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| FROM THE PUBLISHER | Welcome to February and Moxie’s annual collaboration with the American Heart Association as we Go Red for women. In this edition we introduce you to Hope DeJong who is celebrating the seventh anniversary of what she and her family call her “Death Day,” after her heart stopped for several minutes. Along with Hope’s struggles, along with the AHA, we guide you through the steps of listening to your body, how to perform CPR in an emergency and tell you how to Go Red. We also take you through the signs that
you may be having a stroke. These aren’t always the easiest things to discuss, but knowledge is power! In addition to our Go Red for Women section, the February edition is packed full of great content you are sure to enjoy. Kim Carson interviews Phil Donahue and Margo Thomas about “What Makes a Marriage Last.” Are you looking for some Valentine’s Day date ideas? Check out Elizabeth’s review of Chicago Style Pizza or join Rachel (The Kalamazoo Foodie)
as she introduces us to the new WL Social House in Downtown Kalamazoo. I hope that you enjoy this edition. Of course, it is a bittersweet one for our team at Moxie as this is the edition we bid Lalita a fond farewell. We wish her all the best as she pursues her dream job! Lots of love,
Heather
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contents
FEBRUARY: AMERICAN HEART MONTH
LIFE 6 Listen to Your Heart & Body 10 What Makes a Marriage Last?
. . . . .
15 Marlita Walker Reviews: The Winter Street Series 18 She’s Got Moxie: Jacque Jennings-Carter 26 The Power of Opportunity
FASHION 16 Outerwear Styling 24 The Year of Purple 28 The Closet Challenge
. . .
FOOD . .
14 Restaurant Review: Chicago Style Pizza 30 WL Socialhouse
30WL SOCIALHOUSE
CLOSET CHALLENGE 28THE
PUBLISHER: Heather Dombos hdombos@moxiemediagroup.net LAYOUT & DESIGN: Alicia Pauwels apauwels@moxiemediagroup.net EDITOR: Lalita Chemello lchemello@moxiemediagroup.net
THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE IT HAPPEN
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Emily Betros Kim Carson Ashley Carter Youngblood Kelly Duggan Rachel Kirtley Heidi McCrary Jenny Opdycke Dr. Marti Peters-Sparling Elizabeth Precopio
Hannah Reuter Marlita Walker Demarra D. West BY EMAIL: info@moxiemediagroup.net editor@moxiemediagroup.net sales@moxiemediagroup.net
WEBSITE: moxiemediagroup.com FOR SALES INFO: 269-350-5227
BY MAIL: Moxie Media Group, LLC P. O. Box 2284 Portage, MI 49081-2284
February 2022
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Listen to Your Heart… & Body THE IMPORTANCE OF KNOWING CPR & YOUR HEART HEALTH BY LALITA CHEMELLO
This February, for Valentine’s Day, Hope DeJong will be celebrating what she and her family now call her “Death Day,” for the seventh year. Although it has evolved into a light-hearted and well-meaning joke to the family, it originally was the yearly reminder of a terrifying ordeal for Hope and her family. That fateful Valentine’s Day, Hope had fallen asleep on the couch while watching a movie to close out the festivities. The wellknown and unspoken rule of the DeJong home remained: you don’t wake mom up when she’s sleeping. And so, the family kept to that, and let Hope get her rest. But something was different this evening. Her two kids were already in bed, and her husband, Dave, was just getting ready to retire for the night himself when he says he heard Hope gasp or make a gurgling-like noise. When he approached the couch to check on her, he found her not breathing and unresponsive. He immediately called 9-1-1 and began chest compressions. Hope had gone into cardiac arrest, which is a problem with the “electrical” side of your heart, compared to a heart attack, which has to do with what Hope called “the plumbing.” She was under, or considered dead, for eight full minutes, which is incredibly detrimental to your brain function. She was placed in a medically-induced coma to help her body hopefully heal from the damage of the cardiac arrest, and give doctors time to assess the damage
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that was already done. Her husband was being prepared at times for the worst, from organ donations if she didn’t survive, to the potential massive deficits Hope could wake up with, if she did wake up.
BUT THERE’S ANOTHER THING HOPE ALSO HAD TO WORK THROUGH, AND THAT WAS FORGIVING HERSELF FOR POSSIBLY MISSING THE SIGNS THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG IN THE FIRST PLACE.
Yet, Hope’s story didn’t end in the hospital. She was, against many odds, able to walk out of the hospital after some time, but not without some issues. Doctors recommended speech and behavioral therapies to help work through some of her memory deficits, while also seeing a therapist to work through her feelings and experience of working through “getting back to normal.”
Just a couple of months before Hope’s cardiac event, she had undergone a second surgery, to correct issues with a Bariatric procedure she had prior. It was following this surgery she had found out she had become malabsorptive and her potassium essentially bottomed out, leading to the cardiac arrest. From the little bits that Hope recalls before the event, she does remember being tired and quite often miserable following that surgery. There was also a dinner, where Hope attempted to bend down to pick up the bill for a dinner out with a friend, and both noticed she had a hard time getting back up.
There were hard days, days she admittedly said she regretted being saved. Being a fiercely independent person prior to her cardiac arrest, Hope found herself increasingly frustrated with having to need any help, to having to be monitored 24 hours a day in the beginning because of her memory issues, and not being able to take care of herself, let alone her own family. But time, and the help of loved ones as well as professionals, helped Hope defeat her guilty feelings and obtain a little humbleness, as she says.
Were those memories definitive signs that something bigger was going on with Hope’s body? Maybe? Maybe not. But in the case of your heart, the organ vital to life as a whole, a bigger problem can sometimes present as some of the smallest things.
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LEARN THE SIGNS, “LISTEN TO YOUR BODY”
Hope will be one of your, and anyone’s first advocate when it comes to taking care of yourself and talking with your physician about anything that might be bothering or plaguing you. While perhaps she didn’t see what most likely were signs before she went into cardiac arrest, she speaks with other survivors, as well as friends and family about the importance of listening to your body and checking in with health professionals when something doesn’t seem or feel right. As women, we are increasingly busy and known to take care of everyone sometimes, but ourselves, but that’s when the biggest things that may be wrong, remained unchecked. While unchecked they have a greater likelihood to become even larger problems. In other cases, we as women also have a terrible habit of comparing our pains to others. Hope says, “stop that!” Everyone’s bodies react to different problems and traumas, differently. While one ache may indicate a heart issue for one woman, it may just be a
digestive issue for another, which is why sometimes, it’s so difficult in pinpointing specific problems. But don’t let that discourage you from speaking up or seeking help. If you have a hard time keeping track of strange symptoms, simply make a list (I personally have one on my phone), of things your body does that seem, “odd.” Bring them to your next appointment to ask about them, and hopefully get some answers. Don’t ever let fear or your inability to keep track of your body’s sometimes nonsense stop you from getting the help or evaluation you may need. Many of us women, as busy as we are, may find ourselves in fear of what that appointment could find, and what new ailment or life-long issue we may need to add to our plates to handle. Add in the anxiety-ridden potential of attending any medical facility in the pandemic, and it’s understandable why you may be hesitant to go. However, Hope can tell you from experience that the relief of knowing what’s wrong with your body, and receiving the treatment necessary to make life feel a little more “normal” will be worth the few weeks or months to adjust to yet another thing added to your plate. From heart health to cancer treatments to mental disorders…early signs and awareness, and seeking treatment can help make a large problem, a much smaller, more manageable one. And if the problem is a large one, there is support, like in Hope’s case, closer than you would think.
The American Heart Association’s signature women’s initiative, Go Red for Women, is a comprehensive platform designed to increase women’s heart health awareness and serve as a catalyst for change to improve the lives of women globally. It’s no longer just about wearing red; it’s no longer just about sharing heart health facts. It’s about all women making a commitment to stand together with Go Red and taking charge of their own heart health as well as the health of those they can’t bear to live without. Making a commitment to your health isn’t something you have to do alone either, so grab a friend or a family member and make a Go Red Healthy Behavior Commitment today.
Go Red for Women® Join the Movement - Sign Up Now!
GOREDFORWOMEN.ORG February 2022
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MOST HEART DISEASE & STROKE DEATHS ARE PREVENTABLE, CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES CONTINUE TO BE A WOMAN’S GREATEST HEALTH THREAT. ABOUT CPR & WOMEN….
Hope was incredibly fortunate in that her husband, Dave, was so quick to perform CPR that night. 911 operators walked Dave through what to do while they waited for emergency services to arrive, which may likely attribute to Hope having a lot of her remaining brain function, even with being dead for eight minutes. Hope does say Dave managed to crack a couple of her ribs, which that, or even accidental breaking of ribs is common in CPR being performed on women. However, it doesn’t mean women shouldn’t receive CPR in these types of cardiac situations. Do you know how to give or administer CPR, or have you ever administered CPR? Odds are you most likely have not, and luckily have never needed to. And the numbers truly support that summary. From a 2017 study by the American Heart Association, more than 19,000 people experienced cardiac events, and in those situations, only 39 percent of women received CPR from someone that happened to be around, while 45 percent of men were tended to with CPR, and the odds of surviving that cardiac event, favor men by 23 percent more. But why the massive discrepancy? As you have most likely heard in the past, women’s cardiac events do present in a different manner compared to men. In many cases, though, signs and symptoms leading up to cardiac events, whether a heart attack or cardiac arrest, are things women tend to
brush off. It’s just a pain. It’s probably not a big deal, they might think to themselves. But in many cases, it is a much larger issue. And society downplays the issue too, as bystanders have admitted that women may “fake” or overdramatize an incident that really is a serious heart event. The other problem, in a world where we’re still trying to navigate our rights, limits and feelings following the #MeToo movement, make many people more hesitant to initiate CPR on women. The AHA attributes this to a bystander’s fear of potentially inappropriately touching or exposing someone, along with a fear of a potentially being accused of sexual assault. Some bystanders also have felt they could hurt a woman (which does happen in some cases), or that breasts make CPR more challenging. In late October of 2020, the AHA provided new guidelines to help address and tackle disparities in administering CPR in cardiac events, especially for women, highlighting that the life-saving maneuver is key to survival of sudden cardiac arrest. How do you even know if someone needs CPR? According to Dr. Clifton Callaway, professor and executive vice chair of emergency medicine at the University of Pittsburgh, CPR needs to begin if someone is unconscious and does not appear to be breathing properly. In that case, you would immediately initiate “compression-only” CPR, which is best suited for adults and teenagers.
SIGNS THAT YOU MAY BE HAVING A STROKE: * Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body * Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding * Sudden trouble seeing or blurred vision in one or both eyes * Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination * Sudden severe headache with no known cause You should never wait more than five minutes to dial 9-1-1 if you experience any of the signs above. Remember, you could be having a stroke even if you’re not experiencing all of the symptoms. And remember to check the time. The responding emergency medical technician or ER nurse at the hospital will need to know when the first symptom occurred.
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THE STEPS:
Call 9-1-1 and immediately begin chest compressions. The emergency operator can walk you through the motions if you are unsure what to do.
Press hard and fast with both hands into the center of the chest, down at least 2 inches with the full weight of your body. Remember, you’re pumping the blood through the body since the heart is not. You are the heartbeat.
The “optimum rate of compression” is 100 to 120 beats per minute (or about 2 pumps a second). If that’s hard to keep track of, “Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gees, Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Want To Have Fun,” or the Clash’s “Should I Stay or Should I go?,” all fit into that specified bpm range.
Perform compressions until emergency help arrives.
SPOT A STROKE
F.A.S.T.
Face Drooping, Arm Weakness, Speech Difficult, Time to Call 911
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February 2022
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What Makes a Marriage Last Kim Carson’s interview with Marlo Thomas & Phil Donahue Today, my conversation is with award-winning actress, author and activist, Marlo Thomas and her husband, writer/producer and media pioneer, Phil Donahue. They marked their 40th wedding anniversary with the release of their book, “What Makes a Marriage Last: 40 Celebrated Couples Share With Us the Secrets to a Happy Life.”
Kim Carson: Marlo and Phil spent time with
40 couples who shared their secrets to a happy life. Thank you so much for talking with me today. This is a dream come true. It really is.
Marlo Thomas: We’re pleased to be here. Thank you.
KC: So, let’s start with you two. What does
your journey look like for the last 40 years of marriage? I think I read somewhere where you both share gumption, gallivanting, and crushes.
Phil Donahue: Yes. Well, gallivanting, that’s
what your parents said you were doing when you came home late.
KC: That’s right. PD: That was a very, very Catholic word. MT: Yes. I think what we’ve learned is to
accept the other one. I think we got into this marriage thinking, “Well, I’ll change him” and he was thinking, “I’ll break her of that habit” and we did about 10 years of that which was difficult, and then we finally realized, “You know what? I like him.” I like him, he likes me and we started to realize it
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February 2022
wasn’t about changing the other person. It was about accommodating the differences that the other person has. No matter how hard we try, he’s never going to be me and I’m never going to be him.
PD: And lose jealousy, that helped me a lot.
Jealousy is a very heavy burden on the person who thinks that when he’s away, there’s a tall, dark stranger hiding behind the drapes. That will crush you. It takes away all of your energy.
KC: It’s exhausting. MT: It is. PD: Very much so. MT: It’s hard on both people. I think the
biggest sense of trust, for me, is the fact that I know Phil has my back and that if I ask him for advice, he’s going to give me the advice that’s best for me, not the advice that’s most convenient for him. I know a lot of my women friends who are no longer married to those husbands who said that was something that broke their hearts when they realized that their husbands weren’t advising them for what was best for them but what was the most convenient to the husband.
KC: Yes. Agendas in a marriage are never a good thing.
MT: Yes, it really is. KC: My parents, they were married for 74
years until my dad died in 2019 but for the other couples that you interviewed in your book, what did they say about their parents’ marriages?
MT: That’s interesting. That fascinated Phil
and what – do you want to talk about that, honey?
PD: Well, yes, I did. I asked them and it’s
definitely consequential to the offspring. If your parents remained married and in reasonably good emotional condition, that has a huge influence on you. People who come from families that have remained and where the father still patting the mother on the ass that’s helpful. I mean that will - bode well for you. You have a better chance of forming a union that lasts.
MT: But Ali Wentworth who is married to
George Stephanopoulos, her parents got divorced when she was two. She knew what
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she didn’t want in a marriage, so it can work that way for you as well, that you know what you don’t want. So, I think…
KC: By the way, Phil, even at the age of 92 my dad was still patting my mom on the butt.
MT: Isn’t that sweet? That’s so nice. KC: It was a good thing. PD: That’s a very good thing. MT: Yes, that is a good thing. KC: Now, let me ask you about Sting and
Trudie Styler because they kind of had a magical connection, didn’t they?
MT: They really do. They’re both very
electrifying people. It was interesting sitting with them in their very modern beautiful apartment. They have electrifying personalities and you can see the sort of sexual charge between them. They’re really alive. All through the interview, remember he was taking a piece of lint off of her sweater and rubbing her shoulder. He was very much kind of delighted by her. It was lovely to see. We enjoyed them a lot. They really had a tough beginning. I mean, he was married to another woman and had two children. She lived nearby, I think next door or something with Peter O’Toole. The two of them fell in love and that was very difficult. That broke up that marriage and then they lived together and had three children for 10 years until they got married themselves. So, it was a very difficult beginning.
KC: Phil, I remember when you were doing your talk show and it
inspired me to love learning about people and doing interviews, and just learning about other people’s life stories but I remember something you said - I don’t remember the context but it was something to the effect of, “I pray that you may live to be 100 years and I, one day less that I may never know the day you passed.” Do you remember that? Marlo Thoma s starring on the sitcom Th PD: I don’t but that’s a at Girl from 19 65-1971 lovely thought.
KC: Yes. I think it was some sort of
Irish saying that you referred to. Now, you also talk about “kicking the can down the road” when it comes to arguments. What does that mean?
PD: Well, that’s James Carville’s comment
to us. It means make sure you don’t go round and round on an issue that isn’t that important.
MT: Which we all do, around and around
when it’s not resolvable and at some point, he says to Mary…
PD: “Kick that can down the road.” As cliché as that is, it really is packed with good advice.
MT: Yes. Well, we’re using it. PD: Yes, we do. MT: Yes. Phil started it. After we’d
interviewed with them and one day we were going around and around on one of our [useless] disagreements and at one point he said to me, “Oh, let’s just kick this can down the road.” When he said it, we started laughing and thought, “Boy, what an important new tool we have.” It just goes on and on. People would stay up all night picking at this fight. Melissa McCarthy’s husband, Ben Falcone, said, “I intentionally go to bed pissed because I know in the morning it’ll be gone anyway.” It’s absolutely true.
KC: I love that. did any of the couples
talk about maybe – even you – when you realized this was the one, this is the person that I could spend the rest of my life with?
MT: We all talked about that at different times.
I mean, some people fell in love at first sight. Billy Crystal saw this girl across the beach and said to himself, “I’m going to marry her.” Jamie Lee Curtis saw Chris Guest’s picture on a cover of a magazine with three other guys and said, “Oh, I’m going to marry him.” A lot of people did feel a connection. We did when I went on your show.
PD: Right. Yes. KC: I remember that! PD: Well, first of all, she was an impure thought. MT: As they say in the Catholic religion. PD: You have to be Catholic to understand that.
KC: Oh, I got it. MT: I think she gets it. PD: Renee Taylor and Joe Bologna were
guests on the show and both sitting very close, side by side, on the edge of the stage and a person in the back row stood and said, “Renee, how did you know?” Renee said, “Well, I thought about it and I finally came to the conclusion. I’m not going to do any better than this.” I mean, he’s sitting right there.
KC: Yes.
Marlo on The Phil Donahue Show. February 2022
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MT: Well, she was a comedian. PD: Yes. Humor helps, I’m telling you. It gets you through a lot.
MT: I think when we met on the Donahue
Show, it was like a chemical reaction that we each had. I mean he calls it, “It was lust.” Well, I [don’t] mean that lust is a good way to start. We certainly had that. We thought alike, we found out in that hour that we had a lot in common the way we thought about the world and politics, and having both been raised Catholic and so forth. We had this sexual charge which certainly helped and we started dating and it was apparent. I mean, he was definitely from my tribe. I understood who he was and he understood who I was. I think a lot of the couples felt it right away. I know Ali Wentworth and George Stephanopoulos did. Mariska Hargitay and Peter Hermann did. A lot of people, they felt it. They didn’t jump into marriage but they knew. They knew this was the one.
KC: Marlo Thomas, Phil Donahue, thank you so much. I love you both. You were such a huge part of my childhood. Your book is ‘What
Phil and Marlo on their wedding day in 1980, left, and now, right. Makes a Marriage Last’, I am so happy that
you wrote it and I appreciate you talking with me today.
MT & PD: Thank you so much. More info at www.whatmakesamarriagelast.com
Kim Carson Kim is an Author/Podcast/ TV/Internet personality. Watch and listen for her on WGVU TV’s Kalamazoo Lively Arts and J. Schwanke’s Life In Bloom. Learn more at kimcarson.online and fb.com/kimcarson
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February 2022
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IT’S A SELLER’S WORLD.
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February 2022
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|
RESTAURANT REVIEW
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10420 Portage Rd, Portage • Wednesday & Thursday: 4pm to 9pm • Friday & Saturday: 4pm to 10pm • Sunday: Noon - 8pm I REALLY LOVE TO COOK, BUT ABOUT once a week I open the refrigerator and cupboards, and just don’t have the energy to think about what we will have for dinner that night, let alone find the energy to actually create it. When this happens, we end up ordering take-out. Nine times out of 10, it’s pizza. Since we do have pizza about once a week, I have tried a lot of different places all around town and we have a few favorite places we always go back to. One of those places is CHICAGO STYLE PIZZA in Portage. This little pizza joint has flown under my radar for the 15+ years I’ve lived in the area. However, we recently moved to an area a little further out of town and one of the first things we researched was places to eat around us. Chicago Style Pizza was one of the first to come up. This cute little pizza place has been around since 1979. The owners, the Taylor family, moved here from the suburbs of Chicago and recognized the need for Chicago-style pizza and that extra thick style crust oftentimes with the sauce going on last. They have been cranking them out ever since.
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February 2022
Their little building is on Portage Road between Gourdneck and Austin Lake. The restaurant doesn’t have a dine-in option, so you can call, like I did that night, or order online through their website. On this night, we ordered a DEEP-DISH PEPPERONI PIZZA. I got it home and excitedly peeled off the foil placed over the pie to keep it warm on its travels home, just watching the steam lift off the pizza. It’s super rare that I receive a still-warm pizza whether it is delivered or picked up. Our deep dish had a nice thick crust, piled with cheese, pepperoni and sauce (in that order). It is cut in grid-like, square pieces likely because the thickness of it would be challenging to eat if cut in a traditional triangle wedge. There is plenty of cheese, but not so much that it’s overly gooey. The pepperonis are also spread out so it’s not overloaded, but just enough so there’s some in each bite. I love their sauce, which is more on the savory side of things, and also has a nice little zing to it. I wouldn’t call it spicy, but definitely a zing. And then, for my favorite part: the crust.
Being a deep dish, it’s extra thick but still fluffy and flavorful. Just so you know, we ordered a large size and it was plenty for both my husband and me with enough left over for some the next day. I love Chicago Style Pizza and look forward to supporting them through the years to come! They always deliver exceptional customer service, quality pizza that’s unique to our area, and provide really reasonable prices. They offer thin, deep dish and stuffed crust pizzas as well as calzones and subs. Try out this excellent place for yourself! E.B. Precopio Elizabeth is a hairstylist by day and 24/7 food enthusiast. She visits restaurants in the Kalamazoo area and blogs about her experience at feedmekzoo.com
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BOOK REVIEW |
“ T he holidays wouldn’t be complete without a little family dysfunction, and Hilderbrand writes it well.”
Marlita Walker Reviews
WINTER STREET
―LIBRARY JOURNAL
SERIES
by Elin Hilderbrand
A
fter a rough November, I was searching for a light read for the busy Christmas season, something that could raise smiles and laughter rather than create an overstimulated brain. One of my friends on Goodreads had just finished Elin Hilderbrand’s four-book Winter Street series. Having read several of Hilderbrand’s popular Nantucket reads, I embraced the series with gusto! I would go to pursue multiple libraries online to gather all four in my grubby little hands, so as not to delay my hotly anticipated month-long reading fest! Hilderbrand did not disappoint. These were exactly the type of reads that I desired as my calendar filled with concerts, special luncheons, and preparation for out-of-town guests. Book one, “Winter Street,” gave me pause to ponder my initial enthusiasm about the series due to the dysfunctional Quinn family’s decided quirks that I honestly felt were mostly due to immature and impulsive decisions. This rash behavior begins in the first chapter, with the patriarch and Winter Street Inn owner, Kelley Quinn. The reader is immediately thrust into the fray of the Quinn family as the rest of the main characters are introduced: his current wife, his previous wife, four adult children with various spouses/ partners and children... all of which contribute
to the chaos of that first Christmas which the author so thoroughly details. Many reviewers complained that the first novel in this series ended abruptly, and had I not been prepared with the entire series, I may have been one of those disgruntled readers. But diving in to “Winter Stroll” gave me the great satisfaction of putting together the missing threads that had been left dangling by the first novel of the series. The same was true of picking up the third book, «Winter Storms,” which had originally been cast as the final in a trilogy. Luckily, Hilderbrand was asked by her editor to consider a fourth book, “Winter Solstice,” the sequel to the sequel! It made for such a satisfying ending putting right all of the misfortunes and mishaps that had upended the Quinn family over the four years of Christmases at Winter Inn. We can forgive the complicated memories and come together to remember the best of us, and leave a legacy. Marlita Walker Marlita is a native Michigander, who returned back to the area after 18 years spent in IL & PA. When not on cruising adventures with her hubby in their vintage Roadtrek camper van; she relaxes by rearranging her home decor, walking with friends, and connecting with her 10 grands who live in TN and CA. Read more book reviews at litaslines.blogspot.com.
As February’s dull skies roll across Michigan, what types of books feed your soul? Here are some suggestions to add some color to your life. Picking up this Hilderbrand series might be the best solution for the doldrums. If February brings contemplation and reflection, stories by authors such as Leif Erickson or William Kent Krueger, are more descriptive in both setting and characters. If real life inspiration is needed, biographies or memoirs could be just the ticket. Quian Julie Wang’s “Beautiful Country,” Michelle Obama’s “Becoming,” Cicely Tyson’s “Just as I Am,” or Philip Yancey’s “Where the Light Fell” all contain messages of resilience and hope.
February 2022
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KEEP WARM & PROFESSIONAL THIS WINTER WITH PROPER
O uterwear Styling BY KELLY DUGGAN
Living in cooler to cold climates like in Michigan, requires outerwear be an integral part of your wardrobe, even professionally. Wherever you are this winter, you will want to ensure that the jacket you are choosing will meet both your climate and dress needs. With the right outerwear pieces in your wardrobe, you will be prepared to both enjoy and bear the winter season.
your collection than a collection of several mediocre. Select quality versus quantity.
HOW TO FIND THE RIGHT COAT FOR YOUR BUSINESS OUTERWEAR X
X
X
X
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The business outerwear jacket should be long enough to cover beyond the hem of your jacket, sport coat, cardigan. Ladies, this may include to the length of the hem on your dress or skirt.
Styling should be kept quite classic and not too casual to complement your business look Classic suiting colors such as Navy, Grey, Taupe, Camel are safe bets in hue. Ladies, if you’d like to express more creativity in your look or wear a current trend tone, opt for a bright or a rich tone of the season that compliments your skin tone and style. It is better to have one or even two dependable quality winter coats in
February 2022
Common, easy-to-fix outerwear mistakes can demean and completely ruin your look and the positive impression that you are most likely aiming to achieve when dressing professionally in cold weather months include: X
X
X
Wearing too casual or an ‘about town’ type of coat with a suit or jacketed look, with garment hemlines flying about beyond the outerwear hemline Outerwear jacket sleeves too short or too long
Wearing worn or tired outerwear, with mediocre quality fabrics and workmanship not holding up for years of wear
SELECTING THE COAT
A great place to begin in considering what style of coat you should select, should be knowing what type of coat goes best with the varying levels of professional dress.
Common feminine outerwear professional options include the coachman, the wrap, swing, trench coat, quilted, and anorak. Common masculine outerwear professional options include the reefer, trench coat, car coat, pea coat, and parka. Many options abound, however the styles listed here are safe bets by category, particularly if your wardrobe of outerwear will include only one or two coats. Looking to additional styles are perfect when looking to expand & grow a wardrobe of outerwear options. Refer to the table to help you decide which style of coat you should select.
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WHAT STYLE OF COAT SHOULD I SELECT? WOMEN’S Coat Style
Traditional Professional Business Casual Dress
COMPLETING THE OUTERWEAR LOOK
Smart Casual
Casual
Coachman
X
X
--
--
Wrap
X
X
X
--
Swing
X
X
X
--
Trench
X
X
X
X
Quilted
--
X
X
X
Anorak
--
--
X
X
Smart Casual
Casual
MEN’S Coat Style
Traditional Professional Business Casual Dress
Reefer
X
X
--
--
Trench
X
X
X
--
Car
--
X
X
X
Pea
--
X
X
X
Parka
--
--
X
X
The professional outwear ensemble can be coordinated simply with a quality scarf (solid/classic pattern), and glove in the same color of the coat or darker to complete the look. Additional considerations would include a coordinating hat, umbrella for climates that may experience rain, and proper footwear or boots.
PROPER FOOTWEAR, BOOTS
You may be asking, what would be considered proper footwear or boots? Proper can come in the form of considering the elements, to the coordination with your chosen ensemble of outerwear that you wear. Stick to the idea of classic and quality as mentioned above when selecting a coat.
Unless you have the budget to grow a wardrobe of several pair of boots, a classic mid-calf to just below the knee height, with low (to mid height 2” heel for ladies), in a quality leather or man-made resistant to water and staining material will be suitable pick. Save the trendy styles and stilettos for your social wardrobe needs. By implementing these tips and strategies not only will you be comfortable and warm, you will look sharp and present well. Kelly Duggan Kelly is an Image Consultant specializing in executive and personal image development, etiquette & communication skills. She is a certified member of the Association of Image Consultants International. Contact Kelly at: www.kellyduggan.com.
February 2022
17
{ S H E ’ S GOT
}
Q & A WITH
JACQUE
JENNINGS-
CARTER
An expert in business, an advocate for the community, and a true servant-leader: the incomparable Jacque Jennings-Carter lives a life devoted to wellness, spreading kindness, and living out the principles she holds dearest. We are honored to share our Q&A with Jacque. If you look up Moxie in the dictionary, you just might see a photo of Jacque. We hope you enjoy getting to know this incredible woman.
What is the best piece of business advice you have ever received? Never compromise your core values and be a person of your word. I have done my best to live this advice in everything I do, personally or professionally.
What is the most important piece of business advice you would give? The same advice that was given to me (above). I would also add: tune out the nay-sayers, no matter who it is.
You are so involved in the community, what inspires you to give back so freely? I have always been protective of animals in general as well as people who are not included and/or people in need. I have loved helping and making a difference since I can remember, and volunteerism makes such
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a difference in so many ways, on so many levels for those receiving and for those giving. It goes both ways. I think it is the Brownie Girl Scout in my blood and I also watched each of my parents give to others. I have many favorite causes I give time and/or resources to and try to help as many as I can even if they don’t fall into my favorite category. I typically ask myself, “If I was in this position and had a need, what would I want someone to do and/or what would I want to occur?” The answer is almost always, “I would want someone to help.” And so I do if I am able to. A long time ago, I read a quote by Marian Wright Edelman and I adapted it for myself. My version says, “Service is the rent we pay for the privilege of being here.” Another guiding principle for me is “Service Above Self.” When I joined my Rotary International Club in 1987, I learned that one of the primary mottos for Rotary International was “Service Above Self.” It was perfect for me and it has been part of my daily living ever since. Am I perfect at it? No. But I try very hard to do my best whenever I am able, especially when it comes to caring for, and serving, others.
What do you like to do in your spare time? When I had horses, that is where I would have been every possible moment. I still try to spend time with horses any time I can. And animals in general. I plan to volunteer at the SPCA when I have more time if they have a need for more people to come and just love on the dogs. I also love to travel, but my travel has been on hold since early 2020, and I expect I will postpone any major travel until late 2022.
What causes are most important to you? The words “most important” are what trips me up. I could give you a list of a dozen or more because they are all important to me but at the end of the day, I think the most important causes to me are those which identify, help, eliminate and/or prevent abuse of any kind, at any level, and implementing tough prosecution of those who are the perpetrators. Whether human or animal, I have no tolerance for abuse in any form or at any level… physical, emotional, negligence, discrimination, whatever. It upsets me just talking about it.
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What would be your advice for a woman desperate to find balance between career and her life? Well, that is the $64,000 question. I am definitely dating myself with that statement!! This will be a long answer because it is a very complicated issue. And until several basic things in our society change, it will continue to be a challenge. I may upset a few people with my answer but personally, I don’t believe there is a “one size fits all” answer; unless, of course, we accept that the general definition of work-life balance (WLB) is that we simply need to monitor how much time we spend working and how much time we allocate for ourselves and our family. That’s great in theory but where we, as women, get tripped up is implementing and achieving it because, let’s be honest… there is always so much on our plate. Knowing the definition and executing it successfully are two very different things. WLB isn’t easy to do, not because we don’t know how but because there are many factors to consider. If you work in a traditional job and report to a boss as opposed to working for yourself and answering to yourself, it will depend on how your company and your boss value WLB and the overall culture of the organization relative to WLB. Several companies/organizations do a great job; most do not. Hopefully, the last 18 months will help bring about even more positive change.
The ability to regularly achieve WLB also depends on where you are in your career and what is happening in your personal life. WLB, by definition, isn’t always realistic; but we can manage it so it is more in balance than out of balance. And I think that is the key… that we are managing it instead of it managing us. But even that is difficult sometimes. It is important that we recognize and accept that there will be times when we are out of balance; way out of balance and it cannot be helped. And it is extremely important that we do our best not to feel guilty about it. That season in our life may last quite a while no matter how hard we try or how much we want it to be different. If that is the case, it is especially important not to be upset or disappointed in ourselves when that occurs… because it will occur. To help be more in balance, we do have to learn a very simple, but important, two-letter word that we must say to ourselves and/or to others. We have to learn to say no more often, even when we want to say yes. And say yes more often to ourselves. Whether the situation calls for a yes or a no, the key is learning when we can say it and when we cannot, and that depends on a variety of things. We are the ones that need to put it in perspective. This is also where our inner circle can help us. Talk it out with them. And always remember that when we say yes to others – no matter how much we love them or the task/ project/cause - it often means that we have to say no to ourselves. If we can keep that thought in our mind, it can help us take more
time to think about it when we are faced with that choice. It would be nice to be able to do it all, but none of us can on a regular basis. WLB also depends on many other things. Is the person single with no children? Married with no children and has a very supportive and helpful spouse? Is the person married with several children whose spouse is not helpful or supportive? Is the person going through a divorce? Has an important loved one – not necessarily family - passed away recently? Has a beloved pet passed away recently? Did their spouse recently lose their job? Is the person married with children and has a helpful and supportive spouse? Does the person have family in the area to help or is he/she too far away for regular assistance? Is the person also caring for an aging parent or a child with a disability or serious illness? Or has an ill spouse or child? The list goes on and on. The more factors to consider, the most challenging it is to have balance. But if we can’t have as much balance for whatever reason, it is important to include as much self-care as possible…a massage, a spa day, a long walk, lunch with a friend. If we have the need to do something like a massage but it isn’t in the budget, borrow the money, if necessary. Ask for one as a gift. Trade business services. Do whatever is necessary because you matter! Self-care is still an important element of WLB even if you are fortunate to have an acceptable WLB. And if you do have that, consider yourself very blessed. Realistic WLB is always the goal; we have to work at it all the time. Recognize and accept that we won’t always have it, but above all, don’t be embarrassed or feel guilty if we don’t; ask for help. We all need help and it is not a sign of weakness, inadequacy or failure to need it or to ask for it.
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If we turned back time and you had to start your career from scratch, what would be the one thing you’d do differently? Differently – Knowing what I know now, I would have pursued several health specialty certifications. Unfortunately, what is available now was not available when I was starting my career nearly 45 years ago and many not until the last 5-10 years. Thankfully, many things have changed and mostly, for the better.
What would be the one thing you would do the same? Same – Be intentional and determined in everything I do. Honor the advice/answer I referenced in your first and second questions.
Do you have anything you’d like to share with our readers? What I want to share is very basic. I have always believed this but the last 18+ months have made me even more conscious of how very important it is. Being humans, we don’t, won’t and shouldn’t, always agree. No species does. But when we don’t agree, even in the face of deep, polarized disagreement, we need to be kind, realistic, respectful, understanding and forgiving. And it starts with each of us.
Check-in with, and reach out to, family and friends; not just during difficult times. Be there as much as realistically possible when those you care about are in need, even if they don’t ask. They may not want to ask because they think you are too busy; or they don’t want to bother you. Maybe it is difficult for them to ask. Do your best to anticipate what they might need.
You may think they are okay; they seem okay because life seems okay but it is very possible that they aren’t really okay at all. If you are checking in on them occasionally, you will eventually realize – perhaps even after the fact how important and how much your checking in on them mattered to them and was appreciated, as well as needed.
“NEVER COMPROMISE YOUR CORE VALUES AND BE A PERSON OF YOUR WORD.” 20
February 2022
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269.779.2900 AdvancingLives.myASEAlive.com Jacque@AdvancingLives.biz
I N D E P E N D E N T A S S O C I AT E
February 2022
21
____________ SHOW UP! During American Heart Month we want to help you Reclaim Your Rhythm and prioritize your and your team's physical health and mental well-being.
WEEK
Reclaim Your Rhythm: Nutrition Use more spices, less salt Make healthier food choices at restaurants Add plenty of fruits and veggies to every meal
Reclaim Your Rhythm: Exercise Reach 10,000 steps daily Have a dance night at home Stay active outdoors
Reclaim Your Rhythm: Well-Being Use a refillable water bottle Take a moment to breathe Surround yourself with elements of nature
Reclaim Your Rhythm: Give Back Volunteer at a local food pantry Donate healthy food items Demand change in 2022 Make a difference by donating 22
February 2022
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RED RECLAIM YOUR GO WOMEN RHYTHM GOFOR RED
WHY
?
Whether you are in the office or working from home, many us spend a large portion of our After moreofthan 18 months into this pandemic, Americans feel dayoverwhelmed at work. Reclaim Your Rhythm during the and stressed, which negatively impacts cardiovascular workday with these tips: deaths rose significantly in the past year. health. Heart disease Cardiovascular diseases remain the greatest health threat to Americans, Host a dance workout class at the office. but the pressures of COVID-19 remain top of mind. People are suffering from alower physical and mental well-being, as well as uncontrolled Hold TikTok dance health challenge. high blood pressure. fromtunes. the fallout of the pandemic is amplifying Listen to your favoriteStress soothing these conditions. Get up and move throughout the day. DANCE CHA LLENGE Take dance breaks during meetings. This February, we are uniting for American Heart Month to help (virtual or in-person). Play upbeat music in meetings ReclaimisYour Rhythm toheart. live longer, Singing good for your Belt out your favorite songs during your healthier, fuller lives. Because losing commute. even one mom, brother, friend or Join or create a company singing or dancing affinity group. neighbor to cardiovascular disease is too many. Poor mental well-being is a critical problem that, if neglected, can Kick #HEARTMONTH on National Wear Red Day™ lead off to serious health complications FRIDAY, like heart disease. Today, 1 in 3 FEBRUARY 4, 2022 Americans report being worried and of U.S. 4, adults more than half On Friday, February wear say red that for National Wear Red Day™. COVID-19 has negatively impacted Arrange to have your building turn red to support women DANCE YOU their mental well-being due to worry R and heart health. and stress. HEART OUT Encourage your team to show off their "coworkers" (babies, kids, pets) wearing red by posting photos. Post them to your social media channels. Share them with Cindy.Bouma@heart.org
HEART MONTH AND NATIONAL WEAR RED DAY TOOLKIT
©2019 American Heart Association, Inc., a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit. All rights reserved. Go Red for Women is a registered trademark of AHA. The Red Dress Design is a ©2019 American Heart Association, Inc., a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit. rights reserved. Go Red for is a registered trademark of AHA. The Red Dress Design is a trademark All of U.S. DHHS. Unauthorized useWomen prohibited. trademark of U.S. DHHS. Unauthorized use prohibited.
February 2022
23
The Year of Purple BY DOUG MITCHELL & LALITA CHEMELLO
Pantone’s ‘Very Peri’ is for the courageous who encourage inventiveness and creativity
“ As we move into a world of unprecedented change, the selection of PANTONE 173938 Very Peri brings a novel perspective and vision of the trusted and beloved blue color family, encompassing the qualities of the blue, yet at the same time with its violet-red undertone, PANTONE 17-3938 Very Peri displays a spritely, joyous attitude and dynamic presence that encourages courageous creativity and imaginative expressions.” - Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director, Pantone Color Institute
The transition from 2021 to 2022 brings forth strong emotions in all of us. Pantone Color of the Year ‘Veri Peri’ showcases these emotions in a way that words cannot. This year’s color is a soft, gentle blue-purple that brings comfort and beauty together as one. As Pantone puts it, “displaying carefree confidence and a daring curiosity that animates our creative spirit, inquisitive and intriguing PANTONE 17-3938 Very Peri helps us to embrace this altered landscape of possibilities, opening us up to a new vision as we rewrite our lives.[...] Very Peri places the future ahead in a new light.” Here are a selection of gems we can’t wait to showcase alongside Veri Peri in this brand new year
Ages, for its believed ability to give the wearer a clear head or prevent intoxication. It was even a favorite stone of Leonardo Da Vinci, who claimed it helped aid in intelligence and ridding one of evil thoughts.
IOLITE
TANZANITE
The name Iolite stems from the Greek word for violet, “ios.” This gem-quality mineral formed from cordierite is typically found in shades of purple and grey, originally known as the “twocolor rock.” Typically, cuts are determined on these stones by what color cutters want the stone to show.
AMETHYST
Amethyst is actually a variety of quartz, of the violet color. The amethyst was actually quite popular, especially with ancient Greeks and Romans on to the Middle
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February 2022
Originally known as ‘zoisite,’ the gem was renamed by Tiffany & Co in 1967 in honor of Tanzania, where it was originally discovered. The trick to this stone is the cut, which jewelers can use to demonstrate different hues from the stone. In this case, it can show a violet-like blue to blue-violet.
PURPLE SAPPHIRE
This royal-hued gem lends itself from the Corundum mineral family and is known for looking similar to the Amethyst. Also known as the ‘Violet Sapphire’
or ‘Plum Sapphire,’ it’s one of the harder, tougher gems on this list physically, but also astrologically where it favors those with good fortune.
ALEXANDRITE
Alexandrite comes off as a chameleon by nature, thanks to its somewhat color-changing properties. The stone’s original discovery in Russia, was thought to be emeralds, but would later discover the gem could change from a green to red-ish hue. In its homeland of Russia, it is believed to bring luck, good fortune and love. Doug Mitchell Diamond Doug is Owner/Artist at UniQ Jewelry Gallery. More info: uniqjewelry.com.
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@ SweetDreamsKzoo February 2022
25
ON THAT NOTE
The Power of Opportunity BY LALITA CHEMELLO
I am the worst at saying no, as I am sure many of you can relate. For some reason, I will likely volunteer to help even when I most likely shouldn’t, seizing every great opportunity, however more complicated it can and may make things, because who knows what may become of it? I sometimes blame the “grind” mentality of my Detroit roots, or the Midwest work ethic, where if you’re not working, you’re likely lazy (but not actually called lazy). That mentality that you work, and work, and work until you have what you want— until you’ve essentially, made it, makes us admirable workers, but also sometimes pretty useless human beings. Crazy enough, my therapist doesn’t encourage that “grind” mentality to work until you make it, citing things like burnout and anxiety, among a long list of other consequences. In reality though,
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my therapist is really spot on with that, because that list, that burnout, is exactly what happens. We live in this the land of opportunity where we idolize, near worship, the people who work hard, putting all of their time and effort into their dream. Some of us can do it with little-to-no consequences. And while I certainly encourage my friends, family, and even the kids I mentor at my alma mater to seize opportunities, there’s a way to do it in a more reasonable fashion that doesn’t hit the “Ctrl+Alt+Delete” sequence to most of your existence. It’s actually why this, as you may have read in our Bridal Guide, is my final issue with Moxie. You know, I started back in October of 2019 as a columnist for Heather. I had lost my full-time writing job in Detroit two years prior thanks to layoffs. My only bylines were on a blog I had personally
created about racing, called GpGrl.com, and I had my first byline the next month in an issue of Porsche Club of America’s Panorama magazine on the Formula E electric racing series. My writing at that time in my life was sparse and minimal. But I was in that hustling phase. I was going to write, even if I wasn’t getting paid (or paid often) for it! When I later lost my job during the pandemic, Heather offered me the Editor’s position here, and that has truly been a fruitful experience. We worked through a lot with everything coronavirus decided to throw our way, while still building and creating a totally new brand for our Kalamazoo-area magazine. Yet, we remained as positive as we could, and sometimes, like you read in my columns, things weren’t so keen. But here we are, still here and standing strong. I think it was the taking of a fairly rough job (for anyone in existence) for 2021, that really was perhaps the last straw of trying.
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Like Moxie’s perseverance through the pandemic, I’ve kept up that personal perseverance writing and holding multiple jobs for a long, long time. I mean, all of this (read: the grind) was to pay off bills from hardships over the last, wow, nine years. And some of those side hustles were to ensure I was just doing something I loved in some degree or capacity. The money, if I made any, was simply a very precious bonus. Moxie was one of those opportunities. It was also an incredible opportunity that popped up at the right time. Opportunities. They’re a precious thing. While some believe they can just fall into laps, I think the best ones come your way when you are actually out there, putting in the work to seek them. Not every single one that comes your way will be a winner, but likely each one is filled with experience. And some of that experience will most likely provide lessons of great and not-so-great things to do in future endeavors. For me, when I felt like I couldn’t find those opportunities for a while, I created them. Did I need to take on as many as I did? Maybe not. You really shouldn’t say yes to everything. Also, I know there were other things I could have let up on (like my clothing weakness), to lessen the load. Please, don’t be me.
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Despite maybe a few bad choices and lemons in the grind, and years of taking nearly every opportunity I made for myself or was able to find, I think I found the goal. That next step. Call it stability. Call it the dream. But my heart knows this is what I’ve spent the last 15 years working so hard for. And for once, I can finally just “breathe,” and enjoy having one job that combines everything I’ve wanted (and needed) to do, for a little while. I’m also excited about having full weekends again to actually go out (into the wilderness for now), and just enjoy myself.
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With that being said, first of all, thank you, for hanging on with me for these last two and a half years. I know we have never met, and my exiting, is probably an okay thing for you. But truly, thank you, for being a part of Moxie and keeping us going this far. For keeping me going this far. Being a part of this for all of this time, helped get me to the next step. Second, if you are a writer or editor with some experience and need a little side-hustle, may I recommend my position? Heather could use the help, and I would be a fool to not present to you, an opportunity, too. And lastly, I hope, for those of you on the chase to achieve your dreams: hold on, and best of luck. It’s a rough road sometimes, but you know, I can say now. We do, and can make it to the other side.
Lalita Chemello Lalita is our Editor, Writer and occasional photog. Her 13 years of writing has landed features with Panorama, published poetry and even a short film. She spends any extra time she can quenching her wanderlustian needs by finding new places to adventure with her other half, writing, or playing with their motorized toys.
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February 2022
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The Closet Challenge FEEL GOOD ABOUT YOUR CLOSET AGAIN BY LALITA CHEMELLO
How many times have you found yourself at your closet door, staring into a time capsule of the last 5, 10, maybe 20 years of your life, and sighed? Maybe you easily reach for a couple of go-to shirts or items that are most likely also worn for wear. But outside of those few favorites, you’re overwhelmed with your choices – mostly unworn – or find yourself at a loss on what combinations will make something you might actually enjoy wearing? If you found yourself nodding along to the paragraph above, I want to encourage you to take on
THE CLOSET CHALLENGE!
1
Slot out an afternoon to pull everything out of your closet and drawers. From there, you’re going to try everything on! You’re looking to see if you love the item you’re trying on, and how it looks on you. Maybe you’ve lost weight and you find there are a few things that are less than flattering. If an item is something you absolutely love, but is now maybe a bit oversized, set it aside for tailoring (which will cost a tiny bit, but you’ll be able to continue to wear some of your favorite pieces!). If items are too small, or you just hate how something looks, set those aside too. Those can be handed off to friends or donated.
The ones left that you love or fit well, or both, get put into a “feel good” pile for later.
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February 2022
HOT TIP! Have a lot of
leftover unwanted clothing that resellers or others could put to use? Use apps like Mercari, Poshmark, the Real Real, and ThredUp, to name a few, to get rid of your extra clothing. If something sells, use the extra money to invest in some new clothing items (or lightly used items on those sites), to snazz up your wardrobe. After all of that work, you deserve it!
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2
Compare and combine!
Anything left in your “feel good” pile is game for this next step. Now is the time to get creative. Have a pair of maroon dress pants that don’t get a lot of wear, but you love the style? Pair it with a t-shirt, graphic or plain! For warmer months you can complete the outfit with heels, sandals, or even tennis shoes! Or for cooler weather, a nice ankle bootie with or without a heel could set the scene! Try lots of different combinations. No one will see what fashion faux pas you’re going to make in the privacy of your own home. You might surprise yourself with some of your experiments!
At a loss for unique combinations for what’s left in your wardrobe? Refer to style sites, collect screenshots of outfits you like, or create a style board on a site like Pinterest to get ideas on how you can make use of the clothing combinations already in the closet.
3
Collect & reference your new combinations
Have your phone or a Polaroid camera at the ready and snap a shot of any clothing combination and outfit you discover and like! If you go the Polaroid route, you can turn the photos over, and draw from a pile when you need to “draw” a little inspiration for your day. Or look at hanging outfit combinations together in the closet, so all you have to do is pick a hanger, and you have a whole outfit at the ready!
4
HAVE FUN!
Don’t fret or dread this exercise. This is a way for you to, in some ways, take a trip through time, and find a purpose for what you already have at home.
And, if anything items bring back unfortunate memories, you can look to get rid of those items immediately, or look to purposely make new and better memories in a future outfit.
EXTRA: HOST A STYLING PARTY!
You can also host a styling party! Take it virtual and invite friends on Skype, FaceTime or Google Meet to help each other style outfits to really broaden your wardrobe choices! You can also present items you no longer want and can make piles for friends who are interested in taking them off of your hands! Plus, afterwards, you can make little
gift bags to drop off at your friends’ houses of the items they wanted! Who doesn’t love a little surprise gift?
Or when it’s safe to gather again, invite your friends over for a fun evening of eats, drinks and making outfits together! Clothing items friends ask to adopt can make great for great “gift bags” for the end of the evening.
February 2022
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|
THE KALAMAZOO FOODIE |
FORMELY WINE LOFT DOWNTOWN KALAMAZOO HAS A LOT OF NEW AND EXCITING RESTAURANTS OPENING AND RE-OPENING! ONE IN PARTICULAR I WAS ECSTATIC ABOUT, AS FOODIES AND COCKTAIL ENTHUSIASTS SHOULD BE JUST AS HYPED, IS THE WL SOCIALHOUSE, FORMERLY THE WINE LOFT. NOW IT’S OFFICIALLY OPEN AND MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN EVER BEFORE. BY RACHEL KIRTLEY The remodel is absolutely STUNNING. New floors, paint, chairs, beautiful marble-top tables, unique lighting & chandeliers that totally gave us Chicago vibes and we’re here for it! We enjoyed so many delicious cocktails & food that I felt I needed to break this down for you.
- DRINKS -
First off, cocktails of course. As you all know, I’m a connoisseur of dirty martinis and the one I had at WL Socialhouse did NOT disappoint! I loved the unique shape of the martini glasses. Every drink is executed perfectly and so unique!
Vesper Kettle One Vodka,
General Manager Kelsey Wolf along with beverage specialist from 600 Kitchen & Bar’s Mike Olinger (a.k.a. Captain Rosè) worked together to create a cocktail menu worthy of any city - big or small. The two knocked it out of the park with these amazing cocktails! Let’s break down the drinks!
Maker’s Mark, Orange Bitters, Amarena Cherry, Orange A classic and one of our favorites!
Mai Tai Myers Dark Rum, Bumbu Rum, Lime, Orgeat Almond Syrup, Orange Liqueur
Bombay Sapphire, Lillet Blanc, Thyme Simple & Lemon It was my personal favorite outside of my dirty martini!
Old Fashioned
NY Sour
Dry Fly Port Barreled Wheat Whiskey, Lemon Juice, simple, topped with Dry Creek Zinfandel You can also order a traditional Whiskey Sour!
- APPS-
Next of course was the delicious and beautifully-plated food. We love a yummy charcuterie board and WL Socialhouse has some of the best options around. Details on the delicious charcuterie board: diners can pick between 4, 6, or 8 selections of meat, cheese, & veggies. All boards include house roasted nuts, honey, warm olives, mostarda, fruit preserve, pickles, bread and crackers. If you simply can’t choose, they have the “The Freddie” (for Mercury that is), which is the charcuterie board featuring ALL listed ingredients in the Charcuterie Menu.
Dirty Martini
Of course! I prefer light olive juice and blue cheese and it was perfect.
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- DINNER -
After our amazing charcuterie board experience combined with craft cocktails, we dove head first into the food. All of the dishes are masterfully crafted and created with lots of flavor and love. Chef Jason McClellan, Max Makowski and Ryan Fields are a triple threat that you cannot compare! This team is amazing and every dish comes together so perfectly!
WE BEGIN WITH THE SMALL-ISH PLATES:
Tuna Tartare Sushi-grade ahi, soy sesame, avocado, truffle oil This was stellar and I loved the truffle infusion into the shell with the fresh avo & tuna!
Latke Smoked salmon, creme fraiche, pickled onion, dill, caviar This was perfection!
Roasted Jumbo Prawns Smoked chili hotel butter, grilled citrus, herb salad
Pan Braised Mushrooms @sprout_it_ Sprout It mushrooms, toasted @thevicbakery Victorian Bakery sourdough, white wine, herbs, creme fraiche I LOVE Victorian bakery bread. It’s my favorite in town. This dish was so savory, comforting & delicious.
Oysters
That’s right, a place to get fresh oysters!!!! (So many of you keep asking!)
THEN ONTO THE LARGE-ISH PLATES:
Fresh Market Fish (Grouper) in a Banana Leaf Coconut rice, cabbage slaw, shaved veggies, lime, ponzu vinaigrette
Manhattan New York Strip Truffle potato croquettes, King trumpet mushrooms, Sauce Diane The steak is sous vide. It’s very tender & delicious! Pan Roasted 1/2 Chicken
Fingerling potatoes, local veggie, Chef Max’s salsa verde, lemon
- DESSERT -
Dark Chocolate Cremoso
Whipped ganache, espresso crema, hazelnut praline I’m a sucker for dark chocolate, ganache, and espresso, so obviously I had to try this!
A special thank you to all of the staff, especially our wonderful server, Dottie, and kitchen staff Chef Max, Ryan, and Jason, but truly a huge thank you to the ENTIRE team at WL Socialhouse. I love that they source local ingredients and businesses. They also have amazing gluten-free and vegan options. Check out their Facebook & website for more details. HAPPY DINING!
Rachel Kirtley Rachel has worked in all levels of the food industry for over a decade. She is currently a Social Media Influencer, Content Creator and Restaurant Reviewer. You can visit her at thekalamazoofoodie.com.
161 East Michigan Kalamazoo, MI 49007 WLSOCIALHOUSE.COM 269.343.9227 February 2022
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It’s Girl Scout Cookie time!
Ready for delicious? It’s time for Girl Scout Cookies and there are plenty of ways to find them. Girls have digital cookie sites where you can order online, cookie booths will be back, and girls will be taking orders as usual. We also have them for sale at our Girl Scout office. No matter how you purchase your favorite cookies, remember that the Girl Scout Cookie Program instills life skills that l make girls relevant in today’s world. They are entrepreneurs who have mastered goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills, and business ethics. Profits stay local, mostly allowing girls to fulfill their dreams, whether through community service, travel, and much more. Find your cookies. Contact our help desk at 800-497-2688 or email to helpdesk@gshom.org. They will help you connect with a troop or girl.
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NOW ACCEPTING
LICENSED MEMORY CARE ASSISTED LIVING
new patients Empowering you to step fully into the life you want to live.
Licensed Professional Counselor in Kalamazoo, MI 510.827.1305 kimpowers@counselorkimpowers.com heartsoulmindstrengthllc.com
Kalamazoo
Our Community Features: • Safe & Secure community, specifically designed for those with memory challenges
• State-of-the-art motion sensing technology in all resident suites
• Certified Dementia Practitioners on staff
• Licensed Nurse on-site 24/7 • “New Directions”® tiered programming tailored to each resident
Call today for more information and to schedule a tour. 269-397-2200
• Virtual Communication Center for families to stay connected
• Beautifully appointed & enclosed courtyard with walking paths
• Delicious chef-prepared meals & snacks
• Dedicated Non-Denominational chapel
• Respite stays welcomed
Stadium
Dr.
Speedway
131 94
131: Exit 36 I-94: Exit 72
9th St.
Kim Powers
Village
9th St.
Counseling is not only my profession, it is my passion and my calling. I am honored to walk with you through some of life’s most difficult seasons, to support and guide you into a healthier chapter. Learning to share thoughts, feelings, and concerns in a healthy way with yourself and others; counseling may be an extremely helpful resource for you to utilize.
North Woods
ium
.
Dr
ad
St
Harding’s
Parkview Ave
6203 Stadium Drive | Kalamazoo, MI 49009 www.NorthWoodsMemoryCare.com
February 2022
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COMING SUMMER 2022
JOIN US FOR A DAY OF FREE FAMILY FUN! Kalamazoo County Expo Center 2900 Lake Street | Kalamazoo, MI
• Bounce house & obstacle course • Heroes and characters who love to engage and pose for photos • Rocking musical performances
• Trick-or-Treating • Kid’s costume contest • Princess story time • Face painting
GREAT ACTIVITIES & FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY
VENDORS: There is still time to reserve your booth for the 2022 Expo (269) 488-9780 | info@moxiemediagroup.net | www.moxiemediagroup.com
