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The Golden City Holiday & Giving Issue

D E C E M B E R 2 022

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December 2022 PUBLISHER

Brian Rodehorst | brian.rodehorst@citylifestyle.com

LIFESTYLE LETTER

Holiday & Giving Issue Start a New Holiday Tradition The holidays are here and along with the spirit of the season come fond memories of Christmases past. We often try to replicate what made the season feel so magical to us in our youth. The traditions we set for our own families often mirror some of what we experienced as a child, whether it is the smells, the sounds, the lights, the food, the holiday activities, or a combination of it all. In my home, I struggle with preserving traditions and practicality. I have a rotund Christmas tree that is a bit outdated and overwhelms our smaller living room, but it’s been with us for, dare I say decades, and I can’t seem to let it go. So, much to my husband's dismay, it goes up again! Every year when I pull out the ornaments, I get all sentimental and reminisce about the days when my babies were actually babies. This month, we hope that your schedule will allow you and your family time to explore the magic of the season and discover what our Golden City has to offer. For entertainment, catch Ballet Midwest’s performance of The Nutcracker, and the Kready Holiday Spectacular! both at TPAC, or check out the new CoreFirst Ice Rink at Evergy Plaza. There are also many ways to be charitable this holiday season. We encourage you to visit our Be Involved Topeka website and read the stories written this year about the organizations you can get in touch with to make a difference. Just scan the QR code in our Be Involved Topeka ad. While this season can be beautiful for some, it can be painful and lonely for others, especially those who have recently lost a loved one. In the true spirit of the season, let’s take care of those in our community who need assistance or who are alone. My hope for you this season is that you feel love and peace and that we all remember to take care of each other by extending grace, empathy, and love. Happy holidays to you and yours!

K AT H Y G R A H A M , E D I TO R @TOPEK ALIFEST YLE

Scan QR code to visit our Instagram CIT YLIFEST YLE.COM/ TOPEK A |

EDITOR

Kathy Graham | kathy.graham@citylifestyle.com STAFF PHOTOGR APHER S

Thomas Hall | thomas.hall@eagleaerialworld.com Kristol Kumar | kristol@kristolkumar.com Humbelina Harper humbe@humbelinaharperphotography.com STAFF WR ITER S

Sue Baldani | suebaldani@yahoo.com Linda Ditch | lindaaditch@gmail.com Kelsey Huber | khuber2@gmail.com AD DESIGNER

Hunter Richie LAYOUT DESIGNER

Andi Foster CONTR IBUTING WR ITER S

Angela Broockerd, LeAnn Parker CONTR IBUTING PHOTOGR APHER S

Kris Rogers, Janie Jones

Corporate Team CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt CHIEF SALES OFFICER Matthew Perry CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER DeLand Shore CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Randy Radosevich DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL MEDIA Mindy Hargesheimer ART DIRECTOR Sara Minor OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Janeane Thompson AD MANAGER Chad Jensen WEB APPLICATIONS Michael O’Connell

Learn how to start your own publication at: citylifestyle.com//franchise Proverbs 3:5-6 Topeka City Lifestyle™ is published monthly by Lifestyle Publications LLC. It is distributed via the US Postal Service to some of the Topeka area’s most affluent neighborhoods. Articles and advertisements do not necessarily reflect Lifestyle Publications’ opinions. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent. Lifestyle Publications does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. Information in Topeka City Lifestyle™ is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but

L I F E ST Y LE LE T T E R

the accuracy of all information cannot be guaranteed.

Your Jeweler for Life Shop for the perfect piece of jewelry or have one custom made. We’re also experts in jewelry repair.

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DECEMBER 2022

inside the issue The Holiday & Giving Issue

F E ATU R E D

D E PA RTM E NTS

20 A Cozy Lifestyle

Lifestyle Letter

City Scene

Business Monthly

Back Stage

Now Open

Party Planning

Inspired By

Culinary Creations

Decor Trends

Giving Back

Realty Report

How To

Organic and sustainable products for the entire family

24 Bring Along the Experts Be a Guest at Your Own Party

36 Holiday Food Hacks Homemade...or is it?

40 Healing with Holiday Decorating

Decorator Annette Stahl helps clients deal with loss during the holiday season

O N T H E C OV E R

Photography: Humbelina Harper Photography Designer and coach Annette Stahl, the owner of A Design Discovery, and Doug (the dog) put the fun into decorating whimsically.

ENT ERTA I NMENT

S HO PPI NG EV ENT PLA NNI NG + SE RV IC E S

LI FE + C U LT U R E FO O D + B EV E R AG E

HO ME + DES I GN

LO CA L S ERV I C ES R EA L ESTAT E

A RTS + C U LT U R E

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

MAY YOUR HOME BE FILLED WITH THE JOY OF FAMILY & FRIENDS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

Lisa M. Williams-McCallum Attorney & Counselor at Law

(785) 217-4603 lisa@theadoptiongroup.com www.theadoptiongroup.com

Infant Adoption Private/Public Agency Adoption Stepparent Adoption Single Parent Adoption Relative Adoption Adult Adoption LGBTQ Adoption Foreign Adoption

DECEMBER 2022

city scene

Where neighbors can see and be seen. 1

@EMMAHIGHFILL

@CRAFTEDANDCOLOREDBYREAGAN

2 @THEUPTOWNOASIS

@EMMAHIGHFILL

@THEUPTOWNOASIS

1: Reagan Burns, Hairstylist/Color Specialist at Onyx Salon in NOTO Arts & Entertainment District. 2-4: Kansas Ballet’s- The Nutcracker @ TPAC, Dec 17 @ 7pm & Dec 18, @ 1pm. 5-7: The Uptown Oasis is Topeka’s newest family-friendly short-term rental with inground pool by Lindsey Folkerts.

Want to be seen in the magazine? Tag your Instagram photos with @TopekaLifestyle

C I T Y SC E N E

H O M E AT L A S T A retail store featuring

CUS TOM FUR N I T UR E | CUR AT E D DECOR I T EM S | CUS TOM A R T

Curating the Clean and Approachable Look of Thiessen Design @homeatlastco

@homeatlastco

DECEMBER 2022

business monthly A round-up of exciting news from local businesses. Calhoun’s Jewelers Winter Sale The Calhoun’s Jewelers Winter Sale is happening now! Make this winter extra bright with a gift that lasts forever. Browse the largest selection of fine jewelry in Topeka at the best prices of the year. Save up to 60% off storewide, now through December 31st. Let us help you find the perfect gift to make this season unforgettable. Calhoun’s Jewelers – located at 1801 SW Gage Blvd. or online at CalhounsJewelers.com

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B USIN E SS M ON T H LY

Brian.Rodehorst@CityLifestyle.com

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Home for the Holidays A Topeka Native Son Creates a Broadway-Style Holiday Show for his Hometown ARTICLE BY KELSEY HUBER | PHOTOGRAPHY BY KRIS ROGERS

Get ready for a holiday show for the whole family featuring one of Topeka’s own! Straight from Broadway to TPAC, CoreFirst Bank and Trust presents, The Kready Holiday Spectacular! This isn’t just any old holiday show. This is a show created specifically for Topeka by a Topeka native. Jeff Kready and his wife Nikki Renée Daniels live in New York City where they perform in Broadway shows and sing with symphonies across the country. But Jeff was raised in the Golden City, and though he’s been away for 16 years, he has decided to bring a little bit of the Big Apple back home.

B ACK STAGE | EN TERTA INME NT

“I have always wanted to create something for Topeka,” Jeff said. “I’ve been back a few times to perform over the years with the Topeka Festival Singers or with the Topeka Symphony, but the more concerts that Nikki and I do, the more I just thought, ‘We’ve done enough concerts. We know how to do them well. Let’s do one for Topeka.’ I feel like this is my opportunity to give something back.” Jeff attended Washburn Rural and remembers his high school years fondly. “Topeka was such a great place to grow up in the arts because it was so supportive.” Between community theaters, church

choirs, and high school music and theater, Jeff found ample opportunities to perform. He enjoyed performing so much he decided to major in music education at Washburn University. “I really wanted to be a high school music teacher, but the year I graduated, there wasn’t a single high school choir position open in the entire state of Kansas, so I taught at Randolph and Whitson Elementary schools for a year.” His girlfriend at the time, who was an aspiring actress, was finishing college and invited him to audition for summer stock with her. “I got cast at a tiny theater in the middle of nowhere in Sullivan, Illinois,” he shared. “I was working 14-15 hour days, with one day off every two weeks. I even had to clean the toilets. It was brutal. But I absolutely loved it!” he laughed. He loved it so much that he quit his teaching job and then went to his very first New York City audition and got cast in Les Misérables. As fate would have it, he met his wife, Nikki, while performing in that first show. The two, now with 17 Broadway shows between them, share two daughters who will also be performing in the holiday spectacular. While in town promoting the concert Jeff made trips to all six of the public high schools in town to invite all of the music students to join the Shawnee Choral Society for the performance. “I remember when I was in high school and I had opportunities to perform on bigger stages or with people who had been places and done things,” Jeff said. “It just meant the world to me.” As executive producer, Jeff said his goal is to bring holiday cheer to the whole family. “I wanna make this an event. I wanna make this something that is special, not just for my family, but for lots of families,” Jeff shared. “We’re gonna have musicians from the Topeka Symphony Orchestra,

“Topeka will always have a special place in my heart and to create something on this level for my hometown is a dream come true.”

a big choir, the core of which will be the Shawnee Choral Society. We’ll have Countryside United Methodist Puppets, the Laudate Ringers Handbell Choir, there’s something for the entire family!” Even Santa Claus will be on hand to take pictures after the concert! Plus, VIP ticket holders get access to a cast party and a free copy of Nikki’s solo CD, Home. “We just wanna make it a party.” he said. “It’s going to be unforgettable!” Get your tickets to see this one-of-a-kind holiday extravaganza at topekaperform ingarts.org/events. One performance only - Friday, December 23rd, 6:30 PM in the Georgia Neese Grey auditorium at TPAC. Join the Kready family and start a new holiday tradition with your family!

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D ECEMB ER 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C O M / TO P E KA

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ARTICLE BY SUE BALDANI

A Cozy Lifestyle ORGANIC AND SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTS FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY

There’s a great new place to shop in town, and right in time for the holidays. Alicia VanWalleghem, who owns Leaping Llamas Artisan Shop, has brought her sense of style and love of organic and sustainable living to Topeka. With Jules - A Cozy Lifestyle - is located right next door. “It’s in my favorite building downtown,” she says. “It was built on September 27th, 1887, and it’s just a fascinating space with a lot of character. It has a sunburst entryway and it’s all very art deco and fun.” With Jules is divided into two parts. “The front part of our store is all about cozy living, or the hygge (pronounced hoo-ga) lifestyle, the Danish way of happy living,” says Alicia. “So there are blankets, socks, candles, teas and cocoas - all the stuff that makes you feel warm and cozy at home.” The merchandise will rotate for the seasons, so in the summertime, for example, instead of cocoas, there’ll be cold beverage mixes. The back half of the store, which is the main area, will feature organic bath and body products. “The quality of organic is far better and it’s good to know what you’re putting on or in your body,” she says. “With our merchandise, we’re also introducing sustainable living, so we have shampoo bars that actually work better on my hair than regular shampoo. We also have

NOW OP E N | SHOPPIN G

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D ECEMB ER 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C O M / TO P E KA

toothpaste tabs that have no plastic. So you just chew one and it foams in your mouth so you can brush your teeth. It’s all about green living too. Although we have some plastic starting out, I’m hoping to transition to mostly plastic free, if not 100%.” Customers will also find facial steams which are made from a variety of flowers and herbs. In cold weather, put these into boiling water and breathe in to help open your airways. And, shower steamers offer a great eucalyptus smell which you can inhale while showering. “We also have my favorite coffee scrubs and calm balms, which you put on the back of your neck to help you relax.” There’s also a section for kids and pets. “We have a bubble bath called Unicorn Dreams Sugar Polish that’s all tie-dyed colors and smells like cotton candy. For pets, we have dog shampoos and nose and paw balms to help when they get chapped in the wintertime, plus a calming spray that’s lavender based and helps dogs relax. There are even doggie toothbrushes!” There’s also a line of products for men, including razors, shaving soaps, and cologne, plus fragrances for men and women. The clay-based face masks are also for both sexes. “These are actually powders you mix together with water, so they’re better for your skin, more potent, and since you’re mixing them on the spot, no additives are needed to keep them fresh.” Many of the items are locally sourced, and Alicia says they are tested by her and her team before they are offered for sale. Just like with Leaping Llamas, she and her staff work really hard to make people feel at home, comfortable and happy as soon as they walk through the door. Starting in 2023, people will be able to order online as well. To find out what else With Jules has to offer, go to www.with-jules.com.

NOW OP E N | SHOPPIN G

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bring along the experts ARTICLE BY SUE BALDANI | PHOTOGRAPHY BY THOMAS HALL

Be a Guest at Your Own Party

PA RT Y P LA N N IN G | EVENT PLANNI NG + S E RVI CE S

Even as a little girl, Abby (Towner) Wempe always loved weddings, and she says watching her two older sisters get married was so magical. “Plus my dad, Randy Towner, is a golf pro, so I grew up seeing Alvamar Country Club (now The Jayhawk Club) in Lawrence put on weddings and events,” she says. “I just fell in love with the hustle and bustle of everything that was happening behind the scenes to pull off these events.” Since she didn’t believe she could make a living out of planning events (at the time, a career in event planning didn’t seem feasible), she instead took a corporate job straight out of college. Eventually, in 2013, she found her way back to it. “I was the CFO at Colbert Hills Golf Course [in Manhattan] and did their events as well, and that’s when I knew, 100 percent, that planning events was what I was supposed to be doing,” says Abby. With her company, Along Came Abby, she combines her passion for events with the experience she has garnered over the years. She and her team, Bre, who runs events in the Manhattan area, and Mackenzie, who runs the events in the Lawrence and Kansas City market, know what it takes to execute successful parties. “There’s really two big pieces to pulling off great events,” she says. “Making the plans - that’s the piece most planners are good at - booking vendors, budgeting, making timelines, etc. What sets us apart is how we handle the other part of event planning – when something doesn’t go as planned.

As experienced event planners, we look ahead to keep the problems that do come up small, think on our feet and use our resources to make the best of any situation that might arise on someone’s wedding or event day. Our goal is to solve the problem before anyone realizes there is one.” Abby wants people to know that she and her team are more than event planners. “We are event managers, and while of course we do the planning piece of it, we’re also on hand from the setup through the full execution of the event,” she says. They even stay through the tear down, making sure everything is as it should be before they leave. With all details, big and small, being addressed by Along Came Abby, the hosts of the party can actually enjoy their event and spend time with their guests. The team can also assist with what the company calls Month-of-Wedding Coordination. “That’s where the client makes the plans and we come in 30 days ahead of time to help execute them,” says Abby. “A lot of planners offer day-of-coordination, and from our experience, it’s just too little, too late. The month gives us time to address any concerns and get them fixed.” While about half of what they plan are weddings, Along Came Abby handles many different types of events such as corporate parties, charity galas, and other celebrations. Her team can handle any size party, big or small. “We like to work with clients who want to impress their guests, regardless of how many guests they have,” says Abby.

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D ECEMB ER 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C O M / TO P E KA

“We are event managers, and while of course we do the planning piece of it, we’re also on hand from the setup through the full execution of the event,” Abby says.

“Being a smaller company, we get to be really flexible to help our clients however they want to be helped.” If someone doesn’t need or does not have the budget for an event planner, but would like to have access to all the items that make an event shine, such as table linens, décor or furniture, he or she can utilize ACA Event Rental in Topeka, a sister company to Along Came Abby that opened four years ago. “It gives non Along Came Abby clients an opportunity to use our products,” she says. “And, they still can get Bre or Mackenzie’s input without necessarily booking an event planner.” With the holidays here, these items also come in handy when the team does corporate decorating. “We’ll go into

PA RT Y P LA N N IN G | EVENT PLANNI NG + S E RVI CE S

a company around Thanksgiving and decorate it for the holidays,” she says. They will also then return and take everything down once the holidays are over. When not planning events, Abby loves spending time with husband, Scott Wempe, who is the Head PGA Golf Professional at Praireband Casino & Resort, and with their sons, Hayes, Knox, and baby Crew and their Cavalier King Charles, Heidi. The family, who recently moved from Manhattan to Topeka (most people in the area, says Abby, know her as a Manhattan girl) also loves to travel and finds any excuse to head to the beach! To find out more about Along Came Abby and how its team can help you plan your next amazing event, go to www.alongcameabby.com.

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JOIN US FOR OUR NEXT VISITATION DAY ON FEBRUARY 16, 2023! We invite students to visit our campus to experience firsthand how Topeka Collegiate both challenges and inspires students to discover their Limitless. Learning. Potential.

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T H E PA D I L L A TA M A L E TRADITION 30

I NSP IR E D BY | L IFE + CULTURE

CULTURES, CHRISTMAS AND CULINARY CREATIONS

TWO FAMILIES, TWO TRADITIONS As Christmas approaches, Topeka Mayor Michael Padilla and his wife, Ronnie, begin plans for the family Tamalada. This is a traditional tamale-making gathering in many Mexican- heritage households. Everyone from grandparents to cousins joins together to assemble tamales based on recipes passed down from generation to generation. “The day we make the tamales is kind of a party,” says Mayor Padilla. “It’s not all work. Everybody brings potluck dishes. Somebody’s always designated to make a holiday punch for the adults and a punch for the kids. We spend the whole day visiting and talking as we work through our job assignments on the assembly line. By the end of the day, everybody had a good time.”

Ronnie adds, “We’ve been doing it for a few years now because I didn’t want the tradition of learning how to make tamales not to be passed down. The whole family comes. We make tamales all day long, enjoy each other’s company, and get ready for Christmas.” There are several steps to making tamales. Everyone has a job, with the youngest kids cleaning the corn husks, which is simple but tedious. As the children become more proficient, they move up the assembly line to more complex tasks. Everyone gets to take one or two dozen tamales home at the end of the day, some of which are saved for Christmas Eve. Mayor Padilla remembers as a child, “I got pretty good at spreading the masa. And there’s a trick to it. I started off with a knife like everybody kind of does, but then my father was the one who showed me how to do it with the back of a large spoon. That was the job I had the most fun with.” While the finished tamales steam in a basket over simmering water, Ronnie uses the downtime to teach her nieces and nephews other family recipes. One year, she showed them how to make homemade tortillas. Another year, they learned the recipe for her brother’s pork and peppers dish. This way, the kids are familiar with foods from their ancestors. “It’s not just the tamales,” says Mayor Padilla. “It’s the idea that they hand down the elder women’s recipes from generation to generation. It’s that continuing of what you grew up with getting passed to the next generation. That’s the connection to your family and relatives.” Topeka City Lifestyle thanks Porterfield’s Flowers and Gifts for providing the Christmas tree in Mayor Padilla’s photo.

ARTICLE BY LINDA DITCH | PHOTOGRAPHY BY KRISTOL KUMAR CONTINUED > D ECEMB ER 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C O M / TO P E KA

L E I P O L D’ S FA M I LY TRADITIONS 32

I NSP IR E D BY | L IFE + CULTURE

TWO FAMILIES, TWO TRADITIONS Football has often impacted the holidays for University of Kansas football coach Lance Leipold’s family. He remembers a past Christmas day staff meeting and coaching a bowl game on the holiday two years ago. Now that the Jayhawks qualified for a bowl game this season, the Leipold family will once again need to adjust their festivities. “For our kids, that’s what they know,” Coach Leipold says. “But we’re together, and that’s the most important thing.” His wife, Kelly, organizes the holiday schedule. She includes traditions from the past and newer ones created with their children. Daughter Lindsey is a graduate student in Texas, and son Landon is a sophomore at Free State High School.

Growing up for Kelly, on Christmas Eve, her family went out for dinner. While they were away, Santa would bring the presents for them to find when they got home. She thinks a neighbor played the part of Santa’s delivery person. She remembers one year, “We’d gone to dinner, and when we came home, there was a puppy in a box in our living room. That was my favorite memory of Christmas.” As a kid Coach Leipold remembers going through catalogs to mark what he wanted for Christmas. He also learned that the bigger the gift doesn’t necessarily mean the better. Smiling, he explains, “I picked one to open, and Mom said, ‘It’s not what you think it is. You’re going to be disappointed.’ I thought she was playing with me. I had this big gift, and I opened it up. It was just a bed pillow.” The family goes to Christmas Eve church services and then opens one present afterward, which is always pajamas. Kelly says she spends more time working on the “Christmas jammies” gift than anything else. Each year features a different theme. As the kids have gotten older, the theme has gotten more unique. “After last year, I don’t know how it’s going to go this year,” Coach Leipold says with a grin. Laughing, Kelly agrees, “I don’t know how we’re going to top it. Let’s just say the movie “A Christmas Story” was involved last year, and our son did not like the end result.” One other Leipold tradition is enjoying homemade Monkey Bread on Christmas day. The recipe came from Coach Leipold’s mother. She created a handwritten cookbook containing the recipe given to the couple when they were married. Kelly puts the recipe together on Christmas Eve and bakes it on Christmas morning. The Leipold family traditions will once again need to adapt to a football schedule. Luckily, they have experience with celebrating wins and Christmas at the same time. “We’ve traveled some because of our schedules, and we’ve tried to protect some of our time,” he says. “We have short windows to spend around the holidays, but no matter where we’re at, it’s still about our family and the meaning of Christmas.”

D ECEMB ER 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C O M / TO P E KA

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H O L I DAY F O O D H A C K S ARTICLE BY ANGELA BROOCKERD | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JANIE JONES

Homemade...or is it? If you don't have time to bake a dessert but want to serve something that doesn't look store bought, simply top it with berries, herbs, a sauce or a holiday prop to give it a little something extra. Most of these items were purchases from a local grocery store, and after some simple assembling and minimal baking, we were able to create a beautiful, eye-catching holiday spread.

N E W YOR K CH EESECA K E An inexpensive cheesecake can be purchased from your local grocery store but it definitely needs a little something to make it look festive. All we did was add candied pecans, fresh berries and mint sprigs which adds color, dimension and interest. 36

C ULIN A RY C R E AT ION S | F OOD + BE VE RAGE

DOU BL E C HO COL AT E CA K E If you don’t have time to bake a cake but want your store bought cake to look special, add berries and a holiday topper to give it that special flair. Fresh raspberries adorn the top of this cake, and to add cascading fresh berries down the side, toothpicks can be used to hold them in place. Not only is it simple and quick to do, but it turns into the perfect entertaining table centerpiece.

DOU BLE C R E ME BR IE BOA R D This double creme brie with truffles is always a crowd favorite. After baking the brie, add berries and a sauce of your choosing to the top as a flavor enhancer and to add interest. This brie is drizzled with local honey, berries and candied pecans and is served with your choice of crackers.

NA KE D CA KE A cake mix, a simple buttercream frosting and a gingerbread house kit is all it took to create this adorable 3-layered naked cake. After preparing the cake layers, simply ice the cake in a thin layer to give an opaque look that reveals some of the cake underneath. This cake was topped with a gingerbread house and coconut flakes to resemble snow.

Make holiday entertaining easy with these styling food hacks that look impressive but are simple to create. Have fun and enjoy! D ECEMB ER 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C O M / TO P E KA

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HEALING WITH HOLIDAY DECORATING DECORATOR ANNETTE STAHL HELPS CLIENTS DEAL WITH LOSS DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON ARTICLE BY LINDA DITCH | PHOTOGRAPHY BY HUMBELINA HARPER

D E C OR T R E N D S | HOM E + DE S I GN

Sparkling decorations are the first signs of the holiday. Putting up the Christmas tree, hanging lights on the house, placing candles in the menorah, and dressing up the mantle are typically joyful activities. The family chips in to help, and carols provide a cheerful background. Unfortunately, for many people, the twinkle of decorating dims because of grief. Perhaps a loved one died. Maybe a marriage ended. The sadness could be from a job layoff, children leaving the nest, or the end of a lifelong dream. Feelings of loss can multiply at a time when everyone is full of cheer. Designer and coach Annette Stahl, the owner of A Design Discovery, understands coping with loss during the holidays. She says, “Grief is as unique as a fingerprint. It’s like glitter. It pops up when and where you least expect it.” Years ago, Stahl went through a divorce that became final on December 30th . Funds were tight for that holiday, so she and her two sons trudged in the field behind their house in search of a stick for a tree. They spray-painted it and used pipe cleaners to create decorations. The painted stick became their first tree as a family of three. “It still goes up every year, reminding us of the fun of finding the perfect stick to cut down. A single mom’s version of the Christmas tree tradition,” she says. Years later, her partner was diagnosed with cancer. As his caregiver, she felt overwhelmed by the idea of decorating for the holidays. Her solution was to put on the movie “Elf,” and with her sons, they decorated for the 97 minutes the film played. Their Christmas tree was turned into a snowman, a tradition they still do today. The decorating was complete when the credits rolled at the movie’s end.

After her partner died, grief turned the Christmas season into a year of Festivus, the not-so-jolly holiday from the television show Seinfeld. However, she was inspired to share with others what she’d learned about coping with loss during the holidays. A Design Discovery is Stahl’s company, established in 2009. She explains her design philosophy: “Our environments are holistic like nature. So, when I design, I integrate emotion, mental, spiritual, and physical with nature’s elements. How do we want the space to function? How do we want it to flow, and how do we want it to feel? First comes clarity of intention, and then we talk about how we want it to look.” Stahl’s home this year has a winter wonderland theme with added bits of humor. The snowman Christmas tree is flocked with snow and covered in pine cones, fluffy white feather snow, and natural critters topped with an elf hat. In the entryway, she decorates what’s there with more elf hats for her Potwin Pottery monster and Scooby Doo knight. The stick tree from years ago is draped with a strand of white pom pom snowballs. She shared that her dining room functions for connecting, so she has Styrofoam balls and crafts to play with and create snow creatures. The finishing touch is fresh flowers. Stahl points out studies have proven flowers have the natural ability to help people feel more joyful. Floral scents improve moods and make people feel less anxious. Flowers can also promote feelings of compassion, creativity, and energy.

“When dealing with a loss or life shift, acknowledge that the holidays will be different.” CONTINUED >

D ECEMB ER 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C O M / TO P E KA

Stahl offers these three suggestions for holiday decorating while healing from a loss: 1. There is no right or wrong way to decorate for the holidays. She says, “When dealing with a loss or life shift, acknowledge that the holidays will be different.” 2. Plan, but also be flexible. Try to understand what drives the need to decorate. “Is it coming from a feeling of joy, like I really want to decorate? Or maybe I want to make a donation in their name? In a moment of calm, create options of what might work. What feels aligned for you? Something new? Adding on to your traditions to adapt?” 3. “Be gentle with yourself. Let yourself feel what you feel. I set a timer to feel sad or cry, and when it goes off, I get up and go outside for a walk or dance to my music. I get my body moving. I find being in nature healing and moving my body healing. The timer lets me know I can feel uncomfortable feelings and still move through them without being stuck in them. Whatever arises, instead of judging yourself, just love that you’re human doing your very best in difficult times.” “You can’t do it wrong,” Stahl says. “Be gentle. It’s your life. It’s your design. There is no one else that’s you. That’s what makes it uniquely yours.” For more information visit adesigndiscovery.com.

D E C OR T R E N D S | HOM E + DE S I GN

Happy

Holidays

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D ECEMB ER 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C O M / TO P E KA

The City Lifestyle

Giving Campaign Now in its third year, the City Lifestyle Giving Campaign will give away $300,000 this holiday season to help individual community members who would benefit from a helping hand during their time of need. But they need YOUR HELP to make it happen! Maybe you know of a single parent struggling to provide, an elderly person who has experienced loss, a child enduring a health issue, a co-worker suffering a sudden, unexpected tragedy or a neighbor with a financial hardship who has fallen between the cracks of getting assistance. Chances are you know someone with a specific need—even if nobody else does. To preserve and protect the dignity of every recipient, the City Lifestyle Giving Campaign is completely confidential. No identities will be revealed or publicized in ANY way. (Even those who nominate others may remain anonymous if they choose.) Last year, City Lifestyle was able to give to more than 70 recipients all over the country by sending checks in the mail through New Year’s Eve. (This year, the goal is to double that number with checks ranging in amounts up to $3,000 each.) With nominations flooding in from community members and leaders such as judges, police officers, teachers, nurses, social workers, mentors and readers like you, we were able to reach people who might otherwise go unnoticed. “We believe in giving back and serving the communities where we live in a real and tangible way,” says Steven Schowengerdt, CEO and founder of City Lifestyle. “This Giving Campaign is all about personally impacting the lives of people we know with an unexpected check in the mail just to say that someone thought of them this holiday season.” Together with Matthew Perry, Chief Sales Officer, Steven adds that the outpouring and gratitude from the recipients was overwhelming and affirmed that this is a tradition they want to continue. “We believe God has blessed our company with continued success,” Matthew adds, “so we in turn want to be a blessing to others.” City Lifestyle has also enacted an internal giving program whereby every employee in the company receives $100 to give away to someone in the community. “The idea is to encourage our employees to keep doing it on their own,” Steven says. “Taking care of one another and blessing others is so rewarding that it perpetuates a cycle of giving. It’s extremely important to me as a person and as a company to foster that culture of generosity.”

G IV IN G BAC K | LOCA L SERVI CE S

“This Giving Campaign is all about personally impacting the lives of people we know with an unexpected check in the mail just to say that someone thought of them this holiday season.”

W here ha s t he c a mpa ig n g i f t e d?

Scan Code to

Nominate between Dec. 1 – 15, 2022

Follow @citylifestyle on Instagram for reminders! To submit a nomination, follow @citylifestyle on Instagram and fill out the form found in the bio link. All entries will be read, and because this is not a raffle, there is no need to nominate someone more than once. The amount given to each recipient will be based on need. D ECEMB ER 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C O M / TO P E KA

D E CE MBE R 2 0 2 2

realty report A sample of recently sold properties in Topeka. N E I GH BO RH O O D

LIST PRICE

SO L D P RIC E

%SO L D/ O RIG

DO M

B DRM S

B AT H S

Sherwood Estates #57

$325,000

$323,500

100%

Wanamaker Estates

$350,000

$348,000

99%

Aquarian Acres

$319,900

$335,215

105%

Laurens Bay Villas

$379,900

$380,000

100%

Cherry Creek North

$292,500

100%

Shawnee Lake C

$250,000

$280,000

112%

Sherwood Park #7

$449,000

100%

Shawnee Gardens

$294,950

100%

Village E

$275,000

$280,000

102%

Wanamaker Meadows

$280,000

$315,000

113%

Sherwood Estates #12

$345,000

$344,900

100%

Shawnee County

$495,000

$470,000

95%

Misty Harbor Estates #2

$355,000

$330,000

93%

Shawnee Meadows South #3

$275,000

$280,000

102%

Sherwood Village

$469,500

100%

Laurens Bay Villas #3

$1,125,000

$940,000

84%

Brookfield West

$285,000

$250,000

88%

Sherwood Estates #12

$329,900

$350,000

106%

Westboro

$475,000

$390,000

82%

Rockfire at the Lake

$479,000

$453,500

95%

Knollwood Replat

$299,900

$315,000

105%

Sherwood Estates #59

$439,900

$451,000

103%

Sherwood Park #5

$379,000

100%

Sherwood Park #6

$420,000

100%

Linwood #2

$375,000

$385,000

103%

This reflects a 30 day time period prior to our print deadline. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed and not a complete list of all activity. *DOM=Days on Market

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R EA LT Y R E P ORT | R EAL E STATE

SNOW F L A K E {salt dough}

ORNAMENTS

H OW TO | A RTS + CU LTU RE

Old Traditions with Modern Day Trends ARTICLE BY LEANN PARKER | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JANIE JONES

Salt dough, or dough art as we refer to it in our family, is a simple yet beautiful way to adorn spaces around the holidays. Making salt dough ornaments is a holiday tradition that we have been doing since I was a kid in the ‘80s, but the process has been around even longer than that! The use of salt dough is as old as dirt, or I guess I should say as old as clay. Even so, salt dough has made a comeback in recent years and for good reason—it only requires

three ingredients, and the festive end product will last for years to come. We still pull out the salt dough ornaments I made as a kid and place them on our tree each year. I love that old traditions can live throughout the decades as we find ways to reinvent them with current day trends. That is exactly what I did here with these lovely Snowflake Salt Dough Ornaments. I hope you follow along to make some yourself this holiday season.

CONTINUED >

D ECEMB ER 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C O M / TO P E KA

Salt Dough Recipe *Makes about 12 ornaments SUPPLIES NEEDED • Rolling Pin • Cookie Cutters (optional) • Plastic or Metal Straw • Cookie Sheet

• • • •

INGREDIENTS • 1 cup All Purpose White Flour • ½ cup Table Salt

• ½ cup Water (give or take) • 4oz White Acrylic Paint

Parchment Paper Lettered Stamps Acrylic Sealer Bakers Twine

STEP-BY-STEP 1. Mix together flour and salt. Add ¼ cup water and paint (if you want a white dough, otherwise you may leave it out). Stir to mix. If needed, slowly add more water until you reach a pizza dough consistency. Finally, remove dough from the bowl and knead on a floured surface until all ingredients are fully incorporated. Add more flour if too sticky, add more water if too dry. 2. To make ornaments, use a rolling pin to roll dough to ½ to ¼ inch thick. Use a cookie cutter to create snowflake shapes. Use a straw to poke a hole at the top of each snowflake to allow a space to thread your twine after baking. 3. Place ornaments on parchment lined baking sheets. Bake at 200 degrees Fahrenheit for 2 hours until dry. Flip ornaments every 30 minutes for a faster bake. 4. Once cooled, add decorative touches with lettered stamps, acrylic paint or Sharpie markers. Finally, spray one side of the ornament with an acrylic seal. Let dry, flip and spray the other side. 5. Once dried completely, thread twine through the hole created before baking. Hang from your tree or add to your gift boxes as gift tags. For more DIY’s and seasonal styling ideas, visit me at silvertoothhome.com. Happy Holidays!

H OW TO | A RTS + CU LTU RE

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