Simply Hers Magazine - March/April 2019

Call of the

WILD Animal prints have long been a wardrobe staple for stylish women, but get ready to see the trend really take over. It’s only the beginning of what we’re calling the Great Animal Print Revival. From luxe leopard to snakeskin and zebra, there are endless options to take your look to the wild side.

Ready to go out on a limb? Remember, not all inspiration comes from the top of the food chain. Don’t forget to add a touch of nature-inspired jewelry to your look. Feathers, dragonflies, and even snakes are stylish inspirations. Trust us, the options will make you go wild!

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Look

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Years Younger

muscle up —

What’s Your WHY?

Fitness. It seems like the first of every year a LARGE portion of our communities decide to hit the gym for their resolutions. Unfortunately, a very small percentage actually stick with a regular regimen for very long. There are several reasons why people quit, but that’s another article . . . sorta. The next push is a bit smaller and generally for a “younger” crowd, and that’s prepping for spring break. You’re planning on going somewhere that a bathing suit is required and you want to look your best, physically.

By James Campbell ACE Certified Personal Trainer - PRIME Fitness

These two things are examples of a “why.” However, they’re short term and tend also be a reason some stop. What I mean by that is when a person reaches spring break the goal has been met and there is no motivation to continue.

I love fitness, love working out! The greatest thing about it is that you can tailor a program for ANYONE that’s geared towards ANY goal. For long term success you need to have a why that has a deeper meaning.

Starting with a New Year’s resolution is great, getting a beach-ready body is also great, but those are not solid enough reasons to get long term results. Trust me, I get it! Sometimes it’s hard to get into that gym mode, some days it just doesn’t sound “fun.” That’s why it’s so important to have a solid reason for going.

Why can always change, too! That’s another amazing thing about this subtle monster—you can sign up for a marathon one year and then decide to become a powerlifter the next. Not usually extremes we see, but the option is always there. For me, it’s currently Strongman competitions. More specific is Nationals on June 8th of this year, coming faster than you think. My training regimen is grueling and some days I look at my line up and think that it’s going to be one H*^l of a day, but what I want outweighs the fear (for lack of a better word) of the session. Let’s be honest here, when your goals are large you have to train at a level that really makes you wonder if the session will end with “success.”

This is yet another reason I love this, nothing is given! You earn Margot V. Biermann Athletic Center • Corner of Oak and College Streets everything you work hard for, you can’t just walk into a gym and get bigger, leaner, or whatever your goal is by simply showing up. If it were 16

easy, everyone would do it and walk around looking GOOD! The direct correlation of work to results is very motivating for me to keep grinding.

Of course, that doesn’t get everyone excited to hit the gym. I have short term goals too, like getting in shape for my boy’s senior cruise on, go figure, spring break! But, my goals don’t stop there with the contest in June and possibly a bigger contest the following December.

Like I said, goals can always change as can/does each individual’s “why.” With that being said, I feel it’s very important to reevaluate your why constantly. As I mentioned, I MAY have another contest in December. If it doesn’t work out for me to hit that contest then my training regimen may alter based on my body’s ability to train at that high a level for that duration of time. However, with proper training and nutrition we can accommodate longer periods of time. Again, this is attainable by having a long term plan in place and most definitely having a solid why.

One thing to keep in mind, too, is that your why needs to carry weight for you. What I mean is that you can tell yourself and EVERYONE else what your why is, but that doesn’t get it done. YOU have to believe in your why, you need it to mean something to you. If it isn’t that important to you then your excuses will outpower your why. Like that college class we really don’t like at 8 am, back when we were that age, of course. It was easy to convince yourself to skip it, same mentality here. If it isn’t that important to you then you’ll find reasons (EXCUSES) to miss that workout, especially if you know going in that it’s going to be a BEAST of a session!

In summary, figure out why working out is so important to you and continually remind yourself what you want out of that journey and be honest with yourself as to how much work you’re going to put in. Remember, the more work the more the payout! LOVE IT!! It’s a relationship and if you don’t honor it as such it won’t work…imagine that!! I’d love to see more people succeed in this fitness life and get what they deserve out of it.

As Always…

MUSCLE UP…live fit

MARRIAGE, MeNOpaUsE and MUTTS - OH MY!

By Peggie Bildner MARRIAGE ~ My offering for this issue may sound familiar to many; it is by far my most-requested accounting of our Laurel-and-Hardy-type life! It happened long, long ago, in a faraway mall, but I swear to you, it is no fairy tale . . . .

Buzz is a rare species of a man (in more ways than one, as you probably know by now) in the fact that he actually loves to shop!

When malls used to have book stores, he would stay in one for hours while I looked around other stores to my heart’s content. On this particular day, for some reason, he decided to tag along with me.

I went into a little clothing shop, browsed the racks, picked a few things to try on and went into a dressing room. It was a very small room, the kind with just a curtain that didn’t even go clear to the floor. Buzz found a chair not too far away. As I pulled the first dress on over my head, I did notice that it was very tight. I even pulled it back off a bit and checked the size. Assuring myself that it should go on easily, I pulled it back down. Although it was snug, I convinced myself that as soon as I got it past my bust it would slide on down.

I pulled with determination . . . and wiggled . . . and pulled some more until I succeeded in getting myself stuck! I was completely immobile—straight jacket style—arms in the air. No matter how hard I tried, I was unable to move the dress up or down.

Even though I don’t consider myself to be claustrophobic, at that point I was in a complete panic. The hot flashes had kicked in so the perspiration just added to the stickiness of it all! All I could think to do was to try one big push to rip it off, Incredible Hulk style, but then remembered that Buzz was sitting just outside the room. I started calling him in a loud whisper. He finally heard me and came to the curtain. I explained that I needed his help so he crowded in the room with me. Now there were TWO people in a room 20

hardly big enough for one and the second one was obviously confused with what he was seeing! So he asked (with no sympathy in his voice at all, I might add), “Now, why’d you go and do THAT?!”

At that point, I wasn’t even conscious of the fact that other customers may have seen him come in the dressing room. I wonder what they imagined was going on as they saw two sets of feet and overheard our conversation that went something like this: ME (breathless and panting): “I need you! I’m so hot and sweaty, I can’t stand it!”

BUZZ: “Welllll, bend over and make yourself skinny.”

ME (maybe a little louder than necessary): “If I was skinny, I probably wouldn’t be in this position!

Don’t ask questions, just pull or push, do something!”

BUZZ (now breathing heavy himself): “Why is this stupid thing so tight?!”

ME: “Please don’t make me call someone else.

Just get it off of me, I’m burning up!”

BUZZ: “I can’t make it go up OR down! It’s really stuck!”

And then . . . as he finally freed me . . .

ME (with a big sigh): “Oh thank you! Thank you! I don’t know what I would have done if you weren’t here!”

I’ve been asked if we got stares as we came out of the dressing room. I don’t know if there were other shoppers speculating about the encounter they had overheard. I kept my eyes to the floor, hung the clothes back on the, rack and just wanted to get out of there. But, I couldn’t resist checking one more time, the dress that had taken me captive—why was it so tight?? And then I realized, it was a SPLIT SKIRT and I was trying to get in ONE LEG!

OH MY!!

Grow Where You Are Planted.

By Rachel Yoder

Strawberry Cultivation & Care

In the next few issues of Simply Hers, I’ll be talking about how to select and care for perennial fruits and vegetables and how to get the best production out of them. Let’s kick things off with strawberries!

First of all, to get the best start you need to purchase quality crowns from a nursery or garden center. These plants will be “virus-indexed” meaning they are free of viruses and (so long as growing conditions are favorable) will be very productive for a number of years.

My favorite place to purchase plants is Bean Creek Garden Center in Hudson, MI. Plants are always high quality and well cared for, and the best part is you can actually see what you are buying up close and personal rather than buying mystery crowns from a magazine.

The next most crucial choice you have to make is JuneBearing versus Everbearing/Day-Neutral.

“June-Bearing” crowns will produce a full crop the season following planting and, depending on the cultivar you choose, will bear fruit from late May to early July. For example: Earliglow produces early in the season, Jewel produces mid-season, and Ovation produces a late season crop. June-bearing varieties typically produce the largest yields per season and have the tastiest fruit.

“Everbearing” crowns produce two smaller crops, one in the spring and another in fall. Everbearing cultivars like Seascape and Ozark Beauty will produce a crop in the fall of the first season of the planting. A perk of everbearing strawberries is that if a late frost damages blooms in spring you’ll still get a fall crop.

A subcategory of everbearing varieties is the “DayNeutral.” There is confusion about these two types. All day-neutral strawberries are “everbearing” but not all everbearing varieties are “day-neutral”—these plants bear fruit continuously throughout the year. Think of them as taking the equivalent of two crops and spreading the total yield throughout the growing season. Varieties commonly available are Tribute and Tristar.

Ideally, you should plant strawberries from each type so you can enjoy fruit throughout the entire season. If

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space is limited then consider why you are planting. If you desire big batches of jam and strawberry pies, the best choice would be June-bearing varieties. If you’d like to have fresh fruit for the table most of the season with some left for the freezer go with an everbearing variety.

When selecting your strawberry bed, choose a location that hasn’t been used to grow tomatoes, potatoes, or sod for the last five years to avoid pest and disease problems. The area must be well drained and in a full sun location. As always, I recommend a quality soil test performed by your local extension services. Plant strawberry crowns in the early spring. Dig a trench deep enough to set the roots in without bending. Set plants in the trench and cover roots and only half the crown with soil. Place plants 12” apart in rows 36” apart.

Mulch with 3”-4” of straw. For June-bearing varieties: during the first season, pinch off any runners heading in the wrong direction, and pinch off all flowers to ensure higher production the following season. For everbearing varieties: remove runners during the first season. Pinch off flowers for the first six weeks after planting, then allow the plant to flower and set fruit for a fall harvest.

June-bearing strawberries can produce for four to five seasons and should be renovated directly after harvest to ensure good fruit production the following season.

Using a sickle or a mower with the blade set high to avoid damaging the crowns, remove old strawberry leaves thereby encouraging the plant to grow and set new leaves. After renovating, remove trimmings and destroy them. Top-dress the bed with ½ inch of soil, fertilize, and water to promote growth for the next few weeks if its dry.

In the fall after plants have endured several hard freezes, mulch strawberry beds with 3”-4” inches of straw. Strawberry flower buds are very susceptible to frost damage. In the spring, pull the mulch away to give the plants sun, but keep it next to the rows so it can be easily tossed back on if the danger of frost presents itself, or use a frost blanket.

Keeping It in Stitches Spring Renovations

Winter is almost over and spring is on its way. After a full winter of absorbing all the DIY and home reno shows, I am inspired to channel my inner Joanna Gaines. Like a bird building its nest, I’ve been collecting paint color chips and Pinterest ideas for a bedroom update. So much different than redecorating years ago.

By Diane K Clow Sewist and Long Arm Quilter Eversew Quilted

In the 40-plus years in our house, we have probably redecorated or renovated most every room three times. As newlyweds, one of my first projects was re-wallpapering the living room. With an older home, I visualized floral wallpaper and a fresh coat of paint on the wood molding. I went to a home decor store and looked through dozens of wallpaper books until I found the perfect one. It was a coralorange floral kind-of-wreath shape design. (Boy, that sounds really ugly just typing that description.) I bought wallpaper wheatpaste and went at it.

We have an older house. Older houses settle. They sink unevenly. I soon discovered that one end of the room measured a full three inches shorter than the other. So I started the paper pattern at the same place at the ceiling joint and decided I could live with an uneven pattern at the baseboard molding, to be hidden by furniture. I was getting my rhythm, measuring and cutting the paper, brushing on the paste, smoothing the paper on the wall.

I was up and down the ladder near the hall door and didn’t realize my husband had picked up the bucket of paste and was holding it up for me, as I stood on the ladder sealing seams. Down came my elbow, into the paste, and the bucket fell to the floor. Carpet does not react well to wallpaper wheatpaste. Wives don’t react well to wallpaper wheatpaste in their carpet. The rest of my wallpapering career was solo.

Years later a guest commented on the coral/orange

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floral wreath wallpaper. I thought, “What a great choice! It’s still very much a timeless look!” But the guest’s comment was to point out that one of the strips was hung upside down.

Since then we have stripped wallpaper, put up new, stripped again, had the walls resurfaced, and can now paint relatively smooth walls. The wallpapers chosen were always a busy pattern to cover the bowing and cracked plaster and lathe. Now I was free to change colors easily with a paint brush!

I am a little confused by the modern decorating today. It appears you are suppose to pick up pallets that have fallen off a truck onto the road side and nail them up on the wall for “a statement piece.”

Now, I like old stuff more than most, but I’m not sure about the whole “roadside fallen from a truck” decor. I am over some of the old auction and family “treasures” furniture we’ve had for many years in our bedroom. I am thinking of painting (I know! Gasp!) some of this stuff. After stripping layers off furniture pieces for years, it just doesn’t come naturally to paint it.

As part of this bedroom renovation, I am also thinking about new carpet. The carpet we have is over 40 years old. When we chose it from a local furniture store, the owner told us that in a bedroom, we would grow tired of the carpet before we would ever wear it out. It is a rust/orange color plush and looks practically new. (What is up with the coral/ orange/rust thing, anyway?) And I am really, really over it.

The best part of renovating the bedroom is that I get to make a new quilt for the bed . . . .

Keeping it as always, in Stitches.

Life is the Berries

Freedom from Stuff, Stuff, Stuff

By Laura Loveberry Elementary School Assembly Author/Speaker, Inspirational Speaker Women’s Retreats/Conferences, Caricature Artist

57 pairs of sunglasses, 27 cans of mushrooms, 13-yearold expired jars, spilled-over molasses petrified in the back corner of the cupboard—these are just a few of my discoveries since I determined to get rid of the clutter engulfing our home. Oh, you might not notice, because I am a surface cleaner. But, I guess I am like a white washed vessel looking fine on the outside but do not open that office door! Pssshhhh! It is cyclone city in here.

Here is the motivation for dealing with the clutter right now. My momma has aging issues. My special-needs daughter is in constant need of help for living life independently. And, I desire to grow the speaking and writing ministry to encourage women to climb the mountains they face and grab onto Jesus to help them up the precipice. With these important tasks, along with loving my family and friends, I need to free up my head for clear thinking. My mind is full to capacity.

With chaos and clutter in many drawers, stuff on the floors, three-quarters of all my gear, junk, and décor, not even necessary, I feel the need for a deep “sort it out and get it out of my home and mind” cleaning party. I have started uncluttering because who wants to be a slave to stuff, stuff, stuff?

I have talked with my minimalist friends for motivation.

My home is going to become a sanctuary to rest my restless mind after emotionally draining events serving God and loving people. Following are my guidelines.

You may find them helpful if you get the spring clean fever, too. If it does not spark joy, it is gone. If I have not used it, worn it, or thought about it for five years, it is history. If it does not fit, is the wrong color, is cracked, or needs repair then it is out of here. Even if it was a special gift, if I don’t really like how it works in our home, it is gone. I can take a photo of it for the memory, but I am tossing stuff out. I need the mental rest from cleaning, dusting, storing all these things, things, things.

I think about Jesus.

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Jesus had no place to call his home when he was in his ministry. There is freedom in not being tied down to the junk. Jesus just focused his mission on loving God and loving people. I know some spend two full days each week cleaning and dusting all their decorative

tchotchkes. For me, I want to be more purposeful with my time. If I simplify my home, then it won’t take that long to clean. This frees me up for more time to love God and love people, and this is our calling.

I am limiting my clothing to just the colors that look best on me and work together. (In our cottage I only have mostly black, white, bright blue, and lime green clothes in my small closet. It works to make all clothes match.) I am planning to bring that concept into my main closet at home. I want a simplified closet.

Won’t you agree, 101 pairs of shoes are not necessary.

Seriously. Give them the boot!

My kitchen is finished with the decluttering. Pots have the lids on and everything has a place. I tossed countless containers, cups without lids, and outdated foods. I love cooking and creating meals in my newlyorganized set up. My counters have a coffee corner and the rest is open space. Who needs a knife block taking up counter space? Not me. I am loving the fresh clear counter look. My once-brimming pantry now has space on the shelves.

My bathroom was jam-packed full of oodles of stuff, too. Not now. I literally took everything completely out and scrubbed the grime off the empty shelves.

I bought dollar store containers and grouped like things together. Then I only put back items I will use.

Emptying out three-quarters of the items frees up a lot of shelving. After arranging the rest aesthetically, my jetted tub has a few color coordinated candles and pretty soap. The room has been transformed to a spa.

Ahhhhhh! Much better.

I have the hardest rooms to go: my dreaded office, overflowing closet, and the no-room-to-walk attic. Any Simply Hers readers want to get on the whole-house decluttering kick? It is hard work. Our theme is to “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, . . . store up for yourselves treasures in heaven . . . .” (Matt. 6:19a, 20a NIV). We can do it! Let’s free up our lives from stuff so we can focus on our God mission. Set your minds free! (Shout this last word like the Braveheart movie.)

Freeeeeeeedom!

It’s not easy being green,

but it will be worth it Kermit the Frog sang about it and the sentiment is still true today. It is not easy being green. Taking care of the environment is not a simple task.

It requires thought, planning, and even some sacrifice on our part. Small deliberate steps to better our earth can make a lasting impact for generations to come.

The three R’s often come to mind when thoughts or conversations turn to the environment: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Recycle is one that most of us can identify with and can work most easily into our day-to-day lives. It is very important to recycle and everyone should try to recycle as much as possible.

However, the “R” that can have an even larger impact on our planet is to try to reduce in all areas of our lives.

One of the simplest and quickest ways to help the environment is to switch from single use plastic bags to reusable shopping bags. According to the Center for Biological Diversity, Americans use 100 billion plastic bags a year, with the average American home using 1,500 plastic bags per year. Plastic bags use oil to manufacture – up to 12 million barrels a year. Waste Management states that only one percent of bags are recycled, leaving the rest to end up in landfills or as litter. It takes more than 500 years for plastic bags to break down, and they do not break down all the way but instead photo-degrade becoming microplastics which further pollute the environment.

Most grocery and retails chains now sell reusable bags at checkouts for a minimal cost.

Ditching plastic water bottles and using reusable bottles is another simple way to make a big impact. Americans use about 50 billion plastic water bottles a year according to the website banthebottle. net, with only about 23 percent of those being recycled. Using a filtered water pitcher can save 300 plastic water bottles per filter and a reusable bottle saves more than 1,400 plastic bottles per year.

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But there are many other ways to help the environment that may not be as obvious such as unplugging devices.

Electronics suck energy when they are

By Sarah Gray

plugged in, even if they are not in use.

The Natural Resource Defense Council found in a 2015 study that “idle mode electricity” accounts for 23 percent of power consumption in the average household. In the United States alone $19 billion in energy is drained annually. So, to save the environment and save money, unplug devices when they’re not in use.

Also, seal up heating and cooling ducts and add insulation and weatherstripping around doors and windows to make sure energy in the form of hot or cold air is not escaping.

But, it’s not just about switching to greener materials or watching electricity usage. Plant a garden – either vegetable or flower. Plants absorb carbon dioxide which benefits humans. Bee-friendly flowers help more plants and tree to grow as well. Speaking of getting outside – line dry clothing instead of using a machine. This can be difficult in the winter months, but when the air temperature allows, hang clothes outside to dry. A dryer load of clothes uses five times more electricity than washing and is the equivalent to turning on 225 light bulbs for an hour.

On the topic of machines, when it is time to replace an appliance, consider an energy efficient brand or model.

Consumers Energy offers rebates on Energy Star appliances; just go to consumersenergy.com. Rebates are available for both residential and business customers. Homes and businesses can also go through an energy audit to see where they can save both energy and money.

Lastly, switch to LED light bulbs. The cost of these energy-efficient bulbs has gone down dramatically over the years and can save consumers money and energy costs in the long run. Regular light bulbs last about 1,000 hours while LED can last up to 25 years. That is a 25-80 percent energy saving according to Energy.gov.

Small steps can make a difference and help make the environment a better place for future generations.

Is a Revocable Living Trust Right for You?

By Timothy Dixon Simply Hers Magazine

Timothy E. Dixon Licensed Michigan Attorney Law Office of Timothy E. Dixon 27 N. Broad St. Hillsdale, MI 49242 Ph: (517) 437-4070 Fx: (517) 437-4062

Revocable Living Trusts have become the basic building block of estate plans for people of all ages, personal backgrounds, and financial situations. But for some, a Revocable Living Trust may not be necessary to achieve their estate planning goals or may even be detrimental to achieving those goals.

For example, if your main concern is avoiding probate of your assets after you die, you may be able to accomplish this goal without using a Revocable Living Trust. However, the strategies that enable probate avoidance have their own drawbacks and are not appropriate for everyone.

What Are the Advantages of a Revocable Living Trust Over a Will?

Revocable Living Trusts have become popular because when compared with a Last Will and Testament, a Revocable Living Trust offers the following advantages: A Revocable Living Trust protects your privacy by keeping your final wishes a private family matter since only your beneficiaries and Trustees are entitled to read the trust agreement after your death. On the other hand, a Last Will and Testament that is filed with the probate court becomes a public court record and may be read by anyone.

In addition, if you are concerned about protecting your assets in case you need nursing home care, then an Irrevocable Living Trust, instead of a Revocable Living Trust, may be the best option for preserving your estate for the benefit of your family. The rules governing Irrevocable Living Trusts can be very complex, and you should only create an Irrevocable Living Trust after a thorough discussion with a qualified trust attorney.

A Revocable Living Trust provides instructions for your care and the management of your property if you become mentally incapacitated. Since a Last Will and Testament only goes into effect after you die, it cannot be used for incapacity planning.

If you fund all of your assets into a Revocable Living Trust prior to your death, then those assets will avoid probate. On the other hand, property that passes under the terms of a Last Will and Testament usually has to be probated.

Why Shouldn’t You Use a Revocable Living Trust?

Although Revocable Living Trusts offer privacy protection, incapacity planning, and probate avoidance, they are not f or everyone.

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Do You Still Need a Revocable Living Trust?

While some estate planning attorneys advise their clients against using a Revocable Living Trust under any circumstance, others advise their clients to use one under every circumstance.

Either approach fails to take into consideration the fact that Revocable Living Trusts are definitely not “one size fits all.”

Instead, your family and financial situations must be carefully evaluated on an individual basis and the advantages and disadvantages of using a Revocable Living Trust must be weighed against your personal concerns and estate planning goals. In addition, these factors must be re-evaluated every few years since your family and financial situations, concerns, and goals will change over time.

If you have an existing estate plan that has not been reviewed for a while, it should be reviewed by an estate planning attorney to determine if the documents are still a right choice for you and your family.

Straights Lodge at Mission Point

Four-legged sleepovers

doggie dinner guests The Livery, Benton Harbor

Snuggle up in the pet-friendly hot tub suites of Straits Lodge at Mission Point Resort which overlooks the bluffs of Mackinac Island.

The resort’s expansive front lawn facing Lake Huron and the Straits of Mackinac allow plenty of room for fetch or catch. Afterward, relax in one of the Adirondack chairs.

Your canine pal can loll at your feet while you dive into one of 16 craft beers available on tap at The Livery in Benton Harbor’s outdoor beer garden. The Upper Livery is an entertainment venue that regularly hosts live music. If you’re hungry, try a spent-grain pizza, the Cap’n Bones Rockstar BLT pizza is, well, a rockstar.

More stays that allow dogs: Barefoot Beach Resort, Oscoda; Candlelite Inn Bed & Breakfast, Ludington; and Dapple-Gray Bed & Breakfast, Eagle Harbor.

More dining with dog-friendly space: Art’s Tavern, Glen Arbor; Crane’s in the City, Holland; Julienne Tomatoes, Petoskey.

Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park

Must Love Dogs Boutique, Grand Haven

roam with a view

Paw-some activities

Most state parks allow pets on leashes up to 6 feet long. And there’s plenty of room to walk on the 24 miles of Lake Superior shore at Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park in the Upper Peninsula. The park near Ontonagon contains more than 25 trails, from flat and smooth to hilly and rugged.

Fruit-loving owners and their canines are welcome at Tree-Menus Fruit Farm in Eau Claire. During harvest season, you can pick-yourown or purchase fresh-harvested fruits. Gather a group for a picnic at this 450-acre farm.

More dog-friendly attractions: Cherry Republic, Glen Arbor; Gilmore Car More great walks: Little Traverse Wheelway, Charlevoix to Harbor Springs; Museum, Hickory Corners; Must Love Dogs Boutique & Spa, Grand Haven.

Michigan Legacy Art Park at Crystal Mountain, Thompsonville; Norman F. Kruse Park, Muskegon; Menominee River State Recreation Area, Norway.

For more pet-friendly inspiration, visit michigan.org 79