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CHIC THRILLS DREAM BIG, PAINT BOLD

Inspiration, Innovation & Design Ideas

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VOL. 13 NO. 1 Editor-in-Chief Chris Christen 402-444-1094 Chris.Christen@owh.com Assistant Editor Amy LaMar Amy.LaMar@owh.com Creative Director/Designer Heidi Thorson hhoffman@owh.com Photo Imaging Specialist Patricia “Murphy” Benoit Content Contributors Jessica Luna, Meghann Schense, Cara Pesek, Steve Jordon, Stacy Ideus, Kyle Shoemaker, Mary Von Gillern, Julie Barnes, Sandra Wendel Photography Contributors Jeffrey Bebee, Hooton Images, Tin Box Pictures, Daniel Johnson, Dana Damewood, Kurt A. Keeler On the Cover Photo: Jeffrey Bebee

SEPARATES

Sales Manager Carrie Kentch 402-444-1448 Carrie.Kentch@owh.com Account Representative Cathleen Vanhauer 402-444-1209 Cathleen.Vanhauer@owh.com Account Representative Kristine Buhman 402-444-1442 Kristine.Buhman@owh.com Events & Custom Publishing Manager Tam Webb 402-444-3125 Tam.Webb@owh.com

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E D I TO R ' S N OT E

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EARNING MY 'SPURS' KURT A. KEELER

January is my WorldHerald anniversary month, and that always takes me back to those “teaching moments” early in my career.

My first mentors were Bob and Shirley

CHRIS CHRISTEN

Bogue, editors-publishers of the Oakland

Vacationed last fall in Venice,

newspaper.

editor-in-chief

where her husband shot her new column photo.

FUN FACT Chris thinks the work day ends at 3:30 a.m.!

(Nebraska) Independent, my hometown Bob was a hard-driving, exacting newsman who expected nothing short of excellence – no matter the assignment.

My first summer at the paper, he sent me to the Burt County Fair to photograph champion 4-H livestock, only to sneer at the composition of the images (Polaroid, no less!) I produced. “Go back to the fairgrounds, and this time get the steer’s whole profile in the photo, not just its face,” he barked. Gulp.

Shirley gave this college-bound intern a poignant send-off in a personal column titled, “Earning Her Spurs.” She noted how she watched my photography skills improve measurably, and closed with a reference to their “starry-eyed Chris ... her dreams just a mere dream away.”

At Midland Lutheran College (now Midland University), journalism department head Marilyn Peterson took over where the Bogues left off. “Mrs. P” despised the word “nice,” calling it a lame descriptor. Everytime it popped up

Pat Huntsman at the Red Oak (Iowa) Express took a tough line, throwing mark-ups of my copy back at me with an exasperated shake of the head. Twenty-five years later, she confided to a colleague that she regretted being so hard on me. Yes, she was ruthless. But, boy, did I learn! And today I call her my friend.

I may owe the most, however, to Larry Novicki, a former World-Herald news editor, who showed this new copy editor sympathy when a supervisor wanted my neck after I inadvertently duplicated 30 inches of bridal announcements in the Sunday paper. Oops. (On the bright side, 20 couples got twice the exposure.)

When I first signed on at the Omaha World-Herald, I figured I’d stick around for a handful of years and then try my luck at a bigger newspaper in a bigger city.

In the 1990s, that’s just what ambitious journalists did.

But a funny thing happened. My circle of friends grew. I enjoyed my colleagues, and I was promoted to positions that I would have gone to other papers to pursue.

My family was near. And I could no longer imagine not living and working in our wonderful city.

As a new year unfolds, here’s to being grateful for the positive influences in your life. And to doing more of what you love.

in my stories, she docked me for it and effectively stripped it from my vocabulary.

“Nice” trick, Mrs. P! In my first job after college, proofreader

4 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

Chris Christen editor-in-chief

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inspiredlivingomaha.com 5

CONTENTS

ON THE COVER HOMESPIRATION 18 | Mimi Goodwin's Home

DESIGN DONE RIGHT 10 | Gold Coast Kitchens THE PROJECT DIARIES 28 | Tiny Bathroom AU COURANT 40 | Urban Outdoorsman SPECIAL PROMOTION 44 | Experience Local PROFILE 46 | Chris Hughes DESTINATION 50 | Norway HOST 54 | Soup THE DISH 58 | Chocolate BE WELL 62 | New Year, New You

6 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

30

THREADS Yin & Yang Photo: Hooton Images Styling: Jessica Luna Models: Bailey D. & Shani of Develop Model Management

(On Shani, left) Ida dress, $400 BUF REYNOLDS BUFREYNOLDS.COM

Brave belt, $150 SHE-LA SHOPSHELA.COM

(On Bailey, right) Chanel #5 dress, $600 BRIDGET MAHONY BRIDGETJULIA.COM

Fur belt and cuff, $15 TANDY LEATHER

TANDYLEATHERFACTORY.COM

Artistry sterling silver cuff links, $210 GOLDSMITH SILVERSMITH GOLDSMITHSILVERSMITH.COM

AMY LaMAR

HEIDI THORSON

assistant editor

creative director & designer

Mom to Zoey and Elliot.

Wife to Tony. Loves food and organizing.

Amateur photographer.

Self-described craft addict.

Wife to Matthew.

Fan of photography.

Loves playing in the dirt.

Has a fab margarita recipe.

FUN FACT Amy did not have any cavities until this past year.

FUN FACT Heidi still eats popsicles in the winter.

FUN FACT Carrie could never live in a new house. She loves old homes too much.

CATHY VANHAUER

KRISTINE BUHMAN

STEVE JORDON

advertising account executive

Omaha World-Herald reporter

Loves her customers.

Known for her laugh & candidness.

Has three children who fulfill her life.

Runner. Whole Foods loyalist.

Nature lover, coffee drinker and foodie (but not a cook).

Husband to Helen. Dad to Leland, Jin, Ingrid & Brandon.

Grandpa to Mabel.

FUN FACT Cathy recently discovered a treasure in Montreal: Pointe-à-Callière, a museum of archaeology and history.

FUN FACT Kristine got a turkey in bowling. Once.

FUN FACT Steve plays percussion in the Nebraska Wind Symphony.

advertising account executive

8 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

CARRIE KENTCH advertising manager

PHOTOS: HOOTON IMAGES, DAN THORSON PHOTOGRAPHY, JEFFREY BEBEE, REBECCA S. GRATZ, JAMES R. BURNETT, KURT A. KEELER, TIN BOX PICTURES, DANIEL JOHNSON, ALEX HOPES

THE CONTRIBUTORS

STACY IDEUS

CARA PESEK

SANDRA WENDEL

Wife to Ryan. Mom to 2-month-old Violet.

Loves food and design.

Works for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Enjoys running, biking, baking and thrifting.

Book editor.

Lives in a log cabin with the "catch" of her life. Kayaks on her lake.

FUN FACT Stacy loves to try new things, but is happy to vacation at the same place every year.

FUN FACT Cara loves to bake, and one of her favorite things about winter is baking Christmas cookies.

FUN FACT Sandra makes spiral-bound journals out of recycled children's books and classic novels.

THE HOOTONS

JESSICA LUNA

DANIEL JOHNSON

Husband and wife team.

Specialize in weddings, portraits, boudoir and fashion editorials.

Devoted artist. Finds joy in thunderstorms, her garden and a good hard laugh.

Husband. Father. Photographer.

Michigan native; has lived in Omaha for six years.

FUN FACTS Heather started piano lessons in third grade. JD once played in a saxophone quartet called Coffeehouse Cheese.

FUN FACT Jessica can't live without hot sauce or sticky notes.

FUN FACT Dan recently joined Admiral District, a new commercial studio in the historic Blackstone District.

MEGHANN SCHENSE

JEFFREY BEBEE

fashion stylist

photographer

TINBOX PICTURES

Creative consultant, fashion stylist and strategist. Founder/creative grit of Esoteric Velvet.

Recently celebrated his 34th wedding anniversary.

Western Nebraska roots.

Husband & wife team. Influenced by motion, edge tension & lighting.

Push technical & creative boundaries.

FUN FACT Meghann is up to her eyeballs in behind-the-scenes work for Omaha Fashion Week's upcoming shows.

FUN FACT Jeffrey recently joined Instagram.

Follow him at @jeffreybebee.

FUN FACT Jordan likes to take three shots of cream & sugar over ice. Vivian's best friends are her maxi dresses.

d.i.y. blogger

photographers

writer

fashion stylist

health writer

photographer

photographers

inspiredlivingomaha.com  9

D ES I G N D O N E R I G H T

PROJECT

Gold Coast kitchens are magnificent – and filled with love.

STORY AMY LaMAR PHOTOGRAPHY JEFFREY BEBEE

K

nock and ask for an egg or a cup of sugar.

It’s expected in Omaha’s Gold Coast Historic District – despite its grand appearance.

“It’s something out of ‘Ozzie and Harriet.’ People watch out for each other,” says Suzanne Kehm, who has lived here with her husband, Karl, since 1993.

Joyce Passarelli considered the neighborhood an “ideal place to grow up” while she and her husband, John, were raising their five children. Now their home is a welcome gathering place for their grown sons and their families.

Joni Fogarty’s husband, Ed, was so fond of the neighborhood after growing up here that he and Joni returned to raise their blended family of six children.

“There just isn’t another place like it in the city,” she says.

Beyond the neighbors’ love of where they live is a passion for cooking and entertaining. You will certainly find that egg or cup of sugar in these kitchens.

So go ahead, knock. We can’t wait for you to see what’s inside.

A 550-square-foot addition of a kitchen and a large two-car garage in a circa 1913 Arts & Crafts home.

HOMEOWNERS

Suzanne and Karl Kehm

PROJECT DURATION

Seven months

GENERAL CONTRACTOR

Suzanne and Karl with Rob and Toni Mainelli, and a carefully selected team of subcontractors who collaborated on the project.

“I give all the credit to the team,” Suzanne says.

BACKSTORY The Kehms had raised their three children in the country near Blair.

But in 1993 they discovered Omaha's historic Gold Coast and fell in love with the neighborhood. Today, Suzanne says she feels right at home.

But as hosts of a number of gettogethers for their friends, children and 12 grandchildren (eight of whom live within walking distance!), the former kitchen was too small.

“You couldn’t move – we ate all over the place,” says Suzanne, who drew up the plans for the addition with help from architect Robert Perrin. (continued on page 13)

10 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

OLD WORLD

inspiredlivingomaha.com  11

12 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

(continued from page 10)

WHAT THEY DID They switched the driveway from the north to the south side of the house to accommodate a new lower-level garage and a porte-cochère. A patio over the garage is accessible from the spacious kitchen. A butler’s pantry, food pantry, closet and powder bath complete the design, while a new set of stairs created a reading niche. “If you’re looking for a kid or a cat, start there,” Suzanne says.

DESIGN CHALLENGES “I wanted a really beautiful kitchen that wasn’t off-putting. I wanted people to be comfortable.” It feels like an eclectic Old World farmhouse. There is granite on some countertops and limestone and wood on others. There are various stains, paints and woods as well. “If you pick what you love, it always goes together.”

WHAT THEY CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT A big square table that holds the buffet spread during large gatherings.

FEATURES The window seat/day bed in the family room off the kitchen was the starting point for the design of the room. It reminds Suzanne of the kitchen in her great-grandmother’s house in Montana.

“I have always wanted to have a kitchen that you could take a nap in.” The layout invites guests to “come in and peel potatoes,” she says. The open fireplace provides extra heat, and is handy for pots that need to stay warm. The Kehms raised the ceiling to create more volume in the room since it would have felt flat and like a gymnasium otherwise, Suzanne says. And then there’s the view of the downtown Omaha skyline. “It helps us feel connected to the city. It’s almost embraceable.”

SPLURGES A red La Canche stove made in France.

“I can’t possibly have that,” Suzanne remembers thinking when she spotted it on a website. The stove's niche has a Moroccan tile backsplash inspired by one featured in a French travel magazine. The grandkids are all about the heated floor, however. “They come over just to lay on it.

Toasty warm stones – it’s almost magical during a Nebraska winter.” inspiredlivingomaha.com 13

14 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

BACKSTORY

TRADITIONAL

The Fogartys bought the home in the mid-1990s for nostalgic reasons (Ed was raised on the same street) and “because it deserved to be saved,” Joni says. They went on to raise their six children here. “When you are fortunate enough to live in a historic home, you are the caretaker of that home. It really belongs to the community.” Originally designed for live-in servants to prepare food for service in the dining room, the kitchen had only been updated once – about 30 years ago.

WHAT THEY DID Joni, a historian who has an interior design degree, designed the kitchen based on the home’s original blueprints. “I must have torn up 10 drawings before I was satisfied.” The kitchen walls were taken back to the studs in order to add insulation, new wiring and plumbing. And the original maple floor was refinished after peeling back three layers of linoleum.

DESIGN CHALLENGES To provide modern-day conveniences without compromising the historical integrity of the home, as well as a seamless transition from the living space to the kitchen.

FEATURES New cabinets inspired by a single original quarter-sawn oak cabinet; top-of-the-line appliances (all but the oven are hidden since they wouldn’t have been in the kitchen originally); a custom tile backsplash; a fireplace and mantle for the “wow factor”; glass-front china cabinets for Joni’s greatgrandmother’s china; and a bench “so guests can have a glass of wine” while their host is cooking. There is also a pass-through wet bar near the kitchen.

WHAT THEY CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT PROJECT

Total remodel of a small kitchen in a Prairie-style home built in 1909.

HOMEOWNERS

Joni and Ed Fogarty

PROJECT DURATION

Six months

GENERAL CONTRACTOR

Joni was the general contractor, while Asher Construction did the majority of the tear-down, drywall and trims.

The kitchen island. “My grandkids sit right here,” says Joni, who has eight grandchildren.

“It’s easy for conversation and togetherness.”

The Fogartys also host events for local nonprofit organizations. “A house like this almost forces you to entertain. If you don’t, what’s the purpose?”

SPLURGES Although most of the materials were sourced locally, the cabinet and drawer pulls are from Canada and the hand-hammered copper sink is from Mexico.

ADVICE “Take your time – don’t rush into it,” Joni advises. “Look at what is available so you don’t want something different later on.” inspiredlivingomaha.com 15

16 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

FRENCH COUNTRY

PROJECT Two kitchen remodels in a Colonial-style home built in 1923.

HOMEOWNERS Joyce and John Passarelli BACKSTORY The Passarellis have lived in the home for 30 years, having raised their five sons here. They were first attracted to the neighborhood when they were attending Creighton University’s School of Law. Their first remodel in 1988 pushed the back of the house out to add kitchen space and a family room. “You could almost serve dinner, eat and scrape dishes without moving,” Joyce says about the former kitchen. They installed white laminate cabinets and Corian countertops at the time, which were perfectly suited for their young family. “I could not have had a better kitchen for cleanup,” Joyce says.

They also converted a screened-in porch into a mudroom.

WHAT THEY DID With the boys out of the house, it was time for some cosmetic updates in 2013.

They added an overhead glass display piece to the buffet; replaced the cabinets and backsplash; installed a large hidden refrigerator; refinished the original oak floor; and put in granite countertops.

DESIGN CHALLENGE To stay true to the style of the home. The original remodel involved a bump-out to the north instead of the west solely to save an Austrian pine tree. Sadly, it died.

ADVICE “Start early and do your research in advance so you’re not overwhelmed making decisions under pressure.” Joyce had a hard time choosing cabinet pulls, for example. “Oh my God she’s back,” she jokes about what the hardware store’s employees must have thought when she kept returning to the store.

PROJECT DURATION The first remodel, which was designed by architect Bruce Frasier, took six months.

The second remodel took five months to complete.

FEATURES The previously all-white kitchen now has a soft, light and airy feel. The prep sink right in the middle of it all is perfect for entertaining. “I love the overall feel of it – it’s such a wonderful flow.”

WHAT THEY CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT The mudroom. Joyce also loves the low countertop near the prep sink. Suited for chairs rather than barstools, it allows for versatile seating options. And the heated floors are "such a luxury."

inspiredlivingomaha.com 17

H O M ES P I R AT I O N

CHIC THRILLS Style blogger and D.I.Y. marvel Mimi Goodwin takes you behind the scenes of her fast and furious whole-house redo.

STORY CHRIS CHRISTEN PHOTOGRAPHY JEFFREY BEBEE

M

imi Goodwin rocketed into Omaha last fall, and propelled herself into a whole-house redo that ultimately gave each room a thrill of its own.

Omaha’s newcomer is known to some 400,000 Facebook fans and 113,000 Instagram followers as fashion blogger and D.I.Y. diva “MimiGStyle."

Her September arrival, with family in tow, came on the heels of a summertime visit to Omaha, her husband's hometown.

Mimi, a native of Chicago, left impressed.

“We had such a great time, I said, ‘Hey babe, would you consider moving back to the Midwest?’”

Randy was quickly on board.

Within a month, Mimi was back in Omaha, this time looking at houses for their family of five.

“When you’re from the Midwest, you’re always from the Midwest,” Mimi says of their lightning-

fast – but not totally unexpected – relocation to Nebraska.

“We wanted space," Mimi explains. "L.A. was getting a little crowded. We were ready for a change and a place for the kids to grow up near family.”

Living in the middle of the country means shorter commute times for business travel for both Mimi and Randy. Frequent destinations include Atlanta, Chicago, New York and L.A. Randy, an actor and producer, currently has a recurring role in the ABC daytime soap, " General Hospital,” which films in L.A. Meanwhile, @MimiGStyle is igniting a new movement of sewists – and proving that #sewingissexy.

In addition to her own groundbreaking sewing tutorials and exclusive designs for Simplicity Patterns, she’s making her mark as a motivational speaker, creative business consultant and soonto-be author.

(continued on page 21)

18 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

“Hearth room – what is that?

We don’t have those in L.A.,” quips Mimi Goodwin, sewist and blogger who recently relocated to Omaha.

Photo (left) by Randy Goodwin.

The side tables for the sitting room originally were white.

Mimi repainted them, distressed the edges and then added gold leaf.

WALLS: OLYMPIC “FROSTED LILAC”

LOCATION | WEST OMAHA inspiredlivingomaha.com 19

The dining room walls are striped with three shades of gray – two dark and one light.

WALLS: OLYMPIC “FLAGSTONE” & OLYMPIC “THIN ICE”

20 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

(continued from page 18)

A MORE COLORFUL LIFE Mimi’s fabulous whole-house redo – completed in just six weeks – is heavy on energizing colors, bargain buys, D.I.Y. tricks and art work with inspiring messages.

“It’s colorful and happy without going over the top,” she says of her approach. The “designer junkie” in her wanted a house that was glamorous, but with three active children (ages 7, 11 and 16), comfort was necessary, too.

“I need bright colors around me. But I change my mind often,” she confesses. Her solution: Light walls and dark carpeting for balance, and neutral furnishings that allow her to switch up accent colors on a whim.

“As soon as I walked in, I knew the space would work,” she recalls of her initial assessment of the floor plan last August.

There was one holdback to signing the rent-toown agreement, however. She couldn’t live with the honey-stained built-ins framing the fireplace in the family room. “It was going to be a dealbreaker if I couldn’t paint that wood."

She had a whole month in L.A. to get the decorating plan in her head, she says. And when the moving van pulled into the driveway at the end of September, she hit the ground running with paint chips in hand.

The family previously lived in a small townhouse that Mimi says she didn’t love. “As a result, I didn’t put much time and energy into the decor.”

Few furniture pieces followed the family here. “I pretty much started over.” Besides, the new house required furnishings of a much grander scale.

“On our first shopping trip, the clerk rang up the sale and the total seemed so ridiculously low I asked, ‘Did you get everything?’ She did. I love it here! They’re not kidding when they say ‘the good life.’”

The home’s general palette of black, white and lavender is soothing and calming. That plays to the family’s advantage. “If Mommy is happy, everybody is happy,” Mimi quips.

In a Mimi twist, the formal living room – typically unused space in many of today’s homes – became a game room with a pool table, leather club chairs, a popcorn machine and a 1980s Atari gaming machine.

“It makes sense with the natural flow of the house,” she says of the family fun zone just off the front entry.

The “girly girl” in her comes out in her lowerlevel studio workshop – painted in shocking pink – and an over-the-top bedroom-sized space that serves as her boutique-like closet.

RAGS TO RICHES “I assumed you were this little rich girl who had everything handed to you,” a mistaken fan once told Mimi.

Her reply: “It’s completely the opposite.”

She was a runaway at age 15.

“I once posted a photo of a homeless man on Instagram and commented, ‘This could have been my life.’”

Hers was a childhood marred by sexual abuse.

It was followed by an abusive first marriage, and then the challenges of being a single mom in L.A. Sewing – a skill she learned as a child from an aunt – made her happy.

Needing to buy a car for her teenage daughter, she took limited-time orders for a $195 readymade skirt. In a matter of hours, she generated $4,000 in sales. “People went nuts over the skirt,” she recalls of the Regal Maxi.

She spent the next four weeks fulfilling orders.

“I was in tears because I was up all night sewing skirts.”

She vowed never to do it again, but re-posted the offer six months later and hired someone to sew for her. But the craftsmanship fell short of Mimi’s expectations. That’s when she got the idea for an occasional sew-along blog.

The concept took off in March 2012 with a post that generated 900 page views. Mimi made an effort to blog regularly, and by the end of the year she was averaging 1.5 million page views per month.

Emails started arriving from women who said they were inspired to follow their own aspirations because of her.

“To me, at the time it was just a blog,” Mimi says.

“When I started to realize the impact I was having, I felt a huge responsibility to my fans.”

Public recognition – especially in Atlanta and her hometown of Chicago – is becoming more frequent for the 38-year-old entrepreneur. And she’s not completely used to it. “Some people call me ‘Miss Style,’ thinking that’s my last name. It’s really cute.”

Why the skyrocketing MimiGStyle brand success? For one, she puts herself out there. A lot. Secondly, “There are a ton of D.I.Y. blogs, but (continued on page 23)

inspiredlivingomaha.com 21

The black drapes hung too short so Mimi headed to her workroom and inserted a fat strip of coordinating black fabric into each panel.

22  JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

(continued from page 21)

they’re mostly craft- or kid-oriented. Few focus on how to make and wear fashion clothing. Also, I’m a curvy girl, and people identify with that.”

The MimiGStyle enterprise has grown to include a Los Angeles-based assistant who focuses on social media and website management, as well as brand and business development and order fulfillment for her company. There also is a ready-to-wear line that’s manufactured in Atlanta.

Husband Randy is chief photographer, videographer, producer. And stylist. “He cuts my hair and does my eyebrows,” Mimi says. “No joke.”

Currently, the team is busy planning an annual conference for beginning sewists that typically sells out in 24 hours.

And in February, Simplicity will release two new additions to its top-selling MimiGStyle pattern collection launched last year.

And then there’s a 2016 book project with a major publishing house that fell into place shortly after the move to Omaha.

While her support staff is growing, she’s still squarely in charge.

“I keep very tight control over everything,” she says.

But her fans are boss.

“I let my fans decide what they want to see more of. It’s really great.”

For MimiGStyle, that’s a #happyplace.

inspiredlivingomaha.com 23

“I’m going to be hard-pressed to find a hotel that can beat my bedroom.”

The massive room called for a statement bed. “I have to have a running start to jump on it.”

24 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

“This is my happy place,” she says of this sitting area in the master bedroom.

Seating was added in the master bath mainly for the kids, who congregate for conversation before bedtime.

WALLS: OLYMPIC “GYPSUM”

The MimiGStyle studio workroom.

MIMI’S TOP GO-TO SOURCES • Nebraska Furniture Mart • Home Goods • At Home • Target • Overstock.com • Jossandmain.com WALLET-FRIENDLY TIPS • Look for good bones and good shapes in furniture and accessories.

• Don’t let color stop you from making a purchase if you can repaint or recover the item.

• Be patient; inventories change.

• Be flexible; adaptation is the mother of invention.

• Scour sale sections in stores and for bargains online.

• Use coupon codes whenever possible.

• Handle your own home delivery whenever possible.

26 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

WALLS: VALSPAR “COSMIC PINK” TRIM: OLYMPIC “SILK SHEETS”

“Every woman on earth needs a walkin closet. I feel like I’m shopping for the day when I get dressed.”

inspiredlivingomaha.com 27

PHOTO: JEFFREY BEBEE

There is a laundry chute here!

T H E P ROJ ECT D I A R I ES

STACY & RYAN’S

Excellent Adventure Wahoo couple ‘getting there,’ one room at a time.

T

his is the first installment in a six-part series on a 1960s Wahoo home that has been in continuous project mode since Stacy and Ryan Ideus became its owners four years ago. Stacy, a photographer, designer and new mom, is the creative force behind the home’s renovations. Ryan, a banker and former drywall installer, brings his wife’s ideas to life with help from her contractor dad. “We love projects!” Stacy says. “I get inspired by everything I see.” The couple take pride in doing most of the work themselves.

In this series, we share room-by-room highlights – for dreamers and doers alike.

THE PROJEC T

OPERATION: SAD BATHROOM Our teeny-tiny main bath had 50+-year-old buildergrade materials, and was all around sad with its white walls, brown and grey linoleum flooring and “discount store special” shower curtain rod and towel bars.

THE ORIGINAL PLAN

Refresh the grout

THE WORK

We covered the ceramic shower tile with epoxy; installed a new tile floor; gave the walls and trim a fresh coat of paint; installed a pedestal sink; and replaced the towel bars.

THE RESULT

A refreshed bathroom with more room to move thanks to a sink with a

slender profile. Simply painting the dingy pale yellow ceramic tile in the shower made a world of difference. We love our updated teeny-tiny bathroom.

THE COST

$255

Turning

Dreams Into Reality REMODEL • CUSTOM HOMES • CONCRETE

Pleasurable Remodeling & Building Experiences

THE LESSON LEARNED

402-510-9585 | www.thurtconstruction.com

Epoxy is stinky. Wear a mask and plan to vacate the house for a day (or two!).

– STACY IDEUS

inspiredlivingomaha.com 29

THREADS

PHOTOGRAPHY HOOTON IMAGES ART DIREC TION HEIDI THORSON ST YLING JESSICA LUNA HAIR & MAKEUP KRISTEN ROZMIAREK & TASHA BAUGHMAN, KONTEMPO. TALENT BAILEY D. & SHANI, DEVELOP MODEL MANAGEMENT

The perfect balance.

We’ve been drawn to black and white since the beginning of time. Here, we find balance and harmony in the latest shapes for transitioning your wardrobe from winter to spring. Clearly, opposites attract.

30 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

(On Bailey) Keepsake jumpsuit, $169 TOGS SHOP-TOGS.COM

White House Black Market fur coat, $119 ESTHER’S ESTHERSCONSIGNMENT.COM

Dwaine Ferguson Baroque freshwater pearl earrings, $787 GOLDSMITH SILVERSMITH GOLDSMITHSILVERSMITH.COM

(On Shani) Noelle jacket, $700 SHE-LA SHOPSHELA.COM

Vintage keno top, $14 SCOUT ILOVESCOUT.COM

Lush pattern shorts, $58 Gorjana ring-to-wrist cuff, $64 2Bandits antique silver cuff, $99 2Bandits onyx cuff, $121 TOGS SHOP-TOGS.COM

inspiredlivingomaha.com 31

(This page) Nonchalant-Olivia knit top, $58 Clutch, $57 TOGS SHOP-TOGS.COM

10 Crosby trouser, $395 SHE-LA SHOPSHELA.COM

Lucky Toe shoe, $42 SCOUT ILOVESCOUT.COM

Danielle Morgan sterling silver earring, $210 Brushed sterling silver hoop, $285 GOLDSMITH SILVERSMITH GOLDSMITHSILVERSMITH.COM

(Opposite page) "Honey I’m Home" two-piece set, $32.99 per piece Sunglasses, $19.99 HELLO HOLIDAY HELLOHOLIDAY.COM

Michael Kors cashmere shrug, $148 ESTHER’S

ESTHERSCONSIGNMENT.COM

Mink ear muffs, $59 OVERLAND SHEEPSKIN CO. OVERLAND.COM

Long Horn ring, $129 TOGS SHOP-TOGS.COM

32 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

inspiredlivingomaha.com  33

34 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

(Opposite page) Olivia Black bralette top, $46 TOGS SHOP-TOGS.COM

Sass & Bide Spoon Full of Sugar jacket, $562 Peter O. Mahler skirt, $389 SHE-LA SHOPSHELA.COM

Charizma tube steel earrings, $60 GOLDSMITH SILVERSMITH GOLDSMITHSILVERSMITH.COM

(This page) Maxi dress MIMIG

for Simplicity Patterns MIMIGSTYLE.COM

Mackage jacket, $695 SHE-LA SHOPSHELA.COM

Kate Spade handbag, $60 ESTHER’S ESTHERSCONSIGNMENT.COM

inspiredlivingomaha.com 35

(This page) Lush romper, $62 Jacket, $87 TOGS SHOP-TOGS.COM

Attilio Giusti Leombruni oxford shoe, $399 THE MIX THEMIXSHOES.COM

Eugenia Kim Bianca wide-brimmed hat, $335 SHE-LA SHOPSHELA.COM

Charizzma rubber and steel magnetic necklace, $132 GOLDSMITH SILVERSMITH GOLDSMITHSILVERSMITH.COM

(Opposite page) Mark Cain knit top, $639 SHE-LA SHOPSHELA.COM

Feye dress, $1,600 WHITNEY RORAH

WMRORAH.WIX.COM/WHITNEYRORAHDESIGN

Cowhide clutch, $57 TOGS SHOP-TOGS.COM

Danielle Morgan black onyx ring, $250 GOLDSMITH SILVERSMITH GOLDSMITHSILVERSMITH.COM

36 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

inspiredlivingomaha.com  37

(This page)

St. Emile Bowie blouse, $345 Sass & Bide Editors track pant, $290 SHE-LA

SHOPSHELA.COM

Leather chest plate, $300 JESSICA LUNA CUSTOM DESIGN

H by Hudson boot, $310 THE MIX

THEMIXSHOES.COM

(Opposite page)

Cotton Candy leather top, $44 TOGS

SHOP-TOGS.COM

Lafayette jacket, $470 Lafayette leggings, $230 SHE-LA

SHOPSHELA.COM

Black leather cuff, $60 JESSICA LUNA CUSTOM DESIGN

Mysterium crocheted earrings, $360

GOLDSMITH SILVERSMITH GOLDSMITHSILVERSMITH.COM

38 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

inspiredlivingomaha.com  39

AU CO U R A N T

(This Page) Kuhl wool shirt, $139 Kuhl pant, $79 DOHM knit hat, $35 Nirvana Designs Inc. wool gloves, $35 OVERLAND SHEEPSKIN CO. OVERLAND.COM

Ibex long-sleeved shirt, $85 Fjall Raven knit sweater, $150 CRKT knife, $39.99 CANFIELD’S SPORTING GOODS CANFIELDS.COM

American Handmade apron, $168 ARTIFACT BAG CO. ARTIFACTBAGS.COM

Ax, stylist's own (Opposite Page) Jeremiah suede shirt, $118 Kuhl wool shirt, $139 Kuhl pant, $79 Woven chenille scarf, $199 Alashan cashmere scarf, $109 Raccoon fur aviator hat, $325 Leather lace boots, $395 Dents handmade leather wool-lined gloves, $179 OVERLAND SHEEPSKIN CO. OVERLAND.COM

Ibex long-sleeved shirt, $85 Stanley thermos, $38 Fjall Raven coat, $250 CANFIELD’S SPORTING GOODS CANFIELDS.COM

Ax, stylist's own Golden lab, Sophie, owned

by Ethan Crowley of Bennington.

PHOTOGRAPHY TIN BOX PICTURES ART DIREC TION HEIDI THORSON TEXT & ST YLING MEGHANN SCHENSE MODEL KYLE ATKINS LOCATION BENNINGTON PINES

RUGGED STYLE For the urban outdoorsman, rugged style packs the brawn for work and the weekend. These modern classics only get better with age.

40 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

inspiredlivingomaha.com  41

(Opposite Page) Leather jacket with shearling lining, $2,595 Kuhl wool shirt, $139 Dents leather handmade gloves, $179 OVERLAND SHEEPSKIN CO. OVERLAND.COM

Fjall Raven wool sweater, $150 CANFIELD’S SPORTING GOODS CANFIELDS.COM

(This Page) Chenille scarf, $199 Leather boots, $395 OVERLAND SHEEPSKIN CO. OVERLAND.COM

Tactical Series 5.11 watch, $199 CANFIELD’S SPORTING GOODS CANFIELDS.COM

42 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

inspiredlivingomaha.com  43

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THE KELLEY INVESTMENT TEAM

T

he Kelley Investment Team has been providing dependable wealth management since 1968. In a unique partnership, Richard “Dick” Kelley and son Rick Kelley take a multigenerational approach to growing clients’ assets over time and being a trusted partner as those clients plan for life’s key transitions. “People’s needs in a financial advisor change as they move into different stages of life. We work hard to help clients manage those shifts,” the senior Kelley says. The Kelley Team’s honest and trusted people-centered approach has long evolved into second- and third-generation client associations. “We take pride in seeing relationships with clients who’ve been with us since the 1970s turn into relationships with their grandkids,” Rick explains.

Tenure and continuity in the support staff is another intrinsic value of the Kelley partnership when it comes to navigating the waters of growing and protecting your investment. And if that’s not impressive enough, Dick Kelley boasts inclusion on the Financial Times 400 list of Top Financial Advisors for 2014.

Renee, Omaha 12910 Pierce St. 402-392-6100 kelleyinvestmentteam.com

Call today ffor your FREE iin-home h estimate.

402.884.9600 44 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

RBC Wealth Management, a division of RBC Capital Markets, LLC, Member NYSE/FINRA/SIPC *In 2014, the Financial Times 400 Award was based on information gathered regarding 1,540 financial advisors. Of the financial advisors considered, 26% received this award. The Financial Times 400 Award is based on the following criteria: The individual is credentialed as a FINRA registered representative, $200 million in assets under management, 10 years of experience, regulatory and compliance record regarding disputes and monetary fines/ damages that resulted from the disputes. The financial advisor does not pay a fee to be considered for or to receive this award. Once awarded, they may opt to purchase additional profile advertising space or related award promotional products. This survey is created, conducted and administered by Money-Media, a unit of The Financial Times. This award does not evaluate the quality of services provided to clients. The financial advisor receiving this award may have had unfavorable ratings. This award and rating is not indicative of this financial advisor’s future performance.

CHRISTEL'S

B

ecky Carrico stepped into the women’s retail clothing business 18 years ago with a dream of someday owning her own upscale boutique.

“Someday” came eight years ago with her purchase of Christel’s at Miracle Hills Plaza. “I love walking through the door each day,” Becky says. Her positive energy comes from providing honest, highly personal service to a wide range of clients who appreciate unique clothing and accessories. “I am about women helping women look their best,” Becky says. Her credo: Never tell a customer that a garment looks great on her when it doesn’t. “I’d rather send a customer out the door with nothing than sell her something she can’t wear.” With the majority of labels exclusive to Omaha and new merchandise arriving daily, customers enjoy dropping by regularly. This spring, four labels in sizes 0 through 12 will be introduced. The boutique’s friendly and relaxed atmosphere (Ask to see Becky’s “lucky bamboo!”); experienced and fun-loving team; and endearing gestures (Sparkling wine,

anyone?) always make for a pleasurable shopping experience. With all of that good karma, Becky makes a point to give back to the community. “I’m a strong believer in the circle of giving.” Eager to see what’s new? Becky loves reaching out with personal invitations for sneak peeks of the latest merchandise – especially if she knows it will be perfect for you.

633 N. 114th St. 402-493-7343 christelsclothing.com inspiredlivingomaha.com 45

P RO F I L E

Only the best Lunch tote perfected, craftsman carries his passion.

STORY CARA PESEK PHOTOGRAPHY DANA DAMEWOOD

C

hris Hughes isn’t a man who buys a lot of stuff, but when he does acquire something he expects a lot from it.

It has to be high-quality, it has to hold up well and it has to match Hughes’ simple, classic aesthetic.

Some things that meet his criteria – shoes, for example – are relatively easy to find. Others – such as a basic lunch tote – are not. An appropriate lunch bag was so elusive, in fact, Hughes abandoned his search and made his own.

Not long after that, Hughes, now 40, founded the Artifact Bag Co. Using an old commercial sewing machine in his basement shop, he began making high-quality lunch totes and canvas bags and selling them online.

Five years later, the Omaha-based line includes messenger bags, briefcases and backpacks, as well as the Personal Effects bag. Hughes uses the latter to carry his checkbook and pens, while his wife uses it as a clutch. His aprons are popular with fellow craftsmen and craftswomen throughout North America.

And he still makes the lunch tote (a consistent top-seller) that started it all.

Hughes’ products have been featured in Esquire, the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, Popular Mechanics and elsewhere. TEDxOmaha invited him to be a conference presenter, and his company was a finalist for the 2014 Martha Stewart American Made Awards.

Inspired Living caught up with Hughes just before the December holidays – the company’s best season to date. (continued on page 49)

46 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

inspiredlivingomaha.com  47

– CHRIS HUGHES, FOUNDER, ARTIFACT BAG CO.

WHERE TO BUY IT

Find limited selections of goods from Artifact Bag Co. at Denim Saloon in Dundee and Mulhall’s Nursery at 120th Street and West Maple Road. In Lincoln, Artifact bags are available at Paper Kite in College View.

Or buy online by visiting artifactbags.com.

48 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

(continued from page 46)

We’ve seen a shift toward buying less, buying better in recent years. Did you hit the market at the right time?

It was the perfect time. There was a groundswell of that sentiment of “I don’t want a bunch of things.” Even if they’re just seemingly mundane items, people still want the best.

Which of your products do you use the most right now?

I’m working on a new bag. I’m prototyping, so I carry it every day. It’s a field bag, a cross-body. The field bag will be offered in canvas, canvas and leather and all leather.

What do you carry in it?

My iPad, my MacBook Air, cords, books, a thermos for my coffee, a Leatherman tool, aspirin, one of my Personal Effects bags that holds smaller things like my checkbook, my pens, notepad and then, oftentimes, gloves, a sweater, whatever.

When I watch “This Old House” and see a craftsman in an apron, I wonder if it’s yours. Do you randomly spy your products? Who has given you the highest endorsement?

The aprons are sold all over. I sell them to barbers – a big barbershop in Atlanta just bought a bunch of them – various restaurants and coffee roasters. For most woodworkers, their god is a man named Christopher Schwarz. He’s a former editor of Popular Woodworking magazine and the author of countless books, and he wears one of my aprons. He wrote an article saying it's the best apron he has had in 20 years.

I don’t think I could have gotten a better endorsement for that apron.

When you buy something for yourself, what do you look for?

It’s got to do what I need it to do. And it’s got to look the way I want it to look, and I suppose lastly it has to be priced the way I want it to be priced. I’m not interested in features for the sake of features. I feel with most things in life, restraint enables you to make a much more pronounced statement.

What frustrates you?

I don’t take time to be frustrated by inferior products. With the Internet, I have the good, better and best and then the “God-that’s-amazing” at my fingertips, so I’m seldom frustrated when I’m out shopping … Most of the time, I make an informed purchase, and I’m happy with what I get.

What single possession do you use the most?

The other day I was wore an L.L. Bean sweater that I’ve had for 23 years. Right now, I’m wearing Redwings that have been resoled twice since 2004.

What three words best describe you?

I’m driven and detailed and a daydreamer.

Do you still carry that original lunch tote?

I don’t have time to eat lunch a lot of times, so I actually retired my lunch tote.

Take home enjoyment to a whole new level Home Theater & Surround Sound Home Automation High Performance Stereo Systems 402-502-4502 | crescendohometheater.com

inspiredlivingomaha.com 49

D EST I N AT I O N

GEIRANGERFJORD

A cruise with a little family history along the way.

STORY & PHOTOGRAPHY STEVE JORDON

M

y wife, Helen, and I had talked about taking a cruise, but we didn’t seriously consider it until her brother and his wife sailed along the coast of Norway, where their family originated. He touted it as an easy way to travel – like assisted living on the water: Unpack once; venture down the hall for your meals; leave your room to a steward who makes your bed and leaves chocolate on the nightstand. And with an

50 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

American-based ship, you can use U.S. currency rather than fiddling with exchange rates.

That motivated us to book a 16-day cruise last June on the 672-passenger, 592-foot-long Ocean Princess that left Dover with 10 stops, including the far-north Svalbard Islands 750 miles from the North Pole.

But the trip was about more than experiencing life aboard a cruise ship and seeing a random foreign country. This was an opportunity to experience the land of Helen’s ancestors.

EXCURSIONS

Seven days of our travel were “at sea,” and since we were sailing north of the Arctic Circle in June, the sun didn’t set for eight days.

We had no problem sleeping; we just pulled the curtain across the sliding glass doors to the balcony and the ocean below. We took some “midnight sun” photos, and we even received a certificate from the cruise line for being “veteran” Arctic Circle travelers.

The seas were generally fairly calm, though we did have a couple of nights that were “pitchy,” making it difficult for landlubbers like us to stay upright. We took sea-sickness patches along, but never had to use them.

One destination, Magdalena Fjord, was a “scenic cruise” that took us up to the end of the fjord for two slow 360-degree rotations to view a glacier and surrounding mountains.

Excursions were offered at each port, and we took nearly all of them.

Prices ranged from $79 for a few hours to $199 for a full day, which included bus travel and a meal.

One day the ship dropped us off at Hellesylt, and then met us at Geiranger after we rode a bus through the Norwegian countryside and over a mountain pass. We stopped for lunch on the way and at clear, still lakes framed with snow.

We met Sami, formerly known as Laplanders, whose reindeer culture is comparable to the American Indians’ bison culture. We believe that Helen is part Sami based on her ancestors’ straight black hair.

We saw Norway’s Pulpit Rock, a flat-topped monolith overlooking a fjord. We walked along Nordkapp, or the North Cape, the northernmost point of continental Europe. We

also saw glacial lakes and meadows in Norway’s interior, and we even spotted four fjord horses trotting along the countryside.

PRICELESS HIGHLIGHT But the best excursion was of our own making.

We arranged for a taxi to meet us at the dock in Gravdal near Leknes in the Lofoton Islands, a string of rocky, mountainous islands that jut into the Norwegian Sea. Our driver, Daniel, took us to the church where Helen’s Great-Aunt Anna Anderson Pickett was baptized. From a 2003 photograph that Helen brought along, Daniel also took us to the property where Anna was born in 1892. Being on that property had become the ultimate goal for this trip, and we spent an hour wandering around taking photos.

When we were ready to leave Anna’s homestead in Vester Nesland, Daniel drove us to a guest house at the end of a one-lane road operated by Lill-Anita Svendsen, an artist and entrepreneur. We had found her on the Internet and she had responded warmly to our e-mails.

Lill-Anita fed us waffles with cream and berry preserves.

She took us on a tour of her historic property (it had a grist mill, smokehouse, stone baking house and fishing piers).

She showed us her art gallery and introduced us to

Einar Benjaminsen, a friend who works for a fish exporter and studies genealogy as a hobby.

It turned out that Lill-Anita and Einar are both distant cousins of Helen’s. Einar had a chart showing Aunt Anna’s place in the family tree.

And on the way back to the ship, he took us to a graveyard where we saw the tombstone of Helen’s great-great-grandfather, Nils Kristian Kristiansen, who died in 1906. Helen had not known his name.

Taxi service, like most things in Norway, is very expensive. But that day’s taxi was worth a million dollars.

It allowed us to see an important part of family history, as well as spend time with a wonderfully cordial, interested and entertaining travel assistant. Daniel was typical of all the Norwegians we met – we were treated as if we were part of the family. And, we will never be the same after visiting Lofoten. (continued on page 52)

FLAKSTAD KIRKE, LOFOTEN ISLANDS

inspiredlivingomaha.com 51

MAGDELENA FJORD, SVALBARD (continued from page 51)

SHIP EXPERIENCE Being on a small ship, it didn’t take long to become familiar with our vacation “home” and strike up conversations with our travel mates. While the staff and crew tended to be from less-developed countries, especially the Philippines and India, passengers were from England, Israel, Australia, Canada and other mostly Englishspeaking countries.

We talked with many who had taken dozens of cruises – including one woman who was into her fourth month on the same ship with no plan to debark.

Helen and I spent a few hours nearly every evening in the ninth-deck lounge dancing a bit and watching the ship plow ahead, as well as other ships and scenes along the way. Most of the time, there were only a few people on the deck, making lounging under the hanging lifeboats peaceful and quiet.

Like most cruise ships these days, there was an exercise room and a mid-ship swimming pool and hot tubs, plus a private hot tub/sun deck area and luxury spa treatments.

One level above, there was a walking/ running track and a part-deck fore and aft for sightseeing. There also was a net for hitting golf balls (plastic) and a shuffleboard court. But I seemed to be the only one to try them out.

Organized activities were ample. Being musicians, we joined about 20 people in a pop choir that practiced during at-sea days with the assistant crew director. We performed for other cruise guests on our last night at sea. Great fun!

Dining was a big deal. The ship’s buffet was open nearly all the time for no charge.

Tradition says that you sign up for a dinner seating – early at 6 p.m. or late at 8:15 p.m. – in the main dining hall. There were waiters and assistant waiters, and even a steward to scrape the crumbs from the tablecloth before dessert.

The ship’s two specialty restaurants – one Italian and one steak house – were available for a $20 extra charge per person.

Bigger ships likely have more choices.

We ate dinner at a specialty restaurant one time as guests of our travel agency, and in the dining room half a dozen times.

But we mostly hit the buffet because it was quicker, informal, easier and you could sit anywhere, including outside on a large deck so you could enjoy the weather and ocean sights.

52 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

THE OCEAN PRINCESS AT TROMSØ

MOUNTAIN LAKE NEAR HELLESYLT

BOOKING TIPS

If you take a cruise – no matter your destination – plan early. Cruise lines post their trips online, making it easy to choose the right one for you. They all offer bargains and discounts. We knew our destination, so it was a matter of finding a schedule that fit and a ship that stopped where we wanted.

With the Ocean Princess determined, we had an Omaha travel agent handle some of the details. The $25 fee more than paid for itself in discounts and on-board “cash,” courtesy of the travel agency.

Cruise lines are accustomed to working with travel agents, so the process was smooth. A travel agent also can give you a checklist of things to remember and provide answers to questions such as: “What should I pack?” “What visas do I need, if any?” “What is a ‘formal night?'”

THE COST We paid $4,250 per person for a stateroom with a queen-sized bed, settee,

desk, chair, shower, TV, closet, cabinets and a sliding glass door to our own balcony with two chairs and a small table.

On-shore excursions were a la carte add-ons to the price.

We bought travel insurance, which cost $1,200 for a variety of types of coverage.

You could call it “mental health insurance” because it took away the worry that we’d lose our money if something went wrong.

When off the ship, we sometimes carried our iPad and took advantage of free Wi-Fi at coffee shops and a public library. The on-board Internet service was spotty and expensive, which apparently is typical with cruise ship travel.

Passengers are assessed $7.50 per day for tips for the staff, including stewards, waiters and others, so they didn’t expect extra tips.

Still, we rewarded staff members who went out of their way – the steward who found a hair dryer that met our specifications; the bar waiter who remembered our names from day one.

My guess is that we saved money traveling by sea instead of land. Hotels, car rental, gasoline, restaurant meals and other prices are high in Norway. And driving in a strange country, even on the “right” side of the road, can be tricky.

LITTLE EXTRAS Souvenirs? Uffda! Of course! We bought trinkets for many people back home, plus a few choice keepsakes, including Henning wooden carvings for Helen’s collection.

The little lady in Norwegian costume riding sidesaddle on the buckskin fjord horse is perfect, and the tall Hardanger fiddle player from an antique store is just as sentimental.

We skipped the expensive sweaters and went for Norwegian hats and mittens instead.

Cruise again? This cruise was a means to an end. But given the right circumstances, the answer would be yes!

inspiredlivingomaha.com 53

H O ST

Bowl, $18 Place mat, $14 ANTHROPOLOGIE ANTHROPOLOGIE.COM

Alton flatware, set of five, $119.95 WILLIAMS-SONOMA WILLIAMSSONOMA.COM

Napkin, Von Gillern family heirloom

54 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

“YOU CAN MAKE SOUP OUT OF ANYTHING IN THE FRIDGE.” JULIE BARNES & MARY VON GILLERN

Sister Act in the Kitchen Duo cooks up a trio of steaming hot soups to chase away the chill of winter.

STORY CHRIS CHRISTEN PHOTOGRAPHY DANIEL JOHNSON ST YLING CHRIS CHRISTEN & HEIDI THORSON

A SIDE OF MUFFINS

ONE ETCHED IN MEMORY

Mary von Gillern and Julie Barnes know their soups. This Chicken & Dumplings recipe evokes childhood memories. “Mom made it when we were kids,” Mary says. “We’d love it when we came home from school and Mom had the dough for the dumplings rolled out on the kitchen table. We all got to help.” The sisters each continued the tradition with their own children, who are now grown.

CHICKEN & DUMPLINGS

Yield: 12 to 15

INGREDIENTS Broth: 4 32-ounce boxes chicken broth 1 onion, quartered 3 cloves garlic 3 stalks celery, chopped 6 whole carrots, chopped 4 chicken breasts, skin on Dumplings: 2 cups flour 1 teaspoon salt 4 tablespoons butter 2 eggs 2 tablespoons water INSTRUCTIONS Broth 1. Bring all ingredients to a boil, and then cook on medium heat for 20 minutes.

2. Remove chicken and veggies.

Reduce broth to a simmer.

3. Cut chicken into chunks and set aside.

4. Once dumplings are ready, bring broth to a rolling boil.

Drop dumplings in one at a time. Add chicken back in, and simmer for 15 minutes.

Dumplings 1. Use a pastry cutter to cut flour, salt and butter together.

Add eggs one at a time and cut into mixture. Add water.

2. Knead dough until thoroughly mixed.

3. Roll the dough out onto a floured surface to a 1/8-inch thickness. (When rolling out the dough, lift the rolling pin up as you roll toward the edges so you don’t make the edges too thin.) Cut into 1- to 2-inch squares.

4. Drop into broth as directed in step 4 above.

When Mary referred to her “ice box” bran muffin batter, we raised an eyebrow. “It lasts for up to two weeks in the refrigerator,” she explained. Aha. Bake and serve as needed. We like that.

These muffins are a perfect accompaniment to the Chicken & Dumplings soup.

BRAN MUFFINS

Yield: 18 to 24 muffins INGREDIENTS 1 cup boiling water 3 cups All-Bran cereal 2 cups buttermilk 2 eggs, beaten ½ cup vegetable oil 1 ½ cups brown sugar or white sugar 1 ripe banana 1 cup chopped pecans 2 ½ cups white or wheat flour 1 tablespoon baking soda ½ teaspoon salt INSTRUCTIONS 1. Heat oven to 400 degrees.

2. Pour boiling water over cereal.

3. Stir in buttermilk, eggs, oil, sugar, banana and pecans.

Mix well.

4. Add flour, soda and salt. Mix just until ingredients are wet.

5. Spoon into greased muffin tins and bake for 20 minutes.

A COUSIN TO LOBSTER BISQUE

This Crab & Roasted Red Pepper Soup recipe is from 12 Tomatoes, an online cooking and recipe community Mary discovered while passing time on a recent flight to Arizona. “I wanted to try something new,” she says. A dead ringer for lobster bisque, the soup screams to be served with warm French bread with olive oil, tomatoes and basil.

CRAB & ROASTED RED PEPPER SOUP Yield: 8 to 12 INGREDIENTS 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 tablespoon butter plus ¼ cup butter, divided 1 onion, chopped 3 cloves garlic ¼ cup flour 4 cups chicken broth or stock 1 large can roasted red peppers, plus more for garnish ¼ cup tomato paste 1 pound fresh lump crab meat or crab meat from 3 large Alaskan king crab legs 1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper ½ teaspoon white pepper 1 cup heavy cream

56 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar 1 teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon white pepper Sour cream for garnish INSTRUCTIONS 1. In a large skillet, saute olive oil, 1 tablespoon butter and onion for 5 to 10 minutes. Add garlic; sauté for another 1 to 2 minutes. Set aside.

2. In a small stockpot, melt the ¼ cup butter. Add flour until you have a rue.

Whisk until smooth.

3. Add chicken broth, peppers, tomato paste, crab meat, Old Bay seasoning and cayenne pepper to the stockpot. Stir in the sautéed olive oil mixture. Simmer for 10 to 15 minutes.

4. Stir in cream, vinegar, salt and white pepper. Simmer for 10 to 15 minutes.

5. Top with chopped roasted red peppers and a swirl of sour cream.

(At Left) Square bowl, $26.95 Square plate, $18.95 Slate cheese board, $25.95 WILLIAMS-SONOMA WILLIAMSSONOMA.COM

Linen napkin, $8 ANTHROPOLOGIE ANTHROPOLOGIE.COM

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A CALORIECOUNTER’S DELIGHT

A request from Julie’s daughter for healthy meal options resulted in this nearly fat-free recipe for Kale & Lentil Soup.

Now age 30, Julie’s daughter still packs it for lunch nearly eight years later. “We just made it up,” Julie says of the recipe. “It freezes well and thaws quickly.”

Variation: Skip the chicken.

KALE & LENTIL SOUP

Yield: 15 to 20

INGREDIENTS 4 32-ounce boxes vegetable broth 3 to 4 garlic cloves 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts 6 peeled and diced carrots 4 stalks diced celery, including leafy ends 1 whole onion, chopped 1 bunch asparagus, cut into 1-inch pieces 3 large bunches kale, trimmed and chopped 1-pound bag dried lentils, rinsed 1 large can diced tomatoes, drained 1 to 2 teaspoons cracked red pepper INSTRUCTIONS 1. In a large stockpot, boil broth, garlic and chicken for 20 minutes. Remove chicken breasts. Cut into chunks when cool enough to handle.

2. Add fresh vegetables to the broth and bring to a boil.

3. Add lentils; boil for 10 to 15 minutes.

4. Add chicken chunks and tomatoes. Reduce heat; simmer for 30 minutes.

5. Add pepper to taste.

inspiredlivingomaha.com 57

THE DISH

STORY AMY LaMAR ST YLING & PHOTOGRAPHY HEIDI THORSON RECIPES KYLE SHOEMAKER, PASTRY CHEF AT LE PETIT PARIS

Chocolate à la française

A

s anyone who has attempted to work with chocolate knows, it’s really temperamental. Not only does it have to be exactly the right temperature, but you have to work quickly or it will set.

“It’s bipolar,” Kyle Shoemaker jokes.

He combined flavors that he loves for these recipes, using imported chocolate from France as the base.

If you have never had European chocolate, you may be

58 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

in for a surprise.

“The French are not big on sweet,” he says, adding that American chocolate is only 20 percent cocoa (and 80 percent cream and sugar), while its French counterpart is less sweet with 64 percent cocoa.

But you certainly won’t be disappointed. Rather than a sugar rush, these chocolates offer delightful notes of fruit, mint, cheese and herbs. Who knew chocolate could be so versatile?

BORDEAUX TRUFFLE Kyle chose cabernet for this recipe because it’s a light-bodied wine that has both dry and sweet notes. “Reducing the wine brings the flavor out, and the alcohol evaporates,” he says. “You can add any type of alcohol to chocolate and it will accent it.”

INGREDIENTS 2 cups Bordeaux wine reduced down to 4 tablespoons 1 cup 59 percent tempered dark chocolate (available at Whole Foods) 6 tablespoons heavy cream 2 tablespoons coconut oil 1 cup 59 percent tempered dark chocolate, melted (available at Whole Foods) ½ cup Feuillentine wafers* INSTRUCTIONS 1. Heat Bordeaux wine in a saucepan on low heat for 20 minutes, or until reduced by half. Transfer to a heat-proof container; let stand until completely cooled. Reserve for later use.

2. Put chocolate in a heat-proof glass bowl; reserve for later use.

3. In a saucepan, heat heavy cream and coconut oil to a boil.

4. Remove from heat. Pour cream mixture over chocolate; let stand for 1 minute.

5. Stir to incorporate (If chocolate is not completely melted, melt it in the microwave at 15-second intervals.)

6. Add 4 tablespoons Bordeaux reduction; mix to incorporate until smooth.

7. Let stand on countertop overnight until firm.

8. With a cookie scoop, scoop into balls and place on parchment paper.

Refrigerate for 1 hour.

9. Dip in melted dark chocolate and roll in Feuillentine wafers.

PASSION FRUITE PATE DE FRUIT The center of this chocolate reminds Kyle of orange slice candy. “It’s like jam and chocolate, but mixing it up.”

INGREDIENTS 1 cup plus 4 tablespoons Passion Fruit Puree* 1 teaspoon powdered pectin (available at Whole Foods) ¾ cup sugar plus 2 ½ cups sugar, divided ½ cup plus 2 teaspoons corn syrup ¾ teaspoon lemon juice 1 cup 59 percent tempered dark chocolate, melted (available at Whole Foods) INSTRUCTIONS 1. In a saucepan, bring puree to 50 degrees.

2. Combine pectin and ¾ cup sugar.

3. In a separate container, combine corn syrup and 2 ½ cups sugar.

Set aside.

4. Measure out lemon juice. Set aside.

5. Once puree is hot, add pectin/sugar mixture. Continue to cook to a boil.

Add corn syrup/sugar mixture and continue to cook to 106 degrees.

Remove from heat. Add lemon juice.

6. The puree is now candied and ready to be placed into molds or on a baking sheet (If using a baking sheet, it must be lined with plastic wrap).

7. Let cool completely before removing.

8. Coat with melted dark chocolate.

VARIATION: Use 1 cup plus 4 tablespoons Cassis Puree instead of the Passion Fruit Puree for a minty black currant flavor.

WHITE CHOCOLATE, GOAT CHEESE & LEMON Kyle has gained an appreciation for goat cheese, a classic French flavor, since he started working at Le Petit Paris. “I like to throw in a little savory,” he says. The arugula garnish adds both a pop of color and a peppery note.

INGREDIENTS 1 cup heavy cream 1 cup white chocolate, broken into small pieces ½ cup mild goat cheese Zest of 1 lemon 1 cup 59 percent tempered dark chocolate, melted (available at Whole Foods) Apricot glaze (Use equal parts of apricot jam and water) Edible gold glitter and fresh arugula leaves for garnish INSTRUCTIONS 1. Heat cream in a saucepan to a boil.

2. Put white chocolate in the stainless steel mixing bowl of a stand mixer.

3. Pour hot cream over chocolate.

With a rubber spatula, slowly stir the cream to incorporate.

4. With the whisk attachment of the stand mixer, whip on medium speed to cool and stiffen the mixture (20 to 30 minutes).

5. Add goat cheese and lemon zest.

6. With a cookie scoop, scoop into balls and place on parchment paper.

7. Place in refrigerator for 1 hour. Cut the edges off with a sharp paring knife or toothpick.

8. Dip in melted dark chocolate; cool.

9. Dip in apricot glaze, and then brush on gold and arugula leaves.

*Passion Fruit Puree and Cassis Puree are available locally at Jim Olafson’s warehouse at 2901 Harney St.

*Feuillentine wafers can be purchased locally at Jim Olafson’s warehouse at 2901 Harney St.

inspiredlivingomaha.com 59

TIP If chocolate hardens, add a teaspoon-to-a tablespoon of Crisco. Then melt the chocolate again, stirring to fully incorporate the Crisco.

60  JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

LAVENDER TOFFEE “I have been playing with herbal flavors,” Kyle says, and lavender is one of them. “Lavender is a complex, yet very simple flavor with bold character.

It’s just right to offset with some toasted sugar.”

INGREDIENTS 1 tablespoon dried lavender plus more for garnish 1 tablespoon butter plus ¾ cup butter, divided 1⁄3 cup water 1 ¼ cups sugar 1 cup 59 percent tempered dark chocolate, melted (available at Whole Foods) INSTRUCTIONS 1. In a saucepan, heat dried lavender and 1 tablespoon butter on lowmedium heat to extract the oils from the lavender. Turn off heat; let steep for 10 minutes.

2. Strain lavender from butter.

3. In a saucepan, bring lavenderinfused butter, ¾ cup butter and water to a boil.

4. Slowly add sugar, stirring occasionally. (Make sure to not get sugar on the sides of the saucepan or it may crystallize the mixture.)

5. Continue to cook to 300 degrees or until it’s a mild amber color.

6. Pour onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Let cool completely.

7. Coat with melted dark chocolate and dried lavender pieces.

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inspiredlivingomaha.com 61

BE WELL

new year, new you Your 12-month plan toward better health.

COMPILED BY SANDRA WENDEL

JANUARY

Fill your plate the healthy way.

Tackle a food buffet line by checking out the items first, then start at the healthier end where you can usually find leafy greens and fresh fruit. The first three items you encounter will make up about two-thirds of your plate, so make it the good stuff.

Source: Cornell University

FEBRUARY

Keep kissing. Kissing burns 26 calories per minute. So calculate how many minutes of passion you’ll need to burn off that box of chocolates your darling may give you on Valentine’s Day. Guilt-free indulgence: How sweet!

Source: NYU College of Dentistry

MARCH

20-20-20 eye health. Do you work at a computer? Every 20 minutes, look about 20 feet in front of you for 20 seconds to reduce eyestrain.

Source: American Optometric Association

APRIL

Drink up and smile. Sure, drinking half your weight in ounces of water every day keeps you hydrated, but there are also important health benefits for your mouth. Water helps rinse decay-causing food particles, restores a natural PH balance and helps with the production of saliva.

Source: Dr. Timothy Chase, cosmetic dentist

MAY

Yes, more sunscreen! Wear plenty of it. There are new FDA regulations stating that for a sunscreen to reach

62 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

its listed SPF or sun protection, a full ounce (think of a shot glass full) needs to be applied. Most people only apply 20 to 25 percent of this amount, unknowingly lowering the protection factor of their sunscreen.

Best choice: SPF 30 or higher, and reapply often.

Source: FDA

JUNE

Walk it out. When the task at hand requires some imagination, taking a walk may lead to more creative thinking than sitting. Physical activity helps your brain as well as your heart.

Source: American Psychological Association

SEPTEMBER

Look who’s walking. Dog owners walk nearly twice as much as their neighbors who don’t have dogs.

Fall into the latter category? The Nebraska Humane Society can fix you up with a built-in exercise machine on four legs.

Source: American Journal of Preventive Medicine

OCTOBER

Pillow talk. Sleeping soundly away from home – for work or on vacation – can be difficult, but an easy solution is to bring your own pillow.

About 41 percent of Americans travel with their pillows.

Source: Carpenter Co. Sleep Better Survey

JULY

Get buff. Make strength training part of your weekly routine. Too many people neglect resistance exercise, particularly women for whom it’s crucial for preventing muscle and bone loss with age.

Lift weights for at least 20 minutes two to three times per week.

Source: Dr. JoAnn Manson, MD

AUGUST

Walk off midway munchies. State fairs are fun, but midway food is a calorie disaster. Treat yourself to just one splurge, or share a couple among friends. It takes 3 miles of walking the midway to burn off the calories in a funnel cake; 4.5 miles for a corn dog; and 1.5 miles for cotton candy.

Source: University of Nebraska Extension Office

NOVEMBER

Time travel. Reduce stress by creating a psychological moat.

Make a list of priorities in the morning or the night before so you can do what is important to you that day. Otherwise, work will siphon off your time, and you’ll go home feeling frustrated and unfulfilled.

You may even dream about an overflowing inbox.

Source: Edward T. Creagan, MD

DECEMBER

Give of yourself. Volunteer work is good for both your mind and body.

People of all ages who volunteer are happier and experience better physical health and less depression.

Think about something you like to do in your spare time and find a match at volunteermatch.org.

Source: Vanderbilt University

[ RESOUR CES ]

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