Drake Mag Winter 2022

IT’S ALL ABOUT

FALLING FOR FIGS

FANNY PACKS YOU NEED NOW

OCD: IT’S NOT AN ADJECTIVE

SELF-CARE IS NOT JUST FOR SUNDAYS CAMERA BAG ESSENTIALS

Self-care is so much more than washing your face every day or getting a manicure every month. It doesn’t have to be time-consuming things. Learn how to incorporate self-care habits into your daily routine to help rest your brain and body from its hectic schedule.

Drake Mag’s photo editor is unzipping his camera bag to let you know his must-have and favorite bag, camera, lenses, and more. Whether you take pictures for fun or run a business you can learn a lot from Michael.

Drake Mag doesn’t stop at print. Check out drakemagazine.com for the latest digital stories. Do you have your own story ideas or are interested in writing for online? Reach out to us at drakemag@gmail.com or DM us.

WORDS BROOKE BUSCH

WORDS MICHAEL CUMMINGS

LETTER

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Annie Peterson

ART DIRECTOR

Emily Postlethwait

PHOTO EDITOR

Michael Cummings

MANAGING EDITOR

Nate Eisenmann

FROM THE EDITOR

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Mara Fendrich

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Sophia Lacy

ASSISTANT EDITOR

Colson Thayer

DIGITAL MANAGER

Maggie Collum

PHOTO

Kate Elstrom

Iam writing this as I stare at the finalized spreads pinned to the wall. I can’t help but think of what this issue started as — thoughts, ideas, and dreams of what could be. And we’ve accomplished them all. In a matter of months, blank pages have been filled and goals have been reached and I could not be more proud.

We had big shoes to fill this year. Drake Mag’s Spring 2022 issue won a Pacemaker and this October we were inducted into the Pacemaker 100, solidifying us as one of the top college publications in the country. And honestly, I think this year’s staff did more than just fill those shoes — they set a new standard.

This magazine is here because of the hard work from 11 talented writers, nine dedicated designers, eight outstanding editors, and two passionate photographers. So thank you everyone for all of your hard work and I can’t wait to do it all again next semester.

Paige Minor

DESIGN

Ava Barvarian

Lily Eckenrode

Princess Hart

Eve Kelly

Maddie Kruse

Ava Leigh

Ellie Oleson

Heath Wheeldon

WORDS

Brianna Backes

Cassidy Grubisic

Sophie Heckel

Meghan Holloran

Sarah Jamil

Julia Jennings

Kylie Petty

Sophia Roberts

Sam Rothbardt

Ryley Roudabush

Victoria Soliz

Special thanks to Dean Catherine Staub, Jeff Inman, Denise Ganpat, Drake SJMC, Christian Edwards Printing, all of our models, and those supporting behind the scenes.

Copyright 2022 by Drake Mag and Drake Magazine. Drake Mag is published with the support of the Board of Student Communiations. Opinions expressed in the magazine do not necessarily reflect the views of Drake University. Letters to the Editor are encouraged and may be published online at www.drakemagazine.com. Please direct any questions, comments, or concerns to drakemag@gmail.com

Annie Peterson, Editor-in-Chief

CONTENTS

01bits + pieces

safely sipping | keep you and your drink protected grooming on the go | dopp kit essentials travel abroad on a budget| how to stay wallet-friendly

listen up| our top guilty pleasure podcasts

16fashion + beauty

fanny pack fashion| four bags for any occasion hydrating products| protect your skin from the cold

06food + drink

warm & wasted| four seasonal mulled wines

midwest women-owned breweries | cheers to beer

dinnner on your doorstep | top meal subscription services

46wellness + sex

five products for your five senses | setting the mood sexy scents |there’s something in the air the cost of caring | a dive into compassion fatigue

hair, gender, & the in-between| discover the power of hair

50 entertainment

shuffle those decks| a guide to tarot must-visit venues| DSM’s live entertainment scene

a lifetime of duets| local married musicians

Join our award-winning staff.

We’re always accepting writers, designers, and photographers. However you want to make your impact on Drake Mag, we have a spot for you. Email Editor-In-Chief, Annie Peterson, at annie. peterson@drake.edu for more information or check out our social media and drakemagazine.com.

A NIGHT ON THE TOWN IS A GREAT WAY TO RELAX AND ENJOY TIME WITH FRIENDS. IT’S IMPORTANT TO STAY VIGILANT AND AWARE OF THE DANGERS THAT EXIST AT CLUBS, BARS, NIGHTCLUBS, AND PARTIES. HERE ARE PRODUCTS AND TIPS TO FOLLOW TO STAY SAFELY SIPPING.

CanMates

These little devices not only help open a can but can cover them as well. After sliding the device onto the tab of the can, it can easily be twisted around to seal the opening. $14.99 for a 6-pack, canmateshop.com

Nightcap

These scrunchies are both functional and fashionable. Easily pull the drink cover out of the hidden pocket, place it over your drink, pop in your straw, and safely enjoy. It’s that easy. $11.99 for one, nightcapit.com

Drug-testing Sheets & Strips

Packs of these sheets or strips are an easy way to test your drink. Simply place a drop of your drink on to the designated spot and wait for them to dry. $8 to $15, amazon.com

With or without these products, you need to stay aware of your surroundings. Follow these tips if you or a friend is feeling unsafe.

Ask for a drink cover:

Many bars offer plastic drink covers. If you’re feeling unsettled or simply want to be extra cautious, ask your bartender for one.

Don’t be afraid to ask the bartender for help:

If you suspect your drink has been spiked, let the bartender or bouncer know. They can remake your drink, keep an extra-close eye on everyone, or call the police.

The Angel Shot:

Ordering an angel shot will not get you a drink. This is a subtle way of telling your bartender that you feel unsafe and you need help.

WORDS BRIANNA BACKES | PHOTO MICHAEL CUMMINGS | DESIGN ELLIE OLSEN

GROOMING

ON THE GO

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO STAY LOOKING FRESH IN A SLEEK TRAVEL-SIZED BAG

WORDS SAM ROTHBARDT DESIGN + ILLUSTRATION PRINCESS HART

COLOGNE.

Smell good all the time with a travel-sized cologne. Apple Brandy on the Rocks by KILIAN Paris represents the finer things life has to offer. A scent this classy

FACE GROOMING.

The Philips Norelco Multigroom 5000 is the perfect grooming tool for on-the-go. It can trim facial hair, nose hair, ear hair, and sideburns. The trimmer will last three hours on a full charge, and will fit in any dopp kit.

Philips Norelco Multigroom 5000 Face, Head,

Keeping properly groomed and manicured gives a traveler confidence, so what better than to travel with a manicure set. The Wolf Project manicure set includes grooming scissors, a nail file, fingernail clippers, and tweezers. These products can help with hangnails, acne,

Wolf Project Manicure Set, $15,

This stylish piece from J. McLaughlin is made of 100 percent nylon and surely elevates your style while traveling. It even comes with a wonderful travel case. The two inside compartments help keep the bag organized and prevent spilling while in transit. It fits well in a suitcase, is easy to clean, and looks great with other

If functionality is more your style, look no further than the Venture 4 th Premium Hanging Bag. This hanging dopp kit can hold everything you need plus more with its six different compartments of all sizes. Although it’s not as stylish, the organization and accessibility of this bag will bring you peace of mind while traveling any amount

VENTURE 4TH Premium Travel

J. McLaughlin Sailcloth Dopp Kit, $68,

TRAVEL ABROAD ON A BUDGET

Let’s face it. Traveling anywhere these days is expensive. A single trip across state lines can require some serious financial thought. Traveling abroad? On a budget? Forget about it!

PARTICIPATE IN A WORK EXCHANGE.

2SLEEP IN A HOSTEL.

But what if someone were to tell you that there are several travel resources that make traveling more affordable or even free? Here are four ways you can save some serious cash on your next dream adventure. 1

Not afraid to break a sweat? Well, consider doing a work exchange abroad. There are several websites that allow you to find opportunities to work part-time in exchange for room and board. These opportunities also span several different interests ranging from childcare, hospitality, farming, and education.

GET THOSE FLIGHT DEALS.

Working while traveling is not for everyone, so another way to save on accommodations is by sleeping in a hostel. Hostels are budget accommodations that often have a dorm-style arrangement. This means sleeping in a bunk bed with a shared living space and a bathroom. Hostels are a great way to meet other travelers and can be a lot of fun. 3

No matter where you travel, airfare tends to be the greatest expense. Even short flights within the United States can cost you hundreds of dollars. So, how do you find the best deals? Start by looking early. Last-minute flights will almost always be more expensive than the ones booked in advance, 4

Flexibility is key when finding flight deals. If “you’re not completely required to travel on a very specific day, then expanding your travel range, or maybe changing it by a day or two, could definitely save you some money” says Christine Burroni, a new editor for Travel + Leisure Magazine.

There are also websites that help you search and compare flights. The best websites even allow you to set notifications for when your flight’s price changes. Other great resources will give you a prediction of when it is the best time to buy.

GET PAID TO TRAVEL!

Yes, you read that right. It is possible to find paid opportunities to travel abroad. Though it isn’t easy, there are scholarships specifically for studying abroad. The government offers many full-ride scholarships that require you to study in a certain country or speak a certain language. There are plenty of other opportunities that require you to intern, volunteer, or work during your time abroad.

WORDS CASSIDY GRUBISIC | PHOTO MICHAEL CUMMINGS | DESIGN AVA BARVIAN

LISTEN UP!

LOOKING FOR SOMETHING NEW TO LISTEN TO? GIVE THESE GUILTY PLEASURE PODCASTS A TRY

ANNIE PETERSON: THE TOAST

Five days a week the Oshry sisters, Jackie O and Claudia, keep listeners up-to-date on all things pop culture, celebrity, royal, and the Titanic. Their sisterly banter leaves you feeling like a member of the family, and randomly bursting into one of their many parody songs.

SOPHIA LACY: BACHELOR HAPPY HOUR

Former Bachelorettes, Becca Kufrin and Michelle Young interview the people of Bachelor Nation, getting all the behind-the-scenes and unfiltered drama. From spilling the tea to relationship advice, join their weekly happy hour to get the inside scoop you can’t get anywhere else.

MAGGIE COLLUM: NOSY NEIGHBORS

A Spotify original, Nosy Neighbors is a dose of the weird stuff that goes down in out neighborhoods. Analyzing Karens, dog disputes, dissecting petty posts on local forums, and celebrating even the good neighborly moments are what keeps this podcast going around.

COLSON THAYER: DUNGEONS & DADDIES

Four dads and their kids gather in a minivan and set off for a soccer tournament. What could go wrong? They get swept up into a mythical world with one goal: to save their sons. This podcast takes listeners along a Dungeons and Dragons quest featuring magic, action, and laughs along the way.

NATE EISENMANN: OFFICE LADIES

Hosted by co-stars Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey, the Office Ladies podcast releases new episodes weekly giving listeners a behindthe-scenes look at the hit TV show The Office. Listening to each hour-long episode is a great way to unwind during the week.

MARA FENDRICH: CELEBRITY MEMOIR BOOK CLUB

Every week, best friends Claire Parker and Ashley Hamilton read a celebrity memoir so you don’t have to. This favor is served with a side of their uncensored opinions and reality checks for these out-oftouch authors.

WORDS DRAKE MAG STAFF DESIGN AVA BARVIAN PHOTO MICHAEL CUMMINGS

Warm Wasted

THE BEAUTIFUL COLOR. THE SWEET SMELL. THE DELICIOUS TASTE. MULLED WINE HAS IT ALL. HERE ARE OUR BEST RECIPES.

White Mulled Wine

Serves 8-10

A sophisticated drink turned fun.

INGREDIENTS

2 750 ml bottles of white wine (dry)

2 oranges, sliced

1/2 cup brandy

1/2 cup honey

16 cloves

5 cinnamon sticks

4 star anise

INSTRUCTIONS

1. In a medium saucepan, combine all ingredients.

2. Bring to a simmer over medium-low heat for 20 minutes.

3. Serve warm with orange slices.

Warm Paradise

Serves 6-8

Trust us. The final product is worth the wait.

INGREDIENTS

1 750 ml of red wine

2 cups water

1/2 ruby red grapefruit

1/2 cup brown sugar

2 cardamom pods, crushed

1/2 tsp of ground nutmeg

1/2 cup orange flavored liqueur

INSTRUCTIONS

1. In a large saucepan, combine all ingredients over medium-high heat until simmering.

2. Reduce heat and let simmer for 30 minutes.

3. Strain to remove seeds and serve with grapefruit wedges.

WORDS SOPHIA LACY | PHOTO MICHAEL CUMMINGS | DESIGN LILY ECKENRODE

Hot Chocolate + Hot Wine

Serves 4-6

Taking sugar and spice to a new level.

INGREDIENTS

3 cups water

1 1/2 cups cocoa powder

3 cinnamon sticks

5 star anise

8 cloves

2 1/2 cups golden caster sugar

3 cups dark chocolate

2 clementines, halved

1 sprig of rosemary

1 750 ml bottle of red wine

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Add water, cocoa powder, spices, and sugar in a saucepan and let simmer.

2. Remove from heat, add chocolate, and whisk until incorporated.

3. Over low heat for 10 minutes, add clementines, rosemary, and wine. Garnish with rosemary sprigs and enjoy.

A Boozy Sweet Tooth

Serves 6-8

For all those who love something sweet and cozy.

INGREDIENTS

1 750 ml bottle of red wine

1/2 cup pomegranate arils

2 clementines, zested

1/4 cup honey

1/4 cup Galliano Vanilla Liqueur

INSTRUCTIONS

1. In a medium saucepan, combine all ingredients, except the vanilla liqueur.

2. Bring to a simmer (not boil) over medium heat for 10 minutes.

3. Strain and turn burner off and add vanilla liqueur.

4. Serve with clementine slices and pomegranate arils.

Midwest Women-Owned Breweries

THESE WOMEN ARE MAKING A NAME FOR THEMSELVES IN A MALE-DOMINATED INDUSTRY. CHECK OUT THEIR BREWERIES AROUND THE MIDWEST ON YOUR NEXT ROAD TRIP.

New Glarus Brewing Company, New Glarus, WI:

Owners Deb and Dan Carey bring a hometown feel to each bottle they serve. All of their drinks feature 100 percent natural ingredients. Try their popular Two Women lager — a collab between New Glarus and Weyermann Malting — two breweries led by women. New Glarus is a true staple of Wisconsin.

Brightside Aleworks, Altoona, IA:

Creativity flows through the drinks at Brightside Aleworks. After years of work with homebrewing, Molly and Andrew Frana officially opened their

Altoona brewery in 2017. There’s a drink for everyone, with various vegan beer options and a locally crafted hard cider from Jefferson County, Iowa.

Escape Velocity Brewing, Lafayette, IN:

Travel to a galaxy far, far away when you step into this brewery. Founded by Howard and her husband Jason Behenna, their brewery serves more than just drinks. It’s the only vegetarian brewery and restaurant in the area, and serves a variety of soups and sandwiches. The Protogalaxy Selter or ACE SpACE hard ciders are must-try drinks for visiting space cadettes.

Dinner On Your Doorstep

WITH SO MANY OPTIONS, IT’S TOUGH PICKING THE RIGHT ONE. TRY THESE FOUR STAND-OUT MEAL SERVICES FOR HIGH-QUALITY INGREDIENTS AND RECIPE VARIETY

BEST OVERALL: Hello Fresh CHEAPEST: Dinnerly

Hello Fresh is one of the most well-rounded meal services, with vegetarian, pescatarian, and kid-friendly meals. Coming in at only $8.49 it’s a great starter kit for everyone, regardless of skill level.

BEST FOR THREE MEALS A DAY: SunBasket

Sunbasket has more offerings than most mealkit services. In addition to their dinner offerings, they offer ready-to-eat meals selections for breakfast and lunch. If you’re not in the mood for meal planning, SunBasket has you covered at $11.49 per meal.

Dinnerly is the most affordable option out there- perfect for those fresh out of college or trying to stay within a budget. Dinnerly costs $6.39 per meal and is extremely easy to cook; there are only six ingredients in each meal.

BEST RECIPES: Marley Spoon by Martha Staurt

Created by the legendary Martha Stewart, Marley Spoon, features wonderful recipes for a mid-level price. If you are more of an experienced cook, then Marley Spoon is for you. The starting price is $9.49 per meal.

WORDS MEGHAN HOLLORAN DESIGN AVA LEIGH

“I think the industry is becoming more diverse every year,” Heather Howard, owner of Escape Velocity Brewing, says. Across the Midwest, the industry once dominated by men is seeing a shift. Here are three women-owned breweries in the Midwest that are worth visiting.

falling for

CRANBERRIES AND APPLES ARE SO LAST WINTER. LIVEN UP YOUR WINTER MENU WITH ALL THINGS FIG. THEIR SWEET, SYRUPY CENTER WILL LEAVE YOU QUESTIONING WHY YOU’VE NEVER COOKED WITH THEM BEFORE.

WORDS ANNIE PETERSON | PHOTOS MICHAEL CUMMINGS | DESIGN ANNIE PETERSON

Sage & Fig Cocktail

Total Time: 15 mins

Servings: 1 drink

SAGE + HONEY SIMPLE

SYRUP

3-4 sage sprigs

1 cup water

2 Tbsp. honey

1 cup white sugar

COCKTAIL

2 figs, halved

1 oz. simple syrup

2 oz. white rum

1 oz. orange liquor

3/4 ounce lemon juice

Club soda, chilled SIMPLE SYRUP

1. In a saucepan

combine sage sprigs, water, honey, and sugar over medium heat and bring to a boil.

2. Reduce heat and simmer until sugar dissolves.

3. Turn off heat and allow sage to steep for as long as possible.

COCKTAIL

1. Muddle figs with simple syrup in a cocktail shaker until mostly broken down.

2. Add white rum, orange liqueur, lemon juice, and ice to shaker.

3. Shake vigorously for 15-30 seconds.

4. Strain into an icefilled glass and top with club soda.

Fig Jam

Total Time: 45 mins

Yield: 1 1/2 Pints

2 lbs figs

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/4 cup lemon juice, freshly squeezed 1/2 cup water

1. Remove stems and cut figs into halves.

2. In a medium saucepan, combine figs and sugar. Stir occasionally over medium heat for about 15 minutes, until sugar is mostly dissolved.

3. Add lemon juice and water. Bring to a boil, stirring until sugar is completely dissolved. Cover and let simmer for 20 minutes, or until the fruit is soft and liquid thickens.

4. Spoon into jars leaving space at the top. Let cool to room temperature before refrigerating.

Fig Bruschetta

Total Time: 15 mins Servings: 6 slices

1 baguette

1 Tbsp. olive oil

1 cup ricotta

1/4 cup fig jam

1/4 cup pecans, chopped

5-6 figs

Balsamic vinegar

1. Preheat oven to 400ºF.

2. Cut baguette on slight diagonal and place on a foil lined baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and bake for five minutes.

3. Once toasted, spread ricotta over each slice.

4. Apply thin layer of fig jam over ricotta.

5. Thinly slice figs and place 2-3 on top of jam.

6. Top with chopped pecans and drizzle with balsamic vinegar to taste.

Fig Jam + Goat Cheese Pinwheels

Total Time: 1 hour

Servings: 10 pinwheels

1 large sweet onion, sliced

1 Tbsp. olive oil

1 frozen puff pastry, thawed

6 Tbsp. fig jam

1 log (4 oz.) goat cheese

Honey for drizzle

1. Preheat oven to 400ºF.

2. Heat a skillet with olive oil. Add onions and cook until caramelized. Remove from heat.

3. Unroll puff pastry onto

parchment paper. Stretch pastry until it’s about 12 inches long.

4. Spread fig jam evenly over pastry leaving 1/2 inch of one edge untouched.

5. Crumble goat cheese and evenly distribute caramelized onions. Drizzle with honey.

6. Brush bare edge with water to help pastry stick together.

7. Starting at the nonbare end, roll pastry into a log. Place seam side down on a cutting board.

8. Freeze for 20-30 minutes, or until firm.

9. Cut pastry log into 10 even pieces and transfer to a foil lined baking sheet.

10. Bake 23-25 minutes, or until golden brown.

Balsamic Fig Glazed Salmon

Total Time: 35 mins

Servings: 2 fillets

1 Tbsp. butter

2 cloves garlic, minced

12 oz. fig jam

2 Tbsp. honey

3 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar

2 salmon filets

1/2 cup walnuts, chopped

1/2 cup feta, crumbled

1. Preheat oven to 400ºF.

2. Melt butter in small saucepan. Add garlic and sauté until transparent. Add fig jam, honey, and balsamic vinegar. Increase heat and bring to a boil. Immediately reduce heat but maintain a simmer. Stir occasionally until thickened, about 10-12 minutes.

3. Place salmon, skin side down, on a foil lined baking sheet. Spoon on glaze to evenly cover.

4. Bake for 10-13 minutes. Salmon should flake when touched with a fork.

5. Garnish with chopped walnuts and feta.

Caramel Apple Fig Tart

Total Time: 45 mins

Servings: 1 9-inch tart

CRUST

1 cup flour

1/4 cup powdered sugar

1/4 tsp. Salt

1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

FILLING

2 cups heavy whipping cream

1/4 cup mascarpone

1 1/4 Tbsp. powdered sugar

6 Tbsp. dulce de leche caramel

Pinch of salt

4-5 figs

1 apple, thinly sliced

CRUST

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF.

2. In a small bowl, whisk together flour, powdered sugar, and salt.

3. Combine melted butter and vanilla in a small dish. Pour into dry ingredients and stir together until dough forms.

4. In a 9-inch tart pan, evenly press dough along the bottom and sides. Poke a fork into the bottom of the dough 10-15 times.

5. Place on a baking

sheet and bake until golden brown, roughly 20 minutes.

FILLING

1. In a mixing bowl, beat heavy whipping cream until soft peaks form. Add mascarpone and powdered sugacontinue mixing until cheese and sugar have incorporated into cream, about 1 minute.

2. Drizzle in caramel to taste and add a pinch of salt. With a rubber spatula fold in caramel

until combined.

3. Use a spatula to distribute filling into baked tart. Allow the crust to fully cool before adding the filling.

4. Thinly slice figs and apples. Top tart with fruits in a design of your choice.

FANNY PACK FASHION

Hiking

Our Pick: Topo Designs Mini Quick Pack, $49, topodesigns.com

No matter if you’re spending a weekend in the wilderness or going on a quick hike, this is your go-to bag. With durable straps, this bag can withstand anything and still look stylish. Wear with muted colors or a monotone look for an extra pop of color.

Everyday

Our Pick: Fjallraven Kanken High Coast Hip Pack, $45, fjallraven.com

Made from 100 percent recycled nylon, this hip pack keeps your belongings dry from a surprise rainshower or spilled coffee. The minimalist compact fits all your essentials, while matching effortlessly with any outfit.

WORDS MEGHAN HOLLORAN | PHOTO PAIGE MINOR | DESIGN HEATH WHEELDON

STAY STYLISH AND KEEP YOUR BELONGINGS CLOSE NO MATTER THE OCCASION OR DESTINATION

Night Out

Our Pick: Parks Project Zion Narrows

Sherpa Fanny Pack, $55, parksproject.us

Looking for a soft but psychedelic bag? Parks Project has you covered. Made with sustainable polyester and taffeta, it’s a perfect fanny pack for the winter months. Match with a chunky sweater and boots.

Our Pick: Universal Thread Zip Closure Fanny Pack, $20, target.com

Add some glamour to this useful, fun accessory. With a sleek texture this pack will keep your belongings safe, while spicing up any date night or night out.

FACE THE COLD

For those bitter winds, you need a face wash that won’t dry you out even more. Look for a gentle foaming formula that protects the skin’s barrier long after application.

Our pick: Cerave Creamto-Foam Cleanser ($13.49, target.com)

SUN-PROOF PROTECTION

It’s time to introduce sunscreen into your winter skincare routine. No matter the season, your skin needs hydrating protection. Go for a lightweight gel-lotion for a smooth finish.

Our pick: Bare Republic Gel Sunscreen Lotion ($16.99, gobareoutside.com)

TABLE FOR TWO

We’ve all suffered from dry skin during brutal winters. But sometimes there seems to be too many products for all different parts of the body. Thankfully, there are 2-in-1 products that both hydrate and condense your routine.

Our pick: Gold Bond Ultimate Pure Moisture Lotion ($12.49, walgreens.com)

WINTER SKINCARE

BEGINNER HAIR

All hair types and textures can benefit from a good hair oil that doesn’t make your hair greasy. Plus, oil gives hair an unmatched shine like you just came from the salon.

Our Pick: Verb Ghost Weightless Hair Oil ($20, ulta.com)

DON’T FORGET THE LIPS

The lips are often forgotten about until it’s too late. Finding a long-lasting moisturizer with soothing ingredients can not only protect your lips but support healthy tissue during the cold months.

Our pick: Glossier Balm DotCom ($12, glossier.com)

WORDS RYLEY ROUDABUSH PHOTO KATE ELSTROM DESIGN AVA BARVIAN

Sexy Scents

LOOKING FOR YOUR SIGNATURE SCENT? HERE ARE OUR SEXY RECOMMENDATIONS. THERE IS NOTHING LIKE WEARING A SEXY PERFUME OR COLOGNE TO SPICE UP YOUR LOVE LIFE

Because of its rich, romantic scent, jasmine is known to be a great aphrodisiac. Find a long lasting formula for a timeless, seductive aroma.

OUR PICK: The Library of Fragrance Jasmine, $33.95, amazon.com

Vanilla is the perfect go-to scent. Everyone recognizes the delicious smell and how attractive the scent really is. Go for a lightweight formula for an intimate scent that will make you feel instantly more desirable.

OUR PICK: Philosophy Fresh Cream, $46, ulta.com

Simple, yet effective. While most colognes have a strong rustic smell, this product blends the fruity notes with the masculine feel of amber woods, creating a fresh, confident fragrance.

OUR PICK: Dossier Aromatic Pineapple, $29, dossier.co

The name speaks for itself. This high quality product serves a clean citrus smell with a sweet undertone. You get what you pay for, so investing in this perfume will do wonders as your signature scent.

OUR PICK: Mancera Instant Crush, $86.99, walmart.com

WORDS SOPHIA LACY | PHOTO MICHAEL CUMMINGS | DESIGN LILY ECKENRODE

Hair, Gender, & the In-Betweem

HAIR PLAYS A MAJOR ROLE IN NOT ONLY HOW WE SEE OURSELVES BUT HOW SOCIETY VIEWS US. VICTORIA SOLIZ EXPLORES HER HAIR’S MEANING AND HOW IT’S IMPACTED HER JOURNEY TO FIND WHO SHE REALLY IS.

When I was little, I remember constantly dropping hints to my mom that I wanted to cut my hair. “But you look so pretty,” she would say. “You’ve been growing it since you were a baby.”

My hair was so long that I couldn’t braid it without having to twist and contort my body to reach it. I used to sit on my bedroom floor at night, trying to do a simple braid on myself and breaking down because it didn’t turn out correctly.

I continued to push on cutting my hair. My nana would always chime in, “You don’t want to look like a boy.”

Those words haunted me. I felt the only remaining piece of my femininity was my hair. I already pushed the limit by not agreeing with a lot of feminine traits – I didn’t like the things other girls liked, and didn’t feel quite right with the term ‘girl.’ But my hair was the one thing I couldn’t change. If I changed that, I wondered, how else would I even be a girl?

Long hair has always been deemed ‘feminine’ across many cultures. However, Katie Walters, a therapist who specializes in LGBTQ+ based care with Life Works DSM, notes how times are changing.

“I think our culture is increasingly diversifying in terms of social acceptability with gender expression and hair. The days of boys having short hair and girls having long hair are definitely behind us, though there are still challenges with assumptions,” she says.

Walters notices this frequently with her clients. “Of the clients I see, clients who actively explore or have more exposure to gender construct and gender expression seem more aware of and intentional about the use of hair to express their gender,” she says. “[They] tend to stand outside of the antiquated gender norm idea that ‘boys have short hair and girls have long hair’.”

It can be difficult and scary to navigate gender exploration especially because of societal norms. Samantha Kemp Carlin, another Life Works DSM therapist, has found a useful way to discuss this with clients.

WORDS VICTORIA SOLIZ | PHOTO PAIGE MILLER | DESIGN ELLIE OLSEN

While I’m comfortable in my femininity, I also identify with something more.

“I like to pull other people from media that we know and say ‘look, here’s this person that has this identity you’re looking to embrace and they have this hairstyle and nobody sees that as feminine or masculine or whatever,’” Carlin says.

In middle school, I started to not feel in tune with my femininity. It’s hard to explain how it feels. All I knew is that it didn’t feel right.

It was in that same time frame that I was finally allowed to chop off my hair. I started small with a couple of inches. Then freshman year of high school I went for the big chop. I was terrified that my mother or nana would be disappointed in me but, surprisingly, they welcomed it. I even seemed to empower my own mother to cut off her hair and with each snip of the scissors, things started to align.

Then started the bleaching. Hues of pinks and blues, greens and oranges, covered my head. I loved it.

Then came the ultimate decision: to shave my head.

While my hair was still pretty short, it didn’t feel right. I was already exploring my gender outside of the feminine norms but because of my longer hair, I felt that’s how people saw me: feminine. No matter how I dressed, with this hairstyle I was only going to be seen as feminine.

That’s when I decided to shave my head.

I remember sitting down in the bathroom, heart racing as my friend got her razor ready. She had previously shaved her head and was encouraging me to do the same from the start of when we met. However, I was still conflicted. What if I looked bad? Would my boyfriend still find me attractive with a shaved head? My stomach was in knots. How would my mother react? What if the only thing I had going for me was my hair — this small part of my femininity that I wanted so desperately to cling onto.

“Maybe I should wait,” I said to my friend. She snapped the guard on the razor in place. “Maybe I’m just not ready.

I wondered, though, would I ever be ready? Would I ever want to go against the societal norm that I was told since a baby?

The buzzing sound pulled me back into the moment. In one fluid motion, my friend had shaved a line directly down the center of my scalp. There was no going back.

Afterwards, I stared at myself in the mirror to take it all in. I didn’t feel so weighed down, both physically and mentally. I was still the same me. I was still loved by the people in my life and the femininity I had before shaving my head was still there, only stronger.

Shaving my head allowed me to fully express the way I see my gender. While I’m comfortable in my femininity, I also identify with something more. Something outside of the binary. I didn’t need my hair to tell me I was feminine or to be in tune with that side of myself. Underneath, I remained the same person I’d been my whole life. So, if you’ve been debating whether or not to shave your head, rally those razors and go for it.

WORDS MARA FENDRICH & ANNIE PETERSON

PHOTO MICHAEL CUMMINGS

DESIGN EMILY POSTLETHWAIT

IT’S ALL ABOUT XTUR

ON JOE SHIRT | FREE PEOPLE LEATHER JACKET & PANTS | MODEL’S OWN

ON KENYON JACKET | ATOMIC GARAGE SHOES | NIKE SHIRT & JEANS | MODEL’S OWN

ON IZZY DRESS | ASOS SHOES | MODEL’S OWN

ON ALENA BLAZER | ZARA

PEARL BLOUSE | ETSY SHOES | LULUS JEANS | MODEL’S OWN

ON SYDNEY

TOP | ZARA

FEATHER BANDEAU | HOMEMADE

JEANS | ZARA

FEATHER CUFFS | HOMEMADE SHOES | MODEL’S OWN

WHO SAYS BIGGER IS BETTER?

MANY SMALL TOWNS ARE STILL FINDING WAYS TO THRIVE EVEN WITH DECLINING POPULATION NUMBERS.

WORDS JULIA JENNINGS DESIGN + ILLUSTRATION PRINCESS HART

eon, Iowa, is how most small towns would be described: quaint. The courthouse is in the middle of town. There’s one main street with most of the restaurants and shops Leon has to offer. Like all small towns, it has its charms. A statue of an elephant on the corner of Main Street. Murals decorate the sides of buildings. And as for the people who live there, they wouldn’t want to call any other place home.

Not that there’s a lot of them. According to the 2020 U.S. Census, Leon has a population of 1,822. Between the 2010 Census and 2020 Census, Leon’s population dropped by 155, a loss of almost 8 percent. Leon isn’t unique. Many small towns have been experiencing a decrease in population. It’s a topic that has gathered the attention of many including the President, politicians and pundits.

From 2010 to 2020, the U.S. Census reported that over 90 counties experienced a 20 percent or more change in population. More recent data shows that, for many counties, that change was a loss — a significant loss. According to the U.S. Census, in the span of one year (2020 to 2021), over 100 counties in the US lost 1.6 percent or more of their population.

RURAL AMERICA: SMALL TOWN, BIG IMPACT

In April of 2022, President Joe Biden visited Menlo, Iowa, an hour and a half away from Leon, to speak on topics affecting rural America.

“I’m here today to talk about the work we’re doing to lower costs for American families and put rural America at the center of our efforts to build a future that’s made in America,” Biden said.

There’s a reason Biden and other politicians want to do that. Rural America is the center of a bevy of important aspects of the country’s way of life, affecting even those who don’t live in rural areas. But rural America is shrinking.

Dave Peters is a sociology professor at Iowa State University. He understands the importance of rural towns in great detail. As the project coordinator for the Small Town Project, a research and extension effort that helps rural American towns thrive, Peters combines data the university collects on rural Iowa towns and distributes that information to help those towns make decisions that best benefit them.

FEATURES

Peters broke down the importance of rural America into two areas: travel and everyday goods. Rural America keeps the rest of America mobile. When traveling, people need a place to stop, and those places to stop are often small towns.

“No one wants to be traveling out to Minneapolis or Colorado, where there’s nobody around if you get in an accident,” Peters said. “You don’t want to be laying on the side of the interstate because the nearest town with an ambulance is an hour away.”

The other part of the equation — everyday goods — is a little more complicated than you think. Yes, rural America is important in terms of farming, but also for things like groceries. There’s a large number of warehouses and cities, such as energy plants. But, of course, some population is needed in those areas to take care of the plants’ or warehouses’ infrastructure.

The problem: It’s difficult to get people to live there. Rural America is struggling to keep people who grew up in small towns to stay, or at least come back after college. It’s also difficult to convince those who have never lived in a small town to move there. Peters sums it up as an equity issue; people living in rural towns deserve the same opportunities locally that are available in large cities. That’s easier said than done.

PROBLEMS SMALL TOWNS FACE & POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS

Peters is a big supporter of finding small, but impactful, ways rural

towns can stabilize or even increase their population.

“They can make sure that their towns are accepting of newcomers and accepting of new ideas. And they can generate this concept we call social capital.”

It’s up to the towns to create social capital through quality services such as daycares, medical services, and parks. If people can find these quality services, ones they might have trouble finding or are too expensive in large cities, they may consider moving to a small town.

Kyle Sheetz, the city administrator for Leon, acknowledges that the town is lacking in some of the public services areas, which may affect people’s decision to live there or move back after college.

“In smaller towns, you have volunteer fire departments with fewer people and fewer resources. And so, response times and training is probably a little less and that sort of thing. We have kind of the same issues with policing,” Sheetz said.

This is just one of the many tradeoffs of living in a small town. Some services may be lacking, but you also know who is providing those services. Small towns are closeknit communities, after all. For some, like Sheetz, that’s part of the appeal.

“I grew up in a town about this size,” he said. “And my wife’s originally from here. We like the familiarity of folks. Your circle is essentially a majority of the town — with a smaller school system, friends for your kids, and knowing teachers. And that sort of thing is good for raising the family.”

Peters points out the importance of community and how it can help drive the success of rural towns, especially as they try new ideas to help the town thrive.

“There was a project, it didn’t work out, and everyone points fingers and blames other people,” Peters said. “That’s like the death of the town because nobody is ever gonna volunteer again. And so this kind of openness, and tolerance, to kind of accepting of different ideas, of different people, really is the key to success. I mean, that’s kind of the foundation of it all.”

THE INTERNET WILL SAVE RURAL AMERICA... OR WILL IT?

In his speech in Menlo, Biden talked about the lack of internet available to much of rural America. He mentioned that in Iowa, 16 percent of households don’t have internet subscriptions. That’s just over 200,000 households. And that’s in one of the smallest states in the country.

“The [infrastructure] law will make high-speed internet affordable and available everywhere in Iowa. And think of what that will make possible — from telemedicine to precision agriculture to small businesses that want to be able to sell in bigger markets,” Biden said.

That’s where Leon stands apart from many small towns. It has fiber optic internet services. But Sheetz isn’t sure that the strong Wi-Fi connection will fix everything like many think it will.

“Well, I wouldn’t say that we’ve seen the benefit from it,” Sheetz

said. “While [the local phone company promotes] it to their customers, I don’t think it’s something that we, as a city entity, have promoted in a way that could benefit attracting business. Now, you know, maybe it’s not a big deal to some smaller businesses, but for instance, Principal Financial or Wells Fargo, which they’re probably not players in our game, but anything like that could benefit from those services that are available, but may not know it and may not think of a small town in southern Iowa as a place to do business.”

Peters shared Sheetz’s sentiment, stating, “That’s what everyone said in the mid-‘90s with the IT revolution and with high-speed dialup. It was gonna revolutionize rural areas, and it just never happened.”

Peters explained that Wi-Fi can contribute to the quality of life for residents of the town, allowing them to stream shows and for kids to do homework. But for businesses,

Wi-Fi is only a small consideration. Businesses are more concerned about finding people to work.

RURAL AMERICA ISN’T GOING ANYWHERE

The excitement in Peters’ voice as he speaks about the small Iowa towns that he has seen thrive is palpable.

“They’re very open to new ideas. They’re willing to try anything,” Peters said. “Their leadership structures are very open, meaning people can jump into a leadership position. They just really support people. They accept failure. So they’ll try things. And a lot of them fail. But you know, they kind of accept that, and that doesn’t really bother them.

“Because once you have that kind of assets or culture in your community, you’re gonna bring people in, and you’re gonna get people that are

willing to just innovate and be entrepreneurs, social entrepreneurs in their community, and try new things.”

Sheetz similarly recognizes the need to look for new innovative ways to improve Leon.

“I think we need to be a little bit visionary and focus on our long game and take small steps so that we can look back in a number of years and say, ‘Yeah, we really did make progress’ rather than trying to take big swings. And when we swing and miss then it feels we get a really negative vibe from that sort of thing. And I’m not saying that that’s necessarily happened in the past. But we need to be open to ideas, think outside the box, and not necessarily look for a quick fix. I think it’s a slow walk to China.”

But this is a walk the small town is willing to take.

It’s Not an Adjective.

WORDS CASSIDY GRUBISIC | PHOTO KATE ELSTROM | DESIGN EVE KELLY

FIVE OCD STORIES AND FOUR ADVOCATES WHO ARE CHANGING MEDIA REPRESENTATION SURROUNDING THE DISORDER

ans of “Friends” might recognize this deep cut. In season 4, episode 13 (The One With Phoebe’s Uterus), one of Ross’s coworkers introduces himself by saying, “I have to turn a light switch on and off 17 times before I leave the room or else my family will die.” This was used as a punch line. A punchline, when Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) can really manifest this way.

OCD has been trivilized and made fun of in popular media for years. What many people don’t understand is that OCD is a debilitating disorder that can severely inhibit a person’s life.

The International OCD Foundation defines it as a mental health disorder that occurs when a person gets caught in a cycle of obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are unwanted intrusive thoughts and compulsions are behaviors the person engages in to try to relieve the anxiety of the obsessions. In order to get actually diagnosed with OCD, those obsessions and compulsions have to take up at least one hour of the day, cause intense distress, and keep a person from doing activities they value.

I was diagnosed with OCD in second grade. My journey started in kindergarten after my teacher noticed some abnormal behaviors. After many visits to the doctor, brain scans, and a trip to a therapist, I still wasn’t diagnosed. In fact, the counselor thought I was doing it all to get attention. She said I had behavioral problems and was manipulative.

I remember my symptoms being really bad throughout elementary school. There are home videos of me breathing into hats and scarves because I was afraid to breathe on others. I thought that if I breathed on them, they’d get sick and die. I’d come home every day from school and tell my parents everything that worried me.

I was afraid all the time. Afraid that I’d accidentally start a fire if I rubbed pencils together. Afraid to touch my pet guinea pig for fear of making him sick. Afraid that negative thoughts towards someone would hurt them. Afraid to swallow while looking at someone who was sick because that would make me or someone I loved sick. If I did swallow while looking at someone who was sick, I’d have to cancel it out by swallowing while looking at someone who wasn’t. I was afraid of phone calls, damaged library books, and praying the wrong way in church.

Eventually this all became too much and I told my mom that I didn’t want to be here anymore. Luckily, my parents were able to take me to a specialist in second grade. Finally, I was diagnosed. In therapy, I learned how to understand the disorder, how to cope with it, and how to challenge it. I got better after a year of working with my therapist.

I continue to struggle with OCD to this day, but unlike I did when I was a child. My OCD manifests itself almost completely mentally. I have a lot of intrusive thoughts. Everytime I hit a bump when I’m driving, a part of my brain tells me I hit someone.

Sometimes that thought is so strong, I have to look into my review mirror to check.

After some social interactions, I feel guilty. Not because I did anything wrong, but because I feared I had too much fun or said too many things. I analyze, obsess, and feel yucky.

I felt very isolated by my OCD. It was never something talked about, except as a joke or to describe someone who liked to keep their pencils straight on their desk. Through social media and the recent mental health

movement, OCD is finally starting to get some media representation.

These OCD advocates are doing their part to make a difference through mediums ranging from podcasts to music, social media to merch campaigns.

A Musician

Texas native Bethany Becker is currently working on a song about OCD for people affected by the disorder. “Victorious” acts as an inspiration and comfort for people fighting through the disorder. She recently showcased the song at the October OCD Walk in Austin, Texas, after telling her story to a crowd. That was the first time she spoke publicly about her diagnosis.

Her journey with OCD started when she was six years old.

“I remember standing there in my little church dress, crying in the bathroom because my mom touched toilet paper, then touched something else and that something else touched me… And then all of a sudden, I was contaminated. I did not want to go to church. I had to take a bath. I was freaking out because I had to take a bath,” Becker says.

This is her first memory of OCD. She began showing symptoms at six but wasn’t officially diagnosed until she was 23. Her symptoms fluctuated throughout her life.

A later diagnosis is not uncommon. According to the International OCD Foundation, it typically takes an average of 14 to 17 years for a person to get a diagnosis. This is because some people try to hide their symptoms, there has historically been low public awareness of OCD, and difficulty finding a therapist to treat OCD effectively.

Becker started seeking a diagnosis after reading an OCD advocate’s post on social media. She noticed she had many of the hallmark symptoms. It took Becker many

different therapists and specialists before she received her official diagnosis. But when she finally did, she knew she had to do something.

“Ever since I finally got my diagnosis and finally got the help I needed, I really wanted to do something,” Becker says. “I didn’t know what I wanted to do but I think that God’s given me a gift with music and songwriting.”

Like Becker, Elise Petronzio started getting symptoms of OCD as a child.

“When I was younger, it was a lot of rituals. But then as I got older the more my brain was able to think abstractly, the more abstract OCD became. So then I started having a lot of intrusive thoughts,” Petronzio says.

After her diagnosis, Petronzio realized she wanted to focus on advocating for OCD because she would have benefited from knowing others who had it. In March of 2020, Petronzio began making TikToks about OCD. Shortly after that, she started an online shop selling merchandise advocating for OCD awareness.

“The main reason was just to help empower people in their recoveries from OCD,” Petronzio says. “But as a byproduct of that, it becomes a shop that validates people with OCD and also educates about what OCD is actually like.”

In her store, you can find a variety of OCD related

A Small Business Owner

merchandise ranging from t-shirts to stickers, and even a pink elephant stuffed animal.

“If someone says, you can think about anything except a pink elephant, then a pink elephant is going to be the first thing that you’re thinking about,” Petronzio says. “A lot of times with OCD, people try not to think about what they’re obsessing about. And they think about it more, because they’re fighting it.”

A TikTok Creator

Jenna Clute, a TikTok video creator, uses her platform to advocate for OCD awareness and education. Clute became friends with Petronzio over TikTok since they were both creating educational videos.

“She’s one of the first people I actually met,” Clute says. “And she did actually help. I own a lot of her OCD merch. And she also introduced me to the NOCD app, which has a lot of therapy resources.”

Diagnosed at 17, Clute has dealt with symptoms for most of her life. It started with an extreme fear of germs and excessive handwashing. Then it shifted into a fear that something bad would happen to her family if she didn’t do things a certain way. As she got older, she experienced Sexual Orientation OCD — constantly questioning her sexuality — and Pedophilia OCD — the fear of having harmful or sexual thoughts about children.

It can feel almost impossible to share these kinds of taboo OCD thoughts and behaviors with someone, even a therapist. It’s not uncommon to experience many OCD variations and themes that change throughout one’s life.

“Over time, each theme transitioned,” Clute says. “And once some got better, others would get worse, and it fluctuates.”

A Therapist and Podcaster

OCD can sound like… What if I lose control? What if I’m in denial about my sexuality? What if I’m not 100 percent lucid and do something bad?

Like many others, Kelley Franke started getting OCD symptoms when she was young, but wasn’t diagnosed until she was 30 years old.

Her OCD started with severe separation anxiety and body-focused repetitive behaviors like picking her nails. As she got

older, it developed into more existential OCD. After the traumatic loss of her boyfriend, she developed harmful obsessions and was convinced that she was the cause of his death, and a dangerous person.

“It’s interesting, when you’re in it, you think, okay, something’s kind of off, like this isn’t right. But you also at the same time feel like it’s so real. And you believe it so much,” Franke says.

Today she is in recovery mode. She still has intrusive thoughts and compulsions but is better at being able to cope with them.

Franke is currently active as an OCD and mental health advocate. Not only is she a licensed family and marriage therapist, but she also has a successful OCD Instagram page with nearly 20,000 followers.

“Initially, my social media started as an exposure [therapy] for myself,” Franke says.

She also struggled with perfectionism — spending hours creating just one post. Her OCD therapist addressed both of these struggles by having Franke

post information about OCD regularly. While doing this exercise, Franke started to get a positive reaction from her audience.

“People were having such a great response to it,” Franke says. “I think of it as like my philanthropy work… this is free information that I spend a lot of time on giving back. And I feel good, because I wish I had had that information so many years ago. It would have really changed the game.”

During the pandemic, Franke began hosting a podcast with her friend. They both enjoyed talking about OCD and the research surrounding it. What started as just a fun thing to do during lockdown transformed into an important platform.

AN INSIDE LOOK INTO THE AMERICAN FOOD SYSTEM THAT LEAVES MANY WITHOUT FOOD ON THE TABLE.

ubrey Alvarez doesn’t work a normal nine to five. Some days she’s glued to Zoom, talking about food insecurity with partners across Central Iowa. Others, she’s driving a bright green truck, also referred to as Barry, rescuing food from Trader Joe’s and other local convenience stores in the Des Moines area.

“This job, originally when I took it, the title was local food coordinator,” she says. “I really didn’t know what that meant.”

She does now. It means Alvarez is a lifeline, though she’s no longer a local food coordinator. She’s the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Eat Greater Des Moines, a nonprofit that focuses on increasing access

to quality food. In 2021 alone, Alvarez was a part of rescuing over 2,125,228 pounds of food and products. Where does this food go? The answer is simple: anyone who needs it.

The term food insecurity isn’t as complicated as it sounds. It is being without reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food. And it’s more common than you think.

Alvarez has been working with partners to combat food insecurity since 2013. She has celebrated a lot of wins, but has also seen the problem remain. Over 2 million pounds of food rescued is a big number. You’d think this would solve the hunger crisis. But, it hasn’t. In fact, hunger has not only remained but continues to grow.

WORDS EMILY POSTLETHWAIT PHOTO MICHAEL CUMMINGS DESIGN EMILY POSTLETHWAIT

THE PROBLEM

Here’s the truth: our food system is not designed to benefit everyone. “A lot of people who are food insecure—it has nothing to do with any short sort of character flaw,” Alvarez says. “It’s the ecosystem, the broken food system.”

She’s not wrong. In 2019, the food insecurity rate was the lowest it had been in over 20 years. But then a pandemic hit. The percentage of individuals who lived in a food insecure household spiked from 11 percent to 14 percent. That’s 45 million people.

And that number makes sense. Restaurants closed. Farmers weren’t needed. Milk was dumped. Crops went unpicked. Prices spiked. Food banks temporarily closed. And people were left hungry. The cracks in the American food system were exposed because of Covid. Food that would have normally been bound for restaurants couldn’t be quickly repacked and rerouted to grocery stories or food pantries. A lot of it went to waste.

Eventually, food assistance programs arose. Stimulant checks were mailed out. Supply food chains sort out— mostly. And the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits increased, helping lowincome people buy the food they needed. There were

also child tax credit payments that went directly to lower-income families, allowing them to cover all their expenses. For the first time in a long time, people were talking about making a change in food insecurity. And fewer people were hungry.

Fast forward two years and things have changed for the worse. Those extra SNAP benefits are gone. So are the child tax credits payments. here is less focus on filling up food pantries. And thanks to record inflation, prices everywhere are high. An average SNAP benefit is around $150 a month. The price of avocados has risen 40 percent in the past year. Eggs are now $3 a dozen. Meat has shot up. Milk has too. A hundred and fifty bucks can run out in seconds.

Now, the lines to food banks have multiplied. Food pantries are often overtaxed. And there are still a lot of hurdles to getting food. . In food deserts, pantries are often inaccessible to populations. For houseless folks, they might not have the proper documentation that food pantries require to receive food. And here are limits to the amount of food people can get and how often that food can be accessed.

We can all agree that everyone deserves food. But unfortunately, there are rules in food banks and pantries that constitute who deserves food over others.

OTHER SOLUTIONS

That is why other solutions are needed. Melissa Spiesman, Chief Operating Officer at the nonprofit Food Rescue US, dedicates her time to ensuring there are options for hungry people.

The model is simple. They use a web-based app that allows volunteers to rescue fresh perishables and deliver them to organizations that serve hungry people. They aim to rescue perishables, including produce, dairy products, meat, and premade meals, to not only feed people but fuel those people as well.

“With Food Rescue US, would-be-wasted food can be used to fight hunger rather than ending up in landfills and contributing to climate change,” Spiesman says.

With Food Rescue US, would-bewasted food can be used to fight hunger rather than ending up in landfills and contributing to climate change.

A common misconception about rescued food is that it is considered used or old. However, food waste includes myriad things.

“Food waste includes excess food at grocery stores, imperfect produce at farms, unused food at large-scale events, and premade meals with approaching sell-by dates,” Spiesman says.

Unfortunately, that excess food that ends up in landfills and decomposes releases carbon dioxide and methane, both of which contribute to climate change. According to Project Drawdown, the food we waste is responsible for roughly 6% of global emissions. Put another way, 130 billion meals and nearly 40 percent of all food in America is wasted. 130 billion.

It’s because of companies like Food Rescue US that this number is decreasing – slowly to say the least. Other organizations like Eat Greater Des Moines and Sweet Tooth Community Fridge have thought of innovative solutions to minimizing food waste in their communities.

Monika Owscarski, the founder of Sweet Tooth Farm and Sweet Tooth Community Fridge, has had a front-row seat in

watching her community come together to help people access food.

“Since starting the first community fridge in Iowa (as far as we can tell), I have had a large perspective shift,” Owscarski says. “You don’t have to fit into any criteria to use community fridges. They are for us all. You just need to be hungry.”

And that is exactly the motto that Sweet Tooth Community Fridge lives by. Food is available 24/7, 365 days a year. For anyone and everyone. There’s no surveillance that monitors how much people take.

Owscarski bases her work on the belief that there shouldn’t be policing of people who are hungry. Sweet Tooth Community Fridge works with Eat Greater Des Moines on filling the fridge. Although they have fresh groceries filling the fridge many times throughout the week, the fridge can be empty within ten minutes of food being delivered.

“I think that just accentuates how much people are struggling. How much need there is, Owscarski says. “People just need resources. There is no fluffy language to it. We don’t need another analysis. We don’t need another focus group. People just need money and food. It’s not rocket science.”

MAKING AN IMPACT

There are a lot of stigmas surrounding those who are food insecure. People are lazy, people don’t know how to budget, and people are making bad choices. There is so much shame surrounding the problem. Alvarez felt that shame herself.

Aubrey Alvarez was 21 when she bought her first house. Two months later, she was laid off. She resorted to eating ramen noodles – or simply didn’t eat.

“I didn’t ask for help,” Alvarez says. “I thought food pantries were for those who were worse off than me. As it was, I was trying to make 20 dollars last

for a week. If I was able to get some groceries or food, it would have been so helpful. There was a lot of internalized shame that came with being food insecure.”

Soon after, Alvarez realized that it wasn’t a character flaw that resulted in people being food insecure. She realized that the food system is messed up. That shift opened her eyes to the impact that she could make on her community, and further introduced the founding of Eat Greater Des Moines.

Alvarez urges people to challenge their own biases on why people are food insecure. Checking yourself can be an important step in being a part of the solution.

“If you didn’t have anything right now and you needed to get help with food today, where would you go? See what’s available in your community. There is an assumption that anytime you need help, you can get it. But that’s not true.”

Are there gaps? Are there things that could be better? Ask your grocer what happens with the extra food. Really think about where the gaps are in your own community and how you can make a difference. After all, one person making a difference is better than nobody caring at all.

‘ People just need resources. There is no fluffy language to it... People just need money and food. It’s not rocket science.

5PRODUCTS FOR YOUR FIVE SENSES

FIGURING OUT HOW TO SET THE MOOD CAN FEEL LIKE A CHALLENGE IN ANY RELATIONSHIP, NEW OR OLD. EXPLORING THE FIVE SENSES CAN TAKE YOUR INTIMACY TO THE NEXT LEVEL. SO, TURN OFF THE LIGHTS, START THE MUSIC, AND LIGHT A CANDLE, BECAUSE THINGS ARE ABOUT TO GET HOT.

Heat things up with the perfect candle. A good scent can be a powerful aphrodisiac that sets the scene for the evening. Look for soft notes of a subtle combination.

TASTE

HIGH ON LOVE SENSUAL MASSAGE OIL

Become irresistible with a delicious, edible massage oil. Before getting in the sheets, a nice massage goes a long way to set the mood. The white chocolate taste is a sweet addition.

POSITION OF THE DAY

When setting the mood, learning about what you and your partner enjoy, through touch is key. Find new positions daily to spice up your experiences.

ISLA LINGERIE

Let your eyes linger on your partner with a sexy look. Believe it or not, physical appearance plays into attraction and creates that intimate mood you’re searching for.

LISTEN

PLAYLIST

It’s time to introduce you to the best playlist for getting you and your partner turned on. Music quite literally sets the tone for the evening, so set it right with this playlist.

FEMME SENSUAL CANDLE

WORDS SOPHIA LACY PHOTO PAIGE MINOR DESIGN AVA BARVIAN

SMELL

IT’S ONLY HUMAN TO CARE ABOUT OTHERS BUT YOU SHOULDN’T LOSE YOURSELF IN THE PROCESS. COMPASSION FATIGUE CAN AFFECT ANYONE FROM TEACHERS AND HEALTHCARE WORKERS TO NON-PROFIT LEADERS AND FAMILY MEMBERS. LEARN HOW TWO INDIVIDUALS RECOGNNIZE AND COMBAT THEIR COMPASSION FATIGUE.

ynette Graves doesn’t have time to be exhausted because people might die. It’s not an exaggeration. She’s a neonatal intensive care unit nurse. She cares for babies in the ICU day in, day out. She’s done it for 26 years now. Some days are full of miracles. Others leave her bones tired.

“I had a patient who ended up having not a very good delivery…(the baby) has a severe brain injury,” Graves says.

And when something like that happens, it’s hard not to be emotionally invested. At work. At home. All the time. There isn’t a switch Graves can flip and suddenly not care.

It’s a problem that a lot of caregivers like Graves face. Doctors, nurses, social workers, teachers and more can all suffer from what’s known as compassion fatigue. According to a National Institute of Health (NIH) study, compassion fatigue is the “stress resulting from exposure to a traumatized individual.”

In Graves’ case, that’s tiny babies struggling to make it through the day. And the impacts of compassion fatigue can be pretty severe: exhaustion, anger, a lack of empathy, an impaired ability to make decisions, and even substance abuse. Another NIH study from 2015 says that up to 40 percent of ICU professionals have compassion fatigue.

“When you have a bad day, or a baby dies, you go home, and you just hug your babies. You just thank God for what you have,” Graves says.

But compassion fatigue isn’t exclusive to health care workers. It can happen to anyone. Sedina Traljesic exhibits every sign and symptom of compassion fatigue. She sits on the board of directors for Des Moines Refugee Support and is a former refugee from Bosnia.

“Volunteering for refugee support is heart-wrenching,” she says. “Often, I feel helpless advocating for these folks and knowing the unpredictability that they face. Seeing the restrictive national policies and an oppressive political climate for immigrants exacerbates the sense of helplessness.”

Even though these things like national policies are out of her control, Traljesic still blames herself when things go wrong.

“I feel anger towards the events or people that cause those to suffer,” she says. “I blame myself and have thoughts of not having done enough to help people.”

While Traljesic is extremely passionate about her job, she recognizes that this is not a sustainable way to live.

“I’ve realized that if I don’t take care of myself first, then I can’t take care of others,” she says. “If I am in bed because I’ve pushed myself into exhaustion and burnout, I can’t help others. To effectively help others, we must help ourselves first.”

She recommends setting boundaries with work and other people to maintain a healthy body and mind. She no longer answers emails after five or on the weekends. Her phone is on “do not disturb” starting at 9 p.m. She’s started exercising and pushes herself to have more of a social life. And, maybe most importantly, she’s learned to empathize with others without taking everything to heart.

“Celebrate all wins, big or small,” Traljesic says. “I’ve had to increase my self-awareness, to be present, to acknowledge the things I did accomplish versus the things I didn’t. We must give ourselves more selfempathy and grace.”

Those Decks

THINGS TO KNOW

There are two kinds of cards in a tarot deck: Major and Minor Arcana. Major Arcana symbolizes the big picture, including fate and vital lessons. They mirror the relationships and events that feel outside your control, but these things can help you grow. A few Major Arcana cards are the Sun, Moon, and Star, Death, the Lovers, and the Wheel of Fortune.

Minor Arcana cards symbolize day-to-day activities. They show what a person can control and the people who may be influencing situations in their life. Similar to a classic deck of playing cards, there are 56 Minor Arcana cards and four suits. Each suit has an ace through 10. These cards include wands, cups, swords, and pentacles. Wands symbolize creativity and passion. Cups represent love and relationships. Swords indicate conflicts and mental processes. And Pentacles illustrate money and values.

Classic Tarot decks have 78 cards. Decks often have themes that can cause some Major Arcana cards to vary, but the Minor Arcana cards are typically the same.

There are also four court cards in each suit: Pages, Knights, Queens, and Kings. These reflect the personality of the person getting their fortune read (seeker) and the people who influence the seeker, or both. The four different court cards represent different stages of emotional maturity, with Kings being the highest.

Oracle cards are also an option in addition to your basic deck. Oracle cards “[They] are really just their own thing,” Williams says. “They’re more freeform and intuitive.” Oracle cards give more input into a specific situation.

SETTING UP YOUR DECK

Before you start using your deck, cleanse it. Place the cards in salt, set crystals on top, or put them in moonlight. If someone else has used it, or even between readings, you should always cleanse the deck. Cards can build up energy and cleansing revitalizes the deck so the energy doesn’t carry over between readings.

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR DECK

Each time you get a new deck, get to know it. Ask it questions. Get personal. Try asking:

1. “What’s your most important characteristic?”

2. “What are your strengths or limits as a deck?”

3. “What are you here to teach me?”

4. “What kinds of readings do you do best?”

Doing this can help you connect with your deck and make your readings more accurate.

DOING A READING

Williams likes to shuffle her cards, split the deck, straighten the cards out, and then begin the reading. Splitting the deck can bring truthful or accurate cards to the top. Some readers split the deck into thirds to separate the past, present, and future. It can also help reset the deck. Heather cleanses the reading area with incense and lights a candle. “It helps create sort of a connection intuitively,” she says.

If you’re getting into Tarot, don’t get too hung up on the little things. Do what feels right. Use your intuition. The more you practice, the easier it will be. Have fun with it and make it your own!

Pick up a deck at Ancient Ways, or at Tarot Garden in West Des Moines for around $30. You can also find decks online.

MUST VISIT VENUES

Not long ago, Iowa’s capital city was referred to as ‘Dead’ Moines, largely due in part to the lackluster arts and entertainment scene in Des Moines. But in recent years Iowa has seen the likes of Phoebe Bridgers, Greta Van Fleet, Grouplove, MGMT, and Mac Sabbath, among many other popular artists. Responsible for bringing these big names to Des Moines and the state is First Fleet Concerts. The promotional company books artists across all genres including singers, bands, comedians, etc. First Fleet Concerts books performances at a variety of venues across Iowa, Nebraska, and Illinois, including the Hinterland Music Festival in Saint Charles, Iowa. In the Des Moines Metro, First Fleet Concerts books artists at two venues they own themselves: Wooly’s and Val Air Ballroom

WORDS COLSON THAYER | PHOTO FIRST FLEET CONCERTS | DESIGN MADDIE KRUSE

DISCOVER TWO WELL-ESTABLISHED DES MOINES VENUES MAKING IT BIG IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY

only.

Security is present for all events and ID and wristband all patrons.

Nearby East Village street parking offers easy access to Wooly’s, the Capitol Complex Parking Structure about a quarter mile away is free on nights and weekends.

VAL AIR BALLROOM

Samuel Summers, the owner of Wooly’s and First Fleet Concerts, made headlines when he purchased West Des Moines’ Val Air Ballroom in January 2022. Des Moines metro natives probably know Val Air Ballroom as the host of their high school dances; but recently the venue has hosted Jack White, Clutch, and the Midwest Cage Fighting Championships. The over 30,000 square-foot ballroom holds three times the capacity of Wooly’s and sits about a mile north of the Historic Valley Junction. To increase the longevity of the venue, which was originally built in the early 20th century, First Fleet Concerts is closing the space at the end of 2022 with plans to open in early 2024.

3. 4.

A Lifetime

MEET

DAVE AND ANNIE

DUCHARME-JONES: A married couple that takes the stage with their powerful vocals and meaningful lyrics.

WORDS SARAH JAMIL PHOTOS THE DUCHARME-JONES BAND DESIGN PATRICK LUCAS

of Duets

t’s an intimate space. The husky voices of Annie and Dave Ducharme-Jones intertwine, twisting around each other like a comforting embrace. Red bricks coat the walls. Warm air hugs the crowd.

The couple is on stage at xBk Live, a small live music venue located in Des Moines, Iowa. Dave is sporting a gingham gray hat and a yellow guitar. He’s playing next to his wife Annie, who’s swaying to the beat of the song as she takes the mic with her husky vocals — a bold black and gold jacket paired with a sequined top.

Their songs silence the crowd into awe. Their vocals pierce through the audience, notes and tone concise, but their movement relaxed and kind. A wave of nostalgia hits as Dave breaks out into a punchy and refined electric guitar solo. It’s reminiscent of when music was written and performed with bare instruments — combined with a band to build their American Roots Rock sound.

The energy in the room is contagious, but the lyrics sing of realities that keep the listeners grounded.

“When you have an audience who’s really listening, and they are just focused, and they may be dancing or they may just be super listening — let’s say it’s a real quiet song. The energy in the room is palpable. I mean, there’s an interplay between the audience and the musicians,” Annie says.

The Ducharme-Jones band plays on the last Monday of every month at xBk for the weekly Monday Night Live show series.

It was started by professional award-winning bassist Scot Sutherland at the Greenwood Lounge, a small dive bar in Des Moines. Dave would team up with Sutherland and drummer Russ Tomlinson to back the singer-songwriters they’d invite to perform every week.

They’d learn around twenty of the singer’s songs and organize a performance where they all team up. Most of the time there is little to no rehearsal. They’d get together on stage and improvise based on what feels right.

Sutherland invited the Ducharme-Jones to play, and since then, they’ve been a part of the series. When the pandemic hit, the Greenwood Lounge became too small of a venue for a crowd to enjoy music. Since March of 2022, xBk Live has been supporting the Ducharme-Jones and their band on stage.

However, there was a time when Dave used to perform without Annie. Music was the cupid that tied them together. Annie was a teenager raised in West Okoboji Lake, Iowa when her musician friends would come up from Des Moines to play. They introduced her to a teenage Dave who was touring the Midwest at the time.

But while Dave was already on the professional circuit, Annie didn’t quite see performing on her radar. She’d mainly write songs, strum her guitar, and sing tunes to her friends and family, but it didn’t stretch much further than that.

“I had terrible stage fright; I would just panic if you put me on stage,” Annie says.

Though she wasn’t on stage yet, Dave recalls that she was always involved in the process.

A flair for instruments since he was a kid, Dave would play with his friends in home basements or garages. That evolved into playing in high school parties and dances, and then at bars and clubs. Now, he’s an established musician who’s written and performed his own records and participated in the works of other artists.

Annie built a career as a psychotherapist, yoga instructor, and mom. All these factors would help overcome her stage fright. Her husband told her

it was time for the band to shift from just Dave Ducharme-Jones; he told her “it has to be the Ducharme-Jones band.”

“I think having her involved, and involved in the writing and the co-leadership of the group really put a sort of identifiable style to our music,” Dave says. “It really put a focus on what it was we were going to be about.”

Annie has a fondness for masking dark subjects in a bright melody. She plays more with lyrical content. While Dave develops song arrangements and decorates the harmonies with unconventional guitar licks. Their connection as a married couple allows for a much smoother and seamless songwriting experience.

Much of their music is developed in their own home with sound engineering equipment that cover a small cozy space. They’re currently working on their fourth full-length album, as well as an All Access Live show for Iowa Public Radio that is due for release on New Year’s Eve. It will feature songs from the Ducharme-Jones and other local artists in Iowa.

For now though, there’s another Monday Night Live coming — through hard work and an exploration of creativity, they’re aiming to lift the series into the air. Regardless, there will likely be a moment when the husky voices of Annie and Dave link up, and it will sound like a warm hug.

The energy in the room is contagious, but the lyrics sing of realities that keep the listeners grounded.