CAWLM August 2017

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AUGUST 2017

ADAM D. NEVELLS MEMORIAL FUND

An Okemos family’s love & legacy

EVALUATING YOUR DEBT & MAKING A PLAN

MSU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

Inspiring women from afar

Robin Lott

Standing strong for education

1999 E. SAGINAW HWY. | EAST LANSING, MI 48823 | 517.339.6300

THEMERIDIANADVANTAGE.NET

A LIFE OF LEARNING I became a learner at LifeTech Academy in the 11th grade. A huge part of what made it so wildly successful, for me, was all the different ways I could earn my high school diploma, while learning based on my interests! The staff there took everything I had to say very personally and made great attempts to help ensure I had the very best experience possible. If one of their programs didn’t work for me personally, they were able to set me up with other options with which they were familiar and felt would best suit my needs.

The staff at LifeTech were able to help me coordinate being dually enrolled at Lansing Community College, which helped me get out of my comfort zone, get a taste of college life and start earning valuable college credits while still in high school. I was also able to take the Dale Carnegie Course, an internationally regarded professional development course which taught

I became a Learner at LifeTech Academy as I entered my Senior year of high school. Honestly, I was stunned by the friendliness of the staff, but beyond that, I was blown away by how incredibly helpful they were. I didn’t know what field I wanted to go into after graduation, I didn’t know how to decide and I didn’t really know how I could incorporate my own interests into my career. The staff went out of their way to get me more information, help me meet the right people for different programs I was interested in and pushed me to pursue job opportunities that would help me get my foot in the door.

me skills to be a better communicator, manage stress and build my selfconfidence. Everything they’ve taught me has been extremely helpful in my everyday life and in school. Completing these courses has awarded me three college credits, for which I’m thankful!

LifeTech has given me so many experiences in the real world and as a result of all of these experiences, I am confident in my decision to move to Dublin, Ireland for a year to do mission work. LifeTech is a truly unique school where everyone has everyone else’s best interests in mind (something I’d never experienced before). I am so grateful I was able to have had this opportunity for two years!

HOPE YARRINGTON

2017 LifeTech Graduate

My year at LifeTech really helped me look forward and think about where I want to be in the future. They helped me to not only look far ahead, but also at the little steps that were right in front of me. The college decisions I faced became much more manageable with their advice and expertise. I was able to consider the little decisions and explore careers that suited my interests, but were also practical and realistic. I know I was able to make a much smarter, more informed college decision because of my experiences at LifeTech Academy, and am excited to begin my journey towards becoming a physical therapist assistant this fall at Lansing Community College!

NIABH KEENAN

2017 LifeTech Graduate

To learn more about Hope and Niabh’s incredible experiences, visit

LIFETECHACADEMY.ORG

LifeTech Academy is Michigan’s Cyber School.

Serving grades 7-12, we educate your children based on their interests in a personalized learning environment at absolutely no cost!

AUGUST ON THE COVER 8

Adam D. Nevells Memorial Fund

10 Evaluating your debt &

making a plan 12 MSU Alumni Association 18 Robin Lott

IN THIS ISSUE 4

From the Publisher

5

Good News

6

Business Profile

9

Queen of the Road

11 Careers for Consideration 14 Fashion & Beauty 16 Overseas, on a Dime 17 Entertainment Alley 21 Reflections 22 Local Women 24 Lifestyle 25 A Pet's Tale 26 Recipe 27 DIY Quick Crafts 28 Tri-County Events 32 My Community

On the cover: Robin Lott| Exclusive cover photography by Erika Hodges 2

AUGUST 2017

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614 Seymour Avenue, Lansing, MI 48933 Phone: (517) 203-0123 • Fax: (517) 203-3334 Email: info@cawlm.com CAWLM.COM

ISSUE VIII • VOLUME X PUBLISHER Tiffany Dowling EDITOR Kelly Mazurkiewicz SALES MANAGER Jennifer Hodges MEDIA MANAGER Jill Bailey ACCOUNT MANAGERS Austin Ashley Megan Fleming Manny Garcia COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR Ami Iceman-Haueter

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RESERVE YOUR SPOT

EVENT CALENDAR MANAGER Jaime Hardesty CONTRIBUTORS Teece Aronin Jill Bailey Cathy Blatnik Deidre Davis Ellen Dowling Melissa Dowrick Kristopher Johnson

Taylor Kelsaw Lisa Kost Catrice Lane Adam Lansdell Taylor Mackey Sarah Spohn Josi Tiffany

Keep in mind a reservation is not an appointment, but an opportunity to hold your spot in line based on your arrival time. You will receive a text notification shortly before your reservation time. We will also continue to see walk-in patients.

ADVERTISING INFORMATION (517) 203-0123 Interested in hosting a distribution location?

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3

FROM THE PUBLISHER

The gift of learning I love to learn and try new things. One of my favorite quotes from Albert Einstein is, “Most teachers waste their time by asking questions that are intended to discover what a pupil does not know, whereas the true art of questioning is to discover what the pupil does know or is capable of knowing.” He also said, “Learning is experience.

Everything else is just information.”

Learning is experience.

Everything else is just information

That is why I’m so excited that my oldest son is studying abroad in London this summer. While reading Shakespeare and other great pieces of literature can make a person feel profound or even moved to tears, watching a Shakespearean play at The Globe immerses you in the experience.

It’s unforgettable.

Every student has a right to learn — a simple statement that isn’t always easy to apply. Kids learn differently and at varying speeds; some students need to have visual aids while some soak up a lecture or the required reading, and others need experiences to process the information.

Unfortunately, kids can have a tough time helping parents and educators understand their needs.

In addition to the actual classes he will attend, he gets an opportunity to learn from new cultures and travel to many different countries. As any parent would be, I’m nervous that he’s so far from home, but I’m also anxious to meet the man who will return from his adventures. It will be difficult to navigate all the experiences, giving him a new perspective on life — what a gift, right?

Albert Einstein

The opportunities that children and adult learners have today through online education is quite remarkable. Students can expand their horizons and move ahead with classes not taught in their district, or students can take classes and work at a pace that suits them. The beautiful partnerships forged through blended learning options within school

districts have given students an understanding of how online education works.

It’s important to understand these options, because students will need to utilize their skills as they get older — especially in college. Luckily, these whippersnappers were born with a mouse in one hand and a tablet in the other. Technology is a great learning tool, and they are getting equipped to respond accordingly.

If you’re thinking about learning something new, consider golf. The CAWLM Lady Classic is coming up, and beginner golfers are welcome to participate. Join us on Sept. 20 at Hawk Hollow Golf Course and have a great day with some amazing women. It’s one of my favorite days of the year.

Tiffany Dowling | Publisher

Please join us for our

Open House Phone: 517.485.5966 www.grandhavenlivingcenter.com

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AUGUST 2017

General public is welcome.

GOOD NEWS C

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WE’D LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU! Do you have a business or personal milestone announcement relevant to women of Clinton, Eaton and Ingham counties? Please submit it to info@cawlm.com by the first of the month prior to the issue you wish it to be printed in. CAWLM reserves the right to edit all submissions for style, grammar and length. We look forward to sharing your good news!

Innovative infant phototherapy device wins at InnovateHER challenge The Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP) is excited to announce the winner of the local InnovateHER business pitch competition, TheraB Medical. LEAP partnered with the Lansing area Tech Thursday networking group to host a local event on June 1 at the East Lansing Technology and Innovation Center (TIC) in conjunction with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)’s InnovateHER Challenge.

businesses, coming out on top to claim the $1,000 award along with a one-year membership with the TIC. TheraB Medical is a medical device company that has developed an infant swaddle that cures jaundice with phototherapeutic treatment. This innovative technology provides a more efficient and holistic treatment option for infant jaundice, which is a prevalent condition among newborn babies.

The InnovateHER Innovating for Women Business Challenge is targeted at local entrepreneurs and innovators whose products and services better the lives of women and families.

As a local division champion, Jones will move on to a national semi-final round, and possibly the final round of competition to vie for a slice of $70,000 in SBA prize money funded through a gift from the Sara Blakely Foundation. The 2017 National InnovateHER competition will be held in Washington D.C. in September.

Alexa Jones, CEO and co-founder of TheraB Medical, competed against five locally-based

Greater Lansing Convention & Visitors Bureau promotes Hoschner to CRM & Technology Systems Manager The Greater Lansing Convention and Visitors Bureau (GLCVB) is pleased to announce Beth Hoschner, CTA, has been named manager of customer relationship management and technology systems. She will direct the day-to-day management of the organization’s CRM system, provide CRM training to members and partners and serve as liaison to the organization’s IT and technology providers.

“Beth’s great attention to detail made her a perfect fit for this position,” said Jack Schripsema, president and CEO of GLCVB. “She has proven herself over the years with her acumen and professionalism. We’re looking forward to her bringing her skill set to this important role.”

Hoschner is a Michigan State University graduate with a degree in hospitality business. She previously held the position of sales coordinator with the GLCVB, and she has been with the organization since 2011.

For more information about the GLCVB, visit lansing.org.

MSUFCU hosts Financial Reality Fair On April 20, MSU Federal Credit Union (MSUFCU) hosted a Financial Reality Fair at Sexton High School. Credit Union employees and interns worked alongside Junior Achievement volunteers to help more than 85 local high school students learn about budgeting and financial responsibility.

Beth Hoschner, CTA has been named manager of customer relationship management and technology systems at Greater Lansing Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Sarah Kunst Joins MSU Foundation Board of Directors The Michigan State University Foundation (MSU Foundation) is pleased to announce it has appointed Sarah Kunst, CEO and Founder of Proday, to its Board of Directors.

This newest addition to the Board reaffirms the MSU Foundation’s commitment to MSU’s continued leadership in entrepreneurship and innovation.

Alexa Jones, CEO of TheraB Medical, receives first place in LEAP’s InnovateHER challenge on June 1, 2017

2016 cohort in the Los Angeles Dodgers Accelerator Program.

An investor and entrepreneur, Kunst has worked at Apple, Red Bull, Chanel, Mohr Davidow Ventures, as well as several venture-backed startups. She is a contributing editor at Marie Claire Magazine and has hosted a podcast Sarah Kunst, CEO and for Forbes Magazine. Although Founder of Proday joins MSU Kunst, a Mt. Pleasant, Mich. native, Kunst is steeped in the investment Foundation Board of Directors. graduated from MSU in 2008 with and entrepreneurial spaces, she is a degree in advertising. Since then, she has gone also passionate about her philanthropic interests, on to be the Founder and CEO of Proday, a San including Venture for America and the U.S. State Francisco-based company. Proday was part of the Department’s Tech Women Program.

The Financial Reality Fair reflects MSUFCU’s commitment to educating community members in unique and innovative ways. During the event, students from Sexton High School, Eastern High School and Everett High School were assigned education paths, career paths and starting salaries. Students were tasked with making financial decisions at 13 different stations, each of which represented a different expense such as housing, transportation and charity donations.

MSUFCU has an ongoing partnership with Junior Achievement, the world’s largest organization dedicated to educating students about workforce readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy. Because of this partnership, youth in the greater Lansing area have the opportunity to learn about various positions in the financial industry while developing a greater understanding of personal finances.

“Our partnership with Junior Achievement helps students gain first-hand experience managing finances,” said Whitney Anderson-Harrell, MSUFCU’s chief community development officer. “The Financial Reality Fair represents an opportunity to engage with our community’s youth, while creating a foundation for positive future financial habits.”

CAWLM.COM

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BUSINESS PROFILE here for everyone, but keeping this statement factual requires a bit of risk and reward.

BY ADAM LANSDELL

“We try to have a good selection of everything,” said Hackler. “Sometimes it’s just a gamble. We try to buy what we like and hope that they like it too. It’s challenging because with the Internet, everyone’s able to pull out their phone and quickly see what items are selling for on eBay. So, we do our research to try to see what’s selling and keep our prices a bit lower than what’s available online.”

An integral aspect of Little Red Schoolhouse is its ability to evolve. As time passes, styles change, items fluctuate in value and meeting the desires of customers becomes more difficult. However, the contrast in vendors and their focus allow the shop to stay current, and that same tactic will push them into the future.

“Our constant goal is to always be up-to-date with trends,” said Hackler. “They’re always changing, and we want to make sure we’re bringing in items that reflect that. Our long-term goal is to eventually take the shop online, because that’s ultimately where everything is headed, and we recognize that.

However, we believe physically exploring antique shops is an experience and want to make sure we can always offer that.”

Homeward Bound display at the Little Red Schoolhouse

Timeless capsule Lansing’s Little Red Schoolhouse meshes history with the latest trends

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ackler, (right) co-

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“Every one of our vendors that has a space here essentially has their own business, and it’s important to them, just as much as this entire operation is important to us,” said Hackler. The hardest part is ensuring that everyone is successful and that we’re doing all we can to make sure they are. Not everyone is, but when they leave, it’s an opportunity for our store to learn what doesn’t sell and recreate itself.”

Little Red Schoolhouse’s years of expertise have culminated into good taste; there truly is something

antique vendo Ray, r.

“The biggest secret to our success is our selection process for vendors,” explained Hackler. “Every new seller has to pass through a jury, which judges them on quality, marketability and selection so that we’re not doubling up on things that we’re already selling too much of. We want to keep that level of quality consistent to avoid looking like a flea market.”

item and space is unique, still acting cohesively to give customers a seamless experience as they walk through rows of eyecatching pieces.

ren Ka

Here you’ll find some of the most unique items, ranging from the ever-popular antique storefront signs to today’s trending décor pieces, but you certainly won’t find junk. Typically, when we think of antique shops, we envision a scattering of booths crammed with items. What separates this business from its competitors is also the secret to their quarter century’s worth of success.

“I travel across the country several times a year seeking out the latest trends, which tends to be While Hackler and Raffler are the brains behind anything farmhouse, repurposed, shabby and the the operation, they can’t take credit for everything. like. In my travels, I also try to find unique “Made Vendors work collaboratively to ensure their in America” handcrafted items,” said Eiseler. individual success within the store, which house Antiques l o o and “Most items in Homeward Bound are collectively acts as quality control.

Sch Cr ed not seen anywhere locally and R af e This system is what helps define ts ttl i L that gives me real satisfaction the shop, allowing items to that customers feel they have flow and transition by section something really unique.” without a hiccup. Each d an

For nearly 25 years, one local antique store has continued to grow. Today, sitting at over 11,000 square feet on the west side of Lansing, Mich., Little Red Schoolhouse Antiques and Crafts is stronger than ever thanks to its unique attention to detail and commitment to providing quality. When co-owners Ann Hackler and Penni Raffler opened the doors to their shop in 1993 at its original location, a vacant schoolhouse from which the shop’s name derives — they never expected it to grow into the massive, vintage craft and antique haven that it is today.

Vendors like Gary Eiseler, who operates Homeward Bound, have their fingers on the pulse and grasp at trending styles from the hottest home improvement, décor and antiquing programming on television such as HGTV’s “Fixer Upper”.

Bringing stylish goods into the store allows customers to transform their homes with ease, removing the need to take on extensive Do-ItYourself projects to make their renovation dreams a reality.

In the world of antiquing, the most powerful tool is self-awareness. Knowing the climate of trends, the desires of customers and the value that comes from quality are what makes Little Red Schoolhouse a time capsule that never grows old. Experience the world they’ve created for yourself at 5002 W. Saginaw Highway, next to the Lansing Mall.

Adam Lansdell is an alumnus of Grand Valley State University, and currently a Communication Specialist with M3 Group of Lansing. With a passion for all things creative it comes as no surprise that he’s also a musician, movie buff and graphic designer.

Adam spends his down time biking, and spending too much of his personal income on concert tickets or vinyl records.

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CAWLM.COM

7

NONPROFIT PROFILE 125 Eagle Scout candidate — all while maintaining a 3.7 GPA in school.

BY KRISTOPHER JOHNSON

“As much heart and energy as Adam put into water polo as a teammate, he did that in music; he did that in Scouts,” said Elaine.

Over the years, the Nevells have discovered just how much Adam’s story has impacted other teenagers.

They’ve stayed in contact with recipients and continue to hear feedback on how Adam’s life has increased their stamina to move forward and to go to college.

True to Adam’s nature, each scholarship is considered independent of each other for passionate students.

“They’re independent [scholarships] as far as we’re concerned,” Michael said. “If Adam was here and there were three scholarships, he’d apply to all of them and fully expect to win all three. He wouldn’t, but that would be Adam.”

The aspiration of the Memorial Fund is to exist in perpetuity, and the Nevells are well on their way of reaching their $100,000 goal. With the base of the account going untouched and building interest, the Memorial Fund is more than 70 percent of the way to decades of self-sustainability.

The two biggest contributors to the Memorial Fund are the Annual Golf Outing & Dinner and Annual Wrestling Tournament, but the Nevells have found that the unwavering love and support of the community has brought everything together.

Memorial fund continues legacy of Okemos High School senior The last thing parents ever expect to lose is their children, yet Adam D. Nevells was only 17 years old when he lost his life to a tragic car collision on Jolly Road in 2009. To this day, the Okemos High School (OHS) senior is survived by his parents, Michael and Elaine Nevells, and his brother, Matthew.

After celebrating Adam’s life back in 2009 and witnessing hundreds of community members honor his passing, some time had passed when only immediate family was left in the room. After casual and nervous conversation, Matthew suddenly raised his head up and urged his family to consider the lifealtering decision before them.

“He’s quiet for a minute,” said Michael, a senior account executive at the Lansing-based Go Solutions. “Then he snapped his head and said, ‘You know, we have a choice to make. We can go hide in the basement, put a black veil over our head and mourn that we’ve lost Adam. Or we can accept that there’s a red pickup truck in everybody’s future … and that we only have a finite amount of time. We can choose to celebrate Adam’s life.’”

As of 2017, the Adam D. Nevells Memorial Fund has invested $27,000 back into the Okemos community through individual scholarships and grants. Created from Adam’s life insurance 8

AUGUST 2017

policy, the 501(c)(3) organization continues his legacy through the Capital Region Community Foundation, a tax-exempt public charity which serves and enhances the quality of life for people in Ingham, Clinton and Eaton counties.

Adam’s parents and brother are technically designated officers for the Memorial Fund. But that’s never been at the top of their minds when coming together to ensure Adam’s name lives on — they’re more like advocates. The family is always ready to talk about Adam’s story at any time while offering support to other families going through similar grief.

“It’s daily,” said Elaine, a licensed physical therapist at Sparrow Hospital. “I will share in Adam’s story — talk about Adam — instead of having a heavy heart and dwelling on something I can’t change.”

Every year, the Memorial Fund provides individual scholarships toward groups that Adam was not only a part of, but integral in. At OHS, Adam was a captain for wrestling and water polo teams, as well as a saxophone player in concert and marching bands. Not only was he a constant force in a variety of community youth programs rooted at the Martin Luther Chapel, but he was also a Boy Scout Troop

“We survive and continue to survive over these years because we’re a strong core family, but also because the Okemos community is very strong. The love and support continues today,” said Elaine. “Adam’s band director has had a foursome at the golf outing every single year; his wrestling coach has had a foursome at the golf outing every single year. Whatever we need … they drop what they’re doing and will be there.”

While they appreciate all the support of time and donations, everything they do ultimately goes back to continuing the legacy of Adam: a son, brother, grandchild, nephew, cousin and friend to many.

“If it ends up being just us that come out late August … we’re ahead of the game,” said Michael. “If a few people join us and donate a couple of bucks to put into the Fund, all the better. But this has grown each year.”

The 7th Annual Golf Outing & Dinner will be held Sunday, Aug. 27 at Wheatfield Valley Golf Course in Williamston, Mich. For more information, visit squareup.com/store/okemos-wrestling-inc. To learn more about contributing directly to the Adam D. Nevells Memorial Fund, visit crcfoundation.org.

Contributions can be made payable to the Community Foundation with the notation “Adam D. Nevells Memorial Fund” on the memo line.

Kristopher Johnson is a Communications Specialist at M3 Group, earning his bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University. While currently residing in Lansing, Kristopher will always be a native of Detroit. He enjoys volunteering, listening to others and musing over contrasting insights. He is also fond of writing, keeping up with politics and watching too much story-driven anime.

QUEEN OF THE ROAD

BY LISA KOST He wore his fancy suit everywhere, even on the hottest of days. He willingly joined us at the comedy show, laughing in all the right places.

He sang and danced to the tune of Motown songs unfamiliar to him.

He even gambled conservatively. I was sure an alien was inhabiting my son’s body.

Vegas on a shoestring They say what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas: unless you are traveling with me. Every year, my husband and I attend the National Billiards Championship where his “pool” team plays 8-ball with some of the very best players in the country.

He’s pretty good. When the team isn’t playing, I find a way to excel in purse shopping, stuffing my face and sipping multiple piña coladas by the swimming pool.

Lots of people share my talents in Vegas. To assist me in my quest, I invite one of my children to tag along on the trip. My daughter celebrated her 21st birthday in Vegas, one of my sons won a

major poker tournament there and another — you know who you are — loved the city so much, he informed me on the last day of the trip he was not leaving. Then there’s the son with probably the funniest Vegas experience, arriving with only $6 in his pocket and leaving three days later with $90.

Dan arrived with the “movie version” of Vegas playing in his head. He brought a beautiful, new designer suit I had bought him at the outlet mall, a clean shirt, flip flops, shorts and a bathing suit.

He also packed a great attitude, which places him ahead of the millions of people each year who always seem to leave half-drunk and disappointed.

By the third day, he was up; he had turned his $6 into $90, tired and ready to go home like most people would. On the way to the airport, with his head still in the clouds, he suddenly noticed the homeless people still waking up on the back streets of Vegas. Reality set in.

“This is a happy place, and a really sad place, too, mom,” Dan reflected.

I cried later thinking about what he said and how much I loved him for it. Years from now, when memories of the bright lights and the casinos all run together in my mind, I will always remember my sweet son — the poor college boy who came to Vegas with nothing and left with everything that mattered.

Lisa Allen Kost was bitten by the travel bug at an early age. Growing up an “Army Brat” she has lived abroad and is always eager to book her next trip — no matter the destination. When she is not traveling, Allen-Kost calls Okemos home and is a commercial realtor with CBRE|Martin. Her favorite travel companions are her husband, Jim and their children.

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9

FINANCIAL FACTS

BY DEIDRE DAVIS

Evaluating your debt and making a plan Step 1: Lay it all out on the table

Step one is easy to do, but mentally it’s a tough task. You should look at all your debt and write it down in one place. It might work best for you to write it all down on paper, or maybe you prefer an Excel spreadsheet. The vital thing is to not leave anything out. Maybe you have a store card balance you’ve been ignoring. Maybe someone else in your household has a credit card you don’t know about.

Seeing all the numbers add up can be hard. It can also be hard to acknowledge all the store cards and credit cards your household might have, especially if you don’t talk about your finances often.

Remember that this process will make it easier to pay off your debt, and it isn’t about guilt. Debt happens for a lot of different reasons. What matters most is how you now decide to pay it off and avoid debt in the future — by setting up savings goals and an emergency fund.

Step 2: Consolidation and refinancing

Okay, so you have listed out all your debt. Now, you have some decisions to make. One step you could take right away is to look at your store cards.

If you have a $50 balance here and there, pay those off! If it’s a bigger balance, think about transferring your balances to a lower-rate card. Store cards can have rates over 20 percent APR and by moving your balances it will help you immediately start saving money. Transferring balances to a lower rate card or card with an introductory APR can be a terrific way to minimize the interest you accrue while paying off your debt, but make sure you check the balance transfer fees before you start any transfers.

Another way to lower your interest rate is to roll your debt together into an auto or home equity loan.

If your car or home is worth more than you owe, you have equity. You can borrow against this equity at a low rate. So, if your car is worth $20,000 and you have a $10,000 auto loan, you may be able to borrow up to $10,000 at an auto loan rate by refinancing your car for the full value. Then, you can pay off $10,000 of higher-interest debt! Consolidation can also reduce the number of payments you have, making it easier to track your payments.

interest rate. This means as you go along, you’re paying less and less in interest.

Step 3: Snowball, avalanche or

another method?

Step 4: Setting Goals

Once you’ve consolidated your debt and lowered the interest rates as much as possible, it’s time to make a plan to pay off your debt. There are two main methods to paying off multiple debts: the snowball method and the avalanche method.

Debt snowball:

The debt snowball is when you start small with debt repayment and get bigger. So, you’d look at your list of debts and pick the one with the lowest balance to tackle first. Once you pay that off, you move to the debt with the next biggest balance and keep going until you pay off your largest debt. By starting small, you build up momentum and knock out small debts fairly quickly, which can be exciting.

Debt avalanche:

The debt avalanche starts off a little slower than the debt snowball, but it definitely saves you money.

Instead of starting with the smallest balance, you work on paying off the card or loan with the highest

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Another method:

Both snowball and avalanche methods have their pros and cons, so it depends on what you think will motivate you the most. A third method would be to consolidate your debt into one loan and only make payments on that loan until it’s gone. This option is the most convenient, but you might pay more in interest, depending on your debt and credit score.

So, you’ve recognized your debt, consolidated and refinanced and decided on a plan. You’re doing great! Now you’re ready to pay down your debt.

This is where setting goals come in.

Debt repayment goals are very much like savings goals: cutting your expenses and automating your debt repayment work just the same as when you’re trying to hit savings goals.

As with everything financial, debt is incredibly personal. Everyone is in a different situation, and your method might be radically different from someone else’s plan. If you have questions or need help making a plan, you can always contact MSU Federal Credit Union. We’d be happy to go over your plan with you and help in any way we can.

Deidre Davis is the Chief Marketing Officer at MSU Federal Credit Union. MSUFCU’s headquarters are at 3777 West Road East Lansing, MI 48823. Contact Deidre at deidre.davis@msufcu.org or (517) 664-7877.

CAREERS FOR CONSIDERATION

BY SARAH SPOHN is, of course, not an easy task, but it has been a rewarding one.

“That is where I think I get a lot of relationships with my followers, because they see that I am just like them,” Garza said. “I’m just a normal, regular girl trying to live a Christ-centered life and sharing that with them.”

Being vulnerable on camera about her off-camera life is worth it when viewers comment on how videos help them through a breakup, an MRI or other stressful situations.

Curating, creating, organizing and producing content on YouTube is a relatively new idea, far from the typical 9-5 job; often downplayed as a legitimate career, professional YouTubing can be looked down upon as an expensive, glamorized hobby.

As Garza explains, there’s so much surrounding her career that people don’t see. That picturesque Instagram-worthy beach day photoshoot included two hours of driving time, 15 minutes getting ready, 20 minutes taking 500 photos, selecting the thumbnail image, editing, uploading, linking, adding an appropriate font and then uploading the thumbnail.

“It looks like a really easy, 15-minute video with a cute picture,” she said, “but that was across three weeks of work.”

Photo by Heather Nesbit

Although she spends more than a full-time job’s 40-hour workweek, the passion she feels extends far beyond the labor involved. The younger generations’ guts and go-getter attitude are nuances that Garza admires most about her peers.

“I think that’s what’s so cool about our generation,” Garza said, “We are making what we love our jobs, not just going to get a job to make it work.”

Franceska Garza YouTuber

A CAREER GOOD FOR THE SOUL If you watch one of Franceska Garza’s YouTube videos, you’ll see she likes ice cream, playing with her dog Chi Chi and reading. However, if you sit down and talk with the beauty blogger, you will quickly learn there is more than meets the winged eyeliner.

The 22-year-old East Lansing freelance makeup artist and Lansing Community College graduate did not go to cosmetology school or get an esthetician’s license, but rather, she learned the ropes from online tutorials. Now, she inspires young girls and women to feel like their most confident versions of themselves, inspiring exterior and interior beauty.

Franceska, or Frankie as most people know her, started a YouTube channel in February 2016 with a no-frills makeup tutorial video. “I started talking

about what I love, which is makeup,” Garza said.

“Then it spiraled into talking about confidence, self-care, stress relief and different ways to make an abundant life for yourself and your family.”

Her video blogs, or vlogs, depict local adventures to ice cream shops in Old Town, a day at the salon in Mason, a road trip to the beach in Holland and an always-necessary run to Target.

Garza’s favorite segments, though, are those in which reveal a more personal side of herself, including her faith, blessings and hardships.

These videos make up the “Good for the Soul” series, which includes tips on serving others and recommendations on daily devotionals. Opening yourself to thousands of strangers on a dime

Since her older sister Alex has a successful YouTube channel with over 720,000 subscribers, and her mother is a successful woman in business, both inspire and support Garza.

The big picture for this young strong-willed entrepreneur is ideally bringing in the “Good for the Soul” series to high schools and colleges, with the goal of encouraging self-confidence and speaking truth into young girls and women. Building connections with her female viewers is her favorite part, despite hours spent on a laptop, nitpicking over a photo and the goofs when she forgets to hit record.

“I’ve always loved friendships and meeting other women,” Garza said. “I think God makes such powerful relationships between women, and I love experiencing them and just being able to meet so many cool women. Inspiring other women is just so fun.”

Sarah Spohn received her degree in Journalism from Lansing Community College. She’s a concert junkie; living and breathing in both the local and national music scene. She is proud to call Lansing her home, finding a new reason every day to be smitten with the mitten.

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FEATURE

INSPIRING

BY ADAM LANSDELL

WOMEN FROM AFAR

Photo by Robert Knight

The MSU Alumni Association’s Spartan Women series is changing lives across the country Starting this past May, the Michigan State University Alumni Association (MSUAA) took its Spartan Women mentorship series on the road once more. Extending a panel of experts, that guided a live seminar, to Denver, Colo., the organization flexed its ability and promise to strengthen women across the country through mentorship and leadership programming.

Since its inception in 2014, Spartan Women has appeared 10 times in six different states. Thus far, the event has not only made multiple appearances in Chicago and East Lansing, but it has also touched down in Detroit, Washington, D.C., New York and Indianapolis. Each event uses unique topics which ultimately focus on the same goal: turning the tables on traditional leadership programs, which typically lean on men, by placing successful and insightful women in front of female audiences.

The MSUAA made the decision to take their Spartan Women programs off-campus to engage with alumni working in a high-profile career outside of East Lansing, people that may not otherwise have much interaction with the university following their graduation. The series has featured women working in a number of industries, including television and film. During the Producers Series, event speakers included alumnae that have been producers for well-known shows like “CBS News”, “The Dr. Oz Show”, “What Not to Wear”, “House Hunters International” and “Chopped”. Another iteration of the event has focused on entrepreneurs.

On May 9, MSUAA hosted Spartan Women/The Entrepreneurial Mindset at Halcyon, an area 12

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hotel, with the help of notable Denver-based Spartan entrepreneurs, bringing an evening of meaningful and interactive conversation to the Mile-High City. The evening’s events switched up the organization’s typical formula and was the inaugural undertaking of its new live discussion format.

On hand to guide conversation and act as expert resources to attendees were some of MSU’s brightest alumnae, whom now associate themselves with Colorado University, including: Ann Bennett, CPA, president and founder of KBA & Associates; Ellen Bruss, creative director of Ellen Bruss Design; Julie Aigner-Clark, creator of Baby Einstein, WeeSchool, and The Safe Side; Rachel T.A. Croson, dean of the MSU College of Social Science; Nancy DiBiaggio, global property specialist of Absolute Aspen Realty; Carrie Rezabek Dorr, founder and chief barre officer of Pure Barre and founder and chairwoman of Soul Day Foundation; Nancy Haley, painter and owner at Nancy Haley Fine Art, and founder of Tehama; Anne McCarthy, founder and president of Westmeath Global Communications; and Molly McCoy, founder and chairwoman of hrQ and founder of Flower Bombers.

During the Denver event, the typical PowerPointbased presentation format was altered for the very first time. To provide a more meaningful experience, attendees had the opportunity to participate in one-on-one discussions and receive mentorship directly from the speakers.

Additionally, each speaker was interviewed in front of a live audience, often by a panel or a

fellow alumna and participated in a Spartan-led roundtable discussion.

These invaluable opportunities to receive careeraltering perspectives from top alumni are driving success, encouragement, insight and inspiration directly into the lives of young professionals.

Susan Packard, an MSU alumna and co-founder of HGTV, believes that these events hosted by the MSUAA are truly changing lives.

“I have seen firsthand the impact MSU Alumni Association programming has had on their participants,” said Packard. “People have bubbled with new ideas, and strangers have connected, creating new networks and friends. It’s a wonderful MSU offering.”

Most careers involve some level of entrepreneurial behavior, and MSUAA is working with women to spark a narrative surrounding topics such as innovation, risk-taking, acting on opportunity, establishing values and pushing through failure and obstacles. Through direct interactions with young women, the organization aims to foster events that present valuable, meaningful and interactive opportunities to emerging female workers, students and more.

Adam Lansdell is an alumnus of Grand Valley State University, and currently a Communication Specialist with M3 Group of Lansing. With a passion for all things creative it comes as no surprise that he’s also a musician, movie buff and graphic designer.

Adam spends his down time biking, and spending too much of his personal income on concert tickets or vinyl records.

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Photos by Erik a Hodges

FASHION & BEAUTY

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FASHION & BEAUTY

Back to school

FASHION

The end of summer is upon us and the stores are filling up with shiny new school supplies.

Children are bursting with anticipation of new classrooms, teachers and friends. It’s all about funky patterns in fall 2017 and bringing back retro trends. Bright colors are painted over our favorite brands for the back to school season. For Emma Grace, she is starting a whole new chapter of life entering high school as a freshman.

She will make a statement in these killer combos. A stylish wardrobe and a confident attitude will have her soaring through her first year of high school. As for Lucas, he will be king of the first grade with his plaid shirt and khaki ensemble. Lucas likes to keep it classy, but add a bit of personality with the Spiderman backpack.

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FEATURE

BY ERIKA HODGES

OVERSEAS, ON A DIME

With little money in the bank and a passion for international travel, I’ve been fortunate enough to gain six passport stamps in the past three years: I ventured to Peru with a travel agency, backpacked in Europe with my best friend and took a road trip around Iceland. Each trip has brought both great challenges and triumphs. Here's some advice on saving money while getting the most out of your international adventure.

TRAVEL GROUPS Research your travel agency. Going through an agency is the most expensive way to travel, yet it has the least stress. You will pay a good amount for services, so make sure they match your travel style and that their guides are knowledgeable. We read reviews and viewed social media accounts that tagged the agency in their posts. We found likeminded people in their 20s and 30s, ready to find adventure, and it became a match.

Book your own flights. We booked our flights through the travel agency to make sure we could meet our group; in hindsight, airports are not that difficult to navigate. We could have saved bundles by searching for a cheap flight.

Split the bill. With a tour group, you cannot avoid eating out. They know the best restaurants and its part of the experience! If you travel with a buddy, split all your meals and watch out for happy hours!

SPONTANEOUS BACKPACKING Get the gear. Try BackCountry.com or Sierratradingpost.com for good deals and split up purchases month-by-month before the trip, so you

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don’t have one big expense before you leave. For big hikes, research the area and the weather to be certain you have the proper gear: 60 degrees and sunny at the bottom of the mountain does not mean it’s 60 degrees and sunny at the top of the mountain.

Be your own tour guide. Read blogs or download free audio tours of the site you are going to. Most sightseeing locations will give you all the information you need at the visitor center. If you are sneaky enough, you can always follow a tour group close by to eavesdrop.

Embrace being a tourist. Attractions are popular for a reason. Do not skip an important location or attraction because some blogger said it isn’t cool enough. If it’s worth the money to get there, it’s worth the money to see.

Hostels are the way to go. Download the app Hostelworld and search for a hostel at least 24 hours before you need a place to stay. That gives you time to use public transport or get lost before you need to check in. Be sure to read the reviews; if a place has a low rating, try somewhere else. Beware of extra expenses like blankets, towels or breakfast, and remember it’s always valuable to stay on the safe side of town in unfamiliar territory.

Transportation will never be on time. When in the highlands of Scotland or on a beach in Italy, the buses do not stick to the schedule that you Googled before the trip. Give yourself plenty of time to wait at your stop or find a local with an updated schedule.

Bus rides will take longer than a train or a plane, but consider a night bus to save money on transportation and hostels. You could also try making friends with locals, who may offer to be your personal tour guides!

ROAD TRIPS ABROAD Rental cars. Do not book your rental car through third-party support. Instead book through Hertz, Enterprise, etc. Be thorough when reading what the insurance covers and only stick to roads your car can handle. It’s important to understand that while this will be your biggest expense, you’ll also be getting your money’s worth.

Grocery Shop. Map out where grocery stores on your route are located and buy food for the week.

We ate spaghetti every night and set aside our money for beer at the pub during happy hour. You will save hundreds with a little planning.

Make your own excursion. Always respect warning signs but, if you can, put the car in park and go explore! You can always get closer to the waterfall than you think. Sometimes getting lost will be your greatest adventure since everything will not go as planned anyway. Embrace the detours and unexpectedness of the trip, for those moments can become your favorite memories.

The advice I stress most to international travelers on a budget is this: prioritize. If you are a foody, splurge on food and skimp on lodging. If you’d rather enjoy a cold one, grocery shop and find a happy hour! If you are anything like myself, the best part of your trip - Mother Nature, free and beautiful every time.

Erika Hodges is an alumna of MSU and a Production Specialist at M3 Group. She is a proud owner of a rescue cat and dog, Kudos and Higgins. She enjoys traveling and visiting craft breweries.

Gufufoss, Seyðisfjörður, East Region, Iceland

ENTERTAINMENT ALLEY

BY TAYLOR KELSAW children will, of course, run around, play tag, jump into kickball and generally roll around in the grass and dirt. It’s what they do, right? So why not be ready with the correct clothing?

Often, I would buy too much clothing for my daughter; who wouldn’t wear any of it anyway. I eventually decided it was time for her to pick out her own clothes, only looking over her shoulder to make sure the choices were appropriate for the weather that day.

BACK TO SCHOOL FASHION Do you remember waiting for school to start the new academic year? The anticipation of seeing your friends again, new teachers, sharing summer adventures and the newest school clothes were all our fodder for the first day. There was a thrilling excitement of a new school year and the mysteries of what was before us was all I could think about.

Remember when there were uniforms you could only wear to school, as well as play clothes you'd to change into when you got home? You know, the clothes you could get dirty and not upset your mom.

Today, the clothing our children want to wear to school and play in has changed and designers are

taking note. In Hollywood for instance, they have started making clothes you can dress in pieces, altering the look of the garment throughout the day as an option. The look and feel of clothing has also changed — thank goodness — to materials that are less flammable and more organic. The new trend is called refashion, a smart and economical usage of clothing for both children and adults.

At some point, we‘ve glanced at the paparazzi images of children heading back to school with their famous parents, showing off personal styles and repurposing their own wardrobes. The style is not only a mindset, but a tool for a comfortable day of good learning. The change is significant because

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Here’s a gem of a secret that I don’t share often: In the Californian cities of Malibu, Beverly Hills, Pasadena and Hollywood, you can find wonderfully repurposed clothes at the Salvation Army and other second-hand stores. These clothes, often from the closets of the rich and famous, can be quality deals that may pleasantly surprise you. This secret to fashion is also true for any of the wealthier places of the world, from Paris and London to right here in Michigan.

Now, it’s your secret too — don’t tell anyone!

Taylor Kelsaw is a former Californian, presently living in Michigan with his family.

He is an actor, radio personality and creator/television producer of The Evan Michael Show. He has worked in marketing, film and television production for more than 30 years on such shows as Jeopardy!, Wheel of Fortune, Live with Kelly and Michael, Access Hollywood, 24, The Matrix I, II, III and The Oprah Winfrey Show.

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recognition we look for in a local print publication.

It reaches the “real decision makers” in the home and you don’t often enter a professional office environment and not see a copy laying around. That’s our audience.

“

CRAIG PHILLIPICH The Meridian Company

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Robin Lott

Standing strong for education

BY AMI ICEMAN-HAUETER It’s always a joy to meet a person that has a positive outlook on life, but it’s a completely unique experience to meet someone that radiates positivity.

This is the case for Robin Lott, executive director of Michigan Education Trust (MET). Her warm, welcoming smile combined with her sharp sense of humor could turn a gray day into sunshine — no wonder she’s made a career of helping families build brighter futures without fear.

MET is a 529 Prepaid Tuition Plan which allows for the pre-purchase of tuition, based on today’s rates. It allows parents, grandparents, businesses and others to pre-purchase undergraduate tuition for a child residing in Michigan at any in-state public university or college, including 28 public community colleges.

Lott has been with MET for nearly 30 years, moving up through the ranks to find her place at the helm of the organization.

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“MET has changed and evolved over the years, but the thing I have always enjoyed most was interacting with the clients and helping them get started,” Lott said. “It’s been amazing to meet people who are MET graduates that are now having kids of their own and looking into the program.

It is a wonderful feeling to know that you have helped this person get started and ultimately find success. You really start to see how much a college education can make a difference in someone’s life.”

Lott is passionate about education and believes you never stop learning. She also knows, as a mother of two, that learning starts early and good habits can last a lifetime.

“You have to focus on your child. When they are little, they are so inquisitive, so reading to them and talking with them and educating them early will give them a great start,” said Lott. “They

are like little sponges, so if you instill that in them early, it will stay with them through life. Spending time with them and teaching them to be responsible will pay off in the long run. Sitting on the phone may not. It is a crucial time in their lives, and you can tell when parents take the time to plant that seed early.”

Lott was determined to find time to spend with her sons early on in their lives. As a single mother, Lott held a full-time job, went to school and still made time to be a dedicated soccer mom. She’s always believed that with discipline and a respect of time, she could accomplish everything she set her mind to.

“If you can get that schedule down pat, you can get it all done. It takes discipline on your part, and you have to respect your time, but it can be done.

You may go to bed at the end of the day and wish you had just two more hours, but you don’t, so you make it happen in the time you have. You have to

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“Women have made huge strides, but we still have a long way to go ...

Other women are not the enemy ... We are all in this together and need to

stick together and support each other and not drag each other down.”

decide each day what you are going to accomplish with these 24 hours,” Lott said. “My faith in God, my inner determination and my will to do something with my life is a driving force. You have to believe and only do things that will have a positive impact for you and your kids. I also always remembered that my kids were paying attention to everything I did, and I wanted to set a good example for them and show them what was possible.”

communicate in different ways to make sure they are getting the information they need. I could talk about MET all day long, but sometimes they only give me 20 seconds, so, I’ve learned to be concise and communicate based on the situation. I am also always trying to find new ways to improve the program and sustain it into the future. You learn something new from every interaction, and if you pay attention, you can learn a lot.”

And show her kids, she did. Lott found a position as a secretary out of high school, with a young son and needing health benefits for her family. She put her mind to advancing her career, eventually moving into a state government position. From there she moved around and up the ranks, now at MET. Over the years she has learned a lot, but most of all she has learned to never stop learning.

Lott has also learned that more can be accomplished when people work together. She puts that theory to work every day at MET with her team, but also believes it can have a larger impact in the business world. As a woman in an executive position, Lott has met her fair share of naysayers, and she has found it most surprising that women don’t always work to support each other. Lott believes that this negativity has no place today and works diligently to support, encourage and inspire everyone that has a dream.

“I would say that I’ve learned to keep my sense of humor. From one day to the next, anything can happen. If you find humor and joy in things, you can face anything,” Lott said. “I interact with so many kinds of people, and you learn to

“I still think it is a man’s world,” Lott said.“Women have made huge strides, but we still have a long way to go. I see more women in executive positions,

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but I think they need to take note that we are all sisters. Other women are not the enemy. I have seen powerful women treat other women poorly, but that doesn’t help any of us. We are all in this together and need to stick together and support each other and not drag each other down. I think some of these women just need to remember we all put our undies on the same way.”

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Lott’s humor and strength have proved to be a huge part in her success, but at the core of everything she does and says is a passion for helping people. You can see it in the way she carries herself, the way she greets new friends and the way she talks about the lives that have been impacted by MET’s savings plans — opportunities for students to realize their dreams through education.

“A college education can do so much,” Lott said.

“It helps with self-esteem, provides an avenue for an individual to support themselves financially and opens doors to future opportunities. It’s just amazing to see how the opportunity to gain an education can completely change someone’s life.”

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REFLECTIONS

BY TEECE ARONIN

THE SUPPLY LIST How can it be that before I’ve managed to spin around three times, the summer’s shot and school’s about to start? When I was in school, summers dragged and slogged until autumn; these days, I’m still holding my spring-cleaning feather duster when the school rolls back around.

My daughter just graduated from high school, so we’re looking at a whole other set of stresses with her, but my 16-year-old son is starting his junior year. I’m so grateful he’s old enough to be school supply savvy because as soon as my kids passed sixth grade I instantly became clueless about the entire process.

Unless I’m viewing my childhood through chalkdusted glasses, the most complicated thing on my supply list was the pencil box; the kind with the cover you slid back to reveal your pencils, sharpener and erasers. I found this contraption endlessly fascinating because the lid seemed to disappear, when it was in

actuality rolling backward and down to the underside of the box. Pencil boxes were my favorite school supply — they were the only supply that would be equally at-home in a magician’s bag of tricks.

But I hated those years when my children still needed me to decipher their lists, like Indiana Jones trying to make sense of the parchment scroll that would lead him to priceless ancient artifacts. The only reward was that during those years — when it went well — I felt reasonably cool as one of the moms who “got it”, that elite crew who tossed supplies into the cart hand over fist and barely giving the list a second glance. Those mothers chaperoned field trips even if the bus was full, and they drove to the planetarium in their own cars with five 11-year-olds in the back. Not me. If I couldn’t be driven, I probably couldn’t chaperone either.

About 10 years ago, I stood in the middle of the Back to School section of my local department

store, staring at the children’s lists, then at the shelves and then back at the lists. Along the lines of map reading, troubleshooting my cable or sorting out recipes with more than four ingredients, I just lack the patience.

However, these days life is much more manageable; I just drive to the store with my son and let him pick out what he needs. And it takes him all of seven minutes: the same amount of time it used to take me to find the right three-ring binder hole punch.

Teece Aronin is a blogger, columnist and humorist. Her essays explore the ways life can be flawed, beautiful and funny — and often all at once. Teece's work has appeared in the Oakland Press,True Humor.com and HumorWriters.org. Teece is happy to consider speaking engagements, workshops and coaching possibilities.

Read her blog at ChippedDemitasse.blogspot.com, email her at paronin1@gmail.com and follow her on Twitter @taronin.

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LOCAL WOMEN

SALLY

BABBITT

From accounting to law

BY JOSI TIFFANY| PHOTO BY ERIKA HODGES Lansing native, Sally Babbitt has been licensed to practice law for 16 years, wearing many hats to serve clients in different capacities. She is currently the principal at her own cohort, Babbitt Legal Group, PC. She provides full-service probate and estate planning, helping families and individuals navigate the legal issues centered on death and incapacity.

In the past, Babbitt was a corporate accountant who worked in manufacturing for several years. But she knew she wanted to go to law school when she was a stay-at-home mom. She studied law at Western Michigan University’s Cooley Law School.

“Mostly, I find the thought process interesting and the cases very interesting. Everybody’s facts are a little bit different, and you can’t make this stuff up,” Babbitt said. “A lot of my experience has come together and I bring everything to the table. I also use my accounting background a lot.”

Depending on the day, Babbitt goes to client meetings, appears in court, attends other meetings outside the office and prepares a lot of 22

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documentation for cases. She also finds time to spend about 30 minutes per day on social media management, marketing her website, Facebook page and LinkedIn account.

What Babbitt likes most about her job is the problem solving inherent to the type of work her profession demands. All cases and situations have different sides to them, and it’s important to her that her clients’ sides are always the top priority.

“I like planning and strategizing,” Babbitt said.

“I am very strong in advocacy, so I enjoy really helping my clients tell their story, and get their side of the story and put it out there.”

Don’t be fooled by how smoothly Babbitt makes her profession work. There are many challenges when it comes to navigating the law. Dealing with cases can take a toll sometimes, especially around the sensitive subjects of death or other incapacitation.

When clients face various issues, Babbitt walks with them through the challenges as best she can. Each

case is different, which tempers the workload a bit, but Babbitt Legal Group isn’t one to shy away.

“There are a lot more stressful and demanding cases than others. Everything goes through a cycle,” Babbitt said. “When there’s some down time, when everything’s calm, that's when we hit the cycle. There is a lot of client coaching and court appearances. Things tend to happen in a cluster in a case.”

While work can be demanding, Lansing is a wonderful place to practice law and sustain her firm. Babbitt understands the area inside and out, leveraging the size and makeup of the local community to more easily build connections with other professionals and provide quality services to those who need them.

“I like the size of Lansing because it’s big enough to be able to support a healthy practice in the greater Lansing area,” Babbitt said. “Lansing is great because networking is so much easier because, really, everyone knows everybody.”

LOCAL WOMEN

KRISTIN CLARK

A life of service

BY ELLEN DOWLING | PHOTO BY ERIKA HODGES I first met Kristin Clark at a beautiful 1920s English Tudor that she’s currently completely renovating. Flipping houses is a lot of work, filled with unexpected challenges; however, Clark’s diverse background and passion for improving the neighborhoods she loves creates beautiful and unique homes that revive the area. It was obvious from watching her work that she is doing exactly what she was meant to do.

Clark got her start by getting involved with a variety of humanitarian causes after receiving her undergraduate degree in sociology from Wells College in Aurora, N.Y. “When I finished my undergrad, I wanted to help people,” Clark said. “That’s why I spent a semester in France, doing service-learning.

I worked with food banks and with Doctors Without Borders.”

After spending time traveling and giving back, Clark decided to get her master’s degree. “I’ve always really wanted to help people, so when

I went to graduate school I ended up going to Cornell,” said Clark. “My master’s degree is in Industrial Labor Relations, and from there I was mostly looking into labor law, and I ended up in human resource management.”

good sense of design, Clark curated a home that her family will cherish for years. With a newfound passion for giving once rundown houses new life, Clark started working with a realtor to find new potential homes to flip on her own.

After completing school, Clark started working in social work, where she used her love for helping both individuals and families. She then moved on to work in the human resources department of a manufacturing firm with hundreds of employees.

She explained, “I moved from home-life counseling to work-life counseling. Then it was a tough time in the economy … I finished my graduate work in 2000, so I went off to New Jersey in 2001 or 2002 and, basically, I was shutting down plants and helping downsize; so, they called me The Terminator and that just wore on me.”

Clark and her family got a fresh start after moving from Petoskey to East Lansing in August 2009, where they bought an historic home from the Michigan State University Foundation. The house needed a facelift, so after some hard work and a

“It really happened when I would be spending time running distances with my dog, and I’d see these vacant houses and think ‘gosh, somebody needs to love this house,’” Clark said. “So, after my mom passed away and left me a little bit of life insurance, I took that money and got this business started.”

Clark now helps people in the Lansing neighborhoods every day by breathing new life into once forgotten and rundown homes. She has been with Key Home Partners since November 2014 and is currently working on flipping her eighth house.

“I’m 47, so I can see very distinct chapters in my life,” Clark said. “The common thread to weaving them together is helping people, and I think that my definition of helping people has evolved over time.”

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LIFESTYLE

BY CATRICE LANE

MAKING NEW FRIENDS One of my favorite childhood song lines is, “Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other gold.” Its great advice aligned with a catchy tune, aptly named “Make New Friends.” In my column this month, I’d like to look at key ways in which we can help the back-to-school crowd grow their network of positive friendships. Before we explore effective ways to make these connections, let’s highlight the purpose and value of establishing connections in the first place.

YOU ARE WHO YOU SEEK Many of us know that a key component of professional success is directly related to the effective, reliable peer relationships we have today.

Therefore, it’s important to remind ourselves that these links are equally important for academic success. No matter what stage of education — elementary school, high school, college, etc.

— having positive, healthy relationships with classmates can reinforce better performance and academic achievement.

I stress the term “healthy” because healthy relationships are designed to teach us virtues such as love, compassion and support along with life lessons about dealing with conflict, adversity and isolation. Most likely, the most meaningful and long-lasting friendships are the ones that provide us refuge from our moments of discomfort and weakness. But more importantly, friendships should influence our lives for the better. That’s why back-to-school prep should include effective ways to coach students on the right way to meet new chums. If asked why, simply share that great peers can help us stay engaged, inspire us to do better and challenge us to set and achieve educational goals.

NICE TO MEET (THE REAL) YOU Let’s review five tips to keep in mind when helping others or yourself to establish a back-toschool plan.

understand what someone else is about; you may be surprised at what you learn about yourself.

Be Yourself. Relax. Try not to be nervous and don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Everyone is looking for friends, so take it slow. Friendships take time to develop, and they can’t be artificially created.

Be Approachable. Keep your head up and make eye contact with other people. If you see a group of people, don’t only say hi to only the folks you know: acknowledge everyone within your purview.

Identify Goals. Most people tend to form cliques because their unique personality and interests fall into a specific group. Purely for example, athletic students may find they have more in common with the jocks and creative students may find their artistic interests more in line with members of the choir, drama or band. Be open to a diverse group of classmates that may have contrasting interests.

Get Involved. Stir up conversation and look for activities that you can join. You never know where you can find a nice friend or what you and a friend can discover together.

Be Engaging. Ask questions. Take an interest in what they like and don’t be so quick to advocate your own hobbies. Be thoughtful and try to 24

AUGUST 2017

VISUALIZE THE OUTCOME As you work or coach others to make these new connections, make sure to keep a positive mindset.

See your self-worth and how handy of a friend you are. Don’t worry about not finding friends; instead, concentrate on what you will do once you make new

friends. Looking back to the song that I loved so much, it is a splendid example of positive thinking.

As a child, I would always repeat the lyrics of the song repeatedly, reminding myself of the treasures that I could gain and give in my friendships.

While this article is highlighting the bond between schoolmates, the spirit of the message can apply to anyone that is looking to improve their overall quality of life through meaningful relationships. I’ll end this topic the same place that I began: “A circle is around, it has no end. That’s how long I will be your friend.”

Good Luck, students!

Catrice is fun, sassy but serious when necessary. A Project Manager by trade and a loving, devoted friend by choice. Finding the person(s), place(s) and thing(s) that are destined for her life has always been her number one passion.

A PET'S TALE

BY JILL BAILEY

Photo by Eve Vicary

proper amount of fat covering them. I also have a very shiny, healthy coat! The doctor told my mom that she feeds me high-quality dog food which helps my overall nutrition and includes the essential fatty acids that helps my coat stay shiny.

Have your mom talk to your doctor to recommend some good foods.

Mousse

Do you have a five-star pup?

I recently visited my bestie and her new dog.

What I found out while I was there was that her veterinarian told her that she had a five-star pup.

I thought that was great and decided to chat with this five-star dog by the name of Mousse to unveil what makes him so great.

“Hi, my name is Mousse and I was recently told I was a five-star puppy by my doctor. This made me

very happy, and I’d like to share a few tips with you as to what makes me this way!

First off, I lost all of my baby teeth, which is super great because I didn’t need to get any pulled.

I was lucky that my adult ones have come in properly — nice and straight too! Although I’m tall and long, I’m still at a very healthy weight: Doc said he could feel my ribs along with the

I know my boundaries because my family has done a really good job training me, including teaching me how to ring bells on the door when I need to go outside, how to sit, to play with my toys instead of chew on my people and to kennel up when it’s time for everyone to go to work and school for the day. It makes me happy and I feel smart because I really love to play with my family and it’s so much better for everyone when I’m on my best behavior.”

All of this is very important: After all, you want your puppy to be happy and healthy too.

Remember to look for quality dog food, get your dog all their shots and monthly heartworm and flea medications and, of course, be sure to set aside time to train your dog!

Jill Bailey is the Media Manager at M3 Group.

Having a life-long love of dogs, Jill decided to get her training certification in 2012. Visit caninecoaches.com for more information.

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25

RECIPE

START THE SCHOOL YEAR OFF WITH

( ) CHEER(IOS) FROM THE KITCHEN OF CATHY BLATNIK

These cereal bars, made with Cheerios, make breakfast a breeze.

Don’t stress the start of the school year — grab one of these yummy bars, load the kids in the car and be on your way!

INGREDIENTS • • • • • • • • • • • • •

2 cups, white flour 1 cup margarine, softened 1/2 cup, white sugar 1/2 cup, light brown sugar 1/4 cup, honey 1 cup, peanut butter 1 teaspoon, baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 large eggs 1 cup, milk chocolate chips 1 1/2 cups, Cheerios 1 1/2 cups, old fashioned oatmeal

DIRECTIONS

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

• Lightly spray a 13 x 9 x 2 inch pan with non-stick cooking spray.

• Put flour, margarine, white sugar, brown sugar, honey, peanut butter, baking soda, salt, vanilla extract and eggs in large bowl. Stir well by hand with large spoon or with an electric mixer until mix is smooth and creamy.

• Stir in chocolate chips, Cheerios and oatmeal by hand with large spoon until well-combined.

• Spread in pan evenly and bake for 30-35 minutes until result is lightly brown, and a toothpick in the middle comes out clean.

• Cool on wire rack for 15 minutes.

enjoy!

Cathy Blatnik is originally from Maryland, but has been living in the Midwest for more than 13 years. She has been "retired" from the paid workforce since 1996 to raise her family, which includes her husband, adult stepson, an adult daughter in college and a son in middle school.

She has been baking and cooking for as long as she can remember in "Cathy's Kitchen." She is very excited to be able to share her recipes with other home cooks!

26 JULY 2017

DIY QUICK CRAFTS

BY AMI ICEMAN-HAUETER

A little luck & a lot of love It’s almost time to head back to school, which means loading up backpacks,

homemade fortune cookie. Not the sweet sugary kind — unless you have

picking out outfits and getting back into the making daily lunches. Add

those on hand — but a paper version made with love. Follow the simple

a little luck and a lot of love to your kiddos’ lunch bags by adding in a

steps below and make a batch of your own to add to lunches on the go.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED • Scrapbooking paper (thinner paper works best) • Printer paper • Scissors • Glue stick • Compass or circular lid • Pencil

WHAT TO DO 1. Trace a circle with a pencil on the blank side of your scrapbooking paper and cut it out. The circle should be between 4-6” in diameter.

2. Bring one edge of the circle to meet the other edge, as if you were going to fold it in half.

Crease a small section right in the middle and leave the rest untouched. Lay the circle flat

again, then pull the opposite sides together,

encouraging notes or reminders and slip it

making sure the crease line is now vertical

into the final “cookie”. To make it easy for little

and centered.

hands, let the end of your fortune hang out on

3. Using your thumb and middle finger to hold

one side.

the edges of the circle, use your pointer finger to gently push into the crease mark. Go slowly

Make a bunch of these at once and save them to add

and your paper will slowly start to bend into

into your kid’s lunch bag or backpack throughout the

the shape of a fortune cookie. The outer edges

year. Your kids will love finding a special treat they

should naturally fold into each other with one

can carry around for a little luck and a lot of love all

laying inside of the other. It may take a few tries

day long!

to get the paper to fold correctly.

4. Glue down the outer fold. Add a small swipe of glue to the center and pinch together with your fingers to secure the fold.

5. Cut plain printer paper or scrapbooking paper

Ami Iceman-Haueter is the Brand Manager at M3 Group. Iceman-Haueter is a graduate of Michigan State University with a bachelors in creative advertising.

into small strips for your “fortunes”. Write

CAWLM.COM

27

TRI-COUNTY EVENTS

EVENTS AUG 4

Kellie’s Consignments, Free Lunch Friday Kellie’s Consignments invites you to shop, network and enjoy lunch.

This event will take place on the first Friday of every month from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 5000 Marsh Rd. Visit kelliesconsignments.com for more information.

JULY 31-AUGUST 5

163rd Ingham County Fair, Mason Celebrating 163 years, the Ingham County Fair offers something for everyone; including hundreds of exhibits, exciting grandstand events, the spectacular midway, the free family zone, daily cooking contests, tractor pulls and 4-H Club demonstrations. For more information visit ingham.org.

AUGUST 4-5

Bath Days Festival, Bath Welcome to the home of the International Bathtub Races. Bath Days is a two-day family festival full of wholesome fun. The festival will offer the famous Bathtub Races, a silent auction, music, a car show, arts and crafts, children’s area, food vendors, parade and a fireworks display. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can build a bathtub racer and join the race. For more information about the festival, visit bathdays.com.

AUGUST 4-5

Lansing JazzFest, Lansing The 23rd annual Lansing JazzFest is held on the streets of Old Town, surrounded by the best of the

Lansing’s art galleries, unique stores and grand architecture. Its stages will offer outstanding talent, from local favorites to regional and national acts.

Roughly 7,000 people come from across Michigan and nearby states not only for the music, but also the great food and craft vendors, expansive beverage tent, children’s activities and river boat rides. For more information visit jazzlansing.com.

AUGUST 5

Pubbin’ 4 Pets, Lansing The Capital Area Humane Society (CAHS) is excited to announce their Pubbin’ 4 Pets event with a superhero theme. Costumes are encouraged. Best costume voted by CAHS staff will win a prize. Registration for the pub crawl is $30 and includes a t-shirt, complimentary pizza at Nuthouse Sports Grill and drink specials at five bars and restaurants in downtown Lansing. Visit cahs-lansing.org for more information and registration details.

AUGUST 7

The Writing Hour, Dansville This creative writing group is for experienced and new writers, with writing prompts and a chance to share your work and ideas. This group is for ages nine and up. Visit cadl.org for more information.

AUGUST 9

Impression 5 Science Center Build It Challenge, Lansing Build with cups and straws to see how factors like shape, size and type of material make a difference in how strong a structure is. This activity is designed for children from ages 8 to 12, but children ages 6 to 7 may attend with an adult helper. Registration is required by calling (517) 851-7810.

AUGUST 10-12 & 17-19

Renegade Theatre Festival, Lansing The Renegade Theatre Festival is two weekends of free theatre showcased in some of Lansing’s most artistic and eclectic venues. Weekend One showcases Renegade N.O.W., featuring new and original theatrical works. Week Two features a wide range of performance styles, including comedy, drama, musicals, improv and staged

readings. Visit renegadetheatrefestival.org for more information.

AUGUST 11-14

Great Lakes Folk Festival, Lansing The Michigan State University Museum (MSU Museum) presents the Great Lakes Folk Festival (GLFF) in downtown East Lansing, Michigan — music, dance and culture from across America and around the world. The award-winning Great Lakes Folk Festival, produced by the MSU Museum’s Michigan Traditional Arts Program, is a celebration of culture, tradition and community. The MSU Museum works year-round to develop this festival of programs that reflects the immense variety and vitality of art, skill, knowledge and wisdom of our cultural heritage for the public.

GLFF offers a one-of-a-kind mix of music and dance stages, demonstrations of traditional arts and storytelling, food, an arts marketplace and many special activities for kids. Visit greatlakesfolkfest.net for more information about this exciting festival!

AUGUST 12

Meridian Township 175th Anniversary Block Party, East Lansing Join a fun-filled day for the whole family. Rock the Block! at Carriage Hills Shopping Center in East Lansing. Spartan Dance & Fit Center will be hosting a fun filled day for the whole family. here will be performances on the main stage

by Spartan Dance Company, Spartan Fit Center and an evening concert by Starfarm. Family-friendly activities run from 1 to 5 p.m. and include free dance and fitness classes, bounce house inflatables and local food vendors. Evening activities begin at 7 p.m. and include a beer tent at Buddies. Visit spartandancecenter.com or call (517) 999-4515 for more information.

AUGUST 12-13

St. Johns Mint Festival, St. Johns Enjoy a variety of family-friendly activities such as arts and crafts, flea market, antiques, softball,

COMING THIS FALL

TO WLAJ ABC 53

28

AUGUST 2017

ADVERTISEMENT

FIVE UNIQUE ONLINE COURSES YOU NEVER KNEW WERE AVAILABLE FOR YOUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT Somewhere in the middle of all of the required reading and the standardized tests, most high school students find themselves craving an elective course that lets them pursue their interests and possibly explore a future career. There is an option your child may have never considered: online courses designed specifically for the high school student.

What we like: Realistic virtual labs let students practice gathering physical and trace evidence.

AUDIO ENGINEERING

Students learn about the physics and the fundamental concepts of audio engineering.

What we like: Engaging hands-on projects using “Audacity,” an open-source recording and mixing program, allowing students to practice actual techniques used by sound engineers to produce multi-track recordings.

ONLINE LEARNING: UNCOVERING EACH STUDENT’S UNIQUE BRILLIANCE

SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT MARKETING

Online education (also referred to as virtual learning) is becoming increasingly popular for elementary, middle and high school students.

In a 2011 report by the National Center for Education Statistics, enrollments into online courses for grades K-12 had tripled since the previous 2006 survey, soaring to 1.8 million during the 2009-10 school year, with 74 percent of these enrollments in high school courses.

Online learning gives high school students the opportunity to access intriguing courses that may not be available through their brickand-mortar school — perhaps a specific world language or an interesting elective. A growing number of students are even using online courses to gain extra college credits or to prepare for the workforce by earning technical and specialty trade credentials.

INDIVIDUALIZING THE HIGH SCHOOL EXPERIENCE

“Students become engaged in their learning when they get to choose classes that speak to their personal interests and passions,” says Lynda Cloud, EVP of Product Development at K12 Inc., a leading provider of online curriculum for grades K-12. “School can become something they look forward to and a chance to test-drive a future career by gaining exposure to a subject.”

Online courses can offer a far wider set of topics that can be offered by most traditional brick-andmortar schools. K12’s extensive portfolio includes online courses and titles covering every core subject, Honors and even AP® courses, as well as an impressive number of electives. Lessons are

A career in sports and entertainment marketing may be just the thing for students who dream about becoming an agent for a celebrity entertainer. What we like: This course is just one of many courses offered by K12 through their online Career Technical Education clusters, designed to give students a head start on their career goals by earning technical and specialty trade credentials.

ASTRONOMY

delivered online and are usually reinforced during “Class Connects”, allowing students to interact both with each other and with a teacher.

FROM AUDIO ENGINEERING TO VETERINARY SCIENCE

Japanese, Criminology, Introduction to Marketing and Game Design. These are only a few of the types of elective courses offered. Other nonacademic courses such as “Life Skills” and “Achieving Your Career and College Goals,” provide students with practical life skills to better prepare them for the rest of their lives. Here are five examples of the courses created by K12 Inc. for high school students:

FORENSIC SCIENCE

Students learn about forensic tools, technical resources, forming and testing hypotheses, proper data collection and responsible conclusions.

Introduces students to astronomy, including history, basic scientific laws and the methods used by astronomers. What we like: Why do stars twinkle? Is it possible to fall into a black hole? Will the sun ever stop shining? This course answers all those questions and more with rich, engaging content.

MANDARIN CHINESE

Exceptional language skills and cultural understanding prepare students to excel in today’s 21st-century global marketplace. Online language courses deliver real-world reading, writing, listening and speaking activities in a digital format. Developed by Middlebury Interactive, this course uses the methodology of Middlebury College’s famed Language Schools.

K12’s award-winning online courses are available to Michigan families, tuition-free through fulltime online public schools. To learn more about the options and see if online learning might be right for your child, visit k12.com. nces.ed.gov/pubs2012/2012008.pdf p.3 and Table 2 CAWLM.COM

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TRI-COUNTY EVENTS basketball, tractor pulls and children’s activities.

Enjoy daily free entertainment, the Mint Queen Pageant and mint information and foods. With over 150 entries highlighted this festival is filled with fun, so grab a bowl of mint chocolate chip ice cream and have a blast at the Mint Festival.

Held at the city park and county fairgrounds. Visit clintoncountychamber.org for more information.

AUGUST 12

Phil Denny’s Armory Smooth Jazz Fete, Lansing The inaugural outdoor music event is welcoming nationally and internationally acclaimed cross-genre musicians with an emphasis on smooth, contemporary, pop and R&B instrumentation and vocal music. The one-day ticketed Fete will take place at the historic Armory in Lansing’s burgeoning Eastside community and welcomes festival goers of all adult ages. Food vendors, beer, wine and more will be provided.

Visit smoothjazzfete.com for more information.

AUGUST 14

Owosso Bike Festival, Owosso Join bike enthusiasts from all over for the 12th Annual Owosso Bike Festival featuring riders with antique and classic bicycles. Enjoy a day of riding, swap meets, poker runs, bike games, music and fun.

For information on the classic bike show and ride, contact The House of Wheels at (989) 725-8373.

AUGUST 16

Grand Concert Series: Blues on the Grand, Lansing The Lansing City Market is excited to announce the return of their free summer concerts on the riverfront.

The Grand Concert Series is comprised of Jazz on the Grand, Blues on the Grand and the new addition this year of R&B on the Grand. Please bring a chair and leave food at home. The Waterfront Bar & Grill will provide food and beverages. All concerts start at 6:30 p.m. Visit lansingcitymarket.com to find more information.

AUGUST 21

Connect 4 Kids, Lansing Connect 4 Kids is an event for children grades K-12, so they can go back to school feeling great.

The event offers physicals and immunizations, a mobile dental center, hair cuts, eye exams, clothing vouchers, personal needs items, activities, games and social service agencies. Identification is required for parents and students, so please bring a State of Michigan ID or Driver’s License and student school ID. For more information call (517) 483-4569 or visit lansingmi.gov.

AUGUST 25-26

Lansing Flow Fest/Bless Fest, Lansing In its 14th year Lansing Flow Fest/Bless Fest is a free two-day, spirit-filled entertainment and live music festival at Lansing’s Riverfront Park.

The Friday Flow Fest features Christian hiphop. Saturday’s Bless Fest brings a variety of inspirational music from gospel to rock, hip-hop and country. The Bless Fest also offers plenty of freebies, free food, raffles, clothing and inflatables for kids. Visit mediamessengers.org for more information.

AUGUST 25-27

Sun Dried Music Festival Mason Downtown Development Authority invites you to the 7th annual Sun Dried Music Festival. This one of a kind, free music festival is held in historic downtown Mason. The festival features a variety of free live entertainment, beer and wine, festival food, children’s activities and unique items for festivalgoers of all ages. Visit masonchamber.org for more information.

ARTS AUGUST 9

Pop Up Demo: Laura DeLind, Lansing Led by artist Laura DeLind, this printmaking demo will allow you to create and take home your

Celebrate! with Bake N’ Cakes “Butter Makes it Better”

Helping individuals and families navigate the legal issues of death and incapacity.

SALLY BABBITT

• WILLS • TRUSTS • PROBATE • LITIGATION • ESTATES • POWER OF ATTORNEY 517-507-3306 | WWW.SALLYBABBITTLAW.COM 6005 W SAINT JOSEPH HWY, SUITE 302, LANSING MI 48917

30

AUGUST 2017

(517) 337-CAKE 3003 E. Kalamazoo bakencakes.com find us on facebook

TRI-COUNTY EVENTS own print. DeLind has been cutting and hand printing linocuts for over 30 years. This demo is free of charge and all ages are welcome. The demo will be from 12 to 1 p.m. Weather permitting, all demonstrations will take place on the sidewalk outside of the Lansing Art Gallery. For more information visit downtownlansing.org.

AUGUST 16

Art Feast, Old Town Coinciding with the Renegade Theatre Festival, Art Feast returns to Old Town to celebrate mobile vendors! Artists from across the state join on Turner Street to bring you a wide variety of handmade goods. Make sure to grab lunch at a variety of local food trucks and carts.

Visit iloveoldtown.org for more information.

Visit williamstontheatre.org to purchase tickets and find more information about the show.

AUGUST 24-26

Hockey - The Musical, East Lansing This production is sure to entice theater and sports fans alike. When God decides there are too many sports in the world, he chooses to eliminate one of them: hockey. This doesn’t sit well with the pure-of-heart souls that plead their case to save their beloved sport. More information and show times can be found at whartoncenter.com.

CLINICS AUGUST 2

JULY 21-AUGUST 20

Murder for Two, Williamston Mid-Michigan’s award winning professional theatre company, Williamston Theatre, is presenting this killer musical comedy. Murder for Two is the perfect blend of music, murder and mayhem. In this 90-minute show, two performers play 13 roles.

A Matter of Balance Workshop, Mason A Matter of Balance is an award-winning evidence-based program designed to manage falls and increase activity levels for older adults.

The program emphasizes practical strategies to manage falls. These strategies include viewing falls as controllable, setting goals for increasing activity, making changes to reduce fall risk at home and increasing strength and balance through exercises. For more information and to preregister, call Christine Histed at (517) 887-1450.

The Heart of Comforting In-home Care Aiding Hearts provides in-home care that makes a difference in the lives of seniors and other adults. Whether it is companionship services or in-home safety solutions, we provide the support and services that improve lives and enable independent living at home.

AUGUST 3

Tai Chi in the Park, Holt This free, three-week series for beginners will be led by Bob Teachout of Full Circle and classes will be held at Veterans Memorial Gardens. Registration is required. You can register and find more information by visiting cadl.org.

AUGUST 9

Professional Speaker Series: Your Eye Health, Lansing Hayes Green Beach Memorial Hospital would like to present speaker Harper Wildern, O.D. who will be talking about systemic health and how it can affect vision and ocular heath. Lunch will be included for those who preregister by Friday, August 4. This is a free seminar. Call (517) 5415800, Opt. 1 for more information.

AUGUST 22

Tack-Fused Earrings & Pendants Class, East Lansing Learn to use glass frit — pieces — to mold a pendant with some dichroic, or colored mirror, glass accents. You will have several different molds to choose from to create a showpiece necklace.

Pieces will be fired after class and picked up at a later date. Instructor, Lana Schaeffer, will be teaching the class. Cost is $20 for members and $25 for non-members. There’s a maximum of eight students allowed. Visit cityofeastlansing.com for more information.

Settling a divorce is complicated, financially and emotionally. Stephanie specializes in financially equitable divorce settlements, helping you make the right choices. With proper planning, professional help and the right support, long-term financial security can be more within your reach.

As the only

Certifed Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFATM ) in Lansing*, she believes that freedom and independence are core values of successful women, regardless of marital status.

Call me today at 517.253.8563 for a complimentary initial consultation.

Stephanie Milosavlevski CFP®, CDFATM, Financial Advisor

2139 Commons Parkway • Okemos, MI 48864 • 517.253.8563 stephanie.j.milosavlevski@ampf.com ameripriseadvisors.com/stephanie.j.milosavlevski

aidinghearts.org Office (517) 515-5299 • Fax (517) 816-8139 P.O. Box 241, Bath, MI • aidinghearts@yahoo.com

*Source: Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts (IDFATM). The initial consultation provides an overview of financial planning concepts. You will not receive written analysis and/or recommendations. Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. o wns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER TM and CFP (with flame design) i n the U.S. Investment advisory services and products are made available through Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., a registered investment adviser. Amerip rise Financial Services, Inc., Member FINRA and SIPC. © 2 016 Amerip rise Financial, Inc., All rights reserved.1603991ACMR0916

CAWLM.COM

31

MY COMMUNITY STRANGE MATTER COFFEE CO. GRAND OPENING On June 30, Strange Matter Coffee Co. officially became a multi-location company with a grand opening in downtown Lansing. Located at 337 S. Washington Square, the new venue brings “coffee cocktails” to the foot-traffic heavy area; ready-made coffee is also available for those in a rush. The original site in Lansing’s Eastside neighborhood is also set for relocation, with an inhouse bakery as part of the plans.

PHOTOS BY ERIKA HODGES

Tatiana Dustus & McKenzie Javorka

Crystal Gause

Cindy O'Neil

Susan Skidmore & Micheal Sulcer

Brady Burns & Kate Gille

DON’T MISS LANSING’S NEWEST FESTIVAL

JULY 6 - 9, 2017

Common Ground THANK YOU FOR ANOTHER GREAT #CGMF SEE YOU IN 2018!

32

AUGUST 2017

MY COMMUNITY COMMON GROUND MUSIC FESTIVAL The 18th Annual Common Ground Music Festival took place from July 6 to July 9 at Adado Riverfront Park in Lansing with headliners including: Aleesia Cara, Toby Keith, Shinedown and Big Sean. Created

by MiEntertainment Group with the Lansing Entertainment & Public Facilities Authority, Common Ground has drawn more than $60 million to MidMichigan since its inception, as well as more than $500,000 to local nonprofits and other organizations.

PHOTOS BY M3 GROUP

Abbey Ramond & Cassidy Grosjan

Alessia Cara

Kerry Hidlay, Angela Carlone & Erika Hodges

Dianne Waws & Audrey Bowe

Eli Page & Jasmine Stahl

Eve Sudberu & Sandy Hickey

Common Ground 2018

Lauren Tamboer & Grace Noyola

Mary Beth Pifer & Dee Bruot

Kerissah Ries & Lisa McClain

Common Ground 2018 CAWLM.COM

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MY COMMUNITY MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP’S FOOD TRUCK RALLY As part of its 175th anniversary, Meridian Township hosted the inaugural Food Truck Rally. Hosted in the parking lot behind Meridian Mall in Okemos, Mich., the festivities attracted thousands of residents from all ages and lifestyles to enjoy the selections of over 50 food trucks. With the only cost of admission consisting of showing up, locals lightened their wallets and filled their stomachs with pizza, crepes, tacos, barbecue fries and more.

COURTESY PHOTOS

GiGi's Cupcakes out of Indianapolis with East Lansing staff

Veronica Gabriel, WLNS & Brenda Glinke, Pie Hole Pizza owner

Erin Cornett

Food Truck Rally

Zac Guthrie

$10 OFF $40

ANY BRA PURCHASE

FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST Excludes Mastectomy Bras

517-332-3294 727 Lincoln Court Ste B, Lansing, MI 48917 www.frontroomunderfashions.com

34

AUGUST 2017

MY COMMUNITY HARRY POTTER TRIVIA AT CLADDAGH IRISH PUB Claddagh Irish Pub in Lansing began their recurring Harry Potter Trivia event on July 13.

Located at 2900 Town Center Blvd., guests were invited to enjoy an evening of food and beverages while figuring out various trivia regarding J.K. Rowling’s wizarding world, tapping into their inner fan over tasty food, quality service and a rocking good time at Eastwood Towne Center.

PHOTOS BY M3 GROUP

Team Sirisously!

Katherine Stegeman & Maria Cantlin

Lydia Hayes & Nick Guaste

Team Snitches Get Stiches

Team That's So Ravenclaw

MODERN MEDICINE WITH AN OLD FASHIONED COMMITMENT. Downloadable audiobooks

Next time you fly, switch your reading to autopilot. cadl.org/downloads Service is free with a CADL card.

THOMPSON FAMILY PRACTICE 4221 Charlar Dr., Holt, MI 48842 | 517.694.7600

CAWLM.COM

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PROFESSIONAL GUIDE ROBERT WHITAKER

TIFFANY FRIAR

CASE’s Business Services Manager, Robert Whitaker, brings 25 years of experience in the Financial Services sector to the Credit Union. He joins CASE Credit Union’s management team having recently left his position as Retail Bank Manager, AVP at First Merit Bank of Lansing.

Friar oversees Quality, Risk Management, Respiratory, MedSurg and the Medical Staff office at Hayes Green Beach Memorial Hospital (HGB). Friar plays a critical role in HGB’s work as an Accountable Care Organization. She works to enhance outcomes for patients through integrated care-helping. She connects patient needs with care at HGB, other health care facilities, primary care physicians and community resources to help them maintain and improve their health.

(517) 393-7471 | www.casecu.org 7527 Delta Commerce Dr. Lansing, MI 48917

(517) 541-1050, ext. 1208 | hgbhealth.com 321 E Harris St. Charlotte, MI 48813

PAMELA BECKER

LAKEEYA TUCKER, D.O. Dr. LaKeeya Tucker joined Alliance Obstetrics & Gynecology in 2002. Tucker’s areas of special interest include abnormal bleeding, fibroids/medical and surgical management such as DaVinci robotic hysterectomy and myomectomy. She is also skilled in performing in-office procedures such as Novasure ablations and ESSURE hysteroscopic tubal ligations.

Tucker sees patients for routine women’s health care and preventative maintenance, abnormal Pap smear management as well as routine and problem pregnancy care. She is currently taking new patients.

Pamela is originally from northern Michigan. She received her associate’s degree in nursing from Ferris State University and her BSN from Creighton University in Omaha, NE. She became a proud Spartan when she completed her MSN from Michigan State University. Pam enjoys providing care for the whole family in her role as a Family Nurse Practitioner at Thompson Family Practice in Holt. She has a background in emergency nursing and Internal Medicine. In her down time, Pam enjoys playing the piano at her church and family activities with her three children and husband. Pam is accepting new patients from the young to the young-at-heart.

THOMPSON

FAMILY PRACTICE

(517) 484-3000 | www.alliance-obgyn.com Main Campus South Campus 1560 Turf Lane 1100 South Cedar St. East Lansing, MI 48823 Mason, MI 48854

(517) 694-7600 4221 Charlar Dr. Holt, MI 48842

MEGAN FLEMING

KELLIE JOHNSON Kellie Johnson is the Retail Store founder and owner of Kellie’s Consignments, inspired by community-driven interaction. She spends a lot of time in and out of the store building relationships and awareness about recycling through consigning and shopping resale. As owner, she holds herself responsible for the success or failure of the company, as she is charged with meeting the needs of employees, customers and communities. Her most direct roles include operations, marketing, strategy, financing, cultivation of company culture, human resources, hiring, firing, compliance with safety regulations, sales and public relations. Johnson was the 2016 recipient of the Greater Lansing Entrepreneurial Spirit Award.

Megan Fleming is an Account Executive at M3 Group representing the Capital Area Women’s Lifestyle, Greater Lansing Business Monthly and Ing Magazine. She graduated with a B.A. in advertising from Michigan State University in 2011. With over five years of experience working as an account executive across different fields, working with clients is what she enjoys the most. While out and about, you may see Megan at varying networking events including Coffee & Connections, Chamber events and other luncheons.

(517) 574-4523 5000 Marsh Rd. Okemos, MI 48864

(517) 203-3333 614 Seymour Ave. Lansing, MI 48933

group

WENDELLYN DANE

TRUST YOUR PALACE TO THE ONE WHO SELLS CASTLES IN THE MITTEN!

307-763-7533 wendellyn.dane@gmail.com 3490 Belle Chase Way, Ste. 130 Lansing, MI 48911

CASTLES IN THE MOUNTAINS! OR CASTLES ON THE BEACHES! With over 25 years of experience! I am your first home, second home or relocation specialist.

Turning dreams into realities and turning for sale signs into sold!

36

AUGUST 2017

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