Btrue - Spring 2014

Spring/Summer 2014

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Wheaton Iowa

Allow yourself to Dream at McDonald Supply Kitchen & Bath Gallery 3310 University Ave., Waterloo, IA 50701• (319)234-6853 Hours: 8:00-6:00 Monday | 8:00 - 5:00 Tues. - Fri. www.mcdonaldsupplyonline.com

contents Spring/Summer 2014 library p.16

kohl’s fashion p.6

decorah p.22

bib necklaces p.8

orange is the new black p.4

perfume p.7

mason jars p.33 aspire p.14

peeps p.18

sloppy joes p.30

PUBLISHER

David A. Braton AD DIRECTOR

Tara Seible BTRUE EDITOR

Melody Parker PROJECT MANAGER & ADVERTISING SALES

Sheila Kerns (319) 291-1448 • sheila.kerns@wcfcourier.com GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Amanda Hansen

www.wcfcourier.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Meta Hemenway-Forbes AP, MCT, Wire Services CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Brandon Pollock Matthew Putney

Spring/Summer 2014

A publication of The Courier, Waterloo-Cedar Falls.

100 E. 4th St. | Waterloo, IA 50703

www.btruemag.com

did you find the hidden bee on the cover?

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THE HIVE

IS ORANGE THE NEW BLACK? Wanna make a strong statement this spring and summer? Rev up your confidence and pucker up for orange.

This tropical-hued color is being splashed about in fashion and makeup.

TIPS: Wear orange lipstick with a neutral face. Pair citrus fashions nude, white or black shoes and sandals.

Orange doesn’t suit every skin tone, but a great handbag will look wonderful dangling off your wrist.

Orange glow Try a citrus orange lipstick shade with tanned or dark skin tones. For fair complexions, chose soft salmon, peach, coral or orange with pink undertones. Red headed? Choose a pale orange. Make them matte, not shiny.

Lip smacker NARS semimatte orangered lipstick, Heat Wave.

Orange crush A relaxed, but structured shift with asymmetrical detailing from Christian Siriano.

Figure flattering This Costello Tagliapietra dress is an easy silhouette for warm-weather dressing.

Pucker up Yves St. Laurent’s citrusy Extreme Coral lipstick.

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Sling back Wear this Rebecca Minkoff studded bag over your shoulder.

Shine on Marc Jacobs’ Mandarin Orange Enamored Hi-Shine Nail Lacquer.

Spring/Summer 2014

THE HIVE

IN THE

(319) 535-2125

TRENCHES

You can’t hide from one of this season’s trendiest fashion statements — camouflage.

The print makes a chic statement, and you’ll find pieces like jackets, skirts, tops, even handbags and shoes that promise to become wardrobe staples. Look for new colors — not ­just greens, blacks and khaki, but deep colors, bright shades and pastels, plus metallic shine and metal accents. ­

High style From Guess, the Adal is a classic suede pump with a pop of camo flair.

The ankle cuff adds a modern twist.

Salute Cropped military jacket from Piperlime adds a funky element to a luxe short skirt for nighttime wear.

112 W 3rd St, Downtown CF Fun, Trendy, Sophisticated

BOUTIQUE & SALON

Pullover pattern Camouflage sweater from Piperlime worn with leather pants for a slim look.

www.shopatspotlight.com

Little Prairie Girl

Barn Sale Get packing Stash your stuff in an Aeropostale camouflage backpack.

Friday, April 11 — 10-7 Saturday, April 12 — 10-4 Vintage - Uncommon finds - ChippyShabby - Industrial - Primitive Over 30 Exhibitors in the Dairy Barn & Hen House

Cover up This camouflage military jacket has a waist-cincher and pockets, from Aeropostale.

Handy dandy Camo flap wristlet bag from Areopostale.

20428 160th Street, north of Holland, IA 319-240-8541 319-240-5060 The Prairie Cafe will serve soup, sandwiches, bars & drinks Note: This is our opening weekend for 2014...closed until then!

Spring/Summer 2014

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trends to try for spring

ELLE striped fit and flare dress, $60; Daisy Fuentes topper jacket, $88; Apt. 9 pant belt with grommets, $28; Croft & Barrow Sole (sense)ability maude patent flats, $64.99.

Apt. 9 pleather ponte peplum top, $40; LC Lauren Conrad skinny jeans, $54; Apt. 9 brush striped scarf, $28; Apt. 9, Robin crossbody handbag, $39; SONOMA life + style dahlia shoes, $59.99.

Daisy Fuentes drop shoulder shirt dress, $64, Apt. 9 sandra tote, $69; Apt. 9 ivy heels, $69.99.

Apt. 9 woven tee, $26, and layered floral loop scarf, $28; LC Lauren Conrad skinny jeans, $54; SO pacey bootie, $69.99

SONOMA life + style 3/4-sleeved eyelet top, $40, and julep heels $54.99; LC Lauren Conrad skinny jeans, $54; and Apt. 9 brush striped scarf, $28.

purely pretty

LC Lauren Conrad peter pan lace inset godet dress, $60; Apt. 9 sandra bucket handback, $69; Apt. 9 Kennedy heels, $60; Elle simulated crystal bangle, $24.

Fashion from Kohl’s

modern muse

wink of pink

THE HIVE

Candie’s pleated bodice layered-look dress, $58; Apt. 9 brush striped scarf, $28; Candies primm wedges, $59.99.

ELLE printed shirt, $36; Apt. 9, pull-on skinny bi-stretch pants, $48; LC Lauren Conrad laurel sunglasses, $30; Apt. 9, ivvy heels, $69.99.

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Apt. 9 asymmetrical full-zip leather jacket, $140; Apt. 9 lace front high-low split hem tee, $30; SONOMA life + style boyfriend jeans, $40; So pacey boots, $69.99.

3/4-sleeved textured button front shirt, $36, essential capri pants, $36, and breakaway hobo, $49, all Croft & Barrow, and Apt. 9 lace braid fedora, $32.

Candie's pleated tee, $34; 212 Collection polished cotton ankle pants, $48; Apt. 9 catitude sunglasses, $30, and ivvy heels, $69.99; So heart pendant necklace, $14.

Smocked neck blouse, $44, simulated crystal bangles, $24, all Elle; Apt. 9 pull-on seamed skinny bi-stretch pants, $48; Candies capeyton shoes, $49.99.

Spring/Summer 2014

go nude

Whether you’re chocolate or ivory, cafe au lait or cinnamon-hued, a bevy of beauty and fashion items exist in your perfect shade of nude.

Companies from Clinique to Christian Louboutin have released a plethora of products, from nail polish to pumps, in a range of tones.

This influx is significant: Until recently, “nude” collections seemed to offer only shades of ecru and peachy pinks.

We rejoice that makeup has fully embraced the nude trend.

“Nude serves two purposes: To give women a natural look like they aren’t wearing makeup,” said Jean Godfrey-June, executive beauty editor at Lucky Magazine. “But nude is also very polished and sophisticated.”

Thanks to the technology of so-called BB creams (short for beauty or blemish) and CC creams (colorcorrecting), nude foundations are light and adjust to skin tones in a matte fashion, said Godfrey-June.

Foundation is just the beginning.

Two years ago, Urban Decay introduced an eyeshadow palette appropriately named Naked. Last fall, the company released Naked 3, a grouping of 12 pigments featuring ivories and browns, as well as blues and mauves for the perfect subtle accents.

As part of its 16 Shades of Beige promotion, Clinique introduced eight nail polishes with in-the-buff names.

The collection complements eight skin-tonal eye shadows.

With today’s nude makeup, follow yesterday’s rules: A nude lip and eye are the epitome of clean and sophisticated, but use a blush or bronzer on cheeks so you aren’t dominated by monochrome.

A bold eye takes a nude lip. A bold lip takes a nude eye — add a little sparkle in the creases with that berry pout.

Now everyone can look good nude.

THE HIVE

Clinique’s Shades of Beige

sunny, fresh fragrances Floral fragrances are all the rage this season. Make one of these light, feminine fragrances your new favorite!

Clinique’s Neutral Territory

Honey by Marc Jacobs buzzes with fresh green pear, juicy mandarin, orange blossoms, honeysuckle, peach, honey and vanilla.

Clinique’s Nail Nudes

Roses de Chloe is fresh and modern with bergamot, Damask rose and magnolia.

Buxom Go Nude Lipstick Duo

FOR THOSE OF US CRAVING

color

Clinique is also celebrating the first blush of spring with new colors: Cheek Pop in Berry Pop, Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm in Pudgy Peony, nails in Hi Sweetie, a brilliant shade of A Different Nail Enamel for Sensitive Skins, and a spritz of floral happiness with the limited edition Clinique Happy in Bloom Perfume Spray.

Lancome has introduced a whisper-soft French Ballerina collection for spring, such as their six-hour wear, featherweight lip color in Rosy Rouge and three other shades. The collection also includes two new eye-brightening all-in-one five eye shadow and liner palettes, Dancing Rose and Romeo and Violette, and Vernis in Love nail colors.

For those trendsetters who are in love with Pantone’s color of the year, Radiant Orchid, you’ll find plenty of it in spring makeup collections. Look for Smashbox Be Legendary Lipstick in Fuschia Flash matte, Dolce & Gabbana Lipstick Shine lipstick in Violet 100, London’s Butter nail lacquer in Molly Coddled and Marc Jacobs’ Beauty Shameless Bold Blush in 212 Outspoken, a cool orchid-y lilac pink.

Spring/Summer 2014

Butter Mollycoddled

Lancome Orchid

Warm and delicately scented, Crabtree & Evelyn’s English Honey and Peach Blossom collection is enriched with conditioning peach blossom extract and wildflower honey extract.

Paeonia Eau de Toilette captures the subtle aura of the peony flower, in a generous perfume marked with green freshness.

Clinique Happy in Bloom collection btruemag.com

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THE HIVE

Carly J. Cais of Portland, Ore.,

WHO KNEW THAT A BIB WOULD GET SO MUCH ADULT WEAR?

makes clever enamel jewelry using craft store supplies and something new: Martha Stewart Crafts Jewelry Enamel and Enamel Activator. The enamel paint lets you color metal jewelry pieces in two steps, far easier than traditional enameling, which involves kiln-drying the pieces.

“You get the glossy sheen of enamel without all the hassle,” says Cais. “It looks like stuff you could buy in the store but still I made it myself.”

First, clean the metal charms with alcohol. Then mix the paint (there are 10 colors) with the enamel activator and let it sit 2 to 3 minutes to thicken before applying it with a toothpick to the charm. Allow the pieces to dry 24 hours to harden, and then assemble charms and filler pieces onto larger filigree squares for support. Attach two jewelry toggles and a chain to the upper corners of the piece for wearing.

Detailed instructions with photos for the DIY Enamel Spring Flower Bib Necklace are at Cais’ blog, Chic Steals.

The bib necklace — often giant, sometimes sparkly — started hanging around a lot of necks a few years ago, and it’s still here.

Of course, some women would rather craft than buy theirs. From buttons to lace, here are a few examples:

Jenny Chapman of Chowchilla, Calif., has

turned her love of buttons into expressive necklaces.

“Buttons are so fun,” says Chapman, who scours thrift stores and eBay for them. “When you get them and there’s a big jar and you have no idea what you’re going to find. It’s like a treasure hunt.”

She sews each button to a slightly larger disk of black felt and then glues them to a sheet of felt with felt glue, available at craft stores.

She allows the ensemble to dry and then cuts around the buttons to create the bib. After that, it’s just attaching bails — necklace hardware — at the bib’s top two corners to connect an organza chain.

“You really don’t need to know anything to make it yourself,” says Chapman. “The most time-consuming part is figuring out the buttons, but that’s fun.”

Find Chapman’s Bubble Button Bib necklaces at her Etsy.com shop, Jenny’s Trinket Shoppe. www.JennysTrinketShoppe.etsy.com

More bib-crafting M Spray paint a large, graphic piece of lace, let it dry, and then ideas pour out attach jump rings and a chain for hanging. of Marianne M Using an Exacto knife, cut out a graphic shape from leather or Canada, host of a lightweight sheet of balsam wood, then attach jump rings and HGTV.com’s web a chain. series Weekday Crafternoon: M Roll fabric rosettes and attach them — with beads, lace, buttons

or whatever suits your fancy — onto sturdy backing, such as heavy felt or leather. Finish with jump rings and a chain.

Some of these ideas are pictured at Pinterest, the online images “pinning” board.

While the bib and its relative — the collar necklace — have been trendy for years, they have staying power, says Canada. She looks at the fashion world, where necklines often incorporate rhinestones or other “blingy” accents.

“It’s such a nice way to update the more basic items in your wardrobe,” says Canada.

Making it yourself lowers the cost and carries bragging rights, too — “being able to say, ‘Ohhhh, you like that? I made it,’” she says.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

http://www.chic-steals.com

WHAT LOOKS LIKE

Short, long, curly, straight, sassy or sexy. The old rules about how you wear your hair when you’re over 50 no longer apply.

Check out the ‘dos on these 50+ celebs.

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Ellen Degeneres 56

Katie Couric 57

Helen Mirren 68

Lauren Hutton 70

Emma Thompson 54

Michelle Pfeiffer 55

Jane Lynch 53

Robin Roberts 53 Spring/Summer 2014

flirty pastels lashes THE HIVE

PRETTY

We love these colors for spring and summer!

le Quirky sty bound tou make yo smile.

Before

fig & frolic

invites you to our next open dates:

“Here Comes the Sun” May 1-4, 2014 After

They are a sign of femininity and beauty — fluttered by flirts and lavishly drawn on cartoons for gender identification.

When it comes to eyelashes, one thing is clear: The longer and fuller, the better.

For centuries, women have sought cosmetic remedies to artificially enhance their lashes. But sometimes using mascara and an eyelash curler isn’t enough; now many are turning to lash extensions for that added “pop.”

False eyelashes date back to 1916, invented for the film “Intolerance.” Human hair was woven through fine gauze and applied to actress Seena Owen’s eyelids.

Since then, technological advances have made eyelash extensions safer, longer lasting and more natural looking.

Synthetic extensions are attached to individual eyelashes with surgical grade adhesive. The extensions eliminate the need for mascara.

And it’s all the rage.

The cost of the initial set of semipermanent eyelash extensions range from to $60 to upward of $250, with more dramatic looks costing more. The faux lashes will gradually fall off, and clients can get regular fill-ins to maintain the lashes, which cost between $30 and $70.

An alternative to eyelash extensions is Latisse, a prescription topical treatment applied to the base of your upper eyelashes, which grows and thickens the individual’s own lashes. One prescription, which includes 70 doses, costs $175.

Latisse should be applied daily for the first prescription. The most common side effect is redness and mild irritation.

Spring/Summer 2014

Nars’ Trouville – seashell pink – is a long-lasting glossy nail polish with UV protection.

Kerfuffle – opaque pink coral – from Butter London. Vitamin-enriched formula and consistent coverage.

Blue Orchid – blossoming baby blue crème – from Deborah Lippmann, infused with green tea extract.

Hopeless Romantic – an ethereal pink – in L’Oreal’s Colour Riche collection.

Dolce & Gabanna Rose Petal nail lacquer

Sally Hansen Pool Party triple shine

600 Baltimore Waterloo An occasional shop full of merriment and inspiration.

Chalk Paint® by Annie Sloan available 24/7 workshops & gift certificates www.facebook.com/figandfrolic 319.464.5672 319.231.5140

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YOU

Text | Laura Marentic

I was 15 years old and watching "Terminator 2" when I first laid eyes on an impressive set of guns. Actress Linda Hamilton as Sarah Connor was doing pull-ups. She looked strong; like she could take on the world.

Even if you're not interested in taking on the world, you could tackle your own little corner of it with some welldefined pistols of your own. Follow this simple biceps and triceps workout to develop your guns. You, too, have the right to bare arms.

-- Laura Marentic is a personal trainer and owner of Glambition Girl fitness.

Place your hands on the barbell at shoulder width. Keep your elbows close to your sides and push the bar to the ceiling, keeping it above your chest.

Close grip bench press

Pull your shoulders back and tuck your elbows to your sides. Use your biceps to lift the bar. Don’t use momentum.

Barbell curl

RIGHT TO BARE ARMS

PISTOL PACKIN' WORKOUT Rest for one minute after each set. On the sets with 20 reps, decrease the weight by 25 to 50 percent.

EXERCISE Barbell curl

SETS 5

REPS 10

Barbell curl

1

20

Incline dumbbell curl

5

10

Incline dumbbell curl

1

20

Close-grip bench press

5

10

Close-grip bench press

1

20

Dumbbell skull crushers

5

10

Dumbbell skull crushers

1

20

Tricep kickbacks

5

10

Tricep kickbacks

1

20

WHERE TO START In any strength training program, choose proper form over ego. If you can't lift the weight and maintain good form, use a lighter weight. Also, full range of motion is crucial to full muscle development.

BEGINNERS

5-pound dumbbells | 10-pound barbell

INTERMEDIATE 10-pound dumbbells | 25-pound barbell ADVANCED

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20-pound dumbbells (or more) | 45-pound barbell (with extra weight if needed)

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Spring/Summer 2014

YOU

Exercises demonstrated by Laura Marentic

Bend at the waist and place your left knee and left hand on the bench. Hold the dumbbell in your right hand, keeping your elbow tucked in to your side. Extend your arm backward, using the tricep muscle. Do not swing the dumbbell.

Tricep kickbacks

Set the bench back incline to 3040 degrees. Pull your shoulders back and hang your arms straight to the ground. Alternate arms, being sure to lift with full range of motion to elongate the bicep.

Incline dumbbell curl

Dumbbell skull crusher

Lie flat on a bench and hold the weights straight up toward the ceiling. Bend your elbows to 90 degrees, keeping your elbows in line with your shoulders.

Movement should come at the elbows, not the shoulders.

Spring/Summer 2014

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YOU

hit the books for

Green Fields

The Happiest Health Nuts in Town

5.00

$

Organic natural foods, gluten free, vitamins, minerals, protein powders. Bulk items sold in herbs, grains, dried $ fruits, nuts.

Before Taxes Organic body & hair care. *Anything In the Store

Off

30 Purchase expires 10/31/14

Mail orders available.

Mon - Fri 9:00 - 5:30 pm Saturday 9:00 - 4:00 pm

Green Fields Health Food Center

2920 Fall Avenue, Waterloo, IA 50701 319-235-9990 Like Us on Facebook

weight loss

We culled the stacks for appealing titles that might supply needed direction and inspiration.

Obesity statistics are staggering, diet fads are plentiful and theories about the best ways to lose weight abound. It’s no wonder that the $20 billion weight-loss industry is going strong.

Here’s a glimpse at options with varying premises, approaches and appeal. Perhaps one will give you the assist you need as you jump back on the back-in-shape bandwagon.

“Sleekify! The Supercharged No-Weights Workout To Sculpt and Tighten Your Body In 28 Days!”, Michael Olajide Jr., with Myatt Murphy An ode to jumping rope and shadow boxing, former middleweight boxer Michael Olajide Jr.’s “Sleekify” takes a straightforward approach to pursuing muscle definition with an old-school boxer’s workout regimen. He gets a brief glamour infusion with the boast that several Victoria’s Secret lingerie models credit his six-day-a-week exercise program with keeping their bodies angel wing-worthy, but otherwise, he offers an intense, no-surprises guide to eating clean and devoting oneself to aerobic and strength-training workouts.

Outlining his career highlights and the impact of boxing moves on balance and muscle definition, Olajide Jr. zips through his clean-living view of nutrition, then charts and demonstrates the “aerobox” exercise moves that he claims will turn us all into supermodels. From the pictures, it’s clear this over-50 boxer practices what he preaches, and the pairing of his six-pack photos with the promise of a no-weights, do-anywhere regimen just might boost jump-rope sales in 2014. $16, Random House.

“The Sugar Smart Diet: Stop Cravings and Lose Weight While Still Enjoying the Sweets You Love!”, Anne Alexander with Julia VanTine Just when you think you’ve gotten smart about your food choices, the editors of Prevention magazine come out with “The Sugar Smart Diet” and the reminder that even our favorite healthy food choices are heavily processed and laden with sugar, highfructose corn syrup and “sugar mimics,” which have the same negative impacts on the body. So, it’s not the most uplifting book, yet it’s probably one you’ll quote and share with loved ones, repeatedly.

Even if you don’t dwell on the idea of having a “sugarjacked” life and you don’t count yourself among the masses who ingest 2/3 cup of sugar each and every day, learning some of the sugar smart tenets will surely encourage a more thoughtful approach to the number of heavily processed grains, cereals and snacks you’re fond of, and, without a doubt, you’ll become a much better label-reader after only 15 minutes with this edifying volume. The 50 recipes may catch your eye as well. $21.50, Rodale.

“Younger Next Week: Your Ultimate Rx to Reverse the Clock, Boost Energy and Look and Feel Younger in 7 Days," Elisa Zied, MS, RD, CDN A diet book with a feminine focus, “Younger Next Week” by registered dietitian Zied refers to “post-traumatic 40 disorder” and touts a Vitality Diet that she claims will help women with the goals of making friends with food and eating with an emphasis on increasing nutrients and reducing stress (rather than calories). Unlike most of the books on this list, Zied’s book starts off with a forgiving view of starchy carbs and actually offers bread lovers a couple of reassuring studies that link higher carbohydrate consumption to healthier diets and body weights. She’s also a fan of Omega-3s and fats found in nuts, plus protein sources that often get a bad rap, like soy and beef.

keeping you HealtH balanced body is our goal soul Cedar Valley Chiropractic

is unlike any healthcare facility that you have experienced. We are a health and wellness clinic, offering chiropractic care, physiotherapy, acupuncture, focus on sports injury prevention, treatment and more.

Services

› Acupuncture › Chiropractic › Massage › Sports Specific Services (319) 268-9009 4614 University Ave. cedAr FAlls, iA 50613 cvchiro.com 12

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All that said, her favorite foods are fruits and vegetables because she loves the nutrients and antioxidants found there, and her advice is quite traditional as it applies to caffeine cutbacks, the detrimental effects of sleep deprivation, the stress-reducing effects of regular exercise and why we should all be eating more greens. The book also includes 30 heavy-on-salads “vital recipes” that won’t offend. $16.95, Harlequin.

“The Fast Metabolism Diet: Eat More Food & Lose More Weight,” Haylie Pomroy with Eve Adamson As a wellness consultant with a list of celebrity clients on her résumé, Pomroy calls herself a fat metabolism whisperer and cheerfully sets about the process of reassuring readers that she doesn’t believe in silly stuff like counting calories, worrying about fat grams, managing food rotations or subsisting on low-carb or high-protein diets. This is all happy news, and she spends almost 90 pages documenting the fool-proof success of her metabolism rehabilitation program, which keeps people eating lots of food, five times a day.

Her disciples follow a three-week program, eating endless carbs and fruits for the first week, proteins and veggies the next, and both, plus fats and oils, for the final week.

Unfortunately, once you’ve bought into this idea, she introduces her list of nonnegotiable no-nos, among them, wheat, corn, dairy, soy, sugar, caffeine or alcohol. Sounds very likely to work, but it’s clearly not for the faint of heart. $19.90, Harmony.

McClatchy Newspapers

dr. Jennifer Rasmussen dc, FaSa, ccSP

Spring/Summer 2014

YOU

if you don’t take care of your body, where are you going to live?

W

omen start to rapidly lose bone at menopause. Without action, you could develop clinical osteoporosis and fractures and wind up in a nursing home.

You can avoid these complications of natural aging.

Cedar Valley Bone Health Institute of Iowa offers a Complete Bone Health Evaluation. DXA, VFA, specific blood tests not usually done in annual check-ups, full history, an examination and full consultation usually take 30 minutes focused on bone health alone. We can prevent osteoporosis if we start early enough. Prevention is far better than treatment, and ideally should start decades before menopause.

Be prepared to take control of those issues you can control: Calcium, vitamin D, protein, vitamins and minerals and exercises for balance, strengthening and posture. Everyone should do these natural measures for best results, whether taking osteoporosis medications or not. For younger persons and for some individuals over 50, they are enough all by themselves.

Calcium is best absorbed when eaten in foods. Consume 400-500mg in each meal to get 1200mg every day. If you do not get enough calcium in your diet alone, Calcium Citrate pills are much better absorbed than Calcium Carbonate pills, if you take antacids or are over 50. Adora Premium Chocolates are a delicious way to get 500mg calcium in only 30 calories.

Your skin can make Vitamin D3 from the sun at mid-day in the summer, but skin cancer is a risk because sun block can’t be used if you want to make vitamin D. New studies presented at National Osteoporosis Foundation and American Society for Bone & Mineral Research meetings in the last three years show we need more vitamin D

Spring/Summer 2014

that previously thought.

The easiest and safest move is to take extra vitamin D3, but multiple vitamins and minerals, calcium supplements and milk combined are rarely enough. Test for 25-hydroxy Vitamin D Level, in order to tell if you are taking enough to get between 40 and 80 ng/ml in your blood.

Bones and muscles are both well over 80 percent protein. (Calcium is added for stiffness in bone.) Protein need not be from animals, but getting enough protein in a vegetarian diet takes constant attention. Most people should get 1 gram of protein for every kilogram of their body weight. An easy calculator and advice on where to get protein, as well as calcium and vitamin D3 can be found on my blog site www.BoneDocBlog.com.

Vitamins and minerals from fresh fruits and vegetables is tedious and difficult. I prefer a multiple vitamin and mineral supplement as an easy way to be certain I have optimal levels of all those trace nutrients.

Daily exercises for balance, strengthening and conditioning of your whole body are important. Include specific postural exercises to maintain upright posture of your spine to decrease the chance of developing “humpback” or kyphosis in later years. A minimum of 20- to 30-minutes daily standing and walking is needed, along with specific exercises for balance.

While women are more likely to have bone health issues and fractures, one-fourth of all clinical osteoporosis patients are men. Talk to the men in your life about bone health.

Take control of your bone health. Start today by getting a Complete Bone Health Evaluation. Go to www.BoneDocBlog.com, www.CVBoneHealth. com, or call (319) 233-BONE (2663) for more information.

Jay Ginther, MD, is a board certified orthopedic surgeon who specializes in bone health, fracture prevention and osteoporosis treatment. He is director of the Cedar Valley Bone Health Institute of Iowa, located in the ADI Building in Waterloo.

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13

YOU

Bit

by

Aspire transforms the lives of special needs kids and adults through horseback riding

M

BIT

arilyn Moore communes with horses.

Leaning her head against Sonny and nuzzling his thickly muscled neck, she feels a deep, shared affection with her beloved horse. He is a highly intuitive animal, she says, and can read her feelings and energy.

For generations, scientists and authors have explored the horse-human connection. It’s been written that horses can change lives, “provide peace and tranquility to troubled souls” and give us hope.

Helen Thompson wrote, “In riding a horse, we borrow freedom.”

As executive director and founder of the Aspire Therapeutic Horseback Riding Program, Moore has personal experience with that powerful bond.

“Horses are so open-hearted. These big, powerful animals offer unconditional love and teach us lessons in life. I love the way horses interact with each other and the respect and self-control they show. They’re gentle with children. This is just a joyful place to work,” she says.

Through the Waterloo-based program located on Kimball Avenue, children, teenagers and adults with special needs or disabilities are paired with horses for an experience Moore describes as “healthy and healing.”

In 2012, nearly 1,200 clients from ages 3 to senior citizen were taught basic horsemanship skills.

There also are classes and events for people without disabilities, such as Camp Hope, a day camp that includes horseback riding, arts and crafts, cooking

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and a trip to Lost Island Water Park for minimal cost.

For children and adults with physical, cognitive and emotional disabilities, therapeutic riding is about much more than learning to ride, Moore points out.

It’s also about overcoming fear.

Moore tells the story about an autistic boy, Cody, who was afraid of horses and refused to ride. He was introduced to Bo, a Tennessee Walker with a small build and sweet personality, and with gentle coaxing, he apprehensively climbed the ramp and mounted the horse. “Off they go, with an instructor leading Bo around the arena. He was finally riding, and his mom was watching in tears.”

The relationships fostered between rider and horse are amazing and inspiring, she believes, and the physical benefits can’t be overlooked.

“Horseback riding can change lives from the top of the head to the bottom of the feet. The horse’s gentle gait moves the rider’s body similar to a human gait, and the rider uses their leg muscles which can improve flexibility, strength and balance.”

Riding improves posture, and the experience can pay dividends in increased self-confidence and selfesteem. “The interaction between horses, teachers and other riders is social, so riders learn appropriate ways to communicate, learn boundaries and respect.”

Program director and instructor Sara Card describes the transformations she’s seen as “making a major impact on people’s lives. Parents have told us they see changes in their child’s behavior and abilities at home.”

Spring/Summer 2014

YOU

Marilyn Moore and Sonny On a personal level, Card loves seeing a smile “on the face of a child who doesn’t usually smile. Petting a horse, riding a horse, animates people. At Aspire, we accept them for who they are and where they are at, and they learn new skills and build trust.”

Cindy Kline began as a volunteer about six years ago and is now volunteer coordinator and an instructor. “I love working with the kids and the animals. We work within a client’s personal space, and we don’t put expectations on them. It’s easy to fall in love with the kids,” she explains.

About 400 volunteers are involved in Aspire, which offers three classes per night, three days per week from April to November. Each class has 12 or so volunteers who lead the horses while instructors work with riders. Volunteers and staff also care for nearly one dozen trained therapy horses.

Moore graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with a bachelor’s degree in social work with an emphasis in family services and criminology. She quit her job in 1999 to start Aspire “on a wing and a prayer” with her daughter, Kelly.

A $4,000 grant from the McElroy Foundation allowed Moore to purchase equipment and rent Pullin Simonsen Arena at the National Cattle Congress for three nights per week. Horses were borrowed from willing owners and hauled back and forth for nine years.

Successful fundraisers, an active board and community Spring/Summer 2014

support allowed Aspire to relocate to a facility with their own horses, outdoor arenas, stables, barns, pastures, riding gear and offices. Donations also keep the facility in working order.

Staff is trained and certified in animal-assisted therapy, and the program is accredited by the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International.

“Nothing is impossible for those who believe. If you believe passionately in what you’re doing and are persistent, you can move forward and achieve,” Moore says.

Moore’s personal story has been a motivating factor. At 13, she was sexually molested by a neighbor, and her father died when she was 16. She was married at a young age to a physically abusive husband, and finally freed herself and her son and daughter from the relationship.

It was her daughter’s passion for horses that lead Moore into this career.

“It’s been a dream come true. God put me on a different path than I expected in my life, and I’ve learned I have to be open to his voice. The storms in my life have made me stronger.

Horses have taught me the importance of love and healing and empathy.”

Text | Melody Parker Photos |Courtney Cox & Courtesy

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FUN

Beyond books check out what today’s libraries have to offer Text | Holly Hudson Photos |Matthew Putney

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About once a month, the staff at the Waverly Public Library dims the lights and lets teens take over the facility for a Nerf fight.

Nerf Night is just one example of how area libraries are offering creative services and activities to attract a variety of patrons.

“We do it after hours,” said Kate Poppe, assistant librarian.

“They bring their Nerf equipment, we turn down the lights and turn up the music and have an all-out Nerf fight. We get as many as 40 kids sometimes.

“It shows them there are fun things going on here,” she said.

“And it is a safe place for them to be.”

The Waverly facility has a number of innovative programs and activities available for patrons.

The library recently purchased Kit, an American Girl Doll from the Depression era, for children to check out.

“She comes in a little suitcase with three changes of clothes,” said Sue VanHemert, children’s librarian. “We include pictures of Waverly during the depression and a journal so every little girl or boy can write about what they did with Kit.” Do-it-yourself nights are held once a month where topics have ranged from rag rugs and wind chimes to sweater mittens and dutch oven cooking.

Last summer the library introduced Reading Pals, a program that pairs students in first through fourth grades with dogs for reading sessions.

The library even has a collection of cake pans available for check out.

“We have a very supportive director who encourages us to try anything,” VanHemert said. “If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work, and we go on to the next thing.”

The next thing for the Waverly facility is a vegetable garden.

Armed with a grant and seeds donated from Seed Savers Exchange in Decorah, staff are in the process of starting plants for

the garden, which will be planted this spring.

“They are germinating in the meeting room now,” VanHemert said. “This is our first year trying this, and we are hoping in the future to have it program-based and teach people about gardening.”

Cheryl McGovern serves as director for both the Cedar Falls and Waterloo public libraries.

She believes the mission of modern-day libraries — to support free access to information — hasn’t changed, but the means of conveying that information has evolved.

This is evidenced by the demand for access to computers at area libraries. (The Cedar Falls, Waterloo and Waverly libraries all have computers available for public use.)

The Waterloo library has dozens of computers placed throughout the facility for patrons to use.

“The computers are one of our biggest draws,” McGovern said.

“Patrons are registering about 10,000 sessions per month.”

The Waterloo and Cedar Falls libraries are using technology in other ways to serve their patrons, including lining up speakers via Skype.

“It’s a lot less expensive than flying someone in to speak, and it opens up a lot of options for us,” McGovern said.

The libraries also hold authors fairs featuring local writers, a dance party for teens during Spring Break, Family Movie Night and regular puppet shows for children.

All three libraries offer book clubs, Lego clubs, Nooks for checkout, story times, extensive CD and DVD collections, classes, reading programs, meeting space, online resources and much more.

In the future, McGovern said she is interested in creating a “maker” space, where people can “play with technology.”

“It would offer shared resources with a social aspect, tailored to the community,” she said. “It’s really kind of exciting.”

Spring/Summer 2014

FUN

CEDAR FALLS PUBLIC LIBRARY 524 Main St. 273-8643 Hours: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday September to May www.cedar-falls.lib.ia.us WATERLOO PUBLIC LIBRARY 415 Commercial St. 291-4480, circulation; 291-4476, reference; 287-3976, youth Hours: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday www.waterloo.lib.ia.us WAVERLY PUBLIC LIBRARY 1500 W. Bremer Ave. 352-1223 Hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday September through May www.waverlyia.com/library

INTERIOR DESIGN

award winning designs... c r e at i n g i n t e r i o r d e ta i l s u p d at e e x i s t i n g s pa c e s new construction and remodeling projects

creative space planning | design concepts | interior architectural details | window treatments Bed coverings | upholstered Furniture | dining/Bedroom | Floor coverings | lighting | wall coverings Brandy Reisinger Allied Member ASID

Kathy Flack, A.S.I.D.

Registered Interior Designer

2 3 0 0 m a i n s t r e e t / c e d a r Fa l l s / 3 1 9 . 2 6 6 . 3 5 3 7 / w w w. F l a c k i n t e r i o r s . c o m a p p o i n t m e n t s a p p r e c i at e d Spring/Summer 2014

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FUN

sugar rush

HOMEMADE MARSHMALLOW CANDIES Total time: 1 hour, plus setting time Servings: About 3 dozen candies, depending on size Note: This recipe requires the use of a candy or digital thermometer.

2 packages gelatin ¾ cup water, divided 2 cups sugar 2 tablespoons light corn syrup 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 2 cups colored sugar Butter for greasing a baking sheet, if cutting out shapes ½ cup chocolate chips In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment, sprinkle gelatin over 1/4 cup water and let stand until gelatin is softened. If piping chick-shaped candies, fit a piping bag with a large, round tip (preferably one-half inch) and place colored sugar in a bowl. If cutting out shapes, butter baking sheet and line with parchment paper, then butter parchment paper.

In a large saucepan, combine remaining water with sugar and corn syrup, and cook until sugar reaches 245 F using a candy thermometer. Remove from heat.

With mixer running on low speed, slowly pour sugar syrup down the side of the mixing bowl so it doesn’t splash against the whisk. Slowly increase mixer speed to high and beat until marshmallow lightens in color, about 6 minutes, then beat in vanilla. For piped marshmallows, continue beating on high speed until marshmallow firms and stiffens in texture (similar to a stiff meringue); marshmallow should not be overly stringy and will have lost some of its sheen, and marshmallow should break off as the beater is removed, 10 to 16 minutes. For cut marshmallows, continue beating until marshmallow is fluffy and doubled in volume, 8 to 10 minutes.

To pipe marshmallow chicks, start by piping the body: Hold piping bag over colored sugar and begin piping marshmallow out onto sugar so it is about 1-inch in diameter and approximately one-half-inch thick. Continue piping body so it is about 2½ inches in length, then slowly release the tip from the marshmallow, pushing the marshmallow up to form a tail. To form the chest and head, pipe on top of the body, starting from the front of the body and piping over half of the back. Continue piping, but reversing direction, to form the head, slowly releasing the tip to form the beak.

A

n Easter basket simply isn’t complete without a box of Peeps.

Of course, Peeps are probably just as famous for what people do with them, and we’re not just talking about fluorescent-tinted s’mores or a postapocalyptic trip in the microwave.

While commercial Peeps have a devoted following, others find them to be overly sweet, tough and chewy. (Some fans actually prefer that tougher texture, aging the Peeps — “curing them,” as they call it).

But freshly made, “peeps” are soft in texture, each bite light and fluffy.

Delicate almost.

Basic cut-out peeps are easy to make: Spread freshly made marshmallow on a baking sheet and leave it to set up, and then cut out peeps in any of a number of holiday shapes — flowers or bunnies, whatever you like — dipping the little creations in colored sugar for decoration.

Piped chicks are a bit more challenging. After comparing a bunch of recipes, tweaking and fine-tuning to perfect a method, the right marshmallow consistency — along with a bit of practice with a piping bag — is key to homemade marshmallow chicks.

Flavor them however you’d like. Vanilla is classic, but try adding a touch of almond or lemon extract, perhaps mint or a touch of ground cinnamon.

Then go crazy. Make enough peeps for a diorama, Easter bonnet or demolition derby. Who knows? You might even find you actually prefer to eat them.

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Spoon the colored sugar over the formed marshmallow to coat completely. Remove the marshmallow to a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Spring/Summer 2014

FUN To form cuttable marshmallows, using a lightly greased offset spatula, immediately spread the mixture onto the buttered parchment-lined sheet, spreading the marshmallow so it covers the pan in an even layer. Set aside, uncovered, 2 to 4 hours to set. When the marshmallow is set, cut out shapes using lightly greased cutters.

Each of 36 candies: 82 calories; 0 protein; 19 grams carbohydrates; 0 fiber; 1 gram fat; 0 saturated fat; 0 cholesterol; 18 grams sugar; 2 mg sodium.

Gently press the marshmallows in colored sugar to evenly coat.

SO MANY OPTIONS

Once you’ve mastered the basic techniques, you can really start to play around with your peeps.

Vanilla flavoring can be substituted with another flavoring, such as almond, mint or lemon extract.

Or you can use powdered spices such as ground cinnamon. You can even use rose- or orange blossom water, which are actually quite delicious.

Start by beating in about one-fourth teaspoon of the flavoring at a time and then adding more to reach the desired taste.

Colored sugars are available at most grocery stores as well as at cooking and baking supply stores, but you can make your own custom hues: Place granulated sugar in a sealable plastic bag or jar with a few drops of food coloring, then shake until the coloring is evenly distributed. Spread the sugar out onto a rimmed baking sheet for about 30 minutes to dry, then sift the sugar before using to remove any lumps.

McClatchy Newspapers

Spring/Summer 2014

988-4200

Form the eyes: Place the chocolate chips in a glass measuring cup or bowl and microwave in 10-second increments, stirring occasionally, until melted. Use a toothpick to dot the melted chocolate over the marshmallow candies to form eyes (and noses, for marshmallow bunnies).

3130 West Shaulis Rd., Waterloo, IA moved to hwy. 63 1 mile S of 20

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april Bunny Brunch – April 12 & 19. Join this local farming family for a horse-drawn wagon ride to a cabin in the woods for brunch with the Easter Bunny. Other activities include an egg hunt and pony rides. Reservations required. Heritage Farm, 7731 Zaneta Road, Hudson, (319) 988-3734.

Earth Fair – April 27. Celebrate the Earth by creating recycled crafts, exploring the forest, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, and much more.

Hartman Reserve Nature Center, Cedar Falls, (319) 277-2187.

may

june

july

Girls’ Night Out – May 1. An evening to relax, dine and shop in downtown Cedar Falls, (319) 277-0213.

Cedar Falls Municipal Band – Every Tuesday in June & July, 7:30 p.m. Free open-air concerts on the bandshell at Overman Park.

Cedar Valley Jaycees Fireworks Festival – July 7. Spectacular fireworks, food, live music, National Cattle Congress grounds.

My Waterloo Days Festival – June 12-15. A parade, fireworks show, musical entertainment, dragon boats, carnival rides, children’s activities and more. Free.

Praisefest 2014 – July 14-19. Nightly concerts featuring Midwestern and nationally-known gospel groups.

Riverview Conference Center, Cedar Falls. (319) 268-0787.

Fiesta de Mayo – May 3. Celebrate Mexico’s rich culture with music, food and fun with Mexican flair. RiverLoop EXPO Plaza, Waterloo, (319) 291- 4490.

Cedar Falls Nature Trail – June 13-15.

A celebration that includes bike rides, music, candlelit night ride and more, (319) 268-4266 or (800) 845-1955.

Cinco de Mayo – May 4. The annual celebration takes place from 5 to 9 p.m. in Cedar Falls’ Seerley Park. This event is co-sponsored by the College Hill Partnership and the Hearst Center for the Arts.

College Hill Arts Festival – June 2021. Juried art festival features more than 75 artists, as well as performing artists in an open-air setting at 23rd and College streets on the University of Northern Iowa campus. (319) 277-4972.

BBQ’LOO & Blues Too – July 18-19.

The 11th Annual BBQ Rib competition cook-off, as well as a chili cook-off and blues music in downtown Waterloo.

The Kansas City Barbeque Society sanctions this as a qualifying event.

Free activities and fun. (319) 291-2038.

KOKZ-COOL 105.7 4th Street Cruise – May 24. The 28th annual event is from noon to 4 p.m. in downtown Waterloo. A sock hop follows that night at Electric Park Ballroom. On May 25, there’s a car show on the National Cattle Congress grounds, (319) 234-2200.

Sturgis Falls Celebrations and Cedar Basin Jazz Festival – June 2629. Nearly two dozen bands play music from all genres, plus a parade, street fair, carnival, talent contest and more.

Overman Park, Tourist Park, Gateway Park, all in Cedar Falls. The Jazz Festival in Sturgis Park features bands from around the country. (319) 277-0996 or (800) 845-1955.

Crème de la Crème 14 – May 2.

Friends of the Gallagher-Bluedorn present a showcase of outstanding Cedar Valley performers. GallagherBluedorn Performing Arts Center, Cedar Falls, (319) 273-4849.

Cedar Valley Chamber Music Festival – July 19, 23, & 27. Chamber music performed in intimate settings throughout the Cedar Valley. (319) 481-8590.

Great Mother’s Day & Graduation Gifts!

229 E. 5th Street • Waterloo RothJewelers.com • 319.234.6979

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Spring/Summer 2014

B ON THE MOVE

5 WAYS TO RELEASE YOUR INNER CHILD THIS SPRING & SUMMER

Slip into your swimsuit and make tracks for Lost Island Water Park. Rent a cabana and hang with your gal-pals.

Float down the Kailahi River. Double-dog-dare each other to slide down the Lost Soul Falls – free-falling at 28 feet per second.

Spring/Summer 2014

Be a girl scout again and camp out at Backbone State Park. Hike trails and rocky staircases, mountain bike, rock climb or even trout fish.

Iowa’s first state park is located three miles south of Strawberry Point.

“I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream” at the Blue Bunny Ice Cream Parlor in LeMars. There’s a marble ice cream bar, a grand staircase and, of course, lots of ice cream. Try the Chocolate Mudslide – scoops of chocolate ice cream topped with marshmallow and brownie chunks.

Be a kid in a candy store.

Visit Main Street Sweets and marvel at jars brimming with candies, gobble a licorice rope, indulge in fudge, chocolate candies and bars, even bacon-studded marshmallows. Leave with a Sweet Stack – three boxes filled with treats of your choice.

Go ice skating in summer at Coralville’s Coral Ridge Mall. Play with interactive exhibits at the Iowa Children’s Museum or take in a movie. Some summer movies to watch for include “The X-Men: Days of Future Past” and “Maleficent,” Disney’s new take on “Sleeping Beauty” with Angelina Jolie.

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ON THE MOVE

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iver R a w o I Upper Y

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Spring/Summer 2014

ON THE MOVE

T

ucked away in Iowa’s northeast corner, Decorah could easily be the postcard for “idyllic Midwestern town.” Perfect for a summer “must-visit” destination.

Listed as one of the Midwest’s top 100 small-town getaways by Midwest Living magazine, this pretty and charming community has a rich Norwegian heritage, heaps of natural scenic beauty and a thriving downtown with shopping, galleries, great restaurants, a fine hotel, an internationally recognized museum and more.

We took a tour and came up with a few places worth checking out.

Magpie Coffeehouse

118 Winnebago St., (566) 387-0593, www.mymagpiecoffee.com Ask almost anyone on the street in Decorah to name one of their favorite hangouts, and the come-back usually is “Magpie Coffeehouse.”

On a side street just steps away from the town’s main drag, the Magpie is one of those friendly, funky places where you can’t help giving into the urge to camp out for a few hours, sipping coffee and shooting the breeze with anyone who walks in with the same idea.

Owner Kathleen Ritner and her daughter, Kelsey, and the rest of the staff are on a first-name basis with regular customers and readily welcome newcomers into the fold.

“One of my customers compared Magpie to her favorite pair of jeans — comfortable. We’re known for great coffee, great food and great customer service. We’re a fun, friendly place,” says Kathleen.

Coffees range from drip, lattes, mochas and steamers to a rare Bianco espresso. Giant chalkboard menus hang above the bar, detailing an interesting and extensive breakfast and lunch menu, and a plethora of baked goods.

You’ll often find Uncle Bill seated in the corner, eating his regular breakfast — biscuits, gravy, eggs and sausage, ham or bacon. It’s even called “Uncle Bill’s Favorite” on the menu (and a T-shirt you can buy, too). Author Russ Baldner of Spillville wrote portions of his book, “Ermordet: Revelations of an Iron Cross,” on a laptop at the coffeehouse.

Everything is made from scratch, including the low-sodium roasted turkey used for wraps and sandwiches like the Oneota — turkey, bacon, avocado, cheddar cheese, tomato and homemade chipotle mayo.

And don’t be surprised if Kelsey breaks out a handstand in the middle of the floor. She formerly performed on the high-wire and did acrobatics while her mom trained acrobats on the teeterboard in a California circus.

Oneota Community Food Coop

312 Water St., (563) 382-4666, www.oneotacoop.com On warm days, outdoor seating in front of the popular Food Coop is the place for people-watching. Or take your conversation inside where you also can enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner, grab something from the deli or stroll aisles in the coop’s grocery store.

“We’re a social hub in the community,” says Johanna Bergan, in charge of marketing and education. “And we like to make it fun to shop and introduce customers to new products.”

Manager Nate Furler says customers don’t need a membership to shop, and he’s proud of the wide range of food options offered. “We have the largest bulk foods department in the tri-state area. We support local producers as much as possible.”

You’ll find fresh and local in-season produce, organic and fair-trade food items, wine and craft beers, snack foods, books, gifts and wellness, beauty and clothing merchandise. For fun, make your own creamy or crunchy peanut butter, participate in classes and special events and purchase seed packets from Seed Savers Exchange.

Magpie Coffeehouse

Agora Arts

104 E. Water St., (563) 382-8786, www.agoraarts.com Pop inside Agora Arts and revel in this celebration of American artists — potters, painters, printmakers, glass, mixed media and metal artists, jewelry makers, sculptors and more. Owner Gail Magnuson’s lovely, light-filled and award-winning gallery is the place to find unique art and artistic gifts.

“I represent the work of 250 artists and craftspeople from throughout the U.S. Each region has its own strengths. The Northwest is strong with glass, the Southeast has textiles and wood, the Upper Midwest is really strong for pottery,” she explains.

Visitors also will find beautiful handcrafted jewelry, unusual glass pieces, Sticks painted furniture from West Des Moines, and Decorahbased artist Brian Andreas’ StoryPeople.

Oneta Community Food Coop

Spring/Summer 2014

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23

ON THE MOVE

Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum

(563) 382-9681, vesterheim.org.

The main museum on Water Street is just the beginning of what is one of the most comprehensive museum in the U.S. dedicated to a single immigrant group. There are more than a dozen historical buildings and a cultural center.

Take time to wander through the museum store. You’ll be blown away by the exquisite Norwegian wool sweaters from Dale of Norway and other clothing, jewelry by Sigrid Hojvik and others, Viking runes and knives by Norwegian craftsman Morten Hakonsen, as well as folk art, books, toys, kitchen gear and folk art supplies. There also are a few “Uff Da” souvenirs that will make you smile.

Hotel Winneshiek’s Albert’s Restaurant

Hotel Winneshiek’s stained glass skylight

Hotel Winneshiek

104 E. Water St., 800-998-4164, www.hotelwinn.com With modern conveniences and turn-of-the-century charm, Hotel Winneshiek was restored in 2000. In addition to beautifully appointed rooms and suites, guests can explore the elegant lobby with its stained-glass skylight and the opera house and pause for refreshment at the Tap Room or dine on classic-contemporary American cuisine at Albert’s Restaurant.

Places to eat Rubaiyat

117 W. Water St., (563) 382-9463, www.rubaiyatrestaurant.com Recognized as Decorah’s finest dining establishment, Chef Andy and Kim Bonnet’s restaurant has been written about in the New York Times, Midwest Living magazine and other publications.

The menu features contemporary, seasonal American dishes. Try their signature pasta dish featuring seafood and a freshly made alfredo sauce over linguini. Or tuck into the Rock Cedar Ranch “Cordon Bleu” Burger, made with locally provided meat, served with fried onion strings. Sunday brunch from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. is a popular offering.

Regularly open at 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday; reservations are recommended.

Gail Magnuson Agora Arts At right, glass art

McCaffrey’s Dolce Vita

2149 Twin Springs Road, (563) 382-4723, www.mcdolcevita.com USA Today chose McCaffrey’s pizza as the best in Iowa. Jim and Brenda McCaffrey’s wood-fired pizza has a thin sourdough crust that bakes in a mere 90 seconds. The menu also includes pasta dishes and a chicken creole dish with andouille sausage and jalapeno peppers that will warm your very soul.

It’s a secluded restaurant, so check the website for directions.

T-Bocks Sports Bar and Grill

206 W. Water St., (563) 382-5970, www.tbocks.com.

This place is the epitome of a bar and grill, with plenty of cold beer on tap, and a menu filled with sandwiches, wraps, salads and daily specials.

But burgers rule at T-Bocks, and believe it or not, the fan base for the grill’s Peanut Butter Cheeseburger is huge — 1/3-pound of beef topped with melted cheese and slathered with creamy peanut butter.

Vesterheim Museum Store

Norwegian wool sweater from Dale of Norway

for more places to visit, see www.decoraharea.com and btruemag.com 24

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Spring/Summer 2014

VISIT

Decorah www.visitdecorah.com

Monday - Saturday 9am - 5pm Thursday 9am - 8pm

Destination Garden Center 1ST! OPEN APRIL

Annuals • Perennials Hanging Baskets • Trees Shrubs • Decorative Rock Mulch • Block Gardening Tools & More!

115 Winnebago Street | Decorah, Iowa 563-382-3600

Art

coaching the

Use our patio displays to plan your landscaping.

Design and installation available!

of personal change

Don’t forget

Rising Sun Life Coaching

ery k a B e h T Stop for

sandwiches, homemade fudge and cupcakes!

4.5 miles west of Decorah, IA

Mary Jorgemen, MA. Professional life coach, wellness coach & mediator

563-382-0010 2475 State Highway 9

mary@risingsunlifecoaching.com

PintersGardensAndPumpkins.com for seasonal hours

Dug roaD inn

eco-frienDly, 3 course breakfast, close to DoWntoWn shopping, trails, & MuseuMs

“Delicious food + great atmosphere = fun!”

117 W. WATER ST., DECORAH, IA 563.382.WINE DINNER: WED-SAT – OPEN AT 5 SUNDAY BRUNCH: 9-1 bar menu also available

RESERVATIONS APPRECIATED

PLUS: CHECK OUT THE RUBAIYAT WINE SHOP!

www.RubaiyatRestaurant.com 601 West Main st. Decorah, ia. 52101 563-382-9355 WWW.DugroaDinn.coM

Like us!

Personal Sessions, Workshops & In-Services Mediation Services

Check in!

Read reviews!

563-382-4558

www.risingsunlifecoaching.com

One of the great things to do in Decorah!

Discover the art of happiness— creating with your hands!

Vesterheim Museum Folk Art School Cooking, fiber arts, painting, knifemaking, and woodworking classes. vesterheim.org • 563-382-9681

ON THE MOVE

eight days in

nicaragua Text | Dee Vandeventer

W

hat started off as a speech in Vancouver, Canada on women’s philanthropy turned into a life-impacting journey to experience first-hand the poverty of a developing country. Karen Taylor, national development director/donor relations for Compassion, CA, connected with me a year after the Vancouver speech to share how she had spent the last year implementing a women’s giving initiative.

Taylor learned from the speech that women want to be connected to their philanthropy so she established a number of women’s giving groups who raised funds for Compassion’s projects in developing countries and then connected to their philanthropy by visiting the projects and its people abroad.

Taylor asked if I would come along on an upcoming trip to get first-hand experience to better equip myself to help her grow what she had started.

Thus the journey began. On Feb. 14 I met up with Taylor and the eight wonderful women from Calgary. The following entries were journaled at the end of each day as a report back to friends and family who donated money and toiletries for the poorest of Nicaragua’s poor.

Day 1

Long travel day (up at 4:15 a.m. and the Calagarians, 2:30) but we have arrived. Thank you, Mark Mathis, for the great Christmas gift of a auxiliary power source. Came in very handy for my iPhone.

Everyone’s flights were on time. Oh happy day! When in line to board the plane from Houston to Managua there was a ‘77 grad from Iowa State I visited with and a young woman who graduated from Allen College and was now an Allen ped nurse. Small world.

Customs in Managua was a breeze and soon we had our luggage and were on way. After a half-hour drive from we arrived at the Holiday Inn Convention Center around 9:30 p.m. The place is a large hotel with lots going on for a Friday night. There’s even a casino attached (don’t worry, your contributions are safe).

Tomorrow will be a fun day shopping for food baskets at the supermarket and then to Roberto Huembes Market ... a handcraft market. We’ll be visiting the Salvador Allende’s Port and then back to the hotel for dinner and assembling gift baskets with all the toiletries, pens, toothbrushes, etc.

More about the day tomorrow night. Off to catch some domir. Hope your Valentine’s Day was full of love (and lots of chocolate).

Thanks for joining me on this journey.

Dee 26

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Day 2

Sunny, windy and 90-some degrees. (Sure beats the 4 inches of snow you all in Iowa received). I’ll try to give you a brief snapshot of a very full and fun day.

Beautiful view of the Salvador Allende’s Port which we visited at lunch. After our 9:15 meeting we boarded the bus to purchase groceries for the families we will be visiting.

Shopping was a very intense experience — looking for the best value. Our group resembled a freight train with 15 shopping carts for each food basket we were buying. As you can imagine we drew quite the attention from the local shoppers.

Your money went far. The bill in Nicaraguan cordoba came to $23,806.50 equivalent to $1,062.25 US dollars. Wish we could get as much food at home for the $70.82 we spent on each food basket comprised of bags of beans, rice, sugar, corn flour, corn flakes, powdered milk and salt, packages of spaghetti, soup, boullion, oil and ketchup; laundry detergent and dish soap. Of course, room for cookies and candy. All in all, we spent a good two hours at the supermarket.

Then off to the port for lunch and then to some personal shopping at Roberto Huembes Market. Here we found lots of handcrafted items and merchants receptive to a little bargaining. (Don’t worry, Dave. I remembered we have a wedding coming up, so I didn’t go too crazy.)

We arrived back at the hotel around 5:30 p.m. and immediately went to work to prepare bags for the women and children we will be meeting over the next few days. We had five long tables filled with children’s’ toys and clothes, toothbrushes (thank you Mark Schreiner) pens (look familiar Kim?), toiletries, cooking utensils, make-up, lip gloss … it was amazing and took us three hours to organize.

At 9:15 p.m. we adjourned for a light dinner before turning into bed. But before doing so, we discovered the hotel was headquarters for Miss Teen Universe. The Calgarians immediately broke into the singing of the Canadian national anthem when Miss Canada walked into the hotel. Being the only one from the states, I spared Miss USA my rendition of the Star Spangled Banner.

Really a great day with wonderful women who accomplished a lot in a short time period. Tomorrow it’s off to worship at a local church and then on to climb a volcano — one of 28 in this land of lakes and volcanoes. It should be another day of adventure.

More to come…

Cheers, Dee

Spring/Summer 2014

ON THE MOVE

Day 3

Sunday and full of grace. Our focus today was to visit the department of Masaya (department to Nicaragua is like a state to the US — there are 17 departments in Nicaragua) to attend a church where our Compassion leader, Karen Taylor, has a sponsor child. Actually, it was her father’s sponsored child and this was the first reunion with German and his family since Karen’s father died around Christmas 2013. Emotional, to say the least.

The church morning began with adult Sunday school with our interpreter, Carlos, helping us through the lesson. Carlos also served as our interpreter during the very informal, but deeply devotional, church service. Lots of singing, praying and a special interpretive dance by about 15 young girls. The service lasted about two hours and throughout the service we were the focus of their prayers. They made us feel so welcomed. After the service the people came up and hugged us — especially the children. Lots of love in the air and they were so grateful for Compassion and its programs.

Following church we had lunch at Papa John’s Pizza (yes, Megan and Michael, I’ve broken the sacred family rule about not eating anywhere on a trip that you could eat at home) but that’s where our hosts took us. Gotta give Papa Johns kudos for consistency. It was just like eating in Cedar Falls.

Once we finished our pizza and sweet tea, it was back on the bus to travel to Masaya’s volcano — one of 17 active volcanos in Nicaragua. The last photo is a panoramic view of the volcano and the landscape surrounding it. You can see the volcanic fumes if you look closely, right above the cars. They only allowed us to stay on site cinco minutos because of the toxicity of the fumes (and we drove up to this volcano because…?)

Talk about serendipitous, remember the Iowa Stater and Allen College grad I met at the Houston airport? Well, guess who was up at the volcano site? Ding, ding, ding. You are correct. The Iowa Stater and Allen College grad. Great visiting with them again. They are with a mission group called AMOS. The day ended back at the hotel for a little treadmill action and dinner with the group. These wonderful women have embraced this American, and I feel like I’ve known them for years. Granted, all this may change when Canada faces the US in hockey but for now we’re enjoying each other’s company.

Tomorrow I’ll have lots of news to share as we visit Compassion’s Nicaraguan headquarters, have three family visits where we will be delivering some of your food baskets and then off for a 2-hour bus trip to Leon. Hopefully there will be Internet service.

So until then, Cheers and thanks or being a part of this trip and for your emails.

Dee

Day 4

Eyes opened.

So today we learned firsthand what a developing country is really like.

A full day starting at 7:30 a.m. checkout and packing the bus for our late afternoon trip to Leon. Monday was a day about Compassion. We arrived at the organization’s national headquarters around 8:30 to join them in their devotion meeting. They had prepared a special program for us, complete with women performing traditional Managua dances in their colorful costumes.

After devotion we spent a couple of hours learning more about Compassion and the important work they do, serving 1.4 million children of poverty in 26 developing nations.

We had lunch — a real sampler of Nicaraguan food — with headquarters staff.

I know many of you have been waiting for the foodie photos so here it is. Not exactly a Blue Zone meal but tasty. The drink was a combination of carrot and mango juice.

The afternoon was what we had all been waiting for, delivering food baskets and supplies, clothing, toys and toiletries to the children of one of the Managuan projects. What is a project? It’s a program run by the church. Children come to the project after school for a safe place to when they are not in school and their parents are out working. Ages range from 3 to 18, and activities are all age appropriate.

At the project they receive a nutritious snack and spiritual, social/emotional, physical and cognitive support. So if a child was having trouble in math a project staff member would help his/her. They might need to learn proper hygiene. We arrived around 2 p.m., and they were all waiting to greet us. Hugs everywhere.

The cutest kids that melted your heart. They put on a program for us, let us join them in their activities and we delivered their snacks. Each one was so polite and appreciative.

Spring/Summer 2014

Around 4 p.m. we broke into three groups, then left the project for our home visits where we delivered the donated food. It’s hard to imagine these corrugated tin shacks are their home. My visit was with Theresa, age 37 and the mother of three boys, Angel 15, Miguel, 12 and Michael, 8, They all shared one room.

Michael was the only son enrolled in the project and you could tell a difference between him and his older brother Miguel. With the love he has been receiving at the project, he was able to give love back with lots of hugs and smiles.

Theresa wept as we presented her food and special items for the children. We were able to stay and visit and learn more of her plight and the life of Michael.

Both of Theresa’s parents were deceased and her husband had deserted the family. The only family Theresa had were two sisters many towns away. She took in laundry to make money, but at the time of our visit she had no laundry to wash.

No running water but there was electricity. The floor was dirt and they showered outside behind the shack. They got their eggs from the chickens running about.

Words can’t describe my emotions as I hugged that little boy good-bye. In the bus on the way to Leon, we all shared our home visit experiences and felt that the children in the project have a better chance of survival than if the project wasn’t there. It’s making a difference, one child at a time.

Day 5 will be another tough day as we are going to the Leon dump and then more home visits.

Thanks for your notes and interest. One question I had from yesterday’s email was about the mural on the church wall and if there was a cross anywhere. The mural on the wall was entitled Santidad a Jehovah which means holiness is God and depicts a lagoon in Mesaya. We don’t remember seeing a cross anywhere but it certainly was a Christian church.

To all my Iowa friends and family ... wishing you no more snow and warm days ahead.

Hasta manana, Dee

Day 5

Joy, sorrow and hope.

The blue-sky filled morning began with two fried eggs atop two syruped pancakes and a cup of strong coffee. Probably much like your start — except for the Iowans shoveling away 6 inches of snow.

We left Hotel Austria, a comfortable and clean two-star establishment, at 7:50 a.m. Destination: the Leon city dump. We took a short detour to the local grocery store, using the remaining $210 dollars of your donations, to pick up 60 bags of rice, 60 bags of beans and 60 packs of cookies to distribute to the people working in the dump.

We arrived at the dump, accompanied by a local policeman, and immediately observed groups of people digging through mountains of garbage with sticks and poles to avoid cutting themselves on glass, metal or syringes. The dump is immense and nothing like our landfills. Men, women and children dig for plastic, metal, glass and food. For their work they receive $1/day. One of the pastors who works with Compassion told us that they’ll find past-dated chicken discarded by local grocery stores. The chicken is cooked over an open fire where most of the spoilage is burnt off.

We spent about an hour here and had the chance to talk to a few workers and interact with some darling children and their moms. It’s incomprehensible how and why people must live like this. It’s hot. Flies everywhere. Birds circling overhead. Dust blowing in your eyes and fortunately carrying away the strong odor. At the end of our stay we asked the workers to form a line so that we could distribute the food we bought in the morning. You can see the joy on their faces, all except the little boy who we couldn’t get to smile as hard as we tried.

Leaving the dump, the bus headed to Compassion’s project in Leon to visit with teen moms enrolled in CSP (child survivor program). The CPS’ mission: to “rescue moms and babies from desperate poverty, providing food for malnourished infants, teaching moms how to take care of them and preparing children for a better life.” When these “children” have children, we learned, they are often kicked out of the house by their parents because of their shame. When asked about what happens to the teen dads, the answer was “nothing” and our translators explained what a machismo society Nicaragua was.

We broke into four groups upon arrival and each group spent about four hours with a teen mom, her child and any family living where she lived. I was paired up with Linda, our interpreter and two women from the project. We grabbed our food bag bought on Monday and walked up the “street” to our home.

Helen, 18, greeted us at the door and introduced us to her grandmother, 66, and her 21-month old daughter Grethel. We were welcomed inside and sat on caned

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ON THE MOVE

People and dogs search garbage at the Leon city dump for food.

A one-room corrugated metal house provides shelter for a mother and her three boys.

rocking chairs, introducing ourselves and learning more about them.

Helen’s dad worked in another town, and her mom worked on a peanut farm.

She had not seen either for a long time. Her grandmother seemed to be a loving woman who herself had 14 children by her husband. He was out back, resting in a hammock. Helen supports them all, rising at 4 a.m. to prepare their food for the day and the tortillas and fruit she’ll sell at market. She pays $50 US dollars in rent and told us that was a good price as most places around her house rented for $100/month.

The place was well kept and there were two rooms for sleeping, a kitchen and sitting area. A real step up from Theresa’s place from the day before. During the early part of our visit, little Grethel wandered out to grandpa so we joined her and spent the remainder of our time outside in their little backyard ... no grass, just dirt. We helped Helen fold Grethel’s diapers and did a little sweeping in the backyard and tossing water on the ground to lessen the dust.

As part of CSP, Helen and Grethel received complete physicals and check-ups every three months. You could tell that Helen was exhausted although she was just given vitamins to help boost her nutrition, and grandma told us she seems to be getting more energy. Little Grethel had been diagnosed as a bit malnourished because of her worms. She was responding well to treatment and seemed to have a good appetite.

Grethel was very shy at first but we broke through with a little game of peeka-boo. As she warmed up to us, she would let us hold her and teach her patty cake. By about the fourth time she was playing along. She had minimal verbal skills (Sharon, I wish you were here to teach her as you are a miracle worker with these young ones). Hopefully she’ll blossom once Helen learns more in her CSP sessions about how to best interact with her child, reading her stories, singing her songs and teaching her colors and numbers through play.

Helen quit school after ninth grade and her hopes and dreams for Grethel would be that someday her daughter became the doctor she wanted to be.

Our time with the family included a Compassion-sponsored lunch, either chicken or pizza, whichever they preferred. Helen picked chicken and it was almost as good as KFC. But what I wouldn’t give for a nice green salad about now — salad being off limits during our time here because it’s washed in water.

The four hours flew by and before we left, we presented the family with their food basket. Grandma cried and Helen expressed her appreciation. Then we were off to the project to spend a couple of hours with the kids ages three through 12 at the after school program similar to what we saw in Managua, only with more children and more classrooms. After visiting the five classrooms we helped serve a meal of beef, potato and carrot soup atop rice and tortillas.

These children were so full of joy, offering hugs freely, and wanting us to talk to them and hug them back.

We arrived back at the hotel around 5 p.m. and found a little time to walk to Leon’s town square and tour the cathedral — quite stark and in need of some serious repairs — a huge contrast to the beautiful European cathedrals and their intricately breathtaking stained glass window.

Tomorrow we spend all day with the teen moms at the local church and then back to Managua to wrap up our work on Thursday.

More to come.

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Dee Vandeventer spent an afternoon with a young mom Helen and her daughter Grethel at their home.

Day 6

A 360.

Still in Leon and preparing to spend the day with the teen moms and their babies enrolled in CSP (child survivor program). Why the 360? The teen moms we visited the day before were to attend the day’s events, and we were pleased to see all our moms did. I introduced Helen to you yesterday and we were worried she may not show up as she seemed so shy. Just before we started she arrived and then went home to pick up her baby Grethel when she saw that other moms brought their babies. All in all 37 young women shared their day with us.

Karen, our leader, started the morning off by telling the girls that the purpose of the day was to fill their hearts so to let them know they are beautiful. Selfesteem runs very low among these young women as they have been taught to feel shame.

Karen then lead a couple of games to break the ice as many of the girls did not know one another — the second reason for the day, to help them develop a support group with other young moms like them.

Kristi delivered an inspired message to the girls that they were doing the most important job in the world raising their babies, and that it was the hardest job in the world. And that while they may have made some mistakes in their lives, we all make mistakes but are loved inspire of that. Her words were full of encouragement and seemed well received.

We then broke into small groups and spent about an hour talking, listening to their stories and giving them time to ask question any of us. Lots of interaction.

One interesting question came from a young mom who wanted to know if we had used cloth diapers or Pampers because her mom had told her to use Pampers, and she felt badly doing so because they were environmentally unfriendly. They wanted to know how old we were. Some groups talked about boys who didn’t stick around. They were asked about the characteristics of Mr. Right on their wish list compared to Mr. Wrong. They answered included someone who would support them emotionally, who would be okay with them going to church, and someone who wouldn’t get so angry at her.

We broke for a wonderful lunch prepared by the pastor and his family of chicken and rice. Right after lunch, we delivered the gift bags we packed way back on Saturday night (seemed like a month ago) and then took a group photo.

Then on to the theme of the day, out of my comfort zone. So for spa day, the women could chose between having their hair coiffed or their nails done by we women. I knew this day was coming ever since the trip was planned months ago.

My daughter Megan is probably laughing reading this because when she was born, I was so worried about having a girl because I didn’t know how to do hair or nails. Well, today I decided I could do less harm on the nails than using a hot straightening iron on hair. And actually, it’s a lot like painting model airplanes.

Following spa day, we boarded the bus to head back the Managua some 68 KM from Leon. Typing from my bed in the Holiday Inn, with thick beautiful sheets unlike the Hotel Austria, it made me think about how lucky I am to be born who and where I was.

It’s hard to believe tomorrow will be our last day with the children of Compassion. So many faces in so many days. So many entrapped by poverty and yet so much joy in these children. I’ll leave you tonight with one beautiful face whose eyes are filled with hope and trust that one day, she will be released from poverty.

Until mañana…

Spring/Summer 2014

ON THE MOVE

a Nicaraguan ers find bargains at Compassion memb 15 families. to ate don ing bags to grocery store for fill

This 3 ½-year old girl loves playing princess.

Day 7

Un largo días (subtitle, a Pepto Bismol kind of day).

I’d hoped to make it through the trip healthy. Close, but no cigar. Last night started feeling a bit under the weather and today wasn’t any better. The good news is, I was able to be with the group all day for an amazing time, and I’m feeling a bit better as I write thanks to the modern miracle drug, Cipro. Hopefully by tomorrow I’ll be back to feeling chipper. I consider this the full-blown developing country experience (sorry for the pun).

So today was a very big day because some members of our group got to meet their sponsored child for the very first time, and I’m so glad I didn’t miss it. Also glad I didn’t miss our first stop to Cuidad Sandino, approximately a half-hour northwest of Managua. There we visited project 111, one of the largest with 714 children enrolled. The staff greeted us in their church with a music and dance program put on by the children. We then moved to the project to see the impact of the CIV (can’t remember what it stands for but basically it’s a career development program). There were a number of vocation training programs offered here: baking, barbering, beautician, music and computer.

Our first classroom stop was the baking class and the children were learning how to prepare a tart. The skills they acquire here can help them better provide for their families someday by baking and selling their goods.

Departing project 111, we headed back to Managua to unite the sponsors with their children. Pretty touching moment for all. Then off to spend the afternoon at Chava Landia, a play land with roller skating, soccer, basketball, miniature golf, bumper boats, pool and air hockey. As I am not a sponsor, I shared some time with a darling 3 1/2 year old who received a tiara and a Minnie Mouse hair and beauty kit as a little gift. She loves playing princess so this was a perfect present.

We spent from 12:30 to nearly 5 p.m. at Chava Landia. Everyone had a wonderful time, and we really wore the little ones out. During the trip back to the hotel, we got word that the Canadian women beat the U.S. women for the Olympic gold medal. Needless to say, most of the bus was very pleased. Looks like we are still in second in the gold medal count and first in over all medals. But, for the sake of diplomatic relations, I’ll keep that info to myself. Wish the men’s U.S. and Canadian semi-final hockey game was at a time we could watch of Friday.

Cheering on Waterloo Black Hawk’s own Joe Pavelski and the team.

So that was the end of our big day (un largo dias). Tomorrow we debrief and celebrate at a special dinner before we head back to the states/Canada on Saturday. Hopefully I’ll be feeling much better with a little R & R. While excited to see Dave and everyone back in the Cedar Valley and connect with family, I must admit I’m going to miss this tropical climate. (Really?)

Que pasa buenas noches, Dee

Day 8

It’s a wrap.

In the video world, when the shoot or show is completed, we’ll say, “it’s a wrap.” No sure why, and maybe somebody knows (ME&Vers?) it just means it’s finished. And that was what today was all about, finishing what has been a very long and fulfilling week.

This morning I woke up after yesterday’s bout with a bug, thinking, “I’m hungry,” knowing there would be food. My next thought, “Wow, I’m feel Spring/Summer 2014

Men and women take a break from their work at the city dump to receiv e bags of rice, beans and cookies.

much better,” knowing how grateful I was for the meds. Finally, “I really need a shower,” knowing there would be plenty of hot water.

I got out of bed, planted my feet on the soft, clean carpet, realizing that when Helen or Michael or baby Grethel or any of the people we met along this amazing eight-day journey, got up their feet would be planted on dirt floors. And when their stomachs growled, they’d wonder where their food would come from. In Leon, maybe the dump. And when they were sick, goodness knows when they would receive treatment. And when they were thirsty or dirty, they couldn’t just turn on a tap.

Many of you receiving this email have had the experience of a mission trip — either at home or out of the country — and have walked amongst the poorest of poor who live in deplorable situations day in and day out. You told me how this would be life-changing. And I kind of, sort of, believed you. But there’s no way I could have comprehended how deeply impactful a trip like this is on your soul.

There were many, many verklempt moments. The first, shopping for our food baskets. As I held your money in my hands, counting out the dollars, I was overcome with your spirit of generosity, helping people you’ll never meet, and doing so because of your caring, loving heart.

There was the final hug to Michael on our first home visit, the smile on his face, the hope in his eyes and the dream in his heart of someday becoming an architect. So much faith in such a young soul made me feel so small and shallow for all the times I complained that the line was too long or the clerk was too slow or the hotel room view wasn’t perfect.

There was this morning when my dear travel mates adopted me as a Canadian. They warmly welcomed me from the very moment we met at the Houston Airport. And now we’re bonded for life. I wish I could take them all home with me to meet you. You would like them as much as they would like you.

Our leader, Karen Taylor, shared in our debriefing today that since she’s been taking these trips she’s now consciously removed phrases from her vocabulary such as, “I’m starving” and “I have nothing to wear.” I’ve made a pledge to myself to do likewise, because this week we saw starving and met people who truly have nothing to wear.

We’ve all been on trips that just fly by. This was not one of those trips. It was a long week because Karen so wisely advised us to live the moment, be present every second. And without the Internet, cell coverage, English-speaking TV shows and lots of tasks on our list of things to do, we were able to shut out most of the noise and listen to the voices both within and without. May my hearing be as acute when I return to normal.

In the past eight days I’ve learned some of the things never to do in a developing country: Never put toilet paper in a toilet, if you are lucky enough to have a toilet — it clogs up the pipes. Never run your toothbrush under the faucet — the water can make you sick. Don’t eat the strawberries. Don’t eat fresh vegetables. Don’t eat the lettuce. They are all washed in water, and water can make you sick. Next time I eat a strawberry, the sweetness will remind me of good fortune living in a country where food quality is regulated for freshness and safety.

At tonight’s farewell dinner I wore my United Way “live united” T-shirt.

I hadn’t purposely saved it for tonight but how serendipitous that it was the only clean shirt I had left to wear. Here we were, Canadians, Nicaraguans, an American all living united for peace and working to relieve children from poverty.

You are the super heroes for sharing your donations of money, toiletries, toothbrushes and toys.

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HOME

a homemade sloppy Joe?

it’s a beautiful thing Not to mention a quick and easy way to get a filling (and inexpensive) dinner on the table.

You’re going to be browning ground beef (or turkey or pork) anyway, so why not give the sandwich a nutritional boost with fresh veggies and seasonings? It’s so much better tasting, and not that much harder. Your kids might even enjoy doing the mixing and chopping.

Another plus to cooking your sloppies from scratch: If you’re willing to be just a bit adventurous with the meat and seasonings, you’ll create a dish that will become legendary in your kids’ minds for all the right reasons.

Below, we offer a variety of sloppy Joe recipes that, if they were served in the school cafeteria, would make you think twice about brown-bagging it.

TRADITIONAL SLOPPY JOES

morsels

The first printed recipe for sloppy Joe was in McCall’s Cook Book in 1963.

No one knows the origins of this messy sandwich, but “The Oxford Encyclopedia of Food and Drink in America” says it may have evolved from a popular dish first served in Muscatine, Iowa, during President Calvin Coolidge’s administration. In 1926, a butcher named Floyd Angell opened Maid-Rite, a walk-up eatery that eventually would become a chain of restaurants specializing in loose-meat sandwiches. Also known as a Tavern or a Tastee, the Maid-Rite was made from steamed, lightly seasoned ground beef served on a warm bun.

Others insist the sandwich was inspired by two famous restaurants named Sloppy Joe’s Bar — one in Havana, Cuba, owned by Jose Garcia, and another in Key West, Fla., that was a favorite haunt of the novelist Ernest Hemingway.

By the late 1930s it was a popular dish on dinner tables across the United States because it helped home cooks stretch scant meat supplies during the Great Depression and World War II. The dish even was mentioned in several 1940s movies, including “Citizen Kane.”

For people who don’t like or think they’re too busy to cook, there’s always Hunt’s Manwich sauces, which now come in Bold and Thick & Chunky flavors in addition to the 1960s original. If you absolutely, positively don’t want to lift a finger except to push the microwave “on” button, there’s also a pre-mixed, pre-cooked Manwich product that comes in a heatable plastic container.

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1 pound lean (at least 80 percent) ground beef 1 medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup) 1/2 cup chopped celery 1 cup ketchup 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 1 teaspoon ground mustard 1/8 teaspoon pepper 6 burger buns, split In 10-inch skillet, cook beef, onions and celery over medium heat 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until beef is done. Drain.

Stir in remaining ingredients except buns. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer uncovered 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are tender.

Spoon into buns.

Makes 6 sandwiches.

— Betty Crocker Cookbook, 11th Edition: The Big Red Cookbook (Betty Crocker; April 2, 2013; $21.99)

ASIAN SLOPPY JOE SLIDERS

2 tablespoons canola oil 2 medium red onions, finely chopped 1 cup finely chopped celery 3 tablespoons sambal oelek or other Asian chile sauce 2 1/2 tablespoons minced garlic 1 tablespoon peeled, minced fresh ginger Kosher salt Freshly ground black pepper 1 pound ground chicken thighs 1 pound ground pork 1 cup hoisin sauce 1 cup drained canned diced tomatoes 1/2 cup fresh lime juice 20 brioche dinner rolls, split and toasted Shredded iceberg lettuce and spicy pickles, for serving In a large, deep skillet, heat canola oil until shimmering. Add onions, celery, chili sauce, garlic, ginger and a generous pinch each of salt and pepper. Cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened, about 8 minutes.

Add ground chicken and pork and cook, stirring occasionally to break up the meat, until no pink remains, about 5 minutes. Stir in hoisin, tomatoes and lime juice and bring to a boil. Simmer over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

Spoon about 1/4 cup of sloppy-Joe filling on the bottom half of each roll. Top with shredded lettuce and pickles and serve.

Sloppy-Joe filling can be refrigerated for up to 3 days; reheat gently before serving.

Makes 20 sliders.

— Foodandwine.com

Spring/Summer 2014

HOME SRIRACHA SLOPPY JOE ON WAFFLE FRIES

1 pound ground beef 1 green bell pepper, seeded and diced 1/2 medium onion, diced 1 cup ketchup 2 teaspoons sriracha 1 tablespoon soy sauce 2 teaspoons teriyaki sauce 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 1 tablespoon vinegar 24-ounce package waffle cut fries 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese 3 green onions, sliced Cook ground beef in skillet over medium heat. Drain. Reserve 1 tablespoon pan drippings. Cook bell pepper and onion in reserved pan drippings until softened, about 5 minutes. Return ground beef to pan.

Add remaining ingredients except cheese and green onions. Mix well. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes.

While sauce is simmering, cook fries according to package instructions. You want them crispy so they won’t get soggy underneath the sauce.

Turn oven to broil.

Spoon sloppy-Joe mixture over top of cooked french fries.

Sprinkle with cheese. Broil just until cheese is melted. Sprinkle

green onions on top. Serve with additional sriracha sauce, if desired.

Serves 8.

SLOPPY JOE PIE

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1 Pillsbury refrigerated pie crust, softened as directed on box 1 1/2 pound bulk turkey or pork sausage 1 medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup) 1 cup frozen corn, thawed 1 cup chunky-style salsa 1/2 cup chili sauce 2 tablespoons packed brown sugar 4 1/2 ounce can chopped green chiles 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro, if desired

Heat oven to 450 F. Unroll pie crust on ungreased cookie sheet. With sharp knife, cut into a circle to fit the top of the pie pan. Cut out squares for a checkerboard pattern. If desired, place cutouts on crust to decorate, securing each with small amount of water.

Bake 9 to 11 minutes or until crust is light golden brown.

Meanwhile, in 10-inch skillet, cook sausage and onion over medium-high heat 8 to 10 minutes, stirring frequently, until sausage is no longer pink. Stir in remaining ingredients except cilantro. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer uncovered 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until corn is cooked and sauce is desired consistency.

Stir cilantro into sausage mixture. Carefully place warm baked crust over turkey mixture in skillet.

Makes 4 servings.

Douglas Duven, MD, FACS

— Adapted from “The Big Book of Pies & Tarts” (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013, $19.99)

for more recipes, visit btruemag.com

Spring/Summer 2014

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HOME

berry delicious

surprise twist sweetens this berry crumble Stuff Etc. has an excellent selection of previously loved quality furniture and home décor, clothing and so much more.

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When I think of spring and early summer, I think of berries.

But when I set out to make a three-berry pie, all I kept seeing were the dollar signs that go along with the assorted half-pints of out-of-season berries. Thankfully, I picked up a possible solution in the Four & Twenty Blackbirds Pie Book — namely incorporating apples into berry recipes.

They called for shredding, presumably to better hide the apple flavor in the pie. Instead, I decided on an “all the fruits” strategy. I picked up a half pint of raspberries, blackberries, blueberries and two fresh Fuji apples, then set about developing a recipe where all the fruit flavors would be apparent. I’ve dubbed my creation an apple-berry crumble.

I have to pat myself on the back — this was one the better pies I’ve made.

Make it yourself, and enjoy!

1 all-butter crust, unbaked ½ pint blackberries, halved if large ½ pint blueberries ½ pint raspberries 2 large apples, chopped 4 tablespoons lemon juice 3 tablespoons flour 4 tablespoons sugar 2 teaspoons cinnamon ½ teaspoon allspice ¼ teaspoon cardamom Four and Twenty Blackbirds’s oatmeal crumble (recipe follows)

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Crippes writes the Courier’s Life of Pie blog.

APPLE-BERRY CRUMBLE

INSPIRE YOUR HOME WITH EXQUISITE DETAILS.

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Text | Christinia Crippes

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Preheat oven to 350 F. Mix together all the fruits. Stir in lemon juice. In a small bowl, mix together the dry ingredients. Slowly pour dry ingredients on fruit and stir together. Let the mixture sit while rolling out the pie crust and making oat crumble. Once the pie crust is placed in a 9-inch round, pour in fruit ingredients and top with crumble. Bake for 45 minutes to an hour. Let cool slightly, but it is best served a little warm.

FOUR AND TWENTY BLACKBIRDS OAT CRUMBLE

(Makes enough for two pies) 2 tablespoons granulated sugar ¼ cup packed light brown sugar ¾ cup rolled oats 1/3 cup all-purpose flour ½ teaspoon kosher salt (I just used regular table salt) 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice (I used about ¼ teaspoon) 1/8 teaspoon ground cardamom 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon (I used about ½ teaspoon) 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature, cut into ½ inch cubes (I always use salted butter)

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Mix together all the ingredients, except the butter, in a large bowl.

Add the butter pieces, toss to coat, and then rub the butter into the dry ingredients with your fingers until the butter is incorporated.

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Mason jars

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CLEVER WAYS TO REPURPOSE

Kitchen aid Plant herbs like basil in soil-filled jars on a kitchen windowsill. Don’t overwater because there’s no drainage.

Seashell, seashell Create a tabletop seascape with shells, starfish, beach glass and other objects gathered on a summer vacation.

Twinkle, twinkle Make outdoor lights. Place wax or batteryoperated tea lights in jars, wrap jute cord around jar necks and secure the other end of the cord to a tree limb or beams of a structure.

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planting a perfect pot A

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dmit it.

You’re envious of all those brazenly lush hanging baskets dangling from shepherd’s hooks and containers spilling over with mountains of blooms in garden magazines. Of course, you aren’t a professional gardener, don’t have the money to buy all those plants and you just don’t have the time to cosset container plants.

But you can still have beautiful containers, following a few simple tricks: When planting containers, fill the container up to a few inches from the top with potting soil and layer in plants. Fill around plants as you go so tops aren’t smothered in more than a 1/2-inch of soil. Leave head space to allow watering.

Choose foliage with flair — mix delicate or fine foliage with narrow, straight stalks and broad leaves; strappy leaves with rounded leaves, etc.

Choose a focal plant, then fillers and then a plant that cascades over the side of the planter. Mix or match your colors to suit your tastes.

Make sure the container has a drainage hole.

Plant like-with-like — sun worshippers together and shade-lovers in their own pot.

Use a light potting soil. Shake the pot to settle the soil; don’t compact it by pressing down.

If the pot is large, fill the bottom with lightweight Styrofoam peanuts or an upturned pot, then top the mixture with potting soil. It will take less soil to fill the pot, and pots will be lighter in weight.

Water when the top of the soil is dry to the touch.

Fertilize once a week or so with water-soluble fertilizer (look for bloom busters for flowering plants).

Group and stack containers to create an overall lush effect. Mixing large and small pots in odd numbers (3, 5, 7, etc.) is effective in groupings.

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Spring/Summer 2014

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