Funny Fashionista - Spring 2022

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FASHIONISTA LIVE FROM KC...

IT’S SNL ’S HEIDI GARDNER

Big Slick Family

Paul Rudd, Jason Sudeikis, Rob Riggle & friends come home to raise money for Children’s Mercy SPRING 2022

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2/25/22 4:01 PM

David

Koechner

June 24-25, 2022 bigslickkc.org Kauffman Stadium & T-Mobile Center Benefiting Children’s Mercy Hospital

Rob

Riggle

Paul

Rudd

Eric

Stonestreet

Jason

Sudeikis

Writers SPRING 2022

MANAGING EDITOR

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No portion of this magazine may be reprinted or reproduced without written consent from the publisher. Articles and advertisements do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Kern Marketing Group. The Kern Marketing Group does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. Information in KSWL Magazine is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the accuracy of all information cannot be guaranteed.

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INSIDE SPRING 2022 14

10 | Planning & Planting for Cut Flowers Best Blooms for a Kansas Cutting Garden 14 | Big Slick The Heads Behind the Heart 24 | Girls on the Gridiron Meet Keke Blackmon 28 | No Place Like Home Kansas Hotel Getaways 34 | Comedy Couture ‘Saturday Night Live’ star Heidi Gardner

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42 | Relationship Builders Keeping a Strong Bond with your Bestie 45 | Baby Blues Coping with Postpartum Depression 50 | Who Doesn’t Love Zucchini?

A Quick & Healthy Spring Salad 52 | Hot Take Menopause Part 2

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54 | Non-Profit Spotlight Habitat for Humanity

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features 14 | Big Slick 24 | Girls on the Gridiron 34 | Comedy Couture 45 | Baby Blues

Travis Kelce bear hugs auction winner Scott Gorran with Big Slick hosts, celebrity friends and Chiefs players joining the celebration.

BIG SLICK PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF KYLE RIVAS/GETTY IMAGES, STEPHEN LOVEKIN/SHUTTERSTOCK, CHRIS CRUM, J ROBERT SCHRAEDER ON THE COVER: HEIDI GARDNER // PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIANNE WILLS

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PLANNING & PLANTING for

CutFlowers The Best Summer-Loving Blooms for a Cutting Garden in Kansas

BY JENNIFER

SMITH //

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF

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PEXELS & PIXABAY

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F

resh flowers add a special touch to any indoor space, and many favorites for

summer bouquets are easy to grow in Kansas. This

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spring, consider dedicating a space in the garden or landscape as a cutting garden – a grouping of plants with flowers meant to be cut for indoor display. Only a little space is needed to produce blooms for harvest by midsummer. Display the cut flowers individually, in singlespecies bouquets or artful mixed-species arrangements.

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If space for a dedicated cutting garden is lacking, try tucking new plants in with existing ones where space allows or growing plants in large containers. All these plants need otherwise is full sun, well-drained soil and a little water when rainfall is lacking.

CONTINUED P. 12 »

PERENNIALS 1. BLACK-EYED SUSAN (RUDBECKIA)

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2. CONEFLOWER 3. LAVENDER 4. YARROW 5. COREOPSIS 6. LIATRIS 11

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ANNUALS 1. COSMOS 2. CELOSIA 3. STRAWFLOWER 4. FRENCH MARIGOLD

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5. GOMPHRENA 6. ZINNIA 7. SUNFLOWER

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Whether you choose winter-hardy perennials or single-season annuals, there’s a wide array of colors and varieties for Kansas cut bouquets.

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Each of these flower types has multiple species and cultivated varieties that are suitable for cutting. The differences are in plant and flower size, color, disease resistance and other attributes. Varieties with long sturdy stems are best for cutting, but otherwise, base selections on personal preference for flower appearance.

Perennials are winter hardy but grow a little slower than annual flowers. Bloom periods range from a few to several weeks depending on species. Flower yield generally increases with plant age and size.

Perennials are more suitable for in-ground planting than pots to improve long-term survival.

Annuals only live one season but grow rapidly, produce a large number of blooms and bloom for several weeks or months. They also produce abundant seed that may drop to the ground and sprout next year. They are easily grown in containers or wherever space allows.

For those who prefer native plants, all of the perennials listed other than lavender are native to Kansas. On the annual flower list, sunflower is native. Perennial sunflowers are also available, but the annual species Helianthus annuus and its cultivated varieties are most suitable for cutting and display. n

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The Big Slick VIP Pre-Party crowd gathers for the live auction at T-Mobile Center. Kathy Sudeikis, Julie McKee and Gloria 14 Rudd talk through last-minute details.

THE HEADS BEHIND THE HEART

BY JULIE

DUNLAP PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF KYLE RIVAS/GETTY IMAGES, STEPHEN LOVEKIN/SHUTTERSTOCK, CHRIS CRUM, J ROBERT SCHRAEDER

O

live M. just started learning the ropes as one of the newest kids to check in to Children’s Mercy Hospital for in-patient cancer treatment. For teenagers Charlie W. and Sarah B., however, CMH is as familiar as the neighborhood park after more than a decade of treatment at the Kansas City area’s only children’s hospital.

These unassuming young fighters may not know what the future holds, but they will never walk through it alone thanks to actors Rob Riggle, Paul Rudd, Jason Sudeikis, David Koechner and Eric Stonestreet, hosts of Kansas City’s annual Big Slick Celebrity Weekend.

With over 500 acting credits, numerous industry awards and one Sexiest Man Alive scepter to their collective names, these five stars certainly draw a whitehot spotlight, but in truth, it is their hearts – and those of their families, who come together each year to make the weekend so successful – that shine brightest of all.

Now, after two summers of virtual events, these hearts

are eager to fundraise and entertain in person again at the 13th annual Big Slick, set for June 24-25.

“Everyone is ready to join the fun and raise money for Children’s Mercy – the hosts and their celebrity friends, our Big Slick families and volunteers, the Children’s Mercy staff and patients, and our KC community,” says Julie Riggle McKee, an original co-organizer of the event and sister of the voice behind the Mayor of Thneed-Ville from “The Lorax.” “We’re literally going to light up this city for an entire weekend.”

A [MODERN] FAMILY AFFAIR

Rob Riggle, a Shawnee Mission South graduate, conceived the idea for Big Slick after touring CMH in 2009. Moved by the innovative, life-saving care at CMH, particularly after observing heart surgery on a nine-day-old baby, he knew he wanted to use his own gifts to support this cutting-edge pediatric care center and thought a local poker tournament with some of his CONTINUED P. 16 » 15

Big Slick Leadership: (front row) Joan Koechner Charbonneau, Julie Riggle McKee, Sandy Riggle, Mandi Rudd, Paul Rudd, Gloria Rudd, Kathy Sudeikis, Jamey Stonestreet; (back row) David Koechner, Mark McKee, Bob Riggle, Rob Riggle, Dan Sudeikis, Jason Sudeikis, Eric Stonestreet, Mauria Stonestreet and Lindsay Schweitzer.

funniest famous friends might be an effective way to bring new awareness and revenue to CMH. The following spring, Riggle enlisted Rudd and Sudeikis – both graduates of Shawnee Mission West – to co-host the inaugural Big Slick at Harrah’s Casino in Kansas City. With the three funnymen all living out of state at the time and a number of their celebrity pals traveling in for a uniquely high stakes playdate, the guys knew they would need help back home from the people they could trust the most to plan and execute the ambitious operation.

“You’re just on cloud nine Who better for these and don’t realize how hard you beloved sons and brothers to worked until it’s over.” rely on than their families?

– Gloria Rudd “I was just the mom whose kids tell you at 10 p.m. that they need 30 brownies for school the next morning, and they are baked and ready at 8 a.m.,” says Gloria Rudd, an original co-organizer of Big Slick and mother of the man most CMH patients know better as Ant-Man. “Paul mentioned it, and I was in!”

With only nine weeks to move from page to stage, the Riggle, Rudd and Sudeikis families got to work securing a venue, learning gaming regulations, arranging travel and lodging, coordinating food and beverage donations, 16

selling tickets, hiring security and soliciting sponsorships and auction items. Big Slick 2010 raised over $120,000, more than doubling Riggle’s original goal.

“The first one was like one of those old Mickey Rooney films where they’re going to put on a show, and Aunt Tilley’s going to make the curtains and Uncle Bob’s going to build the stage,” Gloria says with a laugh.

“It was so fun!,” beams Kathy Sudeikis, an original co-organizer and mama bird to the voice behind the “Angry Birds” feathered friend CMH patients simply call Red. The spark of enthusiasm from that first year spread quickly. Hometown kids Koechner and Stonestreet soon jumped on board as co-hosts, and their families jumped right along with them as co-organizers. Each family member brings their own skills and training, joining forces to provide travel arrangements and swag bags for the celebrity guests, marketing and media outreach, food and beverage, event logistics and outreach to the CMH families.

“It is a lot of work and an incredible amount of joy … like a shot of happy medicine. You’re just on cloud nine and don’t realize how hard you worked until it’s over,” says Gloria of the family-run event adding, “We’ve really, really missed that.”

“We genuinely like each other,” says Mandi Rudd, original co-organizer and sister to the man other CMH patients might know better as Mr. Grooberson from “Ghostbusters: Afterlife.” “That’s part of the magic.”

THE FUNDAMENTALS OF CARING

The Big Slick events have evolved over the years, but of all the festivities and shenanigans that have taken place each weekend, none mean more to those involved or have shaped the trajectory of the event more than the private visits the celebrities make with CMH patients and their families.

“Everyone who comes to town knows exactly what we’re raising the money for,” Riggle McKee says. “They see the physical building, they see the staff, they meet the patients and their families.”

It is probably not a coincidence that a philanthropic celebrity-packed weekend dreamed up by Riggle – one of Hollywood’s most engaging entertainers and a retired Lt. Col. with the US Marine Corps – would follow the model of a USO Tour, with morale-boosting entertainment for the troops and battlefield experiences for the entertainers. The impact is life-changing for all.

“Honestly and truly, once they go to the hospital, they’re different people,” says Gloria of their celebrity guests. “They say, ‘This is one of the only (charity events) I’ve ever done where we get to see the results of what we’re doing.’”

CONTINUED P. 20 »

Big Slick 2022

returns to KC live and in-person:

June 24

Celebrity Softball Game followed by the KC Royals vs. Oakland A’s, Kauffman Stadium Top right: Participating in his first Big Slick, Patrick Mahomes smiles for fans at the Celebrity Softball Game at Kauffman Stadium. Bottom right: Royals First Pitch participants: (front row) Aria Gonzalez, Sluggerrr and Westin Brown; (back row) Eric Stonestreet, Gavin McKenna, Jason Sudeikis, Charlie Walsh, David Koechner, Paul Rudd, Rob Riggle and Kaiden Lunn.

June 25

Big Slick Auction and Party, T-Mobile Center 17 Find tickets and updates at BigSlickKC.org

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“That’s why we have so many alums who come back year after year after year. … It’s the one thing we could never take away from the weekend,” says Joan Koechner Charbonneau, Big Slick co-organizer and sister of the man many CMH patients recognize as Champ Kind from “Anchorman.”

Koechner Charbonneau marvels at the dedication Big Slick celebrity guests have to the patients at CMH. “Jake Tapper was on a huge book tour in 2019, and he rescheduled his book tour to be close enough that he could make the Saturday morning visit,” she says.

The co-organizers all have stories to tell – often through tears – about the connections the visiting celebrities have made with the patients and families at CMH, from lingering hugs with parents to celebrities who have pleaded with to visit with patients beyond the allotted time.

“Our guests are asked to give of their time, talent and treasure all the time, and for them to choose to come to Kansas City speaks volumes to what the hospital is about,” adds Mandi, noting that none of the celebrity guests are paid for their Big Slick appearances.

One celebrity guest in particular left an indelible mark on the Rudds’ heart after making an impromptu visit to a set of distraught parents who had just received devastating treatment news for their child moments earlier. The visit was somewhat accidental, but it seemed to be orchestrated by angels as it turned out that this celebrity happened to have received the same diagnosis as a child. The actor was not only able to empathize with the parents as they expressed their fears but offer living, breathing proof of hope for a positive outcome. Their time together turned out to be just as cathartic and healing for the celebrity as it was for the family.

“The parents said, ‘You’ve taken one of the worst days of our lives and turned it into something so amazing,’” Gloria says. “The way

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Jason Sudeikis, Mauria Stonestreet and Paul Rudd visit with hospital patients.

Cutline

David Cook, Taran Killam, Cobie Smulders, Ariel Winter, Eric Stonestreet and Blake Vogt visit a patient and her mother at Children’s Mercy.

this was handled was like, ‘You’re in my club now. This is a small club … look at us!’”

Attendees of Big Slick’s Saturday evening auction/party get to connect with the work done at CMH in a unique way as well. Mauria Stonestreet, Big Slick co-organizer and sister of the best-dressed dad on “Modern Family,” is responsible for highlighting the journey of one special family each year via video for the event’s fund-a-need portion.

“The families I have met in doing that have made a big impact on me,” says Mauria, who serves as the executive director of an area autism advocacy organization. “Each story was very personal, and I am grateful that they agreed to tell their stories to help other families going through similar situations.”

LIVE FROM KC, IT’S BIG SLICK!

The energy of the weekend carries through Friday night’s celebrity softball game at Kauffman Stadium and explodes at the Saturday night auction/party, both ticketed events open to the public with the celebrity hosts and guests celebrating and supporting the work being done by both patients and the care teams at CMH.

“Celebrating” and “supporting” are understatements, however, as Big Slick has drawn roughly 100 stars over the years, including Will Ferrell, Selena Gomez, Heidi Gardner, Jon Hamm, Damon Wayans, Jr., John Oliver and Al Roker, and raised more than $13 million for CMH. “The (hosts) absolutely, very sincerely care about each other,” says Kathy adding, “and the people they invite are lovely.”

“It’s fun to see them being themselves in that environment and being themselves with one another,” says big sister Riggle McKee of her brother and his pals, adding that their comfort level with each other and spontaneity multiplies the fun. “The guys will be up there talking up an auction item and then Patrick (Mahomes) will jump up and take the microphone and offer to add to it … that’s just really cool to see.”

Auction party attendees have the chance to win one-of-a-kind items and experiences. Past auctions have included a Captain America shield signed by the movie’s cast, set visits to “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” and “Modern Family,” tickets to “Saturday Night Live” and movie premiere tickets for “Angry Birds 2” and “Ant-Man and the Wasp.”

CONTINUED P. 22 » 21

GOING THE DISTANCE

No matter how much fun the families have planning this event (the term “it’s like summer camp” sums it up for many of them), they all emphasize that the main goal for the weekend each year is to eradicate pediatric cancer.

“It’s why we continue to do this,” Koechner Charbonneau says.

“The hospital leadership came to us and shared their vision for their research center,” says Kathy, explaining that cutting-edge research and treatments most people only hear about on TV are now making their way to Children’s Mercy with support from Big Slick.

“For a long time we would sit with families in the middle of the night as we learned how a lot of our treatments failed, and that has been alleviated a little bit by some of these exciting advances, like CAR T-cell immunotherapy, thanks to funding from groups like Big Slick,” says Dr. Doug Myers, Hematology/Oncology/ BMT Section Chief, Bone Marrow Transplant.

Though the contributions from Big Slick have brought in life-saving equipment and world-class researchers and physicians, there is still work to be done.

“There are now a group of patients with a certain type of cancer that we have another tool in our toolbox for, but there are still way too many kids out there who ask about CAR T-cell therapy, and we have to say, ‘We’re sorry. It’s not for you,’” Myers says. “Big Slick is about taking that hope and giving it to others … to be able to share that hope with kids who don’t currently have it.”

This tidal wave that started with a drop of hope has very little to do with fame and far more to do with a genuine understanding deep in each of the Big Slick hosts’ DNA that, at the core of humanity, we all belong to each other.

“There’s such a feeling around Big Slick that’s so palpable,” Mandi says.

Back on Gillham Road in KCMO, Olive, Charlie and Sarah may never know exactly how deep their cheering section is, but – just like the hosts of Big Slick – they know firsthand there’s no place like home. n

Jake Tapper, Zachary Levi, Selena Gomez, Paul Rudd, Adam Scott and Al Roker visit a Children’s Mercy patient and her sister.

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All in the Family Big Slick Celebrity Traditions n Every Thanksgiving, DAVID KOECHNER and his five siblings and their families make 200 pounds of peanut brittle for the holidays. (The family recipe remains a secret known only to the four dozen Koechners.) n THE SUDEIKIS FAMILY currently holds the title of Running Charades Reigning Champions among Kathy’s extended Wendt family. (“Ted Lasso” fans might note that it’s pronounced “shah-RAHDS” in Episode 6 of Season 2.) n THE STONESTREET FAMILY met Fizbo the Clown decades before he ever appeared on “Modern Family,” as Eric created the character when he was just kid. (He even entertained neighborhood kids at birthday parties!) n THE RUDD FAMILY has an Irish pub that dad Michael built into the basement of their family home, complete with Guinness on tap, called “Sullivan’s.” Paul built one in his New York home called “Sullivan’s East.”

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SHARITA HUTTON // PHOTOGRAPHY BY TRENTON BUSH

“M

y dream is to have my players ready for every road

they travel. No matter what, never give up, No-matter-what, stick their chest out. And no matter what, they handle it.

That is my dream.”

– KeKe Blackmon

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“I got started by someone believing in me that I could play football.”

It’s a quote that not many young girls or women often say, but KeKe Blackmon is proving that all is possible with determination.

Born in Little Rock, Arkansas, Blackmon had the dream of one day becoming a lawyer. Her goal was to be the voice many do not have, and while that dream did not pan out, her goal to help others find their voices and passion has.

PASSION LEADS TO TOUCHDOWN Blackmon found her love for football through others.

“I started to love it and was very successful at playing,” Blackmon says.

Then in 2013, she was given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: representing the USA as team captain at the IFAF Women’s World Championship. Her team beat Canada 64-0, earning her a gold medal.

Players for KC Glory, a women’s full-contact tackle football team, receive instruction from head coach Keke Blackmon.

“Winning a gold medal was a dream come true. Playing for this country was an experience that you want to live in every moment and relive everyday afterwards. To set out on a mission and complete it was and will forever be golden,” Blackmon says.

That gold medal then even led her to an opportunity to go to the White House, another moment in time that will never be forgotten.

While her playing days may not be the same, her focus has not been sidelined. Her mission is “to change lives,” and she is doing that for not just adults but young girls.

KC GLORY Blackmon knew that women in Kansas City could benefit from having an opportunity to play football. So, when the owners of the Women’s National Football Conference approached her about her views, she knew this was her chance.

Now Blackmon is the head coach of the KC Glory, a women’s full-contact 11 versus 11 tackle football team.

“Coaching all of my teams gives me goosebumps,” Blackmon says. “Bringing value to my players every time I see them brings me joy. My dream for them is to see them succeed on and off the field.”

The team is made up of women from the age of 18 to 55.

“We (girls/women) do not grow up playing this game. We don’t get the same chance to start young,” she says. “When getting started, most have never played before but have always wanted that chance to do so. We teach you everything you need to know and teach you how to be safe while playing this game.”

CONTINUED P. 26 » 25

“Y

ou will see women on a stage like you have never seen them before.”

– KeKe Blackmon Blackmon says there are some strong women in the league, and coming to a game will prove to spectators that women can truly do all.

“You will have an experience of a lifetime. You will see athletes competing on the highest level, and you will see team love, and a sideline that is hyped and ready to go,” Blackmon says. “You will see the love of the game through our eyes, including seeing how the love of this game has changed every life that is playing on that field.”

Most importantly, Blackmon says, “You will see women on a stage like you have never seen them before.”

OFF THE FIELD AND ON TO THE COURT Blackmon also coaches high school basketball for Olathe East High School, which is actually her first love.

“Basketball taught me how to compete,” Blackmon says.

“I want my girls to know that they are student athletes for a reason, but you have to follow the golden rules, the first one: remembering to be a student first.”

Blackmon says she wants all her young athletes to walk away from each practice, games and even their season knowing that not only did Coach K never give up on them, but also that she was always honest with them. Most importantly, she wants them to walk away from the game knowing a coach truly wants the best for them in all aspects of life. n

OTTAWA UNIVERSITY continues to take the flag football world by storm.

The college welcomed its first women’s flag football team on campus in 2021, and the team is still going strong after taking home the National Championship in Atlanta the first year.

INTERESTED IN CHEERING THE TEAM ON? Visit ottawabraves.com/sport/womens-flag-football for a full list of games that run through May. PHOTO COURTESY OF OTTAWA BRAVES

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Seeking spa services and spirits or family fun? These destinations deliver pampering and proximity to attractions to suit any age or interest for any duration.

Y CHATEAU AVALON 701 Village West Parkway Kansas City, Kansas | 913-596-6000

If you’re ready for an immersive travel experience that doesn’t require plane tickets, Chateau Avalon’s themed rooms comfortably transport you to a Mayan rainforest, a New York penthouse or an Egyptian palace.

Multiple options, all with LED-lit hot tubs, await. Various spa services and in-room indulgences can elevate your stay. Located at The Legends, the hotel has received the Kansas City Visitors’ Choice Award six times.

28

Y CYRUS HOTEL*

920 S. Kansas Ave. Topeka, Kansas | 785-596-0500

Named for Cyrus K. Holliday, city founder and railroad tycoon, this hotel features sophisticated surroundings and outdoor gathering spaces. It’s just a block away from the Capitol (for which Holliday donated 20 acres to build). Check out The Tee Box next door, which allows patrons of all ages to practice their golf swing or play on simulated courses from around the world. Across the street, The Pennant serves up gourmet shakes and burgers, a bowling alley and an expansive arcade. Nearby attractions include Brown v. Board of Education and the Evel Knievel Museum. Sue the T Rex Experience at the Great Overland Station is the signature event of the capital city’s spring Dino Days festivities.

Y GRAND CENTRAL HOTEL & GRILL*

215 Broadway Cottonwood Falls, Kansas | 620-273-6763

Really want to get away? This western hotel with rooms named for area ranch brands is just a few miles from the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, 11,000 acres in the heart of the Flint Hills. Channel your inner Laura Ingalls Wilder and walk through a portion of the preserve, the world’s largest tallgrass prairie expanse, to glimpse bison, birds, wildflowers and wildlife.

The hotel can also arrange hiking, biking and horseback riding opportunities replete with picnic fare. The Chase County Courthouse down the street is the oldest courthouse in Kansas still in use and is available for tours.

CONTINUED P. 32 »

Y HOTEL AT OLD TOWN 830 E. First Street Wichita, Kansas | 316-267-4800

Housed in a structure once regarded as the largest warehouse in the world, the charming all-suite hotel sits in the center of the Old Town entertainment district near the Museum of World Treasures, which features fossils, Egyptian mummies and coins of Roman emperors. The hotel’s Keen Kutter Bar & Lounge, named for the hardware and cutlery purveyor that once occupied the space, features daily drink specials and live jazz from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Y THE BLUEMONT HOTEL* 1212 Bluemont Avenue Manhattan, Kansas | 785-473-7091

The Bluemont Hotel is located across the street from Kansas State University, the Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art and Aggieville, the state’s oldest shopping district and a popular entertainment destination for locals and tourists alike. The hotel offers modern accommodations, a heated indoor pool, a full-service bar and live music on Thursday nights (performed on the rooftop, weather permitting).

*Pet Friendly

30 *Pet Friendly

Y THE ELDRIDGE HOTEL 701 Massachusetts St. Lawrence, Kansas | 785-749-5011

Clyde Barrow of Bonnie and Clyde fame stayed here before robbing the bank across the street, and guests’ compelling paranormal reports through the years prompted a segment on A&E’s “My Ghost Story.”

The all-suite hotel boasts two bars and a restaurant featuring contemporary American cuisine. An easy walk to boutiques, bakeries, bars and bookstores, the hotel is also close to the Spencer Museum of Art and the KU Natural History Museum with live animal exhibits and a signature nature panorama built in 1893. n

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When Heirs are Imperfect It’s important to know the rules and regulations when exploring trust options.

BRUCE

Yo u r Fin an c ia l Wo rld In O rder

Provided by Christopher A. Adams

Passing your estate to an heir with credit problems or a gambling or alcohol addiction might not only lead to that wealth being squandered, but the inheritance could worsen the destructive behaviors.

Of course, you don’t want to disinherit your child simply because of their personal challenges. There are potential solutions that allow parents to control and incent behaviors long after they are gone, ensuring that a troubled child’s inheritance won’t be misused.1

Some Common Approaches A trust is one idea, since it can pass wealth to an heir while maintaining control over the how, when, where, and why the funds can be accessed.2 When establishing such a trust, you can appoint a trustee, who is typically an independent, third party (e.g., trust company) or family member. Appointing a family member, however, may be fraught with problems. Hypothetically speaking, who do you think may be better able to resist the pleadings of a desperate beneficiary? A close relative or a corporate entity?

Furthermore, the trust can specify the precise circumstances under which money will be paid to its beneficiary, or it can specify that the trustee will retain complete discretion in the disbursement of funds.

Structuring Ideas Trusts can also include incentives, such as requiring drug or alcohol testing before the funds are paid out, or perhaps, that a lump-sum payment be made only upon graduation from college.

To ensure that an heir is committed to change, lump-sum amounts can be paid out after prescribed periods of time, e.g., five years of sobriety. To encourage your heir to seek gainful employment, the trust might pay out a dollar for every dollar in wages. Alternatively, the trust can be written whereby payments are made directly to service providers, like a landlord or utility company.

Trusts can be flexible in their design, but before moving forward with a trust, consider working with a professional who is familiar with the rules and regulations.

1. The information in this material is not intended as tax or legal advice. It may not be used for the purpose of avoiding any federal tax penalties. Please consult legal or tax professionals for specific information regarding your individual situation.

2. Using a trust involves a complex set of tax rules and regulations. Before moving forward with a trust, consider working with a professional who is familiar with the rules and regulations.

The content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information. The information in this material is not intended as tax or legal advice. It may not be used for the purpose of avoiding any federal tax penalties. Please consult legal or tax professionals for specific information regarding your individual situation. This material was developed and produced by FMG Suite to provide information on a topic that may be of interest. FMG, LLC, is not affiliated with the named broker-dealer, stateor SEC-registered investment advisory firm. The opinions expressed and material provided are for general information and should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security. Copyright 2022FMG Suite.

Securities offered through Registered Representatives of Cambridge Investment Research, Inc., a broker-dealer member of FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services offered through Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor.

DM Bruce Associates, LLC, DM Bruce Insurance, and Cambridge are not affiliated.

Christopher A. Adams may be reached at

785-832-2600 chris@dmbruce.com

34

Heidi Gardner

COMEDY COUTURE ‘Saturday Night Live’ Star Heidi Gardner BY

U

LONITA COOK // PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIANNE WILLS

p on swirling torrents of water crashing over themselves again and again, the eye of the camera pulls back to reveal an in-ground hot tub as the

bmp-bmp-bmp of horns announce that famous James Brown sound. But it’s not JB. It’s a young, trim Eddie Murphy hosting a fictitious show, “James Brown Celebrity Hot Tub Party” as part of a sketch during his reigning years on “Saturday Night Live.”

As he mocks that pounding rhythm and plays at getting-on-the-good-foot, he offers a cute little rascal back in Kansas City her first taste of late-night sketch comedy.

As a kindergarten-aged Heidi Gardner watches a rerun of this classic bit, she is irrevocably inspired.

Gardner will grow up to one day sprout from the roots of family, friends, KC barbecue and movie nights at the mall into a world of kooky characters as a cast member of “Saturday Night Live.”

“My parents showed me ‘SNL,’” Gardner says, “and it was the funniest thing in the world.”

Now Gardner has been a part of that world for the last five seasons. She’s crafted memorable characters such as teen film critic Bailey Gismert, Goop staffer Baskin Johns and Angel, who is “Every Boxer’s Girlfriend From Every Movie About Boxing Ever.” Her comfort with sketch and improv all stemmed from that same parental upbringing.

“They showed me ‘Spinal Tap,’ and I remember them kind of trying to tell me, ‘Yeah, that’s improv. They just make that up.’ I was six, so I didn’t understand,” she says.

But color the seeds planted. TV and movies became a familial link and a backdrop to the good times.

“In middle school, we would go to Ward Parkway Mall. First, we’d go to Aladdin’s Castle, play video games, go down to Mr. Bulky’s and get candy and Icees. Then we’d load up on giant jawbreakers and lo mien noodles from the food court and just roll into the theater,” she recalls.

Onscreen entertainment is both approachable and mysterious. But it’s not like the law or medicine, industries that require tons of study, have strict requisites to pass prior to practicing and are difficult to access. Because of its highly accessible nature, entertainment can be difficult for creatives to be sure it’s meant for them and that a viable professional career is even possible.

Gardner found herself searching through other trades to find the right occupational fit.

35

“SNL” Weekend Update featuring Michael Che and Heidi Gardner. Photo by Rosalind O’Connor/NBC.

She says, “Thinking about college was confusing and complex for me. I went to Notre Dame de Sion, a college preparatory high school. … They did a great job preparing me for college (but) I don’t know that my brain was focused as much as it should have been. I had a lot of friends going to KU. I lived on the Missouri side, but I kind of just wanted to do what my friends were doing.”

So she moved to Lawrence to become a Jayhawk.

“I roomed with my best friend in the dorms, but I didn’t focus on school. I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I got in the Theater and Film Department and was taking classes on theater lighting. I was like, ‘I don’t know if I want to do lighting.’ I actually transferred to MU for a semester because I had friends there.”

Joining the School of Visual Studies at the University of Missouri, she planned to major in design.

“Then I was like, ‘I don’t know’ – there are a lot of math and rulers in design,” she says.

“But I had been cutting my friends’ hair. And it just got around, ‘Oh, she’s good,’ and since everyone’s broke in

36

college, I gave all my friends haircuts. I thought, ‘Maybe I should do hair.’”

She admits to enduring a lot of shame because of dropping out of school, mainly since all her friends stayed with their studies.

“Looking back, I wouldn’t have that shame now, but I did at the time. So I remember being like I’m gonna drop out of school and go to school for hair and makeup, but I feel like I need to make it more legit. ‘I’ll move to L.A. and go to school for hair and makeup there.’ So, it was all kind of a weird, shame-based decision,” the 38-year-old remembers.

Sometimes it takes the watchful eye of loved ones to see what we can’t. Gardner was a hairstylist, but she totally loved comedy. She looked at it from a third-party perspective while her (now) husband, writer Zeb Wells, knew she was a natural performer. So did her friends.

“I went and saw a show at the Groundlings (in Los Angeles), and Melissa McCarthy was a Groundling at the time. That woman was the funniest person I’d ever seen,” Gardner says.

“I said, ‘This is kind of weird, but I’m thinking of taking an improv class.’”

– Heidi Gardner

After the show, Gardner’s pal Rachel Ramras, a comedian who was also performing, suggested she take a class.

“I was like, ‘No, no, I’m not an actor,’ and (Rachel) was like, ‘You leave me four-minute voicemails in character – and they’re funny!’ I asked my husband, and he was like, ‘Yes, you’re funny.’ And that was two people.”

She then called her older brother, KC resident Justin Gardner, to tell him about the experience.

“I said, ‘This is kind of weird, but I’m thinking of taking an improv class,’ and he said, ‘I have been waiting to hear you say this our entire lives’. He paid for the class.

He was my biggest cheerleader then, and he’s my biggest cheerleader now,” she says.

Justin adds, “Once she told me about the Groundlings, I immediately knew what I’d be getting her for Christmas and birthday for as long as she wanted to go.

My only advice to her was this: Be fearless and leave it all on the floor.”

Not only is Justin a major supporter and one of her earliest tastemakers, he is co-host of “Where We Were When,” a podcast that recounts the moviegoing adventures of the Gardners’ childhood in Kansas City.

He says, “(The podcast) has been such a gift this past year. We get to revisit our movie memories, remember the forgotten movie houses of KC and share the things we love with the world. We also get to bring really smart, hilarious people on to join us, like her ‘SNL’ castmate Andrew Dismukes, and KC musicians Madisen Ward and Drew Six.” While she admits the podcast sounded like a “fun idea,” it turned into something much deeper.

“How cathartic and healing the whole experience ended up being has just been incredible. We’re detectives to each other’s past,” she says, noting the investigative quality applies to their guests as well.

“We had a guest on who’s a director at ‘SNL,’ Paul Briganti. He was telling me about watching

(Kevin Smith’s) ‘Dogma’ at home with his girlfriend at the time. They knew they wanted to kiss from the time the movie started, but they waited two and a half hours to finally make the move. I never would have gone up to him on ‘SNL’ and been like, ‘Tell me about your first kiss.’ It’s been really neat to learn about people through movies,” Gardner says.

The podcast is not the only way she returns to KC. She is known for her raging love for the Kansas City Chiefs, LC’s burnt ends, Arthur Bryant’s ribs and for teaming with other homegrown heroes to reinvest in the community.

37

“I can sometimes be quiet and have a soft voice. I see so many women around me using their voices in a powerful, feminine way, and it’s what I want to be more of.”

– Heidi Gardner

38

“Kansas City is like my blood. It’s my family. It’s been there since I was born and growing up. I felt free to be me,” she says. “There’s never a question in my mind when something comes up and I’ve been asked to do such amazing things – things that when I was a kid, I dreamed of doing, like when I saw Paul Rudd light the Plaza lights.”

Gardner is in a league of extraordinary Kansas Citians, but she is a woman in comedy, an industry that is, even in today’s stretch for diversity, male-dominated.

She says the road to “SNL” as a woman has been hard but made easier by the women who came before her. She expresses gratitude to stars such as Tina Fey and Amy Poehler for changing the landscape. She also admires her contemporaries like friends and fellow castmates Ego Nwodim and Melissa Villaseñor, who have defined cultural perspectives to advocate for during pitch sessions.

“Not only are they hilarious comedians, it’s important for them to get (their points-of-view) onto the show. And to see them fight for their point-of-view every week is – in this room that at this time maybe isn’t as diverse as it could be – brave in itself. I’m always inspired by watching them,” she says.

Even though there are currently nine female cast members on the show, Gardner emphasizes they have remained “supportive sisters” since she joined the series in 2017.

Gardner says, “I can sometimes be quiet and have a soft voice. I see so many women around me using their voices in a powerful, feminine way, and it’s what I want to be more of.”

Her quiet, yet fierce nature and rising status as a fashion icon is attributed to none other than her mom, Erny Huelke.

“My mom was such an effortlessly stylish, cool woman.

She had the ’80s jean jacket with the pins and buttons all over them. She and her friends were aspirational to me. Late 80s with their hair and bright blazers. They wouldn’t do Tupperware parties; they’d do lingerie parties with racks of nighties and ostrich-feather shoes. You’d go into my mom’s closet where she had this beautiful dresser with the old perfume bottle with the bulb that you squeezed, hat boxes and costume jewelry,” Gardner says.

Huelke, a former travel agent who now lives in L.A., encouraged Gardner’s humor and style.

“She’s what I want to be today – a fun, vibrant woman who expresses herself through fashion. It doesn’t always have to be super-feminine. It can be masculine, it can be sports-related, it can be laid back,” Gardner says. “I got to see all sides of the spectrum with her, and that’s been my biggest inspiration.” n

39

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42

Y

ears ago, I told my Facebook feed that I have two goals for my life,

and they remain unchanged. The fi rst one is *Be of Service* and the second is *Create Meaningful Relationships.*

Of course, meaningful relationships come in many forms, but more than anything I pride myself on my relationships with my women friends. These are relationships where we help parent each other’s children, remember the little things and show up for “A list” tragedies and the more “D list” stuff as well. We celebrate one another, prop each other up and sometimes take one for the team. It’s work but not hard work.

Like romantic relationships, these friendships require time, attention and nurturing. We are all in agreement that we can go a long time without talking – and pick right back up – but eventually the relationship will lose its power if neglected.

Here are a few ways to make sure your important femme friendships stay strong. Dinners and girls’ nights out are awesome but they can be hard to execute in a landscape full of work, kid activities and family responsibilities. But don’t give up. There are other ways.

Little check ins There are so many portals by which to see your people. Use them! A well-placed text, “How was the first day of your new job?” or “Are you feeling better?” goes a long, long way. Also, my friends and I love to drop TikTok videos or occasional memes on each other like a gift that says, “This reminded me of you.”

Squeeze in time – and make it helpful For example, take turns picking up each other’s kids from school and have a cup of coffee when you make the switch. Do a dinner run and deliver it once in awhile. Offer to grab stuff at Costco for a friend when you’re already going.

Walk (or jog, if you’re into that kind of thing) We all need to take time to move our bodies. Might as well take that time to chat and catch up and soak up some good energy from one another.

Birthdays Kid birthdays are, for me, a ruse for getting together with my friends.

Sure, I’ll throw a party for my 9-year-old – but only if three of my friends come too.

Mama/kid getaways Try, once a year, to get the moms and kids out of town together. Rent a big Airbnb, go camping, hit the Holiday Inn. Or even better, go without the kids. n 43

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BY

Baby

Blues

SYDNEY SHRIMPTON // PHOTOS COURTESY OF CROWLEY FAMILY

SHELBY CROWLEY ALWAYS WANTED A DAUGHTER. She was a stay-at-home mother of three little boys and loved and cherished each one.

Parenting boys is certainly an adventure, and Crowley adored every moment of it.

Still, a part of her longed to add a little girl to the mix.

After becoming pregnant for the fourth time, Crowley and her husband, Daniel, were overjoyed to find out they were having a girl. They began their preparations, ready to add a daughter to their family. They named her Olivia.

“I was extremely happy the day that we had her,” Crowley says. “The next day, it hit me. And it didn’t hit me like I wanted to get rid of her. … I was crying.

I couldn’t stop crying.”

– COPING W ITH –

Postpartum Depression

Shortly after Olivia’s birth, Crowley began a battle with postpartum depression that would change her life forever.

CONTINUED P. 46 »

45

According to Melissa Hoffman, a certified perinatal mental health provider for Postpartum Support International, postpartum depression occurs in the year following birth. With the same symptoms as a major depression, postpartum depression can lead to feelings of anger or irritability, increased anxiety, lack of interest in the baby and recurrent thoughts of harming the baby or yourself, among others.

“One in five women will experience a perinatal mood disorder,” Hoffman says. “This is a medical emergency.”

Crowley had a past with postpartum depression. After the birth of her third baby, Kyson, she can remember feeling helpless and overwhelmed. She was able to adjust with the help of medication, and things eventually got easier. Before the birth of her daughter, Crowley put preventative measures into place – she didn’t want to experience postpartum depression like that again.

46

“When I got pregnant with Olivia, I worried about PPD,” Crowley says. “It was bad with Kyson, and it scared me that it was going to happen again. I talked to my doctors before I had her and asked if there was anything I could do to prevent this. And they said they would up my dose in the last week of my pregnancy.”

Unfortunately, the medication had little-to-no effect, and one day after the birth of her daughter, Crowley felt more despair and fear than she had ever felt in her life.

“We kept saying I won’t get PPD because it’s a girl this time. I was so happy that it was a girl, there was no way I could be upset,” Crowley says. “We didn’t realize you can’t stop it, no matter how happy you are.”

Two nights after giving birth to her daughter, Crowley and her husband were permitted to take the baby from the hospital. Excited to see her boys and confident that returning home would cure her feelings of anxiety, Crowley and her husband left for home with Olivia in tow.

Upon arrival at her home, the effects of her postpartum depression only got worse.

Not only was Crowley exhausted and sleep-deprived, but her other children were vying for her attention, excited to see her after three days in the hospital. Crowley had to tend to the newborn, who, to her, seemed to be crying a lot. Too much. Every time the baby would begin wailing, Crowley would become angry at her. She just had a bottle. She was just fed. Why was she still crying?

“I didn’t want anything to do with her. I would beg Daniel to take care of her while I took care of the other children – I didn’t want to take care of her,” Crowley recalls. “I felt like I was just sitting on the couch, and I couldn’t get up. I would take care of her and, even when she was asleep, I would just sit there staring at her, waiting for her to wake up.”

The days progressed slowly as the situation become worse and worse.

Something wasn’t right with me. But I honestly felt like everyone around me was crazy.

Not me. They were.” – Shelby Crowley “I would just pray that I could have my old life back,” she says.

Ashley Walburn, founder of hOMe holistic, a counseling and doula service center in Kansas City, dares to ask the question, “Are we supporting families?”

Her answer: “In the U.S., we’re not, and we have the highest rates of PPD and anxiety.”

Walburn is a marriage and family therapist who has been working with women since 2001. According to Walburn, hormones play a huge part in postpartum depression.

While pregnant, the placenta of the women takes over the role of hormone regulation, attending to both the mother and baby’s needs. After birth, though, the placenta is delivered, handing the job back over to the hypothalamus – a process that takes up to a week or more.

Rapidly changing hormones, along with the physical trauma associated with birth, provide serious obstacles to a new mother’s feeling of wellness.

“Postpartum, we’ve lost a tremendous amount of blood,” Walburn says. “We, as Americans, expect moms to bounce right back. If we were in a more tribal culture, the other women in the tribe would be doing everything for us for weeks and weeks and weeks.”

After you have a baby, your entire world shifts. Healing from the birth is a process, and adjusting to a new life with a new baby does not simply happen overnight. When mothers feel pressured to take on their new role immediately, along with all the other roles they were previously carrying, they are left feeling overwhelmed and anxious.

“When we’re treading water and suffering and we don’t see a light at the end of the tunnel, it can become extremely overwhelming. And when we’re overwhelmed at any stage in life … we’ve lost our ability to cope and respond,” Walburn says. “And it leaves all of us feeling helpless and hopeless and out of control. When we feel helpless and hopeless and out of control, then we feel depressed.”

A week after the birth of Olivia, Crowley was barely treading water. Friends and family would come over to help with the baby, but after each visit, Crowley was left feeling more alone than before.

“I felt like they weren’t helping me enough,” she says.

“They were like, ‘Here’s this baby, and you have no choice

and you can’t give her up for adoption, but I’m not going to help take care of her.’”

It all became too much.

“I had already been contemplating what my choices were,” Crowley says.

No one would listen to her. She felt stuck and didn’t know what to do. She needed an out.

“I went outside, and I told Daniel that I didn’t want to be here anymore,” Crowley says.

“Thank God he took me seriously.

Because this was my breaking point. There was no going back. If he didn’t believe me, I probably honestly wouldn’t be here.”

Immediately, her husband took her to the hospital. After several thorough examwill experience a inations, Crowley was perinatal mood admitted to an inpatient disorder mental health facility for five days.

“I kept feeling like, ‘This isn’t right. I am not this sick, I just don’t want this baby,’” Crowley says. “I am a good mom, and I love my kids and I’ve always wanted a daughter.

Something wasn’t right with me. But I honestly felt like everyone around me was crazy. Not me. They were.”

Through her time as an inpatient, Crowley attended group therapy, where she learned coping skills. She met with a therapist and was able to catch up on some sleep. All the while, she missed her boys and her husband desperately, but was also glad to be away from the situation.

And yet, after her discharge, things continued to spiral.

Crowley and her team of therapists worked out a plan to help her with recovery. Each day Olivia would go to her great-grandmother’s house until 5 p.m. After that, Crowley would take over care and responsibility through the night, though there was always someone with her and the baby.

1 in 5

women

CONTINUED P. 48 »

47

To find out more about STRENGTH THROUGH STORY, a support group for postpartum moms, contact them at strengththroughstory.com or strengththroughstory@gmail.com If you or someone you love is experiencing thoughts of self-harm or suicide, text the National Crisis Text Line “HOME” at 741741 or call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255

48

“Watching everyone take care of me like I was a kid was an awful feeling,” she says. “And they were watching me with my kids. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever gone through.”

Day by day, things got better. And slowly, so slowly, the oversight of Crowley and her daughter began to diminish. Currently, she has resumed full-time responsibility of Olivia.

“There are things that make me go 10 steps forward, three steps back,” Crowley says. “And it’s just depending on the day and the things I run into. There are days when I wake up, and I’m mad or I’m sad and I just don’t know why.”

Healing is a process. Restabilizing is a process. Crowley says that, though she wishes she could say she was through it, she isn’t. The fight is not over. And, yet, she has learned so much through this experience.

Her perspective on therapy has changed – she’s realized how important it is to talk about these issues. She’s learned that through this journey, she is not alone, that mood disorders happen so much more often than you think they do.

“It just almost blows your mind that so many people have been through it because

when you’re going through it yourself, you feel like you’ve failed, that you’re alone in this, that you should have done something to prevent it,” Crowley says.

“I did everything that I thought I could to prevent it. But you can’t.”

Perinatal mood disorders affect so many people. You are not alone. And there are people who can help. One of these resources is Walburn’s hOMe holistic yoga group. These yoga sessions are open for all mothers to nourish their bodies and to cultivate a relationship with their babies.

According to Walburn, the most important thing is to find a community.

“As soon as you’re ready, get out of the house and go meet somebody for coffee,” she says. “Go to a lactation support group, mommy baby yoga or a postpartum support group because all those moms are going through the same stuff.”

To learn more, go to homeholistic.com or email info@homeholistic.com.

You can also join Strength Through Story, a nationwide support group created for postpartum mothers. Kim Hawley started the group after COVID-19 when she realized the immense need for connection among new mothers.

The group focuses on healing through writing, and is open to every pregnant or postpartum woman. The term “postpartum” is not defined as one year after the birth – this group is open to all women postpartum with no time-limit.

“Seeking support for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, including postpartum depression and anxiety, can help in so many ways,” Hawley says. “First, it allows you to be honest with yourself by sharing what you’re going through with others. Second, it gets what you are worrying about out of your brain and into the hands of someone who can help.” n

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Zucchini ?

Who Doesn’t Love

A Q U I C K & H E A LT H Y S P R I N G S A L A D

BY JAYNI

O

ne of the things I love about zucchini is that it is available year-round and

can be used in a countless number of ways.

Recently, I have developed a fondness for the taste and crunchy texture of raw zucchini, especially as a salad.

To make this easy salad, it’s helpful to have a mandoline equipped with a julienne blade to cut the zucchini into long, thin strips (aka zucchini noodles), but if not, a sharp knife and some patience will suffice.

Toss the zucchini with sliced green onions and a lemon dressing. Simply press the mixture into custard cups for individual molded salads and chill for several hours.

When ready to serve, invert the zucchini onto salad plates and garnish with fresh sprigs of lemon thyme. This refreshing salad tastes great with any meal!

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CAREY // PHOTOGRAPHY BY TRENTON BUSH

Lemon Zucchini Salad INSTRUCTIONS INGREDIENTS 2 zucchini, 8 ounces each 2 small green onions, thinly sliced LEMON DRESSING

1 TBSP plus 1 tsp lemon juice 1/8 tsp salt ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil Lemon thyme sprigs (optional) SERVES 4

Using a mandoline with a julienne blade, slice each zucchini lengthwise making quarter turns until you see the seeds in the center. Use all but the very center. You should have about 12 ounces of zucchini noodles.

Place them in a bowl and add the green onions.

LEMON DRESSING: Combine the lemon juice and salt in a small bowl.

Whisk in the olive oil.

Pour the dressing over the zucchini and green onions and toss to coat.

Divide the mixture among four 8-ounce custard cups. Gently press the mixture into the cups. Cover each with plastic wrap, pressing it on top of the zucchini, and place an 8-ounce can (such as a tomato sauce can) on top of each one to compress the zucchini.

Refrigerate for at least 6 hours before serving. Do not unmold until ready to serve. If the zucchini looks watery, carefully tilt each cup over the sink to drain. Run a knife around the edges of each custard cup and invert to release the molded zucchini onto salad plates. Garnish with lemon thyme sprigs.

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Hot Take

– Menopause Part 2 BY

TRACEY ENGLISH // CONTINUED FROM FALL 2021

It should not come as a shock that I am typing this at 4:15 a.m. on a Sunday morning, wide awake. According to a March 2021 study by womenlivingbetter.org, sleep disruption is considered the most interfering aspect of peri-menopause and menopause, followed by feeling anxious and easily overwhelmed.

But let’s start with the sleep issue.

Sleep Disruptions

Mental Health

common sleep problem for women in midlife is not trouble falling asleep but waking up early and not being able to get back to sleep,” says Amber Watts, associate professor of clinical psychology at the University of Kansas.

“Women in midlife have a lot of responsibilities at work, at home, and in other areas of their lives.

Stress is a big reason for poor sleep. In addition to stress, women can have deregulation of sleep cycles and physical pain or discomfort that keeps them awake.”

Watts leads a public Facebook page called Women’s Midlife Adventure Network that strives to share information, offer support and educate its readers about menopause and how to manage it. She often suggests deep breathing exercises, saying no to added responsibilities, mindfulness, meditation and visualization practices to help with stress reduction. She also recommends keeping a regular bedtime and wake time, turning off screens before bed, reducing caffeine intake, reducing liquid intake before bed and regular exercise. Supplements that help some women include magnesium, melatonin, CBD oil and DHEA.

Unfortunately, this sleep disruption that is very common for women both in the late reproductive stage (LRS) and in menopausal transition (MT) can trigger what is known as brain fog for many. Women report feeling forgetful, having a harder time concentrating and having a harder time making decisions. To further complicate matters, sleep disruptions can also invoke feelings of despair and depression.

Around 50 percent of premenopausal women experienced depressed mood symptoms, and this number increased to 60 percent in the late premenopausal stage.

Open communication with a physician can help women take more control of the physiological changes that are occurring during this stage of aging. Often termed “hormonal chaos,” many of these mood fluctuations can be tempered with proper treatment, self-care and medication.

“A

Weight Gain Hormonal changes of menopause may make women more likely to gain weight. But it’s also related to aging, according to Heather Fiore, registered private practice dietician, Free State Nutrition.

“Lots of women come to me during the menopausal phase,” she says. “They don’t know what’s happening. Something is changing and everything they have been doing no longer works.”

It is interesting to note that the weight gain or waist thickening is not due to a change in metabolism, which remains pretty stable until our 60s. Rather, it’s a hormonal shift.

“Decreased estrogen causes the abdominal fat accumulation. Estrogen tends to contribute to subcutaneowus fat. Women gain in their hips, butt and abdominal area,” Fiore says.“The most important thing that women need to realize is that they are not doing anything wrong. It is a very normal part of the aging process.”

Exercise plays a vital role throughout a woman’s life, and as aging continues, it is necessary to ensure bone health. Weight-bearing exercises and strength training work to thwart the muscle mass decrease that occurs with aging.

Women new to exercise should consult their physician to determine what kind of exercise would be best to get started.

Both Watts and Fiore recommend increasing protein intake during menopause. Cutting back on simple carbohydrates and consuming more good fats can reap health benefits as well. But the focus should be on getting stronger, not necessarily on weight loss.

“It’s important to focus on healthy living habits,” Fiore says. “Clients don’t like to have to think about weight all the time. At this stage in their lives, they just want to enjoy themselves. It’s a new lease on life.”

Women transitioning from their reproductive years to their menopausal years often do so with little understanding of the physical and emotional changes they are experiencing.

Thankfully, more conversations, more studies and more open communication about menopause are changing that. Women should feel comfortable talking with their healthcare provider about their needs and the changes they are experiencing because the more it is discussed, the more information will be readily available to those yet to go through what is often spoken in whispers. ■

Healthy Living at any Age The following resources are for those interested in learning more about managing physiological changes in the body during peri-menopause/menopause.

k Boo The Body is Not an Apology Sonya Renee Taylor

k Boo Health at Every Size Lindo Bacon

k Boo Menopause Manifesto Jen Gunter

st dca o P Hit Play Not Pause Ep. 170: Body Neutrality

ast

dc Po

How to Love Your Body st

a odc

P Food Psych

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Habitat for Humanity

Made possible by

H

abitat for Humanity is a nonprofit organization that helps families build and improve places to call home.

The organization believes affordable housing plays a critical role in strong and stable communities.

An estimated 42% of children live in households that struggle to meet routine expenses like food, rent or mortgage, car payments and medical bills. Paired with an unprecedented pandemic, many families are struggling with tough situations.

More than ever, in this time of uncertainty, Habitat for Humanity’s work is desperately needed because every child deserves the security that comes from living in a stable, safe home.

The need for affordable housing is immense, and the lasting impact it can have on families is undeniable. A safe, decent and affordable home offers families and individuals the opportunity to take care of themselves and build their own futures.

Across Northeast Kansas, Habitat for Humanity affiliates are busily working to make the dream of affordable housing a reality for families in their communities. In Douglas County, Lawrence Habitat is completing the finishing touches on House #105 located in Eudora and already building the foundation of House #106. In order to build and repair affordable homes, Lawrence Habitat hosts multiple events including the annual Blueprint Bash Trivia event in the summer (July 15) and the Women Build event in the Fall (September 23). Like Lawrence, Kansas City also features a Women Build program (May 10-19) focused on bringing women together to address the community’s affordable housing crisis by providing the tools, skills and opportunity to make an impact. Topeka Habitat recently closed its application window for potential homeowners and will be selecting its next partner families for upcoming builds.

Another fun way to support the work of Habitat for Humanity is shopping at your local Habitat ReStore. Part home improvement store, part home goods store, part resale store, each ReStore has a wide selection of items that changes often. Customers get fantastic new and gently used home improvement items well below retail prices. Families in your community benefit because purchases support your local Habitat for Humanity affiliate. n

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For more information on how to get involved in the efforts of Habitat for Humanity, contact Stacie at stacie@lawrencehabitat.org or call 785-221-9221.

Photos courtesy of Habitat for Humanity

“If you are tired of the dieting scene and are ready to try something new, better, and sustainable for the rest of your life, schedule a call with me to find out how I can help.”

Call today to schedule your complimentary consultation

Heather Fiore, MS Ed, RD, LD, CDCES 785-331-6435 info@freestatenutrition.com freestatenutrition.com /heatherfiorerd

/heatherfiore1

/heatherfiorerd