g B i d w e l l P a r k h a s t o o f f e r is truly at your doorstep. The project features woodsy craftsman exterior design combined with high quality interior finishes in efficient and livable open space plans. Comfort, b e a u t y, a n d q u a l i t y a t t h e p a r k - - y o u t o o c o u l d b e c o m i n g h o m e t o P a r k F o r e s t v e r y s o o n .

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UPGRADED LIVING | DECEMBER 2013 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

rainmaker: INCREDIWEAR

Bryan Bulaga sports Incrediwear on his knees and elbows.

Manteo Mitchell pulls ahead with an Incrediwear calf sleeve

As a cyclist, flying through the air over your handlebars, and landing on hard lava rocks is never an ideal situation. However, Jackson Corley ended up making a terribly painful thing into inspiration to help anybody who has been in a similar bind. Being a Chiropractor for 20 years had instilled in Jackson the passion to help people hands-on. After his cycling accident that left him with 3 herniated disks in his back, he was sent to two different neurosurgeons. It was then that he realized he wanted to create something non-medicinal for a wide range of people with different aches. The accident forced him to retire from his beloved practice, but also opened up the time and opportunity to begin a new venture: Incrediwear. By threading together nano bamboo charcoal, for its antimicrobial benefits, and crushed germanium, the result is an energizing fabric that increases blood circulation and blood volume. Incrediwear products release negative ions after 10 minutes of skin contact which then pass through your body, and give some of their energy to your cell walls, causing vibrations within. These vibrations are what aid in circulation. The ions are also completely natural, thus posing no side effects or threat to the body! Jackson insisted we try a product to see and feel the immediate results. After tugging an arm brace over my elbow, it only took about 5 seconds for cold to travel over the area. The increase in blood 22

flow results in more oxygen to the tissues repairing any damaged tissue allowing the body to heal more quickly. From first-hand experience, I can tell you this product works! Other people agree. Incrediwear is now marketed on a global scale. Countless lists of profes-

Incrediwear owner, Jackson Corley

sional athletes not only use the products, but sleep with them on; when they wake up, it’s like they never trained, the pain is gone. Snowboarding godfather Terje Haakonsen, pro football player Bryan Bulaga, and a few other recently-injured players use Incrediwear products frequently. Olympian Manteo Mitchell specializes in the 400m relay. During a major race at the 2012 London Olympics, Manteo broke his left fibula mid race. Although in extreme pain, he had to pass the baton to his fellow teammates. If he didn’t finish, his entire team would not have been able to continue in the race, achieving the silver medal. Once he picked his training back up after the injury, Manteo began to have severe shin splints. After wearing Incrediwear’s calf sleeve,

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that pain dissipated in only a couple of days. He is now a main supporter of Jackson’s company and will tell you that the difference in his pain is remarkable. Incrediwear is continuing to grow in popularity among athletes. Professional umpires are being used for clinical trials and the NY Giants’ medical team has been using the products on injured players. There are two main branches of Incrediwear. Starting with Incredisocks, there are many options depending on your need. These are great for diabetics or people with chronic cold feet. Incrediwear technology enhances the blood flow, regulating body temperature. Cycling Weekly magazine commented, “We didn’t have any issues with cold feet despite the 6 degree Celsius temperature. They are thin, fit exceptionally well…and we forgot we were even wearing them!” Alhambra Water president Chris Boone, purchased these for himself and all his workers, who swear by them. The second branch is the Incredibrace; used by doctors and professional athletes to accelerate healing and performance. The Incredibraces are often used for post-surgical patients to control swelling and allow faster recovery and a greater range of motion after only a short time. This enables individuals to begin any necessary rehab quicker than normal. The NFL in particular uses it for post-ACL surgery. Future plans for the company consist of a possible clothing line, beanies, and Incrediwear for arthritic animals! “When only the best is good enough” pull on an Incrediwear product for immediate pain relief. You can find Incrediwear products at Sports LTD, North Rim Adventure Sports, S&S Produce, Cycle Sports, The Uniform Store, and the Incrediwear office off Cohasset. Jackson’s passion for helping people in our own community and all around the world, teamed with endless energy, make this a product we feel great backing; literally! Alyssa Worley

Fo r t h e To d d le r to Te e n Ye a r s Shoes • Clothing • Accessories gift cards also available Locally owned

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Donations needed for our upcoming Jewelry Event. Please peek into your Jewelry Box and donate one piece you no longer love, for our upcoming Annual Jewelry Event in February 2014.

Michelle Camy and courtesy of Incrediwear 23

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ROCKSIDE RANCH Nestled on one hundred acres of pasture and w o o d l a n d s i n S c o t t Va l l e y , California, Rockside Ranch is quickly making a name for itself in the ever-growing industry of grass-fed meat. H o w e v e r, u n l i k e m o s t f a r m s of its kind, raising quality food is not its only mission; in fact, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s far more to this ranch than initially meets the eye.

Craig Thompson grew up in Chico. The son of a local rice farming family, he attended Rosedale and Emma Wilson elementary schools before going on to Chico Junior High School, Chico Senior High School and eventually landing at Azusa Pacific University where he majored in political science and church music. Jen Wagner grew up in Woodland Hills, California where she attended First Lutheran Northridge through junior high, Calabasas High School, and also landed at Azusa Pacific University where she studied communication. It was on her first day at Azusa Pacific that she and Craig first met and the two continued to meet through the schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s music program for the remainder of their college careers. Craig graduated in 2008 and moved up to Etna, California where he was offered a program director position at Kidder Creek Camp, an adventure camp designed to help instill confidence and a spirit of appreciation for nature in its young

campers. After two years with the program, Craig talked Jen into applying for a position as well, as the two had recently started dating. She gave it a try and after one summer working together at the camp, the two were engaged. They were married by the end of the year. They each had grown up dreaming of having a ranch of their own with a philanthropic mission. It was one of the things that drew them together as a couple, and even on their honeymoon they wondered if now was the time to start it. The thought seemed overwhelming, but as they began their new life together, the pieces seemed to serendipitously fall into place. Craig picked up a position working at an organic cattle ranch in the valley while Jen began her new position at a group home. With the two new jobs in place, the couple was able to further plan and realize the opportunity in sharing a ranch together. With their newly stabilized finances and a great find on a piece of land in Scott Valley, Craig

UPGRADED LIVING | DECEMBER 2013 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

and Jen decided to start leasing the one-hundred acre parcel of land in 2011 and were given 12 hens to start their new farm. Wanting to do something a bit more unconventional, the two decided to make their ranch a sort of halfway home for those who needed to put space between themselves and their current circumstances. As peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s backgrounds and circumstances varied completely, they thought that the farm and its work would provide structure and allow for intervention and rehabilitation of men who were caught up in addiction, criminal behavior, etc. The program was not to be provided as a court mandate, nor would it be state funded in any way. Instead, the two decided that the ranch would be a place for those who voluntarily wanted to change their lives for the better, so they built the program in such a way where hearing about it would be completely organic and simply through word-of-mouth. As Craig continued at the cattle

ranch, he was met with many requests for chicken. Considering the fact that nobody in Siskiyou County was raising pastured poultry, the two decided that they would give it a shot. They received their first chicks in March of 2012 and as the two began to raise them, they realized their need for more help around the ranch. Jen continued to mention a gut feeling that some guy would show up on their front porch someday soon and want to stick around. Unfortunately, at the time there was nowhere for anyone new to live and the two couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t financially support a third member of the team. Perhaps worst of all, they also had no idea how to raise a chicken. A second house on their property was being rented by an elderly woman for nearly a decade prior to their purchase of the land, and Craig and Jen had given her the option to live there as long as sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like. The first weekend in May, three men on a cross country road trip from Pennsylvania showed up at the farm; their car had run out of gas and they were in need of work to pay for a fill-up. At dinner, Josh (one of the three stranded men) inquired further about the ranch and it struck a chord with him. He decided he wanted to stay and made plans to fly back in June. As the two began preparing their own home to accommodate one more, the elderly woman in the second house approached them. She had been on a waiting list at a retirement home and a spot had recently opened; she was moving out in eleven days. Josh arrived a few short days later. Josh remained with the ranch

throughout the summer, helping to raise poultry, pigs, and grow produce. His time at the ranch not only provided a significant helping hand, but plenty of information on how to grow a more successful program. For starters, the community

of people on the ranch had to grow to be successful. As they talked with their friendsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; families about their newfound adventures, two of those families decided to move onto the farm with them. By the end of February, Craig and Jen purchased the property they had been leasing for nearly two years, and created a community of six adults, one child,

and a baby on the way. Between February and April, through personal reference and word of mouth, three men heard about the ranch and came down to check it out. They interviewed for a position, signed the paperwork and started working. With so many helping hands, the ranch was able to significantly grow its operation, raising chickens, turkeys, pigs, ducks, geese and produce. Having learned their lesson with nearby natural predators, they enlisted the guardianship of a goat, llama, and family dog. Throughout this past summer the ranch remained a chaotic zone of learning. Production increased by 300%, and both Craig and Jen realized the financial realities of what they needed to do to make the business sustainable and continue to meet the growing demand of

their customer base. They installed a hydroponic fodder system that grows 756 pounds of organic wheat sprouts every single day. The system uses no soil, and creates zero waste as the farm animals eat every last part of it. Unlike other ranching methods that become progressively more difficult throughout the win31

each year that would come through the program and leave better set up for success in the world of farming or whatever career path they choose. Perhaps most importantly, they are looking to turn what they’ve learned and developed on their ranch into a program that would be replicable by other farmers who would like to do something similar with their own farms. To make all of these dreams a reality, they need a couple things, including fencing and irrigation; that’s where the website KICKSTARTER.com comes in. Craig and Jen have set a financial goal of raising $38,000 through their KICKSTARTER campaign. With the raised funds, they are planning to irrigate and fence their pasture and provide a better winter housing solution for their animals. Chickens that lay eggs need a space where they can come in from the rain and venture out into the sun at their own leisure during the winter months. Rather than using artificial lights or stimulants to keep egg production strong during the winter, Craig and Jen protect the chickens’ natural and instinctual slowdown, but to maintain production needs, the chickens have to be safeguarded to meet their goals. Currently the farm provides food to 40 families from Butte County up to the Oregon border with monthly home deliveries and they have room and resources to provide for approximately sixty more. You can support their program by visiting RocksideRanch.com for more information on their KICKSTARTER campaign and donate by clicking the link there. The campaign to raise funds will end on Christmas this year, so take the time to check it out.

ter months when pastures tend to dry up, this method provides daily nutrients whether whole or in part for nearly 1,400 animals. Skim milk from the farm’s dairy cow alongside soyfree non-gmo grain supplements the organic wheat sprouts and provides food that meets the full nutritional needs for all animals existing on the farm, about as sustainable of a system as one could ask for. With three summers behind 32

them, Craig and Jen have learned their fair share about starting a new ranch, and their program is ready to make its next big leap. The end goal is to maintain a custom farm for approximately one hundred families that would see the farm as a source for their meat and eggs, and to raise the animals on the farm to standards that those families would be proud of. They’re looking forward to hosting a handful of young men

UPGRADED LIVING | DECEMBER 2013 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

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AFTER

New Again in Paradise New Again Kitchen & Bath has transformed this Paradise home into a classic beauty. With the collaborative efforts of New Again’s designer, Ric Powers, and independent contractor, Bob Fraga, the kitchen has become a timeless black-and-white masterpiece. New Again’s Absolute Black granite reflects the cleanliness of the kitchen, inviting those to take a seat on the black bar stools and see what’s cooking. “I feel fabulous,” the homeowner said. She explained that although their previous kitchen was something she could live with, she wanted to save up for their ideal kitchen. Fraga has done dozens of homes in Butte County over the past three and a half years using New Again Kitchen & Bath on 36

every occasion, and together they continually impress their clients. “I was very confident working with them” the homeowner said, and this investment of trust truly paid off. The renovation was started on September 12, and with 75 percent of the ceiling torn out, just two months later it was completed. The carpet has been replaced with tile that looks like walnut flooring, which creates a very attractive yet easily maintainable floor. Originally the kitchen only had 2 drawers, but now with custom white Shaker cabinetry and a bathroom converted into a pantry, there’s enough room to stock up food for the whole winter. In addition to the granite counter tops, there is an island with a

UPGRADED LIVING | DECEMBER 2013 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

black walnut butcher block atop, creating ample space for cooking preparation. The homeowner is excited to put it to the test and will be cooking an Asian style Thanksgiving dinner for about twenty people this year. Powers’ keen eye and advanced knowledge of design has unfolded in the kitchen. He explains the psychology behind choosing different brands of appliances. In a space where you spend time and energy preparing food to sustain and treat yourself and loved ones, it makes sense to choose top of the line products to make the daily kitchen experience that much more enjoyable. From the mission-style trim to the Kichler hanging light fixtures, the kitchen’s details create an am-

BEFORE

biance that perfects its seamless construction and design. When a home-owner comes across a space that they feel needs new life, a re-imagining begins. To understand a personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dream space, design it and make it into reality takes patience, a rare ability to perceive a client and an inventive eye for design; New Again Kitchen & Bath has just that. Walking into this kitchen, it is easy to see the concept for this space was born out of a love of cooking and respect for design. A rare balance of function and beauty, modern simplicStop by N ity and down home Ag ew feel, creates a stateBath ain Kitc hen in C wha ment worth having t the hico a & company over for. n y ca n do d see New Again Kitchfor y 2505 ou! en & Bath can do PAR K everything from the (530 AVE, C ) 899 H ground up, or you -288 ICO can combine tal8 ents by bringing in an outside contractor, like Fraga. Give your home the gift of design and call New Again Kitchen & Bath to make your dream space come true. Emma Wood-Wright Joel Fricker

(Left) Katie Vaclavic, (Right) Virginia Walker

Katie’s Corner

Vibrant colors lure shoppers into Katie’s Corner, a wooden giraffe peeks up from the display encouraging customers to explore further. Located on the east side of the Chico Mall, next to Sears, Katie Vaclavik and her partner, Virginia Walker, have created a unique shopping experience. “We have brought together an eclectic and exclusive collection of women’s clothing, jewelry, gifts and home decor displayed in a way to encourage our customers to enjoy spending time exploring,” Virginia says. Katie’s Corner offers a metropolitan look for women who enjoy being fashionable. The clothing selection ranges from casual attire to evening wear, including hard-to-find sizes. Included among the beautiful displays are many accessories like jewelry, handbags, and scarves, in addition to antiques and vintage items that are ideal for use when entertaining and for gifts. Virginia and her daughter make some of the fine jewelry sold at the store, but Virginia isn’t the only one with impressive craftsmanship. Katie has a degree in nursing and art. She is a master quilter and the American 38

Quilters Society featured some of her quilts in the 2003 quilt show in Paducah, Kentucky. “My life went from nursing to painting to quilting,” Katie says. She has previously taught oil painting and art quilting and says she can take a picture or any image and recreate it in fabric. Several of Katie’s quilts are on display in the store. Virginia, the youngest of the Toney family, grew up in Oroville, but left to go to college and start her career as a CFO in the Silicon Valley. She had the opportunity to work in Europe, where she would spend weekends browsing antique shops for items to ship to her house that was being built in Chico. She shipped things like European porcelain, dinnerware, and tea sets overseas. She always envisioned doing something that would incorporate these treasures. “Most of my years in finance, I’ve always had this creative side,” Virginia said. Virginia and Katie met in 2010 when Katie’s Corner was located in downtown Chico. Virginia describes their instantaneous friendship, “We had a lot in common and our values were aligned, so we became friends very fast.” Once the pair discovered they both had a passion for col-

UPGRADED LIVING | DECEMBER 2013 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

lecting things during their travels, they set up a section in the store for these items. When the time came to explore a new location in 2013, Virginia and Katie decided to become partners of the business. “It’s much easier to have someone to bounce your ideas off and share in the responsibilities,” Katie explains. And with Virginia’s business experience, they make quite the dynamic duo. Upon entering the store, their camaraderie is hard to ignore. “What you have is two very creative women that need an outlet,” Virginia says. From Katie’s homemade fudge to Virginia’s hand-crafted jewelry, Katie’s Corner is the perfect place for holiday gifts. They even have a book where women can write down the things they like, and then their husbands or loved ones can come in, check the list and buy the gifts for them. Stop in and start your own wish-list, but be careful because with the variety of quality items to choose from at Katie’s Corner, that could turn into one long list! Emma Wood-Wright Michelle Camy

Third Annual

A Day at the Mill

Saturday, Dec. 14th, 2013 10am-4pm EXPERIENCE OUR

Citrus Crush

e n j oy t h e c i t r u s & o l i ve a ro m a s , wa tc h co o k i n g d e m o n st ra t i o n s & t r y a va r i e t y o f l o c a l fo o d s & m i c ro b rews .

2 1 2 0 L o l e t a Ave • C o r n i n g , C A

8 7 7 3 3 0 2 1 9 0 • w w w. l u c e r o o l i ve o i l . c o m

This Season family gatherings business parties or game night You have the fun... ...we’ll clean the mess!

Thankful for Wonderful Customers 20% off a single bra purchase, good through the end of December.

Bra Fitting - Bridal Foundations 344 W. 8th St., Chico 530-343-2790 TheGraduateChico.com

240 Main Street, Chico 530-343-3333

HeavenlyBlueLingerie.com 39

Absolutely stunning and remarkable one-of-a-kind estate on 27.14 acres on forested land! This private retreat has so much to offer in its amazing quality & amenities. As you enter the foyer you will be greeted by a 1 1/2 story waterfall surrounded by a grand staircase. Main house is 4 levels, 7,934 sq. ft. 5 bedrooms, 6.5 baths. 2 master suites, 2 mini suites, & 1 additional bedroom. Plus 700 sq. ft. unfinished guest quarters, 5 plus 2 garages. The grand ballroom would not be complete without the four manual, twenty-two ranks 1920â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Theatre Pipe Organ with state-of-the-art computer control featuring record and playback capabilities. The sound is absolutely incredible! A 12x20 skylight with retractable doors & special lighting. Hidden staircase leads you up to the 4th. floor sitting area. 2 marble fireplaces, commercial kitchen with 3 sub-zero refrigeration units, Professional Viking stove/ dishwasher, lg. island, granite counter tops, lg. walk in pantry & state-of-the-art hydronic radiant floor system. Amazing landscaping. Second residence is approx.3000 sq.ft. With over 2,000 sq.ft. of additional sq. ft. including a greenhouse, enclosed gazebo, 3-car attached garage, + 2 car detached garage, shop, mechanics pit, extensive patios & decking surrounding the home. Bed: 5.0 Bath: 4.0 SqFt: 7,934 Price: $2,750,000

Awesome 3 bedroom, 2 bath home in the country, AND...in the Durham School District! This home shows pride of ownership! Light & bright, warm and cozy! Many upgrades in resent years, include roof, carpeting, 2 water heaters, ceramic tile flooring in several rooms, & pergo style flooring in kitchen,. Professionally painted inside and out. Many large windows looking out to the surrounding orchards, & flower gardens making for a very light and bright home! Plus a large garden window looking out to a beautiful front yard. There is simply too much to list! Call today to see it for yourself! Bed: 3.0 Bath: 2.0 SqFt: 2,558 Price: $278,500 42

UPGRADED LIVING | DECEMBER 2013 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

Lo my to eff

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Depa Team at RE/MAX of Chico

Looking back on 2013 I have much to be thankful for. I wish to thank the many families that have trusted my team and me to help them buy or sell a home or help with their investment needs. I am also thankful to all the co-operating brokers, lenders, title company staffs, home inspectors, and contractors whose efforts have helped support myself and my team make it all possible. Steven J. Depa 530.896.9339 depasells@aol.com BRE# 00813533

w 44

UPGRADED LIVING | DECEMBER 2013 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

Serving all of Butte County Two locations to serve you! Paradise 530-872-5880 Magalia 530-873-7640

201 Broadway, Chico (530) 342-7000 ChicoCrush.com

This Season family gatherings business parties or game night You have the fun... ...weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll clean the mess!

www.RemaxofParadise.com 800-897-3629

344 W. 8th St., Chico 530-343-2790 TheGraduateChico.com

each ofďŹ ce is independently owned and operated

Maman, Maman

For Evelyn, my mother, for Emma, her mother, and for Karen, the mother of my children. By Jamie O’Neill Photographs by Sionann O’Neill

BRES

It is bitter cold on Omaha Beach two weekends before Christmas, and so my daughter, Sionann, sits in her rental car, watching her Paris friends survey this site she knows so well, having brought a succession of visitors from her Normandy house here to this old killing ground to share in the homage she pays to all the young men who died on this stretch of sand so long before she was born. Her friends sprint near water’s edge, running against the cold wind that cuts across the channel and through their winter coats. Even in the car, she can feel that wind. She turns up the heater, and

she turns up the music, too--Joan Baez singing Ave Maria in German. It is music my daughter has known since she was an infant, a Christmas album we bought when she was three months old and have listened to every Christmas since then, more than forty years. She is, at first, swept up by nostalgia and it takes a few moments before she even realizes the language Joan Baez is singing in, and how that particular song sung in German must resonate with the ghosts who inhabit this gray seaside terrain, all those young German men who died here more than half a century ago, calling out for their mothers with their dying breaths.

Then her friends--the four of them part of a choral group Sionann has invited here to sing carols in her village--run back up the beach to where she sits in the car. Their cheeks are red with the cold, and they bring that salty Atlantic cold into the car, a gust of it on their coats and the surface of their exposed skin, but they are all aglow with laughter and vitality as Sionann starts the engine and they turn away from the beach to drive inland where they are expected, where they will sing carols at the retirement home in my daughter’s village, just a block from her house in a town called Cerisy la Forêt-Cherry of the Forest--a place

O 47

liberated by some of the men who survived the landing on this beach weeks after their comrades fell here, turning the water crimson and staining the sand where they bled their young lives away. The place my daughter drives to is on a street renamed, in fact, for the infantry division that pushed the Germans out in that summer of 1944-Avenue 2 “e” Division Indian Head, an unwieldy name, but an honor no post-war Norman would speak against. At the retirement home, the old people are assembled in the large common room, in wheelchairs and on sofas, awaiting the arrival of this odd American girl and her friends-British and American ex-pats, and a Parisian, plus a couple of people from the village who spent the evening before rehearsing the songs in my daughter’s living room, singing around the fire in her hearth, all those old songs of hope offered up for so long in the dead of winter, songs sung against the cold and the dark--”O Come, O Come Emmanuel,” “Away in a Manger,” “Petit Papa Noel,” “Stille Nacht.” And they sing more recent holiday songs, too--”Blue Christmas,” for example, with my daughter vamping an Elvis impersonation that makes the old people clap their hands together and exclaim in French. And, when they pause in their singing--this unexpected invasion of young people come to sing them the season--one of the old women begins to sing a song in 48

French that translates to “We’ll Never Be Twenty Again.” When her singing is met with delight, she sings the song once more, all the way through, with the visitors joining in, the sentiment as true for them as it is for the octogenarians who live in this place. There is a tree in the corner, sparsely decorated, but the lights blink on and off-- red, blue, golden--and the pine smell does battle with the odor of urine and antiseptics that hangs wherever the elderly are warehoused, in France just as everywhere else. Then there is an interlude for punch and petit-fors and my daughter, who is--you’ll forgive a father his pride--perhaps the sweetest human being in either France or the country of her birth,

UPGRADED LIVING | DECEMBER 2013 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

notices a stricken old woman, well over 90, slumped in a wheelchair, her face an utter ruin, tears spilling down the slack flesh of her wrinkled cheeks. Many would ignore those tears, of course, and many would turn away from the obvious pain in this woman’s face. Many would join the conviviality of the nurses and the attendants around the punch bowl, would pretend not to have seen those tears, would avoid the uncomfortable proximity to a stranger’s sorrows, especially the sorrows of an elderly woman who may be addled, and who is, in all likelihood, beyond solace. But Sionann, bless her heart, is not such a person. She goes and sits next to the woman, hears her muttered calls for her mother-”Maman, Maman”-and takes the woman’s bony old hand in her own while she tries to think of what to say, of what there is to say. Finally, she says something, words in French meant to be soothing. They are universal, the sentiments my daughter expresses in that moment, words meant to bring comfort, though they feel dry and hollow in her mouth. “But,” the old woman replies, her voice hoarse and hushed, “I am so very sick.” Sick enough to call out for

her mother, long, long dead. Sick enough to grip the hand of this stranger who, though not her mother, has come to her in answer to entreaties that echo those she made when she was a little girl with a scraped knee, calling for her mother to come and take away the pain and make the fear go away, back when her mother was alive and young, long before Germans soldiers came to this place, or American soldiers, either, and clashed in places near here where she had played as a child. “It’s all right,” my daughter says, “you’re going to feel better soon.” And then, in the way such words get spoken, she says it again, and still again, stroking the limp and mottled hand with each repetition, herself now become, in this moment of grace, the mother to this now motherless old woman. The choir re-gathers at the front of the room, beckons my daughter to join them, and she bends to kiss the old woman’s cheek before taking her place with her friends who sing Schubert’s Ave Maria in Latin, though none of them knows exactly what the words mean. The young people who came to sing in this place raise their voices again for those who draw near death, for those who live less than a stone’s throw from an abbey dating back a millennium, where people of this region have gath-

ered in the dead of a thousand winters to raise voices in song and supplication, singing praises to a child, and to that child’s mother. In Greek, meter, in Russian mate, in German mutter, in Sanskrit matri, in Irish mathair, in Spanish, madre in Mandarin, ma, in Swedish, mor, in Arabic, umm. Across the sorrowing globe we call out for our mothers in prayers secular, or prayers religious, offered to our mothers, or our idea of mothers, or to the mother of us all. Then it is time for the residents of the home for old people in the cherry of this forest to go to their separate rooms and their beds, and then it is time for the younger ones who came to sing for them to leave, to return to the world where the young will gather for a late dinner around my daughter’s table before they, too, take themselves to bed and offer their whispered or unspoken prayers in the darkness, just before sleep, seeking comfort, seeking peace, seeking to push back the bad and troubling things for yet another night, yet another day. The hopes and fears of all the years. The prayers of untold billions of hearts on thousands of unrecorded winter nights like this one my daughter knows on that cold Norman coast so far from her own mother, so very far from home.

I’M DREAMING OF A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS

by Alyssa Worley photos by Michelle Camy, Joel Fricker and courtesy of participants There’s one holiday tradition that shines brighter than most. It’s really as easy as getting in the car and driving! No cooking, cleaning, or planning involved. Christmas light looking is an experience everybody can enjoy. I have many memories of getting bundled up in my sweater, holding a hot chocolate, and looking out the windows of the car; my eyes widening at each display. Blow up Santas that sway jollily in the winter breeze, white icicle strands of lights hang precariously from roof linings, and bulbs upon bulbs of dazzling decorations are exhibited in countless ways; even light shows! It is amazing the time and effort people put into decorating for Christmas. After talking with many of them, it was unanimous that they do this every year for us: the community. How often do you get people who welcome strangers to come stare at their homes? Many even hand out cookies and treats to light-lookers. What an incredible way to give back. We at Upgraded Living truly appreciate any displays of effort going toward brightening our community. I’m not sure you could get any brighter than these houses and the people that live in them! 50

UPGRADED LIVING | DECEMBER 2013 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

MAXINE WHELCHEL, MELANIE WHELCHEL, AND JESSEN WHELCHEL LIVE AT 1206 WEST WIND DRIVE Kyle Whelchel, Melissa McCollum and Ruby Whelchel also help decorate but do not live with us. We usually also have someone help put lights up on top of the house because my dad (Claude Whelchel) used to do that. How many years have you been decorating? It started out with some decorating and has grown each year since. Some new decorations are added each year. We have been on the tour of lights for 16 years. Where did you get the lights and decorations that you currently use? The lights are purchased at different stores in town...the other decorations (elves, tree, Rudolph, sleigh, American flag, mailbox, Mr. and Mrs. Claus, etc) were/are handmade by Maxine Whelchel and Claude Whelchel. The mailbox was Claude’s idea with the hope

that kids would put their letters to Santa in it (with a return address and stamp) and that he would send a letter back to them “from Santa.” Why do you love doing this every year? Claude and Maxine Whelchel always loved making other people smile and decorating at Christmas was just one more way that they could do that. It makes people happy and helps get people into the Christmas spirit. It is fun for us and makes it fun for everyone else.

the hospital for a treatment, but the house will still be decorated for everyone to enjoy. Every Christmas we would go as a family to look at Christmas lights/ decorations all throughout Chico, it was a way for us to spend time together and be happy, so we know that with our house decorated other families are out doing the same thing.

What’s your favorite thing about the holidays? Being together with family. We have always been a very close family. Claude passed away last August after battling leukemia for 9 months and we made the decision to keep up our tradition of decorating because it was something he loved to do. This Christmas will also be a difficult one for us, because Jessen was diagnosed with cancer and will be spending the week of Christmas as well as the week after Christmas in 51

Mountain View Christmas Tree Farm

Close your eyes, breathe deeply, and imagine December. When you think of the holidays what do you gather? Maybe it’s the smell of the cinnamon spice candle you buy every year, the feeling of the faux fur lining inside your favorite coat pocket, or the slightly bitter essence of a fire burning in the fireplace. When I close my eyes, I smell the aroma of pine needles and crisp air fresh from a recent snowfall. I open my eyes, and there I am at Mountain View Christmas Tree Farm, exactly what I imagined. The leaves have fallen and line the pathway of the private road into the tree farm: a natural wonderland. Owner, Joe McNally greets us as we walk up the graveled path to his home near the tree farm, along with man’s best friend, Marvel the dog. He wears a flannel and thick vest due to the already biting cold in early November. Joe was born and raised in Modesto , CA but came to Chico State as a Geography major. Always active, he loved running track and cross country, and was always interested in our planet, and the land’s role in it. He began his career as a firefighter, which as you can imagine requires a very focused and thoughtful kind of person. Joe told me “Once in a while, you have to go at the fastest mental speed possible, and make a dynamic situation static.” Since retiring from the firehouse, he and his wife Anne have helped in running some major music festivals in our area including World Fest in Grass Valley. His specific skill set is important for the mechanical set up, while Anne’s is in consulting and creative suggestions. Lucky for us, their retirement has also led to a beautiful, seasonal tradition. One year, Joe was helping out one of his agriculture major buddies with running a Christmas tree farm. After that, he basically “fell into” the farm business. His geography knowledge told him that a private residence in Paradise was not the right place for a commercial business. His heart told him otherwise. Forty acres of en-

chanting forest overlook the canyon side, and seven and a half acres are committed to growing many different Christmas tree species. Oregon Nobles, Silvertips from the mountainside, White Firs, and Incense Cedars are some examples of the different options when it comes to choosing your tree from his farm this season. Mountain View Christmas Farms has an abundance of nature’s finest. As opposed to tree lots, where the cut is “quick and dirty,” Joe and Anne are really in the business for the joy of it. I cannot express the feeling of

lacing your boots on and tugging that thick hat over your ears as you scour the tree farm property for the “perfect” tree. Perfection is different for everybody. Maybe you like a short tree with limbs so thick you can barely see the trunk. Maybe you like a tall slender tree with plenty of room between each branch for big ornaments. Regardless, Joe will send you and your family out with a short pull saw, and it is up to you from there! Education is of the utmost importance to the McNallys and that is a major reason why they contin-

How to Care for Your Tree Once it’s Home — Water, water, and more water. Recut the butt of the tree ½ inch then put it in a bucket of water and let it sit. Especially if you are getting a tree from a lot you have to water it for 24 hours after. Don’t put any sugar, salt, bourbon, or bleach in water! Look at the water every day and keep it filled. If it goes below the level of the tree, the tree scabs over. Trees scab like we do and then it is harder to soak the water in. ue this business every year. Spread throughout the farm are signs explaining various wildlife inhabitants that live in and around the farm. Tree clipping samples are laid out in the selling area so you can examine different types. School tours are often requested and he loves showing students the farm animals and letting them experience the great outdoors. Just touring the farm, my cheeks were pink and I felt full of health. The farm truly does magic things to the body and mind, just like the spirit of the holidays. Neighborhood kids and students are some of the help Joe hires every year to keep the farm running consistently. He works all year for only about a month of selling time and trees take about 8 years to grow to full maturity, so it takes a lot of planning. Joe’s goal is to interact with each customer, even though it is technically a self serve business. Joe laughs and says attentively, “People always come after football games, but if you want to get a fantastic deal, come on a Wednesday!”

(Visit www.mtnviewtrees.com for a coupon). As an earth conscious business owner, Joe makes sure that resources are reused whenever possible. Anybody can come and dump wood chips that are then used in the roads and pathways. Pine needles and leaves are spread around, so as to detain weeds from growing. Since there are farm animals like donkeys and goats, manure is used as fertilizer along with compost. There are stumps lining the fire pit where you and your family can roast marshmallows on fresh persimmon sticks straight from the tree garden. Picking your own Christmas tree is an adventure everybody should experience. I cannot stress enough how good it feels to stomp through the farm grounds and let your mind wander. Make it a family tradition. Get hot chocolates, pack a picnic for the trip, and get reacquainted with your family and nature at Mountain View Christmas Tree Farm!

Also keep your tree away from heat sources because they dry them out. All Christmas trees prefer the cold!

Open 7 days a week Monday-Friday 1pm - 6pm Weekends 9am - 6pm

Alyssa Worley

1986 Mountain View Dr. Paradise, CA

Michelle Camy

www.mtnviewtrees.com 57

UPGRADED LIVING | OCTOBER 2013 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM UPGRADED LIVING | DECEMBER 2013 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

Cinderella A Magical Ballet

Chico Community Ballet Performs

December 13th-15th Fri. & Sat. at 7:30 p.m. Sat. & Sun. at 2:00 p.m.

Laxson Auditorium, CSU, Chico

www.chicoperformances.com

Tickets $16-$28 University Box Office 898-6333

UPGRADED LIVING 3rd Annual

H O L I D AY BUYER’S GUIDE PA R T 2 Jingling and twinkling and cheer. Hot drinks and cold nights

and Bing Crosby. Trees are showing up inside and lights are going

up outside. Yep! It’s that time of year again, and most of us haven’t even started shopping yet. Don’t panic, just pull out the mistletoe and kiss procrastination goodbye. ‘Tis the season to shop (local, that is!) and we’ll help get you started with our 2nd Annual Holiday Buyer’s Guide. That’s right, it’s time to get merry!

Around the House Gifts from you to your home

FINDS DESIGN: 1. Wine Bottle Ice Bucket 2. Zuni Bookends 3. Fish Sculpture 4. Uttermost Clock 5. Bicycle Sculpture 6. Decorative Lamp 7. Stressless Sunrise Chair - NEEDHAM'S: 8. Custom decorative framed glass from a family of artists. - HoME EC: 9. Boho Flags $4.50 per flag 10. Winestien $20 - KATIE'S CoRNER: 11. Antique 34 piece Tea Set $225 FINDS DESIGN - 1341 Mangrove Ave. Chico, CA â&#x20AC;˘ (530) 892-1905 62

UPGRADED LIVING | DECEMBER 2013 |

NEEDHAM'S STUDIOS - 237 Broadway St. Chico, CA (530) 345-4718 UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

Stocking Stuffers

The little things that mean the most BIRKENSToCK: 1. Solmate Socks: recycled Cotton made in the USA 2. Anuschka Handpainted Purse 3. Belarno Wallet - ANIKA BURKE: 4. Statement Jewelry in Montana $19.95 each LyoN BooKS: 5. Bob Madgic's book full of beautiful writing and stunning photos exploring the Sacramento Riverâ&#x20AC;˘s natural beauty. Book signing at Lyon books December 12 at 7 PM. - 6. FINDS DESIGN: Variety of Brooches and Necklaces - DERM BAR 7. Obagi Vitamin C serums (10, 15, & 20 %) 8. Skin Medica Dermal Repair Cream 9. Latisse Eyelash Solution 10. Dermalogica Conditioning Body Wash 11. Jane Iredale PurePressed Powder 12. Glytone Mild Gel Wash (4.7 % glycolic acid) - HEAVENLy BLUE: 13. Julianna Rae Midnight Flight Travel Set $46 HOME EC - 231 Main St. Chico, CA (530) 343-5686 LYON BOOKS - 135 Main St. Chico, CA (530) 891-3338 DERMBAR - 85 Declaration Dr., #100 Chico, CA (530) 342-2672

For Her PB&J: 1. Blu Pepper Aztec leather jacket $71 2. All Things Fabulous •Kiss me on the Chic• shirt $94 3. Elan •Bring the Peace• sweater $68 4. Start where you are• ring by Amy Waltz $78 5. Deep or Shallow Heart of Gold• Jacket $120 6. Darling •Daphne Blouse• in orange floral $69.99 7. Darling •Elodie• Handbag $55 - ANIKA BURKE: 8. Tribal Vest in Navy $49.95 - FLEET FEET: 9. The North Face Women's Favorite Pull-over Hoodie $55. PB&J - 3221 Cohasset Rd., #150 Chico, CA (855) 542-0807 64

ANIKA BURKE UPGRADED LIVING | DECEMBER 2013 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

- 211 Main St. Chico, CA (530) 918-8850

Something for the ladies HEAVENLy BLUE: 10. Casual Moments Purple Wave Robe $74 11. Button-Up Night Shirt $84 KATIEâ&#x20AC;˘S CORNER: 12. Nyah striped dress with pockets $128.98 13. Nyah black cardigan $92.98 14. Noblu reversible runaway skirt in black, grey and mustard $158.50 15. Noblu angular tank in mustard $74.89 16. Noblu reversible freedom cardigan $71.69 17. Ravel 100% cotton coat dress $107.98 18. Noblu purple tank $74.89 19. Noblu flip collar jacket with cinched pockets in purple, grey, black and mustard $149.89 FLEET FEET - 241 Main St. Chico, CA (530) 345-1000 HEAVENLY BLUE FINE LINGERIE - 240 Main St., #220 Chico, CA (530) 343-3333

UPGRADED LIVING | DECEMBER 2013 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

Silver and Gold Gifts to make her sparkle

GABRIELLE FERRAR: 1. 14k white gold & 2.34CTW Ruby & 1.02CTW Diamond Swirl Bangle. Appraises for $14,174. our price $7295 2. 20" station necklace 14k yellow gold with yellow sapphires $2796.00-$2811.00 AICORA GEMS (THE JEWELRY BOx): 3. Ring: Sterling Silver, 14K gold, lab grown ruby. $ 195 4. •Ribbon Candy• Pendant. Sterling silver, 24K & 14K gold, 1 carat lab grown ruby. $480 5. Earrings: Handcrafted sterling silver with chocolate pearls. $48 - oLDE GoLD 6. Blue topaz diamond ring, 14k yellow gold $395 7. Sterling silver garnet diamond ring $425 8. Garnet, rhodium plated sterling silver pendant and earring set $100 AICORA GEMS - 1334 Mangrove Ave. Chico, CA (530) 809-1034 68

UPGRADED LIVING | DECEMBER 2013 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM OLDE GOLD -

225 Main St., #3 Chico, CA (530) 891-4610

Thriving vs. “Surviving” The Holidays…What You Should Know to Avoid Weight Gain. By Dr. Dina Rabo, DC This is the time of year

that are packed with preservatives and sugars. If it’s a choice

people either “sink or swim” as

between Buffalo wings and turkey slices, go for the turkey.

far as gluttony and weight gain

Also, choose fruit when available because it has fiber

are concerned. You’re either looking forward to the holidays, spending time with loved ones, attending

which has a better effect on the body and doesn’t cause the big glycemic (sugar) response that a sugar cookie would have on your insulin. The prepared foods are pretty much packed

social events or you’re overwhelmed with your social

with preservatives and sugar substitutes at best, so bring a

venue and how to avoid all of the “foodie pitfalls”

veggie tray. As far as alcohol, be aware that alcohol is sugar.

and indulgences of sugar cookies and cocktails

So go with the notion of having 1 to 2 glasses (if you must)

that await you. First of all, you can avoid weight gain over the holidays without having to do extra time at the gym. It takes a little knowledge and

and then be done. Remember to drink water in between other beverages. Having several glasses of a cocktail usually

preparation, and you can do this with a few helpful

leads to overeating because your body needs something to

tips. The average person can gain 1-2 pounds over

counteract the sugars, so you get cravings for more food.

the holidays (it is not 5-7 pounds as some “health experts” claim. Let’s focus on what you should be aware of to maintain over the holidays and not over indulge. It would be best to stick to protein foods, less

Remember, the holidays are about spending time with loved ones and the food is a by-product. Put your emphasis on the people not the food, and go prepared. Happy Holidays!

sugary foods. Good quality proteins like chicken and white fish are foods that help maintain lean muscle. That being said, go sparingly on cold cuts

Dr. Dina Rabo, DC 530.846.6262 rabochiropracticcenter.com

The Beauty of Combination Skin Therapy By by

Dr. Vimali Paul massage and facial combo that is great for relaxation and pampering. Two hours of quiet time while treating your skin is a great stress reliever.

Some things just work better together, like diet and exercise, or peanut butter and jelly! Similarly, some laser skin treatments benefit by having a light microdermabrasion beforehand to remove superficial dead skin cells. An IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) treatment to diminish hyperpigmentation or rosacea, followed by a Pixel laser to resurface the skin is a great combination for reversing damage done by the sun, old scarring, and chronological ageing. “Accent” face or body contouring is more effective when the body is hydrated (drink lots of water!) and followed by a lymphatic massage to release toxins that surface from the radio-frequency waves that penetrate the tissues. We also do a

The Holidays are a great time to get our skin in shape for the year to come, and it can be a great gift we give to ourselves, or to others. When we look better, we feel better, and that’s a great combination! Visit us at the Derm Bar Med-Spa for a free consultation to find the right solutions for your skin care needs. Call us at (530) 342-2672 to schedule an appointment!

Call the DermBar to schedule an appointment with our licensed skin care professionals! 85 Declaration Drive #100, Chico 530.342.2672 | thedermbar.com

Water Works! By Scott Amick, CPT

Though the thought of donning a swimsuit may terrify most of you readers, I have an exercise option for you that will make it WORTH IT. I am proud to announce that ABD is now expanding our service to include AquaDynamics! AquaDynamics is located inside of the newly constructed, world-class, fluffy towel, Chico Hydrotherapy Center located on Flying V Way right here in Chico! Featuring a top of the line Hydroworx pool, AquaDynamics will focus on submerged treadmill exercise and rehabilitation. By coupling the natural healing properties of water with advanced aquatic therapy technology such as underwater treadmills, resistance therapy jets, underwater cameras and deep tissue massage, you have an unbeatable exercise and rehab tool to achieve advanced results. Here are 5 reasons why AquaDynamics will change the way you think about running, rehabilitation, and exercise: 1. An exercise solution for all levels of weight bearing. Buoyancy of the water eliminates up to 90% of an individual’s body weight! 2. Begin rehab sooner in the water than on land to reduce inflammation and accelerate rehab. 3. Pain is greatly reduced when exercising in warm water. Good-bye impact! 4. Lean muscle mass and overall leg strength is greatly improved with underwater treadmill exercise. 5. Unbelievable rejuvenation and recovery abilities. Submerged treadmill exercise and rehabilitation will revolutionize the fitness industry. Most everything that you can do on land, you can do in water. Furthermore, what you are no longer able to do on land, you can probably do in the water and WITHOUT PAIN. If you are interested in PAIN FREE exercise and rehabilitation, log on to www.advanced-body. com and sign yourself up for a life changing AquaDynamics session.

advanced-body.com 2201 Pillsbury Rd, Chico, CA 95926 (209) 603-4660

UPGRADED LIVING | DECEMBER 2013 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

THE BEST COUNTRY AND TALK RADIO IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA!

Artist Profile: Marty Schulps by Emma Wood-Wright

photos by Emma Wood-Wright Following in his father’s footsteps, Marty Schulps has gone from football player to master potter. Twenty minutes from Chico, Marty’s studio is in the serenity of the country, on a 25acre property in Orland. A yellow dog with two different colored eyes follows Marty to his working area, where his mother is attaching clay handles to some of the mugs. Sheryl Crow is playing on the radio. Being a production potter, Marty uses over 6 tons of clay each year, and travels all over California to sell his work at renaissance fairs. Marty said his father, John, was involved in starting the renaissance faire. “My dad was a god out there,” he said. “Everyone knows our last name.” Although he enjoys carrying on his father’s legacy, he said it can be taxing driving back and forth. Every year he sells his work at the Pleasure Faire in Southern California, and he drives to and from for seven weekends in a row. Schulp’s pottery is also well known at the Northern California Renaissance Faire. His current event is the Dickens Christmas Fair in Daly City which ends December 22. However, if suede vests and turkey legs aren’t enticing enough to make the trip, those who are interested in his family’s work can visit Schulp’s Pottery and Co. downtown Orland. The store carries a variety of ceramic ware that is all dishwasher, microwave, and oven safe. They will also be starting to teach how to throw on the wheel in January 2014.

UL: What do you get from your art? MS: It’s like a therapy for me. I’m sitting at the wheel and there’s nothing else to do but focus on the piece. I let my mind go through things. I feel really at peace, unless I mess up, then I chuck it. But I don’t mess up as much as I used to. UL: How did you develop your style? MS: Pretty much through my dad. And also from school, studying and changing. I have to stick to specific styles for the shows I do. UL: What is your education? MS: I have a degree in art education and ceramics from Chico State. I miss school in a lot of ways. My favorite class was mold making, you just take like four different types of molds and make some weird creature. It’s a fun class, you just get in that zone of creating and then you look up at the clock and its 7:00 and your like ‘oh man I got to get out of here.’ UL: Where is your favorite place to work? MS: My favorite place to work is the studio, all you can hear is a cow. And all the neighbors are nice. UL: What media do you use? MS: I use B-mix, and Rio Red Clay. They like the darker clay out at the renaissance faire because it’s very earthy. But me, I like white clay and a lot of color - that’s why I do a blueblack color that looks really cool. UL: What’s your advice for young artists? MS: It’s crazy to be an artist. In the end, you still got to be able to sell your work, so that’s what it comes down to: eating and paying your bills. You need to find your little niche and find somewhere you can sell your work. I think that’s a problem at Chico State, I see students make stuff, but it will never sell. I’ve already approached the head of the art department saying you need to come up with a class where you teach about selling your work. That’s why I do the renaissance faire. A lot of people are unrealistic. It’s all good when your young, you’re in school but when you get out it’s like here’s your tuition bill! So enjoy it while you can.

UPGRADED LIVING | DECEMBER 2013 | UPGRADEDLIVING.COM

UL: Do you listen to music while you create? MS: I actually watch a lot of movies. There’s a little TV in there. My dad had a lot of movies, it was kind of our thing. I can have my hands on a piece and look up. I listen to the radio, too. I watched “Death at a Funeral” yesterday. I watch all sorts of movies, like “The Goonies.” I’ve probably watched “Willow” like 150 times. UL: What three words that best describe you? MS: Family oriented, my work, and I’m subdued. I’m pretty quiet most of the time. I don’t like a lot of loud people, I played football from when I was 10 to 23 so I’ve always been around a lot of people and a lot of chaos and art was a way to ground me. UL: What’s the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen? MS: The mountains in Maui when we went on a helicopter ride for my wife’s 30th birthday. It was very surreal, I felt like I was in a movie. UL: What do you want your art to provide to the world? MS: Functionality. All of my work is functional, so every time you’re taking a sip of coffee, I made that! I like making a good product that everyone likes, and everyone knows that’s a Schulps piece, they can tell without looking at the bottom that it’s our work. That, and making money, paying my rent. I also think about how in art history they show pottery shards from like 10,000 BC, and I always think my work is going to be around a lot longer than I ever will be. My legacy, there’s always going to be a piece out there that I made. UL: What’s your favorite color? MS: Dark purple, or dark blue. I just came up with it by mixing two glazes together. I make jars and shot glasses so that’s how I experiment with my colors, it’s my test ballot. UL: What is your favorite quote? MS: “Art is a weapon.”

Artist Profile: Sally Dimas by Emma Wood-Wright

photos by Frank Rebelo “Have paints, will travel,” Sally Dimas says. “That’s my slogan.” Even though she is in her 80s, a youthful energy emanates from her being. Her lapis jewelry right down to her Frida Kahlo socks suggest she’s ready for her next adventure. And she is, “if somebody would call me and say let’s go, I’d go.” Sally is an “en plein air” painter, which she explains is a sophisticated French term meaning she paints on location. In addition to the watercolor and pastel paintings of her travels, around a dozen local artists’ work is displayed throughout her gallery. From reasonably priced gifts and decorations to high end sculptures and Chinese furniture, Sally’s shop on East Avenue is full of unique treasures. “I don’t know what I’d do if I didn’t have the gallery,” Sally says. “Since my husband passed away, it really is my salvation, but it was before, too.” She smiles.

UL: Where are you from? SD: I grew up in in west LA. My dad worked in the motion picture industry and my mother was an art major in college, so we always got to go to wonderful places to look at art. UL: What is your education? SD: The year my mother died, in 1980, I went to Butte College to study art. I studied with Julia Shaw, Geraldine Cop, and Anne Pierce. Anne Pierce and William Arthur Herring were my most important mentors. UL: How did you develop your style? SD: I’ve tried to share what I feel when I look at the world, particularly the landscape. UL:What brought you to Chico? SD: I moved to Chico in January 1967. I brought my young children here. I chose Chico to live in because of the cultural possibilities, and I thought the school was good. I hoped my children would go to Chico State and not go away to school, but all my children went some place else to graduate from college. They had to grow up and go away from home. I’ve lived here long enough to call it my home.

UL: What do you want your art to provide to the world? SD: An appreciation of the world we live in. When you look at my work, see it as a dawn of a new day. A craving to achieve a little of what’s within my soul that’s bursting to be released. UL: Have you learned anything about yourself or the world through your own artistic process? SD: It brings me closer to God. The beauty of our surroundings does that. We try to paint what we see, or at least represent the beauty around us, but it’s really not possible. There’s a greater being that has painted that scene for us. UL: Have you always been interested in art? SD: I’ve always loved art. I’d look at those beautiful paintings of ladies in those gorgeous satin gowns and wondered how in the world they painted those, and I still don’t know for sure because I don’t pant in oil. My brother and sister would be racing off to see other things in the art museum but I’d stand there and drool.

UL: Where is your favorite place to paint? SD: Some of my favorite locations are Greece, Norway, and I have painted in South America. UL: What media do you use? SD: I mainly do watercolors, but my second favorite is pastels. One of my mentors says pastel is my real true media, and the other says watercolor, so who knows.

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Gallery of Local Art

Jewelry • Ceramics • Vintage 530-801-1526 916-802-7193 On Esplanade in Chico, across from Philadelphia Square / Next to Wine Time

DECEMBER EVENTS DECEMBER 1

Erika Navarrete: Paintings University Art Gallery, Chico 9:00 AM-5:00 PM 11/4-12/13 Girl Speak: Shojo Manga & Women’s Prints Turner Print Museum, Chico 11:00 AM-4:00 PM 11/14-12/14 Orland Craft Fair Glenn County Fairgrounds 221 East Yolo Street, Orland 5:00 PM Take us Home for the Holiday Dog Adoption Center 2579 Fair Street, Chico Help adopt every animal this December!

DECEMBER 5

An Irish Christmas Laxson Auditorium, Chico 7:30 PM-9:00 PM Radioland’s Holiday Extravaganza Theatre on the Ridge, Paradise 12/5-12/6 7:30 PM

DECEMBER 6

Community Tree Lighting City Plaza, Downtown Chico 5:30 PM-7:00 PM Glorious Sounds of the Season Harlen Adams Theatre, CSU, Chico 7:30 PM A Victorian Christmas The Stansbury Home, Chico 6:00 PM-9:00 PM Radioland’s Holiday Extravaganza Theatre on the Ridge, Paradise 7:30 PM

DECEMBER 7

Glorious Sounds of the Season Harlen Adams Theatre, CSU, Chico 7:30 PM A Musical Christmas Paradise Performing Arts Center 7:00 PM Corning Hometown Christmas Downtown Corning on Solano Street All Day Breakfast with Santa CARD Community Center 8:00 AM Holiday Open House at Manton Wineries Indian Peak, 31559 Forward Road 12:00-5:00

Operation Heroes Holiday & Santas Secret Shop Windchime of Chico, 855 Bruce Road 9:00 AM-1:00 PM MUSE Art Holiday Marketplace Habitat Lab in Chico 199 E 13th Street 11:00 AM-7:00 PM Old Time Holiday at Whiskeytown Shasta State Historic Park and the Tower House Historic District, Whiskeytown 11:00 AM-4:00 PM Pet Photos with Santa Nantucket Home, Chico 11:00 Am-3:00 PM 11th Annual Christmas Tree Auction & Holiday Festival Chico Masonic Family Center 6:00 PM A Christmas Story Chico Theatre Company 12/7-12/22 Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays 7:30 PM Sundays 2:00 PM

DECEMBER 8

Glorious Sounds of the Season Harlen Adams Theatre, CSU, Chico 2:00 PM A Musical Christmas Paradise Performing Arts Center 3:00 PM Holiday Open House at Manton Wineries Indian Peak, 31559 Forward Road 12:00 PM-5:00 PM Carlos Reyes Concert Chapelle De L’Artiste, Paradise 6:00 PM

DECEMBER 13

North State Symphony Christmas Concert: Sounds of the Sacred Season St. John The Baptist Catholic Church 416 Chestnut Street, Chico 7:30 PM Cinderella Chico Community Ballet Laxson Auditorium, Chico 12/13-12/15 Friday and Saturday 7:30 PM Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 PM Believe Center for the Arts at PVHS, Chico 12/13-12/22 Fridays, Saturdays 7:00 PM Sundays 2:00 PM

DECEMBER 14

North State Symphony Christmas Concert: Sounds of the Sacred Season State Theatre, Red Bluff 7:30 PM Cinderella Chico Community Ballet Laxson Auditorium 2:00 PM 7:00 PM Third Annual Winter Crush Lucero Mill, Corning CA 10:00 AM-4:00 PM

DECEMBER 15

North State Symphony Christmas Concert: Sounds of the Sacred Season Our Lady of Mercy Church, Redding 4:00 PM Cinderella Chico Community Ballet Laxson Auditorium 2:00 PM Chico Community Band Christmas Concert Lakeside Pavillion, Chico 2:00 PM Jack Frost Run Cedar Grove, Bidwell Park 8:00 AM

DECEMBER 18

Avenue of Lights- Holiday Drive-Thru Glenn County Fairgrounds 5:30 PM-9:00 PM

DECEMBER 19

Go Digital or Go Dark Art Show Fundraiser for The Pageant Winchester Goose, Chico 5:00 PM-9:00 PM