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Stillwater Living Magazine 4 Editorial Thoughts from the desk of the editor.
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Makeover Masterpiece Deanna Patman gets the first makeover masterpiece of the new year.
Quit Tabacco in 2015 Set your goal to be tobacco free in 2015 Getting Your Home in Shape Tips and Tricks for your home for 2015.
5 Steps to a Healthier You in '15 Whether you need to shape up, stay fit or are ready to compete, 2015 is your year to shine. The Flu: Revisited Watch out.. this year's flu packs a mighty punch
Garage Sense Shannon Cowan helps tame the beast that is your garage.
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Valentine's Day... Even if Cupid Missed his Mark Ways to show your love this Valentine's Day in Stillwater.
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Robots for Seniors Local university engineers are building robots to help the elderly, providing quality of life services.
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Early 20th Century Colonial Revival Quilts on exhibit through February A in depth look at Stillwater's first holiday season. Kickin' Childhood Hunger Keeps Kicking. The final reports are in and KCH keeps on fighting hunger for local kids
January 2015
stillwaterliving.com
editorial A new year, a fresh start… we all look forward to it. What does it mean to you? Does it mean dropping that extra weight you may have put on this year? Does it mean setting new sales goals? Achievements in school, work or extracurricular activities? For me, it means being a better wife, mother and business-woman—in that order. I’m around my kids more, but am I present? I spend time with my husband, but is it quality? I work constantly, but am I productive? These are the questions that I struggle with. You know they say if you write your goals down, you're more likely to achieve them. So... as you see on our cover, we've written some of our goals down. We invite you to log into www.stillwaterliving.com and comment on our New Year's Resolutions post with YOUR goals. Share them with us so that we all can share accountability for reaching those goals. In 2015, my clients will see more of me, I hope! I’m taking back over the role of sales director as Kelly is focusing on his last year of school. While I treasure the time I’ve had and the ability I’ve had working with my little brother, I know that this is the best move for him and his family. To do this, I’m going to have to schedule more of my time, and not just put out the closest fire every time. I’m excited to work with a business coach to help me figure out exactly how that’s going to work! In addition, SLM/WPP is seeking two spring semester interns to help with our project load. If you know a graphic arts, sales or writing student that is looking for an indepth internship that will let them get real-world experience and published portfolio pieces- please have them send me a resume. Each year at least one of these internships has turned into a paid position that has helped the students launch into a great career. I guess my last wish for the New Year is for all of you. In addition to the usual health, happiness and contentment that typically goes along with New Year wishes, I wish for you all to be safe. The last few months of 2014, Stillwater has seen more than its share of tragedy. Let’s all make a commitment to put down our phones, pay attention when driving and take responsibility for our actions. You never know what can change in one split second when your attention is not focused where it should be. Once again, I thank you for your readership, your business and your friendship. As we enter year 11, lets all have a happy, successful year!
Stillwater Living Magazine P.O. Box 2264 Stillwater, OK 74076 405-533-1500 www.stillwaterliving.com EDITORIAL STAFF Sarah Little | Editor Matthew Jack | Graphic Design ADVERTISING INQUIRIE S SARAH LIT TLE 405 - 533 -1500 Produced by White Peacock Productions, Inc.; Stillwater Living Magazine is a copyright publication of White Peacock Productions, Inc., and is locally owned by White Peacock Productions, Inc. The opinions expressed by our contributing writers are not necessarily the opinion of the management of Stillwater Living Magazine. Medical articles are not meant to substitute consultation with your personal physician.
To submit story ideas, comments, questions, or for information call 405-533-1500; or e-mail editor@stillwaterliving.com Stillwater Living Magazine Produced by White Peacock Productions, Inc. Mail: P.O. Box 2264 Stillwater, OK 74076. Stillwater Living Magazine © 2015 by White Peacock Productions, Inc.
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Makeover Masterpiece: Deanna Patman B Y B R O O K LY N L A N E , L A R I T Z S A L O N & S P A
Deanna Patman is our first make over of the new year! Nothing says “Happy New Year” like a complete change. Deanna is a school teacher that loves to read, garden, and play online games. She has been married to her husband, Tom, for 35 years, and has five grown children and three grandchildren. When Deanna first met Brooklyn, she had hair well past her mid-back that she had been growing for many years. It was also not colored-treated. She had resorted to putting it in a ponytail every day. However, Deanna was ready for a whole new style and Brooklyn was ready to give her something completely different. Deanna decided she wanted to cut a significant amount of hair off and donate it to Locks of Love. Brooklyn cut about fourteen inches from her hair. To keep the look modern, they wanted to have a disconnection that would work 6
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for both naturally curly or straight hair. Brooklyn cut the sides & back with scissors and the top with a razor to emphasize the natural curl and create a shattered, texturized look. When it came to color, Deanna wanted to be closer to what her hair looked like years ago. Brooklyn used a medium neutral warm brown with subtle highlights. This complimented her skin tone perfectly. To style, Brooklyn used Pureology’s new Curl Complete line that offers a unique formula with coconut oil and AntiFade complex to erase frizz, reduce breakage, revive shape and illuminate shine. Strengthening Control hairspray was used to finish the style. Courtney consulted with Deanna about her day to day make up routine and discovered that she had only been wearing moisturizer. Courtney wanted to spice her look up without compromising the “natural” look.
style Deanna’s skin was prepped with bareMinerals 5 Oil Blend, Original Prime Time, and Medium Tan Ready foundation. For blush, She used The Secret’s Out. Courtney uses Well-Rested as a base highlighter and finished it off with Pure Radiance to give her natural shimmer to give her skin a more youthful look. Her eye shadow is a subtle smokey look with the purple from the Happy Place and browns from The Enlightenment. She filled Deanna’s brows with the Universal Dark pencil. Lasting Brown eyeliner and Lash Domination finished up her eyes. For her lips, Courtney lined with Liberated and used Smooth Talker lip gloss. Deanna couldn’t wait to show off her new look to her family and friends. She received great responses about it reflecting her “true” personality. She finds it much easier to fix in the morning but has more style than before. LaRitz Salon & Spa has a very talented team of stylists to give you a new look for the new year! Call 405-372-8223, come by 115 W McElroy, or visit laritzsalon.com for more information!
DECEMBER 2014 | STILLWATER LIVING MAGAZINE
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Quit Tobacco in 2015 What would it take for you to quit using tobacco this New Year? If you are ready to quit tobacco, free help is within your reach through the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline. Whether this is your first time to try quitting or you’ve tried before, the Helpline can connect you with a specially trained Quit Coach who can provide non-judgmental support and personalized quit plans based on your needs. “Take the opportunity this New Year to upgrade your health and quit tobacco for good,” said Dawn Kimmes, chair of the Payne County Live Well Coalition. “The health benefits start almost immediately. Within 20 minutes of quitting, your body will already start repairing itself from the harmful effects of tobacco. You’ll soon have more energy, more lung capacity, a better sense of taste and more money in your pocket.” If you’re ready to quit, the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline and the Payne County Live Well Coalition encourage you to: 1. Set a quit date Pick a date within the next thirty days to quit smoking. Avoid setting a day too far in the future and choose a day where you know you will not be stressed or in a situation that typically triggers a craving. 2. Seek support Quitting is much easier when you have a support system in place. Lean on friends, family, Quit Coaches and your doctor to help you throughout your quitting journey. 3. Tobacco-proof your life Remove tobacco products from your home, car and place of work. Get rid of any tobacco paraphernalia including ashtrays and lighters, and avoid situations in which you would be around tobacco products. 4. Use nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs) NRTs are used to decrease withdrawal symptoms triggered when you quit smoking. The Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline offers free nicotine patches, gum or lozenges to eligible participants. 5. Practice quitting with mini-quits Mini-quits involve avoiding smoking a cigarette or dipping just one instance at a time. Plan your mini-quit
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by changing up your routine, especially avoiding the triggers that make you crave cigarettes the most. Try replacing bad habits with good habits, like going for a walk when you might normally have your morning cigarette. To connect with professional Quit Coaches from the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline, call 1-800-QUIT NOW (1-800-784-8669) or visit www.OKhelpline.com. Free patches, gum or lozenges are also available through the Helpline. Connect with the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline through social media by liking the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline on Facebook or following @OKhelpline on Twitter. The Payne County Live Well Coalition meets the 4th Thursday of every month at the Stillwater Public Library from 3:30 – 4:30 pm. Feel free to contact Becky Taylor, Payne County Tobacco Prevention Coordinator for more information on the coalition and the many tobacco prevention initiatives throughout the county. The Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline is primarily funded by the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET), in partnership with the Oklahoma State Department of Health, Oklahoma Health Care Authority, Oklahoma Employees Group Insurance Division and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline has served more than 250,000 Oklahomans since 2003 and was ranked the top quitline for reaching tobacco users seeking treatment in FY2013 by the North American Quitline Consortium. The Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) serves as a partner and bridge builder for organizations working towards shaping a healthier future for all Oklahomans. TSET provides leadership at the intersections of health by working with local coalitions and initiatives across the state, by cultivating innovative and life-changing research, and by working across public and private sectors to develop, support, implement and evaluate creative strategies to take advantage of emerging opportunities to improve the public’s health. TSET – Better Lives Through Better Health. To learn more go to: www.tset.ok.gov.
The most anticipated release of 2015?
living well
ENHANCED FEATURES - Better appearance - Cleaner teeth - Fresher breath - Better mood
Upgrade your health by quitting tobacco. And experience the new and improved you.
LONGER LIFE
NEW YEAR. NEW YOU. Call 1-800-QUIT NOW and quit tobacco today. Free patches, gum or lozenges are available.
- Lower heart rate - Lower blood pressure - Reduced risk of cancer - Reduced risk of disease
EXPANDED WALLET - More cash on hand - Lower insurance costs - Lower medical expenses
Payne County LIVE WELL JANUARY Coalition 2015
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Getting Your Home in Shape BY HEIDI GREESON Every year, lots of people make New Year’s resolutions to get themselves in shape, but have you ever considered making a resolution to get your home in shape? It may be a strange concept to compare getting your home in shape to getting in physical shape, but making some major adjustments (or even just some minor ones) to your home can really improve your overall mood and mind-set. Personalizing those places that you spend a majority of your time, like the living room or master bedroom, really can create lasting impacts through design. In an effort to help you create that perfect space, here are some guidelines that are sure to keep you on track! 1.) Start with getting rid of stuff. I know it’s that burden we all dread, but when your space is so cluttered that it interferes with daily activities like getting dressed or finding your keys, minimizing these inconveniences will be sure to reduce stress and save you loads of time in the future! If you feel like
you have just too much de-junking to do, then start small and work your way up to the bigger items. For example, try cleaning up a little during every TV commercial. You’d be surprised how much you can accomplish! For larger de-cluttering projects, start with sorting things into piles based on whether you use it all the time, whether you use it seasonally, or whether or not you have used it (or even seen it) in the last year. Chances are, if you haven’t even noticed it being there in the last year then you probably won’t need it. 2.) Make a goal. Envision a room that you feel could use some improvement- what is your goal for that room? Is it to be more comfortable, more beautiful, or even more functional? How do you like to use the room? This is an important step, as it is easy to get side tracked when you don’t have a goal in place! 3.) Ask for help! Most people who are successful at getting in shape hire a personal trainer or use the buddy system. Consider working with an interior designer. Or, use the buddy system and have a friend whose style you admire work with you. Sometimes it’s good to have a second opinion. 4.) Rememberit’s YOUR home! Most people that are on their weight loss journey will tell you that they are not doing it for someone else, but for
their own happiness. This is important to remember if you are working with a friend. Don’t let someone else talk you out of what you really love! Just because something is trendy doesn’t mean you have to like it. If you stick with colors and styles that make you happy, then that’s all that matters. 5.) Set a budget! You can think of this the same way that someone “budgets” their calorie intake and amount of exercise. This can be one of the more difficult things to do when redesigning a space, especially when you are trying to set a realistic budget. First, it’s good to make a “ballpark” estimate of what it would take to make your home how you envisioned it. Then, do your homework and start getting quotes on everything you want to incorporate into your new space. Once you have figured out just how much everything is going to cost, prioritize those items that you want the most. Sometimes your taste exceeds your budget (just like that piece of chocolate cake may exceed your calorie budget), so you may need to spend a little less on a few items in order to afford the really amazing piece. For example, if you want the brand new custom upholstered sofa, then you might have to settle for less expensive lamps and accessories. Whatever the case, you will most likely end up satisfied in the end! And if there is an item you just can’t live without, consider saving up for it. Some stores even offer layaway plans or special financing options
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so that you can afford that perfect piece! 6.) Be flexible. You don’t give up on your workout at the gym if your favorite treadmill is taken. You try a different machine, and who knows, you may just love it! Finding the perfect piece that you have envisioned in your mind or saw on your favorite television show can be nearly impossible to find. If you are trying to recreate that gorgeous living room from your favorite movie, it won’t really be your room if you copy it exactly. If you can’t find that exact rug, something similar may work out even better for you. And that sofa that looks so fabulous on Pinterest may be impractical or uncomfortable for you. Be open to similar options, and you will be able to create the perfect space for you. 7.) Celebrate your success – big or small! Just like with diet and exercise, small successes help inspire you to take on bigger projects. It’s a 12
good idea to start small. If designing your living room is overwhelming to you, start with another room. Start with a space that you see every day. If you always come and go through your front door, the entry will have the biggest impact because you see it every time you come home. Do your kids pile all their stuff there, making you grumpy every time you come home? Try working in storage for all those shoes, coats and backpacks. Can’t ever seem to find your keys? Add a special key hook or bowl and make a point to keep them there. 8.) Stay focused! Remember to think about your end goal. If you buy a chair or a lamp to match the room you have now, rather than the room you want to have, you’ll end up with a room full of stuff that you don’t really like. It’s better to think about what you want to have in the future than to match to something you don’t love. Post a picture of your goal if you have an inspira-
JANUARY 2015 | STILLWATER LIVING MAGAZINE
tion photo. When you are making decisions, think about how each item would work with that room. Remember that an inspiration photo is for inspiration; it doesn’t mean you have to copy each detail exactly. 9.) Stop procrastinating. Most people have at least one room in their homes that they don’t really like. Maybe it’s the mismatched furniture they don’t like looking at, or maybe the room has become a dumping ground for clutter. Sometimes they just close the door and stop using the room, making it one giant closet. It’s time to conquer the clutter and take back your home! If you follow these steps, getting your home in shape can be fun and easy. Start with that by picking out a room and make a commitment to follow through with it. After that, the remaining steps will start to fall into place. Stop making excuses and fulfill your New Year’s resolution of creating your dream home!
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5 Steps to a Healthier 2015 BY MARC TOWER | RED DIRT CROSS FIT
The New Year always brings… Hope? Guilt? Commitment? All of the above? How about a challenge to yourself to be a better, healthier you in 2015? January 1st has become our annual personal review. A big part of our self evaluation is often a commitment to become healthier. Healthier can mean a lot of things, but for most of us it means: eat better and/or lose weight, and improve conditioning (do stairs make you out of breath?), strength or endurance. We are all at a point on a spectrum that starts at sickness on one end, passing through to wellness and ending at fitness. Each individual’s place on the spectrum is determined by objective measures of many factors, including blood pressure, body fat, bone density, triglycerides, cholesterol, flexibility, muscle mass, etc. To progress away from sickness and toward fitness is our goal. Becoming more fit has tremendous benefits in everyday life. Fitness can help you fight off or slow down the effects of disease and aging. It improves mental acuity, increasing work performance. It can also boost confidence, letting you know that you can face tough challenges and overcome them. Becoming more fit is a continuous process that shouldn’t be intimidating. Fitness is for everyone, no
matter where you start. Here we break it down to five simple concepts or ideas you can do to move yourself further towards fitness. Let’s start with food. ONE: FOOD So much meaning in such a small word. Food can encompass so many different things. It can be how we celebrate victories or drown our sorrows. But at the end of the day, food is simply fuel. The fuel we need to support our daily activities and health. Food can also be poison. Slow poison perhaps, but killing you slowly is still killing you. Kurt Vonnegut once said that smoking is slow suicide. Poor eating habits are no different. Coach Greg Glassman, founder of CrossFit, Inc., begins his definition of world-class fitness (in 100 words) with: Eat meat and vegetables, nuts and seeds, some fruit, little starch and no sugar. Keep intake to levels that will support exercise but not body fat. I agree and believe that any definition of fitness must begin with diet. Diets, in my experience, need to be tailored to the individual. Your to-do: Start simply; eliminate processed sugar from you diet for 30 days. Don’t panic! you CAN do it and the results will be amazing. The first few days may JANUARY 2015 | STILLWATER LIVING MAGAZINE
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living well be tough! You’ll be breaking an addiction, but after a few days you will feel more energy and if you stick with it, you might get to shop for less baggy clothes next month. I have the most success when using the Zone Diet, modified to my exercise output. The Zone Diet is not the easiest, however, if you stick with it, you will have weight loss and improved energy levels, and you will feel great. You can research the Zone Diet on your own or we can help you find resources (and encouragement!).
Hassle Free Printing We Take Printing Seriously…Not Ourselves.
T WO: MOVE Play, walk, run. Play tennis, lift weights, throw a frisbee, do push-ups and sit-ups, go to group exercise classes, ride bikes, hike, rock climb, practice bodyweight movements like pull-ups and hand stands. Get up, get out and MOVE. At whatever level of fitness you are, there are things to can do to improve your fitness. Adding movement (exercise) to your improved diet accelerates you toward improved fitness. Do you feel like a 1 on a scale of 1 to 10? There is nothing wrong with that, just start working towards becoming a 2. Literally one step at a time. Do exercise you enjoy with people you like and be consistent. Diet and exercise are inseparable, you cannot reach the full benefit of either without the other. At Stillwater’s Red Dirt CrossFit, in our gym (or box in CrossFit lingo), we learn and practice many things from gymnastic movements to olympic weightlifting. The goal for our members is functional fitness or general physical preparedness (GPP). This means it is broad and inclusive, and designed to prepare you to meet any task that comes your way from lifting groceries into the car to entering a spur of the moment 5k. We believe balance is the key for optimum fitness. This includes improving cardiovascular/respiratory endurance, stamina, strength, flexibility, power, speed, coordination, agility and accuracy. Your to-do: If you’re starting from the couch, walk at least a mile three times this week. If you are already running or in a gym routine, mix it up! Learn something new this week or try a new sport. Expand your horizons and challenge yourself. THREE: BREAK Break your routine, break your bad eating and exercise habits and break your negative self talk. This will be the easiest step for some and the most difficult for others.
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living well Did you already hear that voice in your head saying “I don’t have time”? You have time, I promise. Being healthy needs to move up your priority list. If you really need help finding a spot in your schedule, come see us. Fitness should be fun and broad and inclusive. Mix it up, learn new exercises, try new sports, explore and have fun. Are you a runner? Add strength training a few days per week. Already a strength athlete? How about some mobility work? The more you try, the more you will learn and the better you will become at everything. Your to-do: Learn a new skill this week. Need an idea? Learn to work with Kettlebells or medicine balls, practice bodyweight movements beginning with a simple plankhold. If you are a more advanced athlete work on handstands, you probably haven’t tried that since you were in grade school! FOUR: FIND Find a friend or acquaintance to work out with. Better yet, find a group and become part of a community of likeminded individuals. Working out with other people provides accountability and motivation. Don’t show up one day and suddenly you’re receiving text messages “Hey! We missed you this morning!” An encouraging, supportive culture helps develop new friendships, common goals and most of all support when the going gets tough. If you want to be successful long-term, most of us need a support team. People that push, encourage, cajole, nag and pat us on the back are essential. Providing that support
to others brings rewards too. At our gym we encourage members to meet every new person in class. If your workout is done, you can’t clean up your equipment and leave until the last person is done with the work because we’re all there to encourage each other. Your to-do: Find one person and encourage them to start with you and commit to 30 days of working towards better fitness. Be accountable to each other and be positive! F I V E : S TA R T Now. Today. Put this magazine down and go walk around the block. Better yet, get a friend and go walk a mile. Find a gym or a trainer and learn to do new things. Learn to move properly and safely and do things you didn’t think you could do. We have seen (and experienced) that you can be in your 40’s or 50’s and be in the best shape of your life. Right now I’m sitting at a CrossFit competition and I just watched women in their 60’s compete in the 5th tough workout in two days. They’re not super-women, they are just regular women that decided they want to be healthy and enjoy life more. You can do that too. Your to-do: Start now, move, do it more often, develop the habit, and be awesome. Become happier, healthier, stronger, more resilient mentally and physically and a more useful human. Remember, fitness is for everyone. Any age, any size, any experience. The hard part is getting started and that is up to you. Make 2015 your best year yet and find a partner, a group, or a good coach and let’s get going!
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FLU 2014 REVISITED Gene Hoyt, JD, MD, FCLM In Oklahoma and across the nation we expect flu out breaks most usually in January and February. Over the past several years the flu vaccine has been a good match to the circulating virus. “Flu” may be caused by any number of related viruses. The current vaccine covers what were thought to be the most likely viral pathogens for the 2014-2015 flu season. So far both locally and across the nation the flu A virus, H3N2, has been the most commonly detected illness causing virus. In March 2014 a mutated, or changed form of the A virus, was found. This mutated A could not be incorporated into the vaccine in time for the onset of the flu season. The current vaccine does not fully or completely protect against this mutated viral form. The vaccine does appear to be a close match for both the H1N1 and subtype B virus which are now circulating. Get your flu shot, it’s not too late. The vaccine is effective against both H1N1 and subtype B flu strains and may provide some protection against the influenza, H3N2 variant. Who should get the vaccine? Most everyone but, people who have had an allergy to the vaccine, people who have egg allergies, people who are ill and have fever must be screened by knowledgeable medical personnel before receiving any form of the vaccine. Otherwise everyone over 6 months of age should receive the vaccine. Call your doctor’s office to find out if they have the vaccine and get the best flu preventative medicine has to offer—the flu shot. Many places including the County Health Departments, your local pharmacy, Walmart, Walgreens, and CVS are still giving the flu shot. The flu shot is based on extensive research of viral illness which circulated in the southern hemisphere earlier this year. The Centers for Disease Control and The World Health Organization has been very good but not perfect in predicting viral circulation in preparing the flu shot. The question always arises, “I am pregnant should I take the flu shot.” Generally speaking the flu shot is safe for pregnant women. No adverse effect has been shown to the expectant mother or the developing child. But, always discuss the flu shot and all medicines, even over the counter medicines, with your OB doctor. Another very common question is, “Can I get the flu from the flu shot?” No, No, No, you cannot get the flu from the flu shot! Some people may have flu like fever and body
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aches and pain, but this is not the flu. It is a side effect caused by your immune system reacting to components of the vaccine. You must also remember it takes about 2 weeks for you to develop immunity after the flu shot. If you have been exposed to the flu before you receive the flu shot, you may develop the flu, not from the flu shot, but from your exposure before immunity developed. This is the reason it is suggested to get the flu shot early, before flu cases start to develop. If a person’s immune system is weak, full immunity may not develop. Sometimes a “high dose” shot is suggested or people at risk may received a second flu shot. People with COPD, asthma and diabetes should receive the flu shot early. Some people may be allergic to the flu shot. The vaccine is prepared using eggs. If you are allergic to eggs, you should not receive the standard flu shot. There is a special egg free vaccine available. You should get a flu shot every year. Vaccines change from year to year. Also, even if the shot was the same, a “recall” vaccine shot will provide greater immunity as immunity can decline over time. You know about flu shots. I also write every year about the pneumonia vaccine. The flu shot and pneumonia shot just seem to go together each fall. Pneumococcal disease is wide spread not only in the United States but around the world. In fact, this common and vaccine preventable disease kills more people each year than all other vaccine preventable diseases combined. It may manifest itself as a blood, brain, or lung infection. These illnesses are becoming much more difficult to treat because of antibiotic resistance. If you are over 65 get the PneumoVax shot. If you are under 65 but have chronic lung, heart, or kidney problems, get the shot! If you smoke get PneumoVax shot. People with cancer, organs transplants or a damaged or absent spleen get the shot! As always talk to your physician about your particular circumstance. You know what to do to help protect yourself from these common ailments. “Just do it” is not just the Nike logo. It’s good Oklahoma common sense! Happy New Year!
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Garage Sense: Organizing your Garage to fit your Fancy BY: SHANNON C OWAN, FRESH PERSPEC TIVE ORG ANIZING SERVIC ES, LLC, W W W.FRE SHPERSPEC T I V EORG A NIZING .C OM
It’s estimated that 25% of garages in American homes are not used to store vehicles. Cars and bikes are getting the boot because garages are a major magnet for stuff. Kids’ toys, household supplies, hobbies and tools have to go somewhere, and homeowners are getting serious about making this large, convenient space work for them. When organizing your garage, the biggest challenges to face will center on the sheer volume of stuff, the fact that there are many categories of things intermingled together and the lack of accessible, identifiable storage for sorted items. It is so much easier to bring something home than to get rid of something that is already there. Think about the bags of items that come in every time you come home from the store. How often do bags of unused items actually leave home? Some households are more vigilant than others and the garages tell the story. If deciding what to toss is tough for you remember: Anything that takes up space in your garage should earn its’ keep. Broken, unused, or unloved items need to go. Disorganized piles of everything are an eyesore and a major source of frustration. How many times have you simply repurchased an item rather than look for it? The fun really gets rolling when that newly purchased item then makes its 18
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way to the top of the aforementioned pile, only to compound the original issue. Everyday people lose time and money to cluttered conditions. Take the initiative to break the cycle by sorting your stuff into broad categories based on how they will be used or sought out. Getting rid of excess and sorting into categories is essential, but to finish the job you need great storage. Storage should be easy to access and clearly identified. If your storage is too difficult to access, items will be brought to the general area and set down on the first available horizontal space, “for now.” Clearly identify contents of any container (tub, drawer, box, etc) to prevent having to explain where something should go and provide containers to predict future needs. “For now” thinking needs to shift to a “for the future” planning to really make your space easy to maintain. Organizing your garage can feel like an insurmountable project, but really it boils down to this: your garage should be an asset to your family. Whether your goal is to get that vehicle back into the garage or repurpose your garage for an extracurricular endeavor, you can do it by purging down, sorting the contents and putting things away in the right storage solution. Happy Organizing!
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BEFORE
AF TER
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Celebrating Valentine’s Day: (even if Cu pid ’s a rrow missed you th is yea r) BY LORI PRAHL
February 14. Cherished by many, overlooked by some, Valentine’s Day is a day where some enjoy having a fancy dinner together, and others feel they shouldn’t have to prove their love or give any more money to greeting card companies. As an often debatable holiday, there seem to be a lot of positives and negatives on this particular date. This year in Stillwater however, no matter which side of the fence you are on, we want to take away all of the negatives and help you have a great Valentine’s Day by providing inspiration to celebrate with all kinds of love, in any style that you wish!
It’s also never a bad idea to go traditional with a flower arrangement. At Garden Party however, they offer traditional options as well as many customized options, because they believe that everyone needs something uniquely suited to them. As well as roses, they will be featuring many other colorful ideas for Valentine’s Day such as purple tulips and succulent flower arrangements for men, all of which will be personalized for the individual. As well as flowers they also have vases, china,
D AT E S A R E G R E AT ! It’s certain that there will be many people celebrating Valentine’s Day this year in the most common and traditional ways. Flowers, candy, jewelry. Maybe even a nice dinner? If you want to do something special this year, but aren’t sure exactly what, a traditional Valentine’s Day idea isn’t a bad place to start. Stillwater has many places to get classic Valentine’s Day gifts, such as a beautiful piece of jewelry from Jackson Diamond Jewelers or a bright bouquet of flowers from Garden Party. At Jackson Diamond Jewelers this season, they have introduced the new Endless Jewelry charm bracelet collection. For about $99 dollars you can get a fashionable leather wrap bracelet and a charm to make a one-of-a-kind Valentine’s Day Gift. Earring studs and Rhythm of Love pendants are also a few great ideas for your loved one this holiday, sure to please. 20
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cutting boards and crystal all great for alternative Valentine’s Day gifts. It’s also possible that you do want to celebrate Valentine’s Day with your date, but would prefer something contrary to messing with the crowds and dinner reservations. Stillwater offers many unique things to do and see, so for a more non-traditional date, why not be a tourist in your own town? Have you taken a close look at all of the Wings of Hope painted butterflies sculptures that are scattered throughout the town? Go on a tour to see all of the butter-
spotlight flies. Or take a picture of you and your date at each one and turn it into an art project yourself by making a collage! The Sheerar Museum and Cultural Center is another idea for a date with some local history. Or even visit the National Wrestling Hall of Fame! Stillwater is full of fun, localized things to see and places to go, and just simply doing something together can be a perfect way to spend the day! Remember: This isn’t a day where you have to prove your love. As most hopefully know, they should be loved every day of the year. But sometimes with such busy lives, it’s nice to take a day out to remind your boyfriend or girlfriend, husband
Remember: T his isn’t a day where you have t o pr ove your love. As most hopefully know, t hey should be loved every day of t he year. or wife, just how much they mean to you. This day shouldn’t be about outdoing your friends. All it takes is saying that you care in whichever way fits best, and even the simplest of gestures can often have the most meaningful impact.
ENDLESS BRACELETS ARE JUST ONE OF THE GIFT IDEAS AVAILABLE AT JACKSON DIAMOND JEWELERS THIS VALENTINE’S DAY. START HER COLLECTION WITH A BRACELET AND CHARM FOR $99.
F LY I N G S O L O ! Another possibility this year is that you are single. While sometimes those of us who are single like to hate on Valentine’s Day, the day is about love and it should call for a celebration of ANY kind of love! Throw a party, but not an anti-Valentine’s Day party. Have a party for the friends or family that you LOVE! Have a small gathering in honor of you and all of your single friends and celebrate your own self-love! Make cards, play games, or just join in community. Put on a feast or have your friends bring potluck dishes. Reserve the party room at Hideaway or get some pizzas for delivery! Or even if you spend the day alone, celebrate yourself and use the day to try something new that you’ve always wanted to do! You shouldn’t allow yourself to get down in the dumps on Valentine’s Day for being JANUARY 2015 | STILLWATER LIVING MAGAZINE
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spotlight alone. Celebrate your independence or your awesome friends and loved ones that you do have! Another way to spend Valentine’s Day with no date this year is to volunteer. There are plenty of people/ animals/organizations in town that can benefit from the love that you have. This can be a great time to share your love with others to help them feel more loved on this day too! So whether or not you’re normally a fan of this holiday, this year allow Stillwater to help you plan a great day with your date, with your friends and family, with yourself, or with the community. Above all, remember that it is a day to share love, so open your heart and celebrate!
G A R D E N P A R T Y F L O R I S T AT T H E C O R N E R O F 5 T H A N D M A I N H A S A W I D E S E L E C T I O N O F G I F T S A N D F L O R A L T O O F F E R G I F T G I V E R S T H I S V A L E N T I N E ’ S D A Y.
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press release
OSU Researchers Developing Robot for Elderly S T I L L W AT E R , O K ( D E C E M B E R 17, 2 0 1 4 ) (STILLWATER, Okla., December 17, 2014) – Two researchers at Oklahoma State University have received a three-year, $725,000 award from the National Science Foundation to develop a new type of social intelligence for robot companions or “co-robots” to help the elderly in assisted living environments. Drs. Weihua Sheng and Guoliang Fan, researchers in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering at OSU, will work to develop a considerate co-robot as part of the National Robotics Initiative (NRI). Their specific objective is a new theoretical and algorithmic framework and an open hardware and software platform that will result in a smarter co-robot. “The main goal is to develop an intelligent robot that can understand human beings,” says Sheng, who has been focused on robotics research for several years. “Future co-robots could be perfect companions for the elderly population and replace, or at least relieve, human caregivers.” This new intelligence allows a robot to learn a person’s daily activity and location without constantly following him or her, explained Sheng. “The robots should 24
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press release recognize our needs and be able to monitor our health information and eventually send it to the cloud for health monitoring.� Sheng’s team currently has a simple prototype that does not have arms and is still far from the finished product, but he is optimistic that the new funding will open opportunities to greatly improve the prototype. Sheng, an associate professor of electrical and computer engineering, has participated in organizing several international conferences and workshops on intelligent robots and systems. He holds a U.S. patent and is the author of more than 130 papers in major journals and international conferences on robotics and automation. Sheng, a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, currently serves as an associate editor for the IEEE Transactions of Automation Science and Engineering. Fan, a professor of electrical and computer engineering, research interests include signal processing, image processing, machine learning, pattern recognition, computer vision, biomedical imaging and remote sensing applications. He is a senior member of IEEE and associate editor of IEEE Journal of Biomedical and Health Informatics and EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing. For more information on the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology at OSU, visit www.ceat.okstate.edu.
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historically speaking
Early 20th Centur y Colonial Revival Quilts on exhibit through Februar y B Y A M M I E B R Y A N T, D I R E C T O R O F S H E E R A R M U S E U M O F S T I L L W AT E R H I S T O R Y
In the midst of our 40th anniversary celebrations this past November, the Sheerar Museum opened a new exhibit from the American Quilt Study Group. This is the third exhibit we have hosted from the AQSG in the past six years and it will be on view through the end of February 2015. The quilts are traveling around the country; the Sheerar Museum is the exhibit’s only stop in Oklahoma. The biennial Quilt Studies have become a popular part of the American Quilt Study Group’s activities. Participation is a voluntary undertaking by AQSG members. Responding to a selected theme, a quilt is created which is copied from, or inspired by, an existing antique quilt. Each participant is asked to provide an image of their inspiration quilt and write a statement describing why they chose the inspiration quilt; the techniques used to construct their own quilt; and what was learned in the process. This exhibit is from the 2012 biennial American Quilt Study Group seminar where the theme was Colonial Revival Quilts from the Early 20th Century. All inspiration quilts are required to be recognizable as quilts from the period regardless of the techniques used to make the original quilt. It is up to each participant to determine their own construction methods for their projects based upon information available about the original quilt. During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries the Colonial Revival movement emerged in the United States. The movement 26
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historically speaking glorified America’s national past, affecting everything from architecture and furniture styles, to household items such as silver and textiles. During this time, Americans were faced with the complexities of modern day life and as a result they embraced the idea of a simpler, nobler past. Quilts from this period showed how the Colonial Revival movement affected pattern, color, and styles. The studies presented in this exhibition are 21st century interpretations of these early 20th century colonial revival quilts. The Sheerar Museum of Stillwater History is open free to the public Tuesday-Friday 11am5pm and Saturdays and Sundays 1-4pm. The Museum is governed by a 501 (c) 3 organization and relies on donations from the public to remain open and offering quality exhibits and programs like this one. For more information visit sheerarmuseum.org, find us on facebook and twitter, or call 405-377-0359.
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historically speaking
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cause for applause
Kickin’ Childhood Hunger Repor ts Progress After the numbers were tallied for the first annual Kickin’ Childhood Hunger event, the organizers announced that over $42,000 had been donated to help curb childhood hunger in North Central Oklahoma. Through the “food backpack” programs, children across America are kept a little healthier during their weekends at home where food may be slim or totally void in some cases. In Stillwater alone, over 300 sacks of food are sent home weekly with children pre-K through 5th grade. This is only the numbers from one program in one city. There are programs in several schools surrounding Stillwater, as well as, unmet needs in every city in Oklahoma. It is heartbreaking to think of the number of youngsters who are more concerned about where they will eat every evening and weekend than doing their homework or what tree they will climb. Their childhood playtimes are stripped away by hunger. Fortunately, the organizers of the first Kickin’ Childhood Hunger event were very pleased with the total amount collected in the initial year. They were so pleased, that they have applied to become a 501C-3 organization. The Board of Directors consist of Tommy Forman and Lynn Youngblood of Forman Harley-Davidson; Pam Gill of Stillwater Milling Company; Roger
Demaree and Glynn Cooper of Kicker; Terri Collier of Thunder Roads Magazine OK/AR; Danita and Larry Witt of Oklahoma Closing and Title and Megan Phillips with Ex-Officio, Glenna Williams. The mission of the organization is: Engage in activities which work to eliminate childhood hunger in North Central Oklahoma and to work with organizations to accomplish that purpose. They will primarily serve programs which assist in providing nutritious food sacks to school age children. Since the first annual event took place in August 2014, Kickin’ Childhood Hunger has been able to fulfill nine requests for funding. A large portion of the funds were donated into the Food Sack Program in Stillwater as promised in the initial design of the program. The funds in Stillwater will assist in expanding the food sack program to more grades in the school. These funds are in addition to those that have been previously raised for this program as there is a need for many more to be assisted. From the initial donation, eight proposals for funding were reviewed and funded. “We are happy to report that we have used over 75% of the funds collected from the 2014 event. We know that we will be able to use the rest prior to the Fall 2015 semester through requests we will receive JANUARY 2015 | STILLWATER LIVING MAGAZINE
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cause for applause for Spring Break programs and, hopefully, more initial funds for new programs,” stated Roger Demaree, Board President. The purpose of the funded requests in 2014 ranged from start up costs for new programs to holiday food sack programs. The intent of Kickin’ Childhood Hunger is for all funds to be used before the start of the 2015 Fall semester. The next event will be August 21 and 22, 2015 in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Due to the heat during that time of year, some changes will be made to the event to encourage a higher attendance. Kickin’ Childhood Hunger has a made a tremendous impact in North Central Oklahoma in its initial year. Please help them to continue for years to come.
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