Women's LifeStyle Magazine - August 2020 - Sara Grey

Grand Rapids|Holland|Grand Haven

Sara Grey

AUGUST 2020

NAVIGATING THE UNKNOWN: Fitness Professionals Innovate to Survive

CELEBRATING CENTENNIAL: 100 YEARS OF WOMEN’S RIGHT TO VOTE

FR EE

HOW MIGRANT WORKERS PUT FOOD ON OUR TABLES

Overview:

The COVID-19 crisis is devastating the fabric of our local business community. Kent County is built on the backbone of entrepreneurship and small business, and the Kent County Small Business Recovery Program is aimed at delivering short–term financial support to small businesses with the goal of supporting a strong economic recovery.

Who is the fund intended for?

This fund is focused on using Coronavirus Relief Funds provided under the CARES Act to support for-profit businesses with 0-25 full-time equivalent employees located in Kent County.

What is the purpose of the fund?

This fund helps businesses that have not been able to access, or have been declined for local, state, or federal relief funds, or need additional support to weather this crisis. We are focused on businesses that may be dealing with additional barriers including but not limited to language, general business knowledge, and from underserved communities. Consistent with the limitations of the CARES Act, these businesses also must have been directly impacted and experienced losses due to business interruption due to COVID-19. All distributions of funds are subject to the requirements of the CARES Act and Treasury Department guidance on the use of Coronavirus Relief Funds.

What does the fund provide?

Businesses that qualify for this fund will receive: A short-term economic relief grant ranging from $5,000, $10,000, $15,000 or $20,000 depending on size of business, operating costs, and additional scoring metrics.

Business size will be categorized as: •

0-5 employees

•

6-15 employees

•

16-25 employees

Technical Assistance •

Cost Cutting Measures

•

Reviewing creditor/obligation recommendations (deferments and loan re–aging)

•

Connections to other resources

•

Six-month cashflow projection and analysis with a business consultant

Eligibility •

Must be a private, for-profit business located and registered in Kent County with 25 employees (FTEs) or fewer

•

Must have been directly impacted and experienced losses due to business interruption due to COVID-19.

•

Must have a business start date prior to 2/15/2020

Questions? Please contact: smallbusinessrecovery@grandrapids.org 250 MONROE AVE NW GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49503 (616) 771-0300 GRANDRAPIDS.ORG

APPLY:

https://www.grandrapids.org/kent-county-small-business-recovery-program

Contents

August 2020 Edition #269

womenslifestyle.com

PUBLISHER Two Eagles Marcus

FEATURES

EDITOR

10

Everyday Athena: Cassandra Kiger

Elyse Wild

12

Navigating the Unknown: Fitness Professionals Innovate to Survive as Their Industry Remains Closed

18

How to be an Ally in Work, Community and Leadership

20

How Migrant Workers Put Food on Our Tables

editor@womenslifestyle.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Elyse Wild Allison Arnold COLUMNISTS Kate Sage, DO

ABOUT THE COVER

Sara Grey, Owner of Lunar Cycle Studio|photo

by Two Eagles Marcus

HEALTH & BEAUTY 28

Unmasking the Truth

Lindsey Tym Liz Wierenga PHOTOGRAPHY

FOOD & DINING 22

Easy (and Delicious) School Night Recipes: Mini Pierogy Mac ‘n’ Cheese Skillet, Pressure Cooker Chicken Cacciatore, Easy Chicken

Two Eagles Marcus

Enchiladas with Black Beans SALES sales@womenslifestyle.com

LEARN & DO 8

Her Legacy: The August Centennial of the Nineteenth Amendment!

CALL

16

Reader’s Lounge

(616) 458-2121

25

Simple Ways to Prevent Dog-Related Lawn Damage

30

Mindful Shopping: How to Decrease Waste When Acquiring New Items

(616) 951-5422

EMAIL info@womenslifestyle.com MAIL 3500 3 Mile Rd NW, Ste A Grand Rapids, MI 49534 IN MEMORIAM Victoria Ann Upton Founder 1955 - 2018 To extend an uplifting, inclusive and vibrant invitation to enjoy life, every day, in our community.

COME IN AND SEE

WHAT’S NEW KIDS’ GIFTS, TOYS, GAMES AND MORE!

• Unique kids’ books & games • Baby/kids gifts & gear • Eco-friendly and locally-made items • Always FREE gift wrapping FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL >>

On Cherry St., between Diamond & Eastern, in East Hills.

909 Cherry St. SE Grand Rapids, MI 49506 hopscotchstore.com • 616.233.4008

4

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • August 2020

Spotlight on Community Initiatives

Join In

Sponsored by Grand Rapids Community Foundation

HQ Runaway and Homeless Youth Drop-In Center

HQ provides space and support services to homeless and runaway youth in Grand Rapids. While their offerings are currently limited due to COVID-19, they continue to support this vulnerable populations. Currently, they are seeking donations of hair brushes, bath towels, natural hair care products, and white or black t-shirts (all sizes). For more information on how to donate, email lpetsch@ hqgr.org or call 616-406-3945.

In The Image

In The Image is a volunteer-run store supplying the community with clothes, furniture, and household items, free of charge, to those in need. In The Image is in need of laundered and clean clothing, personal hygiene products (unopened shampoo, conditioner, soap, etc), unopened cleaning supplies, basic necessities (toilet paper, hand sanitizer), and baby formula, diapers, and wipes. Click here to help.

Mel Trotter Ministries

Mel Trotter Ministries is now accepting volunteers to assist in their

programming that supports our city’s vulnerable homeless and transient population. Programming includes job readiness, addition recovery, housing readiness and aftercare. Volunteers are required to undergo COVID-19 training. visit meltrotter.org/givehelp/volunteer.

Literacy Center of West Michigan The Literally Center of West Michigan provides 1-on-1 support for adults in our community who face barriers due to low literacy. Volunteer tutors are only required to read and write English. While tutors and learners meet 1-on-1 (virtually), the Literacy Center provides robust support for both parties to order to make for a successful outcome. Volunteer orientations are current taking place online. Visit literacycenterwm.org/volunteer-resources.

Meals on Wheels Western Michigan

Meals on Wheels Western Michigan provides home-delivered nutritious meals to seniors across Kent and Allegan counties. In 2018 alone, they serviced more than 2,900 seniors by providing more than 500,000 meals. During COVID-19, they are in need of volunteers to assist with delivery, packing meals and helping out at their pantry. For those who cannot volunteer in person, they are accepting donations of funds and PPE. For more information, visit

Our future is bright.

Melanie Orozco-Zavala Union High School Class of 2020, Challenge Scholar

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • August 2020

Hats off to all graduates who followed their dreams and are ready to become tomorrow's leaders.

Congratulations, Class of 2020! grfoundation.org 5

From the Editor

On our cover is Sara Grey, owner of Lunar Cycle Studio. Grey opened her studio a mere seven weeks before the COVID-19 swept across the community. While many industries are beginning to open up and somewhat resemble normal life, gyms and fitness studios remain closed. This is an especially painful reality as Grand Rapids has seen exciting growth in the industry the past few years: barre studios, yoga of all kinds and dance fitness studios, many of which are women-owned, have cropped up all over the city. Today, owners and trainers are innovating to keep their industry alive. We talked to Grey, and Valerie James about how they continue to pivot and innovate to survive the shutdown. Their stories are raw and inspiring as they graciously share the moments during which they felt they felt utterly defeated, and what inspired them to stand up and keep walking forward into the unknown (12).

PHOTO BY TWO EAGLES MARCUS

We shed light on the lives of migrant workers, who are vital to the food systems that fill our community with the fresh, locally-grown organic produce we have come to value. The 50,000 migrant workers are particularly vulnerable in the face of COVID-19 due to work, living and transportation conditions (20).

Grand Rapids has long been coming to terms with its foundation of inequity, and while events of this summer shocked the community, we encourage everyone to continue to do their part to challenge inequity in their daily lives — together, we can our community one in which all may thrive. On page 18, Ace Marasigan, Founder of the Grand Rapids Asian-Pacific Festival; Milinda Ysasi, Second Ward Commissioner, City of Grand Rapid; and Angel Duff, Director and Managing Counsel Legal HR and Diversity & Inclusion at Amway share their insights on how to be an ally in the community, at work and in leadership (18).

This month marks an important milestone in our history: the Centennial of the 19th Amendment, granting women the right to vote. Read about Grand Rapids’ role in the national suffrage movement and learn about the work Greater Grand Rapids Women’s History Council, which works tirelessly to honor the legacy of the woman of the past who fought for the rights we have today (8).

COVID-19 remains a danger to many in the community. We implore you to do your part by exercising caution, wearing a mask and supporting those in need in whatever way you can. On page 5 you will find local nonprofits that are in need of volunteers or donations.

Remember, we are still in this together.

Happy reading!

Women’s LifeStyle is a dynamic multi-media platform designed to make beneficial connections in our community. The positive, upbeat, award winning and popular locally owned publication is supported by a dynamic mobile friendly online presence and an interactive website, as well as friendly, helpful and consistent social media interaction with the community. Women’s LifeStyle is favored by an active, engaged and progressive audience. All content ©Women’s LifeStyle, Inc. 2020.

6

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • August 2020

West Michigan COVID-19 Business Coalition The West Michigan COVID-19 Business Coalition is a collaborative effort by several West Michigan organizations working to provide resources, guidance, and businesses services to the employers and employees of our community that have been affected by the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) global pandemic.

Leaders from Experience Grand Rapids, the Grand Rapids Chamber and The Right Place, Inc. convened the coalition aimed at making critical information more accessible to all area businesses and their employees. Coalition members include Asian Pacific American Chamber of Commerce (West MI), City of Grand Rapids, Downtown Grand Rapids, Inc., Kent County, LINC UP, Local First, National Business League, Inc., Urban League of West Michigan, West Michigan Hispanic Chamber and West Michigan Works!

COVIDWM.ORG

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • August 2020

7

The August Centennial of the Nineteenth Amendment!

BY THE GREATER GRAND RAPIDS WOMEN’S HISTORY COUNCIL Sporting sunflower gold badges, convention delegates of the National American Woman Suffrage Association descended upon Grand Rapids from across the country in 1899. A hub for state suffrage activity, the city was invited to host the national convention; and its major leaders--Susan B. Anthony, Anna Howard Shaw, and Carrie Chapman Catt--generated massive media interest. The stage at St. Cecilia was flower-strewn to honor the recent fiftieth anniversary of the first women’s rights convention in 1848 Seneca Falls, New York; but delegate badges honored the Sunflower State, Kansas. In 1867 it was the first state ever to hold a referendum on women’s right to vote. Kansas failed then, but inspired male voters in other western territories and set up farther-flung referenda, as in Michigan in 1874.

On August 26th, 1920, the United States certified the Nineteenth Amendment to its constitution: “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.” Raise your glasses to its centennial!

Much had been asked of American women after the founding of our country, but for almost 150 years the U.S. did not ensure that women had the basic right of citizenship: the vote. Across the nation today, viewers of The Vote on PBS are astonished to meet the spirited and relentless American women who endured the 75-year fight; and readers of Elaine Weiss’s The Woman’s Hour are gipped by her riveting account of summer of 1920, when Tennessee became the 36th state to ratify the 19th amendment--by one vote.

Closer to home and for twenty years, the Greater Grand Rapids Women’s History Council has been uncovering local suffrage activists, previously invisible in city and state histories, and fitting them into even the national narrative. For a short course, please visit our website’s suffrage page at ggrwhc.org. Tour the early days of the Michigan movement, fueled by 1880s opportunities to vote and run for school boards; the 1890s heyday when Grand Rapids hosted the national convention; the moves toward diversity as well as counterproductive racist moments; hijinks in the teens with floats and newspaper takeovers; and a passionate final push, when WWI soldiers demanded the vote for their mothers and 14,000 Grand Rapids women’s names ran in newspapers in support.

On August 26th, 2020, we had hoped for the electricity of an in-person celebration, seven-hundred strong-raising our voices in the suffrage anthem; lending our ears to the decorous oratory of Victorian stages; witnessing a virtual parade of images from the last decade’s spectacle and print campaigns; honoring local women building on the right to vote by running for public office; and thanking the descendants of major Grand Rapids suffragists Emily Burton Ketcham and Alde Louise Tuck Blake, whose donations jumpstarted our early work and continue to fuel our efforts today.

ILLUSTRATIONS BY LIBBY VANDERPLOEG Crow period of 1899, for example, Grand Rapids was the site of racial tension during the national conference.

Read about this on our website, and please be alert to all aspects of suffrage history, positive and negative.

But also be aware that many people today believe that the Nineteenth Amendment underwrote the right of suffrage exclusively for white women. While it took the 1965 Voting Rights Act to counter continued voter suppression, mainly in the South, throughout most of the country African American women could go to the polls in 1920. At home in Chicago, Ida B. Wells was in fact an enfranchised woman!

The GGRWHC works hard to honor the contributions of Grand Rapids suffragists, to supplement the Michigan narrative, and to put more flesh on the bones of the national story. As we build history, though, we also try to correct errors and emphases. During the emerging Jim GGRWHC’s programming to honor the 19th Amendment centennial has been interrupted by the coronavirus outbreak. For now, please stay safe but celebrate with us virtually and in print! Visit the digital suffrage exhibit on our website (ggrwhc.org); follow our calendar electronically and in WLM; and stay tuned about August 26th: HER VOICE HER VOTE!

8

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • August 2020

Small Business Owners!

We Are Here WITH and FOR You GROW is here and will continue to support small businesses, entrepreneurs and our community with the tools, information and resources we have available as a Women’s Business Center, as a Small Business Administration Partner and as community members here in West Michigan.

Business Resources in One Place We're maintaining a list of webinars and resources listed on our website that have been created with small business owners in mind. These are tools provided by major organizations including the SBA, SBDC, IRS, Google and many local organizations, including many webinars createdby GROW volunteer facilitators.

• • • • • • • •

Human Resources Resilience & Managing Stress Mental Toughness Cloud-based Business Tools Opening Safely for Employees & Customers Managing Cash Flow Paycheck Protection Program Forgiveness Marketing In Times of Crisis

GROW GROW staff is also here to assist business owners to navigate funding options and other business concerns as our stay at home orders are lifted. We will help clarify your situation and do our best to identify the best options for your business.

Visit growbusiness.org/covid Email: info2@growbusiness.org to get started.

Contact us to Get Started While our office is closed we are fully staffed virtually, and ready to help!

Reach out to us online at growbusiness.org or email us directly at info2@growbusiness.org.

Stay connected

Everyday Athena CASSANDRA KIGER Executive Director, Affinity Mentoring

This is the seventh chapter in a series spotlighting members of our community who epitomize the Athena standards and live by its principles. Readers will come to know these women, the companies they are representing and the forward thinking employers who have a commitment to elevating women and fairly compensating those women for their contributions in their workforce.

The Athena principles: LIVING AUTHENTICALLY LEARNING CONSTANTLY ADVOCATING FIERCELY ACTING COURAGEOUSLY FOSTERING COLLABORATION BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS GIVING BACK CELEBRATING

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine: Tell us about your role as Executive Director of Affinity Mentoring?

Cassandra Kiger: I started in the middle of lockdown, which is always an exciting time to start a new job! I want to emphasize that I have the most amazing team in the world.

I see my role as a facilitator to make sure my teammates have all of the resources and funding they need to lead by example of how we communicate about the individuals we partner with — our community partners, the students and families who mentor with us as well as our mentors. We’re making sure the community knows that we believe that this is a partnership between every individual who participates in the work of our organization.

WLM: The ATHENA Principle you picked is learning. Tell us why that principle resonates with you.

CK: I have degrees, I have titles behind my name, but I would say these are by far not the most important ways I have done learning in my life. The biggest, most important learning I’ve ever done has been really experiential. Sometimes it’s on the job. Sometimes it’s learning a new skill. Sometimes that is participating in the community. Lots of times for me in my life that has been travel and having really amazing opportunities to see life reflected back to me in a new culture and a new space, sometimes in a new language and say, “Wow, this gives me a really great opportunity to reflect and see things through someone else’s eyes.”

That type of learning is really important as a leader. It’s probably the number one most important thing I look for when working with other leaders. If someone is in a space of leadership and they are not actively engaged in learning on a day to day basis, that is a big problem. They’ve either surrounded themselves with a bunch of “yes” people who just keep agreeing with them, or are staying only in their area of expertise, which is terrible for leadership, for growth, for the health of an organization. Our world is changing so quickly and it needs to. That’s not a bad thing - our world has some deeply needed long-overdue change that is coming and needs to keep coming.

And as leaders, it is not our jobs to slow it down and to have wistful wishful thinking of the past. It is our job to look to the future and see what the community needs and how we’re paying attention to that and then say, “ What are all the things I don’t know how to do?

What are all the spaces I’ve never entered in before?” Those are the spaces that leaders should be in.

WLM: Can you describe what learning looks like in this moment of coronavirus?

CK: I think the thing to do is to accept the fact that, like we’re not arriving, we’re not in a time and space in the world where we’re arriving. And that can be exhausting. Sometimes that means I feel like the decision fatigue in leadership today is it’s higher

10

ATHENA PRINCIPLE: LEARNING than I’ve ever felt it before. And I’ve been in a lot of positions

before. I had to make quick decisions and I had to make decisions that affected people’s jobs and people’s lives. But now, more than ever, by the time I hit a Friday afternoon after my 150th decision of the week, I’m like, “I hope I don’t have to decide what to eat today.”

I feel like that’s one of the hardest things about this time right now as a leader —— we’re not arriving, there is not a clear answer in sight. There’s not an end in sight right now.

I think as a leader, I have to embrace the fact that I am going to make some wrong decisions. When you’re learning, when everyone around you is learning at the speed of how quickly you can read the next article and how quickly you can get the next bit of communication out to people, it means we’re going to make wrong decisions. And I think leading in this time means giving not only ourselves a lot of grace.

31ST ANNUAL

ATHENA AWARDS CELEBRATION Thursday, September 24, 2020 4:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Tickets at GrandRapids.org

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • August 2020

I’m proud to be a Peak Selling ™ Realtor for Midwest Properties of Michigan.

Peak Selling™ is designed to generate multiple offers after only a few days on the market, a smoother transaction and closing. It’s proven to be a great way to do business for my sellers!

This program also works well for buyers who are trying to buy a home in this crazy market. I utilize a deep understanding of how to write winning offers using aspects of the Peak Selling ™ program and all of the other tools at my disposal.

2355 Belmont Center Dr., Suite 104 • Belmont, MI 49306

Roxanne O’Neil - REALTOR® Call or email me today.

(616) 822-0234 / roneil@grar.com Specializing in drama-free Real Estate

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • August 2020

11

Navigating the Unknown:

Fitness Professionals Innovate to Survive as Their Industry Remains Closed

BY ELYSE WILD

SARA GREY, OWNER OF LUNAR CYCLE FITNESS | PHOTO BY TWO EAGLES MARCUS

12

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine •August 2020

I

ndustries across the state are reopening and life is beginning to feel somewhat normal (ish). Mask wearing, however much debated, is becoming second nature as we exchange the minor inconvenience to once again shop retail, eat at our favorite restaurants and get our haircut in a salon by a professional. Walk into any one of these places and you will likely be greeted by a sign explaining how to proceed in your customer experience per new policies and procedures to protect against the spread of COVID-19; the floor will bear social distance markers; the clerk manning the check-out will be guarded by a plexiglass shield; and a jug of hand sanitizer by the door will encourage you to help yourself.

While our community slowly comes back to life, the fitness industry remains shuttered, leaving gym owners and trainers to innovate in order to survive as the pandemic continues.

Sara Grey was a longtime runner when an injury forced her to hang up her running shoes. Without the release of her regular workout routine, her stresslevel skyrocketed. Then, she discovered cycling.

“The stress level was so overwhelming ... my husband took me to a cycling class, and I felt like a normal human afterword,” she said. “I had found my thing.”

In January, Grey opened Lunar Cycle Fitness to fill a gap she saw in the local market: a fitness studio entirely dedicated to indoor cycling.

Lunar Cycle offers various high-intensity workouts, all on an indoor bike, driven by motivating music laced with hot beats.

“The response was awesome,” Grey expressed.

Lunar Cycle took off, and for seven weeks the studio welcomed an eager and growing client base. Then, the pandemic hit and businesses across Michigan were ordered to close immediately. At first,Grey anticipated re-opening in a couple of weeks.

“By the end of the second week, I thought, ‘I don’t know how this is going to go, but all I know is that what matters most is for me to demonstrate to my team and myself that I can be nimble,’” she said. “There is no way I could survive as a business owner if my strategy was to sit on my hands and hope that someone comes and fixes it for me.”

Grey took action. She decided to rent out her bikes to clients, deliver them to their homes and start doing virtual rides; but due to significant technology hurdles, the transition seemed impossible. She describes a moment of feeling utterly defeated.

“I was literally on my knees in the studio. I was whipped out and filled with dread. Our DJ, Tony Bank, came to me and said, “I got you.’ He helped me figure out all of the technology glitches, and then we went virtual.”

“It was one of the most impactful periods of my life,” she said. “It was such a challenge.”

The virtual rides were a success, both for clients and Grey’s staff.

“It allowed my trainers to feel engaged,” she said. “It helped to give them a sense of hope and normalcy and a sense of connection that we were all craving.”

Grey didn’t stop there — Michigan’s soggy spring was quickly turning to a hot summer, and people were longing for any kind of in-person experience. And, while the virtual rides were going well, Grey didn’t allow herself to be lulled into a false sense of security.

“We have no idea how long this is going to go on for,” she said. “We need to stay relevant, we need to find a way to be connected beyond a computer screen.”

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • August 2020

With a 24 ft trailer,Grey began transporting bikes to conduct cycling classes in outdoor locations across the city. Five days a week, Lunar Cycle’s loyal riders get their workout in on various bridges across downtown, on GVSU’s downtown campus, in the Studio C piazza and by the Grand Rapid Public Museum.

“I am a different person since we started doing the outdoor rides,” Grey said.

“I am not stressed out. It has been fantastic.”

When Grey speaks about her partnerships — with the locations at which the outdoor rides take place, and Sweatnet, a membership-based in-person and virtual fitness platform, which lent her drop sound headphone for the rides — it is with great emotion.

“Without them, I don’t know if we would have made it,” she expressed. “They all showed up for us in a huge way. I can’t express the gratitude I feel to live in a community like this.”

While the outdoor rides have been wildly successful (according to Lunar Cycle’s website, they are booked out through September), Grey notes that there is still no end in sight for those in the fitness industry.

“We have a long way to go,” she said. “I have learned how critical it is that in times of trouble, we show up for each other. It is absolutely critical.”

Valerie James founded VSJ fitness to inspire the everyday woman to embrace a healthy lifestyle and commit to physical fitness — whether that means balancing the demands of motherhood, multiple-jobs, and feeling limited by a low-income. Jame’s personal experience with depression and the positive impact of exercise inspired her to start a business that combined both the physical and mental benefits of working out.

Along with her blossoming fitness career, James also worked as a social worker.

Before COVID-19, she says she was always on the go, training clients at a studio or in their homes, teaching Zumba classes, hosting various fitness events such as trap yoga.

“I was just going with the flow,” she said. “When the gyms closed, it all halted ... it was scary. I felt like I didn’t have a purpose anymore.”

Like many fitness instructors, James immediately began teaching classes over Facebook Live; but she quickly recognized that due to poor camera quality and copyright issues with music, the platform was less than ideal. She experienced a significant loss of clients as people flocked to free virtual classes. “ I went through a period where I was asked myself, ‘Am I meant to stop doing this? or do I keep going?’ I cried a lot,” she expressed.

James did keep going. While considering the unique employment and financial situation most people were thrust into, she knew she needed to find a way to stand out. She began offering classes through Zoom, which generated a new client flow and a dedicated following.

“I felt like I had to start all over with branding who I am and what VSJ fitness is,” James said.

Those initial Zoom classes have now blossomed into a fully-fledged virtual gym. For $25 a month, members tune in three times a week for workouts led by James; get monthly challenges and nutrition assistance; unlimited access to video replays; and a private Facebook group in which they offer encouragement, hold each other accountable, celebrate successes and share their stories. While her clients are reaping the benefits, James acknowledges that she is, too.

“Even though we can’t physically be together, this group helps us feel connected,” James said. “It has been a huge positive. While I can be professional, I can also be vulnerable and share myself in this virtual community.”

13

Because VSJ Fitness was built to help people experience both the physical and mental benefits of exercise, James’ approach to teaching may be particularly beneficial to mitigating the stress of the pandemic.

“I don’t want you to focus on the scales,” she said. “I want you to focus on how you are feeling internally. Let’s say on the first workout, you struggle with doing a push-up, but by week three, you can do five push-ups. That is a win! The other results will come, but you have to focus on that type of progress.”

When asked how her background as a social worker impacts her work as a fitness trainer, her face lights up.

“It’s beautiful,” she smiled. “My initial consultations are 30-minutes and it supposed to be about someone’s fitness experience. It ends up being an hour. I work a lot with women, and sometimes that is their time to pour it all out and vent. I can connect them to other resources they may need to help with body image, relationships, lack of support at home.”

As of this writing, gyms and fitness studios in West Michigan remain closed with no sign from the governor’s office of a reopening in the near future. Many facilities have closed permanently, and the YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids announced the permanent lay off of more than 1,000 part-time staff members. James and Grey are among those left standing, determined to find solutions.

“I am glad I didn’t allow the negative thoughts to become my reality,” James said. “This was a true test of my resiliency. I am proud of not allowing myself to quit.”

VALARIE JAMES, OWNER OF VSJ FITNESS | COURTESY PHOTO

Grey echoes that sentiment.

“I have learned that I am resilient,” she said. “There were moments when I was on my hands and knees, but I got back up, went to work, and we made it happen. When you demonstrate that to yourself over and over again, you over time know that you can weather what is in front of you.”

Connect from home.

Treating anxiety, depression, and more Teletherapy is available for all ages.

200+ licensed, West Michigan clinicians.

Visit pinerest.org/telehealth or call 866.852.4001.

Virtual walk-in psychiatry now available for adults from the Psychiatric Urgent Care Center. Call 616.455.9200.

14

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine •August 2020

WHAT WE BELIEVE i understand suicide is an effect of an illness i understand mental illnesses are treatable i understand stigma is the #1 reason why someone would not seek treatment for mental illness; education and awareness are vital to saving and changing lives i understand reaching out to those who are suffering could save a life; let someone know you are available and treat them with respect and compassion i understand most people who are suicidal do not want to die; they want their pain to end i understand speaking out about suicide may empower others to share their stories i understand feelings of guilt are part of the grieving process on the way to finding peace and acceptance i understand those who die by suicide do make it to heaven

Call the Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1.800.273.8255 If you’re thinking about suicide, are worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, the Lifeline network is available 24/7 across the United States.

CLICK HERE FOR COVID-19 SUPPORT iunderstandloveheals.org/covid-19

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • August 2020

15

Learn & Do

READER’S

by Liz Wierenga

G

rowing up with three older brothers, and now the mom of three boys, girlfriends are so important to me. Not only maintaining those relationships in my own life, but reading books immersive in strong female characters and sisterhoods gives me an outlet away from all the boys in my life!

The Almost Sisters

by Joshilyn Jackson

Little Women

by Louisa May Alcott

An unexpected pregnancy brings sister Leia and Rachel together again in their grandmother’s southern mansion. Family secrets are uncovered in the attic and though their grandmother’s dementia is advancing, they are determined to get answers by enlisting the help of a childhood girlfriend, Wattie. Jackson’s writing is quirky and heartfelt, as she winds this tale of sisters and friendships. I especially recommend listening to the audiobook, as Jackson narrates her characters delightfully.

After watching the recent movie, I was compelled to reread this classic. Spending time with the March sisters and Marmee transported me to a world filled with laughter, angst, creativity and compassion. I highly recommend revisiting the Civil War era with Jo, Beth, Meg, and Amy, as they navigate their roles in their family and society. Also, having first read this as a tween and now as an adult definitely changes the way I see the characters. Mrs. March is an amazing leader. Try rereading a childhood favorite and notice the differences!

16

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine •August 2020

Mrs. Everything

by Jennifer Weiner

The Oysterville Sewing

Spanning decades from the 1950s in Detroit through the present time, we follow two sisters and their complicated relationship with each other. Their journeys are followed separately, yet they are naturally intertwined as time goes on. The time periods become characters themselves, as the sisters are affected by women’s movements or lack thereof.

by Susan Wiggs Returning home after a career disaster and with two foster children in tow, Caroline begins to rebuild her life. She becomes involved in the local sewing shop and encounters a group of women in need of a sisterhood.

Echoing the Me Too movement, Caroline brings women together as they find common ground and heal with one another. Wiggs’ story pulls the reader into Caroline’s life and doesn’t let g

Liz Wierenga has been a youth librarian with KDL since 2009. When not singing and dancing at work, she enjoys baking, read YA lit, and escaping to sunny locations (even if it’s just in the front yard!).

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • August 2020

17

How to be an Ally in Work, Community and Leadership

BY ALLISON ARNOLD

ACE MARASIGAN, FOUNDER OF THE GRAND RAPIDS ASIAN-PACIFIC FESTIVAL

18

MILINDA YSASI, SECOND WARD COMMISSIONER, CITY OF GRAND RAPIDS

ANGEL DUFF, DIRECTOR AND MANAGING COUNSEL LEGAL HR AND DIVERSITY & INCLUSION AT AMWAY

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine •August 2020

R

acism extends beyond microaggressions and acts of violence, but is deeply embedded in the many systems and institutions across our country, bubbling up in injustices such as redlining, homelessness, workplace disadvantages and negative health outcomes. From the community to the workplace to the government, how can we advocate for anti-racism in these spaces?

To Ace Marasigan, an active community member and founder of the first Grand Rapids Asian Festival, being an advocate means looking beyond yourself and thinking about the community as a whole. “Being an advocate means that you are going to be the voice of those who don’t have a voice.”

He thinks we need to do more than post our support on social media. “We need to show that we really are taking action, that we really are part of the bigger picture.”

In his work, Marasigan finds it important to realize who he is as a person, to identify the things he needs to work on, and then connect them to things that he can help the community with.

But, how do we address racism in the workplace?

According to Glassdoor’s 2019 Diversity & Inclusion Study, in the U.S. 42% of respondents have either witnessed or experienced racism in the workplace. Furthermore, 64% of Black Americans are treated less fairly than whites in the workplace, according to a study by Pew Research Center.

“I think that racism manifests itself in a lot of different ways and sometimes the more subtle ways are in microaggressions, the things that professionals of color have to experience on a day to day,” Angel Duff, Director and Managing Counsel Legal HR and Diversity & Inclusion at Amway, said. “It can really add up and impact your performance and impact your ability to truly be focused on your job.”

“There’s no better moment than what we’re in right now to make change ... if I’m going to be an ally, it’s sitting with that uncomfortableness and recognizing my own privilege and how do I not just be committed to equity, but how am I committed to antiracist work.”

— Milinda Ysasi, Second Ward Commissioner, City of

Grand Rapids

values that different groups of people have,” Ysasi said. “I think the biggest thing that we can do and the conversation that we’re having right now is how do we do that as it relates to identifying where funding should go in communities?”

You don’t have to have a seat in government to create change, however. “It’s not the only way that you can contribute back civically in your community,” Ysasi expressed.

Duff advises professionals of color to practice self-care and find trusted allies in the workplace.

Running for office is challenging, and Ysasi urges those interested to make sure it’s for the right reasons.

“After you’ve taken care of yourself, after you’ve done your part to surround yourself with community, that you can once you have the energy and ability, speak up and start to tell people about your experiences if that seems right and what and how we as an organization can better support you.”

“The biggest thing for me when I ran for office and now serving, is you need to come to the issue, whatever you feel, based upon your own lived experiences, based upon what you know, what you decided to run on, what’s important to your constituents.”

According to Duff, the first step to being an advocate in the workplace is to acknowledge that we all have bias and that racism exists, and to then assess how it impacts those around you.

“Once you’re able to acknowledge and admit that, I think it’s important that you educate yourself. Educate yourself on the historical context that gave rise to the situation that we find ourselves in. Educate yourself on what you can do to be an ally,” Duff expressed.

From criminalization to redlining and access to capital, there are many racialized outcomes that affect the community, according to Ysasi. In 2006, the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative, known as Proposal 2, barred affirmative action by public institutions and is a policy that has shown to have a detrimental impact in communities according to Ysasi.

The next step is to be able to speak up and to listen to those impacted by racism. “Share your learnings with your circle ... one of the things is it’s really hard to have this dialogue ... but if you’re willing to speak out against discrimination or racism, and share your know with those in the sphere of your influence, I think you’re going to be better able to drive change.”

On a broader level, Duff thinks it’s important that inclusivity and anti-racism is woven through all policies and practices in the workplace, in order to eliminate bias on a systematic level.

Government, from municipal to state to federal, was not created by people of color according to Grand Rapids City Commissioner Milinda Ysasi.

“There’s no better moment than what we’re in right now to make change... if I’m going to be an ally, it’s sitting with that uncomfortableness and recognizing my own privilege and how do I not just be committed to equity, but how am I committed to anti-racist work.”

Allison Arnold is a freelance writer and avid adventurer who loves hiking, traveling and trying new foods. She loves writing about food and culture on her blog, For the Love of Tacos.

“In some ways, I think it’s this idea of how do we decolonize? How do we really think differently about our structure of government based upon the

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • August 2020

19

How Migrant Workers Put Food on Our Tables

BY ALLISON ARNOLD

20

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine •August 2020

U

p until he was 19 years old, Feliciano Paredes travelled across the country with his family working as migrant farm workers and harvesting crops. They would typically start in Texas and work their way through Florida and Arkansas before ending in Michigan.

The migrant community is vital to our food system,” Teresa Hendricks said in an email response. Hendricks is the Executive Director and Senior Litigator at Migrant Legal Aid, a nonprofit organization that helps protect the rights of migrant workers by providing free legal services and assistance for a variety of issues ranging from housing and work conditions to health and food security. “Everything that is healthy for you on your plate likely passed first through the hands of a farmworker, making them the critical link for a healthy and sustainable food system.”

There are nearly 50,000 migrant and seasonal farmworkers in the state, according to the most recent Migrant and Seasonal Farmworker Enumeration Profiles Study, and agriculture has an over $91 billion impact on Michigan’s economy, according to state data.

“Without these workers, we would not be eating fresh local food and would not benefit from that economic impact,” Hendricks explained.

Despite the vital contribution farmworkers make to our state, many face challenges that threaten their health, safety and well-being. Living conditions are often poor and labor is strenuous and even dangerous. Vulnerabilities often depend on the type of worker, according to Hendricks, but the undocumented community, which makes up a large portion of the workforce, can be taken advantage of.

“A lot of the challenges that I saw when I was growing up, over 15 years ago, they were still very apparent in this ecosystem,” Paredes said.

Today, Paredes is the founder of AgHelp, a mobile application that not only connects farm workers with employers but also with resources that assist them with the challenges they may be facing, many of which Paredes says he experienced when traveling as a migrant worker. He took inspiration from popular sites and applications at the time such as Yelp and FourSquare, and knew there had to be a way to use technology and take a holistic approach to the labor shortage. Employers need to connect to workers and migrant and seasonal farmworkers need to connect to employment opportunities.

“There’s an entire community of workers that are working, laboring long hours, traveling sometimes across the country to harvest the fruits and vegetables for us to enjoy every day,” Paredes explained.

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine •August 2020

Despite the typical challenges the community faces, they have continued to work through the pandemic, as agriculture is considered an essential industry. “So, during a time that every other type of industry was closed, farmworkers were still out there harvesting in the fields...working in agriculture regardless of what their work status is, whether they were legal or not, they were out there working for us to have either a source of fruits and vegetables and food for our families.”

Migrant workers are more vulnerable than the general population when it comes to COVID-19, according to Hendricks, because of their work, living and transportation conditions.

“Asparagus pickers ride a machine often for 15 hours per day, exerting themselves while riding side by side next to their coworkers,” Hendricks said.

“Apple pickers work frequently in pairs to fill boxes of apples, blueberry workers line up to turn in their bucket of blueberries to a common weigh station, nursery workers stand next to each other working on the line, meat processors and dairy workers also have close contact work conditions.”

Hendricks estimates that we would have half the production we usually expect, and that’s only if social distancing were possible for workers.

“Migrant agricultural workers are an essential workforce in Michigan and securing their health and well-being will ensure that Michigan’s food supply chain is not disrupted,” said Governor Whitmer in Executive Order 2020-137. It extends a previous order until the end of the growing season, which provides protection for migrant workers, such as separating beds by at least six feet and providing isolation housing for those who test positive for COVID-19.

From supporting the economy, to regularly filling thousands of plates with fresh produce, migrant and seasonal farmworkers play a vital role in the growth and prosperity of the state. They have for decades and even through this global pandemic, their work is one of the few things that has remained constant.

“Without these workers, we would not be eating fresh local food and would not benefit from that economic impact.”

— Teresa Hendricks, Executive

Director and Senior Litigator at Migrant Legal Aid

Through #FiveForFarmworkers, a five dollar donation allows Migrant Legal Aid to provide a farmworker with a mask, hand sanitizer and a pair of gloves.

Allison Arnold is a freelance writer and avid adventurer who loves hiking, traveling and trying new foods. She loves writing about food and culture on her blog, For the Love of Tacos.

21

EASY (AND DELICIOUS) SCHOOL NIGHT RECIPES Courtesy of Family Features

W

hen it comes to back-to-school season, whether students are heading back to the classroom or learning from home, one of the biggest challenges for busy parents remains the same: how to serve up delicious homemade meals the whole family will love. With the right preparation and ingredients on-hand, parents can easily pass the test.

Mini Pierogy Mac ‘n’ Cheese Skillet

Recipe by Mrs. T’s Pierogies

1 1 1 1 1 1 1/2 1/2 1/4 1/3 1/4 1/4 1

tablespoon olive oil, divided box Mrs. T’s Classic Onion Pierogies red pepper, diced cup corn, drained and rinsed can black beans, drained and rinsed teaspoon cumin teaspoon chili powder teaspoon kosher salt teaspoon black pepper cup shredded Mexican cheese blend cup diced tomatoes cup diced red onions handful cilantro, roughly chopped

Preheat broiler to high heat.

In large skillet over medium heat, add 1/2 tablespoon olive oil and saute pierogies until golden brown, about 8 minutes per side.

Remove pierogies and add remaining olive oil. Saute red peppers, corn, black beans, cumin, chili powder, salt and pepper until fragrant, about 3-4 minutes.

Spread red peppers, corn and beans into square baking dish. Nestle in pierogies. Sprinkle with shredded cheese.

Melt cheese under broiler about 2 minutes.

Top with tomatoes, onions and cilantro before serving.

22

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine •August 2020

Pressure Cooker Chicken Cacciatore Recipe courtesy of “Pinch of Yum” on behalf of ALDI

1-1 1/2 pounds chicken breasts or chicken thighs flour 1 pinch salt, plus 2 teaspoons, divided 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1 onion, diced 16 ounces mushrooms, sliced 3 cloves garlic, minced 1/2 cup chicken broth 1 bell pepper, diced 1 can (28 ounces) diced tomatoes 4 tablespoons butter capers (optional) parsley, plus additional for topping (optional) lemon preferred pasta Parmesan cheese (optional)

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine •August 2020

Dredge chicken in flour and pinch of salt. Turn on saute function on pressure cooker. Add oil; saute chicken 2-3 minutes on each side. Remove and set aside (chicken will finish cooking later).

Add onion, mushrooms and garlic. Saute until softened.

Add broth and let sizzle out.

Add chicken, bell pepper, tomatoes and remaining salt to pressure cooker. Cook on high pressure 15 minutes.

Release pressure.

Shred chicken. Stir in butter, capers, parsley and lemon.

Serve with preferred pasta and top with additional parsley and Parmesan cheese, if desired.

23

Easy Chicken Enchiladas with Black Beans Recipe courtesy of “Wellness for the Win” on behalf of ALDI

1 3/4 cups water 1 teaspoon sea salt 1 cup white rice 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 pound extra-lean ground beef 1 yellow onion, chopped 1 tablespoon garlic, chopped 1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped 1 teaspoon dried oregano 1 teaspoon dried basil 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper 1/2 teaspoon sea salt 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper 1/2 cup tomato sauce 1 can (15 ounces) kidney beans, rinsed and drained 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese 1/3 cup fresh parsley, minced

Enchiladas: 15 ounces black beans, drained and rinsed 10 ounces diced tomatoes and green chilies, drained 2 cups shredded Mexican cheese, divided 16 ounces restaurant-style salsa, divided 10 whole-wheat tortillas Optional Toppings: diced avocado plain Greek yogurt cilantro

Preheat oven to 400 F. Spray 9-by-13-inch pan with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.

In medium skillet over medium-high heat, cook onion until translucent, about 3-5 minutes. Transfer to large bowl and set aside.

To make chicken: Season chicken breasts with garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, cumin and salt and pepper, to taste. Add chicken to same skillet over medium-high heat. Cook 5-7 minutes on each side, or until cooked through. Use fork and knife to shred chicken.

To make enchiladas: In large bowl with cooked onion, add shredded chicken, black beans, diced tomatoes, green chilies and 1 cup shredded Mexican cheese. Use spoon to mix well.

Pour 1 cup salsa on bottom of greased pan and use spatula to spread evenly. Scoop about 1/2 cup chicken and veggie mixture into each tortilla. Roll tightly and place seam side down in pan.

Top enchiladas with 3/4 cup salsa and remaining shredded cheese; use spatula to spread evenly.

Cover pan tightly with foil and bake 25-30 minutes. Remove from oven; serve hot. Add avocado, yogurt and cilantro, if desired.

24

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine •August 2020

Simple Ways to Prevent Dog-Related Lawn Damage COURTESY OF MCC

D

ogs love spending time outdoors. Dog owners with yards know that dogs benefit greatly from some exercise in the backyard. While that time might be great for dogs, it can take its toll on lawns.

Dog urine and feces can adversely affect the look and health of a lush green lawn. Nitrogen is essential to healthy soil, but only at certain levels. When those levels are exceeded, the result can be lawn damage. According to The Spruce Pets, an advisory site that offers practical tips and training advices to pet owners, this is what happens when pets frequently urinate on grass. Urine is naturally high in nitrogen, so when pets urinate on lawns, the grass might turn yellow or brown due to the excess nitrogen content. Nitrogen also is present in lawn fertilizers, further exacerbating the problem for pet owners who fertilize their lawns.

In addition to urine damage, dogs can trample frosted grass, contributing to problems that may not become

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine •August 2020

evident until spring, and get into areas like gardens where they wreak additional havoc.

Pet owners who want to let their dogs run free in the yard but don’t want damaged grass may be tempted to put their pooches in diapers or confine them to crates when letting them outside. But such an approach isn’t necessary. In fact, some simple strategies can be highly effective at preventing dog-related lawn damage.

• Speak with a landscaper about planting new grass.

Certain types of grass, such as Bermuda grass, can withstand dog damage better than others. Local climate will dictate which types of grass are likely to thrive in a given area, so speak with a professional landscaper about the viability of planting new grass.

• Install fencing. Pet owners with expansive yards can install fencing that allows dogs to spend time exercising outdoors without granting them access to the entire

property. Large dogs will need more room than small ones, but try to build fenced-in areas that allow dogs to run freely and get the exercise they need to stay healthy.

• Work with a dog trainer. Dog trainers might be able to work with dogs so they only urinate in certain areas of the yard, greatly reducing the damage they can cause to a lawn. Trainers also might help curb digging and clawing behaviors that can damage lawns as well as gardens.

• Consider hardscaping. Hardscaping might be most effective for pet owners with small properties.

Hardscaping does not include grass and can add visual appeal to a property while saving pet owners the headaches of dealing with dog-related lawn damage.

Dogs need time outdoors, and homeowners can take various steps to protect their lawns from dog-related damage.

25

Inspired Voices PODCAST w/ Elyse Wild

26

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine •August 2020

BY KATE SAGE, D.O.

Unmasking the Truth

R

emember when wearing a mask was associated with Batman, Spiderman, and The Incredibles? Well, we may feel like we’re living in an alternate universe or Gotham City, but we can all save lives if we wear a facemask. Recently, it has become mandatory to wear a mask in any public place where social distancing is not possible. There’s understandably some confusion about what type of mask to wear, why the rules have changed, and whether mask wearing really stops the spread of COVID-19.

Here are some facts.

28

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine •August 2020

What are the Different Mask Types?

Overall, there are three main types of masks: N95 respirators, paper/medical masks, and cloth masks.

N95 respirators are used in medicine and other places to filter out very small particles.

Often the particles being filtered can cause infection or cancer, so N95s are used to prevent a human from inhaling them. They’re named because they can filter out 95% of very small (0.3 micron) particles. This type of mask has to be “fit-tested,” which means that a person puts on an N95 and then goes through a specific screening process to make sure that the appropriate particles are filtered. A typical fit test goes something like this: A person puts on an N95 and then puts a full face hood (think something like a beekeeper hood but made entirely of plastic) over the head. A second person then sprays a chemical inside the hood. If the person wearing the N95 can smell or taste the spray, then they fail the fit test and they need a different size N95. At this time, N95s are not recommended to the general public, and are reserved for health care professionals taking care of COVID-19 patients. Before COVID-19, healthcare professionals generally only wore N95s in specific situations, so there was not a need for a large stockpile. Because of COVID-19, there is a shortage. This is part of the reason why the general public was told not to wear a mask in the early stages of the pandemic. Officials believed that if the general public wore N95s then the front line health care workers wouldn’t have enough because of low supply. N95s are meant to be used one time, and then thrown away.

Surgical masks and paper masks are similar, but do not necessarily function in the same way. A surgical or medical mask is a product that undergoes extensive testing and is meant to be used during medical procedures. There are varying degrees of how much a medical mask can filter, with some filtering up to 60% of small particles. These masks do not need to be fit tested. They filter particles by containing large droplets that can be released while sneezing, coughing, breathing or talking. Medical masks are meant to be used one time and then thrown away. Paper masks are different. They have not necessarily been tested or approved for medical use. They often are meant to be used once and then thrown away. Their efficiency depends on how the mask is manufactured, the number of layers, and the material.

particles like droplets from a sneeze. There are so many varieties and no uniformity.

There have been studies published to see what percentage of very small particles are filtered when using a vacuum filter, or other over-the-counter type filter, but there is no definitive answer regarding filtration on a fabric mask.

Why Wear a Mask?

It does protect you. It also protects others. Many people are asymptomatic or not symptomatic yet. If a person is around an asymptomatic COVID-19 infected person, and breaths in viral particles, that person can get sick and infect others. It’s difficult to predict how many people one positive COVID-19 patient can infect. Some people appear to be “superspreaders,” which are people who infect more people in a smaller amount of time than the average infected person.

Do Masks Work for Slowing the Spread of COVID-19?

There are several studies that show wearing a mask has slowed the spread of COVID-19. One study looked at countries where wearing a mask is the cultural norm, and compared it to countries that resist wearing masks. The countries where mask wearing is more socially acceptable had slower rates of COVID-19 spread. It’s here.

Looking locally here in the USA, another study showed the rate of COVID-19 decreased rapidly after states made masks mandatory. That study is here.

There are also several case-reports of how COVID-19 has spread from one carrier to other people. In case-report after case-report, if the person infected with COVID-19 wore a mask, the carrier did not spread it to people around him or her, even in enclosed spaces like in an international airplane flight. Read about that one here.

Dr. Katherine Sage is an Orthopaedic surgeon. She likes to write about medicine, science, and women’s place in the universe.

Fabric or homemade masks are usually made from cotton or polyester. They function in the same way as paper or medical masks in that they usually can filter out larger

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine •August 2020

29

Mindful Shopping How to Decrease Waste When Acquiring New Items

BY LYNDSEY TYM

O

ne of my favorite things to do with my sister and with friends is bargain shopping. I love when I’m asked where I purchased something and I can reply with the location and how I got it for an awesomely good deal! My most proud purchase so far this year is a name brand pack n’ play originally priced at $250 that I purchased new for $78! If that is not a great deal, I don’t know what is.

My tip this month is not to discourage shopping, but to encourage thoughtful and mindful shopping.

We are fortunate to live in an area with so many stores that are just a quick drive away. We have many malls, bulk stores, neighborhoods with annual garage sales, and countless online marketplaces to purchase new and used items. If you are like me and love a good deal or just simply enjoy shopping, it can be very easy to end up with clutter in our homes from the need to store all of our purchases.

In an effort to minimize clutter at home I try to ask myself two questions whenever purchasing anything: 1) Do I have an immediate use for this item and 2) do I have a place to store this item?

If I answer no to either question, I most often will not purchase whatever item that is. Every once in a while, it is great to treat yourself, but regularly asking and answering these questions when shopping can seriously decrease the amount of stuff we bring into our homes.

30

Following these guidelines does not mean we should stop enjoying a good deal or bargain, nor does it mean we cannot enjoy going out with friends to shop. Being diligent in asking and answering these questions helps to avoid clutter in our homes in the first place, making it easier to keep it organized and looking nice.

Go out and enjoy some shopping with friends (per COVID-19 safety guidelines), just remember to be mindful about what items will have the privilege of a place in your home.

For those interested in how I answered my questions before buying the pack n’ play: 1) We had an immediate need as we had our first child this year, and 2) it has a place to be stored in the bottom of a bedroom closet.

Happy organizing!

Lyndsey Tym, owner of Simple Spaces, desires to help others declutter and simplify in their homes to free up time for the things they love. Learn more at facebook. com/simplespaceslyndseytym.

Women’s LifeStyle Magazine •August 2020

FOOD, BEVERAGES & RESTAURANTS

■ Lindo Mexico Restaurante Mexicano ■ Aperitivo ■ Bistro Bella Vita ■ Brewery Vivant ■ Byron Center Meats ■ Essence Group ■ Ferris Coffee & Nut ■ Field & Fire ■ Grand Rapids Cheesecake Company ■ Grove ■ Malamiah Juice Bar ■ Railside Golf Club ■ Reserve Wine & Food ■ Terra GR ■ The B.O.B. ■ The Cheese Lady Grand Rapids - CHZ Enterprise ■ The Green Well

AUTOMOTIVE

■ Arie Nol Auto Center ■ Community Automotive Repair ■ Harvey Automotive, Cadillac, Lexus, Auto Outlet ■ Pfeiffer Lincoln

SHOPPING & RETAIL

■ Art of the Table ■ Bill & Paulʼs Sporthaus ■ Frames Unlimited ■ Schuler Books ■ Spirit Dreams ■ Stonesthrow ■ Supermercado Mexico ■ Switchback Gear Exchange ■ The Shade Shop

HOME PRODUCTS & SERVICES

■ A-1 Locksmith ■ EPS Security ■ Gerritʼs Appliance ■ Gordon Water ■ Morris Builders ■ Nawara Brothers Home Store ■ Rockford Construction ■ Tazzia Lawn Care ■ Verhey Carpets

BUSINESS SERVICES

■ Innereactive ■ The Image Shoppe ■ Womenʼs LifeStyle Magazine

COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS

■ Grand Rapids Community Media Center (GRCMC) ■ Grand Rapids Opportunities for Women (GROW) ■ Grand Rapids Public Library ■ Neighbors Development ■ Slow Food West Michigan ■ The Rapid ■ West Michigan Environmental Action Council (WMEAC)

PET PRODUCTS & SERVICES ■ Chow Hound Pet Supplies

HEALTH, BEAUTY & WELLNESS

■ AgeWise Eldercare Solutions ■ Design 1 Salon Spa ■ Grand Rapids Center for Mindfulness ■ Grand Rapids Wellness ■ Grand Ridge Orthodontics ■ Mommas Home ■ The hairport ■ The Village Doula GR

FINANCIAL & LEGAL ■ Lucy Shair Financial ■ United Bank

TRAVEL & LODGING ■ Breton Travel ■ Countryside Tours ■ Witte Travel

When you support a locally owned business, more resources stay in the community and get reinvested in the economy.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT ■ Celebration Cinema ■ Community Circle Theatre ■ Frames Unlimited ■ Glitter Booth Photo Booth ■ Grand Rapids Art Museum ■ Grand Rapids Civic Theatre ■ Grand Rapids Public Museum ■ LaFontsee Galleries ■ LowellArts ■ River City Improv ■ ShowSpan, Inc. ■ The Ruse Escape Room ■ Triumph Music Academy

FLORAL & GARDEN

LOCAL FIRST means PEOPLE FIRST Communities thrive when the economy puts people first.

■ Ball Park Floral & Gifts ■ Eastern Floral ■ Romence Gardens

Local First •345 Fuller Avenue NE • GR, MI 49503 • (616) 808-3788 • www.localfirst.com