Moxie Magazine - April 2021 by Moxie Magazine

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April 2021

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April 2021

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Smile! It’s Spring!

The long winter is finally over and the season of rebirth and renewal is here. As we start to shed our bulky sweaters and enjoy the great outdoors, many of us become focused on improving our health and wellness. This edition of Moxie features many pieces to help you embrace and enjoy a healthy lifestyle. Your mouth and smile are one of the foundational elements of

health and beauty. This month Moxie is very proud to feature Dr. Susan Dennis, D.D.S. and the amazing team that sets her practice apart. Join us for a red carpet tour and learn how Dr. Dennis and her staff can ease any anxiety and give you the smile of your dreams. For those of us preparing to celebrate Easter, the Kalamazoo Foodie takes us on an adventure

around two incredible local candy stores, where you can find unique delights for any Easter basket. We also have some delicious dessert recipes to enjoy with your family (for hopefully our last scaled-back holiday gathering.) I hope that your April is amazing.

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contents

PRIL FOOL! AND PRANKS 18 AOTHER

FOR YOUR HEALTH

6 | On That Note: Let’s Discuss Mental Health

8 | The Struggle in Seeking Wellness

12 | Where Your Smile Is Their Passion 22 | Reaping the Benefits of WFH Pets 24 | The Power of Flowers 30 | What is Healthy?

YOUR SMILE THEIR PASSION 12 WISHERE

34 | In Trying to Catch Our Fleeting Time

POWER 24 TOFHEFLOWERS

LIFE 16 | Early to Bed & Early to Rise 18 | April Fool! And Other Pranks 20 | In Ending the Cycle to Close the Racial Wealth Gap 26 | Book Review: The Story of Arthur Truluv

FOOD & DRINK 10 | Restaurant Review: Brunch at Bird Dog 28 | Who Needs Wonka When You Have West Michigan 36 | Boom Flavor: The Mind Behind the Tastes at Green Door Distilling Co. 35 | Recipes: Spring Sweets - Lemon Pudding Bundt Cake - S trawberries and Cream Pie

THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE IT HAPPEN PUBLISHER: Heather Dombos hdombos@moxiemediagroup.net LAYOUT & DESIGN: Alicia Pauwels apauwels@moxiemediagroup.net EDITOR: Lalita Chemello lchemello@moxiemediagroup.net SALES & MARKETING: Holly Korhorn hkorhorn@moxiemediagroup.net

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Cricket Alexander Emily Betros Kim Carson Kristie Curier Kelly Duggan Rachel Kirtley Heidi McCrary Jenny Opdycke Dr. Marti Peters-Sparling Elizabeth Precopio

Hannah Reuter Marlita Walker Demarra D. West WEBSITE: moxiemediagroup.com

BY MAIL: Moxie Media Group, LLC P. O. Box 2284 Portage, MI 49081-2284

THIS PUBLICATION PROUDLY SUPPORTS MASTERMIND

FOR SALES INFO: 269-350-5227 BY EMAIL: info@moxiemediagroup.net editor@moxiemediagroup.net sales@moxiemediagroup.net

April 2021

ON THAT NOTE

Let’s Discuss

MENTAL HEALTH T

college could have been different if I had let myself be treated and regulated.

My “household” growing up, we were well beyond those statistics. Out of the five people in my immediate, but separated family, three of us dealt with mental illness. My mother was misdiagnosed as bipolar…later we would learn it was borderline personality disorder. My younger brother would also miss that same diagnosis, but the signs were there. You can deduct I was the third of that equation.

It’s important to remember many also do not have the means to seek help and support. Treatment is and can be expensive. A psychiatrist appointment can easily run a few hundred dollars, for just an hour of their time. Medications without health insurance can also be expensive. Therapy could set you back a hundred dollars a week or month as well. And those several hundred dollars are sometimes the difference between groceries and bills, or your well-being mentally. Some wait to get help when things get really bad— facing a pivotal decision if it is not too late to get the help you need.

he National Institute of Mental Health says nearly one in five adults in the U.S. live with a mental illness. Think about that number. One in five. If you live in a household of five people—one of you could be struggling with mental illness. If you’re in an office of 50…at least 10 of you may be struggling with some degree of mental illness. The stats rises even higher for teens and adolescents, with nearly 50% of them dealing with some form of mental illness.

I had been diagnosed with depression and anxiety in high school, and in some level of defiance against my own mother, I decided my senior year, I no longer wanted to be on my medications. I was determined to figure out how to fight my mental health issues without them. Of course, I completely misunderstood why the medications were necessary. I wonder sometimes how my several dozen years of

With my personal struggles, I understand there are a lot of ways to talk yourself out of treatment or help. You can sometimes justify not needing more help. “Oh, I know how to handle my anxiety symptoms or depression symptoms.” You can rationalize talking yourself through it in many cases, or straight up deny it in fear of having to actually deal with it.

If I may be frank, my recent treatment is a combination of finally having the means to seek treatment, while letting things go on for too long. It should not have to be that way though.

I would like to connect the community with more West Michigan organizations offering affordable mental health services. If you see this, please reach out to me at lchemello@moxiemediagroup.net

April 2021

So many painful outcomes could be prevented—if we could actually reach out and get that help, affordably. Many of us have felt the pain of losing someone, someone who could still be here today if resources for mental health were more readily available. They might still be here if mental illness was better understood and not clouded in mystery…so that perhaps they could have received a proper diagnosis and treatment. They could have had proper treatment if there was more funding. They could have… Those are heavy words. But they hold true. They really could have if more was available. If you or someone you love is struggling in Kalamazoo you can contact the helpline for emotional support or crisis intervention at, (269) 381-HELP (4357). Organizations like Integrated Services of Kalamazoo and the Gryphon Place are great resources, with Gryphon Place listing resources of suicide prevention and crisis support in the surrounding communities. 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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April 2021

THE STRUGGLE IN

SEEKING WELLNESS BY DEMARRA D. WEST

Caring for myself is not self-indulgence. It is selfpreservation, and that is an act of political warfare.

-Audre Lorde

any people don’t know that the U.S. wellness movement started as early as the 1950s, with prominent thought-leaders, such as historian Michel Foucault, author of “The History of Sexuality,” helping shape how we think about wellness today. The term is actually indigenous, with original roots to Ayurvedic medicine which was started more than 3,000 years ago. The holistic medicinal model is based on the belief that health and wellness

April 2021

depend on a delicate balance between the mind, body, and spirit. In November 1979, Dan Rather said wellness was “a phrase you don’t hear everyday” during a “60 Minutes” segment— and it changed everything. Now, more than forty years later, wellness is the way we encapsulate all things related to our wellbeing. From company wellness programs, to wellness classes, to wellness supplements, to wellness treks, there is no limit on the supply and demand of the wellness industry. In fact, the Global Wellness Institute estimated the value of the wellness industry to be $4.5 trillion dollars in 2018. And although wellness possibilities are endless with this dollar amount in mind, women have always struggled with prioritizing their well-being; which is why

the famous quote from Audre Lorde’s book, “A Burst of Light,” felt like a perfect way to begin this piece. When Lorde says self-care is an act of political warfare, what she is really saying is that the lived experience associated with being a woman, Black, LGBTQ+, etc. makes selfcare an absolute must for our survival and liberation. Lorde’s ideas about self-care were picked up by many in queer, feminist and activist circles. Caring for yourself became a way of preserving yourself in a world that was hostile to your identity, your community and your way of life.

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Being a woman alone makes it difficult to care for ourselves, in part, because women are wired to have more of the social and emotional skill sets related to caring for others. As a licensed therapist and professional certified coach, I often find that when I breach the topic of self-care with women, they struggle with the basic tenets of wellness which then becomes a main focal point of our work together—from celebrating successes, having daily self-care practices, asking for help, saying no, and so much more. Add intersectionality to the mix and well, it further complicates things. Being a woman of color, for example, can make self-care feel that much more out of reach, in part, because there may be more responsibilities

associated with the lived experience of that identity. Data shows that women of color are more likely than their white counterparts to be primary financial earners, supporting other family members both physically and financially, and have more overall responsibilities. In fact, more than 70% of Black mothers and more than 40% of Latina mothers are the family’s sole breadwinners — compared to less than a quarter of white mothers. And at the same time, women of color have more caregiving responsibilities, with Black and Latinx caregivers spending 50% more hours a week on caregiving than white caregivers according to research by American Progress. And no matter what identities you hold as a woman, caring for yourself is absolutely

essential. From indulging in a sweet treat, to moving your body, to reflecting on what you’re grateful for, to taking a luxurious bath. The possibilities are endless. So, go on and make the decision to care for yourself today. You deserve it. Your birthright alone says you are worthy of it. Let’s be like Audre Lorde and commit acts of political warfare to become more aligned with who we were always meant to be. Demarra D. West MA, LPC, PCC, RYS

Demarra is a certified yoga teacher, Reiki master, licensed therapist, and entrepreneur who has a deep passion for all things women and wellness. She is the founder of Be Well Beautiful Woman, a global platform created for women to heal, have abundant joy, and immense business success.

April 2021

RESTAURANT REVIEW

brunch at

BREAKFAST PLATE

t has been so exciting to see our local restaurants reopening their indoor seating after months of not being able to serve us in the traditional way. Many have gotten creative with new, inventive ways to invite their customers to “dine-in”—like one of my favorite area restaurants, BIRD DOG. They’ve been using outdoor igloos throughout the winter, and continue to, even though their indoor space has been open at some capacity. And so, one Sunday morning, my friends and I decided to take advantage of their igloo experience. The igloo had this cute décor of ivy and twinkling lights. There was also music playing from a radio, and a little heater sitting under the table to warm our feet (and when we visited, that particular morning was cold!). Our server came by and recommended their RASPBERRY MIMOSA…which we all ordered. I ordered a French press coffee for the table to share. As brunch is my favorite meal, I was very excited to see their plethora of menu options! And with Bird Dog only serving brunch on Saturdays and Sundays, it truly feels like a special treat! For our table, one friend went with the BREAKFAST PLATE—with eggs, breakfast potatoes, herb salad, choice

April 2021

57649 Murray Street Mattawan birddogmattawan.com

DUTCH BABY PANCAKE

CHICKEN AND WAFFLE of sausage or bacon, and sourdough bread. Another pal went with their CHICKEN AND WAFFLE. It was a peanut butter waffle with Nashville Hot Chicken and whipped butter. (I was excited she ordered this as I was debating getting it, but now I could try hers!) I ordered the DUTCH BABY PANCAKE, topped with a lemon curd and berries. And I ordered a side of their BREAKFAST POTATOES to share with the table. I have dined at Bird Dog for dinner a few times, and I always find their food impressive, and their plating is an artform! They incorporate lots of color into their plates and always have a very creative approach. This was definitely obvious as our brunch plates came out. I was in awe of how delicious and beautiful everything looked! The breakfast plate was full of traditional breakfast goodies, yet elevated. Everything was cooked to perfection and the plate was balanced well. I was in love with my Dutch Baby Pancake. The edges were nice and crisp

while the inside was cakey and sweet. The lemon curd and berries gave it just enough sweetness and tart to balance it out, so it wasn’t overly sweet. I nearly finished the whole giant thing! And those potatoes were impossibly delicious. Both creamy and rich and there were plenty in our side dish for all of us to have. And that Nashville chicken (I managed a bite!) was juicy and tender. It wasn’t super spicy, but had just enough bite to it. The Peanut Butter Waffle was fluffy and sweet, with the peanut butter flavor minimal, but just enough to know what it was. The combination of the two together in one bite simply knocked my socks off. I would highly recommend this dish, especially as I was quite jealous that I hadn’t ordered it for myself. My igloo brunch experience at Bird Dog was amazing. We had an hour and a half in there, yet never felt rushed. The servers were amazing, with great suggestions and friendly service. And even though it was a cold day, we were never freezing. We had our coats off by the end of the visit. I cannot wait to return for another meal! Elizabeth Precopio Elizabeth Precopio 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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April 2021

SMILES FOR SPRING

WHERE YOUR

Smile IS THEIR Passion

THE OFFICE OF SUSAN M. DENNIS, D.D.S.

Your smile is one of the first things people notice about you upon meeting. It is a gateway to how approachable you may be, and truly completes your look. But what you may not think about, is how what makes up your smile, is a critical component of your overall health and day-to-day life. In a way should, this make it a vital priority in our care, like our doctors and other medical visits we should be making. The American Dental Association did a survey in 2018 that said 47% of Americans feel they don’t see their dentist as often as they’d like to, which makes you wonder about the other 53%. Some go religiously—and then there are the rest of us. The reasons for avoiding the dentist vary, with it sometimes being as simple as affordability, insurance coverage and time (because whoever has that?). Yet, for some of us, it comes down to past bad experiences, avoiding the “shameful” visit, pain or mostly, pure fear.

April 2021

Some of that fear stems from the bad experiences, pain and cleanings ending with you shamed. But what if you could go to the dentist and not experience any of that? There is a real dental pratice here in our area, that says you should never feel pain at any of your visits. This office promises to take the time to listen to your fears and discuss your care before they even open your mouth. It is a place that looks at the entirety of your oral care, beyond just your teeth and gums, and then explains those findings to you so you can BOTH work together to find the best approach to caring for your mouth and your smile. This is not Narnia, nor any mythical office. It is real, and you can find it in Portage:

THE OFFICE OF SUSAN M. DENNIS, D.D.S.

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SMILES FOR SPRING (cont.)

WELCOME TO OUR OFFICE

A red-carpet treatment” of dental care

This is not your ordinary dentist office. And the lobby is far from the stale lobbies your memories (or nightmares) can recall. Surely, you are more familiar with dentist lobbies adorned with metal-rung chairs with vinylcovered cushions placed in rows of three to four at a time, complete with racks or tables of outdated reading materials. Here though, a plush couch sits beneath a giant goldframed mirror with several fabric chairs and a cute leather ottoman. In the corner is a small cabinet of sorts where a Keurig sits longingly awaiting its next use (although it remains out of order due to COVID-19 precautions at this time). This room feels more like a friend’s living room than a waiting room. The only “office” aspect is the long counter by the door, with tall plexiglass to handle your appointments and payments safely, while protecting the faces you’ll come to know in your visits there. If you come across a day Kali is working, I guarantee she will wear the biggest smile when she sees you.

Note, every patient’s first visit consists of two things: a goodie bag with an assortment of things, and the exclusive tour.

the practice. In those, you are no longer in a dentist office—you’ve got a front row seat to a National Geographic documentary.

Have you ever been on a tour of a doctor’s office? Any medical office? Every hallway and door of those health care offices are an absolute mystery. But not here. You’ll see the wall of degrees and photos, where you can see Dr. Dennis in her college days! On the opposite side you will find photos of patients with their newly improved smiles. There’s a stop at the sanitizing station— where tucked near the top of the room is one of two new air purifiers they purchased to help clean the air—a machine NASA uses. The ionizer causes the early morning air prior to patient arrivals to smell like the air after a thunderstorm. Even just a few hours later, the air smells amazingly clean and refreshing.

The tour is just part of a string of patient care offerings Dr. Dennis’s office works to do to ensure your comfort, with each tour stop somewhat dispelling the mystery that is dentistry. The details go down to having curtains that can be closed to provide some privacy for your appointment and shut out the other on-goings in the office. They offer a calming atmosphere and this feeling you are at a boutique clothing store fitting room as opposed to the actual dentist.

Continuing around the office, they’ll point out the machines behind checking and improving your smile, while answering any and all of your curious questions. Do not forget to take in the breathtaking views patients have from many of the rooms in

This particular tour ended with Kali exclaiming, “You have to see the bathroom.” This is not typically a thing anyone says during a tour of their home, or office. I think we can agree, it comes down to an acknowledgement of the direction of the bathrooms, and not what they look like. Imagine a little garden shed...with cute copper spouts and literal flowers and ivy painted crawling across the walls of this “tool shed.” You really do have to see it to believe it.

April 2021

SMILES FOR SPRING (cont.)

ENTER, THE RULES OF ENGAGEMENT

THE DENTAL PRESCRIPTION

You and your dentist create your rules of engagement for your office visits. They are quite literally rules concerning your comfort. In order to do that, they need to get to know you—and Dr. Dennis emphasizes the objective to become a friend you can trust in this process. What are your concerns going into your appointment? Are you scared? The questionnaire you fill out prior to your first appointment even asks how fearful are you of your visit on a scale from one to 10. Truthfully, many of us are on that higher end. The base of that fear could range from the cleaning itself, to tooth issues and more.

Patient questions were an integral start to the practice you now see today. In Dr. Dennis’s earlier years, she wanted to be able to answer her patient’s questions, in a more holistic way, or rather be able to explain how one affliction or issue could affect your oral health, and vice versa. After seeking more training to develop a more holistic plan for her patients...she came up with what she calls, The Dental Prescription.

Fear holds many from seeking treatment (yours truly...going eight years without a dental visit). For instance, some of us are immune to many numbing agents, causing one to feel substantial and unnecessary pain, which can be rather traumatic. But Dr. Dennis’s office has a ‘recipe’ of anesthetics that work 100% of the time. She really aims to ensure you should never feel pain in her chairs. Other things like time or finances are also big-ticket issues, and they are there to hear them. They want to listen to you and understand how you are feeling or what you are feeling when you come into a dentist’s office. They want to help. They want to guarantee efficiency (they can make some crowns in-house, same or next day). And, they are there to answer any of your questions and be as knowledgeable as possible so that you feel confident about your treatments going forward.

April 2021

To explain, The Dental Prescription is five categories of exams to look at the entire patient diagnosis—all affecting the health of your mouth. Those categories making up the totality of the prescription: cosmetic, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and musculature, restorative, gum health and oral cancer screening. Once your prescription is created, you have a conversation to discuss what has been found and you work together on a “plan of attack” to help you make changes to help with your new diagnoses.

The Dental Prescription is Dr. Dennis’s holistic panel for diagnosis— to understand what is happening with your mouth as a whole. This is how the prescription is broken down. 1) Cosmetic

How does your smile fit your face? Here, lip contour, skin tone, color of teeth, crowding, wear and spacing is assessed to see how everything fits together. Treatments could include Invisalign, veneers, and potential whitening techniques and products.

2) TMJ and musculature

Here, a look at your temporomandibular

joint (TMJ) and the muscles necessary to operate it. They will ask if you have chronic clenching and grinding— looking at things like teeth placement and receding gumlines, which could be a sign of issues. Bad bites can also be the cause of many headaches. Hundreds who have been to the office have been helped by this portion of the exam. The office can also create custom bite guards to help with bite issues.

3) Restorative

This is your tooth-by-tooth exam. Do you have cracked teeth? Missing teeth? Worn teeth? Do your teeth align properly? Do you need dental implants, crowns or bridges? Removable dentures? The objective here is to protect as many teeth as possible, but there are many options for patients to choose from to help in restoring or further protecting their teeth.

4) Gum Health

Did you know, 85% of people have some sort of infection in their gums... whether mild or severe? A complete probing of spaces between your gum and tooth will be performed in a few spots, looking for possible infections that are notorious for hiding there. If an area appears unhealthy, a sample is taken to find what of seven different types of problematic bacteria may be the cause. For those...a treatment plan is created to help improve gum health...some involving antibiotics or laser therapy.

5) Oral Cancer Exam

Here, a look at your tongue, cheeks and tonsils, with an exam of your neck checking your thyroids, lymph nodes and salivary glands. Since this has been implemented into part of the exam, the practice has doubled the net average of diagnosis of oral cancers because of how diligent this portion of the exam is.

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SMILES FOR SPRING (cont.)

YOUR EXPERIENCE, MATTERS You may find yourself a little hesitant in immediately seeing the dentist after reading all of that. And that is quite understandable. Conquering your dental fears just to find out you have an infection or cancer is a fair reason to be hesitant. And many of us can relate and advocate for that fear. Your focus however should shift from what could be happening to your mouth, to what is happening right now in your mouth. Remember that pain in your mouth every time you eat something cold, or even breathe in cold air? Notice how you never smile with your teeth in pictures because of the coloring or maybe you never fixed the gap between your front teeth and absolutely hate it. This “prescription” is there to help fix all of that, and help you be more confident about your smile—to make you look and feel good. Which, if you recall from our last issue, The Beauty Book, “when you feel good, you look good.” Take it from the kid teased on the bus for her “horse teeth,” in middle school—really just a bad overbite. The hurtful remarks and tears that resulted, really made an impression. And the braces she would later receive would change her life. That girl, was Dr. Dennis. Her awful experience led her on a mission to help people feel great about their smile. “From the young to the young-at-heart, my passion is to give every patient a healthy and beautiful smile for life.” This idea coincides with what the practice achieves in and out of the office. For instance, this month begins another round of their patient referral program—every quarter they encourage their patients to refer new patients who could use the beyond creature-comforts of this practice. Referrals are encouraged with prizes and raffle tickets for the grand prize, a Pit Boss barbeque for this quarter. In March, one lucky, deserving first responder found out they will receive a

smile transformation of a lifetime—$10,000 worth of a transformation. Every detail in her practice emits care and passion to truly help you, to help the community and make a difference in your lives. There are so many detailed components worked into your treatment and visit to ensure your comfort while working to dispel or ease your fear. From the Dental Prescription, to the tiny (but large) touches of comfort you can order from their Comfort Menu, it’s not just about giving you the smile you want and deserve, and the confidence to go along with it, it is doing everything they can to make sure you can be as comfortable as possible while working on those changes. It is a feeling that flows through the office—an ambience that is more than soothing, and the people behind it are all entirely passionate about what they do, and pass that on to you during your visit. While you are there for your first visit (or multiple), sure, you are able to see dental

tools and machines in the room, but you never feel like you are in the depths of a dentist’s office. The only way they could make it cozier and more welcoming, is to possibly turn the dental chairs into recliners.

MEET THE TEAM

Left to right - FRONT ROW, SEATED: Dr. Pollaccia, Dr. Dennis, Dr. Fichter SECOND ROW: Debbie, Deonna, Kim, Kali, Danielle, Amanda, Liz, Sara, Tyler BACK ROW: Jill, Chrissy, Dru, Annisia, Tammy, Ana, Jim, Stephanie NOT PICTURED: Dulce, Loretta

April 2021

PEST PROS OF MICHIGAN

EARLY TO BED & EARLY TO RISE… Early to bed, and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise. - Benjamin Franklin his quote has been a powerful guide for my current success regarding my morning routine. Over the years, I have learned that waking early is extremely important, and has helped me stay accountable to my goals and aspirations, but it hasn’t always been this way. I used to be such a night owl! I cherish my morning time, because I have learned that I can do much better work first thing, before any other distractions arise. There is a level of peace that allows me to focus and set my intentions for the day. I have found that early to bed has been key to keeping my routine, which my kids find humor in as I go to bed before they do. Why has this made such an impact on my life? I am excited to wake up and I look forward to my morning routine. It is by far one of the best things I do for myself.

April 2021

I spend several hours each morning preparing for my day. First, my awesome husband makes me FRESH BREWED COFFEE, and I take my handful of vitamins, which was suggested to me by a good friend with a wealth of knowledge.

READING has become a staple in my morning

routine and it is one of my favorite parts of the day. I set an intention to read a few chapters every morning and enjoy switching between topics. For example, during the week I will read more professional development, whereas weekends are typically spiritual growth and biographies. My accountability partner and I work together by texting our “THREE TO THRIVE” for the day. These are the three most important tasks we need to get accomplished for the day. This is not an easy feat! The list never ends so I am very intentional and strategic about what the priorities for the day are and if I can realistically complete them. I don’t think we all realize just how distracted we are, and how unrealistic our expectations can be on ourselves. This has been a simple way to stay on track for personal and professional goals, and I get to feel a daily sense of accomplishment. Another staple in my morning routine is my GRATITUDE AND SPIRITUAL PRACTICE. I meditate for about 10 minutes on how grateful I am, and

ask that any obstacles be removed that would keep me from being the woman I was created to be. I sometimes take this opportunity to reach out to a few of my folks and wish them well. This next part may appear unusual, but is a total game changer. I jump into a COLD SHOWER! There are several benefits to cold showers, my favorite being that it energizes me in the start to my day and gives me an endorphin rush. If I skip this, I regret it for the rest of the day. Lastly, I send out an email to my team to set INTENTIONS FOR THE DAY and make sure we are all on the same page. These daily check-ins are a great way to increase communication with your team, especially if you don’t see them some days. If you are looking for a way to improve your day-to-day grind, might I suggest one of my morning staples? There is no perfect way to do it and mine have changed several times over the years. Just do what you feel is right and what works for you. Maria Sorrentino Maria, President at Pest Pros, is on a mission to create a better quality of life for people, which is reflected in how she does business and supports her team. Maria immerses herself in leadership activities allowing her to be a resource for entrepreneurs who want to make a positive impact on the world.

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New Dates!

SAME GREAT EVENT OCTOBER 29 & 30

Take a day away for some “me” time or make it a day with your friends! Explore the many businesses & organizations of the greater Kalamazoo area communities at the Women’s Lifestyle Expo presented by Moxie.

FASHION • PAMPER • BEAUTY • SHOP • PETS WORKSHOPS • DIY CRAFTS • ARTISTS VENDORS: There is still time to reserve your booth for the 2021 Women’s Lifestyle Expo (269) 488-9780 | info@moxiemediagroup.net | www.moxiemediagroup.com April 2021

O L O ! F L I R e h r t p o rank d P n a A s BY HANNAH REUTER

Hannah Reuter Hannah graduated from WMU in 2015 with a degree in Economics and currently resides in Portage. In her free time she enjoys strumming the guitar and painting. She is the author of two YA books under the pseudonym, H.B. Catherine. You can find information on her books and writing at hbcatherinewriting.com.

April 2021

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PRANKS 101 THE ELITE APRIL FOOLS’ DAY PRANKS

APRIL FOOLS’ DAY ORIGIN

1698 T he annual Washing of the Lions ceremony that was said to be held at the Tower of London was the first known hoax and it was such a good one that they continued it annually, even selling masses of fake tickets.

How April Fools’ Day came to be is widely speculated and still remains a mystery to this day. What we do know is that over the course of several centuries spanning different cultures, this day has been celebrated with pranks.

1957 A BBC TV show called Panorama reported that Swiss farmers were enjoying a great year for their “spaghetti crop” and showed footage of people harvesting noodles from trees. 1985 S ports Illustrated fooled their readers with a made-up article about a rookie pitcher who could throw a fastball over 168 mph.

Some historians believe its origin dates back to 1582, when Julius Caesar switched from the Julian Calendar to the Gregorian Calendar. In the Julian Calendar, the year starts on April 1st or the spring equinox instead of January 1st. So, the people who continued to celebrate the New Year in late March–early April without knowing of the switch became the butt of higher society’s jokes.

1994 P C Magazine published an article about a fake bill going through Congress that would prohibit the use of the internet while intoxicated.

Despite not knowing the exact origin of April Fools’ Day, it spread throughout Britain during the 1800s. In Scotland, it even became a twoday tradition.

1996 T aco Bell announced it had agreed to purchase Philadelphia’s Liberty Bell and were going to rename it the Taco Liberty Bell. 1998 B urger King advertised a “LeftHanded Whopper,” and even got a lot of people to order it. 2014 G oogle published a Pokémon game where users could locate Pokémon on Google Maps. The prize was a job at Google as Pokémon Master. This joke was so well-done that software engineers eventually took the prank to create Pokémon Go.

April Fools’ Day is a fun way to play pranks on friends and loved ones. Always remember to make sure you are aware of your surroundings and know enough about the people you are fooling to be safe!

HAPPY APRIL FOOLS’ DAY!

• Want to play a joke on a co-worker? Fill up their room with balloons! The moment they open that door, the balloons will come flooding out. • Does the person you want to prank enjoy candied apples? Try dipping an onion in caramel for them instead! • Put cups of water in close proximity on the floor and watch them struggle to make it through without spilling one of them, or worse, the domino effect. • Get a party popper and place it with a string across a door. The person who opens it will be bombarded with confetti! • Nothing is easier than the fake bug trick. Buy a plastic spider or other insect that they may not like and place it around the house. Another easy method is cutting out a bug shape from paper and placing it in a lampshade for the shadow of a bug they can’t find! • Mix together Skittles, M&M’s, and Reese’s Pieces. May the odds be ever in your favor! • You can always go classic and simply, jump out and scare someone! • Put a “Please Honk and Wave” sign on the back of a friend or S.O.’s car! This will have people honking and waving at them the entire drive without them knowing why. • Fake broken glass decals! • Making your significant other or child their lunch? Throw some peanut butter on that turkey or mayo with the jelly.

April 2021

I N EN DIN G T H E CYCLE TO CLOSE

THE RACIAL WEALTH GAP Imagine being in a runner’s race, and you are at the starting line of a large oval track, like the Olympic greats have run. The gun goes off with a bang!—It’s time to start running. Yet, you can’t move. You watch competitors run laps around you while you’re stuck in place, bound to the starting line.

This analogy very simply describes the wealth gap Black Americans consistently suffer from—widened by inequality and discrimination. I find myself vividly and frequently replaying a conversation between an old acquaintance in which it became very evident to myself just how this vicious cycle is perpetuated. I may have been aware that people of color are at an economic disadvantage, but the talk reminded me I am truly living in a different reality from my “peers.” I was visiting home my junior year of college. I gathered with a couple of girls I met at my high school job that I still would occasionally hang out with. I was venting to them about my college tuition troubles that were constantly stressing me out, while I also juggled expectations to maintain a path to Honors and a handful of extracurricular commitments. Oh, and all of this, while out of the state. I confided in them that I had unexpectedly been backed into pulling out yet another loan, this time from my bank, in order to overcome my now hurdle placed in my lane. One of the girls found it appropriate to begin sharing her personal tale of how she could relate. However, her story ended with her accepting the $10,000 her grandmother, who was white, was able to provide because she had saved investment

April 2021

As other runners are miles into the race, you’re finally able to move your feet, but your lane has hurdles. Add in the weight of having cinder blocks tied to your ankles, instead of running shoes, while your opponents gather advantageous tools along the way, like boosters to help run quicker, or shortcuts helping cut their race distance in half. Not to mention, the race is centuries long.

earnings. It was a starkly different reality from my Black grandmother who cleaned at a chicken farm in her earlier years and ran an inhome daycare later on. She would just tell you God provided for her family. The long journey in overcoming my personal financial hurdles continues, but has improved with time. There are less hurdles on the track this year, thanks to the guidance of my partner, who is also the financial genius in our house. I simply abide by the “yes you can swipe” or the “no you don’t need to go to Target for just one thing.” Thanks to his knowledge and diligence, in February we celebrated an incredible milestone for a young (25 and 30) soon-to-be-married, Black couple. In a span of 11 months and 2 days, we paid off $15,629.51 in debt, leaving us with absolutely no credit card or medical debt. I know Black people are not entirely constrained to the binds of poverty. I also am aware white people can suffer from economic equalities as well. However, one of those is directly tied to racism. I mean, we live in a country that fails to tell the history of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre; the burning and leveling (and looting) of 35 square blocks of a once-thriving Black neighborhood...once hailed as “Black Wall Street.’

I have been and continue the path to break this cycle. While it may be too late to catch up, people of color can still commit to running a race well and far enough to pass the baton to the next generation who would otherwise suffer the same disadvantages. In order to achieve racial equality, the wealth gap has to close in and unfortunately that gap is mighty large to fill. Kristie Curier Kristie is an Executive Producer at a local news station in the Kalamazoo-Grand Rapids market. Simply a storyteller at heart and a proclaimed writer since the first day she picked up a pen. As a Black woman, she is most passionate about unmuting the stories of those who’ve felt silenced and overlooked for centuries.

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A Match Made in

Meeting of the Minds

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Wine and Girl Scout Cookie Pairing Join us on April 22. Purchase your kit today at gshom.org/special-events

April 2021

REAPING THE BENEFITS OF WFH PETS WHILE KEEPING IT PROFESSIONAL BY KELLY DUGGAN

long with COVID-19, 2020 brought a rush in demand for dogs and cats, with adoptions and pet sales soaring as Americans tried to fill the distancing and emotional void with a new companion. For those of us already in the work from home (WFH) world, our coworker pets had most likely found their place and routine. Those of us new to WFH with pets discovered they now had default co-workers as the WFH scenario went on and on and on.

WORKING WITH OFFICE PETS Having always had pets, we’ve had many years to learn the benefits of being a WFH pet owner. Here are our top five.  Decreased stress levels – The Human Animal Bond Research Institute has shown owning a pet can reduce depression and anxiety and have other positive effects on your health, such as lowering your blood pressure. Working at home with a family pet can also decrease your level of workplace stress, whether physical or emotional.  Increased productivity – Some studies have shown that WFH owners with pets increase their productivity. For instance, when working away from home it’s easy to worry about your pet and its care. When you can easily monitor your pet as you do your work, you can be more productive and worry less.

#moxieWFHpets Kodiak and Winchester— dogs of Heather Dombos, Moxie’s CEO and Publisher—waiting for the workday to be done. 22

April 2021

 Feeling better – The Mental Health Foundation has shown how pets offer unique companionship, increasing happiness as well as motivation. Feeling good is an essential part of being productive. Working from home can be

challenging and lonely for some people. Your four-legged friend can reduce those feelings and provide company.

 Taking breaks – We all love taking a break! When working in a WFH environment, it can be way too easy to stay in the same location for hours. Owning a pet offers a great opportunity to take occasional breaks throughout the day. Pets (especially dogs!) not only crave attention, but they thrive on an established routine. These breaks can help stretch your legs and clear your mind.  Pet enrichment – One WFH benefit is that your presence is good for your pet. WFH lets you interact more with your pet and reinforce home rules. By doing so, they will learn when it’s time to play, but also understand when it’s time for work. Ultimately, it will increase the bonds you share and lead to a better quality of life for you both.

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KEEPING IT PROFESSIONAL If you’re a WFH worker, you might find things are more relaxed than going to an office. However, there are times when a serious, important or formal meeting is required. This is NOT the time for your co-worker pet to be part of the meeting! Having your cat lie on your keyboard or your puppy chew on your computer charger or bark incessantly during a video conference might seem loveable or funny to you, but others will find it annoying. So, unless your pet is a lounger, like my Maggie was, you may need to keep them busy or tire them out. Use up some of your pet’s energy with a brisk walk, a quick game of fetch, or interactive play with a toy mouse or a feather. Whether you’re working from home temporarily or permanently, we hope you’ll find that a pet can be the best coworker you’ve ever had — like Maggie was for me.

#moxieWFHpets Matisse and Luna—dogs of Lalita Chemello, Moxie’s Editor—taking a break from a long WFH day.

#moxieWFHpets Tenny and Lefty—dogs of Alicia Pauwels, Moxie’s Lead Graphic Designer—acting as WFH supervisors.

HONORING OUR WFH PET COMPANIONS…MY MAGGIE My loyal, faithful and steady fur babe/office dog suddenly left us, and we’re heartbroken. Maggie celebrated her 13th birthday on January 18, 2021. Cardiac issues, which we were aware of and treating, intensified that evening and she passed at home the following morning. Maggie spent many hours by my side and at my feet (or under my desk, her favorite napping spot). She was the co-worker dog you wanted in the office: there for support when needed, the solid gaze of “you’ve got this,” when critique or review was required, and a friendly sounding board for sharing wins and losses over our many years together. Only on rare occasions did she raise a ruckus in the office, which was usually instigated by her fellow fur companions Dempsey and Daisy Lu. May our sweet girl Maggie rest in peace.

Share a picture of your co-worker pet with us on Facebook or Instagram with the tag #moxieWFHpets Kelly Duggan, AICI CIC 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.

April 2021

THE POWER OF

FLOWERS and how to be healthy, wealthy and wise BY KIM CARSON

My colon cancer surgery was Thursday, June 25, 2009. It was a sweltering day in Grand Rapids. You may remember that day too—it was the same day Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett died. They were alive when I arrived at the hospital. They were gone when I woke up from surgery. The reality really hit me hard. Returning home for recovery…my living room took on the look of a quaint little flower shop—filled with vibrant colors and floral scents. All sent by caring friends and family. Those who know me well know how much I adore flowers. And for me, it doesn’t need to be a large, expensive bouquet—it could be something as simple as a single hand-picked bud from a garden. For me, I look at a flower and can feel my pulse slow and my blood pressure begin to drop. Still at home trying to heal from the traumatic assault [read: surgery] on my body, I heard a knock at the side door. It was Mary—one of my good friends—with a shovel, bucket, bags and other gardening tools in tow. I asked her what she was doing here. She then asked me to come to the backyard, wanting to show me something. Mary had dug up a wide border all along my wood fence and planted hundreds of flowering bulbs, perennials and annuals—all while I was sleeping. I hugged her in thanks for making my yard absolutely beautiful. She explained there

April 2021

was a bigger reason for her purpose in creating this beautiful garden. She said, next year at this same time when the bulbs start blooming and the perennials begin to burst forth with all of your favorite colors—you can look out your window and be reminded that another year has passed. And just like the flowers that come alive again, you too are alive for another year. It was one of the most heartfelt, thoughtful and lasting gifts I have ever received. From then on, each spring, I look out my bedroom window and smile as I remember her words. The act was so powerful. And when I have flowers in my house—I smile more as I look at them.

MORE ON FLOWER POWER

I asked my friend J Schwanke about the different attributes attached to flowers and what flowers can help us feel healthier, wealthier and wise. J is the host of the show, “J Schwanke’s Life In Bloom” on PBS and uBloom.com. He is a walking, talking encyclopedia when it comes to flowers and he was happy to share some facts with me.

For example, did you know that research says having a flower in your home makes you feel happier? Senior citizens are also more apt to

seek help or medical attention for things that are bothering them if there are flowers around. And, people who receive flowers when they are sick get better, faster. If those flowers happen to be

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yellow in color—they get better, faster still! J halfjokingly said we have talked about health care in this country for a long time, maybe it’s just flowers!

What flowers attract wealth? When I was a little girl

growing up in Detroit, we had a money tree in our backyard. I would collect all the silvery coins and imagine I was rich. Of course, money trees attract wealth. In Feng Shui the placement of a money tree is everything if you’d like to invite wealth into your life. Stand at the front door of your home, or the door to your bedroom or office facing into the room and find the far-left corner, otherwise deemed your wealth corner, and place your plant there. The “big money” plant in Feng Shui right now is the succulent. According to J, succulent plants are considered to be the perpetrator of money and wealth, with the leaves of the succulent representing coins. J also shared with me a book he read some time ago, that said when water runs down the drain—it’s your wealth running down the drain. The book suggested putting river rocks in your sink to slow the flow of water into your drain. (Also, when you visit J and Kelly’s home, every single sink has

Kalamazoo County Flowerfest, or Kalamazoo In Bloom volunteers have been beautifying Kalamazoo with flowers for decades. Last year on May 26th in Bronson Park, they created three crosses, one shaped out of red annuals to show support for healthcare workers.

river rocks in it to slow down the water going into the drain.)

What about flowers that can make one wiser? According to J, that flower is the iris. The word “iris” is derived from the Greek word rainbow, and is a flower of royalty, victory and power. The iris is a symbol of wisdom, hope and trust. The Aster flower is the king of all, known for its wisdom. If I was sending you a bouquet in the Victorian era and wanted you to know I thought you were wise, I would include Aster.

Flowers are so much more than just symbolic gestures or accents in our day-to-day lives. Whether you get your floral medicines from a garden, your favorite florist or your local farmers market remember, Flower Power, is real! Kim Carson Kim is an Author/ Podcast/TV/Internet personality. Watch and listen for her on WGVU TV’s Kalamazoo Lively Arts & J Schwanke’s Life In Bloom. Learn more at kimcarson.online & fb.com/kimcarson

April 2021

BOOK REVIEW |

{

MARLITA WALKER REVIEWS

THE STORY OF ARTHUR TRULUV BY ELIZABETH BERG

}

Arthur thinks that, above all, aging means the abandonment of criticism and the taking on of compassionate acceptance. He sees that as a good trade.”

o writes Elizabeth Berg in her early description of the main character of her 2017 novel. And wouldn’t it be wonderful if more octogenarians like gracious Arthur had this philosophy? Truthfully, it would be wonderful for me to have this goal in my daily routine as well.

A recent widower, Arthur spends his days riding the city bus to visit the love of his life, wife Nola, for lunch at her gravesite. He then arrives home in time to nap and talk to his loyal cat, Gordon. Upon waking the next morning, this consistent pattern repeats itself, as it has for the previous six months. The quiet cemetery serves as an outlet for his imagination as he reads headstones and creates storylines for Nola’s “neighbors”. It is there that Maddy enters his life. Seventeen and despondently sad, Arthur sees past the nose ring and slight chip on her shoulder, to her inner beauty. Arthur kindly engages her in one-sided conversation. Consumed with her own difficulties as the brunt of bullying in

April 2021

her high school, Maddy is skeptical of Arthur’s pureness of motives. As the beautiful and peaceful cemetery becomes a daily refuge for Maddy, she begins to soften to Arthur’s overtures. She visits his home, she meets his also-elderly neighbor, Lucille, and she begins to not miss her deceased mother as much, because of how these welcoming seniors take an interest in her life....and give her the love that she has desperately craved for so very long. In the middle of a global pandemic, a hateful political climate and a world where unkindness prevails; this read was a breath of fresh air. I wanted to hug Arthur for his non-judgmental attitude and for his courage in making huge adjustments in his life to accommodate others. He opens his home to both Lucille and Maddy. He gently suggests that Lucille volunteer her time to teach baking classes, which fills her need to be needed. He bargains with Maddy to pay for her time in cleaning his home in exchange for room and board, giving her validation in her need to be independent and forge her

own way. Maddy blossoms under the support of a teacher who reaches out, and the exceptional care of Arthur and Lucille. This trio living in the same household become a different kind of family: not traditional, but a family nonetheless. Unselfishness, kindness, intergenerational acceptance, loneliness, bullying and loss are all themes Elizabeth Berg includes in this sentimental read. Although the ending is expected, it still left me wiping tears from my cheeks, and rooting for all of the kind hearted “Arthurs” out there, looking for opportunities to make a difference, one person at a time. 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 re-arranging 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.

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April 2021

THE KALAMAZOO FOODIE

Wonka WHEN YOU HAVE West Michigan WHO NEEDS

YOUR ONE-STOP-SHOP EASTER CANDY EMPORIUMS

pring is in the air. Warm temperatures have already graced the shores of West Michigan and we are all antsy for it to stick around this time. And early signs of spring announce another upcoming holiday to grace our homes: EASTER! And you should know where this is going. Of course, Easter candy. Everyone is still a kid at heart, which is why we’re focusing on the fun stuff this month: Easter baskets. Because who

doesn’t love a basket full of candy and chocolates?! And we have a couple of amazing, go-to candy store gems in the area that can help fill up your Easter baskets with some of the best (and local) candy around. 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

ROCKET FIZZ 125 S Kalamazoo Mall, Kalamazoo If you ever frequent the Kalamazoo Mall, you may have heard of Rocket Fizz. While there are other Rocket Fizz locations around the country, this particular location is independently owned. Owner Tom Holmer calls it, “Kalamazoo’s wacky, sugary, soda-y, dad joke-loaded emporium of all things sweet and weird.” The specialty store is a must-visit for unique sodas, candy and novelty items. It boasts over 500 different types of soda with super unique flavors ranging from bacon flavored to buffalo hot wing, peanut butter and jelly, and even key lime pie. There is literally a soda for everyone and the uniquely varied flavors don’t stop there. You can find your usual run-of-the-mill candy there like NERDS, Airheads, taffy and candy bars, but they also sell old-time treats such as Bottle Caps, NikL-Nip wax bottles, and other penny candy from the 1970s. They also have gag gifts, toys, tins, collectibles, suckers as big as your head and SO much more! With 1,300 square feet of nothing but candy, soda, and novelty items, it’s the perfect spot to find unique items to fill up your Easter baskets! Plan on spending some quality time in the shop, as there is A LOT to look at, and you just might find yourself feeling extra nostalgic.

April 2021

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MATTAWAN CANDY COMPANY 23920 City Center Cir, Mattawan mattawancandycompany.com Not too far, over in Mattawan, lies The Mattawan Candy Company. This hidden candy emporium offers a wide variety of candies, bulk candy, sugar-free, gift boxes and locally-made products. They stand out to me above any other place for Easter goodies. They also have THE most adorable bunny baskets ever! The Mattawan Candy company can help you customize your perfect gift box or Easter basket to accommodate your desires and needs. I, personally wanted to feature the adorable baskets they make, however, they are SO popular that they are selling out a month in advance. If you were lucky enough to get one of their adorable baskets in advance, or somehow managed to still snag one after reading this, share it with us on our Moxie Magazine Facebook page! Whether you are a kid, or just a kid at heart, The Mattawan Candy Company strives to provide that nostalgic “kid-in-a-candy-store” feeling for all! They offer over 150 types of bulk candy options, with a serve yourself, or choose from their wide selection of packaged candy, old fashioned treats, and of course classic favorites like jelly beans! Supporting small business is a passion of theirs and shopping at Mattawan Candy Company, you are not only supporting them, but the other small businesses they carry on their shelves such as Kalamazoo Kettle Corn, Cherri’s Chocol’art, and Confections with Convictions.

April 2021

WHAT IS

HEALTHY? BY EMILY BETROS

Eat right and exercise enough. These are typically the two areas we are told to focus on to increase our health. We might go as far as assessing our sleep, water intake, and if we’re lucky, someone will inquire about our stress levels. However, diet and exercise are still touted as the best ways to get healthy. It might be a relief to know that research actually suggests that these two areas of health, which we normally beat ourselves up over, actually fall much lower on the list than originally thought.

Some factors that affect your individual health: • where we live • genetics • relationships • income • access to health care services • gender • education

WHAT HEALTH…IS NOT

First, let’s talk about what health is not. Health is not thinness. It’s not whiteness, cisgendered, or able-bodied. In fact, health is not even a moral obligation to achieve. You do not have to pursue health or work to get healthier to be worthy. Your health is not entirely in your control – you can’t wrestle it into what you want it to be. Regardless of a desire to change your health, many people simply cannot prioritize it (and certainly not at the level that our culture has deemed its importance), because of other more important duties, job

April 2021

and financial situations, food insecurity, poverty, and a whole host of other reasons. Let me be clear, this is not to imply that there is something wrong with you if you don’t prioritize your health. And it is certainly not saying that just because you fall into one of these categories that you automatically do not prioritize your health. Many of us just cannot or don’t want to, and everyone has their own right to make this decision or define health in their life the way they want to—not fit into the mainstream belief that health is the be-all endall of worth or importance.

Hopefully it goes without saying, but just because focusing on becoming healthier isn’t a value or priority for you, does NOT mean that you are unhealthy. Health is not dependent on body size or shape. You cannot tell if someone is healthy by just looking at them. We could all eat and exercise the same way, and we would still all look very different from each other. Health is not just about personal responsibility and it is certainly not just about what we eat (or don’t eat) or how we move (or don’t move) our bodies.

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HEALTH DISPARITIES AND DETERMINANTS

The World Health Organization states, “The context of people’s lives determine their health, and so blaming individuals for having poor health or crediting them for good health is inappropriate. Individuals are unlikely to be able to directly control many of the determinants of health.” And yet, the diet and wellness industry continue to make us believe that we are in control (often exactly what many of us are looking for, absent of health) of our health. One reason for this is that the diet and wellness industry still equate health with thinness or the pursuit of weight loss. The second is that they can then blame the consumer when it (diet, cleans, plan, fix, restart, you name it) doesn’t work, and in turn they work to sell you something different (that, spoiler alert, also won’t work). So, before relearning what actually determines our health, we have to give up the idea that A) healthy equals thinness, B) that we have control over it (our health, weight loss, etc.), and C) the pursuit of health or becoming healthy is the most important thing we can accomplish and will determine our worth.

conditions all contribute to increased health in people. Connections to your community and culture, friends, family, and overall social support affect health. Genetics play a part in determining your likelihood of developing certain illnesses, and you may suffer from different diseases if you are a man or woman. Being able to access health care (with constraints of transportation, time, or money) both preventatively and at onset of concerns impacts health. Finally, our personal behaviors such as level of activity, nutrition, smoking, drinking, drugs, coping skills for dealing with stress and other challenges in life also affect our health. This list is not in order of importance. However, hopefully you can discern that drinking a green smoothie every day is a drop in the bucket. There may be health

benefits to drinking it, but it does not, in and of itself, make you healthy. So many other factors create the full picture of health. And in fact, the stress and constant preoccupation with diet and exercise can and does create more health issues for people who otherwise, might not be dealing with. For example, diets often cause or exacerbate common ailments like stomachaches, headaches, sleep issues, and mood concerns. The biggest takeaway here is that we have less control over our health than we are led to believe, and just focusing on diet and exercise has less to do with determining our health than we originally thought. Finally, redefining what healthy means, as well as how important the pursuit of health needs to be in our lives, is an excellent place to start for many of us. There’s a really good chance you are healthy, just the way you are.

In a nutshell, many different factors and circumstances combined affect your individual health. These include where we live, genetics, our relationships, income, access to health care and services, gender, and education. The W.H.O. states that the determinants of health include: the social and economic environment, physical environment, and a person’s individual characteristics and behaviors. Let’s take a closer look at what this means. When there is a larger gap between rich and poor people, there is a greater difference in health. Higher income generally means better health. Less education often leads to more stress and lower self-confidence leading to poorer health. Safe housing, clean water and air, access to food, and good working

Emily Betros Emily is a licensed clinical social worker, certified health coach, and owner of Reclaiming Health, LLC. She specializes in body image support, eating disorders, anxiety, life transitions, mindfulness, and women's issues. More info: www.reclaiminghealth.net.

April 2021

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IT’S A SELLER’S WORLD.

THINKING ABOUT SELLING? NOW MAY BE THE PERFECT TIME. IN TODAY'S HIGHLY COMPETITIVE MARKET, YOU’LL NEED STRONG, PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE TO LEAD THE WAY.

From coaching you through my Home Readiness Program to ensure the highest market returns, to being diligent in my every move to get your offer accepted, no one works harder to help you achieve all your real estate goals. I LOOK FORWARD TO GUIDING YOU HOME. Ethel Wilkey-Downs, REALTOR® Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices - Michigan Real Estate

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April 2021

BREAK UP YOUR DAY BY USING ALL OF YOUR SENSES:

Visual

In Trying to Catch Our

Slow down as you walk by a window and look outdoors, or briefly look around your room and take things in. This keeps us in the present moment, helps with daydreaming and distraction which make us lose all sense of time.

Fleeting Time

Physical sensations

What is your body telling you? Does it need a stretch? A change in position? Can you feel your feet as they hit the ground with each step? We all know touch can be a powerful healer, and even our own sense of touch can help us experience each moment more completely.

Sound

The whir of a fan, the gentle hum of voices in the next room, birds chirping outside your window. Listen and remember where you are.

often feel like I can no longer keep up anymore with how quickly the days pass by. There is never enough time in the day. I know I’m not alone in feeling this way, as I hear other people say something similar all of the time.

Kids don’t appear to experience this as much, and I read recently that it is because kids see each moment as an individual event. A day at the beach starts out with a trip in the car, excitement levels high in anticipation, lots of chatter from the backseat as they make plans for building enormous sandcastles covered with shells and seaweed like last time, or challenges to jump into the water no matter how cold. Then, the view of the blue-green water through the window, the waves, the blue sky dotted with a few fluffy white clouds, all the brightly colored umbrellas, the people! Once outside, the feel of the warm wind on their faces, feet sinking into the hot sand with each step, spraying back at me

as they run. The sounds of gulls overhead searching for food and the waves crashing, people laughing. Challenge accepted and they run out into the water, then run back because it is cold! Smiles from ear to ear as they lick melting sweet ice cream off their hands.

Kids see each moment as an individual event. As adults we tend to combine things into single events.

April 2021

As adults we tend to combine things into single events: A day at the beach, Christmas, summer vacation. If there are individual memories of the event, they aren’t nearly as distinct anymore—and they frequently get lumped together. This makes time appear to go by more quickly. Before you know it, the morning is over and it’s lunchtime, and suddenly it’s Friday already and there is so much I didn’t get done. Some of this is negativity bias, some of it is just mindlessness. We allow the day to pass by without feeling the warm sand between our toes. So how do we bring back our childlike sense of time?

Taste

We tend to rush through our meals and barely taste them, or snack without any sense of how much we’ve eaten. See if you can taste each bite, feel the texture, enjoy the act of eating.

Emotions

Take a moment and note how you are feeling. Is it joy, excitement, sadness, agitation? Experience whatever emotion is here, just as it is. This adds depth and personality to the moment. It helps us to connect our internal and external worlds.

Make time to pause and reflect as it’s rare that we can find extra time in our day. We have to make it happen, but luckily, it doesn’t take much. Try leaning into your senses for a moment or two throughout the day and see if this changes your perception of time passing. I think it will.

Dr. Marti Peters-Sparling Marti is a board certified Family Medicine physician and co-owner of an integrative Direct Primary Care wellness center, SWMI Health Matters. She has experience in all aspects of Family Medicine including preventative care, chronic disease management, meditation, and mindfulness. Dr. Peters-Sparling seeks to meet her patients wherever they are, without judgement or bias.

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← Look Familiar? Your Girl ← Needs Camp!

Anxiety, isolation, and boredom have been rough on our girls. Now, more than ever, they will benefit from spending time in a safe place, with lots of outdoor activities to do and loads of new friends waiting to be made. Risk-free registration is available until June 1. See you this summer! GirlScoutCamp.org

April 2021

BOOM, FLAVOR THE MIND BEHIND THE TASTES AT GREEN DOOR DISTILLING CO. elcome to the new world of craft tastes. You may already be well acquainted, with some of your favorite craft beers and ales already coming to mind. Yet, craft alcohol doesn’t stop in the brown and green bottles. The rise of another boutique-level alcohol is making its home in the market, and it has made a home in downtown Kalamazoo.

Its origins lie within the city’s first distillery to open since 1858—the exact place I brought you last fall that transformed its business into a hand-sanitizer factory for a brief time. And Green Door Distilling Co. is back to focusing on the other thing some of us have enjoyed a bit more during the pandemic: good tasting, flavor-rich alcohol. This month, Green Door is debuting a new menu of spirits worthy of a post-brunch sip, or a late afternoon drink this spring. Behind each of those sips are notes of brilliance from the man creating taste profiles worth trying, one who through a series of fortunate opportunities in a year of trials for everyone, not only made his way onto the Discovery Channel to put his stilling to the test, but has made a home here in West Michigan making unique spirits that will have you curious to see what he’ll make next.

April 2021

FROM ART TO THE ART OF STILLING Tyler Glasser originally wanted to own an art gallery before his journey to now head distiller at Green Door. And although now he’s attained his new dream of creative spirit tastemaker…it took some steps to guide him down this new life path. Studying art history and graphic design in college, he focused on a future in dealing art and a dream of owning his own gallery. Post-college he was working in that world, selling paintings worth sometimes tens of thousands of dollars. As years passed, he found himself desiring more his own work and creative space, yet the profits from those expensive art sales were not nearly enough to make it happen. At this time, Tyler and his wife lived in Evanston, IL just a couple of blocks away from a local distillery, which soon would become a favorite spot for the couple to frequent. Set inside a beautiful, old garage, the two would visit enough to get to know the tasting-room staff. And the more Glasser spoke with staff about what they did, the more he felt he wanted to try his hand at it. Eventually, Glasser would ask how he could get involved, and was hooked. He began bottling for that local distillery for six months at maybe 10 hours a week…all as a volunteer. The more time he spent at his free-time gig, the more he found he was enjoying the

distillery more than his paying day job. After a discussion with his wife, he made the move from selling art to distilling. In 2015 that distillery would bring him on as an Assistant Distiller. While he really loved what he was doing, he felt somewhat stifled creatively. The gallery dream had transformed into a dream of someday opening his own distillery—to create spirits and flavor profiles beyond what one could find on shelves, or in his case, what they were currently producing. And his current position left him second in command of a more factory setting than creator at this stage. He wanted to see what was possible beyond just your typical spirits. He would come to the realization he wasn’t going to be able to do it there.

JUST EAST, TO WEST MICHIGAN Fast forward to just before the pandemic begins. GDD’s owner, Josh Cook is looking for a head distiller and asking around, even asking Glasser if he knew anyone who could come over to lead his distillery. Glasser took his time before he inquired on that interview. He’d be taking a chance moving a little away from friends and family, but things started lining up and falling together quickly in order to make it happen. Glasser also saw the additional enticing benefit of having complete creative control, something he thought he’d only get with his own business. His wife’s school went virtual for the rest of the year due to the pandemic not too long following his interview. The couple started to move near the

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beginning of March to settle into their new Michigan home—and the state shut down around that same week. Now, you know what happened with Green Door Distilling Co. during that same time. Things shut down for them as well with the Michigan orders. But they transformed the distillery to producing hand sanitizer—the same bottles you can use while visiting their tasting room today. It was an incredible effort of local businesses coming together to create and distribute it too. And in this time, Glasser could finally get to work creating some of the flavors and we’ll call them flavor experiments. Absolutely delicious experiments. Glasser was working to see what was possible when it came to creating new and palatable spirits. Not only that, but he aimed in hopes to bridge a gap he had seen created when it comes to the stereotypical spirit taste profiles. He wanted to change people’s minds about certain spirits. During the interview, he pointed out many people hate gin. But his drive behind the spirits he creates is to change that initial perception. He wants them to taste the spirits he’s created and blow away any of their expectations…in a good way.

A DISCOVERY DEBUT While Glasser was getting settled in and adjusting to his new freedoms and the adjusted rhythms of a business (while in a pandemic), another opportunity rolled in via an unexpected Facebook message. An agency had reached out to him about competing in a spin-off of the Discovery Channel show, “Moonshiners.” Of course, a message from a talent agent on your Facebook would lead to some questions—so Glasser looked into it, verifying the agency and the show was legitimate. Surprisingly it was. After a long while of silence following his interview, Glasser was sent down to Gatlinburg, Tennessee to spend a week on the sets for “Master Distiller.” He referred to it as a distilling summer camp of sorts—with distillers ranging in age and hanging out, tasting each other’s spirits. It was a chance for Glasser to expand his knowledge on the community of spirit-making, but also on just making spirits. Several different episodes were being safely taped there during the week. Glasser’s episode, if you desire to check it out (and it’s recommended for one intriguing adventure of

viewing), is peach brandy. *Glasser notes he had bought a case of Michigan peaches to bring with him to Tennessee to use in his brandy…he also may have snacked on a few during stops on his road trip there. Three contestants compete, but I won’t tell you where he lands. However, he does fairly well for someone who had never made a peach brandy until a week before the competition. And if you ever want to get to know his personality before meeting him, the show holds true to the man I met at the distillery one Friday morning. He’s playful, fun, passionate about what he does—and it holds true on screen.

Their tasting room is a true treat to visit, and when you get a chance, or are more comfortable going out, it is recommended to make a stop if you’re looking for something new. In warmer weather they have a beautiful grass garden area with tables, lights and the occasional live music. You can take in the beautiful West Michigan weather, and treat your tastebuds to a drink or two of absolute adventure.

New spirits debuting this month!

He does add, and this unfortunately did not make the show, that after a sip of his peach brandy, which of course Glasser took a unique approach instead of the traditional route his competitors would take, the judge had taken a sip and said it was just “boom, flavor.”

BOOM, FLAVOR A small aside, coming from Detroit where artisanal distilleries, meaderies and more were popping up before I moved over to West Michigan, and what you’ll taste here at the distillery is something entirely different. When the judge had mentioned the “boom, flavor” concept… I will tell you, you truly taste it. Take the new Botanical Gin debuting as a spirit this month. Most liquors, one can enjoy on its own when it is not offensive to the palate. You want it to be smooth or hold a certain presence in your mouth as you sip it—as a liquor or spirit should be. The botanical gin…one sip and it was not necessarily a garden in your mouth, but it felt like a pleasing bouquet of flavor on the tongue with the right notes lingering just a bit after consumption. It did not produce a floral or herbal soap note either. It was simply surprising, yet pleasing. When you visit Green Door Distilling Co., yes, there are some incredible drinks created in tandem with the mixologists and Glasser’s spirit creations. You’ll want to try just about everything. But you should also take the time to really taste the spirits on their own— each providing its own adventure. Sure, the botanical left a tasteful bouquet on the palate, but the digestif leaves a warm caramel afternote. Or there is the new blueberry liquor—a most delightful spring or summertime sip. You’d only need a bit of soda water to really turn it into a perfect drink.

VODKA

RECOMMENDED USES: dry martinis, Vodka Collins, neat—with a slice of lemon. FLAVOR NOTES: Grass, pepper and citrus

BOTANICAL GIN

RECOMMENDED USES: gin & tonic, neat FLAVOR NOTES: curry, fenugreek, lavender; far more herbal with less bitterness than traditional gin; soft flavors in your mouth; spiced with fenugreek seeds, vanilla bean pods, lavender flower buds, juniper, fennel, orange peel, coriander, cinnamon and lemon peel.

AMARO

RECOMMENDED USES: traditionally served neat, as a digestif; Old Fashioned; Manhattan FLAVOR NOTES: earthy & slightly bitter, vanilla, sarsaparilla; traditionally macerated with gentian, angelica, sarsaparilla, orange peel, lemon peel, lemon grass, lavender, chamomile, and elderflowers.

BLUEBERRY LIQUEUR

RECOMMENDED USES: soda water with a lemon peel; mixer for fruity cocktails FLAVOR NOTES: sweet & sour, citrus, clove; traditionally macerated with lavender, clove, lemon peel, and blueberries

April 2021

Spring |

RECIPES

Sweets

As we swing into warmer weather & lighter layers, it's time to shed the comfort flavors of winter and lean towards the sweets of spring. These recipes are still absolutely decadent, but the fruit prepares your taste buds for a soon-to-be summer.

Lemon Pudding Bundt Cake

CAKE:

15.25 ounces lemon cake mix 3.5 ounces instant lemon pudding mix 4 eggs 3/4 cup lemon juice 1/2 cup canola oil 1 teaspoon lemon extract GLAZE:

2/3 1/4 1/3 1

CAKE:

cup granulated sugar cup unsalted butter cup fresh lemon juice teaspoon lemon zest

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease the Bundt pan & sprinkle with flour. In a large bowl, combine the cake mix and the pudding mix. Add the lemon juice, eggs, canola oil, and lemon extract. Beat on low speed until just combined, and then beat on medium speed for 2 minutes.

Pour the batter into the Bundt pan. Bake for 45-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean. When the cake is done, transfer it to a cooling rack. Let cool for 10 minutes inside the pan. Place a plate over the top of the cake and flip the cake over.

LEMON GLAZE:

Place a saucepan over medium heat. Add the sugar, lemon juice, and butter and cook until the butter is melted. Once melted, cook for 2 minutes, then remove from the heat. Stir in the zest. Pour the glaze over the cake. Let cool to set.

Strawberries and Cream Pie 1

prepared pie crust

CREAM CHEESE FILLING:

12 ounces cream cheese 1 1/4 cups powdered sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/3 cup heavy whipping cream STRAWBERRY TOPPING:

1 pound strawberries, thinly sliced 3/4 cup cold strawberry juice or water, divided 1 package unflavored gelatin 1/2 cup strawberry jam whipped cream CREAM CHEESE FILLING:

In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add the vanilla and powdered sugar and beat on low speed until smooth. Add the cream and beat on low until incorporated, then beat on high speed until thick and fluffy. Set aside. STRAWBERRY TOPPING:

Place ½ cup cold juice in a medium bowl. Sprinkle entire package of gelatin over the top and set aside. Whisk together the remaining juice and jam. Heat in the microwave on high for 45 to

April 2021

90 seconds, until very hot, but not boiling. Whisk mixture into the gelatin until dissolved and set aside for 15-20 minutes until it reaches room temperature. ASSEMBLY:

Spread cream cheese filling into cooled pie crust. Top with strawberries, then carefully pour the cooled gelatin mixture over the strawberries to fill the crust. Refrigerate for 4-6 hours until completely set. Top with whipped cream if desired and serve.

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April 2021

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Moxie Magazine - April 2021

Articles inside

In Trying to Catch Our Fleeting Time

What is Healthy?

Book Review: The Story of Arthur Truluv

The Power of Flowers

Early to Bed & Early to Rise

Where Your Smile Is Their Passion

April Fool! And Other Pranks

Reaping the Benefits of WFH Pets

Restaurant Review: Brunch at Bird Dog

The Struggle in Seeking Wellness

In Ending the Cycle to Close the Racial Wealth Gap

On That Note: Let’s Discuss Mental Health