CAWLM Febuary 2015

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NIN -W I N O N D R A W A B L I C AT I PU

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FEBRUARY 2015

Proud to be Curvaceous A Perfect Fit for Every Woman

Salty Dogs

Keep Fido’s Feet Happy

Be Credit Savvy Build the Best Credit Possible

Alison & Dominic Lathrop SUPERWOMAN

REMODELING STARTS WITH MERIDIAN

MERIDIAN COMPANY

Universal The Meridian Company specializes in kitchen and bath remodels.

Start fresh this spring, call the Meridian Company today.

Design.

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Meridian

Company Plumbing  heating  Cooling  remodeling

1999 E. Saginaw Hwy. | East Lansing, MI 48823 P: 517-339-6300

nAdvantage.net

Call 517-339-6300 for the Meridian Advantage or visit themeridianadvantage.net for more information.

February 2015

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FEBRUARY2015

FEATURES 20 Family Life 24 Les Meres et Debutantes Club

RECIPES 25 Banana Oatmeal Cookie Pancakes

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OUR COVER 6

Proud to be Curvaceous

12 Salty Dogs 16 Be Credit Savvy 18 Alison Lathrop, Superwoman

of

MATTERS HEART

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IN THIS ISSUE 4

From the Publisher

12 A Pet's Tale

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Good News

13 Local Woman

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Business Profile

14 Fashion

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Nonprofit Profile

16 Financial Facts

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DIY: Quick Crafts

22 Tri County Events

10 Restaurant Review

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26 My Community

11 Movie Review

On Our Cover: Alison Lathrop. Exclusive photography by Mark Warner.

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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 II • VOLUME VIII

Publisher

TIFFANY DOWLING Sales Manager

JENNIFER HODGES Account Manager

MANNY GARCIA Media Specialist

JILL BAILEY

H AY E S G R E E N B E A C H M E M O R I A L H O S P I TA L

Production Director

KELLY RITTER Art Director

BROOKE ERWIN Brand Manager

A New Beginning, Obstetrics and Gynecology joins Hayes Green Beach

AMI ICEMAN Creative Manager

MARK WARNER Editor

ALICIA PILMORE Graphic Artists

MIKE FRANCE Web Managers

KYLE DOWLING SKYLAR KOHAGEN Event Calendar Manager

JAIME HARDESTY Contributors

VIRGINIA BERNERO APRIL CLOBES SYDNEY FORD KRISTINE RICHMOND TINA SUTTERLIN

We know a physician plays a key role in your family's .

health and well-being. Jacqueline Mirate, D.O., Michael Maser, D.O., Robert Seiler, D.O., and Stacey Tremp, D.O., provide complete obstetrical and gynecological services on the HGB campus, further enhancing women's health services with expanded hours and options.

Our high caliber physicians, along with trusted relationships and strong capabilities, bring us together in health. hgbhealth.com

A DV E R T I S I N G I N F O R M AT I O N

Call

517.203.0123

Interested in hosting a distribution location?

Give us a call at 517.203.0123 or email at info@cawlm.com.

Capital Area Women’s LifeStyle is published monthly by M3 Group, Lansing, MI. All rights reserved. © 2014 M3 Group No part of this magazine may be reproduced whole or in part without the express written consent of the publisher.

Call (517) 541-5882 to schedule your appointment today.

February 2015

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celebrate love

FROMTHEPUBLISHER

L

ove is an amazing emotion. It can bring the highest highs and the lowest lows. It can be dependable and it also lets you down. It’s exciting and fun sometimes but challenging and frustrating at others. It’s a roller coaster ride of ups and downs that we pray never ends.

Alison is so inspiring. Andrew knows it and now you do too. She spends her days caring for her family and advocating for a very ill child. She makes sure his needs are met, but more than that she has turned herself into a patient advocate that doesn’t rely on the first suggestion in his care. She has taken the time to find solutions to issues even if it meant leaving the state to do it. She’s a feisty mom whose love for all of her children and their needs is paramount. She does this at the expense of time for herself. I hope that sharing this story gives tribute and recognition to all those parents out there caring for a child with special needs.

During the month of February, many people of all ages and types are celebrating the love they have for a spouse, significant other or that new date with the potential to be that new love. It’s a time to be thankful that you have someone to spend time with, share life experiences and even disagree with once in a while. Or, if you’re in the roller coaster valley, it can be a time to purge unhealthy relationships that haven’t worked for a long time and celebrate a love of self.

MORE LOVE FOR CHILDREN CAWLM has hosted an 80s Flashback Fundraiser for the last four years. I have to say it has been a labor of love. I’m a child of that decadent decade and have a soft place in my heart for the nostalgia of one of the craziest 10 years yet. You remember the hair and clothes right? Each year, we focus our energies to raise resources for a local charity. Last year, we supported the Lansing Promise, a higher education commitment to students in Lansing. This year, we’ve chosen to support the Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan.

I believe there are a few unconditional types of love that exist for most people: God, your parents, your children (even the furry ones) and your country. So much could be said about all of these areas, but I’m focused on the deep, consuming feeling we have as parents for our children. The parent-child(ren) relationship is complex and evolving throughout our entire lives. And, as most any parent can attest, something happens inside you the moment you lay eyes on that small person who absolutely trusts that you are going to take the best care possible of him or her. You make a silent commitment to yourself to meet the needs of that child at that very moment.

If you never had a Girl Scout experience, it may be hard to appreciate how much scouting can change a girl’s life. I started out as a Brownie and stayed in Girl Scouts until I was a Cadet in my early teens. The experiences I had during that time helped me gain confidence, teamwork abilities and leadership skills.

In fact, one of the best experiences was helping to lead my own Brownie Troop.

I’ve known Andrew Lathrop for a long time. He’s a hard worker and has big plans and dreams for his career, which I’m sure he’ll achieve someday.

However, it’s been more fun watching the other dream come true. True success for him is having a beautiful family to share it all with. In this area, Andrew has won big time. He recently sent me a beautifully written letter about his wife, Alison. In this note, Andrew described his life companion as a superwoman, who takes care of everyone in the household at a hero level.

Today’s Girl Scouts are receiving even more leadership training than we did in the 70s and 80s. I am so proud of this organization that has paid attention to the needs of the next generation and helped provide it.

Just thinking about my time in scouts makes me want to break out into a rendition of the Brownie Song that I still remember all of the words to.

PHOTO BY MARY MCELGUNN

So the surprise this year is that we decided that we want to also give the girls an opportunity to have fun rocking out to the 80s. If you have a Girl Scout in your life and want to bring her and her friends to the party, we’re hosting the girls decked out in 80s garb Friday, May 8 at the University Club. The traditional 80s Flashback Fundraiser will be the next night Saturday, May 9. Save those dates!

Celebrate love this month,

Tiffany Dowling | Publisher

Participating Schools

2015 Sponsored by

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Bath, Charlotte, DeWitt, East Lansing, Everett, Fowlerville, Grand Ledge, Haslett, Holt, Lansing Christian, Mason, Okemos, St. Johns, Waverly and Webberville View the art and vote online

msufcuart.com

FEBRUARY 1 - 25 MSUFCU Headquarters 3777 West Road, East Lansing, MI

msufcuart

@MSUFCUArt

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EXPERIENCE THE EIGHTH ANNUAL MSUFCU STUDENT ART EXHIBIT

If you haven’t yet experienced the MSUFCU Student Art Exhibit, stop by MSUFCU Headquarters in East Lansing from Feb. 1 through 25 to see the talent from our young local artists. Artwork from 15 mid-Michigan high schools will be on display with students hoping to earn your votes.

“We love this event,” said April Clobes, Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer MSU Federal Credit Union. “Our local students are very talented, and we are excited to be able to share their work with our community. I hope everyone is able to visit this year and cast their votes for their favorite pieces.”

The public is invited to the lobby of the MSUFCU Headquarters to view students’ artwork and vote all month long. You can also view the artwork and vote online starting Sunday, Feb. 1, at msufcuart.com. Votes help determine the People’s Choice Awards and a School Spirit Award, given to the high school that draws the most voters.

Visit the MSUFCU Headquarters at 3777 West Road, East Lansing beginning Monday, Feb. 2 during normal business hours: 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday to Thursday; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday; and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

We’d like to hear from you! Do you have a business or personal milestone announcement relevant to women of the 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!

THE MERIDIAN COMPANY HOSTS PROFESSIONAL WOMEN IN BUILDING CONSTRUCTION LUNCHEON

Newly formed PWB of Greater Lansing encourages women to consider membership The Meridian Company, Greater Lansing’s premier plumbing, heating, air conditioning and remodeling company, hosted the Professional Women in Building (PWB) quarterly luncheon in January at their newly remodeled showroom at 1999 East Saginaw Hwy. in East Lansing.

Sponsored by the Home Builders Association of Greater Lansing (HBA), this members-only event offered women the opportunity to enjoy lunch catered by students in the culinary program of the Capital Area Career Center in Mason while networking with other members of the PWB Council.

The PWB Council of Greater Lansing was formed in Sept. 2014 under the auspices of the National Association of Home Builders. The PWB Council is dedicated to providing a place for professional women in the building industry to come together to network and support one another, while giving back to the community through grants and scholarships.

HGB physical therapists treat all types of injuries.

Services include an aquatic program, diabetic program, fall prevention, lymphedema therapy, manual therapy, orthopedic surgery rehabilitation, sports injuries, work-related injuries, stroke rehabilitation and women’s health and wound care.

Visit mpta.com/legislation/direct-consumer-access for information about direct access in Michigan or to find out more about HGB services, visit hgbhealth.com.

EATON RAPIDS PUBLIC SCHOOLS HIGHLIGHT MOST MEMORABLE NEWS OF 2014 Eaton Rapids Public Schools (ERPS) is pleased to highlight a few of its most memorable news and happenings of 2014.

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Mike Smith, ERPS head football coach, was named 2014 Regional Coach of the Year by the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association (MHSFCA).

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The City of Eaton Rapids received a $225,000 grant as part of Michigan’s “Safe Routes to School” program. Funds will pay for 15,000 feet of new sidewalk in a neighborhood near the ERPS complex as well as fitness and nutrition efforts throughout the district. Funds will be available in the summer of 2015.

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ERPS expanded its Montessori program to include preschool through fifth grade for the 2014-2015 school year.

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ERPS earned the following championships:

“The Council is a really fun, upbeat group of professional women who enjoy giving back to the community and come together to better each other’s lives and those who are just coming into the industry,” said Jessica Cooper, remodel consultant at The Meridian Company.

PWB Council would like to encourage women across industries to consider becoming a member.

Interested women can attend an upcoming PWB quarterly meeting free of charge. Contact the HBA for more information at hbalansing.com.

HGB REHABILITATION SERVICES OFFER OPTIONS AND PROGRAMS TO MEET MOST THERAPY NEEDS

2014 People's Choice: 3rd place by Nikki Rakestraw from Lansing Christian High School

HGB’s therapy services are provided in EMPOWER at AL!VE, the hospital’s destination health park, located at 800 West Lawrence in Charlotte, Mich.

Call (517) 541-5800, option 2, to set up an evaluation with a therapist.

Hayes Green Beach Memorial Hospital (HGB) in Charlotte, Mich. offers a complete complement of rehabilitation services, including physical therapy, to meet mid-Michigan’s needs.

Recent direct access legislation, effective in 2015, means patients can go directly to a physical therapist for evaluation and treatment without a physician’s referral.

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District, regional and state championship in girls’ basketball; the first girls state title in school history.

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League and district championship in wrestling for past four years.

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Regional championship in girls’ track for past three years.

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League championship in baseball and softball (past five years).

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District championship in football for second year in a row.

February 2015

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BUSINESSPROFILE

curvaceous

BY SYDNEY FORD | PHOTOS BY MIKE FR ANCE

CURVACEOUS LINGERIE 513 EAST GRAND RIVER AVE., LANSING (517) 881-8466 CURVACEOUSLINGERIE.COM

OLD TOWN LINGERIE STORE CATERS TO EVERY WOMAN

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t's hard to miss the bright pink building when you're driving down East Grand River St. in Old Town. Filled with colorful lingerie that makes your eyes dance, and trinkets made by family members decorating the walls, the inside of the store has the attitude to match the exterior. “I come from an artsy family,” says Curvaceous Lingerie owner Lauren Long. As exciting as this space is, the spunky entrepreneur began her business in a much less glamorous venue — the wall of a bridal shop. "There was a need for undergarments that just wasn't being fulfilled.”

In November of 2012, Curvaceous was born.

Long was able to give a bride and her party the foundation wear and honeymoon lingerie that they were looking for without sending them miles away from Lansing to get it.

The demand for underwear that properly fit a woman’s curves continued to grow, and soon it was time for her to move into her own space. Opening her shop in Old Town in July came at the perfect time in the perfect location. A store front right next door to an old friend was a dream come true.

The artistic and rustic atmosphere of Old Town is something close to home for Long; with and artistic upbringing, this was the perfect place to set up shop.

Curvaceous was made to cater to every size woman.

And don’t think that when you walk in you are going

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to see something like your average undergarment shop; a small plus sized and petite section tucked away in the back with the rest of the products catering to what people would call the average woman. Walking into the shop, everything is separated by color and the type of garment; not its size. Everything in the shop feels unified, from the shapewear to the nightwear. Color coded rows of pajamas and bras decorate the walls while tables donning various cuts of panties cover the tables throughout the store.

E V E RY T H I N G I N T H E S H O P F E E L S U N I F I E D, F R O M T H E S H A P E W E A R TO T H E N I G H T W E A R . C O LO R C O D E D R O W S O F PA J A M A S A N D B R A S D E C O R AT E T H E WA L L S W H I L E

she also had teenage girls come in wrapped up in sweatshirts because they were not confident enough to wear a normal shirt. They hadn't been able to find a bra that really fit their body until they stepped into the store. Curvaceous is about more than bra fittings — it's about giving a woman her confidence back or building the confidence that she never had. The women leaving Curvaceous should feel sexy and proud of their bodies, and that is exactly what Long and her team aim to do.

She has hopes of expanding her store even more.

She has thoughts of bringing in more variety as well as including swimwear to the collection.

Curvaceous has taken part in bridal expos in the past and they plan to be a part of more in the future.

She also hopes to be able to travel so that they are able to reach more women and start bringing sexy back all over the state of Michigan.

TA B L E S D O N N I N G VA R I O U S C U T S O F PA N T I E S C OV E R T H E TA B L E S T H R O U G H O U T T H E S TO R E .

Although Curvaceous may have begun as just a lingerie store, it grew to be much more than that.

Long explained how she not only served full-figured women tired of wearing their “grandma's bra,” but

Sydney Ford, a junior at Michigan State University, is pursuing a career in journalism and design.

Sydney enjoys all things creative, volunteering with shelter animals and eating sushi with strawberry ice cream.

Grand Ledge Emergency Assistance Program

NONPROFITPROFILE

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his month, we recognize the Grand Ledge Emergency Assistance Program (GLEAP), a nonprofit organization working in the Grand Ledge Public School District (GLPS) to assist families with utility bills, transportation, food, medicine and housing needs.

GLEAP’s mission is to provide short-term, emergency financial relief for families and individuals in need.

They work to coordinate fundraising efforts and distribute funds generated by local schools, faithbased organizations, businesses and communitybased service organizations.

“GLEAP relies on the generosity of an amazing Grand Ledge community for financial support. We rely on community groups and individuals for fundraising and donations, such as Grand Ledge Rotary, Mudge's Follies Variety Show and Capital City Car Club,” said Jeffrey Belding, acting chairperson of GLEAP. GLEAP celebrated its 30th year of service by holding a Volunteer Recognition Breakfast at Grand Ledge High School last November. At the breakfast, more than 30 volunteers were honored for their work in the Grand Ledge community. Former board members were also recognized, including two members who helped form the organization 30 years ago. All GLEAP board members are volunteers.

GLEAP began as a loose conglomeration of local church members and clergy around Grand Ledge that recognized a need in the community.

The group eventually became a full-fledged nonprofit organization.

GLEAP works closely with other service organizations in the Grand Ledge School District, such as St. Vincent DePaul, G.L. Rotary, the Grand Ledge Food Bank, local churches and the Grand Ledge School District itself. All of the funding for the organization comes from grants, private donations, church contributions and community fundraisers. Past fundraisers for GLEAP have included the annual Mudge’s Follies Variety Show, Rotary Christmas Chili Cook-Off, FeedGL Annual GLPS Spring Food Drive and Capital City Car Show at the Color Cruise.

PHOTO PROVIDED

BY KYLE DOWLING

The Rotary Club of Grand Ledge presented a donation to GLEAP at the Chili Cook-Off in December.

“One of our goals for 2015 is to create a partnership with Grand Ledge Public Schools to assist students who are homeless or are in need of winter gloves, school supplies, etc.,” stated Belding.

For more information about GLEAP, visit

In 2014, GLEAP, in conjunction with the Grand Ledge Food Bank, served more than 1,500 individuals, families and children in the district.

GLEAP’s goals for 2015 include increasing its presence ok, and partnering more heavily with GLPS, increasing its revenue base, expanding service programs, increasing public visibility and increasing partnerships with local businesses.

gleap.net or call them at (517) 627-3256.

Kyle Dowling is an employee of M3 Group and is pursuing a writing degree at LCC. He enjoys fiction writing, video games and movies.

February 2015

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sweet heart

DIYQUICKCRAFTS

BY JENNIFER HODGES

DECOR

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must confess, this is actually a craft my 12-year-old daughter made, and I thought it was so cute that I had to share this with you for my DIY!

This is the perfect DIY if you want or need a new decoration for Valentine's

Day. It’s a quick, easy and inexpensive DIY craft. You can find almost all of the items at a dollar store or craft store. This is a great craft to hang up in your house or office; you could even give it as a gift to your special Valentine.

Spread the love this Valentine’s Day!

SUPPLIES • Canvas • Pink paint or a color of your choice • Pencil • Candy hearts • Hot glue gun •

Hot glue

HOW–TO STEP 1 - Paint canvas and let dry. Apply second coat — 5 min (to speed up the drying process you can dry the canvas with hairdryer.)

STEP 2 - Draw a heart using the pencil — 1 min.

STEP 3 - Glue the candy hearts to the canvas — 20 min.

STEP 4 - Hang up for a quick and easy Valentine decoration.

Jennifer Hodges is a Southern belle at heart, however, she does bleed green. A native of North Carolina, she has lived in Michigan since 1998. When not crafting, Jennifer is the Vice President of Business Development at M3 Group. She loves spending time with her family, camping and singing lots of karaoke.

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RESTAURANTREVIEW

DELUCA'S RESTAURANT 2006 WEST WILLOW ST., LANSING (517) 487-6087 DELUCASPIZZA.COM

BY VIRGINIA BERNERO

DELUCA'S R E S TA U R A N T

H O M E M A D E I TA L I A N AT I T S F I N E S T

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hen you find a good product, you may want to know the name behind it. Brand names keep loyal customers coming back to fulfill needs of all sorts. When you need gym shoes, you might look for the Nike swoosh; one day you might find yourself driving a few hours for that new Coach purse — no matter what you’re interested in, the name on the product matters. In the Lansing area, there’s a family name that keeps the crowds coming back day after day for their Italian cuisine and hometown feel — Deluca’s Restaurant.

Let me start by saying that I was delighted to use this food review as an excuse to visit one of my favorite restaurants in the area. This preference is true for a few reasons. First, I’m partial to well-made Italian food, which is getting harder to find as generations of immigrant families blend their cultures here in the States. Second, the Delucas are proud of their history, carry on the family name and feature their homemade recipes on the menu.

fills the air. Your eyes catch glimpses of garlic bread baskets and pizzas on stands as you make your way around the restaurant and your nose takes in the other dishes you might have missed. The smells are rich and thick with marinara and fresh baked bread.

At this point, I’ve tried a variety of things on the menu from baked pastas to calzones, but that day I wanted to go for the gold — my absolute favorite items on their menu are their Greek salad and spinach pizza. Let me specify that the 10-inch spinach pizza is the one you want. The size is large enough to share, and in my experience, the 14-inch pizza loses some of the pie-like qualities that the smaller version provides.

LET ME WARN YOU NOW: CHEESE. THE SPINACH PIZZA IS A GOOEY, STRINGY, MOZZARELLA MESS — THAT’S WHAT I LOVE! UNDER THAT, A SPINACH AND

I was lucky to have my grandfather, an immigrant from Italy himself, join me on Friday night for an early dinner. A fairly picky and critical eater himself, I knew Deluca’s would be an easy crowd pleaser. We arrived around 5:30 p.m., and I was shocked to already find a packed house. Luckily, as a small party we did not have to wait, but I could tell that it wouldn’t be long before their lobby would be full of hungry customers. Our waitress recognized my grandfather from his frequent visits and was very pleasant to me as well.

The family feel of this restaurant cannot go unnoticed. I always feel like I’m over at a cousin’s house to enjoy a home-cooked meal when I visit Deluca’s. The pictures of their ancestry adorn the walls, the dim lighting sets a relaxed atmosphere and the sound of camaraderie

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RICOTTA MIXTURE WITH CREAM SAUCE FILLS THE MIDDLE.

The Greek salad also comes in a few different sizes.

I ordered the large salad so I could take some for leftovers. This salad is piled with all the appropriate pieces of a true Greek salad. There is no shortage of Feta cheese, pepperoncini, beets, olives, onions or tomatoes. I particularly enjoy the dressing, which is made like most others on their menu, in-house. My grandfather also ordered a cup of the vegetable and meatball soup, overflowing with the contents when it was served.

After enjoying a few helpings of salad, the pizza arrived. Let me warn you now: CHEESE. The spinach pizza is a gooey, stringy, mozzarella mess — that’s what I love! Under that, a spinach and ricotta mixture with cream sauce fills the middle. The pie is complete with a thick, flaky, perfectly cooked crust; it's the kind of crust that crunches on the outside, but stays soft on the inside — and it doesn’t go to waste. To those readers who might be weary to try this because you’re not crazy about spinach, do not let that deter you. I’ve introduced this pizza to many people, and there are very few who have not finished at least a slice or two.

One thing is certain about eating at Deluca’s Restaurant; you will leave full. In an Italian family, this means a job well done. Your wallet won’t take a hit there either; I’ve found the prices to be very reasonable for the quality food and service. In my opinion, it also feels much better to support local restaurants that do a good job — from the packed establishment I see that many other Lansing area residents share my perspective.

Congratulations to the Deluca family for more than 50 years of serving fantastic food in this community, I wish you another 50 years of continued success — see you soon!

Virginia Bernero is a Central Michigan University graduate, now the Communications Specialist for M3 Group. The full service branding agency employs her to work on events and marketing for their clients and publications, including the CAWLM's 80's Flashback Fundraiser and Lady Classic golf outing.

MOVIEREVIEW

BY KYLE DOWLING

THE

WEDDING RINGER D

oug Harris (Josh Gad), is two weeks away from marrying the girl of his dreams, Gretchen Palmer (Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting). Their wedding plans are in full swing and everything seems to be on schedule, with one small exception; Gretchen has seven bridesmaids, but Doug has no one to be his groomsmen.

A NETWORK OF OPPORTUNITY

With time running out, Doug is introduced to Jimmy Callahan (Kevin Hart), owner of Best Man, Inc., a company that provides best man services to desperate grooms. Doug pays Jimmy to be his best man and help him find six other groomsmen. However, the six men that he finds aren’t exactly picture perfect. With some convincing, elaborate planning and a lot of ‘acting’, Jimmy and the guys are now officially a part of the wedding party.

As the movie progresses, Jimmy and Doug are constantly put to the test to prove to everyone that they are, in fact, best friends. With a serious dance-off, a highly competitive football game and ultimately, a crazy and slightly terrifying bachelor party, Doug and the guys take you on a wild ride you won’t soon forget.

The wedding day arrives and more shenanigans ensue, leaving you to wonder how Doug and the guys could possibly pull off this ridiculous stunt.

In my opinion, the movie was entertaining and fun. It had a few moments of shock comedy I really enjoyed. With that said, I did feel as though it mirrors the traditional comedy plotline, they just added a comedian into a “kooky” story.

I felt as though the characters could have been better developed throughout to help tie up loose ends as the movie progressed. You can always count on Kevin Hart to be fun and Josh Gad played a believable “clumsy-but-lovable” groom-to-be and the other characters that rounded out the ensemble definitely worked, but could have brought more to the story in the long run.

In general the movie carries the crazy story all the way through the wedding. If you’re looking for a light-hearted movie to see in theaters after dinner on Valentine’s Day, I think all audiences would get a few good laughs, out of the feel-good movie, The Wedding Ringer.

Kyle Dowling is an employee of M3 Group and is pursuing a writing degree at LCC. He enjoys fiction writing, video games and movies.

wkar.org February 2015

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APET'STALE

DEDICATED TO IMPROVING LIVES

BY JILL BAILEY

DOG DAYS OF WINTER Every other month our pet expert and Canine Coaches dog trainer Jill Bailey will answer your pet questions. Email her at jill@m3group.biz. For more info on Canine Coaches visit caninecoaches.com.

Q: I HAVE HEARD THAT SIDEWALK SALT IS BAD FOR DOGS, IS THIS TRUE? A: Yes, ingredients commonly found in ice melt can be harmful to your pet if ingested. Be sure to wipe your pet’s paws after a walk. You can also buy booties/socks for your dog. There are also petfriendly, non-toxic ice melt options available; search those out to be sure you are keeping your pet safe. And remember, even when there isn’t a lot of salt, the colder temperatures will still affect your dog’s paw pads. There are balms available for dog’s paws — check with your veterinarian for what would work best for your dog.

THE “DOBIE” DIFFERENCE Ingham County Rehabilitation Services is your short term inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation provider of choice; offering physical, occupational, speech and aquatic therapy - seven days a week.

Our dedicated, experienced and friendly team is committed to exceeding your care, recovery and comfort expectations.

Q: MY DOG COUNTER SURFS — WHAT CAN I DO TO STOP THIS BEHAVIOR? A: A behavior like this is self-rewarding for the dog. To stop it, you need to manage your dog’s environment. Keep all food off of the counter, and if you have to leave food out, be sure it is in a container with a lid and tightly closed, as far back on the counter as possible. Try gating off the area so they can’t get on the counter when you aren’t able to watch them. When you are working in the kitchen, you could try having your dog hang out in the kitchen with you and reward them when they are behaving.

Q: I’M WORRIED THAT MY DOG DOESN’T GET ENOUGH ACTIVITY AND IS BORED WHILE I’M AT WORK ALL DAY. I’D LIKE HER TO GET MORE EXERCISE, ANY SUGGESTIONS? A: There are definitely options out there — doggy daycare, a dog walker or a friend or relative that could play with or walk the dog while you’re at work. Check with friends and co-workers to see if they have any suggestions. Depending on your budget and how many times a week you’d like to do this, you can find a way that works for you both.

Ingham County Rehabilitation Services 3860 Dobie Road Okemos, MI 48864 517-381-6130

BY SYDNEY FORD www.dobieroad.org

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Capital Area Women’s LifeStyle

February 2015

Jill Bailey is the Media Specialist at M3 Group by day, by night she is helping train dogs for Canine Coaches! Having a life-long love of dogs, Jill decided to get her training certification in 2012. Visit caninecoaches.com for more information.

LOCALWOMAN

PHOTO BY MIKE FRANCE

Bringing Stories to Life Through Video

Karen Stef l

Executive Producer and Director at Such Video

K

aren Stefl loves a lot of things in life; her two children (of course), cooking and philanthropy, to name a few. She is also able to do something that she loves every day at work — Stefl is able to channel all of her creativity as a professional storyteller. As a partner for Such Video, as well as the executive producer and director, Stefl is able to bring stories to life for her clients. She has always known that she wanted to work in this industry; entering writing contests and competing in theatre, as well as interning with television stations were all stepping stones to make it to her dream job. Her dream definitely came true. For the past 20 years, Stefl has worked for Such Video. When the company started, she began as an intern and worked her way up the ladder at the boutique production and post-production company. She was finally given the opportunity to prove herself when she was able to make her vision for a public service announcement come to life. From intern to partner, Stefl now spends her days working directly with clients. She researches, writes and plans, among other things, to create something amazing for them. What she enjoys most is that, “there is no such thing as a ‘typical’ day.” each day brings something new. Stefl’s natural curiosity is what keeps her motivated to work. She loves figuring out ways to solve the problems that she is presented with. She has the opportunity to not only help clients, but also to help her team. Laughing and chatting with them before meetings creates an awesome bond, but being able to serve them in some way keeps her feeling fresh and motivated to take on her day.

BY SYDNEY FORD February 2015

CAWLM.COM

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FASHION

The Perfect Dress

BY SYDNEY FORD | PHOTOS BY MIKE FR ANCE

Keeping it conservative? This dress is perfect for a quiet dinner or a theatre performance. Paired with small subtle jewelry, this look can be simple, yet stellar.

A heeled boot will add some flair but it is still comfortable enough to walk around under the stars before your night comes to an end. Dress

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Capital Area Women’s LifeStyle

With 14 years of experience serving successful women and their families in the Lansing area, Stephanie uses her comprehensive approach to financial planning to provide advice for women who want to be empowered and informed as they make complex decisions about their future.

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Pretty in Pearls

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If you're not sure where the night may take you, this dress is perfect.

It is an all-purpose dress that can be styled up or down. Choosing between flats or heels will determine how laid back this look can be. A pearl necklace is a classy way to complete this look. Remember to keep the outerwear simple. A peacoat to keep you warm should do the trick. Dress by Carlisle, $49.99; Purse by Talbots, $24.99; Jacket by Michael Kors, $79.99; Pearl Necklace, $9.99 all available at Kellie’s Consignments.

As busy working women, life can’t always be put on hold. If you have to leave from the office to meet your date, there is still a way to look sexy, yet work appropriate. Stack a staple top with a statement bottom. A classic colored silk blouse paired with a patterned skirt works perfectly. After work, pull your hair out of that bun and put on your heels.

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February 2015

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FINANCIALFACTS

BY APRIL CLOBES

establishing and properly

MA I N TA I N I NG C R ED IT W

ITH THE END OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON, MANY OF US MAY FIND OURSELVES AFRAID TO CHECK OUR FINANCES — ESPECIALLY OUR CREDIT CARD STATEMENTS. FROM OVERSPENDING ON GIFTS, TO CHARGING TRAVEL EXPENSES,

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF COMMON HOLIDAY SPENDING PRACTICES THAT COULD HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON OUR ACCOUNTS THIS YEAR.

WHETHER YOU FIND YOURSELF IN AN OVERSPENDING SITUATION DUE TO THE HOLIDAYS, YOU’VE BEEN STRUGGLING TO IMPROVE YOUR CREDIT OVER TIME OR YOU HOPE TO MAINTAIN YOUR CURRENT CREDIT, HERE ARE A FEW STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TO GET YOUR FINANCES ON TRACK.

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Capital Area Women’s LifeStyle

Ryan Klanseck, DO

contact us today to make your appointment!

(517) 913-3980 February 2015

GET THE FACTS One of the best things you can do for yourself when it comes to establishing, reestablishing or maintaining your credit is to educate yourself. Understanding your credit score and credit report is a good place to start. For example, it is helpful to know that your credit score is determined by the length of your credit history, types of credit in use, new lines of credit, past credit history and amount owed. This knowledge alone should help you get a better idea of where you stand, but you can find more detailed information about credit online or through a financial advisor.

To find out exactly where you stand with your credit, you have the option to obtain a credit report. You may access your report from the three major credit bureaus (Experian, TransUnion and Equifax) for free once a year at annualcreditreport. com. Your credit report contains: your identifying information such as your name, address and social security number; credit accounts and loans, including what type of accounts they are, when they were opened, your credit limit, the account balance and your payment history; credit inquiries from creditors or lenders; and public records such as judgments, tax liens and bankruptcies. Your score is calculated based on the report data, but it is not listed on the report. From the information on the report, you can better assess the factors that are impacting your own score. You may also obtain your actual credit score — typically your FICO credit score — but you will likely have to pay for this service.

KEEP TRACK OF YOUR CREDIT Once you know your credit status, you should take a closer look at each individual line of credit or loan to see where you can improve your score. Try making a list of everyone and include the interest rate, spending limit, remaining balance, and payment due date. Having this information in one place will help you to avoid engaging in behaviors that can hurt your score, such as making late payments, maxing out your credit cards, opening multiple accounts in a short period of time, closing accounts with a long-time history and lowering credit limits on existing revolving credit lines.

MAKE A PLAN In addition to preventing the things that will negatively affect your credit score, you also have the power to improve your score. By making payments on time, bringing delinquent loans current, paying down/paying off credit cards (but not closing them) and moving revolving debt (lines of credit) to installment loans (closed-end accounts), you will see improvements to your score over time.

To further engage in these best practices, try making a plan that allows you to make the best of your credit. For example, before you make purchases on a credit card or take out a loan, decide in advance what sorts of products or services these types of credit should be used for. By adopting specific spending practices from the beginning, you can prevent yourself from making impulse purchases and buying more items on credit than you initially planned.

On top of deciding what to purchase via credit, decide how you will plan to pay off these purchases. Will you pay them off in increments each week, each paycheck, each month? Or will you pay the full account balance shortly after making a purchase?

When making this decision, keep your interest rates in mind and determine which will be most convenient for you while also reducing the total interest you’ll pay over the course of the loan.

BE RESPONSIBLE Once you’ve gained a better understanding of credit itself as well as your personal credit history, the best thing to do is to use this information to make decisions that will better your credit over time. Engaging in best practices is worth the effort when it comes to getting your credit on track and achieving your financial goals, and there is no better time than now to get started.

April Clobes is the Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer at MSU Federal Credit Union. MSUFCU’s headquarters are at 3777 West Road East Lansing, MI 48823.

Contact April at aclobes@msufcu.org or (517) 333-2254.

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CAWLM.COM

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Alison & Dominic Lathrop SUPERWOMAN

BY AMI ICEMAN | PHOTO BY MARK WARNER

A

lison Lathrop is the proud mother of four lively, curious, adventurous kids. She takes care of her family, keeps the toys from over taking the living room and works to keep the household running day-in and day-out. But her days play out differently than most — while some mothers are running to the grocery store and registering for dance class — Lathrop is sterilizing equipment, checking tubes and monitoring her son Dominic’s condition.

Lathrop married her husband Andrew in 2008 and started their young family.

They have four children, Jaxon, five; Ruby, three; and twins, Vincent and Dominic, 16-months. Each has a unique personality and bright smile that brings light to the Lathrop household, but Dominic, the youngest of the twins, suffers from a life-threatening condition known as Hirschsprung’s disease.

“Dominic was born with it. He has a one in a million variation of it.

Basically he lacks nerves in the bowel. Less than five percent of his intestines actually work. He will be IV nutrition dependent for the rest of his life,” Lathrop explains.

The twins arrived 10 weeks early. Dominic was missing his left kidney, but with that exception both boys appeared healthy. It wasn’t until two weeks and

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several tests later that Dominic was diagnosed. Dominic underwent his first surgery in September of 2013 and his second in October, which lead to the determination that he only had 13 centimeters of functioning bowel.

“Once we started getting answers the doctors were very honest and let us know that we would have a lot of hard decisions ahead of us,” recalls Lathrop.

While Dominic was in the hospital, the Lathrop family was splintered as Jaxon and Ruby spent time with family and Alison and Andrew traveled between Sparrow Hospital where Vincent was being cared for and U of M hospital where Dominic was being treated. But the family found strength in sharing stories and photos and focusing on what time they had with their sons.

“We didn’t really know how much time we had, all the research points to the fact that this is not a disease people live with. I had a lot of time where I was just driving in the car and cried a lot and prayed out loud a lot and screamed because it was so unfair. But in those moments I tried to focus on what we had. So I took thousands of pictures to show Jaxon and Ruby and we would sit and talk with them every morning before we left to help them understand,” Lathrop said.

Since Dominic’s diagnosis Lathrop and her family have had to face new challenges on a daily basis. Lathrop had to learn to manage Dominic’s equipment, his siblings learned to be cautious and caring about his condition and frequent doctor visits are scheduled on the calendar. But Lathrop didn’t let the fear of challenges stop her from taking control of the unknown situation.

“We always take things as they come. Once we brought him home we were able to start focusing on what comes next. I would sit on my phone and research. I wanted to know what the doctors were saying when they would talk to me. I wanted to know questions to ask. I wanted to know our options. I became very knowledgeable and took control to figure out what was best for my family,” said Lathrop.

Caring for Dominic requires dedicated time and attention. A simple mistake could lead to big problems for the little guy, but Lathrop has confidence, a mother’s intuition and her family to help her through the delicate procedures she does at home.

“I think people look at this kind of stuff and can’t imagine doing what I do, but you become confident because you’re the one doing it. And the kids are great, they learn so quickly. They know not to touch Dominic’s line. Ruby will even tell me if something is wrong,” Lathrop said. “A lot of times I just know if something is wrong and I can fix it, but the biggest piece is planning ahead and having time to do everything.”

And she truly does everything! She multi-tasks effortlessly, switching between making dinner, listening to Ruby’s stories, answering Jaxon’s questions, keeping Vincent away from the fire place and ensuring Dominic’s equipment is functioning without missing a beat. She is the true definition of a real-life superwoman.

WHEN DOMINIC WAS DIAGNOSED, LIFE GOT A LOT MORE STRESSFUL. BUT I’VE BECOME STRONGER. I FELT FOR A WHILE THAT I HAD LOST MY SENSE OF SELF. BUT WHO I AM NOW IS BETTER THAN WHO I WAS.

“When Dominic was diagnosed, life got a lot more stressful. But I’ve become stronger. I felt for a while that I had lost my sense of self. But who I am now is better than who I was,” Lathrop said. “When you’re put through really stressful and challenging stuff in life you learn what you are capable of and how to prioritize your life.

You learn what has to happen and the rest can wait. You learn to not let stress or chaos consume you to the point where you can’t enjoy the time you have.”

Currently, Dominic is a giggling, smiling, handsome 16-month old who is receiving the best care from doctors and an enormous amount of love from family and friends. Lathrop acknowledges all the people she has to thank for where Dominic is today, especially Andrew (Drew), her husband, who shared their family’s story.

“Drew is a super involved husband and dad. He takes on the role of taking care of me, which I appreciate more than he knows. He encourages me to go out, or lets me sleep in and have a lazy Sunday. We are a team and our family wouldn’t be where we are if we weren’t,” said Lathrop. “But we have the support of a lot of other people as well. Our families, our friends, families in our support groups and all the outpouring thoughts and prayers we receive through social media. They all allow us to focus on what is important.”

And focusing on what matters most is just what Lathrop intends to do moving forward.

“I think a lot of people have stressful events in their lives and they get in a mindset of negativity. And there is this really great poem that says it best — basically it says if you’re always focused on where you didn’t end up, your wasting all the time you could be enjoying where you are,” Lathrop said. “So yes, Dominic has a life-threatening disease, but we are not focused on that. We are focused on living.”

From left to right; Mojo, Alison, Dominic, Ruby, Jaxon, Andrew and Vincent Lathrop.

February 2015

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FAMILYLife

BY TINA SUTTERLIN | PHOTOS PROVIDED

Editor’s Note: Welcome to a special series from the Sutterlin Family. This month, the family continues the account of their experience hosting a German high school exchange student. Enjoy!

FROM THE SUTTERLIN FAMILY One of the things that drew our attention to Sophie’s application for the exchange program was that she was an only child. We thought it would make her more interested in becoming a sibling, part of something larger. As we gathered a loaner bed and redesigned a 10 x 10 room to fit two teenage girls, we wondered what it would be like to parent a child who was not actually ours. Was this person a guest in our home or a member of our family?

We decided that if we didn’t immediately extend ourselves completely and honestly, it wouldn’t work. So we insisted to both of our kids that Sophie would be treated as a sister and a third child; same expectations, same rewards, same consequences.

Living this out became a different story as we initially treated her as a guest while she grew comfortable. Sophie received a little more grace and lenience when it came to getting chores done or having certain privileges. Our kids knew the routines and expectations, but Sophie was new to our idiosyncrasies. We played to that, but she didn’t. What wore the newness off were Sophie’s reminders that we treat her as our own. It took about a month, but we eventually received the same eye rolls and sighs from all three kids, as we insisted they each do their part from folding clothes to setting tables to simply being quiet after bedtime.

Watching the kids interact was interesting.

McKenna struggled for the adolescent alone time she once enjoyed. This struggle came out as

melancholy and sometimes just plain rudeness.

Sophie ended up consoling us more often than the other way around, explaining her understanding of McKenna which was quite accurate and deep. As they learned to live as sisters, we saw the results of late-night conversations turn into a mutual respect and unspoken language between them. Brogan had a much easier transition. To him, Sophie was one more playmate and a doting sister he hadn’t often experienced. We suspect their age difference lent to this, but Sophie also shared experiences with Brogan. She recruited him to be a child role in her school play, where they spent many hours and shared a surreal few weeks together acting with a troupe from the high school. By the time the holidays rolled around, it was clear that we were operating as a family.

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Capital Area Women’s LifeStyle

February 2015

Left to right; Sophie with her host-sister McKenna. McKenna, Brogan and Sophie. Sophie with her host-brother Brogan.

FROM SOPHIE I’ve been in America for five months now and experienced a different family life from what I was used to. Having siblings that live with me is very exciting, but it can also challenging at times. My host-sister, McKenna, and I were very close in the beginning. Everything was so new and there were so many things that we could do together. We had so many similarities. Of course, time passed and school started and there was less time to talk and do fun stuff together. I feel like that brought some tension and it didn’t really work that well between us for some time. We both realized that we can’t just ignore each other and now we are really working on talking to each other and caring about each other. I’ve learned a lot from being a sister. It can be hard to build up a relationship and to understand what she wants and

how I can make her feel comfortable, but it’s worth it.

I love my sister, I really do, and I think we are good siblings. We are a good family.

My relationship with my host-brother, Brogan, is pretty good too. I think it was much easier for him to adapt to having a new sister because he didn’t have to share a room with me. He can just play with me whenever he wants, while McKenna and I are much closer and have to deal with each other and each other’s moods all the time. He is very loving and we can always snuggle. Even though we don’t share as many hobbies, it’s always fun to have him around and play board games, Just Dance or to sing together.

It can also be challenging to stay close to my siblings while still having all those activities after school that keep me from being home and interacting with them.

TO BE A FAMILY WHERE YOU HAVE TO SHARE YOUR PARENTS AND YOUR TIME WITH SIBLINGS NEEDS MORE WORK THAN I EXPECTED, BUT I LOVE IT AND I LOVE THEM EVEN MORE!

But I figured out that I have to use the time that I get with them to play or talk to them and not just entertain myself alone. To be a family where you have to share your parents and your time with siblings needs more work than I expected, but I love it and I love them even more!

February 2015

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events

FEBRUARY 10 — 103rd Annual Dinner, East Lansing. Join the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce for their 103rd Annual Dinner. This event will host more than 800 attendees, making this the premier networking event in the region.The evening will include honoring outgoing Chair and Board members, remarks from the Chamber’s incoming Board Chair, honoring the ATHENA and ATHENAPowerLink recipients and more. This year’s dinner will be held at the Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center from 5:15 to 8:30 p.m. Early Bird tickets are $85/member, $140/non-member or $630/table of eight or regular tickets for $95/member, $140/non-member and $710/ table of eight. For more information, visit lansing chamber.org.

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FEBRUARY 12 — Chocolate Walk, Old Town.

Celebrate Valentine’s Day in Old Town. Explore businesses, shops and restaurants and don’t forget to grab some chocolate along the way at the second annual Old Town Chocolate Walk. This evening of sweets will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Tickets are $15/person in advance or $20/person at the door and includes a two pound box to fill with chocolate and a map of participating businesses that doubles as a punch card. Visit iloveoldtown.org.

FEBRUARY 23 — Daddy Daughter Dance, Lansing. This is a fun opportunity for dads, or any special male figure, and daughters to enjoy an evening together. Attend the Daddy Daughter Dance at the Crowne Plaza Lansing West Hotel, located at 925 South Creyts Road, from 7 to 9 p.m. This fun event is open to any young lady who is over the age of two and her date for the evening. There will be a limited dinner menu available. For more information, email bkellogg@deltami.gov.

MARCH 7 — Family Day at The Broad, East Lansing. Gather the family and spend the day with Farm Bureau Insurance at Family Day at The Broad.

Enjoy a scavenger hunt, hands-on projects, live music and a special family tour at 1 p.m. Visit the Broad from noon to 4 p.m. for this free family-fun experience. For more information, visit broadmuseum.msu.edu.

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February 2015

FEBRUARY [EVENTS, ARTS, EXHIBITS]

arts

FEBRUARY 13-15 — I Love Lucy Live on Stage, East Lansing. Spend an evening with Ricky, Lucy, Fred and Ethel in I Love Lucy Live on Stage. Revisit 1952 as you are entertained with one of the most beloved programs in television history on stage at the Wharton Center. You will be a member of the Desilu Playhouse studio audience witnessing two favorite episodes. Don’t miss this exciting opportunity at the Wharton Center. For show-times and pricing, visit whartoncenter.com or call (517) 353-1982.

FEBRUARY 21 — The Hot Sardines, East Lansing. Experience a fun and unique jazz band, The Hot Sardines. Listen to music inspired by the 20s, 30s and 40s with touches of New Orleans and Paris.

Visit the Wharton Center and let The Hot Sardines captivate you and take you on a wonderful musical journey. For more information, visit whartoncenter. com or call (517) 353-1982.

exhibits NOW-MAY 31 — Not Just A Man’s War: Michigan Women in the Civil War, Lansing. Visit the Michigan Women’s Historical Center & Hall of Fame and discover what the War meant for the women of Michigan. Not only did women take care of their own household duties, they also had to take on the responsibilities of men. Some women stayed in Michigan, supporting the war efforts, others served in hospitals and even on battlefields. Experience this exciting exhibit at the Michigan Women’s Historical Center & Hall of Fame, located at 213 West Malcolm X Street. Call (517) 484-1880 for more information.

FEBRUARY 6-8 — Mid-Michigan Women’s Expo, Lansing. Join the Mid-Michigan Women’s Expo, currently in their 15th year. Enjoy more than 250 exhibits and seminars geared toward women and their families. There is something for everyone as they offer health, fashion, finance, food, travel, beauty items and so much more. This is truly a shopping extravaganza. Visit the Expo on Friday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., or Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Lansing Center. Tickets can be purchased in advance at Meijer or at the door.

Visit kohlerexpo.com or call (616) 532-8833.

}

TRICOUNTYEVENTS

FEBRUARY 14 — 6th Annual Mason Area Women’s Expo, Mason. Spend your day at the Ingham County Fairgrounds, located at 700 East Ash Street, at the 6th Annual Mason Area Women’s Expo. Enjoy shopping, a women’s health discussion, pilates classes, extreme couponing classes, silent auctions and more. Visit the Expo from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is free. Call (517) 676-2857 for more information.

MARCH 20-22 — Shuto Con 2015, Lansing.

Visit the Lansing Center for Shuto Con 2015. This three-day Anime Convention will focus on artists and the art of Interactive Cosplaying. This convention will feature several large rooms for panels, more than 50 unique artists and dealers, three anime viewing rooms, a huge video game room, a table-top gaming room, special guests and more. The convention will be open beginning Friday at 9 a.m. and will run through Sunday at 6 p.m. Visit shutocon.com for more information.

clinics FEBRUARY 10 — Income Tax Prep, East Lansing. It’s that time of year again – tax time. This class is a how-to guide to preparing your 2014 taxes.

Visit MSUFCU Farm Lane Branch, located at 4825 East Mt. Hope Road, for this informative session. For more information, visit msufcu.org.

FEBRUARY 13 — iPad and iPhone Basics, Mason. This is a class for Adults who need the basics to get started with their iPad and iPhone. In this hands-on class you will learn all of the basic information that you need to get started, tips and tricks and how to customize your device. Please be sure to bring your iPad or iPhone fully charged. Registration for this class is required. This informative session will be held at the Mason Public Library from 2 to 4 p.m. For more information, visit cadl.org or call (517) 676-9088.

FEBRUARY 16 — Knit & Knot So Much, Lansing. Join this informal group, Knit & Knot So

FEBRUARY [CLINICS, FUNDRAISERS]

Much, to work on various needlework projects at Reach. This group meets the third Monday of the month for fun, creativity and a potluck lunch. Each meeting will include a small instruction session of different techniques. Bring some friends and some yarn and join this group from 10 a.m. to noon. The registration fee for the group is $10/person. Visit reachartstudio.org or call (517) 999-3643.

MARCH 18 — Baby Sign Class, East Lansing.

Join Alliance Obstetrics & Gynecology for a Baby Sign Class. Baby signing is helpful to both children and their caregivers. This one-hour class will get you on your way to encouraging your baby to effectively communicate by using hand signs. Don’t miss this opportunity from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. The cost to attend this class is $15/person or $25/couple. Call (517) 853.2330.

fundraisers

FEBRUARY 6 — 4th Annual House Party, Lansing. Habitat for Humanity Lansing will host their 4th Annual House Party fundraiser in style at

the University Club of MSU. The event will feature music by The Black Barn Band and a silent auction.

Join them for an opportunity to have a great night and give back at the same time. This fun-filled evening will be held from 6:30 p.m. to midnight. The cost is $75/person or $750/table of 10. One hundred percent of the proceeds go back to Habitat for Humanity Lansing to help eliminate poverty housing in the Greater Lansing area. Email dena@habitatlansing. org, visit habitatlansing.org or call (517) 3741313 x. 20.

FEBRUARY 22 — MSU Museum Chocolate Party Benefit, East Lansing. Join the MSU Museum for their 26th Annual Chocolate Party Benefit. Watch as culinary competitors create edible masterpieces inspired by the film Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb and sample their delectable chocolate confections. On display will also be exhibits showcasing artifacts and specimens from the science and culture collections. Proceeds help to fund proper care of the Museum’s collections. Ticket prices are as follows: pre-general admission tickets are $30/person, Museum member tickets are $25/person, tickets at the door are $35/person or premier chocolatier tickets are $75/person and include early party preview, samples of competition and chocolatier pieces, master chef demonstration and a one-year MSU Museum membership. Don’t miss this fun event being held at the Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center, located at 219 South Harrison Road, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Visit museum.msu.edu or call (517) 355-1855.

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TRICOUNTYEVENTS MARCH 12 — Lucky Feet 5K Kidney Run/ Walk, East Lansing. The 2015 Lucky Feet 5K Kidney Run/Walk will benefit the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan. This road race will be held on the campus of MSU with registration beginning at 9 followed by a 10 a.m. race start time. An 11:30 a.m. ¼ mile Leprechaun Leap will be held for children 12 and under. All participants will receive medals and early registrants will be guaranteed t-shirts. Race fees are as follows: early registration is $30/person until Monday February 23 and $35/person after. The Leprechaun Leap is $7/person for early bird and $10/person after. Email kporter@nkfm.org or call (734) 222-9800 x. 208.

MARCH 20 — MSU Museum’s Wine Tasting Benefit, East Lansing. Spend an evening with your friends from the MSU Museum for their Wine Tasting Benefit.

The evening will include more than 100 Michigan, national and international wines; hors d’oeuvres, a silent auction and door prizes. Vendors will be on hand to answer questions. Proceeds from the event will benefit MSU Museum programs. This fun-filled evening will take place at the Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center from 7 to 9:30 p.m. The cost to attend is $45/person. Visit museum. msu.edu or call (517) 355-1855.

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February 2015

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experience the music , mayhem and magic of tv ’ s most beloved program !

Les Mer es tantes et DebuCLUB

BY SYDNEY FORD

T

hree friends sit side by side on the plush stools in front of a brightly lit vanity mirror. One fussing with her hair, making sure that her freshly curled ringlets are pinned perfectly in place; another freshening up her blush, careful not to spill any of the powder on the sky blue dress her mother bought for her; the third reciting the lines of her speech over and over again, squeezing her eyes closed tightly on the sections she hadn't quite memorized yet. These girls are getting ready for the debutante ball; hosted by Les Meres et Debutantes Club of greater Lansing.

Les Meres et Debutantes Club (French for The Mothers and Daughters Debutant Club) has been around for 52 years. In 1962, nine African-American women banded together to establish this club. Esther Abrams, Hortense Canady, Lela Eaton, Mattie Foxhall, Robbie Harris, Cathrine Harrison, Estella Saunders, Shirley Willsy and Dorothy Wilson all sought to fight against the times and make their vision a reality.

"The club was organized at a time when white social clubs refused memberships to African-Americans," says Annie Smith, a member of the organization. "These nine mothers [wanted] to present their daughters to society by preparing them to fulfill roles as productive young women."

S TA G E D & D I R E C T E D B Y

Rick Sparks

ADA PTE D FR OM T H E MOST B E L O V ED TE LE VI SI ON SHOW I N H I STO RY!

The Debutante Club has continued to uphold that mission. It is still to this day organized, operated and financed by mothers in the club. These women strive to help their daughters develop in all facets of life, including scholarship, service, social etiquette and establishing good morals. Different programs are held to make sure that each girl is developing in these areas. This club is the only one of its kind – the girls participate in a six year program, as opposed to the average one or two year programs that other clubs provide. They begin working with the girls in the 7th grade with mothers providing wisdom, guidance and expertise. The girls are mentored based on their professions, talents and skills. The lessons they learn from these women will stay with them throughout their entire lives.

When the program is completed and the girls reach the 12th grade, the mothers put together a showcase to display all of the girls' hard work. Since its founding, the Debutante Club has hosted more than 500 debutantes in the greater Lansing area — that’s a lot of little ladies! Every year, the club aims to bring in girls to teach them not only about the ways of life, but also how to continue to grow into respectable women.

FEBRUARY 13-15 MSU’s Wharton Center

BRING YOUR SWEETHEART! WHARTONCENTER.COM • 1-800-WHARTON East Lansing engagement welcomed by The Christman Company; Farm Bureau Insurance; Foster, Swift, Collins & Smith, P.C.; Jackson National Life Insurance Company; and Merrill Lynch.

Photos by Justin Namon • “I LOVE LUCY ® “ & © 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved

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Capital Area Women’s LifeStyle

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This club is about so much more than being able to wear a fancy Cotillion dress; the young women that complete this program are given tools for long-term success.

In addition to what they learn in school, they are taught proper manners and how to conduct themselves in different social settings. They are also taught to serve their community with kindness and humility. Girls who participate in this club are given access to information on how to succeed in their chosen careers, and a key to life that will unlock so many doors for them. Les Meres et Debutantes Club has lasted for more than half of a century, and they have no plans of stopping their work any time soon.

Sydney Ford, a junior at Michigan State University, is pursuing a career in journalism and design. Sydney enjoys all things creative, volunteering with shelter animals and eating sushi with strawberry ice cream.

Banana Oatmeal Cookie Pancakes Makes 12 small pancakes or about 24 silver dollar pancakes.

INGREDIENTS 1 cup rolled oats 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour (*use gluten-free flour blend instead) 3 tablespoons brown sugar (or sweetener of your choice, to taste) 2 teaspoons baking powder 2 teaspoons cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon allspice 1/4 teaspoon baking soda 2 tablespoons ground flaxseeds 4 tablespoons warm water 2 ripe bananas 1 cup non-dairy milk 1 teaspoon vanilla

chopped pecans (or any nut)

golden raisins

chocolate chips

sliced bananas blueberries

maple syrup

non-dairy butter, optional

DIRECTIONS

In a smaller mixing bowl, mash the bananas with a fork until you get a fairly smooth consistency. Tiny pieces are just fine. Add the rest of the wet ingredients, including the flax mixture.

Start heating your skillet or pancake pan over medium-low heat. I use a nonstick pan so I don’t have to use any oil when cooking the pancakes.

While the pan is heating, add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix until well combined.

Drop about 2 tablespoons of batter per pancake and sprinkle your choice of extras over the top of each pancake. Cook for about 2 to 3 minutes or until you see the edges get dry. Flip and cook about 1 or 2 minutes more.

Mix the dry ingredients together in a medium-sized mixing bowl and set aside.

Mix the ground flaxseed with the warm water in a small bowl to thicken.

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Serve with maple syrup and some non-dairy butter.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

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February 2015

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MYCOMMUNITY PHOTOS BY MARK WARNER

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

HOLIDAY LUNCHEON The greater Lansing area Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Commission was proud to host their 30th Annual Celebration Luncheon on Monday, Jan. 19 in downtown Lansing.

This year's keynote was Freedom Rider, Henry Thomas.

Dr. Linda Logan and Gloria Davis

Mittie Keys and Paulina Johnson

Peter Spadafore and Rachel Lewis

Scott Eldridge and Reshma M. Sambane

PHOTOS BY VIRGINIA BERNERO

Channie Austin and Kimberly Terrell

Lansing Delegation and GM Representatives

President Johan DeNysschen’s introducing the CTS-V

Detroit Auto Show It was an exciting start to the North American International Auto Show on Tuesday, Jan. 13.

Cadillac took the opportunity to unveil their brand new CTS-V. This unveiling marks the third of eight in the V-series to be released. The news was especially exciting for Lansing’s GM Grand River plant. Mayor Virg Bernero and Mike Green, president of the UAW Local 652, attended the unveiling to celebrate the continued relationship and work on GM’s new line of products.

Mayor Virg Bernero and GM CEO Mary Barra 26

Capital Area Women’s LifeStyle

February 2015

ATS-V

TICKE TS FR OM JU ST

Join two young explorers as they discover a long-forgotten trunk filled with mysteries and magical stories, and are immediately captured by its secrets and the Long Lost Stories inside!

!

The Gruffalo said that no Gruffalo should ever set foot in the deep dark wood…

But one wild and windy night the Gruffalo’s child ignores her father’s warning and tiptoes out into the snow. After all, the Big Bad Mouse doesn’t really exist…does he?

Songs, laughs and fun for kids and their adults, based on the award-winning book.

wharton center LONG LOST STORIES Featuring Madcap Puppet Theatre

Featuring Tall Stories Theatre Company of London, England

Saturday, February 21 at 1:30pm & 4pm

Saturday, March 21 at 1:30pm & 4pm Based on the delightful books by Crockett Johnson, follow the zany adventures of resourceful and brave Harold, who creates the world he wants to explore using nothing more than a big purple crayon and his sky’s-the-limit imagination.

Best for ages 4 and up

Sunday, March 29 at 1:30pm & 4pm

A Grammy-nominated, Parents Choice GOLD winner! Claire uses her imagination and discovers the secret to unlocking all the adventures she could dream of in this interactive mix of classic storytelling and swinging jazz/pop songs.

Featuring Enchantment Theatre Company

Sunday, April 19 at 1:30pm & 4pm

Act One Family Series is generously sponsored by Granger; Jackson National Life Insurance Company; Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and the National Endowment for the Arts; and PNC Bank.

WHARTONCENTER.COM 1-800-WHARTON

February 2015

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MYCOMMUNITY PHOTOS BY MARK WARNER

Michigan Inauguration 2015 The inauguration of Governor Rick Snyder took place at noon on Jan. 1 on the steps of the state Capitol. Snyder’s inauguration began with his official swearing in as Michigan’s 48th governor. Highlights of the event focused around the inauguration theme, "Michigan: Relentless, Resilient, Reinvented."

Governor Rick Snyder

Members of the Armed Forces

Veterans participate in the inauguration.

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Capital Area Women’s LifeStyle

February 2015

Spectators look on as the 48th Governor is sworn in.

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